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A Soap Box Derby Family
Wednesday, June 30 2010
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AÂ Soap box Derby Family
The Osbon boys with sister, Carolyn, larger
There was talk in the past year that the All American Soap Box Derby in Akron Ohio, might end its 75 year tradition of hosting the national event. The organizers were in debt. The bank called a loan. Now a group of Akron’s business leaders are putting together new funding to keep next month’s event alive. The Osbon boys know what the annual races mean to them. They spent their summer hours sawing, nailing, sanding and painting in the quest for the perfect Soap Box Derby car. With the help of their dad, Tony, Jim and Julian raced to win - and did - each of them taking home a championship one time during their racing careers, earning them a place at the nationals in Akron. The Osbons talk to Dick about those summer days in the 1950s, the bonds they forged among themselves and with their dad, and how this curious sport left a lasting impact on their lives.
Music heard in this story: Bernardine performed by Pat Boone from the album Pat Boone's Greatest Hits; What to Do performed by Buddy Holly for the album Down the Line - Rarities; Driving Guitars (Ventures Twist) performed by The Ventures from the album Walk Don't Run: The Best of the Ventures
- See more photos of the Osbon family and their winning cars
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A Forgotten Protest
The World Cup has drawn international attention to South Africa this year. The nation has welcomed many countries for cricket and rugby matches and golf tournaments, but this is the first such world-wide sporting event to be hosted by the South Africa. For many years, the country was banned from participating in international event because of the nation’s policy of apartheid. But South African athletes, such as golf’s Gary Player, did compete. Today, Dick speaks with Jeff Keating. Jeff was working as a caddie at a PGA event when people protesting against Player’s participation stampeded their way onto one of the greens in the middle of play.
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Big Changes in the Gulf
Tuesday, June 29 2010
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Big Changes in the Gulf
Larry and Ellen Johnson
This past weekend, Mississippi’s Gulf Coast saw the first of the oil come ashore. Until now, barrier islands had protected the beaches. Now clean-up crews are working the shorelines of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. While BP says it’s getting closer to drilling a relief well, oil continues to flow into the Gulf from the underwater blow-out, at a rate of 60,000 barrels a day.Â
Larry and Ellen Johnson have lived in the Gulf Coast area their entire life and run a local seafood business called High Tide Foods. They catch and sell shrimp, oysters and crabs just as their parents did and their kids and grandkids are doing now. Larry even courted Ellen years ago with a big bucket of blue crabs that he caught himself in the marshes around their home. But as oil courses into the Gulf for the third straight month, the future of their business and their way of life is unclear.
- See a picture of Larry's boat, the Captain Elijah
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Representing Gulf Victims
Al Jordan
Dick also talks with Al Jordan, an attorney in Ocean Springs, Miss. Al lost his home in Hurricane Katrina and has watched the Gulf rebuild only to be hit again by another disaster. He shares his experience of working with BP adjusters and representing the Johnsons and other fishing families.
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Summer Job: At the Racetrack
Charles Cornett
Charles Cornett grew up near a few racetracks in Lebanon, Ohio. In the mid-1960s, Charles was 18, and headed to college. His father was the veterinarian who monitored the condition of the horses at the racetracks. So Charles and his brother got jobs as "veterinarian assistants." A more descriptive title might be "horse urine tester."
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Experimenting with the Headscarf
Monday, June 28 2010
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EXPERIMENTING WITH THE HEADSCARF
Aliya Suayah and Krista Bremer
Earlier this month, thousands of people took to the streets of Kosovo to protest against a government ban on headscarves. As common as the head covering is in Muslim countries, it is often criticized by people who view it as a “too visible” exhibition of religion. Many in the West view it as a form of oppression. For the past year, 9-year-old Aliya Suayah has been experimenting with wearing a headscarf. Her mother is a California-born American and her father is a Libyan-born Muslim. Aliya and her mom Krista Bremer join Dick Gordon to talk about Aliya’s decision - and her mom’s reaction.
- Visit Krista's website to read more of her writing about her family.
- See more photos of Aliya and her mom
THE NEXT CHAPTER: LUIS NAJERA
Luis Najera
As you know, many of the stories on the program catch our guests at moments of decision or crossroads in their lives. We’re trying to make sure we stay in touch with these people and their stories as part of a regular feature called “The Next Chapter.” Today we follow up with Luis Najera. Luis was a reporter in Juarez, a major center of Mexico’s current drug war. Many reporters there have been killed. When he got a tip that he was a target, he and his wife decided to pack up, take their three kids and become refugees in Canada. They've just been granted political asylum there.
- Listen to the original interview with Luis
She's in Charge
Friday, June 25 2010
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She's in charge
Jody Nelson
General David Petraeus is replacing General Stanley McChrystal in Afghanistan. McChrystal resigned this week, after an article in Rolling Stone quoted him criticizing members of the Obama administration. As the controversy around the situation unfolds, we thought it would be a good chance to listen back to Dick Gordon's conversation with a U.S. military leader who's been working on the ground in Afghanistan. Earlier this year, Dick spoke with Lieutenant Colonel Jody Nelson. She’s responsible for more than 750 troops and is working daily with Afghans in an attempt to bring security to her area. She speaks with Dick candidly about her view of how things are going.
- See pictures of Lt. Col. Jody Nelson in Afghanistan
Dance lessons from Michael
Joanne Spencer
Today is the one year anniversary of the death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Tributes are planned around the globe. Tomorrow, the Jackson family is holding a red carpet event, "Forever Michael," to commemorate the occasion. Joanne Spencer joins Dick to talk about the profound affect that Michael Jackson had on her own life. It's a story that Joanne didn't quite understand until the days immediately following the singer's untimely death. Â
Finally, An Answer
Thursday, June 24 2010
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FINALLY, AN ANSWER
Monica Downer
The 2010 U.S. Rowing National Championships start today in New Jersey. For athletes who are in training for the 2012 Olympics in London, this is a key stepping stone. Monica Downer won at nationals, and thought she was headed to the Olympics at Beijing. But just as she would get close to reaching her goal, her body seemed to give out on her. After years of misdiagnoses, she was finally informed that she had Lyme disease. Lyme diagnoses are on the increase in this country, and especially at this time of year. Dick Gordon and Monica talk about the unexpected upside of her journey through diagnosis and treatment.
- Learn more about Lyme disease
ALL THAT GLITTERS
Diane Gohl
When Diane Gohl was 23 years old she went on her first trip abroad to Bangkok, Thailand. She fell in with a group of smooth talking Thai gem merchants. They persuaded her to charge $3,000 to her credit card in exchange for five sapphires. Diane soon found that she’d been scammed - but her story doesn’t end there. She joins Dick to talk about the scam - and how she eventually got most of her money back.
Haiti: Two Children and a Tarp
Wednesday, June 23 2010
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Haiti: Two Children and a Tarp
Sandra Amilcar with her children
There are still more than a million and a half people living in tents and under tarps in Haiti. Many of the tarps have been out in the sun for months … so they're starting to fall apart. Now that it's the rainy season, they leak. Sandra Amilcar says all she can do us is gather her two kids under a corner of the tarp and try to stay dry. She's a single mother in Leogane and talks with Dick Gordon about how she's getting by. Dick also checks in with Roody Joseph, a Haitian American aid worker who is helping Sandra and other people in the tent community.
- See pictures of Sandra and the building of a new tent community.
- Follow Roody's work and blog.
Caring for the injured
Hilda Alcindor
Hilda Alcindor directs the nursing school in Leogane. For the past six months, her students have been helping people injured in the earthquake, and the school yard is still full of tents. Hilda trained at the national nursing school in Port au Prince, which was flattened in the quake. After working for 30 years in the U.S., she returned to serve her country. Now she's trying to convince a new generation of Haitian nurses to do the same thing.
- Learn more about Hilda's nursing school.
The Hand of God
Tuesday, June 22 2010
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tHE HAND OF GOD
Steve Hodge
In the history of World Cup controversies, one of the most talked about moments happened in Mexico in 1986. England was playing Argentina in the quarter finals. The play was in front of the English net. Steve Hodge had just tapped the ball over his head, supposedly into the hands of his own keeper, but just at that moment, the Argentinian star Diego Maradona leapt up and knocked the ball into the net with his hand. The ref didn’t see it. This goal counted and Argentina went on to win the game and the World Cup. Today, we look back at what has become known as the “Hand of God” controversy with Steve Hodge. Steve says the experience came to define his career in a way he never could have expected.
- Learn more about Steve's book
- See video of the Hand of God play
MY WEDDING APPENDECTOMY
Erica and Chris Martin
Today, another in our occasional series of memorable wedding stories. Chris and Erica Martin had everything planned for their perfect day. It was to be a great party with all their friends there with them. But Chris says on that day he felt just awful. He could barely stand up. We’ll hear the story of entering into matrimonial bliss right at the moment when Chris is collapsing from acute appendicitis. And what it’s like to say “I do” when you’re feeling like "I’m dying."
- See photos from the wedding day.
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