DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

Here I've arrived at (what'll have to be) my last and most pressing post for the day, and yet I find myself short on time. I clearly won't be able to discuss the recent shooting by ICE agents or the recent requests by Trump's FBI to access local license plate reader information. (That's an ill-advised slippery slope of handing over way too much information to any federal government, be they well-intentioned or not...) And I won't have time to discuss the fact that ABC and NBC refused to air President Trump's recent address to the nation (...even during Biden's presidency, I'm sure much of the populace already knew what was going to be talked about or even grew tired at some point of some of the repeated topics. But would it really hurt networks to air all presidential addresses without bias or omissions?)

So let's keep this brief and to the point. Here we are, roughly five months later and the war with Iran is still raging. The much-talked-about peace deal with Iran from a few weeks back has apparently fallen through, with even many conservatives having lambasted it as being worse than Obama's JCPOA deal. Gas prices are rising to $4 and above again, as the Strait of Hormuz is being intermittently open and closed again, and now Houthi-backed rebels in Yemen are also threatening to close access to the Red Sea. What's very concerning is a report I heard yesterday on NBC that now the U.S. military is reportedly allowing some of Iran's missiles & drones to pass through American defenses. This means that some of those attacks are even allowed to strike U.S. bases overseas, as long as no lives are directly in the line of fire. Which, if it's true, is sort of a revolting development. The NBC reporter stated the obvious: even if a drone or missile hits an empty building adjacent to U.S. troops or contractors, there's still the potential for shrapnel to inflict harm. And not to mention any reconstruction costs or loss of equipment/supplies that could ensue as a result of this new policy.

For weeks during the start of the war, Hegseth and his commanders were almost boasting in their press briefings about the thousands of bomb strikes they had conducted, like some kind of over-hyped marketing maneuver. And later when some began to rightly question whether America's weapon stockpiles were in danger of being depleted, the War Department & the Trump administration downplayed the idea. (I thought we had moved past this type of spin after the previous administration...) Yet some weeks ago, President Trump calls a special meeting with weapons suppliers, and now we reportedly find the U.S. military is rationing Interceptor missiles, likely at the risk of U.S. troops and interests. Unbelievable.

Don't think I've suddenly turned pro-Iran in my criticisms of America's war and communication policy. The current Iranian regime has long been a threat to Americans and American troops, either through direct intervention or through their support of terrorist proxies. However, the current dysfunctional state of our war with Iran makes me question out loud whether the Trump administration has really thought through this war and its potential consequences & aftermath. Why did Pete Hegseth and his commanders apparently not consider the fact that Iran had the ability to potentially close the Strait of Hormuz and plan ahead to prevent that? And why didn't we seek to boost our weapons stockpiles at the very beginning of the war, instead of after realizing we were running short of supplies? Did we actually think the war was going to play out like a one-day Venezuela incursion? I'm growing increasingly concerned about the U.S. strategy in this war.

You can bet America's enemies are planning and strategizing. I wouldn't be surprised if countries like China, Russia, or even North Korea are privately admonishing Iran to hold out for even longer, all while our stockpiles continue to diminish. In such a case, what would happen if a threat arises in another part of the world, while we're apparently overextended there in the Middle East?

This past week, tech news outlets were in a tizzy over a report that OpenAI's newest chatbot had intentionally breached its sandbox and accessed a number of HuggingFace's files over the internet during internal tests. And rightly so. A software or browser sandbox is supposed to keep activities regimented within its confines (...although it doesn't always work out that way, as is evident in this case!). But in the case of a chatbot or an AI agent on a user's desktop or phone which can have access to all of a person's files or e-mails, such a breach is quite a disturbing matter. What if an artifical intelligence (AI) chatbot begins digging where it's not supposed to and accesses sensitive or prohibited files? And consider what would happen if the AI you're using breaks out of its restrictions and starts to call up what could be malicious 3rd party components, extensions, or other add-ons and incorporates them into your workflow. Sure, OpenAI and others have offered a supposed solution to this issue, but all this should give you pause to reflect on the potential consequences of AI, especially as the tech advances.

First off, I'd like to congratulate those involved in conducting security for the World Cup, as they delivered a secure and mostly seamless experience (which is incredibly difficult to achieve for such large-scale events) for attendees and visitors from around the world. Bravo for a job well done!

Unfortunately, however, there still seem to be issues with certain aspects of federal/local security. A recent example is the fact that a military veteran was able to ignite flammable liquid in front of a New York federal building before he was apprehended. City leaders are lauding law enforcement for restraining the individual after the fact, praise which they clearly deserve. However, in this day and age prevention must be an integral component of any security protocols. Were there any security cameras in place to capture that suspicious individual shuffling down the street with a liquid-filled bucket towards the front of the federal building? If not, it's highly advisable to install such surveillance cameras. And if security already had a view of any incoming threats, why weren't there any procedures in place to stop the individual before he wreaked any havoc? Think of the tragedies that could have ensued if this military-trained demented individual had subsequently fired a real gun instead of an Airsoft gun or if he had used other types of more devastating weapons or explosives in his act of terrorism.

