I keep hearing that marvelous song in the background of a KPBX promo while waiting for the bus in the morning.

Always reminds me of this NPR feature from 2000. Thought you might enjoy hearing it.

It's 15 minutes long, so you might want to check it out when you have some time. It's worth it.

 http://www.npr.org/2000/07/29/1080105/npr-100-glenn-millers-in-the-mood

www.playhousesquare.org

Heard the annual excerpt on NPR's “Morning Edition” this morning.

“Oh, little elf! Little elf!”

 Wondered how many others listening know it note by note.  

During his visit to Huckleberries Central on Friday, U.S. Sen. Jim Risch mentions that he listens to National Public Radio, as do most of the cabbies in Washington, D.C. “You can't get into a cab anywhere in town without listening to public radio,” the senator told Huckleberries. Risch's favorite program? “A Prairie Home Companion.” Risch says he enjoys Garrison Keillor's weekend radio show that's centered on the fictional town of Lake Woebegon, Minn. However, he said he isn't an admirer of the host's personal leftist politics. Why am I telling you all this today? National Public Radio celebrated its 40th anniversary Monday. It's first broadcast, “All Things Considered,” aired on May 2, 1971. You can read more about that here.

Question: NPR wants to know which public radio personality would you most want to eat cake with?

The House of Representatives on Thursday voted 228-192 on a bill to defund National Public Radio, the vast public radio network whose leadership has been questioned after a series of executive decisions about programming, staffing and reporting bias. Seven Republicans broke with House leadership and voted against the package. One GOP member, Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, voted present/Fox News. More here.

Question: Do you listen to public radio enough to care about this vote?

A new study for NPR identifies a much bigger potential news audience that would listen to public radio if the field works to break down perceptions that its programs are elitist and stuffy. Producers would have to make shows that are more lively and conversational and promoters would have to take greater care when describing public radio as “intelligent” and “serious,” according to the Los Angeles-based firm SmithGeiger. The researchers found that barriers to entry for public radio listenership are rooted in what they called “accessibility”— listeners’ perceptions of the NPR brand, their ability to relate to the content, and the extent to which they find time to catch NPR news through their radios or web browsers/Karen Everhart, Current.org. More here.

Question: Do you find NPR to be “elitist” and/or “stuffy”?

Item: National Public Radio changing name to NPR/Washington Post

More Info: No need for formalities here: National Public Radio now says it wants to be known simply as NPR. So the Washington-based organization has quietly changed its name to its familiar initials. Much like the corporate names KFC or AT&T, the initials now stand for the initials. NPR says it’s abbreviating the name it has used since its debut in 1971 because it’s more than radio these days. Its news, music and informational programming is heard over a variety of digital devices that aren’t radios; it also operates news and music Web sites.

• H/T: Transplanted Texan (via Facebook)
  

Question: Do you listen to NPR?