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Texas Public Radio welcomes your comments. You may reach us by e-mail at , or by regular mail at Letters, Texas Public Radio, 8401 Datapoint Drive, Suite 800, San Antonio, TX 78229. We reserve the right to edit your comments for brevity. If you prefer to remain anonymous, please indicate this in your letter. (Note: TPR comments appear in Bold). American Routes I know it has been a while since this was dropped, I realized as the year winds down I never emailed you…. Why oh why did American Routes go away from the station? I see Austin, DFW, even San Angelo carrying it, but not San Antonio…. I loved that Sunday timeslot as it sort of took away that “oh I have to work” feeling many of us get on Sunday evening. Nick Spritzer’s program was legit and so interesting for any fan of music. Disappointed, Programming Undocumented Welcome and congratulations for your work-to-be on NPR..... an important request: Please get everyone at NPR, especially our local station to not use the word "illegal"..... much more proper and dignified to speak of "undocumented"..... Please get EVERYONE to pronounce correctly all Hispanic names.... I have repeatedly written to NPR asking for this.... again a matter of respect. (I am a psychotherapist who volunteers at the local home for the undocumented coming from Central America and México.) thanks. from the beginning of TPR, a supporter. John Dauer Programming I greatly appreciate the wider view offered by the Fronteras coverage brought by Hernán Rozemberg and others, but resent the relegation of Latino USA to the 4 a.m. ghetto on Saturdays and the 9 p.m. Saturday slot that is now in the middle of a lot of other stuff that blotted out the great Saturday evening programming that used to make KSTX the place to go. I think I've managed to catch Latino USA -- or at least a part of it -- only once since you recently wrecked the Saturday evening schedule. Wilson McKinney What was not mentioned at the Homelessness Town Hall Meeting If we start talking about externalities and charging fees to those who produce adverse impacts on the environment, we will come to see a property owner who allows vacant, disused, neglected properties to exist on his/her property as producing a negative impact on their neighborhood. If there is a general view that there is too high a prevalence of vacant properties, to the detriment of the community at large, then a fee could be attached to property owners who hold those vacant and neglected properties. This would give property owners incentive to improve derelict properties and make them available for rent or sale, which would increase the housing supply, thus reducing the cost of housing. The existing housing stock would be utilized more efficiently. The wealth of a society is subjectively experienced in relation to how efficiently it utilizes resources. To have widespread homelessness amidst vast numbers of vacant properties is a sign of a malignancy in a society. It is nonsensical, and reflects underlying injustice. The fee on neglected properties might be quite modest yet effective, or it may be unnecessary. There could be a general fee on impervious land cover, (such as asphalt and buildings), as a way to minimize the adverse impact of such land use. This would give all property owners incentive to ensure that all properties are useful and able to produce income. So, a general fee on impervious cover would also tend to bring down the cost of housing AND keep neglected properties to a minimum. These facts do not readily emerge in the absence of a general discussion of economic externalities and ownership of natural resources. Why is the topic of economic externalities not discussed on the public airwaves? Wondering, Faculty Cuts at Texas A&M Howdy, Laurie Ann Castillo THANKS! Hi KPAC I am a Texan but live in Maryland -- because of being a Musician! It has been GREAT to hear KPAC Classical Radio from the Northern "Tundra"!! Thank you for your programming that brings a bit of home to this lost Texan. Sincerely, Traffic Reports I'm a 25 year devotee to public radio, mostly in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, but we moved here in 2006 and latched on to KXTX. I commute 85 miles per day and listen to no other station. That said, I have a big bone to pick with your traffic reporting. Covering so many miles, mainly on I-10, I listen carefully to every traffic report. I'm not sure why, becase it is almost never current enough to be of any use to me. Any disruption I hear about is almost always cleared up and every disruption I actually encounter will not be announced until I have made my way through it. I would be glad to call in incidents I see in the interrest of more timely reporting. Regards, Diane Rehm Nine o'clock on weekday mornings is now very sad for me. It will take a long time for me to forget how much I enjoyed the information and insight Diane Rehm brought. Please bring her back and return Fresh Air to 11:00 am. Lucy Golla On Point I've been a member of your station now for about 4 years now, and I rarely support non profit organizations because its hard to see your money get put to good use. I believe that when I support TPR I hear where my money goes on a daily basis, and am very glad to hear that it makes a difference. I'm not sure when you began broadcasting this show On Point but I am very unhappy with it and I don't feel like my money is being spent wisely on this program. The host Tom Ashbrook is a bad host he doesn't listen to his callers, he talks over his callers and guest. He seems to have some sort of agenda on each subject (maybe not outright bias but he defiantly seems to steer conversations in his own direction). I contribute money to get a real fair and balanced look from both sides I don't want to listen to talking points from CNN, MSNBC, or FOX. On tonight's (DEC 7) show they were asking people if Obama had Stockholm's Syndrome or if this is a failed presidency. This isn't thoughtful or contributing to a national conversation this program is just bad. So please TPR get on point and take On Point off the air. Diane Rehm Show Because of a conflict in my new job schedule I have been unable to listen to the 9:00 Diane Rehm show since this summer and I really missed it. I was so disappointed to know that it was cancelled, why??? I love her program and the variety of topics she covers. Does this have anything to do with costs of the program for our Hill Country station or is because of complaints from listeners? Although I enjoy classical music, it is programs like the Diane rehm show and news coverage that keeps me contributing to TPR. Thank you, Incredibly Disappointed with Changes I can’t tell you how disappointed I am with the recent schedule change. Your programming was far more well rounded before. You have dropped some of the finest music shows on the airways, and do I miss them!! Why oh why must we hear “Car Talk” again… and on a Sunday evening!!! American Routes is a fabulous, and educational show.. and I considered it the perfect thing to listen to at the end of the week. And all the changes to Saturday night… yuk!!! No Piano Jazz, or Jazz Set, or Ritmos del Mundo, or Jazz Before sunrise.… yikes!!! While I adore “Wait Wait..” I don’t have any interest in hearing it twice!!! As a member for several years I implore you to bring back these music shows!! Dale Jenssen ps Afro Pop Worldwide also on top of my list of favorites….. nothing else out there like it!! Programming In response to your broadcast invitation for listeners to provide feedback concerning Texas Public Radio, please accept this listener's reactions. Please be advised that I am compelled to write that I find the recent changes (this year) to late night and weekend programming extremely disappointing. I find the concession of station broadcasts to the BBC at 10:00 PM boring to the extreme. I think I could tolerate BBC doing your news broadcasts on the hour and/or half hour but surrendering station operations to the BBC all night is excessive, redundant and a poor listen by any definition. Also, the recent deletion of Texas music, World Music and Blues Before Sunrise from the Sunday night line up has had an extremely negative effect on my life. These shows have been long time companions of my ears and my mind and I miss them in this slot very much. Please don't bother to tell me that some of these shows or similar shows survive on a Saturday night broadcast. No one I know would stay home on a Saturday night to listen to the radio. However, being home on a Sunday night, preparing for the week ahead and listening to fine radio was a necessity, pleasure and privilege. Your programming changes have robbed this listener of one of pleasures that life and radio had to offer and I am not happy. And no, I am not a member at this time. I have been a member and a business contributor in the past and it was possible that I could be a member again in the future. But the type of programming changes made this year to the late night and weekend time periods makes it less and less likely that I will be a member again. I strongly suggest that TPR management quickly recognize their programming mistakes in this time period and make corrections as soon as possible. I understand that economics drive these types of decisions but it is obvious to this listener that TPR management has made an economic decision to broadcast cheap and uninteresting programming just to fill up air and kill time. Steven Shepard Juan Williams Now that the smoke has cleared and the blatherers have retreated to their intellectually deprived warrens, this might be a good time to re-visit the Juan Willliams firing by NPR. Those decrying Williams' firing as a violation of freedom of speech or expression obviously have not taken the time to read the First Amendment to the Constitution. To those, here it is: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Please note there is nothing, not a word, in the First Amendment that even approaches NPR's actions. The word "Congress" may be a clue to the uninformed. NPR is not Congress, and radio and TV (or newspapers and magazines for that matter) do not fall under the First Amendment. As for NPR's "political correctness", NPR can fire anybody it wants, as long as no federal anti-discrimination laws are violated (and they were most certainly not in this case). Williams was an employee of NPR, he said something the NPR CEO did not want said, and he was fired. He got a $2 million dollar contract with Fox News as a result of what NPR did, so Williams will probably send NPR a Christmas card as a thank-you. By the way, for those who want retribution at the federal level for what NPR did, take a couple of minutes to read the legislation establishing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and you will find such retribution is specifically prohibited in the law. Did NPR executives handle the Juan Williams matter badly? That's an understatement. But NPR's handling of the Williams firing does in no way obviate its right to do so, and the fact that freedom of speech or expression has no place in the argument. Williams was nor is deprived of his freedom of speech; he just can't exercise it on NPR. One more point. Williams' firing came during most NPR affiliate's annual fund-raising drive. Check to see how many local members of NPR lost funding because of the Williams dustup. You may be surprised. NPR is a lot more "balanced" than, say MSNBC or Fox News. And nobody forces anyone to listen to anyone, or any thing they don't want to. That's called freedom of expression, another right that allows those to write letters howling about the firing of Juan Williams, wrong as their reasons might be. Mary Collins New Saturday Programs I am not happy with the new schedule on Saturday. It seems like I end up running into a repeats all weekend. I miss Tavis and Selected Shorts and all of Michael Feldman. I really don't need a repeat of Business Week. I know change is hard and I will try to adjust. Marlene BBC World Service Thank you so much for changing your programming after 10pm to the BBC every day of the week, instead of Afro-Pop, etc., on weekends. I have been requesting this change for years but never thought it would actually happen! Thanks again! Joan L. Sonnenschein I Miss "American Routes" I'm all for "news and information", but I don't support replacing "American Routes" with re-runs of "Car Talk" and "Wait, Wait . . . " John Watson What Happened to Evening Programs? I'm an evening law student at St. Mary's but I live in Cibolo, so I have about a half hour drive home Mon-Thurs between 8-10pm & I enjoyed listening to the variety of evening programs like the Tavis Smiley show, Travel w/Rick Steves, Studio 360, etc. While the new program On Point is interesting, I miss the variety of the previous programming. Sincerely, Programming Change I was very disappointed with the disappearance of your music shows on Sunday nights, in particular American Routes and the Texas music show that followed (can't remember its exact title) as well as the show that followed that one on KSTX. I assumed you had moved those shows to different slots in your programming and am upset to find that they have been removed altogether. I used to look forward to the weekends, and Sunday evenings in particular, because I knew there would be some very good music played on the radio. KSTX played precious little music as it was. I understand that Public Radio's mission is to educate, but surely music should be part of a well-rounded education? One cannot listen to news and news analysis 24/7. A little light relief is required occasionally. Furthermore, I thought the shows you have axed were educational too, since I learned so much about different artists, types of music etc. I lived in the United Kingdom for many years before moving to Texas and listened to BBC Radio 2 a lot. I thought their mix of news, information, talk shows, news analysis and music was perfect. I truly wish that KSTX would take a leaf out of the BBC's book, instead of getting further and further away from that model. Isabelle Rice PS: My husband echoes those sentiments and he is a Texas native and lifelong resident! Diane Rehm Monday, November 01, 2010 1:12 PM I hope you will consider reinstating the Diane Rehm Show to your programming. There is no other program like it. I speak for several of my friends here in the Hill Country. Please reconsider. We want and need to be informed. Her shows cover informative and topical areas of interest. Thank you. Access I am an avid listener and supporter of public radio. However, the content I am most interested in is the news and views. When this was offered on 90.1, I could access it in Fredericksburg. But, for whatever reason, it was changed to 89.1, I can no longer receive a steady broadcast...it comes in and out, often with a lot of static. This is very disappointing to me. Is there something that can be done to improve the strength of the broadcast? It doesn't seem that Fredericksburg is that far away from the other Hill Country towns. Judy Enderlin Bring back Diane Rheem! I am extremely disappointed that KTXI has dropped Diane Rheem from their morning lineup. While I do not agree with many of the viewpoints expressed, I welcomed the stimulation. Also I know of no other program that covers new books, movies, and theater the way Diane Rheem does. Bring the show back, pretty please. Have a great day! KTXI Why did the Diane Rheem show get replaced with Classical Music? Cost? Complaints from some who may consider the show not always "right"? SFI Your Silence on Juan Williams Issue When I called last week to comment on the firing of Juan Williams, the lady who answered the phone wanted me to speak with the Program Director, also indicating your station has no need to convey listener's opinions to your parent organization. In my opinion, your organization has a responsibility to convey the thoughts of your supporters/listeners concerning this matter to those at the corporate level, even though your station has no control over them; you still have a relationship with that organization, this "parent" organization, from which you receive programs; and you both receive public/government funding from either local or national sources. Political Correctness Run Amok I know that you are probably tired of receiving e-mail about the badly mishandled Juan Williams termination, but after waiting in vain for a somewhat plausible explanation for both the manner of and the reasons behind his firing, I have decided to write this note. I am reversing my previous position of support for PBS/NPR and will now actively push for the cessation of all public funding for PBS/NPR. This is justifiable based solely upon our current monumental public debt and ever widening deficit; but the proximate cause was the Juan Williams affair. If a long standing professional journalist/commentator and self avowed liberal like Juan Williams can no longer be employed because he is insufficiently politically correct, then I am positive that I am insufficiently politically correct to be a listener/contributor/supporter of PBS/NPR. I used to laugh at Fox News' "Fair and Balanced" label, but now I wonder if perhaps they are not much more so than NPR. Juan Williams Controversy I have been a member of tpr for more than ten years. I am saddened by the Juan Williams' mess. As a working American who chooses to contribute to public radio, I ask you to clarify (on air) public radio's funding sources. Most of my local public radio station's costs (60% plus) are met through member contributions. The "tax-payer" contributions are significant, but public radio competes with all kinds of other politically diverse organizations for money. I am so, so, so weary of the claim that public radio is funded primarily by tax-payers who would never listen to public radio. Regards, Juan Williams Firing NPR management's firing of Juan Williams was clumsy, unprofessional and petty. Malfeasance set up the organization for a Williams lawsuit, renewed attention to NPR's and PBS's socialist political advocacy and re-energized Congressional action to de-fund the enterprise. Apparently, human resource skills are foreign to your management, fair play is an alien concept and your cowardly ongoing acceptance of taxpayer funds betrays a lack of competitiveness in the world of ideas and entertainment. The good news is that you have not lost a subscriber. We stopped supporting your limp-wristed promotion of progressive ideology years ago so now we can only add our contempt to our ongoing neglect of your franchise. Good luck with your careers when you are forced to compete for viewers/ listeners absent the taxpayer teat. Just a quick note to try to make your day, Giving Categories In view of Vivian Schiller's pathetic handling of the Juan Williams affair, do you have a giving category that restricts it in such a way that none of the funds donated will go to purchase NPR programming? I do not wish to support an TPR's ability to purchase programming from an organization (NPR) that is run by hypocrites who do not hold themselves to the same standards of professionalism that the hold their reporters. Best regards, David Moffitt Juan Williams After waiting for a week to think about the attitudes, policies and philosophy of NPR, I have decided that I can no longer support an organization with such a depth and breadth of hipocracy. I have shredded my membership card and would like to return the window decal. I regret that I had already made a pledge for this year just days before the Williams mess, otherwise I would not have participated. I am sure that the amount of money that George Soros contributed will make my small contribution and future contributions that I will not make go unnoticed. Firing of Juan Williams I'm sad that NPR handled the situation the way it did. I was amazed at how inarticulate the CEO is/was in her comments. I've listened to NPR over the years, used the store for selecting gifts, thought I was getting some objective news. But, it has all changed. You have cast doubt on the credibility of a fine and decent journalist and really damaged NPR. My opinion will not change anything at NPR but my talking to friends and family might. Sincerely, Diane Krupka My Membership Status I have been a member of NPR for decades, always finding and supporting the local station as I moved from one part of the country to another. I have been an avid (some would say rabid) NPR supporter because I believed in its principles of intellectual honesty, its belief in presenting all sides of an argument so that the listeners could evaluate an issue and come to their own decisions, its encouragement of diverse opinions and alternative ways of looking at things. I believe that the firing of Juan Williams is in direct conflict with these tenets and thus, after all these years, I have decided not to renew my membership with NPR. I understand that my small donation will not matter in the total pledge drive, but I wanted to go on record and make my opinion heard. Cindy Atkins Disappointment in Firing of Juan Williams I tried to submit this comment at the national NPR site, http://npr.org/contact, but it is not clear that the message was actually sent. I would appreciate you forwarding my comments to the national office. Thank you. I'm writing to express my profound disappointment over the firing of Juan Williams and to solicit the Board of Directors of NPR to immediately relieve Vivian Schiller. Although personally conservative in my beliefs, I have tolerated the liberal perspective of NPR reporting in appreciation of the detail you put into the stories and to better understand the liberal perspective. But to fire someone of Mr. Williams stature because of a statement he made on another news station brings your liberalism full circle to far right authoritarianism. I have supported NPR for more than 20 years. This year I pledged $150 to my local KSTX station. I wish now I had not. I implore you to immediately relieve Ms. Schiller replacing her with someone with more reasoned judgement and offer a public apology to Mr. Williams. Thank you for this opportunity to comment. Stacey Young-McCaughan RN, PhD Schedule Change I must say you have messed up my Saturdays by moving "Wait, Wait....." to an earlier slot in the morning. I work in the mornings and plan my afternoon to hear it at 1:00 --- now I miss it. I have been a member for a long time --- and this is the first programming change that has upset me. Can you change it back? Thanks for listening, Juan Williams I have just submitted my yearly pledge to KSTX, I guess you are going to lose the 2% federal funding you receive over the Juan Williams flap. After hearing about it on "Here and Now" I have spent the afternoon reading about it on the web. I just finished listening to Bill O'Reilly interview Juan Williams with clips of the NPR CEO and the VP. I do not find his honest expression of a feeling very shoking. The way the CEO talked about him made her sound silly and inept. What this country needs is dialog not censorship. I am very disappointed in the reaction of NPR in this instance. Let`s just hope they find a way to show that there actions toward their employees are as measured as their newscasts. Judie Lopez Juan Williams And speaking his mind while not even "on company time," so to speak. This is egregious. It is my hope that NPR will see the error of their ways and offer Mr. Williams his position back. I highly doubt that they will, but in the even they do, I also hope that Mr. Williams declines that offer. NPR Affiliation Because of your affiliation with NPR, I have removed TPR from my car radio presets and will no longer be a listener or supporter. NPR's firing of Juan Williams is outrageous and their constant harassment of Mara Liasson for Fox News appearances reflects their commitment to left-wing viewpoints only! Now funded by George Soros, it should be called National Soros Radio. It's supposed to be a public forum, not a left-wing political forum. How disappointing. Jim Garrett NPR/Juan Williams Not only no contribution but am writing to CEOs of firms in which I own stock to stop subsidizing NPR account of outrageous dismissal of Juan Williams. And will press to stop Federal funding for NPR. Cornel Sarosdy NPR's Termination of Juan Williams Dear TPR: I know you can't control NPR. I know they don't consult with you. But I closely associate TPR with NPR. And, TPR closely associates itself with NPR. Mom is right, "Be careful who you associate with. You are judged by who your friends are." NPR's termination of Juan Williams is heavy handed and utterly without merit. My instinct tells me they are slapping him down because he dares to appear on Fox. If that is not the case, NPR is a remarkably uptight, politically "overly- correct" and hypocritical (and hypercritical) "news" organization. Why would I continue to pay to support their programing? Wade B. Shelton The Firing of Juan Williams The firing of Juan Williams by NPR the parent/support organization of Texas Public Radio to which station 88.3 belongs was a disgraceful ploy on the part of NPR to silence Juan Williams a reputable journalist who is respected by many including myself. I will no longer support NPR and any affiliates of NPR with money during their fund raising to support public radio. I regret this because I do enjoy your classical format, but I will not sit by idlely while our first amendment is trashed by the likes of NPR who's existence is supported by the constitution's first amendment and the will of the people to operate on behalf of the American public. Juan Williams did not deserve to be terminated as one of its journalists, but even more important than the firing is the cozy relationship NPR has with the likes of the socialist billionaire George Soros who thinks he can destroy our constitution at will. Juan Williams's NPR Firing Friday, October 22, 2010 8:35 AM You may forget about any future donations to KPAC (I will also urge my friends to act accordingly) as a result of the Juan Williams firing by NPR. I'm no Juan Williams fan, but I respect his comments and opinions, as should NPR. However improbable it may be, maybe we should also work for the withholding of funds from NPR for their ridiculous position of "political correctness". Firing of Juan Williams As a long time listener, I think it is quite ironic that NPR would, during your fall membership campaign, use this time to FIRE Mr. Williams in such a careless and thoughtless way. You will NEVER get a donation from me while hateful, spiteful, and extremely partisan leadership remains at the helm of a supposedly 'open minded' institution. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME. Very sincerely. Juan Williams Debacle I have contributed to Texas NPR for the last 20 years but will not again after the termination of Juan Williams. Lack of tolerance for divergent views is not acceptable on the right or the left !!! James Strong Why I Cannot Donate to TPR I just moved here from Boston and was glad to have found your station. However, after the firing of Juan Williams by NPR I find that I cannot provide any financial support to TPR because a portion of any funds I donate will be shared with NPR when you pay the fees for their programming. Unfortunately NPR won't understand this until their funding is cut and affiliates stop carrying their programs, and this means that you are caught up in their difficulties. Juan Williams I am very sad to write this email. I have been listening to KSTX virtually since you went on the air. Years ago when I had a career and regular income I contributed on a regular basis. Life intervened with a catastrophic life event that eventually cost me my career and much more and I left San Antonio for a period of time. More recently part-time and uncertain employment with children in college and weddings for daughters has not made it possible for me to contribute since I have been back in San Antonio. I have been hoping to get back to a point where I could contribute regularly. Now I will not be doing so. NPR's disgusting, hypocritical firing of the honorable and professional journalist Juan Williams so obviously for his failure to toe what has over the years become their increasingly left-wing progressive party line has now made it impossible for me to make any further contributions to KSTX since I know that a significant portion of those contributions are used to purchase programming from NPR and support what has become their business of attacking their political enemies list rather than the public service upon which they were founded. NPR's CEO's flagrant, slanderous personal attack on Mr. Williams today at a speech in Atlanta was inexcusable. I wish that this was not necessary, but ultimately the only thing that will communicate my outrage to them is the absence of any money from me and I hope millions of others. They can obtain their funding from George Soros, Media Matters, MoveOn.org and other anti-free speech hate-mongers of the left-wing for whom they have become a mouthpiece. I will also be campaigning for my friends and relatives to cease contributions which go to KSTX and thus NPR. In addition, I have long been a supporter of the concept of Public Broadcasting and of federal funding both for it and for the NEA in the face of attempts to reduce or remove such funding. I have written letters and made telephone calls in support of both. This will no longer be the case and I intend to actively campaign for both the immediate and long term de-funding of both for the same reasons outlined above. I understand only too well that the success of such a campaign would have a horrendous impact upon KSTX and all that you do and have done for South Texas and San Antonio. As I said above, this makes me extremely sad, but the over-reaching of the progressive left-wing of American politics and their blatant attempts to control all political thought and communication in our nation and our media's complicities in this leave me and others with no choice. I understand this is neither your fault nor your choice. I am deeply sorry that it comes to this. Given the very personal nature of the first paragraph of this letter I would ask that you keep my name anonymous. Thank you for your kind attention to and consideration of this correspondence. Yours very truly, NPR's Firing of Juan Williams I never had much use for Juan Williams until NPR fired him for expressing an honest feeling that he plainly was not comfortable confessing. The last thing NPR should be striving to do is to suppress a free and open dialogue concerning hot button issues of our day. I wouldn't donate to NPR now if it was the only source of news or entertainment out there. And I will encourage my elected representatives to cut all public funding for NPR. Tax dollars should not be going to support such an intolerant organization. I hope Williams sues and wins a big settlement. Michael Parr TPR Non Renewal Due to NPR CEO Vivian Schiller Inept Leadership Juan Williams Due to the sudden and unwarranted firing of Juan Williams I have removed the 89.1 presets on all radios in my home and my three autos. After an apology to Juan and his rehiring I may reconsider my decision to no longer listen to NPR ( National Punitive Radio ). Juan is one of the most kind and gentle radio personalities I have listened to. The CEO of NPR was arrogant and obnoxious in dealing with this situation. I am making this occcurence known to everyone I am in contact with. I am also contacting my congressman in hopes of cutting off funding to NPR radio. I regret having to do this. NPR/TPR Jumps the Shark My car radio has been broken for about three months (No AM, only FM) and the only talk radio I have been able to listen to is NPR. While I do enjoy Clik and Clak, Splendid Table and most investigative news that you broadcast, I have become increasingly disgusted with the one sided political coverage. I find myself screaming at the radio when you take serious issues and turn them into anti-republican/conservative/tea party shows with chronically one-sided commentary. After hearing that you fired Juan Williams for his personal honest feelings on a complex issue and then your president insinuated that he should consult his shrink, I realized that my recent pledge to your station was very wrong. Today, I have called and asked for a refund of my pledge and purchased a new car radio on the internet, had it overnighted and scheduled an installation through Best Buy on Monday if I cannot figure out how to do it myself tomorrow. I respect so much about NPR but now realize it's management has been co-opted by the radical left like so much of our press. Please stay non-partisan and tell George Soros, thanks but no thanks. Employees of NPR, you need to fight to take back NPR from the radicals just like the Tea Party is fighting to take back our country from the radical left. Sincerely, Jody Green NPR's firing of Juan Williams I am very embarrassed by NPR's firing of Juan Williams. So much for freedom of speech and opinion! I have been a loyal listener and supporter of both San Antonio stations for many years. I am a conservative so I don't always agree with what is discussed on the many shows, but I have always felt better informed and able to make better decisions because of the information i have received. I also watch Fox news. Juan was stating an opinion as an editorial on O'Rielly's show. He claims George Sorsis bought NPR. And it does look that way. Did he? How connected is TPR to NPR? How much of my donation goes to NPR? Where do you stand on this issue? I will wait to hear before I pledge again. Thank you, Juan Williams I have been an avid supporter of NPR for 25 years. After what NPR did to Juan Williams is a disgrace. It is a chilling expression of free speech. I will never listen to and fund NPR. Total shame on you. Alan Wm Radke Juan Williams I believe that NPR is absolutely wrong to have terminated Juan Williams. You will never see another dollar from me. Please remove me from your mailing lists. Sincerely, Juan Williams It's unfortunate for you that NPR fired Juan Williams during the support drive; I won't be renewing now. I can't really support an organization that pays only lip service to the idea of a free and open exchange of ideas and beliefs. Whoever pegged you as National Politically-correct radio got it right! I'll be switching to another radio talk show that really believes in free speech. Dale Solomon My Donation I recently renewed my Texas Public Radio membership and asked my funds be used to support KPAC and its classical music programming. After yesterday's ridiculous firing of Juan Williams from NPR, please reassure me my dollars did not go to help KSTX. NPR should be ashamed and embarrassed. If I do not hear from you, expect no more contributions from me. John Hale Juan Williams With the unfair firing of Juan Williams, NPR is "no longer compatible" as a source of information I can trust. My contributions & listening time will go elsewhere. I Can No Longer Support Texas Public Radio It's becoming increasingly difficult to find balanced programming from any of the radio and television outlets. Juan Williams offered this balance in a sea of otherwise mostly right and left wing propaganda. I've been a fan of TPR for more than 20 years. I know TPR isn't responsible for NPR firing Mr. Williams, but I can no longer support a media source with NPR programming. NPR Policy Re: Juan Williams My wife, Carol, and I are multiple year members of tpr (classical is our primary interest), and, in fact, just a month ago made our annual mail contribution of $240. My comments (to follow) are not reflexive, but rather, after hearing all sides of the controversy through the day, I have determined that the NPR PC police have made an inappropriate move by terminating one of your best contributors, Mr. Williams. The wrong person was fired; it should have been the person responsible for this decision. I assume I'll be a valid member through Sept. 2011, but thereafter, when I get my annual request for a donation, I'll return the card with the comment "Juan Williams", and I trust your staff will understand the message. William G. Kernek Very Wrong to Fire Williams very wrong to fire williams Mike McLaughlin Membership Just wanted to let you know that I am a former member and was reaching for my phone to renew my membership this morning when I heard (on KSTX) the news about the termination of Juan Williams' contract. How ironic! At that very moment, during your fall fund drive, you were bragging that our donations help NPR maintain their "editorial independence." Right. Apparently a frank and honest expression of one's opinion, i.e., the truth as Juan sees it, has no place in the life of NPR personnel unless it is P.C. -- how does NPR's action support "editorial independence"? I think this a disgusting and cowardly act by NPR! And, I have decided to remain a former member, in protest of NPR's actions and in support of our constitution and free speech for all. BTW, as a member of an oft-persecuted religion myself, I support the Islamic faith's right to worship, and to build the mosque a few blocks from ground zero. Protestors against my chosen faith have defiled our most holy institutions in public displays in very recent history. But the "sensitivities" of any group must never be allowed to trump the First Amendment. I understand that TPR probably did not have any direct influence over the action against Mr. Williams, but as the local arm of NPR, you must bear both the benefit and the cost of that association. Dan G. Moyes Juan Williams I hope the local stations are expressing their displeasure at the unwise firing of Mr. Williams. I'll be ignoring the Fall Pledge Drive this year. Bart Grossman Firing of Juan Williams With the firing of Juan Williams, your parent organization has shown it's socialist leanings. I am going to do everything I can to connivence businesses and individuals to stop donations to you; local as well as national. Regards A former listener Juan Williams Dear NPR San Antonio, I hope you are as embarrassed as I am over the firing of Juan Williams. I don't agree with his politics but he appeared to be very good human being. I also agree 100% with his comment that people dressed in Arab clothing on an airplane make me nervous. I am sorry that I will no longer be able to support NPR San Antonio until this blatant attack on free speech by the left wing loons who run NPR is corrected. Gary Baber Cancel My Membership I've been a regular $100 per year member until now. NPR's firing of Juan Williams deeply offends me and while I hate to punish TPR, this is my only meaningful means of protest. Sincerely, Fred Womack What Have Ye Done? I was saddened to learn that you had dropped the Thistle & Shamrock show from the Sunday night schedule and had replaced it with Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me. While that is certainly an entertaining program, one can find light comedy programs almost anywhere, and it seemed to be much better suited for the mid-afternoon Saturday slot that it has enjoyed for some time. On the other hand, there is now NO place to hear Celtic inspired music broadcast in the San Antonio area. What a pity that a program that probably has more to do with the recent popularization of Irish and Scottish music than any other event or product no longer has a place on TPR. I guess that my $60 will be going to buy Irish music this year, since I can’t hear it on the radio any more. Sadly, Juan Williams If Juan Williams goes for entirely rational comments about relations between Muslims and the rest of us, then my money (pledge $$) goes too. Forgive me for using the current crass political term of this election season, but man up! Thomas Lorimer Juan Williams It seems to me to be especially bad timing for NPR to terminate Juan Williams' contract during a pledge drive campaign. Many listeners are now trying to evaluate NPR and determine whether or not it meets the standards of an organization that in one's own good conscience deserves his or her financial support via TPR. I have contributed to TPR before and have encouraged businesses I affiliate myself with to support TPR. TPR seems to have an eclectic mix of topics it covers. That said when it comes to political coverage, I have never heard of NPR being described as being a right wing organization. Sometimes NPR, in my opinion, overreaches in what I perceive as political correctness. As an example I can recall hearing an interview with Jeffrey Dahmer's psychiatrist at the time of Mr. Dahmer's murder. As I recall in that interview Mr. Dahmer's psychiatrist was praising Mr. Dahmer for facing his demons and being complemented for showing his respect for his victims by eating them. Only NPR could put something that outrageous out there and have a "What me, worry?" moment. That interview was offensive in everyway possible from beginning to end. Now it seems you've done it again with Juan Williams, and again NPR can't seem to see what's wrong. I truly feel sorry for those who have lost their compassion and loyalty for those that try to support them either as donors or employees. Why should someone support an organization that shows him or her no respect as a human being? Roland Moore Programing and Firing of Juan Williams I will not be donating to TPR this year until NPR recants the firing of Juan Williams. Juan was the only center to right voice at NPR and he was fired for speaking his feelings. Where has free speech gone? It certainly does not reside at NPR any more. Also, you have pulled the one program I used to not miss, the Diane Rheem show from the one station we can hear clearly in Fredericksburg. Fred Witters NPR, Juan Williams I've been trying to send an email to NPR, but have not been able to gain access to their email server. I imagine their traffic must be very haevy today. Juan Williams What a disgrace to all Americans for the dismissal of Juan Williams for stating his fears about Muslims on air planes. I remind you that Muslims brought this fear of them on themselves. We did not paint them with the suspicion and fear of their actions in the name of the religion. The vast majority of Muslims have not spoken out against the "so called extremists". I can only hope and pray that none of my tax dollars go to you. I will work tirelessly to stop associates and friends from contributing to your disgusting effort. I send you this e-mail because the national web site has closed its contact section in a cowardly manner. I do not wonder why. John Beaven Firing Jon Williams was a Big Mistake I have been willing to trade the obvious left-leaning of NPR for the overall quality of it's reporting but that all changed today. Firing Jon Williams for exercising his right to free speech was absurd. This is political correctness at it's absolute worse/ You have lost a listener and supporter. Sorry NPR Until today, I thought I'd be a 1st time donor to TPR, but your parent's (NPR) behavior (censorship) towards Juan Williams caused me to change my mind. You're off my radio now. I cannot condone such foolishness when a respected journalist shared his opinion ....isn't opinion all Diane Rehm shares? Juan Williams Here is the text of a message I just sent to National Public Radio regarding the firing of Juan Williams: NPR says it fired Juan Williams because his remarks about the Muslim's war against America "were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR." In fact, it's the firing of Williams that has shredded NPR's credibility. You guys are worse than useless in defending us against jihadists such as the Times Square bomber, whose words Mr. Williams correctly quoted and NPR prefers to ignore. You have received the last voluntary contribution from me, and I hope the next Congress will see to it that you receive no more of my tax dollars as well. Will you please see that this is forwarded to Mr. Williams? Karl Spence Juan Williams FIRED?! I have been listening to the fund raising campaign and was about to pledge when I read of the firing of Juan Williams. I think this is absolutely atrocious and would have never believed it of an institution whose mission is to present news and interesting stories without political slant. Juan holds views that are far to the left of my own but he holds and defends them sincerely and honestly and I have enormous respect for him. He has lived an upright and good life and deserves the thanks, not an ignominious kick under the bus. I am for the first time, ashamed of NPR. Kerrville Programing Change Good I am so happy to have music back in my mornings! Can you hear me singing along and shouting in joy? It also gets me moving when my old body wants to stay still. I have had no radio station on in house or vehicle since I found your station when it came to the Hill Country. I love the uplifting classical music. It makes my day bearable. I leave the music on all night to help me sleep or put me back to sleep when I have wakeful nights. The music in like medicine to me. I can't stand television for all the negative stuff put on in recent years. There is so much going on in life to drag us down that we need the good music to put some joy back in our days. The mornings are especially dreary for those of us who can't get out into the world as much. Thank you for listening to us about needing our music. If people want talk shows let them go to the other stations who offer so much of it. That's why we have so many stations! Wouldn't it be horrible to live in a country that had one station and the government choose what we heard? Thank you, thank you! "The Gabi old lady in Kerrville" Programming Changes Thank you for adding more news on the weekends. Is there any possibility of bringing back "Selected Shorts"? I'll take that in preference to "Whad'Ya Know?" any day. Thank you, Michael Feldman's Show I’ve noticed that What’d You Know is now only an hour on Saturdays and is introduced as Michael Feldman’s Hour (or something like that.) Has the program been reduced from two hours to only one—or is our local channel in San Antonio only broadcasting one hour? Thanks for any information you can provide! Judy Garrett KTXI and Diane Rehm Help! What happened to the Diane Rehm show? It keeps me sane and smart up here in the Hill Country. Please bring it back. I cannot tune in 89.1 clearly in this locale. Kate Roos Death of KSTX The recent changes to your programming show a great disregard for the needs of your listeners. Why would you take away great programs such as Blues Before Sunrise, Selected Shorts, Ritmos del Mundo and then hide Latino USA in another time slot? Do we really need 6 hours of BBC on a Saturday night/Sunday morning? Do you enjoy listening to music? Do you enjoy listening to the blues? Have you ever listened to Blues Before Sunrise? I look forward to it every week. And I have been listening to that program for years! These new changes are horrible and show your lack of judgment. You are truly out of touch with what is good about your station and the needs of your listeners. It is also apparent that you are plainly not hip or cool. You are losing a long time listener and contributor. The death of radio is near and you have helped kill it! Dennis Fallon Change in TPR Programming Schedule I am SO disappointed in the programming schedule changes at TPR, in particular the change to the weekday program between 7 and 9 pm! I understand there are always reasons to change, and I believe change is good... but the change to "On Point" every weekday night is a huge disappointment to me. I enjoyed the prior weekday evening variety of shows between 7 and 9 pm, each day had its own particular jewel. I now disappointingly find "On Point" boring, repetitive, and not entertaining or informative in the least. I can't figure out how it is considered news programming. If "On Point" were on one night a week I would still dislike it but would avoid it, supporting others' enjoyment of it and knowing "this too shall pass." But five nights a week, two hours each night. ...PUHLEEZE. I go back to my opening statement: I believe change is good. So I've changed my listening habit, I turn the radio OFF at 7 pm. Silence is indeed golden. Thanks for helping me rediscover it. Respectfully, NOTE: The content of this letter is intended for TPR programming management -- if my letter is published on your website I ask that my name NOT be published. Program Changes i have been reflecting on our conversation this morning. i appreciate the time you took to explain the new programming. i apologize for not having participated in the survey. i only listen to kstx on the weekends, and somehow i did not hear about the call for input or understand the situation. for me, npr, on a national basis, represents news coverage i feel i can trust as well as a source of support for the arts. the arts coverage helps me find a way to deal what is so often difficult in the news. it expands me while the news often causes me to draw in. it was the dual nature of npr's programming that engendered my respect, that made npr seem unique. the linear, intellectual was balanced by the creative. on weekends, the arts shows became my companions. the radio personalities on the shows that are now mostly cancelled felt like family to me. i will miss listening to them on kstx. in the past week, i have noticed that i did not listen to lake wobegon . it felt out of context with the discontinuation of so many of the non news shows. as if it really did not belong to the new kstx lineup. and i also found that i listened less to kpac. as i said, i respected the dual nature of npr, nationally, and i naively believed that would continue to be the framework locally. i can understand marketing to a target audience. npr must survive financially in order to broadcast at all. however, for me, it seems to have lost part of itself, a large part of its soul, and i no longer am comfortable relating to it. i realize this is too little, too late. because i did err by not speaking up before, i am simply providing input even though it is actually too late to effect change. once again, i apologize for that. i realize that nothing can be done about the matter. thanks for taking the time to read this. and the best of luck with your new programming. i am regarding my loss of kstx as an opportunity to create a new way to experience the weekends. so hopefully, in the end, it will work out for the best for kstx and for me, too. mollie gates Program Changes, KSTX The elimination of the Sunday line-up of shows is a terrible idea - American Routes and the Texas Music show were consistently a welcome end to the week. Their replacements are rebroadcasts of shows we've already heard on Saturday, not new content. And we've also lost Selected Shorts on Saturday - another show that let us think while working through the afternoon. This is dumbing down the schedule in the worst way - please take a step up and reintroduce some intellectual content, rather than rehashing comedy shows. Charles Cowan Weekend Broadcasting after learning of the new weekend scheduling and the dropping of some of my most favored broadcasts, i've decided to forego being a member of texas broadcasting and will focus my attention and money elsewhere. thank you, Missing Certain Programming in the Hill Country Hi, lately I have tuned in at my somewhat regular time when Diane Reem and Fesh Air usually come on, and have found KTXI classical music instead. What's happening? Is TPR taking these two beloved, informative, and stimulating programs off the air in the Hill Country? What can I do to voice my concern and dismay at not being able to hear these two favorites? Jan Lundy Programming Changes to TPR It is very unfortunate that Texas Public Radio has decided to cut out several popular programs from its weekly broadcast, mainly those shows of the weekend. I understand the need to fill the niche for a local news program, and I actually looked forward to see what shows TPR was considering to bring on to better represent our region, but was floored and highly disappointed when program changes actually took away or even placed programs that would pertain to our regional or local culture in unpopular slots. Replacing Blues Before Sunrise with more BBC, taking away Afro-Pop World Wide, taking away American Routes, and placing Latino USA in time slots destined for poor listenership is a huge disservice to the community of San Antonio. In the new revised mission statement the words local and regional appear in it. If part of the mission statement is to serve regional and local interests, then why would the Friday luncheon keynote speaker be removed from your Friday evening broadcast? What local niche will On Point, a show produced in Boston, fulfill about San Antonio that the weekly keynote speech did not? As for you weekend changes, nothing upsets me more. I enjoyed listening to Texas Public Radio on weekends because I very much enjoyed the programming geared towards arts and entertainment. I can go to New York Times online, or Google news at any moment when I need a news fix, what I can't do is listen to Blue Before Sunrise with friends while playing cards till the sun comes up. I can't put my radio outside and listen to Nick Spitzer's American Routes while I'm gardening, or hear a classic Hemingway story read by a Broadway actor. TPR's broadcasting of Selected Shorts is what curtailed my interests into reading works by Flannery O'Connor, Hemingway, Arthur Miller, and other great authors. Afro-pop World wide was another popular radio show that I and many of my friends enjoyed. Pan African cultures are very much under represented in the San Antonio region, so by broadcasting the Afro-pop show, TPR was able to share a corner of the world most people have little understanding of. TPR has truly failed the San Antonio community and the trust of their listeners by removing key arts and entertainment programing. Music and arts on TPR's weekend programming are not silly nor trivial. What is silly and trivial is need for a 24 hour news cycle that mimics that of cable TV, provides little attachment to local and regional culture, and does not allow for a true weekend. News and economics we get five days a week for 24 hours, news and economics we can get on our own time. What we cannot get with these programming changes is knowing that there are other San Antonians up at 4 in the morning on a Sunday morning listening to 70 year old blues records. We can no longer hear Nick Spitzer talk about a Flaco Jimenez, Doug Sahm, Selena, or other regional musical greats that came up in South Texas. That's real localism, the 7 day runs of the BBC or weekend Market Place Money is not. Texas Public Radio is not doing a good job representing San Antonio's local culture or regional influence. We are a city of a million plus population, so we deserve the local and regional programing that reflects us and not that of London's or New York's world view. Extremely dissatisfied listener and FORMER listener supporter, John Strodtman Program Changes I am very sad that you have eliminated so many wonderful music shows from your weekend programming, and so many interesting talk shows from your weekday evening programming. The last thing I need is more doom and gloom news shows. I have a feeling that your survey was just a feel-good mechanism for your audiences to make them think they could have input for changes you were going to make anyway. American Routes is a fabulous show. I loved the Texas Music show. I loved Marian McPartland Piano Jazz. And The Thistle & Shamrock. Etc. I suppose if I'm finding all the good programs on other media sources, I can also take a big portion of my donations that have previously gone to TPR and give to the other sources. All best, Margaret Hager Programming Changes Thursday, October 07, 2010 9:44 AM I am dismayed that you have chosen to cancel the Diane Rehm Show. You have just cancelled a devoted listener. Sandi Zimmer Programming Changes We are extremely disappointed in the programming changes you have made on KSTX. We have supported this station since 1991 for the unique mix of news and cultural programming you have provided. It appears that these decisions were motivated more by financial concerns than listener demands for programming changes. It may save money in the short term to repeat Car Talk and Wait Wait in the Sunday 5pm-6m time slot than pay for American Routes, however it will ultimately cost you the support of listeners like us. Please remove us from your mailing list. We will not be renewing unless you reconsider the changes you have made. We will redirect our support to KRTU. Cameron & Stephanie Shropshire Morning Weekday Programming I listen to Ktxi during the week in the mornings and it is so sad the Diane Rehm or any intelligent talk show is available after 9:00. What do I listen to now? Christian radio (I am a Christian), far right diatribes or country music? I love opera, St Paul's Sunday and much classical but all morning is too much especially when nothing else is available. Diane had the very best in political and current events discussion. What a tragedy that I can no longer get her in Kerrville. How can I get her on my computer or elsewhere during the day? Unfortunately I have already made my yearly pledge because without intelligent morning programing I would have decreased my pledge. Hope it improves next year. Edna Platte American Routes Where is American Routes with Nick Spitzer? It is one of my favorite shows. Why have a rerun instead of Nick Spitzer? Sally Wiard Appalled The removal of the Diane Rehm Show from KTXI's weekday lineup is a major disappointment. Why on earth?... Performance Today and other live music shows are wonderful. But broadcasting canned classical music for so much of the 24-hour cycle is an odd step backward, diminishing the value of KTXI as a public radio source. Between CD's and mp3 players and a huge variety of music services, we are lucky to have, in 2010, access to music and are able to do our own "programming." Shows that you continue to carry, like PT, St. Paul, Listeners' Choice and others, give us a variety of views of recent performances and new composers. Why, then, would KTXI cut access for many listeners to unique and indispensible public radio programs -- two of the most intelligent discussion and interview programs available in the US -- only to replace them with what can best be described as audio wallpaper? Sarah Valentine Thistle & Shamrock I tuned in to KSTX for "Thistle & Shamrock" this evening and found "Newsmaker Hour" instead. I checked the new schedule at http://www.tpr.org/programs/kstx.html and "Thistle" isn't on it. Has it been eliminated? Joel Justiss Music Sunday, October 03, 2010 10:08 PM How can you feature Gruene hall on your website when there is no music on your station?????
What happened to Sunday Night Session? American Routes? Afro Pop?
You've reached the bottom of the barrel. Humankind I set my alarm clock for 0545 on Sunday morning so that I can clear the cobwebs, get a cup of coffee and be ready for the best show on Sunday morning - Humankind. I was there, this morning, but my show was a no-show. A check of the schedule showed that it was reassigned to a 0430 time slot. Why??? That is a brilliant program; why is it relegated to such an anti-social time slot? Will you be bringing it back, or rescheduling to a more reasonable time? Hopefully yours, Charles Swint Saturday and Sunday Night Changes How sad to loose all that good music. Saturday and Sunday nights were so great, filled with diverse and wonderful music. Now just more talk, talk, talk....just like the rest of the week. I have been a listener for many years, but will have to look elsewhere for programs such as Marion McPartland, Blues Before Sunrise, and The Thistle and Shamrock. Also Ritmos del mundo and Texas Roots. Atleast you left World Music and Riverwalk Jazz. Hope you aren't thinking about doing them in as well. How about starting a third radio station with all of the programs you have thrown out over the past week....bet there would be a bunch of us long time listeners who who turn on and tune in....and contribute toward it. Rebecca Lozano Complaint About the New Programming I am soooo disappointed in the new programming schedule. You have completely taken off Henry Brune’s program on Saturday nights as well as Piano Jazz and all the really good music programs over the weekend. Deidre Seravia is okay, but it could have been added without taking off the others. Take out one of the other programs over the weekend! And you took off Selected Shorts! And you put the BBC News. It’s all night for crying out loud. Why couldn’t you start it at midnight and leave the music programs on. And then you moved Latino USA to 4:00 a.m. on Sundays. I guess you all figured all the Latinos in town would just be getting home, so they could listen on their way! There are so many good programs on KSTX, but it really pains me to have all the good music programs removed and replaced with the BBC and World Music, which is not a substitute for the great Latino music you had before Henry Brune came on the air and then with Henry Brune. Just add the World Music and take off a news program— it’s the weekend! You also took off that great American Roots program and the Texas music program too. I don’t believe it! Do I have to go online to get the programs I want to hear? Don’t you all know that San Antonio is over 60 percent Latino? And some of us are even members! Please forgive the tone of this email, but I am very upset about this. You have been consistently removing the programs I really like on the weekends. Not a happy member, Linda Ximenes New Saturday Program Schedule Dear KXTX, This morning I turned on what I thought was going to be Whad’ya Know only to find another program in its normal slot. Alarmed, I checked the clock. It was the right time. Then I checked the schedule and found out that Whad’ya Know has been moved to noon. But only one hour? Michael Feldman is the best thing on Saturday radio. I am very disappointed. I do not like Wait, Wait and will not listen to it. I would rather turn the radio off all together than listen to it. We get Wait, Wait on both Saturday and Sunday and one measly hour of Whad’ya Know. Where’s the justice in that? Then this afternoon, I turned on KXTX to catch the program with short stories the name of which escapes me now. It doesn’t even appear on the schedule. Again, disappointment. At least you didn’t take off This American Life. Thank you for that. I will listen to the one lonely hour of Whad’ya Know but thought it was only fair that I register a complaint with you before I start complaining to all my friends. Kay Gerfers No Dollars I am profoundly disappointed in your decision to discontinue the morning talk shows on KTXI. I do not enjoy classical music. While I understand that you have listeners who do, it is over-reactive to assume that they require wall-to-wall classical format. I could go on on this theme but just let me state this: until Diane Rheem and company are re-instated, my contributions are cut off. I know that KSTX carries these shows but the reception in Fredericksburg is too poor to enjoy. Sincerely, 89.1 Programming Change Thanks for changing the week end lineup. I'm glad y'all canceled all those silly music shows; they were hardly news and information. I'm especially glad that you will be broadcasting the BBC overnight on Saturdays. VM - a McClain Circle member Programming Changes on KSTX This evening I heard an ominous announcement that there will be programming changes on KSTX. I went to your site, but didn't see any information on these changes. Please provide me with detailed information. I am very worried that my favorite programs (Thistle and Shamrock is one) will be gone. Please advise. Cynthia M. Kennedy Programs I am a recent transplant to Texas, enjoy the Sunday Texas music show and the announcer just said it will not be on anymore. I'm sorry to hear that - will I be able to listen to show archives via computer? In the letters section I see that you are removing Diane Rehm's show - I'm very surprised - she is a wonderful staple to have on public radio. Perhaps you have changed your mind? I listen to KSTX 89.1 very often. Unfortunately 88.3 only comes in clearly sometimes. I don't know 90.1 but will try it. Thank you for keeping public radio alive here. Philisse Barrows So Sad So sad to be losing Marion McPartland, Blues Before Sunrise, and The Thistle and Shamrock. I cannot believe it. Erin McGinnis Saturday Evenings I heard very negative news on KSTX last Saturday evening. You are dropping both "Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz" and "Jazz Set". Admittedly, National Public Radio has dropped 3 of their 5 jazz programs. Possibly NPR is dropping the programs rather than just you dropping them. After all, Marian McPartland is either 95 or 96, and she has not hosted a fresh show in quite a while. Nonetheless, it is not good that 2 really good hours of listening are to be gone. First of all, do not suggest that I listen via the internet to the NPR web site or another station's web site. I am COMPOSEing this email from a public library computer. I do not have my own computer. Second, I cannot change over to KRTU-FM. I live in Seguin, Texas. KRTU's signal is rather weak. The signal does not reach Seguin. I wonder whether the singal gets as far east along Interstate 10 as the high ridge between 1604 and 1518. The first point also disallows listening to KRTU via the internet. Third, I have had little interest in Deirdre Seravia's World Music show. I may have to adjust my contribution to TPR next spring. And I had just gotten really good at watching college football with the sound off and the jazz on. Glenn Pape Kerrville Programming Please, please, please don't cancel The Diane Rehm show in the Hill Country. We do not have any other diffinitive, intelligent programing of that quality. I have been listening to NPR, TPR for over 20 years and really missed the DR SHOW when we moved here and I was delighted when you started airing it here. Please reconsider... I can get classical music the rest of the day. Thanks. Gretchen Martinez, Kerrville Eileen Pace Rocks The American Mortgage story is just the most recent reason I have found for finding out who is reporting a new batch of really excellent coverage. Eileen Pace, every time. Great acquisition. Keep her. Gary Whitford Programming Change I am a long time listener and member, and I am very, very disappointed that you have removed the Diane Rehm Show from the line up. There is plenty of time remaining for classical music which I also enjoy. It's Been a Long, Dry Spell... To Nathan Cone, Wayne Coble and all those who spoke up for a change back to more music and less talk — It was with great joy that I read you recent letter regarding the changing in programming on KTXI - thanks for giving us more classical music. I have a huge and long-lived habit of working and doing stuff to classical music, and I've almost worn out my CD's while all the talking was going on. Morning Edition and All things Considered are great, and I'm glad to see that those will continue. But starting classical music at 9 is WONDERFUL. One word of caution: please minimize the music for modern musicians - we are largely listeners and are most interested in the real classics. While I'm at this, Bill McLaughlin is really hard to swallow, he is so full of himself. I really miss the intellect and suaveness of Carl Haas! Bottom Line: WELCOME BACK TO MORE AIR TIME IN MY HOME, AND MORE $ BEING CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR EFFORTS!! Susan Longacre, PhD New Schedule I want to thank Mr. Cone and Mr. Coble for the August 30, 2010 letter about the schedule to begin October 1 on KTXI. The changes you have made are wonderful and will add greatly to the time I will listen to KTXI as I once did. Thank you for sending the survey and responding according to listener preferences. An avid listener and music lover - Upcoming Schedule Changes, Sigh I am a member considering whether to renew. I value TPR as a community resource, but the programming, sigh. It looks like selected shorts, another one of my favorites, is disappearing. Since the elimination of the fools (my money advisors) some years back, each cut has been of a program I really valued, and most additions have been one I didn't care for or actually disliked (Tavis, American Life). I do like the Texas Matters. If BBC overnight disappears I shall have to quit you entirely. Sincerely, Ellen Tisdale Improvements to KSTX Congratulations on your improvements to news coverage on KSTX. Any thought to making similar (or same) changes to KTXI news coverage? Thanks, Do the ends justify any means to attain them? I am accustomed to hearing a diverse range of viewpoints expressed on your programs, and this is often why I like to listen, especially when the issues are controversial. However, on Sunday morning, 22 August 2010, I heard a story on Latino USA that went beyond a reasonable limit. The story opened with a description of three people walking into a building in Washington DC in 1954, unfurling a Puerto Rican Flag, and opening fire on the occupants, resulting in eight people being wounded. Rather than condemning this reprehensible criminal act, it was glorified by the commentator as implicitly acceptable in the quest for Puerto Rican independence. The story went on to emphasize the demand by one of the perpetrators for dignity. Well, what kind of dignity can be expected by someone who has shown so little respect for other human beings? In failing to acknowledge the egregious nature of the crusaders’ greedy demand for immediate recognition, the commentator clearly communicated the idea that it was all right to violate other peoples’ rights in order to advance you own agenda. This kind of “reporting” is inexcusable, and the credibility of this commentator is now nil, if not negative. I’m very disappointed that NPR would be a party to the propagation of such jingo journalism, and it will be very difficult for me to justify providing any further support to an organization which condones this kind of broadcast. Jerry O’Connor Suggested Programming Changes Friday, July 2, 2010 I moved to San Antonio from Austin about a year ago, so I hope this email will not be taken as the unsolicited advice of a recently arrived carpetbagger... Weather Announcements KSTX 89.1 I am writing with great appreciation for the tone and simplicity of the weather announcements. Almost every word appears to be said with a smile. How refreshing! Thank you, Maria Hinojosa & Latino USA I have been seeking for some time now a radio station I could enjoy. Finally I found one that features all the things I’ve grown to love and enjoy including: hate speech, highly opinionated reporting and misinformation. Unfortunately TPR does not play enough of it, I am only able to catch it during my lunch break. Okay so sarcasm does not translate into text very well, but hopefully you get the idea. Latino USA is bile-ridden, enmity-infested hate mongering. On immigration reform and Arizona laws, Maria Hinojosa panders to those who would see this country undone by spewing racist rhetoric on the airwaves. She has likened the Arizona laws to the holocaust; when confronted with it, on the air a second time – she continued to spread this unfounded rhetoric. Seriously, when I heard this on the air – on Texas Public Radio I was outraged and completely lost my appétit during lunch. “Latino USA, the journal of news and culture, is a half-hour program devoted entirely to this burgeoning population.” Should a journalist promote such opinionated speeches, or should a journalist find the facts first? In comparing the Arizona law to the holocaust; not only do you belittle Jews, but also spread the emotions that accompany the entire blight on history. People were rounded up and forced into holding camps until their captors had the time to murder them – and all of this based solely on their race. I’m sure you going to say that Mexicans are being rounded up and sent to holding cells just as the Jews were. Here’s a news flash – the Arizona law is not based on race! The only reason the Mexican community is even evolved is proximity. There mere fact that Mexico happens to be the nearest border only implies the law is designed against Mexicans. This is, however, not the case. The law is aimed at anyone – any nationality – who is in the United States illegally. Furthermore, the Arizona law pales in comparison to Mexico’s immigration policy. And while we are talking about illegal immigration, please stop insulting the intelligence of those listening by calling it “undocumented” immigration. If documentation is what implies legality, then “undocumented” is synonymous with “illegal”. Since we’re on immigration, I do not object to immigration – even my wife and mother-in-law are immigrated. My grandfather was an immigrant. The United States is built by immigrants and immigration. The difference is that this great country was built on LEGAL immigrants; not broken laws! I have always enjoyed the unbiased reporting, the interesting stories and uncanny calmness found only at TPR; but I cannot/will not tolerate the hate speech. Christopher Krustchinsky KPAC Announcing Style A very minor point, but I am wondering when it was decided to drop the terms 'major' and 'minor' when announcing the key signature as part of a work title. Within the last 24 hours I have heard three works described as follows:
