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In the wintertime, I enjoy another fine Scot tradition by participating in curling matches at my local club. When the weather keeps me indoors, I'm usually found typing away on my laptop.

My path to WHYS is probably the most indirect way possible, and could not be appriciated fully without expressing a few details. In short, I have my cousin and West Virgina to thank. During the summer of 1999, I took a week holiday to West Virginia to visit my aunt and cousins. During my stay, my cousin Leah would take us to a different swimming hole nearly each day. During on of the half hour rirdes, her tape deck played a track that caught my ear. "Who's this?" I asked. "Stereolab", she replied.

Fast forward nearly 6 years later, I'm now a loyal Stereolab fan standing outside the Majestic Theater, awaiting a concert of thiers. Whilst in line, the conversation turned to recent changes at local radio station WDET (the only Detroit station that plays Stereolab).

In talking about the new format, my interest was sparked anew for the station, and beginning the next day, I sampled the programming the station had to offer. As the hour struck 1 PM local time, a little program came on called World Have Your Say. As fate would have it, they announced a tour of the US with a Detroit date. I knew right then and there I had to go. The rest they say is history. Country roads, West Virginia, take me home indeed.

From day one, I marveled at the concept. A show where people from around the globe set the news agenda they want to talk about and for one hour, give voice to people from differing nations and connect cultures to better understand each other. Simple concept indeed, but so effective.

To my knowledge, such an attempt at global citizenry on this scale has never been attempted. It's concept and vision that keep me coming back to the show time and time again. The more I listen, the more I can't find wrong in the program. I guess my chief complaint is that it really should be longer and cover more topics, or ending the show on a lighthearted note most days to bring a smile on some faces. Other then that, the current format always has something to offer.

As most people know, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ prides itself on it's international news coverage. This is another point that keeps me tuned in. The stories that WHYS covers just aren't touched on by American media, and the program goes one further by getting perpective on how the news is effecting people all around the world.

For me, any news from my locality is of particular interest (especially those that deal with solving our lack of public transportation), but I also enjoy stories on differing public policy, since something that works elsewhere might work where I live (or not work). But the stories that have people talking that don't really seem to cover any political issue are also fun (congrats to everyone for making TIME persons of the year!)

In short, the program has reinforced a concept that I've held for some time now, that I am not just a citizen of Detroit, Michigan and America, but of the Earth too. Something that I'm planning on for the future is to take many trips to far off destinations and revel in the diversity of differing cultures, to not be a tourist, but a traveller.

One things for certain, if WHYS stands the test of time, one day I'll drop by Bush House and surprise a staff of radio presenters who helped to change the world for the better to a night out. They'd have most earned it.

One day, I'll have a website to log my journeys. For now, it's school life, and that I have covered on myspace. Feel free to drop in anytime! www.myspace.com/bt14

Fresh socks for your journey shoes,

Dan