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Diversions from NPR

• Sometimes Jamming Trumps Politics
  David Greene missed Hillary Clinton's speech at the Democratic National Convention. He was too busy dancing at an Ozarks jam session in Mountain View, Ark. — in search of local leaders.
• A Game Of Political Karaoke
  Most karaoke bars feature <em>Love Shack</em> or <em>Love Train</em>. This week in Denver it's all about political karaoke. Can you raise a (bar) crowd like Sen. Obama or "re-speak" victory as well as John McCain did in New Hampshire?
• A Battle To Be The Biggest Stadium
  For decades, University of Michigan's football stadium, known as "The Big House," has had the largest capacity of any venue in the country. An accessibility lawsuit is reducing its capacity, leaving the title to Penn State's Beaver Stadium. So Michigan is spending $226 million on improvements to include more seats.
• Public Outcry Stalls Beauty Contest For Nuns
  An Italian priest set aside his plan to hold a beauty contest for nuns. The Rev. Antonio Rungi says he wanted to change the image of nuns and to fight the stereotype that they're old and cranky. He planned an online competition for nuns with the best "overall beauty." But Rungi was attacked via phone calls and e-mails, so he put off the competition he called "Miss Sister 2008."
• Olympic Archers Take A Shot At Love
  Taking a cue from Cupid, two gold medal winners in archery are getting married. Perhaps inspired by the Olympic rings, the South Korean couple announced their nuptials just as the games ended. Their romance was sparked during training for the Olympics.
• In Central Park, 'Hair' Line Brings A City Closer
  Free summer staging of the '60s musical has New Yorkers camping out overnight &mdash; but a sense of shared adventure (and bike messengers bearing delivery breakfasts) help pass the time.
• Estonia Sweeps Mobile Phone Throwing Contest
  The 9th Annual Mobile Phone Throwing World Championship just took place in Estonia. The winner in the men's category was an Estonian, who hurled his handset about 280 feet. The women's champion &mdash; also an Estonian &mdash; chucked hers 135 feet. The sport comes from Finland, which has a long history of javelin throwing.
• Lost? Let A Cow Be Your Guide
  People spend a lot of money on GPS directional systems, but it turns out all they need is a cow. Researchers say cattle seem to have some kind of internal compass. They studied satellite photos of thousands of cows around the world. No matter which continent they're on, grazing or resting cows tend to align themselves north and south. Call it CPS: You can find your way as long as you know which end is north.
• Marijuana Store Busted At Mall Of Americas
  We've been hearing lately of suburban McMansions turned into hydroponic growing houses for marijuana. Turns out, you can also find marijuana at the mall. Federal agents in Miami confiscated 200 plants when they busted a pot-growing operation at the Mall of the Americas.
• Iconic Noodle Celebrates 50th Anniversary
  On Aug. 25, 1958, the first package of Chicken Ramen was sold in Japan, making today the 50th anniversary of the iconic instant meal. Momofuku Ando was much more than just a noodle inventor &mdash; he was a philosopher, too.
• Picking Favorites In The U.S. Open
  The U.S. Open tennis tournament begins today in New York City with the womens' singles champions of the past two years out with injuries, presenting an opportunity for the Williams sisters. Meanwhile, on the men's side, Rafael Nadal has the chance to prove that he's the best player of the year &mdash; if he goes further than Roger Federer.
• A Debatable Point
  The president of Fort Hays State University in Kansas fired debating coach William Shanahan after the coach got in a shouting match with another coach at a debate tournament. A YouTube video shows them screaming obscenities. Shanahan jumped up and down, then turned around to moon the room &mdash; underwear still up, but shorts down. He says he argued with the other coach because he respected her.
• Rewriting History Can Be Illegal
  A two-man punctuation patrol went a little too far. Jeff Deck and Benjamin Herson have been traveling the country correcting punctuation on signs. But they'll be paying a hefty fine after altering a historic hand-painted sign at the Grand Canyon &mdash; something federal authorities call vandalism. The pair did leave one misspelling on the old Grand Canyon sign: "emense".
• U.S. Men Reclaim Basketball Gold
  The last big medal event at the Beijing Olympics &mdash; the men's basketball final &mdash; was a thriller for the ages. The American "Redeem Team" got redemption by beating Spain, 118-107.
• In Baghdad, 100,000 Gather For Soccer Match
  It was a sight some thought they'd never see again: an estimated crowd of 100,000 Iraqis on Sunday in Baghdad &mdash; to watch a soccer match. It's the first time since the U.S. invasion that a group that large has been able to gather peacefully in the war-torn capital.