Morning Edition archive

Friday, July 30, 2010

Food

U.S. Is A Spicier Nation (Literally) Since 1970s

Tandoori and other piquant spices were once hard to find in the United States, but no longer.

Americans' spice consumption has grown almost three times as fast as the population in recent decades. Much of that growth is due to the country's changing demographics. Now, flavors that were once exotic and rare are found on the shelves in many groceries.

Summary

Asia

China's Hidden Economy Of Graft Undermines State

Zeng Jinchun on trial

Behind China's complicated economy exists a vast underground economy of corruption and bribery. A recent case in which an anti-corruption official was convicted of taking bribes -- and now awaits execution -- shows how endemic and open a secret the problem is.

Summary

Commentary

India: No Country For Old People?

Bindu Ahlawadi gets ready for her meal

As India competes in the global economy, new challenges arise for its aging population, who once relied on their children to help them through old age. Morning Edition commentator Sandip Roy explains.

Summary

Economy

Optimism Revs Up At GM, Chrysler Plants

An employee works on the assembly line of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee

MRPresident Obama visits GM and Chrysler auto plants in Detroit on Friday to call attention to the successes -- so far -- of the bailed-out companies. A White House report says the industry has added 55,000 jobs, GM will stay open during its usual two-week summer shutdown and Chrysler added another production shift.

Summary

Health

Just Buy It: Impulsiveness Tied To Brain Chemical

A composite PET brain scan showing low levels of dopamine receptors and high levels of dopamine.

From proposing to a loved one to going on a shopping spree, many of life's decisions are guided by the brain chemical dopamine. Scientists now say dopamine might explain why some people are more impulsive than others when it comes to planning and thinking.

Summary

StoryCorps

After A Son's Injury, A New Life Begins

Tom Davis with his parents, Connie and Robert Davis, at StoryCorps in Pensacola, Fla.

Tom Davis grew up in Pensacola, Fla., enjoying everything the seaside town has to offer. But in the summer of 2000, when he was 21, a surfing accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Tom recently sat down with his parents, Connie and Robert, to talk about his injury -- and their life together.

Summary

Movie Reviews

A 'Dinner' Invitation You Can Safely Decline

Steve Carell, Paul Rudd

On paper, Dinner for Schmucks seems to have it all: a star-studded cast that includes reliable funnymen like Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, a veteran comedy director (Jay Roach) at the helm, and a premise lifted from a great French farce. But in reality, Schmucks is much less than the sum of its parts.

Summary

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Asia

Secret Jails Used To Enforce China's 'Hidden Rules'

A man walks through a former black jail

July 29, 2010 On the surface, they appear to be simply farmyards, hotels or guesthouses run by provincial governments. In fact, they are part of a network of extrajudicial detention centers known as "black jails," where local governments hold people who come to Beijing to complain about abuses.

Transcript

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