The summer schedule with public radio

I am one of THOSE that, along with a morning cuppa, need a daily fix of NPR to totally set the tune for the rest of the day. While I get chores done, in the quiet of the am hours, I have to sip my first and only cuppa with the Morning edition topped with The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor. Most normal people would wax eloquent about NPR accompanying their morning drive to work. Not I. I need it even before I start my morning "drive", all of 2 miles, to my work place!

For a brief flashback, I belong to that weird generation that wasnt exposed to TV the day they were born. Radio was still prevalent, though I used radio more as a time keeper. To this date I can recall the so very recognizable voice reading "sampratih vartaah shrunvanteem". Yes that definitely meant it was 7:05am and the legs had to work faster to make it to the bus stand. If Kannada news started, then I was in a soup. A hopeless situation. Appa would be dropping me to school and it also meant some stern face time with the "diary-signer" who would have a few sharp words to say about not keeping time! Anyway, moving on....

Weekends couldnt be complete without 'Car Talk', 'Wait, wait, dont tell me' and 'Sunday Puzzle by Will Shortz'. Invariably, driving around with Saturday morning chores only turns into a pleasurable experience just by listening to Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, solving most of America's car troubled owners with their wonderful sense of humor, style and great repartee. Its one of my wishes to make it to a studio recording of either 'Wait, wait dont tell me' which is recorded at the Chicago member station(NN, beware! thou art forewarned...) or Prairie Home Companion by Garrison Keillor.

Recently NPR has been covering some of the adoption gone awry cases. Some very insightful tales from people of diverse backgrounds with unique and touching stories. More can be found here. One very interesting case about two girls who were adopted by an American couple and brought to the US, only to find out that they were stolen from their birth mother by some agencies and the reunion after so many years that followed.

The only annoying factor which all public radio channels become victims of is that of the quarterly pledge drive. Its one work week when the channel is full of pledge information and pleas for donations. I honestly dont grudge them. Most times I am magnanimous enough to give in, cos after all, its a worthy cause. Nonetheless the pledge drive week is an annoyance, all said and done.

Public radio ki jai ho!

- A mint that also listens to public radio