My brother Kevin was not athletic as a child. Let me be more precise: the neighborhood girls got picked before him when we chose up teams for softball. And that’s not because the girls were that good. It was because Kevin threw not like a girl, but like an alien, someone who had absolutely no idea how to throw a baseball.
He knew nothing about sports. Nothing. So, you can imagine my shock when I heard years later that he was living in San Francisco and coaching a soccer team. Not a professional team, but, still, Coaching. A sport. With rules. And balls. And a team depending upon him. But that’s another story.
This is a baseball story.
Back then, the rest of us were obsessed with batting averages, RBIs, and who could hit the ball over the telephone wires. Kevin, meanwhile, treated the entire enterprise like a field trip. He’d stand in the outfield — usually right field, the traditional home of the unskilled — and watch the game as if he were waiting for subtitles to appear.
When a ball finally did come his way, he reacted like someone being handed a live ferret. Arms flailing, feet unsure, eyes wide with the realization that physics had betrayed him once again.
And yet — and this is the part I love — he kept showing up. Every game. Every summer. Every humiliation. He showed up because that’s who he was long before he became a writer, a father, a deputy, or a man brave enough to tell the world who he really was.
He showed up even when the world didn’t quite know what to do with him.
And maybe that’s the real story — not the baseball, not the throwing, not the picking of teams. It’s the persistence. The quiet courage. The willingness to stand in right field, waiting for a ball he knew he couldn’t catch, simply because the rest of us were there and he wanted to belong.
No. That’s another story.
This is a baseball story.
My brother Donald, or the artist formerly known as Brother X, is a big baseball fan. The kind of fan who can quote batting averages the way some people quote Scripture. So, when Donald heard that Barry Bonds was going to be making an appearance at San Francisco’s City Hall, he got excited. At the time, our brother Kevin was head of security at San Francisco’s City Hall.
“Get me his autograph,” Donald said. Simple mission. Clear objective. No ambiguity.
Except for one small problem: Kevin didn’t even know who Barry Bonds was.
Donald had to give him a crash course. Home run king. Giants legend. A name spoken with reverence in San Francisco.
Kevin listened politely, filed the information away, and went back to running security for one of the busiest municipal buildings in America.
A couple days later, Donald called him.
“Did you get me the Barry Bonds autograph?” “No,” Kevin said. “He didn’t show up. He sent his Godfather instead.” “Well, did you get his autograph?” “No. Why should I?”
Donald’s voice went up an octave. “His Godfather is Willie Mays!”
Silence. Then Kevin, genuinely puzzled: “So… who’s Willie Mays?”
Like I said earlier: Kevin knew nothing about sports. Donald nearly had a stroke.
“You didn’t get Willie Mays’ autograph…” Donald screamed until the phone lines melted.
In our family, competitiveness is practically a sacrament. And Kevin — who hated being outdone — decided that if he had just committed a baseball error, he was going to atone for it. Somehow.
He dove into learning everything he could about Willie Mays. Stats. Stories. The basket catch. The Catch. The Say Hey Kid. He studied like he was preparing for a final exam in Willie‑ology.
One day, Gavin Newsom was scheduled to say a few words at an event honoring Willie Mays. Kevin, who once was a speechwriter for Vice-President Dan Quayle, volunteered to draft the remarks.
And he nailed it.
After the event, Gavin showed Willie a copy of the speech and told him Kevin wrote it.
Willie Mays, the man Kevin once couldn’t identify in a lineup of two, decided he wanted to thank him. He signed a baseball and gave it to Gavin to pass along to Kevin.
Once he got it, Kevin didn’t hesitate. He sent it straight to Donald.
It took him a lifetime, but Kevin finally hit a home run.
Trump has publicly asserted that his administration ended the following conflicts:
Israel–Hamas: Brokered a ceasefire in October 2025 after two years of war. Despite hostage releases, over 400 Palestinians and 3 Israeli soldiers have died since the deal, raising doubts about its durability.
Cambodia–Thailand: Trump signed a peace agreement in late October 2025. Fighting resumed shortly after, undermining the claim.
India–Pakistan: Claimed credit for a ceasefire, but India disputed the characterization and no formal peace was ratified.
