Monday, July 14, 2025

PS - Lexington Live Shooter: This Is Why We Need Jail Those Issued an EPO, Deny Bail, and a DV Database

*Edited

(I updated the original post below and will continue to do so; however, this element deserves its own post because many people don't know the below information about current EPOs and DV law.)


It is now confirmed that the shooter is dead, shot by Lexington PD. 

We also know his name was Guy House and that he had a Domestic Violence hearing in Lexington today, as well as a criminal history.

The victims were Beverly Gumm, 72, and her daughter, Christina Combs, 32 - mother and sister of his intended target, who was not present.





Also shot and critically wounded were Beverly's husband and the church Pastor, Jerry Gum, as well as Combs' husband, Randy Combs.


Exhibit A as to why we need to jail those issued an EPO and deny bail for DV and stalkin.. 

If there is enough evidence to convince a judge to issue an EPO, there is enough evidence to at least temporarily jail them until hearing - but they don't.

Even if convicted, the sentence is 2 to 10 years maximum - and we know that most abusers/stalkers will do it again.

The latter is why we need a national database on DV convicts, just like we do sex offenders - to protect us all.

And here's the thing, folks - if you do not know their whereabouts or they are out of state, when making threats, you cannot file an EPO (emergency protective order) against them in the State of Kentucky (and many others).

Even if you can get an EPO (which may be why his license plate popped up on the State Trooper's radar), as mentioned, it's essentially a piece of paper - no lockup for others' safety. 


Thus, as much as the police may want to help you and protect you, they can do nothing until the the abuser is actually in the state making the threats, and even if they catch them and arrest them, they can walk right out on bail.

Many, many people have died this way, to include Dr. Martha Post, a local beloved dermatologist, who was shot and killed by her stalker in 2011, after both she and her husband tried for 4 years to get an EPO on her stalker, but he was hiding in different areas including out of state.

Though we don't know his name yet, bravo to the state trooper who tried to help her!


Sunday, July 13, 2025

Lexington Live Shooter, Now Shot and Killed (Updated)

 

So all we know thus far is that a Kentucky State Trooper stopped a vehicle on Terminal Drive at Bluegrass Airport, after the vehicle's license plate came up on an alert.

The trooper then stopped the vehicle and the driver shot the trooper.

The shooter then carjacked another vehicle and headed to Richmond Road Baptist Church and opened fire on the congregation, killing 2 women and injuring 2 others.

The trooper is alive and being treated for his injuries.

Yes, our apartment community does sit on the corner of Main/Richmond Road and a cross street - however, the tiny church is actually on Old Richmond Road, not Main/Richmond Road. 

(He would've had to drive past us to get there, yes, but not as close as you might think, and apparently the church was his goal anyway.)

We also just heard the suspect has been shot dead, but that has yet to be officially verified.

Other than that, that's all we know thus far.


_______________________

7/14/2025

It is now confirmed that the shooter is dead, shot by Lexington PD. 

We also know his name was Guy House and that he had a Domestic Violence hearing in Lexington today, as well as a criminal history.

The victims were Beverly Gumm, 72, and her daughter, Christina Combs, 32.

They were the mother and sister of his intended target, who was not present.




Also shot and critically wounded were Beverly's husband and the church Pastor, Jerry Gum, as well as Combs' husband, Randy Combs.



Exhibit A as to why we need to jail those issued an EPO and deny bail for DV and stalking.. 

If there is enough evidence to convince a judge to issue an EPO, there is enough evidence to at least temporarily jail them until hearing - but they don't.

Even if convicted, the sentence is 2 to 10 years maximum - and we know that most abusers/stalkers will do it again.

The latter is why we need a national database on DV convicts, just like we do sex offenders - to protect us all.


And here's the thing, folks - if you do not know their whereabouts or they are out of state, when making threats, you cannot file an EPO (emergency protective order) against them in the State of Kentucky (and many others).

Even if you can get an EPO (which may be why his license plate popped up on the State Trooper's radar), as mentioned, it's essentially a piece of paper - no lockup for others' safety. 


Thus, as much as the police may want to help you and protect you, they can do nothing until the the abuser is actually in the state making the threats, and even if they catch them and arrest them, they can walk right out on bail and will likely get 2 years, maximum of 10 years.

Many, many people have died this way, to include Dr. Martha Post, a local beloved dermatologist, who was shot and killed by her stalker in 2011, after both she and her husband tried for 4 years to get an EPO on her stalker, but he was hiding in different areas including out of state.

Though we don't know his name yet, bravo to the state trooper who tried to help her!


Rethinking (Or Reviving) Old Forms of Protest - Dance

 

This post is partially inspired after finally watching the movie, "Sinners," last night (LOVED IT, by the way, writing a longer post on it now-  but for now, one particular scene starting me thinking (which may or may not be a good thing 😂)


So we know that most effective way to protest, according to historical record, is silent or spiritual civil disobedience, right?

In Martin Luther King's day, it was quiet sit-ins or marching while singing hymns, arm-in-arm.

Though righteously angry, he won over/gained respect from whites this way - quiet sit-ins, marching while singing hymns ...




Gandhi, the same, but praying rather than singing - tack on a hunger strike while in prison (which is a little extreme) ...




