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Culturetopia: Attacking Everything Edition

By Neda Ulaby

Originally published on Thu March 8, 2012 1:59 pm

"Murga attacks everything," says a Uruguayan choir director during our podcast of the week's best arts stories. Murga is a kind of choral music that sticks it to everyone during competitions that take place as part of Uruguay's Carnaval festivities. They're said to be the longest in the world — the party goes on for well over a month.

3:01 pm

Thu March 8, 2012

Small Businesses Staying Lean, Wary Of Hiring

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Credit Courtesy of Nettles Country

Robby Richardson crafts handmade stirrups for Nettles Country in Madisonville, Texas. The company would like to hire more workers, but can't afford to.

Credit Andrew Burton / Getty Images

Employment is up, with most of the new jobs coming from small and medium-sized businesses, like this accessories store in Manhattan. But some owners of small businesses say they're still cautious about hiring.

By Yuki Noguchi

Originally published on Thu March 8, 2012 2:15 pm

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Optimism is growing about the U.S. jobs market. Fewer people are applying for unemployment benefits, and hiring is up. The lion's share of new jobs are coming from small and medium-sized firms. But even if the economy comes roaring back, many small businesses aren't likely to hire with wild abandon.

"It's a huge commitment, when you're a very small firm, to add someone," says Kate O'Sullivan, director of content for CFO magazine. "And I think that the outlook is still not completely firm."

Doing More With Less

3:00 pm

Thu March 8, 2012

Politically Correct: An Aspiration or Pejorative?

Credit istockphoto.com

By Edward Schumacher-Matos

Originally published on Thu March 8, 2012 1:32 pm

In criticizing a reporter's use of the term "nutcase" last week, I wrote that "political correctness can surely get out of hand," but not in this case. Readers and editors who responded widely agreed. The pushback came on another term: political correctness.

2:42 pm

Thu March 8, 2012

Winter Songs: A Family In Limbo Looks To Brandi Carlile

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Credit Courtesy of the artist

Brandi Carlile's song "Dying Day" took on new meaning for a Wisconsin woman hoping to adopt a child from Ethiopia.

Credit Joanna Woodbury

Joanna Woodbury's daughter, Netsanet.

By NPR Staff

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2:38 pm

Thu March 8, 2012

Two Dead In University Of Pittsburgh Clinic Shooting

By Eyder Peralta

A gunman opened fire inside a psychiatric clinic at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, this afternoon.

Quoting police, the AP reports two people are dead and at least seven others were shot. A spokesman for the medical center said the gunman is among the dead. The AP adds:

"The gunfire at a psychiatric clinic at the University of Pittsburgh erupted Thursday afternoon.

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