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Austin, Texas online columnist Mike Jasper thinks its time to allow any kind of performance enhancing drug athletes want for the Olympics -- to level the playing field. In his tongue-in-cheek commentary, he advocates equal opportunity for all players.

NPR's Ted Clark reports that the Taliban, the militant Islamic movement that's taken over most of Afghanistan, has sent a delegation to the U.S. to lobby for international recognition of the Taliban as the country's legitimate government. The Taliban is trying to gain Afghanistan's United Nations seat. It also wants to dilute international criticism in the areas of human rights and terrorism. The Taliban has refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, who's accused of masterminding the 1998 attacks on U.S. embassies in Africa.

Jacky Rowland reports from Belgrade that Yugoslav opposition leaders have launched a civil disobedience campaign to persuade President Slobodan Milosevic to recognize Sunday's election victory of Vojislav Kostunica and to cede power. Thousands of Serbs demonstrated again today in downtown Belgrade, and crowds were out in provincial cities, as well. She says although state-run television is showing pictures of Milosevic, still in charge, government officials are not answering phones, and it seems they do not know how to handle the situation. And, though top officers in the army and police are loyal to Milosevic, army soldiers, as well as rank and file policemen, do not support the regime.

This week, entertainment industry executives proclaimed to Congress that they would never again allow young children to be part of the industry's test audience for R-rated films. Satirists Amy Dickinson and Rebecca Flowers pretend to be two 9-year-olds who took part in the screenings.

United States intelligence agencies have obtained a 1000 page terrorist training manual on CD-ROM. The manual was intended for terrorist recruits and is believed to originate with Osama Bin Laden. There are sections on how to assemble bombs, how to manufacture explosives and the most effective way to kill a non-Muslim. Noah talks with Jack Kelley, a foreign correspondent for USA Today about the case.

NPR's Mandalit Del Barco reports on the public transit strike in Los Angeles. The shut down of bus and rail service has turned the city's already difficult commutes into a real mess.

NPR's Cheryl Corley reports that the Chicago chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Republican Presidential Candidate George W. Bush. Some say the endorsement is meant as a political statement against city's current administration. Police have been upset with Mayor Richard M. Daley because of on-going contract disputes. Daley's brother, William, is Vice President Al Gore's campaign chairman.

Aaron Alpern of Wyoming Public Radio reports from Laramie on the damage that wildfires have done to the tourist industry in Wyoming over the summer. National news coverage scared visitors away, even from areas that was not in immediate danger.

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from London that the Royal National Theatre is currently presenting a feat never before undertaken. It is staging -- simultaneously -- Alan Ayckbourne's twin plays House and Garden. Actors move back and forth between two theaters, racing from one stage to the other to hit their cues. Audiences, though, can view only one play at a time. Ayckbourne calls the twin farces "a modern morality play."

NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports on the practice of prescribed burning as a means of preventing catastrophic wildfires. It's been controversial, but is gaining acceptance, especially after this summer's record wildfire season.

In a report from the annual International Monetary Fund/World Bank meeting in Prague, NPR's Julie McCarthy says managing director Horst Koehler is eager to show that the IMF has become more attentive to the needs of Third World nations it is trying to help. Asian nations in particular felt the IMF imposed unduly harsh conditions in exchange for debt relief during their financial crisis in the late nineties. Faced with planned protests by an array of activists, Koehler also said the IMF is now listening to the concerns of a broad range of non-governmental organizations.

NPR's Debbie Elliot reports that the national anti-smoking initiative that was created by the tobacco industry's settlement with states is running ads during the Olympics. The controversial ads, spoofs of industry ads, feature body bags to portray tobacco's death toll. The industry says it is being vilified in violation of the agreement. Ad analysts say the ads are effective and reach an unprecedented audience for a public health message.

Commentator Rebecca Flowers thinks its a bad week to be a woman.

NPR's Pam Fessler reports on President Bill Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore's appearance before the Congressional Hispanic Caucus dinner last night. Both democrats remarked on the gains Hispanics have made in the last several years. Gore promised to work toward increasing the minimum wage and to defend affirmative action if he's elected president.

Misty Hyman, an American, defeated Australia's Susie O'Neill Wednesday for the gold medal in the 200 meter butterfly. O'Neill, nicknamed Madame Butterfly by her countrymen, was heavily favored in the race, and Hyman, a first-time Olympian, reacted to her victory with joyous disbelief. Americans fared well in the pool, also capturing gold in the women's 4x200 freestyle relay. Jenny Thompson anchored the US team, winning her seventh career gold medal. Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands won swimming's glamour event, the 100 meter freestyle, making him the surprise star of the swimming competition. NPR's Howard Berkes reports.

Robert speaks with Margaret Ann and Bob Fagen, owners of Margaret Ann Fagen Research. They spent a recent Atlanta Braves game in the ballpark restrooms, counting the number of people who didn't wash their hands after using the facilities. They found that more women wash their hands than men, at least at baseball games.

NPR's Anthony Brooks reports on George W. Bush's attacks on his Democratic rival. The Republican candidate has been using a two-part strategy this week in an effort to attract voters: He's been casting doubt on Gore's character while trying to re-cast himself as the real friend of the middle class. Yesterday, Bush accused Gore of hypocrisy for criticizing the entertainment industry, and then raising money from it.

Host Bob Edwards talks to NPR's Tom Goldman about some of the events and results at the Summer Olympics in Sydney. The Netherlands pulled off the biggest shock of the tournament with their 4-2 victory over Cuba. The U.S. softball team lost its third straight extra-inning marathon. This time Australia beat the Americans 2-1 in 13 innings.

David Greenberger reviews Worried, a CD compilation of the blues music of Asie (AY-see) Payton, a Mississippi farmer who died driving his tractor in May of 1997. The CD tracks were intended only to be demos. But Payton never got the chance to record more. (3:45) The CD, Worried is produced by Fat Possum records, catalog # 80326-2.

Host Bob Edwards talks to Jacky Rowland about Sunday's Presidential elections in Yugoslavia. Yesterday, more than 100-thousand people turned out to cheer Vojislav Kostunica, the man seeking to defeat Slobodan Milosevic in Sunday's elections.

Commentator Thomas Kenneally, author of Shindler's List and a native Australian, introduces his country and its people, starting with his hometown, the Sydney suburb of Homebush.

NPR's Julie Rovner reports on the campaign ads of Democratic Presidential candidate Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush on the issue of prescription drugs.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports on an upcoming meeting in Venezuela between leaders of nations who participate in the OPEC cartel. The rising price of oil is the issue, but the cartel is divided on how to bring costs down.

Host Bob Edwards talks to James Glassman of the American Enterprise Institute about the year-long lull in the US economy. Glassman says three things could be contributing to the slump: the sliding Euro, rising oil prices, and the possibility of one-party control in the federal government.

NPR's Sarah Chayes reports that yesterday European Union transport ministers gathered at a meeting in Luxembourg to discuss the soaring oil prices. The high price of fuel, have unleashed a wave of protests that severely disrupted many of their countries.