An Angry People You can’t avoid the videos. They are everywhere. On Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube, Americans are at war with each other. Angry is too kind a word to describe the endless vitriol spewing from people’s mouths these days. There is a physicality to it. Image by wendy CORNIQUET from Pixabay The shoving, pushing, and pulling of arms, hair, and legs.

“Chill, my people! Chill!”

The Overwhelming Loudness of Silence When we all go mad, will we still be shocked by the plundering of his heart? Image by antonio pedro ruiz Will we be insultedaggrievedoffendedoutragedupsetslighted by his actionsOr simply roll overand be indifferentunconcernedunemotionalimpassivedispassionateapatheticby the winds of his actionsThe Overwhelming Loudnessof the Silence sayingnothingdoing…

“The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.” Robert Maynard Hutchins 1899–1977

Palantir, USDA cut $300M deal to protect food supply | LinkedIn Rising supply costs — particularly for gas and fertilizer — have caused many American farmers to "rethink what they produce," per CNBC.

Follow the money, not the news. "Rising supply costs — particularly for gas and fertilizer — have caused many to "rethink what they produce," per CNBC. The USDA deal reflects Palantir's growing role in U.S. government projects beyond the arena of defense."
www.linkedin.com/news/story/p...

“Because there's nothing more beautiful than the way
the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline,
no matter how many times it's sent away.”
Sarah Kay

I, American I pledge allegiance to the flag (Whose flag is it anyway?)as I standin the Catholic school classroom alongside a gallery of white faces, red hair, blond hair, white shirts, white blouses, plaid ski…

I am an American.
antoniopedroruiz.com/2026/04/19/i...

I, American I pledge allegiance to the flag (Whose flag is it anyway?)as I standin the Catholic school classroom alongside a gallery of white faces, red hair, blond hair, white shirts, white blouses, plaid skirts, and black pants Burnt American Dreams (Image created with A.I.) and the nuns, covered head to toe in their black hijabs, led us in a solemn tribute…

I am an American.

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.” Arthur Ashe

Look up in the sky.

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.” Arthur Ashe

All the Stuff in my Brain AgingThe Iran WarThe peacefulness of an empty beachWhat the hell is going on in the Middle EastThe roses blooming in our backyardMy recent stroke and all the rehab and medical appointments I must attendThe number of people, including my wife, children, siblings, and relatives, who have supported me through this traumatic time of mass shootings…

The world is coming to an end, but we can save it.

Ceasefire hangs in balance as 2 ships attacked in Hormuz | LinkedIn The hostilities came just hours after the U.S. announced it would prolong its truce with Iran until the conclusion of postponed peace negotiations.

Wait, I thought we already won? "The hostilities came just hours after the U.S. announced it would prolong its truce with Iran until the conclusion of postponed peace negotiations."
www.linkedin.com/news/story/c...

Warsh calls for 'a new framework' for Federal Reserve | LinkedIn In his confirmation hearing, the nominee for Federal Reserve chair called for "new tools" and a "new inflation framework" for the central bank.

In other words, "Alll hail to the Orange King!" "In his confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, Kevin Warsh made the case for "new tools and ... new communications" in the Federal Reserve. "
www.linkedin.com/news/story/w...

“Decide that wherever you are, is the best place there is.
Once you start comparing, there’s no end to it.”
Sodo Yokoyama

Southern Poverty Law Center Indicted After DOJ Opens Criminal Investigation Until recently, the civil rights group was a partner to the FBI, providing critical information about extremists, including white supremacists, operating in the U.S.

The world is doomed

www.huffpost.com/entry/doj-op...

We are broken.

And I don’t know how to fix ourselves.

Meditations My recent stroke has left my brain struggling to find words to put into my voice. However, I rest confidently that both my brain and my voice are still functioning, if not fully connected. It has made me realize, once again, that some aspects of life extend beyond the physical. There is the spiritual, which can be more important to my survival as a human being.

