Obelisk In The Sky/Obama In The House: D.C.'s Monumental Myths
From Rebecca Sheir | Part of the The Newcomer's Guide to Washington series | 05:47
Think you know why the White House flag is flying, and the Washington Monument is tri-colored? Then you might want to think again.
In the third installment of her series, "A Newcomer's Guide To Washington," intrepid D.C. newcomer Rebecca Sheir explorers -- and busts -- some myths of monumental proportions about the city she now calls home.
Does the flag over the White House signal the President's at home? Is the Washington Monument three different colors thanks to an epic flood? Find out in this whimsical, sound-rich journey through Washington, D.C.'s colorful past and present.
Lincoln, Memorialized: The Myths & Legends Of A D.C. Icon
From Rebecca Sheir | Part of the The Newcomer's Guide to Washington series | 06:58
Secret signs... hidden profiles... underground stalactites... This is not your 8th-grade tour of D.C.'s Lincoln Memorial.
Secret messages in sign language. Hidden sculptures of Confederate generals. Underground stalactites. In the sixth and final chapter of Rebecca Sheir's "Newcomer's Guide To Washington," we tackle the myths and legends surrounding one of DC's most iconic sites: the Lincoln Memorial.
The Myths And Mysteries Of Curious George(town)
From Rebecca Sheir | Part of the The Newcomer's Guide to Washington series | 06:45
Georgetown is one of Washington, D.C.'s most storied neighborhoods - but not all of those stories are true...
Georgetown has become a mecca for tourists and Tinseltown alike. Numerous films have been shot there, inspired by the colorful townhouses and cobblestoned streets.
But in this whimsical, sound-rich piece, Rebecca Sheir unravels some of the myths and mysteries surrounding curious Georgetown, and helps us discover why St. Elmo's Fire, The Exorcist and No Way Out don't quite teach you all you need to know about DC's oldest neighborhood...
Shedding Light On Height: The Truth About D.C.'s Skyline
From Rebecca Sheir | Part of the The Newcomer's Guide to Washington series | 04:55
Getting to the bottom of why Washington, D.C.'s building tops... are so low.
Ever wonder why Washington, D.C., has such a modest skyline - especially compared with other major American cities? Perhaps you've heard it has something to do with the height of the Capitol Building, or the Washington Monument.
In this second installment of "A Newcomer's Guide To Washington," Rebecca Sheir gets to the bottom -- and top -- of the mystery, and sheds some light on D.C.'s building height.
J Street, Traffic Circles & The Swamp That Never Was
From Rebecca Sheir | Part of the The Newcomer's Guide to Washington series | 05:34
Was DC really built on a swamp? Why does the grid system have no J Street? And what's up with all those crazy traffic circles?
In the first installment of the new series, A Newcomer's Guide to Washington, intrepid radio reporter Rebecca Sheir uncovers some of Washington, D.C.'s most enduring mysteries... and flat-out myths. Did George Washington really build the nation's capital on a swamp? Why does the District's grid system have no J Street? And what the heck is up with all those traffic circles? Sheir, a newcomer to D.C., grabs her microphone and hits the streets to find out.
Keeping the Music Playing... After Losing Your Hearing
From Rebecca Sheir | 06:10
Finding out you have hearing loss might not be music to your ears... but it doesn't mean you have to change your tune.
The Association of Adult Musicians With Hearing Loss is a national group for adults who refuse to let hearing impairments get in the way of their musical passion. Rebecca Sheir introduces us to two members -- including a guitarist who spent years keeping his hearing loss a secret -- who say while being diagnosed with hearing loss isn't music to your ears, it doesn't mean you have to change your tune.
Sound & Vision: Why Deaf People See Differently
From Rebecca Sheir | 03:17
Deaf people don't see better... they see differently.
It's often said deaf people see better than hearing people, but a new study from a university geared toward deaf and hard-of-hearing students proves that's not the case.
It turns out deaf people don't develop enhanced vision; they develop enhanced "visual attention" in their periphery. Rebecca Sheir speaks with hearing and deaf people at Gallaudet University's Visual Language and Visual Learning Center, to learn more about the pros and cons of heightened visual attention.