The Daily Dose/May 30, 2020
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
USA! USA!: While Minneapolis, St Paul and other cities in the United States burn in protest over the homicide of George Floyd, the former Minneapolis police officer who killed him, Derek Chauvin, is in custody, charged with 3rd-degree murder and 2nd-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death.
Yay: While some would have preferred a 1st-degree murder charge, these two charges will serve the good people of the State of Minnesota well. We’ve whined here in the past about prosecutors losing their minds and proffering 1st-degree murder charges in these situations and the officer ends up walking because Muder 1 involves intent, premeditation and malice aforethought, all difficult to prove when the accused knew the victim for only a few minutes.
However, based on what was shown on video coverage of the incident, these charges give prosecutors a fighting chance to get a conviction.
Get Out Your (Recent) History Books: The Jason Shockley case in St Louis is a prime example of this. Recall Shockley, a St Louis police officer at the time, shot and killed Anthony Lamar Smith in 2011, following a suspected drug transaction and a high-speed chase. Shockley, no dummy, requested a bench trial because he knew it is unlikely a judge will be influenced by the same passions that might influence a jury. The judge in Shockley’s trial, rather logically, frankly, acquitted Shockley of 1st-degree murder charges.
The Bottom Line: Minnesota prosecutors showed both impartiality and sense here. We still maintain 3rd-degree murder will be tough to prove because part of the charge requires establishing Chauvin was more or less crackers, but 2nd-degree manslaughter offers exciting possibilities, a charge a bright law student could probably get a conviction on.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody: Sparrow has news on both the coffee and ice water fronts. Today’s Diary.
In other beverage news, the first glass of fully purified ice water is in the books…
Backstairs at the Monte Carlo: Friends, my hilarious memoir of working security on the glamorous Las Vegas Strip starts, in exciting daily post form, on Monday. Today we prepare you for the journey with a listing of Monte Carlo Security Department radio codes and assorted duties. Click on the link to get started.
It’s written in diary form, the first entry moves Monday and the first week is on the house. We know you’ll love it; it’s as funny a book as you’ll ever read.
Click here get in on the laffs: The Diary of a Nobody, Backstairs at the Monte Carlo, The Bottom Ten, the funniest books you’ve ever read. We offer 4Ever and Ever access, or cheapskates can purchase books and columns individually.
On This Date
History’s long march to today
In 1989 – A 33-foot high statue that History refers to as the Goddess of Democracy is erected by Chinese protesting in Tiananmen Square in central Beijing. Construction had begun three days earlier and assembly had begun the night before and the statue was made of foam and papier-mache over a metal frame. The statue was destroyed on June 4 by China’s People’s Liberation Army, the same day remaining protestors were driven from the square. The protests had begun in mid-April.
In 1911 – Ray Harroun wins the first Indianapolis 500, then known as the International 500-mile Sweepstakes Race. Any car that could maintain 75-mph on the quarter-mile main straightaway had qualified to race and the 40 starting positions had been based on the date entry forms had been filed, a practice abandoned in time for the 1913 race when starting positions were determined by lot. Harroun earned $10,000 for the win, about $260,000 in today’s money and he had been relieved behind the wheel for 37 laps in the middle of the race by Cyrus Patschke.
In 1970 – The Moments are at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart for the third of five consecutive weeks with Love on a Two-Way Street. It was their fifth of 23 Top 40 hits on the soul chart and their first of three #1 songs. The song also went to #1 in Canada and peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 and was Billboard’s biggest soul song of the year and their 12th biggest pop hit. In 1979 the Moments renamed their group Ray, Goodman and Brown and Love on a Two-Way Street returned to both charts in 1981 when Stacy Lattisaw took the song to #2 on the soul chart and #26 on the Hot 100.
Quotebook
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
You have to believe. You have to play brave. – Martin Kaymer, German professional golfer
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
It’s not who you know, but what you know.
Mike Powell (US) holds the world long jump record, jumping 29 feet, 4.25 inches in 1991.
Today’s Stumper
Cheaper than Trivia Night at the bar.
What driver has won the most Indianapolis 500s? – Answer next time!
