Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'beauty'

Russia's New Beauty Contest: Miss Constitution

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:45:00 EST

When it comes to constitutions, is seems Russia's has some flexibility. Vladimir Putin wants it changed to give future Presidents a longer term. Perhaps to sweeten that move, Russians are being offered another reason to love their constitution. A pro-Kremlin youth group is running a "Miss Constitution 2008" contest. A spokeswoman told Reuters the group is looking for gifted young women with sparkle.

Edward O. Wilson Reflects On Insect Societies

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:53:00 EST

The Superorganism: The Beauty, Elegance and Strangeness of Insect Societies peers into the world of ants and other social insects. Eminent biologist Edward O. Wilson and co-author Bert HÃ¶lldobler, a biologist at Arizona State University, discuss the book.

Hairdressers Seek to 'Cut Out' Domestic Violence

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:31:00 EST

Dianne Mooney was a community volunteer eight years ago, when she started a program to help beauty industry workers spot signs of domestic abuse in their clients. Mooney speaks with Farai Chideya about the program, "Cut It Out." They are joined by Marcia Hamilton, a Los Angeles-based celebrity hair stylist.

Author Pieces Together Natural Mosaic

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:39:00 EST

The environmental author writes about the collision of the human and natural worlds. She's best known for Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place. Her new book is called, Finding Beauty in a Broken World.

Detroit Automakers Face Extinction

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

In recent decades, U.S. automakers ignored both fuel economy and beauty. If they don't change their ways, other companies and other means of transportation will succeed — and Detroit will become a dinosaur.

Feeling The Vibes: The Short History Of A Long Instrument

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:16:00 EST

Jazz is the only genre of music that uses the vibes as a lead or improvisational instrument. It's been a process in helping to save this beautiful-sounding and versatile instrument from extinction. Leading off with Lionel Hampton, here are five examples of that beauty and versatility.

Ugly Economy Can Mean Ugly Hair

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

As markets around the world take record losses, ramifications of the financial crisis are being felt from board rooms to beauty salons. At a shop in the Washington suburb of Sliver Spring, Maryland, the chairs are empty and the stylists worried.

Threading Is The New Waxing

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EDT

The South Indian beauty practice of threading is picking up devotees and overshadowing waxing in parts of Los Angeles. While the trend may be new, the technique is very very old, says Youth Radio's Jennifer Obakhume.

The Duchess Protests: Players, Save Your Spit

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:51:00 EDT

Commentator Frank Deford introduces a new character to his weekly sports commentary. The Duchess is a sports connoisseur who sees the grace and beauty in athletics. But lately, she's been distressed by all the spitting she sees in Major League Baseball.

Basia Bulat: Making The Autoharp Cool

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:17:00 EDT

For many, the autoharp is remembered as the slightly geeky, easy-to-play instrument from grade-school music class, or as simple accompaniment for folk and country singers. But Basia Bulat, who sings and plays the autoharp on Oh, My Darling, hopes the time has come for people to discover the beauty and potential in the instrument.

Beauty, The Beast And A Dantean Journey

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:42:00 EDT

Andrew Davidson's debut novel, The Gargoyle, tells the love story of a burn victim and a mysterious sculptress who claims they first met 700 years earlier.

Justin Bua Chronicles 'Beat Of Urban Art'

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:51:00 EDT

Acclaimed artist Justin Bua made a name for himself with paintings and illustrations, which depict the beauty and struggle of city life. Bua's work is collected in a book called The Beat of Urban Art. He speaks with Farai Chideya about his collection and his foray into political illustration.

Alan Ball Returns With 'True Blood' And 'Towelhead'

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:27:00 EDT

The writer of American Beauty and the hit series Six Feet Under has a new HBO drama about vampires in a Louisiana town — and a controversially titled movie, Towelhead, based on Alicia Erian's novel.

Ahead Of Convention, McCain Campaigns

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:38:00 EDT

On Friday, Sen. John McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate for the GOP presidential ticket. Palin has a reputation for independence and was once voted Miss Congeniality in a beauty pageant. Some question her experience, however.

Body Parts In Song: From Hands To Eyes

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:40:00 EDT

Visual artists Fernanda Viegas and Martin Wattenberg see, and hear, the beauty in the human body. They've analyzed roughly 10,000 songs in many genres of music, and they've created a catalog titled Listen, which illustrates how the human form inspires, amuses or repulses musicians.

Desperate Beauty: Britten's 'Death In Venice'

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:03:00 EDT

Benjamin Britten's final, haunting opera Death in Venice (based on Thomas Mann's novella) finds an aging writer obsessed with one particular kind of beauty that leads to his downfall, in a production from Glimmerglass Opera.

Public Outcry Stalls Beauty Contest For Nuns

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:00:00 EDT

An Italian priest set aside his plan to hold a beauty contest for nuns. The Rev. Antonio Rungi says he wanted to change the image of nuns and to fight the stereotype that they're old and cranky. He planned an online competition for nuns with the best "overall beauty." But Rungi was attacked via phone calls and e-mails, so he put off the competition he called "Miss Sister 2008."

Is America Obsessed With Beauty...

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Director Darryl Roberts explores whether Americans care too much about looks in his new movie America the Beautiful. He follows models and interviews media editors to get answers.

In Aussie Town, 'Odds Are Good, But Goods Are Odd'

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:00:00 EDT

An Australian mining town has a shortage of available women, so the mayor offered a solution: recruit ugly women to live there. He told a newspaper the city should attract "beauty-disadvantaged women." The mayor says his comments were "twisted" after women responded furiously. One local woman says local men are more numerous, but not so great. "We've got a saying," she said, "that the odds are good, but the goods are odd."

Puccini's Beloved 'Boheme,' Times Two

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:02:00 EDT

William Berger, author of Puccini Without Excuses, sizes up two new and very different recordings of the composer's best-known opera. Berger says the beauty of Bohème lies in the little details of the characters' lives.

Do Hairy Women Signal A Rough Economy...

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Elham Jazab is an actor and comedian who makes her living as an aesthetician, giving facials and waxing legs, eyebrows and bikini lines. Jazab says women have been waiting longer between waxing appointments and not tipping well since the economic downturn. The beauty industry says it's a national trend.

Heirloom Tomato Farmer Finds Beauty In The Ugly

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:16:00 EDT

Tim Stark was a management consultant when he stumbled into heirloom tomato farming, as he describes in Heirloom: Notes from an Accidental Farmer. (Tip: The ugliest tend to be tastiest.) Now his tomatoes are served in the finest New York restaurants.

Flesh-Eating Fish Perform 'Pedicures'

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:04:00 EDT

A salon in Alexandria, Va., is treating customers to a beauty fad previously popular only in Asia: the fish pedicure. For $45, tiny silvery carp will suck the dry skin off your feet. The result: smooth loveliness, according to a growing customer base.

Beauty And Mischief In 'Anne Of Green Gables'

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Modern Library has released a special edition of Anne of Green Gables in honor of the book's centennial. Writer Gwenda Bond, who blogs about children's books and young-adult literature, discusses the importance of L.M. Montgomery's classic novel and her personal attachment to Anne.

Film Probes America's Beauty Obsession

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EDT

Americans spend millions on beauty products, trendy clothes, and plastic surgery. Is America obsessed with beauty? That's a question filmmaker Darryl Roberts explored in his new documentary, "American the Beautiful." Farai Chideya speaks with Roberts and model/actress Gerren Taylor, who was at the heart of this film.