NPR Staff

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Is It All Greek To You? Thank Medieval Monks, And The Bard, For The Phrase

Sunday, July 05, 2015

Ben Zimmer, language columnist at The Wall Street Journal, explains the origin of the phrase "it's all Greek to me" — and shares a few variants from other languages.

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From Early Failures To New 'Trainwreck,' Judd Apatow Gets Serious

Sunday, July 05, 2015

It's an understatement to call the man busy. With a new book out, a movie due soon and another wrapping up on set, Apatow caught a breath and reflected on stumbling blocks, Freaks and Amy Schumer.

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Stacy Barthe's 'BEcoming' Is A Story Of Near-Death And Rebirth

Sunday, July 05, 2015

At 25, Barthe was already writing songs for pop stars, but life outside the studio felt like a battlefield. She speaks with NPR's Arun Rath about the hard road to her full-length debut.

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From Blueprints To Betrayal: The Daring, And Downfall, Of A Cold War Spy

Sunday, July 05, 2015

Initially, the CIA was suspicious of Soviet aviation expert Adolf Tolkachev. But he earned the agency's trust — and provided blueprints, documents and plans that were crucial to the U.S.

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What To Do With Weird Farmers Market Vegetables

Sunday, July 05, 2015

Walking through the farmers market this time of year is a wondrous thing: juicy tomatoes, rows of jewel-toned eggplants, fragrant basil and sweet yellow corn. But then, you see bunches of greens that look like weeds, stuff with names like kohlrabi and purslane, and suddenly, you feel intimidated. Other people ...

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Don't Blame The Sharks For 'Perfect Storm' Of Attacks In North Carolina

Sunday, July 05, 2015

Those who spend much time on the Carolina beaches know that many shark species, and even whales, are frequent visitors during the summer. And, though it's extremely rare, those sharks have been known to attack humans.

But this year, there have already been seven shark attacks off the North Carolina ...

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In 'Playing Scared' Pianist Grows Less Frightened Of Stage Fright

Sunday, July 05, 2015

Everyone has had the dream in one form or another. You are about to take a big test when you realize you don't know anything about the subject. You are on stage but you haven't memorized the lines. You have to make a speech but you haven't written it.

It's ...

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If Robots 'Speak,' Will We Listen? Novel Imagines A Future Changed By AI

Saturday, July 04, 2015

As artificial intelligence alters human connection, Louisa Hall's characters wrestle with whether machines can truly feel. Some "feel they have to stand up for a robot's right to exist," Hall says.

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Millions Of Mummified Dogs Found In Ancient Egyptian Catacombs

Saturday, July 04, 2015

Researchers have uncovered 8 million mummified animals dating back 2,500 years. Most are dogs. Archaeologist Salima Ikram says the huge number points to the likely existence of ancient puppy mills.

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An Outsider In Buenos Aires Goes Incognito, For Love Of Tango

Saturday, July 04, 2015

In the dirty, crowded, and impoverished immigrant barrios of Buenos Aires of 1913, a 17-year-old girl arrives with little more than some clothes and her grandfather's violin.

Her name is Leda, and she's the character at the heart of Carolina de Robertis' third novel, The Gods of Tango.

Leda, ...

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Decades Of Politics And Partnership In Jimmy Carter's 'Full Life'

Saturday, July 04, 2015

In just over 18 months, Barack Obama will join the ranks of ex-presidents. He'll be 55 when he leaves office, among the youngest to become a former president, alongside Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

President Carter remains a model of what an active, productive life can look like after leaving ...

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Larry Campbell And Teresa Williams Step To The Mic, Together

Saturday, July 04, 2015

For years, Larry Campbell has been one of the most in-demand musicians and producers in roots-rock, backing up Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson and many more. His wife, country and blues singer Teresa Williams, has worked with

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For A Medal Of Honor Recipient, Wounds Of War Lingered Into Fatherhood

Friday, July 03, 2015

Master Sgt. Roy P. Benavidez led a mission to save eight soldiers in Vietnam — and nearly died in the process. Decades later, his daughter recalls a father who believed honor wasn't won, but earned.

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Simone Dinnerstein On A Trip To Cuba And Making Music Out Of Difficulty

Friday, July 03, 2015

David Greene talks to the pianist about her recent performance at a piano festival in Cuba — and a particularly stressful time in her life.

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Your Road-Trip Playlist Is Ready

Thursday, July 02, 2015

From more than 3,000 listener suggestions, we've whittled the mix down to 99 songs you say are perfect for long summer drives. Stream the playlist here.

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Can The Candidate Move Beyond 'The Christie Show'?

Wednesday, July 01, 2015

It was the least suspenseful cliffhanger in the history of cliffs.

Governor Christie has, essentially, been running for higher office for years. But as of Tuesday he is now, officially, a presidential candidate.

This week the Christie Tracker podcast, from WNYC and New Jersey Public Radio, headed to Livingston High ...

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The Sound Of Twin Danger: Frank Sinatra Meets The Clash

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Singer Vanessa Bley and former Sade collaborator Stuart Matthewman make up the new cocktail jazz band Twin Danger, which has been causing a scene with its self-titled debut and live shows.

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After Marriage Equality, What's Next For The LGBT Movement?

Sunday, June 28, 2015

One commentator worries that, going forward, other serious issues for LGBT Americans may garner less support "because it's just not as fun to be involved in" as in the marriage equality movement.

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Two Years After Deadly Wildfire, Are There Lessons In The Ashes?

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Two years ago, a wildfire was raging in the foothills of North Arizona. The Granite Mountain Hotshots, a team of elite firefighters from Prescott, Ariz., were on the ground, battling the blaze.

Then the weather and the winds shifted, and the two-day-old Yarnell Hill Fire changed course. The commander had ...

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2 Brothers And A Team Of Mules Tackle The Historic Oregon Trail

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Two 21st-century guys, a replica 19th-century wagon, some mules and a resolution: to re-live the Oregon Trail today.

Rivers, mountains, cliffs, runaway mules, cars and trucks, bad weather ... What could possibly go wrong?

Journalist Rinker Buck wanted to find out. He and his brother Nick hitched a covered wagon ...

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