now posting regularly

For this week's NPR post, I have an equal mix of frustrating and fun, ridiculous (in a bad way) and humorous (uh, in a good way, of course). I'm gonna start with the two pieces that had me looking like a crazy lady in my kitchen, grumbling at the radio that can't hear me:

• From All Things Considered, a news segment entitled Envoy To Sudan On New U.S. Policy. The whole business of language is often blown off, in the 'I say to-MAY-to, you say to-MAH-to' vein, but with the issue of Sudan, I just can't see it that way. Enough pussyfooting around- it's a freaking genocide already. Just say the word. This interview frustrated me because the envoy just couldn't seem to give a straight answer. I'm not politically savvy enough to fully appreciate the probable reasons why that was the case; I'm just a regular old person who thinks that when someone is asked a yes or no question, the first word out of his mouth should be either YES or NO. Ugh.
• On Morning Edition the other day, I heard this piece, which again as a politically-unsavvy listener, surprised me even though it apparently isn't all that surprising for those who play the political game. Listening to the story, GOP Senators Put Holds On Top Obama Nominees, I was disheartened by our government's apparent overwhelming inability to hold itself to the highest respectful standards of practice. For the love of god, enough with the power struggles already and just get this settled! If there are this many unfilled positions, we all lose, no one wins. There are jobs that need to be done that are getting any attention because people are forced to sit around twiddling their thumbs while some Senators are wrapping figurative red tape all over their office. Grow the frick up, everyone!!

Okay, enough ranting, and on to the positives:

• Another All Things Considered piece, 'Expected' Offers Self-Help, Humor For The Unborn had me cracking up this afternoon. I personally have a love-hate attitude toward the What to Expect When You're Expecting/Baby Years/Toddler Years/What to Eat/Whatever Else They've Come Up With to Make Another Buck books, so to see a parody of them makes at least half of me giggle with joy. And then to find out it's written by a Jon Stewart/Daily Show writer, woo-hoo! The interview is amusing, as is the author's 'book trailer' video below. Looks like a great gift for that mom-to-be with the right sense of humor!
  

• And finally, this one is time sensitive, if you're interested and just happen to be trolling around on my blog tonight. If you have a Wimpy Kid -loving child like I do, and they're not in bed yet, ask them if they have a question they'd like to have the author, Jeff Kinney, answer. Michele Norris is soliciting questions tonight for an interview she has scheduled with him soon. I especially liked how she spoke directly to the kids in her short piece- her choice of words was perfect. Can't wait to hear what he has to say, because JAM and I both really enjoyed his talk at this year's National Book Festival.

Okay, let's focus on the good, shall we?

Basking in the glory of NPR,