Topic: University of Southern California

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Commencement season: Speakers share inspiration, insight, and advice with college grads

It’s college graduation season and the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” which began in late April, will be heard at commencement ceremonies until mid-June. Many more speeches have yet to be given that impart the usual pearls of wisdom and advice on pursuing dreams, being daring, and contributing to society. Here’s a sampling of excerpts from speeches given to graduates around the country.
For Art Clokey's birthday, five great stop-motion shorts

In honor of Gumby creator Art Clokey, here are five of our favorite stop-motion short films.
World Series quiz: What do you know about the San Francisco Giants?

World Series number 106, between the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants, gets underway in 'The City by the Bay' Wednesday night. This will be the 19th time the Giants franchise qualified for the World Series. With help from sanfranciscogiants.com, take our quiz and put your Giants knowledge to the test. Answers to questions can be found on subsequent pages and on the final question page.

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China's evolving relationship with 'barbarians'

China, which used to officially refer to foreigners as 'barbarians,' has a long history of xenophobia. The issue is at the forefront again after two high-profile incidents with foreigners.
Commencement season: Speakers share inspiration, insight, and advice with college grads

It’s college graduation season and the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” which began in late April, will be heard at commencement ceremonies until mid-June. Many more speeches have yet to be given that impart the usual pearls of wisdom and advice on pursuing dreams, being daring, and contributing to society. Here’s a sampling of excerpts from speeches given to graduates around the country.
Obama shift on gay marriage unleashes Hollywood's star power (+video)

Just as Obama is heading to Hollywood for what promises to be a blockbuster fundraiser, his shift on gay marriage is getting rave reviews in the entertainment world.
Modern Parenthood
Kayaking as learning: Navigating life's knowledge whitewater

Kayaking as learning: learning should be more like kayaking, explains one knowledge expert, and the experience of picking information should be treated like an action sport, a whitewater rafting trip navigating the waters of knowledge and interaction.
Junior Seau remembered as fierce NFL competitor

The former Charger, Dolphin and Patriot linebacker died at his California home on Wednesday.
Cover Story
No child left alone: Volunteers mentor children of inmates

With 2.3 million inmates behind bars in the US, the goal of volunteers in mentor programs for the 2.7 million children of prisoners is: No child left alone. Despite government cuts in funding, the programs continue.
Law school rankings: The results are out, but do they really matter?

US News & World Report released its annual law school rankings Tuesday, reviewing about 200 schools. The rankings can have a powerful impact on universities, experts say.
Iran elections: The most important ever, says Khamenei

Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei seeks to prove he is firmly in charge in tomorrow's national elections, the first since 2009, when President Ahmadinejad's reelection sparked historic protests.
Israeli Iran attack? What goes around comes around.

Be forewarned, Israel and the US. We are entering a dangerous stage in which Iran feels it must respond in kind to attacks against it. When two nations engage in patterns of attacks and counterattacks, it's much easier for a mistake or misjudgment to lead to disaster.
Xi Jinping in California: a glimpse of what China really wants

Chinese president-in-waiting Xi Jinping will spend most of his two-day California trip highlighting the two things that, perhaps, the Chinese people admire most about the US: films and basketball.
Why did Democrats choose Antonio Villaraigosa to lead national convention?

Antonio Villaraigosa has built an impressive résumé in the California Assembly and as mayor of Los Angeles. As chair of the Democratic National Convention, he could help woo Latinos.
Woody Guthrie, in an age of 'Occupy'

On his centennial, tributes pour in for a man who made complex social issues deceptively simple through song and championed the downtrodden.
Charlie Weingarten finds fresh ways to champion selfless acts of philanthropy

A member of a philanthropic family founded Explore.org to inspire selflessness and lifelong learning.
Change Agent
As tensions over wealth gap rise, the rich are giving more

The top 50 charitable donors gave more in 2011: Are the super rich feeling the sting of public opinion?
Carbon dioxide super-scrubber? Potential good news in global warming fight.

Scientists have announced a potential breakthrough in developing a new material that removes carbon dioxide from the air. CO2 scrubbing could be a useful tool against global warming.
North Korea uses Kim Jong-il funeral to send olive branch and warning to South

North Korea welcomed plans for two private 'condolence delegations' from South Korea to Kim Jong-il's funeral, but condemned the South's refusal to send official delegation and warned darkly of consequences.
Copiale Cipher: How a secret society's code was finally cracked

Copiale Cipher: Computer scientists have cracked the code of the Copiale Cipher, an 18th-century manuscript of a German secret society known as the 'Oculist Order.'
Why California's reeling economy still has a 'golden' lining

In many ways, the California economy is a mess. But the Golden State is holding on to its high-skilled workers better than any other state – and avoiding a 'brain drain' is no small thing.
For Art Clokey's birthday, five great stop-motion shorts

In honor of Gumby creator Art Clokey, here are five of our favorite stop-motion short films.
Al Davis: a football maverick remembered

During his many years as the coach and chief executive of the Oakland Raiders, Al Davis had one simply stated motto: 'Just win, baby.'
Does 'Occupy Wall Street' have leaders? Does it need any?

As politicians and the media scramble to identify 'Occupy Wall Street' leaders, members of the protest movement are not playing along. But do they really need any? There are pros and cons to leaderless movements.
Is the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement being hijacked by newcomers?

More people and organizations are joining Occupy Wall Street or expressing solidarity every day. Whether it's an infusion of vital energy or a force that tears at cohesion is up to the movement.
Did Berkeley's 'racist' bake sale go too far?

College Republicans at the University of California in Berkeley held a bake sale that priced baked goods at different prices for different ethnicities. Was it effective satire or over the top?
Miami Hurricanes vs. Ohio State: Who won the sanctions game?

Miami Hurricanes, in trouble with the NCAA, play Ohio State Buckeyes, already sanctioned by the NCAA. So who won in terms of financial sanctions?
Why unions are livid about L.A.'s new teacher-evaluation experiment

The Los Angeles Unified School District is testing a pilot program for teacher evaluation that includes parent feedback and peer review. But unions are not happy.