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SCOTUS dreams

“The Week That Changed The World.” That was a headline I saw a couple of times today. That might be a bit of exaggeration when you think globally. Although if you are considering change perhaps semi-globally then maybe you are on the right track.

SCOTUS, the acronym used for the U.S. Supreme Court, made the bulk of that news. The Court yesterday upheld key provisions to the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a.,”Obamacare,” though Justice Antonin Scalia writing the minority dissent stated: “We should start calling this law SCOTUScare.” The majority for the 6-3 opinion was written Chief Justice John Roberts, who was appointed by President George W. Bush.

This morning perhaps an equally if not more surprising decision came down from on high which ruled that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states.

Meanwhile, President Obama became the nation’s old-time “Holy Rolling preacher in chief.” He even tenuously led mourners for victims in the Charleston, S.C., shootings last week, in the our national spiritual-emeritus “Amazing Grace.” It was a coming together in U.S. civil rights with the specter of perhaps more than 150 years of disunity disappearing with discussions of ridding states of the former Confederate States of America battle flags flying outside statehouses.

And one more story on the news during the past three weeks partially wrapping with escaped New York state prisoner Richard Matt being shot and killed in an intense manhunt. NY state troopers and other police remain “in hot pursuit” of convicted cop-killer-escapee David Sweat.

So here we are a few hours later, the cops say they “are on top of him.” Whatever the f*** that means.

But, hey, it is very seldom the cops don’t get their man (or woman.) Perhaps that is because the police spend so much chasing people. Oh well, let’s hope the coppers get their man.

As for all the action that has been making these interesting news days this week maybe when I awake in the morning:

  • Pot will be legal across the U.S.
  • China will declare peace and non aggression and free Chinese food.
  • Democracy will be the law of Russia. Vladimir Putin has decided to tour with WWE.

I will then wake up and say: “Whoo, what a dream!”

 

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Who need the perp? Not me.

Perp walks. I just saw one on local TV. The “perp” looked as if his head was going to snap as he walked with his head away from the cameras. This young suspect of a home invasion robbery in nearby Port Arthur, Texas, was able to pull his sweater over his head. The few local reporters there all asked the man if he pulled off the crime. Apparently, the man didn’t answer, on camera at least. He probably said that he didn’t do it. Do what, Man? It is likely he’s done a crime or two before.

The perp walk typically happens when the cops call or email the press about an upcoming prisoner transfer to jail or arraignment. Usually, the reporters don’t just come up on a perp walk on their own.

I went to a few perp walks in my career in the news business. I found those occasions only slightly more useful to a news story than the “man on the street” interviews, what we called the “geek on the street.”

Maybe other countries are above such showmanship. Say nations like North Korea. Yes, it seems totalitarian nations would love a similar exhibition. But maybe not, if on the other shoe. The other stinky shoe of Kim Jong-Un.

I wouldn’t like to be on the other shoe. Pew.

Perhaps an all-star cast, starring Kim, maybe even Dick Cheney. And too bad Hitler’s dead. We can’t do Adolf. And I doubt we would get even get the live ones, like Cheney.

So TV news stars to be, here is a thought. Unless your manager, makes you go to a perp walk, I suggest you do something else. Maybe there will be a birthday celebration for someone who is turning 105 years in age. Or maybe the local firefighters are rescuing a cat from a well, perhaps even there is a real story out there. Even a blind pig finds an acorn every now and then.

 

 

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A Christmas test

Okay. Here is one of those tests, almost like a list except you don’t have to flip through it time after time.

Since everyone is hopped up on Christmas and mistletoe, I thought I would quiz you on Christmas randomness or Random Christmasness. Or something or the other. Don’t be fooled though. Some of these questions may have nothing to do about Christmas. You can see the answers at the bottom of the page.

1. Donner:

a. Sometimes is mistaken for Alfred Packer.

b. Is a reindeer who comes from the North Pole pulling a sleigh.

c. Is part of the name “Donner and Blitzen,” which is a Christmastime beverage featuring reindeer milk and grain alcohol.

d. Was the name of a TV detective show starring James Garner.

2. While Shepherd’s … :

a. Is the beginning of an old Christmas Carol named “While Shepherd’s Watched Their Flocks By Night.”

b. Is how an old Irish folk song about laundry done by shepherds around Christmas bonfires that begins: “While shepherds washed their socks at night … ”

c. ” … beauty was incredible her acting skills left the audience puzzled,” proclaimed an early review by The New York Times of Cybil Shepherd’s film work in “The Last Picture Show.”

d. ” … dogs barked pa-rum-pa-pum-pum ” is a line from “The Little Drummer Boy.”

