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2008-02-04T16:15:00.001-05:00

2/4/08 from Cleve, 4:15 pm ET

What's all this fuss about Imus?

2007-05-02T19:40:00.001-04:00

I wonder, with all the fuss about Imus /Limbaugh type broadcasting, why more people don't turn to Diane Rehm, whose programs are civil and present both sides of the subject., I have supported WMUB for many years and will continue to do so, even though you now share your listening audience with WGUC. , I live in the northwest corner of Hamilton county, and notice, that reception fades as I drive south and east.

--Ruth, Cincinnati

Misses Thistle and Shamrock

2007-04-27T10:06:00.000-04:00

PLEASE re-institute "Thisle and Shamrock". There are few opporunities to hear good Celtic music on the radio and programs such as this are sorely wanted. The variety of topics on "Free Advice" is great, and I also appreciate the online access to the community calendar. Keep up the good work, WMUB!

--Jennifer Thomas, Richmond

Web site needs redesign

2007-02-13T10:38:00.000-05:00

You need to redesign your web site. I was searching for locat weather conditions and closing and coul not find it. If I wanted to know about japan I could look under weather. You should have one tab for weather and conditions then select locat and then your local conditions and closing. Keep the extranious stuff in a national area. If we are in a hurry and trying to find weather information I had to resort to another site as this one was FAR from being User Friendly, and that is the purpose to make it easy to get information the you listeners isn't it?

--Michael in Eaton

Keep up the fine programming

2007-02-07T10:05:00.000-05:00

WMUB has excellent programming. It is diverse and relavant. It offers news,jazz that IS jazz, not the constant monotone sound of the alto sax like another area station. I like the wide variety of locally produced programs as well as the regular NPR daily offerings. I appreciale the fact that you are trying to update your technology. I only wish that you could have a stronger signal to the north. I generally have to listen in my car because I live about a mile from 95.7's 50,000 watt tower. Most radios in my house get only that across the dial. More recently the new Catholic radio station broadcasting from Anna, Ohio comes in on your frequency especially early in the morning. Keep up the fine programming. Your station is an asset to southwestern Ohio and Miami University.

--Ann in Shelby County

Concerned about Mama Jazz

2007-01-26T09:34:00.000-05:00

I have noticed over the last several month that the Tuesday editions of Mama Jazz's Traditional Night seem to be recordings of past shows, not live as in the past. I know she was ill early last year and wasn't on for quite a while. Has she ever come back to live shows or if not yet, will she?

--Norman Elser

[Program Director John Hingsbergen replies: "You are correct that Mama's shows have been recorded lately. Her health has not been great but we have high hopes that she'll be doing some "live" shows in the near future. In the past year, there have been very few weeks when she was able to come in for all four nights of her normally-"live" show but I think the last time she was at the station was in early or mid-December. I'll pass your inquiry along to Mama. I know she'll be glad to know that you, and others, are wondering."]

Request for 'Simply Money'

2007-01-26T09:31:00.000-05:00

I have to go back to my email in the past about Simply Money [a program formerly on WVXU - ed.]. They do major fund raising for their station. Why couldn't they be inserted in a 6:00 hour or put them on live at 7:00? It's also a big issue when you travel south at all. Your signal drops off quite a bit. It is really bad around Sharonville.

I also think there was backlash at WVXU when they were bought out. Maybe you need to let those old listeners know about WMUB and perhaps pick up some new users, even if the internet users only. That is the only way I listen. I live in Fairfield township and reception is not good here either.

Your local programming is usually very good except for Monday. It's way too religious for me - but considering this area, maybe it works for you. I almost never listen. I used to not like the noon show(s) but I have learned to enjoy them for a different perspective. I do get a little tired of them feeling like they are the only minority who faces discrimination.

Keep up the good work.

--David Allen

Reception problems

2007-01-17T15:49:00.000-05:00

WMUB used to have a good signal in Dayton. However, over the last several months the signal has been quite poor and at times it makes it impossible to listen to your programing. I understand that the poor signal in Dayton is due to interference from another station. I sent a complaint to the FCC and received [a] reply. I am not sure what this reply means except that it does not appear that the FCC thinks there is a problem.

--Rudy in Dayton

Interference in Yellow Springs

2006-12-14T16:07:00.000-05:00

I enjoy all of your programming and you are the prime button on all of my radios. However, in the past few months I find that I can only receive the station on my car radio. Up ‘til then I had good reception in my home (Yellow Springs) but now you are swamped by a religious station that is too blurry to be identified. I am certainly not an expert on FCC regulation of frequencies but something bad has happened here and I hope that there might be a way to set it right.

--Roger in Yellow Springs

Program Director John Hingsbergen replies:

Thanks for writing with this concern. This is a comment we have heard before since a new station went on the air earlier this year out of South Vienna, Ohio. We assume that they are operating legally and that the interference you (and others) are experiencing is allowable within federal laws.

I am including below contact information for the Federal Communications Commission. All complaints about interference should be directed to them.

We hope you are able to resolve these reception issues and continue to enjoy WMUB's programming. I will remind you that we also provide out programming via audio streams from our website. There are some things you can try to possibly improve reception at your home. Please let me know.

FCC Contact Information

How to Contact the FCC

To Contact the Commissioners via E-mail

Chairman Kevin J. Martin: KJMWEB-AT-fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael J. Copps: Michael.Copps-AT-fcc.gov
Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein: Jonathan.Adelstein-AT-fcc.gov
Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate: dtaylortateweb-AT-fcc.gov
Commissioner Robert McDowell: Robert.McDowell-AT-fcc.gov

To Obtain Information via E-mail

General information, inquiries & complaints: fccinfo-AT-fcc.gov
Freedom of Information Act requests: FOIA-AT-fcc.gov
Comments on FCC Internet services: webmaster-AT-fcc.gov
Elections & political candidate matters: campaignlaw-AT-fcc.gov

To Obtain Information via Telephone

1-888-225-5322 (1-888-CALL FCC) Voice: toll-free
1-888-835-5322 (1-888-TELL FCC) TTY: toll-free
1-866-418-0232 FAX: toll-free
(202) 418-2830 FAX on Demand
(202) 418-1440 Elections & political candidate matters
FCC Phone Directory

United States Postal Service First-Class Mail, Express Mail & Priority Mail

Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554

Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary:

Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
Office of the Secretary
c/o Natek, Inc.
236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Suite 110
Washington, DC 20002
(8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

Other Messenger-Delivered Documents,
Including Documents Sent by Overnight Mail
(other than United States Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail):

Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
Office of the Secretary
9300 East Hampton Drive
Capitol Heights, MD 20743
(8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

Internet Address

http://www.fcc.gov

Life's a beach with no WMUB around

2006-12-14T16:03:00.000-05:00

My concern is that I am now in Key West and can no longer enjoy your programming. In fact, I don't think they even have a public radio station down here. But I listened to as many p.r. as I could find on the way down, and I did not find any programming that I enjoyed as much as yours. I miss Sound Health, and Free Advice and of course Mama Jazz. Have a great holiday and stay warm. ( Like me!)

--Linda in Key West

Protests non-inclusion in Gambling Forum

2006-10-05T13:08:00.000-04:00

Editor's note: this message refers to Forum 2 of the WMUB/Dayton Daily News Election Issues Forums, broadcast live from Dayton on Tuesday, October 3, 2006.
You can hear this Forum as a podcast -- paste http://www.wmub.org/rss/ElecForum06.xml in your podcast aggregator.
The group that did participant in the Forum in opposition to Issue 3 is Citizens for Community Values. The Ohio Roundtable, affiliated with the American Policy Roundtable, describes themselves as sponsoring Vote No Casinos, the official organization in opposition to Issue 3. Here's a link to the American Policy/Ohio Roundtable Issue 3 web page.

We appreciate the coverage your station is dedicating to Ohio Ballot Issue #3. We are more than surprised to discover that no effort was made by your station to contact the Vote No Casinos Committee, which is leading the opposition to Issue #3 and has written the official opposition argument distributed by the state of Ohio. Please be advised that your program tonight, while it may appear balanced, in fact does not have representation from the Ohio campaign committee opposing Mr. Clark's Learn and Earn Committee. While we mean no disrespect in any way to Mr. Miller or his organization, he does not speak for the Vote No Casinos Committee co-chaired by Auditor Betty Montgomery and David Zanotti, President of the Ohio Roundtable. We hope you will make it clear to your listeners that the Committee is not being represented on your panel discussion this evening. We hope in the future you will contact the Committee and give us a fair opportunity to present the formal case against Learn and Earn.

--Vote No Casinos Committee

Pet Peeves (Language edition)

2006-07-21T10:25:00.000-04:00

WMUB Forum's topic on 7/21/06 was "Uses (and Misuses) of English". We received a number of calls and emails about pet peeves, in fact too many to get on the air. Here's a sample of some emails:

Two primarily verbal tics that at one point I didn't even notice-- even in my own speech-- but that now drive me crazy whenever I hear them: 1. Contraction of "another" when referring to some kind of difference, e.g., "That's a totally 'nother thing", which essentially creates a nonsense word; 2. The imprecision of "the reason is *because*"; "because" is completely unnecessary.
--Brian from Richmond

The use of "I" vs. "me" drives me crazy. Many broadcasters/talking heads get it wrong most of the time. "Just between you and I" may sound correct, but it is pretentious and
gramatically incorrect. Please remind us of the gramatical rule.
--Dr. Tim from Arden, NC

"Severe storm." This is everywhere, from television to weather writing on the Web. Whatever happened to "strong," "significant," to anything less than "severe?" To me, "severe" weather is, maybe, a tornado, or a Category 5 hurricane. What can we expect next, "severe clouds"? "severe sunshine"? Here's another: The word "spokesperson" is generic, for use when the gender is unknown. To say "Jim is the spokesperson" is WRONG. To say "The committee will elect a new spokesperson" is CORRECT, presuming that the committee has both male and female members. And, don't even get me started on using "impact" as a verb. In my working life as a writer and editor I quickly learned that people write and speak just like they think. Hence, sloppy speech, sloppy thinking. There is no hope for them, short of rewiring their brains.
P.S. Read H.L.Mencken. He taught me so much; for example, someone is "in hospital," not "in the hospital."
--Jim from Liberty

During the news break your reader said: "one thousand new jobs will be created." This is redundant.
--followup from Jim from Liberty

