Managing liars (Part Two)

So we know one or a few confirmed liars. What are we going to do with them? Attempt to reform them, put them in the fridge, hope for some miracle or exile them faraway? What kind of relationship will we choose to carry on with them in the future, if any? 

If we still want to be friends with someone who lies, remember that friendship requires trust. If someone’s lying erodes that trust, the friendship becomes lopsided and unsafe. Can we even be friends with a liar if the untruths told are small, infrequent, or rooted in insecurity? Maybe, if the individual is willing to talk about it, show remorse and grow out of the practice. 

All of this is theory, instead I tend to go with “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me” a 17th century proverb, advising that while being deceived the first time is the offender's fault, being fooled again is the victim's fault for not learning from the experience. So, I can’t be friends with a liar if I must feel anxious around them or am constantly second-guessing what they say.

This holds also true if we see them lying to manipulate or control, Just remember that friendship is voluntary; we don’t owe anyone access to our inner life. Then there’s the question as to whether liars can be reformed? The answer is NO for me, but could be YES, only if the truth manipulator wants to be. Let’s remember that people can change when they fully recognize the harm they’ve caused and feel safe enough to tell the truth. 

They must also be motivated to build healthier patterns and practice honesty even when it’s uncomfortable. People won’t change if they continue to see lying as a very effective tool, blame others for their behavior, deny their lying problem and continue to benefit from the deception it procures them. We can encourage honesty, but we cannot force integrity.

It’s up to the individual to decide, and I don’t know about you, but I’m still incapable of reading other people’s minds too well. Finally, should we shun liars or what level of access does this person’s behavior earn? Trust is not a moral judgment — it’s a calculation. We should certainly distance ourselves when someone’s lying consistently harms us or others. 

That’s not cruelty — it’s self-respect. What we shouldn’t do is humiliate or punish liars and declare them “bad people”. Instead we can choose to limit the access they have to us, not place ourselves in their way and don’t rely on them. Boundaries are not rejection, they’re clarity. 

Now, I hope you’ve got some useful tools to navigate the murky waters of dealing with a person whose proven track record was never to be reliant about telling the truth...

Managing liars (Part One)

How do we deal with liars once they’re identified as such? What form will our relationship take with them? These are brave and important questions, and it’s a good thing that they don't stop at just asking “how to spot dishonesty”, but what to do with that knowledge. 

Human relationships are messy, and lying sits right at the intersection of trust, fear, insecurity, and self‑protection. There isn’t a single “correct” response, but there are patterns that should help us navigate it with clarity and self‑respect. We’ve seen before that not all lies and liars are the same. People lie for very different reasons and it’s important to understand the type of lying they use to helps us decide how to respond. 

Let’s start with the situational or fear-based liars, those who lie because they’re scared of consequences, embarrassment, or conflict. There is a figment of hope with that group as it can change, because some individuals usually feel guilt. In fact, they may lie less when they feel safe enough to be honest. Next, we have the habitual liars, those who lie reflexively, even when the truth would be easier. They’ve often learned lying as a coping mechanism and if they’re willing and able to put in the effort, they might change, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.

The following and scarier group are the manipulative or self-serving liars who lie to control, exploit, or gain advantage. These are dangerous dudes. They rarely change without major consequences or professional help, so don’t ever touch them with a ten foot pole! That brings me to the subject of whether or not we should consider working with someone who lies. 

 This might be tried, but only with boundaries. We could work with someone who uses fear-based or minor lies, if they acknowledge their behavior, show consistent effort to improve, and we are clear-headed about what to expect and can live with the consequences. Clearly, do not work with someone who lies if they use it to manipulate outcomes, deny or justify their flaw and use them to harm others or undermine trust in the team. 

If a liar ever is a candidate for working in a professional setting, the key is structure with documented agreements in writing what the expectations are and there can’t be any reliance on verbal assurances alone. This isn’t punishment — it’s protection. 

Tomorrow, we’ll see if we can continue any relationship with liars. Could we be stay friends with them? Reform them? Or should we just shun them?

Who was W. R. Borg?

