We’re still packing like crazy and looking for a new place to live. I’m trying not to stress and probably failing at it. There has been a weird mix of good news and absolutely horrific news among our extended friends circle and it’s all a bit overwhelming.
Anyway, here are the links I found interesting this week, sorted into categories. You will notice it is a shorter collection than usual.
Links of the Week
On Sanders’ Denial of the Role of Race and Gender in Election 2016.
Four maps show 50 states and european countries best and worst qualities. I would like to know the methodologies of these claims…
Happy News!
Seattle Dreamer released after more than six weeks in custody.
How Seattle police, local prosecutors address and investigate hate crimes.
BOB FERGUSON, LITERAL ANGEL, IS SUING TIM EYMAN.(If you aren’t from Washington state, you don’t understand what a big and wonderful deal this could be)
FERGUSON FILES $2.1M CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWSUIT AGAINST TIM EYMAN.
This Week in Difficult to Classify
Seattle toasts the tunnel. Lawyers prepare for war.
rotester gives Oregon mayor a Pepsi, and the response wasn’t good.
This week in awful people
Bill O’Reilly Thrives at Fox News, Even as Harassment Settlements Add Up.
AG sues Tim Eyman for $2M, says he profited from campaigns.
Former NC Gov. Pat McCrory Mocks LGBT Activists Over Compromise HB2 Repeal: They Lost The Battle.
High School Football Coach Suspended After He Allegedly Put His Dick In A Hot Dog Bun And Showed Players. “Not meant to be inappropriate” — how on earth is a teacher calling a female student a “puck slut” ever to be considered appropriate?
Here Are All The Advertisers Fleeing Bill O’Reilly’s Show.
News for queers and our allies:
Barry Manilow Reveals Why He Didn’t Come Out for Decades: I Thought I Would ‘Disappoint’ Fans If They Knew I Was Gay. I wish he’d felt free to come out sooner, but unlike other closeted people I have written about recently, Manilow never spearheading homophobic laws or programs, so welcome out, Barry!
When a celebrity comes out, we judge. Why is that fair?
THE MOST LGBTQ-FRIENDLY CITY IN EVERY RED STATE IN AMERICA.
Federal judge rules fair housing law protects Colorado LGBT couple.
Science!
scatter plot: adventures in garbage millennial confirmation bias. Awesome graphs!
A Japanese Man Just Got Another Person’s Stem Cells Transplanted in His Eye.
GERMAN RESEARCHERS SEQUENCE RYE GENOME FOR FIRST TIME.
We might have just tracked down the mysterious Planet Nine.
Why Have Humpback Whales Formed Mysterious Super-Groups Off South Africa?
Juno has sent back more photos of Jupiter, and the results are spectacular.
No more ‘superbugs’? Maple syrup extract enhances antibiotic action.
First fluorescent frogs might see each others’ glow.
Myopic Political Bubbles Apply to Science Books, Too.
Science Fiction, Fantasy and Speculation!
NO, DIVERSITY DIDN’T KILL MARVEL’S COMIC SALES.
The Obligatory Hugo Nominations Reaction Post 2017 – and the first ever Nommo Awards.
Here Are the 2017 Hugo Award Finalists but Spoiler Alert Chuck Tingle Should Win Every Award.
Measuring the Rabid Puppies Effect on the 2017 Hugo Ballot.
THE HUGO REPORT: FINALISTS 2017.
Asking the Wrong Questions – he 2017 Hugo Awards: Thoughts on the Nominees.
Netflix Whitewashed Its Death Note Remake, and That’s Not Even the Only Reason It’s Problematic.
The Best Series Hugo Is the Hardest Decision on the Ballot.
And other news:
Harry Shearer: Why My ‘Spinal Tap’ Lawsuit Affects All Creators.
This week in Words
Use gender-sensitive language or lose marks, university students told. Some people gripe this is language policing; news flash, so is basing any grade on grammar or punctuation!
Harvard study: When telling a story, aim for clarity over cutting edge.
This Week in Tech
Justice in the age of big data.
Twitter Sues Trump Administration Over Demand That They Unmask Person Behind Anti-Trump Account.
This Week in Misinformation
I’m not going to answer the same question about being fat any more. Ask me something else.
Culture war news:
Bryan Fischer Epically Mocked on Twitter for Claiming LGBT People Stole God’s Rainbow.
God remains silent in response to Bryan Fischer’s claim we stole the rainbow.
Boy Butter TV commercial banned in Chicago.
