new moons

We have come to the end of the semester and therefore the end of the program for now. Since the MEDIA MEDLEY program that aired on March 22, the Educational Showdown featured a variety of music and educational programs including a few weeks of Adrienne's astute 2-hour musical compilations and two other programs focusing on the PIANO and LIES AND DECEIT...both are available for listening and download! Unfortunately we didn't get to save Adrienne's music programs but if you're interested in some musical inspiration, just send us an email at the educationalshowdown@gmail.com and Adrienne can fulfill all your voids.

Also - We would never have been able to do this without WRUV as a instrumental mainstay of the UVM/Burlington community. To donate to WRUV and its cause please visit WRUV.ORG where you'll find many options for supporting WRUV. 

Thank you for listening and stay tuned for new programs over the next year!

At the forefront of your intellectual desires...
Jaime and Adrienne

Gallimaufry

Chris Lapointe and myself held down the Educational Showdown yesterday while Adrienne Perry was being restful and attending to her wisdom teeth sockets.

We returned from our 3 week respite with a fun and light-hearted melee of whatever interesting topics in history and current events we felt like talking about.

Historical Events, Vernal Equinox, Creative Commons, New Music, Funny News, Spelling Bees and Film Festivals

This show was for those with short attention spans, vast areas of interest and appreciators of trivial knowledge. Check it out on the right and stay tuned next week for a pseudo-biographical program on the Piano.

We must be psychic!

On our last episode, 3.1.2008-"Mental Health", we mentioned the importance and urgency of the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007. As of last week, it had been stuck in the U.S. House yet to be voted on. However in today's NY TIMES, it was announced to have passed!

IT'S NOT OVER YET!

Even though in 2002, President Bush stated he would support such legislation, he hesitated at acceptance of the bill that appeared on his desk yesterday.

"Supporters of mental health parity see it as a civil rights issue, and the debate Wednesday was filled with poignant moments.

“I have a mental illness, and I am fortunately getting the best care this country has to offer because I am a member of Congress,” said Representative Patrick J. Kennedy, Democrat of Rhode Island and chief sponsor of the House bill. Mr. Kennedy has been treated for depression and drug dependence."

- NY TIMES ARTICLE

Take a look at this article and let's take action together to educate ourselves and each other

I had things on my mind

Last week's episode of the Educational Showdown featured the most comprehensive corroboration of interviews we've seen yet. A psychiatrist, nurse, researcher, assisted employment specialist and ex-girfriend all came together Saturday, 3.1.2008, to speak on their perspectives, battles and goals with the industry of mental health.

Tough questions with calculated answers interspersed themselves among the intimate discussion surrounding the complex problem with our society's commitment to treatment and outreach to those with a mental illness.

From the Surgeon General's Report in 2002, 25% of people in the United States are living with a diagnosable mental illness at any given time. Mental illness can be permanent or transient, but the bottom line is that it afflicts many more than we perceive.


"Mental illness doesn't just affect 3 or 4 out of 5, but one out of one" - Dr. William Menninger

Whether you're living with a form of a mental disease or not, it's nearly impossible that you're not affected by someone with one. As a result, we urge two points of action:

1. EDUCATION FURTHER -- see right panel for useful links
2. WRITE YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES in Washington DC to help boost the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 into further legislation; an essential amendment to our currently corrupt insurance policy laws.

Great thanks to (in order of appearance on program): Dr. Robin Lessoff-Perry, Tyson Barker, Daniel Sachs, Scott Perry and Autumn Polidor for contributing to the program

In addition, we're taking a short break for the next two weeks. We'll see you again from WRUV FM Burlington 90.1 on March 22nd from 2-4pm.

At the forefront of your intellectual desires...

Weather is of the Heart

Saturday's program entitled "Under an Ocean of Air: Meditations on the weather" featured a myriad of fun, emotional and complicated perspectives on the weather. Highlights of the program included, trivia, an extreme weather montage, nuclear war during the Cold War and two interviews: Steve Maleski and Tom Messner.

Steve Maleski (left) is one of the meteorologist at the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury. He has been forecasting the weather from the Museum since 1982 and Mark Breen (on the right) has been there with him from the beginning. Their charming reports can be heard on VPR and sometimes other regional stations that extend throughout NY, VT, NH, Western Maine and Southern Quebec. Check out the program for a intriguing and inspirational conversation with Steve Maleski. Visit www.eotsweb.org for more

Tom Messner, head meteorologist for WPTZ television, is a popular local celebrity that not only reports the weather with zeal, but visits schools and attends many community events to take on "the responsibility and opportunity to be a leader in the public eye". He loves having fun, joking around, and also analyzing why the Champlain Valley is so beautiful. Listen in for a conversation with Tom and visit www.wptz.com for more.

This guy is for real

So this Saturday 2.23.2008...we're going appreciate the Ocean of Air that covers us...better known as the stratosphere. The stratosphere holds hundreds of wonders and events of excitement for us ground dwellers and we will meditate upon all of this and more on this week's episode of the Educational Showdown, entitled "Under an Ocean of Air: Meditations on the Weather"

Don't forget to vote on the poll to the right and in the meantime...for your entertainment...see below.

So there's an infinite number of reasons why to get excited about the weather...but here's Mark Mathis...from Charlotte NC. He honestly reports the weather...well sorta...on the local FOX station there...

A Starch Masterpiece

On today's show: along with the narrative slumbers of Dion McGregor we have an interview with Rachel Esancy (left: photopolymer gravure ©2003) artist and manager of Battery Street Jeans, on the traumatic isolation she endured in the name of sleep science. We are also bringing you a collection of dreams from various local personalities and a myriad of cutting edge facts from sleep research being conducted today.
Call us at (802) 656-4399 from 2-4 pm EST!
If you still find yourself tossing and turning when you retire tonight, you may have Restless Leg Syndrome. Find out more, and occupy a small portion of your endless sleepless night, by listening to the list of alternative names for RLS as performed by Michael Showalter.
Next Week: Living Under an Ocean of Air: Meditations on Weather. Are there specific weather-related topics you would like us to cover; some question on the science of precipitation, clouds, storm fronts, or natural disasters that has been nagging you for years? Leave a comment below and we will do our best to satisfy your aching hunger for knowledge and put at ease your inquiring mind.

Somniloquism and the Sleeping Dimension

This Saturday, 2.16.2008, our episode will reveal audio clips a startling and boggling somniloquist. Thanks to Collin Pruitt and his blog, INK MATHEMATICS, we can share with you the unbelievable dreams and unilateral dialogue of Dion McGregor.




In conjunction with Dion McGregor's dreamworld, we will explore the dreams of others, and hopefully, dreams of our listeners. In addition, we will draw from the scientific findings and studies of sleeping and its affect on health and vitality. We will also provide an interview with a participant of an intense and somewhat traumatic sleep study. Tune in on Saturday from 2-4pm on WRUV.ORG or 90.1FM in Burlington VT.

At the forefront of your intellectual desires...

Remnants from 2.9.2008 Fermented Foods

As promised on air, I'm posting this very exciting video clip advertising for Kimchi and all its glory. As Adrienne so cleverly points out, please note the "indiscernible pickle/pepper-like action figure, Mr. Kimchi". If you have any thoughts as to what this Mr. Kimchi is supposed to be, whether it's an accurate biological representation or some kind of abstract cartoon imagery, let us know!



In addition, the other videos that we played on Kombucha and Kimchi during our program are linked here...

KIMCHI INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO

KOMBUCHA INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO

80'S KOMBUCHA VIDEO

Excellence in Radio Journalism

Coincidently, this painting is featured in a current exhibition on display in the Dudley H. Davis Center at the University of Vermont, called "Americans Who Tell the Truth", a collection of portraits by Robert Shetterly.

As an augmentation to our nascent educational radio program, I've been fervently listening to and seeking out other great radio journalists and interviewers to gain insight and a model to strive for. As usual, NPR is a idealistic model for informational talk radio, but many other professional and reputable radio hosts exist.

One such host is Bill Moyers. He currently is the host and producer of Bill Moyers' Journal on PBS:

"Bringing back the landmark PBS series that first aired 35 years ago, Bill Moyers Journal will be reinvented for the 21st century to reflect the new challenges facing journalism and the issues confronting democracy. As always with a Moyers project on PBS, this one will be on mission, timely, and important.

The goal is to enrich the conversation of democracy with fresh and original voices-perspectives seldom available anywhere else on television-that reflect a diversity of wisdom, experience, and insight. Each week in a one-hour broadcast, BILL MOYERS JOURNAL will feature produced analysis of vital issues, strong interviews with unique voices on politics, the arts and letters, science, religion, and the media, as well as debates on public issues and documentary specials."

In the last week or so, I've become a dedicated fan and "student" of Bill Moyers, vying for his exceptional approach to American struggles and inquiring top intellects and genuine contemporary perspectives on how to deal with or solve those struggles.

Visit the homepage of Bill Moyers Journal here.

