Click on the links to watch or read current news and articles. The topics are . . .
Human TRAFFICKING

A Girl's Escape
by Nicholas Kristof
The New York Times
1/1/14
She was a 13-year-old girl who said she was beaten daily by strangers who forced her to work unpaid in their home, and she wanted to escape.
by Nicholas Kristof
The New York Times
1/1/14
She was a 13-year-old girl who said she was beaten daily by strangers who forced her to work unpaid in their home, and she wanted to escape.

Sex Trafficking of Americans: The Girls Next Door
by Amy Fine Collins
Vanity Fair
May 24th, 2011
A photographer’s representation of a typical scene at one of the motels in Central Connecticut used for sex trafficking.
by Amy Fine Collins
Vanity Fair
May 24th, 2011
A photographer’s representation of a typical scene at one of the motels in Central Connecticut used for sex trafficking.
What is Cool?


Jennifer Lawrence and the History of Cool Girls
by Anne Helen Peterson
BuzzFeed
Feb 28th, 2014
Be chill and don’t be a downer, act like a dude but look like a supermodel.
by Anne Helen Peterson
BuzzFeed
Feb 28th, 2014
Be chill and don’t be a downer, act like a dude but look like a supermodel.

When Did Two-Strapping Get Cooler Than One-Strapping? A Slate Backpack Investigation
by Forest Wickman
Slate
11/1/13
by Forest Wickman
Slate
11/1/13

The Cool Kids: Were You as Uncool as a Child as You Claim? What Does Being "Cool" mean to Children, Anyway?
by Katy Waldman
Slate
10/28/13
by Katy Waldman
Slate
10/28/13

Ku? Poa? Buena Onda? What Cool Looks like around the World
by Aisha Harris and Chris Kirk
Slate
10/23/13
by Aisha Harris and Chris Kirk
Slate
10/23/13
The Merchants of Cool documentary may be a little dated, but I think it is still relevant in today's world. The model that Sprite and MTV use in the late 90's early 2000's to produce "Cool" I believe is still being used by companies--just watch the new Paul Rodriguez, Jr. Mountain Dew Commercial. And if nothing else, the paradox of cool, or when you find what is cool it stops being cool, makes Merchant of Cool worth watching.

Space Exploration

Meet Kepler: 186f, the Most 'Earth-like' Planet Ever Found
by Amina Khan
LA Times
4/17/14
This artist's rendering provided by NASA on Thursday, April 17, 2014 shows an Earth-sized planet dubbed Kepler-186f orbiting a star 500 light-years from Earth. Astronomers say the planet may hold water on its surface and is the best candidate yet of a habitable planet in the ongoing search for an Earth twin.
by Amina Khan
LA Times
4/17/14
This artist's rendering provided by NASA on Thursday, April 17, 2014 shows an Earth-sized planet dubbed Kepler-186f orbiting a star 500 light-years from Earth. Astronomers say the planet may hold water on its surface and is the best candidate yet of a habitable planet in the ongoing search for an Earth twin.

Black Holes: Star Eater
By Michael Finkel
National Geographic
3/01/14
Albert Einstein thought that a black hole—a collapsed star so dense that even light could not escape its thrall--was too preposterous a notion to be real. Einstein was wrong.
By Michael Finkel
National Geographic
3/01/14
Albert Einstein thought that a black hole—a collapsed star so dense that even light could not escape its thrall--was too preposterous a notion to be real. Einstein was wrong.

Cosmic Wow, a Rare Supernova Explosion!
by Meg Urry
CNN
1/24/14
An exploding star, or supernova, was spotted on January 21 in Messier 82, one of the nearest big galaxies. This 2006 image is the sharpest wide-angle view obtained of M82.
by Meg Urry
CNN
1/24/14
An exploding star, or supernova, was spotted on January 21 in Messier 82, one of the nearest big galaxies. This 2006 image is the sharpest wide-angle view obtained of M82.


Voyager 1 Leaves Solar System, NASA Confirms
Dan Vergano
National Geographic
Published September 12, 2013
NASA’s far-flung spacecraft passed into interstellar space last year.
Dan Vergano
National Geographic
Published September 12, 2013
NASA’s far-flung spacecraft passed into interstellar space last year.

Gangs


Roseville Has Worked to Reduce Gang Presence
by Ed Fletcher
Sac Bee
11/2/13
Volunteer boxing instructor Mick DuBowsky teaches proper technique at the Roseville Police Activities League. Some attend voluntarily and others are assigned by the courts. Officials say the program helps keep kids from turning toward gang activity and has even pulled some away from active gang participation.
by Ed Fletcher
Sac Bee
11/2/13
Volunteer boxing instructor Mick DuBowsky teaches proper technique at the Roseville Police Activities League. Some attend voluntarily and others are assigned by the courts. Officials say the program helps keep kids from turning toward gang activity and has even pulled some away from active gang participation.


