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What Should Investors In Conservation Syndications Do When DOJ Seeks Injunction?

Last month, I wrote about the Department of Justice beginning to crack down on abusive conservation easement syndications. DOJ is seeking an injunction against people associated with EcoVest Capital, which according to Peter Elkind of Fortune is the most prolific syndicator of conservation easements. I explained the concept behind conservation easement deductions in that piece last month (and other coverage over the last several years). Here we are going to discuss them from the point of view of investors, which greatly simplifies things. To an investor, the program is something of a black box. The Black Box An investor (Let's go with Terry for a name) in an EcoVest deal pays them some money. Before Form 1040 for that year is due, Terry will get a K-1 showing a charitable contribution that is a multiple of the amount invested (probably between four or five times). So Terry will get back more than the investment in tax savings. That, of course, is the essence of the deal as far as Terry is concerned. In a few years, the property as encumbered by the easement is sold by the partnership. Terry will then get some of the original investment back. Terry needs to make sure the return preparer includes all required disclosures. But now Terry has heard that DOJ is calling the deals all sorts of nasty names. They literally refer to the persons named having "ill-gotten gains". Terry put $20,000 into a 2017 deal and $20,000 into a 2018 deal. Tax savings federal and state were $30,000 in 2017 and are projected about the same for 2018. I was actually asked that question. Not by anybody who has ever been my client, just to be clear. Worst case, as far as I can figure, Terry might have to give back the $30,000 in savings from 2017 along with a 40% penalty. In principle, Terry might avoid the penalty by filing an amended return (or returns if there were state savings) which leaves the question of what to do about 2018. What To Do About Return Not Yet Filed The 2018 question is a lot easier to answer. Terry should ask for the $20,000 back from EcoVest and consider supplementing the fourth quarter estimate, although that probably won't make much difference. I spoke with EcoVest investor relations and they made it clear that they won't just cut a check. Their point of view is that DOJ has arbitrarily struck demanding that five hard-working people, who are connected to EcoVest one way or another, are being asked to take up different work. Due to the government shutdown, they have not been able to respond. The EcoVest representative who only gave me his first name indicated that a statement has been sent out to the twenty or so broker-dealers that they use. I haven't gotten my hands on a copy of that yet. If Terry has the stomach for this sort of thing there could be complaints to various regulatory bodies which might encourage EcoVest to reconsider. I think the stakes are too low to engage a lawyer. Assuming the refund exercise is fruitless, Terry should plan on going on extension. EcoVest has indicated that the K-1s will be issued. But even if they are issued, my inclination would be to extend based on the assumption that the tax savings will not be available and see what develops. My partner often chides me about procrastinating. She is usually right. I've yet to see the dirty dishes spontaneously clean themselves, but I can keep hoping. Here, though, procrastination is the right answer. I don't give audit lottery advice, but this circumstance is different. I really don't think that Terry should amend the 2017 return and give back the tax savings. When you get a K-1, you are supposed to put on your return what the K-1 shows. What Terry should do is verify that the correct disclosures were included with the 2017 return and, if not, possibly amend for that. I really think that engaging a tax attorney is premature. You don't know for sure that your deal is going to be attacked and what the actual outcome will be. If you have the means (and you should if you were a qualified investor), plan to have your tax saving plus 40% or so liquid in a couple of years. Kiss it goodbye mentally now, which will cut your stress a lot. If it develops, as is not that unlikely, that you get to keep it, I think you should donate it to a legitimate conservation organization as a kind of penance for having profited from these shenanigans, but that is just me moralizing. My Sympathies In EcoVest vs DOJ, I am rooting for DOJ. Syndication of conservations easement charitable deductions is a travesty. It doesn't even make good nonsense. The investors are a different story. From what I can gather, somebody told them that these deals are legitimate and there is a sense in which that is true. So they have some sympathy from me. As Learned Hand wrote: Over and over again courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging one's affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody does so, rich or poor; and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands: taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions. To demand more in the name of morals is mere cant. Future investors get less sympathy. IRS Notice 2017-10 indicates the syndicated conservation easements are listed transactions. Reilly's Fourteenth Law of Tax Planning - If something is a listed transaction, just don't do it.

DOJ is seeking an injunction against people associated with EcoVest Capital. EcoVest is the most prolific syndicator of conservation easement syndications. To an investor, the program is something of a black box.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2019/01/21/what-should-investors-in-conservation-syndications-do-when-doj-seeks-injunction/

What Should Investors In Conservation Syndications Do When DOJ Seeks Injunction?

Last month, I wrote about the Department of Justice beginning to crack down on abusive conservation easement syndications. DOJ is seeking an injunction against people associated with EcoVest Capital, which according to Peter Elkind of Fortune is the most prolific syndicator of conservation easements. I explained the concept behind conservation easement deductions in that piece last month (and other coverage over the last several years). Here we are going to discuss them from the point of view of investors, which greatly simplifies things. To an investor, the program is something of a black box. The Black Box An investor (Let's go with Terry for a name) in an EcoVest deal pays them some money. Before Form 1040 for that year is due, Terry will get a K-1 showing a charitable contribution that is a multiple of the amount invested (probably between four or five times). So Terry will get back more than the investment in tax savings. That, of course, is the essence of the deal as far as Terry is concerned. In a few years, the property as encumbered by the easement is sold by the partnership. Terry will then get some of the original investment back. Terry needs to make sure the return preparer includes all required disclosures. But now Terry has heard that DOJ is calling the deals all sorts of nasty names. They literally refer to the persons named having "ill-gotten gains". Terry put $20,000 into a 2017 deal and $20,000 into a 2018 deal. Tax savings federal and state were $30,000 in 2017 and are projected about the same for 2018. I was actually asked that question. Not by anybody who has ever been my client, just to be clear. Worst case, as far as I can figure, Terry might have to give back the $30,000 in savings from 2017 along with a 40% penalty. In principle, Terry might avoid the penalty by filing an amended return (or returns if there were state savings) which leaves the question of what to do about 2018. What To Do About Return Not Yet Filed The 2018 question is a lot easier to answer. Terry should ask for the $20,000 back from EcoVest and consider supplementing the fourth quarter estimate, although that probably won't make much difference. I spoke with EcoVest investor relations and they made it clear that they won't just cut a check. Their point of view is that DOJ has arbitrarily struck demanding that five hard-working people, who are connected to EcoVest one way or another, are being asked to take up different work. Due to the government shutdown, they have not been able to respond. The EcoVest representative who only gave me his first name indicated that a statement has been sent out to the twenty or so broker-dealers that they use. I haven't gotten my hands on a copy of that yet. If Terry has the stomach for this sort of thing there could be complaints to various regulatory bodies which might encourage EcoVest to reconsider. I think the stakes are too low to engage a lawyer. Assuming the refund exercise is fruitless, Terry should plan on going on extension. EcoVest has indicated that the K-1s will be issued. But even if they are issued, my inclination would be to extend based on the assumption that the tax savings will not be available and see what develops. My partner often chides me about procrastinating. She is usually right. I've yet to see the dirty dishes spontaneously clean themselves, but I can keep hoping. Here, though, procrastination is the right answer. I don't give audit lottery advice, but this circumstance is different. I really don't think that Terry should amend the 2017 return and give back the tax savings. When you get a K-1, you are supposed to put on your return what the K-1 shows. What Terry should do is verify that the correct disclosures were included with the 2017 return and, if not, possibly amend for that. I really think that engaging a tax attorney is premature. You don't know for sure that your deal is going to be attacked and what the actual outcome will be. If you have the means (and you should if you were a qualified investor), plan to have your tax saving plus 40% or so liquid in a couple of years. Kiss it goodbye mentally now, which will cut your stress a lot. If it develops, as is not that unlikely, that you get to keep it, I think you should donate it to a legitimate conservation organization as a kind of penance for having profited from these shenanigans, but that is just me moralizing. My Sympathies In EcoVest vs DOJ, I am rooting for DOJ. Syndication of conservations easement charitable deductions is a travesty. It doesn't even make good nonsense. The investors are a different story. From what I can gather, somebody told them that these deals are legitimate and there is a sense in which that is true. So they have some sympathy from me. As Learned Hand wrote: Over and over again courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging one's affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody does so, rich or poor; and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands: taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions. To demand more in the name of morals is mere cant. Future investors get less sympathy. IRS Notice 2017-10 indicates the syndicated conservation easements are listed transactions. Reilly's Fourteenth Law of Tax Planning - If something is a listed transaction, just don't do it.

Department of Justice is seeking an injunction against people associated with EcoVest Capital. The company is the most prolific syndicator of conservation easements. To an investor, the program is something of a black box. The investor (Let's go with Terry for a name) may have to give back $30,000 in savings from 2017.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2019/01/21/what-should-investors-in-conservation-syndications-do-when-doj-seeks-injunction/

Why Didn't Apple Use Qualcomm's Modems In 2018 iPhones?

Like I said last week in my article entitled If The FTC Case Against Qualcomm Seems Like a Clown Show Right Now, It's Because It Started That Way, if you havent been following the FTC versus Qualcomm case and are in the tech industry, you probably should. Whats likely at stake are future inventors rights to monetize their inventions, the U.S. government becoming an IP price fixer, U.S. 5G competitiveness, and competitiveness in related industries like self-driving cars and smart cities and potentially even national security. One of the things that caught my eye last week was Apple COO Jeff Williams FTC testimony that Qualcomm wouldnt sell it chips for its 2018 iPhones. This could be viewed as support for the FTCs no license-no chips accusation against Qualcomm and be damaging to Qualcomms defense. Williams testified that But in the end, they (Qualcomm) would not support us and sell us chips- I contacted Steve (Mollenkopf), I sent him emails, I called. We tried to get them to sell us chips and they would not. Three days ago, Bloombergs Ian King and Mark Gurman ran a piece from leaked emails in September 2017 between Apple and Qualcomm suggesting Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf did offer to sell Apple its wireless chips for use in 2018 iPhones. The article said that Apple wanted source code for the modems and Qualcomm wanted a commitment to 50% of the supply over two years. If accurate, this article would support what Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf testified to when asked, was there ever a time when Qualcomm withdrew from competing for business at Apple? and Mollenkopf answered, no. While I would have preferred to see the Qualcomm-Apple emails in testimony versus leaked emails, no one so far is questioning the email authenticity with me. Ill assume this wasnt part of FTC evidence because the FTC limited its investigation through 2016. I want to peel back the onion a bit and dig in on a few things. First off, this exchange seems like good, old fashioned negotiating. I spent over 20 years at hardware OEMs and chip companies, did a lot of negotiating from both sides, and this is what negotiation looks like. It appears Qualcomm wanted a volume commitment and Apple, based on Williams testimony, seemed prepared to offer it, given Williams earlier testimony on a desire to dual-source. Apple also appears to want the source code for the thin modem. I will assume that Apple wanted Qualcomms latest X20 LTE modem at the time and the X20 source code. What I dont understand is why Apple wouldnt just keep using the X16 modem, which lined up well right next to Intels XMM 7560 gigabit class modem from a feature and speed standpoint. Apple already had the source code for the X16 modem and continues to ship the X16 in older iPhone models today. In November 2017, Qualcomm asked a San Diego court to force Apple to provide a software audit on how Apple was using its source code. In September 2018, Qualcomm filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Apple for trade secret misappropriation. What is evident from this chain of events from September 2017 to September 2018 is that Qualcomm was worried Apple was going to misappropriate its X20 source code as Qualcomm believed it did with the X16. Apples stock response to these trade secret theft accusations was, "Qualcomm's illegal business practices are harming Apple and the entire industry. They supply us with a single connectivity component, but for years have been demanding a percentage of the total cost of our products - effectively taxing Apple's innovation." Even though Qualcomm had its fears over trade secret theft, according to the Bloomberg emails, the company was still prepared to sell it modems with a volume commitment. To the core of the FTCs suit against Qualcomm is that it wouldnt sell chips unless customers paid for licensing fees. If the emails referenced to in the Bloomberg article are accurate, then it looks like Qualcomm's Mollenkopf was prepared to sell its chips to Apple but Apple didnt like the terms. This all strikes me as negotiation, not anti-trust harm, particularly when Apple could have used the X16 modem with which it already had the source code and is still buying. This he said-she said are what courts are for, to piece through these things and as I have said, Im no lawyer and dont play one on TV. I hope to see a day that Apple and Qualcomm can resolve its differences and focus all on what consumers want- innovative products and great experiences, because Im getting sick of all this. Disclosure: Moor Insights & Strategy, like all research and analyst firms, provides or has provided paid research, analysis, advising, or consulting to many high-tech companies in the industry, including Advanced Micro Devices, Apstra, ARM Holdings, Bitfusion, Cisco Systems, Dell EMC, Diablo Technologies, Echelon, Ericcson, Frame, Gen Z Consortium, Glue Networks, GlobalFoundries, Google (Nest), HP Inc. HewlettPackard Enterprise, Huawei Technologies, IBM, Jabil Circuit, Intel, Interdigital, Konica Minolta, Lenovo, Linux Foundation, MACOM (Applied Micro), MapBox, Mavenir, Mesosphere, Microsoft, National Instruments, NOKIA (Alcatel Lucent), Nortek, NVIDIA, ONUG, OpenStack Foundation, Peraso, Portworx, Protequus, Pure Storage, Qualcomm, Rackspace, Rambus, Red Hat, Samsung Technologies, Silver Peak, SONY, Springpath, Sprint, Stratus Technologies, TensTorrent, Tobii Technology, Synaptics, Verizon Communications, Vidyo, Wellsmith, Xilinx, Zebra, which may be cited in this article.

Apple COO Jeff Williams testified last week that Qualcomm wouldnt sell it chips for its 2018 iPhones. This could be viewed as support for the FTCs no license-no chips accusation against Qualcomm and be damaging to Qualcomm's defense.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmoorhead/2019/01/21/why-didnt-apple-use-qualcomms-modems-in-2018-iphones/

Will NFL adopt CFL policy for pass interference review after officiating error?

Toronto Argonauts defensive back Matt Black can see the winds of change blowing through the NFL after Sundays controversial finish to the NFC title game just like in the CFL in 2014. The Los Angeles Rams advanced to the Super Bowl with a 26-23 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints the first game of a wild semifinal Sunday that started a debate about rules that happen to be different in the CFL. Greg Zuerlein kicked the game-winning 57-yard field goal after forcing overtime with a 48-yard boot late in the fourth quarter thanks in large part to a blown call in the quarter. On third-and-10 inside the Rams 15-yard line, Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw a pass toward receiver Tommylee Lewis. But Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman not only didnt turn his head to see the ball, but delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit on Lewis at about the five-yard line before it arrived. Amazingly, no flag was thrown. Had a penalty been called, New Orleans wouldve received a fresh set of downs and the chance to run the clock down and kick a short game-winning field goal. Wil Lutzs 31-yard field goal put the Saints ahead 23-20 but St. Louis got the ball at its 25-yard line with 1:41 remaining and drove for a tying field goal. Saints head coach Sean Payton was incensed with the non-call, but could do nothing about it. Had this happened in a CFL game, Payton wouldve had an opportunity to challenge the play. CFL teams can make one challenge per game so long as they have at least one timeout. If the challenge is unsuccessful, a timeout is charged. But a team keeps the timeout if the challenge is successful. Regardless of the outcome, no other challenges can be made. So under CFL rules, Payton wouldve still had to have his challenge and at least one timeout to have the play reviewed. On Sunday, the CFL drew praise from ESPN, which also suggested it was time for the NFL to expand its replay rules. And the Edmonton Eskimos tweeted: If anything has been learned today, it is that the @CFL rules are @NFL rules and that theres less of a chance of seeing the same teams in the championship. Black, entering his 11th CFL season with the Argos, expects the NFL to look hard at making pass interference a reviewable offence. I think this will spur change in the NFL, said Black, a two-time Grey Cup champion. I think youll see the review of this because of that play. But Id want it to go both ways. If theres offensive pass interference then you can challenge it and if theres defensive pass interference then you could do that too. In 2014, the CFL became the first football league to make pass interference reviewable. That came after Hamilton defensive back Evan McCollough wasnt called for contacting Montreal receiver Duron Carter in the end zone late in the Tiger-Cats 19-16 overtime win in the 13 East Division semifinal. Instead of getting the ball at the Hamilton one-yard line, Montreal had to settle for a game-tying field goal. Coaches initially had two challenges but that number was reduced to one in 2017. In the 2015 Grey Cup, a successful challenge by head coach Chris Jones helped Edmonton beat Ottawa 26-20 in Winnipeg. Jones challenged an incompletion that was changed to pass interference and put the Esks on the Redblacks 10-yard line. That set up Jordan Lynchs one-yard TD run with 3:22 remaining and Mike Reillys completion to Akeem Shavers for the two-point convert to erase a 20-18 deficit. Glen Johnson, the former CFL official who later served as the leagues director of officiating, said there was no doubt Robey-Coleman interfered with Lewis. I did (expect a flag to be thrown). Johnson said. Absolutely (it was pass interference) and I say that with all empathy for the official because people just dont know until theyre out there just how hard it is. As an official, way back I went from not liking (replay) to feeling it was a really good tool to help us. And when I went into management I went, This is absolutely mandatory to protect the integrity of the game. The AFC championship game wasnt immune from criticism, either, and it too revolved around a rule unique to the NFL. The New England Patriots, after winning the coin toss for overtime, marched 80 yards on 15 plays capped by Rex Burkheads two-yard TD run to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 37-31. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 295 yards and three TDs in regulation, never touched the field in the extra session. In the CFL, both teams get the ball in overtime. In the NFL, a touchdown ends the game. That prompted Calgary Stampeders punter Rob Maver to tweet: I say this as an objective viewer: the NFLs overtime rules are complete and utter garbage. But Nik Lewis, the CFLs all-time receptions leader (1,051) now in his first season as the B.C. Lions running backs coach, likes the NFLs overtime policy during the regular season, But he thinks both teams should get the ball in the playoffs. Its a battle to earn the right to go to the next stage, he said. Really, the coin toss decides the game. Black supports the NFLs OT format. If you drive 80 yards and score a touchdown, tell me why the New England Patriots dont deserve to go to the Super Bowl, he said. If New England had to kick a field goal, Mahomes gets the ball back and the Chiefs get an opportunity to march down the field. If they score a TD, were sitting here talking about how amazing a 23-year-old kid is whos taking his team to the Super Bowl. I dont think there has ever been or will ever be another combination like Tom Brady and (Pats coach) Bill Belichick. However, it was the non-call in the NFC contest that drew the most attention. Like Black, Johnson believes the incident will move the NFL closer to allowing coaches to challenge pass interference. I hope it does, he said. I hope it serves as good dialogue for the rules committee. But Johnson believes the CFLs challenge system could be tweaked. The hardest part in figuring all of this out is you want a system, method or approach you can get to that leaves you that challenge for that moment, Johnson said. Had we not had two (challenges) in the 15 Grey Cup, they might not have had that other challenge to use late in the game to fix that PI. I think fundamentally there has to be a system to use replay to get egregious calls fixed. The officials want it, the fans want it, the coaches want it. Everybody wants it. Lewis, though, doesnt see it that way. The reason is its never consistent, theyre judgment calls, said Lewis. Theres not a consistent rule on pass interference so I think its very hard to decide which is interference and which isnt. But theres no doubt that play was pass interference. Still, Lewis said the Saints couldve made the play moot by scoring TDs in a dominant first half rather than settling for field goals. As a player or coach, you know theres going to be calls for and against you that are borderline, he said. So you dont want to put yourself in that situation (where game is decided by officials call). Jim Daley, a former head coach with Winnipeg and Saskatchewan, said with CFL coaches having just one challenge, a viable option could be having the replay official buzzing the game official when theres an obvious miss. It was a huge mistake, an obvious mistake and (NFL) has already admitted that, he said. In the CFL if youve already used your challenge, youre not challenging that play anyway. I just think there might be a process where a review official whos away from the heat of the game but sees the whole picture can somehow reach the game official and review it.

Under CFL rules, Saints head coach Sean Payton would've had opportunity to challenge the play. The CFL made pass interference reviewable in 2014 after a controversial play in the East Division semifinal against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Black expects the NFL to look hard at making pass interference a reviewable offence.

ctrlsum

https://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-pmn/football-sports-pmn/will-nfl-adopt-cfl-policy-for-pass-interference-review-after-officiating-error

Can Corning Sustain Its Momentum in the Fourth Quarter?

Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) is slated to announce fourth-quarter 2018 results on Tuesday, January 29, 2019. Shares of the glass technologist are down modestly from its exceptional third-quarter report in October as of this writing -- albeit primarily driven by the broader market's decline since then. To be clear, last quarter Corning demonstrated accelerating growth and expanding margins as its investments in innovation and manufacturing capacity began to yield fruit. And if management's commentary is any indication, shareholders should expect to see more of the same next week. Before Corning's Q4 results hit the wires, then, let's have a look at what investors should be watching. Multiple panes of Corning glass. More IMAGE SOURCE: CORNING. A "step change" in profitability Three months ago, Corning Chairman and CEO Wendell Weeks boasted that Q3 marked a "step change in our earnings power," particularly as Corning leveraged its "recent phase of intense operating and capital investments to capture substantial benefits." Remember, Corning is in the home stretch of its four-year Strategic and Capital Allocation Framework announced in late 2015. Under that framework as of the end of last quarter, the company had already returned $11.4 billion (of a $12.5 billion goal) to shareholders through dividends and repurchases, and remained on track to invest $10 billion back into the business to solidify its industry leadership and capture future growth. Next week, the market will expect the company to confirm it has continued to make notable progress toward those goals, as per usual. But shareholders should also listen closely for any updates regarding Corning's targets for the duration of this year, as well as potential plans to extend its framework at the end of 2019. As for this quarter's headline numbers, Corning's latest guidance calls for full-year 2018 sales to "exceed $11.3 billion." Based on its sales of $8.255 billion through the first nine months of the year, that means the fourth quarter should arrive (conservatively) at around $3.05 billion. Meanwhile, Corning does not provide specific consolidated bottom-line guidance. So for perspective, and though we usually don't lend much credence to Wall Street's expectations, most analysts will be looking for Corning's core earnings to increase roughly 14% to $0.57 per share. Breaking it down Corning did offer some broad expectations in October for each of its five primary segments to end the year. At optical communications, its single largest business, fourth-quarter sales should climb in the low-single-digit percent range sequentially, from $1.117 billion last quarter, helped by large ongoing projects from multiple carrier and data center customers. All told, that should mean optical achieves slightly higher year-over-year growth than the 9% increase we saw in Q3. Next, Corning's display technologies segment should benefit from ever-larger television screen sizes. Coupled with the recent ramp of Corning's Gen 10.5 LCD glass substrate facility in China, display technologies should see volume growth slightly above the low-single-digit sequential increase expected from the broader display glass market. At the same time, its revenue and earnings benefit for this segment will be held back by continued annual display glass price declines -- though it's worth noting Corning has done an admirable job moderating those declines in recent years.

Corning Incorporated is slated to announce fourth-quarter 2018 results on Tuesday. Analysts are looking for core earnings to increase roughly 14% to $0.57 per share.

pegasus

https://news.yahoo.com/corning-sustain-momentum-fourth-quarter-004000592.html

Can Corning Sustain Its Momentum in the Fourth Quarter?

Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) is slated to announce fourth-quarter 2018 results on Tuesday, January 29, 2019. Shares of the glass technologist are down modestly from its exceptional third-quarter report in October as of this writing -- albeit primarily driven by the broader market's decline since then. To be clear, last quarter Corning demonstrated accelerating growth and expanding margins as its investments in innovation and manufacturing capacity began to yield fruit. And if management's commentary is any indication, shareholders should expect to see more of the same next week. Before Corning's Q4 results hit the wires, then, let's have a look at what investors should be watching. Multiple panes of Corning glass. More IMAGE SOURCE: CORNING. A "step change" in profitability Three months ago, Corning Chairman and CEO Wendell Weeks boasted that Q3 marked a "step change in our earnings power," particularly as Corning leveraged its "recent phase of intense operating and capital investments to capture substantial benefits." Remember, Corning is in the home stretch of its four-year Strategic and Capital Allocation Framework announced in late 2015. Under that framework as of the end of last quarter, the company had already returned $11.4 billion (of a $12.5 billion goal) to shareholders through dividends and repurchases, and remained on track to invest $10 billion back into the business to solidify its industry leadership and capture future growth. Next week, the market will expect the company to confirm it has continued to make notable progress toward those goals, as per usual. But shareholders should also listen closely for any updates regarding Corning's targets for the duration of this year, as well as potential plans to extend its framework at the end of 2019. As for this quarter's headline numbers, Corning's latest guidance calls for full-year 2018 sales to "exceed $11.3 billion." Based on its sales of $8.255 billion through the first nine months of the year, that means the fourth quarter should arrive (conservatively) at around $3.05 billion. Meanwhile, Corning does not provide specific consolidated bottom-line guidance. So for perspective, and though we usually don't lend much credence to Wall Street's expectations, most analysts will be looking for Corning's core earnings to increase roughly 14% to $0.57 per share. Breaking it down Corning did offer some broad expectations in October for each of its five primary segments to end the year. At optical communications, its single largest business, fourth-quarter sales should climb in the low-single-digit percent range sequentially, from $1.117 billion last quarter, helped by large ongoing projects from multiple carrier and data center customers. All told, that should mean optical achieves slightly higher year-over-year growth than the 9% increase we saw in Q3. Next, Corning's display technologies segment should benefit from ever-larger television screen sizes. Coupled with the recent ramp of Corning's Gen 10.5 LCD glass substrate facility in China, display technologies should see volume growth slightly above the low-single-digit sequential increase expected from the broader display glass market. At the same time, its revenue and earnings benefit for this segment will be held back by continued annual display glass price declines -- though it's worth noting Corning has done an admirable job moderating those declines in recent years.

Corning Incorporated is slated to announce fourth-quarter 2018 results on Tuesday. Analysts are looking for core earnings to increase roughly 14% to $0.57 per share. At optical communications, fourth-quarter sales should climb in the low-single-digit percent range.

pegasus

https://news.yahoo.com/corning-sustain-momentum-fourth-quarter-004000592.html

Did J.R. Smith call Marcus Smart a "bum" for DeAndre' Bembry incident?

originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com J.R. Smith appeared to call out one of two players Saturday night on Instagram. Scroll to continue with content Ad We think we have a pretty good guess. After ESPN's "SportsCenter" Instagram account posted a video of Marcus Smart charging at DeAndre' Bembry during Saturday night's Boston Celtics-Atlanta Hawks game, the former Cleveland Cavaliers guard chimed in by writing "such a bum" in the comment section. JR Smith's not a fan of Marcus Smart. pic.twitter.com/SNTxMLeCgv Josh Poloha (@JorshP) January 20, 2019 Technically, Smith's "bum" jab could be directed at Smart or Bembry. But Smith and Smart have serious history. A quick recap: During the 2018 NBA playoffs, Smart confronted Smith after the Cavs guard pushed Al Horford while he was in the air attempting to catch an alley-oop. When Boston and Cleveland met this preseason, Smart and Smith scuffled again, and their beef continued off the court with some nasty postgame remarks and tweets. So, it's safe to say Smith's comments aren't directed at Bembry. Smart has bigger problems to worry about, though: His Celtics will aim for their fourth consecutive win Monday, while Smith has stepped away from the Cavs while seeking a trade. Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.

ESPN's "SportsCenter" Instagram account posted a video of Marcus Smart charging at DeAndre' Bembry. Former Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith chimed in by writing "such a bum" in the comment section.

pegasus

https://sports.yahoo.com/did-j-r-smith-call-045817780.html?src=rss

Did J.R. Smith call Marcus Smart a "bum" for DeAndre' Bembry incident?

originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com J.R. Smith appeared to call out one of two players Saturday night on Instagram. Scroll to continue with content Ad We think we have a pretty good guess. After ESPN's "SportsCenter" Instagram account posted a video of Marcus Smart charging at DeAndre' Bembry during Saturday night's Boston Celtics-Atlanta Hawks game, the former Cleveland Cavaliers guard chimed in by writing "such a bum" in the comment section. JR Smith's not a fan of Marcus Smart. pic.twitter.com/SNTxMLeCgv Josh Poloha (@JorshP) January 20, 2019 Technically, Smith's "bum" jab could be directed at Smart or Bembry. But Smith and Smart have serious history. A quick recap: During the 2018 NBA playoffs, Smart confronted Smith after the Cavs guard pushed Al Horford while he was in the air attempting to catch an alley-oop. When Boston and Cleveland met this preseason, Smart and Smith scuffled again, and their beef continued off the court with some nasty postgame remarks and tweets. So, it's safe to say Smith's comments aren't directed at Bembry. Smart has bigger problems to worry about, though: His Celtics will aim for their fourth consecutive win Monday, while Smith has stepped away from the Cavs while seeking a trade. Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.

ESPN's "SportsCenter" Instagram account posted a video of Marcus Smart charging at DeAndre' Bembry. Former Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith chimed in by writing "such a bum" in the comment section. Technically, Smith's "bum" jab could be directed at Smart or Bembry.

pegasus

https://sports.yahoo.com/did-j-r-smith-call-045817780.html?src=rss

Did Ciara, Russell Wilson respond to Future saying the NFL pro is 'not being a man'?

CLOSE Ciara shared a photoshoot she recently did for Harper's Bazaar that has people wondering what Russell Wilson is doing. Keri Lumm (@thekerilumm) reports. Buzz60 Ciara and husband Russell Wilson seem to be taking the high road. The couple posted Instagram messages that seem directed at her ex, Future, who dissed their relationship Thursday, slamming Wilson for "not being a man" in his marriage to the "Level Up" singer. "Rise Above," Ciara said alongside a photo of herself in a pink and black plaid shirt and sky-high black boots. NFL star Wilson stuck with family, posting, "All that matters. #Love" along with a super-sweet photo of Ciara and Future's 4-year-old son, Future Zahir, kissing his little sister, 1-year-old Sienna, Ciara's daughter with Wilson. Celebrity power couple: Ciara and Russell Wilson's love story The couple haven't publicly discussed Future's appearance on Apple Musics Beats 1 Radio on Thursday. He do exactly what she tell him to do. He not being a man in that position, the rapper, 35, said. You not tellin her, Bro, chill out with that on the internet. Dont even talk to him. Im your husband! You better not even bring Futures name up! He continued, "If that was me, she couldn't even bring his name up. She know that. She couldn't even bring her exes' names up." Ciara and Future were engaged in 2013, but broke off their relationship three months after Future Zahir was born. The singer and Wilson married in 2016. USA TODAY has reached out to Ciara's and Wilson's representatives for comment. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/01/22/ciara-russell-wilson-future/2641749002/

Ciara and Russell Wilson posted Instagram messages that seem directed at her ex, Future. Future said Wilson is "not being a man" in his marriage to Ciara.

ctrlsum

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/01/22/ciara-russell-wilson-future/2641749002/

Did Ciara, Russell Wilson respond to Future saying the NFL pro is 'not being a man'?

CLOSE Ciara shared a photoshoot she recently did for Harper's Bazaar that has people wondering what Russell Wilson is doing. Keri Lumm (@thekerilumm) reports. Buzz60 Ciara and husband Russell Wilson seem to be taking the high road. The couple posted Instagram messages that seem directed at her ex, Future, who dissed their relationship Thursday, slamming Wilson for "not being a man" in his marriage to the "Level Up" singer. "Rise Above," Ciara said alongside a photo of herself in a pink and black plaid shirt and sky-high black boots. NFL star Wilson stuck with family, posting, "All that matters. #Love" along with a super-sweet photo of Ciara and Future's 4-year-old son, Future Zahir, kissing his little sister, 1-year-old Sienna, Ciara's daughter with Wilson. Celebrity power couple: Ciara and Russell Wilson's love story The couple haven't publicly discussed Future's appearance on Apple Musics Beats 1 Radio on Thursday. He do exactly what she tell him to do. He not being a man in that position, the rapper, 35, said. You not tellin her, Bro, chill out with that on the internet. Dont even talk to him. Im your husband! You better not even bring Futures name up! He continued, "If that was me, she couldn't even bring his name up. She know that. She couldn't even bring her exes' names up." Ciara and Future were engaged in 2013, but broke off their relationship three months after Future Zahir was born. The singer and Wilson married in 2016. USA TODAY has reached out to Ciara's and Wilson's representatives for comment. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/01/22/ciara-russell-wilson-future/2641749002/

Ciara and Russell Wilson seem to be taking the high road. The couple posted Instagram messages that seem directed at her ex, Future. Future slammed Wilson for "not being a man" in his marriage to the singer. Wilson stuck with family, posting, "All that matters.

pegasus

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/01/22/ciara-russell-wilson-future/2641749002/

Why Is Uranus The Only Planet Without Interesting Features On It?

The eight major planets of the Solar System all possess their own unique features. The rocky planets have craters, ridges, mountains and more: evidence of a violent past and interior activity. All the planets except Mercury have atmospheres, where volatile materials form clouds and hazes. On the gas giant worlds, banded structures, storms, and turbulent streams are commonly seen. Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune all display spectacular changes over time whenever we've examined their atmospheres in detail. But not Uranus. Alone among all the planets in the Solar System, Uranus is a light, blue-colored, otherwise featureless world. Even when it was visited up close by the Voyager 2 spacecraft, the most remarkable part of the story was how unremarkable Uranus appeared. To the human eye, Uranus is the only planet without interesting features on it. Here's the scientific story of why. Uranus, as seen from Earth, is just a tiny turquoise disc. Voyager 2, which had previously revealed unprecedented details of storms and bands on Jupiter and Saturn, saw a large, featureless, turquoise globe when it came to Uranus. Even by turning up the image contrast as high as possible, there was practically nothing to see. Uranus appeared to be, quite disappointingly, the most boring planet we could have imagined. Initially, we thought we understood why it was such a featureless world. With such a small size relative to Saturn or Jupiter, it was conjectured that Uranus wasn't able to generate any of its own internal heat, and was therefore only at the temperature you'd expect if it were heated by the Sun. It was blue and featureless because it was cold, distant, and didn't produce its own heat. Its upper atmosphere was a constant 58 K. And that seemed to be the entire story. Of course, that isn't the case at all! Sure, it is cold and distant, and doesn't generate very much internal heat; that part is true. But Uranus is unique among all the worlds in the Solar System for a special property it possesses: its rotation. Unlike all the other worlds, which rotate at some tilt relative to the plane of the Sun's rotation, Uranus is practically on its side, rolling like a barrel instead of spinning like a top. When the Voyager 2 spacecraft flew past Uranus in 1986, it was solstice: the side illuminated by the Sun was one of Uranus' polar regions. But as the years and decades ticked by, Uranus moved from solstice towards equinox, when its equatorial region would be illuminated by the Sun instead. Instead of a constant influx of sunlight on one hemisphere, lasting years, there was a rapid day/night shift, coincident with Uranus' rotational period of about 17 hours. Since Uranus takes 84 Earth-years to complete a revolution around the Sun, that means it takes 21 Earth-years to go from solstice to equinox. With Voyager 2 flying by it at solstice in 1986, that implied the best time to view it next would be in 2007, when it was at equinox. We didn't have another mission ready to go at that time, but we did have the Hubble Space Telescope. As you can see, above, there are all the features you would have hoped for the first time. There are swirling clouds, storms, and even characteristic atmospheric bands. There are dark spots and light spots, hazes and clear regions, with differential colors at different Uranian latitudes. Instead of a monochrome, featureless world, we at last found the active atmosphere we had expected all along. The reason for Uranus' uniform color during the solstice is because of its temperatures when it's in continuous day, which produces a haze of methane. Methane, in this state of matter, absorbs red light, which is why the reflected sunlight takes on that turquoise hue. Simultaneously, the methane haze masks the clouds below it, which is what causes Uranus to have the featureless appearance we came to know ubiquitously after the Voyager 2 visit. With its 97.7 degree axial tilt, a solstice Uranus will appear to be a boring Uranus. But that methane haze, so prevalent in the upper atmosphere of Uranus, only represents the top 1% of the atmosphere. Observing in bands other than visible light will reveal even more of its non-uniform properties. Because an equinox-like Uranus will cool off during the night, the methane haze goes from being a top-layer aerosol which is a solid or liquid particle suspended in a gas to particles that mix with the lower atmospheric layers. Thus, when day emerges again, the uppermost layer is partially transparent. And what we've found, when that occurs, is that there are observable changes in the upper atmosphere, which holds clues to the 99% of the unseen atmosphere beneath it. There are storms that are present even in the old Voyager 2 information, visible only by stacking over 1,000 images together and looking for variations between frames. According to astronomer Erich Karkoschka, who did this work back in 2014: Some of these features probably are convective clouds caused by updraft and condensation. Some of the brighter features look like clouds that extend over hundreds of kilometers. [...] The unusual rotation of high southern latitudes of Uranus is probably due to an unusual feature in the interior of Uranus. While the nature of the feature and its interaction with the atmosphere are not yet known, the fact that I found this unusual rotation offers new possibilities to learn about the interior of a giant planet. By looking in wavelengths of light beyond what the human eye can see, such as the infrared, we can construct enhanced-color images. As you'd expect, when Uranus is near equinox, these reveal a slew of features that are invisible to the human eye, including: bands of atmospheric structure, hemispheric differences between the sun-facing and space-facing poles, storms and clouds present in the upper atmosphere, and even a faint ring system that likely results from shattered or tidally-disrupted moons. There are also storms that are visible only in the infrared that intensify and subside. Contrary to our initial observations, Uranus is a feature-rich world, but only if you look at it in the right ways. There are still plenty of mysteries to solve about the second-most-distant planet in the Solar System. Uranus has an oddly tilted but strong magnetic field, about 50 times the strength of Earth's, which rotates like a corkscrew around the planet. The dual presence of carbon and hydrogen suggests that, in the lower layers of the atmosphere, the pressure causes a rain of diamonds to fall. Uranus displays a uniform temperature during solstice, but severe temperature differences across its surface during equinoxes, suggesting that something inherent to it is causing a lag between temperatures and the seasons. And the storms we see, also driven by the seasons, are suggestive of a vortex deeper down in the atmosphere, farther past what we can see. Uranus, to many, is still the most boring planet, and I suppose that's true if you're willing to add a caveat: sometimes. When Uranus is at solstice, it truly is the most boring, featureless world you can find among our eight planets. But the lack of an internal heat source and the fact that it rotates on a tipped-over axis also gives us a unique opportunity to learn how a gas giant planet behaves when its energy balance is driven by the Sun. Uranus, once thought to be a featureless world, turns out to be incredibly rich and diverse. This turquoise world holds a number of mysteries that are suggestive of a complex, internal structure beneath the easily-observable upper atmosphere. So long as there's an energy difference, either between the polar hemispheres or between the day-and-night sides, there will surely be interesting phenomena to investigate. The case for a dedicated mission to Uranus has never been stronger.

Alone among all the planets in the Solar System, Uranus is a light, blue-colored, otherwise featureless world.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/01/22/why-is-uranus-the-only-planet-without-interesting-features-on-it/

Why Is Uranus The Only Planet Without Interesting Features On It?

The eight major planets of the Solar System all possess their own unique features. The rocky planets have craters, ridges, mountains and more: evidence of a violent past and interior activity. All the planets except Mercury have atmospheres, where volatile materials form clouds and hazes. On the gas giant worlds, banded structures, storms, and turbulent streams are commonly seen. Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune all display spectacular changes over time whenever we've examined their atmospheres in detail. But not Uranus. Alone among all the planets in the Solar System, Uranus is a light, blue-colored, otherwise featureless world. Even when it was visited up close by the Voyager 2 spacecraft, the most remarkable part of the story was how unremarkable Uranus appeared. To the human eye, Uranus is the only planet without interesting features on it. Here's the scientific story of why. Uranus, as seen from Earth, is just a tiny turquoise disc. Voyager 2, which had previously revealed unprecedented details of storms and bands on Jupiter and Saturn, saw a large, featureless, turquoise globe when it came to Uranus. Even by turning up the image contrast as high as possible, there was practically nothing to see. Uranus appeared to be, quite disappointingly, the most boring planet we could have imagined. Initially, we thought we understood why it was such a featureless world. With such a small size relative to Saturn or Jupiter, it was conjectured that Uranus wasn't able to generate any of its own internal heat, and was therefore only at the temperature you'd expect if it were heated by the Sun. It was blue and featureless because it was cold, distant, and didn't produce its own heat. Its upper atmosphere was a constant 58 K. And that seemed to be the entire story. Of course, that isn't the case at all! Sure, it is cold and distant, and doesn't generate very much internal heat; that part is true. But Uranus is unique among all the worlds in the Solar System for a special property it possesses: its rotation. Unlike all the other worlds, which rotate at some tilt relative to the plane of the Sun's rotation, Uranus is practically on its side, rolling like a barrel instead of spinning like a top. When the Voyager 2 spacecraft flew past Uranus in 1986, it was solstice: the side illuminated by the Sun was one of Uranus' polar regions. But as the years and decades ticked by, Uranus moved from solstice towards equinox, when its equatorial region would be illuminated by the Sun instead. Instead of a constant influx of sunlight on one hemisphere, lasting years, there was a rapid day/night shift, coincident with Uranus' rotational period of about 17 hours. Since Uranus takes 84 Earth-years to complete a revolution around the Sun, that means it takes 21 Earth-years to go from solstice to equinox. With Voyager 2 flying by it at solstice in 1986, that implied the best time to view it next would be in 2007, when it was at equinox. We didn't have another mission ready to go at that time, but we did have the Hubble Space Telescope. As you can see, above, there are all the features you would have hoped for the first time. There are swirling clouds, storms, and even characteristic atmospheric bands. There are dark spots and light spots, hazes and clear regions, with differential colors at different Uranian latitudes. Instead of a monochrome, featureless world, we at last found the active atmosphere we had expected all along. The reason for Uranus' uniform color during the solstice is because of its temperatures when it's in continuous day, which produces a haze of methane. Methane, in this state of matter, absorbs red light, which is why the reflected sunlight takes on that turquoise hue. Simultaneously, the methane haze masks the clouds below it, which is what causes Uranus to have the featureless appearance we came to know ubiquitously after the Voyager 2 visit. With its 97.7 degree axial tilt, a solstice Uranus will appear to be a boring Uranus. But that methane haze, so prevalent in the upper atmosphere of Uranus, only represents the top 1% of the atmosphere. Observing in bands other than visible light will reveal even more of its non-uniform properties. Because an equinox-like Uranus will cool off during the night, the methane haze goes from being a top-layer aerosol which is a solid or liquid particle suspended in a gas to particles that mix with the lower atmospheric layers. Thus, when day emerges again, the uppermost layer is partially transparent. And what we've found, when that occurs, is that there are observable changes in the upper atmosphere, which holds clues to the 99% of the unseen atmosphere beneath it. There are storms that are present even in the old Voyager 2 information, visible only by stacking over 1,000 images together and looking for variations between frames. According to astronomer Erich Karkoschka, who did this work back in 2014: Some of these features probably are convective clouds caused by updraft and condensation. Some of the brighter features look like clouds that extend over hundreds of kilometers. [...] The unusual rotation of high southern latitudes of Uranus is probably due to an unusual feature in the interior of Uranus. While the nature of the feature and its interaction with the atmosphere are not yet known, the fact that I found this unusual rotation offers new possibilities to learn about the interior of a giant planet. By looking in wavelengths of light beyond what the human eye can see, such as the infrared, we can construct enhanced-color images. As you'd expect, when Uranus is near equinox, these reveal a slew of features that are invisible to the human eye, including: bands of atmospheric structure, hemispheric differences between the sun-facing and space-facing poles, storms and clouds present in the upper atmosphere, and even a faint ring system that likely results from shattered or tidally-disrupted moons. There are also storms that are visible only in the infrared that intensify and subside. Contrary to our initial observations, Uranus is a feature-rich world, but only if you look at it in the right ways. There are still plenty of mysteries to solve about the second-most-distant planet in the Solar System. Uranus has an oddly tilted but strong magnetic field, about 50 times the strength of Earth's, which rotates like a corkscrew around the planet. The dual presence of carbon and hydrogen suggests that, in the lower layers of the atmosphere, the pressure causes a rain of diamonds to fall. Uranus displays a uniform temperature during solstice, but severe temperature differences across its surface during equinoxes, suggesting that something inherent to it is causing a lag between temperatures and the seasons. And the storms we see, also driven by the seasons, are suggestive of a vortex deeper down in the atmosphere, farther past what we can see. Uranus, to many, is still the most boring planet, and I suppose that's true if you're willing to add a caveat: sometimes. When Uranus is at solstice, it truly is the most boring, featureless world you can find among our eight planets. But the lack of an internal heat source and the fact that it rotates on a tipped-over axis also gives us a unique opportunity to learn how a gas giant planet behaves when its energy balance is driven by the Sun. Uranus, once thought to be a featureless world, turns out to be incredibly rich and diverse. This turquoise world holds a number of mysteries that are suggestive of a complex, internal structure beneath the easily-observable upper atmosphere. So long as there's an energy difference, either between the polar hemispheres or between the day-and-night sides, there will surely be interesting phenomena to investigate. The case for a dedicated mission to Uranus has never been stronger.

Alone among all the planets in the Solar System, Uranus is a light, blue-colored, otherwise featureless world. The reason for Uranus' uniform color during the solstice is because of its temperatures when it's in continuous day.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/01/22/why-is-uranus-the-only-planet-without-interesting-features-on-it/

Why Is Uranus The Only Planet Without Interesting Features On It?

The eight major planets of the Solar System all possess their own unique features. The rocky planets have craters, ridges, mountains and more: evidence of a violent past and interior activity. All the planets except Mercury have atmospheres, where volatile materials form clouds and hazes. On the gas giant worlds, banded structures, storms, and turbulent streams are commonly seen. Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune all display spectacular changes over time whenever we've examined their atmospheres in detail. But not Uranus. Alone among all the planets in the Solar System, Uranus is a light, blue-colored, otherwise featureless world. Even when it was visited up close by the Voyager 2 spacecraft, the most remarkable part of the story was how unremarkable Uranus appeared. To the human eye, Uranus is the only planet without interesting features on it. Here's the scientific story of why. Uranus, as seen from Earth, is just a tiny turquoise disc. Voyager 2, which had previously revealed unprecedented details of storms and bands on Jupiter and Saturn, saw a large, featureless, turquoise globe when it came to Uranus. Even by turning up the image contrast as high as possible, there was practically nothing to see. Uranus appeared to be, quite disappointingly, the most boring planet we could have imagined. Initially, we thought we understood why it was such a featureless world. With such a small size relative to Saturn or Jupiter, it was conjectured that Uranus wasn't able to generate any of its own internal heat, and was therefore only at the temperature you'd expect if it were heated by the Sun. It was blue and featureless because it was cold, distant, and didn't produce its own heat. Its upper atmosphere was a constant 58 K. And that seemed to be the entire story. Of course, that isn't the case at all! Sure, it is cold and distant, and doesn't generate very much internal heat; that part is true. But Uranus is unique among all the worlds in the Solar System for a special property it possesses: its rotation. Unlike all the other worlds, which rotate at some tilt relative to the plane of the Sun's rotation, Uranus is practically on its side, rolling like a barrel instead of spinning like a top. When the Voyager 2 spacecraft flew past Uranus in 1986, it was solstice: the side illuminated by the Sun was one of Uranus' polar regions. But as the years and decades ticked by, Uranus moved from solstice towards equinox, when its equatorial region would be illuminated by the Sun instead. Instead of a constant influx of sunlight on one hemisphere, lasting years, there was a rapid day/night shift, coincident with Uranus' rotational period of about 17 hours. Since Uranus takes 84 Earth-years to complete a revolution around the Sun, that means it takes 21 Earth-years to go from solstice to equinox. With Voyager 2 flying by it at solstice in 1986, that implied the best time to view it next would be in 2007, when it was at equinox. We didn't have another mission ready to go at that time, but we did have the Hubble Space Telescope. As you can see, above, there are all the features you would have hoped for the first time. There are swirling clouds, storms, and even characteristic atmospheric bands. There are dark spots and light spots, hazes and clear regions, with differential colors at different Uranian latitudes. Instead of a monochrome, featureless world, we at last found the active atmosphere we had expected all along. The reason for Uranus' uniform color during the solstice is because of its temperatures when it's in continuous day, which produces a haze of methane. Methane, in this state of matter, absorbs red light, which is why the reflected sunlight takes on that turquoise hue. Simultaneously, the methane haze masks the clouds below it, which is what causes Uranus to have the featureless appearance we came to know ubiquitously after the Voyager 2 visit. With its 97.7 degree axial tilt, a solstice Uranus will appear to be a boring Uranus. But that methane haze, so prevalent in the upper atmosphere of Uranus, only represents the top 1% of the atmosphere. Observing in bands other than visible light will reveal even more of its non-uniform properties. Because an equinox-like Uranus will cool off during the night, the methane haze goes from being a top-layer aerosol which is a solid or liquid particle suspended in a gas to particles that mix with the lower atmospheric layers. Thus, when day emerges again, the uppermost layer is partially transparent. And what we've found, when that occurs, is that there are observable changes in the upper atmosphere, which holds clues to the 99% of the unseen atmosphere beneath it. There are storms that are present even in the old Voyager 2 information, visible only by stacking over 1,000 images together and looking for variations between frames. According to astronomer Erich Karkoschka, who did this work back in 2014: Some of these features probably are convective clouds caused by updraft and condensation. Some of the brighter features look like clouds that extend over hundreds of kilometers. [...] The unusual rotation of high southern latitudes of Uranus is probably due to an unusual feature in the interior of Uranus. While the nature of the feature and its interaction with the atmosphere are not yet known, the fact that I found this unusual rotation offers new possibilities to learn about the interior of a giant planet. By looking in wavelengths of light beyond what the human eye can see, such as the infrared, we can construct enhanced-color images. As you'd expect, when Uranus is near equinox, these reveal a slew of features that are invisible to the human eye, including: bands of atmospheric structure, hemispheric differences between the sun-facing and space-facing poles, storms and clouds present in the upper atmosphere, and even a faint ring system that likely results from shattered or tidally-disrupted moons. There are also storms that are visible only in the infrared that intensify and subside. Contrary to our initial observations, Uranus is a feature-rich world, but only if you look at it in the right ways. There are still plenty of mysteries to solve about the second-most-distant planet in the Solar System. Uranus has an oddly tilted but strong magnetic field, about 50 times the strength of Earth's, which rotates like a corkscrew around the planet. The dual presence of carbon and hydrogen suggests that, in the lower layers of the atmosphere, the pressure causes a rain of diamonds to fall. Uranus displays a uniform temperature during solstice, but severe temperature differences across its surface during equinoxes, suggesting that something inherent to it is causing a lag between temperatures and the seasons. And the storms we see, also driven by the seasons, are suggestive of a vortex deeper down in the atmosphere, farther past what we can see. Uranus, to many, is still the most boring planet, and I suppose that's true if you're willing to add a caveat: sometimes. When Uranus is at solstice, it truly is the most boring, featureless world you can find among our eight planets. But the lack of an internal heat source and the fact that it rotates on a tipped-over axis also gives us a unique opportunity to learn how a gas giant planet behaves when its energy balance is driven by the Sun. Uranus, once thought to be a featureless world, turns out to be incredibly rich and diverse. This turquoise world holds a number of mysteries that are suggestive of a complex, internal structure beneath the easily-observable upper atmosphere. So long as there's an energy difference, either between the polar hemispheres or between the day-and-night sides, there will surely be interesting phenomena to investigate. The case for a dedicated mission to Uranus has never been stronger.

Uranus, as seen from Earth, is just a tiny turquoise disc. To the human eye, Uranus is the only planet without interesting features on it. The reason for Uranus' unique rotation is because it is practically on its side, rolling like a barrel.

ctrlsum

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/01/22/why-is-uranus-the-only-planet-without-interesting-features-on-it/

Why no love for romcoms?

Serenity, opening Friday, finds Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway on a tropical isle where life drifts along in a hazy breeze of booze and sex. Yet this quirky thriller hardly pairs the Interstellar co-stars romantically. She hopes he will murder her sadistic billionaire husband. Its a far cry and years away from when McConaugheys island adventures were such romantic comedies as Fools Gold or How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, both with Kate Hudson. Once romcoms were a Hollywood staple, with Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers writing and directing Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson or Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Theyve gone the way of the dodo. Instead, its bromances that are flourishing, perhaps because theyre absent the complications of sex. Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Kevin Hart are now Hollywoods hottest team after Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. They had previously struck box-office gold with 2016s Central Intelligence (A little Hart and a big Johnson teased the ad). Their Jumanji sequel opens in December. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are three movies into their partnership. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby in 2006 launched an inspired teaming, followed by Step Brothers (2008) and the Christmas misfire Holmes and Watson. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn began with Starsky and Hutch in 2004, sparked in 2005s smash Wedding Crashers and wrapped it with The Internship (2013). Easily the reigning bromance kings are James Franco and Seth Rogen. Theyve never stopped collaborating since Freaks and Geeks in 1999. Consider: Knocked Up (2007), Pineapple Express (2008), This is the End (2013), The Interview (2014), Sausage Party (2016), The Disaster Artist (2017). Still to come: Zeroville, with Franco director and co-star. As to why were in the midst of a bromantic moment, There always seems to be a genre that is hot at the moment. When you look at the last five years, its been Will Ferrell, Dwayne Johnson or Kevin Hart. Jumanji surprised everyone by grossing over $700 million worldwide, said Wilson Morales of BlackFilm.com. Romantic comedies just arent clicking at the box-office. Crazy Rich Asians was more about the culture than the couple. The last successful pairing weve seen is a dramatic story, A Star Is Born, which is an example of star power.

Once romcoms were a Hollywood staple, theyve gone the way of the dodo. Its bromances that are flourishing, perhaps because theyre absent the complications of sex.

pegasus

https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/01/22/romcom/

Why no love for romcoms?

Serenity, opening Friday, finds Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway on a tropical isle where life drifts along in a hazy breeze of booze and sex. Yet this quirky thriller hardly pairs the Interstellar co-stars romantically. She hopes he will murder her sadistic billionaire husband. Its a far cry and years away from when McConaugheys island adventures were such romantic comedies as Fools Gold or How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, both with Kate Hudson. Once romcoms were a Hollywood staple, with Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers writing and directing Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson or Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Theyve gone the way of the dodo. Instead, its bromances that are flourishing, perhaps because theyre absent the complications of sex. Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Kevin Hart are now Hollywoods hottest team after Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. They had previously struck box-office gold with 2016s Central Intelligence (A little Hart and a big Johnson teased the ad). Their Jumanji sequel opens in December. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are three movies into their partnership. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby in 2006 launched an inspired teaming, followed by Step Brothers (2008) and the Christmas misfire Holmes and Watson. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn began with Starsky and Hutch in 2004, sparked in 2005s smash Wedding Crashers and wrapped it with The Internship (2013). Easily the reigning bromance kings are James Franco and Seth Rogen. Theyve never stopped collaborating since Freaks and Geeks in 1999. Consider: Knocked Up (2007), Pineapple Express (2008), This is the End (2013), The Interview (2014), Sausage Party (2016), The Disaster Artist (2017). Still to come: Zeroville, with Franco director and co-star. As to why were in the midst of a bromantic moment, There always seems to be a genre that is hot at the moment. When you look at the last five years, its been Will Ferrell, Dwayne Johnson or Kevin Hart. Jumanji surprised everyone by grossing over $700 million worldwide, said Wilson Morales of BlackFilm.com. Romantic comedies just arent clicking at the box-office. Crazy Rich Asians was more about the culture than the couple. The last successful pairing weve seen is a dramatic story, A Star Is Born, which is an example of star power.

Once romcoms were a Hollywood staple, theyve gone the way of the dodo. Its bromances that are flourishing, perhaps because theyre absent the complications of sex. James Franco and Seth Rogen are the reigning bromance kings.

pegasus

https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/01/22/romcom/

How can I use two-step verification in a mobile blackspot?

I cant access calls or texts and want to start protecting my email account from hackers You have frequently advised readers to set up two-step verification to protect the security of their email system. Wed like to do this, but we live in a mobile blackspot, and cant access calls or texts at home. SD, Maidenhead, Berks You are absolutely right to set this up, and we would strongly urge other readers to follow your lead. Two-step verification protects against hacking as it requires the user to input a code every time they log into their email on a computer they havent used previously. Most email systems use the mobile phone networks to send the verification code by text. Only once you have entered it can you access your emails. It will halt most scammers from taking over your account. You only have to do this once on that computer but it may have to be updated every 30 days, if at all. For people like you who dont get a decent mobile service at home (or dont own a mobile), you can ask Google or the email provider to call your landline instead. You can typically add two mobile and landline numbers to the two-step process. A landline is arguably more secure. Alternatively, use a smartphone-based app which automatically generates a one-time passcode using an algorithm. The code changes every 30 seconds. Crucially, you dont need a mobile phone signal or to be online to receive the code. The Guardians tech gurus recommend using Google Authenticator, or Authy. One last thing to consider is upgrading your mobile to 4G. Living where you do, you should be able to get a mobile service. Buying a 4G phone could improve your service and mean you can make and receive calls at home. We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions

Two-step verification protects against hacking as it requires the user to input a code every time they log into their email on a computer they havent used previously. Most email systems use the mobile phone networks to send the verification code by text.

bart

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/22/two-step-verification-email-security-mobile

How can I use two-step verification in a mobile blackspot?

I cant access calls or texts and want to start protecting my email account from hackers You have frequently advised readers to set up two-step verification to protect the security of their email system. Wed like to do this, but we live in a mobile blackspot, and cant access calls or texts at home. SD, Maidenhead, Berks You are absolutely right to set this up, and we would strongly urge other readers to follow your lead. Two-step verification protects against hacking as it requires the user to input a code every time they log into their email on a computer they havent used previously. Most email systems use the mobile phone networks to send the verification code by text. Only once you have entered it can you access your emails. It will halt most scammers from taking over your account. You only have to do this once on that computer but it may have to be updated every 30 days, if at all. For people like you who dont get a decent mobile service at home (or dont own a mobile), you can ask Google or the email provider to call your landline instead. You can typically add two mobile and landline numbers to the two-step process. A landline is arguably more secure. Alternatively, use a smartphone-based app which automatically generates a one-time passcode using an algorithm. The code changes every 30 seconds. Crucially, you dont need a mobile phone signal or to be online to receive the code. The Guardians tech gurus recommend using Google Authenticator, or Authy. One last thing to consider is upgrading your mobile to 4G. Living where you do, you should be able to get a mobile service. Buying a 4G phone could improve your service and mean you can make and receive calls at home. We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions

Two-step verification protects against hacking as it requires the user to input a code every time they log into their email on a computer they havent used previously. Most email systems use the mobile phone networks to send the verification code by text. Buying a 4G phone could improve your service and mean you can make and receive calls at home.

bart

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/22/two-step-verification-email-security-mobile

What are May's options for a plan B that could win over the Commons?

Theresa Mays plan B is to try to get her plan A through the Commons with some tweaks on the Irish backstop. Heres a quick guide to what MPs could vote for, based on dividing the Commons into various groupings, explained below. The numbers of those groups are roughly estimated using public records and voting histories, although these factions could easily splinter further in any of these scenarios. The groupings explained Tories for a second referendum 9 These are the Conservative MPs like Dominic Grieve, Sarah Wollaston, Anna Soubry, Phillip Lee, Sam Gyimah, Guto Bebb, Justine Greening and Jo Johnson who will back any moves for a second referendum and stopping no deal. Conservatives who will block no deal 12 These MPs are not in favour of a second referendum and mostly voted for Mays deal, but will put as many roadblocks as they can in the way of a no-deal Brexit. They include former minister Nick Boles, Nicky Morgan and Sir Oliver Letwin. Brexiters who oppose Mays deal 109 These are the Tory MPs who have voted against the prime ministers Brexit deal. Many are hard Brexiters who would be comfortable with no deal, but others are ex-remainers uncomfortable with the backstop. Should May manage to deliver a firm end date to the backstop, she could win back most of their votes. A minority would also like to see the backstop removed entirely and a reduction of the 39bn payment to the EU. Conservative loyalists and payroll 186 This group include ministers, whips and other frontbenchers, as well as Tory loyalists who are happy to vote for Theresa Mays Brexit deal as it currently stands. Democratic Unionist party MPs 10 The Northern Irish party voted against the governments Brexit deal because of the backstop arrangement, and could be won over if there are some changes to it. Labour for a second referendum 71 Support for a second referendum is likely to be more widespread than this but not all Labour MPs who hold frontbench position have publicly declared support. These 71 MPs are those who have publicly declared their support and would vote for a referendum even if they were whipped to oppose. Labour MPs opposed to a second referendum 30 Labour MPs who do not want the party to back a second vote have been privately keeping track of the number who would actively oppose it, even if it was whipped by the Labour frontbench. Sources claim about 30 would be actively prepared to rebel. Labour loyalists and independents 150 These include Jeremy Corbyns frontbench and the majority of Labour MPs who are likely to follow the Labour whip. Labour Brexiters and MPs who back Mays deal 3 Only three Labour MPs have backed Mays deal as it currently stands though this number would be likely to grow if it became a softer Brexit or if no deal became a more likely possibility. Others could merge into this group depending on the question, including Labour hard Brexiter Kate Hoey. How admirable that MPs want to amend Brexit. It wont work | Matthew dAncona Read more The SNP, Lib Dems and other parties 51 These MPs, who also include Plaid Cymru and the Greens Caroline Lucas, are all supporters of a second referendum. Independents 8 These MPs are not easy to place. Ex-Labour MPs Ivan Lewis and Jared OMara have tended to vote with their former party. Independent MP Sylvia Hermon, former Labour MP Frank Field and the former Lib Dem MP Stephen Lloyd have tended to vote with the government on Brexit issues. Another ex-Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins is a Brexiter, but also a Corbyn loyalist. Dont vote 11 The Speaker, his three deputies and seven Sinn Fein MPs do not vote.

Theresa May's plan B is to try to get her plan A through the Commons with some tweaks on the Irish backstop.

ctrlsum

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/22/what-are-mays-options-for-a-plan-b-that-could-win-over-the-commons

What are May's options for a plan B that could win over the Commons?

Theresa Mays plan B is to try to get her plan A through the Commons with some tweaks on the Irish backstop. Heres a quick guide to what MPs could vote for, based on dividing the Commons into various groupings, explained below. The numbers of those groups are roughly estimated using public records and voting histories, although these factions could easily splinter further in any of these scenarios. The groupings explained Tories for a second referendum 9 These are the Conservative MPs like Dominic Grieve, Sarah Wollaston, Anna Soubry, Phillip Lee, Sam Gyimah, Guto Bebb, Justine Greening and Jo Johnson who will back any moves for a second referendum and stopping no deal. Conservatives who will block no deal 12 These MPs are not in favour of a second referendum and mostly voted for Mays deal, but will put as many roadblocks as they can in the way of a no-deal Brexit. They include former minister Nick Boles, Nicky Morgan and Sir Oliver Letwin. Brexiters who oppose Mays deal 109 These are the Tory MPs who have voted against the prime ministers Brexit deal. Many are hard Brexiters who would be comfortable with no deal, but others are ex-remainers uncomfortable with the backstop. Should May manage to deliver a firm end date to the backstop, she could win back most of their votes. A minority would also like to see the backstop removed entirely and a reduction of the 39bn payment to the EU. Conservative loyalists and payroll 186 This group include ministers, whips and other frontbenchers, as well as Tory loyalists who are happy to vote for Theresa Mays Brexit deal as it currently stands. Democratic Unionist party MPs 10 The Northern Irish party voted against the governments Brexit deal because of the backstop arrangement, and could be won over if there are some changes to it. Labour for a second referendum 71 Support for a second referendum is likely to be more widespread than this but not all Labour MPs who hold frontbench position have publicly declared support. These 71 MPs are those who have publicly declared their support and would vote for a referendum even if they were whipped to oppose. Labour MPs opposed to a second referendum 30 Labour MPs who do not want the party to back a second vote have been privately keeping track of the number who would actively oppose it, even if it was whipped by the Labour frontbench. Sources claim about 30 would be actively prepared to rebel. Labour loyalists and independents 150 These include Jeremy Corbyns frontbench and the majority of Labour MPs who are likely to follow the Labour whip. Labour Brexiters and MPs who back Mays deal 3 Only three Labour MPs have backed Mays deal as it currently stands though this number would be likely to grow if it became a softer Brexit or if no deal became a more likely possibility. Others could merge into this group depending on the question, including Labour hard Brexiter Kate Hoey. How admirable that MPs want to amend Brexit. It wont work | Matthew dAncona Read more The SNP, Lib Dems and other parties 51 These MPs, who also include Plaid Cymru and the Greens Caroline Lucas, are all supporters of a second referendum. Independents 8 These MPs are not easy to place. Ex-Labour MPs Ivan Lewis and Jared OMara have tended to vote with their former party. Independent MP Sylvia Hermon, former Labour MP Frank Field and the former Lib Dem MP Stephen Lloyd have tended to vote with the government on Brexit issues. Another ex-Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins is a Brexiter, but also a Corbyn loyalist. Dont vote 11 The Speaker, his three deputies and seven Sinn Fein MPs do not vote.

Theresa May's plan B is to try to get her plan A through the Commons with some tweaks on the Irish backstop. Here's a quick guide to what MPs could vote for, based on dividing the Commons into various groupings, explained below. The numbers of those groups are roughly estimated using public records and voting histories.

ctrlsum

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/22/what-are-mays-options-for-a-plan-b-that-could-win-over-the-commons

Should schools fill key roles with volunteers?

It used to be help on the cake stall. Now an academy chain is seeking an unpaid accounts assistant and a free PA News that an academy trust founded by the Conservative peer Lord James OShaughnessy is advertising for unpaid volunteers to fill key roles in its two primary schools was met with disbelief and dismay by teachers earlier this month. The Floreat Education Academies Trust is looking for full-time and part-time volunteers to fill the jobs of finance assistant, office administrator and personal assistant to the chief executive, Janet Hilary, who was paid 128,768 in 2018. Andrew Morrish chief executive, Victoria Academies Trust, West Midlands No, schools shouldnt rely on volunteers although with funding levels at an all-time low, I can understand why school leaders are having to make such difficult decisions. We are at a cliff edge. There are more than 300,000 additional pupils in the system since 2015, the education services grant for academies has been scrapped to the tune of 600m, and almost a third of local authority secondary schools are in deficit. Not to mention the increase in pensions and national insurance contributions. That said, the solution to the problem seems obvious fairer funding for schools so that heads wont be forced to make such decisions. If my dentist wasnt being paid, Id go elsewhere Andrew Morrish Ironically, of course, the role of the volunteer has been the bedrock of the school system for generations, whether its going on school trips, listening to children read, fundraising, or sitting on a governing body. You want your parents to volunteer because its also a way for you to engage with them and demonstrate that you value them. The issue here is that for the first time we are seeing this creeping into key strategic posts. This is a worrying trend that needs to stop as it undermines the work of those highly skilled and trained professionals that have been doing the job for years. There are issues then around confidentiality and safeguarding. Its about public confidence as well I could probably live with going to my dental surgery knowing some of the backroom posts are being covered by volunteers, but if my dentist or assistant was not being paid, Id probably go elsewhere. Running schools is no different. Chris Jagger parent volunteer at a state primary school in Cambridge Yes, I think schools absolutely need to rely on volunteers to do certain kinds of work. If the teacher spent her time listening to children reading, it would take her an entire day to hear each child read for just 10 minutes a week. Yet thats nowhere near enough to improve childrens reading. So I think its good for parents to be involved. I have found it very rewarding, helping children who were struggling and seeing them improve. It wouldnt bother me if my school advertised for a full-time volunteer to fill a key role. But at the same time, its not ideal. Volunteers can usually only commit to a small numbers of hours a week and Id be concerned an unpaid worker wouldnt be able to spend as much time doing the role as is needed. Raj Unsworth chair of trustees, Pride Multiple Academy Trust, Barnsley The simple answer is no. We are all aware funding is an issue, especially in small schools. But there are other options. Top of my list would be to look at staffing structure and collaboration with other schools. The board should ensure money is not wasted on top-heavy leadership. As for collaboration, this could mean sharing a business manager or even a headteacher. The pool of people you are going to attract to volunteer will be limited. These people will still need to be managed and trained in statutory responsibilities, such as safeguarding and confidentiality. Are you going to accept a lower level of performance from an administrator who is not paid compared to another in the school who is? Lorna Jackson headteacher, Maryland primary school, east London No. At Maryland, we use volunteers parents and other family members to enhance the experiences of our children, but not as free labour. To put volunteers in places to fill employment gaps, especially where there is a high level of skill needed, is misguided. Our volunteers are trained, supervised and treated as part of the schools welfare team. We carefully select the activities we need them to support us with. For example, not just listening to children read but also reading to children, as this is very important for children whose first language is not English. The elephant in the room is that funding for schools is diabolical and has been cut year on year. Clearly, anyone turning to unpaid volunteers to fill jobs that qualified people should be doing is desperate. We need to address the funding, not fill the gaps. That is the direction this country is going in.

No, schools shouldnt rely on volunteers - although with funding levels at an all-time low, we are at a cliff edge.

ctrlsum

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/jan/22/should-schools-fill-key-roles-with-volunteers

Should schools fill key roles with volunteers?

It used to be help on the cake stall. Now an academy chain is seeking an unpaid accounts assistant and a free PA News that an academy trust founded by the Conservative peer Lord James OShaughnessy is advertising for unpaid volunteers to fill key roles in its two primary schools was met with disbelief and dismay by teachers earlier this month. The Floreat Education Academies Trust is looking for full-time and part-time volunteers to fill the jobs of finance assistant, office administrator and personal assistant to the chief executive, Janet Hilary, who was paid 128,768 in 2018. Andrew Morrish chief executive, Victoria Academies Trust, West Midlands No, schools shouldnt rely on volunteers although with funding levels at an all-time low, I can understand why school leaders are having to make such difficult decisions. We are at a cliff edge. There are more than 300,000 additional pupils in the system since 2015, the education services grant for academies has been scrapped to the tune of 600m, and almost a third of local authority secondary schools are in deficit. Not to mention the increase in pensions and national insurance contributions. That said, the solution to the problem seems obvious fairer funding for schools so that heads wont be forced to make such decisions. If my dentist wasnt being paid, Id go elsewhere Andrew Morrish Ironically, of course, the role of the volunteer has been the bedrock of the school system for generations, whether its going on school trips, listening to children read, fundraising, or sitting on a governing body. You want your parents to volunteer because its also a way for you to engage with them and demonstrate that you value them. The issue here is that for the first time we are seeing this creeping into key strategic posts. This is a worrying trend that needs to stop as it undermines the work of those highly skilled and trained professionals that have been doing the job for years. There are issues then around confidentiality and safeguarding. Its about public confidence as well I could probably live with going to my dental surgery knowing some of the backroom posts are being covered by volunteers, but if my dentist or assistant was not being paid, Id probably go elsewhere. Running schools is no different. Chris Jagger parent volunteer at a state primary school in Cambridge Yes, I think schools absolutely need to rely on volunteers to do certain kinds of work. If the teacher spent her time listening to children reading, it would take her an entire day to hear each child read for just 10 minutes a week. Yet thats nowhere near enough to improve childrens reading. So I think its good for parents to be involved. I have found it very rewarding, helping children who were struggling and seeing them improve. It wouldnt bother me if my school advertised for a full-time volunteer to fill a key role. But at the same time, its not ideal. Volunteers can usually only commit to a small numbers of hours a week and Id be concerned an unpaid worker wouldnt be able to spend as much time doing the role as is needed. Raj Unsworth chair of trustees, Pride Multiple Academy Trust, Barnsley The simple answer is no. We are all aware funding is an issue, especially in small schools. But there are other options. Top of my list would be to look at staffing structure and collaboration with other schools. The board should ensure money is not wasted on top-heavy leadership. As for collaboration, this could mean sharing a business manager or even a headteacher. The pool of people you are going to attract to volunteer will be limited. These people will still need to be managed and trained in statutory responsibilities, such as safeguarding and confidentiality. Are you going to accept a lower level of performance from an administrator who is not paid compared to another in the school who is? Lorna Jackson headteacher, Maryland primary school, east London No. At Maryland, we use volunteers parents and other family members to enhance the experiences of our children, but not as free labour. To put volunteers in places to fill employment gaps, especially where there is a high level of skill needed, is misguided. Our volunteers are trained, supervised and treated as part of the schools welfare team. We carefully select the activities we need them to support us with. For example, not just listening to children read but also reading to children, as this is very important for children whose first language is not English. The elephant in the room is that funding for schools is diabolical and has been cut year on year. Clearly, anyone turning to unpaid volunteers to fill jobs that qualified people should be doing is desperate. We need to address the funding, not fill the gaps. That is the direction this country is going in.

No, schools shouldnt rely on volunteers - although with funding levels at an all-time low, I can understand why school leaders are having to make such difficult decisions.

ctrlsum

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/jan/22/should-schools-fill-key-roles-with-volunteers

Where does Andy Reid rank among coaches who never won a Super Bowl?

Andy Reid had a good chance to finally get a ring, but his 20th season as a NFL head coach ended the same as the previous 19. Without a Super Bowl title. His quest to raise the Lombardi will continue. Theres no denying that Reid otherwise has one of the best resumes in league history. Reids 195 regular season wins are the eighth-most in league history and he has both Marty Schottenheimer (200) and Paul Brown (213) in his sights. To put it in further perspective, Reid has more regular season wins in similar timeframes than both Chuck Noll (193 wins over 23 season) and Bill Parcells (172 wins over 19 seasons). He took the Eagles to four straight NFC title games in the early 2000s, winning one before falling to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. Scroll to continue with content Ad Andy Reid is among the best coaches to never win a Super Bowl. (AP) Whats more, Reids coaching tree is full of thick and sturdy branches and its hard to find anyone in the league who will say a bad word about him, which is rare. There were a lot of people left disappointed on Sunday that Reid couldnt get by Bill Belichick again. The presence of Patrick Mahomes and the trust of the Hunt family should guarantee that Reid gets a few more good shots at winning a Super Bowl. But even if he doesnt, he wont be the first great coach to never win a title. Heres how he currently ranks among the best coaches to never finish a season atop the league: Story continues 10. This isnt a listicle of best coaches to never win a playoff game? Eh, thats still OK. Getting the Bengals into the playoffs seven different times was a great feat for Lewis, who was finally fired after this season. He may not be the peers of the men at the top of this list, but leading one of the greatest defenses of all time (the 2000 Ravens) plus winning in Cincinnati is enough to land him on it. 9. John Fox, Panthers/Broncos/Bears Regular season: 133-123 (.520) over 16 seasons Playoff record: 8-7, two Super Bowl appearances Fox is a tricky one. Take away three dismal seasons with the Bears and his career winning percentage is .569. But take away three seasons of Peyton Manning and it plunges to .456. (Its not lost on anyone that taking Fox away from Manning in Denver resulted in Mannings second Super Bowl ring.) Still, Fox is just one of six coaches to take two different teams to the Super Bowl. 8. Chuck Knox, Rams/Bills/Seahawks Regular season: 186-147 (.558) over 22 seasons Playoff record: 7-11, four NFC title game appearances Fox, then Knox, then box in socks. Sounds like a Dr. Seuss stanza. Knox never made a Super Bowl, but the tough-nosed coach had a knack for turning teams around. He made four conference title games (including three in the mid-70s with the Rams) but could never quite reach the biggest stage. An unsuccessful second tour of duty with the Rams in the 90s marred his overall record a bit, but its hard to argue with 186 wins. 7. Dan Reeves, Broncos/Giants/Falcons Regular season: 190-165 (.535) over 23 seasons Playoff record: 11-9, four Super Bowl appearances Another non-winning member of the two-team Super Bowl club, its also hard to judge Reeves career. Coaching an AFC team in the NFCs era of dominance didnt do him any favors. Don Coryell was an offensive genius with the Chargers. (Getty Images) 6. Don Coryell, Cardinals/Chargers Regular season: 111-83 (.572) over 14 seasons Playoff record: 3-6, two AFC title game appearances Coryells innovations in the passing game earn him a revered spot amongst the coaching fraternity as does the success of his coaching tree (John Madden, Joe Gibbs among others). Unfortunately, Coryells Chargers teams, which made two AFC title games, were the equivalent of the Steve Nash-era Suns. A great show that ultimately wasnt built for postseason success. 5. Andy Reid, Eagles/Chiefs Regular season: 195-124 (.611) over 20 seasons Playoff record: 12-14 over 14 appearances, one Super Bowl appearance Hes the only man on this list who has a job and thus a chance of removing himself from it. Only reaching the Super Bowl once keeps him from being ranked ahead of the coaches below. 4. Marv Levy, Chiefs/Bills Regular season: 143-112 (.561) over 17 seasons Playoff record:11-8, four Super Bowl appearances Levy doesnt have as many wins as other coaches on this list, but think about what he accomplished with those teams. A lot of coaches have won a Super Bowl, but only one has played in four straight Levy. Considering those Bills teams could have easily been torn apart by a mixture of ego, success and disappointment, Levys coaching acumen is unquestionable. 3. Marty Schottenheimer, Browns/Chiefs/Chargers/Redskins Regular season: 200-126 (.613) over 21 seasons Playoff record: 5-13, three AFC title game appearances Schottenheimer is seventh on the NFLs all-time coaching wins list; the six men ahead of him are all in the Hall of Fame and have at least one Super Bowl or NFL title to their names. Schotty was a great regular-season coach, but he suffered from some of the most horrendous luck in the playoffs. Were it not for The Drive, The Fumble, Lin Elliott or Marlon McCree, Schottenheimer might already be occupying a deserved spot in Canton. 2. George Allen, Rams/Redskins Regular season: 116-47-5 over 12 seasons Playoff record: 2-7, one Super Bowl appearance The father of the nickel defense, Allen was known as a football coachs football coach. He never posted a losing season and helped turn around both the Rams and Redskins upon taking over. Allen could never win the playoffs, though, and his one Super Bowl appearance unfortunately came against the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. Bud Grant reached four Super Bowls, but went 0-4. (Getty Images) 1. Bud Grant, Vikings Regular season: 158-96-5 (.621) over 18 seasons Playoff record: 10-12, four Super Bowl appearances The Vikings are one of the most underrated tortured fanbases and not enough people talk about Grant as the guy who never got the big one. After winning the Grey Cup four times in the CFL, Grant came to Minnesota and dominated the 70s. The Vikings won 11 of 13 NFC Central titles behind the Purple People Eaters and made the Super Bowl four times. Grant won a 290 games between the NFL and CFL, a combined total that puts him just behind George Halas and Don Shula for career coaching wins. Grant and Levy are the only Super Bowl-era coaches in the Hall of Fame who never won a Super Bowl. More from Yahoo Sports: Wetzel: TomBradys message to PatrickMahomes Report: Pacquiao may have suffered serious injury Controversial OT rule costs Chiefs chance vs. Patriots The Rams know it was a bad call. And no, they dont care.

Andy Reid is among the best coaches to never win a Super Bowl. Reid's 195 regular season wins are the eighth-most in league history. John Fox, Chuck Knox and Dan Reeves round out the top 10.

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https://sports.yahoo.com/andy-reid-rank-among-coaches-never-won-super-bowl-170329165.html?src=rss

Where does Andy Reid rank among coaches who never won a Super Bowl?

Andy Reid had a good chance to finally get a ring, but his 20th season as a NFL head coach ended the same as the previous 19. Without a Super Bowl title. His quest to raise the Lombardi will continue. Theres no denying that Reid otherwise has one of the best resumes in league history. Reids 195 regular season wins are the eighth-most in league history and he has both Marty Schottenheimer (200) and Paul Brown (213) in his sights. To put it in further perspective, Reid has more regular season wins in similar timeframes than both Chuck Noll (193 wins over 23 season) and Bill Parcells (172 wins over 19 seasons). He took the Eagles to four straight NFC title games in the early 2000s, winning one before falling to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. Scroll to continue with content Ad Andy Reid is among the best coaches to never win a Super Bowl. (AP) Whats more, Reids coaching tree is full of thick and sturdy branches and its hard to find anyone in the league who will say a bad word about him, which is rare. There were a lot of people left disappointed on Sunday that Reid couldnt get by Bill Belichick again. The presence of Patrick Mahomes and the trust of the Hunt family should guarantee that Reid gets a few more good shots at winning a Super Bowl. But even if he doesnt, he wont be the first great coach to never win a title. Heres how he currently ranks among the best coaches to never finish a season atop the league: Story continues 10. This isnt a listicle of best coaches to never win a playoff game? Eh, thats still OK. Getting the Bengals into the playoffs seven different times was a great feat for Lewis, who was finally fired after this season. He may not be the peers of the men at the top of this list, but leading one of the greatest defenses of all time (the 2000 Ravens) plus winning in Cincinnati is enough to land him on it. 9. John Fox, Panthers/Broncos/Bears Regular season: 133-123 (.520) over 16 seasons Playoff record: 8-7, two Super Bowl appearances Fox is a tricky one. Take away three dismal seasons with the Bears and his career winning percentage is .569. But take away three seasons of Peyton Manning and it plunges to .456. (Its not lost on anyone that taking Fox away from Manning in Denver resulted in Mannings second Super Bowl ring.) Still, Fox is just one of six coaches to take two different teams to the Super Bowl. 8. Chuck Knox, Rams/Bills/Seahawks Regular season: 186-147 (.558) over 22 seasons Playoff record: 7-11, four NFC title game appearances Fox, then Knox, then box in socks. Sounds like a Dr. Seuss stanza. Knox never made a Super Bowl, but the tough-nosed coach had a knack for turning teams around. He made four conference title games (including three in the mid-70s with the Rams) but could never quite reach the biggest stage. An unsuccessful second tour of duty with the Rams in the 90s marred his overall record a bit, but its hard to argue with 186 wins. 7. Dan Reeves, Broncos/Giants/Falcons Regular season: 190-165 (.535) over 23 seasons Playoff record: 11-9, four Super Bowl appearances Another non-winning member of the two-team Super Bowl club, its also hard to judge Reeves career. Coaching an AFC team in the NFCs era of dominance didnt do him any favors. Don Coryell was an offensive genius with the Chargers. (Getty Images) 6. Don Coryell, Cardinals/Chargers Regular season: 111-83 (.572) over 14 seasons Playoff record: 3-6, two AFC title game appearances Coryells innovations in the passing game earn him a revered spot amongst the coaching fraternity as does the success of his coaching tree (John Madden, Joe Gibbs among others). Unfortunately, Coryells Chargers teams, which made two AFC title games, were the equivalent of the Steve Nash-era Suns. A great show that ultimately wasnt built for postseason success. 5. Andy Reid, Eagles/Chiefs Regular season: 195-124 (.611) over 20 seasons Playoff record: 12-14 over 14 appearances, one Super Bowl appearance Hes the only man on this list who has a job and thus a chance of removing himself from it. Only reaching the Super Bowl once keeps him from being ranked ahead of the coaches below. 4. Marv Levy, Chiefs/Bills Regular season: 143-112 (.561) over 17 seasons Playoff record:11-8, four Super Bowl appearances Levy doesnt have as many wins as other coaches on this list, but think about what he accomplished with those teams. A lot of coaches have won a Super Bowl, but only one has played in four straight Levy. Considering those Bills teams could have easily been torn apart by a mixture of ego, success and disappointment, Levys coaching acumen is unquestionable. 3. Marty Schottenheimer, Browns/Chiefs/Chargers/Redskins Regular season: 200-126 (.613) over 21 seasons Playoff record: 5-13, three AFC title game appearances Schottenheimer is seventh on the NFLs all-time coaching wins list; the six men ahead of him are all in the Hall of Fame and have at least one Super Bowl or NFL title to their names. Schotty was a great regular-season coach, but he suffered from some of the most horrendous luck in the playoffs. Were it not for The Drive, The Fumble, Lin Elliott or Marlon McCree, Schottenheimer might already be occupying a deserved spot in Canton. 2. George Allen, Rams/Redskins Regular season: 116-47-5 over 12 seasons Playoff record: 2-7, one Super Bowl appearance The father of the nickel defense, Allen was known as a football coachs football coach. He never posted a losing season and helped turn around both the Rams and Redskins upon taking over. Allen could never win the playoffs, though, and his one Super Bowl appearance unfortunately came against the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. Bud Grant reached four Super Bowls, but went 0-4. (Getty Images) 1. Bud Grant, Vikings Regular season: 158-96-5 (.621) over 18 seasons Playoff record: 10-12, four Super Bowl appearances The Vikings are one of the most underrated tortured fanbases and not enough people talk about Grant as the guy who never got the big one. After winning the Grey Cup four times in the CFL, Grant came to Minnesota and dominated the 70s. The Vikings won 11 of 13 NFC Central titles behind the Purple People Eaters and made the Super Bowl four times. Grant won a 290 games between the NFL and CFL, a combined total that puts him just behind George Halas and Don Shula for career coaching wins. Grant and Levy are the only Super Bowl-era coaches in the Hall of Fame who never won a Super Bowl. More from Yahoo Sports: Wetzel: TomBradys message to PatrickMahomes Report: Pacquiao may have suffered serious injury Controversial OT rule costs Chiefs chance vs. Patriots The Rams know it was a bad call. And no, they dont care.

Andy Reid is among the best coaches to never win a Super Bowl title. Reid's 195 regular season wins are the eighth-most in league history. John Fox is one of six coaches to take two different teams to the Super Bowl. Dan Reeves and Chuck Knox are the other two non-winning coaches.

bart

https://sports.yahoo.com/andy-reid-rank-among-coaches-never-won-super-bowl-170329165.html?src=rss

Will MGIC Investment Corporation Continue to Surge Higher?

As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in MGIC Investment Corporation. As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in MGIC Investment Corporation MTG. The stock has moved higher by 2.6% in the past month, while it is also above its 20 Day SMA too. This combination of strong price performance and favorable technical, could suggest that the stock may be on the right path. We certainly think that this might be the case, particularly if you consider MTGs recent earnings estimate revision activity. From this look, the companys future is quite favorable; as MTG has earned itself a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), meaning that its recent run may continue for a bit longer, and that this isnt the top for the in-focus company. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana. Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in MGIC Investment Corporation MTG. The stock has moved higher by 2.6% in the past month, while it is also above its 20 Day SMA too.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/mgic-investment-corporation-continue-surge-095109888.html

Will MGIC Investment Corporation Continue to Surge Higher?

As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in MGIC Investment Corporation. As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in MGIC Investment Corporation MTG. The stock has moved higher by 2.6% in the past month, while it is also above its 20 Day SMA too. This combination of strong price performance and favorable technical, could suggest that the stock may be on the right path. We certainly think that this might be the case, particularly if you consider MTGs recent earnings estimate revision activity. From this look, the companys future is quite favorable; as MTG has earned itself a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), meaning that its recent run may continue for a bit longer, and that this isnt the top for the in-focus company. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana. Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in MGIC Investment Corporation MTG. The stock has moved higher by 2.6% in the past month, while it is also above its 20 Day SMA too. This combination of strong price performance and favorable technical, could suggest that the stock may be on the right path.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/mgic-investment-corporation-continue-surge-095109888.html

Will Twin Disc Continue to Surge Higher?

