Welcome to NewsFeed’s weekly highlight of the vocabulary of our lives — including useful, new, hilarious and surprising words (as well as some that are just fun to roll off the old tongue).
Does Banning Porn from Prisons Violate the U.S. Constitution?
An inmate has sued the state of Michigan, arguing that his prison’s ban on porn constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment.”
Shoot at Your Own Risk: LA Paparazzi Can Be Jailed For Snapping William and Kate
Los Angeles is boosting its red carpet treatment for those with blue blood.
Typing Beats Scribbling: Indiana Schools Can Stop Teaching Cursive
Who still writes in cursive?
Introducing the Newest Rare Animal Hybrid: The Donkra
What’s going on at the zoos over in China?
Watch: Massive Dust Storm Swells Across Arizona
The name for these massive dust storms that fill the sky—a haboob—sounds deceptively playful. The reality in the Phoenix area yesterday, as the wave of dust rolled across the desert, was a sudden blackout filled with sand …
The Power of School Spirit? Poisoned Trees at Auburn University Now Showing New Life
Long live the trees.
Reading While Eating For July 6: Sea Creatures and Skateboard Art
Today’s links feature cool kids, cool creatures, cool colleges, and cool birthday parties.
Hundreds of Muggles Camp Out for Harry Potter’s London Premiere
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 premieres in London tomorrow. Why aren’t you in line already?
Rush Hour Chaos: Escalator Malfunction Causes Major Accident in Beijing’s Subway Station
No one realized how dangerous escalator failures could be until the Tuesday morning accident in Beijing, which injured 28 and killed one teenage boy.
Gay and Lesbian Lessons May Be Mandatory in California
If Gov. Jerry Brown signs a new California bill, gay education might soon make its way into state textbooks. It would also be the first time a state has made gay education compulsory.
Study: You’re Drunker Than That Wine Bottle Says You Should Be
The Guardian reports that a study of alcohol levels in 129,000 wines from vineyards across the globe over a 16-year period has “suggested that many vintners have been ‘systematically’ understating their wines’ strength on labels.”