Shots - Health Blog
12:32 pm
Wed August 22, 2012

Could Antibiotics Be A Factor In Childhood Obesity?

Credit Raul Arboleda / AFP/Getty Images
Childhood obesity is on the rise in many countries and overuse of antibiotics is now on the radar as a possible factor in the epidemic. Here 18-month-old twins are weighed in a nutritionist's office in Colombia.

Originally published on Thu August 23, 2012 1:34 pm

There's growing evidence that the bacteria in our gut influence our health, including how much we weigh. So what happens when antibiotics knock out some of the microbes that help us?

A study, published online today in the journal Nature, finds that antibiotics make young mice fatter by changing the mix of their gut bacteria.

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It's All Politics
12:29 pm
Wed August 22, 2012

In Ad Battle, Obama Banking On Wind-Power Message In Key Swing States

Credit Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Windmills in a corn field in Colo, Iowa.

Originally published on Thu August 23, 2012 8:00 am

In Colorado and Iowa, two states considered up for grabs in the presidential race, a battle over alternative energy policy is playing a growing role in the debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney.

Both states have important wind-energy sectors, and Obama's campaign is rolling out new radio ads this week highlighting the president's support for — and Romney's opposition to — extending a tax credit on wind-energy production.

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The Two-Way
12:12 pm
Wed August 22, 2012

AT&T Defends Itself From Criticism Over Limits To Video-Call App

Credit Paul Sakuma / AP
Emilie Weideman and her father, Marc Weideman, of Fremont, Calif., use FaceTime after purchasing the new device in June 2010.

AT&T is on the defensive today, saying that its decision to limit the use of Apple's video-call app Facetime does not violate the FCC's net neutrality rules.

Ever since Apple introduced the application, AT&T has limited its use to Wi-fi. In other words, customers who were using the AT&T network could not make video calls using the built-in app. Last week, AT&T changed that policy, saying it would allow customers on its new "shared data plans" to use the app but that did not apply to those who are on unlimited or tiered plans.

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Interviews
12:00 pm
Wed August 22, 2012

Bill Hader On Sketch Comedy, His Love Of Old Films

Credit Mike Coppola / Getty Images
Bill Hader was nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Stefon on Saturday Night Live.

Originally published on Thu August 23, 2012 3:12 pm

Comedian Bill Hader is adept onstage and doing live performances. But he's scared to death of standup.

He says he remembers watching Chris Rock's 1996 HBO special, Bring the Pain, and thinking, "I don't know how people do that."

"I need a character," Hader tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross. "I need people out there with me."

So Hader has stuck with sketch comedy — where he has been wildly successful.

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Monkey See
11:29 am
Wed August 22, 2012

IM, IM, IM Superman: Morning-After Texts Between Superman, Wonder Woman

Credit iStockphoto.com

Originally published on Wed August 22, 2012 12:04 pm

Next week, in Justice League #12, The Man of Steel and the Amazing Amazon will ... get their respective super-powered grooves on, according to Entertainment Weekly.

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World Cafe
11:18 am
Wed August 22, 2012

JD McPherson On World Cafe

Credit Samantha Franklin
JD McPherson.

Originally published on Mon October 1, 2012 11:59 am

JD McPherson's "big break" came when he introduced himself to producer and bassist Jimmy Sutton of The Four Charms via MySpace. After receiving several of McPherson's demos, Sutton immediately recognized his talent, and the Oklahoma native moved to Chicago to begin recording with Sutton. The pair released a music video for "North Side Gal," which became a viral hit.

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Dance
11:03 am
Wed August 22, 2012

Tango Festival Lures Thousands To Buenos Aires

Tango fans are flocking to the Buenos Aires Tango Festival & World Cup in Argentina. The tango is seen as a romantic and seductive dance, but you may not know that the dance may have gotten its start in brothels. Guest host Viviana Hurtado speaks with dance instructor Daniela Borgialli. She's participating in the dance competition.

Education
10:47 am
Wed August 22, 2012

College-Bound Latino Students At New High

More Latino students are enrolling in college now than ever before, according to a report by the Pew Hispanic Center. But Latinos still lag behind other groups in preparing for and completing college. Guest host Viviana Hurtado discusses the report's findings with Richard Fry of the Pew Hispanic Center and the College Board's Jim Montoya.

The Two-Way
9:48 am
Wed August 22, 2012

Sales Of Existing Homes Rose In July, Another Sign Of Stronger Market

Credit Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
More of these sorts of signs are popping up (November 2011 file photo from San Rafael, Calif.).

A 2.3 percent increase in sales of previously owned homes in July from June is the latest sign that the housing market is on the mend, Reuters reports.

The National Association of Realtors said this morning that sales of existing homes increased to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.47 million.

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The Two-Way
9:33 am
Wed August 22, 2012

Deficit To Be $1.1 Trillion, Unemployment To Stay Above 8 Percent, CBO Says

Expect to hear about this from the campaign of Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney as he continues to take aim at President Obama's record on the budget and the economy:

The Congressional Budget Office reports this morning that "for fiscal year 2012 (which ends on September 30), the federal budget deficit will total $1.1 trillion ... marking the fourth year in a row with a deficit of more than $1 trillion."

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