May 2009
2 posts
Evolution once again solves everything, and 'hey,...
A friend kindly tipped me off recently to the publication of a 2008 study on the evolutionary psychology of men versus women. The basic finding of the study? Men in the presence of other men of equal status and under pressure take more risks - women make equal decisions regardless of the context.
Several sociological studies have featured similar arguments, indicating increasing women in...
Burkina Faso, Tom Cruise Style Religion, and the... →
April 2009
1 post
Adorable robots edge out homeless people in NYC
A recent project has demonstrated the inherent sense of community found burgeoning under the harsh exterior surface of new yorkers cold, cold hearts.
At first glance, we found this delightful, as it combines our missing of cities where we no longer live with our robot love.
However, up-coming robot inventions (pictured below) have us thinking twice. My sense is that if more people would...
January 2009
2 posts
Cheers to gchat love
Having moved to London, aka: not Brooklyn, I have resorted to making love to my friends via gchat. Apparently, I am not alone.
Seeking
Single females in mid-twenties with jobs more important than you seeking part-time boyfriend. Requirements:
1. Works long hours. Works weekends.
2. Doesn’t talk so much.
3. Is pretty. Goes to gym. Doesn’t talk about going to gym.
4. No crying. Especially not in a five hour span before, during or after sex.
5. Showers at own house.
Creepiest response wins.
December 2008
1 post
Urban Dictionary: Wii-arm →
This summarizes my holidays. My body is now only functional on one half, in the post-wii weekend. I am so ashamed.
November 2008
8 posts
No Captain Ahab
I do not need to chase around Moby Dick to have a healthy fear of the ocean. I was already terrified enough by how little is known about it, and how much of it makes up this earth. To top it all of, last year in the Gambia, I saw a 30 foot whale dying on a beach. If it can do that to a huge animal used to living in the water, I am not getting in.
This week, my fears have been topped by this...
Beekeeping, hobby of bohemia and aspiring...
In honor of the fantasies (read: daydreams) of life-truants and urban bohemians alike, a recent post on Kottke looks into the dark underworld (not really) of illegal (really) honeymaking along the manhattan skyline.
You can even buy your own hive, for those of you interested in walking the walk.
Pointers in graph form for maximum honey flow:
Bribery on the bolt
Moral dilemma!
Taking the bolt bus from Boston to New York today for $20, our driver, “Flash” decided to solicit a bribe from passengers for taking a faster, toll route. He asked for a ‘tip’ of $2 from each of the 60 or so passengers. Even taking every toll possible on that trip, I can’t imagine how it would stack up to $120. Also, there are many other options...
Existentialism in the classroom: We are doomed
In recent years, American higher educational instutions have recorded a boom in philosophy majors. One reason offered is that,
“Once scoffed at as a luxury major, philosophy is being embraced at Rutgers and other universities by a new generation of college students who are drawing modern-day lessons from the age-old discipline as they try to make sense of their world, from the morality of...
Who votes to cancel Christmas?
An employee of Walmart was killed yesterday, trampled to death by a mob of overeager Long Island parents, fighting to get their children the 2008 version of Tickle-Me-Elmo.
Aside from the obvious tragedy of the situation, we are shocked to find that in all reporting of the incident, most concern is addressed toward the lack of security in this ‘Black Friday’ melee. Note that the New...
Happy Franksgiving?
The World Bank ruins another holiday by forcing us to face the reality that even this holiest day of Thanksgiving has been marred by capitalist intent.
According to some Bank character,
Nowadays, the U.S. celebrates the holiday of Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. It wasn’t always that way, though. Traditionally, Americans celebrated Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of...
It must be 'Mo'-vember again →
Perfect opportunity to get over yourself by offering up your grill to be ridiculed by strangers for charity. Transform yourself into a stereotype by snapping a beard onto a photo of you on holiday, in the tub, wasting time at work, etc, and emailing it in. Each one sends $1 to Kiva. How did Kiva get everywhere all of a sudden?
Happy birthday President Johnson Sirleaf!
Or, may we call you Ellen?
In belated honor of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s 70th birthday on Oct 29th, we would like to dedicate an entry to the fact that women leaders need not be vapid and lacking necessary brain functionality to be effective.
Calling to mind EJS now is also as politicaly appropriate a time as ever. In 2005, she beat out “barely literate”...
October 2008
16 posts
WatchOh you guys! Inciting hatred amongst the youth of neighboring states is so funny.
Obama girl, you've been served
Thanks Andrew Sullivan.
Metrosexual bohemian overdose
Boys of brooklyn, we beg you, stop wearing skinny jeans.
Summer in Williamsburg was just too long this year. We were hoping the ambiguously gendered apparel would come and go as the need to fit long-johns under your pants arrived. But fashion seems to know no weather limitations. So we ask you to consider our plea. We don’t know if you are all secretly waiting for Terry Richardson to...
Euros use rational human fear to see you naked
While Saudi Arabia cracks down on sexual predators (yay!), weirdos in security over at the EC are devising newer and creepier ways to see people naked at the airport.
The new security devise would be like a virtual peeping tom - although, apparently, “not mandatory.” Question: why would one voluntarily let a stranger check our your kit?
Our advice to the EC: if you want to see...
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Banker narcissism
Banks are worried about cutting bonuses this year, according to the Guardian.
“For a normal person the salaries are very high and the bonuses seem even higher. But in this world you get a top bonus for top performance, a medium bonus for mediocre performance and a much smaller bonus if you don’t do so well.”
Apparently, these bankers now face harrowing concerns that...
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Perv makes play for Obama at debate
In an effort to prove his campaigning does not have racial overtones, McCain attempted to grab Obama’s ass after yesterday’s third and final presidential debate at Hofstra University.
Meanwhile, Colin Powell expresses emotion on stage, rapping at London’s Africa Rising Festival, and Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon gives a shout out to some friends.
We are so thankful for the...
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Fashionistas run out of money, appropriate culture...
Fashionistas the world over have tried alternative approaches to expressing their ‘Africanism’, with sexy results.
Designer - no, MAVERICK - Zachary Smile traveled to Ivory Coast in order to culturally appropriate these patterns, reselling them in hipster-dress form for as little as $298. Apparently, “African prints and global ethnicity” were all the rage for New York...
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Celebrities accidentally patronize the sh*t out of...
‘Hey, it’s not about you!’ is not trying to pick on celebrities, but…
the I am African Campaign makes us super uncomfortable:
Iman, representing the campaign, explains of its mission:
“Each one of us contains DNA that can be traced back to our African ancestors. These people traveled far and wide. Now they need our help.”
We worry that representing...
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de Waal to celebrities: 'Hey, [Darfur]'s not about...
In a recent World Affairs article, Alex de Waal presents an argument at the heart of our cause:
”[…] the viscera of Darfur are as much about ‘us’—the faraway, affluent, anguished of America and Europe—as about the suffering people of a remote Sudanese province little known even to Africanist scholars five years ago. [Mia] Farrow’s ‘dream for Darfur’ Web site carries a newsfeed, and for every...
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Why we fight: An election season reminder
Though it came out a few years ago, this documentary is as apt today as it was in 2005. Use all your free (work) time watching Why We Fight, it will ruin your day. Featured? John McCain’s former self, defining the bush doctrine (spoiler alert for Sarah Palin).
'Hey, it's not about you!' Gets inspired...
After agonizing over our worthiness, some inspiring words and startling statistics motivated ‘Hey, it’s not about you!’ to start a blog.
Why? Because women can and should be able to say nothing on a public forum, just as much as men. Here’s to equality, and welcome.
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Michela Wrong says it all
In a Recent Article, Michela Wrong Says it All.
No one can express it better than Wrong herself:
“Women probably see an Africa book as featuring Africa first, their own exploits second. They fear they know too little, have nothing original to say. Even in this neo-feminist era, they have a sneaking suspicion they are not worthy.”
All we can say in response is, who doesn’t...