Atlantic Monthly Contributors's Blog, page 843

Mother of NFL Star Urges Her Son to Get a Nosejob

Houston Texans Defensive End J.J. Watt in December 2013. (AP PHOTO/DARRON CUMMINGS)

J.J. Watt, the 6-foot-5-inch, 290-pound all-pro defensive end for the Houston Texans, has a scar not even his mother could love. Back in September, during the fourth game of the Texans’ (exceptionally dismal) year, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year gashed the bridge of his nose while tackling Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. In each game since, Watt's wound has re-opened during play, resulting in a bright red scar. With his offseason set to begin on Monday, Watt told reporters that he may opt for plastic surgery at the nudging of his mother. "She hates it," Watt said. 

The saga of Watt’s nose has had surprisingly far-reaching ramifications in the football world. The image of the bloodied player went viral, earning him plaudits for his toughness after he continued to play while blood gushed down his face. “I hit people for a living,” he said dryly after the game.

But the injury also started a conversation in professional football about a “blood rule,” which most college and major league sports have enacted. In short: Whenever a player begins bleeding during a game, he or she must leave the field of play until the bleeding stops and and the uniform is cleaned up. Football, not known for its progressivism, remains one of the holdouts.

Fox analyst Mike Pereira, formerly the head of NFL officiating, predicted that Watt's injury might lead the league’s Competition Committee to address a future blood rule in the offseason. If so, the legend of Watt’s nose may keep running.  

On a more heart-warming note: Last year, J.J. Watt was the subject of ESPN segment about his friendship with the Berrys—three young Texas siblings—who were suddenly orphaned in 2011:

       

Videos of Dogs and Children Opening Their Christmas Presents and Flipping Out

Photo by Fasphotographic via Shutterstock

Americans were up (too) early this morning to open their Christmas presents. The footage is priceless.

First things first, the Annunciation: 

Any idea what this kid just got for Christmas? 

It's always fun when you know what you're about to get:

But it's even better when you believe your present came from Santa Claus personally:

The suspense is too much:

Awesooooome:

Somehow, this dog knew exactly which present to pick up:

Here's a Boxer hastily opening up presents:

One French bulldog didn't even need to bother with wrapping:

Cats were popular too. Specifically Hello Kitty:

I defy your cold heart not to melt:

Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

'Twas The Night Before Christmas: Five Takes on a Christmas Classic

Michelle Obama reads "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" at the 2013 National Tree Lighting ceremony.  (AP PHOTO/CAROLYN KASTER)

For a 200 year old work, Clement Clarke Moore's "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" is certainly resilient, but it's also surprisingly malleable. Over the years, dozens of actors, musicians, and comedians have put their own spin on the Christmas classic. Below you'll find a few of my favorite takes—some faithful, some decidedly less so. 

For the classicist: Perry Como reads "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" 

If "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" is synonymous with a roaring fire, a mug full of hot chocolate, and the nervous anticipation of presents, this is the version for you. 

For the stoner: Wayne Coyne reads "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" (with backing from Steven Drozd)

Although certainly not as strange as it could be—Coyne and Drozd made Zaireeka, after all—the two Flaming Lips bring a sense of silliness and fun to what is sometimes a stodgy affair. 

For the alternative comedy fan: Philly Boy Roy reads "'Twas the Night Before Christmas (Philly Style) on The Best Show on WFMU"

Although The Best Show on WFMU sadly ended its incredible 13 year run last week, it lives on in its sizable archives. This clip, which features Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster, rocker Kurt Vile, and host Tom Scharpling, is the show at its best. 

WFMU's Best Show Gems with Tom Scharpling from 12/23/2013

For the hip hop fan: "Christmas in Hollis" by Run-DMC

Because the best way to improve on the original is to have Santa Claus drop his wallet in Queens. 

  For the book lover: Penguin authors read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"    A star-studded and, um, eclectic group of Penguin authors, including Emma Thompson, Jaime Oliver, Colm Toibin, and Malcolm Gladwell, take on Moore's classic.   
       

New Evidence Suggests Smoking Pot Just Might Help Veterans with PTSD

AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico

Although there's nothing definitive—yet—there's growing evidence that marijuana is effective in treating PTSD.

