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In the new book God Bless America: The Surprising History of an Iconic Song, author Sheryl Kaskowitz explores the lyrical evolution of Irving Berlin's enduring song and explains how its early popularity reflected the anxiety of the pre-war period and sparked a surprising anti-Semitic and xenophobic backlash.

At 64, the long-distance swimmer becomes the first person to cross the Florida Straits without the aid of a protective shark cage. She swam for more than two days and traveled more than 100 miles.

Conservationists around the world are using a new kind of field equipment. It can navigate difficult terrain, detect tiny chemical samples, and ... wag its tail. Detection dogs are teaming up with humans to study rare, endangered and invasive organisms.

A lot of the debate over Syria is actually a debate about Syria's ally Iran. If the U.S. does strike, could Iran retaliate against the U.S. or its ally Israel? For more, Steve Inskeep talks to Scott Peterson, of The Christian Science Monitor, who is in Istanbul, Turkey.

Sailing ships re-enacted the victory over the British 200 ago during the War of 1812. The Port Clinton News Herald says the 2013 battle turned out the same, but with better technology: people captured battle scenes on cell phones.

After her pet chicken ate a diamond earring, a woman in England decided to wait until the bird died to get her jewelry back. The earring could have been removed surgically but she was afraid the chicken wouldn't survive.

Also: The Hugo Awards; a push to ban a Toni Morrison book from Alabama school reading lists, the best book coming out this week.

Microsoft is spending $7.2 billion for Nokia's mobile phones business. The thinking, analysts say, is that to succeed in other areas — tablets and PCs — Microsoft needs to build its Windows Phone business.

An endless number of personal finance apps help consumers keep track of their money. Host Michel Martin speaks with Lisa Gerstner of Kiplinger's Personal Finance, about the different options for tracking savings and spending on mobile devices.

A report from the International Labor Organization details "deceptive and coercive" labor practices — and even forced labor within the industry. The allegations aren't new, but increase pressure on the Thai government to better regulate the $7 billion industry.