In Chile, during the "reign" of the murderous right-wing dictator, Augusto Pinochet (whom we put in office), it was dancing Chile's national dance, the Cueca ... 

The Cueca is a partner dance, similar to Flamenco ... 



However, in the 1970s/1980s during Pinochet's reign of terror, the Cueca was the only form of protest they were allowed, and even then, only certain days a year.

The women danced alone, still waving handkerchiefs, as if dancing with a partner, the "invisible ones" - husbands, sons, and fathers who had disappeared at the hands of the right-wing dictator. 




Or for the Native Americans, it was the "Ghost Dance" (though they unfortunately believed their dead loved ones would rise and dance and help them defend territory against the white man on a certain day and time, but of course, did not happen.)




Of course, no one is dying or quietly disappearing here in the US, at least not yet, of course, but meaning the general concept, right?


You say nothing at all - except humming or singing along, or just dance quietly.

You do nothing at all - except dance.


In an age where most of our modern musicians have failed us when it comes to protest songs, like we saw in the 1960s, and speaking/yelling rallies and protests get flipped back onto us and can even get you deported or your citizenship revoked, what about returning to quiet civil disobedience, saying nothing at all?


So what about dance, maybe to an already-existing song or old protest song, since our musicians aren't creating new protest music?

We could get a famous choreographer to do it, but it could be just something basic that everyone can do like at weddings, like the electric slide?




Or like the old Soul Train dance line, where two people dance off down the row between two lines of people, in their own self-expressive way, good or not?



No judgment, just laughter and praise for being yourself 😊

Perhaps the song itself doesn't even have to be political, that person or band itself just being known to support these issues?

That way, nothing can get flipped back onto anyone into violence or riots, it's simply a dance that everyone is doing at a certain location at a certain time?

Of course, there are always going to be those few bad apples that show up in every bunch, but what if we all just said nothing at all, true civil disobedience, and just ... danced?

I think there are already some small pockets of people who already did this in certain cities over certain issues like George Floyd, but a coordinated social media effort to do so nationally might be better?



Saturday, July 12, 2025

Sure, Fire Pam Bondi, But That Will Change Nothing ...



Do y'all really think she made the decision to say no names were on the Epstein client list alone?


I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist, I prefer fact and proof rather than gossip and wild speculation - however, in this particular case, Jeffrey Epstein was convicted.

We already know there WAS an Epstein "black book" client list that Ghislaine Maxwell kept for him -  if there wasn't, then why Ghislaine sitting in prison, right now?!?

And we also know that Prince Andrew was on it, with photo evidence with a victim and that accuser came forward - thus, why he was stripped of his title, etc.


So obviously, some other big names must be on Ghislaine's little black book that are likely Republican/Conservative - because you know Trump's hand-picked DOJ would be alllllllll about publishing it if they were Democrats! 😂


Big names, like, oh, I don't know - maybe THIS guy?




 ... at Mar a Lago in 1992, doing the white-man's overbite dance overbite while ogling young girls next to Epstein? 

Have you all really become such blind cult followers that you believe it's not even remotely possible that Trump himself and/or other powerful, wealthy conservatives are on that list?

Ruh Roh - whatcha gonna do now, Conservatives/Republicans, when it's become pretty clear that some of your own must be on that client list - just keep pretending only Democrats are pedophiles and criminals?


You can quit or fire people all day - that won't change the fact that if Trump doesn't want it released, it won't be released - either because powerful, wealthy Republican friends and donors are on it or possibly even he is on it, himself


So if it ever does get released, they'll blacken out names/redact it heavily first, and say they had to because they're "protecting the victims," right? 😉



Friday, July 4, 2025

Happy INDEPENDENCE Day!


So we had planned on hanging out at the pool today - early, before it became overcrowded and the drunkards arrived, breaking glass everywhere, though glass isn't allowed at the pool.

However, I'm stuck indoors, because I started antibiotics yesterday, but am still running a slight fever from a developing tooth abscess, because we discovered that I have a rare dental condition called internal resorption  - more on what that is and what causes it, in a moment.


So I don't usually do a lot anymore for July 4th anyway, as I'm feeling less and less patriotic with all that's going on, and I'm not alone - my new neighbor said the same thing (she offered it, I didn't, I just said "me too!").

So a few years ago, I instead started calling this holiday "Independence Day," as in the right to be independent from any dysfunctional relationship with a ruling party.

Maybe it's a political group or person.

Maybe it's a job or boss. 

Maybe it's a spouse or partner or dysfunctional family.

Independence Day can also be about freeing yourself from the dysfunctional, toxic ties that bind you.


This July 4th, the more personal concept comes in to play for me, because as I mentioned, I have an abscess and am  getting a root canal next week due to the rare tooth condition called "internal resorption."

What is internal resorption?

A relatively rare dental condition in which the pulp begins to essential deteriorate, or as my dentist put it, the tooth begins to "eat itself from the inside out," usually as the result of traumatic injury.

What's weird is I began having some discomfort there a year ago and we took extensive x-rays, even a dental CT - nothing.

When my dentist looked at the x-ray, she got the strangest look on her face and I could tell something was wrong, and she sat down next to me.

I said, "Whatever it is can't be that bad, I've come here regularly for years now.  Whatever it is, just tell it to me straight, I can take it.  And we will fix it. What?"

