Archive for November, 2012


What Will Recent Arrivals to the United States Serve for Thanksgiving?

An Asian seafood restaurant in San Francisco posts its Thanksgiving Day closure. (Photo: Monica Campbell)

Many Americans with family roots elsewhere in the world celebrate Thanksgiving meals that don’t include turkey or cranberry sauce.

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The Circuitous Journey of the Domesticated Turkey

An ancient bowl features a turkey (Photo: Amerind Foundation)

The turkey, or at least the commercial breeds available in the US, did not originate here. Credit goes instead to the Aztecs of Mesoamerica who first domesticated the bird 2500 years ago, and the Spanish conquistadors who escorted it along a circuitous journey to the US.

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Experiencing the True Eid al-Adha

In Islamabad, Eid wishes are written across the back of a goat in henna. (Photo: Beenish Ahmed)

This year, reporter Beenish Ahmed celebrated Eid al-Adha in a way she hadn’t before: in her parents’ home country of Pakistan.

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New Town in Canada

Jumbo Pass (Photo: Danny Laroche/Flickr)

For the Geo Quiz, we’re looking for a town in Canada that’s billing itself as the future home of a super-sized ski resort, the only year-round ski resort in North America, in fact.

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Miracles Questioned in South India

Pilgrims on their return from prayers at the temple. (Photo: Ashley Cleek)

Every year, millions of pilgrims travel to a temple in southern India to witness miracles. Rationalists protest that the miracles are fake.

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Elephant9: Progressive Jazz-Rock from Norway

Norwegian jazz-rock trio Elephant9. (Photo: myspace.com/elephant9theband)

Our DJ pick today comes courtesy of Marius Asp of NRK in Oslo, Norway. He tells us about the latest release from Norwegian jazz-rock band Elephant9. Their album is called “Atlantis.”

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PRI’s The World: 11/21/2012 (India, Gaza, Malta)

A ceasefire announced in the Middle East: we have reports from Gaza and Tel Aviv. An inside look at the secret tunnel system under Gaza’s border. And how Indian authorities bulldozed a town to save its ancient ruins.

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Gaza Ceasefire Deal Reached

Secretary of State Clinton and Egypt's President Mursi meet in Cairo. (Photo: REUTERS/Egyptian Presidency/Handout)

A ceasefire between Israel and militants in Gaza has been announced in Cairo, after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Egypt’s President Mursi.

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Bomb Blast Hits Tel Aviv Bus

Tel Aviv bus after attack (Photo: @IDFspokesman/Twitter)

At least twenty-one people have been injured in a terrorist attack on a bus in Israel’s commercial capital Tel Aviv, Israeli officials say. The bus bomb was the first terror attack there in years.

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Gaza Celebrates Ceasefire

After the ceasefire, cars are back on the streets of Gaza (Photo: Paul Danahar/Twitter)

In Gaza, news of the ceasefire deal was greeted by celebrations but just before the truce went into effect, there were more rockets fired into southern Israel. And there were more Israeli strikes hitting targets in Gaza.

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A Journey into the Tunnels of Gaza

The Tunnels of Gaza. National Geographic, December 2012

Hundreds of tunnels connect Gaza with Egypt. They are used to smuggle in everything from livestock, to construction material, to car parts. James Verini writes about the tunnel system in the December 2012 issue of National Geographic.

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With Stakes Rising, Can We Stop Catastrophic Climate Change?

Hurricane Sandy's destruction has generated an estimated 12-million cubic yards of debris. Much of it still waiting to be cleared. (Photo: Sam Eaton)

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, debate is again raging in the United States about the dangers of climate change. Now two high-profile reports warn that without big changes we’re headed for catastrophic climate disruption.

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Music Heard on The Air, Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Tunes Spun On The World between our reports on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012. Artists featured are Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck, Soul Brothers, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba featuring Harouna Samake, Oran Etkin, and Toubab Krewe.

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Preserving India’s Hampi Ruins

The government of India has ordered nearby homes and businesses to be bulldozed to protect the ancient ruins of Hampi. (Photo: Michael May)

The Indian government recently took a drastic step to protect the ancient ruins in Hampi by bulldozing homes and businesses of people near the site.

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Philip Pullman’s Take on Grimm’s Fairy Tales

Cover for Philip Pullman's "Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm"

British author Philip Pullman discusses his latest book, a new version of Grimm’s Fairy Tales that coincides with the 200 year anniversary of their original publication.

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