The Mary Sue

Trying & Failing to Make Any Sense at All of Trump’s Whackadoo London Times Interview

"Bing bing bing."

by Vivian Kane Jan 17th

Ready for some word soup?

Feminism Around the World: Women Respond to “Brexit”

by Teresa Jusino Jul 6th

How will the decision to "brexit" affect the lives of women in the UK specifically? That's an important question...but also a difficult one to answer, not only because the issues are complex, but because women have largely been left out of the conversation to begin with.

EU Outer Space Code of Conduct Will Teach Space Delinquents Some Space Manners

"You didn't say please, Dave."

by Dan Van Winkle Jul 16th

The potential uses for outer space are about as infinite as space itself, so different organizations and nations around the world have been working to put together ~~a set of space manners~~ a code of conduct that will make space a nice, welcoming place for everyone. It's hard to get everyone to agree on the specifics of the rules, but the EU's proposal to get everyone to mind their space Ps and Qs has been gaining support.

“Elephant” May Be Our New Favorite Expense Account Line Item

by Ian Chant Feb 1st

Look, we've all padded an expense account or two at some point in our lives. There's no shame in it, and frankly, anyone who denies doing it here and there comes off as a litte Ned Flanders-style creepy. There's such a thing as taking it too far, though, and Hans Peter Martin, an Austrian member of the European Parliament, may have taken the cake, including one particularly eye-catching item on a recent bill he expensed to that august body -- a 2,200 euro charge labelled "elephant."

22 Countries in the EU Signed ACTA and Why That’s Bad

by Eric Limer Jan 27th

Remember how the Internet finally "killed" SOPA and PIPA? Remember how people said they might come back? Well, they haven't but they have a cousin called ACTA that's stirring up similar trouble of a global kind. I know we all want to rest on our laurels for a while, but until digital media is well understood and accepted by rights holders (read: A long time from now) there are no victories. That's why it's time to buckle down and take on the next guy: The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement or ACTA. ACTA just got Signed by 22 member nations of the EU. The United States signed it months ago. It's a very different beast than SOPA or PIPA. Hold on to your hats, this is a rough one.

24-Year Old Woman Becomes the Youngest Member of the European Parliament, Also Second Pirate

Buckle Buckle Swash Swash

by Jamie Frevele Nov 20th

Back in 2009, Amelia Andersdotter, then 21 years old, ran for a seat in the European Parliament as a member of Sweden's Pirate Party -- and that June, she won. Now 24, Andersdotter is finally about to take her seat after years of bureaucratic delays, becoming the second member of the Pirate Party to become a MEP and the youngest person ever to do so. Among the major parts of her platform: a united Europe and a focus on telecommunications.

The European Union Bans Fun: Kids Younger Than Eight Not Allowed to Blow Up Balloons

It's A World of Laughter A World of Tears

by Jamie Frevele Oct 12th

In a new safety directive issued by the European Union, children under the age of eight are not allowed to blow up balloons without adult supervision. Because they might choke on them. I say that if you have a child who thinks that balloons are blown up by placing said balloon completely inside the mouth and then inhaling, then the child is not the person we need to worry about.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Pulled From EU Shelves

by Max Eddy Aug 10th

In the ongoing struggle between Apple and Samsung over the Galaxy Tab tablet computer, Apple seems to have taken the lead for now. The Regional Court of Dusseldorf has sided with the iPad maker in granting a preliminary injunction over the sale and marketing of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in all European Union member states, save the Netherlands. This is the second injunction that Apple has won against the Tab, which was indefinitely blocked from launching in Australia.