Critical Crat Theory: When intersectionality intersects with reality

When drug dealers complain about the lack of law enforcement protection, the boomerang has come full circle and hit us in the back of the head.

Gangs of smash-and-grab thieves have targeted cannabis shops in the San Francisco Bay Area while firing 175 shots and stealing about $5 million’s worth of products.  Alphonso “Tucky” Blunt, owner of a legal cannabis shop, criticized poor police protection and the bureaucratic details of business in Oakland: “I was safer, and had more money, [selling] on the street, illegally.”  Such is the economic reality of the Bay area.

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Catholic church sexual abuse must be seen in ‘historical’ context, Pope says

Pope Francis has called for caution in the “interpretation” of a damning report released in October that found as many as 330,000 children may have been sexually abused by clergy and lay members of the Catholic Church in France.

The pontiff said on Monday that the “historical situation” must be framed in context when conducting studies that explore incidents dating back decades. The inquiry behind the report, the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE), examined allegations of sexual abuse of minors in the Catholic church in France from the 1950s to 2020.

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Professor investigated for criticizing ‘pathetic’ students

A British university professor is under investigation after he called a student walkout, which was staged over a guest speaker’s allegedly racist and transphobic address, “pathetic.”

Professor Tim Luckhurst, who heads Durham University’s South College, made the remark when the students walked out during the controversial speech by right-wing journalist Rod Liddle on Friday. He also reportedly shouted “at South College, we value freedom of speech!”

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Sick joke smashes TWO US women’s records in weekend competition and finishes one race 38 seconds ahead of her nearest rival

A trans swimmer and senior at the University of Pennsylvania, who previously spent three years competing as a man, smashed two US records while competing at a weekend contest, sparking fresh claims of unfairness.

On Sunday, Lia Thomas, 22, put in an astounding performance at the Zippy Invitational Event in Akron, Ohio, that saw her finish the 1,650 yard freestyle 38 seconds ahead of her teammate Anna Sofia Kalandaze.

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Biden Administration To Announce Diplomatic Boycott Of Beijing Olympics

The Biden administration is set to announce a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The announcement is planned for this week, while the decision to withhold any official U.S. representation at the games was made several weeks ago, an administration official told the WSJ on Monday. Officials reportedly wanted to keep the decision private until enough time had passed after President Joe Biden’s call with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November.

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Restaurant apologizes for kicking out police officers to maintain ‘safe space’

A San Francisco restaurant has apologized after its staff denied service to three armed police officers, claiming that their weapons made its non-white guests feel threatned.

The three officers were asked to leave ‘Hilda and Jesse’ on Friday – a restaurant located on San Francisco’s upmarket Union Street – with the owners alleging its staff “felt uncomfortable with the presence of their multiple weapons” after seating the officers.

“Our restaurant is a safe space – particularly for queer and bipoc individuals,” said co-owner Rachel Sillcocks in a statement. “We would happily welcome them off duty, out of uniform and without weapons. We’re sorry the decision upset you. We understand your perspective and we hope you’ll understand ours.”

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Afghan Junkies drugging dogs with heroin to be their snuggle buddies

Heroin dogs of Kabul: Shocking photos show homeless Afghan men giving Class A drug to stray mutts so that they stick with them to keep them warm during bitter winter

It’s not uncommon to see men smoking heroin between the blast walls near Shahr-e Naw Wedding Hall in southwest Kabul. Opioid use is prolific in the Afghan capital, despite the Taliban pledging to ban the production of drugs and tackle narcotics addiction under their rule.

But what may be more surprising to those passing through the area is the disturbing sight of heroin being fed to the stray dogs that roam the area.

Ahmad (not his real name) has been smoking heroin for several years, feeding his addiction through a mixture of stealing, begging and collecting plastic bottles for recycling. A mixed-breed stray dog, likely born on the streets of Kabul, lies nearby. Ahmad places a plastic bottle tight over the dog’s nose and blows heroin smoke through the open top. After a few ‘hits’ the subdued dog stands and stares.

Poor dogs.

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GUNTER: Global Affairs Canada’s $3 million tribute to itself

Global Affairs Canada is going to spend $3 million tax dollars on a tribute to itself. I kid you not.

There is already a striking monument to fallen diplomats on an Ottawa parkway near the Champlain Bridge. Instead, the proposed one would “pay tribute to former and current employees and their families and friends who have supported them in their careers.”

Justin should ask Xi to pay for this.

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Black Lives Matter: Don’t buy from White businesses this holiday season

It’s the holiday season again and time to decide where to shop based on people’s skin color — or so says Black Lives Matter.

The group for the seventh year is urging people to boycott stores owned by White people and only to patronize Black-owned businesses.

“When buying items, spend exclusively with Black-owned businesses from Black Friday through New Year,” the group said on its website and Instagram promoting its annual #BuyBlack campaign.

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