Weekend Edition Saturday
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Audra McDonald, A Broadway Star Gone Roaming, Comes Home
After extended jaunts in TV and on the road, McDonald's first new album in seven years marks a return to her roots in musical theater.
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Sports: Playoffs, Hard Hits, Soccer Kicks
Host Scott Simon talks to ESPN's Howard Bryant about the NBA playoffs, Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper's collision with a wall, and David Beckham's retirement from soccer.
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Dan Brown: 'Inferno' Is 'The Book That I Would Want To...
Dan Brown, author of the blockbuster The Da Vinci Code, is back with his first novel in four years. Inferno follows academic hero Robert Langdon on a chase through Italy as he attempts to avert a biological catastrophe.
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Prime Challenge Sends Mathematicians On Infinite Search
University of New Hampshire professor Yitang Zhang announced this week that he has come close to solving a centuries-old problem: proving the twin prime conjecture. Host Scott Simon gets an explanation from Weekend Edition Math Guy Keith Devlin of Stanford University.
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Not Your Grandpa's RV: This Roving Lab Tracks Air...
Atmospheric scientist Ira Leifer installed special air sensors on a camper, then drove from Florida to California, measuring methane levels all along the way. More than 6,000 readings later, he found some noticeable spikes, especially around petrochemical plants and urban areas like Los Angeles.
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Local Story Shows 'Plain Dealer' Prowess, But Future's...
NPR's Scott Simon talks to Connie Schultz, former columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Starting this summer, the paper's owners will be reducing home delivery to three days a week and making huge cuts in the newsroom staff.
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Media Covers Itself In Privacy Debacles
Host Scott Simon talks to NPR's David Folkenflik about the Justice Department's seizure of phone records of Associated Press reporters and editors, and Bloomberg's secret monitoring of its sources' and customers' activities.
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When Alcohol Takes The Wheel: What's Your Limit?
This week, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended lowering the legal limit of blood alcohol content for drivers to .05 or even lower. Currently, it's illegal to drive in all states with a BAC of .08 or higher. Host Scott Simon speaks with Dr. Anthony Liguori of Wake Forest School of Medicine about alcohol's impact on driving ability.
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Turning Up The Heat On Civil Rights-Era Cold Cases
With the death of a possible suspect in one notorious case, activists are weighing the FBI's efforts to tackle cases from the 1950s and '60s. Some are calling for a congressional hearing to see whether the FBI has done enough investigating.
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Immigration Bill Chugs Along, But Some See Deal-Breakers
The bipartisan immigration overhaul proposed by the Senate's Gang of Eight has been the target of scores of amendments. So far, the bill has largely held its own, but its prospects for getting through Congress are uncertain.
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Ana Popovic Shreds The Belgrade Blues
The Serbian guitarist fell in love with American blues music as a kid — well before she could understand the words.
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'That's That': A Memoir Of Loving And Leaving Northern...
Colin Broderick's new memoir, That's That, chronicles his childhood in Northern Ireland during the modern-day Troubles. Broderick says growing up in what was essentially a war zone seemed normal to him at the time.
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After Health Issues, Influential Conductor Back At Met...
Host Scott Simon speaks with New York Times classical music critic Anthony Tommasini about conductor James Levine's return to the Metropolitan Opera after a series of health problems kept him away for two years.
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Working Women On Television: A Mixed Bag At Best
Research shows that prime-time television isn't a bad place to find portrayals of working women. Working moms and working women over 40 are another story.
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Afghan Mineral Treasures Stay Buried, Hostages To...
Afghanistan is believed to be home to world-class mineral deposits, valued at up to $3 trillion and offering hope for the country's economic future. But in the current environment of uncertainty, investors are nervous and it could be many years before Afghanistan strikes pay dirt.
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In Zimbabwe, Will Next Election Be More Peaceful?
Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton about Zimbabwe's upcoming presidential election and efforts to alleviate its international isolation.
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Astronaut Chris Hadfield's Most Excellent Adventure
Hadfield just spent 146 days up at the International Space Station, during which time he performed rock concerts and shared his dazzling photographs with nearly a million Twitter followers.
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Highly Charged IRS Case Pulls In Political Agendas
NPR's Peter Overby reports on the Congressional testimony of IRS officials in response to the scandal over special scrutiny of tea party groups. Underneath all the politics, there's a policy question that hasn't been addressed.
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What A Week: White House Rattled By Controversy
NPR's Ari Shapiro joins host Scott Simon to talk about the Obama administration's week. The president was buffeted by revelations that the IRS had targeted Tea Party groups seeking tax-exempt status and that the Justice Department had subpoenaed reporter phone records. On top of that, Republicans continue to allege that the White House engaged in a cover-up of talking points about the attack in Benghazi, Libya.
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A Nigerian-'Americanah' Novel About Love, Race And Hair
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's latest book tells the story of Ifemelu and Obinze, who fall in love as students in Nigeria but soon emigrate to different countries: Ifemelu to America and Obinze to England. Adichie tells NPR's Scott Simon that Ifemelu's discovery of racial identity mirrors her own.
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Yngwie Malmsteen: 'I've Always Been A Little Bit Of An...
Malmsteen is the king of the neoclassical shred guitar. The Swedish musician and composer has somehow bridged centuries, from Paganini to his own arpeggiated acrobatics. Here, the guitarist speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about being a family man and growing up on Bach and Jimi Hendrix.
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Sports: Playoff Picks, Tragedy In Sailing
Host Scott Simon speaks with NPR's Tom Goldman about the week's sports news, including the NBA basketball playoffs and the death this week of Olympic gold medal sailor Andrew Bart Simpson while training for the America's Cup.
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Mini-Memoirs: 6-Word Stories To Honor Mom
The Forward recently asked readers to submit six-word memoirs about their Jewish mothers. Editor-In-Chief Jane Eisner shares some of her favorites, including, Strong, independent rethinker of tuna casserole. How would you describe your mother in just six words?
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To Count Elephants In The Forest, Watch Where You Step
To know how elephants are faring, they need to be counted. But how do you count them when they're hidden under thick forest canopies? A conservationist in the 1980s started to count their poop, and that helped to create a model of elephants' numbers and movement through the forest.
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Media Focus On Ailing Mandela Is Not 'The African Way'
The extensive coverage of Nelson Mandela's fading health has sparked intense debate in South Africa. Many say the African way views the twilight years as a final journey, a time of peace and respect, and that journalists should be more sensitive.
