MikeLigalig.com

In Obit, Daughters Let Dad Have Last Say About NFL's Woeful Chiefs

Loren G. "Sam" Lickteig loved the Chiefs, his family says, but was distraught about how bad the team has been. He was also a funny man. So in his honor, Lickteig's daughters wrote in his obituary that he died "of complications from MS and heartbreaking disappointment" caused by the football team.

Source: In Obit, Daughters Let Dad Have Last Say About NFL's Woeful Chiefs

Formula 1's U.S. Fan Base 'Understated,' Andretti Says

Formula One is immensely popular throughout much of the world, but it has failed to find a big audience in the U.S. It's been dwarfed by the homegrown culture of NASCAR and Indy racing. Mario Andretti, who won the Formula One championship in 1978, wants to change that. The racing legend talks to Steve Inskeep about the latest attempt to increase the Formula One fan base.

Source: Formula 1's U.S. Fan Base 'Understated,' Andretti Says

BCS Football Standings: Notre Dame Is No. 1

It's been 24 years since Notre Dame won college football's national championship. After a wild weekend of upsets, the Fighting Irish are in prime position to battle for the title again.

Source: BCS Football Standings: Notre Dame Is No. 1

Austin Hosts The World With The Return Of F1 Racing

The world's most-watched motorsport series races in America for the first time in five years at a new track in Texas. In an exciting race, Lewis Hamilton passes championship leader Sebastian Vettel to win. Ferrari's championship contender Fernando Alsonso finishes third, sending the title fight to the final race in Brazil.

Source: Austin Hosts The World With The Return Of F1 Racing

Court-martial affirms case vs Army colonel in bungled 2011 Basilan operation

A general court-martial upheld on Tuesday a ruling that denied the former commander of the Army’s Special Forces Regiment his motion to find him not guilty in connection with a bungled military operation in Al Barka, Basilan on Oct. 18, 2011 that left 19 men dead.

Source: Court-martial affirms case vs Army colonel in bungled 2011 Basilan operation

Freed Kiwi in child abuse case arrested again in Davao City – police

The New Zealand national nabbed last October in Davao City for statutory rape, child trafficking, and violation of Anti-Child Abuse Act, but was later released from detention due to 'technicality,' was arrested again Thursday, a police official said.

Source: Freed Kiwi in child abuse case arrested again in Davao City – police

Cotabato police file raps vs 5 alleged members of big-time syndicate

Police in Pikit town in North Cotabato have filed several charges of violation of the Anti-Carnapping Act against five suspects believed to be members of a big syndicate operating in the southern Philippines.

Source: Cotabato police file raps vs 5 alleged members of big-time syndicate

NDRRMC: 2 killed, 1 missing in wake of Mindanao floods

At least two people have been killed and one was reported missing in after floods brought by intermittent rain hit areas in Mindanao in past days, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said late Wednesday.

Source: NDRRMC: 2 killed, 1 missing in wake of Mindanao floods

DENR official: Small-scale mining in Paracale had local officials' tacit approval

Small-scale mining operations in Paracale town in Camarines Norte province, such as the one that has 12 miners trapped in its tunnel, may have had the silent approval of local officials, a Department of Environment and Natural Resources official said Thursday.

Source: DENR official: Small-scale mining in Paracale had local officials' tacit approval

Police: For now, lending firm hit in CDO blast no link with pyramid scams

At least for now, police have found no link between a lending firm believed targeted in an early-morning grenade blast in Cagayan de Oro City and recent pyramid investment scams.

Source: Police: For now, lending firm hit in CDO blast no link with pyramid scams

Floods from inter-tropical convergence zone affect 2074 people in Mindanao

Floods from rain brought by the inter-tropical convergence zone have affected at least 537 families or 2,074 people in six areas in Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Wednesday.

Source: Floods from inter-tropical convergence zone affect 2074 people in Mindanao

Two hurt in blast near police camp in Cagayan de Oro City

At least two people were reported injured in an explosion near a police camp in Cagayan de Oro City early Wednesday.

Source: Two hurt in blast near police camp in Cagayan de Oro City

10 more cops sacked over Aman Futures scam

Ten more policemen were sacked from their posts for alleged involvement in the Aman Futures pyramiding scam in Zamboanga del Sur, a police official revealed Tuesday.

Source: 10 more cops sacked over Aman Futures scam

NDRRMC: 3 killed, 13 hurt as truck crashes into CDO homes

At least three people were killed while 13 were injured after a truck crashed into three houses in Cagayan de Oro City last Sunday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

Source: NDRRMC: 3 killed, 13 hurt as truck crashes into CDO homes

ang tawa-tawa pwede kan-on as leaves. no need to boil it. good for reducing fever heat even if the sick person has no dengue symptoms.

We've stopped using MSG during the last three or four years. Fish soup tastes a lot better without MSG. Mas appreciate nimo ang tinola nga isda kung walay betsin.

Chongki, mawad-an ug negosyo ang Las Vegas ug mapildi si Pacquiao ni Marquez. Samot wala nay Mayweather mahitabo.

Rest in peace, Roger Salarda. May the Lord comfort the grieving family.

That he's too old for boxing, and he has cramps, and all that.

there is a solution. officials are just "tamad" to do it. there is no such thing as "we can't stop it" unless it is an earthquake (that is the thing of which we are all powerless).

pwede pud ni.

Sandy Stirs Up Superfund Site In New Jersey

As Northeast states take measure of the destruction brought by Hurricane Sandy, there's a new concern. New York and New Jersey have dozens of Superfund sites close to the shore. Some of these toxic zones were flooded by Sandy's storm surge. There are worries in Newark that toxic chemicals may have been swept into some people's home.

Source: Sandy Stirs Up Superfund Site In New Jersey

Al Gore: Most Americans Still Agree Climate Change Is Getting Worse

Climate change and the environment were not major topics of the presidential campaign. But the former vice president tells NPR that he's convinced "more and more people in both political parties are taking a hard look at it and saying 'yes we really do need to do something about this.' "

Source: Al Gore: Most Americans Still Agree Climate Change Is Getting Worse

In Sandy's Wake, A Reshaped Coastline

Superstorm Sandy caused billions of dollars of damage, washing away houses, boardwalks and boats. But it also washed away dunes that protect coastal communities, literally redrawing the map.

Source: In Sandy's Wake, A Reshaped Coastline

Loophole Lets Toxic Oil Water Flow Over Indian Land

Every month, oil and gas operations dump millions of gallons of wastewater on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Under a long-standing EPA loophole, it's perfectly legal. Internal agency documents obtained by NPR show the water contains toxic chemicals, including known carcinogens and radioactive materials, that end up in natural rivers.

Source: Loophole Lets Toxic Oil Water Flow Over Indian Land

BP Agrees To Pay $4.5 Billion For Gulf Oil Spill

Oil giant BP will plead guilty to criminal misconduct related to the 2010 Gulf Oil spill. The settlement deal will also include the largest-ever penalty in a criminal case, $4.5 billion.

Source: BP Agrees To Pay $4.5 Billion For Gulf Oil Spill

BP Oil Spill Has Lingering Effects In Gulf Coast

In some hot spots in the Gulf of Mexico, researchers are finding lesions in 50 to 60 percent of fish. Jim Cowan, professor of oceanography and coastal science at Louisiana State University, is one of those researchers. He tells Audie Cornish that there is great overlap between these hot spots and the region where oil was dispersed following the 2010 rupture of a BP oil well.

Source: BP Oil Spill Has Lingering Effects In Gulf Coast

BP Reaches Plea Agreement Over Gulf Oil Spill

British oil company BP agreed to pay $4 billion over five years to mostly government environmental agencies, and $525 million to settle claims with the Securities and Exchange Commission. BP will also plead guilty to 11 felony counts of misconduct or neglect related to the deaths of 11 people who died in the accident.

Source: BP Reaches Plea Agreement Over Gulf Oil Spill

BP Pleads Guilty, Will Pay $4 Billion In Criminal Penalties For Gulf Oil Spill

Eleven people were killed and one of the largest environmental disasters in history happened after an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded in 2010.

Source: BP Pleads Guilty, Will Pay $4 Billion In Criminal Penalties For Gulf Oil Spill

A 'Green' Gold Rush? Calif. Firm Turns Trash To Gas

California starts the ball rolling Wednesday on a controversial scheme to keep the planet from overheating: Businesses will have to get a permit if they emit greenhouse gases. And one California company is hoping to get in on the ground level, by turning trash into biomass energy.

Source: A 'Green' Gold Rush? Calif. Firm Turns Trash To Gas

Calif. To Begin Rationing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Starting Wednesday, the state begins America's most ambitious effort to control climate change: Big companies must limit the greenhouse gases they release ? from smokestacks to tailpipes ? and get permits for those emissions.

Source: Calif. To Begin Rationing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Online Courses Keep Grades Up, Athletes In Play

Host Scott Simon speaks to Brad Wolverton from the The Chronicle of Higher Education about his recent profile of Western Oklahoma State College. The school's online courses are popular with NCAA student athletes at risk of losing their eligibility to participate in sports.

Source: Online Courses Keep Grades Up, Athletes In Play

Firestorm Erupts Over Virginia's Education Goals

The state's school board wants to measure progress in math and reading differently for students based on race and ethnicity. Supporters say the new passing rates take into account students' different starting points. Critics charge the mandates are "backwards-looking."

Source: Firestorm Erupts Over Virginia's Education Goals

Challenges Of Going From War Zone To The Classroom

Hundreds of thousands of service members are transitioning from bases to college campuses. As Americans get ready for Veterans Day, host Michel Martin discusses the challenges veterans face, and the programs that help them succeed. She talks with Meg Mitcham, a veteran and the head of veterans programs for the American Council on Education.

Source: Challenges Of Going From War Zone To The Classroom

Is The Nightly Homework Battle Worth It?

A lot of kids hate homework, and studies show they're getting more of it than ever. But experts are questioning whether the work is worth it. Host Michel Martin discusses the debate over homework with a panel of parents, including regular contributor Jolene Ivey, psychologist Kenneth Goldberg and educator Stephen Jones.

Source: Is The Nightly Homework Battle Worth It?

Some New York City Students Head Back To School

Schools in New York City opened for the first time since superstorm Sandy hit the city last Monday. Some buildings had to be cleaned up before students arrived and a few had no heat. Still more than 90 schools remained closed due to storm damage or because they are still being used as evacuation shelters.

Source: Some New York City Students Head Back To School

Is A Law Degree Still Worth It?

A law degree used to pretty much guarantee a stable job. But journalist Elizabeth Lesly Stevens reports that thousands of law students are going into an industry that no longer has room for them. Stevens discusses her article with host Michel Martin, and they hear from NPR Facebook fans about whether a law degree is still worth it.

Source: Is A Law Degree Still Worth It?

A Lesson In Making Math Cool For Girls

Women make up nearly half of the college-educated workforce, but hold less than a quarter of STEM jobs ? as in jobs that involve science, technology, engineering and math. Actress turned mathematician Danica McKellar wants to turn those numbers around. She speaks to host Michel Martin about her latest math book for young girls, Girls Get Curves.

Source: A Lesson In Making Math Cool For Girls

They're Furry And Furious: Puppets Protest At The U.S. Capitol

Hundreds of puppet-loving protesters march on Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for federal financing of public broadcasting.

Source: They're Furry And Furious: Puppets Protest At The U.S. Capitol

University Of Alabama Names First Woman President

Trustees at the school announced today that Judy Bonner, who served as the school's interim president for about five months earlier this year, is moving into the position for good.

Source: University Of Alabama Names First Woman President

In Ohio, Teachers Run For Statehouse ? And Could Give Obama A Boost

A dozen teachers, all of them Democrats, are running for seats in Ohio's House and Senate. The surge is a byproduct of last year's voter referendum repealing a state law that would have curbed public employees' collective bargaining rights. Another byproduct is reusing teacher phone banks from that effort to support President Obama.

