Saturday, September 30, 2023

Random News: September 30, 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.



Good morning. It’s September 30, 2023, and it’s a Saturday. As you’ve come to expect on wonderful weekend mornings, I’m in a blue robe and have a fresh cup of coffee at the ready, so let’s delve into the world of things that seem to have transpired since we last met here.


  • I guess we’ll start with the imminent government shutdown, which is just hours away.
  • The latest news is that the House just now planned to vote on a measure to keep the government open for 45 days at current spending levels, adding money for U.S. disaster relief but none of the billions of dollars for Ukraine that the White House has sought.
  • It would need to pass the House and the Senate. I doubt this will happen.
  • The government will shut down at 12:01AM, one minute after midnight tonight, if a deal is not reached.
  • Personal story: I actually was leaving for a visit to Joshua Tree in October 2013 when the Republicans shut down the government one time. We went anyway… there are other things to do in that area beyond the national park itself.
  • Moving on to something that was only a matter of time.
  • Scott Hall, one of the 19 defendants in the Fulton County, GA case about efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, became the first defendant to reach a plea deal with prosecutors yesterday. 
  • Hall changed his plea from not guilty and instead pleaded guilty in Fulton County court to five misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with performance of election duties. He was sentenced to five years probation, a $5,000 fine and 200 hours of community service. He must also write a letter of apology to the citizens of the state of Georgia. 
  • Oh, and he is also required to testify at any future trials. In other words, he flipped on Trump, and there will now be an avalanche of others trying to get in pleas deals while the getting is good.
  • Hall is a 59-year-old bail bondsman. He helped with the unlawful breach of election equipment and theft of voter data in Coffee County. He initially faced seven counts in all, six of which related to those efforts. 
  • Under the plea agreement, he is barred from communicating with any witnesses or co-defendants in the case. He is not allowed to speak with the media until all the cases are resolved.
  • But wait! There’s more.
  • Defendants Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, two of Trump’s team of terrible lawyers, will be the first defendants to face trial in Fulton County. Chesebro is the guy who came up with the fake electors plot. Powell, aka the Kraken Lady, helped promote Dumpster’s false claims of election fraud.
  • You may recall that both of them invoked their right to a speedy trial. They each face seven criminal charges, including state Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act charges asserting they joined a criminal enterprise bent on keeping Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election.
  • In a hearing yesterday, the prosecution seemed to indicate that they were planning to extend a plea offer to both defendants.
  • In the same hearing, Judge Scott McAfee denied two motions by Chesebro aiming to invoke immunity from prosecution and suppress emails authorities obtained via a search warrant.
  • Wheeee!
  • In related news yesterday from Fulton County, GA, Jeff Clark, the former Justice Department official charged alongside El Dumpo in a sweeping racketeering conspiracy, failed to present evidence that the former president directed him to work on matters related to the 2020 election.
  • U.S. District Court Judge Steve Jones rejected Clark’s bid to transfer the criminal case against him to federal court. Clark is charged for his efforts to disseminate a DOJ letter that would have encouraged state legislatures in several Biden-won states to hold emergency sessions and reconsider the results of the 2020 election.
  • Meanwhile, Judge Steve C. Jones was not swayed by arguments made by Trump co-defendants Cathy Latham, David Shafer and state Senator Shawn Still, all of whom wanted to move their prosecutions in the Fulton County election interference case to federal court.
  • "The Court first determines that presidential electors are not federal officers," Jones wrote in all three orders. Ha!
  • They’re all fucked… and so is their boss. 2024 is going to be so… interesting!
  • A quick follow-up on an item we mentioned the other day…
  • Citing Dumpy’s social media post where he attacked General Mark Milley and suggested he should be put to death for treason, special counsel Jack Smith bolstered his push to put a gag order on the former president ahead of his trial for the January 6 insurrection.
  • Smith’s team turned in a 22-page filing last night to press the need for a gag order on Trump’s behavior and rejected the former president’s claims that the motion was an attempt to silence him on the campaign trial.
  • Senior assistant special counsel Molly Gaston stated the order would prevent Trump from using “his candidacy as a cover for making prejudicial public statements about this case.”
  • I 100% agree. Let’s move on for now.
  • For our next news item, guess which part of the following sentence is true, okay?
  • On Wednesday October 4, every TV, radio and cellphone in the U.S. will blast the shrill, unmistakable sound of a warning tone around 2:20PM ET when FEMA and the FCC conduct a test of the emergency broadcast system, and the high-frequency signal will activate graphene oxide and other nanoparticles that have been inserted into billions of people around the world via vaccines and they will all become zombies and forevermore act as servants of Gates, Soros, and Obama.
  • That first part is true. The second part is actual insane viral messaging in the MAGA world. Anyway, be aware that your phone will be loud that day. Don’t freak out.
  • Moving on.
  • Hideous event in Effingham County, IL last night, with multiple fatalities confirmed following a crash involving a semi-truck that leaked anhydrous ammonia.
  • Parts of a local city were evacuated due to the plume from the ammonia leak after the crash US Highway 40. At least five people were airlifted to local hospitals.
  • It’s a dangerous world out there.
  • Future Motion, the maker of Onewheel electric skateboards, has issued a voluntary recall of all of its boards due to crash hazards. The company said all Onewheel board models can stop balancing under riders and throwing users in a way that can result in serious injury or death. 
  • Three of the four deaths related to the boards were reported between 2019 and 2021 and were the result of massive head trauma. There have also been dozens of reports of serious injuries, including traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, upper-body fractures, lower-body fractures, and ligament damage.
  • If you or your kids or friends have one of these things, get rid of it immediately.
  • Moving on… to a headline I wasn’t expecting to see yesterday.
  • A Nevada grand jury indicted Duane "Keffe D" Davis in the drive-by shooting murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996. 
  • Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo said a grand jury had been seated in the case for several months. DiGiacomo described Davis as the on-ground, on-site commander who ordered the death of Shakur.
  • Wow. The long arm of the law. They’ll get your ass eventually, even if it’s 27 years later.
  • Wanna buy a house? Not in the USA, you don’t. A report has found that home ownership is now unaffordable in 99% of America.
  • The typical American cannot afford to buy a home in a growing number of communities across the nation under common lending standards, per a new report from real estate data provider ATTOM.
  • Researchers examined the median home prices last year for roughly 575 U.S. counties and found that home prices in 99% of those areas are beyond the reach of the average earner, who makes $71,214 a year.
  • If you thought it was just you… it’s not. If you felt embarrassed about it, be aware that only one person in 100 is actually able to purchase a home these days. We’re in for a major shift in things pretty soon in this country of ours.
  • And now, The Weather: “Blue to You” by Smelter
  • New Yorkers are frustrated and angry — which isn’t uncommon — but they have good reason to be, dealing with flooded basements and damaged property, and not enough immediate help from the city and state. The intense rainfall due to climate change did not allow storm drains to keep up with the flow.
  • One restaurant owner said she would have had to swim through the street to reach her front door. Instead, she watched the water rise on surveillance cameras, and by the time the flood went down, her outdoor dining structure had been washed away.
  • Stay safe out there, peoples.
  • Instead of a chart, let’s look at a list of the best selling albums of all time. One thing you’ll note: almost none of them are very recent. People essentially stopped buying music when streaming became the predominant music delivery format, and in the few cases where people actually purchase via download, they mostly buy singles instead of albums.
  • Note that’s not always the case. If you’re a huge fan of a specific artist or band and they release something new and cool, you might indeed buy the whole album, or even the physical media (think deluxe packages that include vinyl and t-shirt and stickers and liner notes and so on).
  • 1. ‘Thriller’ - Michael Jackson. 2. ‘Back in Black’ - AC/DC. 3. ‘The Bodyguard’ - Whitney Houston/Various Artists. 4. ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ - Pink Floyd. 5. ‘Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)’ - Eagles. 6. ‘Bat Out of Hell’ - Meat Loaf. 7. ‘Hotel California’ - Eagles. 8. ‘Come On Over’ - Shania Twain. 9. ‘Rumours’ - Fleetwood Mac. 10. ‘Saturday Night Fever’ - Bee Gees/Various Artists. 11. ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ - Led Zeppelin. 12. ‘Bad’ - Michael Jackson. 13. ‘Jagged Little Pill’ - Alanis Morissette. 14. ‘Dirty Dancing’ - Various Artists. 15. ‘Falling into You’ - Celine Dion. 16. ’21’ - Adele. 17. ‘1’ - The Beatles. 18. ‘Metallica’ - Metallica. 19. ‘Let’s Talk About Love’ - Celine Dion. 20. ‘Legend: The Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers’ - Bob Marley and the Wailers.
  • From the Sports Desk… let’s look at the NFL Power Rankings for week 4, aka someone else’s opinion of which teams are good, or not.
  • 1. Miami Dolphins. 2. San Francisco 49ers. 3. Kansas City Chiefs. 4. Philadelphia Eagles. 5. Buffalo Bills. 6. Dallas Cowboys. 7. Detroit Lions. 8. Baltimore Ravens. 9. Cleveland Browns. 10. Green Bay Packers.
  • Who’s at the bottom of the list?
  • 28. Indianapolis Colts. 29. New York Giants. 30. Carolina Panthers. 31. Denver Broncos. 32. Chicago Bears.
  • Everyone else is somewhere in the middle.
  • Today in history… Henry IV is proclaimed king of England (1399). Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto and his forces enter Tula territory in present-day western Arkansas, encountering fierce resistance (1541). The first performance of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute takes place two months before his death (1791). Thomas Edison's first commercial hydroelectric power plant (later known as Appleton Edison Light Company) begins operation (1882). Radoje Ljutovac becomes the first soldier in history to shoot down an enemy aircraft with ground-to-air fire (1915). The League of Nations unanimously outlaws "intentional bombings of civilian populations” (1938). NBC broadcasts the first televised American football game (1939). The 1947 World Series is the first to be televised and the first to include an African-American player (1947). The Boeing 747 is rolled out and shown to the public for the first time (1968). Ethernet specifications are published by Xerox working with Intel and Digital Equipment Corporation (1980). Controversial drawings of Muhammad are printed in a Danish newspaper (2005). 
  • September 30 is the birthday of astronomer Michael Maestlin (1550), activist Ann Jarvis (1832), businessman William Wrigley, Jr. (1861), physicist Hand Geiger (1882), sexologist Charlotte Wolff (1897), drummer/bandleader Buddy Rich (1917), US Army captain Lewis Nixon (1918), novelist Truman Capote (1924), activist Elie Wiesel (1928), actress Angie Dickinson (1931), singer Cissy Houston (1933), singer Johnny Mathis (1935), drummer Dewey Martin (1940), music producer Gus Dudgeon (1942), singer Marilyn McCoo (1943), singer-songwriter/guitarist Marc Bolan (1947), actress Fran Drescher (1957), singer-songwriter/guitarist Marty Stuart (1958), actor Eric Stoltz (1961), singer-songwriter/guitarist Trey Anastasio (1964), actress Jenna Elfman (1971), actor Daniel Wu (1974), MLB player Jeremy Giambi (1974), tennis player Martina Hingis (1980), and rapper T-Pain (1984).


That seems like enough. I’m going to shower and dress myself like a real human being, and then I have a weekend project of getting rid of the clothes I never wear that are taking up space where the clothes I do wear would go if I had space for them. Good times. Enjoy your day.

Friday, September 29, 2023

Random News: September 29, 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.



Good morning. It’s September 29, 2023, and if you can believe it, it’s a Friday once again! Quite a few headlines flying by that should be called to your attention. Let’s take a look-see…


  • Starting with some huge breaking news: RIP to Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who’d been the oldest member of the Senate, the longest-serving female senator, the first female Jewish Senator, and the longest-serving senator from California. She passed away overnight at age 90.
  • If you’re from California, Feinstein has likely been a political figure for your entire life. She was the head of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1978 and became acting mayor of the city following the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and city Supervisor Harvey Milk.
  • She was elected to serve as Senator in 1992 and has been there representing California ever since. A hugely influential voice in Washington, Feinstein was a centrist Democrat known for trying to find common ground with Republicans, sometimes drawing criticism from her party’s liberal members, including me.
  • That being said, I (and nearly everyone, including her critics) respected her greatly. I was 23 years old when she became my Senator… a literal lifetime ago. She has always represented the people of our state in the most distinguished of ways.
  • She had planned on retiring after her current term, which was set to end in 2024. Democratic Reps. Katie Porter, Adam Schiff, and Barbara Lee had already announced that they would be running for Feinstein's seat.
  • What happens now?
  • Well, the timing is awful. The Senate is literally tied between Democrats (and the independents who caucus with them) and Republicans. That means our governor Gavin Newsom will be under intense pressure to quickly name a replacement to avoid a tip in the balance of power.
  • Newsom had hoped to avoid this exact scenario; now he has no choice. I think we’ll have an answer very quickly. Side note: this will put Newsom in the remarkable position of selecting both of his state’s senators.
  • He elevated Sen. Alex Padilla in 2021 (on the recommendation of Feinstein) after Kamala Harris left the Senate to assume the vice presidency. Padilla was later elected in a special election and then almost immediately re-elected in a general election.
  • A similar situation will likely happen here. Newsom will make an immediate appointment to fill the role temporarily, and then that person will need to win the approval of the voters at the earliest opportunity.
  • Anyway, DiFi was greatly respected for her service to the state and the country. I really wish she’d retired while going through myriad of health problems and cognitive decline instead of dying in office, but it is what it is.
  • Moving on.
  • Let’s cheer up with some bad news for the criminal mastermind El Dumpo.
  • The trial in the New York attorney general’s civil fraud lawsuit against Donald John Trump, his eldest sons, their companies and several executives, remains on track to begin Monday after a state appellate court denied Trump’s motion to stay the trial.
  • Ha ha!
  • Increased security measures have been put in place ahead of the trial. They will continue for the duration of the trial, which could last through December.
  • Leticia James’s witness list for the trial includes the FPOTUS, his adult children, and his closest business advisers. Hee hee hee… delicious.
  • Let’s head down to the fair state of Georgia, where in a 180-degree reversal, Dumpty Dump will not seek to move his criminal election interference case to federal court, per his lawyer’s court filing yesterday.
  • Why? Pretty simple: he watched the trainwreck appeals from the other defendants who tried this and failed, and he wants no part of the evidentiary hearing.
  • Most of all, he’s hoping to push it out even further. With there being multiple RICO trials on the docket and him at the back of the line, he’s hoping his trial might get moved out pending the duration of the preceding trials.
  • So it’s a calculated move, and I doubt he would have been successful at having moved it to federal court regardless. I mean, what was he going to do; say that he was acting in a federal role as president while trying to subvert the election?
  • More upside: staying in Georgia means the RICO trial will indeed be televised. Ha ha ha!
  • One other Fani Willis-related note. 
  • State Sen. Colton Moore (R-GA), who demanded a special session of the Legislature for an investigation of the Fulton County District Attorney was indefinitely suspended from the chamber’s GOP caucus Thursday. Moore represents the district where Marjorie Taylor Greene lives.
  • “During his advocacy for his ill-conceived proposal, Senator Moore has knowingly misled people across Georgia and our nation, causing unnecessary tension and hostility, while putting his Caucus colleagues and their families at risk of personal harm,” a statement read.
  • Bye fucker.
  • Enough on that for now, and on to something relevant: the Republican government shutdown, which is now just over a day away.
  • Yesterday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) got into a nasty squabble in a closed door meeting. Gaetz stood up and confronted McCarthy about whether his allies were paying conservative influencers to bash Gaetz in social media posts. Snort.
  • This premise is silly. There are many people who will bash Gaetz for free daily and enjoy every moment of it.
  • McCarthy responded that he wouldn’t waste his time or money on Gaetz, which is a fair point.
  • Fight! Fight! Fight!
  • Anyway, the federal government is funded through Saturday, and then everyone is on their own due to this Republican infighting and lack of doing their one written job responsibility, which is to put forth a budget.
  • Many of you think that a government shutdown won’t impact you directly for various reasons. Think again.
  • Over 70,000 child care programs — about one-third of those that relied on funding from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act passed in March 2021 — may close immediately. That amounts to about 3.2 million children losing child care.
  • This will have a profound impact on working parents, with women shouldering the worst of it, but labor and economic experts warn the ripple effect will be far-reaching in ways that those who don't have young children should be just as concerned about.
  • “If parents lose their child care, they will have to cut their work hours or leave their jobs altogether. Fewer people in the workforce means fewer people spending money — and the economy will feel it.” - Julie Kashen, director of women's economic justice and a senior fellow at The Century Foundation
  • Moving on.
  • Some of the GOP presidential candidates bashed Dumpster yesterday over his comments suggesting that the USA’s top-ranking military officer should be killed.
