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Quick Guide & Transcript: Rev. Jerry Falwell dies, Some say farm subsidies affect the U.S. diet

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(CNN Student News) -- May 16, 2007

Quick Guide

Jerry Falwell 1933-2007 - Look back at the life of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who died Tuesday at age 73.

You Are What You Eat - Discover one of the roles that the federal government plays in farming.

Looking for a Job? - Hear about some mistakes people make when trying to land a summer job.

Transcript

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MONICA LLOYD, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: We're glad you're with us for this Wednesday edition of CNN Student News. I'm Monica Lloyd. Mourning a loss: A high profile minister whose life weaved a path through religion, politics and even the entertianment world has died. Working the fields: You might think farmers are the only ones who pick food, but the government has a say about what ends up on your plate. And seeking employment: With the end of the school year almost here, we've got some advice for students looking to mix it up in the summer job market.

First Up: Jerry Falwell 1933-2007

LLOYD: First up today, the death of a spiritual leader. Doctors say heart-related problems were likely the cause for Rev. Jerry Falwell's passing. The well-known minister died Tuesday at age 73. He's credited with turning religious conservatives into a major force in U.S. politics. But Falwell found himself involved in controversy as well. Tara Mergener looks back at the life of a man who impacted religion, politics and even pop culture. Teachers, please preview this segment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TARA MERGENER, CNN REPORTER: Son of an alcoholic who sold bootleg whiskey during prohibition. Father of a movement to portray America as God's country. A big thinker from small town Virginia, building his 35-member Thomas Road Baptist Church into a congregation of thousands and then millions, as the fundamentalist preacher, raised on radio preachers, pioneered a new evangelism: the TV pulpit.

Jerry Falwell said he found Jesus in 1952. He found politics in 1979, forming the Moral Majority to lobby against abortion rights, gay rights, pornography and a host of social issues, claiming credit for helping elect Ronald Reagan and a string of officials down the government ladder.

JERRY FALWELL: We have a goal having 200 of our people running for office this year at different levels across the country.

MERGENER: A visionary to conservatives. A lucifer to liberals. Always provocative. AIDS, he said, was God's punishment to homosexuals. September 11th? That was God's punishment too, unleashed on the America of abortionists, feminists, pagans and gays. Falwell apologized for that one. Through the decades, his targets ranged from terrorists to Teletubbies. Falwell retreated from the secular world in his last years, dedicating himself to the once-tiny church he turned into a multimillion dollar empire. And Falwell's top aides say he had breakfast with him just this morning and he seemd fine. He was found unresponsive a short time later. Reporting for CNN Student News, I'm Tara Mergener.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Word to the Wise

GEORGE RAMSAY, CNN STUDENT NEWS: A Word to the Wise...

subsidy (noun) a government grant given to a person or a company to help with a project

Source: www.m-w.com

You Are What You Eat

LLOYD: It can be tough to make healthy choices when your stomach starts growling it's time to chow down. But if you are what you eat, you might wonder who's playing a part in choosing what's on the menu. Lisa Goddard maps out the connections between the government, farmers and the food that ends up on your table.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LISA GODDARD, CNN REPORTER: What we eat determines how we're shaped. But now experts are questioning what shapes our food choices. Some are pointing here: at Congress.

MICHAEL POLLAN, AUTHOR "THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA": If you're concerned about what you eat, you need to be concerned about the farm bill.

GODDARD: Author Michael Pollan suggested in last month's New York Times Magazine that what we eat is driven by the federal farm bill. It's enormous. Up for renewal now, farm bill subsidies last year were around $18 billion, according to the USDA. That's mainly for corn, soy and wheat. Some of the subsidies lead to overproduction and therefore lower prices.

POLLAN: With the result that there's tons of cheap sweeteners in the form of high fructose corn syrup.

GODDARD: And that means soda and snack cakes are also cheaper and more tempting. The idea is that high calories here start with overproduction here. But farmers say the issue is on the other end, with processing and what we choose to eat.

JAMIE JAMISON, FARMER: Somewhere we've got to take responsibility ourselves for our own action.

GODDARD: Jamie Jamison farms 5,000 acres in Maryland. Today his tractors are planting soy. For decades, this farm has depended on subsidies to get through the bad years.

JAMISON: This is corn fodder from last year.

GODDARD: Some lawmakers argue the crops themselves aren't the problem.

SEN. BYRON DORGAN, D-NORTH DAKOTA: The farmer produces the corn. That's healthy. That's good for you. Someone else puts the fat and the salt in it.

GODDARD: North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan says he's more worried about the survival of small farms like Jamison's, which can depend on subsidies.

