Terror Down Under

Dec. 15, 2014 The Agenda Dramatic hostage crisis rocks Australia Reuters ​Australian police locked down the center of Sydney on Monday after an armed man took hostages in a downtown cafe. Reuters reports that the attacker forced trapped customers to display an Islamic flag, "igniting fears of a jihadist attack.​" + About 15 hostages could still be seen inside the cafe, according to local media. + At least five hostages have been released or escaped with terrified cafe workers and customers seen running into the arms of police officers. + Australian authorities have refused to say exactly how many hostages remain inside the cafe and what they believe the gunman's motives might be. + It's unclear whether the gunman has made any demands at this time. Thousands march in U.S. cities in protest of police killings Mic Thousands marched in Washington, New York and Boston on Saturday to protest killings of unarmed black men by police officers. Organizers said the marches were among the largest in the recent wave of protests against the killings of black males by officers in Ferguson, Missouri, New York, Cleveland and elsewhere. Reuters reports that the protests were peaceful, although police in Boston said they arrested more than 20 people who tried to block a highway. + 18 #MillionsMarchNYC photos that show anger over police brutality isn't going away. + Watch this incredible time-lapse to understand the true scope of Saturday's New York protest. + While no one was looking, Congress quietly passed a bill designed to try to curb police killings. + Watch protests over Eric Garner and Michael Brown spread across the world in one amazing visualization. + One state is dealing with police brutality in a way every state should follow. Congress just took a big step toward ending the war on drugs Mic A new provision buried in the $1 trillion "cromnibus" spending bill will bring an end to federal crackdowns on the medical marijuana trade in states where it's been legalized, allowing dispensary operators and weed farmers to emerge from the ongoing threat of Drug Enforcement Administration raids. It's a major victory for anyone who believes that states should have the right to implement their own medical marijuana programs, and a major blow to the anti-marijuana movement. Marvels Watch The Office meet The Hobbit. [Mic] The scandalous history of sex education movies. [Collectors Weekly] The humane interrogation technique that works way better than torture. [the Atlantic] Scientists have discovered something fascinating about music's influence on taste. [Mic] Meet the children who pick your vegetables. [the Los Angeles Times] 2015 will officially be the year of hummus. [Mic] Are we becoming a nation of hoarders? [the New Yorker] Bill Cosby has asked "black media to "stay neutral" about the rape allegations made against him. [the New York Post] Here's what your Facebook status updates reveal about your personality. [Mic] "I'm your flight attendant, and I think you're all a bunch of drunks." [Vice] Want to truly understand what happened in the world in 2014? Listen to this music. [Mic] Photo of the Day Eric Garner's eyes were at the center of Saturday's nationwide protests: Thousands of people flooded Lower and Midtown Manhattan on Saturday for the #MillionsMarchNYC against police killings. Parisian artist JR created several pieces depicting Eric Garner's eyes, which demonstrators carried at the front of the crowds. Mic Check is carefully and dutifully assembled each day by Jared Keller. Did we miss something you wanted to read about? Want to see us focus on an under-covered issue? Have a tip for the next edition? Email jared@mic.com. Share Mic Check and help your friends stay informed: http://eepurl.com/of1jj. Follow Mic!      Copyright © 2014 Mic, All rights reserved. You are receiving this because you opted in while creating an account on Mic. Our mailing address is: Mic 325 Hudson Street 1001 New York, NY 10013 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences