INSIDE WAMU

Wait Wait…It’s Carl Kasell!, Part II

By: Anthony Washington

This is the second part of a two-part series on Mr. Kasell.

Last month, I had the chance to interview Carl Kasell, the official judge and scorekeeper for NPR’s weekly news quiz show, Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me! In the first part of this series, we learned about how Mr. Kasell got his start in radio and about his work at NPR. In part two of this series, Mr. Kasell talks about his personal life and one of his other loves: magic.

“As far back as I can remember I would go downtown, this was before television of course, and go see some events around Christmas and see some magic. I thought it was wonderful. As time passed, I really couldn’t follow it that much. However, when I got to the D.C. area and started working at NPR, I found out that one of my colleagues named Barry Gordemer, one of the producers on Morning Edition, was an accomplished magician. He had done it for pay once in a while. He would bring in some illusions and work them out and perform them for us to see if they worked, and they worked,” said Kasell.

“Barry and I begin talking about magic one day, and I said, ‘I would like to learn one of those illusions,’ and he said, ‘I’ll teach you.’ We went down to one of the magic shops down in Washington, picked up a few illusions, and I was on my way.”

In November 2009, I had the chance to see Mr. Kasell perform some of his magic during NPR Without The Dignity. The audience got a kick out of seeing him saw Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! panelist Roxanne Roberts in half.

Asked why he liked magic so much, he responded, “The audience is thinking, how in the world can they run a big saw through someone’s body and not hurt them or put them in a box, open the door, and they’re gone. It’s the mystery behind it that fascinates the audiences.”

Gordemer is not only responsible for helping Kasell learn the magic that he has loved since he was a kid. He is also responsible for him meeting his wife, Mary Anne.

Kasell’s first wife died of cancer 15 years ago. About two years later, he went to London for Gordemer’s wedding. The day after the ceremony, Kasell went to the wedding dinner at a restaurant in the heart of London.

“I sat down between two nice ladies, had a dinner, and begin talking with them. One I began talking with a little bit more often because she was a Washingtonian. We chatted a while, and about 5 years later, she and I got married,” Kasell said.

Mary Anne was in London because her son, Brian, was a good friend of the groom. Both ladies were on their way to vacation in Turkey, and had stopped off in London to attend the wedding. “I was lucky.” Kasell said.

Today, Kasell enjoys traveling with his wife. They go to Europe at least once a year, usually in the late spring or early fall when the weather is nice, and they primarily spend time in France, Italy, and sometimes Spain.

Their family consists of Mary Anne’s son, who is married with a 5-year-old son, Roco, and lives in Paris, France, and Kasell’s son, Joe, who lives in Virginia with his wife, Lynn, and their two young daughters, Cathleen and Katy Anne. Kasell tries to visit his granddaughters every week.

Photo Credit: AP/NPR

STEPPING OUT

By: Karen Schraer-Molitors

Happy New Year! During the holidays, we fed our bodies, albeit too much! In January, we should take the time to nourish our brains. Let’s explore some opportunities to reflect on the world around us, past and present.

Our first stop is at the Spy Museum to learn about some of the geopolitical and economic intelligence operations of the past year.

What: 2011 Espionage Debrief - A Worldwide Year in Review

When: 6:30 p.m., Jan. 11

Where: International Spy Museum, 800 F Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

Admission: $15

Website: http://www.spymuseum.org/2011-Espionage-Debrief

Are you fascinated by the beauty of ballet, but intimidated by a lack of understanding? This event gives you the opportunity to receive “information commentary” through a wireless headset, and learn about the dancers and choreography of this renowned Russian ballet company as they prepare for opening night.

What: Open Rehearsal - Mariinsky Ballet

When: 2:30-3:30 p.m., Jan. 17

Where: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Opera House, 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

Admission: $12

Website: http://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=EMEBJ

Explore how creative industrial designers can transform a “mundane object” into an “exceptional experience.” Nine Norwegian designers will encourage guests to reconsider the beauty and meaning of design.

What: The Exceptional Everyday - An Evening of Norwegian Design

When: Lecture and reception, 7-9 p.m., Jan. 18

Where: Corcoran Gallery of Art College + Design, 500 17th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

Admission: Free

Website: https://getinvolved.corcoran.org/theexceptionaleveryday

If you have a passion for Shakespeare, were engrossed in the movie Anonymous, or have a strong opinion in the Stratfordian vs. Oxfordian debate, then you must participate in the dialogue with local experts Peter and Syril Klein on this very topic.

What: The Mystery of Shakespeare

When: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Jan. 19

Where: The Kreeger Museum, 2401 Foxhall Road, NW, Washington, D.C.

