James L. Paris's Blog, page 100

Star Wars-Themed Princeton Reunion Says Stormtrooper Characters Are Off-Limits���Because Nazis

And now begins another edition of ���Stuff You Just Cannot Make Up.���

OK���the Class of 2012 from one of America���s most prestigious institutions of higher learning, Princeton University, is putting together a reunion. Opting to have some fun with it, they have elected to make it a Star Wars-themed reunion. Sounds pretty cool.

But hold on.

Apparently, one particular set of characters from the epic motion picture is most unwelcome at the planned June event: the Imperial Stormtroopers.

And do you know why?

Because Nazis.

Yup; according to several news outlets, including Townhall.com, it seems that some members of the class simply cannot abide the fact that the characters share their name with the infamous paramilitary wing of Germany���s Nazi Party, and made sure the rules committee setting all this up knew about it. So, no one can gain entrance to the reunion, apparently, if dressed as a Star Wars Imperial Stormtrooper.

Again, because Nazis.

Here is a portion of the email sent out by the aforementioned rules committee that announces the prohibition:

���A few of our classmates reached out expressing concerns over our choice to use Stormtroopers as our costume inspiration. We have been informed of the origin of this word and its connections to early- to mid-20th century Germany. This is something neither we nor anyone on your Reunion Committee were aware of, but something we take very seriously. Tonight we made the unanimous decision to remove these costumes.���

One final note: Aside from the idiotic nature of the political correctness at work here, is it not stunning that graduates of Princeton University were not ���aware of��� the connection of the term ���stormtrooper��� to ���early- to mid-20th century Germany?���

Forget the reunion; these graduates should go back to class.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

 

Both Democrats and Republicans Say Country Is Losing Its Identity

Democrats and Republicans may see eye to eye on just what America���s identity is, but on this they can agree: she���s on the road to losing it.

As reported by a variety of news outlets, including the East Oregonian, a survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that 70 percent of Americans are of the opinion that the nation is losing whatever identity one imagines it to actually have.

The disagreement as to just what that identity is falls, unsurprisingly, along party lines.

Generally, Democrats are more inclined to see such issues as diversity and receptiveness to immigrants as key elements of what defines the American identity.

Conversely, Republicans are more likely to see America���s identity as rooted in its strong Christian heritage, as well as in values representative of the Europeans who settled the land.

This is not to say that Americans do not share any common ideas when it comes to what comprises said identity. The survey did reveal that, regardless of on what side of the political dividing line we sit, Americans see the rule of law, Constitutional rights, and the opportunity for economic uplift as essential to what defines the culture of the nation. However, there are starkly-different viewpoints on the importance of other considered features.

For example, with regard to global cultures, roughly 65 percent of Democrats said that component is either ���extremely��� or ���very��� important to the country���s identity, while just 35 percent of Republicans feel the same way. As for the significance of Christianity to America���s identity, only 29 percent of Democrats believe that to be important, whereas 57 percent of Republicans see it as being so.

For many Democrats, the recent election of Donald Trump as president is a sign that many of the values ��� like the importance of remaining open and highly accessible to immigrants ��� they see as being linchpins of America���s identity are under attack. By the same token, the perception on the part of many Republicans that Christianity and a respect for Christian values are being increasingly marginalized is a sign to them that America���s identity is in the midst of evaporating.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

Insurance Company Creates Policy to Cover Costs of a Losing Lawsuit

If you���re one of the countless numbers of Americans who think that it���s just too darn easy to sue people in this country, then this is not news you want to hear:

It���s now a whole lot easier.

According to an article over at Entrepreneur.com, a startup insurance company has introduced a policy that will reimburse to a losing plaintiff many of the costs associated with bringing a lawsuit.

The company, Level Insurance, was started by Miami-based attorneys Larry Bassuk and Justin Leto, and it offers something called a Litigation Cost Protection policy that will help defray a variety of the expenses that can be incurred in the course of bringing a suit.

While the insurance does not cover attorney���s fees, it will reimburse, up to $250,000, costs associated with things like gathering expert witnesses, e-discovery, courtroom technology, exhibits, forensic accounting, and much more.

The cost of the insurance is seven percent of the maximum value of the policy.

Attorney Bassuk told Entrepreneur.com that the policies have especially resonated with lawyers whose practices include bringing contingency cases. While contingency cases can be attractive for prospective plaintiffs with little money, the financial risks for attorneys can be substantial; should they bring a suit and lose, a plaintiff who didn���t have much money to begin with is in no position to cover the additional costs and expenses necessary to put on an effective case.

