4 days ago
Friday, July 22, 2016
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Recent news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- U.S. appeals court finds that Texas voter ID law is discriminatory
- Court: Traffic stop, arrest prompted by high beams improper
- Campaign aims to register a million U.S. Muslims voters in anti-Trump move
- Indiana Court Tosses Purvi Patel's 2015 Feticide Conviction
- Alaska court strikes down parental notice for abortions
- Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation to Exempt Sales and Use Taxes on Feminine Hygiene Products
- Ventilation to Be Required in All New York Nail Salons
- US goes after more than $1B taken from Malaysian fund
- Bangladesh arrests top Islamist extremist
Bad News
- WikiLeaks may have just published your SSN and credit card number
- Zara has been accused of ripping off an independent artist’s designs Zara needs to be taught about intellectual property law.
- Status update: The rise of the social-media extortionist These people belong in jail.
Today's news round-up
Good News
- Wisconsin voter identification law eased for November election
- 2 state troopers arrested following beating caught on tape
- Dad, teen son ordered to disclose data on weaponized drones
Bad News
- Turkey coup: Crackdown toll passes 45,000 I generally dismiss conspiracy theories, but perhaps the one that said Erdogan knew the coup was coming and let it happen has some merit. This crackdown on his political opponents is further proof that Turkey is not a democracy.
- Pakistani man killed for 'honour' over affair: police
Monday, July 18, 2016
Today's news round-up
Good News
- Judge rejects ex-sheriff's plea deal as too lenient
- Russia state-sponsored doping across majority of Olympic sports, claims report It's good Russia was caught. I hope the entire Russian team is barred from the Olympics.
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Yesterday's news round-up
Good News
- White former Atlanta policeman charged in the death of unarmed black man So far so good. But he still has to be convicted.
Bad News
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Recent news round-up
Good News
- Win on NYS Medicaid Paying for Gender Transition “Cosmetic Surgery”
- LGBT history lessons heading for California classrooms
- Man caught in sting trying to join IS gets 8.5 years
- Model Gets Fired and Banned From Gym After Posting Naked Photo of Woman in Locker Room Even if it was meant to be sent only to a friend, it's still wrong, and quite possibly a criminal offense. I'm sure the woman she photographed would have a good lawsuit against her.
Bad News
- Untreatable gonorrhea: coming soon to genitalia near you The headline is misleading. It is not definitely coming, but the trend is in that direction.
Friday, July 15, 2016
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Happy Bastille Day!
It's Bastille Day, which marks the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789--their 4th of July.
And happy anniversary to Helen and Rachel, and happy birthday to Johanna!
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Today's news round-up
Good News
- Clinton receives long-awaited endorsement from Sanders
- Prominent Trans Lawyer Picked To Run National Trans Rights Legal Group I know her slightly. She's an excellent choice.
- Minuteman founder sentenced in Arizona on abuse convictions
- Iraqi forces link up south of Mosul, tightening noose around Islamic State
Yesterday's news round-up
Good News
- Transgender Activists Will Air This Ad During the Republican National Convention
- Detroit cop demoted; called black activists 'terrorists' I'm glad he was demoted. I'm also glad about the response of the police union president. While not condemning what the cop did, he also did not endorse it either--a far cry from what police union officials usually say when a member is charged with wrong-doing.
- South Carolina: Columbia Fire Department captain fired for threatening posts
Bad News
Monday, July 11, 2016
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Saturday, July 09, 2016
Recent news round-up, Part 3
Good News
- Washington State: I-1515, the 'bathroom initiative,' fails to make November ballot
- Same-sex couples win birth certificate lawsuit
- Mike Huckabee paying $25,000 for playing 'Eye of the Tiger'
- Iraq PM says key base taken back from Islamic State
- Islamic State conflict: Nato surveillance planes to help US-led coalition
Bad News
- Ohio: Bakery takes online heat for refusing same-sex pair The refusal is bad. The heat is good.
