Reuters, USA Today, and Vox explain Juneteenth

A joyous Juneteenth! I'm celebrating the newest federal holiday with three videos beginning with Reuters asking and answering What is Juneteenth, America's newest federal holiday?

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, is observed on June 19 each year. It became a U.S. federal holiday in 2021, following the signing of a bill by President Joe Biden[.]

This video serves as an update to USA Today asking and answering What is Juneteenth? The holiday's history and significance, explained.

President Joe Biden signed legislation marking Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, as a federal holiday.

The president signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act at 3:30 p.m. on June 17 in the East Room of the White House. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also gave remarks on the passage of the bill and the significance of the holiday.

That's a good overview of the holiday as of 2021 with an even better preview image, one so colorful that I originally placed it first.

For more depth, I'm sharing Vox explaining Why all Americans should honor Juneteenth.

An historian explains the history and significance of the holiday.
...
Note: This video was previously titled, "Juneteenth, explained." The title has been changed to better reflect the video's content.

When American schoolchildren learn about chattel slavery in the US, we’re often told it ended with Abraham Lincoln’s signature on the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.

But, as late as June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Texas were still held in bondage. On that date, the Federal troops entered the state and began to punish slave holders and former confederates who refused to obey the law.

“Juneteenth is a deeply emotional moment for enslaved people,” says historian Karlos K. Hill, of the University of Oklahoma.

In Texas and across the country, emancipated African Americans began celebrating annually, with parades, concerts, and picnics. “Being able to go wherever they want and being able to wander about; for enslaved people, it was an expression of their freedom,” says Hill. “Formerly enslaved people celebrating, in public, their newfound freedom, was an act of resistance.”

However, by 1877, the Federal government had largely abandoned the South. The lynching era— when hundreds of African Americans were killed by white mobs each year across the North and the South— began soon after.

Today, Dr. Hill says, commemorating Juneteenth is important for all Americans because it helps us see all the ways that slavery still shapes this country, including, as he says, “the desire to master and dominate black bodies.”

As much as I like Vox's videos, I'm surprised I haven't embedded this one in one of my previous posts. It was about time I did.

That's a wrap for today's holiday. Stay tuned for more celebrations of American Eagle Day, National Seashell Day, the Summer Solstice, World Giraffe Day, World Rainforest Day, Detroit-Style Pizza Day, and Souther. As I wrote yesterday, I have the rest of my blogging week already cut out for me!

'The debate over the Anthropocene, explained' by Vox and SciShow

I concluded Animalogic's 'Crocodiles: Survivors of the Last Extinction' for World Crocodile Day by telling my readers, "This blog is likely to pass its page view goal for June before I post the next entry, so look for something evergreen tomorrow. Stay tuned." As i predicted, the blog passed its June page view goal early yesterday afternoon, so I'm shifting from current events to topics that will still be good to share next month. With that in mind, I'm sharing The debate over the Anthropocene, explained by Vox.

Humans have changed the planet. Should that go on the geologic calendar?
...
The word “Anthropocene” has gained cultural resonance in recent years, as it’s become clearer that humans have made an indelible — and destructive — impact on our planet. But it’s also a term with a specific technical meaning: an epoch, or geologic unit of time, named for humans.

In 2009, geologists first started investigating whether the Anthropocene should be formally recognized as part of the way we record geologic time. This video explains what happened next: how a team of scientists looked for the evidence to make their case, and what it means to consider human time as part of the Earth’s 4.6 billion-year history.

Note: The title of this video has been updated.
Previous title: Should humans get their own geologic era?

The link I first embedded in "a possible sixth mass extinction" yesterday was to Holocene extinction or Anthropocene extinction on Wikipedia, which reminded me that I'd been sitting on this video for the past month. Also, I'm in the middle of teaching about geologic time, so this video is right on topic. I might even show it to my students today.

I won't show SciShow's The Human Era Has an Official Start. It’s a Lake in Canada to my students because it jumped the gun on the official decision to not recognize the Anthropocene. It still has scientific value, explaining the lake's chemistry, which Vox ignored.

Recently, a group of scientists have declared that the start of the Anthropocene, the time of outsize human influence on Earth, to be Crawford Lake in Canada. But how can a time be a place? We'll explain, and maybe grab some maple syrup.

A lot happened in the nearly six months between this video and Vox's. There will not be an officially recognized Anthropocene any time soon. That doesn't mean that the concept will disappear; it has too much cultural resonance and usefulness, even if the geologists have rejected it — for now.

That's a wrap for today's evergreen entry. Stay tuned for a series of holiday posts, Juneteenth, American Eagle Day, National Seashell Day, the Summer Solstice, World Giraffe Day, World Rainforest Day, Detroit-Style Pizza Day, and Souther. I have the rest of my blogging week already cut out for me!

Animalogic's 'Crocodiles: Survivors of the Last Extinction' for World Crocodile Day

Happy World Crocodile Day! I'm celebrating by sharing Animalogic's Crocodiles: Survivors of the Last Extinction.

The crocodile is one of the deadliest predators in the world. Unfortunately, they find themselves prey to something far more dangerous.

The title is certainly attention-grabbing and it turns out to be true despite the information in the video itself, which placed the divergence of crocodiles, gavials, and alligators at or just after the Paleocene-Eocene boundary, which was after the last mass extinction. Wikipedia saves the title.

The three primary branches of Crocodilia had diverged by the end of the Mesozoic. The possible earliest-known members of the group may be Portugalosuchus from the Cenomanian (95 million years ago),[20] though the classification of this taxon has been disputed.[21][22] After are alligatoroids and gavialoids that lived in North America and Europe during the Campanian (around 83.6–72.1 million years ago). The first known crocodyloids appeared in the Maastrichtian (around 72.1–66.0 million years ago), that lineage must have been present during the Campanian, and the earliest alligatoroids and gavialoids include highly derived forms, which indicates that the time of the actual divergence between the three lineages must have been a pre-Campanian event.

So the crocodiles really did survive the most recent mass extinction, not just their ancestors. May they survive a possible sixth mass extinction.

This blog is likely to pass its page view goal for June before I post the next entry, so look for something evergreen tomorrow. Stay tuned.

For Father's Day, Storied asks 'Why Do Baby Names Fall Out of Fashion?'

Happy Father's Day! I begin today's holiday celebration with Otherwords on PBS Digital's Storied asking and answering Why Do Baby Names Fall Out of Fashion?

How many Mildreds did you go to school with? If you're under 60 years old, probably none! Mildred may have been a top ten baby name 100 years ago, but today it[']s almost extinct... Why is that??

Dr. B describing the effect of pop culture on the popularity of names reinforces the suitability of this topic for the Sunday entertainment feature. It's also a perfect reason to revisit the conclusion of Social Security's top ten U.S. baby names of 2023 for Mother's Day weekend.

I'm briefly calling attention to the fourth-fastest rising name on the boys list, Cassian. It's the given name of the protagonist of Rogue One and Andor and is thus a Star Wars name. I plan on covering those names for Father's Day weekend.

Follow over the jump for 2023 in Star Wars baby names.

PBS Eons explains 'Why Megalodon (Definitely) Went Extinct' for Megalodon Day

I'm taking the option I gave myself near the end of Global Wind Day with 'Windpower' by Thomas Dolby.

This is a good day for me to observe, since I'm an environmentalist who supports renewable energy. I could post much more, but I conserve my resources, so I'll save them for future posts — that is, if I'm not being a paleontologist by celebrating National Megalodon Day instead.

Two days of listening to Hoover Cleveland rant about sharks has influenced me to observe Megalodon Day instead. I'm celebrating by sharing PBS Eons explaining Why Megalodon (Definitely) Went Extinct.

For more than 10 million years, Megalodon was at the top of its game as the oceans’ apex predator...until 2.6 million years ago, when it went extinct. So, what happened to the largest shark in history?

I've been waiting nearly six years to use this video, so, thanks, Hoover Cleveland, for inspiring me. File that under even the worst people can sometimes be useful!

By the way, today is also World Martini Day.

World Martini Day falls on the third Saturday in June each year. Around the world martini lover's are shaking up their gin to enjoy this unique beverage with a twist. Join us as we learn a few facts about the martini and help you understand why we raise a glass to this summertime beverage holiday.

I'd been celebrating it on June 19th for years, but apparently it's moved. Either the people behind it wanted to avoid Juneteenth or National Day Calendar was confused all along. I'm still celebrating with MEGALODON BITE Fishbowl Cocktail! (Inspired by Meg 2) by The Martini Shot.


Drink responsibly and stay tuned for Father's Day!

An update on D.C. Statehood for Flag Day 2024

Happy Flag Day! As I've done for the past five years, I'm observing the holiday by examining the state of D.C. statehood. I begin with Mastering Knowledge asking Why Should Washington D.C. Be a State?

Join us in this thought-provoking video as we delve into the crucial question of whether Washington, D.C. should become a state. Advocates for statehood put forth compelling arguments, and we explore the reasons behind their call for change.

Discover how the residents of Washington, D.C. lack voting representation in the U.S. Congress, despite paying federal taxes and serving in the military. Explore the concept of "taxation without representation" and its historical significance, as we delve into the core democratic principles that underpin this issue.

Explore the population size of Washington, D.C., which surpasses certain existing states, and the implications of granting statehood based on its population. Dive into the potential benefits that statehood could bring, such as full congressional representation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, ensuring that the citizens of Washington, D.C. have a voice and equal participation in the democratic process.

Uncover the current challenges faced by Washington, D.C., including limited autonomy and dependence on congressional approval for local decisions. Learn how statehood would empower Washington, D.C. with greater self-governance, allowing its residents to shape their own destiny without undue interference from the federal government.

Furthermore, we explore the constitutional aspects surrounding statehood, analyzing the language of the Constitution and the potential interpretations that support the notion of Washington, D.C. becoming a state.

That's a good summary of the subject. For a update, I'm sharing DC Statehood show WUSA9 anchored by Adam Longo.


I've become familiar with Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.'s Delegate to the House of Representatives, since I've been covering this issue, but this is the first I've heard of D.C.'s shadow Senator Paul Strauss. I count that as learning something new, and it's always a good day when I learn something new.

I learned something else new that isn't good, which still doesn't negate today being a good day, that a Congressman introduced a bill to repeal DC Home Rule Act, as DC News Now reported last August.

On Friday, Rep. Andy Ogles, (R-Tenn.) introduced a bill to repeal the D.C. Home Rule Act. Reps. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) and Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) are co-sponsoring the bill.

That's going backwards, not forwards. Worse yet, when WUSA9 asked Can Congress repeal D.C.'s Home Rule Act? The answer was yes.

The Home Rule Act was signed into law in 1973 by President Richard Nixon and went into effect in 1975.

Sigh. Fortunately, repealing home rule would be just as difficult under the current Senate and President as D.C. statehood would be given the current Congress. That might not be the case if Republicans retake the Senate and Hoover Cleveland returns to the White House. That's all the more reason to prevent both from happening.

I plan on revisiting the related issue of statehood for Puerto Rico on National Piña Colada Day next month. Stay tuned.

Supreme Court unanimously preserves access to Mifepristone

I was critical of the Supreme Court yesterday, writing "People are still upset about the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, January 6th, and the Supreme Court hearing Hoover Cleveland's immunity appeal and are taking it out on Alito and other Supreme Court Justices for them." Today, I bear what passes for good news from the highest court in the land from MSNBC, Supreme Court says abortion pill can stay on market.

The Supreme Court ruled that the abortion pill Mifepristone can stay on the market. The justices found that the anti-abortion doctors did not have legal standing. NBC News' Yamiche Alcindor, MSNBC legal analyst Leah Litman and Reproductive Freedom For All President Mini Timmaraju join Ana Cabrera to discuss.

As I wrote, this passes for good news. However, it was decided on standing, as in the plaintiffs didn't have any, not on merits. That means that potential plaintiffs who do have standing could get a ruling in their favor, banning or restricting Mifepristone. In addition, Leah Litman and Mini Timmaraju both mentioned the possible use of the Comstock Act to restrict abortion access again. I find that alarming enough that I think the parts of Comstock Act that are currently unconstitutional need to be repealed, restricting the ability of anti-choice advocates to reanimate them. I have the same opinion of the Insurrection Act, which is also being touted as a way for the more extreme right-wing activists, including Hoover Cleveland, to suppress dissent. That's a topic for later.

MSNBC followed up with 'Today is certainly a win' for abortion access: Supreme Court allows pill to stay on market.

Planned Parenthood Missouri Chief Medical Officer Dr. Colleen McNicholas joins Ana Cabrera to discuss the Supreme Court rejecting a challenge to the abortion pill mifepristone. MSNBC legal analyst Melissa Murray also weighs in on the court's decision.

Listening to Melissa Murray inveigh against the anti-democratic nature of the efforts to restrict abortion reminds me of CNBC examines 'How The Supreme Court May Threaten Democracy', which is still relevant.

I close with 13 on Your Side (ABC 13 in Grand Rapids) asking and answering How did the Supreme Court rule in the Mifepristone case?

The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously preserved access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. last year, in the court’s first abortion decision since conservative justices overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago.

I couldn't resist both hearing Kamala Harris's reaction and giving a Michigan station the last word.

This is not good enough for me to post Professor Farnsworth. Maybe later. In the meantime, stay tuned for an update on D.C. Statehood for Flag Day.

Colbert, Klepper, and Kimmel come to comedic terms with Hunter Biden's conviction

Today is Loving Day, but since I don't know if I can top what I wrote two years ago, I'm not going to try. Instead, I'm looking for the silver lining of familial love in the very black cloud of the first story in Stephen Colbert's monologue last night, Pres. Biden Won't Pardon Hunter | Trump Goes After Taylor Swift | Martha-Ann Alito's Flag Fetish.

President Biden pledged to respect the judicial process after his son Hunter was convicted, the former president made creepy remarks about Taylor Swift's appearance, and the wife of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has a thing for flags.

Yes, President Biden both loves his son and recognizes his constitutional responsibility to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” Those are more than I have seen out of "Hoover Cleveland," my new nickname for Trump. Speaking of laws being faithfully executed, since I'm pro-gun-control, I can't be too upset about Hunter's conviction. There is at least one wrong way to buy a gun in America. I just wish it wasn't exploited for a partisan political purpose by people who are generally opposed to gun control. Hypocrisy!

Jordan Klepper covered some of the same ground on The Daily Show last night in Hunter Biden Convicted & Alito’s Wife Caught on Tape Talking Flags.

Jordan Klepper tackles the Hunter Biden guilty verdict, as well as Justice Samuel Alito's wife, Martha-Ann Alito, caught on tape planning to fight Pride flags with more flags. Plus, Michael Kosta reveals how Governor Kathy Hochul's decision to scrap New York congestion pricing might have had something to do with the "Diner Effect."

It's been nearly three weeks since I posted 'The Daily Show' and Stephen Colbert examine Justice Alito's flags and the controversy is still raging. People are still upset about the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, January 6th, and the Supreme Court hearing Hoover Cleveland's immunity appeal and are taking it out on Alito and other Supreme Court Justices for them. My advice to Justice and Mrs. Alito is that they are in a hole and should stop digging, not that they will take it.

In place of Hoover Cleveland talking smack about Taylor Swift, to which I say good luck messing with Americans' entertainment, Klepper and Kosta are covering Governor Hochul's stopping congestion pricing. That's a subject that deserves another post. Maybe if or when CityNerd uploads a video about it.

My wife and I watched both of the above videos last night, but we didn't watch Jimmy Kimmel's monologue, Trump Rants About Shark Attacks, Jimmy Upsets Fox News & Hunter Biden Found Guilty on Three Counts, so I'm viewing it with fresh eyes.

