Most visitors to Los Angeles and the west coast are struck by the number of donut shops, but few know that the vast majority of local donut shops are owned by Cambodian refugees who fled the killing fields of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge. This is also the case in many other parts of the west. Through an interesting set of circumstances, Cambodian families got a foothold in the market, then helped other families through traditional loan systems and sharing of knowledge so they could earn their own piece of the American dream. These are people who have experienced unspeakable atrocities in their immediate families, and bust their asses (often 364+ days a year) to make a better life for their children in North America. So go enjoy a decadent donut sometime soon, and be extra friendly to the remarkable people who make these deceptively quotidian treats. The best documentary on the subject is Cambodian Doughnut Dreams , although the hygiene-averse dude in The Darkside of Donuts teaser trailer best articulates my own relationship with that quintessential American delight. [Video link]
Donuts, genocide, and the American dream
- TWEET
- COMMENTS
- cambodia
- Food
- guestblog
- khmer
- politics
Arizona Republicans reject racist ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio a third time
Though his time at the top was long, Joe Arpaio's racist policies as Maricopa County Sheriff eventually got him beaten at the polls and convicted in court—a charge for which he was pardoned by then-president Donald Trump. Local Republicans are sick of him, all the same, delivering a third primary defeat since his political downfall,… READ THE REST
Pink Floyd's Roger Waters calls Biden a "war criminal" and says "Taiwan is part of China"
Roger Waters of Pink Floyd got into it with CNN's Michael Smerconish in the above interview during which Waters called President Joe Biden a "war criminal" and insisted that "Taiwan is part of China." Waters is on tour right now and each night just before the concert begins, a massive screen displays the following message… READ THE REST
Mike Lindell says "54 countries have now been taken by the machines"
Speaking at CPAC, the annual main event for American conservatives, pillow mogul Mike Lindell said that "54 countries have now been taken by the machines" and that "Venezuela and Australia are gone!" [via Raw Story] Everyone thinks he's talking about right-wing election machine conspiracy theories—like the world isn't being taken over by Skynet as we… READ THE REST
This mini fridge is here to make sure your brain food is at the perfect temp
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. It's never too late to get an education, but reteaching yourself to get in the zone while trying to study is super difficult, and an empty stomach never helped anything. While you… READ THE REST
Become an Adobe pro for less than $25 during the Back To Education Sale
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. If you've ever tried to create a visual on a computer — whether it be a video series or a poster or what have you — you know it's not exactly as intuitive… READ THE REST
Stop being P.O.'d by PDFs with a sweet deal on this editing tool
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Technology is supposed to be awesome and constantly making our lives more convenient, right? Well, if that's the case, then how can some pieces of tech leave us aggravated? Unfortunately, some things that… READ THE REST