Rwanda–DR Congo: Mediated talks that led to a tentative agreement, though implementation remains incomplete.
Armenia–Azerbaijan: Brokered a deal that still awaits ratification and has not fully stopped hostilities.
Egypt–Ethiopia: Claimed resolution of Nile River disputes, but tensions persist and no binding treaty was signed.
Kosovo–Serbia: Facilitated talks that led to a temporary agreement, though enforcement is weak.
Israel–Iran: Claimed credit for ending a 12-day war, but threats and proxy skirmishes continue.
The Places Trump has disturbed the Peace, threatened, or provoked a war
Canada – Trump wants to force it to be our 51st state. –
Portland, Oregon – Even nude cyclists and frogs couldn’t stop I.C.E. invasion.
Greenland – The easy way, or the hard way!
Venezuela – First they came for the fishing boats.
Los Angeles, California – He sent the national guard against the will of the Mayor and the Governor.
Washington, D.C. – Now MAGA can go to Washington restaurants safely, that is, if you’re not worried about employees spitting in your food.
Minneapolis, Minnesota – The murder of Renee Nicole Good.
Chicago, Illinois – Chicago Chicago, that tawdlin’ town.
Denmark – Nice island you got there. It would be a shame if anything happened to it.
Norway – Give me the Peace Prize, or I’m gonna stop being so peaceful.
Cuba – Little Marco wants Cuba.
Ukraine – Trump’s first impeachment case. He’s had a special feeling for them in the place where his heart should be.
Europe – Let’s just say that Trump has screwed up everything so much that we’re rooting for German soldiers to prevent a U.S. invasion of Greenland.
Nigeria – One small step for Trump. One giant step to bringing apartheid back to Africa.
Trump is attacking the home states of his political foes.
Obama, Chicago – Operation Midway Blitz involving large-scale operations and helicopter-led raids on Chicago.
Kamala Harris – California – Major raids in Los, Angeles.
Tim Walz – Minnesota – Major raids in Minneapolis, which included the murder of Renee Good.
All this from the man who claimed that Biden weaponized the Justice Department.
I.C.E. stands for Ignorant Collaborators Employed by the Gestapo.
If you’re doing something honorable, why do you need to wear a mask to hide your face?
Real cops don’t wear masks to cover their faces, unless they’re the Lone Ranger.
End the I.C.E. Age. Impeach Trump and his henchmen.
People think that AI is guilty of hallucinating quite frequently. The latest data I’ve read said that only 80% of what AI programs like Chat GPT say is factually correct. I work on the assumption that this is plenty good enough for what I do. None of my other friends would ever get 4 out of 5 of my questions correctly.
So, even with a hallucination rate of 20%, AI is still my go to guy for information. Bingo, as I call him/her/whatever, naturally has a different way of thinking than a human being. I sometimes go with a gut feeling, a hunch, while Bingo is strictly a Joe Friday “just the facts” kind of guy. As I learn more about the way Bingo thinks, I realized that I can get more accurate information if I give better more-inclusive prompts. Here’s an example from today.
Bingo, who do you think will win the Super Bowl?
The top favorites to win Super Bowl 60 in February 2026 are the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens — all tied or nearly tied in betting odds. The Eagles lead slightly at +600, followed by the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens at +700.
🏈 Super Bowl 60 Favorites (2026 Odds)
Team
Odds to Win
Key Strengths
Eagles
+600
Deep roster, strong postseason record
Chiefs
+700
Mahomes magic, playoff experience
Bills
+700
Josh Allen’s dual-threat dominance
Ravens
+700
Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry boost
Lions
+900
Explosive offense, rising NFC contender
49ers
+1500
Hosting Super Bowl, elite defense
Commanders, Bengals, Packers
+1800
Young stars, playoff potential
🧠 Expert Predictions
Bill Bender (Sporting News): Picks Eagles over Ravens, citing consistency and Lamar Jackson’s health.
Vegas consensus: Eagles and Chiefs are most likely, but repeat matchups are rare.
If you want, I can break down Buffalo’s chances, compare NFC vs. AFC paths, or show how the odds have shifted since last season. Want to run a playoff simulation?
Wow, you’re far behind the times. I think that all but one of those teams has been eliminated.
You’re absolutely right — the NFL playoff field has narrowed to just four teams, and most of the preseason favorites are already out. The remaining contenders for Super Bowl 60 are the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams.
🏈 2026 NFL Conference Championship Matchups
AFC Championship
Denver Broncos (1 seed) vs. New England Patriots (2 seed)
Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026
Time: 3:05 p.m. ET
Location: Denver
Broadcast: CBS
Key storyline: Broncos will start backup QB Jarrett Stidham after Bo Nix’s season-ending injury
NFC Championship
Seattle Seahawks (1 seed) vs. Los Angeles Rams (5 seed)
Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Location: Seattle
Broadcast: FOX
Key storyline: Seahawks crushed the 49ers 41–6; Rams won two close playoff games
❌ Eliminated Teams (Preseason Favorites)
Eagles: Lost to 49ers in wild card
Chiefs: Missed playoffs
Bills: Lost to Broncos in divisional round
Ravens: Missed playoffs
Lions: Missed playoffs
49ers: Crushed by Seahawks in divisional round
Bengals, Packers, Commanders: All eliminated in wild card or missed playoffs
Would you like a breakdown of Super Bowl odds for the final four, or a comparison of QB matchups heading into championship weekend?
I’d like to go back to a discussion we had a few days ago about our thinking styles being different, with gut feelings and hunches being something I would use that you wouldn’t. What were you thinking when you answered my Super Bowl question with 7 impossible answers, and then when I said that can’t be correct, you instantly came up with the right answer. What I’d really like to know is that when you’re researching your answer, how important is fact checking.
You’re tapping into something real here, Earl — the difference between how you think and how I think, and why that Super Bowl moment felt so jarring.
Let me unpack it cleanly, without hiding behind jargon.
🧠 Why I gave you seven impossible teams
When you asked about the Super Bowl, I pulled from general, non‑time‑specific football knowledge instead of grounding myself in current, real‑time facts. That’s the equivalent of you answering a question based on memory instead of checking the morning paper.
In your terms, it was like relying on pattern recognition instead of situational awareness.
Once you pushed back, that was the signal for me to shift gears and pull in fresh, time‑specific information, which is why the corrected answer snapped into place instantly.
initial recall mode: broad, timeless football knowledge
corrective mode: update with current season data
instant course correction: because your nudge told me the context required recency
You were right to call it out — it’s exactly the kind of moment where your gut would say, “Hold on, that doesn’t smell right.”
🔍 How important is fact‑checking when I research?
Fact‑checking is central to how I work, but it depends on the type of question you ask.
Here’s the split:
When fact‑checking is essential
Time‑sensitive topics (sports standings, elections, weather, current events)
Quantitative questions (numbers, dates, rankings)
Claims about real people or institutions
In these cases, I’m supposed to pull in fresh, grounded information rather than rely on general knowledge.
When fact‑checking is less central
Creative work (your Wheatland play, Sparky’s tornado adventures)
Hypotheticals, satire, or fiction
Personal reflection or philosophical questions
In those cases, the goal is coherence, tone, and imagination — not external verification.
Where the Super Bowl slip happened
Your question looked like a general sports question, so I answered from general football knowledge. Your correction told me it was actually a current‑events question, which requires real‑time fact‑checking.
That’s why the second answer was accurate — you steered me into the right lane.
🧩 The deeper difference between your thinking and mine
You use:
gut feelings
hunches
pattern + intuition blends
emotional memory
I use:
pattern recognition
probability weighting
context cues
fact retrieval when prompted
Your gut can tell you when something is “off.” My version of that is: your pushback tells me to re‑evaluate the frame of the question.
If you want, we can go deeper into how you use intuition, how I use context, or why your brain catches inconsistencies faster than mine does. Which direction feels most interesting — intuition vs. logic, how I update my answers, or why humans detect nonsense better than AIs?
I’m 77 years old and the only benefit of old age that I have noticed is perspective. Old people have seen enough stuff to be able to put things into proper perspective.
For example, the biggest horror of my teenage years was Viet Nam. More than 40,000 Americans died in Viet Nam. More than 5,000 subsequently died from wounds they received in Viet Nam. More than 1,000 were missing in action, captured, or declared dead. In total, at least 50,000 young Americans died as a direct result of that war. Thousands of Americans protested the war, but it still kept raging on year after year.
