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Black Friday sales for Apple's iPad were up 70 percent from last year, and the newly introduced Kindle Fire has shot to the top of Amazon's sales charts. And with more than 30 different tablets on the market at varying prices this holiday season, the barrier to entry to the tablet market has been considerably lowered.

This year proved once again that folk music is alive and thriving in all its forms: Americana, bluegrass, Celtic, country, blues, world and so on. Our top picks for 2008 not only illustrate the rich mix of folk music heard every day at FolkAlley.com, but also showcase the genre's ongoing diversity and vitality.

A look at the Campaign trail for the presidency in Russia. Robert speaks with Scott Bruckner, director of the Moscow Center of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, about the start of the Russian campaign for president. Bruckner does not see an easy campaign ahead for Boris Yelstin, who, after firing two top aides, potentially damaged loyalty among liberal reformers.

Host Jacki Lyden talks with singer Aaron Neville about the ups and downs of his 30 year music career. Neville has just released Devotion, his first-ever collection of inspirational songs and a new book, The Brothers, which tells of his colorful past encompassing drug addiction, burglary and chart- topping records.

Throughout this campaign year, education has ranked among the top concerns of voters -- especially those suburban women who often cross party lines and decide electoral outcomes. NPR's David Welna went to the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights to talk to moms with school-age children in a neighborhood George W. Bush visited this week.

Organic dairy farmers have been making much more than their conventional competitors for the last decade. And the number of organic farms has been skyrocketing. But the top buyer of organic milk just cut the price it pays its suppliers. That may signal a change in the industry. Naomi Schalit of Maine Public Radio has a report.

Guest host Jacki Lyden gets a demo of the Web site meetup.com from one of its co-founders, Scott Heiferman. The Web site has helped Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean move to the top of the fundraising list. But it also helps pug lovers, gardeners and knitters, among others, to "meet up."

This is going to be a big weekend for college sports. There's basketball -- of course -- but for commentator Bob Cook, the real action is going to be at Bethany College in Kansas. It's the President's Cup, where the top four collegiate chess programs in the nation will compete. But, he says, the tournament's favorites are as disliked in the chess world as any outlaw basketball program.

Jazz percussionist Mongo Santamaria dies on Feb. 1 at 85. Santamaria scored a Top-10 hit with his version of Herbie Hancock's jazz-funk classic "Watermelon Man" in 1963. He also wrote the song "Afro Blue," later performed and made famous by John Coltrane. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has a remembrance.

Military officials deny that the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, knew about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners in American custody. Reports in The Washington Post described prospective testimony that would place Sanchez as a witness of some abuses. The story brought stern denials from the Pentagon. Hear NPR's Libby Lewis.

NPR's Phillip Davis reports on an exhibition in Miami that is trying to take a fresh look at Christmas music. Sound artist Christian Marclay has challenged some of the city's top DJ's to take his collection of Christmas music and remix the material into sonic and artistic collages. The exhibit is called "The Sounds of Christmas" at Miami's Museum of Contemporary Art.

The nation's top intelligence chiefs warn a Senate panel that another al Qaeda attack in the United States remains a serious threat. Meanwhile, the American Red Cross reacts to safety recommendations issued Monday by the Department of Homeland Security. Hear from NPR's David Welna, NPR's Lynn Neary and Carol Hall of the American Red Cross.

Italy's top officials attend a funeral in Rome for a security agent killed in Iraq Friday. He died trying to shield a freed Italian hostage, when U.S. forces fired on their vehicle. The United States says its troops gave warning signals, but the hostage contests the U.S. version of events. An investigation is under way.

At the Latin Grammys in Los Angeles, Alejandro Sanz takes top honors for best male pop vocal album, best album, best song and best record. Brazilian singer Maria Rita, nominated for seven awards, wins two, for best new artist and most popular Brazilian album. NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports.

A soon-to-be released book by journalist Bob Woodward -- of Watergate fame -- says President Bush asked top military leaders to plan for war in Iraq even as U.S. soldiers were attacking the Taliban in Afghanistan. The allegations were largely confirmed by the White House press secretary. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ has astonished Hollywood by recording blockbuster ticket sales. The Passion remains the nation's top film for a second straight weekend, taking in $53.2 million. In the 12 days since its release, the film has earned a total of $213.9 million. NPR's Kim Masters reports.

Despite large-scale anti-American violence in Baghdad, President Bush and top American generals assert that the United States is making steady progress in rebuilding Iraq. Citing gains in the nation's economy and overall security, administration and military officials say that Monday's attacks show Hussein loyalists' desperation. NPR's Eric Westervelt reports.

Jones' voice has become an instantly recognizable sound in households across the country, as well as as one of the top jazz pianists of her generation. She's put out four best-selling albums in the last decade, the most recent of which is titled The Fall. Hear Jones perform live from the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair visits Iraq's new prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, in Baghdad. British officials say the leaders spoke about the eventual departure of foreign forces from Iraq. Maliki has said his top priority is halting insurgent attacks and stemming sectarian violence that has wracked the country.

Conor J. O'Brien is the driving force behind the acoustic folk outfit Villagers, and his intensity pushed the band to the top of the charts in Ireland even before its debut had been released. In just a couple of years, Villagers has become one of the biggest musical names on the Emerald Isle and an internationally known folk group.