Neon Tommy: Commentary Archives

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Progress In Afghanistan: Don't Believe The Hype

by Justin Rashid | March 11, 2010
Columnist

Was Operation Moshtarak the success that the media are touting it as? That depends on what you mean by success, and who you ask. [...]

Franz Kafka's "The Bus Pass"

by Stan Oklobdzija | March 10, 2010
Columnist

Sometimes the first step to going green is as easy as cutting the red tape.

[...]

A Thaw In South Asia

by Katherina Jawaharlal | March 9, 2010
Columnist

India and Pakistan take one small step forward in diplomatic relations. On the table: terrorism, water, and of course, Kashmir. [...]

Supermarkets Can Save The World

by Paresh Dave | March 8, 2010
Staff Reporter

The Post Office wants to open branches inside supermarkets. Here's why that's a great idea [...]

Day 9: Jerry Brown Still MIA On Education Crisis

by Neon Tommy Editors | March 12, 2010

California's Attorney General has been making the rounds talking to political news writers about his official entry into the gubernatorial race. But he's been conspicuously mum about last week's huge education protests. [...]

Where Is Jerry Brown On March 4th?

by Richie Duchon | March 4, 2010
Senior News Editor

With the bedrock of California shifting beneath us -- tens of thousands of students, parents and teachers will take to the streets today to protest cuts to education funding -- Jerry Brown is missing in action. [...]

Know Your Taliban

by Justin Rashid | March 2, 2010
Contributor

Most Americans don't know their Taliban from their al-Qaeda. Here's why that's dangerous. [...]

What We Can Learn From Dancing Filipino Inmates

by Katherina Jawaharlal | March 1, 2010
Columnist

The dancing Filipino inmates offer a variety of lessons on new media, soft power, and rehabilitation. [...]

Listen To The Greens

by Katharine Keith | February 26, 2010
Contributor

The Green Movement in Iran has given us an alternative to sanctions: direct engagement with the Iranian people. [...]

You Can't Teach Away Fat

by Olga Khazan | February 25, 2010
Senior Editor

Politicians would rather lecture people about their weight than enact policies that might actually make a difference. [...]

Less School Is A Dumb Idea

by Paresh Dave | February 24, 2010
Staff Reporter

Letting students opt out of their last two years of high school is the first step toward privatizing education. [...]

Time For Toyota To Put Up Or Shut Up

by Kevin Douglas Grant | February 23, 2010
Senior Editor

Japanese automaker Toyota, one of the biggest car companies in the world, is finally paying for a charade that cost lives. The question will be: How much? [...]

China's Message Problem

by Peter Winter | February 23, 2010
Contributor

China's emergence on the international stage has elicited two reactions: admiration from much of the developing world and insecurity from the developed sphere. But as the country continues to grow in power, it needs to rethink its PR strategy. [...]

Joe Stack And The Semantics Of Terrorism

by Hillel Aron | February 21, 2010
Senior Editor

On Thursday, a man named Andrew Joseph Stack III crashed his private plane into a federal building in Austin that housed the local office of the IRS, killing himself and another man. Is it hypocritical not to call Joe Stack a terrorist? [...]

Aid Diplomacy: Why Helping Haiti Helps You

by Naomi Leight | February 18, 2010
Contributor

The earthquake in Haiti motivated many nations to put aside their differences and provide disaster relief for Haiti. But foreign aid doesn't just save lives -- it saves face.
[...]

No Love For The U.N. Special Tribunal For Lebanon

by John Nahas | February 16, 2010
Contributor

The U.N. Special Tribunal for Lebanon was formed at the request of the Lebanese government. While its scope and ultimate goal are daunting at best, many hoped it would live up to its promise. It has not.

[...]

Mexico: Under Siege?

by Paul Rockower | February 13, 2010
Contributor

The L.A. Times would have you believe that Mexico is a war zone. Here's why they're wrong. [...]

Anti-Obama Blogger Blames Obama

by Hillel Aron
Senior Editor

Mr. Courrielche was kind enough to respond to my article on Yosi Sergant, so I thought I'd return the favor. [...]