Where Homies Can Heal
A Jesuit Priest Is Running an Impressive Anti-crime Programme
The Economist
Feb 12th, 2012
There is a book in class called G-Dog and the Homeboys. This is a shorter article about the priest. He is based in LA.
A Jesuit Priest Is Running an Impressive Anti-crime Programme
The Economist
Feb 12th, 2012
There is a book in class called G-Dog and the Homeboys. This is a shorter article about the priest. He is based in LA.
Conspiracy Theories


The Illuminati: Conspiracy Theory or New World Order?
By Brian McManus
Philadelphia Weekly
Dec 1, 2010
By Brian McManus
Philadelphia Weekly
Dec 1, 2010

Is Lady Gaga a Satanist Illuminati Slave? Pop-music’s Strangest Conspiracy Theories.
By Jonah Weiner
Slate
Is Jay-Z an Illuminati puppet?
By Jonah Weiner
Slate
Is Jay-Z an Illuminati puppet?


The Road to Paranoia
by Michael Kelly
The New Yorker
June 19, 1995
To read the article click on the page and it will enlarge the text.
There have always been radical fringes on both the right and the left which believe that the government conspires against the people. But lately the two have formed a strange alliance--fusion paranoia--that is reaching millions of disaffected Americans.
by Michael Kelly
The New Yorker
June 19, 1995
To read the article click on the page and it will enlarge the text.
There have always been radical fringes on both the right and the left which believe that the government conspires against the people. But lately the two have formed a strange alliance--fusion paranoia--that is reaching millions of disaffected Americans.

Animal
Animal has been tracking the illuminati for years. This is a blog with different articles about the illuminati.
Animal has been tracking the illuminati for years. This is a blog with different articles about the illuminati.
Food

The Joy of Food
by Victoria Pope
National Geographic
December 2014
Afghan women share a meal of flatbread, goat, lamb, and fruit in the Women’s Garden, a refuge for conversation and confidences outside the city of Bamian. The garden and surrounding park were created to promote leisure activities for women and families. For this group it includes the chance to bond over food.
by Victoria Pope
National Geographic
December 2014
Afghan women share a meal of flatbread, goat, lamb, and fruit in the Women’s Garden, a refuge for conversation and confidences outside the city of Bamian. The garden and surrounding park were created to promote leisure activities for women and families. For this group it includes the chance to bond over food.

United Steaks of America Map: If Each State could Have Only One Meat, What Would It Be?
by L.V. Anderson
Slate
by L.V. Anderson
Slate


Technology

Google Self-Driving Car Stopped for Slow Speed
by Don Melvin
CNN
11/13/15
In this Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 photo provided by Zandr Milewski, a California police officer pulls over a self-driving car specially designed by Google that was being tested on a local road in Mountain View, Calif. The police officer saw the car going a road-clogging 24 mph in a 35 mph zone and realized it was a Google Autonomous Vehicle. After getting closer to it he noticed that there was no one actually driving the car. The officer stopped the car and contacted the person behind the wheel to say the vehicle was impeding traffic, but he didn't give out a citation.
by Don Melvin
CNN
11/13/15
In this Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 photo provided by Zandr Milewski, a California police officer pulls over a self-driving car specially designed by Google that was being tested on a local road in Mountain View, Calif. The police officer saw the car going a road-clogging 24 mph in a 35 mph zone and realized it was a Google Autonomous Vehicle. After getting closer to it he noticed that there was no one actually driving the car. The officer stopped the car and contacted the person behind the wheel to say the vehicle was impeding traffic, but he didn't give out a citation.

University Recruits Video-Gamers with Sports Scholarships
by Michael Sanserino
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
11/23/14
Robert Morris University Illinois students play ‘‘League of Legends’’ during a practice of the school’s eSports program. The school spent $100,000 turning a computer lab into an eSports Arena with fast processing computers, large monitors, and ergonomic gaming chairs.
by Michael Sanserino
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
11/23/14
Robert Morris University Illinois students play ‘‘League of Legends’’ during a practice of the school’s eSports program. The school spent $100,000 turning a computer lab into an eSports Arena with fast processing computers, large monitors, and ergonomic gaming chairs.

Facebook's Ghosts in the Machine
by Lory Gil
Sac News and Review
9/25/14
One writer discovers how, even amid questions about privacy and digital rights, Facebook has become a shrine to the dead


In Teen's Travel Selfies, Is the Focus on Narcissism?
by Beth J Harpaz
The Sacramento Bee
8/3/14
Definition of Narcissism
A group of American high school students, from left, Isabela Gettier, Elizabeth Thomas, Hannah Whitt Linsly and Stephanie Kirby posing for a group selfie on a trip to the Galapagos with Adios Adventure Travel. Some parents worry that taking selfies is a distraction from the experience.
by Beth J Harpaz
The Sacramento Bee
8/3/14
Definition of Narcissism
A group of American high school students, from left, Isabela Gettier, Elizabeth Thomas, Hannah Whitt Linsly and Stephanie Kirby posing for a group selfie on a trip to the Galapagos with Adios Adventure Travel. Some parents worry that taking selfies is a distraction from the experience.

Why Schools' Efforts To Block the Internet Are So Lame
by Annie Murphy Paul
Slate
7/1/14
Students are sidestepping school firewalls, and teachers are feeling thwarted by them.
by Annie Murphy Paul
Slate
7/1/14
Students are sidestepping school firewalls, and teachers are feeling thwarted by them.

