• AMONG THE REASONS THAT AMERICAN MARRIAGES CONTINUE TO DECLINE is the cultural shift in how people approach lifelong commitment, especially planning for the possibility and impact of divorce before the marriage has even begun. A big factor is that older partners generally bring more assets, businesses, investments, retirement accounts, even student debt into the marriages than in previous generations. So ‘Prenuptial Agreements’ have become commonplace, to distinguish ‘separate’ from ‘community’ property in event of divorce, and particularly when engaged couples have inheritances, children from previous relationships, or very different financial situations. Since many committing couples then find their first big conversation/confrontation is about what happens if it doesn’t work out, it can be a rather scary perspective (especially since the foundation of marriage is traditionally built on shared ownership & sacrifice). The awkwardness and stress of this process can be avoided with an Informal Mediation process which Dennis has provided very effectively for decades. Call DCG or refer us for courtesy consultation.
• TODAYS ROTTING EDUCATION SYSTEM which emphasizes ideological conformity rather than intellectual curiosity is already having significant impact for some graduates who’ve taken jobs in America’s capitalist business world, where challenges and choices are daily occurrences and their decision process soon become of concern to many business owners & investors. Optimal decision-making depends on deep and critical thinking, careful reasoning, and willingness to reconsider views when presented with new evidence or strategies, but recent graduates have essentially been essentially taught less education than “indoctrination to follow a ‘correct’ worldview which prioritizes political power and discourages debate… America has always depended on a population capable of independent thought – not producing citizens who all think alike, but knowing how to think.” [BILL MAHER]
• IMPACTS OF CAFFEINE – Latest studies reported from American Heart Institute: (1) Up to five cups of coffee daily (40 oz, 400 mg) without sugar & milk, is safe and appears to lower risk of cardiovascular disease; (2) Higher levels of caffeine, especially in energy drinks, may harm heart and blood vessels leading to significant increases in blood pressure; (3) Unfiltered coffee, like French press, Greek or Turkish, raises cholesterol; (4) Caffeine also reduces brain activity associated with deep, restorative sleep, especially for adolescents who drink even one small energy drink (200 mg caffeine) four hours before bedtime; (5) Caffeine and its metabolites, which also promote wakefulness, can persist in the body for up to ten hours. [EPOCH TIMES]
• SINCE THE FEDERAL BAN ON SPORTS BETTING WAS RECENTLY CANCELLED, ‘betting’ as both a form of entertainment and expectation of profit has evolved to a point where (based on analysis of 184K households) heaviest bettors have diverted more than 50% of customary investment deposits. Mostly, these are people who consume sports trivia and convince themselves of having an informational advantage, superior to guesses about buying equity in stocks or non-liquid assets. Effectively, “they now treat gambling as an investment with potentially immense returns, even though data shows sports betting is terrible financial strategy.” [BYU COMMUNICATIONS]
• THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK: Based on Census Bureau estimates of legal arrivals, California absorbed nearly 9% of U.S. migration from foreigners last year, third highest in the country after Florida & Texas who together inherited over 27%.
• Aircraft pressurization can have a significant impact on gastrointestinal systems, since when the gut breaks down food it produces gas which expands up to four times normal volume, and for many creating ‘high altitude flatus expulsion.’ Upset stomachs are termed ‘jet belly’ and at times have forced flights to turn around for passengers who lose complete bowel control. Foods to best avoid are beans/ broccoli/ kale/ onions/ red meat/ lentils/ and gluten, while drinking plenty of water before and during a flight. [REAL CLEAR SCIENCE]
• “I can never solve a problem by trying to make it smaller, but if I make it big enough, I can begin to see the outlines of a solution by looking at the broader context, uncovering the root causes, and identifying the interconnected factors I might be missing. It’s a strategic way to reframe thinking and find a viable path forward.” – PRESIDENT. EISENHOWER