Tom Faranda's Folly

Thursday wordle

Judge says Trump committed fraud? Overvalued real estate holding by $2.2 billion?

If this stands up it will be devastating for Trump and his family and businesses. Complete look from the NY Times and below that an interesting Daily Mail article. One interesting snippet from the Daily Mail - Trump bought his Mar-a-Lago estate for $10 million 38 years ago - the Judge valued it at $18 million (or accepted the valuation from the NY Attorney general) which seems pretty ridiculous. 

Here's the NY Times -

The surprising decision by Justice Arthur F. Engoron is a major victory for Attorney General Letitia James in her lawsuit against Mr. Trump, effectively deciding that no trial was needed to determine that he had fraudulently secured favorable terms on loans and insurance deals.

Ms. James has argued that Mr. Trump inflated the value of his properties by as much as $2.2 billion and is seeking a penalty of about $250 million in a trial scheduled to begin as early as Monday.

Justice Engoron wrote that the annual financial statements that Mr. Trump submitted to banks and insurance companies “clearly contain fraudulent valuations that defendants used in business.”

***********************

A lawyer for Mr. Trump, Christopher M. Kise, indicated that he would likely appeal the decision, which he called “outrageous” and “completely disconnected from the facts and governing law.” He said that the judge ignored an earlier appeals court ruling and “basic legal, accounting and business principles.”

Mr. Trump, for his part, noted that Justice Engoron was a Democrat and called him “deranged.”

While the trial will determine the size of the penalty, Justice Engoron’s ruling granted one of the biggest punishments Ms. James sought: the cancellation of business certificates that allow some of Mr. Trump’s New York properties to operate, a move that could have major repercussions for the Trump family business.

The decision could terminate his control over a flagship commercial property at 40 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan and a family estate in Westchester County. Mr. Trump might also lose control over his other New York properties, including Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan and his golf club in Westchester.

The order will not dissolve Mr. Trump’s company itself, which is a collection of hundreds of entities, but the decision could nonetheless have a sweeping impact on the company’s New York operations. If Justice Engoron’s decision is not reversed by an appeals court, it could shut down an entity that employs hundreds of people working for him in New York, effectively crushing the company.

But wouldn't the "banks and insurance companies" have done their own due diligence? Not all banks and insurance companies are run by idiots - did the Trump Organization only deal with idiots? The AG Letitia James says more information will come out in court.

Here's the Daily Mail piece (thanks to JD for sending me this) -

Donald Trump's stunning Mar-a-Lago estate is worth $282million more than the $18million valuation it was given by a Manhattan judge who held the ex president liable for fraud, a Palm Beach realtor said.

Engoron used a Palm Beach Assessor valuation that ranged the 128-room property from $18 million to $28 million between 2011 and 2021. But it was valued at $160million by Forbes in 2018, and $350million in an assessment in March 2022. 

And a relator from the area said it's likely worth more than $300million, while Trump himself has estimated the property could be worth up to $700million. He slammed the judge today and said it's worth '100 times more than he values it.' 

The formal assessment does not take into consideration the fair market value - nor does it explain how Trump's estate has only increased in value by $8million since he bought it for $10million 38 years ago.

$18 million? really? Here's a NY Times 3-D image of Mar-a-Lago

Here's the history of Mar-a-Lago, a National Memorial Landmark

Here's a plain vanilla picture.

 

 

Wednesday wordle

James grant - a real financial guru - on interest rates and the economic outlook

This guy is excellent - seven minutes well worth watching. A bit of an education on bonds and fixed income.

 

Tuesday wordle

Yankees win another as they aim to at least finish over .500

The Yankees are now 80-77 with five games to go. Looks like Austin Wells will have a nice career as a Yankee catcher and he's only 24. When was the last time the Baltimore Orioles had the best record in the American League?

 

Review: "The Blaze is Back and Better Than Ever" from River Journal

This is from the River Journal (thanks to Maria for spotting this). Here's what I had posted when visiting at the preliminary opening - Croton residents only - The Blaze - at Van Cortlandt Manor - opens tonight! Brigid took the photo on the right.

There are certain things we’ve come to expect from The Blaze (which my two kids lovingly call “The Pumpkin Thing”): an incredible amount of expertly carved and illuminated Jack O’Lanterns (about 7,000 to be almost-exact), an original atmospheric soundtrack, pumpkin-themed gifts, and autumnal treats. All these things were there, but there was more, too.

