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Mary Losure (LOW-zhur) examines the religious phenomenon of speaking in tongues. Long associated with Pentacostalism, the practice is growing among other Christian denominations in the U-S. Researchers have attempted to explain it as a sign of mental illness, an altered state, or even neurological breakdown but it continues to defy rational explanation. Practitioners describe the deep sense of freedom, joy and well-being they experience as they give glory in tongues.

Author and journalist and NPR reporter, ALAN BERLOW. His new book is "Dead Season: A Story of Murder and Revenge on the Philippine Island of Negros" (Pantheon Books). The book evolves from an investigation into a massacre of a peasant family to a series of interrelated crimes. BERLOW also examines the broader problems facing the Phillipines and the impact of American colonialism and imperialism.

Commentator David Crystal says English is unique for having several words with similar meanings. This is because modern English has assimilated Old English, French and Latin. An example of this phenomenon - rise, mount and ascend.

Chris Hosken of member station WFAE reports from Charlotte, North Carolina on the arrest today of a 13-year-old girl in connection with the arson of a church building there last week. The arrest comes after a string of church fires throughout the South, but authorities say they have no evidence of a conspiracy linking all the fires.

NPR's John Nielsen reports that Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin today met with a group of black ministers in Washington. He pledged that federal investigators would work to win the trust of the black community. The ministers had complained about how federal investigators were handling the investigation of the black church burnings. Today, Rubin said the federal government will not be satisfied until the cases are solved.

NPR's Eric Weiner reports from Jerusalem on the fallout from two incidents yesterday in which seven Israelis were killed. The first was a Hezbollah guerilla attack on Israeli soldiers in what Israel calls its 'security zone' in Southern Lebanon; the second incident occured in Israel itself, where two civilians were killed in an attack blamed on Palestinian gunmen. The violence brought outgoing Prime Minister Shimon Peres (shee-MOHN PEAR-ez) and his successor, Benjamin Netanyahu (n'tahn-YAH-hoo) together for talks. Netanyahu narrowly defeated Peres in last month's election, in part by promising Israelis greater security. But some analsyts say there's little that can be done to stop such attacks completely.

These days, the conversation at commentator Bill Harley's dinner table is about ancient Egypt. His son is learning about the subject at school and it's a chance for Bill to review the most intriguing things about the culture - because what was cool about ancient Egyptians when he was a kid are now the coolest things to his son.

NPR's Richard Harris reports that scientists hav efound new evidence wxplaining why fireflies glow. Researchers have long known that fireflies flash as part of a mating ritual. In the new study, researchers found out specifically what it is about the glow that females find attractive-- females tend to mate with male fireflies that flash the fastest.

A commentary from retired Lt. General Thomas McInerney who argues in favor of passage of the Chemical weapons Convention...a treaty that will make chemical weapons illegal. He says the U.S. military supports this treaty because there is scant military advantage to keeping chemical weapons and defending against them is an impediment to fighting forces.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports that the southern African nation of Angola is warily moving forward with a peace prcoess designed to end a devastating twenty-year civil war. But many are nervous about wheher the government and revels can see the process through. There still is tremendous distrust and the revels are lagging in demobilizing their troops.

NPR's Tom Goldman reports that it took 30 year's to make softball an Olympic sport, but yesterday, TEAM USA won the first ever game played in the Olympics, defeating Puerto Rico 10-0. Despite what the team feels is underexposure, TEAM USA has won fans wherever they've played, and the town of Columbus, where they've been training, has really taken them to their heart.

- Daniel visits squid expert Clyde Roper of the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History. Roper - a biologist - is organizing an expedition to the South Pacific, where he hopes to find a kind of massive squid that reportedly has been sighted by soldiers and fishermen. Roper will search for the squid in a glass bubble that will descend hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface.