March Madness and Sports Betting is a Bad Combination for Gambling Addicts

Straight up.

The Supreme Court screwed up big when they struck down the ban on sports betting in 2018.

Now Americans who fight gambling addictions are facing massive sports betting temptations on a scale that would make the old-time bookies lose their cookies!

Not so long-ago watching sports on TV or listening to them on the radio were a fresh break from the evils of corporate gambling. Stars like baseball's Pete Rose were banned from the game and denied a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame because they betted on sports events.

Now look at March Madness where the best men's and women's college basketball team challenge each other... and have been contributing to the skyrocketing legal sports betting industry since 2018.

For decades March Madness betting in office pools offered employees a chance at winning a jackpot. A harmless event that didn't make headlines in Las Vegas sporting parlors.

According to the American Gaming Association, which promotes gambling, Americans made $120 billion in sports bets in 2023.

This year the group predicts Americans will place $2.7 billion in legal bets on March Madness alone!

How did we come to this place where the love and integrity of sports has been diluted into another get rich quick scheme?

Jay L. Zagorsky is an associate professor of markets, public policy and law at Boston University who has been studying March Madness and sports betting for years. He offers an explanation of why legal sports betting became acceptable.

"Studying sports betting has shown me how valuable it is for states short on cash. Unfortunately, it also has significant drawbacks, especially for gambling addicts and their families," Zagorsky said in a recent article on the subject.

So, it's a money-maker for cash-strapped states and gaming companies but not so good for one segment of Americans - gambling addicts.

As of this month, 38 states allow some form of sports gambling, and six more are debating the issue. The need for more revenue for these states is an appealing option to politicians.

Apparently, to my surprise, state revenues from so-called "sin taxes" have flatlined after adjusting for inflation. People are smoking and drinking less, reducing revenue from cigarette and alcohol taxes. Even lottery revenue has flattened out after growing for decades, according to the experts.

As it Stands, sports betting is a gamble to save states (it too will flatline someday) at the expense of vulnerable Americans.

'Crazy Days and Nights in the USA' Would Make a Good Book

Think of the potential.

If someone wanted to write a book about the year 2024, they'd have a wealth of characters and sub plots regarding this year's presidential election.

Every good fiction book I've ever read has believable heroes and great villains who provide a clear contrast of good and evil.

Setting the scene...

The Republican party has folded up its tent and is now the party of one of the greatest con man in history - Donald Trump. In our fictional account we'll call him Thump. He's running for re-election in November after losing his last attempt in 2020.

Thump's resume includes being the first US president to be impeached twice and charged with 88 felony counts in four different jurisdictions for (among things) trying to overthrow the last election and stealing top secret documents from the government.

Throw in Thump's recent conviction for being a rapist, and his major fraud conviction, and you have the foundation for a great villain.

President Biden - we'll call him President Goodman - is Thump's foil. He stands as a bulwark against the MAGA cult, representing sanity, honesty, and a conviction to help all Americans regardless of their skin color and gender.

Think about the cast of characters you as the writer can draw from in Congress, our judicial system, state and federal politicians, crazed activists calling Thump "Our Lord," and so much more.

You could describe how Thump's followers left their caves and basements in 2016 to elect Thump and the ruinous effect they've had in this country for the last eight years.

Talk about a thriller.

Will our Constitutional Democracy survive if President Goodman isn't re-elected?

Will America become a fascist state with a supreme leader for life?

This book would have all the elements of a great novel. The suspense caused by a corrupt Supreme Court, and the fact that millions of Americans are under the spell of Orange Jesus, would keep any reader on edge waiting to see the results of the election.

As it Stands, speaking of books... my good friend journalist and author Woody Woodburn just released a new book titled "The Butterfly Tree: An Extraordinary Saga of Seven Generations." 

I highly recommend it. It's now available at Amazon and other online stores or ordered at your favorite local bookshop.

I'll be writing a review of it in the near future. Stay tuned. 

A Gene-Edited Pig Makes History: First-Ever Kidney Transplant to Human is Successful

Somewhere in an undisclosed Midwestern location there is a special farm that raises genetically altered pigs.

