Epstein's 2011 Emails To Trump, Released Today ...

Whooaa - bombshell! 

The House Oversight Committee obtained emails from Epstein to Trump from Epstein's estate - and they are damning!

Trump was at Epstein's house for hours with a known victim present?

Epstein called him "The dog who won't bark?" (Meaning Trump won't tell on him.)

Trump asking him to stop trafficking young girls shortly before they parted ways, but never told authorities?

WOW, is it my birthday? 😂

Because I've been trying to tell people about this and the strange comments Trump made in New York Magazine in October 2002 about his buddy, Epstein, since Trump's first campaign in 2015, but  few would listen! 

And here was the most damning quote from Trump about Epstein, indicating that Trump knew ...

"He likes beautiful women beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."

That was hint enough - but these emails are smoking-gun, proving Trump knew - and never told the authorities!

Now - what these emails do NOT definitively prove, is whether  Epstein meant Trump sexually engaged with the victim himself - because the subject matter was possible witnesses called. 

So it could just mean they were discussing whether Trump would be called as a witness or not, because he was there for hours once. 

BTW, the victim is the late Virginia Giuffre, who said Trump was never inappropriate with her.

Then again, Virginia also claimed she was drugged at times, so who knows?

Do I believe it's possible Trump was with minors, too, just not Giuffre?

It's possible - I'm just saying this email doesn't prove he was with Giuffre, just that he was present and knew.

I'm sure Trump will call it fake news or say Democrats fabricated it because it was Dems on the House Oversight Committee who released it to the press.

However, there are also Republicans on this committee, and thus far, they've been silent. 

Fox News has been silent.

Trump himself has been silent. 

I know that politicians are some duplicitous people, but there are many people on both sides of politics who can't stomach trafficking of children - I'd like to think the Republicans on this committee don't have souls THAT dark to cover for him on this one.

Regardless, here's the funny thing about evidence and fact - you have to be willing to actually view it, despite their beliefs  - and if so, without wearing rose-colored glasses, eyes wide open, no excuses?

In other words, since we know biased belief often "trumps" fact, (pun intended) - who will actually view the evidence, without rose-colored glasses on?

It takes tremendous bravery to challenge your belief system, get over your bias and cognitive dissonance to see truth (I know because I've done it) - which is terrifying for most people, too much for the ego/psyche.

Because what they're scared of is not just finding out everything they previously believed is a lie, but in cases like these, they're scared supporting someone capable of these things also means they were somehow complicit.

No - supporting someone who turned out to be a monster does NOT automatically mean you were complicit. 

It usually means you were fooled by a good manipulator..

And being fooled doesn't mean you're stupid, either - it means your good heart trusted a good manipulator - period.

Should you have listened more to the other side and paid attention more to red flags?

Yup - but that still doesn't mean you were complicit.

Super interesting this happened today, for reasons I'll keep to myself.

But it does give me hope regarding that personal situation.

Sometimes it takes a really long time for the truth to come out, but it always does - sometimes long after were gone, yes - but it always does.

And yet some people will still continue to believe what they want to believe despite fact and truth. Nothing you can do about that

Speaking of which, I had a couple of posts on here about my personal life, but I was getting 20 to 25 hits a day only on certain posts, all from the same geolocation in the U.S. and I started to got a little creeped out. 

NOT because what I said wasn't true, it most certainly is - but just to avoid a problem with them (even though I never named names or gave details that would give away where this was happening.)

(No, it's not Mark or any of my family.)

Few read here anyway, or even know about this blog, and I'm not on social media, so that's why the hits were kind of telltale about who it was. 

I'm thinking to myself, "Considering the history here, what are they doing specifically on these posts 20 to 25 times a day, what are they looking for? Ways to try to manipulate me again, back into their good graces?  Something they can use against me? Regardless, 20 to 25 times a day is a little obsessive - yikes!"

Then I decided - whatever.

I have nothing to hide and hiding my blog looks guilty.And I'm not changing who I am anymore to placate/appease this person just to keep them from going off on me again,  I've walked on eggshells enough.

I did park the last few posts about it in draft - not because they're not true or I said something awful - but just to avoid future problems and as a signal I want to move on.

Because I began blogging at a time where I had no say and no voice in my life - and I'm not about to give it up now or feel bullied out of that, too.

You play your games elsewhere if you want, but this is MY house.

So I'm back 😂

Onwards and upwards ...

What I Say When Other Christians Ask Why I Don't Support Trump ...

* Edited to add this prologue ... supporting Trump should NOT be used as some sort of prerequisite test of Christianity. 

In my face-to-face life, I usually don't talk about politics with people I'm not close to, unless asked -- but living in Kentucky, I am asked, more than you'd think.

There are a plethora of reasons I don't support Trump and haven't since the beginning, but when asked from a Christian perspective, trying to boil it down to one sentence, my reply typically goes like this ...

"He's too greedy and selfish -  and I think his support for Christianity is insincere. In fact, I think he's using Christians just as much as the wrong kind of Christians are using him."

 

That is usually met with silence.

Not because they don't have a reply, but just because they usually haven't thought about it and need processing time.

Then there is the exception where some know full well what kind of man Trump is, but call him the "imperfect messenger" as justification excuse for using him to push their agenda and vice versa.

If they do push back, I will say ....

"Neither God nor Christ would ever appeal to your fear, hatred, greed, and selfishness to gain control."

There is typically nothing they can say after that -  then I change the subject 😂

One person pushed further and said "But ... but ... sometimes God gets tough."

I say ...

"Sure - but we need to be sure we're not confusing what God or Christ would do versus what we think should be done, in his name. Are you sure? 

"I'm not, I can't speak for God. However, what I can see for myself is nearly everything Trump says and does is the opposite of what Christ said and did scripturally."

*Crickets.*

I doubt I've changed anyone's mind, but they had to think about it for a second, anyway 😂

In short, what's missing from Trump and Christian Nationalists is -  the compassion, mercy, and love of Christ.

What About The Love? - Amy Grant (written by Janis Ian)

I went to see my sister
She was staying with a friend
Who had turned into a preacher
To save the world from sin

He said, "First deny your body
And then learn to submit
Pray to be made worthy
And tithe your ten percent"


I said, "Is this all there is
Just the letter of the law?"
Something's wrong


I went to see my brother
On the 32nd floor
Of a building down on Wall Street
You could hear the future's roar


He said, "Here we make decisions
And we trade commodities
If you tell me where there's famine
I can make you guarantees"


I said, "Is this all there is
Power to the strong?"
Something's wrong


Something's wrong in heaven tonight
You can almost hear them cry
Angels to the left and the right
Saying, "What about the love?
What about the love?
What about the love?"


I went to see my neighbor
He'd been taken to a home
For the weak and the discarded
Who have no place to go


He said, "Here I lack for nothing
I am fed and I am clothed
But at times I miss the freedom
I used to know"


I said, "Is this all there is
When your usefulness is gone?"
Something's wrong


Something's wrong in heaven tonight (Something's wrong)
You can almost hear them cry (Cry)
Angels to the left and the right
Saying, "What about the love?
What about the love?
What about the love?"


I looked into the mirror, (Yeah)
Proud as I could be, (Yeah)
And I saw my pointing finger (Yeah)
Pointing back at me,

Saying, "Who named you accuser? (Yeah)
Who gave you the scales?" (Yeah)
I hung my head in sorrow; (Yeah)
I could almost feel the nails


I said, "This is how it is
To be crucified and judged
Without love"


Something's wrong in heaven tonight (Something's wrong)
You can almost hear them cry(Cry)
Angels to the left and the right
Saying, "What about the love?
What about the love?
What about the love of God?"


Something's wrong in heaven tonight. (Something's wrong)
You can almost hear them cry (Cry)
Angels to the left and the right,
Saying, "What about the love?"
What about the love?
What about the love of God?"

Speaking of Firsts ...

 

Wow, what an election night!

New York City has its first Indian, Shia Muslim and Hindu mayor, Zohran Mamdani (D). He  is also a legal immigrant.

Virginia has its first female governor,  Abigail Spanberger (moderate D), flipping the state back to blue.

Detroit has its first female mayor, Mary Sheffield (D) - who is also a person of color..*

Cincinnati has its first Indian/Asian-American mayor, Aftab Pureval (D) - his personal faith is unknown, but his father is Hindu and his mother is Tibetan Buddhist*

* The NYT has the last two listed as "nonpartisan" and I'm not sure why. They were/are Democrats.

