Not My Job: We Quiz Composer Michael Giacchino On Decomposition
We invite the composer beind the Star Wars and Star Trek soundtracks to play a game called "Just like composing, but it goes the other way."
Arts
Get In The Christmas Spirit: A Popular Victorian Ghost Story
Back in the 19th century, ghost stories were all the rage at Christmastime. NPR's Linda Wertheimer reads a spooky Victorian tale.
New Biography Chronicles Shirley Jackson's 'Rather Haunted Life'
Shirley Jackson is probably best known for the creepy short story "The Lottery." But a new biography, Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life, paints a much more complete picture of the writer.
Beyond Latkes: 8 Nights Of Fried Delights From Around The World
Jews commemorate Hanukkah by eating fried foods. For most American Jews, that means latkes — potato pancakes fried in oil. But other cultures toss different foods into pots of boiling oil.
You've Got Mail: Book Boxes Offer Novels And Novelty Items
It's OK if you haven't heard of book box subscriptions. These relatively new services, available in all kinds of genres, deliver curated selections of books and extras to subscribers every month.
In Gritty Sao Paulo, Samba Reinvents Itself With An Introspective Sound
A hundred years after the first recorded samba, São Paulo is pioneering the genre's second act. The city's introspective anthems couldn't be more different than Rio's optimistic, breezy samba beat.
Actress Carrie Fisher Reportedly In Stable Condition After Entering Cardiac Arrest
Both the Los Angeles City Fire Department and United Airlines say a passenger aboard a flight from London was unresponsive. Multiple media reports claim it was the Star Wars actress.
The Rockettes To Perform At Donald Trump's Inauguration, Whether They Like It Or Not
Donald Trump's transition team has confirmed that The Rockettes will perform at the inauguration celebration — though one dancer said on social media that she was "embarrassed and disappointed."
Encore: An Elf Questions Santa's Naughty Or Nice System
An elf, tasked with deciding which children are naughty or nice, begins to question Santa's system.
'Daniel Blake' Skewers The Red Tape Bureaucracy Of England's Health System
British director Ken Loach is both an award-winning filmmaker and a social activist. His latest film combines those impulses