Midday

Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin, recently retired, shares her observations and experiences about juries with Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, author of "Why Jury Duty Matters: A Citizens Guide to Constitutional Action." Ferguson is professor of law at the David A. Clarke School of Law at the University of the District of Columbia

Disagreements over money can ruin romantic relationships and inject stresses into family life. Why does money have such a powerful hold on our emotions, and what are some of the best ways to talk about money with those we love? Columbia-based psychologist Brad Sachs shares tips on balancing financial troubles and relationships. 

When’s the last time you heard violin music? Actually, the violin is heard so regularly that you don’t even think about it. Historian David Schoenbaum has done extensive research on the origin and evolution of this common and indispensable instrument. He is the author of "The Violin: A Social History of the World’s Most Versatile Instrument."

In collaboration with Midday, a new polling center at Goucher College releases results from its most recent survey of Maryland citizens, measuring attitudes toward President Obama, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Sen.Ben Cardin and Gov. Martin O’Malley; transportation issues; direction of the state; gun control; the death penalty, and hydraulic fracking. Our guest:Mileah Kromer, director of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center.

Last month, a fireball exploded over Russia, destroying buildings and injuring more than 1,200 people, the result of a meteor hitting the Earth's atmosphere. The same day, an asteroid half the size of a football field came within 17,200 miles of the planet. So what's the risk of the human race going the way of the dinosaurs? What technology do we have in place to track giant space rocks?

Dogs have become a ubiquitous part of our culture; in some families, they’re treated as honorary humans. In "What’s A Dog For? The Surprising History, Science, Philosophy and Politics of Man’s Best Friend," John Homans looks at the complex relationship between dogs and people, and tells the story through his own experiences as a life-long dog owner. Homans is executive editor of New York magazine.

In the midst of partisan stalemate, the budget sequester and a renewed debate over guns, here comes legal scholar Louis Michael Seidman with a provocative idea: Ending our disobedience to the 225-year-old Constitution. Seidman says the time has come to acknowledge the failings of our treasured legal document and its archaic, idiosyncratic and harmful provisions. Seidman has taught constitutional law at Georgetown University for nearly 40 years. He is the author of "On Constitutional Disobedience."

According to the New York Times, Rio de Janeiro, Marseille and resorts in Nicaragua are among the top spots to visit this year. Dan Saltzstein, assistant travel editor for the Times Travel section, runs through some of 2013's top destinations. Also, Ilan Stavans, professor of Latin American and Latino culture at Amherst College, shares his thoughts on "reclaiming travel."

House Speaker John Boehner says there is no easy way to stop the budget cuts -- known as the “sequester” -- that began taking effect Friday, and he voiced uncertainty about how Washington can solve the fiscal problems that have consumed the nation’s politics for more than two years. Sequester threatens nearly 50,000 jobs and many programs in Maryland. Andrea Seabrook, former NPR congressional correspondent and now the host of her podcast, DecodeDC, explains how this whole thing began and how it might end.

In the second of a two-part series, Midday on Health contributor Dr. John Cmar gives an insider’s tour of how a hospital works. From the who’s who of hospitals to what to expect when you’re admitted to what to ask before you leave. Also, with “match week” coming up for fourth-year medical students, we get a primer on hospital residency programs.