Just a quickhit as I’m spoon-missing today: The Anchorage Daily News reports on a multiple-rape, assault, and murder trial underway in court this week. * Sexual violence trigger warnings.*
Politics
Censor board hacked
The Australian Government’s Classification board website has been hacked. The text:
More at
Somebody Think of the Children.
A bit juvenile? Nos. Not particularly helpful? Sure. Illegal? Yup.
But I can’t help but have a leetle soft spot lurking in my heart for humorous, non-destructive civil disobedience in the face of bulldozing authoritarianism.
OMG, Michelle Obama has arms!
Just look at them, they go all the way up to her shoulders. Apparently, Michelle Obama appearing in a sleeveless dress for her official portrait has got conservative American up in arms (ha! see what I did there). I mean really, she’s young, she has lovely arms why shouldn’t she show them off? Why does showing her arms make her the target of conservatives accusing her of impropriety*? What is wrong with arms?
Gang laws dependent on mode of transport? Really?
unless the media is being spectacularly wrongfooted in their reporting today, it really does appear that laws are being mooted with respect to criminal activity that are going to be different depending upon the suspects’ vehicle(s) of choice. What does it matter whether a gangster is wearing a leather jacket and riding a Hog or wearing a hipster outfit and riding a Segway?
Otterday! And open thread.
Today’s North American river otters were spied among the ice on the Charles River in Needham, Massachusetts. Boston.com continues: The Charles River Watershed Association hailed the documented presence of otters so close to Boston as a mark of important progress…. Read More ›
“Virgin auction” solicitors back on Melbourne campus today
A couple of days ago, the “ViRGINS WANTED” [link removed] filmmakers were asked to leave the Monash University campus after putting posters up in student areas. The filmmakers are attempting to recruit two virgins[1] to sell their virginity online, and… Read More ›
CFS/ME and “faulty illness beliefs”: The incredible hubris of the psychiatro-patriarchal complex
New Scientist this week published an interview with infamous psychiatrist Simon Wessely. Wessely persists in believing, in the face of all the evidence, that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis (CFS/ME)* is a uniquely UK/American psychological condition caused by internet-triggered “faulty illness… Read More ›
Quickhit: Background Briefing on Australia’s Looming Internet Censorship
For those interested in Minister Stephen Conroy’s plans to introduce mandatory internet censorship to Australia, check out Wendy Carlisle’s show on the Background Briefing. ABC Radio National: Conroy’s clean feed It’s well-researched, and it explains the issue from square one,… Read More ›
Call to Action on Violence against Women: Guest Hoyden Su
Su is a regular commenter with a background in physiology and zoology. Just a quick reminder to Antipodean hoydenizens (Australian Division) to get behind Amnesty International’s campaign to urge the Federal Government to properly fund a National Plan of Action… Read More ›
Happy dance: Australian “Global Gag Rule” overturned
Under pressure from the Greens and other pro-choice MPs, the Australian Government finally overturned the AusAID restrictions on foreign aid for services that provide abortion information or services! SMH: Govt ends foreign aid ban on abortions The Rudd government could… Read More ›
Hoyden About Town 