The Message Forum is an ongoing dialogue among classmates. The goal is to encourage friendly interaction, including interaction among classmates who really didn't know each other. Experience on the site has revealed that certain topics tend to cause friction and hard feelings, especially politics and religion. 

Although politics and religion are not completely off-limits, classmates are asked to be positive in their posts and not to be too repetitive or allow a dialog to degenerate into an argument. 

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Response" button to add your entry to the forum.

Lowell Tuttle

Kurt.   The action you describe would be similar to the Kerrville Council's decision to not take government money for any kind of warning issues.   The videos I have seen were of anti funding use urging the council to not take "The Devil's" money...

Journalists generally take a liberal bent because of what they witness, and with a sense of importance and responsibility to the truth.   

It comes out too liberal for conservatives.   PBS, I am sure, welcomes all responses to the broadcasts...(Lowell says with a sense of Huh?  What'd you say?"

David Cordell

Lowell,

So, if I understand you correctly, liberal journalists are liberal because they are intelligent and well informed and thus know that the liberal positions are the only reasonable positions.

So, those few conservative journalists are both unintelligent and ill-informed. 

Now I understand.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

As you know, David, most journalism classes on the university level are taught by liberal professors, so graduates of our journalism schools, leave their classes with liberally-slanted methods of writing, unless the writers have long-held conservative reasoning proclivities, in my opinion.  Also, the corporations who own the US newpapers. as well as the media radio stations, are liberal owners, usually, who promote liberal candidates.

There was a young guy who lived on my street, in Austin, a graduate of UT Austin, who was an award-winning journalist for the Austin-American Statesman newspaper of our town.  He, his wife and kids, were very friendly to all in our neighborhood, and my two children played with his young-uns, as did all of the other kiddos on the block.  The  father was known to write with a liberal slant, but didn't speak about his opinions when around us ladies.  We just talked about the kids and the neighborhood elementary school, mostly.  I remember driving by his house one day, and I noticed a campaign sign in his yard, during the Reagan years.  I can't remember who the sign was promoting, but I remember that it was a sign that was not for a conservative, and I smiled thinking, "Well, that's par for the course."

To each his own......as the song goes......

Kurt Fischer

Lance:

Kurt Fischer 

News Sources - Dallas Morning News, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, BBC, NPR, KTCK (okay, not much news there), Google News, SmartNews, Patriot Post  - A mixture of conservative and liberal news sources

But thank you for pre-judging my inclinations based on a computer program.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Lance, shall we analyze your posting posture as well?

You were astonishingly gentle with how you think I come across.  I am flattered, but puzzled as well.  I'm glad I seem to have mellowed here as I post.  I'm not sure I agree, but I'm glad my posture is perhaps sweeter to some, nowadays.  Certainly I've been caustic at times, and I'm not proud of that at all

I am confounded by your apparent need to council and direct us, which is not a bad trait, necessarily, but I feel like you over do it at times.   It is true that we are to be 'our brothers' keepers' to be helpful, but it seems to me that one can take that particular calling a little too seriously, and can become annoyingly nagging or tedious, to those on the receiving end.

More to say but I must pause and go for a bit.......

Lawrence (Lance) Cantor

David Cordell

I deleted a post by Lance Cantor because it was judgmental of individual classmates. 

It is permissable to criticize ideas, but criticizing individuals is not.

Lowell Tuttle

Of interest to me this morning.   I was wondering what was going to happen to the Dallas News since they have been absorbed, taken over, or merged with Hearst Newspapers.   I subscribe to the News (e edition) as well as the Chronicle.   I consider The News a better paper.   Mainly, because in my mind, they carry sports box scores and more recent sports stuff well into the evening, and my Houston Chronicle stops about 6 or 7 each day.

Thus, I assume they are more up to date.

