Weekend Variety Wireless - Hour 3 - 22/07/18

This hour, Graeme Hill is joined by John Dybvig for his take on the latest news of the week from the United States. First up they take a look at the recent arrest of Russian spy Maria Butina. She is involved with the NRA, and other republican based outlets. As Dybvig puts it, shes a fox. Butina was tired of living with her 56 year old partner in South Dakota, but after analysis of her personal correspondence it was founds that she did it for Mother Russia. Ms Butina managed to fly beneath the radar for a large period of time, and even had dinner with Donald Trump Jnr. All in all its a classic Russian spy story. Then the pair discuss the Oval office and ask the question Is it actually oval? Yes, yes it is. Trump has debased the office to such a degree that Dybvig doesnt even see it as the oval office anymore. When Graeme thinks of it, hes envisions it as a cartoon. Finally the pair cover the division between blacks and whites in the US. Dybvig thinks it had reached an epic new low - Even to the extent that a fireman had the police called on him for doing a routine check of an area. There were similar reports in other areas of states as well. One of which involved a white man that called the cops on a black kid for selling hotdogs in their yard. Do you think a white persons gonna call on another white kid selling water? Dybvig reckons that it is out of control. Graeme asks can we as Kiwis judge? Especially since someone in Northland recently called the cops on their sister after she came back with the incorrect McDonalds order. While they waited for the response, the dog ate it. Warning: John does always try to contain himself, but there are a few swear-words used, so listen to this week's Letter from America at your own risk. Then Shirley Horrocks, Director of NZIFF's Paul Callaghan: Dancing with Atoms joins Graeme in a discussion about the life and legacy of one of New Zealands finest scientists and visionaries, Paul Callaghan. Sir Paul Callaghan was a physicist, science communicator, entrepreneur and 2011 New Zealander of the year. He passed away in 2012 due to cancer. Sir Callaghan was a leader in his field of nuclear magnetic resonance, and was on a mission to share his vision of a predator free New Zealand. Callaghans interviews seen within the film took place in 2010, prior to his passing. His brother Jim and other members of his life also appear which contributes to the story telling immensely. The film focuses on Sir Paul Callaghans entire life, beginning with his childhood in Wanganui all the way to his work at Victoria University, Massey University and then at the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology. Weekend Variety Wireless with Graeme Hill, 8pm - midnight Saturdays and Sundays, on RadioLIVE and streaming live to the Rova app on Android and iPhone.