Who Dis?

Pardon the Interruption

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump frequently attacked Hillary Clinton over her use of a private, unsecured email server while serving as Secretary of State. He claimed it risked exposing classified information and violated federal record-keeping laws. The controversy became a central theme, amplified by conservative media and politicians. Although the FBI ultimately declined to recommend charges, then-Director James Comey reignited the issue by announcing a reopening of the investigation just days before the election—an action many believe helped tilt the outcome in Trump’s favor.

The matter never truly went away. Calls from conservatives to prosecute Clinton continued, with some accusing her of violating the Espionage Act. The narrative resurfaced during the 2024 election, alongside renewed focus on Hunter Biden’s laptop, as part of a broader push to re-elect Trump. 

Then, on March 24, 2025, a new breach stunned the public: Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, revealed he was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat in which senior Trump administration officials discussed military strikes on Yemen. Among those in the chat were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Vice President J.D. Vance, all openly sharing sensitive operational details.

The use of Signal, an unapproved platform for classified communication, raised serious legal and national security concerns—especially with a journalist unknowingly receiving real-time war plans. Experts have said this could constitute a violation of the Espionage Act and federal records laws. Yet rather than acknowledge the severity, the Trump administration and its allies quickly shifted into spin mode. Conservative media, politicians, and those involved downplayed the breach, praised the officials involved, and launched attacks on Goldberg and Democrats, sticking to a familiar strategy: deny, deflect, and blame others.

Given the climate and the administration's hostility toward the press, it's possible this won't end with discrediting Goldberg. Legal retaliation against The Atlantic seems conceivable. It sounds extreme, but if Trump has demonstrated anything, it's his willingness to reinterpret the law for his own advantage—often at democracy’s expense.

Daniel Boris, March 24, 2025 (@danboriscreates)

Sojourner Truth

Subscribing to hardcover magazines in the digital era presents a challenge. Before the internet and social media, receiving a magazine in the mail was exciting—a moment to savor. Now, a magazine might be flipped through once and then set aside, waiting for a "later" that rarely comes.

Case in point: an issue of Smithsonian sat on my nightstand for a year before I finally found time to read it. When I did, one story stood out—Cynthia Greenlee's article, The Gospel of Truth (Smithsonian, March 2024). The piece explores the life and legacy of Sojourner Truth beyond the widely recognized phrase, “Ain’t I a Woman?”

Greenlee highlights Truth’s complex identity as an abolitionist, women’s rights advocate, preacher, and strategist who actively shaped her public image.

Born enslaved as Isabella Baumfree in New York in the late 1790s, Truth endured multiple sales, harsh treatment, and betrayal before walking away from enslavement with her infant daughter. She later made history by successfully suing for the return of her illegally sold son, Peter—one of the first legal victories of its kind by a Black woman in the U.S.

A deeply religious person, she changed her name to Sojourner Truth in 1843, dedicating her life to preaching and activism.

While her 1851 speech at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention cemented her legacy, Greenlee reveals how her words were later misrepresented. The famous refrain “Ain’t I a Woman?” does not appear in the earliest accounts. Instead, Truth’s actual speech likely centered on women's strength and biblical arguments against gender-based oppression.

Her activism extended far beyond that speech. She advocated for land grants for freedpeople, challenged segregation on Washington D.C.’s streetcars, and even met with President Lincoln. She also used photography strategically, selling portrait cards with the tagline, “I sell the shadow to support the substance.”

Greenlee’s article also explores modern efforts to honor Truth, from statues and memorials to an upcoming documentary. More than a historical figure, Sojourner Truth was a self-made icon who understood the power of shaping her own story—an inspiration that endures today.

Read the full article HERE.

Photo by Maddie McGarvey

Source:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/remarkable-untold-story-sojourner-truth-180983691/ 

Body Art: Dro Sol - WALKING IN BODYPAINT JEANS

Model: Shelby

via DOLSOLBODYART 

DANCE: Billie Eilish - you could see me in a crown

Choreography: Yazia Alexandra

via Yazia Alexandra 

Album Cover: Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast

Album Cover

Album: Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast

Released: March 22, 1982

Cover Art Work: Derek Riggs

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.discogs.com/master/18742-Iron-Maiden-The-Number-Of-The-Beast

Vad Mehta

I came across a beautiful article by Sage Mehta in The New Yorker regarding her father, Vad Mehta,  a prolific American writer, who passed away January 9, 2021.

Ved Mehta's life and work defied conventional limitations. In The Sighted World, his daughter, Sage Mehta, reflects on growing up with a father who, despite being blind since childhood, navigated the world with precision and confidence. She describes how he structured his home environment so meticulously that he rarely needed assistance. His blindness, though a defining aspect of his life, was something the family seldom acknowledged. Outsiders often marveled at his ability to move without aid, yet his independence was the result of rigorous adaptation and an extraordinary memory.

Born in Lahore on March 21, 1934, Mehta lost his sight at age three due to cerebrospinal meningitis. Determined to receive an education, he moved to the U.S. in 1949 and attended the Arkansas School for the Blind. He later studied at Pomona College, Oxford University, and Harvard, where he developed his literary voice. 

His career took off when he joined The New Yorker in 1961, writing extensively on philosophy, politics, and culture. Over three decades, he crafted a distinctive narrative style that blended memoir with journalism, culminating in works like Fly and the Fly-Bottle (1962), which explored intellectual debates among British thinkers.

Mehta’s Continents of Exile series—his most ambitious work—spanned 12 volumes, chronicling his life and the experiences of his family across multiple continents. Beginning with Daddyji (1972), which detailed his father’s life, the series wove personal and historical narratives together, capturing themes of migration, displacement, and belonging. 

Despite his literary success, his personal relationships were complex. His dependence on young assistants, known as amanuenses, sometimes led to discomfort and allegations of inappropriate behavior. Sage Mehta acknowledges both his brilliance and the challenges of being close to him.

As he aged, Parkinson’s disease gradually diminished his physical and cognitive abilities. His once sharp mind became clouded, as if retreating into the past. When he passed away in 2021, his family scattered most of his ashes in places that had shaped him—Maine, Oxford, and India—but some remained in a wooden cube called the “Statesman” in his wife’s new home. 

His legacy endures in his literary works, which continue to offer insights into identity, exile, and the resilience of the human spirit. 

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/10/14/growing-up-with-the-writer-ved-mehta

Christy Carlson Romano

Acting Appreciation

Christy Carlson Romano is a name that sparks nostalgia for anyone who grew up watching Disney Channel in the early 2000s. As the whip-smart and perfectionist Ren Stevens on Even Stevens, she brought comedic brilliance to the screen alongside Shia LaBeouf’s chaotic energy. Then, she became the voice of a generation—literally—by bringing Kim Possible to life, proving that teenage superheroes could juggle crime-fighting, high school, and a beeping communicator -- which I admit-tingly have as a ringtone -- at all hours of the day. With her charm, wit, and unmistakable voice, Romano became a beloved figure in the golden era of Disney Channel.

Beyond her Disney fame, Romano has had a career as versatile as her many talents. She’s graced Broadway as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, voiced the fan-favorite Yuffie Kisaragi in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, and even dabbled in directing. 

While she’s no longer fighting Dr. Drakken or putting Louis Stevens in his place, she’s stayed connected to her roots through YouTube, where she brings back old Disney stars for nostalgic cooking sessions. Her podcast, I Hear Voices, co-hosted with Will Friedle, lets fans geek out over animation and hear stories from legendary voice actors.

In recent years, Romano has been candid about her struggles with fame, mental health, and the pressures of Hollywood. She’s turned those experiences into a platform for honesty and growth, inspiring her fans in new ways. Whether she’s running her podcast network, PodCo, launching a new business venture, or simply reflecting on her Disney days, she remains a dynamic force in entertainment. 

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://hotnessrater.com/infinite-scroll/770/christy-carlson-romano

https://www.babepedia.com/babe/Christy_Carlson_Romano