Good News
Bad News
2 days ago
Saturday, August 06, 2016
Today's tiny news round-up
Due to the my watching the Olympics, my posts are going to sparse and small for the next couple weeks.
Good News
Good News
Friday, August 05, 2016
Recent news round-up, Part 3
Good News
- Being a Transgender Police Officer in New York: ‘We’re All Cops’
- Amtrak: New locomotives have cut delays nearly 25 percent
- Rare conviction made in shooting by Virginia police officer He should have been convicted of murder.
Recent news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- As party unease grows with Trump, Republican lawmaker says he will back Clinton I have no idea how many Republican congressmembers will join him, but I doubt he will be the only one.
- Court denies North Carolina motion to stay decision on voter ID law
- Judge Dismisses Suit by Suspended Alabama Chief Justice
- Missouri’s Governor Cut Funding to the State’s Public Defenders. So They Assigned Him a Case
- Georgia man pleads guilty in $30M computer hacking scheme
- X-ray uncovers hidden portrait beneath famed Degas painting
- Libyan forces advance in IS bastion as US keeps up air strikes
- Pope: It's 'terrible' children taught they can choose gender I seldom give much notice to what religious leaders say, but this is a total mischaracterization of what it is to be transgender. Nobody chooses their gender. But for some people it doesn't correspond to their physical sex.
- New Report Shows LGBTQ Students Targeted for Discipline
- U.S. police body camera policies put civil rights at risk: study
Tuesday, August 02, 2016
Yesterday's news round-up
Good News
- Federal judge blocks North Dakota voter identification law
- An After School Satan Club could be coming to your kid’s elementary school
- Interpol arrests Nigerian accused of $60 million cybercrime
- U.S. Conducts Airstrikes Against ISIS in Libya
Bad News
- Thai mother indicted over one-word 'royal slur' Facebook message Royal defamation should not be a crime.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Today's news round-up
Good News
- Koch network refusing to help Trump
- Saatchi boss Kevin Roberts disciplined over gender comments
- Socially conservative Guatemala sees quiet LGBTQ gains
- U.S.-backed forces win control of most of Syria's Manbij from Islamic State: spokesman
- Baguette vending machine bakes up French-style bread at anytime
Micro movie review
Café Society: A typical Woody Allen movie, but nothing much really new. Kristen Stewart was excellent. If you like Woody Allen movies, you'll be happy with this one.
Yesterday's news round-up
Good News
- Florida: New York Grilled Cheese Defends Transgender Employee
- Electoral Map Gives Donald Trump Few Places to Go
- For LGBT High Schoolers, Gay-Straight Alliances Spell Safety
- Three Chicago police officers relieved of duty after fatal shooting
- Justice Department to review fatal Arizona police shooting
- Dallas Weatherman Resigns After Post Bashing DNC For 'Parading Mothers of Slain Thugs'
- Judge refuses to let indicted sheriff carry gun
- Donald Trump attacks Muslim father's convention speech I keep wondering how low Trump will go. I'm afraid it will be a lot further.
- Baylor's strict conduct code may have silenced rape victims
- In Florida Zika probe, federal scientists kept at arm's length
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Friday, July 29, 2016
Recent News round-up, Part 2
Good News
- U.S. Judge denies Uber motion to compel arbitration in surge-pricing lawsuit Excellent! Compulsory arbitration between parties that are economically unequal should be banned.
- Reliance on jailhouse informant dooms Chandra Levy case Jailhouse informant evidence should be highly restricted, if not totally banned. It is highly suspect.
- Texas A&M suspends 2 assistant coaches over slide show, apologizes
- Alabama court orders sheriff removed for corruption
- Paris bombings suspects extradited to France from Austria
Recent news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- Court strikes down "discriminatory" North Carolina voter ID law
- Kansas: Kobach will not appeal ruling on voting rights
- U.S. judge strikes down parts of Wisconsin voter ID law: report
- The creator of the viral pro-Trump act ‘USA Freedom Kids’ now plans to sue the campaign This guy is a total amateur. He gets nothing in writing, and falls for the "great exposure" crap. As performers I know say, "People die from exposure." But this is straight from the Trump playbook: Stiff the little people. See below:
- Judge orders Trump to pay nearly $300,000 in attorney’s fees in Doral painter’s lawsuit
- Congresswoman Trolls Melania Trump By Wearing Her Dress To DNC Hilarious!
- With Degree Debunked, Melania Trump Website Is Taken Down
- Former St. Louis police officer gets 52 months in prison for punching handcuffed man
- 6 public workers charged in Flint water crisis
- Russian weightlifters banned from Rio Olympics for doping
- Turkey's Erdogan dropping lawsuits for insults against him I'm guessing most of the people he's suing have already been dismissed from their jobs. They wouldn't have any money to pay him even if he won. "Insulting" a politician should not be illegal. But as I keep saying, Turkey is not a democracy.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Today's news round-up, Part 2
Good News
- U.S. opens door to a change in blood donation policy for gay men
- California City Bans Deceptive Ads By Anti-Abortion Pregnancy Clinics
- Qualcomm to Pay $19.5M to Settle Gender Discrimination Suit
- To Reduce Bias, Some Police Departments Are Rethinking Traffic Stops
- Florida principal suspended after saying gays ‘must be put to death’
Today's news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- More than 100 celebrities pledge to work against Trump
- At least 105 Russian athletes banned so far, The Latest: 22 Russian rowers rejected for Olympics
- US Army special forces accepts first female candidates
- Feds: Senate cafeteria workers will get $1 million back pay
- Texas attorney general took gift while investigating company It's good they have found something else bad that this jerk did.
- Bangladesh police kill nine suspected Islamists in Dhaka raid
- Anti-abortion duo behind Planned Parenthood videos cleared Only on a technicality. I wonder if a new grand jury could hand up a valid indictment--but I doubt the DA would ever present that case to another grand jury.
- Georgia appeals court says 'upskirting' not against the law I think the dissent's reasoning is correct, though they should make the law more explicit.
- Islamic State group claims attack that killed priest of 85
- Suicide bombing north of Baghdad kills 16, Islamic State claims attack
Monday, July 25, 2016
Today's news round-up, Part 2
Good News
- 3 charged in Trump rally altercation
- Judge to Monitor Kansas' Actions on Gay Marriage for 3 Years
- Yelp Is Now Marking Businesses That Sue Reviewers
- Libya loyalists take IS bomb factory in Sirte
- Turkey coup attempt: 'Arrest warrants issued' for journalists Turkey is not a democracy.
Today's news round-up, Part 1
Good News
- California man sentenced for trying to aid Islamic State
- After ruling, McAuliffe moves to restore rights individually
- Illinois Republican lawmaker resigns, cites Facebook, Twitter hacks It's not that hard to eliminate or discredit fake accounts. There's got to be more behind this.
- U.S. judge faults Uber, bans background check in NY lawsuit
- 7 Russian swimmers to miss Rio Olympics over doping It's not a ban of the whole Russian team, but it's something.
- Monitor chosen to oversee Ferguson's police, court reformspart
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Today's news round-up
Good News
- Mississppi: Emails show Christian group drafted much of HB 1523 This is good because it shows why the law is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution.
- Democrats Agree To Compromise On Superdelegates And Other Reforms
Bad News
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Today's news round-up
Good News
- ACLU praises new Illinois limits on cellphone surveillance
- Rulings may make voter ID laws presidential race nonfactors
- PGA threatens to move future events from North Carolina because of HB2
- Effort to abolish superdelegates fails at DNC rules meeting I hope some sort of compromise can be reached. 700+ superdelegates is ridiculous. I'd like to see the number limited to 5-10% of the total delegates.
- Turkish lawmakers give leader Erdogan sweeping new powers, Defiant Turkey extends police powers, shutters schools after coup Turkey is not a democracy.
- Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul attack, 80 dead
Friday, July 22, 2016
Recent news round-up, Part 3
Good News
- Austin police probe officer's throwing black woman to ground
- Nevada ending discrimination of prison inmates with HIV
- US acts to block two mega-mergers in health insurance
- Papa John's Worker Fired After Writing N-Word on Delivery Receipt
- Celeb hacker who stole nude images gets six months in prison
- Ventilation to Be Required in All New York Nail Salons
Bad News
Recent news round-up, Part 2
Good News
- Alaska parental notification abortion law struck down
- California governor signs bill to require registration of 'ghost guns'
- Thousands March in Jerusalem’s Gay Pride Parade One Year After Deadly Attack
- Why a Penn. man arrested for flag desecration was awarded $55,000
- France to supply artillery to Iraqi army
- Teen sues school for proposing trans students wear green wristbands This is just like the Nazis making Jews wear yellow stars.
- Thai Police Question the Wife of a British Writer Critical of Thailand’s Royal Family
Recent News round-up, Part 1
Good News
- NBA Moves 2017 All-Star Game Out Of North Carolina To Protest Anti-LGBT Law
- NCAA to survey potential host cities on discrimination laws
- Roger Ailes Out At Fox News, Rupert Murdoch Taking Over As Acting CEO
- Feds File Copyright Charges Against Owner Of World’s Most-Visited File-Sharing Site
Bad News
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.
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