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  • TRUMP – A DAY IN THE LIFE

    Liars

     

    I wake up every morning excited to find out who I can berate today. What little guy can I beat up on today. Who has said something unflattering about me today. I can't wait to tear into them.

    What piece of Obama's legacy can I spit on today!

    Who can I disparage that will deflect from any unfavorable press I am receiving?

    I like the minor and offbeat twitter feuds. Keeps me from having to think about topics of consequence.

    Don't these idiots know that it is beneath me to learn details about policy issues. What a bore. I could be tweeting or playing golf. If I look good and talk in grandiose slogans and gestures, that is more than enough.

    I will go down in history as the greatest and most powerful man in history!!!

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  • TRUMP AND THE SECOND CIVIL WAR

    Donald Trump has ushered in the second round of the Civil War.  We have witnessed him incite violence. We have heard him go to the defense of Neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan, and white supremacists. He has created a fictitious adversary in the alt left. On many occasions he has diminished the brand of the United States abroad as well as at home.  He has shown himself to be unfit for leadership, a man whose ego and narcissism have created a dangerous monster who is only capable of impulsive judgement and behavior. He has relinquished all moral authority and has displayed none of the character traits that a man in his position should believe in and display. As a role model he is the Anti- President.   

    This is Trump’s act of treason. Whether he has committed other acts of treason, the Mueller investigation will bring to light. He has acted in an irresponsible and reckless way with the North Korean confrontation. He has shown respect for Duterte of the Phillipines,Sissi of Egypt, and Putin of Russia and he has even called Kim Jung Un of North Korea, “a smart cookie”. At the same time he has shown blatant disrespect for long standing friends of the United States and Democracy.  He has insulted Angela Merkel on more than one occasion.  His bizarre behavior with Abe of Japan, Macron of France,Turnbull of Australia, have shown the world that he possesses no diplomatic skills. His pitiful behavior with Pena Nieto of Mexico, has shown us that his braggadocio is nothing but a front.

    Poor Judgement, no Honesty and no Credibility.  The fact that five of his closest advisors, Manafort, Quinn, Scaramucci,  Bannon* and Gorka*, have been unceremoniously shown the door, after a brief tenure, speaks volumes about his lack of judgement.  These were people that he elevated to positions of great responsibilities.   As to his honesty, nothing he says can be believed. His compulsive lying is legendary. You can question some individual’s credibility. Not this President. He has no credibility. 

    He has shown his disdain for people from all walks of life.  He appealed to people who felt liberated by his bellicose rhetoric, and believed they were entitled to talk the same way. His provocative speech, use of dog whistles and ambition to do anything to achieve power, could be contributing factors in the violence that has taken lives and injured people.  Will his impulsive behavior bring us into a military conflict, killing many innocent men, women and children? Only time will tell.  

    There is a striking irony in Trump’s ascent to the Presidency. The electorate that voted for him, were traditionally those Americans who were anti rich spoiled elites, who never shared their problems or culture. That they would get behind Trump, the poster boy for rich spoiled elites, is an irony that has had grave consequences. 

    Richard Nixon resigned before articles of impeachment could be drawn up against him.  His involvement in the coverup of the Watergate break in was enough to warrant impeaching him. Surely Trump’s behavior, thus far in his Presidency, has shown his lack of good will, his utter incompetence on so many levels, his total disregard for the truth, his alignment with the dark forces in our society and his willingness to cast blame and fabricate enemies, are malfeasance in office worthy of impeachment.

    RJB

    *INSERTED AFTER INITIAL PUBLICATION.

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  • BITCOINS & OTHER CRYPTOCURRENCIES

    Bitcoins

    Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero, Litecoin, Stratis, and many other strange names now collectively make up an asset class of about $100 billion. Bitcoin is about half of the total.

    Wild price gyrations have characterized this speculative asset class with more than a hundred players. Its short history has spawned extraordinary future price forecasts in the new theater of cryptocurrency. I’ve read one forecast arguing that a bitcoin could bring between $12,000 and $55,000 within five years. Readers may follow these price gyrations at coinmarketcap.com/currencies.

    In the very beginning, cryptocurrency was viewed as a way to make payments under the radar screen of government regulation and supervision. That is changing. Slowly an expanding number of legitimate businesses accept cryptocurrency as a payment method. They usually immediately convert bitcoins or other currency into the ordinary fiat money in use.

    The near immediacy of a blockchain transfer facilitates transactions. Often there is a service fee similar to the charge for using a traditional credit or debit card.

    So what started out as a mechanism for secretive transactions that could not be traced easily has now transitioned into broader usage.

    But what about those wild price gyrations? Should we consider Bitcoin and its growing list of competing cryptocurrencies money? We think the answer is no.

    We can think of a given cryptocurrency as a way to transfer money using a methodology that bypasses the traditional banking system payments we are accustomed to. Cryptocurrency transfer is a version of an electronic debit card. So it does permit the classic function of money as a medium of exchange.

    But money is also a store of value. At least that is true of a currency with low or no inflation. And money is used to measure and account. Thus we have price references denominated in dollars or euro or yen. Bitcoin has not yet attained the ubiquity needed to meet those tests.

    Will it do so? Here is where the debate intensifies. And the entry of speculators, whether long or short, and now an ETF, add to this fascinating evolution.

    Some references are in order. Tom Lee at FUNDSTRAT estimates the total asset sizes of many categories. US Treasury obligations total slightly under $13 trillion. US stocks are the largest, at $22 trillion. Worldwide gold is third, at $7.5 trillion. Investment-grade bonds are about $7 trillion, and munis represent slightly under $4 trillion.

    So Bitcoin and all the other cryptocurrencies combined barely meet the threshold of anything other than a speculation for an investor. For now, at Cumberland, we do not hold any cryptocurrency in any managed account, and we do not hold any ETF that represents a cryptocurrency.

    We hope that answers reader’s questions that we have received over the last several months since Bitcoin tripled in price and then plunged and since some government intervention (by China) in cryptocurrency altered the landscape. We do not expect any major central bank to hold a cryptocurrency as a reserve for a long time, if ever.

    We thank readers for some very thoughtful points raised during the last year. Cryptocurrency and blockchain evolution is fascinating. To that we agree.

    Republished by Cumberland Advisors 7/26/2017

    June 2017 white paper published by the World Economic Forum: “Realizing the Potential of Blockchain: A Multistakeholder Approach to the Stewardship of Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies” (www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Realizing_Potential_Blockchain.pdf).

  • The Betrayal of an Honest Man- First Page of the New Book

    The man was watching the news when it was announced that three states, previously thought to be in the bag for his opponent had  put him over the top, by a combined total of fewer than 110,000 votes. The electorate in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin,and Michigan had just made him the President elect.  

    It is said by some around him, that at that moment, he turned his head and muttered “oh f**k I’ve won”. It took a few more moments for him to start thinking about how he could make money from this. The possibilities were myriad and the thoughts made him giddy.

    It wasn’t for another year, four months, one week, three days, and 14 hours that he stood in front of the cameras in the Rose Garden, and announced his resignation.

    He said, ” the American people are being robbed of their only chance to fulfill their dreams.  The bi-coastal establishment aligned with the far left media, some liberal crusading prosecutors, and some turncoat cowards in his own party, had made it impossible to continue the many great advancements he has already accomplished. He was far and away the only President that had delivered the kind of vision that would make the United States of America  great again.”

    “But he was not giving up the fight. He would immediately set to work creating the greatest media network ever seen in this country. From this platform, he would guarantee that many like minded public servants would win elections all over this great country of ours, and continue the great work that he has started.”

    Well, it would probably be helpful to go back to the days, weeks, months and one year, that separated the election and the resignation.

    This is what happened.      RJB

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  • THE BATTLE FOR THE DOLLARS

    Pac money
    Who will win the battle for the dollars?  As more dollars are spent advertising support for issues ranging from healthcare to Supreme Court nominees to environmental issues, the groups that can raise the most cash to fund their issues, have a decided advantage in shaping policy.

    We know of at least $13M spent by conservative groups,( including $10M spent by a PAC funded by the Koch brothers), in support of the Gorsuch nomination to be one of the nine Supreme Court Justices.

