laughingwolf_qh33q8 – The Laughing Wolf

Three Spirits And A Cowgirl

Thanks to some kindness, I’ve had the chance to review two gins, one vodka, and a cowgirl from Spirits of the Wasatch in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah. Well, at least it was beautiful the last time I was there, hope it still is. I’ve wanted to try their products for a while, and when an opportunity came up, I went for it.

First up, some procedural notes since it’s been a while since I’ve done a formal review like this (stupid lightning). All initial tastings were done using a glencairn glass; martinis were done using my deplorable saucer; and, any other mixed drinks were done using a rocks glass. Now, I don’t think my glass is deplorable, but there are some purists (snobs) who get the vapors when they see things like this used. All initial tastings were done at room (cellar) temp since I tend to keep silver liquids in the freezer so I don’t have to dilute them with ice/water. I then did a second tasting and made mixed drinks using the bottles from the freezer. The products were not provided free by the distillery and I don’t make anything from the links.

I’m going to start with the High Mountain Desert Gin. This is a very good gin, particularly given the price point. In terms of commercial gins most have heard of, I would put this easily on par with Aviation or other similar gins. My own comparison for London Dry style is to Lind & Lime (look up the story of Dr. Lind). While it is not to that level, it gave it the best run of any American gin I’ve had so far. The nose is juniper forward followed by herbed citrus and a hint of white pepper. The gin has a clean mouthfeel with an edge of sweetness on the edges of the pallet. There is sweet citrus and vanilla strong in the center with herbs (sage for one) on sides. The finish is nice and bright with citrus, and it is a rich and flavorful gin. Outside of the mountain sage, I’d love to know what local botanicals went into it as it is excellent and delightfully complex without muddled flavors. On the second tasting, as it warmed I got some more orange and sweet lemon out of it. Crisp, clean, delicious and recommended.

While I am of the ‘wave the cork from the vermouth bottle in the same room as the bottle of gin’ school of dry martini making, I did make a more proper martini with the gin. I used La Quintinye Royal Blanc Vermouth and both held up well in the partnership. While the nose didn’t really change all that much, I did notice less vanilla and more citrus in the taste. A solid classic martini and it should work very well with the classic gin mixed drinks. FYI, it is well worth getting decent vermouth, and I will just note that since I have been known to use an eye-dropper, a bottle of vermouth blanc tends to last a while.

Next up is the barrel rested High Mountain Desert Gin (scroll down the page at the link). The regular gin is aged in rye whiskey barrels for eight months, which imparts color and flavors to the gin. This is one of the best gins I’ve had in quite some time. This is an excellent sipping gin. That is also makes one heck of a martini and should hold its own against all comers in a Boston, Abby, or other cocktail.

And, yes, I said sipping gin. Every now and then you hit a gin that is so well made, so well balanced that you can sip and savor it as you would a whiskey or brandy. My current favorite sipping gin is Isle of Harris Gin, which shares with High Mountain Gin the use of local botanicals. While they are very different styles of gin, both use the local to make something wonderful and different.

In this case, the barrel resting elevates a very good gin into something more. The nose is carmel and vanilla forward, underlaid with a strong herbal component. The mouthfeel is balanced and smooth, and the first flavors to hit are vanilla and carmel — with the vanilla of the original gin augmented by the vanilla from the rye, and it truly does pick up a good bit of carmel from the wood. This is followed quickly by a rush of sage and herb, and sweet citrus. The white pepper of the original gin is pulled forward and combines nicely with the pepper of the rye from the wood. The finish, as before, is crisp and clean. It not only be sipped, but makes a very good classic martini. In fact, the flavors should kick any gin cocktail up a level or two, and if you know a high-end bar they need to try it and add it to their premium line.

Next up is Hidden Vodka. According to the website, some of the proceeds go to help fight human trafficking and I like that. I also like the product. Vodka is really intended to be a neutral spirit that can be blended into a wide variety of styles of drink. Yes, you can do shots and the one time that was fun for me was with some cosmonauts in Berlin. Hidden Vodka is one I would serve (ice cold) shots of to cosmonauts, and cheerfully use in good vodka drinks.