Activists Chase NOM’s Hate Bus Out Of Connecticut.
A Judge Has Temporarily Stopped Kentucky’s Only Remaining Abortion Clinic From Closing.
Creationist (and Convicted Felon) Kent Hovind Spoke To a Sparse Crowd in Mississippi.
How The Hate Group Alliance Defending Freedom Is Infiltrating Public Schools.
This Week in the Resistance:
Kirsten Gillibrand Is an Enthusiastic NO.
Washington state legislators fights for internet privacy that Congress took away.
Opposing a Corrupt Transaction. (This was written before the Republicans made their hatred of democracy official, but it is still a good analysis)
This Week Regarding the Lying Liar:
Donald Trump’s Ignorance Extends to Foreign Affairs. That’s A Big Problem.
What the Woman Who Invented the Term “White Fragility” Thinks About Trump.
Donald Trump Approval Rating Declines Among White Men: Polls.
Trump Syria attack raises questions about whether it was authorized.
Can the President Attack Another Country Without Congress?
Syria strike reactions: what top Republicans and Democrats in Congress are saying.
News about the Fascist Regime:
The Long, Lucrative Right-wing Grift Is Blowing Up in the World’s Face.
agazine owner Jared Kushner doesn’t understand a free press.
Ivanka Trump interview: “If being complicit is wanting to be a force for good … then I’m complicit”.
Joint Chiefs invite Jared Kushner to Iraq, because Ivanka’s husband is in charge of everything now.
Steve Bannon Calls Jared Kushner a ‘Cuck’ and ‘Globalist’ Behind His Back. (BTW, in case you didn’t know, “globalist” is an alt-right dog whistle meaning “jew” in a pejorative fashion)
C.I.A. Had Evidence of Russian Effort to Help Trump Earlier Than Believed.
One week, three more Trump-Russia connections.
Why the Trump-Russia investigation may continue for years.
This week in Politics:
Devin Nunes shouldn’t resign from the intelligence committee—he should resign from the House.
Russians used ‘Bernie Bros’ as ‘unwitting agents’ in disinformation campaign: Senate Intel witness.
Out of options, Spicer attacks Hillary, suggests Obama engaged in illegal surveillance.
Former Trump campaign chair in Virginia spent campaign money on Trump party.
How We Got To The Point Of Republicans Ready To Invoke The ‘Nuclear Option’ In The Senate.
Senate approves ‘nuclear option,’ clears path for Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court nomination vote.
This Week in Racists, White Nationalists, and the deplorables
Judge Rules That Trump May Have Incited Violence Against Protesters, Allowing Case to Move Forward.
Trump Ally Alex Jones Threatens To “Beat” Rep. Adam Schiff’s “Goddamn Ass” In Anti-Gay Tirade.
Trump Voter Furious that Border Wall will Fence Her House into… (Wait For It)… Mexico!
How Many Of Trump’s Supporters Really Are ‘Deplorable’?
TOP DEMOCRATS ARE WRONG: TRUMP SUPPORTERS WERE MORE MOTIVATED BY RACISM THAN ECONOMIC ISSUES.
This Week in Hate Crimes
Police: Armed with guns and racial insults, Jacksonville man assaults Muslim neighbor.
This Week in Sexism
Uber’s Korean Escort Visit Shows Sexism Cover-Up Goes To The Top.
It’s a problem when men avoid one-on-one meetings with women.
Fox News Reeling As A Big Bombshell Just Dropped In The Bill O’Reilly Sexual Harassment Scandal.
Farewells:
Gilbert Baker, Creator of the Rainbow Flag, International Symbol of LGBTQ Pride, Has Died at 65.
Key West remembers Gilbert Baker, creator of rainbow flag.
Gilbert Baker Film Festival still a go despite its namesake’s death.
Gilbert Baker, rainbow flag creator, dies.
Things I wrote:
Not fooling around with my goals this year!
Weekend Update 4/1/2017: No need for jokes while we have these clowns in the news.
Reblog: The first openly queer person to run for U.S. public office and win was not who you think.
More adventures in straightsplaining—bless your heart.
Confessions of an unrepentant rationalist.
The incredibly true confessions of a totally queer sci fi geek.
Time to say bye-bye to LiveJournal.
Confessions of a pink and purple flaunting dandy.
Videos!
Get Churned!:
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Expiration Date – Brett Gleason (Official Video):
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Lana Del Rey – Love:
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2CELLOS – Moon River:
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Font Folly 