Image: “Nanday Talk,” by Alice B. Clagett, 3 June 2026, CC BY-SA 4.0 International, from “Awakening with Planet Earth,” https://awakeningwithplanetearth.com ..

• INTRODUCTION
• VIDEO BY ALICE
• SUMMARY OF THE VIDEO
• VIDEO CREDITS
• CONCLUSION
• MORE INFORMATION: WHY WAS SOCRATES CONDEMNED TO DEATH?

INTRODUCTION

Dear Ones,

I got up the nerve to stop by Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains of California to see if the Mountain Lion danger had abated. Here is what I found out.

There is a Summary after the video …

VIDEO BY ALICE

youtube link: https://youtu.be/kAJyV0o4Bm0  ..

 

SUMMARY OF THE VIDEO

“Where Are Mountain Lions at Paramount Ranch Right Now?’
By Alice B. Clagett

Yes, I’ve been talking to everybody today. I talked to the Nandays. I talked to the Turkey Vulture. He didn’t have much to say. I talked to the Hawk. They both had beautiful flights, but not much to say. And I talked to a lot of Ravens.

The Ravens are sounding real rough and tough … like Superman mean guys … just as they are at my place right now. I asked them where the Mountain Lions are right now because I’m at Paramount Ranch, you know? And from way over there … I’ll show you … There’s Paramount Ranch.

And from way over there [slightly east of Southeast], the Ravens said: “They’re over here now.”

And I said: “Reagan Ranch?”

And they said, “Yes, Reagan Ranch.”

Then later … later they amended that. They said: “Around there” … ‘Around there’ might be Malibu Creek State Park too and it might be Gillette Ranch, but I don’t think so.

Then I asked them … since I’m on the road for Paramount Ranch … I asked them how far I could walk (right?) and they’ve been guiding me.

Priorly I couldn’t do this, but now they say I can walk all the way up to the entrance road here …. right there … but no farther. Then I have to come back. So, I’m going to walk that far up. Before, that was off limits. I asked them a time or two, not just once, and they agreed on this … to walk this far.

As you see, down this way where the truck is … right there … I asked them if I could walk that far. And [I asked] the Coyote Man way down here, an older Coyote, a grown Coyote guy … I said: “Why?” And it said: “Because they’re amassing down here. Who ever knew that a grown Coyote Man could know the word ‘amassing’. That’s a dangerous word, and a really advanced human word, in a way. Well, so now I know: Amassing.

So what I’m going to do is walk back and forth from the Ranger Station to the road for a time or two. That should be safe.

You can see over here by the creek … this [shows plant]. I think you’ll find that might be Hemlock. Hemlock’s extremely poisonous and Socrates was forced to commit suicide by drinking a cup of poison Hemlock because the local people didn’t agree with his theories about philosophy. Luckily, such is not true in modern day Los Angeles.

I went back towards the Ranger center. And, hesitantly, a House Finch from over in the riparian zone asked me very, very quietly … you would never hear it on tape … It asked me: “What does ‘amass’ mean?” ‘Amass’. And I explained that ‘amass’ means ‘gather together in a group’. Might be four or five; it might be two or three. ‘Amass’ … make a mass of beings.

Nanday says that’s right. ‘Amass’ means ‘get together’.

And so from the Ranger Station, … Alice to Nandays: “Nanday, Nanday!”

Alice to Readers: “Three Nandays.”

Alice to Nandays: “Beautiful big Nandays!”

Alice to Readers: “Tough Nandays. Really tough Nandays.”

Alice to Nandays: “What’s up?”

Alice to Readers: Huh! A voice from over [at] the Ranger Station wanted to know where they [the amassed Mountain Lions] were. So, I said it was over by the parked truck over there.

And then I had a hunch I should ask how old they were. And someone over that way, the Coyote Lady, that was it … the wife of Coyote Man the Apex Coyote, said: “Not too big, but they’ve amassed together.”

So I asked the person in the Ranger Station … on the telepathic plane, I asked: “How big do you think they are? Are they a year old, or like that?”

And that person, [who] sounded like a man, said: “Six months.”

