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Ghomeshi out on bail, forced to stay with mother
The focus now is largely on Marie Henein. The public is calling for a full dissection of the person who will defend ex-CBC host Jian Ghomeshi against four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcome resistance, which in this instance refers to choking. Ghomeshi turned himself into police Wednesday following mounting pressure to do so. He was arrested, charged, and released on $100,000 bail with conditions prohibiting him from contacting his accusers, and forcing him to stay with his mother. Ghomeshi’s lawyer, Henein, told the swarm of reporters surrounding her client that he would be pleading not guilty, and that, “We will address these allegations fully and directly in a courtroom. It is not my practice to litigate my cases in the media.” Ghomeshi hasn’t said much beyond a statement long ago saying he will respond to each sexual assault allegation directly. He has since dropped his $55-million lawsuit against the CBC, a move he made immediately after the mother corp. fired him amid mounting allegations and conduct they deemed unbecoming of someone in his position. He admittedly likes rough, violent sex. [Source: CBC]
North Korea’s up and coming Kim
Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un’s youner sister, is climbing the rungs of power and influence in North Korea, apparently. The country’s official news outlet KCNA announced Thursday that Yo-jung, reportedly 26 years of age, is North Korea’s vice department director, a position that grants her sizeable power and influence. Until this announcement, her role with the country has been relatively amorphous, appearing here and there but with no defined role. Kim Jong-un’s aunt filled this powerful role until last December when her husband was executed for treason and other charges. [Source: The Guardian]
No new grand jury in Wilson-Brown case, says Missouri governor Jay Nixon
Jay Nixon, the governor of Missouri, is not going to bring in a special prosecutor to present the case of Darren Wilson’s shooting of black teenager Michael Brown to a new grand jury, despite calls to do so. The initial ruling found white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson within the bounds of law when he approached Brown, who allegedly matched the description of a wanted thief, scuffled with him, then shot him multiple times, claiming he looked like a demon. Riots ensued in Ferguson and across the U.S. Wilson went on record saying he was just doing his job. Witness accounts of the evening of August 9 vary dramatically, and in an area where the KKK is alive and active. Whether or not Wilson acted justly is immaterial to the issues this case has raised. Protests, once violent, have since diminished to peaceful and now non-existent. Brown’s parents were left “crushed.” [Source: BBC]
Creed’s Scott Stapp homeless and possibly committable
Remember the band Creed? Remember Scott Stapp’s voice and his taught leather pants? I do, and I’ve had the words, “Can you take me higher? To a place where I…” I forget the rest. Doesn’t matter. What matters is that Stapp, whose band sold more than 40-million albums, is broke, homeless, and living in a Holiday Inn. He released a video to Facebook claiming the government stole his money. Stapp also claims that his wife is trying to have him committed. And according to her divorce filings, Mr. tight-pants has sent her some strange text messages, including these gems: “Florida is not safe. Biological weapons on the way,” and “I wouldn’t doubt it if the CIA is behind Alcoholics Anonymous.” [Source: Death and Taxes]
Happy Thanksgiving, U.S.
Look, I don’t know what really happened between the Plymouth colonists and the members of the Wampanoag tribe in1621, but I can guess. We all can, I think: Colonists and Native Americans happily eating their harvest bounty, unified, anticipating how years from now the element of football will be added to the festivities. Or not. Eating with those you love is always great, though, before you think Spectator Tribune would let cynicism, realism, whatever, destroy what is a great tradition for many people. Here’s New Yorker comics editor Robert Mankoff talking us through some of the magazine’s Thanksgiving-themed comics.
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Follow Toban Dyck at @tobandyck.
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