THOUGHTS About The News.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

The issue: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the Arsenal Premier League title after-party in Brooklyn on May 30, but snubbed the Israel Day parade the next day. You see, I may have an “untoward” word about the Jewish government on account of the Gaza annihilation but I am an ordinary dude, not the Mayor. Zohran can always voice his political displeasure of Bibi Netanyahu, of course, but he is also Gotham’s hizzoner. New York is the state with the largest Jewish population in America, with over 1.7 million Jewish residents. New York City has the highest number of Jewish residents of any city. 

       Forget that The Big Apple is also home to the world’s most number of billionaires, but who cares, right? Not all Jewish in NY are as rich as Mike Bloomberg or Steven Cohen. I have Jewish in Queens who are as “everyday people” as you and me; some of them share my anti-war activism. Anyhow, would Zohran attend the Knicks/Spurs Finals game/s at MSG? Well, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is Jewish, same with Timothee Chalamet and Ben Stiller. But then, the Mayor may sit with Arsenal buddy Spike Lee instead? Fosho. 😞🤨👎

Yahoo: “Ball State's Gavin Yates-Lyons fatally shot after graduating high school.” A year after I landed in America via New York City (from the Philippines), the Columbine school massacre shocked the world. I was also extremely baffled. Yet from that point, mass shootings spiked exponentially, and as politics divides Americans, hate and mental health crises heightened. And gun ownership increased to 120.5 per 100.

      Then, I may have agreed that “fascination” with guns was a Right-wing story. Not really. Guns are not a sole Conservative or NRA obsession. It is an American cultural fact. I know of many Left-wing or liberal/progressive friends who actually own more than 3 guns each. The U.S. hasn’t really gone past the 1880s Tombstone/O.K. Corral fix. So be it. Hence, the common sense reflex (sic) is to keep that firearm in a “secret safe.” Only you know the combination, especially if you have kids or minors in the house. And try to be cool. ☮️🗽☮️

MONDAY THOUGHT, 2. The Independent: “Former ICE chief accuses Trump's inner circle of 'watering down' deportation policy.” Pressure. That’s what the Minnesota drama was successful at. Push ICE away, as the Left made good as well in pushing public scrutiny about the state’s massive social services scam. Anyhow, this data matters why ICE had to step up: Historically, or before the 21st century, border crossings were at 100k a year. In Fiscal Year 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded 400,651 apprehensions along the Southwest border. But the crisis level shuddered the most from 2021 to 2024, when the number exploded to 1 million+ average. (We are back to 1970s level a year after Donald Trump sat in White House.)

      We can probably argue data per fentanyl addiction or whatever. The fact is, that gargantuan increase in the undocumented not just crushed or bankrupted U.S. immigration fiscal management, but the issue also heightened the U.S. divide. We are not really discussing the immediate outcome of the problem. We are using this as a weapon to demonize the other half of the partisanship caterwaul. 🗽🏃‍♀️🏃

Reuters: “Canada's new citizenship rules are opening a door many Americans didn't expect.” There is a huge population of Asians and Filipinos in Canada. I have many relatives there. You see, Canada has historically maintained more lenient and structured immigration pathways than many other developed nations, including the United States. Yet as Donald Trump got more strict in implementing border security (due to the obvious), the Left howled that POTUS is actually “limiting” U.S. entry, regardless of passport and visa. So go to Canada, which is more lenient. Duh. But get in, legally. Of course. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

CBS: “Jill Biden defends Hunter pardon: 'We could not let our son go to jail'.” That is a mother talking. That is an emotional reflex. Instinct. So that isn’t news. I remember my mom (when she was still alive), she’d pay bail (or whatever) + “bonuses” to narcotics agents, call kin who were government officials, to get my erring brothers out of jail. That was then, of course, my siblings have long been reformed. No one spent a day in the slammer.

      Imagine all the mothers who sold properties or took out massive loans to “save” their children from imprisonment? The difference with Hunter is, he is the son of the President of the United States of America. So before others were pardoned per Presidential Pardon privilege, Hunter should get it first. Uh huh. 🏛🗽🏛

Business Insider: “Peter Thiel's reported move to Argentina reflects a growing trend among billionaires.” Trend? Come on, now. Mr Thiel is a billionaire. The super-rich could have 15 residences, globally–especially in those countries that they have investments. Billionaires can “move” wherever and whenever they want. Then they can easily move back to their “roots” when the mood beckons. (They even have private airplanes sitting in their private hangars!) That is just the way they are, not because of "Trump's economy." Hey, there's still no "wealth tax" in the U.S. or wherever in the world. Those few economies who do, charge only an average of 1 percent. ✈️😰✈️

Rolling Stone: “Morgan Wallen knocks over a piano on stage during Denver concert.” Nobody hurt? So this is not news. This is typical rock music (or whatever genre) onstage antics. The Who’s Pete Townshend made it an art, actually. Destroying his Stratocaster or ramming it on the speakers as a concert finale. Remember Ron Mael of the less popular Sparks? His gimmick was wicked stoicism, before he kicked his piano down. In 1987, Billy Joel flipped over his keyboard during a concert in Moscow. Yes, in Russia! Hey, better than political grandstanding or anti-Trump howls, you reckon? LOL!

      On Friday night in Denver, the country star Morgan did a Billy “mischief.” While the reason given on Joel’s display of defiance was his displeasure with film crew lighting, Morgan’s piano uprising seems to have stemmed from some good, old-fashioned technical difficulties. Of course, critics and media often label Mr Wallen’s "outlaw" image and fan base as politically conservative or "MAGA-coded.” You dig? 🎸🎼😰 

Yahoo Sports: “Ohtani shows off his 2-way greatness with another historic performance.” Good to know that sports superstars are getting to be more (culturally) diverse. NBA’s Nikola Jokic is Serbian, Luka Doncic is Slovenian, and Victor Wembanyama is French (parents were from Belgium and Congo). Of course, Ohtani san is Japanese. And top NFL draft pick, Fernando Mendoza of the Las Vegas Raiders has roots in Spain and Cuba.    

       And need I repeat: These NBA guys are Filipino-Americans (or mother is Filipina): Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs), Jordan Clarkson (New York Knicks), Jared McCain (OKC Thunder), Jalen Green (Phoenix Suns), and Dylan’s bro Ron Harper Jr. (Boston Celtics). Dylan who played against Jared in the Conference finals, will be pitted versus Jordan in the Finals. Sweet! ⚾️🏈🏀