The Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is asking the UN to recognize Palestine as an independent state.  Middle-eastern expert  Chris Toensing talks with the Old Mole's Bill Resnick about why this is happening now and what lies ahead for  Palestine.  Toensing writes for Middle East Reports, and his latest op-ed can be found here.  

 Troy Davis was killed by the state of Georgia last week.  What is the best way to fight for the abolition of capital punishment?   Jan Haaken and Mike Snedeker discuss the question in this segment of The Left and the Law.  

 Politicians are threatening to squeeze the Postal Service to reduce competition for private delivery services and eliminating good jobs.  We hear audio from a video produced by the postal workers' unions which lays out the issues.  

People who depend on Tri-Met for most of their transportation need transfers that last more than an hour or two.  Bus Riders Unite!, part of OPAL (Organizing People / Activating Leaders), is calling for a rally on Wednesday, September 28 starting at 8 AM.  Details here.  The Old Mole's Johanna Brenner talks here with Cameron Johnson of OPAL about the demand for a three-hour transfer.  

 Book Mole Larry Bowlden reviews a collection of wonderful short stories by Beverly Jensen about two sisters, covering seventy years of their lives -- The Sisters From Hardscrabble Bay.  More of  Larry's Reviews.

 Singer Tony Bennett recently got flack from the Right for some remarks about the attacks of 9/11.  Was his response an affirmation of what he'd said -- or did he cave in?  Bill Resnick discusses in this commentary read here by host Joe Clement.  

Joe Clement hosts this show, pinch hitting for Bill Resnick who was detained by a medical emergency.  The show includes Tony Bennett's rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," a song expressing a deep desire for a better, happier world.  At the end of the show, Joe reads Bill's assessment of Bennett's recent run-in with the Right over his remarks about 9/11.  Here are the segments of the show:

1.  Bill Resnick talks with Chris Toensing about the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN.