The Daily Dose/May 16, 2019
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi is still dead. Six months after Saudi agents murdered him in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, there still have been no arrests acknowledged as legitimate – though there is trial going on in Saudi Arabia – and Khashoggi’s body hasn’t even been found.
While some internationally continue to get their shorts in a knot over Khashoggi’s murder, the Saudis have admirably brazened their way through the initial uproar and have now gotten away with it. Yes, eleven Saudis are on trial in Saudi Arabia, with five allegedly facing the death penalty, but the proceedings are being held behind closed doors. The only outside observers are from the five permanent members of the UN security council, plus Turkey, but everything’s in Arabic and observers are not permitted translators and are generally summoned on short notice. Due to their secrecy, the proceedings generally are not taken seriously by the international community. A UN report on the matter, which should get to the bottom of nothing whatsoever, is due in June.
Even if they don’t get away with it, even if the Saudi royal family is later obliged to muster up some hapless, lower level prince for beheading, they will still get away with it because good luck getting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a docket anywhere.
There has been some movement. Interpol has sent wanted notices – known as red notices in the trade – for 20 people wanted for questioning. Good luck finding them or, more accurately, good luck finding them in a country willing to arrest them; red notices hold no legal compulsion. The CIA has sent warnings to associates of Khashoggi warning them their efforts at continuing Khashoggi’s work could make them and their families targets of retaliation from the Saudis.
Bully for justice. It’s good to see not everyone is content to let the Saudis sweep this under the rug. Unfortunately, none of these people are anyone whose opinion means anything in the United States. Our government is content to let the matter die. There was a time when an American would not have been content to let this pass, but that time is gone.
Today At The Site
The Diary of a Nobody: Sparrow declines to give a deep discount on a room, and there’s the latest rumors about what might, or might not, be happening at the diner. Today’s Diary.
Kris also lives in our small town – up by the fairgrounds – and she asked if I’d heard anything about what was going on at the diner, because she’s noticed the action going on inside, too…I told her about the rumor I’d heard about a goddamned deli going in and she said she’d heard the guy that owns the restaurant at the hotel, as well as others in town, had bought it…We agreed this would be both good and bad…Good, because their restaurants are really good…Bad, because they are also really expensive…On the other hand, the diner was never a bargain, either, so we’ll see.
It’s Sparrow, an average man passing an average life.
The drivel simply does not stop: please click on the button to read The Diary of a Nobody. $5.99 includes all entries, past, present, and future.
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On This Date
In 1868 – President of the United States Andrew Johnson is acquitted by the United States Senate by one vote on the first of eleven articles of impeachment. Johnson had been impeached by the House of Representatives after having the temerity to fire Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Ten Republican senators defied party leaders and voted for acquittal, with the deciding vote cast by Edmund G Ross of Kansas. Ten days later Johnson was acquitted on two other articles and the others were not voted on.
In 1980 – The Los Angeles Lakers win their seventh NBA title, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 123-107 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Magic Johnson, filling in for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at center, has 42 points, still an NBA Finals record for a rookie, and made all 14 of his free throws, still an NBA finals record for anyone, and was named the MVP of the series. It was the Lakers first NBA title since 1972 and they have now won 16 NBA titles, second most in the NBA behind the Boston Celtics’ 17 titles.
In 1960 – Hank Locklin is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot C&W Sides chart – for the first of fourteen consecutive weeks with Please Help Me, I’m Falling. It was Locklin’s second and final #1 song and Please Help Me, I’m Falling also peaked at #8 on Billboard’s Hot 100. It was the second straight song to spend 14 consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s country chart, following He’ll Have To Go by Jim Reeves. The total of five number songs for the year remained the fewest #1 songs in a calendar year on any Billboard chart until 2018, when only three songs occupied the top spot on the country chart.
Quotebook
People never inquire too closely into those who are fair on the main point, of paying well…
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Paul McCartney is the only member of the Beatles to appear on Billboard’s soul chart. In addition to Ebony and Ivory with Stevie Wonder, McCartney also charted with Michael Jackson twice, with Say, Say, Say and The Girl is Mine.
Today’s Stumper
What were the three songs that went to #1 on Billboard’s country chart in 2018? – Answer next time!
