In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: Violence; guns; death] Yesterday I mentioned there had been a shooting in the Philadelphia suburbs, and here is more information on the shooter and the people he killed, including his ex-wife and most of her family. Toward the end of the piece, there is this: "'She would tell anybody who would listen that he was going to kill her, and that she was really afraid for her life,' said Evan Weron, a neighbor of Nicole Stone... Matthew Schafte, of Lower Salford's Harleysville section, who described Bradley Stone as a friend of 20 years, said custody was definitely an issue between the parents. He said Nicole Stone was keeping the girls away from her ex-husband. But Schafte said his friend was otherwise happy." Neat victim-blaming there. He was happy, except for how she was a terrible harridan who was keeping his children from him. Considering he ended up killing her and her entire family, maybe she had good fucking reason for that. If it were even true, which it does not seem to be, since Stone's current wife's "Facebook page shows their son and Stone's daughters having their picture taken with Santa on Saturday." That fact in the same article as his friend's contention that she was "keeping the girls away."

[CN: Terrorism; death] I don't even have words: "At least 132 students and nine staff members were killed on Tuesday after Taliban gunmen broke into a school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar and opened fire, witnesses said, in the bloodiest massacre the country has seen for years. ...Wounded children taken to nearby hospitals told Reuters most victims died when gunmen, suicide vests strapped to their bodies, entered the compound and opened fire indiscriminately on boys, girls and their teachers. ...The Taliban, waging war against Pakistan in order to topple the government and set up an Islamic state, immediately claimed responsibility. 'We selected the army's school for the attack because the government is targeting our families and females,' said Taliban spokesman Muhammad Umar Khorasani. 'We want them to feel the pain.'"

[CN: Racism] I love this, although I certainly don't love the reasons that necessitated it: "After Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins wore a shirt calling for justice for two black Ohioans recently killed by police onto the field before Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the head of Cleveland's police union called him 'pathetic' and demanded an apology. But when Hawkins addressed the media on Monday, he didn't apologize. Instead, he delivered an impassioned speech defending his decision to wear the shirt and explaining why it was so important for him to do so. ...'I was taught that justice is a right that every American should have. Also justice should be the goal of every American. I think that's what makes this country special. To me, justice means that the innocent should be found innocent. It means that those who do wrong should get their due punishment. Ultimately, it means fair treatment. So a call for justice shouldn't offend or disrespect anybody. A call for justice shouldn't warrant an apology.'"

[CN: Misogyny] It's a real mystery why the numbers of Catholic nuns are dwindling: "A three-year papal investigation into America's 50,000 nuns, which inspired comparisons with the Inquisition, produced an unexpectedly benign report on Tuesday, containing somewhat tepid reprimands and calling for a careful review of their spiritual practices. ...[The report] calls for America's women religious to 'carefully review their spiritual practices and ministry to assure that these are in harmony with Catholic teaching about God, creation, the incarnation and the redemption.'" I eagerly await their report on the behavior of priests. Oh, there's no inquiry into priests? Huh. You don't say.

Terrific: "Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush will 'actively explore' a run for the presidency in 2016, he announced on Tuesday, making him one of the first major Republicans to formally move toward a possible candidacy. ...'In the coming months, I hope to visit with many of you and have a conversation about restoring the promise of America,' Bush wrote on Facebook, adding that he would formally establish a political committee in January." Not interested.

I ♥ Kandinsky. Well, his art. I never met him personally.

Woot! "Same-Sex Marriage Now Legal in Scotland: In February, Scotland became the seventeenth country in the world to legalise gay marriage. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 received Royal Assent in March and government has since been implementing the new law, including passing required secondary legislation. Scotland is considered to have one of the most progressive marriage equality laws in the world. The legislation differs from same-sex marriage laws in England and Wales in a number of respects including better protections for transgender people. The law also allows any religious or belief body to opt in to conducting same-sex marriages and does not ban religious or belief bodies from opting out."

[CN: Misogyny] This Texas Monthly cover is so fucking gross.

And finally! This French bulldog puppy really enjoys playing in the rain!