Urban Dictionary Puts Word on the Street Up on the Web for All to See
by Jenna Wortham
The New York Times
1/4/14
Selfie: Pope Francis smiles for a photo at St. Peter's Basilica.
by Jenna Wortham
The New York Times
1/4/14
Selfie: Pope Francis smiles for a photo at St. Peter's Basilica.

Why Naked Selfies Are Bad News for Facebook
by Kevin Maney
Newsweek
11/23/13
The sudden rise of Snapchat shows that people want their privacy back.
by Kevin Maney
Newsweek
11/23/13
The sudden rise of Snapchat shows that people want their privacy back.

On Facebook, A Growing Teenage Wasteland
by Doug Gross
CNN
11/2/13
Facebook seems to be trending down with teens.
by Doug Gross
CNN
11/2/13
Facebook seems to be trending down with teens.

Snapchat CEO Spiegel Talks 'Sexting,' Growth: Mobile Photo App still isn't making money--But it's expanding
by Barbara Ortutay
11/1/13
AP
Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel poses for photos, in Los Angeles. Spiegel dropped out of Stanford University in 2012, three classes shy of graduation, to move back to his father's house and work on Snapchat. Spiegel's fast-growing mobile app lets users send photos, videos and messages that disappear a few seconds after they are received
by Barbara Ortutay
11/1/13
AP
Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel poses for photos, in Los Angeles. Spiegel dropped out of Stanford University in 2012, three classes shy of graduation, to move back to his father's house and work on Snapchat. Spiegel's fast-growing mobile app lets users send photos, videos and messages that disappear a few seconds after they are received

UCD Program Brings Robots--and Math--Into Sacramento Schools
by Diana Lambert
Sac Bee
11/2/13
Gino Paige, 12, center left, and Oliver Holland, 12, center right, control Linkbots at California Middle School, Thursday. Students throughout the state are learning english, math and science with the help of robots. The program, developed by UC Davis, is being used at secondary schools from Los Angeles to Sacramento.
by Diana Lambert
Sac Bee
11/2/13
Gino Paige, 12, center left, and Oliver Holland, 12, center right, control Linkbots at California Middle School, Thursday. Students throughout the state are learning english, math and science with the help of robots. The program, developed by UC Davis, is being used at secondary schools from Los Angeles to Sacramento.

Surgeon in China Grows nose on Man's Forehead
by Monte Morin
LA Times
9/28/13
In this Tuesday Sept. 24, 2013 photo, a 22-year-old patient, with a surgical made extra nose out of his rib cartilage and implanted under the skin of his forehead, rests at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, in Fuzhou city, in southeast China’s Fujian province. A surgeon in China said he has constructed the extra nose to prepare for a transplant in probably the first operation of its kind.
by Monte Morin
LA Times
9/28/13
In this Tuesday Sept. 24, 2013 photo, a 22-year-old patient, with a surgical made extra nose out of his rib cartilage and implanted under the skin of his forehead, rests at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, in Fuzhou city, in southeast China’s Fujian province. A surgeon in China said he has constructed the extra nose to prepare for a transplant in probably the first operation of its kind.
News in the Hmong Community
Forget Mistletoe, Ring in the Hmong New Year
Sac News and Review by Enid Spitz Miss Hmong California 2016 Lily Vang |

Rookie Cop Lives Immigrant's Dream
by Marcos Breton
Sac Bee
12/22/13
Officer Evan Kanenaga pins a badge Thursday on newly sworn-in Officer Kengie Yang. He is one of 23 new officers joining the Sacramento Police Department.
by Marcos Breton
Sac Bee
12/22/13
Officer Evan Kanenaga pins a badge Thursday on newly sworn-in Officer Kengie Yang. He is one of 23 new officers joining the Sacramento Police Department.

Hmong New Year Celebrated
by Richard Chang
Sac Bee
12/1/13
Tseem Tub Ntxhais Hmoob dancers Jaclyn Xiong, 17, left; Patang Vang, 18, center; and Ia Vang, 23, right, of Fresno, prepare for a performance during the Hmong New Year celebration on Saturday. The Hmong New Year celebrates a unique cultural identity and helps to preserve Hmong customs and traditions.
by Richard Chang
Sac Bee
12/1/13
Tseem Tub Ntxhais Hmoob dancers Jaclyn Xiong, 17, left; Patang Vang, 18, center; and Ia Vang, 23, right, of Fresno, prepare for a performance during the Hmong New Year celebration on Saturday. The Hmong New Year celebrates a unique cultural identity and helps to preserve Hmong customs and traditions.

Forgotten Fighters: Hmong Seek U.S. Veteran Status
by Stephen Magagnini
Sac Bee
11/9/13
Charlie Moua, Katoua Xiong and Xiong’s cousin Khoua Xiong, from left, visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Capitol Park on Thursday. Hmong who fought on the U.S. side in the Vietnam War want governmental recognition.
by Stephen Magagnini
Sac Bee
11/9/13
Charlie Moua, Katoua Xiong and Xiong’s cousin Khoua Xiong, from left, visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Capitol Park on Thursday. Hmong who fought on the U.S. side in the Vietnam War want governmental recognition.

