Alex

"Potential Tropical Cyclone One" has developed into a Tropical Storm and they named it Alex because, you know, "A." The storm dropped more than 10 inches of rain on Miami and 11 inches on Key Largo. The system didn't develop into a Tropical Storm until after it crossed the Florida Peninsula and met the warm Gulf Stream waters.  But rather than ride the Gulf Stream up the East Coast, it appears that it will head out to sea and dissipate somewhere over the mid-Atlantic. 

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, a gunman or gunmen opened fire on a South Street crowd during prime, Saturday nightlife hours.  Three people were killed and 11 wounded.  In addition to the recent massacres in Buffalo, Tulsa, and Uvalde, Texas, the Gun Violence Archive has counted more than 235 more mass shootings so far this year, defined as one in which four or more people were killed or injured. Shootings in the United States have risen sharply since the pandemic.

Atlanta is not exempt from the violence, and some Republicans here claim it's because of the actions (or inactions) of the former and current Mayors.  They are calling for the majority white Buckhead district to secede from majority black Atlanta and to form their own City. The secession effort thankfully failed to make the ballot this year and took a lot of steam out of the movement, but the secessionists (or segregationists if you prefer) haven't given up. However, I have yet to hear a coherent explanation from the movement on how the actions (or inactions) of past and present Atlanta mayors have caused crime to increase in Philadelphia, Buffalo, Tulsa, Uvalde, and elsewhere. When pressed for an answer, they just mutter something about BLM, and Antifa, and the "woke" agenda.  Not a compelling argument.

On Thursday, the House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol will televise the first of its hearings, making their case based on more than 1,000 interviews and review of more than 125,000 records. Fortunately, an NBA Finals game isn't scheduled for that night (go Celtics!), and after two impeachment attempts and lack of any other serious disciplinary action, I can't wait to see how the Democrats blow it this time.