NPR

Fresh Air
Come And Play: 'Sesame Street' Celebrates 40 Years

6 Nov 2009 | 12:39 pm

Four decades after its premiere, Sesame Street is the same happy neighborhood it always was. TV critic David Bianculli takes a look at the newest episode — which features special guest Michelle Obama — and assesses the show's enduring legacy.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
The Man Behind Miss Piggy

6 Nov 2009 | 7:22 am

Film director Frank Oz was one of the defining creative forces behind the Muppets. He joined The Muppet Show creator Jim Henson in 1963 and went on to provide the voices of Miss Piggy, Cookie Monster, Fozzie Bear and Bert.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Composing Silly Songs For 'Sesame Street'

6 Nov 2009 | 6:55 am

Writer and humorist Christopher Cerf has been associated with the Children's Television Workshop since 1970, developing products, producing music albums and writing parodies of rock-and-roll songs for Sesame Street.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
A Stroll Among The Memories On 'Sesame Street'

6 Nov 2009 | 6:53 am

The venerable children's TV show celebrates its 40th anniversary on Nov. 10, with a demonstration from First Lady Michelle Obama on how to plant your own vegetable garden. The late Jeff Moss, one of the program's co-creators, talked to Terry Gross in 1998; we'll listen back to excerpts from that conversation.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
La Roux: Full-Throated Ardor, Calibrated To Please

5 Nov 2009 | 8:08 am

La Roux is a British pop duo — 21-year-old singer Elly Jackson and synth player-producer Ben Langmaid — with a style that blends passionate vocals with strict mechanical beats. The pair's self-titled debut album went No. 1 in England and Europe this year, and now it's out stateside. Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

All Things Considered
Hasan's Story Won't Be Easy To Sort Out

6 Nov 2009 | 2:32 pm

After a mass shooting, people who knew the gunman find themselves wondering what warning signs they might have missed. So it is in the case of Maj. Nidal Hasan, the man authorities say opened fire on his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Effective Preventive Care Crucial

6 Nov 2009 | 1:32 pm

Many politicians have said that increasing preventive care will save money and help pay for health care overhaul. But the Congressional Budget Office says it won't count preventive services as reducing health care costs. Commentator Douglas Kamerow, a family physician and preventive medicine specialist, says that debating whether prevention saves money is asking the wrong question.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Money In A Bottle: The Celebrity Scent Business

6 Nov 2009 | 1:30 pm

If you walk down the cosmetics aisle of any big store, you might mistake the perfume collection for the guest list to a Hollywood party. But star-studded scents account for only about 10 percent of fragrance sales; their value is the publicity.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
U.S. Economic Steps May Be Leading To Bubble

6 Nov 2009 | 1:29 pm

The global economy is slowly recovering after the worst financial crisis in decades, but government efforts to stimulate growth, including the Fed's move to drive interest rates down to zero, may be creating another problem. Prices for assets — gold, stocks and real estate in Asia — are soaring, leading to warnings that a new bubble could be forming.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Shooting Spotlights Muslims In Military

6 Nov 2009 | 1:18 pm

The shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, has raised questions about the experience of Muslims who serve in the military. Rafael LanTigua, a lieutenant in the Army National Guard and a Muslim chaplain candidate, says Muslims have served in the armed forces since the Revolutionary War.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

Talk of the Nation
Building A Better Lightbulb

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

The U.S. Department of Energy is offering $10 million to the first individual or company to develop an energy-efficient LED replacement for the standard 60-watt incandescent bulb. DOE lighting program manager James Brodrick discusses the L Prize, and what makes a better bulb.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Students Build Living Microbial Machines

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

At the 2009 International Genetically Engineered Machine competition, undergraduates from all over the world unveiled the living machines they'd created with snippets of DNA, from bacteria that change color when they detect pollutants to ones that secrete non-toxic superglue.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Considering Values In The Health Care Debate

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

As health care legislation moves through Congress, bioethicist Thomas H. Murray asks if enough attention is being paid to concepts such as justice, fairness and liberty. Murray and health care economist Len Nichols discuss the role of values in the health care debate.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Giving Athletes A Heads-Up On Concussions

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

Football players take a lot of hits, but when does hard-headed play go too far? New research suggests that head trauma can do lasting damage. Two brain researchers talk about what happens in the brain when a player gets hit, and how athletes can better protect themselves.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Can Oceans Survive The Human Appetite For Seafood?

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

Faced with declining fish stocks, many nations are looking for sustainable ways to have their fish — and eat it too. But how much fishing is too much? Oceanographer Sylvia Earle discusses this and other topics in her book The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: News
Could Big Donors Break Obama's Fundraising Record?

7 Nov 2009 | 2:43 pm

The Obama presidential campaign rewrote the playbook for raising campaign cash in 2008. The Supreme Court may change it again before 2010: An upcoming decision could potentially curb the growing influence of small donors in favor of corporate America.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Rough Road For Military Families With Special Needs

7 Nov 2009 | 1:09 pm

Deployments are usually hard on families. Spouses must become single parents for months on end, managing households with little outside help. These challenges become even more daunting for families with special needs children.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Joe Jackson Seeks Slice Of Son Michael's Millions

6 Nov 2009 | 4:18 pm

Michael Jackson's father is seeking an allowance from his son's estate to help cover expenses that exceed $15,000 a month, according to court documents filed Friday. The entertainer's 2002 will made no reference to his father, with whom he had an often strained relationship.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Hasan's Story Won't Be Easy To Sort Out

6 Nov 2009 | 2:32 pm

After a mass shooting, people who knew the gunman find themselves wondering what warning signs they might have missed. So it is in the case of Maj. Nidal Hasan, the man authorities say opened fire on his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Suspected Fort Hood Shooter Saw the Toll of PTSD

6 Nov 2009 | 2:11 pm

As an Army psychiatrist, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan heard the horror stories of war on a daily basis from the soldiers he was treating for post-traumatic stress disorder. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Most Emailed
'Men Who Stare At Goats': GIs Use Their Third Eyes

6 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

A quirky comedy based on the true story of "psychic warriors" in the '70s and '80s, Goats stars George Clooney and Kevin Spacey as offbeat officers turned fearsome foes when their hippie leader (Jeff Bridges) goes missing. Critic Kenneth Turan says watching these practiced farceurs at work can't help but provide some laughs.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Come And Play: 'Sesame Street' Celebrates 40 Years

6 Nov 2009 | 12:39 pm

Four decades after its premiere, Sesame Street is the same happy neighborhood it always was. TV critic David Bianculli takes a look at the newest episode — which features special guest Michelle Obama — and assesses the show's enduring legacy.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Flu Threat Looms As Mecca Readies For Pilgrims

6 Nov 2009 | 12:05 pm

The H1N1 virus is a major concern for Saudi Arabian authorities, who are gearing up to host millions of Muslims on the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Health officials are making recommendations and monitoring pilgrims, but otherwise can do little to mitigate the virus' spread.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Babies May Pick Up Language Cues In Womb

6 Nov 2009 | 10:45 am

A new study reveals that the melody of a newborn's cries seems to be influenced by the sound of the parents' native tongue. The findings suggest that crying infants may be imitating the patterns of the language they heard before they were born.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Sapphire's Story: How 'Push' Became 'Precious'

6 Nov 2009 | 9:47 am

The gritty realism of the film Precious is even more intense in the novel Push, upon which the film is based. Author Sapphire discusses the inspiration for her work — and her initial reluctance to allow her work to become a film.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Arts & Entertainment
Come And Play: 'Sesame Street' Celebrates 40 Years

6 Nov 2009 | 12:39 pm

Four decades after its premiere, Sesame Street is the same happy neighborhood it always was. TV critic David Bianculli takes a look at the newest episode — which features special guest Michelle Obama — and assesses the show's enduring legacy.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Portraits Of A Blended Nation

6 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pm

This weekend, Liane Hansen, host of Weekend Edition Sunday, will interview the authors of a new book: Blended Nation: Portraits and Interviews of Mixed-Race America. It's part of a new series called "Beyond Black and White," which will highlight the ...» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Sapphire's Story: How 'Push' Became 'Precious'

6 Nov 2009 | 9:47 am

The gritty realism of the film Precious is even more intense in the novel Push, upon which the film is based. Author Sapphire discusses the inspiration for her work — and her initial reluctance to allow her work to become a film.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
The Man Behind Miss Piggy

6 Nov 2009 | 7:22 am

Film director Frank Oz was one of the defining creative forces behind the Muppets. He joined The Muppet Show creator Jim Henson in 1963 and went on to provide the voices of Miss Piggy, Cookie Monster, Fozzie Bear and Bert.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Nat Geo Photo Contest Comes To A Close

6 Nov 2009 | 7:11 am

National Geographic's International Photography Contest has come to a close, and winners will be announced in early December. Here's a selection of a few submissions, but you can view more on ngm.com, or check out some winners from the past. ...» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Business
Money In A Bottle: The Celebrity Scent Business

6 Nov 2009 | 1:30 pm

If you walk down the cosmetics aisle of any big store, you might mistake the perfume collection for the guest list to a Hollywood party. But star-studded scents account for only about 10 percent of fragrance sales; their value is the publicity.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
U.S. Economic Steps May Be Leading To Bubble

6 Nov 2009 | 1:29 pm

The global economy is slowly recovering after the worst financial crisis in decades, but government efforts to stimulate growth, including the Fed's move to drive interest rates down to zero, may be creating another problem. Prices for assets — gold, stocks and real estate in Asia — are soaring, leading to warnings that a new bubble could be forming.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Worried Consumers Continue To Shun Credit

6 Nov 2009 | 1:10 pm

Consumers borrowed less for a record eighth straight month in September amid rising unemployment and tight credit conditions. Economists worry the declines in borrowing will drag on the fledgling recovery. The Federal Reserve said borrowing fell at an annual rate of $14.8 billion in September.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Jobless Rate Highest Since 1983

6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

The government says the nation's unemployment rate hit 10.2 percent last month, the highest since 1983. Economists had expected the figure to rise to 9.9 percent. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Health Overhaul Could Make Chain Restaurants Post Calories

6 Nov 2009 | 12:06 pm

A little-noticed provision in the House's health overhaul bill would require make chain restaurant menus and vending machines carry calorie counts.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Health & Science
Babies May Pick Up Language Cues In Womb

6 Nov 2009 | 10:45 am

A new study reveals that the melody of a newborn's cries seems to be influenced by the sound of the parents' native tongue. The findings suggest that crying infants may be imitating the patterns of the language they heard before they were born.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Can Oceans Survive The Human Appetite For Seafood?

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

Faced with declining fish stocks, many nations are looking for sustainable ways to have their fish — and eat it too. But how much fishing is too much? Oceanographer Sylvia Earle discusses this and other topics in her book The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Building A Better Lightbulb

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

The U.S. Department of Energy is offering $10 million to the first individual or company to develop an energy-efficient LED replacement for the standard 60-watt incandescent bulb. DOE lighting program manager James Brodrick discusses the L Prize, and what makes a better bulb.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Students Build Living Microbial Machines

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

At the 2009 International Genetically Engineered Machine competition, undergraduates from all over the world unveiled the living machines they'd created with snippets of DNA, from bacteria that change color when they detect pollutants to ones that secrete non-toxic superglue.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Health Issues Follow Natural Gas Drilling In Texas

6 Nov 2009 | 9:30 am

Vast new natural gas fields have opened up thanks to an advanced drilling technique. While natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel than coal or petroleum, extracting it is still hard, dirty work. Some people who live near the massive Barnett Shale gas deposit in north Texas, have complaints. Health and environmental concerns are prompting state regulators to take a closer look.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Opinion
The Bombastic Fog Engulfs Fort Hood

6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

So many voices have already figured out what caused an Army major to open fire on his fellow soldiers, despite the absence of key facts.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Effective Preventive Care Crucial

6 Nov 2009 | 1:32 pm

Many politicians have said that increasing preventive care will save money and help pay for health care overhaul. But the Congressional Budget Office says it won't count preventive services as reducing health care costs. Commentator Douglas Kamerow, a family physician and preventive medicine specialist, says that debating whether prevention saves money is asking the wrong question.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
A New Mark Fiore Animation: "Time Flies"

6 Nov 2009 | 8:33 am

Watch now! Dogboy and Mr. Dan are back, bantering about when President Obama will make up his mind about our troops. Mark Fiore created this animation. The Wall Street Journal dubbed him "the undisputed guru of the form." He creates political animation from an undisclosed location somewhere in San Francisco.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
A Wall, A War, And A Black And White World

6 Nov 2009 | 8:18 am

Essayist Jeff Gates was a fresh college graduate when he packed his bags for seven months in Europe. When he jumped at the chance to cross into East Germany, he learned that while life looked similar, the Berlin Wall separated more than just a plot of land.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Foreign Policy: A High Profile Effort In Singapore

6 Nov 2009 | 4:49 am

The Obama administration is mounting a high-profile effort to bring senior officials to Singapore for the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum beginning next week, but struggling with how much substance they will need to deliver in addition to the pageantry.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Nation
NFL Fashions A Plan To Dress Up Female Fans

7 Nov 2009 | 4:22 pm

For nearly 90 years, the NFL has sold hats, jerseys and other gear for male fans, but the game is changing. Realizing that women — who make up more than 40 percent of the NFL's 200 million fans — are an untapped market, the NFL is rolling out downsized apparel, from jerseys to handbags to a dress signed by the Arizona Cardinals.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Could Big Donors Break Obama's Fundraising Record?

7 Nov 2009 | 2:43 pm

The Obama presidential campaign rewrote the playbook for raising campaign cash in 2008. The Supreme Court may change it again before 2010: An upcoming decision could potentially curb the growing influence of small donors in favor of corporate America.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Rough Road For Military Families With Special Needs

7 Nov 2009 | 1:09 pm

Deployments are usually hard on families. Spouses must become single parents for months on end, managing households with little outside help. These challenges become even more daunting for families with special needs children.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Neo-Nazi Rallies Provoke 'Anger, Fear'

7 Nov 2009 | 9:57 am

The National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi group, is holding two rallies Saturday to demonstrate against illegal immigration. Similar rallies in Riverside, Calif., have led to violent clashes with counter-demonstrators. A recent rally there attracted about 24 neo-Nazis and about 700 counter-protesters.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Hasan's Story Won't Be Easy To Sort Out

6 Nov 2009 | 2:32 pm

After a mass shooting, people who knew the gunman find themselves wondering what warning signs they might have missed. So it is in the case of Maj. Nidal Hasan, the man authorities say opened fire on his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: World
Flu Threat Looms As Mecca Readies For Pilgrims

6 Nov 2009 | 12:05 pm

The H1N1 virus is a major concern for Saudi Arabian authorities, who are gearing up to host millions of Muslims on the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Health officials are making recommendations and monitoring pilgrims, but otherwise can do little to mitigate the virus' spread.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Hard Choices in Afghanistan: What's Next?

6 Nov 2009 | 12:03 pm

A special report from All Things Considered and NPR.org explores the challenges facing President Obama, America and Afghanistan in the troubled region and the options available to the U.S.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
U.S. Envoy To U.N. Defends Extensive Afghan Review

6 Nov 2009 | 11:35 am

The U.S. envoy to the U.N. rejects claims that the Obama administration's pace of determining a strategy in Afghanistan is a sign of weakness. What would be "weak and dangerous," Susan Rice says, is a rushed decision made without thoroughly considering the implications for U.S. national security.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Two Coalition Service Members Missing In Afghanistan

6 Nov 2009 | 10:48 am

After a routine resupply mission, the American soldiers disappeared and more than 25 NATO and Afghan security forces members were wounded during the search mission for them, the alliance said Friday.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Why Do Countries Rich In Oil Still Have Poverty?

6 Nov 2009 | 6:31 am

This week's Planet Money report deals with what economists call the "paradox of oil." We'll meet two men who work in the African nation of Angola. One is an American, who makes big money in the oil business. The other is an Angolan who sells chewing gum on the street.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Programs: All Songs Considered
Guest DJ Kyp Malone

2 Nov 2009 | 9:05 am

Kyp Malone is best known as the guitarist and singer for TV On The Radio. But this fall, he released his debut solo album under the name Rain Machine. Rain Machine's eponymous record sounds an awful lot like the work of TV On The Radio, but the songs are a lot quieter and relatively spare. On this edition of All Songs Considered Malone sits in as guest DJ to talk about his Rain Machine project, and to share some of his favorite music by other artists.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
CMJ Highlights, Strokes Frontman Julian Casablancas, Rapper Kid Cudi, More

27 Oct 2009 | 1:32 pm

On this edition of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen shares some of his favorite discoveries from the College Media Journal Music Festival in New York. Hear live performances by Patrick Watson, The xx and Choir of Young Believers, plus new solo music from Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas, violinist Oliver Schroer, fast-rising hip-hop artist Kid Cudi and the phenomenal electro-rock duo Phantogram.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
The Year's Best New Jazz

19 Oct 2009 | 8:36 am

On this edition of All Songs Considered, we spin some of the year's best new jazz recordings. Bob Boilen talks with WBGO's Josh Jackson, host of Live At the Village Vanguard, a monthly concert series from the legendary New York City jazz club. The two play cuts from some of 2009's standout albums, including "I Can't Help It" (from Gretchen Parlato's In a Dream) and Ben Allison's "Kramer vs. Kramer vs. Godzilla" (from Think Free).» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Vampire Weekend, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Frontman Alec Ounsworth, The XX And More

13 Oct 2009 | 10:15 am

On this edition of All Songs Considered, we've got an exclusive new song from Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla and J. Robbins of Jawbox. The two wrote and recorded the new single, titled "Mercury," in just two days as part of our Project Song series. Also on the program: London's captivating quartet The XX; the neo-psychedelic duo MV & EE; folk trio Espers; and new music from Doveman, Vampire Weekend and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman Alec Ounsworth.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Guest DJ Tucker Martine

5 Oct 2009 | 8:20 am

The Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens, Laura Veirs and Bill Frisell have one thing in common: When they wanted their music to sound amazing, they called on Tucker Martine for help. Martine is a composer, a musician and one of the most sought-after producers in the business, known for a mixture of imagination and soul. On this edition of All Songs Considered, Martine shares music from some of his favorite artists — including a sneak preview of Veirs' new album, which comes out in January.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Programs: Morning Edition
Guest DJ Kyp Malone

2 Nov 2009 | 9:05 am

Kyp Malone is best known as the guitarist and singer for TV On The Radio. But this fall, he released his debut solo album under the name Rain Machine. Rain Machine's eponymous record sounds an awful lot like the work of TV On The Radio, but the songs are a lot quieter and relatively spare. On this edition of All Songs Considered Malone sits in as guest DJ to talk about his Rain Machine project, and to share some of his favorite music by other artists.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
CMJ Highlights, Strokes Frontman Julian Casablancas, Rapper Kid Cudi, More

27 Oct 2009 | 1:32 pm

On this edition of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen shares some of his favorite discoveries from the College Media Journal Music Festival in New York. Hear live performances by Patrick Watson, The xx and Choir of Young Believers, plus new solo music from Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas, violinist Oliver Schroer, fast-rising hip-hop artist Kid Cudi and the phenomenal electro-rock duo Phantogram.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
The Year's Best New Jazz

19 Oct 2009 | 8:36 am

On this edition of All Songs Considered, we spin some of the year's best new jazz recordings. Bob Boilen talks with WBGO's Josh Jackson, host of Live At the Village Vanguard, a monthly concert series from the legendary New York City jazz club. The two play cuts from some of 2009's standout albums, including "I Can't Help It" (from Gretchen Parlato's In a Dream) and Ben Allison's "Kramer vs. Kramer vs. Godzilla" (from Think Free).» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Vampire Weekend, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Frontman Alec Ounsworth, The XX And More

13 Oct 2009 | 10:15 am

On this edition of All Songs Considered, we've got an exclusive new song from Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla and J. Robbins of Jawbox. The two wrote and recorded the new single, titled "Mercury," in just two days as part of our Project Song series. Also on the program: London's captivating quartet The XX; the neo-psychedelic duo MV & EE; folk trio Espers; and new music from Doveman, Vampire Weekend and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman Alec Ounsworth.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Guest DJ Tucker Martine

5 Oct 2009 | 8:20 am

The Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens, Laura Veirs and Bill Frisell have one thing in common: When they wanted their music to sound amazing, they called on Tucker Martine for help. Martine is a composer, a musician and one of the most sought-after producers in the business, known for a mixture of imagination and soul. On this edition of All Songs Considered, Martine shares music from some of his favorite artists — including a sneak preview of Veirs' new album, which comes out in January.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Programs: Tell Me More
President Obama's Campaign Manager Speaks Out

6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am
Shooting Spree At Ft. Hood Leaves Community Shaken

6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

A shooting rampage in Fort Hood, Texas Thursday reportedly killed 13 people and wounded 30 others. It was the worst mass shooting ever at a domestic U.S. Military installation. For an update, host Michel Martin talks with Terry Whitley, senior pastor of the Grace Christian Center, a large congregation in Killeen, Texas — the city adjacent to Fort Hood. Many of Pastor Whitley's congregants are members of the military or are part of the military family as it were. Chaplains from Grace Christian Center have been out in the community, helping local residents get through this difficult and…
Identity Of Alleged Ft. Hood Gunman Brings Muslim-Americans Anxiety

6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

Host Michel Martin continues the conversation about the Ft. Hood shootings with Shahed Amanullah, who has been designated as the unofficial spokesperson for the Muslim community in the nearby Austin-Killeen area. Amanullah explains his initial reaction upon learning the alleged shooter, Maj. Nidal Hassan, is Muslim.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Native American Leaders Convene In Washington, D.C.

6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

Thursday, over 500 tribal leaders gathered in the nation's capital for a day-long Tribal Nations Conference. The meeting focused on issues ranging from employment to health care and housing. Rob Capriccioso, a reporter with Indian Country Today, explains the significance of the gathering.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
'Barbershop' Guys React To Ft. Hood Shootings, Recent Election Results

6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

Host Michel Martin speaks with Jimi Izrael, Ruben Navarrette, Lester Spence and Arsalan Iftikhar talk about the recent gubernatorial and mayoral races across the country. They also reflect on the recent tragedy of the Ft. Hood shootings and debate President Obama's handling of this incident.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Programs: Weekend Edition Saturday
NFL Fashions A Plan To Dress Up Female Fans

7 Nov 2009 | 4:22 pm

For nearly 90 years, the NFL has sold hats, jerseys and other gear for male fans, but the game is changing. Realizing that women — who make up more than 40 percent of the NFL's 200 million fans — are an untapped market, the NFL is rolling out downsized apparel, from jerseys to handbags to a dress signed by the Arizona Cardinals.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Could Big Donors Break Obama's Fundraising Record?