  • See, last Friday, Señor Dumpertino laid into Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley in social posts, saying that the general “turned out to be a Woke train wreck who, if the Fake News reporting is correct, was actually dealing with China to give them a heads up on the thinking of the President of the United States.”
  • “This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!” added the Orange Fool.
  • Milley has stated that he’s taking appropriate measures to ensure his safety and the safety of his family. 
  • In an interview the general said, “As much as these comments are directed at me, it’s also directed at the institution of the military. And there is 2.1 million of us in uniform. And the American people can take it to the bank, that all of us, every single one of us, from private to general, are loyal to that Constitution and will never turn our back on it no matter what. No matter what the threats, no matter what the humiliation, no matter what. If we’re willing to die for that document, if we’re willing to deploy to combat, if we’re willing to lose an arm, a leg, an eye, to protect and support and defend that document and protect the American people, then we are willing to live for it, too.”
  • “There is no call for that kind of language directed toward someone who’s worn the uniform of the United States and served with such distinction.” - Mike Pence
  • “His statement endangers people and is an insult to those who serve in the military.” - Asa Hutchinson
  • Yup.
  • Have you noticed I haven’t bothered covering anything about the Republican hearing to impeach Joe Biden for (checks notes) no reason at all?
  • It’s not worth the effort of typing.
  • I will say that yesterday, the big kickoff to the inquiry (done without a House vote, no direct of evidence of wrongdoing and against the backdrop of an imminent government shutdown) crashed into a brick wall almost before it started. 
  • The opening statement of their superstar witness, conservative law professor Jonathan Turley, says it all: "While I believe that an impeachment inquiry is warranted, I do not believe that the evidence currently meets the standard of a high crime and misdemeanor needed for an article of impeachment.”
  • Anyway, that’s what the GOP is doing instead of averting a shutdown. Let’s move on to something relevant.
  • Eddie Manuel Nunez Santos, a 33-year-old Peruvian man, has been arrested for sending more than 150 fake bomb threats to U.S. schools, airports, synagogues, hospitals and a mall.
  • This piece of shit did so in retaliation to teenage girls who refused his requests for nude and sexually explicit photographs.
  • Nunez Santos posed as a teenage boy online and asked multiple minors to send him sexually explicit photos. When the girls refused his alleged requests or cut off communications, Nunez Santos allegedly threatened to bomb their schools or kill them. The threats in multiple states triggered school evacuations, a hospital lockdown, and flight delays. The majority of the threats, which began in mid-September, were sent to schools.
  • I hope that guy gets royally fucked.
  • Let’s do some very good news out of Wisconsin. Their Supreme Court has rejected a lawsuit seeking an order blocking any attempt from the state Legislature to impeach Justice Janet Protasiewicz, a new member of the court whose victory this spring tilted control of the court in favor of liberals.
  • The court decided Tuesday not to hear the lawsuit, and issued the order without comment. Protasiewicz did not participate in the decision.
  • Nice. Now how about some Florida news?
  • A customer angry about his service from an auto repair shop near Tampa targeted and fatally shot its owner, and was also fatally shot by the guy he shot.
  • Eugene Frank Becker, 78, asked to see the owner of Stout’s Auto. Jodie Stout, 52, told Becker he was the owner. Becker pulled out a firearm and started shooting in Stout’s direction, then Stout grabbed his own weapon and began firing back.
  • Now they’re both dead. The end of another gun story. Most of them end that way.
  • And now, The Weather: “Sightseer” by Nation of Language
  • Intense flooding in happening in New York City and across Long Island. Stay safe, New Yorkers.
  • Switzerland’s alpine glaciers have lost 10% of their volume over the last two years alone. The sudden reduction is clear evidence of the very critical state of the climate. The glaciers have shed as much ice in two years as they did in the 30 years between 1960 and 1990.
  • We’re seriously all going to die. We may be among the last generations of humans after 250,000 years of homo sapiens. Ah well. I’m sure something else will evolve and learn from our mistakes.
  • China wants their pandas back. Seriously.
  • All zoos in the USA and Britain have been notified that their Giant Pandas are expected back in their home country by the end of next year. It will be the first time since 1972 that the United States faces the prospect of having no giant pandas.
  • We’ll do fine without them. Also, fuck zoos on general principle. Not zoologists. They’re cool. Zoos are fucked though.
  • From the Sports Desk… in last night’s NFL matchup, the Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers 34-20 in a game that was way more lopsided than the score indicates. Detroit was up 24-3 at the half. The Lions are for real this year, and for the first time in a very long time are the undisputed leaders of the NFC North over the Packers, Vikings, and Bears.
  • Today in history… Danes capture Canterbury after a siege, taking Ælfheah, archbishop of Canterbury, as a prisoner (1011). Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, is excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX for his failure to participate in the Crusades (1227). Protestant coup officials in Nîmes massacre Catholic priests in an event now known as the Michelade (1567). The United States Department of War first establishes a regular army with a strength of several hundred men (1789). Germany's Supreme Army Command tells Kaiser Wilhelm II and Imperial Chancellor Georg Michaelis to open negotiations for an armistice in WWI (1918). The First American Track and Field championships for women are held (1923). The Kyshtym disaster is the third-worst nuclear accident ever recorded (1957). NASA launches STS-26, the first Space Shuttle mission since the Challenger disaster (1988). John Roberts is confirmed as Chief Justice of the United States (2005). The stock market crashes after the first United States House of Representatives vote on the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act fails (2008). Over 42 people are killed by members of Boko Haram at the College of Agriculture in Nigeria (2013). 
  • September 29 is the birthday of Roman general/politician Pompey (106 BC), polymath Michael Servetus (1511), novelist Miguel de Cervantes (1547), English admiral Horatio Nelson (1758), physicist Enrico Fermi (1901), fashion journalist Diana Vreeland (1903), singer/actor Gene Autry (1907), director Stanley Kramer (1913), football coach Bum Phillips (1923), model/actress Anita Ekberg (1931), singer-songwriter/pianist Jerry Lee Lewis (1935), actor Larry Linville (1939), actress Madeline Khan (1942), violinist/composer Jean-Luc Ponty (1942), composer Mike Post (1944), singer-songwriter/guitarist Mark Farner (1948), TV host Bryant Gumbel (1948), animator Gábor Csupó (1952), journalist Gwen Ifill (1955), singer-songwriter/bass player Les Claypool (1963), actor Mackenzie Crook (1971), NFL player Calvin Johnson (1985), NBA player Kevin Durant (1988), and singer Halsey (1994).


