Wednesday morning roundup

The Middle East's pluralism crisis.

Turkey's scandals keep getting crazier.

Texas officially reduces women to mere incubators.

Gabrielle Giffords inspires with every move.

Prosecutors get creative (on JP Morgan) to help Madoff's victims.

FTC determines that get-thin-quick schemes are officially fraudulent.

I love these words of wisdom from Carolyn:

Changing what you want is wrenching, but possible. Ask people who have broken out of ruts of all kinds — generally you’ll find one of three catalysts at work. One is necessity, where someone dumps you or dies or fires you, or you become seriously ill, or life otherwise cuts stasis off your list of choices. Another is the surprise appearance of a healthy alternative. A course-changing opportunity can end a 15-year drama inside of a week.

The third is achieving a state of self-loathing — or just abject boredom with your own stalled self — that inspires you to tear the list into little bits and just do something.

On first-world non-problems, I hope none of you are affected by the Velveeta shortage. At the very least, if you're not sick of the $hitty puns that have been flying around to describe the weather, the Velveeta crisis inspires even $hittier ones.

 

Speaking of cheesy, I usually roll my eyes at proposals, but this one is amazing and tasteful.