While the whole world was debating the American Academy of Pediatrics’ position on “female genital cutting”—the AAP was against it before they were for it, and now, after an outcry, they’re against it again—Alice Dreger and Ellen Feder have been raising the alarm about “medical research” currently being conducted at Cornell University. A pediatric urologist […]
Ethics
Posted inPuppy
“Dog with a Box on His Head”
You may remember that last week I posted a new toe-tappin’ single about high fashion bunny models. This week’s new song from Parry Gripp takes on a far more serious subject: dogs with boxes on their heads. There’s an entire internet meme devoted to this ongoing example of animal cruelty, and this song drags this […]
Posted inEthics
How to Solve the World’s Problems: The Bonobo Method
“We have to respect history and cannot obliterate it. I want to cure the wounds of Chinese with my body, and I am practicing this by having sex with Chinese students in Japan,” So says Japanese adult video star Anri Suzuki, who has taken it upon herself (so to speak) to atone for the Japanese […]
Posted inEthics
It’s Happening Tonight!
A RARE SOUL—Soul night isn’t just for Rotture anymore, kids. Rare 45 collector DJ Cooky (who two-times as part of Loch Lomond and Y La Bamba) is starting up In the Cooky Jar, a brand-new northern soul night far down south at the Woods. Expect Motown; expect Stax; expect tight pants, short skirts, and a […]
Posted inFood and Drink
For the Love of God, Please Stop Talking About Your Hemorrhoids When You’re at the Fucking Restaurant!
Communal Tables: Better than a Confessional! I don’t have the angst about communal dining many seem to harbor; my experiences had been generally positive… Until yesterday. While eating for review at a new joint in North Portland, my companion and I were seated at a communal table. Initially, we were far enough from fellow diners […]
Posted inFood and Drink
Your Daily Dose of (Vegan) Red Faced Incredulity
Did you hear the one about the vegan bakery and cafe that only wanted to hire vegans? No? Too bad, because the LOLs are many. Omnivores, Use Rear Entrance I’m going to try and not say much about how I feel regarding the stupid discriminatory initial job listing from Sweetpea Bakery requiring that their new […]
Posted inEthics
Thanks for Everything, Google
Google generated $54 billion of economic activity for American businesses, website publishers and non-profits in 2009. Google is really doing some amazing things these days. Haven’t you noticed? I mean, apart from lightning-fast, super-relevant search, they’re enabling thousands of small businesses to reach out and connect with a global audience. Google is an amazing company, […]
Posted inEthics
The Walmart iPhone: A Deal with the Devil?
Here is your ethical financial problem of the day! Perhaps you’ve been wondering if you should purchase an iPhone 3GS—but a) you don’t have the necessary funds, and b) maybe you’re thinking it would be better just to wait until the newest iPhone launches. Well, today’s news is not going to help matters much. From […]
Posted inFashion
What, American Apparel Models Are Models?
Yesterday evening Jezebel put up a post calling out American Apparel for claiming that its 5’10+ size 4- models aren’t professional models. They’re just friends who happen to contract with certain agencies and get flown around the world to have their picture taken, that’s all. It’s not exactly a surprising confirmation, and I strongly suspect […]
Posted inEthics
Addendum to the Great Hitler Moustache Debate of 2010
You’ll recall: Several issues ago the I, Anonymous entitled “I Don’t Like Your Hitler ‘Stache” sparked some pretty strongly worded discussion in the comments. At one point a letter was sent to the Mercury implying that the mustachioed gentleman in question was in physical danger. “I know the person behind the moustache personally and he […]
Posted inFood and Drink
This Week’s Mercury Food Section: Business Relationships
This week we discuss the closing of the beloved downtown cafe Half and Half. During my interview with owners Robin Rosenberg and Jeff Heisler, I was struck by this comment from Heisler: “I had two customers cry today when I told them. I feel guilty, but I’m also excited to be doing something new.” Oooooohhhh. […]
Posted inFood and Drink
Vegans! You Think You’re So Clever.
Wired Also Feels No Pain When you ask vegetarians and vegans what they miss most from their sinful, bad-person days of meat eating, the typical response is “bacon.” For me, it was Chex Mix. While arguably not as tasty and definitely not as versatile as bacon, apparently some vegans can’t resist oysters. And they’ve found […]