How Sesame Street Changed the World (Newsweek)

By Lisa Guernsey | NEWSWEEK

This story has been brought to you by the letter S and the numbers 15 and 40. (Or, as the Count might say in his adorable Transylvanian accent, "fivteen and forrrty—HA, HA, HA!") The S, as anyone who has ever watched television can deduce by now, stands for Sesame Street. The 40 is almost as easy: this year marks the 40th anniversary of sunny days, friendly neighbors and the fuzzy creatures who live on that street where the air is sweet. If you haven't watched recently with your children or grandchildren, you'll be relieved to know that impending middle age hasn't wrinkled Sesame Street all that much. Big Bird still waddles, Cookie Monster still goes on his sugar binges and Ernie still wakes up Bert at all hours with questions (none of them, mercifully, about the nature of their relationship). In a world where cultural touchstones are dropping faster than the Mets in September—sorry, Guiding Light fans—the endurance of Sesame Street is nothing short of a miracle.

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China at 60: Authors Assess the State of the Nation

Morning Edition, the week of May 25

As the People’s Republic of China prepares to celebrate its 60th birthday, what is the state of the nation? In a special series, NPR's Louisa Lim asks the question of some of the country's most astute observers: best-selling Chinese authors of three different generations.

Featured Authors:
Sixty-three-year-old Jiang Rong, author of Wolf Totem, a semi-autobiographical novel said to be second in circulation only to Chairman Mao's Little Red Book.

Forty-nine-year-old Yu Hua, author of Brothers, a novel that captures the no-holds-barred wild west capitalism of China’s last three decades.

Twenty-six-year-old Guo Jingming, China's richest author for the past two years whose lasted book Tiny Times can be described as Sex in the City meets The Devil Wears Prada.

Tune in to WGVU Radio weekday mornings 5 - 9 a.m. for Morning Edition.

Science and Spirituality

All Things Considered, May 18-22

What can science tell us about spirituality? NPR's Barbara Bradley Hagerty looks for answers to the question in a five-part series on All Things Considered. Hagerty interviews scientists who are trying to understand the biology of spiritual experience and answer questions such as: Is there a place or chemical in the brain that explains or points to a spiritual dimension? How do prayer and meditation fundamentally change the brain? Does prayer heal the body? Can your consciousness operate when the brain does not?

• Monday: Is "God" nothing more than brain chemistry?
• Tuesday: Is there a "God spot" in the brain?
• Wednesday: How prayer and meditation change the brain
• Thursday: Does prayer heal?
• Friday: Near-death experiences - can your mind work when your brain is "dead?"
  
  Tune in to WGVU Radio weekdays 4 - 6:30 p.m. for All Things Considered.
  
  
  Photo Credit: Steve Barrett 2006
  

America's Battalion: Getting Ready

Wednesday, May 13 on All Things Considered

"America's Battalion" is the nickname of the Second Battalion of the Eighth Marine Regiment, a group of more than 800 who are heading to Afghanistan any day now. They will be part of a force of 20,000 troops heading there in an attempt to counter a strengthening insurgency. NPR News will follow the Marines throughout their 210-day deployment beginning with a report from JJ Sutherland, who met up with the 2/8 in Camp Lejeune, NC, to see how they're preparing to spend the next seven months in a war zone.

Tune in to WGVU Radio weekdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. for All Things Considered.

Swine (H1-N1) Flu Resources

Swine Flu FAQ

CDC Information for Concerned Parents & Caregivers

Tune in to all PBS Public Affairs programs - including The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Nightly Business Report, NOW on PBS and more - for continuing coverage.

Visit The NewsHour's Global Health page.

PBS Kids will also offer special health related episodes, including Health Week on Sid the Science Kid, starting May 11.

Swine Flu Prevention Tips from NPR

As it investigates recent incidents of swine influenza in humans, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is stressing prevention.

The agency has posted several Web pages dealing with swine flu, including a list of what you can do to forestall this — or any — infectious disease.

Read the full story at NPR.org.