Posts filed under ‘RANTS & RAVES’
FILTERING THE NEWS
FILTERING THE NEWS
An observation:
It’s sad in this day and age that the news you receive depends on who owns the source.
And for many the news they hear is the news they want to hear.
THE TRUMP NAME AND THE SACKLER’S
THE TRUMP NAME AND THE SACKLER’S
The name Trump may someday go down the same road as the name Sackler has journeyed. For those not familiar with the Sackler name or remember about its past, here is a reminder.
The Sackler family owned Purdue Pharma, the company which made OxyContin the compound containing oxycodone and primarily responsible for the opioid epidemic.
When Purdue Pharma sent out their sales force to contact doctors with the intent to secure sales of their product they were told to tell doctors that this was an excellent compound for dealing with pain. The sales force was also told to tell doctors that there was no chance of addiction with the use of this medication. And as they say, “The rest is history”.
The Sackler family was known for contributing vast amounts of money to charities and various other organizations. And because of their donations the name Sackler appeared on the walls of buildings and was connected with many well-known organizations. When the Sackler’s involvement with the opioid epidemic became known their name began disappearing from walls and any association with organizations to which they had made massive contributions. The name Sackler doomed anyone unfortunate enough to bear it even, those with no connection to Purdue Pharma, ruining the careers of innocent family members.
Now lets look at the name Trump and draw some comparisons. The name Trump has become prominent in appearing in society due to Trump being president and his massive ego. There is talk with possibly adding his name to Penn Station and other familiar sites. We have already seen the name Trump added to the Kenedy Center along with the president’s hand in running the organization and how successful that has been.
The Sackler name appeared because of the contributions the family made. The Trump name appears because the president wants it to. But because of the president’s actions in handling the responsibility of the office of President the name Trump may suffer the same fate as the name Sackler. I am not the only one who has given the future of the name Trump some thought.
An excellent piece appeared in the opinion section in the Sunday New York Times on 2/15/2026 written by Michelle Cottle entitled Trump Is Slapping His Name on Everything, It Won’t Last. Time will tell how long the name Trump will last on public display and respected with honor.
For those interested in learning more about the Sackler family I suggest the read Empire of Pain written by Patrick Radden Keefe to see how history deals with a name gone wrong.
ICE AND DEATH THREATS
ICE AND DEATH THREATS
Originally this post was going to concern ICE agents and masks but a recent piece on the news generated thoughts I needed to share. My next post will consider ICE agents and the use of masks.
The news I heard concerned the increase of death threats against ICE agents. I think making death threats under any circumstances is wrong. But I want to take a look at what situations are generating enough anger to spawn death threats.
Under the current use of ICE people, for the most part, feel helpless in bringing about change. Protests are having some effect, but the attitude of the administration and the agents is manufacturing enough anger to result in death threats.
ICE agents have killed two people. Both were non-Hispanic and citizens. The administration, beginning with the president and on down, have lied about the circumstances involved in the shootings. Kristi Noem, head of Homeland Security, lied about the incidents. Stephen Miller aggressively lied about the incidents.
ICE agents have been told that they have full immunity in everything they do. Agents have broken car windows and kicked down doors in pursuit of illegal immigrants when there were no criminals present. Children have been detained along with their non-criminal parents. People attending hearings with the hope of obtaining legal status have been arrested. The action of ICE agents stirring up anger goes on and on.
The mission of ICE agents was to eliminate criminal illegal immigrants from society. No city has a problem with this mission. But the mission has become warped going down paths of unneeded violence against innocent people. This is the cause of the increase of death threats. If ICE agents began acting like agents of the law instead of thugs I think the volume of death threats would greatly diminish.
TRUMP’S TRUTH SOCIAL ACCOUNT: WHO CAN POST?
TRUMP’S TRUTH SOCIAL ACCOUNT: WHO CAN POST?
This post is appearing sooner than my next post usually would. I felt it was necessary to make it after what was reported recently concerning the disgusting post made on Truth Social about the Obamas.
Trump says he had nothing to do with the post. That someone working for him made the post without his knowledge.
Whenever there is a post on Truth Social and released as news I always assumed it was made by Trump. Now we are told that there are others with the ability to make posts which can be considered news. Posts where what is said could be considered opinions and action of the president.
To me this gives the ability for some unknown individual to create posts without the president’s knowledge. Posts which could have critical results. Post expressing thoughts on the economy, discussing international concerns and even start a war.
