Reader staffers share stories that fascinate, alarm, amuse, or inspire us.

Hey, did you read:

• About life in Watts 50 years after the riots? —Drew Hunt

• That there's been a spike in shootings in national forests and parks? —Mick Dumke

• That Coca-Cola is funding researchers who put the blame for widespread obesity and Type 2 diabetes on lack of exercise as opposed to diet and eating habits?  —Kate Schmidt

• About American basketball players (and their promoter) who tour the extreme fringe of international basketball? —Tal Rosenberg

• That Benedict Cumberbatch asked his fans to record him only in their minds and not on their iPhones when attending his performance as Hamlet? —Tony Adler

• About the axe-wielding clown in North Carolina? —Tyler Daswick

• About Russia's obsession with dill? —Ben Sachs

• That rape jokes are finally funny? —Aimee Levitt

• That KFC's China locations are set to debut a black burger and a pink burger? —Tyler Daswick