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Authentic reggae dancehall is BACK‼️🔥 Think your dance can win $10,000USD⁉️💵🔥💥 BEEENIE MAN KING OF THE DANCEHALL 👑 Beenie Man DANCE COMPETITION Legends don’t fade 👉🏾 they go IMMORTAL🔥🌟✨ Now it’s your time to represent yaad & abroad 🕺🏽💃🏽 Show us your best moves to *“IMMORTAL” Gift Khoza danielle...

70,207 views • 5 months ago •via X (Twitter)

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🚨JUST IN: BREAKING NEWS-Jason Bartlett UPRISING CELEBRITY, GOES FROM $12 AN HOUR TO OWNING A 150-ACRE FARM‼️HE SHOWS US THAT WHITE SOUTH AFRICAN REFUGEES/IMMIGRANTS CAN LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM‼️ The South African who walked across America is now living the real American Dream and Dan Bongino just put him on blast for the whole world to see‼️ Jason Bartlett on the Dan Bongino Show is pure proof that this is REAL‼️He came legally, started with nothing and now runs sheep, cattle and horses on his own farm while opening a grass-fed ethical meat business to serve the American people🔥 When he told the Trump administration his story they looked at him and said “Right there, in America there is no B-BBEE, no racial discrimination, no farm murders and no fear for your children. Just hard work, faith and a country that still rewards people who love freedom and want to make it greater‼️ Jason is America First immigration in action. He doesn’t want handouts, he wants to pay taxes, drive on good roads, call the cops when needed and live without fences around his house‼️ He’s here to keep America great and make it even better. This is the future our youth deserve, (because there are no future for white children in South Africa) doctors, engineers, pilots, healthcare professionalsand yes farmers will be welcome in America 🔥 Jason Bartlett is the living, breathing Ambassador showing our people that a safe, free, fair life without violence is possible‼️ He’s exposing what’s happening back home while building something real in America🔥 Dan Bongino loved him so much he’s already connecting him to John Rich’s Redneck Riviera and Kid Rock’s bar so Jason can experience the best of real America with his wife‼️ This can be you and your children. Follow this man right now: Jason Bartlett Share this interview everywhere‼️ When his meat business launches, support it⁉️ Jason Bartlett, thank you sir. You are showing our people there is still hope and a real path forward🔥 RaiZel salutes you. God bless you and God bless America🙏🏻

RaiZel

20,702 views • 1 month ago

Sipping Coffee with America’s Internet Dad: Scott Adams | Paul Leslie, Write Revolution News You never can tell. Unless you’re Scott Adams. He knew what he would be early on. He put it this way in an interview we did in November 2024: “And so at the age of six, I decided to be a famous cartoonist. Now, so what surprised me was when it didn’t work out right away,” Scott Adams said. Dilbert is a hero But it was his previous jobs at Crocker National Bank and the Pacific Bell phone company that shaped him. The grind and absurdities of corporate life inspired Dilbert, a comic strip where the mundane became brilliantly relatable — and humorous. As Edward M. Eveld wrote in the Kansas City Star, “Dilbert is a hero to thousands.” The mind behind Dilbert Cultural commentator and fitness advocate Wyatt Torosian captures the essence of Scott Adams’ influence: “The mind behind Dilbert has lampooned office life for over three decades with the foresight — like Trump — that the culture of the business world would become synonymous with American life, in all of its absurdities and opportunities. It’s difficult to imagine having coffee in the morning with anyone else.” Countless people got a morning dopamine hit by pairing their morning mug with the funny papers. People saw themselves in Dilbert and coped with their own Pointy-Haired Boss. They still do. New ways of looking at things Scott Adams valued the art of sharing ideas and started connecting with audiences through Periscope. This evolved into Real Coffee with Scott Adams, a daily livestream and podcast going out consistently every day of the year. The topics addressed are numerous and limitless. Along with interesting takes on current events, Adams shows those in the audience that there may be new ways of looking at things. It’s not just about his take, but also how you may ponder things in new ways. Scott challenges us to think differently Rapper, author, and podcaster Zuby told me: “Scott Adams challenges people to question their own beliefs and to see life from different angles. That’s a great thing because we can never have too many critical thinkers in an increasingly complicated and polarized world.” I concur. Scott Adams is a man who looks at the human mind as an incredible tool that is frequently not used to full potential. He understands how human beings can flourish, but also inherent weaknesses and traps. He presents information and ideas unlike other speakers. A classroom in independent thinking As a broadcaster, there’s almost nobody I can compare him to. Well, except for one radio legend. I’ll let Muumuu House author and walking proponent Robert McCready give his take: “Scott Adams fills the gap left by Rush Limbaugh because he tells the audience how the media is manipulating viewers/readers. Adams talks off-mic to his audience of live streamers who send him chats, the way Limbaugh talked off-mic to Snerdly. The show feels like Limbaugh’s. Both shows began in northern California. They predict what a politician will do based on cues, subtle signals, scoops that regular people don’t get. It feels like a miracle that we’ve had either of them in the world.” I happen to feel the same way as Robert. The shows feel related, and both are a classroom in independent thought and legacy media abandonment. ‘This is a man who is willing to share what he thinks and take the heat‘ Most people don’t think of cartoonists as having a big impact on politics and the culture at large. When I think of Scott Adams’ influence, it seems unbelievable. Mark Twain’s “truth is stranger than fiction” quote comes to mind. I was able to ask ghostwriter and Scott Adams collaborator Joshua Lisec about Adams. Listen to what he had to say: “In addition to his one-of-a-kind cultural contributions in the form of entertainment, satire, humor for 40 years, he also is the most influential personal development author of all time, and it’s not even close. Every single self-help book samples, sources, or otherwise steals Scott Adams’ original content from his various books going back into the 1990s, both business, career, and personal life, self-help. There has been no other voice as impactful as his across the generations. And that’s not even to mention the fact that he was the first celebrity to say anything positive about Donald Trump back in 2015. And it cost him, likely, multiple fortunes upon fortunes. This is a man who is willing to share what he thinks and take the heat regardless as he’s done multiple times being ‘canceled’ for it.He’s a legend in his time. We all know him as ‘the internet dad’ and so that makes all of us as his fans sort of internet siblings. He created a global family — not just a set of followers or community — but a global family.He made it okay for good, smart people to say positive things about Donald Trump in public. Donald Trump is not president without Scott Adams. Not the 45th president — not the 47th president. The first person, in my opinion, that the MAGA movement has to thank for MAGA having power is Scott Adams.” Scott ‘changed how America views politics‘ As you may be realizing, Scott Adams didn’t just create Dilbert or master live-streaming—he reshaped how people think about politics, culture, and everything else. He’s resonated with thinkers like Owen Gregorian, a dedicated follower and cohort who posts articles and opinion pieces aligning with Adams’ ideas on persuasion and politics. As Owen Gregorian observes: “Scott changed how America views politics, and even the nature of reality. Time and again, he has framed people and events with messaging that ends up spreading everywhere. His article ‘Clown Genius’ very well may have springboarded Trump into winning his first term as President. His books and livestreams have helped countless people change their lives for the better. America will never fully realize how much Scott Adams influenced and improved our country.” Scott Adams helps make our country great Like so many of his daily listeners, news of Scott’s cancer diagnosis came as a shock. Although it made me sad, my primary feelings quickly shifted to admiration. Scott keeps the show going and as normally as possible. He has that fighting spirit embodied by so many Americans. Getting a personal phone call from President Trump undoubtedly did his heart good — it certainly did mine and so many others. Adams didn’t share all of the conversation. He has too much class for that. I join President Trump, so many Americans and people around the world in my appreciation of Scott Adams. As the smart people in this article expressed, Scott Adams is an American original. How you can fix your own mood — the Scott Adams way People like Megyn Kelly have called Scott Adams a “Trump whisperer,” and applauded him for for being “a frank communicator.” He’s been praised by the very best of them, from Ann Coulter to Monica Crowley. It’s no surprise to his fans when someone like President Trump expresses his clear respect and veneration, because so many people have been personally affected by something that Scott Adams said. For that person who loses weight, or decides to talk to an attractive stranger, or persuades their boss to give them a raise, or even just to stand a bit taller, Scott is somehow more than a star. He’s a friend. He never lectures his viewers and listeners. As he once told Carmine Gallo for “Don’t take my advice, I’m offering information.” Scott Adams has created an incredible body of useful work and entertainment that he continues to add to. Americans, and people around the world, have been changed for the better. Scott Adams finds purpose in making a difference in other’s lives. One moment from our interview sticks with me: “If you’re having a bad day that’s just unfixable, there’s nothing you can do about your own situation, at least today, tomorrow maybe is a new day, but right now you’re just in a funk. I’ll just sit there and say, ‘all right, who can I delight?’ It works every time. If you make somebody’s day and you’re useful and they simply appreciate you, you’re good all day. It’ll turn any day around and that’s just being selfish. That’s just fixing your own mood being useful.” The Presidential Medal of Freedom — an honor befitting Scott Adams With such a legacy that includes humor, self-help, and political influence, it’s no stretch to envision Scott Adams as a candidate for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an honor befitting a man who continues to redefine how we think, communicate and accomplish. I think it’s possible. But either way, so many of us will get up in the morning and have our mug of coffee. We’ll sip to Scott.

Owen Gregorian

77,061 views • 1 year ago

GM GM GM ! (๑✪ᆺ✪๑)/❤️ 🔥𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛🔥 ✨𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 — A BIG shoutout to 𝗕𝗕𝗡𝗢$ & 𝗜𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗠𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 for the dopest song of 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓! 🎬𝗚𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 & 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 them, see the full-quality video — links at the end of this article. ⛩️𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘀𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻🔻 ♦️As I mentioned before, I really don’t understand how people keep falling for these infoFi scams and other post-grinding projects. 🔸I’m talking about Loudio, P33lio, Yapyo, Fukyo — you know them all. You all get RUGGED every time but still keep doing it. 🔸Do you really think Spermify ( you all know who I’m referring to ) or other web3 brands give a shit if you lose money, time, and effort? Of course not — but you should. 🔸And here’s why🔻 ~ 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗧: The top 10 “influencers” you see as web3 gods are not grinding like you — they are paid per post. I know because I was offered the same. Also, they are not real influencers — real influencers charge thousands of $$$ per post and do not shill anything. ~ They don’t give a shit because they get paid upfront. But you shill daily for nothing — and the worst part is, you shill to your own community and followers. Do you even realize how many people lose money because you don’t think about what you’re doing? ~ What if you had to pay back every person in your community who invested in what you shilled and then lost everything? ~ 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗞 𝗨𝗣 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧. I’m referring to people who have communities that actually follow their calls and post — not just simple creators shilling anything. ♦️If you ever see me launch another NFT project or a coin, know that I guarantee your money back if you’re not satisfied. No shady shit — Senpai never toys with people’s funds! ♦️You’ll rarely see me post anything, because I don’t post bullshit. I don’t want to harm anyone’s wallet, so I prefer to REFUSE the $$$ — no matter the amount! ♦️ You’ll see people saying they never engage in drama — yet all their posts are nothing but attention-seeking drama. Don’t believe me? Just look around. ♦️ You’ll see “smart” mofos claiming other people aren’t organic. Mfer… NOTHING in web3 is organic. Not a single post. All the comments are in exchange for something — whether from influencers or projects. They just talk shit coz their accounts & persona are nothing and they are lazy to work for it! ♦️There’s a lot of FUD regarding girls in web3. While some girls are real gamers or content creators, keep in mind that literally 95% are managed by dudes — even if the photos or videos are real. Also, notice how many of the girls you guys goon over in web3 today just removed all their booty photos after they got followers & attention, or deleted all the photos with themselves. If anyone’s curious, DM me — there are peeps that have all their sexy pics, even if they deleted them. 🔸Now they claim to be gamer influencers, but we also have proof that they’re completely managed by dudes ( literally the guys confessing they do everything for them ). I’m not saying all web3 females are fake, but just don’t get fooled bros, ur talking to guys not girls. 💮𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗯3, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 — 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿🧡 ♦️Why do I make these posts? Because someone has to, so people don’t get scammed, rugged, and so on! ♦️If you’re a bit confused, go read my other posts🔻 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ♦️If you see Senpai post something, you know it’s legit. ♦️If you disagree with what I said, then I’m sorry — the truth always hurts. I probably touched your little attention-whore soft spot, and that’s why you’ll never have the balls to post the truth like some of us. You’re too afraid to harm your perfect 𝗙𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗨𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡! ♦️ BROKIES DO IT FOR THE B!TCHES! ♦️ LEGENDS HAVE B!TCHES TO DO IT FOR THEM! ♦️ I CAN RETIRE JUST WITH MY WRIST✨⌚️✨ ♦️ SENPAI WILL NOT SHILL YOUR RUGS MOFOS! 🔥𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 & 𝗮𝗹𝗽𝗵𝗮: 𝘄𝗲𝗯2 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁 $10𝗸 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝕏 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁. 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗽 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗽🔥 🌸𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕 & 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅💜 🎬𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗕𝗡𝗢$: 🎬𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗠𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘: ⭐️𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄⭐️

🌸𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐏𝐀𝐈 先輩🍜

304,283 views • 1 year ago

🚨 URGENT: HUNGER IS KILLING FAMILIES IN GAZA RIGHT NOW 🚨 Emergency Meat & Rice Distribution for Families Living in Tents 👉 In Gaza, hunger is no longer a feeling. It is pain that crushes the body. It is children crying until their voices disappear. It is mothers watching their children fade… with nothing left to give. 💔 Children are not just hungry — they are collapsing from exhaustion 💔 Elderly people are not just weak — they are slowly starving 💔 Families are not waiting for food — they are waiting to survive the day Entire days pass with no food at all. Empty pots sit untouched. Fires go unlit because there is nothing to cook. Mothers break in silence — dividing one handful of rice between many children… knowing it will not stop the hunger, knowing it will not keep them alive. 🚨 This is not poverty. This is starvation happening right now. Thousands of displaced families are living in torn tents, surrounded by cold, fear, and unbearable hunger — fighting every hour just to stay alive. But this week… something changed. Because of the humanity and powerful support of: ✨ William Manaker Will 🦥 Menaker 🔥 Felix GoliathFan1952 🤍 Eyup Lovely Eyup Lovely 💙 Thomas Thomas Keith We were able to deliver meat and rice directly into the hands of starving families. And in those moments: 🍚 Children who had not eaten for days finally stopped crying 🍗 Weak bodies found just enough strength to stand again 💔 Mothers cooked real food — not scraps — for the first time in days For a brief moment… Hunger loosened its grip. But the truth is devastating: 🚨 This food is already running out. 🚨 The hunger is coming back — stronger than before. 🚨 More families are still waiting… and we cannot reach them yet. In Gaza today: Food is not comfort. Food is not routine. Food is survival. Without immediate support: Children will go back to sleep starving. Elderly people will grow weaker. Families will face another night with nothing. 🌟 A heartfelt thank you: William Manaker • Felix • Eyup Lovely • Thomas Because of you, people did not just eat — they survived. But survival cannot stop here. 🍽️ DONATE NOW — HELP US DELIVER MEAT & RICE TO STARVING FAMILIES Your donation is not charity. It is food in a child’s hands tonight. It is strength in a dying body. It is life for a family on the edge. Even a small amount can mean: 🍚 A meal for a hungry child 🍗 Strength for an elderly person 🏕️ Survival for an entire family Together, we fight hunger. Together, we keep people alive. Together, we refuse to let Gaza starve. 🌱 Stand with Gaza now — before it’s too late. 💙

Muhmmed Project𓂆 🇵🇸

13,498 views • 4 months ago

The Dallas Cowboys are an absolute disaster and appear to be headed into a full, tear-it-down rebuild with a freshly-minted $60M QB. How bout dem Cowboys? So many problems with this thing — worst run defense in the league, AND the worst run offense too? It’s a perfectly balanced catastrophe. They now clearly need to rebuild significant parts of both lines — which could take years. Along with a laundry list of other massively glaring needs — including hiring a new coaching staff. But this time, the train wreck somehow feels even larger than just the enormous personnel and coaching troubles at hand. The last time the Cowboys were in the NFC championship game — I’m pretty sure Jim McMahon, Art Monk and Warren Moon were still playing. Dude, Warren Moon is 67. This time, the full demoralizing weight of the entire miserable (almost 30 year) drought seems at the forefront. Oddly, while reflecting on the end of days, I somehow keep coming back to one preposterous, little story from camp. The great DeMarvion Overshown — undeniably one of the Cowboys BEST players — was apparently told he couldn’t wear his favorite number (#0) because… um… well… uh… Rowdy wears #00. Dude. ROWDY. The fvc%ing mascot??? Seriously? This has to be the dumbest shit in #DallasCowboys history. Maybe league history. Maybe Earth history. I was just thinking about the day Kevin Turner told us about this insanity on the show. I found myself wondering if it could possibly be true. Maybe I misunderstood. Maybe he was joking. Nope. It’s actually real. Here’s an interview with Overshown and the great Bill Jones where they discussed this topic back in camp on CBS11. I mean…. this is glorious. And also, I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. I don’t think I can ever move on. I love it so much. Feels like something right out of The Righteous Gemstones. Fvc%ing Rowdy? Are you serious? This somehow feels emblematic of everything that is wrong with the franchise. The mascot has dibs on a jersey number that a player wants? Of course. Because, ya know, the giant muppet wears a similar number while dancing around in a stupid looking oversized felt cartoon head on the sideline? It’s important work. Are you guys maybe worried about the wrong shit? Can you imagine the Mavs telling Luka he couldn’t wear #77 because Mavs Man wears it during his mini-trampoline bit? The league probably should’ve just contracted the franchise upon hearing this story. In fact, if there was ever a time for us to pack up humanity and jumpstart some Elon Super-Ark spaceship to Mars, this might’ve been it. We may not get a more-identifiable signal to go ahead and hit the reset button as a planet. Now look — I admit, I might be overreacting to something that doesn’t really matter. I mean, if Overshown had been wearing #0, I get it, they’d still have the exact same record. Clearly this isn’t the actual reason that they’re so unbelievably cooked. But for me, it might be the hood ornament on the poop wagon. This absurd, little story is the final cherry-on-top, inescapable doom-realization moment for one of the longest, most painful, and most fruitless sports pilgrimages of my lifetime. And so…. here we are. It’s time to rebuild. All of it. The whole damn thing. The culture is broken. The business-first formula has had its day. I mean decade. I mean decades. It’s time for the circus to go quiet. It’s time to make football the priority again. Damnit. As I thumb-type this marathon post on my iPhone, I fully realize I might’ve faxed these exact words in letter-form to Jeff Skin Wade back in the Dave Campo era. Despite the broken record nature of this generic sportstalk manifesto, it’s all remarkably still on point. Apparently, we’ve all unknowingly been trapped in an endless Groundhog Day remake. Bottom line…. you have to prioritize winning over all else. Then you gotta keep the main thing the main thing. And the main thing can’t be your Forbes valuation.

Ben Rogers

95,769 views • 1 year ago

[Behavioral Scientist's Analysis] NewJeans, Now Even Stronger, HYBE in Trouble I’ll listen again. Danielle: “Naturally, we all want to continue working with Daepyonim. Even before debuting as NewJeans and through all of the time that we spent together with Min Hee-jin Daepyonim, all of us felt that the music we wanted to make and the kind of world we wanted to build together, our vision, was similar in so many ways. With Min Hee-jin Daepyonim, we were able to prepare each and every task with sincere hearts, and I believe it shows in our work. Putting our sincere effort into something is only possible because the people that we're working with have trust in each other and have that same vision. Min Hee-jin Daepyonim is not only the person that produces our music, but someone who makes NewJeans who we are. She discusses even the smallest details with us and explains them in ways that we can understand clearly. NewJeans has a distinct colour and tone, and this was created with Min Hee-jin Daepyonim. She is integral to NewJeans’ identity, and we all feel that she is irreplaceable.” Danielle clearly stated this and also expressed it in English. So, in terms of the NewJeans issue, international fans who don’t have much information may not have had a clear perception of Ms. Min Hee-jin or how to view this issue. If you look at the comments, it was very poorly organized. In Korea, we now have clear information, so NewJeans fans, Bunnies, are cheering for NewJeans and supporting Ms. Min Hee-jin. It has become clearly sorted out like this. However, internationally, it hasn’t been clearly explained. But with Danielle explaining it so well in English, I expect that from now on, the international atmosphere will shift towards attacking HYBE, criticizing Bang Si-hyuk, and supporting Ms. Min Hee-jin and NewJeans worldwide. So, now that the artist has clearly stated their position and made it clear that the identity and assets of the NewJeans brand come from Ms. Min Hee-jin, regardless of any legal disputes or lawsuits, in the minds of the fans, NewJeans equals Min Hee-jin. And as for the current management of ADOR and HYBE, they will be seen as the ones attacking NewJeans and the mysterious people with no clear motive, such as Bang Si-hyuk. I think this will now be clear. Considering the nature of the entertainment industry, like many creative industries and the cultural industry, this is not manufacturing. Many things can’t be determined through legal processes like patents for ideas or lawsuits. The B2C market, or the market for services and consumption of an artist's brand, is driven by sensitivity. People consume it because of the emotional connection and enjoy it because of that sensitivity. So, what’s the point of winning a legal case? Even if HYBE were to win any legal case, do you think consumers wouldn’t boycott NewJeans’ music or other products afterward? I believe HYBE will be punished in some way for its actions towards ADOR and its current management. The way they are handling risk management is shortsighted, as they fail to understand people’s emotions. They seem to only rely on the advice of legal professionals and accountants, and their entire approach to this issue is so narrow-minded and misguided. It feels incredibly foolish to me. So, to summarize: NewJeans’ branding was done by Ms. Min Hee-jin. The identity and assets of the NewJeans brand were created by her, and we did it together because of her. Haerin: “However, even after our debut, there have been many unfair and incomprehensible incidents that you might not know about, and these incidents have only increased over time. As some of you may know, recently, videos from our trainee days and private records, such as medical information, were leaked. When I first saw that, I was really shocked. It was hard to understand how our company, which is supposed to protect us, failed to manage and allowed such information to be leaked. Naturally, this situation has made us worry that other strange or false information about us might spread in the future. Although we, along with our parents and Min Hee-jin Daepyonim, have raised concerns about this to HYBE, they haven’t resolved the issue, nor have they taken any proactive measures. Then, in the midst of all this, our CEO was dismissed, and we’re left wondering whom we can trust and rely on. We’ve come to the conclusion that if we don’t speak out about this now, no one will know what we’re going through. After much discussion among ourselves, we finally decided to take this step.” The current situation is shocking, but this is not just about this one incident; they’ve been continuously receiving unfair treatment from HYBE. The fact that they are saying this publicly now is truly shocking. They’ve been discussing these unfair treatments with their parents and Ms. Min Hee-jin while continuing their activities as NewJeans. They are saying that the unfair treatment from HYBE has been ongoing. It’s hard to understand as an outsider, but now the artists themselves have confirmed that there have been instances where the company has mistreated them. This is no longer a matter of speculation or exaggeration. NewJeans has officially admitted that HYBE has been continuously mistreating them. Moving forward, this changes the entire perspective on the issue. It’s no longer just NewJeans vs. HYBE or Min Hee-jin vs. Bang Si-hyuk. It’s hard to even imagine the reality of this situation. Now that the NewJeans artists have come out and said that HYBE has mistreated them, regardless of how HYBE tries to communicate going forward, they will now be framed as the ones mistreating NewJeans. How can they possibly shake off this perception now? I don’t think they can. Hanni: “Something happened to me recently. The 4th floor of the HYBE building is where we get our hair and makeup done, so a lot of other artists and staff come and go there. One day, I was waiting alone in the hallway, and some staff from another team passed by. We greeted each other, but when they came back out a bit later, I heard one of their managers say, “Ignore her,” right in front of me. I could hear and see everything clearly. Even now, I still don’t understand why I had to go through that.” I still don’t understand why that happened, even now. When I think about it, I feel like it was really ridiculous. This story from Hanni was so frustrating and absurd. Wow, what Hanni just shared is really shocking. She mentioned meeting an artist, and that artist's manager told them to ignore her. If this happened in middle or high school, people would probably dismiss it as childish fighting, but this happened among adults, and it's becoming a huge issue. Honestly, the NewJeans members aren’t sharing these stories to stir things up. They’re probably just speaking truthfully about their experiences and trying to be genuine with their fans, saying, “It’s time we express our stance honestly.” The timing and approach they’ve taken are actually perfect. They started by clearly explaining their motivations and why they’re speaking out, then moved on to using English to express what NewJeans’ identity is and the members' feelings, as well as their history with their manager. They made it clear how they feel about these situations. Now, they've started sharing more detailed stories. The way they’ve structured everything is so good because people remember stories more than abstract thoughts or philosophies. When you say, “This happened to me,” people are much more likely to remember that than vague statements. Hanni shared her unfair experience in such an honest way, and I think it’s going to spread widely. I can already imagine netizens trying to figure out which manager it was, which artist, and so on. This story will likely go viral. People remember stories like this because they stick in their minds. For example, remember when Bang Si-hyuk didn’t return NewJeans’ greeting, and it became a huge thing about face blindness? People don’t remember the details, but they remember that someone important didn’t greet them. It became a memorable story. Minji: “When I heard about what Hanni experienced, I was really shocked. How could a manager from another team tell their members to ignore one of us, and say it so loudly that Hanni could hear it? Such unimaginable words and behavior were directed at us, yet there was no apology, nor did they even acknowledge their wrongdoing. Of course, I’m worried about how many more similar incidents might occur in the future and whether we’ll be subtly ostracized without anyone there to protect us.” Hanni: “I hope no one else has to go through something like that, but since it’s already happened once, I can’t help but feel scared that other members might experience the same thing. I spoke to the new CEO about it, but since I didn’t have evidence and it was considered too late, they seemed to brush it off, making me feel like there’s no one left to protect us. It really felt like the concern for us was gone, and even though I was being honest, it made me feel like I was suddenly being treated as a liar. Before, Min Heejin, our previous CEO, used to take care of us a lot. But now, while the new people say they’ll help, it’s just been months of excuses... excuses... excuses... They keep saying that it’s something they can’t resolve. But this is something that I personally went through and experienced, yet they are trying to dismiss it as if it’s my fault. I’m worried and scared about what might happen next.” I want to make two points here. First, this is clearly “invisibility.” It’s not physical violence, but it’s about not acknowledging someone’s greeting, deliberately ignoring them, and so on. While it may not seem like a big deal, it still deeply hurts someone’s feelings. There’s been a lot of research on how these kinds of actions negatively affect an organization, spreading like poison and making people feel bad. It’s something we should really work against. The second point is about third-party justice. Hanni raised a legitimate concern, and it wasn’t handled properly within the company. This made Hanni, Minji, and others realize that the new management isn’t on their side. When others witness this, they’ll also realize that this company doesn’t have their best interests at heart. This realization leads to a loss of trust. People will remember these events, and once this perception sticks, it’s hard to change. It affects not just NewJeans, but also other artists who will think, “Oh, this is how HYBE treats people.” And it even affects the employees who work there. Minji: “Of course, I’m worried about our future, but what’s most frightening is that the work we’ve already created is being compromised. Seeing the people who have poured their lives into creating our work being treated this way makes it hard to understand how this could be happening. The new management said they would separate producing and management, but we’ve always worked differently from other labels, and we thought that our way was a good one. Now, Daepyonim can no longer approve all matters, and we’re left wondering how we’re supposed to continue working as we did before. The recent statement from the new management also didn’t make sense to me. If they really didn’t intend to interfere with our production, then the recent incident with Director Shin Woo-seok should never have happened, and it should have been handled differently. We are the ones directly involved with the copyrights and likeness rights of our content, yet they’re making decisions without our consent. In their statement, they kept saying they were acting to protect us and prevent our anxiety, but why do they keep insisting on this when they haven’t considered our wishes? We don’t want any more unnecessary issues to arise, and we want them to show respect and consideration for Daepyonim and all the directors who have worked with us. The things they’re doing right now are not in our best interest at all.” What’s worth discussing here is the perception of hypocrisy. People really dislike hypocrisy, and when you think about it, it makes sense. When humans are surviving, if there’s an enemy or a difficult environment, they overcome it as part of life. But the most dangerous situation is when you think someone is an ally, but they turn out to be an enemy. When you thought they were on your side but they stab you in the back — that’s when people are really upset. That’s why people hate it when there’s a discrepancy between outward appearances and inward intentions. It creates a near-hatred, especially when someone claims to be acting for your benefit but it’s clear that they’re not. This is what Minji is clearly pointing out — these people are hypocrites. New Jeans has already reached a conclusion internally: this new management team, in less than a month, has revealed themselves to be hypocrites. And they’ve shared this with the fans and everyone else. This isn’t just some interesting topic on a live broadcast; this will cause a huge impact, and I am certain of that. New Jeans has come to a solid realization — these people are not working for us. They are liars and hypocrites. Therefore, the new management can no longer properly lead the company. They will not be able to continue, and this system cannot be maintained. Why? Because the artist has called them out as hypocrites. The only way they can recover is by proving they aren’t hypocrites, but even then, that’s not effective — New Jeans would have to say it. But the chance of that happening is zero. In short, these people have been socially branded as hypocrites. The new management’s time is up. Less than a month, and their time is over. In the creative industry, especially in culture and the arts, content production — such as creating songs or music videos — cannot be separated from management. That’s how we’ve always worked, and it was good for us. Min Hee-jin was a remarkable creator and artist who understood all of this. The harmony between management and artistic decision-making brought about the incredible phenomenon of New Jeans. But now, they’ve created a system where that harmony can’t exist anymore. Moreover, the new management is culturally ignorant. They don’t understand art, music, or creativity. They have shown this clearly, especially with their mishandling of Director Shin Woo-seok’s music video and the associated fan content, like those on the Dolphiners YouTube channel. They’ve demanded to delete content without protecting the artists, or respecting the work of those who collaborated on it. Their management decisions show a complete lack of sensitivity or empathy. So once again, I say: "the new management’s time is over." Danielle: “As I mentioned earlier, our dream was to perform the music we want to make with Daepyonim, and we were working very hard toward that goal. But now, we can’t do that, and the plans we’ve made might not come to fruition. As Hanni unnie said earlier, just like that, the content that we released solely for our fans, for our bunnies, was instantly erased. And I truly can't understand why anyone would do this to a group, or just anyone in general. We were just working hard for the present, so what did we do wrong? A week after Daepyonim was dismissed, we found out that we could no longer work with the director we’ve been working with all this time, and we’re extremely anxious because we don’t know what will happen to the staff who have always worked hard for us. If they really care about us, they should stop saying that they prioritize the artists and instead let us do the music we love in an environment where we can be genuinely happy. Is that really so hard to do? It’s hard to fully express what’s in my heart, but in the end, the five of us just want to continue our activities with Min Hee-jin Daepyonim, as we have done so far.” Personally, they just want to be left alone—just "Leave us alone. Don't interfere; just leave us alone.” This is what they’re saying to both ADOR and HYBE. It's become clear now that HYBE and ADOR can no longer meddle with NewJeans, and I think things will flow that way from now on. The fans won’t stand still either. In entertainment, it’s not about titles like "I’m the CEO," or "I own shares." These are shallow understandings of what makes the entertainment business work. The real value created in this industry is the love and recognition from the fans. No amount of shares or CEO titles matter when that love disappears in an instant. NewJeans is asking to be left alone, and because of this, the new management of HYBE and ADOR can no longer act. I believe the future will unfold accordingly. One important thing I want to emphasize is that NewJeans is a unique group. They’re not just factory-produced idols. The distinctive nature of NewJeans’ music is felt by everyone who listens to them. For example, producer 250, who played a significant role in shaping the NewJeans sound, alongside other talented producers like those from the Banana Culture label, was brought in by CEO Min Hee-jin. This collaboration birthed the unique musical style of NewJeans, which many have come to appreciate. Their latest album, which incorporated elements like New Jack Swing, wasn’t just NewJeans making this music—it was 250's creative vision, drawing inspiration from 70s and 80s funk, R&B, and American black music, and reinterpreting them. If 250 no longer works with NewJeans, their music might become indistinguishable from other idol groups. The choreography, another element that set NewJeans apart, also contributed to their success. However, with the recent tensions, it's obvious that working with key figures like director Shin Woo-seok, who directed many of NewJeans' music videos, will become difficult moving forward. Director Shin wasn’t even interested in music videos before but was inspired to work with NewJeans after a conversation with Min Hee-jin. If Min Hee-jin and people like director Shin are ousted from ADOR, it’s inevitable that the core assets of NewJeans, including their distinctive musical and visual style, will vanish. This is not just a simple matter of one person being ousted—it’s about losing the core elements that made NewJeans what they are. WE STAND WITH NEWJEANS #버니즈_뉴진스와함께_준비갈완료 #방시혁_2주준다_민희진_복귀시켜라

1tokki

39,222 views • 1 year ago

A great video explaining the legendary combination of Coca Cola and Taehyung! PLS READ FULLY! 👤 Breaking News! 🚨 The man loved by the whole world has finally teamed up with that drink?! 🤯 Your heart might just pop like popcorn when you see this! Check it out now! This is a ‘legendary end-of-the-century combo’! 🔥 Coca-Cola just made the best life choice ever! They've officially announced BTS V as their new ambassador! From his powerful charisma on stage to his heart-stopping trendiness in daily life, V’s got it all! He’s the perfect match to showcase Coca-Cola’s thrill, passion, and freedom! An absolutely flawless pairing! Thanks to this insane synergy, the newly revamped Coca-Cola Zero campaign is about to shake everything up! The name? “Best Coke Ever”! V himself said he’s thrilled to partner with a drink he’s always loved and the excitement is already off the charts! 💥 The teaser video is going viral! The moment V says, “Yes! Gotta try it, right?”, you’ll start drooling 🤤 But you know what… the ‘thrill’ of Coca-Cola isn’t just about the taste. Did you know this company has some seriously hidden charms that go way beyond soda? Let us fully charge your dopamine levels with Coca-Cola’s real class! Coca-Cola doesn’t just make beverages—it’s basically a “miracle maker” turning dreams into reality for people all over the world! They’re partnering with NPOs in Africa to lead life-saving projects preventing and treating HIV/AIDS! Now that’s what we call next-level class! 👍 And that’s not all! They’ve built schools and libraries around the world, donated educational materials, funded scholarships… They even set up a dedicated foundation that connects scholarship recipients to volunteer opportunities! This isn’t just charity—it’s the thrill of nurturing talent! They’re environmentally conscious too! Since 1985, Coca-Cola has been developing recyclable cans and actively working toward a cleaner planet. At this point, shouldn’t we just call them “environmental heroes”? So what about Coca-Cola Korea? Well, here it’s known as the “Santa Claus Headquarters”! 🎅 Every year-end, their Coca-Cola Santas visit those in need, bringing gifts to pediatric wards and holding festive activities to bring kids a warm, joyful Christmas. Of course, employees volunteer for all of this on their own initiative! They even granted wishes worth over 10 million won through the Santa campaign! Isn’t that actual magic—making dreams come true? ✨ They’ve also created study rooms in orphanages, donated books, sponsored youth camps, supported charity events for children with disabilities, and even cultural festivals for severely disabled individuals. They’ve jumped in to help areas hit by floods or droughts too. Truly, they’re unsung experts in loving their neighbors. So? Now do you get it? Coca-Cola’s “thrill” wasn’t just about that fizzy gulp—it’s about that heartfelt sincerity, just like V’s own irresistible charm. Coca-Cola’s mission to make the world a happier place is the real deal! 💖 From uplifting dreams, to protecting the planet, to caring for those often forgotten—Coca-Cola is truly a “master of social contribution”. Coca-Cola X V Can you even imagine the thrill this legendary combo is about to deliver?! The full commercial is coming soon, So hurry to Coca-Cola’s YouTube and Instagram and catch the teaser now! Miss this and you’ll totally regret it!

Taehyung Naver || 네이버 김태형

83,468 views • 11 months ago

Farage and the suckers I used to regularly socialise with a group, one of whose number was a financial lawyer. He used to tell us about something that was surprisingly common in his line of work. He would be called in to give advice because someone wanted to spend their life savings on a scheme that was an obvious scam. He said that 99% of the time they could not be talked out of it. Nothing and nobody could persuade them not to do it, because they were convinced that a fortune was there to be made, and they were desperate to pour as much money as they could into the scheme. They would get really angry with anyone (like a spouse, or other family, or friends) who tried to stop them. Why are you stopping me from making a fortune, they would say. “You're ruining my chance of living the life of my dreams,” was their view. This was meant to happen. This was the life they deserved, which had been so cruelly denied to them for so long. Finally reality was going to turn around and favour them for a change. It was the “Shut up and take my money” meme in real life. It wasn’t that they didn't understand about scams. Yes, scams happen, they knew that, but they don’t happen to me. (That, at least, was my friend’s summation of their thinking based on talking to them.) They could barely take seriously the idea that they were a gullible fool who was being tricked. When obvious problems and flaws with the scheme were pointed out, they would come up with far-fetched and implausible explanations to wave the problems away. Any explanation would do, as long as it meant they didn’t have to wake up from the dream. In almost every case the person concerned decided to put their money into the scheme. Hardly anyone decided not to. In every single case they lost all the money. In every one of these cases the mark was completely shocked and stunned when it happened. They never saw it coming, despite so many people around them telling them it was a con. I bring this up because the situation with Nigel Farage is similar. People are desperate to believe that he is going to save the country. I don't blame them for being desperate. The situation *is* desperate. But that means that many people will cling onto anything which is presented to them as the solution. Farage, they are told by the media, is the big, bad anti-immigration, anti-green, anti-PC man. Great, they think. If the media doesn't like him, then he’s the man for me. I'm also against those things. So they buy into him, big time, without a proper examination. Look, they say, he was Mr Anti-EU for decades. He’s Mr Brexit. He released that poster during the Brexit campaign depicting a long line of foreigners trying to get into Britain. The hated MSM attacks him for being anti-immigration, etc. So how can you lose if you trust him? Life will become good again if we all just support Nigel. Sink your emotional life-savings into him, and watch the results pour in once he gets power. So when you tell them to read Farage’s fine-print, like the Reform manifesto (digging into what slogans like “Net Zero immigration” actually mean), or particular things he has publicly said over the years, and what many people who have worked with him say about him, they act exactly like those people who are advised not to invest their life savings into a get-rich-quick scheme. They get angry and offended. Why are you trying to take away my dream of a better life for me, and a better Britain for all of us? Why are you undermining the only man who stands any chance of transforming the country for us, and preventing my life from getting worse and worse? You’re just trying to ruin everything. You’re just a negative Nelly, who is too afraid to take a risk. Maybe you even support Labour, really. And so on. When asked to explain why it is that Farage’s actual positions, and his track record, indicate that he is not remotely the hard-liner they think he is, they act like the wannabe investors who will come up with any excuse, no matter how implausible, to preserve the dream. I know, I've seen many of them in my comments doing this. “He has to pretend to be more mainstream and mild than he really is in order that he doesn’t get bad MSM headlines” is the gist of it. “The BBC would tear him apart and his support would vanish overnight if he said anything stronger at this stage,” they say. In other words, “he has to get his party into a stronger position before he can say anything that might seem radical.” Apparently being neck-and-neck with Labour and the Conservatives in the polls, having MPs in Parliament, facing rival parties that are collapsing in unprecedented fashion for their adherence to the established ways, having the media hang on your every word, and facing a country crying out for a change in your supposed direction, isn’t a strong enough position for you to lay out your real agenda. You’ve still got to be timid and pretend to differ only slightly from the Conservative Party, lest the British people say, “Reducing mass immigration back to the levels they were in 2000 frightens me, who will cook our kebabs? I’m going to go back to the Tories/Labour/LibDems.” So it’s quite reasonable, apparently, for Farage to delay saying what he really thinks until 2034. Or 2039. Until then, we’ll just twiddle our thumbs and trust him with our support. It never occurs to them as a serious possibility that maybe Farage isn’t “hiding his real power levels,” but just isn’t very radical. In fact, his whole history indicates that not only does he have no interest in supporting robust anti-immigrationism, he is actively opposed to it. He left UKIP because he thought UKIP people were too concerned with Islamic immigration. When he was in charge of UKIP it worked with the intelligence services to weed out anyone who didn’t want Britain being filled up with foreigners. All his public statements going back thirty years indicate that he is a liberal, supply-side Thatcherite, who repudiates nationalism, unless it’s anodyne, flag-waving, Union-Jack-biscuit-tin civic nationalism, where anyone who can vaguely adopt some British cliches (cricket, tea, old Jags, etc.) gets a passport. If he’s playing a game to fool the media, it’s a game that goes back a long, long way. Where is the actual evidence, then, that shows that he is in any way a nativist? What reason is there to believe that he is really is a blood-and-soil nationalist who will suddenly reveal, once in power, his determination to remigrate millions of foreigners, when he’s spent his whole life urging against this? There is no reason to believe this at all, other than people’s desperation to search for a Messiah figure, and the fact that the media (and various hysterical left-wingers) give people the impression that this is Farage’s plan. But they have no evidence for this either, and anyway, why would the media give airtime to someone who genuinely thought this? Wouldn't that devious and tricksy ol’ MSM be more likely to give airtime to someone who was actually rather liberal when it comes down to it, but who can be made to seem like an attractive, anti-establishment rebel, while simultaneously sidelining the real rebels? It's like when the people who want to give away their life savings are shown the long history of bankruptcies that their Svengali has left behind, and they excuse it by saying something like, “Oh, that’s because he never had enough financial support from people. But thanks to me, I can finally give him the money he needs to succeed.” Or whatever excuse they kid themselves with. When asked, “But what evidence is there that he can make you money?”, they reply, “He’s told me his plan, and swears it will work, and it sounds good to me. Look, the rate of return is amazing, I can't pass that chance up, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” and so on. Farage also has a glib, charismatic manner, and is very good at talking in general-enough language that people can read into it what they like. “People on the streets have been talking to me, and they've had enough,” he kept saying during the summer 2024 election campaign, but he was rather vague about what exactly they were fed up with, and even vaguer about what he proposed to do about it, which allowed the sucker, er, supporter to decide that Farage was talking about just the very things the supporter thinks are important, and had in mind the same solutions. The media will admit, though, when it thinks the average Joe isn’t listening, that Farage isn’t anywhere near as bad as they normally make him out to be. This is what’s going on in this video clip of Michael Crick, which was from Times Radio, which the average Joe doesn’t listen to. The point of Crick admitting this is to calm down any naive liberals or leftists who are starting to froth at the mouth at the prospect of Farage getting anywhere. (“Look, we don't like him, but we can live with him, he's tamer than you think, better him than some genuine nationalist party.”) I haven't even talked about the idiocy of thinking that Reform’s support would plummet overnight instead of rising (or at least staying roughly the same) if they started talking tougher. (The Telegraph’s pet hamster Tim Stanley hysterically claimed recently that if Reform decided to do this they would lose 10,000 votes for every “far-Right” voter they courted.) I haven’t said anything about how an anti-establishment party must of necessity drive changes in stateable public opinion, rather than accept the status quo. Nor have I talked about the foolishness of trusting a party that you think is cowardly and constantly lying. Or the problem of how rational it is to believe that a timid party, that said for years that it definitely won't do X, Y and Z, will be capable of doing X, Y and Z when it gets power, especially seeing as it will face the real wrath of the establishment at that point. These are all legitimate topics for discussion, but in this article I have been mainly concerned with the parallels with the self-deluding life-savings investor. The conman doesn’t need that many suckers to be a success. He just needs a few. Similarly, Farage doesn’t need that many people to fall for his shtick. With the other big parties’ support in free fall, he can set Reform up as the rebel outsider party for years on the back of a minority of votes, without ever having to make any hard choices, or commit to any positions which will genuinely set the establishment against him. He also has an advantage over the traditional conman, who operates on the margins and in the shadows, of having the media there to endorse him as the “official” rebel. Their every warning makes him seem more attractive to the dissatisfied: “Don’t vote for that Farage, don’t you know he’s anti-immigration and anti-Net Zero? He’s a maverick who doesn’t do what he’s told.” No wonder Reform’s membership numbers are going through the roof. When one person loses their head to a charismatic phony it’s a private tragedy. When enough voters lose their heads to a political phony, who’s taking away the oxygen that a real opposition needs, it’s a public tragedy. So I say, keep your political life savings in a box under your bed for now. And if you must spend some or all of it on Farage, be demanding. Keep all your receipts, note what he says and doesn’t say, and demand that he clearly articulates the feelings of the people he claims to represent. Don’t let him fob you off with vague and airy platitudes. He’s not Barack Obama. He’s your rebel, so make him speak for you, and if he won’t, find someone else who will.

