Petrified Truth

I've often thought about the absolutely perfect storm that created the Covid cover up. It is often overlooked that creating Covid was the easy part. You send advanced Western biotechnology and a blueprint to a Communist Party affiliated lab that specialized in cutting corners, and something like that was bound to happen, just like Chernobyl was bound to happen for similar reasons. But the cover up part was not that easy. Every single moving part had to align, from scientists to politicians to media to ordinary people. And uniquely, perhaps in human history, every part did align. There are many reasons for this, ranging from not wanting to upset China, to wanting to keep the grant money flowing, to reputational self-preservation, institutional self-protection, and a general inability to acknowledge catastrophic error. But none of that would have been enough without the glue that held it all together, and that glue was always Trump Derangement Syndrome. What every single player in this cover up, from Fauci to Daszak to various scientists to the media to Biden’s people and Democrats generally, and large parts of the population, all had in common was Trump hatred. They simply could not allow Trump to be right. And they still can’t, just look at the fact that they boycotted yesterday’s session with the CIA whistleblower who exposed the truth.

Most of what we know about how to love, how to endure, how to come home to ourselves, was placed in us by a woman who was spending her wisdom while we were too young to thank her. She did not save it for the right moment. She poured it out daily, in lullabies and packed lunches, in the way she said our name when we walked through the door, in the prayers she whispered over us when we slept. Happy Mother’s Day…

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries just called the Supreme Court "illegitimate." That follows Democratic politicians and pundits calling for the packing of the Supreme Court. Nothing says Happy 250th Anniversary like tearing down the core institutions of the Republic.

There is a way past the absurd and deeply divisive “war” between the President and the Pope, which has been enthusiastically ginned up by the press. And it is indicated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2309 to be precise. After laying out the various criteria for determining a just war—proportionality, last resort, declaration by a competent authority, reasonable hope of success, etc.—the Catechism points out that “the evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.” The assumption is that the just war principles function, to use the technical term, as heuristic devices, designed to guide the practical decision-making of those civil authorities who have to adjudicate matters of war and peace. The role of the Church, therefore, is to call for peace and to urge that any conflict be strictly circumscribed by the moral constraints of the just war criteria. But it is not the role of the Church to evaluate whether a particular war is just or unjust. That appraisal belongs to the civil authorities, who, one presumes, have requisite knowledge of conditions on the ground. So, is the war in question truly the last resort? Is there really a balance between the good to be attained and the destruction caused by the war? Are combatants and non-combatants being properly distinguished in the waging of the conflict? Do the belligerents have right intention? Is there a reasonable hope of success? The posing of those questions—indeed the insistence upon their moral relevance—belongs rightly to the Church, but the answering of them belongs to the civil authorities. The Pope has said, on numerous occasions, that he is not a politician and that his role is not the determination of any nation's foreign policy. But he has just as clearly said that he will continue to speak for peace and for moral constraint. In making both of these claims, he is operating perfectly within the framework of paragraph 2309 of the Catechism. If we understand that the Pope and the President have qualitatively different roles to play in the determination of moral action in regard to war, we can, I hope, extricate ourselves from the completely unhelpful narrative of “Pope vs. President.”

The dots that only a few seem to connect is that the Venezuela+Iran double tap was a headshot aimed at China, who's saying goodbye to cheap oil. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz thinking it was holding the West hostage. But in reality, 90 percent of the oil that flows through that strait goes east, and almost half of that goes to China in heavily subsidized product. Iran was not holding a gun to America's head. Iran was holding a gun to China's gas tank and screaming "LOOK HOW POWERFUL I AM YA FILTHY INFIDEL!!" at Washington. Because fuck logic I guess So what happened next was predictable to everyone except, apparently, the IRGC. Saudi Arabia said "Fine, I'll do this myself" and cranked its pipeline to the Red Sea to nearly seven million barrels a day. The UAE expanded its pipeline to the Gulf of Oman. Nature is healing. American crude exports hit a record 4.9 million barrels a day in April alone. Right now, 121 empty tankers turned around and sailed to the United States to load up on American oil because... it turns out there's an obscene amount of American oil. Iran's one big card, the only economic leverage it had left, just forced every customer on earth to build a permanent detour around Iran. That's like barricading yourself inside the only bridge in town and then watching the city build four new bridges while you sit there starving. The regime traded decades of chokepoint relevance for a few weeks of headlines and a negotiating position that got worse every single day. Their oil revenue collapsed. Bypass infrastructure is going up. And the Asian buyers who used to depend on the Strait are locking in American and Russian and African supply chains that will never route back through Hormuz. A broken Iran means China has to buy American, and any plans to pose a threat to Taiwan were put on indefinite hold. The Iranian regime keeps doubling down on this nonsense. Because what else can they do?

@arealmofwonder Poignant indeed.

Time for my annual share of this amazing song that is full of so much tender solace and comfort ✨️ (If it's your first time hearing it, be sure to drop a comment as the algorithm will definitely be limiting its reach.) youtu.be/Hg1xFYpXuWA?is…

@jmasseypoet Your poems and photography help, actually.

I’ve stopped asking myself, “Can things get any crazier?” Because they will. They always do. We live in a timeline of infinite rubber rooms. Locate true stillness in beautiful things: poetry, Johann Sebastian Bach, long walks in the natural world. Prioritize sanity.

During World War II, Hitler was convinced that Americans lacked the will to fight and that any who did would be quickly overwhelmed. When early reports arrived from the battles in North Africa, German observers noted that Americans fought differently from the Europeans. Rather than charging aggressively and risking heavy infantry casualties, U.S. forces relied on overwhelming firepower—staying at a distance and expending vast quantities of artillery with little hesitation. Thanks to unmatched industrial production and logistics, fresh supplies were always available. This approach allowed relatively smaller American units to wear down much larger and well-entrenched enemy forces. In contrast, German and other European doctrines often emphasized aggressive maneuver and were sometimes more willing to accept high casualties to achieve objectives or preserve key equipment. This material-heavy American style surprised many Germans, including Hitler, who had long dismissed U.S. soldiers as soft and lacking in fighting spirit. He believed soldiers were cheap and expendable; he discovered too late that Americans fought to conserve lives by expending machines and ammunition instead. It was one of many reasons for Germany’s defeat—perhaps the hardest for some foreigners to fully understand. Americans place a high value on the lives of our soldiers. Equipment and shells could always be replaced.

Viggo Mortensen on his favourite scene in the Lord of the Rings trilogy: the departure of Boromir. “That scene, I have to say—no offence to anybody else or any other part of the trilogy—but that’s maybe my favourite scene. It’s such a beautiful scene. And there are no effects, there are no imaginary monsters. It’s just two people who have a connection in terms of their ethnicity—you know, Gondor and all that—but they’ve been at odds. They’ve been kinda butting heads until then. And then there’s just such a strong connection.”

t.co/ojKYSSfduc Watch: the national security expert John Spencer who studied Hamas’s use of human shields and child sacrifice in Gaza reveals what no Western media outlet dares to show. Muslims worldwide are outraged and want this video erased from the internet. So please share!

