Greetings Webtaculators! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, and that you were able to keep the national political discussion to a minimum. In my household, we managed to make it a full 18 minutes from the start of dinner without mentioning elections! In that spirit, I will try to avoid it here as well. On to the news.

STORY OF THE WEEK (15 min. read)
What: Fidel Ha Muerto
Why: Because Fidel Castro, one of the most influential figures of the Cold War and modern revolutionary movements, has died of natural causes at the age of 90. This is most impressive considering that he was under the constant threat of assassination, many of which were promulgated by the U.S., not including the U.S. backed Bay of Pigs fiasco. His legacy will no doubt be complicated, but his personal influence over the course of modern history cannot be denied.

ECONOMIC THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: You Survived Another Black Friday
Why: Because Black Friday is terrible.

LAW THING OF THE WEEK (3 min. read)
What: No Overtime For You
Why: Because 4.2 Million workers will no longer be eligible for a new overtime law that was supposed to go into effect.

ENVIRONMENTAL THING OF THE WEEK (15 min. read)
What: The Death Of Giants
Why: Because there is no such thing as global warming, right?

SPORTS THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: Chess Is The Best
Why: Because football remains a dumb game where winning is arbitrary and rules are broken (along with the players).

MOVIE THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: Tale As Old As Time
Why: Because Moana successfully returns Disney to the role of standard bearer of animated films. Plus, the soundtrack is really fun.

TELEVISION THING OF THE WEEK (20 min. read)
What: I’ll Take The Physical Challenge
Why: Because Double Dare was one of my favorite game shows growing up, and it was always hilarious to see some kid who absolutely failed to find one of the flags.

MUSIC THING OF THE WEEK (3 min. listen)
What: Ooooh, Shiny!
Why: Jemaine from Flight of The Concords is a giant singing hermit crab. Like I said, the Moana soundtrack is fun.

FOOD THING OF THE WEEK (2 min. watch)
What: Yams Vs. Sweet Potatoes
Why: Because food names are all lies.

VIDEO GAME THING OF THE WEEK (6 min. read)
What: Final Fantasy XV Is Here
Why: Because if it’s at least the 15th Final Fantasy (there are actually way more), it isn’t so final, is it?

INTERNET THINGS OF THE WEEK (∞)
What: Cars Goes Dark; Cards Against Humanity Digs A Hole; Tater And Tot Live Another Day;
Why: Because Internet.

THING YOU SHOULD GET BRIAN OF THE WEEK
What: Anything From Cyber Monday!
Why: Because Brian deserves it.

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

Greetings Webtaculators! Well, it looks like last week wasn’t a dream, and Trump remains our President Elect. Although,I’m not entirely sure he actually still exists, since he only seems to appear on Twitter to chastise plays and TV. You know, real presidential things.  Also, because we are now Making America Great Again, I’m going to see just how great America used to be. On to the news.

STORY OF THE WEEK (4 min. read)
What: Fraud Settled! Sad!
Why: Because I guess it’s settling a fraud case for $25 million that’s presidential. It’s so hard to tell these days.

STORY OF THE WEEK  1995 (2 min. read)
What: Partial Governmental Shutdown
Why: Because Republican’s failed to ratify the national budget

POLITICAL THING OF THE WEEK (6 min. read)
What: Steve Bannon Is Trump’s Chief Strategist
Why: Because a person who positively (even if jokingly) compares himself to Darth Vader and Satan is officially one of Trump’s closest advisers.

POLITICAL THING OF  THE WEEK  1973 (5 min. read)
What: I Am Not A Crook!
Why: Because Nixon gave his most famous speech about how he definitely wasn’t involved with Watergate.

ECONOMIC THING OF THE WEEK (3 min. read)
What: Coal Is Not Coming Back
Why: Because one of the jobs Trump promised to return to glory was coal mining. Oops.

ECONOMIC THING OF THE WEEK 1968
What:Massive West Virginia Coal Mine Explosion
Why: Because maybe it’s a good thing that all the coal jobs that blow people up are not coming back

LAW THING OF THE WEEK (4 min. read)
What: Korematsu Is Still Precedent 
Why: Because the Supreme Court case that interned hundreds of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II has never been overturned, and could be used as justification for the creation of a national registration of Muslims.

LAW THING OF THE WEEK 1863 (1 min. read)
What: Lincoln Gives The Gettysburg Address
Why: Because Lincoln’s most famous speech was the first time he publicly stated that the Civil War was to further the United States’ “new birth of freedom.”