Well hell. That’s a lot of stuff and I need more coffee. I’m going to go do normal Friday things. Enjoy your day.

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Random News: September 28, 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.



Good morning. It’s September 28, 2023, and it’s a Thursday for some reason. The sun is rising, I just made a fresh pot of Peet’s Organic Alameda Morning Blend — which is delicious — and now I’m ready to see what’s going on in the world.


  • Wow.
  • When Dumpty Dump first announced his plans to skip last night’s GOP debate to instead do a speech in Michigan, his campaign pretended the address was in support of striking union members.
  • But no. Trump fucking spoke at a NONUNION auto parts factory, as a guest of the boss, to a crowd with only a few striking workers in attendance. Fucking amazing.
  • See, the striking UAW workers can’t stand Trump, and members of the GOP are saying that striking union workers should just be fired and discarded for cheaper non-union labor. In 2020, Michigan union households went for Biden by 25 percentage points.
  • Way to read the room, Donnie Boy.
  • But this gets worse. People holding signs saying things like “Union members for Trump” admitted afterwards that they weren’t unions members or even auto workers at all. They’d been paid to attend.
  • Typical.
  • We have some other, more tangible news about El Dumpo, though.
  • Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Donald John Trump’s federal 2020 election subversion criminal case, will not disqualify herself from the matter. Yesterday, she rejected the longshot bid from Dumpy’s team to remove her from the case. 
  • Ha ha!
  • Here’s a funny little iota from Dumpy’s recent conviction for fraud in New York City. It’s about the golf motel they own in Florida, the place where he kept the stolen documents (whoops, that’s a different felony case).
  • Anyway, Big Dump along with Dumpy Junior and Genius Eric are bigly mad that Judge Engoron cited an appraisal of Mar-a-Lago by the Palm Beach County Assessor, which found the market value of the 17.5-acre property between 2011 and 2021 between $18 million and $27.6 million.
  • The Dump Family claims that instead, it’s worth $1.5 billion. That’s like… a hundred times more than the assessed value. Even if it were assessed at the very highest end, say $300 million, that’s still six times less than its imaginary worth.
  • And the really funny thing: if Mar-a-Lago was worth anywhere near as much as they now claim, then the Trumps have committed massive tax fraud.
  • Moving on… to that government shutdown that happens when a GOP-led House doesn’t do the one task that makes up their entire job description: passing a budget.
  • The shutdown is now all but 100% going to happen, as House Republicans indicated Wednesday they would not consider a bipartisan Senate plan to fund the government past the weekend deadline.
  • Yesterday, the White House Office of Management and Budget told federal agencies to be prepared to notify their employees of the status of government funding. More details will be arriving this morning as part of the government’s mandatory contingency process.
  • Time for some good news.
  • A Montana law banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors is temporarily blocked, a state judge ruled yesterday, just four days before it was to take effect.
  • As you may recall, Montana’s bill drew national attention this spring after Republicans punished Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr — the first transgender woman elected to the state’s legislature — for admonishing lawmakers who supported the bill.
  • District Court Judge Jason Marks agreed with transgender youth, their families and health care providers that the law passed by the 2023 Montana Legislature is likely unconstitutional and would harm the mental and physical health of minors with gender dysphoria, rather than protect them from experimental treatments, as supporters said it would.
  • Right on. Big ups to Zooey Zephyr, who has been kicking ass in this fight.
  • And now, less good news.
  • As we mentioned not long ago, New Orleans is dealing with salt threatening local drinking water supplies. Now experts say it cold last as long as three months.
  • Collin Arnold, New Orleans' homeland security chief, said that timeframe was based on advice from the Army Corps of Engineers.
  • The city is hoping to build a pipeline further upriver to pump water that would dilute the salt at treatment plants. Good luck, Big Easy.
  • Some really sad news regarding the recent murder of 26-year-old tech CEO Pava LaPere. The suspect, Jason Billingsley, was already wanted in connection to an attempted murder, arson, and rape that occurred on September 19. He was also on the sex offender registry and was recently listed as non-compliant.
  • They found Billingsley, 32, at a train station and arrested him last night. He seems like the worst possible type of person. Police Commissioner Richard Worley said before his arrest, “This individual will kill and he will rape. He will do anything he can to cause harm.”
  • Moving on.
  • I didn’t watch last night’s GOP debate. I don’t know why that would have been a good use of my time, or frankly anyone’s time. None of these people will be elected president in 2024. But I did read some fact-check recaps.
  • Tim Scott claim: Nikki Haley spent $50,000 on curtains as the UN ambassador. Reality: nope. The purchasing decision was made during the Obama administration and Haley was not involved. 
  • Mike Pence claim: Trump administration oversaw record-low unemployment for Blacks, Hispanics. Reality: the cherry-picked info from a month in 2019 could be viewed as accurate, but in September 2022 under President Biden, the Hispanic or Latino unemployment rate hit a new record low of 3.9%, and in April the Black unemployment rate hit a new record low of 4.7%. Pence’s info was no longer accurate.
  • Nikki Haley claim: China is “stealing $600 billion in intellectual property.” Reality: she’s not necessarily wrong, but her number is the high extreme of an estimated range. The Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property estimated in 2018 that Chinese intellectual property theft costs the U.S. between $225 billion and $600 billion annually.
  • Vivek Ramaswamy claim: Ukraine banned 11 opposition parties. Reality: Maybe add some context. Zelenskyy did announce in March 2022 that Ukraine suspended 11 political parties because of their strong ties to Russia, and it came one month after Russia launched its invasion of the country. So, duh.
  • Doug Burgum claim: “China controls 85% of the rare earth minerals.” Reality: yes, that’s 100% true. China accounts for at least 85% of the world’s capacity to process rare earth minerals.
  • Chris Christie claim: Donald Trump added $7 trillion to our national debt. Reality: it was even worse than that. The total public debt increased by approximately $7.8 trillion from the start of Trump’s presidency on January 20, 2017, to when he left office on January 19, 2021. 
  • There was only one direct quote that made me giggle from the debate, which was, “Honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say.” - Nikki Haley to Vivek Ramaswamy
  • And now, The Weather: “ok nevermind” by rosetan
  • RIP to actor Michael Gambon, who died at age 82 after a bout of pneumonia. You probably know him from his role as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in six Harry Potter movies.
  • Gambon’s acting career spanned more than five decades, including working in theater with Laurence Olivier and starring in the BBC series “The Singing Detective.”
  • Let’s talk about weed.
  • A new bill that aims to give the marijuana industry access to banking services moved forward in the Senate yesterday.
  • The Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators last week. The bill would provide legal protection to banks or other financial institutions that offer services to state-legal marijuana businesses.
  • The bipartisan Senate Banking Committee voted 14-9 to advance the measure to the full chamber’s floor. Many legal marijuana businesses have been forced to operate in risky all-cash transactions, due to the possibility of federal penalties.
  • “I am committed to building bipartisan momentum to finally get a bill signed into law that ends the cannabis cash economy and improves public safety across the nation.” - Rep. Jeff Merkey (D-OR)
  • I support this. Marijuana is only still completely illegal in a small minority of 12 states. It is 100% legal for recreational use in 23 states, and legal for medicinal use in another 15 states.
  • Here’s a chart for you… it’s the bottom of the Billboard Hot 100 singles from 40 years ago in September 1983. Some really good shit in here! I was going into my sophomore year at the time, and music that was made while you were in high school is obviously the best music that ever was, said every asshole ever.
  • 81. Break My Stride (Matthew Wilder). 82. Cum On Feel The Noize (Quiet Riot). 83. You Put The Beat In My Heart (Eddie Rabbitt). 84. Baby, What About You (Crystal Gayle). 85. A Little Good News (Anne Murray). 86. All I Need To Know (Bette Midler). 87. Send Her My Love (Journey). 88. Masquerade (Berlin). 89. Major Tom (Coming Home) (Peter Schilling). 90. You Know What To Do (Carly Simon). 91. After The Fall (Journey). 92. High Time (Styx). 93. Should I Love You (Cee Farrow). 94. Don't Girls Get Lonely (Glenn Shorrock). 95. Canvas Of Life (Minor Detail). 96. Life Gets Better (Graham Parker). 97. Is There Something I Should Know (Duran Duran). 98. Don't You Know How Much I Love You (Ronnie Milsap). 99. What's She Got (Liquid Gold). 100. All Time High (Rita Coolidge).
  • From the Sports Desk… a blockbuster NBA trade months in the making went through yesterday when the Portland Trail Blazers traded guard Damian Lillard to play to alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team deal that also includes the Phoenix Suns.
  • Portland will receive Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Milwaukee's 2029 unprotected first-round draft pick, and unprotected Milwaukee swap rights in 2028 and 2030. The Suns will receive Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson.
  • I think you now have to consider the Bucks, along with the Celtics and last years champion Nuggets, as a leading contender to win it all in the upcoming NBA season.
  • Over in the MLB, there are only a couple of games left in the regular season, and the playoffs are all but wrapped up (though a few spots are still in play). If the playoffs started today…
  • American League wild-card round: (6) Astros at (3) Twins, (5) Blue Jays at (4) Rays. ALDS: Twins/Astros vs. (2) Rangers, Rays/Blue Jays vs. (1) Orioles.
  • National League wild-card round: (6) Cubs at (3) Brewers, (5) D-backs at (4) Phillies. NLDS: Brewers/Cubs vs. (2) Dodgers, Phillies/D-backs vs. (1) Braves.
  • It’s a good time of year to enjoy sports.
  • Today in history… Pompey arrives in Egypt and is assassinated by order of King Ptolemy XIII (48 BC). King James I of Aragon — my 25th great-grandfather — conquers Valencia from the Moors (1238). Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo of Portugal arrives at what is now San Diego, California, becoming the first European in California (1542). The Congress of the Confederation votes to send the newly written United States Constitution to the state legislatures for approval (1787). The Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire is drafted, and will be made public on 13 October (1821). The Brazilian Parliament passes a law that frees all children thereafter born to slaves, and all government-owned slaves (1871). Race riots begin in Omaha, Nebraska (1919). Alexander Fleming notices a bacteria-killing mold growing in his laboratory, discovering what later became known as penicillin (1928). Ted Williams achieves a .406 batting average for the season, and becomes the last major league baseball player to bat .400 or better (1941). CBS makes the first color televisions available for sale to the general public, but the product is discontinued less than a month later (1951). Falcon 1 becomes the first privately developed liquid-fuel ground-launched vehicle to put a payload into orbit (2008). Protests begin in Hong Kong in response to restrictive political reforms imposed by the NPC in Beijing (2014).
  • September 28 is the birthday of philosopher Confucius (551 BC), plumber/inventor Thomas Crapper (1836), broadcaster/CBS founder William S. Paley (1901), TV host Ed Sullivan (1901), singer/refugee Maria Franziska von Trapp (1914), spy Ethel Rosenberg (1915), poet/singer Tuli Kupferberg (1923), actor/singer Marcello Mastroianni (1924), singer Koko Taylor (1928), actress Brigitte Bardot (1934), guitarist/inventor Emmett Chapman (1936), singer-songwriter Ben E. King (1938), NFL player/politician Steve Largent (1954), guitarist/songwriter George Lynch (1954), pianist Kenny Kirkland (1955), NHL player Grant Fuhr (1962), comedian Janeane Garofalo (1964), actress Mira Sorvino (1967), model Dita Von Teese (1972), NBA player Bonzi Wells (1976), rapper Young Jeezy (1977), singer-songwriter/guitarist St. Vincent (1982), and singer-songwriter Hilary Duff (1987).


As usual, there’s more news to be aware of and discuss, but my time is limited. I have a self-imposed deadline by tomorrow to finish a ton of work-related writing (dozens and dozens of new product descriptions, yay!), and I’m determined to make it happen. Enjoy your day.

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Random News: September 27, 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.



Good morning. It’s September 27, 2023, and it’s a Wednesday. A whole lot of crazy-ass shit has happened, and most of it is pretty important, so buckle up. Maybe get a fresh cup of coffee or a delicious beverage; we have a lot to tell you. Ready? Let’s go.


