I think heroes are endangered. There is a few of them around, but they are rapidly disappearing. And when new heroes emerge it doesn't take long before some scandalous video of them surfaces on the internet. There is also a general lack of true villains in the world. It used to be easier to find someone to hate. Today I find that the media is too good at presenting different sides of an issue, which makes it difficult to cultivate resentment towards evil individuals. Even a villain like Muammar Gaddafi is now seen as a regional philanthropist.

Posted by Andreas, 10:35 p.m. Monday, May 12 2008 Permalink

Endangered species: surfaces without advertising on them. There was a time when ads knew their place – on billboards and the pages of newspapers and magazines. Now they’re everywhere: in elevators and cabs, in schools, on eggs, and on the bins at airport security.

Posted by Alison, 6:46 a.m. Tuesday, May 13 2008 Permalink

Endangered species: Quality public radio if we let pollution like The Takeaway take over.

Posted by Jay Slenth, 7:03 a.m. Tuesday, May 13 2008 Permalink

Endangered: The ability of my children to find affordable health care coverage once they are too old to be on mine. Neither presidential front runner is serious about this issue and I don't sense an urgent political will in Congress either. I'm beginning to wonder if any meaningful reform will take place in my lifetime.

Posted by mc, 8:32 a.m. Tuesday, May 13 2008 Permalink

What's on my personal endangered list? My membership to WNYC, thanks to this show. It is beyond lame; it is an insult to the intelligence of WNYC listeners. Please, take it away!

Posted by Faith, 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, May 13 2008 Permalink

Civility and integrity, both endangered aspects of human existence, have been trumped by egocentrism and and a pathological focus on money.

Posted by Zora, 11:06 a.m. Tuesday, May 13 2008 Permalink

Dear other unwilling listeners to the superficial and thoroughly unsatisfying TakeAway: Follow the money! Scroll to the bottom of this screen and click on the links to the sponsors. Call, send an email, let them know that their money is being wasted! Best regards Your companion in dissatisfaction.

Posted by Anna, 12:11 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 2008 Permalink

Anna, What is perhaps most endangered, in my mind and in light of your earlier comment, is constructive criticism and dialogue regarding the improvement of The TakeAway. I mean your vague generalizations about the show's "superficial and thoroughly unsatisfying" nature make me think that you are writing about something much more personal and intimate than morning talk radio. Perhaps your feelings have their origin in a more internal "dissatisfaction". Or could it be that your "dissatisfaction" is the product of a general inability to relate to the show's content? Jeremy

Posted by Jeremy King, 12:25 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 2008 Permalink

The Takeaway is an intellectually bankrupt program hosted by people who are (well-meaning but) pretentious, shallow, narcissistic and trying too hard (and failing miserably) to sound otherwise (that is, to sound genuine and deep and caring). What is on my personal endangered species list? Really, what ARE on it? It's long, but near the topic will have to be people who know not to use the elevator or escalator when pulling their own leg muscles using endosomatic energy acquired from food intake is a perfectly good and reasonable option!

Posted by Phyllis, 12:48 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 2008 Permalink

Thank you, Jeremy, for your insightful comments. I agree that Anna's sentiments are a little too strong for the topic. As far as what's on my endangered list: road trips (which I enjoy so much) now that gas prices are so high!

Posted by KASW, 1:36 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 2008 Permalink

Phyllis, Again, I note that you are commenting on the program itself in multiple places where that is not the discussion topic, please put your comments under the Mornings Need a Makeover. The rest of us might like to discuss the topics at hand. Thx.

Posted by jason, 3:53 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 2008 Permalink

What's on my personal endangered list? Spontaneous and random conversations with strangers on the subway, bus or sidewalk. With everyone plugged into an iPod, no one is communicating with anyone else.

Posted by Helen, 4:37 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 2008 Permalink

Jason, there was a second paragraph, incidentally.

Posted by Phyllis, 4:55 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 2008 Permalink