Wisdom Miner ⛏ Host of multiple YouTube Channels I post about what feels right at the time. History, music and more.
Hampton, VA
- Tweets 42,541
- Following 6,642
- Followers 39,714
- Likes 41,447
Pinned Tweet
🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day!
Before cable news, there were Saturday morning cartoons. "No More Kings" — Schoolhouse Rock's very first America Rock episode — taught a generation how we fired a king and built a free country.
Some lessons never get old. 🎆
#IndependenceDay #4thOfJuly
73
1,756
6,601
141,477
In 1986, a young comedian walked off stage at Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club and vowed never to perform again.
That same year, he was diagnosed with cancer.
His name was Norm Macdonald, and his story would change comedy forever.
Here's what happened:
571
3,497
39,698
8,246,709
In 1953, the CIA began drugging unsuspecting Americans with LSD.
No, this isn't a conspiracy theory.
It was called "Operation Midnight Climax" - and it's one of the darkest chapters in CIA history.
Here's the disturbing story:
669
8,665
35,958
5,247,319
On January 1st, some of history's most valuable art just became free.
Hemingway.
Disney.
Hitchcock.
Even Popeye.
$100M+ worth of creativity is now yours to use.
Here's everything you can legally steal in 2025: 🧵
176
1,426
7,974
1,283,772
The January 2025 LA fires destroyed homes of Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins & at least 18 other A-list celebrities.
But behind the $57B disaster lies an even darker truth: Many victims can't rebuild. Here's why...
497
1,858
7,238
4,275,433
RIP Rick Davies of Supertramp.
One of my favorite tracks, "The Logical Song" is a true classic addressing how education forces conformity at the cost of joy and curiosity.
170
1,561
7,158
166,143
This was Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's final moment.
The last performance.
The last song.
Paranoid
Metalperver
52
890
6,388
320,043
In 1998, Norm hosted the ESPYs.
Just weeks after being fired from SNL, he delivered a scorching monologue to a room full of athletes.
His final joke about OJ brought the house down.
The message? Never compromise your art.
24
315
5,792
347,307
By 1993, Norm landed his dream job on SNL.
But his relentless jokes about OJ Simpson caught the attention of NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer - a close friend of OJ.
When ordered to stop, Norm did something unexpected:
15
311
5,633
378,646
His answer? "I haven't gotten funnier. The show has gotten really bad."
The writers booed. The audience roared.
Norm stood there smiling, showing that sometimes the best revenge is just telling the truth.
12
268
5,285
278,301
The day after OJ's acquittal, Norm opened Weekend Update with:
"Well, it's finally official: murder is legal in the state of California."
He chose principles over job security.
The cost? His position at SNL.
14
235
5,199
330,775
Norm played the dumb guy but behind this persona was a genius who graduated high school at 14 and studied mathematics in university.
He kept this hidden, believing the smartest comedians play dumb.
"The worst guy you can be, a guy smarter than the audience - they're going to hate you!"
28
263
4,855
460,471
In 1864, eight men climbed into a 40-foot iron tube to change naval warfare forever.
None would survive the mission.
But their sacrifice would make history as the first successful submarine attack in warfare.
This is the extraordinary story of the H.L. Hunley: 🧵
86
517
4,706
648,616
His appearance with Courtney Thorne-Smith on Conan became legendary.
When she mentioned starring in a film with Carrot Top called "Chairman of the Board," Norm waited...
Then delivered: "I bet the Board is spelled B-O-R-E-D"
30
210
4,276
348,808
The Moth Joke became Norm's masterpiece:
"A moth goes to a podiatrist. The podiatrist says 'What's the problem?' The moth says 'Doc, I'm troubled...'"
For the next 3 minutes, Norm wove Russian literature, existential dread, and profound depression into a story about... a moth.
26
290
4,157
305,629
Late night TV was where Norm truly shined.
David Letterman said: "If we could have, we would have had Norm on every week," and he was the last comedian on Letterman.
His ability to hijack interviews and turn bad jokes into comedy gold made him the greatest talk show guest ever.
11
189
4,076
280,097
Norm had strong opinions about impressions, especially political ones.
On Alec Baldwin's Trump: "I don't find his impression funny because he has nothing but contempt for Trump. You need to empathize with someone to impersonate them."
"To do a good impression, you have to love the person. Because people love themselves. When you hate the person you're imitating, the audience can feel it. It just becomes mean."
A lesson in empathy over mockery.
18
147
3,569
250,144
His take on "battling" cancer became legendary:
"In the old days, they'd say 'hey that old man died.' Now they go 'hey, he lost his battle.'
That's no loss. I'm pretty sure if you die, the cancer dies at exactly the same time."
He continued: "That's not a loss. That's a draw."
1
139
3,293
150,470
In his 20s, Norm faced his first battle with cancer.
He kept it secret and returned to comedy, saying: "The brave thing to do if you have cancer is not talk about it. Just have it and keep it a secret."
Lesson: Not everything needs to be a public spectacle.
12
86
2,910
380,319
In 1999, SNL invited Norm back to host - just one year after firing him.
Instead of playing nice, he opened with: "How did I go in a year and a half from being not funny enough to be even allowed in the building to being so funny that I'm now hosting the show?"
2
66
2,946
222,672
His approach to comedy was unique:
"The perfect joke would be where the setup and punchline were identical."
He spent his career pursuing this impossible ideal.
His best example?
When Julia Roberts divorced Lyle Lovett:
"Julia Roberts told reporters this week that her marriage to Lyle Lovett has been over for some time. The key moment came when she realized she was Julia Roberts and she was married to Lyle Lovett."
15
90
2,862
244,863
At the 2008 Bob Saget roast, he deliberately told outdated, corny jokes from a 1940s joke book.
The audience was confused. Other comedians howled.
Norm smiled: "These are all from a book my dad gave me called 'Jokes for Retirement Parties'"
9
62
2,455
167,998
Behind the scenes, Norm was a voracious reader of Russian literature and philosophy.
He studied Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov.
His favorite book? Ecclesiastes.
Why? It dealt with life's biggest questions through simple stories.
4
78
2,427
236,528
The biggest media failures of our time weren't just mistakes.
They were masterclasses in how journalism can go wrong - and what we can learn from it.
A thread on the most shocking fake news incidents that changed media forever: 🧵
64
533
2,388
301,561
People on the left have been saying, "We need a Joe Rogan for the left." Well guess what, there was one. His name is Joe Rogan.
26
89
2,095
88,159
The genius? It was originally a simple two-line street joke from Colin Quinn.
But when Conan needed to fill time, Norm transformed it into high art.
He showed how the setup is often funnier than the punchline.
4
73
2,097
155,526
His legacy?
• Pure comedy over social commentary
• Principles over popularity
• Art over acceptance
The greatest comedian's comedian who ever lived.
5
76
1,948
111,028
Most comedians fear silence. Norm craved it.
"I don't know why, but to me, the funniest thing is trying to make people laugh and having them hate you."
He understood something profound about comedy:
2
48
1,939
188,337
During the Cold War, the CIA needed untraceable money for its anti-communist campaigns.
Enter the drug trade—a covert funding source from Latin America to Southeast Asia.
Operation X was one of these shadowy programs.
19
458
1,874
147,916
Death fascinated Norm so much that he even voiced Death itself on Family Guy.
The role was perfect: Death was exhausted by its job, philosophical about existence, and had a dry sense of humor about mortality.
Art imitating life.
His obsession with death went deeper than comedy:
"I can't stop myself from constantly ruminating about death," he once said.
Even his fictional roles reflected his real preoccupation with mortality.
13
77
1,937
152,981
Even fans got Norm's style of comedy. During a flight, some recognized him and sent him a note:
On an airline barf bag.
The flight attendants weren't amused, but Norm loved it. Peak Norm MacDonald fan behavior.
2
54
1,866
168,840
Norm's final message to aspiring comedians:
"If you want to be a pure artist, you should never seek approval."
Follow @hunleyeric for more threads on history's most fascinating characters and the lessons they left behind.
14
86
1,850
112,560
On September 14, 2021, the world was stunned to learn Norm Macdonald had died.
