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Think moccasins, turquoise jewelry and sheep butchering. The competition tests Miss Navajo hopefuls on their knowledge of traditions and language.

Actor Stephen Tobolowsky's new book is made up of essays, anecdotes, stories and insights shuffled in and out of order, like cards in a deck. Everything in the book is true, Tobolowsky says: "True trumps clever any day of the week."

Canadian poet and folk troubadour Leonard Cohen is known for writing haunting, provocative songs, songs about religion and women and politics. His music struck one Bay Area artist with a vision: that there should be a community choir of men, singing a cappella, exclusively from the Leonard Cohen songbook. Lisa Morehouse spent some time with the group, called the Conspiracy of Beards.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, which reportedly killed at least six people, including children.

Last week, the French ended their rotation at the head of United Nations Security Council. France's permanent representative, Ambassador Gerard Araud, had one preeminently difficult issue on his agenda: what to do about Syria. Host Scott Simon talks with Araud about the political stalemate.

As the effect of the Republican and Democratic conventions fades, the two campaigns are kicking into high gear. Mitt Romney has refocused efforts on Latinos, and there are no more questions about Bill Clinton's support for Obama. Weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz talks conventions, ads and money with The Atlantic's Jim Fallows.

The last time Republicans held the spot was in 1997. Richard Tisei might be their answer for taking it back. The openly gay candidate is getting a boost from a family scandal surrounding the incumbent Democrat, Rep. John Tierney.

Turkish officials recently arrested several suspected Iranian spies. But these cases are but a pale echo of Turkey's heyday as a mecca for spies. During World War II, Istanbul was a crossroads that swarmed with agents. It has inspired authors from Eric Ambler to John le Carre — a tradition that continues today.

Paul Ryan gained national attention and praise from conservatives with bold proposals to cut the deficit and balance the budget. But critics say the Republican vice presidential nominee's talk doesn't match his record. To others, he is more a small-government conservative than a deficit hawk.

One overlooked part of the convention frenzy was the party platforms. They seemed to cause more embarrassment than excitement at the DNC, where party leaders fumbled at reinserting clauses about Jerusalem and God into their platform. And at the RNC, Rep. John Boehner admitted he'd never even read his party's platform. NPR senior Washington editor Ron Elving joins weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz to talk about the platforms and what — if anything — they mean in 2012.