Just a Movie: How Accurate Do Films Need to Be?
Four of the eight nominees for the Academy Award for Best Picture this year are considered “biopics” (short for biographic pictures): American Sniper, The Imitation Game, Selma, and The Theory of Everything. All four have been subjected to some level of scrutiny for how the films have portrayed their subject matter and its level of […]
A Turkey of a Day
Dedicated btw fans know that we have posted about the history of the presidential turkey pardon in the past. But this year, let’s switch it up a bit and examine a different Thanksgiving history angle. (And no, it’s NOT going to be about Pilgrims, Native Americans, and what they might or might not have agreed […]
#Gamergate: Beyond Fun and Games
Do you play video games? If so, you may be aware of an ongoing controversy that goes by the name #Gamergate. (∗See explanatory note at the end of this article.∗) There has been a lot of coverage, and a lot of confusing accusations, flying around this story. So btw is going to try and break […]
2014 Nobel Peace Prize Honors Champions for Children
Protecting the rights of children received worldwide recognition last week. The Norwegian Nobel Committee co-awarded its prestigious Peace Prize to Kaliash Satyarthi of India and Pakistani teenager, Malala Yousafzai. Many saw this pairing as a hopeful sign considering the recent flaring of an ages-old conflict between the two countries who share a common border. Both […]
Don Quixote: Its Impact and Influence
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, let’s take a look inside one of the most influential books of all time. Written by Spaniard Miquel de Cervantes in 1605 (with a Part Two published in 1615), El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de La Mancha (commonly known as Don Quixote) is also considered by many to be […]
Becoming Better, Bit by Bit
September is Self Improvement Month. There are many areas of our lives–physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, or intellectual to name a few–where even a little improvement can have a significant impact. New Years is typically the time people make resolutions, but the start of a new school year can be a great time for reevaluating those […]
Anne Frank: The Enduring Power of a Single Voice
Maybe you have read Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl. If so, you will know that it chronicles the lives of the Franks, an upper-middle class Jewish family who fled Germany for Amsterdam. They went into hiding to avoid capture by the Nazi’s, who were forcing the Jews into concentration camps where many were […]
High Praise for a Folk Hero
Summer is a time for festivals all over the country. Many are annual events created around a symbol native to the area – a flourishing crop, historical event, or, in the case of Akeley Minnesota, famous folklore heroes. Paul Bunyan Days, held this year from June 27-29, celebrates the heroic lumberjack who became the subject […]
Getting Fired Up Over the World’s Biggest Sporting Event!
After much fanfare (and more than a little controversy) the month-long Federation International Football Association (FIFA) finally kicked off its 20th World Cup in Brazil on June 12. Held every four years in a different host country, this soccer tournament is made up of 32 national teams from six regions (out of 209 total eligible […]
Summer’s Here! Everyone in the (Job) Pool!
Now that school’s out, many of you will hit the pavement in search of your first-ever job. There are many good reasons to start working – to learn a skill, meet some new friends, take on financial responsibility (like car insurance or saving for college), or to to have more independence and say over your […]