Commentary

Jessica and Anthony Villarreal in December 2011, more than three years after the explosion that severely burned Anthony in Afghanistan.

Marine Draws Strength From His Marriage To Recover From Burns

12:12pm March 31, 2014

Newlyweds Anthony and Jessica Villarreal share how they rebuilt their lives after a bomb disfigured Anthony in Afghanistan. (The StoryCorps interview initially aired Nov. 9, 2013 on Weekend Saturday.)

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Mercedes' S500 Intelligent Drive is one traditional carmaker's approach to driverless cars.

By The Time Your Car Goes Driverless, You Won't Know The Difference

9:23am March 20, 2014

by Alexis Madrigal

The once-futuristic concept is closer than ever to becoming a reality. Parallel parking? Let the car find the perfect approach. Squeezing into a tight space? Hop out and use your smartphone.

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Ukrainian skier Bogdana Matsotska decided not to compete in Friday's slalom race, in a show of solidarity with protesters in Kiev.

Ukrainian Olympic Skier's Stand Is A Sacrifice For Her Country

3:43pm February 26, 2014

by Scott Simon

A Ukrainian skier has pulled out of the Olympics to show solidarity with protesters back home. While the impact of her move is unclear, forgoing a chance at a medal is a powerful symbol.

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Shirley Temple started performing in films when she was just 3 years old.

Shirley Temple's Films Still Charm After All These Years

10:47pm February 16, 2014

by Scott Simon

Shirley Temple starred in reliably formulaic movies — a little girl loses a parent, but unlocks the iron hearts of those around her with smiles and song.

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Sports

Forego The Faux Snow: The Games Could Use A Permanent Home

2:43pm February 08, 2014

by Scott Simon

Will Sochi be a city of super-sized, expensive venues that sit mostly empty in the future? Maybe having different cities host the Olympics doesn't make much sense.

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Opera singer Renee Fleming will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" live on Sunday night.

Opera Star Renee Fleming Brings Grace To The Super Bowl

12:00am February 02, 2014

by Scott Simon

Renee Fleming will sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl on Sunday in New Jersey. She is the first opera star to be asked. NPR's Scott Simon remembers how Fleming has performed under pressure many times, including when she sang "Amazing Grace" at the ruins of the World Trade Center after 9/11.

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This handout provided by the Santa Monica Police Department shows ammunition, magazines and guns believed to have been dropped by a suspected gunman during a mass shooting at Santa Monica College in June 2013.

Education

Violence Abroad Threatens Students, As Do Guns At U.S. Schools

12:06pm January 27, 2014

by Jacki Lyden

Suicide bombings like the one that killed two university colleagues in Kabul prompt many Americans to tell themselves they're safe from targeted violence in the U.S. We know that isn't true, says NPR's Jacki Lyden.

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Protesters in San Francisco block a Google bus, which shuttles employees from the city to its location in Silicon Valley.

Economy

Hackers? Techies? What To Call San Francisco's Newcomers

4:59pm January 17, 2014

by Geoff Nunberg

Linguist Geoff Nunberg lives in the Mission and says young tech employees have been pouring into the neighborhood. But what to call these new residents? He says the term "techie" used to suggest a computer whiz with no social skills; now it suggests one with no social conscience.

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Sports

Rodman's Tour Of North Korea: Diplomacy Or Propaganda?

12:53pm January 11, 2014

by Scott Simon

Dennis Rodman took a team of former NBA players to North Korea to celebrate leader Kim Jong Un's birthday. NPR's Scott Simon likes the flamboyant and frank Rodman, but wonders if his tour amounts to sports diplomacy or propaganda for the North Korean regime.

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Decades ago, the SAT test was seen as a measure of raw ability, not as something students ought to cram for. Now, test prep is a huge industry. Linguist Geoff Nunberg wonders what exactly students learn when they're flipping through vocabulary flashcards.

Sorry Assiduous (adj.) SAT-Takers, Linguist In Dudgeon (n.) Over Vocab Flashcards

4:01pm December 23, 2013

by Geoff Nunberg

Many students prepare for the SAT by drilling themselves on esoteric, arcane and recondite words — like esoteric, arcane and recondite. Linguist Geoff Nunberg doesn't discourage these efforts, but he does have a word of caution: memorizing a definition is hardly the same as learning a new word.

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