Thoughts on The Anti-Semitic Incident at The St. Louis Blues Game Last Week

(Screenshot from Facebook)

Anti-Semites have become emboldened when it comes to demonstrating their hatred of Jews.

This ugliness would rear its head last Thursday at an NHL game in St. Louis. During the match between the St. Louis Blues and the Vegas Golden Knights, two banners were unveiled. One read, "Israel Kills" with images of blood accompanying a crossed-out Star of David with the other read "Free America from Israel" with imagery of the Statue of Liberty.

Blues owner Tom Stillman issued the following statement this morning:

The St. Louis Blues organization — and I personally — condemn antisemitic rhetoric in all forms. The vile messages of hate briefly displayed at our game last Thursday were unfortunate and unforgivable, and not remotely representative of our fans or our hometown. Our arena staff and local law enforcement responded immediately to confiscate the prohibited banners and eject the offending individuals. Antisemitism has no place in our community, and we will never allow it in our building.

Frankly, I cringe when I hear or read the statement "anti-Semitism has no place in our community" because it is usually little more than a platitude. However, Stillman gave the statement teeth when he added that "we will never allow it on our building" and backed up their words with action.

Freedom Convoy USA, the organization responsible for this garbage, had no shame:

We spent multiple hours talking with the good people of St. Louis outside and inside the arena. And an overwhelming majority agreed: they don’t want their tax dollars funding Israel’s genocidal military while they struggle to afford food, housing, healthcare, their children’s education and the basic necessities of life.

Blues fans have every right to ask why their tax dollars help fund Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people -- while their own communities struggle. In a city at the heart of America’s defense industry, those questions hit close to home. They deserve answers, not smears.

Criticizing Israel is in no way, shape or form antisemitic. Tom treating the two as interchangeable actually holds Jewish people collectively responsible for a state’s actions, and that’s incredibly antisemitic. Tom Stillman should know better than to silence legitimate criticism by branding it hate.

For starters, I think the last thing most people attending a hockey game want to talk about is politics. Going to a sporting event is about enjoyment and to be away from miserable people who suck the fun out of life.

Nothing is more anti-Semitic than claiming that Israel is sole reason Americans struggle to afford food, housing, healthcare, education and the necessities of life. They might as well as utter the statement in the original German.

Aside from repeating the "Israel is committing genocide" lie, Freedom Convoy USA has some chutzpah in claiming Stillman is anti-Semitic. They claim to decry holding Jewish people collectively responsible for Israel actions and yet take a look at their mission statement:

The 2026 Freedom Convoy is a grassroots, cross-country journey bringing Americans together to learn, connect and have honest conversations about Israel and Zionist influence in the U.S., U.S. foreign policy, American priorities, and the impact of our government's decisions on hardworking Americans.

Zionist influence?

When they say "Zionist influence" they mean Jews. Let us not pretend otherwise. 

If the phrase "Zionist influence" isn't about putting a target on the back of Jews, then nothing is.

For bad measure there is also the demand to "put American families and children first".

This is anti-Semitism 101 straight out the KKK/Aryan Nations playbook.  

While it is unfortunate that this disgraceful act occurred, I am heartened that the St. Louis Blues organization put a bodycheck on anti-Semitism.

Walter Koenig Was Far More Than Chekov

 

(YouTube screenshot of Walter Koenig from a 1994 interview with Paul Rosa)

This afternoon, I learned that actor and writer Walter Koenig had passed away at the age of 90 via a message on BlueSky by his friend and Star Trek co-star George Takei. 

Koenig is, of course, best remembered for his portrayal of Ensign Pavel Chekov in the second and third seasons of Star Trek appearing in 36 of 69 episodes and subsequently reprising the role in seven Star Trek motion pictures between 1979 and 1994. 

Last month, around the time of his 90th birthday, I came across a series of YouTube shorts of an interview Koenig did in 1994 with Paul Rosa. It is an extraordinary interview on both ends. Sadly, Rosa passed away less than a year ago in November 2025. 

One need only hear a minute to recognize that Walter Koenig was so much more than Chekov. I am grateful that Rosa took the time to delve into this most fascinating man. 

Although Koenig was certainly not dismissive of his association with Star Trek, he questioned if he deserved all the attention he received as he believed Chekov to be "an expository character" who was often little more than furniture in a given scene. Although I have no doubt Koenig would have been pleased the last time he portrayed Chekov in the Star Trek: Renegades TV series a decade ago who by that time had become an Admiral. At the time of the interview, he would have been happy if mention had been made that Chekov had become a Captain.

