July 21, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

Nigeria Reaction -- NPR's Tom Gjelten reports on reactions in Nigeria and around the world to the plan for a democratic transition unveiled yesterday by the African nation's military ruler. Western nations have welcomed General Abdulsalam Abubakar's plan, which calls for elections early next year and the handover to a civilian government next May. Nigerian pro-democracy activists are wary, noting that several times in recent years military regimes have promised to step down, only to renege on their promises. (4:00)

Lockerbie Suspects -- NPR's Steve Inskeep reports that the State Department says the U.S. is exploring whether the two Libyan suspects in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 could be put on trial in a third country under Scottish law. Scotland has jurisdiction because the airliner was bombed over Scottish territory. The U.S. and Britain previously have demanded that the trial be held on American or Scottish soil; Libya has refused to extradite the suspects to either place. Rubin describes the proposal as a "take-it-or-leave it" package for Libya. Earlier today, Secretary of State Albright and National Security Adviser Sandy Berger spoke by phone with some family members of the victims. (4:00)

Bombay Lunch -- NPR's Michael Sullivan reports that in Bombay's busiest and most modern city, a colonial-era tradition somehow survives, even thrives, amid the fast-food franchises springing up on crowded streets. Every working day, at lunchtime, delivery men known as tiffin wallas arrive in downtown Bombay with homemade meals for hungry office workers. The job doesn't pay much; the hours are long, the working conditions tough, but for village men living south of the city, it's often the only work available. (7:30)

Restoration Boom -- Linda examines the surge in building restorations in New York City. Many post-World War II buildings are going through second and third rounds of repair, while some of the skyscrapers from the 1920s and 1930s are having their first major overhauls. The older buildings are constructed of thicker, more solid materials and are sturdier than some of the modern glass buildings. The International Masonry Institute in Queens is meeting the restoration demand by training construction workers specifically for restoration careers. (10:30)

'Vanitas' -- Alan Cheuse says that the new novel from Joseph Olshan contains an intriguing mix of characters and situations. It focuses on the love lives of some disparate characters, and ultimately focuses on the presence of death in life, and the possibility of restoration and rejuvenation. Note: Vanitas by Joseph Olshan is published by Simon and Schuster. (2:30)

INS and Immigrants -- NPR's Richard Gonzales reports on a Federal District Court ruling that orders the Immigration and Naturalization Service to stop stripping U.S. citizenship from immigrants it suspects may have criminal records. (4:15)

The Ticket -- Commentator Donald McCaig is grateful to a trooper who gave him a ticket. He thinks the trooper reminded him that there are rules on the road, and that the ticket made him a little more cautious while driving. Something the trooper mentioned, McCaig says, may just have saved his life. (3:15)

Heat Wave -- Noah and Linda have a roundup of news about the heat wave that's currently gripping much of the nation. (0:45)

Power Grids -- Jay Schafer of member of station KANU in Lawrence, Kansas, reports that as blistering temperatures continue in the Midwest, some utility companies, including the largest one in Kansas, are threatening to shut off power to consumers, in the form of rolling blackouts, if they don't pare down their use of electricity. (3:00)

Heat Stroke -- Noah talks with Dr. Robert Rosenthal, a professor of emergency medicine at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. They talk about the warning signs of heatstroke, and its treatment. Rosenthal says that when you feel weak in the heat, stop exercising, get to a cooler place, and drink plenty of fluids. (4:15)

Tailwind Investigation -- After a seven-week investigation, the Pentagon says there's no evidence American military ever used deadly sarin nerve gas on defectors in Laos during the Vietnam War. The Pentagon initiated its review after joint CNN and Time Magazine reports that later were repudiated by both news organizations. At a news conference today, Defense Secretary William Cohen said the Pentagon review culled findings from all branches of the military and found no evidence the gas was "ever sent to or used in Vietnam or Laos." NPR's Brooke Gladstone reports. (3:30)

Military and Adultery -- Linda talks with Charles Moskos, a professor of sociology at Northwestern University. They discuss reports that the Pentagon is considering changing its policy on adultery in the ranks. Under a proposed plan, charges would only be filed if the morale or functioning of a military unit is affected by the adulterous relationship. (4:30)

Auto Repair Etiquette -- A dilemma of the modern male is explored by commentator Bill Harley. What role does a man play when a female companion's car gets a flat tire? Should the man presume that he will do the work, or should he allow her to do it? Bill opts to be invisible in just such a situation, and wonders if he made the right choice. (3:30)

NEA Vote -- The House is debating the appropriation for the National Endowment for the Arts today. The funding is part of an Interior Department appropriations bill, and the committee that oversees Interior funding submitted the bill with NEA funding reduced to zero. But Republican moderates succeeded introducing an amendment to fund NEA at its current level. That amendment passed but NPR's Dean Olsher reports that there are concerns within the arts community that the NEA has become so compromised by years of budget-snipping and Congressional sniping that it doesn't really matter any more. Some are concerned that decisions about arts funding are being made based on political rather than aesthetic criteria. There are also concerns that artists and arts organizations could be censoring themselves before applying for grants...or simply no longer bothering to apply for funding from the NEA. (6:15)

Vitamins and Supplements -- NPR's Rebecca Perl tries to find out the truth about vitamins and supplements. Vitamins are at the core of a 12 billion dollar industry with more than 2000 products -- some of which work, and some of which don't. The latest fad, Vitamin E and Glucosamine supplements, work to alleviate arthritis symptoms for some people. (6:15)

Ozomatli -- A very multicultural collection of 11 young musicians from Los Angeles - Chicano, Japanese, black, and Jewish - calling themselves Ozomatli plays everything from Hip Hop to funk to salsa and cumbias, accompanied by Japanese drums. They're definitely very popular, and music critics say their success is largely a reflection of the city's demographics. NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports. Note: Ozomatli's records are distributed by Almo Sounds. To contact Almo, call 310-289-3080. This item is unavailable due to copyright issues.