Month: February 2018

Study: Money Can Buy Happiness . . . But The More Money The Better

A_Poor_Little_Rich_GirlA study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin would seem to confirm what many take for granted: despite the common adage, money can indeed buy happiness . . . at least if you have a million dollars. Grant E. Donnelly, a doctoral candidate in the Marketing Unit at Harvard Business School, found that the more wealth that people have corollated with greater happiness.  There is however a difference in happiness between those near the bottom and near the top of wealthiest individuals.  Can you guess who was happier among the millionaires?

Continue reading “Study: Money Can Buy Happiness . . . But The More Money The Better”

Mueller Charges New Defendant: Alex Van Der Zwaan

440px-Director_Robert_S._Mueller-_III-1Special Counsel Robert Mueller has charged Dutch lawyer Alex Van Der Zwaan.  The charge however is another false statement indictment and is not tied to Russian collusion. Rather Van Der Zwaan was interviewed in rather to dealing concerning Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice in 2012.  The expected guilty plea certainly adds to the prosecution cases but remains far removed from the Trump campaign. It is more likely related to the Paul Manafort prosecution.

Continue reading “Mueller Charges New Defendant: Alex Van Der Zwaan”

British Woman Leaves “Vile” Note On Ambulance . . . Police Arrest Woman For Public Disorder

1519059712419

We have repeatedly discussed how Great Britain has been in a free fall from the criminalization of speech to the expansion of the surveillance state.  The alarming rollback on free speech rights in the West, particularly striking in England ( here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here).  Now, a new case shows how ambiguous laws are being used to criminalize conduct that was once viewed as simply rude or obnoxious.  A woman has been arrested for leaving a furious note on an ambulance of the West Midlands Ambulance Service for parking in a reserved space during an emergency call.  The note is disgraceful, but the arrest shows how England has plunged head-long into the waters of speech criminalization and regulation.

Continue reading “British Woman Leaves “Vile” Note On Ambulance . . . Police Arrest Woman For Public Disorder”

Olympic Intrigue: Officials Investigating Whether Russian Was Sabotaged With Doping Drug

Meldonium.svgThis could be a case for Angela Lansbury  on Meldonium, She Wrote.  There has been considerable coverage of Aleksandr Krushelnitckii, a bronze medalist in mixed doubles  curling (with his wife), who tested positive for a doping drug.  Many of us immediately wondered why a curler would need to dope.  The sport is not viewed as the most intensive physical challenge.  Yet, after the comprehensive cheating by Russia (leading to the banning of their flag and identifications at these games), the doping allegations seemed all-too-believable for many. Now, however, officials are looking at the possibility of sabotage.

Continue reading “Olympic Intrigue: Officials Investigating Whether Russian Was Sabotaged With Doping Drug”

Behold! A National Park Is Born

1600px-Cuernos_del_Paine_from_Lake_PehoéDouglas Tompkins, who founded The North Face and Esprit clothing companies has left a truly inspiring legacy with his wife Kristine McDivitt Tompkins in the creation of one of the world’s greatest national parks.  Chile has agreed to the establishment of a park in Patagonia stretching 10 million acres.  The park was based on land purchases for $345 million by the couple to protect this gorgeous and unique place. I cannot imagine a greater gift to humanity.

Continue reading “Behold! A National Park Is Born”

NOAA Data Shows Arctic Ice At Its Lowest In 1500 Years

289fig4.1-perovich

We have been following the overwhelming evidence of drastic climate change, but few studies are as striking as the most report from NOAA’s Arctic research program.  The annual Arctic Report Card  that we have reached the highest loss of Arctic ice in 1500 years. Recently discussed the controversial statements of Administration officials like Energy Secretary Rick Perry on the U.S. offering a better future through fossil fuels.  These studies show a potentially catastrophic future as our climate continues to change exponentially.

Continue reading “NOAA Data Shows Arctic Ice At Its Lowest In 1500 Years”

Where Is Mueller?

 

Screen Shot 2018-02-19 at 8.15.14 AM
YouTube screenshot

For a year, we have debated the foundation for criminal allegations against President Donald Trump and others in the continuing investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.  Mueller has indicted individuals for crimes far removed from the Trump campaign, but has remained silent after the singing of the national anthem (I think it was the national anthem) by Fergie at the All-Star NBA game.

 

Continue reading “Where Is Mueller?”

Russian Indictments Are Long On Chicanery and Short On Collusion

fa0f116753ca535f6304144908b8b67e--russian-posters-propaganda-artBelow is my column in The Hill newspaper on the implications of the Special Counsel indictment of 13 Russians and the express statements of the Special Counsel and the Deputy Attorney General that there is no evidence of any American knowingly working with these Russians.  This indictment addresses the core of Russian hacking and misinformation campaigns by the Russian government.  The admission of no evidence of collusion is notable and significant. As I mentioned in the column, that does not mean that the investigation will not go forward, including pursuit of any collusion between the Russian and the Trump campaign. However, after a year and multiple pleas, none of the indictments have established the alleged nexus between the Trump campaign and the Russians.

