Pt 1: Electronic Addiction - Earlier this summer, five scientists threw away their electronic devices and headed into the wilderness to find out what would happen to their brains when they were completely unplugged. We talk to the scientist who led the experiment. (Read More)

Pt 2: Chris Hadfield - We talk to Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield about taking command of the International Space Station. (Read More)

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Whole Show Blow-by-Blow

Today's guest host was Nancy Wilson.

It's Friday, September 3rd.

In his new book, Tony Blair calls the Iraq War "an understandable error."

Currently, he also called the Crusades an unfortunate bit of bother.

This is the Current.

Electronic Addiction - Tim Jones

We started this segment with a clip from Leigh Fazina. A little more than a month ago, she signed up for a triathlon just outside of Hartford, Connecticut. During the biking leg, she took a wrong turn. Then she crashed her bike. And then, she did something kind of odd. She tweeted for help. Within minutes, people from all over were calling local rescue services and Leigh Fazina came through it all unscathed.

So, we suppose you could look at this in two ways. You could see it as vindication of social media and the ever-connected world we live in. Or you could wonder why she didn't just pick up the phone and call for help herself. After all, she did have her blackberry with her.

Tim Jones spends a lot of time getting people -- and their assorted electronic baggage -- out of tougher situations than the one Leigh Fazina faced. He's the head of the Vancouver-based North Shore Search and Rescue Team.

Electronic Addiction - Todd Lucier

Todd Lucier has a more fundamental problem with our communications technology. He has a solution to the problem he sees. He's the founder of Northern Edge, a company that offers "E-Tox" retreats into Ontario's Algonquin Park ... retreats that don't permit cell phones, lap-tops or other electronic gadgets.

Electronic Addiciton - David Strayer

David Strayer decided he wanted to test the idea that it could be good for your brain to ditch the blackberry for a week in the woods. He's the head of the Advanced Cognition Lab at the University of Utah.

And earlier this summer, he convinced four other brain scientists to join him for a week of electronics-free paddling down the San Juan River ... just to see what would happen to their brains. David Strayer was in Salt Lake City.

Porn for Peace Satire

We take you to Washington now, for some late -- and very fake -- breaking news. We go now to White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.

PART TWO

Chris Hadfield

We started this segment with the sound of Chris Hadfield being rocketed into orbit in April of 2001. At the time, he was one of the mission specialists helping build the new International Space Station. He and the rest of the crew installed the new Canadarm 2. And Hadfield became the first Canadian to walk in space.

Yesterday, Chris Hadfield was tapped to be the first Canadian to command the International Space Station. He'll take over the prestigious post in March of 2013. And Chris Hadfield joined us in studio from Montreal.

Of Interest : Canada's Chris Hadfield on life at the bottom of the ocean / Life & Times: Chris Hatfield / Obama budget ends return-to-moon plan

Last Word - The Demographer's Dilemma

Anna Maria Tremonti will be back in this chair on Monday, to kick-start a new season of The Current. This season, The Current is focusing on the attempt to track the trajectory of a very elusive subject ... human demographics.

The project is called Shift. And it'll begin on Tuesday, with a documentary called The Demographer's Dilemma from The Current's Documentary Producer Dick Miller. We ended the program this week with a little preview.

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