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ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?

Program 05-12-04-A

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In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we consider the good stuff. Love. Poetry. Pleasure. Chocolate. Art. Beauty. New York Times Art Critic Michael Kimmelman says the beauty of beauty is that it's unfixed. Join us for beauty, the back country, sex, jazz and more on To the Best of Our Knowledge.

SEGMENT 1:

Jane Juska was 67 when she placed a personal ad in the NY Review of Books looking for good sex with a man she liked. She tells Anne Strainchamps what happened and why she has no regrets. Her book is "A Round-Heeled Woman." Also, Jim Fleming and his wife spent a day in Paris being guided around the most fabulous chocolate shops by former Chez Panisse pastry chef, David Lebovitz, author of "The Great Book of Chocolate." We get to tag along and hear all the street sounds of Paris and comments from some of the extraordinary chocolate vendors.

SEGMENT 2:

TTBOOK intern John Pederson hit the streets to ask people what they think the best thing in life is, and prepared this collage of their answers. Also, NPR's Robert Rand tells Anne Strainchamps how he used learning to dance to zydeco music to master his panic disorder. Rand's book is "Dancing Away an Anxious Mind," and we hear lots of music. And, Warren MacDonald lost both of his legs in a climbing accident. But the lure of the back country was so strong that he learned to climb again using prosthetics. He tells Jim Fleming his amazing story. His book is "A Test of Will: One Man's Extraordinary Story of Survival."

SEGMENT 3:

David Lee Rothenberg is a philosopher and a jazz musician. He tells Steve Paulson why he likes to play his clarinet with birds. Rothenberg's written a book with a companion CD about his unusual collaborations. Both are called "Why Birds Sing" and we hear several examples. And, former Poet Laureate Billy Collins reads a poem called "Roadside Flowers." Also, Michael Kimmelman is the chief art critic for the New York Times and the author of "The Accidental Masterpiece: On the Art of Life and Vice Versa." He talks with Steve Paulson about making your life a work of art.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 05-12-04-A.

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Books:

• Jane Juska, A Round-Heeled Woman: My Late-Life Adventures in Sex and Romance (Villard)
• David Lebovitz, The Great Book of Chocolate (Ten Speed Press)
• Robert Rand, Dancing Away an Anxious Mind (Terrace Books) (http://www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/books/3572.htm)
• Warren MacDonald, a Test of Will: One Man’s Extraordinary Story of Survival (Greystone Books)
• David Rothenberg, Why Birds Sing: a journey into the mystery of bird song (Basic Books)
• Billy Collins, Nine Horses: poems (Random House)
• Michael Kimmelman, The Accidental Masterpiece: On the Art of Life and Vice Versa (The Penguin Press)

Music:

• Button after Juska: Bonnie Rideout Tr. 5 Macdonald, Lord of the Isles from “Celtic Circles” Maggie’s Music MMCD 209
• Music Before Chocolate: Fibre de Verre by Paris Combo from Putumayo Presents French Café PUT 219-2
• Option after Chocolate: En Douce by Baguette Quartette from Putumayo Presents French Café PUT 219-2
• Music During Vox Pop: Hanapepe Blues, Taj Mahal, Hanapepe Blues
• Music used in piece on zydeco dancing:
  Beau Jacque and the Zydeco Hi_Rollers, "Gardez Donc'; "Comin' In"; "Don't Tell Your Mama, Don't Tell Your Papa." All on his CD "Pick Up On This". (Rounder)
  Boozoo Chavis, "Do It All Night" on CD "Live! At the Habibi Temple, Lake Charles, Louisisana". (Rounder)
  Zydeco Force, "Everyday Talk," on "The Zydeco Push." (Maison de Soul)
  Beausoleil, "Two Step a Will Balfa", and "La Valse du Vacher" on the CD, "Allons a Lafayette." (Arhoolie)
• Button/Option after MacDonald: Joseph Curiale Gates of Gold, first Movement, Arrival: A View from the Sea Royal Philharmonic Orch./Curiale Orchard Road Music 7155-2
• Music during Rothenberg: Why Birds Sing David Rothenberg Terra Nova TN 0501 www.whybirdssing.com
Button after Collins: Dan Lambert “Twin forks” from The Blue Hand Coordinate Records HT 920 contact: Johanna Cowart 915-833-2421 johannac@webtv.net
• Button after Kemmelman/Alternate Close: “The Old Country Happy Hour” by Dan Lambert (see listing above)

Distribution dates:

week of 07/02/2006 - hour 2 week of 12/04/2005 - hour 1	Listen!

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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