Random News: January 2, 2023

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 January 2, 2023, and it’s a Monday that’s a holiday in many places, since New Year’s Day fell on a Sunday and we’re not getting ripped off for our day off, so here’s whatever bits of info I feel like scraping together…

• There’s probably gonna be some drama on the floor of the House of Representatives tomorrow.
• Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) still has not secured enough commitment from his fellow members of Congress to assure the 218 votes needed to make him Speaker. Is this a big deal? Well, yeah.
• The last time the House did not choose a Speaker on the first ballot was a century ago and it’s happened only once since the Civil War.
• McCarthy has been trying to make concessions to the “Never Kevin” faction, but as of Sunday night, it wasn’t clear that the standoff was any closer to being resolved.
• Guess we’ll see.
• Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva was sworn in as Brazil’s president for the third time yesterday, while threats of violence loomed from supporters of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.
• Sound familiar?
• Lula was previously president of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.
• During his earlier two terms in office, Lula undertook radical reforms, leading to growth in GDP, a reduction in public debt and inflation, and helping 20 million Brazilians escape poverty.
• Where’s his predecessor? Bolsonaro fled the country and is staying where all wannabe dictators go to die: Florida. Reports say he’s staying at the home of an MMA fighter.
• Bolsonaro took the same path as a leader in fighting COVID as another Florida Man, Donald Trump. The result cost the country thousands and thousands of lives.
• And now, The Weather: “New Year's Resolution” by Tutankhamun
• Far too many deaths of beloved people in recent days. RIP to Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters. She was 74, and handled the lead vocals on many of the group’s biggest hits.
• Also, send some thoughts to Jeremy Renner. The Oscar-nominated actor (and fan favorite as Hawkeye from the ‘Avengers’ franchise) is in critical but stable condition right now from a snow-plowing accident. No further details available yet.
• In personal news, we went to my mom’s home last night for our annual gift exchange and dinner. It’s always good to spend some time with family, especially when they’re getting up there in years. I know from experience not to assume that everyone will be around forever and to appreciate the time you have with them. 
• From the Sports Desk… going into the final week of the NFL season, only the Patriots, Dolphins, Steelers, Jaguars and Titans (AFC) and the Lions, Packers, and Seahawks (NFC) are fighting for the final few playoff spots. Good luck to them.
• Today in history… The Alemanni cross the frozen Rhine in large numbers, invading the Roman Empire (366). American forces under the command of George Washington repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek near Trenton, NJ (1777). Georgia becomes the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution (1788). American statesman and diplomat John Hay announces the Open Door Policy to promote trade with China (1900). The second Palmer Raid, ordered by the US Department of Justice, results in 6,000 suspected communists and anarchists being arrested and held without trial (1920). Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union (1959). Ronald Reagan, past movie actor and future President of the United States, is sworn in as Governor of CA (1967). United States President Richard Nixon signs a bill lowering the maximum U.S. speed limit to 55 MPH in order to conserve gasoline during an OPEC embargo (1974). Sharon Pratt Dixon becomes the first African American woman mayor of a major city and first woman Mayor of the District of Columbia (1991).
• January 2 is the birthday of Hawaii Queen Emma (1836), physician Una Ledingham (1900), environmental activist Bob Marshall (1901), politician Barry Goldwater (1909), writer Isaac Asimov (1920), televangelist Jim Bakker (1940), speaker of the house/convicted felon Dennis Hastert (1942), zoologist Jack Hanna (1947), actress Tia Carrere (1967), actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. (1968), and actress Kate Bosworth (1983).

Like most Americans, I have today off work, officially. I’m still going to do a couple of small work things so I don’t feel like a brick is hanging over my head going into tomorrow. I also will be doing some music stuff today, and that includes putting together a set list for my show in Second Life tomorrow evening. Enjoy your day.