NPR Topics: Commentary http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1060&ft=1&f=1060 NPR's acclaimed commentary on news, politics, and sports. Subscribe to RSS news feeds and podcasts. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Commentary http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1060&ft=1&f=1060 Rolling The Dice On Mammograms Every 1,900 screenings for women in their 40s produces just one case in which cancer is discovered. But what if you're the one? Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120645754&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120645754&ft=1&f=1060 Every 1,900 screenings for women in their 40s produces just one case in which cancer is discovered. But what if you're the one?

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]]> Bon Jovi Doesn't Need A Prayer To Make It On NBC Bon Jovi is at the top of the album charts this week, riding an unprecedented publicity push. His record label struck a deal with the conglomerate NBC Universal for an exclusive presence on their many TV networks, including appearances on <em>Today</em>, <em>Inside the Actors Studio</em> and <em>The Tonight Show</em>. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120624326&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120624326&ft=1&f=1060 Bon Jovi is at the top of the album charts this week, riding an unprecedented publicity push. His record label struck a deal with the conglomerate NBC Universal for an exclusive presence on their many TV networks, including appearances on Today, Inside the Actors Studio and The Tonight Show.

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]]> The National Review: End It, Don't Amend It! With trillions of dollars on the line — along with the excellence of our health care and the energy of our economy — Americans’ eyes must turn to Sen. Blanche Lincoln, who has the opportunity to stop the health care reform bill from going to the Senate floor for advancement. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:57:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120605645&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120605645&ft=1&f=1060 With trillions of dollars on the line — along with the excellence of our health care and the energy of our economy — Americans’ eyes must turn to Sen. Blanche Lincoln, who has the opportunity to stop the health care reform bill from going to the Senate floor for advancement.

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]]> The Nation: Beyond Coal And Copenhagen The world needs the United States to play a constructive role in leading a climate change revolution. But despite powerful voices like those of Al Gore and 350.org founder Bill McKibben, our public discussion has been warped by coal and oil industry-funded "climate skeptics. What do we do? Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:44:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120605488&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120605488&ft=1&f=1060 The world needs the United States to play a constructive role in leading a climate change revolution. But despite powerful voices like those of Al Gore and 350.org founder Bill McKibben, our public discussion has been warped by coal and oil industry-funded "climate skeptics. What do we do?

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]]> The New Republic: Cities Get Tough On Budget Crisis With nearly nine in 10 city finance officers reporting a declining ability to meet local fiscal needs, city budget officers across America are projecting nearly a 3 percent average budget shortfall in 2009, and much deeper shortfalls in 2010 and 2011. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:28:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120605082&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120605082&ft=1&f=1060 With nearly nine in 10 city finance officers reporting a declining ability to meet local fiscal needs, city budget officers across America are projecting nearly a 3 percent average budget shortfall in 2009, and much deeper shortfalls in 2010 and 2011.

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]]> Foreign Policy: Redefining The Political Power Couple The Washington "power couple" is a familiar model: officials are often hitched to journalists, staffers to academics, lawmakers with lobbyists, etc. But in what is much less common, a husband-and-wife team is set to represent the United States as ambassadors in adjoining European countries. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120604961&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120604961&ft=1&f=1060 The Washington "power couple" is a familiar model: officials are often hitched to journalists, staffers to academics, lawmakers with lobbyists, etc. But in what is much less common, a husband-and-wife team is set to represent the United States as ambassadors in adjoining European countries.

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]]> A Son's Premonition, And A Final Baseball Game Dr. Gregg and Kathryn Korbon tell the story of the Brian C. Korbon Field in Charlottesville, Va., named in honor of their son. Before his ninth birthday, Brian told his parents he wouldn't make it to his "double digits." He died months later. "That's what he was trying to tell us all that time," Kathryn recalls. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:21:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120580047&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120580047&ft=1&f=1060 Dr. Gregg and Kathryn Korbon tell the story of the Brian C. Korbon Field in Charlottesville, Va., named in honor of their son. Before his ninth birthday, Brian told his parents he wouldn't make it to his "double digits." He died months later. "That's what he was trying to tell us all that time," Kathryn recalls.

