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Robert talks to Mimi Sheraton, author of The Bialy Eaters: The Story of the Lost Bread and a Lost World, about the book. It recounts her journey to Bialystok, Poland, where the bread rolls with roasted onions in the middle get their name. There she found the story of a Jewish community which numbered 50,000 before World War Two, and now is reduced to just five people. No bialys remain, either. She then went on a round the world journey to find Bialystok survivors. (6:00) The Bialy Eaters: The Story of the Lost Bread and a Lost World, by Mimi Sheraton, is published by Broadway Books, 9/12/00.

NPR's David Welna reports on the Democratic tax-cut proposal. Led by Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, Democrats are pushing for a $300 rebate to every taxpayer (and a $600 rebate to every couple), using about $60 billion from the budget surplus. They are also proposing an immediate cut in the lowest tax rate. Their proposal would be separate from President Bush's signature $1.6 trillion tax-cut plan, and Republicans fear that such a proposal would take the momentum away from Mr. Bush's program.

NPR's Wendy Schmeltzer reports on macular degeneration, a vision disorder that now afflicts roughly 1.7 million older Americans. Researchers who study vision loss believe that macular degeneration could impair the vision of over 6 million Americans within the next 30 years as the baby boom generation ages. Macular degeneration currently has no cure, but various social service organiations that work with the elderly are trying to help macular degeneration patients by teaching them ways to cope with their disability while remaining independent.

Phillip Davis reports that 14 year old Lionel Tate was sentenced today to life in prison without parole. Lionel was convicted in January of first degree murder in the 1999 death of a playmate, who died as Lionel imitated the violent wrestling shows he liked to watch. Broward County judge Joel Lazarus imposed the mandatory sentence after refusing to reduce the verdict to a lesser charge. He described the murder of 6 year old Tiffany Eunick as "callous and indescribably cruel." Defense attorneys said they would ask Gov. Jeb Bush to commute the sentence.

Music critic Meredith Ochs listens to 40 years of recordings by Chris Strachwitz. Forty years ago Strachwitz started on a journey to record great American music. His focus was on roots music; folk, blues, cajun, and zydeco. He liked to record the artists in their homes, beneath pine trees, and in other natural settings. Meredith Ochs says that this five CD collection tells the story of a great American journey. (6:00) The five CD set is Arhoolie Records 40th Anniversary Collection, The Journey of Chris Strachwitz. See http://www.arhoolie.com.

More than 6,000 original stories were submitted to this round of Three-Minute Fiction. We're on the quest to select just one winner. Until then, we'll be reading a few of the stories that catch our eyes. Weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz presents this week's stand out stories: Exercise by India DeCarmine of Babylon, N.Y., and Letting Go by Graham Sanders from Oregon City, Ore. To see these stories and others go to npr.org/threeminutefiction.

More than 6,000 original stories were submitted to this round of Three-Minute Fiction and we're on the quest to select just one winner. Until then, we'll be reading a few of the stories that catch our eyes. Weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz presents this week's stand out stories: Pilgrims by Catherine Carberry from Metuchen, N.J., and Fireflies, by Delia Read from Fairfax, Calif. To see these stories and others go to npr.org/threeminutefiction.

In two of the most anticipated races of the Olympics, Michael Johnson and Cathy Freeman triumphed in the men's and women's 400 meters, fulfilling historic expectations. Freeman, the Australian who lit the Olympic cauldron, became the first Aboriginal athlete to win an individual medal. Johnson succeeded in defending his 400 meter title, the first male sprinter to do so. The win places him among the top runners in Olympic history. NPR's Howard Berkes reports.

NPR's Larry Abramson reports that the world of dot-com, dot-net and dot-org could give way to dot-xxx, dot-law and dot-kids. The international body responsible for managing Internet address names is entertaining proposals from 47 different organizations for new "top level domains," as they're called. The hope is that more choices will help avert some of the disputes that have erupted over ownership of valuable Internet names.

Internet toy seller E-Toys was supposed to be one of the e-commerce companies with a shot at becoming a retail powerhouse. It had a top-rated Web site, a vast selection of high-end toys and excellent customer service. But as NPR's Elaine Korry reports, E-Toys is having a miserable holiday season. Sales are running way below expectations, cash is running short, and the company is unlikely to survive without a merger or a major sell-off of assets.

