PNUT GALLERY
Welcome “Back to the Future!” Today is the day Marty McFly landed in the future. Here is what the movie got right about 2015.
IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ
Black Churches Targeted Near Ferguson
Five predominantly black churches near Ferguson, MO were set ablaze over the past 10 days in what appears to be acts of arson. Ferguson became the center of international attention and the birthplace of the #blacklivesmatter movement after the shooting of Michael Brown, a young black teenager, by a white police officer in the summer of 2014. The attacks underscore the frayed relations in the St. Louis area ever since the shooting.
Paul Ryan Will Be Speaker If Republicans Stop Bickering
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) is giving Republicans until Friday to stop in-fighting and unite behind him if they expect him to serve as speaker of the House. Ryan, who was slated for the job after McCarthy dropped out, holds sway with both the moderates of the party and the insurgents of the “Freedom Caucus.” John Boehner, who just wants out already, is praying they get on with it.
NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ
US And Russia Will Try To Not Bump Into Each Other In Syria
The two superpowers agreed to a “memorandum of understanding” about how they will bomb Syria without accidentally bombing each other. Russian and the Americans pilots will “maintain professional airmanship” and have a clear line of communication with each other in the event that they meet each other mid-flight. The agreement provides an avenue to de-escalate any crisis should an accidental engagement occur.
Marine Le Pen: I’m Not Racist Cause I Have Muslim Friends
Marine Le Pen, the populist far-right leader of the French National Front party and daughter of Holocaust denier Jean-Marie Le Pen, went on trial yesterday for inciting racial hatred. Le Pen had compared Muslims to Nazi occupiers in 2010 when some of them worshipped in the streets. She alleges that she was only referring to those worshippers and not the whole community… not sure if that makes it any better.
#pnut4prez: Jim Webb Drops Out, No One Notices
Democratic Presidential candidate and bad a** Marine Jim Webb dropped out of the presidential race saying that his views were “not compatible” with the Democratic Party. Webb, who was averaging around 1% in the polls, said he is considering a run as an independent. Presumably, an independent run would ensure he gets enough air-time when he debates himself.
- UK-China: The two countries signed an agreement to build the first new nuclear power plant in a generation in the UK. The US is looking on with jealousy as the UK develops a new “special relationship.”
- Planned Parenthood: Legislators in Texas used doctored videos as a pretext to block PP from receiving state financing. A similar move in Louisiana was blocked by the courts.
- Canada: It only took a day for Canada’s new PM to leave his mark on Canada’s foreign policy, promising to withdraw Canada from the US-led mission against ISIS.
LOOSE NUTS: FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT
Boss, While You Were On Vacation I Kinda Lost $6 Billion
A junior banker in Deutsche Bank’s Frankfurt Office had probably the worst day in history since this guy. He accidentally sent a client $6 billion in a quite phenomenal case of “fat fingers” after confusing “net” with “gross.” The money was eventually recovered, but mistakes like this are not uncommon. Last year an unnamed financial organization accidentally sent $600 billion worth of orders for Japanese stocks. Bankers beware.
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