TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE
from Wisconsin Public Radio
January 7, 1996 Programs
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1100 - 1159 Hour #1 Mafia
1200 - 1259 Hour #2 Ice
1300 - 1359 Hour #3 Eccentrics
PROGRAM RUNDOWN Hour 1:Mafia
SEGMENT 1:
Journalist Frank Viviano tells Steve Paulson that organized crime
has gone global; Russian, Kurdish and Eastern European mobs model
themselves after the Sicilian Mafia and run a lucrative economy
based on drugs, arms and laundered money.
SEGMENT 2:
Alexander Stille is the author of "Excellent Cadavers: The
Mafia and the Death of the First Italian Republic." It's the
story of the two magistrates who broke the Mafia's code of
silence and enabled the first serious prosecutions of Mafia
activity and political corruption. Stille tells Steve Paulson
how pervasive the Mafia's influence remains in Italian society.
Also, former FBI agent Jules Bonavolonta tells Jim Fleming
about his years of Mafia busting in New York City. With Brian
Duffy, Bonavolonta is the author of "The Good Guys: How We
Turned the FBI 'Round and Finally Broke the Mob."
SEGMENT 3:
Laurence Bergreen is the author of "Capone: The Man and the
Era." He tells Margaret Andreasen about the gangster's
extensive family, and extravagant generosity; debunks the myth
of Eliot Ness; and blames Prohibition for the violence that
characterized so much of American society in that era.
For cassette copies of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
01-07-A.
PROGRAM RUNDOWN Hour 2:Ice
SEGMENT 1:
Glaciologist Richard Alley studies the Greenland ice cap by
analyzing core samples drilled through ice as much as a hundred
thousand years old. He tells Judith Strasser that he's found
evidence that dramatic global climate change can occur in a
very short time.
SEGMENT 2:
Internet curriculum producer Cathy DeMoll tells Steve Paulson
about Blue Ice, a virtual tour of Antarctica for school
children. Designed with input from visiting scientist experts,
it's intended to teach both kids and their teachers about
Antarctica and the Internet. Listeners can call Blue Ice at
1ª800©375©0055, or look for them on the World Wide Web at this
address: http://www.mecc.com/blueice.html
Also, particle physicist Francis Halzen explains to Judith
Strasser how his group is using an ice telescope to look for
neutrinos.
SEGMENT 3:
Journalist Peter Stark writes about Arctic travel, northern
sport, and his love for snow and ice in a book of essays called
"Driving to Greenland." He tells Jim Fleming about playing the
Ax©chop game; lying face down on the ice to study what's
underneath; and the first time he tried the luge.
For cassette copies of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
01-07-B.
PROGRAM RUNDOWN: HOUR 3: Eccentrics
SEGMENT 1
David Weeks is a clinical neuropsychologist at Scotland's Royal
Edinburgh Hospital. He tells Judith Strasser about his recent
study of eccentrics. It turns out they're not crazy or depressed,
but rather incline towards idealism and commitment. Weeks and co©author
Jamie James have written a book called "Eccentrics: A Study of
Sanity and Strangeness." Also, independent producer David Isay
talks with Steve Paulson about some of the colorful characters
he's chronicled in his book and CD collection "Holding On: Dreamers,
Visionaries, Eccentrics and Other American Heroes."
SEGMENT 2:
Writer Lawrence Weschler tells Jim Fleming about the subject of
his latest book, Culver City, California's Museum of Jurassic
Technology, where nothing is entirely true or entirely false.
According to Weschler, Museum founder David Wilson never breaks
irony and is a post©modern genius. Weschler's book is "Mr. Wilson's
Cabinet of Wonders."
SEGMENT 3:
John Berendt says the South loves and cultivates its eccentrics.
Berendt profiles several of them in his book "Midnight in the Garden
of Good and Evil" © a sort of true crime story and history of Savannah.
Berendt tells Steve Paulson about some of Savanah's notable eccentrics
including the man who walks the invisible dog; the squatter who ran
tours of the historic mansion he'd taken over; and the Lady Chablis,
whose name used to be Frank.
For cassette copies of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
01-07-C.
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Last modified: Thursday January 11, 1996