Experiments with animals involving tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, have shown the chemical to be effective on the areas of the brain that regulate fear and anxiety. Unsurprisingly, researchers—and undoubtedly many laymen—have suspected that marijuana might be effective in treating PTSD, but there was little evidence about its usefulness until fairly recently. According to NPR's Jon Hamilton, it wasn't until 2002, when German scientists published a study that showed that mice produce chemicals in their brains called cannabinoids to modulate fear, that things really got rolling. Hamilton explains the study's implications and influence: 

There are two common sources of cannabinoids. One is the brain itself, which uses the chemicals to regulate a variety of brain cells. The other common source is Cannabis sativa, the marijuana plant.

So in recent years, researchers have done lots of experiments that involved treating traumatized mice with the active ingredient in pot, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), [Emory University's Dr. Kerry] Ressler says. And in general, he says, the mice who get THC look "less anxious, more calm, you know, many of the things that you might imagine."

While marijuana seems to be effective in treating the symptoms of PTSD—as with mice, people who've taken THC tend to get "less anxious, more calm"—there is little evidence that it has permanent effects. According to Ressler, "prolonged exposure seems to make brain cells less sensitive to the chemical." 

There's also the issue of pot's unwanted side effects. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's Andrew Holmes told Hamilton that, "You may indeed get a reduction in anxiety. But you're also going to get all of these unwanted effects," including short-term memory loss, increased appetite and impaired motor skills." For his part, Holmes has been working to develop drugs that replicate the benefits but lack the negative side effects and don't create dependence. 

Researchers are making progress, however. Earlier this year, a study was published that suggested that using THC in conjunction with "extinction therapy," which Hamilton describes as being designed to "teach the brain to stop reacting to something that previously triggered a fearful response," is effective in combating PTSD. 

While twenty states have legalized medical marijuana, only six allow it to be used to treat PTSD. But that number is set to increase: thousands of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are currently pressing the government to allow them to use marijuana. One veteran with PTSD, Sgt. Ryan Begin, told NPR that, "Marijuana gives you that opportunity to think because it allows you to be more conscious of what's going around you. It just allows you that chance, that opportunity to breathe."

Whether or not researchers are able to turn marijuana into a wonder drug, its role in treating PTSD is sure to increase dramatically over the coming months and years. 

       

U.S., Richard Branson Condemn Uganda's New Anti-Gay Bill

Ugandan anti-gay activists at a rally in 2010.  (REUTERS )

Earlier today, the United States harshly criticized Uganda's new anti-gay bill, which aims to punish "aggravated homosexuality" with life imprisonment. The bill is known in Uganda as the "kill the gays bill," as it originally included provisions that would make homosexuality punishable by death. 

While emphasizing Uganda's sovereignty, an official from the U.S. State Department said that the United States opposes "any legislation that undermines a person's enjoyment of his or her human rights, and for that reason we condemn legislation that criminalizes consensual sexual conduct between adults or criminalizes simply being of a particular sexual orientation or gender identity." The official also noted that some Ugandan state institutions have  also come out "against further criminalization of homosexuality." Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi opposed the vote, saying not enough MPs were present for there to be proper quorum. In 2010, President Obama called the proposed law "odious." 

The United States wasn't alone in criticizing the bill. In a statement published on his website with the title "Let people love who they love," British billionaire Richard Branson sharply criticized the law and indicated he won't be doing business in Uganda while it's in effect and urged others to do the same: 

I have been courted by various people and government officials to do business in Uganda.  I was seriously considering it.

However, the dreadful witch hunt against the gay community and lifetime sentences means it would be against my conscience to support this country.

I would urge other companies worldwide to follow suit. Uganda must reconsider or find it being ostracised by companies and tourists worldwide.

Although the bill was passed on Friday, it has not yet become law. Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni has 30 days to approve it. 

       

The Naughty List: A Holiday Crime Roundup

A man dressed as Santa Claus was shot with a pellet gun this morning.  (STILL FROM WJLA )

While most of us spend the holiday season trying to do good—or at least trying to avoid doing evil—some people have it out for the Christmas spirit. Here are a few cases where someone can expect to find coal in their stocking. 

Crime: Santa shot in the back with a pellet gun. 

Location: Washington, D.C. 

