Say good-bye to the Yuletide blues! In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, celebrate the holiday with a twist. Meet a man who spends less than $100 on his family, and learn to design your own holiday rituals. Also, how fast does Santa have to travel to visit 800 million homes in one night? You'll find out in the Physics of Christmas
Writer Bill McKibben thinks we should stop trying to buy the perfect Christmas. He tells Steve Paulson that his family is making gifts and spending time together, practicing what he preaches in his new book "Hundred Dollar Holiday." McKibben's best-known book is "The End of Nature." Also, Roger Highfield is science editor of The Daily Telegraph in London and author of "The Physics of Christmas." He tells Jim Fleming that solving some of the ageless Christmas questions - like ‘why is Rudolf's nose red?' and ‘how fast does Santa have to fly to make his rounds?' gives him a chance to explore some of the latest theories in physics and genetics in a way that's entertaining and fun.SEGMENT 2:
Judith Strasser provides a commentary on creating new traditions for an interfaith holiday. Also, Gabrielle Glaser, author of "Strangers to the Tribe: Portraits of Interfaith Marriage," talks with Judith Strasser about the difficulties faced by interfaith couples trying to honor more than one cultural tradition. Some couples mix and match symbols, some go to the grandparents, and some people convert!SEGMENT 3:
Cultural critic Camille Paglia tells Judith Strasser why she hates traditional holiday celebrations. Also, Mark O'Donnell updates Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in his novel "Let Nothing You Dismay." O'Donnell talks with Jim Fleming about the book, and the New York social scene(s) it reflects.Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 98-12-20-A.
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