A conversation on the week's news in Canada from our Canadian correspondent, Vaughn Palmer, political correspondent for the Vancouver Sun. Then, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell takes your questions this hour. The Washington legislator talks about her busy year: fighting offshore drilling, cracking down on oil speculators, dealing with the Iraq War. Find out what she has to say on health care, politics, energy, the environment and being Washington's second female senator. Email Weekday or call during the show at 800 289 KUOW

Church is changing. Around our region, many traditional churches are switching their formula: using praise songs rather than hymns, hiring humorous pastors rather than stoic ones. Our traditionally unchurched region has been surprised by the success of local mega churches. Is traditional worship going by the wayside? If you attend a church or synagogue, what is it like? Why did you choose it? If you are shopping for a congregation, what are you hoping to find? Are the changes to religious institutions a sign of a changing view of spirituality in general? Share your thoughts and experiences with us by emailing Weekday, or call during the show at 800 289 KUOW

Abe Vigoda - "Dead City/Waste Wilderness" from the 2008 album Skeleton on Post Present Medium.

Darker My Love - "Two Ways Out" from the 2008 album 2 on Dangerbird Records.

A property tax increase for parks and green spaces will be on the November 4th ballot in Seattle. The levy will cost the average homeowner about $83 a year for six years. How do you use Seattle parks? Are you satisfied with your parks? Will you vote for the tax increase? Perhaps you walk to your city park. Is it safe? There's going to be a public forum on pedestrian safety at city hall tonight. We'll talk to city council member Nick Licata, who's sponsoring the event. It's an issue of personal interest to Licata. His stepson was seriously injured while walking to catch a school bus. And sewage from the Edgewater Hotel was spilling into Elliott Bay because of a broken pipe. How does this happen?

Last week our Greendays Gardening Panel focused on weeds and how to keep them from spreading. This week, we thought we'd go the opposite direction. What plants should you let go to seed? Which plants improve a yard by spreading? We'll also answer your general gardening questions during the show.

Environmentalist Gus Speth was an adviser in the Carter White House. Today he says we need to make basic changes to capitalism if there is any hope of avoiding environmental catastrophe. Does capitalism harm the environment? Speth has been an environmentalist for more than three decades and co founded the Natural Resources Defense Council. He is currently dean and professor of environmental policy at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Tim Eyman's new transportation initiative has been certified. You'll be voting on it in November. It's supposed to reduce traffic. If passed, it would open high occupancy vehicle lanes to all traffic from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It would also require that 15 percent of vehicle taxes go to reduce traffic congestion. We'll hear from Eyman and get your response to his latest. And do you have an email in your inbox with a sensational news headline? DON'T CLICK! It's the latest scam to hijack your computer and steal your information. Also, she's covered Microsoft for 25 years. Mary Jo Foley tells us about her first interview with Bill Gates in 1984... and what she sees in the future for Microsoft.

The world is changing, and so is the way that children play. What do kids learn from creative play? Why is it important? How has play changed since your childhood? Do you encourage your children to play? Share your ideas.

Mystery and suspense novels make for perfect summer reading. Today local mystery writer J.A. Jance joins us to explain how she crafts a case. What are your favorite mystery books? Who is your favorite sleuth? Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes... Encyclopedia Brown? Share your suggestions with us.

Anomie Belle is the project of composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Toby Campbell. With her band, they make dark social issues eerily lovely in a down-tempo way.

The Dodos - "Fools" from the 2008 album Visiter on French Kiss.

I tracked down Frederic Choiniere. He's the film maker who presented his work at the pedicab workshop during the Towards car-free Cities Conference in Portland. Here's his film about the politics that swirl around New York's pedicab industry.

