Hot Chip's 2010 album One Life Stand topped many "best of" lists last year and was a mainstay on KCRW's airwaves. For its Morning Becomes Eclectic debut, the U.K. electro-pop group played highlights from that release, while adding special extra touches, like steel drums in "I Feel Better." The guys had been touring quite a bit and were in fine form: When they get a solid groove going, you can just tell they're in a zone.

When the automobile first emerged at the end of the 19th century, there were two types of cars on the road: gasoline-powered cars and electric cars. And at first, it was unclear which type would attract more drivers.

"Electric cars had some early advantages," says science writer Seth Fletcher. "Gas cars were loud and dirty and nasty, and they had to be started with a hand-crank, which could sometimes backfire and break your arm. And electric cars were clean and quiet and civilized and they worked well in the city."

After being criticized in a New York Times editorial for crossing the church-state divide, the controversial Ark Encounter has a supporter in state Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, who is proud the park is being built in his district.

Responding to Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear’s claim that the federal government is the reason for rising utility bills, the director of the Kentucky Resources Council says the governor should strive to lower electricity consumption instead of blaming regulators.

When something costs $3.99, you just round up and tell yourself it costs $4.00. Right?

Maybe not.

A growing body of research suggests that charging, say, $3.99 rather than $4.00 may actually be an effective trick.

In one study, researchers offered people a choice between two different pens.

When the pens were priced at at $2.00 and $3.99, nearly half of the people chose the more expensive pen.

Premed students have long had a reputation, sometimes deserved, for cutthroat competition in the quest for top grades and test scores. Now, there are high tech ways to get an edge that nobody could have dreamed up even a few years ago.

Two men in British Columbia face criminal charges for an elaborate scheme that allegedly used a pinhole camera, wireless transmitter and a group of unwitting students to cheat on the MCAT, the standardized test that's used by most medical schools in making admissions decisions.

Imagine using your smartphone as your wallet. Google, Mastercard and Citibank recently teamed up to launch tap-to-pay trials in San Francisco and New York. The idea is to use coupons, a store's reward card or pay for your groceries with just a few taps on your phone. Tell Me More's personal finance contributor Alvin Hall talks about the pros and cons of "smartphone wallets."

The Political Junkie

The way journalists write affects how the public consumes news and understands the world. One topic deeply connected to our daily lives is food. The Associated Press recently released the print edition of its 2011 Stylebook, which offers a new food guidelines section. Whether in broadcast, print or in the blogosphere, many follow the Stylebook. The new section focuses on food, wine and spirits. Associated Press Food Editor J.M. Hirsch talks about compliling the food guideline and spells out some of the trickiest words out there.