The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has launched a course examining President Trump’s impact on democracy and the media. The course, “Trumpaganda: The War on Facts, Press and Democracy,” is an eight week class highlighting Donald Trump’s effective propaganda machine. What is propaganda? According to Webster’s Dictionary, “propaganda is a deliberate spread of information,…
About the Book Title: The Heart of Aleppo Author: Ammar Habib Genre: Young Adult / Coming of Age / Contemporary Page Count: 235 After standing for over 7,000 years, Aleppo’s ruin came overnight. Separated from his family during the night the rebels attacked the city, thirteen-year-old Zaid Kadir is lost in the middle of a…
The Westside Jewish Community Center on Olympic Blvd. in Los Angeles hosted its 12th annual basketball exhibition game Saturday evening March 3, 2018 between the Special Macabees and the Santa Monica West Side Special Olympics All-Stars. It was a rainy evening, but the excitement inside the JCCA was palpable. Athletes on both teams ranged in…
Chris Grafil, a graduate of DeVry University, Pomona and a field engineer at Retina Institute of California by day, has an interesting dream. He wants to be a funny man like George Carlin, Eddie Murphy, or Chris Tucker. Grafil says, “When I was a tween and teen I seemed to always make my friends laugh…
Lost and Found by Sharon Ledwith is an excellent read for YA readers on several levels. It teaches kids about leadership and responsibility, and it sets a fine example for us humans to care better for the animals around us Whiskey, a fifteen-year-old calico cat, is the only link of communication between the cat floor…
Benchwarmers is a non-profit nascent organization with the mission to promote access to team sports for all kids by providing a nurturing environment where children who are less athletic can thrive and feel they belong. Benchwarmers’ focus is on sportsmanship, education, and deliberate practice. A decade ago retired Teledyne engineer Joe Bock had a dream….
When I was a child, I read Superman comics. I liked how my super hero saved lives and fought vicious criminals. I wanted to grow up to be just like him. Well, I’m no super hero, just an ordinary guy. But dads like me do have the power of being super for our kids by…
I was at the American Airlines baggage claim waiting for Rico, an exchange student from a suburb of Zurich, Switzerland, to deplane. I checked my phone and noticed this text, “I’m here! Where are you?” Oops! I didn’t know American had two terminals at LAX. When I finally reached the newest one, Rico, age 16,…
The Stark Springs series By Ali Dean RELEASE DAY BLITZ February 23, 2017 The young adult sports romance series that has captured readers of all ages is now available as a boxed set! When Roxie Slade snaps into a pair of skis, there’s no one on Sugarville Mountain in Vermont who can keep…
All of us can make a difference. It just takes a little effort, focus, and the willingness to help others. High school and college students looking for scholarship money or just a gift card can bolster their resumes and save lives, too. The American Red Cross has a special program, Leaders Save Lives. Here’s what…