Random News: August 19, 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.

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Good morning. It’s August 19, 2022, and if you can believe it, it’s a Friday once again! Here’s just some random flim-flam off the flip-flop.

• I have a legitimate concern that once Trump is gone — and he will be gone — people will think the battle is won and they can curl back up in a cocoon of apathy.
• Nope.
• Please don’t do that. The way we ended up allowing extremists to be in a position to try and take over our country was by being complacent and overly assumptive that things would be fine and America would sustain its values without all of us continuously working for it.
• No matter what happens with the FPOTUS — and there will be a tidal wave of shit coming at him at high speed — there are thousands like him just waiting in line to take over his flock.
• Stay vigilant and stay strong. I know you can.
• Yesterday, a federal judge said he will unseal at least some of the affidavit for the search of Mar-a-Lago, and he ordered the government to submit their redactions.
• I’m mostly cool with that. As long as they hold back the info that would put individuals in immediate danger (witnesses and so on), might as well see what all the hubbub’s about, bub. I’m in favor of transparency on a general basis.
• However, the counterintelligence and national security officials at DOJ feel that even with a redacted affidavit, they are "very concerned about the safety of the witnesses”.
• I’m not at all sure that the MAGA world is going to like it, but it is what it is… a legal document that will likely clearly show a pressing need to take back the classified material the FPOTUS stole. They just want to know who the witnesses are, probably for nefarious reasons.
• They might not like the answer they get.
• Trump’s lawyer was present but did not make any arguments about the unveiling of the affidavit. The case is being pushed by media companies who state that the case is a matter of massive public interest and that people have the right to know.
• Guess we’ll see. Literally. The redacted version is due back to the court by next Thursday, August 25.
• From the Sports Desk… the Sports Desk watched a little bit of the Seahawks/Bears preseason game last night. The Seahawks looked impossibly bad, making high school-level mistakes left and right. Wait… maybe the Bears are just really good! Nah.
• Here’s a batch of current polls from swing states. I’m only showing you these because a) things are close and your vote very much matters, and b) even in areas you thought were not winnable, it’s probably closer than you think.
• Wisconsin Senate: Mandela Barnes (D) 50% (+4), Ron Johnson (R-inc) 46% (Fox News)
• Arizona Governor: Katie Hobbs (D) 47% (+3), Kari Lake (R) 44% (Fox News)
• Arizona Senate: Mark Kelly (D-inc) 50% (+8), Blake Masters (R) 42% (Fox News)
• North Carolina Senate: Ted Budd (R) 42%, Cheri Beasley (D) 42% (Cygnal)
• Ohio Senate: Vance (R) 45% (+3), Ryan (D) 42% (Emerson)
• Pennsylvania Senate: Fetterman (D) 51% (+11), Oz (R) 40% (EDF Action)
• Pennsylvania Governor: Josh Shapiro (D) 50% (+8), Doug Mastriano (R) 42% (EDF Action)
• Florida Senate: Demings (D) 48% (+4), Rubio (R-inc) 44% (University of North Florida)
• Also, note that polls can be just… wrong. Sometimes they don’t get a large enough demographic variety with their sample, or some event happens that quickly flips the fickle public opinion. But I’ll post them when I see interesting ones.
• And now, The Weather: “Anti-glory” by Horsegirl.
• Today in history… Octavian compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul (43 BC). In Salem, MA, one woman and four men are executed for practicing witchcraft (1692). The last major battle of the Revolutionary War happens at the Battle of Blue Licks in present-day Kentucky (1782). The New York Herald breaks the news of the California Gold Rush to the East Coast (1848). US Army soldiers kill Lakota chief Conquering Bear and are massacred in return (1854). The Indianapolis Motor Speedway opens (1909). Germany approves Adolf Hitler's appointment as head of state with the title of Führer (1934). Viet Minh led by Ho Chi Minh take power in Hanoi, Vietnam (1945). Severe flooding in the northeast caused by Hurricane Diane claims 200 lives (1955). The Soviet Union moves toward dissolution when Mikhail Gorbachev is placed under house arrest while on vacation in Ukraine (1991). Serbians rally to demand the resignation of Yugoslavia President Slobodan Milošević (1999). Google has its IPO on Nasdaq… I should have gotten in on that shit (2004). 
• August 19 is the birthday of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus (232), fashion designer Coco Chanel (1883), poet Ogden Nash (1902), inventor Philo Farnsworth (1906), writer Ring Lardner, Jr. (1915), Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry (1921), actress Diana Muldaur (1938), drummer Ginger Baker (1939), singer Ian Gillan (1945), 42nd POTUS Bill Clinton (1946), bass player John Deacon (1951), actor Jonathan Frakes (1952), NFL great Anthony Muñoz (1958), actress Kyra Sedgwick (1965), hook singer Nate Dogg (1969), and actor Matthew Perry (1969).

Well, I guess that’s enough. Things will happen today, as they do every day. Your goal in life shouldn’t be to expect everything will be perfect and then be shocked when they aren’t. It should be to expect good times and bad times, and to be able to roll with them accordingly. Today I’ll be working and trying to find some good stuff in various ways. You do too. Enjoy your day.