In my previous blog, I mentioned a certain W. R. Borg who I thought was a “fictional” author. In doing some more research, I discovered that W. R. Borg wasn’t a person, but rather a pseudonym used for promoting a self-help book sold by the publisher Aubanel starting in 1957. 

At that time, and well into the late 60s, the Avignon-based publisher advertised a small, 24-page booklet titled Les Lois éternelles du succès ("The Eternal Laws of Success"). 

The expensive tiny book was a bit of a scam, if not a real one. In a 1978 article, the author E. Dorlier referenced a text describing a "Borg" who offered the pamphlet for free to anyone who wanted to improve their memory. 

The address provided was the publisher's. Dorlier notes that the address given for "Borg" was "chez Aubanel, 6, place Saint-Pierre, à Avignon" (at Aubanel's, 6, Saint-Pierre Square, in Avignon), confirming that the publisher was the source. 

The name is a likely play on words. "Borg" sounds similar to “borgne” or "one-eyed" in French. It may be a wordplay suggesting that the book's methods would open the reader's "eye" to success, or it could simply be a catchy, pseudonymous name. 

In summary, the name W. R. Borg is a fictional name associated with a marketing effort for a self-help booklet published by Editions Aubanel.

What’s organized crime in the USA?

Organized Crime is a common expression used a lot, but it’s easy to lose track of what it means and how it works. Today, we’ll do just that, so sit back, fasten your seat belt and enjoy the ride... A good, functional definition of organized crime in the US today, is that it’s structured, continuing and operates illegally to generate profits through illicit activities, using violence, corruption, and systematic intimidation to protect its operations and enforce its rules. 

To law enforcement, like the FBI, that it’s not a single crime, but an on-going criminal conspiracy with a structure, whose primary goals are economic gain, influence and power through illegal means. Over the years, organized crime has been defined less by a specific ethnicity (The Godfather) and more by a set of behaviors and structures. For instance, in terms of structure and organization, there’s a defined structure, often hierarchical (like the Mafia) or networked (like modern criminal groups). 

There is a chain of command with leaders, advisors, and foot soldiers. Even in the event of the arrest or death of any single member the organization continues and has systems for recruiting new members and transferring power. Unlike ideological terrorists, profit drives organized crime and the use of violence and intimidation is simply a business tool and isn’t random. It is used to eliminate rivals. enforce discipline, collect debts, silence witnesses and intimidate legitimate businesses through extortion. 

Frequently, it seeks to corrupt public officials (police, judges, politicians, union leaders) to gain protection, inside information, and immunity from prosecution. It also actively infiltrates legitimate businesses to launder money, gain social respectability, and exert control over industries like construction, trash hauling, or waterfront shipping. Of course, a crucial function of organized crime is to make illicit profits appear legitimate. 

This is done through cash-based businesses (restaurants, bars, laundromats), real estate investments, international wire transfers, and complex shell companies. To most of us, the image of organized crime is still the Italian-American Mafia (La Cosa Nostra), which dominated the 20th century (like the New York Five Families). While still active, their power has significantly declined due to the RICO Act. 

Today, it has become far more diverse and decentralized, with Mexican and Colombian cartels that control the flow of drugs, Russian and Eurasian groups specializing in cybercrime, fuel fraud, and financial scams, Asian criminal groups involved in human trafficking, counterfeit goods, and credit card fraud, plus a variety of groups like outlaw motorcycle gangs, Albanian, Nigerian, and Balkan organizations and the "Gig Economy" of crime that operates as fluid networks on specific projects rather than being part of a rigid, lifelong organization. 

Things keep on changing and organized crime in the US. has evolved from the highly structured, ethnic-based syndicates of the past into a more diffuse, globalized, and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Just be mindful of it!

Biden’s unforgivable sin

My wife gets mad at the many Americans who last voted for Trump, while I’m much riled by the MAGA infected politicians that support the man fanatically. 

After recently reading “Original Sin” a book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson that details how Biden’s selfishness along with a few famous and stupid supporters served Trump’s 2nd term on a silver platter, I found that the old Democrat politician rightly deserves the larger share of the blame for letting Trump re-invade the White House. 

