Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Pricing when customers have limited attention
20160712 - Court ruling could scuttle DUI breath-test fight
Court ruling could scuttle DUI breath-test fight
July 12, 2016
by Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel
2016-07-12
Warrantless NSA Spying Case Faces Constitutional Challenge
Advice to GOP: Don't Say "I Do" to Donald Trump Without a Prenup
The Republican Party is preparing to wed Donald Trump in a "ceremony" to be held in Cleveland on July 18. The Party appears to be quite apprehensive about entering into this union, which is understandable. Trump has had so many failed ventures, the Party has plenty to be concerned about. After all, each time Trump did quite well for himself, while leaving his former partners and others holding the bag.
Trump's presidential bid is no different. If it ends in a fiasco, Trump will be just fine. He is not spending much of his own money on his campaign, and he will undoubtedly emerge with even more notoriety and celebrity, something he clearly values and craves. The Republican Party, on the other hand, has already suffered quite a bit from Trump's presidential ambitions, and may sustain even more, and longer lasting, damage.
In light of all this, it appears that the Party officials would be well served by taking a page out of Trump's book and insisting on a prenuptial agreement. Trump himself is notorious for never marrying without one. "An ugly instrument, but they'd better have one," Trump told New York Magazine in 2002.
Prenuptial agreements can be useful in giving the spouse with the most to lose in case of a break-up more protection than the law would otherwise provide. Trump successfully used prenuptial agreements to greatly limit what each of his wives received in divorce. Trump's first wife, Ivana Zelnicek, after an unsuccessful challenge, reportedly received a total settlement of $25 million, despite Trump's allegedly multi-billion-dollar fortune and despite being married to Trump for more than 10 years. Trump's second wife, Marla Thompson, fared much worse and reportedly received no more than $2 million, as Trump ended the marriage weeks before the fourth wedding anniversary after which Marla would have been entitled to a hefty settlement.
But what would a prenuptial agreement between the Republican Party and Trump provide?
Prenuptial agreements protect the assets with which a person enters into a marriage. In addition, they commonly address distribution of marital property, entitlement by one party to receive spousal support and the parties' rights to inherit the property of the other after death.
Clearly, the first priority for the Republican Party would be to protect its separate property with which it is entering the "marriage." The main asset the Party needs to protect at this point is whatever dignity it has left. Although there may be little of it, it is obviously important to try to preserve it. Thus, the Party would be well advised to insist on an agreement that Trump will no longer call its leaders "ridiculous," "pathetic," "hypocrites," "morons," and otherwise not humiliate and belittle them.
In return, and to ensure the enforceability of this agreement, the Party should allow Trump to preserve his separate property. Clearly, the most valuable asset with which Trump is coming into the "marriage" is his name. Thus, under the agreement, Trump should retain the right to continue to be known as "Mr. Trump." In addition, the agreement can provide that after the Convention, the party officials will no longer call Trump a "nutjob" (Lindsey Graham), a "fraud" (Mitt Romney), "a jerk" (Jeb Bush), "a pathological liar" (Ted Cruz), and "a carnival barker" (Chris Christie).
The next issue this agreement will need to address is the division of assets acquired by the Republican Party and Trump during their "marriage." The increase in the value of one spouse's separate property, when due to the efforts or contributions of either spouse, are often considered marital property and are subject to distribution between the parties. It is hard to see how the dignity of the Republican Party can increase in value during its marriage to Donald Trump, so the Party can safely leave that alone.
The Trump name, on the other hand, will undoubtedly increase in value, especially among certain groups of voters (i.e., "uneducated older white men"). Therefore, the Republican Party should insist that the increase in the value of Trump's name be treated as "martial property" and be distributed between the parties in the event of a break up. Thus, although Trump will generally retain the right to continue to be known as "Mr. Trump," it would be advisable for the Republican Party to negotiate the right to use the Trump name for a number of years on its buildings and in any kind of electioneering with the core Trump supporters, by, for example, putting the name on baseball caps, universities (as long as they confer no recognizable degrees), and campaign materials. In addition, the Republican Party should negotiate the exclusive right to use, in any future election, the phrase "it's going to be a beautiful thing" to print on balloons for future rallies.
In terms of the spousal support the Party will receive from Trump, it should certainly demand that Trump turn over his main advisors, including Corey Lewandowsky (one of the best campaign managers universally loved by all, especially the press) and Chris Christie (not only a brilliant politician as demonstrated by his own presidential bid, but also currently one of the most popular governors in history).
