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Friday, November 02, 2012
Thursday, November 01, 2012

The Salt

Day Of The Dead, Decoded: A Joyful Celebration Of Life And Food

Skeletons: Skeleton imagery pervades this holiday. In pre-Columbian times, the Day of the Dead was celebrated in August. It now takes place on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, coinciding with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

November 1, 2012 The ancient Latin American holiday welcomes ancestors back to the earth for one day each year. Each element on the altar symbolizes a connection between the world of the living and the dead, so naturally, food and drink play a big part. Here we've deconstructed the altar and its meaning.

Summary

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The Salt

Behind A Halloween Mask, Even 'Good' Kids Can Turn Into Candy Thieves

Is there an angel or a devil behind the mask? Scientists say it may not matter in terms of anonymous behavior.

October 31, 2012 Results of a 1976 experiment involving masked trick-or-treaters still hold true today: We're more likely to do bad things — like stealing candy — when we're anonymous. And that tells researchers about the ways adults break the rules, too.

Summary

Television

Katey Sagal, Holding Court On 'Sons Of Anarchy'

Katey Sagal as Gemma Teller Morrow in Sons of Anarachy on FX.

October 31, 2012 The actress plays Gemma, the fierce matriarch of the biker gang in the FX series. She's best-known for playing the acerbic Peg Bundy on the long-running show Married With Children.

Transcript

On Fresh Air from WHYYPlaylist

Monkey See

Twenty Stories That Will Absolutely Run The Week 'Star Wars: Episode VII' Is Released

In this Oct. 15, 2011 file photo, "Darth Vader" accepts the Ultimate Villain award from Star Wars creator George Lucas during the 2011 Scream Awards.

October 31, 2012 Yesterday, Disney announced that it was purchasing Lucasfilm for four billion dollars and would be putting out new Star Wars films. The good news is that we already know what some of the headlines of 2015 will look like.

Summary

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The Two-Way

The Force Is Strong With This One: Disney Buys Lucasfilm For $4B

In this handout image provided by Disney, Star Wars creator George Lucas has a playful lightsaber duel with Jedi Mickey Mouse at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Aug. 14, 2010. Disney announced Tuesday that it was buying Lucasfilm Ltd. for $4.05 billion.

October 30, 2012 The studio announced it would continue the Star Wars movie franchise with a seventh film due to be released in 2015, and others to follow. Disney also owns Marvel, which it bought for $4 billion in 2009.

Summary

Monday, October 29, 2012

Monkey See

Impersonating The President: From Will Rogers To Obama's 'Anger Translator'

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele cooperate to impersonate President Obama in Comedy Central's Key and Peele.

October 29, 2012 Elizabeth Blair finds that presidential impersonations came and went and then came back again, but it's not always easy to find just the right angle on a sitting president — or a challenger.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

Sunday, October 28, 2012

It's All Politics

Conspiracy Theory Experts: Skepticism Is Part Of Our National Identity

President Obama's campaign turned the "birther" conspiracy into a marketing opportunity, selling these shirts, which included an image of his birth certificate.

October 28, 2012 Those who study claims that things such as public opinion polls or government jobs reports have been manipulated see the tendency toward distrust of power as neither partisan nor entirely detrimental. They say a healthy distrust of power is part of our democracy.

Summary

Friday, October 26, 2012

Monkey See

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Halloween Stories And Very Good Taste

A drawing of two clinking martini glasses.

October 26, 2012 In this week's round-table podcast, we cover Halloween, from costumes to scary movies to novelty songs, and we discuss the entire idea of having good taste. So yes, this means we're talking about both good taste and the Creature From The Black Lagoon.

Summary

ListenPlaylist

Television

'Sábado Gigante' Celebrates 50 With Lots Of Variety

Mario Kreutzberger, aka Don Francisco, has served as host of Sábado Gigante since the show's debut in 1962. The variety show will mark its 50th anniversary on Saturday.

October 26, 2012 For 50 years, Spanish-speaking TV viewers have tuned into the weekly variety show Sábado Gigante. Since 1962, host Don Francisco has commanded a festive live audience in Miami, with celebrity interviews, musical performances, goofy sidekicks and scantily clad dancers.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

How We Watch What We Watch

The Future Of 'Short Attention Span Theater'

Yale graphic design critic Jessica Helfand says the phenomenon she calls "short attention span theater" is amplified by the digital gadgets many people now carry.

October 26, 2012 Digital gadgetry and on-demand media are changing the way we watch TV. Why wait for next week's episode when you can download a whole season from Netflix? Graphic design critic Jessica Helfand wants to harness that impatience and come up with more compelling short-form media.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

Thursday, October 25, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Monkey See

'Take This Job And Planet!': Why Clark Kent Quit His Day Job

In Superman #13, Clark Kent gets his ink-stained kvetch on.

October 24, 2012 Now that Clark Kent's abandoning print journalism for the web, our comics blogger ruminates on the reasons for his decision, and wonders where it might lead.

Summary

How We Watch What We Watch

The TV Screen's Evolution, From 1880 To The Present

A couple talks to a salesman about buying a color TV set. Over the years, televisions have evolved to include color, high-definition and 3-D models.

October 24, 2012 Despite its status as a device that defines the modern age, the television has its roots in the 19th century, when radio pioneers suspected they could also transmit images. Even the word "television," combining Greek and Latin roots to mean "far-sight," stems from the 1900 world's fair.

Summary

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

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Arts & Life

The <em>Paris Review</em> founder was a man devoted to illuminating how talent and creativity work.

'Plimpton!': A Fond Look At A Man Of Letters

The Paris Review founder was a man devoted to illuminating how talent and creativity work.

Alex Gibney tells the story of Julian Assange's "intelligence agency of the people." <em><strong>(Recommended)</strong></em>

'We Steal Secrets': A Sidelong Look At WikiLeaks

Alex Gibney tells the story of Julian Assange's "intelligence agency of the people." (Recommended)

Jarrett Krosoczka sat down with a classroom of kids to talk about real and imaginary superheroes.

'Lunch Lady' Author Helps Students Draw Their Own Heroes

Jarrett Krosoczka sat down with a classroom of kids to talk about real and imaginary superheroes.

Rama Burshtein's intimate drama is a low-stakes story with high-drama punch.<strong><em> (Recommended)</em></strong>

To 'Fill The Void,' A Choice With A Personal Cost

Rama Burshtein's intimate drama is a low-stakes story with high-drama punch. (Recommended)

<em>Fast & Furious 6</em> pits Dominic's crew against a wily terrorist in a high-tech battle royale.

'Fast 6': Silly, Speedy And Certain To Cash In

Fast & Furious 6 pits Dominic's crew against a wily terrorist in a high-tech battle royale.

Pitbull tells NPR's Michel Martin about using music as an escape and acting in the upcoming <em>Epic</em>.

Pitbull Gets 'Epic': 'You Constantly Have To Defend Your Success'

Pitbull tells NPR's Michel Martin about using music as an escape and acting in the upcoming Epic.

In <em>What Maisie Knew,</em> she plays a troubled rock star, but characteristically is able to humanize her.

Julianne Moore, Relishing Complicated Characters

In What Maisie Knew, she plays a troubled rock star, but characteristically is able to humanize her.

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