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NPR's Eric Westervelt reports on sports fans in Philadelphia. They've always been tough to please, but now that their teams are winning some don't know how to react.

Morning Edition's listeners share memories of their favorite Christmas gifts. Film projectors, escaping pianos, flying girlfriends, and shiny bicycles top the list.

News analyst Daniel Schorr says the latest attempt at renewing middle east peace talks faces many hazards. President Clinton called Wednesday the deadline for the two sides to demonstrate enough potential to work towards another summit. Prime Minister Barak faces a deadline of February 6 when Israelis vote on whether or not to keep him in office---and Yasser Arafat faces the prospect of having to deal with Ariel Sharon, should Barak lose the election.

Robert Siegel talks with BBC Southeast Asia correspondent Jonathan Head about the numerous bombings of churches in Indonesia on Christmas Eve. Eighteen different bombs, which killed more than a dozen people and injured over a hundred, exploded within minutes of one another. Most of the bombs were planted in cars parked in front of the churches, and others were delivered to clergymen as wrapped gifts. The police defused 13 devices. No one claimed responsibility for the bombings.

Each year, a different state is responsible for selecting and decorating the Christmas tree displayed on the West Lawn of the Nation's Capitol building. NPR's Tom Goldman reports on Oregon's search for the perfect tree for the year 2002.

Commentator Nancy Hall talks about the culinary clash with her new Northerner husband, as they planned their first holiday dinner together. The bickering over competing foods peaked with the arrival of a southern country ham. Her Yankee butcher husband balked at slicing ham with a moldy hide, but their guests ate it with abandon.

As part of the NPR News series The Changing face of America, we explore parish life at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, in Washington, DC. The Roman Catholic parish was founded in 1899 by Irish and German Immigrants. Today, it is the spiritual home to thousands of new immigrants (from 60 countries) the majority of whom speak Spanish. This used to be a wealthy neighborhood -- now many of the people who live nearby have low incomes. As the reality of the neighborhood changed, so did the requests for services. The Archdiocese of Washington -- through Sacred Heart Parish and the Spanish Catholic Center -- provides numerous social services to neighbors in need. They can find health care and dental care, a legal clinic specializing in Immigration Law, a day treatment center for addicts with other mental illnesses, adult education (Computers, GED and ESL), housing assistance, employment counseling, food for their pantries, a hot meal program for people living on the streets, and emergency shelter. Sacred Heart also provides a trusted place where immigrants can be welcomed and accepted.

8 1/2 Souvenirs returns to perform their song Kazango.

Robert talks with the band 8 1/2 Souvenirs. They're a cosmopolitan swing band based in Austin, Texas. They play a few songs and talk with Robert about some of the influences behind it.

Bob Mondello reviews the film Thirteen Days, starring Bruce Greenwood as President Kennedy and Kevin Costner as a presidential advisor. The movie is based on the book The Kennedy Tapes--Instead the White House During the Cuban Missile Crisis. The story starts in October of 1962, when President John F. Kennedy announced the U.S. response to the presence of medium-range ballistic missiles in Cuba. For the following week, Soviet military vessels raced toward the Caribbean as the rest of the world held its breath. The film opened today in New York and Los Angeles.

Host Bob Edwards talks with reporter Anthony Kuhn about a fire at a disco in China that has left dozens dead.

NPR's Kenneth Walker reports on the increasing tension and violence in the Ivory Coast.

Ravaged diva, Marianne Faithful, who's made her name in recent years interpreting the songs of Brecht and Weil in her trademark rasp has released her first rock record in more than five years. Vagabond Ways tells tales of desperation and debauchery. Karen Michel files this profile. (7:46) Vagabond Ways is on the Instinct label. ASIN: B00004SBMI

Jeff Brady of Oregon Public Radio reports that one small city is allowing residents to operate daycare centers for dogs out of their homes. Vancouver, Washington is experimenting with the zoning change.

Neda Ullaby reports on the recent history of Anti-Christmas tunes. From Bananarama to Dr. Demento, many musicians have had it with the traditional carol and are ready to express their Christmas angst.

Commentator Lee Stringer tells about being homeless at Christmas. Stringer was homeless for ten years, and says it made him grateful for small things. One Christmas in particular taught him to count his blessings. He wrote about it in his book Grand Central Winter: Stories from the Street. (3:30) Washington Square Press ISBN: 0671036548.

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Electricity deregulation was supposed to bring Californians lower prices. Instead they've gotten higher prices and unreliable service. Scott Horsley of member station KPBS reports on why this happened, including mistaken judgements in planning the big change and the fact that electricity cannot be stored to meet market demand.

Robert Siegel talks with John A. Kitzhaber, the Governor of Oregon, about his call for an energy summit. The Governor wants to meet with Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and the Governor of Washington State about the federal government order forcing northwest electric utilities to sell power to California. Kitzhaber opposes the order. He says it was made without consultation with the states, and will makes a bad situation worse.

NPR's Frank Browning reports that cleanliness can be taken too far, although it's important when controlling disease. America's "germ panic" corresponds directly to the presence of communicable diseases - even if personal hygiene has little to do with the illness. This is the second of two reports on soap and health.

As part of National Geographic's Radio Expeditions, NPR's Alex Chadwick checks in on African ecologist Mike Fay. Fay just completed a treacherous conservation walk through Central Africa to the coast of Gabon.

For scientists who study active volcanoes, danger is a part of the normal workday. NPR's Richard Harris reports from Mt. Erebus in Antarctica.

NPR's Pam Fessler reports on George W. Bush's meetings today with the man he will succeed -- President Bill Clinton -- and the man he defeated for the job, Vice President Al Gore. As he did during yesterday's meetings with congressional leaders, Bush said he was "here to listen."

NPR's Barbara Bradley reports that the ramifications of the United States Supreme Court's decision on the Bush-Gore case may continue into the future. While George W. Bush will become president the Supreme Court might have lost some credibility. Many people are still unsure whether the court did the right thing.

NPR's Jackie Northam reports that the FCC is auctioning off part of the airwave spectrum. The band that's up for grabs is intended for wireless communication providers, and should mean stronger and clearer connections for cell phone users. It will also give the industry room to develop the next generation of wireless services.