Random News: August 19, 2022

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 August 19, 2022, and if you can believe it, it’s a Friday once again! Here’s just some random flim-flam off the flip-flop.

• I have a legitimate concern that once Trump is gone — and he will be gone — people will think the battle is won and they can curl back up in a cocoon of apathy.
• Nope.
• Please don’t do that. The way we ended up allowing extremists to be in a position to try and take over our country was by being complacent and overly assumptive that things would be fine and America would sustain its values without all of us continuously working for it.
• No matter what happens with the FPOTUS — and there will be a tidal wave of shit coming at him at high speed — there are thousands like him just waiting in line to take over his flock.
• Stay vigilant and stay strong. I know you can.
• Yesterday, a federal judge said he will unseal at least some of the affidavit for the search of Mar-a-Lago, and he ordered the government to submit their redactions.
• I’m mostly cool with that. As long as they hold back the info that would put individuals in immediate danger (witnesses and so on), might as well see what all the hubbub’s about, bub. I’m in favor of transparency on a general basis.
• However, the counterintelligence and national security officials at DOJ feel that even with a redacted affidavit, they are "very concerned about the safety of the witnesses”.
• I’m not at all sure that the MAGA world is going to like it, but it is what it is… a legal document that will likely clearly show a pressing need to take back the classified material the FPOTUS stole. They just want to know who the witnesses are, probably for nefarious reasons.
• They might not like the answer they get.
• Trump’s lawyer was present but did not make any arguments about the unveiling of the affidavit. The case is being pushed by media companies who state that the case is a matter of massive public interest and that people have the right to know.
• Guess we’ll see. Literally. The redacted version is due back to the court by next Thursday, August 25.
• From the Sports Desk… the Sports Desk watched a little bit of the Seahawks/Bears preseason game last night. The Seahawks looked impossibly bad, making high school-level mistakes left and right. Wait… maybe the Bears are just really good! Nah.
• Here’s a batch of current polls from swing states. I’m only showing you these because a) things are close and your vote very much matters, and b) even in areas you thought were not winnable, it’s probably closer than you think.
• Wisconsin Senate: Mandela Barnes (D) 50% (+4), Ron Johnson (R-inc) 46% (Fox News)
• Arizona Governor: Katie Hobbs (D) 47% (+3), Kari Lake (R) 44% (Fox News)
• Arizona Senate: Mark Kelly (D-inc) 50% (+8), Blake Masters (R) 42% (Fox News)
• North Carolina Senate: Ted Budd (R) 42%, Cheri Beasley (D) 42% (Cygnal)
• Ohio Senate: Vance (R) 45% (+3), Ryan (D) 42% (Emerson)
• Pennsylvania Senate: Fetterman (D) 51% (+11), Oz (R) 40% (EDF Action)
• Pennsylvania Governor: Josh Shapiro (D) 50% (+8), Doug Mastriano (R) 42% (EDF Action)
• Florida Senate: Demings (D) 48% (+4), Rubio (R-inc) 44% (University of North Florida)
• Also, note that polls can be just… wrong. Sometimes they don’t get a large enough demographic variety with their sample, or some event happens that quickly flips the fickle public opinion. But I’ll post them when I see interesting ones.
• And now, The Weather: “Anti-glory” by Horsegirl.
• Today in history… Octavian compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul (43 BC). In Salem, MA, one woman and four men are executed for practicing witchcraft (1692). The last major battle of the Revolutionary War happens at the Battle of Blue Licks in present-day Kentucky (1782). The New York Herald breaks the news of the California Gold Rush to the East Coast (1848). US Army soldiers kill Lakota chief Conquering Bear and are massacred in return (1854). The Indianapolis Motor Speedway opens (1909). Germany approves Adolf Hitler's appointment as head of state with the title of Führer (1934). Viet Minh led by Ho Chi Minh take power in Hanoi, Vietnam (1945). Severe flooding in the northeast caused by Hurricane Diane claims 200 lives (1955). The Soviet Union moves toward dissolution when Mikhail Gorbachev is placed under house arrest while on vacation in Ukraine (1991). Serbians rally to demand the resignation of Yugoslavia President Slobodan Milošević (1999). Google has its IPO on Nasdaq… I should have gotten in on that shit (2004). 
• August 19 is the birthday of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus (232), fashion designer Coco Chanel (1883), poet Ogden Nash (1902), inventor Philo Farnsworth (1906), writer Ring Lardner, Jr. (1915), Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry (1921), actress Diana Muldaur (1938), drummer Ginger Baker (1939), singer Ian Gillan (1945), 42nd POTUS Bill Clinton (1946), bass player John Deacon (1951), actor Jonathan Frakes (1952), NFL great Anthony Muñoz (1958), actress Kyra Sedgwick (1965), hook singer Nate Dogg (1969), and actor Matthew Perry (1969).

Well, I guess that’s enough. Things will happen today, as they do every day. Your goal in life shouldn’t be to expect everything will be perfect and then be shocked when they aren’t. It should be to expect good times and bad times, and to be able to roll with them accordingly. Today I’ll be working and trying to find some good stuff in various ways. You do too. Enjoy your day.

Random News: August 18, 2022

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 August 18, 2022, and it’s a Thursday for some reason. Here are the thoughts meandering through my brain like a fish in a turbulent river…

• Yesterday, America’s former mayor and now general nutbag Rudy Giuliani testified behind closed doors at a grand jury in Georgia, where he’s been named as a target in a criminal probe about attempted fraud in the 2020 election.
• No one knows what, if any, testimony he offered to the grand jury at the six+ hour session. If I was a betting man and Rudy was a normal human being, I’d guess he took his 5th amendment rights about a zillion times. But it’s Rudy so… anyone’s guess.
• On Tuesday, I mentioned Adam Bies, the PA guy who threatened FBI agents on the right-wing social network Gab and was summarily arrested.
• They already indicted him. That was mighty quick. Given the amount of evidence against him, it’s not really surprising.
• What is sorta funny is that Gab is furious with its owner, Andrew Torba, for having turned over the chat logs, email, and IP data on Bies without a warrant. Gab has marketed itself as a “free speech zone” where anything goes, including racism and violent threats. The users are very mad that they are actually being held to the same standards as anyone else in the USA.
• A bit of Crime Law 101.
• I know most of you know this, but I have seen some confusion before. An “investigation” is when information is being researched about a crime, and can include things like search warrants and depositions. An “indictment” is an official accusation of a crime having been committed, after the evidence is gathered. A “trial” is when the subject of an indictment is determined as being innocent or guilty, with parties always being presumed innocent until proven guilty. The burden of proof is always on the accuser.
• Now you’re all lawyers. Congratulations.
• Disclaimer: you are not lawyers and neither am I, unless you are a lawyer, and then yes, congratulations to you.
• It’s super foggy here in lovely Redondo Beach, CA this morning. It’s eerie. I like it.
• If you enjoy the majestic beauty of aurora borealis, the “northern lights” that have captivated people since time immemorial, maybe consider the fact that they are disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by the solar wind… particles being blasted from the sun right at us that — if our magnetosphere wasn’t in place and functioning — would torch us all immediately and turn Earth into a dry and barren wasteland incapable of supporting life. 


• So thank you, magnetosphere. We are pretty lucky to be on this planet. It’s got a great feature set. The others seem to really suck!


• Today, Trump organization CFO Allen Weisselberg is scheduled to plead guilty to 15 felonies and to testify about the company’s criminal tax fraud, per a plea bargain announced yesterday.

• So we’ll see how that goes.
• There’s also a hearing today in from of a federal judge on releasing the FBI affidavit from the Mar-a-Lago search. I’m typically a fan of transparency in government, but not at the expense of putting innocent lives in danger.
• One idea to meet both sides is to release it, but have it be heavily redacted so the witness names and other sensitive info can remain secure.
• So we’ll see how that goes too.
• And now, The Weather: “Alphamale” by Mandaworld.
• From the Sports Desk… the Big 10 collegiate sporting conference has entered into a seven-year media rights deal with Fox, CBS and NBC reportedly worth $7 billion. The Sports Desk says that if you’re not paying those athletes, you’re all giant assholes.
• One other little news note: in Alaska’s open House primaries, the leading candidate is Mary Peltola, a Democrat who got considerably more votes than the second-place candidate… a Republican named Sarah Palin.
• Democrats in all 50 states are in it to win it. 
• Today in history… Castillian and Aragonese forces take Málaga (1487). john White returns from England to find the Roanoke Colony deserted (1590). A huge fireball meteor is seen across Great Britain (1783). Pierre Janssen discovers helium (1868). A great fire destroys almost half of Thessaloniki, Greece (1917). The 19th Amendment is ratified, giving voting rights to women (1920). Nabokov’s controversial novel ‘Lolita’ is published in the US (1958). James Meredith becomes the first Black person to graduate from the University of Mississippi (1963). Australia and New Zealand withdraw their troops from Vietnam (1971). Anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko is arrested and beaten and later dies from his injuries (1977). A power blackout in Java affects nearly 100 million people, one of the largest outage events in history (2005).
• August 18 is the birthday of first English-descent child born in the USA Virginia Dare (1587), composer Antonio Salieri (1750), UK Prime Minister John Russell (1792), businessman Marshall Field (1834), businessman Max Factor (1902), activist Amelia Boynton Robinson (1911), politician Caspar Weinberger (1917), 41st FLOTUS Rosalynn Carter (1927), former Cincinnati Reds owner and terrible racist Marge Schott (1928), director and probable rapist Roman Polanski (1933), baseball great Roberto Clemente (1934), actor Martin Mull (1943), comedian Elayne Boosler (1952), actor Patrick Swayze (1952), actor Edward Norton (1969), actor Andy Samberg (1978), and NFL player Jeremey Shockey (1980).

I guess that’s all. I’m gearing up for a Thursday packed with meetings and work. That’s okay. I’ll do the things I have to do and the things I want to do, and you will too. If you can’t, no worries. There will be other days to do things. Be kind to yourself and to others, and enjoy your day.

Random News: August 17, 2022

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 August 17, 2022, and it’s a Wednesday. Let’s see what’s cooking…

• President Biden signed the landmark climate change and health bill into law yesterday. There are things in it that directly benefit you. Yes, literally you. 
• If you or your parents are seniors on Medicare, starting in 2025, your out-of-pocket prescription costs will be limited to $2,000/year. That’s a huge thing if you know how much money older people pay for medicine that keeps them alive and well.
• The new law also gives tax credits and loans to bolster technology like solar panels and other consumer efforts to improve home energy efficiency.
• Saw a Tweet just now from a very excited person who wrote, “Holy shit. My ITT Tech loans are gone!!!” That’s right. The Biden admin negated $3.9 billion in student debt for 208,000 borrowers defrauded by the now-closed bullshit college.
• It’s all good shit. There’s been a lot of good shit lately. My apologies to anyone who thrives on constant outrage, but try and appreciate the good shit.
• There’s a lot more to the new law, but this was a huge achievement in an era where the government is basically deadlocked. 
• We all knew that Liz Cheney would never survive a Republican primary after her valiant efforts to bring Trump to justice via her role on the January 6 Select Committee. She deserves everyone’s gratitude.
• I want to point out that Cheney may well throw her hat in the ring as a GOP nominee for President, in 2024 or otherwise. I think you’re going to be seeing more of Liz Cheney, not less.
• That loss indicates something all of us already know: what was formerly known as the Republican party has turned into an authoritarian nationalist cult that stole their name and branding but has little to do with the former version of the party. It’s a shame.
• I also want to point out that Cheney voted in the same direction as Trump and the rest of the GOP 93% of the time. Having a different Republican representing Wyoming doesn’t make a big change in nearly anyone’s lives.
• Your focus should be on states that have a reasonable chance of change in either direction, impacting the overall makeup of the House and Senate (aka swing states). I’ll be talking about those and who the players are in upcoming lists.
• The world has a major water problem. Beyond the issues being faced by western US states like Arizona and California, China is seeding clouds to try and replenish the Yangtze River. I don’t think most of you understand what a big deal this is, but you likely will eventually.
• Arizona will have 21% of its annual allotment of water from the Colorado River cut in 2023. California will be having our own restrictions (which we’re used to and have been through before in periods of drought).
• And yet, people will still expect their country clubs and golf courses to remain green and lush. It may not work out that way. Suck it up, buttercup. Tough times call for tough measures.
• Moving on…
• You’ve probably noticed that in recent times, each of these bullet lists have a section called “The Weather” that I 100% unabashedly stole from a great long running podcast called ‘Welcome to Night Vale’. It’s just a song that you might want to look up on Spotify or YouTube or wherever. It’s usually some kind of new-ish indie rock or indie pop or other music that you may not know you like. So that’s what that is.
• Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to appear before a grand jury in Georgia today in regard to his role in illegally attempting to overturn the 2020 election. Senator Lindsay Graham tried to quash the subpoena for himself in the same case, which was denied. He will continue to appeal, but assuming it doesn’t work, he is scheduled to appear Tuesday of next week. Also appearing next week: disgraced attorney Jenna Ellis, part of Trump’s “Kraken” team of crazies.
• All of them will likely be pleading their 5th Amendment rights quite a lot, I think… unless they go all wacky and sacrifice themselves for Trump, which has also been known to happen.
• One more note on that topic: the FPOTUS is having trouble hiring lawyers for his criminal defense. It’s not that there aren’t many lawyers capable and willing to defend him; it’s that he has a track record of not paying people for services for which he hired them. Lawyers, especially top-notch ones for this level of case, like to be paid.
• Scotland has become the first country in the world to offer its citizens “feminine hygiene products” (I hate that silly term), aka tampons and pads, for free. The idea that poor people in other countries, like the USA, can’t access these necessities is appalling.
• From the Sports Desk… this is cool. The NBA announced that they won’t schedule any games on Tuesday, November 8, to better encourage fans to use the time to go out and vote. The Sports Desk highly approves of this.
• And now, The Weather: “Whatever You Want” by Snowy.
• Today in history… Cesare Borgia, the son of a pope, becomes the first person in history to resign the cardinalate (1498). The first group of colonists lands in the New World to create Roanoke Colony in modern-day North Carolina (1585). The British parliament accepts registration of births, marriages, and deaths (1836). The Union beats the fuck out of Confederate-held Fort Sumter in Charleston (1863). Bridget Driscoll becomes the first person killed by being run over by a car (1896). US Marines raid the Japanese-held island of Makin (1942). ‘Animal Farm’ is published by George Orwell (1945). The first meeting of Narcotics Anonymous is held, appropriately, in Southern California (1953). Pioneer 0, the attempted first launch beyond Earth’s orbit, fails on launch (1958). Cat 5 Hurricane Camille smashes the Gulf Coast, killing 256 people (1969). The Soviets launch Venera 7, the first spacecraft to soft-land on another planet (1970). Michael Phelps wins a record eight gold medals at one Olympic Games (2008).
• August 17 is the birthday of frontiersman Davy Crockett (1786), activist/journalist Marcus Garvey (1887), actress Mae West (1893), actress Maureen O’Hara (1920), military pilot Francis Gary Powers (1929), poet/writer Ted Hughes (1930), computer scientist who invented software engineering and allowed the Apple mission to get to the moon Margaret Hamilton (1936), actor Robert De Niro (1943), businessman Larry Ellison (1944), guitarist Eric Johnson (1954), singer Belinda Carlisle (1958), actor Sean Penn (1960), disgraced former NFL coach Jon Gruden (1963), singer/actor Donnie Wahlberg (1969), NFL player Antwaan Randle El (1979), NBA player Rudy Gay (1986), and singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers (1994).

Well, my day is currently pretty typical. Got some things to research, things to write, things to draw, things to code. People to meet. Stuff to do. I don’t know what it’s like to wake up with nothing to do, and it’s very likely I never will. Maybe it’s good, maybe it’s bad. I’ll never know. Enjoy your day.

Random News: August 16, 2022

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 August 16, 2022, and it’s a Tuesday. Some things that I may have thought about…

• A couple of interesting items from yesterday.
• The FPOTUS got on his Truth Social and complained that the FBI “stole” (or, as normal people would say, confiscated) three passports.
• One, he stated, was expired. It’s likely that the other two were his personal one plus a separate diplomatic one, I believe.
• However, later in the day, the FBI claimed they were not in possession of his passports. He might as well have accused them of stealing the TV remote.
• But why was he looking for his passport? Your guess is as good as mine.
• The DOJ does not want to publicly release the affidavit that allowed the search of Mar-a-Lago. One big reason is that there are statements from eyewitnesses on it. Again, who those witnesses are and what they saw is something we’ll have to find out later. 
• In somewhat related news, Rudy Giuliani received a target letter to let him know that he’s under criminal investigation in regard to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
• And in still related news, Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) lost his motion to quash a subpoena, and he’s been ordered to testify in Fulton County, GA investigation of 2020 election tampering.
• These fucking guys.
• Meet Adam Bies of Mercer, PA. After the Mar-a-Lago search, he made a number of online threats against the FBI, including lovely statements like, “Come & get me you piece of shit feds. I am going to fucking slaughter you.”
• They came and got him.
• He also wrote, “My only goal is to kill more of them before I drop. I will not spend one second of my life in their custody.”
• He is currently, and for the foreseeable future, in their custody.
• Adam thought that by using a screen name on Gab, he was immune from being discovered. Gab immediately turned over all information on him, which of course included the IP address from which he posted.
• I think my friends are smart enough to know that 100% of the things you do online are traceable back to you in several ways. If you don’t lead a terrible life and don’t threaten other people, that should never be a problem for you.
• It’s highly likely that Republican Senator Liz Cheney will lose her primary in Wyoming tonight. Wouldn’t it be something if she chose to run for President in 2024, thereby splitting the GOP votes? Guess we’ll see. Either way, be careful what you ask for, because you might get it.
• Big recall on Capri Sun. Possible contamination with cleaning solution in the Wild Cherry flavor. There are some Capri Sun flavors that tastes a lot like cleaning solution anyway, so don’t take any chances.
• And now, The Weather: “Night to Day” by Skinny Dippers.
• Someone shot up Memphis, TN last night. They had to lockdown the hospital, which was conveniently near the shootings for the eight people shot. No word on their condition.
• Stop shooting people, please.
• Today in history… The House of Gonzaga begins its rule over the Duchy of Mantua in Northern Italy and will rule for almost 400 years (1328). General John Stark leads the Americans in a rout over British and Brunswick troops at the Battle of Bennington (1777). President John Tyler vetoes a bill to re-establish of the Second Bank of the United States, and Whig Party members lose their shit and riot outside the White House (1841). Gold is discovered near the Klondike River in Canada, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush (1896). Tōhoku Imperial University of Japan starts admitting female students (1913). The first color sound cartoon is released (1930). Riots in Toronto pit Jewish and Italian people against local Nazis (1933). Mass riots involving Muslims and Hindus in Kolkata will over 4,000 people in three days (1946). The House Un-American Activities Committee begins investigations of Americans who have aided the Viet Cong (1966). The August Complex fire burns over one million acres of land in Northern California (2020).
• August 16 is the birthday of soldier/diplomat T. E. Lawrence (1888), Felix the Cat creator Otto Messmer (1892), Israel Prime Minister Menachem Begin (1913), writer Charles Bukowski (1920), singer Eydie Gormé (1928), perhaps my favorite piano player ever Bill Evans (1929), actor Robert Culp (1930), NFL player and sportscaster Frank Gifford (1930), actress Julie Newmar (1933), musician Kevin Ayers (1944), drummer Scott Asheton (1949), talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford (1953), Kool & the Gang singer James “JT” Taylor (1953), director James Cameron (1954), iconic singer Madonna (1958), actor Timothy Hutton (1960), actor Steve Carell (1962), and director Taika Waititi (1975).

Well, as mentioned above, it’s Tuesday, so I’ll be doing work and having meetings and going grocery shopping and doing all the Tuesday-like things on my Tuesday list. Be good to each other. Enjoy your day. 

Random News: August 15, 2022

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 August 15, 2022, and it’s a Monday. Just gonna talk about various things here for a sec…

• I had a relaxing weekend. After last week, I needed it.
• Also, thinking that this week will also be insane, I’m glad to be well rested and ready for… whatever may happen, I guess?
• I saw a good analogy this morning. “Not a fan of Adolf Hitler but an unprecedented amphibious assault on the beaches of Normandy will only increase his popularity with the German public.”
• Nothing new as of yet on the Mar-a-Lago search warrant event, but the FPOTUS went on a rampage on his Truth Social network over the weekend, posting content that left no doubt he was going to encourage violence against the American people should the case against him progress.
• And progress it will, no matter what.
• If you want my take on the threatened “civil war” that would happen should the FPOTUS be indicted or arrested, it would manifest itself in a number of domestic terrorist attacks in various locations, as opposed to a widespread organized militant action. I’m sure the nation’s law enforcement agencies are already well aware of this.
• There are so many mass shootings that I rarely mention them individually anymore. Last night at a Six Flags in Gurnee, IL (north of Chicago, about 15 minutes south of the Wisconsin border), some type of squabble led to three people being shot in the parking lot of the amusement park. All are expected to survive, making it one of the happier shootings of the year thus far.
• Liz Cheney will likely lose her primary in Wyoming tomorrow. It’s not an easy time to be a conservative with a conscience. 
• I’m not joking about that, by the way. I’ve had many friends over the course of my life who always considered themselves Republicans. They prioritized small government, strong national security, and the other traditional conservative values. They are aghast at how their party got stolen from them by these crazy MAGA/QAnon people. It’s not been easy for them.
• Apparently binge eating and a lack of exercise during the pandemic is being blamed for a huge spike in gout cases. I had a friend who had gout, which sounds like some kind of medieval disorder that you cure with leeches. But it’s a real thing and it’s super painful.
• And now, The Weather: “Autograph” by Syd Arthur.
• Salman Rushdie, surprisingly, continues to recover from the stabbing attack that would have left most people dead. Happy for him. If you want to help him, his agent recommends buying one of his books. Seems legit.
• Actor Tom Holland said he is taking a break from social media to focus on his mental health. I highly recommend that for any of you who finds that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or whatever social net you use is causing more stress than happiness. There’s no law that says any of us have to be on here. 
• From the Sports Desk… um, nothing. The Sports Desk is concerned about his Las Vegas Raiders being 2-0 in the NFL preseason. Good preseasons are often a setup for poor regular seasons. They beat the Minnesota Vikings 26-20 last night.
• Today in history… Starting date of the First Crusade (1096). The Mongolian fleet of Kublai Khan is destroyed by a "divine wind" (1281). The Panama Canal opens to traffic (1914). Will Rogers dies in a plane crash in Barrow, Alaska (1935). ‘The Wizard of Oz’ premieres at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood (1939). Hirohito broadcasts Japan’s surrender in WWII (1945). India gains independence from British rule (1947). South Korea is established (1948). The Woodstock Music & Art Fair opens in Bethel, NY (1969). Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is killed with his family during a military coup (1975). The SETI project hears the “Wow! signal” (1977). Apple introduces the iMac (1998). 
• August 15 is the birthday of general and emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769), actress Ethel Barrymore (1879), chef Julia Child (1912), graphic design Paul Rand (1914), completely evil person Phyllis Schlafly (1924), piano legend Oscar Peterson (1925), politician Maxine Waters (1938), songwriter Jimmy Webb (1946), Doobie Brother Tom Johnston (1948), Princess Anne of the UK (1950), author Stieg Larsson (1954), philanthropist Melinda Gates (1964), actress Debra Messing (1968), actor Ben Affleck (1970), rapper Nipsey Hussle (1985), and actress Jennifer Lawrence (1990).

Alright, well… it’s Monday whether you like it or not. I’m going to workout and then do a bunch of work things, and that’s about it. I don’t have have expectations for any Monday, but I’m going to do the things I do, and so should you. Enjoy your day.

Random News: August 14, 2022

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 August 14, 2022, and it’s a Sunday. Here are some Sunday-ish thoughts and things.

• Words and actions have consequences. Believe it or not, I’m pretty careful about the things I say and write… not because I’m worried about getting myself in trouble, but I know that words have power, and I don’t want to be responsible for anything negative that happens as a result of my communications.
• I say this primarily to journalists and political leaders who are encouraging attacks on the FBI and other law enforcement. This morning, a man drove his car into a barricade near the U.S. Capitol, fired a bunch of shots from his gun, and then killed himself. Reason unknown as of yet. 
• Armed Trump supporters protested at the Phoenix FBI office yesterday. And, of course, Ricky Shiffer, the poor brainwashed guy who attacked the FBI office in Cincinnati to avenge his hero Donald Trump ended up dead in a field.
• When Hillary Clinton was accused of a crime by the FBI 11 days before the 2016 election, I don’t recall liberals trying to kill law enforcement officers as a result. There are differences between these mindsets.
• If you say “Back the Blue” in regard to the shooting of unarmed Black people and then say “Abolish the FBI” in regard to espionage and white-collar crime, you have to take a close look at yourself.
• Just wanted to note that as soon as the news came out that Trump was under investigation for espionage, human bag of shit Rand Paul called for a repeal of the Espionage Act. I’m serious. “You know, spying isn’t that bad and should be legal,” is their current defense. That’s how bad it is for the former guy.
• I’m not reporting any other info on the Mar-a-Lago raid in the espionage and obstruction investigation into FPOTUS (that’s the name listed on the warrant and I’ve decided I like it) until more tangible stuff comes out. The news will continue next week and for years after.
• Other stuff…
• Author Salman Rushdie is off his ventilator and appears to be recovering after being stabbed ten times. He’s 75 and was severely injured, so any good news is appreciated.
• J.K. Rowling has received death threats over her support of Rushdie, which is a shame; if you’re going to be mad at her, make it about her transphobia.
• Much of the greater Detroit area is under a boil water advisory. It affects almost a million people. It’s 2022; we should be able to provide people in civilized nations with clean water. Ideally, everyone should have free access to clean water but I know it's asking a lot.
• From the Sports Desk… preseason NFL football is in full swing. Sports Desk notes that the year his Raiders went 4-0 in preseason, they went 4-12 in the regular season. Don’t pay any attention to preseason. It’s like watching a tryout/scrimmage, which is fun, but has no bearing on reality.
• Sports Desk also notes that San Diego Padre Fernando Tatis Jr. has been suspended for 80 games for his use of Clostebol, a performance-enhancing anabolic steroid, and Sports Desk has zero sympathy for cheaters in any sport on any team.
• Big breakthrough in nuclear fusion energy. They confirmed ignition in a record 1.3 megajoule shot. No, I’m not a physicist and I don’t know what that means, but I do know that if we could achieve clean nuclear fusion as an energy source, we’d never have to worry about fossil fuels again.
• QotD: “Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.” - Martin Luther
• And now, The Weather: “Skin Game” by DIIV.
• Today in history… Huh Guang presents articles of impeachment against Liu He for 1127 offenses that included sexual debauchery and fiscal negligence (74 BC). Duncan I is killed in battle against his cousin and rival Macbeth, who replaces him as King of Scotland (1040). The Second Seminole War ends, forcing the Seminoles from Florida (1842). France becomes the first country to introduce motor vehicle registration (1893). The Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium raises the then-new Olympic flag for the first time ever (1920). Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act (1935). Pakistan gains independence from Britain (1947). Founding of the American Football League (1959). Bahrain declares independence from Britain (1971). Lech Wałęsa leads strikes at the Gdańsk, Poland shipyards (1980). Big power blackout in the NE USA and Canada (2003). 
• August 14 is the birthday of Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III de' Medici (1642), dentist and gunfighter Doc Holliday (1851), architect Amaza Lee Meredith (1895), businessman Wellington Mara (1916), MLB manager Earl Weaver (1930), musician David Crosby (1941), actor/comedian Steve Martin (1945), cartoonist Gary Larson (1950), film composer David Horner (1953), actress Marcia Gay Harden (1959), NBA legend Magic Johnson (1959), singer Sarah Brightman (1960), actress Halle Berry (1966), NFL player and coach Mike Vrabel (1975), and athlete of sorts Tim Tebow (1987).

I’m gonna keep doing Sunday things now. Enjoy your day.

Random News: August 13, 2022

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 August 13, 2022 and it’s a Saturday. I’m in a bathrobe, so let’s do some newsy things…

• Basically, everything we expected to have happen yesterday regarding the unsealing of the FBI’s search warrant for Mar-a-Lago did happen, but then more happened.
• The big thing was seeing the specific legal charges under which the former President is being investigated. Here they are, with a very brief explanation of each. 
• 18 U.S. Code § 793 - Gathering, transmitting or losing defense information. This is the law that came out of the Espionage Act of 1917. It has to do with obtaining information about national defense with the intent of causing injury to the USA. Penalty is a fine, up to 10 years imprisonment per document, or both.
• 18 U.S. Code § 1519 - Destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in Federal investigations and bankruptcy. This law is commonly called “obstruction”, and it’s actually the biggest one here. Penalty is a fine, up to 20 years imprisonment per document, or both.
• 18 U.S. Code § 2071 - Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally. This law makes it illegal to steal, hide, or destroy any kind of document without proper authorization. Penalty is a fine, up to 3 years imprisonment per document, or both.
• So, let’s chat for a second about something important. WHY NOW?
• Trump has been out of the White House since January 2021. Why did this search warrant get executed almost 18 months later?
• I think I can tell you, speculatively.
• See, no matter what Trump had stashed away, it only became an imminent threat to the USA after some agency got information about Trump attempting to make use of the classified and top secret documents.
• I have reason to believe that our government agencies intercepted communications between a foreign entity and Trump with specific information about some upcoming (or past) use of the secret information.
• Merrick Garland is a notoriously thorough and effective prosecutor. He’s supervised some of the highest-profile domestic terrorism cases in US history, including the OK City bombing, the Unabomber, and the Atlanta Olympics bombing. I know he’d never sign off on the warrant without overwhelming evidence that there was an immediate need to do so.
• I think we may find out that the need to remove the classified information was urgent.
• Any specifics will have to wait for an eventual trial.
• You can read the entire search warrant online. Google “Trump search warrant” and bang zoom, you got it.
• Okay. Enough on that for now. There will be so, so much more moving ahead.
• I normally would have spent today writing about the tremendous success of the Democrats having finally passed a major health, climate, and tax bill that was years in the making. It passed the House on straight party lines, and goes to Biden to sign next week.
• Major shit is going on in Baja California. Streets being taken over by drug cartel narco gangs. It is awful. Tijuana, just over the border south of San Diego, is in particularly awful shape with roads blocked by burning cars and violence being rampant. Hoping the best for my friends down there.
• In good news, the Southern Baptist Convention is under investigation by the DOJ for mishandling accusations of sexual abuse. I have no deeper seething anger than institutions in position of trust — churches, schools, and so on — that tolerate and cover up abuse of any sort.
• I’m sad about Salman Rushdie. He was giving a speech in western New York and was stabbed multiple times. The fatwa against him from Iran has been in place since 1988. He’s in bad shape and currently on a ventilator, and I hope he makes it through. Great writer, brave human.
• And now, The Weather: “Lylz” by Helena Deland.
• From the Sports Desk… The Sports Desk would like to once again reiterate its firm dislike for playing starters in NFL preseason. Case in point: Zach Wilson, the assumed starting QB for the New York Jets, got a knee injury during their first preseason game. It’s unknown how bad it is yet or if he’ll be healed up by the start of the actual season. Their backup QB is 83-year-old Joe Flacco.
• Today in history… Octavian holds a triumph in Rome for the victory over Dalmatian tribes (29 BC). Maurice becomes Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (582). Cortés conquers Tenochtitlan after a long siege (1521). Buddhist monks from Kyoto burn down the temples (1536). Louis XIII appoints Richelieu as Prime Minister (1624). Louis XVI is arrested as an enemy of the people (1792). Huge (8.5-9.0) earthquakes strikes Peru, killing 25,000+ and creating a massive tsunami (1868). Norway ends its union with Sweden (1905). Women enlist in the US Marine Corps, with the first female Marine being Opha May Johnson (1918). A public company is established in Germany called Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, later shortened to BMW (1918). Construction of facilities for the "Development of Substitute Materials" project, better known as the Manhattan Project, begins (1942). Apollo 11 astronauts get a ticker tape parade in NYC and are given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Nixon that night in Los Angeles (1969).
• August 13 is the birthday of physicist Anders Jonas Ångström (1814), abolitionist/suffragist Lucy Stone (1818), activist Leonora Barry (1849), gunslinger Annie Oakley (1860), inventor of the television John Logie Baird (1888), actor Bert Lahr (1895), director Alfred Hitchcock (1899), rotary engine inventor Felix Wankel (1902), golfer Ben Hogan (1912), politician Fidel Castro (1926), singer Don Ho (1930), Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders (1933), NHL player Bobby Clarke (1949), singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg (1951), photographer Herb Ritts (1952), actor Danny Bonaduce (1959), CIA agent Valerie Plame (1963), figure skater Midori Ito (1969), former press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders (1982), actor Sebastian Stan (1982), and NBA player DeMarcus Cousins (1990).

I guess that’s all for now. I should shower and be productive in some way. I’m happy it’s Saturday. I need the time to do things I enjoy. Hope you get that time as well. Enjoy your day.