Facebook has a plan to expand Internet and cell phone access in Ebola-stricken areas, but how does being online help fight disease? Also, how Californians are helping to rebuild the Philippines one year after Typhoon Haiyan. And a new documentary showcases real-life quidditch played by UCLA students.
International raid shuts down hundreds of Darknet sites
This week, the FBI along with Homeland Security and Europol (Europe's main law enforcement body) raided more 400 hidden web sites that traded in illegal drugs, arms and child pornography.
The sites included the illegal drug marketplace known as Silk Road 2.0, whose alleged operator, Blake Benthall, was arrested in San Francisco.
Kim Zetter, a senior staff reporter at Wired, joins Take Two for more.
How Internet access can fight Ebola
Facebook says that over the next week, users will see an option to donate to three nonprofits fighting the disease.
It also announced it's donating one-hundred communication terminals for better Internet and cell phone service in affected areas in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
How might being connected online help address a health crisis?
Adele Waugaman, an advisor on humanitarian and technological efforts at Catalyst Advisory, says technology can help medical workers keep better records as well as broadcast important PSAs to affected communities.
The Flashback: The GOP won big and what that means for Congress
It's our weekly look-back at the week in news, with analysis from James Oliphant, a political writer for National Journal, and Robin Abcarian, columnist for the Los Angeles Times.
It was a good week for Republicans ... they took the Senate, maintained control in the House and dominated other races across the country. And a key part of that agenda was the Affordable Health Care - which there was a lot of talk about on the campaign trail. But according to a voter survey the LA Times wrote about this week, Obamacare was not a HUGE factor in the election.
Mitch McConnell, the presumed Senate Majority leader and the Speaker of the House John Boehner wrote an op-ed this week in the Wall Street Journal where they outlined their plan for the future. What did they say, and how likely to happen?
2016 feels in many ways a long time away, but politically speaking, it's right around the corner. And there are a lot of people who think Hillary Clinton is just the type of person to come in and save the Democrats, but Clinton's star power didn't really help in a lot of races where she backed a Democratic candidate this week. Could her image have taken a hit?
'Pelican Dreams' explores the world of the noble California brown pelican
In 2003, filmmaker Judy Irving made a beautiful documentary titled "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill." It focused on a flock of feral parrots living in San Francisco.
Now, Irving has made a new film about another winged creature. "Pelican Dreams" explores the world of the noble sea birds: their history, their habits, even their body language.
Irving follows a wayward California brown pelican from the Golden Gate Bridge to a wildlife rehabilitation center while exploring the challenges these majestic birds face and the importance of protecting them.
Watch the trailer:
Irving will participate in question and answer sessions before "Pelican Dreams" showtimes at the Royal Laemmle Theatre in West Los Angeles on Friday, November 7th and at the Laemmle Playhouse 7 in Pasadena on Saturday, November 8th.
Click here for more information.
How Antonio Sanchez improvised the "Birdman" soundtrack
"Birdman" - the latest work from Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu - is a very different movie in many ways, including the actors it employs, the visuals it includes and, in particular, the score throughout the film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E31lXE0zmJ8
Where many directors opt for huge orchestras to create sweeping musical backdrops, Iñárritu decided to go a different route. Nearly the entire score comes from just one instrument - the drum.
https://soundcloud.com/milanrecords/antonio-sanchez-strut-part-ii-from-birdman-ost
The man behind those beats is Antonio Sanchez, who improvised the entire thing. He recently took a break from his other job - touring with jazz legend Pat Metheny to talk with Alex Cohen about his work on the film.
Getty Museum 'Springs' for 65 million dollar Manet painting
The Getty Museum shattered a record when it won its bid on an Édouard Manet painting Wednesday night at Christie's auction house in New York. The museum will pay a whopping $65 million for Manet's "Spring (Le Printemps)," a record for the French artist's work.
The Getty's Director, Timothy Potts, said that "Spring" will be one of the institutions top five paintings in its collection. The painting has been in the private hands of one family since 1909, and it was a surprise to the Getty when the family decided to sell it. But what's the pay-off in acquiring a piece like this?
Potts told Take Two, not only is there a cumulative effect in acquiring such artwork in regards to the Museum's international prestige, but the art community expects the Getty Museum to jump at the chance to buy a painting like this when the opportunity arises.
Real-life quidditch is a sweeping hit on college campuses
Just because the Harry Potter series is done doesn't mean the magic has faded away.
In 2016, a spinoff trilogy, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," will start rolling out.
And if you can't wait that long, a new documentary is out now: "Mudbloods," which chronicles UCLA's quidditch team.
For the unfamiliar, quidditch is a fictional sport in the series where wizards fly around a field on broomsticks, chucking different kinds of balls though goals while also chasing an elusive golden ball called the snitch.
The real-life version is grounded, of course, but it's been on college campuses since 2005.
"Mudbloods" director Farzad Sangari says it's evolved into an elaborate sport with structured rules, a commitment to co-ed play and even its own world cup.
Cheap your weekend with 75 cent Pink's hotdogs, the Downtown Festival and more
Now that you've come down from your Halloween candy high, get ready to enjoy another weekend full of food, film and festivals.
Southern California Public Radio's social media producer Kristen Lepore writes a weekly column on cheap things to do in LA and she's here to help us make the most of our time off.
This week, add cheap hotdogs for Pink's 75th anniversary, cute dogs (and cats) up for adoption at the La Brea Tar Pits and cool music at the Downtown Festival at the newly renovated Regent Theatre in DTLA.
Free weekend? The Downtown Festival, Pink's turns 75 and 'Jawbreaker' at midnight
1 year after devastating typhoon, Southern California Filipinos aid in recovery
A year ago this week, Typhoon Haiyan blasted through the Philippines with winds close to 200 miles per hour.
Scientists called it the strongest typhoon to ever make landfall. It destroyed almost everything in its path.
More than 6,000 people died and millions more were injured or left homeless.
The effect of Haiyan, also known as Yolanda in the Philippines, was also felt in Filipino communities around the world, including here in Southern California.
In this segment, we speak with one local organization which has been providing much-needed relief in the slow recovery efforts.
We also hear about local families directly affected by the typhoon and how they've been coping.
Guests:
Aquilina Soriano is the executive director of the Pilipino Workers Center in LA, one of the groups leading the response.
Leah Tejada is a caregiver based in Los Angeles. Her family lives in the area hit by the storm.
The Peace Project builds homes in areas still recovering from Typhoon Haiyan
One year after Typhoon Haiyan, the recovery effort in the Phillipines is still ongoing.
But there have been efforts to rebuild. One of them is headed by a group called The Peace Project. It aims to meet a primary need: housing.
Lisa Schultz, founder of The Peace Project, worked with architects and engineers to design a home that could be built in less than a day and would cost no more than $500.
She's been to the Philippines three times since the typhoon, and just completed a community of 40 houses on Bantayan Island:
Schultz joins Take Two to talk about her work to bring new housing to people in the Philippines who are still recovering from Typhoon Haiyan.