Details: Early Tuesday morning, a man dressed as Santa Claus was shot in the back with a pellet gun while giving away toys. Sadly, this does not appear to have been a Christmas Story-style accident: ABC 7's Kris Van Cleave tweeted that "Officers on scene believe pellet gun shots came from a 2nd story window." Thankfully, Santa does not appear to have been seriously harmed—in fact, true to his jolly nature, he wanted to continue giving away toys. Cooler heads prevailed, however. Santa was taken to a nearby hospital; a man dressed as The Grinch, of all people, gave away the rest of the toys. 

Crime:  Horrible people steal child's Christmas presents, dog

Location: Tampa, Florida 

Details: This one is just plain heartbreaking. FOX 13 reports that thieves broke into a Tampa, Fla. home and not only took presents from under the tree, they stole the family dog, too. Local police stepped up and replaced the presents, which were intended for a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old, but everyone knows there's no replacing man's best friend. 

Crime: Thieves steal presents, grandparents' ashes in broad daylight. 

Location: Pasadena, California

Details: Last week a bold group of thieves broke into a family's home in broad daylight, stole presents from underneath the tree, and snatched a pair of urns. The men were caught on camera fleeing the scene; it's unclear why they decided to take the urns. Regardless, the family is heartbroken. Griffin Gmelichs told NBC Los Angeles that "They literally stole my mom and dad." 

Crime: Salvation Army kettle stolen from a Pick 'N' Save grocery store. 

Location: Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Details: On Monday night, one of the Salvation Army's iconic red kettles was stolen from a Pick 'N' Save grocery store. According to Fox 6, kettle theft appears to be a growing problem in Wauwatosa: a thief apparently attempted to steal a kettle from a Sam's Club earlier in the day. It's unclear why one of the attempts succeeded and the other failed: there's nothing in Fox 6's report to indicate how secure the respective kettles were, or if they were attended at the time of the robberies.  The robbery comes at a bad time for the Salvation Army, which is anticipating a relatively tight Christmas season: "A later Thanksgiving did impact the Christmas campaign and now a robbery," Major Dan Jennings,  Salvation Army Divisional Commander for Wisconsin & Upper Michigan, told Fox 6. "We are concerned, but remain hopeful."

Crime:  Christmas tree stolen from shelter.

Location: London, England

Details: Last week, a woman walked into a shelter for "vulnerable adults" and walked out with a Christmas tree. The tree, which was adorned with garland and a silver star, had been donated by a staff member. Police Constable Lorna Clark expressed her disgust at the theft: "This is a particularly callous crime especially at this time of year involving some of our more vulnerable members of society." 

Crime: Woman robs store, but apologizes and says "Merry Christmas." 

Location: Holley-Navarre, Florida

Details: A woman armed with a handgun held up a Tom Thumb grocery store in Holley-Navarre on Monday night. According to ABC 3, the woman "demanded cash, apologized, and told the cashier Merry Christmas." 

Crime: "Reggae Christmas" by Bryan Adams 

Location: Canada

Details: OK, this one isn't exactly recent. But that doesn't make it any less heinous. 

As of this writing, no one has been arrested in conjunction with any of these crimes. Stay safe, everyone. 

       

New York City to Finally Settle 2004 RNC Arrests

Protesters at the 2004 Republican National Convention.  (AP PHOTO/PAUL SANCYA )

Citing people familiar with the case, The New York Times is reporting that the City of New York is prepared to settle the hundreds of civil rights claims made by protesters who were arrested at the 2004 Republican National Convention. A federal judge ruled last fall that hundreds of the arrests were unconstitutional, as they were made without probable cause.

Over 1,800 protesters were arrested at the convention, which began in late August 2004. Because the city was unequipped to handle the huge spike in arrests, it used  a former bus station as a holding pen and it acquired the nickname “Guantanamo on the Hudson” for its squalid conditions. Detainees reported that the conditions within the facility were filthy, overcrowded, and contaminated with oil and asbestos. Some of those arrested were held for more than two days before they saw a judge. It's illegal to hold suspects for more than 24 hours without seeing a judge in New York City.

The majority of the charges against those who were arrested were quickly dropped and 112 of the over 600 civil rights claims filed in the intervening years have been settled so far, costing the city $2.1 million. That number is expected to increase dramatically, according to the Times:

The agreement would settle all or most remaining lawsuits, and is expected to include payments totaling several million dollars, according to people with knowledge of the cases, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the agreement had not yet been made public.

A spokeswoman for the Law Department told the New York Times that the city had spent $16 million in lawyers’ fees and expenses defending cases from the convention. When asked for comment by The Wire, she reiterated that information.

