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"Learned to Surf" is evidence that a band can age gracefully if it can just hang on to its nerve. The Superchunk fan of 1993 would have no trouble recognizing the song as the product of the group that helped define the indie-rock scene of the post-Nirvana era.

Actor Mark Webber, 21, is currently starring in the new Todd Solondz movie, Storytelling. He got rave reviews for his performance in the London and New York stage productions of David Mamet's American Buffalo opposite William H. Macy and Phillip Baker Hall. He also appeared in Snow Day with Chevy Chase and The Animal Factory directed by Steve Buscemi. Weber grew up in Philadelphia where he was sometimes homeless with his mother Cheri Honkala. She is a homeless rights activist and founder of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union. In March Webber can be seen in HBO's Laramie Project. In upcoming films he plays Woody Allen's son in Hollywood Endings, and Al Pacino's assistant in People I Know.

The title character in Simon Boccanegra is among the most complex and poignant that Verdi ever created, and the opera is among his most beautiful. In this production from Houston, Boccanegra is played by the renowned baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky.

Many have called Don Giovanni the finest opera ever composed. Mozart's classic is a brilliant combination of stark human tragedy and touching comedy, set to music of limitless genius. It's heard in a new production from Houston Grand Opera.

Luisa Miller was named simply, after its main character, but it was inspired by a play with a title that pretty much sums up Verdi's opera: Intrigue and Love. The production is from the Bavarian State Opera.

The North Carolina film industry fared reasonably well last year economically, but challenges linger.

D'Amato's new album The Shipwreck From The Shorecan feel Motown-y, garage-y and Springsteen-y, and all that production serves his songs well. But here the Tiny Desk, his music is sparer.

The modern Bible is the product of translations and interpretations that span centuries. But a true understanding of its meaning should take into account its origins in Jewish culture, according to biblical scholar Marc Zvi Brettler, author of How to Read the Bible.

Dorothy's Toto and Elle's Bruiser have a friend in common: animal trainer Bill Berloni. Berloni has been training stage animals for over 30 years. His new book is Broadway Tails: Heartfelt Stories of Rescued Dogs Who Became Showbiz Superstars.

The product of Swedish multi-instrumentalist Emil Svanangen, Loney, Dear recorded its debut CD mostly in his parents' basement and a tiny studio apartment. But in spite of its modest origins, the disc is an immensely satisfying collection of light, lush pop songs with warm electronic cores.

Grizzly Bear's gorgeously hazy second disc is a major leap forward: Titled Yellow House, it benefits from a monumental upgrade in production values, as well as the presence of tight, focused songs that place the band's experimental tendencies into a more natural-sounding melodic context.

Bread and pasta sales are down, and many in the industry blame popular low-carb diets like Zone, Atkins and South Beach. While some retailers respond by producing low-carb versions of their products, others prepare a PR campaign that emphasizes the importance of carbohydrates as a source of energy. NPR's Greg Allen reports. Read the USDA dietary guidelines and hear more stories on the effectiveness of low-carb diets.

British Petroleum, operator of the Prudhoe Bay oilfield, says it will try to keep part of its production running while it replaces corroded pipes at the facility. An oil leak Sunday had forced BP to slash output at the field, America's largest.

A proposal being considered by the U.S. Postal Service would create a new "forever stamp." The product would allow customers to buy a first class stamp that would suffice for postage -- no matter what rate increases come along. Michele Norris talks with Stephen Kearney, vice president of pricing at the U.S. Postal Service.

Savage was dropped as executive producer and director of the rebooted series after an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct, the show's production company said.

The school says it allows Ohio State to control use of "The" on branded products associated with and sold through athletics and collegiate channels, such as T-shirts, baseball caps and hats.

An ominous track in a musical class of its own, "Herculean" is the product of an eccentric and sublime collection of talent, including members of Blur, Gnarls Barkley and The Clash. Though much of its membership finds its roots in rock, The Good, The Bad & The Queen opts for subtler ambience.

Without indulging in any substantial degree of sonic nostalgia — the production is, above all else, thoroughly up to date — The Majestic Twelve digs deep to isolate the sense of dislocation and tension that practically defined the post-punk era.

In "None Shall Pass," underground rapper Aesop Rock comes off as a hip-hop fortuneteller, announcing what will happen in a distinctly combative way. He issues a dire warning amid thick production and sick sampling, but it's the listener's job to figure it out.

Caribou's "Melody Day" sounds like the product of a different era — a song that might have been at home on, say, The Velvet Underground's Loaded, had Lou Reed been replaced by Brian Wilson and incorporated layered electronic beats into his songwriting.