I predicted in the diary last night that things could get very ugly very quickly in Egypt; sometimes, it sucks to be correct. *&^%$#@! But, let's go onward the best we can knowing this story will be covered wonderfully by Rachel.
It is damn DAMN icey in Indianapolis! How icey is it? Hubby needed a PICK AXE to clear a path on our deck!
Let's get historical with "this day in history." One event is sadly familiar to what's going on in Egypt. Idi Amin came to power in Uganda on this date in 1971. Yea, that worked out WONDERFULLY. Farah Fawcett was born on this date in 1947, and she's headed to the Smithsonian! And, in my "Poo to the Packers!" item for the day, George Halas was born on this date in 1895! ;D
In a weird coincidence with an item alluded to last night, Boris Karloff died on this date in 1969. Yea, he was the "monster" in the Frankenstein flicks, but he was the Grinch in the REAL ORIGINAL How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Gene Kelly's dancing on a whole new different plane these days because he died on this date in 1996.
Now, let's get SPARKy! The author of SB 1070 is at it again. To both him & the citizens of the "Show Me Your Papers" state who keep voting for him...
In a much lighter subject area, this wedding cake sparkin' rocks! An opera inspired by the BillO - Andrea Macris suit was made. Guess who the subject of another opera's going to be?! I just KNEW there was a reason I want & need to basically stick coffee into my vein & why I am so damn brilliant. ;D Finally, when a couple thieves couldn't find something to ease their pain, they settled for boners! Wouldn't most guys prefer the boner?! HA!
On with The Rachel Maddow Show!
"First Amendment Remedies" - Huh, that beats the $hit outta 2nd amendment ones, yes? There is a long history of protestors being called thugs & such to justify government cracking down on them. It looks like that's how Egypt is shaping up. Journalists in the crowds, however, portrayed the crowds as being jubilant. It doesn't appear the military is doing anything to stop what's going on; 3 were killed, and 600 were wounded. There's not just state - controlled media to tell the story of what's going on in Egypt - unlike in China & Iran. Mr. Mubarak is trying to tell his people that protestors just got violent today, and he had to respond. So, a lot of journalists have been attacked today - notably Anderson Cooper. Richard Engel got roughed up, too?! GGGggggRRRrrr...
"First Amendment Remedies Part Deux" - Ron Allen got caught up in a mess, too. Here's Richard Engel; he looks like he's OK! {insert sigh of relief here} Listen to all that gun fire. Ugh... Pro - Mubarak supporters might be running away. Does Richard wear a bullet - proof vest? I sure as $hit hope so! He saw a man hit by a Molotov cocktail but was helped by other protestors. I liked the term "rent - a - mob" that Richard used to describe some of the pro - Mubarak peeps! A tank is on site but hasn't moved. Another tank has turned on its engine. Protestors are shielding themselves behind a museum. One of the tanks is creating a sort of smoke screen to give people a chance to seek cover. Richard's starting to get drowned out by gun fire. Protestors are still yelling for Mubarak to leave. There's a whole lot of people still around even though it's the middle of the night; Richard says they're afraid to leave because they fear they won't be able to come back. The army will have to intervene if gun fire continues; that might be what the pro - Mubarak people want. Protestors may or may not be armed. Again, foreign journalists are absolutely being targeted in an organized effort.
Anti - Mubarak protestors are chasing pro - Mubarak people from the scene. Is Richard Engel eligible for a Pulitzer or something for his great reporting? And, he keeps cutting out which makes me panic a little - and most other people, too, I'd wager! Brian Williams is with Richard. The gun fire is close to where they are. All this fighting is taking place real close to a whole lot of historical artifacts dating back thousands & thousands of years. I wonder if anyone's tried to get in to get anything? A semi - off - topic question for y'all. If Mubarak does decide to leave & seeks asslyum here, do you think we'd take him like we took the Shah of Iran? Or, would he just go straight to another Arab country like Saudi Arabia? I don't post this clip to dismiss what we're seeing, but Jon Stewart had some great ideas for Mubarak's next digs. :D
Prospects for a negotiated end to all this is looking more & more slim. Egypt has basically ceases to function. Stores are closed, banks are closed, etc. Brian Williams called the scene something out of Mad Max. Protestors have drug the pro - Mubarak driver of a truck out of the truck and are kicking him. Oh boy... Richard's starting to smell tear gas now. More pro - Mubarak forces might be on the way.