While these settlements resolve the issue from New York City's perspective, questions remain as to why the protesters were arrested in the first place. In 2010, a United States Court of Appeals judge ruled that the NYPD could withhold 1,900 pages of data relating to "the Police Department’s surveillance and tactical strategy in advance of protests at the 2004."

Outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly have consistently defended the NYPD’s actions. In 2007, Kelly told WNBC 4 that the Republican National Convention was the City’s “finest hour.” Six years later, the City appears to be quietly backing down. Its “finest hour” has now become a very expensive one.

       

Violence Intensifies in Central African Republican, International Peacekeepers Targeted

French military personnel try to control supporters who are asking them to disarm fighting gangs, near the airport in Bangui, December 23, 2013. (REUTERS/ANDREEA CAMPEANU)

Fighting in Central African Republic (CAR) has intensified greatly in the past few days, reports Doctors Without Borders, as the situation becomes increasingly dangerous for French and other foreign peacekeepers trying to bring about calm in the region. The organization says hospitals have received at least 200 wounded patients since December 20. 

Rebel Muslims, called Selekas, overturned the majority-Christian government in a March coup, and unrest has been escalating ever since. The violence peaked in early December, when hundreds of people were killed, prompting some to warn that the country may be on the cusp of genocide. 

The U.N. approved a French deployment to the region in December and CAR's former colonial sent in soldiers to protect civilians. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power said at the time, "It is clear that urgent action is needed to save lives." At first, the French troops were welcomed, but they have since been suspected of siding with the Christian majority after French President Francois Hollande took a public stance against the interim Muslim president. 

While the French have become associated with the Christian side of what looks like a sectarian conflict, peacekeepers from Chad are seen as supporting the Muslim rebels. Chadian peacekeepers opened fire on Christian demonstrators on Monday, further exacerbating the tension. Reuters reports on the anti-intervention sentiment in CAR: 

Protesters said the Chadians drove their vehicle at the crowd after demonstrators threw stones at them. "No Chadians in [capital city] Bangui" chanted members of the crowd, while others waved placards saying "No to the Chadian army", the protesters said... scores of demonstrators took to the streets of Bangui on Sunday to complain that French forces were disarming only Seleka fighters, exposing Muslims to revenge attacks by anti-balaka [Christian self-defense militias].

The New York Times reports that though sectarian violence is historically rampant in Africa, some religious leaders in CAR say the Christian-Muslim divide has been stoked by political leaders acting in their own interest: 

The conflict ripping the country apart revolves around the oldest of motives: a struggle for power. Mostly Muslim rebel forces known as Seleka, or Alliance, overthrew the government in March, ousting President François Bozizé and putting in power the country’s first Muslim president, Michel Djotodia. Since then, Christian militias backed by Mr. Bozizé have tried to overthrow the Muslim alliance. But the crisis had been building for years, and the religious leaders said the mutual animosity leading Christians and Muslims to attack one another was, at its roots, a manufactured one, deliberately stoked for political ends. Now, they fear it has taken on a life of its own.

Muslims continue to march against French troops' presence in CAR in the country's capital, Bangui. 

       

In September, We Said Goodbye to 'Breaking Bad'

Associated Press

The Year That Was, 2013 is far too large of a topic to tackle all at once, even when only focusing on the pop culture aspects. Breaking things down month-by-month feels like the smarter call. We'll be working our way through the year one month at a time, remembering the songs, films, TV, and other fun/horrifying stuff that we may well have already forgotten.

The #1 Song

By September, Robin Thicke's song of the summer "Blurred Lines," had overstayed its welcome on the charts (and in our hearts and minds), leaving the door open for Sara Bareillis's "Brave." Sorry, we mean "Roar" by Katy Perry. Perry's uncomfortably familiar hit reigned at the top of the Hot 100 for most of the month before being overthrown by Miley's "Wrecking Ball" at the tail end of the month. 

The #1 Movie Prisoners. (Warner Bros.)

Prisoners, starring Hugh Jackman as a dad determined to find his daughter and Jake Gyllenhaal as a twitchy cop, took the month and eventually went on to gross $60 million. September is an odd time for movies, almost too early for prestige films but too late for blockbusters. Prisoners was somewhere in the middle, thrilling and violent but not quite deep enough. Some Oscar contenders did premiere, though in limited release. Steve McQueen's 12 Years A Slave haunted viewers with its violence and realism and Wadjda made history as the first Saudi Arabian film to become a foreign language Oscar contender. Joseph Gordon Levitt's porn addiction rom-com Don Jon premiered, too, but we don't expect it to make too many shortlists. 