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Pakistanis 'Defy Violence' To Vote In Landmark Election
Though the campaign was marred by violence and there were more attacks on Saturday, voters turned out in large numbers.
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Kerry's Agenda: Priorities Emerge With Travel
Secretary of State John Kerry has been in office for less than three months and as he travels the globe, his priorities are becoming clearer. He's trying to find a diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis, revive Israeli Palestinian talks and convince China to use its influence with North Korea to resolve that issue diplomatically.
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How Hard Would It Be To Impose A No-Fly Zone In Syria?
So called no-fly zones have worked in the past, not always to change regimes but to help protect those trying to overthrow their government. Host Scott Simon talks with Kevin Baron of Foreign Policy Magazine's E-Ring blog about the possible imposition by the U.S. of such a zone in Syria.
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Diplomats Hope Syrian Rebels' Losses Promote...
Syrian rebels are on the defensive these days, losing ground to new offensives by government troops. Western diplomats are hopeful the rebel losses will persuade their leaders to attend an international conference being organized by the U.S. and Russia to chart a path to peace in the blood-soaked country. Host Scott Simon speaks with NPR's Deb Amos.
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Ala. Juke Joint Shuttered After More Than 50 Years
Longtime blues joint Gip's Place, in Bessemer, Ala., has been forced to close its doors. Weekend Edition profiled the place two years ago. Host Scott Simon takes note of the closing.
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James Cotton: 'The Voice Is Gone, But The Wind Is Still...
The Chicago bluesman is 77 and a throat cancer survivor, but he remains a fiery harmonica player. His latest album, which features collaborations with Gregg Allman and Keb' Mo', is called Cotton Mouth Man.
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Christopher Guest Comes To HBO With A 'Family' Comedy...
Christopher Guest talks to Scott Simon about improvisation, style, and finding a ventriloquist in the family.
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Frozen Lakes Cut Into Minnesota Fishing Tradition
Saturday is the opening of the walleye fishing season, and it's usually one of the busiest weekends for the state's resort communities. This year, many of the lakes in northern Minnesota are still iced over, putting a chill on the season.
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Tiny Mites Spark Big Battle Over Imports Of French Cheese
Microscopic bugs called cheese mites are responsible for the distinctive rind and flavor of the bright orange French cheese Mimolette. But now, the FDA has blocked more than a ton of Mimolette from entering the country, because the agency says the mites left on it make it unfit for consumption.
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Schools? How About A Science Laureate At The Super Bowl?
There's a move in Congress to name a science laureate. Astronomer Mike Brown hopes that person would do much more than visit schools to encourage kids to consider careers in science. He'd like to see a laureate reach out to the public in all sorts of ways.
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Sequester Has Air Force Clipping Its Wings
Automatic budget cuts have pushed Air Force bases to slash their flying budgets even though it means grounding pilots and reducing readiness. The cancellations are boosting the arguments of those who want the military excepted from sequestration cuts.
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Immigration Overhaul Bill Survives Daylong Revamp
NPR's congressional correspondent David Welna speaks with host Scott Simon about the flurry of last-minute amendments, most from conservative Republicans, to alter the bipartisan immigration legislation.
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Mom's X-Ray Vision Also Sees The Best In Us
Mothers know us better — sometimes better than we know ourselves. As any child will tell you, they really do have eyes in the back of their heads. When times are tough, they also have our back.
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The Philosophy, Economics Behind Sourcing Retail
Host Scott Simon talks to Michael Preysman, founder and CEO of Everlane, an online clothing retailer based in San Francisco that provides information to consumers about where its products are made.
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What It's Like To Work In A Bangladeshi Factory
More than 1,000 garment workers were killed last month, when the Rana Plaza factory building collapsed last month in Bangladesh. Host Scott Simon speaks with Kalpona Akter, the executive director of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity, who began working in garment factories at age 12.
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Confessions Of A Kentucky Derby Gate-Crasher
Stephen Johnstone started celebrating with the winning families and jockeys — uninvited — in 1963. In the 18 times he's sneaked into the festivities, he's never been caught. Once you're past the gate, he says, your job is to share the joy of the moment.
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Sports: From Basketballs To Racing Horses
Host Scott Simon speaks with Howard Bryant of ESPN about the latest sports news.
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World War II Code Is Broken, Decades After POW Used It
It's been 70 years since the letters of John Pryor were understood in their full meaning. That's because as a British prisoner of war in Nazi Germany, Pryor's letters home to his family also included intricate codes that were recently deciphered by codebreakers for the first time since the 1940s.
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Please Don't Delete This Interview About Spam
Your inbox overflows with spam, so what else is new? But have you ever wondered how junk email got its name? And where all of it comes from? Finn Burton, author of Spam: A Shadow History of the Internet describes the spam business, how it's become a criminal enterprise and how you can protect yourself online.
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At NRA Convention, Dueling Narratives Displayed With Guns
While the talk inside the Texas convention hall this weekend is about keeping up the fight against gun restrictions and staying true to the Constitution, a small protest against gun violence is being held outside.
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Boston Investigation Unpacks Brothers' Pre-Bombing Moves
Host Scott Simon talks to NPR counterterrorism correspondent Dina Temple-Raston about the latest in the investigation into April's Boston Marathon bombing.
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Places Transformed: Syrian Refugees Overwhelm Camps,...
The fighting in Syria has created tens of thousands of refugees seeking shelter in neighboring Jordan. Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Deborah Amos about a refugee camp in northern Jordan that has quickly become the second largest such camp in the world. Then we hear voices from a small town in southern Lebanon, where recently arrived Syrian refugees now outnumber the Lebanese residents.
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Burt Bacharach: 'Never Be Afraid Of Something That You...
The award-winning songwriter speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about the value of melody, and writing a song about rain for a movie scene that had none.
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'The Great Gatsby': Retold Again, With A Distinct...
Host Scott Simon talks to director Baz Luhrmann about his new film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic American novel, The Great Gatsby.
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An Unexpected Festival Paints A Different Version Of...
In a land where music was once banned, the Sound Central alternative arts and music festival is in its third year of showcasing the growing cultural scene in Afghanistan. Several thousand Afghans are attending this year's festival featuring live music, poetry, short films, painting and skateboarding.
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At Jazz Fest, Photographers Have A Culture All Their Own
Some of the most iconic images of New Orleans musicians have come from its annual Jazz Heritage festival — thanks to the scores of photographers who crowd the apron of the stage, vying for the best shots. Eve Troeh, of member station WWNO, tagged along with one of them this year.
