Draftee Jets, BBC Frets, Religion Mock, Mada Doc... Random Links to Wrap Up Your Week!

Before we get to Friday's Music Video, here are a few things I found interesting over the past few days (ok, more than a few...) It's a random collection, but I think there is something here for everyone!

-This post from a departing New York sports fan on what she will miss gets me excited to move to NYC next month (mostly I am also just nostalgic for Mike and the Mad Dog on the FAN)

- Interesting story on the last Vietnam-era draftee to retire from the Army

- A democracy prize for Putin! Congratulations to Germany's Quadriga Prize, you just took the "Really?" title away from the UN (for North Korea chairing a conference on disarmament)...

- A victory in Austria for Pastafarians!

- American English infects Her Majesty's Kingdom

- Is the AU in need of radical restructuring?

- Interesting and well-done Trouble in Lemur Land documentary video (hat tip - spotlight madagascar) Check out the great footage of harvesting rosewood (and the cute baby silky sifakas)

- Need a theme for your wedding in South Africa? There has to be a better choice than Colonial Africa .... More context here:

Of course, not surprisingly, some white South Africans are defending the couple. Although one commenter to the Jezebel post did write the truth: “Most white folks’ weddings in [South Africa] are colonial not by design, but by default.”
Which is why we’re surprised so few are asking...what makes venues like the Cow Shed... think it is okay to throw colonial/Apartheid throwback weddings for white South African and European couples. The Cow Shed has since issued a lame press statement to still defend its decision to host the party.
At least they can’t blame Julius Malema for this. 

-Speaking of Julius Malema...when not perusing the internet I tend to spend time at the local public library (that's the place where old folks spend their days!) and read the print version of the Economist (yes they still print periodicals!)... but back to Malema, I came across a fascinating profile of the leader of the leader of the Youth League of South Africa's ruling African National Congress, who is . One of the reasons I love the Economist is the little touch they add to a story, like the last sentence in the closing paragraph:

Young JuJu, as he is familiarly known, has the wind in his sails. His ego is huge. He is tough, clever and has a disarming cheeky grin. Among his heroes, he counts Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, Cuba’s Fidel Castro and Libya’s Muammar Qaddafi. President Jacob Zuma might once have been included in his list but is now the unnamed butt of much of Mr Malema’s stinging criticism about a lack of leadership. Many believe he is now preparing to topple the very man he helped make king. They may be forgetting that the wily Mr Zuma can be ruthless too.

 - Finally, to end on an awkward / fun note, here is this video (hat tip to Deadspin)