The high profile trial of Hunter Biden ended badly for him as he was found guilty on all three counts, the Biden’s hosted a party at the White House in honor of Juneteenth, Donald Trump had a virtual meeting with the New York City Department of Probation, the Fox News crowd is upset that Jimmy is hosting an interview with Presidents Biden and Obama during a fundraiser here in LA, Dr. Phil interviewed Trump and mentioned a very familiar name, Fiberace was in Vegas this weekend where he said many incomprehensible things, including a diatribe about sharks, which made us think why not give the little ones a treat with an all Trump rendition of “Baby Shark.”

Kimmel now has Mondays off, which is why I featured Jimmy Fallon yesterday instead and why Kimmel is covering Hoover Cleveland's probation meeting, Dr. Phil's interview, and Las Vegas rally. That last deserved a "Baby Shark" parody, although I still think Hoover Cleveland sounds like Crazy Frog when he goes "bing, bing."

I close by returning to a subject Stephen mentioned in his monologue relating to Hoover Cleveland's conviction, Trump's Golf Courses Offer Alcohol Alternatives, last night's cold open.



Because nobody wants to golf sober.
Ugh, nightmare fuel! Also, this clip reminds me that tomorrow is National Golf Cart Day, but I'm not blogging about it. Instead, I've seen three references to Olive Garden this week, which I'm taking as a suggestion from the universe to showcase Company Man Mike's video explaining why Red Lobster's former sister restaurant, Olive Garden, is still a success. Stay tuned to see if I do.

Closer looks at Trump's probation interview and Las Vegas rally from Meyers, Colbert, and Fallon

Happy Tuesday, which means it's time for closer looks at the weekend's news with late night talk show hosts. I begin with Seth Meyers' Trump Meets with Probation Officer After Bizarre Rally Rant About Sharks: A Closer Look, which like last week's segment, I watched with my wife last night.

Seth takes a closer look at Trump meeting with a probation officer after holding his first large rally since his guilty verdict, where he screamed about teleprompters, batteries and sharks.

Who needs to watch Chris Hayes on MSNBC when Seth's staff selects the best clips and makes them funny? Speaking of MSNBC, the following image from Ari Melber's show illustrates a problem Donald Trump has with probation, associating with known felons.


While "Hoover Cleveland," my new nickname for him, is probably done with a lot of this rogues gallery, he took Paul Manafort back into his 2024 campaign.* I don't know if Manafort's pardon prevents probation from prohibiting personal contact. If not, that could make running the campaign difficult. Darn.

Stephen Colbert paid more attention to the rally in Trump’s Bull**** Rally | “I Don’t Care About You. I Just Want Your Vote” | MTG: Trump Is Like Jesus.

The former president spent his weekend making speeches on the campaign trail where he revealed his true feelings about his voters, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene likened him to the son of God.

That was a terrible thing for Hoover Cleveland to say, but his core voters don't seem to care. At least it was honest, which is a rare event. As for MTG, there's nothing I can say that Randy Rainbow hasn't said and sung better.

Jimmy Kimmel was off last night, so I'm turning to Jimmy Fallon for Trump Meets with His Probation Officer, Goes on Unhinged Shark Rant at Vegas Rally | Tonight Show.

Jimmy addresses the latest news, like Time magazine interviewing both Trump and Biden, Trump's first meeting with his New York probation officer and Martha's Vineyard being close to running out of marijuana.

First, any time Hoover Cleveland tells a "Sir" story, don't believe him. Second, he's showing that he's more scared of sharks than of electric vehicles. Third, he's a little early for Shark Week. That begins on July 7th.

Tomorrow is Loving Day, but I don't know if I can top what I wrote two years ago. Stay tuned to see what I blog about tomorrow.

*Hoover Cleveland — Hoover because he's the first U.S. President to have a net job loss during his term since Herbert Hoover, Cleveland because he's trying to repeat what Grover Cleveland achieved, earn a second non-consecutive term. It helps that both were Republicans.

NOAA issues 'Most Aggressive Hurricane Season Forecast On Record' for 2024

Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1st, so it's past time to review the predictions for it. I begin with The Weather Channel reporting NOAA Released Its Most Aggressive Hurricane Season Forecast On Record two weeks ago.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its outlook for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season today (May 23, 2024), and it's the most aggressive forecast on record. Our hurricane expert Dr. Rick Knabb breaks it down.

If NOAA, The Weather Company, and Colorado State University (CSU) are correct, then this season will exhaust the primary list of names, which has only happened three times before, 2005, 2020, and 2021. It almost happened last year, when there were 19 named storms, leaving one of my names and my ex-girlfriend's name unused. That means that our names will stay together until 2029, more than 20 years after we broke up. As I wrote in 2022, ironic.

Here are this year's Atlantic storm names. Fortunately, most of them have no special significance to me.


Now the overflow list of storm names.


If the forecast is correct, we're likely to see some from the first column before the year is over.

AccuWeather took a deeper look at the some of the factors contributing to the forecast in Supercharged Atlantic Hurricane Season Poised for Intense Activity.

AccuWeather hurricane experts are concerned that storms could rapidly intensify during the 2024 hurricane season due to high ocean temperatures, low wind shear, and abundant moisture. Hurricane season starts this Saturday, June 1.

Yikes!

