Weekend Reading

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  • How Japan went crazy for KitKats
    Photos: How Japan went crazy for KitKats
    Having recently tried some of these, the Wasabi one was delicious (seriously!)
  • Life
    I am in Waterstones, pushing my son in his pram. We are on the hunt for an indestructible book, because my son has destroyed all his books so completely he might be a book-Terminator sent back from some anti-book future. Suddenly, a woman comes up and asks how much I charge.
    Prejudice everywhere. I think what stuns me most is how little ‘these people’ think, such are their fixed ideas of their world. Sad. Angry-making.
  • A year after Aylan Kurdi’s tragic death, the world is still numb to the Syrian refugee crisis
    One year ago today, the world was devastated by images of a small Syrian child who had drowned while attempting to reach safety in Greece.
    When you start looking at the numbers involved it is overwhelming.
  • How Fox News Women Took Down Roger Ailes
    It took 15 days to end the mighty 20-year reign of Roger Ailes at Fox News, one of the most storied runs in media and political history.
    Another small step forward, we need a LOT more of this though.
  • Finally, a politician is talking about one of the biggest taboos of being a woman
    Not having children is a choice that some people make. When the person in question is a woman in politics, however, not giving birth is often treated as a statement, or a sign—even, sometimes, as a reason for distrust.
    As mentioned previously, if Clinton wins the US elections, the majority of the most powerful people in the world will be women. THEN will we treat them equally? (Yeah, I know, of course we won’t).
  • Your avocado toast may be killing the Monarch butterfly
    Two things Americans really love are coming into conflict. Avocados have become an increasingly popular food in the US in recent years, as they’ve been both linked with health benefits and also aggressively marketed.
    I love avocado. I love butterflies, THIS IS SUCH A DILEMMA!!
  • The world wide cage
    It was a scene out of an Ambien nightmare: a jackal with the face of Mark Zuckerberg stood over a freshly killed zebra, gnawing at the animal’s innards. But I was not asleep.
    I do love these type of articles, no spoilers but it’s not quite what you think.
  • To lure people put off by the freakiness of lab-made meat, this is what the industry wants to call it
    There’s an effort afoot to change the the way people perceive high-tech versions of old-fashioned food—and it’s happening far outside the laboratory.
    Ten people took the ‘freak meat’ challenge and 7 of them preferred the meat that isn’t really meat!
  • Lenny Pozner Used to Believe in Conspiracy Theories. Until His Son’s Death Became One.
    On December 14, 2012, Lenny Pozner dropped off his three children, Sophia, Arielle, and Noah, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Noah had recently turned 6, and on the drive over they listened to his favorite song, “Gangnam Style,” for what turned out to be the last time.
    A much needed reality check. Conspiracy theories have an innocent enough name but a real life impact.
  • Researchers Confront an Epidemic of Loneliness
    BLACKPOOL, England — The woman on the other end of the phone spoke lightheartedly of spring and of her 81st birthday the previous week. And with that, Beryl’s cheer turned to despair.
    Note to self: next time that ‘old biddy’ is chatting to the bus driver, chill out a bit, might be the only interaction she has today and it doesn’t matter if getting home takes a few more minutes.
  • What science can tell us about trigger warnings.
    As educators and students suited up for the fall semester last month, University of Chicago dean of students John Ellison sent a provocative letter to incoming freshmen about all the cushioning policies they should not expect at their new school.
    Et tu, common sense?
  • Your smartphone performs better in one hand than the other
    If you’ve got an iPhone, you’re likely to get better reception if you hold it in your right hand (and right ear) during a call.
    One for all the weirdos… err… lefties out there. It’s true, it’s all a big conspiracy!! (but that’s just a theory…).
  • What Makes Vertigo the Best Film of All Time? Four Video Essays (and Martin Scorsese) Explain
    Vertigo is the greatest motion picture of all time.
    To be honest, you don’t need to click through to this one. Just accept the above sentence as fact, except do click through and watch the video essays, fascintating stuff (and I know what movie I’ll be watching later).
  • Glamour Exclusive: President Barack Obama Says, “This Is What a Feminist Looks Like”
    There are a lot of tough aspects to being President. But there are some perks too. Meeting extraordinary people across the country. Holding an office where you get to make a difference in the life of our nation. Air Force One.
    I will be sad to see Obama go, whether you like his policies or not, he at least seems to have a grasp on being an adult in the modern world.
  • How to Pick the Fastest Line at the Supermarket
    You dash into the supermarket for a few necessities. You figure it will be 10 minutes — tops — before you are done and on your way home. Then you get to the checkout lanes and they are brimming with shoppers. Your plan for a quick exit begins to evaporate.
    I learned this about 10 years ago, basic principle is the number of people in the queue, regardless of what they have as it’s the ‘paying’ part of the process that takes longest. Works for me about 8/10!