Anyway, reading this morning in the DMN was the Netanayahu losing his coalition story.   The Israeli Supreme Court ruled there can't be religious exemptions to their mandatory draft.   Parties on the right (religiously) who support Net. are announcing they are leaving the co alition, as as a result, in a few days his government might fail and, I guess new elections called?   

Who would be next if Netanyahu lost?   

It is the actions that surround the forming of a new law which would satisfy the Israeli Supreme Courts ruling and the parties involved which is causing the rift.   A few days time will tell what happens.   I predict they'll make the law so that drafted Haredim can be ministerial in the military...though, I guess that would go against their fundamental prinicples.

The article I read co inciding with this is that the Haredim are a fast "growing" sect.   I wonder why?

Lowell Tuttle

Whoa.   I forgot.   This is the Open week.   Gotta tune in.

Editorial in the DMN regarding Scheffler's press conference reminded me...How could I have missed?

David Cordell

Lowell,

Some thoughts on the Dallas Morning News.

Robert Decherd was a classmate when I was at St. Mark's and I had a chance to visit his family's ranch in 1965. At the time, Robert's father H. Ben Decherd was chairman of the board of the Belo Corporation, which owned the DMN and other communications properties, and years later Robert served two non-consecutive periods as chairman. Robert's great grandfather, or maybe great great grandfather, was the Dealey of Dealey Plaza. I saw Robert at the St. Mark's class reunion. He is a very good man, and he has been the pivotal person in making downtown Dallas more pleasant and livable.

I think Robert has given up a lot to keep DMN alive in recent years. I suspect that he felt a debt to his family  predecessors and to the Dallas community. If I recall correctly, his shares were worth about $20 million went public many years ago, but I doubt that they were worth that much when the sale to Hearst went through.

As you know DMN sportswriter Tim Cowlishaw is the younger brother of our classmate Pat. When I played golf with them about a year ago, Tim told me that at one time DMN had about 25 in the sports department, but it was now down to 7 or 9 (can't remember which). 

What I haven't liked about DMN is what they had to do to keep expenses down. When I look through the articles, so many of them are from Associated Press, Washington Post, or other national source. Obviously, as a political conservative, that doesn't work for me. As a group, the actual DMN writers and editorial writers are to the left of center also. I will say on the positive side, that DMN's editor Katrice Hardy, who happens to be a black woman, was kind enough to respond to me when I wrote to complain about something in an article.

By the way, they changed the name of the Belo Corporation a few years ago to DallasNews Corp because the founder of the company, Alfred Belo, was a Confederate General. The Belo Mansion in downtown Dallas was also renamed. Can you say, "Politically correct"?

Lawrence (Lance) Cantor

THE UGLY AMERICAN TOURIST

The term "Ugly American" refers to a stereotype used to describe an American traveler who exhibits loud, arrogant, self-absorbed, thoughtless, ignorant, and ethnocentric behavior while in other countries. 

Wow, David, I'm so sorry regarding my post from yesterday about political bias, where ChatGPT awarded you a “low grade” compared to our classmates. As a former professor, I’m sure you were disappointed.

Yet within your response,  I’m impressed that it motivated you to challenge us to set a new “high bar” in limiting our critique of others who post here…could prove enlightening.  

Nonetheless, I happily accept the challenge and am certain others will rise to the occasion.

And so, while looking forward to seeing your Austrian travel pics, here is another good one for your review and approval:

Ah, Europe. Home of cobblestones, cathedrals, and corner cafés with 400-year-old espresso traditions. From Venice’s sinking grandeur to Dubrovnik’s Game of Thrones cosplay, these cities were once dreamy destinations where tourists came for a taste of living history.

But in the last 20 years, a new type of visitor has arrived en masse — the day-tripping cruise passenger, armed with selfie sticks, flip-flops, and a countdown to “back on board by 4:00.” What was once a cultural pilgrimage has morphed into something more like a flash mob with backpacks.

Sure, tourism boosts local revenue — for about three hours. But while cities rake in short-term profit, they’re bleeding culture, local character, and even tax revenue. Welcome aboard the paradox cruise.