7 Nov 2009 | 2:43 pm

The Obama presidential campaign rewrote the playbook for raising campaign cash in 2008. The Supreme Court may change it again before 2010: An upcoming decision could potentially curb the growing influence of small donors in favor of corporate America.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Refusing Flu Shots? Maybe You're A 'Denialist'

7 Nov 2009 | 1:18 pm

At the Ocean Charter School near Marina del Rey, Calif., 40 percent of the 2008 kindergarten class received vaccination exemptions. Author Michael Specter says the parents in this upscale enclave are prime examples of what he calls "denialism."» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Rough Road For Military Families With Special Needs

7 Nov 2009 | 1:09 pm

Deployments are usually hard on families. Spouses must become single parents for months on end, managing households with little outside help. These challenges become even more daunting for families with special needs children.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Good, Bad And Ugly Meet In 'Life On Mars'

7 Nov 2009 | 11:10 am

Actor Philip Glenister relishes his role as a fast-talking, chauvinistic boss in Life on Mars. The classic British sci-fi series features a detective who is hit by a car in 2006 and awakens to find himself in 1973.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Programs: Weekend Edition Sunday
N.Y. Harbor School Seeks Sea Change In Education

1 Nov 2009 | 3:45 pm

Murray Fisher had a dream: Take the 600 miles of New York City's coastline and all the water surrounding it, and start a maritime high school that would teach inner-city kids about their watery world. His school, the New York Harbor School, is housed in the heart of Brooklyn. But soon, it will move to Governors Island, a tree-covered jewel 800 yards off the coast of Manhattan.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
A Potpourri Of Political Decisions This Week

1 Nov 2009 | 7:41 am

The politics of Afghanistan are critical to the politics of America this week, as President Obama ponders the future of the U.S. mission there amid uncertainty about that country's elections. In Washington, Congress is poised to take the year-long debate on health care to the floor of the House — and several states will be holding elections for governor, mayor and other offices. Guest host Jacki Lyden talks with NPR's senior Washington editor, Ron Elving.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Favre Returning Home, But On The Rival Team

1 Nov 2009 | 5:50 am

There will be drama on and off the football field this weekend as the Green Bay Packers face their longtime rival, the Minnesota Vikings. The game will be the first time Vikings quarterback Brett Favre will come back to play at his one-time home, the storied Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Some fans feel betrayed that the former Green Bay legend now wears a Minnesota jersey, and it remains to be seen how he will be welcomed back.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
School Nurse On Sniffly Front Lines Of Swine Flu

1 Nov 2009 | 5:49 am

One school nurse in Sacramento, Calif., is at the center of the H1N1 swine flu epidemic, dabbing the noses of sick kids and comforting panicked parents as they push for vaccine, information and support.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Bloomberg's Mayoral Gun Group Losing Members

1 Nov 2009 | 5:48 am

Mayors Against Illegal Guns, led by New York's Michael Bloomberg, is losing members after the National Rifle Association mounted a campaign against the group. The NRA and various gun proponents contend that the mayors' efforts represent a slippery slope.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Programs: World Cafe
Phoenix: Jagged Pop For Francophiles

6 Nov 2009 | 9:38 am

The four friends in Phoenix started out playing Hank Williams and Prince covers in area bars, but eventually landed a slot as a backing band for Air. Nearly a decade later, Phoenix has propelled itself into international renown. Its latest album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, blends catchy pop songwriting with a heavier rock sound.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Mayer Hawthorne: The New Old School

5 Nov 2009 | 7:51 am

Hawthorne's work is heavily indebted to the '60s and '70s soul music of Memphis and particularly Detroit; it's hard not to think of the Detroit-born singer-producer's work as an overt homage to the Motown label. Hear Hawthorne perform in a session on World Cafe.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Hugh Cornwell: U.K. Punk, Yours For Free

4 Nov 2009 | 7:25 am

A onetime frontman for The Stranglers and part of the first wave of British punk, Cornwell has long been known as a top songwriter and performer in the U.K. His seventh and latest album, Hoover Dam, is a garage-rock homage. Hear him in a session on World Cafe.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Guy Clark: A Folk Icon Looks Forward

3 Nov 2009 | 7:57 am

Throughout the '60s and early '70s, Clark lived as something of an itinerant musician and luthier. Eventually settling in Nashville in the '70s, he emerged as an refreshing new songwriter. Clark's songs are largely narrative, inspired by the storytelling poems of Robert Frost and Stephen Vincent Benet. Hear him perform a session from World Cafe.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Lissie Maurus: Songs For Solitude

2 Nov 2009 | 7:01 am

Shifting from upbeat tunes to soft-spoken country, hints of '60s soul and subtle pop, Maurus' sweet and rustic voice ties each track together seamlessly. Hear two songs from her upcoming debut EP, Why You Runnin', on World Cafe: Next.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Books
How Market Crash Helped Hedge Fund Operator

6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

Before the financial crisis hit, John Paulson was just your run-of-the-mill hedge fund operator, worth millions of dollars. But when the market crashed, Paulson made billions. How he did it lies at the heart of a new book called The Greatest Trade Ever. The book's author, Gregory R. Zuckerman, offers his insight. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Can Oceans Survive The Human Appetite For Seafood?

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

Faced with declining fish stocks, many nations are looking for sustainable ways to have their fish — and eat it too. But how much fishing is too much? Oceanographer Sylvia Earle discusses this and other topics in her book The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Sapphire's Story: How 'Push' Became 'Precious'

6 Nov 2009 | 9:47 am

The gritty realism of the film Precious is even more intense in the novel Push, upon which the film is based. Author Sapphire discusses the inspiration for her work — and her initial reluctance to allow her work to become a film.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Wal-Mart, Amazon Price War Extends To DVDs

6 Nov 2009 | 7:18 am

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is trimming the online preorder prices of some upcoming DVDs following last month's price cut on books. The move led rivals Amazon.com Inc. and Target Corp. to reduce some DVD prices, which pushed Wal-Mart to take a few more cents off its offerings.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Excerpt: 'Invisible'

6 Nov 2009 | 4:59 am

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NPR Topics: Authors
How Market Crash Helped Hedge Fund Operator

6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

Before the financial crisis hit, John Paulson was just your run-of-the-mill hedge fund operator, worth millions of dollars. But when the market crashed, Paulson made billions. How he did it lies at the heart of a new book called The Greatest Trade Ever. The book's author, Gregory R. Zuckerman, offers his insight. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Sapphire's Story: How 'Push' Became 'Precious'

6 Nov 2009 | 9:47 am

The gritty realism of the film Precious is even more intense in the novel Push, upon which the film is based. Author Sapphire discusses the inspiration for her work — and her initial reluctance to allow her work to become a film.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Harold Evans: A Long Career Of Chasing Stories

5 Nov 2009 | 9:36 am

The British journalist talks with Steve Inskeep about his tenure as editor of the Sunday Times in London and his crusade to maintain journalism's commitment to public good. Evans has a new memoir called My Paper Chase: True Stories of Vanished Times.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Gore Urges Obama To Take Lead On Climate Change

5 Nov 2009 | 8:06 am

In his new book, Al Gore argues that consumers have "all the tools we need" to solve climate change. But unless the United States takes a leadership role, "it would be impossible to resolve this crisis," he tells NPR.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
'Obamanos!': One Year Into Obama's Presidency

4 Nov 2009 | 11:29 am

Hendrik Hertzberg, author of Obamanos!, assesses the year since President Obama's election. And former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee and NPR political editor Ken Rudin talk about gains Republicans made in the 2009 elections.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Children's Health
Flu Precautions: Making Sense Of CDC Advice

5 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pm

With swine flu spreading through schools across the U.S., more and more parents need to care for sick kids at home. The CDC has advice on its Web site, but some of it seems tough to follow. Should parents really wear masks and isolate sick children?» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Rice Krispies Are No Substitute For Swine Flu Vaccine

5 Nov 2009 | 8:52 am

Kellogg is pulling claims that Rice Krispies and Cocoa Krispies cereals boost kids' immune systems.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Report: U.S. Trails In Infant Mortality

4 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

A report from the National Center for Health Statistics shows that the U.S. ranked 30th in the world in infant mortality rates, mainly because of a higher rate of pre-term births than most countries in Europe. Analysts say these studies don't take sufficiently into account the U.S. population mix. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Preterm Births Boost U.S. Infant Mortality Rate

4 Nov 2009 | 12:55 pm

Infant mortality in the U.S. is worse than in 29 other countries, including practically all of Europe, Canada and Australia, says a report just out from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost 7 infants die for every 1,000 born in America, a 36 percent rise since 1984. A high number of babies born too soon is largely to blame.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Flu Study Reassures Pregnant Women, Children

3 Nov 2009 | 4:01 am

New data show the new H1N1 flu vaccine is safe and effective in pregnant women and children. Ongoing studies of the swine flu vaccine confirm that pregnant women do just fine with one dose but young children will need two. The government has set up an independent panel to monitor what happens to people who have been vaccinated. The working group will report back regularly.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Education
Obama Offers States Rewards For Overhauling Schools

5 Nov 2009 | 3:07 am

The Obama administration soon will be awarding billions of dollars in education grants to help local school districts raise the bar on student achievement. In order to qualify for the money, schools may have to grade not only students, but also teachers.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
N.Y. Harbor School Seeks Sea Change In Education

1 Nov 2009 | 3:45 pm

Murray Fisher had a dream: Take the 600 miles of New York City's coastline and all the water surrounding it, and start a maritime high school that would teach inner-city kids about their watery world. His school, the New York Harbor School, is housed in the heart of Brooklyn. But soon, it will move to Governors Island, a tree-covered jewel 800 yards off the coast of Manhattan.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
School Nurse On Sniffly Front Lines Of Swine Flu

1 Nov 2009 | 5:49 am

One school nurse in Sacramento, Calif., is at the center of the H1N1 swine flu epidemic, dabbing the noses of sick kids and comforting panicked parents as they push for vaccine, information and support.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Facing Identity Conflicts, Black Students Fall Behind

31 Oct 2009 | 11:50 am

Why do middle-class black and Latino teens often have lower test scores and college attendance rates than their white peers? Some researchers suggest media stereotypes might be to blame; others point to a peer culture of underachievement.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Racial Achievement Gap Still Plagues Schools

30 Oct 2009 | 9:52 pm

Black and Latino students consistently have lower test scores and attendance rates than their white counterparts. Placing struggling students in remedial classes has been a standard way to deal with the issue, but this method is coming under fire.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Economy
Money In A Bottle: The Celebrity Scent Business

6 Nov 2009 | 1:30 pm

If you walk down the cosmetics aisle of any big store, you might mistake the perfume collection for the guest list to a Hollywood party. But star-studded scents account for only about 10 percent of fragrance sales; their value is the publicity.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
U.S. Economic Steps May Be Leading To Bubble

6 Nov 2009 | 1:29 pm

The global economy is slowly recovering after the worst financial crisis in decades, but government efforts to stimulate growth, including the Fed's move to drive interest rates down to zero, may be creating another problem. Prices for assets — gold, stocks and real estate in Asia — are soaring, leading to warnings that a new bubble could be forming.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Worried Consumers Continue To Shun Credit

6 Nov 2009 | 1:10 pm

Consumers borrowed less for a record eighth straight month in September amid rising unemployment and tight credit conditions. Economists worry the declines in borrowing will drag on the fledgling recovery. The Federal Reserve said borrowing fell at an annual rate of $14.8 billion in September.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Jobless Rate Highest Since 1983

6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

The government says the nation's unemployment rate hit 10.2 percent last month, the highest since 1983. Economists had expected the figure to rise to 9.9 percent. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Jump In Jobless Rate Puts Spotlight On Obama

6 Nov 2009 | 11:05 am

News that the jobless rate has crossed the psychologically important 10 percent mark comes in the same week that Democrats suffered a sobering Election Day. Some experts say it dims Democratic prospects not just for 2010 but for the health care vote this weekend.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Environment
Can Oceans Survive The Human Appetite For Seafood?

