Sorting Out the Stimulus
President Barack Obama leaves Washington today, to take his pitch for the stimulus package to towns that desperately needs the money. Tonight, he holds his first prime time press conference. This after a weekend of activity on the stimulus bill, including a special Saturday session of the Senate. Greg Ip is US Economics Editor for The Economist and he joins us to sort it all out.
Three Cups of Tea
A conversation with Greg Mortenson, the author of the best-selling book, “Three Cups of Tea.” He’s been building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan and now the U.S. Military is asking for his advice. His short answer: “More schools, especially for girls, not more troops.”
Mayors on the Stimulus Bill
We speak to two mayors about their hopes for the stimulus package being negotiated in Washington. Dick Moore is the mayor of the mayor of Elkhart, Indiana, where unemployment is approaching 20-percent. Jim Burch is mayor of Cape Coral, Florida, where the home foreclosure rate is over 10-percent.
Finding a New Job
As more and more people lose their jobs, business is booming for outplacement firms that help laid-off workers find new jobs. But some people are also tapping into social netoworking sites like Facebook and Twitter for help. Here and Now’s Curt Nickisch reports.
Lark and Termite
We speak with author Jayne Anne Phillips about her highly acclaimed new novel “Lark and Termite.” The book interweaves the stories of Lark, a young girl coming of age in 1950’s West Virginia, her brain-damaged brother Termite, their aunt Nonie, and Termite’s father Robert, a Korean War soldier who comes under fire as he escorts fleeing South Korean civilians.
On today’s program, Greg Mortenson referred to an email that he’d received from General David Patreus who mentioned three bullet points that he’d taken from Mortenson’s book. I was driving at the time and could not jot it down but I’m hoping there is some way to find that statement, quote, transcript…?
Can you help?
Thanks.
Posted by John Godec, on February 9th, 2009 at 3:03 pmI attended a talk given by Greg Mortenson this past Saturday, in Framingham, Mass., and wanted to pass on to listeners that when Greg first came out onto the stage, one by one people stood up to applaud his efforts. It is the only time I have ever been to a public speaking event where the speaker was given a standing ovation before even having spoken to the audience. It was an incredibly moving event.
Relative to what the Obama administration has planned now for Afgahanistan, I keep wondering…has Michelle Obama read “Three Cups of Tea?”
Posted by Hope Leeson, on February 9th, 2009 at 3:48 pmI was happy to hear (Morning Edition) General Patreus say that we need to drink “many cups of tea” in Afghanistan. Thank you Mr. Mortenson for all of your efforts and especially for showing our leaders ways to promote peace in that region. Thank you NPR (Here and Now) for following up on this inspiring story…it is too important to be missed!
I was also at the lecture this past weekend and agree that it was a very moving event. Maybe we should send the entire Obama family all of Mortenson’s books??
John, I believe that General Patreus’ three “bullet” points were:
Posted by Sarah Peace, on February 9th, 2009 at 10:59 pm-build relationships
-have respect
-listen
I too have not been able to find Jayne Phillips recommended reading list. Can you help me out. I am relly interested in seeing it.
Posted by Shirley M. Meeker, on February 10th, 2009 at 3:20 pmHi Shirley-
Here’s the info you requested. Thanks for listening!
Book Recommendations from Jayne Anne Phillips
“War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy
“Madame Bovary” by Gustave Flaubert
“As I Lay Dying” by William Faulkner
“A Death in the Family” by James Agee
-Namita Raina
Posted by Namita Raina, on February 11th, 2009 at 3:39 pm