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]]> As You Age, Time Turns Off The Lights Commentator Andrei Codrescu says bulbs have been dimming, and he's not talking about flower bulbs. It's more like time has been putting out lights. He says when you're 20, you think the future is so bright you're immortal and you need sunglasses. But when you're 60, he says, you're looking forward to retiring and getting to that martini beach in the neon light you can't see your wrinkles by. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120583680&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120583680&ft=1&f=1060 Commentator Andrei Codrescu says bulbs have been dimming, and he's not talking about flower bulbs. It's more like time has been putting out lights. He says when you're 20, you think the future is so bright you're immortal and you need sunglasses. But when you're 60, he says, you're looking forward to retiring and getting to that martini beach in the neon light you can't see your wrinkles by.

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]]> Is The Postal Service Writing Off Santa? The Postal Service has put strict limits on a volunteer program that answers letters to Santa, citing a scare over a registered sex offender. Bah, humbug! As a nation and a people, must we continue to burn down the haystack because we fear we might step on a needle? Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:37:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120581846&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120581846&ft=1&f=1060 The Postal Service has put strict limits on a volunteer program that answers letters to Santa, citing a scare over a registered sex offender. Bah, humbug! As a nation and a people, must we continue to burn down the haystack because we fear we might step on a needle?

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]]> A New Mark Fiore Animation: "KSM PDQ" <strong>Watch now!</strong> It's time for the 'Terrorist Lockup: Tough or Wuss' edition! Mark Fiore created this animation. The Wall Street Journal dubbed him "the undisputed guru of the form." He creates political animation from an undisclosed location somewhere in San Francisco. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:54:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120564859&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120564859&ft=1&f=1060 Watch now! It's time for the 'Terrorist Lockup: Tough or Wuss' edition! Mark Fiore created this animation. The Wall Street Journal dubbed him "the undisputed guru of the form." He creates political animation from an undisclosed location somewhere in San Francisco.

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]]> The National Review: The Right Role For Sarah Palin Rather than just serve as a new messenger for a time-tested message, Palin could weave together social and economic strands by advancing family-friendly reforms. It might not be as satisfying as running for president, but it suits her strengths. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:44:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120564758&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120564758&ft=1&f=1060 Rather than just serve as a new messenger for a time-tested message, Palin could weave together social and economic strands by advancing family-friendly reforms. It might not be as satisfying as running for president, but it suits her strengths.

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]]> The Nation: Charitable Capitalism If Wall Street wants to win back public respect, there is a more substantial gift it can make that does not involve money. Goldman Sachs and the other banking behemoths can take their foot off the Congress and free servile politicians to enact true financial reforms. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:37:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120564604&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120564604&ft=1&f=1060 If Wall Street wants to win back public respect, there is a more substantial gift it can make that does not involve money. Goldman Sachs and the other banking behemoths can take their foot off the Congress and free servile politicians to enact true financial reforms.

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]]> Foreign Policy: What Would George C. Marshall Do? If retired generals are going to do mentoring in the defense industry, they should do it for free, as an act of patriotism and gratitude. Otherwise it looks like a racket of insiders spreading the wealth around other insiders. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:27:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120564569&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120564569&ft=1&f=1060 If retired generals are going to do mentoring in the defense industry, they should do it for free, as an act of patriotism and gratitude. Otherwise it looks like a racket of insiders spreading the wealth around other insiders.

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]]> The New Republic: Combating Climate For The Ladies Is climate change gender-neutral? Not according to the U.N. Population Fund, which earlier Wednesday released a report arguing that women suffer disproportionately from the impacts of global warming. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:18:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120564477&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120564477&ft=1&f=1060 Is climate change gender-neutral? Not according to the U.N. Population Fund, which earlier Wednesday released a report arguing that women suffer disproportionately from the impacts of global warming.

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]]> Was Internet Complicit In Fort Hood Shooting? From what is publicly known about Maj. Nidal Hasan, accused of killing 13 in a rampage at Fort Hood, he had no accomplice &mdash; unless you count the Internet in which he communed, exchanging sinister thoughts with an extremist cleric. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545573&ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545573&ft=1&f=1060 From what is publicly known about Maj. Nidal Hasan, accused of killing 13 in a rampage at Fort Hood, he had no accomplice — unless you count the Internet in which he communed, exchanging sinister thoughts with an extremist cleric.

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