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Week of Sat, 2008-09-27 23:00 to Sat, 2008-10-04 22:59


WTP 212: Skype Surveillance in China, High-Tech Relief in Haiti, and Mouse DNA as Archaeological Tool
October 3, 2008 permalink

Sorry we missed you last week, but here goes. We've got news about Skype being surveilled in China. We also talk about the importance in telecommunications in UN relief efforts in Haiti. Then we check out a South African built electric car, complete with photovoltaic panels on the roof. We'll also give a tip of the wing to FusionMan, Yves Rossy, and talk mouse DNA.


Show Notes, Links, and Pictures

Download WTP 212


Global Hit - Spanglish (8:25)
October 3, 2008
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When Spanish collides with English, the result is Spanglish. It's a language that comedian Bill Santiago knows well. So much so that he's written a book called "Pardon My Spanglish." Anchor Marco Werman speaks with him.


Video: Bill Santiago on Comedy Central
Bill Santiago's website For more information, visit the Global Hit page


Geo answer (3:50)
October 3, 2008
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Today's answer is Markneukirchen, Germany - a town in Saxony, Germany and home to the original founder of the C.F. Martin Guitar Company. This year marks the 175th anniversary of the company. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Martin's great-great-great-grandson, Chris Martin IV.

For more information, visit the Geo Quiz page

Cold-war files yield BBC nuclear warning (2:00)
October 3, 2008
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Britain's National Archives today declassified documents that reveal what the BBC would have broadcast to citizens in the event of a 1970s nuclear attack. The World's Alex Gallafent has details.


Geo Quiz (1:00)
October 3, 2008
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Our daily geography quiz.


The climate and the economy (3:50)
October 3, 2008
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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Ray Kopp, an economist with the thinktank Resources for the Future, about the impact of the financial crisis on the next president's efforts to reduce carbon emissions.


Resources for the Future

Climate change policies (5:15)
October 3, 2008
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The World's Jason Margolis tells us what presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama have said about their respective positions on energy reform and how they plan to address global warming.


The Green Test: The Candidates on Climate Change and Energy

View photos


How would you overcome America's dependency on foreign oil?

Skype under fire in China (3:00)
October 3, 2008
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The free Internet communications tool Skype has come under fire this week. Turns out that the company's Chinese partner has been filtering Skype text messages for words deemed sensitive by the Chinese government. And of more concern, it's also storing those messages. Anchor Marco Werman has details.


Skype Surveillance in China

China's communist party (5:15)
October 3, 2008
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This week, the People's Republic of China celebrated its 59th birthday. Correspondent Philip Martin reports on the continuing perks of Communist party membership in an economically transformed China.


Medics in Afghanistan (5:00)
October 3, 2008
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American casualties are on the rise in Afghanistan. That's putting U.S. military doctors and nurses to the test. We hear from chief nurse Major Kenny Harriman, who works at a front line surgical hospital in Afghanistan.


Taliban resurgence


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