It’s a behind-the-scenes account of President Joe Biden’s decision to seek reelection in 2024 despite huge concerns about his age and cognitive health. The book argues that this decision triggered a cascade of denial, gaslighting, and major missteps that ultimately opened the door to Donald Trump’s second term. 

The book also details Biden’s physical and mental decline, the consequences from Biden’s catastrophic performance in the June 2024 debate against Trump and his reluctant and long delayed withdrawal from the race and endorsement of Kamala Harris, who only had 107 days to campaign and ultimately lost an election that could have been won by someone capable like Newsome, Whitmer or Shapiro among others. 

What a shame for America and the entire World!

How to root out lying from society (Part 3)

It’s a lot easier to remove snow from my driveway than to eliminate lying from society. This endeavor is both complex and challenging, as that flaw is deeply ingrained in human behavior and social structures. There's no single solution, but we should instead consider a multi-pronged approach. 

Here's what most experts, including the excellent snow remover I think I am, would recommend. There must be an accepted culture of honesty, starting with teaching our children the importance of honesty and the consequences of lying. These days, all of us must be encouraged to think critically and to spot the difference between truth and falsehood. 

Everyone should be alerted about the dangers of misinformation and be shown how to evaluate sources. At the same time, everyone should be encouraged to speak up against lies and misinformation. Media platforms should have clear policies against dubious news, should be systematically fact-checked and ethical journalism should be promoted for accuracy and fairness. 

Showing example is key, and leaders in all sectors (parents, educators, government, business and media) must demonstrate integrity, transparency and honesty. It takes a whole community to showcase the value of truthfulness by creating an environment where honesty is valued and rewarded, and lying condemned.

At the same time, our institutions and systems must be strengthened by investigating and holding individuals and institutions accountable for dishonesty. Those who report wrongdoing should also be fully protected, and laws against perjury, fraud, and other forms of dishonesty should be strictly enforced. 

Obviously, there are many more important root causes to be addressed like education, social inequality, mental health, political climate, information overload and of course, good-old human nature! Ultimately, rooting out lying will require a collective effort from individuals, institutions, and society as a whole. 

It's a continuous process that requires vigilance, commitment, and a shared belief and appreciation in the importance of truth.

The destructive power of lying (Part 2)

Lying isn’t as trivial as some people would like you to believe. When it’s widespread or systemic, it will have damaging effects on society. Trump has used it widely since 2015 and here are some key ways this practice erodes the fabric of our society. 

Trust is the bedrock of any functioning community and when lying becomes dominant, it undermines our ability to rely on each other, on institutions, and on the information we get. This makes cooperation, collaboration, and even simple daily interactions very difficult. 

If we can't trust what we're being told, communication becomes distorted and ineffective, leading to misunderstandings, conflict, and an inability to solve problems collectively. Widespread lying also creates divisions and distrust between different groups within society. It can fuel prejudice, animosity, and even violence. 

Now, as it’s the case with Trump and his reformed Republican Party, when MAGA engages in lying and misinformation, it destabilizes the political process. It makes it difficult for citizens to make informed decisions and that’s what leads to political polarization and gridlock. 

Same consequences for the economy as when businesses and individuals can't rely on the truth, uncertainty rises, discouraging investment and leading to economic decline. Worse yet, lying erodes public confidence in institutions like the media, the government, and even the justice system, leading to social unrest and a breakdown of the rule of law. 

Living in a society where lying is rampant ends up having negative psychological effects on individuals, bringing cynicism, anxiety, and a sense of powerlessness. As we have seen under Trump in the past, and are witnessing again today, one of the most insidious effects of widespread lying is that it can normalize dishonesty. 

 When people see that lying is common and often goes unpunished, they’ll be more likely to engage in it themselves. Finally, a society where lying is prevalent is a society that is less cohesive, less trusting, and less functional. It's a society where individuals and communities are less able to cooperate, solve problems, and thrive. 

Tomorrow, we’ll see how we can root out the plague that is lying.

The (dubious) art of lying

If Trump has achieved something remarkable since he’s been president, it’s elevating lying to an acceptable and popular art form, that is now legal and widely accepted in all 50 states of America. 

Still would you accept any one of the following individual lying to you in the conduct of their day to day activity?

• Accountant 
• Air traffic controller 
• Airline pilot 
• Bartender 
• Car mechanic 
• Chef 
• Children 
• Doctor 
• Nurse 
• Priest, pastor, rabbi 
• Spouse 
• Surgeon 
• Teacher 
• Etc., etc… 

The answer would be a resounding “NO!”, so why in the world do we elect, tolerate and keep the leader of the greatest nation in the world in place, when he’s terrorizing every one who comes to his contact and too boot, is also a bona fide liar? 

Tomorrow, we’ll explore the devastating effects lying has on society...

An expensive birthday present!

Recently, I gained access to the bill I generated following my 14 hour stay at the ICU of a major cardio-vascular unit in Salt Lake City, around New Year’s eve and my birthday. 

While my copay was just $360, the total bill amounted to $28,037 that was negotiated down to $8,704 by my insurance. 

This means that if I had no insurance, I would be liable for the full, non-negotiated amount just under $30,000, which seems to sound like highway robbery compared to an actual “street price” just 31% of that. 

So, I’m asking myself, “what gives?” and if everyone gets paid for the work they did, the hospital room and the drug or tests they performed on me, where would the remaining 70% go if I wasn’t insured? 

Just profit for the hospital, that would then sell the bill to a collection agency should the patient be unable to pay it? 

At any rate, the optics are bad as that huge amount doesn’t look any good on the paper my bill was printed on…

Letter to my new senator

In 2024, Utah elected a new senator, John R. Curtis, a Mormon, former mayor of Provo for 8 years and state representative in the US Congress for the past 7 years. He replaced Romney who always disliked Trump. Curtiss is said to “Tackles tough issues with innovative approaches, inviting all to the higher ground of common ground. He believes that big ideas, innovation, and consensus can drive transformational change.” 

So when he said he was supporting Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee as our new Secretary of Defense, I thought this man wasn’t what he says he was, and I wrote him this note: 

"Dear Senator Curtis, No, you cannot vote for a depraved person like Pete Hegseth as our Secretary of Defense! Would it be that you have become scared to death of Donald Trump's wrath? Have you asked yourself 'What would Jesus do in my place?' I recommend you don't and realize that a vote for that drunk, corrupt and sexual predator never stands on your track record. This would be the kind of hypocrisy your campaign promises strongly negated. Thank you for being the 'man' I expect you to be." 

The same day, he responded, telling me, 

“I take very seriously the role that the Senate has in the Constitution for advice and consent—and have spent significant time reviewing President Trump’s nominees, including his Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth. I’ve met with Mr. Hegseth, talked with many people who have known him in different roles, carefully watched his confirmation hearing, and even read his writings to better understand who he is. While there are actions from his past that give me pause, I carefully weighed these concerns against his qualifications, leadership style, and commitment to bolstering the world’s most respected military. I am confident Mr. Hegseth shares my vision of ensuring our armed services are prepared to meet the evolving challenges of the 21st century.” 

To which, I responded : 

"The question remains, can you trust the man for doing the job to the level we the taxpayers are expecting? The honest answer is a resounding NO and if you pursue your support in confirming this individual, it will be a permanent blemish on your judgment."

Welcome back to the Trump regime !

Is Biden a war criminal too ?

On 21 November 2024, the International Criminal Court unanimously issued two decisions rejecting challenges by the State of Israel. 

At the same time it also issued warrants of arrest for Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the applications for warrants of arrest were filed. 

After the Gaza and Lebanon carnage, it seems that it’s hard to argue with that decision. It’s also terrible for us, Americans, to see our tax money diverted to be used for committing these crimes. Now, the question I’m asking is what role did Joe Biden played in keeping on arming Israel for conducting these massacres?