As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Twin Disc. As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Twin Disc, Incorporated TWIN. The stock has moved higher by 1.8% in the past month, while it is also above its 20 Day SMA too. This combination of strong price performance and favorable technical, could suggest that the stock may be on the right path. We certainly think that this might be the case, particularly if you consider TWINs recent earnings estimate revision activity. From this look, the companys future is quite favorable; as TWIN has earned itself a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), meaning that its recent run may continue for a bit longer, and that this isnt the top for the in-focus company. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana. Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Twin Disc, Incorporated (TWIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

Twin Disc, Incorporated TWIN has moved higher by 1.8% in the past month.

ctrlsum

https://news.yahoo.com/twin-disc-continue-surge-higher-095809695.html

Will Twin Disc Continue to Surge Higher?

As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Twin Disc. As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Twin Disc, Incorporated TWIN. The stock has moved higher by 1.8% in the past month, while it is also above its 20 Day SMA too. This combination of strong price performance and favorable technical, could suggest that the stock may be on the right path. We certainly think that this might be the case, particularly if you consider TWINs recent earnings estimate revision activity. From this look, the companys future is quite favorable; as TWIN has earned itself a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), meaning that its recent run may continue for a bit longer, and that this isnt the top for the in-focus company. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana. Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Twin Disc, Incorporated (TWIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

Twin Disc, Incorporated TWIN has moved higher by 1.8% in the past month. The company has earned a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), meaning that its recent run may continue for a bit longer.

ctrlsum

https://news.yahoo.com/twin-disc-continue-surge-higher-095809695.html

Will Twin Disc Continue to Surge Higher?

As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Twin Disc. As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Twin Disc, Incorporated TWIN. The stock has moved higher by 1.8% in the past month, while it is also above its 20 Day SMA too. This combination of strong price performance and favorable technical, could suggest that the stock may be on the right path. We certainly think that this might be the case, particularly if you consider TWINs recent earnings estimate revision activity. From this look, the companys future is quite favorable; as TWIN has earned itself a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), meaning that its recent run may continue for a bit longer, and that this isnt the top for the in-focus company. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana. Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Twin Disc, Incorporated (TWIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

Twin Disc, Incorporated TWIN has moved higher by 1.8% in the past month. The company has earned itself a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), meaning that its recent run may continue for a bit longer, and that this isn't the top for the in-focus company.

ctrlsum

https://news.yahoo.com/twin-disc-continue-surge-higher-095809695.html

Where does LSU baseball stand in the preseason rankings?

LSU baseball has no shortage of expectations in 2019. Coming off one of the more difficult seasons in the Paul Mainieri era, LSU brings back most of its core talent and arguably the No. 1 signing class in the country. Mainieri sees the projections calling LSU one of the two or three best teams in the country, and he said he welcomes them. He told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune two weeks ago he uses it as reinforcement to his team that its not just he who thinks LSU is one of the best teams in the country. He hopes it gives them confidence. Now, most the main preseason college baseball rankings have been published, confirming LSU is right at the top. Heres where the main outlets have the Tigers. Baseball America: No. 2 Baseball America has the Tigers just behind fellow SEC power Vanderbilt. Eight SEC teams are in BAs Top 25, and Florida is just behind LSU at No. 2. Baseball America wrote: The Tigers got a huge boost following the draft when the draft-eligible trio of right-hander Zack Hess and outfielders Antoine Duplantis and Zach Watson opted to return to Baton Rouge and the top-ranked recruiting class in the country landed on campus. LSU this year will have an experienced pitching staff to go with a potent lineup. D1Baseball.com: No. 2 Just like Baseball America, D1Baseball has the Tigers just behind Vanderbilt. Florida is No. 6, and Georgia and Ole Miss are No. 9 and No. 10, respectively. Perfect Game: No. 1 Perfect Game is the highest-profile site to have LSU at No. 1, followed by Oregon State and Vanderbilt. The site wrote: LSU is guided by Paul Mainieri, whose Tigers finished as the runner-up just two years ago with several familiar faces. Outfielders Antoine Duplantis and Zach Watson and staff ace Zack Hess were all drafted yet returned for another season. Shortstop Josh Smith and another starting pitcher, Eric Walker, missed most or all of the 2018 season due to injuries and appear to be ready to return healthy and strong. "Add in still-developing young talent and another strong wave of incoming freshmen and you have one of the deepest rosters in college baseball. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper: No. 1 This was the first of the outlets to rank the Tigers up top, with Vanderbilt just barely behind LSU. "The Tigers, winners of six national titles, will field its best ball club since 2017 when LSU finished second at the College World Series. LSUs last title came 10 seasons ago in 2009. Entering that spring, LSU was also ranked No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball. Five returning position player starters are back and six superb pitchers. Plus, key players return after sitting out virtually all last season because of injuries.

Most of the main preseason college baseball rankings have LSU at No. 1.

ctrlsum

https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/01/where-does-lsu-baseball-stand-in-the-preseason-rankings.html

Where does LSU baseball stand in the preseason rankings?

LSU baseball has no shortage of expectations in 2019. Coming off one of the more difficult seasons in the Paul Mainieri era, LSU brings back most of its core talent and arguably the No. 1 signing class in the country. Mainieri sees the projections calling LSU one of the two or three best teams in the country, and he said he welcomes them. He told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune two weeks ago he uses it as reinforcement to his team that its not just he who thinks LSU is one of the best teams in the country. He hopes it gives them confidence. Now, most the main preseason college baseball rankings have been published, confirming LSU is right at the top. Heres where the main outlets have the Tigers. Baseball America: No. 2 Baseball America has the Tigers just behind fellow SEC power Vanderbilt. Eight SEC teams are in BAs Top 25, and Florida is just behind LSU at No. 2. Baseball America wrote: The Tigers got a huge boost following the draft when the draft-eligible trio of right-hander Zack Hess and outfielders Antoine Duplantis and Zach Watson opted to return to Baton Rouge and the top-ranked recruiting class in the country landed on campus. LSU this year will have an experienced pitching staff to go with a potent lineup. D1Baseball.com: No. 2 Just like Baseball America, D1Baseball has the Tigers just behind Vanderbilt. Florida is No. 6, and Georgia and Ole Miss are No. 9 and No. 10, respectively. Perfect Game: No. 1 Perfect Game is the highest-profile site to have LSU at No. 1, followed by Oregon State and Vanderbilt. The site wrote: LSU is guided by Paul Mainieri, whose Tigers finished as the runner-up just two years ago with several familiar faces. Outfielders Antoine Duplantis and Zach Watson and staff ace Zack Hess were all drafted yet returned for another season. Shortstop Josh Smith and another starting pitcher, Eric Walker, missed most or all of the 2018 season due to injuries and appear to be ready to return healthy and strong. "Add in still-developing young talent and another strong wave of incoming freshmen and you have one of the deepest rosters in college baseball. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper: No. 1 This was the first of the outlets to rank the Tigers up top, with Vanderbilt just barely behind LSU. "The Tigers, winners of six national titles, will field its best ball club since 2017 when LSU finished second at the College World Series. LSUs last title came 10 seasons ago in 2009. Entering that spring, LSU was also ranked No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball. Five returning position player starters are back and six superb pitchers. Plus, key players return after sitting out virtually all last season because of injuries.

Most of the main preseason college baseball rankings have LSU at No. 1. Baseball America and D1Baseball have the Tigers just behind Vanderbilt. The Tigers are expected to be one of the best teams in the country in 2019.

ctrlsum

https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/01/where-does-lsu-baseball-stand-in-the-preseason-rankings.html

Where does LSU baseball stand in the preseason rankings?

LSU baseball has no shortage of expectations in 2019. Coming off one of the more difficult seasons in the Paul Mainieri era, LSU brings back most of its core talent and arguably the No. 1 signing class in the country. Mainieri sees the projections calling LSU one of the two or three best teams in the country, and he said he welcomes them. He told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune two weeks ago he uses it as reinforcement to his team that its not just he who thinks LSU is one of the best teams in the country. He hopes it gives them confidence. Now, most the main preseason college baseball rankings have been published, confirming LSU is right at the top. Heres where the main outlets have the Tigers. Baseball America: No. 2 Baseball America has the Tigers just behind fellow SEC power Vanderbilt. Eight SEC teams are in BAs Top 25, and Florida is just behind LSU at No. 2. Baseball America wrote: The Tigers got a huge boost following the draft when the draft-eligible trio of right-hander Zack Hess and outfielders Antoine Duplantis and Zach Watson opted to return to Baton Rouge and the top-ranked recruiting class in the country landed on campus. LSU this year will have an experienced pitching staff to go with a potent lineup. D1Baseball.com: No. 2 Just like Baseball America, D1Baseball has the Tigers just behind Vanderbilt. Florida is No. 6, and Georgia and Ole Miss are No. 9 and No. 10, respectively. Perfect Game: No. 1 Perfect Game is the highest-profile site to have LSU at No. 1, followed by Oregon State and Vanderbilt. The site wrote: LSU is guided by Paul Mainieri, whose Tigers finished as the runner-up just two years ago with several familiar faces. Outfielders Antoine Duplantis and Zach Watson and staff ace Zack Hess were all drafted yet returned for another season. Shortstop Josh Smith and another starting pitcher, Eric Walker, missed most or all of the 2018 season due to injuries and appear to be ready to return healthy and strong. "Add in still-developing young talent and another strong wave of incoming freshmen and you have one of the deepest rosters in college baseball. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper: No. 1 This was the first of the outlets to rank the Tigers up top, with Vanderbilt just barely behind LSU. "The Tigers, winners of six national titles, will field its best ball club since 2017 when LSU finished second at the College World Series. LSUs last title came 10 seasons ago in 2009. Entering that spring, LSU was also ranked No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball. Five returning position player starters are back and six superb pitchers. Plus, key players return after sitting out virtually all last season because of injuries.

Most of the main preseason college baseball rankings have LSU at No. 1. Baseball America and D1Baseball have the Tigers just behind Vanderbilt. The Tigers are expected to be one of the best teams in the country in 2019. The team returns most of its core players from last year's team.

ctrlsum

https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/01/where-does-lsu-baseball-stand-in-the-preseason-rankings.html

Is Marsico 21ST Century Fund (MXXIX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?

Starting with Marsico 21ST Century Fund (MXXIX) should not be a possibility at this time. MXXIX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 5 (Strong Sell), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective We classify MXXIX in the Large Cap Growth category, an area rife with potential choices. Large Cap Growth funds invest in many large U.S. companies that are expected to grow much faster compared to other large-cap stocks. To be considered large-cap, companies must have a market cap over $10 billion. History of Fund/Manager Marsico is responsible for MXXIX, and the company is based out of Denver, CO. The Marsico 21ST Century Fund made its debut in February of 2000 and MXXIX has managed to accumulate roughly $225.99 million in assets, as of the most recently available information. The fund's current manager, Brandon Geisler, has been in charge of the fund since October of 2011. Performance Investors naturally seek funds with strong performance. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 7.17%, and is in the bottom third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 9.14%, which places it in the middle third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. The standard deviation of MXXIX over the past three years is 13.36% compared to the category average of 13.01%. Over the past 5 years, the standard deviation of the fund is 12.86% compared to the category average of 12.62%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors It's always important to be aware of the downsides to any future investment, so one should not discount the risks that come with this segment. MXXIX lost 58.48% in the most recent bear market and underperformed comparable funds by 9.64%. This could mean that the fund is a worse choice than comparable funds during a bear market. Investors should not forget about beta, an important way to measure a mutual fund's risk compared to the market as a whole. MXXIX has a 5-year beta of 1.01, which means it is likely to be as volatile as the market average. Alpha is an additional metric to take into consideration, since it represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which in this case, is the S&P 500. Over the past 5 years, the fund has a negative alpha of -1.07. This means that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Holdings Investigating the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is primarily on equities that are traded in the United States. Currently, this mutual fund is holding 95.37% stock in stocks, and these companies have an average market capitalization of $23.71 billion. The fund has the heaviest exposure to the following market sectors: Technology Other Services Retail Trade With turnover at about 90%, this fund makes more trades per year than the comparable average. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, MXXIX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.21% compared to the category average of 1.05%. MXXIX is actually more expensive than its peers when you consider factors like cost. Investors should also note that the minimum initial investment for the product is $2,500 and that each subsequent investment needs to be at $100. Bottom Line Overall, Marsico 21ST Century Fund ( MXXIX ) has a low Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively weak performance, average downside risk, and higher fees, Marsico 21ST Century Fund ( MXXIX ) looks like a somewhat weak choice for investors right now.

Marsico 21ST Century Fund (MXXIX) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 5 (Strong Sell) MXXIX has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 7.17%.

ctrlsum

https://news.yahoo.com/marsico-21st-century-fund-mxxix-120012336.html

Is Marsico 21ST Century Fund (MXXIX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?

Starting with Marsico 21ST Century Fund (MXXIX) should not be a possibility at this time. MXXIX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 5 (Strong Sell), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective We classify MXXIX in the Large Cap Growth category, an area rife with potential choices. Large Cap Growth funds invest in many large U.S. companies that are expected to grow much faster compared to other large-cap stocks. To be considered large-cap, companies must have a market cap over $10 billion. History of Fund/Manager Marsico is responsible for MXXIX, and the company is based out of Denver, CO. The Marsico 21ST Century Fund made its debut in February of 2000 and MXXIX has managed to accumulate roughly $225.99 million in assets, as of the most recently available information. The fund's current manager, Brandon Geisler, has been in charge of the fund since October of 2011. Performance Investors naturally seek funds with strong performance. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 7.17%, and is in the bottom third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 9.14%, which places it in the middle third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. The standard deviation of MXXIX over the past three years is 13.36% compared to the category average of 13.01%. Over the past 5 years, the standard deviation of the fund is 12.86% compared to the category average of 12.62%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors It's always important to be aware of the downsides to any future investment, so one should not discount the risks that come with this segment. MXXIX lost 58.48% in the most recent bear market and underperformed comparable funds by 9.64%. This could mean that the fund is a worse choice than comparable funds during a bear market. Investors should not forget about beta, an important way to measure a mutual fund's risk compared to the market as a whole. MXXIX has a 5-year beta of 1.01, which means it is likely to be as volatile as the market average. Alpha is an additional metric to take into consideration, since it represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which in this case, is the S&P 500. Over the past 5 years, the fund has a negative alpha of -1.07. This means that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Holdings Investigating the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is primarily on equities that are traded in the United States. Currently, this mutual fund is holding 95.37% stock in stocks, and these companies have an average market capitalization of $23.71 billion. The fund has the heaviest exposure to the following market sectors: Technology Other Services Retail Trade With turnover at about 90%, this fund makes more trades per year than the comparable average. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, MXXIX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.21% compared to the category average of 1.05%. MXXIX is actually more expensive than its peers when you consider factors like cost. Investors should also note that the minimum initial investment for the product is $2,500 and that each subsequent investment needs to be at $100. Bottom Line Overall, Marsico 21ST Century Fund ( MXXIX ) has a low Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively weak performance, average downside risk, and higher fees, Marsico 21ST Century Fund ( MXXIX ) looks like a somewhat weak choice for investors right now.

Marsico 21ST Century Fund (MXXIX) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 5 (Strong Sell) MXXIX has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 7.17%, and is in the bottom third among its category peers.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/marsico-21st-century-fund-mxxix-120012336.html

Is USAA World Growth Fund (USAWX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?

USAA World Growth Fund (USAWX) is a potential starting point. USAWX carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective USAWX is classified in the Global - Equity segment by Zacks, an area full of possibilities. Even though Global - Equity mutual funds invest in bigger markets like the U.S., Europe, and Japan, these kinds of funds aren't limited by geography. Rather, they offer an investment strategy that utilizes the global economy to provide stable returns. History of Fund/Manager USAA Group is based in San Antonio, TX, and is the manager of USAWX. Since USAA World Growth Fund made its debut in October of 1992, USAWX has garnered more than $1.35 billion in assets. The fund is currently managed by a team of investment professionals. Performance Of course, investors look for strong performance in funds. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 4.09%, and is in the middle third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 6.2%, which places it in the middle third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. The standard deviation of USAWX over the past three years is 10.66% compared to the category average of 10.33%. The fund's standard deviation over the past 5 years is 11.12% compared to the category average of 10.27%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors should always remember the downsides to a potential investment, and this segment carries some risks one should be aware of. In the most recent bear market, USAWX lost 47.96% and outperformed its peer group by 4.61%. This could mean that the fund is a better choice than comparable funds during a bear market. Investors should note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 0.94, so it is likely going to be less volatile than the market at large. Another factor to consider is alpha, as it reflects a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark-in this case, the S&P 500. Over the past 5 years, the fund has a negative alpha of -3.58. This means that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses For investors, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is key, since costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing. Competition is heating up in this space, and a lower cost product will likely outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, all things being equal. In terms of fees, USAWX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.10% compared to the category average of 1.16%. So, USAWX is actually cheaper than its peers from a cost perspective. This fund requires a minimum initial investment of $3,000, and each subsequent investment should be at least $50. Bottom Line Overall, USAA World Growth Fund ( USAWX ) has a high Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively similar performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, this fund looks like a good potential choice for investors right now. This could just be the start of your research on USAWXin the Global - Equity category. Consider going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for additional information about this fund, and all the others that we rank as well for additional information. We have a full suite of tools on stocks that you can use to find the best choices for your portfolio too, no matter what kind of investor you are. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

USAA World Growth Fund (USAWX) is a potential starting point. USAWX carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/usaa-world-growth-fund-usawx-120012738.html

Is American Century Allocation Cap Growth Investor (TWGTX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?

Large Cap Growth fund seekers should not consider taking a look at American Century Allocation Cap Growth Investor (TWGTX) at this time. TWGTX holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 4 (Sell), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective We classify TWGTX in the Large Cap Growth category, an area rife with potential choices. Large Cap Growth funds invest in many large U.S. companies that are expected to grow much faster compared to other large-cap stocks. To be considered large-cap, companies must have a market cap over $10 billion. History of Fund/Manager TWGTX is a part of the American Century family of funds, a company based out of Kansas City, MO. Since American Century Allocation Cap Growth Investor made its debut in November of 1983, TWGTX has garnered more than $981.22 million in assets. Joseph Reiland is the fund's current manager and has held that role since February of 2018. Performance Of course, investors look for strong performance in funds. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 7.5%, and is in the middle third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 7.14%, which places it in the bottom third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. Compared to the category average of 9.89%, the standard deviation of TWGTX over the past three years is 13.08%. Looking at the past 5 years, the fund's standard deviation is 12.6% compared to the category average of 9.76%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors should always remember the downsides to a potential investment, and this segment carries some risks one should be aware of. In TWGTX's case, the fund lost 51.97% in the most recent bear market and underperformed comparable funds by 3.13%. This could mean that the fund is a worse choice than comparable funds during a bear market. Investors should note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 1.07, so it is likely going to be more volatile than the market at large. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. TWGTX has generated a negative alpha over the past five years of -1.29, demonstrating that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Holdings Examining the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is largely on equities that are traded in the United States. As of the last filing date, the mutual fund has 98.27% of its assets in stocks, with an average market capitalization of $308.36 billion. The fund has the heaviest exposure to the following market sectors: Technology Retail Trade Non-Durable This fund's turnover is about 44%, so the fund managers are making fewer trades than comparable funds. Expenses Costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing, and particularly as competition heats up in this market. And all things being equal, a lower cost product will outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, so taking a closer look at these metrics is key for investors. In terms of fees, TWGTX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1% compared to the category average of 1.05%. From a cost perspective, TWGTX is actually cheaper than its peers. Investors should also note that the minimum initial investment for the product is $2,500 and that each subsequent investment needs to be at $50. Bottom Line Overall, American Century Allocation Cap Growth Investor ( TWGTX ) has a low Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively similar performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, American Century Allocation Cap Growth Investor ( TWGTX ) looks like a somewhat weak choice for investors right now. Then go over to Zacks.com and check out our mutual fund comparison tool, and all of the other great features that we have to help you with your mutual fund analysis for additional information. For analysis of the rest of your portfolio, make sure to visit Zacks.com for our full suite of tools which will help you investigate all of your stocks and funds in one place. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

American Century Allocation Cap Growth Investor (TWGTX) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 4 (Sell) The fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 7.5%, and is in the middle third among its category peers. TWGTX has generated a negative alpha over the past five years of -1.29.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/american-century-allocation-cap-growth-120012853.html

Is T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Balanced (TRPBX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?

T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Balanced (TRPBX) is a possible starting point. TRPBX holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective TRPBX is classified in the Allocation Balanced segment by Zacks, which is an area full of possibilities. Here, investors are able to get a good head start with diversified mutual funds, and play around with core holding options for a portfolio of funds. Allocation Balanced funds look to invest across a balance of asset types, like stocks, bonds, and cash, though including precious metals or commodities is not unusual; these funds are mostly categorized by their respective asset allocation. History of Fund/Manager T. Rowe Price is based in Baltimore, MD, and is the manager of TRPBX. T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Balanced made its debut in June of 1994, and since then, TRPBX has accumulated about $2.20 billion in assets, per the most up-to-date date available. The fund is currently managed by Charles M. Shriver who has been in charge of the fund since May of 2011. Performance Investors naturally seek funds with strong performance. This fund carries a 5-year annualized total return of 4.82%, and it sits in the top third among its category peers. If you're interested in shorter time frames, do not dismiss looking at the fund's 3-year annualized total return of 6.19%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. The standard deviation of TRPBX over the past three years is 6.89% compared to the category average of 8.13%. The standard deviation of the fund over the past 5 years is 7.01% compared to the category average of 8.16%. This makes the fund less volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors should always remember the downsides to a potential investment, and this segment carries some risks one should be aware of. In the most recent bear market, TRPBX lost 38.38% and underperformed its peer group by 1.98%. This could mean that the fund is a worse choice than comparable funds during a bear market. Investors should not forget about beta, an important way to measure a mutual fund's risk compared to the market as a whole. TRPBX has a 5-year beta of 0.59, which means it is likely to be less volatile than the market average. Alpha is an additional metric to take into consideration, since it represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which in this case, is the S&P 500. Over the past 5 years, the fund has a negative alpha of -0.49. This means that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses Costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing, and particularly as competition heats up in this market. And all things being equal, a lower cost product will outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, so taking a closer look at these metrics is key for investors. In terms of fees, TRPBX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.55% compared to the category average of 0.88%. From a cost perspective, TRPBX is actually cheaper than its peers. While the minimum initial investment for the product is $2,500, investors should also note that each subsequent investment needs to be at least $100. Bottom Line Overall, T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Balanced ( TRPBX ) has a neutral Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively strong performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Balanced ( TRPBX ) looks like a somewhat average choice for investors right now. Don't stop here for your research on Allocation Balanced funds. We also have plenty more on our site in order to help you find the best possible fund for your portfolio. Make sure to check out www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for more information about the world of funds, and feel free to compare TRPBX to its peers as well for additional information. If you are more of a stock investor, make sure to also check out our Zacks Rank, and our full suite of tools we have available for novice and professional investors alike. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Balanced (TRPBX) is a possible starting point. TRPBX holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 3 (Hold) The fund is currently managed by Charles M. Shriver.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/t-rowe-price-personal-strategy-120012488.html

Is T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Balanced (TRPBX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now?

T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Balanced (TRPBX) is a possible starting point. TRPBX holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective TRPBX is classified in the Allocation Balanced segment by Zacks, which is an area full of possibilities. Here, investors are able to get a good head start with diversified mutual funds, and play around with core holding options for a portfolio of funds. Allocation Balanced funds look to invest across a balance of asset types, like stocks, bonds, and cash, though including precious metals or commodities is not unusual; these funds are mostly categorized by their respective asset allocation. History of Fund/Manager T. Rowe Price is based in Baltimore, MD, and is the manager of TRPBX. T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Balanced made its debut in June of 1994, and since then, TRPBX has accumulated about $2.20 billion in assets, per the most up-to-date date available. The fund is currently managed by Charles M. Shriver who has been in charge of the fund since May of 2011. Performance Investors naturally seek funds with strong performance. This fund carries a 5-year annualized total return of 4.82%, and it sits in the top third among its category peers. If you're interested in shorter time frames, do not dismiss looking at the fund's 3-year annualized total return of 6.19%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. The standard deviation of TRPBX over the past three years is 6.89% compared to the category average of 8.13%. The standard deviation of the fund over the past 5 years is 7.01% compared to the category average of 8.16%. This makes the fund less volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors should always remember the downsides to a potential investment, and this segment carries some risks one should be aware of. In the most recent bear market, TRPBX lost 38.38% and underperformed its peer group by 1.98%. This could mean that the fund is a worse choice than comparable funds during a bear market. Investors should not forget about beta, an important way to measure a mutual fund's risk compared to the market as a whole. TRPBX has a 5-year beta of 0.59, which means it is likely to be less volatile than the market average. Alpha is an additional metric to take into consideration, since it represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which in this case, is the S&P 500. Over the past 5 years, the fund has a negative alpha of -0.49. This means that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses Costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing, and particularly as competition heats up in this market. And all things being equal, a lower cost product will outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, so taking a closer look at these metrics is key for investors. In terms of fees, TRPBX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.55% compared to the category average of 0.88%. From a cost perspective, TRPBX is actually cheaper than its peers. While the minimum initial investment for the product is $2,500, investors should also note that each subsequent investment needs to be at least $100. Bottom Line Overall, T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Balanced ( TRPBX ) has a neutral Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively strong performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Balanced ( TRPBX ) looks like a somewhat average choice for investors right now. Don't stop here for your research on Allocation Balanced funds. We also have plenty more on our site in order to help you find the best possible fund for your portfolio. Make sure to check out www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for more information about the world of funds, and feel free to compare TRPBX to its peers as well for additional information. If you are more of a stock investor, make sure to also check out our Zacks Rank, and our full suite of tools we have available for novice and professional investors alike. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Balanced (TRPBX) is a possible starting point. TRPBX holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on nine forecasting factors. The fund is currently managed by Charles M. Shriver who has been in charge of the fund since May of 2011.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/t-rowe-price-personal-strategy-120012488.html

Did a fan shine a laser pointer in Tom Brady's face during the AFC Championship Game?

originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com The crowd at Arrowhead Stadium is known to get rowdy, but one fan may have crossed the line during Sunday night's AFC Championship Game. Scroll to continue with content Ad KMBC reporter William Joy shared videos of what appears to be a laser being shined in Tom Brady's face during multiple plays. Watch below. . . Our photographer, Turner Twyman, caught someone pointing what appears to be a laser pointer in Tom Brady's face last night. Play between the "muff" that wasn't and Sorensen int. @NFL, @Patriots and @Chiefs all told me they weren't aware of the incident. pic.twitter.com/ejWBQ6i64C William Joy (@WilliamKMBC) January 21, 2019 It happened one other time that we've seen on a pass to Hogan. You be the judge. If so, they failed. Story continues In vintage Brady fashion, the Patriots quarterback led New England late in the fourth quarter and then in overtime with a 75-yard touchdown drive to advance to his ninth Super Bowl. Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.

A fan may have crossed the line during Sunday night's AFC Championship Game. KMBC reporter William Joy shared videos of what appears to be a laser being shined in Tom Brady's face during multiple plays.

bart

https://sports.yahoo.com/did-fan-shine-laser-pointer-232154926.html?src=rss

Did a fan shine a laser pointer in Tom Brady's face during the AFC Championship Game?

originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com The crowd at Arrowhead Stadium is known to get rowdy, but one fan may have crossed the line during Sunday night's AFC Championship Game. Scroll to continue with content Ad KMBC reporter William Joy shared videos of what appears to be a laser being shined in Tom Brady's face during multiple plays. Watch below. . . Our photographer, Turner Twyman, caught someone pointing what appears to be a laser pointer in Tom Brady's face last night. Play between the "muff" that wasn't and Sorensen int. @NFL, @Patriots and @Chiefs all told me they weren't aware of the incident. pic.twitter.com/ejWBQ6i64C William Joy (@WilliamKMBC) January 21, 2019 It happened one other time that we've seen on a pass to Hogan. You be the judge. If so, they failed. Story continues In vintage Brady fashion, the Patriots quarterback led New England late in the fourth quarter and then in overtime with a 75-yard touchdown drive to advance to his ninth Super Bowl. Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.

A fan may have crossed the line during Sunday night's AFC Championship Game. KMBC reporter William Joy shared videos of what appears to be a laser being shined in Tom Brady's face. The Patriots quarterback led New England late in the fourth quarter and then in overtime with a 75-yard touchdown drive.

bart

https://sports.yahoo.com/did-fan-shine-laser-pointer-232154926.html?src=rss

Can Tencent Music Stock Bounce Back in 2019?

One of last year's more disappointing IPOs was Tencent Music Entertainment (NYSE: TME), but China's leading streaming music service is starting to make waves. The stock that has been a broken IPO since its third day of trading -- falling below last month's initial $13 price tag -- roared back with its biggest daily gain on Friday. A few analysts initiating bullish calls on the stock last week may be helping, but Chinese growth stocks bouncing back into fancy is the real driver. Investors are starting to get into a good groove with the streaming giant that controls roughly 75% of China's music streaming consumption. The key now is building on Friday's hearty 11% gain. A young woman listening to music on white-and-pink headphones. More Image source: Getty Images. Pumping up the volume A number of major Wall Street pros kicked off their coverage of Tencent Music Entertainment last week. HSBC initiated coverage with a buy rating and a $16 price target. Alex Yao at JPMorgan is also going with a $16 price goal. He is tagging the shares with an overweight call. He sees Tencent Music Entertainment as one of his coverage universe's most sustainable growth names. KeyBanc analyst Hans Chung has a more ambitious $19 price target, and naturally an overweight rating. Piyush Mubayi at Goldman Sachs initiated with a buy call and a target price of $18.20. Not all of the new calls were bullish, however. Hanjoon Kim at Deutsche Bank and John Egbert at Stifel are initiating neutral hold ratings on the stock with price targets of $14.50 and $14, respectively. It's important not to read too much into last week's six initiations. All of the analysts served as underwriters for last month's IPO. The shares spent most of last week hovering near its IPO price, so it would be a shock if they weren't all bullish or at least neutral. They just convinced some of their best clients to load up on the stock at $13 in last month's IPO, and they're not going to turn on the stock as long as the fundamentals remain intact. Tencent Music Entertainment is in a good place. The timing of its IPO certainly could've been better, but the fundamentals have all the traits of a market darling. The company operates all four of China's most popular streaming music apps. It draws an audience of more than 800 million unique monthly active users across all of its platforms, and listeners are pretty loyal. The average daily active user spends 70 minutes streaming. Music streaming isn't as compelling to investors as video. It's harder to stand out with differentiated content, the one thing that tends to set the video platforms apart. However, Tencent Music Entertainment isn't a slow grower despite dominating its niche. Revenue soared nearly 84% through the first nine months of last year with profitability more than tripling in that time. Chung at KeyBanc feels that it's still early in Tencent Music Entertainment's growth story. He sees revenue potentially soaring sixfold a decade from now and margins expanding as it's able to use its market leadership to negotiate more lucrative label deals and improve the monetization of its industry-leading usage. Tencent Music Entertainment deserves better than last month's chilly market reception, especially since it's generating less than a third of its revenue directly from its music services. The lion's share of the high-margin revenue is coming from social entertainment services, led primarily by the virtual gifts that users can bestow musical acts and other active users. Wall Street and Tencent Music Entertainment got off on the wrong foot last month, but now it seems as if the two are finally playing in the same key. More From The Motley Fool Rick Munarriz owns shares of Tencent Music Entertainment Group. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

China's leading streaming music service Tencent Music Entertainment is starting to make waves. The stock roared back with its biggest daily gain on Friday. A few analysts initiating bullish calls on the stock last week may be helping, but Chinese growth stocks bouncing back into fancy is the real driver.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/tencent-music-stock-bounce-back-140500878.html

Could Russell Wilson and the Seahawks consider the uncommon contract path of Tom Brady?

Maybe, but it's hard to think they'd be this consistently excellent. Ive heard it talked about some. And Im sure its been thought about often. By fans. By the Seahawks. By the quarterback himself. Serious question. But complicated, too. If you havent noticed, a QBs paycheck can barely fit in the bank these days. Aaron Rodgers averages $33.5 million annually, Matt Ryan makes $30 million and Kirk Cousins $28 million. Given that Wilson, 30, just had another great season and owns the second-best passer rating ever (behind Rodgers), he might end up receiving a $35 million-a-year extension offer before the season begins. Seeing that its nearly impossible to compete for a championship without an elite quarterback, yeah, it is probably. Business Insider recently estimated that Tom Brady has given up about $60 million over his career so that the Patriots can fill their needs in other areas on the roster. Now, hes about to play in his ninth Super Bowl after his 16th 10-win season. Maybe, but its hard to think theyd be this consistently excellent. And seeing how Brady still has earned more than $200 million over his career, its hard to think hes missing the money when hes considered the best to ever play. (That and the fact that his wife is the breadwinner.) But just because Brady made a decision doesnt mean Wilson or any other player should follow suit. Football is the most violent team sport in the world, and can snatch up a career with one big hit. This is why Earl Thomas sat out of training camp and complained about not getting an extension offer before breaking his leg in Week 4. This is why Kam Chancellor, however irrationally, sat out the first two games of the 2015 season. Regardless of profession, regardless of pay scale, you cant begrudge someone for getting every penny of what theyre worth. Even if its a ridiculous figure like $35 million, its still $35 million that they earned. Still, its worth pointing out a recent Washington Post article, which showed that the six highest paid quarterbacks in the league all missed the playoffs this year. Theres nuance to this, as one of those QBs was the injured Jimmy Garoppolo, and the seventh-highest paid was Drew Brees, whose Saints had the best regular season in the NFL. But the data cant be dismissed outright. The dream scenario for most GMs is a stud quarterback on a rookie contract. You can build around those guys with particularly shiny objects. The Eagles won a Super Bowl last year with second-year QB Carson Wentz behind center most the season, and the Rams and Chiefs are set up nicely with Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes. Of course, that doesnt mean you cant win big games after shelling out big bucks for a quarterback. The Broncos were one of the best teams in football after signing Peyton Manning, and won a Super Bowl against the Panthers after Cam Newton was extended. You need a top-tier QB in this league to win, and the Seahawks need to keep Wilson. No one is questioning that. And if Wilson does sign a $35 million deal, he shouldnt hear a cry of criticism even if hes in the midst of an $87 million contract right now. Just know that, from Frank Clark to Bobby Wagner, there are some expensive pieces the Seahawks need to hold on to in order to stay competitive. If they cant pay the guys they want to, Pete Carroll and John Schneider basically have to nail the draft. Sure. Definitely. I dont think its ones place to say how another man should handle money. Whether its Wilson or any other athlete, entertainer or entrepreneur its that persons life and that persons family. Plus, you dont want to create a scenario where future quarterbacks feel pressure to take less for fear of looking selfish. Its interesting to think about, though. Brady is a couple weeks away from trying to win his sixth Super Bowl for a team that made 13 AFC championship games in 18 years. Ridiculous. But while some would argue that Bradys right arm has been the Patriots most valuable asset, it might actually be his right hand. You know, the one that signs the contracts.

Russell Wilson might get a $35 million-a-year extension offer before the season begins. Brady has given up about $60 million over his career so that the Patriots can fill their needs. But just because Brady made a decision doesn't mean Wilson or any other player should follow suit.

ctrlsum

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/calkins-column-on-wilson-contract/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all

How Is Blockchain And Artificial Intelligence Changing The Face Of Asset Management?

Asset management has a rich and traditional past that has helped build many people's fortunes over the years; many of the worlds uber-rich have their backgrounds in hedge funds and other forms of smart asset management. However, like everything at this juncture in time, there is a change in the wind and asset management is not immune. The access to funds, and investing opportunities have been opened up and become more inclusive. But with that, there has been a demand for better performance or lower fees from this new breed of investor. Large mutual funds were used to getting away with charging annual fees of 2-4 percent, despite average or poor performance as they had the backing of an institutionalised elite. Nowadays, those that are looking to participate in the market have moved en masse away from these types of investments and instead focused on very low fee, index-based, managers. The demand increase for these types of funds and management has caused intense competition to develop as there is far more option and ease when it comes shifting money and investments around. For this reason, asset management has had to start looking forward rather than languishing on its stuffy past. Big Data, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence are all tools that are starting to find their feet in the asset management market as different companies and managers look to utilise these different burgeoning technologies to give themselves a competitive edge. Successful asset management services are reliant on vast amounts of data, so it immediately makes sense that the science behind Big Data and the analytical power that comes with it be pointed towards asset management. More so, Big Data is fuel for AI and as such, it can not only provide descriptive market insights but can also recommend prescriptive actions for future to maximise return on investment based on proper data fed to it. Then there is Blockchain which is also starting to show its collaborative powers within data services and its affiliation with these other technologies, such as AI and IoT. Thus, the tokenisation and distributed ledger that blockchain offers makes complete sense in this financial space of asset management. Understanding the need to evolve Asset, or wealth, management is a term that was first seen in 1933, and since then it has been slowly evolving and changing - but always looking to deliver the same outcome for customers. Asset management has also grown in recent times where major banks and financial institutions have come in to offer services while hedge funds are also playing a huge role. But, the capitalist and elite nature of this investing ecosystem has always been quite exclusionary and closed-minded, a standpoint which is no longer so freely accepted. The general global trend has become far more inclusionary regardless of the sector, but especially when it comes to wealth and access to money. Edgar Radjabli, the Managing Partner of Apis Capital Management, an asset management company that is utilising blockchain and AI in their services, explains how things are changing, out of necessity. Traditional asset management is changing because investors are demanding better performance or lower fees, explains Radjabli. In the past, large mutual funds could get away with charging annual fees of 2-4%, yet continued to underperform the market. As a result, for those that are looking to simply participate in the market, they have moved in masses away from these types of investments and focused on very low fee, index-based managers. That being said, higher net worth investors who can invest in hedge funds are looking for funds that significantly and consistently outperform the market. To do so, those asset managers need to develop strategies that are more advanced than ever, and that is where AI comes in. In the past, asset managers would create strategies from backtested data and let them run, hoping that what worked in the past will continue to work. Alternatively, they rely too much on discretionary trading, lacking a clear and consistent direction and making them prone to human mistakes and breakdown in discipline or risk management. The demands of the investor, be they participatory first-timers or even hardened veterans throwing large sums of money around, have certainly gotten higher. The result are sought, and those results are just not coming from traditional methods, but the reliance on new technologies is helping. Radjabli adds how blockchain is also playing its part: Blockchain technology also offers the opportunity for asset managers to implement innovative administrative protocols. Typically, asset managers use a third party administrator to record ownership of shares or LP interests by investors. This can make it difficult to administer huge numbers of shareholders. Blockchain technology allows this because all ownership is registered by an immutable, independent and permanent ledger. Also, blockchain protocols like Stellar allow an investor to hold multiple Asset Tokens in one account. So they could easily be invested in a hedge fund like Apis, a piece of real estate in NYC, a gold mine, and a startup company. Until now, this was not possible because all of those investments would be administered separately. Moving with the times It is not only Radjabli and Apis that are seeing this, but companies on the scale of IBM have also started dipping into new technology to aid in asset management offerings. IBM have recently introduced the Maximo Network on blockchain, a product designed to complement the industry leading asset management capabilities already offered by Maximo (an Enterprise Asset Management tool that lets an individual maintain all asset types, check their health in real time and streamline global operations, from procurement to contract management - this is also done utilising IoT) IBM state their reasons why blockchain specifically can enhance asset management. Firstly, they believe it enables open collaboration, creates asset and transaction transparency and finally, enforces consistency. This is also backed up by Radjabli, who identifies much of blockchains power, regardless of sector, when it comes to simplifying and making operations more efficient. He also touches on the power that AI has in helping with creating investing strategies that are dynamic. Blockchain is perfectly suited for asset management to simplify administration and reduce costs, as well as provide innovative asset structures that maximise investor returns. AI provides the opportunity to build "evolving strategies" which consistently read and digest new market data, Radjabli adds. Still work to be done. Of course, like most other sectors that are looking to utilise and implement new and emerging technologies, there is still a long way to go in making them the industry standard, but it is clear that the likes of AI and blockchain have a place in this industry. There have already been attempts to upgrade and advance the asset management industry, but in comparison to what AI and blockchain can offer, these advancements seem a little superficial and quite specialised. There has been a rise in so-called robo-advisors which are attempting to automate the investing process. These robo-advisors are based on Modern Portfolio Theory and the Efficient Market Hypothesis and use a method to determine exactly how to invest on your behalf. While there are often times when these automated investors are successful, they are not an all-encompassing answer and appear to be more of a stop-gap while right technologies acclimatise to the asset management market. Robo advisors are not really AI or blockchain, says Radjabli. While they have a great place as a cheap automated way to invest in the broad stock market, and certainly are better than mutual funds, they do not provide any long term performance benefits. The more interesting implementation of AI, specifically machine learning, is for innovative asset managers who are building evolving strategies that learn to adapt to the market, and generate better long term returns than "pre-packaged" strategies that are just based on back-tested data or traditional economics. A tokenised future Another benefit of blockchain that perhaps is still also a long way off is the tokenisation of assets. Already we are seeing instances where traditional investment assets are being tokenised on the blockchain to make the management of these assets far more accessible and efficient. There is no doubt that tokenisation will come more and more into play in the financial sector, including investing and asset management, once the regulatory standpoint has been found. Radjabli agrees with the above, adding that those who use the other benefits of emerging technology along with the tokenisation will be able to offer the most attractive options to investors. The future of Asset Management will move towards investments being offered as Asset Tokens, rather than being administered by specialised administrators on their own ledgers (although the administrators will not go away, they will adapt their systems to use blockchain). The future of high performing hedge funds inevitable will favour those that incorporate AI and machine learning to build "evolving strategies' that learn from the present and will outperform traditional buy and hold or passive investing, he concludes.

Big Data and Artificial Intelligence are starting to find their feet in the asset management market as different companies and managers look to utilise these different technologies to give themselves a competitive edge.

ctrlsum

https://www.forbes.com/sites/darrynpollock/2019/01/22/how-is-blockchain-and-artificial-intelligence-changing-the-face-of-asset-management/

How Is Blockchain And Artificial Intelligence Changing The Face Of Asset Management?

