From March:

Florida’s Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would ban cities and counties from adopting requirements for mandatory water breaks and other workplace protections against extreme heat.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted 28-11, along party lines, to pass Senate Bill 1492, which would prohibit local governments from determining workplace heat standards that go beyond those required by federal law. In effect, the bill would strip cities and counties of the ability to require water breaks for workers and time to rest in the shade throughout the day.

That’s evil. Genuinely, literally evil. Heat kills. Humans are not built to tolerate extreme heat, and they die when they get too hot. They don’t “get used to it” … Read the rest

The Indy reports:

Waterstones has come under fire for sacking a bookseller who claimed she would “tear up and bin” an author’s novel over their gender-critical views.

Their gender-critical views?? Her views. She’s a woman and doesn’t pretend otherwise.

Book influencer and Waterstones employee Tilly Fitzgerald, who uses the TikTok page Tilly Loves Books to share her reviews of novels, was fired after breaching the retailer’s social media policy during an interaction with author Christina Dalcher.

“Book influencer.” Yuck.

Ms Dalcher was subject to Ms Fitzgerald’s criticism after the author appeared to endorse a new publishing network for those “concerned about the impact of gender ideology” and the safeguarding of women’s rights. This prompted Ms Fitzgerald to write on

Trans “activism” adds one more to the body count.

For that I was called a bigot, a transphobe, a nazi, a racist, an ableist, a fascist, cruel, unkind, ignorant, prejudiced and – well you can imagine.

— Ursula Doyle (@suladoyle) July 8, 2024

She’s an editor.

Ursula is the brilliant editor of Material Girls, and someone to whom I will always feel incredibly grateful. She does not deserve any of this. https://t.co/Le53fdNVxy

— Kathleen Stock (@Docstockk) July 8, 2024

The “be kind” set strikes again.… Read the rest

Waterstones has spoken.

We have received some messages about an employee who has been dismissed. This was on the grounds of contravening Waterstones policies and has nothing to do with transgender rights.

— WaterstonesHelp (@WstonesHelp) July 9, 2024

I suppose Waterstones has a policy that covers little pranks like publicly trashing books Waterstones sells.… Read the rest

Another brave activist steps up to tell us all about qrxself.

As I opened the envelope last summer – during the beginning of warmer weather and, aptly, of Pride season – I felt like I was opening the next chapter of my life.

The envelope contained my deed poll – a legal document that proved I changed my name – and receiving it was one of the most joyful and emotional moments of my transition. I identify as non-binary; and the deed poll confirmed my name is – at long last – Dee Whitnell. 

Is that the most exciting thing you’ve ever read or what?

But I haven’t always been able to celebrate my identity in this

Land of liberty.

[C]hild marriage, which activists describe as one or both parties entering a union while under age 18, remains legal in 37 US states. There are no federal laws against it, meaning minors can marry, with parental consent, before they can vote, drink, or buy lottery tickets in the majority of the country. Some states have a minimum marriage age on the books, which ranges from 15 to 18. Four states – California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Mississippi – do not specify any minimum age at all.

So the bride is 3, so what? She has liberty too you know.

In many states, statuatory rape is not a crime within marriage, creating a legal loophole that entices

This happened:

Hey #BookTwitter. I think you hopefully all know I generally try to keep this a positive space, but I can’t really put a positive spin on how I feel right now.

My heart is broken, and I’m so disappointed in a company who won’t forgive a single mistake like this. pic.twitter.com/Bc42FlH45D

— Tilly (@TillyLovesBooks) July 8, 2024

Boohoohoo, all she did was try to bully a novelist for having Non-approved views.

Mind you, I don’t really think she should have been fired for that, at least when I think about it. The novelist in question doesn’t think so either.

But still. There is a certain schadenfreude in seeing it happen.

The novelist is Christina Dalcher.

‘Waterstones Senior

I tried to find the original of this on the Canadian Museum of History website but couldn’t (because I couldn’t figure out how to narrow the search from 4,300 hits). Secondary source will have to do for now.

How backward can you get?

Has anyone ever understood the point of feminism at all???

No, you dumbfux, finding axes in women’s graves doesn’t = anshent peeple new genner idenniny are complikated. Finding axes in women’s graves = it appears that some women used axes.

Yes it’s interesting. Yes it could mean that gender roles weren’t always strictly enforced, or were unlike our ideas of gender roles. It could mean a lot of things of that type. What it’s highly … Read the rest

The Telegraph on the Dodds issue:

Anneliese Dodds, who was appointed on Monday, has been called “nonsensical” for her beliefs on gender.

Two years ago, when she was Labour’s shadow equalities spokeswoman, Ms Dodds said in a BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour radio interview that there are “different definitions legally around what a woman actually is” and, when pressed again, said: “I think it does depend what the context is.”

JK Rowling has hit out at [criticised] Ms Dodds following her appointment.

Reposting a transcript of the interview, Rowling said: “And if you happen to be wondering how I have the transcript of that Woman’s Hour to hand, it was sent to me by Dodds’ office after I publicly

JKR reminds us of Anneliese Dodds’s chat with Emma Barnett on Woman’s Hour two years ago.

Woman's Hour, March 8, 2022

Emma Barnes: And Labour’s definition of a woman?

Annaliese Dodds: Well, I have to say that there are different definitions legally around what a woman actually is. I mean you look at the definition within the Equality Act and I think it just says… https://t.co/su448ikI2V

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 8, 2024

Emma Barnes: And Labour’s definition of a woman?

Annaliese Dodds: Well, I have to say that there are different definitions legally around what a woman actually is. I mean you look at the definition within the Equality Act and I think it just says someone

We need more research, and more and more and more and MORE to find out what we already know. It will take many generations to get at the truth, despite the fact that we already know.

Much more research is needed to determine whether it’s fair or not to allow trans women to compete in the women’s category in sporting competitions, according to a leading scientist.

In an interview with the programme’s presenter, Maxine Hughes, Dr Shane Heffernan, an expert on the physiology of elite athletes at Swansea University, says a bigger sample is needed to determine results, in current and future studies, and encourages more trans people to volunteer.

Yes because we just have no clue, and never have … Read the rest

Sigh.

Starmer “women’s rights are very important to me”

<decides what to do about the Minister for womanny things>

Starmer “Give it Anneliese as a Saturday job”

For. Actual. Fucks. Sake. pic.twitter.com/eegj6rFNWU

— Jean Hatchet (@JeanHatchet) July 8, 2024

So…it’s not just Starmer rushing through the list, it’s a calculated insult and dismissal? “Blah blah blah women, fine, here’s your minister for women; she prefers male women to the real kind also she has another more important job, kthanksbye.”

Dear @Keir_Starmer I think the minister for women & equalities appointment should have gone to the stalwart fighter for women's equality you said you've met with but appear to want to always keep in *background*. Here's a clue from April

The Guardian reported on Friday:

Keir Starmer’s cabinet will have the highest number of state-educated and female ministers in history, as Rachel Reeves became the first female chancellor ever, although ethnic representation has fallen.

That sounds nice but what does it mean? Will the “female ministers” actually be women or will some or most or all of them be men who call themselves women? We don’t know, do we. Labour is adamant that men can be women, as is the Guardian, so we can’t assume that when they say they’re appointing a lot of female ministers they actually mean the “female” part.

The Labour veteran and Britain’s first black female MP, Diane Abbott, will become mother of the house

So that’s it then.

We are so screwed.

Joe Biden’s doctor met with a leading Washington neurologist at the White House this year, it was reported on Saturday.

The report came after Biden on Friday ruled out taking an independent cognitive test and releasing its findings publicly, in an interview with ABC News arranged following his disastrous performance in last week’s presidential TV debate with Donald Trump.

According to White House visitor logs reviewed by the New York Post, Dr Kevin Cannard, a Parkinson’s disease expert at Walter Reed medical center, met with Dr Kevin O’Connor, a doctor of osteopathic medicine who has treated the president for years.

Biden refuses to take a cognitive test.

Later in the broadcast, Biden was asked

Hm. Boy says “I’m gay not queer” and all hell breaks loose.

12-year-old boy has allegedly been referred to counter-terrorism authorities after posting an online video saying “there’s no such thing as non-binary”. The child, who remains unnamed, reportedly created the video to counter bullies who had mistakenly assumed he supported transgender rights. In the footage, he reportedly declares: “[I’m] gay not queer.”

Are people required to say they’re queer now?

According to the boy’s mother, school officials informed her that the video had prompted them to report her son to Prevent, the Home Office programme aimed at thwarting potential terrorists.

Ah. Kid age 12 says he’s gay and the school concludes he’s a terrorist.

The boy’s mother

How can they do both?

The Fawcett Society July 5:

After yesterday’s election, there are more women MPs in our Parliament than ever before. It’s an historic moment, but the work has only just begun.

There is a huge opportunity for this new critical mass to work together, across party lines, to improve the lives of women across the country. 

Drawing on inspiration from the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Senedd and the Scottish Parliament, the Fawcett Society will shortly convene all women MPs to facilitate the launching of a powerful women’s caucus.

Ok, good, but…

There’s their “position on sex and gender” to consider.

In response to recent questions, the Fawcett Society’s position on sex and gender (which we

The youngest MP:

A 22-year-old elected as an MP with a razor-thin majority has said he does not want his age to be the focus as he heads to Westminster.

Labour’s Sam Carling is likely to be the “baby of the House”…

I.e. the youngest, the Beeb helpfully explains.

However, he doesn’t want his age to be a focus. “I want us to get away from this strange mindset towards younger people’s age. As far as I’m concerned we’re just the same as anyone else. I just want to get on with the job.”

Ah well there you are then, demonstrating one of the reasons there is and must be an age threshold for people in government. The younger … Read the rest

In a colder place, Sherpas are picking up garbage left on Mount Everest by climbers. There’s a lot of it.

The highest camp on the world’s tallest mountain is littered with garbage that is going to take years to clean up, according to a Sherpa who led a team that worked to clear trash and dig up dead bodies frozen for years near Mount Everest’s peak.

The Nepal government-funded team of soldiers and Sherpas removed 11 tons (24,000 pounds) of garbage, four dead bodies and a skeleton from Everest during this year’s climbing season.

But there are maybe 40 to 50 tons left.

Since the peak was first conquered in 1953, thousands of climbers have scaled it

It’s warm over here on the west coast.

Extreme heat continues to inflict wide swaths of the U.S. This weekend, the brunt of the hot temperatures is falling on the West Coast and parts of the East Coast.

Afflict, not inflict.

In total, over 132 million people were under some form of a heat warning as of Saturday evening, according to Heat.gov. “These conditions will be extremely dangerous and potentially deadly if not taken seriously,” the National Weather Service said on Saturday.

Human-caused climate change is fueling longer and more intense heat waves, and making dangerously high temperatures more common.

And even now, after all this time to get familiar with hot weather, Seattle people don’t understand air conditioning. Grocery … Read the rest