���The ultimate underdog scenario is an individual who doesn���t have the capital to bring suit against a large corporation, they need a lawyer to bring the case on a contingency basis,��� Bassuk told Entrepreneur.com. ���Day to day, lawyers doing contingency work who get an expensive case to prosecute want to spread the downside risk if the case loses.���

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large 

David Letterman Tears into Donald Trump in Rare Interview

David Letterman is seen none too often these days, and it is generally well-known that he prefers things that way. Even a bit of a recluse all the while he hosted his various television talk shows, the near-70 and now-heavily-bearded Letterman has used the cover of retirement to drop almost entirely from public view.

Almost.

Every once in a blue moon, Letterman will resurface, as he did this past weekend to give an interview with the entertainment news website Vulture.

The interview touched on a variety of subjects, including the current state of late-night TV talk shows, but it was surely at its most interesting when the subject turned to the new President of the United States, Donald Trump.

In a Washington Times article about the interview, excerpts of what Letterman had to say reveal what is clearly his complete revulsion with Trump���or, at least Trump as president.

In one of Letterman���s longer ���commentaries��� about Trump during the interview, he suggested that the president suffered from mental instability, and that the citizens of this nation are now in a position where they need to protect themselves from him:

���Say the head of the family, let���s say his name was Larry Wasserstein. If Larry behaved the way Donald behaves, for even a six-week period, the family would get together and say, ���Jesus, somebody better call the doctor.��� Then they���d ask him to step down. But Trump���s the president and he can lie about anything from the time he wakes up to what he has for lunch and he���s still the president. I don���t get that. I���m tired of people being bewildered about everything he says: ���I can���t believe he said that.��� We gotta stop that and instead figure out ways to protect ourselves from him. We know he���s crazy. We gotta take care of ourselves here now.���

Later in the exchange with Vulture, Letterman refers to Trump as one who���s ���ignorant in a way that���s insulting to the office,��� and also refers to the president as a ���stupid son of a b----h.���

Good to see retirement agrees with you, Dave.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

Murders And Rapes On Cruise Ships

Kendall Carver, founder of the International Cruise Victims Organization, joins Jim Paris Live. Mr. Carver's own daughter disappeared on a cruise ship and he has dedicated his life to making the cruise industry accountable. Carver shares the shocking statistics of sexual assaults on cruises, including those against children. The lack of medical professionals available for passengers with a medical emergency, how cruise lines avoid responsibility and taxes by flagging their ships from foreign ports, and more. Included is information on how you can do your own safety check on a cruise line before you book your trip.

 

Trump Not Backing Down On Wiretap Claims

On this episode Jim shares the shocking story of being physically threatened at a Florida McDonald's after asking for help to save a stray dog. President Trump is not backing down on his claim that his NY office was bugged during the election, Snapchat worth $28 billion after IPO, Bitcoin continues to soar in value and why Jim is buying more, Colin Kaperneck to end Anthem protests to keep his NFL career, and Clinton volunteer loses job after mocking widow of Navy Seal.

 

Hillary Says the Only Change She Would Make to Her 2016 Presidential Campaign Is that ���I���d Win���

No shortage of hubris here.

Hillary Clinton made an appearance this past Thursday at Wellesley College, her alma mater, for a specially-arranged 90-minute talk with roughly 1,000 of the school���s faculty, staff and students. Part of the event included a question-and-answer session during which she was asked what, if anything, she would change about her 2016 campaign for president.

���I���d win,��� Clinton said, simply and directly.

Based on reporting by media outlet The Hill, it seems that Clinton used the event to, in part, double down on the same, tired excuses that many of her faithful were eager to cite as to why she struggled throughout her effort to win the White House last year. This included once again rolling out the charge of sexism, with Clinton saying that ���you know you���re going to be subject to unfair and besides-the-point criticism.���

Notably, there appeared to be no admission on the part of the former first lady, New York senator, and secretary of state that she may have made any material missteps in the form of any decisions made related to the Benghazi attack, the use of personal email accounts on private servers to discuss State Department business, or regarding any of the other questionable issues that managed to persistently dog her throughout her active political career.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

Backlash Ensues over Gay Character in Disney���s New ���Beauty and the Beast��� Film

According to USA Today, the decision of Walt Disney Pictures to include a gay character in the live-action remake of its 1991 animated hit Beauty and the Beast is prompting a backlash not only within the United States, but inside of Russia, as well.

Reportedly, a drive-in theater in Henagar, Ala. has scrapped plans to show the film, and, also, the Russian government is presently weighing an outright ban of the film in that country.

In this latest version of the tale, the character of LeFou, who is the sidekick of Gaston, the principal antagonist in the story, is portrayed as gay. It is the first time that an openly homosexual character has appeared in a Disney film.

