Friday roundup

This times one thousand, except I would disagree that there's nothing specifically wrong with the Times article in question. The article is sloppy in its terminology and makes conclusions out of context. See also this.

Here's one of the best analyses I've seen on the NPT RevCon.

Also: our primary concern isn't keeping Saudi Arabia happy.

Holy shit, Russia's professional trolls:

Despite his unpleasant disposition, Ass had a half-dozen or so fans who regularly liked and commented on his posts. These fans shared some unusual characteristics. Their Facebook accounts had all been created in the summer of 2014. They all appeared to be well-dressed young men and women who lived in large American cities, yet they seemed to have no real-life friends.

One of her assignments had been to write an essay from the point of view of an average American woman. “I live in such developed society, so that people have practically ceased to walk on foot,” she wrote.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the Red Cross is not the best organization for your donations. Pair with this piece about picking battles about supporting organizations you're not thrilled about for the sake of keeping the peace.

This Vox piece has been criticized, but the argument is in line with what Amanda Marcotte's comments on Kipnis. 

John Oliver is really making a difference, just as North Carolina passed possibly the worst ag-gag law ever.

GMOs may be good for some things, but RoundUp readiness especially emphatically does not reduce pesticide usage.

Almonds are not the problem.  

Laverne Cox wrote the absolute best thing you should read about Caitlyn Jenner:

I love working a photo shoot and creating inspiring images for my fans, for the world and above all for myself. But I also hope that it is my talent, my intelligence, my heart and spirit that most captivate, inspire, move and encourage folks to think more critically about the world around them. Yes, Caitlyn looks amazing and is beautiful but what I think is most beautiful about her is her heart and soul, the ways she has allowed the world into her vulnerabilities. The love and devotion she has for her family and that they have for her. Her courage to move past denial into her truth so publicly. These things are beyond beautiful to me. A year ago when my Time magazine cover came out I saw posts from many trans folks saying that I am “drop dead gorgeous” and that that doesn’t represent most trans people...

...Now, there are many trans folks because of genetics and/or lack of material access who will never be able to embody these standards. More importantly many trans folks don’t want to embody them and we shouldn’t have to to be seen as ourselves and respected as ourselves . It is important to note that these standards are also infomed by race, class and ability among other intersections. I have always been aware that I can never represent all trans people. No one or two or three trans people can. This is why we need diverse media representations of trans folks to multiply trans narratives in the media and depict our beautiful diversities...

...Most trans folks don’t have the privileges Caitlyn and I have now have. It is those trans folks we must continue to lift up, get them access to healthcare, jobs, housing, safe streets, safe schools and homes for our young people. We must lift up the stories of those most at risk, statistically trans people of color who are poor and working class.

But these are also worth a read. I'm not even linking to The New Republic take, which contradicts the first link here. Some people don't understand that there's a difference between being objectified and owning your sexuality.

By now, you've heard about the terrible Science advice, which has since been pulled.

I'm actually somewhat on the side of the woman who posted this, minus the slut-shaming, of course. Just as women shouldn't be subject to unwanted attention and crass comments from men, the same goes the other way.
 To counter all the bad advice going around, here's some great advice from Dan Savage:

Those of us who are sex positive shouldn’t run around acting like there are no potential downsides or negative consequences to sex and sexual expression. But that’s often what gets in the way: Fear that’s been blown out of all proportion to the actual risks. Sex is the only adult pleasurable pursuit—the only natural human function—that people argue has to be 100 percent safe, or you shouldn’t do it. That’s not a standard we apply to driving or dinner or flying or bungee jumping. Nothing is 100 percent safe, including sex. And people have a right to calculated (mitigated, hopefully) risks. But the corrective can’t be that all sex is awesome, and sex never hurt anybody.

Okay so I'm not the only woman out there who hates having to single-handedly keep the conversation going on dates.

This 92-year old marathoner is uber-inspiring.