Lots of speculation as to why, which I'm sure will be analyzed further, but for now, I think here's what we can safely say is fact ...

1) When Trump himself is not on the ballot, Democrats fare better.

2) Despite the push to remove DEI policies from government institutions and businesses, the people have spoken - and they don't care about what gender, skin color, ethnicity, or religion a candidate is, they just want the best candidate and change.  

*But don't get it twisted - this should NOT be confused with voting for them because of their gender, race, ethnicity, or faith.*

I suppose something might be said for the fact that the cost of living keeps increasing, which Trump supporters hoped would change under Trump (Really? Despite his personal greediness and selfishness?)

Or disliking authoritarian-dictator-style leadership, whether it comes from the right (fascist) or the left (communist).

But we have to delve into that more to see before we can pronounce it fact.

Otherwise, I have nothing to say about California redistricting (gerrymandering). I mean, I know it's in response to the mass Republican gerrymandering going on elsewhere, but I don't dig gerrymandering in general, and I think this is stooping to their level.

Regardless, you feel us, Trump?

The people themselves have spoken.

We won't be silenced. We just get louder. 😊 

RIP, Martha Layne Collins, Kentucky's First (And Only) Female Governor ...

*Edited, content added

...  passed yesterday at the age of 88 in her sleep - literally just down the street from me at Richmond Place Assisted-Living/Skilled Nursing Facility.

Can you believe a Democrat woman was governor of our State of Kentucky in the 1980s? 

That she was only the 3rd female governor in history in the United States at that time (1983 to 1987)? 

That she - a female Democrat governor - was responsible for bringing the Georgetown Toyota plant and thousands of jobs to our state. which was faltering economically due to decline in the coal business, essentially saving us? 

Not only that, but the Japanese company, Toyota, was historically male-only and family led, at the time.

How did she do it?

By working with landowners in Georgetown to a deal they all agreed upon, offering discounts and tax incentives, and giving Toyota a huge deal on land purchase, knowing it would pay off in the long run.

But other states "courting" Toyota did this, too, so why her, why Kentucky?

Because her diplomacy skills are legendary.

She studied, observed, and respected their customs rather than expecting them to assimilate to ours.

Toyota's assembly-line manufacturing process is well known to be the most efficient in the world, also resulting in the highest quality for mass-produced vehicles.

You don't mess with that proven model, you follow it. You get over your American superiority and invincibility complex and adopt their process - not vice versa.

She also was very warm and welcoming, making people feel like honored guests, anticipating their every whim, before they asked.

In fact, anticipating needs and diplomacy is one area where women may actually have a socialized advantage over men (of course, not ALL women or ALL men 😉)

But she could be tough when she needed to be, too - she could say no. She just did it with a sweet Southern accent and a smile on her face 😂

Republicans - in awe of what she accomplished - tried to find something illegal in what she did (despite the fact that this is exactly what they would do, still do, and way worse/illegal - Trump?) - and actually tried to take her to court over the deals she made in Georgetown, as well as congressional inquiry into her spending on Toyota's visits - but nothing she did was illegal - so she won!

She knew it would pay off for everyone - and it did. 😊

Not only is Toyota itself the biggest moneymaker in the state now, but there are several "tier-1" pipeline supplier companies for specific parts that popped up alll around it, also making money and providing jobs. 

Also, as a former teacher, she pushed the state for more funding for educational reform and higher teacher salaries and better benefits -  and received it!

And she would have won again, had Kentucky allowed 2 terms for governors at that time (which we do now). 

She also fixed/leveled out what was formerly known as "death hill" - the curved hill of I-75 that led down to the Ohio River on the Kentucky side, just before reaching the bridges to Cincinnati. 

It's still curved and a little steep - it has to be somewhat to get down and across the river -  but it used to be super steep - so people would speed down that hill and around that curve, and go right off that cliff to the right!

In fact, I remember as a kid, my older sister and I would hold our hands up like it was a roller coaster, coming back home to Cincy from our grandparents, because it was sort of fun, but also scary! 😂

(And this was at a time when the speed limit was lower, only 55. Now that it's higher, even though the hill has been leveled out, it is still called "death hill" because the speed increase has again raised the number of accidents there.)

