This week on Sound Effect, stories of time and how it rules our daily lives.
Every Hour Injures, The Last One Kills
For centuries, sundials have inspired artists and scientists alike as a way to display the passing of time. Retired UW astrobiology professor Woody Sullivan shares how his 25-year love affair with sundials began and how he invented the first working sundial tattoo.
A Brewing War
In 2015, 28-year-old Yemeni-American Mokhtar Alkhanshali wanted to bring the unique flavor and high quality of Yemeni coffee to American roasters and customers. But as the Yemeni war began, he had to race against the clock to find a safe way out of Yemen to the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s annual conference in Seattle. Sound Effect contributor Hebah Fisher tells the story of how Alkhanshali braved a dangerous voyage for coffee.
Waiting For Justice
In local jails across Washington state, there are dozens of people waiting behind bars for mental health evaluations. These are people who have been charged with a crime but have not been convicted. They often spend weeks, even months, waiting for evaluations called competency reviews. A disability rights lawyer explains why this problem exists and how the state is working to provide speedier justice.
Have A Good Run
At the Northwest Kidney Centers, patients are very aware of the passing hours as they wait for dialysis machines to clean and process their blood. Oftentimes, they spend 10 to 20 hours a week hooked up to these machines. One patient, Vonita McGee, lets us into the world of kidney dialysis and shares how she found friendship and community in a difficult place.
I Love You, Dad
Irish-American writer Dominic Black never exchanged much sentimental talk with his otherwise loving father. However, one day in his 30s, Dominic felt it was finally time to say, "I love you." He shares this essay about why those words went unspoken for so long -- and what it was like to finally express it out loud.