From now on it will be impossible to know for sure that each post on Truth Social, where posts are assumed to be made by Trump, are indeed made by him. From now on these posts deemed to be newsworthy should include the name of the author.
ICE MASKS: WHY DO THEY NEED THEM?
ICE MASKS: WHY DO THEY NEED THEM?
ICE agents protest against the call to remove their masks. They say they need them for their safety. But why do they feel that they are in danger? I think the circumstances are of their own making.
If they weren’t so abusive against American citizens. If they think that they can kick down doors without a warrant and no one would mind. If they weren’t guilty of having no respect for the law and not exhibiting any respect for their fellow Americans. The result of all that they lack in the actions they exhibit is why they need masks.
If they acted as they should while carrying out their mission there would be no need to fear for their safety. I can’t recall ever seeing anyone committed to enforcing the law wear a mask. Maybe if ICE agents began respecting their fellow citizens and the laws of the land they wouldn’t need those masks.
What do you think?
EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL!
EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL!
I’m writing this piece because stupidity is hitting close to home.
I live in Chester County, PA and am represented by Chrissy Houlahan in the House of Representatives.
Not long ago she, along with other members of Congress, made a video stating that members of the military did not have to follow unlawful orders. (This would negate the ‘I was only following orders’ excuse). Our president said that their comments were grounds for execution.
Pete Hegseth agrees with the president. Turns out, as reported on CNN he same thing in the past. CNN showed a video of him saying that members of the military did not have to follow illegal orders.
IDS AND ICE AGENTS
IDS AND ICE AGENTS
I’m going to postpone my planned post for something I just saw on the news which upset me, and if you saw it, I hope upsets you too.
And ICE AGENT was shown repeatedly asking a woman to show him her ID. I find this unusual in this country. This reminds me of scenes in movies in communist or fascist countries where people are constantly required to show their papers. But considering the current state of things, the comparison is frightening.
I’ve got a question, Shouldn’t ICE Agents, usually masked, be required to show their IDs when confronting a person. Our president recently posted that that area is full of dangerous criminals, rapists, escapees from insane asylums and worse. When someone confronts you wearing a mask, and with all these extremely dangerous people walking around, shouldn’t they be required to identify themselves?
What do you think?
VENEZUELA VS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
VENEZUELA VS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Could someone explain to me why there is not enough money to help millions of Americans to keep their medical benefits through The Affordable Care Act yet there is enough money to send 105 aircraft, carrying highly sophisticated weapons, to attack Venezuela and at the same time maintain a massive naval force off the country’s coast?
And now there is another list of countries who may deserve America’s attention.
I don’t understand anything anymore.
Where are the Adults?
BOWL GAMES: GREED DILUTES SIGNIFICANE
BOWL GAMES: GREED DILUTES SIGNIFICANE
I first noticed a trend in Bowl Games beginning a few years ago. The number of Bowl Games had increasedcontinues to do so.
I can remember, and I’m talking about maybe 60 years ago, the number of college Bowl Games were few and for a school making it to a Bowl Game was quite an honor. The Bowl Games in existence back then, were to the best of my memory, the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Sugar Bowl and along with three or other Bowl Games, most of which were planned on or near New Year’s Day.
How things have changed.
Here are the Bowl Games listed recently in my local newspaper.
Reported on 12/27/2025
Go Bowling Military Bowl
Bad Boy Mower’s Pinstripe Bowl
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Snoop Dog Arizona Bowl
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Kinder’s Texas Bowl
Reported on 12/29/2025
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl
Valero Alamo Bowl
I’m sure there are more to come because the ones mentioned don’t include the ones I remember.
Do you see the existence of the trend I mentioned. To me having made it into a Bowl Game has much less significance these days. I could be wrong but the increase in the number of Bowl Games has more to do with profit and recognition of the sponsor then the significance of the game and the honor of playing.
What do you think?
A TWO-YEAR-OLD DIED TODAY
A TWO-YEAR-OLD DIED
12/22/2025
I heard on the news this morning that a two-year-old just died. To make the news the circumstances must be suspect. This news grabbed me and would not let go. I suspect the reason is the season and I associate children with happiness, especially now.
What follows are thoughts trying to be a poem.
A TWO-YEAR-OLD DIED
A two-year-old died today,
Does anyone ask, “Why”?
Or break down and cry.
A two-year-old died today,
Will it happen again?
Just a matter of when.
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