On December 2, 1993, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Endeavor to repair and upgrade the Hubble Telescope (Mission STS-61). The mission had five spacewalks, which is a record. (Eek!)
- No, @GOP, Unfortunately Rosa Parks Didn’t End Racism – Haha, racism’s over, y’all! Time to pack up and go home.
- Aamer Rahman (Fear of a Brown Planet) on Reverse Racism – A comedian’s view on the concept of reverse racism. From miserlyoldman.
- The Race for Immortality – “Ray Kurzweil thinks we can stay one step ahead of death.” I think he should probably just eat more nuts.
- Science Reporter Emily Graslie Reads Her Mail — And It’s Not So Nice – Can someone wake me when sexism is over too? From Jamie T.
- Best Books 2013: Slate Staff Picks – I haven’t read any of these books, unfortunately! Do you have any to add to the list?
- The Truth About Krampus – Admit it, you like him more than Santa.
I thought racism ended the day Nancy Reagan sat on Mr. T’s lap.
Mary, the Ray Kurzweil item lacks a link.
thanks for letting me know! it’s all fixed now :)
Mary,
We had a lot of fun with that tweet about “Rosa Parks Ending Racism” over at Little Green Footballs.
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/42824_Racism_Over_Declares_GOP/comments/#ctop
I don’t think that, in a modern sense, there is a “right” way to look like Krampus. The tradition changing from region to region in Germany is absolutely right–it’s all about mountains. The look is greatly different as is the name–Knecht Ruprecht, Black Peter, and Belsnickle. Belsnickle groups can be found in Brazil as well–they cover themselves in long bunches of lichen collected from trees on friendly farms. They tend to be quite green, with the lichen and even jungle leaves.
It is said in several books that the modern Santa Claus is probably derived much more from the Belsnickle than from Saint Nicholas, as the illustrator Thomas Nast was personally given gifts from Belsnickles in Germany–these were men “dressed all in fur, from his head down to his foot.” This is not anything like Saint Nicholas ever looked. I have yet to figure out where Clement Moore got his information about Santa Claus, the fur-clad elf. All I know is that he was a religious historian. I have my doubts that he made this stuff up wholecloth.
What I’m saying is that Krampus is basically Santa Claus.
Oh and take a look at the Grinch–an alpine Krampus is there ever was one!
on Racism – just read about Rosa Parks from the link. IMO there are two aspects to racism, the outward an by that I mean the law and how people are treated under the law. Then there is perception and attitudes, arguably a harder thing to change than the law.
I have just watched a TV documentary called “Change my Race” (you can view it at SBS.com.au/ondemand) which explores attitudes and self image when your brown in a very white world. Its a kind of ‘self imposed racism’ (that may not be the best way of phrasing it). The plot is centred around (mainly asian) girls getting cosmetic surgery so that they look more european, and the reasons why they want the surgery. The documentary is very professional IMO there is no sensationalism rather an honest attempt at understanding cultural pressures.