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National Security
4:34 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Maritial Fidelity Is A Sensitive Topic For Military

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

Marital fidelity is a sensitive subject for many in the military. Relationships are often strained by distance, frequent moves, the dangers of war. Gen. David Petraeus' admission that he had an extramarital affair has led some military families to reflect on the difficulties of keeping their personal relationships whole. Reporter Joanna Richards spoke with families from the Army's 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, in upstate New York.

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Political Junkie
4:33 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Both Sides Itching For A Confirmation Fight Over Susan Rice

Originally published on Tue December 4, 2012 5:23 pm

The election was over. As President Obama faced the press in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday, the anger and bitterness of his long battle with Mitt Romney seemed to have faded. Unlike President George W. Bush after his 2004 re-election — and his comments about having political capital and intending to spend it — Obama seemed a bit more humble victor, talking more about compromise and saying he was willing to hear other points of view to solve the nation's problems.

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Around the Nation
3:27 am
Mon November 19, 2012

California Learns From Hurricane Sandy In Northeast

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

Emergency managers around the nation have been paying close attention to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. From California, NPR's Richard Gonzales a look at what lessons disaster planners there say they've learned.

RICHARD GONZALES, BYLINE: Superstorm Sandy didn't sneak up on anybody.

CHRISTOPHER GODLEY: They had days of warning before it made landfall, before the damage really started to occur, so people could prepare themselves, their families, their neighborhoods.

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Business
2:49 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Business News

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

NPR's business news begins with credit card debt rising.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

MONTAGNE: Americans are running up more debt on their credit cards, and that could be a good sign. The average American had almost $5,000 of credit card debt in the third quarter of 2012, up almost 5 percent over the previous quarter.

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Law
2:49 am
Mon November 19, 2012

BP Legal Troubles Persist Over Gulf Spill

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Linda Wertheimer.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renee Montagne.

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Middle East
2:49 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Violence In Gaza Strip Intensifies

Originally published on Sun November 25, 2012 7:48 am

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Linda Wertheimer.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renee Montagne.

The day had started with more intense air attacks between Israel and the militant Hamas rulers of Gaza. Overnight air raids pushed the Palestinian death toll to more than 90, with more than 700 wounded. The numbers on the Israeli side are dramatically lower, with three dead so far.

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Middle East
2:49 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Israeli Fans Adore Rocket Stopper Iron Dome

Credit Ariel Schalit / AP
Two Iron Dome missiles launched near Ashdod, Israel, intercept a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Israeli officials joke that a "cult of the Iron Dome" has developed, as Israelis have started running out of their homes, rather then into their bunkers, to film Iron Dome at work.

Originally published on Sun November 25, 2012 7:48 am

Hamas militants have fired hundreds of missiles at Israel since the conflict intensified last week. Many of those missiles have fallen prey to Iron Dome, the U.S.-funded anti-missile system deployed in key areas across Israel.

In the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, guests at a wedding had barely managed to get through the hors d'oeuvres when a siren sounded warning of incoming rocket fire.

But instead of taking cover, the guests point at the sky and gawk as Israel's Iron Dome missile interceptor system explodes six Hamas rockets in midair.

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Sports
2:49 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Andretti Tries To Find U.S. Fans For Formula 1 Racing

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And in Austin, Texas, after a five-year absence, Formula One racing returned to the U.S. A Formula One track called the Circuit of the Americas, was inaugurated over the weekend in a race won by Lewis Hamilton. Formula One is immensely popular in Europe and much of the world, but it's failed to win a big audience in the U.S., dwarfed by the homegrown culture of NASCAR and the Indy circuit.

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Environment
2:49 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Sandy Stirs Up Superfund Site In New Jersey

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

As the Northeast states take stock of the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, a new concern is coming into focus. New York and New Jersey have dozens of superfund sites close to the shore. Some of these toxic zones were flooded by Sandy's storm surge.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Ilya Marritz, of member station WNYC, reports that in New Jersey's largest city there are worries that toxic chemicals may have been swept into people's homes.

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NPR Story
2:44 am
Mon November 19, 2012

The Last Word In Business

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And our last word in business: Twinkie rush.

Hostess Brands today begins the process of selling off its assets in a bankruptcy court in New York. That process has struck fear in the hearts of lovers of the sugary-sweet Hostess products, like Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Ho Hos. Sensing a Twinkie panic and a possible shortage, over the weekend some entrepreneurs took to eBay, offering up many Hostess brands at some very exorbitant prices.

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

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NPR Story
2:44 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Politics In The News

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne.

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

And I'm Linda Wertheimer.

