In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: War; terrorism; death; video may autoplay at second link] "The surviving pilot of a Russian plane shot down by Turkey on the Syrian border has said no warning was given. Capt Konstantin Murakhtin told Russian television there was 'no way' the jet could have violated Turkish airspace, as Turkey said it did. Russia said Capt Murakhtin was rescued in a 12-hour operation involving special forces. Turkey insists the pilots were warned 10 times before the plane was shot down." Meanwhile: "Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday said the downing of a Russian warplane by Turkey appeared to be planned. 'We have serious doubts that it was unintentional, it looks like a planned provocation,' he said, according to Russian news agency TASS." So, everything's going great with that situation.

[CN: Terrorism] US President Obama and French President Hollande gave a joint press conference yesterday, in which they reaffirmed the alliance between the two countries. The White House had made available the complete transcript of that presser.

[CN: War on agency] This is good news (for now): "The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Monday that the hospital admitting requirement for Wisconsin abortion providers is unconstitutional. The scathing 2-1 ruling states that this kind of targeted restriction on abortion providers is unconstitutional because it lacks any basis to suggest that it improves safety at clinics. ...A similar case will be heard by the Supreme Court next year." Let's hope the Supreme Court shares the opinion of the 7th Circuit Court.

[CN: Marginalizing language] Hillary Clinton has promised to stop using the phrase "illegal immigrants." Jose Antonio Vargas, "an activist whose group is mounting a campaign called #WordsMatter to get presidential candidates to promise not to use the phrase," and who challenged Clinton on her use of the phrase, said: "I am hopeful that Hillary Clinton will stand by her word. And I am hopeful that her fellow candidates, from both parties, will make the same pledge. Words matter." Well done, sir!

[CN: Domestic violence] The NFL continues to have perfect priorities: "On Tuesday afternoon, days after pictures and video of the Cleveland Browns quarterback partying over the weekend emerged, the team announced that Johnny Manziel has been demoted from starter to the third string for the foreseeable future. This announcement comes less than a month after Manziel, who is in his second year in the NFL, was promoted to starting quarterback amid an NFL investigation of a domestic violence incident."

[CN: Homophobia; violence] Good: "Homophobic tweets posted by accused Philadelphia gay basher Kathryn Knott will be admitted as evidence in the trial against her set to start next month. Knott is accused of savagely attacking a gay couple in City Center, Philadelphia on September 11, 2014 while shouting gay slurs. While her two cohorts in the attack accepted plea deals, Knott, the daughter of Bucks County, Pennsylvania police chief Karl Knott, opted instead to fight the charges against her in court. ...The judge in Knott's trial decided that those tweets, because they are of an anti-gay nature, would be admissible in the trial despite her defense attorney's objection (he labeled the attempt to admit them 'character assassination')."

Obviously: "Adele's Reaction to the SNL Skit About Her Is Perfect." In other Adele news: "Adele Can't Wait for Rihanna's Anti." YESSSSS!!!

[CN: Disablist language] "29 Times Tom Hardy Was Goddamn Human Perfection in 2015." LOL! Facts.

And finally! "Couple Lets Their Dog Film Their Wedding and the Result Is Better Than Most Wedding Videos." Awwww!