One of our favorite new additions were the Pumpkin Pals. Think of them as a cross between Minions and Potato Heads—pumpkins wearing silly costumes and posing in dramatic ways. “They brought a bit of levity to it all,” my spouse said, and it’s true. The Pumpkin Pals (who we named “Pumpkids” before we learned their real name) are hidden throughout the 18^th-century landscape and are such a delight to find.

As we neared the end, I asked my kids what their favorite parts of The Blaze were. My 8-year-old said, “The haunted house,” meaning Van Cortlandt Manor, with its eerily beautiful viny lightshow. My younger said, simply, “The pumpkins.” When I pressed for more detail, she elaborated: “Their different faces.”

And here's another picture we took - Brigid designed and carved this carousel horse during the pandemic - in our basement....

 

Monday wordle

Took 90 seconds.

"How Not to Think About Heaven" Bishop Barron's homily for yesterday's gospel

Which if you are Catholic and went to Church yesterday you know it's the parable in Matthew's chapter 20 - "The Workers in the Vineyard". Love the Bishop's quote from Saint Catherine of Siena.

 

Sunday wordle

World's oldest wooden structure - 476,000 years old - predates homo sapiens

PPredates homo sapiens - but does not predate humanity. "God is Great"!

Half a million years ago, earlier than was previously thought possible, humans were building structures made of wood, according to new research by a team from the University of Liverpool and Aberystwyth University.

The research, published in the journal Nature, reports on the excavation of well-preserved wood at the archaeological site of Kalambo Falls, Zambia, dating back at least 476,000 years and predating the evolution of our own species, Homo sapiens.

Expert analysis of stone tool cut-marks on the wood show that these early humans shaped and joined two large logs to make a structure, probably the foundation of a platform or part of a dwelling.

This is the earliest evidence from anywhere in the world of the deliberate crafting of logs to fit together. Until now, evidence for the human use of wood was limited to its use for making fire, digging sticks and spears.

Wood is rarely found in such ancient sites as it usually rots and disappears, but at Kalambo Falls permanently high water levels preserved the wood.

Fascinating article with some pictures of the site, so hit the link above, or here.

Saturday wordle

Steve Martin's first appearance on Johnny Carson - 50 years ago

I think this is pretty amusing - Steve Martin was 28 years old.

 

Friday wordle

Yankees Aaron Judge has a 3 home run night

This is the second time this season judge has hit 3 homers in one game.

 

Reviews of "The Babylon Bee Guide to Gender"

The book is available on amazon. Kindle or paperback.

A sample of reviews.

Also available with (almost 2,000 reviews!) - The Babylon Bee Guide to Wokeness

Thursday wordle - another Ace!

Under one minute - also called lucky.

Reflection on yesterday's Feast of the Korean Martyrs

Yesterday's meditation from America Magazine (Jesuit publication).

A Reflection for the Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng

By Alessandra Rose

 

Find today’s readings here.

Today we celebrate the pair known as the “Korean Martyrs”—Sts. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang—who were canonized under Pope John Paul II during his apostolic visit to Seoul in 1984, along with more than 100 Korean martyrs. 

St. Paul Chŏng Ha-sang was a married lay catechist. In addition to teaching other Koreans about the faith, he traveled to China to convince the Paris Foreign Missionary Society to send priests to Korea. He was martyred in 1839.

St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn was raised by Catholic parents, who were among the first converts to the faith in the 1800s. Ordained in 1845, he spent much of his priestly ministry secretly evangelizing, helping to spread Catholicism across Korea. He died by beheading in 1846. He was only 25. 

I didn’t know too much about either St. Paul or St. Andrew—or any of the Asian martyrs we honor today—so it was interesting to learn more about them. As I read about the lives they lived and the price they paid for their faith, I began to wonder about my own capacity for fearless evangelization.

In America today, it’s relatively easy to be a Catholic. Yes, there are sincere and long-held frustrations about the Church’s positions on certain subjects and very deep hurt surrounding the Church’s handling of the sex abuse crisis, but I can (usually) share my faith with others without fear of physical harm or retribution, and most Americans have never questioned Catholicism’s legitimacy as a major religion.

If I had lived in the early 1800s in Asia, I wonder what role I would have had in bringing Catholicism to a country with a strong social hierarchy and deep roots in shamanism, Buddhism and Confucianism. What price would I be willing to pay in order to spread the Good News to others? Would my trust in God and his goodness be strong enough to guide me through the challenges and fears about my own well-being? Would I even recognize the gifts and graces of our faith without the benefit of a long family history of Catholic practice?

