27 February 2020

Mokuyoubi wa Kimi to Nakitai - author - Kudou Makoto


Kaoru


When I  first read Mokuyoubi wa Kimi to Nakitai (English: I Want to Hold You) at first, it really didn't seem like it was gonna be anything to write home about.  Boy, was I mistaken.  Kudou Makoto left a masterful work.  Now all I have to do is describe the work without completely spilling the beans.  Uh, good luck, Emily.

The very first  words that Kaoru utters  are these, "I have a secret about myself."  You might not notice it at first but there is a prone body next to Kaoru.  This is but one of a long list that impacts the cast. Under each of their bodies lie deep flaws, ones that the people cannot shake.  In fact, Reika (who turns out to be the villain of the story)  has devoted an entire chapter to this.  Snively Whiplash she ain't.  Is she 'virtuous'?  No, not by a long shot.  But you can feel empathy for her, even as she performs some truly despicable acts.

The one person who has spent the longest time with Kaoru is Senmitsu.  In a sense, he can know the secrets Kaoru and Reika have.  But he has flaws himself, deep flaws.  Years back, he witnessed the death of Kairi, twin sister of Kaoru, as well as the devastating impact on their family, particularly the mother.  And on himself, though he is loath to admit it.

And the third person is Chiaki.  After saving Kaoru's life from an oncoming train, Chiaki and Kaoru get to know one another.   At first, Kaoru is a bit of a pain to Chiaki.  He doesn't understand how people can treat their own lives so frivolously,  But he can relate because his mother is treated so badly by his father. 

Well, I think I've gone as far I can without spilling too many beans,  But I do hope you'll read Mokuyoubi wa Kimi to Nakitai. I think you'll find it well worth it.

civil rights - Transgender advocates applaud transfer of detainees, temporary shutdown of criticized ICE facility

Luis Zambrano
TucsonSentinel.com


Milan, NM


please press:  www.tucsonsentinel.com

Vermont - 'If I get killed, it's not going to be an accident': Progressive family in VT faces threats, vandalism

Ryan Mercer
Burlington Free Press


Enosburg Falls, VT


please press:  www.burlingtonfreepress.com


lead story - Young, transgender and fighting a years-long battle against suicidal thoughts

Natalie Pate
Statesman Journal


Portland, OR


please press:  www.statesmanjournal.com

Donald Trump - The 31 wildest lines from Donald Trump's self-congratulatory coronavirus press conference

Chris Cillizza
CNN


White House Briefing Room


please press:  www.cnn.com  

26 February 2020

civil rights - Iowa bill to end transgender civil rights protections is dead

Press
NBC News


ezs note:  He's dead, Jim!


please press:  www.nbcnews.com

Idaho - Idaho Lawmakers Hear Tearful Testimony On Transgender Therapy Bill

James Dawson
Boise State Public Radio


Caldwell, ID



ezs note: Idahoans - If you aren't able to make it to the state Capitol, don't fret.  Call your state representative AND your state senator and tell them to say NO to these bills.  Thanks.  

lead story - Missouri bill would restrict transgender athletes to play on sports teams matching gender assigned at birth

Andrew Havranek
KY3


Lewis County Courthouse
Monticello, MO


please press:  www.ky3.com

ezs note:  If you live in Missouri, and you are a transgender athlete, ally, friend, or parent,  please call up your state representative AND state senator and tell them to defeat this idiotic bill.  Thanks.

Donald Trump - Trump in India: Anti-Muslim prime minister puts on a big show, bamboozles our president

Heather Digby Parton
Salon


Sardar Patel Stadium
Motera, India


please press:  www.salon.com

25 February 2020

civil rights - Transgender woman killed in Puerto Rico after using women's bathroom

Tim Fitzsimons
NBC News


Toa Baja, Puerto Rico


please press:  www.nbcnews.com

 ezs note:  As of now, police have been unable to find Neulisa (Alexa) Luciano Ruiz's killer.  If you have any information, please call the Puerto Rican police. Thank you. 

ezs note:  (Español) A partir de ahora, la policía no ha podido encontrar al asesino de Neulisa (Alexa) Luciano Ruiz. Si tiene alguna información, llame a la policía puertorriqueña. Gracias.

lead story - Brazilian transgender dancer shatters Carnival parade taboo

Donald Trump - 'Dark Towers', auth. David Enrich

23 February 2020

How to vote!



ezs note:  This is a handy-dandy little blog where you can register to vote!  It's called vote.org.  Just press the button, and soon you'll be on your way!  After you're done, please let me know at thoreaugreen@gmail.com.  Just do a quickie, 'I'm gonna vote!'  Thanks.


Zambia - Intersex Activist in Zambia Sheds Light on Misunderstood Group

Prudence Phiri
Global Press Journal


Lukasa, Zimbabwe


please press:  globalpressjournal.com

civil rights - 'Cruel, Inexcusable': Bloomberg 2019 Comments on Trans Rights Come Under Fire

Mississippi - Center for LGBT community opens in Tupelo

lead story - Bridging Divides: A transgender lawyer brings her message to Sioux Falls

Donald Trump - Justice Sotomayor warns the Supreme Court is doing special favors for the Trump administration

Ian Millhiser
Vox


Justice Sonia Sotomayor


please press:  www.vox.com

22 February 2020

Switzerland - Two Swiss cities to introduce transgender toilets in schools

Press
thelocal.ch


Aigle, Switzerland


please press:  www.thelocal.ch

civil rights - Trans 101 breaks down transgender stereotypes

New Jersey - LGBTQ education is now mandatory in New Jersey schools. Here's how teachers are preparing

