Today's news round-up

Good News

• LeBron James returns to Cavs: 'I'm coming home' Go Cavaliers! (but basketball is a team game--even LeBron will need help to bring a championship to Cleveland.) 
• James' return to Cleveland could complicate GOP
• Judge Rules G.O.P. Illegally Redrew Florida Districts
• Ace Cash Express settles debt collection claims
• Laverne Cox Makes History As First Transgender Emmy Nominee Several years ago, she replaced me as the "Trophy Girl" at a local LGBT arts festival awards event. I guess they knew what they were doing.

Bad News

• Ballroom may soon be strictly off limits for same-sex pairs

Yawn headline of the day

Kim Kardashian visits Jersey shore

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Court Blocks Arizona Policy of Denying Driver’s Licenses to Some Immigrants
• Missouri governor vetoes health navigator limits
• Uber to follow New York’s price gouging laws

Bad News

• The Do-Gooders Secretly Attacking Gays
• Miss. enacts anti-LGBT law 

Plat du jour--guest find

Found by Victoria Marinelli

Today's news round-up

Good News

• 2 men sentenced in Detroit attack on motorist
• Staten Island’s Tough-Guy Congressman Faces Somebody His Own Size
• New Yorker Wins Boys’ Title at Wimbledon as Final Shows U.S. Promise
• India Supreme Court will not recognize Shariah law
• UN recognizes gay marriages for staffers

Animal headline of the day

Woman finds wedding ring missing for five years was in her dog

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Sheriff, feds: Rancher must be held accountable
• Unions representing government workers are gaining
• Pakistan: 5 indicted in woman's stoning death

Happy Read Naked Day!

http://readnakedday.com/

Today's news round-up

Good News

• SiriusXM fires 'Opie & Anthony' host over tweets

Bad News

• Google criticised for BBC takedown Deliberate strategy or not, Google's action shows how flawed the EU's order to it is. The ones who they should have ordered to take down this material were the sites actually controlling it--in this case, the BBC. 
• Fake Job Applications Prove There’s Real LGBT Discrimination in Hiring
• Russian lawmakers pass new bill restricting Internet

Happy Independence Day!

Today's news round-up

Good News

• NYC cabbie guilty of arranging Pakistan killings
• Massachusetts working on abortion clinic bill
• Navy's first four-star female admiral a trailblazer with a sense of humor

Bad News

• Maine governor admits to meeting with individuals tied to domestic terror movement
• Sudan's Christian convert woman faces new lawsuit Adults do not belong to their fathers or their families.
• China bans Ramadan fast in Muslim northwest
• Red Cross suspends Ebola operations in southeast Guinea after threats

Animal headline of the day

Got unwanted oxen? Try bear urine to ward them off

Today's news round-up

Good News

• European Court upholds French full veil ban
• Supreme Court clears ban on gay conversion therapy
• Obama to expand safeguards for transgender workers
• New York City police to subway acrobats: Sit down

Plat du jour

A Yankees fan, quite possibly.

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Canada Supreme Court rules Wal-Mart must compensate workers
• Boston to ramp up police presence around abortion clinics
• NY City Council votes to create municipal ID cards
• Deal to End Senate Rift May Give Democrats Full Control in Albany If this happens it will mean GENDA has a good chance of passing next year.
• Vancouver school board approves new policy addressing transgender students

Bad News

• Montana judge: Suspension over remarks unwarranted He is incompetent to be a judge, and should be removed from the bench.

Living with mountain lions XIII

Mountain lion scares shoppers in Utah

Animal headline of the day

‘Fowl’ mouthed owl whisperer removes bird from kitchen using a Swiffer

Today's news roundup

Good News 

• Transgender priest to preach at National Cathedral
• Openly gay governor candidate leads pride parade
• Presbyterian assembly: Gay marriage is Christian
• Albuquerque protesters put police chief 'on trial'
• US slaps sanctions on Uganda for 'vile' anti-gay laws
• Arizona man sentenced to four years prison in baby's hot car death He belongs in jail.

