Book Reviews
1:08 pm
Wed October 17, 2012

These 'Miracle Cures' Are Absurd And Delightful

Originally published on Wed October 17, 2012 4:09 pm

César Aira's The Miracle Cures of Dr. Aira is only 80 pages long, but, like many of his books, it reads with the intensity and fullness of a much longer novel. In it you'll find an eccentric flaneur, an evil archenemy, a vicious guard dog, an ambulance that goes only in a straight line.

Dr. Aira, the main character, likes to wander the streets of a town called Pringles. That this happens to be the name of the author's hometown in Argentina may or may not be significant. As he walks, he thinks up theoretical miracle cures to imagined illnesses.

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The Two-Way
1:05 pm
Wed October 17, 2012

Man Arrested For Allegedly Trying To Bomb N.Y. Federal Reserve

Credit Andrew Burton / Getty Images
A cornerstone at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in Manhattan.

Originally published on Wed October 17, 2012 2:50 pm

"Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis, 21, was arrested this morning in downtown Manhattan after he allegedly attempted to detonate what he believed to be a 1,000-pound bomb at the New York Federal Reserve Bank on Liberty Street in lower Manhattan's financial district," the FBI confirms an email just sent to reporters.

It adds that:

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The Salt
1:00 pm
Wed October 17, 2012

Test Your Food IQ: Do We Need More Farms To Grow Fruits And Veggies For All?

Credit Brad C. Bower / AP
Orchards like this one in Adams County, PA, and other U.S. farms face worldwide competition for their apples and apple products due to imports.

Think you're part of the food-literati? True or false: 13 million more acres of farmland would be required to produce enough fruit and vegetables for the daily diets of all Americans to meet U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition guidelines.

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Television
12:34 pm
Wed October 17, 2012

Jessica Lange, Back In Black For 'Horror Story'

Originally published on Wed October 17, 2012 4:09 pm

To speak with Ryan Murphy about his show American Horror Story is to hear this declaration repeatedly: "She classes up the joint."

Murphy is referring to his star, Jessica Lange, who recently won an Emmy for her role in the show's first season. If you've been a fan of Lange's film career, from Tootsie to Frances to Blue Sky, you might wonder why this treasure of the American theater, this two-time Oscar winner, is slumming in a lurid cable TV horror show.

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Shots - Health News
12:32 pm
Wed October 17, 2012

Loss Of Balance Is Leading Cause Of Elderly Falls

Credit iStockphoto.com
A recent study of people in a nursing home found that only 20 percent of falls occurred while the patient was using a walker or wheelchair.

Originally published on Wed October 17, 2012 3:19 pm

Accidental falls are one of the leading causes of injury death in people over 65 worldwide, but for a long time researchers have struggled to understand just how they happen.

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The Two-Way
12:17 pm
Wed October 17, 2012

Livestrong CEO: 'We're Proud' Lance Armstrong Founded Organization

Credit Timothy A. Clary / AFP/Getty Images
Lance Armstrong in 2010.

Originally published on Wed October 17, 2012 4:09 pm

  • Livestrong's Doug Ulman on being proud of Armstrong
  • Livestrong's Doug Ulman on the charity's mission

The CEO of the Lance Armstrong-founded cancer charity Livestrong tells NPR his organization remains proud that the cyclist and cancer survivor founded Livestrong in 1997 and wants him to remain involved in its work.

"He's our founder. He's been the inspiration for our work for so many years," Doug Ulman told All Things Considered host Melissa Block this afternoon.

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Author Interviews
11:57 am
Wed October 17, 2012

'Gershwins And Me' Tells The Stories Behind 12 Songs

Originally published on Wed October 17, 2012 1:49 pm

Long before singer and pianist Michael Feinstein became famous in his own right, he had the privilege of working closely with legendary songwriter Ira Gershwin, as his archivist and cataloger. In his new book, The Gershwins and Me: A Personal History in Twelve Songs, Feinstein writes firsthand about the musical world of the American composers and brothers, George and Ira Gershwin.

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The Two-Way
11:57 am
Wed October 17, 2012

Australian PM's Fiery Speech, Prompts Change In Definition Of 'Misogyny'

Credit ABCNews (of Australia)
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivering her verbal takedown of the opposition.
Health
11:46 am
Wed October 17, 2012

California Health Leaders Say Healthy Families Transition Prepares State for Federal Overhaul

California health leaders say moving nearly 900,000 children in the Healthy Families program over to Medi-Cal will help the state get ready for the federal health overhaul.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Diana Dooley spoke in advance of a legislative oversight hearing on the transition.  

“There are a number of advantages for the children in the Medi-Cal program, it does give the security of knowing where their coverage will be in advance of 2014.” 

Dooley says kids in the two programs have some of the same providers.

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Environment
11:31 am
Wed October 17, 2012

Coalition of Water Providers Agree on Delta Projects

Credit Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Historical Ecology Study / San Francisco Estuary Institute-Aquatic Science Center / California Department of Fish and Game
Top, Consumnes River delta. Bottom, Sycamore Slough (south of Woodbridge Road). Both November 8, 2011. (photos by William G. Miller, Cole~Miller Photography)

A list of more than 40 short term projects to improve the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta is now in the hands of California agencies. As Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento, water providers and environmentalists are hopeful some projects will finally get off the ground.

When it comes to the state’s water, there is rarely agreement. But a coalition of Delta water managers, farmers, and environmentalists has agreed on smaller projects to protect the estuary.

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