Arts & Life

An illustration depicts Jesus Christ transforming water into wine during the wedding at Cana (John 2:7).

What Would Jesus Drink? A Class Exploring Ancient Wines Asks

1:16am February 05, 2015

by Lynnsay Maynard

The details of wine and winemaking practices in biblical times are debated among experts. But we do know that vino in Christ's day was very different from what we imbibe today.

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A box of five Cadbury Creme Eggs in London. The confectioner's decision to change the chocolate used to make the outer shell has left many in the U.K. in "shellshock."

Tweaks To Cadbury Creme Eggs Not Going Over Easy In The U.K.

1:03am February 05, 2015

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

Now is the time when Cadbury's colorfully wrapped chocolate eggs hit stores in Great Britain. But the company has changed the chocolate used in the treats, leaving many Britons in "shellshock."

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Arts

Sapiosexual Seeks Same: A New Lexicon Enters Online Dating Mainstream

12:25am February 05, 2015

by Neda Ulaby

OkCupid is adding a lot more options for gender and sexual orientation, including androgynous and genderqueer. And then there's sapiosexual, meaning someone who's attracted to smart people.

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David Linden is a professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and is a former chief editor of the Journal of Neurophysiology. He also wrote The Compass of Pleasure.

Fingertips To Hair Follicles: Why 'Touch' Triggers Pleasure And Pain

4:39pm February 04, 2015

In his latest book, neuroscientist David Linden explains the science of touch. He tells Fresh Air how pain protects, why fingertips are so sensitive and why you can't read Braille with your genitals.

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Arts

ABC Tones Down Author's 'Fresh Off The Boat' For Sitcom Audience

3:01pm February 04, 2015

by Eric Deggans

ABC will break an important boundary in television Wednesday night with the debut of Fresh Off the Boat. It's the first network sitcom in two decades to star an Asian-American family.

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Hudson Yang and Randall Park play Eddie Huang and his dad, Louis, in Fresh Off The Boat.

Arts

A Skilled Cast Perks Up The Sweet And Funny 'Fresh Off The Boat'

1:58pm February 04, 2015

by Linda Holmes

It's true that Fresh Off The Boat is the rare story about an Asian-American family. But it's equally important to note that it's a funny and warm comedy with a lot of promise.

Books
Arts

How 'Star Wars' Helped Patton Oswalt Beat His Movie Addiction

1:48pm February 04, 2015

by NPR Staff

The actor and comedian reveals in his new memoir, Silver Screen Fiend, that he used to have a film addiction. Watching the first Star Wars prequel led to a realization that helped him kick the habit.

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Books
Arts

55 Years After 'To Kill A Mockingbird', Harper Lee To Release New Novel

1:25pm February 04, 2015

by Lynn Neary

The publisher Harper is releasing a new book by Harper in July — Harper Lee that is. It's a follow-up to To Kill A Mockingbird, though it was actually written first.

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No oven necessary: Hu makes her pumpkin cake in the microwave.

College Life Doesn't Have To Mean Crummy Cuisine, Says Dorm Room Chef

12:22pm February 04, 2015

by Maanvi Singh

Sick of dining hall pizza, public health student Emily Hu taught herself how to cook — even with no oven. Now she's hoping to inspire her peers to pick up cooking skills and healthier eating habits.

Books
Arts

Neil Gaiman Is Back To Mess Up Your Dreams In 'Trigger Warning'

12:11pm February 04, 2015

by Jason Sheehan

"Consider yourself warned," Gaiman says in his introduction. Many of these stories end badly for the people in them. But for the reader, Trigger Warning is a haunted, bloody, twisted pleasure.