Random News: July 19, 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 July 19, 2024, and if you can believe it, it’s a Friday once again! As I humorously noted in a post yesterday, all I’m looking forward to this weekend is a relaxing couple of days without some kind of insane event hitting the news cycle. And yet, my senses tell me that may not be what’s in store.

• I’m going to get started with a pointless and drawn-out analogy. I hear readers like those.
• Let’s say you’re on a train. And the train will eventually arrive at a destination. It might be the one you expected, but there are also several other places within the realm of possibilities that could be promising destinations as well.
• However, there’s also one possible direction where the train plunges off a cliff and everyone on it perishes horribly. So that’s not good.
• But at this very moment, you’re riding along as a passenger. You’re not the conductor or the engineer. You don’t get to choose the track. You can express opinions on your referred destination, make guesses as to which one is least likely to end up in certain doom, and so on.
• But none of that will, for the moment, affect the direction of the train.
• So that’s some kinda nerve wracking shit there, but it’s also an exercise in Zen.
• There are always elements of life and the universe and everything that are beyond your control. Every moment of every day. And the act of letting yourself acknowledge that the stress from trying to control the situation — that you cannot influence — is in some ways as bad as the situation itself.
• So what the fuck am I talking about? The 2024 presidential election, of course.
• At this very moment, we train passengers do not, with any high degree of certainty, know who our Democratic presidential nominee is going to be. It might be, and probably should be, and likely will be, Joe Biden.
• But you’d have to have been living in a cave on a remote island for the past few weeks to not have heard chatter from all directions about Biden stepping aside to have another candidate run.
• There’s nothing that you or I can do about that, because it’s all Joe’s decision at this point. No one is literally going to force him out, but if certain people publicly withhold or withdraw their support, it’s going to be even more problematic for Joe to win the election.
• So we’re in limbo at this very moment. No one likes that.
• But I feel we won’t be for long. And to reiterate, whomever that candidate ends up being, they have my full support. Joe or otherwise.
• I will say this.
• The more I look at what Joe Biden has accomplished between January 2021 and now, the more impressive it is.
• And I was never prepared to get behind that guy. I didn’t even vote for him in the primaries in 2020, thinking he’d be too centrist for my tastes, and would cater too much to the status quo.
• But no. Joe’s been terrific. Leading us through the pandemic, launching one of the biggest economic recoveries in the country’s history, terrific actions in foreign policy and more. I have to admit… I was wrong, and he’s exceeded all expectations.
• One of the best presidents of my lifetime, no doubt.
• When I saw that the big roundup of ratings by noted presidential historians had Biden at the 14th best POTUS in history, above US leaders like Ronald Reagan, Ulysses S. Grant, and dozens of others, I objectively had to agree.
• I forget, who was dead last on that list? Oh yeah, Donald J. Trump.
• So I’m more than happy to vote for Joe Biden. And if necessary, I’ll vote for a different Democratic candidate if the situation plays out that way.
• Either way, the one thing we cannot do, though our own pettiness and infighting and childish desire to get exactly what we want all the time, is allow the train to plunge into the chasm.
• Let’s do some breaking news.
• A widespread technology outage grounded flights, knocked banks offline and media outlets off air this morning in a massive disruption that affected companies and services around the world and highlighted dependence on software from a handful of providers.
• Microsoft has confirmed that “a CrowdStrike update was responsible for bringing down a number of Windows systems globally.”
• CrowdStrike said that the issue believed to be behind the outage was not a security incident or cyberattack.
• “This is easily the worst faux pas, technical faux pas or glitch of any security software provider ever,” said Richard Stiennon, a cybersecurity industry analyst, who has tracked the cybersecurity industry for 24 years.
• This glitch, if you want to call it that, is impacting everything from General Motors to Universal Studios to news stations to hospitals and much, much more.
• President Joe Biden has been briefed on the CrowdStrike outage and his team has been in touch with CrowdStrike and impacted entities.
• The situation is still in flux. Moving on for now.
• Journalist Evan Gershkovich has been found guilty of spying and sentenced to 16 years in prison by a Russian court, in a case that the US government, his newspaper and supporters have denounced as a sham.
• I denounce it as well. This is some fucking bullshit.
• The court heard closing arguments and Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, delivered his closing remarks behind closed doors this morning.
• The speed of the trial has raised questions over whether the Kremlin is intending to use him as part of a prisoner swap deal with the United States.
• Gershkovich was arrested while reporting for the WSJ, during a trip to Yekaterinburg in March 2023, and later accused of spying for the CIA. Russian authorities have never offered any public evidence publicly to support their claims.
• Assholes. My word of advice, as it it matters: never go to Russia or any other country where you’re in extreme danger simply because you’re an American (or whatever nationality you are).
• Moving on.
• After last night’s rambling and incoherent speech accepting his nomination at the RNC, I am calling for Donald J. Trump to step down and allow a competent candidate to lead their party.
• What, you MAGA people don’t like that? Tough shit.
• People were seen leaving during the speech, which clocked in at about two hours and was called, “One of the truly awful and self-indulgent performances of our time” by the New York Times.
• Anyway, the RNC is over, and now it’s time for the Dems to step into the spotlight.
• Before we get there, one fun fact I found out.
• I feel like I’m late to the party in learning the vice presidential candidate J. D. Vance fucked a latex glove between two couch cushions.
• At least that’s what he wrote in his New York Times bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy,” pages 179-181.
• Alrighty. I don’t shame people for their sexual choices. I doubt Kamala Harris did anything like that particular move, but nothing about Republican dudes surprises me anymore.
• Moving on.
• Illinois sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson is being charged with murder after shooting a woman in the face in her own home after she called 911.
• Sonya Massey, 36, called for help on July 6 because she thought an intruder was in her home in the Springfield, IL area.
• Grayson and another deputy responded to the call. As the deputies were in Massey’s home to gather information and make sure the residence was safe, a dispute arose over a pot of hot water, and Grayson drew his gun and eventually fired three times toward her, striking her once in the face.
• Grayson also instructed the other deputy not to bother getting a medical kit. The other deputy still rendered aid and stayed with Massey until medics arrived.
• This week Grayson was indicted by a Sangamon County grand jury on three counts of first-degree murder and a count each of aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. He’s been fired by the sheriff’s office, surprisingly.
• Let’s move on. But while we’re on this topic, a follow-up from news I told you about a year ago.
• Seattle police officer Daniel Auderer has finally been fired for making callous remarks about the death of a graduate student from India after she was struck last year by another officer's vehicle in a crosswalk.
• Seattle interim police Chief Sue Rahr fired Auderer on Wednesday for his action in the hours after the January 2023 death of Jaahnavi Kandula.
• Rahr wrote that Auderer's actions "have brought shame on the Seattle Police Department and our entire profession, making the job of every police officer more difficult."
• Good point.
• In the incident, Auderer is heard laughing after stating Kandula was dead, incorrectly saying she was "just 26," and reasoning her young life had "limited value" and that the city should just write a check for $11,000.
• The prick didn’t know his body cam was on while talking about this grad student who was hit by a cop driving 74 mph in a 25 mph zone.
• Let’s move on before I get angry about that again. Look, the comments we make, joking or otherwise, matter. Just ask Kyle Gass of Tenacious D.
• Tip of the Day: don’t bite people.
• New York City Councilwoman Susan Zhuang, 38, is accused of biting an NYPD chief on Wednesday during a protest against against a proposed men's shelter in the Bensonhurst neighborhood.
• Zhuang is seen in photos and video pushing up against a police barricade, and then opening up her mouth to bite an officer — Chief of Patrol Frank DiGiacomo — and drawing blood.
• Related Fun Fact: it is estimated that 250,000 human bites occur each year in the United States; up to 25 percent of these injuries become infected.
• So first, ewwwwwww with our gross-ass mouths. Second, that means you’re over 5,000 times more likely to be seriously bitten by a human than a shark.
• And yet, no “Human Week” on the Discovery Channel.
• And now, The Weather: “Give It Time” by Ford Chastain
• One of the hardest RIPs I’ve done in a good while goes out to a guy you’d hoped would live forever: Bob Newhart, who died yesterday at 94.
• I know he did plenty of great stuff, but I will always associate him with the urbane and witty comedy of “The Bob Newhart Show” from the 1970s.
• Before even getting into TV, Newhart was a master standup with a unique voice whose comedy albums were wildly popular for their at-the-time new approach of observational humor. 
• Rest in peace.
• Oh, also, conservative political commentator Lou Dobbs died. He was the guy who got Fox News sued for more than $787 million by Dominion Voting Systems by spreading bullshit about the 2020 election.
• Let’s do a chart. Going back this time to this week in July 1975 on the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart. I’m six. I’m just about to move from Marblehead, MA to Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, a place where I’ll remain through my graduation from high school.
