Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'expensive'

Nigerian Motorcycle Riders Dislike New Helmet Law

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:23:00 EST

Police in Nigeria have been arresting scores of motorcycle taxi riders who have been trying to avoid a new law that requires them to wear helmets. Some riders have been substituting dried fruit shells and pots for helmets. The motorcyclists complain helmets are too expensive. Some passengers refuse to wear them fearing the helmets carry disease or black magic.

In Grim Economic Times, NASCAR Sputters

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:25:00 EST

The economic slowdown has begun to pinch NASCAR. Stock car racing is an expensive sport and waves of layoffs are filtering down now that corporate sponsors are driving away.

Recycling Suddenly Gets Expensive

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

The market for recyclables is down sharply with shrinking demand from factories for raw material. In Seattle, the municipal recycling program that brought in millions of dollars each year may now end up costing money instead.

Lotteries Face Tough Odds In Flagging Economy

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:17:00 EST

Sales of lottery tickets are down as consumers cut back on non-essential expenses. This is proving trying for many cities and states that rely heavily on lottery money for essential services, and lottery officials are launching new ad campaigns and strategies to spur ticket sales.

Connecticut Puts The Squeeze On Olive Oil Fraud

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:05:00 EST

Good olive oil is expensive to produce, so it's no surprise that some people are trying to pass off a low grade product. Now, they'll face the wrath of the state of Connecticut — the first state in the country to set standards for the purity of olive oil.

NPR Announces Cuts To Staff, Programs

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:56:00 EST

Two national programs — News and Notes and Day to Day — will end, as 64 employees lost their jobs. Announcing the cuts, NPR's interim President and CEO Dennis Haarsager wrote, "A sharp drop in our current and projected corporate underwriting has compelled us to reduce expenses immediately."

Struggling Illinois Farmer's Hard Choice Cuts Deep

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:08:00 EST

The costs of raising cattle have gone up in recent years — but the price of cattle has not kept pace. That has put farmer Dave Burt in a bad position in southern Illinois. He says farming expenses are now "so staggeringly high, it's frightening."

Nigella's Party Plan: An Excess Of Fun, Not Expense

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:55:00 EST

During a time when many Americans are tightening our belts, we may have to loosen them a bit for the holidays, especially when it's time to have guests over. But as cookbook author Nigella Lawson says, "You entertain to see your friends. You're not opening a restaurant."

Thanksgiving Travelers Brave Holiday 'Traffic'

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:21:00 EST

When you hit the road this Thanksgiving, take a look at the driver who honks at you: Tom Vanderbilt, author of Traffic, has a theory that men honk more than women, and expensive cars honk more at less expensive cars.

Guns 'N' Roses' Album Hits Shelves — Finally

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:43:00 EST

Calling Chinese Democracy the "new" Guns 'n' Roses CD is a little misleading — bandleader Axl Rose has been working on many of these songs for years. Host Andrea Seabrook samples a few tracks from what has become the most expensive album ever recorded.

Farmers' Health Insurance: A Costly Row To Hoe

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:25:00 EST

Many U.S. farmers struggle to meet their health care costs. A recent survey by the nonprofit Access Project says farmers pay twice as much as nonfarmers for insurance and out-of-pocket expenses. As small business owners, they have few options and often buy insurance as individuals.

How Will Obama Help College Costs...

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:32:00 EST

President-elect Obama will take office at a time when a college education is both more valuable and more expensive than ever. To deliver aid, he could create an education tax credit, increase Pell Grant awards or simply "fix the economy."

Radio Comic Part III: Money You Could Have Saved

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

This week, we are presenting a radio comic strip about the new economy. In part three, a husband and wife go through their expenses over the past year and suddenly realize that they could have saved thousands if they stuck to things they actually needed.

Trying To Keep A Restaurant Afloat In Cincinatti

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

Jon Diebold is struggling to keep his bills paid and business running. People aren't eating at his family restaurant like they used to, he says and he's getting worried about how to cover expenses for his five kids.

Cost-Conscious Students Flock To Community Colleges

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 08:49:25 EDT

Community colleges are reporting skyrocketing enrollment, as students make tough choices in a sputtering economy. Some students are giving up on more expensive four-year schools and doing two years in a community college.

Ralph Nader On His Run For President

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EDT

To Nader supporters, the bailout package is a perilously expensive invoice for taxpayers to rescue the very people who were reckless and greedy. Ralph Nader, independent candidate for president, speaks about his latest presidential campaign.

In Minn., A Tight Race For U.S. Senate

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:43:00 EDT

The nation's most expensive 2008 Senate race is playing itself out in Minnesota where comedian Al Franken is challenging Republican Sen. Norm Coleman. Most polls suggest the race is a toss-up.

In Congress, Concern Over Bailouts

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:28:00 EDT

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson today sought to make his case for Congress to approve a $700 billion plan to clean up the mortgage crisis on Wall Street. Paulson said the plan was expensive, but the only way forward. Congressional Democrats say they want oversight on how the money is spent.

3D Movies May Be The Answer To Filling Theaters

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EDT

The movie business is betting on 3D to keep people coming to theaters. It's going to be expensive to get the necessary digital equipment into the thousands of movie theaters across the country. So, Dreamworks Animation head Jeffrey Katzenberg is leading the charge to get studios to help pay the price.

Bank Of America's Ken Lewis Takes Biggest Risk Yet

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:13:00 EDT

In his seven-year tenure at the helm of Bank of America, Ken Lewis has made many big buys: FleetBoston, MBNA, LaSalle and Countrywide — to name a few. But none quite match the risk, expense and scope of the Merrill Lynch deal.

Obama: GOP Emphasis On McCain Bio Ignores Middle Class

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Barack Obama said the Republican convention's focus on John McCain's biography came at the expense of the struggles of the middle class. The comments came in a campaign appearance in Duryea, Pa., a day after McCain became the GOP presidential nominee.

Pa. Man Wins Trip To Obama's Acceptance Speech

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Eric Melder is one of 10 Barack Obama supporters who won an all-expenses-paid trip to Denver courtesy of the Obama campaign. Last month, Obama's campaign e-mailed supporters saying if they made a donation of $5 or more and wrote a 100-word essay explaining why they support Obama, they could be selected to attend the convention.

Quinn Walker: 'Hiding Behind Waterfalls'

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Quinn Walker is a brazen experimental baroque-folk artist. His first studio solo record is a double disc, one titled Laughter's An A**hole, the other Lion Land. Beneath the amusing impression of the album is a deeper context revealing Walker's social consciousness. The title refers to the humility of humor and that people oftentimes "laugh at the expense of other people".

'Marketplace' Report: Check Your Spices

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EDT

That might not be chocolate you're eating. Some big food makers have been altering their recipes on candy and other products to save money. Hershey is substituting vegetable oil for cocoa butter in some chocolate bars, for example, and spice maker McCormick is now using Mexican oregano instead of the more expensive Mediterranean version.

Amid China's Olympic Push, Public Recreation Lags

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:01:00 EDT

China's gold medal haul increases by the day at the Beijing Olympics. But some residents say the host country's multimillion-dollar investment on behalf of athletes has come at the expense of sports facilities for the Chinese public.