A TV News Package About The Economy

by Amy Silverstein
Columnist

Got a deadline? Need to fill a couple minutes? You're in luck. We wrote the script for you. You're welcome, news divisions. [...]

Hugo Chavez Vs. The Internets

by Katherina Jawaharlal | February 8, 2010
Columnist

Chavez has dubbed Tweets criticizing the government regime as "acts of terrorism." Is he picking a fight he can't win? [...]

Brother, Can You Spare A Trillion Dollars?

by Madeleine Scinto | February 7, 2010
Staff Reporter

Obama's budget looks like Bush's. His presidency is starting to look like Carter's. [...]

In Praise Of Citizens United

by Stan Oklobdzija | February 6, 2010
Columnist

The Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC isn't as revolutionary as you think- unless you think protecting free speech is revolutionary. [...]

Don't Stand By Your Man

by Helen Jeong
Columnist

The tabloid marriage of Elizabeth and John Edwards is over. Will it set a new trend for cheating politicians and their wives? [...]

State Of The Union: It's A Long Story...

by Hillel Aron | January 28, 2010
Senior Editor

In his first State of the Union address, Obama was surprisingly confident. At least someone is. [...]

Food For Suckers

by Amy Silverstein | January 25, 2010
Columnist

Think that salad is good for you? Try this on for size: A full-sized Caesar salad at the Cheesecake Factory serves up 1279 calories. For less calories, you could have just ordered that juicy hamburger on the menu.
[...]

Is Boxer Next?

by Abby Goldstein | January 22, 2010
Columnist

Massachusetts voters elected State Senator Scott Brown Tuesday. Brown beat out State Attorney General Martha Coakley, the early front runner in the senate race. Does this upset mean trouble for Boxer?
[...]

The Haiti Trap

by Kevin Douglas Grant | January 20, 2010
Senior Editor

Helping Haiti is the order of the day. But American assistance in the past has been more about helping ourselves.
[...]

Massachusetts Says, Keep The Change

by Stan Oklobdzija | January 20, 2010
Columnist

A blue blue state just elected an unknown Republican. Should Democrats be scared? Yes. Yes they should. [...]

Let's Invade Haiti

by Hillel Aron | January 19, 2010
Senior Editor

Haiti needs more than just our money. Haiti needs our guns. [...]

Wait, Perez Hilton Is Hispanic Of The Year?

by Wendy Carrillo | January 14, 2010
Columnist

Hispanic Magazine named Hilton as 2009's recipient of the honor. But what about all the other Hispanic news makers of 2009? I guess the Supreme Court isn't as impressive as it used to be.
[...]

The Idiotic Conservative Purity Pledge

by Stan Oklobdzija | January 13, 2010
Columnist

Loyalty oaths are the wrong way for the party to rebrand itself in this crucial election year.

[...]

The Final Frontier: Naked Passengers

by Kevin Douglas Grant | January 2, 2010
Senior Editor

The so-called underwear bomber could have murdered hundreds over American soil. It's time to figure out whether our intelligence community has its act together, and scrap the petty rules and public humiliation.

[...]

Little Pink Houses For You And Me

by Hillel Aron | December 28, 2009
Senior Editor

My fondest memory of 2009? Seeing John Cougar Mellencamp steal the show at the pre-Inauguration concert in D.C. Yes, seriously.
[...]

California Is Greener Than Thou

by Abby Goldstein | December 18, 2009
Columnist

Sarah Palin accused Governor Schwarzenegger's environmental policy of being all talk. Is she right? [...]

Sexts And Sensibility

by Amy Silverstein | December 18, 2009
Columnist

Sexting is the new teenage craze. Is now the time to panic? (Hint: yes) [...]

Leave Tiger Alone!

by Wendy Carrillo
Columnist

Tiger Woods may be a cheating bastard, but he doesn't deserve to get beat with a golf club. At least not twice. [...]

The Farce In Copenhagen

by Kevin Douglas Grant | December 16, 2009
Senior Editor

Copenhagen is meaningless without real compromise from the United States and China. Unfortunately, the countries are merely bringing more hot air to the Summit.

[...]

