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There was a time when Greeks were proud of being Greek, of being a people known for dancing, being happy without material wealth, enjoying life. Now, Greeks are known for being deeply in debt, accused by some of living the high life on other people's money, of dragging Europe's economy to the brink of disaster.

Using years of crime statistics, the department's computer churns out maps with small highlighted areas where it predicts a crime will occur. Police hope that the technique helps reduce crime, but there are concerns over how the data will be used.

Bill Bratton is the former chief of police in Boston, New York and Los Angeles. He helped introduce the system of predictive policing and calls it the next era of crime prevention and an evolution of community policing. Host Scott Simon speaks with Bratton, who's been tapped by the University of California Davis to lead the independent investigation of pepper spraying of student protesters by campus police.

The nation's retailers are hoping consumers open their wallets and spend this holiday shopping season. Amid all the worries about the economy and high unemployment, there are some early indications that this year might be slightly better than last. NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports.

This year's historic drought killed thousands of evergreen trees in Texas and Oklahoma. Now Christmas tree farmers are scrambling to meet holiday demands. Host Scott Simon checks in with Karen Barfield, owner of Tinsel Time Christmas Tree Farm in New Caney, Texas.

The failure of the congressional supercommittee to reach a deal on reducing federal government deficits is being called another example of dysfunction and gridlock in Washington. New attention is now focused back on the plan put forth last year by President Obama's bipartisan deficit reduction commission, a blueprint that a number of Democrats and Republicans endorsed. Host Scott Simon talks with former Sen. Alan Simpson, former co-chair of that deficit reduction commission, about the failed negotiations of the supercommittee.

This year, the Air Force says it will recruit more pilots to fly unmanned aircraft than manned fighters and bombers combined. Here's what that shift means for the military, for potential pilots, and the way we think — or don't think — about war.

Also: Funeral today for slain Virginia Tech police officer; Russian billionaire says he'll challenge Putin; Occupy protesters aim to close West Coast ports.

Sure, kids have been playing with tops forever. But Beyblades are battling tops, and they come with their own fighting arena. They're a hit, and if you haven't been nagged for one this year, there's still time.

High prices for the instruments and the banda music craze have combined to make tubas hot properties. Some schools are now without any.