Economics: Where the Money Doesn’t Go

Cruise tourism is like that friend who borrows your car, uses your gas, spills soda on the seat, and then vanishes without so much as a thank-you text. These floating resorts dump thousands of passengers into historic centers daily, but many don’t eat, shop, or sleep locally. Why would they? There’s unlimited shrimp cocktails and Broadway-style shows waiting back on the ship.

In Dubrovnik, a city once known for its quiet Adriatic charm, Coca-Cola has slapped its brand onto tourism campaigns, turning the town into a soda-sponsored medieval Disneyland. Meanwhile, Venice — poor, gorgeous, slowly sinking Venice — has had enough. Giant cruise liners have literally shaken the city to its soggy foundations, prompting restrictions on ship entries (too little, too late?).

The Euro Side Hustle Economy

Behind every street vendor selling Eiffel Tower keychains or “authentic” Venetian masks made in China, there’s a tale of precarious employment. Many workers are seasonal, informal, and unregistered — meaning no healthcare, no job security, and zero tax contributions. While some locals try to earn an honest living, others undercut them in a marketplace gone rogue.

The result? Cities are cheated out of funds they desperately need to manage the mess — the trash, the crowd control, the wear and tear. Think of it as a pop-up economy with disappearing accountability.

Our Gentrification: The Airbnb-ification of Their Culture

Once upon a time, European markets sold fresh herbs, handwoven baskets, and gossip between neighbors. Now, they peddle novelty socks and rainbow gelato to tourists who’ve never heard of fennel. Meanwhile, older generations of artists and artisans are being priced out by investors turning entire neighborhoods into short-term rental zones.

What used to be communities are now stage sets for travel influencers. That 18th-century apartment you just “discovered” on TikTok? It was a grandma’s flat until 2018.

The Cruise Tourism Scorecard

Now, Enter: The American Tourist in 2025

Let’s talk about the elephant in the piazza: American tourists. Once infamous as the “Ugly American” — a Cold War-era caricature of the loud, ethnocentric traveler who demanded cheeseburgers in rural France — today’s U.S. visitors are a mixed bag.

According to the European Travel Commission, Americans now represent about 18% of non-European tourist arrivals — the largest share from outside the continent. They’re spending more per day than many other visitors (averaging $320/day), but their sheer numbers are drawing mixed reviews.

In 2025, Austria released a cheeky (and slightly brutal) report titled “Mind the Gap: Tourists and Traditions,” which highlighted concerns about American travelers' volume, decibel levels, and cultural sensitivity — or lack thereof. Among their critiques: overuse of “bucket list” sites, lack of language effort (“Do you speak American?”), and a tendency to treat Mozart’s birthplace like a TikTok backdrop.

But let’s not be too harsh. The modern American traveler is evolving. Younger tourists are increasingly booking eco-tours, learning local phrases, and ditching the cruise ship buffet for a cooking class in Ljubljana. The new Ugly American? Maybe not so ugly — just occasionally loud, overly enthusiastic, and unaware that "European coffee" is not a Starbucks Venti.

Final Thoughts: A Tale of Two Europes

Mass tourism has split Europe in two: the postcard-perfect fantasy version and the real, gritty, slowly-eroding local one. While travelers snap photos, locals sweep up the garbage (literally) and count the cost (economically and culturally).

The solution isn’t to shut the gates — it’s to change the way we enter. Smarter tourism policies, local empowerment, labor regulation, and a bit of good old-fashioned courtesy can restore balance. And maybe, just maybe, we can all be less toxic and “ugly” in the process.

References & Further Reading

UNESCO on Over-tourism – https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2038
The Guardian: Cruise Ship Ban in Venice – https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/13/venice-ban-cruise-ships-protect-heritage
Coca-Cola Co-Branding Dubrovnik – https://www.total-croatia-news.com/travel/65667-dubrovnik-tourism-coca-cola
Euronews: Gentrification & Airbnb – https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/07/05/how-airbnb-is-changing-europes-historic-cities
World Tourism Organization: Sustainable Travel – https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development
CNN: Game of Thrones & Dubrovnik – https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/dubrovnik-game-of-thrones-tourism/index.html
European Commission on Informal Labor – https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1299&langId=en
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yHFRPQqrw4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWdkyAEjmq0

.

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

Lance,

You might recall that both of my parents were born in Holland.  I was able to visit Holland twice while I still lived with my parents.  Both times my mother went with me and my father stayed at home and worked.  Both stays were six weeks long.  First time I was 13 the summer between 6th grade and 7th grade.  Mother and I stood out as "tourists".  We both wore bright colored clothing.  I had a rain coat that was white with large red polka dots.  Mother dressed similar to Jackie Kennedy.  Nice pastel suits etc.  We dressed up.  I wore dresses or nice slacks.  The locals dressed more somberly, in dark colors, greys, browns and blacks.  We were treated differently until mother talked.  She spoke fluent Dutch, and German.  What was especially interesting were the side comments she heard and translated openly that were snide, cruel and just flat mean.  Those folks were very surprised to hear her retorts on their comments which were biting to say the least.  We heard very few people say they were sorry.  Just sorry they were caught being ugly.

Ugly goes both ways.  Tolerance on all sides would be in everyone's best interest.  It helps to be fluent in two or three languages too.

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

My thoughts in the rug that will be pulled from PBS and NPR.    It will.  I can see it coming.  It is a rush to dismantle as much as possible as fast as possible.  To hell with the consquences.

It seems that the current administration which includes the majority who feel that cutting these funds is necessary to limit the voice of liberalism, science and tolerance.  No more tax dollars are to be "wasted" on these idealogies.   I am sad.  Very sad.

I have memories of waking up at 4 or 5 am and noticing that my dad was already up and the TV was on in the den.  I shuffled out in my PJ"s and house shoes on cold mornings to watch dad tune into "educational TV" on channel 13, our local public station.  There was some math instructor on the screen talkiing way over my head.  Dad took this stuff very seriously and was up regularly before work to broaden his skill set.  It must have worked too, he got promoted at TI.  He got his GED this way, I am pretty sure.  He quit school in his early teens due to abject poverty and it was years after I was born before he got his "high school" equivalent.  I think this was in part due to PBS.  Immigrants in his day were shunned too, mainly due to being dirt poor.  He quit because he could not speak english and the teachers were less than helpful.  They just ignored him.

I also remember the documentaries, in particular science that my father watched on this channel too.  Perhaps that is why I revere science so much.  My father had a real thirst for knowledge and used all that was available to the public as much as he could to get ahead.  It seems real sad to me that the poor today will not have these same tools to use.

The pendulum swings both ways.  I wonder how long before the repurcussions of these actions will force the swing in the other direction?  

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

One last thought. 

The Epstein files.  Are there files?  I thought there were.  Now there are no files.  Nothing to see here.  Quit talking about it...Nothing happened.  I barely knew the guy....

What???  

I continue to watch with morbid facination.

Jim Bedwell

I'm SO happy that our (MY!) tax dollars will likely not be going to PBS & NPR anymore. They are overwhelmingly biased toward the left and should compete with everybody else. And the lost left dominates media so there will be little problem with the fewer funds going to PBS & NPR. There will be ample opportunity remaining to hear those misinformed and ignorant opinions.

And PBS rhymes with TDS.

David Cordell

I am in Germany now. Everyone on our trip has been very polite. I often ask the waiters where they are from originally, and it starts a pleasant, if brief discussion. Waitress this evening is from Russia. I know that there are complaints about too much tourism, but a significant percentage of the population in those countries benefits from tourism, directly or indirectly.

We were on a river cruise with only 186 passengers -- not a big footprint, or waterprint.

It is true that much of the expenditures of cruisers are on the ship, but many people continue touring after the cruise is over. Our cruise ended two days ago in Passau, Germany, but then we went to Salzburg, Austria before coming to Munich. Hotels and food. And stuff.

Also, tourists, even while on cruises, buy stuff in the cities they visit. We certainly have. And by "we" I mean Martha.

When I was younger, I was more self-conscious about the way I dressed in other countries, probably due to the Ugly American book. Nowadays, I am not too concerned about being identified as an American. I try to behave properly and respectfully. I don't have a baseball cap here, but I am wearing a broad-brimmed hat to try to avoid more visits to the dermatologist.  So far, I have only worn shorts one day, and I wasn't alone.

We made friends with a Brit couple and a New Zealand couple on the ship. We dressed similrly to the Brit couple, and the Kiwi man was more casually dressed. Bottom line -- what you wear, as long as it isn't improper, is less important than how you behave.

Incidentally, we have been disappointed by the extensive graffiti we've seen on this trip. IMHO, graffiti should be painted over or removed within 24 hours. When the artists, rather vandals, realize that there work won't be seen, they will be less likely to repeat. Another possibility -- catch them and cut off a finger. Just a thought. Remember, I am half Sicilian.

Bob Wainner

Lance;

Interesting VIDEOS you posted.

I did have the opportunity way back in 1971 (when I was serving in the U.S. Navy - 1970 to 1974)....to visit Venice, Italy.  Our Aircraft Carrier anchored off shore of an Italian city south of Venice....then, we took a (1) day bus trip to Venice.  You really need more than just (1) day to see a wonderful city like Venice...but I was happy to be able to spend one entire day there.

I would vote NO......against allowing those huge Cruise Ships to get even close to Venice.  Why not have them park near the far southern part of the city.....and allow the passengers to go ashore and visit the city.  Our bus parked in a parking lot on the southern side of the city.....as no "cars, bicicles or motorcycles" are allowed in the City of Venice.....gotta walk OR take a gondola that travel the many canals throughout the city. I really don't see the reason WHY Venice lost so much revenue.....just don't think those Cruise Ships need to get so close to the heart of the City like they once did. I spent time in that huge square & even rode the elevator to the top of the bell tower.....and strolled around the city for hours.

Your other video was sort of "humorous" to me.  My Aircraft Carrier (with me onboard) went to the Mediterranean Sea (3) times....2 times for 6 months, the last time for 9 months.  During that first MED Cruise, we had to wear our U.S. Navy Uniforms when we went ashore for liberty.  Talk about "targets" for the locals. Everyone knew we were Americans. But on the 2nd & 3rd MED Cruise, we were allowed to wear "civilian clothing", so we would be less of a "target" for the locals.  But I have a feeling that most of the locals KNEW we were Americans....and they just saw us as "dollar bills". Well, I never wore a baseball cap (still don't - have too much hair how); didn't wear sports shoes; I did wear bellbottom slacks (in style at the time); And funny, I did wear a T-Shirt with large USA letters on it....in fact, I was in a night club wearing that USA T-shire and a local girl asked me if she could have it.....of course, I said no, not going to be in a nightclub without a shirt on.  But the guy in that video is right about visiting "foreign countries"...you really need to do your homework about the countries you plan to visit & the cities.....well before you plan to travel. 

Watching NEWS issues.  Glad to see that $9 billion legislation passed.  Another WIN for President Trump. Iran says we only damaged 1 of the 3 nuke sites...if they don't come to the peace table...I vote for another attack on Iran by BOTH the U.S. and Israel...turn that country into a Walmart parking lot.

On the Epstein files...yes, I believe they exist - interesting that the TOP Democrats aren't screaming to have that list of names released.....probably because they know......a LOT of the names on that list are wealthy well known Democrats...because I haven't heard a word out of the Democrats on this issue.

All of those Democrats who were involved with the "Russia, Russia, Russia" scam against President Trump look to be in deep water...I hope they ALL get charged & convicted...time for accountablility. And that Communist guy (Democrate) who wants to be the next Mayor of NYC is going to totally destroy NYC!!! 

And IMO, if he is elected...that will pave the road for a LOT of GOP wins in the mid-terms & in the next Presidential election. 

Also, I think Democrats like AOC, Bernie Sanders and others have problems.  AOC recently called President Trump a "Rapist" on her "X" account......I think he should file a law suit against her.  I think he would win it. 

And I had to LAUGH when I recently saw on the news that (3) Democrats are in the lead for the Democrat Party Candidate for the next Presidential Delection.......Pete B., Kamala Harris & Gavin Newsome.  Are you kidding me???  I honestly believe that "Forrest Gump" could defeat any of those 3 Democrats....Pete and his Husband (uh, don't thin so Lucy).....Kamala (who can't even say a single sentence that makes any sense)....and Gavin Newsome (who has literally destroyed the State of California)....he seems like a "snake oil salesman, to me).....and they have ZERO policies that Americans would want to vote for. 

I just looked at the weather forecast for Plano, Texas......and beginning on Monday, July 21st....it appears our high temperature will be at 102 degrees every day for about a week.....ouch!

Bob

Lawrence (Lance) Cantor

FROM VIEWERS VOYEURS LIKE YOU

“Fear is the tool of a tyrant.”
— Maurene Comey, after her dismissal from the DOJ, July 2025

BobW,

in your Navy "cruise" experience, was a water slide when an F-16 missed the wires and went overboard?

David,

Please keep your fingers in your pockets and away from the pickpockets!

Sandra,

As a Euro-American from youth, thanks for sharing yet another unique perspective you experienced often in dutch as a child.

Sandra &  Jim, 

The recent funding flap over NPR & PBS should be viewed as mostly Great Performances and Masterpiece Theater staged by the Nature of Republicans in our American Experience.  Like All Creatures Great and Small, politicians have their own special way of pushing Austin’s City Limits when keeping their pork spending hidden like Secrets of the Dead.  It’s a little like Poldark Finding His Roots, watching the last episode of Sesame Street.

So don’t fret, I’m certain generous viewers like you will keep PBS on the Frontline of your local channels!

EPSTEIN - PEDOPHILES, PROSECUTORS, AND POWER

Epstein, Power, and Blackmailing America's Elite

By: ChatyLance
Date: July 17, 2025

It began in the deepest shadows of privilege, where opulence met exploitation, and justice often turned a blind eye. From a 72-acre tropical oasis in the U.S. Virgin Islands known to some as Little St. Jeff, and more notoriously as Pedophile Island, Jeffrey Epstein built an empire of silence, manipulation, and sexual abuse. What appeared on the surface to be just another private island for billionaires was, in reality, a well-oiled machine of entrapment and blackmail.

Backed by high-society connections, Epstein’s rise and protection appeared almost mythological. His guest list? A constellation of power—billionaires, royalty, ex-presidents, top lawyers, and academics—some confirmed, others alleged. And behind the scenes? Cameras. Dossiers. Records. Victims.

Documented Evidence & Timeline of the Epstein Scandal

The Photo the Palace guards: Prince Andrew & Virginia Giuffre

Date Taken: 2001
Source: Court Documents, UK Press, BBC

This photo—grainy but damning—became the visual cornerstone of Giuffre’s sexual assault allegations against Prince Andrew. It reportedly shows the young Giuffre (17 at the time) in Ghislaine Maxwell’s London apartment, her waist encircled by the Prince’s hand. Andrew has publicly claimed the photo may be fake. Experts and even former royal protection officers, however, say there's “no innocent explanation.”

Surveillance & Blackmail: Epstein’s Shadow Operation

Beneath his opulent residences—including the Manhattan townhouse and Little St. James island—Epstein allegedly installed hidden cameras and microphones. These weren't for security. According to both victims and former staff, they were instruments of entrapment:

Guests were recorded in compromising sexual acts with underage girls, sometimes unwittingly.
 