My recent stroke has left my brain struggling to find words to put into my voice. However, I rest confidently that both my brain and my voice are still functioning, if not fully connected.

UnitedHealth hikes outlook as overhaul starts to pay off | LinkedIn UnitedHealth is in the midst of an extensive "right-sizing" effort as it grapples with high medical costs — an issue that's hung over the entire insurance industry for the last few years.

Oh good. More benefits for us consumers. (In your dreams) "UnitedHealth is in the midst of an extensive "right-sizing" effort as it grapples with high medical costs — an issue that's hung over the entire insurance industry for the last few years."
www.linkedin.com/news/story/u...

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer steps down from role | LinkedIn Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the latest high-level departure from President Donald Trump's administration.

Nothing to see here. "The departure comes amid a Labor Department inspector general investigation into misconduct allegations involving Chavez-DeRemer, claims the Labor Department has denied."
www.linkedin.com/news/story/l...

Fed chair nominee says he's committed to independence | LinkedIn In his opening statement to the Senate Banking Committee Tuesday, Kevin Warsh says the Federal Reserve must "stay in its lane" and maintain focus on monetary policy.

In other words, don't be woke. "...the Fed needs to "stay in its lane." That means focusing on monetary policy — and particularly on fighting inflation — rather than "fiscal and social policies where it has neither authority nor expertise."
www.linkedin.com/news/story/f...

“Whatever the present moment contains,
accept it as if you had chosen it.”
Eckhart Tolle

Blow Away the Clouds | South Coast Repertory South Coast Repertory's 28th Pacific Playwrights Festival reading of Blow Away the Clouds by Evelina Fernandez on May 3 at 10:30 a.m., 2026

Blow Away the Clouds
by Evelina Fernández
directed by José Luis Valenzuela
Sunday, May 3, at 10:30 a.m.
www.scr.org/plays/produc...

We are broken.

And I don’t know how to fix ourselves.

I, American I pledge allegiance to the flag (Whose flag is it anyway?)as I standin the Catholic school classroom alongside a gallery of white faces, red hair, blond hair, white shirts, white blouses, plaid skirts, and black pants Burnt American Dreams (Image created with A.I.) and the nuns, covered head to toe in their black hijabs, led us in a solemn tribute…

I am an American. Get used to it.

Tariff refunds officially begin with launch of portal | LinkedIn Customs and Border Protection is launching an online portal where importers and their brokers can seek refunds, with approved claims paid out in 60 to 90 days.

Who wants to bet that consumers will not get any money? Shafted once again. "Consumers who paid higher prices have no direct means of applying for relief, relying instead on companies to issue refunds."
www.linkedin.com/news/story/t...

US delegation heads to Pakistan for Iran peace talks | LinkedIn Meanwhile, Iran has yet to confirm attendance and Brent crude futures climbed past $95 a barrel again on Monday.

Does he even know what he's doing? "Over the weekend, the U.S. seized an Iranian-flagged vessel that it said tried to evade the Strait of Hormuz blockade, jeopardizing the fragile two-week ceasefire that's set to expire Wednesday."
www.linkedin.com/news/story/u...

“Some people never go crazy.
What truly horrible lives
they must lead.”
Charles Bukowski

Catching Memories It's strange what you miss when you have a stroke. One moment, your mind is full of so many memories that you can’t recall them all. The next, poof, gone.You must truly want to remember one to make it a priority and keep it top of mind. To recall, it is not because you can’t remember it but because it has to make its way through all the clutter to land in the front of the brain.

It's strange what you miss when you have a stroke. One moment, your mind is full of so many memories that you can’t recall them all.

The next, poof, gone.

I, American I pledge allegiance to the flag (Whose flag is it anyway?)as I standin the Catholic school classroom alongside a gallery of white faces, red hair, blond hair, white shirts, white blouses, plaid ski…

I, American antoniopedroruiz.com/2026/04/19/i...