June 1, 2025
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Deep Something

The site for ranting and reporting by John Masters

Society

A general category for things related to our society and how we interact with one another.

Culture Deep Thoughts Featured Society Stoicism 

Summum Bonum: Navigating Life by the Highest Good

B. John 8 Views 0 Comments , ,

In a world that constantly shouts at us—“Buy this! Be that! Hurry up!”—It’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. New trends, metrics, or moral panics are always trying to claim your time and energy. This raises a profound question: What is truly worth living for? The pursuit of the highest good is not simple. It demands something of us—sometimes a great deal. It requires saying no when saying yes would be easier. It calls for patience when the world rewards immediate reactions. It demands courage when fear would be much more convenient. But it is also freeing. When you let go of the need to gain everyone’s approval, avoid every mistake, or secure every possible outcome, you begin to live with more peace, not because your life is perfect, but because your intent is clear.

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Harm to LGBTQ Community
Featured Politics Legislature Presidency Society Gay Issues 

How Trump-Era Policies and State Legislation Are Harming LGBTQ+ Americans

B. John 11 Views 0 Comments , , , , , ,

A recent Pew Research Center report (Feb. 2025) found that a staggering 81% of LGBTQ adults expect Trump’s policies to harm gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. Among transgender respondents, 88% expect negative effects. These fears are grounded in experience: during his first term, Trump rolled back protections for trans students, banned transgender people from military service, and allowed discrimination under the guise of religious freedom. In his second term, the pace and intensity have only increased.

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Stoicism Culture Deep Thoughts Featured Religion 

The Gift of Memento Mori

B. John 33 Views 0 Comments , , , ,

That phrase—Memento Mori—means “remember that you must die.” It’s an old Stoic meditation, not meant to provoke dread but to awaken us… and remind us not to sleepwalk through our lives. The Stoic philosopher Seneca put it this way: “Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing.”

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Justia
Racism Featured Politics Congress Election Religion Society Gay Issues Hate Groups 

The Call to Justice is Urgent

B. John 182 Views 0 Comments , , ,

Progressives stand at a critical juncture where the call for justice is louder and more urgent than ever. My faith compels me to see the injustices that surround us and act against them with conviction, guided by Christ’s example of righteous defiance in the face of oppression. While persistence is essential, there are moments when persistence alone is not enough; sometimes, our witness demands a more forceful resistance, a willingness to dismantle the systems that perpetuate inequality and cause harm actively.

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Friendship
Deep Thoughts Featured Society 

My Creed

B. John 477 Views 0 Comments , , ,

I want there to be hearts that beat a little lighter just knowing I exist and there are smiles that bloom like sunlight when I cross their thoughts. I want my presence to bring a little warmth, ease, and joy to others’ lives. Friendship, to me, is a sacred bond, a quiet promise to be the reason someone feels seen and valued. I hold onto the knowledge that my existence makes a difference, and in turn, I strive to be someone worth remembering.

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Photo of Andrew Warren, Hillsborough State Attorney
Crime Cafe Con Tampa Featured Places Tampa Society 

The Case of Robert Dubois as Told by Andrew Warren

B. John 324 Views 0 Comments , ,

On Friday, September 6, 2024, former Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren gave a compelling speech at Café Con Tampa, recounting the case of Robert DuBoise, a man wrongfully convicted of murder. Warren’s speech highlighted the importance of justice, the flaws in the criminal justice system, and how his office worked tirelessly to correct an egregious mistake.

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Hyde Park UMC, Tampa, FL
Tampa Politics Religion Methodism General Culture Featured Places Kings Mountain 

Resuming Rants

B. John 246 Views 0 Comments , , ,

There was a brief restaurant review posted earlier this year. The last post before that was a movie review (The Whale). A lot has transpired in my world over the past few months, and I think I am ready to get back to trying to post more or less regularly. The highlight reel looks a bit like this:

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@020 Candidates for Hillsborough County School Board District 7
Featured Places Tampa Politics Election Society Education 

2020 Election – Hillsborough School Board District 7

B. John 800 Views 0 Comments , , ,

This is a county-wide seat and the only school board race I vote in this round. Lynn Gray, the incumbent, is being opposed by Sally Harris who previously served on the board and was voted out. Harris served in 2017 and 2018 as Chair of the Board of Education, but her entire tenure was pretty lack-lustier. Given the challenges that will be faced by the district in 2021 and into next year, that’s just not going to cut it. I talked to Lynn Gray this time and in her previous election. She has over 40 years of classroom and school administrative experience and is involved in the schools as more than just a member of the board. She shares my concerns about the loss of funding to for-profit charter companies. So, for all those reasons, I’m going with Lynn Gray for Hillsborough School Board District 7.

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Photo of Elizabeth Holmes
Culture Movies Featured Society Crime Technology 

The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley-A Movie Review

B. John 766 Views 0 Comments , , ,

The story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos has inspired quite a bit of content, including a NYT Best Seller, an ABC podcast, a movie starring Jennifer Lawrence, and now an HBO documentary directed by “Going Clear” director, Alex Gibney. If you want a great overview of the story that concentrates on Holmes, this is an excellent two-hours you can spend. I’m going to give it a 7, what say you?

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Culture Movies Entertainment Society 

Joker-A Movie Review

B. John 766 Views 0 Comments , , , , , , , ,

Joker centers around an origin of the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. Todd Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a man disregarded by society is not only a gritty character study but also a broader cautionary tale.

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