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Sourdough loaves made by Fromartz with a bolted white flour from Anson Mills in South Carolina that he says reminded him of the wheat he'd tasted in southern France.

Sourdough loaves made by Fromartz with a bolted white flour from Anson Mills in South Carolina that he says reminded him of the wheat he'd tasted in southern France. Samuel Fromartz hide caption

itoggle caption Samuel Fromartz

The Salt

To Make Bread, Watch The Dough, Not The Recipe

One man's quest for the perfect loaf took him to Paris, Berlin, California and Kansas. What he learned can't easily be captured in words. It's a feeling in your fingers that comes from experience.

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Amy Poehler plays Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation, which will air its final season next year. Poehler says, "It's a privilege in television to be able to have a proper goodbye."

Amy Poehler plays Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation, which will air its final season next year. Poehler says, "It's a privilege in television to be able to have a proper goodbye." Colleen Hayes/NBC hide caption

itoggle caption Colleen Hayes/NBC

Author Interviews

A Candid Memoir From Comedian Amy Poehler? 'Yes Please'

Poehler joins Fresh Air's Terry Gross to talk about fighting the body image "demon," being a "world-class snooper" and how she was once told that she had a "great face for wigs."

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W.H. Auden at the 92nd Street Y Poetry Center in 1966.

W.H. Auden at the 92nd Street Y Poetry Center in 1966. Diane Dorr-Dorynek/Courtesy of the 92nd Street Y hide caption

itoggle caption Diane Dorr-Dorynek/Courtesy of the 92nd Street Y

Book News & Features

75 Years Of 'Colossal Poets' And Live Literature At NYC's 92nd Street Y

Writer Cynthia Ozick attended readings at the Y in the 1950s. "You saw these icons standing in a blaze of brilliant spotlight," she says, "and you felt that you were at the crux of all civilization."

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After a hard day of bruising battle, ancient gladiators reached for a post-workout drink, according to an ancient account. New research backs that up.

After a hard day of bruising battle, ancient gladiators reached for a post-workout drink, according to an ancient account. New research backs that up. Stefano Bianchetti/Corbis hide caption

itoggle caption Stefano Bianchetti/Corbis

The Salt

Gladiator Gatorade? Ancient Athletes Had A Recovery Drink, Too

Gladiators guzzled a drink made from plant ash to help their bodies recover after a hard day of sword fighting, according to Roman accounts. New tests of old bones back up that idea.

James Ellroy's novels include The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere and, most recently, Perfidia. He lives in Los Angeles, the setting for much of his work.

James Ellroy's novels include The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere and, most recently, Perfidia. He lives in Los Angeles, the setting for much of his work. Christopher Polk/Getty Images for AFI hide caption

itoggle caption Christopher Polk/Getty Images for AFI

Movie Interviews

Watch This: Crime Writer James Ellroy Recommends — What Else? — Noir Films

The author of L.A. Confidential discusses his favorite flicks, including a 1963 Akira Kurosawa film he says may be the greatest crime movie he's ever seen.

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The family of Ibrahim Abid, who was killed when guards employed by security company Blackwater opened fire at Baghdad's Nisour Square in 2007, visits his grave on Dec. 9, 2008.

The family of Ibrahim Abid, who was killed when guards employed by security company Blackwater opened fire at Baghdad's Nisour Square in 2007, visits his grave on Dec. 9, 2008. Hadi Mizban/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Hadi Mizban/AP

This Week's Must Read

After The Blackwater Convictions, A Book On Iraq's Nightmarish Reality

Four former Blackwater guards were found guilty last week in connection with a fatal shooting in 2007. Author Brian Castner recommends a book on the toll violence has taken on Iraq.

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