Search results for

Civil War historian Bruce Levine says that from the destruction of the South emerged an entirely new country. On the hit Masterpiece Theater series, social rules are changing as the world events of the 20th century unfold. And David Bianculli reviews season two of 'Girls.'

NPR's Scott Simon muses on momentous news this week — the Baseball Writers Association elected no one to the Hall of Fame. The shutout might be a classic reminder that cheating sometimes brings quick riches, but it can't buy respect.

Actress Ann Dowd received huge acclaim for her role in the indie film Compliance. But the studio told her it didn't have money to lobby the Academy for a best supporting actress award for her. So Dowd did something exceedingly rare in Hollywood: She spent $13,000 on her own campaign.

After Christopher Owens fled the cult he grew up in, he used his musical talent to launch a career. His band, Girls, was an arena-touring success. Now his first solo album, Lysandre, is a reflection on that experience.

He was 14 when he co-authored RSS and later helped found the company that would became the social media website Reddit. Internet activist Aaron Swartz was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment, authorities say. He was 26.

Record heat and relatively dry winters have created a historic drought in the U.S., but the ripple effects extend beyond the farmland and ranches. Low crop yields are driving up food prices, and dry conditions are causing forest fires and water main breaks. The costs are high, and it's still unclear if we'll see the end of it in 2013.

In an industry where more and more artists must take responsibility for promoting their albums and booking their tours, the problems for Big Harp are compounded by the fact its two key members are married — and recent parents. The band releases its sophomore album, Chain Letters., this month.

President Obama's slate of nominees will have to be confirmed by the Senate, but those nominations could be held up by a filibuster threat. Democrats are trying to crack down on what they see as misuse of the filibuster, and it looks like Republicans may be willing to come to a deal.

It looks like Virginians will be choosing between polarizing figures for governor this year: right-wing state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe. Polls show voters don't much like one, and don't really know the other.

Dorothy Wrinch was the first woman to ever receive a doctorate in science from Oxford University, and she was the first person to design a protein structure. But her name is largely unknown. I Died for Beauty, a biography of Wrinch by Marjorie Senechal, tells her story.