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The way bartenders shake their cocktails has practically evolved into their signature beats. Some shake hard, some shake over the shoulder, some shake in front. Most bartenders say the shake is essential to a perfect drink — but is it all style or is there some substance to the claim?

Three years ago, a massive earthquake destroyed much of Haiti's capital city. Aid agencies from around the world pledged billions of dollars to help Haiti rebuild. But since then, many of the grand plans have fizzled, and some 350,000 Haitians still live in makeshift camps.

You might think that after a pretty rancorous election season there would be lingering acrimony between people who belong to groups embroiled in some of the campaign's most heated debates. But if there is, a new study by Pew found that many Americans don't feel that way.

The announcement from Sen. Jay Rockefeller that he will not seek another term would seem to give Republicans a big opening in a state that went deep red in November. But West Virginia's animus toward President Obama doesn't necessarily translate into Republican advantages in statewide races.

Juliann Garey's novel, Too Bright to Hear Too Loud to See, is a searing exploration of mental illness. Author Ellen Forney says it's a vivid and accurate depiction of bipolar disorder.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced proposals for minimum sound requirements on hybrid and electric vehicles. They say the vehicles pose a safety issue for pedestrians and cyclists, especially for those who are visually impaired. If you have an idea for how the vehicles should sound, email it to: alltech@npr.org

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and President Obama discussed future U.S.-Afghanistan relations and the withdrawal of U.S. forces on Friday.

Australia has been experiencing a record setting heat wave. Melissa Block speaks with an official monitoring the climate there about why this is happening and how Australians are coping.

A Georgia utility's announcement that it will shutter coal-powered generators in the coming years is part of a national trend of shifting to natural gas. One key factor is low gas prices, fueled by a boom in shale gas production.

New York Knicks captain Amar'e "STAT" Stoudemire is a six-time All-Star, an education activist and the author of three books for middle-schoolers. In his latest release, an injury helps an 11-year-old STAT learn lessons both on and off the court.

The National WWII Museum in New Orleans presents a range of real-life scenarios that give visitors a sense of the ethical — and often dangerous — decisions soldiers and civilians were forced to make during the war.

Three years ago, a massive earthquake destroyed much of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. Roughly 200,000 people were killed and more than 1 million left homeless. Now, most of the earthquake debris has been removed, but many of the grand plans to rebuild never materialized. Host Scott Simon speaks with NPR's Jason Beaubien in Haiti.

More than 156,000 people descended on Las Vegas this past week to gawk at acres and acres of the latest shiny gadgets. Host Scott Simon speaks with NPR's Steve Henn, who has been road-testing new gadgets at the Consumer Electronics Show.

The writer, who died this week at the age of 88, is remembered for creations both fictional and non, ranging from the Kansas City living room of Mrs. Bridge to Custer's Little Bighorn. Critic Alan Cheuse has a remembrance of Connell, who once met him for breakfast at a Marin County McDonald's.

President Obama says he won't negotiate about the borrowing limit. He says the Congress must raise the debt ceiling to pay for spending it's already OK'd. But Republicans say they'll use the threat of default to get more spending cuts from the White House. Obama still has some options if he and Congress can't reach an agreement.

It's hard, during flu season, to avoid inhaling a virus or two (or three, or 10,000), but that doesn't mean they're going to take you over. You have an army of defenders in you, ready to take them on.

Civil War historian Bruce Levine says that from the destruction of the South emerged an entirely new country. On the hit Masterpiece Theater series, social rules are changing as the world events of the 20th century unfold. And David Bianculli reviews season two of 'Girls.'

NPR's Scott Simon muses on momentous news this week — the Baseball Writers Association elected no one to the Hall of Fame. The shutout might be a classic reminder that cheating sometimes brings quick riches, but it can't buy respect.

Jeanne Manford broke ground by speaking up for her son's rights as a gay man in the 1970s. She would go on to found the national support group Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, better known as PFLAG. She died this week at the age of 92.