Gold: It is impossible to know Vanessa’s thoughts the morning of Feb. 25 as she set out to join the other two who had cut class. The mind of a teenager is a thing of mystery, a tempest of coming-of-age. Even more mysterious is what could have driven the three friends to meet on the tracks. That question would leave their community thirsty for answers, loved ones writhing in regret, and people at a distance, people totally unconnected, stunned at such tragic resolve. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Silver: Google, which has more than a million advertisers, would not comment on why sugar-daddy sites are still considered family safe, but cougar sites are not. The company’s decision, made public this week by CougarLife.com, has rankled not only advertisers but women who have embraced the cougar concept as a symbol of empowerment, of older women bucking dating stereotypes. (NY Times)
Bronze: No one seems to know how to value the product anymore. This isn’t a lament about declining standards of quality or the rude incursions of amateur bloggers. In fact, thanks to the Internet, people probably read more good journalism than ever. That’s precisely the problem: the sheer volume of words has overwhelmed a business model that was once based on scarcity and limited choice. (NY Times Magazine)
Revered Rust, Larko
Honorable Mention: “I go out urban exploring and find things that resonate, then I put them on canvas and people buy them,” said Ms. Larko, who grew up in Lake Parsippany and lived in several places in New Jersey before moving to New Rochelle, N.Y., in 2004. “I’m still amazed that I get to paint exactly what I want to paint and people still buy them.” (NY Times)