The nose was very clean, no burn (if you ever sniff a vodka and your nose burns, run). Nice mouthfeel, and the product was crisp and clean without much real flavor. It also had no burn, just a nice bit of a tingle on the edges of the tongue. It made an excellent vodka martini, which I converted into an expresso/coffee martini by adding a bit of the Cowgirl to it.

Personally, this goes into my premium vodka category. It’s a good bar staple, it works well with others, and it’s a good price point for the product. In fact, it’s clean enough that I just may use it to make my vanilla extract instead of the potato vodka I usually use.

To close, I’m going to talk about the Cowgirl. Perky Cowgirl Coffee Liqueur is a solid entry into the coffee liqueur category. I like the fact that it is not so thick with sugar (or worse) that it’s cloying and doesn’t like to pour. It may be a little thinner than some would like, but the flavor is solid. In fact, I want to have a cup of coffee from the beans that go into it, and will note that drinking it is like drinking a cup of sweet coffee. It reminds me a little bit of Vietnamese coffee minus the milk. And that is a compliment, trust me. While Kahlua might not need to be looking over its shoulder yet, this is a solid entry into the field and people do like it a lot. Good price point as well.

In closing, I will simply note that one day I want to try their whiskey(ies). I’m glad for their sake they are sold out right now, but given how good these products are, I really do want to try the rest. If I ever get out that way again, I will go visit.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Quick Thoughts 24 July 25

Man, came home from PT to hear that Chuck Mangione and Hulk Hogan have passed. I played trumpet in high school, and loved what Chuck could do with a flugle horn. Hulk Hogan kept me entertained over the years. Godspeed to them both.

Unlike most on social media, I’m not a (sudden) expert on what is going on with Cambodia and Thailand. I didn’t realize things were that tense between them, and the outbreaks of fighting have caught me off guard. Not rushing into things, as I do have some biases from things that happened decades ago. Right now, just praying for peace.

The death of Irina Podnosova, head of the Russian Supreme Court has raised an eyebrow. Not the death itself, as it appears she died of cancer; rather, it has hit at an interesting time for Vladimir. She was his classmate in law school, and he hand picked her for the position. Given all that is going on, from international sanctions to internal threats, it creates a void where he counted on a solid bulwark.

I have to agree with CDR Salamander (again), that those who are trying to extrapolate future warfare from the limited and somewhat isolated specifics of Russia-Ukraine have gotten the future of air power wrong, as shown by what happened in Iran. Allow me to tap my sign again: drones are important but the driver is data and the C&C it allows. You want to win the next real war, figure out the next step beyond drones that is allowed by data. I’m starting to get some ideas, and will just note that he who controls the data controls the field.

If you missed it, Ukraine did a major attack on Russian logistics and production on the night of the 23rd. Logistics have been the weak link for Russia from the very beginning, and hitting the various parts hard is going to further complicate offensive efforts. Hitting refineries and manufacturing centers is also going to make life difficult for Russia. Russia has been frantic to obtain (and is obtaining) US and European manufacturing systems and components despite sanctions and such (we’ve talked about this before here, and the companies quite willing to flout the laws to make the sales). Add in severe manpower shortages in both logistics and manufacturing, and this will have some serious long-term effects. It may not do much short-term, but it will have an impact. More so than Russia’s countervalue attacks on civilian population centers.

Glad to see some in England standing up to the state on matters of immigration and crime. I don’t think it’s going to do much good, but it shows there is some English blood left in the system. The problem is the same for them as for Germany, Spain, and other European countries. In a fairly short time, they will be outbred and/or overrun via continuing immigration legal and illegal (pushed by the EU). I think Eastern Europe has a shot at avoiding it; France may avoid it if the people deal with it as Macaroon et cie are not going to do anything; and Italy has a shot as long as Meloni and company remain in power. With the people largely disarmed, and the ballot box a joke in most of the EU, I’m not optimistic. Maybe more on this next week. Esp. since I think we may see unpleasantness here soon.

What is coming out about “Russian Collusion” is probably going to end up the largest political scandal in American history. It really is already, and if corporate media is forced into covering it, I think it will blow the doors off Watergate and any other scandal you care to name. Add in that Obama II/The Biden Regency just outdid the Teapot Dome scandal by selling off the strategic helium reserve on top of emptying the strategic petroleum reserve, and I’m not willing to bet there was a way to cripple the U.S. they missed. While we have a chance to recover, and to restore the Constitutional Republic, I don’t think it’s going to be easy or fun. In fact, I see a lot of ways things could go sideways and/or south. Again, more on that soon.

