HUG DAY UPDATES
Um, why? Is there something else going on today?
-With all the talk about the GOP getting into Hunter Biden’s “laptop,” turns out this weekend there is an actual, physical, REAL laptop that may be worth more investigating – a laptop (AND flash drive) full of scanned and digitized classified documents made by and found by private investigators working for … c’mon, you know what I’m’a gonna type next … EX-PRESIDENT TRUMP!
-Yes, over the weekend a new batch of documents the National Archives and national security experts have been trying to re-obtain from Trump for over a year and a half were turned over on the aforementioned electronic devices. Needless to say, the revelations open up many, MANY questions – from why Trump had private security experts he hired do the search rather than the FBI (which President Biden and former Vice President Pence did) (which could in turn bolster any potential obstruction case that the Department of Justice could bring) to whether or not those digital files may have been sent to people without clearance (to say nothing of the security or lack thereof of the devices) (oh, and WHO SAID TRUMP COULD SCAN THOSE DOCUMENTS?!). Questions, questions, questions …
-Also over the weekend, two more unmanned flying objects (I do not apologize for that abbreviation) that floated from China to this hemisphere were shot down by American forces. Not as much is known about these objects, which were shot down over Alaska and Canada (relax, Canada and the US have a joint agreement on air defense via NORAD), as the now-infamous Chinese balloon that was eventually shot down off the coast of SC and recovered. New Chinese unmanned aerial defense experts of the Republican Party who tried to lambaste the White House over not shooting last week’s Chinese balloon down sooner – a list that includes GOP Party Leader Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Z-Q-R, GA) who reportedly screamed “B**S**T!” at Pentagon officials briefing House members about it last week – are now claiming Biden has become too trigger-happy with the events of the last 36 hours. Some people just can’t be pleased …
-Sunday talk shows are full of Republicans continuing to deny that they intended to cut Social Security and Medicare after President Biden jujitsued them to commit to not doing so during last week’s State of the Union. Unfortunately for them, they actually continue to really want to do the opposite, as Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) admitted on CNN when he admitted that the GOP continues to advocate for a plan put forth by Sen. Rick Scott (SkeletoR, FL) and Ron Johnson (R-ussia, WI) that would call for all federal spending to be ratified and approved on a year-to-year basis – a move that would effectively destroy the kind of long-term investment and planning that is bedrock to both programs, and a scheme that would lead to another one of Rounds and the GOP’s goals: privatization of all the funds, particularly Social Security. So, turns out Biden did not lie as he continues defending Social Security throughout the country.
-The death toll of the dual earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria last week are now estimated to be over 33,000 people, as poorer areas are struggling to try to both rescue those who could be and recover those who have passed. Aid is obviously needed for those who can.
-There is some concern over a train accident that occurred last week near East Palestine, OH, in which 100,000 gallons of Vinyl Chloride spilled and led officials to evacuate much of the area out of fear of the gas igniting. Even with that, the fear is that gas can escape and emit acid rain and other toxic chemicals into the area with potential long-term consequences. While some news of what is occurring remains bit hard to come by, environmental activist Erin Brockovich (among others) are beginning to ask further questions about the situation as residents return to their homes.
-It is, of course, Super Bowl Sunday – and even though this is the VLIIth one of these things, it is still one with a few notable firsts: the first time the pre-game military flyover will be made with all female crews, the first time both starting quarterbacks (Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts) are African-American, and the first time brothers are facing off against each other (KC Tight End Travis Kelce and PHI C Jason Kelse).
-One thing that will NOT be happening, however, is the now-kinda-traditional pre-game interview of the President. There are conflicting reports about whether the White House or Fox – today’s broadcasters – are responsible, but if you want to know who Dark Brandon likes, you will likely need to follow it on social media before placing your provisional wagers on everything from the coin toss to how long the National Anthem goes to, y’know, the game itself (current odds have Philly as the 1.5 point favorites). Let the wings be consumed!
-On this date in 1909, the NAACP was formed. On this date in 1912, China’s last non-Communist Emperor, Hsian T’sung, abdicated his position. On this date in 1924, George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” premiered. On this date in 1999, Bill Clinton was acquitted by the Senate after being impeached for lying about his affair with then-page Monica Lewinsky. And on this date in 2002, Slobodan Milosevic was put on trial at The Hague for war crimes (he died before a verdict could be issued).
-Happy Birthday to Abraham Lincoln, Charles Darwin, Louis Renault, Anna Pavolova, Gen. Omar Bradley, Ted Mack, Lorne Greene, Dom DiMaggio, Forrest Tucker, Franco Zefferelli, Joe Garagiola, Costa-Gavras, Bill Russell, Joe Don Baker, Judy Blume, Ray Manzarek, Ehud Barak, Pat Dobson, Moe Bandy, Raymond Kurzweil, Steve Hackett, Michael McDonald, Chet Lemon, Arsenio Hall, Omar Hakim, Ed Lover, Chynna Phillips, Josh Brolin, Darren Aronofsky, Christina Ricci, Brad Keselowski, and Robert Griffin III.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Ethan Allen, Immanuel Kant, Grant Wood, James Cash (J.C.) Penney, Sal Mineo, Jean Renoir, Eubie Blake, Nicholas Colasanto, Charles Schultz, Oliver, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Tom Landry, David Groh, Betty Garrett, Kenneth Mars, Sid Caesar, Gary Owens, Al Jarreau, and Ivan Reitman.
-Feed the Worms: Salem witchcraft trial antagonist Cotton Mather, noted game show cheat Charles Van Doren, and beer-loving Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh entered Earth on this date. Goofball authoritarian wannabe Lyndon LaRouche bought it on this date.