PBS Terra uploaded its own short video explaining the science behind the forecast, 2024 Is Going to Be a Bad Year for Hurricanes…But Why?.


I'm going to reuse what I wrote two years ago, itself partially recycled from August 2021.

First, welcome to the 400 ppm world. Second, are you scared enough by climate change? My readers should be.

That reminds me; I should write about the greenhouse gas levels recorded this spring. Stay tuned.

'Bankrupt - Red Lobster' by Bright Sun Films, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse

Happy Sunday! I know I promised the usual entertainment feature and teased the Daytime Emmy Awards winners, but after looking over the awardees, I'm just not feeling it or any other show business news. Instead, I'm revisiting Company Man asks 'The Decline of Red Lobster...What Happened?' A tale of the Retail Apocalypse with Bright Sun Films' Bankrupt - Red Lobster. After all, isn't dining out a form of entertainment?

Since the late 1960's, Red Lobster has grown to become an American seafood institution with over 650 restaurants and tens of thousands of employees. It's also one of the most successful casual restaurant chains to ever exist. So it was pretty surprising to many when they filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in early 2024. However while many in the media reported on the famous Endless Shrimp as the culprit, the truth as to how this company fell so quickly is a bit more complicated. Join me today as we find out how this iconic chain ultimately declared bankruptcy.

I feel like no bankrupt company's story is fully told until both Company Man Mike and Jake Williams of Bright Sun Films have weighed in. Thanks to Jake's reporting, I have revised my opinion that private equity may not have been critical in Red Lobster's failure. Golden Gate Capital's decision to sell the properties the stores sat on and then lease them really did mess up the chain's cash flow. This was on top of the debt from the leveraged buyout. The only good news is that the bankruptcy didn't happen on their watch. Instead, Thai Union was left holding the bag, but not for long. As I wrote last month, "They're done with Red Lobster." Here's to hoping the new owners, whoever they are, have better luck.

That's a wrap for today's tale of the Retail Apocalypse, although I may return to restaurants to showcase Company Man Mike's video explaining why Red Lobster's former sister restaurant, Olive Garden, is still a success. Stay tuned.

Jason Momoa's message for World Oceans Day

Happy World Oceans Day! I had a big day yesterday and I'm in a "I can't be all DOOM all the time" mood, so I'm taking an entertainment angle on the environmental holiday, which I probably will do again next year when it falls on Sunday, by sharing videos about ocean conservation featuring Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa. I begin with a video I just missed last year, Jason Momoa message on World Oceans Day 2023 | United Nations.

In a recorded message from New Zealand, actor and ocean activist Jason Momoa said, “the human induced triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss continues to weigh heavily on the ocean ecosystems and the communities that directly depend on it. If we don't change course. The oceans dire state will continue to apply. Doesn't have to be that way. Through reimagining our relationship with the ocean and working together to better understand prioritize and protect it, we can rebuild a preserve that help the ocean both now for future generations. I'm honored to be joining the United Nations family World Oceans Day. Celebrate how wonderful it is to live our blue planet and underscore the importance of prioritizing the oceans help, our own health.”

World Ocean Day is celebrated worldwide on 8 June Every Year.

I'm going to be a good environmentalist by recycling, twice, starting with People want pandas, so 'SNL' opens with a panda at Biden's press conference.

Momoa is not kidding about being an environmentalist. The United Nations describes his environmental work.

Award-winning actor, entrepreneur, and filmmaker Jason Momoa has long advocated for environmental issues and social justice. Of Polynesian and Hawaiian descent, he has lent his voice and platform to protecting the oceans and the rights of indigenous peoples and island nations. Momoa's entrepreneurial pursuits focus on advancing sustainable practices, products and packaging, including development of Mananalu, a water packaged in infinitely recyclable aluminum. His passion for environmental conservation is evident through his collaborations with organizations like Ocean Unite, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, Lonely Whale, and Kumano I Ke Ala. He advocates for marine protection, coral reef preservation, and global initiatives against plastic pollution and waste. Moreover, in addition to his direct involvement with SDG 14, "Life Below Water," and his profound dedication to ocean health and the protection of marine life, Momoa is actively involved in raising awareness of the issue of intersectional environmentalism and social justice through his production companies, Pride of Gypsies and On The Roam, which produces scripted and unscripted original content, branded content, and product collaborations.

Aquaman really did deserve its nomination for Feature Film at the 2019 Environmental Media Association Awards.

Speaking of Aquaman, I predicted that "I'm looking for Aquaman 2 to earn a nomination at the next EMA Awards" in The 2023-2024 Environmental Media Association Awards nominees. I'm also looking forward to seeing the movie on the next Saturn Awards ballot. Too bad it's almost certain to get crushed by Deadpool & Wolverine. The Marvel streak will continue.

Momoa also narrated Deep Rising, one of the documentary nominees at this year's EMA Awards, and featured in Common Ground, the EMA Award winner. He definitely supports his cause in his art!

The United Nations features Momoa in more videos, but I'm also being a good environmentalist by conserving my resources for next year, when World Oceans Day will also be the subject of the Sunday entertainment feature. Speaking of which, stay tuned for that tomorrow. Daytime Emmy Awards winners, anyone?

