Weekend Edition Sunday
Bernie Madoff Auction Puts A Price On Irony
There's something a little tawdry about tables and cases filled with old jewelry purses, watches, duck decoys and golf clubs, even if they once belonged to a wealthy crook. The man who orchestrated the greatest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history is behind bars with a 150-year prison term, and now many of his belongings also have new homes.
Sea Glass A Disappearing Treasure
Most people visit the beach for its natural beauty. But reporter Nancy Cohen of member station WNPR in Hartford, Connecticut, introduces us to a woman who visits the beach for its trash.
Hawaii Is Diverse, But Far From A Racial Paradise
The state is known for its "Aloha Spirit" — a diverse mix of friendly people living on an island paradise. The rainbow of cultures its residents brag about is no exaggeration, but some say that beneath the veneer of geniality are deep-seated ethnic and racial tensions between the island's white community and native Hawaiians.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Memory Champ An Unforgettable Winner
Losing your car keys, forgetting an anniversary, leaving water running in the bathtub; there are countless ways our memories can fail us. But when you put your mind to it, your brain can do amazing things. Take, for example, Ben Pridmore. He just won the World Memory Championships, held Saturday in London. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Pridmore, who had to memorize hundreds of numbers, dates and even decks of cards in order to prove his mental prowess.
Obama Tests The Air In China
President Obama is in Shanghai Sunday on his first visit to China. The formal agenda includes trade relations, security issues, human rights and climate change. He's hoping to win China's help in efforts to stop nuclear programs in North Korea and Iran. The huge trade imbalance between the two countries is also likely to be a topic. Host Liane Hansen talks with NPR's Louisa Lim.
Mike Cahill, The Only Civilian To Die At Fort Hood
Funerals are being held this weekend for some of the 13 people killed in the Fort Hood shootings. Among them is a service for 62-year-old Mike Cahill, whose family and friends are gathering in Cameron, Texas. Nathan Bernier of member station KUT reports.
Boosted Federal Funds Give Arts, Humanities New Significance
At the end of October, President Obama signed a bill into law which will increase the budgets of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities by $12.5 million each. Host Liane Hansen speaks with NEH Chairman Jim Leach about the increased funding and how he views the role of the humanities in today's political life.
These Days, Anne Rice Prefers Angels
Anne Rice doesn't write about vampires anymore, but in her latest book she turns her attention to another supernatural being: angels. Host Liane Hansen talks with Anne Rice about contemporary vampire fervor and her novel, Angel Time.
Governor Says Vt. Reforms Could Be Health Care Model
This week, the Senate is expected to release its version of health care overhaul legislation. Questions remain about what a Senate bill will look like. One issue will be whether it includes government-sponsored health insurance, also known as the public option. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Republican governor Jim Douglas of Vermont, who chairs the National Governors Association. He says Vermont's own state-initiated reforms could serve as a model for national changes in health care policy.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Your Letters: How To Squeeze Juice From Ginger
Host Liane Hansen answers letters about last week's ginger recipe contest — and offers some instructions on getting juice from ginger root.
Swine Flu Spreading Faster Globally Than Expected
The H1N1 flu virus is now the dominant influenza virus around the globe, according to the World Health Organization. The agency has declared the swine flu outbreak a pandemic, with nearly 500,000 confirmed cases and over 6,000 deaths reported worldwide. Host Liane Hansen speaks with the WHO flu specialist Dr. Anthony Mounts about the spread of the virus and the global response.
'Pirate Radio' Director Was A Fan First
In 1964, a music agent bought a ship, anchored it offshore in the North Sea, and turned it into a radio station for the rock-starved British. Director Richard Curtis' new movie, Pirate Radio tells the story of the motley crew of DJs at sea. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Curtis, whose work includes Love Actually, Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Garifuna Ethnic Group Seeks Voice In New York City
For centuries, home has been a transient notion for the ethnic community known as the Garifuna. Pushed around the Caribbean region for centuries by various colonial powers, many sought safe haven in New York City beginning in the 1940s. They've kept coming in small waves, but have maintained a low profile — until now.
Alex Cuba: Cuban Soul That Runs In The Family
Alexis Puentes' father was so particular about his children's musical education that he controlled the music Alexis listened to. As Alex Cuba, he filters his father's musical influence through the likes of Ray Charles. Here, he performs songs from his new album.
Alex Cuba: Cuban Soul That Runs In The Family
Alexis Puentes' father was so particular about his children's musical education that he controlled the music Alexis listened to. As Alex Cuba, he filters his father's musical influence through the likes of Ray Charles. Here, he performs songs from his new album.
Prostitution Now Outlawed In R.I., But Is That Good?
Until earlier this month, Rhode Island was the only place in the country where prostitution was legal across an entire state. A new law has closed the loophole that legalized prostitution if it took place indoors, but it's also fueling concerns that victims of the sex trade are being put at even more risk.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Americans' Savings Offer Little Shelter For Rainy Day
Many families are living with what one researcher calls "financial fragility." That is they're just one job loss — or even one car breakdown — away from tumbling into real financial trouble.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

Japan Wants U.S. To Move Out; Can They Still Be Friends?
This week, President Obama is scheduled to begin a 10-day tour of Asia. He is expected to visit Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea. A variety of topics will be on the agenda, including trade relations, North Korea's nuclear ambitions and climate change. When the president visits Japan, he'll have several issues in mind, including a dispute over U.S. military bases in that country. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki about U.S.-Japan relations.
House Health Care Vote Makes History
The House of Representatives passed a bill to overhaul the nation's health care system Saturday night. The vote was close, 220-215, and it only included a single Republican. To pass the bill, Democrats also had to allow a controversial amendment banning abortion funding in both public and private plans in the new marketplaces the bill would create. But as NPR's Julie Rovner reports, passage represents a major hurdle cleared for President Obama's top domestic priority.
Mixed Race Americans Picture A 'Blended Nation'
The 2000 U.S. census was the first to give Americans the option to check more than one box for race. Nearly 7 million people declared themselves to be multiracial, a number that's expected to shoot up in the 2010 count. As more of the nation's population identifies itself as being of mixed race, the authors of a new book say Americans' ideas of racial identity are in for a challenge.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us

