Joseph Campbell who wrote on mythology, religion and society said in effect that the essential job of society is to raise children, especially boys, to become moral adults. Children's time on the Internet, including that of my 22-year old autistic grandson, largely consumes time during which they could be guided by moral adults about the real world and their place in it. So that deficit constitutes substantial damage to children caused by the Internet.
Well written, as said with feeling, sincerity, truth. We will survive.
Had a question: were there really any drugs on those boats? And, as I understand, fentanyl is not the drug pushed out of that country, it's cocaine, which usually travels up the pacific to central america and Mexico. Has anyone tested the waters where those boats were blasted to smithereens. What poison is floating now in the ocean to attack the fish? There goes the deep fishing business!!
Thank you, Rick. Your “tangible, terrible” paragraph captures perfectly our current evil, and the moral bankruptcy of the “Silicon Valley overlords” as you say. We must, we must find some way to defeat them, and again rage against the evil, and those who ignore it or are complicit in the evil, as well as those who encourage or perpetrate such evil. They are all around us these days.
Said with heart, compassion and truth. Yes, evil does exist, and the courage to comfort it is lacking most of the time. We do need a world of more Ahmed al-Ahmeds. 🙏 Thank you, Rick.
From fellow directors to entry-level employees at Castle Rock, I have heard only kind words (in life and death) about Rob and Michele. Also, thank you for always making the distinction that Jewish ≠ Israeli Government. Sadly, that point is often intentionally ignored. I wish nothing but the absolute best in life for Ahmed al-Ahmed- a true hero. ❤️
Thank you still wrapping my mind around this past weekend. Don’t know if possible too much is being tolerated … Australia is on the ball it took one day of a horrific occurrence for even string gun laws to be looked at to make stricter. Here the same T&P getting a little tired of the same TP being used .. Rob Reiner and his wife this will need some time.. We all need to be a Rob..
Thanks Rick. Well said. I went to high school in the 70s. Kids were just are silly and messed up then as they are now. What we didn’t have were these platforms amplifying our worst instincts at a time when we were young, stupid and frankly, lacking in judgement.
At some point these platforms need to be held to account. We’re the only country in the world that lives this way. It has to change.
Also, bravo to that hero at Bondi Beach. It reminds me that there are many good people in the world, they all just need to find the courage to stand up and act.
Also, love to all of you here in this community - we need to remember we aren’t alone. These are dark times, but we do have each other.
The police terming Rob and Michelle's deaths as "apparent homicide" is just ridiculous. Well, duh.
Who stabs someone then stabs themselves to death afterward? Reminds me of the gallows humor in which we speculate whether the victim hung himself before shooting himself in the back -or after. The world has gotten so stupid I don't even recognize it anymore.
Hi Rick, I received your thoughtful message this morning, but I was reeling from the weekend events and just wanted a break before I read your email.
Now that I have, I wish that I had read it earlier. I appreciated and needed your clear eyed opinion of all that has happened. You steadied me and helped me not to combust with anger at people and want to destroy the cold hearted moron in the White House. Thank you for helping to lower my blood pressure and not think that a horrible ending for our country is inevitable. 🙏
Certainly not a payback for Gaza in most people’s minds, but I suggest that unfortunately some antisemitism flows that way as “ justified “ even though it’s not.
Right on @ social media; i think Australia and China has limited teen use. Nothing saddens me more than seeing someone using their phone on a beautiful Maine day. Virtual life. A 2nd Amendment thought: the originalist Justices should remember a musket was modern in its day, so - muskets only covered by 2 Amend. Hard to mass kill with a musket.PS: I HEART YOUR WRITING STYLE - INCISIVE, WISE, HUMANE AND DELIGHFULLY TAKE NO PRISONERS. RIP Reiners - a saga about a failed brain health system.
This musket business is missing the point. To support a well-regulated militia is the point. There isn't one anymore, we have a standing army; thus the 2nd amendment as written is obsolete.
As of December 15, 2025, the estimated number of gun-related deaths in the United States for 2025 is over 13,900 homicides/murders (and over 25,000 injuries), while Australia's full annual total is projected to be around 31 gun-related murders.
Nationally,U.S. suicides account for more than half of all total gun deaths.
Also: As of 2025 data, there is approximately one licensed firearm for every seven Australians, which equates to an estimated 14.5 guns per 100 people. The total number of private firearms in the country is estimated to be over 4 million.
Yet their misuse is astronomically lower than here.
Joseph Campbell who wrote on mythology, religion and society said in effect that the essential job of society is to raise children, especially boys, to become moral adults. Children's time on the Internet, including that of my 22-year old autistic grandson, largely consumes time during which they could be guided by moral adults about the real world and their place in it. So that deficit constitutes substantial damage to children caused by the Internet.
To understand how Scalia's 2008 Heller opinion got us here, read this free Substack: https://valerius1791.substack.com/p/i-introduction?r=5v74oj.
Well written, as said with feeling, sincerity, truth. We will survive.
Had a question: were there really any drugs on those boats? And, as I understand, fentanyl is not the drug pushed out of that country, it's cocaine, which usually travels up the pacific to central america and Mexico. Has anyone tested the waters where those boats were blasted to smithereens. What poison is floating now in the ocean to attack the fish? There goes the deep fishing business!!
When is your book coming out, and the title?
Thank you, Rick. Your “tangible, terrible” paragraph captures perfectly our current evil, and the moral bankruptcy of the “Silicon Valley overlords” as you say. We must, we must find some way to defeat them, and again rage against the evil, and those who ignore it or are complicit in the evil, as well as those who encourage or perpetrate such evil. They are all around us these days.
You’re writing is the best.
Said with heart, compassion and truth. Yes, evil does exist, and the courage to comfort it is lacking most of the time. We do need a world of more Ahmed al-Ahmeds. 🙏 Thank you, Rick.
From fellow directors to entry-level employees at Castle Rock, I have heard only kind words (in life and death) about Rob and Michele. Also, thank you for always making the distinction that Jewish ≠ Israeli Government. Sadly, that point is often intentionally ignored. I wish nothing but the absolute best in life for Ahmed al-Ahmed- a true hero. ❤️
Thank you still wrapping my mind around this past weekend. Don’t know if possible too much is being tolerated … Australia is on the ball it took one day of a horrific occurrence for even string gun laws to be looked at to make stricter. Here the same T&P getting a little tired of the same TP being used .. Rob Reiner and his wife this will need some time.. We all need to be a Rob..
Thanks Rick.
Thanks Rick. Well said. I went to high school in the 70s. Kids were just are silly and messed up then as they are now. What we didn’t have were these platforms amplifying our worst instincts at a time when we were young, stupid and frankly, lacking in judgement.
At some point these platforms need to be held to account. We’re the only country in the world that lives this way. It has to change.
Also, bravo to that hero at Bondi Beach. It reminds me that there are many good people in the world, they all just need to find the courage to stand up and act.
Also, love to all of you here in this community - we need to remember we aren’t alone. These are dark times, but we do have each other.
Excellent article and thoughts. In the aftermath of such overwhelming actions, this was a perfect read for me. Thank you.
The police terming Rob and Michelle's deaths as "apparent homicide" is just ridiculous. Well, duh.
Who stabs someone then stabs themselves to death afterward? Reminds me of the gallows humor in which we speculate whether the victim hung himself before shooting himself in the back -or after. The world has gotten so stupid I don't even recognize it anymore.
Hi Rick, I received your thoughtful message this morning, but I was reeling from the weekend events and just wanted a break before I read your email.
Now that I have, I wish that I had read it earlier. I appreciated and needed your clear eyed opinion of all that has happened. You steadied me and helped me not to combust with anger at people and want to destroy the cold hearted moron in the White House. Thank you for helping to lower my blood pressure and not think that a horrible ending for our country is inevitable. 🙏
Certainly not a payback for Gaza in most people’s minds, but I suggest that unfortunately some antisemitism flows that way as “ justified “ even though it’s not.
Right on @ social media; i think Australia and China has limited teen use. Nothing saddens me more than seeing someone using their phone on a beautiful Maine day. Virtual life. A 2nd Amendment thought: the originalist Justices should remember a musket was modern in its day, so - muskets only covered by 2 Amend. Hard to mass kill with a musket.PS: I HEART YOUR WRITING STYLE - INCISIVE, WISE, HUMANE AND DELIGHFULLY TAKE NO PRISONERS. RIP Reiners - a saga about a failed brain health system.
This musket business is missing the point. To support a well-regulated militia is the point. There isn't one anymore, we have a standing army; thus the 2nd amendment as written is obsolete.
Australia has strict gun laws yet this killing spree was carried out with a register hunting firearm.
There is no way to regulate evil it seems.
As of December 15, 2025, the estimated number of gun-related deaths in the United States for 2025 is over 13,900 homicides/murders (and over 25,000 injuries), while Australia's full annual total is projected to be around 31 gun-related murders.
Nationally,U.S. suicides account for more than half of all total gun deaths.
Also: As of 2025 data, there is approximately one licensed firearm for every seven Australians, which equates to an estimated 14.5 guns per 100 people. The total number of private firearms in the country is estimated to be over 4 million.
Yet their misuse is astronomically lower than here.
Ever wonder why that is?