I teach writing to honors and college-bound high school students. We strive to use language correctly and concisely. Public radio should be a model of American English, but more and more passive voice (ex. Oxford was his by a thunderstorm, rather than, A thunderstorm hit Oxford.) and some bulky verb expression (He plans on writing another novel, rather than, He plans to write another novel) seem to make it past editiors for news casts. Are these verb uses becoming accepted as the language changes?
--Tina from Tipp City

If "vicious" means "prone to vice" as opposed to virtuous... can animals truly be referred to as vicious?
--Chris from Richmond

How about when people say "real good" or "real pretty" instead of using the -ly adverb!
--Dana from Dayton

I find the conversation on pet peeves in relation to language interesting, but unrealistic. Languages are constantly changing and over time rules of a language change. I find it hard to say that something in a language is wrong or right when the rules of right or wrong change over the years. Obviously there is a standard of language that should be observed if one wishes to excel in today's society, but today's society is changing. What seems wrong today may be the standard, even the business standard, in years to come.
--Matt

The use of the word, " absolutely " when all the speaker really means is "yes" drives me up the wall. It is heard frequently in interviews.
--Stefi from Springfield

This is an impressive show. I try to teach composition and rarely have I heard such clear explanation of the rhetorical impetus of news-reporting in the popular media. I especially impressed with the level of rhetorical awareness your listeners are displaying--the guy who talked about the break-in, car-jacking, etc. "gone bad" was very intriguing. I don't have a peeve with what I hear on NPR usually; although I can see where, in the Israel/Hezbollah (sp?) conflict, folk may get their dander up over the even-handed nature of the reporting. You just mentioned good English in today's language, I may be crucified for this, but doesn't President Bush in his misuse of the language display a rhetorical awaredness that others don't? If his audience is people who may or may not use the language "correctly" doesn't he do a good job of pandering to this audience?
--David from Oxford

"Hopefully" has changed meanings, I have never heard hopefully used in the "proper way", only in the improper, nor have I seen birds with scales and teeth. Things evolve.
--John from Oxford

I have heard "you-ins, we-ins and they-ins" for a long time in this area. I've been told that you-ins is two more than Ya'll. I'm used to hearing these slang terms but it is "you guysez" that rakes me the wrong way and it is even used by the media but never in print. Also, the use of the word license is often used as if it is a plural word. As in a driver's license, people ask, "When are you going to get them"? Good show, thanks.
--Ron from Connersville

Doesn't like Fresh Air Weekend

2006-07-21T10:24:00.000-04:00

Sorry, I just don't find this show of "repeats" at all fulfilling. I tune in to WMUB to hear things that are new and different, and therefore, engaging. I've already heard Fresh Air throughout the week, and don't want to listen again. I'd welcome another choice in this time slot.

--Donna in Dayton

Appreciates Williams commentary

2006-07-21T10:19:00.000-04:00

Professor Peter Williams of Miami gave a synopsis . . . regarding his take on the politics of the our current State Government leaders' push to have the State motto more readily available to all of our elementary and high school students. The State's motto (With God, all things are possible) would be printed and donated by someone, we don't know exactly who, and distributed to all of our schools. I have one thing to say to Professor Williams' comments: "AMEN". To our State Legislators: Is this an election year, or what?? To WMUB: You and NPR provide us with broad coverage, each day, of what's happening locally, in our Country, and in our World. We thank you for your fine efforts to inform. With appreciation,

--Betty

China & the Vatican

2006-05-13T20:15:00.000-04:00

"Richard" wrote to us May 5, 2006:

"Hurray for the People's Republic of China and the Vatican! They're giving us a history lesson in the 11th-century or so "Investiture Controversy" between the Papacy and the Emperor and (directly or indirectly) some assorted European kings.

The Papacy won a major round at Canossa and the Concordat of Worms, but the reverberations helped keep the times interesting right through what Protestants call the Reformation. , , Another reminder of why Americans really, really, *really* should keep Church and State strongly separated!"

Like Chalfin story on bald eagles

2006-03-16T14:53:00.000-05:00

Your story about the bald eagles in Brown County caught my ear this morning. …. I'd be interested in driving … to observe these magnificent creatures with 7 foot wing spans, if I had the proper directions to the gravel pull off located beside the road, as your story stated this morning. Thanks!

--Dickie Wilson

--[Reporter Andrea Chalfin replies: The nest in Brown County is located on US Route 52. Take 52 East through many small towns--you will be on this route for quite a while. The last town you pass through is Higginsport, and immediately to your right is the gravel pull-off. If you drive past it, immediately following the gravel pull-off on your right is the Brown County Rural Water Association office. You might want to consult a map, however, as there may be a quicker and/or easier way to get there from where you are.

In addition, you might find this Ohio DNR website helpful. On the right side of the page, there is a list of clickable links, one of which is "Find Nests in Ohio." While the nest in Brown County is quite easy to see, there are also nests in Mercer County and Highland County.

Finally, to make the most of your experience, I recommend a decent pair of binoculars. You will still be able to see the eagles and their nest without them; however, they are still a good distance away from the pull-off. Recommended viewing time is early morning (9am) or in the evening, when the greatest chance of seeing an eagle in flight occurs.]

Did not like Allan Winkler commentary

2006-03-16T14:50:00.000-05:00

I got a good chuckle from Allan Winkler's opinion piece. The problem with what he says is that it's straight rhetoric from the pessimistic left's play book. Words like 'quagmire' and 'Vietnam' were obviously going to show up, and they did. Views and comments meant to discredit and pollute the history of the United States were sure to be voiced, and sure enough, they were. The thing that discredits him the most, though, is when he tries to convince us that nothing is going well and Iraq is about to collapse into civil war.

The fact remains, stories from soliders coming back from Iraq and stories from people still over there, except those coming from the major news agencies, paint a very different picture. While things aren't great over there, they are hopeful. There is hope and a light shining brightly at the end of the tunnel. Iraqis don't want a civil war, the American left wants a civil war over there to prove they were right.

I refuse to give into this defeatist, pessimistic attitude and I want to challenge other listeners to do the same. So, in the future, when I hear that Alan is about to give his opinion on something that is going on halfway around the world from him, I'll respectfully choose to turn the radio down for a few minutes and not partake in the desparate Bush bashing, spiteful view of the world that will inevitably take place. And I'll go about my day knowing that a liberal professor's depressing view of the world, a world that I want to choose to have hope for, hasn't affected my day.

--Jeff via email

Liked Rodney Coates commentary

2006-03-16T14:48:00.000-05:00

I was interested in the [Rodney Coates commentary] concerning the national debt and the four horsemen. . . I found [it] to be particularly interesting as I have a belief that what will bring this country down would most likely be from something of its own doing, over living in luxury, demand for everything convenient at the cost of our future in exchange for now, much like the over cultivation scientists believe maay have destroyed the Incas and the Mayas. Thank you very much and keep up the good work. I love your style of radio.

--John from Fairfield

Membership questions

2006-03-03T09:23:00.000-05:00

I'm a member paying $10/month via credit card that started about a year ago. I'd like to continue this for a very long time (until I cancel it). Must I renew or is it done automatuically? 2ndly, I've found the MemberCard to be quite useful. Will a new one also be sent out automatically? Thanks.

--Kevin via email

--[Yes, we can set up a continuing (annual) credit card pledge. And we're glad you enjoy the MemberCard. We'll send it out automatically as well. Thank you for supporting WMUB! -- Cleve Callison, general manager]

Reception problems

2006-03-03T09:22:00.000-05:00

I love to listen to NPR but I have a real difficult time with the reception. I live in Ross where it is fine but even as close at Rout 27 and 275 in Colerain, it will sometimes get static. Then near route 747 in Springdale it gets bad again. Yet I often hear it clear going north on 75 up into Dayton. I don't think it's my radio. All other stations I listen to do not have the same problem.

--Wally Quaider, Ross

Regime change (reaction to Daniel Schorr)

2006-03-03T09:20:00.000-05:00

NPR commentator Daniel Schorr recently summarized ongoing administration attempts to effect regime change in various Middle Eastern countries. We have seen how military force is used to depose foreign despots when they no longer serve our purposes. Short of military action, when things aren't going to Washington's liking, we apply various tactics to persuade the local populations to reject their current governments, even those resulting from 'free and fair' elections.

While one may wonder what gives our leaders the right to engineer these changes around the globe, the fact is, we've been doing it off and on for much of our nation's history. Now, however, it seems we've become uncomfortably conspicuous in continuing this practice. We have heard the word "unilateral" used over and over for describing the current administration's pursuit of controversial foreign policy objectives.

There are many who no doubt would welcome widespread international involvement in bringing about regime change, not necessarily in some distant land, but right here in the United States. After all, the present regime took power and consolidated it in two highly contested elections. The regime insists on overturning America's sacred allegiance to democratic principles in the name of spreading democracy, of human rights in the name of national defense, of civil liberties in the name of homeland security, And we continue to endanger the global environment in the name of corporate profit. These hallowed words are repeated as a mantra, but their meanings have been perverted and debased, so that our country, once respected and admired by many, is now largely distrusted by its former friends and reviled by many who might have been.

We need help in re-establishing our basic principles, in restoring the shining beacon of what America, however deservedly, used to stand for around the world. Even if it were possible, it isn't necessary to have foreign troops invade our country, toppling the regime and occupying our land as long as it takes to build the nation anew. Rather, we need thousands of international volunteers to come and monitor our elections, watching out for voting irregularities and outright fraud. We need foreign well-wishers to use whatever means they have at their disposal to undermine the regime and encourage the opposition. We need overseas governments to initiate sanctions and boycotts against us to shake the confidence of our invested power élite. Does this sound extreme? The U.S. routinely resorts to this kind of meddling in the affairs of foreign countries--in the name of democracy--any time our leaders deem our interests to be at stake. Why would it be wrong to encourage a reversal of this dynamic, when we discover that democracy is being dismantled from the top down, right here at home?

--Peter Carels, Oxford

Thanks for Sound Health

2006-03-03T09:19:00.000-05:00

I just listened via audio streaming to the re-broadcast of Sound Health on the topic of headaches. The interaction with guests and callers was excellent, and I learned a few important points. In case my headaches become more painful &/or frequent, I now have insight to discuss with my family doctor. Many thanks for another great program.