Don’t take your eyes off the work being done by DataRepublican and Mike Benz. The NGO nest of incestuous snakes may yet strangle us; but, they continue to unravel and shine lights. Lot of distractions being pulled to take eyes of this and other important points. Like all the winning being done by the Trump administration. They keep looking for wedges, as that and delaying actions are all they have been able to bring into play to stop reforms. To borrow a bit from Sarah Hoyt, be ye not afraid and don’t miss that Trump has gotten more accomplished in his first six months than he did in his first full term. Long ways to go, but we are off to a start.

Oh, before I forget, yes, rogue judges are a problem and Roberts isn’t about to smack them down as he should. Yet, they are laying the seeds of their own destruction as the challenges are establishing law and precedent. By the time this is over, they will have killed the current two (or more) tier system and more of Article III than I care for. Our system of government as well as our civilization is built on the rule of law and the trust and respect that it requires. These judges have killed trust, eroded respect, and pretty much tossed the rule of law. I hope things get dealt with before it goes too much further, for after a point there is no turning back and no one with a functioning brain or morals wants to see the spitting on of hands and the hoisting of the black flag on a large scale.

I will note that corporate media is continuing to commit slow-motion suicide. The more they lie, from not covering what is coming out on the fake Russian collusion scandal to biased coverage of Israel/Gaza, the more trust erodes and the more viewers turn out. Never was a fan of Colbert, but the more they push an agenda instead of simply entertaining, the more revenues and viewership continue to drop. Find good sources, follow them, and support them. Remember, the more you do that, the more the wicked witch of corporate media turns into a puddle while screaming “I’m melting, I’m melting!”

If you can, please consider hitting the tip jar. PT has revealed some interesting things, including weakness and related problems on my right side. First up is a Bosu Ball to work on balance, then I’m going to have to do some serious strengthening work to get things back and balanced. Bosu Balls I have discovered are expensive; and, I may have to join a gym to work on some of the weakness issues. I may have to do a post on what the therapist and I got into today, as we plotted where I got hit, path, and problems. As Spock would say, “Fascinating” as we were even going over centers of the brain and why certain things have been going on.

More soon, including a review of some alcoholic products kindly shipped to me (thank you!). Meantime, count your blessings and be not afraid. Just remember: be prepared, keep your friends and family close, and keep your things where you can find them in the dark.

Re-Thinking Thinking About The Unthinkable

The good CDR Salamander has just put up a must-read post about nuclear war, nuclear theory, and preventing ‘the unthinkable.’ It is very well written; very well considered; and, refreshingly honest about where we are in terms of deterrence.

There are several points he makes with which I fully agree and endorse fully. We’ve been stuck in a mindset that is indeed “stuck in aspic” (LOVE that whole paragraph!) with the mouldering corpse of Kahn-ic thought for far too long. The so-called elite thinkers have little touch with reality that I can find, can’t agree on definitions to save their lives, and given that he is right (very) and they have not gotten a single non-nuclear war right in more than fifty years is less than re-assuring. I would also note that the times nuclear launch was averted it was not by the elites; rather, good and unpretentious men who saw the data didn’t add up and didn’t act to launch. In fact, of the times of which I am aware, it was the elites (and the politicians they advised) who had pushed things hot.

He’s also absolutely right about war games and war gaming things out. Remember, I wasn’t allowed to be OPFOR because I didn’t play the war game game. I played to win. I played to try to use them to figure out problems and solutions; which is a sin in the eyes of some for whom the games were a way to game pet theories into acceptance and use.

Two other points to make. First, I’ve never been comfortable with a triad. Remove one and it’s no longer stable. You need multiple legs. Second, I have always thought MAD was an abomination to God and to Man. It was and is morally, ethically, socially, and philosophically reprehensible. MAD is countervalue and gives you Philip Wylie and Triumph, or On The Beach. Disgusting concept and we can and should do better.

Sal gives a LOT of good food for thought. I would like to add the following to the mix, however.

