News Appetizers: Tit For Tat

Well, bless my heart, pretty kittens, you are back for another mid-week round up of news appetizers, part of your current events breakfast.

Each week I am overjoyed that you fly back with me into the ether as we gently facepalm our way into the realm of the political, the sublime, and the absurd (mostly the absurd), as we attempt to understand what is going on in this big, crazy world of ours. You brave, brave souls. So enough lollygagging, let’s jump right into the topics that make us swirl our brains to process the absurd and inane. You’re welcome.

I suppose we have to get some electoral coverage in here. Ron Paul has dropped out of the 2012 electoral race (he was still running?) upsetting white, college-age dudeitarians everywhere, as the possibility of legalized weed weighed heavier than say, being a half-decent politician. Mittens Romney, while not only revealing himself to be Gul Dukat (*snort* ~ed.), has come out as a homophobic bully even in his teen years. Um, shocking? Not really, but well timed for Obama’s announcement that he does indeed support gay marriage. While I personally congratulate the president for finally catching the hell up, I’m going to make very few bones about him finally doing it. (Huffington Post, NY Times)

Greece and Spain are not feeling austerity measures. Can you blame them? The eurozone is proving, well… you be the judge. NPR reports: “In Spain, the health of the banking sector is in doubt as street opposition to painful budget cuts continues there and in other parts of Europe. Tens of thousands took to the streets in Madrid and several other Spanish cities in peaceful protests against deep budget cuts and other austerity measures.” Meanwhile, “Greek politicians tried again and failed to form a coalition government, though talks are ongoing. There is growing fear that Greece will not be able to remain in the currency union and avoid defaulting on its debts.” Oh lordy, here we go again. (NPR)

In Mexico, authorities are struggling to identify 49 mutilated bodies that were found dumped near city of Monterrey. The series of massacres is believed to be from the escalating conflict between Mexico’s two dominant drug cartels. Al Jazeera states that cartel violence has killed more than 47,500 people since President Felipe Calderon launched a stepped-up offensive when he took office in December 2006. (Al Jazeera).

Amendment One is bullshit, though I’m sure you were already very well aware. But here’s what Kenyon Farrow knows it means in the big picture. (Colorlines)

Domestic Violence numbers are on the rise and while we can definitely say that economic stress plays a tremendous role, Sady Doyle argues that the equations just ain’t that simple. (In These Times)

Kellee Terrell’s fantastic piece on why CeCe McDonald’s case is the perfect example of why systems in place fail the ones who need it the most. (The Root)

Goodbye Sarkozy, hello Hollande. Hollande became the socialist party’s replacement after their last nominee, a little gem you may know as Dominique Strauss-Kahn, decided to assault and rape Nafi Diallo, a domestic worker at a hotel he was staying at in New York City. I would like to expect more, but something about birds of a feather makes me not hold my breath. (MSNBC)

Well, my loves, that wraps up another session of the good, the bad, and the really bad. But remember, even in the worst of times, seek comfort in that which you love, that which generates good. For me, its a little bit of Bob Fosse and a little bit of rock-n-roll. So until next week you beautiful babes, are you to be shown a good time?