Attempts to Kill the Party System Fail (15:21)

Dr. Seth Masket is the chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Denver. He researches political parties, campaigns & elections, and state & local politics. With so much discord between the Republican and Democratic parties, and now with the Executive Branch of our federal government, many people are wondering if political parties are a thing of the past.  Is it possible for one our current major political parties to branch off on their own?  Is it possible to kill the two party system?  Dr. Masket shares his book The Inevitable Party.

 

Gold Lego Brick (1:00:55)

The most expensive Lego brick in the world went up for auction - and sold for $15,000. One of only a handful of 14 karat solid gold 2x4 bricks ever made sparked a bidding frenzy when it was put up for sale on auction. The last time one of the bricks was sold, in 2012, it went for $11,000. Between 1979 and 1981, the extra special bricks were originally given to Lego employees that had 25 years of employment at their main factory in Germany. What makes this commemorative brick even more special is that it can be used with all other Lego sets. A lucky American won the auction, and is now the proud owner of the golden brick, which weighs 25.65g and is exactly the same size and shape as an original Lego brick.

 

The Challenge Facing Libraries in an Era of Fake News (1:04:13)

Donald Barclay is the Deputy University Librarian at the University of California Merced campus.  He is the Planning Lead for the UC Council of University Librarians. We live in an age where information is available in near limitless amounts. For many people, the question isn’t ‘if’ they should consume information, but what information should they consume. So how do we avoid an ‘echo chamber’ and find objective truth when different sources offer “alternative facts?" Donald Barclay explains how libraries are trying to help.

 

Caitlin Thomas - Greatest Comebacks (1:30:00)

Sunday we had the Super Bowl, which is one of the most watched events on tv in America. This year’s game had everyone on the edge of their seat as we all watched the Patriot make one of the greatest comebacks ever seen on live tv. It’s all anyone can talk about for the next few weeks. There must be something about comeback stories that we all love. Caitlin Thomas shares some fun comeback stories.

 

How to Apologize (1:52:43)

Julie Nelson (the "Child Whisperer") has a master's degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development. She teaches classes such as Applied Parenting and Marriage and Relationship Skills at Utah Valley University. Julie has written two books about parenting including Keep it Real and Grab a Plunger. Julie shares the details of giving a healthy apology.