May 11, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

The Merger Trend -- All Things Considered host Robert Siegel talks with Mark Sirower, an assistant professor of Management and Organizational Behavior at the Stern School of Business at New York University. Sirower has been examining mergers and acquisitions, and talks about the success and failure rates of past merger deals. Mark Sirower's book The Synergy Trap is published by Simon and Schuster. (5:00)

Postal Rate Increase -- Today, the Postal Rate Commission agreed to a post office request to raise the price of stamps by one cent - to 33 cents. With the help of James Brunns of the Smithsonian Institution, we examine the history of postal rate hikes. (1:30)

Night School -- In Denver, educators say students in the Sundown Night School are doing better now that they don't come to class half-asleep. The school begins its classes in the afternoon and the final bell of the day isn't until nine o'clock at night. Colorado Public Radio reporter Dan Drayer has the story. (5:00)

Students and Protests -- Commentator Guy Raz says that the nature of youth activism has changed since the radical "May Days" of Paris, 30 years ago. Youth protests are now less politicized and less violent -- but are still effective. (3:00)

The Summit That Wasn't -- Ignoring its own deadline set for a Washington summit on Middle East peace this week, the United States says it will continue talking to Israel about its compromise plan to restart the stalled peace process. NPR's Ted Clark reports. (4:30)

Middle East Numbers -- Robert talks with Robert Satloff, the executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. They discuss the difference between what Americans want the Israelis to agree to in a Mideast peace agreement, and what the Israelis appear to be willing to do. Right now, Americans want Israelis to give up 4 percent more land to Palestinian control than they are interested in handing over. Satloff says that the land under discussion does not include Israeli settlements in the West Bank territory, but ceding this land could isolate those settlements that are already there. (5:00)

Shuttle Diplomacy -- NPR Senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that while high-profile figures have tried to bring peace to troubled regions, it is often the lower-profile figures who get the job done. From the Middle East to the Balkans, it's the Dennis Rosses and Richard Holbrookes who, time and again, seem to get results. (3:00)

Atlanta Church -- Melissa Gray of Peach State Public Radio reports on how shifting demographics has changed the face of religion -- at least in one suburban Atlanta church. Thirty years ago, Clarkston United Methodist had a white congregation and a male minister. Led today by a woman pastor, Clarkston's membership is a patchwork of colors, languages, and national origins. Old-timers concede that the newcomers are the reason the church survives. (7:00)

India Tests Nuclear Devices -- Edmund Roy reports that India's new conservative government today unexpectedly announced that it had conducted three underground nuclear tests, the first such tests since 1974. The response in capitals around the world was predictable, given on-going tensions between India and two neighbors, Pakistan and China. The Clinton Administration said it was deeply disappointed, and Pakistan's foreign minister has called on the international community to impose sanctions against India. (3:30)

Asia Proliferation -- All Things Considered host Noah Adams talks with David Albright, a physicist and president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, D.C. They discuss the news that India conducted three underground nuclear explosions today. It's been 24 years since India's first nuclear explosion test in 1974. They talk about what this means for geopolitical relations in South Asia, the political aftermath of these nuclear tests, and the status of Asian nuclear proliferation. (4:30)

Philippines Election -- Robert talks with Justin Marozzi, a correspondent for the Financial Times, about the elections taking place today in the Philippines. Official results won't be known for another two weeks or so, but opinion polls indicate that Vice-President Joseph Estrada will win the presidency. (3:30)

Clio Awards -- NPR's Cheryl Corley reports from Chicago on the Clio Awards competition for the best radio commercials. The TV Clios get a prime-time showing every year, while little attention is paid to the radio commercial category. But in the advertising world, radio spots are taken just as seriously as TV ads. The Clio Awards will be given out later this week. (6:00)

Ridenhour Obituary -- Ronald Ridenhour was an investigative journalist and Vietnam veteran, who first disclosed the details of the massacre at My Lai, where U.S. Army troops gunned down at least 300 unarmed Vietnamese civilians, on March 16, 1968. Ridenhour died of a heart attack on Sunday at the age of 52 in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, Louisiana. (1:45)

Aircraft Inspections -- NPR's Larry Abramson reports from Washington on the Federal Aviation Administration's order to ground all older Boeing 737 jetliners to inspect wiring that could cause a fire or explosion. Some problems with the airplanes have been found, but there have been no consequential delays at airports. (3:30)

Foreign Fruits -- NPR's John Nielsen reports on a government study that takes the nation's food safety apparatus to task for failing to screen imported vegetables and fruit for harmful pathogens. The government's Food and Drug Administration says the report overlooks the difficulty to requiring foreign countries to upgrade their inspection systems. The issue has become more urgent as the amount of imported fruits and vegetables increases in the U.S. (4:00)

Foie Gras -- The quintessentially French delicacy foie gras is growing in popularity in America. And chances are, it doesn't come from France - but from a farm in upstate New York. Lisa Glazer reports. (5:00)