The Month in TV

After five seasons, Breaking Bad, a delightful little show about a small business owner in Albuquerque, New Mexico, ended in a hail of gun fire. And as sad as all the fans were, no one was more distraught than AMC. Yes, the Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul led workplace comedy finally became a hit for the network just as it ended its run, with 10.3 million viewers. Someday, when we're watching a Mad Men spin-off following 20-something Sally Draper in San Fran, we'll all think back to the good old days.  

Sleepyheads. (AP)

But what September taketh away, it can also giveth. Several of our favorite (and least favorite) shows returned with new seasons, joined by a bunch of great new ones. Sleepy Hollow developed a fanfic-writing, super shipping fandom almost instantaneously and Masters of Sex proved it was about more than sex (though just barely) with its clinical sex scenes and hints at ambition. The Blacklist was a hit for NBC, and Marvel's Agents of SHIELD seemed like it would be the most popular show of the season. Those were better days. Robin Williams and Michael J. Fox returned to TV with The Crazy Ones and The Michael J. Fox Show, respectively. Oh, and Sarah Michelle Gellar was there too. Williams had better ratings but it's nice to see Fox every once in a while. 

We were less excited when Dads premiered, since it was just as bad and offensive as we thought it would be. Lucky 7 was the first casualty of the season, inspiring a lot of jokes about being not-so-lucky. Speaking of cancelled, Hoarders ended its long reign as the show we all felt guilty about being fascinated by, and Ryan Lochte's E! reality show What Would Ryan Lochte Do? was put out of its misery. Jeah, we were kinda bummed about that too. AMC also re-cancelled The Killing. 

Also... (AP)

The 65th Emmys happened and they were surprising, but for all the wrong reasons. Instead of the usual boring wins (how many awards does Modern Family need at this point?) there were quite a few snubs. Laura Linney beat out Elizabeth Moss and Jessica Lange; House of Cards went home nearly empty handed; and the Emmy voters proved they were the only ones who liked the first season of The Newsroom by giving Jeff Daniels Best Actor. 

New York fashion week happened again. Jimmy Kimmel proved that, sometimes, all the super cool fashionistas are just making things up, and Rick Owens wowed the industry by using step dancers instead of models. 

Oh, and during a "Between Two Ferns" interview, Zach Galifianakis said everything you've ever wanted to say to Justin Bieber, right to his face. 

       

De Blasio's Daughter Chiara Talks About Depression and Drug Abuse in a New Video

"Every kid who grows up in New York grows up pretty fast," New York Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio's daughter Chiara says in a new video. The video, which seems to be the first acknowledgement from the family of the 19-year-old's struggles with depression and drug abuse, was posted to YouTube on Tuesday afternoon. "For many, the holiday season is a time for joy," says the video's description. "But it's also a time when many of those battling depression and substance abuse find their struggle most difficult." 

Chiara's five-minute video was released by the mayor's transition team. In it, she discusses both her struggles with "depression, like clinical depression," which lasted for her "entire adolescence," and with substance abuse. The 19-year-old also discusses the treatment she sought as both problems deepened. That treatment included therapy and an outpatient group therapy program targeted at teens. Chiara also talks about the support she received from both of her parents 

Chiara, we love you. Your courage and commitment to help others is inspiring. https://t.co/R1ydJACy3E

— Chirlane McCray (@Chirlane) December 24, 2013

"Removing substances from my life, it's opened so many doors for me. Like I was actually able to participate in my dad's campaign," de Blasio said of the success of her treatment. "If you're suffering, if you're depressed," Chiara says, "Getting sober is always a positive thing." She adds, "It's not easy. It's the hardest thing I've ever done." She adds: 

I wanted to speak out because people are suffering from this disease and dying from this disease every day, and we really can't do anything as a society to help those people until we start talking about it. And nobody can do sobriety on their own. 

At the end, the video directs viewers to Ok2talk.org if they need help. Ok2talk is a national media and resource campaign targeting teens with mental illness. 

UPDATED: Obama administration drug policy director Gil Kerlikowske issued a statement commending Chiara de Blasio for her bravery in speaking out about her illness.