09/11/23
Good morning! It’s Monday, September 11th.
The twenty second… anniversary? It feels weird to call something like that an anniversary but there’s not really another word for it. It’s a pretty neutral word, but it calls to mind a celebratory feeling which, obviously, is not something we attribute to a day like this.
Instead, today is a day to honor the nearly three thousand people that died on 9/11, as well as the many first responders who risked everything to answer their call of duty. 343 firefighters died on 9/11, but in the 22 years since then, more than 300 additional first responders have died from diseases they contracted from working the smoking pile of metal, glass and rubble at the World Trade Center site. That number, the more than 300, is the most recent data I could find and it’s from a year ago. It’s expected that the number of first responders that have died since 9/11 will, and likely already has, surpassed the number that died on 9/11.
I don’t really know how to transition into the news from here so I guess I’ll just call that out and say:
And now, the news.
Moroccan Earthquake
-via Washington Post
Unfortunately, we’re going to start with a horrific tragedy and some absolutely devastating numbers.
Late Friday night, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Morocco. As of this recording on Sunday evening, the death toll is at more than 2,100, with more than 2,400 more injured, and an unknown number still missing.
That number, 2,100, is excepted to rise significantly as rescuers continue to search the rubble.
This is the strongest earthquake to hit the area in more than a century.
On Sunday, King Mohammed VI ordered three days of national mourning army and called for mosques to hold prayers Sunday for the victims. He also finally, two days after the quake, while building continued to crumble and a 3.9 magnitude aftershock hit the region, the army mobilized search and rescue teams, and the king finally said the country would accept aid from four countries. However, they have not made an international appeal for help.
This is clearly a developing story that will, unfortunately, will only continue to get worse.
PA Manhunt Continues
-via CNN
The search continues for escaped killer Danelo Cavalcante, who has been on the run for 12 days. On Saturday night he managed to slip past a police perimeter, steal a van, and head north. By Sunday he’d ditched the van as well as the beard.
He is now clean-shaven and wearing a green hoodie.
This guy is crafty and dangerous. Stay vigilant and keep your doors, gates, cars, windows, and whatever else you’ve got locked.
Rubiales Resigns
-via NBC News
Luis Rubiales, the president of Spain’s soccer federation who was suspended by FIFA after he forcibly kissed Jenni Hermoso, the team’s star forward after their historic world cup win, has finally resigned.
He gets zero points for this, because you know he doesn’t think he did anything wrong. He claims he’s resigning because of the scandal’s impact on other people’s lives. I don’t think someone like him has the ability to think or care about how his actions impact others, because if that was the case he wouldn’t have assaulted Hermoso in the first place.
He quit because he was going to get fired and he, as well as the Spanish soccer federation that’s protected him, are just hoping this goes away.
But you know what? At the end of the day, Rubiales, as well as the team’s former coach Jorge Vilda, are gone. And hopefully this is the start of a new, healthy, era for the team.
Ashton Kutcher and Misa Kunis Request Leniency for Danny Masterson
-via NY Times
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, who first worked together on That 70s Show with Danny Masterson and, from there, embarked on a lifelong friendship, were among the many letters that were sent in to the sentencing judge in Danny Masterson’s charge of raping three women, for which he was found guilty in two cases. The third was a long-time girlfriend, and because they were dating when the crimes took place, the jury was unable to come to a consensus. Which is awful.
Danny Masterson is a monster who used his power in Hollywood to get away with heinous crimes.
And then two of his best friends, among many other actors, attempted to use their power in this town to get leniency in his sentencing.
Ashton called him a “role model” and said “I do not believe he is an ongoing harm to society.” Mila Kunis talked about his, “exceptional character and the tremendous positive influence he has had on (her) and the people around him.”
They later released an apology video. Not because they were sorry about what they did. Not because they were sorry they’d chosen the side of a convicted rapist. But because “they were intended for the judge to read.”
So. There we go.
Not sure what else to say there, because there’s not really a whole lot of ways you can stick up for sticking up for a rapist.
And that’s it. That’s the news.
I’m proud of…. First responders! I mean, granted that’s who I grew up with, but still – proud and appreciative.
But more than… would you believe me if I told you that it’s also National Hot Cross Bun Day? I mean, apparently it is but… why? Why not the 10th or the 12th? Feels like… hey, maybe we don’t need National Hot Cross Bun Day to take place on September 11th.
Anyway, more than hot cross bun day – because you know how to read the room… I’m proud of you.