- Texas: Pride picnic postponed after group says they received threat of violence
Recent news round-up, Part 2
Good News
- Governor Baker signs transgender bill into law I'm very glad that Massachusetts finally has this. When they added gender identity to their non-discrimination law a few years ago, public accommodations was left out, because there weren't enough votes. Businesses could be required to employ trans people, but didn't have to serve them.
- Private prison company CCA to face trial in violence lawsuit Private prisons should be outlawed.
- Overland Park cop fired for Facebook threat that seemed to reference Black Lives Matter
Recent news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- Gay Marriage: Court rejects GOP claim in North Carolina case
- Peacemaking Goes Awry as Donald Trump Lashes Out at G.O.P. Senators
- Movie About U.S. Constitution Shut Down After Student Crew Joins IATSE, Walks Off Job
- Museum of Ice Cream to Rock New York This Summer With Pool of Sprinkles
Bad News
- More states sue Obama administration over transgender directive
- Tiny South Carolina town bans sagging pants, threatens fines The only thing that is going to be expensive is the lawyers' fees this town will have to pay if they try to defend this unconstitutional law.
Friday, July 08, 2016
Micro movie reviews
Free State of Jones: The story of Newton Knight, a poor, white Mississippi farmer who led a rebellion against the Confederacy during the Civil War. I'm not at all sure how close the film was to history, but the story it told was interesting and very well-made.
Love & Friendship: An adaptation Jane Austen's youthful, though posthumously published, novella Lady Susan. A cute, if a bit confusing, plot, but with some very amusing characters. Not bad.
Love & Friendship: An adaptation Jane Austen's youthful, though posthumously published, novella Lady Susan. A cute, if a bit confusing, plot, but with some very amusing characters. Not bad.
Thursday, July 07, 2016
Tuesday, July 05, 2016
Yesterday's news round-up
Good News
- Donald Trump Finds Himself Playing Catch-Up in All-Important Ohio
- Charges weighed after Ohio incident triggers Emirati warning on robes Unfortunately, I suspect there will be no prosecution. The clerk will say she said something innocent to her relatives, and they will say they misunderstood her. Lots of reasonable doubt.
- Pakistan: 'Honor' killings grow more brutal, draw backlash The backlash is good.
- Infidelity website Ashley Madison facing FTC probe, CEO apologizes This was a scam. It should be investigated.
- Twitter suspends account of Nigerian militant group Niger Delta Avengers
- Kuwait detains Islamic State suspects, foils attack
Bad News
Monday, July 04, 2016
Sunday, July 03, 2016
Yesterday's news round-up
Good News
- Former sailors, Marines booted under gay ban urged to appeal
- Trump tweet attacking Clinton employs image of Jewish star This is good for the Democrats.
Bad News
Friday, July 01, 2016
Recent news round-up, Part 2
Good News
- New Hampshire: Governor bans discrimination against transgender government workers
- Mississippi: U.S. judge blocks law allowing religion as reason to deny service to LGBT people
- California tightens gun control laws, expands assault weapons ban
- More Upheaval on Donald Trump’s Team as Two Staff Members Resign
- Hacker Pleads Guilty To Stealing Info From L.A. Celebrities
Recent news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- Utah’s Misty Snow makes history as Democrats’ transgender Senate nominee
- Judge blocks Indiana genetic abnormality abortion law
- Federal judge blocks Florida law to end abortion clinic funding
- Obama signs bill easing access to government records
- Rome's Colosseum sparkles after magnate-funded restoration
Bad News
Monday, June 27, 2016
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Friday, June 24, 2016
Recent news round-up, Part 2
Good News
- Court to school: Let transgender teen use boys bathroom
- Obama designates national gay rights monument
- This Is the Transgender Bathroom Ad Campaign America's Been Waiting For I'm rather skeptical that America has been waiting for it, but it's a a great campaign.
- White House unveils measures to help inmates find work after prison
- Workplace retaliation suit against Tammy Duckworth settled
Bad News
Recent news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- Ban on transgender troops to be lifted July 1
- Black leaders emerge as powerful allies in LGBT fight in U.S. South
- Hawaii becomes first U.S. state to place gun owners on FBI database
- Sanders will vote for Clinton to stop Trump
- U.S. charges Filipino man with hacking accounts of celebrities
- Exclusive: Google, Facebook quietly move toward automatic blocking of extremist videos
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Yesterday's news round-up, Part 2
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Today's news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- Chicago ordinance gives transgender people bathroom rights
- Schneiderman: Jimmy John's agrees to drop no-compete clause for low-wage workers
- Senate votes down proposal to expand FBI surveillance powers
- Italian high court makes gay adoption easier
- Judge to NYC police: Pay officer who sued over beard length
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Today's news round-up, Part 2
Good News
- Church leaders that praised Orlando mass killing asked to move
- New York approves unisex bathrooms in nod to transgender people A misleading headline. This only applies to single stall bathrooms.
- U.S. appeals court rejects gunmaker's claim on silencer
- New York area car wash workers get more than $91,000 each in unpaid wages
Yesterday's news round-up, Part 2
Good News
- Supreme Court rules for R.J. Reynolds in racketeering case I'm glad to see at least a little limitation on the use of the RICO law, which was poorly worded and has been used against far more things than true organized crime racketeering.
- An Australian Man Just Pled Guilty to Sexist Online Harassment on Tinder The headline is wrong. The harassment was on Facebook, not Tinder. And I think it should be "sexual," not "sexist."
Bad News
Yesterday's news round-up, Part 1`
Good News
- Marines Under Investigation for Allegedly Threatening to Attack Gay Bars It's good they are under investigation. Also, it's good the post was taken down.
- Hundreds counter-protest Westboro Baptist demonstration in Orlando Also, Orlando: Hundreds form human chain to block Westboro protesters
- Ringleader pleads guilty in StubHub ticket cybertheft case
Monday, June 20, 2016
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Recent news round-up, Part 2
Good News
- ABC Decides Maybe It’s Best To Not Feature A Hate Group Leader Discussing The Orlando Shooting
- Recovery schools for addicted teens on the rise
- New York Senate passes bill that bans short-term apartment listings on Airbnb I hope the governor signs it. It is limited to whole apartment rentals. People can still advertise to rent out rooms.
Bad News
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Today's news round-up
Good News
- U.S. court backs landmark Obama internet equal-access rules
- Elliot Morales, Who Killed Gay Man in West Village, Gets 40 Years to Life
- Prosecutor bumps Stanford sex assault judge from new case
- Anti-abortion activist's human organ purchase charge dropped It's strange they aren't going to refile. But the important thing is that the felony charge is still alive.
- Brock Turner’s Probation Officer Asked for Lenient Sentence Over Drunkenness
- IS suicide attack kills five in Iraq's Ramadi: officers
- Russian gay couple 'arrested for Orlando tribute'
- Syrian teen's amputated hand a cruel reminder of IS rule
My 20th warning about Wal-Mart
Police: Suspect shot amid reported shooting at Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart is a dangerous place. Stay out of them.
Wal-Mart is a dangerous place. Stay out of them.
Recent news round-up
Good News
- The Latest: Target to hold moment of silence for workers
- London’s Mayor Bans Body-Shaming Ads on Public Transport
- Ukraine holds its first major gay pride march in Kiev
Bad News
- Qatar convicts Dutch woman held 'after being raped' Qatar is a dangerous place for women. No woman should go there.
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Recent news round-up
Unsurprising News
Good News
- 10th Circuit: Kansas can't block voters from casting ballots
- Campaign to remove judge in Stanford rape case gains steam
- Five sentenced to life for raping Danish woman in Delhi
- Retired Rikers Captain Convicted in Beating of Inmate
- Libyan forces claim port in Islamic State stronghold of Sirte
- Fox Sports Florida Subs Out Sideline Reporter Over Racial Comments In Facebook Chat
- Thousands march for gay rights in Poland, Croatia, Italy
- Thousands march in Seoul for Gay Pride parade
Bad News
Friday, June 10, 2016
Thursday, June 09, 2016
Today's news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- Laverne Cox: Counting LGBT People Is ‘a Matter of Life and Death’
- California attorney general slams sentence in Stanford sex assault case
- Stepgrandmother of baby killed by dog gets 3 years in prison
- Court: No right to carry concealed weapons in public
- Ireland’s Abortion Law Violated Woman’s Human Rights, UN Panel Finds
- IS militants retreat from Libya bastion as militias advance
Bad News
Recent news round-up, Part 2
Good News
- Kentucky prisons drop mail policy targeting homosexuality
- California advances 2 Democratic women to Senate runoff
- Judge sentences California man to 12 years in terrorism case
Bad News
- FBI director: Number of IS cases in US has not dropped off
- Turkey's president lifts lawmakers' immunity Turkey is no longer a democracy.
Recent news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- Intel Chief Defends Rights of Transgender Community
- Drummer Defends Stanford Student Convicted in Rape Case. Her Band Pays a Price. What she doesn't seem to understand is that this type of rape is just as bad as someone dragging a struggling victim off and assaulting them.
- Federal judge bars Alabama from blocking gay marriage
- 14-Year-Old Transgender Girl Shares Inspirational Story of Overcoming Her Bullies
- 5 Rikers Officers Convicted in Beating of Inmate
- Washington's National Cathedral to remove Confederate flags from windows
- Iraqi Troops Enter Southern Fallujah for First Time in 2 Years
- Libyan forces enter main Islamic State bastion
Wednesday, June 08, 2016
I'm baaaack!
No, I'm not dead. Or finished with my glob. I was just traveling. I went to Belgium, and then Las Vegas for the Burlesque Hall of Fame festival. Now I'm back in New York, and I will resume normal blogging.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Today's news round-up
Good News
- Oregon automatic voter registration a success, with a hitch Since I support closed primaries (I don't want people from other parties, or unaffiliated, voting in my party's primaries), I don't think the "hitch" is that bad.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Today's news round-up
Good News
- Top U.S. auctioneers refused to sell gun from Trayvon Martin shooting
- Man Pleads Guilty After Pulling Woman’s Hijab Off on Plane
- Anti-Abortion Laws Don’t Reduce Abortion Rates, But Birth Control Does
- UK man jailed for IS-inspired plot to attack US troops
- 5 Boko Haram leaders arrested; dozens of captives freed
- Sweet Honey in the Rock protesting during NC shows
- Event celebrates Salt Lake City street named for Harvey Milk
- Chicago mayor to replace police review board with more independent watchdog
- Walter Scott family attorney: Federal charges against Michael Slager could be a ‘turning point in history’
- Barber arrested for pulling gun on customer, says he 'doesn't cut black hair' It's good he was arrested.
Bad News
- Police responded to 17,000 calls to Tampa Bay Walmarts in a single year, taxpayers pick up the bill I've said many times that Walmart is dangerous. In addition, it's expensive to the taxpayers--even the ones who don't shop there.
Friday, May 13, 2016
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Recent news round-up, Part 2
Recent news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- U.S. to issue decree on transgender access to school restrooms: NYT
- Troopers suspended over pursuit video that shows pummeling
- ACLU sues school district over transgender bathroom policy
- UPS now lets you track packages for real — on an actual map This doesn't affect me very much, since my building's doorman is always here to accept packages. But I'm this will help many other people.
- Houston renames schools named for Confederate leaders
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Recent news round-up
Good News
- North Carolina transgender battle could expand civil rights law
- Counseling association cancels Tennessee convention
- Defying church ban, dozens of Methodist clergy come out as gay and lesbian I generally stay out of the internal politics of religious organizations, but this is good to see.
- Alabama drag queen is suspended chief justice's nightmare
- New York sued over anti-farm union law, refuses to defend it
- Two female US Marines assigned to infantry
- Geraldine Roman: First transgender politician elected in the Philippines
- New Jersey man gets 15 years for conspiring to aid ISIL
- French national rail backs futuristic Hyperloop
Sunday, May 08, 2016
Recent news round-up
Good News
- Alabama chief justice faces ouster after gay marriage fight
- WGA Panel Sees More Viewer And Network Acceptance of LGBT Themes
- North Carolina lawmaker dismisses U.S. deadline to change bathroom law
- Girl says she was thrown out of her prom for wearing a suit
- Egyptian court recommends death penalty for journalists, Mursi verdict postponed
- Turkey jails Cumhuriyet journalists Can Dundar and Erdem Gul
- Rolling Stones get no satisfaction from Trump on song ban
- Polish government to take control of WWII museum
Friday, May 06, 2016
Thursday, May 05, 2016
Today's news round-up
Good News
- FDA will regulate e-cigarettes like all other tobacco products
- Officials take custody of kids who went to Oregon standoff
Somewhat Bad, Somewhat Good News
- NYC lawmakers impose 5-cent charge for plastic bags I know it's good for the environment, and will save the city some money, but I suspect that most of the time my wife and I will just buy the bags. As one person said, in NYC we shop on foot, frequently on our way home from something, and it's a pain to carry bags all over.
Wednesday, May 04, 2016
Yesterday's news round-up
Good News
- Chicago schools say transgender kids should use bathrooms matching identity
- Kathryn Knott, Dad, Bucks County Sued for $5 Million for “Retaliation” Over Anonymous Internet Comments Knott was convicted for gay-bashing. I hope O"Donnell wins.
- Obama May Create Monument to Gay Rights Movement
- Surge in Ridership Pushes New York Subway to Limit One more reason I'm so glad I'm retired. I used to ride on the Lexington Ave. line to get to work, and from 1988 to 1993 or 94 I boarded at the 86th St. station featured in this article. It was crowded even back then.
- Federal official: DC subway hasn't improved safety
- IS may be making chemical weapons, warns watchdog
- IS kills US Navy SEAL in Iraq attack
Tuesday, May 03, 2016
Yesterday's news round-up
I'm devoting this week to cleaning up my office, so I'm not spending too much time on the internet. My news round-ups may be intermittent and abbreviated.
Good News
Good News
- U.S. Supreme Court rejects challenge to Seattle minimum wage law
- U.S. top court upholds cop's conviction in auto repair scheme
- Transgender pride flag raised at Boston City Hall
- Amazon launches a Prime Now website
- Turkey and US-led coalition pound IS group in Syria
Bad News
Sunday, May 01, 2016
Yesterday's news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- U.S. West Point academy set for first woman dean in two century history
- Uber agrees to $225,000 settlement in lawsuit alleging discrimination against the blind The money is nice, but the big thing is that they will terminate any driver who refuses to take a service animal.
- UK strikes in Syria, Iraq kill 1,000 IS fighters: Ministry of Defence
Bad News
- A Texan who called Obama a gay prostitute may soon control what goes in children’s textbooks Fortunately, today textbook publishers can easily create different versions for different customers. But this is still bad for the children in Texas.
- Turkey detains pro-Kurdish news editor over tweets: channel Turkey is not a democracy.
- Hindu tailor in Bangladesh hacked to death in attack claimed by Islamic State
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016
Recent news round-up, Part 2
Good News
- Microsoft Will Not Donate Money to Republicans’ Convention
- Officer Convicted of Assault for Stomping on Suspect’s Head
- High-speed rail board approves revised California plan
- Obama Puts His Weight Behind Smart Gun Technology
- Spanish pipe-layers find large Roman coin hoard
- Lebanese army kills Islamic State leader at Syrian border
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Recent news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- Officials: North Carolina must show proof of discrimination-free zone, or lose NCAA tournament games
- UK Targets ISIS Bunker With Royal Air Force’s Largest Bombs
- Federal judge upholds voter ID law in North Carolina and U.S. top court declines to block Texas voter identification law
- Turkey journalists jailed for publishing Mohammed cartoon Turkey is not a democracy.
- Turkey Islam: Top AKP politician calls for religious constitution Ditto.
- Al-Qaida says it killed Bangladesh gay activist, friend
- ISIS Spreading in Europe, U.S. Intelligence Chief Warns
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Monday, April 25, 2016
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