Ben Trefny

Behind the science of sports obsession

Ben Trefny — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:51:00 +0000

Millions of people are crazy about sports, whether or not their teams are any good. Exactly why that is is the subject of Eric Simons’ new book: The Secret Lives of Sports Fans: The Science of Sports Obsession. Simons sat down with KALW’s Ben Trefny to talk about the chemistry of fandom.

Extended interview: Tour the world of giving through micro-lending

Ben Trefny — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:56:13 +0000

If you imagine your dream job, what would it be?

Bob Harris has had a lot of jobs that may have made your list. About 15 years ago, Harris was a standup comedian, working out of L.A. Then he sent a demo tape into the city’s top radio news station, and he landed a job as a syndicated talking head.

He’s also been on Jeopardy 13 times and was even the “lifeline”for a friend on the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” He helped his friend get a quarter-million dollars.

He’s also been a travel writer and is a published author. According to Harris, the most important thing he’s done is write a new book called The International Bank of Bob: Connecting Our Worlds One $25 Kiva Loan at a Time. KALW’s Ben Trefny asked Bob Harris to share the story of how it happened.

San Francisco Unified School District employees charged with stealing funds

Ben Trefny — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:53:31 +0000

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is dealing, today, with news that six employees misappropriated $15 million of public funds. A three-year investigation by law enforcement and the District Attorney’s office resulted in charges including grand theft, embezzlement, forgery, and perjury. Jill Tucker has been covering the case for the San Francisco Chronicle. In her cover story this morning, she details how the money was spread between school services, outside non-profits, internal computer systems, salaries, and benefits. I reached Tucker by phone and asked her how $6.7 million were allegedly used on student programs that were not designated by grant funding.

Three strikes, you're in (for life)

Ben Trefny — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:01:00 +0000

Many three-strikes prisoners are getting a second chance in California since the passage of Prop 36. Back in November, 69 percent of Californians voted yes on the proposition to change the Three Strikes Law, which was enacted in 1994. It sentenced offenders with three or more felony convictions to 25 years to life in prison -- and comparatively minor crimes could qualify as the third strike.

Google Brain goes into beta testing

Ben Trefny — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 23:44:28 +0000

Since its launch in 1998, Google has evolved from simple searches to near total Internet domination. It owns the video-sharing site YouTube. It launched its own social network, Google Plus. And they’ve recently started talking about a new product, Google Glass – smart spectacles that take pictures, perform searches, and navigate for whoever wears them.

Google caught some flack for the futuristic – and downright nerdy – look of the glasses. So the company hired Silicon Valley startup, Bergoglio, to design and test the prototype of a Google Brain, which boasts all the features of Google glasses without the fashion statement. KALW’s Ben Trefny sat down with Alexis Channing-Sorkle, the first recipient of the still-in-beta product, to pick – or search – her brain.