University of Texas students rally before a State Board of Education meeting in Austin, Texas, on March 10, 2010. Students marched to the public hearing to ask "the far-right, conservative faction of the state board to not inject their political agenda into the social studies and history curriculum." (AP)
Texas School Officials Set To Influence Social Studies Textbooks Nationwide
The Texas Board of Education is expected to approve proposed changes in the state’s K-12 social studies curriculum. The new standards will emphasize Christianity and capitalism, and modern Republican figures including Ronald Reagan and Phyllis Schlafly. We’ll have an update on today’s closing debates with Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News.
Worried About His Daughters, Cancer-Stricken Author Bruce Feiler Considers Council Of Dads
When best-selling author Bruce Feiler (“Walking The Bible”, “America’s Prophet”) found out he had cancer two years ago, he worried about his twin daughters, who were three at the time. “What would they remember about me if I died,” Bruce thought. He came up with an idea to ask six of his closest friends to try to fill that eventual void for his daughters. Today Bruce is fine, but his idea has exploded and is helping other people. Bruce’s new book is “The Council Of Dads: My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be Me.”
- Read Bruce Feiler’s letter to his friends asking them to join his Council of Dads
- Listen to Robin’s interview with Bruce Feiler about Moses as “America’s Prophet”
Thailand Tries To Move Forward After Deadly Anti-Government Protest
Thailand’s prime minister says order has been restored. But Thais who witnessed the standoff between the government and the Red Shirts say the problem has not gone away. Lucy Williamson of the BBC reports.
Homeland Security Eyes Farmland In Vermont
The Department of Homeland Security wants to renovate and upgrade a seldom-used border crossing facility along the Canadian border. To do this, they’ll have to acquire several acres of farmland from a Vermont family, possibly by seizing it through eminent domain. Family members says the government is offering only $39,500 for the land, and they question whether the facility is needed. We’ll speak to Brian Rainville, whose family owns the farm.
Bud Collins Readies His Pants For The French Open
Rafael Nadal beats Roger Federer at the Madrid Open, May 16, 2010. (AP)
Mr. Tennis, journalist Bud Collins, joins us from Paris to tell us what we can expect from the 2010 French Open tennis tournament, which begins Sunday. Spaniard Rafael Nadal is favored to win over longtime rival and defending French Open champion Roger Federer, currently ranked #1 in the world. As for the women, it’s anybody tournament.
Food: The New Culinary Order
Cupcake from 2010 IACP conference in Portland, OR (Flickr/justcooknyc)
What’s the latest buzz in the culinary world? To find out, Here and Now’s resident chef Kathy Gunst recently traveled to the food crazy city of Portland, Oregon, host of this year’s annual conference of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, called “The New Culinary Order.”
Music From The Show
- Air, “Mike Mills”
- The Wee Trio, “About a Girl”
- Paul Simon, “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”
- Christian McBride, “Brother Mister”
- Charles Mingus, “Pedal Point Blues”
- Pink Martini, “No Hay Problema”
