Today, driving into work, I heard some excellent stories on National Public Radio. There was the grim news about A.Q. Khan's sale of Pakistani nuclear secrets, and sobering details about NATO efforts in Afghanistan and the once-in-500-years flooding in the Midwest, but there was also a story from correspondents in Baghdad who decided that they had to neuter the stray dog they had adopted. Apparently, this contradicts history, tradition, and culture in Iraq. The Iraqi vet who performed the procedure offered to get him a "girlfriend" instead, and the Iraqi translators told the Americans that Nunu would be shamed by the members of the dog community. They claimed that having a large family is a blessing and a right which cannot be denied, even to dogs.
Oooo! And you know what else? India has seen a new development in its television programming! Until last year, the television channels have been run by the state, but now that the airwaves have been freed, political satire has started. One of the commentators said that India has a long tradition of intrigue and melodrama, but not really one of comedy. Not, at least, until now.
And, do you have any idea what a cocoa plant looks like? I didn't. NPR has an audio slideshow about chocolate which will completely astound you. Never in a million years would you imagine that chocolate starts out the way it does. Thank goodness somebody decided to taste this bizarre looking plant. I never would have. Yuk.
Spend some time at npr.org. Take the daily news quiz. It's fun. Trust me.
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