In the grand scheme of things, Koenig took more pride in the theatre whether as an actor or as a director and in writing whether for TV, comic books and novels. At the time of the interview, Koenig had also begun to portray the villainous Psi Cop in the syndicated sci-fi TV series Babylon 5. He was also two years removed from having received quadruple bypass surgery and was looking to make the most of the time he had left which turned out to be another three plus decades.

In 2010, Koenig experienced every parent's worst nightmare when his son Andrew (also an actor) took his own life at the age of 41. Koenig had to grieve in front of the whole world in real time while finding the strength to urge others going through the same ordeal to reach out and talk to someone, anyone because there are always people who care. In 2022, Judy Levitt, Koenig's wife of 57 years passed away. A loss like that makes it very difficult to carry on even with a strong support network.

While Walter Koenig was more than the sum of his association with Star Trek, he will be forever linked to the show through space and time. With Koenig's passing, there remain two original cast members - William Shatner and George Takei, who are 95 and 89, respectively. 

Sadly, there is no love lost between the two. However, in view of the circumstances, one would hope the two would bury the hatchet even if it is just between the two of them. But sometimes there are galactic sized chasms that are too big to overcome. In which case, perhaps the best one can hope for is for Shatner and Takei to raise a glass to the stars and bid their friend and colleague a peaceful voyage. R.I.P.

Down With Liberty Biberty & Other Light & Transient Causes

 

This afternoon, I attended a most unusual protest. 

The target of the protest was Liberty Biberty, one of the mascots in various Liberty Mutual ads. The gathering took place in front of Liberty Mutual's world headquarters in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. Excluding curious onlookers like myself, I would estimate approximately 50 protesters showed up.

The protest was organized by a YouTuber named DimesAreTasty. Aside from the relatively close proximity of the gathering, I have to admit the Liberty Biberty Muppet is kind of annoying in comparison to Limu Emu and Doug and the struggling actor in front of the Statue of Liberty who uttered Liberty Biberty as a nonsense line.

What also drew me to the protest was its relatively humorous nature. As a fellow I met following the protest named Stephen told me, "It could be worse. They could be burning down buildings like they are in France." All things considered, there is room in the world for spending time on light and transient causes.

DimesAreTasty held a livecast during the protest interviewing people who showed up with signs and chanting, "What do we want? Liberty Biberty? How do we want him? Dead!!!" 

The protest took a turn when a pro-Liberty Biberty protester dresssed up as Liberty Biberty burst upon the proceedings accompanied by his girlfriend who was dressed up Doug. He decried the body shaming of Liberty Biberty and demanded DimesAreTasty eat dimes but he didn't give a dime.

It was all pretty amusing although the line between humor and hatred was a thin one when one of the protesters grabbed the pro-Liberty Biberty protester's sign and tore it to shreds. But things did not get out of hand. The confrontation made the protest that much better.

A passerby saw the spectacle and said there were more worthy things to protest. Yet I think this was the point of the protest. While there is some genuine annoyance with Liberty Biberty, I see today's gathering as a protest of protests. If nothing else, this protest had a touch of wit attached to it. 

Thoughts on B.C. Green Party Leader Emily Lowan's Graceless Remarks

About 12 hours ago, I wrote about the B.C. Conservatives' election victory and complimented the Premier-elect Lorne Doerksen for sounding forward-thinking, measured and reasonable.

His remarks stood in stark contrast with those of B.C. Green Party leader Emily Lowan, who won a seat in the legislature on Vancouver Island making her one of two Greens elected last night.

It is well worth noting that Doerksen made a point of praising Lowan:

I also want to recognize Emily Lohan and congratulate her on an incredible campaign. British Columbians can be grateful for her passion, (and) all that she's done to inspire thousands of young British Columbians to get involved. So, thank you, Emily.

Suffice it to say, Lowan did not reciprocate stating, "We are the only party who is equipped to stand against the Conservatives and their existence." She could not bring herself to congratulate Doerksen and acknowledge the choice B.C. voters had made.

It didn't get much better from there. I should note that Lowan read from prepared remarks and was at times halting, hesitant and possibly on the verge of tears.

While I agree with Lowan when she says, "government is supposed to make people's lives better", I have my doubts as to her and her party's part in that endeavor. 

We're holding the weight of both the joy of this victory and what comes tomorrow. And I'm going to be honest, I'm scared. I'm scared for what's to come.

Frankly, we know what's coming: cuts to health care, child care, (and) public services that people count on; attacks to the rights of trans people, Indigenous communities and immigrants; and a government that will put fossil fuel profits ahead of our fture and billionaires ahead of workers. 

When I heard Lorne Doerksen speak tonight, I thought one thing: the Conservatives are promising everything that they're going to abandon....correction, give away!

