In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: Racism] Charles Belk, a black film producer "who was in Beverly Hills to attend a pre-Emmy party Friday night, was handcuffed and detained for about six hours before authorities investigating a nearby bank robbery realized they had the wrong man." In a statement, Belk wrote: "What I don't get...is why, during the 45 minutes that they had me on the curb, handcuffed in the sun, before they locked me up and took away my civil rights, that they could not simply review the ATM and bank's HD video footage to clearly see that the 'tall, bald-headed, black male'...did not fit MY description."

[CN: Guns; death] A firearms instructor in Arizona has died after he was shot by his 9-year-old student who lost control of the 9mm Uzi he was teaching her to use. Apparently, her family was on vacation at the "property in the Mohave desert, which creates a 'Desert Storm' atmosphere for shooters, their websites says. At the range, guests can take guided tours that include a private range and a certified ex-military firearms instructor. The tours require children to be at least 8 years old and stipulate that minors under 18 must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian at all times." I am sad this man died, and I am sad for this little girl, who now has to spend the rest of her life knowing she killed someone because all the adults around her thought it was okay for a 9-year-old to handle an Uzi.

[CN: Class warfare] Whoooooooops: "At a Koch Brothers-hosted secret strategy conference of right-wing millionaire and billionaire political activists in June, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) promised that if his party wins control of the United States Senate this November, the Senate will not waste time on things like increasing the minimum wage for people making only about $15,000 annually. ...McConnell, who has been attacked by his opponent for voting 17 times against minimum wage increases, made it clear that under his leadership there would not be any increase in the current $7.25 federal minimum wage. 'And we're not going to be debating all these gosh darn proposals. That's all we do in the Senate is vote on things like raising the minimum wage,' he told the billionaires in attendance." What a jackass. A cruel, shameless jackass.

This is good news: "Three retired U.S. generals added their names Tuesday to growing calls for the U.S. military to repeal its ban on transgender service members, arguing that doing so would not harm the armed forces' readiness or require major changes to administrative or medical policies. In a joint statement, Maj. Gen. Gale S. Pollock, former acting surgeon general of the Army; Brig. Gen. Clara Adams Ender, former chief of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps; and Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Kolditz, a professor emeritus at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, said 'allowing transgender personnel to serve openly is administratively feasible and will not be burdensome or complicated.' 'Implementation could proceed immediately and will be successful in its execution,' they added." I really love how they anticipated all the usual arguments and preemptively dismissed them out of hand. Nice.

Michelangelo Signorile tells is like it is on (lots of) corporate displays of support for LGBT rights.

Wowwwww: "Cosmic effort provides best view yet of distant colliding galaxies."

Michael Rooker (Yondu) and Dave Batista (Drax the Destroyer) reenact the Dancing Groot scene from Guardians of the Galaxy. Everyone I know seems to have Groot fever!

And finally! "A new law has been passed in California that will allow pet owners to dine together with their pets at restaurants outdoors when patio seating is available. Governor Jerry Brown, proud pet parent of a Welsh corgi named Sutter signed the bill into law together, and they couldn't be happier about the decision. The rules seem pretty basic. The dog must remain leashed, can only be seated in an outdoor-dining section, and must remain well behaved at all times. Also, the dog cannot be brought into any areas where food is being prepared. So it all seems fairly simple. ...The law fully goes into effect as of January the 1st." Yay! I think this is really excellent news for people whose dogs are not official service dogs, but whose companionship nonetheless helps them get out and about.