Lots of folks have opinions and feelings about the music of Paul McCartney. IN this 64th birthday piece, Paul Ingles has chosen to work with Richard Goldman, a sort of Beatle expert.
Ingles, with a couple exceptions, uses only enough music to illustrate Goldman's well-considered points. During those exceptions I want to get back to the story line and hear what else is on Goldman's mind - and *then hear more McCartney music.
Ingles also resists the urge to jam everything McCartney into 29 minutes. That sure wouldn't work.
Just so we know this isn't a pushover piece, at the end Ingles includes Goldman's take on Sir Paul's
latest release and why it *doesn't work for him.
But I must say this piece works for me.

Oh, and
Happy Birthday, Paul!

These daily two minute modules on scientific aspects of "Our Ocean World"
are well written and clearly presented, even for listeners without related backgrounds.
The intros are solid and interesting
and flow nicely into the rest of the piece.
I do have three production queries or concerns: is the sound "originally gathered" for these pieces?;
the phone tape was of marginal quality and really stood out in such short modules with otherwise high production values; the reporter also reads the funding credits, which could blur the lines between the two aspects of the production.
I like the fact that these are not regional in terms of being of interest to listeners anywhere.
Nice presentation and narration.

Stephen Cass's interview with Professor Petrovski gives the listener a "180" or paradoxical approach to design...better information comes from designs that fail than from those that succeed.
The professor says that's because the failures draw more scrutiny. Petrovski says without failure, complacency sets in. While this topic could get too weighty and dense, Cass keeps it closer to "snapshot"length.

Hearing this piece is like being an audio voyeur. The cast of L.A. characters we hear are Taylor's friends. It's funny *and insightful.
I wondered how Taylor decided if a message was to be saved - or erased!

Marjorie says upfront this piece is experimental, but we don't get a context...and I thought I heard a monk now and then, but not a peep about beer.
It's like a radio performance piece, but what is REALLY going on?

Allan Coukell takes us to a Haida village in Canada, where the tribal members are giving their ancestors
a traditional burial. We hear from modern Haida involved in a cultural renaissance, using the old ways in this new world.
Coukell's descriptions, through clear writing and sound, take you there.
He brings knowledge, feeling and understanding to the piece.

In this profile of Rubin Carter, Nisean Lorde was able to resist what many network shows could not - over-using Bob Dylan's song about "Hurricane".
It's a great song, but the story here is about Carter.
I think the piece is longer than what is needed to tell this story and elements of his speech are "audience tape" quality, which makes it difficult to hear and understand.
The device of touring Rubin's house works well, as he explains the significance of the different types of flowers he has. (Truth, Friendship, Love, Good) It also gives room for "Hurricane" Carter to share his passion...stepping up to the defense of the wrongly convicted.

This piece is intense. It starts with the narrator saying "...and then I pulled the trigger" and ends with "...wish me luck."
The narration is natural and conversational. It takes you inside the experience, complete with questions, confusion.
I am not a big fan of music under an entire piece, but this time it keeps the pace and doesn't interfere.
It gets us as close as I hope any of us gets to this kind of experience.
"There but for the grace of...go I."

The commentary by Pat Cook Gulya is clearly stated and constructed.
Starting with the hook of rising gas prices, she makes the case for commuting by bicycle, something she's been doing, 9 and a half mile a day for six years. Cook Gulya offers a pleasant, yet informed delivery.
She lays out problems, real and perceived along with her experiences.
Values and benefits of bike commuting are also offered up.
Pat takes the listener along for the ride and, having captured our attention, makes the pitch for us to give it a try as well.
A very enjoyable and informative commentary.

ALS is a tough disease for people and their friends to deal with and understand. Jessica Lockhart's report helps on both fronts.
Her delivery is conversational, smooth and connected to the topic. She brings in the friends of Darcy, a 34 year old diagnosed with ALS. They want to help their friend, and others who may suffer from the disease. AND they come up with a clever name for their effort.
The editing helps set a good pace so the friends of Darcy can to tell their story.

Meth is a problem - and a story - that isn't going away. In the 4th of a 5 part series, Patricia Murphy takes the listener up close and personal to the life of a meth cook. This piece, mainly told by the meth cook and his wife, is graphic, intense, scary and disturbing.
Patricia adds narrative to keep the story moving. Otherwise, she lets them tell it themselves. There are a couple questions left unanswered. While that's understandable in a short piece, I was left wondering how and why on two questions
1) the lead-up to their addiction
2) how long they continued this lifestyle after the tragic fire.
To their credit, KUOW put together a five part series on meth, offering answers as well as questions.

Nakwan Leknerk is a 20 year old Thai woman. Her father has died of HIV and her mother IS dying. In this translated piece Nakwan lays out information many listeners may know.
But in her conclusion, she'll capture your heart,
"We have to help each other.
I can't do this
on my own."
Using this on World Aids Day (Dec 1)
would reach out to younger listeners
and inspire ALL listeners to help
Nakwan to help in any way they can.

Cheryl-Anne Millsap's writing is descriptive yet uncluttered. It takes the listener to the moments of the narrator's experiences. We feel it and "get it" right along with her.
The delivery is conversational and personal, yet authoritative.
I may be too late for Thanksgiving '05, but I recommend airing this piece in subsequent years.

At first I thought this *subject, "Jaz the Cleaning Woman" wasn't closely miced. *You try micing a person who doesn't stand still! I'm not sure a body mic would have made the difference.
The point is, Jaz is on the move.
And the piece uses jazz (the music, not the cleaning woman) as a production element. The music helps portray the character.
Later in the story we get some ambient cleaning sounds and they build near the end. But the music works well also.
This energetic woman offers us pointers, insights - and even a joke about clean glass!
Labor Day is the obvious time to use this, but it also works as a
day-in-the-life.

Daniel Costello has interviewed Doctor Shaw about using recent technology to help with rescue and recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina, espcially in Mississippi.
I would not use this piece (no offense, Daniel) for two main reasons. 1) it is interview format and we prefer to use our hosts and reporters to conduct interviews. 2) It is on the telephone, though luckily with a good line.
I do think Daniel got Doctor Shaw to offer some insight into the technology itself and how it was used in this specific instance.