No one knew he was sick. No one saw it coming.
In true Norm fashion, he'd pulled off his greatest punchline:
He'd made death itself the setup.
11
55
1,851
120,664
His final years revealed his true focus:
"The two themes I'm interested in now are God and Love. That's the hardest stuff to write about in a comedic way."
He never got to finish this chapter.
3
61
1,817
117,948
I need your help! @YouTube removed my channel with no warning during a stream. 15K Subs gone instantly.
I have never gotten a strike or warning!
Please help me be heard!
134
686
1,691
The Vietnam War saw CIA alliances with Laotian tribes engaged in the opium trade.
Meanwhile, the French Connection smuggled heroin from Turkey to the U.S., with alleged intelligence ties.
These operations institutionalized drug trafficking, fueling global cartels.
12
387
1,571
139,045
The smartest comedian in history pretended to be the dumbest.
He graduated high school at 14, studied advanced mathematics, and read Russian literature.
Then spent his career hiding it all.
This is the incredible story of Norm MacDonald:
In 1986, a young comedian walked off stage at Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club and vowed never to perform again.
That same year, he was diagnosed with cancer.
His name was Norm Macdonald, and his story would change comedy forever.
Here's what happened:
60
134
1,593
154,644
The CIA spread its tendrils globally:
In Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle, they partnered with opium-trading tribes.
In South America, they protected cocaine routes.
In Europe, they sheltered heroin networks.
Each piece carefully positioned. Each connection deniable.
13
415
1,513
126,617
Kiki Camarena was the DEA's most effective agent in Mexico. His crime?
Getting too close to the connection between the CIA and the Guadalajara cartel.
He was systematically tortured for 30 hours.
His death was choreographed.
His body was meant to be found.
Because sometimes a murder isn't just a murder.
It's a message written in blood.
35
383
1,474
124,522
The operation ran until 1966.
But the most disturbing part?
White had no regrets. Before his death, he wrote:
"It was fun, fun, fun. Where else could a red-blooded American boy lie, kill, cheat, steal, deceive, rape and pillage with official blessing?"
25
262
1,430
167,712
Barry Seal wasn't just any pilot.
He was the man who flew for both Pablo Escobar AND the CIA.
The one person who knew how both sides of the machine worked.
The witness who could expose it all.
His reward? Assassination in broad daylight.
A public execution disguised as a cartel hit.
26
366
1,416
102,765
The truth emerged in 1974 through a New York Times exposé.
Congressional hearings revealed that Operation Midnight Climax was just one of 150 sub-projects under MK-ULTRA.
The CIA had crossed a line they could never uncross.
6
263
1,388
151,658
In 2012, Norm received devastating news:
Cancer had returned.
For 9 years, he kept it secret from everyone - even his closest friends.
Why? He didn't want it to affect how people saw his comedy.
5
44
1,391
127,885
Today, Operation Midnight Climax serves as a warning:
When government power goes unchecked, ordinary citizens become unwitting test subjects.
And the line between national security and human rights disappears.
8
189
1,344
137,163
There is young YouTuber named "Kraken the Box" who's in palliative care after 2 heart transplants.
He has one wish - 100K YouTube subs before he passes.
Can we help him?
Here's Johnny Depp giving support as well.
piped.video/OSalvfWhdFA
78
444
1,302
So, it appears we now know who was behind @KyDUIGuy getting ejected from the trial...
#justiceforduiguy
In a fair trial these Depp fans should not be allowed in the courtroom. They’re in full view of the jury.
102
116
1,321
Watch @barnes_law almost fall out when @Sargon_of_Akkad explains 3 figure body counts to @thevivafrei 😂😂
114
183
1,300
White's own diary reveals the CIA's true goal:
"Controlling an individual to the point where he will do our bidding against his will - even against such fundamental laws of nature as self-preservation."
This was government-sanctioned mind control.
9
199
1,264
167,588
Sante Bario was the DEA’s master investigator—he found the documents, traced the money, and could prove the CIA’s shadow empire was real.
Then came his absurd death in custody: “choking on a peanut butter sandwich.”
