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The Building That's In Two Countries At Once

Credit Robert Smith / NPR

Hans Hover has one foot in Germany, and one in the Netherlands.

By Robert Smith

Originally published on Thu August 9, 2012 1:43 pm

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Zoe Chace and Robert Smith are reporting from European borders this week. This is the first story in a four-part series.

A metal strip on the floor of Eurode Business Center marks the border between Germany and the Netherlands.

On one side of the building, there's a German mailbox and a German policeman. On the other side, a Dutch mailbox and a Dutch policeman.

The building was supposed to make it easy to work in both countries. But it's also a reminder of how the European dream isn't yet a reality.

2:21 am

Thu August 9, 2012

Watch This: Lynn Shelton's Eclectic Mix Of Favorites

Credit Larry Busacca / Getty Images

Lynn Shelton first gained recognition for her 2009 film Humpday. She is known particularly for encouraging actors to improvise on set.

By editor

Originally published on Fri August 10, 2012 1:21 pm

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2:20 am

Thu August 9, 2012

Uncovering Secrets Buried At A Neglected Cemetery

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Credit Maggie Martin / NPR

Volunteers have been collecting grave markers like these and trying to figure out where they go.

Credit Maggie Martin / NPR

Phyllis Armstrong holds a list of graves she's trying to locate at Lincoln Cemetery.

By Maggie Martin

Originally published on Thu August 9, 2012 10:07 am

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At most cemeteries, hearing weed cutters and lawn mowers trimming grass around graves would seem normal enough. But at Lincoln Cemetery in Montgomery, Ala., these are the sounds of progress.

Lincoln Cemetery was established in 1907 for African-Americans. But with no one in charge of the cemetery or keeping up with burial records, abuse, vandalism and neglect became rampant and the cemetery is in disrepair. Grass and weeds grew three feet high. People picked apart old, crumbling graves and took bones of the deceased.

And no one is quite where people are actually buried.

2:19 am

Thu August 9, 2012

Building For Birds: Architects Aim For Safer Skies

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Credit John W. Poole / NPR

Architect Guy Maxwell holds a printout of his proposed design for the new Bridge Building at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Credit John W. Poole / NPR

Another type of glass planned for the construction is a specially designed patterned glass, visible from both inside and outside. The opaque lines are called "frits" and are made of ceramic.

Credit John W. Poole / NPR

A design prototype on Vassar's campus shows a type of bird-safe glass that displays a distinct pattern from outside, but from inside shows an unobstructed view.

Credit John W. Poole / NPR

Architect Guy Maxwell is a principal at Ennead Architects and an active birder. He says his love of birds — and of glass construction — propelled him to try to come up with solutions for fatal bird strikes.

Credit John W. Poole / NPR

On Vassar's campus, this riparian, bird-friendly habitat is the future site of the Bridge Building designed by Maxwell and Ennead Architects.

Credit Ennead Architects

An image of a bird strike ghost print.

Credit John W. Poole / NPR

Visitors take in the views from the High Line, a Manhattan park developed on an old elevated railway line. City parks attract birds to the city, but glass-fronted buildings pose a danger.

Credit John W. Poole / NPR

A house sparrow eyes a visitor from the foliage of Manhattan's High Line park.

Credit Kenneth Herdy / FLAP

This assortment of more than 1,500 dead birds, all killed by collisions with Toronto windows, was collected during the 2010 migration season by volunteers from the Canadian Fatal Light Awareness Program.

Credit John W. Poole / NPR

Architect Guy Maxwell holds a printout of his proposed design for the new Bridge Building at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Credit John W.Poole / NPR

Guy Maxwell, principal at Ennead Architects, talks to a reporter in the firm's Manhattan offices.

Credit Ennead Architects

This illustration shows a planned building at Vassar, which will be built into a wooded area, and will use special Ornilux Mikado glass that reflects UV light visible to birds.

By Christopher Joyce

Originally published on Thu August 9, 2012 12:07 pm

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Second of a two-part series. Read Part 1.

Modern architecture's love affair with tall glass buildings takes a toll. Every year, millions of birds crash into glass windows in North America.

These collisions may seem like an intractable problem. But in New York City, an architect is trying to find a solution.

6:21 pm

Wed August 8, 2012

Sarah Attar Becomes Saudi Arabia's First Female Track Olympian

Credit Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images

Sarah Attar of Saudi Arabia walks off the track after competing in the Women's 800m Round 1 Heats.

By editor

Originally published on Mon August 13, 2012 9:27 am

It's a moment worth noting: Like judoko Wojdan Shaherkani before her, 19-year-old Sarah Attar became Saudi Arabia's first female track Olympian, today.

As Reuters reports, Attar ran the 800 meter heat in a "white head cover, a long-sleeved green top, black leggings" and " luminous green running spikes."

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2:22 am

Thu August 9, 2012