GOOD

Penn State Kicker Sought Treatment For An Eating Disorder Earlier This Year

The kicker shared his story via Facebook this week.

 Penn Collins
10.04.16

On Monday morning, Penn State kicker Joey Julius released a public statemvent via Facebook that he was admitted to a St. Louis center earlier this year for treatment of an eating disorder. From May 9th to July 26th, Julius sought treatment for binge eating following and shared with his followers and friends not only his reasons for seeking help, but offered to help anyone, “guy or girl,” who feels they may suffer from the same affliction.

At 2:44 AM Monday, Julius posted the following statement on his Facebook wall:

Julius, a redshirt sophomore, was brought on by Penn State to serve as both field goal kicker and kickoff specialist, but as his production slipped Tyler Davis took over as the Nittany Lionis’ field goal kicker, while Julius remains on kickoffs. He had missed both spring and summer practices this year for unknown reasons, but it’s now clear that his treatment program precluded him from working out with the teams for both sessions.

Penn State coach James Franklin stated that Julius enjoys the full support of both him and the Penn State football program, offering to the campus newspaper The Daily Collegian, "We are very proud of Joe and fully support him as he deals with these personal matters. However, as is our policy, we do not discuss the medical affairs of our student-athletes. We ask for others to be supportive and respectful, as well!"

At 258 pounds, Julius is one of the largest kickers in college football and has made a name for himself by running down the field and laying out bone-crushing hits on returners on at two ocassions, both of which made national highlight reels.

Here’s one such play against Kent State earlier this season:

He didn’t disclose in his Facebook post or elsewhere what his impetus was for posting the message. The National Eating Disorders Association states that 2% of men suffer from binge eating, making it the most common disorder in the U.S.

Julius’ size and aggresion in pursuing the ball carrier after the kickoff has given oppsoing special teams coaches fits this season. Michigan special teams coach Jay Harbaugh said of Julius, "That guy is surprisingly a very good cover guy. Credit to him -- he's a big, stout cover guy you really have to account for, which is unfortunate. You usually like to be able to ignore the kickers."

There appears to be no change in Julius’ role on the team, and he’s expected to continue his duties on kickoffs as he has before.

Sports

A Kenyan inventor's niece was born deaf so he made a glove that turns sign language into speech

via Honor Africans / Twitter

The problem with American Sign Language (ASL) is that over 500,000 people in the U.S. use it, but the country has over 330 million people.

So for those with hearing loss, the chances of coming into contact with someone who uses the language are rare. Especially outside of the deaf community.

Keep Reading Show less
CNN MSNBC Fox News sign language to speech

Bill Gates explaining the internet to a smug David Letterman in 1995 is hilarious in hindsight

Looking back, the year 1995 seems like such an innocent time. America was in the midst of its longest streak of peace and prosperity. September 11, 2001 was six years away, and the internet didn't seem like much more than a passing fad.

Twenty-four years ago, 18 million U.S. homes had modem-equipped computers, 7 million more than the year before. Most logged in through America Online where they got their email or communicated with random strangers in chat rooms.

According to a Pew Research study that year, only 32% of those who go online say they would miss it "a lot" if no longer available.

Imagine what those poll numbers would look like if the question was asked today.

RELATED: Bill and Melinda Gates had a surprising answer when asked about a 70 percent tax on the wealthiest Americans

"Few see online activities as essential to them, and no single online feature, with the exception of E-Mail, is used with any regularity," the Pew article said. "Consumers have yet to begin purchasing goods and services online, and there is little indication that online news features are changing traditional news consumption patterns."

"Late Night" host David Letterman had Microsoft founder and, at that time the richest man in the world, on his show for an interview in '95 to discuss the "the big new thing."

During the interview Letterman chided Gates about the usefulness of the new technology, comparing it to radio and tape recorders.

Gates seems excited by the internet because it will soon allow people to listen to a baseball game on their computer. To which Letterman smugly replies, "Does radio ring a bell?" to laughter from the crowd.

But Gates presses Letterman saying that the new technology allows you to listen to the game "whenever you want," to which Letterman responds, "Do tape recorders ring a bell?"

Gates then tells Letterman he can keep up with the latest in his favorite hobbies such as cigar smoking or race cars through the internet. Letterman shuts him down saying that he reads about his interests in magazines.

RELATED: Bill Gates has five books he thinks you should read this summer.

The discussion ends with the two laughing over meeting like-minded people in "troubled loner chat room on the internet."

The clip brings to mind a 1994 segment on "The Today Show" where host Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric have a similar discussion.

"What is internet anyway?" an exasperated Gumball asks. "What do you write to it like mail?"

"It's a computer billboard but it's nationwide and it's several universities all joined together and it's getting bigger and bigger all the time," a producer explains from off-stage.





bill gates david letterman 1995 internet gates explains internet late show with letterman 90s tv america online gates letterman internet
Culture

We're finally starting to take climate change seriously, survey finds

Photo by Li-An Lim on Unsplash

The future generations will have to live on this Earth for years to come, and, not surprisingly, they're very concerned about the fate of our planet. We've seen a rise in youth activists, such as Greta Thunberg, who are raising awareness for climate change. A recent survey indicates that those efforts are working, as more and more Americans (especially young Americans) feel concerned about climate change.

A new CBS News poll found that 70% of Americans between 18 and 29 feel climate change is a crisis or a serious problem, while 58% of Americans over the age of 65 share those beliefs. Additionally, younger generations are more likely to feel like it's their personal responsibility to address climate change, as well as think that transitioning to 100% renewable energy is viable. Overall, 25% of Americans feel that climate change is a "crisis," and 35% feel it is a "serious problem." 10% of Americans said they think climate change is a minor problem, and 16% of Americans feel it is not a problem that worries them.

The poll found that concern for the environment isn't a partisan issue – or at least when it comes to younger generations. Two-thirds of Republicans under the age of 45 feel that addressing climate change is their duty, sentiments shared by only 38% of Republicans over the age of 45.

Keep Reading Show less
climate crisis environment
The Planet