Perhaps In Timely Metaphor, The Demolition of UK's Blanding/Kirwan Tower Dorm Complex Has Begun

I remember hanging out at Blanding with friends, during my college days at UK, being thankful I didn't have to live in those more modern, but crappy, fire-trap dorms. 

The 3-floor dorms that were part the B-K complex (at the bottom, of the photo, surrounding the actual towers) were bigger -  but God help you, if you were housed in the Freshman Death Towers. 

They were the smallest dorm rooms I've ever seen, at any college, anywhere - and a total fire hazard.  

The elevators were sooo slow and broke down frequently - but the BK Complex was only 20 years old, at the time!

The dorm rooms themselves were smaller than a 1-patient hospital room, with just room enough for a single bed and desk. 

Though the floor plan brochures and online  looked like this ...

This was the actual reality of living space ...

Can you imagine two 18-year-old girls trying to live in that space? 

And if one of the roommates was messy?  

God help the catfights that ensued lol. 

We all had to sit on the beds and eat pizza, but even that became too claustrophobic.  

There was one small communal area per floor - but only a certain amount were allowed in, or to stand in the halls -  so it was off to the Student Center or cafeteria or outside.

There was a momentary twinge of nostalgia upon learning this, but it was time - actually, appropriate metaphor, for personal reasons this week (and perhaps community, country, and globally, this week, too).

As much of a fan as I am of history - sometimes, it's necessary to dismantle romanticized, unrealistic, unstable, unsafe, unhealthy, shoddy constructs from our past completely - so that we can make way for  stronger,  safer, solid, sound constructs in the future

And it is sad -  but also necessary.



Note:  Despite this video showing demolition by explosives/implosion, that is NOT Blanding/Kirwan being demolished by implosion -it's the old Capitol Building in Frankfort, imploded in 2018.


They included the clip of the Frankfort building to demonstrate how much dust gets kicked up via implosion, which would be unwise during the time of COVID - so they choose dismantling demolition instead.

They FINALLY Just Arrested (Former) Minneapolis Police Officer, Derek Chauvin - Hallelujah!

Though some press sites say for a murder charge, the charges have not been announced.

Those charges had better be AT LEAST second-degree murder/Murder 2 - and let's make these charges stick, this time?

Because we can all see, on all videos, Chauvin murdered Mr. Floyd without provocation, from all angles.

(However, we've seen the same with others before George Floyd, too -  and those officers still walked free.)

If we do?  

No more riots. 

If we don't?

God help us.

Update:  The charge is 3rd-degree Murder.  

Minnesota is one of only 5 states that have this extra charge, which is a between Murder 2 and Manslaughter. 

(Florida, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and Wisconsin are the only other states that have this extra charge). 

The main difference between Murder 3 and the usual Murder and Manslaughter charges is that it allows for 'unclear' intent, but is still a felony (unlike manslaughter, which is a misdemeanor).

(Many states do not have this - if there is unclear intent, then it goes directly to manslaughter charge, and I agree with this.) 

In the state of Minnesota, if found guilty of Murder 3, it is punishable by 25 years in prison.  (Minnesota has the lowest sentence time for this charge among the 5 states.)

I'm sorry, but I disagree - and I don't think it's enough.

Though it's better than manslaughter, yes - I'm not sure it will be enough to stop riots.

George Floyd's murder was clearly second-degree murder/Murder 2, at the very least.

Chauvin knew he was crushing George's trachea/possibly breaking his neck - if we could all hear George cries that he couldn't breathe, then you know Chauvin could, too - but Chauvin chose instead to just kept going anyway, until he was dead :(

Brief overview of the level of homicide charges in the U.S.(sentences vary by state, and some states include extra charges, see below) ...

Murder 1 - premeditated murder with intent to kill. 

Murder 2 - non-premeditated murder, with intent to cause life-threatening physical harm, resulting in death.

Murder 3 (in 5 U.S. states only) - non-premeditated murder, intent unclear,  resulting in death.

Manslaughter - there are varying degrees of this charge as well, but all are regarding non-premeditated, non-intentional actions which cause death, often accidental death, death due to self-defense, or death due to negligence.

*Examples of manslaughter would be drunk drivers, doctor malpractice, parental negligence, some cases of domestic violence self-defense, and prior charges for police officers. 

PS - Keep in mind, as we await medical examiner reports, the medical examiner reports for police brutality incidents in Minneapolis have previously been called into question.

Truth, Trump, and Twitter - Using Twitter Despite Known Risk Is Still A Choice.

Trump clearly isn't putting out fires, he's fanning the flames.

Trump has been silent on Twitter about George Floyd's murder, lack of criminal charges against Chauvin, and police brutality - UNTIL people started rioting/looting.

