You’re reading TheBlot Boomerang, where we bring the biggest and best of the latest news back around. This time, it’s Madonna!
Is Madonna a dance-music relic from the 1980s and 1990s flailing to remain current? Or is she a forward-thinking grande dame of pop who continues to inspire? With a new album about to drop, she keeps making music regardless of what people think of her. But then, that’s the way Madonna has always rolled. The Daily Dot’s Ben Branstetter makes a case for Madge’s tremendous influence and continued relevance in the post-Generation X musical landscape.
LINK: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Police and Racism
The basketball legend writes a thoughtful, heartfelt piece for Time magazine in response to the murders of New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. As the son and grandson of cops, Abdul-Jabbar respects the profession, but also points out that the murders were the work of a mentally ill man, not a response to police brutality. Finally, he calls out the opportunists who use the case to smear peaceful protestors and critics: “Shaming and blaming is a lot easier than addressing legitimate claims.”
LINK: A Nation of Echo Chambers
Will Leitch writes on Deadspin about an ironic side effect of the Internet age: the rise of “niche cultures.” People willingly block out opposing opinions or simple facts that can be accessed with a Google search. Instead of openness, they seek confirmation bias. These Internet echo chambers can be dangerous as bad ideas, such as the anti-vaccination movement, gain traction in the real world. Leitch sees this as part of a larger trend in society, where people yell over each other instead of finding common ground. “We don’t have to be right; we just have to be louder than the other guys,” he explains.
LINK: Kim Jong-un’s Movie Page!
From the cartoon “Tom the Dancing Bug” by Ruben Bolling comes KIMDb, Kim Jong-un’s movie page. Are you befuddled by the North Korean dictator’s sway over certain segments of the American film industry? Do you simply want a good laugh at his expense? Check out KIMDb’s movie reviews, including the one for the upcoming “Hot Tub Time Machine 2.” (Like the Supreme Leader, we don’t know how this movie was green-lit.)
LINK: The Pets of Ars Technica
Ars Technica takes a break from tech news and reviews to administer a dose of cute. The venerable website’s staff is comprised of telecommuters, who rely on the interoffice companionship of furry, scaly creatures. These critters keep home offices free of mice, nap on computer keyboards and tablets and generally provide moral support to their human friends. All together now: D’aaaaaawwwww!
