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They called him the Splinter and the Kid and Teddy Ballgame. But Ted Williams thought of himself in simpler terms -- as the greatest hitter who ever lived. The baseball Hall of Famer and war hero died Friday at 83. All Things Considered and NPR Online take a look back at a remarkable American life.

Retired Navy Capt. Peter Huchthausen wrote the book K19: The Widowmaker: The Secret Story of the Soviet Nuclear Submarine. This true story of a barely averted catastrophe aboard a nuclear-powered submarine has been adapted into a film of the same name starring Harrison Ford. Huchthausen served as technical director on the film. On July 4, 1961, the sub was taking part in a military exercise in the North Atlantic. A pipeline in a reactor's cooling system ruptured. In a race against time, the crew worked to improvise a repair. Until now, the story has been kept secret. Huchthausen served as naval attaché in Moscow from 1987 to 1990. The movie opens nationwide on July 19.

A song that had America dreaming of California sunshine actually was born on a New York winter's day. As part of the Present at the Creation series, NPR's Susan Stamberg has the story of "California Dreamin'," the Mamas and the Papas' enduring anthem to homesickness.

Technology has radically changed the sport of surfing. Surfboards have evolved from heavy solid-wood planks -- almost identical to boards used for centuries in Hawaii -- to high-tech tools that rocket skilled surfers across the water. Tom Goldman has the story on surfers and their boards for our continuing Present at the Creation series.

Actress Catherine Keener was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Being John Malkovich. She starred in the independent films The Real Blonde, Walking and Talking, Living in Oblivion and Lovely and Amazing.

A new study offers even more evidence that hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women is risky. Researchers say women taking estrogen-only pills are at greater risk for ovarian cancer. NPR's Patricia Neighmond reports for All Things Considered.

NPR's Morning Edition and Youth Radio have been giving Israeli and Palestinian youths the chance to share their thoughts about the continuing violence in their homelands. Today we hear from Sara Dansker, a 15-year-old Israeli girl who lives a half hour from Jerusalem, and from 21-year-old Dina Jawhar, a recent college graduate, whose home is a few miles from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah.

Catholic priests are at the center of the current child sex abuse scandal, but the realm of possible predators extends to anyone with access to children. Health professionals say early conversations with kids about sexuality may actually be the best protection. NPR's Brenda Wilson reports.

The Economist, the London-based publication on politics and world affairs, publishes a simplified version of exchange-rate theory with its Big Mac Index, using the price of a hamburger to compare purchasing power worldwide. Economist editor Pam Woodall tells All Things Considered host John Ydstie how the burger can predict economic trends from Argentina to the European Union.

For years, Amy Borkowsky has been collecting hilarious and embarrassing messages left by her mother on her answering machine. Now she's put them on a CD and wants the world to hear them. On Morning Edition, host Bob Edwards reviews some of the messages with the former ad executive turned standup comedian.