Stuff YOU Should Know
Reforms in Ferguson It’s been nearly eighteen months since the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown sparked nationwide controversy over issues of race relations and law enforcement. This led to an investigation by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) which revealed that the Ferguson Police Department had, “engaged in a pattern and practice of […]
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Was 2015 a Good Year for Jobs? In the years since the Great Recession, our economy has reported many episodes of upturn. But 2015 was the first prolonged stretch of job creation since the late 1990s. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (the government agency that collects economic data and distributes it to the American […]
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Russian Jet Crash Suspicious Last month, a Russian airliner exploded over the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. All 224 passengers were killed. Unlike the Malaysian plane that disappeared over the Indian Ocean last year, however, the United States is not involved in the investigation. (There were no Americans on the flight, which would have given our […]
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Let’s Hear it for the Best Boy! Even if you didn’t watch the Oscars telecast this year, you were likely aware of the contenders. But how much do you know about who does what behind the scenes of a movie? In addition to screenwriters, costumers, and set designers, there is a whole army of movie […]
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Anticipating Tourism in Cuba Earlier this month, btw brought you news of a landmark deal between the U.S. and Cuba. In response, Cuban businesses are making preparations for an expected surge in tourism. U.S. citizens will be allowed to use credit cards in Cuba. They will also be allowed to bring up to $100 worth […]
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U.S. and China Agree to Climate Regulations By now, you should be well aware of the many discussions centered around climate change. The big debate, however, continues to be over what steps should be taken to slow or reverse its effects. Earlier this month, President Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping co-announced a climate change […]
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Youth Recognized August 12 is International Youth Day, as designated by the United Nations (Resolution 54/120). Established in 1999, this day of awareness exists because its creators believe that young people are “essential partners in change in a growing global society.” Each year has a different theme. Last year it was “Youth Migration: Moving Forward.” […]
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Military Coups D’etat in Thailand On May 22, the Thailand military forcefully took over power and announced that the country was now under martial law. Violence began last fall, when 28 people were killed and nearly 800 injured in anti-government protests aimed at former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is accused of corruption. General Prayuth Chan-ocha […]
Pages to Frames: Our Favorite Books into Films
In 2011, the young adult novel The Fault in Our Stars charmed readers and impressed critics everywhere, topping all kinds of bestseller lists. The book, by Vlogbrother and awesome guy, John Green, is a love story between two teens who meet in a cancer support group. In June, the film adaptation hits the big screen, […]
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New Star Wars Cast Announced It’s been thirty-seven years since the original Star Wars movie exploded into multiplexes everywhere. The franchise has managed to thrill its first fans and pick up several million more with its five subsequent sequels and prequels. Last month, Disney and Lucasfilm (the producers of the series) made public news about […]