What's in the news?

[Sara Nilsson]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/obituaries/ursula-k-le-guin-acclaimed-for-her-fantasy-fiction-is-dead-at-88.html

:( that sucks. At least she got to live a good long life

[Lustful Bride]

Diplomatic incident occurs between China and Sweden over Swedish Book Publisher suddenly being arrested on a train.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/sweden-demands-answers-from-china-over-abduction-of-book-publisher/ar-AAv5IY8?li=AA4Zpp&ocid=spartandhp&ffid=gz

They may make him disappear, but the pen far outclasses any bullet.

[Sara Nilsson]

Partial victory

http://www.9news.com/mobile/article/news/satanic-temple-beats-missouri-in-showdown-over-abortion-rights/63-511231989

While no ruling has been handed down so far this did happen

According to a press release from the Satanic Temple, in an audio recording of the arguments published by the court, Justices of the court asked the State’s representative if, “it’s the position of the State that an ultrasound does not have to be conducted unless a person says they want the opportunity to hear the fetal heartbeat.”

Missouri’s Solicitor General Sauer affirms that the State’s interpretation of statute (MO Rev Stat § 188.027) is that women only be offered the “opportunity,” to have an ultrasound and listen to the fetal heartbeat, and if a woman declines hearing the audio, the ultrasound need not be performed and the requirement has been satisfied.

The whole having to see the ultrasound and listen to the heartbeat as a must is BS and I am so glad the Satanic Temple is standing up against it. GO us!

[TheVillain]

Partial victory

http://www.9news.com/mobile/article/news/satanic-temple-beats-missouri-in-showdown-over-abortion-rights/63-511231989

While no ruling has been handed down so far this did happen

The whole having to see the ultrasound and listen to the heartbeat as a must is BS and I am so glad the Satanic Temple is standing up against it. GO us!

It's probably because they know that the whole hoop system they have set up is legally BS and it's better to retract a little now so it has a chance of still standing later.

[Caeli]

https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/24/us/larry-nassar-sentencing/index.html

"(CNN) Once a world-renowned sports physician treating America's foremost Olympic women gymnasts, Larry Nassar now will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The disgraced former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison, a judge announced Wednesday, after more than 150 women and girls said in court that he sexually abused them over the past two decades.

[...] The sentence brings to an end a wrenching seven days of victim impact statements as part of Nassar's plea deal.

A total of 156 victims spoke, recounting similar stories of how they went to Nassar to receive treatment for sports injuries only to be sexually assaulted and told it was a form of treatment.

[...]

"Sexual abuse is so much more than a disturbing physical act," Kyle Stephens, the first victim to speak, said last week. "It changes the trajectory of a victim's life, and that is something that nobody has the right to do."

But the women also showed remarkable resolve and bravery, staring down Nassar in court and calling out the systems of power that protected him for more than two decades. The victims include some of the most famous Olympic gymnasts in American history, including gold medalist Aly Raisman, as well as athletes at Michigan State University and at USA Gymnastics.

"We, this group of women you so heartlessly abused over such a long period of time, are now a force, and you are nothing," Raisman said. "The tables have turned, Larry. We are here. We have our voices, and we are not going anywhere."

Court officials initially expected 88 victims to speak in court. But that number nearly doubled over the course of the sentencing hearing as more and more women came forward, inspired to speak out by what many called an "army of survivors.""

[Sara Nilsson]

The whole thing has been heartbreaking but the courage these women have shown is an inspiration, and the words of the judge when he complained about how cruel it was for him to hear all this made me actually cheer.  As a survivor myself it has actually helped me too, to see these women stand up to what was done. That is what we need more of, and I hope it will help others to confront their demons.

[Arianna]

The judge's speech was so incredibly powerful. I admire her ability to say what she said...

[RedRose]

Several wounded in the Nutella Riots https://www.thelocal.fr/20180125/nutella-promotion-leads-to-riot-in-french-supermarkets

[Regina Minx]

The judge's speech was so incredibly powerful. I admire her ability to say what she said...

And, of course, there are asshats on social media saying how mean that judge is.

A female judge is criticized for her tone while sentencing to prison a man who molested 150 children. Pretty sure that encapsulated the entire fucking problem with the patriarchy right there.

[Arianna]

And, of course, there are asshats on social media saying how mean that judge is.

A female judge is criticized for her tone while sentencing to prison a man who molested 150 children. Pretty sure that encapsulated the entire fucking problem with the patriarchy right there.

I have to say, I listened to her speech before reading what the guy did, and was thinking that he did not deserve it, no matter his crime.
Then... I read about what he did and that was when I realized that I would never have her strength, but I am so grateful that she had it.

[Oniya]

I'd had the 'fortune' of stumbling across an article about how at least one of his victims was still being billed for 'treatments'.  (The article also said that this is being rectified.)  So I had some sense of how bad it was before the sentencing came down.

[Caeli]

I've listened to a number of the victim impact statements and though I know sexual abuse extends far beyond than the act itself, hearing woman after woman after woman describe the way he violated and broke their trust, took advantage of their innocence and trust in him and his profession, at the mental and emotional and physical aftermath that they have suffered for years...

It's utterly heartbreaking.  I am blown away by how compassionate Judge Aquilina has been - after each statement made by the survivors she has demonstrated that she hears them, emphasizes that they are not at fault and that are strong enough to move forward.  She has truly done all she can to bring the survivors what small amount of closure they can get from facing Larry Nassar in court.