First, while not nuclear, we should be looking at adding KEVs to the mix. If we can drop a deep penetrator down air shafts, we can drop a KEV. Which also means we need to consider weapons in space, which is a can of worms but one I think has already been opened. KEVs are flexible and yield can be adjusted via speed. When I say flexible, look at what Jerry Pournelle wrote about Project Thor, which was basically a crowbar with a semi-smart guidance package. Then look at some more recent work. Thing is, a range of options with a lot more flexibility than a nuke is likely to.

Second, we need to be looking at defense. Yes, Trump has announced Golden Dome and I have some hope for it. However, keep in mind that politicians on the left have done everything in their power to stop any and all work on defense against nuclear attack. We need layers and options, and the thing is some of what was done for SDI is still out there and works. The more layers, the better. Also, keep in mind those politicians who pushed for no defense were happy for you to die, though they would likely be secure and safe in their shelters.

Third, we need to look at civil defense options. I don’t think the program of the 50s is needed; but, we do need some civil defense. As I’ve noted before, there are aspects of it that are useful in other situations such as storm, fire, etc. It’s a concept that needs to be explored if we are going to have a serious talk on nuclear reform (including ways to keep the genie in the bottle).

Finally, I do think we also need to consider the need to transfer nukes to safety when portions of Europe fall to the invaders. Along with building a bulkwark in the East as discussed here with related discussion here.

I know some of you have experience and made some good points before in previous posts on nuclear war. Sound off here and there, keeping in mind this is a public forum.

Sake

On a nicer and more tasty subject, I want to commend to you two posts (so far) about Sake from Francis Turner at Lesser Known Japan. One of the more educational nights I spent in Japan years back was sitting at a bar enjoying a conversational lecture on the history of Sake. The lecture was fascinating and the four samples of different styles of Sake were delicious and very intoxicating. The man giving the lecture was actually an expat Israeli, who had studied Japanese history and loved sharing the history of the drink. In earlier times, for instance, it was much more a liqueur or cordial. Some of the older forms of Sake pack quite the punch.

Here is Part One of his series; and, here is Part Two. There is more to come. Given the subject, I suspect much more to come. It is a fascinating bit of history, culinary and otherwise. Go check them out, and if you are ever looking at going to Japan, the site is full of treasures regular tourists rarely see. And, if you can’t go, you can find a number of the brands he talks about here and doing a tasting should be a lot of fun.

Some Oddities

Sorry for the longer-than-I-want silences, but life has been busy and interesting. One of the things I’ve been dealing with are computer related. About six weeks ago, I discovered somone had “fingerprinted” my main browser. What this means is that even with VPNs and such, if you use that browser you can be tracked.

Now, lots of people try to fingerprint systems these days, as the data on where you go and what you look at makes them money. Governments can do it to track what you do online for investigations. Some governments (and others) do it gain dirt and leverage. The question always is, do you let on you know or do you take immediate action.

I chose to wait in part because I wanted to see if I could gain any data; have some fun via false trails (was tempted to take them to the worst photos on the net, such as fake nudes of Mad Maxine or Bella Abzug in a tutu); and, see if I could detect any intrusions.

Thing is, there may have been some penetration of my systems. Can’t prove, but have been going through and trying to check some things. I also realized I was off schedule on backups and such, so I’ve been working on that and trying to secure my system. Going to have to dump the main browser and get a new one. Secondary browser is fingerprinted, but it is a fingerprint shared with about 20 million other computers so not too worried about it.

So, things may be a bit spotty for a while longer as I continue to try to deal with this. And, yes, I am doing this off the main, compromised browser. Sometimes you just have to say “hi guys” and see if any cockroaches scatter. It’s probably nothing, but this day and age why take chances? I’m not on Sharyl Atkinson’s level, but things do happen.

Hang tight, because I see some interesting things on the horizon. Some political, some social, and some otherwise. Keep your guard up, be prepared, keep your family and friends close, and your things where you can find them in the dark.

Random Quick Thoughts

No detailed post today, but I will share some thoughts and musings about some of the things I’m seeing in the world. Or, possibly out of it as well.

