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Michele Norris talks with Wall Street Journal sportswriter Stefan Fatsis about the basketball showdown between two seven-footers, Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers and Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets. The on-court confrontation has been heightened by off-court jousting -- in particular, Shaquille O'Neal's mimicking of Yao Ming's accent. Some have taken offense.

A Senate committee unanimously recommends Tom Ridge be confirmed as head of the new Department of Homeland Security. A final Senate vote is anticipated next week. NPR's Pam Fessler reports.

Absentee ballots in Louisiana aren't counted if they're cast by someone who then dies before election day. State Sen. Reggie Dupre, Jr. wants to reverse that law. The Republican from Houma says if someone takes the time to vote, it should count, even if the voter doesn't live to see election day. NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Dupre about the bill he's co-sponsored.

A Texas travel agency offers a package to a nudist resort in Cancun. And passengers on a chartered plane are invited to get an early start on dishabille as soon as the "fasten seat belt" light goes off.

NPR's Michele Norris talks with Gen. James Helmly, the chief commander of the U.S. Army Reserve about the increased reliance the military places on reserve components. Currently 47 percent of the military is made up of these reserve members. Since the Sept. 11 attacks, there has been an increased perception that the reservists are being overused. Indeed these citizen soldiers are being deployed for more missions and for longer periods. They can be called to duty for up to two years, which makes it harder and harder for these folks to re-integrate into society. Gen. Helmly addresses some of these concerns.

President Bush has been defending his tax cut proposal by accusing his critics of engaging in "class warfare." NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that when the president invokes the phrase "class warfare" he does so in defense of the wealthy.

Patrick Hoban, president and CEO of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, presented economic data Thursday during a BN By The Numbers event.

Raquel Maria Dillon reports Boston area critics of the Roman Catholic Church have turned their sites north, to the Bishop of Manchester, New Hampshire. John McCormack was a top aid to Cardinal Bernard Law, who stepped down last month as a result of the priest sex abuse scandal. The protesters say McCormack is also to blame for the abuse, and they want him to step down.

At the San Francisco Zoo, six new penguins have had the rest of the group swimming in circles for the past month. The newcomers appear to have sparked a "migration" trend after the rest of the flock had enjoyed 19 years of sedentary life. The behavior is rare in captivity. NPR's John Ydstie speaks with zookeeper Jane Tollini.

Host John Ydstie talks with WorldCom employee Jeff Regan about how the new economy affects his job and his family. Regan is a 14-year company veteran who suddenly finds himself worrying about being able to pay monthly bills. Despite his new financial struggles, he remains hopeful of his and his company's future. This interview begins an occasional series of conversations with people and their financial concerns.