TECH THING OF THE WEEK (2 min. read)
What: Making Solar Sexy
Why: Because the new solar material might be cheaper than current roofing.

TECH THING OF THE WEEK 1883 (2 min. read)
What: Time Zones Created
Why: Because America used to invent things like time.

SPORTS THING OF THE WEEK (4 min. read)
What: Andy Murray Finally #1
Why: Because Andy Murray has always been a very good tennis player, but now he is officially the best.

SPORTS THING OF THE WEEK 1982 (46 sec. watch)
What: The Play
Why: Because remember when college football used to be played by amateurs?

MOVIE THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: Muggles Take Over Manhattan
Why: Because this is the first Harry Potter movie that doesn’t include Harry.

MOVIE THING OF THE WEEK 2001 (4 min. read)
What: Harry Potter Opens
Why: Because the first movie with Harry Potter opened 15 years ago. Now you feel old.

MUSIC THING OF THE WEEK (3 min. read)
What:The AMAs Get Political
Why: Because at least Green Day can still claim to be a little punk now.

MUSIC THING OF THE WEEK 1959 (3 min. read)
What: The Hills Are Alive!
Why: Because of course a musical with Nazis is successful.

LITERATURE THING OF THE WEEK (4 min. read)
What: March
Why: Because Congressman John Lewis’ new work could not be more timely.

LITERATURE THING OF THE WEEK 1851 (6 min. read)
What: Moby Dick Released
Why: Because maybe Trump needs to bring back whaling, too.

VIDEO GAME THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: Hacking SF
Why: Because in Watch Dogs 2, you can take on the man, man.

VIDEO GAME THING OF THE WEEK 2001 (5 min. read)
What: Halo
Why: Because console shooters were never the same.

INTERNET THINGS OF THE WEEK (∞)
What: Quick Draw; Dave Chappelle Is A Creep; Drake Is Tay Tay
Why: Because Internet (NOTE: There is no historical ITOTW because the Internet is post-history.)

THING YOU SHOULD GET BRIAN OF THE WEEK
What: New House In The East Bay.
Why: Because Brian deserves it.

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

Greetings Webtaculators. Here’s something I posted on Facebook regarding my thoughts on the election.

On to the news.

STORY OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: President Trump
Why: Because lots of reasons.

ECONOMIC THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: President Trump
Why: Because taxes.

LAW THING OF THE WEEK (6 min. read)
What: President Trump
Why: Because settled law apparently isn’t good enough for certain topics.

SCIENCE THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: President Trump
Why: Because at least he likes space.

MEDIA THING OF THE WEEK (6 min. read)
What: President Trump
Why: Because Bannon will be Trump’s Chief Strategist.

SPORTS THING OF THE WEEK (3 min. read)
What: President Trump
Why: Because even games are political.

MUSIC THING OF THE WEEK (6 min. read)
What: Leonard Cohen Died
Why: Because why not make this week even worse.

LITERATURE THING OF THE WEEK (1 hr. 9 min. listen)
What: President Trump
Why: Because Trump didn’t write his own book.

VIDEO GAME THING OF THE WEEK (7 min. read)
What: President Trump
Why: Because games are a “reflection of and participator in human culture.”

INTERNET THINGS OF THE WEEK (∞)
What: Fuck 2016; Chappelle Returns; Petty Biden
Why: Because Internet.

THING YOU SHOULD GET BRIAN OF THE WEEK
What: An Alternate Timeline
Why: Because Brian deserves it.

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

Greetings Webtaculators! By the end of Tuesday, we will know who our next President is. Yay? Also, at least in California, we will know whether or not porn actors can have sex without condoms, weed will be legal, or the death penalty will still be allowed. I am pretty sure I can speak for everyone that I am not sad that this election cycle is finally over. Oh. Also, set your clocks back. Because you should have already done that. On to the news.

CA VOTING THING OF THE WEEK (6 min. read)
What: Who I Voted For
Why: Because more than one of you asked me how you should vote. This is a terrible way to go about it, but here it is (sorry non-Californians. Just scroll past this part. This is why CA’s proposition system is nonsense).

What: President
Vote: Clinton
Why: Because she is the best candidate for the job, and I’ve stated my preference for her previously. Oh. And those emails didn’t matter.

What: Senator
Vote: Harris
Why: Because her time as an effective District Attorney in SF and Attorney General in CA have demonstrated her political leadership.

