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Co-Host Madeleine Brand talks to some of the delegates who bring diversity to the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. They include Asian-American delegate Joseph Kung from California, black delegate James Evans from Utah, and white delegates Blair Thorsen and June Hartley from North Dakota and Oregon, respectively.

NPR's Jon Hamilton reports on a new study today that concludes that the falling murder and suicide rates in America are not related to the 1994 Brady law to regulate handgun purchases. The study's authors say the findings illustrate the enormous impact of the unregulated gun market on crime. Independent scientists say the research is sound -- but its ability to judge the effectiveness of gun control is limited.

Linda speaks with Seth Shostak, an astronomer at SETI (Search for Extraterrestial Intelligence) Institute in Mountain View, California, funding for a new radio telescope to be devoted to listening for intelligent life in other parts of the universe. The telescope will be located near the Mount Lassen National Park in Northern California, and Shostak says it will improve the chances of hearing a signal from intelligent life by a thousand fold.

A paper in today's Science magazine reports the discovery of a new material that may be able to with stand irradiation for a thousand years. At present, nuclear waste is stashed away in containers that will start to break down after only a 100 years. Scientists are in a race against time to discover ways of building nuclear trashcans that can survive for much longer. And this new material could - at least in theory - be part of the answer. NPR's John Nielsen reports.

NPR's Debbie Elliott reports Mississippi has a new take on the reality TV craze: It's a Website where the world can watch four young smokers living for a week in an apartment trying to quit. The state is offering a cash prize to each member of the group who makes it through the week without lighting up. And the web audience gets to vote on activities that will make it harder or easier for them.

Commentator Rebecca Flowers says all this diversity at the GOP convention made her wonder about the dream republican ticket---Bush and Puff Daddy. The gangsta rapper is black, musical and rich -- all the things the GOP seems interested in this week. They probably share similar views on gun control---and Puff Daddy's girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez is Hispanic.

Linda reads letters from All Things Considered listeners. (3:15) {STATIONS NOTE:} To contact All Things Considered, write to All Things Considered Letters, 635 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20001. The e-mail address is atc@npr.org.

JP Manoux (mah-NOO) is a professional commercial actor. At least he was until May 1st, that's when the Screen Actors Guild went on strike. It's a strike that continues with no end in sight. He offers his musings on the business of commercial acting and what the strike means to him and for his craft.

Just hours before his acceptance speech to the Republican National Convention, George W. Bush attended a luncheon honoring his wife Laura. The program was sponsored by the National Federation of Republican Women, a group that says the Texas governor can end the Democrat's two-decade dominance among women. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports.

Fires continue to rage across the west - the nation's worst fire season in more than ten years. This morning Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck met with fire strategists at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. He is now touring fire lines and assessing the situation. From KBSX in Boise, Sadi Babits reports.