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

Faced with declining fish stocks, many nations are looking for sustainable ways to have their fish — and eat it too. But how much fishing is too much? Oceanographer Sylvia Earle discusses this and other topics in her book The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Health Issues Follow Natural Gas Drilling In Texas

6 Nov 2009 | 9:30 am

Vast new natural gas fields have opened up thanks to an advanced drilling technique. While natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel than coal or petroleum, extracting it is still hard, dirty work. Some people who live near the massive Barnett Shale gas deposit in north Texas, have complaints. Health and environmental concerns are prompting state regulators to take a closer look.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Gore Urges Obama To Take Lead On Climate Change

5 Nov 2009 | 8:06 am

In his new book, Al Gore argues that consumers have "all the tools we need" to solve climate change. But unless the United States takes a leadership role, "it would be impossible to resolve this crisis," he tells NPR.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
A Trip To Sumatra To Hear a Gibbon's Call

4 Nov 2009 | 3:51 pm

The Gibbon, a smaller member of the primate family, is well-known for its long arms and hands. Its speed makes it difficult to see, but its distinctive call is easy to identify. A trip to the rainforests of Indonesia by plane from New York, followed by a crumbling 30-year-old propeller plane, and by foot finally yielded a call from the elusive gibbon.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Radar Reveals Dynamic World Under Antarctica's Ice

4 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

By flying planes over Antarctica with ice-penetrating radar, lasers and other technology, NASA scientists are able to piece together a picture of the vast mountains, valleys and rivers under the miles of Antarctic ice, revealing a dynamic and complex world. And scientists have already found some really surprising stuff happening inside the ice itself.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Food
Recipe: Iceberg Lettuce Slices

5 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

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Manhattan Pickle Emporium Still Has Juice

4 Nov 2009 | 10:17 am

Pickling is a delicate matter. Customers and picklers alike have their tendencies, and they're stubborn about them. But understanding that has helped Alan Kaufman's pickle emporium thrive in Manhattan's Old Pickle District.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Foods Of Michoacan Are Forever

3 Nov 2009 | 9:28 pm

It's no wonder that Michoacan state is known as "the soul of Mexico." Food writer Patricia Jinich finds Michoacanos generous, warm, hospitable and caring, and she can't get enough of their comforting cuisine.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
David Chang's Pork Buns: An Unexpected Hit

3 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

New York chef David Chang talks about pork buns, the unexpected hit of his noodle shop, Motofuku. Chang, who has released a cookbook by the same name, discusses how easy it is to make the delectable pork buns.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
David Chang's Ramen: Not Your Average Noodle

2 Nov 2009 | 7:18 am

The noodle-obsessed chef's Momofuku chain has converted many New Yorkers to his brand of anything-but-instant ramen. Now Chang brings his recipe to the world in a new cookbook, Momofuku.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Fun & Games
Steering Wheel Laptop Desk Causes A Stir

4 Nov 2009 | 10:22 am

One reviewer uses it for e-mail; another for sushi. It's being called a timesaver — even "the greatest thing ever invented." It's the Laptop Steering Wheel Desk. Drivers certainly don't need another distraction — but people surfing around on Amazon certainly do.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Fill In The Blanks

31 Oct 2009 | 9:44 pm

Each clue is a sentence with two blanks. Fill in the blanks with two words that complete the phrase. But here's the twist: The words that complete the sentence are homophones of the words in the answer phrase.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Director George Romero Plays 'Not My Job'

31 Oct 2009 | 10:59 am

In honor of Halloween we're talking zombies with legendary horror movie director George Romero: how to recognize zombies, how to defend against them, and (since this is Public Radio) how to try to reason with them, and come to mutual understanding and respect.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Fraud Suspected At Sudoku Championship

27 Oct 2009 | 1:53 pm

An investigation in under way following allegations of fraud against the man who finished third at the Philadelphia Inquirer National Sudoku Championships. A man by the same name, Eugene Varshavsky, was also suspected of cheating in a chess tournament in Philadelphia three years ago. Tournament director and NPR puzzle master Will Shortz says he is unaware of previous incidents of cheating at tournaments he has run.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Comedy And The Economic Crash Of 1929

26 Oct 2009 | 1:53 pm

People need comedy during tough economic times, but during the great stock market crash of 1929 there was a problem. Large numbers of entertainers lost their shirts, too, and there didn't seem like much to laugh at. This week is the 80th anniversary of the big market crash.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Health Care
With Abortion As Overhaul Hot Button, Protestors Come On Strong

6 Nov 2009 | 1:38 pm

Abortion language could be key to passage of House health overhaul vote this weekend, and the protesters are out in full force.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Health Overhaul Could Make Chain Restaurants Post Calories

6 Nov 2009 | 12:06 pm

A little-noticed provision in the House's health overhaul bill would require make chain restaurant menus and vending machines carry calorie counts.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Considering Values In The Health Care Debate

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

As health care legislation moves through Congress, bioethicist Thomas H. Murray asks if enough attention is being paid to concepts such as justice, fairness and liberty. Murray and health care economist Len Nichols discuss the role of values in the health care debate.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Ahead Of Debate, Health Care Battle Lines Drawn

6 Nov 2009 | 9:49 am

Democratic House leaders are keeping lawmakers in town over the weekend to work on their health care bill. President Obama is expected to rally support on the Hill on Saturday. With every step this legislation takes toward becoming law, the fervor — on both sides — gets stronger.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
CDC: Make Sure Swine Flu Vaccine Goes To Neediest

6 Nov 2009 | 7:58 am

The CDC told health officials to make sure that scarce swine flu vaccine goes to priority groups, such as kids and health-care workers, after some criticized doses being delivered to Wall Street firms.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Interviews
Shooting Spotlights Muslims In Military

6 Nov 2009 | 1:18 pm

The shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, has raised questions about the experience of Muslims who serve in the military. Rafael LanTigua, a lieutenant in the Army National Guard and a Muslim chaplain candidate, says Muslims have served in the armed forces since the Revolutionary War.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Week In Politics Reviewed

6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

This week, Republicans took governorships in Virginia and New Jersey, and Democrats won a long-held GOP House seat in New York. Also, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing for a possible health care vote this weekend. E.J. Dionne, of The Washington Post, and David Brooks, of The New York Times, discuss the week in politics. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
How Market Crash Helped Hedge Fund Operator

6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

Before the financial crisis hit, John Paulson was just your run-of-the-mill hedge fund operator, worth millions of dollars. But when the market crashed, Paulson made billions. How he did it lies at the heart of a new book called The Greatest Trade Ever. The book's author, Gregory R. Zuckerman, offers his insight. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
U.S. Envoy To U.N. Defends Extensive Afghan Review

6 Nov 2009 | 11:35 am

The U.S. envoy to the U.N. rejects claims that the Obama administration's pace of determining a strategy in Afghanistan is a sign of weakness. What would be "weak and dangerous," Susan Rice says, is a rushed decision made without thoroughly considering the implications for U.S. national security.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Sapphire's Story: How 'Push' Became 'Precious'

6 Nov 2009 | 9:47 am

The gritty realism of the film Precious is even more intense in the novel Push, upon which the film is based. Author Sapphire discusses the inspiration for her work — and her initial reluctance to allow her work to become a film.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Iraq
'Big Oil' Returns To Redevelop Iraq's Oil Fields

6 Nov 2009 | 3:50 am

In the six years since the U.S. invasion, Iraq's oil production has hardly matched the level under Saddam Hussein. Iraq's oil minister had been harshly criticized, but this week the world's largest oil companies signed multi-billion dollar deals to redevelop Iraq's oil fields. What's most impressive is that the oil minister got the companies to accept Iraq's conditions and terms.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Smugglers In Iraq Have A New Trade: Corpses

4 Nov 2009 | 10:11 am

Stalled for 30 years by invasion, war and rebellions, the flow of corpses from outside Iraq to the Shiite holy cemetery in Najaf has resumed. But plenty of risk remains as traffickers share the country's borders with drug smugglers and other criminals — a price they're willing to pay for the hefty compensation.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Dissident Iranians Live In Limbo In Iraq

1 Nov 2009 | 10:15 pm

A group of Iranian dissidents living in Iraq since the 1980s poses a dilemma for the U.S. government. The Mujahedeen-e Khalq organization was given U.S. military protection in 2003 after the American-led invasion of Iraq, but now the Iraqi government wants it out. The trouble is that the Iranians don't want to leave.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Iraq Reconstruction Program Needs Its Own Rebuild

31 Oct 2009 | 5:00 am

The U.S. government established the "CERP" fund — Commander's Emergency Response Program — to win hearts and minds in Iraq by building schools, roads and water purification facilities that the country needs. Today, almost two years later, the program is still marred by allegations of corruption and waste. Stuart Bowen, the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, is leading the battle to clean up CERP. He joins host Scott Simon to talk about the progress he's made and where he'd like to see improvement.» E-Mail This » Add to…
Iraqis Fear New Enemy: H1N1 Virus

31 Oct 2009 | 3:43 am

Fewer than 500 cases of H1N1 have been reported in Iraq, but it's not uncommon to see schoolchildren walking home wearing surgical masks. Fear of the virus has caused a rash of school closures, and is even preventing some Iraqis from making this year's pilgrimage to Mecca.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Legal Affairs
Could Big Donors Break Obama's Fundraising Record?

7 Nov 2009 | 2:43 pm

The Obama presidential campaign rewrote the playbook for raising campaign cash in 2008. The Supreme Court may change it again before 2010: An upcoming decision could potentially curb the growing influence of small donors in favor of corporate America.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Hasan's Story Won't Be Easy To Sort Out

6 Nov 2009 | 2:32 pm

After a mass shooting, people who knew the gunman find themselves wondering what warning signs they might have missed. So it is in the case of Maj. Nidal Hasan, the man authorities say opened fire on his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Shooting Spotlights Muslims In Military

6 Nov 2009 | 1:18 pm

The shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, has raised questions about the experience of Muslims who serve in the military. Rafael LanTigua, a lieutenant in the Army National Guard and a Muslim chaplain candidate, says Muslims have served in the armed forces since the Revolutionary War.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Investigators Probe Fort Hood Shooting

6 Nov 2009 | 1:15 pm

In Fort Hood, Texas, investigators are collecting information about Thursday's deadly attack at a soldier processing center. Thirteen people were killed, 12 of them soldiers, and 30 were wounded when a gunman, identified as Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, opened fire in the facility.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
A Day After Fort Hood Rampage, Re-Creating Events

6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

As Fort Hood, Texas, takes stock of Thursday's attack, those who lived through it are providing new details about what went on inside the Soldier Readiness Processing Center. Soldiers and others who were there when the gunman — named by the military as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan — opened fire discuss how the events unfolded. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Media
Jayson Blair: Offering His Views On Making Up News

5 Nov 2009 | 10:54 pm

He hasn't said much since he published a memoir that was both a mea culpa and an accusation regarding his fabricated stories for The New York Times. But he will speak Friday at the twice-yearly Washington and Lee Journalism Ethics Institute.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Harold Evans: A Long Career Of Chasing Stories

5 Nov 2009 | 9:36 am

The British journalist talks with Steve Inskeep about his tenure as editor of the Sunday Times in London and his crusade to maintain journalism's commitment to public good. Evans has a new memoir called My Paper Chase: True Stories of Vanished Times.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Should Fashion Reflect Fantasy Or Reality?