Hector Drummond

34,408 views • 1 year ago

Min Hee-jin (NewJeans Producer) NHK Music Interview 🔗 “Meticulously planned debut ‘Attention’” 🧢: When I was preparing to launch NewJeans, I really struggled with deciding what our first piece of content should be. I thought about it for a long time and considered many possibilities. It was a project that came with high expectations, and for me personally, it was also my first opportunity to prove myself. So how I presented it mattered enormously. Even down to the smallest details… like the impression the very first released photo might give, or what kind of impact we could make at launch. I thought hard about what kind of content would be the most effective… should it be a video or a photo? What time of day would be most effective to release it? I consider things like that very carefully. For example, the way a person experiences content at night versus during the day can feel quite different emotionally. So I even thought about those subtle aspects. Eventually, the conclusion I reached was: “Let’s make the most of our situation.” At the time, the members hadn’t been revealed, and no one knew how many of them there were or what kind of group this would be. So I wanted to maximize that curiosity. You know how the more something is concealed, the more curious people become? I wanted to build that curiosity to a peak and then release everything all at once. That’s why we decided not to release a teaser and instead go straight into a full music video. (This was actually inspired by Hyein suggesting we skip teasers.) I didn’t think still images or photos would be enough to fully convey the feeling I wanted to express. I felt that video and music together would evoke the emotional response I was looking for because people experience things synesthetically. When sound, image, and feeling come together, the emotional impact is stronger. I believed the best way to present the members’ images was through music and a moving picture… that’s why we led with a music video. In the debut music video, “Attention,” there’s a scene where the members act out a little drama. I paid very close attention to that moment and created music that would fit it precisely. For me, I don’t just make content… I design the entire process of how it should be shown for the greatest effect. And I believe that’s incredibly important. That first feeling someone gets when they encounter something… that emotion, that spark… is so important to me. I’m very detail-oriented, but I also value fun deeply. So rather than just releasing content, I want to enjoy the process leading up to it. Even when we released our second album, since we shot the entire music video across the country, the sequence of how we released the videos was critical for me. It’s hard to explain all this simply in an interview, but maybe some people noticed: the first content we released that time was actually a teaser for the last track, “ASAP,” and then we followed that with the full music video for “New Jeans,” which was the first track. That order was a carefully calculated strategy. It was designed to guide the audience’s emotional journey. Seeing the audience react just as I had hoped—that whole process was honestly so fun and thrilling for me. I think I really enjoy that kind of thing. ——— “How 'Ditto' was born” 🧢: People often praise the music of NewJeans, and I hear a lot of talk about genres. But actually, I don’t feel bound by genre at all. I love a wide variety of music. I’m not the type to insist on only one particular genre. What I love are songs that blend genres cleverly… those are my personal favorites. So going forward, my focus is not on genre but on whether something feels fresh and whether it can create an emotional moment. I don’t want to define what kind of music we make. And I think you have to experience the flow of the times to really understand what’s meaningful in a given moment. For instance, the song “Ditto” was chosen because it delivered emotion. It matched perfectly with the winter album concept I had envisioned, both in terms of timing and mood. When I hear a song, I tend to trust my gut. I have a pretty strong intuition for which songs will resonate. It’s not about objectively predicting what will be a “hit,” but about whether a song moves your heart… you can just feel it. Of course, my own taste plays a big role. But I think that’s actually my strength as a producer, not as a composer. When I hear a song, I can immediately picture the visual… what kind of story, what kind of vibe it could carry. That allows me to work faster. For example, when expressing something like school uniforms, there are so many possible variations. But I always like to start from the basics… what’s the original idea of a school uniform? I try to return to that. So with “Ditto,” I wanted to tap into something primal… the pure, basic feeling of liking someone. That kind of emotion is universal. Everyone has it; it’s wired into us. When I saw Director Shin Woo-seok’s interpretation of it, I thought, “Yes, that’s it.” That’s the kind of complete interpretation I look for. I believe the completion of a project comes from every person involved thinking about their part down to the final detail… the maximum quality they can bring out. My role is to unify and refine all of that. I draw out the essence of each person’s creativity, trimming away anything unnecessary. So the final product is something that’s polished and high-quality, just the way I envisioned it. That’s my working style. So it’s not like I’m fixated on retro or stuck in a particular style. I don’t think human taste has changed all that much. Things people liked in the past are the same things we like now. It’s just the form of expression that changes with time. I don’t feel bound by “past” or “present.” I don’t even think in those boundaries. To me, it’s all just good taste. You know how kids sometimes have their own little treasure boxes when they’re young? I think my work is kind of like that. I want to make things that never feel dated—that are timelessly enjoyable. ——— “Dance Expression and 'Hype Boy'” 🧢: I had a vision of what kind of girl group I wanted to create. That’s why I chose a song like “Hype Boy.” And to bring out that feeling, we created four different versions of the music video. Every choice had a purpose, everything was designed to maximize the experience of the song. “Hype Boy” is such a unique song. It has this strange, piercing melody that gives people chills in a good way. To emphasize that tingling feeling, I had to break away from the standard K-pop choreography format… you know, the kind where everyone is in perfect formation, doing synchronized moves. But our songs don’t suit that kind of choreography. Our dances are much harder. They require the body to move very naturally with the groove of the melody and beat. So I think our members are incredible. It’s not easy to express naturalness with your body, and you have to really enjoy it to make it look effortless. But they pulled it off so well. They’re still young, but they’re so talented. And through it all, I wanted to avoid making them look like they were performing just for business. I wanted them to show the pure joy and bright spirit that’s natural for people their age… genuine, carefree, radiant. ——— “The difference between NewJeans and conventional K-POP” 🧢: Ah, for me, it’s all about naturalness. And honestly, naturalness isn’t something you can produce or direct into existence. It comes from how I interact with the NewJeans members on a daily basis… what kind of environment they practice in, how they live and work. There are so many things that don’t appear on camera, but those unseen aspects have to be in place in order for true naturalness to come through. That’s why I wanted to create that kind of environment for the girls. And also, I wanted to shape my own working environment in that way too. Only then can something truly natural, something unforced and not overly stimulating, really come out. To begin with, I don’t believe anyone can be completely natural in front of a camera or under the gaze of others. It’s human nature to become self-conscious. That’s why I think naturalness is our strength, but it can’t be our concept. If you try to turn “naturalness” into a concept, it actually becomes incredibly artificial. So why do I place so much importance on naturalness? It’s because the girls are still so young. While other kids their age are going through school and having a wide range of life experiences, these members are living very different lives. Before they officially debuted, I told them, “This is like studying together with me.” Our standard contract is seven years, which is about the same length as going through high school and college in Korea: three years of high school and four years of university. So I told them, “We’re going to school together. We’re learning together.” And in that sense, I want to be a good teacher to them. They’re also surrounded by an incredibly professional team, people they’d never meet even in a traditional school setting. I’ve never really liked the word idol. These days, that word is used more like a job title, something manufactured by the industry, and it’s far from its original meaning. To me, the term idol feels misplaced. It doesn’t really reflect who these artists are or what they represent. And I’m not the kind of person who clings to labels or terminology. In fact, what I really want is to break the stereotypes and preconceptions that come with the idol industry. I want us to show people something different… to challenge those assumptions and redefine what this can look like. That’s the kind of mindset I have. ——— “Isn't it difficult for the members to express "naturalness"?” 🧢: There were a lot of things I considered when forming the group. First and foremost, I think it was important that the members shared a similar vibe… like how I prefer working with staff who align with my taste. It’s important for the crew to be on the same wavelength. And by that, I mean more than just getting along… it also extends to shared values. Of course, people won’t all share identical values, but when we’re facing in a similar direction, everything becomes easier. It’s also just more efficient to work with people who have overlapping tastes. Now, when it comes to our members, they each have their own individual tastes, but those preferences are still in development. Just like we all went through as kids, they’re still growing, still discovering themselves. They’re not in a finished state. So we didn’t cast them based on some complete or polished version of themselves. It wasn’t like, “This person is fully formed, let’s pick her.” It was more like, “Ah, she has potential, there’s something there.” That sense of a spark… those were the kinds of subtleties I paid attention to. I didn’t cast anyone just because they were pretty or could sing well. I don’t work like that. I really value those finer, more delicate aspects. Even the design of the light stick wasn’t something that came from a long strategic planning session… it was actually a spontaneous idea. I didn’t sit down and think, “Let’s make a light stick like this.” NewJeans didn’t have a fixed logo, but I felt we still needed a unifying symbol. So one night, just before going to sleep, I kept thinking about it. Right before dozing off, I started sketching and it turned into a rabbit’s face. When I drew it out, the shape just continued and turned into a bunny. To me, the NewJeans members are like little bunnies… playful, innocent. Their visuals also resemble rabbits in a way. And rabbits symbolize abundance. That made me think: “Ah, maybe our fans will multiply like rabbits. That would be great.” So that bunny face became both a symbol for the members and the fans. The image came to me all at once, and I imagined a venue completely filled with bunny light sticks. That vision led to the creation of the light stick itself. Since I always prioritize fun in everything I do, the next idea that came to mind was making the light stick customizable. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if fans could personalize their bunny?” That way, each rabbit would represent a different person’s character. So we included accessories, allowing everyone to customize their own bunny. It’s symbolic of all these different bunnies coming together and enjoying a good time as one. Our light stick has a big head, so when it’s used in a concert hall, it lights up in heart shapes that are very visible. That was the image I really wanted. And that bunny face… it’s also a heart. It represents both the face of NewJeans and our hearts. It’s the love we’re showing to our fans, and the love we want to receive in return. Every time I see it, I feel deeply moved. It’s very emotional for me because it’s a perfect realization of what I envisioned. As someone with a background in creative direction, there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing an idea materialize exactly the way you imagined it. That kind of work holds deep meaning for me. ⸻ 🧢: Looking back, I think in 2023 we were able to achieve almost everything we had hoped for. I’m so incredibly grateful for that. Of course, this is an ongoing challenge… and the better things go, the more pressure there is. That’s why I always try to return to my original mindset. Just like I tell the members, I try to remind myself of the beginning and keep things fun. Back then, when we were first putting out content, planning the music, and working on visuals, I felt this thrill… this rush of excitement. I don’t want to forget that feeling. So I try hard to engrave that emotion into every album we release. I’m constantly working to rediscover the joy in all of it. So for 2024, I hope everyone can look forward to us with fresh anticipation. And even if we come out with something completely new, I hope people will receive it warmly and with excitement. That’s really my deepest wish. 🙏

1tokki

17,635 views • 11 months ago

🚨 KEEP FIGHTING, TEXAS AND FLORIDA - AMERICANS STAND WITH YOU - BAN CAIR! CAIR’S NEW MELTDOWN VIDEO: A 4-MINUTE PANIC ATTACK MASQUERADING AS A PRESS CONFERENCE CAIR’s latest video message wasn’t strength. It wasn’t confidence. It wasn’t calm leadership. It was panic - raw, unmistakable panic - from an organization that finally realizes Texas and Florida have pulled back the curtain on a political network they’ve been building for decades. Edward Ahmed Mitchell, CAIR’s national deputy director, delivered the message himself — and unintentionally revealed far more than he intended. Let’s break down the meltdown: 🔥 1. Mitchell Opens With “Alhamdulillah” - Then Launches Straight Into a Political Attack This wasn’t a neutral legal update. It was a political broadside dressed up as a religious rallying cry. Mitchell framed CAIR as the perpetual victim, because two governors finally said “enough” and designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR affiliates under state authority. His tone wasn’t confident. It was defensive, agitated, and anxious. Why? Because CAIR’s entire model depends on: Guaranteed access Zero scrutiny Automatic legitimacy Total institutional protection Texas and Florida just detonated that arrangement! THANK YOU Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott 🔥 2. Mitchell Repeats CAIR’s Favorite Script: “We are just a civil rights organization.” But CAIR itself boasts: 🔴 25 national offices 🔴 500+ employees and board members 🔴 70+ attorneys 🔴 A national media arm 🔴 A political grooming pipeline 🔴 A long-term plan to manufacture 100,000 lawyers, journalists, activists, and candidates by 2050 This is not some small, local nonprofit. This is a national political machine with massive institutional reach and today’s video looked like a man terrified that the machine is finally being confronted. 🔥 3. Mitchell Insists Governors “Have No Authority”, Because Discovery Terrifies CAIR He claims: “No governor has the authority to declare an organization a terrorist group.” Texas and Florida just did, legally, under their state powers. Mitchell’s real fear is apparent: Discovery. Because discovery means: Financial transparency Internal communications Partner networks Organizational structure Funding flows Political strategy documents And Governor DeSantis said it openly: “I look forward to discovery - especially the CAIR finances.” (LOVE THIS) That single sentence hit CAIR harder than any executive order. 🔥 4. Mitchell Says This Is All About “Palestinian Advocacy” -A Convenient Deflection His claim: “We are being targeted because we speak for Palestinians.” No, Florida and Texas cited CAIR’s associations with.. - individuals convicted in terror-financing cases - referenced public federal evidence - acknowledged the organization’s long-standing ties to extremist-influenced networks as documented by U.S. prosecutors and national security experts. These issues existed long before the current conflict. This isn’t about advocacy. It’s about influence, infrastructure, and ideology, all of it in plain view. CAIR’s new tactic is painfully predictable: turn every criticism, every investigation, every designation into “an attack on Palestine.” How much longer do they think this overused excuse is going to work? 🔥 5. Mitchell Accidentally Confirms CAIR’s Vision: They See Themselves as THE Voice of Muslims He declares: “They want to target YOU.” Translation: CAIR wants Americans to believe that attacking CAIR is attacking every Muslim in the country. This is the classic playbook of ideological organizations: Claim to represent everyone Insulate themselves with identity Equate criticism with bigotry It’s not civil-rights language. It’s political power-protection language. 🔥 6. Mitchell Uses Fear to Fundraise: “Without CAIR, Muslims Will Be Targeted.” The emotional manipulation was SO blatant: “Without CAIR, Muslim workers and students will face bigotry with no one to help them.” Then the sales pitch: “Support your shield. Donate now.” DONATE - GIVE US YOUR MONEY, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! This wasn’t about law. It was a national fundraising plea rooted in grievance and fear, delivered at the exact moment Texas and Florida undercut their institutional access. 🔥 7. CAIR Ends With a Promise: “We’ve beaten governors before - and we’ll beat them again.” That’s not the language of a nonprofit. That’s the language of a political combat organization preparing for open confrontation with state governments. Texas and Florida finally said: “No more.” And CAIR is lashing out. ⚠️ THE REAL TAKEAWAY: CAIR IS SCARED AND THIS VIDEO PROVES IT You can hear it in the tone and the pacing. You can hear it in the plea for donations. They know: Momentum is shifting - AMERICANS ARE FED-UP! States are waking up Discovery is coming Their political network is being exposed Their institutional access is unraveling Their long-term pipeline is under scrutiny This wasn’t leadership. It was damage control. And it all ends with the most important point: Texas and Florida took the first steps. Now every red state must follow - immediately. WHERE ARE YOU RED STATES: Alabama. Georgia. Arizona. Oklahoma. Kentucky. No excuses or delays. No pretending this threat isn’t real. CAIR has shown the world exactly who they are. It’s time every state responds.

Amy Mek

89,991 views • 7 months ago

Analyzing Episode 42. Season 2 aka Of Thresholds, Truth, and Taking Sides It took a while for me to come out of the euphoria we all experienced thanks to ep 42, but I managed somehow. I had some questions while watching the episode live, such as how Alya and Cihan could just do the deed when, a few episodes ago, they were all about acting correctly. Or whatever happened to Cihan’s pesky guilt? Or was this really the right time for the writer to bring in halvet? I watched and rewatched with those questions until I picked up a few details I’d missed earlier. Hopefully, this analysis will help clear out some cobwebs in your grey matter, too. So let’s get to it. We start the episode with Boran watching Alya and Cihan dance with murder in his eyes. To say the zombie is jealous would be an understatement. He then marches on to the middle of the square, grabs Alya’s hand, and announces who he is to the whole wide world. He thinks he’s all macho when he does that. There’s a sense of puffed-up self-importance about him, like he’s trying to prove how brave he is. Fortunately for us, his little bubble of boorish chauvinism goes ‘pop’ the minute Demir’s little henchman fires a bullet at him. And that’s Boran for you in a nutshell. He thinks he’s all that, but he really isn't. It reminded me of the scene where Cihan says he knew the instant Boran regretted k-wording Sulaiman because the seriousness of his stupidity had finally begun dawning on him, but by then it was too late. It also makes me think the zombie has serious self-destructive tendencies, combined with impulsiveness and resentment. This man is a recipe for disaster. Because think about it. He chooses visibility over safety, knowing it would unleash all kinds of hell, but does it anyway. He would rather burn everything than accept the hand he’s been dealt with humility. This was Boran crossing over the threshold. Now, let’s switch to Cihan. We all knew Ciho was going to jump in front of that thankless freak because of his hero complex (a side-effect of Sadakat’s conditioning). But, I think Cihan saving the zombie this way also highlights his own nature and the narrative at large. Because with his protective gesture, Cihan makes it clear that he doesn’t see Boran as a rival, he has no ill will in his heart for his brother, and that the right man was made Ağa because his protection isn’t contingent on who he loves or likes (unlike the zombie). That responsibility and sacrifice have been bred into Cihan’s very core is rather clear in this scene. It makes an excellent contrasting juxtaposition for the viewers between the two brothers. Both men make decisions in this scene, but the whys and hows couldn’t be more different. Now, let’s take a moment to go back to the questions I mentioned right at the beginning, relating to the halvet, Ciho’s guilt, and the timing of it all. Upon rewatching the episode, I realized that what happens in this scene sets off why we end the episode with consummation. Just keep this in the back of your mind for a bit, as we cover the other parts. Another scene that caught my attention in untangling the theme of episode 42 is Alya and Cihan’s talk after poor Yalcin has to extract yet another bullet from Cihan’s person. Why? That’s simple. It highlights Alya’s fear of losing Cihan. The way she points out the bullet could have pierced his heart, her telling him he needs to control his self-sacrificing tendencies, etc. I mean, Cihan keeps joking to get Alya to calm down, but the truth is, she’s very afraid. She loves Cihan more than her own life; we know that. But the lives they lead, the danger that always follows them, and Boran’s dark presence keep hounding this woman day and night. In such a situation, would it really make sense to keep denying your true feelings when it could all end in a second? Nope. That’s why I marked this scene as Reason no 1 of why the episode ends the way it does. The next scene that stood out to me in the scheme of characters choosing sides is, of course, the jail showdown. There’s a popular opinion in the fandom that Sadakat is afraid of Boran, etc. I am not of that opinion. Because so much of Boran is Sadakat, and that’s very clear in this scene. Instead of accepting the blame for the clusterfuck of a situation he’s created, the zombie blames Cihan. That reminds me of how Sadakat says she would never have threatened the nurse to give an innocent woman blood thinners if only Alya had agreed to leave. See? It’s never Sadakat’s fault. It’s always someone else’s actions that force her to behave badly, blah blah. Like mother, like son. Not surprising. What was surprising was the way Cihan behaves because he makes it very clear he’s picked a side (Next to Alya) and he’s not budging. This is Cihan crossing his point of no return because, in other words, what he says is, appeasement and brotherhood before all is a thing of the past. And here’s the key to the ‘guilt’ question. What Cihan observes of his brother, episode 39 onwards, probably makes him realize there will be no pretty way to make Boran let Alya go. Being the good brother and taking a step back wouldn’t change Boran; it would just make Alya vulnerable. Then there’s the fact that Boran revealing himself endangers everyone, including Alya and Deniz, so restraint is also dangerous now. Finally, nothing helps cure Cihan of his guilt more than Boran being himself. We tend to glorify the dead. And nostalgia can warp more than clarify. When the series began, we met a Cihan Albora caving under the guilt of not being able to save his brother. Now, we see a Cihan who is slowly beginning to realize he idolized what never should have been mourned as innocence. Boran’s actions help fracture his myth that the Albora siblings built in their minds. That helps free Cihan from a parasitic type of devotion, built on illusion rather than the truth. This is Motive no 2. Motive no 3 is when Cihan catches Sadakat in the act of trying to prey on Alya’s weakness - Deniz. I’m not saying Cihan sleeps with Alya because he wants to manipulate her into staying. But, in the overall scheme of things, I think Ciho recognizes that he can trust no one to look after Alya and Deniz, to keep them safe from Boran, except himself. I think he knows after that point that curbing his feelings creates a distance between him and Alya that leaves her exposed, emotionally isolated, and cornered. In other words, it leaves her weakened. However, choosing her fully, being with her body and soul, can become her shield. So, in a way, for both Alya and Cihan, intimacy morphs from being born of desire to also being about presence. And once they realize that, near the end of the episode, the line between waiting and giving in becomes rather faint. Now, let’s talk about THE scene. Did you notice how the opportunity for consummation comes about? A blocked road. That’s how. At the beginning of the episode, fate intervenes to kick-start a series of events that force all the characters out into the open, violence goes public, loyalties are divided, insights are achieved, and secrets are brought to light. By the end of the episode, fate intervenes again, with a blocked road that pushes Alya and Cihan into a space far removed from their family lives, scrutiny, and threats. The hand of destiny, it seems, narrows down their path, until only one direction remains: inwards, towards each other. What looks like an inconvenience is, in truth, another threshold. Another point of no return, for both Alya and Cihan, this time. So, why did Alya and Cihan finally give in to their feelings? In short, because it was time. Besides the boundless love they feel for each other, there were external factors pointed out throughout the episode. And then, they got the perfect opportunity and went for it. Still, was this really the right time for Gulizar to write about lovemaking? I think so. I think instead of trying to act correctly, for once, Alya and Cihan acted honestly. They went with their hearts. How will this play out in the future? Well, I don’t know. But I sure as heck am excited. Till next time, Happy reading y’all :D #CihAl #UzakŞehir

CocoLoco

11,751 views • 7 months ago

My cousin, Jonathan Ord asked me to teach the Come Follow Me lesson to his mission yesterday over zoom. This is the video I did and the full text. Hi. I am Brad Smith. I have ALS, which is a really weird disease that kills the motor neurons in my body. That means that I lose the connections between my brain and my muscles. My mind is still running at the normal rate. So, I can understand everything you say to me, but I can’t respond very quickly! I am getting faster, though. Last November I was the 3rd person in the world to receive the Neuralink brain implant. So I am controlling this computer with my brain. This is my old voice, recreated by AI from just two hours of me talking to my phone. I have come to see ALS as a calling, and I am trying to magnify it. I used to talk easily, but now I have to choose my words carefully, because it is hard and slow to type what I want to say. I joke that the Lord gave me ALS to get me to shut up. Those who knew me when I could talk laugh the hardest. President Ord is my first cousin. So we share grandma and grandpa Smith. Our grandma Smith was a character. When she taught at church, she would put a sign up that read: “thus saith the lord:” so I will try to keep this within what the Lord has actually said, while trying to teach you to look at a basic principle of the gospel in a different way. Ironically, the first verse of Doctrine & Covenants 93 starts with “Verily, thus saith the Lord”. This is an amazing section of scripture, Jesus Christ telling us to step up and be better! You should study it often. I will start with a story. I asked AI to make a video to dramatically tell the story. During college, I lived in Damascus, Syria, for a semester. It was a fantastic and wonderful experience. I especially loved exploring the Old City of Damascus. The Old City is built around the huge beautiful Umayyad mosque. Within the walls of the old city is a maze of narrow, winding, confusing streets and one really long straight street, as Saul found out in Acts 9:11. One day when a group of us were trying to get through this maze from the mosque to the Christian quarter of the Old City, we asked a man for directions. He thought for a second, then pointed and said, “Go left and then right, and then left and then right, and then left and then right, and then left and right, and you’ll be there.” Aren’t those the most ridiculous directions you have ever heard? We could have ignored him. But, we thought, he did know the city better than we did. So, with some laughter, off we went. Left. Right. Left. Right. And so on until, much to our surprise, we popped out at our destination. Life is a confusing maze. We face difficult choices, unexpected events, surprises, sorrows, opportunities, roadblocks. The Lord has given directions on how to get through to where we want to go. Sometimes the Lord’s directions seem odd, and we may struggle with the decision to follow. The Lord will not force us. It is our choice whether to choose and follow him. Wasn’t that fun? AI is getting crazy! I will be much less entertaining for the rest, but hopefully the spirit will teach you something new. The phrase “keep the commandments” (or “keepeth my commandments”) appears at least 4 times in Doctrine and Covenants Section 93, in verses 1, 20, 27, and 28. There are other references, like “keep my sayings” in 52 and “obeyeth my voice” in 1. So, commandments are really important in this Revelation. I suggest that making the gospel a more central part of our lives depends largely on how we look at commandments. When you think of commandments, do you think “I can’t. I’m Mormon”? (That was a popular T-shirt slogan during my college years.) Although, with the recent guidance from President Nelson, it probably should be “I can’t, I’m a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”. It’s a common reaction: “Thou shalt not do Cool Things.” People LOVE to focus on all the things we CAN’T do, as if we are trapped and deserve pity for our beliefs. No pity is needed. Commandments are opportunities, not constraints. Commandments are awesome! Allow me to illustrate. Imagine a spectrum between Good and Evil. Somewhere in the middle is “the Line” that divides Good from Evil. As a teenager, I wanted to know where the Line was, so I could get close to it without going over it. I wanted to be on the “Good” side but still be able to do as many “Cool Things" with my friends as possible. From my experience, I believe God gives us two types of commandments: 1) Get Back over the Line commandments and 2) Come Further into the Light commandments. Type 1, the Get Back over the Line commandments, could also be called “Misery Avoidance” commandments. They are designed to keep us out of misery or, if we’ve crossed the Line, to bring us out of misery and back into the Good side. These are generally commandments with a clear and defined point of success, such as “Thou shalt not kill.” You will know, at the end of each day, whether you have successfully followed that commandment. I think all of the Ten Commandments fall into this category. The law of Moses was very black and white. The children of Israel had been in Egypt without a prophet for a long time when Moses received the law, and they needed to work on the basics. So, if you follow the Type 1 commandments, you will refrain from doing things that make you miserable. You will know you are in the Good if you can answer the baptismal interview and temple recommend questions honestly and faithfully. If you can do that, you have taken the basic steps necessary to avoid misery and are on a solid foundation for the next type of commandment. Type 2, the “Come Further into the Light” commandments, are the really cool commandments. Once we are out of the misery category, we can really start to pursue joy. So, God commands us to do things that he knows will make us happier and more like Christ. These commandments are the principles of eternal development, such as “Love thy neighbor” (Matthew 22:39). There is no clear end to loving our neighbor—it requires positive and eternal progression. We can always love more, and we can always find another neighbor who needs our love. It is an eternal principle taught by Jesus Christ. And if we truly love our neighbor, refraining from killing him becomes pretty easy. It is through these commandments that we find joy in Jesus Christ. Elder Christofferson taught about this spectrum in the October 2018 general conference: “Most of us find ourselves at this moment on a continuum between a socially motivated participation in gospel rituals on the one hand and a fully developed, Christlike commitment to the will of God on the other. Somewhere along that continuum, the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ enters into our heart and takes possession of our soul. It may not happen in an instant, but we should all be moving toward that blessed state.” Our goal is to go THAT WAY (toward Christ) as much as possible. So first, get back across the line and stop doing things that will make you miserable. Then make every effort to try and be like Jesus, to “love one another as Jesus loves you.” The gospel of Jesus Christ is more than just “not doing” stuff. It is about coming unto Christ, being perfected in him, and denying ourselves of all ungodliness. Discuss with your companion what commandments and mission rules are for “Misery Avoidance” and which are “Come Further into the Light”! And, remember, commandments are ALWAYS connected to huge blessings. The Lord promised, “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21). Whenever we obey any of God’s commandments, we will get the blessing associated with that commandment. Elder David A. Bednar said: “The gospel of Jesus Christ encompasses much more than avoiding, overcoming, and being cleansed from sin and the bad influences in our lives; it also essentially entails doing good, being good, and becoming better. Repenting of our sins and seeking forgiveness are spiritually necessary, and we must always do so. But remission of sin is not the only or even the ultimate purpose of the gospel. To have our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit such that “we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2), as did King Benjamin’s people, is the covenant responsibility we have accepted. “This mighty change is not simply the result of working harder or developing greater individual discipline. Rather, it is the consequence of a fundamental change in our desires, our motives, and our natures made possible through the Atonement of Christ the Lord. Our spiritual purpose is to overcome both sin and the desire to sin, both the taint and the tyranny of sin.” I LOVE this concept—and as I have paid attention, I feel like apostles are trying to teach us this all the time. Are we listening? Let me repeat what Elder Bednar said. He said that the commandments help us change what we WANT. Why is that important? Remember my teenage desires? I wanted to be as close to the line as possible so I could still look cool for my friends. That is a good example of the “tyranny” of sin. Even though I was not actually sinning (probably because I was afraid of my mother), I still had some small desire to sin. I said, “I can’t. I’m Mormon” with many dramatic sighs. Overcoming the tyranny of sin is getting to the point where the sin no longer looks remotely interesting or fun because we are too busy loving our neighbors and trying to be like Jesus. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: “The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.” This talk was given when I was on a mission, before most of you were born. It completely changed my perspective on the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is called The Challenge to Become” and I recommend that you study it. When the Lord says keep the commandments, he isn’t just telling us to stop sinning—he wants us to become like Christ and to have joy. Take a moment and think, Where am I on this continuum? Remember that none of us is perfect like the Savior, and we all need to lift one another. That is why we worship together. That is why we have priesthood quorums and the Relief Society, Primary, and youth organizations. The Lord taught us that truth when he said we all have different gifts: “To some is given one [gift], and to some is given another [gift], that all may be profited thereby. To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world. To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful” (Doctrine and Covenants 46:12–14). The Savior is still WAY over there: a thousand miles away somewhere. That is why we have quorums. We all have a long way to go. Let’s link arms and run together. Let me finish by telling a story from my mission to support my testimony of Jesus. Years ago my mission president said something interesting: “Either the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly the kingdom of god on the earth... or it is the greatest fraud ever in history.“ It is audacious to claim to be the true Church of Jesus Christ—but let me explain exactly why I know that to be true. I always BELIEVED that I was raised in the gospel of Jesus Christ. My parents taught me well and I felt good following the commandments and studying the scriptures. That led me to serve a mission in Brazil. My turning point of testimony came when I was 20–at least 2/3rds through my mission. We were invited into a house in the “fundos” of a property—a small structure built behind a larger house. The man was polite and allowed us to share our message. As I had done hundreds of times, I shared the story of Joseph Smith, a boy who sought the truth through prayer. I recited Joseph’s own words in response to his prayer: “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me... When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" I felt the strongest feeling I had ever experienced—an undeniable confirmation that what I said was true. It hit me in a way I can never forget! I knew that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet, and therefore the Book of Mormon was the word of god. What about the man we were teaching? How had he responded to my life-affirming spiritual experience? He shrugged and politely thanked us for the message. I was stunned. I felt like the windows of heaven opened on me—and he felt nothing. I learned that receiving answers to our prayers is like tuning a radio: not everyone is on the right frequency. For some reason, the Lord decided to broadcast on my frequency that day. I received the undeniable confirmation that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I have built on that foundation brick by brick since then. And every time someone has challenged me on Joseph Smith, I go back to that day in Brazil. I know that he was a prophet. My life has been blessed in ridiculously good ways since then. As I have tried to follow Jesus Christ, great things have happened to me. Even my hardest and most frustrating times have turned out to have a purpose. God has upturned my best laid plans over and over. But I look back and realize that I could never have planned any better. With the prophet Nephi I say: “I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." (1 Nephi 11:17) When I say that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, that does not mean we have a monopoly on truth. I know Christians and Muslims who teach me to be better—and Members of the church who are far from disciples of Christ. We just have more truth: scriptures, living prophets, ordinances, personal revelation, and answers to many of life’s biggest questions! That is pretty cool. But we can’t be prideful about the truth we have. You have all probably met people to admire both inside and outside of the church. So, I am all in. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true—not a big fraud. And we are all trying to get closer to Christ. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me. Life has not been what I expected, but I trust him! I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of Jesus Christ and that the Book of Mormon is true. This is “intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one.” With that knowledge, keep the commandments! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen .

Bradford G Smith (Brad)

20,383 views • 10 months ago

"Anyone who leaked a [UFO] report...could be prosecuted under the Espionage Act...life in prison, or death." "Maybe we can reverse engineer this so we will have this incredible edge over the rest of the world." 🔥 Dr. Phil Had Me at The Bolender Memo 🔥 (Dr. Phil continued to kill it yesterday and this was better than the last one! Link to full video (21:52) is in the replies.) "Our government has been lying to us for more than 80 years. Ask yourself why? Why do they not want you to know this is going on?" (He starts out by showing that Google searches for "UFO" have allegedly nearly tripled since last Friday night, along with searches for UAP being up 400%. And "Dr. Phil UFO" is one of the fastest rising searches in the country. If all of that is true, it's a very good thing. Especially since he's been putting out some really good videos. He mentions the latest release (#4) of UFO/UAP files from the Pentagon last Friday.) "My team and I were granted early access, exclusive access to those documents before they went public." "Our government has been lying to us, by omission AND by intentional misdirection, for 79 years." "Look at these documents. You go back as far as 1947 where they have had clear information that there are objects not of this Earth, both technologically, metallurgically, performance-wise. But yet, that has been hidden from us. They've denied that, they've actually threatened people from talking about this. Threatened with careers, imprisonment, and some, with death, because they would consider it treason." (He backs it up with documents. See below.) Dr. Phil: "For 80 years, every time there was a legitimate UAP sighting and the U.S. government had a chance to get in there, they essentially told us, 'Nothing to see here. Move along.' To be clear, a UAP sighting is not proof of little green men or alien life. It means something happened, something was observed, something occurred for which we have no explanation. That's it. "Now, let's talk about that for a second. Things happen, and we don't have any explanation for it. We don't have technology that explains that. There's something that is observed in the sky, going at a speed, stopping, making a sharp turn, reversing direction, accelerating, changing altitudes, and we don't have anything on this Earth that can do that. That's what's called unexplained. "Now, do we know where it's from? How it does that? Well, if we did, it would be explained. But we don't. We go look at all of our secret weapons. We go look at what we know through intelligence, other countries have. And let me tell you, a lot of these (laughs) - they're not close calls. They are not close calls. And some of the things that have been observed, we damn sure didn't have anything like that in the 40s or the 50s or the 60s, and we still don't, now in 2020s. "But at the very same time, our government was telling us, 'Nothing to see here: weather balloon, reflection off of an airplane, just a weather anomaly.' And, the government was simultaneously threatening its own people with criminal penalties if they ever disclosed UAP information. "If somebody that was credible, that had seen this, spoke about it, they were threatened with all kinds of penalties. We were gaslighted. 'No big deal here. Probably weather balloons, misidentified aircraft.' And a jumpy public that watched, 'Close Encounters' one too many times, thinking, 'Look, what's really going on here?' "Behind the curtain, the government was spending generations of time and resources protecting this information. Was it happening? Yes, it was happening! Do we have proof of it happening? Yes, we have proof of it happening. And what I mean by that is we have this on radar. We have credible, military pilots reporting it. "We have aircraft that have guns, and when you open a gun and go live on a fighter, there's a camera that activates, so you have video of what the gun is shooting at. You have gun cameras. If they see one of these things in front of them, they open their weapons, in case they need them, and so it shoots video of what they're seeing. "Now let's talk about some of the proof. JANAP 146 - Joint Army, Navy, Air Force publication 146 - made it a criminal offense for military personnel and commercial airline pilots to discuss UFO sightings outside official channels. The penalty, 'up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.' "So, you might see some guy down on a lake, drinking beer, that talks about something he saw over the lake. Yeah, they don't mind that guy talking. But credible people? Trained observers with instrumentation? No. They say something, they're going to prison. "Well, that took effect upon receipt. No hearings, no debate. The regulation says, 'All persons aware of the contents or existence...are governed by...espionage laws.' So not just the pilot who filed a report under JANAP 146, anyone who leaked a report. Radio operators, airline staff, anyone in the chain could be prosecuted under the Espionage Act. "You can see this yourself. Declassified copies are online today, including on the NSA's website. Now what is the Espionage Act? That's the same law used to prosecute spies. Section 793: Up to 10 years in federal prison for every violation. Section 794: If the information reaches a foreign power, life in prison, or death. "Imagine you're a TWA captain in 1955. You see something over the Pacific you just simply can't explain. You file your report like the regulation requires. And from that moment, talk to a newspaper, tell your own wife, puts you in the same legal category as a spy. "Ask yourself why. Why are they so interested in muzzling all this conversation? Why do they not want you to know this is going on? Why are you not entitled to know what's happening in the air around you? "Now, let's fast forward 20 years, 1971. Oliver Harry Turner was an Australian nuclear scientist and intelligence officer, head of the nuclear branch of Australia's Joint Intelligence Organization. He was asked to assess the American response to the growing UAP issue. "If you're thinking, what does an Australian know about U.S. military secrets? Well, the possibility of life beyond this planet is bigger than any one country. Australia and the rest of the world has a legitimate interest in what the U.S. knows. And Australia is one of our closest intelligence allies. What we now call Five Eyes. "The Five Eyes countries are the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These countries have shared their most sensitive intelligence with each other since World War II. When a senior, Five Eyes nuclear intelligence officer writes a report about what the United States knows, well, that's serious. "He was outside the American classification system. He had no career to lose. He pieced this together from official CIA, Air Force, Congressional, and Project Blue Book records. Now this report was written May 27, 1971. Original classification: Secret. Title: Scientific and Intelligence Aspects of the UFO Problem. Report declassified by the National Archives of Australia in 2023. "On June 9th of 2026, whistleblower David Crusch (Yes, he said Crusch) stood on Capitol Hill and told the public to read pages seven through sixteen." ~ David Grusch: "There is a declassified 1971 Australian, formally-classified, Secret assessment that a couple years ago was put in the Australian National Archives. I encourage people to read page seven through sixteen, and that was the nuclear branch chief of the Australian government discussing the U.S. cover-up and the involvement of the CIA back in the 70s. And that's actually a little-known document that is publicly available." ~ Dr. Phil: "Now here's the kicker: foreign intelligence describing an American cover-up is now referenced in the files that our government is just now releasing. And here are six key findings in the Turner report. "Number one, what Turner called the facade of ridicule. Turner documents that early Air Force intelligence concluded, 'Some of these objects, 'had flight characteristics' that could best be explained as having 'extraterrestrial origin.' (The actual language says: "The early analysis of UFO reports by USAF intelligence indicated that real phenomena were being reported which had flight characteristics so far in advance of U.S. aircraft that only as extra-terrestrial origin could be envisaged." ) Dr. Phil: "Instead of telling the public, the CIA and Air Force adopted a deliberate debunking policy. "Now let that sit with you for a minute. Instead of telling the public, the CIA and Air Force adopted a deliberate debunking policy. We've got to get these people believing this isn't real. We've got to debunk this. "January 1953, Turner's own words: 'By erecting a facade of ridicule, the U.S. hoped to allay public alarm, reduce the possibility of the Soviet taking advantage of UFO mass sightings...and act as a cover-up so the U.S. can develop vehicles that emulate UFO performances.' "What's the point? Well, the point is, they were thinking, 'All right, let's keep this secret,' like we're the only ones seeing this, 'and maybe we can reverse engineer this so we will have this incredible edge over the rest of the world.' "That's a great goal, I guess, if you can go from flying-prop planes or early jets to this incredible speed. If these are extraterrestrial, and the nearest galaxy is Andromeda, which it takes two and a half million years to get to, flying at the speed of light, we're pretty far from being able to do that. "Today, in 2026, can we move at the speed of light? No. If we could, it would take two and a half million years to get to the next galaxy. We can't move at the speed of light, even now in 2026. But that was the goal. They'll find one of these and reverse engineer it." (I don't know whether or not any black program has tech that can move at the speed of light and I doubt Dr. Phil knows, either. Someone should show him what Lacatski said about being able to reverse engineer some of this acquired (alleged non-human) tech but "not to its full extent.") Dr. Phil: "Finding number two. He then talks about Project Sign. This was the U.S. Air Force's first official UFO investigation set up in late 1947. Its analysts reportedly concluded that extraterrestrial origin was the best explanation. Air Force Chief of Staff General Hoyt Vandenberg rejected that conclusion, and copies of the report were ordered destroyed. Destroyed! "And per Turner, in February 1949, members of Project Sign, 'either volunteered to leave or were compelled to leave,' and they were replaced by people, 'willing to ridicule the concept of UFOs.' "Think about this! We have sightings by legitimate observers with scientific instrumentation, and the people who are doing the observing are voluntarily leaving or compelled to leave, and replaced by people willing to ridicule the concept of UFOs. "Finding number three, what I spoke about earlier: JANAP 146. Up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for discussing sightings outside official channels. And per the regulation's own text, Chapter One, Section 102, it covered not just military personnel, but U.S. and Canadian civilian and commercial pilots. "That's legal force over airline pilots, arguably the most credible witnesses in the sky! What jurisdiction they had over Canadian pilots, I have no idea, but they listed 'em. "Turner documents a meeting between military intelligence and airline pilots at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. At that meeting, pilots were, 'coerced' to keep their sightings out of public view and inside official channels. Am I overstating it to say that there's been a cover-up, that we're being lied to? "Finding number four. But they missed the retirees. JANAP 146 only covered active service. Once you retired, you could talk. And three very senior men did so between 1953 and 1960. Admiral Roscoe Hillenkoetter, the first director of the CIA, Captain Edward Ruppelt, the man the Air Force put in charge of investigating UFOs, Major Dewey Fournet, the Pentagon's project officer on UFOs. Per Turner, all three publicly stated the U.S. government knew UFOs were extraterrestrial and was withholding the fact from the public! So when those three retired, they told the truth! "Finding five. The government then silenced retirees. Per Turner, the revised regulation JANAP 146e made UAP disclosure by retirees an offense under the Espionage Act. Then finding number six. 1969, 17 years, the Air Force ran a public-facing UFO investigation called Project Blue Book. If you wrote your congressman about a sighting, it went into the Blue Book. And in 1969, the Air Force shut down the Blue Book and told the country, 'We looked at more than 12,000 sightings. No problems. No national security threat. No need for the Blue Book.' "But a memo from General Carroll Bolender, the Air Force general, said the reason Blue Book showed no national security threats was because any national security threats were gag ordered under JANAP 146 and were quote, 'not part of the Blue Book system.' The serious reports never stopped; they just moved out of public view. "Now, I know that was a lot of information. You may need to listen back to that, but those are facts. Those are in the government's documents that have now been declassified! "If the government has known for decades that unidentified objects are flying through our skies, and therefore, we may not be alone in the Universe, then the greatest revelation in American history has also been the target of a huge cover-up. "One of the challenges of social media and TV news is taking something this complex and reducing it to sound bites. And you're getting bits and pieces from the media. That's why I invest so much time and energy giving you the real story. I don't want to tell you what you believe or don't believe, but I want to give you the information so you can make up your own mind. "This information is in the files, we just haven't had access to the files. And then when we get the files, we're given the files without any context. You see a radar screen and you see a blip, and then it moves. Well, what do you have to compare it to? Is it moving fast? Too fast? Unexplainably fast? Without any context, how are we supposed to interpret that? "Well, I'm digging in, I'm talking to experts, I'm finding out what the scale is. And what we're learning, is we don't have anything that'll move that fast. We don't have anything that'll turn that sharp. We don't have anything that will withstand those kind of G-forces."

