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The Smithsonian National Museum of American History opened a new exhibit Monday featuring the Cambridge, Mass. kitchen where Julia Child filmed many of her television shows -- and where many Americans learned to be less afraid of French cooking. See photos and a video of the exhibit -- and learn about Child's life as a World War II spy. See http://americanhistory.si.edu/kitchen/index.htm.

Host Liane Hansen talks with Rachel Swarns of The New York Times about this week's World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa. Organizers say the talks will center on practical solutions to the problems of the developing world.

Until about 70 years ago, musical instruments remained pretty much the same as they were for centuries. Then a new invention changed modern music and popular culture as well -- the electric guitar. For the continuing series Present at the Creation, NPR's Christopher Joyce traces the origins of an instrument that changed popular music forever.

West Nile virus has hit Louisiana hard this summer. Nearly 90 people there have contracted the mosquito-borne fever, and seven are dead. It's the largest outbreak in the United States yet, and with three more months of warm weather ahead, local health officials fear it will only get worse. NPR's John Nielsen reports for All Things Considered.

A recently released study in the United Kingdom reveals a dramatic increase in the use of pop songs at funerals. Sweeping ballads like Wing Beneath My Wings and My Heart Will Go On seem to be overtaking traditional hymns as suitable send-offs for the departed. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Lorinda Sheasby, marketing manager of FuneralCare.

This week the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival features Steve Straight, whose new book of poems, The Water Carrier, was just released by Curbstone Press. He's an English professor and director of the poetry program at Manchester Community College in Manchester, Conn. He reads his poem, "Lesson" for Weekend Edition Saturday. We also pays homage to independent producer Phyllis Joffe, who filed nearly 175 stories for NPR over 20 years, including producing the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival. Joffe died last weekend.

Now appearing on All Things Considered: The comedy troupe responsible for such classic spoofs as I Think We're All Bozos On This Bus. Today, Firesign Theatre tackles the issue of homeland security, and the government's program to get civilians to "tip" the government to suspicious activity.

Our summer reading series profiles novelist Jackie Collins, author of 22 novels, including Lucky and Hollywood Wives. This summer Collins is reading Her (Knopf; ISBN: 037541388X) by Laura Zigman, Billy (Overlook Press; ISBN: 1585673080) by Pamela Stephenson, and Killing Pablo (Penguin USA; ISBN: 0142000957) by Mark Bowden.

Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro meld their voices in beautiful harmony, but the songwriters-turned-performers couldn't stand each other when they first met. They did learn to work together -- if not to always get along. Lowen & Navarro chat with Morning Edition's Bob Edwards about their career and perform some of their songs.

Puzzle master Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. (This week's winner is Kevin Cole from Lincoln, Nebraska. He listens to Weekend Edition Sunday on member station KUCV in Lincoln.)