  • Yesterday was a very bad, not good, sad, and not glad day for Donald John Trump and his businesses.
  • New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Donald Trump and his company "repeatedly" violated state fraud law. It’s a big deal.
  • The ruling came in response to a request by New York Attorney General Letitia James seeking judgment on one of the claims in her $250 million civil lawsuit, which is scheduled to go to trial  next week on October 2. The judge agreed with James' office that it is beyond dispute that Trump and his company provided banks with financial statements that misrepresented his wealth by as much as $3.6 billion.
  • Some of the lies were every bit as ridiculous and outrageous and provably wrong as you’d expect from Dumpelstiltskin, like his penthouse apartment at Trump Tower in New York, which he claimed was 30,000 sq ft, nearly three times its actual size, resulting in an overvaluation of as much as $207m.
  • As punishment, some of Trump’s business licenses will be rescinded, making it difficult or impossible for them to do business in New York, and an independent monitor will continue to oversee Trump Organization operations.
  • Judge Engoron ordered that within 10 days, they must recommend potential independent receivers to manage the dissolution of the canceled LLCs.
  • This goes far beyond the fairly common knowledge that Trump has lied consistently about his wealth. It states that he, his company and key executives repeatedly falsified information on his annual financial statements, reaping rewards such as favorable loan terms and lower insurance costs. That’s straight up illegal, and now it’s time to pay the price.
  • And… fuck him. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Engoron also ruled yesterday on a separate motion for sanctions against Trump's legal team for repeatedly making arguments Engoron and other courts had already rejected, fining five attorneys $7,500 each.
  • Moving on.
  • While that was going on yesterday, President Joe Biden joined the ongoing labor strike by the United Auto Workers (UAW) in Michigan. Wearing a ball cap and wielding a bullhorn, Biden marked a first-of-its kind moment for a sitting president.
  • Michigan, along with Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Ohio, is a key state that could help determine who next takes the White House. It’s also one that Democrats blew in 2016, and they’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
  • “You deserve a hell of a lot more than what you’re getting paid now,” Biden told cheering union workers while standing alongside UAW President Shawn Fain.
  • Fuck yeah. Let’s go Biden!
  • Do we have more good news? We do!
  • A federal judge yesterday struck down a Texas law that LGBTQ advocates feared would ban drag shows in the state and imprison performers.
  • The law, which Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed in June, expanded existing state law to prevent children from exposure to sexually explicit performances. While the legislation, Senate Bill 12, does not cite drag specifically, drag performers feared that it was passed with the intention of criminalizing the art form, which has deep ties to the LGBTQ community, and would that it repress their freedom of expression. 
  • On the day Abbott signed the bill into law, he shared an article about it and wrote, “Texas Governor Signs Law Banning Drag Performances in Public. That’s right.” 
  • But U.S. District Judge David Hittner, a Reagan appointee, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, writing that the law “impermissibly infringes on the First Amendment and chills free speech.”
  • I like his statement: “Not all people will like or condone certain performances. This is no different than a person’s opinion on certain comedy or genres of music, but that alone does not strip First Amendment protection.”
  • You’re goddamn right. Good job, sir.
  • Speaking of states, my state, California, did something smart yesterday: they made gun and ammunition ownership a lot more expensive.
  • Governor Gavin Newsom signed several firearms and ammunition-related bills into law yesterday, including one to tax guns and ammunition and another that places more rules on people seeking a concealed carry weapons permit.
  • The federal government already taxes the sale of guns and ammunition at either 10% or 11%, depending on the type of gun. With the signing of AB 28 on Tuesday, California will now add an 11% excise tax on the purchase of guns and ammunition. This makes California the only state with a separate tax on guns and ammunition, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a Californian.
  • The money will pay for security improvements at public schools and a variety of gun violence prevention programs, including those geared toward young people in gangs.
  • Moving on… to the pending government shutdown.
  • Senators in both parties have lost confidence in Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) ability to move a stopgap funding measure through the House and hope to avoid a disaster by moving first.
  • They grabbed the steering wheel from him yesterday by advancing a stopgap bill to keep federal funding at current levels until November 17. The legislation would also provide $6.15 billion in new money for Ukraine and $6 billion in new money for disaster relief.
  • The Senate plan is to pass the continuing resolution by Thursday or Friday and send it over to the House before government funding technically expires at 11:59 p.m. Saturday.
  • If the shutdown happens anyway per the plan of the far-right faction of the House, the first place most Americans are going to feel it will be at the airport. That's because this Saturday looms not only as the deadline for Congress to avert a shutdown but also to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
  • The shutdown could lead to flight delays for travelers and cargo shipments, as well as longer and slower screening lines, much less setbacks for future-focused efforts like training air traffic controllers and modernization initiatives.
  • In some international news that we couldn’t quite believe when we first heard, Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons Anthony Rota resigned his post yesterday, days after he praised a Ukrainian veteran who fought for a Nazi military unit during World War II.
  • On Friday, Rota lauded Yaroslav Hunka, 98, as a Ukrainian-Canadian war hero who “fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russian aggressors then, and continues to support the troops today.”
  • But then, human rights and Jewish organizations have condemned Rota’s recognition, saying Hunka served in a Nazi military unit known as the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS.
  • That’s the kind of thing you want to know before you throw a party for a guy. Jesus.
  • Moving on…
  • Yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission and 17 state attorneys general filed a widely anticipated antitrust case against Amazon, alleging the retailing giant illegally wields monopoly power to maintain higher prices, harming customers and weakening competition.
  • FTC chair Linda Khan stated, ”Our complaint lays out how Amazon has used a set of punitive and coercive tactics to unlawfully maintain its monopolies. The complaint sets forth detailed allegations noting how Amazon is now exploiting its monopoly power to enrich itself while raising prices and degrading service for the tens of millions of American families who shop on its platform and the hundreds of thousands of businesses that rely on Amazon to reach them."
  • The complaint alleges that Amazon regularly exploits its size and reach to block lower prices and compel merchants to use the e-commerce company's logistics and advertising services. I’d say that’s accurate.
  • In very unimportant and irrelevant news, tonight is the second GOP presidential debate, this one being staged in the conservative enclave of Simi Valley, CA. The Republican National Committee has confirmed the names of seven presidential candidates who will participate.
  • They are: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, tech geek Vivek Ramaswamy, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.
  • Donnie the Felon will not be there. He simply doesn’t do well in debates, and he is leading all of the other GOP candidates by a lot. They, obviously, are hopeful that events may transpire in which El Dumpo will not be able to run for president, or will be otherwise unavailable to serve (like, from being in jail, or fighting extradition from a foreign country, or no longer being among the living, and so on).
  • We’ve got some bad cop news to share. I wish we didn’t.
  • A Philadelphia municipal court judge yesterday dismissed all charges, including murder, against the Philadelphia police officer who fatally shot 27-year-old Eddie Irizarry during a traffic stop last month.
  • Officer Mark Dial had been charged with murder, voluntary manslaughter and five other counts stemming from the August 14 shooting in Philadelphia. The case was notable in that police initially told reporters Irizarry “lunged at the officers” while outside his vehicle, only to later admit that video disproved that assertion.
  • The preliminary court hearing Tuesday featured police body-camera footage and surveillance video of the shooting, as well as testimony from Dial’s police partner and from a detective with the officer-involved shootings department.
  • Judge Wendy L. Pew said that she agreed “100%” with the defense and dismissed the charges. No trial, no jury, no nothing.
  • In other law enforcement news… meet Kenneth Malphurs. 
  • Back in April 2021, Malphurs, a Wakulla County, FL sheriff’s deputy who worked as a school resource officer, sexually assaulted a victim under 12 years old.
  • He was finally arrested a week ago Monday, on September 18, 2023, after spending about a year and a half on administrative leave. Malphurs was transported to the Wakulla County Jail where he is currently being held without bond, and finally got fired from his job.
  • I should note that Malphurs is a manly man. Not a drag queen. Not a transgender person who needs to use a bathroom. He’s a big, strong, cop, the kind of alpha male that the MAGA community reveres. And now he faces life in prison for sexually abusing a little kid.
  • Malphurs pleaded not guilty. How many other Malphurs are out there, waving flags and being patriotic and remaining in positions of authority?
  • Moving on.
  • This one is super weird. Police in Baltimore are investigating the death of Pava LaPere, a 26-year-old CEO whose career accomplishments earned her a spot among the Forbes’ “30 under 30” list.
  • The founder of EcoMap Technologies was found dead Monday morning in an apartment with apparent signs of “blunt-force trauma.” LaPere, a Johns Hopkins grad, had clients including The Aspen Institute, Meta, the WXR Fund and T. Rowe Price Foundation.
  • Fucking awful. Seems kinda dangerous being a tech CEO in recent years, huh? I doubt this incident is random violence.
  • Moooooving on… to Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who appeared in federal court in New York this morning for his initial appearance on charges relating to an alleged bribery conspiracy involving payments in gold bars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, a luxury car and passing sensitive information to the Egyptian government.
  • More and more Democrats are publicly calling for Menendez to resign, but it doesn’t seem he’s going to take the high road.
  • In other news, Travis King, the 23-year-old U.S. Army private who intentionally ran across the border into North Korea this summer, is back in U.S. custody today.
  • This young idiot said he ran into North Korean territory in July because “he was disillusioned about inhumane treatment and racial discrimination” in the Army, as well as the "inequality existing within the American Society.” That might all be true, but escaping into North Korea wasn’t the best plan. Glad he’s safe, but he’s got some ‘splaining to do. 
  • And now, The Weather: “softscars” by yeule
  • From the Sports Desk… RIP to the best defensive third baseman of all time, hall of famer Brooks Robinson. He passed away yesterday at age 86.
  • How good was Robinson? He was an all-star for 15 seasons and won the Gold Glove award as the top fielder at his position 16 years in a row. He still holds the record for most games played at third base (2,870) and despite retiring in 1977, is still MLB’s all-time leader by a mile for most putouts, assists, and double plays at his position.
  • Also from the Sports Desk… after three weeks, only three NFL teams remain undefeated at 3-0: the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
  • Four teams — the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos — are winless at 0-3.
  • Everyone else is somewhere in between… and this coming week of matchups won’t be helpful, with point spreads on nearly all of the games within a field goal. Yikes!
  • Today in history… William the Conqueror begins the Norman conquest of England (1066). The death of Pope Urban VII, 13 days after being chosen as the Pope, ends the shortest papal reign in history (1590). Lancaster, PA becomes the capital of the United States for one day after Congress evacuates Philadelphia (1777). The world's first public railway to use steam locomotives, the Stockton and Darlington Railway, is ceremonially opened (1825). Production of the Model T automobile begins at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit (1908). The Republic of China is recognized by the United States (1928). USAF Captain Milburn G. Apt becomes the first person to exceed Mach 3 but dies in the attempt shortly after (1956). Rachel Carson's book ‘Silent Spring’ is published, inspiring an environmental movement and the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1962). Over two million people participated in worldwide strikes to protest climate change across 2,400 locations worldwide (2019).
  • September 27 is the birthday of Florence ruler Cosimo de' Medici (1389), king Louis XIII of France (1601), philosopher/politician Samuel Adams (1722), chemist Hermann Kolbe (1818), cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840), magician Harry Blackstone, Sr. (1885), pianist/composer Bud Powell (1924), sportscaster Dick Schaap (1934), TV host Don Cornelius (1936), singer-songwriter/guitarist Randy Bachman (1943), singer-songwriter/actor Meat Loaf (1947), musician/songwriter Greg Ham (1953), actor/singer Shaun Cassidy (1958), radio host Marc Maron (1963), NBA player/coach Steve Kerr (1965), politician Debbie Wasserman Schultz (1966), actress Gwyneth Paltrow (1972), singer-songwriter/guitarist/actress Carrie Brownstein (1974), rapper Lil Wayne (1982), singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne (1984), and actress Jenna Ortega (2002).


Well by gum, that was a lot of news. Some days be like that. I’ve got a bunch of writing to do, among other work-type responsibilities. That’s okay. Enjoy your day.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Random News: September 26, 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.



Good morning. It’s September 26, 2023, and it’s a Tuesday. I think I have a pretty normal day ahead, but no one ever really knows if that’s true. That’s why you keep going… to find out what happens next. For now, some news.


  • Donnie bought a gun / Donnie bought a gun / What has this felon done? / Jack Smith won’t think it’s fun
  • Yes, Don Don the Dummy was on video yesterday afternoon during a campaign stop. He was in a gun shop in Summerville, SC, and the video showed Trump appear to purchase a firearm. His spokesperson Steven Cheung wrote a social post saying that Trump had purchased the firearm, but then quickly deleted the post and the video.
  • Why is this a big deal? 
  • Federal law prohibits anyone who’s under indictment for a crime punishable by more than one year in prison from shipping, transporting, or receiving a firearm or even ammunition.
  • It also prohibits selling or giving a firearm to anyone when they know or have “reasonable cause to believe” that person is under federal felony indictment.
  • Trump has been indicted in four separate criminal cases—two federal cases, related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago residence, a New York case related to an alleged hush money payment made during his 2016 campaign, and a Georgia case surrounding the 2020 election.
  • After his disastrous fuckup, Mouth of Orange Sauron Steven Cheung made a terse official follow-up statement saying, “President Trump did not purchase or take possession of the firearm. He simply indicated that he wanted one.”
  • Hahahahaha. I can go buy a gun legally right now and Trump can’t. Hee hee. 
  • Moving on… with some breaking news that is fantastic.
  • The Supreme Court this morning handed a defeat to Alabama Republicans for the second time in three months, rejecting their latest attempt to use a congressional map that includes only one majority-Black district.
  • The court refused emergency requests from Republican state officials to block lower court rulings that invalidated the new map. There were no noted dissenting votes and the court did not explain its reasoning.
  • Excellent. Fuck those racists. Moving on.
  • Since the topic of the week is the Republican government shutdown, let’s take a quick look at the 14 times it’s happened before.
  • See, before 1980, agencies largely continued operating during a lapse in funding with the assumption that Congress would act quickly. But then, Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti authored a series of legal opinions that found government agencies didn't have the authority to continue running during a gap in funding.
  • Ronald Reagan oversaw eight shutdowns during his time in office, the longest of which lasted just three days.
  • There were another three funding gaps between 1990 and 1995, then none until 2013. That’s when things got seriously fucked up.
  • The shutdown starting September 20, 2013 lasted 16 days, and was all about the Republicans whining about the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. End result: Congress caved and funded Obamacare.
  • In December 2018, the shutdown lasted 34 days and was focused on Trump's demand for $5.7 billion to pay for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. End result: Trump ended up signing a bill to reopen agencies for the short term, and did not include money for the border wall. Congress then averted yet another shutdown by passing a measure that included $1.375 billion for the border wall, far less than the $5.7 billion Trump requested.
  • Anyway, I can’t see any way for the pending shutdown to be avoided. Not with the current far-right factions involved, and the thin margins required to pass or reject any kind of legislation.
  • We’re all fucked, once again. Thanks GOP.
  • The president had some good advice about this whole thing.
  • "Funding the government is one of the most basic, fundamental responsibilities of the Congress and if Republicans in the House don’t start doing their job, we should stop electing them," said Biden in remarks at the White House yesterday.
  • I fucking agree! Let’s stop electing them immediately.
  • Quick side note: a number of moderate GOP lawmakers are currently working with Democrats to fund the government past September 30 and combat a shutdown. Several of them have expressed an openness to joining Democrats in signing a discharge petition, a mechanism to force a vote on a measure against the wishes of the Speaker. 
  • Guess we’ll see.
  • Moving on.
  • Yesterday, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) announced he signed a bill that will classify child sex trafficking as a serious felony in California. The classification makes it a strikable offense, meaning repeat offenders or those who have committed other serious felonies could face more time behind bars, including life in prison.
  • The new law, which will go into effect at the start of next year, marks the first time ever the California Legislature has added a crime to its "three strikes" law, which imposes 25 years to life in prison for those who have prior convictions of violent or serious felonies.
  • This was a bipartisan effort. The bill's author, Republican State Sen. Shannon Grove, said the purpose of the measure is to prevent repeat child sex traffickers from being released from prison early. 
  • I agree. While we’re on the topic of my governor…
  • Fox News has announced that it will host a debate between Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom. The 90-minute debate will take place in Georgia and is to be moderated by Fox anchor Sean Hannity.
  • Both of these guys are very likely to be presidential candidates in 2028. Could be interesting.
  • In other news…
  • Some potential good news in regard to something you probably haven’t thought about in awhile: net neutrality.
  • The proposed rules from the Federal Communications Commission will designate internet service — both the wired kind found in homes and businesses as well as mobile data on cellphones — as “essential telecommunications” akin to traditional telephone services, according to multiple people familiar with the plan. The rules would ban internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking or slowing down access to websites and online content.
  • FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel plans to unveil the proposal in a speech today. With her proposal, the FCC aims to restore Obama-era regulations that the telecom and cable industries spent years fighting in court, and that the FCC under Republican leadership rolled back during the Trump administration. 
  • Good. Let’s keep rolling.
  • Patrick Crusius, the gunman who killed 23 people and wounded 22 others at an El Paso Walmart in one of the deadliest attacks in modern US history, has agreed to pay more than $5.5 million in restitution to those impacted by the shooting.
  • In February, Crusius pleaded guilty to 90 federal charges, including hate crimes, from the 2019 shooting. In July, he was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences.
  • Um. That guy does’t have $5.5 million. He doesn’t have shit. He was 21 years old and had dropped out of community college when he killed all those people because they weren’t white like him. Why go through this bullshit exercise?
  • Let’s back up to El Dumpo for a moment. Yesterday he lambasted Pennsylvania’s move to establish statewide automatic voter registration, calling it a “disaster for the Election of Republicans” and a “totally Unconstitutional Act.”
  • Automatic voter registration adds anyone who obtains a state license or identification card as a voter, and residents can choose to opt out of the initiative at any time. Pennsylvania is the 24th state to introduce a version of automatic voter registration.
  • You have to ask yourself why someone is so against people being able to vote. It’s almost as if they know that they are exceedingly unpopular and that less people voting increases their odds of being elected.
  • And now, The Weather: “Dog” by Ryan O'Connell
  • RIP to actor actor David McCallum, who died at 90 of natural causes.
  • He was best known for his roles on “NCIS” and the 1960s spy series “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”.
  • Let’s do a chart. It’s this date in September 1984. I’m at the start of my junior year of high school. I have at least one girlfriend and I play guitar and keyboards in at least one rock band. I’m also using drugs and alcohol way too often, something I’d fortunately start to reign in a few years later. Most of the hits on the Billboard Hot 100 are getting a ton of exposure via MTV, which is at the height of its cultural influence. 
  • 1. Let's Go Crazy (Prince And The Revolution). 2. Missing You (John Waite). 3. Drive (The Cars). 4. She Bop (Cyndi Lauper). 5. I Just Called To Say I Love You (Stevie Wonder). 6. What's Love Got To Do With It (Tina Turner). 7. The Warrior (Scandal). 8. The Glamorous Life (Sheila E.). 9. Cruel Summer (Bananarama). 10. Cover Me (Bruce Springsteen). 11. If This Is It (Huey Lewis & The News). 12. Hard Habit To Break (Chicago). 13. Lucky Star (Madonna). 14. When You Close Your Eyes (Night Ranger). 15. Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) (Billy Ocean). 16. Dynamite (Jermaine Jackson). 17. Torture (The Jacksons). 18. Stuck On You (Lionel Richie). 19. Ghostbusters (Ray Parker Jr.). 20. The Lucky One (Laura Branigan)
  • From the Sports Desk… safety Haley Van Voorhis became the first woman who was not a kicker or punter to appear in a NCAA college football game. Van Voorhis, a junior at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA, was tapped to play Saturday against Juniata College during a Division III game at Shenandoah's Shentel Stadium. She stepped onto the field during the first quarter and registered a quarterback hurry — which led to an incomplete third-down pass. Shenandoah went on to win, 48-7.
  • My opinion? Anyone who is capable at playing any sport and beats out other players in their position should be able to play. Simple as that. I will tell you, safety is a rough position, but Van Voorhis looks tough to me, and if she wants this, she should do it.
  • Today in history… William II is crowned King of England (1087). Francis Drake finishes his circumnavigation of the Earth in Plymouth, England (1580). The Parthenon in Athens, used as a gunpowder depot by the Ottoman garrison, is partially destroyed (1687). George Washington appoints Thomas Jefferson the first United States Secretary of State (1789). Albert Einstein publishes the third of his Annus Mirabilis papers, introducing the special theory of relativity (1905). The United States Federal Trade Commission is established (1914). The ocean liner RMS Queen Mary is launched (1934). United Nations troops recapture Seoul from North Korean forces (1950). Typhoon Vera, the strongest typhoon to hit Japan in recorded history, makes landfall (1959). In Chicago, the first televised debate takes place between presidential candidates Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy (1960). Abbey Road, the last recorded album by the Beatles, is released (1969). Nolan Ryan sets a Major League record by throwing his fifth no-hitter (1981). The PBS Kids Channel is shut down and replaced by a joint network with Comcast called Sprout (2005).
  • September 26 is the birthday of gardener/environmentalist Johnny Appleseed (1774), physiologist Ivan Pavlov (1849), poet T. S. Eliot (1888), composer George Gershwin (1898), actor George Raft (1901), fitness expert Jack LaLanne (1914), singer-songwriter/guitarist Marty Robbins (1925), singer-songwriter Brian Ferry (1945), singer Gal Costa (1945), activist Andrea Dworkin (1946), singer-songwriter Olivia Newton-John (1948), musician Cesar Rosas (1954), actress Linda Hamilton (1956), singer-songwriter Darby Crash (1958), sports executive Jeanie Buss (1961), drummer John Tempesta (1964), politician Beto O’Rourke (1972), NHL players Daniel and Henrik Sedin (1980), and tennis player Serena Williams (1981).


That seems like plenty of news. I’m going to be putting on blinders and doing a shit-ton of writing today. Not fun writing. Work writing. It’s the time of year where people like me write about the new products that companies want to sell you in 2024. It’s a specific skill that has allowed me to do things like pay my rent for the past 30 years. I’m pretty good at it. Enjoy your day.

Monday, September 25, 2023

Random News: September 25, 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.



Good morning. It’s September 25, 2023, and it’s a Monday. I’m up and about, showered and dressed, and drinking coffee, so let’s take a look at various news-like items.


  • Over four months after they first went on strike, Hollywood writers have reached a tentative deal with studios on a new labor contract.
  • The agreement between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers — the group that represents all major Hollywood studios — was announced yesterday following several marathon bargaining sessions this week in Los Angeles.
  • Terms of the deal, which were not immediately made public, must still be ratified by the WGA's approximately 11,000 members.
  • I’m very glad for them, and I’m glad for everyone who watches entertainment so that they’re not subjected to writerless utter shit in the form of reality TV.
  • Moving on.
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several bills over the weekend aimed at bolstering the state’s protections for LGBTQ people.
  • The new laws focus on support for LGBTQ youth. One law sets timelines for required cultural competency training for public school teachers and staff, while another creates an advisory task force to determine the needs of LGBTQ students and help advance supportive initiatives. A third requires families to show that they can and are willing to meet the needs of a child in foster care regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • "These measures will help protect vulnerable youth, promote acceptance, and create more supportive environments in our schools and communities," said Newsom. I’m proud to live in a state where this is a priority.
  • In other news, the pressure is mounting for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to resign after being indicted on bribery charges this past week.
  • Prosecutors are accusing Menendez and his wife of accepting "hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes" in cash, gold, lavish gifts and other expenses in exchange for using his power to benefit a trio of New Jersey businessmen.
  • Menendez did step down as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Friday. Disparate political voices ranging from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) have joined the chorus of political leaders calling on Menendez to step down.
  • Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) said Saturday he will run against Menendez for the Senate job in 2024. Good.
  • Moving on.
  • Are you panicked about this WaPo/ABC News poll showing Biden trailing Trump with 42 percent support, compared to Trump with 51 percent support? Don’t be.
  • With over 13 months before an election, polls have shown us absolutely crazy things before. This poll lost a ton of credibility by stating that Trump leads Biden among young voters by over 20 points.
  • What you can do is to encourage people to vote. In general, the more people who vote, the more likely it is that we get leaders who represent the will of the majority of people (duh). The more apathetic the voting populace is, the worse we get.
  • Let’s move on.
  • Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is ramping up the pressure on Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to avoid a government shutdown by moving first on a stopgap funding bill that will pass the Senate this week, a few days before the September 30 deadline.
  • That’s smart.
  • The Senate’s plan is to send the bill to the House and put pressure on McCarthy to bring it to the floor for a vote it would pass with bipartisan support if given the chance.
  • Meanwhile, former President and current accused felon Donald John Trump yesterday urged Republicans to dig in as a shutdown looms over Washington, arguing that President Biden will take the blame if the federal government closes.
  • But I don’t think he will. Republicans in similar shutdowns have ended up taking the public relations hit in polls when the government has closed after battles between GOP Speakers and their rank-and-file memberships.
  • Let’s do some world news.
  • Ethnic Armenians living in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh began evacuating from the enclave yesterday, just days after Azerbaijan launched a rapid offensive to retake the territory, prompting local fighters to agree to a cease fire.
  • The first evacuees arrived in Armenia on Sunday afternoon. By Sunday night, more than 1,000 people had crossed the border into Armenia.
  • Leaders in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan, warned that the initial departures could quickly grow into a mass exodus from the enclave, amid fears among ethnic Armenian residents that they would face violence or persecution if they opted to stay.
  • Yes, that’s how it usually happens. Do you wake up every day being appreciative that you don’t live in a disputed territory where you and your family might be forced from your home via threat (or action) of violence?
  • You should. A lot of people in the world do.
  • And now, The Weather: “SCRAPZ” by Lutalo
  • Speaking of weather, if you haven’t heard yet… it’s going to be an El Niño year this winter. It will be the first in a few years to feel the effects of the phenomenon, which has a sizable impact on the weather during the coldest months of the year.
  • El Niño occurs when ocean temperatures are warmer than normal for an extended period. Along with a shift in the jet stream, El Niño typically brings wetter and cooler weather to the South while the North becomes drier and warmer.
  • Is it a bad thing? Not necessarily. In states plagued by drought, like Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi it will be welcomed. We typically get our asses flooded here in SoCal in an El Niño year.
  • The family of a Black student who was suspended from his high school over his hairstyle filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Saturday against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and the state's attorney general, alleging they failed to enforce a new state law that outlaws discrimination on hairstyles.
  • Darryl George, a 17-year-old student at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, TX, has been serving an in-school suspension since August 31 after school officials said his dreadlocks violated the district's dress and grooming code.
  • The lawsuit states that his ongoing suspension is a violation of Texas' CROWN Act, a new law that is intended to prohibit "discrimination on the basis of hair texture or protective hairstyle associated with race." I agree.
  • Are you old? You probably are. If so, you may not know that the etiquette of phone calls have changed in recent years. A few tips, especially if you’re calling someone under 40.
  • Text people before calling to ask if they’re free to talk now, especially if it’s a video call. 
  • Do not just text “call me”. If it’s about a specific topic, mention it in the text what it is you’d like to talk about so they can be prepared.
  • Don’t leave voice mails. They’re pointless. No one listens to them anymore, and it’s more likely they’ll be reading a transcribed text version anyway that be or may not be correct.
  • Stop expecting people will even answer their phones.
  • And do not use your speaker phone in public. Never do that.
  • Side note: these are etiquette rules that don’t apply all the time to your close friends and family. But for business and other semi-formal interactions, stop treating your phone like it’s 1983 and you’re calling someone from a kitchen or at an office desk.
  • From the Sports Desk… in one of the most lopsided games in NFL history, the Dolphins pummeled the Broncos 70-20 on Sunday. It was the most points any NFL team has scored since Washington scored 72 against the New York Giants in 1966.
  • From the Not Really Sports Desk… during the Chiefs 41-10 rout of the Bears, the attention was often not on the field of play, but instead on Travis Kelce’s family suite, where Taylor Swift was seen cheering on her maybe-boyfriend.
  • Today in history… the last Roman emperor elected by the Senate is Marcus Claudius Tacitus (275). England and Scotland sign the Treaty of York, establishing the location of their common border (1237). Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa reaches what would become known as the Pacific Ocean (1513). The United States Congress passes twelve constitutional amendments: the ten known as the Bill of Rights, the unratified Congressional Apportionment Amendment, and the Congressional Compensation Amendment (1789). Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism is founded in New York City (1912). TAT-1, the first submarine transatlantic telephone cable system, is inaugurated (1956). Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, is integrated by the use of United States Army troops (1957). Dr. Frank Jobe performs first Tommy John surgery on baseball player Tommy John (1974). Bill Cosby is sentenced to three to ten years in prison for aggravated sexual assault (2018). 
  • September 25 is the birthday of novelist William Faulkner (1897), artist Mark Rothko (1903), pianist/composer Dmitri Shostakovich (1906), MLB player/sportscaster Phil Rizzuto (1917), journalist Barbara Walters (1929), author/illustrator Shel Silverstein (1930), pianist/composer Glenn Gould (1932), keyboardist John Locke (1943), actor Michael Douglas (1944), model/actress Cheryl Tiegs (1947), actor/director Anson Williams (1949), actor Mark Hamill (1951), NBA player Bob McAdoo (1951), actor Christopher Reeve (1952), actor Michael Madsen (1957), actress Heather Locklear (1961), actress Aida Turturro (1962), NBA player Scottie Pippin (1965), rapper/actor Will Smith (1968), journalist Bill Simmons (1969), actor Hal Sparks (1969), actress Catherine Zeta-Jones (1969), rapper T.I. (1980), actor/rapper Donald Glover (1983), and NFL player Brandin Cooks (1993).