One of those pigs made medical history recently when it was flown to Boston for a transplant procedure where it donated its life and kidney to Richard "Rick" Slayman of Weymouth, Massachusetts.

It was the first time a genetically modified pig kidney was transplanted into a person.

It was also the first time someone survived with that organ from another species.

Mr. Slayman is due to be released from the hospital within a couple of days. After a four-hour surgery he managed to walk 20 laps around the hospital's transplant unit.

Researchers have been working for decades trying to find a way to use pig organs as replacements for human ones. 

That day has come.

Pig organs make sense for transplant because they are roughly the right size for people, are relatively similar biologically, and are already being bred by the billions for food, so sacrificing them for the organs raises fewer ethical concerns that using primates would.

Now that researchers have overcome one of the most formidable barriers to transplantation - rejection - it could be on its way to FDA approval someday for routine use.

The modification of pig genes has made them more compatible with people by improving the drug regimen to reduce the risk of rejection, and by providing enough evidence through animal-to human transplants to make researchers and patients feel comfortable testing in people.

Another historical note, Massachusetts General was the site of the first human-to human organ transplant, in 1954, when an identical twin donated his kidney to his brother.

The future for animal-to human transplants is a lot brighter now than it was, but there's still a long way to go before most Americans will benefit from it.

As it Stands, I can't wait until animal-to-human brain transplants are available. It would be a huge upgrade for Donald Trump!

Protecting A Legacy: Kennedy Family Backs Biden

Imagine for a moment that a member of your family, the real crazy one, suddenly appeared on the national scene spewing conspiracy theories and running for president.

That's what happened to the proud Kennedy clan when Robert F. Kennedy decided to run for president as a third-party candidate this year.

Having established his right-wing credentials by being a top vaccine denier, RFK Jr emerged from the swamp of conspiracy theorists and QAnon as a chief disseminator of misinformation about the deadly COVID virus.

Kennedy Family Fights Back

Photo: President Biden greets Kennedy clan on St. Patrick's Day at the White House. Kerry Kennedy, the seventh of Robert and Ethal Kennedy's eleven children and president of the family foundation, played a lead role in organizing the family photo to support President Biden.

Kerry Kennedy has also taken the lead on helping President Biden's candidacy by organizing family member's political work.

Stephan Kennedy Smith posted the Rose Garden photo afterwards, warning that his cousin could hand the election to Trump and "put our democratic process at risk."

The Democratic National Committee announced this week that Mary Beth Cahill, a former chief of staff to Sen. Ted Kennedy will serve as senior advisor in the party's efforts to counter third party candidates.

The Kennedy family is doing everything they can to preserve their legacy, even going after one of their own in favor of democracy.

As a kid I idolized John F. Kennedy. He was a military hero and president of the United States. When he was assassinated, I was crushed.

To think a member of his own family is now threatening to help a wannabee dictator by being a political spoiler, is beyond the pale.

As it Stands, Biden is going to need all the help he can to stay in the White House. Hopefully the Kennedy clan's efforts will make a positive difference.

It's Time to Pay Up Donnie!

It's looks like there will be some prime real estate going on the market soon in New York City.

Convicted rapist and former president Trump is unable to post the bond to satisfy the $464 million civil fraud judgement against him.

Now it's time to pay up. Time to grab Donnie by the wallet and watch him whine. 

His lawyers, in another last moment appellate court filing pleaded with the judge to secure the bond in a lesser amount. 

Alina Habba and Clifford Robert - Trump's lawyers - proposed a far lesser amount to a skeptical Judge Arthur Engoron.

Habba and Robert claimed, "Obtaining such cash through a 'fire sale' of real estate holdings would inevitably result in massive, irrecoverable losses - textbook irreparable injury."

The judge said no. The full amount must be posted in order to file the appeal. Period. End of the story.

No one should be surprised that Don the Con is having such a tough time securing bond.

The surety companies have not allowed the Trump Organization to use its properties as collateral, leaving the company with the only option of posting 120% of the bond in the form of cash and cash equivalents, totaling $557, 491,716.

