In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

Good, now let's make some shit happen! "This weekend, on the 20th anniversary of the fourth world conference on women in Beijing, leaders from around the globe met in New York City to discuss concrete and measurable plans for eliminating discrimination against women. ...'The highest leaders in the land are taking personal responsibility for their commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women,' UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said. 'Now the world looks up to them to lead the game-changing actions that secure and sustain implementation. Today we take the first firm steps towards 25 September, 2030.'"

[Content Note: War on agency] Good news—for now: "An El Paso clinic shuttered by Texas' tough 2013 abortion law reopened Tuesday, the first in the state to do so since the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked enforcement of some of the key restrictions three months ago. The Reproductive Services clinic, so close to the Texas-Mexico border that its windows offer views of Ciudad Juarez across the Rio Grande, is now taking appointments and should begin performing abortions next week. The reopening brings to 20 the number of abortion clinics in America's second most-populous state. But that's still down from 41 in 2012, and the facility could close again soon. A June 29 Supreme Court order only created a temporary block that will hold until the high court decides whether to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling refusing to suspend the Texas restrictions. It's not clear when that decision will come, but the summer ruling is a strong indication that the Supreme Court eventually will hear the full appeal—which could be the biggest abortion case in decades. 'We're so excited about the reopening, but the discouraging part is we could be closed down at any time,' said Marilyn Eldridge, president of Nova Health Systems, which operates Reproductive Services."

[CN: Moving GIFs at link; discussion of transphobia] Blub foreverrrr: "Erica Maison, a mother of five from Detroit, surprised her transgender daughter Corey with her first dose of hormones—something the 14-year-old had been waiting over two years to receive. She managed to capture the emotional moment on video." THE LOOK ON COREY'S FACE!!!

[CN: Rape culture; sex abuse] "Lawyers for Dennis Hastert are reportedly in negotiations about a possible guilty plea to charges the former House Speaker was paying to cover-up alleged sexual misconduct with a former male student." I'm sure he'll get a terrific deal, because of course he will. In the meantime: "Hastert remains free on his own recognizance."

Here's just a real story on CNN today: "The Chuck Norris-Mike Huckabee bromance is alive and well." For fuck's sake.

Rush Limbaugh, at maximum Limbaugh: "Okay so there's flowing water on Mars. Yip yip yip yahoo. You know me, I'm science 101, big time guy, tech advance it, you know it, I'm all in. But, NASA has been corrupted by the current regime. I want to find out what they're going to tell us. OK, flowing water on Mars. If we're even to believe that, what are they going to tell us that means? That's what I'm going to wait for. Because I guarantee, let's just wait and see, this is September 28, let's just wait and see. Don't know how long it's going to take, but this news that there is flowing water on Mars is somehow going to find its way into a technique to advance the leftist agenda." Blink.

RIP Catherine Coulson, who most famously played the Log Lady on Twin Peaks. Said David Lynch: "Today I lost one of my dearest friends, Catherine Coulson. Catherine was solid gold. She was always there for her friends—she was filled with love for all people—for her family—for her work. She was a tireless worker. She had a great sense of humor—she loved to laugh and make people laugh. She was a spiritual person—a longtime TM meditator. She was the Log Lady." She was the Log Lady.

Awwwwwww: "The newly discovered Angustopila dominikae is a really tiny snail. With a shell height of just .86 millimeters, nearly 10 of the creatures could fit into the head of a sewing needle."

And finally! "The Happiest Cats Who Show the Best Smiles." I can't be arsed setting up an account to submit a picture, but, if I could, this picture of Olivia is definitely the one I'd submit!