Dear Mr. President, I’ve been thinking about this in the shower and I have a plan. The problem isn’t Iran. It’s the ship crews. These are my people. Merchant Mariners are an odd lot. “Show some guts” doesn’t work because these guys have crossed the North Atlantic in winter. They already know what they’ve got. We are a practical lot. Common sense, as you often say. So avenging our deaths by carpet bombing Iran, while a a generous token, doesn’t do much to motivate us. Dead is dead. You can’t collect on a life insurance policy if the underwriter at Lloyd’s has TDS, and most of them do. Plus those supertanker fires are nasty. Think AOC when she’s as old as Pelosi. Our phrase is Acta Non Verba. Actions, not words. So someone will have to sail through first. And it’s not enough to sail with AIS off under the cover of dark. Someone has to sail in broad daylight with an enormous American flag streaming over the stern. The biggest flag you’ve ever seen. Huge. It’s a show of flag exercise so we want something big. Step one: you need a Captain. Someone kinda well known. Handsome, ideally, a man of faith of course, debonair would be nice but we can work with what we’ve got. Here’s what I’ll do. I’m heading to the big CMA conference tomorrow and will recruit a crew. I’m a little rusty but a great crew can compensate for a lot of command failures. Ask any Admiral. My license needs to be renewed, and I’ll need someone to waive all those stupid classes the UN’s @IMOHQ wants me to take. Seven courses, Mr. President. To do the same job I’ve been doing for 30 years. Pete is a good judge of character, he can vouch for me. A note from the President to Admiral Lundy should do. Might be the fastest the Coast Guard has ever moved on anything. But I need a just a few small things in return. First, I need a SEAL team or equivalent. Just a small platoon but preferably one of those tier one guys if available. They can’t shoot down drones or anything, but they absolutely can tell me to man up when I inevitably say “WTF was I thinking.” Pete, if you’re reading this, feel free to send your best. I promise I will not make them sit through a PowerPoint. Also, I fully expect at least one Admiral in charge of the convoy frigates to do something dumb…. like epic level retarded… and SEALs are historically very good at straightening out Admirals. Consider it an interservice relations exercise. Next, we need some of those Navy Corpsmen. The crazy bastards who embed with Marines. If we get hit and my leg needs amputation, I want it done by a guy who’s done it before, not a guy who’s got s rusty saw and an ikea manual. That’s it. You don’t even need to pay me or my crew a cent. Honestly, this might be the best deal ever, and I know you’ve seen some deals. Oh, just one more thing. We want the same deal y’all gave Bruce Willis’s crew in Armageddon. No more federal taxes. For life. You’ve seen the movie, sir. That scene is basically a documentary about how to negotiate with the federal government. And if I don’t make it? I want to be buried next to Dad in Arlington, and my kids and wife get the no-taxes-ever thing. That’s the Captain Konrad family plan. Very competitive rates. Lastly, we’re going to need a few ships to follow us into Hormuz. Probably no more than ten. I suggest Filipino-crewed ships. They are the best mariners in the world, they are tough as hell, and they will not complain too much. Actually all mariners complain but I’ll have them do that part in tagalog. For the first ten ships that volunteer to follow me through, each crew gets one of your Golden Visas (brilliant idea, by the way) and a pork adobo cookout at the White House on a date of your choosing. I’ll even get one of the guys to send you the recipe. It’s delicious. Trust me. That’s about it. Just let me know what airport I should meet the jet at tomorrow afternoon. Very Best Regards, Captain John Konrad Master, Unlimited Tonnage US Merchant Marine

If you want to know why Donald Trump was elected, watch Barack Obama’s attack speech yesterday at Jesse Jackson’s funeral. As he did throughout his presidency, he created a straw man to describe Republicans as bigots who force the American people to “turn on each other”. He said similar crap when he was President and the GOP was the party of Bush, McCain and Romney. It’s the language of bitterness and resentment that makes good people recoil to be described that way. Obama is one of the most divisive figures in US history, except he is celebrated by the MSM because they are partisans. They take sides and loved and protected Obama. It’s no wonder a tough, no BS, bull in the China shop emerged. That person was a fed up Trump, who broke the MSM by not caring what they thought. He showed Rs they could punch back against the Ds and win. His rise coincided with the welcome birth, at long last, of conservative media which gave voice to the voiceless who had been forced to consume the prejudices of the MSM. I can’t stand Obama. He was weak, patronizing, condescending and he put America last. But having listened to him yesterday, I reminded the only good thing he did was help elect President Trump.

