Arts & Life

Books
Arts

These Tales Of Transformation Are Both 'Rich And Strange'

2:28pm November 24, 2014

by Alan Cheuse

Ron Rash's latest collects 34 of his best short stories; critic Alan Cheuse says they're searingly beautiful, "as if someone has taken a stick from a blazing fire and pressed it into your hand."

Niecy Nash (right) plays DiDi, a nurse at an extended care facility, in the HBO comedy series Getting On, which was modeled after the hit BBC series of the same name. Betty Buckley plays one of her patients.

Arts

'Getting On' Star Niecy Nash: 'I Never Wanted To Be Funny'

1:51pm November 24, 2014

by NPR Staff

Nash says it took her a long time to see her comedic side as a gift, but she finally embraced it. Now her role as Nurse DiDi in the HBO comedy series has opened the door to more serious opportunities.

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Penguins of Madagascar follows a spy team of penguins, who first appeared in the film series Madagascar, as they work to stymie an evil octopus' plan to take over the world.

Arts

'Madagascar' Director Polishes His Penguin Voice

9:36am November 24, 2014

by NPR Staff

Tom McGrath, an executive producer of Penguins of Madagascar who also co-directed the first three films in the franchise, says he came to voice the part of the penguin Skipper kind of by accident.

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Which parking sign is easier to understand? Nikki Sylianteng is trying to build a better parking sign at her website, To Park Or Not To Park. One of her redesign efforts can be seen at right.

Arts

A Well-Designed Parking Sign Can Make Life Much Easier

8:17pm November 23, 2014

Is it safe to park on the street, or are you risking a ticket? The more signs there are, the more confusing that question gets. Designer Nikki Sylianteng has found a way to help.

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Matthew McConaughey plays an astronaut explorer in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar.

Science
Arts

Neil DeGrasse Tyson Separates Fact From Fiction In 'Interstellar'

8:14pm November 23, 2014

by NPR Staff

The astrophysicist has been tweeting about the science behind the film. In an interview with NPR, Tyson goes beyond those tweets, into wormholes, relativity and even some spoilers.

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Arts

Making A Change To Keep A Constant Consonant

11:56am November 23, 2014

by Will Shortz

Given two words, change the first consonant sound in each word to the same new consonant sound and you'll phonetically name two things in the same category.

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Bill Cosby's Silence On Rape Allegations Makes Huge Media Noise

7:29pm November 22, 2014

by Eric Deggans

Bill Cosby's silence when asked by an NPR anchor about rape allegations made big media news. The ongoing controversy may also hint at a generational divide between his fans and his latest critics.

Books
Arts

Author Wrestles With Wolves In 'Treat Us Like Dogs'

3:55pm November 22, 2014

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Carolyn Chute about her new novel, Treat Us Like Dogs and We Will Become Wolves. The book follows a reporter as she investigates a remote commune and its charismatic leader.

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Arts

Not My Job: We Ask 'Real Housewives' Producer Andy Cohen About House Flies

11:58am November 22, 2014

Andy Cohen is host of Watch What Happens Live and also the Bravo producer responsible for the Real Housewives franchise. He'll play a game called "Bzzz ... bzzz ... bzzz."

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"I want it to be folksy, but surrounded by madness," director Tommy Lee Jones told The Homesman's composers.

In 'The Homesman,' Wind Is The Sound Of Insanity

11:21am November 22, 2014

by Tim Greiving

Two composers became instrument builders to score the film, set in the pioneer days of the American West. "We both knew what the movie sounded like. We just had to find it," Tommy Lee Jones says.

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