now posting regularly

Happy Wednesday, folks!  Time for my weekly devotional to all things NPR, wherein I share with you some of my favorite bits from the week's shows.  As always, I'm pleased with the wide range of topics and ideas addressed here.

• "'White Wedding' Celebrates Love, South African-Style"-- I doubt that I'll get a chance to see this movie in a theater, but I hope to remember to rent it in the future, because I've heard such good buzz about it from multiple sources, including this All Things Considered piece.

• "Children's Book Finds Hope In Haiti's Rubble"-- As I received this picture book in a review package from Scholastic, I can attest to the beauty of this book, both in its illustrations and message.  I was thrilled to see it covered by NPR on Morning Edition. 

• "Joaquin Phoenix, 'Still Here' (But Not All There?)"-- Eh, I'm not really sure why I bookmarked this Morning Edition story, but I had just read a review in the Washington Post that was similar, and I guess I'm a little curious about whether this movie is for real or not.  Not curious enough to go see it, but enough to post the link.

• "'Ah-Choo!' Takes On Mysteries Of The Common Cold"-- I don't think I'd want to read this entire book, but its premise is certainly intriguing, especially as fall will soon be upon us, and Pudge already has his first runny nose of the season.  Fun, fun.  Great interview with the author on Fresh Air.

• "3 Tips For Picking A Slightly Better Doctor"-- YAY!  The three factors they list on this blog post from Shots, the NPR health blog, are exactly what I look for in making my own doctor choices.  But unfortunately, no primary doctor within walking distance from our home meets these qualifications right now!

• "Imam 'Exploring Options' On Where To Put Mosque"-- Thank you to All Things Considered for this short piece that sounded a bit different than some of the other coverage about this "controversy."

• "The Likability Factor: What Obama's Lacking?"-- The quote from this piece that evoked the most reaction from me was this one:  "This is the place where the heart and outward manner work against one another," Wayne says. "In terms of helping people who need help the most, Obama is far more sympathetic and has done more than either Bush. Yet George W. Bush conveyed an averageness about him that Obama does not."  You know what?  I DON'T WANT my president to convey an "averageness" about him.  I'm freaking average, and there's no way I should be in charge of running the country!!  Why in the world is an intellectual, analytical, unemotional personality a NEGATIVE in a world leader.  Sometimes I think the "American public" is a bunch of idiots.  There I said it.  Okay.  I'm done ranting.  For now. 

Hopping down from my high horse,