Public Affairs

The passage of the planet Venus across the face of the Sun as seen from Earth is called “the Transit of Venus”. It is the rarest eclipse in our solar system and occurs typically only twice every century. In the Eighteenth Century, it was of critical importance to observe and carefully measure the Transit of Venus because it would allow a more precise measurement the distances of the planets from the sun.  More importantly, these numbers could be used in calculating nautical longitude. The country that could best measure longitude ruled the seas.

Play balll!!!! Writer and researcher JOHN FOX has written a fascinating and entertaining book that investigates why humans are so passionate about ball games. His research took him around the world to witness some amazing ball games. Tune in tonight and learn about the absolute chaos of ba’ which is played the day after Christmas in the Orkneys. John Fox also talks about the jeu de paume, the old predecessor to tennis, still played today.

During the 1960's protest songs were fairly common. Bob Dylan, Country Joe and Barry McGuire all set their political feelings to music. This week Al Is joined by New England singer and songwriter Craig Smith. His protest CD " Hopey Changey Blues" defines what many feel about the current political climate. Seems little has changed over the past fifty years.

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For 21 years retired U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Lising took orders from the United States government. But, he signed up for that. What he didn't sign up for was a Federal Government that constantly oversteps it's bounds to interfere in state sovereignty and individual freedoms. Tune in this Sunday evening when Al is joined by Doug Lising to talk about his new book, "Remember Roscoe Filburn" the true story of how one man's freedoms were completely stripped away.

Through Celebration of Smiles on April 21, members of the Professional Photographers of America had an opportunity to raise their business profile and heal a child through the art of photography. They did so by offering their clients and prospects the gift of a mini-session and 5x7 image in exchange for a $24 donation to benefit of Operation Smile, which is a charitable non-profit that works to transform the lives of children who suffer from cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities.