Another woman marked out for silencing:

As a self-styled witch, Dr Alice Tarbuck offers online Tarot card readings for £50 an hour and courses in how to embrace the ‘magic’ in everyday life. Her freelance lessons run throughout the year and are described as ‘perfect for anyone with an interest in the history, ethics and practice of witchcraft’. But the rest of the time the author and poet has another role – as a ‘literature officer’ for controversial arts quango Creative Scotland, currently at the centre of a political firestorm.

…

Her role was to provide backing for writers as part of Creative Scotland’s mission to help people and organisations to ‘make work of quality and ambition that enriches

… Read the rest

The courts are forcing people to lie on pain of arrest and/or massive fines.

A podcast episode of Hoss and Hopf had to be deleted by court order because the moderators called a trans-identified man “a man” and used male pronouns to refer to him. The podcasters may be facing potential prison time or a fine of up to €250,000.

Germany thinks men who pretend to be women are the Jews. Nuh uh. The people being punished for not saying men are women are the Jews. (Not literally, obviously, but in the sense of being the party that is being treated like scum.)

In the controversial podcast episode, the hosts discussed the case of Laura Holstein, formerly known as Nicolas.

… Read the rest

Is it bonkers to ban outdoor smoking?

Keir Starmer is on a collision course with the hospitality industry and political opponents after signalling plans for major curbs on outdoor smoking.

The proposals, not denied by the prime minister, would potentially prohibit tobacco use outside pubs and restaurants, including on pavements. The restrictions would come on top of existing plans to gradually outlaw smoking year by year.

While the latter proposal was devised under Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives argued restrictions on outdoor smoking were about “social control”, with Priti Patel – among those standing to replace Sunak as Tory leader – calling them “beyond stupid”.

Well let’s wait a minute here. Lots of restrictions are about social control, because that’s … Read the rest

I just want to underline this trendy new brand of feminism.

What she says:

I’m so baffled by terfs – trans exclusionary radical feminists. I don’t understand how anyone takes them seriously when they’re so fucking ugly.

How much more feminist can you be?… Read the rest

Thanks Mr Menno.

https://twitter.com/MrMennoTweets/status/1829489159607894507… Read the rest

Ah yes the “sex workers” – especially the ones who happen to be children. Julie Bindel in Al Jazeera:

In recent decades, so-called “sex workers’ rights” campaigners working to decriminalise pimping and buying of sex have attached themselves, just like trans rights activists, to the movement for the rights of same sex attracted people. This was a logical – and highly beneficial – move on their part. Being seen as part of a proud, widely-respected social justice campaign undoubtedly helps their efforts to perpetuate the myth that “sex work is work” and “prostitution is liberating”. 

One of the more…er…surprising moments of the hostile divorce between Freethought Blogs and me was when Greta Christina and her enforcers labeled me a … Read the rest

These eight incredible Canadian Women, Elle Canada exclaims, then promptly goes on to reveal that #1 and #3 are men (while #2 sports a tight bandage over her hair and neck because Islam is such a women-friendly religion).

Quadruple threat Vivek Shraya is all the things: musician, writer, actor and artist. Last year, she debuted her Canadian Screen Award-winning CBC web series, How to Fail as a Popstar, which is based on her own adventures growing up in Canada and trying to make it big and become the world’s first trans, brown Madonna. Shraya is also the founder of the award-winning imprint VS. Books, which offers publishing opportunities to emerging BIPOC writers. Meanwhile, her last book, 2022’s 

… Read the rest

It’s almost as if this controversy isn’t medical at all but purely political.

‘Witch-hunt’: BMA tries to identify who leaked planned opposition to Cass review

The British Medical Association (BMA) has been accused of undertaking a “witch-hunt” to try to identify which senior figure leaked that it was set to oppose the landmark Cass review on transgender healthcare.

It has warned its ruling council’s 69 members that whoever tipped off the media about its stance should own up or face their non-cooperation being seen as “an act of dishonesty”. Critics said its action is “disgraceful”, “Orwellian” and “witch-hunt-like”.

In other words not medical, not technical, not about evidence or argument, but a matter of loyalty and commitment. Politics rather than … Read the rest

Not vulgar enough yet? He can do more!

Donald Trump has reposted a crudely misogynistic comment about Kamala Harris on Truth Social in a move that reprised his past record of sexist behaviour and brazenly flouted pleas from members of his own party to emphasize issues over personal attacks.

With fresh polls showing Harris further improving her standing – and widening the gap with her opponent among women voters – Trump drew online opprobrium by sharing a vulgar post on his social media site implying that the Democratic nominee owed her political rise to sexual favours.

Trump is a rapist, and proud of it, while he tries to pretend to believe that Harris is that other thing. Your basic good … Read the rest

Photographic confirmation – Trump grinning and poking his thumb up at Arlington National Cemetery.

There is no greater sacrifice than giving one’s life in defense of our country. It was my solemn privilege to stand alongside the family of Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover at Arlington National Cemetery today as we paid tribute to his legacy and the 12 others who lost their lives… pic.twitter.com/tR6dhpMYsB

— Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox (@GovCox) August 26, 2024

… Read the rest

Oh COME on.

The erasure of women goes against everything Islam stands for.

I stand in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan. https://t.co/fs4421dFjp

— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) August 28, 2024

Really? Really? Because Islam famously stands for women’s rights and women’s visibility and women’s non-erasure?

On what PLANET you woman-hating goon?… Read the rest

Is it goodbye Don at last?

Democrat Kamala Harris has surged ahead of Republican Donald Trump, 48%-43%, a new USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll found.

The findings reflect an eight-point turnaround in the presidential race from late June, when Trump had led President Joe Biden in the survey by nearly four points.

…

“I think people are cautiously optimistic that they’re going to have a lot better chance with Harris than they would have had with Biden going head-to-head with Trump,” said Amy Hendrix, 46, of Fort Worth. An independent who usually votes Democratic, she was among those called in the poll. “I’m very excited to vote for a woman, and that’s just the truth.”

I’m excited to smack Trump in … Read the rest

The Army slaps Trump upside the head.

The US Army issued a stark rebuke of former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign over the incident on Monday at Arlington National Cemetery, saying in a statement on Thursday that participants in the ceremony “were made aware of federal laws” regarding political activity at the cemetery, and “abruptly pushed aside” an employee of the cemetery.

“Participants in the August 26th ceremony and the subsequent Section 60 visit were made aware of federal laws, Army regulations and DoD policies, which clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds. An ANC employee who attempted to ensure adherence to these rules was abruptly pushed aside,” the Army spokesperson said in the statement on Thursday.

“This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate

… Read the rest

The obligatory insult:

https://twitter.com/FaeJohnstone/status/1828872210418712598 Dude is a better woman than women are! Recognize the dude! Male women are the best women!… Read the rest

Aw, gee, look how enlightened and sensitive and generous the man is when he explains why husbands have to beat their wives. It’s interesting, though, that he doesn’t also explain why wives have to beat their husbands, or even say they do have to beat their husbands. Apparently it’s just men who get to do the beating and women who get to be beaten.

Palestinian doctor at Islamic University Of Gaza warns Palestinian husbands not to seriously injure, break wives' bones or damage vital organs. He says men have a right & must beat their wives but: ״Wife-Beating Should Be Therapeutic, Not Vindictive״.pic.twitter.com/4NHmoVlZfK

— Liza Rosen (@LizaRosen0000) October 23, 2023

The purpose of the beating, he says earnestly, is … Read the rest

Any port in a storm:

Today, Rich Lowry, the editor of National Review (the flagship conservative magazine founded by William F. Buckley Jr.), published an article claiming that Donald Trump could win the 2024 election “on character.”

No, really. But bear with me; the headline wasn’t quite accurate.

Trump could beat Kamala Harris, Lowry wrote, not by running on his character but by attacking hers. According to Lowry, you see, one of Trump’s “talents as a communicator is sheer repetition, which, when he’s on to something that works, attains a certain power.”

That’s not a talent though. It may work, but that doesn’t make it a talent. There’s no skill to it. More the opposite – sheer repetition … Read the rest

It’s like kindergarten. As long as someone, somewhere, said ok, that’s all the permission you need. “Sally said I could!” “Sally, like you, is 5 years old.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared a statement from family members of the fallen soldiers honoured at the event, expressing their approval.

“We had given our approval for President Trump’s official videographer and photographer to attend the event, ensuring these sacred moments of remembrance were respectfully captured and so we can cherish these memories forever,” the families said in Trump’s Truth Social post.

But that doesn’t matter. It’s not their cemetery and they don’t make the rules. Their approval doesn’t override federal law.

But that goes against federal policy, an

… Read the rest

Trump and his enablers tried to stage a campaign event at Arlington National Cemetery – in disregard of the fact that Arlington National Cemetery doesn’t allow such events.

I think the reasons for not allowing it are pretty obvious. That’s not what the cemetery is there for. It’s a military cemetery, and it doesn’t want to be used as advertising. It’s very typical of Trump and his underlings not to understand what that even means.

Two members of Donald Trump’s campaign staff had a verbal and physical altercation Monday with an official at Arlington National Cemetery, where the former president participated in a wreath-laying ceremony, NPR has learned.

A source with knowledge of the incident said the cemetery official

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Why does he not get some time in a cell?

A man berated three women [as] “prostitutes” for not wearing traditional Asian dress and [for] putting on make-up, then violently attacked them, a court heard.

Muhammad Hassan, 26, assaulted the victims after spotting them at a petrol station in Bradford.

In a 51-second attack captured on CCTV, Hassan grabbed the driver and slammed her head on to the dashboard of her vehicle. He then grabbed another woman’s hair and punched her in the head before hitting the third woman.

By “traditional Asian dress” the inept reporter means Muslim or Islamic but of course it’s taboo to spell out that this is male religious bullying in action. The religious belief here … Read the rest

I’m amazed.

The Guardian has a great big long piece on childbirth and it uses the taboo word “women” throughout. I could hardly believe what I was reading. Not one single mention of “people who identify as” or “and non-binary people” or just plain “people” where it should be “women.” There are mentions of parents but only where it makes sense, not where it glaringly obviously doesn’t.

“It’s lovely to know other mums hitting the same hurdles as you, so you don’t feel alone,” says Sinead Knights, 38, a travel industry manager from Manchester who did NCT classes in October 2023. She describes them as “a space to share ideas and ask questions and not feel judged” and says

… Read the rest