• 1. One Of These Nights (Eagles). 2. Venus And Mars (Wings). 3. Love Will Keep Us Together (Captain & Tennille). 4. Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy (Elton John). 5. Cut The Cake (Average White Band). 6. Made In The Shade (The Rolling Stones). 7. The Heat Is On (The Isley Brothers). 8. That's The Way Of The World (Soundtrack) (Earth, Wind & Fire). 9. Gorilla (James Taylor). 10. Metamorphosis (The Rolling Stones). 11. Diamonds & Rust (Joan Baez). 12. Disco Baby (Van Mccoy). 13. Horizon (Carpenters). 14. Between The Lines (Janis Ian). 15. Tommy (Soundtrack). 16. Cat Stevens Greatest Hits (Cat Stevens). 17. The Original Soundtrack (10cc). 18. Adventures In Paradise (Minnie Riperton). 19. Why Can't We Be Friends? (War). 20. Chocolate Chip (Isaac Hayes).
• And not a chart, but Rolling Stone just ranked the 100 greatest album covers of all time. As with any list like this, it’s literally just a collection of other people’s opinions, but here’s their top 10 regardless.
• 10. ‘Nevermind’ (Nirvana). 9. ‘She’s So Unusual’ (Cyndi Lauper). 8. ‘London Calling’ (The Clash). 7.‘Maggot Brain’ (Funkadelic). 6.’Horses’ (Patti Smith). 5. ‘Ready to Die’ (The Notorious B.I.G.). 4. ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ (Pink Floyd). 3. ‘There’s a Riot Goin’ On’ (Sly and the Family Stone). 2. ‘Abbey Road’ (The Beatles). 1. ‘Unknown Pleasures’ (Joy Division).
• I can’t argue against any of those.
• From the Sports Desk… two grown men are fighting over a number.
• Reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson is challenging Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman's use of their shared No. 8 in a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office complaint.
• Jackson, who owns or has applied for several trademarks using the number in various phrases, says Aikman's attempt to use "EIGHT" on apparel and bags would be "likely to cause confusion, or cause mistake, or to deceive" the purchasing public as to whether they're buying products from Jackson or Aikman's company, Jackson's attorney said in July 9 filings.
• Hey guys, come here, let me tell you something.
• YOU CAN’T OWN THE NUMBER EIGHT.
• Dumbasses.
• Today in history… The Great Fire of Rome causes widespread devastation and rages on for six days, destroying half of the city (64). The attempt to install Lady Jane Grey as Queen of England collapses after only nine days (1553). Representatives of the Iroquois Confederacy sign the Nanfan Treaty, ceding a large territory north of the Ohio River to England (1701). Coronation of George IV of the United Kingdom (1821). The last great fire to affect Manhattan kills four firefighters and 26 civilians and destroys 345 buildings (1845). A two-day Women's Rights Convention opens in Seneca Falls, NY (1848). Maurice Garin wins the first Tour de France (1903). Opening of the Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland (1952). Joe Walker flies an X-15 aircraft to 106,010 meters, qualifying as the first human spaceflight under international convention (1963). Ted Kennedy crashes his car at Chappaquiddick Island, MA, killing his passenger Mary Jo Kopechne (1969). The world’s first GPS signal is transmitted and received (1977). Opening of the Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union (1980). French President François Mitterrand reveals to U.S. President Ronald Reagan the existence of the ‘Farewell Dossier’, a collection of documents showing the Soviet Union had been stealing American technological research and development (1981).
• July 19 is the birthday of Egypt sultan Baibars (1223), painter/engraver John Martin (1789), businessman Samuel Colt (1814), painter Edgar Degas (1834), accused murderer Lizzie Borden (1860), surgeon Charles Mayo (1865), animator/producer Max Fleischer (1883), politician George McGovern (1922), animator/producer Arthur Rankin Jr. (1924), businessman/engineer Gaston Glock (1929), tennis player/politician Ilie Năstase (1946), guitarist/composer Bernie Leadon (1947), guitarist/astrophysicist Brian May (1947), keyboardist/composer Keith Godchaux (1948), guitarist/composer Allen Collins (1952), businessman Howard Schultz (1953), actor Anthony Edwards (1962), Scottish prime minister Nicola Sturgeon (1970), actor Benedict Cumberbatch (1976), soccer player Nené (1981), and NBA player Adam Morrison (1984).

As I’ve been saying… it’s hard to wait and see, but that’s exactly what we all have to do. It’s human nature to try and influence the results of things happening around you, but sometimes you don’t get that opportunity, and that causes stress and anxiety. Instead, you have to be okay with floating along down the river, allowing the current to carry you where it may. Pretty soon here, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to paddle your canoe like a motherfucker. I gotta stop with these analogies. Enjoy your day.