Bad News

• Nigeria wraps up kidnap investigation with 200 girls still missing

Animal headline of the day

Hee-haw! At zoo, donkey pals calm restless rhino

I'm back

I was in such a rush leaving I didn't get a chance to post a vacation (part 2) notice. I was in Las Vegas for the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender, and stayed a few more days for some more relaxed fun.

Animal headline of the day

Bear spotted lounging in hammock

Oh, Canada!

I have had a counter by country on my blog since September, 2011. Today Canada surpassed 1,000 different visitors--the first foreign country to reach this number.

At the rate it's going, the United Kingdom will be next, maybe early in 2016.

Animal headline of the day

Cross-country flight diverted after dog poops

Plat du jour--guest submission

Life goes on, we guess. Found by Joanne.

Vacation notice

I'm off to London in a little while. Don't expect to see anything here until the end of next week.

Cartoon of the day

From newsday.com

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Schools work to help transgender students fit in

Bad News

• Utah Supreme Court halts same-sex adoption cases

Animal headline of the day

Israeli team designs prosthetic fin to save turtle

Today's news round-up

Good News

• FM says Italy working to save Sudanese woman
• West African Nations Set Aside Their Old Suspicions to Combat Boko Haram
• Robbery Suspect Tracked by GPS and Killed A good use of technology.

Plat du jour

Notice the skulls plate holder.

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Police commissioner asked to quit over Obama slur
• Portland jettisons Walmart investments from city portfolio I'm proud to say I've never set foot in a Walmart. 
• Man gets 20 years for role in cybercrime syndicate
• O’Malley signs Md. transgender rights bill I wish we could get the NY version of this, GENDA, passed. I've been working on it for several years.
• Pentagon weighs Chelsea Manning’s request for gender treatment

Bad News

• Sudanese woman sentenced to death for apostasy

Animal headline of the day

California cat that chased off attacking dog gets baseball invite

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Judge overturns Idaho ban on gay marriage as unconstitutional
• Kristin Chenoweth coming back to Broadway

Bad News

• New Mexico county defies U.S. government over cattle grazing
• Former Ole Miss guard critical of Sam TV coverage

Plat du jour--guest submission

Found by Joanne.

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Hagel: Military should review transgender ban
• Picking Sam, Rams welcome 1st openly gay player
• Jones fined after sending tweet about Michael Sam

Bad News

• Nigeria refused help to search for kidnapped girls

Animal headline of the day

Bird attack knocks tooth out of man’s mouth

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Spanish tax inspectors discover lost Van Gogh painting in bank safe
• Nintendo apologizes for lack of virtual equality
• 'Duck Dynasty' II? Brothers lose HGTV show after antigay comments publicized
• Town cancels immigration event over prayer flap There should be a complete separation of church and state.
• Police Crack Down On Illegal Subway Dancing Besides being disruptive and illegal, it's just plain dangerous.
• Brooklyn School Introduces App To Report Bullying Anonymously All schools should have this.

Bad News

• Trail ride challenges federal control of Utah land

Plat du jour

I found this right around the corner from where I live. Perhaps it is a portent of things to come, as I will be going on vacation in London in a couple of weeks.

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Arkansas Judge Strikes Down State's Gay Marriage Ban
• British, U.S. teams join search for kidnapped girls in Nigeria
• Wal-Mart should face lawsuit over alleged Mexico bribery: U.S. judge
• States must be warned of oil-by-rail cargoes, U.S. says
• Pennsylvania Won't Appeal a Ruling Striking Down Its Voter ID Law
• Judge denies New York murder suspect's plea to ban rap lyric evidence I disagree with the ACLU on this one. It is a proper question for the jury to determine whether these songs are factual evidence.
• USDA Plans Outreach Campaign, Rule Change Aimed At Rural LGBT Americans The rule change is to add gender identity to their non-discrimination rule.
• Prosecutors drop battery charges against bullied trans teen in California 