She explained what it was, and considering there had been a cavity in the back that she filled, but wasn't a huge deal - combined with the fact that a CT scan showed nothing to cause the discomfort a year ago- and then she asked me if I ever had an external injury to the jaw.


I answered that yes, I did - 20 years ago - but it can't progress that slowly, or can it?

Yes, she said not only can it, it usually does.

Though a rare condition, it's common for it to not show on dental x-rays for years - even 20.

Then she asked me what happened.


Me:  "So ... h\s name was J, ex-husband 😂.  Backhand to the jaw almost 20 years ago. I'd forgotten about that one, because there was way worse. I remember now. I didn't even notice the pain or bruising until later.  Wow, the gift that just keeps on giving, right? 😂. Sorry, I don't know why I'm joking about it. Makes it seem like it didn't happen if I laugh about it." 

 

Dentist:  "Because if you don't laugh, you'll cry. And because it makes it easier to talk about that way, I get it.  I'm so sorry, Chrystal.  And I'm sure it feels like you're the only one left with the bad stuff.  But this one, we can fix, so it's not there anymore, okay?  Let's get you to the endodontist."  

 

Me: "Are you sure this isn't something I did to myself, like didn't brush or floss enough there or those years I couldn't afford dental care or the night-grinding or smoking?"  

 

Dentist:  "There you go again. No, this isn't something you did to yourself. Those things don't help, no, but we got you straightened out since then, you've been regularly seen and never miss an appointment - except for the, ya know, smoking" - the latter part she whispered, one hand to the side of her mouth. 

 

Me: "Why you putting your hand up beside your mouth, like it's a secret? 😂Your dental assistant totally heard that and perhaps I need to be shamed for it, loudly, so I'll finally quit for good. You can't fix me if I'm not honest about what I do lol" 

 

Dentist: "Hahaha!  I know, like why did I put my hand up, like who am I whispering too? No, you know how I feel about that already and I don't think you need anymore shame in your life." 
"Even smoking couldn't cause this. It makes it worse, yes, but this is caused my significant physical injury, and I the filling on the tooth next to it isn't enough. Now, had I known it was there/could see it then, I would've sent you to an endodontist then, but it didn't show up on x-ray then, it didn't even show up on the CT with the oral surgeon trying to find what was causing discomfort there a year ago.  That's the way this thing works, it appears to suddenly pop up on imaging, though it's been building for years"


As I've mentioned before, I absolutely love my dentist AND my hygienist!

As they both mentioned recently, "Remember when you came first came here in 2011? You couldn't even look us in the eye, you were so beaten down and fragile, apologizing for every little thing, even a wince! And so ashamed of everything, including not being able to afford dental care, the shape your teeth were in, and just afraid of everyone. Now you chat, you laugh a lot, you joke - you've come a long way, baby."


I told them their mercy and kindness towards me helped me in more ways than they will EVER know.

They have never asked why I was like that and I never really told them - except to mention a couple of years ago was what they didn't know is I had been homeless a year prior - but I still didn't go into detail.

All they knew was that it was after a rough marriage and an even rougher time with family.

They've both actually helped me be a little less hard on myself than I was when they first met me. And they'd seen way worse.

They also added that people often lash out at them or even become combative when in pain,  or blame them for tooth problems instead of themselves and their own dental care -  but I never once did. I apologized for even wincing if something pinched!

I knew the shape my teeth were in was my own fault - but they reminded me that people had no health or dental insurance before  Obamacare in 2010, and can't afford dental care even now!

Plus my dentist added that she'd had 2 root canals by the time she was 17 due to her love of Snickers bars and growing up in the country on well water; in fact, that's why she got into dentistry.

(Thus, she is none too happy about JFK wanting to get rid of fluoride in the water - she knows the importance of it.)

So she doesn't judge anybody - she just fixes what's wrong.

Because you live and you learn - and she reminded me that not everything I experienced, even if I chose it, was all my fault - no one is powerful enough.


All of this to say, if you're not feeling very patriotic today, or anymore, then celebrate this day for the spirit of the day - finding the courage to extricate yourself from anything toxic in your life -  even if you have to stand alone, amen?

You may struggle for a while.  You may have lasting effects.  You may consider crawling back. You may doubt yourself. You may beat yourself up for having chose them, or have lasting wounds from the fight to separate or get out - while they seem fine and continue to justify their treatment of you, still blaming you for their cruelty as if you or anyone deserves that.


Stop continuing their abuse and cruelly blaming you for everything - because you're not powerful enough, and had even less power then - so stop abusing yourself on their behalf. 


And don't worry about what happens to them in karma anyway, because it's not about what happens to them, it what happens to YOU now.

Whatever they choose to do is on their souls, and whatever YOU choose to do is on yours.

Will you wallow in bitterness and fear or will you never catch that disease from them?


So I decided I can look at this like "how long do I have to pay for that relationship while he doesn't?" 

-OR-

I can look at this like "I'm caring for myself better, now - and the last remnant will be removed next week."


After doing some "grounding exercises," reminding me of where I am now - safe, happy, loved, better than I've ever been - I decided on the latter. 

(For me, grounding exercises also include tactile stimulus - feeling something with texture, like a woven pillow or petting Ziggy, while reminding myself of the above - it helps me not to slip off into  my head too much into full-on trigger 😉)

I'm having the last residual of that toxic relationship physically removed from my body, this week - which is something to celebrate! 