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U.S.-Mexico Relations Complicated, Conditioned By Drug...
Host Scott Simon speaks with David Shirk about U.S.-Mexico cooperation in the drug war. Shirk is an associate professor of political science at the University of San Diego and recently finished his tenure as director of the Trans-Border Institute at USD. He is also the author of The Drug War in Mexico: Confronting a Shared Threat.
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On Mexico Trip, Obama Maintains Economic Focus
President Obama is in Costa Rica to discuss regional cooperation and security with regional leaders. This follows talks he had in Mexico with President Enrique Pena Nieto. During his two-day visit, Obama tried to steer the focus away from contentious issues like immigration and drug violence.
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The Ever-Changing Pace Of Obsolescence
This week, an Apple fan blog leaked word that the company will declare its first-generation iPhone obsolete, just six years after it was introduced. Host Scott Simon contrasts that with the world's longest known ongoing experiment in a bell jar in an Australian lab.
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Fewer Jobs, Persistent Racial Disparity
Scott Simon talks with New School Economics Professor Darrick Hamilton about the long-standing racial disparities in the unemployment figures.
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More Jobs, But Wait: They May Not Pay Much
While the economy added 165,000 jobs in April, a closer look shows that the biggest gains were in lower-paying fields like hospitality and temp agencies. And there's some question as to whether there will be enough jobs for students once the school year ends.
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When Tonys Tap Faves, Look For These Names
The nominations for the 67th Tony Awards are due April 30, and Barbara Chai of The Wall Street Journal has seen pretty much every show on Broadway this season. NPR's Scott Simon talks with Chai about what she loved, what she hated and what's likely to make the Tony cut.
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Siblings, Seafarers And 'Secrets' In Moviemaker's Novel
Screenwriter, director and producer Chris Columbus has teamed up with young adult novelist Ned Vizzini to write a book about the adventures of Cordelia, Brendan and Eleanor Walker. In House of Secrets, the three siblings, ages 8 to 15, find themselves in a fantastic world after a family move.
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Week In Sports: NBA's Oklahoma Loses Star Player To...
There were big NBA playoff games Friday night, plus a potentially game-changing injury for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks to NPR's Tom Goldman for the sports news of the week.
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At Bush Library, A Chance To Be The Decider-In-Chief
The Situation Room is one of the most mysterious and important rooms in the White House. It's where George W. Bush gave the order to begin the Iraq War. Now, that famous room has been rebuilt in Dallas, inside the new George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
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Gathering Of Presidential Lineage Celebrates U.S. History
In a rural Ozarks town, the descendants of America's most revered historical figures are gathering for the Marshfield Cherry Blossom Festival. The DNA of over 30 past presidents will be present, including that of presidents Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Truman. Jennifer Davison of KSMU radio reports.
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Through Art And Industry, Chicago Shaped America
Blues, jazz and gospel; a civil rights movement that began with the Emmett Till case; modern glass and steel buildings that dared the sky. In Third Coast, Thomas Dyja writes that the most profound aspects of American Modernity grew up out of the flat, prairie land next to Lake Michigan.
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Baltimore Detention Center Became A Criminal Enterprise
Federal prosecutors recently indicted 25 people associated with the Baltimore City Detention Center on charges of racketeering, and drug and money laundering. Prosecutors allege that prison guards allowed gang members free reign over the prison, helping them smuggle drugs and cellphones into the facility. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon speaks with Baltimore Sun reporter Ian Duncan about the case.
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Egyptian Activists: Our Religion Is None Of Your Business
Violence between Muslims and Christians in Egypt, which has only increased since the revolution, is prompting public debate about religious identity. To try to ease tension and de-emphasize differences, one group of Egyptians wants to remove religious labels from national ID cards.
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Does Syria's Alleged Use Of Chemical weapons 'Cross The...
Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with Vali Nasr of Johns Hopkins University about allegations that the Syrian government used chemical weapons against its own citizens, and whether this crosses a red line drawn by the Obama Administration.
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George Jones: Remembering One Of Country Music's Greats
Country music legend George Jones, known for He Stopped Loving Her Today and a long string of other hits, died on Friday. He was 81 years old. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon has this rembrance of the music star.
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The Chapin Sisters Reconsider The Everly Brothers
The Chapin Sisters were once a trio. When one member left to start a family, the remaining sisters looked to another sibling duo for inspiration.
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'Country Girl' Edna O'Brien On A Lifetime Of Lit,...
The Irish writer scandalized audiences with her 1960 novel, The Country Girls. Half a century later, she looks back on her childhood in a small village, her fame and its accessories and above all, her ceaseless drive to write.
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At Israeli Checkpoint, Tear Gas And Ice Cream A Way Of...
At the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah, violent flare-ups can be as routine as vendors selling ice cream and CDs.
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Poet Kazim Ali On Poetry In Everyday Life
Poet Kazim Ali talks about poetry's importance in every day life for National Poetry Month. He is a contributing editor for AWP Writers Chronicle and founding editor of the small press, Nightboat Books.
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Cambodian Americans Celebrate New Year, But Honor Grim...
On Saturday, Cambodian-Americans in Southern California are celebrating their new year festival with cultural dances, day-long picnics and visits to local Buddhist temples. But one group is also using the occasion to educate a new generation about the Khmer Rouge genocide.
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Bombing Suspects' Chechen Roots Weigh Heavy On Nation'...
NPR's Eleanor Beardsley talks to Chechen refugees living in France, and hears how they're reacting to news of of the recent Boston marathon bombings. There are some 10,000 Chechen refugees in France and Germany, and upwards of 25,000 in Austria.
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Quest For Answers Continues In Boston
Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Dina Temple-Raston about the latest news in the investigation and case against the accused Boston Marathon bomber.
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Athlete Brings New Meaning To 'Taking One For The Team'
Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon considers the story of Cameron Lyle, a varsity athlete at the University of New Hampshire. Mr. Lyle forfeited his final season on the track team in order to donate his bone marrow to a 28-year-old cancer victim he's never even met.
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Bloomberg Aims His Money At Gun Control Opponents
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg seems determined to become the formidable adversary the NRA has never had. The billionaire mayor is spending from his personal fortune to help defeat lawmakers who voted against gun control proposals last week. His first target: Democrat Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
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Congress Acts On Flight Delays, What's Next?
It appears Congress decided not to leave town while airport delays pile up. The Senate miraculously approved a measure to restore funding for air traffic controllers, and the House followed suit on Friday. Considering this turn of events, could other sequester interventions be in the offing?
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An American In Mali, Teaching The Country's Sounds
It's been a decade since Paul Chandler left the U.S. and headed to West Africa, having fallen in love with the region's music. Now Mali is his home, and he's teaching children at the American School in Bamako how to play the music of his adopted country.
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A Moment With Pulitzer-Winning Composer Caroline Shaw
The violinist, vocalist and composer says that writing a piece like her prize-winning Partita for 8 Voices begins with having a sound in your head that you really want to hear.
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In Boston, Lockdown Became Time To Spend With Friends
The long day in Boston left many residents stuck in their homes watching TV. Some chose to congregate, and NPR's Chris Arnold went to a lock-down party Friday night, and spoke to happy residents after the capture of the second suspect.
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Witness To A Manhunt In Your Own Backyard
Franklin Street in Watertown, Mass., was the epicenter of the massive manhunt for the second suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks to a resident of Franklin Street about what it was like.
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Week In Sports: Red Sox's Good Week A Bright Spot For...
Weekend Edition Saturday host talks with ESPN.com and ESPN Magazine contributor Howard Bryant about the how the baseball seasons is going for a few teams and also how the NBA playoffs are shaping up.
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Emily Moore On How She Became A Poet
For National Poetry Month, young poet Emily Moore talks about how she got into poetry and why poetry is still relevant. She teaches English at Stuyvesant High School in New York City. Her poems have appeared in Ploughshares and The Yale Review. In 2004, she received a Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowship.
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Muslims Fear Backlash After Suspects Faith Revealed
All week, since the Boston marathon bombings, many Muslims have been praying that the attackers were not of their faith. Now that family members have confirmed the two young men were indeed, Muslim, many are bracing for a backlash.
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U.S.-Russia Relations Highlighted In Bombing Aftermath
U.S.-Russian relations are strained, but in the aftermath of the Boston marathon bombings, the two governments are trying to communicate to help the investigation. NPR's Michele Kelemen talks with Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon about the state of their complicated relationship.
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Suspects' Chechen Roots Draw Eyes To Russia
Much has been made of the fact that the suspects in the Boston bombings are ethnic Chechens, with links to the volatile North Caucasus region of Russia. Russian reaction to the story, however, appears to be as complex as the region's turbulent history.
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Syrian Opposition Distances Itself From Islamists
The international donors group known as the Friends of Syria gathers in Istanbul Saturday, as aid experts warn of a ballooning disaster for millions of Syrians and neighboring states. With American non-lethal assistance increasing and pressure on the European Union to send weapons to rebel fighters, opposition leaders are faced with an embarrassing problem: the declared alliance between Islamist fighters and al-Qaida. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon speaks with NPR's Peter Kenyon...
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MIT Officer Died Protecting His Community, In Job He...
The grisly week that began at the Boston Marathon on Monday left a police officer dead. Sean Collier, an officer with the MIT campus police, was pronounced dead Thursday night. He's remembered as passionate and dedicated to his profession.
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After Bombing Suspect Captured, Next Steps Begin
One bombing suspect is dead and the other in custody after a week of investigation that led to a tense manhunt and standoff Friday. NPR's David Schaper joins Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon with the latest on the Boston Marathon bombings aftermath.
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So Hot Right Now: Has Climate Change Created A New...
More and more writers are setting their novels and short stories in worlds, not unlike our own, where the Earth's systems are noticeably off-kilter. The genre has come to be called climate fiction — cli-fi, for short.
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The Continuing Relevance Of Child Ballads
Through the centuries, old songs known as the Child ballads have been passed down and tweaked to fit the times. More recently, they've been adapted by the folk revivalists of the 1950s and rockers from the '60s and '70s. Now, a duo of young songwriters is reviving them yet again.
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Week Of Hardship Strains City Of Boston
Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon speaks with journalist Mike Barnicle about how Boston is faring since the bombing at the Boston Marathon and the subsequent manhunt. Barnicle, a journalist frequently on MSNBC and who has written for the Boston Globe for many years, was born and raised in Massachusetts.
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Forget NCAA Titles, This School Dominates Spoken Word
As college recruiting continues to be a challenge, many schools hope a run at a national title in football or basketball can get prospective students to check out their campus. But for a small private school in the Midwest, an unprecedented domination of another competition may be what sets them apart. Bradley University has won more national titles in speech competitions than UCLA, Kentucky and Duke combined have in basketball.
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Remembering The Man Who Gave The Nation A Newspaper
Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon remembers USA Today founder Al Neuharth, who died on Friday at his home in Cocoa Beach, Fla. Neuharth was 89.
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Lessons Learned From The Media's Coverage Of Boston...
Media coverage moved at a breakneck speed after the initial bombing and as law enforcement pieced together the crime, ultimately leading to a dramatic conclusion. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with NPR's David Folkenflik about how the media covered the Boston bombing: what they got right and wrong.
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Two Decades Later, Some Branch Davidians Still Believe
Twenty years ago, federal agents clashed with David Koresh's Branch Davidian community near Waco, Texas. The standoff ended with a raid and fire in which some 80 children, women and men perished. It's remembered as one of the darkest chapters in American law enforcement.
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Officials Seek Answers In Aftermath Of Deadly Plant...
The search for survivors has ended, and investigators are trying to figure out what led to fiery explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, on Wednesday. At least 14 people are confirmed dead, many of them first responders.
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A 'Tough, Smart, Proud Town' Meets Terror With...
The bombing attack at the Boston Marathon Monday could have caused scrambling and panic. Instead, the tragedy revealed the city's character as people rushed to help each other.
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In Boston, The Search For Answers Begins
Now that one suspect in the Boston bombings is captured and the other dead, the quest for answers begins and investigators look for motives. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Tom Gjelten about what's next for Boston.
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Boston Manhunt Ends With Suspect In Custody
A week of fear and questions following Monday's bombing of the Boston Marathon ended with a dramatic daylong manhunt and capture of the remaining suspect on Friday. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks NPR's Dan Bobkoff joins about the latest from Boston and captured suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
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Dave Matthews Takes John Denver's Music 'To Tomorrow'
Matthews joins a diverse cast — including Emmylou Harris, My Morning Jacket and Old Crow Medicine Show — to honor the late singer-songwriter on a new tribute album.
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Package Delivery Halts, But Grand Canyon's Mules Trudge...
For several decades pack mules have carried mail to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, includingg postcards, letters and packages. The company that runs the mule trains says the package load has become too heavy, so it's discontinuing service April 15.
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Week In Sports: A Day At The Masters
Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Tom Goldman, from his perch watching the Masters in Augusta, about the tournament so far and 14-year-old Guan Tianlang, the youngest player to ever make the cut.
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How Did All Those People Get Inside Jonathan Winters?
Winters was best known for creating a repertory company of characters that he carried around in his head. In 2000, he told NPR's Scott Simon how he built that cast, after taking some advice from another performer.
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In NPR's New Building, Everything Will Be Better ......
NPR special correspondent Susan Stamberg has worked in all four of NPR's locations since it went on the air in 1971. As the company moves into its bigger space, Stamberg once again shepherds us to our new home.
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Now Endangered, Florida's Silver Springs Once Lured...
Countless movies were filmed there, including Tarzan and Creature From the Black Lagoon. With its wildlife and freshwater springs, Silver Springs in Central Florida was one of the state's most popular tourist destinations. Those waters have receded now as the delicate ecosystem suffers from problems that threaten the entire state.
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Diplomacy, Warnings Mark Kerry's Visit To Korean...
Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Louisa Lim about Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to South Korea and the negotiating efforts to de-nuclearize the Korean Peninsula.
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'Straw Purchases' Get Keen Eye In Gun Debate
Congress voted to begin debate on a package of new gun control measures this week, passing a key procedural hurdle. But several proposals face a long road before reaching President Obama's desk. One proposal has garnered bipartisan support: additional measures targeting so-called straw purchasers and gun trafficking. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon reports on why advocates say the new measures are necessary, and how one gun, purchased through a surrogate, ended up in the wrong...
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Extreme Drama: The Life And Music Of Richard Wagner
Marking the 200th anniversary of the controversial composer's birth, conductor Marin Alsop and friends rethink Wagner in a series of multimedia concerts.
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Dante's Beauty Rendered In English In A Divine 'Comedy'
Australian poet and critic Clive James has a new translation of Dante's epic Divine Comedy. James says it's a beautiful work that only an older person can translate — someone who's experienced the same spiritual crisis Dante suffered.
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The Rise Of The Boston Marathon, A Runner's 'Holy Grail'
Ahead of next week's Boston Marathon, Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with running coach and author Tom Derderian about the heightened expectations for this year's race and how the Boston Marathon earned its distinction as the Holy Grail for serious runners. Derderian is a member of the committee that set new qualifying standards for this year's marathon.
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A Pianist's Ultimate Sacrifice: Giving It All To Go To...
At 17, Daniel Hodd was starting a promising career as a concert pianist, but he decided to become a Marine instead. Before his second deployment, he broke a finger and was given a choice: Treat it and stay, or cut it off and deploy.
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Enshrined And Oft-Invoked, Simon Bolivar Lives On
In the 19th century, Bolivar freed six countries from Spanish rule. Almost 200 years later, the warrior statesman is still a widely celebrated Latin American hero, but his story is also little understood. In a new biography, Marie Arana aims to separate fact from fiction.
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Even In Death, Chavez Dominates Venezuelan Election
Former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who died last month, is supporting Nicolas Maduro in Sunday's presidential election. How do we know? Maduro says Chavez came to him, as a bird, in a dream. For some Venezuelans, that's enough: Maduro leads the race by a considerable margin.
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At The Spelling Bee, Spelling Is No Longer Enough
Starting this year, competitors in the National Spelling Bee will not only have to know how to spell a word, but they'll also have to know what it means.
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Immigration Debate Puts Farm Workers Union In Spotlight
The United Farm Workers seemed to be all over Washington this week — lobbying members of Congress and gathering for a big immigration rally outside the Capitol. The union has gotten a huge injection of leverage from its role in the immigration debate, one analyst says.
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What Obama's Tax Proposal Could Cost Him, And Us
Both President Obama and Republican lawmakers say they're willing to close loopholes in the individual tax code. The argument is over what should be done with the money after that.
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On Broadway, Old Shows And New Tricks
These days, a hit show can run not just for years but for decades. So how do you keep it fresh for new audiences? Reporter Jeff Lunden talks to people who work on three of Broadway's biggest hits to find out.
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'It's Pat' Creator Muses On Motherhood And Family Life
Former SNL cast member Julia Sweeney has written a new memoir of her life as a Midwestern mother. She speaks to NPR's Scott Simon about her decision to adopt from China, how her daughter got to be named Mulan (yes, after the Disney character), and gaining a new appreciation for her own mother.
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Week In Sports: Assessing The Rutgers Coach Firing
Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon speaks with NPR's Tom Goldman about the scandal at Rutgers University, and the NCAA basketball finals for both men and women this weekend.
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Sea Lion Keeps The Beat In Pursuit Of Science
Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with University of California-Santa Cruz graduate student Peter Cook, who trained a sea lion to bob her head in time with music. This challenges a leading theory on rhythmic entrainment that only animals with the capabilities of vocal mimicry could keep a beat.
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Will Synched Lights Clear A Path Through The City Of...
The city of Los Angeles recently finished a massive project to synchronize all of its 4,500 traffic lights in the hopes of reducing congestion. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon checks in with Kajon Cermak, traffic reporter for member station KCRW in Santa Monica to see how the plan is panning out.
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Dissecting New York's Mayoral Race Scandal
Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with Errol Louis, host of NY1's Inside City Hall, about the latest in the New York City mayoral race bribe scheme. A Democratic New York state senator is charged with trying to buy a spot on the Republican ticket.
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Talks On Iran's Nuclear Activities Continue
After a rocky start on Friday, talks on Iran's nuclear program have resumed in earnest in Kazakhstan. Western officials say Iran failed to respond to the latest plan to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for a modest easing of sanctions, but both sides seem to be working to salvage the diplomatic effort. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon Scott Simon talks with NPR's Peter Kenyon, who is following the talks in Almaty.
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For Some, Change In Career The Answer To Tough Economy
Despite the disappointing jobs numbers released Friday, there are some bright spots in the economy. The recession forced some workers to reconsider their careers and, in some cases, find new ones. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with two people who have rebounded into completely new fields: Donna Latta of Shelton, Conn., and Chris Cluck of Springfield, Mo.