Rehabilitation In Name Only

by Daniel Harju | December 15, 2009
Guest Columnist

California could have used its budget crisis to reform its wasteful and inhumane prison policy. Instead, its rolling back rehabilitation programs. [...]

The Health Care Nuclear Option

by Hillel Aron | December 15, 2009
Senior Editor

It's time to start considering the use of unconventional weapons in the fight to reform health care. [...]

Results From A Science Study: Real Or Fake?

by Amy Silverstein
Staff Reporter

You too can become a researcher for the University of Toronto! [...]

UC Students Should Quit Their Whining

by Stan Oklobdzija | December 3, 2009
Columnist

Protestors say the new tuition rates are unfair. Here's why they're wrong. [...]

Afghanistan: The Re-Resurgence?

by Hillel Aron | December 2, 2009
Senior Editor

You know what they say, 20,000 troops here, 30,000 troops there, pretty soon you're talking about a real war. [...]

Rupert Murdoch Takes On Google

by Kevin Douglas Grant | November 30, 2009
Senior Editor

Like David and Goliath, if David was the evil one.

[...]

California Sticks It To The Kids

by Abby Goldstein | November 29, 2009
Columnist

California is taking its problems out on students. Students are protesting. What they should be doing is voting. [...]

Screw Thanksgiving

by Hillel Aron | November 26, 2009
Senior Editor

There, I said it. Someone had to. [...]

The US And India Are In A Relationship And It's Complicated

by Anant Goenka | November 24, 2009
Senior Editor

The U.S. and India have much to gain from cooperating with each other. But can they find common ground on their many disagreements? [...]

California Can See Palin From Her House

by Abby Goldstein
Columnist

Republicans in California are hoping for Sarah Palin's endorsement. Here's why it could be a mixed blessing. [...]

Why Congress Won't Fix Health Care

by Stan Oklobdzija | November 13, 2009
Columnist

Real health care reform will come in the form of a market based solution, not expanding government-run health care. [...]

Puff, Puff, Pass

by Abby Goldstein | November 10, 2009
Staff Reporter

As Maine becomes the fifth state to approve the use of medical marijuana, what are the prospects for further legalization measures in California? [...]

Get Your Stupak Hands Off My Uterus

by Olga Khazan | November 10, 2009
Senior Editor

The house bill passes at literally the eleventh hour, but not without a major concession

[...]

Fort Hood and the Muslim Community

by Mohammed Rahman | November 9, 2009
Staff Reporter

A consequence of attacks like this make lives of Muslims in America uncomfortable; if a soldier can't be trusted, then who can be?

[...]

Maine: A State Divided

by Catherine Cloutier | November 6, 2009
Staff Reporter

I was ashamed of my home state of Maine when it's residents voted to ban gay marriage. Then I remembered: there is no Maine. [...]

Gavin Newsom and the Limits of Net-Roots Campaigning

by Abby Goldstein | November 5, 2009
Columnist

What lesson can we take away from Newsom's train wreck of a Gubernatorial campaign? A candidate cannot win by net-roots alone. [...]

New Yorker to Hip-Hop: Drop Dead

by Rebecca Haithcoat | November 2, 2009
Senior Editor

The New Yorker pronounces hip-hop dead. No, not in a cartoon. They really wrote this. Here's why they're wrong. [...]

One Less Sucker For Gardasil

by Amy Silverstein | November 2, 2009
Staff Reporter

Are you willing to risk your life for a vaccine you don't really need?

[...]

Journalists Eager for Digital Revolution

by Kevin Grant and Kim Nowacki, hosted by Dominic Riley
Columnists, Senior Editors

Neon Tommy columnists discuss why online tools are the keys to the future of journalism. [...]

The Republican Divide

by Hillel Aron | October 27, 2009
Senior Editor

You'd think the Democrats would be in trouble, but the Republicans are split in at least six different ways. [...]

The Panic Option

by Olga Khazan | October 26, 2009
Senior Editor

In crafting legislation, the preoccupation with opinion polls and political pandering is damaging to the progress of true health care reform. [...]

