"The MYTH of Southern Charm" - PBS Documentary

 

 

(Though it just dropped on PBS a few days ago, this video is the full documentary. Not sure how long it will last on YouTube, but it's here for now.)

I highly recommend this documentary that I'm watching, I'm about three-quarters of the way through it.

It's about the mecca for white Boomers on river cruises - Natchez, Mississippi 😂

Now, though I have often wanted to take a riverboat like the Belle of Louisville - the oldest riverboat still in operation in America - the longer trips down the Ohio to the Mississippi always either stop at or end in Natchez, Mississippi and have plantation tours. 

Um ... no, thank you.

And it's NOT because I am at all afraid of being confronted with our country's actual dark history - it's because they ONLY focus on the beauty and pretend the darkness wasn't there, that it didn't happen.

I can't admire finery knowing it was all obtained via human trafficking and slavery - sorry. 

I can't sit there and have mint juleps and cookies on the veranda on the same spot where thousands of people's families were ripped apart, and where they were beaten, raped, tortured, and murdered.

It's beyond disrespectful, it's disgusting.

It's like having a tea party at Auschwitz and admiring the handiwork of the iron gates, just - NO.

So the film starts with just that, the beauty of the old antebellum homes and their eccentric owners, the decadent finery, often hosted by descendents of the original families - happy, funny, sunny people with juleps and tea and cookies and bustled skirts for home tours and carriages, white and black people laughing and talking together as if friends.

And yet not everything is what it seems. 

The longer you stick around, reality sets in, in a slow burn - and yet still you are jarred by it when it happens.

Not so much by the actual history, which we already know the horrors of, built on the backs of slaves - but the attitudes of people in the South still today, which of course you won't see at first and may never see unless you're family or inner social circle.

And that is because Southerners have turned sincere-sounding inauthenticity and duplicity into an art form.

And they know what they're saying is wrong and reveals their true nasty nature, or they'd say it in "polite company" as well!

And THAT is what is meant by the myth of Southern Charm.

So the first inkling we have is the famous Natchez Pilgrimage Garden Club Home Tour, which at first is fine.

Until a bunch of white people on the veranda sip their drinks and go on and on about forgetting their troubles and this country's troubles for awhile and escape to a happier time.

Happier time?

For whom?

And at what cost to human life?

Later, we see some members of the actual garden club, who have gathered at the home of the only just recently allowed in first black historical homeowner, Debbie Cosey, who bought the kitchen house and slave quarters still standing behind the main house (which isn't) and refurbished it to add to the tour of homes. 

These women say the dumbest shit I've ever heard, I swear. 

It's not expressly racist - it's just ignorant defense of their old "gentile" families.

Listening to them trying to justify their great-grandparents actions is just ... cringe.

Stuff like "I was told they were affectionate to their servants, but of course, that's no substitute for freedom."

???

That's like a backhanded compliment.

And servants?

Bitch, servants are paid - these were slaves - call them what you know your family did, and worse.

There WAS no such thing as a "benevolent master" in slavery, that's another fantasy myth.

Though some slaves were treated better than others (New Orleans) - never forget the entire practice of slavery is based on treating other human beings as inferior livestock property, and that the entire system was built on the worst character flaws humanity has to offer - power abuse and greed.

And this nonsense being spewed out of the same foaming mouths whilst "defending" THEIR freedoms and THEIR rights not being infringed upon, who become infuriated if you so much as tell them they need to wear a mask in public places during a pandemic! 😂

And stuff like "Well, in 1860, when Lincoln gave the Emancipation Proclamation, they started paying them for their kitchen work."

????

What planet do you live on?

Debbie just puts her head down on the fireplace mantel. 

But you know what I'd say?

First, to Debbie ...

"Allow me to apologize on behalf of all white people that display their ignorance publicly and arrogantly. I got this bitch. Let me help educate her because she'll listen to it coming from another white woman first. Then you finish our education by filling in what I don't know, okay?" 

Then I'd say to Miss Sissy Prissy Butte, or whatever her stupid Southern Belle name is  ....

"Well, Miss ... Whatever ... you know what MY grandpappy used to say?"

"If you shut your mouth, you might learn something." 

"Because not a word of what you just said is true. That's just something we white people tell ourselves to feel better about our family and country's history, because we don't want to face or handle the truth."

"No - they were NOT paid for work after the Emancipation Proclamation, nor even after the Civil War in the South. They were supposed to be - including being given 40 acres of land and a mule as lame compensation -  but they didn't even receive that." 

That is because after Lincoln was shot, his VP-turned-President, Andrew Johnson, turned out to be a closet Confederate and slavery sympathizer and effed up reconstruction on purpose and there was no enforcement."

"And if they caught them trying to go North or otherwise off the plantation after the war ended,  they'd be thrown in jail for 'vagrancy.' 

"In fact, they were not paid by white people in the South until the next century, and even then, not enough to live on until the Civil Rights Act of 1965, which to this day, they still find ways around."   

  "So it was either keep on doing what you were doing for free, because you had no other choice to eat, or sharecropping/tenant farming - meaning you could live on the land and pay your rent in crops, which was essentially the same thing as slavery, and actually resulted in great debt if the crops failed."

"Not to mention, the violence actually became even worse en masse, with Jim Crow laws now in effect - this was actually when the Ku Klux Klan was in its heyday."

"The only way any people of color had anything was through providing services within their own community or through churches or by selling crafts to white people through a white dealer who paid in pennies but charged hundreds.

"Now - Debbie, please continue - preach, girl - educate us."

And the funny, charming "Southern Gentleman," David Paul Garner, you see at the beginning -- the colorful owner of Choctaw Hall, an openly gay man who holds gay galas and proclaims "Most of these old homes are owned by gay men like us now."

So you think to yourself, "Okay, Natchez got a littttttle progressiveness going on there," right?

Wrong! 

About an hour later, you hear some of the worst racist stuff come out of his mouth like you wouldn't believe, including use of the N-word, which he only does with a small group later, after he puts the Southern charm away when the full tour leaves. 

Yet another example of the myth of Southern Charm.

So you're thinking ...

"DUDE!?! Do you imagine that as a gay white male, you're viewed by conservatives as being better than blacks because you're white and have money?

"Well, let me ask you this - do you see any white religious nuts standing outside THEIR houses yelling they're going to hell, like we saw outside your lavish LGBTQ parties? 

"No, you do not. Because unlike me, these nuts believe you have a choice in your lifestyle as opposed to people of color who have no choice in having dark skin. You're dreaming if you don't realize they actually view you as worse than black people. "

But the worst so far?

Gene, a muffler dealer that lives across the street from Forks in the Road, where the second largest slave market once stood. 

He will not sell his portion of the land to the state or federal government, to add it to the small national park to preserve it and tell the stories of what went on there.

Now at first - as most Southern conservatives do - he makes it sound rational, like a reasonable business decision.

He says "I'm not trying to be racist, but ..."

Of course, any time anyone starts a sentence like that, be prepared for usually the very next thing out of their mouth to be incredibly racist. 😂

But in this case, it wasn't - at first.

(Paraphrasing) "It's just government won't offer me enough money for the land and people just don't want that kind of reminder of so much darkness, they come here for the beauty. It will hurt local business."

Okay, sounds like a pure business decision, right? 

I might argue that some of us WANT to know the FULL history, the good and bad, but I understand the business concern. 

But in case you weren't aware, there is also no such thing as a "Southern gentlemen," and anyone that tells you they are is actually the worst sort of men.

In fact, old Southern conservative men are the trickiest and the most skilled at faux Southern charm, you see.

They dance around issues with polite rhetoric that sounds so rational and plausible that for a second, you listen, thinking you're being fair, listening to the other side of things.

Then later, of course - when off camera, when polite company leaves -  or in this case, later, when he's been drinking -  THEN you hear the REAL racist story come out of his mouth.

And again, they KNOW it's horrible or they'd say it out loud in front of God and everybody from the get-go! 😂

So IMO, if you ever really want to know what people really think, get them drunk - because being drunk doesn't make you say things you don't really think - it just makes things you really think easier to say.

So Tracy or "Rev" (he's also a pastor) and local tour guide - who is black - brings his tour group of white people to the spot.

Now, Rev is very fair, he tells both the good and the bad history of Natchez.

For instance, he reports accurately that only 5% of white people in the South actually owned slaves. This was likely not based on morality, but based on finances - most white people would've owned them if they could afford the trade.

But then he also brings his all-white tourists to Forks in the Road and gives the not-so-pretty side of things.

Interestingly, his tour business is booming - and it's mostly white conservatives, actually - and he's very articulate, very entertaining, very funny, and very kind. Sometimes they try to start an argument, but he just lets them speak, then when they've wound down, asks if he can counter, very politely. 

They seem amazed that this black man is intelligent, articulate, and not wanting to fight them, proving they clearly don't know any black men in real life, only the ones that make the news 😂

At one point, he does say "Speak your mind, please, go ahead, talking it out is at the root of making things better. Plus it's probably the only time you'll engage with an articulate black man lol." 

Oooh, a well-executed polite Southern burn! 😂

So he's giving his tour speech and Gene, the Muffler Idiot, walks about halfway over across the street and Tracy goes "Hey, Gene!"

And drunk Gene goes "That black boy lies to you, don't listen to him!"

Pretty sure he's not lying - Gene just wishes he was. 

And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the "myth" of Southern Charm.

There is one shining beam of hope in this documentary, though Tracey - the Southern Belle greeter in the thumbnail of the video?

Not Tracy the male tour guide, different Tracey.

She starts out all Trumpified, grew up poor, married well, happily patriotic - and then her husband divorces her and she signed a prenup - and is left with nothing.

She takes the tour offered by Rev, the tour guide - and is forever changed by it. After her own misfortune, she is more open to hearing the darker side of history - the history of the other side of things that Natchez doesn't like to tell, or at least doesn't want to focus on. 

So I'm turning it on again now, forcing myself to watch it - not because of white fragility of the reality of black experience in America, but the things that come out of ignorant people's mouths is just horrifying.

I think the Forks Park Ranger at the current small site at Forks in the Road says it best (paraphrasing): "I think with most, it's less about willful ignorance and intending to be racist and more about this being the only history they were taught, so it's like you're asking them to flip their whole belief system on its head, which is too threatening to the psyche, despite it being truth - about their country, their community, even they're own family. They need to believe - and keep on believing - that their family experience was the way it was for everybody. They need to stay in denial because the alternative is too scary."

Yeah - and I'm sure the Nazis did the same thing.

Sorry it's unpleasant - but this is reality.

And this country will not get better - it will never heal properly - until we make ourselves look at it - and I mean, really look at it - and deal with it appropriately instead of pretending it didn't happen or is "in the past." 

Nothing painful will ever truly heal until it's faced head on and dealt with. 

