In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today!

[Content Note: Homophobia] Republican Senators want to replace the Defense of Marriage Act with the "State Marriage Defense Act," which "would give states the power to decide whether to give married lesbian and gay couples the same federal benefits that heterosexual married couples receive." Good grief, these bigots. They're like the Energizer bunnies of bigotry. I really wish every single member of the media would start asking Republicans who oppose marriage equality how they reconcile that position with supporting people's pursuit of happiness. Let them stammer over that shit for awhile, since they're so keen to invoke the Founding Fathers every goddamn chance they get.

Democratic Michigan Representative John Dingell, who is the longest-serving member of the US House at 58 years of service, will retire at the end of this term. "I find serving in the House to be obnoxious. It's become very hard because of the acrimony and bitterness, both in Congress and in the streets. ...This is not the Congress I know and love. It's hard for me to accept, but it's time to cash it in."

The Brooklyn Nets have signed Jason Collins to a 10-day contract, making him "the very first active, openly gay [male] player not only in the NBA but also in any major US sport." Congrats, Jason Collins!

[CN: Violence; guns] Prosecutors in the Reeva Steenkamp murder case believe that her killer, track star Oscar Pistorius, is lying about events that night and killed her following an argument. "The accused's version is not reasonably possibly true," prosecutors said in court documents. The trial begins next week.

Netflix and Comcast have reached an agreement in which Netflix will pay to build the infrastructure to deliver unthrottled content to subscribers, and "this is where things get troubling, because Netflix and Comcast aren't violating net neutrality by setting up this new pipe; they are stepping around it entirely."

Love this: Inside Amtrak's (Absolutely Awesome) Plan to Give Free Rides to Writers.

A tiny 4.4-billion-year-old zircon has been confirmed as the oldest known fragment of Earth's crust. Looking good, Earth! You don't look a day over 4.2 billion!

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has photographed the glorious effect of Kappa Cassiopeiae, a hot supergiant star, moving at about 2.5 million mph. Neato!

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley refused to say on Face the Nation this weekend "whether he will pursue the Democratic nomination for president in 2016 if Hillary Rodham Clinton gets in the race." I am literally posting this news item only so I can share that every time I hear the name Martin O'Malley, I imagine him behind a patriotic podium during a primary debate, shouting at Hillary Clinton: "I like to kick! Streeeeeetch! And kick! I'm FIFTY!"

Hey, speaking of Molly Shannon: She's gonna be in a new show. I hope it's good, because I love her!