Kara McDermott
Stories
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South African National Anthem A Mashup Of Afrikaaner & ANC Anthems
National anthems often celebrate a country's triumph over its former oppressors, like the US national anthem. But in South Africa, the national anthem very consciously combines the music of the African National Congress with the anthem of Afrikaaner apartheid. Call it reconciliation through mashup.
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No Strike! 11th Hour Deal Averts Grocery Showdown
With just two hours left on the strike countdown clock, a tentative agreement was reached on Monday night between grocery workers and four major chains:
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Declassification Engine: A Program That Analyzes What The Government Keeps Secret And Why
At Columbia University in New York, a historian named Mathew Connelly is working with computer scientists and statisticians on a “declassification engine.” It’s a project that will not just archive millions of declassified government documents, but also mine them for hidden patterns that reveal what the US government chooses to keep secret and why. This story was featured in the pilot episode of the new public radio series focusing on investigative journalism called "Reveal."
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Crackdown On Rising Extremist Anti-Immigrant Party In Greece
Golden Dawn party members are on trial today in Greece. Golden Dawn is an anti-immigrant party on the rise there. The government cracked down on the group over the weekend. They're responding to a toxic stew of racism and poverty reminiscent of pre-WW2 Germany.
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Are Iran And The US Ready For Peace?
Irans new president Hassan Rouhani addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. Although he and President Obama didnt shake hands, the two
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Luke Timmerman On Finding Biotech Work
The biotech industry took a big hit during the recession, and it can still be difficult in this area to find and keep work in that field. But for those
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The Invention Of "Jaywalking"
The show "99% Invisible" explores how the auto industry promoted the word "jaywalking" in order to shift the blame for traffic accidents on irresponsible pedestrians.
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South Africa's Craze For Heroin-Marijuana Cocktail
Nyaope is a whitish powder - low-grade heroin mixed with ingredients such as rat poison and sometimes even crushed-up medicine for people with HIV. Sprinkled on top of marijuana, it is a highly addictive, life-wrecking cocktail.
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There She Is: The History Of Miss America
Last Sunday Miss New York Nina Davuluri, 24, was crowned Miss America. She is the first winner of Indian descent and proudly displayed her heritage with a
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Pakistan Battles Growing Alcohol Addiction
The subculture of liquor enjoyment belies Pakistan's status as officially "dry". That is, the 96 percent of Pakistanis who, according to official figures are Muslim, are not supposed to drink.The penalty if they do so is 80 lashes but it is not strictly enforced. Although there are many harmless social gatherings, there is also a growing problem of addiction to the bottle.