In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: Natural disaster; death; displacement] So awful: "Rescuers in Sri Lanka are searching for scores of people missing after massive landslides following days of rain. The army told the BBC that 134 people remained unaccounted for after mudslides hit three villages in central Kegalle district. At least 14 bodies have been recovered so far. Another three bodies were found elsewhere in the district. Disaster officials say about 150 people have been rescued but more than 60 houses have been buried by mud. Landslides and flooding caused by three days of torrential rain in Sri Lanka have killed at least 37 people in total, according to official figures. Nearly 350,000 people have been displaced."

[CN: Misogyny; sexual violence; terrorism] "Nigerian soldiers have found one of the schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram from Chibok, making her the first freed from the Islamic extremists since the mass kidnapping more than two years ago. Her uncle describes her as pregnant and traumatized but otherwise fine. Amina Ali Nkeki is the first of the 219 Chibok girls to escape from her captors since their abduction grabbed worldwide attention more than two years ago. She was found wandering in the forest, uncle Yakubu Nkeki told The Associated Press. He said the 19-year-old—she was 17 when she was abducted—was brought to Chibok Tuesday night for her identity to be verified and to be reunited with her mother. ...Other Chibok girls may also have been rescued by soldiers hunting down Boko Haram in the remote northeastern Sambisa Forest on Tuesday night, said Chibok community leader Pogu Bitrus. He said he is working with officials to establish their identities." Presumably, the AP meant "physically unharmed," rather than "fine." Ahem. I desperately hope she will have the support she needs as she begins to rebuild her life after this horrendous experience. And, given that Boko Haram continues to terrorize the area and abduct people, I hope she remains safe.

[CN: War on agency] Terrific (by which I mean terrible): "South Carolina passes bill banning abortion after 19 weeks, becoming 17th state to do so; governor expected to sign." I'm pretty sure that abortion wasn't legal after 19 weeks in South Carolina, except in cases of fetal anomalies or risk to health, so, basically, all this law will do is prevent necessary therapeutic abortions. Rage seethe boil.

[CN: Racism; eliminationist violence; harassment] George Zimmerman is one of the most odious fuckers on the planet. Last week, he started trying to auction off the gun he used to kill Trayvon Martin, saying he would use the proceeds to campaign against Hillary Clinton. Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon's mother, has been campaigning with Clinton as a spokesperson against gun violence and for gun reform. So this piece of shit wants to sell the gun he used to kill her child and use the profits to defeat the candidate with whom she's campaigning. Now, in a new interview, he says "he has no remorse about shooting the 17-year-old boy to death in Sanford, Florida, and bears outright hostility for the parents whose son he took away forever. 'They didn't raise their son right. He attacked a complete stranger and attempted to kill him,' Zimmerman said of Martin." There is more, and it is absolute filth. Having been writing about this guy for four years now, nothing he does surprises me. Everything he does, however, makes me incandescently angry. And I cannot quite put into words how profoundly upsetting I find it that he continues to provoke Trayvon's family so publicly and so viciously. What a truly vile dirtbag.

"The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Eric Fanning as the new secretary of the Army—quietly making history by putting the first openly gay person in the post. Fanning was confirmed unanimously on a voice vote. He previously filled a number of senior positions in the Department of Defense, including acting undersecretary of the Army, special assistant to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, and undersecretary of the Air Force. President Barack Obama nominated Fanning in September, but his confirmation was delayed because of politics." Of course it was.

[CN: Violence; harassment] The Sacramento Bee isn't mincing any words about Bernie Sanders' abdication of leadership with regard to his out of control supporters: "One would think that Sanders, the man who continues to insist he's the only Democrat who can beat Trump, would speak up forcefully to condemn the actions of his supporters in Nevada. If nothing else, it's the right thing to do. Instead, much like Trump when pressed about the violent streak within his ranks, he has largely weaseled out of his responsibility to make it clear to his supporters that this is not acceptable behavior. ...Sanders can't be expected to control the behavior of every single supporter. But when violence breaks out in his name, when his supporters start making death threats and resorting to sexist taunts over social media, Sanders can and should be expected to condemn such behavior—swiftly, visibly and unequivocally. That is leadership, just as leadership also is standing up to the mob, not encouraging it. Doing anything else falls far short of the kind of president we need." Ouch.

[CN: Anti-feminism] "Bill O'Reilly: Feminists Should Not Be Allowed to Report on Trump 'Because Trump Is the Antithesis of' Feminism." LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.

Sure: "North Carolina Rep. Renee Ellmers, a Republican who has endorsed Donald Trump, said Wednesday she doesn't condone the real estate mogul's past comments about women but still believes he is the best candidate for female voters. ...'Women are pragmatic and they want answers. They want solutions. They don't have time for the outside remarks and innuendo and the stories that are going to come out over time. They want to see results. They want to get their country back.'" Which is why this woman is voting for Hillary Clinton!

[CN: Rape culture; video may autoplay at link] What the everloving fuck: "Kesha Says She 'Won't Be Allowed' to Perform at Billboard Music Awards After Dr. Luke's Label Allegedly Rescinds Approval." Like, if there were ever any doubt about her allegations, the fact that this shitlord is still trying to have control over her should really clear them right the fuck up.

Set your DVRs! Hillary Clinton and the cast of Ghostbusters will all appear on Ellen Wednesday, May 25. *faints*

In case you didn't already love John Boyega, here he is talking about his new female costar in Star Wars: Episode VIII, Kelly Marie Tran: "I love her. I love her. I think she's fantastic. But she'll tell her own story. I feel it's always weird or wrong for someone the world hasn't met, for me to come and start talking about her. She's great. She's freaking great, and I love her. I freaking love her. She's fantastic. Seriously. She's changed a lot in terms of perspective on just chemistry and industry. She's a real cool girl. Yeah, yeah! Her outlook. It's a friendship thing in the sense of you meet someone and you're just like, 'I vibe with you. I feel like I've known you for years.' And that's a very, very good thing. I don't know what I can and can't say. But she's fully in the movie, she's a great character, and I can't wait for you guys to be introduced to her." LOVE. Also? Apparently Tom Hardy has a cameo. Dead.

And finally! Asian Small-clawed Otter pup!!! "Asian Small-clawed Otters have a vast but shrinking Southeast Asian range that spans from India to the Philippines, Taiwan, and parts of southern China. The species is classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is threatened by habitat loss and exploitation." So, you know, an important pup as well as a TOTES ADORBZ one!