Tag Archives: wmnf 88.5 fm

The Blurred Line Between Fantasy And Reality

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How many times during the past twelve months, when reflecting on the run-up to the Presidential election, have you thought, “This is too fantastic to be true”? The ongoing shenanigans by the most unlikely of Presidential candidates, now President-elect and the perpetual circus surrounding him, has perplexed even the most revered brainiacs. The conundrum of fantasy vs. reality is a mainstay of another cultural phenomenon, Science Fiction. With a salute to irony, we could not help from noting that as 2017 begins what we can only expect to be a roller-coaster ride of fantastical proportions, January the 2nd is designated National Science Fiction Day. While not an official holiday of any sort, the day is unofficially celebrated by many science fiction fans in the United States. The date was chosen to correspond with the official birthdate of famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov. A staunch supporter of the Democratic Party during the New Deal, Asimov remained a political liberal through his life. He considered himself a feminist even before Women’s Liberation and his last nonfiction book, Our Angry Earth (co-written with his long-time friend, science fiction author Frederik Pohl), deals with elements of the environmental crisis such as overpopulation, oil dependence, war, global warming, and the destruction of the ozone layer. It’s fitting then, that we should start 2017 with an edition of Life Elsewhere devoted to Science Fiction. Four, well-respected masters of the genre will join us, Christopher Mari, Jeremy K. Brown, Kameron Hurley and Meg Elison. The four authors each have a captivating perspective on our world and the blurred line between fantasy and reality.

Life Elsewhere airs:
Sundays 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays 5.00pm PT & Wednesdays 2.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio
Thursdays 6.00pm ET at Internet Radio Network

Life Elsewhere Music airs:
Wednesdays at 3.00pm Pacific Time on NWCZ Radio
Fridays at 10.00am Eastern Time on Internet Radio Network.
You can hear all the volumes of Life Elsewhere Music over at Mixcloud

Six Affirmations & A Tribute To The Puzzle Master

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Paul Williams & Tracey Jackson: Photo from Gratitude & Trust
Merl Reagle: Photo from http://www.tampabay.com/features/books/whats-merl-reagle-reading/1207710

Oscar and Grammy-winning songwriter, and recovery advocate Paul Williams, and screenwriter and author Tracey Jackson join Norman B for the next edition of Life Elsewhere to talk about their book, Gratitude and Trust, just released in paperback. The two long-time friends teamed up to write the book, subtitled, Gratitude and Trust: Six Affirmations That Will Change Your Life. The interview, like their book, is spirited, conversational, entertaining and educational. Paul and Tracey explain to Norman B how they combined the knowledge Paul has gained in the twenty-four years he has spent working in the recovery movement, healing both himself and helping others to heal and Tracey’s lifelong quest for peace and a daily routine to get her through the ups and downs of life.

He was America’s first celebrity crossword writer: He made appearances on Oprah and The Simpsons, he was featured in the hit 2006 documentary Wordplay, and was mobbed at book signings and crossword tournaments by fans. He was crossword constructor Merl Reagle who died August 22, 2015, after being hospitalized two days earlier for acute pancreatitis. Merl’sbusiness was words and mere words alone cannot do justice enough to tell how sad we are to mourn the passing of a favorite guest on Life Elsewhere. In our next edition, we will pay tribute to Mr. Reagle and listen back to a few samples of his famous wit and beloved personality.

Life Elsewhere airs:
Sundays at 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays at 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays at 5.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

Cecil The Lion. Donald The Caricature. Mama Africa.

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Gareth Patterson
Trump by Steve Brodner for Time
Miriam Makeba

The death of Cecil the lion resulted in headlines around the world, filled with outpourings of concern for the welfare of African wildlife. Gareth Patterson has dedicated his life to caring for and understanding African wildlife. From his home in a remote location on the edge of the Knysna forest, in South Africa, Gareth joins the program for an informative chat about Cecil, African lions, the elusive Knysna elephants and the truth about big game hunting. If you are curious to know the full story about hunting lions like Cecil and the fate of African wildlife, you won’t want to miss this exclusive interview with Gareth Patterson on the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

“Donald Trump is the ultimate caricature”, says esteemed satirical illustrator, Steve Brodner, who has been putting pen to paper for a long time to craft memorable political caricatures. Steve is a master of the editorial idiom, his work has appeared in most major magazines and newspapers in the United States, such as Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Esquire, Time, Playboy, Mother Jones, Harper’s, Mother Jones, The Atlantic. To help us understand why political illustration has become so popular recently, and the fascination with Trump, Brodner, a man who adroitly articulates his insights and opinions, will join the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

