R A I D E R L E G E N D
"The Dreyfus Affair: A Lesson for Our Time," presented by Joseph Gal, PhD, MS
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SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Capital One Financial (COF.N)
Capital One says it closed Trump Organization's accounts after anti-money laundering probe | Reuters
And here we are as American citizens 2026, watching helplessly as a government we once suspected of corrupt, greedy, unfair practices now flaunt their disregard for rule of law in plain sight for all to see. Democratic foreign governments understood early the "Quid pro quo" policies being pushed to do business in America and have taken steps to offset any losses.
Meanwhile, American citizens are left feeling the squeeze not only financially, but in their all-around health, as well as the health of the country.
- Because of an underlying propensity to be greedy, and because the human condition seeks advantage, there is no shortage of corruption — and its pernicious consequences — in the contemporary universe. But no political jurisdiction can function on behalf of its citizens and stakeholders if its leaders and middle managers are focused on private gain rather than public enrichment. Instead, bridges collapse, roads crumble, food is tainted, organs are peddled for profit, police self-enrich at roadblocks, marriage and birth certificates become costly, and the very fundamentals of a safe and secure life are compromised.
The Baleful Consequences of Corruption | The MIT Press Reader
And yet we still see those corrupt ones in high government positions continue to lie, excuse, and defer in order to avoid accountability for war, disease, food & fuel prices, unconstitutional/illegal federal job cuts, Immigration and Customs Enforcement killings, and the list goes on growing by the day. We must continue to keep a light on the truth while this unwelcome darkness fueled by greed passes through. The world is watching, and I'd like to believe most are keeping us in prayer.
United Nations | Peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet
In a Mildly Corrupt Regime, Government by the People Undermines Government of and for the People
Frederick Douglas (Abolitionist)
The following is an excerpt from his August 3, 1857, speech at Canandaigua, New York.
Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.
This struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, and it may be both moral and physical, but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.
Find out just what any people will quietly submit to, and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.
"I Wish My Brother George Was Here"
Either former disgraced senator George Santos is trying to fake his way back into the Senate as Missing Mitch, or Republicans have found their ideal replacement for the former senate majority leader. Either way, it is a funny, eye-catching meme.
Kentucky: What happens if Senator Mitch McConnell cannot finish his term
George Santos betting activity on Kalshi flagged to DOJ, sources say
"Invictus" by William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
– William Ernest Henley, 1875
Marc Sims - Bible, theology, culture, etc.
One of the most popular poems in the West today (particularly the last two lines), William Ernest Henley’s Invictus is a kind of reverie and praise of the rugged individual who refuses to let the circumstances of life crush them.
From the age of 12 Henley had tuberculosis of the bone and suffered tremendously, eventually resulting in his left leg being amputated when he was 17. He spent the remainder of his life in and out of hospitals, under the constant threat of having his other leg amputated, and eventually died from the illness at the age of 53. As an avowed atheist the only solace and strength Henley could look to for comfort amidst a life of suffering was within himself. At the age of 27, while Henley was laid up in a hospital, he wrote Invictus, latin for “unconquerable.” It has become well known, along with Rudyard Kipling’s If, as the quintessential picture of the stoic manly virtue of Victorian England.
The poem’s influence has been considerable. Nelson Mandela famously recited this poem while in prison, looking to it as a beacon of hope. It was also the last words of Timothy McVeigh before he received a lethal injection after killing 168 people in the Oklahoma City bombing. For good and ill, the “unconquerable soul” of Henley has resonated with many.
Better to Reign in Hell
Each of the four verses strikes a note of defiance. The only nod Henley gives to a power above him is a reference to “whatever gods may be” who give to him his “unconquerable soul.” The rest of the poem positions himself in active resistance not only to the circumstances of his life, but to any kind of higher power over him, whether that be chance (verse 2), death (verse 3), or the Christian God (verse 4). In each verse he is beset by darkness, bludgeoning, horrors, and punishments, yet stands unafraid and undaunted: Invictus.
The last verse in particular is a scandalous slap in the face of Christianity. Henley rejected belief in God, but even if the Christian God exists it matters not. The “straight gate” is an allusion to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in threat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it,” (Matt 7:13-14, KJV). To reject the narrow path of Christ is to plunge yourself into destruction and judgment. But Henley, so to speak, cries out: bring it on. The “scroll” charged with punishments is likely a reference to the book of judgment in Revelation 20:11-15. Henley is not intimidated by threat of punishment or judgment, for he is the captain and master of his fate, not an Eternal Judge. In other words, he would rather take the punishments of the scroll and maintain his autonomy and control, then become submissive and compliant. It reminds one of Satan’s confession in Milton’s Paradise Lost: “Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.”