Domestic Violence Prompts Self-critique by Hmong
U.S Leaders Say Gender Equality Is Long Past Due
by Stephen Magagnini
Sac Bee
9/8/2013
Panhia Vue or Pa Nhia Vue Ying Xiong, 41 is charged in the death of 35-year-old Panhia Vue. He's accused of strangling and burning her body in June. 2013 in Altoona ,Wisconsin
U.S Leaders Say Gender Equality Is Long Past Due
by Stephen Magagnini
Sac Bee
9/8/2013
Panhia Vue or Pa Nhia Vue Ying Xiong, 41 is charged in the death of 35-year-old Panhia Vue. He's accused of strangling and burning her body in June. 2013 in Altoona ,Wisconsin

Hmong Innovating Politics Shakes up Sacramento Political Establishment
HIP announced federal injunction filings against the Sacramento City Unified School District last week
by Raheem F. Hosseini
Sac News and Review
Hmong Innovating Politics co-founder Seng Vang, 27, leads a press conference outside the Robert T. Matsui Federal Courthouse to discuss her organization’s federal injunction action against the Sacramento City Unified School District on
June 12.
HIP announced federal injunction filings against the Sacramento City Unified School District last week
by Raheem F. Hosseini
Sac News and Review
Hmong Innovating Politics co-founder Seng Vang, 27, leads a press conference outside the Robert T. Matsui Federal Courthouse to discuss her organization’s federal injunction action against the Sacramento City Unified School District on
June 12.
Revolutionaries/Heroes around the World

Is It Better to Be a Hero Like Batman Or an Altruist like Bruce Wayne?
by Katy Waldman
Slate
10/21/14
Bruce Wayne: altruist by day, hero by night?
by Katy Waldman
Slate
10/21/14
Bruce Wayne: altruist by day, hero by night?

Pakistani Army Arrests 10 in Connection with 2012 Shooting of Malala Yousafzai
by Tim Craig
Washington Post
9/13/14
Pakistan's army says it has arrested 10 militants suspected of involvement in the 2012 attack on teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, who won world acclaim after she was shot by the Taliban.
by Tim Craig
Washington Post
9/13/14
Pakistan's army says it has arrested 10 militants suspected of involvement in the 2012 attack on teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, who won world acclaim after she was shot by the Taliban.

Father Credited with Saving 4 Kids in South Area Fire
by Bill Lindelof and Cathy Locke
Sac Bee
2/14/14
Firefighters credited "heroic acts" of a young father for saving the lives of his four children as fire tore through their south Sacramento townhouse.
by Bill Lindelof and Cathy Locke
Sac Bee
2/14/14
Firefighters credited "heroic acts" of a young father for saving the lives of his four children as fire tore through their south Sacramento townhouse.

Malala Yousafzai: The Bravest Girl in the World
OCTOBER 5, 2013
Parade
One year ago, Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban. The article tells her story of that terrible day--and how her remarkable recovery is providing hope for girls everywhere.
OCTOBER 5, 2013
Parade
One year ago, Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban. The article tells her story of that terrible day--and how her remarkable recovery is providing hope for girls everywhere.
When Mandela passes or becomes to removed to be relevant, I want to build a biographical/hero unit on San Suu Kyi.

Hip Hop Culture

The Beatles. Bob Dylan. Biggie Smalls. Why the Rapper Belongs in the Company of Pop's Most Influential Artists
by Jack Hamilton
Slate
9/11/14
The Notorious B.I.G., the greatest rapper who ever lived.
by Jack Hamilton
Slate
9/11/14
The Notorious B.I.G., the greatest rapper who ever lived.

Homies in Verona, Gangstas in Elsinore: Thug-Notes and Other Sites Translate Literature Into Rap
by NEIL GENZLINGER
The New York Times
1/24/14
The comedian Greg Edwards analyzing “The Picture of Dorian Gray” in a video at Thug-Notes.com.
by NEIL GENZLINGER
The New York Times
1/24/14
The comedian Greg Edwards analyzing “The Picture of Dorian Gray” in a video at Thug-Notes.com.





In my opinion, Kweli is one of the great minds of Hip Hop. Here are a few examples why . . .
The Music Scene

In Stockton, California, Punks Are the New Mall Rats
by Rafael Johns
NPR
8/13/14
An empty strip mall storefront is one of the only places for young bands to play in Stockton, Calif.
by Rafael Johns
NPR
8/13/14
An empty strip mall storefront is one of the only places for young bands to play in Stockton, Calif.
Music Fans Are Crazy
by Jordan G. Teicher Slate 7/14/14 U2 fan with band-related tattoos covering his back, Long Island, New York. |
Gen Xers, Millenials Sound Off On The Music That Moves Them
NPR: All Things Considered
10/21/13
Interesting Podcast on who from the 80's on will be considered timeless. Just a hint: Tupac makes the list.

