Your Tuesday Random-Ass Roundup: Skirt Steak

What does this mean?

“Well, it is certainly no disrespect to anyone that is vegan or vegetarian. As you know, I am the most judgment-free human being on the earth. However, it has many interpretations, but for me this evening … If we don’t stand up for what we believe in and if we don’t fight for our rights, pretty soon we’re going to have as much rights as the meat on our own bones. And I am not a piece of meat.”

Some things I’m clearly not meant to understand. But if Camille Paglia has a problem with Lady Gaga, that’s more than enough reason to root for her continued success.

Time for links:

1. In the wake of 9/11, Equality 101 reflects on teaching in a post-Columbine world. (Melissa A)

2. WaPo’s The Fix highlights eight political races this fall that will play a huge role in the fate of redistricting. (Blackink)

3. “Dude, you have no Qur’an.” (Melissa A)

4. Related: Eric Deggans has five lessons the media should learn – but probably won’t – from the coverage of hate-mongering, attention hounds like Pastor Terry Jones. (Blackink)

5. Adam Serwer smartly (of course) calls Dinesh D’Souza’s recent anti-Obama screed “birtherism with big words.” (Blackink)

6. A recent poll says dissatisfaction with the federal government may lead to a GOP takeover … No surprise here; in America we vote for the class you aspire to be … and who doesn’t wanna be rich? (Naima)

7. Over in northern Afghanistan, Anna Badkhen of Foreign Policy reports that things are going south. (Blackink)

8. How the reaction to a dozen cartoons satirizing the Prophet Mohammed in 2005 set the template for the debate over the Park51 project. (Blackink)

9. The UN estimates more than 500 women have been raped in eastern Congo since late July. (Melissa A)

10. Earnest Withers, veteran photographer for the black press in the Civil Rights Era, doubled as an informant for the FBI. The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) reviewed a number of reports that “portray Withers as a prolific informant who, from at least 1968 until 1970, passed on tips and photographs detailing an insider’s view of politics, business and everyday life in Memphis’ black community.” (Blackink)

11. A photo essay on MREs from around the world. According to the NYT, American rations of hamburgers, chili, peanut butter and candy, among other high-calorie goodies, are “fun.” (Nicole)

12. The EU has banned animal testing on great apes. (Melissa A)

13. A new study shows that some people are Filthy McNasties. Especially men. And especially at baseball games. (Blackink)

14. Prof Susurro on classism, racism, and Antoine Dodson. (Melissa A)

15. The federal appeals court in Atlanta has ruled there are no racial overtones when adult black men are called “boy.”  It’s an Alabama thing; we wouldn’t understand. (Blackink)

16. Our very own Jamelle highlights the increase in the numbers of grandparents who are raising their children’s children. (Blackink)

17. Trader Joe’s is still holding out on paying fair wages to farmworkers. (Nicole)

18. A Haitian visitor gives his take on America. “It’s so amazing how people can be so lonely in the U.S.”  (Blackink)

19. The success of  U.S. fast food chains in the Far East has China launching its own chains. (Naima)

20. Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham lands the world’s first wheelchair double backflip. (Melissa A)

21. No, Bollywood brothels do not exist. It’s a myth fueled by the prostitution-related arrests of a few Indian actresses. (Blackink)

22. Gabourey Sidibe is an Elle cover girl, sort of. (Blackink)

23. Brokey gives us, specifically Aretha Franklin, a lesson in humility. (Blackink)

24. Via Sociological Images, A. J. Patrick Liszkiewicz argues that Farmville’s incredible success – it’s the most popular video game in the U.S. – may stem from politeness. (Blackink)

25. A University of Penn football player who killed himself in April appears to have suffered from significant trauma-induced brain disease. Owen “Thomas is the youngest and first amateur football player to be found with clear C.T.E., which is linked with cognitive impairment, depression and ultimately dementia.” (Blackink)

Enjoy.

Joel

Joel Anderson —blackink —  writes about sports, politics, crime, courts, and other issues far beyond his competence at BuzzFeed. He has worked at media outlets in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Atlanta and contributed to a number of publications, including The Root and The American Prospect, among many others.
  • Scipio Africanus

    When I was in ROTC and in Norfolk and then Jacksonville over teh course of a month, one summer, I used to so look forward to a good MRE. Alot of them have a littel packet of Tabasco sauce. I’d prefer Texas Pete, but you take what you can get.

  • Darth Paul

    Dinesh D’Souza is a degenerate, amateurish, pseudo-intellectual. He would be quite at home with NSP philosophies.

    Re: 21 – Sick sad world for actresses everywhere. But the irony is that in Bollywood (at least, not sure about Kolly or Tollywood), screen prostitutes are almost always played by white or East Asian women. There are a few exceptions, and those are where a main character is a prostitute (“Chori Chori Chupke Chupke”, “Water”, etc.) and played by a desi.

  • Lemu

    I hope Lady Gaga sponsored a BBQ after the VMAs

  • I’m honored to be included in such a great list of articles & sad to see that Trader Joe’s is still party to the exploitation of farm workers. I have never forgotten their reaction to the campaign to remove two buck chuck or at least comment on it during the aftermath of a pregnant teen farmer worker’s death of heat stroke.

    As for Lady Gaga, apparently she feels like meat when people critique her & perhaps some/most/times rightfully so. But let’s not forget her stance on immigration is equally problematic & as far as I know, it is the source of her most recent negative attention in the media and elsewhere.

  • aisha

    #13. One of my earliest childhood memories was going to Dodger stadium when I was about 5. My father didn’t know what to do with me when he went to the restroom so he just took me with him. I’ve never been in a place so disgusting.

  • Jackson

    @aisha

    That must have been the same day I was there. Because I remember that place.

  • haiba

    # 9. It angers me that I’ve heard so little about this in the news. When I first heard this story, I pretty much threw up and almost cried myself to sleep.