Asset management has a rich and traditional past that has helped build many people's fortunes over the years; many of the worlds uber-rich have their backgrounds in hedge funds and other forms of smart asset management. However, like everything at this juncture in time, there is a change in the wind and asset management is not immune. The access to funds, and investing opportunities have been opened up and become more inclusive. But with that, there has been a demand for better performance or lower fees from this new breed of investor. Large mutual funds were used to getting away with charging annual fees of 2-4 percent, despite average or poor performance as they had the backing of an institutionalised elite. Nowadays, those that are looking to participate in the market have moved en masse away from these types of investments and instead focused on very low fee, index-based, managers. The demand increase for these types of funds and management has caused intense competition to develop as there is far more option and ease when it comes shifting money and investments around. For this reason, asset management has had to start looking forward rather than languishing on its stuffy past. Big Data, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence are all tools that are starting to find their feet in the asset management market as different companies and managers look to utilise these different burgeoning technologies to give themselves a competitive edge. Successful asset management services are reliant on vast amounts of data, so it immediately makes sense that the science behind Big Data and the analytical power that comes with it be pointed towards asset management. More so, Big Data is fuel for AI and as such, it can not only provide descriptive market insights but can also recommend prescriptive actions for future to maximise return on investment based on proper data fed to it. Then there is Blockchain which is also starting to show its collaborative powers within data services and its affiliation with these other technologies, such as AI and IoT. Thus, the tokenisation and distributed ledger that blockchain offers makes complete sense in this financial space of asset management. Understanding the need to evolve Asset, or wealth, management is a term that was first seen in 1933, and since then it has been slowly evolving and changing - but always looking to deliver the same outcome for customers. Asset management has also grown in recent times where major banks and financial institutions have come in to offer services while hedge funds are also playing a huge role. But, the capitalist and elite nature of this investing ecosystem has always been quite exclusionary and closed-minded, a standpoint which is no longer so freely accepted. The general global trend has become far more inclusionary regardless of the sector, but especially when it comes to wealth and access to money. Edgar Radjabli, the Managing Partner of Apis Capital Management, an asset management company that is utilising blockchain and AI in their services, explains how things are changing, out of necessity. Traditional asset management is changing because investors are demanding better performance or lower fees, explains Radjabli. In the past, large mutual funds could get away with charging annual fees of 2-4%, yet continued to underperform the market. As a result, for those that are looking to simply participate in the market, they have moved in masses away from these types of investments and focused on very low fee, index-based managers. That being said, higher net worth investors who can invest in hedge funds are looking for funds that significantly and consistently outperform the market. To do so, those asset managers need to develop strategies that are more advanced than ever, and that is where AI comes in. In the past, asset managers would create strategies from backtested data and let them run, hoping that what worked in the past will continue to work. Alternatively, they rely too much on discretionary trading, lacking a clear and consistent direction and making them prone to human mistakes and breakdown in discipline or risk management. The demands of the investor, be they participatory first-timers or even hardened veterans throwing large sums of money around, have certainly gotten higher. The result are sought, and those results are just not coming from traditional methods, but the reliance on new technologies is helping. Radjabli adds how blockchain is also playing its part: Blockchain technology also offers the opportunity for asset managers to implement innovative administrative protocols. Typically, asset managers use a third party administrator to record ownership of shares or LP interests by investors. This can make it difficult to administer huge numbers of shareholders. Blockchain technology allows this because all ownership is registered by an immutable, independent and permanent ledger. Also, blockchain protocols like Stellar allow an investor to hold multiple Asset Tokens in one account. So they could easily be invested in a hedge fund like Apis, a piece of real estate in NYC, a gold mine, and a startup company. Until now, this was not possible because all of those investments would be administered separately. Moving with the times It is not only Radjabli and Apis that are seeing this, but companies on the scale of IBM have also started dipping into new technology to aid in asset management offerings. IBM have recently introduced the Maximo Network on blockchain, a product designed to complement the industry leading asset management capabilities already offered by Maximo (an Enterprise Asset Management tool that lets an individual maintain all asset types, check their health in real time and streamline global operations, from procurement to contract management - this is also done utilising IoT) IBM state their reasons why blockchain specifically can enhance asset management. Firstly, they believe it enables open collaboration, creates asset and transaction transparency and finally, enforces consistency. This is also backed up by Radjabli, who identifies much of blockchains power, regardless of sector, when it comes to simplifying and making operations more efficient. He also touches on the power that AI has in helping with creating investing strategies that are dynamic. Blockchain is perfectly suited for asset management to simplify administration and reduce costs, as well as provide innovative asset structures that maximise investor returns. AI provides the opportunity to build "evolving strategies" which consistently read and digest new market data, Radjabli adds. Still work to be done. Of course, like most other sectors that are looking to utilise and implement new and emerging technologies, there is still a long way to go in making them the industry standard, but it is clear that the likes of AI and blockchain have a place in this industry. There have already been attempts to upgrade and advance the asset management industry, but in comparison to what AI and blockchain can offer, these advancements seem a little superficial and quite specialised. There has been a rise in so-called robo-advisors which are attempting to automate the investing process. These robo-advisors are based on Modern Portfolio Theory and the Efficient Market Hypothesis and use a method to determine exactly how to invest on your behalf. While there are often times when these automated investors are successful, they are not an all-encompassing answer and appear to be more of a stop-gap while right technologies acclimatise to the asset management market. Robo advisors are not really AI or blockchain, says Radjabli. While they have a great place as a cheap automated way to invest in the broad stock market, and certainly are better than mutual funds, they do not provide any long term performance benefits. The more interesting implementation of AI, specifically machine learning, is for innovative asset managers who are building evolving strategies that learn to adapt to the market, and generate better long term returns than "pre-packaged" strategies that are just based on back-tested data or traditional economics. A tokenised future Another benefit of blockchain that perhaps is still also a long way off is the tokenisation of assets. Already we are seeing instances where traditional investment assets are being tokenised on the blockchain to make the management of these assets far more accessible and efficient. There is no doubt that tokenisation will come more and more into play in the financial sector, including investing and asset management, once the regulatory standpoint has been found. Radjabli agrees with the above, adding that those who use the other benefits of emerging technology along with the tokenisation will be able to offer the most attractive options to investors. The future of Asset Management will move towards investments being offered as Asset Tokens, rather than being administered by specialised administrators on their own ledgers (although the administrators will not go away, they will adapt their systems to use blockchain). The future of high performing hedge funds inevitable will favour those that incorporate AI and machine learning to build "evolving strategies' that learn from the present and will outperform traditional buy and hold or passive investing, he concludes.

Big Data, AI and blockchain are starting to find their feet in the asset management market. Investors are demanding better performance or lower fees from this new breed of investor. Asset management has had to start looking forward rather than languishing on its stuffy past.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/darrynpollock/2019/01/22/how-is-blockchain-and-artificial-intelligence-changing-the-face-of-asset-management/

Where Do Account People Go?

Last year, I examined my Linkedin network to see where my creative peers had gone with their advertising careers. The analysis and its results were surprising to me, plus I got back in touch with folks I hadnt spoken to in decades. Several were surprised I could now do math. This year, I tackle the same exercise with my account management friends, combing through connections to see where people have gone, how many are still at agencies, at consultancies, or moved on to other roles. Research sample: Of my 1,900+ connections, ~120 were account executives when I first met them. As in the creative study, I only consider people with 15 years minimum experience in the industry. Obviously, my statistics are biased towards my experiences and the people and firms with whom I spent the most time. I then did eight interviews to understand why and give context. Here are my findings: Theyre still in agencies. About 50% of account people in my network are still in classically-named advertising, marketing, media or digital agencies, such as Ogilvy, BBDO, R/GA, Digitas, Horizon or Merkle. Thats a bit lower than I expected. Another 8% have gone to media platforms such as Amazon, Facebook or Essence. Only about 6% started their own firm, which is lower than the creatives (14%). About 8% are currently independent consultants, substantially lower than creatives. Theyre also at the consultancies. As you can read in any trade, a fair number of folks (12% in my roster) have moved to a consulting firm like I have. Many of my peers, from creative to planning to account management, are now at Accenture, Deloitte or its owned agencies and several others at IBM and PWC. So if you count these as agencies, then youve really got a whopping 62% still at agencies and, adding in those contracting as indies, almost 70% in account roles. Theyre the client. 22% of my network of former account managers, however, have gone client-side to a major marketer or a marketing role at a non-profit, far higher than creatives, but lower than some I interviewed expected. Two people told me they were asked by their clients to join their organization, which is surely a sign youre doing something right. About 11 are currently Chief Marketing Officers, and several more have been in the last five years. A fair number are at non-profits or brands focused on a passion or purpose. You'll hear from several of these now-clients down below. They shifted roles. At agencies and client-side, I found a large number of folks taking on different roles than traditional account or brand management, though, admittedly still in a marketing context. For example, several run operations or serve as chief digital officer or work in research. One is a chief innovation officer. One is an ethnographer. One is an executive recruiter. One is in HR. One, however, is an investigator at the FCC. As with the creative talent research, I wanted to hear from several who made shifts: Adam Gargani was an account supervisor when I was a baby copywriter at FCB/Leber Katz. We worked on Rayovac batteries, making TV, radio, print, coupon ads and even early e-commerce. Now Adam leads EVergreen 9, a research and brand consultancy. For him, it wasnt actually a career change into research, but a "natural path of my professional development. On the accounts I worked, I spent more time developing strategy and understanding markets than producing advertising." Allison Knapp Womack has worked in account management at multiple agencies, including Wunderman, Ogilvy and Doremus, where she was president of the New York office before becoming the global strategy officer. She credits the confluence of three factors agency experience + business school + outside board positions on finding what would be next for her. Shes now CMO of Enterprise Community Partners, which delivers capital, programs and advocacy for affordable housing. Her financial services and nonprofit clients were a great background to have, and so was her volunteer board work in international development, children's rights and equality for girls. Allison's answer to when you know its time to switch: "When your volunteer work becomes more compelling than your day job, its telling. Paul Suchman has held senior account and strategy roles at WPP and Omnicom and was global CMO of commercial real estate icon CBRE. Pauls trajectory has been all B2B, also including technology, financial services, professional services, and manufacturing. He sees a lot of parallels among them complex challenges, disparate business lines, global footprint, competing agendas. Done well, he says, Creativity and strategy become a secret weapon for these organizations. He sees differences not just in culture between corporate and agency, but in career fit. "When youre an agency person, youre the consummate undergraduate. You work on a portfolio of accounts and you change your focus depending which client is most important that day. When you become the CMO, you have picked a major. Pauls advice is to make the decision by mid-career if you want to be a consummate undergrad or declare a major. Rich Kim worked on the Cisco Systems team at Ogilvy with me. He stayed for 10 years, transitioning from account management to strategy and planning. There, his activities, conversations and deliverables were more embedded in a CMO context, which made it a natural shift to client-side brand marketing at Hulu. Now hes a director of marketing at Amazon Prime Video doing a lot in social, media and measurement (and where theyre obviously having quite an awards season!). Rich sees account management roles as a plus on multiple fronts: first, it's great for client service (i.e., no matter where you are, you have clients); secondly, it helps you learn to be a good operator, with an ability to execute. Marketers can struggle when they don't understand the creative process or experience first-hand things even as specific as production issues, musical licensing, and more. Third, from his time on the other side of the table, he thinks he can now help get the best out of agencies. Interestingly, while my stats were just 22% who went client-side, Richs instinct is that the client-side marketing world is more like 50% of people with agency account experience. Andrea Derby and I worked together on the British Airways business at Ogilvy, and then she went to BBDO. Shes now Director of Advertising and Brand at UPS. There is such a great opportunity to make a business impact on the client side. And working at agencies is great training for client roles. Agencies teach you how to lead and collaborate. And they also give you a creative foundation that leaves you curious and always looking for new ways to solve challenges. Susan Chung, former Chief Operating Officer at HNW, a marketing technology firm, was one of the colleagues I spoke to who had made one of the bigger shifts, deep into the operations of a company, farther from classic account management. For her, it was an evolution not a stretch, an opportunity to flex other muscles. "In account management, you are fundamentally running a business within a business managing client/customer relationships, dealing with staffing issues, monitoring budgets and profitability so making the transition into a larger operations role was really about changing my mindset and priorities of the job. While its admittedly far more common to get promoted from finance into key operational roles, the challenges when she met HNW were more growth-oriented rather than fiscal management. Her advice since there are so many interesting opportunities out there: Be open minded about job titles, especially since there are new ones being created every day. Think about the things you love to do when you are at your best and focus more on the responsibilities and the role within the organization. And I wanted to talk understand sticking with account management: I first asked Julie DeAngelis, now at TBWA/Chiat/Day. "My job in account management is to be a connector internally and with clients, she said, "and the agency model fosters that so well. The range of clients has also been appealing for her, across categories, for-profits and non-profits, Fortune 100 companies and smaller ones. "Ive learned something from all of them. My last question was around advice for others. "When youre earlier in your career, money, title and cach can play a big part in where you work," she said. "Im so much more interested in the culture of my agency whats important to them, how do they treat their employees, who do they want to work with. Marketing and advertising is so beyond a 9-6 job that you need to be invested in your work it needs to be your passion. Lastly, I rang my friend John Dunleavy. John is the account persons account person a business-led client partner with a heart for creative. From spirits to software, hes led accounts at Publicis, Grey, Saatchi & Saatchi, McCann and is now Global President of Team IBM at WPP. Hes a wise and candid voice for why account people might want stay as account people. John came into the business for the lunches and stayed for the creativity. What he means is that in London, Saatchi was the it" agency and advertising was glamorous and fun for your career in your 20s. At some point, though, you get serious he said, and when he moved to the states, he started working with David Droga at Publicis. "Its the first time I engaged with serious creative people [with ideas] who not only impacted a clients business but also popular culture and society overall Now the last decade working in tech, hes found that hes working with brands that can impact society if they choose to. "As an agency partner, you have an opportunity to do that. Note: John doesnt like the term account management. He prefers "Business Leadership." Thats what you should be doing. "Strategy and creative have become more important and clients are happy to pay for these because they see value here." To John, its up to good account people to reassert themselves and the role to add real value. Account folk are different. This exercise revealed to me, at least through my reporting, that the differences between creative and account management career paths are significant. In addition to the stronger entrepreneurial instincts of creatives setting up their own shops, I saw more intentional choices by account people. Creative folks are often still in creative because they havent figured out yet what else to do. Account executives who still are account executives really like the problem-solving and their role in the business. They build highly transferrable skills, with the mindset a critical asset to different environments and settings. All this seems to make it easier to constantly tackle different challenges, embrace and find a voice in technology's changing part or move to the client side. Tweet 'em at me.

About 50% of account people in my network are still in classically-named advertising, marketing, media or digital agencies.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/matzucker/2019/01/22/account-people/

Where Do Account People Go?

Last year, I examined my Linkedin network to see where my creative peers had gone with their advertising careers. The analysis and its results were surprising to me, plus I got back in touch with folks I hadnt spoken to in decades. Several were surprised I could now do math. This year, I tackle the same exercise with my account management friends, combing through connections to see where people have gone, how many are still at agencies, at consultancies, or moved on to other roles. Research sample: Of my 1,900+ connections, ~120 were account executives when I first met them. As in the creative study, I only consider people with 15 years minimum experience in the industry. Obviously, my statistics are biased towards my experiences and the people and firms with whom I spent the most time. I then did eight interviews to understand why and give context. Here are my findings: Theyre still in agencies. About 50% of account people in my network are still in classically-named advertising, marketing, media or digital agencies, such as Ogilvy, BBDO, R/GA, Digitas, Horizon or Merkle. Thats a bit lower than I expected. Another 8% have gone to media platforms such as Amazon, Facebook or Essence. Only about 6% started their own firm, which is lower than the creatives (14%). About 8% are currently independent consultants, substantially lower than creatives. Theyre also at the consultancies. As you can read in any trade, a fair number of folks (12% in my roster) have moved to a consulting firm like I have. Many of my peers, from creative to planning to account management, are now at Accenture, Deloitte or its owned agencies and several others at IBM and PWC. So if you count these as agencies, then youve really got a whopping 62% still at agencies and, adding in those contracting as indies, almost 70% in account roles. Theyre the client. 22% of my network of former account managers, however, have gone client-side to a major marketer or a marketing role at a non-profit, far higher than creatives, but lower than some I interviewed expected. Two people told me they were asked by their clients to join their organization, which is surely a sign youre doing something right. About 11 are currently Chief Marketing Officers, and several more have been in the last five years. A fair number are at non-profits or brands focused on a passion or purpose. You'll hear from several of these now-clients down below. They shifted roles. At agencies and client-side, I found a large number of folks taking on different roles than traditional account or brand management, though, admittedly still in a marketing context. For example, several run operations or serve as chief digital officer or work in research. One is a chief innovation officer. One is an ethnographer. One is an executive recruiter. One is in HR. One, however, is an investigator at the FCC. As with the creative talent research, I wanted to hear from several who made shifts: Adam Gargani was an account supervisor when I was a baby copywriter at FCB/Leber Katz. We worked on Rayovac batteries, making TV, radio, print, coupon ads and even early e-commerce. Now Adam leads EVergreen 9, a research and brand consultancy. For him, it wasnt actually a career change into research, but a "natural path of my professional development. On the accounts I worked, I spent more time developing strategy and understanding markets than producing advertising." Allison Knapp Womack has worked in account management at multiple agencies, including Wunderman, Ogilvy and Doremus, where she was president of the New York office before becoming the global strategy officer. She credits the confluence of three factors agency experience + business school + outside board positions on finding what would be next for her. Shes now CMO of Enterprise Community Partners, which delivers capital, programs and advocacy for affordable housing. Her financial services and nonprofit clients were a great background to have, and so was her volunteer board work in international development, children's rights and equality for girls. Allison's answer to when you know its time to switch: "When your volunteer work becomes more compelling than your day job, its telling. Paul Suchman has held senior account and strategy roles at WPP and Omnicom and was global CMO of commercial real estate icon CBRE. Pauls trajectory has been all B2B, also including technology, financial services, professional services, and manufacturing. He sees a lot of parallels among them complex challenges, disparate business lines, global footprint, competing agendas. Done well, he says, Creativity and strategy become a secret weapon for these organizations. He sees differences not just in culture between corporate and agency, but in career fit. "When youre an agency person, youre the consummate undergraduate. You work on a portfolio of accounts and you change your focus depending which client is most important that day. When you become the CMO, you have picked a major. Pauls advice is to make the decision by mid-career if you want to be a consummate undergrad or declare a major. Rich Kim worked on the Cisco Systems team at Ogilvy with me. He stayed for 10 years, transitioning from account management to strategy and planning. There, his activities, conversations and deliverables were more embedded in a CMO context, which made it a natural shift to client-side brand marketing at Hulu. Now hes a director of marketing at Amazon Prime Video doing a lot in social, media and measurement (and where theyre obviously having quite an awards season!). Rich sees account management roles as a plus on multiple fronts: first, it's great for client service (i.e., no matter where you are, you have clients); secondly, it helps you learn to be a good operator, with an ability to execute. Marketers can struggle when they don't understand the creative process or experience first-hand things even as specific as production issues, musical licensing, and more. Third, from his time on the other side of the table, he thinks he can now help get the best out of agencies. Interestingly, while my stats were just 22% who went client-side, Richs instinct is that the client-side marketing world is more like 50% of people with agency account experience. Andrea Derby and I worked together on the British Airways business at Ogilvy, and then she went to BBDO. Shes now Director of Advertising and Brand at UPS. There is such a great opportunity to make a business impact on the client side. And working at agencies is great training for client roles. Agencies teach you how to lead and collaborate. And they also give you a creative foundation that leaves you curious and always looking for new ways to solve challenges. Susan Chung, former Chief Operating Officer at HNW, a marketing technology firm, was one of the colleagues I spoke to who had made one of the bigger shifts, deep into the operations of a company, farther from classic account management. For her, it was an evolution not a stretch, an opportunity to flex other muscles. "In account management, you are fundamentally running a business within a business managing client/customer relationships, dealing with staffing issues, monitoring budgets and profitability so making the transition into a larger operations role was really about changing my mindset and priorities of the job. While its admittedly far more common to get promoted from finance into key operational roles, the challenges when she met HNW were more growth-oriented rather than fiscal management. Her advice since there are so many interesting opportunities out there: Be open minded about job titles, especially since there are new ones being created every day. Think about the things you love to do when you are at your best and focus more on the responsibilities and the role within the organization. And I wanted to talk understand sticking with account management: I first asked Julie DeAngelis, now at TBWA/Chiat/Day. "My job in account management is to be a connector internally and with clients, she said, "and the agency model fosters that so well. The range of clients has also been appealing for her, across categories, for-profits and non-profits, Fortune 100 companies and smaller ones. "Ive learned something from all of them. My last question was around advice for others. "When youre earlier in your career, money, title and cach can play a big part in where you work," she said. "Im so much more interested in the culture of my agency whats important to them, how do they treat their employees, who do they want to work with. Marketing and advertising is so beyond a 9-6 job that you need to be invested in your work it needs to be your passion. Lastly, I rang my friend John Dunleavy. John is the account persons account person a business-led client partner with a heart for creative. From spirits to software, hes led accounts at Publicis, Grey, Saatchi & Saatchi, McCann and is now Global President of Team IBM at WPP. Hes a wise and candid voice for why account people might want stay as account people. John came into the business for the lunches and stayed for the creativity. What he means is that in London, Saatchi was the it" agency and advertising was glamorous and fun for your career in your 20s. At some point, though, you get serious he said, and when he moved to the states, he started working with David Droga at Publicis. "Its the first time I engaged with serious creative people [with ideas] who not only impacted a clients business but also popular culture and society overall Now the last decade working in tech, hes found that hes working with brands that can impact society if they choose to. "As an agency partner, you have an opportunity to do that. Note: John doesnt like the term account management. He prefers "Business Leadership." Thats what you should be doing. "Strategy and creative have become more important and clients are happy to pay for these because they see value here." To John, its up to good account people to reassert themselves and the role to add real value. Account folk are different. This exercise revealed to me, at least through my reporting, that the differences between creative and account management career paths are significant. In addition to the stronger entrepreneurial instincts of creatives setting up their own shops, I saw more intentional choices by account people. Creative folks are often still in creative because they havent figured out yet what else to do. Account executives who still are account executives really like the problem-solving and their role in the business. They build highly transferrable skills, with the mindset a critical asset to different environments and settings. All this seems to make it easier to constantly tackle different challenges, embrace and find a voice in technology's changing part or move to the client side. Tweet 'em at me.

About 50% of account people in my network are still in classically-named advertising, marketing, media or digital agencies. Another 8% have gone to media platforms such as Amazon, Facebook or Essence.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/matzucker/2019/01/22/account-people/

Where Do Account People Go?

Last year, I examined my Linkedin network to see where my creative peers had gone with their advertising careers. The analysis and its results were surprising to me, plus I got back in touch with folks I hadnt spoken to in decades. Several were surprised I could now do math. This year, I tackle the same exercise with my account management friends, combing through connections to see where people have gone, how many are still at agencies, at consultancies, or moved on to other roles. Research sample: Of my 1,900+ connections, ~120 were account executives when I first met them. As in the creative study, I only consider people with 15 years minimum experience in the industry. Obviously, my statistics are biased towards my experiences and the people and firms with whom I spent the most time. I then did eight interviews to understand why and give context. Here are my findings: Theyre still in agencies. About 50% of account people in my network are still in classically-named advertising, marketing, media or digital agencies, such as Ogilvy, BBDO, R/GA, Digitas, Horizon or Merkle. Thats a bit lower than I expected. Another 8% have gone to media platforms such as Amazon, Facebook or Essence. Only about 6% started their own firm, which is lower than the creatives (14%). About 8% are currently independent consultants, substantially lower than creatives. Theyre also at the consultancies. As you can read in any trade, a fair number of folks (12% in my roster) have moved to a consulting firm like I have. Many of my peers, from creative to planning to account management, are now at Accenture, Deloitte or its owned agencies and several others at IBM and PWC. So if you count these as agencies, then youve really got a whopping 62% still at agencies and, adding in those contracting as indies, almost 70% in account roles. Theyre the client. 22% of my network of former account managers, however, have gone client-side to a major marketer or a marketing role at a non-profit, far higher than creatives, but lower than some I interviewed expected. Two people told me they were asked by their clients to join their organization, which is surely a sign youre doing something right. About 11 are currently Chief Marketing Officers, and several more have been in the last five years. A fair number are at non-profits or brands focused on a passion or purpose. You'll hear from several of these now-clients down below. They shifted roles. At agencies and client-side, I found a large number of folks taking on different roles than traditional account or brand management, though, admittedly still in a marketing context. For example, several run operations or serve as chief digital officer or work in research. One is a chief innovation officer. One is an ethnographer. One is an executive recruiter. One is in HR. One, however, is an investigator at the FCC. As with the creative talent research, I wanted to hear from several who made shifts: Adam Gargani was an account supervisor when I was a baby copywriter at FCB/Leber Katz. We worked on Rayovac batteries, making TV, radio, print, coupon ads and even early e-commerce. Now Adam leads EVergreen 9, a research and brand consultancy. For him, it wasnt actually a career change into research, but a "natural path of my professional development. On the accounts I worked, I spent more time developing strategy and understanding markets than producing advertising." Allison Knapp Womack has worked in account management at multiple agencies, including Wunderman, Ogilvy and Doremus, where she was president of the New York office before becoming the global strategy officer. She credits the confluence of three factors agency experience + business school + outside board positions on finding what would be next for her. Shes now CMO of Enterprise Community Partners, which delivers capital, programs and advocacy for affordable housing. Her financial services and nonprofit clients were a great background to have, and so was her volunteer board work in international development, children's rights and equality for girls. Allison's answer to when you know its time to switch: "When your volunteer work becomes more compelling than your day job, its telling. Paul Suchman has held senior account and strategy roles at WPP and Omnicom and was global CMO of commercial real estate icon CBRE. Pauls trajectory has been all B2B, also including technology, financial services, professional services, and manufacturing. He sees a lot of parallels among them complex challenges, disparate business lines, global footprint, competing agendas. Done well, he says, Creativity and strategy become a secret weapon for these organizations. He sees differences not just in culture between corporate and agency, but in career fit. "When youre an agency person, youre the consummate undergraduate. You work on a portfolio of accounts and you change your focus depending which client is most important that day. When you become the CMO, you have picked a major. Pauls advice is to make the decision by mid-career if you want to be a consummate undergrad or declare a major. Rich Kim worked on the Cisco Systems team at Ogilvy with me. He stayed for 10 years, transitioning from account management to strategy and planning. There, his activities, conversations and deliverables were more embedded in a CMO context, which made it a natural shift to client-side brand marketing at Hulu. Now hes a director of marketing at Amazon Prime Video doing a lot in social, media and measurement (and where theyre obviously having quite an awards season!). Rich sees account management roles as a plus on multiple fronts: first, it's great for client service (i.e., no matter where you are, you have clients); secondly, it helps you learn to be a good operator, with an ability to execute. Marketers can struggle when they don't understand the creative process or experience first-hand things even as specific as production issues, musical licensing, and more. Third, from his time on the other side of the table, he thinks he can now help get the best out of agencies. Interestingly, while my stats were just 22% who went client-side, Richs instinct is that the client-side marketing world is more like 50% of people with agency account experience. Andrea Derby and I worked together on the British Airways business at Ogilvy, and then she went to BBDO. Shes now Director of Advertising and Brand at UPS. There is such a great opportunity to make a business impact on the client side. And working at agencies is great training for client roles. Agencies teach you how to lead and collaborate. And they also give you a creative foundation that leaves you curious and always looking for new ways to solve challenges. Susan Chung, former Chief Operating Officer at HNW, a marketing technology firm, was one of the colleagues I spoke to who had made one of the bigger shifts, deep into the operations of a company, farther from classic account management. For her, it was an evolution not a stretch, an opportunity to flex other muscles. "In account management, you are fundamentally running a business within a business managing client/customer relationships, dealing with staffing issues, monitoring budgets and profitability so making the transition into a larger operations role was really about changing my mindset and priorities of the job. While its admittedly far more common to get promoted from finance into key operational roles, the challenges when she met HNW were more growth-oriented rather than fiscal management. Her advice since there are so many interesting opportunities out there: Be open minded about job titles, especially since there are new ones being created every day. Think about the things you love to do when you are at your best and focus more on the responsibilities and the role within the organization. And I wanted to talk understand sticking with account management: I first asked Julie DeAngelis, now at TBWA/Chiat/Day. "My job in account management is to be a connector internally and with clients, she said, "and the agency model fosters that so well. The range of clients has also been appealing for her, across categories, for-profits and non-profits, Fortune 100 companies and smaller ones. "Ive learned something from all of them. My last question was around advice for others. "When youre earlier in your career, money, title and cach can play a big part in where you work," she said. "Im so much more interested in the culture of my agency whats important to them, how do they treat their employees, who do they want to work with. Marketing and advertising is so beyond a 9-6 job that you need to be invested in your work it needs to be your passion. Lastly, I rang my friend John Dunleavy. John is the account persons account person a business-led client partner with a heart for creative. From spirits to software, hes led accounts at Publicis, Grey, Saatchi & Saatchi, McCann and is now Global President of Team IBM at WPP. Hes a wise and candid voice for why account people might want stay as account people. John came into the business for the lunches and stayed for the creativity. What he means is that in London, Saatchi was the it" agency and advertising was glamorous and fun for your career in your 20s. At some point, though, you get serious he said, and when he moved to the states, he started working with David Droga at Publicis. "Its the first time I engaged with serious creative people [with ideas] who not only impacted a clients business but also popular culture and society overall Now the last decade working in tech, hes found that hes working with brands that can impact society if they choose to. "As an agency partner, you have an opportunity to do that. Note: John doesnt like the term account management. He prefers "Business Leadership." Thats what you should be doing. "Strategy and creative have become more important and clients are happy to pay for these because they see value here." To John, its up to good account people to reassert themselves and the role to add real value. Account folk are different. This exercise revealed to me, at least through my reporting, that the differences between creative and account management career paths are significant. In addition to the stronger entrepreneurial instincts of creatives setting up their own shops, I saw more intentional choices by account people. Creative folks are often still in creative because they havent figured out yet what else to do. Account executives who still are account executives really like the problem-solving and their role in the business. They build highly transferrable skills, with the mindset a critical asset to different environments and settings. All this seems to make it easier to constantly tackle different challenges, embrace and find a voice in technology's changing part or move to the client side. Tweet 'em at me.

Last year, I examined my Linkedin network to see where my creative peers had gone with their advertising careers. This year I did the same exercise with my account management friends. Here are my findings: About 50% of account people are still in classically-named advertising, marketing, media or digital agencies.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/matzucker/2019/01/22/account-people/

What is an airsoft gun? Are they legal in Arizona?

CLOSE The Arizona Republic enhanced this footage of Antonio Arce's, 14, shooting by a Tempe police officer. Arizona Republic A non-lethal airsoft gun is at the center of the controversial Tempe police shooting of 14-year-old Antonio Arce. Police have said the boy stole the gun from a vehicle and ran from police. A Tempe officer chased Arce down an alley and shot him as he was running away. An airsoft gun often resembles a traditional firearm but shoots non-lethal, plastic pellets. They are used for target practice and military-style games, similar to paintball guns or BB guns. They are sometimes described as non-powder guns or imitation firearms. Federal law does not consider an airsoft gun to be a firearm, but it does have some regulations for them. Federal law requires these guns to be sold with an orange tip on its muzzle, distinguishing it from a lethal firearm. But states vary in their requirements about whether that orange tip must be kept on. Arizona has no state laws regulating the sale of airsoft guns. Tempe police said 14-year-old Antonio Arce carrying a replica 1911 airsoft gun when he was shot by an officer. Federal law requires individuals be 18 or older to purchase an airsoft gun, but does not regulate how old someone must be to use an airsoft gun. States and cities vary widely in their regulation of airsoft guns. In New York state, it's illegal for someone under 16 to possess an airsoft gun. In Minnesota, it's illegal for someone under 18 to have an airsoft gun without a parent's permission. Several states ban the devices on school grounds. RELATED: Boy shot by Tempe police didn't steal airsoft gun, truck owner says Arizona has no state laws regulating airsoft guns. Some municipalities do have regulations for air, spring or CO2 (carbon dioxide)-operated BB guns, pellet guns or slingshots. In Glendale, it's a Class 1 misdemeanor to discharge air guns or BB guns within city limits. Tempe does not have non-powdered gun codes. Tempe ordinances do state that an airgun is not a firearm. CLOSE Hundreds of people walk through the neighborhood where 14-year-old Antonio Arce was shot by a Tempe police officer earlier this week. Nathan J. Fish, The Republic | azcentral.com READ MORE: Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2019/01/22/what-airsoft-gun-tempe-police-shooting-antonio-arce/2633991002/

Airsoft guns are used for target practice and military-style games. Arizona has no state laws regulating the sale of airsoft guns.

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https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2019/01/22/what-airsoft-gun-tempe-police-shooting-antonio-arce/2633991002/

What is an airsoft gun? Are they legal in Arizona?

CLOSE The Arizona Republic enhanced this footage of Antonio Arce's, 14, shooting by a Tempe police officer. Arizona Republic A non-lethal airsoft gun is at the center of the controversial Tempe police shooting of 14-year-old Antonio Arce. Police have said the boy stole the gun from a vehicle and ran from police. A Tempe officer chased Arce down an alley and shot him as he was running away. An airsoft gun often resembles a traditional firearm but shoots non-lethal, plastic pellets. They are used for target practice and military-style games, similar to paintball guns or BB guns. They are sometimes described as non-powder guns or imitation firearms. Federal law does not consider an airsoft gun to be a firearm, but it does have some regulations for them. Federal law requires these guns to be sold with an orange tip on its muzzle, distinguishing it from a lethal firearm. But states vary in their requirements about whether that orange tip must be kept on. Arizona has no state laws regulating the sale of airsoft guns. Tempe police said 14-year-old Antonio Arce carrying a replica 1911 airsoft gun when he was shot by an officer. Federal law requires individuals be 18 or older to purchase an airsoft gun, but does not regulate how old someone must be to use an airsoft gun. States and cities vary widely in their regulation of airsoft guns. In New York state, it's illegal for someone under 16 to possess an airsoft gun. In Minnesota, it's illegal for someone under 18 to have an airsoft gun without a parent's permission. Several states ban the devices on school grounds. RELATED: Boy shot by Tempe police didn't steal airsoft gun, truck owner says Arizona has no state laws regulating airsoft guns. Some municipalities do have regulations for air, spring or CO2 (carbon dioxide)-operated BB guns, pellet guns or slingshots. In Glendale, it's a Class 1 misdemeanor to discharge air guns or BB guns within city limits. Tempe does not have non-powdered gun codes. Tempe ordinances do state that an airgun is not a firearm. CLOSE Hundreds of people walk through the neighborhood where 14-year-old Antonio Arce was shot by a Tempe police officer earlier this week. Nathan J. Fish, The Republic | azcentral.com READ MORE: Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2019/01/22/what-airsoft-gun-tempe-police-shooting-antonio-arce/2633991002/

A non-lethal airsoft gun is used for target practice and military-style games. Arizona has no state laws regulating the sale of airsoft guns.

ctrlsum

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2019/01/22/what-airsoft-gun-tempe-police-shooting-antonio-arce/2633991002/

What is an airsoft gun? Are they legal in Arizona?

CLOSE The Arizona Republic enhanced this footage of Antonio Arce's, 14, shooting by a Tempe police officer. Arizona Republic A non-lethal airsoft gun is at the center of the controversial Tempe police shooting of 14-year-old Antonio Arce. Police have said the boy stole the gun from a vehicle and ran from police. A Tempe officer chased Arce down an alley and shot him as he was running away. An airsoft gun often resembles a traditional firearm but shoots non-lethal, plastic pellets. They are used for target practice and military-style games, similar to paintball guns or BB guns. They are sometimes described as non-powder guns or imitation firearms. Federal law does not consider an airsoft gun to be a firearm, but it does have some regulations for them. Federal law requires these guns to be sold with an orange tip on its muzzle, distinguishing it from a lethal firearm. But states vary in their requirements about whether that orange tip must be kept on. Arizona has no state laws regulating the sale of airsoft guns. Tempe police said 14-year-old Antonio Arce carrying a replica 1911 airsoft gun when he was shot by an officer. Federal law requires individuals be 18 or older to purchase an airsoft gun, but does not regulate how old someone must be to use an airsoft gun. States and cities vary widely in their regulation of airsoft guns. In New York state, it's illegal for someone under 16 to possess an airsoft gun. In Minnesota, it's illegal for someone under 18 to have an airsoft gun without a parent's permission. Several states ban the devices on school grounds. RELATED: Boy shot by Tempe police didn't steal airsoft gun, truck owner says Arizona has no state laws regulating airsoft guns. Some municipalities do have regulations for air, spring or CO2 (carbon dioxide)-operated BB guns, pellet guns or slingshots. In Glendale, it's a Class 1 misdemeanor to discharge air guns or BB guns within city limits. Tempe does not have non-powdered gun codes. Tempe ordinances do state that an airgun is not a firearm. CLOSE Hundreds of people walk through the neighborhood where 14-year-old Antonio Arce was shot by a Tempe police officer earlier this week. Nathan J. Fish, The Republic | azcentral.com READ MORE: Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2019/01/22/what-airsoft-gun-tempe-police-shooting-antonio-arce/2633991002/

An airsoft gun often resembles a traditional firearm but shoots non-lethal, plastic pellets. They are used for target practice and military-style games, similar to paintball guns or BB guns. Arizona has no state laws regulating the sale of airsoft guns.

bart

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2019/01/22/what-airsoft-gun-tempe-police-shooting-antonio-arce/2633991002/

Is Villanova, Maryland, Syracuse basketball for real?

More than two months into the season, the early results of November can start to feel like a lightyear away. Remember Duke's opening night rout of Kentucky, or how Ohio State was No. A lot has happened since then, and while a team like the Blue Devils continues to look like one of the nation's very best, others have used the time to grow since November and December slip-ups. For this week's roundtable, we gave our writers a list of 11 teams that either got off to a rough start or weren't on many people's radars in November and are now enjoying a strong January, and asked each to pick a few that they believe are for realor not. From defending champ Villanova to Ole Miss, here are their answers. Bracket Watch: Weekend of Drama Brings Change to Top Line Villanova Why Dan Greene Is Buying In: Yes, this season has been uncharacteristically uneven, and yes, given the Big East's depth, there will surely be a few losses to come. But the Wildcats' offense is coming together nicely (it's been the Big East's most efficient during league play) and they have been getting positive contributions of late from freshman point guard Jahvon Quinerly, who was such a nonfactor early that he's basically like a midseason acquisition. Plus I just trust in Jay Wright. They're still my Big East favorites until proven otherwise. Why Jake Fischer Remains Skeptical: It's difficult to believe in the defending champs, whose offense is still whirring at the 12th-highest efficiency per kenpom.com this season. The Wildcats just simply can't guard any offensive foe of substance, yielding 98.4 points per 100 possessions. Villanova's lineup has long featured four guards and one big man, but the Wildcats have trended even smaller this season, often playing Eric Paschall at the five in super-switchy lineups. Those units have failed miserably at protecting the rim. Villanova ranks a measly 136th in the nation block rate. And while Omari Spellman wasn't Hasheem Thabeet, it's a marked decline from a year ago. Sure enough, the Wildcats are 50 to open Big East play. And aside from human infernos Markus Howard and Shamorie Ponds, the conference doesn't have many threats to the reigning champions. This is by far one of the weaker teams Jay Wright has had in recent memory. Villanova will likely claim its league, but this team is not built for a long postseason run, whether it enters the Big Dance with a conference crown or an at large bid. Maryland Why Greene Is Buying In: Yes, the Terrapins just got shellacked in East Lansing, but that was their first loss by more than four all season and against an elite team. I'm still high on Maryland because a team this young (bottom-five nationally in experience, per kenpom) doesn't go on the kind of seven-game winning streak that the Terps just did if it's some kind of fluke. Bruno Fernando and Anthony Cowan are a legit inside/outside combo and despite turnover issues, Maryland has managed to be solid on both ends, which bodes well for sustainability. Marquette Why Max Meyer Is Buying In: Everyone knows about how lethal Marquettes offense can be, but the Golden Eagles defense is ranked 40th in adjusted defensive efficiency per kenpom.com. Marquette has one of the best scorers in the country in Markus Howard, but the Golden Eagles can also rely upon the Hauser brothers to help carry the load. Theyre especially boosted by strong shooting from the outside (38.7% from three, 24th nationally) and the FT line (76.4%, 14th), a huge plus for a team that plays in a good amount of close games. Why Jeremy Woo Remains Skeptical: Im into Markus Howards game, but as a unit Marquette can be streaky and lacks talent up front. I watched as St Johns bottled up Howard on New Years Day and left the Golden Eagles mostly helpless. Since then, theyve won a few tight games, but Im not sure they can hold together defensively and score enough when Howard has cooler nights to hang as a top-15 team. To me, they feel as mercurial as anyone. SI's 201819 Midseason All-America Team Purdue Why Molly Geary Is Buying In: The Boilermakers became a bit of an afterthought nationally after a 65 start, but theyre now 126 and all the way up to eighth on kenpom. Their only non-quality loss to date is still Notre Dame on a neutral court, which is far from a bad one. Still, Purdue entered 2019 having work to do, and so far in January its earned wins over Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana and Rutgers, three of which its directly battling in the Big Ten race. At 52 in the conferencewith only one game left against a Michigan schoolits in a good spot, and the recent emergence of freshman center Trevion Williams brings optimism to the Boilermakers finding more consistent scoring outside Carsen Edwards. With a top-10 offense and a dynamic go-to guy in Edwards, Purdue has the kind of profile that could make the Sweet 16 if things break right. Why Michael Shapiro Remains Skeptical: Its hard to count out the Boilermakers in any contest with scoring dynamo Carsen Edwards leading the way, but the rest of Purdues roster could make it difficult to string together victories in the Big Ten. Matt Painters squad doesnt have the same interior presence as last season with Isaac Haass departure, and the easy baskets are few and far between. Consider the Boilermakers a sizable step below Michigan and Michigan State atop the Big Ten. Iowa Why Greene Remains Skeptical: The Hawkeyes have been deadeye shooters of late, putting up a wow-worthy 83.0% effective field goal percentage against Illinois on Sunday, and they get to the line at the third-highest rate in the country, which provides a nice baseline for their offense. But it's the defense that has me wary: it ranks 13th among the Big Ten's 14 teams in conference play, and its two best showings against relevant opponents have been against a fading Ohio State and middling Northwestern. While Iowa will still end up a tournament team, I think the next few weeks in the Big Ten may be a bit cooler. Syracuse Why Shapiro Is Buying In: Even if you cast aside Jim Boeheims propensity for March magic, Syracuse still has enough talent to position itself well for a run to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. The Oranges zone has suffocated opponents as usual in 201819, ranking No. 12 in the nation in defensive efficiency, per kenpom. Their offense isnt unwatchable, either. Syracuse scored 95 points in an overtime victory against Duke on Jan. 14, including 32 from leading scorer Tyus Battle. The Orange have won six of their last seven. Expect them to finish closer to the top of the ACC than the conference cellar. Why Woo Remains Skeptical: Beating Duke was obviously well-earned, but we go through this with Syracuse every year: the zone works in mysterious ways, but at the end of the day, the offense becomes an issue and more talented teams gain an edge. This could look stupid when they get a couple good breaks and end up in the Sweet 16, but Im skeptical the Orange can be consistent and efficient enough offensively to land in the top third of the ACC. Louisville Why Eric Single Is Buying In: Louisville has scored exactly 43 points in the first half of its past three games, all wins, which is more than a weird pattern: The Cardinals rapid return to a top-25 kenpom.com offensive efficiency rating in Chris Macks first year has put them in the thick of the ACC race and stressed out teams that that didnt sign up for a game in the 80s. Louisville is riding sophomore Jordan Nworas breakout year (18.5 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game), and the 68 forward looks more than comfortable shouldering a massive load. He has taken 100 more shots than anyone else on the team and hasnt slowed down now that defenses know to give him their full attention, dropping 32 on Boston College and 25 on Georgia Tech last week. Macks first squad is going to hang around that logjam atop the ACC. On a serious note, at 144, the Huskies just might be the best bet to get that automatic bid, or even possibly challenge for an at-large one should they not win the conference tournament. Washington has started Pac-12 play 50, though its schedule is about to ramp up considerably. But this is an experienced team (it has the nations No. 1 minutes continuity) that took Gonzaga to the wire in Spokane and is strong on the defensive end, where it's anchored by reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Matisse Thybulle. They say defense travels, and the Huskies have some solid offensive weapons as well, like Jaylen Nowell (16.7 points, 39.7% three-point shooting), Noah Dickerson (13.2 points, the nations second-best free throw rate) and David Crisp (38.1% three-point shooting). Arizona Why Fischer Is Buying In: After a 51 start in conference play, Arizona has returned to its annual perch atop the Pac-12. The Wildcats still trail Washington, and won't see the Huskies until Feb. 7, but Sean Miller's squad has certainly found its footing. Arizona has developed the 22nd-stingiest defense in the country, per kenpom, highlighted by limiting opponents to only 30.4% shooting from three. Chase Jeter has flourished at the center of the Wildcats' attack and defense. But Arizona has won seven of eight contests much in part to the team's top-four scorers all harboring the ability to shoulder an evening's load. That will be a tough combination to defeat in a suddenly lowly conference. Why Meyer Remains Skeptical: The entire Pac-12 is in sell territory, but Im not buying the fact that Arizona is a contender to win this downtrodden conference and make the NCAA tournament. This is not an efficient shooting team and the Wildcats dont have the size theyve been accustomed to in recent seasons. They really struggle against zone defenses, and a good amount of Pac-12 teams play zone. Arizona has scored fewer than 55 points in home losses to Baylor and Oregon, who both play, you guessed it, zone. My money is on Washington or Oregon State getting the conferences only NCAA tournament bid. Kansas State Why Woo Is Buying In: The case for K-States legitimacy is pretty straightforward: their core guys are upperclassmen who went to the Final Four last year, theyre still staunch defensively and have been one of the most consistent teams in a brutally tough Big 12. The regular season slog is about consistency, and as long as Barry Brown continues to be a tone-setter, the Wildcats are going to be able to hang around. They may not win the conference, but what theyre doing shouldnt come as a surprise. Why Shapiro Remains Skeptical: The Wildcats deserve nothing but praise after four straight victories since Jan. 9, including an upset victory over Iowa State in Ames. Though Id tap the breaks on Kansas State as contenders for the Big 12 crown. The Wildcats sit 177th in offensive efficiency, per kenpom, lacking significant scoring punch. This is a veteran squad with NCAA tournament pedigree. But a top-three finish in the Big 12 would surprise me. Ole Miss Why Single Remains Skeptical: We were wrong that the Rebels would be one of the SECs worst teams in year one under Kermit Davis, but the back-to-back wins over ranked Auburn and Mississippi State teams that capped their 10-game winning streak (the programs longest in 11 years) may prove to be this groups ceiling. The 14-point home loss to a long and athletic LSU team that stopped that streak last week reinforced the importance of sophomore point guard Devontae Shuler, who had been the No. 3 scoring option behind Breein Tyree, and Terence Davis has cooled off while playing through a stress fracture in his foot. Ole Miss has enough winnable games down the stretchand only one meeting each with Tennessee and Kentucky, both in Oxfordto put it in great position for an NCAA tournament bid, but come March expect the first top-tier team the Rebels cross to expose how far they still have to go.

Villanova, Maryland, Syracuse, Marquette and Ole Miss are among the teams that have had a strong start to the season.

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https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2019/01/22/villanova-maryland-syracuse-arizona-louisville-hoops

Is Villanova, Maryland, Syracuse basketball for real?

More than two months into the season, the early results of November can start to feel like a lightyear away. Remember Duke's opening night rout of Kentucky, or how Ohio State was No. A lot has happened since then, and while a team like the Blue Devils continues to look like one of the nation's very best, others have used the time to grow since November and December slip-ups. For this week's roundtable, we gave our writers a list of 11 teams that either got off to a rough start or weren't on many people's radars in November and are now enjoying a strong January, and asked each to pick a few that they believe are for realor not. From defending champ Villanova to Ole Miss, here are their answers. Bracket Watch: Weekend of Drama Brings Change to Top Line Villanova Why Dan Greene Is Buying In: Yes, this season has been uncharacteristically uneven, and yes, given the Big East's depth, there will surely be a few losses to come. But the Wildcats' offense is coming together nicely (it's been the Big East's most efficient during league play) and they have been getting positive contributions of late from freshman point guard Jahvon Quinerly, who was such a nonfactor early that he's basically like a midseason acquisition. Plus I just trust in Jay Wright. They're still my Big East favorites until proven otherwise. Why Jake Fischer Remains Skeptical: It's difficult to believe in the defending champs, whose offense is still whirring at the 12th-highest efficiency per kenpom.com this season. The Wildcats just simply can't guard any offensive foe of substance, yielding 98.4 points per 100 possessions. Villanova's lineup has long featured four guards and one big man, but the Wildcats have trended even smaller this season, often playing Eric Paschall at the five in super-switchy lineups. Those units have failed miserably at protecting the rim. Villanova ranks a measly 136th in the nation block rate. And while Omari Spellman wasn't Hasheem Thabeet, it's a marked decline from a year ago. Sure enough, the Wildcats are 50 to open Big East play. And aside from human infernos Markus Howard and Shamorie Ponds, the conference doesn't have many threats to the reigning champions. This is by far one of the weaker teams Jay Wright has had in recent memory. Villanova will likely claim its league, but this team is not built for a long postseason run, whether it enters the Big Dance with a conference crown or an at large bid. Maryland Why Greene Is Buying In: Yes, the Terrapins just got shellacked in East Lansing, but that was their first loss by more than four all season and against an elite team. I'm still high on Maryland because a team this young (bottom-five nationally in experience, per kenpom) doesn't go on the kind of seven-game winning streak that the Terps just did if it's some kind of fluke. Bruno Fernando and Anthony Cowan are a legit inside/outside combo and despite turnover issues, Maryland has managed to be solid on both ends, which bodes well for sustainability. Marquette Why Max Meyer Is Buying In: Everyone knows about how lethal Marquettes offense can be, but the Golden Eagles defense is ranked 40th in adjusted defensive efficiency per kenpom.com. Marquette has one of the best scorers in the country in Markus Howard, but the Golden Eagles can also rely upon the Hauser brothers to help carry the load. Theyre especially boosted by strong shooting from the outside (38.7% from three, 24th nationally) and the FT line (76.4%, 14th), a huge plus for a team that plays in a good amount of close games. Why Jeremy Woo Remains Skeptical: Im into Markus Howards game, but as a unit Marquette can be streaky and lacks talent up front. I watched as St Johns bottled up Howard on New Years Day and left the Golden Eagles mostly helpless. Since then, theyve won a few tight games, but Im not sure they can hold together defensively and score enough when Howard has cooler nights to hang as a top-15 team. To me, they feel as mercurial as anyone. SI's 201819 Midseason All-America Team Purdue Why Molly Geary Is Buying In: The Boilermakers became a bit of an afterthought nationally after a 65 start, but theyre now 126 and all the way up to eighth on kenpom. Their only non-quality loss to date is still Notre Dame on a neutral court, which is far from a bad one. Still, Purdue entered 2019 having work to do, and so far in January its earned wins over Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana and Rutgers, three of which its directly battling in the Big Ten race. At 52 in the conferencewith only one game left against a Michigan schoolits in a good spot, and the recent emergence of freshman center Trevion Williams brings optimism to the Boilermakers finding more consistent scoring outside Carsen Edwards. With a top-10 offense and a dynamic go-to guy in Edwards, Purdue has the kind of profile that could make the Sweet 16 if things break right. Why Michael Shapiro Remains Skeptical: Its hard to count out the Boilermakers in any contest with scoring dynamo Carsen Edwards leading the way, but the rest of Purdues roster could make it difficult to string together victories in the Big Ten. Matt Painters squad doesnt have the same interior presence as last season with Isaac Haass departure, and the easy baskets are few and far between. Consider the Boilermakers a sizable step below Michigan and Michigan State atop the Big Ten. Iowa Why Greene Remains Skeptical: The Hawkeyes have been deadeye shooters of late, putting up a wow-worthy 83.0% effective field goal percentage against Illinois on Sunday, and they get to the line at the third-highest rate in the country, which provides a nice baseline for their offense. But it's the defense that has me wary: it ranks 13th among the Big Ten's 14 teams in conference play, and its two best showings against relevant opponents have been against a fading Ohio State and middling Northwestern. While Iowa will still end up a tournament team, I think the next few weeks in the Big Ten may be a bit cooler. Syracuse Why Shapiro Is Buying In: Even if you cast aside Jim Boeheims propensity for March magic, Syracuse still has enough talent to position itself well for a run to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. The Oranges zone has suffocated opponents as usual in 201819, ranking No. 12 in the nation in defensive efficiency, per kenpom. Their offense isnt unwatchable, either. Syracuse scored 95 points in an overtime victory against Duke on Jan. 14, including 32 from leading scorer Tyus Battle. The Orange have won six of their last seven. Expect them to finish closer to the top of the ACC than the conference cellar. Why Woo Remains Skeptical: Beating Duke was obviously well-earned, but we go through this with Syracuse every year: the zone works in mysterious ways, but at the end of the day, the offense becomes an issue and more talented teams gain an edge. This could look stupid when they get a couple good breaks and end up in the Sweet 16, but Im skeptical the Orange can be consistent and efficient enough offensively to land in the top third of the ACC. Louisville Why Eric Single Is Buying In: Louisville has scored exactly 43 points in the first half of its past three games, all wins, which is more than a weird pattern: The Cardinals rapid return to a top-25 kenpom.com offensive efficiency rating in Chris Macks first year has put them in the thick of the ACC race and stressed out teams that that didnt sign up for a game in the 80s. Louisville is riding sophomore Jordan Nworas breakout year (18.5 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game), and the 68 forward looks more than comfortable shouldering a massive load. He has taken 100 more shots than anyone else on the team and hasnt slowed down now that defenses know to give him their full attention, dropping 32 on Boston College and 25 on Georgia Tech last week. Macks first squad is going to hang around that logjam atop the ACC. On a serious note, at 144, the Huskies just might be the best bet to get that automatic bid, or even possibly challenge for an at-large one should they not win the conference tournament. Washington has started Pac-12 play 50, though its schedule is about to ramp up considerably. But this is an experienced team (it has the nations No. 1 minutes continuity) that took Gonzaga to the wire in Spokane and is strong on the defensive end, where it's anchored by reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Matisse Thybulle. They say defense travels, and the Huskies have some solid offensive weapons as well, like Jaylen Nowell (16.7 points, 39.7% three-point shooting), Noah Dickerson (13.2 points, the nations second-best free throw rate) and David Crisp (38.1% three-point shooting). Arizona Why Fischer Is Buying In: After a 51 start in conference play, Arizona has returned to its annual perch atop the Pac-12. The Wildcats still trail Washington, and won't see the Huskies until Feb. 7, but Sean Miller's squad has certainly found its footing. Arizona has developed the 22nd-stingiest defense in the country, per kenpom, highlighted by limiting opponents to only 30.4% shooting from three. Chase Jeter has flourished at the center of the Wildcats' attack and defense. But Arizona has won seven of eight contests much in part to the team's top-four scorers all harboring the ability to shoulder an evening's load. That will be a tough combination to defeat in a suddenly lowly conference. Why Meyer Remains Skeptical: The entire Pac-12 is in sell territory, but Im not buying the fact that Arizona is a contender to win this downtrodden conference and make the NCAA tournament. This is not an efficient shooting team and the Wildcats dont have the size theyve been accustomed to in recent seasons. They really struggle against zone defenses, and a good amount of Pac-12 teams play zone. Arizona has scored fewer than 55 points in home losses to Baylor and Oregon, who both play, you guessed it, zone. My money is on Washington or Oregon State getting the conferences only NCAA tournament bid. Kansas State Why Woo Is Buying In: The case for K-States legitimacy is pretty straightforward: their core guys are upperclassmen who went to the Final Four last year, theyre still staunch defensively and have been one of the most consistent teams in a brutally tough Big 12. The regular season slog is about consistency, and as long as Barry Brown continues to be a tone-setter, the Wildcats are going to be able to hang around. They may not win the conference, but what theyre doing shouldnt come as a surprise. Why Shapiro Remains Skeptical: The Wildcats deserve nothing but praise after four straight victories since Jan. 9, including an upset victory over Iowa State in Ames. Though Id tap the breaks on Kansas State as contenders for the Big 12 crown. The Wildcats sit 177th in offensive efficiency, per kenpom, lacking significant scoring punch. This is a veteran squad with NCAA tournament pedigree. But a top-three finish in the Big 12 would surprise me. Ole Miss Why Single Remains Skeptical: We were wrong that the Rebels would be one of the SECs worst teams in year one under Kermit Davis, but the back-to-back wins over ranked Auburn and Mississippi State teams that capped their 10-game winning streak (the programs longest in 11 years) may prove to be this groups ceiling. The 14-point home loss to a long and athletic LSU team that stopped that streak last week reinforced the importance of sophomore point guard Devontae Shuler, who had been the No. 3 scoring option behind Breein Tyree, and Terence Davis has cooled off while playing through a stress fracture in his foot. Ole Miss has enough winnable games down the stretchand only one meeting each with Tennessee and Kentucky, both in Oxfordto put it in great position for an NCAA tournament bid, but come March expect the first top-tier team the Rebels cross to expose how far they still have to go.

Villanova, Maryland, Syracuse, Marquette and Ole Miss are among the teams that have had a strong start to the season. Each writer has a different take on whether these teams are for real or not.

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https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2019/01/22/villanova-maryland-syracuse-arizona-louisville-hoops

Is Villanova, Maryland, Syracuse basketball for real?

More than two months into the season, the early results of November can start to feel like a lightyear away. Remember Duke's opening night rout of Kentucky, or how Ohio State was No. A lot has happened since then, and while a team like the Blue Devils continues to look like one of the nation's very best, others have used the time to grow since November and December slip-ups. For this week's roundtable, we gave our writers a list of 11 teams that either got off to a rough start or weren't on many people's radars in November and are now enjoying a strong January, and asked each to pick a few that they believe are for realor not. From defending champ Villanova to Ole Miss, here are their answers. Bracket Watch: Weekend of Drama Brings Change to Top Line Villanova Why Dan Greene Is Buying In: Yes, this season has been uncharacteristically uneven, and yes, given the Big East's depth, there will surely be a few losses to come. But the Wildcats' offense is coming together nicely (it's been the Big East's most efficient during league play) and they have been getting positive contributions of late from freshman point guard Jahvon Quinerly, who was such a nonfactor early that he's basically like a midseason acquisition. Plus I just trust in Jay Wright. They're still my Big East favorites until proven otherwise. Why Jake Fischer Remains Skeptical: It's difficult to believe in the defending champs, whose offense is still whirring at the 12th-highest efficiency per kenpom.com this season. The Wildcats just simply can't guard any offensive foe of substance, yielding 98.4 points per 100 possessions. Villanova's lineup has long featured four guards and one big man, but the Wildcats have trended even smaller this season, often playing Eric Paschall at the five in super-switchy lineups. Those units have failed miserably at protecting the rim. Villanova ranks a measly 136th in the nation block rate. And while Omari Spellman wasn't Hasheem Thabeet, it's a marked decline from a year ago. Sure enough, the Wildcats are 50 to open Big East play. And aside from human infernos Markus Howard and Shamorie Ponds, the conference doesn't have many threats to the reigning champions. This is by far one of the weaker teams Jay Wright has had in recent memory. Villanova will likely claim its league, but this team is not built for a long postseason run, whether it enters the Big Dance with a conference crown or an at large bid. Maryland Why Greene Is Buying In: Yes, the Terrapins just got shellacked in East Lansing, but that was their first loss by more than four all season and against an elite team. I'm still high on Maryland because a team this young (bottom-five nationally in experience, per kenpom) doesn't go on the kind of seven-game winning streak that the Terps just did if it's some kind of fluke. Bruno Fernando and Anthony Cowan are a legit inside/outside combo and despite turnover issues, Maryland has managed to be solid on both ends, which bodes well for sustainability. Marquette Why Max Meyer Is Buying In: Everyone knows about how lethal Marquettes offense can be, but the Golden Eagles defense is ranked 40th in adjusted defensive efficiency per kenpom.com. Marquette has one of the best scorers in the country in Markus Howard, but the Golden Eagles can also rely upon the Hauser brothers to help carry the load. Theyre especially boosted by strong shooting from the outside (38.7% from three, 24th nationally) and the FT line (76.4%, 14th), a huge plus for a team that plays in a good amount of close games. Why Jeremy Woo Remains Skeptical: Im into Markus Howards game, but as a unit Marquette can be streaky and lacks talent up front. I watched as St Johns bottled up Howard on New Years Day and left the Golden Eagles mostly helpless. Since then, theyve won a few tight games, but Im not sure they can hold together defensively and score enough when Howard has cooler nights to hang as a top-15 team. To me, they feel as mercurial as anyone. SI's 201819 Midseason All-America Team Purdue Why Molly Geary Is Buying In: The Boilermakers became a bit of an afterthought nationally after a 65 start, but theyre now 126 and all the way up to eighth on kenpom. Their only non-quality loss to date is still Notre Dame on a neutral court, which is far from a bad one. Still, Purdue entered 2019 having work to do, and so far in January its earned wins over Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana and Rutgers, three of which its directly battling in the Big Ten race. At 52 in the conferencewith only one game left against a Michigan schoolits in a good spot, and the recent emergence of freshman center Trevion Williams brings optimism to the Boilermakers finding more consistent scoring outside Carsen Edwards. With a top-10 offense and a dynamic go-to guy in Edwards, Purdue has the kind of profile that could make the Sweet 16 if things break right. Why Michael Shapiro Remains Skeptical: Its hard to count out the Boilermakers in any contest with scoring dynamo Carsen Edwards leading the way, but the rest of Purdues roster could make it difficult to string together victories in the Big Ten. Matt Painters squad doesnt have the same interior presence as last season with Isaac Haass departure, and the easy baskets are few and far between. Consider the Boilermakers a sizable step below Michigan and Michigan State atop the Big Ten. Iowa Why Greene Remains Skeptical: The Hawkeyes have been deadeye shooters of late, putting up a wow-worthy 83.0% effective field goal percentage against Illinois on Sunday, and they get to the line at the third-highest rate in the country, which provides a nice baseline for their offense. But it's the defense that has me wary: it ranks 13th among the Big Ten's 14 teams in conference play, and its two best showings against relevant opponents have been against a fading Ohio State and middling Northwestern. While Iowa will still end up a tournament team, I think the next few weeks in the Big Ten may be a bit cooler. Syracuse Why Shapiro Is Buying In: Even if you cast aside Jim Boeheims propensity for March magic, Syracuse still has enough talent to position itself well for a run to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. The Oranges zone has suffocated opponents as usual in 201819, ranking No. 12 in the nation in defensive efficiency, per kenpom. Their offense isnt unwatchable, either. Syracuse scored 95 points in an overtime victory against Duke on Jan. 14, including 32 from leading scorer Tyus Battle. The Orange have won six of their last seven. Expect them to finish closer to the top of the ACC than the conference cellar. Why Woo Remains Skeptical: Beating Duke was obviously well-earned, but we go through this with Syracuse every year: the zone works in mysterious ways, but at the end of the day, the offense becomes an issue and more talented teams gain an edge. This could look stupid when they get a couple good breaks and end up in the Sweet 16, but Im skeptical the Orange can be consistent and efficient enough offensively to land in the top third of the ACC. Louisville Why Eric Single Is Buying In: Louisville has scored exactly 43 points in the first half of its past three games, all wins, which is more than a weird pattern: The Cardinals rapid return to a top-25 kenpom.com offensive efficiency rating in Chris Macks first year has put them in the thick of the ACC race and stressed out teams that that didnt sign up for a game in the 80s. Louisville is riding sophomore Jordan Nworas breakout year (18.5 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game), and the 68 forward looks more than comfortable shouldering a massive load. He has taken 100 more shots than anyone else on the team and hasnt slowed down now that defenses know to give him their full attention, dropping 32 on Boston College and 25 on Georgia Tech last week. Macks first squad is going to hang around that logjam atop the ACC. On a serious note, at 144, the Huskies just might be the best bet to get that automatic bid, or even possibly challenge for an at-large one should they not win the conference tournament. Washington has started Pac-12 play 50, though its schedule is about to ramp up considerably. But this is an experienced team (it has the nations No. 1 minutes continuity) that took Gonzaga to the wire in Spokane and is strong on the defensive end, where it's anchored by reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Matisse Thybulle. They say defense travels, and the Huskies have some solid offensive weapons as well, like Jaylen Nowell (16.7 points, 39.7% three-point shooting), Noah Dickerson (13.2 points, the nations second-best free throw rate) and David Crisp (38.1% three-point shooting). Arizona Why Fischer Is Buying In: After a 51 start in conference play, Arizona has returned to its annual perch atop the Pac-12. The Wildcats still trail Washington, and won't see the Huskies until Feb. 7, but Sean Miller's squad has certainly found its footing. Arizona has developed the 22nd-stingiest defense in the country, per kenpom, highlighted by limiting opponents to only 30.4% shooting from three. Chase Jeter has flourished at the center of the Wildcats' attack and defense. But Arizona has won seven of eight contests much in part to the team's top-four scorers all harboring the ability to shoulder an evening's load. That will be a tough combination to defeat in a suddenly lowly conference. Why Meyer Remains Skeptical: The entire Pac-12 is in sell territory, but Im not buying the fact that Arizona is a contender to win this downtrodden conference and make the NCAA tournament. This is not an efficient shooting team and the Wildcats dont have the size theyve been accustomed to in recent seasons. They really struggle against zone defenses, and a good amount of Pac-12 teams play zone. Arizona has scored fewer than 55 points in home losses to Baylor and Oregon, who both play, you guessed it, zone. My money is on Washington or Oregon State getting the conferences only NCAA tournament bid. Kansas State Why Woo Is Buying In: The case for K-States legitimacy is pretty straightforward: their core guys are upperclassmen who went to the Final Four last year, theyre still staunch defensively and have been one of the most consistent teams in a brutally tough Big 12. The regular season slog is about consistency, and as long as Barry Brown continues to be a tone-setter, the Wildcats are going to be able to hang around. They may not win the conference, but what theyre doing shouldnt come as a surprise. Why Shapiro Remains Skeptical: The Wildcats deserve nothing but praise after four straight victories since Jan. 9, including an upset victory over Iowa State in Ames. Though Id tap the breaks on Kansas State as contenders for the Big 12 crown. The Wildcats sit 177th in offensive efficiency, per kenpom, lacking significant scoring punch. This is a veteran squad with NCAA tournament pedigree. But a top-three finish in the Big 12 would surprise me. Ole Miss Why Single Remains Skeptical: We were wrong that the Rebels would be one of the SECs worst teams in year one under Kermit Davis, but the back-to-back wins over ranked Auburn and Mississippi State teams that capped their 10-game winning streak (the programs longest in 11 years) may prove to be this groups ceiling. The 14-point home loss to a long and athletic LSU team that stopped that streak last week reinforced the importance of sophomore point guard Devontae Shuler, who had been the No. 3 scoring option behind Breein Tyree, and Terence Davis has cooled off while playing through a stress fracture in his foot. Ole Miss has enough winnable games down the stretchand only one meeting each with Tennessee and Kentucky, both in Oxfordto put it in great position for an NCAA tournament bid, but come March expect the first top-tier team the Rebels cross to expose how far they still have to go.

Villanova, Maryland, Syracuse, Marquette and Ole Miss are among the teams that have had a strong start to the season. Each writer has a different take on whether these teams are for real or just a fluke at this point in the season, but they're all in the mix.

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https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2019/01/22/villanova-maryland-syracuse-arizona-louisville-hoops

What's The Outlook Like For Schlumberger?

Schlumberger, the largest oilfield services provider, published its Q4 2018 results on Friday, posting revenues that beat market expectations, while earnings were largely in line with street estimates. However, the companys outlook for 2019 remains somewhat mixed, amid weak oil prices and uncertainty relating to spending by oil and gas operators in North America, which has been a big driver of production growth in recent years. Below, we take a look at what lies ahead for the company in 2019. Activity Likely To Slow Down In U.S. Schlumberger noted that the recent decline in oil prices (down by almost 30% since October) has caused a lot of uncertainty surrounding E&P spending by oil and gas companies for 2019. Activity in the on-shore U.S. market in particular could be impacted, as operators look to better align their investments to their free cash flows, hurting drilling and production activity. U.S. players are likely to focus spending on their sizable inventory of drilled but uncompleted wells rather than drilling new ones, reducing drilling-related spends. Moreover, the higher cost of capital and lower borrowing capacity in an increasing interest rate environment could also hurt spending. That said, things could be better in the international market, where Schlumberger expects to post mid-single-digit growth over the first half of the year, driven by new projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. CapEx Cuts And Potential Upside For Oil The company has indicated that it was largely sold out of high-end product lines and advanced technologies for the year, and its possible that this could enhance pricing power in some of these segments over the year. Schlumberger has indicated that it would be cutting its full-year capital expenditures for 2019 to between $1.5 billion and $1.7 billion, compared to $2.2 billion last year, and indicated that much of its spending is likely to be geared towards these high-end products. Moreover, there is a possibility that oil prices could pick up gradually over the year, driven by supply cuts by Russia and OPEC, and a possibility that the Trump Administration will tighten its sanctions on Iran, constraining its oil exports. Moreover, a potential settlement of the U.S.-China trade dispute could also help bolster prices. While we remain bullish on Schlumberger, we have reduced our price estimate for the company to about $55 per share (about 20% ahead of market price), down from $69 per share. This values the company at about 30x its projected 2019 EPS. Key changes to our valuation model include lower long-term growth rates for the drilling, production and reservoir characterization segments. for more details on the key drivers of the companys value. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own.

Schlumberger posted revenues that beat market expectations, while earnings were largely in line with street estimates. The company's outlook for 2019 remains somewhat mixed, amid weak oil prices and uncertainty relating to spending by oil and gas operators.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/01/22/whats-the-outlook-like-for-schlumberger/

What's The Outlook Like For Schlumberger?

Schlumberger, the largest oilfield services provider, published its Q4 2018 results on Friday, posting revenues that beat market expectations, while earnings were largely in line with street estimates. However, the companys outlook for 2019 remains somewhat mixed, amid weak oil prices and uncertainty relating to spending by oil and gas operators in North America, which has been a big driver of production growth in recent years. Below, we take a look at what lies ahead for the company in 2019. Activity Likely To Slow Down In U.S. Schlumberger noted that the recent decline in oil prices (down by almost 30% since October) has caused a lot of uncertainty surrounding E&P spending by oil and gas companies for 2019. Activity in the on-shore U.S. market in particular could be impacted, as operators look to better align their investments to their free cash flows, hurting drilling and production activity. U.S. players are likely to focus spending on their sizable inventory of drilled but uncompleted wells rather than drilling new ones, reducing drilling-related spends. Moreover, the higher cost of capital and lower borrowing capacity in an increasing interest rate environment could also hurt spending. That said, things could be better in the international market, where Schlumberger expects to post mid-single-digit growth over the first half of the year, driven by new projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. CapEx Cuts And Potential Upside For Oil The company has indicated that it was largely sold out of high-end product lines and advanced technologies for the year, and its possible that this could enhance pricing power in some of these segments over the year. Schlumberger has indicated that it would be cutting its full-year capital expenditures for 2019 to between $1.5 billion and $1.7 billion, compared to $2.2 billion last year, and indicated that much of its spending is likely to be geared towards these high-end products. Moreover, there is a possibility that oil prices could pick up gradually over the year, driven by supply cuts by Russia and OPEC, and a possibility that the Trump Administration will tighten its sanctions on Iran, constraining its oil exports. Moreover, a potential settlement of the U.S.-China trade dispute could also help bolster prices. While we remain bullish on Schlumberger, we have reduced our price estimate for the company to about $55 per share (about 20% ahead of market price), down from $69 per share. This values the company at about 30x its projected 2019 EPS. Key changes to our valuation model include lower long-term growth rates for the drilling, production and reservoir characterization segments. for more details on the key drivers of the companys value. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own.

Schlumberger published its Q4 2018 results on Friday, posting revenues that beat market expectations. However, the companys outlook for 2019 remains somewhat mixed, amid weak oil prices and uncertainty relating to spending by oil and gas operators in North America.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/01/22/whats-the-outlook-like-for-schlumberger/

Are Investors Finally Starting To Care About Social Impact?

In the investing world, there's always a hot new narrative. The narrative typically takes the form of an innovative product, a sector rotation or an "inevitable" theme. One narrative that I've been particularly interested in for the past couple of years is that of ESG investing. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is the discipline of investing for financial return without sacrificing for social impact. You have likely come across different terms and acronyms that mean pretty much the same thing: Sustainable Responsible Impact (SRI), Strategic Sustainable Investing (SSI) and Impact Investing, just to name a few. If the acronym seems vague, and maybe even a little arbitrary, it's because it is. While the potential for this investing theme to become a dominant narrative makes sense - after all, who wouldn't want to make money AND save the environment, there are a few key hurdles that have made ESG solutions more about potential than impact. The Pitfalls: First, the measuring of the ethical impact that a single company can have on society and/or the environment is not only a pretty daunting task but also one that is very personal. For some industries, such as tobacco or gun producers it's pretty straightforward, but for others, it can be a pretty slippery slope. What's important to one person may not even be on the ethical radar of another, and this makes standardization of products extremely difficult. The entire premise of ESG is based on the view that you can have both financial and moral returns. That you can make money without sacrificing for your own values by financially supporting companies that are adopting practices that you deem questionable. But if no businesses are without some questionable practice across their entire operations than the addressable universe of companies to invest in becomes zero. While the example is extreme, the fact remains that ESG is about both the investor allocating dollars and the companies they invest in adhering to a new world where sustainability and social impact matter. This seems like a classic 'chicken or the egg' problem; investors won't sacrifice returns in any scale and companies will operate to maximize shareholder value. But more so, it's a cycle that can only be broken by investor demands on companies, in scale, through intermediary and institutional channels. I'm picking now to write about a topic that I've been following for years because I believe that it's actually starting to happen. : William Blair recently published a piece examing how sustainable Sustainable Investing actually is. One of the more interesting elements of the report is a chart highlighting the five top annual priorities for corporate executive over the last ten years. What you'll see in the chart is a very clear shift from predominantly economic concerns in 2008 to predominantly environmental, societal and geopolitical concerns in 2018. These executive concerns shape corporate strategy and action thereby more clearly defining both the universe of ESG investable companies and through the benefit of comparison, what ESG means on a broader level. The below chart takes a look at how financial advisors and institutional investors are engaging with ESG related investment content across Harvest. It's measuring how likely the people allocating the largest sums of investment dollars are to be interested in reading ESG related investment insights across the platform. This is a meaningful increase in engagement, especially considering that there was no meaningful change in the volume of ESG content available nor other extraneous factors. We can see similar trends when looking at Harvest's measures of absolute interest for ESG and Impact Investing related content. The next charts measures change in absolute interest in ESG related content across financial advisors and institutional asset owners. In the fourth quarter of 2018 financial advisors were 132% more interested in ESG and asset owners 195% when compared to the first quarter. While the increase is large, what stands out the most in the chart is the steady rate of interest growth. This indicates more of a fundamental shift than an interest spike around a specific catalyst. As a result, we can have more confidence that the ESG narrative has some legs. : As wealth continues to shift to a younger, and perhaps more socially conscious investor base, the need for ESG focused investment solutions will continue to increase. Correspondingly, the advisors and asset owners investing this wealth must have ESG solutions that fit the specific needs of their client base and constituents. Finally, I believe that we will continue to see more overt examples of companies adhering their corporate governance to sustainability efforts, which in turn should make it easier to normalize data around which companies best adhere to ESG practices.

Investors are finally starting to care about environmental, social and governance (ESG) ESG is the discipline of investing for financial return without sacrificing for social impact.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhans/2019/01/22/are-investors-finally-starting-to-care-about-social-impact/

Are Investors Finally Starting To Care About Social Impact?

In the investing world, there's always a hot new narrative. The narrative typically takes the form of an innovative product, a sector rotation or an "inevitable" theme. One narrative that I've been particularly interested in for the past couple of years is that of ESG investing. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is the discipline of investing for financial return without sacrificing for social impact. You have likely come across different terms and acronyms that mean pretty much the same thing: Sustainable Responsible Impact (SRI), Strategic Sustainable Investing (SSI) and Impact Investing, just to name a few. If the acronym seems vague, and maybe even a little arbitrary, it's because it is. While the potential for this investing theme to become a dominant narrative makes sense - after all, who wouldn't want to make money AND save the environment, there are a few key hurdles that have made ESG solutions more about potential than impact. The Pitfalls: First, the measuring of the ethical impact that a single company can have on society and/or the environment is not only a pretty daunting task but also one that is very personal. For some industries, such as tobacco or gun producers it's pretty straightforward, but for others, it can be a pretty slippery slope. What's important to one person may not even be on the ethical radar of another, and this makes standardization of products extremely difficult. The entire premise of ESG is based on the view that you can have both financial and moral returns. That you can make money without sacrificing for your own values by financially supporting companies that are adopting practices that you deem questionable. But if no businesses are without some questionable practice across their entire operations than the addressable universe of companies to invest in becomes zero. While the example is extreme, the fact remains that ESG is about both the investor allocating dollars and the companies they invest in adhering to a new world where sustainability and social impact matter. This seems like a classic 'chicken or the egg' problem; investors won't sacrifice returns in any scale and companies will operate to maximize shareholder value. But more so, it's a cycle that can only be broken by investor demands on companies, in scale, through intermediary and institutional channels. I'm picking now to write about a topic that I've been following for years because I believe that it's actually starting to happen. : William Blair recently published a piece examing how sustainable Sustainable Investing actually is. One of the more interesting elements of the report is a chart highlighting the five top annual priorities for corporate executive over the last ten years. What you'll see in the chart is a very clear shift from predominantly economic concerns in 2008 to predominantly environmental, societal and geopolitical concerns in 2018. These executive concerns shape corporate strategy and action thereby more clearly defining both the universe of ESG investable companies and through the benefit of comparison, what ESG means on a broader level. The below chart takes a look at how financial advisors and institutional investors are engaging with ESG related investment content across Harvest. It's measuring how likely the people allocating the largest sums of investment dollars are to be interested in reading ESG related investment insights across the platform. This is a meaningful increase in engagement, especially considering that there was no meaningful change in the volume of ESG content available nor other extraneous factors. We can see similar trends when looking at Harvest's measures of absolute interest for ESG and Impact Investing related content. The next charts measures change in absolute interest in ESG related content across financial advisors and institutional asset owners. In the fourth quarter of 2018 financial advisors were 132% more interested in ESG and asset owners 195% when compared to the first quarter. While the increase is large, what stands out the most in the chart is the steady rate of interest growth. This indicates more of a fundamental shift than an interest spike around a specific catalyst. As a result, we can have more confidence that the ESG narrative has some legs. : As wealth continues to shift to a younger, and perhaps more socially conscious investor base, the need for ESG focused investment solutions will continue to increase. Correspondingly, the advisors and asset owners investing this wealth must have ESG solutions that fit the specific needs of their client base and constituents. Finally, I believe that we will continue to see more overt examples of companies adhering their corporate governance to sustainability efforts, which in turn should make it easier to normalize data around which companies best adhere to ESG practices.

Investors are finally starting to care about environmental, social and Governance (ESG) ESG is the discipline of investing for financial return without sacrificing for social impact. There are a few key hurdles that have made ESG solutions more about potential than impact.

ctrlsum

https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhans/2019/01/22/are-investors-finally-starting-to-care-about-social-impact/

Can the NFL game be properly officiated anymore?

The counter-argument has been the same for years now: We bystanders couldnt possibly fathom what its like to officiate an NFL game. The needs are almost impossiblemental dexterity to associate a piece of legislative minutiae from the leagues 89-page rule book with a millisecond-long flashpoint in a game played by the fastest and strongest people on earth, years of expertise to properly position yourself for an adequate view without railroading the play in progress and fortitude to trust your instincts and announce the findings to a stadium packed with tens of thousands of disgruntled fans. For the most part, its a functional comeback. The reasonable among us can deduce that officials have only become a consistent sponge for our misgivings after the advent of high-definition replay and the 600-camera broadcastall of which now feature a former referee whos paid to criticize the very thing he spent years trying to tell us was so difficult to do. Go back and watch a 1994 Bengals-Oilers tilt under the same microscope and gasp at the myriad crimes against officiating youd uncover. On Sunday, I watched from a perch about 100 yards away as Rams Nickell Robey-Coleman demolished Saints Tommylee Lewis while the ball was still in the air and not get flagged for either of the two infractions he committed on the playpass interference and a helmet-to-helmet collision. Both were evident even from my vantage point, where the players were about the size of pocket chess pieces. The call cost the Saints a chance at a first down inside the Rams five-yard line, and an opportunity to whittle most of the remaining 1:45 off the clock. A touchdown could have effectively end the game depending on the remaining time. Instead, New Orleans kicked a field goal, allowed Los Angeles to do the same on their next drive and lost in overtime. I stood next to Robey-Coleman in the locker room after the game, and watched as he saw the play for the first time on another reporters cell phone. He laughed, grabbed him by the arm and shoulder and said: Aw hell yeah, that was [pass interference]. He admitted that it was a busted coverage, and he simply whacked [Lewiss] ass to keep him out of the end zone. I did my part, Robey-Coleman said. The referee made that call. We respect it. Players have never been faster. Almost every team has the ability and incentive to dramatically alter their tempo frequently. Plays themselves are so often designed to deceive the defense and create incidental contact that borders on illegality. And, underneath it all, referees must balance a Bible-sized tome of rules and clarifications against the fact that owners want a streamlined product that doesnt lag, or adversely affect their most popular players. There are, it seems, as many unwritten rules to follow as the ones laid out in black and white. Well never know, as officials are cloistered like monks in an abbey. Vinovichs responses to a pool reporter after the Saints game were about as illuminating as instructions to build . Even after everything, the counter argument is still valid. Of course the lay person couldnt officiate an NFL game with any degree of accuracy. Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.

Referees can't officiate an NFL game with any degree of accuracy.

ctrlsum

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/22/nfl-officiating-saints-rams-missed-call-pass-interference-playoffs-super-bowl

Can the NFL game be properly officiated anymore?

The counter-argument has been the same for years now: We bystanders couldnt possibly fathom what its like to officiate an NFL game. The needs are almost impossiblemental dexterity to associate a piece of legislative minutiae from the leagues 89-page rule book with a millisecond-long flashpoint in a game played by the fastest and strongest people on earth, years of expertise to properly position yourself for an adequate view without railroading the play in progress and fortitude to trust your instincts and announce the findings to a stadium packed with tens of thousands of disgruntled fans. For the most part, its a functional comeback. The reasonable among us can deduce that officials have only become a consistent sponge for our misgivings after the advent of high-definition replay and the 600-camera broadcastall of which now feature a former referee whos paid to criticize the very thing he spent years trying to tell us was so difficult to do. Go back and watch a 1994 Bengals-Oilers tilt under the same microscope and gasp at the myriad crimes against officiating youd uncover. On Sunday, I watched from a perch about 100 yards away as Rams Nickell Robey-Coleman demolished Saints Tommylee Lewis while the ball was still in the air and not get flagged for either of the two infractions he committed on the playpass interference and a helmet-to-helmet collision. Both were evident even from my vantage point, where the players were about the size of pocket chess pieces. The call cost the Saints a chance at a first down inside the Rams five-yard line, and an opportunity to whittle most of the remaining 1:45 off the clock. A touchdown could have effectively end the game depending on the remaining time. Instead, New Orleans kicked a field goal, allowed Los Angeles to do the same on their next drive and lost in overtime. I stood next to Robey-Coleman in the locker room after the game, and watched as he saw the play for the first time on another reporters cell phone. He laughed, grabbed him by the arm and shoulder and said: Aw hell yeah, that was [pass interference]. He admitted that it was a busted coverage, and he simply whacked [Lewiss] ass to keep him out of the end zone. I did my part, Robey-Coleman said. The referee made that call. We respect it. Players have never been faster. Almost every team has the ability and incentive to dramatically alter their tempo frequently. Plays themselves are so often designed to deceive the defense and create incidental contact that borders on illegality. And, underneath it all, referees must balance a Bible-sized tome of rules and clarifications against the fact that owners want a streamlined product that doesnt lag, or adversely affect their most popular players. There are, it seems, as many unwritten rules to follow as the ones laid out in black and white. Well never know, as officials are cloistered like monks in an abbey. Vinovichs responses to a pool reporter after the Saints game were about as illuminating as instructions to build . Even after everything, the counter argument is still valid. Of course the lay person couldnt officiate an NFL game with any degree of accuracy. Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.

Referees can't officiate an NFL game with any degree of accuracy. Players have never been faster, and there are as many unwritten rules as there are black and white.

ctrlsum

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/22/nfl-officiating-saints-rams-missed-call-pass-interference-playoffs-super-bowl

Can the NFL game be properly officiated anymore?

The counter-argument has been the same for years now: We bystanders couldnt possibly fathom what its like to officiate an NFL game. The needs are almost impossiblemental dexterity to associate a piece of legislative minutiae from the leagues 89-page rule book with a millisecond-long flashpoint in a game played by the fastest and strongest people on earth, years of expertise to properly position yourself for an adequate view without railroading the play in progress and fortitude to trust your instincts and announce the findings to a stadium packed with tens of thousands of disgruntled fans. For the most part, its a functional comeback. The reasonable among us can deduce that officials have only become a consistent sponge for our misgivings after the advent of high-definition replay and the 600-camera broadcastall of which now feature a former referee whos paid to criticize the very thing he spent years trying to tell us was so difficult to do. Go back and watch a 1994 Bengals-Oilers tilt under the same microscope and gasp at the myriad crimes against officiating youd uncover. On Sunday, I watched from a perch about 100 yards away as Rams Nickell Robey-Coleman demolished Saints Tommylee Lewis while the ball was still in the air and not get flagged for either of the two infractions he committed on the playpass interference and a helmet-to-helmet collision. Both were evident even from my vantage point, where the players were about the size of pocket chess pieces. The call cost the Saints a chance at a first down inside the Rams five-yard line, and an opportunity to whittle most of the remaining 1:45 off the clock. A touchdown could have effectively end the game depending on the remaining time. Instead, New Orleans kicked a field goal, allowed Los Angeles to do the same on their next drive and lost in overtime. I stood next to Robey-Coleman in the locker room after the game, and watched as he saw the play for the first time on another reporters cell phone. He laughed, grabbed him by the arm and shoulder and said: Aw hell yeah, that was [pass interference]. He admitted that it was a busted coverage, and he simply whacked [Lewiss] ass to keep him out of the end zone. I did my part, Robey-Coleman said. The referee made that call. We respect it. Players have never been faster. Almost every team has the ability and incentive to dramatically alter their tempo frequently. Plays themselves are so often designed to deceive the defense and create incidental contact that borders on illegality. And, underneath it all, referees must balance a Bible-sized tome of rules and clarifications against the fact that owners want a streamlined product that doesnt lag, or adversely affect their most popular players. There are, it seems, as many unwritten rules to follow as the ones laid out in black and white. Well never know, as officials are cloistered like monks in an abbey. Vinovichs responses to a pool reporter after the Saints game were about as illuminating as instructions to build . Even after everything, the counter argument is still valid. Of course the lay person couldnt officiate an NFL game with any degree of accuracy. Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.

