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Liane Hansen speaks with Irish singer Noirin Ni Riain Noh-REEN nee-REE-yen]. Her new CD of traditional tunes with modern instruments nd production is titled "Celtic Soul" (Living Music LMUS 0031).

Liane Hansen speaks to playwright Wendy Wasserstein WASSER-steen) about her love of the theatre and her new book for children, Pamela's first musical," (Hyoerion Books for Children). The book is based on er niece's first visit to the theatre 10 years ago.

Daniel talks with Robert Samuelson, author of "The Good Life And Its Discontents: The American Dream in the Age of Entitlement, 1945-1995" (Times Books). Samuelson says the current pessimism that many Americans feel is related to a post-World War Two optimism. He says we've turned the so-called "American Dream" into a fantasy of a Utopian Society in which there are no social or economic problems. But, he says, we cannot expect to solve our problems once and for all - that we'll always need to deal with them.

believes it's time for Republicans to take seriously the possibility that the Democrats could recapture Congress in September.

Commentator Bob Mondello takes a look at two movies that were honored at last week's Academy Awards. The Oscar for Best Documentary went to "Anne Frank Remembered," which is just beginning to appear in theaters. Last week also marked the American debut of a German drama called "Stalingrad," about the doomed Nazi battle to crush the Soviet Union.

Liane Hansen speaks with Middle East specialist Marvin Zonis bout the week's events in the Middle East, specifically, Secretary of State hristopher's meeting with Syrian President Assad, and the meeting's impact on he continuing peace process.

Today, Israeli troops shelled the headquarters a battalion of U-N peacekeeping troops in South Lebannon. The compound was filled with dozens of refugees. At least seventy-four people are reported dead and many others wounded. Robert Siegel talks with U-N spokesman Timur (TEE-more) Goksel (GOCK-sull) from his office in Southern Lebanon about the shelling. Mr. Goksel describes the compound that was hit and the refugees who were seeking shelter there.

the federal health insurance program for the poor, NPR's Vicky Que looks at a trend in some states to cut back or eliminate their own medical assistance programs which provide health care to the unemployed and working poor who are not covered by Medicaid. Is it a harbinger of what they might do with the federal program?

Commentator Daniel Pinkwater has noticed there is an enormous craze for cigars these days. A cigar culture has emerged to accompany the fad, which can be explored in cigar magazines like, "Cigar Afficianado."

Robert talks to author Brenda Stevenson about her book Family and Community in the Slave South. Which tells the story of Blacks and Whites in the early days of Loudon County, Virginia. She has found that contrary to many other histories, there is little evidence of strong nuclear family life among slaves. She says the cause is partly traced to the central role of extended family in west africa which precluded european-style nuclear family -- and the habit of slaveowners moving individual slaves around, destroying relationships.