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Photograph by Mark LeialohaLooking Back, Back, Back
Show #418We look back at the life and exploits of artist Joe Brainard, as remembered by his friend, poet Ron Padgett. And writer/performer Josh Kornbluth summons up his earliest memories of … tax. Also, listeners share with word mistress Erin McKean their choice for words to get rid of as we embark on a new year. Finally, a look at a trend that may be an early indicator of economic recovery – the temp office.
World Radio
The solstice, as it sounded on radios all over the world. Collected and assembled by Michael Kavanagh.
Temp Office
Office culture has its own unique set of rituals, its hierarchies and liaisons. Reporter Matthew Schuerman examines what happens to that culture when the office suite in question is home to an ever-changing roster of start-ups. Produced by Amanda Aronczyk.
Song of the Week
Dean’s end-of-the-year stuck-in-the-head anthem: Richard and Linda Thompson, from 1974, back when the whole folk-rock fusion thing was still a genre that seemed to hold promise for the future.
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Canadian poet Christian Bok may be the only poet who has performed the entirety of Dadaist poet Kurt Schwitters’s “Ursonate” (also known as the “Sonate in Urlauten”) by heart. This is particularly challenging because “Ursonate” is a “sound poem” made up only of nonsense sounds. To read the poem, click here.To listen, click here.
Remembering Joe
Joe Brainard, who died of AIDS complications in 1994, was one of those artists whose talents span nearly every medium. He wrote poems, drew cartoons, sculpted, painted, and made collages. One of his favorite collaborators was the poet Ron Padgett, who is currently working on a book about his lifelong friend. Padgett shares some of his recollections with Dean Olsher. Produced by Pejk Malinovski.
What’s Your (Most Hated) Word?
Ordinarily in this segment we invite listeners to pitch their made-up words to dictionary editor Erin McKean. As we ring in the New Year, we figured it might be a good time to purge the language of unwanted words. So this week, listeners (and a few of our more cantankerous contributors) bombard Erin with words they’d like to get rid of.
Memories of Tax
Few people look forward to tax season. Even fewer look back to tax seasons past. But then most people have not met tax attorneys like Bob Shelby and Mo Glass – characters from Josh Kornbluth’s one-man show, “Love and Taxes.” Kornbluth performs this adapted excerpt of his show, now playing at the Bank Street Theater in New York. Produced by Julie Subrin.
