This is one of those deaths that it's awfully hard to feel really, well, anything about. The Daily Mail is reporting that one hostage died, but it's unknown how. I'd rather keep that person in my thoughts than this guy.

I think that's slightly simplistic. I've met people who care a lot. The problem is not lack of caring. It's a deeply ingrained belief that they cannot be effective. They believe the forces that align against them are simply too rich, too powerful, too entrenched to ever really be removed. What can a person who wishes…

There really isn't anything funny about this. This is a disturbed person who clearly needs assistance and is not getting it. There's also a wife and kids involved who are at risk.

Usually they earn the bulk of their income through speaking engagements and nonprofit advocacy. Speaking engagements are tough for controversial people - what with the expected death threats and extra security and all. And nonprofits don't want to taint themselves with associations with radicals. Look at what's…

My guess is that he is probably already contemplating his career post-White House, and he does not want to jeopardize that by appearing too extreme on any issues at all.

That's because politics breeds cowardice. Obama knows the same as Johnson that big ideas are radical, and radicalism is not conducive to politics. You'd think that being a lame duck would have sharpened his resolve, but no. Johnson was largely only moved to boldness when the bodies of various black and white men,…

The truly messed up thing is that everything he is discussing is fixable. Last night I was able to stream a meeting where a bunch of religious leaders met to try to discuss Ferguson and the overall really lousy climate in the US right now for people of color and the poor. And one of them made an incredible point about…

I think that the Catechism isn't a part of it, but it doesn't help. Most Christian denominations take a different view of clergy than Catholics. In Catholicism, the priest is essentially understood to be standing in the place of Jesus and/or his apostles in religious matters. That isn't the case in many denominations.…

I'm glad that Trinh is okay and that he has personally been able to forgive. That's important for him, and I'm very happy that he has been able to move on.

If I am conflating race, then please explain what I asked you expressly before - why does every single major medical organization doing blood, tissue and organ donations stand behind racial sorting and talks about science backing it up? Either you believe that there is a vast racist conspiracy across the whole of the…

No, you've missed the point. Blood, like marrow and tissue, contains the genetic profile of the donor. The closer that profile can be to the recipient, the lower the risk of rejection or other complications. In addition, people of similar racial backgrounds are far more likely to have similar profiles of antibodies,…

Uh...what part of my argument could even be construed as racist? Pointing out that the best donor materials for black people will come from other black people is racist? That's amazing. but since you asked, genius, here:

I think the point is whoosing by your head. There's actual evidence that racial blood sorting makes some sense. Black people who receive their blood donations from black donors have documented lower rates of complications then those who receive from donors of a different race, even when controlling for blood type.…

My understanding is that injectable drugs are okay if they are prescribed by a doctor. However, a trans person who ordered hormones online and injected them that way would be disqualified, but a diabetic who was prescribed insulin and self-injects is not. And illegal drug users are absolutely out.

That's not totally true. Scientifically, people are far less likely to have adverse transfusions effects when the blood they receive comes from a person of the same race as them. An African American will be less at risk of adverse events when the blood comes from another African American, thus encouraging donations…

Can you lie? Sure can. However, I believe they maintain some kind of database to see if you've ever been deferred before. I was honest once and am on the lifetime ban list. Want to know why? When I first met my husband, he was a heroin user. He stopped within a few months of us dating, but when they asked me if I had…

One of my good friends is a gay man who lies to donate. He justifies it by saying that because he is black (black donors are in high demand) and his blood type is not all that common and he's been in a committed relationship for 7 years and has been repeatedly tested for diseases, he thinks the little lie is…

And yet, somehow, there are still people who defend him. At this point, I think we're a bit beyond skepticism. This is charging full on into "impossible to not believe" territory.

Well, let us look on the bright side. At least she did not take the occasion to accuse the HPV vaccine of causing any more brain damage in young girls. I think that was the defining moment of her, for me, at least.

If you currently have insurance, there is a good chance it will be free. The ACA requires all private insurers and public plans to cover 100% of the cost of FDA-approved BC. There are still plans that are being grandfathered in, though, so you should probably check just to make sure.