Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'friends'

Alaska Natives Look For New Friends In Congress

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:23:00 EST

With Alaska's Ted Stevens no longer in the Senate, there's talk on Capitol Hill of reconsidering some of the federal contracting preferences enjoyed by Alaska Native corporations. These companies often receive federal deals even when other, cheaper businesses offer similar services.

Music Patron Betty Freeman Dies

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:07:00 EST

Friend and patron to several generations of composers and artists, Freeman was the catalyst behind the opera Nixon in China by John Adams, as well as pieces by John Cage, Harry Partch, Thomas Ades, Philip Glass and dozens of others.

The Invention Of Air

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST

How are the discovery of oxygen, the founding of the Unitarian Church and ecosystem science linked? Author Steven Johnson tells the story of scientist and theologian Joseph Priestley, a protÃ©gÃ© of Benjamin Franklin and friend of Thomas Jefferson, in The Invention of Air.

Paintballs Help Stop Man From Driving Drunk

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:38:00 EST

A Washington State man says he wanted to stop a friend from driving drunk. And that's why Shawn Wallace allegedly blasted his friend's windshield with paintballs. The Tri-City Herald reports police arrested Wallace, but gave him credit for being creative. Creative people around Milwaukee have an event for bike riders. On New Years' Day, they ride their bikes into Lake Michigan. Half a dozen people plunged into a lake so cold they had to break the ice first.

Talk Of The Nation's Tribute To Lives Lost In 2008

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:29:00 EST

Talk of the Nation reached out to friends and colleagues at NPR to ask them to remind us of some of the remarkable men and women who passed away in 2008. They responded with personal stories about the people who inspired them.

The Davisson Brothers Band On Mountain Stage

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 08:13:00 EST

Made up of two siblings, their cousin and a childhood friend, the Clarksburg, W.Va., group plays a high-energy hillbilly style of country music. They play a set from their forthcoming debut album, due out in 2009.

Wine Expert: Spice Up Your Holiday

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST

Its the time of year when we gather to spend time with families and friends. But this year many are looking for ways to get into the holiday spirit without dropping too much cash. Wine expert Callie Crossley offers a lesson on a thrifty, but delicious option: mulled wine.

Being, And Appreciating, George Plimpton

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:51:00 EST

George Plimpton was a literary man about town who did it all, from co-founding The Paris Review to boxing (and dribbling and quarterbacking) with the pros. Now, in George, Being George, 200 friends, lovers and rivals detail Plimpton's remarkable exploits.

An Irish Christmas With Dervish And Friends

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:58:00 EST

One of the biggest traditional bands in Ireland, Dervish took its act to Lissadell House in County Sligo — a favorite spot of W.B. Yeats — to make a special Christmas recording. Piper Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains and vocalist Roisin O'Reilly guest star.

Top Five Gadget Gifts

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

Enough with bargain gizmos, how about the gadgets you actually want? We bring you a list that will not only make your friends and family members gadget-happy, they'll look better, feel better and sound better.

Happy Fake Christmas And Other Holiday Pranks

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

For over 20 years, comedy writer Charlie Hauck has been sending elaborate hoax letters to his friends at Christmas. These often take the form of parodies of the kinds of family updates many folks send out around the holidays.

Ray LaMontagne: Private Among Friends

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:42:00 EST

Initially a solo artist, Ray LaMontagne branches out on his new album, Gossip in the Grain, taking some touring bandmates into the studio with him. In a session from WXPN, he reveals why he wrote a song for White Stripes drummer Meg White.

Jessica Lea Mayfield: 'Heartfelt' Blasphemy

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:21:00 EST

At 19, Mayfield has a mature sound that seems evolved beyond her years, and she's already attracted attention as a featured vocalist with her friends in The Black Keys. She performs music from debut album, With Blasphemy, So Heartfelt, in a session from WXPN.

You've Got A Friend In P-A

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:45:00 EST

Every answer is a familiar two-word phrase or title in which one word starts with P-I as in Pittsburgh and the other starts with P-A. The P-A and P-I words can be in any order.

As Friends, Mother And Daughter Savor The Days

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:08:00 EST

Barbara Cooper has a form of progeria, a genetic disorder that speeds up her body's aging process and causes a shortened life span. But Cooper is 31 — and though her vision long ago began to fail, her mother told her, "You remember your reflection, and that you will always be young in your mind."

Happiness: It Really Is Contagious

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:02:00 EST

A new study finds that when one person becomes happy, the effect can spread up to 3 degrees in a social network — reaching friends of friends. Researchers say this is evidence that because our lives are interconnected, so too is our emotional health.

'Rent' Gets A High School Makeover

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:28:00 EST

More than 50 student groups across the country are performing Jonathan Larson's edgy rock opera Rent this school year. Like the Broadway show, Rent School Edition is centered on a group of friends in the 1990s dealing with AIDS, gender identity, homosexuality, drug addiction and poverty.

Some Say CIA Nominee Forced Out By Obama Team

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:45:00 EST

Former CIA official John Brennan, once considered the top choice to serve as CIA director in President-elect Barack Obama's administration, was pressured by the transition team to pull his name from consideration, according to friends and former intelligence associates.

Obama Names Gen. Jones As Security Adviser

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

President-elect Barack Obama has named General James Jones as national security adviser. Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) discusses hiw longtime friend's personality and national security outlook.

A Salute To James' Dense, Intense 'Ambassadors'

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:09:00 EST

Ann Patchett first read The Ambassadors — that notoriously opaque Henry James novel — at the suggestion of a good friend. Little did she know she was about to discover "the literary equivalent of a religious text."

San Francisco Wants Green Christmas Trees

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST

Residents of San Francisco can give their city a Christmas present — a tree. The city, Friends of the Urban Forest and SF Environment are selling potted trees. After Christmas, the trees can be left on the street for pickup and planting. The spindly young trees aren't terribly traditional — one is a southern magnolia. Presumably the holiday spirit can be found in celebrating a greener Christmas.

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."

White Writer Says 'Be My Black Friend'

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST

Devin Friedman, a senior correspondent for GQ magazine and a self-described "nice white boy," wanted to break the bonds of what he calls accepted self-segregation. After realizing he didn't have any black friends, he posted an ad on Craigslist.

State By State: Returning Home

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST

Today is a day to give thanks, and a lot of people are returning to their home state to meet with family and friends. Matt Wieland, the co-editor of a new book entitled State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America talks about the project, along with contributors Susan Orlean and Randall Kenan about what they love about living in Ohio and North Carolina.

Saved By A T-Shirt Company

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:22:00 EST

Enough with the doom and gloom financial news. This week we're offering stories about people who have dodged the worst of the economic downturn. Mike Draper went the MBA route, but when the rest of his friends continued on to Wall Street, he started a T-shirt company in Iowa.