NPR Blogs

Pages

Krulwich Wonders...
10:37 am
Thu September 27, 2012

Who Wants To Eat Jellyfish Omelettes? Dolphin Meatballs? Mouse-On-Toast? These Guys

Originally published on Fri September 28, 2012 10:14 am

Foodwise, we live in choosy times, mostly choosing "no thank you."

More and more of us choose not to eat meat or fish or eggs or fatty foods. We don't want anything too sugary, too fried, too raw, too strange. We tiptoe through the grocery as if it's a danger zone, hoping not to be tempted by a glazed doughnut.

Read more
The Two-Way
10:34 am
Thu September 27, 2012

Search For Jimmy Hoffa Leads To Driveway Near Detroit

The 37-year-old search for Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa moves to a driveway in Roseville, Mich., on Friday.

"Police will be taking soil core samples," the Detroit Free Press reports, after receiving what they say is a "credible" tip that around the time of Hoffa's 1975 disappearance someone was buried under what's now a driveway in a Roseville residential neighborhood.

Read more
The Two-Way
9:47 am
Thu September 27, 2012

Photos: Inside And Around North Korea's Still-Unfinished 'Hotel Of Doom'

Construction of the Ryugyong hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea, began in 1987 — but was halted for 16 years by a lack of funds. The still-unfinished 105-story skyscraper has become something of a symbol of that nation's "thwarted ambitions," as the BBC says.

Read more
The Two-Way
9:11 am
Thu September 27, 2012

'13' Brings Luck For A Mystery $200 Million Powerball Winner

Credit Amber Hunt / AP

One unidentified lottery player likes a little irony with his win. Wednesday's winner of the valuable interstate Powerball lottery played these numbers: 13-26-39-41-42. The Powerball number was 10. Interestingly, the first three numbers played are all connected with 13.

Read more
The Two-Way
8:54 am
Thu September 27, 2012

Orders Plunge, GDP Growth Revised Down

A huge drop in demand for cars, aircraft and other transportation equipment pulled down orders for so-called durable goods in August, the Census Bureau says.

Orders fell 13.2 percent, "the largest decrease since January 2009."

Read more
The Two-Way
8:22 am
Thu September 27, 2012

Actor Herbert Lom, Exasperated 'Pink Panther' Police Chief, Dies

Credit Keystone / Getty Images
Herbert Lom, left, as police chief Charles Dreyfus and Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau in the 1976 film The Pink Panther Strikes Again.

He was in more than 100 films, including such classics as Spartacus and El Cid.

But actor Herbert Lom, who died in London today at the age of 95, is best known as the perpetually peeved, increasingly insane police chief Charles Dreyfus in the Pink Panther films.

Read more
The Two-Way
8:00 am
Thu September 27, 2012

Netanyahu To Press For 'Red Line' On Iran

Originally published on Thu October 4, 2012 11:47 am

When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the U.N. General Assembly today he will "argue for the need to set a 'red line' for Iran's nuclear program," Reuters reports.

NPR's Michele Kelemen adds that Netanyahu has "been urging the Obama administration to spell out clear red lines that would trigger military action" against Iran if it appears to be near to developing or acquiring nuclear weapons.

Read more
The Two-Way
7:30 am
Thu September 27, 2012

We Have A Ruling: NFL Referees Are Returning To The Field

Credit Shaun Best / Reuters /Landov
They'll be welcomed back by fans: Regular NFL refs will be on the job again starting tonight. (2006 file photo.)

Originally published on Thu September 27, 2012 7:34 am

  • Mike Pesca and Steve Inskeep

The not-so-long, not-so-much of a national nightmare is over.

Regular NFL officials will be on the field starting with tonight's game now that the league and its referees union have reached tentative agreement on a new, eight-year contract.

Read more
The Salt
3:39 am
Thu September 27, 2012

New Anti-Obesity Ads Blaming Overweight Parents Spark Criticism

Credit courtesy Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
A controversial ad by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota shows an overweight shopper and her daughter buying junk food.

Originally published on Thu September 27, 2012 4:50 am

The Two-Way
6:17 pm
Wed September 26, 2012

Some Rental Computer Users Got More Than They Bargained For

Credit iStockphoto
Ever feel like someone is watching you? The Federal Trade Commission finds you could be right — if you've used a rental computer.

Originally published on Thu September 27, 2012 9:12 am

Rent-to-own companies may have a right to use software to track the computers they lease out — and disable them remotely if a customer stops making payments.

But they don't have the right to spy on their customers, which is exactly what the Federal Trade Commission says took place. The agency found that the compromised data included everything from passwords to highly personal images.

Read more
The Two-Way
5:59 pm
Wed September 26, 2012

What If Google Were Run By Replacement Engineers?

Credit Replacement Google
A spoof site launched by Erik Johnson pretends to offer Google's search engine — if it were run by replacements.

Frustration over the NFL's not-ready-for-primetime replacement referees has inspired web designer Erik Johnson to present Google as if its search engine had replacement engineers at the controls. The result is a web page that looks a lot like the standard Google Search page — with a note that it is sponsored by the NFL.

Read more
The Two-Way
5:18 pm
Wed September 26, 2012

UC OKs $1 Million Settlement In Pepper-Spray Suit

Credit Thomas K. Fowler / AP
Nov. 18, 2011: Occupy protesters get sprayed at University of California Davis.

Originally published on Thu September 27, 2012 6:44 am

The Two-Way
5:10 pm
Wed September 26, 2012

Army General Faces Sexual Misconduct Charges

Originally published on Thu September 27, 2012 7:42 am

Months after his sudden removal from his post in Afghanistan, Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair has been charged with multiple violations of the military's Uniform Code, ranging from wrongful sexual conduct to several rules violations.

For our Newscast desk, NPR's Tom Bowman reports that "Sinclair faces multiple counts of sexual misconduct and maltreatment of subordinates, as well as charges he violated orders by possessing alcohol and pornography while deployed."

Read more
The Salt
3:51 pm
Wed September 26, 2012

Greek Credit Crisis Forces Winemakers, Food Canners To Adapt

Originally published on Wed September 26, 2012 5:54 pm

When the economic crisis erupted in Greece and the bottom fell out of the domestic wine market, the Kir-Yianni vineyard outside picturesque Naoussa decided to adapt. Like other wineries in Greece, it has increasingly tapped the export market, successfully marketing and selling wine in Europe, the United States and even China.

"If you ask me, this crisis has been good for us," says Stellios Boutaris, the son of the company's founder. "It's going to make us stronger."

Read more

Pages