Random News: June 28, 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 28, 2022, and it’s a Tuesday. Damn near anything might be said next, so let’s see what it is… 

• As mentioned yesterday, a previously-unexpected sixth session of the January 6 Select Committee is meeting today "to present recently obtained evidence and receive witness testimony” at 10am PT/1PM ET, and you can watch live on YouTube or most major TV networks.
• I don’t know what the exact nature of today’s testimony will be or who is appearing, but I do know that Congress had already taken off for their July 4 vacation, and members of the committee quickly flew back to DC for this, which could be… significant?
• Not getting my hopes up, but I’ll be watching.
• I don’t need to be an empath to feel a whole lot of anger out there in the world. Man, oh man. A lot of anger. I feel it too. 
• Anger can be quite correctly seen as a negative emotion, but it’s also a normal and natural one that has been evolutionarily necessary for survival across many species, vis a vis the “fight or flight” response.
• Anger can quickly escalate to wrath or rage, and violence often ensues.
• And yet, suppression of anger has harmful effects of its own, physical and mental and emotional.
• Finding an outlet to channel the negative emotion into productive action is the only way to take something intrinsically bad and turn it into something positive. 
• If you’re mad about things that seem impossible to fix, like Roe being overturned or public school prayer being allowed, take that anger and the sense of helplessness that causes it, and put it to use.
• Find like-minded people in groups who host online meetings. These are happening all the time right now.
• Get involved in programs — local or national — who can help the people most directly affected by these recent rights violations.
• Educate people as to what it will take to prevent a nationwide ban on abortion and forced birth for all American women. Specifically, that means the Democrats need to pick up two additional Senate seats and hold the House this November to make abortion legal nationwide by federal statutory law.


• That’s harder than it sounds. But it is possible. You just have to want it to happen and make it happen.
• Write to your own political reps (you can usually contact them via their web site or social media). If you agree with their stance on topics like abortion, thank them. if you disagree, politely tell them how and why they are ruining the world.

• Finally, encourage everyone you know to vote this November. Help register other people. Make sure your name is on active voter lists.
• Look, you’ll still be angry, but that negative emotion will have motivated you to make the world a little bit better.
• Whew. Okay.
• Quick reminder to delete your period tracking app.
• Unless you’re a biological male, and then by all means, keep using it to fuck up the data of whoever is out to get women.
• Germany just sentenced a 101-year-old Nazi to five years in prison. Think of that as a message for anyone who thinks that they’ll just slide out of punishment for the January 6 coup if enough time goes by. No sir. You’ll be found and pay the price even if it’s 70 years later (but hopefully not… we’d prefer today).
• From the sports desk… um, nothing. Basketball and hockey are over, baseball won’t matter for like two months, football is still a good while out from preseason. It’s the sports doldrums. Oh, uh, Wimbledon just started. Whee.
• QotD: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” - Mahatma Ghandi.
• Today in history… Coronation of Queen Victoria of the UK (1838). The first conformation dog show is held in England (1859). The US Congress establishes the first federal holidays - New Year’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (1870). The US Congress passes the  Spooner Act, allowing the US to buy the Panama Canal (1902). Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated, leading to WWI (1914). Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz merge their two car companies and call the new one Mercedes-Benz (1926). Malcolm X forms the Organization of Afro-American Unity (1964). The Stonewall Riots start in New York City, launching the Gay Rights Movement (1969). Mike Tyson bites off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear (1997).
• June 28 is the birthday of king Henry VIII (1491), painter Peter Paul Reubens (1577), composer Richard Rodgers (1902), comedic genius and national treasure Mel Brooks (1926), actor Pat Morita (1932), secretary of defense Leon Panetta (1938), comedian Gilda Radner (1946), actress Kathy Bates (1948), NFL player John Elway (1960), actor John Cusack (1966), and weirdo billionaire Elon Musk (1971).

That’s it. Go do things. I’ll be working, grocery shopping, having meetings, and trying not to burn the whole motherfucking place down. Typical Tuesday. Enjoy.