You Listen to Him Every Day
by Andrew Romano
Newsweek
From Def Jam to Kanye, Rick Rubin gets intimate about his last 30 years—and how
he’s about to make history.
by Andrew Romano
Newsweek
From Def Jam to Kanye, Rick Rubin gets intimate about his last 30 years—and how
he’s about to make history.
I realized Rick Rubin's greatness when he brought back an irrelevant Johnny Cash and produced some of the best music in the decade. This is my favorite song from the American Series.
War

No Regrets that I Fought the Vietnam War Machine
by Bruce Dancis
Sacramento Bee
11/29/14
Military police, reinforced by Army troops, fight back anti-war demonstrators as they attempt to storm the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 21, 1967. In 2015, the United States will mark the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s move to expand U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
by Bruce Dancis
Sacramento Bee
11/29/14
Military police, reinforced by Army troops, fight back anti-war demonstrators as they attempt to storm the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 21, 1967. In 2015, the United States will mark the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s move to expand U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

Mossad's Greatest Female Assassin
by Ram Oren and Moti Kfir
The Daily Beast
Sylvia Rafael: The Life and Death of a Mossad Spy is the story of a young, dedicated Mossad agent as told by Moti Kfir, the man who trained her, and Ram Oren, a journalist and author.
by Ram Oren and Moti Kfir
The Daily Beast
Sylvia Rafael: The Life and Death of a Mossad Spy is the story of a young, dedicated Mossad agent as told by Moti Kfir, the man who trained her, and Ram Oren, a journalist and author.

With Military Moves Seen in Ukraine, Obama Warns Russia
By David M Herszenhorn, Mark Landler, and Alison Smale
The New York Times
March 1st, 2014
Armed men patrolled the street outside Simferopol’s airport in the Crimea region of Ukraine on Friday.
By David M Herszenhorn, Mark Landler, and Alison Smale
The New York Times
March 1st, 2014
Armed men patrolled the street outside Simferopol’s airport in the Crimea region of Ukraine on Friday.

Language Evolution
Goal Setting


Micheal Jordan on Setting Goals
by Micheal Jordan
I Can't Axcept Not Trying: Micheal Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence
by Micheal Jordan
I Can't Axcept Not Trying: Micheal Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence
SPORTS Stuff

Hoping to Catch on in News: Former Grant High Star and NFL Receiver Donte Sallworth Looks to Make Name Reporting Politics
by Kent Babb
The Washington Post
12/26/14
After 10 NFL seasons, Donte Stallworth has walked into the world of journalism. He's a national security fellow at the Huffington Post, an online news site.
by Kent Babb
The Washington Post
12/26/14
After 10 NFL seasons, Donte Stallworth has walked into the world of journalism. He's a national security fellow at the Huffington Post, an online news site.

Oak Ridge Makes a Big Splash with Victory over Burbank
by Joe Davidson
Sac Bee
9/13/14
Oak Ridge Trojan football player, Nolan Book (50), attempts to tackle Burbank Titans football player, Harrison Anderson (1), during the first quarter as Oak Ridge high School hosts Burbank High School Friday September 12, 2014.
by Joe Davidson
Sac Bee
9/13/14
Oak Ridge Trojan football player, Nolan Book (50), attempts to tackle Burbank Titans football player, Harrison Anderson (1), during the first quarter as Oak Ridge high School hosts Burbank High School Friday September 12, 2014.


A Mound Becomes a Summit: Mo'na Davis Dominates at Little League World Series
New York Times
8/15/14
Philadelphia's Mo'na Davis blanked Nashville, Tenn., on two hits to become the first girl to throw a shutout in Little League World Series history. She struck out eight and walked none.
New York Times
8/15/14
Philadelphia's Mo'na Davis blanked Nashville, Tenn., on two hits to become the first girl to throw a shutout in Little League World Series history. She struck out eight and walked none.


The Redemption: How LeBron and the City Found Their Way Back to Each Other
by Rachael Larimore
Slate
7/14/14
by Rachael Larimore
Slate
7/14/14

Gatorade Pokes Fun at James' Leg Cramp
by Shan Li
LA Times
6/7/14
LeBron James is a spokesman for Powerade, the rival drink maker to Gatorade.
by Shan Li
LA Times
6/7/14
LeBron James is a spokesman for Powerade, the rival drink maker to Gatorade.



NFL Prospect Michael Sam Comes Out as Gay: Big Test Looms for Him And League
by Mike Freeman
NFL National Lead Writer
10/9/14
by Mike Freeman
NFL National Lead Writer
10/9/14

Burbank Football Coaches Glad to See Players Go Green
by Bill Paterson
Sacbee
2/7/14
Burbank’s Printess Johnson is a 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive end and All-Metro Conference first-team selection who had 90 tackles last season.
by Bill Paterson
Sacbee
2/7/14
Burbank’s Printess Johnson is a 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive end and All-Metro Conference first-team selection who had 90 tackles last season.

Burbank's Green Will Get a Head Start on College
by Joe Davidson
1/10/14
Sac Bee
Burbank star Calvin Green (7) will receive his diploma today and depart Tuesday for Pullman, Wash., and Washington State.
by Joe Davidson
1/10/14
Sac Bee
Burbank star Calvin Green (7) will receive his diploma today and depart Tuesday for Pullman, Wash., and Washington State.


