Posts
Previously posted on my Facebook Page.
BBC: “U.S. launches 'heavy' strikes on Iran after attempted attack on American troops.” / Associated Press: “How views on Trump's handling of Iran have shifted, according to a new poll.” It’d be an understatement to say that the major storyline in Trump years is for him to fail. No matter what, he has to. That’d usher in a long discussion, essentially how the geopolitical grid shook as the 21st century strode in. There are many factors and variables to discourse but by pointing at Mr Trump, it sort of simplifies it all. I guess.
Meanwhile, I read a lot of “Trump’s war” or “Trump started this war” etc etcetera as though this is the first time that the U.S. is at war overseas. Fact is, America is never without a war. The first foreign war fought by the United States was the First Barbary War, 1801 to 1805, off the coast of North Africa or in modern day Libya. From that point, the U.S. military never had rest. Yet today’s media makes Americans feel disgust and shame that the U.S. is at war with Iran, because of one man, Donald Trump. As though we are all 12-year olds. Uh huh. ☮️☮️☮️
Reuters: “Top U.S. commander warns troops that cellphone videos posted online can help Iran.” Not just videos posted by active soldiers (which must be officially banned) but videos and memes and many more that are posted in Social Media are dangerous. There must be a way to cut on these (mostly juvenile) shenanigans and hate-smothered mischief which cower behind the “shield” of the First Amendment.
Journalism these days doesn’t really give us the lowdown-info. They “influence” us to think or act this way or that way, mostly on the basis of partisan politics. And then mentally bothered individuals on Social Media pick `em up like jellybeans on a grocery shelf. These are the real threats in our midst. 🗣📲💻
USA Today: “Economists concerned as 300,000 Haitian migrants set to lose protected status.” Again, the media wants us to swallow the narrative that deportation of illegal migrants pummels the U.S. economy per se. Yet the real concern? Because these workers are undocumented, they are paid measly coins with no benefits of any kind. They are ghosts, not counted as individual human beings but as “nameless” throngs of modern slaves. Removals = loss of revenue for corporate farms and factories mostly.
Tracking the exact number of “illegals” in the U.S. workforce is difficult due to the hidden nature of informal labor. Major research groups track totals using government census data but that isn’t very reliable. Sources say 8 million to 10 million undocumented immigrants participate in the labor force, making up nearly 5 percent of all civilian workers nationwide. But this: An average of 1 million+ crossed the border illegally from 2021 to 2024. Figure that out. 🗽🏃♀️🏃
Yahoo Sports: “LeBron's decision leaves Steph Curry facing the Warriors' biggest reality check.” / “The 76ers built a title contender around LeBron. How it could actually work.” LeBron can still play, in fact, a lot better than most stars ten years younger than he is. (He is 41.) But I don't think LeBron, in the case he opted to join the Warriors, would matter that much. Golden State has to rebuild. Steph is 38, and although he can still shoot magnificently, his bones are weakening. He is perennially hurt.
Meanwhile, Mr James in Philadelphia wouldn’t mean the Sixers are easy title contenders either. Joel Embiid isn’t really healthy. Tyrese Maxey will still be the main dude although Jaylen Brown has joined them. Basketball is still a team effort. Which makes the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, and OKC Thunder top favorites, regardless of Giannis A. moving to Miami. 🏀⛹️🏀
The Hollywood Reporter: “Noah Kahan slams Trump's use of his song and says he'd 'never approve'.” Here we go again! Repeat: Recording artists don't really own the 100 percent right to their songs, regardless that they solely wrote them. The Big Guy who signed them owned the copyrights, primarily. Mr Kahan is under Republic Records or Mercury Records, which is owned by Universal Music Group, based in New York City.
Aging, retirable superstars also sold their catalog to corporate gods. Yup, that’d include perennial (political) whiners Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. Another Trump-hater, Jon Bon Jovi has not sold his music catalog though. However, his former guitarist and co-writer, Richie Sambora, sold his share of Bon Jovi’s catalog rights to Hipgnosis in 2020.
Reason why other acts, albeit less popular, shunned the trend. Example: Ani DiFranco released and published virtually all her own music and albums through her independent label, Righteous Babe Records. Ironically, she isn’t as loud (beyond music) as the others. Meanwhile, sure artists can always protest and stuff. That’d be marketing or PR, which are mostly facilitated by their Boss Company to sell the songs or products. 🎸🎼🎸
