archive
Politics
Most Of Congress In The Dark On 'Fiscal Cliff' Talks
December 13, 2012 Of the 535 members of Congress, not many are in the loop about negotiations to avoid automatic spending cuts and tax increases in the new year. Lawmakers are waiting to see what President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner come up with — and some are nervous about having to quickly vote on a bill despite misgivings.
The Salt
Archaeologists Find Ancient Evidence Of Cheese-Making
December 13, 2012 Scientists have detected milk fat on 7,000-year-old pottery vessels from archaeological sites in Northern Europe. They think it's the earliest evidence of cheese-making, and they argue dairy products gave early farmers an evolutionary edge.
Planet Money
Will A $1.9 Billion Settlement Change Banks' Behavior?
December 13, 2012 For punishments to work, they need to be both swift and meaningful. The HSBC settlement may be neither.
It's All Politics
Report On CIA Interrogation Tactics Revives Torture Debate
December 13, 2012 In a closed-door meeting Thursday, lawmakers will consider whether to approve the report, which human rights groups are pushing to be made public. It's part of an ongoing fight over whether harsh interrogation methods, which critics compared to torture, were effective.
Arts & Life
Letters From 'Peanuts' Creator Reveal Bittersweet Romance
December 13, 2012 On Friday, Sotheby's is putting up for auction 44 letters and 35 drawings Charles Schulz gave to a young woman he was courting. Schulz, 48, wrote Tracey Claudius, 25, poignant, funny, even innocent notes in pictures and words, often using Charlie Brown to stand in for himself.
Asia
A Rare Visit Inside A Chinese Courtroom
December 13, 2012 Politically sensitive trials in China are often held in courtrooms sealed off by police, and foreign reporters are barred. But in recent years some Shanghai courts have been holding open houses and live-streaming select cases.
Religion
From Gang Member To Hip-Hop Church Leader
December 13, 2012 MRAcross the country, so-called hip-hop churches fuse religion, music and dance to lure gang members off the streets. Troy Evans, a former gang member, leads Edge Urban Fellowship in Grand Rapids, Mich. He says that leading church congregants isn't that much different from leading gang members.
Superstorm Sandy: Before, During And Beyond
New York Planners Prep For A 'New Normal' Of Powerful Storms
December 13, 2012 In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, New Yorkers, local politicians and scientists face a tough decision: How to spend limited funds to defend themselves in a world where climate change is making flooding from coastal storms ever more likely.
Business
Etsy Crafts A Strategy For Staying Handmade And Profitable
December 13, 2012 Etsy began as a place for home crafters and small businesses to sell their goods, but it has experienced growing pains as it surpasses 800,000 sellers. Some sellers are actually fronts for factories, while other sellers have left because the site isn't designed to handle volume.
U.S.
Finding A Child Online: How The Web Is Transforming Adoption
December 13, 2012 The Internet has vastly broadened the market for matching children with prospective parents. While some welcome the shift, a new report finds that the rise of Web-based adoption providers also raises ethical concerns.
The Two-Way
Don't Pass The Dutchie: Amsterdam Bans Pot From Schools, Playgrounds
December 12, 2012 Technically, smoking marijuana was never allowed in or around schools, but there was no official way to fully implement the policy – until now. Starting Jan. 1, schools and playgrounds will be deemed "no toking zones" and those who disobey the new ruling face being fined by the police.
The Two-Way
A Cardboard Helmet, To Go With Your Cardboard Bike
December 12, 2012 Would you ride a bike while wearing a helmet made of cardboard? What if its design was inspired by nature — specifically, a woodpecker? You'll have a chance to do just that next year — meaning you could outfit yourself in a full-cardboard biking kit, if you also go for the $20 cardboard bicycle we wrote about in October.
The Two-Way
'Complex And Difficult Days' Without Chavez, Venezuelan Vice President Warns
December 12, 2012 The Venezuelan president is recovering in Cuba after an operation on Tuesday targeted an aggressive cancer. It was his fourth cancer-related surgery in Cuba, and comes after he won re-election last month.
The Two-Way
California Gov. Brown Being Treated For Prostate Cancer
December 12, 2012 California Gov. Jerry Brown is receiving radiation treatment for prostate cancer, in a case that his physician says was caught at an "early stage." The governor's office announced the news today, adding that Brown's work schedule has not been disrupted.
The Salt
From Belgium To Piggly Wiggly: U.S. Beer Fans Snatch Up Elusive Ale
December 12, 2012 To many beer fans, the arrival of the elusive Westvleteren 12 Trappist ale in American shops today is a chance to try a beer they've only read about on beer-geek blogs and sites. But finding the beer can be tricky, and some stores sold out of their allotment within hours of opening Wednesday.
