A Child Called It

Whitmore said the department was not opposed to regular tight-knit groups, but has sought to crack down on cliques whose members cross ethical lines.

In oppressive environments, artists are intimidated and live in fear of censorship or consequences of defiance.

Setting red lines and warning of dire consequences if they are crossed is all very well, but what should actually be done?

The last thing that a growing company needs is a tired, burned-out, dispassionate leader.

Blood pressure can be especially difficult to lower, for example, without drastic changes in behavior.

Approaching the end I felt both elated and frustrated.

While one team strutted like rock stars, the other could only watch with envy.

“It would have been less challenging to go to an exotic village where there was no electricity whatsoever,” Ms. Kakkar said.

Making it in Hollywood takes a combination of hard work—hustling for every audition, taking a million meetings, working out like a fiend—and persistence. Slate (May 22, 2012)

"We found her body after four days of frantic searching."

You’re less frazzled, better rested, and your rain gutters are clear. Slate (Apr 19, 2013)

Attempts by governing officials to encourage their commanders to disarm have almost proved futile.

Today universities emphasize job preparation but they still are havens for creative people. Salon (Apr 2, 2013)

The playing was slow and rather self-absorbed, its mannered hesitations not entirely encouraging.

Three seemingly separate events tell this story in all its hideous detail. Salon (Apr 18, 2013)

The crowd, which clearly favored Duke even though Temple was playing much closer to home, howled in delight.

He was tortured, beaten, and humiliated, and he remains in prison. Slate (Apr 30, 2013)

It's the hypnotic element of being carried away by so little.

Burning books is a deeply offensive, crass and historically ignorant act.

He's technically meticulous but the results are dreamlike. Seattle Times (Apr 1, 2013)

A person might have been happily single for years, and then one day, for whatever reason, they wake up and the misery goggles are on.

In turn, Mills was mocked for choosing a former Georgia player of modest credentials.

Scientists already had achieved modest results in increasing rainfall or dissipating fogs. Salon (Apr 27, 2013)

Three spoke in a near monotone, disappointed but virtually emotionless.

Classes include not only dance, but more mundane subjects like language, math and history. Seattle Times (Apr 13, 2013)

Advertising driving speeds encourages motorists to obey the law. Scientific American (Apr 17, 2013)

People are adept at smelling a phony thank you.

The boys smiled, relieved, and adopted a more comfortable posture.

Western governments and their allies in the Middle East are worried about the increasing dominance of radical Islamist groups in the Syrian conflict.

They are all rather similar in places, the same idea regurgitated a little differently each time.

"Our Challenging Spirit must be relentless," he said. Seattle Times (Apr 21, 2013)

Josh reluctantly pulled his lanky frame up and sauntered across the room. Salon (Feb 24, 2013)

Volunteer fire departments have made a public plea for Gatorade donations to keep their crews hydrated in the scalding conditions.

He publicly scolded bishops who despised modern times; he called them “prophets of gloom.”

The scouring, the combing, the dying, the weaving, the finishing – all this before it's turned into yarn and then cloth.

“Games are a nice way of keeping people from falling into a stupor.”

Green Arrow shoots a projectile, Batman summons autonomous drones, the Flash slows time, allowing him to chain together faster combos.

Now invisible, he thrashes through the undergrowth in an Amsterdam park at night.

The boys, wearing striped polo shirts and cargo shorts, were timid at first but quickly warmed up to the crowd.

Authorities have started to survey the damage, finding dozens of cars flipped over and many trees toppled.

And why in general are there so many savage, crazy, vicious, and angry people on the Internet? Slate (Apr 19, 2013)

He was always fascinated by film, and resolved to become a director after college, even though his family thought the industry vulgar.

The decision, she said, had been made on a whim, inspired by having to obtain a new license plate anyway.

There was not much hand wringing or heated debate over this legislation.