News Appetizers: We Will Eat You Up

Kittens, welcome the fee-fi-fo-fum back to another ravishingly good (or not-so-good) week of news round ups, where we cast the die and sow the reaper, or something like that. We take another dive into the ether of the current, the present, and the wish-it-weren’t-present.

So strap on your boots, and pull up a chair, we plan to cover the things that move and shake you, the events that make you sad, and that make you froth at the bit. Either way, just remember, we are all in this together, and as my favorite man, Spike Lee once said, “I love humanity, I just sometimes hate its people.” So true it hurts. Now without further adieu, come on kids, dive on in.

Beloved crank puss, agitator, writer, and illustrator Maurice Sendak died yesterday at the age of 83. Sendak was best known for his book Where The Wild Things Are. One of his last quotes: “I have nothing now but praise for my life. I’m not unhappy. I cry a lot because I miss people. They die and I can’t stop them. They leave me and I love them more… What I dread is the isolation… There are so many beautiful things in the world which I will have to leave when I die, but I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready.” Rest in peace, you dark, beautiful man. We will remember you by this hilarious video. (NPR)

Republicans are blocking a bill that would lower student loan interest rates. Seriously, do think any of those mother grubbers have ever even paid a student loan? (NY Times)

Kofi Annan wants to avoid civil war in Syria. Er, maybe someone could of thought about that before President Assad started terrorizing the country. From the article: “Annan, the UN-Arab League envoy entrusted with bringing an end to the violence, said on Tuesday that world powers shared a ‘profound concern’ that Syria’s violence was escalating into civil war. He said they had pledged to deploy 300 truce monitors to Syria by the end of the month.”  (Al Jazeera)

This just in: Ladies want Republicans in their vaginas. As a lady with a current yeast infection, I approve this message. (AlterNet)

In some better, more kick ass news, Melinda Gates plans to use a chunk of the Gates Foundation’s billions to revolutionize contraception worldwide. From the article: “Gates made a decision that’s likely to change lives all over the world. As she revealed in an exclusive interview with Newsweek, she has decided to make family planning her signature issue and primary public health a priority. ‘My goal is to get this back on the global agenda,’ she says.'” Melinda, my good lady, you have got a star in whatever heaven there may be. (The Daily Beast)

US moms die at a higher rate – but hey! We rose six spots and are now at number twenty five. USA! USA! (Womens E-News)

Everyone’s favorite Veep, Jo-Bo came out of his closet and said that he was comfortable with gay marriage. While the statement isn’t revolutionary, we do appreciate the fact that it seems like our elected officials are finally catching up. (US News)

Are you excited? Moved to shake, rattle, and roll? No? Well how about a little shimmy? No? Okay, well, will you at least come back next week for another bout of news that makes us lose our sane, and makes us change our cray? Good, we will talk then. So top’s off to you, my dearies, we adjourn for another day; and remember, it ain’t over until the Santorum sings.