Now - on the negative side, her husband - a dentist - made some crooked "pay-to-play" business dealings with contractors, essentially misleading them to believe they had his wife's blessing and would be paid by the state in exchange for political backing, which did not happen. 

Martha was neither implicated nor charged, and it is unclear if she knew, but I understand why people would think she did - plus she stayed married to him. 

But as far as Martha herself, there is big difference in offering huge discounts to secure business that will be a win-win for everybody in the future versus pay-to-play schemes (which have unfortunately become commonplace in today's politics).

Regardless, she became very quiet politically after leaving office, focusing on educational improvements. 

Personally, I never heard a bad word about Martha Layne Collins from either Democrats OR Republicans.

I heard grumbling before she took office - the usual-subject misogynists - but not afterwards.

Because she brought Toyota and thousands of new jobs to our state - period - a feat even supposedly business-minded Republican men before and after her couldn't accomplish. 

In fact, no man from either party accomplished such a feat before or since, with the next closest being our current governor, (D) Andy Beshear, bringing SV automotive electric battery manufacturing here a couple of years ago.

 Even "never-a-woman-in-charge" type of men had to admit she was exceptional - of course, considering her an "exception to the rule" stereotype of women - but at least it was a start? 😂

Only to be later undone in the Trump era. 😏

Speaking of, in a time where we have returned to maligning women, Democrats, and anyone else who isn't a white-male Christian - the definition of Christianity and morality once again reverting again back to being almost exclusively reproductive/gender standards VS Christ's definition - her death and legacy should remind us of what is possible again.

She is testament to what the right candidate can accomplish on behalf of those they govern - regardless of gender, race, religion, or political party - either those of the candidate or those they govern. 

Because a good leader can and should lead everyone - work for the common good for all and strive towards unity. 

Put that in your tacky faux-gold pipe and smoke it, Trump!

Happy Halloween!

 

Do your best Thriller zombie dance!

NYC Halloween Parade Thriller Street Dance from 2024 ... 

I'm not sure, but I think they do it in different parts of Manhattan and all the burroughs throughout the evening? This one was at 51st street last year.

Lexington used to do this before COVID, but of course not as big as the original NYC street Thriller dance, which has been back for a couple of years.  

Anyone can be a part of this dance, as long as you sign up with a costume and show up for the rehearsals (but they do put their best dancers out front).  

Fun, right? 

Put that on my bucket list - I wanna do it in NYC!

Just for a bonus, I've seen a few of these NYC Halloween Decoration walking-tour videos this year, and apparently the Upper East Side is the best? 

I love the blue/purple one ...

Yep, you can tell all the best artists live in NYC (wealthy ones)!

 

 Happy Halloween!

Not My Best Work Ever, But ...

 ... I guess it'll do lol. This year, I just used materials from the years before to save money for the holidays 😉😊

That Dog Across the Way ...

 

So ... there's this dog that apparently lives across Richmond Road that when he gets going, he barks for literally hours.

If you lived here, you would know what a feat that is, to still be able to hear him across Richmond Road a quarter of a mile away,, with the windows closed, despite all the traffic on Richmond Road, which is a main thoroughfare road in Lexington and a direct link to I-75.

If it's this loud here - I can't even imagine how loud he is as a neighbor.

But what can you do, if you own the dog, I guess?

Ziggy has a loud bark himself, for a pug, and when he sees someone he knows/likes, his bark can sound aggressive, but it's really just excitement - and when they get close, he just kisses them to death! 😂

But this dog, I mean, it's like hours, it goes on.

Now, when Ziggy hears him, he stands on his hind legs with his paws up on the window, barking and howling back, like a mad dog.

Then he runs to me, as if he wants something, then to Mark, pleading for something, I don't know what. 

Maybe he wants him to shut up, too?

I guess he could be concerned or wanting to play, but he's more amped, almost like:

"Dad? That dog 'cross the way is talking shit again. I'monna have to over beat his ass. can I?' 😂

And then if we don't take him outside to let him howl and bark back properly, then  he gets his toys that look like dogs and vigorously shakes them.

'Atta boy, Buddy, you tell him, "Cut that shit out!'"  😂