(Though we do have to watch the other teeth in that area for the same, but I will deal with that as it comes.)



For now, in that spirit, then Happy INDEPENDENCE Day - from whatever dysfunctional, unhealthy, toxic relationship you've either chosen, found yourself, or were born into - amen? 😊


Saturday, June 28, 2025

PS - My Coworker's Daughter Also Flew with the Air Force Thunderbirds ... 9Gs and did NOT pass out!


 As mentioned in the post below, my retiring coworker's daughter flew with the Blue Angels for a news segment, because she is a daytime anchor and reporter for a Miami TV news station; however, I also learned she flew with the Air Force Thunderbirds in an F/16 Falcon, for which the video is still available (below).


 


Look at THAT ladies and gentlemen - she hit 9 Gs - and she did NOT pass out!

(Her momma said SHE almost did though 😂)

She is one of very few civilians to ride and not pass out!


You can see her doing her breathing exercises, which are super important to practice and then do for the ride before you go up.

Many an aspiring pilot and/or astronaut has been ruled out because they can't handle the Gs or don't practice the breathing exercises regularly first.

(I forgot to ask her momma for permission during her retirement party yesterday, but she's so proud of her I doubt she'd care (she can tell me if she does) and she's a public figures, but since I forgot to ask for express permission, I won't put names myself in the actual post.

Regardless, here is my now-retired coworker's daughter taking flight with the AF Thunderbirds - so cool! 😍

And THAT that is how you get noticed as a TV journalist, especially female journalists!

Doing so may put her national someday, wait and see!

_________________________

PS - My husband, who originally wanted to be a fighter pilot until his broke his neck dirt-bike racing at 18  - but after cervical fusion, he received a medical waiver and was still able to impressively pass the rigorous Army Ranger test to become an Army Ranger nonetheless -  is super jealous and super impressed. 

And this also came out of his mouth, just now ...

"I don't just think women are as good as men at piloting, I actually think women are better suited than men to pilot."
 
"Your heart rates and breathing are naturally slower, likely so you can withstand labor. Labor in and of itself is a tremendous force on the body, so you can take it."  
"This also is likely why women tend to be more precise target-shooters than men with both archery and riflery. Precision in both archery and riflery is more about breathing and heart rate than people realize. Ancient-civilization militaries realized that, like the Greeks and Romans - it's why they often had female archers in their militaries."

"And women are used to multitasking and making decisions quickly on their feet, whereas we tend to get laser focused on one task. Maybe when it was just one "joystick" to fly, but it's not anymore, you have several systems to watch while navigating flight. I"m a terrible multitasker, I was even before my stroke, but it's definitely worse now and as I get older. But you, you can like... make dinner, type a report for work, text a friend about a meet-up, keep Ziggy entertained, while diffusing a bomb if you had to LOL. "

See?  This is why we love my husband. 🥰

Not THIS woman as a pilot, of course, I'd never make it 😂 

And I can multitask and think, but if too many irons are on the fire at once, they will NOT get done equally well at the same time!

I did learn that I'm a freakishly good shot - or at least I used to be -  with archery OR riflery, during gym classes in high school and college (I was actually asked to try out for our college archery team, but I couldn't afford the equipment to actually be on the team) - but I'd definitely pass out or have a panic attack in flight!

But some DO have the right stuff 😊

Too bad it has taken took the military way too long to figure that out!


Friday, June 27, 2025

Today's Blue Angels ...



I have a coworker retiring today, and we've had a running Teams chat joke about the small group of 6 of us in our department being Top Gun pilots - only we changed it to the Blue Angels because it's Florida. 

We communicate primarily by Teams chat, and one day I said it feels like walkie-talkies or air com to me, and since there are 6 of us,I decided we should all have pilot call names, because that's me, being me 😂 

(The doctors at our hospital already tried it and hated it and stated emphatically they needed human transcriptionists - go BFSH!)


We chose our own call names then - mine is "Cornbread" - because I'm in Kentucky 😂

So our hospital is in Miami, but the retiring coworker's daughter got to fly with the Blue Angels for a news segment (she's an anchor at a Miami news station)!

The Blue Angels are very special to me, after living in Pensacola during the 2004/2005 Hurricane season - they played their song on the radio every day to boost morale and the Blue Angels actually flew over the city after the 1st hurricane that hit us that year, Ivan, and tipped their wings at us!


And I learned something new today, while looking up this video. So I knew that they had actual female pilots on the team now, as carrier pilots since 2015 - but what I didn't know is that in 2022, the first female Blue Angel came aboard the main demonstration fighter-pilot squadron of 6 as #4, flying an F/18 - Amanda Lee. 


Her nickname is "Stalin" because of her leadership approach. (Yikes? Maybe that's what it takes to be a female pilot, but not helping our reputation, ladies!)




She had the typical two-year stint with the Blue Angels and moved on to Navy leadership, which is typical for a BA, but you can see her in their latest video for the song, walking in formation with the fighter squadron for the air show. 


Needless to say, they did not have female fighter pilots 20 years ago, when I lived there ... we've come a long way, baby. 


