Link round-up - 21 September 2014

I have been writing this round-up for what seems like forever, mainly because I have just never sat down and finished adding all the links! So I added a few more and think that settles it for this week.

• What is ISIS a product of? Ziad Majed breaks down the root causes behind the rise of this extreme group.
• How Okwui Enwezor Changed the Art World - a great look into Okwui's trajectory, but I can't help but think the descriptions are a bit...
• Why Jeremy Laing quit fashion - for now - One of Canada's most talented designers has, unfortunately, called it quits.
• Aga Khan Museum opens in Toronto - North America's first home of Islamic art. Not in a prime and accessible location however.
• Will Self: The awful cult of the talentless hipster has taken over - Relevant critique to what is currently just an overload of silly crap being applauded over and over.
• How Not to Offend a Canadian - Some things are spot on with this but, what about French Canadians? And the Quebecois? Many differences there.

"The news is for idiots"

“The news is for idiots” was a comment I saw on someone posting their opinion on a certain situation. This view however is shared by many. It is better to avoid reading it and pretend not to have an opinion on any matter. I decided to briefly analyse my Facebook feed, and describe feelings and actions of those who are ’non-political' (self-proclaimed) on specific events this summer, and on other relevant issues. Here are the results: 

1. Syria: indifference
2. ISIS: “we in the civilised world” or indifference
3. Gaza: indifference or simplified as “Give peace a chance!”
4. Russia/Ukraine: indifference or “always knew they were corrupt bad guys, Bond told me!”
5. Ebola: indifference
6. Brazil: indifference, except of course when it came to the score of the world cup matches
7. Olympics/World Cup news: as long as those stadiums don’t delay the opening ceremonies, I’m indifferent
8. Ferguson: Some are outraged, some are completely indifferent
9. Tim Horton’s being bought out by Burger King: mild outrage
10. Gay rights: If there’s a party, I’m there!
11. Canadian government making atrocious decisions: mild uproar
12. Rob Ford smokes crack: outrage
13. Airline crashes: mild indifference or trip cancellations or boycotting the airline
14. Celebrity death (A to C list): devastation
15. Parking ticket: outrage
16. Aboriginals: "I guess it’s important, but I really don’t know anything"
17. A TV show gets cancelled: sadness, calls for a Kickstarter to be created begin
18. Reduction of cycling lanes: outrage
19. Someone smoking on a non-smoking patio: more outrage than drunk driving
20. The weather: depends on if it’s good or bad
21. Ben Affleck as Batman: petitions signed
22. Justin Bieber’s behaviour: petitions signed
23. Cell-phone provider policies: blind rage
24. Ice bucket challenge: “yay looks fun, and I’m doing good!” “What’s ALS?” “Why are people wasting water?” And of course, moral superiority that we waste water in other ways, why is this any different?
25. Jennifer Lawrence nude photos leak: moral superiority