What: Prop 51 – School Bonds
Vote: Yes
Why: Because funding education is important.

What Prop 52 – Medi-Cal Hospital Fee
Vote: Yes
Why: Because Medi-Cal provides health care funding to millions of Californians.

What: Prop 53 – Constitutional Amendment For Bonds
Vote: No
Why: Because bonds should be approved by Congress. That’s how representative democracy works. We already have enough propositions.

What: Prop 54 – 72 Hours For Legislature Votes
Vote: No
Why: Because messing with the legislative process is not something I like to do.

What:Prop 55 – Tax Extension To Fund Education And Healthcare
Vote: Yes
Why: Because if you make more than $250,000, you can afford it.

What: Prop 56 – $2.00 Cigarette Tax Increase
Vote:  Yes
Why: Because cigarettes are bad.

What: Prop 57 – Potential Parole for Nonviolent Felons
Vote: Yes
Why: Because jail is expensive, and a potential for parole does not mean automatic parole.

What: Prop 58 – English Proficiency In Education
Vote: Yes
Why: Because effectively teaching English to students is a generally good thing.

What: Prop 59 – Ask Politicians To Propose A Federal Amendment To Overturn Citizens United
Vote: Yes
Why: Because I don’t like Citizens United, even though this will not work.

What: Prop 60 – Require Adult Film Actors To Use Condoms
Vote: No
Why: Because this is absurd. Seriously, why is this on the ballot?

What: Prop 61 – State Prescription Drug Purchases
Vote – Abstain
Why: Because although I am one of the people who most likely would benefit from this passing (I work for the CA government), there are enough unknowns regarding drug pricing that I don’t know if it will actually make the prices of drugs actually go down in the long run. Because I also don’t want to actively vote against my own interest, I’m just going to sit this one out.

What: Prop 62 – Death Penalty Repeal
Vote: Yes
Why: Because we don’t need the state killing people. We are better than that.

What: Prop 63 – Background Checks On Ammunition
Vote: Yes
Why: Because Chris Rock had a pretty good idea regarding bullets.

What: Prop 64 – Marijuana Legalization
Vote: Yes
Why: Because I can’t remember.

What: Prop 65 – Carryout Bag Tax
Vote: Yes
Why: Because I like supporting the environment. It probably won’t pass.

What: Prop 66 – Death Penalty Enhancement
Vote: No
Why: If I don’t want the death penalty, then I definitely don’t want hyper speed death penalty.

What: Prop 67 – Ban On Single Use Plastic Bags
Vote: Yes
Why: Because plastic bags are bad, even though they keep my Chinese food pickups from spilling all over my car.

PHEW.

ECONOMIC THING OF THE WEEK (25 min. listen)
What: Poverty In The United States
Why: Because there are a lot of myths about poverty that continue to color people’s view about the subject.

LAW THING OF THE WEEK (8 min. read)
What: Brexit Blow
Why: Because a British court ruled that Parliament must rule on whether or not they actually leave the E.U. A whole bunch of Parliament never wanted the referendum to occur in the first place.This will be interesting.

TECH THING OF THE WEEK (8 min. read)
What: VR Squared
Why: Because the Magic Leap basically wants to jump right past VR into your home, and office, and eyeballs.

SPORTS THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: The Curse Is Lifted
Why: Because Game 7 of the World Series was one of the best baseball games I have ever seen. Congratulations to all the Cubs fans out there.

MOVIE THING OF THE WEEK (5 min. read)
What: Gibson Returns
Why: Because Mel somehow made a movie about pacifism extremely gory. Kinda like the Passion of The Christ. Hmmm…

MUSIC THING OF THE WEEK (10 min. read)
What: Kickin’ It One Last Time
Why: Because I can’t wait to hear Tribe rhyme again, even if Phife is no longer here.

LITERATURE THING OF THE WEEK (4 min. read)
What: Don’t Make Fun Of Dan
Why: Because Inferno flopped, so it’s always good to remember that Dan Brown is a bad author.

VIDEO GAME THING OF THE WEEK (20 min. watch)
What: How To Build A Rocket
Why: Because Danny O’Dwyer does a great job of showing just how hard making a game can be.

INTERNET THINGS OF THE WEEK (∞)
What: Where The Heck Is Matt?; Hunter Pence Won Halloween; Now I Want Bacon
Why: Because Internet.

THING YOU SHOULD GET BRIAN OF THE WEEK
What: A Woman In The White House.
Why: Because Brian deserves it.

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