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As Secretary of State, Retired General Colin Powell will shift from being an advocate for the military to becoming the nation's top diplomat. NPR's Tom Gjelten looks at Powell's past recommendations as one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about military intervention in hot spots around the world.

Commentator Marion Winik has thoughts on those traditional holiday letters so many people feel they must write at this time of year, and a few suggestions. For instance, drop the "Dear Everyone" and replace it with a real headline. Instead of anecdotes, try one good paragraph. Maybe include a top ten list or a haiku.

These days we live in informal times. First names are in, and formal titles are going the way of the top hat. Commentator Elissa Ely isn't sure she likes the change.

Unemployment benefits expire for nearly 800,000 Americans as a congressional logjam holds up a possible extension. The new Congress, which meets in January, is expected to take up the issue as a top priority. NPR's David Molpus reports.

The New York Times reports that the Bush administration has created a hit list of top al Qaeda operatives, authorizing the CIA to use lethal force. NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says this bends the longstanding executive order prohibiting assassination.

NPR's Guy Raz in Berlin reports on the growing popularity of Germany's ruling coalition of Social Democrats and Greens. Even though the Greens are the junior partner in the coalition, the party has managed to make the environment a top policy priority.

Host Bob Edwards talks with commentator John Feinstein about the Australian Open. This year the tennis tournament saw surprise winners in both the men's and women's brackets. Jennifer Capriati easily beat top-seeded Martina Hingis and Andre Aggasi defeated Frenchman Arnaud Clement.

It remains one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history. And on top of the scars of that tragedy, Arizona and much of the West is in the midst of yet another wildfire season.

Ophira joins the likes of Daft Punk, T-Pain, and Rihanna in an Auto-Tuned trivia game that will definitely be a top hit at the club next week.

Political strategist Donna Brazile, former campaign manager for the Gore-Lieberman 2000 campaign, comments on the final presidential debate. Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, the state's top ranking African-American official, also weighs in.