Anti-terror bill; Bank pres on inequality; Growing old; Searching for lost brother; Dopamine
What would F.R. Scott say? - Michael's essay: (00:00:25) Here's an excerpt: "On January 30th, Prime Minister Stephen Harper revealed his new "tough on terror" security bill, which raises all sorts of questions about civil liberties. The following day, January 31, in the obituary columns of The Globe and Mail, the following In Memoriam announcement appeared: 'Frank R. Scott, poet, civil libertarian, law professor, political activist. Born August 1st, 1899, died January 31, 1985.' He must be positively twirling in his grave."
Ed Clark on income inequality: (00:05:34) The richest 1% will control more than one half of the world's total wealth by the year 2016; more than a billion people live on less than a $1.25 a day. Ed Clark, formerly President of TD Bank and a top-earning CEO, believes the growing income gap is not just unfair, but corrosive to society. The rich, he says, need to give away more of their money.
A Fine Line: Middle Age and Old Age: (00:41:45) What is it like to cross the "great divide", to come to that point when you can no longer call yourself middle aged? Paula Dunning contends with being officially "old".
"Answer Back, Brother"- Documentary: (00:47:10) Chris Metallic was 20 years old when he disappeared after leaving a party in Sackville, New Brunswick, where he was attending university. Two years later, he's still missing and his family struggles with grief and hope. His mother Mandy keeps searching. His younger brother, Spencer, writes letters. Each one ends with a plea: "Answer back, brother". Our documentary is produced by Vanessa Blanch.
Dopamine, the addiction chemical: (01:10:53) It has been blamed for everything from addiction, to attention deficit disorder, to just plain bad behaviour. Award-winning science journalist Bethany Brookshire wrote her doctoral thesis about dopamine. She untangles the myths from the realities.
This week's music brought to you by J.S. Bach, the Swingle Singers, W.A. Mozart, Bob Dylan, and two Oscars - a Hammerstein and a Peterson.