Jonathan Joss, 'King of the Hill' actor, dies in a shooting at 59

There’s no such thing as an “alpha male.” It’s a false myth with no bases in biology or science. That fact, however, hasn’t stopped the pseudoscience behind a natural dominance hierarchy among men from spreading like a virus through our media culture.

When we feel politically helpless, we turn to 'subversive' entertainment. But winning within the realm of pop culture is a poor substitute for political power.

Archived version: https://archive.is/IuhnQ

A PBS-affiliated television station in New York has scrubbed its archives of at least three educational programs concerning transgender identities and drag expression. This comes during a time when President Donald Trump is targeting news stations — particularly PBS, NPR, and ABC News — for their allegedly biased criticism of him.

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/22889416

How to Fire J.K. Rowling: a guide to ethical engagement with Harry Potter

Personal note: This is not really news for anyone who is familiar with the TERF Supreme, but if anyone needs a concise write-up of her rampant bigotry, here is one.

The first castle of Bonaguil was built in the 13th century above a natural grotto which was incorparated into the dungeons of the castle (and still exists today). The castle's owners fought on the side of the English in the Hundred Years War and the castle was heavily damaged and changed owners several times.

It came into the possession of the wealthy Bérenger de Roquefeuil who was in a bitter rivalry with the French king. In defiance of the French king's orders, Bérenger used his wealth to heavily fortify the castle in the 15th century. The fortifications were so extensive that the castle was considered "unconquerable" for an army at the time. Several defensive rings and a complicated layout made it very hard for attackers to even approach the castle's gates. Yet it was never sieged and quickly lost its strategic relevancy.

Unlike other castles, it was largely left alone during the French Revolution and remained mostly intact, though some parts of the castles were neglected over the centuries. Still, it was considered such a prime example of a late Medieval castle that it was extensively studied, most famously by the French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and the British archeologist Thomas Edward Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia (before his time in the Arabian peninsula).

Against the backdrop of Trump’s anti-DEI agenda, Hollywood is seeing a resurgence in anti-woke conservative programming. Producers say reactionary politics will hurt an industry already in crisis.

Archived version without paywall: https://archive.is/cmc9D

The Buffalo shooter says he was radicalized by memes.

An exciting moment in queer theatre.

Mark Brown, who posts game explainers to his Game Maker’s Toolkit channel, says his persona has been plagiarized.

Archived version without paywall: https://archive.is/Zn3PQ

The site of Aigues-Mortes (the name translates to "Dead Water") was already of interest in the Roman era: Located in the Camargues, the estuary of the Rhône river, it was used a saline since the Neolithic era. Legend says that the first settlement was founded in 102 BC by the Romans, but there is no surviving evidence of that claim. Carolus Magnus erected the first fortifications in the location in the 8th centuries which survive until today.

The settlement was heavily fortified in the 13th century when the French kings wanted a Mediterranean port under their direct control. As such Aigues-Mortes became the starting point of crusades under French leadership. The walls of the city were constructed at the same time.

Due to the shift of the marshland around it, Aigues-Mortes lost and regained its access to the sea several times. Nonetheless it lost its strategic importance when the French kings gained direct control of the Provence and thus could make use of the much bigger ports of Marseille and Toulon. The town survived due to the salines in its vicinity and remained largely unchanged for centuries.

South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has identified a sweeping number of unfair contract terms used by major webtoon and web novel content providers, including clauses allowing for the unauthorized production and use of derivative works such as films and dramas without proper consent from creators.