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Robert Siegel talks with Alan Sokal, a professor of physics at New York University, about his parody of practitioners of "science studies." He tells how he deliberately wrote an article questioning the validity of measuring physical "reality" using nonsensical phrases, and submitted it to a well-respected academic journal. The editors published it as a serious treatise, not realizing it was written as a joke. (Sokal's article, "A Physicist Experiments with Cultural Studies," appeared in the May/June 1996 issue of Lingua Franca.

Daniel talks with former State Department spokesperson Margaret Tutwiler about the art of 'shuttle diplomacy'. Tutwiler travelled extensively with former Secretary of State James Baker who was attempting to lay the groundwork for a Middle East peace accord during the Bush Administration. Tutwiler says Baker developed strategies for dealing with tough negotiators such as knowing when to play hardball and when to sit back patiently and wait. She says Syrian President Hafez el Assad is one of the toughest negotiators and that often sessions with him would last 9 to 10 hours without a break.

Researchers hoped the human growth hormone could be used in reducing the signs of aging in people. But, as Wendy Schmeltzer reports, scientists now believe that while treatment with the hormone might make a person look younger, it doesn't appear to have any real effect on the health of those who take it.

- Harriet Baskas reports on the origin of the Soap Opera. These daytime serial dramas date back to the 1930's and the early days of radio. Most of the advertisers on these programs manufactured household products - so the shows were dubbed "soaps." We'll hear excerpts from many radio soaps,including TODAY'S CHILDREN, THE GUIDING LIGHT, and JOYCE JORDAN,M.D. - and we'll hear interviews with some of the actors who performed in them.

- NPR's Laura Ziegler reports that in Bob Dole's Kansas, moderates and religious conservatives are fighting for control of the state Republican Party.

The ceasefire in Liberia that has kept warring factions peaceful for almost two weeks has been broken. U.S. Marines today killed three Liberians near the American Embassy compound in Monrovia and wounded a fourth. The men were shot after fighting broke out in the capital. An American soldier was slightly wounded in today's fighting. Noah Adams talks with NPR's Jennifer Ludden who's in the Liberian capital of Monrovia.

Commentator Marianne Jennings wonders about people who are addicted to their day planners...they are obsessed with organizing everything in their lives. It takes so much time to keep up with your day planner--there's so much writing and reviewing she wonders how anyone gets anything done...and says we all managed just fine without them.

Robert talks to Mike Agnes, the editorial director for Webster's New World College Dictionary about words that are under consideration for the next edition of the dictionary... including "duh."

NPR's Cheryl Corley reports from Chicago on an exhibit of old Dick and Jane books. Dick, Jane, their loyal dog Spot, and other characters were the backbone of reading primers widely used in American schools through the sixties.

NPR's John Nielsen reports on a Republican convention being held in Washington, D.C. this weekend. A large number of Republican State Chairmen and party advisors are meeting with national leaders to organize attacks on President Clinton and other Democrats before the Republican convention in San Diego.

As Lebanon begins to rebuild following the most recent conflict between Israel and Hizbollah guerillas, Jennifer Griffin reports on the uncertainty many feel there that the current ceasefire will last.

Noah talks with Edmund Roy, an India-based reporter for the Australian Broadasting Corporation, about yesterday's elections in the state of Kashmir. Government troops forced citizens to vote, herding them to polling stations, threatening them if they didn't participate. Exit polls show more than 40 percent of the people voted, but Roy says the day's events call into question the notion of free and fair elections in democratic India.

of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Organizers compared it to Woodstock and predicted a quarter of a million people from church groups all over the country would attend -- but the crowd never got that big. Yesterday, Christian rock bands kept the kids entertained... today, the emphasis shifts from music to guest speakers like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.

Hawaiian Leslie Lang didn't learn to speak her native language until she went to college. Her parents never spoke it, and she rarely heard it spoken. But she finds the ancient language of her family has brought her in touch with stories and traditions which had all but disappeared for her family. She can read the stories of her Great Great Great grandfather, and she can talk with her grandmother in the language that she herself hasn't heard spoken in 50 years. Leslie Lang is a student at the University of Hawaii.

NPR's Nina Totenberg reports on independent counsel Kenneth Starr, who is investigating the Whitewater affair. The Republican Starr has been controversial from the time of his appointment, when there were charges that he had been chosen for political reasons. Now Starr is under attack from Democrats because he has continued to represent private clients, including a tobacco company in a huge class action suit.

Linda talks to Jim Fobel, author of the cookbook "Big Flavors," which was cited as one of the best cookbooks of the year by the James Beard Foundation. According to Fobel, big flavors are not necessarily hot, just intense and bold. He talks about his recipes for a great Memorial Day meal. (The book is published by Clarson Potter)

NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports that thousands of people, many of them children, assembled on the National Mall today. "Leave no Child Behind" was the slogan for the day -- in an event organized by Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children's Defense Fund. Children and adults from across the country were there -- no official crowd estimates yet. Conservatives criticized the event, saying it was just a party where liberals could push for more government spending.

A pipe bomb exploded in the doorway of City Hall in Spokane at about 3:00 a.m. this morning. There were no injuries, nor has anyone claimed responsibility. The bomb reportedly contained nails, and sent debris into a nearby courtyard. As Lakshmi Singh of member station KBPX reports, it's the third bomb in Spokane in as many months.

President Clinton has ordered the sale of U.S. oil reserves, and Republicans in Congress are calling for a repeal of the 1993 gasoline tax. The increase has hit California the hardest... where oil companies must sell more expensive, cleaner-burning fuel to help keep down the state's high rates of air pollution... a gallon of gas in California is selling for as much as a dollar-and-73-cents.

In the first part of a profile of Israeli voters, Robert Siegel speaks to a religious family about next week's elections. This family is in the minority among Orthodox Jews because they support the peace process. Although many religious Jews support Likud candidate Benjamin Netanyahu, the Meverach family claims that he lacks an ideology.

Susan talks with NPR's Linda Gradstein from Jerusalem about this week's election in Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu was elected prime minister by a narrow margin, defeating the incumbent Shimon Peres.

We hear Mary Martin sing 'It Might as Well be Spring' from the musical State Fair. State Fair is currently being performed on broadway, but this famous tune is not elibile for a Toni Award tonight because it was written for the motion picture version of the musical.

NPR's Murray Horwitz has a remembrance of Jerry King-- the founder of the King Charles Troupe-- a daring and funny circus act-- featuring unicyclists playing basketball while riding their cycles. Mr. King died this week in New York City.

Commentator Alan Cheuse reviews a new political novel called Sounding the Waters by James Glickman. It's the story of a midwestern veteran politician who runs for the Senate, and the book is complete with descriptions of all the dirty tricks that occur during a hotly contested political race. (Glickman's book is published by Crown, this year.)

NPR's Melissa Block reports that the South Bronx has one of the country's highest asthma rates: estimated as high as 8 times the national average. At some public schools, the problem is especially acute; one principal at a school near an incinerator says that half of her students suffer from asthma. Many of these schools are close to the industrial plants that some have accused of exacerbating asthma. But heavy industry is encouraged in this region, and company officials say there's no proof they're part of the problem.