Vicki and Tom Apsey speak to their son, Marine Lance Cpl. Josh Apsey, who is serving in southern Afghanistan. Catherine Welch for NPR hide caption

Richard M. Burr (R-NC), surrounded by copies of a proposed bill, during the first day of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions markup of comprehensive health care legislation. Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images hide caption

Iraqi reporter Muntadhar al-Zeidi embraces his sister upon arrival at the Al-Baghdadya television station after his release from prison in Baghdad on Tuesday. The reporter who hurled his shoes at then-U.S. President George W. Bush was released from prison on Tuesday, his brother said. hide caption

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, the president of Ingushetia, speaks Aug. 22 at the site of the police compound attack in Nazran. He vowed no mercy in fighting a bloody Islamist insurgency as he returned to Ingushetia two months after being badly wounded in an assassination attempt. Kazbek Basayev/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

Though his books tend to delve into esoteric mysteries, Dan Brown describes himself as a skeptic. Dan Courter hide caption

King Sunny Ade performs at the Prospect Bandshell for Celebrate Brooklyn's Africa Day. Banning Eyre hide caption