No, watch the next years. As housing cuts continue, housing bills, our rent continues to rise, grocery bills (go) through the roof, and our hard-earned money that will continue to line the pockets of foreign multinationals.

This isn't to say that the incoming Conservative government in B.C. won't implement policies that aren't in the best interest of the province and they ought to be taken to task for doing so. But predictably Lowan is short on solutions and substance.  

I was watching the B.C. election coverage online via Global News and they cut away from her speech. Had they decided Lowan's remarks weren't too depressing they would have seen she has every bit as harsh on outgoing B.C. NDP Premier David Eby:

And I think we have to take a moment to remember how Eby's tenure started. He stole power from social movements and who revitalized their party. He used an expensive witch hunt to oust a popular, Anjail Appadurai, to ascend the throne.

Unelected, he took control of the party and he turned his back on the social movements that created the B.C. NDP.

He took labour unions for granted and he did everything that big industry told him to do.

Lowan still wasn't done going scorched Earth on Eby:

Eby is part of a trend around the world where corporate liberals, with all of their tepid tinkering, create the desperate conditions for working people to ask for their oppressors to save them. We saw it in the U.S. in 2016, and again in 2024, and we're seeing it here because the establishment parties are not learning their lessons. That is why I got into politics. We are facing the death rattle of the old world. We are facing it.

I should mention that Lowan is all of 26. While it is remarkable that she is leading a political party at that age, I think her lack of maturity is on display for all the world to see.

Lowan could have congratulated Doerksen and the Conservatives acknowledging the will of the voters. She could have also pledged to hold them account if they saw fit to cut public services or attacked the rights of trans and Indigenous peoples. Simple, direct and to the point. 

There is a time and a place for criticism and there is a time and a place for graciousness. 

I can only hope Lowan will evolve when it comes to the latter. Unfortunately, I think Lowan is so wrapped in dogma that it might impede her maturity - political and otherwise.

B.C. Voters Oust NDP in Favor of Conservatives

 

(B.C. Premier-elect Lorne Doerksen during his acceptance speech following the Conservative election victory on October 24, 2026)

On Saturday, voters in British Columbia ousted the NDP government which had been in power since 2017 in favor of the Conservative Party led by Lorne Doerksen.

As of this writing, the Conservatives are leading and elected in 62 seats with the NDP reduced to 29 seats with 2 seats for the Green Party including for leader Emily Lowan. This marks the first time a Conservative Party has been elected in B.C. since 1933.

It is a remarkable reversal of fortune for the B.C. Conservatives which had been in the death throes under both John Rustad and later Kerry-Lynne Findlay as recently as 7 weeks ago. Soon to be former NDP Premier David Eby figured it was the time to strike while the Conservatives were down, but his call was seen as self-serving. With tonight's outcome, the only NDP government remaining is in Manitoba under Wab Kinew. Eby gambled big and lost big. He has now tendered his resignation as B.C. NDP leader.

I am listening to Doerksen and he sounds forward-thinking, measured and reasonable. He was gracious with Eby and praised Lowan's hard work. This isn't a Maple MAGA. 

But given the chaos which beset the Conservatives under Rustad and Findlay, I do wonder if the knives will eventually come for him. Doerksen will soon have the power the people gave him - for now.

Billie Jean King Took The Ball & Ran With It

 

This evening I took in a screening of the Billie Jean King documentary Give Me the Ball! at the Brattle Theatre as part of the GlobeDocs Film Festival sponsored by the Boston Globe.

Before I get into the film, there were a few logistical snafus. For starters, I tried to get ticket on the GlobeDocs website but could not buy a ticket for the film. I had to buy the whole package. 

So, I decided to buy directly from the Brattle box office just before the show. But I was told I couldn't buy a ticket directly from the box office. Fortunately, there was a rep for the festival there and it was determined that I could in fact buy a ticket directly from the box office.

However, for reasons I could not fathom, I was charged for two tickets. The Globe Docs people didn't know what to do with it. From there, I met the Brattle's creative director, Ned Hinkle, who gave me two passes to use at a future show. I told Ned that I am big fan of the Marx Brothers Marathon. In any case, I have a year to use the passes.

After seeing the film, Give Me the Ball! is an apt title because even in her early eighties (she turns 83 next month), Billie Jean King's drive and determination is a force with which to be reckoned. 

King was drawn to sports at a early age much to the consternation of her mother who wanted her to be more ladylike. Her father and younger brother Randy, by contrast, were in her corner from the get-go with Randy often playing by her side. 