--Brian Butcher

Dayton reception getting worse

2006-03-03T09:16:00.000-05:00

I moved to Dayton a year and a half ago and I have been a member of WMUB practically from the day I arrived. I live in Kettering and drive to and from work every day along Dixie Drive and Patterson Boulevard along the river. The reception for WMUB has been getting worse and worse. I used to lose the signal around Rt. 35 and then pick it up again below 3rd street, but now it is poor for almost the whole route. What has happened? . . . I am quite frustrated and do not want to keep switching to WYSO. I have used 4 different cars on the route and the poor reception doesn't change.

--name withheld by request

--[I am not aware of anything that has changed that could affect you reception...at least nothing we have done. There are sometimes environmental/weather factors that affect FM reception but that is not likely over a long period of time.

It is possible that another station is interfering in some fashion. For example, WPDR on 88.1 FM has added a new digital HD Radio signal in the last year or so but, if they were the cause of your problems, that would have happened all at once.

The only other thing I can think of would be a problem with your car radio or even some of the wiring such as spark plug cables. If you're not having trouble with other stations, that is also probably not the cause....and even if it were...it may not be easily solved.

I will pass your e-mail along to our Chief Engineer for his review but I'm pretty sure he won't have much to add. If he does, you may hear from him.

Please let us know if you notice any further change. We do want to track situations like this so we can see if there is a pattern.

Thank you for doing all you can to stick with us. We're committed to doing all we can to make sure you get a strong signal.

-- John Hingsbergen, program director]

Likes and dislikes

2006-03-03T09:14:00.000-05:00

I do not enjoy the Ed Gordon show. I have started switching to WVXU at noon. I find Mr. Gordon's show to be too racial in its subject matter. I feel many of the issues do not pertain to me. Although I find some of the interviews interesting, for the most part I take offense to any program that is so racially biased. One day I was particularly turned off when there was a woman "expert" on whose main explanation for any question was, essentially, that it was God's will. That kind of programming does not provide the intellectual stimulus that I turn to public radio for.

I never thought I'd see the day that I would prefer the Tavis Smiley to any show, but I could tolerate his frequent "white folk" "black folk" comments better than the Ed Gordon show.

I am not a racist. I just prefer programming that targets a more diverse audience.

WVXU has changed their programming, and they are carrying a lot of the same programs WMUB does. I will continue to switch my dial until Ed Gordon goes away.

This is difficult for me, seeing that I am a day sponsor on WMUB. This year I am considering spliting my public radio funds between the two stations, since once I change the dial, I often stay on WVXU for the rest of the day.

However, I continue to love my Saturdays with "Car talk" and "What do you know?". Your staff is wonderful; I especially like Tana during fund raising, and Debbie Ramsey is always a pleasure to deal with. I appreciate that you cover Dayton and Cinci traffic in the morning, as my husband drives from Dayton to Cinci and back every day.

--name withheld by request

Podcast issues

2006-03-03T09:07:00.000-05:00

I just downloaded your 2/14 [Help Desk] program. I like the idea of having the entire program as a single file. However, at 34'30" into the show the audio became gargled and continued that way during the remainder of the show.

--Mike in Millville

--[We are now beginning to distribute podcasts in two flavors -- at the individual show addresses in 10-12 minute segments, and at the Talk Shows address as a single file. So you can decide which you prefer. See our Podcasting page for details. The problem with the 2/14 show has us baffled; it's there, but we don't know why and can't fix it since it's embedded in our source file. -- Cleve Callison, general manager]

No 'negative' temperatures

2006-03-03T09:04:00.000-05:00

I enjoy listening to your student interns and admire their efforts toward the achievement of on-air professionalism. My affection is also a part of this appreciation as my daughter held a similar position in another college. , The occasional gaffes made by your interns can only be understood as reasonable aspects of their early efforts., HOWEVER (and, of course, you knew this was coming) this evening's weather report in which below zero temperatures are expressed as "negative" numbers goes beyond mild irritation. The conventional reporting of such numbers has been:, "below zero" and/or "minus".

Keep up your good work which includes the encouragement and training you give to your interns.

--Jean via email

--[You are absolutely correct. . . I have this evening sent an e-mail to all our student board operators and other staff, about this issue.

-- John Hingsbergen, program director]

Get off the Cheney story

2006-03-03T09:03:00.000-05:00

Get off the Cheney [shooting] story already! Al Gore is the real story of the moment. The Cheney story is all about the media temper tantrum. While you have covered the story in more depth than most, there is nothing there Maybe you can do an in-depth interview with David Gregory, so he can explain his outrage once more. As for Gore, I think his story is not covered because it can't be spun. There is nothing uglier than an ex- goverment official criticizing the present administration from a foreign land. Why can't they just quietly go away. I don't recall hearing anything from Bush 41 for quite some time. He has something we can all admire. Dignity.

--Dan Dickey via email

Why aren't WMUB and WVXU in sync?

2006-03-03T09:01:00.000-05:00

I am curious why WMUB and WVXU both broadcast "live" programs such as Prairie Home Companion, but they are not synchorinized. There is a fractional difference in time between the two stations. Which one os operating with a delay, and why? Or are both operating with a delay?

--Gene Willeke, Oxford

--[You are very observant. Actually the time difference between WVXU and WMUB on many programs is about 8 seconds. This is a result of the fact that WMUB is operating with the new "HD Radio" digital system. The issue is that the digital signal takes that long to be decoded by the radios that can hear it. The system involves a blend between the digital and analog for the fringe areas where the digital will drop out. In order for that blend to work correctly, the analog signal needs to be delayed by the same amount as the digital.

In the very near future, we expect WVXU to turn on a digital signal as well as many stations are doing.

So, the bottom line is: The time discrepancy you are hearing is because WMUB is more technologically advanced (for now) than WVXU and some of the other area stations.

-- John Hingsberben, program director]

Thanks for News & Notes and Tavis

2006-03-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

In Support of News and Notes and Tavis Smiley: I would like to give my thanks for WMUB's choice of airing News and Notes and the Tavis Smiley Show. As a lifetime listener to NPR and a member of WMUB, I am aware that in spite of the fine journalism that NPR brings to its listeners, there exists a white media-bias, not only with NPR, but in most mainstream media. Recent criticism of News and Notes and Tavis Smiley, and the accusation that they take up time proporting “African American points of view” has left me frustated. Do we assume that NPR does and SHOULD only cater to one demographic and that African-American views need not have air time? We hear White perspectives the majority of the time, in news and other programing, and I am happy and willing and DESIRE to hear another perspective daily. I only wish there were more! Thank you for airing these programs.

--Carrie via email

No thanks for News & Notes

2006-03-03T08:57:00.000-05:00

I admit I ocassionally listen during the noon hour, but usually find myself switching to Paul Harvey on WLW rifght after the news at noon on WMUB. Paul's Harvey is not my great choice, but I am looking for breadth, not "what my world would be like if I was African-American" during the lunch hour.

--name withheld by request, Oxford

Thanks for Peter Williams

2006-03-03T08:56:00.000-05:00

I am so grateful for Peter Williams's commentary on Morning Edition in the past few weeks. His clear sight and incisive wit are right on the mark, seems to me. Thank you!

--Mary Fahnestock-Thomas, Oxford

Thanks for Aileen LeBlanc

2006-03-03T08:55:00.000-05:00

Aileen LeBlanc's article this morning about Longtown (I think I have that right) was just a superb piece of radio storytelling. I wasn't sure I was hearing correctly: "Aileen LeBlanc for WMUB radio," since I was used to catching her on YSO when I visit the Dayton/Springfield area. What a treat, MUB. Thank you.

--Bruce via email

Thanks for Mama Jazz

2006-03-03T08:53:00.000-05:00

I want to thank Mama Jazz especially for her show on Tuesday, Jan. 31. I had been having a rough day, and hearing her come on the radio at 8:00 just brightened my day right up. I'm a senior at Earlham College and have been listening to Mama for four years now, at least three nights a week. She puts on the best Jazz show anywhere, guaranteed! Thanks Mama!

--Steven Melamed, Richmond

Thanks for recent news changes

2006-03-03T08:52:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to drop WMUB a line to say how much I appreciate the recent changes to local news programming. The inaugural edition of the business news segment with the editor from the Dayton Business Journal was excellent, and it seems like the depth and quality of coverage of local Cincinnati and Dayton news has really improved, too.

--Doug via email

Thanks for Help Desk

2006-03-03T08:49:00.000-05:00

I have been listening to the Helpdesk for the past 6 months. At first I thought, "this is going to be above my scope of experience and possibly, my interest." But, I have been pleasantly suprised! You guys have given me to confidence to tackle my own computer problem...and it worked!

I started having problems with secure sites. . . you guys gave me the confidence and thought processes necessary to do it myself! I did some searching on google and the Symantec website. Low and behold, I found an executable on the Symantec site that would uninstall pesky old versions of Norton. Viola! It worked! My computer finally realizes that I am connected, my access to secure sites is functioning again, and my new Norton SystemWorks is protecting me. I would have probably let Geek Squad fix my situation had it not been for stumbling upon you.....THANK YOU!

--Julie via email

Not OK to support all points of view

2006-03-03T08:46:00.000-05:00

I am sitting here in my office grading quizzes and listening to your presentation of the listener's comments that professors should nurture all viewpoints...so I guess that means that I must support a student who is a neo-Nazi, who denies the holocaust, who supports the battering women and children, endorses slavery, etc., etc., etc. I cannot accept the notion that all ideas are equal.

Good for you for even repeating the comments, but I suspect I'm not the only one whose blood pressure rose significantly as a result.

--Judith in Oxford

OK to monitor academic bias

2006-03-03T08:43:00.000-05:00

I [recently] heard the report about a group of UCLA Alum monitoring left wing professors at their former school. I just want to praise their practices and encourge more to do the same. Conservative ideology has long been left out and repressed by many professors in universities throughout the country. I believe, at the very least, professors need to be upheld to a standard of nurturing all ideologies, not just that of the far, far left.

--Jeff via email

NPR isn't too liberal

2006-03-03T08:41:00.000-05:00

I was listening to your show [recently] when the question of NPR being liberal came up. I came to Dayton Ohio in 1969 and I remember the song An Okie from Muskogee being very popular and that tune pretty well sums up most of the attitude in this part of Ohio. If you aren't a NAZI you are a liberal. So what was wrong with FDR who helped save the free world or Harry Truman who did a little of the same plus intergrated the Military. If doing the right thing is being liberal then I guess I'm a liberal and proud of it but it is very difficult in this part of the country to be to the left of Rush Limbaugh and not be looked down upon. As to WMUB and NPR, neither is liberal. Both permit both sides to view an opinion and in this country today that in of itself is a liberal postion.