Finally, in the event the Republican Party outlives Trump's presidential bid, the party should make sure Trump agrees that he will never ever (ever!) run for President again, because even if the Republican Party manages to survive this marriage once, it may not be so lucky the second time around.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Monday, July 11, 2016
Arizona measles outbreak attributed to vaccine-refusing guards at immigration detention center
Arizona authorities say private prison guards who refused vaccinations are the locus of a measles outbreak, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.
Health authorities…
11 Reasons Divorce Is Better Than Staying In A Bad Marriage
When you're considering divorce ― or reeling from your ex's decision to end the marriage ― it's easy to focus on the negatives: How will I possibly get by living on my own again? How will the kids be impacted by this? Am I doomed to be alone for the rest of my life?
While those concerns are understandable, it's equally important to focus on the good that can come of being single. Below, HuffPost Divorce bloggers share 11 reasons divorce is preferable to staying in an unhappy, unhealthy marriage.
1. Marriage may give you a sense of security but divorce gives you a new lease on life.
“Staying in a bad marriage can provide security because at least you know how your life will go. But getting a divorce gives you hope ― the hope to be who you want to be, the hope to be happy and the hope to find someone else to love.” ― Barry Gold
2. Being a single parent is better than modeling an unhealthy relationship.
“If you're a parent with young kids, getting a divorce is better than staying in a bad marriage because these are formative years for them. They will likely seek out and emulate the types of relationships they see modeled. I want my relationships to be happy, healthy and mutually respectful, so that my children never settle for anything else in their own lives.” ― Lindsey Light
3. Divorce clears the way for you to meet the right partner.
“Divorce is painful but it's kind of like pulling off a Band-Aid: The anticipation is horrible but once it's over, it's pure relief. Bonus: It allows you the freedom to meet the person you were meant to be with!” ― Al Corona
4. You get to focus on you for once.
“After divorce, you find yourself again and fall in love with the wonderful attributes that make you you. As a mother especially, you can parent with just your own mama instincts and all your love and energy can flow into your little one(s). You find genuine peace and happiness and an appreciation for life that may have been sucked out of you during your bad marriage.” ― Shelley Cameron
5. Divorce isn't the worst thing that can happen to your kids. Enduring a hostile home life is.
“After my first wife and mother of my five children left us permanently, I felt like going through divorce was the worst thing that could happen to a family. So when my second marriage was falling apart, as my kids sole and single parent, I was desperate to protect them from the trauma of another divorce. As a result, I kept the family in a situation that wasn't good for any of us. The reality is, the worst thing for your children is for them to live in a hostile home and have them see you unhappy. My life and my children's' lives have gotten better and happier with each passing day after the divorce.” ― Matt Sweetwood
6. There's a big difference between loneliness and solitude.
“My divorce helped me discover the gift of solitude when I once experienced the pain of loneliness. Now that I've learned to enjoy being alone, I'm free from that awful feeling of separation that comes from being with the wrong person.” ― Tammy Letherer
7. You and your partner may be stifling each other's growth.
“I feel that divorce should rarely be the first choice because generally the only thing keeping a 'bad' marriage from being a 'good' marriage is sustained mutual effort. That being said, there are times that divorce is the best choice in order to allow both partners to grow and achieve the life they desire, and in some scenarios, the life they deserve.” ― Derick Turner
8. A happier parent is a better parent.
“Learning to let go and step into the unknown may be the single most important thing you can do for your own sanity and the sanity of those around you. Divorce proves that you have the courage to live a life of happiness. And if you're happier, you'll be a far more effective parent.” ― Carey Fan
9. You can devote your energy to other important areas of your life.
“If you have done all the work of trying to make the marriage better and nothing is changing, finding the courage to leave and move forward pays off in the long run. The pay off? You stop putting all your energy into a relationship that no longer works and put more energy into yourself and your kids.” ― Cherie Morris
10. You deserve a partner who's just as invested in the relationship as you are.
“Divorce is preferable to a marriage without love. We all deserve to be loved. I never want to be in a marriage where that partnership isn't sacred and a priority.” ― Carly Israel
11. You lose a spouse but you gain happiness.
“Divorce brought me happiness. Life is far too short to spend it immersed in an unhealthy relationship.” ― Nicole Lavery
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
20160711 - How protecting tribal sovereignty hurts victims on reservations
How protecting tribal sovereignty hurts victims on reservations
July 10, 2016
by Naomi Schaefer Riley, New York Post
2016-07-10