Matt Barnes Apologizes for Use of the N-Word But Says Racial Epithet Is a 'Common Word Now'
by Arash Markazi
ESPN
11/15/13
by Arash Markazi
ESPN
11/15/13


The United Sports of America
If each state could have only one sport, what would it be? (Pennsylvania, you get field hockey.)
By Josh Levin
Slate
10/9/13
If each state could have only one sport, what would it be? (Pennsylvania, you get field hockey.)
By Josh Levin
Slate
10/9/13

Why I Took HGH
On the Desperation of an NFL Player at the End of His Career.
By Nate Jackson
Slate
Nate Jackson in his playing days with the Denver Broncos, here in 2008.
On the Desperation of an NFL Player at the End of His Career.
By Nate Jackson
Slate
Nate Jackson in his playing days with the Denver Broncos, here in 2008.

One of Best Ever?
Of Course It's Too Early to Say, But Kaepernick Has All the Ingredients
Matthew Barrows
Sac Bee
Of Course It's Too Early to Say, But Kaepernick Has All the Ingredients
Matthew Barrows
Sac Bee


Dwight must follow LeBron's path
by Bill Reiter
LeBron James regained his popularity after a free-agency debacle. Will Dwight Howard?
by Bill Reiter
LeBron James regained his popularity after a free-agency debacle. Will Dwight Howard?


ESPN Documentary Chronicles Venus Williams’ Fight For Equal Pay
At Wimbledon
by Travis Waldron
Venus Williams after winning the Wimbledon title in 2007.
At Wimbledon
by Travis Waldron
Venus Williams after winning the Wimbledon title in 2007.

Why NBA Center Jason Collins Is Coming Out Now
By Jason Collins with Franz Lidz
Sports Illustrated
"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay," says Jason Collins.
By Jason Collins with Franz Lidz
Sports Illustrated
"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay," says Jason Collins.
Secrets to Living a Full Life:Happiness

No, It's Not Your Opinion. You're Just Wrong.
by Jef Rouner
Houston Press
July 2015
I have had so many conversations or email exchanges with students in the last few years wherein I anger them by indicating that simply saying, "This is my opinion" does not preclude a connected statement from being dead wrong. It still baffles me that some feel those four words somehow give them carte blanche to spout batshit oratory or prose. And it really scares me that some of those students think education that challenges their ideas is equivalent to an attack on their beliefs.
-Mick Cullen
by Jef Rouner
Houston Press
July 2015
I have had so many conversations or email exchanges with students in the last few years wherein I anger them by indicating that simply saying, "This is my opinion" does not preclude a connected statement from being dead wrong. It still baffles me that some feel those four words somehow give them carte blanche to spout batshit oratory or prose. And it really scares me that some of those students think education that challenges their ideas is equivalent to an attack on their beliefs.
-Mick Cullen

The Voice of Experience
by Melinda Newmen
Parade
12/14/14
The coaches of TV’s hottest talent show share what they’ve learned about themselves and each other … and advice they have for all of us.
by Melinda Newmen
Parade
12/14/14
The coaches of TV’s hottest talent show share what they’ve learned about themselves and each other … and advice they have for all of us.
Drugs in America

Coke is Evil: The Gruesomeness of the Drug Trade Rivals any Atrocities in History
by Eric Vance
Slate
12/29/13
Family and friends attend the funerals of three female victims of a massacre that left 13 dead and more than a dozen wounded in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in 2010. Most of the victims were between 14 and 20 years old and were attending a birthday party. They were herded into a corner of the house and executed by a firing squad. Armed men came looking for one young man, but when the patrons responded that he was not there, they opened fire.
by Eric Vance
Slate
12/29/13
Family and friends attend the funerals of three female victims of a massacre that left 13 dead and more than a dozen wounded in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in 2010. Most of the victims were between 14 and 20 years old and were attending a birthday party. They were herded into a corner of the house and executed by a firing squad. Armed men came looking for one young man, but when the patrons responded that he was not there, they opened fire.


Why I Changed My Mind on Weed
By Dr. Sanjay Gupta
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a neurosurgeon and CNN's chief medical correspondent.
By Dr. Sanjay Gupta
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a neurosurgeon and CNN's chief medical correspondent.

Pop Culture

How Clowns Became Terrifying
by Sophie Gilbert
The Atlantic
10/9/14
American Horror Story: Freak Show caps off centuries of suspicion towards Bozo & co.
by Sophie Gilbert
The Atlantic
10/9/14
American Horror Story: Freak Show caps off centuries of suspicion towards Bozo & co.

The Cinematic Allure of the Swimming Pool
by Chris Wade
Slate
5/22/14
If you like movies, click on the link and watch the video montage at slate. The picture is from Fast Times at Ridgemont High . It's from the 80's, but it's still one of the best high school movies of all time.
by Chris Wade
Slate
5/22/14
If you like movies, click on the link and watch the video montage at slate. The picture is from Fast Times at Ridgemont High . It's from the 80's, but it's still one of the best high school movies of all time.