I opined at that point that the weather conditions, the Super El Nino coming up this year, might make it possible for those small young Mountain Lions to survive. [On the telepathic plane, I felt he said the people at the Ranger Station thought so too.] So I guess we’ll see what happens.

. . . . .

COMMENT: Later on that day I found out that the ‘amassing’ individuals might be Bobcat kittens … ‘Bobkittens’ … and not Mountain Lions at all.

VIDEO CREDITS

“Where Are the Mountain Lions at Paramount Ranch Right Now?”
By Alice B. Clagett

Filmed on 3 June 2026 and produced on 7 June 2026
Location: Paramount Ranch, Santa Monica Mountains, CA

Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 International –
By Alice B. Clagett

. . . . .

My website is “Awakening with Planet Earth”

Home

CONCLUSION

God bless you all,
And keep you safe,
And be with you
Through all your days.

In love, Light, and joy,
This is Alice B. Clagett.
I Am of the Stars … and so are you!

Io lux et pax nobiscum.
Joy, light and peace be with us!
— Alice B. Clagett

“Dominus illuminatio mea et salus mea; quem timebo?”
The Lord is my Light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

Filmed on 3 June 2026 and published on youtube on 7 June 2026; published on WordPress and Youtube transcription edited on 8 June 2026

MORE INFORMATION: WHY WAS SOCRATES CONDEMNED TO DEATH?

Dear Readers: Why do you think Socrates was condemned to death? Do you figure, as do I, that his death was an act of scapegoating after Athenian politicians’ loss of face in a brutal, long lasting war?

I asked Google AI: Why was Socrates condemned to death?

Google AI said: Socrates was executed in 399 BCE because he was found guilty by an Athenian court of “impiety” (asebeia) and “corrupting the youth”…

While the official charges focused on religious and moral grounds, his execution was heavily motivated by underlying political factors:

• Religious Impiety (asebeia): He was accused of failing to acknowledge the state’s recognized gods and introducing new, unauthorized spiritual practices…
• Corrupting the Youth: His relentless questioning and philosophical method forced young aristocrats to critically examine—and often publicly mock—their elders and societal traditions…
• Anti-Democratic Ties: Athens had recently emerged from a brutal civil war following the reign of the “Thirty Tyrants”—a short-lived oligarchy. Several of these tyrannical leaders were former students or close associates of Socrates. Many Athenians viewed his teachings as politically subversive and a threat to their newly restored democracy…
• Aggravating the Court: During the trial, Socrates showed no contrition and famously refused to compromise. Instead of offering a standard plea for leniency or accepting exile, he proposed that he should be rewarded by the state for his services to philosophy, which ultimately provoked the jury to hand down the death penalty…

You can explore primary accounts of the trial and the philosophical debates surrounding his death in texts like Plato’s Apology … https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_of_Socrates ..

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I asked Google AI: What students were these?

Google AI said: The three main students and close associates whose actions directly fueled the public rage against Socrates were Critias, Alcibiades, and Charmides …

While Socrates taught many loyal citizens—including the philosopher Plato—the Athenian public focused heavily on these wealthy aristocrats who turned against the democracy: …

Critias: He was Socrates’ most infamous student and the brutal, de facto leader of the Thirty Tyrants. During their brief eight-month reign of terror in 404 BCE, Critias ordered the execution of roughly 1,500 democratic citizens, confiscated massive amounts of private property, and exiled thousands more …

Alcibiades: A brilliant, charismatic, and wealthy young general who was widely considered Socrates’ favorite companion. During the Peloponnesian War, he defected from Athens to their bitter enemy, Sparta, providing them with military secrets that ultimately crippled the Athenian war effort. He later defected to Persia before briefly returning to Athens, leaving a legacy of profound political betrayal …

Charmides: Plato’s uncle and another devoted member of Socrates’ inner circle. He was appointed by the Thirty Tyrants to help govern the Piraeus (the harbor area of Athens) and actively participated in the regime’s violent suppression of democratic factions until he was killed fighting them …

The Public Perception

Because of the general political amnesty passed in 403 BCE after the democracy was restored, prosecutors could not legally execute Socrates for past political crimes. Instead, they used the vague charge of “corrupting the youth” as a proxy. To the average Athenian juror, Critias and Alcibiades were the ultimate proof that Socratic teachings produced treacherous, anti-democratic elitists …

If you want to investigate how contemporaries viewed this connection, you can read the historical accounts written by his other famous student, Xenophon, in the Memorabilia …

Would you like to know more about how Socrates interacted with the Thirty Tyrants while they were in power, or how Plato defended his teacher’s reputation after the execution?

