Charlottesville Podcasting Network

Expanding the public square through multimedia

February 28th, 2008

David Kirby: Federal government concedes autism-mercury link in one case

Best-selling author David Kirby is an investigative journalist whose book Evidence of Harm tracked how mercury in vaccines may be connected to the autism epidemic. In a detailed article published February 25 on the Huffington Post, Kirby reported that the federal government has conceded a case before the Court of Federal Claims that a mercury-based preservative in a vaccine may have contributed to a child’s autism:

“The child’s claim against the government — that mercury-containing vaccines were the cause of her autism — was supposed to be one of three “test cases” for the thimerosal-autism theory currently under consideration by a three-member panel of Special Masters, the presiding justices in Federal Claims Court.”

Kirby goes on to detail the case in this February 28 installment of WINA’s Charlottesville–Right Now.

“This should change the tenor of the debate,” Kirby said. Could mitochondrial disease play a roll? Kirby wants to know more.

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [16:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
February 28th, 2008

Growth and development update with Brian Wheeler

Brian Wheeler is executive director of Charlottesville Tomorrow, a non-partisan organization that covers growth and development issues in our area. This week on the show:

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
February 27th, 2008

Privacy & Facebook

In today’s show, adapted from an article published this month on the Oscar Web site written by Andrea Arco, marketing director for the School of Engineering and Applied Science we observe at the research of Adrienne Felt, a fourth-year computer science major in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, concerning privacy issues surrounding social networking platforms.

 
icon for podpress  Privacy & Facebook [5:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Facebook, the social networking platform that has redefined communications, has millions of users. According to University of Virginia computer science major Adrienne Felt, all of these users should be concerned about security.

Felt, a fourth-year student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at UVa, leads a research project on privacy issues surrounding social networking platforms and is investigating the information sharing that occurs when users download a Facebook application — a program that allows the user to interact with other users in interesting ways, from sharing music to playing games…

For more information about the show or to see the full text, visit the Oscar Show’s blog.

February 26th, 2008

Karin Agness discusses the Network for Enlightened Women

Second-year U.Va law student Karin Agness is the founder of the Network for Englightened Women, an organization that claims to be “the nation’s premier club for conservative university women.” Agness talks about the alternative perspective provided by NEW, and offers her perspective on the Hillary Clinton campaign.

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [15:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Charlottesville–Right Now now has its own blog! You can either subscribe via the RSS feed, or via e-mail.

February 25th, 2008

Piscataway Chief Tayac speaks at UVA

On February 24, 2008, Chief Billy “Red Wing” Tayac of the Piscataway Nation gave a talk at the University of Virginia on issues affecting today’s American Indians. His appearance was hosted by the American Indian Student Union and the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice. Representatives from those two organizations introduce themselves. More information about the event can be found here.

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
February 25th, 2008

Penn State English Professor speaks “In Defense of Plagiarism”

Dr. Nicholas Joukovsky is currently a Professor of English at Penn State University. He received his A.B. from Princeton, then went on to receive his M.A from Berkeley and Doctoral in Philosophy at Oxford University. In 2001, he published the literary collection Letters of Thomas Love Peacock. His literary expertise lies in 19th century Romantic and Victorian literature, particularly Thomas Love Peacock and the Shelly circle. He is also Chair of the Academic Committee for the College of the Liberal Arts, which is appropriate given the title of his speech, “In Defense of Plagiarism.” His speech will attack the fundamentalist, societal notions that ALL plagiarism is wrong, underscoring some of its literary merits with academic communities. He wanted to emphasize that he will not be defending all forms of plagiarism

Dr. Joukovsky answered questions on plagiarism as it stands today, the Honor Code and its effectiveness at watch-guarding plagiarism, basic ethics, and literary tradition.

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
February 24th, 2008

Wake-Up Call: The Annual Oscars Show

The afternoon before the 80th annual Academy Awards, three movie experts visited the WNRN studios for the Wake-Up Call’s annual Oscars show. Ben Nuckols and Tom Dumontier (two films reviewers for WNRN), and Adam Greenbaum (the owner of an independent movie theater) discussed their predictions for winners, and delved into what types of movies tend to get nominated and win. They also talked about how the recent writers’ strike has affected the Academy Awards - will this be a laugh-out-loud night to remember, or a quickly thrown-together mess?

Give your own predictions for the winners, by commenting after the podcast!

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [59:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

You can watch the 80th Annual Academy Awards at 8:30PM tonight on ABC.

February 23rd, 2008

BusinessCast 61 with Kelley Boehnke & Sara Cerminara

In the headlines this week: Welcome to Darden”, “Faith in the World View”, “Darden’s Luckiest Student”, and “A Threat to World Order”. This week Ken speaks with two students who played leading roles in the recent Women’s Leadership Week at Darden, Kelley Boehnke and Sara Cerminara.

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [9:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
February 20th, 2008

Pathogens & Parasites

In today’s show, adapted from an article published this month on the Oscar Web site written by Mary Jane Gore, we look at the research of Dr. William Petri, chief of the UVa Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, and his study of a voracious parasite that is said to kill nearly 100, 000 people each year.

 
icon for podpress  Patogens & Parasites [5:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If you have ever contemplated working as a biological researcher then you would probably have considered these questions: what happens when a cell’s life ends? And, what are the mechanisms that control decay?

Contemplating just these types questions during a recent study, a UVa-led research team, directed by Dr. William Petri, chief of the UVa Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, made discoveries which are helping to stop one of the world’s most voracious parasites.

For more information about the show or to see the full text, visit the Oscar Show’s blog.

February 20th, 2008

Local NAACP celebrates group’s 99th anniversary

On February 17, 2008, The Albemarle-Charlottesville Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People celebrated the national organization’s 99th anniversary at an event held in the auditorium at Jackson P. Burley Middle School in Charlottesville. The theme of the day was “Standing on the Promises.”

We recorded the event, and now bring you the highlights. The master of ceremonies for the event is Mrs. Janette B. Martin, Vice-President of the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP.
Timeline for podcast:

  • 0:51 - Reading of original poem, God, Give Me the Strength by Miss Bekenwari Idoniboye.
  • 3:38 - Mrs. Janette B. Martin welcomes the audience, and introduces the guests
  • 5:05 - Mrs. Shirley Roundtree, President, Fluvanna NAACP, reviews the history and purpose of the organization
  • 8:05 - Dr. M. Rick Turner, President, Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP, addresses the issue of continuing segregation in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
  • 4:27- Rev. Michael Turner, President, Staunton NAACP, speaks to the vitalness of the organization’s work.
  • 6:37 - Rev. Mildred Middlebrooks, President, Waynesboro NAACP, remembers those who sacrificed their lives for justice.
  • 22:22 - Mr. Brandon Kelly, President, UVA NAACP College Chapter, reviews current threats to and triumphs of the struggle for equality.
  • 24:28 - Mrs. Martin introduces the youth speakers, Christen Edwards and Shelby Edwards.
  • 25:18 - Dr. Turner introduces the featured speaker, Rev. Dr. J. Rayfield Vines, Jr., Virginia State Conference NAACP President
  • 28:00 - Rev. Dr. Vines speaks on the topic, “Where Are You Standing?”
 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [67:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download