On the occasion of end of the Superman comic, language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg considers the origin of the word "Superman," and how "super" began to be used in other ways.
Johnston's memoir, "Shooting the Boh," is not only an account of her adventure going down the river dealing with leeches, waterfalls, foot rot, and moldy clothes -- it's about her onset of menopause during the trip. One reviewer writes, "A powerful adventure of the head as well as the body: not to be missed."
Spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Yetta Sorenson. She's based in Zagreb, Croatia. Terry speaks with her from Croatia about the organization's relief efforts in the former Yugoslavia. In May, one of their relief convoys was attacked, and a ICRC delegate was killed. The organization pulled out of the area until mid-July. Last December, in response to the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the ICRC issued an unprecedented public statement condemning the atrocities there.
TV critic David Bianculli previews the new cop show, Homicide: Life on the Street, which premieres this Sunday night. It's the latest project of Barry Levinson, the director of such films as Diner, Rain Man, and Good Morning, Vietnam.
Former Black Panther Elaine Brown. Her new book, A Taste of Power, tells the story of her rise to the head of the Black Panther Party in the mid-70s and her later break with the Party.
AIDS researcher and pioneer Dr. Jerome Groopman. He is chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the New England Deaconess Hospital, and director of an innovative AIDS program that combines clinical research and medical services to approximately 1000 HIV-infected people. As a cancer specialist, Groopman has been at the forefront of the battle against AIDS since the early 80s.
Loach was a member of the British "Free Cinema Movement" of the '50s -- which was committed to dealing with issues of the working class and lower-class of British society -- and he was a pioneer of the doc-drama of the '60s. His film "Cathy Come Home," about a homeless mother, aired on the BBC, created a scandal, and forced a public debate about the homeless in London. His latest film "Riff-Raff," about construction workers, is his first comedy.
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Nocturne Parisian," by Graham Haynes, and "Overlays," by the Ned Rothenberg Double Band. They're both electric ensembles who work to bring new styles into the jazz tradition.
Creator and CEO of the Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN), Brian Lamb. He launched the network in 1979 to broadcast Congressional hearings and political events from beginning to end, so that audiences could get a full picture of what transpired. The channel provides hours of footage without commentary, editing, or government or corporate funding.
Baxter has a new novel, "Shadow Play," about a Faustian contract a man makes with a former classmate. Baxter has written several volumes of short stories. One reviewer writes, "Baxter is a master at creating loopy, poetic, and meaningfully unhinged psyches."
The L.A. based musician and performance artist fronted the punk-rock group, Black Flag. He's also the current leader of the Henry Rollins Band. His spoken word performances go back and forth between comedy and serious commentary. He has a new album of these performances, "Boxed Life," and a video, "Talking from the Box."
Chancellor of the New York City school system, Joseph Fernandez. He's been a controversial figure: he's made condoms available in the public schools, and approved a multicultural curriculum, called "Children of the Rainbow," that teaches respect for gays and lesbians. Fernandez is Puerto Rican and grew up in Spanish Harlem. He was a gang member and a heroin addict. Late,r he joined the Air Force, where he kicked the habit, and attended college on the G.I. bill.
Terry talks to activists on both sides of the abortion debate:
1) Pro-choice activist Kathryn "Kitty" Kolbert. She is an attorney who argued against Pennsylvania's restrictive abortion law in the Supreme Court last year. This summer, she founded the Center for Reproductive Law And Policy to focus on reproductive rights world wide.
1) Jean Hunt gives a grassroots perspective on abortion rights and accessiblity. Hunt is a registered nurse who has been an activist in the women's health movement since the late 60's .From 1988-1992 she was director of the Elizabeth Blackwell Health Center for Women in Philadelphia. She says that even if the federal government ensures the right to an abortion, local politics, health care economics and physician shortages make it difficult for women to get abortions.
Lesbian, feminist comic Kate Clinton. Last night she hosted a gay ball in Washington D.C., celebrating the inauguration. She tackles social taboos and politics without putdowns, name-calling, or abusive behavior. Her subjects include menstruation, men-bashing, and people in wheelchairs. She's been doing comedy since the early 1980s. Before that she was a high school English teacher.
Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews new CDs by two women artists who go beyond their country-singer label: "Everytime You Say Goodbye," by Allison Krauss, and "Culture Swing," by Tish Hinojosa.
Producer Roger Kendis, AKA the Invisible Man, of Noisy Neighbors Productions. He's here in Philadelphia, and he's put together a rap recording with clips from Clinton's speeches, called "It's About Hope."
