Some Glittery Favorites From The Miss Universe National Costume Show
Every year at the Miss Universe pageant, things get a little bit amazing.
Arts & Life
Hostess Isn't The Mostest: Make Your Own Sno Balls At Home
When Hostess Brands declared bankruptcy, Jennifer Steinhauer started preparing for the snack food apocalypse. Among the foods she tackled was a pink treat she had no respect for — the Sno Ball.
Broadcaster Al Michaels Gets Ready To Provide 'Lyrics' For The Super Bowl
Michaels will anchor the Feb. 1 game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. He tells Fresh Air about falling in love with sports and the hardest sport to announce.
Delicious Short Stories, Ripe On The Vine In 'Honeydew'
Reviewer Alan Cheuse has rapturous praise for Edith Pearlman's new story collection: "The first thing I wanted to do after finishing was, well, I wanted to go right back and start from the beginning."
The Vastness Of Violent Loss In 'See How Small'
Scott Blackwood's new novel, based on a real murder case, follows a community rocked by the slaying of three teenage girls. Reviewer Michael Schaub calls it "brutal, necessary and near perfect."
!["[Death metal] is a very passionate music. It's also really dark and gory--and I like that stuff." - John Darnielle, of the Mountain Goats.](http://wfdd-live.s3.amazonaws.com/images/story/John-Darnielle-Master-Of-Reality-379090915-1446056599.jpg)
John Darnielle: Master Of Reality
"Death metal really does come from the heart," says The Mountain Goats frontman and author of Wolf In White Van. In Durham, he plays "The Best Ever Death Metal Band Out of Denton."
Sports, Explicated
Grab your oversized porous foam digit, because in this game, contestants must decipher the names of college sports teams from an overly literal explanation. Go athlete! Do the sport!
State Of Mind
Get on that midnight train to...North Korea?? Guess what US state actually completes these lyrics as Jonathan Coulton sings famous songs with the wrong geographic regions in their titles.
How Broadway Is Losing Its 'Middle Ground'
Producer Darren Bagert says there's a boom-or-bust environment on Broadway — you're either a huge hit or you close quickly. Two of the fall's most highly anticipated musicals are closing this month.
The Ethics Of Torture, Explored In A Painful Fable
This week, the Senate released a report that details the interrogation techniques used by the CIA after Sept. 11. Author Laila Lalami grapples with the questions it raises by turning to literature.