Fortunately the pendulum will swing in America and things will at least change. I thank you for being there. My only complaint about NPR is that you tend to dwell on the same subject too long. The war in whereever is important but too much of it makes one change stations, literally.

--Sam via email

Traffic reports for Butler County

2006-03-03T08:38:00.000-05:00

I wish your traffic reports would do a better job of covering Butler County, especially the region nearest MU. [recently] SR 73 at SR503 had a major delay for at least an hour, apparently due to a wreck. It was not reported at the 7:48 a.m. traffic report, although the incident had started more than 3/4 of an hour earlier.

I presume you obtain the traffic reports from some service provider. Sometimes Butler County events are reported, so it is not impossible. Like many other MU employees, your station is not the one I listen to most, but I do tune in for information relevant to MU and getting to and from work.

--Lynn in Oxford

Is Talk of the Nation Live?

2006-03-03T08:35:00.000-05:00

Would you please be good enough to tell me of the 2:00 pm. hour of Talk of the Nation is live? I was trying to get on to make a comment both by phone and then by email. By phone I got a constant busy signal and my email seemed to go through but the program did not read even one email that day. So, I began to think that this hour of the program might not actually be live. If it is live, how do I get through to make a comment?
--Robert in Richmond

--[Both hours of Talk of the Nation are live on WMUB. You are doing the right thing by calling the number they give on the air and/or writing to their e-mail address. The fact is that, as a program that is broadcast nationwide (and around the world on the Armed Forces Radio Network,) the show can never respond to all the calls and e-mails they receive. I do find it curious that they didn't use any e-mails they day you wrote but that was probably a choice of the host. --John Hingsbergen, program director]

Is NPR liberal?

2006-01-06T11:59:00.000-05:00

I was listening to [WMUB Forum] this AM when the question of NPR being liberal came up. I came to Dayton Ohio in 1969 and I remember the song An Okie from Muskogee being very popular and that tune pretty well sums up most of the attitude in this part of Ohio. If you aren't a NAZI you are a liberal. So what was wrong with FDR who helped save the free world or Harry Truman who did a little of the same plus intergrated the Military. If doing the right thing is being liberal then I guess I'm a liberal and proud of it but it is very difficult in this part of the country to be to the left of Rush Limbaugh and not be looked down upon. As to WMUB and NPR, neither is liberal. Both permit both sides to view an opinion and in this country today that in of itself is a liberal postion., Fortunately the pendulum will swing in America and things will at least change. I thank you for being there. My only complaint about NPR is that you tend to dwell on the same subject too long. The war in where ever is important but too much of it makes one change stations, literally.

--Sam, aol.com

Reaction to News and Notes

2005-11-28T10:44:00.000-05:00

On November 18th WMUB aired a comment from listener Bruce Watts of Indiana, concerning our noon-time broadcast of News and Notes with Ed Gordon. Mr. Watts objected to what he described as “black-only” programmming. We received a number of responses to his comments:

“As a white American I find [News and Notes] a most interesting show giving me insights not found in mainstream offerings. It has also introduced me to many fine commentators who have shown me other ways of looking at today's problems. WMUB is to be commended for providing News and Notes.”

-- Chris from Brookville, OH

Listener Eileen wrote:
“I … was astonished that a listener could so misunderstand the purpose of public radio (and also TV). You strive to present a balanced view from many perspectives on any given issue, and I think there can be a perspective on an issue stemming from cultural experience. This makes for very interesting and challenging listening. I have enjoyed listening to News & Notes at noon and hearing different ways of looking at issues. I've restrained my comments in the interest of politeness, and by the way, I'm a senior citizen who happens to be white.”

Don't blame racism for hurricane snafus

2005-09-09T16:07:00.000-04:00

I was listening to your show that comes on at noon today [Ed. -- "News & Notes with Ed Gordon"]. I caught a part by a commentator "Tim Wiess" I don't believe your station is doing a public service by allowing individuals play the RACE game in the disaster in the Gulf states. I do not recall Mr. Wiess's exact words, but it was something to the effect that due to the fact the refugees were black is the reason aid did not arrive faster.

It is a shame people in New Orleans did not receive basic aid sooner, there are people in other parts of the Gulf states that did not receive any aid in a timely manner. I believe this was due to a lack of planning, starting with the Mayor of the areas affected and up the chain to the President.

This wave of blaming racism in the media is doing nothing but causing harm. The busses needed, food and water required could not move until someone made a decision to move.

--Bill Edwards

Don't ignore local booksellers

2005-08-29T09:24:00.000-04:00

I enjoyed the interview of Jack W. Mitchell, NPR's first employee [8/26/05]. His book does sound interesting. I was, however, a bit annoyed with his numerous (at least three) references to Amazon as the only place to obtain this title. Nothing beats shopping in a real bookstore such as Dayton"s Books and Company, Borders or Barnes and Noble.I have found these can quickly obtain almost any title in print. Then when the book arrives I have the pleasure of speinding time in the store seeing and touching real books. These local shops need our support or someday they will be gone. I really would have expected Mr. Mitchell with his non-commercial backgoround or the host to have said, "order through Amazon or your favorite local bookseller."

--Chris in Brookville

Commentator is wrong

2005-08-26T08:37:00.000-04:00

The history prof at Miami u would do better to spend his time educating his students than trying to indoctranate them with his political views educators like this are the reason ninety percent of the seniors cant name the first five presidens .

--donaldjones

Disagrees with Allan Winkler commentary

2005-08-26T08:34:00.000-04:00

Allan Winkler is a fraud. Or an opportunist. Or at least a retread tire. Usually when he comes on I turn off the radio. Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough on the draw this time. He suggested that America was deep in the big muddy on the way to drown. Yes we are in the big muddy But we don't have to drown. This morning I received photos from my brother in law in an email entitled "Photos too shocking and graphic for the mass media." These were photos showing young American soldiers holding and surrounded by young Iraqi children who were holding new school supplies. There were photos showing Iraqis with hand painted signs saying "Thank you." There were photos showing American soldiers, both black and white, praying together. If we leave Iraq now there would be additional photos, but these photos would be far different. There would be photos of burning American flags. There would be photos of young boys marching with AK-47's. There won't be photos of young girls. Just photographs of hate. Yes, America is in the big muddy, but Iraq is in it far, far deeper. If we, as a free nation do not help to rescue others from this danger, then we will not keep this gift of freedom for much longer. So I say wade into the big muddy in the hope of rescuing others. Freedom requires nothing less. Will you stretch out your hand to help or will you cower on the bank and wear another name?

--David McAfee

WMUB should air former WVXU programs

2005-08-26T08:32:00.000-04:00

I don’t know if you will hear from any other former WVXU supporters, but I wanted to contact you and express my belief that there are a substantial number of public radio listeners who will be looking for a new station to support. The new WVXU programming will create a vacuum but will also duplicate some of your existing programs. No longer will WMUB be the only place to hear the second hour of the Diane Riehm show, but the afternoon NPF feed will now be identical on both stations from at least 2PM to 7PM.

I realize that I am not telling you anything that you do not know and also understand that your station’s coverage differs somewhat from WGUC and WVXU. However, I listen in my home in Mason and my law offices in Springboro and I suspect your broadcast reaches a good number of WVXU listeners. I think this is one reason that WNKU is building a repeater in Port Union, to help it reach into this area.

I have been listening to WMUB at 9AM and 7PM as the Help Desk resembles some of the WVXU offerings. I suspect this comes from John and Sherrie’s time at WVXU. I hope that WMUB will consider filling the void left in the public radio music arena by the departure of WVXU. I think the new WVXU will have some jazz and blues though it will probably be pretty mainstream. What will be missing, with the exception of Echoes, will be the new age, world beat, etc. that was a staple on weekday afternoons at WVXU. (Old time radio is an issue that I will leave to other listeners but I suspect someone will have a contract with Radio Music Heritage soon).

I hope that WMUB will consider adding some of this music to its line up not only because it will attract new supporters but because it is in line with the music that is already offered on WMUB. I also look forward to WMUB adding some of the local talk hosts or shows that have been cast adrift by WGUC. WNKU has already added two of the strongest fund raising shows

Thank you for your time and attention in this regard and I look forward to the changing of the public radio market in this area as I search for a new radio companion or companions.

--Mike

Thanks for Garrison trip and for Mama

2005-08-25T17:04:00.000-04:00

Just want to thank you for organizing the bus trip to the State Fair to see the Rhubarb Tour. Everything went really smoothly, & I had a great time! Looking forward to other trips (if I can get off work again).

While I'm writing, I just want to comment on Mama Jazz. I never thought I liked jazz till I started listening to her. She's so enthusiastic & knowledgeable--I just love listening to her.

Keep doing what you're doing.

--Nancy W.

Anniversary of King David Hotel bombing by terrorists

2005-07-29T18:43:00.000-04:00

Listener Chris Cruden wrote to us Friday July 22, 2005"

This morning a brief news item referred to the 1946 bombing of the King David Hotel in Israel. The news item referred to the terrorists as Israeli underground fighters. This is totally inaccurate, the bombing was by terrorists and admitted as such by "Rabbi" Yzertinsky (Yitzhak Shamir, later the Prime Minister of Israel, his code name was "Rabbi")

After his release from prison, by the British, he justified his terrorist activities by stating “….. there are those who say that to kill Martin (Sgt Martin was his British arresting officer) is terrorism but, to attack an army camp is guerilla warfare and to bomb civilians is professional warfare, but I think it is the same from a moral point of view. Is it better to drop an atomic bomb on a city than to kill a handful of persons? I don’t think so. But nobody says that Truman was a terrorist. For us it was not a question of the professional honor of a soldier, it was a question of an idea, an aim that had to be achieved. We were aiming at a political goal. There are many examples of what we did to be found in the Bible, Gideon and Sampson, for example.”

The "idea" he quotes in the above statement is the sole of all terrorism and when we hypocritically attempt to justify terrorism we find acceptable, we consequently feed the cause (idea) of terrorism we find unacceptable. Sadly and regrettably we appear to feed the terrorists and their cause by all we do.

Here's a reply from NPR Ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin:

I checked with Morning Edition and indeed, in the program's "opening" where one of the hosts mentions what events occurred this day in history, the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946 was mentioned. It was said that the act was committed by "the Jewish underground" and that more than 90 people were killed.

