Book banning is a time-honored expression of hatred and bigotry. The Nazis banned and burned all books by authors with Jewish lineage. In that spirit, although directed at gays and Blacks, Florida school districts removed approximately 300 books from library shelves last school year, according to a list of “removed or discontinued materials” that was quietly released by the state’s education department late last month.
Most were LGBT oriented. Other books include Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer-winning novel “Beloved,” Bernard Malamud’s National Book-winning novel “The Fixer” and Margaret Atwood’s Booker Prize-winning novel “The Testaments.”
In response to an email from NBC News seeking comment on the list and referring to the removed titles as “banned books,” Caily Myers, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education, said, “Florida does not ban books.”
Well that’s good to hear — for a minute there you had us worried.
Jeez Louise, do you ever pass by someone who’s dressed so tastelessly that you think, “That guy should be arrested?” That’s exactly what’s happening in China. The government is proposing a law that could result in jailtime for “wearing clothing in public that is detrimental to the spirit of the Chinese people and hurts the feelings of Chinese people.” E.g., last year, the police in the eastern city of Suzhou temporarily detained a woman for wearing a kimono. Last month in Beijing, security guards cracking down on expressions of gay pride stopped people dressed in rainbow-themed clothes from entering a concert. Just last week the police in Shenzhen scolded a man who was livestreaming in a miniskirt. “A man wearing a skirt in public, do you think you’re positive energy?!” the police yelled at the man.
Do you? Answer me!! Oops, I may be getting caught up in it.
Wait, Phil — this guy’s not Chinese — you’re going to have to go back.
The song Joanne by Lady Gaga was in the puzzle today. It was new to me. If it’s new to you too, brace yourself — it’s a heartbreaker.
In the puzzle today, there were four long answers that answered a question by saying “I don’t know” while actually giving the answer. For example, the first question was “What is GOLF in the NATO alphabet?” and the answer was GEE, I DON’T KNOW. (Get it? Golf is G.) Similarly, for the question “Can you say what nyet is Russian for?” the answer was NO, LET ME THINK.
The third was “Where does oil come from?” with the answer WELL , YOU GOT ME, and the last was “What isle is located between Ireland and Great Britain?” The answer was MAN, THAT’S HARD.
But the best one was off the grid, suggested by commenter egsforbreakfast:
“What’s flushed down the Pope’s toilet?” Holy crap, I have no idea.
He also came up with these two:
“What does a cook do before boiling corn?” Shucks, I don’t know.
“Who died for our sins?” Christ, I haven’t a clue.
The football gods have long considered the Jets their plaything, but this year’s early fiasco is especially cruel. Damn you football gods!
At 52D, “Kind of earring,” was HOOP.
Phil — those are way too big — dial it down a notch, what’s wrong with you?
Much better.
If you thought Republican Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin might be a reasonable moderate, he wants you to know he can be just as bad as the rest of them when it comes to trampling on innocent transgender kids to score political points with morons. He pardoned a man, Scott Smith, who was convicted of disorderly conduct at a hearing at which he was claiming his daughter was assaulted in a high school restroom by a boy wearing a skirt. At the meeting, Smith was arrested after he clenched his fist and leaned towards a woman during an argument. Deputies had to drag him to the ground. His anti-trans claims made him a darling of the right and Youngkin wanted a ride on that train.
As it turned out, Smith’s daughter had had a consensual relationship with the boy, and he was not transgender.
Good night, everybody. See you tomorrow.
The Wellington Files 