Copy of State Representative (D) Adrielle Camuel's Whistleblower Letter to Governor Beshear (D) and the Kentucky Department of Education

 

I knew this was coming and knew what it said beforehand, but Representative Adriel Camuel - who not only works at Central Office at FCPS, but is also a Democrat State Representative - dropped THIS bombshell to the state, signed by fellow Dem representatives, with a copy of the letter on FB. For the history of this situation, read earlier posts.

(There aren't many of us Dems in the State House of Representatives, but there are a few.)

Essentially, what you need to know is that these are Dems calling out one of their own in charge (something MAGA could take a page from).

What you also need to know again is that we Democrats welcomed with open arms the first black, openly LGBTQ superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools and initially were overjoyed with Liggins.

We initially attributed any backlash to racism and homophobia.

That is until we saw proof that extravagant purchases had been made, unqualified cronyism was rampant (curiously for MAGA people, mostly white), and as Adriel says in the letter, shifting narratives of blame, lack of transparency, putting on leave or firing any whistleblowers - and worst of all, stating that the backlash was political rather than true concern for the budget.

All I can say is, this is NOT political  - and that is what Democratic House Representative Adrielle Camuel is trying to say, here.

Basically, Superintendent Liggins - as personable and charismatic as he is in person - is essentially the black LGBTQ version of Trump, or is at least playing by Trump's playbook - and we're not having it in our party or in our public schools

That sort of behavior should never be turned a blind eye to for the sake of political agendas nor tolerated by ANY political party.

Two wrongs do not make a right - stooping to Trump tactics to stay on top is NOT okay.

Also with close friend, Tyler Murphy, the school board Chairman, enabling the spending with his rubber stamp approval on everything isn't helping.

So today, the Lexington Herald Leader reported that Governor Beshear and KDE (Kentucky Department of Education) had a private meeting with Superintendent Demetrus Liggins, the Chairman of the School Board, Tyler Murphy (tight with Liggins), and financial consultant Kyna Koch (who has consulted on and off since 2008, and yet is blaming others before the current administration for this current budget crisis).

The paper makes no mention of Adriel's letter, but it does say say Liggins and Murphy called for the meeting themselves (but curiously, we know it was within 24 hours after Adriel published the public letter). 😉

Now - Valarie Honeycutt Spears is one hell of a truly objective, old-school journalist - meaning there's no opinion, no tone, just facts she can prove and quotes of things officials told her, and not just "sources say," but their names and positions.

When you read her articles, you cannot tell what she believes herself, and she is very careful to attribute exactly who and where the information came from, making no claims about truthfulness, just what they told her.

I don't think people realize what a remarkable feat that is in journalism, especially in this day and age -  I'd never make it 😂

Thus, first of all, you need to know that it was way more than 115 people fired as she was told  - try over 200 people.

And though FCPS initially wrote "administration" in the initial layoff announcement email, misleading people to think it was leadership, it was actually low-paying administrative support staff, which they're now finally admitting.

Also initially, there were no cuts to high-level executive staff or to their salaries - until protests began - and they've now taken a 10% pay cut including Liggins.

Also, they asked for a $110 million-dollar loan this week to save the school. 

I can't say much more than what is printed publicly, but let's just say after this letter - though Adrielle's head was initially saved from the chopping block, it was hinted to her this week after that letter that it wouldn't be.

UNTIL - someone mentioned to leadership "Um ... you don't want to do that to a state rep for blowing the whistle now, too. That would turn out very, very bad for you."

Thus, Adriel is still there -  for now.

Regardless, the state meeting was private, and all the article says is that Liggins, Murphy, and Koch pledged more transparency to Governor Beshear, and KDE wanted the public to know that they are NOT "taking over the school" - they are giving FCPS leadership a chance to turn it around - BUT - would now be closely monitoring FCPS, who would be reporting to them regularly.

PS x2 - Here's The NYT News Article On The Canvas Cyberattack (So You Know I'm Not Making This Up)

 *THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN SEMI-RESOLVED - ENOUGH TO ATTEND CLASSES ON MONDAY*

I have updated the post below, but the cyberattack is on Canvas - which is the online learning platform most college campuses use (and some high schools) - made national headlines - this one from the NYT.

Of course, the Canvas platform is what we use for classes, set to resume on Monday, of course it is.

So ... God, Universe, whatever?

When I said "Come hell or high water, this time, I'm going to finish" - that was NOT an invitation to do your worst! 😂

Sigh -  if you don't laugh, you'll cry, right? 

PS - Now, Would You Believe THIS? Major Cyberattack, Every College Campus Using Canvas for Remote Learning (UPDATED)

 *THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN SEMI-RESOLVED - ENOUGH TO ATTEND CLASSES ON MONDAY*

 

This came from UC's CIO this morning ...

Of course, Canvas is program we use to take online classes, which were supposed to resume on Monday, but likely won't because of the cyberattack, which they say they don't know a timeframe for resolution.

It's not JUST us, it's every college campus that uses Canvas for remote learning, which is in the millions.

I swear to goodness, it feels like something beyond my control is always in the way from me finishing my education, family illness, hurricanes, cyberattacks, Trump's Big BS financial aid bill  - you name it.

But you know what I say to that?

I said I was finishing this time, come hell or high water, but that was NOT an invitation.

So FU, UC Canvas cyberattacks. 

FU Trump and your Big Beautiful Bill of BS, stripping down money for education and funnelling it towards pet war projects like Iran.  

Do your worst -  because in writing that post yesterday, I realized I've faced much worse - but this time, I will go around you and still get it down somehow, watch me! 😂

______________________________

Update - I just spoke with an advisor and learned that it IS ransomware - and it affects every college campus that uses Canvas.

However, none of our personal information is kept in Canvas, like our social security #, address, phone - nothing. 

Thus, the ransom holders threatened release of communication between students and faculty and we're like "Um ... go ahead?  It's all just forum discussions and submitted assignments anyway."

Regardless, students and faculty can still access it - just UC administration can't. 

Thus, we are advised to look for strange emails, etc., phishing for personal information.

I'll update here when we know more. 

"Big Beautiful Bill" and Major Student Loan Changes ...

As of July 1, 2026., Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act goes into effect.

First of all, that has got to be the dumbest, most Neanderthal name of a bill that has ever existed.

I mean, seriously, it's like a caveman named it - "Me. One. Big. Beautiful. HA."

You can see all the changes HERE.

Basically, if you're a traditional, full-time student, nothing much will change, unless you receive a scholarship - then you're automatically ineligible for grants. 

HOWEVER, if you're nontraditional - meaning you are older and/or half or part-time due to work or parenting, then you're in trouble - because your loans will be slashed by 50% - meaning your loan will either just meet, or be just short of, the cost of tuition.  No money left over for books, housing, food, child care - nada. 

So here's the issue - my accelerated program is only offered part time. 

That is because it's an accelerated program, each class has been about 25 hours of work per class, it's essentially like a second job. (This past session was the only time I had 2, and it was definitely 50+ hours of work.) 

Our advisors are scrambling to figure something out because most of the students in this program are nontraditional, meaning they work or have kids.

We are also looking at scholarships due to my 4.0 last semester in all 3 classes, and a 3.8 cumulative overall, but I am competing against young ones, so wish me luck? 

If you're a graduate student?

Even worse, and all I can say is - good luck - because it's bad - really, really bad. 🥲

Like I said, I am GOING to finish this time, come hell or high water!!!

The first time, I was blessed with a surprise baby girl. 😊

I went back when she was 2 and got a 4.0, but she acquired penicillin-resistant Strep pneumonia from daycare, resistant to initial antibiotics, requiring round-the-clock care for days and I had to drop.

(Aside - if nothing else to take away from this story I'm about to tell, take away that societal antibiotic overuse has led to antibiotic resistance.)

In fact, another child in that same daycare ultimately died from it, but I suspected very quickly the strain was resistant to antibiotics because she was worse after 2 days. Blisters in her throat, croupy cough, fever of 104, she was becoming lethargic.

I called the receptionist who wouldn't schedule a same-day appointment, believing this was a new viral infection rather than the same bacterial infection because "she's on antibiotics already."

I know that - I'm telling you this may be resistant, nothing has changed; in fact, it's worse. Her fever has never dropped, it's actually risen to 104 and she's becoming lethargic."

But she wouldn't listen and made the appointment for the next day.

At that time, I was afraid to speak up as I didn't trust myself after being gaslighted for so long (and bad things happened when I did) -  HOWEVER - I also happened to be taking a Microbiology class at UK at the time and I had coincidentally just learned about rising antibiotic resistance.

So I ran possible resistance by my professor to see if I was overreacting and this was just power of suggestion from what I'd just learned or lucky coincidence that we just studied it.

He said, "It's lucky coincidence, divine intervention, whatever you want to call it, but PUSH, Chrystal, this DOES sound like resistance! Tell them another child in her daycare is on life support! Chrystal - do you know how uncommon it is to get an A in my class before I curve the grades?  If I could change one thing for you, it would be to have more faith in yourself! GO, call back and demand to speak to the doctor now! And if they won't listen, go ahead and take her to the ER, because if it IS resistance, she'll become septic soon!"

So I called and probably acted like a Karen, demanding to speak to the actual doctor immediately.

Hey - if there's one time you could and should act like a Karen, it's when  your child is super sick and the dang receptionist thinks she's a doctor and won't listen to you.

HOWEVER, not only did Dr. H listen to me and allow me to bring her in emergently to be examined -  confirming the symptoms were exactly the same only worse - but he also called the hospital and spoke to the doctors of the child on life support and spoke with the Infectious Disease doctors for antibiotic suggestions.

He had to inject her with large-bore needle with a slow push full of high-dose Augmentin (which is still penicillin, but with a special enzyme that breaks down resistant bacterial cell barriers) and steroids.

I remember silent tears rolling down my face, which I didn't even notice at first because I was comforting her when they injected her with that big needle with a slow push, telling her it will hurt for a second, but make her better, wait and see ... that I was right here, look at me, just look at Mommy, she can have whatever she wants to eat or do whatever she wants to do afterwards when she feels better.

I told them to count to 3, and I started singing "Baby Mine" while they counted, which was her song, looking at her, smiling with tears streaming down my face apparently, my arms around her, and she looked straight in my eyes when he injected her and she blinked, clenched her little fists, then let out a loud cry during, but she didn't cry afterwards. I think it's because we had prepared her that it would be over in a minute, but it will make her better, and I think that helped. It always helps to look forward.

And of course, L showered her with candy and stickers immediately, too, giving her a choice as distraction - distraction always helps. 😂

I'm tearing up now, just thinking about that day, aren't I a cornball?

Then unexpectedly afterwards, Dr. H, and his nurse, L, hugged me and then said "We know you don't have a lot of support and you doubt yourself, but you shouldn't because you are SUCH an excellent mom! In fact, you're one of our favorites! Just thought you probably don't hear that enough and felt it was a good time to tell you that"

Well, that felt good - and they're right, I didn't hear that much 😂 -  and advised watching her literally round the clock for signs of meningitis or sepsis.