To be honest, I don’t feel totally confident in my answers to these questions. I’d like to think that my faith would be strong enough to conquer my fear, but no one has ever threatened to behead me for going to Mass. Reflecting on the lives and courageous choices of St. Paul Chŏng Ha-sang and St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn provides a valuable occasion to consider the depth of our own trust in God and what we are willing to sacrifice to follow Christ’s example within our own communities. Of course, the context in which we are able to live as Catholics today is much different from 19th-century Asia, but there are still a myriad of opportunities where we can follow the lead of these martyrs in our societies, our communities and our families. I am grateful for the inspiration their noble examples provide.

 

 

 

Wednesday wordle

"Military Announces Lost F-35 Was Carrying Epstein Client List"

Thanks to the BB for covering this.

At publishing time, reports had begun to circulate that, in addition to the Epstein client list, the missing F-35 jet just so happened to also be carrying the Nashville shooter's manifesto, Barack Obama's original birth certificate, conclusive proof of the identity of the Jan 6 pipe bomber, and all known documentation and evidence of Joe and Hunter Biden's dealings with the Ukrainian and Chinese governments.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a blow to the transparency of information and what could have been a treasure trove of evidence against a global sex trafficking ring, the Pentagon has announced the lost F-35 fighter jet was apparently carrying the only known copy of Jeffrey Epstein's client list.

"This is truly unfortunate," said Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby. "The client list that once belonged to the late Mr. Epstein was being transported to an undisclosed location for analysis to prepare to use it as evidence to deliver justice for Epstein's victims. Tragically, with the plane going missing, it is unlikely we will ever see the list again. Such a peculiar happenstance, really."

Media outlets and the public at large have been calling for the release of Eptsein's client list for years but will now be left to speculate as to its contents. "Such an awful coincidence," said conspiracy theorist Ryan Felix. "It just so happens that the very plane that is carrying the client list disappears? Yeah, sure. Right. Funny how that happens, huh?"

 

Tuesday wordle

60 seconds.

The Giants amazing comeback win.

Worth watching.

If you want all the highlights hit this link. The NFL does not allow their highlights to be embedded. Giants v. Cardinals

Monday wordle

Academic Who offered Proof of ‘Systemic Racism’ Fired For Falsifying Research

FULL DISCLOSURE: I was on the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee for the Croton School Board - it was in existence for two years. I learned a great deal...

Thanks to Maria for pointing me toward this.

Done quietly in the last several weeks at FSU (Florida State University). Multiple articles on this - here's the NY Post -

Florida State University criminology professor Eric Stewart was a guru of the claim that “systemic racism” infests America’s police and American society. Now he’s out of a job on account of “extreme negligence” in his research. The academic was fired after almost 20 years of his data — including figures used in an explosive study, which claimed the legacy of lynchings made whites perceive blacks as criminals, and that the problem was worse among conservatives — were found to be in question. College authorities said he was being fired for “incompetence” and “false results.” Among the studies he has had to retract were claims that whites wanted longer sentences for blacks and Latinos.

And this in The Federalist -

A Florida State University professor whose work was foundational to perpetuating the false narrative that there is widespread “systemic racism” infecting American society has been fired for falsifying data in his academic research on the subject. ... the New York Post revealed that Eric Stewart, an FSU criminology professor, had been fired by the university “on account of ‘extreme negligence’ in his research,” as well as “incompetence” and producing “false results” in his nearly 20 years of work.

“I do not see how you can teach our students to be ethical researchers or how the results of future research projects conducted by you could be deemed as trustworthy,” FSU Provost James Clark wrote in a July 13 letter formally notifying Stewart of his firing.

According to the Post, Stewart has had six studies published in major academic journals between 2003 and 2019 that were “fully retracted,” including a 2019 study claiming the historical legacy of lynchings “made whites perceive blacks as criminals, and that the problem was worse among conservatives.”

Stewart’s retracted research also included claims that racial disparities in criminal sentencing are racially motivated. In a 2015 study, for instance, Stewart suggested Americans supported tougher sentencing for Hispanics because they feared an increase in the U.S. Latino population and Latinos’ potential economic success.

