Tuesday morning roundup

The sectarian aspect of Central African Republic's conflict is a manufactured one, but it's real now.

North Korea's in-the-family execution was largely over shellfish.

David Cameron wouldn't pardon Alan Turing??

Is Santa the problem?

I'm disappointed in Suey Park (and in Jamie Kilstein for retweeting uncritically):

I've had death, rape, and had people job loss threats for racial justice work, not for being racist. I don't feel bad for Justine Sacco.
— Suey Park (@suey_park) December 24, 2013

It's not about feeling bad for Justine Sacco; it's about death and rape threats being not okay for anyone, ever, no matter how inane their tweets. It's about public discourse, not about whether JS "deserves" to be ridiculed.

In other Twitter controversies: Steve Martin's in-depth explanation/apology.

All this to say, let (s)he who's never spoken or tweeted carelessly cast the first stone.

Robin Givhan on 2013 in fashion.