Inside the DEA, it became a warning: stop, or you’re next.
4
311
1,263
77,886
When intelligence agencies partner with cartels, the consequences are catastrophic:
• Destabilized nations,
• Corrupted governments, and
• Shattered communities.
Unveiling these truths is vital to holding power accountable.
11
326
1,232
68,985
The Cold War wasn't just about nuclear weapons.
It was also a battle for the mind.
When the CIA feared the Soviets were advancing in psychological warfare, they launched MK-ULTRA - a top-secret program aimed at mastering mind control.
14
177
1,216
216,692
What's up with this @elonmusk? @thevivafrei asked the same questions as you. Why is he locked out?
thepostmillennial.com/breaki…
56
357
1,172
Study how they mastered the art of invisible control:
The French Connection wasn't just a drug network.
It was a masterclass in power projection.
While the public saw a criminal enterprise, the CIA saw a self-financing weapon against communism.
4
282
1,169
103,304
Enter three men who peered into the void:
• A DEA agent who refused to be blinded
• A pilot who carried too many secrets
• An investigator who pulled the threads until they unraveled
What happens to those who witness the machine's true nature?
4
253
1,123
91,592
The plan was simple but sinister:
Set up a fake brothel in San Francisco.
Install two-way mirrors and recording equipment.
Hire prostitutes to lure men inside.
Then secretly dose them with LSD.
7
128
1,125
192,791
The victims experienced:
• Intense hallucinations
• Severe paranoia
• Psychological trauma
• No medical support
Many never knew why they had such a "strange night" in San Francisco.
7
109
1,100
162,466
The prostitutes were told to:
• Slip LSD into clients' drinks
• Engage them in specific conversations
• Report their behavior
• Test how easily they could be manipulated
All while CIA agents watched from behind the mirrors.
5
119
1,055
173,137
But all plots have holes:
They can never completely hide their shadows.
Like a black hole, the bigger the secret, the stronger its gravitational pull - drawing in those who dare to look too closely.
3
219
1,013
92,809
The CIA called these locations "safe houses."
But there was nothing safe about them.
Unsuspecting men would have a drink, meet a woman, and suddenly find themselves part of an illegal government experiment.
2
109
1,005
182,580
The program's exposure led to:
• Public outrage
• Congressional investigations
• New oversight laws
• CIA reforms
But for the victims, the damage was already done.
13
97
980
130,496
Enter George Hunter White:
• Former journalist turned federal agent
• Known for "aggressive methods"
• Described as "deadly and dedicated"
• Perfect for the CIA's most unethical experiment
6
110
968
201,859
In March 2025, State Farm dropped 72,000 CA property policies. 1,600+ in Pacific Palisades alone.
Then Allstate and others fled the state.
The insurance exodus left homeowners vulnerable months before the flames arrived.
111
254
957
272,261
Want to dive deeper into these shadowy connections and their global impact?
Follow @hunleyeric for more insights and watch this video for the full story:
piped.video/9z50vrivxuM?si=1QVW…
41
238
843
86,579
But here's the cruel twist:
Even those with insurance face impossible choices. The California FAIR Plan (insurer of last resort) only covers $3M in losses.
Average Pacific Palisades home value? $3.5M.
Math doesn't add up.
61
170
875
246,727
The harsh reality for 2025:
• Many homes will never be rebuilt
• Insurance industry near "catastrophic failure"
• Property values in fire zones plummeting
• Mass exodus from high-risk areas predicted
The California dream is burning.
15
164
795
201,614
The insurance crisis by numbers:
• Premiums jumping from $4,500 to $18,000 for some
• Major insurers abandoning California
• Rebuilding costs soaring due to demand
• Future coverage uncertain
Many can't afford to stay. Others can't afford to leave.
15
170
793
229,926
Even celebrities with deep pockets are reconsidering:
• Beyoncé's mother lost her Malibu home
• Eugene Levy's Palisades property destroyed
• Jeff Bridges' Malibu residence gone
• Adam Brody & Leighton Meester: $6.5M loss
Money can't buy insurance that doesn't exist.
19
133
788
222,016
In 1921, a boy was born into poverty who would revolutionize comedy.
His mother never hugged him. His father abandoned him. By age 5, he was working through the Depression.
His name was Jacob Cohen. But you know him as Rodney Dangerfield.
He gave it all up at 28, only to return at 40 and become comedy's king: 🧵
31
124
790
54,065
The celebrity toll was staggering:
• Billy Crystal: Lost 45 years of memories
• Mel Gibson: Home burned while filming Joe Rogan in Austin
• Anthony Hopkins: $6M estate destroyed
• Miles Teller: $9.5M dream home bought in 2023 - gone
• Paris Hilton: Malibu mansion obliterated
32
132
763
257,150
CNN's 2024 Syrian Prison story seemed perfect:
A dramatic rescue. A grateful prisoner. An award-worthy scoop.
One problem: The "innocent prisoner" was actually a military intelligence officer accused of torture.
When a story seems too perfect, it probably is.
12
80
790
27,464
FILMS:
• The first Marx Brothers movie
• Hitchcock's "Blackmail"
• Disney's first Silly Symphony
• The first "Best Picture" with sound
These pioneering films are now free to sample, remake, or reinvent.
10
65
750
89,577
Want to make:
• A Popeye horror film?
• A Tintin remix?
• Your own version of "Singin' in the Rain"?
As of today, you legally can.
The copyright just expired on some of the 20th century's biggest masterpieces.
12
62
743
96,635
The devastating equation:
No insurance = No rebuilding
Limited coverage = Partial rebuilding
Full coverage = Still might not be enough
Even Hollywood's elite are facing this math.
20
129
749
189,304
Final thought:
When even Paris Hilton and Anthony Hopkins might not rebuild, what hope exists for average homeowners?
The true cost of these fires won't be measured in billions, but in dreams destroyed.
Follow @hunleyeric for more deep dives into stories that matter.
20
113
739
164,503
This is heartbreaking.
Nick Rekieta has been arrested.
It's like I said yesterday, he's crashing and people will cheerlead you to the bottom.
I hope he gets his shit sorted, and his kids are 1. Safe and 2. This doesn't impact him having them. If he needs rehab and help, plenty of people will.
79
17
744
42,078
First, the devastating scope:
• 16 lives lost
• 100,000+ evacuated
• 96,500 acres burned
• $150B in economic losses
• $155M in celebrity homes destroyed
But the real story? What happened before the fires...
30
168
722
282,366
Looking ahead:
• Insurance crisis deepening
• Rebuilding costs skyrocketing
• Climate risks increasing
• Property markets transforming
The 2025 fires aren't just destroying homes - they're reshaping California's future.
29
123
686
176,292
Government scrambling for solutions:
• New regulations forcing insurers to cover fire zones
• Biden authorizing 180-day federal aid
• Insurance Commissioner banning policy cancellations
• Mandatory coverage quotas implemented
But is it too little, too late?
26
113
689
211,452
🚨 The official story of Charles Manson is a lie.
Tom O’Neill spent 20 years uncovering a web of CIA experiments, FBI cover-ups, & secret informants that protected Manson.
What he found will change EVERYTHING you thought you knew about the 60s. 🧵⬇️
43
141
681
40,612
If you found this thread disturbing, follow @hunleyeric for more hidden history.
Watch the full video about Operation Midnight Climax here:
piped.video/SL5kRKVaE1U?si=Htbe…
13
135
662
114,625
I posted earlier about the Bass Pro Guy in the aquarium and had some laughs. Then. @lawtubejunkies shared this with me. I have deleted my earlier post as I don't wish to be cruel.
38
163
639
84,715
Legal Insanity with @TheEmilyDBaker @thevivafrei @legalbytesmedia @NatetheLawyer @LumberLaw @TragosLaw and @NiermanJoe!
This will be EPIC!
12 PM ET! Catch the mania!
piped.video/Lg2B3AH9wIo
#laidbacknews #lawtube
23
48
616
2013: KTVU News broke "exclusive" details about Asiana Airlines pilots:
"Captain Sum Ting Wong"
"Wi Tu Lo"
"Ho Lee Fuk"
They blamed an NTSB intern for verification.
