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Friday June 6, 2008

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Hypermilers

With gas prices forcing many of us to rethink our driving habits, we wanted to get a few tips from a group of car owners on a never-ending quest for the ultimate in fuel efficiency. They're called 'hypermilers' - drivers who claim they can double their gas mileage by simply changing their behavior behind the wheel. Those methods have some claiming to achieve an average of 50 - even 60 miles per gallon on a tank of gas. Patrick Madden heads out for a spin with a group of local hypermilers.

Paddle To The Bay

Most of us in the DC region have an understanding that what falls into the Anacostia River eventually flows all the way to the Chesapeake Bay. But not all of us have confirmed this by making that journey personally. For the past twelve years, the Anacostia Watershed Society has been doing just that - launching a kayak expedition to paddle 120 miles from DC to the Chesapeake Bay over 6 days. This year's voyage kicked off on Monday and is due to wrap up on Saturday, June 7th at 11am. We're joined by Acting President of the Anacostia Watershed Society, Jim Connolly.

World Naked Bike Ride

So far, we covered two forms of transportation today - cars and kayaks. It's time for bikes. But this won't just be any old bike trip.

The World NAKED Bike Ride takes place tomorrow, Saturday, June 7th. Conceived in 2001, the first clothing-optional excursion took place in Spain, and has spread to include regional rides around the world. Supposedly the point is to focus a little 'indecent' exposure on the issue of oil dependency... and to inspire people to get out of their cars and onto a bicycle. For the third year running, DC will participate. Bikers say they will streak past the White House and Capital Buildings - but will probably stop short of full birthday-suit splendor. Stephanie Kaye speaks with Roger Paul, local World Naked Bike Ride organizer, about biking in the buff.

Bikers are scheduled to meet at McPherson Square at 3 pm on Saturday. The ride starts at 4 o'clock.

Fred Fiske: Ultimate Fighting

Senior commentator Fred Fiske says an innocent night of watching TV at home was enough to get him worried about the future of the human race.

Teen AIDS

Among U.S. cities, the District has the nation's highest rate of reported AIDS cases. According to city health officials, the infection rate is twice as high as New York City's and four times as high as Detroit's. Arnita Wilson, who works with the organization Metro Teen AIDS, has the unenviable job of notifying teenagers in DC when they are HIV positive. Kavitha Cardoza spent time with Wilson in her office - in the basement of the Metro Teen AIDS center near Eastern Market.

Regional Accents

Regional accents are still very much a part of the American cultural landscape. There's linguist at George Mason University who spends a lot of his time collecting – and studying – these accents. Nancy King with the radio program With Good Reason has this report.

The Frog Chorus

Over the years we've gone on a number of expeditions, looking for everything from Spring Peepers, to Tundra Swan - even the elusive Timberdoodle. Today we're on a quest for frogs. We travel to an area called Hughes Hollow - outside Poolesville, Maryland - with Naturalist Mark Garland. We hit the Hollow at twilight.

Reuben Jackson: RFK

Forty years ago today, Robert F. Kennedy was shot - shortly after winning California's Democratic presidential primary. Writer Reuben Jackson remembers the man and days of turmoil in 1968.

Reuben Jackson is a writer living in the District.

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