3. “Grandma got run over by a … ” goes an obnoxious Christmas-season tune.

a. Freight Train

b. Black Friday shopper

c.  Tank Driven By GI Joe

d. Reindeer

4. “Don we now our gay apparel.”

a. Is a gay pick up line at Santa’s Place, a Manhattan bar.

b. Is a line from “Deck the Halls.”

c. Is said at the opening of the Gay Alliance of San Francisco.

d. Was used by Fruit of the Loom during their “Happy Undies” campaign.

5. Santa Claus:

a. Sees you when you’re sleeping.

b. He knows when you’re awake.

c. He knows if you’ve been bad or good.

d. So be good for goodness sake, all of the above.

6. The War on Christmas:

a. Is a farce exhibited by the conservatives.

b. Was fought in Flanders fields.

c. Is a Christmas toy battle put on by combatants of Mattel Toys.

d. Uses uranium shells.

7. “I Saw Momma Kissing Santa Claus” is a song that implies:

a. Momma is cheating on their Daddy.

b. Momma is delusional and probably her kids are as well.

c. Santa Claus is really Daddy because Momma is kissing him.

d. The children are thankful that Momma isn’t kissing reindeer.

8. “City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style:”

a. “In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas.”

b. “All the thugs are stealing our Christmas presents.”

c. “Come tomorrow we’ll be cleaning the crap once again.”

d. “In the air there’s a feeling of tear gas.”

9. Christmas time comes but once … :

a. The money’s gone.

b. A millennium.

c. A week.

d. A year.

10.  The popular Christmas song released in Spanish in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano is named:

a. “Feliz Navidad’

b, “Feliz el Gato.”

c. “Feliz dos tequilas.”

d. “Feliz Feliciano.”

Answers: 1) b. 2) a. 3)d. 4)b. 5)d. 6)a. 7)c. 8)a. 9)d. 10) a.

 

 

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Awaiting on the Ferguson grand jury. All at prime time.

For three months a St. Louis County grand jury has looked at the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by suburban Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. For more than an hour, CNN has trumpeted its “Breaking News” banner, with its anchors saying that an announcement was imminent as to the decision of that grand jury. One correspondent says an announcement may come in two hours while Wolf Blitzer says a statement by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon will say something to the media at any time.

When? For God’s sake. All the delay does is just heighten the tension.

A message on my phone by CNN says that the decision will be announced at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

On the other hand, this case is both explosive and tiring. It’s all about race. All the time. I’m sorry. So many feel they have the moral high ground when it comes to a race, specifically, their race. Red and yellow, black and white.

“Mostly say hooray for our side,” as Stephen Stills wrote in the 1967 Buffalo Springfield protest song, “For What It’s Worth.” Despite the song’s timeliness, it was written about the response from youth to a Los Angeles city edict that restricted activity at a  complaint-ridden club which young people saw as a civil rights infringement.

Gov. Jay Nixon, the Democratic governor of Missouri, is now speaking to the media on how the police and National Guard are preparing for the announcement on the grand jury report.

The governor called for “Peace, respect and restraint.”

“The world will be watching us,” said St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, at the news conference about the upcoming announcement.

More than two hours since I started watching, waiting to find out the Ferguson grand jury details, this continues.

Holy smokes, a big show before the big show.

 

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UPDATE: Marin Co. Sheriff Office press release on Robin Williams death

1600 Los Gamos Drive, Suite 205

San Rafael, CA 94903

Marin County Sheriff’s Office

Coroner Division

Investigation into Death of Actor Robin Williams

On August 11, 2014, at approximately 11:55 am, Marin County Communications

received a 9-1-1 telephone call reporting a male adult had been located unconscious

and not breathing inside his residence in unincorporated Tiburon, CA. The Sheriff’s

Office, as well as the Tiburon Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire Protection

District were dispatched to the incident with emergency personnel arriving on scene at

12:00 pm. The male subject, pronounced deceased at 12:02 pm has been identified as

Robin McLaurin Williams, a 63 year old resident of unincorporated Tiburon, CA.

An investigation into the cause, manner, and circumstances of the death is currently

underway by the Investigations and Coroner Divisions of the Sheriff’s Office.

Preliminary information developed during the investigation indicates Mr. Williams was

last seen alive at his residence, where he resides with his wife, at approximately 10:00

pm on August 10, 2014. Mr. Williams was located this morning shortly before the 9-1-1

call was placed to Marin County Communications. At this time, the Sheriff’s Office

Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a

comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made.

A forensic examination is currently scheduled for August 12, 2014 with subsequent

toxicology testing to be conducted.