Carbon Credits Could Be Big Bucks For Big Businesses

by Ashley Ahearn | October 18, 2009
Senior Editor

As big business gets into emerging carbon markets before federal regulation is in place, it's hard to say who's looking out for the trees. [...]

Intersex Babies Should Have Choice

by Julie A. Feuerhelm | October 11, 2009
Contributor

Is the stigma behind intersex babies really from the general public or fear from the parents? [...]

Gays Yet To Succeed In Entertainment Industry

by Brent Gorski | October 9, 2009
Contributor

Homosexuality is finally getting some exposure in the entertainment industry but it's still not enough to make the LGBT community feel completely welcomed. [...]

In Defense of Rudeness

by Hillel Aron | September 21, 2009
Contributor

Recent outbursts by public figures have been under scrutiny, but maybe we should be more appreciative of some simple honesty. [...]

Better Yourself For A Better Mate

by Paige S. Morrow | September 10, 2009
Our Mystery Columnist

Ladies: You will not find him in a bar. Who, you ask? Mr. Right. (And the same goes for you too, gents!) [...]

V-BLOG:Midnite Snackin News: Secrescary of State

by PS Griffin
Contributor

WATCH:PS Griffin contemplates the reasoning behind Hillary Clinton's recent comeback to a question about her (also famous) husband. [...]

Don't You (Forget About John Hughes)

by Neila Jamee | August 11, 2009
Staff Reporter

Many may not know John Hughes by name. But they know his movies; the films that marked our lives with the right amount of sensibility and sentimentality. [...]

V-BLOG: Grown Men Cry on Midnite Snackin' News

by PS Griffin | July 27, 2009
Contributor

WATCH: PS Griffin investigates NBA star Stephon Marbury's painfully long sob scene during his recent 48-hour video diary. [...]

Emmy Noms Are In, And '30 Rock' Doesn't Deserve Its Bounty

by Neila Jamee | July 23, 2009
Staff Reporter

The much-anticipated Emmy nods were announced on Thursday with its newly added seven slots for the best show categories. This allowed for a few surprises, but the nods were mostly business as usual. [...]

P.S. Returns With An Exclusive Statement From Judge Sotomayor

by PS Griffin | July 14, 2009
Contributor

WATCH: Midnite Snackin' News brings us Sotomayor's statement direct from the floor at the Senate confirmation hearings. [...]

Movie Remake Madness

by Neila Jamee | July 7, 2009
Staf Reporter

The premiere of the 1999 teen sensation '10 Things I Hate About You' as a half-hour series on ABC Family forces an age-old question: Should movies be repackaged for television? My answer: No. [...]

To Everything, Turn, Turn, Turn

by Daniel Kohn | July 7, 2009
Contributor

Major record stores are closing, but this could mean the return to mom-and-pop music stores. Our correspondent stops by the original record store in Cardiff, Wales. [...]

McDonald's Looks for Easy Street in South Africa

by Daniel Atwater | June 26, 2009
Contributor

McDonald's is looking for prospective investors to help the company out of a jam in South Africa. Buyer beware. [...]

'Saved By The Bell' Reunion? Yes, please.

by Neila Jamee | June 16, 2009
Staff Reporter

Why the cast should reunite on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

[...]

We Rate Conan's First Week

by Neila Jamee | June 8, 2009
Staff Reporter

O'Brien replaced former host Jay Leno last week. See how he did! [...]

Universal Language Spoken At Tiananmen Vigil

by Adriana Dermenjian | June 5, 2009
Staff Reporter

The night belonged to anyone who wanted to be a part of it. Each candle represented someone different who believed in a fundamental ideal: Freedom of speech to all who'll listen, even those who don't understand the language. [...]

Most Underrated Actors Who Probably Won't Get Emmy Nods

by Neila Jamee | June 2, 2009
Staff Reporter

The process of choosing this year's nominations begins this week, but here is a list of actors who you won't see receive a statuette, let alone a nomination. [...]

Bottling Water Is Waste Of Money And Resources

by Erica McNamara | May 28, 2009
Contributor

Last year, Americans were outraged when the price of gasoline topped $4 a gallon. Yet while they seethed at these record-breaking costs, few stopped to consider they were paying for an even more valuable liquid: water. [...]