There is no doubt that this was an act of political terrorism committed by a group known as the Irgun whose members included future prime ministers of Israel such as Yitzhak Shamir and Menachem Begin. The Irgun was a guerilla force that targeted the British occupation forces with the aim of driving them out of mandate Palestine in order to create an independent Jewish state.

In later years, apologists for the bombing said that the King David was a legitimate target because it was a military headquarters for the British Army in Mandate Palestine and that the Irgun phoned three warnings to the hotel which they said were ignored.

Yet there were civilian casualties among the mostly British military casualities. By today's standards, it was certainly an act of terrorism.

All of this is beyond the informational scope of the "opening" of the program. I have spoken to the editors to remind them that forty years later, the mentioning of certain events remains fraught with complexities that defies our usual journalistic shorthand.

Regards,

Jeffrey Dvorkin
NPR Ombudsman

Thanks for Darfur program

2005-07-23T23:50:00.000-04:00

Thank you for the program on Darfur Friday morning [7/22]. I rearranged my schedule to stay and listen to it. I am glad that you added the chap from southern Sudan because those issues need to be aired and as your speakers said, are somewhat related too. I felt the information presented by the primary speaker was given at a level that was a bit too basic/shallow, and only the answer to the final question really got into the nitty gritty details that someone who follows the news could be enlightened by more in depth background. Still it was a good 'effort' using your resources at hand. Another suggestion for a speaker who is fairly 'local' and might be persuaded to discuss the subject on your broadcasts, is Sam Laki, who teaches at Central State University and hails from southern Sudan.

As regards the question that the speaker could not answer, Osama bin Laden was NOT in Sudan at the time of the attack. I was in Khartoum at the end of September 1999, one year after the attack, and there were many wanting to engage me in WHY this was done!! people who were educated, working at Ministry level were horrified and disgusted by such aggression from the US, which they all had admired.

August 20, 1998, the al-Shifa ("Health") pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum, Sudan, was destroyed in cruise missile strikes launched by the United States in retaliation for the August 7 truck bomb attacks on its embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, in which 225 people were killed and a further 4,000 wounded

The administration of President Bill Clinton justified the attacks, dubbed Operation Infinite Reach, on the grounds that the al-Shifa plant was involved in producing chemical weapons and had ties with the violent Islamist al Qaeda group of Osama bin Laden, which was believed to be behind the embassy bombings. The August 20 US action also hit al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan, to where bin Laden had moved following his May 1996 expulsion from Sudan.

The Khartoum attack was noted for its outstanding precision, as successive missiles all but levelled the al-Shifa works with minimal damage to surrounding areas. But the factory is today widely thought to have had no connections with weapons-related activity or with bin Laden.

--Dorothy B.

Keep pro-Bush pundits off

2005-07-21T14:36:00.000-04:00

I'm a big supporter of PBS and WMUB. Please keep Kenneth Tomlinson's partisan spin off the air. I don't want to see those pro-Bush pundits from the Wall Street Journal—I want real journalism.

--Mike

[A clarification from WMUB: Kenneth Tomlinson is Chair of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. As such he is not on the air, but is generally credited with persuading PBS to distribute the Wall Street Journal television show. PBS produces public television programs; NPR, our network, is a separate organization, for radio only.]

Show suggestion

2005-07-21T10:28:00.000-04:00

As you are well aware, WVXU has been sold. Several of their programs are disappearing. I always listened to Simply Money each Thursday afternoon at 5:00. It is going off the air in August. The show had a good following. The Financial Network Group in Cincinnati did the show. . . I have no idea if they would be interested, but it would be great if you could find a way to work them into your schedule. I know you don't have any locally produced shows except at 9:00. Perhaps, instead of a repeat at 7:00, why not a live show once a week?

--David Allen

Mama Jazz on the Internet

2005-07-21T10:13:00.000-04:00

I sent an e-mail the other day to Mama Jazz and said that I often (meaning a lot) listen to WMUB at night on the internet. I know that you have many listeners over the internet and they probably span continents. PS: I am picking up what appears to be the high definition broadcast on my computer and it really sounds good.

--Grant Wadsworth

[Editor's note: the HD Radio signal, to which we assume Mr. Wadsworth refers, is only available via an HD receiver, not yet available in stores. However, we're glad he gets a good quality signal on-line].

Compliments and suggestions

2005-07-18T09:47:00.000-04:00

I love National Public Radio, and I am delighted with WMUB's programming. I specifically enjoy Morning Edition, the Diane Rehm show, News and Notes, Fresh Air, and All Things Considered. The distance in substance and quality between NPR and all other forms of radio news coverage is huge.

I have two questions/requests for you:

1. Is there any way you can begin programming On the Media? I listen to On the Media most Saturday mornings from 7 to 8 a.m. on WYS0 from Yellow Springs, and I think it is--bar none--the best program on all of radio.

2. I can't tell you how tired I am about storm coverage on NPR News. My God, we're not even into hurricane season and already there has been massive coverage of tropical storms that have not even reached Jamaica. I have listened to several NPR news broadcasts in which more air time has been given to approaching storms than to any other news item, foreign or domestic. Can you please tell me to whom I can write at NPR headquarters to protest the undue coverage given to weather conditions that may (or may not) affect just a portion of our nation? Thanks?

Keep up the great work. NPR and WMUB is one of the best things in my world.

Cheers and gratitude,

--Don Daiker, Oxford

Almost Monday is the best

2005-07-18T09:24:00.000-04:00

Almost Monday is the best of radio on earth this date. The juxtapositions are actually masterful though probably random. Who picks this music? Well done,well done!

--James Fellers

WMUB mentions WMUB too often for one WMUB listener

2005-07-12T08:40:00.000-04:00

I have noticed that the call letters WMUB are spoken so often on this station that it becomes a nuisance to hear them. I only listen to WMUB and have been bothered about this for a long time but just now decided to send you this message. No big deal but yes, it is a nuisance.

--Anita M.

Cutting grass to bluegrass

2005-07-11T09:12:00.000-04:00

I just bought a set of am/fm headphones recently. The first time I used them while cutting grass, I came upon your station., I really enjoyed the bluegrass! I hope I can always cut grass to your tunes!

-- Gary Super

Thanks for the mug

2005-07-08T11:23:00.000-04:00

When I received my New Member Mug a couple of months ago, it was broken. I sent it back, requesting a replacement. Not much later I received a lovely new, intact mug.

The mug is very cool. I love it -- everyone who sees it wants one like it -- so I tell them how to get one!

Thanks again.

--Marsha in Germantown

Where is Renee?

2005-07-08T08:53:00.000-04:00

I'm curious as to why Morning Edition host Renee Montagne constantly refers to California or Los Angeles as "here in Los Angeles" or "here in California," When did Ohio become annexed by California? It's very annoying. Please make her stop.

--Scott Richardson

NPR supports creationism?

2005-07-06T12:47:00.000-04:00

What's going on with NPR? I listened to a program on the evolution controversy on All Things Considered this evening, and was outraged that only one viewpoint was heard. It's true that I missed the last 5 minutes (was in the car) but the previous 25 minutes had been devoted strictly to the opinions and comments of people who are against the teaching of evolution.

I've always loved listening to NPR precisely because you could always count on hearing both sides of a controversy. I would like very much to know if this policy is changing. If so, is there anything that faithful NPR listeners can do about it?

--Jean Brandt, Dayton

[WMUB General Manager Cleve Callison: While I did not hear very much of the piece you mention, I can't imagine that NPR has become a vehicle for creationist ideology. I'm sure they're simply reporting the facts of the climate in Tennessee some 80+ years ago.

I did find the NPR web page with the original story by Barbara Bradley Hagerty, an essay by Noah Adams, and a great deal of other material.]

[NPR Ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin: Thank you for your email to Cleve and I appreciate the fact that he shared your note with me.

The two reports were not, in my opinion, free airtime for creationism. The goal was to look at the still smouldering issue on the anniversary of the Scopes "Monkey" trial. I thought Noah Adams did an amazing job in revisiting Dayton, Tennessee and that Barbara Bradley Hagerty's report was also wonderful as she spoke to high school students about this.

The story is still very much alive around the United States and I believe that NPR's reporting on this is essential to ensure that listeners understand what are the core beliefs of many Americans.

I am told that NPR will be doing other stories that look into the reasons why evolution is under attack and how its advocates plan to respond to the proponents of creationism and intelligent design.]

Biased language about Roman Catholics

2005-07-02T09:22:00.000-04:00

This message was also sent to the NPR Ombudsman and to Morning Edition:

Today's (June 28, 2005) report about the Philippines on Morning Edition had what seemed to be biased language. I am a Roman Catholic and am pro-life.

I was particularly concerned about associating "reproductive health" with "abortion" and "contraception" and describing people opposed to contraception and abortion as "opposed to reproductive health." Nothing is further from the truth.

The report described the health clinics as privately funded, but it did not mention the source of the private funding, which might explain the reason for some of the opposition to the clinics. The report did not indicate if the clinics would be allowed to stay opened if they stopped promoting contraception, which, by the way, seems to be a more accurate description than "modern family planning."

The report also failed to properly explain why the Roman Catholic Church and the government leaders of the Philippines are opposed to contraception and abortion. Simply quoting the Archbishop (or Bishop?) as seeing contraception as being a step closer to abortion is a shallow and incomplete explanation. One good source for a complete explanation is the encyclical of Pope Paul VI called Humanae Vitae (On the Regulation of Birth) http://www.ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/P6HUMANA.HTM. This encyclical could have been quickly mentioned in the report, but it was not.

I understand that Morning Edition cannot have extremely detailed reports. I also agree that Morning Edition does an excellent job of maintaining balance (or at least attempting to maintain balance), but reports should acknowledge when the they are incomplete and ideally should provide recommendations for additional resources, like web sites or books, that listeners can access for a complete perspective on larger, important subjects.

Thank you for considering my comments. I think you do a really good job and appreciate all your hard work.

--Best regards, Joel Maurer, Englewood, Listener of WMUB 88.5 FM and many other public radio stations!

WMUB is head and shoulders above

2005-07-02T09:14:00.000-04:00

I have moved here recently from Colorado and listen to WMUB constantly. Of all the NPR statiions I have listened to this one is head and shoulders above the rest. You do a mighty good job.

--Morry Hollenbaugh, Oxford

Promos drive him nuts

2005-07-02T09:13:00.000-04:00

I don't know if I am a minority of one, but that "Red, White and KA-BOOM" commercial drives me NUTS! AND IT IS REPEATED INCESSANTLY! It sounds like a truck rally commercial "MONSTER TRUCKS ROCK!"

