Saturday morning roundup, with Crazy Pills supplement

Claims of a multi-party system in Russia are fooling no one.

The history behind naming the military-industrial complex.

What our media response to the rape accusations against Assange say about our culture.

Gail Collins' favorite war.

Jews are getting better at making fun of themselves. And at looking a bit different over the generations.

And here are your crazy pills:

Some people are seriously full of $hit, and have no shortage of media through which to broadcast said $hit. Take this waste of space: the Post's decision to invite her to report on the Rally to Restore Sanity, and poor judgment in publishing her report, almost makes me want to cancel my subscription again.

Then--really, Civil Eats? How do you know that writer is full of $hit? It's nice that she warns her readers to cut back on soy, but neglects to mention that the vast majority of the very soy she warns you about ends up in animal feed, and thus, in meat.

While we're on the topic of food politics, these people make me want to gag, and if they have that effect on me, just imagine how people who don't actually agree with their food politics feel. I mean,

“This is our charity. This is my giving to the world,” says Alexandra, finally, as she packs lunchboxes—organic peanut butter and jelly on grainy bread, a yogurt, and a clementine—for her two boys. “We contribute a lot.”

Spare me.

I'm also, as you know, sick of all this talk about how healthy, sustainable food is elitist. Yes, organic fruit and veg can be pricey, but not nearly as much as meat. Can't afford fresh vegetables? Buy frozen--they retain more nutrients anyway. And stop it with the canned beans--a $1 bag of dry will feed your family for a few days, maybe together with a $1 bag of barley. I appreciate the point Newsweek is trying to make, but I have to call them out for shoddy if not deceptive journalism for neglecting to offer a more empirical look at food costs.