WORLD FOOD SAFETY DAY UPDATES
Wash Your Hands, Wash Your Veggies, Don't Leave Cooked Food Out Too Long, and More!
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-In the updates ...
-Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in the Crimea region, which is already being called an "ecological catastrophe," as its collapse means Crimea may not have potable water for "at least a decade" and agricultural areas where the dam's reservoir provided water are either flooded or will no longer have that water. Russia, pointing to reports that American intelligence sources admit they knew Ukraine was planning to sabotage a Russian natural gas pipeline that was ultimately destroyed, are claiming Ukraine blew up the dam to cover up their "failing" counter-offensive - a claim parroted by Tucker Carlson on his first Twitter-show last night.
-Ukrainian forces note how the reservoir was used in challenging the claim that it would want to self-sabotage itself given how much it leans on agriculture for its economy, as well as earlier reports noting that Russia had planted land mines on a road over and next to the dam, as well as an NBC report that an explosion was heard near and under the dam prior to the breach. As for the counter-offensive, while Ukraine does not confirm whether it has started, they are reporting that Ukrainian forces are advancing in east and north of the country.
-SLAVA UKRAINI!
-Indictment Watches II and III continue, particularly in the investigations involving Ex-President Trump's handing of classified documents. A second Federal grand jury in that case has opened in FL, with legal experts believing some who may be indicted will need to be indicted in that state since that is where many of the alleged crimes took place - though they still believe Trump will be indicted in DC. That view is re-enforced by the admissions that former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has been testifying before grand juries investigating the documents and, of course, January 6. Still no word yet, though Trump's RANDOM CAPITALIZATION social media POSTS have increased IN THE LAST 24 hours.
-The queue of GOP candidates apparently hoping Trump's legal issues are so damaging he will be forced to step down continues to lengthen. Vice President Pence released a video announcing his candidacy (adorable!), North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announced his candidacy (really!), and former NJ Governor Chris Christie threw his hat into the ring yesterday. Christie's announcement was notable in that he is thus far the only candidate directly attacking Trump and his family and building his campaign on promising to go after Trump. Trump apparently noticed and responded as only a man of decorum and tranquility would - by posting about Christie's SIZE.
-Meanwhile, action continues with various fringe candidates attempting to use big names to attract disaffected voters to reject both Trump and Biden for ... reasons. The self-described centrist No Labels Party continues to try to build attention by threatening to run nationally, and is allegedly tempting that paragon of everyone-loves-him Senator Joe Manchin (Total D-WV) as their national candidate. The People's Party has the far left covered by pegging former scholar turned ultra-left gadfly Cornel West as its candidate, and Nick Brana, a former Bernie Sanders organizer who has been accused by multiple women of sexual assault and harassment, as West's running mate.
-And Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to run against President Biden as a Democrat while finding himself the darling of numerous sites ranging from the right (Fox News and Elon Musk) to the left (video blogger Russell Brand) and has won an endorsement from Twitter founder Jack Dorsey.
-This is gonna be fun.
-Isn't it?
-Trump's UltraMAGA allies had quite a day in Congress yesterday. Determined to show their angerrr over the debt ceiling deal cut by Kevin McCarthy (SINO, CA) but unwilling to exercise their ability to call his Speakership to an immediate vote at any time, they instead decided to embarrass McCarthy by having 11 Republicans join all House Democrats to reject a rules vote on a bill for the first time in the House since 2002, keeping that bill from being debated on the House floor. And the UltraMAGAts were serious, as the bill they used to embarrass McCarthy was one of their legislative priorities for this session - a bill that would stop the White House from mandating natural gas stoves be removed from homes, created as a result of a small report earlier in the year that older stoves could leak natural gas and create hazards in homes (as well as touting the energy efficiency of ovens with induction stovetops). If this sounds like a Three Stooges pie scene, the management would not object.
-And a final follow-up to an earlier story ... alas, it looks like it was a rebound from a five-year relationship, but the apparent romance between Taylor Swift and The 1975's Matty Healy has ended. So, they're both available!
-On this date in 1929, Vatican City became a sovereign state. On this date in 1962, the first drive-through bank opened - in Switzerland, of all places. On this date in 1965, the Supreme Court ruled that married people had the right to use birth control (this has yet to be challenged by this SCOTUS, but they want to). On this date in 1975, the first video recorder - the Sony Betamax - went on sale. And on this date in 1979, TX became the first state to make Juneteenth a state holiday.
-Happy Birthday to Beau Brummel, Paul Gaughin, George Szell, Jessica Tandy, Peter Rodino, Dean Martin, Gwendolyn Brooks, Charles Strouse, James Ivory, Herb Score, Bert Sugar, Tom Jones, Nikki Giovanni, Jenny Jones, Thurman Munson, Liam Neeson, Johnny Clegg, Louise Erdrich, Prince Rogers Nelson, Lance Reddick, Gordon Gano, Mick Foley, Dave Navarro, Bear Grylls, Allen Iverson, Bill Hader, Anna Kournikova, Michael Cera, and Iggy Azalea.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Robert the Bruce, Edwin Booth, Jean Harlow, Alan Turing, Judy Holliday, Dorothy Parker, E.M. Forster, Henry Miller, Drazen Petrovic, Dennis Potter, Max Factor, Jim McKay, Bob Welch, Christopher Lee, Jim Fassel, and announced today, George Winston.
-Feed the Worms: Muammar Gaddafi - or however it's spelled - entered Earth on this date.
-Mike Pence was born on this date. You decide if he gets a Happy Birthday or if he Feeds the Worms.