8 O'Clock Buzz

It’s that time of year where the birds come out to signal the start of spring, usually beating the weather to the punch. But what if you could, just by listening, identify those birds based on what they have to say? “Birding by Ear” is a popular annual program organized by a partnership between the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and the Madison Audubon. The class teaches techniques for identifying birds by close listening, and people who are sighted as well as blind or visually impaired are welcome to enroll. Joining host Andy Moore to talk about “Birding by Ear” are Judith Rasmussen, the Program Assistant for the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Kerry Wilcox, class instructor.

“Birding by Ear” is hosted by the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Madison Audubon. Classes take place this year in late April and early May, both online and in the field. For exact dates, locations and times, and to register, go to madisonaudubon.org/. There is a 20 dollar registration fee. Note: the Madison Audubon is currently in the thoughtful process of changing the organization’s name. More information can be found at madisonaudubon.org/audubon-name.

Photo courtesy of Walter Siegmund via Wikimedia Commons

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

Longtime “rural journalist” Charley Preusser joins the 8 O’Clock Buzz crew this morning during his visit to Madison for the 2023 Wisconsin Newspaper Association Convention which is underway at the Concourse Hotel. As editor of the award-winning Crawford County Independent & Kickapoo Scout-Gays Mills, Charley provides host Tony Castañeda and Buzz producer Eli Wilz a peek inside the world of journalism taking place far from the madding crowd, and the important role small independent newspapers play in their communities.

Photo courtesy of Sandra Vasilenko on Unsplash.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

Recent protests in Israel have seen hundreds of thousands of Israelis take to the streets to express their rejection of the ultra-nationalists’ attempt to subvert democracy in their country. But where has the widespread protest been for the Israeli Palestinians who have been denied basic human rights in that same country? Jennifer Lowenstein, freelance journalist and former lecturer at UW-Madison, joins host Tony Castañeda and the Thursday Morning 8 O’Clock Buzz to talk about this apparent contradiction, and how protests by Israelis concerned with their own political fight are overshadowing the plight of Palestinians living in Israel. She argues that the ultra-nationalists’ actions exemplified by the recent speech given by the Israeli Finance Minister denying the existence of Palestinians should not really come as a surprise because this has been an underlying opinion held by many conservatives in Israel for decades.

Photo courtesy of Bruce Emmerling on Pixabay. 

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

In her latest article “There Are More Chairmen Named ‘Mike’ Than Women Committee Leaders in Congress“, Maya Kornberg, Research Fellow, Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, talks with Jan Miyasaki about the inequitable distribution of women and people of color in getting committee leadership positions.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

The Farm Bill establishes the policies and government supports for a range of U.S. agricultural priorities, reviewed and written every five years. Jim Walsh, Policy Director at Food and Water Watch, talks about early proposals being developed for the next farm bill, plans which would give a lot of money to large corporate farms in the form of energy “offsets” for operations which would allow these farms to receive payments for generating more fossil fuel in the form of methane, and then allow them to sell the offsets to other climate polluters. 60+ environmental and farm groups have joined to opposed this dirty energy.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

While most of us pay 14% in taxes, the average billionaire pays 8%, and often times none — according to Karen Dolan, Director of the Criminalization of Race and Poverty Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, and author a recent article “Biden’s Budget Would Level the Playing Field and Reduce the Deficit“. In her article she describes some of the benefits to children, including childcare expenses, early childhood education programs, and child tax credits, as well as others, which would total $600 billion over ten years — a dollar amount less than a single year of the pentagon’s budget — which could be paid for by making the wealthy pay their fair share.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

Today on the Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Tara Wilhelmi and 1neofmani (Breyon Sommerville)… Robert Wynn of CLIMB USA joins us to talk about CLIMB’s mission to bring financial education to everyone, personal finance and how to build a long-term financial future for your family and community.  In the second half, Araceli Esparza of Midwest Mujeres​ joins us to talk about her work, what Midwest Mujeres is up to, and their summit coming up this weekend.

More about Bob and Climb USA: https://www.climbusa.org/ 

More information on Climb USA’s upcoming Stock Market Experience to help youth understand good investment practices: https://www.climbusa.org/stock-market-experience .  Virtual Open Houses in April and competition starting in June.  To volunteer to help or bring ideas, contact CLIMB by email at  [email protected].

More about Araceli: https://www.araceliesparza.com/ and Midwest Mujeres: https://www.midwestmujeres.com/

For tickets or more information on “Let’s Speak Up: Elevating, Belonging, & Centering Our Stories Summit” coming up on Sunday March 26th, 2023: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-speak-up-elevating-belonging-centering-our-stories-tickets-532269120267 and save the date for Yo Quiro Dinero on June 16th at MyArts Theatre.

Listen in Madison at 89.9FM or online anywhere at wortfm.org.  Support your community radio with a donation online at wortfm.org.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

WORT 89.9FM Madison · Cafe Coda’s “Coda Coach” Brings Music to the Neighborhoods

Cafe Coda has served up cutting-edge jazz and improvisational music to Madison’s audiences for several years now.  In addition to its role as a music venue, Cafe Coda has a broader educational mission.  The Cool School has provided improvisational music education to middle and high schoolers. Now, Cafe Coda is working to bring new music out of the venue and to communities and neighborhoods.  Here to tell us more is Cafe Coda founder and musician Hanah Jon Taylor.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

WORT 89.9FM Madison · James Webb Telescope Marks One Year In Operation

The James Webb Space telescope, perhaps the most complicated piece of machinery humanity has ever produced, has now completed one revolution around the sun.  Locked into a gravitationally stable orbit a million miles from the earth, NASA’s ten billion dollar infrared observatory has already produced a bounty of spectacular astronomical images.  With a planned ten year mission, however, Webb has only just begun to fulfill its scientific promise.  Kelly Lepo is an Outreach Scientist with the Space Telescope Science Institute.  Kelly Lepo joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on March 20, 2023.

Photo of Pillars of Creation by James Webb Space Telescope, NASA

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here

WORT 89.9FM Madison · UN Reaches Accord On High Seas Treaty

It’s a common trope in seafaring action movies.  The hero, kidnapped by bad guys, says, “You’ll never get away with this!”  In response, the piratical chief villain sneers, “We’re in international waters, there is no law here.”  Like many cliches, this one contains a grain of truth.  However, the traditionally unregulated high seas, defined as 230 miles from any shore, became a little less lawless on March 5.  That’s when a team of international negotiators at the United Nations declared they had reached a consensus on a landmark high seas treaty.  The treaty focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in the high seas.  Marcel Jaspars teaches biochemistry at the Marine Biodiscovery Centre at the University of Aberdeen, and was one of the participants in the marathon negotiations.  Marcel Jaspars joins us now from Aberdeen, Scotland.

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here