Nov 15th, 2008 · There was a day when counting ballots by hand meant sorting through shards of broken pot, taking care not to break them into even smaller bits. Learn the finer points of voting — Roman style. Elaine Fantham, Weekend Edition's classics commentator, tells guest host Lynn Neary about those days and the finer points of voting, Roman style.
Oct 11th, 2008 · Romanian singer Sanda Weigl learned traditional songs from the gypsies living around her home when she was a child. Today, she sings these songs across the U.S. as part of a Romanian cultural outreach campaign, but the singer's life remains larger than the Gypsy lore reflected in her songs.
Sep 11th, 2008 · Oysters are a popular treat in France, where they have been eaten since Roman times. During the summer, traditional oyster producing spots across France are filled with vacationers who enjoy the delicacy. In the villages of the Arcachon Basin, oysters have shaped lives and livelihoods for more than 150 years.
Sep 6th, 2008 · Author Matthew Kneale discusses his new novel When We Were Romans, the story of a mother and her two young children who flee London to stay with friends in Rome. Kneale wrote the book from the point of view of a nine-year-old.
Aug 12th, 2008 · Japanese fruit is big business. You may recall the square watermelon — it won't roll around in the fridge — and can cost close to $100. A new premium fruit has made its debut in Japan: the Ruby Roman grape. Each tomato-colored grape is a little smaller than a pingpong ball — and costs about $26.
Jun 17th, 2008 · Residents of a village in Romania re-elected their mayor even though he had died. The mayor had run the village for almost two decades, but just after Sunday's voting began, he died of liver disease. That news did not deter supporters, who gave him a 23-vote win over a living opponent.
Jun 11th, 2008 · President Bush might have expected a hostile reception when he arrived in Italy today. Previously, tens of thousands protested his visits, but only about 2,000 opposed Bush's visit to the Italian capital today. Most Romans were either indifferent, or angry about the restrictive security measures.
May 19th, 2008 · An immigration crackdown by Italian authorities has been accompanied by vigilante justice against the Roma — or gypsies — in Naples. Now the new right-wing government wants to create a special body to deal with the Romanian ethnic group.