Essays & Commentaries
Essays & Commentaries is a production of the WVTF News Department.
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Why My Wife Can't Cook - 2.8.10
Valentine's Day is right around the corner and many couples celebrate by going out to dinner. WVTF Radio essayist Scott Cundiff may owe his wife a dinner; he says she can't cook. He and his family live in Roanoke.
ListenThe Gift of Winter - 2.1.10
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. WVTF Radio essayist Peter Givens will share an essay about each of the Parkway's seasons in the weeks to come. Today, he begins with winter. He lives in Vinton and is a park ranger on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
ListenLearning to Love Grits - 1.26.10
You say "potato" and I say "potawto". And is the noontime meal "lunch" or dinner"? WVTF Radio essayist Jim Minick explores the culture clash of a Yankee and a southern belle. Minick teaches English at Radford University. He's the author of two poetry books and lives in Wythe County.
ListenStill Riding - 1.18.10
During the winter, most of us seek shelter and warmth when we're tucked inside our four-wheel-drive vehicles. WVTF Radio essayist Michael Abraham hits the road with two wheels and he likes it. He's a businessman and writer who lives in Blacksburg.
ListenHair Coloring - 1.11.10
If you've ever tried, or thought of trying, one of those "do it yourself" hair coloring kits, WVTF Radio Essayist Joy Bayshore says you might want to think twice. She's looking for something to lighten her eyebrows.
ListenHands Off - 1.4.10
The possibility of contracting swine flu has resulted in the way people greet each other. WVTF Radio essayist Linda Kobert says that's not right. She's a former nurse who lives in Charlottesville.
ListenMountain Bike Christmas - 12.28.09
You may have been lucky enough to receive a bike for Christmas when you were a child. WVTF Radio essayist Sandee McGlaun remembers rediscovering the joy of biking. McGlaun is the director of the Writing Center at Roanoke College.
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Canine ADHD - 12.22.09
Most people love their pets unconditionally. WVTF Radio essayist Linda Lemery puts that statement to the test at her Danville home. Linda Lemery is a writer who works at Mary Blount Library at Averett University in Danville.
ListenThis Old House - 12.21.09
Many people put up Christmas decorations to make their house feel more like a home. For WVTF Radio essayist Fred First, there's more to a home than just the bricks and mortar. Fred lives in Floyd County and his writing and photography appear daily at fragmentsfromfloyd.com.
ListenHippies With Guns - 12.14.09
As the holidays approach, some parents are weighing the pros and cons of putting toy guns in the hands of their children. WVTF Radio essayist Janis Jaquith has discovered banning toy guns can lead to unexpected consequences. Janis lives in Free union and is a columnist for Charlottesville's newsweekly, "The Hook".
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