Category Archives: Fail!

“It’s frightening that he’s so normal.” trolls

They talked for two hours, and by the end, she’d forgiven him for the terrible things he’d done – the meanest thing anyone has ever done to her. She understood what his life looked like at the time that he was trolling (he’s since stopped, he says) and she felt sorry for him. Still, she says, it’s disturbing to know that there was nothing wrong with him per se. “It’s frightening that he’s so normal,” she says. He’s not your idea of a monster, and unlike a fairy tale troll, he certainly doesn’t live alone under a bridge. He has women coworkers, and a girlfriend, and women friends. “They have no idea that he used to go online and traumatize women for fun.”

via “It’s frightening that he’s so normal.”.

Review: ‘Undocumented: How Immigration Became Illegal’ | Labor Notes

Meatpacking was once a strong union industry with a mostly Eastern European and African-American workforce. The jobs were dangerous and dirty, but by 1970 the typical meatpacking worker earned 20 percent more than the average factory worker. In the following three decades, urban unionized plants shut down and re-opened on a non-union basis in rural areas actively recruiting Mexican and Central American workers. Wages fell by 45 percent and, by the end of the century, one-quarter of the industry’s workers were undocumented. In 1980, nearly half the workforce was unionized; today fewer than 1 in 5 is a union member.

Construction has followed a similar story. Once a pathway to the middle class, building trades jobs have become poorly compensated outside of union strongholds in the Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast. Fifteen percent of the nation’s construction workers are now estimated to be undocumented, and the numbers are even higher in the lower paid non-licensed crafts, such as carpenters, painters, roofers, and laborers. These workers are often paid off the books and subject to unsafe working conditions. A 2013 Texas study estimated that half the state’s construction workforce was undocumented and 41 percent were victims of wage theft. It is a disservice to immigrant advocacy to maintain that existing Americans don’t want these jobs. It’s the sharply reduced compensation and sweatshop conditions they don’t want.

via Review: ‘Undocumented: How Immigration Became Illegal’ | Labor Notes.

I understand why people believe sexual predators before victims. I did | Ijeoma Oluo | Comment is free | The Guardian

We have to believe victims, even if we are hurt and ashamed by what they say. It’s necessary to face that pain and that shame in order to protect the innocent and get justice for those who have been harmed. The pain and heartbreak that the families of rapists face should never be an excuse for turning your back on victims – and I know just how devastating acknowledging the truth can be.

via I understand why people believe sexual predators before victims. I did | Ijeoma Oluo | Comment is free | The Guardian.

The Sun brings back topless women days after apparent end of Page 3 | Media | The Guardian

Days after what looked like the end of its use of topless models on Page 3 sparked celebrations among campaigners, Thursday’s Sun seems to have reverted to type.

In what appears to be an attempt to regain control of the narrative surrounding the future of the newspaper’s Page 3, the paper again features a photograph of a topless model, which appears under a “Clarifications and Corrections” header and comes after a front-page panel announces: “We’ve had a mammary lapse.”

But others who have long regarded the 44-year-old practice as sexist, offensive and anachronistic were dismayed by the move.

“So it seems the fight might be back on,” tweeted Lucy-Anne Holmes, the founder of the No More Page 3 campaign, who added: “Thanks to @TheSunNewspaper for all the publicity they’ve given the campaign. See you tomorrow xxx”

via The Sun brings back topless women days after apparent end of Page 3 | Media | The Guardian.

RNC Turns Deaf Ear To Questions About Trip Funded by Hate Group | Hatewatch

Last week, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) faxed and sent letters to every member of the Republican National Committee (RNC) regarding an upcoming trip to Jerusalem being organized by RNC Chair Reince Priebus.

The letters expressed concern about the organization paying for the trip, the American Family Association (AFA), which the SPLC has listed as an anti-LGBT hate group since 2010.

In particular, the letters asked RNC members not to lend their good offices to an organization with a long track record of making anti-LGBT, anti-Muslim and other hateful statements. An email to Priebus’ director of communications about this matter was not responded to.

via RNC Turns Deaf Ear To Questions About Trip Funded by Hate Group | Hatewatch.

Middle East – Shiite militiamen seize Yemen presidential palace – France 24

And how long will it take the Saudi’s to react?

Shiite militiamen on Tuesday seized the presidential palace in Yemen, a day after some of the worst battles in the capital in years, officials said.

Shiite militiamen on Tuesday seized the presidential palace in Yemen, a day after some of the worst battles in the capital in years, officials said.

Shiite militiamen on Tuesday seized the presidential palace in Yemen, a day after some of the worst battles in the capital in years, officials said.

The Houthi fighters, who control the capital Saana, entered the compound housing President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi’s main office after a brief clash with security guards.

UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon told an emergency Security Council meeting that he was “gravely concerned” over reports of the apparent bid to overthrow Hadi, and urged “all sides to immediately cease all hostilities, exercise maximum restraint, and take the necessary steps to restore full authority to the legitimate government institutions.”

Witnesses said the militia fighters also clashed with troops protecting the president’s residence, shelling the building after having seized several armoured vehicles parked in front of it.

via Middle East – Shiite militiamen seize Yemen presidential palace – France 24.

Tests reveal H5N1 in Israeli turkeys, four countries report other strains | CIDRAP

{Will resist joke about Israeli turkeys and their upcoming elections – but too many have been looking the other way or have had heads in sand hoping that global trade in live chicks of ducks, turkeys, geese, chickens, quail did not

blow up in their our faces. Problem has now come home to roost and attempts to “blame” wild birds will not fly!}

Israel outbreak details

Israel’s agriculture ministry said tests have confirmed H5N1 as the cause of an outbreak at a turkey farm in Haifa, the largest city in the northern part of the country, according to a Jan 18 report to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The event began on Jan 14 at a fattening facility, with deaths occurring in 5 of the farm’s 13 pens. Of 141,000 susceptible birds, the illness sickened 30,000 of them, killing 15,000.

via Tests reveal H5N1 in Israeli turkeys, four countries report other strains | CIDRAP.

Kelp Losing Their Grip on the Seafloor : Image of the Day

No denying this –

kelp in trouble! Cool, subarctic waters once bathed Tasmania’s east coast, but warmer waters (as much as 2.5°C (4.3°F) warmer) have brought invasive species that feast on giant kelp. Compounding the matter, the overfishing of rock lobsters has removed a key predator of the long-spined sea urchins that feed on kelp. The ecosystem’s newly protected status could help curb overfishing and restore the lobsters, which would help diminish the threat from sea urchins.

For now, researchers are continuing to use Landsat to monitor the kelp forests and establish trends may shed more light on what is happening off of Tasmania and California. Through a project known as “Floating Forests,” they have enlisted citizen scientists to help understand the decline in kelp. To learn more about how to participate in the proj

via Kelp Losing Their Grip on the Seafloor : Image of the Day.

Dangerous comments by pope on freedom of expression – Reporters Without Borders

Pointing to Alberto Gasparri, an aide who organizes his travel, the Pope said: “If my good friend Dr. Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch. It’s normal. It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.”

via Dangerous comments by pope on freedom of expression – Reporters Without Borders.

This does not put respect for religious beliefs above freedom of speech – Reporters without Borders reaching on being appalled. Violently insulting or making light of deeply held beliefs has never been fully protected speech.