Weren’t the Democrats Israel’s partners in that genocide? By offsetting support for Israel with hollow humanitarian gestures and empathy for Palestinians, Biden has diluted pressure to end the war. 

It now seems pretty clear to me that the Biden administration supported and perpetuated the same genocide under a veneer of legitimacy, by diffusing pressure with platitudes about peace while deepening America’s complicity…

A la Carte life expectancy

Over the years, life expectancy has been climbing. Japan stands at the top of the heap with 85 years followed by Italy and Spain at 84. At the bottom are African countries like Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso at about 61 years. 

France is at 83, but the US, “the most prosperous country in the world” stands at just below 80 years! Sure, in every nation, life expectancy can vary substantially across places and populations, and the United States is no exception according to the Lancet’s recent study “Ten Americas: a systematic analysis of life expectancy disparities in the USA”. 

It shows that, as in most countries, male individuals generally have shorter lifespans than females. If one is rich life will be longer than if poor. Same thing with geographical location. In 2019, life expectancy varied by 7·1 years across the 50 states, from 74·7 years in Mississippi to 81·8 years in Hawaii. 

Across US counties, a smaller geographical scale, life expectancy in 2014 differed by up to 20 years! The study defined the 10 parts of the country as: 

1. Asian individuals 
2. Latino individuals in counties other than the Southwest 
3. White (majority), Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) individuals in other counties 
4. White individuals in non-metropolitan and low-income Northlands
5. Latino individuals in the Southwest 
6. Black individuals in other counties
7. Black individuals in highly segregated metropolitan areas
8. White individuals in low-income Appalachia and Lower Mississippi 
9. Black individuals in the non-metropolitan and low-income South
10. AIAN individuals in the West. 

Large disparities in life expectancy between American ethnic groups were apparent throughout the duration of study, but grew even more over time, particularly during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

So, once more, America still has some way to go before becoming the country of equality!

Israli drone snipers

This week, NPR (our National Public Radio) reported that eyewitnesses in Gaza have said that Israel's military is using guns attached to drones to carry out attacks on Civilians. Quadcopters are equipped with a video camera, a long gun and their propellers are programmed to compensate for recoil when the gun gets remotely fired. 

Earlier, in April 2024, claims emerged that the Israeli Defense Forces have used armed quadcopter drones against residents of Gaza's Al Nuseirat refugee camp to shoot and kill would-be good Samaritan Palestinians. These drones were using the sounds of crying infants as bait. 

An article by journalist Spencer Ackerman argued that this despicable practice was turning Gaza into "a laboratory of wars for the future." While the IDF's use of armed drones in Gaza has been well-documented, the specific claim of using recorded noises of infants or others in distress stems from an April 16, 2024 report by Maha Hussaini in the Middle East Eye. 

Beyond the obvious human right violation it represents, this new escalation suggests this kind of development is highly concerning for our own safety in general. Think of common criminals and terrorists. What if an enemy of yours (a neighbor, your government) want you dead ? This is as close to a traceless crime there could be ? Are states even thinking of regulating the spread of that kind of device when they hit the buying public ? 

Another new danger to worry about for those who like to...

The art of being a hypocrite

The other night, I was watching “America at the Crossroads” on PBS News. Judy Woodruff, a former anchor on that channel, was interviewing Jamie Dimon, arguably one of the most powerful bankers in the world and CEO of JPMorgan Chase since 2006. 

I don’t like Chase, having been a good client for decades with that institution and, for no good reasons, refused to keep my safe deposit box there. I subsequently changed banks for the better. Mr. Dimon was asked questions about the US economy and its political climate by Woodruff and he made all the hypocritical answers I was expecting from him. 

His pedigree is impressive though. He was on the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York during the late 2010s, and since has been a board member of the Business Roundtable, the Bank Policy Institute, and Harvard Business School. Dimon was also included in Time magazine's 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011 lists of the world's 100 most influential people. 

As of February 2024, Forbes estimated his net worth at over $2 billion and last year he earned $36 million. That’s right $3 million a month, almost a hundredfold his bank tellers’ salary that range from $33,910 to $41,018. This said, Dimon was the first to acknowledge during the interview that he was concerned about the societal inequalities in America (a reassuring thought!) 

During the interview, he lists a lot of things the US government should do to address this deepening inequality, barely mentioning the need to tax a tad more fellows in his socioeconomic category, mentioning the Buffett Rule that would require millionaires and billionaires to pay the same tax rate as middle-class families and working people. 

That rule, inspired by the billionaire Warren Buffett, was proposed by Obama in 2011 and would have applied a minimum tax rate of 30 percent on individuals making more than one million dollars a year, only directly affecting 0.3 percent of taxpayers. 

Besides that, Dimon said that Democrats should stop demonizing Trump who had “some good ideas” while it was president, disregarding the man’s criminal record and his devastating influence on American society. In conclusion, a Teflon interview with a smooth Teflon guy who doesn’t want to upset his livelihood and really doesn’t seem to care about who is behind our Country’s rudder...

Does Israel need an extra $15 billion?

Not if I could help it as a taxpayer. Israel, the de-facto occupier of Palestine has brought the October 7 attack upon itself by humiliating and parking the Palestinian people into submission. Now that Israeli lives are worth 10 times those of Palestinians by the latest casualty numbers, why should US taxpayers almost fork up an extra $15 billion in addition to the $3 billion it already gives to the Jewish state? 

Apparently, this enormous amount of money is to support military capabilities, particularly its air and missile defense systems, including the Iron Dome, that counter-rocket and counter-artillery system that has been instrumental in protecting Israel from rocket attacks from Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza. 

Obviously, this comes in addition to the US long history of providing military aid to Israel. and is a way to reaffirm the US commitment to Israel's security. In the past, the US has also provided Israel with economic aid, but aid would specifically be for military assistance. This huge sum is still under consideration by Congress, and it is unclear whether it will be approved. I simply hope it’s not.

From what I know, here is a breakdown of how the $14.5 billion in additional assistance is expected to be used in parts: 

• $4 billion for procurement of Israel's Iron Dome and David's Sling defense systems 
• $1 billion for co-production of the Arrow 3 missile defense system 
• $3 billion for training and exercises 
• $3 billion for intelligence cooperation 
• $3 billion for other military assistance 

As you can see, these monies are not to educate, heal or build anyone or anything, but just to kill, maim and destroy. Can it ever build peace with the Palestinians? You’ve got to be kidding me! In view of these numbers for lethal and destructive equipment, 

I’m still wondering who will pay for rebuilding Gaza? The stupid US or Western donors or the Jewish State?

Courage in a banana republic

The surprise-sixth January 6 hearing showed us yesterday what I would call a lot of courage that I don’t quite know I’d be able to produce.

I’m talking of Ms. Cassidy Hutchinson, the former aide to President Donald J. Trump’s final chief of staff, Mark Meadows, who gave what might be a game-changing testimony. 

In what I call “Trump pre-trial hearings” that we all watched from beginning to end, we are chocked by Trump’s mafioso behavior and by the GOP’s “omerta.” Thanks to the rigor, ethics and honesty of some government employees to expose Trump’s monstrosity, we might see the man donning an orange jumpsuit. 

I just hope that this courageous young lady gets the physical protection she deserves, because in view of Trump’s total disregard for the rule of law and the like-minded thugs supporting him, I am scared for her.

Trump belongs in jail

I have now watched four hearings on the January 6 insurrection and the role played by Trump in instigating it as well as his creating and developing his “big lie” that the election was stolen from him in favor of Biden. 

My most basic common sense brings me to clearly conclude that the former president is a dangerous criminal, that he should be indicted, judged, found guilty of crimes and put to jail. If not, this will literally “legalize lying” and bring this country into state-sponsored lawlessness by encouraging Trump or similar leaders to initiate other “coups”. 

I hope that the Attorney General has not just the courage but the natural urge to indict Donald Trump and some of his supporters. I have absolutely no problem is seeing Mr. Trump wearing an orange jumpsuit. This is what he deserves. 

