Off Mic: February, 2011

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February 2011

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Public Displays of Technology

Submitted by Anne Stopper on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 3:32pm

Couple on phones. Credit: Flickr user Ed Yourdon. Some rights reserved.

Tuesday, the Computer Guys are here (sans gal for this show), and one of the topics they're taking on this month is "public displays of technology," which we could alternatively refer to as technology etiquette.

A new survey by Intel found that 75% of U.S. adults believe that manners surrounding the use of technology ("mobile manners") are worse than they were just one year ago. Ninety-two percent of those surveyed said they wished people practiced better etiquette when using their mobile devices in public. But, interestingly, nearly one in five of the same respondents (19%) said they themselves have engaged in "poor mobile behavior" and that they continue to do it because others around them also do it.

Coming Up Next Week: Emergency Preparedness; Tax Time; and Musician Thomas Mapfumo

Submitted by Anne Stopper on Fri, 02/25/2011 - 5:03pm

D.C.-Area Evacuation Route Reference Map

Coming up on Monday, Kojo's asking officials from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia about their review of, and possible revisions to, their area emergency preparedness and evacuation plans. The January 26 snowstorm that caused an extraordinary level of gridlock in our area acted as an impetus for such review. If you have a story about a nightmare commute home that night, we'd like to hear it. You can share your stories here, on our Facebook page, or in a tweet @kojoshow.

Administrative Leave and Flash Cars

Submitted by Anne Stopper on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 5:34pm

It's been a tumultuous week for D.C. government officials. Tuesday, WAMU 88.5 reporter Patrick Madden reported that D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown was considering giving back his city-leased SUV after its $2,000-per-month cost was revealed.

Share Your January Storm Travel Stories

Submitted by Anne Stopper on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 2:03pm

Waterfront area of Washington D.C., Jaunary 26, 2011. Credit: MudflapDC via Flickr. Some rights reserved.

Snowfall-wise, this winter wasn't nearly as bad in D.C. as 2010's. But the day that will live in infamy from the 2011 season, barring any further disasters, is January 26, when a relatively small amount of snow caused a disproportionately massive level of commuter angst. As one particular letter from a commuter in The Washington Post revealed, many people faced astonishing travel conditions that evening that had them trapped on gridlocked roads for anywhere from 8 to 13 hours or more.

Share Your Oscar Picks

Submitted by Anne Stopper on Tue, 02/22/2011 - 4:03pm

Coming up Wednesday, Kojo's talking to Academy Award-winning sound mixer Russell Williams and WTOP Entertainment Editor Joe Barber about this year's Oscar nominees and likely winners.

Coming Up Next Week: Internet Freedom; Gaming Your Google Search; Soup

Submitted by Anne Stopper on Fri, 02/18/2011 - 6:17pm

Credit: Flickr user VacinityAllie. Some rights reserved.

Across the Middle East, anti-government activists are harnessing the power of social media to rally against regimes. Meanwhile, governments in Iran and China are using sophisticated tools to police the web. Coming up Monday, Kojo's talking to the State Department's
Senior Advisor on Innovation, Alec Ross, about how the government is
handling new tech challenges across the globe through the lens of
diplomacy.

Questions for Rep. Steny Hoyer?

Submitted by Anne Stopper on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 12:43pm

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer. Credit: Center for American Progess Action Fund via Flickr. Some rights reserved.

Friday on The Politics Hour, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md) joins Kojo and Baltimore Sun reporter Paul West to talk about the budget battle in Congress and to answer your questions.

Possible cuts to Metro's Late-Night Weekend Service

Submitted by Anne Stopper on Wed, 02/16/2011 - 5:46pm

Credit: Flickr user nevermindtheend. Some rights reserved.

D.C.-area taxi drivers may be pleased at the possibility that Metro might have to cut back its late-night train services on Friday and Saturday nights from 3 a.m. to midnight, but many others who rely on public transport to get around on weekends are left wondering if they can realistically afford taxis or other options to get home.

The Magic of Home-Made Beer

Submitted by Anne Stopper on Tue, 02/15/2011 - 7:10pm

Have you ever tried making your own beer? Wednesday, Kojo's talking to two local home beer brewers, including Andrew Passell, about the chemistry and magic of their craft.

How Do You Choose What to Share Online?

Submitted by Anne Stopper on Mon, 02/14/2011 - 5:48pm

Self-portrait in Washington D.C. Credit: Flickr user lukexmartin. Some rights reserved.

As our social networks expand on the Web and we get used to sharing more information about our lives, from the mundane ("Happy Valentine's Day!") to the extraordinary (pictures of your first-born), this Tech Tuesday we're exploring how you make decisions about what photos and information you're comfortable posting.

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The Kojo Nnamdi Show is produced by member-supported WAMU 88.5 in Washington DC.