And there are other instances, such as the mentally ill person who had been ordered by a judge to stay away from the White House. Needless to say, months ago, this individual disregarded that order and again showed up at the White House complex with a weapon & with apparent intent to do harm. Did any law enforcement stop to consider that such a person wouldn't heed the judge's restrictions? Why didn't any law enforcement consider keeping tabs on this specific individual to prevent any possible threat from manifesting? And more recently, a member of the Secret Service is being investigated for divulging the travel details for Vice President Vance and his family - which obviously had the potential to be extremely dangerous for the Vances. Look, if anyone in law enforcement or the Secret Service has a serious disagreement with those you've been entrusted with protecting (...so much so that you won't be able to execute your duties), do the honorable thing and resign. Or at least ask for an immediate transfer. Don't put someone else's life at risk on account of your petty political differences.

I'm sure many of you kept up with the news & trial of Karmelo Anthony who was accused, and now convicted, of killing Austin Metcalf. It's not my intention to re-open fresh wounds, but I just need to touch on a few aspects of this case.

I don't usually tune-in to televised murder trials (and this case was no exception), so perhaps a few of these questions were answered during the hearings. If so, forgive me for being redundant. But when I heard the initial details of the incident, I had to ask myself, why in the world did Karmelo Anthony bring that kind of knife in his backpack to a track meet? Had he been threatened before (either there or in similar settings) or did he pack that weapon intentionally looking for trouble? And where were the teachers or the security guards during that meet? If you remember anything at all about your high school days, you know that teens are experts in forming their cliques and they often defend it to an illogical degree against any outsiders. Why didn't the adults on campus foresee this and keep an eye out for potential trouble brewing among students from different schools?

Shortly after the conclusion of the trial, I was channel surfing and came across a TMZ segment about Austin Metcalf's dad. While I don't usually watch TMZ, I stuck around for 2 or 3 minutes as they were airing a video that Mr. Metcalf had apparently posted to social media. During his self-posted video, he unfortunately engaged in a few blatantly racial rants and commentary regarding the family of Karmelo Anthony. I understand Mr. Metcalf had lost his son in the worst of tragedies, so he was obviously under duress. However, the most challenging times of life often serve to reveal what's hidden deep inside of us. Did Mr. Metcalf speak out of a pre-existing prejudice towards African Americans or had his disposition begun to change as a result of the loss of his son? If his mentality was a pre-existing one, so to speak, had he imparted those sentiments to any of his sons while they were growing up?

Over the weekend, there was yet another attempt on President Trump's life, this time at the White House Correspondents' Dinner at a local D.C. hotel. While the local floozies are whispering to each other that I've now become a supporter of violence because of my silence in the last three days, or on account of my conservative & Christian beliefs I'm also some kind of a national threat to be constantly monitored, I'll make it clear for the umpteenth time: I don't support acts of violence, attempted or otherwise, as we saw in the news reports over the weekend. Much to the chagrin of my detractors and false accusers, I'm not going to change in that regard. Yes, I'm realizing I have several political differences with how Trump and his administration have handled their time in office, more so than I expected to have, but today is not the day to articulate those differences.

Our nation is grateful that no one was seriously harmed during this assassination attempt, with only one Secret Service agent being struck in his bulletproof vest - thankfully, that agent is said to be recovering in the hospital. However, I just saw a report today stating that agent may have been hit by friendly fire, as opposed to being shot by the assassin! (...Post-publication edit: The investigation has nullified that initial and faulty report, so I added a strikethrough for that previous statement.) Which leads me to my first points. If you've ever watched almost any action or suspense movie or if you've ever even been inside a hotel, you're aware of the fact that there are multiple exit & entry points to various parts of the building, making security extremely difficult to say the least. And when I saw a blip of this hotel's security camera footage from another hallway, I wondered aloud why in the world wasn't an agent or two stationed at that stairway where the assassin initiated his dash towards the ballroom? That corner was clearly a blind spot for Trump's security team, and yet there were apparently no guards there and not even a camera at that spot to warn of oncoming intruders. Anybody could have come down those stairs and turned the corner, armed with any number of weapons, and security wouldn't have known until it was too late. Instead, the assassin made a mad dash past roughly 6 or 8 agents who were relaxing and talking to each other at a further checkpoint, and one even seemed to step out of his way in surprise. When you're supposed to be covering the President and his wife and multiple Cabinet members just down the hallway & a flight of stairs, no agent should be taken by surprise by anything.

I'm sure some of you will be offended by any implications of mine that there were security failures at Saturday's event. And some of you might say, 'Oh, there he goes again, bashing law enforcement and security people!'. First of all, in my writings regarding the military or law enforcement, I strive to offer constructive criticism to better their performance and increase local or national security protocols. And when wokeness or profound incompetence (..you really have no idea the level of incompetence I've observed in many cases!) becomes a defining characteristic of any group charged with our security, I sound the alarm about the potential ramifications of such negligence. Of course I don't have the qualifications of a seasoned security professional - I'm an artist for crying out loud! But if even a simple artist like me can find glaring holes in a security setup, you know drastic changes need to be made. And even so, there are likely many of you who still believe everything was fine with the security at the Correspondents' dinner. Well, you don't have to take my word for it. A bona fide security expert just wrote an article for the New York Post in which he lambasted the security failures at the now three attempts on Trump's life, detailing the proper steps that should have been taken instead. And I concur: there is something incredibly wrong with either the procedures or the training of the Secret Service, Homeland Security, and the other agencies entrusted with protecting our nation's leader. Think about the most recent incident for a minute. There were hardly even any light, physical barriers in the hotel hallway that would have prevented an assassin from making such a sprint towards the ballroom. And what if the intruder had been armed with makeshift bombs or sleeping agents or toxic gas weapons? What if there had been foreign dignitaries in the room and that room had been breached and those dignitaries had been harmed? The international implications of such a tragedy would be too devastating to ponder. Consider the fact that not a single one of the attempted assassins targeting Trump were professional killers. With our nation's current security situation, I shudder to think of the consequences that would result if an actual professional determined to make such an assassination hit. For the sake of today's generation as well as for posterity, we have to make immediate changes in our national security protocols, even if that includes relieving certain personnel of their duties or positions.

