In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today!

[Content Note: Sexual violence] President Obama has announced the creation of a task force "intended to help educational institutions prevent and respond to sexual violence as well as beef up the ability of federal agencies to hold schools accountable if they aren't addressing problems." Good.

[CN: War on agency] A federal appeals court has "reinstated a portion of a 2011 New York City law that regulates Crisis Pregnancy Centers, known as CPCs or fake clinics. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling means that CPCs operating in New York City must now disclose whether or not a licensed medical professional works on-site at the facility. To comply with the law, CPCs must post the disclosure in English and Spanish at their entrances and in their waiting rooms. Disclosures must also appear on advertisements and be made orally, either in-person to potential clients or during telephone conversations with potential clients." Good.

[CN: Fire; death] Following a huge fire at a senior housing complex in Quebec, at least three people are dead and as many as 30 more are still missing. My condolences and sympathy to everyone involved, from the residents to survivors of the deceased to the staff to the first responders. What a terrible situation. There is hope that many of the missing, some of whom had Alzheimer's, may be found alive.

[CN: Homophobia] Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring "says the state's gay marriage ban is unconstitutional and he won't be defending it in court."

[CN: Class warfare] Pew Research has found that "most Republicans think rich people are largely responsible for their socioeconomic status. They also feel the same way about poor people. Fifty-seven percent of GOP voters said that a person is rich because 'he or she worked harder than others,' while just 32 percent attribute it to advantages they enjoyed. The results are almost completely flipped among Democrats." Fucking hell.

Actual Headline: "Can Anyone Stop Hillary? Absolutely." Actual subhead: "The former secretary of state may still be the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, but she hasn't done much to help her cause lately." Actual lede: "Time magazine's cover this week asks, 'Can Anyone Stop Hillary?' The answer to that question is yes, but you'd never know it judging by the overwhelming belief among Democratic insiders that the party's 2016 presidential nomination is simply Hillary Clinton's for the asking. For all her popularity among party power brokers, the sense of invincibility that currently surrounds Clinton reflects a kind of suspension of disbelief by Democrats that a more detached reckoning should dispel." We're just recycling articles from 2007 at this point.

Wowowowow: "An exploding star has been spotted in the night sky—the closest supernova to Earth that has been seen in decades. The dramatic event happened 12 million light years away in Messier 82—known as the cigar galaxy for its shape. It was discovered by undergraduates during a telescope class at the University of London Observatory. 'One minute we're eating pizza then five minutes later we've helped to discover a supernova. I couldn't believe it,' said student Tom Wright." Neat!

The Captain and Tennille are getting divorced, and everyone is so sad for them that they're making "Love Will Keep Us Together" jokes. No jokes here. I wish them both well.

Carrie Fisher has confirmed she will appear in Star Wars: Episode 7. Are you excited? Y/N?