NPR Programs: Talk of the Nation http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5&ft=1&f=5 Journalist Neal Conan leads a productive exchange of ideas and opinions on the issues that dominate the news landscape. From politics and public service to education, religion, music and healthcare, Talk of the Nation offers call-in listeners the opportunity to join enlightening discussions with decision-makers, authors, academicians and artists from around the world. en Copyright 2010 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Talk of the Nation http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5&ft=1&f=5 Many Americans Working Harder For Less Unemployment continues to hover above 9 percent. But for the 90 percent of the U.S. workforce with jobs, the recession's impact on paychecks is a mixed bag. Fewer co-workers can mean more hours for some, but for others, a cut in pay or perks. Reporters Steven Greenhouse and magazine editor Lamar Graham discuss the state of the American paycheck. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129682977&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129682977&ft=1&f=5 Unemployment continues to hover above 9 percent. But for the 90 percent of the U.S. workforce with jobs, the recession's impact on paychecks is a mixed bag. Fewer co-workers can mean more hours for some, but for others, a cut in pay or perks. Reporters Steven Greenhouse and magazine editor Lamar Graham discuss the state of the American paycheck.

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]]> Op-Ed: DEA Call For Ebonics Experts Smart Move The Drug Enforcement Administration is seeking Ebonics translators to interpret wire-tapped conversations. Critics fear the move by a federal agency could set a precedent. But linguist John McWhorter argues that, while any conversation about Ebonics is charged, the DEA is on the right track. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129682981&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129682981&ft=1&f=5 The Drug Enforcement Administration is seeking Ebonics translators to interpret wire-tapped conversations. Critics fear the move by a federal agency could set a precedent. But linguist John McWhorter argues that, while any conversation about Ebonics is charged, the DEA is on the right track.

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]]> Bridging The Christian-Muslim Divide Many religious leaders fear rising tensions over the proposed Islamic Center in Manhattan may inflame religious tensions through the U.S. Author Eliza Griswold and Fordham University's Rev. Patrick Ryan discuss how to quell tensions between Christians and Muslims. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129682985&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129682985&ft=1&f=5 Many religious leaders fear rising tensions over the proposed Islamic Center in Manhattan may inflame religious tensions through the U.S. Author Eliza Griswold and Fordham University's Rev. Patrick Ryan discuss how to quell tensions between Christians and Muslims.

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]]> The Joys Of Reading Many Books At Once Many people are serial readers -- they read a book cover-to-cover before putting it down. <em>Chicago Tribune</em> cultural critic Julia Keller, however, is a poly-reader -- juggling four or more books at a time. And in an age of rampant multi-tasking, Keller asks, why not? Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129682989&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129682989&ft=1&f=5 Many people are serial readers -- they read a book cover-to-cover before putting it down. Chicago Tribune cultural critic Julia Keller, however, is a poly-reader -- juggling four or more books at a time. And in an age of rampant multi-tasking, Keller asks, why not?

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]]> Studying Computers To Learn About Ourselves Clifford Nass, a communications professor at Stanford University, has been studying the ways humans interact with computers to tease out some of the intricacies of how people relate to each other. He talks about those findings in his new book <em>The Man Who Lied to His Laptop</em>. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629756&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629756&ft=1&f=5 Clifford Nass, a communications professor at Stanford University, has been studying the ways humans interact with computers to tease out some of the intricacies of how people relate to each other. He talks about those findings in his new book The Man Who Lied to His Laptop.

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]]> Time To Get Tough, Environmentalists Say With no climate change legislation coming out of the Senate, Sierra Club head Michael Brune says it's time to try a new strategy to fight global warming. Author Bill McKibben says it's time to get angry. Brune and McKibben discuss their ideas for curbing climate change. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629736&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629736&ft=1&f=5 With no climate change legislation coming out of the Senate, Sierra Club head Michael Brune says it's time to try a new strategy to fight global warming. Author Bill McKibben says it's time to get angry. Brune and McKibben discuss their ideas for curbing climate change.

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]]> Insomnia Means More Than A Bad Night's Sleep A new study says men who reported having insomnia and who slept less than 6 hours a night were four times more likely to die over a 14-year period when compared to men who reported sleeping well. Sleep researcher and psychiatrist Alexandros Vgontzas explains the finding. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629740&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629740&ft=1&f=5 A new study says men who reported having insomnia and who slept less than 6 hours a night were four times more likely to die over a 14-year period when compared to men who reported sleeping well. Sleep researcher and psychiatrist Alexandros Vgontzas explains the finding.