4 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

The September issue of Glamour magazine features a model who is considered plus-sized. Cindi Lieve, the editor-in-chief of the magazine, and Washington Post fashion editor Robin Givhan examine whether or not the fashion industry is "sizing up."» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Leno Would Welcome A Return To Late Night

4 Nov 2009 | 3:06 am

Jay Leno made the switch to prime time in September. His show has not been doing very well in the ratings lately. In a published interview, Leno said if NBC offered him The Tonight Show again, he would take it. Leno's low ratings come at a time when General Electric is said to be selling a stake in NBC Universal to cable company Comcast.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Good Riddance To Mainstream Media?

3 Nov 2009 | 12:01 pm

As newspapers go under, the network newscasts lose viewers and the mainstream media in general see more and more of their audience shift online, are we as a society better or worse off? A panel of experts debates.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Middle East
Flu Threat Looms As Mecca Readies For Pilgrims

6 Nov 2009 | 12:05 pm

The H1N1 virus is a major concern for Saudi Arabian authorities, who are gearing up to host millions of Muslims on the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Health officials are making recommendations and monitoring pilgrims, but otherwise can do little to mitigate the virus' spread.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
While An Obama Priority, Mideast Peace Pace Slows

5 Nov 2009 | 3:30 am

President Obama has said that one of his priorities is to help Israelis and Palestinians negotiate peace. But the U.S. has been unable to persuade Israel to stop settlement building in the West Bank, and Palestinians say without that they are not ready to talk. To get things started, U.S. officials may have to begin with lower-level negotiations.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Israel Commandos Seize Ship Loaded With Weapons

4 Nov 2009 | 2:21 pm

Defense officials said the weapons were from Iran and bound for Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas. It was the largest arms shipment Israel has ever commandeered. Hours after the seizure, Israel had not provided proof that the arms were meant for Hezbollah, and the Islamist group had no comment on the claim.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Iranian Protests Show Opposition Is Still Strong

4 Nov 2009 | 1:30 pm

Tens of thousands of demonstrators poured into the streets of Tehran again on Wednesday to protest against the government and last June's presidential election. Some analysts had begun to write off the Iranian opposition as a spent force. But Wednesday, it was clear the opposition has not melted away.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
NPR Interview: Clinton Clears Up Settlement Issue

4 Nov 2009 | 3:44 am

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is wrapping up a week-long trip oversees. The final stop in Cairo was added at the last minute, to try to smooth over concern in the Arab world that the Obama administration is easing pressure on Israel over settlements. Clinton reiterated U.S. policy that Washington does not accept Israeli settlements as legitimate.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Movies
'Men Who Stare At Goats': GIs Use Their Third Eyes

6 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

A quirky comedy based on the true story of "psychic warriors" in the '70s and '80s, Goats stars George Clooney and Kevin Spacey as offbeat officers turned fearsome foes when their hippie leader (Jeff Bridges) goes missing. Critic Kenneth Turan says watching these practiced farceurs at work can't help but provide some laughs.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Sapphire's Story: How 'Push' Became 'Precious'

6 Nov 2009 | 9:47 am

The gritty realism of the film Precious is even more intense in the novel Push, upon which the film is based. Author Sapphire discusses the inspiration for her work — and her initial reluctance to allow her work to become a film.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Wal-Mart, Amazon Price War Extends To DVDs

6 Nov 2009 | 7:18 am

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is trimming the online preorder prices of some upcoming DVDs following last month's price cut on books. The move led rivals Amazon.com Inc. and Target Corp. to reduce some DVD prices, which pushed Wal-Mart to take a few more cents off its offerings.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Michael Ruppert, Explaining The Coming 'Collapse'

5 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

In Collapse, former Los Angeles Police Department officer and noted conspiracy theorist Michael Ruppert states things that are clearly true, makes claims that are fairly plausible and delivers predictions that no viewer without a time machine can adequately evaluate.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
When Life Is This Hard, Stubbornness Is A Virtue

5 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

Claireece "Precious" Jones is living a nightmare: she's morbidly obese, twice impregnated by her father, mentally and physically abused by her mother. But just as her life seems entirely untenable, fate offers a way out — and slowly, with a mulish persistence, Precious starts to come into her own. (Recommended)» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Music
Aaron Diehl On Piano Jazz

6 Nov 2009 | 1:43 pm

Pianist Aaron Diehl is a fresh graduate of The Juilliard School of Music, but he's most assuredly an up-and-coming force in jazz. Dubbed "The Real Diehl" by Wynton Marsalis, Diehl displays brilliant technique and a truly creative approach to music, whether he's interpreting Tatum, Ellington or Mozart. He joins Marian McPartland on "Afternoon in Paris" and "One Morning in May."» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Jill Hennessy On Mountain Stage

6 Nov 2009 | 11:52 am

Most people know her from the television shows Crossing Jordan and Law & Order. But on Mountain Stage, actor Jill Hennessy shares her first love, music, performing songs from her album, Ghost In My Head.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Phoenix: Jagged Pop For Francophiles

6 Nov 2009 | 9:38 am

The four friends in Phoenix started out playing Hank Williams and Prince covers in area bars, but eventually landed a slot as a backing band for Air. Nearly a decade later, Phoenix has propelled itself into international renown. Its latest album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, blends catchy pop songwriting with a heavier rock sound.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Christopher O'Riley: Reliving A Love For Ravel

6 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

Ravel's piano suite Le Tombeau de Couperin harkens back to old music and old friends. Pianist Christopher O'Riley renews his love for the piece, which captivated him as a young conservatory student. Watch him perform the opening "Prelude."» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Losing It All For Love: Dvorak's 'Rusalka'

5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

In Dvorak's dream-like opera, a little mermaid abandons immortality for love, but her ultimate sacrifice goes unrewarded. Soprano Ana Maria Martinez stars as Rusalka in a production from the 2009 Glyndebourne Festival.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR: NPR Most Emailed Music Stories
Music For Sting's Favorite Season

7 Nov 2009 | 2:53 am

For the former Police frontman, the winter months are a time for imagination and reflection. His new album, If on a Winter's Night, takes traditional songs from his native British Isles as its starting point. Here, he performs one of them and speaks with Scott Simon.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Visqueen: A Ferocious Song Of Devotion

6 Nov 2009 | 8:58 am

In Visqueen's crunchy, urgent power-pop song "Hand Me Down," crunchy guitars and Rachel Flotard's incomparable voice simultaneously destroy and mesmerize. As its title suggests, "Hand Me Down" is rooted in a singular bond that spans generations.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Christopher O'Riley: Reliving A Love For Ravel

6 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

Ravel's piano suite Le Tombeau de Couperin harkens back to old music and old friends. Pianist Christopher O'Riley renews his love for the piece, which captivated him as a young conservatory student. Watch him perform the opening "Prelude."» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Train, Recorded Live In Concert

6 Nov 2009 | 5:56 am

Since forming in San Francisco in 1994, Train has had an undeniable impact on contemporary music, selling millions and touring with acts such as Barenaked Ladies and Counting Crows. Along the way, the group has released five studio albums and won a Grammy for its ubiquitous pop hit "Drops of Jupiter." Hear Train perform live in concert from WXPN in Philadelphia.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Out Of Paul Simon's Shadow, A Son Rises

5 Nov 2009 | 1:59 pm

With the help of legendary Nashville session musicians and a little paternal assistance from Paul Simon, Harper Simon has just released his solo debut. But don't be fooled by his pedigree: The younger musician has his own sound.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Music Videos
Christopher O'Riley: Reliving A Love For Ravel

6 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

Ravel's piano suite Le Tombeau de Couperin harkens back to old music and old friends. Pianist Christopher O'Riley renews his love for the piece, which captivated him as a young conservatory student. Watch him perform the opening "Prelude."» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Never Can Say Goodbye (No, Really)

28 Oct 2009 | 1:31 pm

The tour footage serves only as a memorial to the moon-walking, crotch-grabbing legend. And, of course, it will also help to answer those questions about whether Michael Jackson still "had it" — as in dance moves — at age 50. Is it a fitting tribute? Or, is all of this a bit over-the-top for the dearly departed?» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros: Tiny Desk Concert

26 Oct 2009 | 4:03 am

At 10 members, this is the biggest band ever to play a Tiny Desk Concert in the NPR Music offices. But singers Alex Ebert and Jade Castrinos still find a way to command attention, as they trade vocals amid a warm, shambling concoction of keyboards, percussion, guitars, accordion, trumpet and more.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Video: Lightning Dust, I'm Sorry

15 Oct 2009 | 11:14 pm

Back in September, I went down to New York City's Bowery Ballroom to interview Lightning Dust's members before their show. My plan was to engage them in a high-stakes, fast-paced word game. In the end, however, that's not exactly how things turned ou...» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Chris Walla And J. Robbins Create 'Mercury'

12 Oct 2009 | 8:09 am

Project Song participants only have two days to write and record a song, but Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla and Jawbox's J. Robbins had it even tougher: They had never met before entering NPR's performance studio. Watch as the two create "Mercury," a soaring song inspired by a cataclysmic scenario.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Concerts
Jill Hennessy On Mountain Stage

6 Nov 2009 | 11:52 am

Most people know her from the television shows Crossing Jordan and Law & Order. But on Mountain Stage, actor Jill Hennessy shares her first love, music, performing songs from her album, Ghost In My Head.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Train, Recorded Live In Concert

6 Nov 2009 | 5:56 am

Since forming in San Francisco in 1994, Train has had an undeniable impact on contemporary music, selling millions and touring with acts such as Barenaked Ladies and Counting Crows. Along the way, the group has released five studio albums and won a Grammy for its ubiquitous pop hit "Drops of Jupiter." Hear Train perform live in concert from WXPN in Philadelphia.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Maria Schneider Orchestra In Concert

5 Nov 2009 | 12:08 pm

It all began on Monday nights at the Visiones club in Greenwich Village, where a newcomer from Minnesota was leading a handsome band. Here, the Maria Schneider Orchestra spans 15 years of original, paradigm-shifting music at the 2009 Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Gary Jules On Mountain Stage

5 Nov 2009 | 9:13 am

With songs featured in Donnie Darko and Grey's Anatomy, Jules has found popularity without conventional radio airplay. Here, he performs songs from his 2006 self-titled album and his upcoming release to Mountain Stage.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Alison Brown On Mountain Stage

