In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today!

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie is expected to sign legislation today that will legalize same-sex marriage in the state, with December 2 as the date on which same-sex couples can start getting hitched. Huzzah!

[Content Note: Death; destruction] There is more terrible news out of the Philippines, as conditions continue to worsen for survivors of the super typhoon. Eight people were killed when a wall collapsed at a government-owned rice warehouse after thousands of people pushed their way into the building in pursuit of food.

[CN: Rape apologia] Ranjit Sinha, India's chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation, said this shit at a conference on illegal gambling, while arguing that gambling should be legalized and taxed: "If you cannot enforce the ban on betting, it is like saying, 'If you can't prevent rape, you enjoy it.'" Yikes. That is fucked-up for about a dozen different reasons. Talk about a catastrophic failure to expect more.

An anonymous official says that HealthCare.gov is unlikely to be fully functional by the end of November, despite promises from the administration. Whoops.

Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton said in an interview: "I personally believe, even if it takes a change to the law, the president should honour the commitment the federal government made to those people and let them keep what they got." This is being widely reported as Clinton shading President Obama, but it sounds pretty much like exactly what the President promised to do when he apologized. Obama said: "We've got to work hard to make sure that they know we hear them and we are going to do everything we can to deal with folks who find themselves in a tough position as a consequence of this." The media sure loves pitting Bill Clinton against the current president. Can you imagine how fun THAT will be if Hillary Clinton runs and is elected?!

Speaking of former presidents, George W. Bush is going to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno later this month. I can't imagine something I would want to watch less.

[CN: Misogyny] I find it really interesting how many liberal men say, of a potential Hillary Clinton presidential run, things like George Clooney says here: "I think she'd be very tough to beat now." Is that meant to be a compliment, lol? Because it kind of doesn't sound like one to me. But what do I know. Maybe I'm just irrepressibly cynical after having watched a lot of men delight in their guy having beaten her.

David Beckham has reportedly been nominated for knighthood. I couldn't really give less of a shit about knighthood, but as long as knights are still being knighted, go ahead and give one to Becks!

[CN: Disablist language] Jennifer Lawrence is terrific. The little girl's face in that video is amazing. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MY FACE IS CRUMPLING! I know that feeling. :)