Bad News

• Compromise on Gays Pleases No One, Scouts Are Learning Some things can't be compromised.
• Saudi liberal gets 10 years in jail, 1,000 lashes
• Federal land worker threatened in Utah as conflict simmers
• Airlines take case to Congress on airfare rule
• Uganda Gay Sex Trial Hits Court After Controversial Law Enacted

Headline of the day

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches With Parachutes Soon To Fall From NYC Skies

Animal headline of the day

Man Accidentally Becomes Mother to 13 Ducklings

Today's news round-up

Good News

• 'Lost' Mendelssohn song re-discovered
• Hawaii stops defending law banning same-sex marriage
• Nevada congressman seeks removal of Bundy backers
• Hollywood Turns Its Back on Famous Hotel Because of Brunei's Ownership

Bad News

• Russian law bans swearing in arts and media
• Texas judge under fire for 45-day jail term for rape conviction She should be under fire. The victim's past (whatever it was) is irrelevant.   

Headline of the day

Naked Cowboy To Help Launch New Fruit Of The Loom Underwear Line

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Paris's Picasso museum to open in September after revamp
• Cooperation With G.O.P. Puts Senator in a Primary Klein and the IDC have enabled the Republicans to block a vote on the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA). It will be difficult, but I'd love to see him defeated.
• Target's Chairman and CEO out in wake of breach
• Maryland latest U.S. state to hike minimum wage to $10.10 per hour

Bad News

• High court ruling favors prayer at council meeting
• Nigeria group threatens to sell kidnapped girls
• UN: Spread of polio now a world health emergency

Happy Star Wars Day!

May the Fourth be with you.

Today's news round-up

Good News

• 3 Calif. students charged with hate crime expelled
• Ex-teacher to be re-sentenced in Montana rape case

Bad News

• Death threats stop gun store from selling 'smart' gun. Why?
• NYC Bus Driver Caught On Video Texting While Driving
• Embrace of Atheism Put an Indonesian in Prison

Thugs still at it off Somalia

Somalia: Pirates Flee Captured Dhow as EU Naval Force Applies Pressure

It's been quite a while, but it's still happening.

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Interpol, Philippines bust cyber extortion network
• LA NAACP head resigns over move to honor Sterling
• 55 US schools face federal sex assault probes
• Greenpeace Russian tanker activists held in Netherlands
• N.Y.U. Law School Trustee Whose Company Subpoenaed Students Is Stepping Down
• Judge orders treatment for Ohio transgender inmate
• Trans students assured protections in DOE guidance
• Students At Smith Protest The College’s Refusal To Admit Transgender Women
• Indonesia: Transgender Islamic school reopens its doors
• Fired Lesbian Police Chief Gets Outpouring Of Support From Tiny South Carolina Town

Bad News

• French court blocks gay woman from adopting partner's child born by IVF
• Boy Scouts refuses to re-hire me because I’m gay, says 19-year-old
• For transgender service members, honesty can end career

Animal headline of the day

Sweden fire turns cans of rotten fish into exploding missiles

Today's news round-up

Good News

• UAW can still unionize Volkswagen Tennessee plant after failed drive: experts
• Facebook to Let Users Limit Data Revealed by Log-Ins Regardless, I will still avoid using Facebook sign-ins whenever possible. I don't particularly want Facebook to know what I'm doing elsewhere. 

Bad News

• Al Feldstein, who headed Mad magazine, dies
• Reports: Abducted girls married to Nigerian rebels
• Senate Republicans block Obama bid to hike minimum wage

Another Staten Island Republican in trouble

For Politician, an Indictment Looms, and So Does a Campaign for Re-election

And not just any Staten Island Republican. He represents the same district as Vito Fossella!

