Archives

Writer and director Tom McCarthy made a significant splash in independent film circles with his first movie, "The Station Agent." Critics described it as "quaint," "big hearted" and "charming."

His next film, "The Visitor," is just now starting to hit select theaters. It’s about a college professor named Walter who comes home from a business trip to find two people living in his apartment. It turns out, both Walter and the squatters are victims of the same scam - someone rented Walter's apartment to these people while he was away. Unlikely though it sounds, Walter ends up inviting them to stick around. It’s not until later that he realizes his new roommates are illegal immigrants.

It's not surprising that a U.S. filmmaker would choose to tackle the immigration issue in today’s political climate. But critic Aaron Beatty says Tom McCarthy – unlike some directors - expresses his views on the issue without making it too heavy-handed. Aaron writes reviews for the Connecticut Valley Spectator, and he joined Word of Mouth host Virginia Prescott to talk about the film.

"The Visitor" is coming to theaters in Concord and Wilton on May 9th, and to Conway Village on the 16th.

We heard about the idea of "peak oil" beginning in the 1950s, when scientists predicted a point at which the rate of oil production would reach a climax. After that, supply wouldn’t be able to catch up with demand, triggering a massive energy crisis.

The shrinking availability of water doesn’t grab the headlines in quite the same way. Why panic, when water is only a turn of the faucet away?

But water shortages have long been considered a problem for the developing world. 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and that number is expected to more than double by 2020. Now a freshwater crisis is brewing in our own backyards. Aquifers under the world’s largest urban areas are drying up, and the Colorado River no longer reaches its delta. There are analysts who predict that "peak water," when our unquenchable demand will overwhelm supply, is imminent.

Matthew Power traveled to three thirsty regions that may be close to "peak water" for an article in the May issue of WIRED Magazine, and he spoke with Word of Mouth host Virginia Prescott about what he saw.

We also listened to an interview aired on the public radio program Living on Earth with Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food and Water Watch about an online water calculator. You can listen to the interview by clicking here.

H2O Conserve - the site that features the water calculator

Read Matthew Power's article about "peak water" in WIRED Magazine

(Photo by Scuola di Atene)

Starting in June, residents of Washington, D.C. will have a new, gas-free way of getting around town.

A bicycle rental program called SmartBikeDC will make 120 bicycles available at ten central locations in the city. For a $40 annual membership fee, members will be able to pick up bikes with the swipe of a card.

District officials say it's the first program of its kind in the nation, and hope the program will put a dent in traffic congestion, pollution and parking shortages.

For more on the program, Word of Mouth host Virginia Prescott called up Paul DeMaio, founder of the consulting group MetroBike, which helped implement the D.C. program.