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3:12 am
Tue March 12, 2013

Mexican President Shifts Focus From Drugs To Progress

Originally published on Tue March 12, 2013 3:48 am

Mexico's new president, Enrique Peña Nieto, has been in office for three months, and despite his claims that he's fighting drug violence with a new strategy, there are no signs the situation is any better. The president prefers to focus on Mexico's economic potential and has been touring the country, giving pep talks wherever he goes.

All Tech Considered
2:29 am
Tue March 12, 2013

Self-Tracking Apps To Help You 'Quantify' Yourself

Credit Elise Hu / NPR
Noah Zandan shows off his Zeo sleep-tracking headband. His other self-tracking devices are on his wrists. Noah and his father, Peter, are both part of the growing "Quantified Self" movement.

Originally published on Tue March 12, 2013 9:11 am

Technology has made it easier than ever to track your activity levels, your sleep cycles, how you spend your time, and more. The self-trackers who near-obsessively capture and analyze their own data are part of a growing "Quantified Self" movement.

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The Salt
1:58 am
Tue March 12, 2013

Mississippi Passes 'Anti-Bloomberg' Bill

Originally published on Wed March 13, 2013 3:11 pm

Mayor Mike and his public health edicts are having a rough ride.

On Monday, a state judge in Manhattan struck down New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's rule capping soda sizes. And lawmakers in Mississippi are taking the backlash against government regulation on food marketing one step further.

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Latin America
1:58 am
Tue March 12, 2013

In Upcoming Venezuelan Vote, Hugo Chavez Looms Large

Originally published on Tue March 12, 2013 3:17 am

The tall and imposing Nicolas Maduro stepped forward last week to be sworn in as Venezuela's interim leader following the death of President Hugo Chavez.

Before the country's packed congressional hall, he swore to complete Chavez's dream to transform the OPEC power into a socialist state, allied with Cuba and decidedly opposed to capitalism and U.S. interests in Latin America.

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Arts & Life
1:51 am
Tue March 12, 2013

'Bowery Boys' Are Amateur But Beloved New York Historians

Originally published on Mon March 18, 2013 2:12 pm

In the 19th century, the Bowery Boys were a street gang that ruled that small section of Manhattan. In the 21st century, the Bowery Boys are two best friends — Tom Meyers and Greg Young — who record a do-it-yourself podcast with the same name.

Meyers and Young love to perform almost as much as they love New York City, and their show traces the unofficial history of the place. They record a few blocks from — you guessed it — the Bowery district.

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Financial Basics For Baby Boomers
1:49 am
Tue March 12, 2013

From Grief Comes A Mission To Make Estate Planning Less Daunting

Originally published on Tue March 12, 2013 3:17 am

Estate planning may seem like a pain, but imagine the mess you leave to those managing your affairs if you don't draw up a will or get life insurance.

"It takes really just a few hours now, rather than a pile of hours and thousands of dollars to do it later when you really need it done," says Chanel Reynolds, who created a website geared to help people get their affairs in order.

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All Tech Considered
5:04 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Like This Post On Facebook — It Might Reveal Something About You

Credit Anatoliy Babiy / iStockphoto

Originally published on Tue March 12, 2013 9:13 am

Those Facebook likes? they may be reveal more about you than you realize.

A study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says Facebook likes "can be used to automatically and accurately predict a range of highly sensitive personal attributes including: sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious and political views, personality traits, intelligence, happiness, use of addictive substances, parental separation, age, and gender."

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The Two-Way
4:47 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

WATCH: Two Dance Videos That'll Make Your Day

Credit YouTube
A boss learning some moves from his employees.
The Two-Way
4:26 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Claims Of A Meteorite's Ancient Aquatic Fossils Spark Debate

Credit Journal of Cosmology
Images show what researchers say could be a "hystrichosphere," a fossilized dinoflagellate cyst.

A meteorite that lit the sky over Sri Lanka with a yellow and green flame when it fell to earth on Dec. 29, 2012, contains "fossilized biological structures," according to researchers in Britain, Sri Lanka, and the United States. Elaborating on claims they first made in January, the scientists are also seeking to answer critics who are skeptical of their findings.

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The Two-Way
4:18 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Alleged Colorado Theater Shooter Could Face Medicated Interviews

Credit AP
James Holmes in a photo from the Arapahoe County (Colo.) Sheriff's Office.

The judge in charge of the case against the alleged Colorado theater shooter said he would warn James Holmes that if he pleads not guilty by reason of insanity he could be drugged for interviews with the state.

Denver's ABC affiliate reports:

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Music Interviews
4:00 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

A Pioneer Of 'Chillwave,' On California's Complications

Credit Andrew Paynter / Courtesy of the artist
Toro y Moi's latest album is titled Anything in Return.

Originally published on Thu March 14, 2013 7:48 pm

Religion
3:36 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

No Clear Frontrunner For Next Pope On The Eve Of Cardinals' Conclave

Originally published on Tue March 12, 2013 6:18 am

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

This is a big week at the Vatican. The cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church will enter the Sistine Chapel tomorrow for a conclave to elect the next pope. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli is in Rome and has been talking with the faithful.

SYLVIA POGGIOLI, BYLINE: Small groups of people wander through St. Peter's Square. There's a sense of excitement, but also trepidation. These pilgrims came all the way from Brazil. Sister Paola Schneider is praying the cardinals will be inspired to make the right choice.

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Asia
3:36 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

North Korea Severs 'Hotline' Communication With The South After Sanctions

North Korean authorities cut off their "hotline" communication with South Korea on Monday as part of their announced withdrawal from the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War in 1953. The move came amid a flurry of bellicose North Korean threats, coinciding with the beginning today of joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises. The White House also vowed anew to protect U.S. forces and South Korean allies against any threats from the North. Analysts say it is among the most dangerous moments on the Korean peninsula in several years.

Business
3:36 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Betting Site Intrade Shuts Down Under Mysterious Circumstances

The online betting market Intrade has shut down. Intrade allowed customers to wager on the outcome of events such as presidential elections. The company says all betting is on hold until it can investigate possible financial irregularities.

Research News
3:36 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Mummy Study Shows Heart Disease Could Be A Natural Human Condition

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Ever wonder why mummies always sound like they're suffering from serious indigestion?

(SOUNDBITE OF SCOOBY DOO SEGMENT)

CARTOON CHARACTER #1: Golly, look.

CARTOON CHARACTER #2: That's a mummy and it's moving.

CORNISH: A little "Scooby Doo" for you there. But that mummy sounds like a cry for some Tums, right?

(SOUNDBITE OF A GROWL)

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The Salt
3:29 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Sleep Less, Eat More, Gain Weight

Originally published on Wed March 13, 2013 3:11 pm

Tired? Surely those cookies will help. And a burger. Chips. And a cupcake. Yeah, soda, too.

People do eat more when they're short of sleep. And that impulse to snarf when sleepy can cause quick weight gain, according to a new study.

Since Americans are chronically sleep deprived, it's no wonder that our waistlines have been expanding. One-third of American workers say they're sleeping six or fewer hours a night, compared with the seven to nine hours recommended.

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The Two-Way
3:21 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

China Calls For Rules, U.S. Calls For End Of Cyberattacks

In separate events, the Chinese and American governments called for standards regarding cyberattacks.

The New York Times reports that in a speech, today, President Obama's national security adviser, Thomas E. Donilon, called on China to takes steps to stop the attacks.

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Television
3:17 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

A New TV Archetype: The Spunky Yet Obsessive Female 'Hummingbird'

Originally published on Mon March 11, 2013 4:44 pm

It's pilot season, that time of year when television networks create and test new shows with hopes of turning out the next big thing. But whatever new plots they come up with, it's safe to say that they will turn to the safety of a limited number of character archetypes: the lovable loser, the charming rogue, the desperate housewife.

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Technology
3:17 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

3-D Printing, Cat Videos The Hot Topic At SXSW Interactive Conference

Originally published on Mon March 11, 2013 3:36 pm

This week is the South by Southwest Interactive conference in Austin, Texas. It's where the big thinkers of the tech industry get together; this year's hot topics include 3-D printing and cat videos.

Education
3:17 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Harvard Searched Resident Dean's Email Accounts After Cheating Scandal Leak

Originally published on Tue March 12, 2013 6:14 am

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

You're listening to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News.

Faculty and staff at Harvard University are in an uproar after learning that college administrators searched employee emails. Harvard was looking for the source of a leak to the media about a cheating scandal last year.

Now, Harvard staff say they feel cheated, as Curt Nickisch reports from member station WBUR.

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Digital Life
3:17 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Blocking SXSW Tweets Can Help Mute The Noise From Austin

Originally published on Tue March 12, 2013 7:48 am

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Even if you're not at South by Southwest, it still may be impossible to avoid reading about it on Twitter if you have friends there. But there are ways to mute those tweets.

So we turn to Dylan Tweney, a tweet connoisseur, for some advice.

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Law
3:17 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Former Detroit Mayor Convicted Of Corruption, Racketeering

Originally published on Mon March 11, 2013 3:36 pm

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, was convicted on a variety of corruption charges in federal court in Detroit on Monday. He was convicted on 24 of 30 charges and faces a maximum 20 years in prison.

The Salt
2:51 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Judge Overturns New York City Ban On Big Sugary Sodas

Credit Mario Tama / Getty Images
A customer fills a 21-ounce cup with soda at a New York City McDonald's.

Originally published on Mon March 11, 2013 6:06 pm

A New York state judge has knocked down New York City's landmark new ban on big, sugary drinks, just one day before it was set to take effect.

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Remembrances
2:49 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Remembering Lillian Cahn, Creator Of The Coach Handbag

Originally published on Mon March 11, 2013 3:36 pm

Lillian Cahn, co-founder of Coach Leatherwear Co., died March 4 at the age of 89. Cahn was the force behind today's high-end leather handbags.

Back in the 1960s, she and her husband, Miles Cahn, were running a leather goods business in Manhattan. They produced men's wallets and billfolds but wanted to expand.

"My wife had a great sense of style, and she made the suggestions that we men maybe were a little thoughtless about," Miles Cahn says with a laugh. "Among her many suggestions was: 'Why don't we make pocketbooks?' I like to tell people I scoffed at the suggestion."

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Around the Nation
2:47 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Owens Valley Salty As Los Angeles Water Battle Flows Into Court

Originally published on Mon March 11, 2013 4:30 pm

In the West, fights over water last a long time.

It's been almost 100 years since William Mulholland stood atop an aqueduct along the Owens River and said, "There it is, take it." He was referring to a diversion channel that started piping water to Los Angeles from 200 miles away. That water allowed L.A. to become the metropolis it is today.

But it also meant that the Owens River no longer flowed into the massive Owens Lake, which quickly dried up and became one of the biggest environmental disasters in the nation.

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It's All Politics
2:41 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Ben Carson Says No Apology Needed After Controversial Speech

Credit Brian Witte / AP
Dr. Ben Carson, right, signs a book for Delegate William Frank in Annapolis, Md., on Friday.

Originally published on Thu March 21, 2013 11:35 am

Anyone still looking for Dr. Ben Carson to apologize for criticizing President Obama's policies to his face at the recent National Prayer Breakfast, won't hear one in his conversation with host Michel Martin's of NPR's Tell Me More.

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It's All Politics
2:38 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Obama Team Stops Saying 'Global War On Terror' But Doesn't Stop Waging It

Credit J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Standing in front of the Constitution, President Obama delivers an address on national security and terrorism in 2009 at the National Archives in Washington.

Originally published on Mon March 11, 2013 3:36 pm

After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush often made a provocative claim: He argued that the U.S. was fighting a war without a typical battlefield. In effect, he said, this war is everywhere.

"Our enemies make no distinction based on borders," he said in a 2007 speech in Michigan. "They view the world as a giant battlefield and will strike wherever they can."

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Business
2:27 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

In Trendy World Of Fast Fashion, Styles Aren't Made To Last

Originally published on Mon March 11, 2013 3:36 pm

When she got out of college and moved to New York, Elizabeth Cline liked to shop at vintage-clothing stores. They were the kinds of places tucked away on side streets in Manhattan and Brooklyn, where a lot of hunting and a little luck might reward you with a great, inexpensive cocktail dress that no one else had.

Then she discovered the world of "fast fashion" — chains like Forever 21, H&M and Zara — and it redefined her whole notion of bargain shopping.

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The Impact Of War Project
1:51 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Four-Legged Warriors Show Signs Of PTSD

Originally published on Mon March 11, 2013 6:04 pm

For years, PTSD — or post-traumatic stress disorder — has been an issue for military members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

But humans aren't the only ones with problems. Military dogs returning from war zones are also showing signs of PTSD. And there's evidence that these canines need some extra tender loving care after their tours of duty.

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The Two-Way
1:30 pm
Mon March 11, 2013

Former Sen. Larry Craig Argues His Bathroom Antics Were Part Of His Work

Credit Alex Wong / Getty Images
Former Sen. Larry Craig, a Republican from Idaho.

Originally published on Tue March 12, 2013 4:40 am

Lawyers for former Sen. Larry Craig argued today that using campaign money for a legal defense over his 2007 arrest was proper because he was arrested while on official business.

If you recall, Craig, a Republican from Idaho, was arrested during a sting at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Craig used a bathroom there during a layover, when an undercover officer said Craig sexually solicited him by tapping his foot.

Craig pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor but after his case became public he tried to renege.

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