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Clippers stage silent protest to owner While it has not yet been proven that it was the owner who said these things, apparently his team is convinced. If it is determined he said it, he should be forced to sell the team.
• Abbas calls Holocaust 'most heinous crime' It's good to see an Arab, Muslim leader affirm the history of the Holocaust.
• Tennessee policeman fired after photos show him choking student

Bad News

• Turkey expands secret service powers Turkey is not a democracy. It should not be admitted to the EU.
• 4 US TV shows ordered off Chinese websites

Animal headline of the day

Cow-milking robots make farmers, animals happier

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Arkansas: Voter ID Law Is Invalidated
• New Andy Warhol images found on old disks
• U.S. wins $1.2 million penalty against bank for aiding payday loans
• James Earl Jones returning to Broadway this fall I've seen him on Broadway twice now. He's wonderful on stage.
• Alaska Supreme Court Says Tax Exemptions Cannot Be Denied to Gay Couples

Bad News

• Russia extends opposition leader Navalny's house arrest Russia is not a democracy.
• Religious Minorities Still Waiting for a New Day in Egypt

Happy 450th, Bill!

It's William Shakespeare's birthday.

Today's news round-up

Good News

• NBC adding Weir, Lipinski to Derby I really enjoyed their work at the Olympics.
• JetBlue pilots vote to unionize, shares dip
• Silver wants [NBA] age limit change, no rush on others I really dislike the one and done system. I'd prefer what they have for football, where they have to wait 3 years to turn pro.

Bad News

• The American Middle Class Is No Longer the World’s Richest
• Russian social network founder says he has been fired Russia is not a democracy.
• Russia opposition leader Alexei Navalny fined for libel Russia is not a democracy.
• Saudi watchdog to regulate homegrown YouTube shows: newspaper
• Boy Scouts of America Shuts Down Seattle Troop Over Gay Scoutmaster

Plat du jour--guest submission

Found by Joanne.

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Man charged in Netherlands in Amanda Todd suicide case
• A gay artist will get his images on stamps in Finland
• AMR loses bid to terminate retiree benefits
• Fraternity closes Ole Miss chapter after racial incident

Bad News

• Provocative study finds popular opinion has near-zero influence in D.C. 

Animal headline of the day

Snake’s last meal comes back to bite her

Today's news round-up

Good News

• N.Y. court advances lawsuit against Martha Stewart Living on pet products She seems to have no respect for the contracts she signs with business partners, nor with the law in general. 
• Landlords to Repay Over $1 Million in Fees
• Judge: Ohio must recognize other states' gay marriages
• India: Transgenders get right to be called the third gender
• RuPaul's Drag Race, Logo TV Apologize for Transphobic Slur I still have no interest in watching it.
• NYC Police Unit That Spied on Muslims Is Disbanded
• Smartphone makers, carriers embrace anti-theft initiative The first time I lost a phone I was amazed there was no way to actually disable it. All that could be done was to remove it from my account at my carrier.

Bad News

• Illinois: House kills effort to ban 'conversion therapy' for gay kids

Happy Passover!

Though it is a bittersweet holiday for Jewish submissives.

Animal headline of the day

Crocodile caught wandering around California mall

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Pediatrician gets prison for 'waterboarding' stepdaughter
• Justice Dept. Accuses Albuquerque Police of Excessive Force I hope this will lessen police over-reaction.
• 5th arrest made in Detroit mob attack on motorist
• NYC law opposed by banks to move forward
• New Minn. law aims to protect LGBT students from bullying 

Bad News

• Nebraska city starts licenses aimed at immigrants
• Tennessee Passes Legislation to Criminally Prosecute Drug-Addicted Pregnant Women
• GOP blocks Senate bill curbing gender pay gap
• S.C. School Nixes Lesbian-Themed Play After 'Recruitment' Allegations