Please drop this affectation and announce key signatures accurately. R E Oppenheim Dear Mr. Oppenheim, I agree, the "minor" is a small, yet important part of identifying music on-air and in print. Thanks for bringing this to our attention, and we'll remember to include said information when appropriate. Best wishes, Broadcast Conflicts I live in Kingsville, TX and work in Corpus Christi. Although we have a public radio station here (KEDT), they have typically about 6 or more hours of prime time a day of News and other talk radio. Often I listen to them, but sometimes I prefer to listen to classical music during the hours they broadcast news or other programs, so I have frequently tuned to 88.3FM and can hear you about 1/3 to 1/4 of the time. I found a coverage map for you on the web, and it says you should be heard only til Pleasanton! Since I travel from Corpus to San Antonio frequently, I can tell you that I have received your station reliably on my car radio til somewhere between George West and Mathis. I hope you will ask whoever makes these maps to update your actual coverage, so another conflict will not happen. Two weeks ago, the FTC gave a license to KIFR to broadcast in Alice, TX, and their signal is completely overriding yours!! I'm rather unhappy. It couldn't be in a worse location for me. Their coverage map says downtown Corpus should be a fringe area, but it sounds very loud and local to me. As soon as I find out where to send it, I intend to write a letter asking the FTC to move KIFR another frequency at the earliest possible time. You really have provided a service that is not otherwise available in South Texas. Jeri Morey Dear Jeri, Texas Music The all Texas Music Radio this Sunday was magnificent! It featured music you don’t hear anywhere else! Terry Allen, music about levelland, and all the rest I really enjoyed it so much. Please do it again!!! Joy Chittim Tonight's News Bumpers "Time for five o'clock news!" I said with a smile. Not expecting much cheer, I gave a small sigh. Punching the button a little too late, Then out of my speakers came a great shock! Were my wandering ears being truly faulted? Has TPR been sold to some top forty station? Is this the forerunner of things to come? Tonight's sleep will be broken as I try to ponder - What's lies ahead in the wild blue yonder? Much of your support base you've chosen to vex. Joseph Brook Mr. Obama vs. President Obama I listen to TPR every day. My 11-year-old son also likes to listen to TPR as I drive him to school in the morning. I can't think of a better compliment to the quality of your programming than to illuminate the fact that an 11-year-old kid constantly and voluntarily turns the radio dial from his favorite rock music station to TPR. I wish I could capture his attention like that when it's time for him to do his chores. There is one thing I'd like to mention about your programming. During Governor Bill Clinton's initial presidential campaign, he constantly referred to then President George Bush as "Mr. Bush." During one of his campaign stops, someone from the audience asked him why he did not give the President the common courtesy of referring to him as "President Bush." Time and time again, I've heard reporters and hosts on TPR refer to President Obama as "Mr. Obama." If someone has earned a title such as Doctor, Captain, or even Congressman, that title is endeared into their formal name. I myself am constantly introduced as Major Solis more times than just Mr. Solis. Our President deserves the respect due for attaining the highest, most difficult, and most challenging post in the world. I humbly request that TPR refer to our honored President as "President Obama" in all your programming vehicles. It's quite simply the proper journalistic protocol. My eleven year old son is an Air Force Brat and very patriotic. He was the one that first brought it up to me and I have been sensitive to it ever since. An avid listener... Martin Solis Dear Major Solis, Thank you for writing, and good for you that you and your son enjoy public radio together! We are very happy to hear that. It is quite common in the New York Times, and on NPR, for the first reference to the President in a news story to be "President Obama" with each subsequent reference listed as "Mr. Obama." The AP Stylebook advises news media to use "President [_______]" with the first reference, and only the last name on subsequent references. For a full explanation of NPR/TPR's policy, which has been in place since the 1970s, please see this column from NPR's Ombudsman page: http://www.npr.org/ombudsman/2009/12/why_do_you_call_him_mr_obama.html Best wishes, Not Happy About On-Air Acknowledgement Dear TPR, Dear Mr. Barner, Thanks for writing to us with your concern. I brought your letter to the attention of our underwriting department, and also to our General Manager, Dan Skinner. I also thought for a long time about this myself, since I’m a parent, too. You are correct that business support is an essential part of the fundraising model, not only for Texas Public Radio, but for public radio stations across the nation. Gabriel’s Liquor is a legitimate business, and one that fits in with the NPR audience profile, as listeners to public radio are more likely than the general populace to make wine or beer purchases. We do not feel there is anything morally offensive about that line of business, which is why you may also hear underwriting messages from wineries or other businesses related to alcohol from time to time. Along those lines, you need not worry about adult video, or strip clubs, etc. on Texas Public Radio. We choose not to solicit support from them for professional reasons, and I suspect we’ve had no inquiries from them because they feel the NPR audience is not within their target demographic. Fair enough. But as a parent, I can understand your concern about exposing your children to beer, wine, or liquor. I myself have had conversations with my young children about this subject. Most recently, seeing people drinking beer at Fiesta—even family-friendly events—brought up the question again. Rather than dismissing the drinkers or trying to change the subject, I explained (in kid terms) the effects alcohol has on people, and what happens when you drink too much. I’ll start there, and I’m sure it will be a continuous learning process for them (and me) over our lives. Yours truly, Monsanto I have heard a lot this past week about your fund drive. I have also heard Monsanto as contributor to Market Place. I would be a 180 member but I refuse to fund a corporation with business with them. Two of my collegues in the same group are 180 members. If Market Place is on your airwaves, I will not support you. Eric Hendrick MD Dear Mr. Hendrick, Most news organiztions, including Marketplace, have a strict "no communication" firewall between the newsroom and the underwriting department. I believe Marketplace's journalistic ethics to be sound. However, we are sensitive to the concerns of listeners. Marketplace is actively seeking feedback about the issue you have raised. Please follow this link for more information: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/04/16/comment-underwriter-acknowledgment I apologize for the brevity of this response, as I am writing on my mobile device, but I felt it important to respond to you promptly. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Mr Cone, 1. I am very impressed that this message made it to you, as I hear you almost every day. 2. I am more impressed that you responded so promptly. Thank you for your concerns of your listeners! Eric Hendrick MD Whole Foods giving 5% of Day's Sales to Texas Public Radio To Pledge Drive Staff, It was disappointing that I did not hear one shout out for Whole Foods during your Pledge Drive on Wed. 14, the one day benefit for TPR. As a member of TPR I read about it in Keynotes. Went there and did a good amount of shopping including wines as an additional way of helping TPR as well as getting some unique shopping for natural foods. When I came home I called TPR, asked if I was talking to a person involved in the Pledge Drive, and suggested to her that it would be a good idea to mention this during your pledge drive. I gave several reasons, saying it would be an additional way to help TPR to get money after listeners had pledged and it would make a business sponsor such as Whole Foods feel good about TPR as increased sales would be attributed to TPR listeners. It might even encourage other businesses to pledge Business Memberships with TPR, knowing that they would get timely mention of their participation. I never heard one word about the Whole Foods benefit for Texas Public Radio. I find that very narrow vision, because I doubt very many listeners knew about this one day event. Sincerely, Dear Ms. Hawkinson, Uncessary Comments Your continued and completely unnecessary derogatory comments about commercial radio stations during your pledge drives is not only demeaning, but should be beneath your integrity as a meaningful member of our community. Yesterday (Friday) for example, I heard one of your announcers state in no uncertain terms that commercial radio stations' content is influenced by advertisers. In another case, an announcer stated flatly that in-depth stories heard on Texas Public Radio would never be heard on commercial radio stations. There was not a single word of empirical or anecdotal evidence to back up these specious claims. Just because these announcers make such statements does not necessarily make them true. It is quite proper and necessary for your station to make an appeal for financial assistance from listeners; it is quite another story to try to demean legitimate competitors with such potentially untrue statements. It is not sufficient for your announcers to very infrequently make some bland statement such as, "We don't have any complaints against commercial radio stations", etc. Please stick to fund-raising and steer clear of such self-serving, and in the case of the two above examples, unprovable statements. Lynn Dear Lynn, Nathan Cone Eagle Release - Please Credit the Rehabilitation Organization! This morning I heard a story about the eagle release that was taken nearly verbatim from a portion of a story in the SA Express News. You did not even mention the organization that rehabilitated and released the eagle, and that's shameful. It was not an anonymous organization that provided veterinary care, food, housing, flight retraining, etc. for that eagle over a period of months. Please put Last Chance Forever back into that story when you run it next this morning. I'm frankly shocked. I don't think NPR or any affiliate would ever drop the ACLU from a story about how Constance McMillan won the right to go to her prom with her lesbian partner. Why would you feel free to erase LCF from the story of this eagle? Sincerely, I was listening to the morning news and I was pleased to hear you covering the eagle release story. However, your only mention of the San Antonio connection was "a bird conservancy in San Antonio." Having read the Express News story version I know that that organization was Last Chance Forever, the Bird of Prey Conservancy. I also know that Last Chance Forever has been doing this work in San Antonio for the last 30 years. Right now, all non-profits are hurting but non-profits which take care of animals and wildlife, as a group, only get a tiny fraction of the overall charitable dollar in a good year. Giving them the mention they are due could have helped bring them the resources they need to rehabilitate and release the next eagle they receive. I would like to hear TPR do a story on Last Chance Forever as one of those organizations in San Antonio that is doing good work and has been quietly doing good work for 3 decades. Robert Schmid Dear Ms. Orrell and Mr. Schmid, Our source for the story in question was an Associated Press wire story, which did not name Last Chance Forever as the bird conservancy in question. However, that is no excuse for not going the extra length to search the Internet for that information, especially since it was identified as a San Antonio-based organization in the story. We could have then cited the Internet source after finding said identification. Our apologies for the oversight. Nathan Cone The Moth Radio Hour I accidentally heard on 89.1 in San Antonio, last night 25 Mar at around 7:30 p.m. this Moth broadcast.I absolutely LOVED it!!! Please tell me when the next broadcast sessions are scheduled to air. Thank you, Dear Ms. Gamez, Thanks for responding so quickly......is there a way to listen to the shows that have already aired? Thank you, You bet. Here's a link to their podcast page: Nathan Jobless Rate Story I listened to your announcer David Martin Davies' story Friday morning about the jobless rate in Texas and was amazed that there was no mention of the situation in San Antonio. His announcement reported on the jobless rate in Amarillo and McAllen (who cares?) but didn't say a word about San Antonio. No problem though; I got that information from two other radio stations and the San Antonio Express News, so I guess it was available to everyone. Lynn in San Antonio Dear Lynn, Stay at Home Dads Thank you, TPR, for the story about stay at home dads! Nothing warms my heart like a dedicated father, and I felt myself melting hearing these men interact with their children. My fiancé and I are considering the future and he has been out of work for a while. I will recommend he listen to this story because it is the most compelling argument that stay at home dads are a stigma no more. Thank you thank you thank you for this great story! Janee’ News segment on Debra Medina I would like to express my extreme discontent with your coverage of the latest news blitz on Debra Medina regarding her Glenn Beck interview. Two days ago during the NPR news, the local news commentary said that Debra Medina had basically taken herself out of the governor's race with her comments during the Beck interview. I am sorely disappointed with your biased comments on this story. Ending the segment were comments by the governor and Hutchinson condemning Medina's statements. You might as well as run this whole new story as a campaign ad for the two of them. I will be getting my news from now on from the internet, which seems to be the only source of truth in today's media. NPR and TPR have just joined the ranks of the corrupt media in my mind and I will not be renewing my membership next year with your station. Angela Malek Dear Ms. Malek,
Thanks from Sheffield, England Greetings, Sincerely, Texas Matters Comment I look forward to and enjoy Texas Matters on Saturday mornings. I always find it to be insightful and informative.But, I was disappointed enough with today's program to send this email. Barbara Ann Radnofsky was referrred to the "Democrat candidate Barbara Ann Radnofsky" instead of the correct adjective form "Democratic" candidate. I am disappointed with NPR using this GOP code word to show disrespect to any candidate. Thanks, Dear Mr. Vollmer, Greetings to John Kilgarriff from Ireland Hi, Can you please pass on our regards and love to John Kilgarriff our brother from his family in Ireland. We love and miss you lots. Keep up The show is great and we are very proud listening in live right now so play us a little request and we'll talk to you later on. Love you loads and miss you even more. Happy New Year to you and all at the station and to all your listeners. Love, TPR Going Into "Faith Based" on Sunday Morning Greetings Good TPR Folks, I have been a long time supporter of TPR, McClain Circle. However, this year I 've decided to give to individual shows because I am sincerely disgusted by the Sunday morning "faith" show. Trust me, up and down the dial I can find plenty of that garbage if I wanted to hear it. I don't. The last place I expected to hear a program on faith was TPR. I just can't get my mind wrapped around the fact that some one in your programming department thought that was a good idea. Yuck! Sincerely, Dear Ms. Glynn, Hi Nathan, I appreciate your response. I would argue that many Americans would say that faith is believing what you know isn't true. I am one of those people. I guess I can appreciate what you all are trying to do, but it doesn't do anything for those of us who are not the least bit interested in any kind of faith. There, in that word alone, is my biggest problem. I don't care if "Speaking of Faith" has what you call thinkers or believers in other than Judeo-Chrisitan faith. It is my opinion that religions of every kind have darkened our morals and ethics throughout history, and the last thing I wanted to hear when I turned on TPR was someone espousing how faith does such great things for humanity. I don't believe it, and I am saddened that the program is on my favorite radio station in all of the U.S. I am sure there are many other positive shows that could take the place of "Speaking of Faith" that speak to humanity and our human dilemmas. That being said, I again want to thank you for your response. Sincerely, Charity Navigator Score I have been a supporter for many years. I have recently started
using Charity Navigator to decide where I will send my yearly donations.
I want to be a member of TPR and have sent a check to you in the mail. I
would, however, like to see my public radio station have high standards
and be considered as worthy of the 4 stars as the Chicago Public Radio.
Can you please explain why your rating is low? I also notice the CEO
salary is 3.94% of expenses and that is high compared to all the other
charities that I donate to. Thanks. Thank you for being such a long-time supporter of Texas Public Radio. Charity Navigator uses a formula for its "stars" that heavily advantages larger organizations and those that are "growing." They use two primary ratings -- Organizational Efficiency, and Organizational Capacity. We rank very high on Organizational Efficiency; in fact, higher than most other public radio stations. They calculate Organizational Capacity based on whether or not the organization has grown in revenue or expense, regardless of whether or not the expense has outstripped the revenue growth. So, you could be ranked highly and be in the red. Even in the face of the country's recent economic challenges, Texas Public Radio continues its record of operating in the black and did not have to lay off staff, unlike Chicago Public Radio, NPR, and other larger market radio stations. We are very frugal in our operations, including purchasing items used on eBay, as well as using bulk mail and email effectively to communicate and save costs on postage. As an organization, we work to operate within our means and have not chosen to expand during the past few years, instead focusing on organizational efficiency. As a result, we are ranked low on Organizational Capacity simply because we haven't grown substantially. In regards to the compensation of our Executive Director -- this is also due in large part to the smaller size of Texas Public Radio's budget. If we compensated our ED the same percentage as Chicago Public Radio, he would receive $25,677 per year. I'd be happy to answer any other questions you might have. Thanks again for your support, Laverne Pitts Director of Development Texas Public Radio Public Radio on the Border Hi, I am a member of TPR and have really enjoyed the programming I received in San Antonio on FM 89.1, but, I have moved to McAllen and can't seem to find any TPR, NPR or anything on Public Radio. I have a Dear Mr. Davies, Object to Unethical Treatment of Member Records Early in the week, I pulled off the road on my way to work so that I could call in my pledge. One of the commentators was telling listeners how secure their membership information was, "We do not sell lists, etc." On Friday, I pulled off the road to call in a concern about two comments regarding member records that I had just heard on KTXI. One was a marketing piece by Mr. Ira Glass whose commentary on membership had been amusing and clever throughout the week-long drive. However, on Friday he made jest of looking up someone's giving record, obviously an easy thing to do according to his scenario he was presenting. I might have dismissed his funny commentary, except the local commentator followed it with her own take on the situation. She said that she could look up her friend's giving info...and so folks she knew should beware. Actually, neither of these comments was appropriate. If we are to see Texas Public Radio as a trustworthy source of news and an equally trustworthy source of information about our individual and personal giving, then this kind of joke is no laughing matter. As a professional Development Director who regards donors pledges as confidential, I am distressed at TPR's casual attitude. You owe your listeners an explanation, an apology, and an assurance that neither staff nor anyone else accesses members giving records "to check up" on whether or not they support the station. If you want to find humor in giving, don't make fun of unethical breaches of confidentiality. For shame! Kate Roos Dear Ms. Roos, I agree with you, it was inappropriate for the person you heard on air to suggest that she would snoop on her friends by looking up their giving information in our member database. Mr. Glass’s pledge skits are put together with the participant’s permission; in our case, that was not made clear. Texas Public Radio makes every effort to protect its donor information. Only the TPR membership department and senior management staff (of which the on-air voice you heard was one) have access to member records, and personal information such as credit card numbers are password-protected so that only those in our membership department entering said data have access to it. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.\ Sincerely, STOP KSTX LIES! It makes me crazy with anger as I listen to your fund-raisers say "we do not have commercials," or "we can give you sixty minutes of programming per hour because we are non-profit." Nonsense! Dear Mr. Meshanko, Your concern is something that I am particularly sensitive to, as I agree that aside from the programming itself, one of the important ways public radio distinguishes itself from commercial stations is the way we identify program sponsors. Commercials have a distinctive sound, featuring inducements to "come on down," extravagant claims, or promises of the lowest prices in town. Public radio stations are allowed by the Federal Communications Commission to identify corporate or business sponsors on air through underwriting announcements, so long as those announcements do not include pricing information, calls to action, inducements to buy or sell, or comparative or qualitative language. Here at Texas Public Radio, we carefully monitor the copy that runs on our stations to ensure that it not only fits within these guidelines, but that it also plain sounds good. We're more conservative in our use of underwriting language than many other stations in the public radio system, and we've actually shortened the length of most of our underwriting messages, too. Furthermore, we are actively seeking out more sponsorships from fellow non-profit organizations to further their exposure to the public. I recognize that these sponsorship messages may be non-essential programming, but hearing them on the air also means there is strong support for the programming you enjoy on KSTX. The more diversified our support base, the better. Thank you for your support of KSTX. Best wishes, Green Water Bottle To someone that can help me, I received the wonderful green water bottle for my membership contribution. I love that water bottle. Just the other day I was volunteering at an event to help raise money for a local charter school (Kipp Aspire Academy) and somewhere I lost my wonderful green water bottle or someone has stolen it, because of how fantastic this green water bottle truly is. I am lost without my precious green water bottle. I am so very sad and missing it desperately and I don’t know what I will do if I cannot get another glorious green water bottle to fill with cold ice water every day!!
Dehydrated and thirsty, Dear Ms. Janson, Need Help for Program Information Hi, Dear Nancy, Feedback on Story Regarding "Tejano" Settlers in Texas To Whom It May Concern: Dear Mr. Tatsch, Health Care Reform KSTX 89.1 FM / KPAC 88.3 FM / KTXI 90.1 FM (Texas Public Radio) (NPR): The President today is meeting with the "select few" physicians as part of his push for socialized medicine. Reform, not revolution, in health care is needed. Mandates, rationing, the public option, and profound tax increases will not suffice. Patient oriented reform is a necessity. Government oriented reform is a disaster. Sincerely, AccessAbility Fest As a blind member of the community, I am uncomfortable every time I hear announcements about "Accessibility Fest." The word "Fest" suggests a festival; something to celebrate. For people with disabilities, equal access to places, information, and services is a right, not something we should be expected to celebrate or show gratitude for. Liz, In response to your discomfort with the word "Fest", let me explain the rationale behind creating the event and choosing the name. "AccessAbility Fest" is designed to create a free, festive, family event that offers an opportunity for individuals with disabilities to learn more about the organizations that provide services. In this environment, we have pulled together a number of activities that can keep family members entertained while vital service information is being collected. By gathering this all together in one very accessible place, we hope to provide an unfulfilled service to the community. If we have offended you, I am sorry.
Ritmos del Mundo Saludos, I live in Philadelphia and my public radio station is WHYY. Can you give me an idea of how it might be possible to listen to the show Ritmos del Mundo from here, on my computer, or whatever idea you may have short of moving to Texas :-). Muchísimas gracias, M. Jager Dear Ms. Jager, Playlist Query I was listening to 90.1 FM on my car radio at 7 PM on Friday 28 August 2009. Exploring Music with Bill McLaughlin. Please tell me the title and composer of the first selection played that evening. My recollection is that it was a “sonatina” by an Italian composer, somebody Clementi. This was music for young adults and the selection I’m interested in was played by a Korean pianist. Please tell me the name of the selection, Name of composer I’d like to buy this CD, but I need your help. Thanks very much for the music you play, and for the NPR talk shows. Beverly Smith Dear Ms. Smith, Texas Matters Segment 3 of this weeks program by Jessica Gonzalez was wrong and misleading. She had a PUC guest explaining that private utilities had lowered rates since last year while municipal utilities had raised rates.
Sincerely, Signal Change? I have been a contributor for years and a happy listener. But the listening is getting more and more difficult. I live between Floresville and Pleasanton and the signal has been good for most of the time. Sometimes early in the morning static would take over, but that lasted for minutes only. But now for more than a month I have problems receiving 89.1 in 3 locations in my house. I had to move the antennae around (it is on the floor) in order to receive a signal in the 4th room. How come 88.3 comes in? The station that interferes seems to be a religious station and the interference is not the same static as before. This one is even more annoying, almost painful to hear. I have not changed location of radios so what has happened to the signal that used to come in without any problems. Can you help? Silke Kretzschmar Dear Silke, Hello Ms. Kretzschmar, Wellpoint's Discussion on Profits Dear TPR, Jesse Owens & Luz Long This morning you had commentary from a gentleman who claimed that the Owens/Long story was fictional because he supposedly obtained the answer from Mr. Owens himself. How could you even air such a ridiculous claim with no evidence what so ever to substantiate it? Jesse Owens has reportedly never said such a thing and there is no evidence to the contrary. Jesse had family then and has family still around to day if you wanted to inquire whether he has ever told them the story wasn’t true. Without even querying the family, you allow this first class jerk to spout his ridiculous nonsense on your airwaves. TPR you now need to follow-up and allow Jesse’s family the same amount of time to comment on this!!! Cedrick Dear Cedrick, Survey I just completed the survey that TPR emailed. I want to call attention to the question that asked about mp3 players. I think the question stopped short of what you may have wanted to ask. While I don't listen to much music on the mp3 player (the survey question addressed the percentage of music listened to on the radio vs mp3 player), I DO listen to podcasts which include radio shows that are available for download on Itunes . In fact, I use my mp3 player almost exclusively for podcasts which I listen to when I drive or exercise. The availability of quality programs for the mp3 player is very important to me. Thank you for the good work you do. Nancy Nowak Post Office Closings KSTX did its listeners an inexcusable disservice Tuesday when it broadcasted a story by your announcer David Martin Davies concerning the possible closing of ten San Antonio Post Office branches, but failed to list a single one that might be shuttered. Not only did your story not list the ten stations in question, it also failed to even refer listeners to a web site where the information could be obtained. And you broadcasted the story ad nauseam without the most important information. Several radio and TV stations in San Antonio either listed the names and locations of the stations in questions or referred their listeners or viewers to a location on the Internet where the list could be retrieved. You would have been better off not broadcasting the story at all since the most important part of the story was omitted. Stevie Merritt Dear Mr. Merritt, Although there was a list of potential San Antonio post office closings, our source on that story, Mr. Sam Bolen of the USPS, would not confirm which stations would be closed. We felt it best to report what we knew rather than broadcast information that could not be confirmed. Mr. Bolen did say the USPS is planning a public process that will include neighborhood meetings to help them determine which if any locations will be closed in San Antonio. We'll follow up on this story as events progress. Thank you for your feedback. Sincerely, Had you taken the trouble, as other legitimate journalists did, you would have simply gone to the Postal Regulatory Commission (www.prc.gov), the agency that released the information about potential closings and posted every potential closing in the United States, and your broadcaster (let's not call him a journalist) would have quickly confirmed what your Mr. Bolen either did not or could not. Apparently, Mr. Bolen is not exactly one of the taller limbs on the USPS or PRC tree. And notice my correspondence to you in no way referred to Post Offices that WILL be closed. I was very careful to use the words "possible" and "might be". So to use the phrase "would be closed" and say that you could not confirm the potential closings is simply incorrect and your lame attempt to justify the unjustifiable is sadly lacking. No problem however; the overwhelming majority of other news outlets in San Antonio provided all of us with the information we needed. Stevie Dear Mr. Merritt, Related Links: Reception Yesterday I listened to KSTX yesterday during the last half-hour of "The World" and the first half-hour of "ATC."
Nothing unusual about that, right? D. Matthews Weather Reports Dear TPR: Evenings I listen to KSTX until 10 or 11 pm. Periodically throughout the evening canned weather reports are played that are usually hours and hours and hours old. They aren't useful or helpful, and are most often not accurate, and therefore annoying. Would you consider revising your ideas about weather forecasts and just look out the window and get an outside thermometer, then report on the reading from that? Best regards, Dear Ms. Hager, Thanks for writing with your concern, and for bringing this to my attention. We will strive to keep our recorded weather announcements as accurate as possible. Currently, they are voiced by KPAC staff members in the evening, but I have a lead on a unique radio service that may be able to provide even more up-to-the-minute information on KSTX. Best wishes, Too Much Singing In considering the additional contribution you request, I want to express my displeasure with your programming instead. I normally start to listen to your station after 8:00 p.m. week days. Each time I turn it on I make a bet that instead of a symphonic selection I will get choral or operatic music. Last evening (June 18) that is what I found at 8:30, I turned it off, I turned it back on around 9:45 p.m. and it was the same. I would make a guess that it is that way about 50% of the time. That is way too much! Since you are the only classical station I think I have the right to complain. Otherwise I would listen to a different station than yours. Maynard Burstein Service Reception I live in Gonzales, love Public radio but get variable quality of reception. This morning (as all mornings) I can listen to Morning Edition but the sound keeps fading. My radio is fine, I have an inside antenna so why does the sound keep coming and going. I have driven along I10 and can occasionally get KSTX as far away as Schulenburg. Am I at the edges of your listening area, is there anything I can do to get consistent service? Love KSTX and miss it a great deal since moving from San Antonio. Thank you. Carol Bond Dear Carol, Our signal pattern covers all of Bexar County and most of the immediate surrounding counties. Gonzales is on the fringes of our listening area, though in my car, I too can receive KSTX as far as Schulenburg on a good day as I drive east on I-10. Most of the time the signal breaks up between Luling and Flatonia. Because KSTX is at its maximum allowable signal power, the only other suggestion I have at this time for receiving our signal would be to tune in on your computer at home: http://www.tpr.org/audio/listen.html. Sincerely, Internment of Germans and Italians in the Western Hemisphere The entire American public and the world must know and should know that the first ten amendments are not an absolute guarantee and most likely never were intended to be. As I remember correctly, the Federalists only agreed to place the Bill of Rights into the constitution in order to placate the Anti-federalists with the motive of ratifying that document. Please, please, please tell your story now. Millions will listen, learn, and understand completely what really went on for the 'domestic front' during WWII as well as know that the Monroe Doctrine was still being used as late as that time to take away the properties and livelihoods of citizens not only here in American but also abroad. My eyes are really opened now. Thank you. Gina Kessee TPR's David Martin Davies produced a feature on the subject in January 2009. Click here to view. Schedule of TPR "Projects" As a member of TPR, I helped out at a lot of community projects and saw a lot of kids helping also. I'm looking for something for my son and I to volunteer/assist/work- at in the community. Do you have any projects coming up that a mom & her 6 y/o can help? Thanks, Sandy, Thank you for both your help in our past community projects and your willingness to assist again. The only volunteer project that we have slated so far this year is our annual local city park xeriscape initiative that will take place on National Public Lands Day, September 26th. The specific park has not yet been selected but should be confirmed by mid June at the latest. We'll run on-air promotional announcements beginning on September 7 to recruit volunteers, so if you'd like to participate, just call in and sign up. I do have another thought. Our long-time Volunteer Coordinator, Toni Murgo, is retiring at the end of May. Her replacement, Elisa Gonzales, will be actively recruiting new volunteers starting in June. I'm not quite sure what projects would be appropriate for a 6-year-old but Elisa may have some ideas. With your permission, I'll forward your e-mail address to her so she can contact you. We had an eight year old ask his mom if he could be a member of TPR, too, this pledge drive. So, it's never too early to introduce them to the benefits of being involved with their public radio station! Regards, Janet Grojean This American Life I was listening to the San Antonio station 89.1 on my way home (to the nearly NPR-less) Rio Grande Valley last night (May 6 Wednesday) and heard your broadcast of This American Life which I thoroughly enjoyed. Is there a way I can listen to it again, i.e., on the web? Our local mom and pop and diocese NPR station (KMBH) would never play anything like that. I missed part of the program; it faded as I traveled southward. Thanks. Bill Rubink Dear Mr. Rubnik, First of all, thanks for listening to us here in San Antonio! You can hear that episode of "This American Life" again online at the "This American Life" website, and you can even download it for free. It's episode #379, "Return to the Scene of the Crime." I should also note that you can access us online at www.tpr.org, and through the public radio iPhone application, for those that have such a device. Best wishes, Nathan Cone Daily Program Schedule I can not find the usual daily programs of music. I would appreciate any help you can give me as to where I might find this information. Thank you, Dear Mr. Blackwell, We had to remove our advance program listings for KPAC from the website due to new regulations from the Copyright Royalty Board. In short, if a station is streaming its signal on the Internet, then it is not allowed to publish advance listings of what's being played. We're working on a way to publish listings after the fact. And in the future, we hope to publish listings for selections as they are being heard, i.e. "What's Playing Now." Thanks for writing, and thank you for listening to KPAC. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Texas Matters Program #442 Having listened to program 442 concerning the border, I now feel that it did not present a balanced picture. The most recent issue of the Texas Observer has an ariticle about the border situation. Having just read it, my advice is that you do a follow-up program on the border situation, and that you interview some of the people who are quoted in the Texas Observer article. Thank you. Radio Broadcast of Pre-Tea Party in SA I have supported NPR and local stations in the past. I considered financial local support for KSTX but after yesterdays local San Antonio reporters "report" of the upcoming San Antonio Tea Party I will not support KSTX or NPR. Labeling popular Fox TV host Glenn Beck, who was to have a live show from the Alamo Plaza, as a provatour was too much. Then he capped off with a interview with the George Soros supported Media Mattters spokesman spewing some BS was icing on the cake. I can't stomach this one-sided liberal pap you are airing. I can certainly not financially support it. Bob Wickley Dear Mr. Wickley, Thank you for writing us about our recent coverage on the Tax Day Tea Party held in Alamo Plaza. We took care in our story to represent both sides of the debate over the Tea Party organizers' intentions. Media Matters president Eric Burns made his claims about Republican involvement, but as we pointed out in the story, the San Antonio Tea Party organizers said their event was non-partisan, and that politicians that asked to speak were turned away from the event. You can find a transcript of our story here: http://www.tpr.org/news/2009/04/news0904151.html Thanks for listening to KSTX 89.1 FM. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Germans Interned in Texas during WWII article It was a very informative article. Many people and uaware of this sad chapter in US history. Hopefully the Wartime Treatment Study Act will become law and a apology will be issued to those Germans interned and their families I'm personally involved in this issue being that I've emailed both my senators and congressperson demanding that this bill become law! Thanks once again for an enlightening article.:-) Sincerley, Fred Martinez Exploring Music What has happened to this program? Will it no longer be part of your programming? Michael Bradley Dear Mr. Bradley, Thank you for your response, which sounds like a typical corporate answer. I'm guessing you had to drop Exploring Music because of budget concerns. I can understand that. Just don't tell me it was because it did not fit with your midday mix, which to me has no real rhyme or reason. Which to me is a good thing, because I want to be surprised by not knowing what is coming next. However, if you drop opera on Saturday you will drop me. Michael Bradley Family Listening in Ireland to Eamonn Grant - KPAC Classical Oasis Eilish, Gary and Siobhan listening in Ireland – remembering the good times on Eamonn’s last trip home to Ireland! Gary Mills Advertising Dear KPAC Management, My husband and I moved to San Antonio in 1990 and have been steady supporters of KPAC throughout the past 19 years as McClain Circle members almost the entire time. We have noticed a very distasteful and disingenuous trend in the acknowledgement of donors to the station. I don’t see any difference between several of the acknowledgements of corporate donors that I’ve heard and actual advertisements. We find them annoying and not in keeping with what KPAC states their policy to be. We think if this trend continues you will lose the trust and the patience of those of us who enjoy the absence of advertising that has been a claim and a trademark of KPAC and Texas Public Radio. We suggest that someone monitor the length and content of every one of the corporate donor acknowledgements very carefully. Sincerely, Robert & Bettie Sue Masters Dear Dr. Masters, Texas Matters #446 Dear Texas Matters, Thank you for taking the idea of secession and the issue of current violations to the 10th ammendment to the US Constitution seriously by including Larry Kilgore on your show. This homeschooling, Baylor University educated, Volvo driving Mom was encouraged to hear this topic on NPR. With listening ears, Kari Vanhoozer Texas Public Radio's weekly news magazine, "Texas Matters," aired a story on March 13, 2009 about Larry Kilgore seeking the Republican nomination for the Governor of Texas. His main issue is seeking the complete independence of Texas and the establishment of Biblical law in the newly re-minted Republic of Texas. Listen to the interview conducted by Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies. Future Rail Saturday, February 21, 2009 This country could have, and should have developed dependable rail decades ago. The government focused its attention on oil, gas, and highways. Now all we have is over crowded airports and highways. San Antonio's transit system is the same way, inefficient and out of touch with the people who depend on this system as their main, and many times only source of transportation. VIA is run by people who have two things in mind, egos and profit. J. McGillivary Texas Public Radio's weekly news magazine, "Texas Matters," aired a story on February 20, 2009 about a high speed rail project in Texas that is expected to take some existing farm land. David Martin Davies interviewed Richard Cortese, a farmer and a Bell County commissioner. Listen to the interview. Traffic Reports Tuesday, February 17, 2009 I have always been underwhelmed by your traffic reports – they were always a bit too ‘chatty’ for me, but the 5:20 PM report on Feb 17th was so abysmal, that it has convinced me to stop supporting local public radio. In response to the closure of 1604 due to a truck/bridge collision, the report consisted of “Traffic is bad. Drive safely.” No other information was provided, despite the road having been closed at approximately 4 PM. I spent two hours on my normal 45-50 minute commute. I had options to avoid the congestion if I knew what the problem was, how far it extended, and where to exit 1604 and seek an alternate route. You’ve just lost a three-year supporter. If you want to improve traffic reports, I recommend the following: Be more clear and follow a standard reporting format. For example, state generic location (Northside, Westside, etc) state which road has the problem and in which direction (1604 westbound or I-10 inbound) state where the problem is (between Babcock and I-10) then state the problem and its effect. Ad libbing, or changing the order of the report may sound appealing to the news reader but it doesn’t help your listeners. Be predictable in the reporting sequence, for example, in Germany, the traffic reports follow a specific numbering scheme based upon the number of the Autobahn. You could go clockwise and end in the city center: NE, SE, SW, NW, center. Also, include ALL the traffic problems even if this increases your report incrementally, not just the top two or three. I have sat in stalled traffic for 30 minutes and only heard about problems in other areas. I was left wondering, “Is there an accident? How far does the congestion extend? Should I exit the highway? Is the accident on the right side or the left side? Is this just a longer than normal slowdown and I just need to be patient?” Your current traffic reporting is NOT serving your listeners. If you’re not going to do it right, then eliminate it altogether. Joe Yakubik Dear Mr. Yakubik, Thank You For Lincoln's Portrait Friday, February 6, 2009 Dear KPAC: I listened to Aaron Copland's Lincoln's Portrait and was gushing with feeling and inspiration. Thank you so much. Gordon Leith Include the Arts in National Economic Recovery Efforts Friday, February 6, 2009 Dear KSTX 89.1 FM / KPAC 88.3 FM / KTXI 90.1 FM (Texas Public Radio) (NPR): A many may know the current recession has had a significant impact on the economy and the Arts Community has by no means been excluded. Monies once available for the purchase and funding of arts has gone the way of many jobs. Artist once able to support themselves through their talent are just as out of work as those who have been laid off. It is unfortunate that many in Congress see art funding as benefiting only the rich and well to do. Their blind eye to the ones actually creating art and their desperate position in the economy can only be regarded as the same ignorance that helped usher in this present state of affairs. If only they spent more time in thinking about their constituents and less time about repositioning themselves for photo ops and their next election and partisan politics, perhaps something might get done to really help the American people. It sad to say that if artist were only bankers perhaps they too would be sitting on top of 350 billion dollars rather than hoping and praying that $50 million for the Arts would not be on the chopping block with so many ready and willing to raise their axe. Sincerely, Plea for Objectivity Wednesday, February 4, 2009 I listened again this morning to the experts chosen by Dianne Rehm to excuse the Obama Administration for attempting to appoint tax evaders to the President's cabinet. I, like millions of other citizens, had high hopes for this administration, but I will not let my naive optimism hide the fact that we are just getting more of the same low class behavior that we came to expect from both the Bush and Clinton regimes. Please give us more objectivity in your programing. The tax payers of this country need it. In my opinion Ms. Rhem has never demonstrated this ability. D. C. Darby Programming Complaint Monday, February 2, 2009 Can you just IMAGINE, the din, the howling, the screaming, the complaining and the protesting if Texas Public Radio decided to take the music (mostly crappy) now being foisted on the listeners to "News and Views" station 89.1 FM, and foist it all instead on the listeners of 88.3 FM? Its all music, right? Would music not more appropriately be featured on a "music" station? Give me a break! I want to hear ideas; news; views. Stick your crappy music "where the sun don't shine." Stop scatteing the 89.1 format all over the immediate universe. Bob Meshanko P.S. And why in hell is nothing happening at Texas Public Radio on an interactive listener call-in show? Question Thursday, January 22, 2009 A few weeks ago, KPAC played a piece titled “Daybreak at Mesa Verde” by the Utah Symphony Orchestra. Is the music available on CD? Thank you. Paul Hill Dear Mr. Hill, The piece you heard was part of the larger "Wilderness Suite" by Broadway composer Richard Adler. As near as I can tell, it's never been issued on compact disc. Our recording was digitized from an old LP. Sometimes folks will be selling an old LP from RCA Records on Amazon.com. You may be able to find it there. I looked on iTunes to see if it was available in digital form, and it's not there. You are not the first person to inquire about this beautiful piece of music. Perhaps someday RCA/Universal Music will re-issue the suite on compact disc, or at least online as a digital download. Sincerely, Internment Camp Wednesday, January 14, 2009 Great story! Good job, Mr. Davies. I teach at Palo Alto College, here in San Antonio. About 10 years ago, a couple of students of mine did a research project on Crystal City. That is how I learned of the internment camp there. Now your story sheds new light on it. VERY interesting story. Good interview! Question: How long will TPR leave the web page on this story active? I want to link your story to the Crystal City web page produced by my two students. Thanks, sir. Good job. Rob Hines Morning Edition piece on the Smithsonian Black History Museum Wednesday, January 14, 2009 This was a well presented piece and the new (soon to be) custodian of that museum was articulate as to the need for the museum. However, my thought, as the piece continued, was, "When is there going to be a Smithsonian Museum of Native American History that presents the history of how the white man treated the Native Americans?" Blacks were chained together and brought to the US and, I have to say, that was an atrocity. I also have to ask, does that really compare to the attempts by white men to exterminate the Native Americans by giving them blankets gathered from small pox and measles patients in hospitals? (And, yes, they did know that the blankets would spread the disease . . . why else would the hospitals have been burning the blankets that weren't given to the Native Americans?) Respectfully, Story on Civilian Internment Camps in Texas Wednesday, January 14, 2009 TPR, Having just returned to Central TX (and home) in starting a new job in San Antonio, I quickly found TPR (KSTX) on my radio at work, as I have always listened to my local NPR station in the morning. As a lifelong military historian, I especially enjoyed the January 14 story by David Martin Davies on civilian internment camps in WWII Texas. I thought I was well-informed about the overall WWII U.S. internment camp system managed and maintained by the U.S. Government, but this story taught me a great deal. Historically speaking, it is fairly well known that many Axis prisoners were interned throughout the U.S. during the war in P.O.W. camps, including many in Texas. And, the tragic plight of the Japanese-Americans being forced into civilian internment camps is also well known in U.S. history. But, as Mr. Davies’ story has illustrated, the Japanese-Americans were by no means alone in their unjust tribulations during the war. I had known that German-Americans were scrutinized by the Government during the War, but I had no knowledge that many were forcibly imprisoned for years, much less in Texas. This story was able to relate a virtually unknown chapter of this terrible travesty of justice (in the U.S. wrongly imprisoning its own citizens) conducted by the U.S. Government during WWII, and is long, long overdue. The story of Mr. Eberhard Fuhr and his family needs to told and heard by all Americans, as this Nation must understand and know its diverse past and history, both glorious and sordid alike. Thank you, and outstanding commendation to Mr. Davies, for revealing this virtually unknown story of WWII history in America, in relating the stories of the other American ethnic groups that were cruelly removed from society and imprisoned for no just or logical reason. Like the sufferings of the American Nisei, and of the European Jews, in WWII, history must also recognize that many other ethnic populations, such as the German-American and Italian-American, also suffered unnecessarily and unjustly. As such, we must ardently remember and preserve this history, in part, to demand that we must never re-visit, nor repeat, this horrific travesty of humanity. With Respect, Pipedreams Saturday, January 10, 2009 KPAC: Pipedreams is expanding this new year to two hours. Which are you doing? (1) Dropping the program. I hope that you carry the entire two hours. Please indicate not just to me, but everyone, your choice. Glenn Pape Dear Mr. Pape, KPAC is electing to broadcast the hour-long version of Pipedreams. Sincerely, iPhone NPR Stream Thursday, January 1, 2009 Just read the Keynotes newsletter and saw that there was a new iPhone application to stream Texas Public Radio. I downloaded it immediately. I've been waiting for something like this to come along. This is great!!!! Allegra Castro Christmas Music Monday, December 15, 2008 Thank you all for your Christmas music selections. I am really enjoying it! It's my moment of peace and clarity in an otherwise chaotic month. Deron Reid Polygamy and Mormons Tuesday, November 25, 2008 Good Morning, I just finished listening to your Tuesday morning report on the polygamous religious sect in Texas. You made one glaring error in your report that I wish to bring to your attention. You referred to the group as a "polygamous Mormon sect". This is not accurate. I am a Mormon, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The group at the Yearning For Zion ranch are not Mormons and should not be described as such. Please see the following link for clarification: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/media-letter This is the first paragraph from the above link: "Recent events have focused the media spotlight on a polygamous sect near San Angelo, Texas, calling itself the "Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." As you probably know, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has absolutely no affiliation with this polygamous sect. Decades ago, the founders of that sect rejected the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were excommunicated, and then started their own religion. To the best of our knowledge, no one at the Texas compound has ever been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Also, this link has more information: Mormons in Texas are doing wonderful things to support their communities and uphold the law. Please do not sully their efforts through inaccurate reporting. Thank you. Greg Willden Listening to NPR this morning I again heard the term "Mormon Polygamist" during a news story concerning underage marriage and child abuse. This is a misleading term. The LDS or Mormon church with headquarters in Salt Lake City does not condone polygamy and excommunicates those that involve themselves in the practice. The term Mormon has been used for over 150 years to refer to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Such fringe groups should not be referred to by the term Mormon as it misleads the public to believe that they are one and the same group. Ryan Green. Dear Mr. Green, I have researched the story in question. Our reporter, Terry Gildea, largely re-wrote an Associated Press story about the Yearning for Zion Ranch for KSTX's morning newscast that utilized the phrase "polygamous Mormon sect." That phrase was also used in the host's lead to the story. I agree with you that the phrase may be perceived as misleading. I did a little bit of Internet searching to see how three different news organizations deal with references like this. The Associated Press (AP) from time to time uses the phrase "polygamous Mormon sect" to refer to organizations such as the Yearning for Zion Ranch. Other times, they do not. The New York Times seems to refrain from using the phrase in question, except — interestingly enough — when a story was published by a Times writer that also used AP-sourced quotes and material to flesh out the story. Finally, NPR uses phrases like "a religious group that practices polygamy" or simply "polygamous sects," and later in the story will identify the group by their proper name (such as Yearning for Zion, or Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) or they may identify the sect as a splinter group from the official Mormon Church, acknowledging that Mormons abandoned the practice a long time ago. I think it's best for us to follow NPR's model, in this case, and I have instructed news staff to do so. Sincerely, Profanity Tuesday, November 25, 2008 At about 4 p.m., Monday November 24, the announcer quoted somebody using the word "hell" as profanity in their quote. I am driving my young son around trying to listen to quality music, classical music, and the whole mood is ruined by that kind of talking. "Hell" is fine to talk about if it is a religious station, but I don't appreciate the slang version for our family. Please try to keep the vulgarity out of the music programs, it ruins the whole spirit. Thank you for listening. R.L. Dear R L, I researched the broadcast in question, and found the word was used in the context of a quote by the feisty and opinionated Carl Ruggles on that afternoon's Composer's Datebook. I emailed John Zech at Minnesota Public Radio, the show's host and producer, who responded: "I'm pretty sensitive to this issue, since I worked for St. Olaf's Radio Station for 16 years. In the [Composer's] Datebook it sticks out, but it seemed necessary to express the nature of the person being quoted." I am sorry your listening enjoyment was disrupted by this particular broadcast; certainly instances of this nature are rare on classical music stations, including KPAC. Sincerely, TPR Content Friday, November 21, 2008 I live in Kerrville and was delighted when TPR became available in my area. However, the current offering is mostly talk and not the classical music that I want. I want the San Antonio version of TPR. I will not renew the family membership with TPR so long as the current programming is in place. Anita Rollo KTXI Programming Friday, November 21, 2008 Many thinks for bringing NPR morning programming, especially Diane Rehm, to the Kerrville area earlier this year. Now please, please, finish the job and give us NPR's afternoon (noon to 4 pm) programming as well. "Talk of the Nation" and "Science Friday" are uniquely informative and engaging broadcasts that we should not have to miss. Barbara J. Gaddis Traffic Reporting Thursday, November 6, 2008 My husband and I are tuned to your station daily and we enjoy your programming very much. However, your traffic reports leave a great deal to be desired. I drive Hwy. 151 traveling to and from work every day, regularly going home to lunch, and driving around town, and I am astounded at your traffic reporting. It is almost always wrong. You broadcast alerts as to delays which are false and obviously not current. More often, there are extensive delays which are never mentioned. You would do your listeners a great service by simply not broadcasting any information. It would be preferable to broadcasting information which cannot be counted on and is often simply false! Jacqueline Simpson Tuesday, November 4, 2008 I just received "Keynotes" for the first time. I've been listening for a couple years now but until this year I never took the time to join TPR. Now I listen in a totally different way. Thanks for insisting on joining. I know there must be a number of people out there like me and although I couldn't give as much as I would like, I gave as much as I could. That's a good feeling. L.A. (Nick) Davies KTXI Programming Tuesday, October 28, 2008 Dear TPR: Many thinks for bringing NPR morning programming, especially Diane Rehm, to the Kerrville area earlier this year. Now please, please, finish the job and give us NPR's afternoon (noon to 4 pm) programming as well. "Talk of the Nation" and "Science Friday" are uniquely informative and engaging broadcasts that we should not have to miss. Barbara TPR Friday, October 24, 2008 TPR was a radio station Wendy Mixed Message Thursday, October 23, 2008 Mr. Cone, I applaud KSTX for continuing to provide us with NPR programming in the San Antonio area. However, I, and more than a few of my friends and fellow listeners, am growing increasingly weary of your announcers' constant negative comments about commercial radio and your station being the only one in the city offering credible, objective news and information. For example, only today you yourself said during one of the pledge breaks that KSTX was the only station in San Antonio to offer in-depth news. That is simply not true and you should know it. WOAI, KSTX and at least two of the local Hispanic stations regularly offer in-depth stories about a particular subject of interest. Then, there are the repeatedly irritating comments (I have counted more than a dozen this week alone) about KSTX being the only station to provide "unsensational", "objective" and "regular" coverage of information of interest. I am sure that programs like NBC Nightly News, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Race to the White House, hourly newscasts from CBS, NBC and ABC Radio would find those claims not only astounding but patently untrue. Again, we are all thankful for the opportunity to listen to NPR and support your efforts. But your continued negative comments about your competitors, who admittedly enjoy a much larger listenership than KSTX, serve no useful purpose. Make your comments positive, and factual. I am sure your audience would appreciate it. Remember the old saying, "If you can't say something good about someone, don't say anything at all." Miriam Rogers Dear Ms. Logan, If you are interpreting our messages about how listeners value the high quality of public radio's news programming to be disparaging to commercial broadcast outlets, then somehow the wrong message is getting across. We respect these other sources of news, but rightfully feel that public radio brings listeners the best coverage, and more of it than any other source. And just as you suggest, we strive to be positive with our pledge messages. Sincerely, Listener Letters Wednesday, October 22, 2008 Hello to All, I just wanted to comment about some of the listener letters, as well as my feelings about your on-air activities. Some of the letters are absolutely atrocious; some speak of removing programs that THEY do not like, criticism about the time spent during the donations campaign, and the like. . . I have to say that not only do I thouroughly enjoy the up-to-date information that you provide, I also appreciate the diversity of your programming. Also, I do realize that much of the information you provide does not merely 'fall in your lap'; your people not only work hard to get the facts, many times you risk life and limb in the process. Thank you for your time, effort, and dedication to the listening public. J Carter P.S. Hi Diedre!! Dear Mr. Carter, Your letter made my week. Gracias, On-Air Pledge Drive Wednesday, October 22, 2008 Good afternoon, I wanted to comment on the on-air campaign. I can certainly understand that financial public support is crucial. However, it seems as though you are making TOO MANY requests. In the last hour, there were six or seven of them. This seems to be saturation and leads to listeners (I suspect I am one of MANY) who simply change the station. It now makes sense to simply not listen to NPR/TPR while the pledge drive is going on. Just my comments; but is indicative of many listeners. Respectfully, Dear Dr. Peters, I am sorry to hear you are disappointed with the on-air pledge drive content on Texas Public Radio this fall. During the hour you referenced (12:00 p.m. Wednesday), there were four pledge breaks totaling 26 minutes. I am sure there are many persons like yourself who do change the channel during the pledge drive, and that's okay. I also believe there are many like yourself who inherently know the value of public radio and would gladly support it after the first request for help, but the reality of public broadcasting is that there are many more people who do not respond immediately to our messages, or may not understand how the funding model works. Hence, the pledge drive, when we explain to listeners how public radio is funded and how important their part in the process is. We know the pledge drive can be a trying week for listeners, but we do make every attempt to make our on-air messages as listenable and even as enjoyable as possible. Sincerely, Public Radio on the Border Tuesday, October 21, 2008 Living in Del Rio for the last 27 years I have missed having public radio. I went to school at Interlochen, MI where we had WIAA. I only get to listen to KSTX when I am driving to San Antonio for an appointment or to go shopping. Once in a while I can get a signal due to some weird propagation mode. I would like to know if it would be possible to have a Translator (I think that's what it is called) out here in the hinterlands so that folks on the border could here public radio. I realize it would be a costly proposition and would require a grant or major fund raising. I have had experience in installing radio gear in remote places and know it can be far from a plug and play proposition. If you could give me any information that would give us a fighting chance out here I would be grateful. Yours Truly Dear Mr. Brown, Thank you for your letter of interest. Texas Public Radio is pursuing a way to bring improved public radio service to Del Rio. If or when we are presented with the opportunity to acquire an available broadcast frequency, we would appreciate any help you can give us with spreading the word about raising funds for the initial startup. Until then, keep your fingers crossed! Best wishes, Whad'Ya Know? tickets Tuesday, October 21, 2008 You don’t make it very easy to get tickets to the upcoming event for Whatdoya Know show, coming here to San Antonio on November 22. HOW DO I GET TICKETS TO THIS EVENT?? There is NO INFORMATION on your website about HOW TO GET TICKETS even though you are advertising this event on the radio!!! I would like to get tickets for this show. How can I get tickets. Thank you. Please look again at the front page of www.tpr.org and scroll down. You should see the Whad'Ya Know logo and a link to Ticketmaster for ticket information. Sincerely, Begging Time Again Tuesday, October 21, 2008 I would possibly give you a pledge if, the opera junk was stopped, along with organ music and the renaissance baloney. I spent many of my younger years playing violin in a philharmonic and much prefer symphonies and REAL classical music. The constant referral to LATINO people in classical music is totally unnecessary also. I can't stand all the begging you guys do, don't talk, just play good music. How much do you get from the Govt. ? Do some programming that is good and I may consider handing you a buck or two. Regards, Richard Leinweber Dear Mr. Leinweber, The answer to your question about government support is that a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting amounts to approximately 7.5% of Texas Public Radio's operating budget. As for the music selection on KPAC, we understand that it is very difficult to please everyone, as the term "classical music" emcompasses a broad swath of musical history. We strive to present the most popular music most frequently (symphonic music would fall under that category, for sure), while adding those extra bits of spice that you mentioned, to present a healthy variety that represents the best the classical music world has to offer. Sincerely, Pledge Break Friday, October 17, 2008 I am concerned about the amount of time used for pledge break during the first hour of the Diane Rehm show. It seemed to me that the time devoted to the pledges during that hour were substantially more than the other programs. That hour on Friday morning is my favorite program of the whole week. During this historic period leading up to the election it is important to hear everything that is said. Marilyn Kimball Dear Ms. Kimball, Latino USA Friday, October 17, 2008 Your programming is fantastic, but PLEASE, take Latino USA OFF of your current program schedule. I dislike everything about that program, including the announcer. I have to tune the station off at noon on Friday. Seems like the time slot could be filled with more informative programming, dead air would even be an improvement. Regards Thursday Night Opera Thursday, October 16, 2008 Good evening! I was wondering if you could tell me what opera you were playing tonite 10-16-08? I was only able to listen to the last 45 minutes of it on my drive home. When I finally did get home I missed the recap by the host. I had my 4 year old daughter in the car with me and she loved it. Its the first time I've ever seen and heard her take an interest in classical music. It brought a tear to my eye. If you could give me the information on the opera I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for the great programming and thanks for taking time to read my email. Maria Campos Dear Ms. Campos, I am so glad you enjoyed last night's opera, and especially pleased that your young daughter did, too. I'll be sure to let Ron Moore, host of the opera, know. You were listening to Gaetano Donizetti's "Mary Stuart." More information about the opera is available here. You'll find a recording of the opera is available through Amazon.com here. Best wishes, and thanks for listening to KPAC 88.3 FM! Nathan Cone Street Level Accidents Monday, October 6, 2008 Dear Mr. Valdez In your traffic report you started referring to accidents as "street level accidents". What other traffic report related accidents are there? I first heard this phrase on our local AM "Election-Station"; or maybe it was on the "Killer-Storm-News-Watch-Station." I did not expect KSTX to start using this tautological style of rhetoric in order to sensationalize its traffic reporting with catchphrases. Maybe you could drop the jargon return to referring to an accident as what it is: an accident. Kind regards, Teaching of Evolution Report Wednesday, October 1, 2008 This morning I heard on KSTX a short report by Terry Gildea regarding the teaching of Evolutionary Theory in Texas schools. I appreciate Mr. Gildea’s effort to bring this information to as large an audience as possible. However, there were a couple of statements that called my attention. In one of them, Mr. Gildea said something to the effect that a group of Texas college professors were trying to prevent the discussion of Evolutionary Theory’s weaknesses in public schools. This is incorrect. Modern Science would not be able to advance if we were not aware of the weaknesses and failings of our explanations. It is in our best interest to teach students where the ’holes’ lie in the fabric of a theory. After all, we want them to find ways to improve our understanding of the world. The second statement, towards the end of the report, indicated that the effort by the group of professors had as a main objective to prevent the teaching of alternative theories to evolution in science courses. Once again, the ability of science to advance is grounded precisely on the competition between alternative ideas. The push is not towards eliminating competition for evolution (or more exactly natural selection as the mechanism behind evolution), but towards eliminating explanations that do not comply with the basic criteria for scientific explanations. Creationism and Intelligent Design are explanations, but not scientific explanations. I must add that I am not (yet) part of the group of professors mentioned on the report, which proper name escapes me at the moment. But I would think that an on-the-air correction to the story would be appropriate. Luis F. Schettino Dear Dr. Schettino, Thank you for responding to my recent story on the 21st Century Science Coalition. I agree with both points you raise in your email about the language in the story, but I want to explain my source for this story and the process I went through to get in on the air. Because our newsroom staff is small and many of us – including myself – work as both on-air hosts and reporters, we often rely on Associated Press wire stories and rewrite the copy to fill our newscasts. This story was sourced from an AP wire story that I have pasted below. You’ll notice the second sentence in the AP story also addresses the group’s plan to block public school attempts to teach "weaknesses" in evolution. The lead in the story suggests that primary goal of the group is to stop the teaching of Creationism or Intelligent Design in the place of Natural Selection. I agree with you that the word "weaknesses" is a poor choice, but I was referring directly to an effort to disprove evolution for a different explanation. On your second point – the sentence in my story was: "Some state board members favor teaching a curriculum based on alternative theories like creationism." Again – I agree that theories is not the right word to use, that explanation is the more accurate choice, but I was referring to the efforts of school board members to change the course of science curriculum in the state and not the group’s overall goal – as you pointed out in your response. You’ll also notice at the end of the AP article that the state board of education wants to "eliminate" the long-held language of teaching students the "strengths and weaknesses" of theories. Thank you again for your email. It reminds me that I need to pay special attention to clarity and word choice – even when rewriting a story from the AP wire. Best, Dear Mr. Gildea, Thank you for taking the time to answer my email. I will visit the 21st Century Science Coalition to learn a bit more about their work and to try to understand how exactly the idea of ‘strengths and weaknesses’ was used originally in their writings. There may be something I am not quite getting. Please keep up your great work at KSTX, Berlin Program Wednesday, October 1, 2008 am a listener of NPR here in San Antonio. I heard a portion of the show on Berlin broadcast locally here in SA last night [Travel with Rick Steves]. KTXI in the Hill Country Friday, September 5, 2008 A BIG thank you for adding Diane Rehm and Fresh Air to our programming. We moved here 5 years ago and realy missed them. We are members of TPR. Thanks again. Gretchen Martinez in Kerrville. Rraffic Reports Friday, September 5, 2008 I have been a longtime listener and have driven others to listen to TPR if for no other reason than to be informed of traffic conditions during rush hour. Lately it has become more than obvious to me that your traffic reports are "old news" at best. I have been in rush hour traffic on more than one occasion when I have personally observed that the traffic report was beyond less than timely. Specifically I have heard reports of traffic accidents and related delays at specific intersections while personally being at that specific intersection which has no such accident or delay at that time. This is truly a disservice because I have always relied on TPR to provide me with information that will help me to navigate my commute while staying informed on local and national issues. I am in no way indicating that your programming does not meet or address needs that others find valuable. I am just very interested in finding a way to be sure that TPR is apprised of the most up-to-date traffic reporting available in this on-demand, Apple I-Phone, Garmin turn-by-turn spoken directions kind of world that we live in. I have become an expert in navigating the rush hour streets of San Antonio, unfortunately, without the assistance of TPR that I had grown accustomed to. Is there some easy way that commuters like myself can quickly contact you with real time information that you seem to currently not have access to so that when I refer others to your programming in the future they don’t find themselves angry in an hour-long traffic jam they could have avoided had they chosen a more tech-savvy broadcaster? Sincerely, Dear Ms. Dillon, Thank you for your concern about traffic reports on Texas Public Radio. I know that our traffic reporters (and those at other stations, too) utilize a variety of sources for information, including but not limited to police scanners, TransGuide, TxDOT, citizen reports, and proprietary methods. In a recent conversation I had with Mike Valdez, he noted to me that there are times when he is receiving reports of an accident that may not be confirmed. On the air he is careful to make the distinction between reports of an accident and an accident that has been confirmed. This may account for some of the discrepancy you're seeing on the roads. There is a phone number you may call to give information to the reporters at Traffic.com: call 1-877-965-9700 and ask for the San Antonio desk. Thanks for your feedback, and thank you for helping us improve the quality of traffic reports on KSTX. Sincerely, Thank you for your response. I will program the number into my cell. Another thing I realized from a recent traffic jam I was a participant in, again thanks to TPR, was that when the traffic jam was reported the order/language was incorrect. What I mean is the report stated there was an accident “at Airport Blvd and 410” leading me to believe that the accident was ON Airport Blvd. The correct order/language would have been “an accident on 410 at Airport Blvd. indicating roadway affected 1st and specific intersection 2nd. Had this information been reported in this order I would have avoided 410 altogether. Instead I got into the far left lane because I knew I wouldn’t need to exit Airport Blvd. and in so doing I was stuck in that lane at a dead stop at that intersection. Again, my intent is to help to improve the quality of your traffic reports. Thanks again, Streaming KPAC Thursday, September 4, 2008 Good Afternoon, This note is a follow-up to a phone conversation I had with one of your staff concerning the availability of live streaming of KPAC over the Internet. I, and I'm sure others find it shameful and down-right unacceptable that if we wish to listen to Internet streams of classical music we must listen to stations such as, KMFA, KUHF, WFMT, Minnesota Public Radio, WGBH, WCLV, KING FM in Washington State, KBIA in Columbia Missouri, the Maine Public Broadcasting Network, (MPBN), and many others. If these folks can offer live Internet streaming of their classical music I believe we have a right to expect better from our own public radio station right here in San Antonio. All of these stations found ways of addressing royalty concerns and KPAC can do likewise. We were once TPR contributors, but let our membership laps due to the unavailability of a KPAC stream despite the success of other public radio stations. If you wish for our generosity to come your way in the form of pledges to help TPR stay on the air please make streaming of KPAC available in the near future. All the best for a great weekend. Thank you for giving your attention to this matter. Peter Donahue Dear Mr. Donahue, Hello Nathan, Traffic Reporters Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Your traffic reporters repeatedly refer to Emergency Medical Services "looking for an accident" or "finding an accident." Please tell these individuals, who I assume do not live in San Antonio, that Emergency Medical Services do not "look for" nor "find" accidents. They are dispatched to the scene of an accident when one is reported. Obviously, they know where the accident is located before they set out to treat the injured. It is a bit ludicrous to assume that Emergency Medical Services would be driving aimlessly around the city looking for an accident, or suddenly finding one. Thanks for listening, Dear Ms. Collins, After receiving your letter, I sent it along to the folks at Traffic.com that provide traffic information for KSTX, and followed it up with a phone call. I spoke to Mike Valdez, one of our traffic reporters. You are quite correct that EMS does not drive aimlessly around the city looking for accidents, but as Mr. Valdez notes, emergency crews *are* often "looking" for an accident that's been reported. As he explains it, when emergency responders get a report of an accident, details may be sketchy. An accident at I-10 and Wurzbach, for example, could be on the freeway itself, on the underpass, on the access road, or even in a parking lot adjacent to that intersection. Until the accident is confirmed and details are available, emergency responders often find themselves heading toward an intersection, looking for the accident. Mr. Valdez didn't use this analogy, but I will: it's akin to if I had been given directions to my friend's house at 123 Elm St. Even though I have the address, I still have to look for the house to find it, do I not? Sincerely, Canadian Rockies Tour Friday, August 8, 2008 We would like to thank Dan Skinner for his excellent photographic journal of a great trip. It plugs large gaps in our own photographic record. Until this journal, we did not believe that someone could be everywhere at the same time! We were wrong. Thanks again, Chris Jordan Talk Thursday, August 7, 2008 I attended Chris Jordan’s talk/presentation last night and it was really amazing. He is a fantastic speaker and I love the fact that he is willing to say “hey, I don’t have the answers here, but I am worried about the problem”. And his art is pretty darn cool. I am thankful that TPR sponsored the event. Yet another reason I love Texas Public Radio! Jennifer Bligh Tavis Smiley Show Thursday, August 7, 2008 Tavis Smiley??? Geeee...I could hardly tolerate him when he was on regular broadcasting, now you bring him for 2 hours on TPR???!!! "Consistently unappealing mess--silly, ignorant, and inane." That's what one listener said of Fair Game. The Tavis Smiley show is bias, ignorant, and a headache. Its too bad FG was cut because of this rambling, stuttering show. Otherwise....keep up the good work F. Hernandez Dear Mr. Hernandez, Fair Game was not cut to accommodate the addition of The Tavis Smiley Show. Regretfully, PRI canceled Fair Game back in May. I'm guessing you mean Mr. Smiley's former gig at the Tom Joyner Show when you refer to "regular broadcasting." I think you'll find The Tavis Smiley Show (and his PBS show, broadcast on KLRN-TV nightly at midnight) to be a different show, with a different format. I hope you'll give it a listen sometime. Sincerely, Thanks - Sunday Baroque and Nighttime Announcers Sunday August 3, 2008 I really like the Sunday Baroque music and the new night time announcers. I usually hear the last of their music just before 6AM. They are very professional and knowledgeable with numerous informative bits of information. Thanks Event Wednesday, July 30, 2008 I heard reference to a program/speaker to be offered this Wednesday evening by someone from National Geographic. Can you provide me the correct time, date and the location. I really enjoy your programming. Stuart Dear Stuart, National Geographic eco-ambassador Chris Jordan will be appearing next Wednesday, August 6, 7:00 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium. The event is free, and you'll find more information here. Thank you for your kind words about Texas Public Radio! Sincerely, Bennigans Wednesday, July 30, 2008 Your news story this morning about the closing of Benningans was very informative...if one lives in Dallas-Fort Worth, since the story dealt only with that area. Oddly, there was no mention in the story or by your announcer of the fate of the Benningans in the San Antonio area. That seemed unfortunate since this sort of information would have been more helpful than a story talking about another city. Fortunately, the San Antonio Express-News and other radio and TV stations in the city did provide this information for those who frequent the establishments. Mary Collins Dear Ms. Collins, The story in question was shared with KSTX by Bill Zeeble of KERA in Dallas, which is where the parent company of Bennigan's is based. But I agree that we should have included a follow-up tag about the fate of our own local Bennigan's establishments. The story could have easily waited until later in the day so that information could have been secured by one of our Texas Public Radio reporters. Sincerely, Thanks! Tuesday, July 29, 2008 Dear Texas Public Radio, Thanks so much for offering a great Hands On event this past weekend. The Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit was really great and it was very nice to enjoy the grounds of the Witte on a Saturday. The local aspect of inventors was interesting and the treats from Madhatters were very enjoyable! I really appreciate the local touch to community events that you offer and I am glad to be a TPR member. keep up all your great work!! Saludos, RIP Fair Game Sunday, July 20, 2008 Gone but forgotten, Fair Game was of a different planet, or maybe a parallel universe, where hypocracy is routinely stiffled and not wrapped in glory. And so, Fair Game "got the hook" an old Vaudeville trick of yanking an act off the stage by an "anonymous" authority. I suppose, in the case of Fair Game, this was to be expected; tall, quirky, irksome, poppies will eventually get their heads lopped off - even at PRI. I appreciated Fair Game and the breezy wit, fresh cheerful voice and obvious intelligence of Faith Salie with her band of 'raskly' (wacky and irreverent) musketeers. It was a program out of deep left field, an amusing mutant, that showed the face of the status quo in a carnival mirror. Fair Game was unabashed liberal but not anarchistic, no tossing of molotov cocktails but a gentle rolling of the bottle in the approximate direction. Intelligent and, though respectful, interviewing was mixed with humorous discussion, a nice dollop of sarcasm, plentiful satire and a general ripping of the lid off of latent and extant hypocracy. You might say, I liked it! RIP Fair Game. Ken Fowler My Way or the Highway Sunday, July 20, 2008 In reading through the letters sent to Texas Public Radio I am struck by the high percentage of writers who unload bile and find fault. I was going to post a little suggestion for improvement but I have decided I don't want to add to the negativity. Let us not make the perfect the enemy of the good. Keep up the good work, TPR! John Kelley Interrogation Techniques Program Tuesday, July 15, 2008 I am ashamed that this administration feels that it is justified to torture anyone, just because they call the campaign a "War on Terror." It sounds very similar to the beginning of another country's war time persecution of a religious group during World War II. The End does not justify the means. The administration should be prosecuted and under no means should they be immune. [Re: Fresh Air] Gennell Concert Band, Wind Visions Wednesday, July 9, 2008 Great new program for concert band enthusiasts and all others too--Wind Visions, Saturday at 9am, hosted by band director Dr. Don Miller of UTSA. Much appreciated. Spread the word! (Years ago Tom Rhodes had a similar program on KPAC.) Richard SmithGreat new program for concert band enthusiasts and all others too--Wind Visions, Saturday at 9am, hosted by band director Dr. Don Miller of UTSA. Much appreciated. Spread the word! (Years ago Tom Rhodes had a similar program on KPAC) Richard Smith, Allentown PA. 1925-52, the golden years of The Allentown Band. Now San Antonio Why Some Listeners Turn You Off Tuesday, July 8, 2008 You deserve compliments on most of of your KPAC programming. But everytime Randy says, "and now headlines from the Associated Press" many of your listeners turn off their radio. The AP dwells on NEGATIVE, ugly, depressing "news". I refuse to allow your station to interrupt my enjoyment of music or other KPAC programming with how our planet, our great country and its terrific people are one step away from gloom and doom. Find some pleasant news to report to accompany your beautiful music ... and you may find that more people contribute more money to your station. Riverwalk Jazz Wednesday, July 2, 2008 What has happened to the Riverwalk Jazz program on 90.1 at 7 PM Saturdays? My husband and I look forward all week to this hour of music and suddenly we no longer have it, and we don't care for the programming that has taken this time space. I notice on your program schedule you still show Riverwalk Jazz on 89.3 at 7 PM, is this true or have you just not changed your schedule? Please let us know that we can look forward to the return of the Jim Cullum Band in the very near future. Phil Wheeler Dear Mr. Wheeler, During the summer, KTXI is running a 10-week series, "Whole Lotta Shakin'," that was produced with help from Kerrville's Texas Heritage Music Foundation. Earlier this year, "Whole Lotta Shakin" won a Peabody Award. You can read more about that at Schreiner University's website. We are proud to showcase this series chronicling the history of rockabilly on KTXI 90.1 FM. Once this limited series has concluded, Riverwalk Jazz will return on August 16. Sincerely, Budget Suggestions Monday, June 2, 2008 My wife and I are military retirees and, naturally, on a fairly fixed income. So, when we built this house eight years ago we began to prepare for the cycle of “ever increasing prices and ever more diminishing income”. It has become a habit with us just like wildfire remediation. You will never be perfectly complete but you keep working at it. We found a number of serious “little things” like all the parasitic loads around the house. If you count up all the timers and clocks and other devices which have transformers at the wall, you quickly find 23 devices. Night lights have become “LEDS” instead of 4 to 7 watt lamps. The furnace and C/A is on a timed thermostat and, our well will soon pump only at night into a ‘day’ tank. The aerobic septic system now runs its air pump less than half a day and pumps effluent every second day. (We use the reclaimed water for irrigation.) Having these pumps on timers avoids heavier more frequent starting loads. For example, the water pump draws 65 amps for about seven seconds. We have re-installed a smaller, window air conditioner in the bedroom to save cooling the whole house at night. Six amps vs. 30 to 50 for the ‘house’ unit. Naturally, we have TVs and computers on power taps. Many improved practices involve small investments like the porch shade. Our house has a NW-facing rear porch onto which the sun shines from one o-clock ‘on’. I rigged a clothes line with nursery ‘shade cloth’ on grommets so that we could draw this fiberglass curtain against the sun. We saved $30 - $40 the first month and it lasted eight years. I spent $90 to replace it this spring. Keeping the household mechanical equipment in ‘peak’ condition really controls monthly utility costs. I replaced the dryer vent tubing with a “dryer periscope” for $15. This telescoping aluminum ‘box’, by being more efficient, allows every ‘auto-sensed’ load to dry ten minutes faster. We use a smaller TV to just watch the evening news instead of turning ‘on’ the 32 inch power eater. Perhaps, one of our less-thought-of adaptations has been to go to “averaged auto-pay” on our regular, monthly bills. Instead of having several $350 propane payments each winter, we have $75 deducted each month from our monitored-by-computer, checking account. All of our predictable bills are on this system: mortgage, propane, electricity, computer ISP, both vehicle payments, insurance. Some firms will even give a small discount (when asked). We live in a Hill Country area where even going for the mail is a 26 mile round-trip. When fuel prices first started their inexorable climb several years ago, we paid attention to the “Nightly Business Report” and traded the V-6 Camry for a 34 to 38 mpg Corolla “Program Car” which runs on regular gas. At the same time, the F-150 became a 22 to 25 mpg Colorado which more than adequately handles my normal hauling and towing loads. All driving is done with a list in hand to prevent unnecessary trips. We receive our retirement checks on the “first duty day” of the month. This greatly anticipated event is shortly thereafter followed by our “big monthly shopping trip” during which only items on our shopping list are purchased. Listening to NPR, and TPR and watching PBS are an integral part of refining our regimen. Instead of feeling impoverished or “budget-bound”, we feel a sense of liberation and freedom because, we always have on hand what is needed and are comfortably within our budget. Thanks for your great programming. Yes, we contribute and encourage others even in our ‘fringe’ listening area. Bill and Sharon Fair Game Friday, May 30, 2008 Sirs: I welcome the demise of Fair Game. In my opinion it has been a blot on the KSTX programming schedule since its inception. What its supporters touted as innovative humor and satire far too often came across as mere fatuity. I detected no growth in Faith Salie as a host, but rather a persistent juvenility. She reminded me of nothing so much as a bright but obnoxious and self-important seventh grader. There seemed to be no subject she could not trivialize by her inane interviewing style and commentary. Despite repeated attempts to listen with an open mind and hope of improvement in its presentation, I found Fair Game to be a consistently unappealing mess--silly, ignorant, and inane. I hope you will find something better to replace it. It should not be hard to do so. Wilson M. Yager Fair Game Thursday, May 29, 2008 I am very sorry to hear that Fair Game is being taken off the air. There is no other show quite like it. We alll need intelligent humor in these insane times. The mix was great. Faith's sharp wit was refreshing in these dumbing-down-days. Joyce Anne Stevens Appeal for "Fair Game" Tuesday, May 27, 2008 Veronica Gard is right. This is one of TPR's gems. As a former journalist I appreciate the wealth of in-depth reporting which we get on TPR. But also the need for satire and the capability to laugh. Keep Fair Game! Dear Jane, Thanks for writing with your support. I've already spoken to the folks at PRI, but if you would like to write them, here is a link to their contact information page: http://www.pri.org/pri-contact.html Best wishes, Appeal for "Fair Game" Tuesday, May 27, 2008 I am sorry to hear that Fair Game can't continue - sure there are things I disliked but I felt Faith Saillie was a great interviewer and getting better all the time. She often made me laugh out loud and I found her whole attitude refreshing and just plain fun - not often present in serious NPR/TPR! I'm an ancient Brit living here in San Antonio and relishing the gift of two NPR programs - I almost don't miss BBC! Fair Game was a total change to the usual programing and I feel deserves a second chance - perhaps get rid of the silly young man who bantered too much with Faith but go on, NPR, if you want younger listeners you're never going to keep them if this sort of show is removed. One last thing, I found Fair Game much more amusing and interesting than the Tappit brothers with their incessant insane laughing and they get a show and a repeat! Frankly, if an ancient radio listener (since the 1940s!), can enjoy Fair Game how can you take it off for ever?? Veronica Gard Top High Schools Story Friday, May 23, 2008 I appreciated your story on San Antonio schools that made the list of top high schools in the Newsweek story. However, in mentioning the area schools that made the list, you failed to mention Alamo Heights, which ranked 189 on the list. This is the second highest ranking in San Antonio on the list. Mike Fair Game Thursday, May 22, 2008 Dear TPR, I have recently read through some of the emails posted on the TPR web site, and I noticed that PRI's Fair Game with Faith Salie has engendered some negative responses. I wanted to speak up for those of us who greatly enjoy the show. In fact, it is among my favorites among those being aired on TPR. It does seem to have a polarizing effect among listeners. Some people appear to object to the comic aspects of the show, and others seem to consider the host's tone to be blithe. Some of these negative responses may be attributed to simple matters of taste; it is also possible that some listeners approach the show with expectations of pure journalism and are shocked by the satire and the sometimes strong point of view. I am amused by the humor, and refreshed by the host's interview style, which induces guests to speak comfortably and revealingly. One always likes to have one's views shared by others, and I'm sorry there haven't been more people writing in support of Fair Game, but I intend to continue listening and enjoying regardless, and I thank TPR for adding the show to the lineup. Best regards, Dear Joel, Thank you so much for your thoughtful letter regarding Fair Game. It saddens me to tell you that PRI is ending production of the show as of May 30. According to PRI, it was not possible to maintain a revenue stream for the show sufficient to support full production. PRI is exploring ways to give Fair Game life online in the future. Although not every element of the show was a home run, on most nights there was usually something that made me smile or laugh, and I often discovered new people, music, and ideas through the show. I also think that over the course of its nearly year-and-a-half run, Ms. Salie grew as a host. I believe that Fair Game really did attempt to do something different on public radio, and that the show helped bring some new listeners to KSTX. While it is never easy to make a decision like this, both KSTX and PRI are heartened by your support of Fair Game. We take pride in our role as innovators, and I am glad that KSTX was there from the beginning (along with a handful of other public radio stations) to help guide the show's development before it rolled out nationally. Through this initiative and your encouraging response to it, we learned a great deal that can help inform our success in the future. Many thanks for supporting these efforts. Sincerely, Feedback Thursday, May 22, 2008 Hi, I just wanted to say how much I enjoy listening to news from the BBC every night. I spend a lot of time in Houston, and I can't find a decent news station there! Whenever I come home to San Antonio, I take great pleasure in listening to BBC when I'm lying in bed. Thanks for playing it! And please continue doing so. Thanks, Fair Game Monday, May 19, 2008 TPR, Last night I listened to the PRI show “Fair Game”, while driving home from the airport. I suppose the show is focused on the younger listener, but it is sure not up to the standard I expect from TPR. The host and her “analyst,” and I use that term broadly, really did not offer much intelligent discussion. I can overlook the liberal slant of the programming of TPR because of the many excellent interviews and the professional manner of most of the reporters and hosts, however, Faith Salie of “Fair Game” goes too far. She was obviously trying to ridicule abstinence programs in Texas and baiting her guest to do the same. Her banter with Jason Mantzoukas concerning the new Starbucks mermaid really offended me. Jason’s labeling a person he interviewed as a “Christian nut case” offends many people. I wonder if he called someone a “Jewish nutcase” or “Muslim nutcase”, that would be acceptable. I realize some conservative talk show hosts are inconsiderate, but I didn’t think you guys wanted to alienate your listeners by carrying such drivel. Besides the conservatives bashing, I did not hear much intelligent discussion on this show. Why do you carry it? J. Carson Dickie Dear Mr. Dickie, I agree with you that the words "Christian nutcase" were unnecessary. You are correct that a similar use of "Muslim nutcase" or "Jewish nutcase" would probably not have been tolerated by the editors of the program. But after examining the contents of Mark Dice's website (he was the gentleman being interviewed/profiled by Jason Mantzoukas last Thursday), I think I would agree that even if he is not a complete nutcase, he certainly does make some dubious claims. You can judge for yourself at: http://www.theresistancemanifesto.com/ "Fair Game" is certainly a non-traditional public radio show. The program is designed to offer its interviews, and news with more than a dollop of humor thrown in, and it's shown some success in bringing new listeners to public radio, which is why KSTX carries it. Sincerely, Mr. Cone, Thank you for your reply. Indeed the fellow may be extreme, but the statement implied a dig, or “tongue in cheek” statement concerning those “nutty Christians.” Should no one comment or relay these feelings to the editors? And your response begs the question, “Why was it tolerated and allowed to go on the air, if a similar statement concerning other religions would not have been?” I don’t want to harangue about this too much. I just question the humor and the type of listeners you are attempting to attract. I hope you are not catering to those who would not respect my beliefs, even if they disagree with me. Disagreement can lead to healthy discussion and shared learning, but it should be done in a respectful manner. I am a conservative (minus the “right wing” adjective that is commonly inserted in front) but I don’t agree with hosts who are disrespectful of those who possess a liberal point of view, and that is why I grow tired of the conservative talk show hosts, even if I agree with them on many issues. Please do not become a mirror image of those networks. I respect your programming, but you may lose my support if you continue in that vein in an attempt to get ratings. I know it is hard to stay to the high ground with the obvious necessity of attracting listeners, and the inherent pressures that brings. Here is my hope that you will navigate the narrow road well. Sincerely, Dear Mr. Dickie, Thanks for writing back with a thoughtful reply. I did indeed share your letter with the editors of "Fair Game." I sincerely believe "Fair Game" wasn't trying to denigrate all Christians or conservatives with their comedy bit, but as we've agreed upon, their word choice might have done that inadvertently. I think the intended target of this jab was solely Mr. Dice. We do want to take the high road with our programming. That's why I think you'll find that on our humorous programs like "Fair Game" or "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me," most of their satire is aimed at individual or organizational behavior, rather than the personal beliefs we hold. Best wishes, Traffic with Mike Valdez Friday, May 2, 2008 Dear TPR, I really love your programming! Your engaging shows always seem to shorten my daily commute. One thing that does /not/ shorten my commute, however, is your traffic reporter, Mike Valdez. Where does this guy get his information?!? His reports are laughable in their inaccuracy and irrelevancy. I am convinced that Mr. Valdez pre-records his reports several days prior and spends the rest of the week on vacation. Take yesterday's 5:15PM report, for example: Mr. Valdez reported on some slowing ("traffic moving at 25-30 mph") at the I-35/410 interchange and that an accident on the south side had cleared up. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Mr. Valdez, traffic on North Loop 410 was backed up for MILES because of a "major accident" (TXDOT's wording) near NW Military. I sat in this traffic jam through TWO of his traffic reports but he made no mention of it! None at all! As if his reports weren't bad enough, we have to endure his very un-NPR-like promotional spots at the end of the report. Please, TPR, get rid of this useless traffic reporter and consider having an intern read the traffic report directly off of the Transguide website. Sincerely, Dear Chris, Thanks for writing! I know the Traffic service uses a variety of sources for their local reports, including but not limited to TransGuide, police scanners, and citizen reports. If you ever need to contact them to correct something you've heard, or tell them about a problem you're not hearing about on the air, here's the toll-free number: Call 1-877-965-9700 and ask for the San Antonio desk. I agree that the underwriting sponsors on the tail end of the traffic reports often come from non-traditional-NPR sources, but having them sponsored keeps us from having to pay for the reports outright, which keeps our costs down. I work with Traffic.com to keep those messages as public-radio-friendly as possible. Best wishes, TPR Thursday, May 1, 2008 Dear TPR, I'm extremely happy that your radio station exists and broadcasts in the San Antonio area. The news programs from the BBC and NPR are outstanding. I listen to them every morning and evening. Regards, Pecos Sunday, April 27, 2008 Do you have a broadcast tower that covers Pecos, TX. I may move there And it would be a big relief if you covered Pecos with a strong signal. Paul Koetz Dear Mr. Koetz, Unfortunately, we do not have a signal that covers Pecos. I do not believe there are any NPR stations that cover that area. The nearest ones in Texas are located in Marfa and Odessa, and both of them are not strong enough to reach to Pecos. Sincerely, Weekday Morning Programming for FM 90.1 Thursday, April 10, 2008 Dear TPR, Why have you changed your weekday morning programming for FM 90.1 from classical music to the Diane Rheem show? I for one prefer the classical music. Melinda Wasson, Subscriber Dear Ms. Wasson, Thanks for taking the time to write to me with your concern about our recent programming change on KTXI. Changes to our stations' program lineup are made rarely, and only after much careful thought. The decision to add the Diane Rehm Show and Fresh Air to KTXI's schedule was carried out based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the results of our listener survey we conducted last year. We hope that with this program change we will be able to better serve the KTXI audience. We will monitor response to this current lineup over the coming months. Sincerely, Programming Changes Thursday, April 10, 2008 Dear TPR, My husband and I are avid listeners of (and long-time subscribers to) public radio, and we want to thank you for the recent programming changes you have enacted on KTXI. Often, we'd be traveling to San Antonio from our home near London, TX, listening to KSTX, and wishing we could hear The Diane Rehm show at home on KTXI. We just sent in our contribution for the coming pledge drive, and we're so pleased we did! Not only do we have this wonderful "new" programming but we chose the insulated tote as our gift with subscription. It is very, very nice and roomy. We shun plastic grocery bags as much as possible, and this tote will make the task that much easier. Good luck in the coming pledge drive! Allison & Bill Johnson Change in Scheduling and Format Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Dear TPR, I have been a loyal listener since I moved to the Texas Hill Country in 2000, enjoying the classical music you provided. I always dreaded 4 p.m. because the music stopped and the talk started. And, I never turned the radio on until 9 a.m. because I can listen to people talking on television and many talk radio stations. Now, you say that folks in the hill country wanted more talk and less music, so the music has been pushed to noon - only 4 hours during the daylight hours to listen to great music! I am very disappointed, and guess I will have to go to taking CD's in the car so I have something wonderful to hear. Please put my vote down for the "old system." Regretfully, Purchase of Fresh Air Interview with Black Liberation Theology Monday, March 31, 2008 Is it possible for me to purchase the interview with James Cone and Dwight Young re Black Liberation Theology. I would l ike to offfer that discussion to several adult Church School classes in our church. Rev Conrad Archer Dear Rev. Archer, There are a couple of ways you may be able to hear this program again, purchase a transcript, or obtain a copy. First, here is a link to NPR's page for this particular episode: Fresh Air 3/31/08 ...on that page, you will find a link for transcripts of the broadcast. You may also subscribe to podcasts of Fresh Air, or download the most current episode by following this link: Podcasts of Fresh Air Finally, you may contact Fresh Air directly for tapes and transcripts at 1-877-21-FRESH. I'm happy you found value in today's program! Sincerely, Luminaria Friday, March 14, 2008 Good Morning As usual, I have awoken to Morning Edition. The report of the “Luninaria” celebration was excellent, but I found a statement by Mr. Davis both offensive and inaccurate. He described the St. Patrick’s Day celebration as “beer -soaked” This description is inaccurate and far from the truth. The Harp and Shamrock Society has been providing San Antonio with an insight into the Irish culture for over forty years. The Alamo Irish Festival is a three-day celebration of Irish Heritage that includes Irish themed entertainment, food and craft booths, and yes, we serve beer. This free celebration is family-oriented. In addition, the society will host the forty-second annual St. Patrick’s Day street parade, at 11:00am on Saturday, and the fortieth annual river parade at 1:00pm on Sunday. On Monday, we will lay a wreath at the Alamo, recognizing the contribution of the Irish to Texas independence. Our celebration commemorates the Irish experience in San Antonio. This year's parade is looking to be our largest ever! This year’s theme for all of our events is “Keeping it Green” - preserving our environment by choosing to recycle, renew and reuse. W will be using a limited amount of plastic, and will recycle as much of our refuse as possible. Although many people use the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day as a reason to drink excessively, I find it offensive to equate the Alamo Irish Festival and the other St. Patrick’s Day events with this stereotype. I invite Mr. Davis to take a few minutes away from his coverage of Luminaria to stop by La Villita and the Arneson River Theater and experience the Alamo Irish Festival. Terence Peak Dear Mr. Peak, The words Mr. Davies used in his report note state the Riverwalk is beer-soaked during the St. Patrick's Day celebration. I believe that's more a comment on the businesses along the river that use St. Patrick's Day as an encouragement to drink than the holiday in general. Still, I can see how that comment could have been taken the wrong way, and it was unnecessary. Certainly, your letter is an excellent reminder of the many wonderful events for families in San Antonio that celebrate Irish heritage. I'm happy to post this letter on our website, and encourage readers and listeners to head downtown for the parade and more this weekend! Sincerely, Fair Game: Sorry, I Loathe It Friday, March 7, 2008 I have tried and tried to remain open-minded about Faith Salie and "Fair Game". But her material and delivery is so nauseatingly flirtatious, so smugly arch and self-satisfied that it is 90% unlistenable. Most evenings, I can only get about 15 minutes into the show until it annoys me so much that I turn the station off completely. I have been known to shriek and reach for the volume button, at which point my kids look up and ask "Fair Game"? Furthermore, as an avid consumer of news, I cannot help but notice that many bits on the show are also, to put it politely, "recycled" from more original venues and/or programmes (The Onion, the previous night's Daily Show, etc). Ms. Salie is not as young or as hip as the demographic the show aspires to, and unfortunately the strain shows. She is 37, for heaven's sake, and I can guarantee you from personal experience, that anyone over 35 is not really going to be the go-to gal for pop culture anymore (it's around about that age that you start wondering why the undergraduates pictured in your alumna magazine are starting to look like zygotes). I do not know whether you are still in communication with the show's producers, but if you are, would you please mention to them that WHEN you EMPHASIZE almost EVERY SINGLE word IT'S a LOT LIKE EMPHASIZING NO WORDS (only, of course, way more annoying). Seriously, if timing is everything in comedy, the producers of Fair Game might want to check the battery on the stopwatch. Oh, and stop drawing out about 36 minutes of material into the one-hour format through the medium of slow delivery and every-third-word appreciative giggling (remember, Faith, you're 37; you're *too old* for this). And the Harvard and the Rhodes Scholar thing? Very nice, I'm sure her parents are proud; but, you know, if she had a better show, it wouldn't have to be mentioned so prominently. Nobody knows where Steven Colbert went to school. Thanks for your comments. I'll pass them along to the folks at PRI and "Fair Game." Political Story Friday, February 29, 2008 Your response to the LaFaye Newkirk who complained about the story dealing with the Baptist person's endorsement of John McCain as well as other issues she took to task in the story was in my opinion a splitting of the hairs. It really doesn't matter whether the information came from an interview or news conference, it was used as the stated position of the evangelicals represented by the person speaking. So interview or news conference is of no consequence. And yes the Newkirk writer was incorrect in calling it an interview but her point is still valid and was not addressed in your response. Am I as an interested voter to assume that just because one person says evangelicals will vote for McCain or Huckabee that means that none of them will vote for Clinton or Obama? I think not and therein lies a lack of balance in the report you broadcast. Incidentally, your announcer, perhaps through a lack of political acumen, failed to point out that evangelicals mostly look upon McCain with disdain. And to say that no mention was made of the Obama rally because you had no reporter to cover the rally once again shows you are more interested in defending a mistake than correctly addressing it. The Newkirk writer did not ask why the rally was not covered; the Newkirk writer asked why no mention was made of it. There would obviously be no need for a reporter to be in attendance at the rally for the announcer to amend the story by mentioning the rally. In reading your responses to listener letters who lodge what they consider to be legitimate constructive criticism, I (in my own reading of those responses at least) notice a tendency to almost always defend your staff, even in cases like this one where there is really no defense. I was once told by my grandfather when I was a child in Germany that the three hardest things for a person to say are: "I am sorry", "I do not know" and "I was wrong". He was a very wise man. Thank you for listening. Waldamar Schroeder Dear Mr. Schroeder, I attempt to offer explanations, not defense. As I followed up with further emails to LaFaye Newkirk, it turns out the story in question was not ours, but rather NPR's: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=78666288. But back to our own story and whether or not we acknowledge evangelicals "disdain" for McCain, our reporter said this, which I believe speaks to the reason there was a press conference held to announce Hagee's endorsement: "Many Christian voters have thrown their support behind former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee — but with Hagee's support McCain hopes other evangelicals will consider him a viable candidate as he gets closer to locking up the Republican nomination." Nathan Cone Thank you very much for your quick response, and thank you for the explanation on the origin of the story. I assume as one of the executives of KSTX you notified NPR of its shortcoming in the story. Additionally, I do note that no confirmation, proof or any other information was given in the KSTX story in question to justify a statement that claims "McCain hopes other evangelicals will consider him a viable candidate as he gets closer to locking up the Republican nomination". Again, it is one of those defenses of the reporter that is, in my humble opinion, without foundation or justification. Did your reporter have any kind of information that would justify him making such s statement? If he did, then perhaps he should have said "McCaini SAYS he hopes..." If by using "viable" the intent was to refer to McCain as a practicable, workable candidate, then the use of that word is correct. I would suggest that "acceptable" would have been a better choice but that is a minor point indeed. A Little Balance on Food Expenses Thursday, February 28, 2008 Pizza and subs are a pretty typical campaign expense. This is hardly news, and the TPR skit that aired tonight is the third station I have heard run this ploy. Gets old quick. I expect TPR to be more creative, not a me too station third in line. David States Thanks, David. Point taken, but I believe the idea of the sketch on last night's "Fair Game" was less criticism than a good-humored poke at the campaign. And athe tail end of the segment the humorist did mention he'd be back next week with more campaign expenses from others. Best wishes, Morning Edition — For Ombudsman Thursday, February 28, 2008 Ombudsman for TPR, I have just listened (2-28-08) to the program between 6 and 7 a.m., where I heard:
Geez, then I got to hear a plug for Rick Perry's book. Not the first time I've heard TPR "skew to the right", just my first complaint. Again, my problem is with the Texas part of the program. I seldom, if ever, hear anything on NPR that doesn't seem balanced. Please take council with each other on programming; you have supporters out here you're dependent on and if we wanted to hear from the preachers, there are plenty of other stations on the dial to offer us opinions of So Baptists on the upcoming very important election. Thanks for passing along my comments, Dear LaFaye, I, too, heard all three reports that you cite in your letter, but I cannot agree with you that the reports are evidence of bias or unbalanced coverage on KSTX. This morning's report you heard on Senator John McCain's appearance in San Antonio did not feature an interview with Rev. John Hagee, as you mention, but rather an excerpt from a news conference. We felt this news conference was part of the story — that story being Sen. McCain's campaign appearance in San Antonio. I'm not sure what you were seeking in the way of balance, but certainly each time a presidential candidate has appeared in Bexar County over the past few days — including Clinton, Obama, and Huckabee — we've covered the story. You can find ourcoverage online on our Election 2008 page, including this morning's story. It should be posted soon after I send this email. It is true that we did not mention Obama stopped at a rally in San Marcos yesterday. We try to do as much as we can with the limited resources and personnel we have, and we have been sharing stories with our sister stations (KUT-Austin, KERA-Dallas) in the state to maximize the amount of statewide coverage each station can offer. Our story on Obama's campaign in Duncanville came to us from KERA in Dallas. Unfortunately, none of us had a reporter available to cover the rally in San Marcos. Finally, the story about Governor Rick Perry's book signing was not intended as a plug for the book itself. The story does note that proceeds from the book are going to the Boy Scouts legal defense fund, and the reason why such a fund is necessary (discrimination lawsuits brought against the Scouts by the ACLU). That seems to bring some context to the story, in my opinion. Sincerely, Mr. Cone, Thanks for your reply; we disagree. Your last paragraph defending the book proceeds from Rick Perry's book tells me volumes about where on the spectrum your opinions fall, so I will expect to hear some more of TPR's "unbalanced" reporting and I will be listening, of that you can be sure. And BTW, I never mentioned Hagee's name; if you listened to the same program I did, you would've known it was not Hagee I refer to, but rather a highly placed individual with the Southern Baptist Assn., which I do not think Hagee is a part of. I cannot remember his name, but the interview was extensive and I really could not believe it worthy of playing, especially since there was no one who might disagree. It was between 6:00 and 6:30 am. Again, Hagee was NOT who I was referring to. LaFaye Newkirk I couldn't tell if you were referring to our story or another, it wasn't clear from your letter since you reference "TPR." I found the Baptist Association story you mention. It was from NPR in Washington. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=78666288 If you like, you may send comments about that story to ombudsman@npr.org, or at this link: http://www.npr.org/ombudsman/ I am not defending the book proceeds from Perry's book. I am only stating where they go, and that we *said* on-air where they go, even going as far as to say that the *reason* they're going to the legal defense fund for the Scouts is because the Scouts have been accused as being discriminatory. That's an important fact, is it not? Leaving that fact out of the story would have made it a biased report, as if we were hiding where the money was going, and for what reason. Nathan Cone Gov. Perry Thursday, February 28, 2008 I heard your news broadcast this morning about Gov. Perry's book signing in San Antonio, and was surprised to hear him described as a "former Eagle Scout." I believe if you check with the Boy Scouts of America, there is no such thing as a former Eagle Scout. Once earned, the Eagle Scout rank is maintained for life. As the wife and mother of Eagle Scouts, I have often heard the phrase, "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle" from my husband. Despite this small discrepancy, I enjoyed learning of Gov. Perry's book. Thank you for your comprehensive and high quality reporting. Sarah Baxter, Rick Perry and Scouting Thursday, February 28, 2008 Good Morning, A few minutes ago, at about 8:08 am, one of your reporters did a story on Gov. Rick Perry's new book about the Boy Scouts of America. First off, thank you for doing that report. Had you not done it, I would not have known that Gov Perry had written a book that is close to me. However, your reporter did make a slight flaw in what he said about Gov. Perry. He referred to Gov Perry as a "former Eagle Scout." While this might seem accurate to many, if not most, people, it is flawed. For, with few exceptions, once a member of the BSA becomes an Eagle Scout he is forever an Eagle Scout. This might not seem important, but for me, and tens of thousands of other Eagle Scouts, it is important for people to know that being an Eagle Scout is not something that can be taken away by age or progress. Just because we become "adults" at 18 does not meen we lose our status as Eagle Scouts. Getting that rank and reward of Eagle Scout means we have accepted and demonstrated the qualities of the Scout Oath and Law. Being an Eagle Scout also means we have accepted the responisiblity to forever live by and support the Oath and Law and the morals and values of Scouting. I hope you'll take this into consideration on future reports of Scouting. Thank you for your time and your great radio programs. i listen to ya'll every morning on my way to work and every evening home and I agree that ya'll provide politically unbiased programs to help keep us informed. Thank You, Dear Mr. Leach, Thanks for writing, and for your kind works about KSTX and Texas Public Radio. Although the Associated Press Stylebook does not provide a definitive answer on this subject, I believe you are correct that an Eagle Scout should not be referred to as a "former Eagle Scout." I think one reason is that the Eagle Scout is also the only award from youth that an adult Scouter may carry over onto their adult uniform, too. Best Wishes, P.S. I was a Boy Scout myself, but never attained the rank of Eagle. I made it to Second Class, but Tuesday night Troop meetings conflicted with marching band rehearsal in high school, so I had to make a choice. That's life! Traffice Report Pronunciations Thursday, February 28, 2008 I heartily endorse the letter to TPR from Jim Daniell concerning the almost daily mis-pronunciation of San Antonio streets and other locations. I don't understand why, after such a long time for TPR using this service, those who give traffic reports still mis-pronounce so many names. You would think that after months and months of using this service, those delivering the reports could use the correct pronunciations. Another thing that disturbs, and frankly confuses me is the constant use of driving speeds used as part of the traffic information. Stevie Merritt Dear Mr. Merritt, I remember your email discussion with one of our former staff members from February of last year, and our subsequent dialogue. I felt that it was inappropriate to publish those letters online since they were sent directly to station personnel and not to the address. I will be happy to publish this letter online. Our traffic reporters are making every effort they can to ensure their reports are accurate, and that includes pronunciations. Please be sure to drop me a line when you hear something inaccurate. I always share those letters with the Traffic.com staff, and they are eager to receive feedback. I believe that average speed can also be an indicator of how long it takes one to get from point A to point B, and may be a more accurate measurement than travel time, which can vary wildly. That's probably why Traffic.com has been using "average speed" in their reports rather than travel time. However, I'll inquire about the possibility of including the latter statistic from time to time. Best Wishes,
Ad Stumbles Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Seriously, how hard is it to read advertisements over the radio? I just talked my sister out of advertising her business on your station to save her the grief of having your hosts butcher her name. Its embarrassing to listen to your hosts struggle with the majority of the ads they read every day. You don't need to respond to this email, I'm not looking for a fight...maybe just a little practice before you read anything on the radio. Dear Rida In fact I just had a discussion with our airstaff last week about the importance of pre-reading copy before going live with it on air. We regret mistakes, and strive not to make any. Sincerely, Traffic Reports Thursday, February 14, 2008 Is Mike Valdez annoying anyone else out there with his on air traffic reporting? Mike, I don’t know where you come from, but it is obviously not San Antonio. Please ask someone to tell you how to pronounce the names of streets you are not familiar with before you get on the air and make a fool of yourself again.