Now I can’t explain why the majority of GOP congress people still support a thug. It must be a case that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. 

If Trumps isn’t locked up, I may have to consider moving out of the USA.

Goitschel challenges Killy’s support for Putin

My home region newspaper, in France, just reported what Marielle Goitschel told about a recent phone conversation she had with Jean-Claude Killy.

The 1964 and 1968 Olympic medalist started by sarcastically asking: “How is your innocent buddy [Putin] doing?” Goitschel, the usual gadfly, said that Killy’s first words were, “But he's such a nice man.” 

She reacted by saying he was acting like a monster and that it made her sad, and went on to add: “But, wait, it's scary, he's a monster!", The only sentence Jean-Claude Killy could muster was: "Yes, it's not very good." Concluded Goitschel: “Fortunately, he said that, otherwise I would have been all over him.” 

It’s evident that Killy made a terrible choice in placing Putin on a pedestal and telling the entire world that the Russian dictator was his friend. This bizarre friendship is nothing new to those who follow the couple.

Was there any consideration other than admiration or friendship involved? One would easily conclude there might have been some. Over his long and illustrious career, Killy made more good choices than bad ones, but his total and unabashed endorsement of Putin will leave a very bad taste in his fans’ mouths. 

Just like Gerard Depardieu, he had plenty of time to come clean and denounce Putin’s actions, but chose not to budge, hoping it would go away on its own, and that will be devastating to his once pristine public image. http://go-11.blogspot.com/2013/10/killy-and-putin.html 

Vail Resorts way of doing business

For days before the end of May, Vail Resorts has been harassing its pass-holders to renew. By placing upfront its 20% reduced rate promotion based on last year prices, and dangling the May 31 deadline for its “buddy ticket” it gave its clientele the impression that past that date, the discount would vanish.

Usually, I know that the cut-off date is around September 1, so I got into their chat room and asked the agent as to when that 20% cut off date was. He was instructed to answer that he didn’t know for sure and that the special discount could expire any time. Ah, ah! Great transparency indeed!

This isn’t all, though, wait till you read what follows. Skiers then can get to the different passes options, so first you go to the Epic pass, the full one, without black out dates, you glance at the offer and you say cool! Instead of paying $979 last year it’s just $783 now, wonderful!

Then I buy my 13 years old grandson his pass too, as I need a young companion when I do some gnarly skiing, so I hit “additional ages” in blue and I see that for him too the $499 I’d have to pay is only $399, (that’s not what I remember though), but wait a minute, this is for up to 12 and he’s now 13, so will I have to buy him a $783 pass like me? Ouch! That’s a lot of dough.

Fortunately, I now get smarter, scroll down and “Park City Youth Path” appears at only $311 down from the $389 I paid last year, but again, my grandson is now 13. What do I do? Get him the same pass as me, I guess.

 

That when I see that thin blue line that suggests “Additional Ages”, I hit the link and bingo! I finally discover the scoop. It will just cost me $335 to have my grandson ski with me. 

 

All this to say that Vail Resorts is not really transparent in its pricing, manipulates his clients a lot and I bet you that lots of folks buy two $783 passes when they should have purchase one for $783 and the other for $335 like I did after much search! 

Shame on you Vail Resorts!

Would Jesus support Trump?

...Certainly not. Jesus was not a fan of lying, of insults, sectarianism, racism, egoism and hypocrisy. 

I also think that the Catholic Church was essentially based on the teaching of Jesus, yet in this election year, as Donald Trump is losing ground, every vote counts and he is relying a lot on American Catholics to make up for his expected losses.

Catholics for Trump is one organization that has the mission of giving Catholics some seemingly good excuses for re-electing Trump by “sharing the many successes of the Trump administration” including of course anti-abortion issues. 

Yet, by aligning themselves with a president who tears apart immigrant families, denies climate change, stokes racial division and supports economic policies that hurt the poor, Catholic leaders are forgetting what the teachings of Christ are all about. 

There’s hardly nothing “pro-life” out of Trump's agenda. I wonder what my good buddy Pope Francis thinks of these clowns?