Kinky headlines of the day

Surgeon accused of slapping sedated patients’ behinds

Man who loves feet is creeping out dozens of Arizona real estate agents

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Italian court recognizes gay marriage for first time
• Culinary Institute of America Takes In Mural Made for CBS
• UMass basketball player announces he's gay
• Federal Judge Plans To Strike Down Ohio Marriage Recognition Ban
• Supreme Court won't hear appeal of New Mexico gay bias case
• Russian Province Declares Ban on LGBT Rallies Illegal
• Social Security Administration makes it easier for trans people to receive benefits 

Bad News

• Senate Republicans block Obama-backed pay equity bill

I don't think they teach this at Julliard

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Obama to launch executive actions on equal pay for women
• New York’s Paid Sick Leave Law Quietly Takes Effect

Bad News

• Uganda police raid HIV project for 'homosexuality training'
• Turkey keeps YouTube ban after court backtrack

Plat du jour

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Transgender candidate elected to Wis. city council
• Mozilla CEO resigns, opposition to gay marriage drew fire This is not a free speech issue. The Constitution only bars government interference in free speech, not the actions of private entities.

Bad News

• Miss. Gov. Signs 'License to Discriminate' Into Law
• N.C. College Security Confronts Trans Student Over Bathroom Usage

Animal headline of the day

Gasoline-loving spiders cause Mazda car recall for second time

Plat du jour--guest submission

Weight loss?

Found by Joanne

It's a win, win, win!

Hey NY area former musicians! You know who you are. You haven't played that instrument since high school, and it's just gathering dust. Now you can help a kid, get a tax deduction, and free up some closet space. Win, win, win!


Go to http://www.wqxr.org/kids

Another triple play animal headline of the day

Lion fights crocs over hippo

Today's news round-up

Good News

• U.S. House ethics board sees evidence of abuse by Representative McMorris Rodgers Another Republican in trouble.
• Group of 8 Leaders Agree to Exclude Putin
• VP Biden calls on Congress to pass gay rights bill
• Judge: Labor company liable for Thai worker abuse
• Judge in racial profiling case scolds sheriff aide
• Peruvian club fined $12,000 for racist fan chants

Bad News

• Ohio mumps outbreak up to 56 reported cases, spreads beyond university

Kinky headline of the day:

Man arrested after asking bank teller to spank him

Runner-up: NC police seek man who sucked toes at Wal-Mart

Animal headline of the day

Schools close down after dogs chase deer through their hallways

Today's news round-up--mostly bad

Good News

• $5-million stolen Rembrandt found after 15 years
• Democrats Plan Big Ad Campaign in Challenge to Koch Brothers

Bad News

• Chimp attack victim asks again for right to sue The law is well-established that the failure of the government to enforce a law does not give a member of the public the right to sue for injuries. This would be a very bad precedent.
• Black preschoolers more likely to face suspension
• Turkey blocks Twitter days before vote as PM fights scandal
• Two States Win Court Approval on Voter Rules
• Sexual Misconduct Case Ends With No Jail Time for General
• Iran's Khamenei reiterates doubts about Holocaust

Happy Spring!

Today's news round-up

Good News

• New York McDonald's owner to pay $500,000 to settle worker claims
• Obama gives Medal of Honor to 24 vets from 3 wars
• Salvation Army settles New York workers' suit They admitted no wrongdoing, but they paid $450,000. It's almost as much as McDonald's.
• New York Settles Bias Lawsuit Against Fire Department

Bad News

• Students Say Profile On Gay Teen is Removed From Yearbook
• NC School Punishes 9-Year-Old Victim, Not His Bullies
• Pandora raises fee for ad-free music service by $1 a month My $36 annual membership is up for renewal at the end of the month, and Pandora has said they will be charging me for the next year on the 31st. I hope that's still true.

Plat du jour

As an Indians fan, I disagree.

