8 O'Clock Buzz

In his newest novella, “Forty Acres Deep,” author Michael Perry tells the story of Harold, a Wisconsin farmer burdened with a recent devastating loss, and his attempt to save the remains of his farm after a record-breaking snowfall. On this edition of the Friday 8 O’Clock Buzz, Michael joins host Andy Moore to discuss Harold’s simultaneously heavy and uplifting story, his inspiration for the book, and how he managed to portray the plight of rural America, “in a timeless, yet time-running-out-way.”

Michael Perry is New York Times bestselling author, humorist, singer/songwriter and playwright from New Auburn, Wisconsin. His newest novella, “Forty Acres Deep,” is available in physical, electronic and audio formats. More information on where to find the book can be found at sneezingcow.com/product/forty-acr…s-deep-paperback/.

Photo courtesy of Michael Perry via Sneezing Cow Publishing

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Mark your calendars for the triumphant return of the Endurance Improv Fest March 23-25, and help Atlas Improv celebrate 19 years in the business of making us laugh. Events kick off on Thursday night with a very special Panic Room for the first hour of made-up comedy, and over the next 3 days they will be bringing you 19 hours of comedy to celebrate 19 year of Atlas Improv. To say thank you to all who have supported them through the years, shows all weekend are entirely free!

Photo courtesy of Atlas Improv

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Fritz Edler, Special Representative, Railroad Workers United, joins host Tony Castańeda and the Thursday morning edition of the 8 O’Clock Buzz to discuss the ongoing saga of railroad safety issues in light of recent derailments. According to Fritz the response at the federal level has been encouraging, but meaningful regulations will be required to improve health and safety issues in the railroading industry. The current version of the Railroad Safety Act of 2023 being considered at the federal level should be considered a good start, but Fritz warns that as currently written it has loopholes that a freight train could drive through. Self-imposed limits undertaken by the industry will not be sufficient and regulations must address standards for the use of early warning sensors and train lengths.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

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Forgiveness is a key part of the healing process, and MOSES, Madison Organizing in Strength, Equity, and Solidarity, promotes forgiveness in their organization’s values, and their support of previously incarcerated individuals’ efforts to return to society. Mark Peterson talks about a seminar this coming Saturday, March 11, 2023, from 9:30-1:30 on the topic “A Time to Forgive”. It will be held at Door Creek Church, and details are on their website.

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When the Social Security laws were revamped in 1983, it was determined that Social Security payments by workers would be limited to the first $160,000 of earned income, and income in excess of that amount would not be taxed. That limit has not been changed in the past 40 years, despite a growing wealth gap in the country, according to Linda Benesch, Communications Director of Social Security Works, in her article “Inequality is Weakening Social Security. Here’s How We Fix That.“

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Today on the Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Tara Wilhelmi and 1neofmani (Breyon Sommerville), Sharon Irwin, Lorien Carter, and Shadayra Kilfoy-Flores join us for the whole hour to talk about the pursuit of justice for the killing of Tony Robinson by Madison police officer Matt Kenny, and the new legal avenue that may finally bring it.

More about the pursuit of justice for Tony the other victims of Matt Kenny’s violence: https://www.inpursuitofjustice.net/ 

More coverage from WORT’s Local News and The Capital Times. 

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

Photo by composed by 1neofmani and taken by Jon Miner

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WORT 89.9FM Madison · Madison’s Seed Library Gets Ready to Grow

Whether you are a novice or expert gardener, you probably know you can get all kinds of how-to gardening manuals in the nonfiction section of your local public library.  But did you know your library also lends out seeds?  Madison Public Library’s seed library program started in 2014 out of the Dane County Seed Library program.  From March through September, you can check out packets of vegetable, herb, fruit and flower seeds from your neighborhood Madison library branch.  Hannah Majeska is a Community Engagement Librarian from Lakeview Library, and she joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing to tell us how the program works.

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WORT 89.9FM Madison · “Bad In Bed: A Fairy Tale” Premieres At The Bartell

Karen Saari’s “Bad in Bed: A Fairy Tale” features old friends, old flames and a Finnish sex curse.  The play takes place in Madison, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  “Bad in Bed: A Fairy Tale” continues its world premiere run at Madison’s Bartell Theater, in a co-production of the Madison Theater Guild and Madison College Performing Arts.  Madison-based playwright Karen Saari has authored a half-dozen full length and one-act plays, with productions in New York, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Colorado and Louisiana. Karen Saari joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing on March 6, 2023.

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Last month, 98-year old former president Jimmy Carter began the end of his life in hospice care. His condition this week is unknown; his niece is quoted in the news saying, “He’s still got some time in him.” A president with a character like Jimmy Carter’s can reflect, in a snapshot way, who we are as people in America. This week’s Buzz guest Allison Prasch spends her academic career researching and pondering how this adds up to what can be called “national identity.” Prasch joins host Andy Moore to talk about the legacy President Carter will leave behind and what it says about our national identity, then and now.

Allison Prasch is an Assistant Professor of Rhetoric, Politics and Culture in the Communication Arts Department at UW-Madison. Her work focuses on U.S. presidential rhetoric, public address, foreign policy, and rhetorical history, theory, and criticism.

Photo credit: Trikosko via Library of Congress

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Voting districts could change before 2024, according to Michael Li, Senior Counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice, in his February 6th article “How Voting Districts Could Change Before 2024“. In it, he talks about challenges to changes in gerrymandered state districts may be overturned in state supreme courts in North Carolina and Ohio, and what is happening in other states with pending lawsuits challenging redistricting.

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