Melanie Burney
Post-Bulletin


Hinchman-Lippincott House
Haddon Heights, NJ


please press:  www.postbulletin.com

lead story - Teenage transgender row splits Sweden as dysphoria diagnoses soar by 1,500%

Richard Orange
The Guardian


Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle of Breitenfeld
J. Walter, 1632


please press:  www.theguardian.com

ezs note:  When the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment (somewhat analogous to the American Medical Association) was asked by the government to offer its thoughts,  it was a sobering moment.   My own thoughts about this debacle are this:  although newspapers offer a compelling voice, it might be best to read scientific journals as well, even if only the summary is read.  Also, go by the consensus,  rather than what any individual doctor might say.  She or he might have a valid viewpoint but might also hold a colored viewpoint.  I'm not saying that this doctor holds a strident agenda, just that the body of doctors tends to offer a more thoughtful view.

Donald Trump - America's Parasite

Maureen Dowd
The New York Times


...Washington is burning.
Maureen Dowd


please press:  www.nytimes.com

21 February 2020

How to vote!



ezs note:  This is a handy-dandy little blog where you can register to vote!  It's called vote.org.  Just press the button, and soon you'll be on your way!  After you're done, please let me know at thoreaugreen@gmail.com.  Just do a quickie, 'I'm gonna vote!'  Thanks.

Poland/France - French Saint-Jean De Braye breaks town twinning with Polish Tuchów over homophobia

Aseniya Dimitrova
The Mayor.eu


Tuchów, Poland


please press:  www.themayor.eu


civil rights - Human Rights Campaign says Bloomberg should apologize for comments about transgender people

Rebecca Klar
The Hill


Human Rights Campaign
Washington DC


please press:  thehill.com

Rhode Island - Israeli transgender activist, Michael Alroy to Speak at URI

lead story - Garland man accused of killing transgender woman now faces enhanced capital murder charge

Donald Trump - Donald Trump's fundamentally un-American 'Parasite' critique

Chris Cillizza
CNN


Parasite
(revised Romanization: Gisaengchung)


please press: www.cnn.com 

20 February 2020

How to vote!




ezs note:  This is a handy-dandy little blog where you can register to vote!  It's called vote.orgJust press the button, and soon you'll be on your way!  After you're done, please let me know at thoreaugreen@gmail.com.  Just do a quickie, 'I'm gonna vote!'  Thanks.

Pakistan - In a first: Transgender woman represents Pakistan at UN

Press
The Express-Tribune


United Nations


please press:  tribune.com.pk

ezs note:  Wow!  Congratulations, Aisha! 

civil rights - Letters To The Editor (transgender rights)

New York - The Walking While Trans Ban Is ‘Stop and Frisk 2.0’

Karina Piser
The Nation.


Riverside Church
New York City, NY (Manhattan)


please press:  www.thenation.com

lead story - Bloomberg referred to transgender people as 'some guy wearing a dress' in 2019 remarks

Paul LeBlanc
CNN


Uh, goodbye Mike...



please press:  www.cnn.com

Donald Trump - Roger Stone Is Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Prison

Sharon LaFraniere
The New York Times


E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse
Washington DC


please press:  www.nytimes.com

19 February 2020

Nepal - LGBTQ people to be counted in Nepal's census for the first time

Gopal Sharma, Annie Banerji
The Christian Science Monitor


Kathmandu, Nepal


please press:  www.csmonitor.com

civil rights - The battle over gender in Flagler Schools

Jonathan Simmons
PalmCoastObserver.com


Palm Coast, FL


please press:  www.palmcoastobserver.com

ezs note:  It's true that Charlene Cothran has the right to show up and speak... but you do too!!!  Don't let hers be the only one.  



Alabama - Alabama Democrat calls for mandatory genetic testing of all public school student-athletes

Sean Ross
Yellowhammer News


Birmingham, AL


please press:  yellowhammernews.com

ezs note:  Oh, Lordy.  While it's true that the lions' share of noodleheads are Republicans, we mustn't forget that some Democrats are, *ahem*, a bit daft.  

lead story - LDS Church publishes new handbook with changes to discipline, transgender policy

Peggy Fletcher Stack, David Noyce
The Salt Lake Tribune


Salt Lake City, UT


please press:  www.sltrib.com

Donald Trump - Trump Offered Assange Pardon if He Covered Up Russian Hack, WikiLeaks Founder’s Lawyer Claims

18 February 2020

Kosovo - ‘Une jam vete grua’ puts trans reality center stage

Eve-Anne Travers
Prishtina Insight


Prishtina, Kosovo


please press:  prishtinainsight.com

civil rights - In Connecticut, Do Transgender Women Have the Right to Play?

Colorado - Colorado Democrats block effort to ban transgender girls from participating in female sports

lead story - Parents Sue Madison Schools Over Transgender Policy

Todd Richmond
US News and World Report


Madison, WI


please press: www.usnews.com

ezs note:  Uh, yeh.  There was a certain relation of mine whom I loved dearly, but who had literature around her house which had the most horrible views of Blacks and Jews.  Sorry, but making babies doesn't give you carte blanche to pass along this garbage. 

Donald Trump - John Bolton breaks his silence after Trump impeachment: 'I knew what I was getting into'

Miranda Bryant
The Guardian


John Bolton


please press:  www.theguardian.com