We recap the year in the Black Lives Matter movement, the latest in music with Tuesday Reviewsday, and two long-time Rose Parade hosts say farewell.
What did Black Lives Matter accomplish in 2015?
Authorities in Cleveland are calling for calm after a grand jury there decided not to indict a white police officer for the 2014 shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, an African-American boy who was carrying a pellet gun.
Officials expect protests today, demonstrations similar to ones held throughout the country this past year by protesters with Black Lives Matter.
That movement got its start two years ago in Los Angeles, but 2015 has been the year that Black Lives Matter dominated the news.
Take Two looks at how it has shaped political and cultural conversations across America with Ange-Marie Hancock, an associate professor of political science at USC and author of "Solidarity Politics for Millennials."
Tuesday Reviewsday: The best music of 2015
With 2015 about to end we thought that we'd bring in our regular Tuesday Reviewsday guests to talk about their top music picks of the year. A Martinez was joined by
from Soul-Sides, music supervisor
and
, news director at Billboard Magazine. Below are their picks. To hear the entire segment click on the audio embedded at the top of the post.
Shirley Halperin
Artist: Leon Bridges
Album: "Coming Home"
Song: "Smooth Sailin'"
Artist: My Morning Jacket
Album: "The Waterfall"
Song: "Compound Fracture"
Artist: Beck
Song: "Dreams"
Oliver Wang
Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Album: "To Pimp a Butterfly"
Song: "Alright"
Artist: Drake
Song: "Hotline Bling"
Artist: The Equatics
Song: "Merry Go Round"
Morgan Rhodes
Artist: Eska
Album: "Eska"
Song: "Rock of Ages"
Artist: Alabama Shakes
Album: "Sound and Color"
Song: "Over My Head"
Artist: Julio Bashmore
Song: "Rythm of Auld"
California's cold winter is so far, so good for citrus crops
Maybe you've noticed: It has been cold here in Southern California.
This is a big deal to us here, of course. The weather made the holidays feel just right, unlike our friends in the northeast, who spent Christmas in shorts and flip flops.
But the weather also matters to California's citrus growers. Bob Blakely is the vice president of California Citrus Mutual, a citrus producers' trade association located just east of Visalia, California. He said the cold has been a good thing.
"It shuts the trees down, and makes them more tolerant to the cold weather, and actually enhances the quality of the fruit. It brings out the natural color, and also brings out the flavor," he said.
But, California's drought has had an impact. With the rain anticipated to continue over the next few months, it could be a game-changer. To find out more, listen to the full interview audio above.
Surfing the perfect (artificial) wave whenever you want
These days, if you want to practice surfing, you need to watch weather conditions at your local beach and hope that the waves agree with your schedule.
That tradition may be about to change. Pro surfer Kelly Slater and his team have developed the most advanced version of an artificial wave pool ever seen.
In a four minute video, Slater showed off a wave that his device created. It's roughly the size of a surfer and retains a shape that gives the surfer continuous speed and power.
Dave Prodan, spokesman for the World Surf League, spoke with Alex Cohen about what the reaction has been like from the surfing community and what this could mean for the next generation up-and-coming surfers.
The Brood: Where is the 'free-range mom' now?
As we reach the end of 2015, we are checking back in with some of the people we've talked with throughout the year, including one mom who made national headlines when she let her two kids walk home alone.
Maryland couple Alexander and Danielle Meitiv were investigated for neglect. They've since been cleared of allegations of neglect in both cases.
As part of our weekly parenting series "The Brood," Danielle Meitiv joined Take Two for a look back at her family's year and to share a bit of what 2016 might hold.
To hear the full interview with Danielle Meitiv, click the link above.
Conversational commerce: the marriage of texting and shopping
Imagine you're texting friends on the way home from work and you all decide you'd like to order food for the night.
Now imagine that you could find a good pizza spot, catch an Uber home and make sure you have enough in your bank account for your order... all without leaving the conversation.
Turns out that idea is already happening. And the days of switching between apps, web and texting for different conveniences may soon be over.
It's known as "conversational commerce" and it's set to change everything about the way we shop.
A Martinez spoke with Chris Messina, an independent product designer and the inventor of Twitter's Hashtag feature to find out what this means for the future of mobile consumption.
Rose Parade anchors Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards reflect before hosting one last time
We’re closing out 2015 and getting ready to welcome the new year in tradition: with the 127th Rose Parade this Friday.
And you might want to tune in this year to witness history come to an end. This will be the last broadcast with anchors Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards.
Eubanks has been hosting the parade since 1979 and was later joined by Edwards in 1982. Since then, the duo has come together to deliver their live, in-depth coverage of the parade, peppered by their signature witty banter.
The two announced their Rose Parade retirement on KTLA back in September. You can see a clip of their first broadcast together from 1982 in the video below at 2:21.
"It's not sad news," says Eubanks. "We don't have to go to bed at 8 o'clock on New Year's Eve anymore."
Eubanks has had an extensive career in show business. He's been a DJ, a music promoter, a TV show producer and a game show personality. He also has Pasadena roots, having previously worked in Pasadena and attended Pasadena High School.
"I'm one of those believers that you have to keep reinventing yourself in this industry that we're in," says Eubanks.
The duo never imagined they would be doing this for so long.
"Careers aren't that long in show business," says Edwards. "And certainly on-air, on-television for women."
The two have a chemistry that at times involves teasing each other. While Eubanks says he and Edwards have the same sense of humor, Edwards disagrees but says what works is they adapt to each other—Edwards takes things “way too seriously” while Bob “keeps a perspective.”
“He has this sense of humor that drives me nuts,” says Edwards.
Though Eubanks says the pair has had an “on-camera marriage” for 35 years they’ve never said a cross word to one another.
“Some people think we don’t like each other, but we love each other,” said Eubanks.
Eubanks and Edwards don’t have anything special planned for their last Rose Parade broadcast, but Edwards jokes that since they can’t get fired who knows what will happen.
“For years she’s wanted to explain to the audience that there’s three kinds of glues that they put on the floats for the roses and petals,” says Eubanks. “She’ll probably get it done this time.”
After the upcoming Rose Parade, new hosting duo Mark Steines of the Hallmark Channel and Leeza Gibbons will take over in 2017.
The veterans have simple advice for the future hosts.
“Treat the parade as an event and don’t try to plug other things, but ask questions and give information you think the audience will want to hear,” says Eubanks.
Edwards echoes focusing on the main event.
“It’s about the parade, it’s not about you,” Edwards says.
Although this is the end of an era for the pair, their chemistry and presence will be long-missed.