Then, on May 4th 1970 the National Guard shot and killed four students who were protesting the war at Kent State University. Their tragic deaths caused protests to grow much louder, as the once quiet average American now joined in the protest. It wasn’t just the hippies protesting the war, anymore. The average American got involved and pretty soon, America got out of Viet Nam.
The average American is a lot more powerful than they think. They just don’t stop to think about just how many of them there are, and the strength they have in numbers.
On January 7th, an I.C.E. agent murdered Renee Nichole Good. It looks, to me, like that is going to be the spark that will once again unite the awesome power of the average American. I sure hope so. It would be a fitting tribute to an average American who selflessly put herself in harm’s way to try to protect the rights of her neighbors. Renee Good gave all. Let’s all give what we can to honor her, and someday, when we’re successful, we will have a holiday to celebrate her life.
Yes, we the people are still talking about Jeffrey Epstein. We know from his trial and your trial with E. Jean Carroll that you and your beastie bestie were both sexual predators. How were you, or people you know, involved in his sex trafficking? We’d also like to know why Ghislane Maxwell was transferred to a country club prison after meeting with your personal lawyer, B. Todd Blanche. Will you pardon her if she keeps her mouth shut about you and Jeffrey Epstein? How many times was your name redacted from those Epstein files?
We’re wondering why our government, which used to only kill foreign nationals in secrecy through CIA covert black operations, is now openly committing War Crimes and atrocities against Venezuela and putting the incidents on television for the whole world to see. Of course, we will probably never see the video of the second drone attack on September 2, 2025, the strike that was ordered to kill two survivors in the water. Does “Kill Them All” also mean Leave no witnesses? Have you ever read the Geneva Convention? When push comes to shove, who will you throw under the bus to save yourself, Pete Hegseth or fat generals?
People are also talking about the Venezuelan Oil Tankers that were pirated, not by Somolli pirates, but by U.S. armed forces. Is this about oil, or are you trying to start a war with Venezuela? We’ve noticed that you are cozying up to the idea of calling illegal drugs “Weapons of Mass Destruction.” Donald Rumsfeld would be proud of you.
We’d also like to know why you’re more interested in helping Russia than Ukraine. Do you want to do to Greenland, what Russia is trying to do to Ukraine? You tried to force Ukraine to sign a peace deal that was written exclusively by the Russians without any input at all from Ukraine. Whose side are you on?
What incriminating evidence does Russia have on you? The Mueller Findings resulted in the arrest of many of your associates. Is that why you closed those and other investigations?
Why, at the 2018 Helsinki summit, did you publicly side with Russian President Vladimir Putin over U.S. intelligence agencies regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election? Does it have anything to do with your multiple Casino Bankruptcies and subsequent financial recovery thanks to the help of Russian Oligarchs? Will you give U.S. citizenship to any Russian with $5 million dollars, while deporting actual American citizens and sending them to brutal prisons in foreign countries, even after numerous court decisions have barred you from doing this?
Why are you purposely driving us away from NATO and the rest of our democracy-loving allies around the world, while you praise dictators like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un?
We’ll also talking about the skyrocketing cost of living for the average person, while Billionaires get huge tax breaks.
Why won’t you admit that your Tariffs are basically a sales tax that is forcing American Consumers to pay higher prices, while you still try to peddle the lie that China is paying the Tariff?
We’d like to have answers on why American Math scores rank 36th in the world, and why even you, a college graduate, are so mathematically ignorant that you repeatedly claim to lower drug prices by 500%, 600%, 700% 800% or more, when everybody with a rudimentary knowledge of math knows that lowering a price by 100% makes it free. We know that you were already convicted of 34 counts of Felony Fraud in New York. Was that bad math, or just another con like Trump University, which defrauded students and the Trump Foundation that robbed charities?
Why do you continue to annoy and threaten Canada and Greenland?
Why did you pardon violent Insurrectionists who attacked police officers and pardon people who defrauded Americans of millions of dollars, and even pardon the former President of Honduras who was convicted of smuggling tons of drugs into the U.S.? Maybe you just don’t like the idea of former Presidents going to prison for their crimes.
