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Brooklyn-based historian, author and playwright Charles Mee believes that the greatest plays in human history -- those by the ancient Greeks and Shakespeare -- would never have been written had copyright laws existed to keep the authors from borrowing from the culture around them. Mee puts his money where his mouth is. He makes the texts of his plays freely available on the Web, and forgoes royalties. NPR's Rick Karr reports.

Linda talks to Jacob Weisberg, Chief Political Correspondent for the on-line magazine "Slate," about the production values of the convention -- how the message is packaged and produced, with music and videos and other techniques designed for the television viewers. He says the Republicans offered a sleek production. The Democrats are always a little more chaotic. (4:30) The internet address for Slate is http://slate.msn.com/

Highlights from Democratic vice presidential nominee Joseph Lieberman's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports that everything seems to be in place for the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia except security and transportation.

Linda talks with Josh King, vice president of SpeakOut.com, about the Website's instant polling to gauge reaction to speeches at the Democratic National Convention. People who are watching and listening to the convention, can give their reactions to the major speeches, by logging on to their Website. They see something like an odometer on their screen, and as someone like Joe Lieberman is speaking, they move the mouse across a scale from 1 to 100, with 50 being neutral. This way, he says, we can get a RANDOM, but interesting perspective on how a speech and its presentation moved people who heard it. (5:45) The interent address is http://speakout.com/

The protesters who have gathered around the Democratic National Convention represent causes large and small. While they seem to get media attention only when they clash with the law, NPR's Don Gonyea paused to take in the clashes and the quiet last night.

Noah talks to Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Brands, a pilot with the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command, about the use of the C-130 transport plane in fighting western wildfires. Brands discusses why the C-130 aircraft is used, how it flies, and strategies for dropping fire retardant.

Before the Democratic Convention, Linda talked with several women from Ohio who are undecided voters and are looking to the conventions for signals as to how they should vote. We heard their conversation Monday. This week, Linda is checking back with them to hear their reactions as the Democratic convention progresses. Today we hear from Mary Curran about whether Joe Lieberman's speech helped persuade her one way or the other. She says yes ... and no.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports from Jakarta, Indonesia, that former President Suharto is set to go on trial on charges of corruption. The 79-year-old Suharto is accused of amassing a fortune, along with his family, during his more than 30 years in power. But proving the case against the aging general won't be easy as much of his wealth has been disguised or transferred overseas. Lawyers for Suharto say he is too ill to be put on trial. The case has divided Indonesia as the country remains enmeshed in economic and political instability.

NPR's Linda Gradstein reports on rising tensions between Jews and Arabs in the West Bank town of Hebron. U.S. envoy Dennis Ross is expected to arrive in the region today to present new proposals for bridging the gaps.