If you're a New York governor who solicits call girls, or a Congressman who accidentally tweets a salacious photo to someone who isn't his wife, you might need help with damage control. That's what consultants Mark Fabiani and Christopher LeHane offer in their new book, "Masters of Disaster," which refers to the nickname they earned while serving as aides to the Clinton White House during the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky years. Fabiani and LeHane discuss the secrets of political spin in politics, business and Hollywood.

It's a demographic change that is easy to spot at preschool pick-ups or at playgrounds: More people are having kids when they're older. Nationally about 14 percent of babies are born to women over the age of 35. Those babies tend to grow up in wealthier and more educated households. But medical risks are higher for babies of older parents, and kids may have to deal with a parent's death at a younger age. We discuss the societal benefits and drawbacks of older parenthood.

Calvin Trillin returns to Forum to review the 2012 presidential election... in rhyme. He'll discuss the turning point of the first debate: It got so thick, so lacking in one-liners/Some people fell asleep in their recliners. And the Republican's lament of changing demographics: Yes, too many voters of darker complexion/Can cause the wrong person to win an election. Trillin's new book tracing the 2012 presidential campaign in verse is called Dogfight, because: People were saying, "We wonder which dude'll/Emerge as the pit bull, and which as the poodle."

On Tuesday, the U.S. officially recognized the Syrian Opposition Coaltion as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people against President Bashar al-Assad. In return, the group said it wanted "real support," with weapons and military aid. How involved should the U.S. get in Syria, and could American support turn the tide for those fighting Assad's government? Or is it too little, too late, as some Syrian groups say?

North Korea successfully launched a missile on Wednesday, after multiple failed attempts. The U.S., Japan and South Korea immediately condemned the launch, and even North Korea's ally, China, expressed concern. Is this launch a sign of greater nuclear reach, and how should nations respond?

Rupa Marya is a San Francisco doctor. But at night, she swaps her stethoscope for a guitar. She's the lead singer of Rupa & The April Fishes, a multicultural band that sings in English, French, Spanish and Hindi. Marya joins us to play a couple songs with her band, and to talk about her international influences and what shaped the band's latest album, "Build."

Raised by a flamenco dancer, Yaelisa has been dancing onstage since she was four years old. The Emmy Award-winning choreographer went on to start her own local dance company, Caminos Flamencos, where she incorporates her training from Spain with other multinational influences. Yaelisa and her husband, flamenco guitarist Jason McGuire (aka "El Rubio"), perform in our studios.

Muni, San Francisco's transit agency, was launched 100 years ago this month. It was the first publicly owned transit system in a major city in the U.S. The inaugural line ran on Geary Street between downtown and 33rd Avenue. Now, Muni has about 700,000 daily boardings and runs 63 bus routes, seven light rail lines, a historic streetcar line and three cable car lines. Muni has been transporting -- and frustrating -- customers throughout the century. We discuss the history and current state of Muni.

Read any good books lately? We open the phone lines to get listener picks for the most memorable books of the year, the best books to give as gifts and other suggestions for life-changing reads.

Are you considering travel to a poor country? How do you know if your tourist dollars will support the local people or hurt them? Every year, Berkeley-based Ethical Traveler selects the 10 developing nations it thinks do the best job of promoting human rights, preserving the environment and creating a community-based tourism industry. Ethical Traveler has just released its list. We'll discuss why people should head to these countries, and the ethics of tourism. What considerations do you make when you choose where and how to travel?

Phil Cousineau really, really loves words. In his new book, "The Painted Word: A Treasure Chest of Remarkable Words and Their Origins," that passion shines through as Cousineau digs deep into history to find the stories behind words ranging from abbey-lubber ("a holy, lazy, fool") to zuihitsu ("a spontaneous jotting down of one's thoughts"). We talk with the author about his latest love letter to language.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Friday that it would review an appeals court ruling striking down Proposition 8, California's ban on same-sex marriage. The high court also plans to hear a case on whether married same-sex couples are entitled to equal benefits. How are the justices likely to vote? And what will their decisions mean for California?