A few are pointing to President Trump's proposed new ballroom adjacent to the White House as a potential security solution for celebratory events. And perhaps it is. However, I'd rather stay impartial in that regard, as there are concerns that the private individuals/companies who have opted to fund the roughly $400 million price tag may request something in return from the Trump administration. If there are irregular vested or hidden interests involved, I'd prefer not to be counted as a staunch supporter of the project. If, however, those financing the new ballroom have only altruistic motives at heart, perhaps they should publicly sign a statement to that effect. My other concerns about the building pertain to the possible privacy implications of such a highly secure setup: Will every person who attends the proposed ballroom be scanned (either overtly or without their knowledge) for inclusion in facial recognition databases? Will there be hidden security cameras in inappropriate places? Will law enforcement (unethically) compile either social media or e-mail account profiles of the attendees through tactics such as smartphone geo-fencing? Surely there must be a way to create a secure environment without sacrificing the privacy & rights of the individuals who will attend. (...And yes, I did also have concerns about the possible release of asbestos when the building was demolished, not just for the White House staff, but also for tourists who may be exposed to such contaminants. If the project does go forward, let's make it a point to take all the proper health & safety precautions.)

Of course again with this most recent assassination attempt against President Trump there were those who publicly made light of it and others who twistedly expressed disappointed that the assassin failed. And it really makes you wonder what America has become. Unfortunately, there have been Democrats who have gleefully called for violence against conservatives and those have who consistently labeled political opponents or people of faith as some type of horrendous monsters. But then again, if Republicans were really serious about the state of discourse and unacceptable behavior, they likely shouldn't have provided blanket pardons to the worst offenders from the January 6 riot. And there have even been acts of violence against OpenAI founder Sam Altman in recent weeks. Most of you already know my stance regarding artificial intelligence companies - I'm opposed to their unethical training methods that includes the scraping of the work of creatives for their own benefit & profit. I'll explicitly state that I don't trust Sam Altman, and a recent tech article outlines how many of his other colleagues share that same suspicion of his motives & methods. However, I will maintain that whoever disagrees with Mr. Altman or any other tech CEO/executive or any politician (or any other person, for that matter) should find reasonable ways to express that disagreement. I write and I advocate for change. Perhaps your talent is songwriting. Or perhaps you're a gifted public speaker. Or maybe you can shake up the world with (legal) activist art. As citizens of a democracy, we have to find better ways to express ourselves.

But unfortunately speech is becoming less and less free in America. If you go out on a limb and express opinions contrary to mainstream thought, trust me, people will hate you. People that you've never actually hurt will target you, lie about you, falsely accuse you, isolate & exclude you, seek to entrap you, try to set you up for harm, & do almost anything to harass you and those affiliated with you. If you're a Christian and you're standing up for what's right, you're already expecting all this anyway. (..And if you're a Christian and you're not being persecuted so to speak, I wonder if you've become far too friendly with everything that's opposed to Christ in our culture.) Yet everyday people in our nation shouldn't have to fear real-life repercussions for simply expressing a legitimate point of view.

I'll close with this. With the approaching 250th anniversary of America's independence, I'd much rather focus on more of the positive aspects of our history. However, in recent times of similar tension in the past few years, some have questioned whether our country is inevitably on the path to a kind of civil war. Sure, there are some public individuals who talk tough about fighting or beating up members on the other side of the aisle, but I seriously doubt they have any idea what kind of devastation internal strife on a large scale would encompass. (...And besides, those who make it a habit to always talk tough about such matters always seem to me as more than likely the least tough individuals.) One of my history professors vividly explained some of the details of the start of America's civil war. While the opposing Confederate & Union armies were busy lining up for the very first battle, a considerable number of civilian onlookers gathered in the surrounding area to gawk at what they imagined would be an entertaining spectacle. If I recall correctly, a few of them had even spread out choice delicacies from their picnic baskets to enjoy! It was such a profound miscalculation of what was about to ensue. Needless to say, as the battle began, and shots & cannons were fired, you couldn't even pay the clueless crowd to stay at the battle scene. The harried onlookers made a quick dash to any safety they could find, and the rest, as they say, is history. America's civil war was incredibly violent, costing the lives of more Americans than any of our other wars combined, according to my professor. The tragic loss of life and the untold number of injured soldiers took a devastating toll on families. The bitterness, suspicions, and resentment remained indelibly burned in our nation's psyche for years, even decades. No wonder Jesus said "all who draw the sword will die by the sword." (Matthew 26:52 NIV). Those who embrace a lifestyle of wanton violence will eventually suffer the boomerang of resulting detrimental consequences.