Welcome to the Music that Matters Punkcast. I'm Mr. West co-host of Sonic Reducer, KEXP's weekly punk show. I am joined by friend of the show DJ Jeremy and faithful intern Stephie. We are going to bring you the newest and best in punk, hardcore, and other weirdness, from here in Seattle and across the world. We'll do our best to let you know what we'll be playing, but if you're anything like me you want to check out the playlist before you listen. 1. Jay Reatard - All Wasted 2. Eddy Current Suppression Ring - We'll Be Turned On 3. Crash Normal - Heavy Listening 4. Lamborghiniz - BOOM!! Get them drawls off! 5. Juanita Y Los Feos - Tu Secta Es Guay 6. Mayyors - (Side A off debut 7") 7. The Wicked Awesomes! - Fighting the Wolf Spirit 8. Wizzard Sleeve - Alabama's Doomed 9. Fag Cop - Automatic Kansas 10. The Wax Museums - I eat Vomit 11. Live Fast Die - Pissing on the Mainframe 12. Walls - Tread On Me/Punch Out 13. Iron Lung - Politics of Science 14. Sex Vid - Exorcism 15. Genghis Tron - City on a Hill 16. Said Radio - Roses 17. Government Warning - Government Warning 18. 100 Flowers - Reject Yourself 19. Harpoon Guns - 15 20. Le Face - Salvador Dali 21. Frances Harold and the Holograms - Two Faggots, One Cunt Thanks so much for listening to this special MTM podcast, The Sonic Reducer Edition. To listen to tons more punk check out our little show on 9-midnight every Saturday night where Brian Foss, Nick Turner and I, Mr. West, will bludgeon you with punk AND hardcore. Thanks so much to Jeremy and Stephie -- they have done as much if not more to put this podcast together; it wouldn't have been 1/3 as good without them. Thanks to Jim, Rachel, Reese and all the bands who could and could not be on the podcast.

Al Gore says the United States can generate all of its electricity from zero carbon energy sources within a decade. Do you agree? Gore says the survival of the United States as we know it is at risk. He says fossil fuels are a threat to our national security and to the planet. He's calling for a carbon tax. He says enough wind power blows through the Midwest corridor every day to meet ALL of America's electricity demand. Critics call the goal unrealistic and too costly. Do you think we could generate all our electricity with green technology by 2018? Also today, a look ahead to the trial of Osama bin Laden's driver at Guantanamo Bay next week. And that 15 billion dollar Sound Transit light rail and bus package appears headed for the ballot this November.

Once again it is Friday. What stories caught your attention? What hasn't been covered enough? Is there anything that really made your blood boil? The news is more than the mainstream headlines. Don't let the media choose all the topics. What is your take on the news? Monday on Weekday: Is Creative Play Important for Young Children and How is it Changing?

Could you locate the Arctic Building downtown? Do you know who originally occupied the building that houses the Magic Mouse? Today on Weekday, we go on an audio walking tour of downtown Seattle. How important is architecture to the character of a city? What does Seattle's architecture say about it? Is it important to preserve historic buildings? What determines if a building is historic anyhow? Plus, Cliff Mass joins us with a weekend weather forecast at 9:50 a.m.. Monday on Weekday: Mysteries: The Writing and The Reading

The Cute Lepers - "It's Summertime, Baby" from the 2008 album Can't Stand Modern Music on Blackheart Records.

Should anyone be allowed to copy what you create online? We talk with Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing blogger, science fiction writer, and technology opinionater. Should the government protect your copyright? What do you think? Also today, an American soldier in Iraq was electrocuted in the shower. He's not the only one. Eleven electrocution deaths have been attributed to poor work by Haliburton KBR, one of the nation's biggest defense contractors. We'll hear from a former KBR electrician about the under cover story of non combat deaths in Iraq.

Herman Dune - "I Wish That I Could See You Soon" from the 2008 album I Wish That I Could See You Soon on Everloving.

His father was against it. So was his brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush. And so was he. But Monday with four dollar gas at the pump, the president said: let's open up US drilling for oil offshore. John McCain was against it, but this week he did an about face. And public opinion has been shifting too. According to a new poll, over half of Americans support offshore oil drilling. Do you? What are the environmental risks? How much oil is really out there? Would it bring down the cost of gas? Offshore drilling is our topic today on Weekday.

Calling all comic book fans! The newest Batman is another film in a long line of big screen adaptations of comic books. Why are these movies popular? Do they fill a need in the culture today? How true are the movies to the original comics? Should they be? Is the big-screen attention changing the culture of comics? Find out what comic heavyweights think. Call 800 289 KUOW during the show or email weekday@kuow.org. Or just flash us the Bat Signal.

Calling all comic book fans! The newest Batman is another film in a long line of big screen adaptations of comic books. Why are these movies popular? Do they fill a need in the culture today? How true are the movies to the original comics? Should they be? Is the big-screen attention changing the culture of comics? Find out what comic heavyweights think. Call 800 289 KUOW during the show or email weekday@kuow.org. Or just flash us the Bat Signal.

In yet another in a series of podcasts from the Towards Car-free Cities Conference in Portland last June, we examine the transformational power of human fueled machines on the urban landscape. I recorded a workshop on Pedicabs with Steve Meyer of Main Street Pedi-cabs, Peter Meitzler of Manhattan Rickshaw, filmaker Fred Soignan, and Jonathan Magnes of PDX Pedicabs. Hat tip for the photo to cycleseven Download the mp3 or subscribe to Bikescape in itunes

Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter - "In The Summertime" from the 2008 limited EP Gentleness of Nothing on Fargo Records.

Public documents show that three years ago Washington public lands commissioner Doug Sutherland inappropriately touched a young female employee. Sutherland apologized. The young woman quit her job. Sutherland told the Seattle Times the touching was meant as a friendly gesture. The documents were provided by supporters of Sutherland's opponent in the upcoming election. Should there be zero tolerance of sexual harassment? What's it like where you work? Also today, there have been proposals to fix the infamous Mercer traffic mess for 38 years. The latest plan is under fire from three neighborhood groups. And, police raid a medical marijuana clinic in Seattle's University District. There were no arrests but marijuana and files were confiscated.

First, a conversation on the week's news in Canada from our correspondent, Vaughn Palmer of the Vancouver Sun. Then, around the Northwest people are trying to live in an eco friendly way, but there are a lot of nuances to recycling, composting and purchasing that can effect your environmental impact. How do you avoid excess packaging? Is there a way to be eco cool when it's hot? Do you have questions? Now is your chance. Tom Watson, King County's EcoConsumer, joins us. Call 800 289 KUOW or email Weekday. Tomorrow on Weekday: Offshore Oil Drilling

A couple weeks ago, we talked about marriage on Weekday. We specifically asked you to explain why you got married. During that show, another issue came up. When a marriage is rocky, should you stay together for the kids? For those of you that have faced this issue, what did you decide? How did you choose your path? How did you talk to your children about it? And what happens if one spouse thinks staying together is better, and the other disagrees? Also, if you're the child from a turbulent household, what's your perspective? Email Weekday or call during the show 800 289 KUOW.Tomorrow on Weekday: Calling All Comic Book Fans!

This fall, Seattle property owners will be asked to foot the bill for fixing up Pike Place Market. Basics like plumbing, electric, and the roof need to get fixed. The Seattle City Council yesterday decided to ask voters to approve a property tax increase to pay for it. It would cost homeowners on average about 43 dollars a year for six years. Are you willing to pay? Also today, for the first time people are driving less. That means people are buying less gas. That means gas tax revenues are down. It's the gas tax that pays for road maintenance. How can the state solve this dilemma? Plus, what the heck is going on with the economy? We'll have someone on hand to answer your questions about what's happening, and how you can protect yourself.

The plants in your garden are benefiting from the rain and sun we've been having lately. So are the weeds. What is that weed you keep pulling? What can be done to deal with weeds safely? Our garden panel is here to help.