Trump's attorneys, while claiming the company is in a strong liquidity position, admit Trump does not have that much in cash or equivalents. Isn't that too bad?

No amount of whining and wailing will change Trump's situation. For the second time (the E.J. Carroll case cost him 91 million) in his life Trump is the one paying the piper for his corruption.

As it Stands, I will be watching with pleasure when the state puts up Trump Tower (and his other properties) for sale. It'll be the fire sale of the century.

Stay Away from My Decaf Coffee!

Quick backstory.

My name is Dave, and I was once a caffein addict. 

I drank it morning noon and night. If I could have, I would have had a permanent caffein drip inserted into my arm.

I started drinking coffee around 1966 when I discovered it as a sophomore in high school. Since then, I developed into an addict that was very grumpy when I didn't have my caffein fix the moment I opened my eyes.

Then I had an epiphany - along with my wife - last year and cut the caffein and replaced it with decaf coffee. That artificial buzz was taking a toll on both of us, especially my wife who has heart issues.

It wasn't exactly like quitting cold turkey because decafe still tastes good. You still feel like it's the real deal, but without the ill effects of consuming too much caffein.  

On Decaf Coffee

Now that I've found a good substitute I've discovered there's a significant coffee controversary brewing between two activist groups and a California lawmaker who have petitioned to ban European Method decaf - the most common form of decaffeinated coffee in the country.

The controversy centers on decaf because its produced using chemical solvents, including methylene chloride, which bind to the caffeine and extracts it from the beans.

In January California Assemblymember Eloise Reyes proposed new legislation that would expressly prohibit a "person or entity from using methylene chloride in the process of decaffeinating coffee" starting in 2027.

The bill was introduced in Feb and has yet to be heard in counsel.

Here's What I Learned

The European Method decafe is authorized as safe by the rigorous standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and other food authorities around the world.

According to the National Coffee Association, 26 million Americans drink decaffeinated coffee every day and the majority of it was made using the European method for more than 50 years.

As it Stands, decaf coffee is the best of two worlds. I don't want to see some clowns change that. Just stay away from my damn decaf!

Mainstream Media is Doing a Disservice to American Viewers

I can't trust the so-called mainstream media these days because it's looking more like the lamestream media when it comes to coverage on Trump's bid to overturn our Constitutional Democracy and become America's first dictator.

It seems the news organizations didn't learn their mistake the first time when Trump ran for the presidency, and they gave him carte blanche coverage - lies and all. That's where the problem began when it came to factual and credible reporting about Trump.

This massive mistake by editors has taken its toll on journalism in America, muddying up the truth to the point no one knows what to believe. By giving a malicious sociopath so much coverage - without constantly fact-checking him - news organizations are doing a disservice to their viewers and readers.

Here's the most recent example...

CNBC made a curious decision to WELCOME Donald Trump onto its airwaves for an extended live telephone chat Monday.

Squake Box news line, hosted by Joe Kernen, allowed itself to be taken over by the twice-impeached, four-time indicted, insurrection-inciting former president who immediately launched his trademark "fact free" rants.

Kernen didn't even make the slightest attempt to correct the lies Trump was spewing to thousands of listeners. Listening to the CNBC host brushing aside the insidious comments and outright lies told me that this wasn't a serious interview.

There was one or two feeble attempts to ask him a question, but they were turned aside as Trump dominated the broadcast with his rambling and laundry list of lies.

The whole thing was a disgrace. Not one attempt to live fact-check the biggest liar on the planet. The station running their Mea culpa acknowledgement stating the facts about Trump's claims AFTER THE FACT was a useless attempt to cover up the damage inflicted.

How many people won't see or hear this admission they let loose lips Trump tell lies live on the air? It's a typical Trumpian tactic that only works if a network is complicit - like CNBC was this time.

Why is this happening?

I think it's obvious. Trump is a money-maker who every time he gets a platform his cult tunes in like the loyal minions they are. These once-respectable news outlets have made a decision - milk Trump mania if it continues to bring in readers or viewers - and damn doing the right thing.