4 Nov 2009 | 1:26 pm

The Grammy-winning banjo player has collaborated with Allison Krauss and Michelle Shocked. Now, she brings her own acoustic jazz band to Mountain Stage to play songs from her latest album.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Music Lists
50 Great Voices: Help Us Choose

2 Nov 2009 | 1:17 pm

In January 2010, NPR will launch a year-long exploration of 50 great voices in recorded history. The series isn't an attempt to catalog the so-called "greatest" singers. Instead, we hope to discover and re-discover awe-inspiring vocalists from around the world and across time. We asked you to nominate artists for the series and we received thousands of options. NPR and a panel of experts are in the process of whittling them down to about 100 singers — a mix of familiar names and surprising discoveries. Explore some of the nominated voices below, choose five favorites you think should be…
Singers In The Rain: Jazz Amid The Deluge

2 Nov 2009 | 7:50 am

It's early November, and for many in America, that means that when we go outside, we're likely to get wet. Whether we're dodging sprinkles, showers or downpours, November is part of a rainy season. Hear five songs from vocalists inspired by rain, including Gene Kelly, Patricia Barber and Mahalia Jackson.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Ghosts In The Machine: A Haunted Mix

30 Oct 2009 | 9:10 pm

A holiday designed to alleviate our fears through mockery, Halloween tends to inspire songs that, to put it lightly, aren't terribly subtle. Which brings us to Ghosts in the Machine, in which NPR Music staffers and station partners observe the holiday by assembling a chilling collection of songs about ghosts, hauntings and otherwise disembodied and discombobulated spirits. These ghosts are sure to alternately soothe and rattle your nerves as the big day approaches.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Excuse Me, Sir, You Have Some Jazz In Your Metal

27 Oct 2009 | 2:01 pm

Caustic, ugly, gurgling, putrid filth that wanders a post-apocalyptic landscape — with jazz influences!» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Blast Beat Improv: Metallic Free Jazz

27 Oct 2009 | 4:09 am

Throughout the '80s and early '90s, John Zorn and Bill Laswell were at the epicenter of extreme music. Bands like Painkiller and Last Exit took the ferocity of '60s free-jazz improvisation and matched the intensity — and blast beats — of death metal. The result is like being bludgeoned by a swarm of killer bees.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

Music Genre: Classical
Christopher O'Riley: Reliving A Love For Ravel

6 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

Ravel's piano suite Le Tombeau de Couperin harkens back to old music and old friends. Pianist Christopher O'Riley renews his love for the piece, which captivated him as a young conservatory student. Watch him perform the opening "Prelude."» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Losing It All For Love: Dvorak's 'Rusalka'

5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

In Dvorak's dream-like opera, a little mermaid abandons immortality for love, but her ultimate sacrifice goes unrewarded. Soprano Ana Maria Martinez stars as Rusalka in a production from the 2009 Glyndebourne Festival.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
The Story of 'Rusalka'

5 Nov 2009 | 3:04 pm

Dvorak's dream-like opera tells the story of a water nymph who gives up everything for love, only to have her sacrifice go unrewarded.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
New York City Opera Rises From Turmoil

4 Nov 2009 | 9:15 pm

A longtime scrappy alternative to the plush Metropolitan Opera, City Opera struggles to make a comeback with a new general manager, a renovated theater and a shorter but smarter season of operas.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Bach's Best 'Brandenburg' Concertos

3 Nov 2009 | 10:01 am

Subtle and brilliant at the same time, J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concertos are a microcosm of Baroque music. They contain an astonishingly vast sample of that era's emotional universe.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

Music Genre: Jazz & Blues
Aaron Diehl On Piano Jazz

6 Nov 2009 | 1:43 pm

Pianist Aaron Diehl is a fresh graduate of The Juilliard School of Music, but he's most assuredly an up-and-coming force in jazz. Dubbed "The Real Diehl" by Wynton Marsalis, Diehl displays brilliant technique and a truly creative approach to music, whether he's interpreting Tatum, Ellington or Mozart. He joins Marian McPartland on "Afternoon in Paris" and "One Morning in May."» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Maria Schneider Orchestra In Concert

5 Nov 2009 | 12:08 pm

It all began on Monday nights at the Visiones club in Greenwich Village, where a newcomer from Minnesota was leading a handsome band. Here, the Maria Schneider Orchestra spans 15 years of original, paradigm-shifting music at the 2009 Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Alison Brown On Mountain Stage

4 Nov 2009 | 1:26 pm

The Grammy-winning banjo player has collaborated with Allison Krauss and Michelle Shocked. Now, she brings her own acoustic jazz band to Mountain Stage to play songs from her latest album.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Vijay Iyer Trio: Jazz At Its Finest And Friskiest

4 Nov 2009 | 8:53 am

Hip-hop aficionados will recognize "Mystic Brew" as the source material for A Tribe Called Quest's "Electric Relaxation," in which Ali Shaheed Muhammad exhumed Ronnie Foster's then-obscure 1972 soul-jazz tune. In "Mystic Brew (Trixation Version)," pianist Vijay Iyer at once returns the song to its jazz roots and infuses it with modernity.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
50 Great Voices: Help Us Choose

2 Nov 2009 | 1:17 pm

In January 2010, NPR will launch a year-long exploration of 50 great voices in recorded history. The series isn't an attempt to catalog the so-called "greatest" singers. Instead, we hope to discover and re-discover awe-inspiring vocalists from around the world and across time. We asked you to nominate artists for the series and we received thousands of options. NPR and a panel of experts are in the process of whittling them down to about 100 singers — a mix of familiar names and surprising discoveries. Explore some of the nominated voices below, choose five favorites you think should be…

Music Genre: Rock/Pop/Folk
Jill Hennessy On Mountain Stage

6 Nov 2009 | 11:52 am

Most people know her from the television shows Crossing Jordan and Law & Order. But on Mountain Stage, actor Jill Hennessy shares her first love, music, performing songs from her album, Ghost In My Head.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Phoenix: Jagged Pop For Francophiles

6 Nov 2009 | 9:38 am

The four friends in Phoenix started out playing Hank Williams and Prince covers in area bars, but eventually landed a slot as a backing band for Air. Nearly a decade later, Phoenix has propelled itself into international renown. Its latest album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, blends catchy pop songwriting with a heavier rock sound.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Visqueen: A Ferocious Song Of Devotion

6 Nov 2009 | 8:58 am

In Visqueen's crunchy, urgent power-pop song "Hand Me Down," crunchy guitars and Rachel Flotard's incomparable voice simultaneously destroy and mesmerize. As its title suggests, "Hand Me Down" is rooted in a singular bond that spans generations.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Train, Recorded Live In Concert

6 Nov 2009 | 5:56 am

Since forming in San Francisco in 1994, Train has had an undeniable impact on contemporary music, selling millions and touring with acts such as Barenaked Ladies and Counting Crows. Along the way, the group has released five studio albums and won a Grammy for its ubiquitous pop hit "Drops of Jupiter." Hear Train perform live in concert from WXPN in Philadelphia.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Out Of Paul Simon's Shadow, A Son Rises

5 Nov 2009 | 1:59 pm

With the help of legendary Nashville session musicians and a little paternal assistance from Paul Simon, Harper Simon has just released his solo debut. But don't be fooled by his pedigree: The younger musician has his own sound.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

Music Genre: Urban
Are We Eavesdropping On Rihanna And Chris Brown?

4 Nov 2009 | 10:06 am

Back in February, Rihanna and her boyfriend, fellow pop star Chris Brown, got into an altercation as they were heading to perform at the Grammy Awards. In late August, he was sentenced to five years' probation for felony assault. Today, it might be possible to pick up on how Brown and Rihanna are doing via their music.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Roc Raida: A Grandmaster Gone

3 Nov 2009 | 1:47 pm

In the last few months, DJ AM died of an apparent drug overdose, while a heart attack took the life of New York radio pioneer Mr. Magic. But the least publicized in a tragic and eerily timed trilogy of DJ deaths was that of Anthony Williams, better known as Grandmaster Roc Raida.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
50 Great Voices: Help Us Choose

2 Nov 2009 | 1:17 pm

In January 2010, NPR will launch a year-long exploration of 50 great voices in recorded history. The series isn't an attempt to catalog the so-called "greatest" singers. Instead, we hope to discover and re-discover awe-inspiring vocalists from around the world and across time. We asked you to nominate artists for the series and we received thousands of options. NPR and a panel of experts are in the process of whittling them down to about 100 singers — a mix of familiar names and surprising discoveries. Explore some of the nominated voices below, choose five favorites you think should be…
Ghosts In The Machine: A Haunted Mix

30 Oct 2009 | 9:10 pm

A holiday designed to alleviate our fears through mockery, Halloween tends to inspire songs that, to put it lightly, aren't terribly subtle. Which brings us to Ghosts in the Machine, in which NPR Music staffers and station partners observe the holiday by assembling a chilling collection of songs about ghosts, hauntings and otherwise disembodied and discombobulated spirits. These ghosts are sure to alternately soothe and rattle your nerves as the big day approaches.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Google Announcing New Music Search

28 Oct 2009 | 6:28 am

The new service will be featured within a standard Google search: Plug in the band or musician's name, and bios, videos and images will pop up. The search results will point you to online music retailers Google has partnered with.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

Music Genre: World
50 Great Voices: Help Us Choose

2 Nov 2009 | 1:17 pm

In January 2010, NPR will launch a year-long exploration of 50 great voices in recorded history. The series isn't an attempt to catalog the so-called "greatest" singers. Instead, we hope to discover and re-discover awe-inspiring vocalists from around the world and across time. We asked you to nominate artists for the series and we received thousands of options. NPR and a panel of experts are in the process of whittling them down to about 100 singers — a mix of familiar names and surprising discoveries. Explore some of the nominated voices below, choose five favorites you think should be…
Guest DJ Kyp Malone

2 Nov 2009 | 9:05 am

Kyp Malone is best known as the guitarist and singer for TV On The Radio. But this fall, he released his debut solo album under the name Rain Machine. Rain Machine's eponymous record sounds an awful lot like the work of TV On The Radio, but the songs are a lot quieter and relatively spare. On this edition of All Songs Considered Malone sits in as guest DJ to talk about his Rain Machine project, and to share some of his favorite music by other artists.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Ghosts In The Machine: A Haunted Mix

30 Oct 2009 | 9:10 pm

A holiday designed to alleviate our fears through mockery, Halloween tends to inspire songs that, to put it lightly, aren't terribly subtle. Which brings us to Ghosts in the Machine, in which NPR Music staffers and station partners observe the holiday by assembling a chilling collection of songs about ghosts, hauntings and otherwise disembodied and discombobulated spirits. These ghosts are sure to alternately soothe and rattle your nerves as the big day approaches.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Google Announcing New Music Search

28 Oct 2009 | 6:28 am

The new service will be featured within a standard Google search: Plug in the band or musician's name, and bios, videos and images will pop up. The search results will point you to online music retailers Google has partnered with.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Slavic Soul Party: The Bayou Meets Bratislava

19 Oct 2009 | 9:38 am

Slavic Soul Party is a New York brass band that takes inspiration from Balkan and gypsy music, but also funk and New Orleans traditions. Its members play with punk-rock energy and have won fans all across the country. Their fifth album, Taketron, is just out, and it's a brass-band fusion tour de force.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Performing Arts
Theater Producer Takes The Stage As New NEA Chair

