Random News: June 12, 2022

DISCLAIMER: Zak's Random News is very random and doesn't cover many things, and not everything may be accurate, because I'm just some guy. Go find a real news source.

---

Good morning. It’s June 12, 2022, and it’s a Sunday. Some various things that randomly entered my mind…

• Yesterday, 31 members of a neo-Nazi group called Patriot Front wedged themselves into a U-Haul like white supremacist clowns, and all dressed in the same cute little Nazi costumes and face coverings so they wouldn’t be identified while beating on LGBT people. They were on their way to go fuck up a Pride event in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. A tipster allowed police to pull them over and put an end to their shenanigans.
• Here are all of their names. They come from 11 different states; maybe make sure one of these piece of shit doesn’t live near you or work with you: Kerry Lamont Arnold, Jared Michael Boyce, Nathan David Brenner, Colton Michael Brown, Josiah Daniel Buster, Devin Wayne Center, Dylan Carter Corio, Winston North Durham, Joseph Garret Garland, Branden Mitchel Haney, Richard Jacob Jessop, James Michael Johnson, James Julius Johnson, Connor Patrick Moran, Kieran Padraig Morris, Lawrence Alexander Norman, Justin Michael Oleary, Cameron Kathan Pruitt, Forrest Clark Rankin, Thomas Ryan Rousseau, Conor James Ryan, Spencer Thomas Simpson, Derek Joseph Smith, Alexander Nicholai Sisenstein, Dakota Ray Tabler, Steven Derrick Tucker, Wesley Evan Van Horn, Mitchell Frederick Wagner, Nathaniel Taylor Whitfield, Robert Benjamin Whitted, and Graham Jones Whitsom.
• BREAKING: Oooh, I get a breaking news item. Special. “Bipartisan group of senators announce agreement on gun control”. This is a “step in the right direction” headline, but anything is better than nothing. Her’s the deal… they have an agreement that includes the support of ten GOP Senators on legislation for "needed mental health resources, improves school safety and support for students, and helps ensure dangerous criminals and those who are adjudicated as mentally ill can't purchase weapons,” per their statement a few minutes ago.
• If you’re interested, the Senators who put this together are Cornyn (R-TX), Tillis (R-NC), Burr (R-NC), Blunt (R-MO), Cassidy (R-LA), Collins (R-ME), Graham (R-SC), Portman (R-OH), Romney (R-UT), Toomey (R-PA), Sinema (D-AZ), Kelly (D-AZ), Murphy (D-CT), Blumenthal (D-CT), Booker (D-NJ), Coons (D-DE), Heinrich (D-NM), Manchin (D-WV), Stabenow (D-MI), and King (I-ME).
• A lot more is needed. Before you get mad at it being not nearly enough, this is, again, better than nothing, and should be celebrated by anyone who agrees that gun control is crucial in the USA.
• China is warning the USA about defending Taiwan. That situation is something you should all keep an eye on. If it goes south, it will affect you in ways you can’t even imagine right now.
• Russia is continuing its invasion of Ukraine.
• COVID continues on the rise in many places.
• Sigh.
• I’m having a giant cup of Peet’s Major Dickason’s Blend. It’s kind of the classic go-to Peet’s coffee. Funny story: Key Dickason, who helped Alfred Peet create the blend in 1969, wasn’t a major. He was a retired lieutenant, but Peet thought the coffee was so good, he gave him a promotion.
• The House Select Committee hearings for the January 6 coup continues tomorrow. That news about multiple members of Congress asked for pardons — a legal admission of guilt — will be huge moving forward. Stay tuned.
• Please be prepared however you can for the upcoming heat wave this week that’s already been nailing the west. Due to global climate change, this is going to continue to happen each summer for the remainder of our lives. Parts of Texas and Oklahoma “feel like” 115 today. 
• Sigh.
• A Google engineer was placed on leave after publicly stating his belief that their AI called LaMDA is conscious and has gained sentience. 
• We’re fucked.
• Today in history… Thomas Willett is appointed the first mayor of New York City (1665). The first bicycle is driven by Karl von Drais (1817). The Baseball Hall of Fame opens (1939). ‘Cleopatra’ is released in theaters (1963). NAACP secretary Medger Evers is murdered by the KKK (1963). Reagan challenges Gorbachev to “tear down this wall” (1987). All analog TV stations switch to digital transmission (2009). Some asshole with semi-automatic weapons killed 49 people and injured another 58 at Pulse nightclub in Orlando (2016).
• June 12 is the birthday of Chinese emperor Gao Zong (1107), wealthy guy David Rockefeller (1915), US President George H. W. Bush (1924), actor Jim Nabors (1930), sportscaster Marv Albert (1941), piano genius Chick Corea (1941), funny-looking but underrated drummer Bun E. Carlos (1950), singer Brad Delp (1951), actor Jason Mewes (1974), and NBA player Jrue Holiday (1990).

I’m having more coffee. I’m enjoying it. Warren Zevon once said, “Enjoy every sandwich.” It’s good advice. Enjoy the things you do, especially the small things.