-- Anonymous

Ox-ford or Ox-ferd?

2005-07-02T09:11:00.000-04:00

How do you pronounce the name of [your home]? I hear most of you say "Oxford". One or two say "Oxferd". Is the "ferd" a local twang?

--Anonymous

Winkler commentaries show lack of balance

2005-07-02T09:06:00.000-04:00

Every Alan Winkler commentary you broadcast further convinces me Mr. Tomlinson has got it right, public radio needs better balance.

--Jim in Farmersville

Story suggests lax security

2005-07-01T09:19:00.000-04:00

RE: [NPR's] story this morning [May 18th] about the the Cuban (I think) who is wanted by the Venezuelan government for an airplane bombing a few years ago.

The reporter mentioned how the fellow "slipped into the United States". The reporter either missed an important part of the story or decided not to report on it for fear of offending the administration. Is this not a horrific breach of our border security? Or is our government is deciding that some terrorists are ok, and thus overlooking its own security guidelines.

Either way I think our national integrity is at stake.

-- John Naramore

Letter to Sen. DeWine

2005-06-18T09:50:00.000-04:00

Here is our letter E-mailed to Senator DeWine.

Please do nothing to lessen the federal subsidy to National Public Radio. If anything, increase the subsidy!

My wife and I support public radio because:

It is the only source of “balanced” opinions on the airways.

- not one sided argument, one view point advanced with every opposing viewpoint ridiculed, but where proponent and opponent speakers are encouraged and given opportunity to present counter arguments.
- not aimed to appeal to the “baseness” of people, but to their need for engagement in public discussion.
- not geared to the “committed” patron, but to the “uncommitted” seeker.

It is the only source of “out of the box” interests that otherwise never make the news.

It is radio of greater depth – not events blurted in 20 seconds but presented over 20 minutes.

- not the daily police blotter of rapes, robberies and murders, but the attempt to understand why mankind commits these acts and how they might be prevented.

- not the constant annoying commercial interruption that consumes so much air time, but a simple acknowledgement of the supporters of public radio.

- Not the trivia, but the meaningful.

We support public radio during their fund drives; we do so now in writing.

Sincerely,

R & D ______

[Comment by Cleve Callison, WMUB General Manager: Please allow me to make a clarification. The alphabets involved can be confusing. NPR does not receive Congressional funding. The issue in June 2005 is funding for local stations like WMUB. The House Appropriations Committee's approval of a 40% reduction in the federal part of WMUB's budget would harm not only our local service but also our ability to pay NPR dues.]

Letter to Sen. DeWine

2005-06-17T19:14:00.000-04:00

Here is the message I sent:

Dear Senator DeWine,

You seem like a thoughtful person. Please do not support gutting public broadcasting, which is such a strength of the Miami Valley community.

I recognize the need for fiscal restraint, but the current cuts are NOT restrained, they are punitive. Public Broadcasting already is coping with significant cuts.

Please know that I, and many other constituents, believe that public broadcasting is an absolutely appropriate use of my tax dollars. I value the news and other programming I get from NPR and while I no longer watch TV, my second-grade students learn from PBS every day. We need this resource in Ohio. You can help. Please do.

Lin ___
Kettering

Supports public broadcasting

2005-06-17T19:13:00.000-04:00

I support Public Broadcasting. It seems that Conservative Republicans have a gripe with Public Broadcasting. They would rather support the war in Iraq. I have contacted both senators in Ohio. We must not lose this battle for Public Radio like we are losing the battle in Iraq.

Don Spangler

Appalled by proposed cuts

2005-06-17T13:53:00.000-04:00

I've been listening to NPR on WMUB for two years now. I'm apalled about the 40percent cut in funding. I've been listening carefully to many of your programs (The Diane Rehm Show, Talk of the Nation, Fresh Air) and I don't see where any of your programming is left-wing. In fact, I depend on your news sources more than any other to give me some honesty, instead of bias one way or the other, about what is going on in the world. I shall urge my Senators and Representative to cease doing away with your radio programs that have proved most valuable to me and my family. Thank you. Power to you all.

--Elaina Farnsworth

Will drop his support

2005-06-17T08:50:00.000-04:00

Your station has an excellent mixture of news, education, entertainment, and public service programs, better than any other I've ever heard. But I refuse to contribute anymore because I don't want to subsidize any commercial or politically sponsored messages or content. The handwriting is on the wall, and I suggest that [John Hingsbergen] and Cleve [Callison], et. al. should begin planning for career transition after WMUB gets snuffed by the totalitarian Bush administration.

--Roger

Outdated Community Calendar items

2005-06-17T08:49:00.000-04:00

I was wondering if it may be possible to keep up the events on your community calendar even a few weeks after the event has past…This may be good just for a general reference for some people after an event has past. By the way, your programs and all the work you do just seems to be getting better and better. We listen all the time. Keep up the good work!

--Nancy

[Here's some good news for Nancy and others: Outdated events do not appear on the Community Calendar, but you can look them up by clicking on the Advanced Search button in the left hand column. They remain in the file for 90 days.]

Misses Afropop Worldwide

2005-06-17T08:45:00.000-04:00

[Concerning the addition of The Tavis Smiley Show on Sunday:]

"One of the shows you dropped was Afropop Worldwide. This was my favorite music program, not just on WMUB, but among all my favorite radio stations. In addition, you were the last remaining Miami Valley area radio station to broadcast the show.

Afropop offers diverse music from around globe and gives listeners the chance to expand their musical horizons. I have discovered many exciting musicians and musical styles listening to the show. To me, you have traded an exceptional music program for just another tedious talk show. I urge you consider bringing Afropop Worldwide back to your program schedule, perhaps a better time and day when more people might be able to appreciate it.

--Michael from Lebanon

Upset with Terri Gross

2005-04-19T11:33:00.000-04:00

I just wanted you to know how upset I've become with Terri Gross of "Fresh Air" in the last year. I'm definitely not a Republican but I am the mother of a gay daughter. The way Ms. Gross went after Lynne Cheney when she was interviewing her regarding her new book was nothing short of outrageous. It was the third and last time that I heard her behave in this manner, because I quit listening to her after that. I love WMUB, but that woman needs help.

--A. from Dayton

Cato Institute & Governor Taft

2005-03-02T11:29:00.000-05:00

Listener David Ireton wrote:

I was disappointed as I listened to the local portion of the 10:00AM newscast. An interview with someone from the Cato Institute giving Gov. Taft a low rating because he has not cut taxes enough and not cut state spending enough. This was one sided. The Cato Institute is a political think tank which wants to end almost all government spending. Their political agenda was not mentioned. Please do not become the mouth piece for their agenda.

Program Director John Hingsbergen's reply:

Mr. Ireton,

Thank you for the comment. We'll pass it along to Ohio Public Radio's Statehouse News Bureau in Columbus. They were the source of this story.

I can assure you that neither WMUB nor OPR is likely to become a "mouth piece for their (the Cato Institute's) agenda." From a journalistic point of view, this story has merit since it is a conservative group criticizing a Republican governor. Perhaps more newsworthy than a "liberal" organization doing the same since that would be more predictable behavior.

I can understand your concern as I assure you that WMUB is working hard to assure that we provide balance and objectivity in the stories we air.

Interconnect 2/28 show on Past Life Therapy

2005-03-01T19:45:00.000-05:00

A listener wrote to us (choosing to remain anonymous) to say that he "...was moved almost to rage by the (February 28th Interconnect) show because of his belief that this kind of unsupported, unprovable, unscientific, and clearly impossible quackery is running rampant on the airwaves (both TV and radio) as well as in print in this country and that it seems to exist primarily to sell books, and is based purely on testimonials of believers and the book-writer, rather than on objective reality and provable or dis-provable scientific methods."

The listener went on to comment that he "Would have liked to have seen a little bit of challenge to the claims of the guest, rather than complete acceptance of the guest's claims. Rational thinking and Carl Sagan's "Baloney Detection Kit" were not present in the show (see a much better book than the guest's, "The Demon-Haunted World" by Carl Sagan)."

He went on to say, "I actually do NOT want to demean the guest, I just feel that what he claims to be able to do is not possible, and although I don't want to attribute any nefarious intention upon the guest, I think that the human mind is vast in its ability to construct incredibly exact visual details when in a dream state, and that hypnosis is not only an inexact science, it is possible for the therapist to introduce elements that go into the dream state and our brains commonly can create entire lives or stories out of thin air, with a complete semblance of reality (think of how your alarm clock can be added to your dream with smoothness of storyline, for example). If this sort of chicanery can be formulated in our own brains, imagine how gullable we must be to claims of this sort by the guest.

Interconnect, Celtic Music & Traffic Reports

2005-03-01T19:43:00.000-05:00

Listener Ralph Jones wrote:

In general, I don't find the style or content of "Interconnect" very interesting. Also 2 hours of "Thistle and Shamrock" is enough to grate on anyone's nerves. One hour every three weeks might be acceptable. You may be able to tell that I'm not a big fan of Celtic music.

In a separate message, Mr. Jones commented:

As one of many listeners whose work requires much driving around the local area, I find the traffic reports indispensible. These reports have saved me lots of otherwise lost time, not to mention aggravation. Please keep these reports on the air.

Interconnect 2/28

2005-03-01T19:41:00.000-05:00

E-mailer "Danny" wrote:

REINCARNATION IS AN OCCULTIC MYTH; WHY? BECAUSE IT'S UNBIBLICAL THEREFORE, FALSE & AN UNSCRIPTURAL THEORY LIKE EVOLUTION; WANNA KNOW ABOUT THAT TYPE OF STUFF?
READ THE B I B L E.

Tavis

2005-03-01T19:39:00.000-05:00

E-mailer "Mike" wrote:

I'm glad Tavis is gone. I listen as much I can. Great station!

Broadcast Distance

2005-03-01T19:36:00.000-05:00

E-mailer "Fred" wrote:

dear sir i am a mu grad and listen to you on my pc. I usually listen to mama jazz, great. i was wondering what is your broad casting distance roughly. i live just north of detroit mich.like to buy a radio to pick you up.

A reply from WMUB Chief Engineer (and Master of All Technology) Jim Keen:

I am sorry Fred but I think you are a little out of our coverage area....We are located in Oxford, Ohio (20 miles north of Cincinnati) Our coverage area only goes as far north as Celina, OH Highway 29.

Thanks for listening on the Web...

