Friday

Oct. 20, 2000

Relations: Old Light/New Sun/Postmistress/Earth/04421

by Philip Booth

Broadcast date: FRIDAY, 20 October 2000

Poem: "Relations" by Philip Booth, from Lifelines: Selected Poems 1950-1999) (Penguin).

It's the birthday of poet Robert Pinsky, born in Long Branch, New Jersey (1940), named the nation's Poet Laureate in 1997. He's the author of Jersey Rain (2000), The Figured Wheel, New and Collected Poems 1965-1995, The Want Bone (1990), and other books.

It's the birthday of columnist Art Buchwald, born in Mount Vernon, New York (1925), whose popular column of political satire appears in more than 550 newspapers.

It's the birthday of mystery writer Frederic Dannay born Daniel Nathan in Brooklyn (1905). Along with his cousin, Manford Lepofsky, he wrote the Ellery Queen mystery novels.

It's the birthday of American psychologist and philosopher John Dewey, born in Burlington, Vermont (1859). Regarded as the father of progressive education, his best-known innovation was what he called "learning by directed living," which combined learning with concrete activity.

It's the birthday of Daniel Owen, born in Flintshire, Wales (1836), the writer whom the Welsh regard as their national novelist. He wrote Rhys Lewis, Minister of Bethel: An Autobiography (1885); The Trials of Enoc Huws (1891); Dreflan, Its People and Its Affairs (1881), and other books.

It's the birthday of English architect, astronomer and mathematician, Sir Christopher Wren, born at East Knoyle, Wiltshire, England (1632). After the Great Fire of London (1666), he drew designs for rebuilding the whole city, but his scheme was never implemented. In 1669 he designed the new St. Paul's Cathedral, and many other churches and public buildings in London. His epitaph, inscribed over the interior of the north door in St. Paul's Cathedral, reads: "If you would see his monument, look about you."

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.®

 

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