Referees can't officiate an NFL game with any degree of accuracy. Players have never been faster, and there are as many unwritten rules to follow as the ones laid out in black and white. Refs have become a consistent sponge for our misgivings after the advent of high-definition replay and the 600-camera broadcast.

ctrlsum

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/22/nfl-officiating-saints-rams-missed-call-pass-interference-playoffs-super-bowl

What Are The Signs Of High Blood Pressure?

originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Heres what you need to know about what to look for, along with expert tips on monitoring your blood pressure at home. Your blood pressure rises and falls naturally throughout the day. However, if it stays high for a long period of time, it can damage your heart and cause a number of health conditions, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects about one in three adults in the United States, but many people dont know they have it. In most cases, high blood pressure has no warning signs or symptoms. Its called the silent killer because, all too often, there are no signs or symptoms that you have a potentially dangerous health condition. Sweating, feeling flush, nervousness and difficulty sleeping are actually myths and not real signs that your blood pressure is high. The only exception is when you have extremely high blood pressure, known as a hypertensive crisis, where your blood pressure rises well above normal. If your blood pressure is unusually high and you are having nosebleeds and severe headaches, its a medical emergency and you should get to a hospital immediately. Barring these symptoms, the only way to confirm whether you have high blood pressure is to get it measured, and the best way to do this is to visit your doctor for a professional assessment. If your blood pressure is too high, your doctor may recommend monitoring it at home as a way to keep tabs on your blood pressure goals. But before you rush out and buy a home blood pressure monitor, there are some things to keep in mind, says Helga Van Herle, MD, a cardiologist at Keck Medicine of USC and associate professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC: 1. Digital monitors are the easiest to use correctly. They are also often covered by health insurance if your doctor prescribes it. 2. Talk to your doctor before choosing a machine. If youre going to embark on home blood pressure monitoring, its important to discuss the different types of devices, as well as the how to actually use them, with your health care provider, Dr. Van Herle says. 3. Wrist and finger monitors are difficult to use correctly. These kinds of monitors are not recommended by the American Heart Association because results are often inaccurate. 4. Several devices can integrate with a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device. This allows you to keep accurate records that can be shared with your doctor. 5. Choosing the right cuff size is critical. Readings can be extremely inaccurate if you choose the wrong size. 6. Once you buy your monitor, bring it to your next doctors visit. In my practice, I usually ask patients to bring in their monitor and show me how they use it, Dr. Van Herle says. Then I calibrate their device with a manual blood pressure reading done concurrently in the office. If you find that you have ongoing high blood pressure, work with your health care team to make healthy lifestyle changes and/or choose appropriate medications. Consulting with a cardiologist can be helpful for people whose blood pressure isnt being controlled by medications, who are pregnant or who have been hospitalized with a hypertensive crisis. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions:

High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects about one in three adults in the United States. In most cases, high blood pressure has no warning signs or symptoms. Sweating, feeling flush, nervousness and difficulty sleeping are actually myths and not real signs that your blood pressure is high. Choosing the right cuff size is critical.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/22/what-are-the-signs-of-high-blood-pressure/

Are Millennials More Financially Responsible Than We Thought?

Millennials tend to get a bad rap when it comes to being financially responsible. (Avocado toast, anyone?) The reality, however, is that they're doing a pretty decent job of keeping their spending in check. The average millennial spends $2,164.99 a month, or $25,979.88 a year, according to data from Ally Financial. But when we compare millennial spending to that of the average American, the numbers don't paint such an unfavorable picture for younger adults. Consider this: The average millennial spends $325.44 a month on food. The average American, meanwhile, spends $600.25. Furthermore, millennials spend an average of $426.73 on housing, whereas the average American spends $1,573. Young couple using laptop on a couch. More IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES. Of course, part of the reason why millennials might spend less than Americans across all age groups is that they earn less. Still, let's not gloss over the fact that while 60% of all U.S. adults have less than $1,000 in savings, 45% of millennials are actively saving for emergencies like medical bills, car problems, or home repairs. And that's not the only thing they're saving for. A good 41% are setting money aside for retirement despite the fact that it's decades away. And another 41% are socking away cash in the hopes of putting a down payment on a home. Clearly, millennials are doing a decent job of not overspending and saving some of their income. And Americans across all age groups should really aim to follow suit. Getting your financial house in order If you're currently maxing out the bulk of your paycheck and have little to no money set aside for emergencies, retirement, or other goals, it's time to realign your priorities. First, create a budget. It'll help you see where your money is going so you can identify ways to cut back on spending if necessary. And make no mistake about it: If you're unable to consistently save at least 15% of your paycheck, it means you're spending too much. Next, take steps to automate your savings so that your newly freed-up cash goes where it needs to go. If you don't have money in a traditional savings account to cover unplanned bills, your first goal should be to amass enough cash to cover at least three months' worth of living expenses, and ideally, more like six months' worth. To that end, set up a direct transfer so that part of your earnings are sent into savings until you've reached your goals. Once that's in place, you can focus on other key objectives, like retirement. If your employer offers a 401(k) plan, signing up for it is a great way to ensure that your money gets put away for the future. Otherwise, find an IRA with an automatic savings feature, and arrange to have part of each paycheck land there month after month. Of course, millennials aren't off the hook in this regard. While an estimated 82% are saving in some capacity, that means 18% are maxing out their paychecks rather than managing to put money away. Still, the fact that most younger workers are building up a safety net, nest egg, or home down payment is impressive in its own right. They say that with age comes wisdom, and if that's right, millennials are clearly ahead of their time. If you're among the majority of millennials who are saving money and spending in a relatively modest fashion, keep up the good work. And if not, pledge to do better -- whether you're part of the millennial generation or not. More From The Motley Fool The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Millennials tend to get a bad rap when it comes to being financially responsible. The average millennial spends $2,164.99 a month, or $25,979.

pegasus

https://news.yahoo.com/millennials-more-financially-responsible-thought-174800261.html

Can panic alarms save women in Mexico City?

BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Victims of domestic abuse in Mexico City will be given panic alarms as part of government efforts to combat growing rates of violence against women in a country where on average more than seven women are killed by men every day. Authorities aim to hand out key rings with a global positioning system (GPS) tracking device and panic alarm buttons to 128 women, mostly aged 30 to 40, who have suffered domestic abuse, including those living with their aggressor, in a first-of-its kind initiative in the capital. Mexico has one of the worlds highest rates of femicide - the killing of a woman by a man because of her gender - according to the United Nations. Victims of femicide often have a long history of domestic violence, and perpetrators are often current or former partners, with many killings taking place in or near the home. It is hoped the use of panic buttons can help prevent femicides by allowing women to quickly alert the police and allow them to track down and respond to incidents of violence. They are victims mainly of domestic violence, at the hands of their partner, Nelly Montealegre, an assistant prosecutor at the Mexico City Attorney Generals Office told local media on Monday. In these cases, the aggressors control what they do, their mobile phones ... they follow them, spy on them, call them constantly and leave threatening messages, Montealegre said. Some of the women have previously received threats from their partners using guns and knives, she said. Last year, 760 women were victims of femicide across Mexico, up from 407 in 2015, and more than three women were killed in the capital alone every day, government figures show. Violence is driven by Mexicos macho culture, which tends to blame women for the violence inflicted on them and to condone it, along with low conviction rates for gender crimes, experts say. A 2018 poll by the Thomson Reuters Foundation ranked Mexico City as the most dangerous transport system for women out of five cities surveyed. It found about three in every four women the capital were not confident about using the transport system without the risk of sexual harassment and abuse or sexual violence. Mexico Citys first elected female mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office last month, has said eradicating gender violence is a top priority. Sheinbaum has pledged to increase the number of prosecutors handling femicide and domestic violence cases to get more convictions for such crimes, and make it easier for women to report violence against them. Panic buttons connected to the police are being used by women in other countries, including Brazil, the UK and Canada. In 2017, the Indian government required all mobile phones sold in India to have a panic button enabling women to call for help.

Mexico has one of the worlds highest rates of femicide - the killing of a woman by a man because of her gender. Authorities aim to hand out key rings with GPS tracking device and panic alarm buttons.

bart

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-women-murders/can-panic-alarms-save-women-in-mexico-city-idUSKCN1PG26E

Can panic alarms save women in Mexico City?

BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Victims of domestic abuse in Mexico City will be given panic alarms as part of government efforts to combat growing rates of violence against women in a country where on average more than seven women are killed by men every day. Authorities aim to hand out key rings with a global positioning system (GPS) tracking device and panic alarm buttons to 128 women, mostly aged 30 to 40, who have suffered domestic abuse, including those living with their aggressor, in a first-of-its kind initiative in the capital. Mexico has one of the worlds highest rates of femicide - the killing of a woman by a man because of her gender - according to the United Nations. Victims of femicide often have a long history of domestic violence, and perpetrators are often current or former partners, with many killings taking place in or near the home. It is hoped the use of panic buttons can help prevent femicides by allowing women to quickly alert the police and allow them to track down and respond to incidents of violence. They are victims mainly of domestic violence, at the hands of their partner, Nelly Montealegre, an assistant prosecutor at the Mexico City Attorney Generals Office told local media on Monday. In these cases, the aggressors control what they do, their mobile phones ... they follow them, spy on them, call them constantly and leave threatening messages, Montealegre said. Some of the women have previously received threats from their partners using guns and knives, she said. Last year, 760 women were victims of femicide across Mexico, up from 407 in 2015, and more than three women were killed in the capital alone every day, government figures show. Violence is driven by Mexicos macho culture, which tends to blame women for the violence inflicted on them and to condone it, along with low conviction rates for gender crimes, experts say. A 2018 poll by the Thomson Reuters Foundation ranked Mexico City as the most dangerous transport system for women out of five cities surveyed. It found about three in every four women the capital were not confident about using the transport system without the risk of sexual harassment and abuse or sexual violence. Mexico Citys first elected female mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office last month, has said eradicating gender violence is a top priority. Sheinbaum has pledged to increase the number of prosecutors handling femicide and domestic violence cases to get more convictions for such crimes, and make it easier for women to report violence against them. Panic buttons connected to the police are being used by women in other countries, including Brazil, the UK and Canada. In 2017, the Indian government required all mobile phones sold in India to have a panic button enabling women to call for help.

Mexico has one of the worlds highest rates of femicide - the killing of a woman by a man because of her gender. On average more than seven women are killed by men every day in Mexico. Authorities aim to hand out key rings with a global positioning system (GPS) tracking device and panic alarm buttons to 128 women.

pegasus

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-women-murders/can-panic-alarms-save-women-in-mexico-city-idUSKCN1PG26E

Where were adults during confrontation between students and protesters in Washington D.C.?

In this Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 image made from video provided by the Survival Media Agency, a teenager wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat, center left, stands in front of an elderly Native American singing and playing a drum in Washington. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington in Kentucky is looking into this and other videos that show youths, possibly from the diocese's all-male Covington Catholic High School, mocking Native Americans at a rally in Washington. There were at least five chaperones in front of the Lincoln Memorial with the 150 or so students when the incident happened, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Monday. None stopped the students as they confronted African-American protesters who had shouted slurs at them. Nor did they step in when the students surrounded an elderly Native American man and mocked his singing, a few students making what appeared to be a demeaning tomahawk chop motion. The man, Nathan Phillips, said later he had stepped between the students and the other group to defuse the tension. Butit wasnt his responsibility. It was the chaperones job. The last time I chaperoned a school field trip, in April 2014, I left for the Musical Instrument Museum with 10 students and came back with 10. Mission accomplished. (Photo: Karina Bland/The Republic) As a parent, Ive chaperoned plenty ofschool trips. The last time, I lined up the 10 students assigned to me before we got on the bus and told them that while this trip waseducational and fun, it also was about making me look good. Their behavior would reflect on me. So don't do anything stupid. They agreed. Most of the time, chaperoning a school trip is easy duty. But it comes with the responsibility of making sure students are safe. The Covington chaperones didnt do that. According to student accounts, a chaperone gave them the OK to shout school-pride chants to counter the hateful things shouted at them. This wasnt a time for school pride. It was a moment to swallow that pride and walk away. In one video, a chaperone tells the young men to move back. The woman suggested the students stop arguing. Youre not going to change their minds, she said. It wasnt enough. The students left quickly enough when it was time to board the buses. Its a call the chaperones should have made sooner. Reach Bland at karina.bland@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8614. Read more at karinabland.azcentral.com. Click here to subscribe to azcentral.com. Go to connect.azcentral.com for a staff list, for more information about the newsroom and for details about upcoming events. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/karinabland/2019/01/22/chaperones-covington-confrontation-broke-first-rule-chaperoning/2647198002/

There were at least five chaperones in front of the Lincoln Memorial with the 150 or so students when the incident happened. None stopped the students as they confronted African-American protesters who had shouted slurs at them.

pegasus

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/karinabland/2019/01/22/chaperones-covington-confrontation-broke-first-rule-chaperoning/2647198002/

Where were adults during confrontation between students and protesters in Washington D.C.?

In this Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 image made from video provided by the Survival Media Agency, a teenager wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat, center left, stands in front of an elderly Native American singing and playing a drum in Washington. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington in Kentucky is looking into this and other videos that show youths, possibly from the diocese's all-male Covington Catholic High School, mocking Native Americans at a rally in Washington. There were at least five chaperones in front of the Lincoln Memorial with the 150 or so students when the incident happened, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Monday. None stopped the students as they confronted African-American protesters who had shouted slurs at them. Nor did they step in when the students surrounded an elderly Native American man and mocked his singing, a few students making what appeared to be a demeaning tomahawk chop motion. The man, Nathan Phillips, said later he had stepped between the students and the other group to defuse the tension. Butit wasnt his responsibility. It was the chaperones job. The last time I chaperoned a school field trip, in April 2014, I left for the Musical Instrument Museum with 10 students and came back with 10. Mission accomplished. (Photo: Karina Bland/The Republic) As a parent, Ive chaperoned plenty ofschool trips. The last time, I lined up the 10 students assigned to me before we got on the bus and told them that while this trip waseducational and fun, it also was about making me look good. Their behavior would reflect on me. So don't do anything stupid. They agreed. Most of the time, chaperoning a school trip is easy duty. But it comes with the responsibility of making sure students are safe. The Covington chaperones didnt do that. According to student accounts, a chaperone gave them the OK to shout school-pride chants to counter the hateful things shouted at them. This wasnt a time for school pride. It was a moment to swallow that pride and walk away. In one video, a chaperone tells the young men to move back. The woman suggested the students stop arguing. Youre not going to change their minds, she said. It wasnt enough. The students left quickly enough when it was time to board the buses. Its a call the chaperones should have made sooner. Reach Bland at karina.bland@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8614. Read more at karinabland.azcentral.com. Click here to subscribe to azcentral.com. Go to connect.azcentral.com for a staff list, for more information about the newsroom and for details about upcoming events. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/karinabland/2019/01/22/chaperones-covington-confrontation-broke-first-rule-chaperoning/2647198002/

There were at least five chaperones in front of the Lincoln Memorial with the 150 or so students when the incident happened. None stopped the students as they confronted African-American protesters who had shouted slurs at them. According to student accounts, a chaperone gave them the OK to shout school-pride chants to counter the hateful things shouted at them.

pegasus

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/karinabland/2019/01/22/chaperones-covington-confrontation-broke-first-rule-chaperoning/2647198002/

Could The Socialists United Of Venezuela Finally Be Falling Apart?

Venezuela is officially a dictatorship. The Organization of American States does not recognize Nicolas Maduro as its president. Nor does nearly all of Latin America, with the exception of maybe three governments: Cuba, Bolivia, and Nicaragua. If the ruling Socialists United of Venezuela (PSUV) has nine lives, theyre lived eight of them. Vice President Mike Pence released a video message on Tuesday in support of the Venezuelan opposition and recent protests in Caracas. He also called Maduro a dictator, meaning Washington now views this guy through a 1980s Cold War lens. Everyone except those three aforementioned countries now recognize National Assembly president Juan Guaid as the democratically elected leader of the country. He has been leading rallies nationwide in an effort to galvanize public support to oust PSUV from power. Guaidos National Assembly is the equivalent of the U.S. Congress. Hes their Nancy Pelosi. Only that body of government was stripped of its powers by PSUV roughly two years ago to form a so-called Constituent Assembly of leftist PSUV yes men and yes women who continue to run Venezuela into the ground. Against all odds, over the last 10 to 12 days, weve seen a growing sense of enthusiasm, said Dimitris Pantaoulas, a Caracas-based political analyst and consultant was quoted saying in todays Miami Herald. Guaido as an opposition leader is relatively new, and you cant say that his positions are particularly clear ... but hes become a symbol of hope and energy. See: Desperate Venezuelans Demand Change The Miami Herald A group of rank-and-file members of the National Guard published a video on social media calling for protests. For Maduro and PSUV, this is a coup attempt, and they will see the CIA lurking everywhere. People, by and large, supported the soldiers and rejected Maduro, a leader who has given them six-digit hyperinflation and useless currency. The protests this week were not widespread, however, allowing the military to squash them. However, these events provide further evidence of internal frictions within the armed forces and of the fragility of the PSUV government. There is an increasing possibility of regime change, although who will replace Maduro remains unclear. It could be another member of PSUV, trying to preserve the legacy of the party created by the late Hugo Chavez. Chavez oversaw an economy stoked on oil prices. When oil went from nearly $200 a barrel to $35, Venezuela imploded. The country is going broke. It survives on Russian and Chinese life support. When PSUV is gone, it will undoubtedly fall into the loving arms of the International Monetary Fund. Hugo Chavez would have died twice. Theres been a qualitative change in the antigovernment protests. The protests are not being led by some middle-class bourgeoisie with summer homes on Margarita Island and in Miami. Its happening in the low-income neighborhoods of Caracas where most people survive on government jobslike those in the security forcesor on some form of social welfare program. The poor are PSUVs base. They are starting to see the light. Protests in poor areas not only contradict the governments narrative but could be more difficult for the government to suppress, says Alejandro Arreaza, a Latin America economist at Barclays Capital in New York. The governments capacity to react is limited. Meanwhile, serious crackdowns on opposition leaders leading to jail time, or the police busting heads at tomorrows scheduled protest, will only embolden Washington against PSUV. So far, Trump has not declared Maduro a dictator or Guaido as the recognized leader of the country. Recent attacks against Guaido do not intimidate him. Those left in the country may start seeing in him someone who can get rid of PSUV, even if they are particularly fond of Guaido himself. His vocal opposition against Maduro has led to more participation at town halls and other events across the country, which suggests tomorrows protest could be the biggest one since the anti-Maduro protests from September 2016 to April 2017. Arreaza says this time is different. In the past, there have been periods of high internal pressure for PSUVs ouster but low external pressure. Venezuela was basically a nonstory in the foreign political press. Wall Street watched it because PdVSA bonds are a popular trade and always have been. Washington started pressuring the Maduro government in late 2017 and into 2018, but by then protests had died down and millions of Venezuelans had left the country. This time we have bothexternal pressure and internal pressure against PSUV. It could make political transition more likely, Arreaza says.

The ruling Socialists United of Venezuela (PSUV) has nine lives, and they've lived eight of them. There is an increasing possibility of regime change, although who will replace Maduro remains unclear. The protests this week were not widespread, but they provide further evidence of internal frictions within the armed forces.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2019/01/22/could-the-socialists-united-of-venezuela-finally-be-falling-apart/

Which GTA cities voted to opt-in to allow pot stores? Which ones opted out?

Brampton council voted to opt-in to allow private recreational cannabis retail stores within city limits at a special council meeting Monday. Brampton was one of the last GTA municipalities to make a decision ahead of the provincial governments Tuesday midnight deadline to opt-out. As of Tuesday morning, 248 municipalities across the province were listed on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario as opting in, while 71 have opted out, and the rest were still listed as unknown. ( METROLAND FILE PHOTO ) Municipalities can opt-in down the road, but once theyre in, they give up their right to opt-out again. As of Tuesday morning, 248 municipalities across the province were listed on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario as opting in, while 71 have opted out, and the rest were still listed as unknown. Those that do not notify the AGCO of their preference by the deadline will by default be considered to have opted in. The Ford government announced a phased approach to licensing there was a lottery for 25 initial retail cannabis licences in Ontario earlier in January. Of the 25 winning application spots, five are in Toronto and six in the rest of the GTA. Article Continued Below The purchase and use of recreational marijuana has been legal in Canada since Oct. 17. Toronto council voted 20-4 on Dec. 13 to opt-in, and allow privately owned, provincially regulated pot shops. A quick look at what the other GTA municipalities decided: PEEL REGION Brampton: Some of the concern among councillors allowing private recreational cannabis retail stores stemmed from the federal and provincial governments not fully funding expected policing and health-care costs. But according to Mayor Patrick Brown, if the city had opted out it will receive very little funding to offset those costs at all. I want to praise the Brampton city council for taking the time to do their due diligence, Brown told reporters ahead of the meeting Monday where council voted 8-3 in favour to opt-in. But when I look at the overall picture, 15 per cent of policing costs is still something. Fifteen per cent of policing costs is better than nothing. Right now, if we opt-in there is a potential for additional funding. If we opt-out, we get $2,500. Caledon: Council was unanimous in its vote Monday to opt-out, despite a survey showing residents were slightly in favour. Ward 1 Regional Councillor Ian Sinclair said he voted against opting in because of the privatization of the outlets the Ford government decided to support. I wouldnt have minded the LCBO store as a front, Sinclair said. They have experienced staff and a set of rules that are already proven. But we dont know whats going on in individual retail stores. Article Continued Below Mississauga: City council voted 10-2 in December to opt-out. Some councillors felt the municipality was being rushed into making a decision without any control or planning. I dont want Mississauga to be a guinea pig, Councillor Dipika Damerla said. I think were better off taking a prudent approach. HALTON REGION Burlington: Council voted on Jan. 14 to opt-in. Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, who put forward the motion, said the citys public consultation showed residents support retail cannabis, and there are many more citizens who voiced their support to her but are too nervous to put their names on the record. Halton Hills: Council voted 8-3 to opt-in on Monday. Milton: Council voted 6-2 in December to opt-out. Councillors hedged their position by directing staff to report back to council to reconsider opting out once more information on the issue becomes available, but no later than December 2019. Oakville: Council voted 14-1 on Jan. 14 to opt-out. The reasons councillors provided ranged from health concerns about cannabis to issues with the lack of control the municipality would have with regard to these stores. DURHAM REGION Ajax: Council voted 7-0 on Jan. 14 to opt-in. Despite the vote, Mayor Shaun Collier told council, The odds we are getting any location is very, very slim. Brock: Council voted to opt-in. Clarington: Council voted 4-3 in January to opt-in. Cannabis is a huge industry that will create jobs and help boost our economy, Mayor Adrian Foster said in a statement. Oshawa: Council voted 7-4 to opt-in on Jan. 17. Councillors heard from Aaron Switzer of the Ontario Retail Cannabis Accessory Coalition who estimated there was the potential for $6.3 million in cannabis sales annually in the city and said that was a hyper-conservative estimate. Pickering: Council voted 5-2 in December to opt-out. Scugog: City council voted 5-0 to opt-in on Monday. Uxbridge: Council voted 5-2 to opt-in on Monday. Whitby: Council voted 6-3 to opt-out Monday. YORK REGION Aurora: Council voted to opt-in on Monday. East Gwillimbury: Council voted to opt-out on Jan. 8. We should not be part of the first wave, said Ward 1 Councillor Loralea Carruthers, who supported the move to opt-out. If all goes well, we may want to be part of the second wave. If all doesnt go well, we may not want to. Not that were closing the door entirely. Georgina: Council voted to opt-out on Jan. 16. Key among a number of reasons raised by those who voted to opt out included the fact the municipality couldnt back out from its decision. Once you opt-in, you cant opt back out, Mayor Margaret Quirk said. Theres no going back and that concerns me. King: Council voted to opt-out in December. Markham: Council voted 12-1 to opt-out in December. We still have a lot of unanswered questions about community safety, about the impact to families and children, Mayor Frank Scarpitti said. This vote by Markham council reflects the concerns we have heard throughout the community. We have taken this position with the previous government and we applaud the provincial government for giving us the choice to opt-out. Newmarket: Council voted 7-2 to opt-out on Jan. 15. Mayor John Taylor said the town would review and revisit the decision in a years time. By then, we hope more information will be available and we are able to learn from the experiences of the municipalities that have opted in, Taylor said in a news release. Richmond Hill: Council voted unanimously to opt-out in December. Its our job to do what we think is best for our community, Mayor Dave Barrow said. Much of what we have heard from our citizens says that they would not welcome cannabis retail outlets in Richmond Hill. Vaughan: Council voted to opt-out Monday. Whitchurch-Stouffville: Council voted to opt-in on Jan. 15, the first York municipality to do so. Cannabis is legal and its not going away, Councillor Rick Upton said. Today, cannabis is very available anywhere, anytime you want it on the black market. This is one of my major concerns, on the black market, you dont know what is in it, what its laced with. With files from Metroland, The Canadian Press and Stefanie Marotta Patrick Ho is a rewrite editor working on the Star's digital desk in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @patrick_ho_007

Brampton council voted to opt-in to allow private recreational cannabis retail stores within city limits at a special council meeting Monday.

pegasus

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/01/22/which-gta-cities-voted-to-opt-in-to-allow-pot-stores-which-ones-opted-out.html

Which GTA cities voted to opt-in to allow pot stores? Which ones opted out?

Brampton council voted to opt-in to allow private recreational cannabis retail stores within city limits at a special council meeting Monday. Brampton was one of the last GTA municipalities to make a decision ahead of the provincial governments Tuesday midnight deadline to opt-out. As of Tuesday morning, 248 municipalities across the province were listed on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario as opting in, while 71 have opted out, and the rest were still listed as unknown. ( METROLAND FILE PHOTO ) Municipalities can opt-in down the road, but once theyre in, they give up their right to opt-out again. As of Tuesday morning, 248 municipalities across the province were listed on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario as opting in, while 71 have opted out, and the rest were still listed as unknown. Those that do not notify the AGCO of their preference by the deadline will by default be considered to have opted in. The Ford government announced a phased approach to licensing there was a lottery for 25 initial retail cannabis licences in Ontario earlier in January. Of the 25 winning application spots, five are in Toronto and six in the rest of the GTA. Article Continued Below The purchase and use of recreational marijuana has been legal in Canada since Oct. 17. Toronto council voted 20-4 on Dec. 13 to opt-in, and allow privately owned, provincially regulated pot shops. A quick look at what the other GTA municipalities decided: PEEL REGION Brampton: Some of the concern among councillors allowing private recreational cannabis retail stores stemmed from the federal and provincial governments not fully funding expected policing and health-care costs. But according to Mayor Patrick Brown, if the city had opted out it will receive very little funding to offset those costs at all. I want to praise the Brampton city council for taking the time to do their due diligence, Brown told reporters ahead of the meeting Monday where council voted 8-3 in favour to opt-in. But when I look at the overall picture, 15 per cent of policing costs is still something. Fifteen per cent of policing costs is better than nothing. Right now, if we opt-in there is a potential for additional funding. If we opt-out, we get $2,500. Caledon: Council was unanimous in its vote Monday to opt-out, despite a survey showing residents were slightly in favour. Ward 1 Regional Councillor Ian Sinclair said he voted against opting in because of the privatization of the outlets the Ford government decided to support. I wouldnt have minded the LCBO store as a front, Sinclair said. They have experienced staff and a set of rules that are already proven. But we dont know whats going on in individual retail stores. Article Continued Below Mississauga: City council voted 10-2 in December to opt-out. Some councillors felt the municipality was being rushed into making a decision without any control or planning. I dont want Mississauga to be a guinea pig, Councillor Dipika Damerla said. I think were better off taking a prudent approach. HALTON REGION Burlington: Council voted on Jan. 14 to opt-in. Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, who put forward the motion, said the citys public consultation showed residents support retail cannabis, and there are many more citizens who voiced their support to her but are too nervous to put their names on the record. Halton Hills: Council voted 8-3 to opt-in on Monday. Milton: Council voted 6-2 in December to opt-out. Councillors hedged their position by directing staff to report back to council to reconsider opting out once more information on the issue becomes available, but no later than December 2019. Oakville: Council voted 14-1 on Jan. 14 to opt-out. The reasons councillors provided ranged from health concerns about cannabis to issues with the lack of control the municipality would have with regard to these stores. DURHAM REGION Ajax: Council voted 7-0 on Jan. 14 to opt-in. Despite the vote, Mayor Shaun Collier told council, The odds we are getting any location is very, very slim. Brock: Council voted to opt-in. Clarington: Council voted 4-3 in January to opt-in. Cannabis is a huge industry that will create jobs and help boost our economy, Mayor Adrian Foster said in a statement. Oshawa: Council voted 7-4 to opt-in on Jan. 17. Councillors heard from Aaron Switzer of the Ontario Retail Cannabis Accessory Coalition who estimated there was the potential for $6.3 million in cannabis sales annually in the city and said that was a hyper-conservative estimate. Pickering: Council voted 5-2 in December to opt-out. Scugog: City council voted 5-0 to opt-in on Monday. Uxbridge: Council voted 5-2 to opt-in on Monday. Whitby: Council voted 6-3 to opt-out Monday. YORK REGION Aurora: Council voted to opt-in on Monday. East Gwillimbury: Council voted to opt-out on Jan. 8. We should not be part of the first wave, said Ward 1 Councillor Loralea Carruthers, who supported the move to opt-out. If all goes well, we may want to be part of the second wave. If all doesnt go well, we may not want to. Not that were closing the door entirely. Georgina: Council voted to opt-out on Jan. 16. Key among a number of reasons raised by those who voted to opt out included the fact the municipality couldnt back out from its decision. Once you opt-in, you cant opt back out, Mayor Margaret Quirk said. Theres no going back and that concerns me. King: Council voted to opt-out in December. Markham: Council voted 12-1 to opt-out in December. We still have a lot of unanswered questions about community safety, about the impact to families and children, Mayor Frank Scarpitti said. This vote by Markham council reflects the concerns we have heard throughout the community. We have taken this position with the previous government and we applaud the provincial government for giving us the choice to opt-out. Newmarket: Council voted 7-2 to opt-out on Jan. 15. Mayor John Taylor said the town would review and revisit the decision in a years time. By then, we hope more information will be available and we are able to learn from the experiences of the municipalities that have opted in, Taylor said in a news release. Richmond Hill: Council voted unanimously to opt-out in December. Its our job to do what we think is best for our community, Mayor Dave Barrow said. Much of what we have heard from our citizens says that they would not welcome cannabis retail outlets in Richmond Hill. Vaughan: Council voted to opt-out Monday. Whitchurch-Stouffville: Council voted to opt-in on Jan. 15, the first York municipality to do so. Cannabis is legal and its not going away, Councillor Rick Upton said. Today, cannabis is very available anywhere, anytime you want it on the black market. This is one of my major concerns, on the black market, you dont know what is in it, what its laced with. With files from Metroland, The Canadian Press and Stefanie Marotta Patrick Ho is a rewrite editor working on the Star's digital desk in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @patrick_ho_007

Brampton council voted to opt-in to allow private recreational cannabis retail stores within city limits at a special council meeting Monday. 248 municipalities across the province were listed on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario as opting in, while 71 have opted out. The purchase and use of recreational marijuana has been legal in Canada since Oct. 17.

bart

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/01/22/which-gta-cities-voted-to-opt-in-to-allow-pot-stores-which-ones-opted-out.html

Should I drain my savings to buy a house?

Although the housing market has cooled a little in many cities, theres still a sense among young adults that they may never own a house. And so, they ask questions like this one: Q: Im in my early-30s, and am only now starting to think about (possible) home ownership. At this point in time, thats what Im facing, and Im not sure how normal or financially responsible that would be. A: I have not seen any figures on this, so Ill have to go with my gut here and say it is normal for first-time buyers to burn their savings to buy a home. Its not just the down payment that eats up savings. Legal fees plus closing costs can add thousands to the bill. Story continues below advertisement It may be normal to spend all your savings to buy a home, but its not financially responsible. Housing true believers will tell you that everyone struggles financially to get into a house, so dont sweat it. But having no savings cushion at all when you own a home puts you at risk of having to go into debt to afford one of those repair or maintenance emergencies that are unavoidable when you own a home. Youre ready to buy a house when you have a down payment, when you can afford all the closing and moving costs AND when you can keep at least a couple of thousand dollars back for emergencies. As a home owner of 25 or so years, I can tell those emergencies do happen. If you need help figuring out whether that mortgage will leave you house poor, check out our Real Life Ratio calculator. If so, you can sign up for Carrick on Money here. Robs personal finance reading list Stocks for a TFSA Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement A personal finance blogger lists five dividend stocks that hes considering for his tax-free savings account and generates a lively debate with readers. Life in a tiny condo I wrote recently about how young adults are having trouble affording both rents and mortgage payments in the Toronto area. One solution is the tiny condo, accent on the tiny. Toronto Life recently interviewed a couple living in a two-storey, 450-square-foot condo. Four regrettable financial mistakes A blogger provides an honest accounting of four financial missteps that cost her thousands of dollars. Good to see someone warning about spending too much on weddings. From the department of food gadgets Story continues below advertisement An ode to food dehydrators. If you want to indulge yourself on one gadget for your kitchen this year, this might be the one. Heres a calculator that can help show you how much tax youll save with an RRSP contribution. Of course, RRSPs work best when you reinvest those tax savings into the plan. Or, use them to pay down debt. Send it my way. Sorry I cant answer every one personally. Questions and answers are edited for length. Perma-debt ETFs are good for your portfolio, but not if you do this (for Globe Unlimited subscribers) More Carrick and money coverage For more money stories, follow me on Instagram and Twitter, and join the discussion on my Facebook page. Millennial readers, join our Gen Y Money Facebook group. Send us an e-mail to let us know what you think of my newsletter. Click here to sign up.

Rob Carrick: It's normal for first-time buyers to burn their savings to buy a home.

bart

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/household-finances/article-should-i-drain-my-savings-to-buy-a-house/

Should I drain my savings to buy a house?

Although the housing market has cooled a little in many cities, theres still a sense among young adults that they may never own a house. And so, they ask questions like this one: Q: Im in my early-30s, and am only now starting to think about (possible) home ownership. At this point in time, thats what Im facing, and Im not sure how normal or financially responsible that would be. A: I have not seen any figures on this, so Ill have to go with my gut here and say it is normal for first-time buyers to burn their savings to buy a home. Its not just the down payment that eats up savings. Legal fees plus closing costs can add thousands to the bill. Story continues below advertisement It may be normal to spend all your savings to buy a home, but its not financially responsible. Housing true believers will tell you that everyone struggles financially to get into a house, so dont sweat it. But having no savings cushion at all when you own a home puts you at risk of having to go into debt to afford one of those repair or maintenance emergencies that are unavoidable when you own a home. Youre ready to buy a house when you have a down payment, when you can afford all the closing and moving costs AND when you can keep at least a couple of thousand dollars back for emergencies. As a home owner of 25 or so years, I can tell those emergencies do happen. If you need help figuring out whether that mortgage will leave you house poor, check out our Real Life Ratio calculator. If so, you can sign up for Carrick on Money here. Robs personal finance reading list Stocks for a TFSA Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement A personal finance blogger lists five dividend stocks that hes considering for his tax-free savings account and generates a lively debate with readers. Life in a tiny condo I wrote recently about how young adults are having trouble affording both rents and mortgage payments in the Toronto area. One solution is the tiny condo, accent on the tiny. Toronto Life recently interviewed a couple living in a two-storey, 450-square-foot condo. Four regrettable financial mistakes A blogger provides an honest accounting of four financial missteps that cost her thousands of dollars. Good to see someone warning about spending too much on weddings. From the department of food gadgets Story continues below advertisement An ode to food dehydrators. If you want to indulge yourself on one gadget for your kitchen this year, this might be the one. Heres a calculator that can help show you how much tax youll save with an RRSP contribution. Of course, RRSPs work best when you reinvest those tax savings into the plan. Or, use them to pay down debt. Send it my way. Sorry I cant answer every one personally. Questions and answers are edited for length. Perma-debt ETFs are good for your portfolio, but not if you do this (for Globe Unlimited subscribers) More Carrick and money coverage For more money stories, follow me on Instagram and Twitter, and join the discussion on my Facebook page. Millennial readers, join our Gen Y Money Facebook group. Send us an e-mail to let us know what you think of my newsletter. Click here to sign up.

Rob Carrick: It's normal for first-time buyers to burn their savings to buy a home. Legal fees plus closing costs can add thousands to the bill.

bart

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/household-finances/article-should-i-drain-my-savings-to-buy-a-house/

Should I drain my savings to buy a house?

Although the housing market has cooled a little in many cities, theres still a sense among young adults that they may never own a house. And so, they ask questions like this one: Q: Im in my early-30s, and am only now starting to think about (possible) home ownership. At this point in time, thats what Im facing, and Im not sure how normal or financially responsible that would be. A: I have not seen any figures on this, so Ill have to go with my gut here and say it is normal for first-time buyers to burn their savings to buy a home. Its not just the down payment that eats up savings. Legal fees plus closing costs can add thousands to the bill. Story continues below advertisement It may be normal to spend all your savings to buy a home, but its not financially responsible. Housing true believers will tell you that everyone struggles financially to get into a house, so dont sweat it. But having no savings cushion at all when you own a home puts you at risk of having to go into debt to afford one of those repair or maintenance emergencies that are unavoidable when you own a home. Youre ready to buy a house when you have a down payment, when you can afford all the closing and moving costs AND when you can keep at least a couple of thousand dollars back for emergencies. As a home owner of 25 or so years, I can tell those emergencies do happen. If you need help figuring out whether that mortgage will leave you house poor, check out our Real Life Ratio calculator. If so, you can sign up for Carrick on Money here. Robs personal finance reading list Stocks for a TFSA Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement A personal finance blogger lists five dividend stocks that hes considering for his tax-free savings account and generates a lively debate with readers. Life in a tiny condo I wrote recently about how young adults are having trouble affording both rents and mortgage payments in the Toronto area. One solution is the tiny condo, accent on the tiny. Toronto Life recently interviewed a couple living in a two-storey, 450-square-foot condo. Four regrettable financial mistakes A blogger provides an honest accounting of four financial missteps that cost her thousands of dollars. Good to see someone warning about spending too much on weddings. From the department of food gadgets Story continues below advertisement An ode to food dehydrators. If you want to indulge yourself on one gadget for your kitchen this year, this might be the one. Heres a calculator that can help show you how much tax youll save with an RRSP contribution. Of course, RRSPs work best when you reinvest those tax savings into the plan. Or, use them to pay down debt. Send it my way. Sorry I cant answer every one personally. Questions and answers are edited for length. Perma-debt ETFs are good for your portfolio, but not if you do this (for Globe Unlimited subscribers) More Carrick and money coverage For more money stories, follow me on Instagram and Twitter, and join the discussion on my Facebook page. Millennial readers, join our Gen Y Money Facebook group. Send us an e-mail to let us know what you think of my newsletter. Click here to sign up.

Rob Carrick: It's normal for first-time buyers to burn their savings to buy a home. Legal fees plus closing costs can add thousands to the bill. Having no savings at all when you own a home puts you at risk of having to go into debt to afford one of those repair or maintenance emergencies.

bart

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/household-finances/article-should-i-drain-my-savings-to-buy-a-house/

How Does The College Football Playoff Affect A Program's Finances?

College football programs make a lot of money, especially national powerhouses. The list of the sports most valuable teams is littered with programs with long and storied histories. Many of the teams at the top of this list are perennial contenders for the national title, and four of the top seven have made the playoff in the last two years. That said, less-wealthy teams have made the playoff. Clemson isnt even on Forbes list of the sports most valuable teams, and their 2016 national title made them the first national champion since 2005 to rank outside the top 20 in revenues. Washington and Michigan State barely cracked the top 25 last year. But while Clemson is a mainstay in the national title conversation, Washington and Michigan State have each only made the playoff once. In Washingtons case, it was a pretty big one. After years of competing just to play in a bowl game, in 2016, the Huskies went 12-1, won the Pac-12, and made the playoff. Prior to this, the Huskies had only won more than seven games in a season twice since 2001. There was even a five-year stretch in which the team won 12 games combined. When head coach Chris Petersen took over in 2014, the program was mediocre at best. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, they made the playoff. Even though they lost to Alabama, just being in contention for the national title appears to have been a huge boon for the program. According to annual financial filings made to the NCAA, the Washington football teams net profit was $22 million in both 2014-15 and 2015-16 (eight- and seven-win seasons, respectively.) However, in 2016-17, the year it made the playoff, the program had a profit of more than $42 million. Compare that to Alabama. In those same three years, the Tide had profits of $46 million, $47 million, and $45 million. After making the playoff just once, Washington nearly doubled their profits to match Alabamas, a team with a long history and five playoff appearances. Granted, Alabama made about $20 million more in pure revenue (Alabama spends more than any other program), but taken by itself, Washingtons growth is massive. While ticket sales increased slightly the year they made the playoff, much of their growth came from contributions. These are, by and large, donations received from individuals, foundations, or corporations designated specifically for the operations of the program. Washington received $7 million more in contributions in 2016-17 than they did the year prior which accounted for most of their growth in revenue. The impact isnt always that big, however. Michigan State made the playoff in 2015, and, importantly, the program was considerably better in the years leading up to their playoff berth than Washington was. In 2014, the Spartans went 11-2 and won the Cotton Bowl, and the year prior, they went 13-1, winning the Big 10 and the Rose Bowl. Between the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Michigan States football program experienced about $3 million in growth, jumping from $29 million to $32 million in profits. Unlike Washington, MSUs ticket sales and contributions largely stagnated. Nearly all of this growth came from participating in the bowl. There was a $3 million boost in revenues generated from conference payouts to the school, much of which comes from their playoff berth. Additionally, the NCAA added a line to these financial statements that included revenue generated from playing in a bowl that was not included in previous years. This increased MSUs revenue by about $4 million. In 2016, though, profits jumped another $6 million. Even though Michigan State went 3-9 and failed to make a bowl, ticket sales jumped $2 million. Total revenue dropped $1 million in large part because contributions decreased and they received only $6,380 in bowl payouts compared to 2015s $4 million. Not participating in a bowl was also a large reason for their increase in profits. Because they didnt have to travel, bowl expenses dropped almost $5 million. For less consistently good programs, it seems like a lot. When a team starts performing well after years of mediocre play, people start to watch. Washington hadnt been an elite program in recent memory, so their playoff berth in 2016 was massive. Michigan State, however, had been playing at a consistently high level for years before their berth. Once financial data for the 2017 and 2018 seasons becomes available, it will be interesting to see if Washington maintains this growth. As for now, if a team makes the playoff, its safe to say they have some money, too.

College football programs make a lot of money, especially national powerhouses. While Clemson is a mainstay in the national title conversation, Washington and Michigan State have each only made the playoff once. After making the playoff just once, Washington nearly doubled their profits to match Alabamas.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gantplayer/2019/01/22/how-does-the-college-football-playoff-affect-a-programs-finances/

Will Barry Bonds ever get into baseballs Hall of Fame?

