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Host Jacki Lyden opens up our mailbag, and reads some of our listeners' letters.

NPR's Don Gonyea speaks with host Jacki Lyden about Vice President Al Gore's recent visit to Silent Spring author Rachel Carson's estate. Gore, a long-time crusader for a clean environment, spent time at the author's estate, and said her book helped to get him interested in environmentalism.

Linda talks with Josh King, vice president of SpeakOut.com, about the Website's instant polling to gauge reaction to speeches at the Democratic National Convention. People who are watching and listening to the convention, can give their reactions to the major speeches, by logging on to their Website. They see something like an odometer on their screen, and as someone like Joe Lieberman is speaking, they move the mouse across a scale from 1 to 100, with 50 being neutral. This way, he says, we can get a RANDOM, but interesting perspective on how a speech and its presentation moved people who heard it. (5:45) The interent address is http://speakout.com/

Brooklyn-based historian, author and playwright Charles Mee believes that the greatest plays in human history -- those by the ancient Greeks and Shakespeare -- would never have been written had copyright laws existed to keep the authors from borrowing from the culture around them. Mee puts his money where his mouth is. He makes the texts of his plays freely available on the Web, and forgoes royalties. NPR's Rick Karr reports.

Commentator Dick George came home to find a white cross out in front of his family's rural home, memorializing the scene of a fatal car crash. He says it's been difficult for some people in the community to move forward with the constant reminder and impromptu memorial out front.

Linda talks to Jacob Weisberg, Chief Political Correspondent for the on-line magazine "Slate," about the production values of the convention -- how the message is packaged and produced, with music and videos and other techniques designed for the television viewers. He says the Republicans offered a sleek production. The Democrats are always a little more chaotic. (4:30) The internet address for Slate is http://slate.msn.com/

The protesters who have gathered around the Democratic National Convention represent causes large and small. While they seem to get media attention only when they clash with the law, NPR's Don Gonyea paused to take in the clashes and the quiet last night.

Noah has a brief note on some of the other stories on the program.

NPR's Barbara Bradley covers wire reports that Independent Counsel Robert Ray has convened a new grand jury to hear evidence about the sex scandal involving President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Ray is concerned with whether the president committed perjury in his testimony about the matter. The White House is questioning the timing of the the news leaks about this new grand jury, which was reportedly seated in July, as they come on the same day Vice President Al Gore is to address the Democratic Convention.

As wildfires burn across the U-S, Asia and Europe, NPR's John Nielsen reports on scientists' efforts to understand and predict the behavior of fires. The method of prediction is similar to the way that meteorologists forecast the behavior of hurricanes and tornadoes.

Noah talks to Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Brands, a pilot with the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command, about the use of the C-130 transport plane in fighting western wildfires. Brands discusses why the C-130 aircraft is used, how it flies, and strategies for dropping fire retardant.

Before the Democratic Convention, Linda talked with several women from Ohio who are undecided voters and are looking to the conventions for signals as to how they should vote. We heard their conversation Monday. This week, Linda is checking back with them to hear their reactions as the Democratic convention progresses. Today we hear from Mary Curran about whether Joe Lieberman's speech helped persuade her one way or the other. She says yes ... and no.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports from Jakarta, Indonesia, that former President Suharto is set to go on trial on charges of corruption. The 79-year-old Suharto is accused of amassing a fortune, along with his family, during his more than 30 years in power. But proving the case against the aging general won't be easy as much of his wealth has been disguised or transferred overseas. Lawyers for Suharto say he is too ill to be put on trial. The case has divided Indonesia as the country remains enmeshed in economic and political instability.

Al Gore will give the biggest political speech of his life tonight at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. As he accepts his party's nomination for president, Gore will reintroduce himself to the American people, hoping to demonstrate that he has the substance and the character to lead the nation. NPR's Anthony Brooks has traveled with the campaign for much of the year and reports tonight from L.A.

Noah reads letters from All Things Considered listeners. Subjects this week include Robert Trout's reports on Democratic conventions of the 1940's, political theater, and musical theater -- West Side Story. (3:15) Please Note: To contact All Things Considered, write to All Things Considered Letters, 635 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20001. The e-mail address is atc@npr.org.

NPR's Barbara Bradley reports on issues surrounding the new grand jury empanelled by Independent Counsel Robert Ray to investigate President Clinton. Legal experts say Ray may have needed a new grand jury to look at new evidence, or simply to get the subpoena power necessary to tie up loose ends. Since he took over the office from Kenneth Starr, Ray has said he was not ruling out the possibility of trying to indict Clinton after his presidential term ends.

With her hair neatly braided, the girl sat next to her baby brother, dressed for an outing, complete with a backpack and note — but their parents were nowhere to be found, the U.S. Border Patrol said.

Conventions have as many meanings as they have participants. Most of the people involved in the political process make their own contribution and experience the event in their own ways. NPR's Andy Bowers offers several vignettes from this week's convention.

It's the final installment of call-outs to undecided female voters in suburban Ohio -- a key group to win over in the upcoming Presidential election. Today, Linda checks in with Gina Cronan for her reaction to Vice President Al Gore's speech last night. Gina is a working mom from University Heights, Ohio. She's a life-long Republican but has not been pleased with Texas Governor George W. Bush. Last night, Gina says, Gore won her over -- in large part by his discussion of key issues.

Noah checks back with Stacy Jessop, a Montana middle school teacher who was evacuated to a Red Cross shelter to avoid wildfires which were burning perilously close to her house. She's returning home today.