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Host Liane Hansen speaks with Martin Cruz Smith. The author of Havana Bay and Gorky Park now has a new novel of international intrigue, called December 6 (Simon & Shuster, ISBN 0-684-87253-6), set on the brink of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December, 1941.

For every foreign news story in 2011, there were journalists to report it. That put many journalists in dangerous situations. Guest host Jacki Lyden talks to Joel Simon of the Committee to Protect Journalists about the most dangerous places to be a journalist in 2011.

Muffin top joined the lexicon years ago. Now, it is among the newest words recognized by the Oxford English Dictionary. The self-proclaimed "last word on words" defines muffin top as the top part of a muffin, as well as, "a protuberance of flesh above the waistband of a tight pair of trousers."

Though more Republican-held seats are up for grabs in November, Democratic struggles mean the GOP has improved its likelihood to take control of the Senate. Here are the key contests to watch.

Liane talks with Mark Frost about his latest novel, The 6 essiahs, which continues the fictitious adventures of 19th-century author rthur Conan Doyle. (William Morrow)

Biden's novel step of preemptive pardons is meant to protect people from the threat of "unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions."

No album in the history of the Billboard album chart has ever had a longer gap between stints at No. 1. Elsewhere, Christmas music dominates for one last week.

Duke University is known for its basketball. But this year, Duke's fans are cheering for their football team, which has won the most games in its history. Lead by the national coach of the year, the Blue Devils are headed the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

Las Vegas is set to claim the title of city with the largest Ferris wheel, but not for long. New York City plans for a taller wheel, and rumors swirl that Dubai may top even that. Host Scott Simon talks to John Russick, director of Curatorial Affairs at the Chicago History Museum, about the first ever Ferris wheel, which debuted at the 1893 World Fair in Chicago.

Despite penguins, lions and gorillas battling for Hollywood supremacy, 2005 will go down as a box office disappointment. But NPR critic Bob Mondello says the year's films were high on quality.