Source: In Ohio, Teachers Run For Statehouse ? And Could Give Obama A Boost

Son Of Founder Of 'Hollywood Reporter' Apologizes For Hollywood Blacklist

W.R. Wilkerson III is apologizing for the trade paper's role in what he calls "Hollywood's holocaust," the blacklist that destroyed the careers of those accused of communist sympathies.

Source: Son Of Founder Of 'Hollywood Reporter' Apologizes For Hollywood Blacklist

40 Years Since Marvin Gaye's Forgotten Classic

In 1972, Motown legend Marvin Gaye composed the soundtrack for the film, Trouble Man. Many critics say it was one of his finest musical achievements. To mark the film's 40th anniversary, Universal Music is releasing a special edition. Guest host Celeste Headlee speaks with saxophonist Trevor Lawrence and director Cameron Crowe.

Source: 40 Years Since Marvin Gaye's Forgotten Classic

'Life Of Pi' Star On The 'Duet' Of Acting

Actor Irrfan Khan talks about his role in the new movie Life of Pi, directed by Ang Lee and based on the best-selling novel of the same name. Khan also starred in Slumdog Millionaire, The Namesake and A Mighty Heart.

Source: 'Life Of Pi' Star On The 'Duet' Of Acting

Kids Prove They're No Pawns In 'Brooklyn Castle'

What happens when you take a group of junior high kids from a school with a poverty level of more than 65 percent and teach them how to play chess? Katie Dellamaggiore's documentary, Brooklyn Castle, explores the amazing results.

Source: Kids Prove They're No Pawns In 'Brooklyn Castle'

In McElwee Doc, 'Memory' Fails And Family Clashes

In his new documentary, Photographic Memory, Ross McElwee lingers on small moments and (mis)remembered experiences as he turns the camera on his son, Adrian. McElwee hoped to understand his son better through his work on the film, which he describes as a piece of "comic melancholy."

Source: In McElwee Doc, 'Memory' Fails And Family Clashes

Ang Lee On 'Life Of Pi' And Being A Slave To Film

With films including period pieces like Sense and Sensibility, big-budget action films like Hulk and epic romances like Brokeback Mountain, Lee can't be pigeonholed. So he was up for the challenge when presented with a story that takes place almost entirely on a boat ? with a real tiger.

Source: Ang Lee On 'Life Of Pi' And Being A Slave To Film

Christopher Plummer: One Great Actor Plays Another

Actor Christopher Plummer has taken his Tony Award-winning performance as actor John Barrymore to film. He speaks with Weekend Edition host Scott Simon about Barrymore as a man and as a role.

Source: Christopher Plummer: One Great Actor Plays Another

Tom Stoppard, On Adapting 'Anna' And Defining Love

The award-winning playwright and screenwriter is best known for such works as Arcadia and Shakespeare in Love. He speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about the screenplay for Joe Wright's adaptation of Anna Karenina.

Source: Tom Stoppard, On Adapting 'Anna' And Defining Love

The U.S. Is Borrowing Less From China, More From Everybody Else

The U.S. government may soon owe more money to Japan than it owes to China. Here's what that means for the U.S., China, and the rest of the world.

Source: The U.S. Is Borrowing Less From China, More From Everybody Else

Good Signs: Home Sales Are Up; Builders' Confidence Is Also Higher

Sales of existing homes rose again in October. Meanwhile, home builders are the most confident they've been in more than six years. Taken together, the reports are the latest signs that the housing sector is on the mend.

Source: Good Signs: Home Sales Are Up; Builders' Confidence Is Also Higher

An Evolutionary Explanation For The Fiscal Cliff

Host Rachel Martin speaks with NPR's Shankar Vedantam about the psychology behind the fiscal cliff negotiations. Vedantam says humans evolved as short-term thinkers, which makes dealing with the long-term problem of the national debt particularly difficult.

Source: An Evolutionary Explanation For The Fiscal Cliff

A Sequester Is A 'Jelly-Like Mass,' And Other Notes On Fiscal-Cliff Jargon

Here's a quick overview of three of the most impenetrable terms related to the fiscal cliff.

