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PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR "THE CITIES" IS PROVIDED BY A GRANT FROM THE DORIS AND VICTOR DAY FOUNDATION.
IT WAS 75 YEARS AGO WHEN A RADIOBROADCAST SCARED THE WITS OUT OF AMERICANS, BUT NOW,
ALMOST A CENTURY LATER, THAT FEAR COULD BE RECREATED WITH TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY, PLUS SENIORS
GETTING SCAMMED, HOW GOOD PEOPLE ARE LOSING GOOD MONEY TO CON ARTISTS, AND CELEBRATING
THE DAY OF THE DEAD. YES, CELEBRATING IT IN "THE CITIES."
IT WAS A MOMENT IN TIME WHEN AMERICANS WERE WEARY OF THE DEPRESSION AND FEARFUL OF A POSSIBLE
WAR IN EUROPE. IN 1938, OUR NATION WAS TRANSFIXED BY RADIO
WHERE PROGRAMS CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION AND TRANSPORTED US FAR FROM OUR HOMES.
ON OCTOBER30, RADIO TRANSPORTED US TO A LONELY NEW JERSEY FARM FIELD.
>>LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS THE MOST TERRIFYING THING I HAVE EVER WITNESSED.
WAIT A MINUTE. SOMEONE IS CALLING SOMEONE SOMETHING, APPEARING OUT OF THAT BLACK HOLE
THROUGH LUMINOUS DISKS OF THE EYES OF MIGHT BE A FACE, MIGHT BE SOMETHING FROM THE HEAVENS,
SOMETHING REGULARLY OUT OF THE CADILLAC, A GRAY SNAKE.
NOW IT IS ANOTHER ONE AND ANOTHER ONE AND ANOTHER ONE. THEY LOOK LIKE TENTACLES TO ME.
I CAN SEE THE THING'S BODY. IT IS LARGE.
LARGE AS A BEAR. LIKE WET LEATHER.
IT'S FACE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IT IS INDESCRIBABLE. I CAN HARDLY FORCE MYSELF TO LOOK AT IT.
>>MOMENTS LATER THAT RADIO BROADCAST WENT DEAD, AND THE AUDIENCE HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
HAPPENED NEXT. IT WAS 75 YEARS AGO WHEN ORSON WELLS AND HIS
MERCURY THEATER ON THE AIR SCARED THE DICKENS OUT OF THE NATION WITH THE RADIO ADAPTATION
OF HG WELLS CLASSIC BOOK "WAR OF THE WORLDS." NOW, A TRIO OF AREA PROFESSORS HAVE A BOOK
OF THEIR OWN THAT TAKES A LOOK AT THAT BROADCAST AND APPLIES IT TO TODAY'S VARIED MEDIA.
THE BOOK IS CALLED "WAR OF THE WORLDS TO SOCIAL MEDIA, MEDIATED COMMUNICATION IN TIMES OF
CRISIS." JOIN JOINING US ARE TWO OF THOSE EDITORS,
DR. WENDY MILTON FROM AUGUSTANA COLLEGE, AND DR.JOY HAYES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.
THANKS FOR JOINING. WE APPRECIATE IT.
WENDY, LET ME START WITH YOU. HOW SIGNIFICANT WAS THAT BROADCAST THIS BECAUSE
A LOT OF US OLDSTERS DO REMEMBER IT BECAUSE IT WAS PLAYED YEAR AFTER YEAR AROUND THIS
TIME OF YEAR? >>RIGHT.
IT IS PRETTY HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SORT OF IMPACT IT HAD BACK IN 1938.
OUR CULTURAL MEMORY IS THAT PEOPLE RAN PANICKED ALL OVER, AND THIS IS WHAT WE PASSED DOWN
FROM GENERATIONS THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE BROADCAST.
BUT AT THAT TIME, ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE CERTAINLY WERE SCARED ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE EXTENT
TO WHICH REALLY VARIED AND IT DEPENDED HOW THEY HANDLED WHAT THEY WERE HEARING AT THE
TIME. >>DR.HAYES, PART OF THE REASON IT WAS BECAUSE
IT WAS SO REALISTIC FOR SOME PEOPLE. PEOPLE WERE JOINING IN PROGRESS WHICH IS WHAT
BROADCASTING DOES ALL THE TIME, AND AT THAT TIME THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY COMMERCIAL BREAKS
IN THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM. IT WASN'T SPONSORED.
