Happiness, Birkin Bags, & A Black Market For Tee Times
March 21, 2024
Hello, readers – happy Thursday! Today, we’re talking about happiness, two major resignations, Cuba’s displeasure with the U.S., new tailpipe emissions limits, Birkin bags, & a black market for tee times.
Here’s some good news: billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $640 million to 361 small nonprofits that responded to an open call for applications. That’s more than double what she had initially pledged to give away through the application process. Also, new research has found that Pembrolizumab/Keytruda might work on more cancers than previously thought, helping thousands more women.
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” – Theodore Roosevelt
If You’re Happy And You Know It, You’re Probably OId
To gauge the happiness of people around the globe, the Gallup World Poll has respondents picture their life as a ladder with 10 rungs. If you’re living the best life possible, you would say you’re at the top of the ladder, while the bottom rung – rung #0 – represents the worst life possible. Researchers use the responses to determine the happiness of each country in the world.
Over the past decade, Finland has been a consistent happiness heavy-hitter, always ranking in the top 10 – and 2023 was no different. According to the 2024 report, which spans the years 2021-2023, Finland topped the rankings for the sixth time in a row.
Meanwhile, the United States dropped from #15 on the list to #23. According to one expert, the country saw “a dramatic decrease in the self-reported well-being of people aged 30 and below,” but one age group saw a surprising increase in happiness – people aged 60 and older. Why are younger people less happy than ever? One co-author says, “People are hearing that the world is going to hell in a handbasket and the young especially are feeling more threatened by it.” He added that much of this is thanks to higher social media usage in younger age groups.
Squashing Shadiness In Southeast Asia
Vietnam’s Communist Party announced Wednesday that President Vo Van Thuong would be resigning from his position after just one year. The party has focused on its anti-corruption campaign over the past few years, his resignation is likely related to some corruption scandal that’s been kept hush-hush.
In its statement, the party said that Thuong’s “violations” had “negatively affected public perception, as well as the reputation of the Party and the state. Being aware of his responsibilities before the Party, the state and the people, Thuong has sent his resignation from his positions.”
Outside analysts have repeatedly warned in recent years that Vietnam’s unrelenting anti-corruption drive and the executive turnover it causes might make foreign investors worried. However, Hanoi has successfully walked the tightrope thus far, taking down multiple leaders for corruption while also positioning itself as a safe place for companies looking to shift their manufacturing away from China. Last year, it was the only country in the world to receive diplomatic visits from both Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, indicating its unique position on the global stage. Its stock market also hit a record high earlier this week as investors speculated about the future of former President Thuong.
Another Leader Bites The Dust
- It’s a bad day for leaders across the globe. On Wednesday, Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announced that he would be stepping down from his position as soon as a successor is chosen, citing “personal and political, but mainly political reasons.” His coalition government has recently been hit by multiple controversies, including the country’s cost-of-living crisis and two failed referenda aimed at changing “sexist” language in the constitution.
- Varadkar was born to an Indian-born father and Irish mother, was a doctor before becoming a member of parliament at 27, and was the country’s youngest and first gay premier. His government was known for its attempts to liberalize Ireland, especially its conservative anti-abortion laws.
Cuba Is Not Havana Great Time
- Facing highly-publicized protests by hundreds of people (in a country of over 11 million people), Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel blasted the U.S. government in his comments to the media on Tuesday, calling the American empire “genocidal and … hegemonic” while saying it has “contempt” for the Cuban people.
- Protests have broken out across the country in response to power cuts, food and medicine shortages, and rising inflation. According to Díaz-Canel, they were mainly peaceful but overblown in western media as “serious events.” “Those in Cuba make headlines. Why? Because there is an entire perversity when it comes to dealing with the Cuban problem,” he said.
- He pointed to America’s sanctions and embargo on Cuba, which have lasted over 60 years at this point, as the reason behind his country’s current economic situation. U.S. officials said that the country’s Soviet-style, centralized economic model is to blame.