I wish I could remember others, but this is a spontaneous message. Someone else must have written in because I have not heard you use “slows” as a noun to describe slow traffic in quite a while. It’s not cute. I will be happy to start taking note of these mispronunciations and grammatical goofs.Over time, you may actually sound literate, if not local. No, I am not an English teacher. Jim Daniell StoryCorps Thursday, February 14, 2008 Sirs, I have loved the StoryCorps series on NPR. The content has varied wildly but all of the stories have fascinated me and I have looked forward to the series. By comparison, the first San Antonio program, broadcast today, was depressingly uninteresting and served only to emphasize an unfortunate quality gap between local and national radio. Please do not spoil the magic concept with further poor quality local interviews, even if they are cheap. Thank You Dear Mr.Goddard, I produced the StoryCorps San Antonio segment to which you refer. I felt that given the history in the segment, namely the founding of Spanish-language KCOR-AM and KCOR-TV was of interest to this area. I enjoyed hearing Mrs. Nicolas remember the artists that came through the stations for performances and interviews, and her remembrance of what those stations meant to the Hispanic community. This is our first crack at local production. I hope you'll enjoy future installments. Sincerely, Thanks Mr. Cone, I appreciate your time and will listen with interest to future episodes. Regards, Gerald Self Show on vibrato Wednesday, February 13, 2008 Thank God they haven't found a way to vibrate piano strings. My feeling is that vibrato was originally popularized as a cheap trick to overcome a tin ear. Down with vibrato! Travis Taylor Programming for Irish-American Heritage Month - TPR Monday, February 11, 2008 I see Texas Public Radio is doing a number of special programming and community events for Black History Month which is wonderful but I'd like to know what programming and community events you have scheduled for Irish-American Heritage Month in March. I enjoy TPR very much and hope you will be supporting the Irish-American community in Texas with special programming to help us celebrate this very important month. Please send me the programming so I can pass it on to the Texas Irish-American community - I'm sure they will be thrilled. Thanks! Dear Ms. Owens, Thank you for your interest! After receiving your email I searched NPR, PRI and American Public Media's website for Irish American programming, but found no special programs available. That doesn't mean you won't hear something uniquely Irish during the month of March on TPR. Each Sunday night at 8:00 KSTX 89.1 FM broadcasts an hour of Celtic music on Thistle & Shamrock. And there are many, many classical composers from Ireland, including Hamilton Harty, Charles Villiers Stanford, Turlough Carolan, and of course, the "Irish Mozart," John Field, whose piano nocturnes are among the first ever written. Do listen to KPAC 88.3 FM for those and many more composers throughout the month, but especially on St. Patrick's Day. And of course, let us not forget our own treasure of an on-air host on KPAC and KSTX, Deirdre Saravia, who is a native of Ireland. She'll be featuring special programming on her show World Music with Deirdre Saravia at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 16. Sincerely, Day to Day Monday February 11 Monday, February 11, 2008 Dear Friends, I was disappointed to hear the segment "Make me a Super Delegate" on Day to Day today. I listen to TPR/NPR for news, information, and select entertainment (American Routes, Sunday Night Sessions). I do not want to hear silly, uninformative nonsense like "Make me a Super Delegate". Please don't turn TPR/NPR into "Robin and Company". Robert Hurley Dear Mr. Hurley, The three-minute segment you heard was written by Brian Unger, a regular contributor of humorous pieces on NPR's Day to Day. I'm sorry it didn't meet your expectations this time. While commentary and humor has long been a part of what NPR does (think Baxter Black) and will continue to be so, I don't think you have to worry that KSTX/NPR is turning into Morning Express, especially since the other stories on today's Day to Day included a seven plus-minute report on prosecutors seeking the death penalty for Guantanamo detainees charged in the 9/11 attacks, civil war in Columbia, the deepening credit crunch in America, and an art heist in Switzerland. Sincerely, Who Was the Guy? Saturday, February 8, 2008 Greetings, I was listening to your station today (Sat., Feb. 9th), somewhere between 3 and 4, possibly This American Life, and heard a bit that I wanted to get more information on. The piece was derived from The Moth, an organization that collects spoken stories for broadcast, and the guy was talking about his entry into journalism at The Washington Post. It was absolutely hilarious, but I didn't catch the guy's name or the name of the piece, and even after checking themoth.org, I still couldn't figure out who it was. Can you help me? Thanks, Dear Jane, The fellow you heard was Malcolm Gladwell, who's written a number of books, and currently writes for the New Yorker. You can find his website at: www.gladwell.com Thanks for listening to This American Life on KSTX 89.1 FM! Best wishes,
Traffic Number to Call? Thursday, February 7, 2008 Hi There, Is there a number listeners can call to report a traffic incident? I was driving in today and encountered a major accident on the outer part of Loop 410 between Ingram and Bandera, but Mike Valdez made no mention of it when he came on 30 seconds after I passed it, though I know it had occurred earlier due to the PD/FD/EMS response on-scene. When I got into the office ten minutes later and checked your web site, your little “traffic bug” showed it. I know a lot of people southbound on Loop 410 would have appreciated the info and might have routed around it. But back to my original question, is there a phone number to call? Thanks, Mike R Dear Mr. Runnels, For all traffic inquiries, call Traffic.com at 877-965-9700 and ask for the San Antonio desk. Sincerely,
Fair Game Interruptions Saturday, January 30, 2008 Dear TPR, Why is it whenever there is any extra programming on your station it goes in place of Fair Game? There has never been a single moment of which I would need any more dry commentary on your channel. Some of us need a little comedy relief in our listening. It is getting ridiculous. Try interrupting something like The Travel Show. Who could possibly benefit from a purely visual program on the radio? Yours truly hesitating to open his wallet on your behalf, DC Dear Mr. Conn, I'm sorry you have seen a few more interruptions in your evening listening to "Fair Game" than you'd like as of late. However, the special programs from NPR covering the primary elections and the State of the Union address have all been live broadcasts, and we're therefore unable to time-shift them on the schedule. After next week's Super Tuesday coverage, you'll probably have fewer evening interruptions. Thanks so much for listening to KSTX, and I'm happy that you are enjoying "Fair Game." Sincerely,
Saturday on KPAC Wednesday, January 11, 2008 Can you please tell me the name of the beautiful opera I heard on Saturday January 26 at approximately 4:20 - to 4:30 p.m.? Thank you, Dear Cesar, I'm guessing you heard the tail end of Puccini's "La Boheme," broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. I'm glad you enjoyed it! It's one of the best. Sincerely,
Today's Noon Programming on KSTX Friday, January 11, 2008 I didn't get to hear the entire program, but the portion I did hear was disturbing. TFN was being called to task for calling for an IRS invstigation into the political involvement of churches and various preachers in Texas. Your (TPR's) interviewer seemed to be far too ready to jump on the TFN spokesperson, who stayed calm, was well spokenand also was a good presenter for the TFN side of the issue. I am pretty appalled that your interviewer would say some of the things he said, and that he took such a stance opposing TFN and that he seemed to ignore some of the comments made by TFN. Wish I could have heard the entire program, but then I think I just might have become angrier at you if I had. Thanks for listening to ME! Stu Adamslundy Dear Ms. Adamslundy, Thanks for writing with your concern. I went back to listen to the entire interview, which lasted approximately seven minutes. I must say that I cannot hear at any time Mr. Davies taking sides or trying to "jump on" Texas Freedom Network spokesman Dan Quinn. At 8:42 into the show, Davies asks Mr. Quinn to clarify TFN's position: [DAVIES]: "You're saying that basically this religious organization, the Texas Restoration Project, were [sic] virtually an extension of Rick Perry's re-election campaign." Mr. Quinn then responds. Later, a careful listen to the interview reveals that Mr. Davies was quoting Governor Perry's office response to the TFN actions, rather than stating it as his own opinion. At 9.20 in the Texas Matters show: [DAVIES]: "The Governor's office has responded to this; they've said that this is simply a smoke screen to hide that fact that the Texas Freedom Network does not want people of faith involved in elections, and that you have a secular agenda… trying, you know, basically working for the other party." Mr. Quinn is then given an opportunity to respond. Mr. Davies then states that this Restoration Project model has had success in other states. Davies is not offering an opinion, he's simply allowing Quinn to comment on this, and how TFN views such projects. Finally, Davies asks what the process is now that TFN has asked the IRS to investigate the Texas Restoration Project. Please be assured, Mr. Adamslundy, that it is not our policy to take sides on an issue. I believe Mr. Davies conducted a fair interview and allowed Mr. Quinn to state TFN's position on this issue, while at the same time acknowledging Governor Perry's stance through the aforementioned press statement that he quoted. Thanks for listening to KSTX, and please don't hesitate to write anytime. Sincerely, Dear Mr. Cone, Thanks for responding. As I said a couple of times in my note, I didn't hear the entire program, but my perception from what I did hear wasn't good. Just thought you would want to know what people are thinking. Frequently we do not have the option of enjoying the "driveway" moments, and we miss a good portion of your programming because of other responsibilities. But you know that.... I do appreciate your response and that you took the time to listen to the program to re-evaluate it.I think KSTX is the only station my car radio picks up anymore since I have listened for so long when I am in the SA area. You do a great job! Sincerely,
Name This Piece? Tuesday, January 01, 2008 I was listening Tuesday (Jan 1st) on my way to the grocery store, and enjoyed a LOVELY clarinet solo about 3:30 in the afternoon. GORGEOUS! Can you tell me what the music was and who performed it? I checked the webpage; I assume it played after Borodin's Symphony No. 2. Thank you! Kathy Taylor Dear Ms. Taylor, The concerto you heard was Carl Maria Von Weber's Clarinet Concerto #2, performed by the Staatskapelle Dresden, directed by Herbert Blomstedt and featuring soloist Sabine Meyer. Of all the concertos written for the clarinet, Weber's are my favorites. They're all so lively, and the clarinet just sings throughout! Here's a link to Amazon for more information about the piece you heard. WEBER: Clarinet Concertos/Sabine Meyer Thanks very much for listening! Nathan Cone A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols Monday, December 24, 2007 We just wanted to let you know how much we enjoy the broadcast of A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols. We look forward to your live broadcast every year. Long may it continue. Wilma & John Heberling Disgusted at Texas Matters! Friday, December 07, 2007 I am very disappointed in the Texas Matters segment for November 30th. I hesitated sending in an immediate comment until the next week’s segment came on. I expected Davies and Benavides to air other sides of the immigrant issue, perhaps one that would not refer to the immigrants as “illegals,” and give less hateful comments. When this did not air, I must admit that I am totally disgusted at the Texas Matters program and your station for not reviewing the content of this program. I particularly take issue at the comment made, that even if the immigrants become legalized, they are still a burden on our community. I’ve copied NPR to express my disgust at the “news” comments on this national issue at Texas Public Radio. In researching to check to see if I was a being oversensitive, I found this NPR statement on “Diversity”: National Public Radio will serve the individual; it will promote personal growth rather than corporate gains; it will regard the individual differences among men with respect and joy rather than derision and hate; it will celebrate the human experience as infinitely varied rather than vacuous and banal; it will encourage a sense of active, constructive participation, rather than apathetic helplessness." I realize that you are not NPR, but TPR is the only public news station in the San Antonio area, and it’s sad that the individuals involved in the immigration issue are represented as “vacuous and banal.” Perhaps Davies needs to take a good look at the NPR Journalist Code of Ethics. [Name withheld at request of author] Dear Listener, I went back and listened to the entire six-minute interview Mr. Davies did with Steven Camarota, research director for the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies. You seem to imply Mr. Davies used the term "illegals," but the opposite is the case. Mr. Camarota uses that term, and Mr. Davies stops the interview at one point and asks Mr. Camarota about his continued use of that term, and how some view it as offensive. (that's about 5 minutes into the show) Mr. Davies also asks Mr. Camarota about whether his study takes a "one-eyed" look at immigrants in Texas. Mr. Davies *does* ask Mr. Camarota to about how much illegal immigrants give back to the state in the form of taxes. Mr. Camarota explains that his data indicates that immigrants do pay various taxes, but that their fiscal costs are more than they give back. Obviously Mr. Camarota is a numbers man, looking at the statistics. He is not a humanitarian. We have covered the immigration issue often on KSTX, giving voice to multiple viewpoints, and will continue to do so. I encourage you to browse the Texas Public Radio newsroom online to hear more of our coverage. Sincerely, Nathan Cone New Orleans Music Show Tuesday, December 04, 2007 There was a broadcast this past Sunday evening featuring New Orleans music that I enjoyed listening to. Will this show be re-broadcast, is there any information on this show, and where can i find it? Thanks! Dear Mr. Johnson, The Ultimate Doo Wop Show? Wednesday, November 28, 2007 I am a member of Texas Public Radio, and I heard about "The Ultimate Doo Wop Show" on KSTX, but I was in the car, so I couldn’t write down the information on how TPR members can get tickets. I have searched all over your website, but I can’t locate the information. Please advise. Thank you, Dear Ms. Kennedy, Christmas Music Search Saturday, November 24, 2007 I am a long time KSTX listener. Somewhere in 1998-2002 time frame (on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day) KSTX was off the air for normal programming and all that was playing was Christmas and holiday music. One of the musical selections that you played was a very long blues gospel type rendition of the Christmas story featuring black artists. I was unable to catch the title of the CD or album but it was one of the coolest Christmas pieces that I¢ve ever heard and I would really like to find who the artist was. Over the years, I have gone to several music stores without any luck. Does anything in your music portfolio sound familiar? Please let me know if something rings a bell. Thank you. Clay Roby Dear Mr. Roby, Diane Rehm Guest, Peter Heller and The Whale Warriors Tuesday, November 13, 2007 I just cannot tell you how shocked and dismayed I was with this particular program. I could not get on the air by telephone to register my intense disgust. I am an environmentalist by academic training and profession. I have worked internationally to protect public health and the interests of the United States. I am appalled, disgusted and disappointed that NPR, TPR and Diane Rehm gave voice to someone who advocates eco-terrorism, attempted murder and suicide as perfectly rational acts in the defense of their beliefs. The only caller/emailer to state that Mr. [Paul] Watson is a terrorist was essentially laughed off the air (dismissed might be politer) as someone who simply didn't understand the high moral ground taken by the Whale Warriors. Now this was totally baloney. Ships charging each other at flank speed in open ocean may seem romantic to Mr. Heller, but it is an insane act that directly endangers lives of people whose only "crime" is to pursue a job. To rhapsodize about the courage of the crew, "everyone on board was willing to die," in confronting Japanese whalers then state (I cannot quote directly) that Watson has some sort of blessing because he says he hasn't killed anyone is simply idiotic. Fnaticism is extremely dangerous. Ms. Rehm is usually very attentive to how fanaticism is presented. She would hardly be one to assent to the glorification of religious zealots who kill or attempt to kill in order to further their aims. Why the exception to this? Even scarier was that only one dissenting voice was heard on the air. Was that mariner the only dissenter? If so, thats even scarier. In some ways the point of NPR is to get people's juices going. Well you succeeded this time. However, I remain shocked that Ms. Rehm had a show where she, herself, could be perceived as advocating terrorism. Garry C. Zettersten Dear Mr. Zettersten, I went back to listen to nearly the entire hour of the Diane Rehm show you cite, and mostly, I don't disagree with you. I think that Ms. Rehm's conversation with Mr. Heller was interesting because Mr. Heller described how he was assigned to the Whale Warriors' vessel as a journalist of sorts, but as Mr. Heller described, he came to have a passion for the cause of those on board. But you are correct in your assessment that there was not enough attention in the discussion of the danger that Mr. Watson placed his crew in, and the potential harm that could come to persons on other boats that the Whale Warriors might encounter. Late in the conversation that hour, Mr. Hiller describes how the Dalai Lama once said (to Mr. Watson, I think), that sometimes to enact change, you should never harming others, but occasionally you need to "scare the hell out of them" a little. Maybe that's true, but it seems to me that ramming a boat could cause great harm to others, even in the service of an apparently noble cause. The first caller that appeared on the show spoke up about how it might be more useful to employ other methods to enact change, but after listening to Mr. Hiller's answer, I though he wasn't so much giving her the brush-off as that he didn't hear or didn't understand the question or comment. I'm going to forward your email to the Diane Rehm show and to NPR's new Ombudsman, Alicia Shepard. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Thank you for responding. I am pleased that you found my email worthy of attention. The person who I thought got blown off was the mariner who sent an email which was quoted by Ms. Rhem with about 15 minutes left in the program. I am enough of a historian to feel that fanaticism has an impact on events. I am also enough of a historian to believe that fanaticism leads to terrible tragedy. John Brown may have had an effect on civil rights. But was any positive value worth the razing of Potawatomie? How about the Atlanta Olympics bombing? Anti-WTO demonstrations? Europe's 30 Years War? Northern Ireland? Pol Pot? You name it. Mr. Heller readily stated that he loves adventure and I have to admit, the Whale Warriors are a terrific story. So is Bin Laden. So was Pancho Villa. Mr. Heller spoke of ethics. Where are the ethical judgments about attempted murder on the high seas? I cannot believe that the Dalai Lama would actively endorse activities that will inevitably lead to murder-suicide. I still can't get over the whole show. I have thought about it several times today and I normally get over an indignant reaction quite quickly. I felt that both Ms. Rehm and Mr. Heller openly used the term "vigilante" as though it is a neutral term that denotes sensible people doing sensible things. I really thought the show was just nuts. Garry C. Zettersten Fair Game Tuesday, November 13, 2007 Dear TPR: I've disliked "Fair Game" from the start but have tried to give it a chance by listening to it on a regular basis. The show is annoying. Faith Salie is annoying. She laughs like she thinks she is ever so cute. Her speech has unfortunate nuances of Vally Girl in it. The music they have borders on being real terrible. The "musicians" can generally neither sing nor play. Please put "Fresh Air" back in the 9:00 pm slot. Obviously you have put "Fair Game" on for the young set, and it would be so much more convenient for them if "Fair Game" was on at 10:00 pm instead of 9:00 pm. Sincerely, Margaret Hager Fan Letter Monday, November 12, 2007 I am an ardent fan of TPR/NPR and the terrific programming we have here locally... and yes, I am a contributor... Just want to comment about the two most recent traffic reporters... Mike Valdez and John Kay(?) Their presentations are soooo much easier to follow... thanks! I often wonder where these traffic folks go. when they fade off the air into oblivion... I assume this position is for experience and they move on to something wonderful... sure hope so! Enjoyed Your 25th Anniversary History Pgm! Wednesday, November 07, 2007 Howdy Folks: It was really great to hear the story of KPAC, KSTX, and Texas Public Radio. Thanks to the bunch of dedicated people who made this happen! I have been a listener after I moved back to my hometown Hallettsville in 1999. My listening experience has been constrained by the vagaries of fringe-area reception, but I keep switching it on (yes, I listen while doing other things!). Your signal comes in pretty strong during the evening and early morning hours. It gets a bit spotty during the daytime. I use a rotatable 5-element yagi for the FM band, with a mast-mounted booster. Yes, your 24-hour classical format is outstandingly different from what I have heard in other cities. I don't know if it's unique -- WETA in Washington has recently switched from mostly talk to all classical. But I don't know if it's 24/7 -- had to hit the sack. I've spent a lot of happy hours with WQXR (its format now includes lots of talk) and WFLN (now deceased). And I remember the utter shock when I turned on KNCN (think that was the call sign) of New York and was blasted out by hard rock -- the long-fought battle of format change was suddenly lost, in spite of user support. I spent 5 years in London and enjoyed the BBC. Radio 3 had a varied format, mostly classical (lots of it live broadcasts, I still have a big tape library), but interspersed with lots of talk -- mostly of literary content. Pardon my rambling, just wanted to let you know my listening experience over the last 50 years confirms the justifiable pride y'all have in KPAC. That's really an accomplishment to have an all-classical format station broadcasting without big format changes for 25 years! Your music library is extensive and diverse, and I think the announcers really know their stuff, including pronunciation! We keep listening, to KSTX and NPR (and Dianne Rehm) for breakfast and to KPAC when at the computer and doing office work. We hope y'all can keep it coming! Bob Zumwalt Teacher Tools Thursday, November 01, 2007 Wow! I heard about the Teacher Tool section of your website and had to check it out as I have been a high school teacher for 25 years. What an awesome "site" it was! One problem. I teach Visual Art. Can you help us elective teachers out also? Barbie Todd More information please... Tuesday, October 30, 2007 In the past several days a program aired an interview with author Heidi Kraft (sic) about her book titled, "Lesson Number 2; Things I Learned in a Combat Hospital." I thought the program was Fresh Air but I am having no luck researching through your web site, either by program, author or book title. Now I am wondering if I have any of it correct! Dear Sable, If you'd like to hear the program again, here is a direct link to the audio of the broadcast. The link above will take you to an Amazon.com page for more information about Ms. Kraft's book. Thanks for listening, and thank you for your support of Texas Public Radio! Sincerely, Dear Nathan Cone; Programming from October 26, 2007 Saturday, October 27, 2007 Hello....I was very recently introduced to your radio station by my 14 year old son, who found your station and now loves to listen while he's doing his homework. I was on the road (your station is now the only one I listen to when I'm driving....so soothing), here in San Antonio, running errands and heard a piece your station played yesterday, October 26th, around 2:30 or 2:40 in the afternoon. It was a piece used in the movie "Christmas Story". I had never heard it in it's entirety, as it is only played in bits & pieces throughout the movie. I love it and would like to know the name of the piece and who performs it. If you have any information, I would very much appreciate it. Thank you. Dear Susan, Texas Matters Friday, October 26, 2007 When I first started hearing Texas Matters, I considered it an annoying diversion from regular NPR programing. But, now I think it is a very valuable news source concerning local matters. I am not aware of any other local news outlet that provides this valuable service. For example, recently I had been looking for information on the Texas amendments election. Then today, Texas Matters provided the information I was seeking, which in turn motivated me to go vote. Obviously I believe that this program is an essential, valuable service. I think David Martin Davies is doing a great job. David Sedaris Tuesday, October 23, 2007 David Sedaris' performance last night at the Majestic Theatre... Leaving the Area Wednesday, October 17, 2007 One of the sad things about leaving San Antonio is our strong attachment to TPR since its inception. Taos, NM may be an art capital, but its way behind in music and the programs of public radio. We wish you continued success in your endeavors in providing really fine classic broadcasting. Sincerely, Membership Drive Tuesday, October 16, 2007 This is just a suggestion. I think that you would get more membership support if you would let your listeners know that they could contribute any amount that they can afford. You would not have to give anything to the listener that only donates a small amount. Sixty dollars is a lot of money to some people. Making people feel guilty for listening when they are not a member might turn them away completely. Thank-You, Dear Ms. Killingsworth, It is certainly not our intention to make anyone feel guilty for not becoming a member, and if that's the impression you're getting, I apologize. Certainly, I've tried to convey the message to our on-air staff that guilt is an ineffective method for converting listeners into members. Several of our scripts do mention that every dollar counts -- and that's true. We also have student and senior levels of membership at $40 that perhaps are not mentioned as often as they should be. Thanks for your letter. It certainly reminds us that we need to be careful to always recognize that the money sent to TPR is hard-earned by the giver. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Dear Mr. Cone, Thank you for your quick response. I don't know if you said anything to anyone, however, I noticed a big difference today in regards to the membership drive. Because they mentioned that you could actually spread out the donation, I was able to become a member. Sincerely Yours, Traffic Report Thursday, September 27, 2007 Thank you for making changes in your local traffic reports. They are much more understandable and helpful. Frank L. Seaman Green Transportation Program and Reception Wednesday, September 26, 2007 Thank you for hosting the program last evening at The Blue Star. Cheryl, Traffic reports, yes, they're helpful but... Wednesday, September 26, 2007 ... here in San Antonio we drive on Loop 410 West and Loop 1604 South, not the 410 loop or the 1604 loop. At least we're not yet hearing about the 35-I or the 281-US. TPR is my constant travelling companion so I tend toward out-of-sorts because of this cockeyed world. I much prefer to be happy with my public radio station. Anne Little New Traffic Reports Monday, September 17, 2007 I see approving letters regarding the new traffic reports, but I disagree with them on a couple of points - referring to streets and highway exits by number rather than by name is not informative to most San Antonio residents. Also I heard the intersection of I-10 and Hildebrand referred to as the 'west side' - by this standard Terrell Hills is the east side - what would you
call the areas of town traditionally called east and west? Also, sometimes traffic flow directions are noted, but others times not. On a personally frustrating note, the other day in rush hour it took 45 minutes to travel three miles across 410 eastbound from about Vance Jackson to McCullough - sat there through three traffic reports without one mention of my particular 'slow'. Thanks for New Traffic Report Monday, September 17, 2007 As a member of TPR, KSTX, I'm very happy with the new traffic reports that are now part of TPR. My morning commute is on N. Loop 1604 between Live Oak area and I-10W. Your previous traffic reporting service was appreciated but not always helpful in my neck of the woods. I would often be sitting in bumper to bumper traffic and never hear my area mentioned. Now with the new service I have avoided many accidents and congested areas. Last spring I filled out the online evaluation of TPR and this was one of my recommendations for possible improvement. Thanks for listening! Sincerely, Lack of Vocal Music Friday, September 14, 2007 I have been a member since before KPAC went on the air which was a time of my life when I could not financially afford to be a member but I could not spiritually afford to not be a member. Thru the years I, and many friends who are also professional singers, have asked, begged, pleaded, cajoled, requested, and remonstrated trying to get MY station to play more than the small pittance of solo vocal music that we get to occasionally hear. Thru the years, we singers have had to endure listening to what we refer to as 'music minus one'. That is how we think of the opera arias you play but with an instrument playing what was written as an aria. That is injury enough to a singing musician's sensibilities. But today (Friday, 9/14/2007) it got worse! At a few minutes before 4 PM two pieces of music which had been composed as glorious opera arias were played with an orchestra instrument playing the part intended for a singer and afterward we were informed that we had just heard opera "incidental music!". Shame on you for the lopsided programming and shame on the announcer for his ignorance on the subject. I suggest that his lack of knowledge in the area is at least partly due to the fact that he (and the other announcers) have so little opportunity to sharpen their knowledge in the area of solo vocal music. Please know that not even this wound to my sensibilities will make me change from the stations of TPR. I have traveled enough to know just how fortunate we in San Antonio are to have two fine stations such as KPAC and KSTX. Just please throw us a bone a bit more often! If you are fearful that you might be too high-brow for those of your listening audience who tend toward easy listening, my wife, Deborah Bussineau-King is voice professor at The University of the Incarnate Word and she assures me that she would be more than happy to provide you with a list of at least fifty vocal music titles that would be enjoyed by even the least classical of your listeners Thank you sincerely, Sydney King P.S. I visited B.J. McClain when she was having to read commercials between classical music pieces late in the evening from studios in North Star Mall. Dear Mr. King, When I first became Music Director I increased vocal music in KPAC’s programming, along with other “forbidden” instruments the harpsichord and organ. This was back in March 2005. About this time last year we had a choice of sticking with our old music database or moving up to an automated system. We chose the latter and for the last 10 months I have been coming up with ways of trying to rein in the “randomness” of a computer programming music. Not even an Opera lover wants their clock radio to come on in the morning with the Mad Scene from Lucia di Lammermoor! Now that the program knows where we don’t want bombastic music, I am working in the other direction to achieve a balance we can all enjoy. Getting Haydn’s symphonies under control took some time and thinking and adding more vocal music is a similar challenge. I think you will find October’s programming more to your liking and further “tweaking” of Music Master will provide a good mix of vocal music at the appropriate times. I have too many friends that are singers and love Opera to let the current situation remain. Thank you for your thoughts, long term support and your patience. Sincerely, Randy Anderson Mega Developers Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Thank you for the great article about mega-developers. The developer expressed as if it is our responsibility to destroy all of our natural resources. How can building a city in the middle of a region that is critical habitat for 11 endangered species that also provides approximately 7% of all the recharge water in the Edwards Aquifer be responsible? John Hernandez Music Selections Wednesday, September 12, 2007 It is 1:45 am and I had hoped to go to sleep with some nice music. That contemporary "stuff" you're playing right now is awful. If anyone says they like it then I'd be inclined to say that either they're lying because they think they should like it or else they're on drugs. It's been my understanding that this was to be a classical station. You really disappoint me when you play such selections as you're now doing. Please, let's have truly classic music. Dear Ms. Fishburn, Thanks for writing to us. I'm sorry to hear you were disturbed by our music selections early this morning. I believe you were hearing Bela Bartok's "Sonata for Two Pianos & Percussion." There are many composers whose works fall under the definition of "classical music" (not to be confused with the "Classical" period of music), and Bartok is one of them. Traditionally, late nights are the time when classical stations have the opportunity to stretch the boundaries a bit. We do not aspire to be a station that provides music to sleep by, either. On the contrary, we'd like people to be actively listening to KPAC overnight. But late nights also mean there are fewer people listening than during the day, and we can take a few more chances by playing some more modern works. By offering an intelligent presentation, we will hopefully grant the listener some insight into these challenging works. Sincerely, I do thank you for your kind reply to my less than kind note. I didn't mean to imply that I expected the music to 'put me to sleep' but rather was hoping for music that would be soothing while I was decompressing after a stressful day. I do realize that you can't be all things to all people so I'll keep my CD player handy the next time you play Bartok. :-)))) Peggy Fishburn On - Computer Listener Sunday, September 02, 2007 Although only 60 miles south of San Antonio, I am unable to get radio reception for KSTX. The ONLY way I can listen is via my computer. Why do some shows refuse to be broadcast via the computer? Since I don't have the option of listening on the radio, it means I don't hear those shows at all. K. Chapman PS I am a paying member of KSTX. Dear Ms. Chapman, I'm sorry you are not able to currently hear the entire KSTX broadcast schedule online. Due to a decision earlier this year by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), KSTX is not streaming programming that features pre-recorded music prominently. Here's the background: on March 2 the CRB released a decision that would dramatically increase the royalties payments owed to rights holders to stream sound recordings of music offered on the internet. This includes public radio websites. The decision by the CRB affects all public radio stations because it has the potential to make streaming music over the internet extremely costly, even for public radio stations. The decision also requires complicated record-keeping that will place a huge burded on stations. No distinction between commercial and public radio is being made in this decision, despite public radio's mission of bringing culturally enriching programming to the public. NPR and other webcasters are currently negotiationg with the CRB and SoundExchange (SX) to make these fees and procedures more manageable for public radio stations and webcasters. In the past few weeks representatives from CRB and NPR (the negotiating team) have met with SX twice. These meetings have been constructive, but there is still much to be done. We hope a resolution will be reached soon. Until that time, we will err on the side of caution and not stream music-based programs through TPR.ORG. If you would like to follow this issue more closely, you may visit these
