Last Friday was the deadline to submit amicus briefs to the Supreme Court in support of marriage equality. Over 60 different briefs were filed by various “friends of the court,” including coalitions, organizations, scholars, and individuals. Contained within them are a variety of arguments in favor of recognizing same-sex couples’ right to marry, ranging from the more legal and technical … Read More
Breaking Bad Is Just A TV Show
The word “fan”, as in “someone who likes something”, comes from the longer word “fanatic”, which means “someone obsessed about something”. I am a fan of many many things; not a fanatic about much (if anything). I like Breaking Bad. I was a fan. But some people are just crazy fanatics: In a famous scene in Breaking Bad, a furious … Read More
Slate’s Amanda Marcotte On Demonic Possession
We’ve been following the bizarre story of Arkansas state legislator Justin Harris, and the controversy surrounding his adopted, and then given-to-a-molester, daughters. But rather than merely recount that story, we’ll let Amanda Marcotte discuss the bigger picture: This story of Arkansas state legislator Justin Harris’ adoption debacle has been a classic, slow-moving trainwreck, as the Arkansas press discovers disturbing new … Read More
Rush Limbaugh Wonders Why White People Can’t Use Racial Epithets
Facepalm: Rush Limbaugh is at it again. The conservative radio host surely seethed with indignation as he watched every decent-minded human being around him express outrage at a video of fraternity brothers chanting racist lyrics. On Wednesday, he finally spoke up. The problem wasn’t the words that the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) brothers were chanting, Limbaugh claims. It was the … Read More
News That Is Not News
What? There are racists in the Oklahoma State greek system? Really? In Oklahoma? The scandal isn’t that this exists. It’s that it took a viral video for the school to actually do something about it.
Oscar Time 2015
Hello? Is this thing on? This is my first post using a cellphone app. So bear with me. Well, I had hoped for really good and interesting Oscar coverage this year, having seen most of the big nominated movies. But more important family matters have arisen. Even if I had the time or inclination to do an Oscar post, I … Read More
I’m Jes A Girl Who Cain’t Say ‘No’…. Rape Culture and “Yes Means Yes”
Last September, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a new law mandating that California universities take certain steps regarding their sexual assault policies. Many of the changes are common-sensical, i.e., a student who is intoxicated or asleep cannot be said to have “consented” to sex. (This might seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many people wonder about … Read More
The Muslim Terrorist Victims?
So here’s what happened: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Three people were shot to death at a quiet condominium complex near the University of North Carolina, and the suspect was scheduled for a court appearance Wednesday — though police had not yet released a motive or given details of the crime. Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, was arrested and has been … Read More
Stewart Out
There will be time for eulogies and retrospectives, especially since his departure date is still unknown. But the news that Jon Stewart is leaving the helm of The Daily Show after 17 years comes as a shock, even if it is to be expected (he clearly has been restless this past year). Stewart made The Daily Show. It will go on, but … Read More
Alabama and Gay Marriage
Well, you know we’ve crossed over when Alabama starts with the gay marriage thing. An order from a federal judge allowing gay marriage was to take effect this morning. But what’s that? It’s Chief Judge Roy Moore (a state, not federal, judge) to the rescue. If you don’t remember, Judge Moore is often known as the “Ten Commandments Judge.” When Moore, a devout … Read More
Better Call Saul: A Mid-Pilot Review
It’s probably not fair to review a new series based on half of the pilot episode, but AMC saw fit to split the pilot episode into two days, so they have nobody to blame but themselves. Plus, it is pretty clear what Better Call Saul will be like just from Part One of the two-part pilot. Better Call Saul has been billed … Read More
Lyndon Johnson Was Prescient
Long ago, President Lyndon Johnson explained how this conservative schtick works: If you can convince the lowest white man that he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll even empty his pockets for you. The Fox News business model, ladies and gentlemen.
To Kill A Mockingbird II
I’m sadly not much of a reader, but I’ve been around for a long time and I have managed to read a lot during that time. And by far, my favorite book is the one that everybody loves as their favorite…. To Kill A Mockingbird. So it is nothing short of awesome that, after a 55 year-long silence, Harper Lee is publishing a … Read More
Oregon Bakers Fined As Much As $150,000 For Discrimination
Aaron and Melissa Klein, co-owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, refused to sell a wedding cake to Rachel Cryer and Laurel Bowman (now Bowman-Cryer) because they were a same-sex couple in January 2013. The Kleins became martyrs for conservative opponents of LGBT equality, claiming that they were being persecuted for their beliefs — both because of the complaint the couple … Read More
Dartmouth Bans Hard Alcohol, Starts Sexual Violence Program
I can’t say if the sexual violence problem is worse now than when I went to college, or not. I suspect, sadly, that it was just as bad in the 1980s. We just didn’t know about it and/or didn’t do anything about it. Still, it’s sad that it has come to this, but I give props to Dartmouth for taking this bold step. … Read More