More Mixed Nuts
- U.K. privacy watchdog probes Princess Kate hospital notes breach claims (NBC)
- China tells UK and others to stop ‘smearing’ new Hong Kong security law (Reuters)
- Haiti central bank raid leaves at least three dead (BBC)
- Auction of Aung San Suu Kyi’s home in Myanmar attracts no bidders (Guardian)
- Ukrainian drones attacked Russian bomber air base overnight, Kyiv source says (Reuters)
Middle East Mixed Nuts
- Biden’s Israel-Gaza Policy Prompts Warning From Democratic Donors (NYT, $)
- US and UK doctors in Washington to warn of IDF’s ‘appalling atrocities’ in Gaza (Guardian)
- Incoming Palestinian prime minister lays out plans for reform but faces major obstacles (AP)
Taking It Easy On Our Electric Future
- Yesterday, the White House announced new emissions standards to (hopefully) reverse the decline in electric vehicle sales. The EPA said that under the new rule, the industry could meet the tailpipe emissions limits it’s imposed if 56% of new vehicle sales are electric and 13% are plug-in hybrids or other partially electric by 2032 – currently, EV sales make up just 7.2% of purchases.
- The EPA rule applies to model years 2027 to 2032. It slows the implementation of stricter pollution standards from 2027 through 2029, but then, the rule will then get stricter and nearly reach the EPA’s preferred levels by 2032. The auto industry called the EPA’s initial standards too strict. The new standards will avoid more than 7 billion tons of planet-warming carbon emissions over the next three decades.
Chasing The Birkin Bag
- French luxury brand Hermès has been sued in California. The company is accused of violating antitrust law by “tying” the sale of one item to the purchase of another after claiming it only allows customers with “sufficient purchase history” to buy Birkin handbags. The proposed federal class-action lawsuit was filed in San Francisco.
- “Typically, only those consumers who are deemed worthy of purchasing a Birkin handbag will be shown a Birkin handbag [in a private room],” the lawsuit claimed. Hermès sales associates are told to use Birkins “as a way to coerce consumers to purchase ancillary products.” Hermès operates about 43 stores in the U.S., including eight in California.
More Nuts In America
- Battle over Texas’ controversial immigration law SB 4 continues with federal appeals court hearing Wednesday (CNN)
- Trump wants higher tariffs on Chinese cars. Some Democrats agree. (Politico)
- Who is Bernie Moreno, the GOP nominee for the Senate seat in Ohio? (CNN)
- Ex-US generals who oversaw Afghan exit describe chaos and challenges of withdrawal (BBC)
- Third of 6 former officers sentenced to more than 17 years in the torture of 2 Black men (CNN)
- Trump wins Arizona primary, but Haley takes nearly 19% of the vote (Axios)
What’s Driving Golfers Away In L.A.
- Los Angeles golfers are taking a swing at change. Earlier this week, local golfers and other community members gathered at a weekly meeting of the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks’ golf advisory committee to complain about a black market for tee times. Apparently, brokers use their senior city golf memberships to book all the best tee times – usually morning and early afternoon slots – and then sell those spots to desperate golfers for $40 a pop. Those who don’t want to fork over the extra cash have to sign up for waitlist spots, which only open up if someone cancels their reservation.
- According to the golfers, city officials have known about it for a long time but have declined to do anything about it. “This is an unconscionable breach of the public trust. We are here to serve the public, and a very small segment of the public is being served, and I am angry about it,” said the head of one community advisory board. She added that, despite sending an inquiry to the head of L.A.’s golf program, “We haven’t seen any substantive change whatsoever. We’re going to fight alongside golfers until this gets solved.”
More Loose Nuts
- Scientists studied how cicadas pee. Their insights could shed light on fluid dynamics (NPR)
- Global ocean heat has been at record levels every single day for the last year (CNN)
- The next big climate deadline is for meat and dairy (Vox)
- WindRunner: Gigantic new aircraft design aims to create the largest plane ever to fly (CNN)
- Condé Nast Plans More Layoffs, Files Charge Against Union as Staffers March to Executive Offices (Hollywood Reporter)
- Ozempic profits are helping fund a new Nvidia-powered AI supercomputer (CNN)