The Sound of Ideas: November 2009

Gratitude in Un-gracious Times
Monday, November 23
These days things can feel amazingly bleak: almost no one's hiring, foreclosures a plenty, horrific crimes locally, the Browns disintegrating. But let's put all that aside, for a moment. Thanksgiving is almost here and there is a lot to be thankful for, starting with this beautiful autumn. On the next Sound of ideas, a conversation on gratitude - why it's good for you, how to get it when it’s really hard to find and how to teach it to your children. Join Dan Moulthrop, Monday morning at 9 on 90.3.

Getting Home for the Holidays
Friday, November 20
Over the river and through the woods to… gorge ourselves on turkey! We can’t help stuff the bird, but we can offer tips on getting to grandma’s in one piece. Whether you’re arriving by train, plane or automobile, knowing the best travel tips makes the journey easier. We’ll have experts to share tips on how to pack, where to park, how to zip through security, where to fill up the gas tank and how that EZ pass works on the turnpike. Getting home for the holidays without all the hassles, Friday at 9 on 90.3.

Reporters’ Roundtable
Thursday, November 19
State lawmakers want to make Ohio a key player in a battle against childhood obesity. Ohio Senators are poised to go along with the House to stop a scheduled income tax reduction. Cleveland floats plan to impose fees on non-profits and on garbage collection to deal with revenue shortfall. And the Ohio Supreme Court chief justice says it's time to stop electing and start appointing judges to the high court. Join us for the weekly reporters' roundtable Thursday at 9:00 a.m. on 90.3.

The Problem with Federal Mortgage Modifications
Wednesday, November 18
When the Obama administration launched the "Making Home Affordable" program last March, it said the program would help as many as nine million homeowners stay in their homes. At this point, it has only helped about 650-thousand--and for most of them, the help is temporary and may end in a matter of months. To make matters worse, it seems to be having only a marginal impact in Ohio. On the Next Sound of Ideas, why the foreclosure avoidance program doesn't seem to be helping. Wednesday morning at 9 on 90.3.

Med Mart: Too Big to Fail?
Tuesday, November 17
With a price tag over $425 million in public money, some are saying the med mart project is just too big to fail. Revised plans that exclude the city's Public Auditorium have cast doubts on the developer's ability to deliver on promises. Meanwhile, county leaders are addressing new criticism of the project and trying to calm the concerns of officials at City Hall. Tuesday morning at 9, join us for a forum on the future of the Cuyahoga County's Convention Center and Med Mart.

Fair Trials for Accused Terrorists
Monday, November 16
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that five men accused in the 9/11 attacks will stand trial in a civilian court in New York City. A fair trial there faces two obvious obstacles: one has to do with selecting an impartial jury, and the other with the fact that at least two of the defendants have been tortured at Guantanamo Bay. Monday morning at 9, we'll talk to local attorneys with experience in the serious and difficult business of fair trials for accused terrorists.

How to Avoid Paying Retail for Healthcare
Friday, November 13
Have you ever considered asking your doctor for a discount on a hip replacement? Or signing up for a drug trial to get free medicine? As more workers find themselves unemployed and losing their health insurance, Americans are finding the courage to ask hospitals and healthcare providers for a better deal. Friday on the Sound of Ideas® Regina Brett will talk to healthcare professionals who say it IS possible for individuals to negotiate price even though some in the medical community view the practice with disdain. How to avoid paying retail for healthcare, Friday at 9 on 90.3.

Reporters’ Roundtable
Thursday, November 12
Cleveland's port boss is out; the $400 million Med Mart project gets revised; and casino developer Dan Gilbert begins his new career with a trip to the statehouse. Also, consultants for the city of Cleveland give city hall a comprehensive cost-cutting plan--what's not clear is whether the city will maintain its ability to avoid layoffs. Thursday morning at 9, join the weekly reporters' roundtable to talk about those stories and why two local Democratic congressmen aligned their health care votes with Republican leadership.

Listening to Imperial Avenue
Wednesday, November 11
The Imperial Avenue murders have stirred up some long simmering anger in the Mt. Pleasant community. Last week, one listener--Joanne from Cleveland--emailed this: No one cared. [Even] if they had been college students with Rhodes Scholarships, as long as they were black from a black neighborhood, the crimes would have been ignored. It's not only here but every place. We do not matter. Is it true that no one cared? Have our communities lost the capacity for empathy? We'll talk about it Wednesday morning at 9.

God vs. Darwin
Tuesday, November 10
Whether you've seen the current production at the Cleveland Playhouse, you probably remember "Inherit the Wind." After all, it depicts the legendary Trial of the Century, which, as many legends do, turns out to have been a bit of a sham. Local author and Case Western Reserve University professor Mano Singham tells the story behind the trial and the history of the 80-year battle between religious fundamentalism and science that has played out in our nation's public school classrooms. Join us Tuesday morning at 9 for a conversation with the author of God vs. Darwin.

Lessons from Green Cities
Monday, November 9
At the first Sustainable Cleveland 2019 summit in August, citizens and local leaders generated ideas ranging from the practical to the somewhat dreamy. The thing is, Cleveland doesn't have to re-invent this wheel. In his recent books Green Urbanism and Resilient Cities, Tim Beatley tells the stories of how city planners have greened their communities, such as Helsinki, where hot water from power plants is piped to nearby buildings to provide heat, or Freiburg, where there no cars downtown. Beatley is coming to town for an event with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. Monday morning at 9, we'll talk to him and local thinkers and doers about Greater Cleveland's potential for a greener future.

Anthony Sowell: How Could This Happen?
Friday, November 6
As ministers and politicians seek to console a city reeling from mass murder, the community's questions keep coming - about the police response, about how sex offenders are monitored, about the lives of the eleven victims and about what goes on in the mind of a serial killer. On the next Sound of Ideas, we'll talk with people that have some answers, including the Cuyahoga County Sheriff, a forensic psychiatrist, and a professor of social justice. We also want to hear your thoughts so join us on 90.3 at 9.

The Case of Anthony Sowell
Thursday, November 5
Suspected serial murderer Anthony Sowell has been ordered held without bond. The registered sex offender is suspected of having killed ten or more women. The case has traumatized a local neighborhood and captured the world's attention. Thursday morning at 9, join host Dan Moulthrop for the latest on the Sowell case, its implications for local law enforcement, and how that East side neighborhood is coping.

Post-Election Analysis
Wednesday, November 4
On the ballot, you're deciding: Casinos? A livestock oversight board? A County executive or a charter review? Tax levies? Candidates for mayor, council, school board? The results will have far-reaching implications for Ohio and our region. Wednesday morning at 9, join the reporters' roundtable for analysis of the election results.

The View from NPR’s Corner Office
Tuesday, November 3
Like nearly every other business and media organization, National Public Radio has had to make some tough decisions over the last year in light of falling revenue: It ended some programs, ordered two rounds of layoffs and redirected resources to the web. NPR's President and CEO Vivian Schiller says public radio is now well-positioned to do more than just survive in the news media's uncertain future. We'll hear more from the corner office at NPR Tuesday morning at 9.

Are We Really Recovering From the Recession?
Monday, November 2
We've heard the whispers about the recession ending over the past few months. Those voices got louder this week with reports that the U.S GDP grew 3.5 percent last quarter. Is the U.S economy recovering from the recession? Monday morning at 9, host Dan Moulthrop and guests will examine indicators like the price of oil, pace of exports, home sales, and consumer spending, and we'll find out why the national outlook seems so much brighter than what we see here in Northeastern Ohio. We'll also get your perspective and get answers to your questions.