20 year listener to Public Radio

2005-03-01T19:32:00.000-05:00

Listener Laura Ziegler wrote:

I believe I've listened to PR radio stations for 20 years (also WDPR, WYSO, WVXU); but more especially after 9/11. The news can't be beat. They offer measured, civil discussions of political events of the day. My favorite is Diane Rehm. She asks questions of her guests that need to be asked. Even when they evade the issue, the point is made. Her recent show having to do with the high cost of drugs and how to pay for them covered all the bases.

I also enjoy the electic music programs. It's fascinating to hear Blue Grass, Beethoven, Salsa, etc. all in the same hour.

February 14 Interconnect show

2005-03-01T19:28:00.000-05:00

Listener "William" wrote to us:

I have been a long time supporter of WMUB, but I am ready to leave you completely due to several recent shows discussing the merits of gay lifestyles as well as this morning's discussion of spouse sharing (Feb. 14 Interconnect).

I have always listened to you the entire day, but from this day forward I will only tune in for the Diane Rehm Show, Talk of the Nation, and Prarie Home Companion. By the way... I really miss the Travis Smiley Show.
He was able to discuss valid issues, without allowing his interviews to go off on radical views. I cannot say the same for Ed Gordon.

Our reply:

Thank you for your comment. We value your opinion although I do think you misunderstood what our guests were saying. They were, in no way, endorsing spouse-sharing or gay lifestyles. I will have to listen again to the show, but I felt that they were being very careful in addressing the questions asked without making judgments about the sexual choices of others. Thank you for caring enough to write about this. We'll listen carefully to the show and, if there is anything we could have done differently to be more balanced, we'll try harder next time.

Saturday Afternoons

2005-03-01T19:25:00.000-05:00

Listener Jams Gerbec wrote:

What happened to The World Cafe with David Dye on Saturday afternoons? Weekend America is good but not good enough to repeat back to back. Please bring back The World Cafe.

Our reply:

Thanks for your comment and question. The decision to drop The World Cafe and add Weekend America was based on what we have seen in listener reaction to our previous programming. Frankly, the addition of The World Cafe was itself an experiment with a type of programming we had never aired before. By all accounts, very few listeners were tuning in or supporting the show.

We felt that the addition of Weekend America would provide a source of news and informational programming that is more consistent with what listeners expect from WMUB Mondays through Fridays. The repetition of the two hours is very much the same approach we take with Morning Edition and All Things Considered, based on the fact that most listeners are not likely to tune in for as long as two hours at a time.

At this time, it is far too early for us to know if we are building the kind of audience we had hoped for although we have had numerous positive comments. We are continuing to watch Saturdays very closely. Comments such as yours are exactly what we need to assist in monitoring listener/member response.

Tavis vs. Ed Gordon

2005-03-01T19:20:00.000-05:00

Listener "Pam" writes...

Dear WMUB,, , This is a copy of an email I sent to Mr. Dvorkin at NPR. You have been soliciting comments about the NPR replacement for Tavis Smiley, News & Notes. These comments concern that show.

I've been listening to News & Notes with Ed Gordon for the past 9 days and while I had great expectations for him and for the show, I'm sorry to say I am utterly disappointed. Granted, it is an impossible task to follow the likes of Tavis Smiley and the show he pioneered with NPR, but that begs another question: how many times in one calendar year can NPR shoot itself (and its listeners) in the foot? First, the embarassing termination of Bob Edwards, and then the loss of Tavis Smiley (and to my mind, this is a greater loss than Bob Edwards).

Edwards' termination put a spotlight on NPR management that has not dimmed and Smiley's departure intensifies that spotlight. Clearly, NPR has some serious management problems!, , I am a 50- something white woman, university professor. Tavis was my NPR political/cultural/economic lifeline to diverse voices in this country, particularly African American and Hispanic/Latino/Latina voices. I never missed Connie Rice's conversations with Smiley, or those segments with Michael Eric Dyson and Omar Wasso. I loved the lively exchange of ideas, the challenges to cultural and political hypocrisy, and the joy of living that Smiley embodies. Now Tavis is gone and we are the poorer.

My disappointment with News & Notes is that it is NONE of the above - Mr. Gordon sounds like a "deer in headlights", stilted, too formal and unable to control a discussion (or roundtable). The homophobic rant by two ministers on the 2/9 show was appalling and Mr. Gordon simply let them rant. He lost control of the segement and there was never a recovery. Additionally, I find the conversants on the show to be boring, the questions formulaic, and the show lacks intellectual stimulation. When Tavis' show was over, I was always stimulated, energized, and always had something to share with colleagues: an idea, a book, a song/musician, etc.

The new show has no passion, is poorly packaged, poorly paced and offers no compelling reason to listen. All of those folks who were attracted to NPR by Tavis might as well go back to their iPods. As I understand it, Mr. Smiley challenged NPR to guarantee that his show was not the only "diverse" programming supported by NPR. Now that Smiley has departed, NPR has guaranteed that diverse voices are muted and boring beyond recognition.

Thanks for listening & thanks for your work,

Early morning weather

2005-03-01T19:14:00.000-05:00

At least two listeners have written to us with similar messages to this one...and we've had a few calls to the Listener Comment Line as well...

Could WMUB please announce the current temperature along with the weather report, especially in the early morning?

I am a WMUB member and long time listener. I have Morning Edition on by ~5:30 am and am out of the house by 6 am. While it is useful to know what the weather will be for the next day or two, I really need to know the temperature right now, in order to decide what to wear as I leave the house.

Can you please have the announcers state the current temperature during the weather report, even in the early morning? Obviously they have the information available, since the temperature is frequently reported later in the day.

Our reply:

You may or may not be aware that, during some hours of the day, announcements during our programming are recorded in advance and played back by our computer automation system. This is the case during the 5:00 - 6:00 hour, especially since Darrel Gray is no longer a full-time employee at WMUB. At some times, it is possible that "breaks" at around 5:50 AM and 5:59 AM are done "live" but that is by no means a certainty at this point.

Tavis Smiley

2005-02-06T01:33:00.000-05:00

Hi. Just a note saying Thank You for ditching The Tavis Smiley show. I have complained to you about that show more than once and I am glad that it is gone. Smiley's veiled racism as well as his unveiled liberal political preferences will not be missed.

I have listened twice now to News and Notes and find it a welcome replacement.

Barry Pike

Voting in Ohio

2005-02-01T22:29:00.000-05:00

Today there were reports this morning (the 27th) and in the evening about Secretary of State, Kenneth Blackwell’s demand for counties to pick one of two optical scan manufacturers., , Regarding the morning report, I urge your reporter/s to look closely at the Cobb/LaMarche Website http://www.votecobb.org/recount/ , and especially, look at the Recount Reports here http://www.votecobb.org/recount/ohio_reports/ . ALL 88 counties were recounted (not “Some” as reported in the morning) – but this recount was not handled the way that Ohio Law dictates. There are too many incidents that took place to report here, but I urge you to look at this website., , The other important issue was the report today about Kenneth Blackwell’s push for all Ohio districts to choose an optical scan manufacturer by the February deadline.

We need to be aware of the choices being made for Ohio, and demand forums so that we can speak about the choices being made, however, since Kenneth Blackwell won’t even give the Board of Elections a forum to discuss options, there is no chance that the public would be involved in such a debate. One benefit of Optical Scan is that they give a paper ballot, so if a recount is necessary, it can be completed, however that’s provided that the Secretary of State and/or the Board of Elections in each district plays by the rules, which did not occur for the recount in December, as referenced above., , Optical Scan machines are not without their problems. Besides the two vendors, Diebold and ES&S having strong partisan ties (among other problems – see this FAQ http://www.chuckherrin.com/hackthevoteFAQ.htm for more information) there have been other issues with the use of optical scan machines as well.

Case in point – Just this week it was reported that Ohio recount volunteers have prepared affidavits about observations of several problems during the recount in Clermont County (see report following) that alleges * actual vote tampering * (stickers were placed over some optical scan ovals, and in at least one case, a Bush/Cheney bubble was filled in, while the sticker covered a filled in Kerry/Edwards oval. It seems that more information is coming about problems in Ohio, although to listen to some politicians, "nothing improper happened" here at all. And that may be the case, but without the proper recount protocol followed, and without investigations by the proper law enforcement officials, we will never know.

It is important for the sake of all future elections in all states, that Ohio is given the in-depth investigation it deserves and its citizens the proper respect they deserve. It is important that the decisions being made about the methods in which we conduct our elections are done openly and with input from the people as well as the Election Boards., , The investigations that are still occurring in Ohio are not about changing the election – they are about finding people who broke the law, and making them accountable for their actions!

We cannot say we have free, honest and fair elections if there are questions still lingering, and if information is still appearing. And we have absolutely NO business going to other parts of the world to "spread democracy" if we can't even get it right here. , ,

From Raw Story: http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=7, , 1/26/2005, Ohio recount volunteers allege electoral tampering, legal violations and possible fraud, Filed under: General— site admin @ 6:48 pm Email This, , , ‘Why were there stickers on ballots in Clermont County, Ohio?’, , By Larisa Alexandrovna RAW STORY Staff, , "Correction: Due to Editor error, the story as it appears is slightly different from the reporter’s original story. The reporter has corrected the final version which appears below, , "Serious new election tampering allegations have emerged from an Ohio county, where witnesses allege that stickers were placed on presidential election ballots, RAW STORY has learned., , "Several volunteer workers in the Ohio recount in Clermont County, Ohio have prepared affidavits alleging serious tampering, violations of state and federal law, and possible fraud. They name the Republican chief of Clermont’s Board of Elections and the head of the Clermont Democratic Party Priscilla O’Donnell as complicit in these acts., , "These volunteers, observing the recount on behalf of the Greens, Libertarians and Democrats, assert that during the Dec. 14, 2004 hand recount they noticed stickers covering the Kerry/Edwards oval, whereas the Bush/Cheney oval seemed to be “colored in. ", , See rest of article here: http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=7

Tracy

Interconnect 1/31/05

2005-02-01T22:23:00.000-05:00

Dear Cheri and John:

I heard the program this morning but was unable to comment at the time, although I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued provocative programming. I am emailing in the hope that you may include this in your weekly roundup of comments on WMUB.

The book DaVinci code seems to be absolutely rooted in the 1982 Sunday Times (London) Literary Book of the Year: Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Baigent, Leigh, Lincoln. This publication was expected to cause a firestorm of controversy but, for what ever reasons, disappeared without much of a ripple. It is grounded and academic in setting forth its treatise at the beginning, which sets up the arguments within. Anyway, its something that any of the listeners, whether galvanized or appalled by the DaVinci Code, should read.

