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NPR's David Welna reports from Havana that Cuban President Fidel Castro is defiantly insisting that he will not permit further political reforms, despite expectations raised by Castro's recent meeting with Pope John Paul the Second. Cuba is also under fire from Europe, particularly from longtime ally Spain, for its lack of democratic freedoms. In the latest sign of his hardline stance, Castro today oversaw a huge parade of military hardware, the first such display in Havana in ten years.

Commentator Kristine Holmgren tells the story of growing up in a family that did not attend church...but deciding she wanted to be part of the church community. On her own, she went to Sunday School and confirmation, and became an active member in the church community. She found her own way...as she believes many children are able to do.

Marianne Jennings feels that men who were geeks in high school have a strength of character unknown to the handsome varsity stars of yesteryear. She'd take a chess-club geek over the school quarterback any day.

Commentator Joyce Maynard tells the story of one-armed Frank... a man who lives in her town whom she took to a concert by the Fabulous Thunderbirds-- and he delighted in pulling out his own harmonica to play along. Frank was deep into his eighties at the time, and prompted Joyce to reflect on her own father -- she wished she had taken him to a concert when he was still alive.

Eric Westervelt examines the changing role of the drill sergeant.

NPR'S Wendy Kaufman reports that Boeing and McDonnell Douglass have expressed confidence that the merger they announced yesterday will be approved by federal regulators. Experts agree, since the Pentagon has been driving much of the consolidation in aerospace, and they predict that odds the federal government will find a way to sign off on the proposed merger. But final approval is far from a sure thing.

Convicted murderer John Salvi took his own life last week while in prison for the slaying of two women two years ago at clinics where abortions are performed. His parents want federal officials to investigate the circumstances of his death. A debate is now raging over treatment of mental illness in prisons, and whether Salvi should have been sentenced instead to a mental institution. NPR's Tovia Smith reports.

than many people think because they are not insured by the federal government.

The Kabul museum in Afghanistan was once considered one of the greatest museums in Asia. But in the past few years, the museum has been looted by Afghanistan's warring factions. NPR's Eric Weiner reports on recent attempts to restore the Kabul museum's lost treasures.

Mark Jenkins looks at the hit, "I Love You, Always Forever" performed by Donna Lewis. It is a quintessential hit, with breathy delivery and lyrics that have been heard many times before.