In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

A small drone crashed on the White House property this morning whut whut whut: "A small drone flying at low altitude crashed into the White House complex before dawn Monday, the Secret Service said. President Barack Obama was not at home and the White House said it did not pose a security threat. The crash prompted an immediate lockdown of the White House grounds until officials could examine the drone. The Secret Service said the 2-foot-long device was a quadcopter—a small, unmanned aircraft that is lifted by four propellers. 'An investigation is underway to determine the origin of this commercially available device, motive, and to identify suspects,' said Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary." GOOD GRIEF WHAT IS GOING ON WITH WHITE HOUSE SECURITY?!

[Content Note: Terrorism; violence] Boko Haram unleashed a serious assault on the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri over the weekend: "Officials here called it the group's most audacious assault on the city to date. ...The attack on this city of more than two million people, a commercial and administrative hub, began late Saturday when the militants from the Islamist insurgency rushed in from at least two directions. Loud explosions could be heard in the center of the city, as well as small-arms fire and artillery in its suburbs. The attack was a significant thrust forward in a creeping campaign that began last summer to encircle Maiduguri, officials said. 'Certainly this is the most serious attack yet,' said Kashim Shettima, the governor of Borno State, of which Maiduguri is the capital. 'We faced a really existential threat.'" The Boko Haram fighters were eventually pushed back, but dozens of soldiers defending the city were killed in the battle. Fucking hell.

Something about gold prices after the Greek elections, which ushered in an anti-austerity coaltion.

In good news: US District Court Judge Callie V. S. Granade has ruled Alabama's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional: "According to Granade's ruling, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange failed to explain how allowing or recognizing same-sex marriage between two consenting adults prevents heterosexual parents from caring for their biological children. 'If anything, Alabama's prohibition of same-sex marriage detracts from its goal of promoting optimal environments for children,' the ruling states. 'Those children currently being raised by same-sex parents in Alabama are just as worthy of protection and recognition by the State as are the children being raised by opposite-sex parents.'" BOOM. Congratulations, Alabama!

In more good news: Monica Jones' conviction for "walking while trans" has been overturned. Yay!

In even more good news: Viola Davis and Uzo Aduba made Screen Actors Guild Awards history last night, as Davis won outstanding lead actress in a drama for How to Get Away with Murder and Aduba won outstanding lead actress in a comedy for Orange Is the New Black. It's the first time ever that both winning lead actresses were black. Congratulations to both of them!

Also: Viola Davis' acceptance speech was awesome, because OF COURSE IT WAS!

[CN: White supremacy] This piece by Amy Davidson on "Why Selma Is More Than Fair to L.B.J." is so, so good. You should definitely read it!

[CN: Misogynist terrorism] What the absolute fuck: Five Wikipedia editors have been banned from "making corrections to articles about feminism" by Wikipedia's "arbitration committee, the highest user-run body on the site," because they were actively preventing the Wiki "GamerGate" entry from becoming a cesspool of lies about "ethics in game journalism." Goddammit.

These images of fat and in-betweenie women nailing yoga poses are amazing. The next time you hear someone saying fat bodies are ugly, or incapable, or weak, just send them this link with all the mirthless laughter in the multiverse.

OMGOMOMG: Two rescued baby eagle-owls trying to figure out how to play with tennis balls. Squeeeeee they are sooooo cute!!!