Resources: Broadcasts
University Unitarian Universalist Society is a lay-led congregation. This page is dedicated to University UUs (Unitarian Universalists) to share their personal favorites with one another. Many of the suggestions come from the Webmaster, and other members and friends. Please share any suggestions or comments by sending an email to the Webmaster.
Podcasts:
Podcasts are available for download to your PC/Mac/Linux machine. Most are free and are available in a staggering array of topics. (One myth about Podcasts is that they only run on an iPod.) For general searches see, http://www.podcast.net/, http://www.podcastalley.com/ and iTunesPodCasts. Some recommendations follow: (Section added 11-06)
- Radio Open Source is an intelligent podcast where experts discuss topics (many of which are supplied by the audience). In my opinion, this show is the best of what radio can be. This talk concerning America's new policy of tortue was both compelling and sobering- http://www.radioopensource.org/torture-part-3-the-philip-gourevitch-version/.
- Informed Comment Juan Cole offers some enlightening coverage of the Middle East, History and Religion.
- Leonard Lopate's Underreported covers the news we don't here about. This is an especially good source for finding out what is happening throughout the world.
- On Point covers a broad range of current topics from politics, economics, and the sciences. Unfortunately, many of its experts have limited imaginations as to what is possible.
- Democracy Now Outstanding news coverage about what is not being talking about in mainstream American news shows. For example, Democracy Now covered the protests and police state tactics against those protesting both the 2008 DNC (Denver, Colorado) and RNC (St. Paul, Minnesota) conventions. As of this writing, city officials and police departments have not been held accountable, which apparently is acceptable under the rules of the Patriot Act.
- Pacifica Radio A large assortment of broadcasts concerning health, cultural, news (Democracy Now), etc.
- New York Times Selected items, including book reviews, op-eds, etc.
- Naked Scientists Interesting science show that offers a lot of depth.
Radio:
90.7: WMFE, http://www.wmfe.org/907/weekday.asp The local PBS station, 90.7, offers several interesting shows during the weekday: Classical Music, BBC World Update, Morning Edition, the Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor, Fresh Air with Terri Gross and All Things Considered. Fresh Air runs at 3pm on weekdays where host Terri Gross interviews filmmakers, writers, scientists, politicians, and news makers of all types. Weekend shows, http://www.wmfe.org/907/weekend.asp offer several shows that are fun, Car Talk, This American Life, and A Prairie Home Companion. Why 90.7 won't carry DemocracyNow or Open Source is a total mystery.
91.5: WPRK, http://www.rollins.edu/wprk/schedule.html WPRK is an interesting channel. It's motto is "The Best in Basement Radio!" Their programming is so diverse that it's difficult to describe. Music includes Hip-Hop, Classical, Folk, Rock, Jazz, and Techno. News worthy is Counterspin and Voices of Our World that airs on Wednesdays from 12PM-1PM. Commonwealth Club features major public figures addressing the issues of the day, available on Thursdays from 12PM-1PM. Gay Orlando Talk runs from 12pm-1pm on Fridays, and covers what's happening around Central Florida.
XM is a terrific resource that once you've used it, you'll probably never go back to local AM-FM stations full of advertisements, bland popular songs, and shock jocks. XM spans the range from world music, jazz, blues, rock, talk, news, and sports. My favorites are channels 133: Public Radio (Bob Edwards, Leonard Lapote, To the Point, Radio West On Point), channel 74: Bluesville (blues), channel 50: The Loft (acoustic rock), channel 132: C-Span. XM will really take off when people can decide to pay less for only a group of channels that they want to hear.
Television:
Battlestar Galactica (BG) is scifi channel's powerful remake of the late '70s campy show. BG is loaded with both great writing and acting, often addressing current American issues. Air time is Sundays at 10 PM. BG is also available through iTunes and Universal HD (HD but older repeats).
The Wire has ended its successful 5 year run. However, it is an outstanding show that covers police versus drug dealers in the streets of Baltimore, Maryland. No subject is off limits as the show explores this gritty world with outstanding acting and writing that makes you feel that you truly know the characters. It is well worh it to pickup a DVD or digital download.
House is Fox's improbable but satisfying show of a smart doctor who is politically incorrect, but continues to solve difficult cases.
http://www.pbs.org/now/ Now with David Brancaccio, a thought provoking news television show which features in depth articles and interviews with very interesting people. This show has run on PBS channel 24 on Friday evenings, but WMFE no longer shows it on its schedule. Either way, NOW is available as RSS and Podcast (http://www.pbs.org/now/podcast.html) .
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/ Frontline is an excellent news show that covers many topics, top notch reporting. I recall one show which showed how democratic and republican presidential candidates must sign up to work for their party's goals if elected. In this episode, presidential candidate Bill Clinton signed up to work for the passage of NAFTA while campaigning against it.
