The Reality of Racism in America

Guest: Tehama Lopez Bunyasi, PhD, Assistant Professor of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University; Candis Watts Smith, PhD, Associate Professor of Political Science and African American Studies, Pennsylvania State University; Co-Authors of “Stay Woke: A People's Guide to Making All Black Lives Matter"

This year marks the 400thanniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It’s been more than 150 years since the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery. And yet, according to the Pew Research Center, most adults in the US say the legacy of slavery continues to have an impact on the position of black people in American society. So, why is it so controversial when the New York Times decides to dedicate an entire issue of its magazine to slavery’s legacy? Or when people protest police violence under the banner “Black Lives Matter”?

 

Why World’s Largest Things Dot American Roadsides

Guest: Erika Nelson, One of America’s Foremost Experts and Speakers On the World’s Largest Things

If you’re driving past Winlock, Washington, you might catch a glimpse of the world’s largest egg. Or if you’re on your way through Woodruff, Wisconsin, you can stop to get a picture in front of the world’s largest penny. Large versions of normal things having been popping up all across the United States for decades, bringing curious road-trippers and inspiring other large things in other, usually smaller, cities.

 

Digital Textbooks Are the Future for College Students

Guest: Anastacia Morrone, Professor of Educational Psychology, Associate Vice President for Learning Technologies, Dean of Information Technology at Indiana University

The pockets of college students –and their parents –are a little light right now thanks to tuition, fees and textbooks. Students spend more than $1,000 a year on books and supplies alone. Will it be cheaper when everything has transitioned to digital? We’re about to find out. This summer Pearson, one of the biggest textbook companies in the world announced it will focus primarily on digital courseware.

 

Who We Are with Dogs is Who We Are as People

Guest: Alexandra Horowitz, Senior Research Fellow, Dog Cognition Lab, Barnard College, Columbia University; Author of “Our Dogs, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond”

Euthanasia of dogs and cats has declined dramatically in the US over the last 40 years. That’s partly because better veterinary care is available and it’s become trendy to “rescue” a dog from a shelter. And it’s also because today virtually everyone gets their dogs and cats “fixed.” But dog researcher Alexandra Horowitz sas there are some uncomfortable truths embedded in our willingness to make spay-neuter the default for our pets. 

 

Preserving and Protecting Your Treasures

Guest: Scott Haskins, Director and Chief Conservator at the Fine Art Conservation Lab

Wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods are getting more intense and unpredictable in the United States. What’s your plan to protect your valuables if disaster strikes? Mine’s pretty much just to grab my phone and wallet and hope the rest of my stuff is still there when I come back. It not a good plan, I admit. Scott Haskins helps people protect their valuables and he’s got a free eBook called “Save Your Stuff” which you can download at www.collectioncaretips.com.