I love the lyrics of this song, not only because of hurricane memories, but my life/first marriage was essentially my 4th hurricane at the time. 😂

I often play this song when big change is happening, to remind me to stay strong and keep going - and to remind me of how far I've come, since then - I've come a long way, baby 🥲


So without further ado, I give you the latest official song of the Navy's Pensacola Blue Angels - Van Halen's "Dreams" - now featuring #4, Amanda Lee  😍


 



World turns black and white
Pictures in an empty room
Your love starts fallin' down
Better change your tune
Yeah, you reach for the golden ring
Reach for the sky
Baby, just spread your wings ...

And get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb
We'll get higher and higher
Leave it all behind

Run, run, run away
Like a train runnin' off the track
Got the truth bein' left behind
Fall between the cracks

Standin' on broken dreams
Never losin' sight, ah
Well, just spread your wings ...

We'll get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb
We'll get higher and higher
Leave it all behind

So baby, dry your eyes
Save all the tears you've cried
Oh, that's what dreams are made of

'Cause we belong
In a world that must be strong
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
Yeah, we'll get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb
Higher and higher
Leave it all behind
Oh, we'll get higher and higher
Who knows what we'll find?

So baby, dry your eyes
Save all the tears you've cried
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
Oh baby, we belong
In a world that must be strong
Oh, that's what dreams are made of

And in the end
On dreams we will depend
'Cause that's what love is made of ...

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

PS - Though Weak Display, What Did I Say In That Post On Sunday?

 

... mind you, written before Iran attacked our largest military base in Qatar?


I said that $400 million jet Qatar gave Trump (that came with expectations) is a factor and there is more going on with Trump's decisions than just Israel - because there is a difference between Middle Eastern Muslim governments by country, Sunni or Shia (Shiite)  - and these differences keep them from being an allied Palestinian alliance front against Israel, as both branches want control over the other first. 


For the differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims and which countries' governments are which, read the post below.

But as quick reference, Iran is Shia -  Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are Sunni.



It's not that I'm psychic, or particularly smart -  it's just that we, as a people, MUST stop drinking all the political propaganda Kool-Aid and understand for ourselves the cultural, religious, linguistic, and socioeconomic differences between groups of people, because politicians aren't going to help us with that.

They're just going to continue to fear-monger and blanket-generalize along racial, religious, or political lines to further their own political agendas - the political right especially using this tactic.

This, despite the fact that it has never been more clear than now that they, themselves, DO actually differentiate between Muslim groups, actually favoring Sunni Muslims over Shia Muslims. 


Then despite what JD Vance and Pete Hegseth said - that this was NOT an attempt at regime change -  Trump opened his big fat mouth and said that it actually was (preferably to a more Sunni-friendly leadership or actual Sunni control, hmm, Trump?)


Though Iran's response was weak, it was meant to be -  more like a display, a message: 

"We see you, Sunnis. We know wassup with that obligation-gift jet. We know you're pissed over Syria and want Sunni control, and you have more money and might, but are you really going to choose Israel over us?"


Then considering Iran announced a cease-fire today, the Sunni governments said:

Yeah, um ... so we're not going to choose between you, you're on your own. We could ... but we will not.


So if it helps, imagine it's like this.

Imagine that US Protestants said "We're going to attack Washington DC. They want us to share control with other faiths or even no faith! That means we'd have to give up some control! They're favoring non-Christians and persecuting us! So we're going to attack to gain control back!. Crusader Catholics, are you with us?


And then the US Catholics said "Erm - no, not like this. We think we'll sit this one out, thanks. But have fun storming the Capitol!"  😂


That's completely oversimplifying everything and not an exact analogy, a rather lame one actually  - because the persecution isn't imaginary in Israel,  on BOTH sides - so I DO apologize, it just the closest American analogy I could think of quickly! 


Now, Iran does have the choice of running to Russia or China or North Korea for help, because it has loose military alliances with them, but those countries are likely too smart to get involved in this regional conflict, at least at this juncture. 

They do need oil in the region, of course, but again, that is largely controlled by Sunni countries.


Since WWI, people don't like being dragged into wars that start over regional political conflict, especially now that nuclear weapons are involved. 


But ya know, never say never. 

If Russia did, they don't do sh*t for free and they like territory control, so Putin would likely say "Okay - but your people are mine, now, MY soldiers, and they're going to the Ukraine next" - which I doubt Iran would ever agree to.

Of course, I have no crystal ball and I can't predict what will happen next.

Cease-fires may happen ... and yet Middle Eastern governments do not forget.  

They have the reputation for holding grudges for long periods of time and being especially patient with acting on those grudges, sometimes even years later. 

So we shall see ...




 



Sunday, June 22, 2025

Making Sense of The Iran Bombing: Not Just About Israel - Never Forget the Sunni VS. Shia Muslim Conflict


(Edited - only to add 1 paragraph about the Shah of Iran vs. Ayatollah leadership.)

So most Americans - or at least those who drank all the political Kool-Aid without question or research - think of all Muslims as alike. Thus, they must be especially confused as to why Trump would accept a $400 million jet from Qatar, but then insert ourselves into the Iran-Israeli war against Iran, am I right?


And therein lies the problem with the political right fearmongering all Muslims into the same bucket - because even the Muslim-fear-mongering political right does not, themselves. 