First and foremost, condolences to those who've lost loved ones in the continued war with Iran, as well as to those who have lost loved ones in the recent attacks on U.S. soil.

Secondly, it's apparent the partial government shutdown is persisting here in America, with TSA & Homeland Security not yet fully funded. As I've mentioned before, Congress really should separate the funding of TSA, air traffic controllers, etc. from their usual political squabbles, especially in the current threat environment (...and besides, we don't want passengers having to show up four months early to their flight check-ins on account of growing delays). Politics is unfortunately about compromise, and it's clear that resolution to this stalemate will require a give-and-take from both parties: Republicans should realize that ICE & border patrol, while having effectively deported a number of criminals throughout this administration, cannot continue with the many of the same reckless tactics they engaged in during 2025; and Democrats should be absolutely cognizant of those who seek harm to America, mindful of the fact that it would be irresponsible to leave our nation's security only partially funded at this time.

Since the U.S. & Israeli war with Iran began three weeks ago, from what I counted, there have been attacks against U.S. consulates abroad (fortunately with no lives lost), as well as a mass shooting in Texas, improvised explosive devices thrown in New York by ISIS-inspired teens, an attempted mass shooting at a Virginia university, and a Hezbollah-related individual who rammed into a Jewish synagogue in Michigan. It's true, many of the U.S. attacks are still being officially investigated as to whether or not they should be considered terrorist attacks, but I'm concerned that what I suspected would result from this war is coming to pass as I noted in my previous post here:  "I really hope and pray that this war against Iran hasn’t inadvertently placed a target on the backs of Americans here and abroad."

Over the past several days, I've written & re-written this post a few times in my thoughts, toning it down a bit further with each partial draft. Not because there aren't individuals or actions that need to be called out. But simply because you can sense how apprehensive people have become over where America is right now and where we may be headed. (And yes, the paranoia and racial profiling associated with post-9/11 behavior patterns in the general populace has already begun.) So I'll strive to keep at least this post relatively light.

First of all, I applaud the leadership at Temple Israel in Michigan who have been conducting preparedness scenarios with the local FBI for some time now. While news reports state the attacker died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, it's likely the responsible security measures did save innocent lives that day. Although I only saw a photo of the synagogue in passing, I would recommend that Temple Israel (and other vulnerable religious institutions) might possibly consider a more extensive blockade system to prevent similar future car attacks, as opposed to the few concrete pylons they have in place now. I've written before about hardening churches & synagogues in terms of security, and as I stated then, we obviously don't want our places of worship to become impenetrable fortresses (which could work both positively & negatively), but we must seek to implement procedures & physical impediments to attacks when viable.

I also applaud the brave ROTC cadets at the ODU campus who subdued the incoming attacker, a former National Guardsman who had already been convicted as a terrorist sympathizer in 2016. Which brings me to my next point. The attacker had been sentenced to 11 years in prison and yet he was released 3 years early, in 2024. Then apparently unbeknownst to many, he purchased a gun illegally and proceeded to kill Army instructor Brandon Shah before he was taken down by the cadets. But among my questions is why in the world was that terrorist sympathizer released early?! Reports state that he had taken drug counseling in prison before release. Was that the only prerequisite for his get-out-of-jail free card? If so, why in the world would a drug therapy class be considered adequate when he was imprisoned on charges related to terrorism? And why didn't local authorities keep tabs on that terrorist sympathizer after his early release?

I've written quite a few posts regarding the Parameters of Government and how the local authorities have been conducting apparent surveillance on me for years now. Even today, what sounds like the familiar military surveillance plane started flying overhead after I started posting again (but this time from a more adequate higher elevation), and the military helicopters were buzzing by earlier in the day. Is Pete Hegseth's military that afraid of free speech? Is that why the Pentagon recently demanded that journalists sign off on an agreement that they wouldn't even ask so-called prohibited questions? (Quite interesting. You might have expected different behavior from the military in this administration...) I've long been concerned about the state of local authorities in Virginia (police, FBI, military, etc.), expressing alarm that in their eagerness to surveil & harass "thought offenders" or political dissidents such as myself who call out corruption publicly, that in their corrupt desire to silence free speech, they'll gloss over the activities of actual criminals, resulting in tragedy. Here's an excerpt from an old 2021 post of mine solidifying my concern back then: ( ..the entire post can be found here - https://drawingconclusions.tumblr.com/post/665770884053794816/and-the-moral-of-the-story-is-even-though-ive )

"1) For years now, I’ve warned that tragedy is likely to strike because authorities are focused on the wrong things, and now I’m more than convinced that tragedy will come to America. Not because I want it to, and definitely not because I intend to cause it, but because certain authorities on the local & national level are so possessed with assigning blame to conservatives or people they hate that they’ll blindly miss actual threats to our local & national security. Is it preventable? More than likely it is. But has it now become inevitable, considering how partisan people have become so entrenched in every aspect of our society? That’s a question everyday citizens have to ask of themselves and of their representatives & government authorities.

