August is over- Labor Day Update

Can you believe August is over?  Happy almost-fall-time to you all.  As we transition to fall, I'll let you consult with Bill Cunningham regarding the transition in style (although, today in particular is summery hot, so this may be a little early!).

SO, important news first-- did you catch that Brad and Angelina got married?  I may have pulled a Christina here, because I'll admit I thought they already were.  My bad- apparently they *had* been waiting for gay marriage to be legalized...but they changed their minds.  This news is really, really important to all of you, right?

And also important-- here are all 50 states, ranked by beer.  I am pretty proud of my homestate, number 4, Michigan.

This is an interesting case for the need for real, concrete numbers and analysis in order to determine the true extent to which police officers are racist.  The author is suggesting that research will need to be done to get some hard numbers to confirm (or deny) this common assertion.

Karen Gillibrand's (NY Senator's) memoir apparently tells of the many inappropriate comments she has faced from fellow senators or other members of the workforce-- interesting, yes.  Surprising?  Not so much.

And this was sent in for the update, in particular, because Christina likes swearing.  And, apparently, that is a trend these days.  My mom has always sworn, a bit-- the s*** word, mostly-- and yet, it still always surprises me when I hear it.  Is that fair to her?  So, here are 5 surprising things about swearing- really wish I knew about number 3 on a baby-having night a few weeks ago!

I did not include last week's times article about how expensive it is to live in Brooklyn-- because, let's face it, we know this already-- no disrespect, Times.  But here we have the story of a young guy who won the housing lottery-- luxury high line apartment style. 

This sex therapist talks about how men and women of any age want meaning behind their sexual experiences- and she is 100 years old!   Meanwhile, I thought it was interesting how she says that iphones have caused less actual touching (i.e. hand holding).  I think I need to back off of my phone....you? (silly frivolous quiz here)

Finally- you remember the women arrested for leaving her 9 year old on the playground?  Did you hear about this week's 9 year old, who accidentally killed her shooting instructor with an uzi?  This opinion piece in Time Magazine points out the irony in comparing these two in terms of what Americans value.  The comparison may be a bit of a stretch- or, at least, rather convenient for an editorial, but it is worth thinking about. (Here is the NRA's reaction-- I was thinking this situation really puts a hole in the "guns don't kill people, people kill people" argument?  But they didn't mention that...)