Search results for

Alan Cheuse reviews James Cowan's new book A Mapmaker's Dream. It's the story of a Italian monk's quest to make a perfect map of the world. The book is set during the Renaissance in Venice, and is based in part on the true story of Fra Mauro, whose maps are in the central library in Venice.

NPR'S Julie McCarthy reports that the Asian Pacific Economic Conference ended today on a high note. Leaders of APEC endorsed a U.S. plan to substantially eliminate tariffs on information technology by the year 2000. And there also was progress on the diplomatic front, with China's President Jiang Zemin and President Clinton agreeing to exchange state visits.

- For the first time in half a century, workmen are cleaning up Grand Central Station in New York City. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports much of the work involves cleaning off the layers of grime that have obscured a celestial mural on Grand Central's high ceiling.

the APEC conference in Manila.

NPR's Mary Kay Magistad reports that Yale University is supervising a program to document the atrocities and executions of the Khmer Rouge regime. The documentation was being done to help bring the guilty to justice. But times have changed in Cambodia, and now the government is more interested in forging a more peaceful future than tracking down those guilty of genocide.

at the Art Institute of Chicago which runs until January 5th, titled " >Degas--Beyond Impressionism."

Critic Bob Mondello has a review of the Australian film, Shine. It's about a concert pianist...a one-time child prodigy who had spent a lot of time in mental institutions...who has been making a comeback. The film was recently honored by Australia's Film Institute, and found an enthusiastic reception at the Sundance and Toronto Film Festivals.

In recent years, there has been a sharp decline in the number of Catholics who are choosing religious vocations. Some predictions are dire...suggesting that many religious orders may soon disappear. Among Catholic nuns, there are more women over the age of 90 than under 30.The Church is also having to face the economic and social problems involved in caring for this elderly population. Producer Mary Beth Kirchner reports on the future of nuns in America.

stance, and endorsed the controversial decision by the Oakland school board to declare black English a separate language known as Ebonics . The plan is meant to improve comprehension and test scores by giving special attention to students having difficulty with language.

We hear the entire text of Frost's poem, "The Gift Outright", as delivered at the Kennedy inaugural.