Born on Inauguration Day: Thoughts On America

Tonight I brought my iPod on my run, because I wanted to hear Marketplace, the little gem of a show from 6:30 to 7:00 on NPR. It's the prefect combination of economics and culture, delivered always in fabulously interesting reports. For such a short show, they manage to cover intriguing subjects and highlight aspects of the economy that I don't hear other shows covering.

I wanted to hear the advertised upcoming report on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s hometown, and his neighborhood through booms and busts over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. His hometown, of course, is Atlanta, and his neighborhood is Sweet Auburn District. Georgia State's President Becker and Dr. Cliff Kuhn were both featured in the report, representing my urban alma mater and its relationship to the historically African American district of the city, that was torn right in half with the construction of the downtown connector when the Interstate highways were built.

Also on the show was a report about tailor's shops in Hong Kong: the decline in number as tailors age and retire, while some others are catering to younger crowds with stylish and modern interpretations of the suit and high men's fashion. Great stuff.

And, they lobbed this gem my way: Born On Inauguration Day, a special report featuring people of many ages and walks of life, who were born on various inauguration days in history. It's equal parts regular and absolutely extraordinary. It's worth exploring. 

And listen to the report that made an impact on me tonight: Born on Inauguration Day: Where We Go From Here: