Me Encanta Bad Bunny! Let’s All LOVE Bad Bunny!

On another topic for a minute, isn’t is awesome that María Corina Machado Parisca won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize? She’s a Venezuelan politician, industrial engineer, and a prominent opposition leader to the authoritarian Nicolás Maduro regime. Congratulations!

Do you know Bad Bunny?

Singer and record producer Bad Bunny has been chosen to perform at the Super Bowl LX halftime show.

A lot of absolute and total subhuman idiots including that orange POS don’t seem to comprehend that Bad Bunny was born in Puerto Rico and that Puerto Rico is an unincorporated United States territory. To clarify, Puerto Ricans are United States citizens.

The most streamed artist in the world, Bad Bunny’s real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio. He was born in Puerto Rico and chose the stage name Bad Bunny after a social media post of him as a child, wearing a bunny suit and a grumpy expression, gained popularity and led him to create a Twitter account with that name. 

His mom is a retired teacher and his dad was a truck driver, about as American as you can get.

This choice for the Super Bowl LX halftime show has been met with a furious backlash from MAGA influencers who’ve complained that he “doesn’t sing in English” and that he has been critical of Donald Trump, something I admire him for doing.

This manufactured outrage and hostility towards Bad Bunny is not rooted in his music, but in his message, and his color.

It’s absolutely disgusting to realize how many racist people there are in this country and how they feel it’s now OK to be vocal about it. Really, really, disgusting.

In a weird kind of way, their faux outrage has catapulted Bad Bunny to the forefront of everyone’s mind; it’s priceless publicity!

Maybe I didn’t really know who he was before, but now that I do, he’ll be added to my playlist. Maybe not at the top because my heart still belongs to Leon Russell, but there’s room for a Bad Bunny song or two; some Latin urban, reggaeton, and Latin trap.

By choosing Bad Bunny, the NFL not only secures a global superstar, but also aligns itself with a narrative of inclusion and representation. I didn’t think anybody can top Prince’s electric performance in 2007, but I support the NFL’s choice.

Bad Bunny says, “Sin mucha labia, sin mucha cotorra. Cuando estoy contigo dejo que la vibra corra,” which translates to “Without much fluff, without much chatter. When I’m with you I let the vibe flow”. 

I love Bad Bunny. I hope you will. too!

World Animal Day – Remembering Jane Goodall

Save Animals, Save the Planet

This year marks the 100th anniversary of this global celebration of animals.

For a century, people have come together to show kindness, compassion, and care for the creatures we share our planet with. The mission of World Animal Day is to raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe.

World Animal Day started in 1925 when German writer and activist Heinrich Zimmermann organized the first event in Berlin on March 24. The date was officially moved to October 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, in 1931, becoming an international celebration of animal welfare. 

This seems like a perfect day to honor the life and legacy of Jane Goodall, who died this week of natural causes. We can aspire to follow in her footsteps and speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall was an English primatologist and anthropologist. Regarded as a pioneer in primate ethology, she was best known for more than six decades of field research on the social and family life of wild chimpanzees at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania.

“The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Jane Goodall

Animals are our teachers. They show us how to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature, how to trust our instincts, and how to be fully present in each moment.

“The greatest danger to our future is apathy.” Jane Goodall

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Carlsbad Crime Report: Gunfight at In-N-Out

All of this happened about a mile from my house. Until fairly recently, violent crime was mostly unheard of in my little beachy town. Now, It’s like the wild wild west around here.

Last Friday, September 19, at approximately 9:53 p.m., Carlsbad police officers responded to reports of gunfire in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 2300 block of Rising Glen Way.

Upon arrival, officers located an unresponsive adult female with gunshot wounds. Despite lifesaving efforts, paramedics pronounced the female deceased at the scene.

The female’s vehicle was taken during the incident.

