Search results for

Professor William Labov, a University of Pennsylvania linguist and author of the new book Atlas of North American English Phonetics, Phonology and Sound Change, says there is a shift of vowel sounds in the inland northern cities. He calls it the "northern city shift."

Former FEMA Director Michael Brown blames Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and other top agency officials for the inadequate response to Hurricane Katrina. Brown testified Friday before the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

President Bush maintains Congress gave his administration the power to eavesdrop on some domestic phone calls without warrants as part of broader "use of force" authorization. Many in Congress disagree.

The United Nations has appointed a new envoy to continue the investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri last February. The initial report last fall implicated top Lebanese and Syrian security officials in Hariri's killing.

Two big surprises awaited Paul Bremer when he arrived in Iraq: that the country's chaos made it ripe for insurgency; and that the U.S. government would withhold additional troops. Bremer became the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq in May of 2003.

Steve Inskeep talks with New York Times reporter James Risen about his new book, State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration. Risen first broke the news about the National Security Agency's secret eavesdropping program, and says it's illustrative of the administration's behavior in the war on terror.

P.D. James is considered one of the greatest living writers of detective fiction. Steve Inskeep talks with the British mystery writer about her new book, and how the mystery novel has changed over the years.

In The New American Cooking, cookbook author Joan Nathan showcases some of the more unusual items that are turning up on America's tables — plantains, pomegranates and other once-obscure ingredients.

A new book recreates the story behind one of England's greatest love affairs — the 17-year relationship between Charles II and Nell Gwyn. Charles Beauclerk is a direct descendant of the pair, and delved into family archives for the inside story.

Ted Allen is best known for his role as the food-and-wine specialist on the television show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. But he is also a journalist and author. The Food You Want to Eat is Allen's current cookbook.