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I asked: And what has this to do with the Peleponnesian war?

Google AI said: The Peloponnesian War directly caused the political paranoia that cost Socrates his life.

The catastrophic 27-year war between Athens and Sparta ended in a humiliating Athenian defeat in 404 BCE—just five years before Socrates’ trial. The Athenian public blamed the disaster entirely on the treasonous actions of Socrates’ closest students, creating a climate of bitter resentment.

1. Alcibiades Destroyed the Athenian War Effort

Socrates’ favorite student, Alcibiades, fundamentally altered the course of the Peloponnesian War through ultimate betrayal.

• The Sicilian Disaster: In 415 BCE, Alcibiades convinced Athens to launch a massive, expensive invasion of Sicily.
• Defection to Sparta: Right before the campaign began, political enemies in Athens accused him of religious sacrilege. To avoid trial, Alcibiades defected to Sparta.
• Treasonous Advice: He gave the Spartans critical military advice, telling them to fortify Decelea (cutting off Athens’ primary food supplies) and to send a general to help Sicily.
• The Result: The Athenian army in Sicily was completely annihilated, losing thousands of men and ships. It was a crippling blow from which Athens never fully recovered.

2. Sparta Imposed the “Thirty Tyrants”

When Athens finally surrendered in 404 BCE, the victorious Spartans abolished the Athenian democracy.

• The Puppet Regime: Sparta installed a brutal, 30-man oligarchy to rule the defeated city, known as the Thirty Tyrants.
• Socratic Leadership: As noted, this bloodthirsty regime was led by Critias and Charmides—both prominent students of Socrates.
• The Terror: The Tyrants stripped citizens of their rights and executed roughly 1,500 democrats to cement their power, leaving the city deeply traumatized.

3. Socratic Teachings Were Blamed for the Loss

To the devastated people of Athens, losing the Peloponnesian War was not just a military failure; it was a moral and divine punishment.

• They believed that Socrates’ skepticism had undermined traditional civic duty, patriotism, and respect for the gods.
• The fact that the man who crippled their military (Alcibiades) and the men who terrorized their citizens after the surrender (Critias and Charmides) were all educated by Socrates was seen as undeniable proof that Socratic philosophy was a danger to the state.

When the democracy was restored in 403 BCE, the citizens were desperate to prevent another coup or war. Because a legal amnesty prevented them from punishing people for war-time political treason, they targeted Socrates using the trial as a way to cleanse the city of the perceived “root cause” of their wartime ruin.

You can read more about the military history and social devastation of this conflict in Thucydides’ classic text, the History of the Peloponnesian War.

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I asked Google AI: How was the 30-man oligarchy overthrown?

Google AI said: The 30-man oligarchy that ruled Athens (known as the Thirty Tyrants … https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Tyrants …) was overthrown in 403 BCE through an armed rebellion led by the exiled Athenian general Thrasybulus …

The regime was toppled by a sequence of precise tactical and political moves:

• Securing a Foothold (Spring 403 BCE): Backed by democratic supporters and mercenaries from neighboring Thebes, Thrasybulus’ exiled forces captured the heavily fortified border fortress of Phyle [ … https://www.academia.edu/figures/12453500/figure-3-phyle-fortress-ground-plan-wreebe-pl … ]
• Capturing the Port (Spring 403 BCE): The rebels successfully marched on and occupied the strategic port city of Piraeus …
• The Decisive Battle: The oligarchs’ forces, led by their extremist leader Critias, attacked the democrats but were driven back. Critias was killed in the fighting, which threw the Thirty into total disarray …
• Deposal by the Oligarchs: Following Critias’ death, the moderate hoplites within the remaining 3,000 oligarchic citizens deposed the surviving members of the Thirty and replaced them with a new 10-man ruling committee …
• Spartan Withdrawal: The isolated oligarchs formally appealed to their Spartan benefactors for help. However, the Spartan King ultimately rejected intervening, effectively abandoning the ruling clique …

Peace and Reconciliation: After a subsequent skirmish, a peaceful settlement was negotiated that led to the complete restoration of Athenian democracy later that year, alongside an amnesty agreement to prevent further bloodshed.

