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Politics
2:24 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

The Public Respects Civility, But Rewards Rudeness

Middle East
2:10 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

The State Of Syria: Civil War Or Vicious Stalemate?

Originally published on Thu January 26, 2012 5:40 pm

One thing that's certain about the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad is that there is nothing romantic about it.

Unlike Egypt, there's no Tahrir Square filled with hundreds of thousands of people calling for democracy. Unlike Libya, there's no Mad Max warriors in the desert fighting a dictator with guns they've welded to the backs of their pickup trucks.

Instead, grim news seeps out piecemeal from unofficial sources. Most of the reports are little more than body counts, with most of the fatalities blamed on the Syrian security forces.

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Shots - Health Blog
2:09 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

Working Long Hours Can Be Depressing, Truly

Credit iStockphoto.com
Working long hours may get you more than a paycheck.

Putting in a lot of of overtime can make a person more vulnerable to depression.

You might have guessed that. But now there are some hard numbers, thanks to a study that tracked the health of civil service workers in Great Britain.

People who worked 11 hours a day or more than doubled their risk of major depression, compared to colleagues putting in eight hours a day.

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The Two-Way
2:09 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

To Shrink Budget, Pentagon Proposes Cutting 100,000 Ground Troops

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that the the Pentagon will propose a $33 billion cut in the military's budget, for the 2013 fiscal year.

The AP reports that will be achieved by reducing ground forces by 100,000 and by eliminating older aircraft.

The AP reports:

"Defense Secretary Leon Panetta tells a Pentagon news conference the administration will request a 2013 budget of $525 billion, plus another $88 billion for operations in Afghanistan. Combined, those totals are about $33 billion less than the Pentagon is spending this year.

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The Two-Way
2:05 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

At Penn State: Memorial Service Under Way For Joe Paterno

An estimated 10,000 people are expected this hour at a memorial service for former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, on the school's campus in the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Big Ten Digital Network is among several outlets that will be webcasting the service.

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The Salt
2:04 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

Gardening Map Of Warming U.S. Has Plant Zones Moving North

It's official: Gardeners and farmers can count on warmer weather. If that's you, it might be a good time to rethink those flower and vegetable beds for this year's growing season.

That's the word from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which released a new version of its "Plant Hardiness Zone Map" this week, the first update since 1990. The color-coded zones on this map of the United States are widely used as a guide for what perennial flowers will survive in a particular area, or when to plant your vegetables.

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NPR Story
2:02 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

In 'Shoot My Man,' Mosley Tells Tale of Atonement

Credit David Burr /
Walter Mosley is also the author of The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey.

Best-selling author Walter Mosley's book All I Did Was Shoot My Man tells the story of a woman trying to get her life back on track after serving an eight-year prison sentence. Leonid McGill, a private investigator, knows she is innocent and tries to help her start over.

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NPR Story
1:54 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

A Guide To An Insanity-Free, 'Practical Wedding'

When planning a wedding, couples must make scores of important decisions — from whom to invite to how to pay for it. Even the hardiest of partners can feel a little lost. Author Meg Keene's new book focuses on the meaning of marriage, at least as much as flowers and cake.

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The Two-Way
1:30 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

Chávez's Daughter Poses With Dollar Bills, Unleashes Anger, Internet Meme

Originally published on Fri January 27, 2012 9:55 am

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is known for railing against U.S. capitalism. And it's not just talk. Since 2003, his government has made it very hard for Venezuelans to trade foreign currency.

So you can just imagine the uproar in the country when his 14-year-old daughter Rosinés Chávez published a picture of herself covering half her face with a wad of dollar bills.

The Guardian reports:

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Africa
1:00 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

Violence Compounds Problems In Nigeria

Increased violence by the radical Islamist group Boko Haram threatens to ignite a wider Muslim-Christian conflict in Nigeria. Africa's most populous country also continues to face persistent problems with the economy and corruption.

Economy
1:00 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

Grandpa, Mom and Baby, Too — All Under One Roof

As baby boomers age and young people struggle to find work, more families than ever before are choosing to pool resources by moving in together. The economic downturn accelerated this already growing national trend toward multiple generations living under the same roof.

Shots - Health Blog
12:36 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

Home Births Grow More Popular In U.S.

Credit Amanda Steen / NPR
Shannon Earle holds her new baby Kiera Breen Earle, moments after she was born at their home last year.

The number of women delivering babies at home in the United States has increased significantly, according to the latest government data released Thursday.

Home births increased by 29 percent between 2004 and 2009.

The upward trend is being welcomed by some advocates of home births and midwives, but it's also raising concern among some doctors.

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Presidential Race
12:18 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

The Baffling, Befuddling Primary Season

It was so clear for a moment: Mitt Romney was in the lead in the presidential nomination race. Newt Gingrich was a distant second. Rick Santorum — the youthful candidate — was appealing to the socially conservative voters. And Ron Paul was hanging on.

Then things got weird.

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Election 2012
12:00 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

Republicans Fight For The Latino Vote

More than 4.2 million Latinos live in the Sunshine State, and that population is in the spotlight as Republican presidential candidates battle to win Florida's upcoming primary. Host Michel Martin discusses this crucial voting bloc with Gary Segura of Latino Decisions, and the Associated Press's Hispanic Affairs reporter Laura Wides-Munoz.

Around the Nation
12:00 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

American Parents, Chinese Kids Kick Off New Year

People around the world are celebrating Chinese New Year. But for American families with adopted Chinese children the holiday can be a chance to learn about Chinese culture. Host Michel Martin speaks with David Youtz, father of four adopted Chinese daughters, and his oldest daughter Sophie.

National Security
11:48 am
Thu January 26, 2012

In Somalia Rescue, Obama Again Turns To Elite Unit

President Obama sent a U.S. Navy SEAL team to rescue an American woman and a Danish man held hostage in Somalia, part of a pattern for a commander- in-chief who has shown a clear preference for limited, small-scale military operations.

Obama has authorized several risky missions in the past year and can point to major successes: the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, the air strike that killed terror suspect Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen and the ongoing drone strikes in Pakistan.

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Music Reviews
11:46 am
Thu January 26, 2012

Jimmy Owens Navigates Monk's 'Brilliant Corners'

Credit Stephanie Myers
Jimmy Owens mostly dresses Monk's tunes for uptown wear — Monk the Harlem jam session swinger.

In 1974, trumpeter Jimmy Owens helped prepare and played on a Carnegie Hall concert of Thelonious Monk's music. On the night in question, the orchestra had a surprise soloist: Monk himself. It was one of the pianist's last public performances.

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Author Interviews
11:39 am
Thu January 26, 2012

Was The Stimulus Package 'Money Well Spent?'

Originally published on Thu January 26, 2012 1:39 pm

No issue will be more important in the upcoming presidential election than President Obama's handling of the nation's economy. Critical to that debate is an assessment of the Obama administration's economic stimulus program. Republicans claim it was a costly failure. Supporters maintain it saved the U.S. from a depression.

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The Two-Way
11:29 am
Thu January 26, 2012

Judge Tosses Conviction Of Texas Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Infant

Credit Courtesy of Frontline
Ernie Lopez is serving a 60-year prison sentence for a crime he, and medical experts, say he didn't commit.

Originally published on Fri January 27, 2012 11:30 am

A Texas man whose conviction for sexually assaulting a 6-month-old girl raised questions about the science behind determining how children die has won a key legal battle. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday threw out the conviction of Ernie Lopez, ruling that the Amarillo man's original attorneys failed him by not calling potentially important medical experts as witnesses.

Now the Amarillo district attorney must decide whether to retry Lopez, who has been in prison for nine years. Lopez is serving a 60-year sentence.

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Movie Reviews
11:23 am
Thu January 26, 2012

In 'Albert Nobbs,' Glenn Close Does More Than Pass

Credit Patrick Redmond / Roadside Attractions
Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) and Helen (Mia Wasikowska) go on a serious of ludicrously awkward dates in Albert Nobbs, a film based on a 1918 George Moore story.

As Albert Nobbs, Glenn Close has hair that's cropped and orangey, and a voice that rarely rises above a nasal croak. She lives and works as a waiter in a high-toned hotel, where she stands with lips pressed together, tight yet tremulous, her searching eyes her only naturally moving parts. She resembles no man I've seen, but no woman, either. She's the personification of fear — fear of being discovered to be a woman. Because hers is a society that treats all poor people badly, but poor women worse.

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