President Obama Goes to Africa

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President Obama will be in Ghana today, his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa. We speak to Joseph Waranga, editor of the BBC‘s Focus on Africa program.

Beowulf on the Beach

Jack Murnighan thinks that most great works of literature aren’t read because people don’t realize how enjoyable they can be. So he wrote a field guide: “Beowulf on the Beach: What to Love and What to Skip in Literature’s 50 Greatest Hits”, which gives readers the scoop on the epic poem, as well as other classics that might not be on their reading list. Moby Dick anyone?
Five books Jack Murnighan thinks you’ll get the most out of:

“One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
“War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy
“Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville
“Bleak House” by Charles Dickens
“Paradise Lost” by John Milton

Letters

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Some of your thoughts on recent Here & Now stories, including our June 19 interview with “Daddy Shift” author Jeremy Adam Smith.

Cyber Attack

A cyber attack that began on July 4th, crashing some U.S. government computers, is still affecting some websites in South Korea, though it appears there is no major damage. Officials in both countries say the attack appears to have been launched in North Korea. Ira Winkler is president of Internet Security Advisors Group, a former analyst with the National Security Agency, and author of the book “Spies Among Us.” He says the culprit may never be found, and the attack is a sign of worse things to come if cyber security isn’t improved.

Is President Obama Morphing into President Bush?

That’s the charge from activists who hoped for more transparency and access to government documents and records in the Obama Administration. We’ll speak with Ann Weismann, chief counsel for C.R.E.W., Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which is suing the White House for access to visitor logs.

Satchel Paige

Satchel Paige at his Hall of Fame introduction, 1971. (courtesy of National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)

He may have been the greatest pitcher ever, but the color barrier in major league baseball kept Satchel Paige from the big leagues until he was 42 years old. But he was the brightest star in the old Negro Leagues and his story comes to life in the new book, “Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend,” by Larry Tye. Here and Now’s Alex Ashlock spoke to him before a recent book signing.

Listen to major league pitcher Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd reflect on Satchel Paige

Listen to former Red Sox pitcher Bill Monboquette talk about playing against Paige in Paige’s final game in the major leagues

Listen to our 2004 interview with Larry Tye about Pullman Porters

Music from the Show

Freddie Hubbard, “Skydive”
Herbie Hancock, “Watermelon Man”
Charles Mingus, “Pedal Point Blues”
Moby, “Myopia”
Peter Dixon, “Nagog Woods”
Charles Mingus, “Open Letter to Duke”
The Rolling Stones, “Miss You”
Buddy Johnson, “Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?”
The Muscrat Ramblers, “The Old Gray Mare”

Melissa Eisenmann

I must agree with Mr. Murnighan on several points. I read “Paradise Lost” in college and though I probably didn’t fully understand everything (as I’m very bad at analyzing poetry) but I loved it nonetheless. It was beautiful writing and the main reason I still have my Norton Anthology of British Literature.

I also agree that Pride & Prejudice is amazing writing. When Mr. Darcy says, “I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men,” it gives me shivers.
Richard Cole

Is Ms. Ann Weismann really surprised that a Chicago politician says one thing during an election campaign and does another once in office?

To be fair, it is entirely possible that the exigencies of actually governing at the highest level were not as Mr. Obama expected, resulting in behavior other than that was promised.
Etaoin Shrdlu

Anyone who expects politicians to keep all of their promises is naive (at best). It’s not even a matter of honesty. Some promises are honestly made, but simply can’t be kept because they are ill advised. Others could only be kept by a dictator, but in a democracy (with a co-equal branch of government, the Congress) a President’s ability to keep promises is limited. Finally, of course, circumstances arise that make it unwise to keep a promise.

I did not vote for Obama expecting him to keep all his promises. I voted for him because I approved of his policies more than McCain’s, which meant that even if he didn’t implement the all I’d still be ahead. Finally, the most important reasons for my vote were: 1) the Supreme Court (I want no more Alito’s, Robert’s, Scalia’s, or Thomas’), and 2) I want a “reality based” Administration. While I can’t say Obama has satisfied all that I wish for, so far I am more pleased than displeased – the best any elected official can hope to do.