2011 June | Here & Now

From Broken Social Scene to Charles Mingus.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Marvin Gaye’s landmark CD “What’s Going On.” Here & Now’s Renee Graham remembers getting the album for her ninth birthday: “There were so many things being said in that song that I heard my parents talking about.”

The last time Brian Turner was in Iraq he was part of the U.S. military mission to topple Saddam Hussein. In December of last year, Turner, who has become an award-winning poet in his post-military days, went back to Bagdhad.

Fire crews have burned the perimeter around the Los Alamos nuclear laboratory in New Mexico, creating a blackened ring to keep the wild fire that surrounds the lab at bay.

Some newly-elected Republican legislatures are escalating efforts to curb abortion services. Several states now ban abortions after 20 weeks, citing “fetal pain,” and other states now require women to view a sonogram of the fetus before they can undergo the procedure.

Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert brought no laughs when he appeared on Capitol Hill, but he did set some precedent– the FEC voted to allow him to set up a political action committee.

From Fred Hersche to Marvin Gaye.

This coming Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Nobel Prize winning author Ernest Hemingway. In recent years, Hemingway has been caricatured as an example of excessive machismo, but did that blunt his influence?

Pop culture critic Renee Graham is going to deconstruct Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues” for us this week. Is there another song you’d like us to linger on?

It’s being called the “Inside Job Effect.” Some economists are calling for a code of ethics after the Oscar-winning documentary, “Inside Job,” found conflicts of interest that went unreported and may have helped fuel the financial collapse of 2008.

Riot police repeatedly fired tear gas today at demonstrators, who were shouting “traitors, traitors,” as the Greek Parliament voted to approve a second austerity plan.

Lifeguarding consultant Francesco Pia debunks some common myths about drowning.

President Barack Obama is addressing the economy, job growth and the on-again, off-again deficit talks at his first formal news conference since March.

From Moby to Broken Social Scene.

“The Harrow & The Harvest” is the first CD Gillian Welch in eight years and it’s getting rave reviews. Uncut Magazine calls it a timeless country classic, we agree.

The late great crime writer George V. Higgins modeled a character in his final novel after reputed Boston mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger. For the movie version of his book, actor Robert Mitchum, actually met up with Bulger, while researching his Bulger-inspired character.

Germany’s Sabine Lisicki defeated France’s Marion Bartoli today, throwing the women’s draw into further chaos. Veteran sports columnist Bud Collins says its an unusual year when neither Williams sister will win the title.

What happens when you mix up items that are supposed to be composted with your recycling, or trash? Are you doing the environment more harm or good. Check out our slideshow on new products on the market and the best way to dispose of them.

Strong and unpredictable winds are hindering firefighters today as they work to contain a raging wildfire in Northern New Mexico. The fire is approaching the town of Los Alamos, home to the government nuclear facility that produced the Atomic bomb.

From Radiohead to Bonobo.