Over the last few days:
• Israel struck Iran and Iran struck Israel. Naturally, there are tweets on X weighing in. And there are defenders of Israel who want U.S. involvement and its soldiers to fight. It is, and this is putting it kindly, supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump—MAGA World—who are there for wherever is Trump. Those not in support get to clash with those in support of Israel. The nation’s leaders, and their administrations, have talked for years about going to war against Iran. Of course, that is what this country does—wars—and we will find out what more may come.
• Minnesota politicians targeted for assassination. Two state legislature figures were targeted for assassination. Melissa Hortman, age 55 and DFL leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives, along with her husband Mark, was assassinated in her home. Also targeted for assassination, but having survived, was John Hoffman, DFL, a state senator and age 60, along with his wife Yvette. Their adult daughter, shielded by her mother, was not shot. The suspect, following a weekend manhunt, has been apprehended. He is Vance Luther Boelter, 57.
There likely will be more up-to-date details during the week.
Fallout from last week between U.S. president Donald Trump and Tesla and X owner Elon Musk sparked the above tweet (which has since been deleted but, thankfully, I took a screenshot).
Numerous of the regularly recommended content creators have already commented. I will include videos linked in Comments. But, there should be a response from me with this topic.
I would not surprised if this is true.
I suspect that there is an easier question to ask: “Who isn’t in the Epstein files?”
In 2022, I wrote and posted “Remembering the Children” which was about the “Oakland County Child Killer” case in Oakland County, Michigan.
On the historic timeline, this occurred between February 1976 to March 1977. Some of it coincided with the “Son of Sam” [David Berkowitz] case in New York, New York.
The “Oakland Child Killer” is a serial murder case which has never been solved. Well, not officially. But what also occurred in Michigan, on the west side of these state, at North Fox Island, was the sexual violations of children. Boys. (For “OCCK.” it was two boys and two girls.”)
The person who headed this was Francis Shelden (1928–1996) . He bought North Fox Island.
Shelden was a pedophile. He had a network of other adult men who exploited—and even raped—many of these boys. Joining in this crime, although not named, were other men with wealth and influence.
Sheldon’s Wiki page is here: Wikitia—Francis Duffield Shelden.
I do not want to go into much with that case. Shelden was descended from the 20th governor of Michigan Russell Alger (1836–1907). He fled Michigan, apparently, and the United States—and he avoided arrest—for the remainder of this life. He died in Amsterdam.
The Jeffrey Epstein case reminds me of this. Many in his circle also have wealth, power, and influence. And whether or not that list ever becomes revealed—and it is intended that that will never happen—I cannot be genuinely surprised.
Last week, Glenn Greenwald revealed that he received video which shows him being intimate with another person. Without my knowing anything more specific, and not really wanting to know, I have a couple notes to make which will serve as my response to the very nature of this would-be scandal:
• I do not want to know about anyone’s private life. Meaning: Anything anyone wants to share…that is a willingness of that person to share, say, one thing about himself/herself. But, in general, I do not want to ask anyone private information about himself/herself.
• If someone is being confronted with pictures and/or videos of himself/herself having an intimate connection to someone else, there is one reason why that should be acceptable: That person is cheating on his/her significant other with another person. (That, say, a private investigator has the proof.) Other than that…this says more about the person (or persons) invading the privacy of the one who is/was targeted.
Greenwald’s husband, David Miranda, who was a Brazilian politician and activist, died at age 37 in 2023. Greenwald, 58, is raising their children. That general information, to that extent, is appropriate and satisfying enough. Greenwald’s journalism, and his criticism, is his work.
I respect Glenn Greenwald and wish well for him and his family.
The following is his May 30, 2025 tweet on X.…
This Saturday, May 31, 2025 marks the 25-year anniversary of the premiere of CBS’s Survivor.
This series changed the United States broadcast networks—and other forms of television—with what has been identified by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which administers the primetime Emmys, as Reality–Competition Programming.
Created by Mark Burnett, the series is hosted by Jeff Probst, and casts at least 16 “Castaways” who live on an island, in a real location (filmed on location), in efforts to “Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.”
The first edition of Survivor, which premiered on May 31, 2000, was titled Borneo. (Below picture is of its participating castaways.)
I was late to the series. I started with the second edition, which was broadcast in Spring 2001, titled The Austrian Outback.
Survivor won a top Emmy in 2001. Probst won four Emmys for Outstanding Reality-Competition Host.
I stopped watching Survivor after the Fall 2019 edition included a participant who inappropriately touched at least one woman, and wasn’t timely pulled from the game, but was finally taken out late in the game. That did it for me.
During the time I regularly followed, it was an intriguing concept to have people from different areas of the U.S. live together on an island, struggle, participate in competitions, and strategize to stay in the game to go all the way to the end. And win. That is Survivor.
I have not watched Survivor since 2020.
Respect to all who still enjoy it.
🥂 🎂 Happy 25th Anniversary, Survivor! 🎂🥂
Music legend Stevie Wonder turns 75 on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
He was born May 13, 1950.
Wonder was born in Saginaw, Michigan. (Side note: Given most of the content here is about politics…Saginaw is the county seat and most-populous city in Saginaw County, a state-level bellwether county in bellwether state Michigan.)
My favorite Wonder album is 1976’s Songs in the Key of Life. The LP, one of his three Grammy winners for Album of the Year, includes “As,” “I Wish,” “Isn’t She Lovely,” “Sir Duke,” and “Summer Soft.” And I am partial to “Knocks Me Off My Feet.”
I will post, in the Comments, some music I like from Stevie Wonder.
🎂 Happy Birthday, Stevie Wonder! 🎂
