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November 23, 2023
Thanksgiving contemplations

Hi everyone,

It's Thanksgiving. My second Thanksgiving in America. I'm getting ready to go fishing with my dad, kid, kid's best friend. And my dad's best friend! A lawyer with whom he has worked for decades. A great guy and something of a "bad influence" - though I have found that as you get older, "bad influences" are actually good in that they keep you young and alive. At least the "bad influences" are good influences when they're actually good, and not just bad. Viva for the tautology.

We're going on a boat. I think my dad got jealous when he saw the Mahi-Mahi catch & cook video. 😂

I never appreciated how big Thanksgiving is in America. It's more celebrated than Christmas in Canada, thought that doesn't say much given Canada descent into Communism (not literally, but pretty darn close).

I like to think that I am permanently grateful for what I have - good health (touch wood), a loving family (touch wood), and having found my ikagai. I am thankful every day, but the collective celebration of Thanksgiving enhances my psychological "conflict" (for lack of a better word).

The words of "Desiderata" have always been particularly powerful to me. At least these in particular: "If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter. For always there will be greater and lesser persons that yourself".

When it comes to gratitude, I have trouble peacefully appreciating my good fortune because I do compare myself to others. But not in the vanity sense - in the sense of what right do I have to be grateful for my good fortune when, but for the grace of G-d, everything could be different.

When I was a kid, I rolled a Suburban in a car accident. Car was totalled. My best friend and I walked away with a minor bruise on our hips from the seat belt.

When I was a kid, I knew someone who also rolled a car (actually a friend of a friend). They weren't wearing their seatbelts. They slid through the sunroof and the car landed on their head. But for the grace of G-d. One decision can alter the course of one's existence. Or end it entirety.

I have difficulty feeling gratitude without also feeling guilt. Why me? Others have worked just as hard, tried to be just as good people, and but for a butterfly flapping its wings, their lives are wildly different.

And this is not what the kids call a "humble flex". The guilt of gratitude is also coupled with a certain degree of selfishness. I am not greedy, but the gratitude for good fortune is also juxtaposed to the fear of losing what you have. I know I would be just as good with less. I would be grateful for whatever I have. But there is that underlying fear that comes along with having things that can be lost or taken away. So I try to be thankful with that internal turmoil simultensouly churning like a tornado.

All that to say, I wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving. Health and happiness to you all! Strength for whatever we all are going through. And hope for the future. This too shall pass, and to quote another another line from Lazyboy (which is from Desiderata):

"But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle to yourself. With all its sham drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world".

Happy Thanksgiving!
-Viva

(nor proofreading cuz the fish are calling!!!)

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October 18, 2025
Canadian disrespect

here's the breakdown of the Canadian government disrespecting Trump and mocking independent journalists in Canada!

00:13:18
October 18, 2025
Bolton Indictment VLAWG!

Here's the breakdown and it's GOOD GOOD!

00:17:47
October 15, 2025
Pure State-Funded Propaganda

Here's the vlawg. It's funny.

And enraging.

00:17:49
February 17, 2024
Appearance on Richard Syrette

I did a quick hit on Richard Syrette yesterday. Gotta keep Canadians apprised of the U.S. madness.

Appearance on Richard Syrette
The Barnes Brief, Podcast Format: Monday, July 17, 2023

Closing Argument: Birthright citizenship is deeply American, and wholly Constitutional.

The Barnes Brief, Podcast Format: Monday, July 17, 2023
Declaration of Independence

Audio podcast style.

Declaration of Independence
Just landed in Milan

First impressions: I haven’t been overseas in over a decade.

Europe has a very distinct smell. I remember it from France. Like burnt rubber everywhere.

The lineup to get in for people coming from certain countries was probably half a mile along. There was an expedited entry for American and Canadian visas.

I don’t trust the police here at all. Everything about the experience so far reminds me of Eurotrip.

The infrastructure is not just antiquated. Dilapidated. The protective barrier around the airport looks like Alligator Alcatraz. I seriously thought there was something of an encampment outside the building, until I realized it was just the protective barrier for the airport itself.

I watched Moneyball on the airplane. Had never seen it before. One of the best movies I’ve seen in years.

Managed to sleep a couple of hours. Drank plenty of water.

We are waiting to take the train to Switzerland. Met up with the Rumble gang. Everyone’s looking good, and it’s good to be with friends.

Will...

Questions for Bourbon with Barnes: Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Ask in replies and answering Live at 9ish eastern tonight. Top topic tonight: Is Rubio the next Bill Barr/Mike Pompeo, sabotaging Peace?

Board Poll: Sunday Topics

Pick your favorite, if any, and add your own topic, question or comment in the replies below as the Show Notes for the Sunday Show.

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The Barnes Brief, Friday, October 17, 2025

I.  INTRODUCTION

A. Art of the Day

The tall French doors, the sunlight slipping in amidst the shadows, the desk with files stacked, the overcoat and old school hat, awaiting thought or observing contemplatively, the true gentleman appears ready to soon take action in a time where men were men.

B. Wisdom of the Day

“The secret of politics? Make a good treaty with Russia.” Otto von Bismarck.

C. Cultural Recommendation

Surviving Hitler in St. Petersburg, a documentary detailing the shock and horror of the Great War, a generational-defining experience for Putin’s own parents.

D. Appearances

  • Alex Jones
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II. THE EVIDENCE

 *Note: A reminder — links are NOT endorsements of the ideas contained therein. The Library is big, and it mostly consists of ideas I do not personally share.  

A.  Daily News of Interest

  1. Regional bank problems. https://x.com/HedgieMarkets/status/1978921640596590993
  2. Trump-Putin Summit II. https://x.com/RusEmbUSA/status/1978923764642439213
  3. Generational, regional & income gaps in spending. https://x.com/zerohedge/status/1978868455135736318
  4. Anti-Trump card played by Mamdani. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/zohran-mamdani-andrew-cuomo-trump-debate_n_68f1af04e4b061265b2c62b1?origin=home-zone-b-unit
  5. Argentina buy-in, not bail-out.

*Bonus:  Trans agenda origins.

B. Daily Deep Dive: China Trade War

  1. Doomberg: China’s escalatory dominance w/ rare earths. https://newsletter.doomberg.com/p/gloves-off
  2. Internal politics may drive China’s hawkishness. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/world/asia/china-trump-tariffs.html
  3. The limits to China’s rare earth strategy. https://x.com/KrisPatel99/status/1976933835695698414
  4. China’s debt problem limits their leverage. https://x.com/SantiagoAuFund/status/1978836532866711574 & https://x.com/SantiagoAuFund/status/1978831000298721743
  5. China decoupling divorce defeats the CCCP. https://x.com/abcampbell/status/1978070295157096808

*Bonus: China debt bubble.

C. Cases of Consequence

  1. Red flag searches at SCOTUS. https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/court-hears-arguments-on-when-police-may-enter-a-home-without-a-warrant/
  2. SCOTUS; restitution debate. https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/justices-debate-whether-restitution-imposed-on-convicts-is-criminal-civil-or-perhaps-a-little-of-both/
  3. Bolton indictment. https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2025/10/bolton-indictment.pdf
  4. Prayer in public. https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-1261/363334/20250617093214428_24-1261%20Amicus%20Brief.pdf
  5. Judge protects NYC as sanctuary. https://courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/kaplan-order-ny-terrorism-funding-southern-district-new-york.pdf
  6. Dr. Bowden https://x.com/MdBreathe/status/1979149533314478394
  7. Judicial & jury nullification in DC for attack on ICE. https://x.com/memeticsisyphus/status/1979193690519126329
  8. 7th Circuit invalidates national guard use. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26189193-trumpnguardilca7opn101625pdf/
  9. Antifa indictment. https://www.foxnews.com/us/doj-brings-first-antifa-related-terrorism-charges-texas-ice-attack
  10. Pentagon media rule controversy. https://www.axios.com/2025/10/16/pentagon-press-reporting-rules-restrictions-hegseth

*Bonus: More Ukraine property right violations. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/m.s.l-tov-v-ukraine-echr-jugment.pdf

 

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The Barnes Brief: Wednesday, October 15, 2025

I.  INTRODUCTION

A. Art of the Day

  • Ceaselessly drawn to these surreal living places that merge the inner and outer worlds, drawn evermore to the windowed view from the inner safety of sheltered embrace, underneath the climbing ceilings and fitted with great old art, all of it inviting us both inside and outside at the same time, witnessing nature inside our own minds, matching God's archives of nature to the conscience of the soul, like holding a mirror to beauty itself.

B. Wisdom of the Day

  • A truth about a man that revealed his character: “I would rather earn 1% off a 100 people’s efforts than 100% of my own efforts.” John D. Rockefeller.

C. Cultural Recommendation

  • How Big Oil Conquered the World by James Corbett.

D. Appearances

 

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The Barnes Brief: Tuesday, October 14, 2025

I.  INTRODUCTION

A. Art of the Day

A near perfect nook: enveloped by books, with a welcoming window to watch the world outside in between getting devoured by the latest text of worthy reading, a chair to embrace you, wooden floors, high ceilings, and warm lamps. The latte on the desk finishes it off right.

B. Wisdom of the Day

“Justice depends on what the Judge ate for breakfast.” Legal realism school.

C. Cultural Recommendation

Documentary by Del BigTree on vaccination impact on health. https://www.aninconvenientstudy.com

D. Appearances

  • Barnes Brothers
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