Soon, Billie Jean was introduced to tennis and the by the age of 12 decided she wanted to be the number one female tennis player in the world. Not longer after that Randy decided he wanted to pitch in the major leagues. Both siblings would achieve their dreams.

By 1961, Billie Jean would win her first Wimbledon doubles championship with Karen Susman. Five years later, Billie Jean would her first Wimbledon singles title. But at the time there was no prize money. By the time prize money was introduced in 1968, women were paid a fraction of what their male counterparts received despite often being the bigger draw among tennis fans.

Billie Jean channeled her outrage into action by helping to establish the Viriginia Slims tennis tour and then founding the Women's Tennis Association turning the sport into a lucrative business for female tennis players. Yes, she needed Phillip Morris' cigarette money and Bristol Meyers pharmaceutical money to get it going but she got it done even over the objections of her male counterparts including Arthur Ashe which is something of a surprise given him being a champion of racial equality.

Much of this was done in collaboration with her husband Larry King who managed the business and financial side of the enterprise. Ultimately, their marriage would be strained by not wanting children up to including an abortion pre-Roe v. Wade as well as Billie Jean's coming to terms with the fact she had feelings for women resulting in a toxic relationship with a woman which would end in blackmail. All of this complicated by an eating disorder that took years to properly address.

Oh yes, she had to deal with Bobby Riggs. While much of Riggs' misogyny was showmanship and playing the heel, he ended up believing his own hype. After Riggs lost to Billie Jean in the Battle of the Sexes, he whispered to her, "I underestimated you."

I think underestimating someone who won six Wimbledon titles, four U.S. Open titles plus an Australian and French Open title not to mention revolutionizing her sport is a mistake.

In time, Billie Jean's personal life found equanimity. She has been with fellow tennis player Ilana Kloss for over 45 years marrying in 2018 while her husband remarried, became a father and named Billie Jean and Ilana as their godmothers. 

Following the screening, there was a brief Q&A with Chris James, one of the documentary's co-producers. Billie Jean's younger brother Randy Moffitt, who pitched for 12 seasons in MLB with the San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays, was sporadically mentioned during the film. 

I asked James about Billie Jean's commentary and his level of support for her when her sexual orientation was made public. James indicated that the two were very close until his passing last year. His team very much wanted to interview him but that he was simply too ill to participate. I wish Moffitt had been able to participate because it would have been nice to hear more about their relationship and his insight on her success as well as his own.

Well, if I ever get the opportunity to meet Billie Jean King, I will ask her myself. That is provided that I can keep up with her.

The Mendacity of Megyn Kelly

A little over a month ago I expressed my dismay at Megyn Kelly's inhumanity towards Cindy Crawford following the sudden death of her son Presley Gerber:

What kind of person would say such a thing to millions of people?

I suspect it would be the sort of person who doesn't care what she says and who she harms as long as she draws her attention to herself and that her name is spelled correctly.

There is nothing a parent dreads more than the thought of their child predeceasing them. That Kelly would see fit to kick Crawford while she is going through the worst moment of her life says a great deal more about Kelly than it does about Crawford. Kelly has demonstrated she is devoid of any humanity.

Well, in the weeks which have followed, Kelly seems to be on a mission to be as mendacious as possible. 

On October 6th, only 15 days after slagging Crawford, Kelly set her sights on Jane Doe, the alleged rape victim at the hands of fraternity members at Cornell University. Kelly saw fit to take the woman to task for waiting three weeks to report the rape as if the statute of limitations had expired and for belittling her physical appearance calling her "not the most attractive gal." As if one's physical attractiveness precludes one from being sexually assaulted.  

At this point, we don't know what happened at Cornell University, but for Kelly to go out of her way to belittle the accuser is cruel and unhelpful. It certainly does nothing to encourage others who have sexually assaulted from coming forward.

Under the circumstances, it should not surprise anyone that Kelly was the first MAGA apologist to defends Vivek Ramaswamy's now infamous ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother who sided with the stepfather who raped her.

Sadly, there is more.

Earlier this week, Kelly publicly blasted actress Christina Applegate after revealing she had been misdiagnosed with MS. Kelly decried, “This is, like, the problem with celebrities like wanting to lean into their health problems," before dismissing Applegate's ordeal as "a wild goose chase." But when it comes to MS, it is hardly confined to celebrities as 1 in 5 individuals diagnosed with the disease do not have it at all.

But making deeply personal attacks against those who do not deserve them is Megyn Kelly's stock in trade.

So now it is a question of who Kelly will go after next. Well, Melissa Gilbert, a friend of Applegate, has said bring it on. I have little doubt Kelly will take Gilbert up on her invitation.