If you need some reading glasses in the United States, you don't have to break the bank to pick some up. That's important for older folks who need a little extra magnification. But in some parts of the world, people who need readers don't have that privilege. Today on the show, we'll find out why that is and learn the economic solution to the reading glasses shortage.
Related episodes: Two indicators: supply chain solutions (Apple / Spotify)
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James B. Meigs joins us to discuss hurricane politics—how they work, who gets blamed, why the media do what they do, and what the dangers are for the two presidential candidacies. Also: How did Kamala's big press day go? Give a listen.
Join Rob in celebrating Amy Winehouse, and missing her voice like the rest of us. Along the way, Rob discusses the biopic ‘Back to Black’ and ‘Amy’ before taking some time to cherish Amy Winehouse’s iconic song and album ‘Back to Black.’ Later, Rob is joined by writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd to discuss her memories of interviewing Amy Winehouse and more.
Are childhood obesity rates going down?
Do 35 million birds die every year in the UK after hitting windows?
How much money could the Chancellor find by changing the debt rule?
And Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter contemplates the probability of his own conception.
Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news, and in life.
Presenter: Tim Harford
Reporter: Charlotte MacDonald
Producers: Bethan Ashmead Latham, Natasha Fernandes and Nathan Gower
Series producer: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Sound mix: Neil Churchill
Editor: Richard Vadon
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Stephen Bruno is a doorman for a high-end building on Manhattan's Park Avenue, where he's worked for 14 years. Bruno says that while he treats every occupant like his boss, he routinely blurs professional boundaries by forming close friendships with his residents. Now, those friendships–and the many other stories from Bruno's building–form the basis of his new memoir, Building Material. In today's episode, Bruno speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about taking notes on the job, breaking the "don't get close rule," and a documentary about August Wilson that saved his writing career.
To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday
America's financial system is inseparable from America's enormous growth, productivity, and prosperity. Many myths about financial markets persist. Norbert Michel and Jennifer Schulp detail the many critical benefits of robust financial markets in Financing Opportunity.
Is 2024 the year the music festival died? Festivals are getting canceled left and right, from Northern California to Florida to Virginia.
Big name festivals that used to sell out in minutes struggled to sell tickets this year, too, like Burning Man and Coachella.
And it's not just America. By one count, over 60 music festivals were canceled in the UK this year alone. In Australia, so many festivals were canceled that one newspaper there recently asked, are the nation's music festivals extinct?
Today on the show, the music festival recession. What's behind it and is it temporary or a permanent cultural shift?