All Life Is A Grain Of Sand

by Kelly Kent | May 24, 2009
Contributor

I recently spent an evening watching the sunset at the beach with my 18-month-old baby and marveled, as one always does, at the busy universe revealed in Blake's proverbial grains of sand: so much for the eye to see; so much for the mind to ponder. [...]

Networks Unveil Fall Lineup

by Neila Jamee | May 22, 2009
Staff Reporter

With the television season coming to a close, be the first to know what to watch in September. Our picks for the best and worst of what's on TV.

[...]

Redheads Are Humans Too

by Erica McNamara | May 20, 2009
Contributor

Redheads may be rare, but that doesn't give the public permission to randomly stroke a stranger's locks. After all, the only difference is in the color pigments. [...]

Eating Stars Gives Meaning To Life

by Jean Guerrero | May 18, 2009
Contributor

There is nothing more meaningful than being the sole products of the universe capable of giving meaning to anything. And that's exactly what we do -- we give meaning to the world. We are the sole valuers of the ultimate masterpiece.

[...]

Fact: Must See TV > Comedy Night Done Right

by Neila Jamee | May 14, 2009
Staff Reporter

Tonight is finale night on NBC, but the network's Thursday night lineup may not be living up to its full potential, with shows like "Parks and Recreation" paralleling hits like "The Office." Is it time for NBC to mix it up a bit? [...]

Congress, Execs, Students And The Bailout

by Tom Quinn | May 14, 2009
Contributor

Cartoonist Tom Quinn tackles the bailout. [...]

Top Ten Ways You Can Celebrate Earth Week

by Marielle Olentine | April 22, 2009
Earth Week Coordinator, USC CalPIRG

Simple ways to make the world a better place during Earth Week for 2009. [...]

Community Journalism: Honing The Voices Of Tomorrow

by Emily Henry | April 22, 2009
Senior Editor

Intersections: The South Los Angeles Reporting Project, a hyper-local news web site started by USC Annenberg professors Willa Seidenberg and Bill Celis, has won $25,000 from the Knight Foundation's New Voices program. [...]

Filmmaker's Arrest Stunt Stupid For Conservatives

by Joshua Sharp | April 18, 2009
-The Brighthall

John Ziegler, who was arrested while protesting Katie Couric receiving the USC Annenberg Walter Cronkite Award this week, is an embarrassment to fellow conservatives. [...]

Prison Overcrowding: Society's Ticking Time Bomb

by Misha Karbelnig | April 16, 2009
Contributor

The current state of the correctional system throughout the U.S. is abysmal, and men are languishing under inhumane conditions.

[...]

V-BLOG: 'The Cougar Opinion' On Gangs

by Derricka Johnson, Tishonna Boyd and Nicole Williams | April 14, 2009
Contributors

WATCH: Crenshaw High School juniors Derricka Johnson and Tishonna Boyd, along with senior Nicole Williams, came to the Neon Tommy newsroom last week to host their own talk show. The discussion centered on gangs in light of the recent Highland Park shootings. "The Cougar Opinion" was the title that the young commentators came up with for their show. The cougar is Crenshaw High's mascot.
[...]

Energy Debates: Tap Natural Resources, End Foreign Oil Dependence

by Alexa Ekman and Lauren Korbatov | April 13, 2009
Contributors

The College Republicans and College Democrats face off to debate energy policies. The utilization of natural resources is at the heart of the Republican argument.

[...]

Energy Debates: Cap And Trade Encourages Greener Business

by Bobby Almeida | April 13, 2009
Contributor

The USC College Democrats argue that energy efficiency is a bipartisan issue, and Republicans should embrace the idea of a cap and trade system to drive down emissions.

[...]

Networking For Free Breast Implants

by Melissa Zonne | April 14, 2009
Contributor

Social networking is taken to a whole new level as women fundraise for breast augmentations. [...]

A Leave To Relax Or Fall Under The Bus?

by Jenna Tocchet | April 9, 2009
Contributor

The U.S. is one of the few countries in the world with minimal, non-mandatory maternity and paternity leave regulations.

