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The Salt
2:16 am
Fri October 5, 2012

Shake It Up, Baby: Are Martinis Made The Bond Way Better?

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Credit Karen Castillo Farfan / NPR
One martini; shaken, not stirred.
Credit Karen Castillo Farfan / NPR
NPR's Allison Aubrey and Joe Palca "investigate" the difference between shaken and stirred martinis.
Credit Karen Castillo Farfan / NPR
Bar Dupont bartender Brian Collins pours us a cold one.
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Originally published on Fri October 5, 2012 7:12 am

In the movie Goldfinger, a minion of bad guy Auric Goldfinger asks 007: "Can I do something for you, Mr. Bond?"

"Just a drink," Sean Connery's Bond replies, deadpan. "A martini. Shaken, not stirred," he intones.

From Connery to Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, this preference is repeated again and again in 007 flicks. (Check out this video montage for the full Bond effect.)

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The Salt
2:15 am
Fri October 5, 2012

In Haiti, Aid Groups Squabble Over Rival Peanut Butter Factories

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Credit Alex E. Proimos / Flickr.com
Credit Alex E. Proimos / Flickr.com
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Originally published on Fri October 5, 2012 3:00 pm

Can there be too much life-saving peanut butter?

In Haiti, two different humanitarian groups have built new factories to make this product, which is used to treat severe malnutrition and maybe someday prevent it. The problem is, Haiti doesn't appear to need two of them. Each factory, all by itself, could satisfy Haiti's current demand.

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Author Interviews
2:15 am
Fri October 5, 2012

Preventing Silicon Valley's 'Immigrant Exodus'

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Credit Wharton Digital Press
Credit Wharton Digital Press
Vivek Wadhwa is vice president of Academics and Innovation at Singularity University. In 2012, he was recognized as an "Outstanding American by Choice" by the U.S. government.
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Originally published on Fri October 5, 2012 3:02 pm

A new study from the Kauffman Foundation shows that the number of immigrant entrepreneurs in the United States has fallen slightly. But according to Vivek Wadhwa, an author of the study, the drop is especially steep in Silicon Valley, long a magnet for the brightest and most ambitious minds from around the world.

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StoryCorps
9:03 pm
Thu October 4, 2012

For Special Education Teacher, 'Every Day Is Precious'

Credit StoryCorps
Ken Rensink found his calling, teaching special education, after a debilitating accident when he was 19. Now 47, he talked about his journey with friend and colleague Laurel Hill-Ward at StoryCorps in Chico, Calif.
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Originally published on Fri October 5, 2012 8:04 am

Ken Rensink's path to special education teaching began when he was 19, just one day after he completed his training for the U.S. Army Reserves. He fell asleep at the wheel of his car, hit a telephone pole and nearly lost his life.

"I was paralyzed from the waist down," Ken told friend Laurel Hill-Ward, a Chico State University professor who trains special education teachers. "My left arm was so weak, I could barely hold a plastic cup of water."

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It's All Politics
6:26 pm
Thu October 4, 2012

Obama Aims Post-Debate Barbs At Romney As Many Ask: Why'd He Wait?

Credit Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images
President Obama drew a crowd in Madison, Wis., the day after his widely panned first debate against GOP challenger Mitt Romney.
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Originally published on Thu October 4, 2012 6:39 pm

For President Obama, Thursday appeared to have its share of what the French call staircase wit.

We've all experienced it. Heading up the stairs to bed, you think of the perfect response to something someone else said earlier. Of course, it's too late.

The day after his widely panned presidential debate performance, Obama delivered the sort of retorts to his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, that were mainly absent the night before.

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