Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'england'

New England Housewares Chain Is Singing The Blues

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:01:00 EST

Bowl & Board, a family-owned chain of housewares stores in New England, is trying to boost its sales — and morale — with creative promotions. Despite drastic cost-cutting measures, sales are sinking. With the economy in recession, it's possible the chain may have to close at least two locations.

Ice Storms Slash Power From New England

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST

An ice storm that cut through a swath of upstate New York and New England late last week has left hundreds of thousands of homes without heat, electricity or warm water. In New Hampshire, a cold snap has only compounded problems — utility officials there say power in some parts of the state may not be restored for several days. New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein spent part of Friday night with one family that lost power.

Billy Bragg On Mountain Stage

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:46:00 EST

Making his third appearance on Mountain Stage, Billy Bragg is best known in America for teaming up with Wilco to set some newly unearthed Woody Guthrie lyrics to music on 2000's Mermaid Avenue. But in his native England, Billy Bragg is highly regarded as an egalitarian songsmith who sings for the working class.

In Conn., A Longtime GOP Congressman Ousted

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:46:00 EST

New England's last Republican Congressman Christopher Shays of Connecticut has lost his seat. He was ousted by Democrat and former Goldman Sachs executive Jim Himes. Himes talks about the upset and his plans for Connecticut's Fourth District.

Paul McCartney's Wax Head Left Behind On Train

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:47:00 EDT

Just in time for Halloween: A wax head of singer Paul McCartney is on the loose. The mop-topped likeness came from a wax museum at a seaside resort in England. A London auctioneer had taken it — in a cardboard box — to be appraised. And then left the box under a train seat somewhere between London and Reading. There's a reward for the head of Sir Paul, whose whereabouts remained something of a magical mystery.

Elbow: A 'Seldom Seen' Band Gets Heard

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:31:00 EDT

A sonically adventurous rock band from Manchester, England, Elbow has gone through its share of record labels on its way to cult stardom. Nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2001, the group has since settled into a run of highly regarded albums, though it continues to hopscotch from label to label.

Ant Neely: 'Scratch Redux'

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:47:00 EDT

Musician and composer Ant Neely is an advocate of literally spreading his music around the world. A member of the electronic band Subthunk, Neely has turned the release of his first solo album, Not Fit For Human Consumption, into a global experiment by leaving copies of the CD in public locations for people to find, copy, and then leave someplace else. With the help of those who find the CDs, Neely is tracking the movement of his album on his Web site. One disc made its way from England to Brazil while another hopped around the U.K. before landing in Africa.

The Invasion: 'The Madness'

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:20:00 EDT

Have a listen to The Invasion's debut album, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Madness, and you might be inclined to wonder which part of England the rock quartet is from. Yet despite similarities to Radiohead and Muse, the band actually hails from Naples, Idaho.

Novelist Kureishi Has 'Something To Tell You'

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Hanif Kureishi is one of England's best-known novelists and screenwriters. Race and sex and cultural divides in London have always been Kureishi's territory, and they still are. In his latest novel, Something To Tell You, the characters are older, their sexual foibles darker — and the narrator is a psychologist named Jamal Khan — a man who has a lot of guilt.

Harrisons: 'Take It to the Mattress'

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:38:00 EDT

Sheffield is home to Arctic Monkeys and, as such, any other band that emerges from the city in central England is likely to draw comparisons. That's certainly true for the pop group Harrisons. The Sheffield quartet formed four years ago and hasn't been able to shake the Arctic Monkeys connection since. But to be fair, Harrisons have a sound that unquestionably channels some of the most popular Brit-pop and punk bands that came before them.

New Facebook Friend: England's Ivy Bean, Age 102

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Renee Montagne has today's Last Word in business.

Strategies Differ At Two Islamic Schools In England

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EDT

The British government is funding a number of Islamic schools, where children are segregated by gender and receive Islamic teaching. Proponents say it's an excellent way of expanding education in the Muslim community, especially for girls. Opponents say it encourages segregation in an already difficult religious and racial situation. Two taxpayer-funded schools in Leicester, England, approach Islamic religious education in different ways.

'Wide Open' British Open: Injuries Narrow The Field

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EDT

The first round of the 137th British Open begins Thursday in Southport, England. Tiger Woods is not playing at Royal Birkdale because of an injury. Deborah Amos talks to Commentator John Feinstein about the other players to watch in the tournament.

Woman Feels Her Bra Wiggle, Finds Tiny Bat Inside

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:51:00 EDT

A hotel receptionist in England felt a vibration that she thought was her cell phone in the upper pocket of her jacket. It was not. At lunch, 19-year-old Abbie Hawkins investigated. From her bra, she plucked out a sleeping baby bat. She figures it snuggled into the bra as it hung on the clothesline.

Church Of England To Allow Female Bishops

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EDT

The Church of England's governing body has agreed to allow women to become bishops. However, members want to work out some way to accommodate those who object to the practice.

MS Patient Falls Into American Insurance Gap

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:33:00 EDT

After he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Jeff Rubin of Philadelphia went bankrupt paying for his medical bills. Would that happen in England? Both the U.S. and the U.K. ration health care. A look at patient experiences on either side of the Atlantic.

Violence, Intimidation Plague Zimbabwe Election

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:44:00 EDT

Zimbabwe's longtime President Robert Mugabe was the only candidate in Friday's widely discredited runoff, which was condemned as a sham by African and other world leaders. Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, England's Minister for Africa, Asia, and the U.S. talks about the aftermath of the disputed contest.

In Dystopian Future, 'Daughters' Fight Back

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Set in near-future England, Sara Hall's novel describes a world in which food and resources are so scarce that all women are fitted with IUDs, and only those selected in a lottery are allowed to become pregnant. But on a farm in the Lake District, a female uprising is in the works. Jessa Crispin offers a review.

Federer Vies for Sixth Victory at Wimbledon

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EDT

The first round of Wimbledon gets underway in England on Monday. Top-ranked men's player Roger Federer is going for a record sixth-straight victory. The women's field is wide open. John Wertheim from Sports Illustrated speaks with host Guy Raz.

This Little Piggy Got Galoshes

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:00:00 EDT

A 6-week-old piglet in North Yorkshire, England, apparently suffers from mysophobia — a dread of dirt. So her owners got the pig, named Cinderella, some boots — little green custom-made Wellingtons to protect her little piggies from the mud.

New Englanders Brace for Winter Oil Costs

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:00:00 EDT

It isn't even summer yet, and people in New England are already fretting about how they'll pay to heat their homes next winter. The region relies heavily on home heating oil, and prices are well above $4 a gallon. Some families barely made it through last winter's expensive heating season. Susan Sharon reports from Maine Public Radio.

Cancer Patient Beats Odds, Wins $10,000

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Jon Matthews was doing so well in his battle with cancer, he wagered $200 with one of England's largest gaming companies that he'd live longer than his doctors gave him. Matthews has now beat the 50-to-1 odds that he'd live past the predicted two years — and has won nearly $10,000.

How's Your Summer Shaping Up...

Sun, 25 May 2008 09:07:00 EDT

The season is just starting to sizzle, and listeners have written in to share their plans for adventure Â� everything from wrestling in Mongolia to singing in England's Canterbury Cathedral, from cycling through the villages of southern France to studying wildlife in a remote Peruvian community.

Scandal in Scotland: Handel's 'Ariodante'

Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Handel, a German composer, became a superstar in London, England, by writing Italian operas. Ariodante, one of his best, was premiered in 1735 at a then brand new opera house at London's Covent Garden.

Lexus Flies McCartney's Hybrid to England

Thu, 15 May 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Paul McCartney got a new hybrid car, but the environmental value was canceled out before he could even start it. Lexus gave him the vehicle, worth $158,000, but instead of sending it by ship, the company had it flown from Japan to England.