Using License Plate Reader technology, the vehicle was later located by the Newport Beach Police Department in Orange County. After a short pursuit with Newport Beach Police officers, the driver, identified as a person of interest, was involved in an officer-involved shooting.

The pursuit continued to the Interstate 5 Southbound, where the suspect exited at El Toro Road. After traveling through a business complex, the suspect’s vehicle exited at Regional Center and drove northbound on El Toro Road.

The suspect stopped his vehicle in the lanes of traffic, just south of Avenida De La Carlota, exited his vehicle and immediately began firing at the approaching police vehicles. Multiple officers returned gunfire.

The suspect continued east towards the In-N-Out at 24001 Avenida de La Carlota, continuing to fire at officers. Multiple police vehicles were struck with bullets. After being struck by gunfire, he fell to the ground in the restaurant’s parking lot and continued to fire at officers.

Once the shooting ended, officers approached the suspect and began to render medical attention. He was transported to Mission Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Later, Orange County Sheriff’s Department identified the suspect as Andre Anthony Matijasevic, 31, of Rancho Santa Margarita.

The victim of this terrible random act of violence was April Moore. She was a loving mother of two and a huge San Francisco 49ers fan. That fateful Friday night, April had just gotten home from a movie. She didn’t know this person who killed her; she was ambushed in her parking lot.

This is another senseless crime that leaves behind a grieving family. We’ll probably never know why Andre Anthony Matijasevic was in this apartment complex. Did he live there? Was he visiting someone? Did he have a car? If so, why did he steal April’s car? What were his motives? There are so many unanswered questions.

A GoFundMe account was established to help with her memorial and to help her children. https://gofund.me/3de7c821b

This Information was gathered from public reports by Carlsbad, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach police departments.

When The Towers Fell – September 11

I don’t approve of using animals in war or police work. I think it’s cruel to send dogs and horses in harm’s way, especially since these sentient beings don’t have the ability to consent — decision-making capacity –and are merely used as expendable, cheap fodder. In my opinion, that’s clearly abusive.

However, the rescue dogs who searched for victims of the 9/11 attacks saved many lives and then took on the task of providing therapy to survivors.

On September 11, 2001, when the towers fell and the sky turned to ash, more than 300 search and rescue dogs stepped into hell on earth. They didn’t hesitate. They didn’t flinch. They climbed through fire and steel, through suffocating debris and deafening silence, searching for life with every breath, every pawstep, every heartbeat.

They entered with pure hearts and fearless resolve—no armor, no agenda, just the unshakable instinct to help. They worked until their pads split, until the air burned their lungs, until their handlers broke down and hope ran dry. And still, they kept going. Because that’s what heroes do.

When the searching stopped, the therapy dogs arrived. Quiet. Steady. Healing. They didn’t need words. They curled beside the broken, leaned into the grief, and reminded shattered humans that love hadn’t died in the dust.

These beautiful dogs didn’t just serve. They bore the weight of our sorrow. They carried our hope. They were the silent saints of Ground Zero—unspoken, unshaken, unforgettable.

We don’t just remember them. We thank them. For their courage. For their comfort. For showing us, in our darkest hours, what selfless devotion truly looks like.

To the hero dogs of 9/11: your legacy lives on in every rescue, every comfort, every life saved because you showed up when it mattered most. Curated from houndsinpounds.org

Non-Thought: Thought-terminating Clichés Are All Around  

This blog is exactly like my personality: random

One minute I’m searching for seashells or a rock that speaks to my heart or I’m reveling in a designer treasure found at the local consignment shop after a day protesting that orange POS and the fall of democracy, yet at the same time, on any given day, I’m a voracious reader, whether it’s chick lit or poetry or something that catches my eye on social media, all the while obsessing over Leon Russell, Master of Space and Time. There are definitely many tabs open on my laptop screen (and in my head).

Like this…thought-terminating clichés.

