Gee, I didn’t know people were allowed to set up “sting” operations without any kind of legal authority.

A network of conservative activists, aided by a British former spy, mounted a campaign during the Trump administration to discredit perceived enemies of President Trump inside the government, according to documents and people involved in the operations.

The campaign included a planned sting operation against Mr. Trump’s national security adviser at the time, H.R. McMaster, and secret surveillance operations against F.B.I. employees, aimed at exposing anti-Trump sentiment in the bureau’s ranks.

See this is what I mean. That stuff is illegal if you don’t have a warrant and stuff, isn’t it? People can’t just do “sting operations” and “secret surveillance” on … Read the rest

That? That wasn’t an insurrection, that was just a few tourists visiting the Capitol.

Congressman Andrew Clyde was asked about his widely criticized comments downplaying the Capitol insurrection earlier today.

“You didn’t take what I said in context at all,” the Republican lawmaker told NBC News this morning. “So you go listen to what I said.”

Here’s exactly what he said during that committee hearing yesterday: “Watching the TV footage of those who entered the Capitol and walked through Statuary Hall showed people in an orderly fashion staying between the stanchions and ropes, taking videos, pictures.”

He added, “You know, if you didn’t know the TV footage was a video from January the 6th, you would actually think it was a

What a good plan.

Hundreds of people experiencing poor mental health will be introduced to the natural beauty of wetlands under a “blue prescribing” scheme.

In London, this is.

There is increasing evidence of the benefits of nature for mental health and wellbeing. A recent pilot wetlands project showed that people diagnosed with anxiety or depression moved up a clinical mental health grade, from below average to average.

I swear by this. I’m not afflicted with anxiety or depression but I can testify that getting outside always elevates my mood. (Well…one exception – when the air is in the red zone.) A clear bright breezy day elevates it into the stratosphere, as does going to the Lake or the … Read the rest

What the wicked TERF has been doing lately.

Once again, a huge thank you to everyone who bought a copy of The Ickabog. As a result, my charitable trust continues to be able to support those worst affected by the pandemic #COVIDIndia https://t.co/UZTEiqMfDZ

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 13, 2021

… Read the rest

Academic ethics…

You may think that’s just some high school kid but in fact he’s an academic. He’s been comparing gender critical feminists to Holocaust deniers for hours.

Academic work must be TRUE – or, at least, strive towards truth.

— Eric Lybeck (@EricRoyalLybeck) May 13, 2021

They do not deserve the platform of a university unless they are presented as a specimen of UNTRUTH (which they are regularly referenced and debated as such)

— Eric Lybeck (@EricRoyalLybeck) May 13, 2021

So he’s saying that the ideology that says men are women if they say they are is an authoritative ideology, and that it’s true or at least strives towards truth, while skepticism about that ideology is not true … Read the rest

Wait who is the terrorist in this one-act play?

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene aggressively confronted Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Wednesday and falsely accused her of supporting “terrorists,” leading the New York congresswoman’s office to call on leadership to ensure that Congress remains “a safe, civil place for all Members and staff.”

In other words somebody please instruct Greene to act like an adult, and make it stick.

Two Washington Post reporters witnessed Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) exit the House chamber late Wednesday afternoon ahead of Greene (Ga.), who shouted “Hey Alexandria” twice in an effort to get her attention. When Ocasio-Cortez did not stop walking, Greene picked up her pace and began shouting at her and asking why she supports antifa,

There’s a plastic surgery firm in San Francisco called Align Surgical Associates. It’s on Facebook.

I didn’t include the photos.

Via

Speechless.https://t.co/QOwEOlWXjX pic.twitter.com/Sp8Ill89GP

— Eliza Mondegreen (@elizamondegreen) May 12, 2021

"If you’re interested in this procedure, or one of the other non-standard gender surgeries we offer, we recommend reaching out to us and setting up your consultation. There are numerous ways that we can allow you to enjoy the gender identity that you prefer."

— Eliza Mondegreen (@elizamondegreen) May 12, 2021

… Read the rest

Is that true?

I’m not seeing it.

I’m not seeing where the confidence comes from, to announce that. How do people know such things? Where do they get them?

Why would we be “addicted” to our fear?

Really, why? What’s the reward that creates the addiction?

Why would we “fall in love with” our fear? Fear is nasty, so why would we fall in love with it?

I had a charismatic Comparative Literature teacher at university a few centuries ago who did this kind of thing regularly – informed us that professed motives were fake and the actual ones were something less idealistic and more selfish: sex or sadism or greed and the like. At some point I noticed that … Read the rest

Thinking of applying to teach at Virginia Commonwealth University? They have a little requirement.

Statement of Contribution to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to organizational diversity, equity and inclusion – an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence. Applicants are requested to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion providing your career aspirations and contributions toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

I like the way they say it three times in that one short paragraph, just in case you lost track of what they’re “requesting.”… Read the rest

It’s funny what lousy rotten grumpy sour sore losers they are, when…

When you think of the onslaught of derision directed at Clinton for any post-election musing on the confluence of factors that lead to her loss and compare that to Trump's now 6 month reality denying temper tantrum supported by almost his entire party, it's incredible.

— Schooley (@Rschooley) May 12, 2021

Especially when Clinton won the popular vote (the actual vote) by 3 million and Trump…didn’t.

