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. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Wed, 22 May 2013 12:25:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Commentary http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1060&ft=1&f=1060 The Inevitable Question? Confronted with the amazing advances made by science, why do so many still cling to God as a creator? Could the answer be that we need to be created in order to be special? Or are we afraid of our own unique place in the Universe? Marcelo Gleiser knows what he thinks. Wed, 22 May 2013 12:25:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/21/185764521/the-inevitable-question?ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/21/185764521/the-inevitable-question?ft=1&f=1060 Confronted with the amazing advances made by science, why do so many still cling to God as a creator? Could the answer be that we need to be created in order to be special? Or are we afraid of our own unique place in the Universe? Marcelo Gleiser knows what he thinks.

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]]> Let's Get Creative And Redefine The Meaning Of Religion Religion is often organized in terms of a god, or gods. It's a system of beliefs embodied in a being or beings. But that's not always the case. It can mean more, a lot more, says Adam Frank after finding inspiration in the writing of Ronald Dworkin. Tue, 21 May 2013 14:56:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/21/185767142/lets-get-creative-and-redefine-the-meaning-of-religion?ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/21/185767142/lets-get-creative-and-redefine-the-meaning-of-religion?ft=1&f=1060 Religion is often organized in terms of a god, or gods. It's a system of beliefs embodied in a being or beings. But that's not always the case. It can mean more, a lot more, says Adam Frank after finding inspiration in the writing of Ronald Dworkin.

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]]> Black In America: A Story Rendered In Gray Scale Chimamanda Adichie's <em>Americanah</em> is about a young Nigerian woman who moves to the U.S. It's a story of relocation, far-flung love and life as an outsider. But reviewer Rosecrans Baldwin says that despite the author's talent, much of the storytelling feels flat. <em> </em> Tue, 14 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/183662205/black-in-america-a-story-rendered-in-grayscale?ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/183662205/black-in-america-a-story-rendered-in-grayscale?ft=1&f=1060 Chimamanda Adichie's Americanah is about a young Nigerian woman who moves to the U.S. It's a story of relocation, far-flung love and life as an outsider. But reviewer Rosecrans Baldwin says that despite the author's talent, much of the storytelling feels flat.

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]]> 'Cheating' Can Be An Effective Learning Strategy It's the end of the academic year and students everywhere are taking tests. What for? Commentator Tania Lombrozo suggests we should shift our focus from testing for <em>assessment</em> to testing for <em>learning</em>. Mon, 20 May 2013 11:19:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/20/185131239/cheating-can-be-an-effective-learning-strategy?ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/20/185131239/cheating-can-be-an-effective-learning-strategy?ft=1&f=1060 It's the end of the academic year and students everywhere are taking tests. What for? Commentator Tania Lombrozo suggests we should shift our focus from testing for assessment to testing for learning.

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]]> Ghost Ships, Murders, Bird Attacks: Stories To Keep You Awake Author Ethan Rutherford started reading Daphne du Maurier's collection of stories, <em>Don't Look Now, </em>while it was still light out and didn't move from his chair until dark. Each one features characters who endure the strange and the extreme, and who are forever changed by the events that befall them. Sun, 19 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/177638074/ghost-ships-murders-bird-attacks-stories-to-keep-you-awake?ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/177638074/ghost-ships-murders-bird-attacks-stories-to-keep-you-awake?ft=1&f=1060 Author Ethan Rutherford started reading Daphne du Maurier's collection of stories, Don't Look Now, while it was still light out and didn't move from his chair until dark. Each one features characters who endure the strange and the extreme, and who are forever changed by the events that befall them.

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]]> She Works: Standing Up And Speaking Out For our series on the Changing Lives of Women, we're asking NPR women about their careers — and inviting you to join the conversation. We asked <em>Weekend Edition</em> host Rachel Martin to recall an instance where she stood up to stand out. Sun, 19 May 2013 00:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184358614/she-works-standing-up-and-speaking-out?ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184358614/she-works-standing-up-and-speaking-out?ft=1&f=1060 For our series on the Changing Lives of Women, we're asking NPR women about their careers — and inviting you to join the conversation. We asked Weekend Edition host Rachel Martin to recall an instance where she stood up to stand out.

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]]> 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=1060 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/184821421/astronaut-chris-hadfields-most-excellent-adventure?ft=1&f=1060 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=1060 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/175473811/author-elliott-holt-says-go-west-young-woman?ft=1&f=1060 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=1060 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184845124&ft=1&f=1060 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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]]> 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=1060 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/17/184254149/the-mutable-meanings-of-music?ft=1&f=1060 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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]]> Kiss In 'Bombay Talkies' Breaks New Ground In Bollywood To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Indian cinema, four famous Bollywood directors have made an anthology movie, <em>Bombay Talkies</em>. Commentator Sandip Roy says one of the shorts is pretty revolutionary because it has a gay protagonist, and what is probably Bollywood's first gay kiss. Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184700654/kiss-in-bombay-talkies-breaks-new-ground-in-bollywood?ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184700654/kiss-in-bombay-talkies-breaks-new-ground-in-bollywood?ft=1&f=1060 To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Indian cinema, four famous Bollywood directors have made an anthology movie, Bombay Talkies. Commentator Sandip Roy says one of the shorts is pretty revolutionary because it has a gay protagonist, and what is probably Bollywood's first gay kiss.

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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=1060 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/16/184252284/facing-cancer-with-a-robot-surgeon-on-my-team?ft=1&f=1060 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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]]> For The Love Of Science: A Call To Action Improvements in science education can take many forms. Commentator Marcelo Gleiser says that one of the easiest and most rewarding is to simply put real research scientists in front of students. A few volunteer hours from a scientist can change how a student sees the world forever. Wed, 15 May 2013 11:45:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/15/184165158/for-the-love-of-science-a-call-to-action?ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/15/184165158/for-the-love-of-science-a-call-to-action?ft=1&f=1060 Improvements in science education can take many forms. Commentator Marcelo Gleiser says that one of the easiest and most rewarding is to simply put real research scientists in front of students. A few volunteer hours from a scientist can change how a student sees the world forever.

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]]> No. 1s: The Latest Greatest Of All Time The NBA will soon crown another team as the best. And another MVP will be named. But commentator Frank Deford says such titles of greatness are fleeting. Wed, 15 May 2013 03:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/183934665/no-1s-the-latest-greatest-of-all-time?ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/183934665/no-1s-the-latest-greatest-of-all-time?ft=1&f=1060 The NBA will soon crown another team as the best. And another MVP will be named. But commentator Frank Deford says such titles of greatness are fleeting.

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]]> Noir Through Space And Time Dark detective tales never get old. It's the same old story every time, even when events take place off world and the people are nothing more than machines. It's a form we love to relive and revive with every generation, says commentator Adam Frank. Tue, 14 May 2013 14:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/14/183898522/noir-through-space-and-time?ft=1&f=1060 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/14/183898522/noir-through-space-and-time?ft=1&f=1060 Dark detective tales never get old. It's the same old story every time, even when events take place off world and the people are nothing more than machines. It's a form we love to relive and revive with every generation, says commentator Adam Frank.

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