How many times have you heard this (or said it)? “Everything happens for a reason.” Did you find it helpful or frustrating? I find it frustrating and not helpful AT ALL. It makes me feel the person I’m talking to either doesn’t care about what I’m saying or is trying to act superior and patronizing.

For me, that attitude completely terminates the conversation. Sometimes I respond with “Does it really? Does everything REALLY happen for a reason?” but mostly I simply stop talking. There’s nowhere to go after that; for me It’s a convo-ender.

A thought-terminating cliché is a common saying or phrase used to shut down further critical thinking or debate about a topic. These phrases often present themselves as universally accepted truths or wisdom, discouraging deeper exploration or questioning. They can be used in various contexts, including conversations, debates, and even within workplaces or religious groups. 

The term was popularized by Robert Jay Lifton in his 1961 book Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, who referred to the use of the cliché, along with “loading the language”, as “the language of non-thought”.

It’s also known as a semantic stop-sign, a thought-stopper, bumper sticker logic, or cliché thinking and is a form of loaded language—often passing as folk wisdom—intended to end an argument and quell cognitive dissonance with a cliché rather than a point. Some such clichés are not inherently terminating, and only becomes so when used to intentionally dismiss, dissent, or justify fallacies.

1. “It is what it is.” Used to dismiss any deeper inquiry into a situation or problem.

2. “You’ll figure it out.” Used to avoid helping or being asked for help. Condescending.

3. “Boys will be boys.” – Used to excuse or dismiss male behavior, often inappropriate or immature.

4. “Let’s agree to disagree.” Used to end a debate without resolving the underlying disagreement.

5. “Everything happens for a reason.” Used to shut down further questioning about why something occurred.

6.””Only time will tell.” Used to avoid making a decision or judgment about a situation.

7. “Such is life.” Used to dismiss the complexities or frustrations of a situation as being typical or unavoidable.

8. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”  Used to trivialize suffering or hardship without addressing its impact.

9. “God works in mysterious ways.”  Used to stop questions about religious or moral issues that are difficult to explain.

10. “It’s a free country.” Used to justify questionable actions or opinions without further discussion.

11. “You can’t win them all.” Used to discourage further effort or reflection after a failure or loss.

12. “Better safe than sorry.” Used to justify overly cautious behavior without considering the consequences of inaction.

13. “Everything in moderation.” Used to avoid discussing the nuances or dangers of certain behaviors or choices.

14. “That’s just your opinion.”  Used to dismiss someone’s perspective or argument without considering its merits.

15. “Let’s not rock the boat.” Used to discourage change or questioning of the status quo.

16. “This is the way we’ve always done it.” Used to resist change or new ideas without considering their potential benefits.

17. “Time heals all.” Completely puts a stop to any discussion that isn’t in agreement.

To transform thought-terminating clichés into conversation catalysts, we can create alternative phrases or questions that encourage further exploration and dialogue.

Here are some antidotes, each designed to open up rather than shut down conversations:

  1. Instead of “It is what it is”:  Ask, “What factors have led to this situation, and how can they be addressed?”
  2. Instead of “Boys will be boys”:  Query, “What behaviors are we accepting, and why, and how can we foster more responsible actions?”
  3. Instead of “We agree to disagree”:  Suggest, “Let’s delve into our differing viewpoints to understand each other better.”
  4. Instead of “Everything happens for a reason”:  Pose, “What can we learn from this situation, and how might it influence our future choices?”
  5. Instead of “Only time will tell”:  Consider, “What potential outcomes can we anticipate, and how can we prepare for them?”
  6. Instead of “Such is life”:  Reflect, “How does accepting this situation impact us, and are there aspects we can change or influence?”
  7. Instead of “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”:  Explore, “What challenges are we facing, and how can we grow or learn from them?”
  8. Instead of “God works in mysterious ways”:  Ask, “How can we find meaning or understanding in this situation?”
  9. Instead of “It’s a free country”:  Discuss, “How do our individual actions impact others, and where do we draw the line between freedom and responsibility?”
  10. Instead of “You can’t win them all”:  Consider, “What can we learn from this loss, and how can it inform our future efforts?”
  11. Instead of “Better safe than sorry”:  Ponder, “What are the risks and benefits of our choices, and how do we balance caution with opportunity?”
  12. Instead of “Everything in moderation”:  Question, “How do we find a healthy balance, and what does moderation look like in this context?”
  13. Instead of “That’s just your opinion”:  Offer, “I appreciate your perspective. Can you share more about how you arrived at this viewpoint?”
  14. Instead of “Let’s not rock the boat”:  Encourage, “What potential benefits and challenges could come from addressing this issue?”
  15. Instead of “This is the way we’ve always done it”:  Propose, “What new methods or ideas could we consider to improve this situation?”

Curated from desireebstephens.substack.com/p/the-power-of-silence-unpacking-thought, Wiki

Don’t Miss These Spectacular Cosmic Events!

The first planetary event is a lunar occultation. I had never heard that before, have you?

It sounds quite witchy and magical, don’t you agree? I hope our SoCal skies are clear tonight so I’ll be able to see what it’s all about and absorb some of that mystical celestial enchantment.

Tonight, July 28, two worlds align as the Moon will pass incredibly close to Mars to create a lunar occultation — a fascinating event where the Moon temporarily hides the Red Planet from view.

Lunar occultations involving bright planets like Mars are incredibly rare.

The Moon will move in front of Mars, causing the planet to disappear behind it for a brief period. This is known as a lunar occultation, and it’s a stunning, rare cosmic alignment you’ll want to catch.

Depending on your location, you could experience:

🌓 Mars completely disappearing behind the Moon (full occultation)

🌓 A close conjunction, with both celestial bodies appearing side-by-side in the sky.

🌓 No telescope required — but binoculars or a zoom lens will give you a clearer view.

🌓 Look toward the eastern sky shortly after sunset for the best view.

There’s more

Don’t miss this two-in-one meteor shower.

The second sky show will occur tomorrow, July 29–30. We’re in for a breathtaking celestial show as two meteor showers—the Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids—reach their peak at the same time.

This rare double meteor shower event will light up the night sky with glowing streaks of light, creating a truly magical experience.

The Southern Delta Aquariids, active from July 18 to August 12, will be at their brightest around these dates and can produce up to 8 meteors per hour under dark skies. Meanwhile, the Alpha Capricornids, though milder at around 3–5 meteors per hour, are known for occasionally producing bright fireballs that surprise even experienced stargazers.

With the moon only 27–36% full, the darker skies will make this event even more visible. It’s the perfect time to step outside, find a quiet spot, and enjoy nature’s own light show.

Info curated from Astrowonders, Google, and Pinterest

Faint, Not Feint | Part Two

Feinting is a deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement, especially in boxing or fencing.

Fainting, or syncope, is what I experienced a couple months ago. I definitely wasn’t feinting when I got dizzy, nauseous, fell, and hit the fireplace. The loss of consciousness felt really weird and not entirely unpleasant.

I thought it was simply an unexplained but strange incident, and finally told my doctor about it.

Her response to me was, “Of course you went to the ER, what did they say? I don’t see that in your notes.”

I replied, “Oh no, I didn’t go anywhere and I didn’t call the paramedics, either, because I was wearing my Hello Kitty jammies. No way was I going to let anyone see me.”

She shook her head and laughed as I explained to her that my RN mom had often drilled into my head that I should never EVER go to the doctor or a hospital unless I was well dressed and nicely groomed– and always with pretty underwear. I mean, there might be scenarios where that’s impossible, but her words are tattooed in my brain.

Of course I would have sought immediate medical help if it happened again, but so far I’ve been lucky.