    The 2010 ruling 558 U.S. 310 by the Supreme Court otherwise known as Citizens United, virtually opened the political process to unlimited spending by private interest groups. Both liberal and conservative groups utilize PACs( Political Action Committees), however conservative entities have been funneling more and more dollars to media advertising in support of their issues.

    One of the main issues in the 2016 Presidential elections was the potential repeal of Citizens United. Liberals are in favor of this, while conservatives are not.  Will liberal causes be able to match conservative PACs firepower, or will they have to rely on grass root support and smaller individual contributions to even the advertising scales?

     

     

     

     

  • Trump’s relationship with the truth is becoming a national embarrassment

    Trumps lies

    CNN)Donald Trump’s peculiar relationship with the truth — his penchant for promoting unfounded stories and conspiracies theories — represents not just a curious quirk or a character flaw. They are a much-practiced technique that has paid dividends as self-promotion in his business career and in his political rise. Over decades spent in the company of yes men and yes women, he has been able to fire off nonsense without question or rebuke.

    But now he is President Trump, and his breezy spewing of falsehoods has become a national embarrassment –a threat to U.S. security and America’s standing in the world.
    White House officials have just had to apologize to the United Kingdom for smearing the British intelligence agency by making false statements . This is a sign of things to come.
     
     
    Indeed questions about Trump’s wiretapping allegations against Barack Obama, and Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s regurgitation of Fox News commentary, came up during Trump’s press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Friday–further evidence that the rest of the world is paying attention. He took no responsibility and said if there were questions about the allegation, people should ask Fox News about it.
    What should concern every citizen is that Trump’s crumbling credibility will not be limited to him. America itself is losing credibility. If the president of the United States cannot be taken at his word, America’s arguments on the global stage will be easily dismissed. This will have profound and very specific consequences as the country faces new and old challenges, which will require the support of other nations.
    Rep. to Trump: Evidence or apologize to Obama 01:35
    That became clear in the latest chapter in the bizarre story of Trump’s claim that Obama ordered the wiretapping of Trump Tower. The accusation, which would be extraordinarily grave if it contained a shred of truth, has been denied by intelligence officials and discredited by well-informed Democrats and Republicans. And yet, on Thursday, Trump had sent Press Secretary Sean Spicer to do battle with the truth once again.
    Presumably following his boss’s instructions, Spicer proceeded to repeat yet another unfounded rumor, this one slandering America’s top ally, the United Kingdom. He read a claim by Fox News commentator Andrew Napolitano that Obama maneuvered around US agencies by partnering with GCHQ, the secretive British intelligence agency, to spy on Trump.
    The British, not surprisingly, were furious. The phones in the White House started ringing immediately after the press briefing. The Trump administration had triggered a wholly unnecessary diplomatic crisis by once again treating the truth with casual contempt.Trump's wiretapping fantasy meets reality
     
    Trump’s wiretapping fantasy meets reality
    Now Spicer and National Security Advisor HR McMaster have been forced to apologize to Britain, and the British have made sure the whole world knows the White House is making “ridiculous” statements. It is hard to overemphasize the significance of GCHQ, which almost never speaks out publicly, calling the claims “nonsense.” The spokesman for the British prime minister said the White House promised to never repeat the false allegations.
    The British are right to feel indignant. The two countries have partnered for decades, supporting each other on battle fields, on intelligence and on global diplomacy. Prime Minister Teresa May has taken political risks by being one of the first foreign leaders to align herself with Trump. Now the Trump administration made an assertion that, like most libelous rumors, will never be completely erased in some people’s minds. And it did so to score political points domestically."Deep State" myth won't fix wiretapping mess
     
    “Deep State” myth won’t fix wiretapping mess
    It’s sadly ironic that after less than two months in office, Trump, who often criticized Obama for making legitimate apologies for America’s historical misdeeds — “We will stop apologizing,” Trump declared — had to send his deputies to apologize for brand new, unnecessary and deeply personal missteps.
    It’s easy to say why Trump plays games with the truth. By claiming that factual reports are “fake news,” he undermines the credibility of his critics. By “gaslighting,” the country, blurring the lines between fact and fiction, he gets to write his own version of the truth. And by putting out shocking conspiracy tales and wild allegations, he changes the subject at just the right time.
    The wiretapping tweet successfully knocked out of the headlines discussion over whether Attorney General Jeff Sessions committed perjury when he falsely told a Senate committee that he had no contacts with Russians.
     
    Congressman apologizes for Conway comment 00:45
    But maneuvers that may help Trump politically hurt America on the global stage. The lying alone has already eroded America’s moral authority, which is arguably the country’s most powerful, least expensive weapon and the impetus for persuading others to follow its lead. What will happen when the U.S. needs support to impose economic sanctions or perhaps an arms embargo?
    Strong, credible arguments can help America avoid costly wars, just as the wrong words, ill-conceived provocations, can trigger conflicts, putting American soldiers in harm’s way and US citizens in peril.
    America’s strength is not just its mighty military or its giant economy. The United States is strong also because it has allies that will side with it on difficult challenges. But to persuade others that the challenges are real, Washington must have credibility, and Trump is squandering America’s credibility, discarding it as if it were the leftovers at a Mar-a-Lago brunch buffet.
    Trump may not care about the truth, but the rest of the world does. America’s allies do. It’s about time for the President and his staff to understand that this is no game. They cannot repeat statements they hear on television, unless they know they are factual. To do otherwise could trigger potentially grave consequences.
    If Trump wants to go down in history as a successful president, it’s time for him to re-examine his relationship with the truth.

    By Frida Ghitis

    Updated 4:01 PM ET, Fri March 17, 2017 

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  • HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS, WE’RE IN FOR A BUMPY RIDE

    John adams

    On the eve of the inauguration, when power looms mighty, we stop and give pause to the intentions of the almighty.

    POWER ALWAYS THINKS IT HAS A GREAT SOUL, AND THAT IT IS DOING GOD’S SERVICE, WHEN IT IS VIOLATING ALL HIS LAWS.   – JOHN ADAMS

    NEARLY ALL MEN CAN STAND ADVERSITY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO TEST A MAN’S CHARACTER, GIVE HIM POWER.   – ABRAHAM LINCOLN

    WHEN THE POWER OF LOVE OVERCOMES THE LOVE OF POWER, THE WORLD WILL KNOW PEACE.       – JIMI HENDRIX

     

    “With God On Our Side”                 – BOB DYLAN

    Oh my name it is nothin’
    My age it means less
    The country I come from
    Is called the Midwest
    I’s taught and brought up there
    The laws to abide
    And the land that I live in
    Has God on its side.

    Oh the history books tell it
    They tell it so well
    The cavalries charged
    The Indians fell
    The cavalries charged
    The Indians died
    Oh the country was young
    With God on its side.

    The Spanish-American
    War had its day
    And the Civil War too
    Was soon laid away
    And the names of the heroes
    I’s made to memorize
    With guns on their hands
    And God on their side.

    The First World War, boys
    It came and it went
    The reason for fighting
    I never did get
    But I learned to accept it
    Accept it with pride
    For you don’t count the dead
    When God’s on your side.

    When the Second World War
    Came to an end
    We forgave the Germans
    And then we were friends
    Though they murdered six million
    In the ovens they fried
    The Germans now too
    Have God on their side.

    I’ve learned to hate Russians
    All through my whole life
    If another war comes
    It’s them we must fight
    To hate them and fear them
    To run and to hide
    And accept it all bravely
    With God on my side.

    But now we got weapons
    Of the chemical dust
    If fire them we’re forced to
    Then fire them we must
    One push of the button
    And a shot the world wide
    And you never ask questions
    When God’s on your side.

    In a many dark hour
    I’ve been thinkin’ about this
    That Jesus Christ
    Was betrayed by a kiss
    But I can’t think for you
    You’ll have to decide
    Whether Judas Iscariot
    Had God on his side.

    So now as I’m leavin’
    I’m weary as Hell
    The confusion I’m feelin’
    Ain’t no tongue can tell
    The words fill my head
    And fall to the floor
    If God’s on our side
    He’ll stop the next war.

    Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
    Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_power.html
    Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. Abraham Lincoln
    Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_power.html
    Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. Abraham Lincoln
    Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_power.html
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  • Some thoughts of the day

     

    Let others praise you. It is unbecoming to praise yourself. 