[HairyHeretic]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-42823734

Growing concerns about a possible nuclear war and other global threats have pushed forward the symbolic Doomsday Clock by 30 seconds - to just two minutes before midnight.

Because why not

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qbRHY1l0vc

[gaggedLouise]

And, of course, there are asshats on social media saying how mean that judge is.

A female judge is criticized for her tone while sentencing to prison a man who molested 150 children. Pretty sure that encapsulated the entire fucking problem with the patriarchy right there.

I saw part of her speech, and I do think she overstepped her role as a judge and resorted to some grandstanding for the audience, and not least for the tv cameras and microphones. Saying stuff like "I just signed your death warrant!", emphasizing that the length of the sentence was twice a normal lifetime and using the sentencing to ponder at length about the vengeance that will befall a specially despicable man, even drifting into gleeful fantasies about what it would be like if he could be raped non stop on behalf of his victims, really wasn't that dignified. And she seemed to be making long pauses between every few words to make it drip-drip to theatrical effect. I understand the hefty moral impulse driving her but it did sound like she was standing in for the vengeful Lord and trying to make sure that the guy would live forever in infamy.

A writer in The Atlantic is making some of the same points: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/01/nassar-judge/551456/

[gaggedLouise]

The bottom line is, I don't think a judge should sound like an activist, or as someone more concerned with condemning the person of the criminal and telling him "what a pleasure" it is to lock him up and throw away the key, than discussing the actual crimes and circumstances.

[eBadger]

Mmm.  Consider those words' impact to a parole board some day, considering whether he'd served enough time or if still being in prison despite age or trauma was deserved. 

If the law is intended to dissuade crime, not just to punish it, consider the impact of her words on a weak moral fiber.   

Knowing there are women who haven't come forward about crimes we don't yet know about, consider the impact of her words if they consider it their own fault, or not worth the effort to report, or if they'd be taken seriously. 

A judges role is to interpret the law for the best of society.  They are, without doubt, activists. 

[HannibalBarca]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-42823734

Growing concerns about a possible nuclear war and other global threats have pushed forward the symbolic Doomsday Clock by 30 seconds - to just two minutes before midnight.

Because why not

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qbRHY1l0vc

As relevant as ever...and hey, Up The Irons, too!

[Lustful Bride]

So apparently CNN declares that cuckolding is good for relationships
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/01/25/health/cuckolding-sex-kerner/index.html#ampshare=http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/25/health/cuckolding-sex-kerner/index.html

Now I'm no researcher but I feel that is a terrible thing to say. If you are unhappy with your partner just leave them.

[gaggedLouise]

So apparently CNN declares that cuckolding is good for relationships
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/01/25/health/cuckolding-sex-kerner/index.html#ampshare=http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/25/health/cuckolding-sex-kerner/index.html

Now I'm no researcher but I feel that is a terrible thing to say. If you are unhappy with your partner just leave them.

They're not thinking of simple adultery, but of situations where the man knows that his wife/girlfriend is seeing somebody else, sexually - male or female -. and he actually enjoys being seen as "the fooled one", the discarded one, but where the woman still remains in the marriage. It's an advanced kind of masochist fantasy - "you're not enough of a man to be with me and get to pleasure me, I must find another man". I've met a very few people online who were into it, but honestly it's not something I can get my head around myself. And I don't see how it would be healthy for most marriages.

[Lustful Bride]

They're not thinking of simple adultery, but of situations where the man knows that his wife/girlfriend is seeing somebody else, sexually - male or female -. and he actually enjoys being seen as "the fooled one", the discarded one, but where the woman still remains in the marriage. It's an advanced kind of masochist fantasy - "you're not enough of a man to be with me and get to pleasure me, I must find another man". I've met a very few people online who were into it, but honestly it's not something I can get my head around myself. And I don't see how it would be healthy for most marriages.

Exaclty. They are making one partner feeling lesser as a component of the relationship.

I can understand having harsher kinks but at a certain point too much isn't healthy for people.

[Oniya]

Exaclty. They are making one partner feeling lesser as a component of the relationship.

I can understand having harsher kinks but at a certain point too much isn't healthy for people.

The question is whether both partners were okay with it.  There are some people who like the idea of seeing their spouse with another partner.  There are some people who would enjoy doing this for their spouse.  If Partner A is turned on by it but Partner B is repulsed by it, then it's a problem.  (This can apply to either partner - the 'viewer' or the 'performer'.)  If you want to 'watch', and your partner doesn't want someone else around - strategically placed mirrors are actually very effective.  *cough*

[Mithlomwen]

Olymics panel orders entire gymnastics board to quit. If they don't step down, they will lose their authority as the sport's governing body.

[Orval Wintermute]

Several wounded in the Nutella Riots https://www.thelocal.fr/20180125/nutella-promotion-leads-to-riot-in-french-supermarkets

I heard what is either the best or worst coverage of this on the radio

As news about the riots over the chocolate (long pause) spread....

[Lilias]

Long and extremely uncomfortable, but eye-opening:

http://theweek.com/articles/749978/female-price-male-pleasure

[Sara Nilsson]

Long and extremely uncomfortable, but eye-opening:

http://theweek.com/articles/749978/female-price-male-pleasure

Well worth the read