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Over the past five years, Maverick Construction founder Michael McNally has seen revenues grow tenfold and even in the current economic slump, sales are up about 20 percent over last year. Still, McNally is feeling cautious about the future -- and he's not alone. NPR's Chris Arnold reports.

It's the most-played board game in the world. Though it's considered the ultimate contest of money and power, it started out as a cautionary exercise to make Americans aware of the excesses of capitalism. On Morning Edition, NPR's Juan Williams reports on Monopoly's humble roots, as part of the Present at the Creation series. (8:38)

The use of hand signaling in baseball goes back to the 1890s when a deaf ball player's coach started using hand signals to let the player know if the previous pitch was a strike or a ball -- maybe. Steve is joined by Josh Prager, senior special writer at the Wall Street Journal, to talk about the history of signing in America's pastime, and the questions that still surround its origin. Prager is currently writing a book about sign stealing in 1951 and the "Shot Heard Round the World."

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer George Crumb remains best known for music he wrote in the 1960s and 70s. His work included Black Angels, a response to the Vietnam War. Now a Crumb revival is afoot, with two works premiering this fall, and a third scheduled for spring. Joel Rose of member station WHYY reports.

In Louisiana, Democrat Mary Landrieu faces Republican Suzy Terrell in a runoff election for a U.S. Senate seat. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with political writer Jeff Crouere.

A legislative measure under consideration would make it more difficult for refugees to enter the traditionally neutral haven of Switzerland. Conservative politicians want to allow fewer asylum seekers. Emma Jane Kirby reports.

Britain is set to repeal a century-old law that kept pets arriving from the United States in quarantine for months. Pet owners on both sides of the Atlantic hail the decision. NPR's Eric Niiler reports.

Police in Columbus, Ohio, spent Monday reviewing video footage, trying to figure out who was involved in a riot Saturday night. The disturbance broke out after the Ohio State football team secured a spot in the national championship game. It was just one of three violent incidents following college games this weekend -- others occurred in Berkeley, Calif., and in North and South Carolina. Robert Seigel speaks with Ohio State University President Karen Holbrook about her school's response to the incident.

Earlier this month, the United Nations voted to condemn the United States' economic embargo against Cuba for the 11th year in a row. The United States will undoubtedly ignore the resolution, citing Cuba as a sponsor of terrorism, where basic rights such as freedom of expression are not respected. Last May, island dissidents demanded such rights via a first-ever citizens petition, but Castro's government has still not responded. And now the dissidents themselves are beginning to quarrel among themselves. Gerry Hadden has the story from Havana.

The latest James Bond film, Die Another Day made a reported $47 million at the box office over the weekend. If your $8.50 was among those millions, you saw Pierce Brosnan in the starring role. And if you watched closely, you also might also have caught a glimpse Richard Cohen -- an experienced fencer brought in as an extra. Richard Cohen is the author of then new book BY THE SWORD: A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and Olympic Champions. (Random House)