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The House Finance Committee has endorsed an education funding plan that spends less than the Senate version.

The plan would also eliminate so-called donor towns.

New Hampshire Public Radio’s Dan Gorenstein reports.

Often on Word of Mouth, we look for the Next Green Thing -- new ways people are working to make the earth a healthier place to live. This applies to all aspects of our society, and Tuesday on the show, we look at one man's efforts to make the construction industry more sustainable. His name is Der Lovett, owner of Lovett Deconstruction, and you might call him a reverse carpenter. As the cost of building supplies increases and landfills are burdened by excessive waste, Der dismantles buildings piece by piece, harvesting usable materials and redirecting other materials to recycling centers. Some people recycle their cans and bottles; Der recycles entire buildings.

Producer Ryan White followed Der to work one day and filed this story. The piece was part of KBOO's Earth Day special, "Follow the Garbage". KBOO is a community radio station in Portland, Oregon. This piece comes to us via the Public Radio Exchange.
(Photo by Robert Dalton)

The video game Grand Theft Auto IV hits the streets today.  Controversy has surrounded the Grand Theft series since its beginning, due to its adult nature and violence.  But its in-depth storylines and high production values have helped the franchise sell over 70 million copies, and the new release is expected to be the top selling game of all time. Politicians and pundits have linked every school shooting in recent memory to violent video games, and they are often accused of corrupting our nation's youth. But there is a growing body of research that shows no connection.  Cheryl Olson and her husband, Lawrence Kutner, direct the Center for Mental Health and Media at Massachusetts General Hospital, and they're psychiatrists at Harvard Medical School. They've co-authored a new book, Grand Theft Childhood. Tuesday on Word of Mouth, New Hampshire Public Radio's Abby Goldstein talks with Cheryl Olson about her research.

Video games are also popping-up in places you might not expect, like your local public library. We'll talk with Beth Gallaway, a consultant who helps libraries set-up video game programs to attract more members of the community, no matter what their age. Her company, Information Goddess Consulting, is based in Hampton, New Hampshire.

(Photo by Adam Melancon)

Today on Word of Mouth, we find out why violent video games may not be as bad for children as some people think, and we'll hear how libraries are using video games to bring more people through their doors. We'll also get a preview of the Festival of New Musics at Dartmouth College, we'll hear how the indie crafting movement might be selling out, and we'll meet the men behind a "reverse construction" business.

(Image by David Werner)

Electronic and experimental composers are gathering in Hanover on Tuesday for Dartmouth’s Festival of New Musics. For three decades, the festival has presented bold and pioneering music composed and performed by undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and special guests.

Doug Perkins is the curator of this year’s show. He was a founding member of the group So Percussion along with Todd Meehan. Now they perform as the Meehan/Perkins Duo. Doug has worked with an impressive roster of contemporary musicians like David Lang, Steve Reich, and John Zorn. Tuesday on Word of Mouth, he talks with host Virginia Prescott and gives us a preview of the upcoming performances.

Performing at the Festival:

Amy X Neuburg

Meehan/Perkins Percussion Duo

John Arroyo

Courtney Brown




(Photo by Max Williams)