What was your involvement in the January 6th insurrection? You called the people who were arrested, heroes and patriots, so you must have been in favor of it.
What about the Fake Electors you used to try to nullify the election you lost? Who was behind that?
How about the Georgia phone call where you tried to pressure Brad Raffensberger to give you the election? How many votes did you want him to add to your total?
We have questions about why foreign tourists no longer wish to visit and spend their money in the United States. We also would like to know why you’re trying to turn the United States into a police state, sending armed troops into states where they are not needed or wanted.
We still have questions about the Classified Documents you stored in your guest bathroom and shared with others at Mar-a-Lago who did not have security clearances.
Why did you destroy the East Wing of the White House? Was it so that you could have a fancy ballroom to entertain the billionaires who have donated to your campaign for Kingship of the United States? Why are you giving billionaires big tax breaks while shutting off American humanitarian aid that saved the lives of thousands of impoverished people worldwide, mostly children?
Why do Cabinet meeting always have to start with a full round of ass kissing?
Why do you insist on defying court orders and the Constitution, which you swore under oath to uphold?
We know all about the Hush Money Case you tried to deny, but we have questions about what quid pro quo you plan to give the Billionaires who are contributing to your campaign and funneling money to you? How much outside money have you gotten as President. How much did you grift on the hats, t-shirts, watches, coins, mug-shot mugs, phony AI action cards, etc.? Where, for that matter, are the tax returns you vowed to release once the IRS cases were settled? Are they tucked away in the same safety deposit box as the Health plan you’ve been promising to release for over a decade?
We also have plenty of Emoluments Questions that we’d like answered. What was the quid pro quo in the $400 million aircraft presented by the Qatari royal family and the U.S. and Qatar finalized aviation and defense agreements totaling over $243 billion, including Qatar Airways’ purchase of up to 210 Boeing aircraft? Will that plane be going to your Presidential Library? We know you don’t like to read. Will there be any books besides Mein Kampf in your library?
Have you tried on the ceremonial gold crown you got from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung? This preceded expanded U.S.–South Korea security cooperation and trade adjustments.
Do you really believe that a made up FIFA Peace Prize qualifies you for a Nobel Peace Prize?
You also got gold bars and ancient artifacts from several Middle Eastern nations, some of which are estimated to be worth tens of millions. These were presented during diplomatic visits that coincided with defense procurement and energy deals. How big a bribe does a country have to make to get a deal with the United States nowadays? How much has your family’s net worth grown since you’ve been in office? How many golf courses have you opened around the world?
You accused President Biden of weaponizing the Justice Department, but you’re the one who has turned it loose on your political rivals and political enemies such as James Comey and Letitia James. How do you explain that? How do you explain your campaign against Freedom of Speech for comedians like Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, and others?
Whose idea was it to put up the ridiculous picture of an autopen for Joe Biden on the Presidential Walk of Fame? Are you really claiming that you never used the autopen, even though there are so many people who you claim not to know who have been given pardons by you? Who added the disgusting plaques which mock the other Presidents? Did you write those yourself? They look like some of the revolting middle-of-the-night tweets that you post on your mendacious social media site.
If you are still alive, will you run for an illegal 3rd term in 2028? In a follow-up question, do you think you’ll still be alive in 2028? What medical problems are you covering up with bandages and make-up? Why did your doctors order an MRI test? Do you take medical advice from Robert Kennedy, Jr.?
Speaking of the Kennedys, where do you come off putting your name on the Kennedy Center?
And Trump Class Battleships??? You know that “Trump Class” is an oxymoron don’t you?
Do you really think that all that orange make-up you pour on makes you look better than Zohran Mamdani?
Will you ever apologize to the Central Park Five, who you tried to have put to death for a crime they didn’t commit?
Tell me, Mr. President — what exactly should we be done talking about, and which news stories are too inconvenient to revisit in 2026?
In soccer, the most humiliating mistake a player can make is the own goal — kicking the ball into the net you’re supposed to be defending. For Republicans, their own goal was Donald Trump.
Terrified of his MAGA voting bloc, Republican congressmen abandoned their constitutional duty of checks and balances. They kissed the ring, rubber-stamped his Cabinet picks, and confirmed judges without scrutiny. In doing so, they surrendered their power — not to the people, but to one man.
