04/24/23
Good morning! It’s Monday, April 24th.
National Skipping Day. Skipping is fine, whatever. But what I really want to talk about is… do you remember Skip Its? My best friend Nikki and I had Skip Its and we were obsessed. And then we got Skip Its with a counter on them? Game over! Or, well I guess, new game started! Because then it was all about getting that count to 999 so it would turn over to 000 again.
And now, the news.
US Embassy Evacuated in Sudan
-via AP News
Let’s start in the Sudan, where U.S. Special Forces carried out an operation to evacuate the embassy on Sunday. Shuttering the embassy was done on the recommendation of Biden’s national security team as violence in Sudan started between two commanders on April 15th, with no end in sight.
The fighting has included an unprovoked attack on an American diplomatic convoy as well as other incidents where foreign diplomats and aid workers were killed or injured.
NBCUni CEO Steps Down
-via CNN
Jeff Shell, the CEO of NBC Universal is leaving the company after an outside investigation into a complaint of inappropriate conduct.
That’s not really… news I would normally talk about here but first of all, it’s kind of a slow news weekend (which we love!) and also because it gives me a chance to talk about something I think about every single day.
The Peacock app is no good! It’s no good on TVs and it’s TRASH on the phone. The interface is terrible and I firmly believe no one developing the interface has ever used it.
Karen Bass Says $1.3b is Needed to Address Homeless Crisis
-via NPR
Hey, if you’ve got $1.3 billion lying around, LA’s mayor Karen Bass would love to call dibs on it. In an interview with NPR’s All Things Considered, Mayor Bass said that $1.3 billion is needed to house the nearly 40,000 Angelinos that are currently unhoused. Solving homelessness in Los Angeles would curb the national homeless number by 25%.
This came days after the mayor released her new budget, that includes a 10% annual increase on spending to address the problem, including helping underwrite motel rooms for people currently living on the street or in tent encampments.
You know what I like? I like those tiny home neighborhoods we’re building. Build more of those!
Nine Injured at a Texas Party
-via CNN
At least nine teens have been injured after shots were fired at an after-prop party in Texas. The victims range from 15-19, and none have life-threatening injuries.
You know, we used to push back when Obama was in office and everyone was so sure that Obama was comin for the guns! And we’d say, no he’s not. And that’s true. He’s not. No serious person was saying, “we need to get rid of all the guns.”
But you know what… screw it. Take the guns I’m tired of reporting on these stories.
Delaware Legalizes Recreational Marijuana
-via WHYY
In, “Be a lot cooler if you did,” news… Delawareans over the age of 21 can now buy weed legally, recreationally, in America’s first state.
It passed without Governor Carney’s signature, who still opposes it but said, and I quote: “It’s time to move on.”
He’s been opposed to recreational weed, but in support of medical use as well as decriminalization. And while his views overall haven’t changed, he is not vetoing because Delawareans have spent too much time talking about this and not enough time working on the other, more serious, issues of the state.
So, there we go. Weed is legal in Delaware. Just… really doubling down on this, for anyone I know who may be listening in Delaware. It’s legal now. Have at it!
And that’s it. That’s the news.
See! Slow news weekend. And we love it!
I’m proud of Delaware. In general, but also I appreciate a governor who can come out and say – we’re spending too much time on this because of my own personal feelings. Let’s do what’s right for the state and move on.
I’m also proud of Skip Its. They burned briefly, but they burned brightly.
But more than that… more than a hot pink Skip It turning from 999 to 000, because you are also work celebrating… I’m proud of you.