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| Labu is feeling more than comfortable in his new San Diego home. (taken 4.30.25) |
I really just can't with everything right now. TFG is so off his fucking rocker and the news comes so fast, but at least some people with spines are stepping up, and enough courts and judges and NGOs and NPOs and states and citizens are doing what they can to sue or block insane measures that everyone who warned against Project 2025 said would happen, but people thought so extreme, nobody believed they could or would. We are living in a very tumultuous and fractured era.
At the same time, I've been a step-mom since Darren's bio-kid was in kindergarten, full time since his mom moved out of state when he was in 3rd grade, and now he's officially 18, as of midnight today. I've been going to a ton of graduation adjacent events. He has been accepted to several universities, but is committing to UCSD. He has worked so hard and earned an unbelievable scholarship and opportunity and we are so proud and grateful. There was a graduation ceremony from Cardinals Interact, this incredible all-inclusive tutoring/mentorship/service program he's been a part of through high school. On Wednesday, he also took first place in the Rotary Club's "4-Way Speech" contest for the region, and it was sweet to be there and have my mom there with us for the win. But honestly, keeping a trans kid seeing a future-- any future-- has been the biggest struggle and greatest reward, though every day we still vacillate between the two. So thanks for all the love we've received over the past many years, the patience, the devotion, and the support. I hope to keep this little site going for as long as I'm able, but there might be some blips and bloops in between. We've got some medical stuff coming up, but it's all good news, so if you don't hear from me for a minute, I promise I'll be back. And, this is super awkward, but since some friends have asked, if you'd like to send a gift during this transitional period, you can do so here. #SupportTransKids
- KNOW YOUR RIGHTS:
- How to Protect Yourself From Phone Searches at the US Border - Wired (4.21.25)
- SAN DIEGO LOCALS:
- New Dashboard Tracks South County Water and Odor Pollution - County News Center (4.28.25)
- SAN DIEGO REGIONAL POLITICS:
- San Diego mayor proposes cuts to lake access in budget plan. Lakes Miramar and Murray could go from being open seven days to just two under the proposal. - CBS8 (4.28.25)
- County Ahead of Schedule to Meet State Housing Goals - County News Center (4.23.25)
- Native blue-eyed grass becomes San Diego's official flower - kpbs/CNS (4.22.25)
- ZOO GOSS:
- Four Months Is NOT ENOUGH!!! Man sentenced for illegally trafficking baby spider monkeys across U.S.-Mexico border. Sarmad Ghaled Dafar, 33, was sentenced to four months in custody and 180 days home confinement for smuggling at least six baby monkeys in the U.S. from Mexico
- LA Zoo: LA Zoo to relocate its 2 remaining elephants to Tulsa Zoo - ABC7 (4.22.25)
- San Diego Zoo finally announced the arrival of Labu in their Insider Alert email: "Along Treetops Way, you might notice a shaggy new orange face. We’re honored to welcome Labu, a 14-year-old male Sumatran orangutan, to the San Diego Zoo! As a special member of our family, we wanted you to be among the first to hear the exciting news. You can connect with him on your next visit as he gets to know the other members of the group, enjoys leafy snacks, and climbs and explores high above the ground." - April 22, 2025. He's been on habitat, which was cordoned off from the public for the first couple weeks. I didn't actually finally get to see him until Friday, April 25th, the the barriers had been down the previous weekend. He's super handsome, but it seems Ms Karen has claimed him, though he's here on a breeding recommendation with Aisha. Indah is none too pleased with his presence, and has been using their water faucet to spray to keep him away.
- There was a members event (above my membership level) at the Safari Park, where it was announced that gorillas Paul-Donn and Jessica will be moving from the Zoo to the Park. This has been rumored for years and alluded to for a couple months, since gorilla identifier signage had been taken down for updates several weeks ago. I have no idea of the timeline, but as the zoo is the S-L-O-W-E-S-T on updating signs and that was the first hint for this move, I would actually expect it to happen relatively fast. What that means for the bachelors at the Zoo remains to be seen. Will they get more boys? Will they be outside all day? Will they get to go in during the day but have access outside on their own call? So much to be seen. And I'm here. for. it.
- SEA WORLD GOSS:
- Toxic algae bloom killing dolphins, marine animals - kpbs/City News Service (4.24.25)
- Taco Fest is coming up at Seaworld. This used to be at Golden Hill Park? But anyway, 91X is still sponsoring, but now they're offering Fun Passes to get there this year, but all active memberships can attend with no additional cost, besides, of course, the cost for food. There's so far, no all-inclusive food and drink pass, but if anyone wants to give me one, I'll make sure to represent properly.
- TRANS RIGHTS & GUN FIGHTS:
- A Chicago Hospital Bows to Federal Pressure on Trans Care for Teens - KFF Health News (4.24.25)
- CALIFORNIA NEWS:
- Feathered Finds: California is the Best State for Birdwatching - Lawnlove (4.21.25)
- California Residents Spend the 2nd Highest Percentage of Income on Housing – WalletHub Study - Wallethub (4.23.25)
- Mothers Face Double the Risk of Dying During Pregnancy and Childbirth in States that Ban Abortion: Gender Equity Policy Institute Finds Stark Disparities Between States with Abortion Bans and Those Where Abortion is Legal and Accessible - GEPI (4.23.25)
- OTHER READING:
- The Rise of Bed Rotting: How and Why Americans Are Doing It - Amerisleep (4.2.25)
- US GOVERNMENT DESTRUCTION:
- TFG:
- TFG signs executive actions on education, including efforts to rein in DEI - npr (4.23.25)
- TFG Is Already Ruining Christmas Santa’s helpers are freaking out that steep tariffs on Chinese imports will prevent toys, trees, and decorations from arriving in the US on time for the December holiday.- Wired (4.28.25)
- DOJ:
- Losing DOJ’s Civil Rights Division - Civil Discourse (4.23.25)
- Defending Jan. 6 Rioters, Investigating Democrats: How Ed Martin Is Weaponizing the DOJ for TFG - ProPublica (4.28.25)
- CBP/DHS:
- Federal immigration authorities wrongfully detain U.S. citizens - Popular.info (4.21.25)
- SUPREME COURT:
- LABOR:
- Labor Department Official Warns That Staff Who Speak With Journalists Face “Serious Legal Consequences”. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s chief of staff issued the warning as department employees have spoken to the news media about harms they see resulting from the dismantling of their agency, which enforces laws guaranteeing workers’ rights. - ProPublica (4.23.25)
- INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
- Increases in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks threaten years of progress, warn WHO, UNICEF, Gavi. Agencies call for sustained investments in immunization efforts amidst looming funding cuts - WHO (4.24.25)
- COVID-19/AVIAN FLU/HEALTH/WELLNESS:
- COVID-19: Um, don't expect updated shots this fall.
- AVIAN FLU: Um, study funding is being halted, because eggs are apparently cheaper than ever and the problem completely solved, or fabricated in the first place. (sarcasm. Eggs are still expensive as fuck and also the corporate producers are exploiting Avian Flu for record profits.)
- CRAZY SHIT FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION (HHS | FDA | CDC | NIH | ETC):
- Disease Outbreak News: Measles – Region of the Americas - WHO (4.28.25)
- As Measles Cases Surge, Mexico Issues a US Travel Alert The border state of Chihuahua has recorded 713 confirmed cases, with its outbreak linked to the ongoing cluster of cases north of the border in Texas. - Wired (4.29.25)
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