My doc said her mom was exactly the same, so she understood. However, after asking me a lot of questions, she was concerned enough about my syncope episode to want to rule out any underlying and serious reasons, so she gave me an electrocardiogram and referred me to radiology for a carotid artery ultrasound.

The ECG looked OK and I’ve booked the appointment for the ultrasound to see how my four carotid arteries are performing. Most of the time I think I’m pretty smart but I didn’t know there were FOUR carotids–I thought there was only one, so I’ve learned something. Hopefully, we can rule out any underlying blockages to explain why I fainted. The worse case scenario is that a blocked artery can lead to an increased stroke risk or an aneurysm, but at least I’ll find out one way or another.

The best case scenario is that it was a singular vasovagal syncope episode with no lasting harm. Fingers crossed. Maybe I will actually have “feinted” and dodged a direct hit. That’s funny to think about, but then I’ve been accused of being easily amused…

Since then, my goal has been to mindfully dress for the emergency that might never happen; a personal version of disaster preparedness.

Federal Agents March Through L.A. Park, Spurring Local Outrage

Why isn’t this a bigger deal? Have you heard about what happened in Los Angeles? Your city could be next. Mine, too.

This isn’t a crew on location shooting a scene of a disaster film, this is real life. We are living in a nightmare.

APNews

Federal officials said it was an immigration enforcement operation, though it was unclear if anyone had been arrested. “It’s the way a city looks before a coup,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said as she condemned the action.

It had been a quiet morning in MacArthur Park, a hub in one of Los Angeles’s most immigrant-heavy neighborhoods. Children at a summer camp were playing outside, but the park was otherwise largely empty.

Then, dozens of armed federal agents began marching over soccer fields and grass berms, based on footage of the incident. Military-style vehicles blocked the street and a federal helicopter flew overhead.

They wore fatigues, masks and helmets and marched in lines. Some were on horseback. Camera crews followed alongside them.

Los Angeles leaders have grown weary after thousands of National Guard troops and Marines arrived nearly a month ago and immigration raids have become a regular, visible occurrence. But they took particular umbrage at Monday’s extraordinary show of force in MacArthur Park and issued a swift and furious rebuke.

“What I saw in the park today looked like a city under siege, under armed occupation,” Mayor Bass said in a news conference on Monday afternoon, adding that she had traveled regularly into conflict zones as a member of Congress.

Dozens of federal agents were observed in the park, many arriving in armored military vehicles. They were joined by 80 California National Guard troops under the command of President Trump, according to the office of Governor Gavin Newsom, who criticized the effort and has tried to stop the federalization of Guard members through a lawsuit.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, did not respond to specific questions about the purpose of the operation at MacArthur Park or whether anyone had been detained.

“The operation is ongoing,” she wrote in an email. “So that should be a message in of itself.”

Asked to clarify that message, she responded that it was an immigration enforcement operation and that such efforts “are not in one single location.”

To many local leaders, the Monday march through MacArthur Park seemed designed to intimidate immigrants and residents, rather than to carry out targeted enforcement. Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the president of the Los Angeles City Council, derided the display as a stunt made for TikTok.

“If you want to film in L.A., you should apply for a film permit like everybody else,” he said during an afternoon news conference. “Stop trying to scare the bejesus out of everybody who lives in this great city and disrupt our economy.”

Ms. Bass said that once she arrived, she had demanded to speak to the person in charge of the operation at the park. She was handed a phone, through which, she said, Mr. Bovino told her that he would be “getting them out of the park,” apparently referring to federal agents.The agents left the park a short time later, she said. From New York Times by Jill Cowan and Mimi Dwyer

***

These questions need to be answered: when are good people going to rise up and put an end to this dystopian nightmare? When is enough, enough?

They ripped away health care. They denied food assistance to children. They exploded the nation’s debt, shuttered Social Security offices, rural hospitals, and decimated federal employees and the VA, along with kidnapping mothers and fathers and students. When is enough ENOUGH?

.

