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Reaction to Governor Lynch’s Inaugural AddressBy Laura Knoy on Friday, January 9, 2009.On Thursday, Governor John Lynch was sworn in for a third term, with all ears in the Granite State tuned in to hear about his proposals on the state budget. We’ll play back excerpts of his speech and see what it all means. Guests
listen: No audio currently available. Order on CD (pdf).
Preparing for Astronomy’s Big YearBy Laura Knoy on Thursday, January 8, 2009.2009 is the International Year of Astronomy! We’ll talk about what that means, and other “astronomical” news, including a new galaxy found right behind the Milky Way, new details on this galaxy’s black hole, plus the death of the Mars Phoenix Lander, after a long and productive life. Guests
listen: No audio currently available. Order on CD (pdf).
The State of the Economy, Part 2 - A New Hampshire LookBy Laura Knoy on Wednesday, January 7, 2009.New Hampshire fared better than many other states in 2008, but analysts warn that we are not immune. Home sales have fallen by a quarter, foreclosures are up and there have been major cuts in the state budget. We’ll explore how New Hampshire has fared in this economic crisis so far and what may be ahead for 2009. Guests
listen: No audio currently available. Order on CD (pdf).
A Ski Area Steps Back in TimeBy Chris Jensen on Tuesday, January 6, 2009.Fifty years ago many small towns in New Hampshire had their own ski slopes typically using a rope tow to get families to the top. Problems such as higher insurance costs and competition from bigger resorts killed most of those small ski areas. But a Lancaster ski club has brought one of the old timers back to life. NHPR Correspondent Chris Jensen has the story. listen:
  The Ski Industry is Feeling Pretty GoodBy Erik Eisele on Tuesday, January 6, 2009.The economic downturn seems to have affected most sectors of the economy from financiers to autoworkers. Many companies and local governments across New Hampshire have been forced to reign in spending and cut jobs. But one important local industry is feeling pretty good. ...at least while the snow flies. The ski industry has neither cut jobs nor earnings projections, and they are watching the weather report more than the market. NHPR correspondent Erik Eisele has this report. listen:
Global Voices: Crisis in GazaBy Virginia Prescott on Tuesday, January 6, 2009.
It’s difficult for those of us who’ve never experienced war first-hand to imagine the scene in Gaza right now. The reports we get are mostly filtered through mainstream news sources, but the folks at Global Voices Online keep track of what local and regional bloggers are writing about the conflict as it unfolds. Deborah Dilly joins us on Word of mouth – as she often does – to give us a sense of what people are saying across the world’s informal news network on the blogosphere. Deborah is a writer and editor for Global Voices. listen:
The Aching Brains of Urban DwellersBy Virginia Prescott on Tuesday, January 6, 2009.
We’re also joined by Andrew Blum, a contributing editor for Wired and Metropolis magazines, where he covers architecture and urban design. He’s been reporting on a serious transformation happening in the field of landscape architecture. Attempting to make cities greener is not a new trend (In the late 1800’s landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted sought to create vibrant natural spaces like New York’s Central Park and Boston’s Emerald Necklace), but leaders in the field are now rethinking how to integrate nature into urban life, not simply create it as a refuge. Related Links: How the city hurts your brain...And what you can do about it, by Jonah Lehrer (Boston Globe) The Long View: By embracing the city’s industrial past, James Corner has helped reinvent the field of landscape architecture, by Andrew Blum (Metropolis Magazine) (Photo by sandcastlematt) listen:
The State of the Economy, Part 1 - A National LookBy Laura Knoy on Tuesday, January 6, 2009.2008 was a bad year for the national economy, with a mortgage meltdown, a crisis on Wall Street, bailouts in the billions of dollars, rising unemployment figures and now an official recession. Some see 2009 getting much worse before it gets better, but other analysts see the possibilities of a turnaround, especially with a new president. We’ll gauge the national economic forecast and see where the good and bad news may be. Guests
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A "Green" Cigarette?By Virginia Prescott on Monday, January 5, 2009.
Tobacco companies recognize this, and many are rebranding themselves – as green. Is this a sincere effort on the part of Big Tobacco to clean up their act, or a brazen attempt at greenwashing? For more on this we’re joined by Bryan Farrell, a New York-based journalist who wrote about organic tobacco for Plenty magazine (read the article here). Plus, cigarette vending machines have fallen out of fashion along with smoking, but an artist based in North Carolina is converting the relics of another age into "Artomats" - machines that discharge tiny works of art when you pull the knob. To date there are 82 working Artomat machines across the country. Producer Adam Allington produced this piece at the unveiling of an Artomat in Portland, Maine (listen here). (Photo by beth darbyshire) listen:
Lobsters and the RecessionBy Virginia Prescott on Monday, January 5, 2009.A butterfly flaps its wings in Iceland, and a fisherman loses his job in Maine. Okay, so there aren’t so many butterflies in Iceland. But still, interglobal economic woes have the price of lobster plummeting here in New England.
Also, it’s not just Maine lobster that’s in trouble. The regional fishing industry in general has been looking bleak over the past several years. Over-fishing and government regulations aimed at correcting that problem have both had negative impacts on the business. This leaves many life-long fishermen trying to figure out what to do next. And it’s not just those out on the boats affected. We meet a fishmonger in Portland who’s struggling to stay in business. Producer Gretta Cohn produced this story at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies. Click here to listen. (Photo by man pikin) listen:
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A crisis continues in the middle east; Israel’s assault on Hamas-controlled Gaza is now in its eleventh day. Rockets fired by Hamas militants are still falling on Israeli towns, while Israeli ground troops move closer to population centers in the dense Palestinian territory. Hamas and Jerusalem show little interest in international calls for a truce, despite intense diplomatic efforts by Arab and European leaders. More than 550 Palestinians have been killed in the violence. Israel has lost four civilians. 
Picture yourself on a crowded thoroughfare in any big city. Cars honking, neon lights flashing, the smell of hot dog carts and thousands of people crammed onto subway trains -- the city can be an exhausting place! Now scientists are looking at how that urban landscape affects our brains. 
It’s a new year, and millions of Americans are vowing to lose weight, exercise more, save money, manage their debt, and the perennial favorite: quit smoking. Of the roughly 45 million American adults who smoke, about 70 percent say they want to kick the habit. Now that public smoking is practically criminal and cigarette taxes are mounting, 2009 seems as good a time as ever. Plus, many are eating healthier and sales of organic foods are through the roof. 
While cheap lobster dinners might seem like a silver lining to an otherwise grim recession, the situation has a devastating effect on the regional fishing industry. Oddly enough, struggling Maine lobstermen have the banking system in Iceland to blame. Garen Daly is here to untangle the net for us. Garen is creator of