Talk of the Nation

No millipede actually has 1000 feet--but the species Illacme plenipes comes closest, with up to 750. Entomologist Paul Marek, who rediscovered the rare species a few years ago in California's coastal mountains, calls counting legs and measuring millipedes a "guilty pleasure."

Turkey, France and the Gulf Cooperation Council have recognized the newly formed Syrian rebel coalition as the legitimate leader of Syria. As thousands of refugees continue to spill over the borders into neighboring countries, questions remain about future foreign intervention from the U.S. and others.

After Superstorm Sandy, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's sign language interpreter became a pop culture phenomenon. Lydia Callis' energy and facial expressions drew wide attention and even a spoof on "Saturday Night Live." Some members of the deaf community took offense to some reactions.

Shoplifting costs the retail industry nearly $35 billion annually, according to the National Retail Security Survey. Shoplifters who are caught are often prosecuted, but some may also face civil recovery — where retailers demand additional payment to recoup some of their costs.

British oil company BP agreed to pay $4 billion over five years to mostly government environmental agencies, and $525 million to settle claims with the Securities and Exchange Commission. BP will also plead guilty to 11 felony counts of misconduct or neglect related to the deaths of 11 people who died in the accident.

Maine, Maryland, and Washington passed same-sex marriage on the ballot in the 2012 election. Minnesotans struck down a proposed constitutional amendment that would define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Now, people on both sides of the issue are reevaluating their strategies.

During a meeting of the Dover, N.H. school board in October, board member Paul Butler proposed a ban on high school football. The idea received stiff opposition. He told the board he believes they have "a moral imperative" to start ending the game in light of concussion research.

President Barack Obama takes questions from reporters at the White House today, in his first press conference since March. NPR's Ken Rudin and political strategists Vin Weber, a former Republican congressman, and Anna Greenberg, a democratic pollster, analyze the President's remarks.

The five-day Hindu festival Diwali, honors the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. Vasudha Narayanan, director of the Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions at the University of Florida, discusses the rituals and significance of the festival.

Since Gen. David Petraeus resigned as the head of the CIA after admitting to an extramarital affair, the scandal has become rich fodder for the opinion pages. NPR's Jacki Lyden reads from a variety of op-eds, and takes calls from listeners on why the story matters.

NPR's Jacki Lyden reads listener comments from past shows about why we run for office, part-time workers, and the open letter John Franklin Stevens wrote to Ann Coulter on using the word "retard" as an insult.

Since the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya was attacked on Sept. 11, 2012, many questions have been raised about security at the consulate, and whether the U.S. military or Central Intelligence Agency could have done more to protect the Americans there.

The new generation of hunters includes more women and young people. Some pick up their rifles out of a desire to trace their food to the source and create connections with the animals that provide their sustenance. As the demographics change, the field begins to reinvent itself.

As the main songwriter and creative force behind legendary band The Who, Pete Townshend has been through hell and back as a rock star. In his memoir, Who I Am, Townshend delves into the conflicts of his private life and public persona.

Gen. David Petraeus resigned as director of the Central Intelligence Agency after admitting to an extramarital affair, with his biographer Paula Broadwell. In his "War Stories" column for Slate, Fred Kaplan wrote that this case shows "the danger of getting too close to the swooning sirens of would-be intellectual proteges."