Sirius-ly Star Light ⭐ Star Bright…

If I could, I’d wish everyone a happy 4th of July, but in our current USA climate of ICE kidnappings, lack of due process, total annihilation of our Bill of Rights and Constitution, it’s more of a sad, funereal, and tragic day than a celebration.

Instead, I’m looking to the skies for inspiration, hopefully some “as above, so below” joy, the kind you get from wishing upon a star…

Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight.
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.

It’s time for Sirius to shine as the brightest most twinkliest star in the night sky. Also known as the Dog Star, it’s a binary star system consisting of Sirius A and Sirius B. Sirius is located 8.6 light-years from Earth in the constellation Canis Major. 

Each year from July 3 to July 7, the Earth experiences a powerful energetic alignment known as the Sirius Portal. This five-day window marks a period of increased cosmic energy, spiritual awakening, and inner transformation.

During this time, the Sun aligns with the star Sirius, the brightest star visible from Earth, often referred to as our Spiritual Sun. Sirius has been revered by ancient cultures for thousands of years for its connection to divine intelligence, spiritual activation, and higher consciousness.

In astrology and energy work, this alignment is known to open a cosmic gateway or energy portal, allowing a flow of high-frequency light codes to reach Earth. These light codes are energetic patterns that support soul remembrance, intuition activation, emotional release, and vibrational upgrades on both a personal and collective level.

While this energy is available to everyone, those who are more energy sensitive or actively working on growth may feel it more strongly.

During the Sirius Portal, many people feel a mix of emotional, mental, and physical shifts. These are signs that your energy body is adjusting and upgrading in response to the alignment.

The energy coming through this gateway often reveals what needs healing, highlights what is ready to shift, and strengthens your connection to your higher self. It can be a time of deep insight, emotional clarity, and powerful intention-setting.

The Sirius Portal represents a connection between the Earth and higher realms of consciousness. While our physical Sun sustains life in the material world, Sirius is seen as a source of spiritual light, providing insight, healing, and guidance from the soul level.

This alignment is considered sacred as it opens a brief period where access to wisdom, clarity, and transformation becomes easier, faster, and more direct.

It is believed that spiritual downloads, energetic healing, and intuitive insights are more accessible during this time. People who actively work with this energy may experience a breakthrough, make an important decision, or feel deeply inspired to move forward with something they had been holding back.

To make the most of the Sirius Gateway, it helps to take time out to pause and reflect. This is a perfect time for journaling, meditation, or stillness. By asking focused questions, you open a dialogue with your higher self and invite answers that may come through thoughts, dreams, feelings, or synchronicities.

Here are some powerful questions to ask during this portal:

⭐ What parts of my life feel out of alignment with who I am becoming?
⭐ What am I ready to release so that I can grow emotionally or spiritually?
⭐ What would it feel like to fully trust my inner guidance right now?

Asking these questions from a place of curiosity, without pressure, allows answers to flow naturally. Sometimes they come right away. Other times, the answers appear gradually through signs, intuitive nudges, or conversations that confirm what you already feel inside.

While the Sirius Portal is deeply energetic, the way you respond to it physically and mentally will shape what you get from the experience. Choosing to be intentional during these five days helps direct the energy toward your goals.

You might take time out each day between July 3 and July 7 to do one or more of the following:

⭐ Write down one intention that you want to manifest before the end of the year.
⭐ Meditate on your highest self and visualize living your next-level life.
⭐ Clear out old clutter, thoughts, or habits that no longer match your direction.
⭐ Pay close attention to your dreams or signs and write them down immediately.

What we do, say, think, and feel during these days carries extra weight. Approach the portal with clear intentions, openness, and trust. Curated from Alex Myles

I guess all we can do is manifest and set intentions for a positive future with decent humans making better choices for us and our planet. Fingers crossed!

⭐ Best of all, I discovered a Leon Russell (as Hank Wilson) song about stars!