I’m being buried under a couple feet of snow. Looks like a good time for some links! Crime and Punishment * [Election year anti-crime posturing could derail even limited sentencing reform](https://theintercept.com/2016/01/11/sentencing-reform-mandatory-minimums-election-surveillance-drug-treatment/) -- Another election season, another round of politicians stressing how much they hate crime and criminals, as if "tough on crime" attitudes have accomplished anything other than decades of misery. Transgender Issues * [Jewish transgender man gives birth and embraces life as a single "abba"](http://www.

Did somebody say “links”?! Politics * [Hillary Clinton is botching her best chance to win](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-is-botching-this_569808a9e4b0778f46f8b31b) -- Discusses Hillary Clinton's recent attacks (and proxy attacks) on Bernie Sanders and how they may be damaging her candidacy. * [Hillary Clinton doesn't trust you](http://www.vox.com/2016/1/15/10775420/hillary-clinton-doesnt-trust-you) -- Ezra Klein, who tends to be rather hit and miss, notes that Hillary Clinton doesn't campaign the way she actually governs/administers, much to her detriment. I didn't know much about her leadership style but it's disappointing that she doesn't show more of it while campaigning.

You don’t like links? Too bad. Social Justice * [NYC crime declines after NYPD switch to less aggressive policing](http://massappeal.com/nyc-crime-declines-after-nypd-switch-to-less-aggressive-policing/) -- Imagine that! * [PA man fired for racist tirade at anti-fracking protests says his comments were "stupid"](http://www.phillyvoice.com/pa-man-fired-over-racist-tirade-anti-fracking-protest/) -- Well, at least we're in agreement. * [Here's another sign the era of mass incarceration is slowly coming to an end](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/01/the-era-of-mass-incarceration-is-unwinding/) -- Things I did not know: the rate of incarceration in the US has been (slowly) declining for seven straight years.

Happy new year! Let’s celebrate with some links. Fun * [22 fun and unusual calendars to put up next year](http://mentalfloss.com/article/71762/22-fun-and-unusual-calendars-put-next-year) -- I think Space Cats is my favorite. * [German traffic light stays red for 28 years](http://www.thelocal.de/20150615/there-is-a-light-that-never-goes-out) -- You'll never guess why! Economics * [Parking the big money](http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2016/01/14/parking-the-big-money/) -- Interesting review of a book and a film focusing on how people with large fortunes hide their money to avoid paying taxes on it.

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable weekend. Have some links! Culture * [9 women open up about their natural hair experiences](http://www.refinery29.com/real-life-natural-hair-care-experiences?utm_source=tumblr.com&utm_medium=post#slide-2) -- Interesting slideshow in which several black women relate their experiences with wearing their hair naturally--a growing trend against making their hair conform to white beauty standards. Social Justice * [New York City lays out transgender protection on dress codes, bathroom use](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-york-transgender-protections_56799028e4b0b958f6582ba9) -- Welcome news!

Have some links! Religion * [Mommie Dearest](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2003/10/mommie_dearest.html) -- The late Christopher Hitchens' take on the (soon to be final) canonization of Mother Teresa. I've never been much of a fan of Hitchens' work, but he's at least correct on this one. Social Justice * [Saudi millionaire who said he "fell" on teen and "accidentally penetrated" her cleared of rape](http://www.aol.com/article/2015/12/16/saudi-millionaire-who-said-he-fell-on-teen-and-accidentally-p/21284725/) -- Pretty much what the title says. A total disgrace.

There’s a viral story going around about a North Carolina town that rejected solar panels because “they would soak up all the sun.” Because North Carolina is in the South, and everyone in the South is stupid, right? It’s all too easy to believe! But it turns out there is more to the story than that. Snopes is always a good resource for this sort of thing, and they’re on the case this time, as well.

I heard you like links, so I posted some. Politics * ["Political identity is fair game for hatred": how Republicans and Democrats discriminate](http://www.vox.com/2015/12/7/9790764/partisan-discrimination) -- Tracing our evolution, as a culture, from one of more or less mutual respect and unity to partisan acrimony. * [GOP preparing for contested convention](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-preparing-for-contested-convention/2015/12/10/d72574bc-9f73-11e5-8728-1af6af208198_story.html?postshare=5821449782081267&tid=ss_tw) -- I would take this with a big grain of salt, but could spell big trouble for Republicans if true.

What time is it? Link time! Social Justice * [Hire more women today](http://observer.com/2015/12/why-women-need-affirmative-action-now/) -- Freddie deBoer, who is often a major league derpotron, offers an excellent analysis of issues of sexism in the workplace, describing both the structural issues and how to address them. * [Pentagon says women can now serve in front-line ground combat positions](http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/03/458319524/pentagon-will-allow-women-in-frontline-ground-combat-positions) -- I wouldn't call myself a big military supporter, but moves toward gender equality in this space are important, too.

Links, links, links! Not enough to be worth categorizing this time, so have at ‘em: * [Stubborn pay gap for women persists worldwide](http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/gender-equality-workplace-1.3326221) -- It's closing, but still very slowly. * [Why Marissa Mayer is too hot to be Yahoo!'s CEO: The case against hiring women](https://medium.com/absurdist/why-marissa-mayer-is-too-hot-be-yahoo-s-ceo-the-case-against-hiring-women-6202dfed82d0#.9czmzdjd7) -- Related to the above; otherwise well-meaning people still have deeply sexist ideas about women in the workplace, including the pervasive idea that women who are "too hot" are distracting to their male coworkers--and it's the men whose needs should be considered first, apparently.