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The Leonard Lopate Show

Friday, August 08, 2008
  • The Milky Way
    (christopher/flickr)

    See the Light

    Most Americans can’t see the Milky Way in the night sky; here in New York, we’re lucky if we can see any stars at all. On Please Explain, find out why light pollution is a growing problem that may even affect your health. Also, States of the Union is all about Alaska. We look at the new film “Elegy,” based on a Philip Roth novella. And to start us off: answers to all your gardening questions!

Hot Horticulture

New York’s gardeners often have to get creative with limited space, making the best of fire escapes, roofs, and tiny spaces that get little sun or wind. Horticulturist Gerard Lordahl of the CENYC’s Open Space Greening Program answers your questions about gardening in the New York area. Leave a comment or call us at 646-778-3729.

States of the Union: Alaska

We find out what voters in the Last Frontier think about the recent indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens – and what it means for his re-election campaign. Also: Gov. Sarah Palin, who has been mentioned as a potential vice-presidential candidate. And look into how Alaskans feel about drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, located in the Northeast part of the state. Sean Cockerham is government reporter for The Anchorage Daily News.

States of the Union fact of the week: Alaska has only supported a Democratic presidential candidate once – Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Elegy

The new film “Elegy” is based on a novella by Philip Roth; it’s about a cultural critic whose life is thrown into disarray when he becomes romantically involved with one of his students. Isabel Coixet is the director; Patricia Clarkson co-stars. It opens today at the Angelika and Lincoln Plaza Cinemas.

Please Explain: Light Pollution

Most Americans can’t see the Milky Way in the night sky…and here in New York, we’re lucky if we can see any stars at all! Find out why light pollution is a growing problem, and how it may even endanger your health. Leonard talks to Pete Strasser of the International Dark-Sky Association; and Dr. Richard Stevens, cancer epidemiologist and professor at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Does New York City light pollution bother you? What are your tips for dealing with too-bright lights from the streets or from neighbors' homes?

Tom Daschle on Fixing America’s Health Care System

The Leonard Lopate Show

Former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle has accepted President-Elect Barack Obama’s offer to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. You can hear Tom Daschle talk about his prescriptions for fixing American’s health care crisis on the Leonard Lopate Show in March 2008.

Big Plans for America

The Leonard Lopate Show

Democratic Congressman Rahm Emanuel from Illinois has agreed to be Chief of Staff under President-Elect Barack Obama. You can hear him on the Lopate Show in 2006 discussing his thoughts on what the Democratic party needed to do in order to succeed.

Barack Obama, Circa 2004

The Leonard Lopate Show

Listen to President-Elect Barack Obama on the Leonard Lopate Show in November 2004. He had recently won a seat in the U.S. Senate, and only a few months before, his rousing speech during the 2004 Democratic National Convention catapulted him into the national spotlight.

Sen. Joe Biden on the Lopate Show

The Leonard Lopate Show

To find out more about Vice President-Elect Joe Biden’s personal and political life, listen to Leonard’s Aug. 2007 interview with Sen. Biden. At the time, the Senator from Delaware was still a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Guest Picks

The Leonard Lopate Show

Find out surprising facts about some recent guests on the Leonard Lopate Show. Check out our Guest Picks section! Did you know that football star Herschel Walker loves Judge Judy, Laurie Anderson is a big fan of agility training for dogs, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi likes Johnny Depp?