Testing Node Insert

Today on Word of Mouth, we visit the dark world of 19th-century New England. Author Hannah Tinti has been compared to Charles Dickens for her debut novel, The Good Thief. We’ll also be transported to Hollywood, via Vermont. This weekend’s Brattleboro Literary Festival will host seminars on poetry, plays and novels, but this year the festival adds screenplays to the mix. We’ll continue the theme with a revered film critic’s suggestion of 1,000 must-see movies. Plus, what Andy Warhol’s portraits did for the celebrity-obsessed world of politics.

(Photo by Rupert Ganzer)

Today on Word of Mouth, modern artists like Devendra Banhart, Iron & Wine, and Animal Collective are reinventing the sound of traditional music. Journalist Amanda Petrusich travelled the South, probing the history of Americana and drawing connections between today’s artists and those who blazed their paths. Plus, some art collectors are expanding their horizons and finding pieces based on our computer-driven world. We’ll also hear how scientists are growing natural plastic inside of plants, and we get a roundup of new gadgets that would impress your geekiest friends.

(Photo by NRK P3)

Today on Word of Mouth, the past and future of Google. The company has been growing steadily since its start 10 years ago, and we continue to weave its products into the fabric of our lives. Plus, remember when “google” wasn’t a verb? We take a look at the new words and phrases spawned by the Internet age. And the influential alt-country magazine No Depression re-launches as a website today, after folding this spring.

(Photo by keso s)

Today on Word of Mouth, what are your kids eating for lunch? If they’re buying it in the school cafeteria, our guest says it’s probably not very good for them. We’ll meet a chef who’s on a mission to improve school lunches around the country. Also, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance 40 years later. We well talk with a Journalist who retraced author Robert Pirsig’s iconic bike ride to California. And we find out what scientists are learning about how genetics influence our intelligence.

(Photo by Laura Mundee)

Today on Word of Mouth, tuna and mercury: We talk to an investigative reporter who says industry insiders are fighting stricter regulations for mercury levels in tuna. We'll also here about a "dial-a-fish" program that helps shoppers and diners pick the right fish to eat. We also take a look at magnetic levitation trains that hover over the rails as they zip along the tracks, and we talk with the director of a new documentary on rock 'n' roller Patti Smith. Plus, we find out what's happening on international blogs with another Global Voices update.

(Photo by Eva E. Davier)

Today on Word of Mouth, cognitive psychologist Daniel Levitin discusses how early humans adapted music and how the songs and rhythms passed down the line helped the human brain develop. We’ll also hear music writer Johann Kugelberg’s ode to the rock band t-shirts he wore while growing up in Sweden. Plus, we preview a modern dance piece that looks at religion and sexuality. And we find out what the super heroes of developmentally disabled artists look like.

(Photo by Michelle Jung)

Today on Word of Mouth, we’ll find out how the blogosphere’s take on America’s economic woes differ from the mainstream press, and we’ll talk to an economist who says we need more government policies that reward innovation. Plus, researchers in California are using the economic downturn to measure people’s online behavior. Also, reviews of the new films that screened at this weekend’s "Telluride by the Sea” festival in Portsmouth. And we’ll hear how marketing firms are co-opting an underground movement of performance art.

(Photo by Tracy O)

Today on Word of Mouth, as crows and ravens have evolved in the company of humans, research shows they can recognize, and remember, human faces. Plus, the exotic animal trade is booming, but abandoned tigers are overwhelming zoos and sanctuaries. And we hear how Congress is being asked to remedy "nature deficit disorder" in kids. We’ll also hear from a reporter who spent a year inside of a big-city hospital and came away with some cautionary tales about the U.S. health care system, and get some tips on finding financial opinions on the Web.

(Photo by Adrian Clark)

Today on Word of Mouth, we get an insider’s view of book publishing - CEO heads are rolling, A-list authors jumping ship, upstart imprints, and video trailers for books. Plus, experts say the world’s soil is in big trouble, threatening lives and livelihoods. We’ll also hear from a biologist who says nature is composing a symphony all around us - we just have to stop and listen. Plus, a preview of some weekend events that will make you proud to live in New England.

(Photo by Darren Hester)

Today on Word of Mouth, Delaware is on track to be the first state to build off-shore wind farms to generate power. We’ll find out why residents there are embracing the technology other states have eschewed. Plus, we’ll hear how Google hopes to harness the power of the sea for floating data centers. And fifty writers take on fifty states: Some of the most insightful authors of our time dig deep into the cultural landscape of America.