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In his new book, journalist Jack Hitt says America's amateur spirit goes back to the nation's origins — and it's nothing to be ashamed of. The Europeans viewed the Americans as an "unfinished people," Hitt says. "We were amateur everything." And it's only made the nation better.

Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng and his family have been cleared to leave China and travel to the U.S. They are scheduled to land in Newark, N.J., on Saturday afternoon. Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Frank Langfitt about the latest developments.

The flame for the London Olympics, which was ignited by the rays of the sun in the 2,800-year-old Temple of Hera in Greece, arrives in the UK Saturday. It was carried from Olympia in a lantern that flew aboard a gold-painted plane. Vicki Barker has more on the flame's relay race to London.

The 137th running of the Preakness takes place Saturday afternoon in Baltimore. Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another is vying for the second jewel in horse racing's Triple Crown. The horse, his trainer and his owner all hail from Southern California, and NPR'S Carrie Kahn reports hopes are high that a big win will give a much-needed boost to horse racing in the Golden State.

The "Radio Time Machine" is an online application that has collected the top 20 Billboard hits back to 1940. Some transcend their time period, while the appeal of others may be harder to understand. Host Scott Simon speaks with Brett Westervelt, a grad student at Stanford University and the designer of the app.

With NASA's help, SpaceX is trying to send the first commercial spaceship to the International Space Station. The launch was aborted Saturday morning, but there will be another opportunity on Tuesday. Host Scott Simon speaks with NPR's Nell Greenfieldboyce.

Katie Beckett died Friday morning in the same hospital where she'd once made history. Beckett was 3 years old when her case changed health care law. She was 34 when she died. NPR's Joseph Shapiro explains why she was important to other children with disabilities.

To be a parent is to be constantly reminded that almost everything you thought you were doing right for your children will one day turn out to be wrong. The latest revised revelation may be: Training wheels don't help kids achieve a sense of balance.

In the NBA, the Miami Heat have a lot to prove against the Indiana Pacers, and in the NHL, the L.A. Kings are proving it. Plus, a farewell to Cub pitcher Kerry Woods. Host Scott Simon talks to ESPN columnist Howard Bryant about the week in sports.

Two years after a media controversy that sent him retreating from the spotlight, Mayer has a new album and is beginning to resurface. But a new obstacle has arisen in the meantime — a health condition that may keep him from performing for months to come.