IT WAS REAL TO THOSE WHO WERE LISTENING. >>YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAME TOGETHER TO KIND OF MAKE PEOPLE TUNE IN AT A PARTICULAR
TIME AND RIGHT AFTER, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD ANNOUNCED IT THAT WAS A PLAY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, YEAH, AND THE WHOLE SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY AT THAT POINT AND TIME, THE CONDITIONS KIND
OF FEARS STEMMING FROM THE DEPRESSION, FEARS STEMMING FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR IN
EUROPE, THE PREVALENCE OF THOSE KIND OF ANNOUNCEMENTS OF BREAKING INTO PROGRAMMING, THE PLAY MIMICKED
RADIO SO WELL, AND IT IS NOT ADVISING THAT PEOPLE WERE FOOLED BY IT.
>>LET ME ASK YOU THAT. DO WE CONSIDER THE PEOPLE OF 1938 TO BEING GULLIBLE?
>>NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR AT ALL. THAT WAS SAID AT THE TIME THERE WERE A LOT
OF PEOPLE WHO SAID, OH, YEAH, LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW SUSCEPTIBLE PEOPLE
ARE TO PERSUASION, HOW THE COMMON PERSON IS NOT EDUCATED ENOUGH, ETCETERA, ETCETERA.
NO, I THINK IF YOU LISTEN TO IT, IT IS DESIGNED TO FOOL YOU AND IT DOES IT VERY WELL.
>>WENDY, LET ME TAKE YOU A STEP FURTHER. THAT WAS RADIO. IN THE 1980'S TELEVISION HAD
A SIMILAR SCARE WHEN THEY PRETENDED THAT THERE WAS A NUCLEAR WEAPON THAT EXPLODED ON THE
ON THE EAST COAST, I BELIEVE NORTH OR SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT WAS HAPPENING. THAT WAS THE TECHNOLOGY AT THE TIME.
WAS TELEVISION IN THE EARLY 80S? >> YES, AND I BUT THERE WERE SOME SIMILARITIES
BETWEEN THE TWO THAT THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT WHAT EACH NEW TECHNOLOGY BRINGS ABOUT.
AND IN THE 1980S, THAT PROGRAM REFLECTED THE FEARS AT THE TIME.
I MOON WE ALL REMEMBER, OF COURSE, WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A
NUCLEAR BOMB. SO THAT FED INTO PEOPLE'S FEARS.
BUT IT WAS ALSO SIMILAR IN THAT IF PEOPLE TRIED TO VERIFY THE INFORMATION AT ALL OR
IF THEY HAD CHECKED THEIR SCHEDULE, JUST LIKE WAR OF THE WORLDS" THEIR FEARS WOULD HAVE
BEEN ALAYED. >>SO TAKE ME TO TODAY.
WE HAVE GONE FROM RADIO, TO TV, WHICH WAS BROADCASTING TO THE BROADEST AUDIENCE THAT
YOU COULD GET. NOW IT IS MOSTLY NARROWCASTING, AND NICHE
PROGRAMMING. SO IS IT POSSIBLE TO SCARE A SMALLER GROUP
OF PEOPLE FASTER? >>PERHAPS FOR A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.
I MEAN THAT'S ALSO WHAT HAS CHANGED NOW WITH THE INTERNET AND SO MANY ALTERNATIVE MEDIA
CHANNELS, THAT IT IS PRETTY EASY TO VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT INFORMATION IS CORRECT OR NOT.
AN EXAMPLE THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY ABOUT SCARING, BUT AN EXAMPLE OF A MEDIA HOAX WOULD BE THE
MERMAID PROGRAM THAT WAS RUN BY ANIMAL PLANET. AND SO YOU HAVE THIS TRUSTED NETWORK THAT
PUTS ON A HOAX DOCUMENTARY, A "MOCKUMENTARY" ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT MERMAIDS ACTUALLY EXIST.
THEY BRING ON SO CALLED EXPERTS, WHO ARE ACTORS, BUT IT IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING AT THE
TIME. NOW, THAT SPREAD VERY QUICKLY OVER TWITTER,
PEOPLE DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT MERMAIDS WERE TRUE.
BUT THEN VERY QUICKLY, PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO VERIFY, NO, THIS IS A HOAX.
AND THAT WORD SPREAD THEN THROUGH OFFENSE TWITTER, INTERNET, THROUGH FACEBOOK, OVER
THE INTERNET. AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT IT ACCELERATES BOTH
THE FEAR, BUT THEN ALSO THE VERIFICATION PROCESS. >>SO, JOY, IS THAT TRUE?
I MEAN IS IT A CASE NOW THAT SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES OF INFORMATION,
IT IS EASIER TO RELY ON OTHER SOURCES TO GET US THE TRUTH?
>> I THINK THAT'S THE IDEAL SITUATION. I AM NOT SURE PEOPLE ALWAYS DO THAT.
>>ON OTHER HAND, WITH MORE TYPES OF INFORMATION I AM SORRY.
MORE TYPES OF INFORMATION COMING IN, IT MAKES IT MORE LIKELY THAT SUFFICIENT A SPOOF, SUCH
A PRANK COULD OCCUR. >>YEAH, I THINK SO.
