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This blog is the work of an educated civilian, not of an expert in the fields discussed.

Friday, May 08, 2009

On the Radio ...

And Also: The Mets are showing some life. How long will it last? Will try to enjoy it.


I found a very good interview of Ayelet Waldman, who I'm not familiar with in general. She talks about various topics, including her two abortions, one which later term. It was that one for which she is emotional, using the masculine pronoun (there being some "person" at that point in her eyes). Her upfront honesty about the issues, including how she is more emotionally attached to her husband than her kids (but she had abortions ... how can she have kids?!), was attractive. It's understandable to hedge and talk PC when talking about yourself, but when talking about issues in general, it is a bit dumb. Some also might be turned off by it, thinking you fake.

For those who don't want to see The Soloist, perhaps a radio program on "How do we connect with the mentally ill?" might be more up your alley, including various people who have to deal with the condition portrayed in that movie. The real people come off better than the movie does from its previews, though they liked it. I have not listened to Your Call for awhile, partially because of problems with downloads, but this CA based program (which Laura Flanders once took part in) often has interesting stuff. And, this often leads to further reading.

For instance, a recent program on Rachel Carson led me to read a nifty bio entitled The Gentle Subversive: Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, and the Rise of the Environmental Movement by Mark Hamilton Lytle. An "intimate biography" of sorts. It was available in one place: the temporary site opened to handle stuff from a recently (temporarily?) closed library branch. The branch was cozy with an upstairs that at the time was mostly empty of people -- it was like stacks at a college library or something.

So, it was good on more than one level.