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In almost one-third of private home loan modifications, big banks are now slashing what homeowners owe. It's overdue housekeeping for America's economy, says one investor: Banks clear their balance sheets, investors get a predictable stream of income, and homeowners stay homeowners.

All Things Considered host Melissa Block remembers Eva Zeisel, one of the premier ceramic designers of the last century. She died last week at her New City, N.Y., home at the age of 105.

There is a lot of debate these days about the costs of medical care, and the risks. On Monday, the American College of Physicians issued new ethical guidelines on whether doctors should consider costs when deciding how to treat patients.

As society makes astonishing technological advances, some think our future looks brighter than ever. But author Drew Magary isn't getting his hopes up. He has three books that set the bar pretty low for what the next generations will experience.

Alan Cheuse has this review of KBL, John Weisman's novelization of the operation that led to Osama bin Laden's death.

The tiny Persian Gulf state of Qatar has deep pockets and a big microphone in the form of its news network, Al Jazeera. In recent months, those assets have been used to propel the Arab Spring forward. Qatar has supported rebel movements in Libya and Syria, and is promoting a "Marshall Fund" for Oman, Morocco and Jordan. The country's emir has close, personal relationships with the emerging Islamist leaders from Casablanca to Cairo — and meanwhile provides a home to the largest U.S. military base outside the United States.

The Vatican announced Sunday an arrangement to allow disaffected Episcopalian congregations in the United States to join the Roman Catholic church. The arrangement will allow an exemption to priestly celibacy for former Episcopal priests who are married.

Researchers presented a group of professional violinists with a set of violins and asked them to play and then determine — based on sound alone — which were made by the famed Italian violin-maker Stradivari and Guarneri. The results surprised everyone, including the pros themselves.

NPR national political correspondent Mara Liasson joins All Things Considered host Melissa Block to talk about Tuesday's Iowa caucuses.

Seniors who aren't tech savvy can find themselves increasingly isolated, even from their families, as more and more communication moves to the digital realm. Across the country, a number of programs are enlisting high school or college students to train seniors on Facebook, Skype and smartphones.