Starliner, Starship, and Chang'e, a week of good space news

This has been a good week in space for the U.S. and China, which makes it a welcome change of pace from the news here on Earth. After all, I can't be all DOOM all the time! I begin the stories of success with CNN reporting Boeing spacecraft carrying two NASA astronauts lifts off in historic launch.

A Boeing spacecraft carrying two NASA astronauts is on its historic maiden voyage. The landmark launch kicked off the first crewed test flight of the capsule and marked the culmination of a long and trying development process.

It's been six years since I posted Commercial spaceflight crews announced and testing for return to Moon as NASA celebrates its 60th anniversary, so it's been quite a wait to get both vehicles off the ground. Yes, SpaceX launched the first crewed mission from U.S. soil since 2011 almost exactly four years ago, but Dragon wasn't supposed to be the only American crewed capsule operating. It's good to have an alternative.

Starliner also passed another important milestone, as CNN showed in Boeing Starliner docks with space station after encountering new issues.

Boeing’s Starliner mission has safely docked with the International Space Station after navigating new issues that cropped up overnight en route to the orbiting laboratory. CNN's Kristin Fisher reports.

Not only am I happy that Starliner successfully docked with the ISS, I'm glad for the astronauts and cosmonauts on the station that they'll be able to recycle their water. I often jokingly gross out my environmental science students by calling water recycling "toilet-to-tap," but in this case it's not only justified, but necessary.

Speaking of SpaceX, Kristin Fisher mentioned the Starship test flight in the first video. WSJ News covered that event as it told its viewers : SpaceX’s Starship Successfully Completes Re-entry and Splashdown.

SpaceX achieved a new milestone with its mega Starship rocket, after both the booster and the spacecraft made controlled returns to Earth.

I watched the re-entry live and was amazed that Starship successfully splashed down after one of its flight control surfaces burned through but remained attached. Like the proverbial honey badger, the spaceship didn't seem to care!

China also reported a success, which DW News shared in China's Chang'e 6 mission travels back to earth from the dark side of the moon.

China’s Chang’e lunar probe has taken off from the far side of the moon to return back to earth, according to China’s national space agency. If China successfully makes it back to earth, it will be the first country to have gathered samples from the far side of the moon. China’s previous lunar mission, Chang’e 5, gathered samples from the near side of the moon, but collecting samples from the far side has required additional technical know-how as well as operating on more challenging terrain. According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), Chang’e 6 “withstood the test of high temperature on the far side of the moon."

We have a space race!

I expect to report more on the return to the Moon on Moon Day and recap these missions in this year's edition of 2023 in space. In the meantime, stay tuned for World Oceans Day.

Biden, Macron, Trudeau, and King Charles observe the 80th anniversary of D-Day

It's the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Throwback Thursday, so I'm sharing videos from the three countries leading the landings plus the host country. I begin today's observance with ABC News video of President Biden speaks in Normandy marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Biden greeted surviving members one-by-one, thanking them for the service on that fateful day.

As an expatriate Californian, who loves entertainment nearly as much as my country and tells my students you can take me out of California but you can't take California out of me, I appreciated the name checks of The Longest Day and Band of Brothers. I'm only surprised he and his speechwriter(s) didn't manage to mention Saving Private Ryan as well. I guess one Tom Hanks show was enough.

I also appreciated how President Biden related D-Day to the present day, especially the domestic fight to protect democracy against authoritarianism at home and foreign aggression in Ukraine. May we be up to the task.

Follow over the jump for videos representing France, Canada, and the United Kingdom at the event.

'Jon Stewart Tackles Climate Change Over the Years' for World Environment Day on Wayback Wednesday

Happy World Environment Day on Wayback Wednesday! For today's observance, I'm going back to Jon Stewart and The Daily Show for another compilation, Jon Stewart Tackles Climate Change Over the Years.

Jon Stewart tackles climate change over the years including seasonably cold weather somehow invalidating global warming, Republicans using a secular argument to counter the Pope's statement about climate change and a House of Representatives committee struggling with the basic principles of global warming.

All of that was from the previous decade and some of the politicians and media figures have retired since then, but the basic conflict remains. Sigh. Here's to Americans as a whole getting the message — my regular readers almost certainly already have — and to this post being as well-received as Jon Stewart devours the fast-food industry, parts 1 and 2, which currently has 215 default and 224 raw page views. May people care about climate change as much as they care about food.

That's a wrap for today's environmental holiday. Stay tuned for the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Throwback Thursday.

Marching music for the New Jersey, D.C., Montana, New Mexico, and South Dakota primaries

As I promised in Marching music for the Kentucky and Oregon primaries — Oregon Crusaders and marching bands then repeated yesterday and this morning, "I plan on the final episode returning on June 4, 2024 for primaries in the District of Columbia, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota." I begin today's music to listen while waiting for results in New Jersey with Jersey Surf | #DCI2023 | Express Yourself | Born This Way - Lady Gaga from Drum Corps International (DCI).

Camden County, New Jersey's Jersey Surf perform a segment from the corps' #DCI2023 production, "Express Yourself," during the 2023 DCI World Championships hosted August 10-12 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Camden County, NJ | 23rd Place | 75.488

By coincidence, this happened to be a great selection for Pride Month.

Normally, I'd continue with the Garden State's other DCI corps, the Raiders, but New Jersey is such a great state for all-age corps that I'm embedding 2022 DCA World Championships | Hawthorne Caballeros (World Class) - Timeless from Drum Corps Associates (DCA) next. Don't worry, I'll get to the Raiders.

Presenting selected clips from their 2022 Production "Timeless" in partnership with Box5 Media.

Fairy tales and tradition!

I'm continuing with the next official clip of a DCA corps, 2022 Fusion Core Drum & Bugle Corps - "Royals" | Drum Corps Associates.

Featuring our 2022 DCA Class A Champion, Fusion Core, presenting their program ""Royals, Competing for the Crown".

They sound great for only 16 brass!

Now for the first unofficial upload, NOT The Bushwackers World Championship Finals 2022, recorded and uploaded by John Horan.


I like the Canyon radio theme, which integrated the announcer well into the program.

Since readers have requested that I include the Caballeros Alumni in previous posts, I'm sharing Caballeros Alumni Corps @ The 2023 Plymouth Show - BFDTV. Never say I don't pay attention to reader requests!

The Caballeros perform at the 2023 Plymouth Show part of the Americas Hometown Thanksgiving Celebrations in Plymouth Ma.

I count this as a semi-official upload. Also, the sound of late 20th Century drum corps lives on!

I wrote above that I would get to the Raiders, so here is 31st Raiders 2023 from Drum Corps Library.


I enjoyed this show concept and found the performance fun!

Since this is an unofficial upload, it may not last long, so enjoy it while it lasts. I just hope the account persists until Canada Day so that I can use the videos of Les Stentors for this year's drum corps Canada Day to begin July.

I close out the New Jersey portion of today's program with Rutgers Football's The #Rutgers University Marching Band performing in the 2023 #Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade!.


Consider this the follow-up to Local news coverage of marching bands in the 2023 Macy's Parade for Thanksgiving.

Follow over the jump for the marching bands from the District of Columbia and the rest of today's primary states, including an encore from the Rutgers band.

Colbert, Meyers, and Stewart take closer looks at Trump's conviction and the reactions to it

As I wrote in Silly and serious reactions to Trump's conviction from Jimmy Kimmel and CNN, "only Jimmy Kimmel Live! among the shows I watch had a new episode last night," so I had to wait until last night for my usual suspects, uh, subjects to chime in. I begin with Stephen Colbert's monologue, Trump Is A Convicted Felon | I Didn't Say "Lock Her Up" | Rupert Murdoch Marries At 93.

Stephen recaps the drama that followed the jury's verdict in Donald Trump's election interference trial, the former president claimed he never used the phrase "lock her up" in reference to Hillary Clinton, and former Fox chairman Rupert Murdoch has tied the knot with his fifth wife.

Sounds like Stephen's audience was just as enthusiastic as they were in March 2023, when I observed "Colbert's studio audience gave a standing ovation when told about Trump's indictment; Kimmel's was just as loud." They would like to "lock him up." I don't think they'll get the satisfaction of Donald Trump going to prison, or even Riker's.

"[J]ail to the chief" is a great line, but it's going to be a while. I expect he'll be sentenced to house arrest in Trump Tower with the Secret Service as his guards, at least for this set of crimes.

I stand by that prediction with the possible addition of $170,000 in fines, $5,000 for each conviction, although Jimmy K's desire for community service to be part of the sentence would work for me, too.

I'll have more on his potential sentence over the jump.

I'm moving on to Seth Meyer's Hysterical Trump Faces Jail Time After Guilty Verdict, Fox News Predicts "Revolution": A Closer Look, which I watched with my wife last night.

Seth takes a closer look at Trump being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money criminal trial.

Trump denying he ever said "lock her up" reminds me that I posted It was funnier when Chico Marx said it seven years ago.


Still true, seven years later. I also wrote Projection is the Right's favorite defense mechanism a dozen years ago and that's even more true now.

Both Stephen and Seth touched on the GOP response to the conviction with Seth sprinkling a bit of media criticism on top. Jon Stewart focused on both in Jon Stewart Tackles The Trump Conviction Fallout & Puts The Media on Trial.

Jon Stewart breaks down the response to Trump's guilty verdict from Joe Biden and the media, as well as the GOP's vow for revenge and hypocritical complaint about Democrats pursuing "political prosecutions." Plus, Jon pleads with the media to act a little more like the court system and examine evidence and reach conclusions, instead of wildly speculating on future realities.

*Snork* I'm a biologist, so I appreciated the Bonobos reference. It was funnier than Banana Republic — more projection!

Follow over the jump for two bonus clips from Stephen's show last night.

CityNerd names '10 Cities Where Driving Consumes the Most of Your Life,' a driving update

Pearl the Prius's odometer will roll over 64,000 miles by the time I return home from work today, so it's time for a driving update. I begin with Ray "CityNerd" Delahanty naming (and shaming) 10 Cities Where Driving Consumes the Most of Your Life.

In 1974, Ivan Illich wrote that the typical American male spent 25% of his waking life either driving a car or working for the income required to pay for one. 50 years later, is this true? And, which cities consume the most -- and least -- of our time with driving?

I'm not surprised that the Inland Empire has the cities that require the most time spent driving or working to support a car. It's one of the things I miss the least about southern California after moving to Michigan 35 years ago.

That's the overall driving picture. Follow over the jump for my personal update.

Trump supporter Nelson Peltz sells his stake in Disney

I'm returning to Yahoo! Finance for this week's Sunday entertainment feature with Activist investor Nelson Peltz sells entire stake at Disney following proxy battle loss.

