Street Jazz

This came my way via the Alliance for Community Media list serve, concerning an effort by Quincy Jones, who is hoping persuade  President Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts.

While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. Many in the arts - and not in the arts - arts feel this country needs this. I’d like to echo that. All too often we hear folks say, “I don’t know anything about the arts,” as if this were something to be proud of. Now, more than ever,  and this country needs an appreciation of  the arts.

It’s never too late for anyone - young or old - to learn more about our artistic heritage, and to be proud of it.

To take a look at the petition, and sign it if you like:

http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html

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Quote of the Day

The love of our neighbor in all its fullness simply means being able to say to him, "What are you going through?" - Simone Weil, "Waiting for God"

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Matthew Petty: The Green Collar Economy
 
This week on C.A.T., I sit down with Fayetteville alderman Matthew Petty to discuss the book, "The Green Collar Economy," by Van Jones. In the book, Jones discusses ways in which ordinary Americans we can invent and invest our way out of the traditional pollution-based economy and into a healthy new green economy.

Building upon a coalition based upon the lives and struggles of everyday citizens, Jones writes about how this path will serve the dual purpose of cutting our energy prices and creating enough work to pull the United States out of its economic doldrums.

Show days and times

Sunday - 8:30pm
Monday - 3pm
Tuesday - 10am
Wednesday - 4:30pmThursday - 7:30pm

C.A.T. is shown on Channel 18 of the Cox Channel line-up in Fayetteville.

Those outside the Fayetteville viewing area can see the program online at:
www.catfayetteville.org/

Programs shown on the website are seen at the same time as they are shown on C.A.T.

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Read More Books!

The above show isn’t part of my “On the Air” series, but part of an set of shows we are informally referring  to as “Read More Books!” in which people from the community come on and talk about books that have impressed them, in the hope that it might inspire others to read them, as well.

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Wire in the Blood

Two excellent mysteries to report on, featuring British criminal psychologist Tony Hill. I've just finished "The Last Temptation," and am working my way through "The Torment of Others," which was adapted for the brilliant series "Wire in the Blood," shown on BBC America.

No murder in the chamber pot stories here, but terror, evil and gruesome death - not to mention the writing talents of a Val McDermid, woman who leaves many of her American counterparts in the dust. Forget "CSI" - these stories deliver the real deal.

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About that “Murder in the Chamber Pot” remark . . .

Years ago mystery novelist Joan Hess was on my show, and I made an offhand reference to Agatha Christie novels as being “Murder in the Chamber Pot” stories. Since Hess evidently likes Christie's stories, she wasn’t terribly amused.

rsdrake@nwark.com