WORLD LIZARD DAY UPDATES
Geckos! Iguanas! Komono Dragons! Let's Hear It For LIZARDS!
-While awaiting what most observers believe will be a series of charges related to his antics in GA in 2020, Thrice-Indicted (so far) Ex-President (TIsfEP) Trump decided to push his order not to speak about the federal January 6 charges to their absolute limits last night. In an early-morning post barrage on social media, Trump went after Judge Tanya Chutkan, having an aide cut-and-paste in ALL CAPS a quote from a sentencing hearing of a January 6 defendant Chutkan presided over which Trump then "uses" to "impugn" Chutkan as being VERY BIASED & UNFAIR!
-In the quote, Chutkan chides the defendant for being "... in fealty, in loyalty to one man, not the Constitution ... not to the ideals of this country, and not to the principals of democracy. It's a blind loyalty to one person, who by the way, remains free to this day." It is unclear if this is exactly correct given who is posting it, but it is also unclear whether this post may constitute witness or jury tampering per Judge Chutkan's order last week - an order that, if Judge Chutkan rules Trump violated, may mean an earlier trial date in order to circumvent further jury tampering attempts.
-Apparently not done with going after Chutkan (and, of course, Jack Smith for obtaining a search warrant for Trump's old Twitter messages from 12/20 and 1/21 this past January), THIS JUST IN: Trump this morning on social media calls out by name the former Lt. Gov. of GA for his testimony before the Fulton County grand jury prior to tomorrow's hearing, while continuing to slander D.A. Fani Willis with a lie about having an affair with a gang member and insisting the only election tampering that took place in GA was done by the Republican election officials for the benefit of Democratic candidate Joe Biden. (There is no evidence of such tampering. Joe Biden won the GA Presidential election by 11,779 votes.)
-Trump even raised eyebrows when his trip to the IA State Fair - in which he promised to buy supporters pork chop sandwiches (apparently because IA) and left without paying the bill (don't look so shocked) - was cut short after less than two hours. Combined with his NH speech in which his appearance was super-sweaty and extra-bronzy, rumblings about Trump's health are beginning to percolate. (Not that it will seem to help what was supposed to have been Trump's main opponent, FL Gov. Ron DeSantis, who made more fans in the state during his appearance at the fair by staging a photo-op at a bumper car ride in which his team only allowed DeSantis entourage members to join him).
-All of this news has apparently alerted the DC press yesterday, as the New York Times and major Sunday talk shows decided that with all the swirling news on Trump, the issue deemed most important to explore was ... how the new Special Prosecutor of Hunter Biden will affect President Biden's re-election plans. BOTHSIDES!
-Meanwhile, as Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities continue as Ukrainian forces continue their grind to clear land mines from Russian defense lines to hunt for a breakthrough in their counteroffensive, the Russian Navy launched a 'warning shot' at a freighter attempting to move Ukrainian grain to markets. The move is the first from Russia after declaring that they would target Ukrainian crops, which is a threat to not only Ukraine but all of Europe, as Ukrainian grain is a central part of the food chain in that part of the world.
-SLAVA UKRAINI!
-In medical news, you probably already have a sense of this from your social media feeds or friends or even your family or yourself, but there is a new surge and a new variant of our old and not-gonna-go-away-is-it? "friend," COVID. Reported cases are rising, hospitalizations are rising, requests for the not-effective-for-COVID drug Ivermectin are rising, and an updated vaccine to take care of the new variant - nicknamed 'Eris' - will reportedly be available sometime in September. Doctors remind people that the vaccines are effective at preventing illness serious enough to require hospitalization, and masking remains highly effective as well. Take care out there!
-And in megabillionaire combat sports news, Meta CEO Jeff Zuckerberg has announced the UFC-style fight first proposed by billionaire weirdo Elon Musk will not be happening. After Zuckerberg accepted Musk's challenge and started showing off his fairly decently contoured body, the ghost-white doughy Musk suddenly claimed he needed operations on his back and such, and besides a social media post by Musk's mom - no, I'm not kidding! - said little Elon wouldn't be fighting anyone anytime soon. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, folks ...
-On this date in 1935, the Social Security Act was signed - and Republicans have been trying to kill it ever since. On this date in 1945, Japan formally surrendered, ending World War II. On this date in 1985, Michael Jackson purchased publishing rights to, among other well-known songs, "Happy Birthday" and the entire Beatles catalog. And on this date in 2003, a blackout struck New York City and the American Northeast, and also took out power in cities as far west as Toronto, Detroit, and Cleveland, where the blackout apparently started.
-Happy Birthday to Doc Holliday, Ernest Thayer, John Ringling North, Wellington Mara, Alice Ghostley, Russell Baker, Lina Wertmuller, Thomas Meehan, Earl Weaver, Dash Crofts, David Crosby, Steve Martin, Wim Wenders, Antonio Fargas, Susan Saint James, Danielle Steel, Bob Backlund, Gary Larson, Mark Fidrych, Rusty Wallace, Jackee Harry, Magic Johnson, Marcia Gay Harden, Sarah Brightman, Susan Olson, Halle Berry, Mike Vrabel, Juan Pierre, and Mila Kunis.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Adm. David Farragut, Bertolt Brecht, Big Bill Broonzy, Clifford Odets, Oscar Levant, Dorothy Stratten, Enzo Ferrari, John Sirica, Pee Wee Reese, Czeslaw Milosz, Bruno Kirby, Shammi Kapoor, Ron Palillo, Fyvush Finkel, and James R. Thompson.
-Uber-religious NCAA QB star and NFL flop Tim Tebow was born on this date. William Randolph Hearst bought it on this datey You decide if they get a Happy Birthday/Rest in Peace or Power or if they Feeds the Worms.
-And the Number One Song in America on this date ... in 2023, "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen ... in 2013, "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell ... in 2003, "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce featuring Jay-Z ... in 1993, "Can't Help Falling In Love" by UB40 ... in 1983, "Every Breath You Take" by The Police ... and in 1973, "The Morning After" by Maureen McCormick.