Other retracted studies include a 2018 analysis which “suggested that white Americans view black and Latino people as ‘criminal threats,’ and suggested that perceived threat could lead to ‘state-sponsored social control,’” the Post added.

Clark indicated in his letter that Stewart’s other published works are “in doubt.”

Rather than own up to his actions, Stewart has since attempted to play the victim card and attacked Justin Pickett, a former FSU graduate student who reported Stewart for his unethical conduct. Following the launch of the investigation into his work in 2020, Stewart, who is black, claimed that by raising concerns about his faulty research, Pickett had “essentially lynched [him] and [his] academic character.”

In addition to his $190,000 annual salary at FSU, Stewart’s projects received millions in research grants from major groups and government agencies. According to the Post, the National Institute of Mental Health — which falls under the National Institute of Health — reportedly gave Stewart $3.2 million to research “how African Americans transition into adulthood.”

Unfortunately falsifying data in academic research is really not that uncommon.

Sunday wordle

"Relieved Biden Family Celebrates Hunter Only Being Indicted On Gun Charges"

The Biden family breathed a sigh of relief and launched into celebratory festivities after it was announced that President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, had been indicted on charges of felony gun possession.

"Just the gun charges? That's great news!" said Hunter's stepmother, Jill. "We were expecting so much worse. The really disgusting stuff on his laptop, bribery, sex trafficking, drug dealing, conspiracy to defraud the United States, treason…we thought it would be something really bad. But gun possession? Oh, this is such a great day!"

After nearly reaching a plea deal earlier this year to avoid trial, Hunter Biden now faces the possibility of the Department of Justice pretending to prosecute him. "This will definitely cramp Hunter's style a little bit," said one family source. "But come on. He's not only a Democrat, but he's also a Biden. He's untouchable. He'll be back out on the street, smoking a crack pipe and taking selfies with hookers before you know it."

President Biden only offered one brief statement on the matter. "My son Hunter is only guilty of one thing," the president said. "He's guilty of me loving him too much and being too proud of him. That, and the money stuff we did with Ukraine and China. But that's all. Charbinzigafit."

In response to the indictment, CNN announced it would launch a full investigation into whoever made the call to indict Hunter. "They're not going to get away with this," a CNN insider said. "We've been given strict orders to learn the truth about this and nothing else."

Saturday wordle

Interview with Mark Dickey, the Croton cave explorer who was rescued in Turkey

Thanks to RM for sending me this.

Here's an article & interview  American caver Mark Dickey said he could tell he was "pretty close to fading" after he fell ill while on an expedition to map a 4,186-foot-deep cave system in southern Turkey.

and here an interview with his fiance, who is also a caver.

Friday wordle

A close call.

The Blaze - at Van Cortlandt Manor - opens tonight! Preview here -

They always do a free preview night for local Croton people and The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze  for us was Wednesday evening. Brigid and I went, as did Tim and a number of his friends.

Brigid left working at The Blaze at the end of August. She had worked there for 12 years - about nine months of the years. Generally 2-3 days for about seven months and then when it opened she would work 4-5 days.  In The Blaze parlance Brigid was an "Artistic Carver." It was Brigid's decision to stop; she wants to do more of her own thing. Brigid's decided to do something in acrylic painting - been buzzing along in our back room with stuff spread all over. But she has and will have very fond memories of her time at The Blaze.

So here are some pictures from Wednesday for a taste. Most of the figures are carved from very realistic but plastic pumpkins. There are plenty of real pumpkins and they have to be replaced every week or so. The last two pictures are of things where Brigid designed and did all the carving.

As you enter -

These are real pumpkins in the next two pictures - that's Brigid taking a picture.

A number of years ago it was Brigid's idea to do the 12 zodiac figures, although she did none of the carving. I'm a Leo.

The main building is always done up in multiple flashing lights. I did a sequence in the next four.

And here's a series of individual figures - Brigid designed and completely made the Princess.

Here is the dear Princess - 100% plastic pumpkins. Brigid is going to buy it if they ever are getting rid of it!

Here is my favorite - Brigid designed and built all five of the carousel horses - and she built them all in our basement during the COVID lockdown! They were delivering plastic pumpkins to our house as Brigid needed them.

The strange red, white, and blue "riders" were added this year (an unnecessary addition...) and  he seems to have slipped to the back of this horsey.

The age range to enjoy The Blaze walk through is from very, very, young to very, very old. Takes 45-55 minutes to enjoy.