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When we think of Jesus, the first image that often comes to mind is the compassionate teacher who walked among the people of Israel, healing the sick and teaching love, forgiveness, and mercy. We hear his words echo through the centuries: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" or "Blessed are the meek and humble." These phrases, spoken directly by Jesus, form the bedrock of our understanding of his ministry. He embodies a God who calls us to love our enemies, care for the poor, and live humbly. This is the Jesus we know and cherish from...

"Mrs. B" sounds innocent, like some sugary, bubble-gum pop tune you’d hear while sipping a soda at a retro diner. But if you know the real story behind it, the song is anything but sweet. It’s a dagger wrapped in cotton candy, aimed straight at Mrs. Baxter, the wife of Bax Baxter—an important figure in both the art world and local politics. Let me set the stage. Bax was a key player, and I admired him—until his wife decided to throw a subtle insult my way. Her little comment? A dig at me for running around with hipsters and being...

Stephan ‘Bax’ Baxter might have started with the best intentions, but his involvement in the Kelly Thomas case—a tragic incident involving the fatal beating of a schizophrenic homeless man by police officers—quickly spiraled into a cautionary tale about ego, narcissism, and the pitfalls of misplaced activism. When Kelly Thomas, a man struggling with schizophrenia, was brutally killed by police officers in Fullerton, California, it was Bax Baxter who first drew attention to the case. Recognizing the grave injustice and fueled by a desire for retribution, Baxter rallied the community, organizing protests and calling for accountability. At first, Baxter’s efforts seemed...

Drama used to be a perfectly good word. It conjured up images of Shakespeare, high-stakes conflict, and, of course, way too much eyeliner. But in the twisted world of 12-step programs, drama has taken on a whole new—and far more sinister—meaning. I first encountered this bizarre usage in an AA meeting in Hollywood, where "drama" was used to dismiss seriously violent situations as if they were no more than tabloid gossip. Someone spoke about child abuse, and someone else waved it away as “drama.” And just like that, real trauma is trivialized and swept under the rug. 12-step programs have...

The word "respect" once carried weight, symbolizing admiration, trust, and honor earned through actions and integrity. Today, it feels like a cheap commodity, tossed around by everyone from corrupt cops to criminals, each demanding it as though it’s something you hand out at the door like candy on Halloween. In a world where abusive authoritarians in the criminal justice system, mobsters, and street criminals all claim to own "respect," the concept has been diluted beyond recognition. Respect Isn’t Earned Anymore – It’s Demanded We’ve reached an age where respect is no longer a badge of honor earned through good deeds...