WRLTHD: April 2015

Swiss nation is the happiest on Earth, with America 15th.

By John Hall for MailOnline

Switzerland is the world's happiest nation thanks to healthy GDP figures, strong social bonds and an increasing life expectancy, a new study of global wellbeing has revealed.

The list is dominated by European nations, particularly those in Scandinavia, and measures a country's population by factors contributing to its citizens' contentment, rather than wealth.

Britons are happier now than they were two years ago, the study found, but still ranks in at a relatively lowly 21st place. And despite often mocking its northern neighbour as an inferior nation, the United States is a full 10 places below Canada, ranking at 10th and fifth respectively.

Unsurprisingly the world's least happy countries are places ravaged by war and extreme poverty - with Syria, Burundi and Togo taking their place at the bottom of the 158-nation strong list.

Spectacular: Icelandic citizens are now so happy that the country jumped from number nine in 2013 to number two this year, thanks in part to their well beautiful scenery (pictured) and cultural history.

The 2015 World Happiness Report is the third of its kind and is edited by a team of renowned academics and analysts - among them American economist Jeffrey Sachs and head of the London School of Economics' 'wellbeing' programme, Richard Laynard.

First published in 2012, the study uses a range of factors to determine how happy a nation is, ranging from purely domestic perspectives - such as GDP and life expectancy figures - to how its citizens view themselves and their country within the world at large.

THE 10 HAPPIEST NATIONS

1. Switzerland 6. Finland

2. Iceland 7. Netherlands

3. Denmark 8. Sweden

4. Norway 9. New Zealand

5. Canada 10. Australia

This year's study is the first to additionally break the statistics down by age and gender, however, with it possible for readers to find, for example, that a country ranking relatively highly overall, has a hidden population of deeply unhappy young women concerned about equal rights and pay.

The top 10 on the list is dominated by nations from Scandinavia - which are unsurprisingly also among the wealthiest on the planet too.

Equally unsurprising are the countries lower at the bottom of the list - almost all of which are in the midst by bloody civil war, political unrest or crushing poverty.

One surprising anomaly, however, is Palestine, which came just below the midway point in the study at number 108, despite being ravaged by conflict.

Happiness: The top 10 on the list is dominated by nations from Scandinavia. Citizens of these countries, such as Swedish nationals (pictured) are unsurprisingly also among the wealthiest on the planet too

Fierce rivalry: Despite often mocking their northern neighbour as an inferior nation, U.S. nationals (left) are a full 10 places below Canadians (right), ranking at 10th and fifth respectively.

Norway will be first country to shut down FM, 2017

By Lizzie Plaugic
Norway will shut down FM radio in the country beginning in 2017, Radio.no reports. The Norwegian Ministry of Culture finalized a shift date this week, making it the first country to do away with FM radio entirely. The country plans to transition to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) as a national standard.

A statement released this week by the Ministry of Culture confirms a switch-off date that was proposed by the Norwegian government back in 2011. The government has concluded that the country is capable of meeting all the requirements necessary for a smooth transition to digital.
Listeners will have access to more diverse and pluralistic radio-content, and enjoy better sound quality and new functionality," Minister of Culture Thorhild Widvey said in a statement.

"Digitization will also greatly improve the emergency preparedness system, facilitate increased competition and offer new opportunities for innovation and development."

DAB currently offers 22 national channels as opposed to FM's five, and has the capacity to host almost 20 more. The cost of transmitting radio channels through FM is also eight times higher than the cost of DAB transmission, the ministry reports.

DAB has been available in Norway since 1995. DAB+, an updated form of DAB, was made available in 2007. According to the Ministry of Culture, it will be up to radio broadcasters to choose between DAB and DAB+ transmissions, although it is likely that by 2017, most broadcasting in the country will be in DAB+.

Several other countries in Europe and Southeast Asia are also considering a national move to DAB, but no other country has confirmed a timeline, Radio.no reports.

Norway's FM shutdown will begin on January 11th, 2017.

Michael Phelps confirms he's aiming for 5th Olympics in Rio

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer
MESA, Ariz. (AP) - Michael Phelps is aiming to compete in a fifth Olympics next year in Rio, although the 18-time Olympic champion won't swim in the world championships this summer.

Phelps confirmed his intention to make one last run at the Olympics on Wednesday.

"You guys heard it here first," he told reporters at Skyline Aquatic Center, where he will be competing in his first meet since serving a six-month suspension by USA Swimming after a second drunken driving arrest last fall. "I am looking forward to next year. I don't think it's too hard to really realize why I came back."