Admission: $10 for public, free for members

Website: http://kreegermuseum.org/programs/lectures-panels-studio-visits

As the sesquicentennial of the Civil War continues, take a photographic journey back in time to Alexandria during the Civil War.

What: “A Visual Tour of Civil War Alexandria” Illustrated Lecture

When: 7:30-8:30 p.m., Jan. 25

Where: The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, Va.

Admission: $10

Website: http://alexandriava.gov/historic/civilwar/default.aspx/

In Maryland, the Surratt House Museum opens an exhibition that explores the divisiveness of the “Great Conflict” and the conspiratorial activity surrounding the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

What: Maryland - A House Divided

When: Jan. 13-Dec. 18, see website for hours

Where: Historic Surratt House Museum, 9118 Brandywine Road, Clinton, Md.

Admission: $3 for adults, $2 for senior citizens, $1 for children (5-18)

Website: http://www.surratt.org

Finally, consider a pictorial survey of the magnificent ruins of Central and Southern America, to better understand the “cultures, conflicts, and conquests” that have forged our world.

What: Lost Worlds - Ruins of the Americas

When: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., weekdays, through Feb. 24

Where: Art Museum of the Americas, 1889 F Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

Admission: Free

Website: http://museum.oas.org/exhibitions/2011-lostworlds.html

BE GREEN

Eco Apps

By: Jennifer Brady

There are many creative and easy-to-use apps for phones and tablets that can help you live a more environmentally mindful life. It is almost too difficult to write a brief article on the topic because there are so many great options available! All apps mentioned here are available for free on iPhone and Android. Some apps are currently only available on only one platform or at a minimal cost.

The Good Guide allows consumers to obtain ratings on the health, environmental and social responsibility of a product by scanning its barcode. Each product is given a separate score for the three criteria and an overall score. The best products in a category have their score highlighted in a green box. The Good Guide was founded by a Berkeley professor with expertise in global supply chains and the life cycle of products. For those without a mobile device, there is also a website with the same information ( http://www.goodguide.com ).

Seafood Watch is a handy app for diners trying to making responsible choices. Developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Seafood Watch lets you know whether your seafood and sushi was sustainably harvested or farmed. It includes information on the best choices available in your region, as well as a handy guide to the many names that are used for the same product (e.g. mahi mahi, dorado, dolphinfish). Seafood Watch also has a website with the same information ( http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx).

The Light Bulb Finder won the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Apps for the Environment design challenge in 2011. Light Bulb Finder helps consumers replace their traditional incandescent light bulbs with more efficient products by recommending an alternate. For each alternative recommendation, the app displays a bulb image to assist users in finding it on the shelves of a store, as well the bulb’s environmental attributes including carbon dioxide emissions reductions and energy savings.

Apps that help find less fuel-intensive transportation options (e.g. bus schedules, bike shares) or encourage the use of less paper (e.g. e-books, electronic notes) are also useful eco-apps, even if they are not categorized as such.

This brief list of apps is truly just the tip of the iceberg. For the best results, do not use terms like “eco” or “green” when searching the app store, but rather specific tasks (for example, “energy efficiency” or “recycling”).

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Volunteer of the Month

Savoring the Present Moment: Natalie Yuravlivker

By: Brian Greenberg

When she was recently assigned to transcribe interview tapes for an upcoming education series by WAMU 88.5 senior reporter Kavitha Cardoza, volunteer Natalie Yuravlivker was initially both excited and apprehensive.

“I had never transcribed anything before,” admits Natalie.

After 40 work hours of transcribing more than seven hours of recorded interviews, Natalie has become a veritable pro at the task: “It’s been a very interesting experience and I really love what I’m listening to. And Kavitha is really nice. So fun and cool.”

The appreciation cuts both ways: “Natalie has turned out to be an absolute godsend!” says Kavitha. “She’s really doing well, spending a lot of hours working … and I so enjoy working with her.”

Transcribing interviews can be grueling, and it requires a great deal of patience. Natalie looked at how the process was being done and recommended improvements to it.

“When I first started transcribing, it took me about three hours to transcribe the first 11 minutes!” remembers Natalie. Then she found a program called Express Scribe which combines both the word processing and the audio. “After that, the process became significantly faster,” says Natalie.

Natalie is a first generation American who has been listening to WAMU 88.5 since high school. Born to Israeli parents, she speaks Hebrew (“I grew up speaking it in the house”) as well as Spanish, having spent nine months in Zaragoza, Spain, as a high school junior. She also attended Tec de Monterrey in Querétaro, Mexico, for a semester as part of her architecture studies at McGill University in Montréal.