Activist investor Nelson Peltz has sold off his entire stake in Disney (DIS) after the entertainment giant successfully fended off his proxy battle. Morningstar Senior Equity Analyst Matthew Dolgin joins Catalysts to discuss what this move means for the company and its future.
Dolgin notes that while current Disney CEO Bob Iger says the company is on the right track to develop from the linear media landscape to the streaming world, it will continue to remain a challenge industry-wide. He adds, "We weren't sure if Peltz had the answer either," saying the company's transition is a still "a work in progress."
"He identified several missed steps in the past, but those are easier to identify in retrospect. He didn't necessarily have solutions," Dolgin says of Peltz. He adds, "He thought that the company should do something with its non-sports entertainment linear network, so ABC, Disney Channel, FX, those types of stations. And we don't think that would have been the right move. They still make up about a third of the company's operating profit, so to get rid of that cash now, we don't think was the answer."
Dolgin says that bundling is key in the streaming era: "It actually ends up being the most cost-effective way for consumers." He explains that bundling delivers consumers more streamlined and efficient user experiences while providing great value.
He believes that Bob Iger is the right CEO to transform the business in the streaming era, saying, "The most important thing is that someone with the entertainment background... is critical to Disney's future."

"He didn't necessarily have solutions" as Morningstar Senior Equity Analyst Matthew Dolgin said of Peltz. Disney CEO Bob Iger said something similar when CNBC Television interviewed him in Disney CEO Bob Iger: Nelson Peltz didn't bring any new ideas after the proxy fight concluded.

Disney CEO Bob Iger joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss the company's proxy fight win against activist investor Nelson Peltz, takeaways from his engagement with shareholders, the company's top priorities, succession plans, state of the streaming landscape, new sports streaming alliance, future of ESPN, navigating America's culture wars, and more.

Mentioning Ike Perlmutter, who "spent 'years' reportedly frustrating Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige before the lucrative film business was moved out from under his purview in 2015, and more recently wielded influence behind the scenes as his friend, activist investor Nelson Peltz, made a play to join the Disney board" makes me think that Peltz was more interested in reinstating "old" ideas than promoting new ones. It also reminds me that Peltz was a Trump supporter, as he himself stated in CNBC Television's interview on election night 2020, saying A Donald Trump win is good for America: Trian Partners CEO.

Nelson Peltz, Trian Partners CEO, joins CNBC's presidential election coverage to discuss why his support is behind President Trump as election results roll in.

Peltz reversed himself after January 6th, saying "I'm sorry I voted for Donald Trump in November." He reverted back to his original position recently, as MSNBC reported in Billionaires reverse their decision on voting for Donald Trump.


Disney doesn't need someone like Peltz trying to influence the company. He can take his money and run. Good riddance!

Randy Rainbow sings 'Look At Me, I'm MTG!'

Happy June AKA Pride Month! I'm celebrating with a Randy Rainbow video to follow up on Randy Rainbow returns with 'FORTY-FIVE!' Sing and dance along with Look At Me, I'm MTG! - A Randy Rainbow Song Parody.*

Parody of “Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee” from GREASE (Warren Casey, Jim Jacobs)

Parody Lyrics by Randy Rainbow

Randy created this video fast enough that he referenced the spat among MTG, Jasmine Crockett, and AOC that prompted Crockett's "Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Body" remark. I might embed some of the videos using her phrase as a song inspiration when I get a chance. For now, I'm going back into Randy's archive to share GURL, YOU'RE A KAREN - A Randy Rainbow Parody as an encore.

The Randy Rainbow Show
: "Gurl, You're a Karen"
Executive Producer Randy Rainbow
Producer Victoria Varela
Producer Michael J. Moritz Jr.
Producer Jesse Kissel

Credits:
Parody Written and Performed by Randy Rainbow
(Based on "Dentist!" by Alan Menken & Howard Ashman from Little Shop of Horrors)

Song Produced, Orchestrated, Mixed, Mastered By Michael J Moritz Jr @michaeljmoritz
Vocal Arrangement: Jesse Kissel
Piano:Michael J Moritz Jr
Guitar :Jakob Reinhardt
Bass: Adam DeAscentis
Drums: Tom Jorgensen
Sax: Ryan Saranich
Engineer:Jakob Reinhardt

Seeing Randy juxtapose Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert reminded me of this meme that my friend Nonnie9999 made for me that I last used in 'The Daily Show,' Seth Meyers, and James Corden take more closer looks at the State of the Union and Twitter hearings.


Kevin McCarthy is not only no longer Speaker of the House, having been ousted and replaced with Liar for Jesus Mike Johnson, but also out of Congress entirely, and MTG and Boebert are no longer friends and allies because of McCarthy, but the meme still generally works.

That's it for today's musical comedy interlude. Stay tuned for the Sunday entertainment feature. I might examine the Daytime Emmy Awards for once.

*Randy's plug of Ground News reminds me of what I wrote in Future Proof examines 'The RISE and FALL of Malls in America,' a tale of the Retail Apocalypse, "the paid promotion by Ground News reminds me that I promised a comparison and contrast between AllSides and the Media Bias Chart three years ago." I still haven't done that, but it really is time. Maybe when I make my monthly page view goal and write evergreen entries near the end of the month.