Opinion

Editor, After reading Daniel Herman’s column (Cosmic Relevance, published October 10, 2013) regarding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, I want to bring the following to mind. There are three major problems regarding the unfolding crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant that could also affect Davis, and especially the west coast of North America. Three […]

“As humans, we waste the shit out of our words. It’s sad. We use words like ‘awesome’ and ‘wonderful’ like they’re candy. It was awesome? Really? It inspired awe? It was wonderful? Are you serious? It was full of wonder? You use the word ‘amazing’ to describe a goddamn sandwich at Wendy’s?! What’s going to […]

Today is Halloween, and it’s been one of my favorite holidays since I was a child.  And even though I love it so much, I realized that I know almost nothing about its origins. So I investigated. Halloween was originally known as Hallowmas, or Saint’s mass — a three-day observance and feast to honor the […]

How many times have you shared a smile with a stranger? Think about it. Just today: when you bought your coffee and she told you to have a nice day, when you bumped into him on the sidewalk and you both mumbled apologies, when you crossed the road quickly because that driver insisted that you […]

The University of California’s union TAs, readers, custodians, hospital workers, technical employees and more are all holding strike authorization votes this week. Graduate student-workers are voting Nov. 4 to 6, service workers voted Oct. 29 and 30, and professional and technical employees have already voted 92 percent in favor to authorize a strike. These union […]

“We’ve got about 30 kids in this county that I’m at that are homosexuals. And it is sickening,” cries 14-year-old radio talk show host Caiden Cowger to thousands of listeners. “I’m going to tell you this, guys: President Obama and Vice President Biden are making kids gay!” Some of you may find this appalling; others […]

In January 2012, the Minor Alcohol Preclusion Act (MAPA) was introduced to the Davis City Council. The act was proposed in light of community and council members’ concerns over underage drinking and neighborhood disturbances. City Council was scheduled to meet on Oct. 9, but will reconvene in 2014 instead to discuss the act. The Davis […]

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which took effect on Aug. 15, 2012, continues to be implemented while Congress mulls over immigration reform. As stated in the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidelines, the initiative offers two years of protection from deportation along with work authorization for unauthorized youth, who are […]

For some, walking into one of the dining commons (DC) is the equivalent of walking into a candy shop as a young child: a delightful journey full of a plethora of possibilities. For others, it simply means a meal. Getting to experience the DC on a daily basis can be overwhelming for some newcomers, which […]

In many lower division classes, we are asked not to take the facts we have learned and apply them to a new situation, but only to regurgitate memorized information. We are not asked to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of opposing theories, but only to know them. Our education often does not teach or ask […]

Until last week, I had never felt threatened by technology. It all changed when I stumbled upon a WIRED magazine article, titled “Can an Algorithm Write a Better News Story than a Human Reporter?” I really hoped the answer was no, but the report made a convincing case for yes. The article investigated Narrative Science, […]

Viewing the world through the lens of street performance is a spectacular thing. It gives you the unique opportunity to completely submerge yourself in a culture, while paradoxically remaining on the outside of it — a participant, and yet an unbiased observer. This is especially true when playing in a new place. At 16, my […]