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Worth a Click: 10 Stories You Should Read Today

By DNAinfo Staff | May 27, 2016 3:17pm 

 Six-year-old Akash Vukoti (R) of San Angelo, Texas, hi-fives Alex Iyer (L) of San Antonio, Texas, as he leaves the stage after he misspelled his word in round three of the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee May 25, 2016 in National Harbor, Maryland.
Six-year-old Akash Vukoti (R) of San Angelo, Texas, hi-fives Alex Iyer (L) of San Antonio, Texas, as he leaves the stage after he misspelled his word in round three of the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee May 25, 2016 in National Harbor, Maryland.
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Getty Images/Alex Wong

SpongeBob and Kanye Go Surprisingly Well Together

 

Did you enjoy Kanye West’s 45-second self-aware song “I Love Kanye” on “The Life of Pablo” but wish it had more of the closing theme from “SpongeBob SquarePants” in it? No? Well, maybe you will change your mind after listening to this. [AV Club]
 

Not Just the Neighborhood, but the Block You Live On Might Shape Your Success

In a small but intriguing study, researchers looked into how education levels in an impoverished section of West Philadelphia broke down block by block. Their findings suggest that regardless of education outcomes in the larger neighborhood, individual blocks can create “microenvironments” where those enrolled in college courses were more likely to continue their studies if a higher percentage of college graduates lived on the block, the Atlantic reports. [The Atlantic]

 

Scientists Look to Half-Human, Half-Animal Beings for Cures

 

A small number of scientists in the U.S. are attempting to create chimeras, that is, embryos that are part human, part animal, in hopes of finding a cure to a number of diseases, according to NPR. Although it sounds like something out of a science-fiction novel, the aim is to create farm animals that have human organs that could be transplanted into terminally ill patients. But what happens if these animals have a human consciousness? [NPR]
 

The Adorable 6-Year-Old Who Charmed the National Spelling Bee

He may not have won, but pint-sized Akash Vukoti is definitely the star of the Scripps National Spelling Bee this year. At six, he was the youngest participant, but was defeated after getting just one letter wrong in the word "bacteriolytic." [NPR]

Being 13-Years-Old, Right Now

In a story that will likely make you feel glad you grew up with dial-up internet (if any internet at all), The Washington Post takes a look at what it's like being a young teen in the age of all things social media and non-stop personal sharing. Spoiler alert: kids, like adults, are always on their iPhone’s. And “likes” are the new social barometer for being cool and accepted. [Washington Post]

Brooklyn’s DIY Guy Finally Has A Permanent Venue

Todd Patrick (a.k.a Todd P.) has been running do-it-yourself spaces in Brooklyn and Queens for years, including Trans-Pecos in Ridgewood, and the late, great 285 Kent in Williamsburg. Now he’s back with the reinstated Market Hotel, complete with honest-to-god permits and 13 years on the lease. Rock on! [Crains New York]

Watch Edward Snowden Teach Vice How to Make a Phone 'Go Black'

 

NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden sat down with Vice to show viewers how to modify their phones to make them “go black,” which involves cracking open your smartphone and removing the internal microphones and cameras so they won’t be used against you by a third party. [Wired]

 

A Mother Takes On Insurance Company With Twitter

 

When a mother realizes their child can no longer walk, the next step is to find a way to remedy the situation. For Rebecca Frech and her 9-year-old daughter, Ella, the remedy was to request the medical insurance for a pre-owned wheelchair. Yet, when doctors wrote a prescription for one, the insurance company denied the claim, not just once, or twice, but three times. Frech, after several battles, including starting a GoFund me campaign with friends, decided to go to Twitter with #ellaneedswheels, which went viral, and within two days after the Twitter campaign began, got confirmation that the insurance company was going to pay for everything. [The Atlantic]

Explaining Conservative “Wunderkind” Ben Shapiro’s Ethnic-Slur-Laden Breakup with Breitbart

New York Magazine’s Daily Intelligencer takes a look at a strange case study that reflects the chaos and confusion overtaking the Republican party. Since severing ties with Trump-friendly Briebart following the Michelle Fields incident, members of the so-called “alt-right” movement have taken to attacking Shapiro, the site's former editor-in-chief, with anti-Semitic slurs as he continues to slam the outlet for pandering to Trump supporters. [NYMag]

The Babysitters Club, All Grown Up

Illustrator Siobhan Gallagher reworked the covers of the beloved kids’ series "The Babysitters Club" to feature the girls as 20-somethings. The Jaded Quitter’s Club features classics as “Dawn and the Judgmental Delivery Guy” and “Mallory Has a Frenemy.” [NYMag]

These stories were selected by DNAinfo's reporters Danielle Tcholakian, Eddie Small, Gwynne Hogan, Shaye Weaver, Jeanmarie Evelly, Irene Plagianos, Noah Hurowitz, Dartunorro Clark, Carolina Pichardo and Allegra Hobbs.