But Phelps said he won't be swimming at the world meet in Russia in August as part of the punishment set forth by the sport's U.S. governing body. He had already qualified in three events before being banned from the last major international meet before the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

"I really enjoy being on those trips," he said. "That's why it is painful to think that I won't have the chance to compete at worlds."

There had been informal discussions about Phelps being reinstated to the U.S. team for worlds, but it would have meant removing swimmers that were named to the team in his absence.

"By no means do I want this to be a distraction from the team," he said. "No way would I ever want to displace a member of that team."

Phelps is back in Arizona, where he attended 45 days of inpatient alcohol rehabilitation after being arrested on DUI charges in his hometown of Baltimore last September. He offered no specifics about his treatment, which he continued in Maryland. He also enrolled in Alcoholics Anonymous.

"The last couple of months have probably been the hardest I've ever had to go through in my entire life," he said. "I take full responsibility for all of my actions. I've hurt a lot of people and it's been terrible."

The 29-year-old swimmer was sentenced to 18 months of probation. He said he's done more growing up in recent months than he has in his entire life.

"I have been able to come out on a better end, have a clear head," he said. "I don't think I've ever been like this once in my life."

Phelps' longtime coach, Bob Bowman, acknowledged his star swimmer's second arrest for drunken driving made it "pretty hard to convince me that anything was going to lead us back to something that we'd be proud of."

Phelps called Bowman a few times from rehab, which the coach described as "really weird" because he typically never heard from Phelps away from the pool. Bowman visited Phelps during treatment, still skeptical that the swimmer was there for any reason other than he had to be. But Bowman left thinking differently.

"I just had no doubt that he had changed in a way that was really meaningful," Bowman said. "He was completely different and it's been that way every day since he's been back."

Phelps pleaded guilty after his first drunken driving arrest in 2004. Five years later, a photo was published of him using a marijuana pipe at a party, which drew a three-month suspension and caused some sponsors to drop him.

Phelps knows not everyone will believe he's contrite and has changed.

"If somebody doesn't believe the words that are coming out of my mouth that's their choice," he said. "I, of course, would like to show everybody in the world that I am in a different place and I am much better than I ever have been. I understand that's going to take a lot of time. This week will be the first week that I can start that."

Phelps will be competing in Mesa for the first time since the Pan Pacific Championships last August. The Arizona meet was where Phelps made his comeback a year ago after an extended retirement following the 2012 Olympics.

He isn't sure what to expect, having only recently returned to the kind of hard training he did before the 2008 Beijing Games, where he won a record eight gold medals. Phelps is falling back on the mentality he used for much of his career.

"I would just get up and swim as hard as I could and leave it in the water," he said. "That's what I'm going to do here. I know I'm more prepared now than I was at this time last year."

His first event is the 100-meter butterfly on Thursday, when he'll compete against longtime rival Ryan Lochte.

Phelps is surrounding himself with familiar faces this week, including his fiancee Nicole Johnson and family members.

"I'm a lot happier and in a lot better state and in a lot better physical shape than I really have been in a long time," he said.

McDonald's: 60 years, billions served

By Chicago Tribune staff

Sixty years ago, on April 15, 1955, a 52-year-old former piano player and salesman from Oak Park opened a hamburger stand in Des Plaines. His name was Ray Kroc, and what's today known around the world as McDonald's was off and running.

Burgers cost 15 cents, cheeseburgers 19 cents, and fries a dime with milkshakes 20 cents. Kroc racked up $366.12 in business that first day (equivalent to $3,206.58 today). By 1958, the chain reportedly had sold its 100 millionth burger.

Kroc's wasn't the first McDonald's restaurant. That was in Southern California and run by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald, whose operation impressed Kroc when he sold them their milkshake machines.

Seizing upon the potential he saw in franchising nationally, Kroc grew the business at a torrid pace, eventually buying out their stake in 1961.

Oak Brook-based McDonald's today has more 36,000 locations spread over more than 100 countries serving about 69 million customers daily.

— Phil Rosenthal
Flip through the photo gallery at the top of this story to see the original restaurant and some of its workers, as well as what it looks like today.
Copyright © 2015, Chicago Tribune

Aaron Hernandez convicted of 1st-degree murder, gets life in prison

by Associated Press
FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has been formally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murder.

Hernandez stood impassively as the court officer announced the sentence Wednesday. It came shortly after he was found guilty on all charges in the death of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd in June 2013. Lloyd was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee at the time.

The sentencing was a formality because a first-degree murder conviction in Massachusetts carries an automatic sentence of life without parole.

The 25-year-old Hernandez and his lawyers left the courtroom by a side door to a holding cell area after the sentence was pronounced.

Teen girls give Pa. woman black eye for 'shushing' them in movie theater

teens-attack-woman-for-shushing-them-in-pa-movie-theater.jpg

(screen shot/WPXI)

By John Luciew | jluciew@pennlive.com

A Stroudsburg, Pa., woman suffered a broken eye socket and bruises during the attack, which took place in a local movie theater of all places.

And why did the group of teen girls allegedly pounce on victim Cindy Santamaria-Williams?
She tells WNEP-TV, which broke the story, that she 'shushed' them for being "loud and cursing."

Worse, the attack didn't occur during the heat of the moment inside the theater. The woman tells WNEP that the girls jumped her after the film let out:

"They immediately jumped on me and knocked me to the ground, punched me in the face," she said, adding that the original girls were waiting with five other teens.

She tells WNEP that she hopes someone will come forward to help police catch the young suspects:

"They were in my face. Their face is in my head. If I see them again or in a line up, I know exactly who they are," Santamaria-Williams said.

Stroud Area Regional Police Chief William Parrish says authorities are looking at video from the mall.

An image of the suspects in the alleged beating of Cindy Santamaria-Williams of Stroudsburg, Pa., who suffered a broken eye socket and bruises during an attack that took place in a local movie theater after she 'shushed' teen girls who she says were talking loudly and cursing during the film.screen shot/PA

Homepage

No word on what the movie was that started all this.

Check out WNEP's video report on the case right here.

So would you fear asking others to be quiet during movies due to the violent reaction in this case?

Tell us.

This story has been updated to include an image of the suspects in the case from WNEP.

3 NFL teams and 2 stadiums at play for L.A.

(Associated Press via Manica Architecture)

By Sam Farmer
The Southwestern setting at the Arizona Biltmore was casual, but the billionaires and multimillionaires weren't — most dressed in coats and ties for three days of closed-door sessions.

The 32 NFL owners were getting serious about an issue the league has largely treated as an afterthought for two decades: The lack of a professional football team in the Los Angeles market.

There was an air of inevitability that a solution was at hand.

The owners heard a detailed, hourlong update on the Inglewood stadium proposal and the competing vision for Carson. Owners who once deflected questions about L.A. with a shrug or smirk gave thoughtful, informed and optimistic answers.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a member of the league's committee on Los Angeles opportunities, predicted two teams in L.A. by next year.

"We have some real good options," Kraft said. "And now we'll see what happens in the end game."

John Mara of the New York Giants, also on the committee, didn't commit to the idea of two teams, but indicated that a return is imminent.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who is bullish on the Inglewood stadium, said, "A deal is in the crosshairs."

The NFL has never been closer to returning to L.A. In the past, venues were pitched by people who didn't own teams. This time, owners themselves are backing the stadium proposals.

"The developers can do all they want, but until the owner of a team wants to go out there, it's not going to happen," said the New York Jets' Woody Johnson at the owners' annual March meeting.

St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke has released plans for a futuristic stadium on 298 acres at Hollywood Park in Inglewood and he has the required entitlements to start construction this year.

San Diego Chargers owner Dean Spanos and Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis want to build on 168 acres just off the 405 Freeway in Carson, and they are weeks away from obtaining the same entitlements.

The Rams, Chargers and Raiders are unhappy because their current stadiums are outdated and — in the case of the Chargers — crumbling. All three teams are on year-to-year leases, making it easier to move.

"We have a good chance of getting back to Los Angeles soon, but I cannot speculate on exactly who, how or when," said NFL Executive Vice President Eric Grubman, appointed by Commissioner Roger Goodell to oversee the L.A. market. "There are too many variables that we don't control, so if you guess now, you have a high probability of being wrong."

The league has said no teams will relocate for this season, but has left open the possibility of one or two teams moving to L.A. for 2016. The two-month window to submit a relocation request is January through February, although the NFL has discussed accepting applications earlier to give teams more time to move.

The three markets in danger of losing their teams have made varying degrees of progress to keep them.

St. Louis has developed plans for a $985-million stadium on the banks of the Mississippi River, and is exploring how to acquire the land and $400 million in public money to subsidize the project.

San Diego has identified a site near the Chargers' current stadium and a task force appointed by the mayor is expected to present a financing plan by May — although team officials are not optimistic they will get public support to subsidize construction.

The Raiders are still waiting to hear from the developer representing the city of Oakland and Alameda County; indications are that a viable proposal is a long-shot.

With three teams and two stadium concepts in play in the L.A. metropolitan area, there are more than two dozen possible outcomes, although some are implausible, such as both stadiums being built or all three teams playing in one venue.

Here are nine that merit discussion.

Inglewood gets built
Rams alone
Why it can work: Kroenke, the NFL's second-richest owner, doesn't need a second team to help him and his partners finance a $1.8-billion stadium at the site of the old Hollywood Park racetrack. The development would include a small concert hall, residences, restaurants, and office and retail space, similar to LA Live around Staples Center.

The Rams would have the best chance to be successful in a one-team, one-stadium situation — they have a nostalgic connection to L.A., having played in Southern California from 1946 to 1994, and still have fans here.

Kroenke's site could host a Super Bowl, and be a potential home for such league assets as NFL Network, the Pro Bowl and a West Coast Hall of Fame.

Why it can't work: St. Louis has done the most of the three cities to keep its team. If the $400 million in taxpayer money remains in the stadium proposal there, the NFL will be reticent to allow the Rams to leave that cash behind.

Also, Spanos has made it clear that he thinks having a team in L.A. would hurt the Chargers in San Diego. If he can assemble eight other owners to vote with him — three-quarters of the 32 NFL owners must approve any relocation request — he could block Kroenke's move.

Outlook: Strong likelihood.

Rams, Chargers together
Why it can work: This is an outcome the NFL could live with if both the Rams and Chargers can't close deals with their cities. Putting a second team in Inglewood gives that stadium greater financial viability.

The Raiders have more options where they can move. The team has discussed relocation with San Antonio officials. They conceivably could share Levi's Stadium with the San Francisco 49ers. Or the Raiders could go to St. Louis if the Rams were to leave.

Why it can't work: This would require Kroenke and Spanos to reach agreement to share a stadium, something they have not shown a willingness to do.

Before Kroenke joined the Hollywood Park project, the developer initially approached the Chargers but they were not interested. The Chargers like the easy freeway access of the Carson site and believe fans care most about their ability to get to and from a game as quickly as possible.

Outlook: Somewhat likely.

Rams, Raiders together
Why it can work: Raiders owner Davis has an affection for the Hollywood Park site, where his father, Al, wanted to build a stadium in the early 1990s. Informal surveys show the Rams are the most popular of the three teams in the L.A. market, followed by the Raiders.

The Oakland team is not in good financial shape and would be more open to make a deal with the Rams.

The TV networks would have an NFC and AFC team in the market, so divisional realignment would not be necessary.

Why it can't work: Spanos would put up a vigorous fight to block any moves to L.A., other than his own. Two teams would saturate the L.A. market and the Chargers' threat to move to L.A. would give the team little or no leverage to get a stadium deal in San Diego.

Outlook: Less likely.

Kroenke as landlord
Why it can work: The NFL would get a stadium and location it likes, even if the Rams don't move. The Chargers and/or Raiders could move to the L.A. market without having to build a venue.

Why it can't work: If Kroenke were going to build the most expensive NFL stadium in history, he would want to reap the benefits of being in the market. There have been plenty of opportunities for the Chargers and Raiders to be tenants in other proposed L.A. stadiums, and they didn't jump at those.

Outlook: Unlikely.

Carson gets built
Chargers, Raiders together
Why it can work: This solves two of the league's biggest stadium problems, and avoids pulling a team out of Missouri to play in Inglewood, making the Rams the fourth NFL franchise in California.

Many owners are sympathetic toward Spanos and if he fails to get agreement soon on a new stadium, they would likely feel he has met the league requirement to exhaust all options.

The Raiders, too, face long odds of getting any significant traction on a new stadium in the Oakland area. They would have a 50/50 stake in a Carson project.

The NFL knows this Carson site and previously considered buying it. The stadium would be conveniently located for fans from both L.A. and Orange County, and would have ample room for tailgating.

Why it can't work: The site was once a toxic landfill, and although much cleanup work has been done, there remains more to do. The Chargers and Raiders also have different ideas about how a stadium should look. Both teams are in the AFC West and putting rivals in the same stadium would have its own challenges, such as divisional realignment, TV network issues, and two fan bases that don't like each other.

Outlook: Somewhat likely.
Chargers alone

Why it can work: Spanos has said the Chargers would shoulder the Carson project on their own if the Raiders strike a deal in Oakland or decide to pull out.

Why it can't work: Financing a stadium on 10 games a year, with no surrounding development, plus paying an NFL relocation fee, would be quite a challenge for Spanos. The Rams and Raiders are not going to bow out of the L.A. competition unless their own stadium problems are fixed.

Outlook: Somewhat likely.

Raiders alone
Why it can work: The Raiders would get their new home, and St. Louis and San Diego would keep their teams.

Why it can't work: The NFL believes that the Raiders, among the league's most polarizing teams, would struggle to generate the necessary revenue to pay for a stadium, especially when it comes to attracting the support of corporations and premium customers.

It's highly unlikely the league would hand over the L.A. market to Mark Davis — his late father, Al Davis, famously sued the NFL over who owned the rights to L.A. — and the younger Davis has shown no inclination to sell the franchise.

Outlook: Unlikely.

Wild cards
One team, new series
A year ago, when the league was investigating the possibility of financing its own stadium in the market, there were discussions about creating a "Los Angeles Game of the Month" franchise, in which a new L.A. stadium would not only be home to a relocated team but a monthly neutral-site game, akin to the London series.

Why it can work: The league could sell separate personal seat licenses for a Game of the Month series, and possibly a separate TV package. A personal seat license is a one-time payment, lasting a prescribed period such as 10 years, to secure the right to purchase tickets for a specific seat for future events. A game-of-the-month system would be a way to create two-team economics for a one-team stadium.

Why it can't work: If you call something the Game of the Month, it implies that it's going to be a compelling matchup. What cities that have elite teams would be willing to give up home games?

There's a reason why Jacksonville is often the home team for London games. The Jaguars' ticket revenue for a London game is significantly higher than for a typical regular-season home game, and that's not the case with top teams.

As it is, teams volunteer to give up home games for neutral-site games; they are not mandated to do so.

Outlook: Unlikely.

No moves in 2016
How is this possible? The league clearly is in no hurry to rush into an unfavorable deal in L.A. Much of what transpires during the next several months will hinge on what the home markets propose. If no team relocates in 2016, it could happen in 2017, however. After 20 years… it's still early in the game.

Outlook: Strong likelihood.
sam.farmer@latimes.com

John Carter Cash and Ana Cristina w/Raelyn Nelson Band & Rebecca Correia

One of the many aspects of Nashville’s awesomeness is its unique position as a “Legacy Town.” It doesn’t take long to trip over a son, daughter, grandkid, niece or nephew of one musical legend or another. But another point in Nashville’s favor is that blood kin doesn’t automatically open the doors of success. John Carter Cash has been building his own musical legacy for many years as a singer, songwriter and producer, pulling off the delicate balance of honoring his famous parents’ legacies while still speaking in his own voice. With Cuban-American vocalist Ana Cristina along for the show, there is sure to be some sweet harmony. Raelyn Nelson has also found her own way: She may be the granddaughter of Willie, one of country music’s greatest artistic outlaws, but she’s also forged her own version of country-rock contrarianism. Blood may tell, but it’s the music that matters. RANDY FOX
Price: $5

Duck Dynasty Darling Sadie Robertson’s Heartfelt Message About Jealousy And Self-Image

Justin Koski

Despite her rising celebrity status, Duck Dynasty duckling Sadie
Robertson opened up and humbly admitted that she herself struggles with
jealousy and self-image issues, just like any other teenager.

She spoke to fans in a video after seeing “#goals” on a
bunch of different social media platforms that had users comparing
themselves to others, both physically and economically.

She left her viewers with one simple message: be yourself and live originally.

Read more at:
http://www.westernjournalism.com/duck-dynasty-darling-sadie-robertsons-heart-felt-message-jealousy-self-image/#Jjghv6Q4JcWLuLtz.99

Deion Sanders Tells His Son to "Stop the Hood Stuff" on Twitter

Deion Sanders' kids are rich—extremely rich—and he doesn't ever want them to forget that. So he took issue with his son Deion Sanders Jr. posting this on Twitter this morning:

By Chris Yuscavage

Deion Sanders' kids are rich—extremely rich—and he doesn't ever want them to forget that. So he took issue with his son Deion Sanders Jr. posting this on Twitter this morning:

But he didn't call and tell him to take the tweet down. He also didn't text him about it. Instead, he @-ed him in front of everyone on Twitter and responded to his tweet with this: