Guns and Politics, Can you rock on mocktails?
A shirtless man with a holstered handgun entered the Wisconsin Capitol on Wednesday and demanded to see Gov. Tony Evers. The man was taken into custody since his weapon was not concealed and he didn’t have a valid permit. Yes, there is apparently an obtainable permit that allows one to carry a concealed weapon in the Capitol building. The shirtless man with a holstered handgun was able to post bail, after which he returned to the Wisconsin Capitol building, again demanding to see the governor, this time carrying an assault rifle. This is a story about the increasing threat of politically motivated violence and American gun laws that are as crazy as the armed, shirtless guy who tried to skirt them in Wisconsin.
+ American kids need to be on constant alert for school shootings. And, recently, they need to worry about school shooting hoaxes as well. WaPo (Gift Article): Coordinated ‘swatting’ effort may be behind hundreds of school shooting hoaxes. “In state after state, heavily armed officers have entered schools prepared for the worst. Students have hidden in toilets, closets, nurse’s offices. They’ve barricaded doors with desks and refrigerators. Medical helicopters have been placed on standby while trauma centers have paused surgeries, anticipating possible victims. Terrified parents have converged on schools, not knowing if their children are safe.”
+ “Health experts say the stark contrast of fewer nonfatal and far more fatal injuries among kids and teens highlights the success of public health strategies that addressed sources of injuries such as car crashes, but not more lethal ones such as guns and drugs.” More kids, teens are dying from injury-related causes. Experts blame drugs and guns.
+ How’s this for a headline from WaPo (Gift Article): Officiant fires gun to welcome bride, shoots grandson — and wedding goes on.
Instigates of Hell
New Yorker editor David Remnick (who has been right about the threat of Trump from the beginning) on the increasingly overt and common calls for, and promises of, violence. “These are not mere anecdotes, ‘colorful’ moments of unscripted temper from a familiar source. (‘Just Donald being Donald!’) No, these moments are the essence of Trump and his campaign. In the coming year, you will rarely, if ever, hear discussion of policy from Trump. You will hear expressions of rage and impulse. It is tempting to ignore them, to dismiss them as inconsequential, repetitious, corrosive. They are so painful to listen to, both in their hatefulness and in their frequency, that some have argued the media should ignore them entirely, the better to avoid elevating them. But ignoring them will not make them go away. They are the center of a candidacy that is polling very highly and that threatens so much of what is decent or promising about our politics. Trump’s rage is the inspiration for everything from the Proud Boys to the mailing of pipe bombs to political targets.” Trump’s Bloody Campaign Promises. (I know, I know. You don’t want to think about this stuff. It’s all too depressing. Sadly, it’s also all too real.)
Is There a Dollar in the House
“Deploying mobile clinics to fill care gaps in underserved areas isn’t a new idea. But pairing them with Dollar General’s ubiquitous small-town presence has been heralded by investment analysts and some rural health experts as a way to ease the rural health care drought.” NPR: A mobile clinic parked at a Dollar General? It says a lot about rural health care.
For Those About to Mock
Maybe fans are all on shrooms, molly, and edibles, but concerts are getting mellower and a new generation is raging against the machine… with mocktails. WSJ (Gift Article): When Did Rock Concerts Become Tame? Thank Alcohol-Free Gen Z. (As I’ve suggested before, alcohol consumption is going to be the topic driving the next major culture war. Luckily, I’m gonna be too high to let it bother me.)
Extra, Extra
No Longer a WallFlower: “The Biden administration announced they waived 26 federal laws in South Texas to allow border wall construction on Wednesday, marking the administration’s first use of sweeping executive power to pave the way for building more border barriers.”
+ Orange You Glad You’re Not Bananas: “Global temperatures soared to a new record in September by a huge margin, stunning scientists and leading one to describe it as ‘absolutely gobsmackingly bananas.'” How bananas? Banana tree growing in London garden due to climate change.
+ Apple of My Ire: “According to the complaint in his case, unbeknownst to Kiani, back when the two companies started meeting, Apple hatched a plan, known internally as Project Everest, to obtain or emulate Masimo’s technology without paying Kiani a cent. Instead of acquiring Masimo, Apple could simply raid its brain trust.” I’m an Apple fanboy, but this story won’t surprise anyone who’s dealt with the company (or other tech bigs). LA Times: An Orange County entrepreneur’s $60-million legal battle to stop Apple from steamrolling startups. (I’ve often described the App Store as a Apple’s petri dish to determine which app they want to launch next.)
+ Targeting Civilians: “Ukrainian officials said Thursday that at least 51 people were killed in a Russian strike that hit a grocery store and café in the northeast Kharkiv region.” (The House GOP is no longer sure it wants to support the victims of these monstrosities in their fight to defend democracy.)
+ Norwegian Would: “The author is internationally celebrated in literary circles and has been called ‘the most produced living playwright.'” Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse wins the 2023 Nobel Prize in literature.
+ The Enablers: Julia Ormond is suing Harvey Weinstein for sexual battery. But she’s not stopping with the jailed rapist. “Ormond is additionally suing CAA, The Walt Disney Company and Miramax … it is rare for business partners that profited from Weinstein’s work to be named as defendants for supposedly enabling his behavior.”
+ You Get a Truck, You Get a Truck: “In one of the most unique and lucrative arrangements of the 27-month-old name, image and likeness era, the Crimson Collective, the NIL group supporting Utah athletics, is presenting a truck to each one of the 85 scholarship members of the football team.”
+ Domestic Affairs: “Despite the rigorous evidence, many of us, myself included, cannot stop rinsing. The suggestion that it’s unnecessary provokes domestic disputes and perhaps disproportionate anger … This fascinating disconnect warranted further study. Through testing and interviews, I found that there are many factors — logistical, psychological, personal, marital — that cloud the issue of dishwashing.” WaPo (Gift Article): Experts say don’t pre-rinse your dishes. We put that advice to the test. (Dishwashing is like politics. Facts don’t always matter. In my house, I dont care if you rinse or don’t rinse. But if you load the silverware with the tongs facing up, you’ll be vacated faster than Kevin McCarthy.) And, while we’re in the kitchen: Why You Should Stop Using Plastic Cutting Boards Right Now.
Bottom of the News
“His bodyweight has increased nearly 7,000% since the day he was born, which was less than a year ago.” (And let me guess, he still says he’s 6’3 and weighs 215?) Folks, it’s back: Fat Bear Week 2023: Can chubby cub 806 Jr beat the seasoned champions?
+ The finalists in this year’s Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have been announced. And they’re great.
+ One animal not getting any laughs these days is the Biden’s dog, Commander. He’s bitten his last Secret Service agent. Biden’s dog Commander has left the White House. (Even with a biting dog, there was a peaceful transition.)
