Opinion http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1057&ft=1&f=1057 Editorial opinions and commentary on news events and world events. Download podcasts and subscribe to RSS feeds. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sat, 18 May 2013 05:13:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Opinion http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1057&ft=1&f=1057 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. Sat, 18 May 2013 05:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/184821421/astronaut-chris-hadfields-most-excellent-adventure?ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/184821421/astronaut-chris-hadfields-most-excellent-adventure?ft=1&f=1057 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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]]> Author Elliott Holt Says: 'Go West, Young Woman' In this Q&A, author Elliott Holt<em> </em>discusses her six favorite novels about expatriates. She also talks about what it's like to be in your 20s, and the importance of travel and exploration. Sat, 18 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/175473811/author-elliott-holt-says-go-west-young-woman?ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/175473811/author-elliott-holt-says-go-west-young-woman?ft=1&f=1057 In this Q&A, author Elliott Holt discusses her six favorite novels about expatriates. She also talks about what it's like to be in your 20s, and the importance of travel and exploration.

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]]> Week In Politics: IRS, Benghazi Emails, AP Phone Logs Audie Cornish speaks with political commentators E.J. Dionne of <em>The Washington Post</em> and Brookings Institution and David Brooks of <em>The New York Times</em>. They discuss controversial IRS audits, the release of White House emails on Benghazi talking points and the Justice Department's seizure of AP phone logs. Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184845124&ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184845124&ft=1&f=1057 Audie Cornish speaks with political commentators E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post and Brookings Institution and David Brooks of The New York Times. They discuss controversial IRS audits, the release of White House emails on Benghazi talking points and the Justice Department's seizure of AP phone logs.

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]]> Could The President's Week Get Any Worse? From scandals involving the IRS, to spirited Benghazi hearings, it's been a tough week for the Obama administration. But will this bad week really have further political fallout? Guest host Celeste Headlee checks in with the barbershop guys. Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184775462&ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184775462&ft=1&f=1057 From scandals involving the IRS, to spirited Benghazi hearings, it's been a tough week for the Obama administration. But will this bad week really have further political fallout? Guest host Celeste Headlee checks in with the barbershop guys.

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]]> The Mutable Meanings Of Music Songs, like all art, can take on a life of their own once they are thrust into the public domain. Their meanings can shift substantially, something commentator Alva Noë experienced recently during a school music recital. Fri, 17 May 2013 10:45:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/17/184254149/the-mutable-meanings-of-music?ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/17/184254149/the-mutable-meanings-of-music?ft=1&f=1057 Songs, like all art, can take on a life of their own once they are thrust into the public domain. Their meanings can shift substantially, something commentator Alva Noë experienced recently during a school music recital.

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]]> Pop Culture Happy Hour: Cancellation Blues And Cultural Etiquette On this week's show, we talk about grieving and fighting when shows are canceled, we come up with some rules of engagement when it comes to good manners and culture, and we talk about what's making us happy this week. Fri, 17 May 2013 10:24:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/17/184754561/pop-culture-happy-hour-cancellation-blues-and-cultural-etiquette?ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/17/184754561/pop-culture-happy-hour-cancellation-blues-and-cultural-etiquette?ft=1&f=1057 On this week's show, we talk about grieving and fighting when shows are canceled, we come up with some rules of engagement when it comes to good manners and culture, and we talk about what's making us happy this week.

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]]> What Did I Do Last Summer? Oh, I Discovered How To Make Babies Without Sex. And You? Sex is nice, but can animals make babies without it? One summer, two little boys, their tutor and the tutor's two friends did an experiment to explore this question. What they discovered, back in 1740, shocked the world. Fri, 17 May 2013 09:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/05/16/184593276/what-did-i-do-last-summer-oh-i-discovered-how-to-make-babies-without-sex-and-you?ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/05/16/184593276/what-did-i-do-last-summer-oh-i-discovered-how-to-make-babies-without-sex-and-you?ft=1&f=1057 Sex is nice, but can animals make babies without it? One summer, two little boys, their tutor and the tutor's two friends did an experiment to explore this question. What they discovered, back in 1740, shocked the world.