I THINK PEOPLE COULD VERIFY THINGS. BUT OFTEN, I THINK, THE TYPES OF HOAXES IN
THE SOCIAL MEDIA ERA TEND TO BE THINGS THAT ARE HARDER TO VERIFY, RIGHT.
SO WHERE WOULD YOU COULD YOU VERIFY SOMETHING THAT IS MORE OF A RUMOR OR SOMETHING THAT
IS IMPLIED THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY VERIFY, OR I THINK, AS WENDY SAID, IT IS THE TIME FRAME.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY HACKED INTO THE AP TWITTER SITE AND TWEETED THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN
INJURED IN A BOMB BLAST WHICH WAS THIS SPRING, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, THAT, YEAH, IT DIDN'T
LAST THAT LONG, BUT IT ACTUALLY HAD A PRETTY BIG IMPACT.
THE STOCK MARKET DROPPED PRECIPITOUSLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
YEAH, I MEAN AND THEN IT WENT AWAY. >>ALL YOU NEED IS JUST A GERM OF AN IDEA,
WENDY, I MEAN THAT CAN REALLY, AS YOU SAY, SEND THE STOCK MARKET TWIRLING, CAN MAKE PEOPLE
WONDER IF THE PRESIDENT IS ALIVE OR NOT. AND YOU DEAL WITH IT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT
REGARDING HYPERCONNECTIVITY INSIDE YOUR BOOK. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
>>THE IDEA THAT WE ARE CONNECTED TO TECHNOLOGY AND CONNECTED TO OTHERS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
IN A WAY WE NEVER HAVE BEEN BEFORE, AND SO THAT IS THE ACCELERATION IN WHICH WORD CAN
SPREAD, BUT ALSO IF YOU LOOK AT THINGS LIKE SHARING ON FACEBOOK OR THE WAY THAT PEOPLE
JUST RETWEET TWEETS IT JUST IS NOT ALWAYS A MATTER OF STEPPING OUTSIDE OF IT AND STOPPING
TO THINK ABOUT IT, BUT WANTING TO PASS ALONG INFORMATION AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN.
OFTENTIMES THAT WILL HAPPEN WITHOUT THE VERIFICATION. >>LET'S TALK ONE LAST SECOND ABOUT INFORMATION.
I MEAN IT REALLY IS A CASE OF BUYER BEWARE, USER BEWARE.
THERE IS GOOD INFORMATION OUT THERE, JOY, AND SOME BAD INFORMATION.
SO HOW DO YOU WEED THROUGH IT? >>I THINK A LOT OF LESSONS FROM "WAR OF THE
WORLDS" CAN BE APPLIED TODAY IN TERMS OF TRYING TO GET VERIFY INTERNALLY WHAT YOU ARE HEARING,
DOES IT MAKE SINCE INTERNALLY, VERIFY SOURCES, TALKING TO PEOPLE, USING LOTS OF DIFFERENT
MEANS TO TRY TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT IT, TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT THE SOURCE, TO THINK
CRITICALLY ABOUT THE TYPE OF INFORMATION. >>WENDY HILTON MORROW, JOY HAYES, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. >> THANK YOU.
>>THANK YOU FOR WRITING THE BOOK AND ALSO BRINGING A GREAT RADIO BROADCAST INTO OUR
LIVES ONCE AGAIN TODAY. SO MANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN OUR PAST, AND
OUR PRESENT AND OUR FUTURE. OUR MUSIC SPOTLIGHT IS ON GUITARIST LOJO RUSSO.
THIS MONTH SHE RELEASED A NEW ALBUM CALLED "NO SCARS, NO STORIES."
HERE IS LOJO RUSSO PERFORMING OUTRAGEOUS AT DAVENPORT'S RIVER MUSIC EXPERIENCE.
>>IT IS A QUIET DESPERATION, A GENETIC KIND OF RAGE, QUICK ANTICIPATION LIKE THE TURNING
OF A PAGE. IT IS HAPPY KIND OF MADNESS, IT'S JUST SO
OUTRAGEOUS, TIME SLIPPING AWAY. AIN'T NOBODY LISTENING IF YOU GOT NOTHING
TO SAY. WORLD KEEP SPINNING LIKE A TOP.
YOU CAN MAKE IT GO AND YOU CAN NEVER MAKE IT STOP.
NO. WELL, YOU CAN SEE THE TRAIN WRECK COMING,
BUT YOU JUST CAN'T SCREAM LIKE A MORBID FASCINATION WITH A BAD RECURRING DREAM.
IT IS A HAPPY KIND OF MADNESS, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, WHEN LIFE IS SLIPPING AWAY.
