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Legislators in California, exasperated with the explosion of graffiti, have proposed a new law to ban portable, aerosol paint cans. NPR's Mandalit DelBarco reports that Chicago tried a similar tactic, but graffiti continues apace there. The paint industry is opposed, saying it will hurt legitimate users, from home hobbyists to costume designers in Hollywood. Graffiti writers scoff at the ban: they say they'll just use other tools.

Commentator Frederica Matthewes-Green (fred-REE-kah MATH-yooz GREEN) works at home, but she misses the office -- the daily flow of human interaction among colleagues. So she has joined an on-line group where they regularly enjoy jokes, recipes, memories, and dreams: the skin contact of cyberspace. It isn't like sharing stories with a buddy over the coffeemaker, she says, But it's not like sitting in rush hour traffic, either.

The federal government's reports on the state of housing in the US have been sharply divided between the record number of Americans who own homes... and the fast-increasing number who live in so-called "worst case housing." Those are the people who are stuck in squalid conditions, or whose housing costs such a large part of their income that one more rent increase will leave them on the streets. NPR's John Nielsen explores the crisis facing the working poor and government policy makers.

Rbert talks to Barton Gellman, Jerusalem Bureau Chief for the Washington Post , about the decline in popularity of Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. In the six months since Netanyahu took office, there have been events that led to questions about Netanyahu's effectiveness...such as the violent response to the Israeli government's opening of a tourist tunnel and the inability of the government to negotiate a plan for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Hebron. At home and abroad, confidence in Netanyahu's effectiveness as a leader has waned.

NPR's David Molpus talks with members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary. He hears how they're preparing themselves for the possibility of war with Iraq, how spouses at home are explaining their absence to toddlers, and how one couple has made up a personal code for private e-mail messages.

Fidgety financial markets continued their volatile swings today. As Jim Zarroli reports, the Nasdaq composite index lost more than 4 percent of its value early in the day before rebounding sharply. But the Nasdaq, home to most new economy stocks, is still off 20-percent for the year. There's a sense of unease about some of the high-tech stocks that have powered the market's remarkable performance. Earnings at many companies have disappointed, and with interest rates and energy costs up this year, investors see little to cheer about.

NPR's Renee Montagne visits a Hollywood cemetery that's got a new lease on life. Hollywood Forever, a 62-acre memorial park is home to the remains of actors Peter Lorre, Rudolph Valentino, Joan Hackett and others. Once overgrown and run-down, the cemetery is now under the direction of a 30-year old funeral director from Missouri, whose dream is to fully restore it to its previous state of grandeur.

Consumer confidence is at its lowest level in more than four years, according to a report released today. Consumer sentiment is seen as the critical factor when it comes to whether the economy will regain its footing or plunge into recession. The report shows that consumers are increasingly fretful about layoffs and the faltering stock market. Other data released today, on sales of homes and orders for other expensive durable goods, confirms that businesses and consumers are cutting back on spending. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

LA-Z Boy and Microsoft have come together to produce a product perfect for the Web-surfing couch potato in your home. It's a recliner they call The Explorer. It was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas yesterday. The chair's arm contains a wireless modem and a 110 volt outlet, and comes with a build-in keyboard. Robert talks with Don Willmott, technology editor for Yahoo Internet Life about it.

NPR's Brian Naylor reports on the withdrawal from consideration of George W. Bush's nominee for Labor Secretary. Linda Chavez's nomination ran into trouble after it was revealed that an illegal immigrant once lived in her home and did some chores. Chavez held a press conference this afternoon, announcing her decision to withdraw, but highlighting her intent to help people, and introducing several of the immigrants who she has helped establish themselves in the U.S.