Mike Abu
A Trip to Zaqistan, One Man's 'Sovereign Nation' in the Middle of the Utah Desert
We went to the conceptual art project that turned into a literal example of nation-building and is now a bizarre international phenomenon.
I Helped Division I Athletes Cheat in College
For years, I willingly did the economics homework for a number of student athletes. To this day, I don't regret it. Helping them cheat doesn't seem any more unethical than forcing them to learn about how "great" capitalism is in the first place.
NFL Draftees Talk Donald Sterling, Gays, and Brain Damage
Sean John invited me to attend its NFL draft party. While I was there, I asked NFL draftees like Calvin Pryor, C. J. Mosley, and Taylor Lewan what they think about gays, concussions, and Donald Sterling.
Chatting With NFL Draftees Right Before They Get Paid
Sean John invited me to attend its NFL draft party. While I was there, I asked NFL draftees like Calvin Pryor, C. J. Mosley, and Taylor Lewan what they think about gays, concussions, and Donald Sterling.
How to Get Laid at Fashion Week
Getting laid at fashion week is remarkably easy. Everyone is exhausted, hungover, or still drunk and in the middle of a bender. It’s an over-sexed industry in general, and a hyper-sexed week in specific. All you have to do is make it happen.
Lenny Cooke Failed and Then Found Himself
As a high school student in the early 2000s, Lenny Cooke was ranked higher than LeBron James. But due to a string of poor decisions, Lenny never made it to the NBA. I talked with the playground legend about failure, redemption, the current state of the...
Kathleen Hanna Talks Punk Rock, Death, and Miley Cyrus
Kathleen Hanna has new band called the Julie Ruin and a documentary called The Punk Singer coming out about her life. This seemed like a perfect time to talk with her about feminism, popular music, and her legacy.
The Exploitation and Crushing Capitalism of Fashion Week
Fashion week's upper class doesn’t have to do anything other than show up and get their photo taken. The people doing the least matter the most. If you can manage to pull off doing absolutely nothing other than standing there with a manicured smile...
The Dudes Behind Burger Records Feel Like Suge Knight Right Now
Burger Records was started by Sean Bohrman and Lee Rickard in Fullerton, California, five years ago. It has since become the musical juggernaut that hosts Burgerama, the two-day festival with groups like Ariel Pink and Black Lips. We sent Mike Abu down...
What the Sequester Really Means: The Poor Will Suffer More
The sequester is a set of automatic budget cuts that reduces funding for all discretionary programs at an equal rate. The cuts aren’t meant to eliminate any programs but simply reduce funding across the board. Get ready for some potentially disastrous...
What a World Without Hugo Chavez Looks Like
Hugo Chavez, the charismatic Venezuelan president, succumbed to his two-year bout with cancer on Tuesday, pushing the Latin American country into a new state of limbo. As the whole world watches, Venezuela now begins its inevitable transition to a post...
Climate Change Is the Real Fiscal Cliff and We're Doomed
Everyone is talking about how the lack of a budget agreement by the end of the year will result in chaos, but none of them are talking about the most significant dilemma facing our country. By not addressing climate change, we’re walking ourselves off...