NPR Series: Holidays 2008

NPR Series: Holidays 2008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96538364&ft=1&f=96538364 Holidays 2008 Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:20:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Holidays 2008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96538364&ft=1&f=96538364 Top 10 Great Unknowns, From Second Stage It was an unusually strong year for great unknown artists. While bigger, more established bands continued to attract the most attention, smaller, lesser-known acts made the most memorable music of 2008. All of the great unknown artists featured here made music that was inspired, original and heartfelt. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:20:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98206712&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98206712&ft=1&f=96538364 It was an unusually strong year for great unknown artists. While bigger, more established bands continued to attract the most attention, smaller, lesser-known acts made the most memorable music of 2008. All of the great unknown artists featured here made music that was inspired, original and heartfelt.

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]]> Librarian Nancy Pearl Dips Below The Reading Radar There are so many books published these days that it's often hard for readers to plow through everything that's available. That's when Nancy Pearl, librarian extraordinaire, swoops in for the rescue. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:33:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98097618&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98097618&ft=1&f=96538364 There are so many books published these days that it's often hard for readers to plow through everything that's available. That's when Nancy Pearl, librarian extraordinaire, swoops in for the rescue.

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]]> Kenneth Turan Picks His Favorite Films Of 2008 How can a movie-loving critic pick only 10 films? <em>Morning Edition</em> and <em>Los Angeles Times</em> film critic Kenneth Turan names his favorites — and sneaks a few extra choices in for good measure. Tops on the list: <em>Slumdog Millionaire.</em> Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98841453&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98841453&ft=1&f=96538364 How can a movie-loving critic pick only 10 films? Morning Edition and Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan names his favorites — and sneaks a few extra choices in for good measure. Tops on the list: Slumdog Millionaire.

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]]> Mark Jenkins: My 10 Movie Picks For 2008 Critic Mark Jenkins says never mind the posh Brit accents and the somber themes crowding the holiday multiplex; they're awards-bait: The year's genuinely superb films came from all over, and in many languages. Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98870049&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98870049&ft=1&f=96538364 Critic Mark Jenkins says never mind the posh Brit accents and the somber themes crowding the holiday multiplex; they're awards-bait: The year's genuinely superb films came from all over, and in many languages.

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]]> Bob Mondello's Top 10, Plus 12 Bonus Picks The economy may have turned sour, but with a total take of $9.5 billion at the box office — and 22 films on our critic's year-end best-movies list — Hollywood can look back at 2008 without shame. Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98614769&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98614769&ft=1&f=96538364 The economy may have turned sour, but with a total take of $9.5 billion at the box office — and 22 films on our critic's year-end best-movies list — Hollywood can look back at 2008 without shame.

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]]> Geniuses Collide In 2008's Best Jazz Cross-pollination of excellent musicians made for some amazing jazz in 2008. The year's best CDs feature numerous musicians collaborating with each other on a wide variety of recordings. Hearing the best musicians work with other geniuses is a wonderful thing to witness. Here are 10 of the best jazz CDs of the year. Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:41:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97753690&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97753690&ft=1&f=96538364 Cross-pollination of excellent musicians made for some amazing jazz in 2008. The year's best CDs feature numerous musicians collaborating with each other on a wide variety of recordings. Hearing the best musicians work with other geniuses is a wonderful thing to witness. Here are 10 of the best jazz CDs of the year.

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]]> The Year In Music For Kids (And Parents) One of the best years for kids' music in recent memory includes releases from artists with feet firmly in both kid-friendly and adult-oriented worlds. Old favorites went in new directions, while emerging artists gave a glimpse of the future of a genre as diverse and unpredictable as kids themselves. Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:02:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97510376&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97510376&ft=1&f=96538364 One of the best years for kids' music in recent memory includes releases from artists with feet firmly in both kid-friendly and adult-oriented worlds. Old favorites went in new directions, while emerging artists gave a glimpse of the future of a genre as diverse and unpredictable as kids themselves.