Now, in discussing the below, understand that I do not think there are just 2 buckets of Muslims, either - I'm talking about the 2 main Muslim camps under which Middle Eastern governments lie, which have also been the main source of internal Muslim conflict.


So the 2 main differences between leadership in Muslim countries  - which keeps them from uniting as a Palestinian front and the cause of much infighting - is based on whether they are Sunni Muslim or Shia (Shiite) Muslim.


What's the difference? 


Shia Muslims believe the religious leadership should be a genetic heir to Mohammed, that this was a divine choice.   

 

Sunni Muslims believe religious leaders can be chosen, elected. 


It's much like the age-old fight between monarchies and Republics, only religious-based - HOWEVER - some Sunni countries do still have governmental monarchies, like Saudi Arabia. 


That sounds a bit counterintuitive for Sunnis, and it is somewhat,  but remember still that the monarchy was still chosen, rather than being a direct descendent of Mohammed, long ago, and is inherited still today, as well as they are not looked to as religious, clerical leadership.

In contrast, Iran has clerical government leadership under an Ayatollah, after famously ousting the Shah of Iran (who was also Shiite, but more open to Western ideas - but before you get to thinking he wa s a good guy, think again - he was just as brutal as the Shia  clergy that took over.)


Note that though it's an extremely important distinction that  partially explains why some Muslim countries get a free pass, you will never hear Trump or his administration make this distinction - despite every other president being either totally transparent or semi-transparent about the distinction.



IMO, this because it better suits the overall MAGA and Christian nationalist agenda to continue to make no distinction between Muslims.

Also IMO, not making this distinction is not only an insult to Muslim people, but an insult to OUR intelligence.

Thus, we must never forget, despite political propaganda, there is a difference between a country's government and their people do, whether it's Palestinian countries, Israel, or even the U.S.


Also, there are regional and individual differences, too, just like here in the U.S.  

For example, the Bedouins are almost exclusively Sunni,  with some even being Christian in Jordan.

Either way, the Bedouins also have local tribal customs, and they heavily adhere to more peaceful verses in the Qu'ran, unless threatened. 

That is because they don't cherry-pick the Qu'ran and stretch the rules of Holy War like their actual governments do.

(Not unlike how our own US government, right now, cherry-picks scripture in favor of their own agendas, ignoring the more peaceful and compassionate verses of Christ -  but that's another blog post - in fact, one of many I've already written ad nauseum on 😂 )



Now -  did you even notice that not all Middle Eastern Muslim countries were on the travel ban list OR that not all Palestinian protestors were detained or deported?

If you didn't, you should.



Because the only Muslim Middle-Eastern countries that are travel-banned - or had Palestinian protestors detained or deported in/from the U.S - have majority populations that are 
Shia Muslims -  Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Libya etc.

The only Muslim Middle-Eastern countries NOT on the travel-ban list - or have detained/deported Palestinian protestors - have majority populations which are Sunni Muslims -  Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, etc.


Historically, the US has almost exclusively always supported Sunni Muslims in these conflicts with each other - not only because they present themselves as more Republic-minded (but not really) and open-minded to Westerners, but because they have the most oil and the most money.

HOWEVER, the enemy of our enemy isn't necessarily our friend - because as we know, as the result of the 2002 9/11 commission report, much of the financial backing for 9/11 was wired from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but no one did anything about it.

It is unclear whether that wired 9/11 money came from people in the minority Shia population of Saudi Arabia and the UAE or not, because like I said, we never followed up on the money trai;/


Sunni countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE have had an on-again/off-gain relationship with Shia countries depending on the objective, but most recently, they fell out with Iran over control of Syria, so Iran is on Saudi Arabia's sh*t list, right now. 


As I've said many times, these are centuries-old religious wars between Middle-Eastern people that we should NOT involve ourselves in, or suffer the consequences, and instead mediate or negotiate for peace.


For now, Sunni-majority countries are likely okay with Trump's bombing because it helps them with their own objective against Shia-majority countries, at keeping them subdued and unable to use nuclear take control over Sunni countries.

What it also has the potential to do, of course, is let Sunnis take control instead of Shia countries, in their quest to unify a Palestinian State again Israel - but that is speculative and remains to be seen.

What also remains to be seen is how Putin and Russia will react - Putin has loose ties with Iran and other Shiite countries/governments.






Saturday, June 21, 2025

Growing Up, What Was The Coolest Thing Your Teacher or School Ever Did?


So while watching a YouTube video about a similar event, I was reminded of our school's experiment, when I was only in 1st grade.

So my 1st grade teacher's name was Mrs. Apple, if you can believe that! 

On the minus side, Mrs. Apple was a very stern lady with cat-eye glasses and a teased, frozen hairstyle, who would pinch you on the chest, on the thin skin of the sternum - with glee - if you misbehaved, or she'd paddle you if you were really bad. 



She looked very much like this lady, except much older, her hair was a bit longer and flipped up on each end - fully plastered that way to the point of immobile, after hairspray - and she wore tweed jackets and skirts or a cardigan with that ruffled shirt.


I never got pinched or paddled, mind you, but it was memorable when other students did!

Because there's virtually no muscle at your sternum, just skin, nerves and bone - so it hurts like a b---ch!

(In fact, a "sternal rub" is used by physicians in attempt to rouse people from unconsciousness for this reason. Also, ask anyone who's ever had open-heart surgery, where they crack your sternum open to get to the heart - the most painful part for months afterwards is the sternum area.)

