Modern Notion

On todays episode of Modern Notion Daily, our guest is Carmel OShannessy, a linguist at the University of Michigan. For more than a decade, OShannessy has been researching the genesis of a new language, Light Warlpiri, in Australias Northern Territory. We talk with her about why the language is unique, and we even hear a clip of some spoken Light Warlpiri. Later in the hour, contributing editor Emma Bryce joins us to talk about vulture restaurants, an effort to save Asias vultures from a harmful drug.

Music this hour:

“Elle va au Japon” by Nic Bommarito, from the album A Quiet Age

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

Backed Vibes Clean by Kevin MacLeod, from the album Jazz Sampler

“Á Minuit, le 31 Décembre” by Monroeville Music Center, from the album Le Progrés

“It’s Always Too Late to Start Over” by Chris Zabriskie, from the album Direct to Video

On todays episode of Modern Notion Daily, were talking to James Boyce, author of Born Bad: Original Sin and the Making of the Western World (Counterpoint Press, May 2015). Boyce argues that original sin is the Wests creation story, and it affects all Western peoples, whether were aware of it or not.

Music this hour:

“Elle va au Japon” by Nic Bommarito, from the album A Quiet Age

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“Quasi Motion” by Kevin MacLeod, from the album Global Sampler

This hour, director Frank Pavich joins us to talk about his 2013 documentary, Jodorowskys Dune. Alejandro Jodorowsky is an avant-garde filmmaker who planned to make a movie adaptation of Frank Herberts classic sci-fi novel, Dune, in the early 1970s. He enlisted the likes of Orson Welles and Salvador Dalí to be in his movie, but it was never made. Pavichs documentary explores that story, in the process bringing Jodorowskys storyboards to life on film.

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“wherever” by Jahzzar, from the album Sketches

On todays episode of Modern Notion Daily, we talk to guest Anthony Powell, director of Antarctica: A Year on Ice. Powell started working in Antarctica as a communications tech. He quickly realized that the true experience of living in Antarctica—particularly in the winter—had never been captured. So, he taught himself to shoot video and time-lapse photography, and over the course of nine years, he made this documentary. Later in the hour, we talk to staff writer about two very different but equally odd stories, the first about lemmings, and the second about bombs designed to make enemy soldiers gay.

Music this hour:

“Elle va au Japon” by Nic Bommarito, from the album A Quiet Age

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

Its Always Too Late to Start Over by Chris Zabriskie, from the album Direct to Video

On todays episode of Modern Notion Daily, we welcome guest Col. Chris Hadfield, a retired Canadian astronaut. Hadfield was the first Canadian to walk in space and the first Canadian to act as commander of the International Space Station. He talks about how he became an astronaut, the life lessons hes learned in space, and why the public outreach he does is so important. We also hear about his book, An Astronauts Guide to Life on Earth, which came out in paperback in April from Back Bay Books.

Music this hour:

Coconut Robot2 by James Pants

“Elle va au Japon” by Nic Bommarito, from the album A Quiet Age

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

On this hour of Modern Notion Daily, were talking with Reid Mitenbuler, author of Bourbon Empire: The Past and Future of Americas Whiskey (Viking, May 2015). The history of bourbon collides with major events in Americas past, from the Whiskey Rebellion to Prohibition. And even modern-day bourbon marketing makes ample use of Americas history of frontiersmen and the Wild West—with varying degrees of veracity.

Music this hour:

“Elle va au Japon” by Nic Bommarito, from the album A Quiet Age

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

On todays show, we talk with guest Mark Vanhoenacker, author of Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot (Knopf, June 2015). After working for years as a consultant, Vanhoenacker decided to pursue his dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot. He now flies Boeing 747s for British Airways, and in his spare time, he wrote this meditation on flying. Later in the hour, we hear a dramatic reading of Benjamin Franklins 1781 treatise, Farting Proudly.

Music this hour:

“Elle va au Japon” by Nic Bommarito, from the album A Quiet Age

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

Bluehill Fife and Drum performed by Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps

The Presidents March by The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, from the album Celebrating 50 Years

“Theme E” by Steve Combs andamp; Delta Is, from the album Themes (Vol. 1)

“Theme S” by Steve Combs andamp; Delta Is, from the album Themes (Vol. 1)

On todays show, our guest is Fredrik Sjöberg, an entomologist and author of The Fly Trap (Pantheon, June 2015). Sjöberg has devoted much of his life to watching, trapping, and studying hoverflies, but hes tried not to get trapped in his love of the flies. Using literature and details from the life of naturalist René Edmond Malaise, Sjöberg tells the story of his life in Sweden.

We also talk with two of our contributing editors: Erin Blakemore tells the story of Japanese picture brides in the U.S., and Mark Hay takes us through different traditions of cannibalism.

Music this hour:

“Elle va au Japon” by Nic Bommarito, from the album A Quiet Age

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“Oceanica” by Avaren, from the album For Others’ Use

On todays episode of Modern Notion Daily, we talk with guest Gillian OBrien. OBriens new book, Blood Runs Green: The Murder That Transfixed Gilded Age Chicago (University of Chicago Press, March 2015), tells the largely forgotten story of the murder of Dr. P. H. Cronin in the late 19th century. We also visit a taxidermy class in Brooklyn, and talk with contributing editor Mark Hay about the elves of Iceland.

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“Elle va au Japon” by Nic Bommarito, from the album A Quiet Age

The Lonely Boat by Joe and Antoinette McKenna

andnbsp;

On todays podcast, were talking with guest Helen Castor, author of Joan of Arc: A History (Harper, May 2015). Castor argues that most people see Joan of Arc as an empty vessel—someone to whom they can attach meaning, given the extraordinary nature of her life and accomplishments. Castor does not discount those conversations, but her book places Joan of Arc more firmly in the context of her time and place.

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“Elle va au Japon” by Nic Bommarito, from the album A Quiet Age

“Il Pleut des Informations (ou Mass Media en Masse à Partir de Notre Cumulonimus Fiable)” by Monroeville Music Center, from the album Le Progrés

“Á Minuit, le 31 Décembre” by Monroeville Music Center, from the album Le Progrés