With Barry Bonds once again denied entry into the Hall of Fame, its instructive to remember a critical change in the election procedure, executed five years ago, and what it means for Bonds future in this process. Effective with the 2015 election, players were no longer on the ballot for a maximum of 15 years. It was reduced to 10, and the immediate reaction centered around Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire and other superstars tainted by their association with performance-enhancing drugs. Many felt it was a direct shot at those players, as it gave hard-line voters five fewer years to soften their stance. Before that rule change, Bruce Sutter got the good news on his 13th try, Bert Blyleven on the 14th, Jim Rice on the 15th. No such luck for todays candidates and for Bonds, instead of seeing his name on the ballot for eight more years, hell be eligible for only the next three elections. (Bonds received 59.1 percent of the vote this year. You need 75 percent to get in.) Some feel hell get into Cooperstown on the very last try, as a significant number of voters stop punishing him and check the box alongside his name. I think thats a stretch. As much as I applaud the stance of The Chronicles Susan Slusser, who began voting for Bonds after what she felt were farcical developments (such as the induction of former commissioner Bud Selig, who cluelessly oversaw the steroid era), there arent enough Slussers around to make a difference. My stance on Bonds has always been clear, and theres no need to resurrect it. I hope he gets elected the conventional way, through the Baseball Writers Association of Americas expansive voting body. Once you get to a committee, anything can happen. I was on the Expansion Era Committee in December of 2013, voting in Orlando, on a ballot including managers Tony La Russa, Joe Torre and Bobby Cox, along with former players union head Marvin Miller. There were 16 of us, mostly high-profile figures who wore the uniform. I was one of four men designated as veteran historians, but the conversations were dominated by such forceful voices as Carlton Fisk, Frank Robinson, Whitey Herzog, Tommy Lasorda and (executive) Jerry Reinsdorf. It was interesting, because those three managers were runaway choices for the election but Miller, whose tireless work led to immeasurable freedom and financial gain by the players was shot down. According to Hall of Fame guidelines, the next Expansion Era vote will arrive in December of 2025. Lets say Bonds and Clemens are the centerpieces. An overwhelming number of active Hall of Famers find both of them fraudulent and unworthy. When Harold Baines was elected in December by a Todays Era committee, there was widespread outrage from baseball insiders claiming Baines had friends in that group. In Bonds case, friends are in rather short supply. The assemblage of that committee would likely be as controversial as the vote itself. Thoughts on some other names in play: Mariano Rivera: As a great honor comes his way, its a wonderful time to reflect on his career. Ive always felt that among people in the know, the numbers are important but also secondary. Its what they saw, or felt, that really mattered. Marianos like an iceman out there, said Dennis Eckersley, one of historys few short relievers in Riveras class, in July of 2009. He never looks like hes struggling. For more than a decade, hitters know that one pitch is coming, and they still cant hit it. He breaks the bats of more left-handed hitters than anyone in history. Fred McGriff: He came up short on his 15th and final try, and thats a shame, but Ill admit, I never pulled the trigger. Same with Todd Helton. As much as I admired their accomplishments and consistency, they cant be in the Hall of Fame if fellow first basemen Keith Hernandez and Don Mattingly were denied. (I put Will Clark in that category, as well, while acknowledging his prime was all too brief.) Omar Vizquel: Aside from the 11 Gold Gloves and 2,887 career hits, heres the truth from Ken Griffey Jr., to reporters last year: He had the fastest and sweetest hands Ive ever seen in baseball. Oh, yeah. They talk about Ozzie Smith, but Omar did everything Ozzie did and more. He was special, man - really, really special. And his time will come. Mike Mussina: In future years, when a five-inning start is considered an astounding feat of courage and endurance, people will marvel at Mussinas career. He didnt make my ballot for several years, and that was my mistake - but not as bad as the Giants mistake in the 1990 June draft. A longtime friend, the late Doug McMillan, was a Giants scout at that time, working a lot of Bay Area games. He saw enough of Mussina at Stanford to offer a glowing recommendation, almost demanding that the Giants take him with the No. 15 pick of the first round. They felt otherwise. They took outfielder Adam Hyzdu, an outfielder out of a Cincinnati high school. He spent his first 10 professional seasons in the minors and was strictly a fringe player in the big leagues. Bruce Jenkins is a columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle. E-mail: asaracevic@sfchronicle.com

Barry Bonds was denied entry into the Hall of Fame for the second time this year.

ctrlsum

https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/jenkins/article/Will-Barry-Bonds-ever-get-into-baseball-s-Hall-13553269.php

Will Barry Bonds ever get into baseballs Hall of Fame?

With Barry Bonds once again denied entry into the Hall of Fame, its instructive to remember a critical change in the election procedure, executed five years ago, and what it means for Bonds future in this process. Effective with the 2015 election, players were no longer on the ballot for a maximum of 15 years. It was reduced to 10, and the immediate reaction centered around Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire and other superstars tainted by their association with performance-enhancing drugs. Many felt it was a direct shot at those players, as it gave hard-line voters five fewer years to soften their stance. Before that rule change, Bruce Sutter got the good news on his 13th try, Bert Blyleven on the 14th, Jim Rice on the 15th. No such luck for todays candidates and for Bonds, instead of seeing his name on the ballot for eight more years, hell be eligible for only the next three elections. (Bonds received 59.1 percent of the vote this year. You need 75 percent to get in.) Some feel hell get into Cooperstown on the very last try, as a significant number of voters stop punishing him and check the box alongside his name. I think thats a stretch. As much as I applaud the stance of The Chronicles Susan Slusser, who began voting for Bonds after what she felt were farcical developments (such as the induction of former commissioner Bud Selig, who cluelessly oversaw the steroid era), there arent enough Slussers around to make a difference. My stance on Bonds has always been clear, and theres no need to resurrect it. I hope he gets elected the conventional way, through the Baseball Writers Association of Americas expansive voting body. Once you get to a committee, anything can happen. I was on the Expansion Era Committee in December of 2013, voting in Orlando, on a ballot including managers Tony La Russa, Joe Torre and Bobby Cox, along with former players union head Marvin Miller. There were 16 of us, mostly high-profile figures who wore the uniform. I was one of four men designated as veteran historians, but the conversations were dominated by such forceful voices as Carlton Fisk, Frank Robinson, Whitey Herzog, Tommy Lasorda and (executive) Jerry Reinsdorf. It was interesting, because those three managers were runaway choices for the election but Miller, whose tireless work led to immeasurable freedom and financial gain by the players was shot down. According to Hall of Fame guidelines, the next Expansion Era vote will arrive in December of 2025. Lets say Bonds and Clemens are the centerpieces. An overwhelming number of active Hall of Famers find both of them fraudulent and unworthy. When Harold Baines was elected in December by a Todays Era committee, there was widespread outrage from baseball insiders claiming Baines had friends in that group. In Bonds case, friends are in rather short supply. The assemblage of that committee would likely be as controversial as the vote itself. Thoughts on some other names in play: Mariano Rivera: As a great honor comes his way, its a wonderful time to reflect on his career. Ive always felt that among people in the know, the numbers are important but also secondary. Its what they saw, or felt, that really mattered. Marianos like an iceman out there, said Dennis Eckersley, one of historys few short relievers in Riveras class, in July of 2009. He never looks like hes struggling. For more than a decade, hitters know that one pitch is coming, and they still cant hit it. He breaks the bats of more left-handed hitters than anyone in history. Fred McGriff: He came up short on his 15th and final try, and thats a shame, but Ill admit, I never pulled the trigger. Same with Todd Helton. As much as I admired their accomplishments and consistency, they cant be in the Hall of Fame if fellow first basemen Keith Hernandez and Don Mattingly were denied. (I put Will Clark in that category, as well, while acknowledging his prime was all too brief.) Omar Vizquel: Aside from the 11 Gold Gloves and 2,887 career hits, heres the truth from Ken Griffey Jr., to reporters last year: He had the fastest and sweetest hands Ive ever seen in baseball. Oh, yeah. They talk about Ozzie Smith, but Omar did everything Ozzie did and more. He was special, man - really, really special. And his time will come. Mike Mussina: In future years, when a five-inning start is considered an astounding feat of courage and endurance, people will marvel at Mussinas career. He didnt make my ballot for several years, and that was my mistake - but not as bad as the Giants mistake in the 1990 June draft. A longtime friend, the late Doug McMillan, was a Giants scout at that time, working a lot of Bay Area games. He saw enough of Mussina at Stanford to offer a glowing recommendation, almost demanding that the Giants take him with the No. 15 pick of the first round. They felt otherwise. They took outfielder Adam Hyzdu, an outfielder out of a Cincinnati high school. He spent his first 10 professional seasons in the minors and was strictly a fringe player in the big leagues. Bruce Jenkins is a columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle. E-mail: asaracevic@sfchronicle.com

Barry Bonds was denied entry into the Hall of Fame for the second time in three years. Barry Bonds received 59.1 percent of the vote this year.

bart

https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/jenkins/article/Will-Barry-Bonds-ever-get-into-baseball-s-Hall-13553269.php

Will Barry Bonds ever get into baseballs Hall of Fame?

With Barry Bonds once again denied entry into the Hall of Fame, its instructive to remember a critical change in the election procedure, executed five years ago, and what it means for Bonds future in this process. Effective with the 2015 election, players were no longer on the ballot for a maximum of 15 years. It was reduced to 10, and the immediate reaction centered around Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire and other superstars tainted by their association with performance-enhancing drugs. Many felt it was a direct shot at those players, as it gave hard-line voters five fewer years to soften their stance. Before that rule change, Bruce Sutter got the good news on his 13th try, Bert Blyleven on the 14th, Jim Rice on the 15th. No such luck for todays candidates and for Bonds, instead of seeing his name on the ballot for eight more years, hell be eligible for only the next three elections. (Bonds received 59.1 percent of the vote this year. You need 75 percent to get in.) Some feel hell get into Cooperstown on the very last try, as a significant number of voters stop punishing him and check the box alongside his name. I think thats a stretch. As much as I applaud the stance of The Chronicles Susan Slusser, who began voting for Bonds after what she felt were farcical developments (such as the induction of former commissioner Bud Selig, who cluelessly oversaw the steroid era), there arent enough Slussers around to make a difference. My stance on Bonds has always been clear, and theres no need to resurrect it. I hope he gets elected the conventional way, through the Baseball Writers Association of Americas expansive voting body. Once you get to a committee, anything can happen. I was on the Expansion Era Committee in December of 2013, voting in Orlando, on a ballot including managers Tony La Russa, Joe Torre and Bobby Cox, along with former players union head Marvin Miller. There were 16 of us, mostly high-profile figures who wore the uniform. I was one of four men designated as veteran historians, but the conversations were dominated by such forceful voices as Carlton Fisk, Frank Robinson, Whitey Herzog, Tommy Lasorda and (executive) Jerry Reinsdorf. It was interesting, because those three managers were runaway choices for the election but Miller, whose tireless work led to immeasurable freedom and financial gain by the players was shot down. According to Hall of Fame guidelines, the next Expansion Era vote will arrive in December of 2025. Lets say Bonds and Clemens are the centerpieces. An overwhelming number of active Hall of Famers find both of them fraudulent and unworthy. When Harold Baines was elected in December by a Todays Era committee, there was widespread outrage from baseball insiders claiming Baines had friends in that group. In Bonds case, friends are in rather short supply. The assemblage of that committee would likely be as controversial as the vote itself. Thoughts on some other names in play: Mariano Rivera: As a great honor comes his way, its a wonderful time to reflect on his career. Ive always felt that among people in the know, the numbers are important but also secondary. Its what they saw, or felt, that really mattered. Marianos like an iceman out there, said Dennis Eckersley, one of historys few short relievers in Riveras class, in July of 2009. He never looks like hes struggling. For more than a decade, hitters know that one pitch is coming, and they still cant hit it. He breaks the bats of more left-handed hitters than anyone in history. Fred McGriff: He came up short on his 15th and final try, and thats a shame, but Ill admit, I never pulled the trigger. Same with Todd Helton. As much as I admired their accomplishments and consistency, they cant be in the Hall of Fame if fellow first basemen Keith Hernandez and Don Mattingly were denied. (I put Will Clark in that category, as well, while acknowledging his prime was all too brief.) Omar Vizquel: Aside from the 11 Gold Gloves and 2,887 career hits, heres the truth from Ken Griffey Jr., to reporters last year: He had the fastest and sweetest hands Ive ever seen in baseball. Oh, yeah. They talk about Ozzie Smith, but Omar did everything Ozzie did and more. He was special, man - really, really special. And his time will come. Mike Mussina: In future years, when a five-inning start is considered an astounding feat of courage and endurance, people will marvel at Mussinas career. He didnt make my ballot for several years, and that was my mistake - but not as bad as the Giants mistake in the 1990 June draft. A longtime friend, the late Doug McMillan, was a Giants scout at that time, working a lot of Bay Area games. He saw enough of Mussina at Stanford to offer a glowing recommendation, almost demanding that the Giants take him with the No. 15 pick of the first round. They felt otherwise. They took outfielder Adam Hyzdu, an outfielder out of a Cincinnati high school. He spent his first 10 professional seasons in the minors and was strictly a fringe player in the big leagues. Bruce Jenkins is a columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle. E-mail: asaracevic@sfchronicle.com

Barry Bonds was denied entry into the Hall of Fame for the second time this year. Bonds is on the ballot for eight more years, and will be eligible for only the next three elections. The next Expansion Era vote will arrive in December of 2025. The assemblage of that committee would likely be as controversial as the vote itself.

ctrlsum

https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/jenkins/article/Will-Barry-Bonds-ever-get-into-baseball-s-Hall-13553269.php

How did Schilling, Clemens, Bonds fare in Hall of Fame voting?

Weve slogged through seven years of this highly charged and often exhausting debate, but Tuesdays election results guaranteed that an eighth ballot cycle will be spent arguing the pros and cons of Cooperstowns three most controversial candidates. While Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay, Mike Mussina and Edgar Martinez all earned bronze plaques, Schilling, Clemens and Bonds remain on the outside after finishing with 60.9%, 59.5% and 59.1%, respectively, of the vote. That this trio once again fell short shouldnt be a surprise. Per Ryan Thibodauxs Hall of Fame tracker, all three were short of the 75% threshold amid the publicly available pre-announcement ballots, which made it unlikely they would make it across the finish line. And as all three have garnered less support on the privately released ballots than the public ones in the past, it was only a matter of how far those initial numbers would tumble. Its not all bad news for Bonds, Clemens and Schilling. All three increased their vote share from 2018, with Schilling doing particularly well in jumping from 51.2% to the low 60s. Bonds and Clemens made modest gains, picking up only a couple of points, but progress is progress, and each inched closer to election. Schilling is in the best shape. Hes seen his vote percentage increase by 15 points in the last two cycles, restarting a campaign that went off the tracks two years ago. Having dived headfirst into the toxic stew of the alt-right after retiring, Schilling saw his Hall of Fame support disappear in 2017 afteramong other thingssuggesting that journalists should be lynched, comparing Muslims to Nazis, and posting bigoted memes about transgender people on social media. He lost 35 votes from returning voters on that years ballot, dropping him from 52.3% of the vote to 45, and looked to be in dire straits with regards to Cooperstown. Oddly, though, that dip now looks like a momentary lapse. Of those 35 voters who voted no on Schilling in 2017, 11 added him back on their ballots the following year; five more re-selected him this winter. It was also a brief exile for some of the 11 returning voters who dropped Schilling off their ballots in 2018, with five of those writers checking his box in this years vote. Thats still plenty of folks against him, but its clear that Schillings momentum was slowed down instead of halted altogether. Nor is he necessarily a pariah among newcomers, as five of the eight first-time voters chose him on their ballots. The end result is that Schilling has rebuilt the vote share he had pre-2017 and now has three cycles left to add the 15% needed to reach 75. Just as important is that next years ballot will add only one surefire Hall of Famer in Derek Jeter; a thinner crowd could mean more support. Given that this is Curt Schilling, theres a strong chance he says some new wildly racist or offensive thing before his time on the ballot is up, which may start this whole process all over again. But hes already won back a sizable chunk of the electorate that dropped him, giving him a leg up going forward. His chances at a 2020 election are strong. STAFF: Mariano Rivera Becomes First Player Unanimously Elected to Hall of Fame Things arent as straightforward or rosy for Bonds and Clemens. Unless youve been living under a rock in a giant cave on one of Saturns moons for the last two decades, you know the deal with these two: steroid use accusations have turned their Hall candidacies into a vicious battleground and the anti-PED crowd dug in tight to its trenches. As such, they debuted with modest numbers on the ballot back in 2013: Clemens earned 37.6%, Bonds 36.2. (For whatever reason, Clemens has always finished with slightly higher numbers than Bonds, in a splitting of hairs that would require an electron knife.) They remained stuck in the 30s for another two cycles before jumping into the mid-40s in 16 and gained another 10 points in 17. Since then, though, things have slowed down. Each added a mere three or four percentage points from 2017 to 18, with similar results this time around. Unlike Martinez, Mike Mussina or Larry Walker, Bonds and Clemens cases arent up for debate. If youre against voting for a PED-connected player for the Hall, then no argument is going to convince you to support either of those two. You can see that in how few voters are being flipped from no to yes on them: Via Thibodauxs tracker, Clemens has added just six extra votes to his favor in the last two years, while Bonds has gained only four. Its important to note that neither is losing support, but this slow trickle is harming their chances of getting a bronze plaque. The math is stark and unforgiving. Bonds and Clemens each finished 6570 votes shy of induction this year. They have three years to close that gap. In other words, they need either existing voters to change their minds, or the voter rolls to change quickly and significantly. For that to happen, they'll likely need younger writers more inclined to look past the PED accusations being added while older voters continue to fall off. Its too early to sound absolute doom: Even if Bonds and Clemens add only five percent each year for the next two cycles, theyll enter the 10th year within reach of 75. But their margin for error would be as thin as a sheet of paper, and this years weak results didnt help. Regardless, that may be exactly where were headed. The Hall of Fame debate over Bonds, Clemens and Schilling promises to rage on for at least another year, and likely more beyond it.

Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens all fell short of 75% of the vote. All three increased their vote share from 2018.

ctrlsum

https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/01/22/barry-bonds-roger-clemens-curt-schilling-hall-fame-voting

How did Schilling, Clemens, Bonds fare in Hall of Fame voting?

Weve slogged through seven years of this highly charged and often exhausting debate, but Tuesdays election results guaranteed that an eighth ballot cycle will be spent arguing the pros and cons of Cooperstowns three most controversial candidates. While Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay, Mike Mussina and Edgar Martinez all earned bronze plaques, Schilling, Clemens and Bonds remain on the outside after finishing with 60.9%, 59.5% and 59.1%, respectively, of the vote. That this trio once again fell short shouldnt be a surprise. Per Ryan Thibodauxs Hall of Fame tracker, all three were short of the 75% threshold amid the publicly available pre-announcement ballots, which made it unlikely they would make it across the finish line. And as all three have garnered less support on the privately released ballots than the public ones in the past, it was only a matter of how far those initial numbers would tumble. Its not all bad news for Bonds, Clemens and Schilling. All three increased their vote share from 2018, with Schilling doing particularly well in jumping from 51.2% to the low 60s. Bonds and Clemens made modest gains, picking up only a couple of points, but progress is progress, and each inched closer to election. Schilling is in the best shape. Hes seen his vote percentage increase by 15 points in the last two cycles, restarting a campaign that went off the tracks two years ago. Having dived headfirst into the toxic stew of the alt-right after retiring, Schilling saw his Hall of Fame support disappear in 2017 afteramong other thingssuggesting that journalists should be lynched, comparing Muslims to Nazis, and posting bigoted memes about transgender people on social media. He lost 35 votes from returning voters on that years ballot, dropping him from 52.3% of the vote to 45, and looked to be in dire straits with regards to Cooperstown. Oddly, though, that dip now looks like a momentary lapse. Of those 35 voters who voted no on Schilling in 2017, 11 added him back on their ballots the following year; five more re-selected him this winter. It was also a brief exile for some of the 11 returning voters who dropped Schilling off their ballots in 2018, with five of those writers checking his box in this years vote. Thats still plenty of folks against him, but its clear that Schillings momentum was slowed down instead of halted altogether. Nor is he necessarily a pariah among newcomers, as five of the eight first-time voters chose him on their ballots. The end result is that Schilling has rebuilt the vote share he had pre-2017 and now has three cycles left to add the 15% needed to reach 75. Just as important is that next years ballot will add only one surefire Hall of Famer in Derek Jeter; a thinner crowd could mean more support. Given that this is Curt Schilling, theres a strong chance he says some new wildly racist or offensive thing before his time on the ballot is up, which may start this whole process all over again. But hes already won back a sizable chunk of the electorate that dropped him, giving him a leg up going forward. His chances at a 2020 election are strong. STAFF: Mariano Rivera Becomes First Player Unanimously Elected to Hall of Fame Things arent as straightforward or rosy for Bonds and Clemens. Unless youve been living under a rock in a giant cave on one of Saturns moons for the last two decades, you know the deal with these two: steroid use accusations have turned their Hall candidacies into a vicious battleground and the anti-PED crowd dug in tight to its trenches. As such, they debuted with modest numbers on the ballot back in 2013: Clemens earned 37.6%, Bonds 36.2. (For whatever reason, Clemens has always finished with slightly higher numbers than Bonds, in a splitting of hairs that would require an electron knife.) They remained stuck in the 30s for another two cycles before jumping into the mid-40s in 16 and gained another 10 points in 17. Since then, though, things have slowed down. Each added a mere three or four percentage points from 2017 to 18, with similar results this time around. Unlike Martinez, Mike Mussina or Larry Walker, Bonds and Clemens cases arent up for debate. If youre against voting for a PED-connected player for the Hall, then no argument is going to convince you to support either of those two. You can see that in how few voters are being flipped from no to yes on them: Via Thibodauxs tracker, Clemens has added just six extra votes to his favor in the last two years, while Bonds has gained only four. Its important to note that neither is losing support, but this slow trickle is harming their chances of getting a bronze plaque. The math is stark and unforgiving. Bonds and Clemens each finished 6570 votes shy of induction this year. They have three years to close that gap. In other words, they need either existing voters to change their minds, or the voter rolls to change quickly and significantly. For that to happen, they'll likely need younger writers more inclined to look past the PED accusations being added while older voters continue to fall off. Its too early to sound absolute doom: Even if Bonds and Clemens add only five percent each year for the next two cycles, theyll enter the 10th year within reach of 75. But their margin for error would be as thin as a sheet of paper, and this years weak results didnt help. Regardless, that may be exactly where were headed. The Hall of Fame debate over Bonds, Clemens and Schilling promises to rage on for at least another year, and likely more beyond it.

Bonds, Clemens and Schilling remain on the outside after finishing with 60.9%, 59.5% and 59.1%, respectively, of the vote.

pegasus

https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/01/22/barry-bonds-roger-clemens-curt-schilling-hall-fame-voting

How did Schilling, Clemens, Bonds fare in Hall of Fame voting?

Weve slogged through seven years of this highly charged and often exhausting debate, but Tuesdays election results guaranteed that an eighth ballot cycle will be spent arguing the pros and cons of Cooperstowns three most controversial candidates. While Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay, Mike Mussina and Edgar Martinez all earned bronze plaques, Schilling, Clemens and Bonds remain on the outside after finishing with 60.9%, 59.5% and 59.1%, respectively, of the vote. That this trio once again fell short shouldnt be a surprise. Per Ryan Thibodauxs Hall of Fame tracker, all three were short of the 75% threshold amid the publicly available pre-announcement ballots, which made it unlikely they would make it across the finish line. And as all three have garnered less support on the privately released ballots than the public ones in the past, it was only a matter of how far those initial numbers would tumble. Its not all bad news for Bonds, Clemens and Schilling. All three increased their vote share from 2018, with Schilling doing particularly well in jumping from 51.2% to the low 60s. Bonds and Clemens made modest gains, picking up only a couple of points, but progress is progress, and each inched closer to election. Schilling is in the best shape. Hes seen his vote percentage increase by 15 points in the last two cycles, restarting a campaign that went off the tracks two years ago. Having dived headfirst into the toxic stew of the alt-right after retiring, Schilling saw his Hall of Fame support disappear in 2017 afteramong other thingssuggesting that journalists should be lynched, comparing Muslims to Nazis, and posting bigoted memes about transgender people on social media. He lost 35 votes from returning voters on that years ballot, dropping him from 52.3% of the vote to 45, and looked to be in dire straits with regards to Cooperstown. Oddly, though, that dip now looks like a momentary lapse. Of those 35 voters who voted no on Schilling in 2017, 11 added him back on their ballots the following year; five more re-selected him this winter. It was also a brief exile for some of the 11 returning voters who dropped Schilling off their ballots in 2018, with five of those writers checking his box in this years vote. Thats still plenty of folks against him, but its clear that Schillings momentum was slowed down instead of halted altogether. Nor is he necessarily a pariah among newcomers, as five of the eight first-time voters chose him on their ballots. The end result is that Schilling has rebuilt the vote share he had pre-2017 and now has three cycles left to add the 15% needed to reach 75. Just as important is that next years ballot will add only one surefire Hall of Famer in Derek Jeter; a thinner crowd could mean more support. Given that this is Curt Schilling, theres a strong chance he says some new wildly racist or offensive thing before his time on the ballot is up, which may start this whole process all over again. But hes already won back a sizable chunk of the electorate that dropped him, giving him a leg up going forward. His chances at a 2020 election are strong. STAFF: Mariano Rivera Becomes First Player Unanimously Elected to Hall of Fame Things arent as straightforward or rosy for Bonds and Clemens. Unless youve been living under a rock in a giant cave on one of Saturns moons for the last two decades, you know the deal with these two: steroid use accusations have turned their Hall candidacies into a vicious battleground and the anti-PED crowd dug in tight to its trenches. As such, they debuted with modest numbers on the ballot back in 2013: Clemens earned 37.6%, Bonds 36.2. (For whatever reason, Clemens has always finished with slightly higher numbers than Bonds, in a splitting of hairs that would require an electron knife.) They remained stuck in the 30s for another two cycles before jumping into the mid-40s in 16 and gained another 10 points in 17. Since then, though, things have slowed down. Each added a mere three or four percentage points from 2017 to 18, with similar results this time around. Unlike Martinez, Mike Mussina or Larry Walker, Bonds and Clemens cases arent up for debate. If youre against voting for a PED-connected player for the Hall, then no argument is going to convince you to support either of those two. You can see that in how few voters are being flipped from no to yes on them: Via Thibodauxs tracker, Clemens has added just six extra votes to his favor in the last two years, while Bonds has gained only four. Its important to note that neither is losing support, but this slow trickle is harming their chances of getting a bronze plaque. The math is stark and unforgiving. Bonds and Clemens each finished 6570 votes shy of induction this year. They have three years to close that gap. In other words, they need either existing voters to change their minds, or the voter rolls to change quickly and significantly. For that to happen, they'll likely need younger writers more inclined to look past the PED accusations being added while older voters continue to fall off. Its too early to sound absolute doom: Even if Bonds and Clemens add only five percent each year for the next two cycles, theyll enter the 10th year within reach of 75. But their margin for error would be as thin as a sheet of paper, and this years weak results didnt help. Regardless, that may be exactly where were headed. The Hall of Fame debate over Bonds, Clemens and Schilling promises to rage on for at least another year, and likely more beyond it.

Bonds, Clemens and Schilling remain on the outside after finishing with 60.9%, 59.5% and 59.1%, respectively, of the vote. All three increased their vote share from 2018, with Schilling doing particularly well in jumping from 51.2% to the low 60s.

pegasus

https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/01/22/barry-bonds-roger-clemens-curt-schilling-hall-fame-voting

Will NFL fix its laser pointer problem after latest one on Tom Brady?

Even a laser beam to the face cant stop Tom Brady. But pointing a laser at him could lead to criminal charges and a permanent ban from an NFL stadium. It could also lead the NFL to rethink stadium security policies and how those policies connect to the integrity of the game. The NFL is investigating a suspicious green beam that repeatedly appeared on Bradys uniform, helmet and skin during the AFC Championship on Sunday. As KMBC's William Joy shows through images posted on Twitter, the beam nears Bradys face several times, including during crucial moments of the game. One such occasion arose when Kansas City Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen intercepted a pass thrown by Brady. Imagery shared by KCTVs David Harris also reveals that the beam reached the helmet of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Nnadi and possibly other Chiefs and New England Patriots players who were positioned near Brady. Joy reports that he spoke with representatives of the NFL, Patriots and Chiefs after the game. Each told him that they hadnt noticed the beam or heard complaints about it. Bradys play also didnt appear to suffer. The 41-year-old threw for 348 yards and led his team to a thrilling 37-31 overtime victory. The Patriots will face the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3. Regardless of whether the laser pointer impacted the AFC Championship, the fact that it repeatedly near a players face presents a safety risk. It is a risk that both the NFL and NFLPA will explore. Further, to the extent a fans laser pointer is used to obstruct the vision of the opposing teams quarterback, the NFL must investigate whether it could give the home team an unfair advantage and what, if anything, should be done as a result. 5 Key Takeaways from LaserGate: Ensuring Player Safety and the Integrity of Games First, laser pointers can severely damage a persons vision and such damage can occur almost instantly. The Mayo Clinic notes that laser pointers, especially those with short wave lengths such as green laser pointers, can permanently damage the retina and cause visual loss with exposures as short as a few seconds. Whether a laser pointer impairs a quarterbacks ability to accurately throw a football is a secondary concern to whether the pointer might temporarily, or even permanently, blind the quarterback. The fact that certain types of green-beam laser pointers are flagged by the Mayo Clinic as particularly harmful should concern the NFL: the beam on Brady was green. Second, the power, accessibility and movability of laser pointers make them difficult for stadiums to police. Laser points can have long ranges that would allow a person seated anywhere in a stadium to beam a player. In fact, basic laser pointers typically beam for over a half of a mile. Many of these devices are also inexpensive, with some costing under $20. Many also fit within the palm of ones hand and are very light, meaning they are easy to conceal and transport. In other words, if someone wanted to enter an NFL stadium and direct a beam onto players face, it probably wouldnt take much effort or expense to do so. McCann: Don't Expect Legal Remedies in Aftermath of Rams' Win Over Saints Third, NFL stadiums have code of conduct policies that are compromised when someone disrupts a players vision through a laser pointer. Arrowhead Stadium, for instance, instructs that ticket holders are forbidden from any behavior that is unruly or disruptive. Likewise, ticket holders are prohibited from impeding the progress of the game. Similarly, they are barred from engaging in conduct that endangers the safety of others. Any attempt to distract the opposing teams quarterback through a laser pointer would clearly violate Arrowheads code of conduct. A code of conduct violation could trigger a permanent ban from Arrowhead Stadium. A game ticket is a contract that, in exchange for a price, provides the ticket holder with a limited and revocable license to enter the stadium in order to watch a game. In the absence of possessing a license, a spectator would be classified as a trespasser and could be arrested. A team could decide to never again offer a license to a person who violates the stadiums code of conduct. Enforceability of such a ban would be a challenge. While facial recognition software and credit card watchlists would facilitate enforcement, Arrowhead Stadium seats over 76,000 people and has limited capacity to monitor each person who enters. A banned person could pay for a ticket with cash or have someone else buy it for him or her. Also, the banned person will obviously age over time. As his or her appearance changes, it would become even more difficult to administer a ban that is dependent on visual identification. Fourth, use of a laser pointer can constitute a criminal act. For instance, it is a federal crime to aim a laser pointer at an aircraft while it is in flight. A number of states and cities also outlaw use of laser pointers when they interfere with law enforcement, ambulatory services or motorists. Likewise, some jurisdictions have banned harassment by laser pointers. While neither Missouri nor Kansas City has a specific law on use of a laser pointer as a tool of harassment, an attempt to impair the vision of another person could count as battery, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace or similar offenses. To that point, if the person(s) who directed a laser pointer at Brady in Arrowhead Stadium is identified through the NFLs investigation (or through any investigation conducted by local law enforcement), theres a good chance that person would be charged with a crime. BRANDT: NFL Must Upgrade Technology in Wake of Blown Pass Interference Call Fifth, the laser attack on Brady is not an isolated incident for the NFL. In 2016, Brock Osweiler complained about a spectator distracting him with a laser during a game between the Houston Texans and the Oakland Raiders. A couple of years earlier, the Detroit Lions identified and then permanently banned a fan from Ford Field after the fan had used a laser pointer to distract Buffalo Bills players during a game against the Lions. Given the affordability and prevalence of laser pointers, the league and NFLPA should consider their accompanying safety risk a topic for further analysis. The league should also be motivated by competitiveness concerns. Stated bluntly, fans who try to blind opposing teams players could endanger the integrity of games and frustrate the NFLs oft-mentioned focus on fair play. Consider the importance of competitiveness within official league documents. The Official Playing Rules of the NFL, for instance, detail the commissioners desire to avoid competitive inequities in policies governing how games are played. For its part, the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFLPA discusses how microphones affixed to players should not create a competitive disadvantage for the player or his team. The NFLs Constitution and Bylaws also supply relevant language. They impose very specific rules about use of communications and information-gathering equipment in order to ensure those devices do not unfairly aid a team during the playing of a game. They also prescribe rules for use of electronic magnifiers and loud speaker systems. The larger point: The NFL repeatedly pledges to ensure that the presentation and design of games do not cause unfair advantage or unfair disadvantage. With that same spirit in mind, the league could inform teams that they must more aggressively monitor use of laser technology by spectators. A failure to do so could trigger punishments of fines or losses of draft picks. Any such policy along those lines would need to be voted on by owners, at least some of whom would caution that policing tens of thousands of spectators is logistically challenging. Owners would also stress that there are privacy concerns with closely monitoring spectators. Still, if a player is injured by a laser pointer or if a game is clearly impacted by the use of one, the league might regret not addressing the issue more sternly. Just look at the fallout of a referees failure to call pass interference in a conference championship game. Michael McCann is SIs legal analyst. He is also Associate Dean of the University of New Hampshire School of Law and editor and co-author of The Oxford Handbook of American Sports Law and Court Justice: The Inside Story of My Battle Against the NCAA.

The NFL is investigating a suspicious green beam that repeatedly appeared on Tom Brady's uniform, helmet and skin during the AFC Championship on Sunday. The NFL and NFLPA will explore whether the laser pointer impacted the game.

ctrlsum

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/22/nfl-laser-pointer-tom-brady-arrowhead-stadium

Will NFL fix its laser pointer problem after latest one on Tom Brady?

Even a laser beam to the face cant stop Tom Brady. But pointing a laser at him could lead to criminal charges and a permanent ban from an NFL stadium. It could also lead the NFL to rethink stadium security policies and how those policies connect to the integrity of the game. The NFL is investigating a suspicious green beam that repeatedly appeared on Bradys uniform, helmet and skin during the AFC Championship on Sunday. As KMBC's William Joy shows through images posted on Twitter, the beam nears Bradys face several times, including during crucial moments of the game. One such occasion arose when Kansas City Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen intercepted a pass thrown by Brady. Imagery shared by KCTVs David Harris also reveals that the beam reached the helmet of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Nnadi and possibly other Chiefs and New England Patriots players who were positioned near Brady. Joy reports that he spoke with representatives of the NFL, Patriots and Chiefs after the game. Each told him that they hadnt noticed the beam or heard complaints about it. Bradys play also didnt appear to suffer. The 41-year-old threw for 348 yards and led his team to a thrilling 37-31 overtime victory. The Patriots will face the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3. Regardless of whether the laser pointer impacted the AFC Championship, the fact that it repeatedly near a players face presents a safety risk. It is a risk that both the NFL and NFLPA will explore. Further, to the extent a fans laser pointer is used to obstruct the vision of the opposing teams quarterback, the NFL must investigate whether it could give the home team an unfair advantage and what, if anything, should be done as a result. 5 Key Takeaways from LaserGate: Ensuring Player Safety and the Integrity of Games First, laser pointers can severely damage a persons vision and such damage can occur almost instantly. The Mayo Clinic notes that laser pointers, especially those with short wave lengths such as green laser pointers, can permanently damage the retina and cause visual loss with exposures as short as a few seconds. Whether a laser pointer impairs a quarterbacks ability to accurately throw a football is a secondary concern to whether the pointer might temporarily, or even permanently, blind the quarterback. The fact that certain types of green-beam laser pointers are flagged by the Mayo Clinic as particularly harmful should concern the NFL: the beam on Brady was green. Second, the power, accessibility and movability of laser pointers make them difficult for stadiums to police. Laser points can have long ranges that would allow a person seated anywhere in a stadium to beam a player. In fact, basic laser pointers typically beam for over a half of a mile. Many of these devices are also inexpensive, with some costing under $20. Many also fit within the palm of ones hand and are very light, meaning they are easy to conceal and transport. In other words, if someone wanted to enter an NFL stadium and direct a beam onto players face, it probably wouldnt take much effort or expense to do so. McCann: Don't Expect Legal Remedies in Aftermath of Rams' Win Over Saints Third, NFL stadiums have code of conduct policies that are compromised when someone disrupts a players vision through a laser pointer. Arrowhead Stadium, for instance, instructs that ticket holders are forbidden from any behavior that is unruly or disruptive. Likewise, ticket holders are prohibited from impeding the progress of the game. Similarly, they are barred from engaging in conduct that endangers the safety of others. Any attempt to distract the opposing teams quarterback through a laser pointer would clearly violate Arrowheads code of conduct. A code of conduct violation could trigger a permanent ban from Arrowhead Stadium. A game ticket is a contract that, in exchange for a price, provides the ticket holder with a limited and revocable license to enter the stadium in order to watch a game. In the absence of possessing a license, a spectator would be classified as a trespasser and could be arrested. A team could decide to never again offer a license to a person who violates the stadiums code of conduct. Enforceability of such a ban would be a challenge. While facial recognition software and credit card watchlists would facilitate enforcement, Arrowhead Stadium seats over 76,000 people and has limited capacity to monitor each person who enters. A banned person could pay for a ticket with cash or have someone else buy it for him or her. Also, the banned person will obviously age over time. As his or her appearance changes, it would become even more difficult to administer a ban that is dependent on visual identification. Fourth, use of a laser pointer can constitute a criminal act. For instance, it is a federal crime to aim a laser pointer at an aircraft while it is in flight. A number of states and cities also outlaw use of laser pointers when they interfere with law enforcement, ambulatory services or motorists. Likewise, some jurisdictions have banned harassment by laser pointers. While neither Missouri nor Kansas City has a specific law on use of a laser pointer as a tool of harassment, an attempt to impair the vision of another person could count as battery, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace or similar offenses. To that point, if the person(s) who directed a laser pointer at Brady in Arrowhead Stadium is identified through the NFLs investigation (or through any investigation conducted by local law enforcement), theres a good chance that person would be charged with a crime. BRANDT: NFL Must Upgrade Technology in Wake of Blown Pass Interference Call Fifth, the laser attack on Brady is not an isolated incident for the NFL. In 2016, Brock Osweiler complained about a spectator distracting him with a laser during a game between the Houston Texans and the Oakland Raiders. A couple of years earlier, the Detroit Lions identified and then permanently banned a fan from Ford Field after the fan had used a laser pointer to distract Buffalo Bills players during a game against the Lions. Given the affordability and prevalence of laser pointers, the league and NFLPA should consider their accompanying safety risk a topic for further analysis. The league should also be motivated by competitiveness concerns. Stated bluntly, fans who try to blind opposing teams players could endanger the integrity of games and frustrate the NFLs oft-mentioned focus on fair play. Consider the importance of competitiveness within official league documents. The Official Playing Rules of the NFL, for instance, detail the commissioners desire to avoid competitive inequities in policies governing how games are played. For its part, the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFLPA discusses how microphones affixed to players should not create a competitive disadvantage for the player or his team. The NFLs Constitution and Bylaws also supply relevant language. They impose very specific rules about use of communications and information-gathering equipment in order to ensure those devices do not unfairly aid a team during the playing of a game. They also prescribe rules for use of electronic magnifiers and loud speaker systems. The larger point: The NFL repeatedly pledges to ensure that the presentation and design of games do not cause unfair advantage or unfair disadvantage. With that same spirit in mind, the league could inform teams that they must more aggressively monitor use of laser technology by spectators. A failure to do so could trigger punishments of fines or losses of draft picks. Any such policy along those lines would need to be voted on by owners, at least some of whom would caution that policing tens of thousands of spectators is logistically challenging. Owners would also stress that there are privacy concerns with closely monitoring spectators. Still, if a player is injured by a laser pointer or if a game is clearly impacted by the use of one, the league might regret not addressing the issue more sternly. Just look at the fallout of a referees failure to call pass interference in a conference championship game. Michael McCann is SIs legal analyst. He is also Associate Dean of the University of New Hampshire School of Law and editor and co-author of The Oxford Handbook of American Sports Law and Court Justice: The Inside Story of My Battle Against the NCAA.

The NFL is investigating a suspicious green beam that repeatedly appeared on Tom Bradys uniform, helmet and skin during the AFC Championship on Sunday. The NFL must investigate whether a laser pointer is used to obstruct the vision of the opposing team's quarterback. Laser points can have long ranges that would allow a person seated anywhere in a stadium to beam a player.

bart

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/22/nfl-laser-pointer-tom-brady-arrowhead-stadium

What Would a "Green New Deal" Look Like for Architecture?

Newly elected Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez got tongues wagging this month when she championed a plan for a Green New Deal, and drafted a proposal to kickstart the committee that would create it. While shes not the first to suggest the idea, timing and the cultural climate are apt for a renewal of the discussion. Ocasio-Cortezs plan, which emphasizes decarbonization, job creation, and social and economic justice, is politically audaciousit aims for 100 percent renewable energy within 12 yearsbut in line with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s most recent warning that the world has about a decade to get climate change under control if we are to thwart its worst effects. With close to half of all greenhouse gas emissions coming from the built environment, architects and designers should feel welcome wading into the conversation. In the past, buildings were designed to hold people and things and to receive energy along a one-way artery from a faraway grid. Under a Green New Deal, that way of building would be considered outdated and obsolete. Instead, buildings would be considered mini power plants that can not only produce enough energy to supply their own needs, but also fuel vehicles and send excess energy back to the grid. Engineer testing solar panels at sunny power plant Photo: Caiaimage / Trevor Adeline / Getty Images More Theres a loosening of the boundaries around things that define energytheyre not siloed anymore, says Jacob Corvidae, a principal at the Rocky Mountain Institute's Buildings Practice. Suddenly, a building is not just a building. Corvidae believes all new construction should already be held to such standards. We should stop the bleeding now, he explains. If you dont build it to zero-energy now, you run the risk of being obsolete in ten years. In other words, any building not designed to meet net-zero-energy standards is already archaic. A Green New Deal would inject capital, job training, and manufacturing incentives into the system, accelerating the pace of a green economy. Building green infrastructure would be a major source of employment, and would help establish better social and economic equity, too; reliable, multimodal transit infrastructure to and from working-class neighborhoods would provide access to more jobs, schools, grocery stores, and other essentials they may currently be isolated from. Better infrastructure also builds resiliency for those communitiesan important element in the face of ever more extreme weather events. Design that considers this helps ensure that some communities aren't marginalized and isolated afterward, and considers environmental impact, too. Having lived through Hurricane Harvey, its so important to recognize that we are living in transitional times where the transformation of the built environment for resilience is key, says Rives Taylor, sustainability leader at Gensler in Houston. This means not building in a way where we have to throw away much distressed or damaged material after events like this. Germany, Tuebingen, ecological multi-family houses at French quarter Photo: Getty Images More

In the past, buildings were designed to receive energy along a one-way artery from a faraway grid. Under a Green New Deal, that way of building would be considered outdated and obsolete. A Green New Deal would inject capital, job training, and manufacturing incentives into the system, accelerating the pace of a green economy.

pegasus

https://news.yahoo.com/green-deal-look-architecture-201524029.html

What Are The 25 Best Jobs In The U.K. And How Much Do They Pay According To Glassdoor?

