Category: News

For some reason, “1984,” George Orwell’s book about a nightmarish society, has had a revival in the Trump era. Maybe it’s the weather. The New York Times reported it was top of Amazon’s list in early 2017. Around the same time, Penguin USA reported a 9,500 percent increase in sales over a few days. It’s a […]

Visiting Berlin for two weeks, and in the evening I go to bed in a small hotel room, tuning the radio to a German-language station. I understand barely a word but it features a strangely compelling, eclectic mix of Bach, Brubeck and Tim Buckley, unfortunately sometimes interrupted by electronic dance music, the dreaded EDM. The […]

In a move human rights groups are warning could have grave implications for internet freedom across the globe, Google is reportedly preparing to launch a “censored version” of its search engine in China that will automatically blacklist terms and websites related to peaceful dissent, free expression, and democracy. “I’m against large companies and governments collaborating […]

The recent IPCC report has received widespread attention. The report states that rapid and bold actions are necessary to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change and that the goals of the Paris Accord will be insufficient. This has resulted in an outpouring of opinion pieces calling for individuals to take actions in their daily […]

Each year, the Emmy Awards offers up some of the best red carpet and award show moments, but it also brings about some pretty stellar social media posts, and this year was no exception. Social media lets us get an inside look into the glitz and glamour of what a big even like this looks […]

Not long ago, the world watched heartbreaking images of fleeing refugees, not unlike those now emerging from the southern U.S. border.  As thousands of Central American refugees from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala continue to surge toward the U.S.-Mexico border, it’s worth noting important similarities to how European countries responded to its migrant crisis, the impact […]

Fresh off New York Fashion Week, Kim Kardashian West is keeping things casual on the opposite coast—and after a week of glitter, latex, and jackets as dresses, we can’t blame the modern icon for reverting to the Kim K. basics. Kardashian West stepped out on Thursday in Bel Air wearing a taupe bodysuit—sans bra, of […]

Prince Harry can’t hide his excitement! The royal kicked off events leading up to his Invictus Games in Toronto on Friday by attending a special meeting that highlighted how sports can benefit the competitors and their families. Harry’s girlfriend, Meghan Markle, is also expected to attend the games—which run from Sept. 23 to Sept. 30—in […]

Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has announced that he will indict Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu on bribery and fraud charges. I think it should be underlined that two of the charges have to do with tampering with press coverage of the prime minister, which is to say, tampering with the Fourth Estate, one of […]

“So I’m curious, given how daunting the issue is, why aren’t you so filled with despair that you’re staying on your couch every day, and just waiting for the apocalypse?” That was one of the questions Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez put to 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg when the two progressive leaders met via video link […]