Radio Free California Episode 2126, ranting about a transgender weightlifter, cheap shots and Arkansas.

 

A solid week this week, featuring Tom Morello, Kings of Convenience, Harry J Hart, Weezer, Francis Lung, The Killers with BRUUUUCE, Grey Daze and so much more. Even I make an appearance this week! Enjoy!

Here is the listing of this week’s artists, twitter handles unless otherwise marked:

@JONSSON_guitar
@HarryJHartMusic
@therealgreydaze
@sleepingisalice
@animeraider (hey, that’s me!)
@T2Hughes
@Kings_of_C
@ColaBoyy with @nicolasgodin
The Mountain Movers (I couldn’t find a social media presence for them – but they’re signed to @trouble_in_mind records)
@FrancisLung
@catenarywires
@AmyHelmMusic
Novelcreativeintl (Instagram)
Madskyrecords (Instagram)
Joe Jackson (and frankly I would have been surprised to see him on social media)
@toddrundgren
@tmorello with @BloodyBeetroots and @anatijoux
Iamhillhunter (Instagram)
@thekillers with @springsteen
Darkride82 (Instagram)
@Weezer
@TReflectors

Thjs week's controversy du jour (so far) appears to be about a weightlifter in New Zealand who has qualified for the Olympic Team as a Trans female Weightlifter. Here's the actual post from well-known bigot Lauren Boebart:

Laurel Hubbard, the NZ athlete in question, transitioned EIGHT YEARS AGO. She has competed as female her entire adult career. Although eligible, she didn't make the team in 2016. She is currently not even ranked in the top 20 in world standings in her weight class. Neither is Sarah Robles. There is no advantage. They both need to beat Wang Zhouyu of China (Ranked #1), Kim Un-ju of North Korea (#2), Tamara Salazar of Ecuador (#3) and a slew of others. What has been done here is a cherry-picking of the facts to support a bias against trans people as a whole.

That last paragraph is how I replied on social media. I'm sure to get hate mail over it - I certainly get it for less. But let me also point out that Ms. Hubbard didn't take anyone's slot - she qualified as the only person competing in her weight class for NZ. She is also recovering from an injury, haven broken her arm in a competition in 2017 attempting to lift a weight some of the people ranked higher than her have long since cleared.

Ms. Hubbard has no advantage here. She is on about equal footing with everyone else in her lift class, including Ms. Robles of team USA.

It's an easy trap to fall into, the male body vs. female body ideal, and a bigot like Boebart will certainly exploit it. 

Finally, I will point out that the rules about transgender athletes participating in the Olympics were established in 2003 - nearly 20 years ago. This is the first time any athlete has made it. Seems to me that the idea of an unfair advantage is exactly the same as Boebart: a pile of bullshit..

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Cheap shots (arr, it be rum Monday):

FUN FACT: Ammon Bundy is banned from the Idaho State Capitol.

And on the updated release of Scanners...

Tucker Carlson, snitch.

And because I love you, you should meet the next (hopefully) Governor of Arkansas: