Claire Blaustein is a freelance writer and music critic who writes for a variety of publications, including The Washington Post, Exclaim! Magazine and La Scena Musicale. She came to NPR as a Performance Today intern in 2005, and has thus far refused to leave. When not doing any of the above, she writes in her blog, I Dig Music..., and pouts until someone gives her a new CD to play with.

10:21am

Mon May 16, 2011
Song Of The Day

Kingsley Flood: Call Of The Wild

Credit Courtesy of the artist

Given the many faces of American music, it's convenient that Kingsley Flood can keep its label as an "Americana" band, even as its music has changed almost entirely from its debut album, Dust Windows, to its new single, "I Don't Wanna Go Home." The group's blues-oriented, fiddle-and-banjo-infused tunes have morphed into a larger, brighter, horn-inflected sound. Electric guitar wails through the middle, claps punctuate the beat and new mic placement does wonders for the lead vocals.

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10:18am

Mon May 16, 2011
The Two-Way

Debt Limit Reached; Treasury To Stop Investing In Pension Plans

Credit iStockphoto.com

It's official.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner today told congressional leaders that, as expected, the federal government has hit its $14.3 trillion "debt ceiling."

And to keep the government running until Aug. 2, Treasury says he:

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10:00am

Mon May 16, 2011
Alt.Latino

Diving For Vinyl: Discovering Ben Tavera King Y Los Jazztecs

English / Spanish

About three years ago I finally replaced my turntable, and I've been returning to vinyl like a long lost friend.

During a recent crate-diving expedition to my local used vinyl store, I came across an album cover that caught my eye.

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9:59am

Mon May 16, 2011
Science/Health

UK Dedicates Patient Care Pavilion

With the snips of several ceremonial scissors, a host of local, state, and federal dignitaries on Sunday, helped the University of Kentucky officially dedicate the new 12-story Patient Care Pavilion at UK Hospital. Alan Lytle has the story. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear says UK's new facility marks a significant milestone in healthcare for the Commonwealth.

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9:57am

Mon May 16, 2011
The Two-Way

Report: U.S., Pakistan Agree To Work Together Against 'High Value Targets'

Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan have been more strained than ever since a team of American commandos swept into Abbottabad, Pakistan, two weeks ago and killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

The U.S. had not informed Pakistani authorities about the raid.

Now, The Associated Press reports from Islamabad that:

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9:56am

Mon May 16, 2011
Go Figure

Survey or Radio Tune-in Ploy?

In a time of declining response rates to surveys, researchers have become particularly sensitive to the many forms of advocacy that masquerade as research. As if we don't have a hard enough time getting people to pick up the phone or respond to online or mobile surveys, organizations muddy the water with push polls or sales.

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9:47am

Mon May 16, 2011
This Is NPR

NPR In the News: Everyday Is Like Sunday Edition

Originally published on Mon November 19, 2012 1:17 pm

NPR News recently announced that Audie Cornish would be the new host of Weekend Edition Sunday, taking over for long-time host Liane Hansen who is retiring the end of this month. Audie's move to this prominent role was covered by the press and media trades:

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9:41am

Mon May 16, 2011
The Two-Way

Vatican Letter Urges Clergy To Create Guidelines To Stop Sexual Abuse

The Vatican published a letter today telling every Catholic conference in the world to draft guidelines to prevent sexual abuse. The Catholic News Service says Catholic bishops should have "clear and coordinated procedures for protecting children, assisting victims of abuse, dealing with accused priests, training clergy and cooperating with civil authorities."

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9:39am

Mon May 16, 2011
Monkey See

A Quick Guide To The Network Upfronts: Dogs At 8:00, Ponies At 8:30

Credit Kharen Hill / Fox

This is the week of the network upfronts. What are the upfronts? They're presentations held by the broadcast networks (NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and the CW) where they announce their fall schedules and put on marketing displays about their new shows — all theoretically for the benefit of advertisers, though it's also a big week for critics and pundits to get their eyes on the schedules and the new stuff.

Today, NBC and Fox present, tomorrow is ABC, Wednesday is CBS, and Thursday is the CW.

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