In The News

These are some things that are in the news!

[CN: classism] ”Something something Republicans Obamacare debt ceiling government shutdown blah blah fart." And while that is not a direct quote from John Boehner, it’s pretty close.

Things continue to be bad for Blackberry. That’s because its employees and products couldn’t compete in a free market, OBVIOUSLY. Because Free Marketz!(tm) always whittle the competition down to the best ideas and innovation! It definitely has nothing to do with executives who bought a jet when they were in financial trouble. Or who sold off stock just before announcing the layoffs. Or who arranged things so that they stand to make $80 million in severance pay if they lose their jobs after a sale. INVIZIBLE HAND 4EVA!

Former U.S. president George H.W. Bush served as an official witness for the marriage of two friends, Bonnie Clement and Helen Thorgalsen. It’s pretty neat to have a former president as your witness!

Michelle Obama is one of many people whose ID information was hacked from data brokers’ sites, an investigation reveals. Also targeted: “Bill Gates, Beyonce Knowles, Jay-Z, Ashton Kutcher and many others." I feel safe! Do you feel safe?

[CN: war-related atrocities]Former Liberian president Charles Taylor has lost his appeal and his 50 year sentence for war crimes has been upheld. Taylor has been convicted of facilitating atrocities in Sierra Leone during its civil war.

If you enjoyed Ming-Na Wen in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., then you might enjoy this article about her work in the show, where she talks about being a geek icon, her kids, and how the character became Asian-American. ICYMI, you might also enjoy co-star Chloe Bennet discussing (among other things) how cool it is to work on a show with two Asian-American women leads, which an Asian-American woman co-produces. (Spoiler: It’s cool!)

This might be a picture of Lincoln at Gettysburg! Or, maybe not. It is probably not a picture of Karl Marx at the Ice Capades. HISTORY! SCIENCE!

Chelsea Clinton is committed to addressing women’s and girls’ issues, and “this year, about two-thirds of all partnerships developed at CGI involve women and girls or gender issues.” Woot!

[CN: gender discrimination] An Indian company is opening an all-female business service center in Saudia Arabia. The company will focus on “back office” functions such as finance management, and provide job opportunities for professional Saudi women who are largely banned from working alongside men. Currently, Saudi women “account for about 57% of university graduates, but only 20% of those women are likely to enter the workforce.”

[CN: misogyny, racism, heterocentrism] Author, former CBC host, and University of Toronto instructor David Gilmour can’t understand why he’s getting criticism for teaching a literature course where the authors are “…guys.[*] Serious heterosexual guys. F. Scott Fitzgerald, Chekhov, Tolstoy. Real guy-guys. Henry Miller. Philip Roth." He’s not biased, it’s just that he’s “not passionate about books by Chinese authors, or by female authors.” Ladies and Chinese folk! They are super boring to him! Especially Chinese lady-folk, I guess! No, I cannot imagine why that’s “struck a nerve,” sir. DO get back to me if you figure it out, Professor “Guy-Guy.”(P.S. Never mind! The Atlantic tells us Gilmour has it figured out! He's not sexist, because speaking French and Truman Capote! Also, ladyjournalists... amiritedooodz?)

[*And Virginia Woolf. Because whut?]