Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'competing'

Who Will Survive Black Friday...

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

The day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year. But this year retailers are competing against the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Who'll come out on top?

Plants: The Fuel Of The Future...

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:08:00 EST

Researchers in Berkeley, Calif., are working on new technologies to convert plant cellulose into a fuel that could directly replace diesel and gasoline. But even if they figure out the recipe, there are still obstacles to competing with fossil fuels.

Is 2008 Really The 'Year Of The Woman'...

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:26:00 EDT

Some observers have christened 2008 that way, but if you look beyond Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin, you'll find a landscape that is at best mixed for women. The outlook is not so great for Senate and gubernatorial hopefuls, although better for women competing in House races.

India Debates Nation's Role In Space

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Indians are divided over their nation's first space mission, an unmanned lunar probe launched early Wednesday. Critics say the moon mission is a waste of money in a country where so many are impoverished. Others see space as a path to competing in a high-tech world.

It Really Is The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Pumpkin grower Thad Starr of Oregon won this year's weigh-off in Half Moon Bay, Calif. His pumpkin weighed 1,528 pounds. It took a forklift to raise the competing pumpkins onto an industrial scale. Besides bragging rights, there's a prize of $6 a pound. That means Starr won more than $9,000. He says the secret to raising his great pumpkin: good soil and "we really pamper them."

Wells Fargo, Citigroup Battle In Court Over Wachovia

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:00:00 EDT

The battle for control of Wachovia bank is tilting toward Wells Fargo. A New York state appeals court has blocked a lower court ruling that favored rival bidder Citigroup. Meantime, Wachovia is asking a federal judge to declare invalid part of the Citigroup deal that would have restricted Wachovia from considering competing bids. Curt Nickisch reports for member station WBUR in Boston.

Google, T-Mobile Unveil New Phone

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:37:00 EDT

Everyone is calling it the Google Phone. In fact, Google has teamed up with T-Mobile to put Google's Android software on a phone unveiled Tuesday. Android is competing with the iPhone. T-Mobile said it will sell the phone for $179 with a two-year contract.

U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team On Deck To Win

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:38:00 EDT

Athletes with physical disabilities from around the world are competing in the 2008 Paralympic Games in China. Tim Angle, Bill Donohue and Rick Doerr represent the U.S. Paralympic sailing team.

Drug Test Nabs U.S. Olympic Swimmer Hardy

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Jessica Hardy, who qualified for the U.S. Olympic swim team in two events, has tested positive for a stimulant and could be barred from competing in Beijing. Hardy's lawyer says she denies that she "cheated."

Soccer Fans Look to 2010 World Cup

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EDT

International sports fans are looking forward to the upcoming Summer Olympics in August, but another global sporting event is also stirring its fair share of anticipation. The World Cup of soccer isn't until 2010, but countries are already competing to participate. Author Franklin Foer talks about what many describe as the World Cup fever.

Liberal, Conservative Groups Vie For Vets' Interests

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:49:00 EDT

Vote Vets on the left and Vets for Freedom on the right are competing to deliver the political message for those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. They're both endorsing candidates for Congress — not the same names, of course — and they debate regularly on talk TV, reports Peter Overby. How effective will they be? Well, they're toiling in the shadow of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the hard-hitting team that four years ago changed the image of veterans groups.

American Princes: 'Auditorium'

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:25:00 EDT

A trio of guitarists powers Little Rock band American Princes — a presence made immediately known on the group's fourth full-length record, Other People. The band's catchy rock sound is built upon a thick bed of layered electric guitars in swirling stereo. With competing vocalists Collins Kilgore, David Slade, and William Boyd taking turns singing lead and the constantly battling instruments, the sound is more chaotic than that of your average rock group, but it all seems to work with the band's on-edge energy.

Supreme Court Rules in Sanity Case

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EDT

The Supreme Court has ruled even if a criminal defendant is mentally competent to stand trial, he might not have the right to act as his own lawyer. The court ruled in the case of an Indianapolis man with schizophrenia who was convicted of attempted murder.

Using Your Inner Clock to Up Your Batting Score

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EDT

New research suggests that sports players competing more in sync with their internal clocks might have a competitive, or circadian, advantage. We'll talk about how players can improve their odds of winning.

Campaign Fun: Obama's 'Top 10'; Clinton's Filly

Fri, 02 May 2008 08:08:00 EDT

Barack Obama offers his version of David Letterman's "Top 10" list, while Hillary Clinton plugs for the only filly competing in the Kentucky Derby.

Last-Minute Attack Ads Before Pennsylvania

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:46:00 EDT

Before the Pennsylvania primary, the Democratic candidates competed over who was more negative. New York Sen. Hillary Clinton released an ad asking voters who they thought had what it takes. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama criticized Clinton's negativity.

A Tradition of Political Protests at the Olympics

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:01:00 EDT

Protests against the Chinese government's human rights record have prompted talk about boycott. There's a long history of political protests at the Olympic Games, including in 1906, when an Irish triple jumper competing for Britain climbed up the flag pole with an Irish flag.

America's Waning Influence in 'The Second World'

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EDT

In his new book, The Second World, Parag Khanna argues that America's dominant era is over. The 21st century will be shaped by three competing first-world superpowers: the United States, China and the European Union, he says.

Olympic Athletes' Free Speech at Issue

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Athletes at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing are likely to be competing in a highly charged political atmosphere. The world will be watching to see if any athletes criticize China's human rights record. Already, Olympic officials are walking a fine line barring protests at Olympic venues but insisting that athletes have the right to express their views elsewhere.

Singers Try Out for Minor-League Glory

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:12:00 EDT

Across the country, minor-league baseball fans are auditioning to perform the national anthem at games. The Potomac Nationals of Woodbridge, Va., recently held tryouts, where more than 40 people competed for a future spot in the stadium spotlight.

Rattlesnake-Sacker Competes, Wins Yet Again

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:41:00 EDT

On Friday, rattlesnake-sacking world-record holder Jackie Bibby told us he didn't know if he'd be competing in this year's championships, which were held in Texas on Saturday and Sunday. He did, and he won.

In Senate, a Dilemma for 19 Superdelegates

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:02:00 EDT

Every Democrat in the U.S. Senate is a superdelegate. That makes the chamber the most intimate of all primaries or caucuses. Two of the Senate's own -- Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama -- are competing for superdelegates leading up to the party's convention in Denver. Obama has a narrow lead.

McCain Competing with NFL in Primetime Speech

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:06:00 EDT

Presumptive presidential nominee John McCain faces a ratings battle this September. His acceptance speech at the Republican Convention may be in primetime competition with the opening of the NFL season.

The Joy of Kites

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Kite flyers and kite lovers gather near the Washington Monument for the annual Smithsonian Kite Festival, showing off handmade kites and competing for prizes. Kitemaker Jon Burkhardt, head judge of the festival, talks about his craft.

Justices Weigh Definitions of Competency

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EDT

The Supreme Court heard arguments today on whether a defendant who is competent to stand trial must be considered competent to represent himself. The justices seemed doubtful that the two types of competency are the same.