Smart Talk: Natural Born Heroes; PA Distressed Municipalities

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, June 10, 2015:

One of the most extraordinary and little-known stories of World War II occured on the Mediterranean island of Crete when a small band of lightly or unarmed British and Cretan resistance fighters captured a Nazi general during the height of German occupation.

In his new book, Natural Born Heroes, author Christopher McDougall writes that the under-manned and not well armed Cretans were able to fight the Germans using unconventional fitness techniques that focused more on agility and endurance that had been passed down for generations rather than brute strength.

Comparing the past to today, McDougall often goes against what we accept as the best way to be the best we can be physically.  It doesn’t include gym memberships or sports drinks.

Christopher McDougall, who lives in Lancaster County, joins us on Wednesday’s Smart Talk to discuss his book and how certain feats are not as impossible as you would think.

Also, Keystone Crossroads TV producer Diana Robinson appears to discuss her new show, “Municipalities in Distress” that airs Thursday night on WITF-TV.

The program analyzes Legislative Act 47, Pennsylvania State’s intervention program for financially distressed municipalities, and how it can address issues such as poverty, loss of industry, and population decline even though those issues are often the root of a lot of the problems.

We’ll discuss the current state of several municipalities like Farrell in Mercer County, the first municipality to enter Act 47 as well as factors that need to be addressed in order to amend and fix Act 47.