For newcomers and the nostalgic, some items from the archives:

Where, for instance, pst314 and Mr Muldoon point us to an “analysis” piece in Scientific American, in which we’re urged to fret about “the violence Black men experience in [American] football,” and in which we’re told that the physicality of the sport “disproportionately affects black men.” This is framed in the article so as to imply some systemic racial wrongdoing – “anti-Black practices” that are “inescapable” – rather than, say, being an unremarkable reflection of the sport’s demographics, in which, at professional levels, black players are a majority.

Or to put it another, no less scientific, way – the risk of injury while playing a contact sport disproportionately affects those who actually play it.

No evidence is offered, at all, to establish that injuries are more frequent among black players compared to their white peers – which is pretty much the article’s premise – or to support the conceit that any such disparity, should it exist, must be driven by racism. And yet we’re told, with an air of satisfaction,

Albeit a plantation with fan mail, lucrative endorsements, and an average salary of around $2.7 million.

Time to dip a toe in the world of Clown Quarter poetry. Specifically, a colossal work titled Everyone Is A Little Trans, by the University of Connecticut’s visiting assistant professor, Trace Peterson:

No, wait – don’t go. There’s more.

The full, four-minute version can be experienced here.

The author of the above has “been working at the forefront of trans poetry & poetics (and queer poetry & poetics) for the past two decades.” As will doubtless be apparent.

Via Christopher Rufo.

Also, open thread. Share ye links and bicker.

Snow scene, Hokkaido. Photographed by Tak. Via Tim.

As is the custom here, posting will be intermittent over the holidays and readers are advised to follow me on Twitter, which will alert you to anything new as it materialises. Thanks for another 1.5 million or so visits this year and thousands of comments, many of which prompted discussions that are much more interesting than the actual posts. Which is pretty much the idea. 

And particular thanks to all those who’ve subscribed or made donations to keep this rickety barge above water. It’s much appreciated. Should you be gripped by an urge to express your appreciation via currency, feel free to use the buttons in the sidebar, top right. Just think of my little face lighting up. 

Curious newcomers and those with nothing better to do are welcome to rummage through the reheated series in search of entertainment. You may, and probably will, find things you’d missed. And this, needless to say, is an open thread. 

To you and yours, a very good one.

Because it’s Monday, that’s why:

Dawn Luebbe’s short documentary about the Dress A Cow event at Ohio’s Canfield County Fair.

Also, open thread. Share ye links and bicker.