First up, I’m to a point where I believe several non-contradictory things about the Epstein saga. My post here I think may still have some validity; but, I would also note a few other things. The Swamp is not going to go without a fight, and I am amazed any evidence survived once the election was lost. That said, I would not be surprised if that “evidence” was as corrupt and tainted. I also believe that this has not been handled well, which is why Dems are using it as a wedge issue to try and slow the administration down. It’s pretty much all they have, and it was handed to them on a silver platter. While I want to see justice for Epstein’s victims, I also don’t think it is likely at this point and I want things done right. It is important.

Second, I both do and don’t get those upset with the administration. No, everything hasn’t magically been done or accomplished. That said, look at Trump 1 and then compare how much has been done in the first six months of Trump 2. It’s orders of magnitude more, and right now the left knows it’s been hit by a train but the plans to thwart the administration have not worked out. As noted above, Epstein uproar is the first wedge issue they’ve had and they are using it like mad. In fact, they are overplaying their hand — badly even. I hope they do keep going with it, as it will bite them hard in the rump and soon. Meantime, go read this excellent post by Sarah A. Hoyt and have patience. Let’s take the time to do things right, so that we don’t get into a tit for tat situation that blows up in our faces. A lot is being done to save our Republic, but I still see too many ways it can fail and do so in a way that takes us down some very bad roads. Roads no sane person wants to tread, and especially doesn’t want friends and family to have to tread.

In regards the Middle East, Iran is reverting to form and threatening Trump’s life and more. He, and Israel, showed great restraint in the 12-Day War. Iran should not count on the same if there is a Round Two. Other countries are not happy with them as well, and the huge arms shipment they tried to get to the Houthis got intercepted. Since our corporate media isn’t covering it, you might note the number of “gas explosions” in Tehran of late as well as the fact that many of them seem to be at the homes of IRGC and political leadership. Pity about that…

As for Israel bombing Syria, I would simply note that Israel has warned for weeks to not go after the Druze and other minorities. That was ignored and an effort to start the rape, torture, and murder of those under Israeli protection begun. Israel shut down that not-so-little bit of planned genocide (and yes, that’s what was planned) rather quickly. Good on them.

No comment yet on the Christian church in Gaza that was damaged. Heard this morning that the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox patriarchs for Jerusalem have gone in to visit, assess, and do what they can. Not a lot of trustworthy data yet, so biding my time. Over on X, Bree A. Dail has been doing some good and thoughtful coverage that is worth checking out. Just keep in mind that the “Gazan Government” is Hamass and the UN is in bed with Hamass as well. As sources, they are about as reliable as CNN and the NYT. In otherwords, don’t trust, just verify.

Moving further north, David Strom has a good post up on where things stand in regards Russia. At least in terms of the current administration. I see signs of a lot going on behind the curtain, as the recent death of the Transportation Minister seems to have woken some people up. It may have caused a few moments of clarity, if you will, from some of the maneuvering underway. Keep in mind, however, that the Russian leadership and elites live not just in a bubble, but in bubbles in silos inside a larger bubble.

I think it was on X that I pointed out that Vladimir needs one heck of an off ramp in regards Ukraine. He put it all on the line when he rolled the dice, as this was intended to be the grand introduction of the true implementation of Russkiy Mir — and make him man of the decade and guarantee he was the grand poohbah for life. Instead, he’s ended up peeing into a LOT of people’s corn flakes, at home and abroad, and doing so to Trump was not a smart move. I agree with David that it seems some up at the top are getting this; but, their options are limited. I’m honestly wondering if we might soon hear of medical crisis, accident, or such in regards Vladimir. If not, bet we will hear about some top-level people having “accidents.” Things are getting very interesting in Moscow.

On to larger matters, yesterday Coffee and Covid (a site I’m starting to try to read regularly) re-ran an older post with some updates. If you think it’s been wetter than normal of late, and noted a few other odd things, it may well be climate change. Just not man-made climate change. Unless you think Hunga Tonga is alive and human, which would preclude it from being an image from Revelations. A good case is presented; and, the data appears to hold together. Check it out and sound off on what you think about it. Hat tip and thanks to fellow lightning-strike survivor Snarkalorian for introducing me to C&C a while back, and pointing out this particular piece.

More soon I hope. And, I may update this post later if I find the other item I bookmarked (or thought I had bookmarked). Be safe, be good, be prepared. Keep your friends and family close, and your things where you can find them in the dark.

Ooops

Sorry for the dead air, it has been interesting on a couple of fronts. Nothing bad, or at least not too bad, but they have eaten at my time.

