In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: War; death. Covers next two paragraphs.] President Obama has authorized "two operations in Iraq—targeted airstrikes to protect our American personnel, and a humanitarian effort to help save thousands of Iraqi civilians who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost certain death. ...To stop the advance on Erbil, I've directed our military to take targeted strikes against ISIL terrorist convoys should they move toward the city. ...We intend to stay vigilant, and take action if these terrorist forces threaten our personnel or facilities anywhere in Iraq, including our consulate in Erbil and our embassy in Baghdad. We're also providing urgent assistance to Iraqi government and Kurdish forces so they can more effectively wage the fight against ISIL. Second, at the request of the Iraqi government—we've begun operations to help save Iraqi civilians stranded on the mountain. ...I've, therefore, authorized targeted airstrikes, if necessary, to help forces in Iraq as they fight to break the siege of Mount Sinjar and protect the civilians trapped there. Already, American aircraft have begun conducting humanitarian airdrops of food and water to help these desperate men, women, and children survive."

Meanwhile: "Paul Wolfowitz, a former senior George W. Bush administration official and one of the chief Iraq War architects, said on Tuesday that the U.S. 'won' the war in Iraq. When asked his thoughts about the current situation in Iraq and whether the war was a mistake, Wolfowitz replied, 'We have won it—in 2009.'" This fucking guy.

[CN: War; death] In Israel & Gaza: "Israel launched air strikes on Gaza on Friday morning after Islamist groups there refused to extend a ceasefire and resumed rocket fire. At least 35 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel after a 72-hour ceasefire expired at 8am local time. Several more had been fired during the night. By noon there were reports of air strikes in the north and east of Gaza and several audible explosions in Gaza City. There appear to have been some casualties, though details were unclear."

[CN: War on agency] This piece by Texas activist Andrea Grimes is great: "Davis vs. Goliath: What Followed Wendy Davis' Bid for Texas Governor."

[CN: Homophobia] Just like Jesus would do: A Florida church abruptly cancelled a man's funeral "after the pastor learned the deceased was gay and his obituary listed a surviving husband."

[CN: Climate change] Scientists believe the giant holes in Siberia may have been caused by climate change: "Russian researchers who have explored the crater sites now believe the long-frozen Siberian permafrost thawed due to increased temperatures, collapsed and let free methane gas trapped beneath, the team told the science journal Nature. The team tested the air near the bottom of the holes and discovered an unusually high concentration of methane." Terrific.

This weekend in the skies [video may begin playing automatically at link]: "Sky observers in the Northern Hemisphere will get a special treat this Sunday as a 'super moon' and meteor showers are expected to happen at the same time. The annual meteor shower, Perseid, will light up the night sky with as many as 100 shooting stars an hour. The prolific Perseid will be joined by a 'super moon,' which occurs when the Earth is at its closest distance to the moon. The meteor shower will peak between Aug. 10 and Aug. 13, and is expected to last for a week after its peak. 'The best time to see the showers will be at around 2 a.m. in the morning,' Tony Berendsen, an outreach astronomer and founder of Tahoe Star Tours told ABC News today."

[CN: Fat bias] Allison Tolman continues to be awesome: "While I know that me saying something to [people engaging in fat shaming and body policing] on the Internet and sassing somebody back doesn't actually do anything to them—I don't think I'm going to change anyone's mind, obviously—but I'm hoping that if that's part of the conversation, people saying nasty things to women, maybe we can also make part of the conversation women saying back, 'It's really none of your business, shut up.'"

And finally! Here is an adorable video of a Rottweiler who loves her weekly shower. Awww!