The Spirit Of Innovation http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=155495729&ft=1&f=155495729 America's West Coast is known for taking the lead on innovation. From the tech entrepreneurs of California's Silicon Valley to restaurateurs in Tijuana, Mexico, innovators have helped to transform their communities. NPR's All Things Considered explores the frontiers of innovation on the West Coast. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:51:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif The Spirit Of Innovation http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=155495729&ft=1&f=155495729 Digital Domain Grapples With Fur, Feathers A Venice, Calif., special-effects house has cornered the market on some of the most difficult FX — from rain to the human likeness. NPR's Melissa Block visits Digital Domain's artists as they grapple with their latest challenge. Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:51:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/22/155591601/digital-domain-pins-hopes-on-things-with-feathers?ft=1&f=155495729 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/22/155591601/digital-domain-pins-hopes-on-things-with-feathers?ft=1&f=155495729 A Venice, Calif., special-effects house has cornered the market on some of the most difficult FX — from rain to the human likeness. NPR's Melissa Block visits Digital Domain's artists as they grapple with their latest challenge.

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]]> A Trailblazing Black Architect Who Helped Shape L.A. When Paul Williams decided to become an architect, people told him no white clients would work with an African-American. But he persevered, eventually designing thousands of buildings, including the Beverly Hills Hotel and homes for stars like Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball. Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:51:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/22/155442524/a-trailblazing-black-architect-who-helped-shape-l-a?ft=1&f=155495729 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/22/155442524/a-trailblazing-black-architect-who-helped-shape-l-a?ft=1&f=155495729 When Paul Williams decided to become an architect, people told him no white clients would work with an African-American. But he persevered, eventually designing thousands of buildings, including the Beverly Hills Hotel and homes for stars like Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball.

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]]> He'll Retune Your Living Room Psychoacoustic engineers like Chris Kyriakakis work to perfect the way music sounds in imperfect environments as diverse as symphony halls, your living room and your ears. Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2012/06/21/155501975/hell-retune-your-living-room?ft=1&f=155495729 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2012/06/21/155501975/hell-retune-your-living-room?ft=1&f=155495729 Psychoacoustic engineers like Chris Kyriakakis work to perfect the way music sounds in imperfect environments as diverse as symphony halls, your living room and your ears.

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]]> Seattle Forager Inspires Others To Learn About Wild, Forgotten Foods A walk in the woods isn't that different from a walk through the produce section of the supermarket for Langdon Cook, an influential Seattle forager, blogger, and home cook. He's dedicated to rekindling interest in forgotten foods. Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:43:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/06/20/155423555/seattle-forager-inspires-others-to-learn-about-wild-forgotten-foods?ft=1&f=155495729 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/06/20/155423555/seattle-forager-inspires-others-to-learn-about-wild-forgotten-foods?ft=1&f=155495729 A walk in the woods isn't that different from a walk through the produce section of the supermarket for Langdon Cook, an influential Seattle forager, blogger, and home cook. He's dedicated to rekindling interest in forgotten foods.

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]]> Failure: The F-Word Silicon Valley Loves And Hates For every revolutionary idea in Silicon Valley, there are a lot more flops. But many tech entrepreneurs and investors say failure is accepted, even welcomed, as a guide for future success. Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/19/155005546/failure-the-f-word-silicon-valley-loves-and-hates?ft=1&f=155495729 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/19/155005546/failure-the-f-word-silicon-valley-loves-and-hates?ft=1&f=155495729 For every revolutionary idea in Silicon Valley, there are a lot more flops. But many tech entrepreneurs and investors say failure is accepted, even welcomed, as a guide for future success.

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]]> Chef Tempts Tourists Back To Tijuana By Focusing On The Food Chef Javier Plascencia focuses on long-ignored local foods in his dishes. He's credited for revitalizing Baja cuisine and is trying to remake Tijuana into a restaurant town, one local plate at a time. Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:48:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/06/18/155298652/chef-tempts-tourists-back-to-tijuana-by-focusing-on-the-food?ft=1&f=155495729 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/06/18/155298652/chef-tempts-tourists-back-to-tijuana-by-focusing-on-the-food?ft=1&f=155495729 Chef Javier Plascencia focuses on long-ignored local foods in his dishes. He's credited for revitalizing Baja cuisine and is trying to remake Tijuana into a restaurant town, one local plate at a time.

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]]> You Know You Want One: Personal Robots Are Coming, But Not Ready For You Yet A Silicon Valley company hopes to make a <em>Jetsons</em>-style robot a reality in your home. But the personal robotics industry has a few hurdles to jump before you can have your own robotic maid. Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:18:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2012/06/18/155278207/you-know-you-want-one-personal-robots-not-ready-for-you-yet?ft=1&f=155495729 http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2012/06/18/155278207/you-know-you-want-one-personal-robots-not-ready-for-you-yet?ft=1&f=155495729 A Silicon Valley company hopes to make a Jetsons-style robot a reality in your home. But the personal robotics industry has a few hurdles to jump before you can have your own robotic maid.

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