The FTX saga is hard to understand, but the greed behind it isn’t
Back in 2001, precious few Americans could have explained what Houston-based Enron did as a company and how it got so spectacularly wealthy. But when it filed for a record-breaking bankruptcy, Americans got schooled fast about not putting their trust and money behind swaggering, fast-talking con artists. But fools and their money regrouped over the years, and along came FTX, a $32 billion cryptocurrency exchange that repeated many of Enron’s mistakes and yielded the same abysmal results. We suspect that a lot of investors who lost their shirts in the FTX failure would have trouble explaining exactly what FTX did, and that’s largely because the entire cryptocurrency industry is built on fantasy.
Schools are missing their chance to fight learning loss
Since the start of the pandemic, Congress has provided public school districts with $190 billion in relief funds, roughly triple what the federal government spends on K-12 education in a typical year. This infusion has handed schools an opportunity to start repairing the damage caused by remote learning. Far too many are in danger of squandering it.
Let’s Talk Food: Hawaii Community College’s Palamanui Campus
The Hawaii Community College’s Palamanui Campus in Kailua-Kona with Chef Instructors Paul Heerlein and Fernand Guiot, second-year students Kai Kale and Kama Bolosan worked with me and my Na Leo TV crew last week.
Your Views for December 6
A bad idea
Supreme Court weighs ‘most important case’ on democracy
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is about to confront a new elections case, a Republican-led challenge asking the justices for a novel ruling that could significantly increase the power of state lawmakers over elections for Congress and the presidency.
Trump rebuked for call to suspend Constitution over election
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump faced rebuke Sunday from officials in both parties after calling for the “termination” of parts of the Constitution over his lie that the 2020 election was stolen.
Blinken vows US support for Israel despite unease over gov’t
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday the U.S. will not shrink from its unwavering support for Israel despite stark differences with Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu and concerns the Biden administration may have about potential members of his incoming right-wing government.
Volcanic risk: 2020 report could be key in avoiding disaster
After the lava flows from the 2018 Kilauea eruption took out more than 700 homes and cost tens of millions of dollars in road reconstruction and land buyouts, the county spent more than $2 million on a consultant to conduct an islandwide volcanic risk assessment as well as a Kilauea recovery plan.
Cowboys score 33 points in 4th quarter, rout Colts 54-19
ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas safety Malik Hooker had no idea what he was starting with a fumble return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter against his former team.
CFP: Georgia vs Ohio St in Peach; Michigan vs TCU in Fiesta
For this college football season, the BCS probably would have been fine.
Purdy, defense lead 49ers past Fins; Garoppolo breaks foot
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Miami Dolphins hit San Francisco’s vaunted defense with a 75-yard haymaker on the opening play and then watched 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo leave with a season-ending foot injury.
Indonesia’s Mt. Semeru unleashes lava river in new eruption
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s highest volcano on its most densely populated island released searing gas clouds and rivers of lava Sunday in its latest eruption.
US intel chief thinking ‘optimistically’ for Ukraine forces
KYIV, Ukraine — The head of U.S. intelligence says fighting in Russia’s war in Ukraine is running at a “reduced tempo” and suggests Ukrainian forces could have brighter prospects in coming months.
Obituaries for December 5
Erika Lokilani Boyd, 50, of Mountain View died Nov. 9 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, she was the owner of Boyd Hawaii LLC Catering and member of Connect Point Church. Visitation 10-11 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 10) at Connect Point Church, 168 Holomua St. in Hilo. Celebration of life at 11 a.m. Casual attire (preferably green); no flowers. Survived by husband, Eric Boyd; daughters, Ipolei (Shandon) Pestano and Anela Boyd; sons, Spike (Eliza Almeida) Boyd and Zyrin Boyd; a grandson. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
No OPEC+ oil shakeup as Russian price cap stirs uncertainty
FRANKFURT, Germany — The Saudi-led OPEC oil cartel and allied producers including Russia did not change their targets for shipping oil to the global economy amid uncertainty about the impact of new Western sanctions against Russia that could take significant amounts of oil off the market.
Shootings at power substations cause North Carolina outages
CARTHAGE, N.C. (AP) — Two power substations in a North Carolina county were damaged by gunfire in what is being investigated as a criminal act, causing damage that could take days to repair and leaving tens of thousands of people without electricity, authorities said Sunday.
Once powerful CNN now riddled with more layoffs and cutbacks
The dismantling of CNN as the Democrats’ leading network could be on the way with layoffs and cutbacks putting the once-dominant media outlet in decline.
Rainy Side View: Awesome volcanoes
I was writing a cheerful holiday column, when Mauna Loa erupted. Auwe! But watchu gonna do?
Iran morality police status unclear after ‘closure’ comment
CAIRO — An Iranian lawmaker said Sunday that Iran’s government is “paying attention to the people’s real demands,” state media reported, a day after a top official suggested that the country’s morality police whose conduct helped trigger months of protests has been shut down.
Of course railroad workers should get paid sick leave. So should all workers
Approaching year three of a global pandemic, it’s shocking that the U.S. is still debating whether workers should be allowed to take time off work when they’re sick or need to see a doctor.
Non-religious voters wield clout, tilt heavily Democratic
When members of the small Pennsylvania chapter of Secular Democrats of America log on for their monthly meetings, they’re not there for a virtual happy hour.
A legacy of lava: Kim, Trusdell reflect on 1984 Mauna Loa eruption that threatened Hilo
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory research geologist Frank Trusdell is considered an authority on Mauna Loa.
More progressive County Council to be sworn in Monday
There’s a new day coming for the Hawaii County Council, with a freshly minted chairwoman, three freshman members, newly named committees and a more progressive agenda.
Polynesian pride: Three-day canoe voyage in mid-Pacific
RAPA NUI, Chile — The causes are worthy, the course is daunting – almost 500 kilometers (about 300 miles) across a stretch of the Pacific Ocean in a large canoe.
