What's in the news?

[Sara Nilsson]

I saw this one shared on another site.

South Carolina proposes law to block porn on computers sold:
http://boingboing.net/2016/12/19/south-carolina-proposes-law-to.html

South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum.  - James L. Petigru

Again that quote seems oh so appropriate :)

[Anteros]

North Carolina is no longer classified as a democracy: http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/op-ed/article122593759.html

[Lustful Bride]

Famed Afghan Female pilot requesting asylum in the U.S.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/celebrated-afghan-woman-pilot-requests-asylum-in-us/ar-BBxw1wv?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[Lustful Bride]

Fake news leads to Pakistani official issuing nuclear threat to Israel.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/reading-fake-news-pakistani-minister-directs-nuclear-threat-at-israel/ar-BBxxuqc?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15


I half expect a war to start because one government Rick Rolled another one. 

[Sara Nilsson]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38432862

George Michael has passed away age 53.

Fuck this year

[Oniya]

We have lost Vera Rubin as well.

Can this year be over already? 

[Mithlomwen]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38432862

George Michael has passed away age 53.

We have lost Vera Rubin as well.

Can this year be over already?  :'

I....just.....

Fuck this year

^ This. 

It's just like.....ENOUGH ALREADY!

[gaggedLouise]

^ This. 

It's just like.....ENOUGH ALREADY!

Yep, can't think of another year in recent times when so many iconic people have died - and many of them just too early. Or that had so many dreadful acts of terror.

And next year isn't looking to be any better - we all know who comes to town on January 20... 

[Scribbles]

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/26/politics/understanding-unsc-resolution/

Not sure what I make of this personally...

As has already been proven relatively recently, occupying and annexing territories almost never ends well, and so I can understand why so many countries are against the settlements. That said, even if Israel complies and sues for peace with Palestine, I feel as if it'll never be enough; it's hardly a secret that the radicals will settle for nothing less than Israel being wiped off the map.

Sorry for the rant, I'm just tired of hearing of this back-and-forth in general, I can't help but consider what both countries could have accomplished with all the resources and lives wasted over all these years...

[Missy]

There will never be peace there until the people there decide to have it.

[Oniya]

There will never be peace there until the people there decide to have it.

But for just one fleeting moment
The answer seemed so clear
Heaven's not beyond the clouds
It's just beyond the fear

No, heaven's not beyond the clouds
It's for us to find it here

[HairyHeretic]

^ This. 

It's just like.....ENOUGH ALREADY!

Unfortunately not.

Sounds like Carrie Fisher has passed.

[Lustful Bride]

Unfortunately not.

Sounds like Carrie Fisher has passed.

*feels heartbroken*

And so did the Author of Watership Down.


What the fuck is with this year?  Was the Mayan prophecy off by a few years? :(

[Orval Wintermute]

*feels heartbroken*

And so did the Author of Watership Down.

and Rick Parfitt and Liz Smith

What the fuck is with this year?  Was the Mayan prophecy off by a few years? :(

Unfortunately the answer is a bit more mundane, it's just demographics. The Baby Boomers have got to an age where they are increasingly likely to pass away and there are far more famous Baby Boomers than than in the previous generation because of the way media and celebrity have changed. Only another 4 days to go.

There is guy who redid the Sgt Pepper cover with famous people who passed away in 2016, unfortunately in needs updating.

[HannibalBarca]

Carrie was a badass in film and in RL, and she will be missed :/

[Cassandra LeMay]

Many of the celebrities who passed away in 2016 cared deeply for one cause or another.

Perhaps we should all take a moment and look into that.

Not saying you should make a donation. Not saying you should volunteer time or resources.

Just saying that taking a few minutes to look into what the people we considered special stood for outside their music, their acting, their writing might be what they would have wanted us to do.

[Anteros]

NYC Woman Allegedly Stabs Man Who Offered Up Seat on Subway: http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2016/12/i-dont-want-to-sit-next-to-a-black-person-ny-woman-allegedly-stabs-man-who-offered-up-seat-on-subway/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=theroot

Neo-Nazi plans march against Montana Jews: http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/we-can-march-through-town-carrying-high-powered-rifles-neo-nazi-plans-march-against-montana-jews/

Slavery monument in France desecrated with Nazi slogan: http://www.thelocal.fr/20161227/slavery-monument-in-france-desecrated-with-nazi-slogan

Texas man gets off with $1,500 fine for repeatedly molesting 10-year-old girl in church: http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/texas-man-gets-off-with-1500-fine-for-repeatedly-molesting-10-year-old-girl-in-church/

Brave Mom Nearly Dies After Hiking 30 Hours Through Frozen Wilderness To Get Help For Her Family: http://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/1977/Brave-Mom-Nearly-Dies-After-Hiking-30-Hours-Through-Frozen-Wilderness-To-Get-Help-For-Her-Family#1fMORlWHuMXUM3kw.99

[Missy]

This isn't news per se, but relevant to stuff that's been in the news.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina's_congressional_districts

Scroll down to the section on historical districts and tell me the evidence of gerrymandering isn't clear and obvious.

[Anteros]

Largest US police union asks Amazon to pull 'offensive' Black Lives Matter shirt: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/dec/23/amazon-black-lives-matter-police-union-t-shirt

Canadian govt ordered to pay First Nations people $3.3mn to settle 131yo claims: https://www.rt.com/news/372046-canada-first-nations-payment/

Video appears to show Texas police shooting man walking away: https://apnews.com/f1bfe501d8c142e1bcd54251534e46f2

Black Mothers Judged Unfit at Higher Rate than White Mothers in NJ: http://www.wnyc.org/story/black-parents-nj-lose-custody-their-kids-more-anyone-else/

[Wheeler97]

The Associated Press is reporting via their Twitter that Debbie Reynolds, actress and mother of Carrie Fisher, has passed away. They cite her son as the source.

[Trigon]

Im so done with 2016 now. Seriously the worst year ever 

[Iniquitous]

Im so done with 2016 now. Seriously the worst year ever 

Statistically speaking, the next 10 or so years is going to be bad when it comes to death.  The baby boomers are now reaching that age where death comes knocking. Might as well accept it now and prepare for it.

[RedRose]

Statistically speaking, the next 10 or so years is going to be bad when it comes to death.  The baby boomers are now reaching that age where death comes knocking. Might as well accept it now and prepare for it.

Agreed. And as much as we love celebs, family is so much harder to accept.

[Lustful Bride]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-va-hooked-veterans-on-opioids-then-failed-them-again/ar-BBxH3hB?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

More sad news of how the government uses soldiers as wind up toys and then throws them away as soon as the key stops turning.

[Anteros]

U.S. evicts Russians for spying, imposes sanctions after election hacks: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-cyber-idUSKBN14I1TY