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Volcanologist and resident geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey DAN MILLER. He also heads the Survey's Volcano Disaster Assistance program which helps developing countries in the event of volcanic eruption. MILLER was part of the team of geologists who studied Mt. St. Helens and predicted a blast before the turn of this last century. Mt. St. Helens blew May 18th, 1980. His team studied the frequency and past characteristics of eruption in Mt. St. Helens and put together hazard assessments for local officials. MILLER and his team are profiled in the new book "Volcano Cowboys: The Rocky Evolution of a Dangerous Science" by Dick Thompson.12:28:30 FORWARD PROMO (:29)12:29:00 I.D. BREAK (:59)12:

ROGER EBERT interviews WILLEM DAFOE. This is a special broadcast of a live event that took place at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Ebert explores Dafoe's 17-year career of more than 40 films, including his upcoming film, "Shadow of the Vampire." Dafoe's films include "The Last Temptation of Christ," "Affliction," "The English Patient," and "Platoon."Jazz critic KEVIN WHITEHEAD reviews "Traveler's Tales" (Omnitone) the new recording by Marty Ehrlich.12:58:30 NEXT SHOW PROMO (:29) PROMO COPY On the next Fresh Air. . . . volcanologist DAN MILLER. He was part of a team of geologists who predicted the eruption of Mt. St. Helens 20 years ago. Now he travels to hot spots around the world assessing the behavior of waking volcanos. He's featured in the new book "Volcano Cowboys." Also -- the film critic grills the actor. ROGER EBERT talks with WILLEM DAFOE. We present a special interview that took place at this year's Cannes Film Festival. That and more coming up on the next Fresh Air.

NPR's Anthony Brooks reports on the campaign trail of Vice President Al Gore and his running mate Senator Joseph Lieberman. Yesterday for the first time both candidates campaigned together and made stops in their home-towns. Today, Gore and Lieberman along with several Governors from southern states are campaigning in Atlanta.

Host Howard Berkes talks to Robert Blendon of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government about the accuracy and meaning of polls. Blendon says the farther away from an election, the less accurate the poll. He also says that respondents are reluctant to admit they won't vote for candidates from minority groups.

From Maine Public Radio Charlotte Renner reports on recent changes to Maine's campaign finance legislation.

NPR's Scott Horsley reports on a commercial database that keeps track of millions of Americans who have bounced checks. More than 85-thousand bank branches subscribe to the database, called Chexsystem, and use it to screen potential customers. But critics say a single bad check can place someone's name on the database, and once listed, it's unlikely they'll be able to open an account for up to five years.

Host Howard Berkes talks to Historian Gwendolyn Midlo Hall, about her research into the countries of origin of African-Americans. While preparing her 1992 book, Africans in Colonial America, Hall discovered court documents that indicated where enslaved Africans said they came from. The information was overlooked for more than 200 years, largely because the documents were in French or Spanish. Hall's findings are of particular interest to African Americans who want to trace their ancestry.

David D'Arcy reports on Filmmaker John Waters and his new movie, Cecil B. Demented. The film's main character seems loosely based on Waters' own life; Cecil B. Demented is a director of shock cinema and has attracted a cult-like following. But unlike Waters, Demented is a terrorist who targets bad cinema for destruction.

From his childhood in Carthage, Tennessee and Washington D.C., Al Gore was raised not just to be a politician but to be a Democratic presidential candidate. Next week in Los Angeles, Al Gore will take the penultimate step toward fulfilling his lifelong goal when he becomes the Democratic Party's nominee for the White House. NPR's Anthony Brooks reports.

Linda talks with Congressional Statistician Bruce Oppenheimer about Al Gore's Congressional voting record. Dr. Oppenheimer is a professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. His latest book is called Sizing Up the Senate; University of Chicago Press, October 1999.