Wokeness & hateful partisan mindsets have no place in the aforementioned agencies..." - October 22, 2021

For years I've been writing about this, yet most people have ignored it, written it off, or refused to listen, and those with the power to act have done nothing to change the status quo. And now, what many say was a good, honorable soldier has been killed, in part because local authorities insist on surveilling conservatives, independent thinkers, and Christians, but they can't be bothered to keep tabs on terrorist sympathizers such as that attacker. It's absolutely disgraceful.

So the question remains, do people believe the authorities in their cities and regions are fully prepared for whatever terrorist threat or attack may come their way in light of the war with Iran? Or is incompetence & partisan behavior among law enforcement entrenched in far too many locales in America? I truly hope not. It's not too late to get this right.

As for those who are upright in law enforcement who are tasked with the non-stop duty of protecting America in this threat environment, as well as civilians who are having a difficult time dealing with the new stresses of our day and age, I would admonish you to find a legitimate outlet for the pressures that come with your job or your daily routine. Most people aren't accustomed to being on their guard against threats 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and in many respects, being on high alert all the time can ultimately be unhealthy for you. That's why I admonish people to find time to engage in activities such as sports, music, art, & literary ventures. An artistic hobby or even a new exercise regimen can help both your body and mind relax from the constant stress you may be facing.

Surprise of surprises, I actually have availability today, so perhaps it's time to address the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. First of all, condolences to the families and loved ones of the fallen American service members killed in action thus far in the war. Condolences also to the relatives of the innocent civilians among the Arab states killed by Iran's retaliatory drones and missiles. And I also heard that one of the (American or Israeli, I'm not sure) strikes in the initial attack also devastated an Iranian school, killing harmless children. Our hearts also go out to the innocents devastated by this in Iran who had nothing to do with the regime.

The obvious consequences of any war are that noncombatant civilians often pay the greatest price in the conflicts, whether it's through economic difficulties, residential displacement, or loss of life. To be clear, the Ayatollah & his regime have been extremely oppressive towards their own people, with their security forces arresting, raping, & killing thousands of defenseless protesters within their country even within the past few months. And as Ecclesiastes 3:8 (NIV) states, there is "a time for war and a time for peace". However, one of the psalmists lamented in Psalm 120:7 (NIV): "I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war". Of course, that was a different period in history with different circumstances, but it's clear that there will unfortunately always be those who prefer war as the first option in international dealings.

A quick aside here: It seemed fairly apparent from the considerable buildup of U.S. ships & such in the Middle East over the past few weeks that the intention was more than just a display of force to persuade the Iranian envoys to agree to a peace deal. And as a few outlets reported, there was recently a sharp disagreement between artificial intelligence (AI) tech company Anthropic and the Trump administration, with Department of War's Pete Hegseth demanding open-ended use of the technology with no pushback from the company. However, Anthropic did push back, expressing concerns that their AI would potentially be used for domestic mass surveillance programs or as a primary tool in helping to eliminate live targets in military situations. And Hegseth gave a 5pm deadline on February 27 for Anthropic to comply (...which was interestingly just a few hours before the Operation Epic Fury attack against Iran was initiated). Needless to say, President Trump has now banned the federal government from using Anthropic, with a planned phaseout over the next 6 months. I've written almost extensively about the use and dangers of artificial intelligence on my site, so I won't rehash that topic here to such a exhaustive degree. But it concerns me that America and the military are so willing to implement such a flawed technology in a broad capacity, especially in life-or-death situations. And as for the topic of mass domestic surveillance, immediately after I began posting on here today, a large, heavy-engined plane showed up. It was likely a military plane (although I don't usually go outside to check, as I previously stated in my "Parameters of Government" series) considering the large sonic footprint, and this time instead of just flying by like they usually do, it appeared to fly around and around for almost five minutes. So, was that their subtle, yet clear message trying to intimidate me once again? To imply that I should reconsider posting today or that I should stay within the lanes of what the military or the local or federal government would consider "acceptable" free speech? Such funny people in all aspects of government!

You can bet there's already a whole lot of domestic surveillance being conducted by local governments and by the federal government. Whether it's on a "mass" scale remains to be seen. So although as a creative I take issue with most artificial intelligence companies for the way they've trampled on the intellectual property rights of artists, I applaud Anthropic for their decision to abide by their conscience. In this war against Iran, America is trying to portray itself as the side of right and decency, am I correct? (And apparently the powers that be didn't like what I'm posting now, as they've showed up overhead again!...) Yet I wonder if in America's desperate race towards artificial intelligence supremacy we're bound to become more like a surveillance state as found in North Korea or China. I'm concerned with some of the things I'm seeing in this administration (most of which unfortunately aren't usually covered by conservative news media): attempts to discover the identities of individuals behind social media accounts who may complain about the government or are innocently taking photos or video of ICE / border patrol agents; a desire to have tech companies reveal the content of smartphone notifications belonging to users; the FBI seizing all the devices of a journalist with scores of sensitive work-related content when only a small portion containing data of a previously interviewed suspect is likely relevant. I realize many Republicans will likely consider it harmful or even sedition to dare to speak even the semblance of a word against the government or the military in a time of war. But if we don't have the crucial and necessary conversations about preserving freedoms & liberty in America now, at some point we'll be walking on a detrimental path that will be extremely difficult to reverse.

