vocalooverdrive:

A suicide assignment sparks discussion on just how much we should be telling our kids.

A teacher at a Manhattan private school gave an assignment to her students that was viewed by some parents as inappropriate. The English class was reading “The Life of Bees” and the task was to write a letter on behalf one of the protagonists who commits suicide. While the assignment was intended to spark discussion on “seizing the day”, many parents are seeing the topic as taboo and unnecessary.

Luis and Shantell discuss the legitimacy of these claims, the intention of the assignment, and the way adults should begin sensitive discussions with youth.

Source: SoundCloud / vocalo

6Vocalo, Overdrive, suicide assignment, New York, English teacher, The Secret Life of Bees, team vocalo, public radio,

vocalooverdrive:

University of Chicago fraternity prank involving a series of offensive packages leaves mail carrier as victim.

A racist, homophobic prank involving a University of Chicago fraternity and an African-American mail-carrier incites a demand for repercussion. A series of 79 packages were delivered to the fraternity house addressed to “Reggin Tolaf”, an anagram for one racist and one homophobic slur. While the fraternity insists it is the victim of a prank, the groups involvement is being investigated. Although officials say no crime has been committed, the mail carrier is seeking punishment for the guilty party.

Source: SoundCloud / vocalo

6Vocalo, Overdrive, Peace Prize Thursday, racism, prank, University of Chicago, public radio,

vocalooverdrive:

“Having an intern isn’t supposed to be a benefit for your company.[…]The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activity of the intern and, on occasion, it’s operations may actually be impeded.” 

- George Lara, Director of Internships and Mentorships, Chicago Public Media

A recent civil action lawsuit has been filed against Fox Searchlight by two unpaid production interns claiming the work they did for the company was not appropriate for an intern and deserving of compensation. A judge has decided to allow the suit, based on a series of emails that seem to indicate irresponsibility and recognition of fault. Luis Perez and Shantell Jamison sit down with George Lara, the Director of Internships and Mentorships at Chicago Public Media, to help define what an internship is legally meant to be.

Photo credit: Creative Commons

Source: SoundCloud / vocalo

6VOcalo, Overdrive, Cash Money Tuesday, fairness, pay, equality, team vocalo, Searchlight, Federal Case, public radio,

In this episode: An amendment to the Defense Appropriations Bill would have taken away the decision making process about whether to prosecute a sexual assault away from military commanders. But last minute, Sen. Carl Levin removed the amendment, meaning for now we must still rely on military authority to sort out the 26,000 sexual assaults a year in our armed services. Hosts Molly Adams and Brian Babylon talk to friends of the show Veronica Arreola and Mikki Kendall. Mikki’s experience serving in the US Army adds some very personal insight to the conversation.

Then, how many of you remember watching Disney movies as a kid and thinking you wanted to grow up to be a princess and find your prince just like Cinderella? Well, some people see it as a problematic dynamic. WBEZ blogger Leah Pickett spoke with Jesse Menendez about one of her recent articles: “How Growing Up Disney Shapes Gender Roles.’

Later, we get to know DJ and record label founder Shred One in a regular Overdrive segment “Wise Woman of the Week.”

We close the show with a mix by DJ / producer Little Louie Vega. Tune in.

Source:

6Shred One, Little Louie Vega, chicago, public radio, vocalo, wbez, disney, military, sexual assault, gender,

The Man of Steel arrived in theaters this weekend just in time for Father’s Day and Reggie Ponder the Reel Critic had our review of the epic Superhero film and This is the End starring James Franco, Seth Rogan, and Jonah Hill. Reggie gave This is the End 3 and a half reels out of a possible five, and believed that this film was not only hilarious, but the entire cast pulled off the movie well considering it was a comedic take on the apocalypse. On the other hand, Superman only received 2 and a half reels out of a possible five. Reggie said that the movie combined both the early Superman Smallville story and the later central Superman story into one, which Superman fans will be happy while regular movie-goers may feel like the movie takes up way too much time.

Source: SoundCloud / vocalo

6SoundCloud, vocalo, Public Radio, Superman, Man, of,

vocalooverdrive:

Alicia Sowisdral, from PopGoesAlicia.com and Phaydra Babinchok, Director of SlutWalk, have a discussion with Luis about “Rape Culture” and its relation to comedy. Is it appropriate for comics to have jokes about rape? How does that play into a culture of violence?

Source: SoundCloud / vocalo

6Vocalo, Overdrive, Feminist Wednesday, rape culture, SlutWalk Chicago, popgoesalicia, comedy, jokes, team vocalo, public radio,

vocalooverdrive:

“It just seems like such a very strong infringement on one’s personal freedom, due to their financial circumstances, due to their dependency on the government.” -Shantell

A Wisconsin lawmaker wants to mandate that 2/3 of food stamp funds be used to buy healthy foods and the other 1/3 be used to buy junk food. Luis and Shantell debate whether or not the government is infringing on a person’s freedom to choose what foods to buy and what to eat. Callers also weigh in with their views on this legislation and they talk about what they think the new law is really about.

Source: SoundCloud / vocalo

6vocalo, Cash Money Tuesday, overdrive, legislation, food stamps, discrimination, public radio, team vocalo, health, junk food,

vocalooverdrive:

Luis and Shantell speak with Benjamin O’Keefe from Proud2BMe.org and the NEDA about A&F’s ‘exclusionary’ business model of only catering their products to thin customers. This is part of an ongoing conversation that began in 2006 when Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries made a statement saying, “…we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.”

Source: SoundCloud / vocalo

6Vocalo, Overdrive, Abercrombie & Fitch, discrimination, Proud2Bme, Feminist Wednesday, public radio, team vocalo,

vocalooverdrive:

Karen: “We had to meet certain requirements as to food. We couldn’t use butter or salt.”
Luis and Shantell: “NO BUTTER, NO SALT?!”
Luis: “That’s all I cook with! Every day!”

Luis and Shantell had five culinary arts students from George Washington High School. The students in studio: Leonard Gutierrez, Leon Sanchez, Marina Nava, Vanessa Arnold, and Karen Rivera are competing in the national “Cooking Up Change” competition in the nation’s capital. The students talk about the big competition, their favorite dishes to make, and their celebrity inspirations. They even give some culinary advice to Luis and Shantell.

Source: SoundCloud / vocalo

6Vocalo, Overdrive, Peace Prize Thursday, youth, Chicago, Cooking Up Change, public radio, Washington, culinary winners, George Washington High School, CPS,

vocalooverdrive:

It looks like it’s time to toss out your iPods and delete the hundreds of songs you’ve purchased as MP3’s. Apple hits the streaming airwaves! Luis and Shantell discuss what this means for the consumer, the artists, Apple and their competitors.

In a recent move from Apple, the company will be releasing what media has unofficially dubbed iRadio - a music streaming service comparable to Spotify or Pandora. Their move into the “streaming scene” is rumored to include improvements to the competition’s model. While this may represent a slight move away from Apple’s MP3-based system, purchasing songs will be a button-click away through the set up.

Source: SoundCloud / vocalo

6Vocalo, Overdrive, Cash Money Tuesday, Apple, music streaming provider, technology, public radio,

vocalomusicvox:

In just under two years, The Orwells have released an official full-length and an EP, with yet another full-length on its way. With shredding garage blues guitars and thumping drums the band has burst out of basement shows and into rock clubs throughout Chicago and beyond, and now the big stage at Lollapalooza awaits them. Not too bad for a bunch of 18 year olds out of Elmhurst, IL?!

Live From Studio 10 airs Tuesdays at 8pm CST on Vocalo 90.7 FM (CHI) / 89.5 FM (NWI) and Vocalo.org, and features emerging local bands and music artists (with the occasional national act stopping by). No other station brings you this much local music, and no other show in the region does it live. The show is hosted by Jesse Menendez, produced by Fyodor Sakhnovski and engineered by Adam Yoffe. Subscribe to the podcast here: bitly.com/vocaloLFS10

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6The Orwells, chicago, public radio, vocalo, live from studio 10, rock, garage rock, punk, indie rock, lollapalooza,

vocalomusicvox:

Swedish electro pop group Kate Boy is on their first US tour. The group stopped by the studio to chat with Jesse Menendez about the reception of their music in the US, their aim to mix pop music with darker monochrome aesthetics, and the origin of the androgynous Kate Boy mascot.

The MusicVox airs weekdays 6-8 PM on 90.7 FM (CHI) / 89.5 (NWI) /www.vocalo.org

Source:

6Kate Boy, pop, electro, electronic, Sweden, Chicago, Vocalo, public radio,