The Daily Dose/January 22, 2018
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Notes from around the Human Experience…
USA! USA!: The great thing about our latest government shutdown is it shows how nothing really changes. As usual, fingers are being pointed and rhetoric is flying. Republicans are blaming Democrats and Democrats are blaming Republicans over who is really to blame for our current government shutdown.
Fly In The Ointment: Really, though, the only ones to blame look us in the mirror every morning because you and me – we the people – are the ones ultimately responsible for this imbroglio. Year in and year out we continually reelect the rats who continually provide the partisan, fractured and bickering government that gets us into these messes. And as long as we keep tolerating lousy government those we keep sending back to Washington will only be too happy to continue delivering it. We will always get the government we deserve.
Dry, Technical Matter: This shutdown will resemble the others. Some national parks are open, some are not. Some government services have the money to keep going for another week or two and they’ll remain open, but those that do not will close. During the 2013 shutdown, roughly 40 percent of the federal workforce was furloughed and it will probably be about that this time, too.
Show Them The Money: Even though they’re not doing what they’re paid to do, members of Congress will continue to receive their salaries during the shutdown, though it should be noted some members of the House and Senate have announced plans to either not accept their salary or to donate it to charity. Also, a couple of bills to block Congressional pay during shutdowns have been introduced.
Interestingly, those in the service do not get paid during a shutdown, though eventually that will be made up to them. This despite the fact they must continue to report for duty every day.
FunFact: President Trump would get paid if he were accepting his presidential salary of $400,000 a year. He declines it, however, joining President Kennedy as the only presidents to do so.
Some Places Have Interns For This: Technically, Herbert Hoover accepted his presidential salary, but gave it all away, while George Washington tried to decline his, but Congress paid him anyway.
Play Ball…Or Not: Another victim of the shutdown is the sports program at the Air Force Academy, which was obliged to shut down all its winter sports. Navy and Army, however, since their funding is independent of the government, are continuing to play.
The Bottom Line: This will not be resolved until everyone in the Senate decides it is in their best interest to do so. Until then the posturing and finger pointing will continue.
IT HAS A GOOD BEAT AND YOU CAN DANCE TO IT: Columbia Records, then known as the Columbia Phonograph Company, is founded in Washington, DC on this date in 1887. At first, Columbia sold and serviced phonographs and phonograph cylinders, though within a few years it started releasing its own music. Columbia began selling vinyl albums in 1901 and by 1908 was selling records pressed on both sides. It was acquired by CBS in 1935 and CBS Records was acquired by Sony in 1991.
FunFact: Columbia remains the oldest brand name in recorded sound.
Insert Your Own Funny Lead Line Here: The United Mine Workers is formed in Columbus, Ohio when the Knights of Labor and the National Progressive Miners Union merge on this date in 1890. The union would hold its first strike the following year, which resulted in ten members being shot to death by elements of the national guard, and it achieved an eight-hour workday for its members in 1989.
Blimey! This Should Be Bloody Interesting: Soccer is broadcast on the radio for the first time when Teddy Wakelam offers commentary on the thrilling 1-1 ties between Arsenal and Sheffield United match on this date in 1927. A few days earliers Wakelam provided radio coverage of a rugby game or match or whatever they’re called and later that year Wakelam would announce both cricket and the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
Now Hear This: The United States Supreme Court issues one if its most famous rulings, Roe vs Wade, which legalized elective abortion in the US, on this date in 1973. The court ruled 7-2 that a Texas law violated a woman’s right to privacy under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Attention Kmart Shopper(s): Kmart becomes the largest retailer in US history to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on this date in 2002. Kmart emerged from bankruptcy the following year and was acquired Sears in 2004.
FunFact: Though the first Kmarts didn’t open until 1932, it can trace its lineage back to 1899 when Sebastian Spering Kresge opened two five-and-dime stores in Detroit. At its peak at the turn of the century, Kmart operated 2,171 stores and today operates over 500.
Quotebook: The strong are saying nothing until they see. – Robert Frost
Answer To The Last Trivia Question: Louis XVI’s wife was Queen Marie Antoinette, who was executed in October, 1793.
Today’s Stumper: What other ruling did the United States Supreme Court issue the same day as its Roe v Wade opinion? – Answer next time!