Whoever got pinched immediately cried out and dropped to the floor - so I made up my mind I'd never say a freaking word in that class, sit up straight, do as I was told, and never talk to my friends unless she gave permission. Wouldn't you? 😂

(I also never told my parents,  It was 1st grade and I just thought this was just how school was, and actually -  it was, back then - plus my parents had enough going on at home.)


Come to think of it, I had a lot of very stern elementary/middle school teachers, many of whom were stereotypically German, growing up in suburban Cincinnati - Mrs. Keller, Mrs. Orndorff, Ms. Finkbeiner, Ms. Feinauer.


*NOT that all Germans are stern* - Ms. Orndorff wasn't so much, but she was younger and even laughed occasionally - but the others unfortunately did not help that German stereotype, let's put it that way.


Also my 4th-grade teacher, Ms. Feinhauer, though mostly stern, also at least laughed occasionally, and also read us Judy Blume's younger stuff like "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing," and  introduced me to "The Chronicles of Narnia," and let us play records and dance indoors on rainy days during recess to the "Grease" album 😂




But back to Ms.Apple ....


Now, on the plus side, if you did well, Ms. Apple made a big deal about it and rewarded you. There was no hugging, of course, but patted you on the back, smiled and told the class how well you'd done. Mind you, she smiled, but never really with her eyes, but at least it was a smile.

She also taught us our letters and how to eventually write in a very unique way - by having us mold them with modeling clay first, before later teaching us to write.

Not cutouts, but actually rolling and forming them with our hands, eventually making words ... 




This was not only fun, but very effective - our class was way ahead in reading and writing before other students our age!

(Not that my handwriting today is any proof, but I at least learned this way.)

And no - you weren't allowed to actually play with the clay until after she approved your letter and moved on to another student, nor talk to others or sing little songs as you did it, or else you'd get "the pinch." 😂

I'm not sure if we were way ahead because of the unique modeling-clay way she taught us or our fear of being pinched in the sternum or both!


Anyway, our school as a whole decided to do a little experiment, which I believe was actually Ms. Apple's idea because she was in charge of the pins and got very excited about it, which was contagious.

I think they don't do this as much now, because if the materials ended up in the oceans, that would be a very bad thing for ocean wildlife.

Regardless, at the time, every student got a helium balloon, and we tied a laminated tag on it with our name and our school's address and phone number to contact when the balloon was found - and then we released them all on the playground, one day and watched them float away.




We had a giant map in the hallway of the school, so that when the school was contacted, a colored pin would be put in that location with the student's name attached. (The map was encased and locked in glass, of course, so nobody could mess with it. 😂)




My particular balloon was never found, but over 100 others were, as far north as Canada and as far south as Florida, and as far west as Nebraska.  (I'm thinking they never made it over the Rockies 😂)

Super cool way to show us how big the world really is, as well as familiarize us with basic science principles, as well as weather patterns, right?

Not to mention, unify us as a school regardless of background.

Very cool!



Wednesday, June 18, 2025

"Sally" on Hulu


What is this about? 

It's a documentary about -  as the character, Ellie, put it in The Last Of Us, this last season - Sally Effing Ride! 😂






The first American woman in space in 1983, whom although was everywhere, once upon a time, we actually knew very little about as she was a very private person.


I had read about this documentary which dropped on Hulu yesterday, and I wasn't disappointed. 

In fact, my husband, who thought he'd heard every story the astronauts had to tell, really enjoyed it and was glad I put it on, because it gave a new perspective, a new take on the space story.


I wish those from a younger generation could realize how big of a deal it was when Sally Ride became that first American woman in space aboard the STS-7 Challenger in June of 1983.

"Mustang Sally" was playing everywhere, people wore "Ride, Sally, Ride" T-shirts - she was like a rock star to us. 

I can't believe it took almost 20 years after a Russian woman went to space for us to do it, too, but we finally did.


When NASA finally opened up the astronaut program to women and other races, if it were today, one might say Sally was a DEI hire, as many even did at the time - apparently not knowing that she had to endure the same grueling tests the men did and pass,

If you cried, got mad, hyperventilated, panicked, or vomited, you  were OUT - male OR female. 

You also had to be in shape/athletic and cool under pressure, thinking your way out of tough situations, as well as athletic/physically fit to adjust quickly to pressure changes and muscle movement in 0 gravity.


Which means acceptance into the program was already competitive, but then you had to prove you had the right stuff - and that NASA astronaut class of 1978 now included 6 women, as well as men of color - certainly did. 





(Sally Ride is 2nd from left, Judy Reznick is on the right at the end.)


And when it came down to who would be the first woman, it was between Sally Ride and Judy Reznick (who later died in the Challenger explosion), both being especially cool under pressure  - Sally was chosen because even although she also had a sense of humor, Judy was a bit more jokey and bubbly than Sally, and they wanted someone with a bit more reserve in personality for that first mission.

Her story is told posthumously by friends, family, and most importantly, by her partner of 27 years, Tam O'Shaughnessey.