For those who hit the tip jar recently, Thank You! I did finally get to go celebrate my Alive Day (it falls during the Apostle’s Fast) and had a good meal. I couldn’t justify the expense of a good steak place, so went for something different: Vietnamese. Hands down, Pho 21 is the best Vietnamese food I’ve had in Indy. Great service as well, and the fried pork chop was amazingly delicious. I did eat a few more carbs than normal, but it was worth it.

Physical therapy is going well. The therapist identified some weak areas/muscle groups and we are working on them. She’s also got me doing a number of things in regards balance, coordination, vertigo, etc. Much of that is simply re-programming the brain to remember how to handle certain inputs/situations. Doing two days a week there, and five days a week here at home. Takes time, but if I don’t do it and don’t push, nothing is going to change. I need it to change.

Weather makes riding the bike fun — if you find sweating badly fun. Actually rode it to physical therapy one day so the therapist could see me get on, off, and ride. Some of the balance, coordination, vertigo, etc. work is actually specific to riding the bike. The idea is get me back comfortable and in-control when riding.

Massage therapy is helping as well. I had a therapist recommended to me that has proven to be excellent. She’s more expensive than the local massage therapist, but she’s much better and got amazing results out of our first session. So much so I will be phasing out the local therapist and just going to the new therapist for now.

Music therapy has been on hold to some extent, as my voice coach has been away on vacation. That should start back up again soon. I really enjoy singing, and it’s nice to be getting to the point that I’m happy with how it sounds. Still can’t look at notes and tell you what they are, but I can sing them. It does help to have the starting note, I admit, but slowly getting where I do a decent job without a “guide.”

More soon.

About The Epstein Files

If you are surprised at what has happened in regards Epstein and the “files,” I’ve got a bridge for sale and a few thoughts to share. Others have said some of them, but I’m also trying to put things together to help others work through and make their own decisions.

First up, yes, I do think he was an IC asset. I’ve already seen several pointing out (in suspiciously similar terms) that there is no proof he worked for the CIA or (insert agency here). That he had a number of ties to the CIA and others in the IC (and governments here and abroad, etc.) is well known and documented. Got news for you, quite a few assets are not employees of the CIA or any other intelligence agency. They are called assets for a reason.

Second, the IC does make use of some rather interesting and dubious characters. Fact is, people who ware willing to share information (and more) for money, and are members in terrorist organizations, organized crime, or other such interesting things are rarely the type person you bring home to meet mother or meet in church. This was what drove the feckless peanut Jimmah to do lasting damage to our intelligence capabilities by gutting and hamstringing human intelligence (HUMINT). I’ve complained about him before, and I once again point out that we will be generations fixing the damage that man did to us there and around the globe.

That said, there is a bit of a pecking order to assets. You do get, on occasion, the principled person who does something out of conviction and profound belief. Those usually defect, sooner or later. The rest, well, it varies and you will find cold-blooded killers given more respect than human traffickers and perverts. The latter, if various tales be true, often used to get burned if not outright eliminated when convenient. But even there, there is a pecking order. Those who go after small children, infants even, are the lowest of the low. Those who go after teenagers and young adults, well, these days they are almost considered respectable in some quarters. After all, it is a much more widely shared — and indulged — thing even among the so-called elite.

Nor is such limited to overseas. For all that there is a stereotype of British aristocracy liking young boys (and it is a stereotype for a reason), girls and boys are well liked by far too many in power it seems. Again, stereotypes exist for a reason. File that for a moment.

Now, keep in mind that Epstein was noted for not only being well connected to important and powerful people (cough Clinton Gates ad nauseum cough) but also to those in middle and lower positions of power. I hate to give him any credit, but he did favors for a lot of people lower in the chain simply because they might be in a position to help him out later. Always a good idea to have people at all levels owing you favors — and/or having leverage to force a favor. Epstein I think knew that well, far better than many of the powerful he hung with.

Now, is there anyone who thinks that didn’t extend to law enforcement, including both the DOJ and the FBI? If so, look at how one investigation got derailed simply by his being declared a needed intelligence asset. The implications made about him and his relationship to the IC are most interesting and telling.

When things finally did hit a point he was arrested this last time, I would argue he clearly thought he would skate again. When that appeared murky, that he or the evidence might implicate others, well, pity about what happened.

Thing is, with that and with the incoming administration pledging to get to the bottom of things and name names, do you think that those in the IC, DOJ, and FBI (to name just three areas) were going to just sit around fat and happy? Or, do you think that as much evidence as possible got destroyed? Or otherwise rendered inaccessible and/or legally unusable? Also consider that the high and powerful are going to take steps to protect themselves by whatever means they can, and that some of them are in very strong positions of power. Also remember that power, and well as perversion, know few political or other boundaries.

Now, go watch the video of Trump jumping in when Bondi was asked about Epstein. Personally, I think he was frightened and wanting to do two things: give Bondi an out and de-ligitimize any and all inquiries about Epstein. What could scare Trump that badly? It’s not him he’s scared for. Watch his and others body language.

Then, watch Bondi. She pulls the trick taught in dealing with media 101 and does it well. She responds first not to what she was asked, but to the questions she wanted to answer. Note that no one has called for the release of the child porn allegedly made or collected by Epstein or others. No one has called for private information on known or unknown victims to be released. Her answers were a distraction and an attempt to put all answers under the umbrella of privacy. Huge red flag. When she does get around to the actual questions asked, note the precision and limits of her answers. Look at her body language throughout. That was not a happy woman, and she does not like the position she is in.

I’m left with a very strong suspicion that more than one powerful person let it be known what would happen if their name got mentioned in any way, shape, or form in connection to Epstein. I suspect one or more of them are very important to current efforts, and/or could do significant damage to the country (and other countries even) if they so chose. Whomever, whatever, we are not talking a minor scandal or even something Profumo-level. It would be something even larger, with the ability to bring down one or more governments.

If we ever know what was going on, I suspect it will be many, many years from now. I know I’m sure not going to go digging, as I have no desire to dig my own grave. For all that I hate seeing the monsters win again, there are times and places to pick battles. Seeing Trump’s reaction confirms my thought that this is not the time for such. It may yet come, and I hope it does. I really did want to see justice done for Epstein’s victims, for all the victims of the monsters. But I’m also sort of used to it at this point. Never have liked it. All one can do is pray for justice one day, even knowing it won’t happen this day. Mayhaps there truly is a rogue version of the Army of Northern Virginia out there; and, if so, may they have good hunting.

Physical Therapy Underway

Had my first physical therapy session today, which mostly was testing. As expected. I’ve gone back to the good place I went to for my shoulder rehab after getting the new joints, and am working with two very good people there. Am delighted to get them as I know they know their stuff and have a good bit of experience.

Now we wait and see how many sessions, if any, the insurance will cover. We know roughly what it should do, but the fact is that even with the best of insurance these days caca occureth. Hoping for the best, planning for the worst, so feel free to hit the tip jar. May need a few rides there as I may not always be able to ride my bike (like today).

Already have homework, which I am looking forward to doing. There are some exercises I can do here at home, and we are going to build on that. My goals are simple: improve balance, improve coordination, and be able to get up and down unassisted. If we can deal with some of the vertigo and related, all the better. As I’ve noted before, hitting the floor is easy. It’s the getting back up again that is hard. Nice thing is, the physical therapists already have a plan for that.

More soon.

Alive Day Bleg

Okay, this is a small update to my Bleg post. I would normally celebrate my big Alive Day on 30 June, as that is the day I was hit by lightning. I’ve had some close calls before, but that is the big one. However, that day now falls during the Apostle’s Fast so I don’t go out to celebrate it on that day anymore. What I will do is celebrate it (and my birthday, small alive days, etc.) on a day in July that is outside the Apostle’s Fast.

Yes, I would appreciate all the help your gifts provide for recovery efforts, but I also would like to go out for a nice meal as well. If you like what I do, and can spare a bit for a gift, know you and your gift are much appreciated. If you want to specify your gift towards a particular activity (music, PT, etc.) I will earmark it for that. If you want to specify the Alive Day meal, feel free. Anything over the cost of the meal will go towards food and food preparation.

Again, thank you for your kind gifts these last few years. They have truly made the difference, and allowed me to keep going and to push recovery, especially when things weren’t possible through traditional medical channels. You, and your kindness, are very much appreciated.