In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: Terrorism; death] At least 118 people were killed by two bombs in Jos, Nigeria, yesterday: "There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosions, but the bombs bore the hallmarks of other attacks by Islamist sect Boko Haram, which has recently stepped up a bloody five-year battle campaign to establish a caliphate in northern Nigeria, and kidnapped more than 300 schoolgirls from a remote north-eastern school in April. In the past month, the group has set off two bomb blasts in the capital, Abuja, and another in the country's second city, Kano." I just can't even imagine the terror and heartbreak of average Nigerians right now.

Gallup finds that 55% of US respondents to their latest poll are now in favor of marriages between couples of the same sex being "recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as [different sex] marriages." A majority of USians has now supported legal same-sex marriage since 2012.

[CN: Class warfare; food insecurity; racism] In REPUBLICANS THINK PEOPLE AREN'T ENTITLED TO FOOD news: The House Republican agriculture bill includes a provision stipulating that its summer school lunch program is only for rural children: "Democrats were surprised to see urban children were excluded. And the GOP had some trouble explaining the history itself. But a spokeswoman confirmed that the intent of the bill is a pilot project in 'rural areas' only." Let's just put it bluntly: In rural areas, most poor children are white. In urban areas, most poor children are nonwhite.

[CN: Torture] Hey, remember when we were totes gonna close Gitmo? Ha ha whoooooooooops! "During the House Armed Services Committee's recent markup of its annual defense funding bill, lawmakers bemoaned the fact that tight budgets mean hard choices. Combat ship programs, helicopter systems, and even the venerable A-10 attack plane were not too sacred to escape the committee's scrutiny. Even so, the committee was able to find some $69 million for a new "High Value Detainee" facility to replace secret Camp 7 at the Guantánamo detention camp – even though the Pentagon did not even request funds for a new prison facility this year... The proposed facility would house 15 former CIA captives. That's a whopping $4.6 million per detainee in construction costs." The cost of the facility are gross, but the indecency of maintaining it at all is even grosser.

A principal and superintendent have apologized to a student after giving her an in-school suspension and disallowed her from participating in a senior class event because her yearbook quote was: "When the going gets tough just remember to Barium, Carbon, Potassium, Thorium, Astatine, Arsenic, Sulfur, Uranium, Phosphorus." That is: "When the going gets tough just remember to BaCK ThAT AS_ UP." LOL. I love this girl. And I'm glad she's going to get to give her speech at graduation after all.

Heads-up: eBay is recommending that users change their passwords after a cyberattack compromised one of its databases.

Something something first gay player but oh remember the WNBA? And while people wring their hands about an NFL draft pick kissing his boyfriend and whether lockers rooms are "ready" for gay players, the WNBA is "launching a campaign to market specifically to the LGBT community," which will encourage teams and players to "participate in local pride festivals and parades, [work] with advocacy groups to raise awareness of inclusion through grassroots events, and [advertise] with lesbian media. A nationally televised Pride game will take place between Tulsa and Chicago on Sunday, June 22."

And finally! This one's for you, Wondy fans: "DC Comics is launching a digital-first Wonder Woman anthology series in August 2014 called Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman. ...Digital chapters of the new series will hit once a week, with every three chapters being collected into single print issues." Woot!