This documentary by Peabody award winning producer David Isay is an oral history of Iolene Catalano, a woman who lived with drug abuse and prostitution, and who died last year of AIDS. Isay recorded more than 30 hours worth of interviews with Iolene, who wanted, before her death, to let the world know that she was something more than an addict or criminal, that she was a poet and singer. Please note the content and language advisory at the top of this DACS.

NPR's Tom Gjelten reports from Sarajevo on efforts to stop Bosnian Serbs from fleeing their homes in the Sarajevo suburbs. Under the Dayton peace agreement, those Serb suburbs come under the control of the Muslim-led Bosnia government. There are reports that some Serbs are loading everything they can into their cars and burning their houses after leaving. The top civilian adminstrator for NATO today met with three Bosnian Serb leaders to explore ways to stop the exodus.

Minority enrollment is up at Florida's state universities and Governor Jeb Bush is attributing the increase to his "One Florida" program. The governor's plan abolished affirmative action in state college and university admissions. It substituted a program where the top 20% of students in each high school class is guaranteed admission to a state institution. But critics say the governor is off base, because other outreach and recruiting efforts are really behind the increase. Susan Gage of Florida Public Radio reports.

African-Americans are traditionally among the Democrats most loyal voters, with more than 8-in-10 voting for the party nominees in recent presidential elections. But blacks are less likely than whites to vote. In an election as close as this, turning up the turn out among African-Americans is a top priority for Vice President Al Gore's supporters. From Chicago, NPR's Phillip Martin reports on the get-out-the-vote effort, and the Republican's parry.

Southern California Edison, one of California's cash-strapped electric utilities, defaulted to some of its creditors today. It failed to repay, at least temporarily, a 596-million-dollar wholesale electricity bill. The move brings the company a step closer to bankruptcy. The utility said the action was necessary to allow it to continue operations while state and federal officials seek a regulatory solution to California's power crisis. The state, meanwhile, declared another top level power emergency today, citing a shortage of natural gas needed to generate electricity. Scott Horsley reports.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports Wall Street's top brokerage firms agreed to pay nearly $1.5 billion in fines to settle conflict-of-interest charges. Regulators accused the firms of continuing to recommend stocks they privately had turned against. Besides fines, the firms agree to spend several hundred million dollars in coming years buying research from independent firms that don't mix stock research with investment banking.

The number one song in Britain is sung by a cartoon character, his name is Bob the Builder and his show appears on the BBC. The song shot to the top of the charts in Britain during the holiday, surpassing Scottish boy-band Westlife and Eminem's "Stan". The cartoon series -- and the song -- will be coming to the States next month. Linda talks with David Sinclair, pop music critic for the Times of London, about the sensation created by the Bob the Builder. (3:30) Bob the Builder is written by Paul Joyce, voiced by actor Neil Morrissey. The Audio CD is "Bob the Builder," from BBC Worldwide Music; ASIN: B00005244T Catalogue Number: WMSS60372.

It isn't just privacy that is at risk in this new era of Big Data collection. Secrecy is a casualty too. It used to be classified documents were kept in a safe and seen by a select view. Now a top secret document can be accessed by hundreds, if not thousands, all with the click of a mouse. Because of that the modalities of spying have changed. Now analysts can take an infinite number of secrets with them by just putting them on a thumb drive, but it's a counter-intelligence nightmare.

Three top Air Force officials have been relieved of command in connection with the plane crash that killed Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and 34 other people in Croatia. The Air Force says the brigadier general and two colonels responsible for the 86th Airlift Wing have lost the confidence of their commander, because of facts revealed in the probe of the plane crash. The statement does not assign any blame for the crash. The investigation continues. NPR's Martha Raddatz reports on today's developments.

- Daniel speaks to Khulu Sibiya, the Editor in Chief of City Press, a leading newspaper in South Africa, about the recent revelations that have surfaced during the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Several top ex-leaders including the former President of South Africa Pieter W. Botha are alleged to have had a major role in killings during the years of apartheid. The allegations were made this week during confessions by several high ranking police officers who admit to taking part in the killings.