Day One At The DNC And An Attack In Japan

Michael Jordan proved that he really is the Greatest Of All Time yesterday when he said he could “no longer stay silent” on issues of race and violence and donated $2 million to improve community policing.  

Things got off to a rocky start at the DNC yesterday. The party was still reeling from the latest Wikileak scandal that showed anti-Bernie bias among the DNC leadership as the convention kicked off. DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz was booed off the stage and – despite the DNC’s apology to Bernie Sanders – his supporters marched through the streets of Philly chanting “lock her up.” Protestors also disrupted a few speeches despite Bernie’s attempts to quell them. 

Did they turn it around though?

The Dems were eventually able to throw off that awkward “arranged marriage” feel to the convention when New Jersey Senator Cory Booker stepped up to the plate. His energized recitation of poetry knocked it so far out of the park, it set the stage for his 2024 presidential run. He was followed by Michelle Obama who made a passionate speech that didn’t leave a single dry eye in the room. She also suppressed the urge to make a “Melania plagiarism” joke, much to the dismay of the internet.

Senator Elizabeth Warren drove home the party’s many policy achievements, albeit quietly. And then the headliner took the stage. People were placing bets on whether Bernie was actually going to endorse Hillary’s nomination or just come in as a Trojan horse, ready to pull a Ted Cruz. After about five minutes of unrelenting applause, Sanders did what he could to unite the party and rally his supporters for Clinton, saying “she must become the next President of the United States.” It was met with both applause and boos.

At least 19 people were killed and over 45 people were injured after a knife attack in a home for the disabled. A 26-year-old former employee allegedly entered the Tsukui Yamayuri Garden Facility, roughly 25 miles south-west of Tokyo in Sagamihara, and began attacking residents and staff. Local police arrested the man after he turned himself in, but the attacker didn’t provide his motive. While the death toll continues to rise, this attack is being cited as the worst mass stabbing in recent history.

Well, the government already went after soldiers, police, teachers and civil servants; journalists were beginning to feel left out. The Turkish government ordered the detention of 42 journalists on Monday and are expected to release more arrest warrants. Since the failed coup attempt on July 15, President Erdogan has targeted over 60,000 people in an attempt to purge the land of his detractors. Erdogan is no stranger to arresting journalists and limiting press freedom, but these circumstances are becoming scarier now that the government says it “must consider” reinstating the death penalty for those that plot against them. 

German investigators have their hands full investigating the two attacks in Bavaria this weekend. A 16-year-old student was arrested in connection with the Munich shootings, where 18-year-old Ali Sonboly shot and killed nine people before shooting himself. The teenager who was arrested yesterday is suspected of knowing Sonboly’s plans and failing to report his year-long research and planning of the attack. Meanwhile, investigators learned that the 27-year-old Syrian man who detonated an explosive in Ansbach, killing himself and injuring 15 others, was due to be deported from the country. He was supposed to be leaving for Bulgaria after his application for asylum was turned down. 

A New Zealand Jiu-Jitsu player is already feeling festive in Rio after he was kidnapped and forced to withdraw money from two ATMs. Brazil is already a highly questionable host for the Summer Games, thanks to various bouts with government corruption, extreme pollution in Rio’s water systems and that pesky, uncontainable Zika virus. Athlete kidnappings is just another perk for participating. The kidnapped athlete, Jason Lee, wasn’t expected to participate in the Olympics but it still wouldn’t have been much safer in the Rio Olympic Village. Australia refused to house their athletes in the designated quarters due to the living conditions. 

Florida: Three people are in custody for this week’s nightclub shooting in Florida that left two teenagers dead and 18 people wounded. Witnesses said multiple gunmen opened fire on Club Blu, a venue hosting teenagers that night. Although three persons of interest are already in custody, police are still searching for suspects.

Pokemon Go: Nintendo’s share price plummeted 17% in one day on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, after investors finally realized the company doesn’t actually make Pokemon Go. Nintendo’s not too worried, though. Since the game launched in mid-July, their share price has more than doubled.

China: In another case of captive wild animals retaliating, a woman was mauled to death by a Siberian tiger while visiting the Badaling Wildlife World animal park in China. Video footage captures the woman exiting her car in the drive-through safari, which is forbidden in the park. 

Tired of eating on the toilet alone? Well, come August, Toronto’s “Poop Café Dessert Bar” will allow you to enjoy a meal with friends while sitting on the pot. Poop-prietor Lien Nguyen was inspired by a similar restaurant in Taiwan called Modern Toilet and plans on offering a full menu of brown Thai, Japanese and Korean desserts. And, of course, meals will be served out of urinal-shaped dishes, just in case the restaurants theme was too subtle. When asked about her motivation to open the restaurant, Nguyen explained that “[she’s] trying to make poop cute.” Personally, we think she’s full of crap.