There are very few pictures of them together, as Sally was very paranoid about it.  Forget holding hands or hugging, they couldn't even stand close to each other for major life events 😢

That is until 10 days before Sally Ride died from pancreatic cancer in 2012, she  finally gave Tam permission to reveal to the world the secret she had hidden from the public for 27 years that - yes, Sally Ride was gay - and that Tam had been her partner since 1985.


But if you're expecting some sappy, overly dramatic story - don't.

Sally wouldn't have liked that -  she would've liked just the facts, but also an interesting story.

Because Dr. Sally Ride had that rare combination - for both men AND women - of being gifted in both her left and right brain, with degrees in both Physics and English from Stanford. 


She also never talked about feelings, it just wasn't done in her family - not even revealing to her gay and out sister that she was gay (though Bear knew it).

However, she was also encouraged to be whatever she wanted to be, regardless of social norms. 


She was afraid of nothing and no one - EXCEPT - people finding out she was gay - of which she was absolutely terrified. 

In fact, the only time she admitted to being afraid of anything in her life was when she was asked if she was nervous the night before the mission. 

She admitted she was because things could go wrong (and as we know, later did with Challenger in 1986), and her fellow male astronaut told her that he was nervous, too and said "If you're not at least a little afraid, then you don't know what you're in for, and you should."


Also, if you're expecting a "Sally was perfect" documentary -  don't - she had flaws just like everyone else.

For example, wanting to be the 1st woman in space, she apparently sabotaged another female astronauts robot-arm operation test by shutting off the breakers.

Not such a flattering moment for Sally.

Women, again - let's just be happy that there's  first woman at something -whether it's you or not?

Enough with the passive-aggressive sabotage stuff, it contributes to our bad reputation, which is difficult to overcome already.


She also famously handed back flowers from a fan after her mission without explaining that it was because the men didn't get flowers like that, instead of just accepting the fan gift graciously.


When asked if the men gave her a hard time or were respectful, she answered the press was worse 😂

And then we watched a series of ridiculous questions being asked of her by the press, back then, like:

"What do you do when something goes wrong - do you cry, break down?"

Sally laughed and turned to her colleague male astronaut and said "Why doesn't anybody ever ask YOU that question? But they could answer for me - no, I don't."


Or another press member, asking what's next after this mission, will she go on a shelf somewhere or start a family? 

(The implication being that she didn't have the right stuff and that she was  DEI fluff.)

Sally in fact flew 4 more missions for NASA until she resigned after the Challenger explosion!

(She resigned after being on the investigation panel and discovering that in their haste/excitement, nobody had double-checked the O rings, among other things, and she didn't feel it was currently safe to send anyone up again until they performed better equipment tests and checks.)


She handled the press with aplomb, though - she would give a very direct, curt answer, then smile after she said it.

For instance, when someone called her "Miss Ride," she said "So you can call me Dr. Ride or Sally, take your pick, but not Miss, okay?" and then warmly smiled.



Or when Jane Pauley - who was another personal hero of mine - unbelievably gaffed and said: "Maybe it's none of my business, but have you thought about having children someday?"

Sally said, "You're right, it's none of your business, but of course I have, as everyone does. But that's not what I'm here to talk about."


Oh, Jane - how I love thee, but you should know better yourself than to ask questions like that.

If we women don't stop putting women in boxes ourselves, we'll never get anywhere.

It's always a choice between brains and beauty, being a career woman or a mother, like nobody can be both. 


As for whether or not those men gave her a hard time, just a few - and of  course, NASA themselves was clueless.

When making personal-item kits for the astronauts - like shaving kits for the men, etc. - they actually made her a makeup kit for space. 😂




No, really. 

Sally wasn't a huge makeup fan already, except when on camera, but who the hell would care about makeup in space?

And who cares what you look like to the men in space?


Worse, they asked her if 100 tampons would be enough for 7 days. 




What the ???

Um ... exactly how much blood do you think we lose in a week IF we're even on our period then? 😂

And dang, we know there weren't women in those design departments then, but did they not have wives, mothers, or sisters to ask first? 

You just know she wanted to say "Sure, 100 tampons for a 1-week mission. I'll use them to plug up the holes left by the heat panels if they fall off again, like the last mission, because you guys effed up." 😂

But she did NOT say that.  

But you just know she wanted to.

The worst sexist pig among them, though, self-admittedly, was fellow astronaut, Mike Mullane.


He was a military vet who'd piloted missions in Vietnam and felt that women hadn't earned it without military experience.

(Well, had someone let women fly fighter jets for the military back then, maybe they would have? But they didn't then.)

But after her performance - and just before her death in 2012 - Mike wrote Sally a letter, apologizing for his prior behavior, commending her on just how well she did, as well as assuring her that he was encouraging his 4 granddaughters to be raised as Sally was - that they could do anything they wanted - because of Sally.  🙂


In typical Sally style, though, there are only 3 times you feel any emotion watching this other than pride and wonder.

1) Sally - with her partner, Tam, retelling the story - of what it was like viewing planet earth as an actual planet. 
She told of being able to see Australian coral reefs and Himalayan mountains, yes - but most importantly, how she could see all of the countries and continents without borders, without the imaginary lines in the sand we've drawn - and it had a profound effect on her, going forward.  
2) Sally's death and the private, hidden secret care Tam gave her.  
3)  When then-President Obama called Tam and asked her to accept the Medal of Freedom on behalf of Sally, posthumously.