Weekend Edition Saturday

For most people, the word "algebra" conjures classroom memories of Xs and Ys. Weekend Edition's math guy, Keith Devlin, says that's because most schools do a terrible job of teaching it. He talks with host Scott Simon about what algebra really is. Plus, Devlin explains how algebra took off in Baghdad, the Silicon Valley of the ninth century.

An Atlantic article by a University of Iowa professor makes the state out to be less Field of Dreams and more Deliverance meets Children of the Corn. Stephen Bloom raises hard facts about how Iowa doesn't accurately represent America, but for many Iowans, the piece felt personal.

What are the best movies to watch during the holidays? Depends on whom you ask. Host Scott Simon talks with director Cameron Crowe, whose films include Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire and the just-released We Bought a Zoo, about some of his personal favorites.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney spent the past week focused on New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Jan. 10, one week after the Iowa caucuses. After former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's recent surge in the polls, Romney appeared to be shoring up his position in a state where he's had a commanding lead all year.

The Cape Race Lighthouse has warned boats off Canada's rocky coast for more than a century. It lies just south of the eastern-most point in North America. On the kind of stormy day the lighthouse was built for, its keeper talks about hanging on in one of the farthest corners in North America.

This weekend the NBA gets going, the NFL gets exciting, and the Boise State Broncos get to clean out their lockers. They demolished Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl, but now their season is over, and they'll head home to sit on the couch and watch lower-ranked teams compete in the Bowl Championship Series. Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Tom Goldman about the week in sports.