Random News: October 26, 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 October 26, 2022, and it’s a Wednesday. Some stuff that I may have noticed at some point…

• Pennsylvania Senate candidates John Fetterman and Mehmet the Puppy Slayer Oz of New Jersey debated last night. Here are a couple of quotes.
• “I believe abortion rights is a universal right for all women in America.” - John Fetterman
• “The abortion decision should be left up to the states.” - Dr. Oz
• Welp, there you go. Give Fetterman your vote, Pennsylvanians.
• Yes, Fetterman is still recovering from a stroke. But Oz said that abortion should be a decision between “women, doctors, and local political leaders”. Do you want your wife or daughter to be legally forced to consult with your local politicians about her sex life? No? Then vote for Fetterman, Pennsylvanians.
• There was a 5.1 quake near San Jose yesterday, which is definitely a good-sized shake. That will, as I say, get your ass out of your seat.
• Did I feel it? No. I live over 350 miles south of there. It’s about the distance from DC to Boston. California is large.
• I sometimes feel terrible because there are so many shootings, I purposefully don’t mention them all as to not make this Random News list a giant downer all the time.
• But yeah, there was a high school in St. Louis that got shot up on Monday. The guy killed a student and a teacher and wounded seven more before law enforcement took him out.
• He had an AR-15-style rifle and more than 600 rounds of ammunition. The killer was 19 and left a note that said he had no friends, no family, no girlfriend, and a life of isolation.
• I find nothing unusual about that being the sorry mental state of a young man. But combined with the ease of access to high-powered weapons with high-capacity ammunition magazines, shootings will continue to haunt schools until real change happens in reasonable gun control measures.
• A Russian court has rejected American athlete Britney Griner’s appeal over her nine-year prison sentence. I hope there’s some way for that woman to not rot in a Russian jail for much longer, but it’s looking pretty grim.
• Six cases of voter intimidation in Maricopa County, AZ have been referred to the DOJ. 
• What these complete assholes are doing is reprehensible. Dudes wearing camo are loitering near voting drop boxes, filming and photographing voters as they returned their ballots, including their cars’ license plates.
• “The Justice Department has an obligation to guarantee a free and fair vote by everyone who’s qualified to vote and will not permit voters to be intimidated.” - AG Merrick Garland
• A Florida judge ordered Ron DeSantis to turn over records connected to the cruel migrants flights from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard.
• He said that DeSantis’ office is not following the state’s public records laws by withholding the info and ordered it within the next 20 days (which still puts it past the election date in 13 days). He could have required the records in 48 hours.
• And now, The Weather: “Ovule” by Björk
• Couple of polls. I include these for ONLY one reason: so you understand how close some of these races might be, and so you don’t buy into the bullshit that a Dem candidate in a supposed red state can’t win.
• Texas Governor: Greg Abbott (R-inc) 46% (+4), Beto O'Rourke (D) 42% (Univision)
• Nevada Senate: Cortez Masto (D-inc) 44% (+2), Laxalt (R) 42% (Univision)
• Nevada Governor: Sisolak (D-inc) 43% (+2), Lombardo (R) 41% (Univision)
• North Carolina Senate: Ted Budd (R) 44%, Cheri Beasley (D) 44% (Marist)
• Arizona Governor: Kari Lake (R) 47% (+3), Katie Hobbs (D) 44% (Data Orbital)
• Ohio Senate: Vance (R) 48% (+4), Ryan (D) 44% (Cygnal)
• Georgia Senate: Warnock (D-inc) 49% (+2), Walker (R) 47% (ECU)
• Pennsylvania Senate: Fetterman (D) 51% (+2), Oz (R) 49% (YouGov)
• Wisconsin Senate: Ron Johnson (R-inc) 50% (+1), Mandela Barnes (D) 49% (CNN)
• Wisconsin Governor: Tony Evers (D-inc) 50% (+2), Tim Michels (R) 48% (CNN)
• New Mexico Governor: Mark Ronchetti (R) 47% (+1), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-Inc) 46% (Trafalgar)
• You matter, and your vote matters. Your vote has every bit as much weight as the wealthiest, most powerful people in the country. Use it.
• Today in history… The First Continental Congress adjourns in Philadelphia (1774). Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday participate in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona (1881). The first electric generator at Hoover Dam goes into full operation (1936). The Battle of Leyte Gulf in WWII ends with an overwhelming American victory (1944). Pan American Airways makes the first commercial flight of the Boeing 707 from New York City to Paris (1958). The Australian government returns ownership of Uluru to the local Pitjantjatjara Aboriginals (1985). The United States passes the USA PATRIOT Act into law (2001). 
• October 26 is the birthday of composer Hans Buchner (1483), composer Domenico Scarlatti (1685), businessman C. W. Post (1854), businessman Benjamin Guggenheim (1865), philanthropist/MoMA founder Abby Aldrich Rockefeller (1874), politician François Mitterrand (1916), actor Bob Hoskins (1942), politician Hillary Clinton (1947), bass legend Bootsy Collins (1951), producer David Was (1952), musician Keith Strickland (1953), actress Rita Wilson (1956), actor Dylan McDermott (1961), actor Cary Elwes (1962), singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant (1963), and actor/producer Seth MacFarlane (1973).

As is often the case in any election season, things will get progressively more and more insane between now and November 8. Ignore the waves of bullshit, and vote with your conscience. I’ve already voted and I’m super glad it’s done and out of the way. Today, I’m going to do my job and… I honestly think that’s it. Later on, I may try and mess around with some vocals for the song I did last weekend. We’ll see. Enjoy your day!