Volume 22 Issue 9
September's Best and Worst Albums
Destruction Unit kicks ass, Bring Me the Horizon sucks, and 2 Chainz is immortal (but you already knew that).
After a String of Suicides, Students in Palo Alto Are Demanding a Part in Reforming Their School's Culture
Students at several high-level California high schools believe that as much as the achievement culture needs to be reconsidered, it's the support the academic community provides that needs improvement.
Infographic: Fewer Americans Are Seeing the Benefits of Higher Education
Since the 60s, college enrollment has gone up and down, but overall it's risen steadily. We're now once again in a downturn, and it may be due to the healthy economy.
Russia Hates Western Condoms
Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade now supports restricting the import of Western-made rubbers, which health officials say will promote "discipline" and make Russians more "selective in their choice of partners."
Mexican Cartels Are Going High-Tech
The war on drugs isn't just fought with bullets. Recent announcements from Mexican authorities show that cartels are developing increasingly advanced networks of information technology.
Sweden’s Racist Band-Aids
"I don't think the color is the problem. The issue is that they come in only one shade, and that [shade] is called 'skin-colored.'"
The Industrial Rock Band Laibach Performed in North Korea Last Month
"Both the country and the band have been portrayed as some fascist outcasts. The truth is that both are misunderstood," said the tour organizer.
Scientists Strand Chimps on Remote Archipelago
The New York Blood Center, a prominent blood bank that usually spends its time saving lives and trying to cure diseases, recently abandoned dozens of research chimps on a chain of islands in Liberia.
Full Bleed: The 'Fun Archives' Is an Online Image Bank Featuring Evil Clowns and Bird Poop
French artist Thomas Mailaender's latest project, 100 Tiles, features a collection of customized ceramic tiles adorned with images from his infamous "Fun Archive," an online image bank of amateur photos sent from friends over the years. Ranging from...
Peru Announced Plans to Send an Envoy to an Uncontacted Tribe
Peru recently announced plans for its first official contact with the Mashco-Piro people. Local officials had long opposed interacting with the group, one of Peru's 15 uncontacted tribes, which know of the wider world but remain aloof from it.
Japan’s Building an Army of Over-Friendly Androids for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
This summer, Japan unveiled plans for a digital tourist-assistance system that mimics the concept omotenashi: anticipating guests' needs and exceeding their expectations to the point of it being eerily predictive.