For this week’s Hit That Never Was, we could not resist playing a request that came as the news of Cecil the lion was breaking: Mbube* by Miriam Makeba. The revered South African singer and civil rights activist, who died in 2008, was nicknamed Mama Africa, was the first artist from Africa to popularize African music around the world. She recorded and toured with many popular artists, such as Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon and her former husband Hugh Masekela. She was a fervent campaigner against apartheid, which resulted in the South African government revoking her passport in 1960 and her citizenship and right of return in 1963. As the apartheid system crumbled she returned home for the first time in 1990. Makeba died of a heart attack on 9 November 2008.
*Mbube  means lion..it has been sung for centuries in South Africa. In the West, it is better known as The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

The illustration of Donald Trump by Steve Brodner, was created for the latest edition of Time, used by kind permission of the artist. 

Life Elsewhere airs:
Sundays at 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays at 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays at 5.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

Recent editions of Life Elsewhere can be heard at our Soundcloud page

 

Cecil & The Man Who Loves Lions

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Gareth Patterson

We had been alerted to Gareth Patterson’s incredible, dedicated work with African wildlife, a few months ago. Finally an interview was scheduled, allowing for the time difference and Gareth‘s remote location on the edge of the Knysna forest, in South Africa. We were all set to chat with the well-known environmentalist, it was just after sunrise our time, and late afternoon in Knysna. But, the connection was not made, due to one of the frequent power outages where Patterson lives. As we were desperately trying to reach Gareth, news was coming in of the death of Cecil, a free roaming lion, lured out of the safety of the Hwange National Park. Shot by an American dentist, for a trophy on his wall. It was hard to believe, here we were, about to talk with one of the world’s leading authorities on lions, as a major news story was breaking, centered around the very animals Gareth Patterson has spent most of his life living with and caring for. Our frustration would be an understatement. After numerous emails and attempts via Skype, contact was reestablished with Gareth. Again, allowing for the time-difference, a new interview time was scheduled. Then the rains came where Life Elsewhere is produced. Norman B was trapped in his home unable to leave because he was surrounded by flooded streets. Once again, our scheduled interview with Gareth Patterson had to be cancelled. The good news is, the death of Cecil the lion, has not been forgotten, even though the GOP-Trump-Circus has dominated the headlines for days. Finally, we coordinated with Gareth Patterson for an informative chat about Cecil, African Lions, the elusive Knysna elephants and the truth about big game hunting. If you are curious to know the full story about hunting lions like Cecil and the fate of African wildlife, you won’t want to miss this exclusive interview with Gareth Patterson on the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

Life Elsewhere airs:
Sundays at 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays at 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays at 5.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

 

The Bare Facts, Again.

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MJ bottom

Naked at Lunch: A Reluctant Nudist’s Adventures in the Clothing-Optional World, the new book from Mark Haskell Smith, the main subject of the latest edition of Life Elsewhere has resulted in a lot of visits to this site and numerous enquiries as to how to hear the interview again. Our show goes out every Sunday at 12 noon ET on The Source, WMNF HD3 and every Monday at 5.00pm PT on NWCZ Radio. But, if you happen to miss those times, you can find our three most recent shows up on Soundcloud. To hear shows from our archives, send your request to info@lifeelsewhere.co

Past shows have included a conversation with Patrick O’Neil, the ex-roadie-junkie-bank robber and author of the brilliant memoir, Gun, Needle, Spoon. Margot Bennett‎, Executive Director at Women Against Gun Violence on gun culture in America. Robert Priest, founder and editor of Eight By Eight, the dazzlingly creative magazine devoted to the beautiful game – soccer on the Power, Corruption & Lies of FIFA. Former banker at J P Morgan, Michelle Miller talked about her debut novel, The Underwriting. Catherine Hyde, Regional Director of PFLAG – Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and mother of a transgender child on the media blitz surrounding Caitlyn Jenner. Matthew Collin on his new new book, Pop Grenade: From Public Enemy to Pussy Riot – Dispatches from Musical Frontlines. Plus a lot of new music including, Lyves, Tabitha Tamara, Miso and Sorcha Richardson.

We love to know what you think of Life Elsewhere, send your thoughts to: info@lifeelsewhere.co

Life Elsewhere airs every Sunday at 12 noon ET on The Source WMNF HD3 and Mondays at 5.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio
The photograph above is by Norman B, from a series shot in the autumn of 2008. To see and learn more about Norman B’s photo work, write to info@lifeelsewhere.co

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