INTERNATIONAL FETISH DAY UPDATES
Not Gonna Yuck Anyone's Yum (h/t Hal Sparks) - Just Get Consent!
-The fate of current House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Jay-EE-zus!, LA) seems to have become precarious again, as the Speaker acted like a somewhat responsible legislator and passed a continuing resolution to keep the Government open to early March in order for other budget negotiations to continue (even though most basically responsible governments would have passed such legislation months ago). His refusal to shut the government down to please and appease the UltraMAGAts that installed him has made them angry, and many - including party leader Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Z-Q-R, GA) (who has oddly been speaking about the still-not-caught would-be January 6, 2021 pipe bomber the last couple of days) and UltraMAGA intellectual leader Steve "If Gout Had Gout" Bannon (h/t John Fugelsang) - are starting to warn that Johnson may be in danger of a recall vote, which is still in force after the ouster of now ex-Congressperson Mike McCarthy.
-That danger could explain Johnson's continued reticence to allow border security legislation to be voted on, or even introduced, in the House. A Senate bill that does just that - along with renewed funding to Ukraine (SLAVA UKRAINI!) - is reportedly close to finalization and passage, but Johnson has been goal-post-moving on the issue. First asking for border legislation before allowing Ukraine (and Israel) funding to pass, Johnson is now insisting that no further Ukraine funding will pass unless (a) an "end game" of the conflict is presented to him, and (b) the Mexican border is "secured." Nobody believes Johnson on either score, in part because several MAGA Reps - including some in Texas where the issue is most critical - have been on the record as saying they will never vote for ANY border legislation before the election in order to prevent President Biden from getting credit for it and taking the issue somewhat off the table.
-The other reason is that Johnson is clearly getting guidance on the border from his Supreme Leader, Ex-President Trump XCI (what, you thought I was gonna say God?!). In an interview with Laura Ingraham (yeah, she's still on Fox, just moved into late afternoon), Johnson admitted he is in "constant contact" with Trump on the issue, and Johnson does seem to have Trump's backing, which is important with the UltraMAGA sniping and current 1-2 vote majority he holds thanks to multiple GOP resignations that have recently taken place on that side of the aisle. Gird your loins ...
-Speaking of Trump as we inevitably do, yesterday he managed to tear himself away from the second E. Jean Carroll trial long enough to 'mourn' his mother-in-law. But the trial did not seem to be far from whatever is left in his mind, as he stopped mourning long enough to post 26 reposts of old Carroll posts from the sex advice column she used to write before being raped by Trump (that is a legal admission made by the court), thereby potentially adding to the fire of the hearing, which is a SECOND proceeding to decide how much MORE in fines he must pay to Carroll for defaming her.
-That social media posts he made on the first day of the trial have already been admitted into evidence and the two-day cross-examination of Carroll by parking lot attorney Alina "Does This Outfit Make Me Look More Like Ivanka?!" Habba was plagued with her ineptness and at times literal here-is-how-you-do-this directives from Judge Lewis Kaplan, there is some speculation that this second fine may approach hundreds of thousands of dollars - especially if, as he has boasted, Trump will testify at the proceeding next week. Gird your loins some more ...
-In between courts and funerals, there was an appearance in New Hampshire in which Trump - waiving a hand that had strange bruises on several fingers and his palm - used an open mike to again open up questions about his mental and physical health. Among the WTF moments included Trump making a pledge to stop "de-banking" (potentially a response to President Biden taking action on banning excessive overdraft fees on consumers) (maybe?), bragging again about having more indictments against him than Al Capone (undoubtedly a follow-up to the endorsement Trump received from flipped mob witness Sammy "the Bull" Gravano), and bragging about what sounded like a new cognitive test he "passed" that involved being able to identify a whale (even though there are apparently no known cognitive tests that use a whale).
-Ah, but have you heard how old Joe Biden is?
-Have you?
-HAVE YOU!?!?!
-We close with Imminent Tech News, as tech reporters this week have been posting their photos of themselves trying out the soon-to-be-released Apple Vision Pro virtual reality goggles. The devices, which will be put on sale in February at a cool $3499 per set, is arguably the most anticipated gadget to be released in 2024 (because Apple, of course) - and while the actual reports of what they are like are about to be released, Wired reports that Apple itself are doctoring some of the photos in order to disguise the battery pack that is located on the headset itself. That Apple might do that makes a little sense given their penchant for wanting to release cool and sleek products (and the goggles, which feature what looks like transparent glass so others 'see' the eyes of the wearer, do have some of that look) - but the publicity may not be welcome given Apple's ongoing dispute over ownership of a sensor on their latest Apple Watch that has led to the watch being removed from American marketplaces while the legal battle continues.
-DISCLOSURE: This update was written and posted on an Apple product.
-On this date in 1825, the first patent for using tin cans to preserve food was granted. On this date in 1966, Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister of India. On this date in 1974, the longest winning streak in organized sports - UCLA men's basketball - ended at 88 games when Notre Dame beat them 71-70. On this date in 1977, Japanese-American broadcaster Iva Toguri D'Aquino - known by her radio name of Tokyo Rose -was pardoned by (who else?) Gerald Ford. On this date in 1983, notorious Gestapo leader Klaus Barbie was captured in Bolivia. And on this date in 2013, Lance Armstrong admitted he was doping during all seven Tours de France which he won.
-Notable debuts: IL TROVATORE (1853), electric lighting system powered by overhead wires (1883), televised Presidential press conference (1955), 48 HOURS (1988).
-Happy Birthday to (inventor) James Watt, Edgar Allan Poe, Paul Cezanne, Minnesota Fats, Javier Perez de Cuellar, Patricia Highsmith, Jean Stapleton, Nicholas Colasanto, Fritz Weaver, Tippi Hendren, Robert MacNeil, Richard Lester, Phil Everly, Michael Crawford, Shelley Fabares, Janis Joplin, Dan Reeves, Dolly Parton, Robert Palmer, Cindy Sherman, Katey Sagal, Paul Rodriguez, Al Joyner, Paul McCrane, Martin Bashir, J.B. Pritzker, Stefan Edberg, Junior Seau, Luc Longley, Shawn Wayans, Drea de Matteo, Frank Caliendo, Jodie Sweetin, Pete Buttigeg, Damien Chazelle, and Mac Miller. (Dang!)
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Ray Harroun, Thamas Hart Benton, Judge William O. Douglas, James Dickey, Carl Perkins, Hedy Lamarr, Tony Franciosa, Wilson Pickett, Denny Doherty, Suzanne Pleshette, Earl Weaver, Stan Musial, Miguel Ferrer, and Dorothy Malone.
-Feed the Worms: Civil War loser Robert E. Lee entered Earth on this date.
-Kinda racist chef Paula Deen was born on this date. You decide if she gets a Happy Birthday or if she Feeds the Worms.