There are 1.3 billion people in China. There must be something to a country that is so popular. The Chinese Economy is the second largest in the world, after the U.S., and the Chinese GDP in 2009 was growing by 8.7%. Compare that to the sluggish 2% GDP growth that the U.S. has seen over the past few years. China is growing so fast that they are projected to overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest economy by 2030, according to a U.S. National Intelligence Council report. Continue reading “Rise of China”
Category: Adam Goldfein Show
Cheating at the Game of Life
Not everyone follows the rules. Most people at least “bend” them from time to time. In some cases it is easy to see when someone breaks a clear set of rules. In most aspects of life, however, the rules are not so clear, and it becomes easy to justify cheating. Continue reading “Cheating at the Game of Life”
Catholicism: What does the future hold?
With the pope resigning for the first time in 600 years, things are definitely changing in the Catholic Church. Currently, 115 cardinals are gathered in the conclave to determine the next pope. The 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide, representing roughly the population of India, are anxiously awaiting the results. Who will be chosen as the next pope? What issues will he face? What decisions will he have to make? What is the future of the Catholic Church? Continue reading “Catholicism: What does the future hold?”
Can You Be Addicted to Pornography?
Compulsive use is probably a better word for it than addiction. What constitutes “too much” pornography is anyone’s guess: 25% of all search engine requests are pornography related, 35% of all downloads are pornographic, and “sex” is the number one searched term on the internet. In America, 40 million people are regular visitors to porn sites. Continue reading “Can You Be Addicted to Pornography?”
Campaign Finance Agued Before the Supreme Court
Today oral arguments in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission were presented to the Supreme Court, which will further examine the constitutionality of campaign finance laws. The case involves an individual who is protesting aggregate caps to campaign contributions. Currently there are two forms of caps: Base limits and Aggregate limits. Base limits are set at a $2,600 cap per election on contributions to individual candidates for federal office. Aggregate limits are currently capped at 48,600 in a two-year election “cycle” for federal office and $74,600 to national political parties, state, and local political parties, and political action committees to total $123,200. Continue reading “Campaign Finance Agued Before the Supreme Court”
Burden of Proof
In the U.S., anyone charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. The burden of proof lies on the prosecution from the beginning. In criminal cases, the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt. The key to this burden is reasonable. This does not mean any conceivable or merely possible doubt. This is a doubt that a reasonable person would have. Continue reading “Burden of Proof”
Bullying
In Carroll County Georgia, an 8-year-old girl was literally bullied into the emergency room. Third grader Aolani Dunbar wanted hair extensions, which she got. Then, at school, other students pulled on her hair to the point where her scalp ripped. She then ended up in the emergency room, and had to shave her head to prevent infection. Continue reading “Bullying”
Braves New Stadium
The Atlanta Braves are building a new stadium to be used starting with the 2017 season. The new field will be on 60 acres, 15 of which will be used for the stadium itself. It will have a capacity of about 42,000 people, compared with 50,000 currently at Turner Field. The cost of the new stadium is estimated at $672 million. Continue reading “Braves New Stadium”
Bradley Manning Verdict
Bradley Manning was found not guilty of aiding the enemy, but he was found guilty of 19 lesser counts against him. He now could face up to 130 years in prison. Five of the charges he was found guilty of were based on the Espionage Act of 1917. When the law was written, however, it was never designed to address the issue of whistleblowers. Continue reading “Bradley Manning Verdict”
Are You Ugly?
Being ugly carries with it some serious disadvantages. Physically attractive people can expect to make an average of 10%-15% more money over the course of their lives. They are less likely to be convicted of crimes and are given shorter sentences. Physically attractive political candidates receive about 2.5 times as many votes. All of this stems from the “halo effect”: we automatically attribute positive characteristics to physical beauty. Continue reading “Are You Ugly?”
Ronin Pen 