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 | 2009 APRIL April 23, 2009
 Faces Behind the Unemployment Lines Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming examines the sense of shame and anger that many who have lost their jobs feel as unemployment lines continue to grow.

 

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 | April 9, 2009
 Around the World, Women Are on the Move From working their way into positions as high-ranking government officials to becoming the first females in their families to attend school, Richard Rodriguez explores the many ways in which women are on the move all over the globe.

 

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 | MARCH March 18, 2009
 Essayist Says a Reluctant Goodbye to Winter Despite the harsh weather that pummeled her hometown, essayist Julia Keller of the Chicago Tribune laments the passing of winter and the time of reflection it brings.

 

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 | FEBRUARY Feb. 9, 2009
 Valentine's Day May Mean More to Retailers Than Lovers Guest Essayist Nancy Gibbs of Time magazine reflects on the true meaning of Valentine's Day, and determines that it isn't about greeting cards, chocolates, diamonds or flowers.

 

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 | JANUARY Jan. 20, 2009
 As Obama Takes Office, Another President Says Good-bye Essayist Richard Rodriguez mulls the nature and significance of presidential farewells as George W. Bush leaves the White House to his successor, President Barack Obama.

 

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 | 2008 DECEMBER Dec. 23, 2008
 Nature of Community Is Changing in the Internet Age Essayist Clarence Page reflects on the evolving role of community organizers in an age where the Internet is changing the very nature of community itself.

 

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 | Dec. 22, 2008
 Holiday Season Brings Solemn Reflections Essayist Nancy Gibbs takes a look at the challenges at hand during a holiday season marked by economic recession.

 

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 | Dec. 11, 2008
 Navigating New Definitions of a Multiracial Identity Essayist Richard Rodriguez reflects on how Americans view multiracial and multicultural identities in the wake of Barack Obama's election to the presidency.

 

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 | Dec. 10, 2008
 World's 'Lost' Boys Follow Tragic Path of Violence From Virginia Tech to Mumbai, young men have tragically searched for meaning in random acts of violence. Richard Rodriguez reflects on the world's "lost boys" in an essay.

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 | Dec. 4, 2008
 'Wired' Americans Wrestle With Sleepless Nights Guest essayist Julia Keller from the Chicago Tribune reflects on why Americans have so much trouble getting a good night's sleep.

   

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 | NOVEMBER Nov. 18, 2008
 Young Breast Cancer Patient Finds Outlet in Activism After Dikla Benzeevi was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at 32, she formed a network of young cancer survivors. Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming reflects on her story of strength and achievement.

   

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 | Nov. 12, 2008
 Economic Slump Hits Residents of 'The Last Best Place' Twenty years ago, Montana offered sprawling landscapes and inexpensive living, but the economic meltdown is changing life in "the last best place." Guest essayist Scott McMillion of the Montana Quarterly reflects on the changes, including job losses, poverty and tight budgets.

 

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 | OCTOBER Oct. 17, 2008
 Economic Crisis Takes Toll on Pursuit of American Dream NewsHour Essayist Richard Rodriguez reflects on the impact of the global financial meltdown on the value of wealth in the U.S. and how greed and envy devalued the American dream.

 

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 | SEPTEMBER Sept. 30, 2008
 Mexico's Violent Drug War Wreaks Havoc on Innocent Lives Just south of the U.S. in Mexico, a ruthless drug war is taking a heavy toll on residents' lives on both sides of the border. Essayist Richard Rodriguez reflects on the increasingly unmanageable conflict.

 

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 | AUGUST Aug. 7, 2008
 Loyal LA Times Readers Lament Cuts at Paper NewsHour Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming laments the newsroom cuts and budget woes of her hometown newspaper, the Los Angeles Times.

     

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 | JULY July 15, 2008
 Small Cars Make a Comeback Amid High Gas Prices Soaring gas prices have led many U.S. drivers to forgo large vehicles like SUVS for smaller cars. Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming examines the shift in consumer preference.

   

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 | July 4, 2008
 Columnist Values the Right to Pursue Happiness Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page measures the importance of happiness and its part in one of the most famous phrases of the Declaration of Independence as the United States turns another year older.

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 | JUNE June 25, 2008
 Summertime Memories Revived in Road Trip Julia Keller of the Chicago Tribune reflects on old memories relived and new ones made during summertime family road trips.

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 | MAY May 30, 2008
 Reflections on Voting in Montana's Big Sky Country Guest essayist Scott McMillion of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and the Montana Quarterly reflects on voting in Montana.

     

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 | May 28, 2008
 Reflecting on 'Miracle Worker' Teachers As the beginning of May heralds the end of the academic year, Time Magazine essayist Nancy Gibbs praises great teachers.

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 | MARCH March 14, 2008
 Silda Spitzer Steps Onto a Well-worn Path As her husband, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, faces public disgrace over revelations that he frequented a prostitution ring, Silda Spitzer now shoulders a burden familiar to political wives throughout history. Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming reflects on this role.

   

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 | March 13, 2008
 In Internet Age, Libraries Still Draw a Crowd A survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that young adults aged 18 to 30 frequent public libraries more regularly than older people, despite the advance of personal computers and the Internet. Guest essayist Julia Keller of the Chicago Tribune reflects on the road ahead for public libraries in the modern era.

   

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 | FEBRUARY Feb. 28, 2008
 'Juno' Raises Questions About Teen Pregnancy "Juno" -- a popular film about a teenage girl who gets pregnant and gives her baby away -- won the 2008 Oscar for best original screenplay. Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming reflects on how teen pregnancy is portrayed in popular media.