Wow. This was sent to all the midshipmen at the Naval Academy. Pray for our future military officers as they prepare! "Brigade of Midshipmen, As you have seen in the news, our Joint Force has begun military operations against Iran. For decades, Iran has waged a proxy war against American forces and our partners across the Middle East. The events now unfolding are historic. They are consequential. And they demand serious reflection from all of us. For some of your company mates who have only recently graduated, this is no longer theoretical. It is not a case study. It is not a classroom discussion. It is real. They are likely participating in these operations today, standing watch, flying sorties, leading Sailors and Marines, executing missions on behalf of our great country. They are carrying the weight of decisions that matter. Soon enough, that responsibility will be yours. This moment should sharpen your perspective. The fate of nations, the stability of regions, and the lives of your fellow Americans are not abstract ideas. They rest in the hands of officers who are competent, disciplined, and morally grounded. The fate of the Iranian people, like so many populations caught under regimes that choose hostility over peace, will ultimately be shaped in part by how professionally and decisively American forces conduct themselves. You've heard me talk about warfighting and our focus on it. What you are seeing in the news is an example of why we must be ready. Warfighting is not a slogan. It is the core purpose of our Navy and Marine Corps. It requires intellectual rigor in the classroom, physical toughness on the field, and professional seriousness in every training evolution. It requires leaders who understand history, technology, human behavior, and the moral weight of command. It requires officers who can think clearly under pressure and act decisively in uncertainty. This is not a time for distraction. It is not a time for complacency. It is a time... to double down. Double down academically, master your disciplines. Whether you study engineering, cyber, political science, or literature, your ability to think critically will shape your effectiveness in combat. Double down athletically, physical resilience underpins combat effectiveness. The demands placed on junior officers in operational units are unrelenting. Double down professionally, treat every formation, every brief, every watch, and every leadership opportunity as preparation for the day when the stakes are real. Our mission remains clear: to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically and to imbue you with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty. Those ideals are not ornamental. They are operational necessities. History does not ask whether we feel ready. It simply arrives. We are not simply another college, our responsibility is far greater. We will continue to prepare you accordingly. With Respect, Your Supe LtGen Michael J. Borgschulte, USMC 66th Superintendent"

@Andrewnsnyder 100%

When I read The Silmarillion, I hear the voice of Martin Shaw. Andy Serkis does a great job, but Shaw really nails the intonation.

That’s because there are no taboos anymore. The contemporary art world exhausted them; they have no charge left to them. What’s transgressive today is a return to truth, beauty, and actual skill—things that have been neglected as the sewer pipe churns.

I was impressed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio's speech at the Munich Security Conference. He indeed addressed a number of particular political issues, but what most grabbed my attention was his stress on the common culture that unites Europe and America. He cited Dante, Shakespeare, the Sistine Chapel, Cologne Cathedral—even the Beatles as expressions of basic cultural intuitions that still inform the West. But he pressed the matter further, insisting, in the spirit of both Christopher Dawson and Pope Benedict XVI, that that culture is grounded ultimately in the Christian faith. It is simply the case that reverence for the dignity of the individual, for human rights, for political freedom, and for equality comes, in the final analysis, from the Christian Gospel. Basic to his presentation was the conviction that Europe and America will truly flourish when each re-discovers its spiritual mooring.

In 1995, 14 wolves were released in Yellowstone National Park. No one expected the miracle that the wolves would bring. Wait for it...

@BillKingHouston @HoustonChron Perhaps but locked behind the paywall so only the tiny minority of Harris County residents who are subscribers can access it, so effectively useless.

Really first-rate mapping by @HoustonChron showing the changes in the new flood plain maps for Harris County. houstonchronicle.com/projects/2026/…

I've made ads for the Super Bowl before. Spent millions to make them and air them during the Big Game. But this one -- this is the one that made the most impact. Zero media dollars. 40m views. Because it speaks the truth. Ban us all you want. Truth outs in the end.