1:02pm

Thu December 1, 2011
Shots - Health Blog

MRIs More Likely To Be Negative When The Doctor Profits

Credit iStockphoto.com

If your doctor says you need an MRI, your health may not be the only thing on his mind. Doctors who have a financial interest in the imaging equipment are more likely to send patients for scans when they don't have anything wrong with them. That's the conclusion of a researcher who combed through hundreds of patient records to examine MRI referral patterns.

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12:41pm

Thu December 1, 2011
Author Interviews

Going 'One On One' With Sports' Greatest Stars

Some of the most talented and temperamental athletes and coaches in the world have opened up to John Feinstein.

The acclaimed sportswriter's latest book One on One: Behind the Scenes with the Greats of the Game details his conversations over the years with notoriously difficult coaches like Bobby Knight and star athletes like Tiger Woods and John McEnroe.

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12:39pm

Thu December 1, 2011
The Two-Way

'All Eyes On Sarkozy,' As He Sets Out Vision For Europe

Credit Philippe Wojazer / AFP/Getty Images

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to deliver a speech that will set out his vision for Europe. This is a big speech: First because Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have been leading the efforts to save the euro and contain the European sovereign debt problems. Secondly, Sarkozy is facing a tough reelection campaign next spring and he is expected to make the case that he's the best person to take the country forward.

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David Bianculli is a guest host and TV critic on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross. A contributor to the show since its inception, he has been a TV critic since 1975.

From 1993 to 2007, Bianculli was a TV critic for the New York Daily News.

Bianculli has written three books: Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (Simon & Schuster/Touchstone, 2009),  Teleliteracy: Taking Television Seriously (1992), and Dictionary of Teleliteracy (1996).

An associate professor of TV and film at Rowan University in New Jersey, Bianculli is also the founder and editor of the online magazine, TVWorthWatching.com.

12:32pm

Thu December 1, 2011
WCBE Newscasts

Ohio jobless claims rose last week, Education groups and Feds back OSU in ESPN lawsuit. These and other stories in this Thursday noon newscast.

Columbus, Oh –

  • Ohio jobless claims rose last week :00

  • Bond denied for four suspects in Amish attacks :29

  • Legislation banning exotic animal ownership slated for 2012 1:03

  • HHS chief says Ohio leads in the nation in transitioning to electronic medical records 1:34

  • Two found dead in Mercer County home 3:35

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    12:29pm

    Thu December 1, 2011
    Television

    At Midseason, Serial Dramas Serve Up Some Big Twists

    Credit Randy Tepper / Showtime

    By now, I hope my position on spoiler alerts is firmly established. My feeling is that once something has been televised, it's fair game for discussion. I feel it's the responsibility of the person who's delaying his or her enjoyment of a TV show to avoid mentions of it, rather than putting the onus on critics. And believe me, I know that's not always easy. I have to do some time-shifting myself — there are so many good shows presented on Sundays this season that it sometimes takes me the whole week to catch up on the episodes I've recorded.

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    12:15pm

    Thu December 1, 2011
    Shots - Health Blog

    End Of An Era: Lipitor Goes Generic

    Originally published on Thu December 1, 2011 10:26 am

    Credit JB Reed / Landov

    Medication used for lowering cholesterol should also be lower in price now that two generic brands have entered the ring.

    Back in 1996, cholesterol-fighter Lipitor became the fifth drug of its kind to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This week, the biggest hit in the history of the pharmaceutical industry lost its patent protection in the U.S., opening the door to generic versions to replace the iconic brand.

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    12:05pm

    Thu December 1, 2011

    11:05am

    Thu December 1, 2011
    The Two-Way

    New NPR CEO Gary Knell Starts Work, Will Take Listeners' Calls

    Credit Sesame Workshop

    Our new boss started work today and if you're interested in what NPR CEO and President Gary Knell is thinking as he settles into the job:

    -- He's due on Talk of the Nation just after 2 p.m. ET, and will be answering questions from callers. When we get closer to the time he's scheduled to be on, we'll embed an audio player in this post so that we can stream the conversation. To find a station that broadcasts or streams the show, click here.

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    10:51am

    Thu December 1, 2011
    The Salt

    Tainted Nectar? Consumer Group Warns Of Arsenic In Fruit Juice

    Credit iStockphoto.com

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said it will consider setting a standard for how much arsenic should be permitted in apple juice after a consumer group found high levels of the carcinogen in samples of apple juice it tested.

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