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Saturday, June 15, 2013

Did ATMs Represent The Dawn Of The Digital Era?

Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon says he now realizes ATM machines represented the dawn of the digital age.

June 15, 2013 Weekend Edition Saturday Scott Simon remembers the controversy when the first automatic teller machines started popping up in the 1970s. Today there's an electronic transaction, and record, of just about everything we say, read, purchase or do.

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Saturday, June 08, 2013

The Speech Eisenhower Never Gave On The Normandy Invasion

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower addresses American paratroopers in England on the evening of June 5, 1944, as they prepare for the Battle of Normandy.

June 8, 2013 The Allied invasion of the French coast of Normandy took place this week in 1944. In case that highly risky invasion had failed, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower had drafted a speech taking full responsibility. Fortunately, he never had to deliver it.

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Saturday, June 01, 2013

High School Newspapers: An Endangered Species

Student newspapers may be the latest victims of social media.

June 1, 2013 The New York Times reported this week that only 1 in 8 of New York's public high schools still has a student newspaper. National figures are only a bit better. NPR's Scott Simon says student newspapers are the latest victims of social media.

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Saturday, May 25, 2013

Commentary

Words Of Wisdom For The Graduating Class Of Moore, Okla.

With a city still in shambles from a deadly tornado, high school students in Moore, Okla., are graduating Saturday.

May 25, 2013 High school seniors in Moore, Okla., will hold commencement ceremonies Saturday, despite the death and destruction wreaked by this week's tornado. Scott Simon asks two Oklahoma writers to offer advice to the graduating classes.

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Saturday, May 18, 2013

Commentary

Astronaut Chris Hadfield's Most Excellent Adventure

After a half-year mission at the International Space Station, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield lands in central Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

May 18, 2013 Hadfield just spent 146 days up at the International Space Station, during which time he performed rock concerts and shared his dazzling photographs with nearly a million Twitter followers.

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Saturday, May 11, 2013

Mom's X-Ray Vision Also Sees The Best In Us

Mothers somehow know when we've been bad, but when times are tough, they also have our back.

May 11, 2013 Mothers know us better — sometimes better than we know ourselves. As any child will tell you, they really do have eyes in the back of their heads. When times are tough, they also have our back.

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Saturday, May 04, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013

A 'Tough, Smart, Proud Town' Meets Terror With Determination

Boston residents celebrated Friday night after law enforcement officers captured one of the two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings.

April 20, 2013 The bombing attack at the Boston Marathon Monday could have caused scrambling and panic. Instead, the tragedy revealed the city's character as people rushed to help each other.

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Saturday, April 13, 2013

At The Spelling Bee, Spelling Is No Longer Enough

Frank Cahill, 14, of Parker, Colo., spells a word correctly during the third round of the National Spelling Bee in 2012. This week the Bee announced that competitors will have to know the definitions of words in addition to the spelling.

April 13, 2013 Starting this year, competitors in the National Spelling Bee will not only have to know how to spell a word, but they'll also have to know what it means.

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Saturday, April 06, 2013

Roger Ebert: Elegance And Empathy

The iconic Chicago photographer Art Shay took portraits of presidents, prizefighters, prose poets — and in the person of Roger Ebert, at least one Pulitzer-winning critic.

April 6, 2013 Roger Ebert wrote simply, abundantly, gorgeously — and on deadline for 46 years at the Chicago Sun-Times. Over the years, his work reminded us that empathy is the grace note of a good life, not just great art.

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Saturday, March 30, 2013

Humble Gestures Are New Pope's Symbol Of Service

Pope Francis washes the feet of a prisoner at the Casal Del Marmo Youth Detention Center during the mass of the Lord's Supper on Thursday in Rome.

March 30, 2013 Pope Francis surprised many this week by washing the feet of young inmates in prison instead of priests in a grand basilica. The ceremony emulates the way Jesus washed the feet of his 12 disciples. On this Easter weekend, we consider the meaning behind Pope Francis' break with tradition.

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Saturday, March 23, 2013

Resurrected Frog Gives Us Cause To Brood

This week scientists announced they have reproduced the genome of an extinct amphibian, the gastric brooding frog.

March 23, 2013 This week scientists announced they have reproduced the genome of an extinct amphibian, the gastric brooding frog. But animals are more than just their genomes, so NPR's Scott Simon wonders if it's necessary — or kind — to bring them back.

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Saturday, March 16, 2013

The Power Of A Father's Love Overturns His Beliefs

Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio announced Friday that he has reversed his stance against same-sex marriage.

March 16, 2013 Knowing his son was gay prompted Republican Sen. Rob Portman to reconsider his position on same-sex marriage. NPR's Scott Simon reflects on how children can cause their parents to see issues in a new light.

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Saturday, March 09, 2013

Snowquester Fizzles, But We're Humbled Anyway

The failed Snowquester reminds us, during a time of national debate, that experts can still be wrong.

March 9, 2013 After Snowquester fizzled, Scott Simon muses that snow forecasts falling so flat is a sound reminder, during a time of national debate, that experts can be wrong.

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About Simon Says

Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon shares his perspective on news and events both large and small.

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