Now that Obama has named Senator Joe Biden his VP pick, learn more about the senator from his primary bid, and from his numerous appearances on Charlie Rose, where he’s primarily discussed the Iraq War.

Susan Haskins & Michael Riedel interview Bartlett Sher, director of the Tony Award-winning revival. Plus: encore of 1999 celebration of “South Pacific’s 50th Anniversary”; Features clips from both the 1949 and 2008 productions. Watch now.

Established in 2001, the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Lucelia Award — a cash prize of $25,000 — recognizes an American artist younger than 50 who has produced a significant body of work and consistently demonstrates exceptional creativity. Here are the 2008 nominees.

It’s been 125 years since the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history–the explosion, earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused by Krakatoa, an island in Indonesia. Krakatoa is still a benchmark for extreme seismic activity, as it’s explosion was 13,000 times more powerful than one of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima.

The election season moves into high gear this week with the Democratic National Convention in Denver, followed by the Republican gathering in St. Paul. Both political parties have a lot at stake as they try to mobilize religious voters. Watch here. (Originally aired: 8/22/2008).

Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, will deliver the first-ever invocation from a rabbi before Sen. Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention Thursday, August 28, at Denver’s INVESCO Field. Read/watch more…

A roundup of video from PBS and Thirteen programs that aired last week that you can also watch in toto online. See the list for all full episodes and full segments.

Over a hundred million children worldwide have never spent a day in school. In this episode, WIDE ANGLE provides a glimpse into the lives of children in diverse circumstances and countries, all taking a hopeful first step into starting school. Watch the episode now. (Originally aired 9/4/2003).

Ninety years after the 1918 flu pandemic claimed the last of its approximately 50 million victims, antibodies to the virus live on in people exposed to it as children — and the pandemic itself is still inspiring research and debate among scientists. Read more…

Most of us don’t have the opportunity to be in Beijing for the Olympics, but Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet’s new work – The Copier, by Jill Johnson – might satisfy the interests of at least a few fans. The company’s dancers are essentially world-class athletes, capable of doing things most of us can’t even dream [...]