There still remain a number of potential threats for the White House from new collusion evidence to financial-related crimes to new allegations stemming from the alleged payoff of former lovers.  However, while Rep. Adam Schiff is still insisting that there is ample evidence of collusion and obstruction, the core (and original) allegation against Trump has moved little in terms of real evidence (at least evidence made public).  Moreover, the evidence of the Russian campaign shows that it began in 2014 before Trump ran for president.  It seemed to target the presumed victor: Hillary Clinton. However, when Trump ran, it targeted Trump.  Both anti-Clinton and anti-Trump rallies were ultimately organized by the Russians to spread division. It was a curious effort since the country was already quite divided and the Russian-led protests paled in comparison to the massive anti-Trump rallies like the Women’s March or the continual protests over Hillary Clinton.  The most serious problem was not the trolling or the organizing but the hacking.

 

Continue reading “Russian Indictments Are Long On Chicanery and Short On Collusion”

Georgia Horse Trainer Arrested After Being Videotaped Feeding Cocaine and Whiskey To Goat

1518967840964Sergio Palomares-Guzman, 28, is accused of a truly bizarre crime of force feeing a goat a combination of whisky and cocaine.  The abuse was captured on a videotape as Palomares-Guzman  and another man can be heard laughing.  He is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and also faced deportation.

Continue reading “Georgia Horse Trainer Arrested After Being Videotaped Feeding Cocaine and Whiskey To Goat”

Evergreen College To Drop It’s Racially Exclusionary “Day Of Absence” Event As Applications Drop Significantly

theevergreenstate640_c0-0-640-373_s885x516Many of us were critical of the decisions of Evergreen State College in not just its holding of it “Day of Absence” event were whites were expected to leave campus but its treatment of Biology professor Bret Weinstein who was hounded out of the college (and later received a $500,000 settlement for his mistreatment).  The school has also been criticized for racial exclusions of authors in the school newspaper.  Now there is a report that Evergreen could be heading in the same direction of the University of Missouri, which has seen a massive drop in applications in the wake of controversial decisions in race-related controversies.  Evergreen reportedly expects a 20 percent decrease in admissions even as it replaces its “Day of Absence” event. There is now a proposed “inclusion” course.  The Administration and faculty were remarkably slow in adjusting its course, which seemed to abandon Weinstein and embrace racial exclusionary principles.   It is still early to determine if Evergreen will experience the disastrous “Mizzou Effect.”

Continue reading “Evergreen College To Drop It’s Racially Exclusionary “Day Of Absence” Event As Applications Drop Significantly”

“Very Sad”: Trump Suggests That FBI Might Have Prevented Florida Massacre If It Wasn’t So Busy Looking For Russian Collusion

downloaddonald_trump_president-elect_portrait_croppedPresident Donald Trump late Saturday night issued another highly controversial and frankly unfair tweet targeting the FBI.  Trump suggested that the FBI might have prevented the massacre atMarjory Douglas Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida if they weren’t “spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign.”  It is obviously a false association since the local and national offices dealing with such school threats are entirely removed by the Russian investigation. Indeed, the entire structure of the Special Counsel operation is designed to set it apart from Main Justice and other investigations.  The tweet is being condemned as politicizing the massacre as students are still being mourned and buried.  This includes some very angry responses from the surviving students.

Continue reading ““Very Sad”: Trump Suggests That FBI Might Have Prevented Florida Massacre If It Wasn’t So Busy Looking For Russian Collusion”

Does Trump Have an Edwards/Clinton Problem?

220px-john_edwards_official_senate_photo_portraitdonald_trump_president-elect_portrait_cropped225px-Bill_ClintonBelow is my column in the Hill newspaper on the implications of the scandals involving two women who have claimed affairs with President Donald Trump in prior years.  There are real risks here for the White House which has been issuing categorical denials.  Some of the greatest threats to a presidency come from the outer edges. That was the legacy of Bill Clinton whose adultery led to public dishonesty and ultimately perjury.

Continue reading “Does Trump Have an Edwards/Clinton Problem?”

Indiana Men Charged With Creating Illegal Bike Path In State Park

fortbencbsMichael Hufhand and Jed Kidwell, both 54,  are facing a novel criminal charge: creating and maintaining an illegal bike trial in a state park.  The two men were specifically charged with criminal mischief and trespassing for their bike trial in the Fort Harrison State Park.

Continue reading “Indiana Men Charged With Creating Illegal Bike Path In State Park”

Slave Descendants Demand Reparations From Georgetown

Georgetown_sealGeorgetown received considerable national attention last year when it offered preferential admissions treatment for the descendants of 272 slaves sold in 1838.  It also published an apology, announced the creation of an institute on slavery, and renamed two buildings (including one, Issac Hayes Hall, after the first of the sold slaves).  It appears however that the school has hit an impasse with the descendants who feel that Georgetown has not done enough and are demanding reparations. It is not clear if the reparations are in addition to the $1 billion demanded earlier from the University for a foundation.

Continue reading “Slave Descendants Demand Reparations From Georgetown”

Idaho Man Arrested After Driving Down Highway With 40 Foot Stolen Pipes Sticking Out Windows

kootenaiPole2_1518806169226_10394176_ver1.0_640_360In Rathdrum, Idaho, Brett K. Anderson, 47, does not appear to have seriously thought out his criminal scheme.  Anderson is accused of stealing 40 foot sections of irrigation pipe and then driving down the highway with the pipes sticking out the car windows.  He proceeded to hit other cars with pipes before being pulled over by police.

Continue reading “Idaho Man Arrested After Driving Down Highway With 40 Foot Stolen Pipes Sticking Out Windows”