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]]> Can Cognitive Exercise Speed Up Dementia? New research suggests that seniors who did mentally stimulating activities such as crossword puzzles postponed the loss of thinking skills, but had an accelerated rate of decline once dementia set in later in life. Neuropsychologist Robert S. Wilson explains the finding. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629744&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629744&ft=1&f=5 New research suggests that seniors who did mentally stimulating activities such as crossword puzzles postponed the loss of thinking skills, but had an accelerated rate of decline once dementia set in later in life. Neuropsychologist Robert S. Wilson explains the finding.

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]]> Stocky Dinosaur With Menacing Toes Unearthed Reporting in the <em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,</em> researchers describe a new predatory dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period in Europe. <em>Balaur bondoc</em> (Romanian for "stocky dragon") is huskier than its relative the Velociraptor. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629748&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629748&ft=1&f=5 Reporting in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers describe a new predatory dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period in Europe. Balaur bondoc (Romanian for "stocky dragon") is huskier than its relative the Velociraptor.

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]]> Is Organically Produced Food More Nutritious? Reporting in the journal <em>PLoS ONE</em>, researchers write that organically grown strawberries contain more antioxidants and vitamin C than conventional berries. Ira Flatow and guests discuss the findings, and whether the differences would have any meaningful impact on Americans' health. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629752&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629752&ft=1&f=5 Reporting in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers write that organically grown strawberries contain more antioxidants and vitamin C than conventional berries. Ira Flatow and guests discuss the findings, and whether the differences would have any meaningful impact on Americans' health.

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]]> Mariner Energy Oil Platform Explodes In Gulf According to the Coast Guard, a mile-long sheen of oil is spreading from the offshore petroleum platform, owned by Mariner Energy. All 13 people aboard the rig are safe. NPR's Jeff Brady reports on the explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:22:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129606924&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129606924&ft=1&f=5 According to the Coast Guard, a mile-long sheen of oil is spreading from the offshore petroleum platform, owned by Mariner Energy. All 13 people aboard the rig are safe. NPR's Jeff Brady reports on the explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.

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]]> Martin Landau, A 'Lovely' Leading Man Martin Landau has starred in everything from Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller <em>North By Northwest</em> to the 1981 TV movie, <em>The Harlem Globetrotters On Gilligan's Island.</em> In 1994, he won the Oscar for best supporting actor in <em>Ed Wood</em>. In <em>Lovely, Still,</em> he stars in a December-December romance opposite Ellen Burstyn. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129606331&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129606331&ft=1&f=5 Martin Landau has starred in everything from Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller North By Northwest to the 1981 TV movie, The Harlem Globetrotters On Gilligan's Island. In 1994, he won the Oscar for best supporting actor in Ed Wood. In Lovely, Still, he stars in a December-December romance opposite Ellen Burstyn.

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]]> Students Quiz Education Sec. Arne Duncan Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has spent much of the back-to-school season talking with teachers and parents. His department recently oversaw the awarding of more than $4 billion to public schools in select states. While he's addressed countless teachers in recent weeks, now, he tackles students' questions. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129606335&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129606335&ft=1&f=5 Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has spent much of the back-to-school season talking with teachers and parents. His department recently oversaw the awarding of more than $4 billion to public schools in select states. While he's addressed countless teachers in recent weeks, now, he tackles students' questions.

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]]> Planet Money Explains Latest Economic Numbers Experts disagree on the path the U.S. economy will take in upcoming months. Manufacturing is up, as is unemployment. Personal spending continues to drag, and the housing market remains weak. Alex Blumberg and Jacob Goldstein of NPR's Planet Money talk about what to expect in the coming months. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129606327&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129606327&ft=1&f=5 Experts disagree on the path the U.S. economy will take in upcoming months. Manufacturing is up, as is unemployment. Personal spending continues to drag, and the housing market remains weak. Alex Blumberg and Jacob Goldstein of NPR's Planet Money talk about what to expect in the coming months.

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]]> The Big Issues Of The 2010 Elections There's still another major round of primaries left in 2010, but the true political junkies have their eyes locked on November's midterm elections. And the top issues seem clear: the economy, tax cuts, Afghanistan, health care, gay marriage and immigration. Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129581140&ft=1&f=5 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129581140&ft=1&f=5 There's still another major round of primaries left in 2010, but the true political junkies have their eyes locked on November's midterm elections. And the top issues seem clear: the economy, tax cuts, Afghanistan, health care, gay marriage and immigration.

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