Random News: March 8, 2024

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 March 8, 2024, and if you can believe it, it’s a Friday once again! I woke up happy after last night’s outstanding performance by the President at the State of the Union, and now how a giant cup of coffee which is further brightening my day.

• Let’s get it rolling with last night’s State of the Union address from President Joe Biden.
• I don’t think it’s even a question that it was likely one of Biden’s finest speeches of any sort in his long political career.
• Biden was focused and fiery. He didn’t let his speech challenges get in the way of his message. He was defiant and straight-up challenging attendees from Congress and the Supreme Court to do better.
• He didn’t seem like the sleepy old guy from the right-wing narrative. He was intense, energetic and optimistic. He handled hecklers with grace. He was prepared with responses to defend any attacks.
• You can easily watch the whole thing or read summaries of Biden’s SOTU speech anywhere; I won’t be recapping the whole thing. I’d say Biden hit on every one of the primary issues of the USA and the world, from Ukraine to Palestine, to women’s reproductive rights, to gun violence, to fair taxation of the super wealthy, and a lot more.
• I was objectively impressed with the guy. It may have been the best SOTU speech I’ve ever seen, stacking up against some great ones from orator dudes like Reagan, Clinton, and Obama. I think it was a big moment for him and potentially for the future of the USA.
• It wasn’t just me. Immediate polling after the SOTU said that a large majority of Americans who’d watched the speech had a positive or very positive reaction to it.
• You likely saw a large number of lawmakers on the left side of the room wearing white. Those were members of the Democratic Women's caucus, and their outfits with pins reading "Fighting for Reproductive Freedom" were there to emphasize their support for reproductive rights.
• Women voters who will not allow their freedoms to be taken from them — and the men who support their efforts — are going to be the biggest factor in the 2024 election.
• Meanwhile, the US economy continues to boom as 275,000 jobs are added, unemployed rate stays below 4% for 25 straight months, and wage growth continues to outpace inflation.
• Biden’s wisdom, mental sharpness, and leadership were all on full display last night. That’s the Joe Biden we elected in 2020 and will do so again this November.
• In any case, it was a huge win at a critical time. I think some folks who’d become apathetic about the coming election are now energized and ready to back Joe any way they can.
• Moving on.
• Today is International Women’s Day. It’s celebrated on March 8 every year, and is a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.
• In some parts of the world, IWD still reflects its political origins, being marked by protests and calls for radical change.
• In case you think otherwise, women are still paid less than men for the same work, are not presented with as many opportunities for growth and advancement, are less likely to be trained and chosen for leadership roles, are far more likely to be victims of violence and of sexual harassment, are subjected to antiquated gender roles, have less access to education worldwide, and have decisions regarding their reproductive plans made on their behalf without their approval.
• The only way any candidate is going to win at any level in US politics this year is to offer women the respect they deserve.
• Let’s move on.
• Not that I want to waste any space on this amazing piece of shit, but disgraced former New York Republican Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from the House by his fellow lawmakers in December, turned up last night at the SOTU sporting a bejeweled collar.
• Santos used the moment to announce another bid for office. I welcome the embarrassing distraction that he’ll bring to other GOP races this year.
• In other news…
• As long as we’re talking about the GOP, let’s give a few words to the woman who will almost certainly be the co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC), Lara Dump.
• Ms. Dump stated this week that Republicans who do not like her father-in-law Donnie Dump should leave the party.
• But she also said that Republicans would pay for all of El Dumpo’s legal bills, and that every penny the RNC has will go on electing him, if members vote her in as the next co-chair.
• To be clear, we liberals are VERY much in favor of this. We want every single penny that Republicans take in donations to be used for Dumpy’s legal defense and re-election spending.
• None of that money will do to down-ballot GOP candidates. Just straight into Dump’s pockets to spend as he wishes.
• We also want the many Republicans who had been less than supportive of Dump to feel openly unwanted with hostile statements telling them to leave the party.
• So Lara Dump is the perfect woman for the job. I endorse her 100%.
• Moving on…
• The New York judge presiding over El Dumpo's hush money case ruled yesterday that he'll use an anonymous jury when the case goes to trial this month.
• Dump and attorneys in the case will know the identities of the jurors, but their names will be shielded from the press and the public. Judge Juan Merchan cited "a likelihood of bribery, jury tampering, or of physical injury or harassment of juror(s)” by Dump and his supporters.
• Jury selection in that trial is scheduled to begin on March 25.
• In other news…
• The Senate passed legislation yesterday that would compensate Americans exposed to radiation by the government by renewing a law initially passed more than three decades ago.
• The bipartisan bill by Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) would expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include more people who believe that exposure caused their illnesses. While some Republicans have balked at the cost — an estimated $50 billion, according to Hawley’s office — the senators have argued that the government is at fault and should step up.
• I agree.
• And now, The Weather: “CD Wallet” by Homeshake
• I was reminiscing not long ago about Spring Break. It was a much bigger deal for me in high school than it was in college, though I got up to some pretty major shenanigans in both eras.
• Growing up in Southern California, it was pretty typical to head out toward Palm Springs and the general desert area. I never had any money, which seems kinda crazy to me in retrospect, leaving on a vacation without a dollar in my pocket.
• But somehow I survived. I remember one year while I was at San Diego State, going out to Lake Havasu with some friends and doing some waterskiing, and ending up having to be rescued by the Coast Guard. Long story.
• Mostly Spring Break for me was another excuse for abuse of drugs and alcohol and general debauchery. I’m glad I lived through that and grew up eventually.
• Anyway, I bring this up because Florida — a major East Coast destination for Spring Break — is imposing new rules for visitors in hopes of preventing chaos.
• Miami in particular is being clear about this, having released a video that pulls up old headlines about violence and arrests during past spring break weeks. 
• Gov. Ron DeSantis, the enemy of fun, had this message to visitors: "If you're coming here to enjoy Florida, and to have a good time, fine. If you're coming for these other reasons, if you're committing crime, causing havoc, you're going to pay the price."
• From the Sports Desk… Quarterback Russell Wilson is visiting today with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he also spoke with the New York Giants yesterday as the free agent-to-be seeks his next NFL team.
• Wilson is expected to meet with other teams, including possibly the Las Vegas Raiders. He’s going to be released by the Denver Broncos at the start of the league year, which is on Wednesday of this week.
• I do like Russ and wish him well. I don’t think he will be anything close to an elite quarterback for whatever remains of his career, and it’s super unlikely he’ll accept a backup position.
• Today in history… Following the death of his mother, queen Urraca of León — my 29th great-grandmother — Alfonso VII is proclaimed king of León (1126). An anonymous writer, thought by some to be Thomas Paine, publishes "African Slavery in America", the first article in the American colonies calling for the emancipation of slaves and the abolition of slavery (1775). French aviator Raymonde de Laroche becomes the first woman to receive a pilot's license (1910). The United States Senate votes to limit filibusters by adopting the cloture rule (1917). Daytona Beach and Road Course holds its first oval stock car race (1936). The iconic Volkswagen Type 2 "Bus" begins production (1950). US Marines arrive at Da Nang, Vietnam (1965). Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time (1979). While addressing a convention of Evangelicals, U.S. President Ronald Reagan labels the Soviet Union an "evil empire” (1983). International Women's Day marches in Mexico become violent with 62 police officers and 19 civilians injured in Mexico City alone (2021).
• March 8 is the birthday of composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714), journalist/politician Simon Cameron (1799), SCOTUS justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841), actress Louise Beavers (1902), actor Alan Hale Jr. (1921), actress/dancer Cyd Charisse (1922), singer-songwriter Richard Fariña (1937), actress Lynn Redgrave (1943), actor Micky Dolenz (1945), bass player Randy Meisner (1946), singer-songwriter Carole Bayer Sager (1947), singer-songwriter Gary Numan (1958), journalist Lester Holt (1959), NBA player/broadcaster Kenny Smith (1965), actor Freddie Prinze Jr. (1976), and tattoo artist/model Kat Von D (1982).

That’s plenty of news for now. I’m happy it’s Friday, and while lunch is many hours away, I’m already looking forward to my weekly sushi extravaganza. Enjoy your day.