    Coolidge devotedly articulated Garman’s ethics forty years later:

    “There is a standard of righteousness that might does not make right, that the end does not justify the means, and that expediency as a working principle is bound to fail. The only hope of perfecting human relationships is in accordance with the law of service under which men are not so solicitous about what they shall get as they are about what they shall give. Yet people are entitled to the rewards of their industry. What they earn is theirs, no matter how small or how great. But the possession of property carries the obligation to use it in a larger service.” 

    “May our philosophies keep pace with our technologies.  May our compassion keep pace with our powers.  And may love, not fear, be the engine of change.” Dan Brown

    When discussing when the written word in the bible comes into direct conflict with science, ie: Adam and Eve began the human race six thousand years ago, Galileo said,”I don’t believe that the same God who endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect”–intended us to forgo their use.

    Love is from another realm. We cannot manufacture it on demand. Nor can we subdue it when it appears. Love is not our choice to make.

    Old Delta Force saying:

    All skill is in vain when an angel pisses in the flintlock of your musket.

    from the novel “True Faith And Allegiance”, by Mark Greaney

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  • POLITICS 2017

    Fascist playbook 101.  Convince people that you know more than everyone else, especially the media.  Reinforce this with a small group of talking heads and acolytes who use lies, spins and intimidation.

    Release information by un-named administration advisor or source.  This creates an environment where there is  deniability, confusion, distraction and lack of accountability.

    Create as many straw man arguments as possible.  Make bold plans of action to arouse and encourage the population.  Make bold promises, that can be walked away from, when it is advantageous to do so, or when opposition resistance is too strong. 

    Create scapegoats.   

    Spread disinformation to undermine credibility of your antagonists.

     Use of alternative facts, which is basically stating that the administration is not only entitled to its own opinion, but it is also entitled to its own set of facts.    RJB

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  • When Society Moves Too Fast

     Why did the electorate vote for Trump.  Let’s try these explanations:

    In their desire to find someone different from the mainstream politician, the voters chose someone different from everybody.

    A lot of people don’t have the time or inclination to read the New York Times  or the Economist, or even watch the nightly news.  They come home from work and want to relax or get into the family routine.  When they hear that someone running for President said that he doesn’t like Mexicans or Muslims, he’s going to build a wall and bring jobs back, it triggers something in their DNA that has been looking for a release.  Initially they can say, well he knows business so that is what we need.  That he declared bankruptcy every time he screwed up and can’t do that once he takes office, doesn’t come into the picture.

    Pairing the effects of technology changing at a break neck speed, with an ever increasing economic inequality,  the conventional and centrist campaign of H.C. was boring, and had a much smaller margin of error than anyone had envisioned.

    Add to this a strong discontent with government and some missteps by Hillary, and some one-off events ,i.e.; Bill on the tarmac, the emails, the deplorables, Weiner, and Comey added to the anything goes attitude that prevailed. 

    The fact that he lost the popular vote by almost three million votes and yet controls the White House, Senate, House, Governorships and state legislatures is the greatest power grab in U. S. history. Not to mention the Supreme Court. 

    As great as technological advances have been, they have displaced a lot of workers. Video games and reality TV have dumbed down the country, to a point where there was a disconnect between reality and the election. 

    It is apparent that the disruption caused by Trump is much greater than his supporters rjbwould have thought.     RJB

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  • LEONARD COHEN WE LOVED HIM

    L.C.

    He was and is an inspiration to so many of his fans who were his contemporaries, as well as a poetic, spiritual, melodic, cool, grandfather figure to millions of younger fans.

    A great loss for all music fans. His music spanned six decades. Some of his best work came after he turned 65.  "Ten New Songs", one of his best albums, 2001, "Songs from the Road", a fantastic live album, 2010, and  "Popular Problems", so many great songs, 2014. Some of his tunes are legendary, creating a following bordering on cult love.(Tower of Song, Bird on a Wire, Hallelujah).

    Lc

     

  • AND THE UPSETS HAVE IT

    Odds

    On the morning of the Brexit vote in England, Ladbrokes Betting Parlor was giving five to one that England would stay in the EU. 

    The odds that Cleveland would win the NBA championship after being down 3 games to 1, was Golden State -1600, Cleveland +850.

    One week before the Nobel Prize for literature was announced, Ladbrokes had the odds on Bob Dylan winning the prize at FIFTY TO ONE against.

    Only 6 out of 44 teams have come back to win a world series after being down 3 games to 1. That gave the Cubs a 13.6% likelihood of coming back. 

    The morning of the Presidential election in the U.S., Hillary Clinton was given an 86 % probability of winning the Presidency, while Trump was thought to have a 14% likelihood.

    And the next longshot is     ???

     

     

     

     

     

  • GREAT RETIREMENT SPEECH

    Arian Foster announces his retirement from the NFL today. 

  • TRUMP- LYING CAN ONLY GET YOU SO FAR

    Trump 3
    Trump grabbed the low hanging fruit in the primaries.  Whether he adds to or loses from this base will not make him competitive in November.

     A Trump Candidacy is unbelievable to begin with and is only made possible by a very weak Republican Party. A Trump Presidency is completely unfathomable. 

    Some Republicans would have you believe that he can reset, or turn the corner. This is not a pin ball machine or a recuperating patient. He will attempt to gain traction by lying about some event, history or position, but in the end he will fail.

    The die is cast. The last thing I would want to do is to jinx the outcome, but he has been a disgrace to Republicans, Americans, and all allies around the world.

  • TRUMP- AMALGAM OF STRANGE

    Trump 6

    People have been trying to figure out what Trump is all about. What makes him behave the way he does. What is an act and what does he truly believe.

     Donald Trump is an amalgam of strange.

    From his appearance, to his hand gestures, to his facial expressions, to his use of repetition in his speech pattern, to his pension for calling people by nicknames i.e.; (dopey, fat, crooked, Pocahontis), to his self aggrandizement. He does not acknowledge any faults or defeats.  Any criticism of him is met with cries of conspiracy and fabrication of sources and facts.  He claims that "people have told me" and "I have heard" and "everybody says", when he wants to make an unsubstantiated statement.

    He is called a pathological liar, a sociopath, a spoiled narcissist. He feels that preparation for a business transaction, a deposition, or a debate, is beneath him. He can't resist tweeting invectives at all hours of the night or day.

    Donald Trump stormed onto the political scene with a platform of immigration and law and order issues.  He started his campaign with a call to "make America great again", and the claim that he is the strong man that can create jobs, defeat America's foes, weed out undesirables in our society, and make government work again.

    All elements of this platform appeal to segments of our society that have had limited or no voice in the mainstream population or media.  He started his initiation with the birther issue.  His claim that Barack Obama was not born in the United States, immediately appealed to white, nationalistic, segregationist voters.

    He left his lifelong membership in the Democratic party, at the age of 66, to be the standard bearer for his new form of populism in the Republican party. This group of angry, disaffected, non college educated voters, became and remain the core supporters in his campaign. He consistently utilizes dog whistles (coded language), to communicate with this base.

    Add to this a large group of men and women who find an appeal in the real estate developer/reality T.V.performer. They see a strength and a confrontational value in what they perceive as his straight forward delivery of opinions. If his campaign is rooted in an alternative reality, they don't care.

    He delivers his macho, discriminatory, misogynistic themes, with no regard for the consequences of his rhetoric.  

    Isn't it unfathomable that such a candidate could prevail in a general election.  I think so, and yet the polls show a very close race.

  • Clinton-The Ad She Needs To Run

    Clinton and trump

    Donald Trump talks a lot about things he will fix, but he has never fixed anything.  He has built some buildings, but a lot of people have built buildings, they don't say it qualifies themselves to be President.

    He has defrauded students at his so called University and is currently being investigated.

    He has discriminated against low income people in his housing projects and been fined for it.

    He has cheated on his taxes and been fined for it.

    He has made illegal political contributions and been fined for it.

    He has refused to release his tax returns.

    He has manufactured products in foreign countries, all the while wailing against the practice.

    He has reached out to people with speeches condoning violence, racism and misogyny. 

    He was in favor of invading Iraq and now says he wasn't.

    He spoke glowingly about Hillary Clinton and now calls her the devil.

    He has condoned the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the dismantling of NATO, the building of a wall on our southern border and breaking our ties with many allies.

    He has mocked people with disabilities.

    He has been disrespectful to people who have lost sons serving in the military.

    He spoke disparagingly about John McCain's reputation as a hero.

    He has expressed admiration of Vladimir Putin.

    He has proclaimed himself a genius.

    He has disparaged other peoples physical appearances.

    He pursued the claim that President Obama was not born in this country, long after he knew the claim was false.

    He has said that he is his primary consultant, that he advises himself on foreign policy, and that he knows more than the Generals about Isis.

    He has stated that among his sacrifices in life were that he built great structures and was very successful.

    He said" "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and not lose a single vote".

    I think you get the message

  • Trump- The latest attempt at fooling the public

    Trump 6

    Trump’s teleprompted speech last night, didn’t include either of the words; sorry or apologize. Does he regret saying all those insulting, stupid and provocative things? He regrets them because the blowback was more than he could handle. The polls indicated a seriously deteriorating chance of even being competitive in the election. New people came in to advise him and he used the opportunity to try to make amends and get back in the public’s good graces, without ever saying that he was sorry or that he apologized.

    Sadly, the Republican party has nominated a charlatan who is a complete fraud and disgrace. In the bizarre and unthinkable event of a trump election win, he will not ascend to the presidency, but to the throne of a king, or to the autocracy of a dictator. He does not put up with dissention of any kind. The first amendment will no longer be respected by the man who resides in the White House.

    At least the snake oil salesmen of old, had a chance that what they were selling could help some condition possibly, but Trump’s snake oil won’t help anyone ever.         RJB

  • TRUMP- BE PREPARED FOR THREE MORE MONTHS OF THE SAME

    Trump tweeting
    The republican party has no mechanism to remove Trump from the ticket. Nor can they talk him into changing his ways, because the legacy he wants to leave is that nobody tells him what to do.

    The man who uses his phone and twitter account like a little boy uses a new toy, seems to have a condition similar to Tourette’s Syndrome. (  My apology, for the analogy, to any individuals inflicted with Tourette’s.)

    How quickly he has changed his tune from, “I know the system better than anyone”, to “The election is going to be rigged”.

    He has validated lying, innuendo and blatant exaggeration. He embodies the disingenuous, petty and pathologically vindictive. What kind of a role model does he set for the kids.

    A man was escorted to the podium at a Trump rally to present Trump with his Purple Heart.( spontaneous or otherwise).  Why in the world would Trump accept the man’s medal when he didn’t earn it.

    The last gasps of his supporters claim they will try to right the ship.  Get Trump thinking and acting presidential.  Trump himself said today that would be boring. Lets assume for an incredible minute that Trump starts acting in a more rational manor.  Will that make it alright.  Would he be able, by any stretch of the imagination to ever be seen in any other light than that of an erratic narcissist.

    All this from the candidate who wants to sell to his supporters the idea that he is a comic book character with a cape, an exaggerated pompadour and TRUMP written across his chest.  Only this comic book hero falls flat on his face when he takes off to fly.

    More like the comic book villain who has opened up the floodgates to a lot of bad behavior.           RJB

     

     

     

  • QUOTES (FROM MY PERSONAL COLLECTION)

    Yiddish Expressions:

    "What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul."

    "Everyone is kneaded out of the same dough but not baked in the same oven."-     9/2016

     

    Pablo casals

    When Casals (then aged 93) was asked why he continued to practice the cello three hours a day, Casals replied, "'I'm beginning to notice some improvement…' —Pablo Casals

     

    Pablo picasso

    "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."

    Pablo Picasso

     

    There is no measuring stick for perfection in art, only the artists efforts to achieve it.   Robert J. Bender

     

     

  • No Mass Shootings in Australia in 20 Years: How Did They Do It?

    AR-15-assembled
    Mass shootings stopped in Australia after strict new gun laws passed, researchers reported Wednesday.

    And overall deaths from firearms have fallen since the 1997 law, which banned certain semi-automatic and pump-action weapons and forced owners to sell them back to the government, the team reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

    "Following enactment of gun law reforms in Australia in 1996, there were no mass firearm killings through May 2016," Simon Chapman of the University of Sydney and colleagues wrote.

    They say they can't prove the gun control measures caused the fall in gun-related deaths, but say they are worth discussing.

    The mass shooting that prompted Australia's crackdown happened in Tasmania, in 1996, when 28-year-old Martin Bryant shot and killed 35 people in a café. Another 23 were injured.

    Just weeks before, a gun enthusiast shot and killed 16 screaming first-graders and their teacher in an elementary school in Dunblane, Scotland. Britain enacted a handgun ban soon afterwards.

    Australia already had strict rules about handguns, but a revolted public backed wider reforms that banned rapid-fire long guns and forced the buyback of nearly 660,000 weapons. 

    Chapman's team analyzed death statistics to see what effect the laws have had.

    "From 1979-1996 (before gun law reforms), 13 fatal mass shootings occurred in Australia, whereas from 1997 through May 2016 (after gun law reforms), no fatal mass shootings occurred," they wrote.

    Related: The Mass Shooting That Changed Australia's Gun Laws

    They were able to show that people didn't find other ways to kill or to die by suicide — rates of homicide and suicide fell overall also. Because these rates tumbled, Chapman's team said, they cannot show that the gun control measures were responsible. 

    One other Australian study showed that gun-related homicides decreased 7.5 percent per year following the reforms.

    Daniel Webster, a researcher specializing in gun violence at Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health, says it's doubtful the U.S. could do anything similar.

    "Political, cultural, and legal challenges make it highly unlikely that the United States would implement comparable policies," Webster wrote in a commentary in JAMA.

    "Yet the experience in Australia over the past 2 decades since enactment of the NFA National Firearms Agreement provides a useful example of how a nation can come together to forge life-saving policies despite political and cultural divides." 

    The study was done to mark the 20th anniversary of the Australian law, but it coincides with a push in Congress to enact some sort of gun control measures after a mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub in which a gunman killed 49 people.

    Gun control is a bitter and divisive issue in the U.S. and just this week the Senate suppressed four measures that would have limited who can buy automatic weapons.

    The U.S. has an exceptionally high share of gun violence. Research shows 31 percent of the world's mass shootings occur in the U.S., where rough estimates suggest there are 300 million firearms.

    Americans are seven times more likely to be murdered than people in 12 similar developed countries, and 20 times more likely to be killed by a gun.

    Gun death rates in the U.S. were 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2015. That compares to a rate of 1.2 per 100,000 people in Australia.

    A 2014 study found that guns hurt or kill about 10,000 American children each year.

    "If U.S. firearm homicide rates were only 10 times as high as firearm homicide rates in Australia, rather than 23 times as high, there would be substantially fewer homicides," Webster noted.

    Last week, the American Medical Association voted to join the debate, promising to start lobbying Congress to enact some measures.

     by Maggie Fox 

  • U.S. diplomats to White House: Change policy on Syria

    By Margaret Brennan CBS News June 17, 2016, 12:24 AM

    WASHINGTON — Fifty-one career diplomats from across the State Department have signed an internal cable calling for a new U.S. policy on Syria, including more direct action against Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, CBS News has learned.

    The cable itself is classified. It was formally submitted this week to the State Department's Director of Policy Planning and signed by officials who handle several different areas, including human rights and the Middle East.

    One of the officials responsible for the cable told CBS News it was written in response to five years of what the signatories consider to be a failed policy. They say Assad has not faced consequences for his actions, including bombing his own people and U.S.-backed rebel groups.

    Assad was also faulted in the cable for failing to allow humanitarian shipments of food and medicine to reach areas where Syrians have been starving to death, despite agreements negotiated by the U.S. and Russia.

    The authors argued that while a political solution is needed in Syria, it is hard to have diplomatic leverage when there are no costs for abuse. According to the cable, the White House policy has been to ignore Assad while focusing on ISIS — which the authors say is not a recipe for success. Assad's violence feeds ISIS, endangers U.S. allies, lead to a massive refugee crisis that is destabilizing Europe, and has mixed the threat of terrorism with human rights issue of refugees.

    The cable does not make specific policy recommendations such as U.S. airstrikes but comes close, arguing that Assad's artillery and air power must be removed as threats to the U.S.-backed rebels.

    The officials who spoke with CBS News said having 51 signatories on a cable unprecedented. By comparison, a dissent cable sent in 1993 objecting to President Bill Clinton's reluctance to stop ethnic cleansing in Bosnia was signed onto by a dozen State Department diplomats.

