Press Play with Madeleine Brand
CA University Funding, Hugo Awards Controversy, and Comedy Hack Day
Classes begin soon at California’s public universities, but there aren’t enough spots for every qualified student to attend. And this weekend in Los Angeles, teams of hackers will compete to build the most hilarious, wittiest apps and hardware. Practicality is not necessarily required -- though it helps. Amusement is essential. It’s called Comedy Hack Day.
By Madeleine Brand • • 50m ListenClasses begin soon at California’s public universities, but there aren’t enough spots for every qualified student. At the same time, the 10 schools in the UC system have about a $13 billion endowment. Endowments have soared in the past few years as our economy has improved, but it’s not clear how much students are benefitting from this windfall.
Then, the Hugo Awards are announced Saturday: one of the highest accolades given every year for the best science fiction and fantasy writing. But tensions are running high, because a group calling themselves Sad Puppies has been accused of stuffing the Hugo Awards ballot box.
And move over superheroes - this summer was all about the secret agent movie. Mission: Impossible, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Spy, Kingsman and more in our weekly film round-up.
Finally, this weekend in Los Angeles, teams of hackers will compete to build the most hilarious, wittiest apps and hardware. It’s called Comedy Hack Day.
Banner Image: University of California, Los Angeles; Credit: NR Acampamentos
In this episode
5 storiesPublic University Funding in CA
Classes begin soon at California’s public universities, but some students who were eligible to attend a UC and a State University may not be going. That’s because there are too few spots -- budget cuts during the Great Recession forced schools to accept more out of state and foreign students, who pay a lot more in tuition.
Read the story9 minUC Endowments
The 10 schools in the UC system have about a $13 billion endowment. That sounds like a lot, but consider the $20 billion that Yale has, or Harvard’s $32 billion. School endowments have soared in the past few years as our economy has improved. But it’s not clear how much students are benefitting from this windfall.
Read the story8 minHugo Awards Controversy
Right now, the world’s literary nerds are gathered in Spokane, Washington for the World Science Fiction Convention, or WorldCon. Tomorrow the Hugo Awards are announced—one of the highest accolades given every year for the best science fiction and fantasy writing. But the tensions are running high in the SciFi/fantasy realm.
Read the story7 minFilm Roundup: Secret Agent Men
Move over superheroes - this summer was all about the secret agent movie. Mission: Impossible, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Spy, Kingsman and more.
Read the story11 minComedy Hack Day
This weekend in Los Angeles, teams of hackers will compete to build the most hilarious, wittiest apps and hardware. Practicality is not necessarily required -- though it helps. Amusement is essential. It’s called Comedy Hack Day .
Read the story11 min