Today's news round-up--still all good

Good News

• In Reversal Since the Recession, Some States Give More Money to Public Television
• U.S. forces seize tanker carrying oil from Libya rebel port
• Guinness pulls out of NY's St. Patrick's parade over ban on gays
• Irish ask: What's the big deal about letting gays in St. Pat's parades?
• Judge orders Chris Brown to remain in jail
• U.S. TV pitchman Trudeau sentenced to 10 years in prison

Animal headline of the day

A kitten that sounds like a turkey (with video)

Today's news round-up--it's all good

Good News

• Boston mayor to miss St. Patrick's parade over exclusion of gay marchers
• Tennessee must recognize marriages of three same-sex couples: judge
• US judge strikes Arkansas' 12-week abortion ban
• Obama Cracks Down on For-Profit Programs That Don't Help Grads Get Jobs
• Trump says he's not running for New York governor He expected the nomination to be handed to him. That's not the way a democracy works.
• Pakistan court reduces sentence of doctor who helped find bin Laden

Triple play animal headline of the day

Amazing video captures hippo saving a gnu from a crocodile

Happy Pi Day!

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Arizona Governor With Tough Immigration and Abortion Stands Won’t Run Again
• Obama Orders Rule Changes to Expand Overtime Pay
• Panel urges end to US ban on transgender troops

Bad News

• Judge: Married women can't divorce in Alabama
• SC legislators to state universities: Assign gay material, see your money cut

You can't make up stuff like this

Fox News, while reporting about a spelling bee, misspells spelling bee

Animal headline of the day

Photos capture an otter eating an alligator

Today's news round-up--it's all bad

Bad News

• Ohio: Two Libertarians Removed From Ballot The Republicans will do anything to keep candidates of the ballot when they would take votes away from them. 
• Network says signal of Egyptian satire show jammed Censorship. 
• Juror Loses Job for Serving in Terror Trial

Plats du jour--guest submission

Everyone shops at Costco.

Found next to each other in the Costco parking lot by Joanne.

Recent news round-up

Good News

• NBA Will Donate Sales Of Jason Collins’ Jersey To LGBT Groups

Bad News

• Democrats in U.S. Senate block Obama civil rights lawyer Even the worst criminal deserves a fair trial and appeals, and  in our adversarial legal system attorneys are necessary for that. There should be no penalties for attorneys who do that work.

Animal headline of the day

Yosemite bears turn health nuts with junk food off menu

The Yogi Bear cartoons were just predicting history.

Recent news round-up

Good News

• Wisconsin Republican lawmakers seek to remove majority leader Another Republican in trouble.
• World Bank holds up Uganda loan over anti-gay law
• D.C. mayor to announce trans health insurance policy
• Ky. ordered to recognize out-of-state gay marriages

Bad News

• Hilton Hotel in Russia bans conference for gay athletes

Animal headline of the day

Dog files as candidate for mayor, is turned down, but not necessarily because he's a dog

Today's news round-up

Good News

• Spain curbs power of judges in human rights cases Most of these cases have no direct connection to Spain. They do not belong in Spanish courts.
• Gay and Undocumented Arizonans Celebrate Veto of Refusal of Service Bill From yesterday, in case you happened to have missed this.
• Uganda slapped with aid cuts over anti-gay law
• New Zealand prostitute wins sex harassment claim

Bad News

• Primaries offer 1st major test of voter ID laws Contrary to what the Republican politician said, these laws reduce the credibility of elections in my eyes. They just aren't letting all eligible voters vote.
• Russia opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest Now that the Olympics are over, Russia reverts to the persecution of the political opposition. It is not a democracy.

Plat du jour

Recent news round-up

Good News

• Belated Medal of Honor for 24 Soldiers Overlooked Due to Race
• Attorney General Signs New Rules to Limit Access to Journalists’ Records

Bad News

• Uganda president 'won't even kiss wife in public'
• Anne Frank's Diary vandalised in Japan libraries
• US conservatives praise Russia's anti-gay laws

Animal headline of the day

Albino alligators make snappy, happy home in Paris

Plat du Jour--guest submission

Found by Joanne.

Animal headline of the day

Would-be burglar apparently scared by singing fish