   

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 | Feb. 26, 2008
 Election Renews Focus on Definition of Race With a popular African-American presidential candidate and the increasing influence of Hispanic voters, the 2008 presidential election has brought new attention to minority groups in the U.S. Essayist Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune reflects on how we define race.

   

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 | JANUARY Jan. 25, 2008
 Surnames Reflect Changing Face of America The shifting balance of surnames in America reflects its rapidly changing demographics. Essayist Richard Rodriguez ruminates on the increasing occurrence of his own last name.

   

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 | 2007 OCTOBER Oct. 4, 2007
 Mother Teresa's Struggles with Faith A recent book shed light on Mother Teresa's struggles with her personal faith. Richard Rodriguez presents an essay on the religious icon and how she wrestled with her beliefs.

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 | MAY May 7, 2007
 Essayist Examines Addiction in Media and Everyday Life NewsHour essayist Anne Taylor Fleming shares some thoughts about rehabilitation following addiction and its effects on families.

   

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 | APRIL April 4, 2007
 Essayist Looks at a Singer and His City NewsHour essayist Clarence Page shares some thoughts about Bob Seger and Detriot. He asks what happens to factory rock music when the factories are gone.

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 | MARCH March 13, 2007
 Essayist Considers the Power of War Photography NewsHour Essayist Roger Rosenblatt reflects on the power of a single war photo - this one of a Palestinian boy from Monday's New York Times front page.

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 | March 5, 2007
 Essayist Examines Art of a Former Migrant Worker NewsHour Essayist Richard Rodriguez looks at drawings of an artist who was a Mexican-American migrant worker.

   

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 | FEBRUARY Feb. 12, 2007
 Essayist Reflects on the Life of Former President Lincoln On the day celebrating former president Abraham Lincoln's birthday, NewsHour guest essayist Julia Keller reflects on the puzzle of the man and the president.

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 | Feb. 6, 2007
 Essayist Shares Thoughts on Weird Winter Weather Guest Essayist Nancy Gibbs explores the extreme, and extremely confusing, winter weather.

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 | Feb. 2, 2007
 Essayist Reflects on Racehorse Barbaro's Image Roger Rosenblatt takes a look at last year's Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro, who recently died.

     

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 | Feb. 1, 2007
 Columnist Molly Ivins Dies at the Age of 62 Syndicated columnist Molly Ivins passed away Wednesday at the age of 62 due to complications from breast cancer. Ms. Ivins was widely known as the humorist who first referred to President George W. Bush as "shrub." NewsHour re-airs an essay by Ivins.

     

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 | JANUARY Jan. 25, 2007
 Director Clint Eastwood Keeps Taking Risks, Says Essayist Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming reflects on Clint Eastwood's filmmaking in the wake of an Oscar nomination for the actor and director's latest film, "Letters from Iwo Jima."

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 | Jan. 17, 2007
 Essayist Reflects on Africa's Place in the Movie Theaters From "The African Queen" to "Hotel Rwanda," Africa has served as both a distant backdrop for story lines with diverse themes as well home to intricate characters who make difficult choices. Essayist Clarence Page reflects on the evolving stream of movies set in the continent.

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 | Jan. 16, 2007
 Pickup Truck Takes Its Place in Rural American Culture NewsHour guest essayist Allen Morris Jones talks about a symbol of rural America, the pickup truck.

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 | 2006 DECEMBER Dec. 27, 2006
 Some Companies Look to Combine Business with Social Conscience NewsHour essayist Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune examines efforts within industry to conduct "fair trade" practices.

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 | Dec. 11, 2006
 Holiday Shopping Season Highlights Increasing Economic Disparity NewsHour Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming reflects on the growing economic gap that is highlighted by consumer spending during the holidays.

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 | Dec. 8, 2006
 Getty Musuem Exhibits Religious Icons Essayist Richard Rodriguez contemplates the material and the spiritual at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

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 | NOVEMBER Nov. 28, 2006
 Essayist Reflects on the Act of Taking a Life NewsHour Essayist Richard Rodriguez talks about suicide and the public and private faces of this act.

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 | Nov. 23, 2006
 Thanksgiving About Gathering of Traditions, Essayist Says Throughout the years, the Thanksgiving Day meal has evolved along with time and location. An essayist discusses the blending of traditions during this holiday and the meaning for her family.

     

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 | Nov. 9, 2006
 Essayist Reflects on Breaking Out of Boxes in Society Gender, race and nationality are identities that we are born into, but essayist Clarence Page reflects on our self-imposed boxes and what happens when we try to break out of them.

 

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 | OCTOBER Oct. 31, 2006
 Essayist Shares Spooky Tales for Halloween NewsHour Guest Essayist Julia Keller shares some graveyard tales for Halloween.

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 | Oct. 11, 2006
 Essayist Discusses Housing 'Bubble' Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming gives her perspective on the current real estate market.

     

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 | Oct. 4, 2006
 Essayist Clarence Page Reflects on Journalists in Movies Essayist Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune discusses the images of journalists as presented in Hollywood films.

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 | SEPTEMBER Sept. 25, 2006
 NewsHour Essayist Discusses Chances of Female President NewsHour Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming talks about whether Americans are ready for a female president.

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 | Sept. 4, 2006
 Essayist Julia Kellar Reflects on Labor Day Guest essayist Julia Keller of the Chicago Tribune reflects on the changing definition of labor in the modern age.

 

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 | Sept. 1, 2006
 Essayist Reflects on Opportunities to Sing Out Loud Essayist Richard Rodriguez discusses music in American culture and why many people attend productions that allow the audience to sing along.

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 | AUGUST Aug. 28, 2006
 Essayist Looks at Separation of Parents, Kids Off to College NewsHour Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming reflects on parents letting go of their college-age children.

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