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Google AI asked: Would you like to explore how Socrates himself acted during the Peloponnesian War as an Athenian soldier, or how Plato reacted to the fall of the democracy?

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses.

I said: How did Socrates act during the war?

Google AI said: During the Peloponnesian War, Socrates acted as a highly courageous, resilient, and fiercely loyal Athenian combat soldier …

Far from being a detached intellectual who avoided danger, he served as a hoplite—a heavily armored infantryman fighting on the front lines in several major, brutal campaigns. According to records by Plato and Xenophon, his conduct on the battlefield earned him a reputation as a literal war hero …

1. Exceptional Physical Endurance …

Even into his 40s, Socrates astonished his fellow soldiers with his intense physical and psychological toughness: …

• Immunity to Hardship: During the grueling, multi-year winter siege of the Battle of Potidaea, he marched barefoot over ice and wore only his standard light cloak while other soldiers wrapped themselves in heavy furs …
• Unbothered by Scarcity: When army supply lines failed, he went days without food or water without complaining, seemingly impervious to hunger …
• Deep Focus: Soldiers reported that he would occasionally stand perfectly still in one spot from dawn until the next morning, completely locked in deep, meditative philosophical thought while the war raged around him ..

2. Battlefield Heroism

Socrates fought in three major campaigns—Potidaea (432 BCE), Delium (424 BCE), and Amphipolis (422 BCE)—consistently demonstrating extraordinary bravery: …

• Saving Alcibiades: At Potidaea, when his young and wealthy student Alcibiades was wounded in battle, Socrates stepped in, defended him against a crowd of enemies, and carried him to safety. Though nominated for the state’s highest award for valor, Socrates insisted that the prize be given to Alcibiades instead …
• Calm Under Fire: At the Battle of Delium, the Athenian army suffered a catastrophic defeat and panicked. While others fled in terror, Socrates walked away with a steady, fearless stride, glare-shielding the retreating troops. General Laches later remarked that if every Athenian had behaved like Socrates, the battle would never have been lost.

…

3. Political Courage at Home

Socrates’ wartime duty extended to his civic responsibilities in the city, where he proved he would not back down to any regime: …

• Defying the Democracy: In 406 BCE, he was randomly selected to serve in the Athenian assembly. When the public, gripped by wartime hysteria, demanded a mass, illegal execution of eight naval generals who failed to rescue drowning sailors, Socrates was the lone member to vote against it, refusing to violate the law for a mob …
• Defying the Tyrants: When the Thirty Tyrants took over at the war’s end, they ordered Socrates and four others to arrest an innocent democratic citizen named Leon of Salamis to execute him. Socrates simply refused, ignored the order, and walked home, risking his life to avoid committing an unjust act …

The Irony of His Trial

During his trial in 399 BCE, Socrates explicitly cited his military record to the jury. He argued that just as he had loyally stood his ground on the battlefields of Potidaea, Delium, and Amphipolis under the orders of his generals, he could not now desert the philosophical post given to him by the gods …

If you are interested, I can detail how the primary sources (Plato vs. Xenophon) differ in how they depict his bravery, or explain the specific philosophical arguments Socrates used to justify obeying his military commanders.

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses

. . . . .

NOTE: In “MORE INFORMATION,” Alice’s comments are in ochre font and Google AI responses are in light blue font.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0). Attribution: By Alice B. Clagett.
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interspecies communication, birds, songbirds, Nanday, mammals, mountain lions, bobcats. philosophy, history, scapegoating, AI collaborations,