    Many of the signatories of the Syria cable fear that its leak to the press, so soon after submission, will make the White House dismiss the criticism as a political matter and not consider the policy criticisms. According to the authors, it was not meant to air dirty laundry but rather to spark a policy review. All of the signatories are professional, career diplomats and not political appointees.

    Multiple sources confirm that the Secretary of State John Kerry himself has privately recommended a more muscular U.S. role in Syria but has had numerous proposals shut down by the White House.

    21 Photos

    War in Syria

    Syrian civil war began in March 2011 and has raged for five years, causing untold destruction and more than 250,000 deaths

    "We are aware of a dissent channel cable written by a group of State Department employees regarding the situation in Syria. We are reviewing the cable now, which came up very recently, and I am not going to comment on the contents," State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement Thursday night.

    "The Dissent Channel is an existing official vehicle in place to allow State Department employees to convey alternative views and perspectives on policy issues," Kirby said. "This is an important vehicle that the Secretary, as well as the Department institutionally, values and respects that allows Department employees to express policy views candidly and privately to senior leadership."

    Kirby said Kerry has been given a brief on the cable. Jon Finer, the Director of Policy Planning to whom the cable was sent, has 30 to 60 days to respond in writing, according to Kirby.

  • THE ORANGE MAN DOES IT AGAIN

    (A spoiled, whiny, man who thrives on intimidation and likes to play by his own rules.  Since trump has denigrated women, by his logic he would be entitled to ask for the recusal of any female judge who gave him an unfavorable ruling in one of his 3500 lawsuits.)  

     

    A Biased Judge? Donald

    Trump Has Claimed It Before

     

    By MICHAEL BARBARO and MEGAN TWOHEY

     

     
    Unlike most people involved in lawsuits, Donald J. Trump can be hostile toward judges. Damon Winter/The New York Times

    The circumstances sound eerily familiar: Donald J. Trump and his legal team had suffered a setback in a major court case. So they leveled an attack on the presiding judge, calling him irredeemably biased and unfair.

    “Your Honor,” wrote a lawyer for Mr. Trump, “harbors deep-seated antagonism that would make impartial adjudication impossible.”

    The year was 2008, and Mr. Trump’s arguments closely resembled those he is now making against Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel, a federal judge in California overseeing a class action lawsuit against the defunct Trump University.

    Today, Mr. Trump claims that Judge Curiel, who was born in Indiana, is incapable of objectively judging the case because of his Mexican heritage and record of being, in Mr. Trump’s words, “a hater of Donald Trump.”

    Between 2008 and 2010, Mr. Trump’s lawyers went even further — turning angry accusations into an unusual, elbows-out legal campaign to remove not one but two New York judges who oversaw the lawsuit. One judge was an African-American man, the other a white woman.

    Over the past 48 hours, Mr. Trump expanded his musings about courts, doubting whether a Muslim judge could fairly adjudicate a trial involving him. That earned him a rebuke from Hillary Clinton, who wondered on Monday whether Mr. Trump would soon claim “that a woman judge couldn’t preside.”

    Throughout a career that has been marked by legal proceedings that either involved or fascinated him, Mr. Trump has not always seen judges as the ultimate arbiters of legal principle, but as adversaries who deserve mockery or bulldozing when they do not agree with him.

    Even in cases where he is merely a spectator, Mr. Trump has plenty to say about those on the bench. The judge overseeing the 2014 trial in South Africa of Oscar Pistorius, the Olympic runner, for the murder of his girlfriend, was a “moron,” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter. “Ridiculous decision,” he said of the five-year sentence. Mr. Trump ridiculed a Pennsylvania judge appointed by President Jimmy Carter as “not his most brilliant appointment,” and wrote that the judge was “a willing accessory” to any crimes of convicts she had released from prison.

    He does this despite his close ties to a federal judge, Maryanne Trump Barry, his sister.

    The New York case stands out. Mr. Trump and his lawyers singled out Justice Richard B. Lowe III, who was first elected to the New York Supreme Court in 2003.

    Throughout the case, which involved a Trump real estate development on the West Side of Manhattan and a partnership with Hong Kong businessmen, Justice Lowe issued orders Mr. Trump’s lawyers said were biased.

    By the end of the case, Mr. Trump’s top lawyer, Jay Goldberg, apologized for seeking to oust Justice Lowe from the proceedings, promising to never level such accusations against him again.

    But when the litigation was going on, Mr. Goldberg forcefully challenged Justice Lowe’s “fitness to serve in a judicial capacity,” accused him of “unwarranted bias toward Trump” and said that, “at every turn, Justice Lowe has shown that he is unable to comply with his duties,” according to a 2009 complaint Mr. Goldberg submitted to the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

    Justice Lowe on Monday declined to comment on the case. During a 2009 hearing in which he denied Mr. Goldberg’s request for his recusal, he acknowledged that he had used the word “intimidate” in reference to Mr. Trump, saying he was generalizing that nobody could scare him. He also defended his rulings in the case and said any allegation that he had been unfair to Mr. Trump was “mind-boggling.” He questioned whether it was “an effort to change the course of this litigation by trying to get before another judge.”

    In an interview, Mr. Rangel said he had not spoken to Justice Lowe in the past 20 years and had no recollection of ever discussing Mr. Trump with the judge. Mr. Goldberg, the congressman said, “has a hell of an imagination.”

    The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which oversees state and local judges in New York, took no action against Justice Lowe, a spokesman for the commission said.

    Steven Lubet, a Northwestern University law professor and legal ethics expert, said that filing a motion to remove a judge was “rarely sought and rarely granted,” not just in New York but across the country. The comments allegedly made by Justice Lowe, he said, would not be grounds for such a removal. “Those aren’t remotely close to what would disqualify a judge,” Mr. Lubet said.

    Neither Mr. Goldberg nor a Trump spokeswoman responded to a request for comment.

    As the real estate case wound its way through the legal system, morphing into a different suit with a different defendant, Mr. Trump’s lawyers sought the removal of a second state judge, Justice Eileen Bransten. Justice Bransten, they argued, had shown bias against Mr. Trump by calling his previous attempt to remove Justice Lowe “reprehensible.’’

    They did not succeed.

    Soon after, Mr. Goldberg, the Trump lawyer, withdrew his request that Justice Bransten recuse herself.

    “I consider my conduct wholly improper,” he wrote, “and for that I apologize, particularly to Justice Lowe, with assurances that it will never be repeated again.”

  • Switzerland’s Gotthard Train Tunnel Will Be World’s Longest, Deepest

    Gotthard
    The train is equipped with European Train Control System ( ETCS) technology which enables which enables the trains to run at speeds up to 250 km per hour.

    The world gets a little smaller next month with the unveiling of the longest and deepest railway tunnel ever constructed — a feat of engineering under the Alps that will slash journey times across Europe.

    The Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) in Switzerland is the product of 17 years of work, including cutting through solid rock at depths of up to 7,500 feet. It cost $12 billion — as well as the lives of eight workers.

    (more…)

  • Big Gator

      Gator

     Some alligator hunters in central Florida fell just short of a record with a monster catch.

    Outwest Farms in Venus, near Okeechobee, posted a photo to Facebook of a nearly 15-foot-long gator killed over the weekend.

    The alligator was so big they had to use a front-end loader to lift it up. The record for the longest alligator captured in Florida is a little over 17 feet.

    The animal was "the largest gator we have ever killed in the wild," part of a guided alligator hunt on Saturday, Outwest wrote in the Facebook post's caption.

                                                                                                                                            

  • Trump (With Liberty, Equality, and Disdain for All)

    Trump3

    If a 12 year old boy who ends every sentence with O.K,  Believe me , It's terrible, or It's great, is your idea of solid government then Trump is your candidate. Mix in the verbal deliveries of Gilbert Gottfried, Andrew Dice Clay and Joan Rivers and you have for yourself the perfect opening act at "Catch A Rising Star".

    In case you missed some of his more profound exclamations this list should bring you up to date:

    3/4/17

    "Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my 'wires tapped' in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!" Trump tweeted early Saturday morning in one part of a six-tweet tirade that began just after 6:30 a.m.

    "How low has President Obama gone to tap my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy," Trump tweeted.

    Jan. 1, 2017
    His answer to cyber insecurity.
    “It's very important, If you have something really important, write it down and send it by courier.”

