Random News: December 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 December 8, 2024, and it’s a Sunday. I’m just rolling out of bed and, ensconced in my blue robe and with a fresh brew in my cup, will attempt to make some sense of this world.

• It’s a noteworthy anniversary for me today.
• 44 years ago today on December 8, 1980, I did my first live show as a performing musician. It was just a recital that my guitar teacher put on for his students.
• I did two songs: “Honesty” by Billy Joel and “Spooky” by Atlanta Rhythm Section. My teacher — the great Al Yniguez — had not discussed beforehand  the idea of me singing as well as playing, but I’d been doing it while rehearsing and I just jumped in and did that.
• In essence, at age 11, it was my first Zak Claxton-style show. I would go on to do thousands more over the course of my life, as a member of bands and a solo performer.
• And, in fact, that night led me to continue pursuing music as my passion, which led to my career in marketing musical instruments and audio products.
• Relevant side note: that night also taught me that good times are often immediately balanced with bad times, and vice versa. We were on our way home after that recital when the DJ on the radio cut away from a song to alert the world that John Lennon had been shot and killed in New York City.
• Let’s do some news.
• As he promised many times during his campaign, Dumples the Clown said this morning in an interview with “Meet the Press” that he will deport everyone who is illegally in the United States, including removing the American citizen family members of those deported.
• Despite the fact that birthright citizenship is long enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, Dump claims he will end it and strip rights from those born in the country to undocumented parents.
• As is very typical in the circus of a Dump admin, he also said he is open to working with Democrats to pass legislation that would ensure Dreamers — undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as children — would be able to remain in the country.
• So which one is it? Never mind; he doesn’t know. Don’t bother asking.
• As usual, Dump began by vilifying immigrants, saying, “We have to get the criminals out of our country. But we’re starting with the criminals, and we got to do it. And then we’re starting with others, and we’re going to see how it goes.”
• Uh huh. Also, the political scholar had another perspective to share in justifying his actions that will break up families.
• Dump suggested that birthright citizenship is uniquely American, saying, “We’re the only country that has it, you know.” But according in reality — something Dump is unfamiliar with — more than 30 nations provide birthright citizenship, including Canada and Brazil.
• Let’s move on.
• Syrian President Bashar Assad fled the country earlier today. During his 24-year period of leadership, he’s often struggled to hold onto control through a brutal civil war that became a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers.
• The exit of the 59-year-old Assad stood in stark contrast to his first months as Syria’s unlikely president in 2000. When he replaced his father Hafez Assad as the Syrian leader at age 34, the Western-educated ophthalmologist appeared as a tech-savvy fan of computers with a gentle demeanor.
• But when faced with protests of his rule that erupted in March 2011, Assad turned to the brutal tactics of his father to crush dissent. He used his military to blast opposition-held cities, with support from allies Iran and Russia.
• There have been years of allegations of widespread use of torture and extrajudicial killings in Syria’s government-run detention centers. The war has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of the country’s prewar population of 23 million.
• Assad’s whereabouts are currently unknown. Also unknown is what will happen next in Syria.
• Moving on.
• The United States will provide nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support to Ukraine, per Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin yesterday.
• This is smart; the Biden administration is rushing to spend all the congressionally approved money it has left to bolster Kyiv before Dump takes office next month.
• The latest package will include more drones and munitions for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. The weapon systems purchased are often intended to support Ukraine’s future military capabilities, not make an immediate difference on the battlefield.
• The U.S. has provided Ukraine with more than $62 billion in military aid since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
• That’s probably the only reason their country is still a sovereign nation and not overrun by Russia.
• Moving on.
• On Friday and Saturday, the country’s Democratic governors met for a series of closed-door meetings with donors, interest groups and advocacy organizations. Officially, the event was a time to chart a path forward under a Trump administration.
• Unofficially, it also served as a preview of the next Democratic primary.
• Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association, emphasized that the meeting was focused on the near term: keeping New Jersey and flipping Virginia in 2025, and on the “huge contingent of governors races in ’26.”
• But it was hard to ignore the weekend’s guest list stacked with potential 2028 contenders, including Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Tim Walz of Minnesota, JB Pritzker of Illinois, and Roy Cooper of North Carolina.
• Immediately following the election, some Democratic governors launched plans to “Trump-proof” their states. Democratic governors are expected be the last line of defense against the incoming GOP trifecta in the federal government.
• In other news…
• Far-right influencer and human garbage Nick Fuentes is due in court later this month after a 0woman accused him of pepper-spraying her when she showed up at his suburban Chicago home following his “Your body, my choice” social post.
• The 57-year-old woman approached Fuentes’ home in Berwyn on November 10, shortly after his address was leaked following his post.
• She says that Fuentes opened the door before she could ring the bell, pepper-sprayed her, screamed an expletive and took her phone. Fuentes, 26, faces a battery charge in connection with the incident. He is due to appear in court on December 19.
• As you may be aware, Fuentes — a Holocaust-denying white supremacist who is beloved by MAGA people — is part of an emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers who have seized on Dump’s presidential victory to amplify misogynistic derision and threats online.
• I think women of this country can expect a lot more of that in coming times.
• Let’s move on.
• A pair of iconic ruby slippers that were worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” and stolen from a museum nearly two decades ago sold for a winning bid of $28 million at auction yesterday.
• Heritage Auctions had estimated that they would fetch $3 million or more, but the fast-paced bidding far outpaced that amount within seconds and tripled it within minutes. Including the auction house’s fee, the unknown buyer will ultimately pay $32.5 million.
• The sparkly red heels had previously been on display at the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, MN in 2005 when Terry Jon Martin used a hammer to smash the glass of the museum’s door and display case.
• And now, The Weather: “Jona” by Penny Arcade
• From the Sports Desk… it’s Sunday, so football is on. Want to watch a blowout? The Carolina Panthers are visiting the Philadelphia Eagles, and the home team is favored by -14, the largest point spread I’ve seen this season.
• Want to watch a more meaningful and balanced game? The Seahawks (7-5) are visiting the Cardinals (6-6), and the NFC West is a super close battle where every game matters a lot.
• Today in history… Louis the Stammerer, son of Charles the Bald — my 37th great-grandfather — is crowned king of the West Frankish Kingdom (877). A woman — either Margaret Hughes or Anne Marshall — appears on an English public stage for the first time, in the role of Desdemona in a production of Shakespeare's play Othello (1660). A squadron of Britain's Royal Navy defeats the Imperial German East Asia Squadron in the Battle of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic (1914). U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declares December 7 to be "a date which will live in infamy", after which the U.S. declares war on Japan (1941). U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivers his "Atoms for Peace" speech, which leads to an American program to supply equipment and information on nuclear power to schools, hospitals, and research institutions around the world (1953). John Lennon is murdered by Mark David Chapman in front of The Dakota in New York City (1980). The leaders of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine sign an agreement dissolving the Soviet Union and establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States (1991). Nathan Gale opens fire at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, killing former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell and three others before being shot dead by a police officer (2004). Metallica performs a show in Antarctica, making them the first band to perform on all seven continents (2013). First confirmed case of COVID-19 in China (2019). Damascus falls after Syrian troops withdraw and president Bashar Al-Assad flees the country, marking the end of the Syrian Arab Republic (2024).
• December 8 is the birthday of poet Horace (65 BC), Mary Queen of Scots (1542), engineer Eli Whitney (1765), businessman William C. Durant (1861), composer Jean Sibelius (1865), cartoonist E. C. Segar (1894), humorist James Thurber (1894), opera singer Zelma Watson George (1903), actor/singer Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925), organist Jimmy Smith (1925), actor Maximilian Schell (1930), actor Flip Wilson (1933), actor David Carradine (1936), singer-songwriter Jim Morrison (1943), musician Gregg Allman (1947), actress Kim Basinger (1953), comedian Sam Kinison (1953), guitarist Warren Cuccurullo (1956), guitarist Phil Collen (1957), umm… Ann Coulter (1961), actress Teri Hatcher (1964), singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor (1966), singer-songwriter Corey Taylor (1973), rapper Nicki Minaj (1982), NBA player Dwight Howard (1985), and NHL player Drew Doughty (1989).

Little side note: I — along with Kat — spent a good chunk of yesterday recording new tracks for an upcoming They Stole My Crayon record, and we’re doing the same thing today. It felt good to enjoy some creative time that has nothing to do with my job. Enjoy your day.