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]]> Notes On A 'Scandal': Fitz Is The Most Dumpable Man On Television Viewers of <em>Scandal</em> know that Fitz is the worst. But do they know why? We do. Fri, 17 May 2013 08:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/17/184736847/notes-on-a-scandal-fitz-is-the-most-dumpable-man-on-television?ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/17/184736847/notes-on-a-scandal-fitz-is-the-most-dumpable-man-on-television?ft=1&f=1057 Viewers of Scandal know that Fitz is the worst. But do they know why? We do.

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]]> A Gift Of Life And Friendship After A Family's Loss In February 2007, Rick Bounds was diagnosed with a serious liver disease and given eight months to live. Fri, 17 May 2013 03:06:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184478282/a-gift-of-life-and-friendship-after-a-familys-loss?ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184478282/a-gift-of-life-and-friendship-after-a-familys-loss?ft=1&f=1057 In February 2007, Rick Bounds was diagnosed with a serious liver disease and given eight months to live.

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]]> 'Pieta': Suffering Toward ... Redemption? Controversial Korean auteur Kim Ki-duk (<em>The Isle</em>) turns in a meditation on cruelty, criminality, mortality and grace.<em><em><strong> (Recommended)</strong></em></em> Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183724912/pieta-suffering-toward-redemption?ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183724912/pieta-suffering-toward-redemption?ft=1&f=1057 Controversial Korean auteur Kim Ki-duk (The Isle) turns in a meditation on cruelty, criminality, mortality and grace. (Recommended)

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]]> 'Re-Emerging': In Nigeria, A People Finds A Faith Jeff L. Lieberman's documentary explores the story of 30,000 Nigerians who claim a Jewish heritage dating back centuries — and who have carved out a singular culture amid the post-colonial turmoil that still affects their country. Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183725132/re-emerging-in-nigeria-a-people-finds-a-faith?ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183725132/re-emerging-in-nigeria-a-people-finds-a-faith?ft=1&f=1057 Jeff L. Lieberman's documentary explores the story of 30,000 Nigerians who claim a Jewish heritage dating back centuries — and who have carved out a singular culture amid the post-colonial turmoil that still affects their country.

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]]> Letters: Inspiration Behind 'I Drive Your Truck' Melissa Block and Audie Cornish read emails from listeners about the true story that inspired the hit country song, "I Drive Your Truck." Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184559293&ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184559293&ft=1&f=1057 Melissa Block and Audie Cornish read emails from listeners about the true story that inspired the hit country song, "I Drive Your Truck."

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]]> Facing Cancer, With A Robot Surgeon By My Side Robot-assisted surgeries have changed the medical landscape for patients with certain diagnoses, including some types of cancer. Commentator Barbara J. King looks forward to meeting her robot surgeon next week and getting the job done. Thu, 16 May 2013 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/16/184252284/facing-cancer-with-a-robot-surgeon-on-my-team?ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/16/184252284/facing-cancer-with-a-robot-surgeon-on-my-team?ft=1&f=1057 Robot-assisted surgeries have changed the medical landscape for patients with certain diagnoses, including some types of cancer. Commentator Barbara J. King looks forward to meeting her robot surgeon next week and getting the job done.

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]]> A Farewell To 'The Office': The 10 Best Episodes As <em>The Office</em> reaches its end, we look at 10 favorite episodes. Thu, 16 May 2013 12:39:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/16/184506021/a-farewell-to-the-office-the-10-best-episodes?ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/16/184506021/a-farewell-to-the-office-the-10-best-episodes?ft=1&f=1057 As The Office reaches its end, we look at 10 favorite episodes.

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]]> Breast Cancer, Risk And Women's Imperfect Choices When Angelina Jolie went public about her preventive mastectomy, women who have struggled with the same tough choices spoke out about the dilemmas of medical choice. Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184188710/breast-cancer-risk-and-womens-imperfect-choices?ft=1&f=1057 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184188710/breast-cancer-risk-and-womens-imperfect-choices?ft=1&f=1057 When Angelina Jolie went public about her preventive mastectomy, women who have struggled with the same tough choices spoke out about the dilemmas of medical choice.

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