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Sequester Pinches Long-Term Unemployed Even More
Almost 5 million Americans have been searching for work for at least six months. This week, their plight is getting a bit tougher as the government cuts their unemployment benefits — part of the automatic reductions in federal spending that took effect recently.
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Reasons For Slow U.S. Job Growth Unclear
Job growth plummeted in March after several months of solid growth, with employers adding just 88,000 new workers to their payrolls. No one knows exactly why the job market stalled, but among the theories is the payroll tax increase, the sequester, more trouble in Europe and a seasonal pattern where hiring picks up in winter and tails off during the spring.
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Saying Goodbye To The Old NPR Headquarters
NPR is saying goodbye to the building that has housed Weekend Edition Saturday and many of its other programs for 19 years. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon brings some of his colleagues favorite Hallway moments as they bid farewell.
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Charlotte Church Returns, A 'Beautiful Wreck' In A...
As a child, the Welsh singer rocketed into success with classical and religious music, and performed for Nelson Mandela and the pope. Now she's back with a new album, One Two, and a new sound.
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In '42,' A Young Star Suits Up For A Hero's Role
Jackie Robinson, the first African-American baseball player in the major leagues, is the subject of an upcoming biopic. Chadwick Boseman plays the groundbreaking athlete in 42; he joins NPR's Scott Simon to talk about what it felt like to take on a cultural hero.
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What Does Amazon's Purchase Of Goodreads Mean For Book...
Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with Wall Street Journal reporter Greg Bensinger about Amazon's acquisition of the reader reviews site, Goodreads, and the implications for readers, authors and publishers.
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Does Poetry Still Matter? Yes Indeed, Says NPR NewsPoet
April is famously the cruelest month — according to the poem — but it's also the month we celebrate poetry. Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tracy K. Smith says we all need poetry, and even those of us who don't write poems can still learn how to see and hear the world through poetry.
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Always In The Zone, Syracuse Is Hard To Beat
Syracuse is the only college team that relies exclusively on a 2-3 zone defense. They've been unstoppable so far in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, but on Saturday night, Michigan will try to break through Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim's winning strategy.
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Amid Final Four Fanfare, Harsh Words For NCAA
Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with New York Times columnist Joe Nocera about the increasing volume of criticism surrounding the NCAA and its governance of college sports. Nocera will be in Atlanta, covering the start of the Final Four tournament.
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Roger Ebert: Elegance And Empathy
Roger Ebert wrote simply, abundantly, gorgeously — and on deadline for 46 years at the Chicago Sun-Times. Over the years, his work reminded us that empathy is the grace note of a good life, not just great art.
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U.S. Parries N. Korean Threats With A Fresh Plan
When it comes to North Korea's latest belligerence, U.S. officials can sound more like an exasperated parent responding to a child's tantrum. That's just their first warning, though; it's part of a recently developed counterprovocation plan that's being put to the test.
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North Korea Advises Evacuation Of Embassies
The torrent of threats from North Korea continued this week. On Friday, the North Korean government advised Russia and other countries to consider evacuating their embassies in Pyongyang amid rising tension there. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Louisa Lim with the latest.
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In South Africa, A Reggae Legacy Lives On
Lucky Dube, the best-selling South African reggae singer of all time, was murdered during a carjacking in 2007. Now his 27-year-old daughter, Nkulee Dube, is African reggae's newest hope.
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No Longer In Disguise, Female Pakistani Keeps Up Squash
Pakistan's top female squash player used to have to pretend she was a boy. When Maria Toorpakai's secret was finally revealed she had to choose between the sport she loved and her family's safety. Host Scott Simon talks with Toorpakai and former world champion Jonathon Power, who is currently training her in Canada.
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Elite 8 Take To The NCAA Courts
Host Scott Simon catches up on the week in sports with Howard Bryant of ESPN.
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Jace Clayton Revives A Forgotten Voice From New York's...
Even among experimentalists like Philip Glass and Steve Reich, the composer Julius Eastman stood out: black, gay and politically provocative. Clayton's new album is a tribute to the singular artist who burned out too early.
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David Sheff On Addiction: Prevention, Treatment And...
In his latest book, the author of Beautiful Boy describes a new way of treating substance addiction and related mental illnesses. What we know now is that addicts aren't immoral, they aren't weak, he says. They're ill.
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NPR 'Grain' Series Investigates Industry, Sparks Response
NPR's Howard Berkes joins host Scott Simon for a look back at his reporting this week on the NPR series Buried In Grain. Berkes reviews the death toll from grain storage bins and the weak laws and enforcement that have failed to prevent these accidents.
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State Gives Example Of New Federal Gas Standards
The Environment Protection Agency has proposed new rules that will require cars to run on cleaner gas. The rules are intended to lower sulfur emission and reduce smog, and they'd go into effect in 2017. NPR's Sonari Glinton reports they're similar to standards in place in California.
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A Fossilized Confection Baked For Easter 1807
A British couple believes they've come across a hot cross bun that was baked more than 200 years ago. Host Scott Simon explains.
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Gay Marriage And The Evolving Language Of Love
During arguments this week at the Supreme Court over gay marriage, Justice Samuel Alito pointed out that the institution is newer than cellphones or the Internet. That means the language used to describe same-sex relationships is new, too. And even linguists say they're still learning.
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Gay Marriage Recap: Will Justices Rule On...
It was a busy week in the debate over gay marriage, with two Supreme Court cases and a number of members of Congress moving from opposition to endorsement. NPR's Nina Totenberg and NPR political editor Ron Elving join host Scott Simon for a recap.
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The 'Unsinkable' Debbie Reynolds Looks Back On Life,...
Debbie Reynolds has been a movie star for more than 60 years. Her new memoir, Unsinkable, looks back on her decades in the business, her family and her children — and a naughty story or two about drunken Hollywood greats.
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The 'Trailer Trash' That's Sent Us To The Cinema
Host Scott Simon speaks with Ian Crouch, web producer for The New Yorker, about tropes in movie trailers throughout the years. Crouch's blog post, Trailer Trash, was published Friday on The New Yorker's Culture Desk blog.
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New York's Living Theater Drops Its Curtains
For nearly 70 years, the Living Theater championed some of the most challenging work in New York Theater. It was the original off-Broadway company. But last month, Jon Kalish reports, co-founder Judith Malina shuttered the space she poured all of her money into and moved into an assisted-living home.
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White House Easter Roll Eggs Hatched In Maine
When thousands of children partake in the annual festivities, they'll be rolling wooden eggs courtesy of Wells Wood Turning Finishing. The business, tucked away in a small town in Maine, gets to work on the project in February and produces about 100,000 painted eggs.
