Society & Culture

Reporter Elizabeth Kaye writes for "The New York Times." She discusses the birth control device known as the female condom.

The NPR broadcast journalist was co-host of the award-winning news magazine "All Things Considered" for fourteen years and the host of the Sunday show "Weekend Edition" from its inception in 1987. She's collected her favorite interviews from the past two decades in a new book, called "Talk."

Spark has been said to "uphold the great tradition of the English Catholic novel." She's a prolific writer, having written 19 novels, including "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," and "Momento Mori." Spark has a new memoir about her first 39 years, called "Curriculum Vitae." It includes stories about school teacher Miss Christina Kay (the character of Jean Brodie was based on her), Spark's marriage at 19 to a man 13 years her senior, their life in Africa, and Spark's early literary career. She's now 74 years old.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg comments on "Estuary English", a new accent in London that combines high and working class modes of speaking.

TV critic David Bianculli reviews the final episode of "Cheers," which airs tonight. He says that, after eleven years, the characters have become a part of our cultural vocabulary.

Lamott has written a new book about being a mother for the first time (and single, at that), called "Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year." One reviewer says the book is "an emotional roller coaster ride. Painfully honest, laced with humor and poetry and moments of profound insight." Lamott is also the author of the novels, "Hard Laughter," and "All New People."

Harvard Law professor Elizabeth Bartholet, author of "Family Bonds: Adoption & the Politics of Parenting." In her book, Bartholet --the mother of two adopted Peruvian boys-- examines transracial, single and older-parent families, and challenges current societal priorities about parenting, adoption and infertility.

Journalist Michelangelo Signorile. He writes regularly for "The Advocate," and "Out" magazine. He has a new book, called "Queer in America: Sex, the Media, and the Closets of Power." Signorile is a proponent of controversial practice of "outing" -- revealing the homosexuality of someone in power or position whether that person wants it known or not.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead fills in for our regular film reviewer Stephen Schiff. Whitehead reviews "Posse," a new Western by Mario Van Peebles.

McElwee's new documentary is "Time Indefinite", an autobiographical film about his family. McElwee's earlier movie, "Sherman's March" started out as a documentary about Civil War General William Sherman's march to the sea and ended up a examination of personal identity and the mysteries of love.

Writer and criminal defense lawyer, Alfredo Vea, Jr. He's just written his first book, a novel, "La Maravilla." It's based on his own life growing up in the desert outside of Phoenix, where Mexican, Indian, Spanish, and Afro-American influences converged.

Alexander's songs were recorded on early records by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. His new album, "Lonely Just Like Me," is his first release in twenty years.

Terry has a discussion about the politics of identity, the strengths and limitations of social and political movements that define themselves by ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. She talks with Ellen Willis, professor of journalism at NYU; Edward Said, professor of literature at Columbia; and Gayle Pemberton, associate director of African American studies at Princeton.

Baca co-wrote the screenplay for the new movie "Bound By Honor," about three young Chicano men from East Los Angeles and the different paths they take as they grow into adulthood. Baca is a Chicano who grew up in an orphanage in New Mexico and ended up in prison at the age of 20. He taught himself to read and write there. His collections of poetry include Black Mesa Poems and Immigrants in Our Own Land.

Delaria says don't call her a lesbian: she's a dyke who does standup and jazz singing. She has a new recording of songs, "Bulldyke in a China Shop."

Commentator Maureen Corrigan reflects on the opening of the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Gay Rights March, two events which overlapped recently in Washington, D.C.

Journalist Randy Shilts is the national correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle. His book, "And the Band Played On," was one of the earliest written about the AIDS epidemic and it's impact on the gay community. Shilts' new book is about gay life in the military, called "Conduct Unbecoming." He started the it in 1988, before the current debate about gays in the military.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the "This Boy's Life," based on the book of the same name. The movie stars Robert DeNiro and Ellen Barkin, and features a great performance by star Leonardo DiCaprio.

The athlete is proud of his career as a second baseman, as well as a well-rounded player. He has a new memoir called "Joe Morgan: A Life in Baseball."

O'Toole is the star of "Lawrence of Arabia," "The Lion in the Winter," and "My Favorite Year." He has a new autobiography about the start of his career, called "Loitering with Intent.