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NPR Story
2:44 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Obama Visits Myanmar

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

President Obama paid a historic visit to Myanmar today. The southeast Asian country, also known as Burma, is tiptoeing towards democracy after almost 50 years in military rule. Mr. Obama met with the former leader who is now the president of Burma and with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is not a member of parliament after years of house arrest. The visit is the centerpiece of the president's three-day Asian tour, which is meant to underscore the United States' growing involvement in the region.

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Shots - Health News
1:28 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Caffeine Gives Endurance Athletes A Third And Fourth Wind

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

The Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, is an extreme event — a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride, topped off by a marathon.

Throughout the event, racers drink plenty of fluids and eat energy bars or gels. Most also take a performance-enhancing substance that is legal and effective — caffeine.

"While I'm racing, caffeine is actually a pretty important part of my day, particularly in the Ironman, where it's such a long race," says Sarah Piampiano, a professional triathlete.

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Business
1:27 am
Mon November 19, 2012

The Past And Future Of America's Biggest Retailers

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

It's an anniversary that most Americans can celebrate — the birthday of the big-box store. Discount shopping as we know it began 50 years ago. In 1962, enterprising retailers invented Wal-Mart, Target and Kmart.

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Shots - Health News
1:26 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Can You Move It And Work It On A Treadmill Desk?

Credit Salo LLC
Employees at at Salo, a Minneapolis-based financial consulting firm, walk while working on treadmill desks. The firm offers treadmill desks for employee use and encourages an active workplace environment.

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

As we've reported, there's a backlash brewing to sedentary office life as more people realize how sitting all day can do a body wrong.

I work at home and often sit in front of my computer doing research and writing. So I thought I'd give a treadmill desk a try.

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It's All Politics
1:25 am
Mon November 19, 2012

In Fiscal Cliff Talks, Higher Taxes Vs. Closing Loopholes

Credit Carolyn Kaster / AP
President Obama, accompanied by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, speaks to reporters at the White House on Friday during a meeting to discuss the fiscal cliff.

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:38 am

The White House and Congress continue to work on a deal that avoids the fiscal cliff and cuts deficits in the long run. One of the biggest hurdles is President Obama's proposal to raise tax rates for the wealthy.

Republicans think a better course would be to raise revenue by closing loopholes and limiting deductions for high-income people. The question is, could that method raise enough money.

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Author Interviews
1:23 am
Mon November 19, 2012

Anne Lamott Distills Prayer Into 'Help, Thanks, Wow'

Credit Sam Lamott / Riverhead Books
Anne Lamott is the best-selling author of Some Assembly Required, Grace (Eventually), Plan B and Traveling Mercies.

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 8:44 am

As Thanksgiving draws near, many of us are thinking about what we're thankful for — taking time to consider how best to appreciate what we have in our lives. This year, novelist and memoirist Anne Lamott has focused on using prayer to help express our thanks. Many of her books explore how individuals can transform their lives — how one moves from being troubled to feeling whole. In Lamott's case, she suffered from alcoholism and drug abuse; after hitting rock bottom, she found her faith.

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The Salt
1:23 am
Mon November 19, 2012

At Burmese Dissident's Cafe, A Taste Of Politics And Salad

Originally published on Mon November 26, 2012 11:53 am

Early in life, Myat Thu knew that his destiny as a cook lay in salads. Not the light, leafy green salads that are so common in American restaurants, but heavy, hearty Burmese salads.

Myat Thu grew up in Burma, also known as Myanmar. He was just 14 when his mother placed him in charge of making dinner. Unsure of what to prepare, he studied the salad vendors on the streets of Rangoon.

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Politics
3:25 pm
Sun November 18, 2012

Debt Talks A 'Roosevelt Moment' For Obama

Credit Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP
President Obama leaves the White House Saturday for a trip to Southeast Asia.

Originally published on Sun November 18, 2012 3:53 pm

President Obama is now about to enter into a series of difficult talks on the so-called debt ceiling and the impending fiscal cliff. Lawmakers have until Dec. 31 to come up with a deal to prevent $700 billion from being cut from the federal budget.

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Middle East
3:02 pm
Sun November 18, 2012

Few Signs Of Break In Mideast Flare-Up

Originally published on Sun November 25, 2012 7:47 am

Transcript

GUY RAZ, HOST:

It's WEEKENDS on ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Guy Raz.

Israel is now warning of a possible significant expansion of its operation aimed at Palestinian militants in Gaza. Earlier today, an Israeli air strike on a suspected Hamas target killed at least 10 people, and Hamas fired dozens of missiles into Israel. We'll get to our cover story on legacy and the Obama White House in a few moments, but first to the Middle East and our reporter in Cairo, Leila Fadel.

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Asia
3:02 pm
Sun November 18, 2012

With Eye On Mideast, Obama Tours Asia

Originally published on Sun November 25, 2012 7:47 am

Transcript

GUY RAZ, HOST:

Let's turn to another story we're following today: President Obama's visit to Asia. He's in Thailand today, the first stop on a three-country tour of Southeast Asia that will take him to Myanmar, the country also known as Burma.

NPR's Scott Horsley is traveling with the president and joins us now. And, Scott, the president obviously trying to shine the spotlight on Asia, but all in the midst of escalating violence in the Middle East. How is he staying on top of it?

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Around the Nation
3:02 pm
Sun November 18, 2012

Sandy's Other Victim: Art Galleries

Originally published on Sun November 18, 2012 3:53 pm

Art galleries in Chelsea were devastated by the flooding in New York City during Hurricane Sandy. According to just one insurer, the cost to Chelsea exceeds $40 million in lost or damaged work.

Music Interviews
2:33 pm
Sun November 18, 2012

Armed With Age And Experience, Soundgarden Returns

Credit Courtesy of the artist
King Animal is Soundgarden's first studio album in 15 years.

Originally published on Sun November 18, 2012 5:11 pm

Author Interviews
2:06 pm
Sun November 18, 2012

A Far-Out And Forgotten Renaissance Man

Originally published on Mon November 19, 2012 8:29 am

Back in the 17th century, right around the time when the ideas of great thinkers like Descartes and Newton and Hobbes began to shape the world, a Jesuit priest named Athanasius Kircher also tried to make his mark.

Kircher was something of a jack-of-all-trades. He wrote more than 30 books; he was a philosopher, an inventor, a historian, a scientist. Back in his day, everyone knew about him. But it didn't help his reputation that many of his theories and inventions just couldn't hold water.

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The Two-Way
12:04 pm
Sun November 18, 2012

Lawmakers Have More Questions On Benghazi Talking Points

Credit Alex Wong / Getty Images
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence chairwoman Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Originally published on Mon November 19, 2012 5:27 am

Lawmakers want to know who made changes to the intelligence assessment of the deadly Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said Congress had asked the White House to explain the Obama administration's talking points in the aftermath of the attack.

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Movies
11:56 am
Sun November 18, 2012

Kids Prove They're No Pawns In 'Brooklyn Castle'

Originally published on Mon November 19, 2012 5:23 am

There's a public middle school in Brooklyn, N.Y., called Intermediate School 318, or I.S. 318. Like others in the area, it's a Title I school, which means it has a poverty level that's more than 65 percent. But unlike other schools, it's got the highest-ranked junior-high chess team in the nation. In fact, Brooklyn IS 3-18 has won more than 30 national chess titles.

I.S. 318 is the subject of a new documentary called Brooklyn Castle. The film has picked up audience awards at the SXSW and Hot Docs film festivals.

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Books News & Features
10:59 am
Sun November 18, 2012

Book-Vending Machine Dispenses Suspense

Credit Craig Small / via Vimeo

Originally published on Sun November 18, 2012 3:53 pm

Earlier this year, Stephen Fowler, owner of The Monkey's Paw used-book store in Toronto, had an idea.

He wanted a creative way to offload his more ill-favored books — "old and unusual" all, as the store's motto goes — that went further than a $1 bin by the register.

It came in a conversation with his wife: a vending machine.

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The Two-Way
10:57 am
Sun November 18, 2012

Three Dead In Egypt Clashes Over Plot Of Land

At least three people were killed as Egyptian troops clashed with protesters Sunday in Cairo in a dispute over a plot of land on an island in the Nile River.

Kimberly Adams reported on the clash for NPR's Newscast Unit. Here's what she said:

"Egyptian state media reported several army troops and protesters were injured in the four-hour gunfight in southern Cairo. Army troops arrested more than a dozen of the protesters.

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The Two-Way
8:11 am
Sun November 18, 2012

Airstrikes Hit Media Buildings In Gaza; Diplomatic Efforts Mount

Credit Marco Longari / AFP/Getty Images
Smoke billows from the local Al-Aqsa TV station in Gaza City Sunday after an Israeli airstrike.

Originally published on Sun November 25, 2012 7:45 am

The Israeli bombardment of Gaza continued Sunday — with one missile strike flattening a two-story building in Gaza City, killing at least 11 people, including women and children; another hit a media building and injured six journalists. Israel says its actions have been prompted by a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, targeting Israeli cities. Meanwhile, diplomatic negotiations are under way, but Israel is continuing preparations for a ground invasion.

Update at 7:42 p.m. ET: State Department Comments

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The Two-Way
6:41 am
Sun November 18, 2012

Austin Hosts The World With The Return Of F1

Originally published on Mon November 19, 2012 6:39 am

Update at 4:05 p.m. ET: Lewis Hamilton of the legendary McLaren team wins the inaugural F1 race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Hamilton — the 2008 series champion — also won the race the last time it was run in America, five years ago in Indianapolis. Championship leader Sebastian Vettel placed second today in a closely fought race.

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