News & Features

In New York, lawmakers also seem concerned about the prophetic predictions of a “zombie apocalypse.” Governor Cuomo stated, "Bath salts and other synthetic drugs pose a direct, serious threat to public health and safety, and we must do everything we can to remove these harmful substances from sale and distribution in New York.” Still, other states have not taken action against the substances. States such as Washington, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Vermont, interestingly, have had no reported zombie incidents and have not moved forward with any bath salt restrictions.

Anthropologists and linguists no doubt are having a field day trying to chronicle and dissect how, in the early autumn of 2012, “Gangnam Style” became an American idiomatic expression. It stands for something along the lines of a brash, flamboyant way of doing things, clownishness, or an act of in-your-face spoofing that is both original and entertaining. A recently set-up Wikipedia page showcases “Gangnam Style” as the most watched Youtube video of the year. It has garnered 425 million hits and counting since July, and has spun off countless other videos. Among them: North Korea’s own version to spoof a South Korean presidential candidate, and the “Mitt Romney Style” spoof video.

As often is the case in baseball, the only major sport without a salary cap, expectations of success often correlated with the size of the team's associated payroll.  Going into the 2012 season, the Red Sox payroll was a nearly incomprehensible $173 million.  Its three highest-paid players –Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett - made a combined $59 million, a huge number in itself, especially when compared with the lowly Oakland Athletics projected payroll which totaled $55 million, 29th out of 30 teams in baseball and dead last in the American League.  Yet experts and expectations aside, the Red Sox, for all their money and talent, had imploded, finishing 69-93, easily the worst record they had booked since 1965.

We've heard a million complaints that the president needs to get "tougher," that his style is too laid-back for him to fight aggressively enough with opponents. He clearly prefers substantive dialogue to fighting, which can be admirable in a leader, but the kiss of death to a candidate. Previously I have defended his style, but not anymore. In the debate the president came across as someone in a heavyweight fight who was being sucker-punched repeatedly but refused to respond in kind. 

“Over the next few years,” declared U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan last week, “textbooks should be obsolete.” Pointing to countries like South Korea, which plans to go fully digital by 2015, Duncan stressed the role of technology in ensuring American students remain competitive. “This has to be where we go as a country,” he said.  Our class has been struggling through Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet for several weeks now, and it’s a relief to be able to understand the story. Someday, I think, these little gadgets will do all the teaching. 

Because of the uncertainty of which way it will go, Virginia is considered a critical battleground state among others, including Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Despite concerns, those at the rally did not lack enthusiasm. Amy Rivera, who waited in line since 9 a.m. to make it to the rally, said Romney’s “47 percent” stance only further confirmed her suspicions. “He’s completely out of touch with what the people want.”

Aaron Hurst of New York started Taproot in 2001 with a vision to build a “Pro-Bono Nation.”  He said that he knows Americans want to help, to use their professional skills to improve the plight of the poor.  “We have just launched a program called Powered by Pro Bono, which offers nonprofits the tools and training to attract professional volunteers on their own.”  It is to Taproot’s credit that they teach nonprofits to be independent of their organization.  Taproot receives funding from corporations and foundations that see good in what they do.

In May 2012, minority newborns began to outnumber their white counterparts in the US. But even with an African American president and huge growth of minority populations, why is it minorities are still far from exercising the full potential of their political power as voters? Voter turnout numbers are relatively low because of: 1) immigrants who are eligible for naturalization but don’t become citizens; 2) citizens who don’t register to vote; and 3) registered voters who don’t vote.