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A man, a woman, a house and a pitchfork. Those four elements make Grant Wood's depression-era painting, American Gothic, instantly recognizable and easily mimicked. As part of the Present at the Creation series, NPR's Melissa Gray reports on the painting that launched a thousand parodies. Image at left courtesy Art Institute of Chicago.

A truly global economy and the ever-expanding reach of the Internet are compelling us all to "think globally." Yet the results of a new National Geographic-Roper study reveals young people aged 18 to 24 remain woefully ignorant about geography and world affairs. In fact, 83 percent of Americans quizzed couldn't find Afghanistan on a map. All Things Considered guest host Lynn Neary talks with National Geographic Society President John Fahey about the quiz results -- test your knowledge, and take the quiz online.

Every Thanksgiving season, Susan Stamberg shares her classic family recipe for cranberry relish. This year, some NPR fans share their own relish rituals, reviews and serving suggestions.

In his new book, The End of the American Era: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Geopolitics of the Twenty-First Century, Kupchan argues that the era of American dominance may be coming to an end. This demise will not be brought on by the Islamic world or China, but from an integrated Europe. He says that as Europe's political and strategic goals continue to diverge from those of the United States, Europe will rise as a new rival. Kupchan served on the National Security Council during the first Clinton administration. He is a professor of international relations at Georgetown University and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Pub-goers in London cheer Queen Elizabeth II's announcement that Parliament will soon consider allowing pubs to stay open 24 hours. Currently, pubs must close at 11 p.m. NPR's Robert Siegel talks with London pub manager Charlotte Renick. (This story was corrected on air on Nov. 14, 2002: "It's Thursday, the day we read from your letters, and we start with a correction to yesterday's program. I said that Britain's pubs have closed early, ever since World War II. Our thanks to Charles Day in Bozeman, Montana, Marc James Small in Roanoke, Virginia and Peg Willingham in Arlington, Virginia. All pointed out that closing the pubs early was a World War I innovation, part of the Defence of the Realm Act. Mr. Day notes that the law was "affectionately known to the British' by its acronym 'DORA.' The logic of the pub closings was, he writes, 'to keep factory production levels high. Factory workers, particularly the ammunition factory workers, would be home from the pubs at a reasonable hour so that they would show up well rested on the factory floor the next morning.'"

Joe Palca speaks with Donna Sheehan, who organized a group of 50 women this week to demonstrate in the nude against the war in Iraq. Using their bodies, the women formed the word "peace" in the grass in Point Reyes Station, Calif.

The frontier is long gone, but the American West clings to some of its roots. Morning Edition presents a series of profiles of people who are inspired by the region's landscape, resources and culture. The series begins with Yvon Chouinard, a reluctant businessman who heads Patagonia, the outdoor clothing and gear outfitter.

The frontier is long gone, but the American West clings to some of its roots. Morning Edition presents a series of profiles of people who are inspired by the region's landscape, resources and culture. The series continues with Juan Arambula, the Fresno County supervisor whose passion about education stems from his experiences as a Hispanic child attending the county's public schools. NPR's John McChesney reports.

Four years after the last round of weapons inspectors left Baghdad, chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix arrived in Baghdad Monday, along with International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed ElBaradei and advance inspection teams that the two men will oversee. NPR’s Vicky O’Hara profiles Blix.

Being the host that he is, Bob Edwards continues the Morning Edition tradition of bringing together the creme de la creme of cookery for a fantasy holiday feast. This year's celebrity chef potluck features Julia Child, Maida Heatter, Paul Prudhomme, Wolfgang Puck — and one would-be party crasher. NPR Online offers a sample of recipes from the gourmet repast, and an illustrated slideshow of the gathering.