AIN'T NOBODY LISTENING IF YOU GOT NOTHING TO SAY.
WORLD KEEP SPINNING LIKE A TOP. YOU CAN MAKE IT GO, AND YOU CAN NEVER MAKE
IT STOP, NO. IT IS A CRAZY LITTLE STORY KIND OF BECAUSE
IT IS TRUE. IF YOU ARE LAUGHING WITH ME, I MUST BE LAUGHING,
TOO. IT IS NOT ALWAYS BLACK AND WHITE, SOMETIMES
IT IS GRAYS AND BLUES, SAY, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. UMMMMM.
WELL YOU WAKE UP FROM A NIGHTMARE, PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE SO NO ONE GETS SUSPICIOUS AND
AIN'T NOTHING OUT OF PLACE. A HAPPY KIND OF MADNESS JUST SO OUTRAGEOUS.
TIME IS SLIPPING AWAY. AIN'T NOBODY LISTENING IF YOU GOT NOTHING
TO SAY. WORLD KEEP SPINNING LIKE A TOP.
YOU CAN MAKE IT GO AND YOU CAN NEVER MAKE IT STOP.
NO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>THAT'S LOJO RUSSO PERFORMING "OUTRAGEOUS."
IF YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE, CATCH HER NEXT SATURDAY, NOVEMBER2 AT THE GRAPE LIFE IN DAVENPORT.
YOU HEAR THE STORIES ALL THE TIME, SOME SLICK SALESMAN TALKING TO ELDERLY AND GETTING THEM
TO GIVE UP THEIR RETIREMENT NEST EGG, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LOST, EARNED DURING A LIFETIME,
FLEECED IN A MINUTE. AN INDIANAPOLIS PBS STATION DOCUMENTED IT
ALL IN A VIDEO CALLED "FLEECED" WHICH UNITED NEIGHBORS AND RIVER CITY SERVICES DEVELOPMENT
WILL PRESENT THIS TUESDAY AT HOTEL BLACKHAWK. JOINING US IS SHELLY SHEEHY SEE, AND UNITED
NEIGHBORS, BONNIE BEECHUM. LADIES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>>THANKS FOR HAVING US. >>LET ME START WITH THE WHOLE IDEA OF VICTIMIZATION
AMONG SENIORS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENS EVERY NOW AND THEN.
THIS HAPPENS AN AWFUL LOT. >>CONSTANTLY.
EVERY DAY, REALLY, IT DOES PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SENIORS, AND IT IS FRIGHTENING,
AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO, YOU KNOW, CONTACT PEOPLE.
SO WE GOT SERVICES AND WE HAVE AMBASSADORS, AND WE HAVE AGENCIES WE WORK THAT ARE MAKING
SENIORS MORE AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SCAMS AND FRAUDS AND WHAT TO DO.
>>BONNIE, WHAT DOES FLEECE DO? THIS IS A VIDEO, BUT IT REALLY DOES UNDERSCORE
THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM NOT UNHEARD OF IN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD?
>>NO, IT IS ALL OVER. THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY, WE ARE MAKING
SURE THAT PEOPLE OUR LOCAL PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT TO
DO TO PREVENT IT. >>SHELLY, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT. WHAT THIS
PRESENTATION WILL DO. WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH ON TUESDAY?
>> WELL, "FLEECE" IS ACTUALLY A DOCUMENTARY THAT LOOKED AT THE NATIONAL NEIGHBOR SILVER
PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE NATIONAL NEIGHBORS SILVER PROGRAM IS A
PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT COALITION.
I AM ON THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND UNITED NEIGHBORS WAS ONE OF THE PILOT PROGRAMS.
THEY CAME UP WITH AN IDEA TO HELP SENIORS CONNECT WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, WITH
OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND TO DO IT WITH AMBASSADORS, PERSON TO PERSON, AND FRIEND
TO FRIEND. AND IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL HERE,
AND WHAT THIS DOCUMENTARY DOES IS IT KIND OF LOOKS AT ALL THE DIFFERENT IT LOOKS
AT THE PROBLEM FIRST, BUT THEN IT ALSO ARRIVES AT HOW THESE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS FROM
AROUND THE COUNTRY CAME TO THESE COMMUNITY BASED SOLUTIONS THAT ARE HELPING SENIORS.
>>SHELLY, TELL ME ABOUT THESE RIP OFFS. IT IS USUALLY A PERSON GOING TO YOUR DOOR?
IS IT A PERSON ON PHONE? IS IT A PERSON ON INTERNET?
OR OF COURSE, PROBABLY ALL OF THOSE THINGS. >>IT IS ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND IN SOME CASE, YOU HAVE GOT FOLKS THAT ARE IN A POSITION TO NOT HANDLE THEIR OWN
MONEY. >>RIGHT.
