All Things Considered

Melissa Block and Robert Siegel

In-depth reporting has transformed the way listeners understand current events and view the world. Every weekday, hear two hours of breaking news mixed with compelling analysis, insightful commentaries, interviews, and special - sometimes quirky - features.

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Traces Of Anxiety Drugs May Cause Fish To Act Funny

Credit Courtesy of Bent Christensen

Perch exposed to the anxiety drug oxazepam were more daring and ate more quickly than fish that lived in drug-free water.

By Richard Harris

Originally published on Thu February 14, 2013 5:40 pm

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Many of the drugs we take aren't actually digested — they pass through our bodies, and down through the sewer pipes. Traces of those drugs end up in the bodies of fish and other wildlife. Nobody's sure what effect they have.

Now, a paper being published in Science magazine finds that drugs for anxiety drugs — even at these very low levels — can affect the behavior of fish.

9:44 pm

Wed February 13, 2013

AMR, US Airways To Announce Merger

By NPR People: Robert Siegel

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Transcript

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

It appears the American Airlines and US Airways are going to merge. There are multiple reports that late today the boards of the two companies approved the merger, which will create the country's largest carrier. The deal, if it survives regulators' anti-trust review, will allow American to emerge from bankruptcy.

NPR's Wade Goodwyn joins us from Dallas with more on the merger. And Wade, what will the airline be called and what else can you tell us about the make-up of the newly-merged company?

5:43 pm

Wed February 13, 2013

Playing The Big Room: An Oscars Joke-Writer Reflects

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Credit Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Billy Crystal hosts the 84th Annual Academy Awards in 2012. Writing jokes for hosts is a tricky game, says longtime joke writer Dave Boone.

Credit Courtesy Dave Boone

Comedy writer Dave Boone, who has written for eight different Academy Awards telecasts, says the key to a good joke is to remember the audience is bigger than the assembled Hollywood crowd.

By editor

Originally published on Tue February 19, 2013 3:45 pm

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Hollywood's biggest night is in just a few weeks. People tend to focus on the glitz, the glamour and — of course — the gowns. But we thought we'd take a moment to focus on the gags.

Or rather what goes into writing both the jokes that fall flat and the jokes that soar. For a bit of Oscars Writing 101, NPR's All Things Considered turned to Dave Boone, who has written for the Academy Awards eight times.

5:22 pm

Wed February 13, 2013

Saving The Sounds Of America

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Credit Abby Brack / Library of Congress

A 16-inch lacquer disc, a format used in the 1930s, from the collection of the Library of Congress. Most of the lacquer, the part of the disc where the sound was etched, has been lost to decay.

Credit Abby Brack / Library of Congress

Preservation work takes place at the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation in Culpeper, Va.

Credit Abby Brack / Library of Congress

A reel of 1/4-inch-wide magnetic tape, used by the Library of Congress for reference purposes.

By Tom Cole

Originally published on Wed February 13, 2013 9:44 pm

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We've been able to record sound for over 125 years, but many of the recordings that have been made in that time are in terrible shape. Many more, even recordings made in the past 10 years, are in danger because rapid technological changes have rendered their software obsolete. So Wednesday, the Library of Congress unveiled a plan to help preserve this country's audio archives.

4:49 pm

Wed February 13, 2013

Jim James: On A Spiritual Quest In The Digital Age

Credit Neil Krug / Courtesy of the artist

Jim James' solo debut is titled Regions of Light and Sound of God.

By Tom Moon

Originally published on Wed February 13, 2013 9:44 pm

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4:34 pm

Wed February 13, 2013

Airport Suites Offer Travelers A Place To Nap On The Fly

Credit Courtesy of Minute Suites

Minute Suite's 7-by-8-feet rooms offer Wi-Fi, a sofa bed, a television and a workspace. One traveler compared the small spaces to having an MRI done, but others say the idea is overdue at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

By Cheryl Corley

Originally published on Wed February 13, 2013 9:44 pm

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When there's a big snowstorm or a plane has mechanical problems, airports often turn into uncomfortable holding pens, with people scrunched in chairs, lying on floors, filling up restaurants and otherwise trying to find something to do.

That's actually good news for one company. Minute Suites is building tiny airport retreats across the country. The suites are already operating in Atlanta and Philadelphia. Next up are Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

4:29 pm

Wed February 13, 2013

How Do I Love Thee? Japanese Husbands Shout The Ways

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Credit Kiyoshi Ota / EPA /Landov

A man shouts his love at an event in Tokyo on Jan. 29. The event comes two days ahead of Beloved Wives Day, a day on which husbands publicly scream their love for their wives before a crowd of onlookers. Husbands are also urged to head home early to express gratitude to their wives.

Credit Kiyoshi Ota / EPA /Landov

Men shout messages of love during the annual event. One Japanese writer says the country has "always been in a crisis romance-wise."

By editor

Originally published on Wed February 13, 2013 9:44 pm

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