(He also gave the receptionist a good scolding for playing doctor hehehe.)

Then he told me she would need to be watched round the clock for at least 48 hours to watch for signs of sepsis or meningitis.

So I literally stayed up for 48 hours straight, on round-the-clock!

BUT - her fever came down in 48 hours, and it took about a week for full recovery, but no meningitis, no sepsis - we caught it just in time!

Dr. H and L - the best pediatrician and nurse in the world, hands down.

So that is why I dropped school, but I am grateful to both Dr. H (best pediatrician in the world, now retired) and Dr. M (Microbiology professor at UK) for listening to me and encouraging me!!!! 😊

(Dr. M said he regretted my having to leave, but understood, and said he hoped to see me back one day. He was in hopes I'd go into Microbiology 😂 Of course, that didn't happen and I believe he's retired now, too, but still very grateful)

So the second attempt at school (or technically the third) was in Florida in 2004/05, but we had 3 hurricanes in Pensacola that year - Ivan, Dennis, and Katrina.

I had a 4.0, but considering the windows were blown out of certain buildings of the school -  and the intact buildings were being used for shelter for New Orleans Katrina victims - there WAS no school to go to for a while and it would be months for repairs.

So with the town in tatters, unable to work for that hospital, either, I moved back her and continued working for my side contract job (until they outsourced to India that next year).

Most importantly, I divorced my ex, who I consider a 4th hurricane. 😂

So it was a combination of my poor choices and me not being the luckiest person in the world.

Hopefully, I've learned from my poor choices, but I couldn't do much about other things beyond my control, like antibiotic-resistant child illness or hurricanes or other hurdles like the OBBA.

But one thing I am good at is - resourcefulness.

You learn to be as a single mom- "How can I stretch a dollar, how can I shift money to be used for this instead of that because it's due sooner, how can I get what we need, and fast?

There IS no savings as a single mom unless you have that college degree, everything goes to basic stuff.

Even if you can save a little, say you live with a parent or grandparent for a while, illness or injury or something needed for school will eat it.

So you exhaust all options - sometimes to no avail, but sometimes a way is made.

I'm determined and hopeful, though, like I said, one thing I'm good at is being resourceful - and I have the best advisors in the world - seriously, they are going to bat for us - not just me, everyone - but they are extremely supportive and I am grateful! 😊

"Firsts" for Both Cherie DeVaux and the Ortiz Brothers at the Kentucky Derby!

Now THAT was an exciting race!

They're always fun, but rarely that exciting, right?

Golden Tempo came from dead last to win it!

Congratulations to Cherie DeVaux, whose horse, Golden Tempo, making her the first female horse trainer to win a Kentucky Derby!

She's seen here with our governor, Andy Beshear, handing her the trophy (love him)!

Also, not sure many are aware, but congratulations also to the Ortiz brothers as jockeys, Jose and Irad, who came in first and second respectively, another first - the first time 2 brothers as jockeys have ever come in first and second at the Kentucky Derby!

Jose Ortiz rode winning horse, Golden Tempo, who came in first, and his brother, Irad Ortiz, rode Renegade, who came in second!

It was so cute/funny ...

So Irad on Renegade was actually trailing just a tad bit behind behind Ocelli (who came in third) - UNTIL - his brother was suddenly next to him Golden Tempo, coming up from dead last.

You can see Irad notices like "What the? Oh, it's on" - and then  suddenly they're off together, suddenly neck and neck, just like 2 brothers would do in a friendly, fun foot race as kids. 😂

But then when Jose crossed the finish line first, they did this ... 

Aw - sweet, right?

Made me tear up, actually, almost more than Cherie DeVaux winning!

Almost. 😂

Also note that they both used tiny little crops instead of whips. not even long enough to hit their boots, just hit their own thighs- Bravo, gentleman! 

So did you all bet Renegade "across the board," like I said in my prior post? 

That horse was bound to come in in the top 3 - he's the perfect combination of breeding, trainer, and jockey, and won the Arkansas Derby - you could not design a better horse or situation.

And they did try to box him in at the fence in the #1 post position,  when Renegade is actually a closer - but like I said, trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Irad Ortiz are too seasoned and good to NOT know how to get him out of that situation, which they executed perfectly.

Irad kept him behind for a minute in order to move him to the outside and came around that way, much like Golden Tempo did,  with that decision paying off for both in the end.

Sometimes the trainers get too much credit versus the jockeys, who despite training, end up having to make split-second strategic decisions at high speed against horses they've often never raced against before, whilst also trying to keep themselves, their own horse, and the others horses safe!

Also, though jockeys are paid better than they were even 25 years ago, (when they finally created a health pool fund for injury), the best jockeys only make about $100K a year, with the most elite jockeys, regularly riding in at least one of the triple crown races (, such as the Ortiz brothers) making up to a million a year *IF* they win a triple crown race. 

To you and I, that may sounds like a lot, but understand that's ONLY if they win a triple-crown race; otherwise, it's about 100K,

And when you compare it to the multimillions the most elite trainers make with bonuses included (Baffert, Pletcher, Chad Brown), and consider how much physical risk jockeys take onin compoarison, it's not a lot, right?

So I didn't bet this time, we're a little short this weekend, waiting for my financial aid to come in for school.

Plus I've lost that old intuition I used to have, so now I pick based on other reasons. 

You can see my picks from my initial derby post this week.