    5/13/2016

    Donald Trump on recording: Not me!

    Tax rate is 'none of your business'

    5/7/2016

    "Happy Cinco de Mayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!" –Donald Trump on Twitter

    "His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald's being – you know, shot.  I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous. What is this, right prior to his being shot, and nobody even brings it up. They don't even talk about that.

    4/19/2016

    “He won the championships in New York, AFC, I think twice,” Trump said as he praised Rex Ryan, via ESPN’s Mike Rodak.  Ryan led the Jets to two appearances in the AFC Championship Game but never made it to the Super Bowl, let alone actually winning one.

    4/18/2016

    “I wrote this out, and it’s very close to my heart,” he said at the First Niagara Center on Monday night during the rally. “Because I was down there and I watched our police and our firemen down at 7/11, down at the World Trade Center right after it came down.       

     

    I Will Absolutely Use A Nuclear Weapon Against ISIS.  It starts with the deployment of four or five of our Ohio-class nuclear submarines to the Persian Gulf,” Trump said. “We’re going to hit them and we’re going to hit them hard. I’m talking about a surgical strike on these ISIS stronghold cities using Trident missiles.”   3/31/2016

    Trump: Ban abortions, punish women who get them

    By Jeremy Diamond, CNN 3/30/16

     

    Updated 2131 GMT (0431 HKT) March 30, 2016 | Vi

    "I had a lousy earpiece." 2/29/16

     

    Because there is a hostility towards me, by the Judge, a tremendous hostility, beyond belief, I believe he happens to be Spanish, which is fine, he's Hispanic which is fine, and we haven't asked for a recusal, which we may do, but we have a Judge who is very hostile.  2-27-16

     

    After losing a legal challenge to prevent the building of a wind farm within sight of his golf course, the Trump Organization shot back in a statement from executive George Sorial, saying the outcome "demonstrates the foolish, small minded and parochial mentality which dominates the current Scottish Government's dangerous experiment with wind energy."In a second statement from the Trump Organization, a representative labeled Salmond, who was the leader of Scotland's parliament until late last year, as "a has-been and totally irrelevant."

    "Does anyone care what this man thinks?" read the statement.  He should go back to doing what he does best — unveiling pompous portraits of himself that pander to his already overinflated ego."

    During a speech following a Democratic debate, Trump turned up the temperature, saying that Clinton was "disgusting" for using a restroom during a commercial break of a debate.

    "I know where she went," Trump said. "It's disgusting. I don't want to talk about it. It's too disgusting. Don't say it. It's disgusting. Let's not talk, we want to be very, very straight up, OK?"

    Halperin: "Sometimes there’s been a backlash against rich candidates like Mitt Romney. Any chance of that with you, do you think?"   Trump: " Well, I don’t know. First of all, he wasn’t rich."  (Romney had an estimated $400M at the time of his candidacy). 

    "There were thousands of people that were cheering on the other side of New Jersey, where you have large Arab populations. They were cheering as the World Trade Center came down." –Donald Trump, making an unfounded accusation regarding the 9/11 attacks

    "Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on." –Donald Trump campaign statement

    "Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president I mean, she's a woman, and I'm not s'posedta say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious?" –Donald Trump on Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina

    "You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever." –Donald Trump, insulting Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly over questions she asked during the first Republican primary debate

    "I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created." –Donald Trump, announcing his campaign for president.

    "He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured." –Donald Trump on John McCain ( This is offensive to anyone who knows anything about McCain's record ).

    "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." –Donald Trump

    "I will build a great wall – and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me —and I'll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words."

    "If Hillary Clinton can't satisfy her husband what makes her think she can satisfy America." –Donald Trump

    "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters."

    "Living in Brussels is like living in a hellhole."

    Trump To Crowd: 'Knock The Crap Out Of' Tomato Throwers, I'll Cover Legal Fees"

    "I'd bring back waterboarding," Trump said during the debate. "And I'd bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding."

    "OK you're not allowed to say and I never expect to hear that from you again. She said — I never expect to hear that from you again — she said he's a pussy," Trump said as the crowd erupted into a roaring cacophony of laughter and applause.

    During his New Hampshire victory speech, Donald Trump talked about the unemployment rate. "Don’t believe those phony numbers when you hear 4.9 and 5 percent unemployment," he said. "The number’s probably 28, 29, as high as 35. In fact, I even heard recently 42 percent."

    P.T. Barnum Without Integrity:

    What happened: Trump launched his own mortgage company in 2006, and his son predicted that it would be the No. 1 home-loan lender in the US. And then … the housing market completely crashed in 2007. Trump's mortgage company was shut down after a year and a half.

    Shortly after the company's launch Trump said on CNBC: "I think it's a great time to start a mortgage company … who knows about financing better than I do?"

    What happened: Trump launched his name-brand steaks specifically for Sharper Image (and naturally graced the cover of the Sharper Image catalogue) in 2007. They have since been discontinued.

    The prices ranged from $199 for a pack of 12 steak burgers and four steaks, all the way up to $999 for a selection of 16 top cuts.

    Bonus: The Trump Steakhouse in Las Vegas was briefly shut down following 51 health code violations, including expired yogurt and five-month old duck.

    What Trump said about his namesake meats: "When it comes to great steaks, I've just raised the stakes! … Trump Steaks are the world's greatest steaks … Treat yourself to the very, very best life has to offer … One bite and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. And believe me: I understand steaks. They're my favorite food."

    What happened: Trump dipped his toes into the "super premium" vodka industry around 2006. It's unclear when exactly Trump Vodka was shut down, but by 2011 the drink was no longer being produced "under the Trump trademark because the company failed to meet the threshold requirements," Trump's people said, according to Gothamist.

    However, perhaps Trump should have considered expanding into the global "super premium" vodka market. Much to his annoyance, in 2011 Trump's name-brand vodkas were being sold in Israel without authorization.

    What Trump said about the vodka when it launched: "By the summer of '06, I fully expect the most called for cocktail in America to be the T&T or the Trump and Tonic."

    What happened: GoTrump.com was a search engine for bargains on luxury travel deals. It was powered by Travelocity.com, so it started off pretty well. However, the site was quickly ripped apart by critics, and it was shut down after a year.

    What Trump said when he launched the site: "It doesn't matter how rich you are. You don't want to be a fool and you want to get the best deal. But people who aren't rich want to associate with rich, and that's why this thing has become so crazy."

    "When you get millions of people using your service, and you get X dollars per person, it adds up to a lot of money."

    What happened: Trump bought Eastern Air Shuttle in 1988, which had been running for 27 years between Boston, NYC, and D.C., and updated it to make it look more glitzy and Trump-esque. But because it was a short-distance airline, customers weren't looking for a luxury experience — just something that was convenient. The style-savvy investment was a bust.

    On top of that, the pre-Gulf War fuel prices were extremely high. The airline never turned profit, and Trump defaulted on his loans.

    What Trump said about the airlines in retrospect: "It worked out well for me … I ran an airline for a couple of years and made a couple of bucks. The airline business is a tough business, [but] I did great with it."

    Source: Time

    What happened: Trump Entertainment Resorts filed for corporate bankruptcy four times. The first time was after the Trump Taj Mahal's construction in 1991. The next time was in 2004, when it "filed for voluntary bankruptcy after accumulating $1.8 billion in debt." Next came 2008-2009, when the company missed a $53.1 million bond interest payment. (The stock dropped to 23 cents per share from $4.)

    And finally, in September 2014, the company filed for bankruptcy once again.

    (The company still exists despite its bankruptcy.)

    What Trump said about the bankruptcies in court: "I don't like the 'B' word."

    Additionally, during an MSNBC interview, Michael Isikoff asked Trump what exactly he was paid for if he "had nothing to do with running the company."

    And Trump replied to that: "Excuse me … Because of my genius. OK?"

    Source: ABC News

    What happened: In 2005, Trump opened Trump University, a for-profit but non-accredited school where he would bestow his industry expertise upon the masses — aka anyone who forked over $35,000. That same year, he licensed his name to an affiliate program called the Trump Institute.

    In 2010, four students sued the "university" for "offering classes that amounted to extended 'infomercials,' 'selling non-accredited products,' and 'taking advantage of these troubled economic times to prey on consumer's fears.'"

    The "university" then changed its name to "The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative."

    And in 2013, the New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sued Trump and Trump University for allegedly defrauding students.

    The business officially ended operations in 2011.

    Trump compared his ideas to Einstein's in the "Trump University Entrepreneurship 101" official book: "Albert Einstein believed that a 'Theory of Everything' in physics unified the four primal forces of nature: gravity, strong nuclear force, weak nuclear force, and electromagnetic force. Our unifying theory for sustainable success in business is so much simpler. […] The Customer Is Everything!"

    What Trump said about Trump University: "I went to the Wharton School of Finance … I have a great feeling for education and for knowledge and learning … I love the idea of helping people, because I’ve had a lot of experience with real estate, to put it mildly."

    Source: The New York Times

     

     

  • Before Toilet Paper

    T.p. 2
    Using the bathroom has come a long way from when ancient Greeks used stones and pieces of clay for personal hygiene.

    Ancient Romans were a bit more sophisticated than the Greeks when it came to cleansing: They opted for a sponge on the end of a long stick that was shared by everyone in the community. When not in use, that stick stayed in a bucket of heavily salted seawater in the communal bathroom. The public facilities were also equipped with a long marble bench with holes carved out for—well, you know what they were carved out for—and holes at the front for your sponge on a stick to slide through. Romans didn’t have dividing walls, either, so you sat right next to that cute girl from the insulae down the road.

    By the era of Colonial America, things weren’t much more advanced. After the rebels had left Great Britain for the colonies, the best things they could find were corncobs. Ouch. It wasn’t until later that they realized they could use old newspapers and catalogues. The whole reason there was a hole through the corner of the Old Farmer’s Almanac was so people would be able to hang it on a hook in their outhouses. (It makes you look at your current bathroom reading material a little differently, doesn't it?)

    While Thomas Crapper is commonly given credit for inventing the first flushing toilet in the late 1800s, the first version can actually be traced back to 1596.  At this time, a British nobleman, Sir John Harrington, first engineered and invented a valve that could release water from the water closet (WC) when pulled.  Sir Harrington, who was also the godson of Queen Elizabeth I, recommended pulling the valve (“flushing” the toilet) once a day for sanitary purposes. Commercially produced toilet paper didn’t begin circulating until 1857.

    One culture today still doesn’t want anything to do with toilet paper; it’s widely known that many in India (except for Westerners who visit) use the left-hand-and-bucket-of-water method. Most actually argue that using water is cleaner than using tissue paper, and consider using anything but water to be filthy.

  • A Pretty Little Bauble

    Sapphire

    The world's biggest blue star sapphire weighs 1404.49 carats.
     
    (CNN)The world's biggest blue star sapphire — weighing in at 1,404.49 carats — has been found in a mine in Sri Lanka.

    Gemologists in Colombo say the gem is worth at least $100 million, but could sell for up to $175 million.

    Star sapphires get their name from the six-pointed star-shaped reflection that appears on their surface when they are polished.

    According to local media, the gem was discovered last August in Ratnapura, a town in southern Sri Lanka known as the "City of Gems."

     

    By Lin Taylor, for CNN 

    Updated 1557 GMT (2357 HKT) January 5, 2016

      

  • Donald Trump – The Schlockster

    Trump Polls and the GOP, Daryl Cagle,CagleCartoons.com,Donald Trump,polls,presidential campaign,2016,election,primaries,Republican,elephant,GOP,rocket,muslims,ISIS,ISIL,Daesh,donald trump, donald trump 2016, GOP 2016

    Trump has taken the next turn in his self absorbed, narcissistic, frankly very boring, road down public relations infamy.  I have resisted addressing the Trump campaign, because like many I was just hoping it would go away.  His latest rant about Clinton's bathroom break and the cheers by attendees at his rally have prompted a response.

    Any rational person would ask why D.T. keeps ratcheting up the ridiculous, to get cheers from the same group, who have so far lent him their support. The answer is that he has never had any intention of winning the election.  

    The GOP made it’s bones on the perception that it was the party of military strength and fiscal conservatism.  We know these claims haven’t carried any water for a long time, if ever.  So the party became the party of negativism, obstructionism, and support for a few core groups.

    The party hasn’t  had a valid candidate since Bush 41.  Not a great president, but a valid candidate.  Bob Dole seemed like a good guy, but couldn't match Clinton's charisma.  McCain, a colorful politician, had poor campaign organization and was poorly influenced by elements in his party. 

    So, the followers have been desperate for a candidate for a long time.  Jump ahead to 2015.   All the attention to D.T. is because of his style.  Some  people that go to his rallies, go to see the celebrity and hear the bombastic rhetoric, but say they probably wouldn't vote for him.  And who are the more hard line followers?  Some very disenfranchised folks who take these polls seriously and many long time republicans who are so frustrated they would vote for a leprechaun if he promised them a pot of gold.
     
    The ironic thing is that Trump has disdain for these people as he does for most others.  When asked about being another rich guy running after Romney did,  Trump replied, “He’s not rich.”
     
    Trump does not want to be President. The work load would blow him away.  He will continue to feed his ego way after he drops out or loses or whatever happens to him.   He will probably declare himself President in absentia and go on as if nothing has happened.  A little humor there.
     
    The party has become the party of cheap shots, misrepresentations and outright fabrications. The GOP is running on fumes and would probably be better served as a sub group of some other party, rather than as a stand alone party.
     
     

  • Number of $5 billion-plus takeover deals hits record

    Takeovers

    A bumper North American railroad bid and three other big tie-ups announced this week have taken the number of takeover deals worth $5 billion or more to a record 128 this year, according to Thomson Reuters data.

    Pacific Railway’s bid for rival Norfolk Southern Corp. on Tuesday would be the biggest ever Canadian acquisition in the United States, and lifted this year's Canada-U.S. M&A activity to $104.1 billion, surpassing all other years.

    The week's next biggest M&A deal was a $13.4 billion tie-up between France’s Air Liquide and U.S. peer Airgas.

    Those deals pushed worldwide announced takeover deals above $4 trillion this year for only the second time in history, after the record M&A year of 2007, according to Thomson Reuters data.

    They also helped take the number of deals worth more than $5 billion above the previous record of 125 from eight years ago.

    U.S. banks Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan have all advised on deals worth more than $1 trillion, the data showed.

    Read more at Reutershttp://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/20/us-mergers-record-data-idUSKCN0T91AQ20151120#bULrOdusGhdobjGo.99

  • THE FUTURE IS NOW IN SHANGHAI

    Shanghai

  • YOGI BERRA-TRUE AMERICAN ICON DIES

    Yogi
    ESPN.com news services

    NEW YORK — Yogi Berra, the Hall of Fame catcher renowned as much for his dizzying malapropisms as his record 10 World Series championships with the New York Yankees, has died. He was 90.

    Berra died of natural causes Tuesday at his home in New Jersey, according to Dave Kaplan, the director of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center.

    "While we mourn the loss of our father, grandfather and great-grandfather, we know he is at peace with Mom," Berra's family said in a statement released by the museum. "We celebrate his remarkable life, and are thankful he meant so much to so many. He will truly be missed."

    Editor's Picks

     

    Berra's death came exactly 69 years after his major league debut. On Sept. 22, 1946, Berra homered in his second major league plate appearance in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Athletics.

    Short, squat and with a homely mug, Berra was a legendary Yankee who helped the team reach 14 World Series during his 18 seasons in the Bronx.

    Berra played in more World Series games than any other major leaguer and was a three-time American League Most Valuable Player. A 15-time All-Star, Berra was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

    But his name appears almost as often in Bartlett's Famous Quotations as it does in baseball's record book.

    "It ain't over 'til it's over" is among eight "Yogi-isms" included in Bartlett's.

    "When I'm sittin' down to dinner with the family, stuff just pops out. And they'll say, 'Dad, you just said another one.' And I don't even know what the heck I said," Berra insisted.

    Yogi Berra was named Yankees manager in 1983. He also coached or managed the Mets and Astros. AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett

    Berra played for the Yankees from 1949 to '65. His teammates included fellow Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford.

    In 1956, he caught the only perfect game in World Series history and, after the last out, leaped into pitcher Don Larsen's arms. The famous moment was captured in photographs published in newspapers around the world.

    After his playing days, Berra coached or managed the Yankees, New York Mets and Houston Astros. He managed the Yankees (1964) and Mets (1973) to the World Series.

