SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET: 

A NATION OF CHILDREN? – FROM NATIONAL REVIEW:   Netflix has reportedly banned workers from looking at each other for more than five seconds as part of its new anti-harassment rules.
The new policy also bans the company’s film crews from asking their colleagues for their phone numbers, according to an article in the Sun.  “Senior staff went to a harassment meeting to learn what is and isn’t appropriate,” an on-set runner told the Sun. “Looking at anyone longer than five seconds is considered creepy.”  “You mustn’t ask for someone’s number unless they have given permission for it to be distributed,” the source continued. “And if you see any unwanted behaviour, report it immediately.”  Other new rules include: “Don’t give lingering hugs or touch anyone for a lengthy period of time,” “Don’t ask out a colleague more than once if they have said no,” “Steer clear of a colleague once they have said they are not interested in you,” and “Don’t flirt.” The rules also encourage employees to “Shout ‘Stop, don’t do that again!’ if a colleague has been inappropriate.”  The stench of fascism is in the air.

THE PUPPY CONSPIRACY – FROM THE COLLEGE FIX:   If you’re a dog owner, maybe, just maybe, a couple of things that come to mind when you take ‘ol Spot to the dog park are rape culture and non-heterosexual “performativity.”  What’s that? You don’t consider such things when you’re walking the pup? No worries, then. The Portland Ungendering Research Initiative’s Helen Wilson is here to clue you in.
Her paper, “Human reactions to rape culture and queer performativity at urban dog parks in Portland, Oregon,” discusses the “emerging themes in human and canine interactive behavioral patterns in urban dog parks” in order to gain a better understanding about people’s decisions and “emergent assumptions around gender, race, and sexuality.”  The PhD in feminist studies writes that dog parks are “petri dishes for canine ‘rape culture.’” Never mind that dogs are, y’know, animals. Just go with it.  I feel so enlightened now.

THE REAL WORLD – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:   The city of Paris on Thursday debuted the 10-foot-tall panes of bulletproof glass that’ll partially surround the Eiffel Tower – as part of a plan to protect the landmark against terror attacks.  Parisian authorities approved the $36 million plan to install a wall around the monument in February 2017.  In all, 450 2.36-inch-thick clear panes will make up two walls to the north and south of the tower. The other two sides will be closed by wire mesh grids, meant to match the tower’s design style. Bollards to protect against vehicles will also surround the tourist-attraction.  The glass panes were designed to replace unsightly metal fences and to allow visitors to get a good view of the City of Lights, officials said.  The bulk of the work will be completed by mid-July and finalized by September, Bernard Gaudillère, President of the Eiffel Tower Operating Company told 20 Minutes Paris.  And we in this country don't even protect most of our schools.  The French are just recognizing reality.

June 14, 2018