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Internet toy seller E-Toys was supposed to be one of the e-commerce companies with a shot at becoming a retail powerhouse. It had a top-rated Web site, a vast selection of high-end toys and excellent customer service. But as NPR's Elaine Korry reports, E-Toys is having a miserable holiday season. Sales are running way below expectations, cash is running short, and the company is unlikely to survive without a merger or a major sell-off of assets.

Bluesy Blind Pig Records has now been around 25 years -- a long life span for an independent. It grew from a basement operation in Michigan to one of music's top specialty labels. Hear from NPR's John Ydstie, Blind Pig co-founder Edward Chmelewski and singer Deborah Coleman.

Pianist and Singer Hadda Brooks, known as "Queen of the Boogie," died last week at the age of 86. Brooks rose to fame in 1945 with the song, "Swingin' the Boogie." The song also helped launch the top West Coast rhythm and blues label, Modern Records. NPR's Bob Edwards has a remembrance.

NPR's Phillip Davis reports on an exhibition in Miami that is trying to take a fresh look at Christmas music. Sound artist Christian Marclay has challenged some of the city's top DJ's to take his collection of Christmas music and remix the material into sonic and artistic collages. The exhibit is called "The Sounds of Christmas" at Miami's Museum of Contemporary Art.

Mechanical engineer Don Gilmore has the key to a persistent musical problem: how to keep a piano perpetually in tune. The top-selling line of Story-Clark grand pianos will soon be outfitted with Gilmore's self-tuning device. Hear from Gilmore and NPR's John Ydstie.

China's top arms control official is quoted in the official press as opposing President Bush's move to launch a U.S. missile-defense network in 2004. China is afraid the missile shield will be used to protect rival Taiwan. NPR's Rob Gifford reports.

South Koreans are voting in presidential elections, and an unexpected issue surfaces to dominate election campaigning: South Korea's relationship with the United States. Both top contenders have tapped into growing anti-American sentiment. NPR's Eric Weiner reports.

Linda talks with Paul Burka, Executive Editor of the Texas Monthly, about people from President-elect Bush's inner circle in Austin who will be joining him in Washington. Burka talks about Bush's top White House adviser, Karen Hughes; senior White House adviser Karl Rove; and Bush's choice for Federal Emergency Management Agency director, Joe Allbaugh.

NPR's Ted Clark reports the State Department has recommended disciplinary action against six employees because of a missing laptop that contained highly classified information. In a related development, one of the nation's top diplomats, Ambassador Stapleton Roy, has decided to retire early. His deputy, Donald Keyser, is among the six employees targeted for disciplinary action designed to address concerns about security procedures at the State Department.

African-Americans are traditionally among the Democrats most loyal voters, with more than 8-in-10 voting for the party nominees in recent presidential elections. But blacks are less likely than whites to vote. In an election as close as this, turning up the turn out among African-Americans is a top priority for Vice President Al Gore's supporters. From Chicago, NPR's Phillip Martin reports on the get-out-the-vote effort, and the Republican's parry.