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Who Is Joe The Plumber? Joe Wurzelbacher, an Ohio man looking to buy a plumbing business, came to symbolize the middle class in Wednesday night's presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain. Wurzelbacher's reaction: "It's pretty surreal, man." StoryCorps Chronicles Hard Times In Roanoke, Va. StoryCorps, a non-profit group collecting oral histories across the U.S., is currently stationed in Roanoke, Va. In the precarious economic environment, many of the stories told in the mobile recording booth have been about financial hardship. Stories Of 'Appalachia' Unearthed In PBS Series A new PBS series traces the history of the people, wildlife and geology of the Appalachian mountains. The creators of Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People discuss the rich stories that have emerged from one of Earth's oldest mountain ranges. William Jennings Bryan: An Electrifying Orator At the 1896 Democratic Nationl Convention in Chicago, William Jennings Bryan gave a speech that electrified his party. He was an unlikely presidential candidate, but his "Cross of Gold" speech won him the nomination. It is known today as one of the most important oratorical performances in American history. The Man Who Predicted The Meltdown When economist Nouriel Roubini predicted a complete Wall Street meltdown in 2006, the financial community scoffed. Fast forward two years, Roubini is now offering advice on how to get out of the mess. Boston Struggling To House Homeless Several states are reporting a spike in homelessness due to higher foreclosure rates. Massachusetts has a law that requires sheltering every homeless person, but given the rising number of homeless families — officials are struggling to meet demand. The Upside Of 'Factory Girl' Life In China Author Leslie Chang followed two girls from their rural homes in China to a city called Dongguan, where they became "factory girls." Life in these makeshift cities can be quite lucrative for hard-working ladies, she finds. Strong Men Compete In Charleston, W. Va. They carry refrigerators, dead lift cars and pull airplanes — all in an effort to prove they're the strongest. The World's Strongest Man competition was held last month in Charleston, W. Va. A Never-Ending Battle Over Farming With Chemicals The Griffieons, who run a 1,150-acre farm in Iowa, disagree about whether to use chemicals on their corn and soybeans. They reserve a 10-acre plot for experiments with organic farming, but the crop yield wasn't as hearty as those sprayed with pesticides. Krugman Wins Nobel Prize In Economics This year's Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences has gone to Paul Krugman for his theories on how economies of scale affect international trade. Krugman, a professor of economics and international affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University and a columnist for The New York Times, says he was stark naked, about to step into the shower at 6:40 a.m. when his cell phone rang with the news. He called the award "an awesome surprise." Wilma Mankiller Reflects on Columbus Day Columbus Day is traditionally marked by going to parades that honor the man credited with "discovering" America. But for Native Americans, whose ancestors were displaced and marginalized by the European journey to this continent, it's a day of somber reflection or even mourning. 'Last Lynching' Shows Racial Inequity, Advancement Veteran broadcast journalist Ted Koppel focuses on a 1981 lynching in Alabama to tell how acts of hatred and racism have affected the lives of three Americans. Celebrating The Allensworth Legacy 100 Years Later The town of Allensworth was the first in California to be founded and funded solely by African Americans. At its height, the town — founded by a former slave-turned-soldier — had a bustling economy. As Allensworth celebrates its 100th anniversary, Farai Chideya gets perspective from Lonnie Bunch, Alice Royal, and Thomas Ward. Using Mail As An Economic Indicator There are lots of ways to measure the health of the economy: the inflation rate, GDP and unemployment numbers. There's another economic index — measured by someone you may have never considered an expert on economic matters — your mailman. Chana Joffe-Walt reports for member station KPLU. You Too Can Sleep In A Nuclear Bunker Tourists on a tight budget in Switzerland may soon have the option of sleeping in the world's first "zero-star hotel" — a converted nuclear bunker. If the local town approves, for a less than $13-a-night, guests will have the chance to hunker down in the bunker. It's windowless, but it does have real hotel duvets. And, in case of emergency, the hotel can be converted back to a nuclear bunker within 24 hours.