Then, when he finally stops pushing petty distraction fluff, like Flynn and his petty fights with critics on Twitter (and Twitter itself), and starts paying attention to more important and urgent matters - what does he do? 

... instead of condemning BOTH Floyd's murder AND the riots ...

He politicizes it and name-calls the Democrat mayor and threatens to call in the national guard - condemning JUST the protesters/rioters.


Then he tweeted the following, which is the only tweet that Twitter actually hid (they placed a "fact-check" warning on others), for encouraging/glorifying violence, which is no longer visible: 

"These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!"

(You can no longer see this tweet).

And I'm not condoning riots or looting - but the riots and looting were a reaction to violence against George Floyd - these actions did not occur, nor exist, in a vacuum.

Once again, he fans the flames of white supremacy/racism, but condemns the dumpster fire that results (see earlier post for that Governor Beshear quote). 

The fact is, Trump's new battle with Twitter did NOT start because of the mail-in fraud tweet.

It started the day prior, after Trump tweeted an insinuation that Joe Scarborough murdered Lori Klausutis, and both Lori's widower and Joe Scarborough wrote and pleaded with Jack Dorsey/Twitter to do something (see below letter).

I've never written Trump, but if I did, I'd say this ...

Dumpster fires, threats, violence, and death everywhere, this week, Trump, - and all you've cared about is yourself - your petty fights on Twitter with critics and with Twitter itself, until now.

You weren't suspended or blocked from Twitter - Twitter just began adding warning labels to fact-check accusations you've made without providing any evidence whatsoever.

This occurred immediately after you insinuated your Republican press critic, Joe Scarborough, murdered Lori Klausutis on Twitter - which his widower and family condemned as false and pleaded with Twitter to remove.

Twitter refused to remove those tweets.

However, Twitter DID agree - from that moment forward - to begin adding warning labels to any posts they were alerted of (which means you have to report them first) that made accusations without providing proof, to alert people to fact check them - and hid one threatening tweet condoning shooting of looters. 

Lastly, and most importantly - not only is Twitter a private company, but nobody is forcing you to use Twitter, Trump.

And it is that FACT that will be the end legal argument to any all legal arguments you find yourself in with Twitter - The End.

PS - Here's what censorship really looks like, Trump ...


I'm no CNN superfan - and I already posted this clip 2 posts below, but again, here is CNN's Omar Jimenez being arrested on live TV, for literally no reason (released later with an apology from the governor) - but THIS is censorship.  And it was way wrong ...

Conversation with a (Non-Trump-Supporting) Christian Republican Friend: Both Things Can Be True

We don't agree on everything, but we DO agree on the unprovoked of George Floyd , and that there's too much power abuse and racism in this country.

(I have put in parentheses things I didn't actually say, at the time, which I added to clarify my meaning or expound upon.)

My friend: "I think there are good cops and bad cops and plenty in between. But there ARE cops who are racist and abuse their power and they need to be dealt with and not above the law themselves. But I don't know who to trust in the press anymore, they're all owned by corporations, etc."

Me: "Agreed about press and especially social media, I think that's true. I think we all struggle with that."

My Friend: "Someone at my church was saying they're all corporate owned, who are controlled by Deep State? "

Me: "Well, I think it depends on our definition of Deep State.

(Because both sides of politics can play that card, now, when it comes to federal government abuse and coverups.)

Me:  "IMO, if there is a Deep State, Trump's a part of it, deflecting off himself like he's not and combating it - and for some reason, people keep buying it. 

Because the fact is, Trump is a wealthy, powerful CEO himself, who is on public record as having donated to both sides of politics, when it benefited him.

(In fact, he was close friends with the Clintons himself, up until the last election. I mean, the Clintons were at his wedding to Melania, and there are pictures to prove it, dating back to articles from before he was President, dating back to the actual press announcements on the day of his wedding).

Me:  "Fox News is totally White House Controlled, they're his mouthpiece." 

"So I think both things can be true ...


Press is controlled by the political leanings of whatever wealthy and powerful individual or organization owns them.


- AND -


Trump is a wealthy, powerful CEO and government official himself - who vilifies the press if they so much as lightly criticize him. That's a communist tactic."

I mean, look at what Trump just did to Joe Scarborough - he accused Joe of murdering a political aid, via Twitter. 

THAT was the actual impetus for Twitter cracking down on dysinformation on Twitter versus what right-wing press is saying. They left that tweet alone, but from that day forward, began cracking down with warning labels.  

They didn't block him, just added warning labels.

The widower came out himself and said his wife dropped dead of a previously undetected congenital (from birth) heart abnormality, idiopathic cardiomyopathy.

Her widower also said the family has been retraumatized by this event and Trump dug up her death, twisted it and used it against Joe, simply because Joe criticized his presidential actions.

(What are we gonna have to do, dig up the poor woman 20 years after the fact to prove Trump a liar? He says things like this, without any proof whatsoever, knowing you'd have to literally dig up someone to prove them murdered, if you even could after this long.)  

(Crazy accusations he knows you can neither prove nor disprove - but lack of evidence does NOT mean either guilt or innocence. I could say Trump worships Satan, but we have no proof or disproof of that - just because I said it, and keep saying it, doesn't mean it's true). 

Me: "It's just like you said, there are good cops, bad cops, and plenty in between. The same is true with press. There are some good reporters and press, some not, and plenty in between or who just make mistakes or lack training (or didn't use their training).

Thus it's on us to put on our critical thinking caps and be more discerning, both intellectually and spiritually, when viewing information:

1) Has this source of information, either as individual or organization - proven to you personally that they possess honesty and integrity at least 95% of the time - who has nothing to personally gain by sharing this information?

2) If so, is it possible they're wrong, made a mistake,  misperceived something, whether honest mistake or intentional, or that they have, over time, become too biased  and were inappropriately influenced themselves, in this political climate?

3) Is this subjective opinion disguised as objective fact - are they providing any proof at all or just making accusations?

4) If they are even attempting to provide proof - what kind of proof?

5) Are they providing FULL video evidence or PDF documents to support their quotes and claims, or is this subjective opinion disguised as fact?

And then we have to be spiritually discerning - if something seems off or missing, doesn't sit right with our soul (after checking ourselves for intellectual/belief bias) - then it probably is.

(And if it's delivered in a nasty, hateful, name-calling Twitter tirade, making accusations without any proof at all? Well, it doesn't take a priest or prophet to discern that something is spiritually amiss, if nothing else ;)

Like I've Been Trying to Say All Week ...

Some people have said that I'm "spiritually sensitive," some have even said I'm psychic lol.  (I wish I was, I'd have a lot more money!)

Whether that's true or not - and I know this sounds weird - but I could literally feel negative energy building in people towards explosions, this week - actually beginning last Friday - that's what I've been trying to say all week.

It's like a pulsating mass of negative spiritual energy, almost as contagious as COVID - because we all know how contagious negative energy is.

Now we're at riots in Minneapolis, NYC and Louisville.

A Minneapolis police precinct is on fire.


The Minneapolis PD arrested a CNN reporter, Omar Jimenez, 'mistaking' him for a protester - despite the fact that you can see (because it was broadcast live), Jimenez wasn't standing anywhere near the protesters.

In fact, he is standing in front of police, politely asking them where he should stand to be out of their way, when they arrest him.

Jimenez very calmly and politely asks the officers - twice - why he's under arrest - and they refuse to answer him.

I have never, in my life, seen anything so crazy on live TV. 

(I chose non-CNN publication of the footage for those who don't like CNN)






The governor has since issued an apology and released him.
7 people were shot at the protest in Louisville for Breona Taylor (who was shot in her bed during a no-knock home raid in Louisville in March).

Trump's name-calling tweet of Minneapolis Mayor that included a threat to bring in the national guard gets a Twitter warning and hidden by Twitter. 

Like I said, things are worse than ever.

My heart breaks for George Floyd and I DO sympathize with anger behind these protests - but again, all violent/looting riots will result in  is further racism and criminal charges for more people of color, more blaming the victim  - the order of events will once again be reversed.

You know what it really would take for this to stop, America?

And it's not the national guard.

If you truly want all of this to stop, America, then we need to successfully prosecute any cop who murders person of color without just cause  - even just one - we are long overdue.

Derek Chauvin should be that guy, thanks to Darnella Frazier's video with indisputable evidence.



Otherwise, I'm social distancing/hibernating due to both COVID and people behaving hatefully, warranted or not ...

... and praying I don't catch either disease, COVID or hatred ;) 

PS - Extending The Second Half of My Prayer from the Post Below to Darnella Frazier Especially ...

I understand that cell-phone videographer for George Floyd's final moments - 17-year-old, African-American Darnella Frazier - is now being cyberbullied from both political sides. 

Trumpers: "She did this for attention."

*Yawn*

Behold the tell-tale, tired, typical and hypocritical gaslighting cry of bullies in their natural habitat of social media - curiously made only about women - when they try to speak up/are whistleblowers.

My Fellow Liberals: "She should've intervened."

WTF? 

Like this was HER fault?

May I remind you that Darnella is black, she's female, and most importantly, she's a 17-year-old child.

Look what they did to a full grown, large man - what do you think would happen to her if she tried to physically intervene to help him against 4 white male cops?