Ousting of Liz Cheney, insane 'audit' in AZ, avalanche of GOP voter suppression bills all have same goal: to institutionalize Trump's Big Lie & rig future elections in their favor. GOP assault on democracy most important story in American politics today

—

Ah yes the pretend-feminism of the predator. “Girls, tell them you don’t need “”””protecktinng””””.”

This dude is legit the creepiest thing on tik tok.

Women and girls travel together for a reason. For our safety.

God damn. pic.twitter.com/y7e9tN0ObY

— Mattie Watkins (@thepeaklady) May 9, 2021

… Read the rest

You know, if you make it mandatory, you’ll never know if it’s for real or just forced compliance. If a man tells a woman she has to say “I love you” to him at least once a day or he’ll punish her, can he be confident she means it when she says it?

The national anthem would have to be played before all sporting events held at Wisconsin venues that received any public funding under a mostly symbolic bill passed by the state Assembly.

Why? What’s the point? If it’s compelled, what good is it?

The requirement would apply at all levels of athletic events played on a field that ever received public money, from a bar league softball

One of the great joys of now as opposed to say six months ago is that we get to ignore That Guy. But every now and then I feel an atavistic impulse to point and laugh one more time.

FROM THE DESK OF

(Which is already ridiculous. Desk shmesk. It’s a flat thing where he can scribble with his Sharpie. He doesn’t need a desk because he can’t read or write or think.)

Anyway from the flat thing of –

Liz Cheney is a bitter, horrible human being. I watched her yesterday and realized how bad she is for the Republican Party. She has no personality or anything good having to do with politics or our Country. She is a

Outrage as male voice actor dubs male actor, fumes the Guardian.

The Italian-language version of Emerald Fennell’s revenge thriller Promising Young Woman has come under fire for giving trans actor Laverne Cox a male voice.

But…Laverne Cox has a male voice. Necessarily, being a male person.

[T]he release has been pushed back after a clip of Una Donna Promettente was posted by Universal Pictures Italy on 6 May. In the since-restricted video, Cox’s character, Gail, talks to protagonist Cassie, played by Carey Mulligan, in a distinctively masculine tone. The Orange Is the New Black star was given the deep tones of voice actor Roberto Pedicini. Italian viewers couldn’t believe their ears, immediately taking to social media to voice

From Gnu Atheism:… Read the rest

Now the Republicans are trying to pretend Fauci created the pandemic on purpose for [insert reason here].

For much of the past year, Republicans have decried lead government coronavirus expert Anthony S. Fauci’s prescriptions for mitigating the pandemic — including masks, social distancing and keeping society shut down.

Yeah, boy, masks – have you ever heard of anything so UnAmerican? Masks. I ask you.

But increasingly in the past week, the effort has taken on a new flavor — with suggestions that Fauci might be personally to blame for the advent of the virus itself.

…

With Fauci set to testify before the Senate on Tuesday, Fox News host Tucker Carlson teed things up the night before. In a

Idaho has made it illegal to teach about slavery in schools and universities.

Idaho’s governor, Brad Little, has a bill signed into law that aims to restrict critical race theory from being taught as a subject in schools and universities.

We know there’s some dumb critical race theory out there, such as the Robin DiAngelo version for instance, but Idaho apparently interprets it very broadly.

The bill, H 377, prevents teachers from “indoctrinating” students into belief systems that claim that members of any race, sex, religion, ethnicity or national origin are inferior or superior to other groups. Signed into law last week, H 377 also makes it illegal to make students “affirm, adopt or adhere to” beliefs that members

Originally a comment by Arty Morty on Those drugs can’t possibly be legal.

I’ve been thinking more and more about this issue as though it’s a battle of stories. To some people, the Story of Trans absolutely must be a happy story, as uplifting and life-affirming as a lost-dog-reunited viral video. They genuinely think that being a good LGBT ally means simply making sure you fix in your mind a happy story about LGBT people whenever the topic arises.

Isn’t it incredible that there are two kinds of trans “allies”, two groups who actually hold completely opposing views about trans issues, but who remain united in their shared opposition to criticism of gender ideology, because they see anything with … Read the rest

So creepy Gegi is a lawyer now?

Sometimes schools are unsure of what they need to in order to prevent and respond to #GenderExpression or #GenderIdentity discrimination, including how these are different. This is why @gegi_ca exists in the world!

Learn more at https://t.co/Gcu9NMB8TU.#OntEd pic.twitter.com/bHMVuyFARz

— Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (@CCGSD_CCDGS) May 10, 2021

What does that mean? Is it a human rights violation to say that a skirt doesn’t turn a man into a woman?

Did you know that Ontario schools have a legal duty to offer a climate free from gender identity AND gender expression discrimination? Visit https://t.co/XWAdne7kG8 for information and resources to help support students and teachers in Ontario schools. #EducationWeek #OntED

The trumpist takeover proceeds.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is poised this week to become the highest ranking elected Republican woman in the House of Representatives, as the beneficiary of the GOP mutiny against Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). Cheney, the chair of the House Republican conference, dared to acknowledge reality: Donald Trump lost the election and then incited the seditious attack on the US Capitol. For that sin, the House Republican wing of the Trump cult will give Cheney the boot and replace her with Stefanik, who is in her fourth term representing a district in upstate New York.

Remember when the Republicans were the law and order party? It still seems odd that now they’re the insurrection party.

Stefanik’s