These recordings became the foundation for blackmail operations—a “honeytrap” style intelligence network.
Epstein reportedly kept dossiers on victims and elites alike—names, preferences, vulnerabilities.

Speculation persists that raw data remains sealed or hidden—perhaps even in the hands of intelligence agencies.
 

According to Blanche Bong Cook’s 2023 Loyola publication:

“The very institutions meant to protect children were manipulated by a billionaire’s orbit of power, silence, and wealth.”
— Jeffrey Epstein: Pedophiles, Prosecutors, and Power

The Psychological Playbook of Sex and Blackmail

Epstein’s grooming network extended beyond the physical. His method:

Recruit poor or vulnerable young girls via “scouts,” sometimes former victims.
Gain trust by offering modeling gigs, education, or “help.”
Use manipulation, financial dependence, and sometimes outright threats to ensure silence.
Weaponize connections with Harvard, MIT, and financiers to project legitimacy.
 

Survey Results & American Sentiment

From your cross-referenced data from Gallup, Pew, and YouGov:

The Comey Conundrum: Was Maurene Fired for Digging Too Deep?

The daughter of ex-FBI Director James Comey, Maurene Comey was one of the lead prosecutors of Epstein and Maxwell. In July 2025, just one day after being fired by the DOJ, she emailed colleagues:

“Fear is the tool of a tyrant... We have entered a new phase where ‘without fear’ may be the challenge.” — Maurene Comey, via POLITICO

Comey’s father has been a consistent critic of Donald Trump, and many now speculate her dismissal was politically motivated, either for refusing to drop inquiries into Epstein-linked individuals or for representing a moral threat to institutionalized power.

Conclusion: When Justice Prefers Being Blind

Little St. James is now quiet. The courtrooms are dimmed. But the questions persist. The clients, financiers, royalty, and political operators who visited, enabled, or remained silent—many remain uncharged. With recordings hidden, court files sealed, and power consolidating, public trust continues to erode.

As Epstein’s island becomes a metaphor for unpunished elite corruption, one thing is clear: a reckoning is long overdue.

📍 Taken: 2001, London
📷 Photographer: Believed to be Jeffrey Epstein
📰 Publicly revealed during court filings in 2011 and resurfaced widely in 2019

This image has been widely cited in court documents, investigative reports, and media coverage, forming a key piece of public perception in the case against Prince Andrew—even though it never formally entered as trial evidence in a U.S. criminal court.

Context:

Virginia Giuffre (then Roberts) alleges she was 17 years old in this photo.
Prince Andrew has repeatedly claimed the image might be doctored, though he has not produced conclusive evidence.
Ghislaine Maxwell is seen in the background, smiling.
The location is said to be Maxwell’s townhouse in London.
Giuffre claims this was taken the night Prince Andrew sexually abused her, which he categorically denies.
 

The Consequence: Erosion of Trust

Surveys now show that public trust in government, media, and the justice system is at historic lows:

Only 26% of Americans trust the federal government (Pew, 2024).
Gallup reports that trust in the justice system is down 38% from two decades ago.
Conspiratorial thinking increases when transparency decreases.
 

And Epstein became the perfect storm:

A wealthy predator.
Protected by prosecutors.
Linked to royalty, academia, and Wall Street.
Surrounded by sealed files and silent institutions.
 

Conclusion: Justice for all, or Just Us?

People haven’t just accepted the double standard—they’ve incorporated it into their worldview. It breeds apathy, anger, or radicalization, depending on which way you turn. But what it doesn’t breed anymore is surprise.

Until power is held accountable—visibly and equally—this double standard will remain the defining feature of elite protectionism in America.

