Greetings Webtaculators! Welcome to the second issue. Enjoy.

STORY OF THE WEEK (45 min. read)
What: Invisible Child – Girl in the Shadows: Dasani’s Homeless Life
Why: Because this is a longform article that follows the life and struggles of a young homeless girl and her family. One of the strongest news pieces I have read this year. It will make you cry.

POLITICS THING OF THE WEEK (10 min. read)
What: Newton Conn. 1 Year Anniversary; Arapahoe, Colo. 1 Year Anniversary; 1 year of Gun Deaths
Why: Because whether it’s one day or one year, the United States has apparently not learned anything about gun violence in schools. Absolutely shameful.

ECONOMIC THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: Homelessness and Hunger in the U.S. on the Rise
Why: Because although the economy is recovering, more people are being left behind.

LAW THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. watch/read)
What: The “Affluenza” Legal Defense; And why that should make you mad
Why: Because a wealthy teenager got ten years probation for causing four deaths while driving drunk. The outrage has been directed at the judge, especially since a minority or poorer person in the same circumstance would have received jail time instead. The anger people are feeling is misplaced: it should be that the system allows for jail time for kids at all for these cases.

SCIENCE THING OF THE WEEK (10 min. read / hours of links)
What: Top 100 Academic Research Papers of the Year
Why: Because this links to all of the most read research papers of the year. Make yourself smarter.

SPORTS THING OF THE WEEK (10 min. watch/read)
What: Jameis Winston Wins Heisman Trophy
Why: Because this player was featured in last week’s “Law Thing Of The Week” for his non-prosecution in a rape case. Note: The Heisman Trust mission statement declares, “The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.” I beg to differ.

TECHNOLOGY THING OF THE WEEK (10 min. read)
What: The Verge 50
Why: Because these are the top 50 movers and shakers according to the The Verge are people and products you should know about.

MOVIE THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: Spring Breakers Is One of the Year’s Top Movies
Why: Because I have noticed a big trend of this movie showing up on all of the best movie of the year lists. I want to know why.

MUSIC THING OF THE WEEK (2 hr. listen)
What: Beyoncé; Q-Tip + Busta Rhymes
Why: Because these are two of the most interesting album releases of the year were just launched with little to no marketing. You should listen to both.

PHOTOGRAPHY THING OF THE WEEK (10 min. look)
What: Snow Blankets the Middle East
Why: Because I was in Jerusalem during a very rare snowfall last year. This time the whole region was blanketed. These pictures show what happens when a desert gets a dusting of something other than sand.

LITERATURE THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: NY Times Top 10 of the Year
Why: Because this is the definitive list of the top books of the year. Required reads.

VIDEO GAME THING OF THE WEEK (10 min. read; ∞ play)
What: Doom Turns 20
Why: Because Doom is one of the most influential video games of all time. It just turned twenty. You feel old yet?

 INTERNET THINGS OF THE WEEK
What: Germans Trying to Say Squirrel; Road Bike Trials; Santacon
Why: Because Internet.

THING YOU SHOULD GET BRIAN OF THE WEEK
What: Drum Pants
Why: Because Brian deserves it.

Webtacularly yours,

Brian
Managing Editor, Webtacular World
The Internet You Didn’t Know You Needed™