websites: Thanks for your support of Texas Public Radio! Best wishes, Nathan Cone Terrific Traffic Thursday, August 30, 2007 The new, improved traffic is great. Don't change a thing about it. Clear, in-depth, the direction the traffic is flowing. I now have another reason to stay with you on my 25 minute ride to work. Traffic News Monday, August 27, 2007 Thank you. What a delight this morning to listen to San Antonio traffic news that one could actually understand. We have been so frustrated with Ms. Betty Davis broadcasting the traffic news in a bizarre gabble that surely few could comprehend. She wasted time announcing herself (so that her name was heard twice for each bulletin) and identified her sponsors at length; however the meat of the traffic content was a shambles. We have lived elsewhere and never before heard such poor quality rubbish. The active roadworks currently in around the city make the content of this news item more important at present. The approach today was a breath of fresh air and....normal! We hope that the change is permanent. Yours sincerely, Karl Haas recordings Monday, August 20, 2007 Dear Sir/Madam: Dear Mara, WW2 San Antonio GIs Sunday, August 12, 2007 To whom it may concern... The story is that when the call came to go, the unit dropped whatever they were doing, picked up their equipment, and left... Interstitial Music Thursday, July 26, 2007 To Whom It May Concern, I don't know whom I should be thanking but I just want to say that I've been loving the bits of My Bloody Valentine that keep popping up during the evening broadcast whenever there's a pause for station identification or local announcements. The same goes for the early morning broadcast last week when bits of the Marie Antoinette soundtrack showed up during segment pauses and local announcements. Just one more reason why I love KSTX. Sincerely, Memory program yesterday?? Friday, July 27, 2007 I was driving yesterday at around 7:30 p.m. and heard a part of an interesting program on memory. I was wondering if you could send me a link for that or let me know which program that was so that was so that I can find it online. Thanks!! Dear Erin, Lost Reporter Thursday, July 26, 2007 This note is in response to part of yesterday's program [Day to Day] that featured a reporter [Los Angeles Times religion reporter William Lobdell] who decided against joining the Catholic church. I love your station, but ... Tuesday, July 24, 2007 ... Please stop referring to "advance reservations" -- usually in the plugs for your movie screenings. Good point. And it saves me two syllables in my script.
I'll make that change in the Cinema Tuesdays promos. Traffic Music Friday, July 20, 2007 While we are enthusiastic listeners to TPR in the morning, we can often not understand the traffic report because of a music overlay. Please quit the background music while the traffic report is on. Thanx. Dear Ms. Sheehy, "The Gates of The Alamo" Music Thursday, June 14, 2007 I have been listening to the broadcast of "The Gates of the Alamo" and I was wondering what the music played at the beginning of the broadcast is. I really like it. I looked at your web page about the broadcast of the book, but you do not mention the music. I love this station! Thanks, Lashelle Wilson Dear Ms. Wilson, I apologize for the very, very long delay in getting this answer back to you. Your email got lost on my computer, and I recently found it again. Dave Davies, producer of the series, writes: "I'm glad people liked that music. It took me a long time to find the right tune for this project. The music was the 'Alamo theme' from the John Wayne movie performed by the 50 Guitars of Tommy Garrett. It's from his album 'Six Flags over Texas.'" The song is available through Amazon as an mp3 download. Here is a link for more information. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Book reading Wednesday, June 13, 2007 I love your selections and I loved hearing John Philip Santos. However, since I live in Kerrville, the reception is iffy at home though good in my car. So I hear only some of the reading. Is it available on CD or DVD or tape or something I can hear on a more convenient schedule at home and thereby save mileage and gasoline????? Thanks. Mary L. Malakoff, devoted listener. Dear Ms. Malakoff, "1 Book 1 San Antonio" podcast Thursday, May 31, 2007 Just wondering, any plans to podcast the "1 Book 1 San Antonio" summer book like you did last year? I really hope so, I was great hearing the author read his own book. I was able to pause and come back to it when it was convenient for me and even rehear the good parts! Dear Ms. Grove, Report from Ft. Carson aired on 24 May 07 Friday, May 25, 2007 I listened with great interest to your report on continuing issues surrounding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and how the Army is facing this continuing problem at Ft. Carson. I found the human interest side of the story to be nothing short of tragic. This problem is not new, of course. A great-uncle of mine sufferred PTSD from service in the trenches of WWI. They called it "shell shock" then. This phenomenon was known in WWII. My father supported the family of a PTSD victimized soldier for years following that war. The cost of combat is horrible and, perhaps, underappreciated by the public at large. Sometimes it is underappreciated by the people who fight those wars (see: Patton, LTG, Sicily, Soldier, slapped). Is it still possible to take the listener survey? Tuesday, May 08, 2007 I hope I haven't procrastinated too long to take the survey. Please let me know if and where it's possible to do that. I especially love the BBC news every night (wish I could hear it on weekends at the same time). Also couldn't do without All Things Considered, Morning Edition, This American Life, Car Talk, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, Garrison Keillor, Talk of the Nation, Terry Gross, Afropop, and so many other programs. Katharine Cartwright, Ph.D. Pledge Drive Monday, May 07, 2007 I had been a member of TPR until last year. I was a member because I found the programs and news infomative, engaging, and at times moving. I was happy to contribute financially for those reasons. However, I ha to cancel my membership because of being frustrated by the sheer volume of solicitations during the pledge drive. I found it tantamount to pandering. Scott Peters Dear Mr. Peters, Listener Concern Tuesday, April 24, 2007 Dear Sir or Madam, About the survey-extra notes Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Took the survey. No place to tell you that among the most valuable features to me- never mind thank you gifts- are the community calendar and the website. And dear Joe G's "Thank you for your support" Ellen Tisdale Book Reviews Tuesday, April 17, 2007 I am a member and regular listener of KSTX. I especially like the first hour of the DR show from 9 to 10 AM weekdays. My second favorite show is THE WORLD in the afternoon. My least favorite is the Click and Clack brothers phony laughathon. Also, I am saturated with the number of interviews with authors touting their latest creation. Surely there is something that would be of more interest to a larger audience than hearing the cliff note version of a book that would have, at best, a very narrow audience appeal. Overall I am a big fan of NPR but it would sure be good if you would 'ban the books' and 'click off the clackets.' Eugene New Dear Mr. New, Thanks for writing, and especially for being a member of KSTX. I'm glad you enjoy the Diane Rehm Show. I believe many people in San Antonio share your admiration for this program, as hardly a day goes by that I don't hear a San Antonio caller on the show. I understand that interviews with authors, or book discussions, are not to everyone's liking, but I believe author interviews nevertheless provide a unique insight into the creative process, and a monthly readers' discussion (as on the Diane Rehm Show) can deepen our understanding of literature. As for Car Talk... what can I say? To some, Click and Clack are loads of fun. To others... not so much. Best wishes, Nathan Cone Thank You Tuesday, April 17, 2007 This afternoon I was listening to TPR at 2 p.m. when the Community Affairs Calendar was aired. It was very refreshing to hear the announcer correctly pronounce words in Spanish. I do hope she continues to be the voice of the community affairs calendar especially as, here in San Antonio, so many of the events have words in Spanish in their titles. Great job and I hope this continues!! A TPR member, Texas City Explosion Monday, April 16, 2007 Thank you for your coverage of the 60th anniversary of the Texas City explosion. My mother was a 16-year-old high school student in Texas City at the time of the explosion and I grew up hearing her stories of that terrible day and the months taht followed. I am always surprised how few people my age and younger have never heard about this event. My mother died two years ago, but I am grateful she recounted her memmories of this event to me. Musica Antiqua on-line? Sunday, April 15, 2007 I love your programming, but often, I am unable to listen at the given time that Musica Antiqua airs, a show which I really love. Is there a way to listen to previous shows online? I've noticed that Pipe Dreams has a link whereby past shows are available to listeners. Thanks, Irene Van Winkle Dear Irene, I wish we could offer Musica Antiqua and our other music programs online or as a download, but unfortunately, music rights issues prevent us from doing so. In fact, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) on March 2 released a decision that will dramatically increase the royalties payments owed to rights holders to stream sound recordings of music offered on the internet. This includes public radio websites. Responding to requests from several parties (including NPR), the Board granted a rehearing on the issue earlier this month. The decision by the CRB affects all public radio stations because it has the potential to make streaming music over the internet extremely costly, even for public radio stations. The decision also requires complicated record-keeping that will place a huge burded on stations. No distinction between commercial and public radio is being made in this decision, despite public radio's mission of bringing culturally enriching programming to the public. If you would like to follow this issue more closely, here are some websites that may provide more information: Letter to morning programming director(s) Tuesday, April 03, 2007 Dear Sirs and/or Mesdames: I congratulate you on your choice of Mr. Jim Leonard for anchoring the week-day morning prime listening hours! Kudos! I greatly enjoy his sprightly, pleasant manner of hosting the national morning programmes. Since he has replaced the previous host, I have enjoyed TPR in the mornings much more immensely. Mr. Leonard, in my opinion, has a vocal presence that is infinitely more compatible with the national hosts, Steve Innskeep and Renee Montagne, making the morning programming on TPR a more seemless, cohesive, and thereby, a more pleasurable presentation. Three cheers for Mr. Leonard! I submit my request for the management to consider repositioning the evening's re-broadcast of the perennially excellent programme, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, back to the 9:00 p.m. time slot. I make this request in order that I may also fully enjoy the new programme, Fair Game, which, as it turns out, has become a great good fortunate spot of comic relief for me before delving into the grave, serious matters brilliantly brought forth by the BBC. And please, however you may dare to defy us, the fastidious, exacting lot of listeners we all out here are, please, do not change Saturday's and Sunday's programming again! Unless of course, it is to squeeze in a few sprinklings of good old My Word broadcasts like you used to do ten years back. What a dream come true that'd be! Best seasonal wishes to the entire of the beloved at TPR! Matt Benecke Commentary: Fund the Troops? Friday, March 30, 2007 The phrase, "fund the troops," has worked its way into nearly every discussion, news story, and debate over the $122 billion spending bill to fund the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I don't have an idea of what it means. Am I supposed to think that "failure to fund the troops" means that the troops will not be paid? Will they not be given food or bullets, medical care or a place to sleep? I don't think so. What I do think is that "failure to fund the troops" is a very clever phrase inserted into the national debate over the war by the Current Occupant and his five star propaganda team. It implies that if we don't continue to shovel unprecedented amounts of United States Dollars to the Occupant's friends via the combat in the Iraq and Afghanistan, we will somehow be hurting the troops. In place of "fund the troops," let's call it what the spending bill really is; "funding the war." It is especially important for media to stop borrowing the phrase "fund the troops." If anyone really cared to fund the troops in a way which would do the troops some good, they would buy each of them a one-way air ticket home. I'd even be willing to make those tickets first class. Let's call the phrase "fund the troops" what it really is, a cheap attempt to use the dying and suffering of our nation's young men and women as the reason they need to keep on dying and suffering. Dave Stokes Texas Public Radio, Thank you for your support, events for contributors Friday, March 30, 2007 Would the newsletter tell of upcoming events which are open to members? When is the next event? Thank you. Dear Barb, Coming up for Texas Public Radio, we'll be broadcasting live from the Fiesta Pooch Parade on April 28, in May our annual Business Members gathering is scheduled to take place, and we'll be helping to kick off the "1 Book 1 City" project in early June with an event featuring The Gates of the Alamo author Stephen Harrigan. Our next family "Hands On" event is also tentatively scheduled for June. So be sure and sign up for our e-newsletter, Keynotes, and keep looking to tpr.org for the scoop on upcoming events! Thanks for your interest, and thank you for your support! Sincerely, Fair Game? Thursday, March 29, 2007 I am a long time Public Radio listener and supporter. The Fair Game program is unlistenable. Faith Sailie is annoying as she giggles her way through each broadcast and appears to be a Tina Fey wannabe. The cast’s snarky comments seem forced and the attempts at humor largely fall flat. As a 50 year old military officer I’ll concede I am not the demographic you are going after with Fair Game, but I’m a Howard Stern listener too so think I’m pretty tolerant. This show is a failed experiment. If you are committed to keeping it change it’s time slot to later in the evening and let the insomniacs suffer. Tom Duquette Save Fair Game Thursday, March 15, 2007 My name is Meg Cullip and I am a college freshman at UTSA. I am writing in regards to "Fair Game," this new brilliant and hilarious program. Please keep this program on the air, it is one of the only resources available to people who like witty humor and suave pop-culture... all right so what if that sounds a little pompous, "Selected Shorts" anyone? Thank you, Fair Game Wednesday, March 14, 2007 It is certainly a breath of fresh air to hear a show that targets the 25-39 age group. To confess, we love almost everything on TPR, but this show is truly unique and a perfect change-of-pace program in the evening hours. By 11 PM, we're ready for the BBC, but please keep "Fair Game" on the air for a long time to come and let's give it some time to find its footing. Even NBC's "Seinfeld" wasn't that funny until seasons 2 and 3. -Kirsten and Jacob Burkholder Fair Game Comment Monday, March 12, 2007 This program "Fair Game" with Faith Saile... Just what is this supposed to be? The anchor is flippant, arrogant, shallow and with such a misplaced sense of humor so as to the be most irritating nonsense you have ever aired. I understand trying to expand your demographics... But with this ...I can not classify this program... It is not news; not informative; not funny; not entertaining... Just what is this worthless drivel with which you have interrupted your programming... I am now listening to a bit on making a Dennis Kucinich voodoo doll in order to make him more popular!!! Before this, the staff actually called a City Councilwoman, accusing her of setting up a nuclear weapons lab in her town in Florida in order to cover the story of a pound of "yellow cake" uranium found in a local pawn shop!!! PLEASE STOP This Waste of my Public Radio Dollars... Regards, Lost to XM Monday, March 05, 2007 After all these years I have had to give up on KPAC because of your move in direction to so much more vocal and opera. I have really appreciated your presence and service but do not enjoy the move you have made. I realize you have to go with who your support comes from and my support votes no to the new move. Thank you, Dear Mr. Morris, Be assured that at KPAC we are striving to present a broad range of music that inspires, entertains, and enlightens the listener. Some of the most treasured pieces of music in our library feature the human voice, whether it is Thomas Tallis' "Spem In Alium," Puccini's "Nessun Dorma," or Dawn Upshaw waxing nostalgic with James Agee's words in Barber's "Knoxville: Summer of 1915." Vocal music on KPAC takes up a smallish percentage of the average broacast day, and while vocal music may not be to everyone's taste, we do try to present vocal music that is listenable and tuneful. I do hope you will continue to listen to KPAC from time to time, and that you will eventually reconsider support for your local source for the classics. Fair Game Saturday, March 03, 2007 I just read some of the letters you have received about Fair Game, and must write! I love it! I am a 57 year old woman, professional going strong and I have a 20 year old daughter in college in NYC. Fair Game makes me feel closer to her. It is the type of humor she loves and shows the intense caring and intelligence her generation has. Please keep it on the air. I don't agree with everything - but thank goodness there are things on the air I don't agree with! If it were not that way, something would be wrong. It is still fun. Thank you for providing it for us! Song ID Friday, February 16, 2007 This has been a few months ago, but it was an afternoon program and the host played a melody that was the music used for the diamond jewelry commercial that is mostly violins and builds to a crescendo (sp?)... I wrote down the artist and name but of course have lost it.... Any luck you can identify the song? And artist? Dear Shawn, Thanks for Fair Game Thursday, February 15, 2007 Nathan, 2/11/07 Sunday, February 11, 2007 I just heard a song on 89.1 San Antonio, between 6:30-6:45 for sure, and I loved it. It had a country/folk sound, the vocalist sounded like he was singing in French possibly, and it kind of had an Appalachian feel to it... an Irish folkish sound. Any way to get back to me with who this was? Corey Cott Dear Mr. Cott, I believe you were listening to "American Routes," and the song you heard was "Le Grand Bleu," the title cut from a 1991 album by the Cajun band The Bluerunners. I'm glad you enjoyed the music, and thanks for listening to KSTX 89.1 FM! Sincerely, Nathan Cone Farewell to TPR! Thursday, February 08, 2007 We are relocating to Florida where the NPR programs are sadly very limited! We have enjoyed TPR from the very beginning (26 years) and welcomed the various programs with such pleasure! Just to name a few favorites: Wishing you continued succcess! Best regards, Traffic Reports Wednesday, February 07, 2007 I am great fan of both KSTX and KPAC radio. However, when it comes to traffic, I turn 89.1 off to listen to another station. I am truly sorry that your traffic reports totally neglect the 281 corridor. I realize that there is constant traffic, but this makes it all the more imperative that conditions be reported! I have been listening to Ms Davis’ reports and actively comparing them to other stations (i.e. 1200, 104.5, 99.5, 96.1) for the last 6 weeks. Generally, I can almost always find better information on these stations! Country and rock stations! Come on! I know you can do better! As a “commute veteran” of the D.C. and Atlanta areas, I expect more from the stations to which I contribute! If additional information is needed, please feel free to contact me. Thank you, Keynotes Wednesday, February 07, 2007 I received your Keynotes on February 1, 2007. This was to late for me to plan an evening with Selected Shorts, on February 3. A more timely newsletter would be appreciated. Stella Dear Ms. Perez, Fair Game Monday, February 05, 2007 I stumbled upon Fair Game for the first time last week and I listened. I'm afraid that I must join the group that won't return. The segment was about the fellow who had written a provocatively entitled piece (something like American Women Are Responsible For The Middle East Problem - or something like that) about understanding culture. While I found the title of his work mildly disturbing, the message that he conveyed - that it wasn't that freedom and democracy were being rejected by so many muslims, but our western concept of freedom which includes so much vulgarity and an apparently increasing paucity of taboos or morals in our society - including the business sector (a la Enron), political sector (pick one!), and even theologian pedophiles, not to even mention more explicit Hollywood or entertainment-associated debauchery that is taken so lightly in our country. While our country's (and my own) approach may be to take a cautious, if nervous stance of tolerance, over this cultural turn, the host of the show was clueless as to why another country, countries or cultures might reject our cultural "experiment" and say instead, "If that's your view of freedom, then, we want no part of it!" The guest's point was that the middle east problem is not just a battle between freedom and tyranny, but is also seen by middle eastern folk as a battle of cultural values. I believe that we need to find a way to respect other cultures and I failed to see the humor, or the point of the host's condescension and ridicule heaped upon the guest. Thanks for listening. [Anonymous KSTX Listener] Is "Fair Game" worthy of TPR? Sunday, February 04, 2007 Hello Mr. Cone, I'm an avid listener, and a shamefully negligent supporter, of Texas Public Radio. TPR's audience is probably the most diverse of any station's listening audience, and It would be arrogance on my part to presume that my tastes are more discerning than those of my peers. In the spirit of the arrogance of youth, here's my opinion. In the short list of TPR programs that I avoid, "Fair Game" has risen to the top. Ms. Salie's glib, juvenile commentary is more painful to listen to than nails on a blackboard. She somehow convinces interesting people to submit to her interviews, and then derails the process with a series of "um..."s that make her sound like a 5th grader giving a class presentation on Moby Dick - all the while making irrelevant jokes and asides. I used to think that Diane Rehm would be the death of me. Waiting for her to piece together a sentence is like watching Da Vinci paint the Sistine Chapel - ALL FOUR YEARS OF IT! The result is flawless, but watching (or listening to) the process can be excruciating for the observer. As intelligent as she is, has it ever occurred to her that she could be more persuasive in the medium of print? There you have it. The rookie Faith Salie has taken Pole Position from the veteran Diane Rehm. How much would I have to donate to TPR for you to play an encore of "The Diane Rehm Show" in place of "Fair Game?" Sincerely, Dear Mr. Monney, Thanks for your honest opinion, I really appreciate it. Along with a handful of other Program Directors across the country, I'm still in contact with the producers and writers of "Fair Game" to help them improve the show and make it something truly different that stands out (in a good way) on public radio. Is everything working with this program? No. But is it a worthy effort that deserves a little time to develop? Yes, I believe so. And listener feedback is a crucial aspect of this development process. I've shared all of the emails I've received about "Fair Game" with the show's producer, Kerrie Hillman. Most recently she was the producer of "Studio 360," a terrific show, and so I believe she has the talent to pull this one off. Nighttime has traditionally been a dumping ground on public radio stations across the country, and one of the goals of "Fair Game" is to capture a new audience at night that is using radio, but not necessarily using public radio. I realize that any non-traditional public radio show on KSTX is going to rock the boat a little, but I hope that you'll continue to listen every now and then, and give the show some more feedback as they find their legs. If it doesn't work, then so be it, at least we will have tried something new. But it does take time. I thought "Day To Day" was a lousy newsmagazine at first, but they've settled down into a good rhythm. Patiently yours, Nathan Cone Hello Mr. Cone, Thanks for taking the time to respond to my letter. I can appreciate the fact that TPR is both trying to reach a new demographic and giving a new show time to develop. I never thought about the differences between morning/daytime programming and nighttime programming. I should have reached the conclusion that "Nighttime has traditionally been a dumping ground on public radio" after listening to "New Dimensions" a few times. (Of course, you didn't keep "New Dimensions" on the air very long, did you?) I'm only 31, but since I usually vote Republican, I suppose my adjusted age is 51. That may account for my inability to empathize with Faith Salie. If the producers of "Studio 360" are running "Fair Game," Ms. Salie may yet have a career in radio. "Studio 360" is a great program - well produced and well hosted. I'm willing to wait and see if "Fair Game" reaches that standard. Sincerely, New Affiliation? Friday, February 02, 2007 Why is Performance Today announcing itself as "American National Media?" What's the story there? Janis Erwin Dear Ms. Erwin, Wow! Thursday, February 01, 2007 I subscribe to your newsletter, and I have a personal love of and academic interest in African American history. I just want you to know that your BHM 2007 lineup took my breath away! Fair Game Monday, January 29, 2007 Regarding the new program "Fair Game" please get rid of it! Maybe I am too old (in my early 30's) but this is the first time that I have turned off your station because I was disgusted with what I was hearing. Although some segments are amusing, having the host making fun of what others wear (in this evening's case- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran) is not entertaining nor enlightening. After trying to listen to this program on 3 different days I have given up. I will just keep the radio off for the hour that this show is on. It appears that PRI and NPR are trying to reach a new, younger audience. However, dumbing down the programming will not gain that audience nor please your current listeners. I wish to remain anonymous. Thanks to TPR and Abra Schnur Monday, January 29, 2007 We thanked Abra personally, but wish to thank you also for the great press on Rachel Laven and the BBC's "Next Big Thing" competiton. We are still running into people, friends and strangers alike, who "heard it on TPR" and voted for Rachel. As a follow-up, while she didn't place in the top seven necessary to win the trip to London she did place in the top ten thanks to 3,000 voters who went online. The press she received brought many new music fans to The Cove to hear The Lavens on Friday nights. Thanks so much to Abra and TPR, "Fair Game" vs. "Fresh Air" Friday, January 26, 2007 Dear TPR.org: I have been a supporter since Day 1. I'm all for innovative radio. However... I personally would prefer that "Fresh Air" be returned to the 9:00 p.m. slot at 89.1. I am 55 years old. I have adjusted to "Selected Shorts" being moved to Saturday afternoon. However, if a vote is taken, I vote to have "Fair Game" and moved to the 10:00 p.m. slot and have "Fresh Air" moved back to 9:00 p.m. Let the young ones stay up with Faith and the hipsters. my opinion, Dear Caren, To begin, I would like to thank you for your long-time support of Texas Public Radio! I'm always happy to hear from people like you who are continuing to help KSTX grow. In making our decision to schedule "Fair Game" at 9:00 p.m. and "Fresh Air" at 10:00 p.m., we considered several factors. Research indicates that the audience that we hope to reach with "Fair Game" uses the radio in the evening at a higher rate than other audience segments... so we knew we would be scheduling the program in a later timeslot. Because there are several different programs scheduled in the 7:00 and 8:00 hours on KSTX, we did not want to blank out several programs at once, or push all of them to a later timeslot, and so that left "Fair Game" at either 9:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m. Becasue "Fair Game" is meant to be a program that hopefully will to attract a new audience to public radio, we also considered the local broadcast television schedule when placing this show on our schedule. We did not want to go up against "The Daily Show" at 10:00 p.m., nor did we want to face powerhouse programs like "Grey's Anatomy" that air at 8:00. Before it aired at 9:00, "Fresh Air" used to be repeated at 10:00 p.m., and so we felt this was kind of a return home for this repeat of the program. I know that any program change causes disruption, as there are always listeners who depend on their favorite show being on at a certain time. But I hope that with this explanation you might at least understand the thought process that went into scheduling "Fair Game" and re-scheduling "Fresh Air." Thanks again for being a member and listener of KSTX! Sincerely, Nathan Cone The Methane Sisters' As Filthy as it Gets Friday, January 19, 2007 It appears that whoever was in charge of "bleeping" out the profanity in this news piece was negligent. I don't mind hearing that people choose to entertain themselves with profanity, but my son was present when the piece came on and frankly I was appalled! Dear listener: Mindless IH-10 road closure Wednesday, January 17, 2007 I sent the following letter to TxDot: This I Believe series Wednesday, January 10, 2007 I applaud you for trying to create an interest in this series among the Spanish speaking community, but couldn't you have found somebody who really knows Spanish to help you with the Spanish version of the title? First of all, Esto lo creo is a Spanglish translation probably done by someone who just opened a dictionary and found an approximate translation to the English words. A more idiomatic translation would have been "Esto es lo que yo creo." I know that it is longer than the original English title, but one cannot translate one language into another word by word and come up with something that makes sense in the second language. Oh, and, by the way, there is no accent on "creo!" Luis Torres Dear Mr. Torres, Although Keynotes goes through a half-dozen pairs of eyes before it goes out, typos still occur, and you caught us on one! The title "Esto lo creo" was corrected on the website today after our newsletter went out. I also realize the difficulty in translating one language into another, both from living in San Antonio and by the fact that one side of my family is from Poland. So I guess that means my children will hopefully grow up tri-lingual! (myself, I've got a handle of English, but I'm still working on Spanish and Polish) But while we considered a longer, more exact translation for our title as you suggest, we eventually decided to go with the shorter version. Is it as correct as "Esto es lo que yo creo"? No. But does it represent the bi-cultural nature of our community? Yes. I hope you will consider submitting an essay to our upcoming series! Sincerely, Nathan Cone KTXI programming Wednesday, January 10, 2007 We have had it explained to us that the programming we get on KTXI in Ingram is a mix of the two stations in San Antonio, with the heaviest emphasis on all-day classical music. I respectfully request that this station also include more talk/conversation programs, such as the new "Fair Game," "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," and "Fresh Air," as well as Saturday "All Things Considered." The music is appreciated, but it would be nice to hear shows that we hear touted throughout the day. Thank you for your consideration. Elaine Payne Dear Ms. Payne, Thank you for your letter regarding the programming mix on KTXI. We will take it into consideration when making future programming choices for that station. You are correct that KTXI as originally conceived was meant to be a station that brings classical music to the Hill Country, along with the best of public radio's newsmagazines and most popular programs, "Car Talk" and "A Prairie Home Companion." With our current system of operating KTXI, using a computer to automate the switchover times, it is a little difficult to switch the programming from that of KPAC to KSTX and back. Those set switchover times on our broadcast schedule are matched to where KSTX and KPAC's programming synchronize to hit a time post, so the transition will be (hopefully) seamless. Because of where "Fair Game," "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" and other programs fall on the KSTX schedule, it would be difficult to make that automated switchover without abruptly interrupting the classical music on KPAC, especially, for example, on Saturdays, when "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" airs, at 1:00. On KPAC, we're right in the middle of the Metropolitan Opera, so that would be a difficult transition to make, for sure! For now, I hope you will take advantage of KSTX's streaming audio online. You'll find it at tpr.org, and you can listen anytime. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Rollergirls, Fire in the Sky podcast Wednesday, December 27, 2006 Thanks TPR... Abra's podcast on the Alamo City Rollergirls, and Fire in the Sky was very informative and fun!!! I remember televised roller derby matches years ago. It's nice to know the sport is still alive! Thank you Abra! Also, Fire in the Sky is a wonderful band! A new listener Les Preludes Friday, December 22, 2006 I just wanted to say thanks for playing Les Preludes on Friday. I spent this past summer at Interlochen Arts Camp, where Les Preludes is the piece that we use to close the camp season with every year. All 400+ high school musicians gather together to play Les Preludes before we head off to all different parts of the world again. Needless to say, that piece is filled with so much emotion and so many memories, and after playing it this summer, I am convinced that it is the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard in my life. Thanks again for playing such an amazing piece of music! Katie Lemmon Alamo City Rollergirl Segment Thursday, December 21, 2006 Greetings! I just had to drop a quick line thanking ya'll for the Alamo City Rollergirl Segment you ran a couple of days ago! It's really exciting that there's a ladies' derby here in town, and I thought it was covered very well! Kudos, TPR! Great programming! :) MonaLisa Ooops, I forgot! Friday, December 15, 2006 In my earlier feedback note, I forgot to mention my disappointment with music scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays. There may be reasons for this programming decision that I do not understand, however, I ask that consideration be given to: (1) The fact that we live in a rapidly changing time of war and international turbulence, and listening to music does not help our awareness of important developments. (2) Music ranks a very distant second in the importance, if that, compared to news and information. (3) Music is so plentiful and ubiquitous in countless forms, and through a broad array of venues, is it really necessary to provide yet another source of this music commodity on public radio? (4) Texas Public Radio is often promoted to contributors as the source for news and information. Many of us TPR supporters feel betrayed by the replacement of news and information by music, much of which is not even of exceptional quality. Has music on TPR become a "filler" because the TPR News Department does not have sufficient resources to use this time on weekends? Thank you again, Bob Meshanko Dear Mr. Meshanko, Thanks for expressing your opinion about the program scheduling on KSTX. Our TPR Mission statement states: "The MISSION of Texas Public Radio is to engage in the non-commercial broadcasting and production of informational, educational, cultural and entertainment radio programs for the listening audience in the Hill Country, South Central and South Texas." The music programming on KSTX falls within our mission statement. A few examples: "World Music" on Sunday nights is a program that entertains to be certain, but also educates the public about other cultures, as does "Afropop Worldwide." And "Blues Before Sunrise" is one of the few places on the radio that brings to life our country's rich blues heritage, thanks to the shows knowledgeable host, Steve Cushing. The music on these shows is far from a commodity. I would argue that its scarcity on other radio stations is what makes it valuable to the KSTX audience. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Listening Differences Thursday, December 07, 2006 I have been listening to your station for years. I was a contributor to the station also, but since you started to play all sorts of pseudo-classical music, I have gien up on you as far as that goes. It is amazing how easy it is to go on the computer, any time of the day and night and get REAL classical music to listen to with great pleasure. Ever since Ms. McClain left, the station has become too liberal in its idea of what classical music is suppoed to be. Now that Mr. Gwathmey has left it probably will get worse. I hope you all take this to heart and bring back good honest classical music to your listening public. Joseph Moser Dear Mr. Moser, I am sorry to hear that you are dissatisfied with the music selection on KPAC. Please be assured that we do try to program the best music to reach a wide audience. I am not sure what you mean by pseudo-classical music, but perhaps you are referring to occasional selections of music from the movies, classical works performed by unsual combinations of instruments, or even new music. We feel these little bits of "spice," if you will, are all part of the growing world of classical music. And that's just it, classical music, contrary to popular belief, is growing. New performers continue to be enchanted by old and new works alike. We're happy to be part of the great tradition of classical or concert music that embraces new ideas. Of course, the vast majority of our broadcast day is made up of the familiar and established masters. From Beethoven, Brahms, Bach, Mozart, and Rossini, to Copland, Delius, Strauss and more. The wide variety of music you hear on KPAC is one of the strengths of this station. Not every piece you hear is going to be your favorite -- and that's true even for me -- but perhaps you'll find yourself enjoying enough of what you hear on KPAC to consider listening regularly, and maybe even become a contributor again to your local source for classical music. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Unaccompanied Minors' screening Tuesday, December 05, 2006 While I'm a devoted listener, and long-time member, I have rarely taken advantage of the member's activities (except for the annual McClain Circle events). I wanted you to know that my son Will (who's 12) and I thoroughly enjoyed last night's screening, and he laughed almost the entire way through the last half of the show. Your enthusiasm is catching. Thanks for all you and the other staff of TPR do. Kathleen A. Hurren Dear Ms. Hurren, Sincerely, Experimental Radio Thursday, November 23, 2006 Radio Lab and Fair Game are keepers. Turn down the lights, tune in and take a trip. Jerry Hi Jerry, Hands On Drums Monday, November 20, 2006 I attended the Hands On Drums function on Saturday with my family and some friends. We had a wonderful time and hope you will be having another such event soon. As the first event we attended as members (new member this year), it was great to know you host such quality family events. Please do more and we’ll come! LML Larisa M. Langley Radio Lab Feedback Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Good Morning! I wanted to drop a line about the new 'experimental radio' on Thursday nights: I LOVE IT!! Especially Radio Lab... I tuned in last week and was like, "What is this awesome show?!!" I found it to be interesting, engaging and formatted in a way that is attractive to the ear (does that make sense?) I stayed tuned in for Fair Game and was pleasantly surprised by that one as well, I like the host and how she conducted the progress of the show. So, I hope that my comments help the 'experimental radio' become a success on the TPR program lineup! Thanks again! I couldn't live without TPR and I appreciate EVERYTHING you do!! MonaLisa Broadcast Segment on Oct. 3, 2006 on KSTX Wednesday, October 04, 2006 Between 6:30 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. on the 3rd, I pray you didn't have a large audience of persons ready to begin chemo treatments for cancer. The essay or monologue by your former (or current) employee at NPR was a "downer" way of starting the day if I ever heard one! It was absolutely awful to hear him tell of his nausea and that there's no cure and he's just buying time. Heaven's sake, it is time to have hope and think positively. I've just completed 2 years of chemo (had nausea only once) and expect I will have another round of chemo beginning in a couple of months. My advice is that if you're having trouble with nausea -- consult your oncologist and he can probably add something to your chemo fluids to ward off nausea. It really upset me to hear such talk on NPR, or elsewhere. Sincerely, Ruth Peeters Dear Ms. Peeters, Leroy Sievers (the gentleman whose commentary your heard) shares his personal experience with cancer montly on NPR, and daily at NPR.org through a blog. The goal behind these commentaries, and Mr. Sievers' blog, is to share stories, experiences and emotions, both good and bad. Some of these discussions and essays may be diffiicult, others life-affirming. Here is a little introductory text written by Mr. Sievers from his blog site at npr.org: "This blog is a chronicle of my fight with cancer. As we go forward, no topic, no matter how painful, is going to be off limits. Because if we don't talk about it, who will?" Thanks for listening to KSTX. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Sunday Night Session on September 17 Stuck indoors due to some much needed rain, I tuned in to your station. I highly enjoyed the Sunday Night Session. I absolutely loved it. American Roots and then HAAM... I couldn't move till it was over. Angela Dotsenko of San Antonio Switching from Regular Programming Friday, September 15, 2006 Nathan, I already sent this plaint to the NPR ombudsman and wanted to express it with you good folks at TPR as well. I was upset this morning when regular programming on The Diane Rehm Show was interrupted to bring us live coverage of President Bush's political speech and press conference from the Rose Garden. I don't know if the decision to do so was done locally or at the national level, but I was getting much more useful and new information from Susan Page's interview with James Fallows than hearing the president give the same justifications for his policies. I've heard that already. We don't need to hear the President's every word! I'd prefer my media of choice, NPR and TPR, mediate such speeches through their usual fine coverage after the speech is given in most cases. All the best, J. Michael Short Dear Michael, Thanks for writing us regarding coverage on KSTX of President Bush's speech last Friday morning. The decision to air NPR's special coverage was made locally. On Friday, I was out of town at the annual Public Radio Program Directors' conference; in my abscence, our on-air hosts are given instructions to air all spcecial coverage from NPR when that coverage is anchored by an NPR host. NPR's description of the news event prior to its coverage was this: "The subject of the speech is expected to be about the administration’s rules regarding interrogation and trying of terror suspects housed at Guantanamo Bay." Had I been working the board that day, would I have made the same decision to air the speech, given the fairly open nature of the above subject line? Probably so, especially when President Bush, in his most recent speech prior (September 6), acknowledged the CIA's network of secret prisons. On a completely different note, I want to tell you that I visited your photography website and very much enjoyed the aerial photos of San Antonio! Best wishes, Nathan Cone Book Mentioned on September 6th Thursday, September 07, 2006 Good morning – My father and I are huge fans of Texas Public Radio and listen while driving to / from work everyday. I wasn’t able to listen to yesterday’s 5.00PM program and need your help. My father was telling me of an interview with an author that has written books on stopping terrorism. The gentleman in question was contacted by the FBI to come and work within their “think tanks” to help America be better prepared to prevent future attacks. My father was very interested in purchasing this authors book; unfortunately didn’t catch the name of the gentleman or the name of the book. Could you please point me in the right direction with getting this information? I have looked all over the TPR.org website and wasn’t able to find it. I appreciate your time! Please feel free to contact me if you need additional information. Marsha Morris Dear Ms. Morris, I had the same experience as your father as I listened to yesterday's edition of All Things Considered. For me it was a real "driveway moment," as they call them, only I was sitting in the parking lot at HEB to hear the end of this fascinating interview. The author you are searching for is Brad Meltzer, whose new novel The Book of Fate is a thriller about a presidential aide and a 200-year-old code invented by Thomas Jefferson. He was also enlisted by the government to take part in the Red Cell Program, "a way for the Department of Homeland Security to brainstorm different ways that terrorists are trying to attack us," according to yesterday's interview. You can hear the entire interview online here, and here is a link to an Amazon page for more information about The Book of Fate. Thanks for listening! Nathan Cone Hi Nathan – Thank you for the quick response! I’ve sat in the driveway many times to listen to the conclusion and the news. Wonderful station!! I’ll order my father and I copies of the book! He will be thrilled!! Thanks again! Marsha Presidents' Speech Wednesday, September 06, 2006 I am listening, as I write, to an interview of Patrick Leheay, (D) Vermont who, by his own admission, did NOT hear President Bush’s speech. Among other things, he is making proclamations about how “we” previously wanted these programs as proposed by Mr. Bush today. The implication is that Mr. Bush has been dragging his feet to bring to justice those who are responsible for killing so many of our citizens both at home and abroad. From what I can understand this has not been possible for a number of reasons –as outlined in Mr. Bush’s speech. I protest the interviewing of a person from “the other side” to evaluate a speech not even heard for the seeming sake of promoting an agenda. I furthermore protest the interruptions of the speech for an explanation of what I turned in to as well as a station break, thereby not allowing me to hear words I was interested in hearing from our President. As a regular subscriber, I hope you will present such speeches with out interruption in the future. Thank you for hearing my concerns, Dear Ms. Amann, I will forward your email to NPR so they may see your comments regarding Senator Leheay and his analysis. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Focus On the Environment Thursday, August 31, 2006 TPR Team, Hello all. First of all kudos to your entire staff for providing such a breath of fresh air on the Texas airwaves. It is so fantastic to have an informative alternative to the mundane babble that plagues our dials. I will keep this brief. I moved to San Antonio this past week and and found your station on my drive out from San Diego. I was hooked right away. My family and I are opening up a store in the Medical Center area called Cartridge World that specializes in recycling and refilling ink and laser printer cartridges. I heard about your Focus on the Environment Week and would love to know if there would be a place where I could get some information out to the public as to what we are all about. If not, I also saw on your website that you have Recycling Options and Drop off Centers. I would love it if we could get our store listed under the Computers and eWaste category. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work! Mike Edinger Theme from Star Wars Friday, August 18, 2006 Thank you for playing that beautiful piece of music! When watching the movie, one doesn't get to hear the piece in its entirety. That was wonderful. I only wish my children (ages 11, 10 & 5) had been with me to hear it as well. They love your station, too! Thank you for the wonderful music. Lori Spahn Kudos Monday, July 31, 2006 World's greatest composer (Mozart) + world's greatest classical music announcer/educator (Bill McGlaughlin) = a fantastic week of programming last week. Thank you very much from an avid listener. Has anyone given any thought to the idea that such broadcasts might make great material for iPods? (I don't have one, so I don't know anything about it...) I prefer to listen to KPAC in San Antonio for something like 8 hours a day. The staff at KPAC also produces excellent classical music programming that deserves wider distribution. Many thanks, and Best Wishes, Great Listening! Sunday, July 30, 2006 I was visiting San Antonio a couple of weeks ago and came across 88.3 FM. I just wanted to say that to my ears you have the hippest classical music station I have ever heard thus far! Keep up the good work and keep the Bartok and Stravinsky coming! Michael Grammar - Houston, TX Military Working Dog Program Friday, July 28, 2006 While I thoroughly enjoy listening to NPR and TPR on my morning drive in, I'd like to call attention to one fact that was left out during Elizabeth Castro's piece on Lackland's military working dog program. The working dog program has been in place at Lackland for decades, long before "global war on terrorism" became such a catchphrase. These dogs and their handlers have been in use all across the planet long before 2001, and their portrayal should include those many years of service they've provided. A link to Lackland's fact sheet on the military working dog program is included below. http://www.lackland.af.mil/pa/Fact%20sheets/MWD%20Fact%20Sheet-Jan%2006.pdf Thanks, Dear Mike, I'm glad you enjoyed the piece about the military dog program at Lackland. I do not think Ms. Castro intended to imply that the program was started in the wake of 9/11, but you are correct that the handlers and canines have provided many years of service to our country. We'll post your letter on our website with the link you provided. Thanks for listening! Sincerely, Nathan Cone What is that "Noise"? Friday, July 21, 2006 I listen to your station exclusively and frequently listen for a while after going to bed. Tonight, there is no way I can possibly sleep with that dreadful 'racket' you're putting over the airwaves tonight! Please, please give us main-line classical music for those of us who are trying to sleep. If you insist on playing the weird stuff at least do it some other time of the day. P. Fishburn, San Antonio Dear Ms. Fishburn, Thanks for writing to us. I'm sorry to hear you were disturbed by some rather progressive music on Friday night. We do reserve that 11pm - 1am time slot on Fridays for our program "Alternate Routes," which is designed to offer a space on the radio for modern concert music. That late-night time slot may be inconvenient for sleeping to the music on Friday nights, but perhaps you can understand that from a programming standpoint, having a modern music show on in, say, the afternoon, is not the best strategy for retaining listeners either. Traditionally, late nights are the time when classical stations have the opportunity to stretch the boundaries a bit. Fewer people listening late at night means we can take a few more chances by playing some modern works, and by offering an intelligent presentation, we will hopefully grant the listener some insight into these challenging works. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Biased News Monday, July 17, 2006 This afternoon, I heard on your news that Israel killed 40 people in Lebanon today, while the death toll in Israel 'for the past few days' is 24. You may be kidding yourselves that your news coverage is unbiased, but you can't kid me. - Listener Looking for Truth, June Hurme Dear Ms. Hurme, I did not hear the specific broadcast you are referring to, nor do you refer to which program you heard it on, so I cannot speak to the meaning behind the language and reporting used. I do encourage you to voice your comments and concerns to this address at NPR: ombudsman@npr.org. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Keynotes, Jeffrey Dworkin and Ombudsmanship Thursday, July 13, 2006 I was so happy to read that NPR will have a new ombudsman/person soon. Thanks to the editor who saw fit to include that item in my Keynotes e-mail newsletter. Well done! I have much respect for Mr. Dworkin's journalistic experience and abilities - but I felt he was a poor fit as an ombudsman. I wish him every success in his new ventures. When NPR was heavily reporting the Saddam Hussein capture, and NPR/TPR carried live coverage of that at the expense of regularly scheduled programming, some listeners objected and felt NPR/TPR was dancing to the Bush administration's tune. Instead of doing his job of listening to members, Dworkin used his position to air his own opinion, and I felt that was a misuse of his visibility there. I'm completely in favor of NPR and TPR having champions within the organization - I hope and expect that your internal champions are many, talented, effective and well rewarded. But I want the NPR ombudsman to be primarily a listener, who restates positions without adding his or her own passion and heat to the discussion. Here's a suggestion for the next NPR ombudsman: Use an email address or contact tagline that doesn't require people to spell "ombudsman" - such as or . My husband tried to respond to Dworkin a couple of times, but ran up against the spelling barrier. :) I greatly appreciate and support NPR and TPR in all you do. Randy Anderson, Nathan Cone, Deidre Saravia, Joe Gwathmey and company -- you are some of our favorite folks, pouring light, learning and happiness into San Antonio through our radios, and we celebrate you all! Sincerely yours, Mundo Latino! Sunday, July 09, 2006 Dear Senor Brun, [Henry Brun, host of Ritmos del Mundo] Loved the liveliness of your 7/8 show! Wave on! Narnia Tuesday, June 27, 2006 Thanks for the plug for Ingram's Point Theatre's production of The Magician's Nephew (based on C.S. Lewis's novel of the same name which depicts the creation of Narnia). I play Queen Jadis, who appeared in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (which the Point put on last year; I played the White Witch then, too) and my daughter is a Rabbit (last year she was the Unicorn). I have been an avid listener of NPR/TPR for almost a decade and wouldn't be able to commute from Center Point to Ingram (where I teach 6th grade language arts) without going batty with boredom. Our last shows are this weekend, with our final performance on July 1st. Any talk y'all can generate is welcome! With a cast of almost 50 (mostly aged 9-16), the production is quite a spectacle. We've got good and evil, drama and comedy, and all things in between. Hopefully you and yours will come out to the hills and view it. (Call the box office at (830)367-5122). If you have kids, bring them... my nieces and nephews from S.A. were mesmerized. They couldn't believe that I (in my make up and costume) was their Aunt Pam. :) Thanks for the wonderful job you all do, KPAC Programming Tuesday, June 13, 2006 KPAC, You are currently playing classical music selections which I actually enjoy. I mean, good. And appropriate for the time of day. What happened to the orchestra warm-up pieces & the afternoon middle east wedding music? XM? Hmmm. Grandpere Highlight of my Listening Week Tuesday, May 16, 2006 Sunday Night Session is the highlight of my listening week and I am as grumpy as an old bear for days whenever circumstances force me to miss it. Kind regards, Robert Great Show! Sunday, April 23, 2006 Dear David, [David Furst, host of "Sunday Night Session"] Thanks so much for the excellent choice of music spanning Roy's career [Roy Orbison]. I had the privilege of seeing Roy in concert in Houston, TX at the Tower Theater in 1976 or 1977, way after the remarkable Monument years and before his 'comeback' (was he ever really away?) before his death. That night, he wore an Elvis type jump suit and stood still before the microphone as he did his set. He was so pleased with his reception in the old theater, did the conclusion to 'Crying' twice. My most poignant memory was his Elvis tribute song 'Hound Dog Man' which he introduced with a simple, "Here is a song about a friend of mine." I have in recent years picked up CDs of the music he recorded late in his career and I feel his greatness was undiminished to the end. Again, many thanks for a fine tribute. Alonso Jasso No Longer do I Have to Wait Wait... Thursday, April 13, 2006 Dear Nathan Cone, Thank you for airing "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me." I can't tell you how much my wife and I enjoyed the program last week. I hope it is able to hold on and remain on the air for a long time. I find myself walking around with a Walkman radio while taking care of weekend chores. Thanks again. Stephen Colley My So-Called Lungs Tuesday, March 28, 2006 Your feature "My so-called lungs" was superb. As a Pulmonary physician who works at a hospital where we have an adult cystic fibrosis clinic, I am quite familiar with the multidisciplinary approach that needs to be undertaken when caring for CF patients. Moreover, I have several patients who have had bilateral lung transplants. One, recently passed away 11 years out from her surgery. I appreciated the fact that your report emphasized that CF patients are living longer, more fruitful lives now than they were just two decades ago. Several of my patients are in their late thirties and early forties and I have one CF patient who is in his mid fifties and doing relatively well. One point that I felt your report left out was that when we (as Pulmonary physicians) think of taking a CF patient to transplant, basically the tradeoff is one disease state for another. Approximately 50% of all lung transplant recipients die within 5 years of their transplant, but they usually die of complications and conditions related to chronic graft rejection, infection and immunosuppression and sometimes (as in the case of Laura Rothenberg), lymphoma. Lung transplantation can be an option for patients with CF who have severe disease or rapid declines. It is not, however, a treatment for CF. That does not yet exist. I thank you for bringing this story to the attention of the general public. I feel strongly that only with better public awareness about just how common CF is will we get further future support for research into treatments for this very complicated and humbling disease. Chris Kelley, DO More information about the "My So-Called Lungs" program is available at the Soundprint website at soundprint.org Irish Accent Thursday, March 23, 2006 Mrs. Saravia, [Sent to program host Deirdre Saravia] I moved recently from San Francisco to San Antonio and was delighted to tune into 88.3 and be greeted by a lady with an accent that reminded me of my father who was born and raised in Motherwell, Scotland and who died in WW2 in the Philippines in 1945 when I was 11 years old. I thought at first you must be a Scott, but today discovered on the Texas Public Radio web site you are from Ireland. Well I was close. But it is still wonderful that you remind me of my father every time I hear you speak. It warms my heart. David Lindsay Listener Comment Tuesday, January 31, 2006 Just a quick comment/question. Why is NPR in San Antonio broadcasting in its entirety a boring speech by the Mayor on child abuse? I could understand a few select portions but the entire thing is really, really boring. Poor decision making in my opinion. San Antonio NPR unfortunately doesn't hold a candle to Austin NPR. I live in the Hill Country so I'm familiar with both. Thank you for listening. While I agree with you that a more judiciously edited version of the speech would have been better for the air, I do think that it was an important statement from the mayor of the city to acknowledge the problem of child abuse in San Antonio and to offer the beginnings of some ideas for how to lessen the problem. Thanks for listening, and for your feedback. I appreciate it when people take the time to write. Sincerely, Wednesday, February 01, 2006 Dear Mr. Cone, Thank you very much for your responsive and prompt reply. I've been a loyal NPR listener for years. To be fair, I'll email one of these days about one of the many wonderful things I hear on NPR. Nyckelharpa Saturday, November 19, 2005 Dear Deirdre, I remember when I began to listen to your world music program about 8 months ago. Every session is such an adventure! It was so relieving to find a good, tasteful world music venue in San Antonio. I do almost everything to the sound of music nowadays - homework, projects, spare time... and before discovering your program I hadn't been able to turn to a source of renewing music I liked. Great Interview! Monday, November 07, 2005 Hi, Deirdre, I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the absolutely wonderful segment you produced last evening highlighting the Csardas - Tango of the East dance spectacular. Not only did you play Hungarian music, but your interview with Kalman was very informative and you both did a fabulous job of presenting the features. I appreciate that you made it a point several times to make certain that your audience knew this gem of an event was coming to our city. And I was so glad to hear that the tickets were well received by your listeners, too. I hope you will be able to join us as well. On a more personal note, I thought your show was great. I listened to it from beginning to end and thoroughly enjoyed all the music you played and your knowledge of it. Thank you for enlightening San Antonian's with your "World Beat." Take care, Fresh Air Tuesday, October 4, 2005 I really appreciated hearing Teri Gross's conversation today about Evolution. Her and the guest we very respectful of both sides of the argument. Plus the discussion of the history of it was fascinating. Its nice to see a balanced discussion. This compliment is coming from a religious right winger. Thanks  |
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