Average consumption of meat has nearly doubled in the past fifty years, and the U.S. is second only to Luxembourg for amount of meat consumed. With such a huge meat market, you would figure we would be more careful about quality control. Unfortunately, the industry is rife with abuses against farm animals, the environment, and our health. Pink slime, anyone? Thankfully, there is Certified Humane, a program started by Adele Douglass ... Read More

A study at Northwestern University looks at the way we judge politicians to help explain the gender gap in politics. The study denies that people rationally consider candidates, and instead states, “research indicates that people use shallow decision heuristics, such as impressions of competence made solely from facial appearance when deciding whom to vote for.”  73 students (38 women and 35 men) looked at facial photos of ... Read More

The Shout Out Louds, an indie band hailing from Stockholm, are releasing, “Blue Ice,” a track from their upcoming album, Optica, IN ICE. The 7” record is created in a mold, and can be played with any old record player. How is this possible outside of a Swedish ice hotel you ask? You can watch an explanatory video below.   The video has a slightly condescending, “this is what a record made of ice ... Read More

Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed is making history by opening Europe’s first feminist and gay-friendly mosque. This mosque, situated east of Paris, welcomes the LGBTQ community and encourages women to lead prayer. So-called “inclusive” mosques exist in the U.S., Canada, and South Africa; but this is a first for the European continent. In 2010, Zahed helped establish Homosexual Muslims of France, a society that seeks to defend LGBTQ ... Read More

Four NYC indie rock darlings are coming together for Hurricane Sandy relief! A benefit concert on December 14th at Terminal 5 will donate all proceeds to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.  Sleigh Bells, a duo from Brooklyn, will be blowing out our eardrums with their heavy brand of noise pop.  They’ve now got two albums out and are working on a third with a possible release date in 2013.  With the ... Read More