The Next Big Thing unveils "New York Works," a series profiling people with jobs that are fast disappearing. This week, it's Walter the Seltzer Man. And we've got some more famous voices - Walt Whitman, Chowhound Jim Leff, and our very own contest judge Jesse Green.

Word of the Year
Each January, at their annual meeting, the members of the American Dialect Society enter into heated debate over the Word of the Year as well as sub-categories like "Most Outrageous" and "Most Euphemistic." Professor Connie Eble, who teaches English at the University of North Carolina, shares this year's winners.

Walter the Seltzer Man
Walter Backerman inherited the seltzer delivery route from his father, who inherited it from his father. He's one of just a handful left in the city. Come along for the ride and discover, bottle by bottle, why he's chosen to stay in the business. It's part of "New York Works," a series produced by Radio Diaries and The Next Big Thing.

The Mighty Wurlitzer
Up in the rafters of a Long Island University gymnasium resides one of the biggest pipe organs in the country. In its heyday, it drew many fans to what was then the Brooklyn Paramount Theater. The Theater is no longer, but Yankees organist Eddie Layton can still fill the place with rousing music.

Shouts and Murmurs
In 1856, Walt Whitman wrote "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry," an invitation to readers of the future to feel the vibrations of the city's past lives. Here, we heed his call with a rendering of the poem, read by David Margolies and produced by Brian Smith with music by Ohad Talmor.

Chowhound
Jim Leff's just come from a new Honduran restaurant in town, and the experience has prompted some rigorous reflection on culinary xenophobia.

Five Sounds in Search of an Author
Next Big Thing contest judge Jesse Green returns to judge this month's entries.

Prayer Song
Suzzy and Maggie Roche have a new album out, called "Zero Church," and it's built around a project they took on: to gather people's prayers, and put them to music. Here, Suzzy's live performance of "Prayer for Joe."

The Next Big Thing with Dean Olsher airs on WNYC New York Sundays from 11am-12 noon on 93.9FM and at 6pm on AM820. The Next Big Thing is funded in part by the Kaplen Foundation.

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