Now, Natalie is exploring her next career move. She worked for a year and a half at the Medicare Rights Center in New York as an enrollment specialist and staff trainer for low-income and health advocacy programs. After one semester at City University of New York School of Law, she is taking time to re-evaluate how her skills and education can make a difference: “The future is full of potential,” Natalie says with excitement.

“Media is an area I’ve always wanted to explore, and I’m doing that at WAMU,” says Natalie, who was recently invited to accompany Kavitha on some additional interviews that are needed for her series.

Natalie has also returned to one of her life-long interests, bowling, and gets to spend time with her brother once a week in a league. She enjoys listening to bluegrass music on WAMU’s 105.5 FM and, on a recent trip with her mother to Tennessee, visited country music meccas Dollywood, Graceland, and Nashville.

We sincerely thank you, Natalie, for all the hours you have contributed to your project. You are a testament to the many ways that volunteers contribute their skills to both programming and administration at the station.

STATION BILLBOARD

Phones, Fun & Food

It feels like October was just yesterday, but we are less than six weeks away from our winter membership campaign.

Our winter membership campaign will take place from Feb. 11- Feb. 18, 2012. Please follow the instructions that are provided below if you would like to register to volunteer for our fall membership campaign.

As always, our generous in-kind donors will provide a meal for each volunteer shift.

Previously Registered: Visit http://www.shiftboard.com/wamu and enter the user name and password you were provided to log-in. After you’ve logged in, visit the Calendar page to pick the shifts that you would like to volunteer for. Forgot your password? Visit http://www.shiftboard.com/wamu and click on the “Forgot Password/Account” located above where you would normally log-in.

Need to Register: If you have not registered, visit https://www.shiftboard.com/wamu/register.html to register today. After your registration has been approved, you will receive a welcome letter which will include your username, password, and instructions on how to use Shiftboard.

If you registered previously, you do not need to re-register. If you are not sure if you have registered, call Anthony Washington at 202-885-1254.

All events are located at WAMU 88.5 studios, at 4000 Brandywine St., N.W., Washington, D.C., unless otherwise noted.

Thank you for your support of public radio and of WAMU 88.5.

Join Our In-Kind Food Donor Program

In order to keep our volunteers energized during membership campaigns, we rely on in-kind food and beverage donations provided by local caterers and restaurants. By providing an in-kind donation, local restaurants and caterers have the opportunity to make a unique contribution that may be eligible for a tax deduction, without a cash commitment, and receive our thanks on air.

More information about the In-Kind Food Donor program can be obtained by contacting Anthony Washington, Volunteer Services Coordinator, at inkind@wamu.org or 202-885-1254.

WAMU’s Bluegrass Country debuted programming and scheduling changes on Jan. 2.

Two new shows have been added to their schedule: The Bob Webster Show and The Chris Teskey Show.

In addition to these new programs, current shows like The Old Home Place, Old Time Jam, The Tom “Cat” Reeder Show, The Gary Henderson Show, and Foster’s Corner will be heard in expanded live weekly broadcasts.

To view these changes, visit WAMU’s Bluegrass Country schedule page at http://bluegrasscountry.org/programs/schedule/.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Volunteer Opportunities In Your Community

The Symphony Orchestra of Arlington is need of volunteers to hand out programs, run will-call, and run concessions at their performances.

The first volunteer opportunity is Jan. 20, for the Broadway Favorites concert. The performance will take place at the Spectrum Theater in Rosslyn, Va. Volunteers will need to arrive at 6 p.m., to prepare for the 7:30 p.m., performance.

The next performance will be April 27 at the George Washington Masonic Memorial Theater in Alexandria, Va.

For more information on how to become a volunteer, contact president.soa.va@gmail.com.

Maryland Stream Waders is a volunteer stream sampling program that began in February 2000. The goal of the project is to fill in many of the information gaps that currently exist concerning the quality of Maryland's streams. With the help of volunteers, the Department of Natural Resources hopes to increase the average number of sites per medium sized watershed from seven to more than 50. This will enable state and local governments to better assess their streams and conduct their restoration and planning activities. In order to become part of the program, volunteers must agree to participate in a one-day training session and agree to spend two more days during the March-April sampling window collecting aquatic invertebrate samples from stream beds. For more information, contact streamwaders@dnr.state.md.us or call the Stream Waders hotline at 410-260-8623 (toll free in Maryland at 1-877-620-8DNR, extension 8623).

KUDOS

Kudos to: WAMU Ambassadors Amy Freitas and Phil Brannen for staffing a station membership/information table at the Downtown Holiday Market this past December.

From: The Development and Marketing & Communications Department

Kudos to: The WAMU 88.5 mailing group for their assistance in the mailing of thank you gifts.

From: The Development Department