I highly suggest podcasting and listening to the following three episodes as a powerful introduction to Bill Moyers' Journal:

1. 12/28/2007 with Historian Tom Cahill
2. 4/27/2007 with Jon Stewart and Josh Marshell
3. 10/5/2007 Essay on Amish Grace

In addition, Bill Moyers' has an incredible profile and history full of revolutionary trials and successes. A brief history from Wikipedia reads:

"During the Kennedy Administration, Moyers was first appointed as associate director of public affairs for the newly created Peace Corps in 1961. He served as Deputy Director from 1962-63. When Johnson took office after the Kennedy assassination, Moyers became a special assistant to Johnson, serving from 1963–1967. He played a key role in organizing and supervising the 1964 Great Society legislative task forces and was a principal architect of Johnson's 1964 presidential campaign. When Walter Jenkins resigned from Johnson's staff in October 1964, Moyers became the President's informal chief of staff until 1966. From July 1965 to February 1967, he also served as White House Press Secretary.^[3] In the New York Times on April 3, 1966, Moyers offered this insight on his stint as press secretary to President Johnson: "I work for him despite his faults and he lets me work for him despite my deficiencies."^[4][5] The details of his rift with Johnson have not been made public, but may be discussed in a forthcoming memoir".^[6]

"Recipient of the 2006 Lifetime Emmy, "Bill Moyers has devoted his lifetime to the exploration of the major issues and ideas of our time and our country, giving television viewers an informed perspective on political and societal concerns," according to the official announcement, which also noted, "the scope of and quality of his broadcasts have been honored time and again. It is fitting that the National Television Academy honor him with our highest honor – the Lifetime Achievement Award."^[7] He has received well over thirty Emmys and virtually every other major television journalism prize, including a gold baton from the Dupont Journalism awards, a lifetime Peabody award, and a George Polk Career Award (his third George Polk Award) for contributions to journalistic integrity and investigative reporting. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and has been the recipient of numerous honorary degrees."

I hope that Bill Moyers' graceful and ingenious journalistic and critically analytical abilities will penetrate your psyche and rationale as much as mine.

The Kombucha Cult

So after searching some YouTube videos for "kombucha" we found some very strange ones.
But this one is my favorite...

We have our own theme song - beat that!

In case you missed it during our premiere....here's our theme song that we recorded in two takes. We only strive for quality

Radio Theme Song

PS - Chris LaPointe gets artist credit

Interview: Paul Kindstedt, PhD

Paul Kindstedt, PhD

University of Vermont Professor, Researcher, Author, Vermont/International Cheese Expert

Coming up on Saturday's show, 2.9.2008, we will hear from Dr. Kindstedt and the complexities of cheese & culture. Yes, this is a double entendre...not only is the biological technology of cheese extraordinarily intricate, but the cultural atmosphere related to cheese is just as complex! If you never thought that cheese could affect culture in the sociological sense of the word, then you'll be more than surprised by Dr. Kindstedt's revelation of controversy and debates surrounding cheese and culture!


To get pumped, check out some of these interesting topics: "terroir" , "Protected Designation of Origin" , Legislation Endangering KRAFT Foods

Fermented Babies!

Listen to the 2.2.2008 program here - "Abortion"

This Saturday, 2.9.2008, Adrienne and I will broadcast a 2 hour sensational radio program featuring fermented foods. Interviews, recipes and opinions will disseminate the fanaticism and historical glory that all fermented foods deserve!

Cheese! Beer! Sourdough! Kombucha! Yogurt! Wine! Kimchi! Cider!

The list is endless....and so is our hunger! for tantalizing knowledge that is....

Listen in this Saturday from 2-4pm on 90.1FM for the Burlington area, or live streaming on wruv.org. All shows can be downloaded at wruv.org as well for up to a week after the broadcasting! Or if we're on top of our game, shows will be available on this blog weekly.

The Beginning of the End

"Edu-edu-educational, edu-edu-educational....show down!"

Today, February 2nd 2008, Adrienne Perry and myself, Jaime Leclerc, premiered our educational initiative on the radio airwaves of WRUV FM Burlington. Our mission to bring Controversy, Lectures and Anecdotal Evidence to the hungry intellects of the Greater Burlington Area (and beyond at wruv.org) was off to a strong start today with a 2 hour intensive program seeping with emotion, controversy, academia, history and opinion surrounding the topic of abortion.

Today's show featured:

• A refreshing personal and intimate interview with a peer about her personal experience with abortion
• A insightful and amazingly informative account of abortion, definition personhood, sexual education, and embryonic legislation by Linda MacDonald Glenn, JD, LL.M

The original broadcast and be streamed or downloaded in mp3 format from wruv.org

More to come