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The Two-Way
6:26 am
Tue July 17, 2012

Drought In U.S. Now Worst Since 1956; Food Prices To Spike, Economy To Suffer

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Credit Scott Olson / Getty Images
On Monday, a weed was growing through the dry earth at Marion Kujawa's pond, which he normally uses to water the cattle on his farm in Ashley, Ill.
Credit National Climatic Data Center
The redder the area, the worst the drought.
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Originally published on Tue July 17, 2012 4:16 pm

With about 55 percent of the continental U.S. suffering from "moderate to extreme drought" conditions the nation is withering under conditions that haven't been this bad since 1956, according to a new report from National Climatic Data Center.

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Critics' Lists: Summer 2012
6:03 am
Tue July 17, 2012

Laughing Matters: Five Funny Books With Substance

Credit Harriet Russell
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Originally published on Tue July 17, 2012 7:56 am

It's great to laugh, but so much of what is labeled "entertainment" is, well, toothless. I'm a carnivore where my humor is concerned — I want it to have meat and bite. The following books will give you plenty to chew on if you like a bit of nourishment along with your kicks.

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Book Reviews
6:03 am
Tue July 17, 2012

A 'Thumb' On The Pulse Of What Makes Us Human

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Credit Courtesy of Little, Brown and Co.
Sam Kean is also the author of The Disappearing Spoon, an investigation into the cultural history of the periodic table.
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By John Wilwol

The discovery in early July of a subatomic particle that may be the Higgs boson — also known as the God particle — puts physicists one step closer to unlocking the secrets of the universe around us. Sam Kean's dynamic, brainy new book, The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code, tells a story that's no less profound: how geneticists strive to unlock the secrets of the universe within us.

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Poetry
5:33 am
Tue July 17, 2012

Press-Play Poetry: 'Summer Song'

Credit George Clerk / Michiel de Boer / iStockphoto.com
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Originally published on Tue July 17, 2012 9:57 am

Some poetry is meant to be heard as well as read. Press-Play Poetry is an occasional series that celebrates the power of the voice to bring lines on a page to life.

Copyright 2012 National Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Remembrances
5:24 am
Tue July 17, 2012

'Encyclopedia Brown' Author Dies At 87

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By editor

Originally published on Tue July 17, 2012 11:17 am

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Let's take a moment to remember mystery writer Donald Sobol who died last week in Miami. He was a man who wrote his mysteries short. In the 1950s, he succeeded with syndicated column, "Two-Minute Mysteries."

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

But Sobol is most remembered for his "Encyclopedia Brown" kids' books, books that Don Weisberg knew well as both a publisher and a reader. Weisberg is currently the president of the children' book division of Penguin Books.

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