Joe Murgia

46,292 views • 8 days ago

Earlier today I made a big move in anticipation of this announcement. In a single transaction, I locked 500 million coins...forever. A movement does not belong to the person who lit the match. It belongs to the people who carry the flames. As I’ve mentioned publicly, I’m dealing with an ongoing family crisis involving my children. It has taken a real toll on my mental health. On top of that, the daily pressure of “do more to pump our bags” - when I’ve already done more than any person leading a CTO in this space ever has - is disheartening at best. And beyond all of that, I’m losing some of my passion for crypto in general. For $WhiteWhale holders: yes, there is a continuity plan. While permanently locking $13 million worth of supply should be the greatest parting gift I could give you, I know the The White Whale Meme Official page needs to stay active and keep producing fresh, creative, and funny content. My dear friend and loyal companion @vincenzomaiett has agreed to selflessly take on that responsibility. DEX LP operations will also continue under one of the sharpest LP minds I know, with my ongoing oversight behind the scenes. When you look at my record - with millions given to charities on-chain, millions distributed to members of CT, and millions more spent accumulating a more proper supply structure for $WhiteWhale - the reality is that, since 10/10, I have officially given more to crypto than I’ve taken from it. I’m okay with that. I believe in karma. I don’t believe good deeds should be performed with the expectation of reward, but I do believe the universe provides in due course. I came into crypto deeply passionate about what I believed it represented: the original promise. Permissionless finance. Decentralization. True financial freedom. Ironically, the reason for my prior success in this space is the same reason I’m now losing my passion for it. Before 10/10, I had accumulated nearly $100 million in PnL from a trading thesis that began with a very simple assumption: everything is manipulated. From there, my thesis evolved into this: a trader’s job is to identify the signs of manipulation and move in harmony with the Apex Predator class, rather than becoming its prey. Eventually I had to confront the contradiction in that. How can I be passionate about free and open finance while operating under a thesis that says, at its core, it’s all a lie? That kind of cognitive dissonance has a cost. It shows up as stress, guilt, shame, and anxiety when your actions no longer align with your beliefs. Knowing something academically - and even profiting from that knowledge - is one thing. Seeing how the sausage is made with your own eyes is another. Running a coin opened my eyes to a lot. On one hand, if I ever go back to trading, I’ll be better equipped than ever, with sharper instincts and a deeper understanding of the brutal arena that is crypto. On the other hand, it’s hard to feel excited about magic internet money when you know how much of this space actually works. The sad truth is that founders and thought leaders in this space know what I know, and many of them know much more. That is part of why we need to break the culture of idolizing founders. We praise them as honorable people building better tools, but underneath it all, they know just as well as I do that much of what they are building on top of is rotten to the core. And yes, I believe a beautiful cake sitting on a pile of dung eventually takes on the taint of dung. But the reality is that there is not much anyone can do about it. That is one of the consequences of so-called decentralization. Crypto is global. You cannot regulate an entire planet. A VPN and a protocol hiding behind the letters D-E-X mean that nothing will ever fundamentally change because somebody in power decided it should. If real change comes, it will come organically - when the people stop feeding the machine. And while those comments are about crypto more broadly, let me say something directly to the trenches. is a cancer on this space. You know it, I know it, and yet you keep engaging with it. Its entire business model is built on volume and volatility. The trenches are fragile because they were designed to be fragile. I’ve been preaching liquidity design and liquidity shape for months now. But here’s the harder truth: most of you would not show up for a proper liquidity shape. Because the 1,000x fantasy would be mathematically reduced, even though very generous returns could still remain on the table. You have been sold a dream with odds closer to a national lottery ticket than an investment opportunity. You see the occasional winner and cling to the hope that one day it might be you. Meanwhile, the real winner is the machine that keeps you playing. Narrative matters far less than mechanics. If narrative alone were enough, Punch would have broken through the way its mindshare deserved. With all that attention, and with all that narrative weight, it still could not break the nine-figure curse even while being actively crimed. Only a couple of coins have managed that in recent history, and $WhiteWhale was proudly the first. Same with Kilroy - the original meme, an incredible narrative, and still: crickets. Because mechanics matter more than people want to admit. (I am not an active holder of any examples I've given). So this is me stepping away from CT. Not out of hatred. Not out of self-pity. And not without love. My biggest reward from my crypto journey has been meeting some really wonderful avatars from all across the globe. (Ironically the really nasty avatars are the worst part of all of this) I am choosing my children. I am choosing my mental health. I am choosing to step back before this space takes any more from me than I’m willing to give. For long ago in life I learned that you're no good to anyone if you're not okay. And right now, I'm not ok. And it's okay to admit that. To the people who truly believe in me, believe in this movement, and stood beside me through all of it - thank you. I will carry that with me. Always. This was always for you. I trust you'll continue to bear the torch. And as for the future: I’m not closing the door. Maybe one day, when the storm has passed and the fire returns, I’ll have something left to say. Maybe one day I’ll come back. But if that day comes, it will be because it’s authentic and not because I feel the public pressure to "dance puppet, dance". In the mean time...take care of yourself, and each other. Protect what's worth protecting, and abandon the things that aren't. 🫡 From the depths — The White Whale 🐋

The White Whale

1,021,001 views • 3 months ago

When Judge Napolitano asked me on his show how Syria ended up with Abu Mohammed al-Jolani as its “president,” I could almost hear the cognitive dissonance on the other side of the screen. How does a man who was once the emir of al-Qaeda in Syria, a co-founder of ISIS by any reasonable historical reading of his trajectory, become Washington’s chosen man in Damascus? For me, the answer is not a mystery. It is the logical end of a dirty war that began not with Syrian protesters in 2011, but in an American-run prison camp in Iraq years earlier. And if anyone still suspected this was “just a conspiracy theory,” a former CIA officer – John Kiriakou, who went to prison for exposing CIA torture – has now said publicly what many of us have long argued: Jolani is, in all likelihood, a CIA asset. Let’s start with the timeline, because the timeline alone already screams “intelligence operation.” Abu Mohammed al-Jolani was in a CIA-run prison in Iraq – Camp Bucca – alongside another familiar name: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Both men were released in early 2011. “Coincidentally,” that is exactly when the regime-change war in Syria begins. Within weeks, Baghdadi goes on to lead what becomes ISIS, and Jolani crosses into Syria to found Jabhat al-Nusra – officially al-Qaeda’s franchise in my country. Washington designates Nusra a terrorist organization. The UN follows suit. On paper, Jolani is the enemy. The State Department even slaps a $10 million bounty on his head. But bounties are cheap. Cruise missiles are expensive. And for over a decade, while the US flattened cities in Iraq and Syria allegedly to fight “terrorism,” it somehow never found the time, or the coordinates, to seriously target Jolani or his core command structure, even though he controlled large swaths of Syrian territory from Aleppo countryside all the way to Idlib. Because Jolani and his men were fighting the one government Washington had already decided must go: the Syrian state under Bashar al-Assad. This is where Operation Timber Sycamore comes in: a multi-billion-dollar CIA covert program that funneled weapons, money, and training to so-called “rebels” in Syria. They were sold to Western audiences as “moderate opposition.” On the ground, those moderates were a disappearing species. What existed in reality were hardline Salafi-jihadist factions, with Nusra at the top of the food chain. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) was the mask, the logo on the paperwork, the brand name you could sell to Congress and CNN. The real muscle on the ground was Jolani’s men and other takfiri groups, who did the actual fighting, took the actual territory, and imposed their version of rule. Weapons went “to the moderates.” The moderates magically handed them to al-Qaeda. Everyone in Washington pretended to be surprised. No one stopped the pipeline. Over the years, the mask slipped. US officials themselves began to speak of Jolani as something more than just a former enemy. James Jeffrey, Washington’s former envoy to Syria, openly called Jolani “an asset” for US strategy – not my word, his. Robert Ford, the former US ambassador to Syria, has publicly admitted that he personally worked with Jolani to “take him out of the world of terrorism” and polish him into a politician. Think about what that means: the same US that claims to be fighting an endless war against al-Qaeda quietly devotes diplomatic energy to rehabilitating the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda into a partner, a useful strongman, a future head of state. I said on the show, and I repeat it here: I believe Jolani was recruited in Camp Bucca. The timeline makes no sense otherwise. You don’t walk out of an American-run prison and, weeks later, magically have the networks, the money, the arms, and the logistical capacity to found al-Qaeda in Syria, right at the moment when Washington and its allies need a battering ram against Damascus. Recently, former CIA director David Petraeus even sat with Jolani and told him, “Your success is our success.” What more do people need? A signed employment contract? But let’s assume, for a moment, that you still think this is a stretch. Enter John Kiriakou. Kiriakou is not a YouTuber chasing clicks. He is a former CIA officer who went to prison because he exposed the torture program and named the torturers. His loyalty is clearly not to the Agency’s PR department. Recently, on Unfettered Speech, he described the Jolani situation bluntly. Here is the essence of what he said, which Judge Napolitano played on air: -The “new president” of Syria is a former al-Qaeda member and a co-founder of ISIS. -This same man is welcomed at the White House. -Senior US officials, including the Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East, travel to meet him. -President Trump suddenly lifts sanctions on Syria as Jolani consolidates power, prompting Syrians – desperate and exhausted – to dance in the streets. The only thing that makes sense is that Jolani is a CIA asset, per Kiriakou’s. When a former CIA officer who has already sacrificed his career and freedom to tell the truth looks at the pattern and says, “This is our guy,” it is not a conspiracy theory anymore. Now, you may ask, why would the United States and its allies back such a man? The answer lies in what Syria used to be, and what it has now been turned into. Before this war, Syria, for all its flaws, was a horizontally integrated state. People identified themselves as Syrian first and then Armenian, Druze, Christian, Alawite, Sunni, Shi’a, Kurdish, and so on. The state’s foreign policy aligned with Iran and Hezbollah, supported Palestinian factions, and kept a real deterrent posture toward Israel. For Washington and Tel Aviv, this was unacceptable. The goal was not “democracy”; that word is just wrapping paper. The real objective was to remove a government allied with Iran and replace it with a fragmented landscape: a weak central authority in Damascus, surrounded by sectarian cantons and warlord enclaves, all dependent on foreign patrons. Jolani is perfect for this role. For Israel, he brings vertical division. A man with a long al-Qaeda pedigree ruling Syria is a nightmare for minorities: Christians, Druze, Alawites, Shi’a, many Kurds, and other smaller communities. They will not accept al-Qaeda rule. So they retreat into their own militias, their own cantons, their own de facto mini-states, exactly in line with old Israeli strategic doctrines like the Yinon Plan, which openly advocated fragmenting neighboring states along sectarian lines. On the ground, we already see it: -Druze militias running their own affairs in the south with quiet Israeli backing. -Kurdish forces in the northeast under US protection, managing their own autonomous zone. -Alawites discussing an autonomous coastal enclave. -Christians living in silence and fear. You don’t need formal borders on a map to balkanize a country. When I, as a Syrian of Armenian origin, stop thinking of myself as Syrian first and start thinking purely as Armenian, when I instinctively fear my neighbor because he is from another sect, the balkanization has already happened in the mind. For Washington, Jolani is equally “useful.” He has promised to normalize relations with Israel, to open Syria’s markets to Western capital, and to hand over the country’s resources from the hydrocarbons east of the Euphrates to the gas fields under the Mediterranean to American and allied companies. A 24-million-person country reduced to a reconstruction market: $300 billion worth of contracts, infrastructure projects, and “investments.” But for investors to feel safe, they need a strongman in Damascus who can project the illusion of stability while remaining utterly dependent on foreign protection. That strongman, in their design, is Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. But Jolani is not acting alone. Around him is a constellation of Western intelligence veterans and “conflict resolution” NGOs acting as intermediaries. British MI6 circles, under figures like Jonathan Powell – former chief of staff to Tony Blair – are central in managing this process. Powell runs an organization called Inter Mediate, which specializes in “talking to armed groups.” Behind the humanitarian language lies political engineering. One of Inter Mediate’s operatives, a woman named Clare Haigh, is now said to have an office inside the Syrian presidential palace, advising Jolani on how to talk, how to dress, how to handle journalists, how to sell himself as a reformed jihadist turned statesman. And then there is Qatar. Ahmed Zaidan – once Osama bin Laden’s favorite journalist, photographed sipping tea with him and broadcasting his tapes on Al Jazeera – is now a personal adviser to Jolani. Make it make sense. An al-Qaeda emir, handled by US and British intelligence veterans, advised by bin Laden’s favorite media man, massaged by Western PR consultants, welcomed in Washington, and crowned in Damascus as “president.” If you wrote this as fiction, an editor would tell you it’s too on the nose. Since Jolani took power through an international and regional deal that pushed Assad aside, over 11,000 people have been killed. Many of them are from the very minorities the West loves to mention in speeches but abandons in practice. Videos circulate of his fighters asking terrified villagers at gunpoint, “Are you Muslim or not?” and executing those who give the “wrong” answer, including Druze and Alawites who are not recognized as “true Muslims” by their extremist ideology. Christians, who had already suffered massive emigration between 2011 and 2024, are being squeezed further. They have no organized armed force, no foreign sponsor. They are expected either to live under the mercy of an al-Qaeda-bred regime or to leave the land of their ancestors. This is what Washington’s “asset management” looks like in human terms. If you are an American reading this, you might be tempted to say: “This cannot be. My government would never knowingly empower al-Qaeda.” But it already has, repeatedly. From Afghanistan in the 1980s, when US intelligence backed the Mujahideen (and, indirectly, their Arab foreign fighter allies), to Libya and Syria in the last decade, where jihadist factions were instrumentalized against secular or nationalist governments, the pattern is clear. The names and acronyms change. The logic does not. The same establishment that lectures the world on “democracy” and “human rights” is perfectly willing to install a man like Jolani as the ruler of one of the oldest civilizations on earth, as long as he delivers strategic gains: -breaking the Iran–Syria–Hezbollah axis; -fragmenting Syria into weak, controllable pieces; -opening its resources and markets to Western and Gulf capital; -and giving Israel unprecedented strategic depth and security. Everything else – the massacres, the ethnic cleansing, the collapse of national identity, the destruction of ancient communities – is treated as collateral damage. I am often asked what Syria will look like in five or ten years. I wish I could answer with optimism. Right now, the forces pushing to turn my country into a permanent vassal state – ruled by a former al-Qaeda emir, policed by foreign intelligence, exploited by foreign capital – are incredibly strong. But nothing in this region is permanent. People who come to power by cutting off other people’s heads often lose their own. If there are still sane voices left in Western politics – people like Tulsi Gabbard 🌺, whom I mentioned on air – they must at least recognize this insanity: backing an al-Qaeda emir as “our man in Damascus” is not just immoral; it is ultimately self-destructive. Syria does not need Jolani. The West does not need Jolani. There are Syrians who can have friendly relations with the United States without being former al-Qaeda commanders, without murdering their own people, without turning an ancient nation into a laboratory for extremist social engineering. The question is not whether such alternatives exist. They do. The question is whether Washington and its allies want a sovereign, stable Syria, or whether they prefer a shattered, cantonized carcass kept alive just enough for the next “asset” to feed on.

Kevork Almassian

176,233 views • 7 months ago

Ch. 14 of NITRO: The Inside Story of Hulk Hogan's heel turn - #OTD 30 Years Ago (7/7/96)! AS DAY BECAME NIGHT at the Sullivan home, Bollea deliberated his participation in the pay-per-view. “Everybody was telling him that it was the wrong thing to do,” Kevin Sullivan says. “He was getting booed out of the arena, but they were all saying, ‘this is gonna kill him’.” With no end to the discussion in sight, the wily booker casually suggested that Bollea and Young make use of his two guest rooms until the morning. “I isolated [them],” Sullivan admits. “I was just afraid that at the last minute, he was going to use his creative control [clause] and pull out.” If Sullivan could deliver Bollea to the arena by showtime, the finish of the match called for Hogan to star in the most dramatic of surprise endings. In a sequence devised by Kevin Nash, an unannounced Hulkster would shockingly interfere in the match, but only after the heels gained an unfair advantage through cheating. It would be a brilliant misdirection, Nash thought, as fans would instinctively believe Hogan’s appearance to be in support of the babyface team. “I knew there were gonna be 55 different ideas,” Nash says, thinking back to the eve of the event, “[so] I actually put a lot of thought into it. I called Scott [Hall] two or three days before that, and said ‘what do you think about this?’ “We had to make it a 2-on-2 match with Lex Luger getting injured [during the match] and going out. We would cheat to get Macho [Man] in trouble and all of a sudden Hulk comes down, which of course would mean ‘ok, here comes Hulk to make the save’. [Hall] said, ‘I love it’.” There was, however, the looming possibility that Bollea could reject his turn at the eleventh hour. Thinking ahead, Eric Bischoff developed a contingency plan in which Sting would play the role, ultimately revealing himself - despite not having prior experience with the WWF - as the ‘third man’ instead. “I remember Eric came in to the locker room,” recalls Marcus 'Buff' Bagwell, “and said [to Sting], ‘I wanna talk to you about something’. I could hear them going over the idea, and then when they got done, Sting told me what they were talking about. He said that [Eric said], ‘there are only two guys that could turn heel where it would really matter’. That would be Hogan and Sting.” “He was offering Sting the job first, [as I recall], and Sting didn’t wanna do it. He didn’t really say it wouldn’t work, but he just said, ‘it doesn’t intrigue me. I don’t wanna do it’.” According to Andre Freitas, a special effects artist who worked in costume design and character development for WCW, the proposed Sting swerve was to involve the use of a doppelganger - or ‘phony’ Sting - presumably in an effort to fool fans that the real character had switched sides. “That was their original plan,” says Freitas. “Eric showed me a picture of Jeff Farmer (a lower-card wrestler) and said ‘can you make him Sting?’ I told him that they have similar bodies...then we looked at Sting’s hair and Jeff’s hair...and talked about all that stuff. I did a head cast for [Farmer] and some prosthetic and test make-ups. But when they secured Hogan, we didn’t do [the angle].” ----------- Amazingly, even as Bash at the Beach began, Bischoff continued to consider Plan B. “I remember walking by this perforated wall in the Ocean Center,” divulges Nash, “and Eric said to me, ‘Hulk is with Sullivan, and he’s not sure he’s gonna do it yet’. It was up in the air.” Meanwhile, viewers of the pay-per-view - and, for that matter, WCW’s own production staff - speculated as to the identity of the third man. “They were trying to ‘work’ everyone,” asserts Jason Douglas, a WCW producer backstage at his first pay-per-view event. “‘Rocket’ (staff member Rick Sancher) came up to me - they were kinda testing me because I was new on the road - and said ‘hey, I think it’s gonna be [WWF wrestler] Bret Hart’. I guess it was to see if I would leak something, and so I was just like ‘oh, cool, Bret Hart’.” In reality, aside from Bischoff, Bollea, Young, Hall, Nash and Sullivan, the turn would be concealed from everyone - even the announcers, according to orders from Bischoff - as to ensure their most realistic reactions. With less than an hour before the main event began, production staffer Woody Kearce discovered a revealing clue in the parking lot. A Hulk Hogan motorcycle had appeared mysteriously in one of the spaces, sparking another round of backstage conjecture. Finally, with what Sullivan recalls as “thirty minutes” and Bischoff remembers as “forty-five to sixty minutes” left on the air, Bollea belatedly arrived at the Ocean Center. The mood suddenly changed. Upon realizing that his star had been convinced, Bischoff began to relax. “Once he got to the building, I recall a sense of calm,” he reveals. “All of the anxiety, all of the tension, all of the worry, all of the effort to make sure things stayed quiet...all of that just kind of dissipated. It was like fog lifting when the sun comes out - it all just went away. I was thinking, ‘it is what it is, there’s nothing more I can do...so let’s just roll with it’.” To cement the turn, Bollea knew, he would have to deliver a monumental post-match promo to explain his actions. While typically, he enjoyed using Bischoff as a sounding board to rehearse interviews, the need for complete privacy - on this occasion - was unquestionably paramount. And so, away from prying eyes - and ears - the two met up in the most unglamorous of clandestine locations - a utility closet. In the midst of the run-through, Bischoff stopped to emphasize an important point: When you grab that microphone, I want you to say...‘this is the beginning of the new...world...order’. The phrase - ‘new world order’ - lingered auspiciously in the air. Bischoff surprised himself with the utterance, realizing slowly that the term encapsulated everything that the invasion storyline could represent. In 1990, then-president George H.W. Bush famously utilized the same expression in a speech to Congress, although its origin could actually be traced back to the 28th President, Woodrow Wilson. But if Bischoff was unsure as to the source of his spontaneous inspiration, perhaps the answer could be found closer to home - on the preceding Nitro, just six days earlier, announcer Larry Zybysko serendipitously made the following proclamation: “This Sunday, I promise you, there will be a new world order of wrestling…” Fans at the Ocean Center waited anxiously to see if Zybysko’s prophecy would materialize; for after all the hoopla, it was suddenly time for the main event. Before the opening bell, the audience was already on its feet for ring announcer@Michael_Buffer’s pre-match introductions. As Hall and Nash sauntered to the ring for The Hostile Takeover match, Buffer set the scene with theatrical aplomb: “Ladies and gentleman, at this time, let me introduce the men whose plan and goal is to takeover the WCW with force and hostility. We were told there would be three of these interlopers, and I must apologize as I have been informed - as you can see - there are only two. Ladies and gentleman, introducing...the Outsiiiiiders!” In a moment that played off perfectly on television, Sting’s entrance music began - and quickly ended - as ‘Mean Gene’ Okerlund traipsed cautiously into the ring. After exchanging quizzical looks with Buffer and referee Randy Anderson, Okerlund confronted the Outsiders to get some answers, an inspired plot device designed to build the tension even further. “Gentleman,” began Okerlund, “if I could have your attention...I don’t have police protection with me at this time, but I wanna confront you in front of this full house here at the Ocean Center, and millions of others watching across the country and around the world. I don’t see three men here tonight. Where is your partner?” Responding in a manner consistent with their WWF characters, Hall and Nash assured Okerlund that the third man was present - and ready. “Let me tell you something,” announced a confident Nash, “we got enough to handle it right now, right here.” Once more, Sting’s entrance music blared from the arena speakers, this time preceding the man himself, accompanied by Luger and Savage. “Here we go!” screamed color commentator Bobby Heenan as the wrestlers passed an unusually large contingent of security personnel on the entrance way. “The war is on!” Less than two minutes into the bout, Luger collapsed to the outside, a move in accordance with Nash’s plan to even the sides before the climactic reveal. “Now it’s two against two!” yelled Heenan. After a brief delay, the concerned crowd looked on as Luger left the arena on a stretcher, leaving Sting and Savage alone to fight valiantly for WCW. As the match progressed, the contemptible Outsiders used every trick to stall their opponent’s momentum, until a revitalized Savage began a furious rally at the fifteen-and-a-half minute mark. The invaders were suddenly down, but not out - as with the referee distracted, Nash landed a low-blow to bring the Macho Man to his knees. All four men lay on the canvas, exhausted, as referee Anderson started a ten count. As Anderson yelled ‘ONE’, several rows of spectators rose to their feet. Within seconds, the reaction diffused from section to section, the noise level increasing with each passing beat. On the live broadcast, viewers at home caught glimpse of a familiar figure making his way down the ramp. “Hulkamania!” screamed Dusty Rhodes on commentary while Hogan walked methodically towards the ring. Noticeably, the Hulkster seemed oddly disaffected - even out-of-character - but after exchanging the briefest of glances with the crowd, he continued stride with the din reaching fever pitch. “Whose side is he on?” bellowed Heenan, a question that seemed inexplicable given the history of Hogan’s on-screen persona. “Whose side is he on?” repeated Heenan, who as longtime fans could recall, had opposed Hogan for years as a manager in the WWF. For that reason, the comment flew over the heads of most (but not all) viewers; meanwhile, the live crowd was cheering as if their team had won the World Series. Nash and Hall retreated to the floor as Hogan tore off his shirt, an apparent signal that the archetypal good guy was here to save the day again. “Who’s bad now boys?” taunted play-by-play man Tony Schiavone on commentary, confident that WCW’s honor was no longer in jeopardy. Savage lay prone on the mat as Hogan surveyed the scene. Above the cheapest of cheap seats, peeking through a curtain with palpable anticipation, was Eric Bischoff. “I knew that something big was about to happen,” he recalls. “It was either gonna be a big failure, or a big success.” Seemingly out of nowhere, with his unsuspecting devotees enveloped in celebration, Hulk backed up to the corner. With the coldness of a serial killer, the once-honorable hero shockingly shoved referee Anderson, and executed his patented finishing move - the leg drop - to the helpless Macho Man below. The audience became completely, utterly unglued. “I was standing back with the announcers,” remembers Michelle Baines, newly hired as a production assistant. “One of the producers turned to me and said, ‘you need to go to the back’. “‘I said, ‘what do you mean?’ “She said, ‘it’s gonna get ugly real quick’.” “She was right - the crowd turned ugly quick.” In retrospect, it was clear that even as Hogan’s body approached the canvas - contact with Savage just milliseconds away - the gravity of the assault started to hit home. “What has he done?” questioned a crestfallen Rhodes, “is he the third man? What the hell is going on here?” Heenan was even more direct - “Hulk Hogan has betrayed WCW! He is the third man in this picture!” A breathless Schiavone could barely muster more than three words: Oh My God, he repeated. Oh My God, he continued, as Hogan high-fived a grinning Hall and Nash. The courageous Sting, stumbling to his feet to stop the injustice, was quickly dispatched, and in the coup de grace, Hogan tossed Anderson to the floor. Sardonically, he covered Savage for the pin, the contest now clearly a farce. “I hope you love it,” a disappointed Rhodes wailed on commentary. “You just sold your soul to the devil.” The third man was a mystery no more, and Hall, Nash, and Hogan raised their hands in victory to a genuinely astonished audience. The immediate outrage, which first gave way to shock, was now inspiring unmitigated rage. Simultaneously, the evil trio continued to taunt, pose, and antagonize while the announcers lamented WCW’s future. As Sting and Savage hobbled back to the locker room, a visibly distraught Okerlund returned to conduct an explanatory interview, based around the one Hogan and Bischoff had mapped out earlier. “Mean Gene,” commanded Hogan, “the first thing you need to do is to tell these people to shut up if you wanna hear what I gotta say.” For the next four minutes, Hogan rationalized his turn with remarkable clarity. “The first thing you gotta realize, brother, is this right here is the future of wrestling. You can call this the new...world...order of wrestling. These two men right here came from a great big organization up north, and everybody was wondering who the third man was. Well, who knows more about that organization than me, brother? I made that organization a monster. I made people rich up there. I made the people that ran that organization rich up there. And when it all came to pass, the name Hulk Hogan, the man Hulk Hogan, got bigger than the whole organization!” Bischoff watched from his secretive seat in amazement - he had not seen, nor had anyone, this intensity of emotion on display at a wrestling show before. It was almost as if the assembled masses had lost themselves in the performance, perhaps even forgetting, if only for a moment, that they were witnesses to a pre-determined event. Hogan’s actions had ostensibly interrupted their critical faculties; in other words, they had suspended their disbelief by reacting to the incident as if it were real. Moreover, the shock was manifesting in the most volatile ways imaginable, as in an incident edited out of future showings of the pay-per-view, a rather large man, likely intoxicated, ran into the ring before being knocked down by Hall and Nash. Concurrently, a stream of debris rained down from the stands, with one object hitting Okerlund, and the rest filling the ring in a stunningly unique visual. Hogan continued as the trash piled up around him, even referencing Ted Turner in his diatribe: “Billionaire Ted promised me movies brother. Billionaire Ted promised me millions of dollars. And Billionaire Ted promised me world caliber matches. And as far as Billionaire Ted, Eric Bischoff, and the entire WCW goes, I’m bored brother! That’s why I want these two guys here, these so-called Outsiders. These are the men I want as my friends. They are the new blood of professional wrestling, and not only are we going to take over the whole wrestling business...with Hulk Hogan, the new blood and the monsters with me, we will destroy everything in our path, Mean Gene.” “Look at all the crap in this ring,” responded Okerlund. “This is what’s in the future for you if you want to hang around the likes of this man Hall, and this man Nash.” Hogan raised his finger as if to stop the interviewer midstream, the perfect line instantly coming to mind. “As far as I’m concerned, all this crap in the ring represents these fans out here,” he boomed defiantly. “For two years, I held my head high,” ranted Hogan, alluding to his rather uninspired WCW tenure. “I did everything for the charities. I did everything for the kids. And the reception I got when I came out here, you fans can stick it brother! Because if it wasn’t for Hulk Hogan, you people wouldn’t be here. If it wasn’t for Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff would still be selling meat from a truck in Minneapolis. And if it wasn’t for Hulk Hogan, all of these ‘Johnny come latelys’ that you see out here wrestling wouldn’t be here. I was selling the world out, brother, while they were bumming gas to put in their car to get to high school!” In closing, Hogan foreshadowed the future state of affairs in WCW with a prophetic preview of coming storylines: “With Hulk Hogan and the new world organization of wrestling, brother...me and the new blood by my side...whatcha gonna do when the new world organization runs wild on you? Whatcha gonna do? What are you gonna do??” Despite mistakenly bungling the ‘new world order’ phrase at the conclusion of his speech, Hogan still provided the perfect punctuation to a sensational heel turn. His promo, inarguably the most dynamic of his career, came across as strikingly authentic (“it felt real, because it was real’,” offered a proud Eric Bischoff upon reflection years later). On commentary, Schiavone - who most inspiredly suggested that Hogan had planned to double-cross WCW all along, since his debut in 1994 no less - added to the realism with some mournful final comments: “We have seen the end of Hulkamania,” he grieved. “Hulk Hogan, you can go to hell! We’re outta here. Straight to hell.” ---- To the layman, there appeared an obvious explanation for the feverous crowd response that accompanied Hogan’s turn. Clearly, the element of surprise - one of the key elements of Nitro’s success - had been exploited to a masterful degree (“nobody on earth thought that the third man was going to be Hulk Hogan,” highlights Nash). To Kevin Sullivan, however, there were several layers of story at play. “People thought that it was an invasion from the WWF,” he begins, implying that the success of the angle could be correlated to its realism. “They really bought into it, and when Hogan turned heel...they were sure of it. “So while Hogan gets the credit for the reaction, it was [Nash and Hall] who set the whole thing up. Those guys built the foundation of heat, and when Hogan came down, it just blew up.” “We were red hot coming off WWF television,” agrees Nash, “and then you had the biggest turn in the world on top of that. The biggest babyface of all-time finally turned heel!” To the ever-meticulous Sullivan, always a keen observer of the nuances present in a wrestling angle, an often overlooked element was also noteworthy. “He did it to Randy [Savage],” the booker emphasizes, speaking of Hogan’s betrayal. “People knew there was real-life heat there. That helped out too, but everyone played an intricate part. “Lightning...you can’t catch it in a bottle but one time.” The above is an excerpt from the book, NITRO: The Incredible Rise and Inevitable Collapse of Ted Turner's WCW. Amazon USA: Amazon UK: Amazon Canada: Amazon Australia: 17+ Hour Audiobook Available at Audible and Apple Books Audible USA: Audible UK: Audible Canada: Audible Australia: Apple Books: Ultimate NITRO Bundle: Deep Cuts - Wrestling Stories in 60 Seconds! David Penzer AdFreeShows.com 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff On This Day in WWE Allan Conrad the Mortgage Guy IandrewDiceClay WCW Archive Because WCW WCW4Life ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ 90s WWE Secrets of WCW Nitro #WCW #nWo #HulkHogan #BashattheBeach #HeelTurn #Wrestling #WrestlingBooks #OTD #WWE #WorldChampionshipWrestling #Nitro

WCWNitroBook

52,571 views • 16 days ago