MesaZona > Table of Contents : Here's The Menu. Enjoy

Tuesday, December 04, 2018

How George H.W. Bush’s Pardons for Iran-Contra Conspirators Set the Stag...

Published on Dec 4, 2018

https://democracynow.org - As the media lauds George H.W. Bush’s legacy, we look at his role in the Iran-Contra scandal. (No mention of Oliver North and his start-up of what we now call PMCs - Private Military Contractors. Don Rumsfield or Dick Cheney - who was #43's Vice-President)
Bush Sr. was vice president when the Reagan administration conspired to deceive and defy Congress with its illegal arms sale to Iran in exchange for securing the release of American hostages in Lebanon.
The proceeds from the sale were used to illegally fund the Nicaraguan Contras. In 1992, when Bush Sr. was president, he pardoned several Iran-Contra defendants, including Caspar Weinberger, Robert McFarlane and Elliott Abrams.
We speak with Greg Grandin, prize-winning author and professor of Latin American history at New York University.

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Stock Market DROPS 800 Points as Yield Curve INVERTS! Major Recession Si...

Recorded in the middle of the day . . . YIELD CURVE just inverted. Investors fear "a slowing down"

Saturday, December 01, 2018

Shaming A Sheik On The G20 World Summit Stage In Buenos Aires

Oh yes, taking a cue from Shakespeare, All The World is A Stage and all men (and women) are merely players. They have their exits and their entrances and one man (or woman) plays many parts . . . Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the G-20 summit on Nov. 30, 2018 in Buenos Aires. The summit marks a test of the extent to which world leaders will seek to distance themselves from him.
Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images
Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images
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How far did they go for the once and future King of Saudi Arabia?
The controversy surrounding the crown prince was evident on Friday, when he was sidelined for the official "family photo" of world leaders at the summit, and then exited the stage without shaking hands or speaking with other leaders. President Trump "exchanged pleasantries" with the crown prince, according to a senior White House official, but there was no formal meeting scheduled between the two leaders.

Enlarge this image

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appears on the sideline of the official "family photo" of world leaders taken on Nov. 30, 2018 at the G-20 summit. (far right, 2nd row back)

Ricardo Mazalan/AP

For now, the crown prince seems to have survived the fallout, but the iron-clad lock he once seemed to have on becoming Saudi Arabia's next king is no longer a sure thing. . . .
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Read more >> https://www.npr.org

How Tim Cook Makes And Spends His Millions

(Transcript included FYI)

Published on Dec 1, 2018

Apple CEO Tim Cook's estimated net worth is $625 million, lower than most of his tech CEO peers, and he spends his wealth much more frugally than many others. His leadership at Apple has led to a shift in philanthropic giving.
------------------------------------------------------#Apple #TimCook #BusinessInsider

Following is a transcript of the video:
Tim Cook is worth an estimated $625 million.
As the CEO of Apple, he's the first openly gay CEO in the Fortune 500.
And in 2018, Apple became the first US company ever to be worth $1 trillion.
But compared to his counterparts in the tech world, his net worth is pretty modest. Google founder and Alphabet CEO, Larry Page, is worth $53 billion. Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is worth just under $70 billion. And Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos is the first person in modern history to accumulate a fortune north of $100 billion
Cook doesn't lead a lavish lifestyle and has said, "I like to be reminded of where I came from, and putting myself in modest surroundings helps me do that."
The Alabama native had a humble start in life as the son of a shipyard worker and pharmacy employee.
When he was promoted as Apple's CEO in 2011, his base salary was $900,000, and has risen to $3 million in 2017.
He also receives a cash incentive based on the company's performance, which pushed his total pay for 2017 to over $12 million. But his net worth consists mainly of $622 million worth of Apple's stock and options he has collected since becoming CEO. And $3.4 million of Nike stock options he gets as a member of Nike's board of directors.
So, how does Apple's leader spend his fortune?
Quite differently than other CEOs of tech giants. In 2012, he bought a 2,400 square foot home in Palo Alto, for $1.9 million, the median cost of a home in Palo Alto in 2018 is $3.3 million. And his frugality doesn't stop at the housing market. He reportedly buys his underwear at Nordstrom's semi-annual sale.
But Cook does splurge when it comes to donating to good causes, a philosophy that differs from that of his predecessor, who lacked a record of public giving.
He encourages his employees to give and has led Apple into many philanthropic endeavors. In 2011, he instated a company-wide, nonprofit donation matching program. Over the past 10 years, Apple has contributed $130 million to help RED fight AIDS, $100 million to advance diversity in tech, through President Barack Obama's Connected initiative, $50 million to hospitals, and more.
Cook practices what he preaches, too. He's donated to civil rights efforts and in 2018, he donated more than 23,000 shares of his Apple stock, valued at just under $5 million to an undisclosed charity. He also regularly makes campaign donations. He's hosted fundraisers for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and in 2016, he donated $236,000 to the Hillary Victory Fund.
Cook's altruism even applies to his future financial plans. He intends to use his wealth to put his nephew through college. And upon his death, he plans to give away all his money to good causes. He told Fortune magazine,
"You want to be the pebble in the pond
that creates the ripple for change."