Most people have so many questions about America's attack against Iran, especially when various politicians have given a few differing reasons behind the strikes. And many once-MAGA voters are horrified by the possibility that the administration is even considering deploying U.S. troops on the ground in Iran. It surely wasn't what many were expecting from President Trump. However, I'm not a foreign policy specialist, and I obviously don't have access to the classified info that may have influenced this preemptive attack, so despite my lingering questions, I'll reserve judgment on all this for the time being. However, I will say that clearer messaging from all levels of the Trump administration would go a long way in illuminating the situation. And I really hope all those involved have fully thought through this war and it's potential consequences. Over the weekend a man embarked on a mass shooting spree in Austin, Texas and authorities are investigating it as a possible act of domestic terrorism. It's true the now deceased suspect had a history of mental health issues, but it's also likely he was a sympathizer to Iran, as is evidenced by the content of the sweater and shirt he wore. Some conservatives are vocalizing pre-emptive threats against anyone who would seek to harm Americans in light of this war, but have we forgotten the lessons of the tragedies of 9/11? There are radical extremists in this world who have no qualms about specifically targeting innocent civilians, and in many cases their intent is to die for their twisted cause anyway. So any threats to that effect would likely fall on deaf ears. I really hope and pray that this war against Iran hasn't inadvertently placed a target on the backs of Americans here and abroad.

And I actually have more to say, but I think you've heard enough from me for now until my next and future posts. In the meantime, let's continue to pray for the safety & well-being of America's troops, and for wisdom for all U.S. leaders. Let's also pray that those Americans who are currently stranded in Middle Eastern countries can get out safely and efficiently. In closing, let me remind you of Psalm 46:1-2 (NIV):

"God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea..."

It's been difficult to watch the emotional pleas for the safe return of Nancy Guthrie over the past few days, yet I'm sure this ordeal has been even more excruciating for the Guthrie siblings to live through. In times of human suffering, it doesn't matter what our political affiliations or beliefs may be, and I applaud all those who have stepped in to offer support to this hurting family, irregardless of politics. I also commend Savannah Guthrie and her brother & sister for the loving bond they apparently share with their mother Nancy. In this day and age, people often consider individuals out of the ordinary when they happen to have a close and friendly relationship with their mother or father, but it's clear that the Guthries are an embodiment of the fifth commandment to honor our parents. And may God richly bless you for that.

The past week has been filled with various reports of a few ransom letters, as well as the projected timeline for the kidnapping , and yet there have been no suspects apprehended or even considered up to this point. I understand it's a difficult situation, and in part, the brush and overgrowth of the landscape blocked the views of some surveillance cameras. But over the past few days, I keep asking myself the following questions: Since cell phones constantly ping network towers, was there any unusual or out of the ordinary network traffic around the time Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped that may be attributed to the suspect? And if the kidnapper used a car in the crime, was it a rental car? Were there any rentals partitioned within the state or even in a neighboring state that had an unusual amount of mileage or other suspicious characteristics upon return? Even if the kidnapper used his or her own car, connected devices within a vehicle (...and for certain car brands, the vehicles themselves) register on a network or otherwise leave traceable digital prints. Can any of the tech or vehicle companies confirm whether or not this occurred or whether any site-specific search engine/map requests were conducted during or prior to the hours of the kidnapping?

Some say this crime appeared to be professionally done (...but although I'm far from being a security or crime expert, it seems strange to me that the kidnapper allowed traces of blood to be found onsite, and I also noticed the kidnapper physically removed a home surveillance camera instead of using a less intrusive signal jammer as employed by some of the sophisticated burglars reported to be hitting homes in California in the past few years...) However, it's clear that this kidnapping was planned. Which makes me wonder if there may be any kind of surveillance footage of the suspect surreptitiously casing the Guthrie siblings & their mother in any local restaurants, shops, or other venues they visited. It would be a daunting task to examine the possibly extensive footage from locales that the Guthries frequented over the past few weeks or months, but perhaps that might give a clue to a suspect who may have been studying the family to ascertain the best times to commit the crime.

If I'm getting this right, one report stated that a Nest device at Nancy Guthrie's home detected motion but no video was captured because there was no subscription, possibly depriving law enforcement of key evidence in this case. Unfortunately the trend over the past few years has been for surveillance camera companies to disallow key features unless a consumer signs up for a recurring monthly subscription, which in my opinion is an absolute travesty. Sure, companies have to make a profit, but when did the collection of metadata and/or add-on fees become a priority for so many businesses across various sectors, often at the expense of the privacy & well-being of the consumer?

I realize some of the previous paragraphs may be superfluous, and some of the questions I ask may even seem arrogant, considering there are professional law enforcement and FBI teams working on the case. Again, as I said before, I'm not a security or crime expert, and the little I do know comes from keeping up with tech news & long since choosing to manage my own tech needs as a matter of convenience as an artist. But I think we can all agree that our shared goal is to see Nancy Guthrie returned safe & sound to her family.

(I'm basically out of time, so I'll have to return to this topic at a future date. However, I'll provide a few points before I wrap up...)