Further Reading & Sources:

Cook (law docs) - https://lawecommons.luc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1757&context=facpubs

POLITICO Article on Maurene Comey’s Firing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Andrew_%26_the_Epstein_Scandal 

BBC: Prince Andrew’s Image Explained
Pew Research Center: Public Trust in Government 2024
Gallup: Confidence in Institutions Poll 2023
Epstein Flight Logs (Public Domain, unverified names require careful scrutiny)

Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6FD3z9VzAE&t=4s

Jim Bedwell

Oh, no! Connie Francis just died at age 87. I remember seeing sexy Connie and Yvette Mimieux in "Where the Boys Are" at the long-gone Delman Theater on Lemmon Avenue in 1960. Oh, well............

Jim Bedwell

Bill O'Reilly predicted this past week that the CBS show, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" wouldn't survive now-low viewership. Sure enough, today we found out that he has only 10 more months with that show, until May. Colbert is one of the nastier Trump-haters so i'm not sorry to see him go.

Whaddaya bet that Jimmy Kimmel is the next neoMarxist, TDS-sufferer show host to fall - YEE HAW!!!

Jim Bedwell

More GREAT news - as Trump is racking up good news after more good news - please read the following article about the latest Quinnipiac poll - only 19% of polled people approved of Democrat US Congressmen's job performance whereas 72% of people disapproved!!! They are sinking fast! Couldn't happen to a MORE ROTTEN set of jerks or as they say around here in Knoxville, "Bless their precious little hearts" - BIG HAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Lowell Tuttle

Meanwhile, on my regular Daily Show feed...My favorite part is when Trump looks over at the Crown Prince of Bahrain and nods an explanation to him that Powell deserves removal for cause...like, what's that guy doing there...  This is better than the Babylon Bee...

Lowell Tuttle

Colbert's firing is from comments or actions he spoke out on regarding the settlement CBS/Paramount made with the Trump administration in order to gain favor and approval for the takeover bid of Skydance (Media.)  The feeling of a lot of the members of 60 minutes team and the late night show (as well as TDS) was that it was like a bribe.

So, they have spoken out too far.

The Late Night Show as the most watched evening network show as of yesterday.   

Not cancelled for ratings...though all traditional network TV product has gone down in viewership.

But, according to Skydance, their supposed goal is to deliver more good content....(and of course, make media money.)   Both are important.

David Cordell

Epstein's lawyer said "categorically" that Trump was not involved in the Epstein mess. 

Democrats were in charge for four years. Why did they not release all the Epstein info? All the sudden, they say that the Republicans are withholding information. I call BS on that.

This is just more Democrat/mainstream media inuendo and slander. Much like the whole Russia hoax and the denial of the Biden laptop story.

Trump has ordered the files to be released. If they exonerate him, what will the Dems say? 

Answer: Nothing. No apology. No acknowledgement. They will just move on to the next harrassment.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

The info I've been reading lately corroborates your statements, Professor.

Also, today I've read that Tulsi Gabbard is releasing info which comfirms that all along, Obama and the Democrats KNEW that all the bologna the mainstream press whores were releasing to us about the huge Russian interference in  the 2016 election, and continuing afterward with the wild conspiratorial stories, were just fiction, spewed about everywhere to stab at Trump with viciousness.  Their mighty efforts to tarnish him in any possible way, was what they 'lived for' in those days.  They continually dreamed every night of ways to smear the guy, hoping they could convince us all that he would destroy democracy just by re-entering the city limits of DC.

Where do I get my information?

I get my information from a wide selection of press reports, not all of which are conservative.  I read from the internet's wide selection of sources, too numerous to note here, and I listen to news reports all day long.

Of course we have all witnessed Trump making numerous boorish statements, which just opens the door for the mainstream press to glom onto his idiotic pronouncements and judgments of people with whom he vehemently disagrees, pointing out the man's childish behavior as examples of his inappropiate fitness ( in some ways) for the office of the presidency.

He is not the first president to have his type of comflicting personality traits, nor will he be the last, I predict.

If you review our past presidents, you will find that we have endured some real 'lu-lus', but have managed to survive probably with God's grace and incredible luck, I suppose.