At the Henagar Drive-In Theatre���s Facebook Page ��� which has since become unavailable ��� the following unsigned post was entered there on Thursday:

���When companies continually force their views on us we need to take a stand. We all make choices and I am making mine. If I can't sit through a movie with God or Jesus sitting by me then we have no business showing it. I know there will be some that do not agree with this decision. That���s fine. We are first and foremost Christians. We will not compromise on what the Bible teaches.���

For its part, Russia appears to be none too pleased with the new character twist, either. The film is scheduled to be released in that country on March 16, but, in reporting by the BBC, Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky has indicated that his department would screen the film prior to that date to see if the content violates a Russian law making it illegal to disseminate ���gay propaganda��� to minors.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large 

Get Paid For Answering Questions Online

Most people are an 'expert' on something. Well, you might not consider yourself to be an expert, but chances are that you have knowledge in a niche topic that is above and beyond what the average person knows. I really enjoy reading books and articles that give real life examples of people using their 'expertise' to brand themselves, and leverage their expertise into multiple income streams. I love seeing an auto mechanic start a blog, a YouTube channel, or even land their own call-in radio show. They might even go on to write a book, an eBook, or even a series of publications addressing common auto repair issues.

The great thing about the Internet is that it brings people together from all over the world with wide and varied interests. So, even if you live in a small town, and your expertise is on an obscure topic, you can still build a substantial online following. A new way that people are making money within their niche area of expertise is simply by answering questions online. These Q and A websites provide a great option for consumers and yet another income stream opportunity for 'experts' willing to be a resource.

Make Money By Signing Up As An Expert And Answering Questions Online

Just Answer.com matches up people with questions with experts that can provide answers. I was amazed at the wide variety of experts that are available. There are doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, computer geeks, tutors, mechanics, and even experts on relationships and parenting (a total of 175 categories). I also like the fact that the experts are vetted, and that any credentials or profession claimed is verified by the site. So, if you are not really a lawyer, but play one on TV, you can't just jump online and start answering legal questions.  Users pay between $12 - $90 for an expert to answer their question by way of an online chat. 

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How Much Can You Earn As A JustAnswer Expert?

Like many online type work opportunities, the amount that you can earn is hard to nail down. A post we found on Quora says that JustAnswer experts earn between 20% and 50% of the fee paid for the advice. The percentage of earnings seems to be based on a sliding scale of the overall volume of fees generated by the expert. Payment is then made by Paypal once the minimum threshold of $20 is reached. JustAnswer.com has an earnings estimator. I selected the category of business, and based on 20 hours of answering questions, it estimated my earnings to be 'up to' $398 per week. 

Ready To Get Started?

To become a JustAnswer expert, here is a link to the online application. You will be directed through the process of submitting your category, credentials, and availability. Answer questions 100% online and work as many hours as you choose. 

Save Money By Using Just Answer Experts Yourself

There are two sides to JustAnswer.com, and making money answering questions is the primary thrust of this article. But, the other opportunity is also worth highlighting. The idea of being able to access such a wide variety of professionals for advice at reasonable rates (and at odd hours) is invaluable. Whether you have a computer issue, a medical question, your kids are stumped by a homework assignment, or you even have a concern about the health of your pets, JustAnswer.com is a low cost way to get answers 24/7. 

Helping you make the most of God���s money!

James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com 
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
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NFL QB Kaepernick Says His Anthem Protests Are Over, Will Stand in 2017 Season

Colin Kaepernick will stand, going forward.

For the national anthem, that is.

Kaepernick made all sorts of headlines in the 2016-2017 NFL season for electing to kneel during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner as a form of protest. According to the website Bleacher Report, the quarterback reportedly told ESPN���s Adam Schefter that he���s moving away from the expression because he is of the belief that continuing to protest in that way would take away from the progress he says has been made in the realm of addressing the problems of inequality.

In a conversation last season with NFL.com���s Steve Wyche, Kaepernick explained his decision to begin protesting at all this way:

���I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.���

While Kaepernick is ascribing more noble motivations to the decision to bench his protests, others aren���t so sure that the move isn���t rooted in self-interest. Kaepernick had an underwhelming season last year as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, first losing the starting job to Blaine Gabbert, and then going 1-10 in the 11 games he started for the Niners. On the heels of that performance, Kaepernick recently opted out of his contract before the team could cut him, and, according to Bleacher Report���s Jason Cole, ���several��� NFL teams have said they would not consider signing Kaepernick if he intended to continue his protest.

Players on other teams joined Kaepernick in similarly protesting during the national anthem during last season, and the trend was roundly criticized by fans. What���s more, although the league denies it, it is widely believed that the protests started by Kaepernick contributed to the diminished television ratings suffered by the NFL throughout much of the season.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large