[...]

Michigan State Drinkonomics

by Kevin Patra | April 5, 2009
Staff Reporter

What effect will Michigan State's surprise spot in the Final Four have on the state's dwindling economy? [...]

Women's History Deserves More Than A Month

by Brittany Habel | March 28, 2009
Contributor

Why is it that all the attention on great women throughout history is saved just for March? [...]

Fear And Loathing At Pink's Hot Dog Stand

by Alex Herbach | March 29, 2009
Contributor

On a busy night, people will wait outside this 70-year-old landmark in Los Angeles for upwards of two hours, sometimes only for a single wiener. [...]

Colbert Writer: We Make Fun Of News, Not Report It

by Claudia Melendez | March 27, 2009
Columnist

Writer Rob Dubbin of "The Colbert Report" on a recent survey that shows almost one third of Americans under 40 turn to comedy shows for the news: "I feel pretty confident that people are learning about the world in more complex ways than can be summed up in a multiple-choice answer for research." [...]

What We Can Learn From Octo-Mom and Obama

by Misha Karbelnig | March 21, 2009
Contributor

Most would argue these two stories share nothing in common. I say they are twins born of the public's newfangled obsession with personal responsibility. [...]

Stuck Behind the 'Great Fire Wall'

by Zachary Franklin | March 17, 2009
Contributor

[...]

As Newspapers Lay Dying, A Birthday

by Emily Henry | March 11, 2009
Senior Editor

Britain's first daily newspaper, The Daily Courant, signaled an ideological revolution. While newspapers today flounder and fold, stop for a minute and just imagine their English birth on this day 307 years ago. It might have gone something like this...

[...]

Power Shift In The Fight Against Climate Change

by Vanessa Shakib | March 9, 2009
Contributor

Despite the bitter D.C. temps, environmental activist Vanessa Shakib felt the heat at the Power Shift climate summit. [...]

Los Angeles Times To City: Drop Dead

by Samantha Page | March 3, 2009
Associate Editor

In cutting the California section, our hometown rag has done its readers a great disservice and undervalued the importance of local news. [...]

Lest You Forget, Movies Should Move You

by David Cohen | March 21, 2009
Staff Reporter

Everyone who cares about cinema should go three years without seeing a film. I just broke a very long spell of not watching movies, and I feel like one of the amazed Frenchmen who first saw A Trip to the Moon when it was released. [...]

Finally, They Censored Me!

by Zachary Franklin | February 20, 2009
Contributor

A Beijing-based USC alum got China to shut down his Web site. Now what? [...]

Primates, Perceptions and Perspectives

by Amber Mobley | February 19, 2009
Columnist

I am not upset with the recent New York Post editorial cartoon that pictures two police officers and a dead chimp. [...]

Australia Is In Mourning: Give Gravity Its Due

by Emily Henry
Columnist

At first, you might assume the survival story of "Sam the scorched koala" to be a heart-warming fragment capturing the enduring beauty of nature, even amongst devastation. But almost 200 people have died in Australia, and there is no excuse for dumbing down human tragedy.

[...]

A Look Back At The Inauguration

by Chris Nelson & Torey Van Oot

From the 'We Are One' concert extravaganza to sights and sounds from Obama's big day.

[...]

Ann Coulter Soothes Conservative Angst

by Tara Chozet | February 10, 2009
Staff Reporter

The Right-Wing Diva Rocks the O.C. [...]

More Than A Black Face

by Amber N. Mobley
Columnist

It's not always easy being "the fly in the buttermilk." Sometimes it's painful. Sometimes it's downright amusing. [...]

Inauguration Weekend: Hello Barack Or Good-Bye George?

by Chris Nelson
Co-Editor

In Washington this January, optimism charged many of the exchanges between complete strangers at the inauguration. But was this optimistic sentiment about the saying goodbye to Bush or was it about celebrating President Obama? This Angeleno braved the cold to find out. [...]

"We Are One" Inauguration Pre-Bash Leaves National Mall Trashed

by Torey Van Oot
Columnist

[...]