>>THEY HAVE ISSUES COME UP WITH HOUSE REPAIRS WHERE THEY COME IN AND THEY REMORTGAGE THEIR
HOME AND GET RIPPED OFF THAT WAY. I KNOW THAT UNITED NEIGHBORS HAS DONE A LOT
IN TERMS OF HELPING PEOPLE WITH HOUSING COUNSELING BECAUSE THEY ARE HUD CERTIFIED COUNSELORS,
AND THEY ALSO DO A LOT WITH ADAPTING HOMES FOR WHEELCHAIRS.
THEY DO RAMPS, AND THEY DO OTHER EMERGENCY REPAIRS FOR PEOPLE. BUT THEY BROUGHT ALL THE
RESOURCES OF UNITED NEIGHBORS THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE IN HOUSE, BUT THEY CONNECTED WITH THEIR
OTHER AGENCY PARTNERS LIKE KASI AND RSVP. >>ALTERNATIVES IN ILLINOIS, WE ARE BOTH SIDES
OF THE RIVER, AND WE HAVE AMBASSADORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER.
SO WE HAVE GENERATIONS NOW MILESTONES. THAT REALLY HAS HELPED US.
THEN WE HAVE OUR AMBASSADORS GO OUT AND TALK TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHICH REALLY HELPS THEM
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON. >>BONNIE, LET ME ASK YOU, WHEN IT COMES TO
SENIORS BEING FLEECED, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 20% ARE VICTIMIZED.
>>YES. >>THAT'S ONE IN FIVE SENIORS ARE BEING VICTIMIZED
BY SOMEBODY. >>YES.
THAT'S TRUE. >>THAT IS FRIGHTENING.
>>VERY FRIGHTENING. >>I MEAN CHILDREN OF THESE PEOPLE CAN ONLY
DO SO MUCH. NEIGHBORS CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO? >> MAKE FOLKS AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON, AND
THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE ARE HAVING THE PROGRAM NEXT TUESDAY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO LOOK FOR, WHO TO CONTACT, HOW TO GET INVOLVED MORE SO.
LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE DIFFERENT COMPANIES AND AGENCIES THAT ARE COMING TO TALK TO THEM,
AND THIS IT IS JUST INFORMATIONAL INFORMATIVE, BUT EDUCATIONAL.
>>SHELLY, I ASSUME THAT NOT ONLY DO YOU WANT SENIORS TO ATTEND, BUT PERHAPS CAREGIVERS
AS WELL. >>YES.
>>THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION FOR EVERYONE TO GET.
>>THE COMMUNITY IS DEFINITELY INVITED. IT IS A FREE EVENT. WE'D LIKE TO KNOW IN ADVANCE
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING SO THEY CAN CONTACT UNITED NEIGHBORS AND MAKE A RESERVATION OR
RSVP. BUT THE THING THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT ABOUT
THIS, IS THAT WE HAVE OUR BANK PARTNERS, AND WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY AGENCY PARTNERS.
WE HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERS. PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND GET AND THERE WILL
BE OTHER RESOURCES THERE FROM THE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS WILL HAVE INFORMATION
TABLES, AND SO, YEAH, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM.
WE WILL WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY, AND SEE HOW COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE GETTING
TOGETHER ON THIS. AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A SHORT DISCUSSION ABOUT
HOW WE ARE GOING TO KEEP WORKING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY WITH UNITED NEIGHBORS AS THE
LEADER HERE. >>CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
ONCE AGAIN, IT IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER29, 2:00 AT THE HOTEL BLACKHAWK.
GREAT INFORMATION FOR YOUR LOVED ONES, YOUR CAREGIVERS, THE ELDERLY THROUGHOUT THE QUAD
CITY AREA. LADIES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING YOU.
>>THANK YOU, JIM. >>VERY KIND OF YOU TO JOIN US.
THESE ARE THE WANING DAYS OF OCTOBER. FALL IS COMING TO A CLOSE, AND WITH THAT,
YOU MAYBE WONDERING WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU ARE GOING INSIDE OR OUT.
LORA ADAMS HAS SOME IDEAS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WHEN YOU TAKE THE TIME TO GO OUT AND
ABOUT. >>THIS IS OUT AND ABOUT FOR OCTOBER21 THROUGH
27. HI.
I AM LORA ADAMS. BRING THE KIDS TO CELEBRATE A HALLOWEEN FOR
FRIGHT NIGHT IN THE DOWNTOWN ROCK ISLAND ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT FOR SPOOKY SURPRISES
OR CHECK OUT OF THE MONSTER MASH, THE NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY WITH COSTUME CONTESTS,
CANDY HUNT AND AWARDS FOR THE BEST SCARECROWS. WHILE THE CITY OF BETTENDORF IS HAVING A DAYTIME
HALLOWEEN AT 1 P.M. PARADE STARTING AT MIDDLE ROAD AND 23RD.