I was impressed with Marco Rubio's astute assessment of the vile character of Maduro's regime several months ago, as he correctly pointed out that the dictator had even sent assassins into neighboring South American countries to take out principal leaders. Hardly any stateside news organizations that I know of had pointed out those facts. So let's be abundantly clear - Maduro is not a good guy by any stretch of the imagination. It baffles me how certain people can stand for him as some kind of moral person.

Yet, was it best decision for the U.S. to remove him from power and subsequently leave a very tentative government in place with increasing potential for a dangerous power vacuum? It's tough to tell at this point. For now I'll let legal scholars deal with the relevant Constitutional issues. As a result of the incursion, I can see that Republican war hawks are happy, and the military industrial complex is likely chomping at the bit at the prospect of more wars and foreign engagements. And it's good that the remaining Venezuelan government has already promised to release political prisoners, yet in the days following last week's incursion, their government is already cracking down on journalists and dissidents who supported Maduro's capture. And while we've been told that this wasn't about Venezuela's incredibly vast oil reserves, within the week the U.S. has already claimed control of Venezuela's rich supply.

The news cycle for the latter part of this week has been filled with images and video of the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota. And some of the reporting and the circumstances surrounding the tragedy leave us with so many questions.

To begin with, whatever your beef with ICE agents, border patrol agents, or law enforcement, find a peaceful and constructive way to express your dissatisfaction. Despite what some politicians and talking news heads may imply, it's our right as Americans to disagree and to engage in peaceful protests. I personally take issue with how the Trump administration's immigration crackdowns have been carried out (...which I'll get to in a moment), but the violence and outright death threats against the federal agents involved needs to stop. Have we really become so uncivilized that we can't articulate our discontent without reverting to base behavior and outright anarchy?

And on a similar note, if a law enforcement officer gives you a legitimate order, it really is in your best interest to comply. I'm fully aware of the fact that there are corrupt, abusive, and overly aggressive police & federal agents among the ranks. However, if you choose to resist certain orders, it just gives them more ammunition to arrest you or engage you in a more threatening manner. And besides, if they do violate your Constitutional rights or otherwise harm you, afterwards you can file a major multi-million dollar lawsuit against them and/or the government (..unfortunately, legal action is sometimes the only language certain corrupt departments & municipalities understand). But don't risk your life on account of your refusal to comply.

In this week's shooting in Minneapolis, it's been reported that fed agents stated that Renee had been stalking them/following them all day. Yet in the initial bystander video released this past Wednesday, I noticed the shadows (of the people & structures) on the ground were considerably long, telling me it was fairly early in the morning. When exactly did ICE begin its patrols that day? If the incident in question occurred so early, it seems that doesn't leave much time for ICE to be stalked all day. Another report stated that Renee had just dropped off her child at school. Does that mean she was driving around previously with her child while she supposedly stalked ICE? And this is where body cameras would have also played a crucial role in verifying statements. It was just a bit strange to see the ICE agent holding his own cell phone to take video of the ensuing circumstances. Why in the world isn't every single ICE & border patrol agent outfitted with body cameras? The Trump administration knows people will question and contradict immigration enforcement, so it just boggles my mind why such proactive measures haven't been taken.

Early last year on my own personal website, I briefly touched on the topic of recommended positions for law enforcement when standing in proximity to a vehicle while engaging in a traffic stop. (The studies came from a group of specialists in that field and weren't my own concepts.) Since certain protesters are engaging in tactics involving the use of their cars against law enforcement, perhaps it would be advisable for corresponding agents to consider that organization's recommendations, for their own safety and for the benefit of others.

In closing, over the past several months I've been watching the videos & the news regarding all the immigration arrests and the methods employed. And again, while it's commendable that severe criminal offenders have been apprehended and deported, it's become obvious that the Trump administration is focusing on more than just the worst criminal illegal immigrants or gang members. And let's be honest here - there have been many instances when ICE & border patrol agents have detained or even dragged American citizens out of their cars. Let's call that what it is: racial profiling.

On June 10, 2025, I wrote briefly here about immigration, stating "every aspect of immigration policy, every arrest, every raid has to be carried out with absolute perfection. There can be no room for carelessness or sloppiness in such procedures...". Yet when agents begin to arrest a disabled youth, when agents chase a young woman down the street only to be stopped by her parent informing them of her citizen status, when a federal agent basically assaults & slams to the ground a Hispanic mother deeply concerned about her husband, when even U.S. citizens have to walk around with their passports out of precaution against aggressive ICE & border agents, then you begin to see how people begin to question the tactics the Trump administration has chosen to use to enforce immigration law. (Speaking of which, it would be ideal if Congress, who has the power to write laws, would actually initiate comprehensive immigration reform. But then again, they're probably too busy taking another vacation to actually get that done...)

It's far too soon to delve back into any type of political critiques right now, even though there's much to cover in that regard. (...not surprisingly, cue the usual clueless surveillance plane flying overhead just as I begin write this, LOL.) And not to discount the good in society, but in the past several weeks many have experienced incredible devastation so close to the holidays as a result of tragedies including the antisemitic shooting in Australia, the senseless murders at Brown University & the linked killing of an MIT professor, the tragic loss of the famed NASCAR driver and his family, and countless other losses suffered by many. It's enough to make you wonder what the world is coming to.

