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In the former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan, a cult of personality surrounds President Niyazov, who prefers the term "Father of All Turkmen." His nation is isolated and shrouded in mystery. Reporter Ilan Greenberg managed to travel there for a piece in Sunday's New York Times Magazine. He speaks with NPR's Renee Montagne.

Since the end of the Cold War, civilian contractors become vital to the military as armed forces shrink by more than a third. If America goes to war against Iraq, not everyone in battle will be in uniform -- and many civilians will be close to the frontlines. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

A federal judge, has ruled that ABC television's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here is not a copy of the CBS reality show Survivor. Commentator James Poniewozik remarks on the judge's ruling.

Sixteen-year-old Youth Radio Commentator Rachel Speckman thinks it's ridiculous that she's prevented from buying tickets for R-rated films. She suggests that if she's not considered an adult she shouldn't be paying adult prices at the theater.

NPR's David Welna reports from Orange, Texas, where a dozen residents took part in a role-playing exercise as a congressional committee trying to divvy up the federal budget. The group concluded that the $1.6 trillion tax cut proposed by President George Bush wasn't a prudent idea until the national debt is paid off.

Based loosely on the career of Diana Ross and the Supremes, Dreamgirls is alive with the sound of music. It's a love song two times over, a tribute to both a vibrant period of American popular music and the big-budget Hollywood musical.

To better understand the role of the heartbroken lover in the Schubert song cycle "Winter's Journey," American tenor David Pisaro is hiking 200 miles in two weeks along the blustery English coast. He performs at stops along the way. Hear Pisaro and NPR's Scott Simon.

The Riches is a new drama series on the FX cable network. It stars Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver in a story about a family of criminals pulling the biggest scam of their lives.

Film critic David Edelstein reviews The Science of Sleep, the new film from Michel Gondry. Previously, Gondry directed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Magic Hollow, a new four-CD retrospective of the band The Beau Brummels, a '60s British Invasion-era pop group from California. Their biggest -- and only top 10 -- hit was "Laugh, Laugh."