Illusory Independence
While there is something commendable about a kind of courage that is willing to face down overwhelming odds, the kind of independence and autonomy Henley portrays in Invictus is imaginary, dangerous, and exhausting.
It is imaginary because no one is able to defy the circumstances of life. We do have some power to choose how we respond to the events in life, but no one is the master of their fate. We have no control over what happens to us, what other people will do, or the situations which providence finds us. I did not choose the family I was born into, when I was born, my genetic makeup, or what is happening in the world around me. Further, while Henley purports to say that it “matters not how strait the gate / how charged with punishments the scroll” at judgment day, it does matter. Henley’s hubris is staggering. At the last day he will not be defiantly standing against the God of the universe saying: I don’t care, bring it on. No, he will be on his face confessing that Christ is the Master and Captain (Phil 2:10-11) before begging the mountains to fall upon him (Rev 6:15-17).
It is dangerous because it removes any authority from outside or above the individual and places the authority within, I am the captain of my soul. Some people look within and find virtue (Mandela), and others find ugliness (McVeigh). But if the heavens above and circumstance around us cannot bow our heads, then what will? When McVeigh killed 168 people, he saw himself as the “master of his fate” and “captain of his soul”–he saw himself as the hero, defiant, and undaunted. And, since the worldview of Invictus loads the individual with authority, who are we to say otherwise? That is dangerous.
Lastly, it is exhausting because it forces you to become your own savior. You cannot look outside of yourself for strength or help. It is you against the world, against the heavens, against death. And that is a heavy burden. What if death approaches and you do not find yourself fitting the 27-year-old’s description of being “unafraid”? Too bad. You have no one and nothing else to help you.
Dorothy Day, the 20th century Catholic worker, wrote a poem in response to this worldview fittingly titled Conquered:
Out of the light that dazzles me,
Bright as the sun from pole to pole,
I thank the God I know to be,
For Christ – the Conqueror of my soul.
Since His the sway of circumstance,
I would not wince nor cry aloud.
Under the rule which men call chance,
My head, with joy, is humbly bowed.
Beyond this place of sin and tears,
That Life with Him and His the Aid,
That, spite the menace of the years,
Keeps, and will keep me unafraid.
I have no fear though straight the gate:
He cleared from punishment the scroll.
Christ is the Master of my fate!
Christ is the Captain of my soul!
Dorothy Day (November 8, 1897 – November 29, 1980) was an American journalist, social activist and anarchist who, after a bohemian youth, became a Catholic without abandoning her social activism. She was perhaps the best-known political radical among American Catholics.
Journey to Sainthood: Dorothy Day
Lovely comic depiction of "Invictus" by Sir William Ernest Henley. : r/Poetry
Buster Posey seems to have his mind made up on Tony Vitello's future with SF Giants
After watching yet another Giants late inning give away moments ago, I am convinced that rookie MLB Manager Tony Vitello is still learning how to manage games in the big leagues. While he is trying to figure it all out (lineup, opposition, strategy, and key moments in a game) this battling Giants team appears to be a well-built ship with an inexperienced captain at the helm.
Sure, hitters and pitchers had a challenging first half. But watching pitching ace Logan Webb give up a tying three-run homerun in the bottom of the 7th inning with two outs against the Mariners proved to me the captain is still sleep/inexperienced at the wheel. Webb clearly struggled while trying to reestablish his dominance after a hit-by-pitch and a walk. There was no mound visit to check on Webb or just give him a break at 80+ pitches. Experience, just from the first half failures, dictates something be done BEFORE the opposition jumps on you.
But what do I know, I've never played or managed in an MLB game. What I do see while sitting back watching my flat screen is a repetitive pattern where the Giants dominate early then "Things Fall Apart."
And here we are again. Seattle Mariners Pitcher Andres Munoz just sat down three giants with two looking strike outs and one ground ball. He did it on nine pitches averaging 98 mph (five of them 100 or 101). Things have fallen apart!
Mariners are batting in the bottom of the ninth inning. If the Giants are lucky, they'll get it into extra innings. So, it has come to wishing this team luck when trying to close out or finish off an opponent. The Giants team that won three world series in the 2010's were torturous to watch. This 2026 team has clearly given new meaning to torture in SF Giants Baseball. And the final outcome has become brutally predictable.