THE RIVERSIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IS HAVING A TRUNK OR TREAT, FEATURING FACE PAINTING
AND FAMILY FUN. THE FOURTH ANNUAL HOLLOW WINE TAKES PLACE
IN LE CLAIRE, IOWA. THE EVENT STARTS AT THE LE CLAIRE INFORMATION
CENTER, AND THE FIRST 200 ATTENDEES RECEIVE A FREE
WINEGLASS. ROADS, TRAILS, AND SCARY HALLOWEEN STUFF,
AND SCENIC SYLVAN ISLAND MAKE THE LAGOMARCINO'S COCOA BEANO 5K RACE THE MOST INTERESTING AND
FASTEST COURSE IN THE BI STATE AREA. IT IS GREAT FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY HALLOWEEN ACTIVITY AIMED AT ALL AGES,
CHECK OUT BLACKHAWK STATE HISTORIC SITE. THERE IS A CEMETERY WALK AT THE FAIRMONT CEMETERY.
BRING ALONG A FLASHLIGHT AND STURDY WALKING SHOES. ON STAGE, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW TAKES
TO THE STAGE, WHILE BOTTOMS UP, QUAD CITY BURLESQUE INVITES YOU TO JOIN THEM AS THEY
PREVENT, MACABRE *** MYSTERY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, LOG ON TO WQPT.ORG.
>> THANK YOU, LORA. THEY ARE CELEBRATING THE DEAD AT DAVENPORT'S
FIGGE MUSEUM. IT SOUNDS MACABRE, BUT IT IS NOT.
DAY THE DEAD IS AN EXHIBIT WITH SOME ASSOCIATED EVENTS WHICH ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY GALLERY
AT THE MUSEUM FOR JUST A FEW MORE DAYS. JOINING US IS HEATHER AARONSON THE EDUCATION
PROGRAMS COORDINATOR AT THE FIGGE. DAY OF THE DEAD.
>>DEAD OF THE DEAD. >>SOUNDS LIKE KIND OF
>>SOUNDS SCARY. >>BUT IT IS NOT.
>>IT IS NOT. >>IT IS A CELEBRATION, TELL US ABOUT THIS? >>IT IS A CELEBRATION.
CELEBRATION OF TRADITIONS AND CELEBRATION OF LIFE, AND OF OUR ANCESTORS, AND PEOPLE
WE HAVE LOST. IT IS KIND OF THE COMMON THEME EVERYBODY HAS
LOST SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING. THIS HOLIDAY FOCUSES ON THAT, REMEMBERING
THEIR LIVES, REMEMBERING LOVED ONES, AND THEY DO IT THROUGH A VARIETY OF TRADITIONS WE ARE
SHOWING OFF AT THE FIGGE. >>NOW, IT INCLUDES, YOU WILL HAVE TO HELP
ME. IT INCLUDES CATRINAS
>>IT DOES. >>INCLUDING CATRINAS CASA GUANAJUATO QUAD
CITIES, AND OFRENDAS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CATRINA AND
AN OFRENDO? >>OUR CATRINAS ARE SEVEN FOOT TALL PAPER MACHE
DOLLS. THEY ARE LIKE SKELETON FIGURES.
THEY ARE DRESSED WONDERFULLY. WE HAVE DANCING LADIES, AND WE HAVE BRIDES
AND GROOMS, AND WE EVEN HAVE ABRAHAM LINCOLN. >>OH, OKAY.
>>YEAH. SO THEY REPRESENT IT IS ONE OF THE BIG TRADITIONS IN MEXICO, AND IT START
WITH OH, LIKE TURN OF THE CENTURY POLITICAL CARTOONS MAKING FUN OF RICH MEXICAN WOMEN
WHO WANT TO BE EUROPEAN. SO THEY HAVE THESE GLAMOROUSLY DRESSED LADIES
AS SKELETON FIGURES, DEATH IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER. WELL, THEY TOOK THAT, AND THEY MADE IT INTO
A PARTY ALMOST. SO THOSE FIGURES CELEBRATE FIGURES FROM EVERY
DAY LIFE, AND THEY ARE VERY JOYOUS. THEY ARE LAUGHING.
THEY ARE DANCING. THEY ARE DOING THINGS FROM EVERY DAY LIFE.
SO IT HAS BECOME KIND OF THIS ICONIC FIGURE, AND CASA GUANAJUATO BROUGHT AN ARTIST IN A
FEW YEARS AGO TO TEACH THEM HOW TO MAKE THEM. THEY PRODUCE SEVERAL CATRINAS THEMED EVERY
YEAR. SO WE HAVE 24 OF THEM IN THE FIGGE RIGHT NOW.
>>AND AN OFRENDA. >>OFRENDA, OR OFFERING, IS A TRADITIONAL ALTAR.
AND YOUR TRADITIONAL DAY OF THE DEAD ALTAR HAS THINGS LIKE SUGAR SKULL, LIKE THIS, WHICH
WE MADE, AND FOR DAY OF THE DEAD IN MEXICO, THERE IS HUGE MARKETS AND EVERYBODY GOES TO
GET THESE TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY. OFTENTIMES THEY WILL HAVE NAMES PUT ACROSS
THE TOP IN REMEMBRANCE OR THE KIDS WILL HAVE THEIR NAMES.
IT IS LIKE HALLOWEEN CANDY. THINK OF IT THAT WAY.
WE ACTUALLY MADE THESE IN THE STUDIOS AND WILL BE MAKING THESE ON OUR FAMILY DAY WHICH
WE WILL TALK ABOUT LATER. AND SO IT HAS SUGAR SKULLS.
WE HAVE MARIGOLDS WHICH ARE THE TRADITIONAL FLOWER, AND THOSE BRIGHT SUNSHINEY FLOWERS
HELP THE SOULS GUIDE THEIR WAY HOME, ALONG WITH CANDLES.
>>THAT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DAY
OF THE DEAD. >>UH HUH.
>>YET WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BRIGHT COLORS AND A CELEBRATION.
I THINK IT IS INTERESTING, TOO, YOU ARE POINTING OUT, TOO, DEATH IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER, AND
THAT IS BEING CELEBRATED. >>IT IS.
THEY ARE CELEBRATING REALLY THE JOY OF REMEMBERING YOUR FAMILY. SO YOU HAVE AN ALTAR.
YOU HAVE THESE TRADITIONAL THINGS ON THE ALTAR. YOU REMEMBER YOUR LOVED ONES, YOU HAVE GREAT
FOOD. YOU LEAVE THEM FLOWERS AND SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE
FRUITS OR VEGETABLES OR TREATS. AND THE KIDS GET SPECIAL THINGS LIKE THE SUGAR
SKULLS, AND YOU LEAVE LITTLE PICTURE OF YOUR MEMBER, IN REMEMBRANCE
>>THIS IS A LITTLE FOREIGN FOR ME. I MEAN THE SKULLS OF THE KIDS SOUNDS A LITTLE
>>IT IS A HUGE TREAT. >>LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FREE FIESTA DAY FAMILY
FIESTA DAY COMING UP ON NOVEMBER2. >>SATURDAY, NOVEMBER2, WHICH IS THE TRADITIONAL
DAY OF THE DEAD DAY. WE ARE HAVING A FREE ADMISSION DAY ALL DAY,
AND WE ARE GOING TO BE MAKING TRADITIONAL THINGS IN THE STUDIOS WHICH IS REALLY FUN.
SO WE ARE GOING TO BE MAKING SUGAR SKULLS. WE HAVE PREMADE A COUPLE HUNDRED OF THESE.
SO PEOPLE CAN COME DECORATE THEM WITH FROSTING. THEN WE WILL BE DEMONSTRATING HOW PEOPLE MAKE
THEM WHICH IS KIND OF COOL. WE WILL HAVE THINGS LIKE MAKE YOUR MARIGOLDS,
AND PEOPLE MAKE LITTLE SKELETONS AND DANCING SKELETONS.
YOU CAN MAKE REMEMBRANCES TO LEAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY ALTAR, LIKE IF YOU WANT TO WRITE
A FAMILY MEMBER'S NAME ON A SKELETON OR ON A LEAF YOU CAN.
>> WE WILL GET CLOSE UPS. >>THOSE ARE THINGS PEOPLE HAVE LEFT ALREADY.
IN THE GALLERY, THERE ARE INTERACTIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO.
SO YOU CAN GO IN AND CHECK OUT ALL THE SPACES AND THEN YOU CAN LEAVE A REMEMBRANCE.
>>VERY SIMPLE, BUT VERY PERSONALIZED. >>YEAH.
>>I WANT TO GET A CLOSE UP OF THE SUGAR SKULLS. >>YEAH, THEY ARE REALLY COOL.
>>WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE TYPE OF ARTIFACTS, THERE IS HISTORY BEHIND IT.
>>THERE IS TONS AND TONS OF HISTORY BEHIND IT.
YES. AND THEY HAVE SUCH
>>I FEEL LIKE MACBETH! I AM SORRY!
(LAUGHING) >>IT IS OKAY.
THEY HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL FOLK ART TRADITIONS, NOT A VERY RICH COUNTRY.
>>RIGHT, ECONOMICALLY. >>EVERYTHING IS RECYCLED.
IT IS HANDMADE, AND THEY PASS THEM ON FOR GENERATIONS.
THEY SAVE THEIR MONEY TO DO THESE THINGS. IT IS KIND OF LIKE HALLOWEEN, THANKSGIVING,
ALL SOUL'S DAY ALL WRAPPED INTO ONE GREAT DAY.
>>JUST A FEW MORE WEEKS UNTIL THE EARLY NOVEMBER TO GET TO THE FIGGE AND TO CELEBRATE THAT.
>>YES. >>YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
I WANT TO GET TO THOSE BEFORE YOU LEAVE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE BUSY. I WANT TO SAY PECHAKUCHA.
>>PECHAKUCHA. >>PECHAKUCHA.
>>THE MUPPET MOVIE, THE SONG MAHNA MAHNA, SO PECHAKUCHA. THAT'S HOW I REMEMBER HOW TO
SAY IT. >>PECHAKUCHA.
THIS IS REALLY NEAT. PECHAKUCHA NIGHT IS COMING UP OCTOBER31.
IT IS HALLOWEEN EVENING. BUT IT IS A JAPANESE TRADITION.
>>IT IS. IT STARTED WITH JAPANESE ARCHITECTS.
APPARENTLY THEY REALLY LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR PROJECTS.
SO ENCOURAGEMENT TO SHORTEN UP THEIR TALKS, THEY GAVE THEM 20 SLIDES, 20 SECONDS OF SLIDE.
THAT'S HOW THEY HAVE IT. THAT'S HOW LONG THEY HAVE.
>>TELL US WHAT YOU ARE DOING, DO IT QUICKLY AND THEN MOVE ON.
>>YES. AND IT BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON IN JAPAN.
AND NOW THEY HAVE AN ORGANIZATION, AND THEY HAVE SITES AT 600 CITIES WORLDWIDE AND TONS
AND TONS OF COUNTRIES. THERE WASN'T ONE IN OUR AREA. SO WE APPLIED
TO THE PECHAKUCHA ASSOCIATION AND THEY GRANTED US TO HOST TO BE A PERMANENT HOST IN OUR AREA.
>>IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO, SHOW OFF THEIR ARTWORK, ONCE AGAIN, YOU GOT DO IT FAST.
YOU GOT TO BE ORGANIZED. YOU GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY AND SHOW.
>>IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ARTWORK. IT CAN BE I HIKED THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL.
IT CAN BE ART THAT I LIKE. IT CAN BE I TOOK THIS AWESOME VACATION IN
PARIS. >>IT IS SHOWING YOUR VACATION SLIDES TO PEOPLE
THAT WILL BE INTERESTED IN THEM. >>YOU HAVE A GUARANTEED AUDIENCE.
>>IT IS OCTOBER31 THE AT THE FIGGE. IF SOMEBODY WANTS DO THIS HOW DO THEY?
>> THEY CONTACT US. YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO TO OUR WEB SITE, FIGGE
ART.ORG OR GIVE US A CALL, AND WE WILL PUT YOU ON A ROSTER.
SO WE HAVE ROLLING ROSTERS, WE DO THIS ONCE A MONTH.
AND YEAH, WE WILL PUT YOU ON THE ROSTER. WE USUALLY HAVE LIKE EIGHT PRESENTATIONS.
WE HAVE FOOD. WE HAVE THE BAR.
IT IS A GREAT NIGHT. >>IT IS A PARTY OF ART.
>>YEAH. >>OR TRAVEL ADVENTURE.
>>PECHAKUCHA. >>PECHAKUCHA, THAT'S EXACTLY IT. HEATHER AARONSON
FROM THE FIGGE. THANKS SO MUCH >>HAVE A GREAT DAY OF THE DEAD.
>>YES. COME SEE US.
>>WE HAVE ANOTHER REMINDER YOU CAN IMPRESS EVERYONE WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE MILITARY
AND AT THE SAME TIME HELP YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.
WQPT WILL HOST A MILITARY TRIVIA NIGHT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER1 AT THE FARGO LOUNGE ON MOLINE'S
AVENUE IN THE CITIES. PRIZES ARE CASH PRIZES, AND THEY ARE COMING
FOR THE TOP FINISHERS. $80 FOR A TEAM OF UP TO EIGHT PEOPLE ON A
TABLE. YOU CAN REGISTER NOW BY CALLING WQPT TO SAVE
A SEAT. MONEY RAISED GOES TO WQPT'S EDUCATIONAL AND
OUTREACH PROGRAMS. SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
ON THE AIR, ON THE RADIO, ON THE WEB, ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE, THANKS FOR TAKING SOME TIME
TO JOIN US AS WE TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES ON "THE CITIES."