The Short List: Kim's butt photos spark conversation on race; comet update; Starbucks' 'Silver'

Kimmy K. may not realize she's the 'butt of an old racial joke'

By now you've seen the oiled-up derriere. And if you did manage to resist looking at the so NSFW photos, you've at least had to have heard about them. Kim Kardashian posed nude in Paper magazine, and some say the photos play into racial stereotypes. On the cover, Kardashian balances a glass on her backside while popping a bottle of champagne — a recreation of a photo that photographer Jean-Paul Goude took of a nude black model for a 1982 book called Jungle Fever. TheGrio.com columnist Blue Telusma likens the photos to images of Saartjie "Sarah" Baartman, a black South African woman brought to London in the 19th century who was put on display for her large buttocks and genitalia. "When I looked at the (Kardashian) spread, all I saw was a not so subtle reincarnation of Saartjie Baartman — imagery that is steeped in centuries of racism, oppression and misogyny," Telusma wrote in her article, Kim Kardashian Doesn't Realize She's the Butt of an Old Racial Joke.

Philae tries to explore origins of life on Earth with a serious low-battery problem

And you think your dwindling 5% battery life is a crisis. Yesterday, a robot probe named Philae landed on a comet. Without Bruce Willis. (OK, technically that was an asteroid.) This was the first time a comet has been landed on, so it's a big deal. The problem is that once Philae landed, she also bounced, shooting away from the surface as if it were a trampoline before landing again on a cliff. Unfortunately, it's positioned in the cliff's shadows, meaning it's in the near-dark, as seen by the first photo image from the comet's surface. This is not great news, because the probe needs light for its solar panels. Scientists now have to revise their plans given Philae's limited amount of battery power.

Starbucks is so fancy it rolled out a $200 'Silver' gift card that only has $50 on it

Think of it as Tiffany-meets-Starbucks. It's not a diamond ring. It's not a gold watch. But for a cool $200 this holiday season, most Starbucks stores nationwide will sell the Limited Edition Sterling Silver Starbucks Card. It's a solid silver mini-card, the size of a key fob, attached to a sterling silver key ring and clasp. It comes loaded with $50 for Starbucks food, drink and merchandise. The other $150? That's what Starbucks says is the retail value of the sterling silver card and key chain. A year's supply of Venti lattes to the person who starts a petition to send Howard Schultz back to second grade math.

Obama considers delaying deportations for 5 million people

Big immigration news today. President Obama is considering an executive order that would prevent as many as 5 million people from being deported. The New York Times reported that a key part of the plan would let immigrant parents of American citizen children apply for work authorizations to stay in the country. Some immigrant rights advocates aren't impressed. They say the plan leaves out a huge chunk of undocumented immigrants that could be protected from deportation — those who have lived in the United States for extended periods of time, established themselves in the country, maintained jobs and contributed to their communities.

Pelosi: Nobody asks Mitch McConnell if he's too old to lead

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is tired of being asked when she'll step aside as Democratic leader. She suggested at a weekly briefing today that the questions about her future are sexist. "When (have) any of you (asked) Mitch McConnell when they lost the Senate three times in a row … 'Aren't you getting a little old, Mitch? Shouldn't you step aside?'" Pelosi said to reporters. "It is just interesting as a woman how many times that question is asked of a woman and how many times that question is never asked of Mitch McConnell." Meanwhile, Senate Republicans elected McConnell to serve as majority leader when the new Congress convenes in January.

Extra Bites

Day in Pictures: Our favorite photo from today's gallery.

Have you seen this? The world's tallest man meets the world's shortest man.

You're going on vacation. Don't forget to pack your breasts.

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This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.

Contributing: Susan Davis, Catalina Camia, Gregory Korte, David Jackson, Alan Gomez, Bruce Horovitz, Doug Stanglin, Traci Watson, USA TODAY; Jolie Lee, USA TODAY Network

An earlier version of this story included an incorrect spelling of Saartjie Baartman's name.