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Music News
2:03 am
Tue December 4, 2012

3 Strings And A Snakeskin: Okinawa's Native Instrument

Credit Collection of Museo Azzarini, Universidad Nacional de La Plata / Wikimedia Commons
In subtropical Japan, the sanshin is a ubiquitous part of life.

Originally published on Thu December 6, 2012 9:37 am

The Two-Way
6:24 pm
Mon December 3, 2012

Newly-Released Color Photo Shows A Bloodied George Zimmerman

Credit GZlegalcase.com
A photograph of George Zimmerman on the night he shot Trayvon Martin.

Originally published on Mon December 3, 2012 8:26 pm

George Zimmerman's defense team just released a photograph they say was taken the night he shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

A black-and-white photocopy of the picture had already been released, but this photo is the first high-resolution and clear view we've gotten of Zimmerman on the night of the shooting.

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All Tech Considered
6:08 pm
Mon December 3, 2012

'Tis The Season For Tablets

Originally published on Mon December 3, 2012 6:50 pm

The holiday season is upon us. In the tech world, that means it's time to talk gadgets, specifically one of the year's most popular gadgets: the tablet.

For the first time, Apple's iPad has some competition: Google's Nexus, Amazon's Kindle Fire HD and the Microsoft Surface.

These tablets represent the marquee efforts of the biggest technology companies. They also represent the four major content universes.

Small Tablets

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Around the Nation
6:08 pm
Mon December 3, 2012

New York, Orthodox Jews Clash Over Circumcision

Credit Michael Nagle for The New York Times / Redux
Rabbi A. Romi Cohn, a noted mohel, prepares an infant for circumcision at Congregation Shaare Zion in Brooklyn on Sept. 4. Cohn opposes a New York City rule requiring parental consent for a type of circumcision ritual practiced by some Orthodox Jews.

Originally published on Mon December 3, 2012 8:25 pm

An ancient circumcision ritual is at the center of a present-day legal battle in New York.

The New York City Department of Health wants to require parental consent for a controversial circumcision practice, which it says can spread the herpes virus. But several Jewish organizations are suing to block the new rule, which they say violates their freedom of religion.

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World
6:08 pm
Mon December 3, 2012

U.S. Steps Up Aid (But No Arms) To Syrian Exiles

Credit Adem Altan / AFP/Getty Images
Rajiv Shah (left), the head of USAID, speaks with children during a visit at the Oncupinar Syrian refugee camp in Turkey, near the Syrian border, on Nov. 27.

Originally published on Mon December 3, 2012 7:12 pm

The Obama administration remains wary about arming Syria's rebels. But when it comes to humanitarian aid, the U.S. contribution, over $250 million, is second only to Turkey.

Then there is non-lethal aid, an additional $50 million for communication equipment and training courses.

If you are surprised by the numbers, so are Syrian activists, who say American support is still almost invisible on the ground. Now, U.S. officials are highlighting the American aid profile.

High-Profile Visit

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Deceptive Cadence
5:45 pm
Mon December 3, 2012

Bach, Beatboxed

Credit From The Top

Originally published on Sun December 9, 2012 9:14 am

Africa
5:19 pm
Mon December 3, 2012

Is Morsi Morphing Into Authoritarian He Opposed?

Originally published on Mon December 3, 2012 6:08 pm

When Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi was elected, some Egyptians jokingly referred to him as the Muslim Brotherhood's "spare tire." He was the backup candidate of the Islamist organization, whose first choice for the presidency was barred from running.

But Morsi has proved much more formidable than many Egyptians believed.

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The Salt
5:15 pm
Mon December 3, 2012

Can Big Food Kick Its Obesity Habit? Does It Really Want To?

Credit Braden Reddall / Reuters /Landov
A sign protesting a beverage tax in Richmond, Calif. The U.S. soft drink industry has fought proposals that would put a tax on sugar sweetened beverages like sodas and energy drinks.

Originally published on Tue December 4, 2012 1:11 pm

A few days ago, two big names in food policy squared off for a formal debate on the following proposition: There is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the food and beverage industry's interests and public health policy interests on obesity.

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The Two-Way
5:08 pm
Mon December 3, 2012

House GOP Sends Obama Its 'Fiscal Cliff' Counteroffer

Credit Alex Wong / Getty Images
Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner arrives for a news conference in November.

Originally published on Mon December 3, 2012 6:26 pm

Leaders of the Republican-controlled House sent President Obama a counteroffer that would avoid the fiscal cliff and cut $2.2 trillion from the country's deficit over the next decade.

According to NPR's David Welna, the bottom line is that it achieves those cuts with $800 billion in new tax revenue and the rest through a combination of cuts to entitlements.

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Shots - Health News
5:03 pm
Mon December 3, 2012

Evidence Mounts Linking Head Hits To Permanent Brain Injury

Originally published on Wed December 5, 2012 9:57 am

Researchers at Boston University have found more evidence supporting a link between repeated knocks to the head and chronic brain disease.

The results, just published in the journal Brain, add weight to concerns about the effect of repeated mild head trauma in athletes, whether they're pros or peewees.

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