Where Does the Word "Dude" Come from?
by Arika Okrent
Slate
In case you haven't seen the movie The Big Lebowski, the character in the pictures name is the Dude. Great movie if you haven't already seen it.
Click here to watch a clip on youtube. You're gonna laugh if watch this!
by Arika Okrent
Slate
In case you haven't seen the movie The Big Lebowski, the character in the pictures name is the Dude. Great movie if you haven't already seen it.
Click here to watch a clip on youtube. You're gonna laugh if watch this!


One Direction Super Sized
Morgan Spurlock Shows Us How the Boy Band Got Larger Than Life
by Kevin Fallon
Newsweek
One Direction follows in the footsteps of bands like the Monkees and Peter, Paul & Mary, both similarly manufactured.
Morgan Spurlock Shows Us How the Boy Band Got Larger Than Life
by Kevin Fallon
Newsweek
One Direction follows in the footsteps of bands like the Monkees and Peter, Paul & Mary, both similarly manufactured.


Poverty around the world

The New Face of Hunger
by Tracie McMillan
National Geographic
July 2014
A young father braves the highways of sprawling Spring, Texas, north of Houston, to reach a homeless shelter and a free meal. The suburbs have become a new home for the hungry. The rates of poverty and food stamp use are so high that advocates and legislators coined the phrase "the SUV poor."
by Tracie McMillan
National Geographic
July 2014
A young father braves the highways of sprawling Spring, Texas, north of Houston, to reach a homeless shelter and a free meal. The suburbs have become a new home for the hungry. The rates of poverty and food stamp use are so high that advocates and legislators coined the phrase "the SUV poor."



How Poverty Taxes the Brain
Emily Badger
The condition of poverty imposed a mental burden akin to losing 13 IQ points
Emily Badger
The condition of poverty imposed a mental burden akin to losing 13 IQ points

Race and Racism




Raised Hands, And the Doubts of a Grand Jury
by Monica Davey, Michael Wines, Erik Eckholm, and Richard A. Oppel JR.
The New York Times
11/29/14
A memorial to Michael Brown on Canfield Drive in Ferguson, Mo., where he was killed in August. A grand jury did not indict the police officer who shot him.
by Monica Davey, Michael Wines, Erik Eckholm, and Richard A. Oppel JR.
The New York Times
11/29/14
A memorial to Michael Brown on Canfield Drive in Ferguson, Mo., where he was killed in August. A grand jury did not indict the police officer who shot him.

The Coming Race War Won't Be About Race
by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Time
8/17/14
A protestor during demonstrations in Ferguson, Mo. on August 17, 2014.
by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Time
8/17/14
A protestor during demonstrations in Ferguson, Mo. on August 17, 2014.

When You're the Only White Person in the Room
by John Blake
CNN
9/11/14
Amanda Shaffer's entire world shifted when she became a white minority in a black high school.


What Morgan Freeman Doesn't Understand about Race:His voice is authoritative. His opinions on race and inequality are wrong.
by Jamelle Bouie
Slate
6/6/14
Not as wise as he sounds.
by Jamelle Bouie
Slate
6/6/14
Not as wise as he sounds.

San Jose State Students Accused of Tormenting Black Roommate Are Charged with Hate Crimes
By Tracey Kaplan
San Jose Mercury News
11/23/13
By Tracey Kaplan
San Jose Mercury News
11/23/13

Free at Last
Fifty Years Later, We're Closer Than You Think To Realizing Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream
by Joshua DuBois
Newsweek
I think King meant for his dreams to actually be realized, and not in some distant future Zion.
Fifty Years Later, We're Closer Than You Think To Realizing Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream
by Joshua DuBois
Newsweek
I think King meant for his dreams to actually be realized, and not in some distant future Zion.

Zimmerman's Not Guilty. But Florida Sure Is. Blame the State’s Bad Laws for Trayvon Martin’s Death.
By Emily Bazelon
Slate
By Emily Bazelon
Slate


The Fight for Black Men
by Joshua Dubious
Newsweek
There are more African Americans on probation, parole, or in prison today then were slaves in 1850. It is not a crisis of crime. It is a crisis of people being left behind.
by Joshua Dubious
Newsweek
There are more African Americans on probation, parole, or in prison today then were slaves in 1850. It is not a crisis of crime. It is a crisis of people being left behind.

Bullying

Slut-Shaming and Class: A Study on How College Women Decide Who's Trashy and who's Classy
by Amanda Hess
Slate
5/28/14
On college campuses, a "slut" is a many-splendored thing.
by Amanda Hess
Slate
5/28/14
On college campuses, a "slut" is a many-splendored thing.

'Knockout Game' Tied to Street Attacks
by Marisol Bello
USA Today
11/23/13
The 'knockout game' involves young people randomly trying to knock down strangers in one punch.
by Marisol Bello
USA Today
11/23/13
The 'knockout game' involves young people randomly trying to knock down strangers in one punch.