And it's not like she knew in advance he would die as a result - she started filming before he died ?!?

It's very easy to say what you would do, when you're not there - it happened so fast, I'm amazed that a 17-year-old had the quick-thinking skills and presence of mind to turn on her cell cam.

What is wrong with people?

Regardless, still in trauma mode, she's fighting back ...






Woooooooo!  LOL G'on, girl - get it!  

I love it!  Good for you, Darnella!

And you're right - we SHOULD be thanking you and nobody is forcing anyone to read your Twitter page - and if it wasn't for your quick thinking to video it, we never would've known what really happened to George and his killer would not be coming to justice.

From what I understand, she was already traumatized by witnessing the event herself, and suffered from social phobia - but she found the bravery within herself to nevertheless walk up and record the entire event on film.

Please join me in extending the second half of my prayer below for Darnella especially, right now. 

George Floyd: No Adequate Words, Just Tears

I know I said I was going to try to avoid so much increased nasty again to keep my own health, peace, and sanity - but I feel a bit selfish, when others are experiencing things like this - because it's not all about my peace.

Thus, , I had to share for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

I think I have seen all videos of this incident now - including the video just released by the store owner who called the police on George for using a counterfeit $20 bill - who himself confirms George was not combative and did not resist arrest, by his own eye witness and confirmed by video  :'(

There is absolutely no indication whatsoever, on any video that I've seen yet (various shop security cameras and cell phones filmed the incident, including just prior),  that George Floyd resisted arrest. He most certainly did not. 

What is clear ion the newly released video (not the one belows that after the Asian-American officer drove away -  and after the African-American officer handcuffs him and gently walks him over to the awaiting 4 white officers and squad car across the street, while initially getting into the squad car, George slipped on the curb and fell and went down - the 4 white police officers then jumped on him and I don't understand why - did they misperceive the fall as attempt to escape? 

It was clearly a straight slip and fall off the curb, his arms were in handcuffs so he couldn't brace his fall and just went down - and they jumped on him.

What I don't understand is how, in the final video, he went from the ground on the right side of the squad car to the left side - still on the ground - but the  3 officers were on top of him, held him down, and the officer is pressing his knee down on his neck.  Did they drag him to that side?  

He was already down, he was in handcuffs, he never once resisted from the initial arrest -  he simply fell on the curb - so why????

Then the rest and his death - which we can see on the following video, which is a compilation of security camera and cell phone videos of the event. 

I warn you, the end is graphic ... the panicked, helpless look on George's face as he pleads with the officer for help, that he can't breathe ... the emotionless look on that officer's face while he presses his knee into his neck and worse.  No emotion on his face as he drags George's lifeless body away by one arm.

Be forewarned, this will likely haunt you for days as it is haunting  me :(






His crime?

Using a counterfeit $20 bill at the store.

He was not armed, he did not resist arrest (video proven), and even the store owner that called the police says he didn't resist arrest, wasn't combative, and doesn't understand the excessive use of force. 

So ...after watching that ... still think Kaepernick taking a knee for the flag over incidents like this is worse? 

I can't watch anymore, I just cry.  That poor, poor man, my God :(

And I agree with Mayor Frey - the officer that pressed his knee until George died  - should be criminally tried for Murder 1 - there should be no question.


Like I said below, I'm not sure what's going the past week or so, but people have reached a level of nasty and nuts worse than ever - and I'm not sure why?

Heavenly Father,

I don't know what to pray for or how, anymore - but at the moment, this is what comes to mind ...

I pray that the people who are abusing privilege or power and/or harboring hatred will somehow be directly confronted by the Spirit of God and Christ's message of infinite mercy, in their path.

I know that we have free will and the power of choice regardless - and I know you promised not to intervene.

However, I pray that there will be, at some point, one of your famous overly-coincidental, direct spiritual-confrontation lessons - so square in their faces that they cannot easily shut the door, turn the channel, turn the page, or turn away. 

A message of mercy so directly in their path that they will have to make a conscious choice - either choose to step over it and continue in self-righteous, falsely-justified, hatred and fear, or choose instead to allow the power of God's mercy and love into their hardened hearts and be transformed by it.

Mercy, God ...Mercy. We have gotten ourselves way out of balance again, the scales have once again been tipped too far, we've reached a tipping point - and we need your love now, more than ever.

More mercy for the poor, the oppressed, the powerless, the grieving, the falsely accused/the innocent, the addicted, the the opportunity-less, just trying to survive, and the sick and the suffering.

I pray for your comfort for them, Lord, comfort them. I pray for renewed hope for them. I pray that they may experience "the peace that passes all understanding," that Paul spoke about in Philippians 4:7, as they endure these trials in life.

In the name of the father, his son, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen