In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: Police brutality; racism] And again: "The Wisconsin National Guard began calling up members over the weekend to respond, if needed, to protests in Milwaukee related to the fatal shooting of Dontre Hamilton by a Milwaukee police officer. Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. made the request, which was approved by Gov. Scott Walker, Maj. Paul Rickert, the Guard's director of communications, said Sunday. ...Hamilton's death has prompted a series of protests in downtown Milwaukee. Demonstrators have called for Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm to issue charges against former officer Christopher Manney in the fatal shooting of Hamilton on April 30 in Red Arrow Park. During a confrontation at the park, Hamilton gained control of Manney's baton and struck the officer at least once before Manney fired, shooting Hamilton 14 times. A charging decisions seems to be drawing near, and Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said Saturday that he believed a decision would be made 'sometime in the next few days.'"

[CN: Misogyny] Damon Young, editor-in-chief of Very Smart Brothas, has written a very good piece about realizing he didn't trust his wife, or women generally, with feelings: "This conversation is how, after five months of marriage, eight months of being engaged, and another year of whatever the hell we were doing before we got engaged, I realized I don't trust my wife. When the concept of trust is brought up, it's usually framed in the context of actions; of what we think a person is capable of doing. If you trust someone, it means you trust them not to cheat. Or steal. Or lie. Or smother you in your sleep. By this measure, I definitely trust my wife. I trust the shit out of her. I also trust her opinions about important things. I trusted that she'd make a great wife, and a trust that she'll be a great mother. And I trust that her manicotti won't kill me. But you know what I don't really trust? What I've never actually trusted with any women I've been with? Her feelings." Emphasis original. And of course I note the bitter irony that many men will read this and be moved by it, despite the fact they haven't been moved by women saying it forever, because they don't trust us with our feelings.

[CN: Rape culture] Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston "was cleared by the university this weekend of any student code of conduct violations related to" allegations that he sexually assaulted a female classmate two years ago. Of course he was.

[CN: Transphobia, thoughts of self-harm] Flight Lieutenant Ayla Holdom, the RAF's only out transgender pilot, has spoken about her transition while serving in the British military, including the support she got from her fellow service member, Prince William: "Deciding to undergo transition meant explaining the decision to her RAF colleagues, including Prince William. The two served together on search and rescue when the Prince was a member of the small, tight-knit team of 20 at RAF Valley. She says that William showed support and understanding, and subsequently invited Holdom and Wren to his own wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011. It was one of Holdom's first public outings after undergoing surgery."

This is a pretty big story that will not get the coverage it deserves: "In a 37-day trial that ended in late November, [Starr International, a large stockholder in the American International Group] contended that the government's actions in the bailout [of AIG], including its refusal to put some terms of the rescue to a shareholder vote, were an improper taking of private property under the Fifth Amendment. ...Those backing the government are indignant over the case. A.I.G. shareholders did well in the bailout and should be grateful for it, they say. And all's well that ends well, right? A.I.G. repaid its $182 billion rescue loan in 2012; the government generated a profit of $22.7 billion on the deal. To me, however, the case's significance lies in the information it unearthed about what the government did in the bailout—details it worked hard to keep secret."

And finally! Here is a terrific story about a senior dog being rescued and finding a home with 96-year-old Kay Brown: "I put my hand out to pick him up and he came up to kiss me and that settled that. ...I love Nigel and he loves me." Blub.