Because it’s Monday and we chimps have two words on the brains: “More coffee.”

“Masterpiece in A Mug: Japanese Latte Art Will Perk You Up”

Back in 2009, Terry and Danny sent our friends at NPR.org the plant above to congratulate them on winning a Peabody. It has since flourished, even been repotted and given a small, green friend. Given the trauma a big move could have on a small, innocent plant, Fresh Air’s Gal In DC, Beth Novey, has kindly updated us as to how our green friend weathered the transition:

The Fresh Air Plant is finally settled in at NPR’s brand new HQ. It is growing very nicely in its new home.

Phew. We can now all sleep easy.

Photo by and courtesy of Beth Novey

We must try to contribute joy to the world. … That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn’t always know this and am happy I lived long enough to find it out.

— From Scott Simon’s tribute “Roger Ebert: Elegance and Empathy.”

nprmusic:

What do Best Coast, Boba Fett, Beach Fossils and Lemuria have in common? See photos from day 1 of SXSW.

Photos: Adam Kissick for NPR

Friends, ‘The Chronic’ is 20.

NPR’s The Record:

In January 1993, there were still burned-out buildings in South Central Los Angeles. It hadn’t been a year since the acquittal of four police officers in the videotaped beating of Rodney King. Anger at the verdict had not cooled, and you could hear it in the music on the radio, in songs like “Nuthin’ but a G Thang” and “Dre Day,” singles off Dr. Dre’s solo debut, released mid-December, 1992.

Dr. Dre’s The Chronic was in part a response to the riots, but its incendiary sound began long before the first match was lit. Five years earlier, his previous group, NWA, put out “F- - - tha Police.” Dre made the beat, and Ice Cube took the first verse.

Image of Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg via thebrooklynzoo

Is this what the future holds?

nationalpost:

‘Toilet Bike Neo’ goes where no john has gone before
Japanese toilet maker TOTO rolled out a “Toilet Bike Neo” to raise awareness about bathroom emissions and water savings. The eco-friendly three-wheel 250cc motorcycle with a specially customized toilet-shaped seat runs on bio-fuel from the discharge of livestock or waste water. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

deejul:

Tumblr is ruining my life

The coolest NPR quilt you will see today.

(via NPR Quilt | how to be jenna)

Our works are very much pro-life. We would question, however, any policy that is more pro-fetus than actually pro-life. If the rights of the unborn trump all of the rights of all of those who are already born, that is a distortion too — if there’s such an emphasis on that. However, we have sisters who work in right to life issues. We also have many, many ministries that support life. We dedicate to our lives to those on the margins of society, many of whom are considered throw-away people: the impaired, the chronically mentally ill, the elderly, the incarcerated, to the people on death row. We have strongly spoken out against the death penalty, against war, hunger. All of those are right to life issues. There’s so much being said about abortion that is often phrased in such extreme and such polarizing terms that to choose not to enter into a debate that is so widely covered by other sectors of the Catholic Church — and we have been giving voice to other issues that are less covered but are equally as important.

— Sister Pat Farrell, on today’s Fresh Air

Some trusty and tried techniques for summer cooking from America’s Test Kitchen

I do think John Roberts takes himself very seriously and he should, as the custodian of the prestige and legitimacy of the branch of government that he heads. How much that entered his calculations in [the healthcare case], only he knows. But it’s a perfectly appropriate consideration to make sure your branch, which is meant to be disinterested and apolitical and judicial, should not be perceived as yet a third political branch of government. And in the wake of ideological 5-4 decisions like Bush v. Gore and Citizens United, the Court has let itself open to that interpretation and had it struck down the healthcare law 5-4 along ideological lines, there would have been some substantial attack on the credibility of the Court.

— Adam Liptak on Chief Justice Robert’s legacy

NPR’s doing a series on regional candy from around America. What’s your favorite?

(via America’s Affection For Hometown Confections : NPR)

Three months after historic arguments before the high court over the constitutionality of the administration’s sweeping health care law, we are about to find out if it will hold up. [full NPR coverage here]

(via Judging The Health Care Law : NPR)

brandicarlile:

Awesome to have just done Tiny Desk! Thanks again NPR.

Ah! My tiny message to the NPR Arts Desk — “Thanks for everything. I would take you all as my ice-wives if I could” — Mel — is now on the Internet forever!

It’s a very unique, interesting pitch. It can be really ugly when it’s ugly, but when it’s on, it’s fantastic.

— R.A. Dickey on Fresh Air. (relevant because he just threw his second straight one-hitter…)