Press Play with Madeleine Brand
WhatsApp, The Power of Fraternities & Flu Vaccine Myths
Today on Press Play: Facebook acquires WhatsApp, the "dark power of fraternities," income inequality, flu vaccine myths, and an update on the Culver Ice Arena.
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenToday on Press Play, we look at what one writer is calling “The Dark Power of Fraternities”. Caitlin Flanagan says colleges and national chapters have found a way to keep frat life healthy while kids keep getting hurt and killed during parties. Plus, why the cities with the healthiest economies have the worst income inequality. We also dispel the many myths floating around about flu vaccines. We talk about Facebook’s huge acquisition of a texting app. And we get an update on the Culver Ice Arena.
Banner Image: WhatsApp, by Sam Azgor
In this episode
5 storiesBig Buys in the Tech World
Why did Facebook just buy a texting app for 16 billion dollars? Is Apple really investing in cars? And how has Silicon Valley been flexing its political muscles? We’ll talk about this week’s tech news with Sam Biddle, editor of Valleywag .
Read the story8 minInequality and Prosperity
A new study from the Brookings Institution says the greatest income disparities occur in cities with the most vibrant economies. San Francisco and Los Angeles both make the top 10 list of most unequal cities in a new report. We take a look at the phenomenon with the author of the study.
Read the story9 minDesign and Architecture
It’s already begun -- thousands of architecture buffs are descending on Palm Springs as we speak for Modernism Week . The annual event brings design enthusiasts together for talks, tours and swanky cocktail parties.
Read the story9 minThe Dark Power of Fraternities
The appeal of fraternity life to college students is no mystery. But there’s an obvious downside to a bunch of unsupervised, mostly underage college students binge drinking at a frat house. Deaths, serious injuries, and sexual assaults have led to countless lawsuits that at one time threatened to destroy Greek life on campuses across the country.
Read the story15 minVaccination Myth Busting
This year’s flu season is turning out to be a lot worse than last year. Here in California, more than 240 people have died from the flu so far this year - more than twice as many as all of last year. And this season isn’t over yet.
Read the story8 min