JAMISON: We look at it as a safety net.

GODDARD: Are farm bill subsidies a lifeline to family farms? Or, as Michael Pollan and others say, do they push empty calories onto our tables? Either way, they are a massive force, dramatically affecting our food supply from the ground up. Lisa Goddard, CNN, Poolesville, Maryland.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Spoken Word

TOM SPEAKS, DEPUTY INCIDENT COMMANDER: Yeah, fatigue is becoming a huge issue. It's actually been going on now four weeks with everyting that's been going on in the Oke swamp. We're talking about record droughts, incredible fuel loadings on the ground. Weather hasn't been helping one bit with that, so our resources are getting tired. The only thing that would help us is a lot of rain. They continue to rotate out and come back in and get some rest, so we're in here for the long slug.

Florida on Fire

LLOYD: Tom Speaks there, of the U.S. Forest Service, discussing the wildfires in Georgia and Florida. Now earlier this week we told you these fires have burned hundreds of thousands of acres. Officials say the Florida blaze is about 50 percent contained right now. But firefighters there are working 20-hour days to keep the flames under control. And several hundred people are waiting to return home, after being evacuated when the fire jumped a containment barrier Monday night.

Looking for a Job?

LLOYD: It's cap and gown time on college campuses, as seniors get ready to pick up their diplomas. Experts say grads have no reason to worry about what's waiting for them in the work force. According to a new report, the job market looks good for the class of '07, with some of the best opportunities coming in health care and technology. And Austin, Texas, and Jacksonville, North Carolina, are among the hottest locations for new job prospects.

No more pencils. No more books. School's out for summer! Well, almost. While some of you might spend the next few months soaking up the sun or seeking out adventure, for others, it's time for those two dreaded words: summer job! But don't fret. Carl Azuz has some do's and don't's for your summer job search.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Summer break is just days away. And while many of you will be able to kick back and take it easy, others are gonna have to clip on a tie and look professional. That's where we come in. What are some of the common mistakes people make when trying to get a summer job?

KELVIN SLATER, OWNER, BLUE MOON PIZZA: If they came in and had five other applications with them, and they sat down and filled out those applications here and then asked for an application.

AZUZ: And that's numero uno: Act apathetic. Letting an employer know all you care about is a paycheck is a good way to ensure you won't get one. Number two: Bring the drama.

MANDY SLATER, PROPRIETOR, BLUE MOON PIZZA: I don't wanna hear about what's going on outside the restaurant or that they just got in a fight with their boyfriend.

AZUZ: Now a lot of places, like this pizzeria, will actually check up on the claims you make on your application. And that may include why you left your last job.

SLATER: They may have said they were released on good terms, and then you call and that person can't even be allowed back in the building.

AZUZ: So number three? Lie. That's one way to guarantee you won't be making any dough this summer. And if you want to start with a nice, bad impression, show up unprepared. Let your pants hang down, wear flip-flops and leave a pen at home. You won't believe how many employers hate that. Also, try arguing with your interviewer.

KATHERINE JO HUNT, SERVER: I was late for a job interview once, and I was trying to convince the woman that I wasn't late, and she was pretty upset that I was being defiant to her on a job interview. That didn't go very well.

AZUZ: Can't think why! Now for some genuine don't's. When you go to prepare that fancy resume, take some hints from a recent CareerBuilders.com and Harris Interactive poll: It found that someone printed a resume on blue paper with teddy bears all around the border. Cute, if you're seven. Not as much if you're seventeen. And if you just happen to have an arrest record, don't explain it by saying, "We stole a pig, but it was a really small pig." Someone reportedly did that! Don't ask if he got the job. Whether you're going for a summer job, a better job, or the boss' job, we hope you'll learn from these common and not-so-common mistakes. And of course, we wish you all happy hunting. Carl Azuz, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Promo

LLOYD: If you haven't taken advantage of the high quality podcast version of CNN Student News, check it out today. You can find it at iTunes or at our Web site, CNN.com/EDUCATION. And for access anytime without a computer, download the show to your iPod.

Before We Go

LLOYD: Before we go, a couple of gems that are truly outrageous. There's bling, and then there's this! These heavyweight diamonds tip the scales at a whopping 82 and 102 carats! Talk about a rock! The precious stones are the main attraction at an auction this week. But you might need to dip into your savings if you want to put in a bid. They're expected to go for about $2 million each.

Goodbye

LLOYD: And that's a whole new level of flashy jewelry. We'll see you tomorrow for more CNN Student News. Thanks for watching. I'm Monica Lloyd.


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