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The Leonard Lopate Show

Thursday, April 16, 2009
  • Jim Lehrer

    Looking at the Past, Rethinking the Future

    On today’s show: Jim Lehrer, host of the PBS news show, The Lehrer Report, discusses his latest novel. And, two architects discuss the ways we may have to "retrofit" and "rethink" the suburbs for the 21st century. Then, critic Michel Ciment on the French films featured in a new series at BAM. Plus, our latest Underreported segments look into the status of the Newtown Creek cleanup and at neodymium: the dirty little secret of clean energy.

Jim Lehrer

You may know Jim Lehrer as a PBS news anchor, but did you also know that he is a prolific novelist? His latest work of fiction mixes baseball, World War Two and romance. It’s called Oh, Johnny.

The Suburbs New Look

Architects Ellen Dunham-Jones and June Williamson explain how existing suburbs can be redesigned and redeveloped in their book Retrofitting Suburbia.

Check out a slideshow from Retrofitting Suburbia here

Cinématek

Preeminent film critic Michel Ciment is coming back to New York for a upcoming BAMcinématek program highlighting French films that won the prestigious Prix Delluc prize.

Event: Michel Ciment will be introducing films in the Winners of the Prix Delluc series:
Modern Life (La Vie moderne) (2008)
Thursday, April 16, at 6:50 pm

Port of Shadows (Quai des brumes) (1938)
Friday, April 17, at 6:50 pm

Les Choses de la vie (The Things of Life)
Saturday, April 18, st 6:50

À nos amours (To Our Loves) (1983)
Sunday, April 19, at 6:50 pm

La Guerre est finie (The War Is Over)
Monday, April 20, at 7:00 pm

For information about the screenings and for tickets, visit the BAM Cinématek website.

 Newtown Creek Oil Spill

Underreported Update: Newtown Creek

We take a look at the status of cleanup efforts in the heavily polluted Newtown creek on Brooklyn/Queens border. Alex Matthiessen and Phillip Musegaas are with the Riverkeeper organization.

Underreported: Neodymium and Green Energy

Neodymium is a rare earth metal and important component in the electric car engines and wind turbines that are being touted as the future of alternative energy. But, neodymium is not without it’s problems. We'll look at what neodymium is and why we may soon face a global shortage of it with New America Foundation Fellow Lisa Margonelli. Lisa is also author of the book Oil on the Brain

Tributes: Kate McGarrigle

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Folk singer Kate McGarrigle, who gained acclaim for a series of projects with her sister Anna, died Monday, Jan. 18, from a rare form of cancer. She left behind a family of talented musicians, including her sister, son Rufus Wainwright, and daughter Martha Wainwright. McGarrigle appeared on The Leonard Lopate show with her sister in December 2005, ahead of their holiday show at Carnegie Hall.

Monona Rossol on 50 Million Chemicals

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On September 7, 2009, scientists working for the Chemical Abstract Service (which assigns identification numbers to all new chemicals) entered the 50-millionth chemical substance into their Registry. Chemist and industrial hygienist Monona Rossol, President and Founder of Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, took a look at what all these new substances are, where they are coming from, and how they affect our health. Rossol also responded to listener comments and questions. You can read her answers here.

Alan Alda on What Makes Us Human

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Barbara Demick on Ordinary Lives in North Korea

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Lucien Castaing-Taylor on "Sweetgrass"

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Michael Pollan on Food in 2010

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Atul Gawande on The Checklist Manifesto

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Christopher Kimball on Surviving Holiday Cooking Disasters

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Lidia Bastianich on Cooks from the Heart of Italy

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Neil deGrasse Tyson on Pluto

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National Book Award Winners

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

Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

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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.