Where the hell is Liam Neeson when your team is being kidnapped?
Giants vs. Mariners (Jul 18, 2026) Box Score - ESPN
AI Overview:
This is one of my childhood dream cars, a 1963 Split Window Corvette. I owned one once, a Hot Wheels model version, painted gold with blue and/or red trim if I remember correctly. She would smile at me from my bedroom nightstand each morning and I'd smile back, knowing I'd just awakened from my most recent dream of she and I cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway as her engine purred and rumbled alongside the beach-blanketed coastline.
Yes, I remember her. What a body! A curvaceous, sumptuous shell with streamlined contours which can drive men mad with desire. Just the sight of her awakens all human senses, elevating our awareness of beauty as a powerful energy force.
Her luxurious leather seats and inner compartment cushioning were built for comfort. She's not shy exhibiting her qualities by any means. With see-through-glass lenses all around giving the world an unobstructed peek at the tantalizing bliss that lies within her lair, she invites the attention. Or, as they say about the eyes being like "the windows to the soul," so too are her paneled glass apertures.
Overall, she is a stunning beauty to behold both inside and out, frontal and rear, if you can withstand the temptation of being mesmerized for life by her charms. At such a young age she beckoned me come to her, like a sea-nymph siren luring an enchanted young sailor. And I was touched/captured by her summons, as in the poetic lines of Pablo Neruda's poem "Poetry:"
And it was at that age … Poetry arrived in search of me. ...
but from a street I was summoned,
from the branches of night, abruptly from the others,
there I was without a face and it touched me.
I have been under her spell ever since. Whether you are a man who loves a pretty face with a gorgeous smile, or one seduced by a woman full of alluring power and fighting spirit, or just an art connoisseur infatuated with killer views of her double-bubbled rear end backside, you can't help falling in love with all her attributes and how perfectly they align together. And to top it off she is truly as beautiful inside as she is on the surface. There is a pure heart that goes along with her grace and elegance. But be careful, once a prisoner of her charms there's no turning away from her; nor would you ever want to.
"Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder" - Margaret Wolfe Hungerford (1878)
"Beauty is Bought by Judgment of the Eye" - William Shakespeare (1598)
With all the speculation about what NBA team Lebron James will sign with in 2026, I'm thinking he's seriously contemplating retirement. He has nothing to prove and financially he should be set. He's got his health, his family and a basketball legacy comparable to Michael Jordan. What more could one of the best pro athletes to play the game want from the game?
Thank you for your service Lebron. . .
Yes!Yes!Yes! For me, playing guitar emancipates my soul from the natural and man-made calamities of the world, while helping my spirit refocus on the many beautiful landscapes it provides. I am a better human being because of the music in and around me.
To be able to give a blessing while receiving one is a divine gift we all must learn to cultivate and treasure. Be it in music/arts, work, recreation, friendships or just selfless acts of kindness, we human beings are capable of achieving some of the highest tones and pitches the vibrations of life make possible. If only we learn the oneness of it all. Life is all connected through its pulsating vibrations and resonance.
The effects of my guitar's amplifying vibrations on my heart are . . . Heavenly!
GUITAR PRINCIPLES | What It Feels Like To Play Guitar
The Happy Man from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales
If you're an old WWE WrestleMania fan, just the image of Bearer popping up in any current day media story is enough to bring a smile to one's mug. And I must admit, there is a resemblance of sorts in the two characters. But without the urn in hand, it's a who's who toss-up.
Thank you Underdesknews for your insightful coverage on a story that just keeps getting more Trumpy!
Reflecting Pool to be drained as Trump again blames 'vandals'
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FULL DOCUMENTARY: The Mortician | The Story of Paul Bearer
WrestleMania 41: How WWE Took Over Las Vegas for Its Main Event
The Carolina Hurricanes just claimed the NHL Stanley Cup Championship Trophy with a game 6 defeat of the Las Vegas Knights. They came back from being down two games to one, winning three games straight to secure their second championship. (first was in 2006)
And that is why they play the games . . .
Congratulations Canes on fighting the good fight and finishing the race as Champions!
Congratulations Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, New York
K N I C K S
Based on yesterday's Stanley Cup Finals game 3 performances, I'd say these conference champs could be two of the most unpredictable, lucky/unlucky, torturous teams to ever play for the Cup. How does a Hockey Team allow 3 goals in a matter of 39 seconds? Or for that matter how does one make 3 goals in such little time. Deflections, Mistakes, Errors, Bad Luck, Timely luck, you name it. It makes for an exciting, edge of your seat series.
Marner makes Stanley Cup Final history with fastest hat trick - ESPN
The fans for both teams must be pulling out their hair watching this back and forth battle for the Cup. Now I'm not much of a Hockey fan. I went to a minor league game some years back and sat behind the goal, first seat, within reach of the plexiglass, and brother I tell you, it was adrenalin pumping. The players were going at it like their lives depended on retrieving that little black puck. Bodies Crunching, Smashing, Punching and Pinning each other face first against the plexiglass. I swear, whoever devised the NHL rules booklet must've had a top-tier healthcare plan for the players.
Tyler Tucker shatters plexiglass with Vegas Golden Knights Player : r/pics (3yrs ago)
But I digress. Saturday's Cup Finals game went into double overtime, where again a deflected puck would be the deciding factor in the thrill of victory and agony of defeat.
Sports fans should treasure these championship June season series of Hockey and Basketball. Both sports begin their seasons in the fall, play 82 games and hold their Finals game series at the same time. If that isn't a concurrent sports agreement between leagues, then just call me conspiracy Joe. Meanwhile, the fans of both sports are in a state of ecstasy as they take in all of it. And sometimes, like crossover music, you find fans like me taking a peek at a professional game not on their radar. Until it is.
June is truly the month for Finals Championships!
Stanley Cup Finals: Las Vegas Knights (2-1) vs Carolina Hurricanes (1-2)
NBA Finals: New York Knicks (2-0) vs San Antonio Spurs (0-2)
So, it will be the Knicks versus Spurs to decide who will raise the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. Last I checked the Spurs were favored to win. And I must admit, after watching how they out-shot and out-hustled defending champion OKC Thunder in game 7 of the conference finals, they look unstoppable.
Watching the Spurs take down the Thunder in OKC, me as a Knicks sympathizer (last championship 1973) had to conclude there is no way the Knicks outplay the homecourt advantage Spurs in a seven game championship series.
San Antonio, although young, are shooting the ball well, defending well, and appear unfazed as a youthful team going up against experienced players. And then there is 7ft 4in Victor Wembanyama.
Yes, the three-dimensional Spurs big man (defense, ball-handling, shooting/dunks) whose gazelle-like scoring and amazing blocks seem almost unreal. He has a wingspan of 8 feet and a "*Standing Reach" of 9-feet-7 inches.
*Standing Reach: The maximum height a player can reach with one hand while standing flat-footed, with booth heels on the ground and their arm fully extended overhead.
Wembanyama is a problem offensively and defensively for any opponent once he gets going.
But don't tell that to Knicks players and their fans. They won two out of three against the Spurs in the regular season. They're on a record eleven game postseason winning streak. And in their recent sweep of the Cavaliers in the eastern conference finals, they looked the part of an experienced and hungry team. Here are some of the reasons I feel the Spurs have an advantage:
1. Depth
3. Youth / Athleticism vs Experience
On a day NFL game schedules for 2026 were released, this ad by Chicago Bears wide-receiver Rome Odunze is a touchdown. Somewhere in the heavens legendary painter and afro-hair icon Bob Ross is smiling with paintbrush and palette held high.
The Oklahoma City Thunder took down the Lakers last night, sweeping Lebron James and a Luka-less L.A. team out of the NBA playoff picture. The reigning NBA champion OKC Thunder were masterful and resilient in taking down a gutsy Lakers squad. They have discovered a young star in second-year guard A.J. Mitchell (28pts) to go along with all-star and likely back-to-back MVP Shai Alexander (35pts). Hopefully the King of L.A. will seriously consider retirement and move over for young Lakers talent to rise up. Bye-Bye-Lebron!!!
Around the same time in L.A. the San Francisco Giants were putting the finishing touches on a hitless Shohei Ohtani (0-5) and the Dodgers. The Giants, showing more patience at the plate, have found their hitting groove to go along with their defense. And surprisingly, their pitching seems to be getting stronger as the season marches on. Meanwhile, those once dominant Dodgers are looking anything but like the league champions of 2025. Not sure what is going on with them. Just maybe, the Giants have their number this season. They've beaten Da'Bums three out of four games so far in 2026. The next three nights in L.A. should tell us more about both clubs. Go Giants!!!
Surging Devers, Adames helping Giants' offense get its 'mojo' back
Giants 6-2 Dodgers (May 12, 2026) Game Recap - ESPN