NATIONAL JUST BECAUSE DAY UPDATES
I Mean, Do You Need More Of An Explanation?
-Russian authorities report genetic testing of remains confirm Wagner Group CEO and tepid coup plotter Yevgeny Prigozhin was among those who died in the ... incident that led to the crash of his plane. American intelligence sources report their belief that most likely cause of the ... incident was an explosive device on the craft. Shockingly, Russia also denies any involvement in the ... incident, though Vladimir Putin has demanded that the 50,000 mercenary soldiers employed by the Wagner Group sign full fealty to Russia - a command that, given the number two leader in the Wagner Group also perished in the ... incident ... will be fascinating to see.
-Meanwhile, amid a slew of stories in The New York Times, The Economist, and other sources about "frustration" with Ukrainian forces about the pace of their counteroffensive and questions about their tactics, other reports are citing Ukrainian souces that breakthroughs along the southern front heading toward Crimea are beginning to happen, and that the lines of defense from Russian forces behind those are not as well-fortified as once thought. If true, the fear that the counteroffensive will grind to the point political support for Ukraine falters (see the UltraMAGAts and certain Republican Presidential candidates) may be allayed amid hopes for a dramatic breakthrough.
-Nonetheless and always, SLAVA UKRAINI!
-And speaking of Presidential candidates, in news that should surprise nobody the campaign of Ex-President Trump XCI (aka P00135809) claims swag and tchotchkes being sold with Trump's try-to-make-constipated-look-tough mug shot scowl has raised over $7M for the Trump Defense Committee - er, "Presidential campaign," and since the latest round of indictments have been announced this month, over $20M have gone into the Trump coffers (though if that money is still there is something no man can answer).
-In what may be an attempt to troll the world still rolling its collective eyes at the claim in the Fulton County arrest records that Trump weighs 215 pounds, Trump claimed in a social media post that he "won" something called "The Senior Club Championship" at his Bedminster golf course in NJ - and also claimed he shot a 5-under par 67 in doing so. A search indicates no such tournament is in existence there or any other club, and in what may be a shock to some, former Sports Illustrated reporter Rick Reilly published a book in 2019 called COMMANDER IN CHEAT in which Reilly documents Trump's habitual lying about his golf game and golf scores.
-All 19 defendants in "The Enterprise" aimed at stealing the 2020 GA Electoral College votes away from the winner, Joe Biden, have been arraigned and booked, and attention shifts to see when and if and who the trial will begin. Thus far two of the 19 - Jeffrey Clark and Mark Meadows - have moved to shift the trial from Fulton County to federal court on claims they were acting as government officials and thus need to have the trial heard by a Federal judge, two others - Ken Chesebro and Sidney Powell - have demanded a "speedy" trial (which DA Fani Willis happily agreed to for October 23 should the trial occur, and at least three defendants - Trump, Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis - have claimed and/or made actions that indicate they have financial stress should the October 23 trial happen. Ellis has said she wants to try all 19, though that remains to be seen.
-A White man in his early 20s went to a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, FL and killed three shoppers in what local authorities report was a racially-motivated mass killing. All three victims in the store were black. Authorities note the shooter used racial slurs throughout the attack, left a number of writings that a federal agent described as outlining a "disgusting ideology of hate," and first attempted to enter the campus of Edward Waters University, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), but left after a security officer asked him to leave. The attack occurred on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington and Rev. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and in DC at a commemoration rally for that event, speakers condemned the incident and the atmosphere of hatred, anti-education politics, attempts to erase Black culture in schools, and gun love that leaders like FL Gov. Ron DeSantis (who released a tepid response and is reportedly debating whether to return to FL to lead his state after the incident) have created.
-If that and other news is a bit overwhelming - and who can blame you for that? - you may want to see a movie today. It is a great day to do it, as today is National Cinema Day, with all tickets for all movies in theatres a $4 bargain nationally. Like most you may see or resee the film of the summer, BARBIE, which has now made $1.2 billion worldwide and surpassed THE DARK KNIGHT as the top grossing movie in the history of Warner Bros. But don't feel too bad for DARK KNIGHT director Christopher Nolan - his movie OPPENHEIMER is setting some records of its own, including being the highest-grossing movie that was never the top-grossing movie in any given week since its release (the previous record-holder for that sabermetric-esque stat was the animated movie SING!).
-On this date in 1859, the first oil well in America was struck in PA. On this date in 1955, the first Guiness Book of World Records was published. On this date in 1964, MARY POPPINS premiered. And on this date in 2008, Barack Obama officially became the first person of color nominated by a major American political party for President.
-Happy Birthday to Theodore Dreiser, Carl Bosch, Charles Rolls, Man Ray, Leon Theremin, Lyndon B. Johnson, Sidney Yates, Marthay Raye, Ira Levin, Ernie Broglio, Alice Coltrane, Daryl Dragon, Tuesday Weld, Barbara Bach, Harry Reems, Sgt. Slaughter, Paul Reubens/Pee-Wee Herman, Alex Lifeson, Glen Matlock, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Downtown Julie Brown, Cesar Millan, Jim Thome, Tony Kanal, Mase, Sarah Chalke, Aaron Paul, Patrick J. Adams and Breanna Stewart.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to W.E.B. DuBois, Le Corbusier, Brian Epstein, Bennett Cerf, Margaret Bourke-White, Robert Shaw, Lord Mountbatten, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Greg Morris, Brandon Tartikoff, Darryl Dawkins, and Lute Olson.
-Feed the Worms: PSYCHO and TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 'inspiration' Ed Gein and ratfcking political sleazebag Roger Stone entered Earth on this date.
-Haile Selassie died on this date. You decide if he gets a Happy Birthday or if he Feeds the Worms.