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'Life After Life,' The Many Deaths And Do-Overs Of...
During a beach outing with her family when she's 5, a little girl is swept away by a wave and drowns. In another version of that trip, though, an amateur painter swims out and saves her. Ursula's many lives grow in and out of each other in Kate Atkinson's new novel.
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German Anti-Euro Group Has Big-Name Backers
In Germany, a new political party has cropped up with one sole aim: doing away with the euro. Unlike past anti-euro parties in Europe, this one is no fringe group. NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson reports they are banking on German frustration over bailouts of eurozone countries to propel them into office in national elections this fall.
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Cypriots' New World Marred With Uncertainty
The eurozone bailed out Cyprus, but the years ahead will bring poverty, job losses and fewer opportunities. Host Scott Simon talks with Joanna Kakissis about the mood in Cyprus now.
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Humble Gestures Are New Pope's Symbol Of Service
Pope Francis surprised many this week by washing the feet of young inmates in prison instead of priests in a grand basilica. The ceremony emulates the way Jesus washed the feet of his 12 disciples. On this Easter weekend, we consider the meaning behind Pope Francis' break with tradition.
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'Think Again' About U.S. Impact On N. Korean Economy
For years, U.S. policy toward North Korea has been going on the premise that economic sanctions could deter North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. Host Scott Simon talks with David Kang, professor of international relations and business at the University of Southern California, about the state of the North Korean economy.
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North Korea's Stepped-Up Rhetoric: Is It More Than Talk?
With its missile units on standby and its hotlines cut to South Korea, North Korea continues to stoke tensions on the peninsula. Even China, North Korea's main ally, is now on board with sanctions.
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The Milk Carton Kids: At Life's Crossroads, A Duo Looks...
Both newly 30, Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan reflect on the past and relish the present on their upcoming release, The Ash Clay.
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If You're In Los Angeles, Look Up For A Laugh
Kurt Braunohler is a comedian, and he is not immune to a good, dumb joke. In his latest project, funded by donors through Kickstarter, he's hiring a pilot to write How do I land? in the sky above Los Angeles at 3:33 p.m. PT on Saturday. Host Scott Simon speaks with Braunohler about the project, and his comedic goal to bring more absurdity to people's lives.
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Sheer Madness With NCAA Upsets
Host Scott Simon catches up on the NCAA tournament and women's hockey with NPR's Tom Goldman.
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Gay Lobbying On The Hill Has Short, Yet Strong History
One argument used by conservatives in the Supreme Court cases is that gay Americans have become so politically powerful that they don't need special attention from the courts. Whether or not that's true, NPR's Peter Overby reports, it's clear that advocacy groups for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community have built a strong network of lobbyists and political activists in Washington.
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They All Voted For DOMA, But Now These Senators Are Split
When the Defense of Marriage Act passed in 1996, it had strong bipartisan support. All of the 15 sitting Democrats who voted for it are now against it. But so far, Sen. Rob Portman is the only current Republican Senator to change his mind.
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School Closures Pit Race And Poverty Against Budgets
What was once a local issue is growing into a nationwide concern, as civil rights activists argue that school closings are disproportionately hurting minority communities. But cities are in a bind with budget shortfalls, and closing under-populated schools may offer a way to cut costs.
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Dietary Determination: Under Government Purview?
Host Scott Simon tells us about the new anti-Bloomberg law in Mississippi, which bars cities and towns from passing local laws to limit portion sizes. What do you think? Please tell us on Twitter, @NPRWeekend.
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Public Health Campaigning, Like A New Yorker
The latest public health crackdown from New York City's mayor would prevent store owners from publicly displaying tobacco products. This initiative follows an effort to limit the sale of 16-ounce sugary drinks. Host Scott Simon talks with Dr. Thomas Farley, New York City's health commissioner, about the city's role as an incubator for novel public health initiatives.
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Maori-Mentored, Soul-Singing Mom Inspired 'The Sapphires'
The film's plot may sound improbable — an aboriginal girl group travels from the Outback to Vietnam to entertain American troops — but writer Tony Briggs knows just how true that story is: His mother, Laurel Robinson, was one of the real-life singers who made that trip.
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From One Author To Another, Letters Of Praise
Host Scott Simon reads some of the best fan mail to authors, written by authors.
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'Z' Tells The Fitzgeralds' Story From Zelda's Point Of...
F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald wed in 1920, and the two went on to have a famously turbulent literary marriage. Would Zelda have been better off without her husband? Novelist Therese Anne Fowler says, They were two sides of one coin.
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Rhymed Wrap: NCAA So Far, In A Poem
NPR's Mike Pesca rhymes his way through the 32 opening-round games of the NCAA basketball tournament.
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Nigeria Mourns The Loss Of Chinua Achebe
Award-winning author Chinua Achebe, sometimes described as the grandfather of modern African literature, died this week at age 82. Host Scott Simon speaks with NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton in Lagos, Nigeria.
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In Saudi Arabia, Shiite Muslims Challenge Ban On Protests
When demonstrators began rising up against Arab governments in 2011, Saudi authorities responded with large spending projects and with tough actions against protesters. However, the Shiite minority in eastern Saudi Arabia persists with regular demonstrations.
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Obama Leaves Middle East With Mixed Reviews
President Obama heads home from the Middle East Saturday, after a mixed reception to his four-day visit. Obama spent much of that time in Israel, trying to lay the groundwork to revive the long-stalled peace process with the Palestinians. He also traveled to the West Bank and met with Jordan's King Abdullah. NPR's Scott Horsley has a recap from Amman, Jordan.
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Resurrected Frog Gives Us Cause To Brood
This week scientists announced they have reproduced the genome of an extinct amphibian, the gastric brooding frog. But animals are more than just their genomes, so NPR's Scott Simon wonders if it's necessary — or kind — to bring them back.
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Polling Latinos: What Would It Take To Turn Republican?
Host Scott Simon talks with Gary Segura, co-founder of the polling firm Latino Decisions, about whether Latino voters are more likely to vote Republican if the party backs comprehensive immigration reform. Segura is also a professor of American Politics and chairman of Chicano/a Studies at Stanford University.
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Senate Passes Budget After Late-Night 'Vote-A-Rama'
It took until the wee hours of this morning, but the United States Senate has passed a budget for the first time in four years. But before senators could vote on the budget itself, they had to work their way through dozens of amendments, in a process known as vote-a-rama. Host Scott Simon talks to NPR's Tamara Keith, who was following along.
