(no subject)

Interesting (and embarrassing and sad) list:

Which U.S. Presidents owned slaves?.

A common argument is that they were a "product of their times". Bad argument, because this guy, and people like him, were a product of their times, too.

This moment in US history brought to you by my current reading of Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, which should be required reading in all US high school history classes. Everyone needs to read this book, especially every American.

(no subject)

sistermagpie has started a discussion of Susan Boyle and why her story resonates with so many people, and also of reality TV/pop idol shows and why they're so popular. Interesting discussion so far.

Discussion is here, if you're interested.