    In 1985, his firing as manager by the Yankees 16 games into the season sparked a feud with owner George Steinbrenner. Berra vowed never to return to Yankee Stadium as long as Steinbrenner owned the team.

    But in 1999, Berra finally relented, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch of the Yankees' season-opening game. 

    He was a fan favorite, especially with children, and the cartoon character Yogi Bear was named after him.

     

  • How We Feel

                                                                                              

    9/11 September 11, 2015

    It has been 14 years. My, how the time goes by.

    Those who have personal memories feel it.

    Steven came in and slapped my back. Still here! Thank you, Steven. He has his own experience.

    Bob and I didn’t compare notes today. He and Mimi have their experiences. So do many others who are friends and were in NYC that fateful morning.

    And then there are the rest of the folks. They weren’t there. They didn’t see the carnage. They didn’t see the jumpers. They didn’t see the flames. They didn’t choke on the dust. 

    Steven said that someone told him to “get over it,” They suggested it is time to let it go. He suffered the pain of hearing that. 

    Let it go? Really! 

    “Words name things and then replace them,” said Elie Wiesel. He was referring to the Holocaust. 

    I wonder if that is happening with 9-11. 

    Not for me, of course. Not for Steven or Bob or others.  

    May the victims of 9-11 rest in peace. May the rest of us do good deeds in their memory. 

    David R. Kotok, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer

    Cumberland Advisors

       

  • Greece’s Bank Debt

    Greek march

    Greece owes $350 Billion, which represents approximately 175% of their gross national product.  Around $40 Billion of that debt is to European banks.(according to December 2014 numbers). 

    Around 100 years ago financier John Paul Getty had this to say about debt.

    "If you owe the bank $100 that's your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that's the bank's problem.”

     

     

  • U.S. minorities increasingly in the majority

    • Diversity
      The face of America is changing.

    The baby boomers, once the country's largest generation, can no longer hold claim to the title. The so-called millennial generation, or those Americans born between 1982 and 2000, is now the country's biggest segment of the population, with 83.1 million members, compared with 75.4 million for the boomers, according to a new U.S. Census report.

    It's not only the numbers that are shifting, but also the country's diversity. Millennials, who represent more than one-quarter of the U.S. population, are more racially diverse than the nation's older generations, Census data shows. About 44 percent are part of a minority race or ethnic group, compared with only about 22 percent for Americans over the age of 65.

    Still, there's another generation that's giving the millennials a run on the claim of being America's most diverse group. The country's youngest citizens, those younger than 5 years old, are the first group in U.S. history to represent a "majority-minority," which means more of them are minorities than whites. About 50.2 percent of Americans younger than 5 are minorities, the Census said.             

    That's having a long-term impact on America's racial and generational composition. A decade ago, minorities represented about 33 percent of the country. That's shifted to almost 38 percent in 2014.

    Several trends are driving the changes, such as immigration from China and Mexico, along with an increase in multiracial families.

    The share of multiracial babies has surged, rising from 1 percent in 1970 to 10 percent in 2013, according to a Pew Research Center study published earlier this month. Taboos against interracial marriage and relationships have faded, and demographers believe there will be more multiracial children born in future decades.

    These social shifts are also having other effects. That includes how businesses market their products, with many companies eager to attract millennials, given the group's size. Whole Foods (WFM), just to cite one example, is opening a new chain that will target millennials. While details regarding the concept weren't available, millennials are a frugal group, often looking for bargains and good values.

                    Race in America

     POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton discusses President Obama's use of the N-word to make a point while participating Marc Maron's podcast.                                    

    That might be due to their values, but it could also reflect the fact that the millennial generation is coming of age during the slow economic recovery that has followed the Great Recession, an era of weak wage growth and, for many, diminished opportunity as inequality increases. Many are also struggling under the burden of student loans, with the class of 2015 graduating as the most indebted ever.

    Indeed, while millennials are now the biggest generation in America, they are far from the richest. As a group they are heavily in debt, with half of them reporting that paying down their loans consumes more than half their monthly income, according to a 2014 study by Wells Fargo (WFC). Many are delaying buying a home and starting a family, given their debt issues and the uneven recovery.

    A diverse future

    The historic shift in America's racial composition is most visible in certain parts of the country. There are five U.S. states where the population has already shifted to a majority-minority, according to the latest Census data.

    Hawaii has the most diverse population, with 77 percent of its residents counting as members of a minority race or ethnic group. Next is Washington, D.C., at 64.2 percent, followed by California at 61.5 percent. New Mexico is the fourth-most diverse state, at 61.1 percent, with Texas ranking fifth at 56.5 percent.

    Several other states are on the threshold of switching from being predominantly white to a majority-minority. They include Nevada, with 48.5 percent of its population considered minorities.

    What does America's minority population look like? Hispanics are the largest group, with 55.4 million as of July 2014, or an increase of 2.1 percent from the previous year.

    The black population counts 45.7 million Americans, an increase of 1.3 percent since July 2013. Asians are the third-largest group, at 20.3 million, an increase of 3.2 percent from the previous year. American Indians totaled 6.5 million in mid-2014, an increase of 1.4 percent since the previous year.

    As for non-Hispanic whites, there are 197.9 million in the country, an increase of 0.5 percent from the previous year.

    © 2015 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.

  • B.B. King

    Bb-king-4

    Riley King(a.k.a. B.B. King) died during his sleep. I had the great pleasure of seeing and hearing him perform during his 80th birthday tour.

    Aside from having a strong beautiful style of playing, B.B. had a beautiful expressive voice and a personality that generated warmth, humility, humor, love, and respect.

    Probably more than anyone, B.B. brought the blues into the mainstream and created millions of fans along the way.

    Very much loved.   RJB

  • Singapore Skyline

    Marina Bay Skyline Singapore

  • Albert Wohlstetter

                          

         Albert 3
                         

    In all honesty, I can lay no claims to having been a star student. That role was reserved for my younger brother Albert, recognized by all around him as a prodigious talent well before he went on to become a renowned mathematical logician and defense intellectual. At seventeen, while a student at City College, he wrote an article for an egghead magazine called Philosophy of Science. The piece, entitled "The Structure of the Proposition and the Fact," immediately attracted interest from intelligentsia in all parts of the globe.

    One of the epistles which found its way to our door was from a professor at Princeton University, a certain Albert Einstein. The world-famous scientist considered the article to be the most lucid extrapolation of mathematical logic he had ever read. He invited my brother to Princeton to take tea and discuss the paper. When my brother arrived at the great man's home, Frau Einstein arrived at the door, knitting in hand, and (no doubt expecting an elderly academic) asked after my brother's business. "I am Albert Wohlstetter. I have an appointment with the professor." The good lady called out over the sound of her husband's violin playing, "Albert!  Another Albert to see you!"

    (Reprinted from pages 13 and 14 " The Right Place The Right Time

    by Charles Wohlstetter)

    My First Cousins once removed, Albert and Charlie Wohlstetter

                             

     

                                                   

  • NFL salary cap and franchise numbers: New cap jumps $10 million

    Nfl

    The NFL has set its official salary cap for the 2015 season at $143.28 million. It's an increase of about $10 million over last season, or an approximately 7.5 percent jump. The cap has now risen $20 million in the last two years and has increased by more than 67 percent in the last decade.

    Along with the official cap number, the franchise tag values were released, as those are based on a percentage of the salary cap. They are as follows:

    Official franchise tag on offense with cap of $143.28M: QB ($18.544M), RB ($10.951M), WR ($12.823M), TE ($8.347M), OL ($12.943M).

    Franchise tag on defense with cap of $143.28M: DE ($14.813M), DT ($11.193M), LB ($13.195M), CB ($13.075M), S ($9.618M), K/P ($4.126M

  • GREAT UNDERWATER PHOTOS

    TigerCollage

    http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/12/travel/gallery/freedivers-underwater-photography/index.html?eref=edition

  • VIEW IMAGES OF TSINGY DE BEMARAHA NATIONAL PARK

     
    http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Tsingy+de+Bemaraha+National+Park&FORM=hphot1#view=detail&id=6E9A00348EED56808EEC666DBE8AB7F36CBA8CC0&selectedIndex=2

     

    Tsingy de bemaraha

    T B 2