5 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

Former Broadway producer Rocco Landesman is about to embark on a journey that will take him way off-Broadway: Peoria, Ill. is his first stop on "Art Works," a six-month tour of arts organizations around the country.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Lead Of Closed Broadway Revival On Experience

3 Nov 2009 | 1:13 pm

Brighton Beach Memoirs opened on Broadway to generally positive reviews on Oct. 25. A week later, the revival of Neil Simon's hit closed due to poor ticket sales. Lead actor Noah Robbins says the cast was told about the closure half an hour before a performance.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
'Finian's Rainbow' Arcs Over Broadway Again

29 Oct 2009 | 1:00 pm

The 1947 musical gets its first full-scale Broadway revival starting Oct. 29. The production took 10 years to assemble, but producers say the timing is great: Yip Harburg's witty lyrics and the show's pointed political satire make it the perfect musical for a country still reeling from a major economic recession.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Jackson's New Career: Permanent, Posthumous Brand

28 Oct 2009 | 2:10 am

The Michael Jackson concert film This Is It — cut together from rehearsals filmed in the months before the pop star's death — is just the latest venture to highlight how valuable the coin of celebrity can remain even after a star's life is over. Nate DiMeo looks at the big business of posthumous brand management.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
NBC News Anchor Brian Williams Plays 'Not My Job'

24 Oct 2009 | 10:17 am

Williams joins Wait Wait at New York City's Carnegie Hall to play a game called "You are the very worst act ever to play this stage": three questions about music legend(?) Florence Foster Jenkins.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Your Money
Senate Extends Jobless Benefits, Homebuyer Credit

5 Nov 2009 | 3:02 am

The Senate has voted to extend unemployment insurance benefits for up to 20 weeks. The 24 billion dollar bill also expands an eight thousand dollar tax credit for first-time homebuyers. The legislation is expected to sail through the House.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
100 Dos And Don'ts For Waiting Tables

4 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

Bruce Buschel is opening his own restaurant and has compiled a list of dos and don'ts for his wait staff. Buschel shares the little nuances waiters can adopt that could mean the difference between a great tip and no tip at all.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Housing Agency Flexes Muscle As Loan Defaults Grow

3 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pm

The Federal Housing Administration is responsible for about one-third of new mortgages — 10 times what it was just a few years ago. But as its market share has grown, so has the rate of defaults on its loans. Now, the FHA is zeroing in on lenders with high default rates.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Housing Advocate Takes Foreclosure Help On Tour

3 Nov 2009 | 6:49 am

Bruce Marks has been running a nationwide tour to help people avoid foreclosure. Stopping in Las Vegas, Phoenix and San Francisco, the tour has managed to lower loan payments for nearly 100,000 homeowners so far.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Supreme Court Considers Mutual Fund Fees

2 Nov 2009 | 3:35 am

The Supreme Court hears arguments Monday in a case testing whether some mutual funds are charging excessive fees. Some 90 million Americans invest in retail mutual funds. While the fees charged by these funds may sound small percentage-wise, they add up to big money.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Politics
Week In Politics Reviewed

6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

This week, Republicans took governorships in Virginia and New Jersey, and Democrats won a long-held GOP House seat in New York. Also, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing for a possible health care vote this weekend. E.J. Dionne, of The Washington Post, and David Brooks, of The New York Times, discuss the week in politics. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Jump In Jobless Rate Puts Spotlight On Obama

6 Nov 2009 | 11:05 am

News that the jobless rate has crossed the psychologically important 10 percent mark comes in the same week that Democrats suffered a sobering Election Day. Some experts say it dims Democratic prospects not just for 2010 but for the health care vote this weekend.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Ahead Of Debate, Health Care Battle Lines Drawn

6 Nov 2009 | 9:49 am

Democratic House leaders are keeping lawmakers in town over the weekend to work on their health care bill. President Obama is expected to rally support on the Hill on Saturday. With every step this legislation takes toward becoming law, the fervor — on both sides — gets stronger.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Rep. Dingell: The House's Link To Health-Care History

6 Nov 2009 | 3:45 am

The health care legislation in the House is named for John Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan. He is the longest-serving member in the history of the House, and he was there when Medicare was passed. Dingell's father first introduced a bill calling for universal health coverage in the 1930s.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
How Many Losses For The Democrats In 2010?

5 Nov 2009 | 10:38 pm

Historically the party that holds the White House almost always loses seats in its first midterm election. When one party holds the White House, the House and the Senate, the losses tend to be bigger. If the economy doesn't turn around, it will be a very difficult election year for Democrats.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Pop Culture
Joe Jackson Seeks Slice Of Son Michael's Millions

6 Nov 2009 | 4:18 pm

Michael Jackson's father is seeking an allowance from his son's estate to help cover expenses that exceed $15,000 a month, according to court documents filed Friday. The entertainer's 2002 will made no reference to his father, with whom he had an often strained relationship.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Come And Play: 'Sesame Street' Celebrates 40 Years

6 Nov 2009 | 12:39 pm

Four decades after its premiere, Sesame Street is the same happy neighborhood it always was. TV critic David Bianculli takes a look at the newest episode — which features special guest Michelle Obama — and assesses the show's enduring legacy.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
The Man Behind Miss Piggy

6 Nov 2009 | 7:22 am

Film director Frank Oz was one of the defining creative forces behind the Muppets. He joined The Muppet Show creator Jim Henson in 1963 and went on to provide the voices of Miss Piggy, Cookie Monster, Fozzie Bear and Bert.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Liz Taylor: A Leading Lady For Life

5 Nov 2009 | 10:39 am

From her multiple marriages to her diamond collecting, a new biography by William Mann — aptly titled How to Be a Movie Star — details the dramatic life of one of Hollywood's all-time leading ladies. "Elizabeth always loved living large, and it served her very well," he says.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Emoticon Inventor Marks Web's Birthday With A :-)

5 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

October 29th marked the 40th anniversary of the Internet. We'll talk with Scott Fahlman, the computer researcher who invented the virtual smiley face, about how emoticons and abbreviations have changed electronic communication.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Race
Has The Conversation About Race Changed?

5 Nov 2009 | 11:27 am

President Obama became the country's first black president one year ago, and the term "post-racial" became a household phrase. But the conversation is far from over. What events of the past year triggered conversations about race in your life?» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Tribes Renew Efforts To Win Federal Recognition

5 Nov 2009 | 3:21 am

President Obama meets with hundreds of Native American leaders when he hosts the White House Tribal Nations Conference Thursday. The event is for federally recognized tribes. With that recognition, tribes are eligible for economic assistance, land, housing grants and other government benefits. The Brothertown Indians of Wisconsin had their application for formal recognition rejected, but they are appealing.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Justices Weigh Opening Prosecutors Up To Lawsuits

4 Nov 2009 | 12:44 pm

Two men who spent 25 years in prison for murder before their convictions were reversed sued the former prosecutors for failing to disclose that authorities had identified another, more likely suspect. The prosecutors argued that they couldn't be sued because they had absolute immunity.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
JP Who Refused To Wed Interracial Couple Resigns

3 Nov 2009 | 3:35 pm

Keith Bardwell of Tangipahoa Parish, La., had said he routinely recuses himself from marrying interracial couples because he believes such marriages cause harm to the couples' children. He gave no explanation for his decision to resign Tuesday, which followed calls from several public officials.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
African-Americans Hit Especially Hard By Weakened Economy

3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

Economists who follow the economic outlook for African-Americans began warning more than a year ago that a recession would hit blacks particularly hard, which has proven to be true. Unemployment among African-Americans stands at 15 percent, while the national jobless rate is just below 10 percent. Some of the nation's leading black economists are gathering this week at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University to address the disparity. William Darity, an organizer of the summit, explains the economic climate for African-Americans and ways it can be…

NPR Topics: Religion
Shooting Spotlights Muslims In Military

6 Nov 2009 | 1:18 pm

The shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, has raised questions about the experience of Muslims who serve in the military. Rafael LanTigua, a lieutenant in the Army National Guard and a Muslim chaplain candidate, says Muslims have served in the armed forces since the Revolutionary War.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Muslims Worry About Backlash From Post Shooting

6 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

Muslims say what the alleged shooter did at Fort Hood was a brutal, personal act that could not have been committed in the name of Islam.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Texas Polygamist Guilty In Sex Assault On Child

5 Nov 2009 | 3:00 pm

Raymond Jessop, 38, was convicted on charges related to his "spiritual marriage" to an underage girl. It was the first criminal trial to follow last year's raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' ranch in Eldorado.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Malaysia Refuses To Release Confiscated Bibles

4 Nov 2009 | 3:12 pm

The Indonesian-language Bibles, which are still with customs, use the word "Allah" to refer to God, a banned translation in Christian texts in the Muslim-majority country. Church officials say the word "Allah" has been used for centuries to refer generally to God. They are challenging the ban in court.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
'Genesis': R. Crumb Illustrates The Bible

2 Nov 2009 | 11:21 am

Underground comic legend R. Crumb has put the entire text of the best known book of the Bible into a graphic work. In The Book of Genesis Illustrated, he depicts it all, from the creation of the world to the death of Joseph.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Research News
Babies May Pick Up Language Cues In Womb

6 Nov 2009 | 10:45 am

A new study reveals that the melody of a newborn's cries seems to be influenced by the sound of the parents' native tongue. The findings suggest that crying infants may be imitating the patterns of the language they heard before they were born.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Students Build Living Microbial Machines

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

At the 2009 International Genetically Engineered Machine competition, undergraduates from all over the world unveiled the living machines they'd created with snippets of DNA, from bacteria that change color when they detect pollutants to ones that secrete non-toxic superglue.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Rare Disease Treated Using Gene Therapy

5 Nov 2009 | 9:57 am

French scientists report that two boys treated with gene therapy for a rare but fatal genetic disease have shown improvements. These results mark a high point for the field of gene therapy. Shown here, the area of the brain that was treated.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Report: U.S. Trails In Infant Mortality

4 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

A report from the National Center for Health Statistics shows that the U.S. ranked 30th in the world in infant mortality rates, mainly because of a higher rate of pre-term births than most countries in Europe. Analysts say these studies don't take sufficiently into account the U.S. population mix. » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Kilimanjaro Glaciers May Vanish In A Few Decades

3 Nov 2009 | 1:27 pm

The glaciers atop Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro may be gone entirely in the next few decades. A new study shows that 85 percent of the ice cover that was present in 1912 has vanished, and the ice continues to melt rapidly.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Space
NASA Launches Mission To Track Polar Ice By Plane

29 Oct 2009 | 9:24 pm

Climate scientists are about to lose a satellite that helped show how global warming affects the Earth's polar ice caps. A replacement won't be in orbit until at least 2015, so NASA will use a DC-8 aircraft instead to track whether the process of melting and subsequent sea-level rise is accelerating.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Astronomers Detect Most Distant Object Ever Seen

28 Oct 2009 | 9:01 pm

Light from a star that died when the universe was about 600 million years old is only now reaching Earth. The gamma ray burst is 13.1 billion light-years away, and astronomers say it's the most distant object ever seen from Earth.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
NASA Experimental Rocket Launch A Success

28 Oct 2009 | 1:00 pm

The unmanned Ares I-X made a spectacular debut as it soared into the sky Wednesday. This next generation manned space vehicle is set to be ready in 2015, but some question the future of the program.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
NASA's New Rocket Lifts Off On Short Test Flight

28 Oct 2009 | 8:38 am

After a one-day weather delay, the Ares I-X rocket rumbled away from a former shuttle launchpad Wednesday morning at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. It's the first step in NASA's effort to return astronauts to the moon.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Weather Interferes With NASA Test Flight

27 Oct 2009 | 3:05 am

The prototype of a new manned spacecraft was scheduled to launch Tuesday morning from the Kennedy Space Center, but weather delayed the unmanned test flight. The rocket is intended to carry astronauts into orbit after the aging space shuttles are retired.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Sports
Giving Athletes A Heads-Up On Concussions

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

Football players take a lot of hits, but when does hard-headed play go too far? New research suggests that head trauma can do lasting damage. Two brain researchers talk about what happens in the brain when a player gets hit, and how athletes can better protect themselves.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Game 6: Yankees Clinch Series Title Over Phillies

5 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

The New York Yankees have won their 27th World Series. They beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6. Yankees designated hitter Hideki Matsui tied a 49-year-old World Series record by driving in six runs and was named Series MVP.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Yankees Top Phillies For World Series Title

4 Nov 2009 | 9:06 pm

The New York Yankees are baseball's best again. The Yankees won their 27th championship Wednesday night, beating the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 behind Hideki Matsui's record-tying six RBIs.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Tonight's '30 For 30': 'Without Bias'

3 Nov 2009 | 10:52 am

Tonight's entry in ESPN's outstanding documentary series is "Without Bias," a look at the death of a young basketball player within 48 hours of his big break.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
The White House, Sports And 'Jock-ocracy'

3 Nov 2009 | 10:33 am

In her weekly commentary host Michel Martin gives her take on whether President Obama's off-hour golf outings and pickup basketball games are sexist and exclusionary to female staffers at the White House. Martin suggests the criticism is displaced.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Technology
Students Build Living Microbial Machines

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

At the 2009 International Genetically Engineered Machine competition, undergraduates from all over the world unveiled the living machines they'd created with snippets of DNA, from bacteria that change color when they detect pollutants to ones that secrete non-toxic superglue.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Building A Better Lightbulb

6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

The U.S. Department of Energy is offering $10 million to the first individual or company to develop an energy-efficient LED replacement for the standard 60-watt incandescent bulb. DOE lighting program manager James Brodrick discusses the L Prize, and what makes a better bulb.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
How Do You Find A Job? Ask The Algorithm

5 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pm

The state of New York is looking for ways to reduce the time the unemployed spend looking for jobs, and it's turning to a mathematical formula for help. Using an algorithm developed by a Boston technology company, the program directs resumes to the employers most likely to make a hire.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Review: Functional And Powerful, Does Motorola's Droid Deserve The Hype?

5 Nov 2009 | 7:44 pm

The Motorola Droid is an exercise in functionality. But does it really give the iPhone a run for its money? » E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Emoticon Inventor Marks Web's Birthday With A :-)

5 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

October 29th marked the 40th anniversary of the Internet. We'll talk with Scott Fahlman, the computer researcher who invented the virtual smiley face, about how emoticons and abbreviations have changed electronic communication.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Visual Arts
Portraits Of A Blended Nation

6 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pm

This weekend, Liane Hansen, host of Weekend Edition Sunday, will interview the authors of a new book: Blended Nation: Portraits and Interviews of Mixed-Race America. It's part of a new series called "Beyond Black and White," which will highlight the ...» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Nat Geo Photo Contest Comes To A Close

6 Nov 2009 | 7:11 am

National Geographic's International Photography Contest has come to a close, and winners will be announced in early December. Here's a selection of a few submissions, but you can view more on ngm.com, or check out some winners from the past. ...» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Cameras Before Digital: A Smithsonian Exhibit

5 Nov 2009 | 7:26 am

By Claire O'Neill If Louis Daguerre could see Canon's Mark II, his head would explode. Cameras have come a long way since 1839, and Smithsonian's National Museum of American History currently has a display of 22 cameras to celebrate the camera's evo...» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Theater Producer Takes The Stage As New NEA Chair

5 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

Former Broadway producer Rocco Landesman is about to embark on a journey that will take him way off-Broadway: Peoria, Ill. is his first stop on "Art Works," a six-month tour of arts organizations around the country.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Cuba Was A Canvas For Artist Belkis Ayon

3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

When Ayon committed suicide in 1999, she was just 32 years old — and already a star in the Cuban art world. A major exhibit of her work now under way in Havana has revived an enduring mystery in Cuba — about art, African myths and the shadowy, all-male secret society known as Abakua.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Topics: Digital Culture
How Do You Find A Job? Ask The Algorithm

5 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pm

The state of New York is looking for ways to reduce the time the unemployed spend looking for jobs, and it's turning to a mathematical formula for help. Using an algorithm developed by a Boston technology company, the program directs resumes to the employers most likely to make a hire.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Emoticon Inventor Marks Web's Birthday With A :-)

5 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

October 29th marked the 40th anniversary of the Internet. We'll talk with Scott Fahlman, the computer researcher who invented the virtual smiley face, about how emoticons and abbreviations have changed electronic communication.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Steering Wheel Laptop Desk Causes A Stir

4 Nov 2009 | 10:22 am

One reviewer uses it for e-mail; another for sushi. It's being called a timesaver — even "the greatest thing ever invented." It's the Laptop Steering Wheel Desk. Drivers certainly don't need another distraction — but people surfing around on Amazon certainly do.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Good Riddance To Mainstream Media?

3 Nov 2009 | 12:01 pm

As newspapers go under, the network newscasts lose viewers and the mainstream media in general see more and more of their audience shift online, are we as a society better or worse off? A panel of experts debates.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Searching For Answers? 'Googled' Disappoints

2 Nov 2009 | 9:32 pm

Ken Auletta's new book, Googled, chronicles the behemoth search engine company from the bottom up. But critic Troy Patterson says that few of the book's points are so penetrating that they couldn't be easily discovered via a quick Google query.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Series: Song of the Day
Visqueen: A Ferocious Song Of Devotion

6 Nov 2009 | 8:58 am

In Visqueen's crunchy, urgent power-pop song "Hand Me Down," crunchy guitars and Rachel Flotard's incomparable voice simultaneously destroy and mesmerize. As its title suggests, "Hand Me Down" is rooted in a singular bond that spans generations.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
The xx: The Sounds Of Gothic Soul

5 Nov 2009 | 9:14 am

At first, The xx's "Crystalised" resembles an undercooked demo, as singer-guitarist Romy Croft and guitarist Baria Qureshi strum gloomy notes over muted, rumbling drums. But then the group glides into the chorus and the sudden shift to a bright, melodic key feels jarring in the best sense possible. It's like looking at one of those Magic Eye paintings: Suddenly, everything comes into focus.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Vijay Iyer Trio: Jazz At Its Finest And Friskiest

4 Nov 2009 | 8:53 am

Hip-hop aficionados will recognize "Mystic Brew" as the source material for A Tribe Called Quest's "Electric Relaxation," in which Ali Shaheed Muhammad exhumed Ronnie Foster's then-obscure 1972 soul-jazz tune. In "Mystic Brew (Trixation Version)," pianist Vijay Iyer at once returns the song to its jazz roots and infuses it with modernity.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
The Ettes: Pop And Punk, Packing A Wallop

3 Nov 2009 | 9:33 am

The Ettes' "Take It With You" packs two great tunes into a single song. The first opens with raw guitar, rousing handclaps and a simple melody that sounds sweet enough to sing in a schoolyard. But just when it seems to have settled into a nice groove, "Take It With You" becomes a brand-new song the second the chorus hits.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Screen Vinyl Image: The '80s In Hindsight

2 Nov 2009 | 8:52 am

Screen Vinyl Image fuses together hard-edged dance-rock and synth-fired pop, aided by smoldering guitar drones, cycling synthesizers, wistful lyrics and science-fiction motifs. Appropriately, "Cathode Ray" opens with a whiplash-inducing synth-drum line that wouldn't sound out of place in a New Order track.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Programs: Fresh Air from WHYY
Come And Play: 'Sesame Street' Celebrates 40 Years

6 Nov 2009 | 12:39 pm

Four decades after its premiere, Sesame Street is the same happy neighborhood it always was. TV critic David Bianculli takes a look at the newest episode — which features special guest Michelle Obama — and assesses the show's enduring legacy.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
The Man Behind Miss Piggy

6 Nov 2009 | 7:22 am

Film director Frank Oz was one of the defining creative forces behind the Muppets. He joined The Muppet Show creator Jim Henson in 1963 and went on to provide the voices of Miss Piggy, Cookie Monster, Fozzie Bear and Bert.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Composing Silly Songs For 'Sesame Street'

6 Nov 2009 | 6:55 am

Writer and humorist Christopher Cerf has been associated with the Children's Television Workshop since 1970, developing products, producing music albums and writing parodies of rock-and-roll songs for Sesame Street.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
A Stroll Among The Memories On 'Sesame Street'

6 Nov 2009 | 6:53 am

The venerable children's TV show celebrates its 40th anniversary on Nov. 10, with a demonstration from First Lady Michelle Obama on how to plant your own vegetable garden. The late Jeff Moss, one of the program's co-creators, talked to Terry Gross in 1998; we'll listen back to excerpts from that conversation.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
La Roux: Full-Throated Ardor, Calibrated To Please

5 Nov 2009 | 8:08 am

La Roux is a British pop duo — 21-year-old singer Elly Jackson and synth player-producer Ben Langmaid — with a style that blends passionate vocals with strict mechanical beats. The pair's self-titled debut album went No. 1 in England and Europe this year, and now it's out stateside. Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

NPR Programs: All Things Considered
Hasan's Story Won't Be Easy To Sort Out

6 Nov 2009 | 2:32 pm

After a mass shooting, people who knew the gunman find themselves wondering what warning signs they might have missed. So it is in the case of Maj. Nidal Hasan, the man authorities say opened fire on his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Effective Preventive Care Crucial

6 Nov 2009 | 1:32 pm

Many politicians have said that increasing preventive care will save money and help pay for health care overhaul. But the Congressional Budget Office says it won't count preventive services as reducing health care costs. Commentator Douglas Kamerow, a family physician and preventive medicine specialist, says that debating whether prevention saves money is asking the wrong question.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Money In A Bottle: The Celebrity Scent Business

6 Nov 2009 | 1:30 pm

If you walk down the cosmetics aisle of any big store, you might mistake the perfume collection for the guest list to a Hollywood party. But star-studded scents account for only about 10 percent of fragrance sales; their value is the publicity.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
U.S. Economic Steps May Be Leading To Bubble

6 Nov 2009 | 1:29 pm

The global economy is slowly recovering after the worst financial crisis in decades, but government efforts to stimulate growth, including the Fed's move to drive interest rates down to zero, may be creating another problem. Prices for assets — gold, stocks and real estate in Asia — are soaring, leading to warnings that a new bubble could be forming.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Shooting Spotlights Muslims In Military

6 Nov 2009 | 1:18 pm

The shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, has raised questions about the experience of Muslims who serve in the military. Rafael LanTigua, a lieutenant in the Army National Guard and a Muslim chaplain candidate, says Muslims have served in the armed forces since the Revolutionary War.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us