The real culprit? Racing to be first instead of right.
14
78
654
29,339
MUSIC:
• "Singin' in the Rain"
• "Ain't Misbehavin'"
• "Stardust"
• Gershwin's "American in Paris"
Every note, every lyric - free to use in your next project.
13
60
617
85,904
This is brilliant! @Netflix copyright claimed me over my own footage! 😂
piped.video/8WBcVkbTLuc
41
75
600
Hey Everyone, @NatetheLawyer is locked out of Twitter! Please help us get the word to @TwitterSupport and get this resolved.
#SaveNatetheLawyer
31
242
583
46,036
The loss of Jeff aka Legal Vices hurts a lot. There has been drama in the community but I can't think of anyone who didn't like Jeff a great deal. He was an absolutely generous sprit and will be missed.
I just lost a dear friend, someone I had more in common with than any one I have ever met. We both were raised in Utah, went to the same law school, served missions in South Korea, left our former faith, and there just aren't words to express the deep kinship I shared with my friend, @legalvices.
When I was in South Korea this spring I got to visit him at his home again in Busan and he gave me one of the most memorable experiences I had there. He knew all of my deepest fears, anxieties, and insecurities and knew exactly how to lift me up. He was my champion during my campaign and every day after we met. He was a rock for me no matter where we were. Hell, he even bought me dinner a few times when I couldn't get my food ordering app in Korea to work!
@legalvices always made me feel included and invited me to otherwise exclusive events and parties, he was the most likeable man who made people smile, laugh, and just plain comfortable. His inappropriate jokes had me dying with laughter. I will always appreciate and cherish the memories we shared both on and off screen.
Sitting on his patio sipping Blantons while he smoked a cigar listening to Jazz music overlooking Busan was pure magic. He had a way of creating magical moments like that every time we met. I am not sure I will be able to travel to Busan for a while, not without feeling this aching pain in my heart.
He was the one who told me I could start a youtube channel and generously shared his audience with me. He taught me everything he knew. I will miss my friend.
Today, I need some time to accept his sudden loss from my life. I am sorry everyone. I might not be able to respond here and need to not stream today. You all saw how I was during my dad's death on Jeff's stream, I was a mess but Jeff wanted me to join anyway because he was worried about me, I think.
I am not ready to say goodbye, I just wanted to tell you all that he really was my ride or die friend. It wasn't just some fun quip online. I know the reason he didn't tell me he was going through anything was because he wouldn't want me to worry or to add to my stress. I have and will continue to miss my friend until we meet again.
17
31
611
11,234
Imagine walking into a San Francisco bar in 1953.
You meet a beautiful woman. Have a few drinks. Go back to her place.
But you've just become an unwitting subject in the CIA's most disturbing experiment.
This is Operation Midnight Climax.
In 1953, the CIA began drugging unsuspecting Americans with LSD.
No, this isn't a conspiracy theory.
It was called "Operation Midnight Climax" - and it's one of the darkest chapters in CIA history.
Here's the disturbing story:
31
127
581
152,931
Keep in mind that @Apple should have the serial number on record and the device has to connect to their servers to activate. They could track it and turn the info over to the authorities.
1
19
592
24,181
So, it turns out that a slippery deck is dangerous. I have officially broken my first bone in my life.
174
21
558
Here's what just entered the public domain:
BOOKS:
• "A Farewell to Arms" - Hemingway
• "The Sound and the Fury" - Faulkner
• "A Room of One's Own" - Woolf
Every word is now yours to adapt, remix, or reimagine.
11
50
565
101,373
ART:
• Magritte's "The Treachery of Images"
• Dalí's surrealist masterpieces
• Kandinsky's "Upward"
• Hopper's "Chop Suey"
Some of the most influential paintings ever created, now free for public use.
3
54
548
79,387
Duke University scientists finally cracked it in 2017:
The Hunley's crew was killed by their own weapon.
The blast wave from their torpedo, just 20 feet away, caused instant fatal trauma - without damaging the sub.
4
28
521
24,556