Source: A Sequester Is A 'Jelly-Like Mass,' And Other Notes On Fiscal-Cliff Jargon

Solving Fiscal Cliff Math Might Come Down To Two

President Obama started the first round of talks Friday about how to avoid fiscal calamity. He has been pushing to end Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy, a plan strongly opposed by some House Republicans. But in the end, a deal with the House may come down to Speaker John Boehner and the president.

Source: Solving Fiscal Cliff Math Might Come Down To Two

FHA Announces Moves Designed To Avoid Taxpayer Bailout

An audit found that the agency is on pace to run out of money by September. The Obama administration, however, announced a series of steps to increase revenue.

Source: FHA Announces Moves Designed To Avoid Taxpayer Bailout

Hidden Housing Subsidy May Soon Come Out Of Hiding

A program that backed lots of mortgages during the housing bust may soon need taxpayer money to make good on its promises.

Source: Hidden Housing Subsidy May Soon Come Out Of Hiding

Parenting A Child Who's Fallen 'Far From The Tree'

Andrew Solomon's new book is about families with children who are profoundly different or likely to be stigmatized. "We all love flawed children," says Solomon, "and the general assumption that these more extreme flaws make ... children somehow unlovable ? it wasn't true of most of my experience."

Source: Parenting A Child Who's Fallen 'Far From The Tree'

Restaurant Meals Mean More Calories And Soda For Kids And Teens

Whether you pick up some fast food or eat at a full service restaurant, eating out means eating more calories and drinking more sugary soda. For kids and teens, that has a lot of implications, especially as the country faces an obesity crisis.

Source: Restaurant Meals Mean More Calories And Soda For Kids And Teens

What We Wanted To Tell You About Mumps But Couldn't

A web of embargoes meant the full story on a 2009 mumps outbreak couldn't be revealed until now. Now we can tell you about the effect of an extra dose of vaccine worked and whether doctors recommend that others get a third mumps shot.

Source: What We Wanted To Tell You About Mumps But Couldn't

Tips On Explaining The Storm To Young Ones

Millions of Americans are dealing with the aftermath of Sandy, including the responsibility of comforting children who may not have a frame of reference for the storm. For tips on helping kids cope, host Michel Martin speaks with Suzanne McCabe of Scholastic's classroom magazines. The magazines cover the aftermath of all kinds of disasters.

Source: Tips On Explaining The Storm To Young Ones

To Stem Mumps Outbreak, Doctors Try An Extra Vaccination

To stem a widespread outbreak of mumps in Orthodox Jewish communities, public health officials tried giving children a third dose of vaccine instead of the usual two shots. The outbreak was so widespread a quarantine wasn't feasible.

Source: To Stem Mumps Outbreak, Doctors Try An Extra Vaccination

Geneticists Breach Ethical Taboo By Changing Genes Across Generations

Scientists have made changes in human DNA that can be passed down from one generation to the next. The researchers say they took the step to try to prevent women from giving birth to babies with genetic diseases. But the research is raising a host of social and moral questions.

Source: Geneticists Breach Ethical Taboo By Changing Genes Across Generations

Monster Beverage Under Fire As Reports Link Deaths To Its Energy Drinks

Newly released death reports and a lawsuit against Monster Energy raise more questions and public scrutiny on the risks of drinking the high levels of caffeine found in supersized energy drinks, especially in teens.

Source: Monster Beverage Under Fire As Reports Link Deaths To Its Energy Drinks

Kids As Caregivers Face Special Challenges

When we think of family caregivers, we often think of adults caring for aging parents. But more than 1.3 million young people in the U.S. between the ages of 8 and 18 care for sick or disabled family members. Caregiving is emotionally taxing for people of any age, but can be especially so for teens.

Source: Kids As Caregivers Face Special Challenges

Restraint And Seclusion: Discipline Gone Too Far?

At some schools, unruly children are physically restrained or isolated in so-called seclusion rooms. Critics like investigative journalist Bill Lichtenstein say the methods are often abusive and must stop. He wrote about his own daughter's experience in an opinion piece for The New York Times. He talks with host Michel Martin.

Source: Restraint And Seclusion: Discipline Gone Too Far?

Docs Say Choose Organic Food To Reduce Kids' Exposure To Pesticides

It's important for kids to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, America's pediatricians say, but there are fewer pesticides and a potentially lower risk of exposure to drug-resistant bacteria in organic produce, if you can afford it.

Source: Docs Say Choose Organic Food To Reduce Kids' Exposure To Pesticides

As Cheerleading Injuries Rise, Doctors Call For Stricter Safety Rules

The flips, pyramids, and tosses that make modern-day cheerleading so eye-popping make it far more risky than the splits-on-the-sidelines version that parent remember.

Source: As Cheerleading Injuries Rise, Doctors Call For Stricter Safety Rules

Swapping Out Sugary Soda For Diet Drinks May Help Tip The Scale In Your Favor

Preliminary new evidence suggests diet drinks don't increase appetite in the short term ? contrary to popular belief ? and may help keep weight off down the road. But experts say water is still the best zero-calorie hydration for the body.

Source: Swapping Out Sugary Soda For Diet Drinks May Help Tip The Scale In Your Favor

German Lawmakers Move To Quell Uproar Over Circumcision

A German regional court effectively banned circumcision this summer after ruling that the ancient practice amounts to assault. That fueled accusations of religious intolerance in a country still haunted by its Nazi past. Now lawmakers are pushing through a bill to make circumcision legal.

Source: German Lawmakers Move To Quell Uproar Over Circumcision

A Book To Break The Gun Control Stalemate

Americans own an estimated 300 million guns, and the debate surrounding that ownership has long been a charged one. In Living With Guns, Craig Whitney explores areas where opposing sides might find common ground, and even compromise.

Source: A Book To Break The Gun Control Stalemate

'The Lawgiver': Telling Moses' Story, Differently

At the age of 97, bestselling author Herman Wouk has written a novel that's told by the most contemporary storytelling technology, including emails and transcripts of Skype conversations. Host Scott Simon talks with Wouk about The Lawgiver.

Source: 'The Lawgiver': Telling Moses' Story, Differently

What Makes A City 'Walkable' And Why It Matters

City planner Jeff Speck says walking will remain a choice in most American cities for years to come, but that it's important to incentivize pedestrians. In his book, Walkable City, Speck says urban walks have to be useful, safe, comfortable and interesting.

Source: What Makes A City 'Walkable' And Why It Matters

'When God Talks Back' To The Evangelical Community

Anthropologist T.M. Luhrmann studies the personal relationships evangelicals develop with God. In her book When God Talks Back, she explains how relationships with God are often cemented through the power of prayer. The book has just come out in paperback.

Source: 'When God Talks Back' To The Evangelical Community

Finding 'Life, Death And Hope' In A Mumbai Slum

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Katherine Boo spent more than three years in Mumbai's Annawadi slum. In her book Behind the Beautiful Forevers, she profiles people living in extreme poverty ? right in the shadow of luxury hotels. On Wednesday, the book won the National Book Award for nonfiction.

Source: Finding 'Life, Death And Hope' In A Mumbai Slum

Award Winning Author Hopes To Highlight Poor

Journalist Katherine Boo won this year's National Book Award for Behind The Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death And Hope In A Mumbai Undercity. She talks with host Michel Martin about the award, and the story behind her book.

Source: Award Winning Author Hopes To Highlight Poor

A Military Boot Camp For Your Money

Service members are known for their discipline and their ability to stay cool under fire. Veteran and financial planner Steve Repak says those skills are crucial to managing everyday finances. He speaks with host Michel Martin about his book, Dollars and Uncommon Sense: Basic Training for Your Money.

Source: A Military Boot Camp For Your Money

Book Review: 'Dear Life'

Critic Alan Cheuse says Canadian short story writer Alice Munro's new collection, Dear Life: Stories, is both arresting and worth reading.