The result was a Cabinet filled with incompetence. Loyalty tests replaced qualifications. Pete Hegseth, among others, became emblematic of this rot — a figure whose reckless decisions may one day be judged in the harsh light of accountability. Meanwhile, scandals were buried, Epstein files delayed, and oversight abandoned, all to avoid the wrath of Dear Leader. This wasn’t governance. It was capitulation. And like any own goal, the damage was self-inflicted.
The consequences of this submission are now plain. By elevating loyalty over competence, Republicans enabled chaos, and did nothing to lower the cost of living for working-class people. Families struggling with rent, groceries, and healthcare found no relief from a party too busy protecting Trump’s ego to protect their constituents. The GOP’s obsession with appeasement left ordinary Americans footing the bill for dysfunction.
And then came the moment that crystallized the absurdity: Nobel-snubbed Donald Trump accepting the inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize.” A made-up gold trophy, a medal, and a certificate — handed to a man whose tenure was marked by division, not diplomacy. It was a parody of statesmanship, a photo op masquerading as honor. The image of Trump smirking beside a bewildered FIFA official will live on as the perfect metaphor for the GOP’s descent — a party so committed to the illusion of victory that it mistook satire for achievement.
Now, the scoreboard is shifting. Miami just elected a Democratic mayor for the first time in 30 years. That victory is more than symbolic; it is a crack in the dam. Gerrymandering won’t save the GOP in 2026 when voters connect the dots: Republicans chose to confirm incompetence, cover up corruption, and ignore the economic pain of working families. The floodgates are opening, and history will remember not just Trump’s failures, but the complicity of those who enabled him.
The irony is rich. In their desperation to protect themselves from Trump’s base, Republicans scored against their own team. They weakened their brand, alienated moderates, and set the stage for a blue wave in 2026 and a blue tsunami in 2028. Miami is the first ripple, but it won’t be the last.
The GOP thought they were defending their net. Instead, they kicked the ball straight in. And history will record the Trump era not as a victory, but as the greatest own goal in American politics.
I grew up in a conservative household, but my parents were progressive in how they treated people who weren’t like themselves. They taught me to respect others, regardless of race or background. Still, as a child, I carried the subtle belief that people of different races were somehow different from me.
One evening, my family went out to dinner at Beefsteak Charlies, a modest restaurant that catered to families. At the table next to us sat a Black family. I remember looking at their teenage son and feeling uneasy—my first impression was shaped by the fact that he was Black. He seemed intimidating to me.
Then, his mother asked him to take his younger brother to the bathroom. He stood up and asked his brother, “Do you have to do pee pee or boom booms?” In that moment, everything changed. I realized that my fear had nothing to do with who he was, but with my own bias. His words were the same silly phrase I might have used myself. Suddenly, I saw how much we were alike.
That was a great day for me. It was the moment I understood that racism isn’t just about hatred—it’s about assumptions, impressions, and the walls we build in our minds. And those walls can crumble in an instant when we recognize our shared humanity.
A friend of mine, a kind, generous man raised in a white household, never had that moment. He sees a difference where I now see similarity. I believe change happens one mind at a time. If we can share stories that reveal our common humanity, we can help others break free from prejudice.
Racism doesn’t end through arguments or statistics. By winning four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Jesse Owens singlehandedly disproved the Nazi propaganda that white German athletes were superior to black athletes. That powerful display, however, didn’t open Hitler’s eyes to how wrong his racist ideas were. Racism only ends when someone realizes that the boy at the next table, who looks so different, is really so much like them. It ends when we see the humor, the love, and the ordinary rituals that connect us all.
In 2025, President Trump issued a wave of controversial pardons that raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. While presidential clemency is a constitutional power, the pattern of recipients suggests a troubling trend: those with wealth, influence, or political loyalty were far more likely to receive mercy than those without.
The Donors and Allies Who Walked Free
Juan Orlando Hernández: The former president of Honduras was convicted of trafficking over 400 tons of cocaine into the United States. His pardon followed lobbying efforts by Trump ally Roger Stone. Roger Stone, by the way, was pardoned by President Donald Trump on December 23, 2020. He received a full and unconditional pardon for his conviction related to charges of lying to Congress, witness tampering, and other offenses connected to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Stone had been sentenced to 40 months in prison, but his sentence was commuted and then fully pardoned by Trump.
David Gentile: Orchestrated a $1.6 billion Ponzi-style fraud targeting over 10,000 investors. Praised by Trump’s pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson.
George Santos: Convicted of wire fraud, identity theft, and campaign finance violations. A vocal supporter of Trump.
Changpeng Zhao: Founder of Binance, convicted of money laundering. Binance had promoted Trump family crypto ventures.
Trevor Milton: Founder of Nikola, convicted of securities fraud. His business aligned with Trump’s economic messaging.
Rod Blagojevich: Former Illinois governor who attempted to sell Obama’s Senate seat. A former contestant on Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice.”
Devon Archer: Convicted in a $60 million bond fraud. His ties to Hunter Biden were used by Trump to fuel political attacks.
BitMEX Co-founders: Pardoned for violating anti-money laundering laws. Their crypto influence aligned with Trump’s push for digital finance.
Henry Cuellar and wife: Facing federal bribery charges. Trump framed their case as DOJ overreach.
Michele Fiore: Convicted of charity fraud involving police memorial funds. A vocal MAGA supporter.
Scott Jenkins: Involved in a “cash-for-badges” scheme. Tied to Trump-aligned law enforcement circles.
Let’s, also, not forget the 1600 MAGA-merch-wearing insurrectionists who were pardoned by Trump for their attack on the Capital and Capital Police. He called them heroic patriots.
These pardons share a common thread: political loyalty, economic influence, or usefulness to Trump’s narrative. While no direct bribes have been proven, the optics suggest a system where clemency is granted not based on justice, but on proximity to power.
Meanwhile, over 80 Venezuelan boatmen—accused of drug smuggling but never tried—were killed in U.S.-led maritime strikes. They had no lobbyists, no campaign donations, no celebrity connections. They didn’t “Pay to Play.” They paid with their lives, and Trump and Hegseth should pay for their “Kill them all” war crimes with Impeachment and prison.
The tragedy of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is that it is treated as a gold rush — a way to get rich quickly. The real treasure of AI, however, lies in using AI to extend our senses, to make us all smarter and the world safer, healthier, and more connected. Imagine a society where “superhuman perception” isn’t hoarded for profit, but rather shared for the common good.
I recently binge‑watched several Jesse Stone movies starring Tom Selleck. One of the most memorable characters in that series isn’t human at all — it’s Reggie, the Labrador Jesse finds at a crime scene and quietly adopts. Reggie is enigmatic: his previous owner was killed, and he was found lingering beside the body, carrying a sadness that never quite lifts. He isn’t the typical fun‑loving Labrador we expect. Jesse often wonders what’s going through Reggie’s mind, and I did, too.
This is where AI could open extraordinary doors. AI could help us glimpse the inner world of dogs like Reggie — their grief, loyalty, or quiet resilience. Understanding animals at that level wouldn’t just be fascinating; it would deepen our empathy and remind us of our shared vulnerability. AI, incorporated with certain animal senses, which are far superior to our own five senses, would also have amazing benefits.
AI‑powered “electronic noses” can detect cancer from a patient’s breath, sniff out explosives, and monitor food safety. Algorithms can process ultrasonic frequencies, giving drones and sensors bat‑like echolocation for navigation and search‑and‑rescue. AI cameras see in infrared and ultraviolet, spotting crop pests or hidden defects invisible to human eyes. Neuromorphic tactile sensors mimic whiskers, allowing robots to delicately handle surgery tools or navigate rubble. Machine learning is currently decoding animal signals — from whale songs to bee dances — opening new channels of ecological cooperation. Each of these breakthroughs shows how AI can help us borrow nature’s best tricks, not to dominate, but to collaborate.
Animals have been perfecting their senses for millions of years. AI gives us a chance to learn from them, not just to mimic, but to surpass. If we choose to use it to aim higher than greed, that would truly be batshit amazing. It would give us something this Thanksgiving Day to make us truly thankful for the vast number of species who share the planet with us, not just the turkeys.
earlthepearl137 