Random News: October 20, 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 October 20, 2024, and it’s a Sunday. Just a quick note before I hit the road to head back home from my vacation.

• Getting packed to leave Joshua Tree.
• I never feel like I’ve stayed long enough, but it still is a nice refresh for my brain and soul.
• I’ll tell you all more about it when I’m back home.
• And now, The Weather: “Faded and Golden” by Caroline Says
• From the Sports Desk… congrats to the Yankees for winning the AL and heading to the World Series, where they’ll face either the Dodgers or Mets.
• Today in history… The United States Senate ratifies the Louisiana Purchase (1803). The Convention of 1818 is signed between the United States and the United Kingdom, which settles the Canada–United States border on the 49th parallel for most of its length (1818). The Soviet Red Army and Yugoslav Partisans liberate Belgrade in WWII (1944). The House Un-American Activities Committee begins its investigation into Communist infiltration of the Hollywood film industry, resulting in a blacklist that prevents some from working in the industry for years (1947). Richard Nixon fires U.S. Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus after they refuse to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox. The Sydney Opera House is opened (1973). Lynyrd Skynyrd’s plane crashes in woodland Mississippi (1977). Liz Truss steps down as British Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party amid the country's political crisis, serving for 49 days before resigning (2022).
• October 20 is the birthday of polymath/architect Christopher Wren (1632), UK prime minister Henry John Temple (1784), poet Arthur Rimbaud (1854), composer Charles Ives (1874), actor Bela Lugosi (1882), musicologist Robert Craft (1923), journalist Art Buchwald (1925), music producer/engineer Tom Dowd (1925), psychologist Joyce Brothers (1927), MLB player Mickey Mantle (1931), actor Jerry Orbach (1935), singer-songwriter/guitarist Tom Petty (1950), MLB player Keith Hernandez (1953), film composer Thomas Newman (1955), NFL player Dave Krieg (1958), singer/songwriter/bass player Mark King (1958), actor Viggo Mortenson (1958), US vice president Kamala Harris (1964), rapper Snoop Dogg (1971), US senator Brian Schatz (1972), and actor John Krasinski (1979).

That’s all. Enjoy your day.