Sincerely,

Graham Cooper
(Good to see you both at the Korva Coleman brunch)

Are otter traps cruel?

2005-02-01T15:25:00.000-05:00

concerning a Statehouse News Bureau report on otters in Ohio:

In the report a representative of the humane society of the United States … says that the traps used to capture otter are cruel.

In the interest of fairness and accurate reporting, especially regarding a subject of which the vast majority has no experience or knowledge, I want to point out that the very traps the humane society decries as cruel were successfully used by trappers to capture 125 otter for relocation to Ohio. This humane resettlement program has resulted in a significant increase in Ohio's otter population.

Airing the quote without questioning its version of events is poor journalism and an affront to the people of Ohio. It rather reminds me of CBS and Dan Rather using unverified documents in their story on President Bush's National Guard service.

The News Department might want to do an in-depth report on the Humane Society and where they spend their millions of dollars. More importantly, you should look at where they don't spend any funds -- which is on the animals themselves. Instead, they devote their resources to strengthen a quasi-religion that rails against hunting, trapping and animal farming in any and all forms, and that openly condones terrorism in order to eliminate the use of animals in medical research. Quoting the humane society as an "expert" perspective on wildlife management is tantamount to supporting their elitist political agenda and promoting their illegal and immoral tactics.

--Jerome J. Heimbrock, Jr.

Dayton Public School closing announcements?

2005-02-01T15:23:00.000-05:00

Has WMUB changed its market area? We have supported the station for some time and relied on it for school closing information. When we did not hear Dayton mentioned on your station earlier this morning, we got our children up for school. One of our sons checked the internet to find out that around midnight the Dayton Public Schools had decided to close. If you are not going to cover Dayton in your service area any more, we would appreciate knowing this.

--Dayton listener

WMUB Program Director John Hingsbergen replies:

I am sorry to hear that your family was inconvenienced by the lack of mention of the Dayton Public Schools closing. The school announcements that we air are those reported to us by the school districts or principals. It appears that we dIDn't have an existing arrangement for contact with DPS . . . Thanks to your message, we will contact the school district and ask them if they would like to participate in our listings.

One caution: We would encourage all our listeners not to rely on the absence of an announcement to indicate that school is open or closed. Even if we have them on our list of intended announcements, it can happen that they "forget" to call us or some other factor causes us to miss the information.

Morning Edition audio book story

2005-02-01T15:20:00.000-05:00

I smiled as I listened to the story ... An avid library patron, I used them to help make better use of my 50 minute commute in the late 1980s. I chose tapes of books that I knew my mother-of-three-working-and-coaching-soccer lifestyle would not permit me to read. How I wish that I had purchased that first tape - "Profiles In Courage" read by John Kennedy Jr.

--Monica Streit, Oxford

Will miss Tavis Smiley

2004-12-16T14:58:00.000-05:00

I am a listener of WMUB since 1997 when I recieved your signal at Earlham College in Indiana. I am now a graduate student at Miami University. I have listened to NPR since secondary school in Ithaca, NY and am very familiar with the unique and dynamic programming that it provides. Tavis Talks is a dynamic and important direction for NPR to go into. The program draws a diverse audience base, has incredibly insightfull and current guests, and provides a unique cultural, thoughtfull perspective that is not scene anywhere else. Tavis Talks was one of the major reasons I decided to contribute to NPR this year for the first time. I highly encourage that you retain Tavis Talks as it goes through this transition of hosts. As well if the program ceases to produce I urge you to search for new programming that appeals to his audience. You provide a invaluable service and I wish the station continued success and expanded viewership.

--name withheld by request

Glad about new host

2004-12-15T10:26:00.000-05:00

I don't care for Tavis Smiley, however I do enjoy the show when Tony Cox hosts. I hope NPR makes him the permanent host.

--Lisa Boggs

Fan, but doesn't like Interconnect guest

2004-12-13T12:07:00.000-05:00

In spite of the fact that I have my radio set to be tuned to your station each morning, I'm afraid that today your guest on the [12/13 Interconnect] prompted a turnoff before 9:30 rolled around. The gobbledygook spewing from his mouth made little sense and his brash demeanor was unacceptable. Oh well, win a few, lose a few! ---- Your "talk" programming is very imformative, for the most part, and this aberration today will be overlooked if it doesn't happen again. OK?

--Betty

Enough is enough

2004-12-07T16:55:00.000-05:00

Your repeated "promotions" for Day Sponsorships have gone too far. At first, I chuckled, not because they were "cute," but since they were such a poor attempt to emulate a classic movie. Then to hear them at least 4 times a day, day after day, has made me angrier and angrier. The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that, supposedly, WMUB has only 2 weeks of fundraising each year. And, this past fall, it surpassed its goal! Is this just another example of Miami's constant thirst for additional funds?

To subject its listeners to this constant barrage of low-leveled, money-grubbing solicitations (and that is what they are) is an insult to the intelligent audience WMUB seeks to attract. With this type of approach, WMUB will lose supporters, not gain them.

--J.M.

Term "gyp" is offensive

2004-12-07T07:53:00.000-05:00

Twice today (12/6/05) I heard a story on your local news broadcast regarding a new national park system commemorating the development of atomic weapons. In it, your news reader says that the city of Dayton feels "gypped" not to be included in the plans. Please be aware that this is a derogatory term, offensive to those of Gypsy descent and all of us who have become aware of the derivation of the word. It's similar to saying someone was "jewed down", which is a phrase I'm sure you would never use.

Please change the language of this story immediately. I'm sure your use of the word was unintentional.

--C.K.

WMUB's response: You are correct that WMUB's use of the phrase was unintentional. It was included in an Associated Press version of the story that we aired Monday morning.

We have sent your comment along to the Associated Press and their editors and we have informed our news reporters and producers that we will exclude the word "gypped" from our vocabulary in future reporting.

While we were at it, we discovered that NPR Ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin made mention of this issue in a recent online column. You can read it at the following link.

Thanks for helping us to understand the nature of this usage. We're glad to have it pointed out and to make changes in our journalistic vocabulary.

Bias apparent in news story

2004-12-07T07:40:00.000-05:00

#1: I listen to your station every morning on the way to work and every evening on the way home. I have been an avid supporter of NPR for years, although, admittedly, I prefer community radio when available. Still, for the most part, I respect and depend upon NPR's largely fair attempts at news reporting. I was disappointed this morning when I heard one of your newscasters refer to the reasonings behind pushes for a recount in Ohio as "conspiracy theory." That is not unbiased reporting. Whether your newscasters agree with the pushes for a recount or not, they should report the efforts and motivations without editorializing and namecalling. People have legitimate concerns about the vote in Ohio and nationwide, just as they did in 2002 and 2000. Those concerns deserve to be treated legitimately.

--Christina Dendy

#2: I was appalled by the oblivious bias displayed in a report I heard this morning on your radio station. It was very clear in his tone and wording of his report that he is very pro republican. He was taking about the effort in Ohio to call for a recount. He kept calling the people in the effort "anti-bush activists" he also called the candidates calling for the recount "the losers" in the contests. I thought for a minute I was listening to Rush Limbaugh. I thought I could depend on public radio to be fair and not biased in the reporting. Mr. Cohen's obvious hatred for the people trying exercise their rights to uphold democracy and a fair election is disgraceful. If he is unable to keep his opinions out of his reporting he should be fired. I think that WMUB should be ashamed that they would let a report like that air on their station.

--T.C.

WMUB's response: The writers are referring to a story by Bill Cohen of the Ohio Statehouse News Bureau, which supplies reports to WMUB and other public stations around the state. Rather than trying to speak for the News Bureau, we have forwarded the reaction to them.

2 Annoying Things about Talk Shows

2004-11-30T17:14:00.000-05:00

It seems that your people -- especially those involved in the computer thing (Tuesday morning, I think it is) get carried away on their their promo spots trying to sound like Click and Clack-- which they ain't.

And, since you asked, the song lead-in to one of your local show -- If You Want It, Here It Is etc /-- is particularly annoying.

--W. Herminghausen

Commentator hit nail on head

2004-11-30T10:29:00.000-05:00

I wanted to send this quick note of support for the Russian Graduate Student's comments I heard on WMUB Monday evening. She hit the nail on the head in asking what terrorism is. I warned my friends and family about following blanket commercial based patriotism following the September 11th attacks, and told them to be wary of a simple mentality that could lead to blanket actions that could take away freedom. Shortly thereafter, Congress passed the Patriot Act and since then Fear and Commercial Patriotism have been fed to the American Public in heavy doses.

Often times I remind people that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were considered terrorists to King George during the American Revolution. I do not say this to compare our founding fathers to Osama Bin Laden, but I say this to illustrate that terrorism is in the eye of the beholder. Washington’s escape from Brooklyn Heights is very much a kin to Bin Laden’s escape from Tora Bora and has further led to his myth in the Muslim world.

In America we truly have nothing to fear except ourselves, our actions, and our leadership. There was no justification for 9/11, but there is also no justification for the behavior of Middle Western Americans to steep their lives in fear, or to vote their fears in elections. Thank you.

--Mike

Commentator justified terrorism

2004-11-29T08:51:00.000-05:00

I listened to Doctoral student Irena Aervitz's discussion of terrorism this morning on the way to work. I continue to be amazed at the lengths that people will go justify both sides of the war on terror to have equal footing. "One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter". Equating killing innocents in a terrorist attack to collateral damage by strikes on safe houses or weapons caches. How demeaning to those who are fighting to prevent the greater good from prevailing.

I fail to see how the murder of thousands of civilians in the attacks of 9/11 could in any way be compared to secondary explosions in a terrorist enclave that kills an innocent in a house next door. How does Ms. Aervitz explain the kidnapping, bobytrapping and then slaughter of hundreds of school children by there supposed "freedom fighters"? I fail to see how any clear thinking person, particularly one with substantial formal education, could reach the conclusions that Ms. Irvich did.

WMUB continues to go down this path time and again for whatever reason I cannot fathom. I recall a political science prof. on the station within a day after the 9/11 attacks trying to justify what the terrorists were doing based upon what the US had done historically.

Broad discussion of the issues should be had. Trying to understand the other side should be undertaken as well. But it stops in my mind when the fundamental morality of actions are not considered.

--Fred Sharp