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]]> Marriage By The Book: Five Tales Of Uncivil Union If previous years' bookshelves were crowded with woeful tales of single living, 2008 marked the year of marriage; even Anna Karenina, the <em>ne plus ultra</em> of domestic dissatisfaction, got back into the act, returning as a resident of Rego Park in Irina Reyn's <em>What Happened to Anna K.</em> Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:46:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98346314&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98346314&ft=1&f=96538364 If previous years' bookshelves were crowded with woeful tales of single living, 2008 marked the year of marriage; even Anna Karenina, the ne plus ultra of domestic dissatisfaction, got back into the act, returning as a resident of Rego Park in Irina Reyn's What Happened to Anna K.

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]]> Viking's Choice: A Year Of Beautiful Noise For the past month, NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich laid out multiple strips of paper on his desk, with names like Uncle Owen Aunt Beru, Extra Life and Erykah Badu printed on them. It turns out he was working on his list of the year's top CDs, analog-style. He shares his unique sense of music in this episode of <em>All Songs Considered</em>. Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:02:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98789277&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98789277&ft=1&f=96538364 For the past month, NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich laid out multiple strips of paper on his desk, with names like Uncle Owen Aunt Beru, Extra Life and Erykah Badu printed on them. It turns out he was working on his list of the year's top CDs, analog-style. He shares his unique sense of music in this episode of All Songs Considered.

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]]> The Best African Music Of 2008 This has been a strong year for African music, with two big trends emerging: the continuing integration of African music into the U.S. and European mainstream, as well as the ongoing unearthing of treasures from Afropop's "golden era," particularly the '70s. Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:17:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98158941&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98158941&ft=1&f=96538364 This has been a strong year for African music, with two big trends emerging: the continuing integration of African music into the U.S. and European mainstream, as well as the ongoing unearthing of treasures from Afropop's "golden era," particularly the '70s.

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]]> Matchless: A Christmas Story Every year, NPR asks a writer to compose an original story with a Christmas theme. This year, Gregory Maguire reinvents the Hans Christian Andersen classic "The Little Match Girl" for a new time and new audiences. Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:43:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98143170&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98143170&ft=1&f=96538364 Every year, NPR asks a writer to compose an original story with a Christmas theme. This year, Gregory Maguire reinvents the Hans Christian Andersen classic "The Little Match Girl" for a new time and new audiences.

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]]> Atlanta's Pink Pig Brightens Spirits, 55 Years On The Pink Pig debuted in 1953 at Rich's, a downtown Atlanta department store. It was a monorail ride back then. Today, it's a short train ride at Macy's department store, but the new Pink Pig carries much of the same sense of wonder as the old one. Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:05:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98524579&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98524579&ft=1&f=96538364 The Pink Pig debuted in 1953 at Rich's, a downtown Atlanta department store. It was a monorail ride back then. Today, it's a short train ride at Macy's department store, but the new Pink Pig carries much of the same sense of wonder as the old one.

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]]> David Bianculli's Top 10 TV Shows Of 2008 The year in television started with a bust — or to be more precise, a writer's strike — but <em>Fresh Air</em>'s TV critic says there were plenty of TiVo-worthy programs in 2008. Prominent among them: AMC's <em>Mad Men</em>. Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98661164&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98661164&ft=1&f=96538364 The year in television started with a bust — or to be more precise, a writer's strike — but Fresh Air's TV critic says there were plenty of TiVo-worthy programs in 2008. Prominent among them: AMC's Mad Men.

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]]> Sugarplums: Dreaming Of The Sweet Unknown As the famous poem puts it, Christmas is when children are "nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads." It's a lovely image. But it does prompt the question: What exactly is a sugarplum? The short answer: It's very good. Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98666433&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98666433&ft=1&f=96538364 As the famous poem puts it, Christmas is when children are "nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads." It's a lovely image. But it does prompt the question: What exactly is a sugarplum? The short answer: It's very good.

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]]> Christmas Beer Yields Christmas Cheer For millennia, farmers around the globe have marked the winter solstice by brewing particularly potent beer. This holiday season, brew expert Don Russell (better known as "Joe Sixpack") recommends some of his favorite Christmas ales. Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:33:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98621620&ft=1&f=96538364 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98621620&ft=1&f=96538364 For millennia, farmers around the globe have marked the winter solstice by brewing particularly potent beer. This holiday season, brew expert Don Russell (better known as "Joe Sixpack") recommends some of his favorite Christmas ales.

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