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Commentator Douglas Rushkoff is extremely computer savvy. But in trying to help his mother buy a computer, he realized the computer has a long way to go before it becomes a reliable household appliance.

With triple-digit temperatures in much of the South for two weeks running, the battle to stay cool is getting serious. Some people are heading for the deep freeze to escape the heat, others to shelters. NPR's Joshua Levs has this report.

NPR's Sarah Chayes reports from Paris a convention of teachers of French language teachers is asking for help from the French government in promoting the language globally. Some teachers propose to revising French spelling and grammar rules to make the language easier to learn.

Commentator Mario Livio reflects on "The Little Prince," and the search for extraterrestrial life.

Despite the fact that he made many movies in France, Jules Dassin was not a French filmmaker. He was an American who made movies abroad because he was blacklisted here. Rififi is a classic caper film - it inspired Kubrick and Tarantino. It's being re-released in theaters for the first time in more than 40 years - starting a national tour in New York today. You might also know some of Dassin's other films: The Naked City, Never on Sunday, Topkapi. David D'Arcy reports.

NPR's Byron Henderson reports on today's report by an Army inspector general clearing commanders of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, of wrongdoing in the death of a gay private last summer. Two fellow soldiers have been convicted killing the private because of anti-gay bias. But the inspector general's report says there was no general climate of homophobia at the base, and the commanders were not to blame for the murder. The Defense Department also released a policy today that requires commanders to take action against anyone who engages in or condones anti-gay behavior.

Noah speaks with Jim Dale, the actor and voice behind the Harry Potter books on tape. For the latest in the series, Dale had to create 125 voices -- and unlike other books he records, he was unable to read this one through to the end. This meant he was making up voices and not always remembering when one voice sounded like another. His voices come from the famous, like John Houseman and the not so famous, like past girlfriends.

For centuries, Wall Street was where some of the biggest banks in the world were based. Today, it's home to Uber and Spotify, and new residents have poured in.

Just hours after the Sept. 11 attacks, President George W. Bush said, "The resolve of our great nation is being tested." So here we are 20 years later. Have we passed the test?

Patrick Phiri of Malawi met Fiona ten Have of the Netherlands met and fell in love. He proposed to her. She said yes. But the pandemic stymied their wedding plans. How are they doing now?

On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the nation paused to remember. Ceremonies took place at memorials in New York City; in Shanksville, Pa.; and at the Pentagon.

Authorities conducting a drug raid in Colombia, outside Bogota, found drug runners were constructing a submarine large enough to smuggle 200 tons of cocaine. Linda talks with Ruth Morris, who covered the story for the Los Angeles Times.

Martin Kaste reports from Brazil that South American politicians are talking more and more these days about economic integration. At a recent summit, Latin American presidents pledged to work for creation of a continent-wide free-trade zone by the year 2002. Analysts say the drive toward integration is spurred, in part, by the growing US involvement in the drug war in Colombia. Many Brazilian politicians, in particular, say the new billion-dollar US aid package to Colombia smacks of imperialism, and they want to counter the US presence by banding together.

Linda talks to Sports Columnist Bud Collins about the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York, and how the men's and women's finals are shaping up. (3:45) Info on the Internet at http://www.usopen.org.

Republican candidate George W. Bush made good today on a promise to move his campaign closer to the voters. Although the themes were the same he has been stressing for months, Bush was careful to be seen delivering them at eye level. But there's still no news on negotiations for the candidate debates. Steve Inskeep reports for NPR News.

NPR's Margot Adler reports on the various protest groups that showed up in New York for the Millennium Summit this week.

A Columbus, Ohio band called Evolution Control Committee is in a legal battle with CBS, Inc. because of the group's single now on the web called Rocked By Rape which slices and splices Dan Rather's words to heavy metal music.

Tom Rogers of member station WILL reports that in Decatur, Illinois, news that some defective Firestone tires may have been produced at a local plant is another blow to a town swamped by negative news in recent months.

NPR'S Julie McCarthy reports from London on the continuing campaign of protests against high fuel prices in Britain. Protestors are blockading nine refineries, and panic buying is depleting gasoline supplies at the pump. Prime Minister Tony Blair said his government has told oil companies to get their tankers moving -- and ordered police to protect drivers from intimidation.

NASA scientists report today that they have discovered a new kind of black hole. These are much larger than black holes caused by collapsing stars, but much smaller than the ones in the centers of galaxies. Black holes are so dense, not even light can escape their gravity. The new discovery could help explain how these bizarre objects come into being. NPR's Richard Harris reports.