NFL Bullies
Could the Dolphins’ suspension of Richie Incognito change the culture of pro football?
By Emily Bazelon and Josh Levin
Slate
11/4/13
The NFL does a much better job providing a supportive, nurturing environment for a bully like Richie Incognito than it does for players like Jonathan Martin
Could the Dolphins’ suspension of Richie Incognito change the culture of pro football?
By Emily Bazelon and Josh Levin
Slate
11/4/13
The NFL does a much better job providing a supportive, nurturing environment for a bully like Richie Incognito than it does for players like Jonathan Martin


Girl’s Suicide Points to Rise in Apps Used by Cyberbullies
by LIZETTE ALVAREZ
Published: September 13, 2013
New York Times
A memorial for 12-year-old Rebecca Sedwick has sprouted at the abandoned cement plant in Lakeland, Fla., where she committed suicide.
by LIZETTE ALVAREZ
Published: September 13, 2013
New York Times
A memorial for 12-year-old Rebecca Sedwick has sprouted at the abandoned cement plant in Lakeland, Fla., where she committed suicide.
Managing Emotions and Self-Control


Don’t! The secret of self-control.
by Jonah Lehrer
Children who are able to pass the marshmallow test enjoy greater success as adults.
by Jonah Lehrer
Children who are able to pass the marshmallow test enjoy greater success as adults.
Growth-Mindset

An Ancient and Proven Way to Improve Memory; Go Ahead and Try It
by Austin Frakt
The New York Times
MARCH 24, 2016
by Austin Frakt
The New York Times
MARCH 24, 2016

No Math Gene: Learning Mathematics Takes Practice
by The Norwegian University of Science and Technology
12/16/13
New research shows that if you want to be good at math, you have to practice all different kinds of mathematics.
by The Norwegian University of Science and Technology
12/16/13
New research shows that if you want to be good at math, you have to practice all different kinds of mathematics.


This is your brain on Jane Austen, and Stanford researchers are taking notes
By Corrie Goldman
The Humanities at Stanford
Researchers observe the brain patterns of literary PhD candidates while
they're reading a Jane Austen novel. The fMRI images suggest that literary
reading provides "a truly valuable exercise of people's brains."
By Corrie Goldman
The Humanities at Stanford
Researchers observe the brain patterns of literary PhD candidates while
they're reading a Jane Austen novel. The fMRI images suggest that literary
reading provides "a truly valuable exercise of people's brains."

How Does Our Brain Learn New Information?
Heidi Johansen-Berg, a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford, responds . . .
Heidi Johansen-Berg, a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford, responds . . .

You Can Grow Your Intelligence
by L.S. Blackwell
New Research Shows that the Brain can be Developed like a Muscle
by L.S. Blackwell
New Research Shows that the Brain can be Developed like a Muscle
Risk Taking

Extreme Places, Extraordinary Experiences
The Contra (Verzasca) dam 007 bungee jump (Switzerland): Dubbed the 007 jump, the Contra dam is where you will have the opportunity to plummet 220 meters (over 720 feet) in Ticino, much like Mr. Bond did in "GoldenEye."
The Contra (Verzasca) dam 007 bungee jump (Switzerland): Dubbed the 007 jump, the Contra dam is where you will have the opportunity to plummet 220 meters (over 720 feet) in Ticino, much like Mr. Bond did in "GoldenEye."

El Capitan, My El Capitan
The New York Times
The New York Times

Teens Drawn to Dangerous World of Train Jumping--Homeless
by Ed Fletcher
Sac Bee
11/2/13
Malcolm Parks III, left, sits with an unidentified fellow “traveler.” Parks, who grew up in Sacramento, died June 30 after being run over by a train car in Georgia. Parks, known know to his rail jumping friends as Hotboxx, had been raiding the rails since shortly after his 18th birthday. Parks would have turned 23 on Oct. 19. According to friends, he visited 36 states by illegally jumping rail cars.
by Ed Fletcher
Sac Bee
11/2/13
Malcolm Parks III, left, sits with an unidentified fellow “traveler.” Parks, who grew up in Sacramento, died June 30 after being run over by a train car in Georgia. Parks, known know to his rail jumping friends as Hotboxx, had been raiding the rails since shortly after his 18th birthday. Parks would have turned 23 on Oct. 19. According to friends, he visited 36 states by illegally jumping rail cars.

Risk Takers
By Pat Walters
Photographs by Marco Grob
The 21st-Century explorer can make good use of the latest technology; can communicate from almost anywhere on Earth, even atop Mount Everest; can solicit financial support from donors large and small. Yet the advantages of modernity cannot remove all risk from the act of exploration. And so explorers of today are in many ways just like their foremothers and forefathers. They put their physical selves in jeopardy, because how else can you snare a venomous snake or drill deep into
mountaintop glaciers? If their mission is not popular in scientific circle they may face the criticism of colleagues. And sometimes they must dig deep into their own pockets just to keep on going. In this issue we begin a yearlong series profiling explorers who press the limits.
By Pat Walters
Photographs by Marco Grob
The 21st-Century explorer can make good use of the latest technology; can communicate from almost anywhere on Earth, even atop Mount Everest; can solicit financial support from donors large and small. Yet the advantages of modernity cannot remove all risk from the act of exploration. And so explorers of today are in many ways just like their foremothers and forefathers. They put their physical selves in jeopardy, because how else can you snare a venomous snake or drill deep into
mountaintop glaciers? If their mission is not popular in scientific circle they may face the criticism of colleagues. And sometimes they must dig deep into their own pockets just to keep on going. In this issue we begin a yearlong series profiling explorers who press the limits.