That’s plenty for a Monday morning. I’ve got a typical day… lots of writing and creating to do for my clients. That’s fine. Enjoy your day.

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Random News: September 24, 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.



Good morning. It’s September 24, 2023, and it’s a Sunday. I’m in my robe and enjoying coffee on a nice and quiet morning thus far. Let’s take a look at what’s been happening…


  • It’s still a fight of Republican versus Republican up on Capitol Hill where exasperated leaders in the House are pointing fingers at the holdouts in their own party who are keeping them stuck and without a clear plan to avert a government shutdown in just one week.
  • They do not have the votes to advance a short-term funding bill to keep the lights on past September 30, nor are they taking the step of working with Democrats on a compromise. 
  • However, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said yesterday that he will keep the $300 million of Ukraine aid in the Pentagon funding bill, a reversal from his announcement one day earlier that he would strip the money out due to opposition from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).
  • I hope the Republicans can avoid a shutdown, but I’d be shocked at this point if they did. This is the corner into which they’ve painted themselves. We’ll see how voters like the results of their actions (or inactions).
  • In other news, President Joe Biden has decided to supply Ukraine with long-range army tactical missile systems (ATACMS), an important boost to Kyiv’s capacity to target Russian military logistics at long range distances as the country prepares for a second winter at war.
  • Ukraine will commit not to target Russian territory with them and a waiver allowing the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine has expanded the number of potential missiles that could be used there.
  • In other Biden news, as mentioned before, he’s heading to Michigan on Tuesday to support strikes by the United Auto Workers. He accepted the invitation of UAW boss Shawn Fain to join them on the picket lines.
  • Nice. Let’s see how Trump supports his folks with a flashback to 2019 while he was still president.
  • At a welcome ceremony of General Mark Milley at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Army captain Luis Avila, who was severely wounded in Afghanistan, sang “God Bless America.”
  • “Why do you bring people like that here? No one wants to see that, the wounded,” Trump said to Milley in front of several witnesses.
  • Avila, who was handpicked to perform by Milley, had completed five combat tours and lost a leg in an IED attack in Afghanistan. As a result of his injuries, he subsequently suffered two heart attacks, two strokes, and brain damage. 
  • If you or your family members have any kind of disability, be they physical or mental or otherwise, people like Trump want to shove you someplace where you can’t be seen or heard.
  • Moving on. It’s Sunday, which is Gunday here at Zak’s Random News. Let’s take a quick peek to see if, by chance, any gun violence has happened in the USA over the past couple of days.
  • A toddler and two adults dead and other wounded in Jacksonville, FL. Three dead in a shooting near a mall in Atlanta, GA. Two dead in the parking lot of a bar in Bismarck, ND. One dead and five injured at a party in Pomona, CA. One shot dead and three more wounded at a nightclub in Washington, DC. One dead, three injured in an apartment complex in Orlando, FL. One dead and two more shot on a street in Wilmington, CA. A teenager dead and a woman wounded critically in Kansas City, MO. A 15-year-old shot dead in Brockton, MA. A man dead and a woman critical at a party in Littleton, NC. One dead, one wounded in Toledo, OH. One dead on a street in Phoenix, AZ. One shot dead at a gas station in Tucson, AZ. One dead on a street corner in Central Falls, RI. One shot dead at a party in Lexington, KY. An 86-year-old shot dead in Chicago, IL. A child critically injured in Memphis, TN. A woman shot in a nail salon in Kensington, PA. Four critically injured at a shooting in a. restaurant in Downey, CA. One found shot in Minneapolis, MN. Four kids and one adult shot in Chesapeake, VA.
  • Reminder: that’s not all of them. That’s what I saw with five minutes of news scrolling, and only for the shootings on Friday and Saturday of this week. There are many more I didn’t list.
  • How many shootings were there in a rest of the world in that same time frame? Maybe two or three. In America, it’s the guns. And it can be fixed if that’s what we wanted.
  • Moving on to some amazing science.
  • Seven years after launching to space, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft flew by Earth today to deliver a pristine sample collected from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. It’s NASA’s first time returning an asteroid sample from space.
  • The spacecraft lifted off in 2016 and began orbiting Bennu in 2018. The spacecraft collected the sample in 2020 and set off on its lengthy return trip to Earth in May 2021.
  • It dropped the sample capsule — containing an estimated 8.8 ounces of asteroid rocks and soil — from a distance of 63,000 miles above Earth’s surface early today, and entered the planet’s atmosphere at 10:42 a.m. ET while traveling at a speed of about 27,650 miles per hour.
  • It landed, slowed by parachutes, in the Defense Department’s Utah Test and Training Range about 10 minutes after entering the atmosphere. Sweet!
  • In other happy news, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn took a ride through the Plains Peanut Festival in Plains, GA yesterday.
  • Carter, who turns 99 on October 1, entered hospice care in February. He’s an amazing man, and might be the best overall pure human being who ever served as POTUS.
  • And now, The Weather: “Bright Green Vibrant Gray” by Helena Deland
  • As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been researching my ancestry through all manner of information gathering and DNA. I thought it would be fun to tell a little scandalous family tale from about a thousand years ago.
  • William IX of Aquitaine, my 28th great-grandfather, was married to my 28th great-grandmother, Philippa of Toulouse.
  • They had several children, including my 27th great-grandfather, William X of Aquitaine, who was born in 1099.
  • Another of my 28th great-grandfathers, Aimery I de Châtellerault, had married a woman named Dangereuse de l'Isle Bouchard, also my 28th great-grandmother. Dangereuse was her nickname, given for her extraordinarily seductive nature. Meow!
  • Those two also had a few kids, including my 27th great-grandmother Aénor de Châtellerault, born in 1103.
  • With me so far?
  • After being married to Aimery for seven years, Dangereuse began an affair with William IX. She moved into his castle where he built a tower for her, and even painted a picture of her on his shield.
  • William's wife Philippa was, understandably, enraged about this, and complained to the court and the church, but there wasn’t much she could do. His son William X wasn’t happy either. They settled this quarrel by arranging a marriage between William X and Dangereuse's daughter Aénor in 1121.
  • This all worked out okay for the western world; William X and Aénor had their own daughter in 1122. She was Eleanor of Aquitaine, my 26th great-grandmother, who was Queen of France from 1137 to 1152 (as the wife of King Louis VII), and Queen of England from 1154 to 1189 (as the wife of King Henry II), and became the wealthiest and most powerful women in western Europe during the High Middle Ages. 
  • There you go. Hope that ancient soap opera was enjoyable.
  • From the Sports Desk… NFL games kick off in a little under an hour, but I thought I’d mention an impressive baseball feat. Mookie Betts hit a two-run double in the eighth inning last night, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder 105 RBIs, the most ever by a leadoff hitter.
  • The Dodgers clinched a first-round bye in the postseason with the victory. Let’s Go Blue!
  • Today in history… The Battle of Rowton Heath in England is a Parliamentarian victory over a Royalist army commanded in person by King Charles (1645). The United States Congress passes the Judiciary Act, creating the office of the Attorney General and federal judiciary system and ordering the composition of the Supreme Court (1789). General (and future President) Zachary Taylor captures Monterrey in the Mexican-American War (1846). Gold prices plummet after President Grant orders the Treasury to sell large quantities of gold after Jay Gould and James Fisk plot to control the market (1869). Teddy Roosevelt proclaims Devils Tower in Wyoming as the nation's first National Monument (1906). Cathay Pacific Airways is founded in Hong Kong (1946). The Honda Motor Company is founded (1948). President Eisenhower sends the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce desegregation (1957). USS Enterprise, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is launched (1960). Representatives of 71 nations sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty at the United Nations (1996). 
  • September 24 is the birthday of Guru Ram Das (1534), historian/politician Horace Walpole (1717), SCOTUS Chief Justice John Marshall (1755), athlete Lottie Dodd (1871), third oldest person ever Sarah Knauss (1880), singer-songwriter/guitarist Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893), novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896), sportscaster Jim McKay (1921), puppeteer/director/producer Jim Henson (1936), singer/activist Linda McCartney (1941), guitarist Jerry Donahue (1946), actor Phil Hartman (1948), MLB player Rafael Palmiero (1964), and drummer Janet Weiss (1965).


Okay, I have to get out of this robe, into a shower, into some clothes, and back into this seat to enjoy some football. Enjoy your day.