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How Tim Cook Makes And Spends His Millions

This is Elon Musk’s Key to Tesla’s Future

Published on Nov 30, 2018

Views: over 430,000

Elon Musk's Gigafactory is arguably the most important thing that Tesla makes. The 1.9 million-square-foot factory in Sparks, Nevada, is only 30 percent complete, but it’s already on track to make 60 percent of the world’s lithium ion batteries — and Tesla plans to build more Gigafactories around the world. The Verge took a look inside.
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Electric Earthquakes in Alaska and Global Ringing Sounds (759)

Mesa: Arizona's Magical City?

Pardon me for the inserted expression of awe and wonder and dis-belief at a headline like that!
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for FAM trips, whole-heartedly. I've been invited to go myself some years ago on a few "familiarization" trips while living in New York City at the invitation and generosity of the Mexico Office of Tourism and AeroMexico - first-class accommodations and excursions to Monterrey and Mexico City to promote the region's culture, business, environments and destination attractions.

This post's headline story (without the question mark) is written by a reporter from Amsterdam News. Never heard of that news organ?
At first glance when the newsfeed was received, your MesaZona blogger was astounded that a journalist from Holland went so overboard to call Mesa magical . . . Mebbe she was drinking the water here????
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The source of the fabulous FAM story originates in New York. Believe it or not. Here's the header >
For those who don't know, what we now call New York City was founded by The Dutch in the 1600's. Hence the name "New Amsterdam". Let's for the time being Re-Imagine Mesa from this view point:

Mesa: Arizona’s magical city

Sheryl Nance-Nash | 11/29/2018, 5:06 p.m. | Updated on 11/29/2018, 5:06 p.m.

"The combination of the Sonoran Desert and Superstition Mountains makes for much magic in Mesa. Arizona’s third largest city is home to more than 40 golf courses and 56 parks. Hit the trails for walking, hiking and biking. Birdwatch in the Tonto National Forest. Kayak or paddle board on Saguaro Lake.
Outdoor enthusiasts call Mesa their “happy place.”
(Right! For about four months in a year)
With more than 900 restaurants, Mesa makes foodies fall hard, and with good reason—the grub is great. For sure, Mesa is about food, glorious food. Spend time along the Fresh Foodie Trail and experience the Mesa food story firsthand. . ."
LINK >> http://amsterdamnews.com
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OK. But your MesaZona blogger just can't swallow that over-the-top phrasing "For sure, Mesa is all about food, glorious food."
GLORIOUS FOOD here in Mesa? Sheryl Nance-Nash lifts that sentence predicate objective from the name of New York City's best highly-regarded upper-crust catering company Glorious Food. . .
She goes on to say: With more than 900 restaurants, Mesa makes foodies fall hard, and with good reason—the grub is great
Spend time along the Fresh Foodie Trail and experience the Mesa food story firsthand. Wind your way through Mesa and the towns of Gilbert and Queen Creek, stopping at more than a dozen culinary attractions, including farms, orchards, citrus groves and an olive mill. There’s plenty to see and do, so maybe a few highlights will tempt you:
Mesa and the surrounding areas offer niche, specialty food spots such as
Dulce Churro Café featuring handmade churros, pastries that you have your way, be it with sprinkles or dipped in chocolate, and Toasted Mallow, gourmet marshmallow treats in a variety of flavors, such as peppermint, cookie dough, strawberry cheesecake, caramel apple and others.
In between citrus groves in Mesa is a little unassuming place called Jalapeno Bucks, that serves up big plates of “New Wave Mexican Soul Food and BuzzSaw Brand BBQ.”
. . .
Mesa is more than just food, however
A Sonoran Hike at Usery Mountain Regional Park and Wind Cave Trail awaits
Arizona Goat Yoga is ever popular, as is hot air ballooning
Shop the Mesa Market Place and Swap Meet with more than 1,600 booths, live entertainment and more than a mile of shopping
For upscale shopping, there’s the Village Square at Dana Park
The Mesa Arts Center and Museum is the largest performing arts, visual arts and arts education facility of its kind in the Southwest.
Art fans will love all the murals on Main Street.
Every second Friday of the month, downtown Mesa comes alive. Art galleries and businesses have art booths, live bands, food booths and more.
Mesa hasn’t missed out on the brew pub scene either, with its slew of microbreweries.
Drink up.
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