What happened at CNBC was the host surrendered the channel's air to Trump, allowing the convicted rapist to abuse the platform and mislead its audience of influential viewers - by phone.

It wasn't a "perfect phone call."

As a former newspaper publisher and editor, I'm aghast at what's happening to journalism in this country today.

I remember when publications and social platforms couldn't get away with blatantly lying because their viewers and readers would call them out. 

Some listeners may call out CNBC for letting Trump spread propaganda, but their concerns will go unanswered because the channel waited until AFTER the damage was done to correct Trump.

And that seems to be the new terrible norm in journalism today.

As it Stands, if this trend continues Trump could very well win and then credible journalism in this country will be totally crushed by that orange ape.

Trump Now Owns the Republican National Committee and is Rebranding It

It's official.

Like termites, Trump's handpicked team of loyalists have taken over the Republican National Committee and fired most of the staff in order to completely re-brand the party.

The RNC has chosen a new leadership team, chair Michael Whatley, and co-chair Lara Trump to carry out Donald Trump's every wish.

I'm waiting for Trump to officially rename/rebrand it the Party of Trump. It's inevitable. The man's ego is bigger than a blimp filled with toxic flatulence.

I can imagine the MAGA morons swarming into offices where the last of the conservative Republicans had Ronald Reagan's photo on the walls being quickly replaced with a 24-hour TV monitor hawking Trump merchandise to the faithful.

The elephant symbol for the party will be replaced with golden painted statutes of Trump in assorted ridiculous poses.

The one thing the new Party of Trump doesn't have a lot of is money. According to a January campaign finance filing the GOP had an historically low $8.7 million cash on hand while the Democrats had $24 million.

Then there's that little matter of coming up with millions of dollars to pay Trump's legal fees which will be foremost on the new party's agenda. 

The legal fees in his criminal cases are literally increasing every day, and the coffers can't cover that big a cash drain for long.

Like everything Trump gets his tiny hands on he's blown up the once proud Republican party whose last real conservative members are leaving Congress in droves.

I almost feel sorry for the ousted Republicans, but then I consider they probably voted for the orange ape and are getting their just reward.

Trump is a loser. He has solidified a following of losers who live in an alternate world and are untouched by reality and facts. This dangerous segment of zombies in our society are directly challenging yours, and mine, freedoms. 

As it Stands, the question this November is do we want a Constitutional Democracy? Or do we want an autocracy? We'll find out at the polls.

Remember When?

Do you remember when presidential candidates weren't convicted rapists?

I do.

Let's take a stroll down memory lane in America before chaos set in and a cult that worships dictators that overthrew the Republican party took hold like a cancer in our society.

Remember when there were consequences for trying to overthrow an election? 

Today we have a candidate who not only attempted a coup but who also promises he'll tear up the Constitution if he gets into the Oval Office again.

Remember when it was safe to go to the grocery store or movie theatre? 

Mass shootings have become common in every public space possible - including schools.

Remember when politicians that had extramarital affairs couldn't get elected for president? Think Gary Hart.

Today we have a man convicted of rape, fraud, and charged with 91 felony counts in four jurisdictions, who is the party nominee for president.

Remember when Americans all watched the same news programs on three television stations? ABC, NBC, and CBS. We trusted newscasters like Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow in those days.

Today there are so many news sources with misinformation that people no longer trust what they hear, unless it's a platform featuring things they want to hear. Millions of Americans are living in news silos that gratifies their personal desires.

Remember when there was only one interpretation for the word patriot?

Now the word has been demeaned by the far right and is used to portray followers of the Trump cult. 

Remember when Republicans believed in our Constitutional Democracy?

Now they believe in an autocratic state ran by one man with no limit to his powers.

Remember when it was shameful if you were caught lying in public?

Now it's a badge of honor for Trump's minions who have learned how to double down on lies.

As it Stands, I'm deeply disappointed with the current state of affairs in our not so United States of America. Despite that, I still believe there's enough good people in this country to reverse the negative trends we face today.

Why is there so Much Hostility Against Churches?

A new report has found that there is a growing "hostility and distain" for Christians in America.

Note that the report, coming from the conservative Family Research Council, is only about Christian churches and does not address the violence against Jewish Temples and other minority religions.

According to Rev. Franklin Graham, CEO of the Billy Grham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse. the report showed how far-left ideologies have infiltrated the culture and increased "distain" for Christians.

On Christian Churches in America 

When you talk about Christian churches in America they are really divided in their interpretations of God's laws and Jesus's mission among the people.

The majority (42%) of Christian Americans are Protestant, though there are significant numbers of American Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations such as Latter-Day Saints, Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Off shoots to the church like Baptists and Evangelicals are becoming dominate among the religions groups and are more likely to get involved in politics. Nationalist Christians are on the rise.

Which brings us to the question of why there's so much hostility against churches?

With the emergence of the Trump cult congregations, we're seeing a war against other religions and secular citizens across the nation.

Evangelical pastors are worshiping Lord Trump and preach hatred against anyone who defies the wannabe dictator.

How Trump managed to pollute and indoctrinate so many pastors is a mystery to me. The result has been a rise in antisemitism and anti-government propaganda spread by gullible parishioners who think taking a stand for Trump is what God wants.

The narrative these fake pastors pass on is that socialism is taking over the country and they fear "true Christians" will be locked up and prosecuted by the liberals. That doomsday scenario appeals to these false representatives of God who spread lies instead of the gospel.

In the Bible there's a passage warning about "false prophets." They are here now spreading the seeds of hate.

Today's false prophets are pushing for anarchy instead of talking about love and forgiveness. 

MAGA pastors complain they are experiencing a "white collar persecution," such as threats, government harassment, and efforts by politicians or activist groups to silence the church.

What's happening is there's resistance to these prophets and their deplorable followers who would like to run the government and install their Lord Trump as a lifetime dictator. Most Americans aren't happy with the chaos these false prophets have brought to our society.

As it Stands, there's other reasons why church attendance is down in America and why violence against all denominations is at an all-time high.

Trump Entertains Autocrat Who Hates Democracy

Since Trump moved into Mar-a-Lago it's been a hot spot for autocrats, racists, Nazis, crooked politicians from every level of government, and people who hate minorities and people of color.

In other words, a MAGA paradise where bad actors gather from around the world to plot against our Constitutional Democracy.

The latest scumbag to visit Mar-a-Lago was the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban who hates democracy and loves Trump. And why not? Trump loves dictators and strongmen who have complete control of people's lives.

It marked an extraordinary move: a foreign leader paying a visit to the United States, including making a stop in the nation's capital (the same day of the State of the Union Address), without meeting with the sitting president and instead meeting with his political rival.

What are Orban's credentials? He's known for championing what he terms "illiberal democracy" complete with limits on LGBTQ+ rights and immigration.

Orban posted videos of the events where Trump could be heard praising the Hungarian leader as the "boss" and also a "great" and "fantastic leader of Europe."

Orban joins Trump's list of heroes which include, Kim Jong Un of North Korea, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This rogue's gallery has given Trump inspiration to be America's first dictator.

Dinner at Donnie's is every dictator's dream.

What surprises me is these vomit-worthy visits to Mar-a-Lago largely go unreported. I guess the press is just numb after eight years of Trump disrupting the country.

No other president in American history so openly admired anarchy than Trump. He's gotten more extreme every year and his cognitive abilities are rapidly turning to mush.

Yet here he is. Running for president. Blatantly telling us what he's going to do if he gets re-elected. From shredding the Constitution to a revenge tour throughout the land against his perceived enemies, Trump's agenda spells carnage for America.

It's been reported that Trump has a book of Hitler quotes in the drawer of the stand next to his bed. The only reason I doubt it - unless it's a book of illustrations - is that Trump can't read. When he was president, he proved that in briefing sessions.

In another time a presidential candidate that openly supports destroying our government would have been laughed off as a lunatic with no chance of winning an election.

That was then. This is now. Our freedoms are at stake. The American dream can't be allowed to disappear because of one malicious sociopath.

As it stands, President Biden is fact-checking Trump relentlessly in this campaign for America's soul. There is hope. Vote Blue.