Futsal

Soccer is rapidly gaining popularity in the United States, and the country is also becoming a respected name in the sport. Last week, the men's national team qualified for their sixth straight World Cup, and thousands of Americans have already booked their tickets for the host nation of South Africa. However, American players are widely perceived as lacking the necessary skill and technique to compete against rivals from Africa, Latin America and Europe. The introduction of futsal, a close-control version of indoor soccer, may just give Americans the necessary tools to develop truly world-class players. Ali Winston reports for North Gate Radio on the sport's growth from Hayward, Calif.
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Photos by Ali Winston

Wheelchair Rugby

Reporter Dara Kerr spent time on the sidelines of one of San Francisco's wheelchair rugby games. All of the participating athletes are quadriplegics, which means that they have some type of impairment in their upper body. Some have use of their arms, while others don't. Dara also learned that just like traditional rugby, these players like crashing into each other. For information on how to join the YMCA's wheelchair rugby games go to their Web site.
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photo courtesy of Nils Jorgensen Scott Pope, foreground, barrels through competition at a wheelchair rugby game.

Web audio extras:
To hear Scott Pope's story about becoming quadriplegic click below.

One-on-One Conversation with Bruce Benderson

Bruce Benderson's latest book Pacific Agony is about a New Yorker hired to write a Tocquevillian travelogue of the Pacific Northwest. It's a journey that will drive him mad. Japhet Weeks reports.
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New York City author Bruce Benderson

The Rocket Shop

The unemployment rate in America is about 9-and-a-half percent. But for blind people, it’s estimated to be 70 percent. The California School for the Blind is trying to change that, with the opening of a new café where high school students are getting ready for retail jobs.
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Photo by Clayton Trosclair Mocha Shelton (left), a teaching assistant, and Karen Courtemanche, a job developer, stand behind a register at the Rocket Shop, a newly opened retail store at the California School for the Blind in Fremont.

Japanese-Peruvian Internees

During World War II, over a dozen countries in South and Central America deported some of their citizens with Japanese ancestry to U.S. internment camps. Peru sent more than 1,700 Japanese and Japanese-Peruvians to an internment camp in Crystal City, Texas. About 300 internees stayed in America after the war. Many of them relocated to the Bay Area.
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Can Collector

These days, everyone has a story about a scavenger digging through their recycling bin. Stolen cans and bottles cost the city of Bekeley more than an estimated hundred-thousand dollars a year. But just how much money can a man make in this illicit trade? Reporter Caitlin Esch takes a ride with a moonlight can collector and files this report.

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Stolen cans and bottles cost Bekeley more than $100,000 a year.
photo by Caitlin Esch

Web audio extras:
Mario's worst can collecting experience

Mario's best can collecting experience

Mission Bay

Reporter Clayton Trosclair visited a creekside community in San Francisco where a unique group of home owners have held out as bigger, shinier developments have cropped up around them.

To view a map of Mission Bay developments, click here.

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One-on-One Conversation with Michael Natzic

It's well known that this economic crisis has hit banks especially hard. But not all banks are created equal. We often hear about big money centers like Bank of America or Wells Fargo, but what about local community banks? How have they been faring? Melanie Mason reports.

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Michael R. Natzic,
Senior Vice President of Stone & Youngberg

Lyal Corliss, still shoeing horses at 81

In Northern California's Humboldt County, one hard-working octogenarian is still at a trade that people half his age consider
back-breaking. Reporter Japhet Weeks has the story.

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Photos by Yuli Weeks

Sex Doesn't Always Sell

Despite the common thinking, it turns out the porn industry is not immune to economic downturns. A number of film studios and magazines have folded, or gone online since the beginning of the year, including Play Girl. Reporter Tyler Sipe ventured to San Francisco’s Folsom Street Fair. Where he spoke to a number of pornography producers about what exactly is making their sales go limp.

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Gold's Gym'

There are few place where you can get a workout, a therapy session, and a spiritual cleansing all in one. Reporter Paul Gackle visited God's Gym in Oakland to find out how owner Gary Shields helps his clients strengthen their bodies and their faith.

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Gary Shields
photo by Kerry Seed

Suicide in the Silver Years

In 2005, more than 7,000 senior citizens committed suicide in America. Reporter Shaleece Haas investigates the rise of this disturbing trend and meets some of the people trying to help.

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For more information, visit the Institute on Aging's website, here.

Return to Lender

Nowhere has the housing market come unbuttoned quite like Stockton, California. Reporter Matt Durning spent a day with a mailman in America’s foreclosure capital.

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May Day Marcher

On May 1st, around a thousand people marched to Oakland city hall, hoping to call attention to the many issues affecting workers. Reporter Diana Montano caught up with one labor leader to talk about the state of the movement today.

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Disability Rights in a Virtual World

With the click of a keyboard button and some basic adaptive software, blind people can navigate the Internet. But too many sites aren’t compatible with the technology, creating a digital divide. Adelaide Chen reports on how California’s equal access laws are being applied to the virtual world.

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