What Makes a Stradivarius Special?

Something in the Italian air 300 years ago produced the world's most extraordinary and precious stringed instruments. Violinist, concertmaster, and "Strad Fest" curator Margaret Batjer, tries to explain the magic.

Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning. Courtesy of The Emily Post Institute.

Etiquette on Call: Pocket-Dialing The Posts

This month The Posts advise on times when haircuts are more important than family, making offers you don't actually intend to follow-through on, and using children as scapegoats - but it's all in the name of politeness. Really.

Up with Switchel, Herman Melville’s Energy Drink

Somewhere between a vinegar shrub and modern ginger ale there was switchel - a ginger-apple cider vinegar-sugar drink, beloved by New England farmers and other 17th century types. Now this heritage beverage is being made again.

The Rocking Pirates and The Rolling Wave

In the 1960s, British rock music was everywhere - except on British radio. A group of DJs took to the sea to broadcast pirate radio stations (until The Man got the message).

The Millionaire’s Mastiff

A Tibetan Mastiff puppy recently sold in China for two million dollars. It probably does not have actual lion's blood, but don't tell the new owner.

“Shoot the Violinist” – Margaret Batjer

Margaret Batjer, an accomplished violinist who joins us this week to talk about Stradivarius instruments, tells us a joke about how even the best violin doesn’t make a great musician.