Killer Elephants, a Traitor, and Taylor Swift! Ambers News Briefs September 24th 2023

What do killer elephants, an American Traitor, and Swifties have in common?  They are all a part of this week’s News Briefs.

What do you if you don’t like your working conditions or compensation?  Well, if you’re an auto worker or writer, you can go on strike.  What do you do if you’re an elephant?

If you’re a 20-year-old elephant called Pom Pam, you stab your owner.

The elephant had been carrying rubberwood in extremely hot temperatures when it attacked its owner and left him in a pool of blood.

Police said that the high temperatures may have caused the elephant to "go crazy," and stab the owner with its tusks.

Try that the next time you’re over worked.

There are a lot of strange holidays and celebrations and one of the weirdest is the Burning of Benedict Arnold Festival held in New London, Connecticut every September.

Organizer Derron Wood refers to it as the original Burning Man festival.

During a ceremony, a paper mâché figure of the disgraced American Revolutionary is torched to mark the anniversary of when Arnold led a group of more than 1,600 British soldiers to burn most of the city to the ground in 1781.

Participants, some decked out in period costume, march with a fife and drum corps on New London’s Bank Street to its Waterfront Park, where its mayor, Michael E. Passero, shouts, “Remember New London,” and torches the effigy.

A military officer, Arnold was appointed by then-General George Washington and given control of West Point, where Washington had his headquarters during the war.

However, it was discovered that Arnold, giving information to the British and planning to surrender West Point to enemy forces.

Tuesday, September 19 was National Voter Registration Day.

VoteDotOrg’s communication director, Nick Morrow, announced that their site was averaging 13,000 users every 30 minutes.  Wow.

What could cause that much traffic?  Two words.  Taylor Swift.

Earlier that day, the “Anti-Hero” singer had posted to her Story, asking followers: “Are you registered to vote yet? I’ve heard you raise your voices, and I know how powerful they are. Make sure you’re ready to use them in our elections this year!”

I wonder if Taylor would like to become an honorary member of The League of Drag Queen Voters?

I’d love to hear her shout out our motto

Don’t Blow It – VOTE!

And that’s this week’s News Briefs.