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Duane Allman: Guitar Playing That 'Gets Inside Of You'
Although he died at the young age of 24, Allman produced a legendary breadth of work. A new box set compiled by his daughter chronicles his career.
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'Leviathan': The Fishing Life, From 360 Degrees
Leviathan is a new film that's a documentary, and yet not quite a documentary. The mostly wordless art piece uses tiny cameras and dramatic soundscaping to probe the edges of human-animal interaction off the coast of New England. The filmmakers explain their unusual production process.
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Wine Revolution: As Drinkers And Growers, U.S. Declares...
Americans aren't just the world's top wine market. Increasingly, they're also producers. The number of U.S. wineries has climbed from 400 to 7,000 since the 1970s. And some of those local wines are stunning, says wine expert Jancis Robinson.
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Dyeing Chicago River Green Has History Of Trial And Error
Host Scott Simon talks to Chicago Alderman Edward Burke about the origins and challenges of the city's tradition of dyeing the river green for St. Patrick's Day.
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A Little Blue Alien Helped Hemon Bear Witness To His...
Celebrated novelist Aleksandar Hemon's first nonfiction book is a memoir of his early life in Sarajevo, his flight and acclimation to Chicago after the Bosnian War broke out, and the family tragedy that hit years after he made his new home in the U.S.
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What's Changed: From Brady Bill To Current Gun Control...
Host Scott Simon speaks with Sarah Brady about current attempts to pass gun control legislation. Brady has been active in promoting additional gun control since her husband, former presidential press secretary James Brady, was shot in the head during the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.
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Talk Of Zombies Aside, Gun Bills Face Political Reality
Legislation passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee inspired a few extreme examples for and against it. But the battle might just get tougher on the Senate floor, particularly for the proposed assault weapons ban.
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In St. Peter's Square, History Unraveled Slowly
The eyes of the world were fixed on St. Peter's Square this week as Roman Catholic cardinals elected a new pope. Host Scott Simon reflects on the rituals and the silence that followed Pope Francis's call for prayers.
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A Catholic Viewpoint: Survival Requires Orthodoxy
Host Scott Simon talks with Catholic Mary Eberstadt, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, about what she hopes to see from Pope Francis. She argues that in an increasingly secular world, orthodoxy is what will keep the church vital.
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Why 'Francis'? The New Pope Explains
Pope Francis held a press conference Saturday, addressing the thousands of journalists who have been at the Vatican to cover his election. Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Sylvia Poggioli in Rome.
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Arhoolie Records: 50 Years Of Digging For Down-Home Music
Founded by Chris Strachwitz, the California label has been recording and distributing hard-to-find blues, Cajun and Mexican-American music since the early 1960s.
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Bright Beginnings, Sad Endings In Sports News
Spring's around the corner, and baseball's back in full swing with spring training and the World Baseball Classic entering the elimination stage. While the Miami Heat have been on a tear, Grambling State just completed the opposite: a winless season at 0-28. Host Scott Simon is joined by Howard Bryant of ESPN.
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Lack Of Conscience Gets A Comeuppance In 'The Accursed'
In Joyce Carol Oates' latest novel, apparitions haunt the streets of sleepy 1905 Princeton, N.J. Oates says she wanted to explore the hypocrisy of wealthy white America in that era with her portrayal of a town where the denial of social and racial injustice produces monsters.
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Sounds Of Toronto's Streets Liven Symphony
Host Scott Simon talks to MIT professor of music and media Tod Machover about his work with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He crowdsourced street sounds gathered by local Torontonians and blended them with traditional instruments to create an orchestra.
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Despite Incredible Loss, Iraqi Refugee Thankful For Her...
Host Scott Simon talks with a 29-year-old Iraqi refugee who now lives in the U.S. She worked for the U.S. Army in Baghdad but had to flee Iraq because it was too dangerous to stay.
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Letters To My Dead Father
The father of Guffran, then a 9-year-old Iraqi girl, was gunned down in a Baghdad street in 2006 at the height of the war. She continues writing letters to him, just as she did when he was alive. Now, she lives in one room with her mother and brother. She wants to study but faces difficult odds.
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Reading The Tea Leaves Of Obama's Mideast Trip
President Obama will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas when he travels to the Middle East next week. Host Scott Simon talks with Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic and Bloomberg View about the president's upcoming trip.
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The Power Of A Father's Love Overturns His Beliefs
Knowing his son was gay prompted Republican Sen. Rob Portman to reconsider his position on same-sex marriage. NPR's Scott Simon reflects on how children can cause their parents to see issues in a new light.
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Ted Cruz: From Texas Underdog To Republican Up-And-Comer
In his short time in the Senate, Tea Party Republican Ted Cruz has already made a mark — and in doing so, he's simply ignored a tradition of new senators being seen, not heard. Cruz's sharp elbows have some colleagues wincing and others hoping he'll run for president.
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CPAC Showcases Mix Of Conservative Visions
The annual Conservative Political Action Conference wraps Saturday. NPR's Don Gonyea gives the highlights from the annual gathering of conservatives.
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Snowquester Fizzles, But We're Humbled Anyway
After Snowquester fizzled, Scott Simon muses that snow forecasts falling so flat is a sound reminder, during a time of national debate, that experts can be wrong.
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Pope News Leaks From Factious Conclave
Host Scott Simon talks with reporter and author John Thavis about the divisions among cardinals voting at the conclave to select a new pope for the Catholic Church. Thavis is the author of The Vatican Diaries.
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Sports: Keeping And Losing Winning Streaks
Basketball's Miami Heat extend their win streak by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night, but the Chicago Blackhawk's win streak was upended Friday by the Colorado Avalanche, who scored four goals in the second quarter. Host Scott Simon talks sports with NPR's Tom Goldman.
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Painter Llyn Foulkes Creates On The Fringes Of The Art...
Artist Llyn Foulkes has been an underground force on the Los Angeles art scene for more than 50 years. His work is in the permanent collections of the Whitney in New York and L.A.'s MOCA. He's won first prize at the Paris Biennale, and he's been on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, as a musician. Carolina Miranda has a profile of a very unusual man.
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Jobs Report Produces More Relief Than Celebration
The February jobs reports came in stronger than expected. Employers added 236,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent. But is the uptick in hiring likely to be sustained?
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