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The Leonard Lopate Show

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Arlen Specter Never Gives Up

Senator Arlen Specter talks about everything from his fight with Hodgkin’s disease, to wiretapping, pro football, and the war in Iraq. His new memoir is Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate.

If you can't see the video click here

Mysterious Bat-Killing Disease

A mysterious bat-killing disease is striking caves throughout the Northeast. It's been called "white nose syndrome," because a white fungus grows on the sick bats' noses. Wildlife biologist Alan Hicks, bat specialist for New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation, tells us more about the disease, and why we should be concerned for the bats' welfare.

States of the Union: Wyoming

States of the Union focuses on Wyoming. Wyoming is the most sparsely populated state in the country, but it ranks highest in mining employment. The state produces coal, natural gas, uranium, and coalbed methane and we look at how the state’s mining industry shapes the energy debate. Leonard finds out some of the other issues that matter to voters in the Cowboy State from Bob Beck, News Director of Wyoming Public Radio.

States of the Union fact of the week: Vice President Dick Cheney served as Wyoming’s Congressman for 6 terms.

Wyoming Public Radio website

New York Writer Has Midlife Crisis at 37

Scott Spencer’s new novel is Willing. It’s about a struggling New York writer who has a midlife crisis at age 37.

Event: Scott Spencer will be speaking and signing books
Wednesday, March 19 at 7 pm
McNally Robinson
52 Prince Street (between Lafayette and Mulberry Streets)

Scott Spencer will be reading with Rudy Wurlitzer
Thursday, April 3 at 7 pm
192 Books
192 10th Avenue (22nd Street)

Word Maven Patricia T. O’Conner

Word maven Patricia T. O’Conner answers your questions about our wacky English language. Call us at 212-433-9692 or leave a comment below.

Patricia T. O’Conner’s Grammarphobia website

National Book Award Winners

The Leonard Lopate Show

A number of this year’s National Book Award winners have appeared on The Leonard Lopate Show. Click here to see the list!

Tributes: Jeanne-Claude

The Leonard Lopate Show

Jeanne-Claude created environmental works of art with her husband and fellow-conspirator/collaborator Christo. Together, they wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin, the Pont-Neuf in Paris, and created The Gates, with billowy orange drapes, in Central Park. Jeanne-Claude just died at the age of 74. You can hear Leonard Lopate’s last interview with them both, from July 19, 1999.

Please Explain: Eco-Labels

The Leonard Lopate Show

Your broccoli, shampoo, and air conditioner might bear labels declaring them to be organic, cruelty-free, or energy efficient, but what do those labels mean and are they true? Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Project Director for Consumer Reports' GreenerChoices.org and Consumers Union’s Senior Scientist for Policy Initiatives, and Dara O'Rourke, founder and CEO of GoodGuide.com, took a look at what eco-labels indicate, how standards are set, and what they mean for consumers and manufacturers around the world.

Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

The Leonard Lopate Show

On May 3, the Lopate Show won its third James Beard Award for our 3-ingredient challenge. In August, we asked our listeners to call in and name 3 ingredients and then challenged New York chef and 3-ingredient expert Rozanne Gold to whip up a recipe! You can listen to the 3-ingredient challenge and get some inspiration for simple, delicious, and unexpected dishes.