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 November 29, 2024, and if you can believe it, it’s a Friday once again! I know that many Americans have the day off work, here on the day after Thanksgiving. As a self-employed person for the past 21 years, I don’t get days off work, though I do take them now and then. Today, therefore, is a half-assed work day where I have some things to do, and will get them done without being interrupted by calls or meetings, at least in theory.
- I am just excited as hell at the fact that sometime soon, I’ll be having a turkey sandwich. The best turkey sandwich of the year, in fact.
- Everyone has their own idea of the perfect post-Thanksgiving sandwich. I’ve tried them all, from open-faced with gravy to smothered in cranberry sauce… it’s a personal choice with no wrong answer.
- Mine is fairly simple… turkey and stuffing on a good white bread with mayo and lettuce, and some red onion if I’m feeling it.
- Let’s do some news.
- Today is Black Friday, an annual big day for consumerism.
- Why is it called Black Friday? The term started in the 1960s, but became more commonplace in the ‘80s. It refers to the pivotal point int he year where retailers shifted from loss ("in the red") to profit ("in the black").
- That’s total bullshit, by the way… the idea that a store can operate at a loss for eleven full months before finally becoming profitable only in the final month of the year.
- But that’s the concept.
- I normally eschew making purchases today unless it’s something that I truly need, and there happens to be a great deal on it that I can’t get any other time (which is also usually not true).
- However, this year, with the prospect of Dumpy’s tariffs driving up prices massively after he gets into office, there may be a couple of items that you’d be better off buying now than later.
- Of note: if we take Dump’s tariff threats at face value, then it means come January 20, we will see prices rise immediately. And yes, US companies will feel it first (potentially leading to cutbacks and layoffs), but there will be an immediate trickle-down effect passed down to US consumers.
- Some things you can’t buy and stockpile, despite knowing how much more expensive they’ll be int he upcoming Dumpy years. Those are things like fruits and vegetables, and a slew of other perishable foods.
- But it goes beyond that. For instance, Canada supplied the US with $40.1 billion in agricultural products last year, primarily meat and vegetable oil.
- But some of the highest prices hikes due to Dumples the Clown’s tariffs will be in product categories across a wide variety of things people buy all the time. Like cars.
- Nearly one-quarter of all new vehicles sold in the US in 2023 came from either Mexico or Canada. In many cases, vehicles move across borders several times before they are finally sold in the US.
- Some of the companies likely to be most severely affected include Stellantis and General Motors, which import 40 percent and 30 percent, respectively, of all vehicles sold in the US from Canada and Mexico.
- Those companies’ brands in the US include Chevrolet, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram Trucks.
- But Ford, Volkswagen, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, and Kia — all of which have factories in Mexico — would also be affected.
- How about gas for those cars and trucks? Canada is a major source of US energy, providing 60 percent of all crude oil imports in 2023.
- That translates to four million barrels of crude oil a day, worth more than $124 billion. So gas prices will be heading up.
- What about other common consumer goods?
- Electronics of all sorts will have higher prices under Dumpy. Walmart and Best Buy have already stated that they’ll have to raise prices if Dump makes good on his threats to China.
- He said during his campaign that he would impose tariffs of 60 percent or more for what he says are unfair trade practices.
- So anything made in China — video game consoles, computers, televisions, and smartphones — are getting more expensive due to Dumpy not understanding economics.
- And that’s assuming you can get these things at all. Tariffs could also trigger supply chain disruptions, potentially leading to delays, shortages, and further costs.
- So just be aware… unlike my usual advice, it might be a good idea to buy the things you really need now.
- Let’s move on.
- I want to talk about people who make threats toward politicians and public figures.
- I don’t care who you are or who the objects of your hate are. If you want to live in a civilized world, it’s not fucking acceptable. Never.
- This week, a number of Dumpy’s most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees reported that they had received such threats, as well as swatting attacks, in which perpetrators initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a victim under false pretenses.
- And then yesterday, on Thanksgiving, at least six Democratic members of Congress from Connecticut were targeted by bomb threats on their homes.
- Sen. Chris Murphy and all five House members — Reps. Jim Himes, Joe Courtney, John Larson, Jahana Hayes, and Rosa DeLauro — reported being the subject of such threats. Police who responded said they found no evidence of explosives on the lawmakers’ properties.
- Is that how you want to live life? Where our actions are dictated by fear of violence all the time?
- Stop that shit immediately. I don’t give a fuck how mad you are or how you feel political actions will impact your life. Turning to violence is the last resort of the weak. It also gives others excuses to make life worse for the rest of us.
- You’re better than that. Find another way.
- In other news… don’t eat cucumbers.
- Cucumbers shipped to 13 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces have been recalled because of potential salmonella contamination.
- SunFed Produce, based in Arizona, recalled the cucumbers sold between October 12 and November 26. No illnesses were immediately reported.
- People who bought cucumbers during the window should check with the store where they purchased them to see if the produce is part of the recall. Wash items and surfaces that may have been in contact with the produce using hot, soapy water.
- But let me ask you… who the fuck has a cucumber they bought six weeks ago?
- Moving on.
- There’s a fashion trend that’s returned from the ‘80s… for killer whales.
- Orcas, the alpha predator of the world’s oceans, have been spotted wearing dead fish on their heads — a look they were seen sporting nearly 40 years ago by researchers.
- Images have surfaced of orcas across Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest wearing dead salmon on their heads in recent weeks. I’m not kidding.
- In 1987, one female orca began carrying the dead fish on her nose. Within the next five to six weeks, the entirety of her pod — and two others — were following suit.
- And then, it went out of style and no killer whales would be seen with a dead fish hat for the next 37 years. Until now.
- Orcas are incredibly intelligent, which, combined with their physical attributes makes them the most bad-ass creatures of the sea. And, according to Naomi Rose of the Animal Welfare Institute, it’s in the orcas’ nature to follow trends, especially for the younger ones.
- So now you know that.
- And now, The Weather: “Scrooge” by Daneshevskaya
- From the Sports Desk… there’s an NFL game today, and it might end up being the worst one of the year. The worst team in the league — the Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) — is visiting one of the best… the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs (10-1).
- KC is favored by 13.5 points. It would be absolutely hilarious if the Raiders actually are problematic today.
- Today in history… San Jose, CA is founded as Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe and is the first civilian settlement, or pueblo, in Alta California (1777). The crew of the British slave ship Zong murders 54 Africans by dumping them into the sea to claim insurance (1781). Union forces under Ambrose Burnside successfully defend Knoxville, TN from Confederate forces under James Longstreet (1863). Thomas Edison demonstrates his phonograph for the first time (1877). FC Barcelona is founded by Catalan, Spanish and Englishmen (1899). Richard E. Byrd leads the first expedition to fly over the South Pole (1929). The Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia is declared (1945). Lyndon B. Johnson establishes the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (1963). "I Want to Hold Your Hand", recorded on October 17, 1963, is released by the Beatles in the United Kingdom (1963). Atari releases Pong, the first commercially successful video game (1972). Michael Jackson releases ‘Thriller,’ the best-selling music album of all time (1982).
- November 29 is the birthday of evangelist the Public Universal Friend (1752), physicist Christian Doppler (1803), novelist Louisa May Alcott (1832), physicist John Ambrose Fleming (1849), director/choreographer Busby Berkeley (1895), novelist C. S. Lewis (1898), singer-songwriter/guitarist Merle Travis (1917), author Madeleine L’Engle (1918), sportscaster Vin Scully (1927), singer-songwriter/guitarist John Mayall (1933), actress Diane Ladd (1935), musician/producer Meco (1939), horn player/composer Chuck Mangione (1940), singer-songwriter/pianist Felix Cavaliere (1944), singer-songwriter/guitarist Ronnie Montrose (1947), comedian Garry Shandling (1949), guitarist Barry Goudreau (1951), writer/director Joel Coen (1954), comedian/TV host Howie Mandel (1955), politician Janet Napolitano (1957), politician Rahm Emanuel (1959), actor Tom Sizemore (1961), actor Andrew McCarthy (1962), actor Don Cheadle (1964), actor Brian Baumgartner (1972), actor Chadwick Boseman (1976), actress Anna Faris (1976), politician Andy Beshear (1977), NFL player Russell Wilson (1988), and NFL player Stefon Diggs (1993).
Alrighty. That’s enough for now. I’m going to go half-work, half-whatever. And it’s almost an acceptable time for a sandwich. Yes, it’s 9am. I’ve waited long enough. Enjoy your day.
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