I said I'd bet Renegade "across the board" (meaning to come in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd) - you won't win much because he's the favorite, but you'll win.

My other 2 bets I would've made, like I said, I didn't really to win,  they would've been made out of friendship/loyalty So Happy and Pavlovian - because our friend, Doug O'Neill, trained Pavlovian, and So Happy, just because Mike Smith was the jockey and we love Mike Smith. 

Congrats to all!

Here's a video of the race from start to finish ... 

The Cost of Kentucky Derby Tickets ...

 

Happy Derby Day!

It's a cold one, here in Kentucky - just 50 degrees - which is unusual in Kentucky. Not the coldest Derby Day on record, but cold enough, after being 85 degrees 2 weeks ago!

So the trendy horse to bet on was "The Puma," and here's why - the horse was rumored to have a share owned by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, and when the trainer and jockey were asked about it, they said they signed an NDA and can neither confirm or deny, leading people to believe that it's true, but who knows?

Regardless, The Puma was scratched this morning due to injury, which is always the right thing to do when a horse is injured (Bob Baffert, I'm talking to YOU).

Otherwise, you can see my picks and why HERE. 

Now - despite living here for over 30 years, I have never been to the Kentucky Derby.

Why, you may ask?

It's pricey!

You can go to the official Kentucky Derby website or Churchill Downs, but the website with ticket descriptions are a little bit busy and confusing, as well as it is time-consuming to find out prices, so I'll break it down for you.

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS:

The cheapest tickets are the infield tickets, starting at $132. 

I could have done that - but here's why I didn't.

Even the official Kentucky Derby website describes is as "chaotic." 😂

It's essentially a drunkfest, with or without full frontal nudity, sometimes with mud-sliding when it rains.

You are supposed to dress up out of respect for the tradition, but if you're going to the infield, you shouldn't - unless you're prepared to never wear it again - because you WILL get beer spilled on you, mud on you if raining, and your fancy dress will be possibly ripped/torn.

Imagine if the infield at the Indy 500 and Woodstock had a baby - that's the infield at the Kentucky Derby.

Also, you may or may not be able to see the actual race. 

If you're going to do it and actually see the race rather than just party, get there super early to pick your spot. 

It is officially labeled "standing room only," but you can bring your own chairs and there are picnic tables, but be prepared for whatever you bring to get knocked down, stolen or otherwise destroyed. 

Where is the infield?

This crush of people at the interior of the track ...

The next step up is still general-admission infield, but near the finish line, for which you are going to pay around $300. 

The next GA step is the "Walkabout" ticket for $700, but you can't see the race at all except on giant video screens, but you do have full dining and unlimited drink privileges.

You have full view of the paddock so that you can see/inspect the horses before they run and before final bets are place, and you have access to waging machines and betting booths. 

This is the ticket for serious betters/gamblers who could care less about seeing the race and it's more about the betting and food/drinks.

RESERVED SEATS/BOXES:

If you want a "box" or seats in the grandstand within the first few rows, it's about $900 to  $1800 per person, depending on whether it's covered or uncovered, and your view of the track (finish line being the highest).

If you want "the courtyard" at the starting gate, those go for $1017,

(So when you see people standing along the fence at the exterior of the track, those are Courtyard seats.) 

If you add dining/drinks to your reserved-seat and courtyard admission ticket, raise that price to $1500 to $10,000 - and yes, it includes drinks.

Now, you would think these are the best seats, like at a concert, but remember this isn't a fixed-spot event - so in fact, you can't see the full track, only the part of the track directly in front of you - which is why near the finish line are pricier seats. 

Thus, a little higher up in the reserved covered seating is the way to go (which is what I would do, if I had an extra $5,000+ dollars to spend).

You will need to buy your box seats for a group early to avoid getting separated.

SUITES AND CLUBHOUSE SEATING:

On the upper floors with suites, they can range from $105,000 to $400,000, with Millionaire's Row at The Clubhouse near the finish line being the highest. 

Some of the boxes are glassed in, some of them have balconies for outdoor viewing - all have upscale catered dining and drinks, as well as tables, chairs, sofas, and TV screens to watch the race as well - just like a suite at the Super Bowl.

Thus, why I've never been to the Derby - I've never been able to justify spending even $1,000 on seats!

(Unless I go infield, which ... no, thank you!)

Otherwise, in just a few hours - Riders Up! 😊

Superintendent Liggins Agrees to a 10% Pay Cut ...

 

He announced to the LHL newspaper today - days after firing close to 300 employees over budget issues. 

This leads us to believe he didn't make this decision to cut his salary until after all the backlash or he would've done so already to try to prevent it?

I mean, parents are filing petitions on behalf of the people fired, as well as trying to get a no confidence vote before the school board - the backlash is really, really bad, because we're the second largest employer in the county (next to UK).

Now - the school reported to the LHL today that his base pay with benefits is $381,000, but prior articles with the LHL and elsewhere have estimated more. 

Regardless, he says it's a cut to his base pay rather than benefits, but I'm curious about that - because last I heard from a credible source, he initially refused to cut his pay at all, then agreed to 1 concession - giving up his "life-coach" benefit worth around $25K+.

But if we take it at face values and let's say it is his base pay - which the article says is about $275K -  that's still only about $25,000 dollars off salary  - and we're still in the hole by a couple million? 

Come on, now, Dr. Liggins -  you know you could still do very well here in Lexington on even $150K per year.

So ... that figure told to me of a concession of $25K for a life coach benefit is in the ballpark of 10% - so IS that the cut or is that in addition to the 10% base pay cut? 