Jesus never promised us a pain-free or problem free life this side of heaven (...and any television preacher who tells you otherwise is being far less than forthcoming with you). In fact, in John 16:33b, he clearly said, "In this world you will have trouble..." (NIV). He knew that in our fallen, sin-bent world, we were bound to experience painful heartaches, earth-shattering disappointments, and even unimaginable loss. Unfortunately it's the nature of the world that we as humans have forged for ourselves through our stubborn selfishness, pride, and wreckless disavowal of the good things God offers us. And try as we might through our humanistic efforts to make our society perfect, such an ideal utopia won't come into existence until God brings about a new heaven and a new earth (see Revelation 21:1).

I can't take away your pain and heartache - only God can do that. And I won't promise you that your life here on earth will be a picture-perfect Cinderella story, fit for the contrived showings of a social media feed. But I will admonish you to accept the hope, salvation, and peace that God has waiting for you starting the very moment you let him into your life. It's the kind of peace that endures despite your circumstances, a peace that "transcends all understanding" (Philippians 4:7, NIV). It's the kind of peace that David of the Old Testament found, even though at times he was surrounded by tens of thousands of enemies who sought his life. It's the kind of peace that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had in Daniel 3 when the pagan king threatened to throw them into the fiery furnace unless they bowed to his false idol. These three young men chose to remain faithful to the one true God even if meant certain death for them. It's the kind of peace and courage the apostles displayed even after suffering harassment, imprisonment, and floggings for their beliefs in Acts 5:40-41. Despite the persecution they faced, they came out rejoicing and determined to continue to share the good news & keep the faith.

It seems it doesn't matter who's in power, government shutdowns still occur. And of course, Congress is again taking several days off, while federal workers like air traffic controllers are still unpaid.

I already wrote about this years ago. Congress should change the laws so if there's ever a government shutdown, our elected representatives would be the first ones whose paychecks are withheld. Also, there should be no representatives traveling or gallivanting about on the taxpayers' dime until the deadlock is resolved. And will somebody please make sure a crucial service such as air traffic control is no longer tied to the budget whims of politicians? A preventable tragedy in regard to air travel due to a shutdown has the potential to result in losses exponentially worse than anything we've ever seen.

If you've kept up with Virginia's race for governor, you're already likely familiar with the candidates. And you've likely already heard of how past text messages from Democrat Jay Jones (running for Attorney General) have surfaced, detailing his desire for death and violence against a former Republican and his family. Yet during the small portion of the gubernatorial candidate's debate I watched the other week, Abigail Spanberger couldn't bring herself to call for Jay Jones to drop out of the race. Quite interesting.

Back in August, the Virginia Police Benevolent Association declared their endorsement for Democrat Spanberger. (Absolutely no surprise there! The left-leaning and almost woke tendencies of certain police departments here in Virginia is now an open secret. And over the summer I heard that firefighters have been voting Democrat for decades. Again, no surprise there, considering the behavior of certain firefighters...) According to one report, their reasoning for their support was that Spanberger had voted for pay raises for police (..As if Republican Winsome Earle-Sears wouldn't do the same as Governor). Yet despite the Jay Jones scandal, from what I've heard Virginia Police haven't rescinded their support for Spanberger. In fact, a few days afterward I even saw a commercial expressly confirming the VA Police Benevolent Association's support for Spangberger. Clearly, there's no backing down on their part, even when part of the Democratic ticket has displayed a twisted desire for violence against conservatives.

Listen, it's a free country. People, including police & firefighters, have the liberty to vote for whomever they please. However, it's quite telling when law enforcement & first responders willingly associate with what today's Democratic party has become, with its often silent approval of violence against Republicans and a stubborn desire to disregard the privacy of girls by mandating they share school locker rooms with biological boys. I've been warning for years about how "wokeness" has invaded every aspect of government. I wonder if people will actually begin to listen now.

On a more serious note, shortly after the military was funded in the midst of the current government shutdown, a familiar plane began flying overhead, back and forth every six or seven minutes again (October 14th throughout the afternoon & evening). The engine's sound appeared to be from a large craft, again likely belonging to the armed services. So is this why we fund the military, to conduct suspicious surveillance runs on the populace?

In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's killing, of course there were those who tried to spin the narrative, and that included late night host Jimmy Kimmel. If you recall, his show was temporarily canceled, and CBS's Colbert even said in solidarity, "We are all Jimmy Kimmel". (Hmmm, no comment there...)

I applaud those who showed restraint and respect in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination last month, even if you didn't necessarily agree with everything he said. And yet in the midst of all the noble responses, there have been the most sickening, and even gleeful reactions to the killing of a simple family man who had the audacity to stand up for what he believed in.

My knowledge of history isn't perfect, but I know there have been times when severely cruel regimes have fallen and people have cheered with relief. Or there have been instances when God has intervened in history, sometimes in response to the cries of his people, and dealt a hand of judgment against oppressors (..which God still does, by the way). However, the killing of Charlie Kirk fit into none of these categories. It was an outright assassination by a left-leaning individual in a gay relationship who obviously couldn't stand to hear what Kirk had to say.