What have we learned from Paula Deen, really? The TV chef and animal-fats enthusiast has paid a certain price for the revelations, following from a harassment lawsuit, that she had used the word "nigger" in the past, and that she had allegedly envisioned a slavery-influenced Southern plantation wedding for her brother Bubba, complete with "little niggers" in bow ties serving the guests. Despite Deen's two rambling apology videos, the Food Network announced it was terminating its relationship with Deen, and Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, and the Smithfield Foods pork empire all followed suit.

Welcome to Thatz Not Okay, a regular column in which I school inquiring readers on what is and is not okay. Please send your questions to caity.weaver@gawker.com with the subject "Thatz Not Okay."

[Actress Eva Longoria Parker, wearing a ham costume, hosts the MTV European Music Awards in Spain. Photo via AP.]

The Way We Live Now: Bartering. And gambling. Bartering and gambling. We've regressed.