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Our series on popular college courses continues with a class at the Juilliard School that teaches young musicians and artists how to avoid one of their biggest fears: choking under pressure during a performance. NPR's Robert Smith reports.

Rescue crews pull four bodies out of the large mudslide in the coastal town of La Conchita, California. A Ventura County spokeswoman says crews have found nine people alive using specialized listening gear. From member station KCRW, Eric Roy reports.

As President Bush considers ways to reform the Social Security system, he's said to be considering a plan that would reduce benefits for retirees. Many people on both sides of the Social Security debate believe the administration is seriously considering indexing benefits according to inflation rates rather than current prevailing wages. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

For most opera critics and fans today, America's reigning soprano is Renée Fleming. In her new autobiography The Inner Voice, Fleming offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the life of an opera singer. She talk's with NPR's Fred Child.

Four-time Tony winner Audra McDonald has starred on Broadway with a soprano voice that draws comparisons to Barbara Streisand. As she opens the seventh season of Lincoln Center's American Songbook series, she talks about the joys of being onstage.

Chris J. Strolin and his team of contributors from around the world are attempting to redefine each and every word in the English language with a limerick. So far, they've completed 6,228 limericks. The dictionary is called The Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form. Mr. Strolin tells NPR's Scott Simon how he came up with the idea and how they've redefined antidisestablishmentarianism.

The falling value of the U.S. dollar has generated a lot of attention among world leaders lately, but what does it really mean for the American economy? Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and David Wessel of The Wall Street Journal.

The Filbert Steps create a steep spine that runs up and down San Francisco's historic Telegraph Hill, leading visitors past some of the city's oldest houses and most sublime, secret gardens. The gardens are heavy with blossoms -- and local history. NPR's Ketzel Levine reports.

Three U.N. workers kidnapped in Afghanistan are freed. Afghan Interior Minister Ahmad Jalali made the announcement Tuesday. The workers were helping with the Afghan election won by incumbent President Hamid Karzai. Hear NPR's Paul Brown.

Health officials are urging a crackdown on candies and snacks imported from Mexico because many brands are contaminated by trace levels of lead. But the ban might prove difficult to enforce, because kids love the tart-hot-sweet flavors of Mexican snacks, and street vendors are difficult to regulate.