In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: White supremacy; racist eliminationist violence; white privilege] The New York Times has a profile of Dylann Roof, who killed nine black women and men in South Carolina last month, and it is utterly sickening the treatment this murderous white supremacist man is given compared to the black boys who are murdered at the hands of police. Instead of Roof's life and background being mined for evidence of his criminality, it's all "this poor white kid who totally had black friends but also a troubled life." This is the opening paragraph, for fuck's sake: "The young man accused of the terrible crime was a bug-eyed boy with a bowl haircut who came from a broken home and attended at least seven schools in nine years. Many afternoons he would sit silently on the curb in front of his roomy yard and, when he tired of it, move to a different curb. He helped neighbors with their yard work, but they still found him strange." BOO FUCKING HOO. If you would like to submit a complaint to the New York Times' public editor, Margaret Sullivan, you can email her here.

Way to go, Ireland! "Ireland yesterday became the fourth country in the world to allow transgender people to have their gender legally recognized based on self-declaration... Under the new legislation, people who wish to have their change of gender recognised by the state will simply make a formal declaration of their 'settled and solemn intention' to do so. ...Noting that the legislation was 'not perfect' because it excludes 'those under 18, non-binary people and people with an intersex condition,' Sara Phillips, chair of the Transgender Equality Network Ireland, said: 'This legislation marks an incredible shift in Irish society. Our community is finally stepping out of the shadows.'"

Here is just a real headline in the world today: "John McCain has a few things to say about Donald Trump." I can hardly think of anything I'd rather read less! But if you want to read it, for reasons I will probably never understand no matter how many times you explain it to me, here you go!

[CN: Rape culture; child sex abuse; video may autoplay at link] TLC has finally canceled 19 Kids and Counting two months after it was disclosed that Josh Duggar molested multiple girls. But that doesn't mean they've severed ties with the Duggar family, who are a major money-making machine for them: "TLC also announced it has teamed with two prominent child-protection organizations for an ongoing campaign to raise awareness about child sexual abuse. The multi-platform initiative will begin with a one-hour, commercial-free documentary likely airing in late August, the network said. It will include the participation of Jill and Jessa Duggar, two of the sisters Josh Duggar touched inappropriately, as well as other survivors and families affected by such abuse." Perfect. "We look forward to working with TLC on this upcoming special documentary and hope that it is an encouragement to many," said "the Duggar family" in a statement. I'll bet.

[CN: Discussion of transphobia, bullying, and self-harm; video may autoplay at link] Caitlyn Jenner gave her acceptance speech for the 2015 Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at last night's ESPYs. "If you want to call me names, make jokes, doubt my intentions, go ahead, because the reality is, I can take it. But for the thousands of kids out there coming to terms with being true to who they are, they shouldn't have to take it." Watch the video and/or read the transcript here.

More Pluto news! Give it to me! Give me all the Pluto news!!! "Latest New Horizons Images Show Pluto's Moons, Ice Mountains." I literally cannot get enough Pluto news! I know that sounds sarcastic, but it isn't! I am super excited!

Know what else I love? Pentaquark news! "Pentaquarks Have Scientists Psyched—and Baffled." I imagine that if I were a scientist, "psyched and baffled" would be my favorite state of being. I'm frankly a pretty big fan of it even not being a scientist.

OMG this video of San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Scott Wiener refusing to engage with a Fox News reporter, substituting "Fox News is not real news and you're not a real reporter" for an actual answer, is the best. A+

Do you care about the Emmy Awards? If you do, here is a complete list of this year's nominees! Please give all the Emmys to Viola Davis and Jonathan Banks and call it a day. Thanks!

Lindsay Ellis and Mara Wilson imagine what it would be like "If Tom Hardy Were Your Boyfriend." I am not a scientist, but I am the nation's leading tomhardyologist, and I will tell you that this critical thinkpiece is 100% accurate.

And finally! Farm Animals in Hats! I repeat: FARM ANIMALS IN HATS. *ded*