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The Republican convention that began today, and its Democratic counterpart that begins in two weeks are underwritten by taxpayer financing. Each major party gets $13.5 million for its four-day nominating extravaganza. The public funding was supposed to fee the parties from their dependence on private sponsors for these events. But the parties have found ways to accept private donations as well. NPR's Peter Overby reports the conventions are now more elaborate and expensive than ever.

The "at" (@) sign -- the letter "A" encircled by a loop -- is everywhere these days -- thanks to the internet and E-mail addresses. But where did the sign originate and what is it actually called? According to Giorgio Stabile, a professor of history in Rome, the "at" symbol or "amphora symbol" is not a new sign at all -- and it predates the 18th century as historians previously believed. Professor Stabile has been hard at work for the past three months studying this ubiquitous symbol -- and has now traced it back to May 4, 1536 in a Roman mercantile document signed by Francesco Lapi. No doubt the race is on to find earlier recordings but for now -- the "at" symbol, drawn as we know it, dates back at least as far as the Italian Renaissance. We also went out to ask folks on the streets of Washington about @.

Robert talks to Jack Randorff, the acoustical engineer in charge of sound at the Republican Convention. It's Randorff's job to make sure everyone at the convention -- and perhaps more importantly, the broadcast audience -- can hear the sounds of the gavel, and the voices of the speakers. (2:30)NOTE: MUSIC HEARD HERE WAS THE ESKIMO "MOUTH BOW" VERSION OF THE "ALL THINGS CONSIDERED" THEME, PLAYED BY JOHN PALMES OF JUNEAU, ALASKA

NPR's Larry Abramson looks at the FBI's controversial Internet eavesdropping device, known as "Carnivore." Twenty-eight members of Congress have called on the FBI to stop using Carnivore because, depending on how it is programmed, it has the potential to invade the privacy of innocent citizens. But, if programmed to delete information unrelated to its search, a Carnivore tap on Internet communications can be less intrusive than court-approved wiretaps on telephones.

Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts is one of three co-chairmen of the Republican National Convention. He is also the only African American Republican in the House of Representatives. He and other blacks have prominent roles at the convention in Philadelphia as the GOP aims to soften its image with voters of all races. NPR's Brian Naylor reports.

Co-Host Madeleine Brand takes a tour of Philadelphia with 16-year-old Elise Beattie, who's lived in the city her whole life. They start out downtown, which, Elise points out, has been cleaned up and dressed up for the Republican Convention.

Co-Host Madeleine Brand talks to NPR's Cokie Roberts about the political events this week as the Republican National Convention gets underway in Philadelphia.

On Tuesday, three members of the Kansas State Board of Education who voted to remove the theory of evolution from state-wide assessment tests are facing election battles. Peter Hancock of member station KANU reports that the school board race is garnering unprecedented attention, and the evolution issue has become something of a litmus test for candidates in many state-wide races.

Co-Host Madeleine Brand and NPR's political editor Ken Rudin talk about three political conventions from history where crucial and unpredictable decisions were made: the Democratic Convention of 1860, the Republican Convention of 1912, and the Democratic Convention of 1944. The two earlier conventions are brought to life through dramatic recreation.

Commentator Kevin Phillips says this is the sixth time Philadelphia has hosted the Republicans since 1856. The city has been good to GOP incumbents, but three times an untested candidate has won the nomination, and all three lost in November.