Source: Book Review: 'Dear Life'

New In Paperback Nov. 19-25

Novelist Richard Mason explores belle epoque pleasures, biographer Jean Baker champions sex educator Margaret Sanger, journalist A.J. Jacobs gets healthy, comedian Bill Cosby outsmarts his grandkids, and writer Geoff Dyer takes on filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky.

Source: New In Paperback Nov. 19-25

A Far-Out And Forgotten Renaissance Man

Athanasius Kircher, a 17th-century Jesuit priest, was a renaissance man in name and deed. He strove to learn about almost everything. Unfortunately, many of his inventions and theories were pure nonsense. John Glassie writes about Kircher in his new book, A Man of Misconceptions.

Source: A Far-Out And Forgotten Renaissance Man

Relationships, Short And Sweet, In 'Married Love'

Host Rachel Martin speaks with British writer Tessa Hadley about her new collection of short stories, Married Love and Other Stories. Hadley teaches creative writing at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, and her stories regularly appear in The New Yorker magazine.

Source: Relationships, Short And Sweet, In 'Married Love'

Willie Nelson: Road Rules And Deep Thoughts

The 79-year-old country singer has done a lot of living, and he's written about it more than once. His latest memoir takes a different tack, collecting his thoughts from long stretches on his tour bus.

Source: Willie Nelson: Road Rules And Deep Thoughts

Pakistan's Overture To Taliban Concerns Afghans

While Pakistan's apparent policy shift away from supporting the Taliban is welcomed in Kabul, many in Afghanistan are suspicious about why and why now. They say the mistrust born of decades of duplicity won't simply vanish with a few declarations and pardons

Source: Pakistan's Overture To Taliban Concerns Afghans

Prisoner Release Shifts Pakistan's Afghan Policy

There has been a small but potentially important breakthrough in the faltering Afghan peace process. In what is considered a good faith gesture, Pakistan last week released at least nine Afghan Taliban prisoners. The move is seen as part of a emerging new strategy by Pakistan as it eyes the looming drawdown of U.S. and western troops in Afghanistan.

Source: Prisoner Release Shifts Pakistan's Afghan Policy

How The Government Set Up A Fake Bank To Launder Drug Money

In the early 1990s, Colombian drug cartels had a problem: They had more money than they knew what to do with. So a pair of federal agents created an offshore bank.

Source: How The Government Set Up A Fake Bank To Launder Drug Money

Fighting Continues In Gaza Amid Talk Of Cease-Fire

The war between Israel and the Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip could end up as a victory of sorts for both sides. Hamas' popularity in the Arab world has skyrocketed. Hamas leaders say they've forced Israel to the negotiating table by launching rockets at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and held their own for the last week. Their rivals in the Palestinian Authority have been marginalized. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has received a huge boost to his popularity in the midst of an election campaign. Sheera Frenkel talks to Audie Cornish.

Source: Fighting Continues In Gaza Amid Talk Of Cease-Fire

Russia May Try Reining In Drunk Airline Passengers

Drunken passengers pose a problem and sometimes a threat to Russian airlines. Often passengers open the bottles they bought at duty-free shops and drink at length. Legislation to deal with the problem is under consideration.

Source: Russia May Try Reining In Drunk Airline Passengers

Hamas More Attractive To Palestinians Than PLO

Robert Siegel talks to Aaron David Miller, Vice President at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars who has worked on Middle East policy at the State Department under past Republican and Democratic administrations. Miller points out that while the world is focused on the issue of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the leadership in the other Palestinian territory, the West Bank, is seeing diminished clout. Milller says the militant approach of Hamas is drawing support from many Palestinians. But he adds that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah party offer ssomething that Hamas does not: the prospect of Palestinian statehood.

Source: Hamas More Attractive To Palestinians Than PLO

Berlin Calls On Volunteer Hunters To Cull Wild Boars

Berlin is known as the "wild boar capital" in Germany, with thousands of the animals roaming its residential neighborhoods. In the past, the city and animal rights activists battled over hiring hunters to kill the streetwise swine, who cause a lot of damage. But with attacks like the one in late October in which four people were injured by a male boar, curbing the wild pig population in the German capital is a growing priority.

Source: Berlin Calls On Volunteer Hunters To Cull Wild Boars

Cease-Fire Between Israel, Hamas May Be Close

With the conflict in Gaza on its seventh day on Tuesday, Egypt dispatched its foreign minister to Gaza City at the head of an Arab delegation. Egyptian officials say a ceasefire deal could be reached soon, but meanwhile the Israeli air strikes and Hamas rocket attacks continued. Anthony Kuhn talks to Audie Cornish.

Source: Cease-Fire Between Israel, Hamas May Be Close

Blasphemy Charges On The Rise In Pakistan

A single accuser's word is often enough to lead to an arrest and spark mob violence. Human rights advocates say the charges are frequently made against religious minorities, and are often used to settle personal scores.

Source: Blasphemy Charges On The Rise In Pakistan

Rockets, Cigarettes And A Lion: Just A Few Of The Things Smuggled Into Gaza

The Gaza Strip faces tight restrictions from Israel, and this has led to an elaborate system of smuggling tunnels linked to neighboring Egypt. National Geographic examines the tunnels in a piece that has appeared just as Gaza has returned to the forefront of the news.

Source: Rockets, Cigarettes And A Lion: Just A Few Of The Things Smuggled Into Gaza

Conflict In Congo Escalates, Goes Largely Unnoticed

The conflict in eastern Congo has been called one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. As fighting intensifies in eastern Congo between government forces and the rebel M23 group, tens of thousands of Congolese civilians have fled camps and homes in search of safety.

Source: Conflict In Congo Escalates, Goes Largely Unnoticed

Should We Legalize Drugs?

Colorado and Washington recently voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Supporters say that will generate tax revenue and free up law enforcement resources. So would the United States be better off legalizing all recreational drugs? A panel of experts debates for Intelligence Squared U.S.

Source: Should We Legalize Drugs?

Scandals Call Into Question Crime Labs' Oversight

A report three years ago found serious problems in the nation's forensic science community, but since then, little has changed. In many states, lab employees report to law enforcement, potentially undermining their impartiality. And only a few states require labs to be accredited.

Source: Scandals Call Into Question Crime Labs' Oversight

Thousands Of Trees Gone, Ripped Out By Sandy

Nearly 10,000 trees in New York City ? many healthy and hefty ? were lost to the winds of Superstorm Sandy. Natural scenery aside, they affect the environmental quality of the city.

Source: Thousands Of Trees Gone, Ripped Out By Sandy

There's Oil On Them Thar Campuses!

Imagine going to college and finding an oil rig. That is happening at more than a dozen schools across the country that are tapping natural resources. Some students, faculty and environmental groups are raising concerns about possible explosions, and soil, water and air contamination.

Source: There's Oil On Them Thar Campuses!

Fingerprint Scans Create Unease For Poor Parents

A pilot program in Mississippi uses biometric finger scanners on low-income parents who check their kids in and out of day care centers. State officials say they'll save millions of dollars by reducing fraud, but some parents and day care providers see it as discriminatory and are protesting.

Source: Fingerprint Scans Create Unease For Poor Parents

Israel's 'Iron Dome' Was Partly Funded By U.S.

Since an escalation in fighting between Gaza and Israel last week, there have been more than 100 casualties on Gaza's side of the border. On Israel's there have been three. That low death count in Israel, despite many rockets fired into its territory, is thanks largely to the Israeli "Iron Dome" air defense system. For more on how that system works, Robert Siegel speaks with Barbara Opall-Rome, Israel bureau chief for Defense News.

Source: Israel's 'Iron Dome' Was Partly Funded By U.S.

Puppeteer Behind Elmo Resigns Amid Sex Scandal

Kevin Clash, the Sesame Street puppeteer who made Elmo a sensation, has resigned.

Source: Puppeteer Behind Elmo Resigns Amid Sex Scandal

Time Again To Talk Turkey, And Why Frying Can Be Fatal

If you're thinking about cooking your bird in hot oil, watch these videos. They may convince you do forget about it. But if you're still determined, they also may help keep things safe.

Source: Time Again To Talk Turkey, And Why Frying Can Be Fatal