Search results for

Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Julie McCarthy in Durban, South Africa, where the United Nations' Conference on Racism wrapped up today.

Scott Simon talks to Bennett Alan Weinberg, co-author with Bonnie K. Bealer, of The World of Caffeine: The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug. He says more than 90 percent of the world's population drinks significant amounts of caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, tea and sodas, on a daily basis, and that the discovery of caffeine was a revolutionary event.

Host Noah Adams talks to Eef Barzelay, singer and songwriter for the band Clem Snide. He and his colleagues were contacted by the producers of the NBC television show Ed to write a new theme song. Barzelay talks about three different songs he quickly wrote, plays them for us, and talks about how writing for a group of producers relies on so many unseen forces. He says it was hard to read people's minds, and sometimes what he thought was a perfect verse or chorus was outright rejected by the show.

NPR's Robert Smith follows a group of former eighth graders as they make their first nervous steps into a much bigger world -- high school. Smith's report is the first of a year-long series following students and faculty at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Wash.

Susan Stamberg's annual Thanksgiving tradition of reading her mother-in-law's recipe for cranberry relish on the air nearly came to an end this year. But patriotic spirit kept it alive.

Scott talks with Mohamed Zakariya about the stamp he designed for the United States Postal Service honoring Islam. The stamp's message is "Eid Mubarak," a greeting used by Muslims around this time of year to celebrate Islam's holy season.

Beneath the permafrost of northern Alaska, petroleum deposits fuel a political debate revived by the White House and stoked by the events of Sept. 11. Allison Aubery reports.

NPR's Eric Westervelt reports from Emmitsburg, Md., that this weekend, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation will honor the firefighters who died last year in the line of duty. Every year at this time, the Foundation places the names of fallen firefighters on a memorial at the National Fire Academy. There will be a special vigil this year to honor the New York City firefighters who died on Sept. 11. The names of those firefighters will be placed on the Fallen Firefighters Memorial this time next year.

Scott Simon talks with Mike Linstead, a news editor with BBC Monitoring in Caversham, England, about U.S. military broadcasts to the people of Afghanistan. The BCC recorded some of these broadcasts this week from their monitoring post in Caversham. Using specially fitted C-130 aircraft called "Commando Solos," U.S. forces are playing music and advising Afghan civilians to stay away from military targets in their country.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, toy retailers are anticipating that rescue- and military-related toys will be big sellers. NPR's Joshua Levs explores the appeal of fire trucks and action figures in our new, uncertain world.