On one special day each year, NPR delivers a story that is so remarkable – so stunning – that most listeners simply cannot fathom it. From the fight for commercial development of a fondue hot springs in Wisconsin to the high-tech plan to part a waterway in Edinburgh, Scotland, these stories of scientific breakthroughs, bleeding-edge trends and big-picture proposals are collected here, so that their full impact can be absorbed at your leisure. 

All of these fantastic stories aired on April 1st, so we may not be “fooling” anyone!

TRACK LISTING

1. Parting the Waters (5:00)
   A high-tech plan would allow commuters in Edinburgh, Scotland to simply drive through a parted waterway: No bridge necessary.
   (All Things Considered, 1995)
2. Mouth Sounds (6:18)
   Contestants go head-to-head in an Illinois competition that puts the human voice through its paces.
   (All Things Considered, 1997)
3. Shellac, The Sound of the Future (4:08)
   Preservationists at the Library of Congress are working to transfer millions of hours of sound recordings to a single stable format – the trusty 78 RPM record.
   (All Things Considered, 2003)
4. Federally Funded Flea Dips for Fluffy (4:23)
   A surprising proposal to extend universal health care to pets.
   (All Things Considered, 2002)
5. Dog Talk (3:16)
   An inventor talks about his latest breakthrough that translates a dog’s barking into actual words.
   (All Things Considered, 1999)
6. Juror Number 4: Now Part of NYC Slang (3:52)
   A report on the birth of a catchphrase.
   (Day to Day, 2004)
7. Compost Cuisine – Eating the Good Earth? (7:18)
   Eating dirt takes on a new meaning.
   (All Things Considered, 1993)
8. New England Suffers Maple Woes (8:13)
   The low-carb craze is causing a sad state of affairs – and potential danger in Vermont.
   (All Things Considered, 2005)
9. Steroid Scandal Plagues Top Musicians (5:09)
   Rumors are circulating that performance-enhancing drugs could be behind classical musicians playing faster and longer.
   (Performance Today, 2005)
10. Fondue Hot Springs (9:01)
    NPR reports on a Wisconsin fondue spring that’s become a battlefield in the fight between commercial development and conservation.
    (All Things Considered, 1983)

Format: Compact Disc
Total playing time: 56:38