I don't know, but for more info on the history here, read a few posts below.

Once again, we initially supported Dr. Liggins and wanted to believe all the backlash was simply racism and bigotry - until we were confronted with absolute proof he'd overspent on travel and personal luxury items.

And he refuses to take personal responsibility for it/blames everyone else, hired/refused to fire his unqualified crony hires (often MAGA people in leadership) who kiss his butt/enable him/tell him how great he is,, and uses social media to control perception.

Essentially, he's the black LGBTQ version of Trump - your garden-variety narcissist.

Narcissists can come in all colors, faiths, genders, sexual orientations, and political parties, ladies and gentlemen.

And who are the type of people with proven track record of willingness to look the other way on corruption and cronyism and pretend Emperors wear clothes for personal gain? 

Why, MAGA, of course - thus, they're mostly who's left 😂

As long as they keep singing his praises/telling him what he wants to hear, he doesn't care if you're qualified or not, or even if you're opposite politically -  even if you're privately racist and bigoted - just as long as they keep kissing his butt and supporting him (for  their own personal gain), he doesn't care.

Speaking of narcissists, MAGA  - at what point are you all going to finally admit one of your own is actually a narcissist and doesn't give a crap about anybody but himself and his own glory, like I just did one of ours, hmm?

It's not that hard - you just have to remove your rose-colored glasses and political hats first.

 

PS - My Personal Bob Baffert Story. And It's Not a Good One.

 

Making this easier for some, because I can see people searching for that story, after I said below you can find it in previous posts - but I realized later the original story, right after it happened, had been reparked in draft - sorry about that!

So I've reposted it, as well as copy/pasted it again below.

I can see that I tried to be nice about it and focus on the positive of that day, but here's what actually happened with Bob.

First, all of the stuff about what Doug O'Neill did for the kids - letting them sit on Derby winner Nyquist pre-Derby, feed him, pet him,. etc. - 1000% true. Doug is a very kind, generous man, and he's also hilarious, great sense of humor!

(I don't have any pictures of the kids on Nyquist, just Lava Man,  the visit with Nyquist was brief as he had a vet inspection to get to.)

So I mentioned Bob Baffert yelling "No, HELL no" - but I didn't go into the full story.

So Mark being in IT for the schools in 2015, when the Breeder's Cup was held here, he ran IT at The Stables, which is a FCPS school, but it's at the Kentucky Horse Park, and it's for special needs kids. 

Being that my husband knows horse Trainer, Doug O'Neill - whose horses "I'll Have Another" and "Nyquist" have won the Kentucky Derby - he asked Doug if the kids from Central Kentucky Riding for Hope could come see his horses.

Doug O'Neill and Mark 

Central Kentucky Riding for Hope is a foundation that provides horse activities for disabled and/or terminally ill kids or kids undergoing cancer treatment. (They've since added adults to the program.)

So Doug is SO nice that he actually gave us all stable passes to the Breeder's Cup, which is an honor - it's like being back stage at the Oscars, only for horses. 

(Maybe more like the Golden Globes, but yes.)

Doug's also really funny, by the way, but this story about his kindness and generosity, especially towards children. 

Anyway, the rest of that great story about Doug and the kids is below from the original post.

Here's the part I didn't go into detail on.

When we discovered that Bob Baffert's stable was right next door and that triple-crown winner, "American Pharoah" was in the stable, I walked over and asked the security guard if the kids could just have a peek at him - not touch him, just look, explaining the kids situation.

He spoke to the (Delaware) racing commissioner who happened to be standing there, and he said he'd ask Bob, Bob was just coming in now.

 (I'd forgotten it was him that asked rather than the security guard until I reread the story.)

Bob, and his wife Jill, pull up just then and get out of a fancy schmancy SUV.

The racing commissioner walks over to him and asks him. 

Bob literally yells "NO! HELL, no, no one gets near my horse!"

So loud the kids heard it.

I look at Jill - who is now wide-eyed, looks at me, then looks down. 

Now, I can't hear everything the RC is saying, just bits and pieces, but he says "Bob - some of these kids are terminally ill, one of them just came from chemo treatment. They're legit, it's on their passes. They will stay 5 feet away from the doors, I'll watch them, no touching."

Again, Bob yells "I said NO, I don't care, nobody near that horse!"

(This despite the fact that he literally demands that he inspect his competitors horses and touch them before races.)

So paranoid - a bit like a thief imagining everyone else is stealing from him, I thought.

At this point, I just keep staring Jill down until she finally looks up at me, looking sheepish.  She's clearly embarrassed. Then I just shake my head at her - hehehe.

Ain't I a stinker? 😂

Because who does that - to terminally ill kids?

Fine, nobody near your horses, despite YOU demanding to go near everybody else's - but you don't have to shout so the kids can hear you, waiting on an answer!

And that's the difference between Bob Baffert and ... everybody else in training horses.

He's a complete douche bag.

There were rumors for years about how many horses died in his care, as well as dirty he was - trying to get other trainers in trouble for stuff he did himself, how many horses died under his care, and n one did anything, how he demanded whipping the horses when others had moved on to whipping their own boot or just waving it in the air. How much of an A-hole he was in general interpersonally.

FINALLY - you may have read in the other posts while searching for this story about how he was banned from Churchill Downs for a few years because somebody FINALLY was brave enough to challenge him.

For starters, Triple Crown Winner Justify tested positive for scopolamine.

(Scopolamine is illegal for horses because it can be toxic in larger amounts and over time.)

Then 2021 Derby winner Medina Spirit died suddenly as well - amidst legal dispute, as Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone - a steroid which masks pain and can result in fractures going unnoticed.

Betamethasone is not illegal for horses in general, but during racing it is - because it masks pain and covers up pending/current fractures - forcing the horse to run despite danger.

WaPo reported that at least 32 proven horses have died in Baffert's care since 2000 - with a cluster of 9 dying within a few months of each other. 

The above article is from the Washington Post in 2021, and PETA actually reports the figures as being a total of 83.

At this point, the NY racing commission suspended him for a year, and here, Churchill Downs banned him from the derby for a few years - but now he's back. 

Sigh. 

And with that, I repost the original post, focusing on the positive of that day - because how great was Doug O'Neill to do that for the kids?

They otherwise had a ball 😊

________________________________________

On Saturday, Keeneland Racetrack, which is here in Lexington, Kentucky, will be holding the what is essentially the gold cup of world-class thoroughbred racing, The Breeder's Cup - for the very first time!

With very heightened security (the Kentucky National Guard is actually there as security detail), at the very last minute, legendary horse trainer, Doug O'Neill, called Mark personally to give us the green light that he had gotten approval for a few of the kids from the Central Kentucky Riding for Hope to come meet the newest 2015 Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame Inductee and Champion - "(Coach) Lava Man!"

Look at the look on precious C's face, aw - is there anything more wonderful in life than to see joy on a child's face? :)

C is one brave little girl, ladies and gentlemen - she just survived a brain tumor,  completing her treatment just a couple of weeks ago - and she adores horses and riding with CKRH :)

Lava Man, much like California Chrome (whom we met just a few weeks ago), loves attention and posing for the camera (note when you pull the camera up, he stands still and puts his ears forward)!

...but he's much calmer.  In fact, you would not believe how calm and gentle he was with the children, he was so patient. He wins the prize, by far, for the sweetest champion horse we've met yet :)

These days, he's a "stable pony" or "coach" - meaning he accompanies the up-and-comers during their travel and accompanies them up to the starting gate.  On Saturday, he will be walking up-and-comer "Nyquist"  :)

And he was so curious, about everyone and everything.  He especially like my hair, I'm not sure why, perhaps it was my new shampoo?  (I don't have a picture of him nuzzling in my hair, I was the one working the camera today.)

And these two twin sisters, S and S, had a great time -  the twin in white, on the right is blind - and it's like Lava could sense it and was especially gentle with her :)

The proud mamas and their babies from CKRH with Lava Man :)

Mark even got to lead him around a bit, he was in 7th heaven! :)

Look how happy he looks in this photo, he looks like a kid again!

I didn't lighten this photo, btw, it just came out like that, and it was the only one of us because I was behind the camera the whole time, except for the two seconds a Kentucky National Guardsman was kind enough to offer to get one shot in of both of us with Lava Man before the kids arrived.

 (Great photo of Mark, terrible of me - I haven't figured out how to do my new longer "wob" haircut properly/like she did at at the salon yet! Maybe that's why Lava Man was nuzzling in it, he was trying to fix it for me lol;)

Doug O'Neill had a meeting he had to attend at that time, but was so gracious in calling us several times to make sure the kids could meeting, I cannot thank and commend him enough - what a wonderful, down to earth man!

The above photo (not mine) is the man himself (a saint, as far as I'm concerned, after today) that made all of this possible today - Doug O'Neil - legendary trainer of "Lava Man" and "I'll Have Another"  

But he made sure Sabas took very good care of us:)

Sabas is Lava Man's groom and morning exercise rider - what a wonderful, patient man, he was, and so proud of his baby :)

I asked what it was like to ride him versus other horses and he said, "You know how riding in different cars can be different, right?  Lava's like riding in a lamborghini!"

Again, we cannot thank you enough, Doug O'Neill, Sabas and Sharla for arranging this for us with such heightened security (you would think it was Fort Knox at Keeneland right now)

The girls were absolutely THRILLED!!! :)

On the way out, we discovered that triple-crown winner, American Pharaoh, was only 2 stables over - so I thought:  "What the heck? I'm gonna walk myself right over and ask that important-looking man with the walkie talkie if we can snap a quick photo with him - the the worst they could say is 'no', right?"

Well, that important-looking man happened to be none other than John Wayne, Executive Director of State of Delaware Horse Racing commission, who was helping the Baffert team with security detail :)

John Wayne, Executive Director for the State of Delaware Horse Racing Commision (not my photo)


What a nice man, he was, he said he'd ask for us - but just at that moment, American Pharaoh's trainer, Bob Baffert, walked up to the stable with his wife, Jill. and son, Bode!

Unfortunately, Bob's answer was "NO ... HELL, no" -  apparently because they were in a big hurry as Am Phar had an evaluation and other prep things to do before the race just then.

But thank you so much to Mr. Wayne for asking for us!

Mr. Baffert seemed so busy and serious, at that moment, I figured I'd best toddle off rather than even ask to get a picture him, but he was standing 20 yards from me (that white hair is unmistakable) !!!!

Bob Baffert, legendary trainer of American Pharaoh,  Bodemeister, War Emblem and Real Quiet (not my photo)

As we were leaving, we turned around in our car just in time to see Breeder's Cup contender (coming in 4th in the Kentucky Derby and third at the Belmont) - "Frosted".

I don't know what it is, but I'm a sucker for a gray, I LOVE Frosted! :)

I am so glad the girls got to go and see all the hustle and bustle excitement - again, all thanks to Doug O'Neill Racing!