'Humanity' May Get Second Chance In Jean Thompson's New Novel
Jean Thompson's The Humanity Project follows the fortunes of a number of hard-luck people — and looks at the bizarre, sad and funny ways we fail to help others.
Arts
Al Gore Plays Not My Job: Extended Cut
Back in 2011, Gore's former boss Bill Clinton appeared on Wait Wait and correctly answered three questions about the My Little Pony children's TV show. We're going to ask Gore three questions about Shetland ponies.
Singer Erykah Badu Plays Not My Job
Valentine's Day is coming up, and if you don't have a date — don't worry. There's help for everybody out there. Everybody. We've invited Badu to answer three questions about super-specialized dating sites.
In D.C., Art Program Turns Boys' Lives Into 'Masterpieces'
In Washington's Ward 7, where only 33 percent of students graduate from high school, a program called Life Pieces to Masterpieces is sending nearly 100 percent of its graduates to college or post-secondary education.
More Than 50 Years Of Putting Kids' Creativity To The Test
A bit like an IQ test measures intelligence, the Torrance Test and others like it measure creative ability. They help figure out when investments pay off, and they can draw attention to hidden problems, like why elementary kids are scoring better than high school students.
Cleveland Celebrates Superman, Its Hometown Hero
Most people think of Superman as a native of Krypton, or perhaps the rural Kansas village of Smallville. Not so fast, say Clevelanders. The creators of the Man of Steel grew up in the city that steel built, and this year, Cleveland is pulling out all the stops for the superhero's 75th birthday.
Sebastian Junger: 'Which Way' To Turn After Hetherington's Death
In a new documentary premiering on HBO, the journalist explores the life of his friend, the war photographer Tim Hetherington. The two collaborated on the 2010 documentary Restrepo, and Junger was profoundly changed after Hetherington was killed by shrapnel in Libya in 2011.
Poet Joe Mills Brings Poetry to the People through the Foothills Arts Council
It's springtime in the foothills, with live poetry readings and music performed in a beautiful outdoor garden.
Digging Into Ricky Jay's 'Deceptive' Card Tricks
It's been said that to properly understand a magician, you have to get right on stage and watch how the act is done. NPR's Bob Mondello had that chance once with card whiz Ricky Jay — subject of the new film Deceptive Practice — and has a few words about how the showman works.