Audit manager has come #1 in Glassdoors annual 25 best jobs in the UK survey, followed by finance manager at #2 and marketing manager at # 3, see the full list below. The results are also notable for all but one of the salaries being flat compared to last year and, in several cases including audit manager, actually having decreased year-on-year. Onwards and upwards The rise of the audit manager - from #3 in 2017 to #2 last year and #1 today - can be explained by the methodology of the survey despite the role's declining earning potential. Glassdoor ranks jobs not just by median base salary (that is the amount paid before any extras) but also overall satisfaction and number of openings. Our own research showed the status and reputation of audit managers has gone up fast because of the fallout from the financial crisis, says Ian Peters, the CEO of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors. In the immediate aftermath, the professional body worked with the Financial Conduct Authority and two other regularity bodies to produce a financial services code which included new requirements such as heads of audit having direct access to the CEO and the executive committee. Theres more influence and authority around auditing so it is far more attractive and satisfying to do compared to the past, continues Peters. A new reliance on audit has not been restricted to the private sector. The state of government finances following the crisis and pressure on resources led central government to launch the Government Internal Audit Agency in 2015 which now employs 450 people in 65 locations. Bumping along It is ironic, therefore, that just as the Glassdoor survey reflects auditor managers satisfaction at their new-found influence within the workplace and the increased number of job opportunities, the role is one of several to show a year-on-year decline in salaries. Audit manager has seen a 13% decline in two years, or 7,500. It is not alone. Finance manager has seen a 12% decline in salary; marketing manager has slipped 6% in earnings and even commercial manager 12%. It is only as employees try to move jobs - from one company to another, from the private to the public sector or promoted within an organisation to managerial level - that they are likely to become aware of this decline in their earning potential. The situation has not been helped that employees have been battling with what are in effect stagnating wage growth. Weve been in a relatively low inflation and low pay rise environment, seen at most levels of salaries, says Stefan Stern, Visiting Professor at Cass Business School and former director of the High Pay Centre. The Office for National Statistics shows an annual earnings growth for managers, directors and senior officials of 2% in 2018 following a mere 1.6% the year before. Money isn't everything If there have been some higher salaries it is to get people through the door such as starting levels and key functions. But that is not spreading to rest of the workplace, says Charles Cotton. Nor to people at managerial level. And if we are seeing more jobs from the voluntary sector and not-for-profit sectors, they will have an impact because they cannot match salaries in the private sector, continues the Performance and Reward Advisor of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Of course, uncertainty over Brexit has impacted investment along with other headwinds such as the threat of a U.S-China trade war. Luckily, and as these results indicate, we dont just go to work to pay the mortgage. Businesses nervous about the economy need to be imaginative and think more widely about reward than just cash, says Stern. What we are interested in is intrinsic motivation and salary is not that." 25 best jobs in the U.K. the complete results 1. Audit manager (up from #3 last year*) Job score: 4.6 Job satisfaction rating: 4.5 Number of job openings: 1,124 Median base salary: 52,000 2. Finance manager (up from #4*) Job score: 4.5 Job satisfaction rating: 3.8 Number of job openings: 2,001 Median base salary: 60,000 3. Marketing manager (down from #1*) Job score: 4.4 Job satisfaction rating: 3.9 Number of job openings: 1,966 Median base salary: 42,500 4. Product manager (no change*) Job score: 4.4All Posts Job satisfaction rating: 3.8 Number of job openings: 1,697 Median base salary: 52,500 5. Sales manager (new entry*) Job score: 4.4 Job satisfaction rating: 3.8 Number of job openings: 2,795 Median base salary: 42,000 6. Risk manager (new entry*) Job score: 4.3 Job satisfaction rating: 3.9 Number of job openings: 1,111 Median base salary: 60,000 7. Data scientist (up from #17*) Job score: 4.3 Job satisfaction rating: 4.0 Number of job openings: 995 Median Base Salary: 46,000 8. Operations manager (down from #2*) Job score: 4.3 Job satisfaction rating: 3.7 Number of job openings: 2,226 Median base salary: 42,000 9. Design manager (new entry*) Job score: 4.3 Job satisfaction rating: 4.1 Number of job openings: 719 Median base salary: 55,000 10. Business analyst (down from #9*) Job score: 4.3 Job satisfaction Rating: 3.7 Number of job openings: 2,949 Median base salary: 40,000 11. Front end developer (new entry*) Job score: 4.3 Job satisfaction rating: 4.0 Number of job openings: 1,841 Median base salary: 35,000 12. Commercial manager (down from #8*) Job score: 4.2 Job satisfaction rating: 4.0 Number of job openings: 701 Median base salary: 57,000 13. Business development manager (down from #11*) Job score: 4.2 Job satisfaction rating: 3.7 Number of job openings: 3,915 Median base salary: 37,060 14. Project manager (down from #10*) Job score: 4.2 Job satisfaction rating: 3.6 Number of job openings: 7,320 Median base salary: 39,000 15. HR manager (down from #6*) Job score: 4.2 Job satisfaction rating: 4.1 Number of job openings: 664 Median base salary: 49,000 16. Contract manager (down from #7*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 3.7 Number of job openings: 1,687 Median base salary: 40,000 17. Communication manager (up from #18*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 4.1 Number of job openings: 651 Median base salary: 43,700 18. Software engineer (down from #12*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 3.5 Number of job openings: 4,876 Median base salary: 43,000 19. Executive assistant (up from #25*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 4.1 Number of job openings: 853 Median Base Salary: 37,000 20. HR business partner (down from #13*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 3.8 Number of job openings: 753 Median base salary: 49,000 21. Engagement manager (up from #24*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 4.3 Number of job openings: 405 Median base salary: 48,000 22. Web developer (new entry*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 3.9 Number of job openings: 1,586 Median base salary: 31,000 23. Recruiter (down from #19*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 4.4 Number of job openings: 2,862 Median base salary: 25,000 24. Solutions architect (down from #14*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 3.4 Number of job openings: 1,597 Median base salary: 70,000 25. Software developer (new entry*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 3.5 Number of job openings: 3,088 Median base salary: 37,000 * see previous years results.

Audit manager has come #1 in Glassdoors annual 25 best jobs in the UK. Finance manager at #2 and marketing manager at # 3 also made the list.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnwelsheurope/2019/01/23/what-are-the-25-best-jobs-in-the-u-k-and-how-much-do-they-pay-according-to-glassdoor/

What Are The 25 Best Jobs In The U.K. And How Much Do They Pay According To Glassdoor?

Audit manager has come #1 in Glassdoors annual 25 best jobs in the UK survey, followed by finance manager at #2 and marketing manager at # 3, see the full list below. The results are also notable for all but one of the salaries being flat compared to last year and, in several cases including audit manager, actually having decreased year-on-year. Onwards and upwards The rise of the audit manager - from #3 in 2017 to #2 last year and #1 today - can be explained by the methodology of the survey despite the role's declining earning potential. Glassdoor ranks jobs not just by median base salary (that is the amount paid before any extras) but also overall satisfaction and number of openings. Our own research showed the status and reputation of audit managers has gone up fast because of the fallout from the financial crisis, says Ian Peters, the CEO of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors. In the immediate aftermath, the professional body worked with the Financial Conduct Authority and two other regularity bodies to produce a financial services code which included new requirements such as heads of audit having direct access to the CEO and the executive committee. Theres more influence and authority around auditing so it is far more attractive and satisfying to do compared to the past, continues Peters. A new reliance on audit has not been restricted to the private sector. The state of government finances following the crisis and pressure on resources led central government to launch the Government Internal Audit Agency in 2015 which now employs 450 people in 65 locations. Bumping along It is ironic, therefore, that just as the Glassdoor survey reflects auditor managers satisfaction at their new-found influence within the workplace and the increased number of job opportunities, the role is one of several to show a year-on-year decline in salaries. Audit manager has seen a 13% decline in two years, or 7,500. It is not alone. Finance manager has seen a 12% decline in salary; marketing manager has slipped 6% in earnings and even commercial manager 12%. It is only as employees try to move jobs - from one company to another, from the private to the public sector or promoted within an organisation to managerial level - that they are likely to become aware of this decline in their earning potential. The situation has not been helped that employees have been battling with what are in effect stagnating wage growth. Weve been in a relatively low inflation and low pay rise environment, seen at most levels of salaries, says Stefan Stern, Visiting Professor at Cass Business School and former director of the High Pay Centre. The Office for National Statistics shows an annual earnings growth for managers, directors and senior officials of 2% in 2018 following a mere 1.6% the year before. Money isn't everything If there have been some higher salaries it is to get people through the door such as starting levels and key functions. But that is not spreading to rest of the workplace, says Charles Cotton. Nor to people at managerial level. And if we are seeing more jobs from the voluntary sector and not-for-profit sectors, they will have an impact because they cannot match salaries in the private sector, continues the Performance and Reward Advisor of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Of course, uncertainty over Brexit has impacted investment along with other headwinds such as the threat of a U.S-China trade war. Luckily, and as these results indicate, we dont just go to work to pay the mortgage. Businesses nervous about the economy need to be imaginative and think more widely about reward than just cash, says Stern. What we are interested in is intrinsic motivation and salary is not that." 25 best jobs in the U.K. the complete results 1. Audit manager (up from #3 last year*) Job score: 4.6 Job satisfaction rating: 4.5 Number of job openings: 1,124 Median base salary: 52,000 2. Finance manager (up from #4*) Job score: 4.5 Job satisfaction rating: 3.8 Number of job openings: 2,001 Median base salary: 60,000 3. Marketing manager (down from #1*) Job score: 4.4 Job satisfaction rating: 3.9 Number of job openings: 1,966 Median base salary: 42,500 4. Product manager (no change*) Job score: 4.4All Posts Job satisfaction rating: 3.8 Number of job openings: 1,697 Median base salary: 52,500 5. Sales manager (new entry*) Job score: 4.4 Job satisfaction rating: 3.8 Number of job openings: 2,795 Median base salary: 42,000 6. Risk manager (new entry*) Job score: 4.3 Job satisfaction rating: 3.9 Number of job openings: 1,111 Median base salary: 60,000 7. Data scientist (up from #17*) Job score: 4.3 Job satisfaction rating: 4.0 Number of job openings: 995 Median Base Salary: 46,000 8. Operations manager (down from #2*) Job score: 4.3 Job satisfaction rating: 3.7 Number of job openings: 2,226 Median base salary: 42,000 9. Design manager (new entry*) Job score: 4.3 Job satisfaction rating: 4.1 Number of job openings: 719 Median base salary: 55,000 10. Business analyst (down from #9*) Job score: 4.3 Job satisfaction Rating: 3.7 Number of job openings: 2,949 Median base salary: 40,000 11. Front end developer (new entry*) Job score: 4.3 Job satisfaction rating: 4.0 Number of job openings: 1,841 Median base salary: 35,000 12. Commercial manager (down from #8*) Job score: 4.2 Job satisfaction rating: 4.0 Number of job openings: 701 Median base salary: 57,000 13. Business development manager (down from #11*) Job score: 4.2 Job satisfaction rating: 3.7 Number of job openings: 3,915 Median base salary: 37,060 14. Project manager (down from #10*) Job score: 4.2 Job satisfaction rating: 3.6 Number of job openings: 7,320 Median base salary: 39,000 15. HR manager (down from #6*) Job score: 4.2 Job satisfaction rating: 4.1 Number of job openings: 664 Median base salary: 49,000 16. Contract manager (down from #7*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 3.7 Number of job openings: 1,687 Median base salary: 40,000 17. Communication manager (up from #18*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 4.1 Number of job openings: 651 Median base salary: 43,700 18. Software engineer (down from #12*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 3.5 Number of job openings: 4,876 Median base salary: 43,000 19. Executive assistant (up from #25*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 4.1 Number of job openings: 853 Median Base Salary: 37,000 20. HR business partner (down from #13*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 3.8 Number of job openings: 753 Median base salary: 49,000 21. Engagement manager (up from #24*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 4.3 Number of job openings: 405 Median base salary: 48,000 22. Web developer (new entry*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 3.9 Number of job openings: 1,586 Median base salary: 31,000 23. Recruiter (down from #19*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 4.4 Number of job openings: 2,862 Median base salary: 25,000 24. Solutions architect (down from #14*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 3.4 Number of job openings: 1,597 Median base salary: 70,000 25. Software developer (new entry*) Job score: 4.1 Job satisfaction rating: 3.5 Number of job openings: 3,088 Median base salary: 37,000 * see previous years results.

Audit manager has come #1 in Glassdoors annual 25 best jobs in the UK. Finance manager at #2 and marketing manager at # 3 also made the list. The results are notable for all but one of the salaries being flat compared to last year.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnwelsheurope/2019/01/23/what-are-the-25-best-jobs-in-the-u-k-and-how-much-do-they-pay-according-to-glassdoor/

Can authors still make a living?

Except for a relatively small group of authors churning out bestsellers, writing has never been a lucrative career choice. But a report by the Authors Guild, a professional organization for book writers, shows that it may not even be a livable one anymore. According to the report, the median pay for full-time writers was $20,300 in 2017, and that number fell to $6,080 when part-time writers were considered. The latter figure reflects a 42 percent drop since 2009, when the median was $10,500. These findings are the result of an expansive 2018 study of more than 5,000 published book authors, across genres and including both traditional and self-published writers. In the 20th century, a good literary writer could earn a middle-class living just writing, said Mary Rasenberger, executive director of the guild. Now, most writers need to supplement their income with speaking engagements or teaching. Strictly book-related income which is to say royalties and advances are also down, almost 30 percent for full-time writers since 2009. Writing for magazines and newspapers was once a solid source of additional income for professional writers, but the decline in freelance journalism and pay has meant less opportunity for authors. Many print publications, which offered the highest rate, have been shuttered altogether. The decline in earnings also is tied to the self-publishing, e-book and resale markets, according to Rasenberger. Small and independent publishers, which have fewer resources and bargaining power, have been particularly hard hit. Book publishing companies are passing these losses along to writers in the form of lower royalties and advances. Authors also lose out on income from books resold on the internet. The writing industry as a whole has always eluded standardization in pay. The people who are able to practice the trade of authoring are people who have other sources of income, said Manjula Martin, one of the authors of the book Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living. This creates barriers of entry and limits the types of stories that reach a wide audience. There is also, she added, a devaluation of writing in which it is often viewed as a hobby as opposed to a vocation. Everyone thinks they can write, because everybody writes, said Rasenberger, pointing to the proliferation of blogging. But she distinguishes these from professional writers who have been working on their craft and art of writing for years. What a professional writer can convey in written word is far superior to what the rest of us can do, Rasenberger said. As a society we need that, because its a way to crystallize ideas, make us see things in a new way and create understanding of who we are as a people, where we are today and where were going.

The median pay for full-time writers was $20,300 in 2017, and that number fell to $6,080.

bart

http://www.startribune.com/can-authors-still-make-a-living/504703122/

Can authors still make a living?

Except for a relatively small group of authors churning out bestsellers, writing has never been a lucrative career choice. But a report by the Authors Guild, a professional organization for book writers, shows that it may not even be a livable one anymore. According to the report, the median pay for full-time writers was $20,300 in 2017, and that number fell to $6,080 when part-time writers were considered. The latter figure reflects a 42 percent drop since 2009, when the median was $10,500. These findings are the result of an expansive 2018 study of more than 5,000 published book authors, across genres and including both traditional and self-published writers. In the 20th century, a good literary writer could earn a middle-class living just writing, said Mary Rasenberger, executive director of the guild. Now, most writers need to supplement their income with speaking engagements or teaching. Strictly book-related income which is to say royalties and advances are also down, almost 30 percent for full-time writers since 2009. Writing for magazines and newspapers was once a solid source of additional income for professional writers, but the decline in freelance journalism and pay has meant less opportunity for authors. Many print publications, which offered the highest rate, have been shuttered altogether. The decline in earnings also is tied to the self-publishing, e-book and resale markets, according to Rasenberger. Small and independent publishers, which have fewer resources and bargaining power, have been particularly hard hit. Book publishing companies are passing these losses along to writers in the form of lower royalties and advances. Authors also lose out on income from books resold on the internet. The writing industry as a whole has always eluded standardization in pay. The people who are able to practice the trade of authoring are people who have other sources of income, said Manjula Martin, one of the authors of the book Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living. This creates barriers of entry and limits the types of stories that reach a wide audience. There is also, she added, a devaluation of writing in which it is often viewed as a hobby as opposed to a vocation. Everyone thinks they can write, because everybody writes, said Rasenberger, pointing to the proliferation of blogging. But she distinguishes these from professional writers who have been working on their craft and art of writing for years. What a professional writer can convey in written word is far superior to what the rest of us can do, Rasenberger said. As a society we need that, because its a way to crystallize ideas, make us see things in a new way and create understanding of who we are as a people, where we are today and where were going.

The median pay for full-time writers was $20,300 in 2017, a 42 percent drop since 2009. The decline in earnings is tied to the self-publishing, e-book and resale markets.

bart

http://www.startribune.com/can-authors-still-make-a-living/504703122/

Can authors still make a living?

Except for a relatively small group of authors churning out bestsellers, writing has never been a lucrative career choice. But a report by the Authors Guild, a professional organization for book writers, shows that it may not even be a livable one anymore. According to the report, the median pay for full-time writers was $20,300 in 2017, and that number fell to $6,080 when part-time writers were considered. The latter figure reflects a 42 percent drop since 2009, when the median was $10,500. These findings are the result of an expansive 2018 study of more than 5,000 published book authors, across genres and including both traditional and self-published writers. In the 20th century, a good literary writer could earn a middle-class living just writing, said Mary Rasenberger, executive director of the guild. Now, most writers need to supplement their income with speaking engagements or teaching. Strictly book-related income which is to say royalties and advances are also down, almost 30 percent for full-time writers since 2009. Writing for magazines and newspapers was once a solid source of additional income for professional writers, but the decline in freelance journalism and pay has meant less opportunity for authors. Many print publications, which offered the highest rate, have been shuttered altogether. The decline in earnings also is tied to the self-publishing, e-book and resale markets, according to Rasenberger. Small and independent publishers, which have fewer resources and bargaining power, have been particularly hard hit. Book publishing companies are passing these losses along to writers in the form of lower royalties and advances. Authors also lose out on income from books resold on the internet. The writing industry as a whole has always eluded standardization in pay. The people who are able to practice the trade of authoring are people who have other sources of income, said Manjula Martin, one of the authors of the book Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living. This creates barriers of entry and limits the types of stories that reach a wide audience. There is also, she added, a devaluation of writing in which it is often viewed as a hobby as opposed to a vocation. Everyone thinks they can write, because everybody writes, said Rasenberger, pointing to the proliferation of blogging. But she distinguishes these from professional writers who have been working on their craft and art of writing for years. What a professional writer can convey in written word is far superior to what the rest of us can do, Rasenberger said. As a society we need that, because its a way to crystallize ideas, make us see things in a new way and create understanding of who we are as a people, where we are today and where were going.

The median pay for full-time writers was $20,300 in 2017, and that number fell to $6,080. The latter figure reflects a 42 percent drop since 2009, when the median was $10,500. The decline in earnings also is tied to the self-publishing, e-book and resale markets.

bart

http://www.startribune.com/can-authors-still-make-a-living/504703122/

Has Trump turned his back on Europe?

For generations, American presidents have saved some of their warmest words for their European colleagues. They came to the Berlin Wall and spoke of freedom - and, after it fell, they spoke of a new era of co-operation with a rebuilt Europe. But in the era of Donald Trump, leaders across the continent now know that those days have gone. John F Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner," declaration, Ronald Reagan's 1987 message to Moscow: "Mr Gorbachev tear down this wall," George HW Bush's promises of collaboration after the Cold War and Barack Obama's warm words about binding ties across the Atlantic are all now distant memories. With every visit to Europe and every White House tweet about the cost of Nato or EU tariffs, this president makes it clear that he believes Europe is more often an impediment than an ally. None of his predecessors would have dreamed of calling the EU a "foe", as President Trump did in a recent interview about trade. With Europe embroiled in its Brexit difficulties, which leave so many questions unanswered, its leaders also find themselves scrambling to work out what it might mean if these old ties with the United States continue to unravel. That was what German Chancellor Angela Merkel was contemplating when she said, a few months ago, that it was time for Europe to take its destiny into its own hands. It was instructive to spend a few days in Berlin recently and to hear over and over again a version of these words. As Daniela Schwarzer, from the German Council on Foreign Relations think tank, put it: "The United States, with its 'America first' approach, has put Europe and Germany into the space of a strategic competitor, if not even an enemy." Image copyright Getty Images Many of the journalists who watched Donald Trump's inaugural presidential address two years ago - in which the "America first" phrase became the theme of a nationalist marching song - wondered how far he would go. It seems not. Karen Donfried, who served as President Obama's European adviser, told me: "I would not assume that whoever follows Donald Trump goes back to where we were pre-Trump, because you can't. "Those four or eight years that Donald Trump is president will have changed the relationship and changed the US role in the world, so it will be different." Think of a rolling crisis on Europe's eastern border - between Ukraine and Russia. Since the contentious annexation of Crimea in 2014 - which the Obama administration declared illegal and a reason for sanctions on Russia - there has been a series of clashes that have made it clear Vladimir Putin is not interested in taking the pressure off. Why Ukraine-Russia sea clash is fraught with risk That is likely to be obvious in the run-up to the Ukrainian presidential election in March. But, in Washington, Donald Trump has shown little interest in the concern across Europe - especially in Poland and Germany - about President Putin's expansionist policy. Image copyright Getty Images Instead of promoting a collective approach, he has preferred his characteristic man-to-man style of negotiating, claiming that he rescued his relationship with President Putin in one conversation, a two-hour closed summit in Helsinki in July 2018. Trump-Putin summit: After Helsinki, the fallout at home But in Angela Merkel's office, there was incredulity that the White House didn't consult its allies before that meeting with the Russian president and that it passed on almost nothing afterwards, beyond what emerged via Twitter. Find out more: James Naughtie presents America's Friends on BBC Radio 4 on Monday, 14 January, at 20:00 GMT and Wednesday, 16 January, at 11:00 GMT. Or you can listen again after broadcast via the BBC Radio 4 website or BBC Sounds. "The Americans are our most important ally and we know how much we depend on the American contribution to our defence and security in the EU," said David McAllister, German-born to a Scots father, an MEP for Angela Merkel's CDU party, and one of her closest colleagues. "But it's now about strengthening the European pillar within Nato, because under this president - and perhaps also under the next president - we might see less appetite in Washington to get involved in our immediate neighbourhood if it might be necessary." So, rethinking is needed inside Nato. But that challenge is coming at an awkward moment: Angela Merkel is stepping down in two years, meaning Europe's dominant political figure will be gone. In Berlin, I also spoke to retired American diplomat John Kornblum, who followed the course of the Cold War from the 1960s to the end, and then became the US's German ambassador. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Ronald Reagan's call to Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall in June 1987 was one of the most significant acts of his presidency He wrote much of that 1987 Reagan speech, delivered at a time when Western objectives were much clearer than they are today. "Europe is at a crossroads," he told me. "It's now almost 30 years since the end of the Cold War. Europe is in a much weaker, less independent, less stable condition today than it was 30 years ago. And that's an unfortunate thing to say but it's true." It's easier to ask the questions than to find the answers. That's the tenor of these times. What everyone does now know is that Europe and the United States, however much they retain their shared values, have to re-engineer their relationship as together they negotiate a new age of uncertainty.

James Naughtie says U.S. President Donald Trump has turned his back on Europe.

ctrlsum

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46798192

Has Trump turned his back on Europe?

For generations, American presidents have saved some of their warmest words for their European colleagues. They came to the Berlin Wall and spoke of freedom - and, after it fell, they spoke of a new era of co-operation with a rebuilt Europe. But in the era of Donald Trump, leaders across the continent now know that those days have gone. John F Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner," declaration, Ronald Reagan's 1987 message to Moscow: "Mr Gorbachev tear down this wall," George HW Bush's promises of collaboration after the Cold War and Barack Obama's warm words about binding ties across the Atlantic are all now distant memories. With every visit to Europe and every White House tweet about the cost of Nato or EU tariffs, this president makes it clear that he believes Europe is more often an impediment than an ally. None of his predecessors would have dreamed of calling the EU a "foe", as President Trump did in a recent interview about trade. With Europe embroiled in its Brexit difficulties, which leave so many questions unanswered, its leaders also find themselves scrambling to work out what it might mean if these old ties with the United States continue to unravel. That was what German Chancellor Angela Merkel was contemplating when she said, a few months ago, that it was time for Europe to take its destiny into its own hands. It was instructive to spend a few days in Berlin recently and to hear over and over again a version of these words. As Daniela Schwarzer, from the German Council on Foreign Relations think tank, put it: "The United States, with its 'America first' approach, has put Europe and Germany into the space of a strategic competitor, if not even an enemy." Image copyright Getty Images Many of the journalists who watched Donald Trump's inaugural presidential address two years ago - in which the "America first" phrase became the theme of a nationalist marching song - wondered how far he would go. It seems not. Karen Donfried, who served as President Obama's European adviser, told me: "I would not assume that whoever follows Donald Trump goes back to where we were pre-Trump, because you can't. "Those four or eight years that Donald Trump is president will have changed the relationship and changed the US role in the world, so it will be different." Think of a rolling crisis on Europe's eastern border - between Ukraine and Russia. Since the contentious annexation of Crimea in 2014 - which the Obama administration declared illegal and a reason for sanctions on Russia - there has been a series of clashes that have made it clear Vladimir Putin is not interested in taking the pressure off. Why Ukraine-Russia sea clash is fraught with risk That is likely to be obvious in the run-up to the Ukrainian presidential election in March. But, in Washington, Donald Trump has shown little interest in the concern across Europe - especially in Poland and Germany - about President Putin's expansionist policy. Image copyright Getty Images Instead of promoting a collective approach, he has preferred his characteristic man-to-man style of negotiating, claiming that he rescued his relationship with President Putin in one conversation, a two-hour closed summit in Helsinki in July 2018. Trump-Putin summit: After Helsinki, the fallout at home But in Angela Merkel's office, there was incredulity that the White House didn't consult its allies before that meeting with the Russian president and that it passed on almost nothing afterwards, beyond what emerged via Twitter. Find out more: James Naughtie presents America's Friends on BBC Radio 4 on Monday, 14 January, at 20:00 GMT and Wednesday, 16 January, at 11:00 GMT. Or you can listen again after broadcast via the BBC Radio 4 website or BBC Sounds. "The Americans are our most important ally and we know how much we depend on the American contribution to our defence and security in the EU," said David McAllister, German-born to a Scots father, an MEP for Angela Merkel's CDU party, and one of her closest colleagues. "But it's now about strengthening the European pillar within Nato, because under this president - and perhaps also under the next president - we might see less appetite in Washington to get involved in our immediate neighbourhood if it might be necessary." So, rethinking is needed inside Nato. But that challenge is coming at an awkward moment: Angela Merkel is stepping down in two years, meaning Europe's dominant political figure will be gone. In Berlin, I also spoke to retired American diplomat John Kornblum, who followed the course of the Cold War from the 1960s to the end, and then became the US's German ambassador. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Ronald Reagan's call to Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall in June 1987 was one of the most significant acts of his presidency He wrote much of that 1987 Reagan speech, delivered at a time when Western objectives were much clearer than they are today. "Europe is at a crossroads," he told me. "It's now almost 30 years since the end of the Cold War. Europe is in a much weaker, less independent, less stable condition today than it was 30 years ago. And that's an unfortunate thing to say but it's true." It's easier to ask the questions than to find the answers. That's the tenor of these times. What everyone does now know is that Europe and the United States, however much they retain their shared values, have to re-engineer their relationship as together they negotiate a new age of uncertainty.

James Naughtie says U.S. President Donald Trump has turned his back on Europe. He says the president has made it clear that the EU is more often an impediment than an ally.

ctrlsum

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46798192

Has Trump turned his back on Europe?

For generations, American presidents have saved some of their warmest words for their European colleagues. They came to the Berlin Wall and spoke of freedom - and, after it fell, they spoke of a new era of co-operation with a rebuilt Europe. But in the era of Donald Trump, leaders across the continent now know that those days have gone. John F Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner," declaration, Ronald Reagan's 1987 message to Moscow: "Mr Gorbachev tear down this wall," George HW Bush's promises of collaboration after the Cold War and Barack Obama's warm words about binding ties across the Atlantic are all now distant memories. With every visit to Europe and every White House tweet about the cost of Nato or EU tariffs, this president makes it clear that he believes Europe is more often an impediment than an ally. None of his predecessors would have dreamed of calling the EU a "foe", as President Trump did in a recent interview about trade. With Europe embroiled in its Brexit difficulties, which leave so many questions unanswered, its leaders also find themselves scrambling to work out what it might mean if these old ties with the United States continue to unravel. That was what German Chancellor Angela Merkel was contemplating when she said, a few months ago, that it was time for Europe to take its destiny into its own hands. It was instructive to spend a few days in Berlin recently and to hear over and over again a version of these words. As Daniela Schwarzer, from the German Council on Foreign Relations think tank, put it: "The United States, with its 'America first' approach, has put Europe and Germany into the space of a strategic competitor, if not even an enemy." Image copyright Getty Images Many of the journalists who watched Donald Trump's inaugural presidential address two years ago - in which the "America first" phrase became the theme of a nationalist marching song - wondered how far he would go. It seems not. Karen Donfried, who served as President Obama's European adviser, told me: "I would not assume that whoever follows Donald Trump goes back to where we were pre-Trump, because you can't. "Those four or eight years that Donald Trump is president will have changed the relationship and changed the US role in the world, so it will be different." Think of a rolling crisis on Europe's eastern border - between Ukraine and Russia. Since the contentious annexation of Crimea in 2014 - which the Obama administration declared illegal and a reason for sanctions on Russia - there has been a series of clashes that have made it clear Vladimir Putin is not interested in taking the pressure off. Why Ukraine-Russia sea clash is fraught with risk That is likely to be obvious in the run-up to the Ukrainian presidential election in March. But, in Washington, Donald Trump has shown little interest in the concern across Europe - especially in Poland and Germany - about President Putin's expansionist policy. Image copyright Getty Images Instead of promoting a collective approach, he has preferred his characteristic man-to-man style of negotiating, claiming that he rescued his relationship with President Putin in one conversation, a two-hour closed summit in Helsinki in July 2018. Trump-Putin summit: After Helsinki, the fallout at home But in Angela Merkel's office, there was incredulity that the White House didn't consult its allies before that meeting with the Russian president and that it passed on almost nothing afterwards, beyond what emerged via Twitter. Find out more: James Naughtie presents America's Friends on BBC Radio 4 on Monday, 14 January, at 20:00 GMT and Wednesday, 16 January, at 11:00 GMT. Or you can listen again after broadcast via the BBC Radio 4 website or BBC Sounds. "The Americans are our most important ally and we know how much we depend on the American contribution to our defence and security in the EU," said David McAllister, German-born to a Scots father, an MEP for Angela Merkel's CDU party, and one of her closest colleagues. "But it's now about strengthening the European pillar within Nato, because under this president - and perhaps also under the next president - we might see less appetite in Washington to get involved in our immediate neighbourhood if it might be necessary." So, rethinking is needed inside Nato. But that challenge is coming at an awkward moment: Angela Merkel is stepping down in two years, meaning Europe's dominant political figure will be gone. In Berlin, I also spoke to retired American diplomat John Kornblum, who followed the course of the Cold War from the 1960s to the end, and then became the US's German ambassador. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Ronald Reagan's call to Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall in June 1987 was one of the most significant acts of his presidency He wrote much of that 1987 Reagan speech, delivered at a time when Western objectives were much clearer than they are today. "Europe is at a crossroads," he told me. "It's now almost 30 years since the end of the Cold War. Europe is in a much weaker, less independent, less stable condition today than it was 30 years ago. And that's an unfortunate thing to say but it's true." It's easier to ask the questions than to find the answers. That's the tenor of these times. What everyone does now know is that Europe and the United States, however much they retain their shared values, have to re-engineer their relationship as together they negotiate a new age of uncertainty.

James Naughtie says U.S. President Donald Trump has turned his back on Europe. He says the president has made it clear that he believes Europe is more often an impediment than an ally. But he says it is unlikely that the relationship will go back to where it was before.

ctrlsum

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46798192

Which is the world's most LGBT-friendly city?

Even when cities seem progressive on the surface, the lived experience of members of the LGBT community can tell a dramatically different story Amid a mass of colour and pounding Latin rhythms, revellers at this years Bogot Pride march waved banners stating not one step back. They were among tens of thousands who took to the streets to celebrate and support Colombias LGBT community. Many annual Pride marches that were once solemn protests against repression have become celebrations of now-existing rights or progress, reflecting the strength of LGBT communities. In Bogot, for example, the capital of a macho and socially conservative country, there has been surprising progress in LGBT rights. In March, Anglica Lozano Correa, a former member of the Bogot city council, became the first openly LGBT person to be elected to the countrys Senate. In 2016 the countrys government passed laws allowing same-sex couples to adopt and marry, and the previous year it granted transgender people the right to change their identity on official government documents policies which have allowed more equality and openness. But while these laws and political representation might suggest Bogot is friendly and tolerant of the LGBT community, the issue is not clear-cut. This years Bogot Pride march was marked by an undertone of resistance to and fear of the right-wing government of the new president, Ivan Duque. Duque openly opposes the LGBT-inclusive peace agreement his predecessor, Juan Manuel Santos, signed with leftist rebels Farc in 2016. Activists claim he is also against same-sex marriage and adoption rights. Although the government promised there would be no setbacks to LGBT rights, the appointment of several anti-LGBT officials, cuts in resources for public policies and the continued strengthening of radical religious movements that promote hate speech and misinformation against the LGBT population are worrying, says Marcela Snchez, director of Colombia Diversa, a leading LGBT rights organisation. Facebook Twitter Pinterest A man decorates his facade with clothes of the rainbow flag in Spain during the week of Pride celebrations. Photograph: Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images Rough measures Indeed, determining a citys attitude towards the LGBT community is complex. Studies that try to do this often look at political or legal metrics such as freedom to marry, or laws protecting against discrimination. Equaldex, a collaborative knowledge base for the global LGBT movement that maps the legality of homosexuality, identifies a number of factors including freedom to change gender and to adopt although it hasnt ranked countries or cities in order of best to worst. An index from the Human Rights Campaign looks at municipal services, law enforcement and the city leaderships public position on equality across the US. Seventy-eight out of 506 US cities had a perfect score of 100, for reasons such as introducing trans-inclusive health benefits to city employees, as in Brookings, South Dakota. Birmingham, Alabama, obtained a full score for passing comprehensive nondiscrimination ordinances, along with other cities such as Cleveland in Ohio, a state that had previously prohibited same-sex marriage and civil unions. However, the Human Rights Campaign clearly states its index does not and cannot reflect a citys friendliness. Other global surveys have tried to assess friendliness by covering public attitudes, access to nightlife and personal safety. A 2017 survey by the housing website Nestpick ranked the best LGBT cities by asking thousands of people how friendly they felt their city was based on safety and nightlife. Madrid, Amsterdam and Toronto came out as the top three. Facebook Twitter Pinterest San Francisco has the biggest proportion of LGBT residents in the US. Photograph: Brigitte MERLE/Getty Images/Photononstop RF Modern strongholds for LGBTQI culture remain in western Europe and Canada, says Merryn Johns, editor and chief for Curve, a lesbian-focused magazine in New York. Arguably the size of the LGBT population in urban areas could reflect the level of friendliness, as many LGBTI folk head to cities from rural areas because of the promise of a freer, more tolerant life there, says Andr du Plessis, executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. A study of US metro areas found San Francisco has the biggest proportion of LGBT residents in the country at 6.2%, followed by Portland and Austin. San Francisco has often been called the gay capital of the world for its culture of tolerance and vibrant scene. But even when cities seem progressive on the surface, the lived experience of members of the LGBT community can tell a dramatically different story. For a certain social strata [sic], Cape Town and Johannesburg are gay meccas, but at the same time black lesbians living in poor areas there are dealing with violence and targeted rape, says Graeme Reid, director of the LGBT rights programme at Human Rights Watch. A study in 2017 found that four in 10 LGBT South Africans know of someone who has been killed for being or suspected of being LGBT. Black members of this community are twice as likely (49%) as white people (26%) to know of an LGBT person who has been murdered. Even in London and Paris, which both have a reputation of being queer-friendly cities, hate crimes have increased in recent years. A report from Stonewall in 2017 found that 25% of Londons LGBT community had experienced harassment or assault. Brazils second-largest city, Rio de Janeiro, has been branding itself as an LGBT tourist destination for years. It has made huge efforts in providing anti-bullying projects aimed at students, and has outlawed discrimination in nightclubs. However, the last year has seen record numbers of violent attacks against the queer community. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro once said: Yes, Im homophobic and very proud of it. Photograph: Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images And with a newly elected far-right government, there are fears it could get worse. With the election of an openly homophobic president, Jair Bolsonaro, who has infamously said he would rather have a dead son than a gay son, Rios reputation as a destination city may falter, and violence increase, Reid says. Rio is seen as a liberated city, but also has high levels of [homophobic] violence. Gay Disneyland Conversely, in some countries with backward and dangerous attitudes to the LGBT community, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, discreet but vibrant underground scenes can thrive. This is even the case in Russia, where activists say two people were killed last week and nearly 40 detained, as part of a new homophobic crackdown by police in the Chechnya region. Youll find a gay scene in many places that may surprise you, says Ed Salvato, an LGBT travel expert. Some places like Moscow and St Petersburghave vibrant gay communities, despite the homophobic laws there. In Dublin, an exciting scene exploded out of a staunchly Catholic country. Dublin is like gay Disneyland now, and that wasnt the case 20 or 30 years ago, says Prof Andrew Reynolds, founder of the University of North Carolinas LGBTQ Representation and Rights Research Initiative. With the last couple of referendums, Ireland and Dublin have embraced their new presentation as an inclusive, progressive and loving place. When Reynolds visited Ireland in 2016, many from the LGBT population told him stories of growing up in conservative coastal towns and moving away due to prejudice. The country was the first to legalise gay marriage by popular vote, in a 2015 referendum with a yes vote of 62%. He says: They went to Australia. They went to America. Now theyve come home. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ireland became the first country in the world to adopt same-sex marriage by popular vote in 2015. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters Progress in politics The political glass ceiling has broken for many LGBT people across the world, which inevitably has ripple effects on the community. Minneapolis made US history last year by electing Andrea Jenkins, the first openly trans woman of colour to office in 2017. The gay stronghold of Palm Springs, California, has elected an entire city council that identifies as LGBT. And in November, Jared Polis became the first openly gay man to be elected as a US state governor. In Poland, one of Europes most Catholic and conservative countries, voters in the small city of Slupsk this year elected a gay atheist mayor, Robert Biedron. Just a few years ago, Biedron was attacked on the streets of his city because of his sexuality. In Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunil Pant became Asias first openly gay federal-level elected official in 2008, resulting in a spate of public scrutiny. I think that the spinoff is that Kathmandu is a lot more gay-friendly than it was before, says Reynolds. Whilst it is not perfect by any stretch, like Bogot, it is a place now that I feel like is much more friendly and accepting and thats obviously coming from a place where the Hindu religion was not helpful before. LGBT London: what venue closures mean for the capital's future Read more As the most direct representatives of citizens, city officials are uniquely positioned to understand and address the needs of their communities, says Xavier Persad of the Human Rights Campaign, pointing to the need to provide for ones family without the fear of being fired, to secure housing without the fear of eviction, and to participate in community life. When cities enact LGBTQ-inclusive protections, he adds, they send a clear message that they value and welcome everyone, attracting the countrys top talent and spurring economic growth. Ultimately, even the most progressive laws and equal representation at political levels do not necessarily reflect the efficiency of enforcement, or indeed capture the lived experience of discrimination and fear many LGBT people face every day. Follow Guardian Cities on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to join the discussion, and explore our archive here

Bogot is one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in the world. However, the issue is not clear-cut.

ctrlsum

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jan/23/which-is-the-worlds-most-lgbt-friendly-city

Which is the world's most LGBT-friendly city?

Even when cities seem progressive on the surface, the lived experience of members of the LGBT community can tell a dramatically different story Amid a mass of colour and pounding Latin rhythms, revellers at this years Bogot Pride march waved banners stating not one step back. They were among tens of thousands who took to the streets to celebrate and support Colombias LGBT community. Many annual Pride marches that were once solemn protests against repression have become celebrations of now-existing rights or progress, reflecting the strength of LGBT communities. In Bogot, for example, the capital of a macho and socially conservative country, there has been surprising progress in LGBT rights. In March, Anglica Lozano Correa, a former member of the Bogot city council, became the first openly LGBT person to be elected to the countrys Senate. In 2016 the countrys government passed laws allowing same-sex couples to adopt and marry, and the previous year it granted transgender people the right to change their identity on official government documents policies which have allowed more equality and openness. But while these laws and political representation might suggest Bogot is friendly and tolerant of the LGBT community, the issue is not clear-cut. This years Bogot Pride march was marked by an undertone of resistance to and fear of the right-wing government of the new president, Ivan Duque. Duque openly opposes the LGBT-inclusive peace agreement his predecessor, Juan Manuel Santos, signed with leftist rebels Farc in 2016. Activists claim he is also against same-sex marriage and adoption rights. Although the government promised there would be no setbacks to LGBT rights, the appointment of several anti-LGBT officials, cuts in resources for public policies and the continued strengthening of radical religious movements that promote hate speech and misinformation against the LGBT population are worrying, says Marcela Snchez, director of Colombia Diversa, a leading LGBT rights organisation. Facebook Twitter Pinterest A man decorates his facade with clothes of the rainbow flag in Spain during the week of Pride celebrations. Photograph: Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images Rough measures Indeed, determining a citys attitude towards the LGBT community is complex. Studies that try to do this often look at political or legal metrics such as freedom to marry, or laws protecting against discrimination. Equaldex, a collaborative knowledge base for the global LGBT movement that maps the legality of homosexuality, identifies a number of factors including freedom to change gender and to adopt although it hasnt ranked countries or cities in order of best to worst. An index from the Human Rights Campaign looks at municipal services, law enforcement and the city leaderships public position on equality across the US. Seventy-eight out of 506 US cities had a perfect score of 100, for reasons such as introducing trans-inclusive health benefits to city employees, as in Brookings, South Dakota. Birmingham, Alabama, obtained a full score for passing comprehensive nondiscrimination ordinances, along with other cities such as Cleveland in Ohio, a state that had previously prohibited same-sex marriage and civil unions. However, the Human Rights Campaign clearly states its index does not and cannot reflect a citys friendliness. Other global surveys have tried to assess friendliness by covering public attitudes, access to nightlife and personal safety. A 2017 survey by the housing website Nestpick ranked the best LGBT cities by asking thousands of people how friendly they felt their city was based on safety and nightlife. Madrid, Amsterdam and Toronto came out as the top three. Facebook Twitter Pinterest San Francisco has the biggest proportion of LGBT residents in the US. Photograph: Brigitte MERLE/Getty Images/Photononstop RF Modern strongholds for LGBTQI culture remain in western Europe and Canada, says Merryn Johns, editor and chief for Curve, a lesbian-focused magazine in New York. Arguably the size of the LGBT population in urban areas could reflect the level of friendliness, as many LGBTI folk head to cities from rural areas because of the promise of a freer, more tolerant life there, says Andr du Plessis, executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. A study of US metro areas found San Francisco has the biggest proportion of LGBT residents in the country at 6.2%, followed by Portland and Austin. San Francisco has often been called the gay capital of the world for its culture of tolerance and vibrant scene. But even when cities seem progressive on the surface, the lived experience of members of the LGBT community can tell a dramatically different story. For a certain social strata [sic], Cape Town and Johannesburg are gay meccas, but at the same time black lesbians living in poor areas there are dealing with violence and targeted rape, says Graeme Reid, director of the LGBT rights programme at Human Rights Watch. A study in 2017 found that four in 10 LGBT South Africans know of someone who has been killed for being or suspected of being LGBT. Black members of this community are twice as likely (49%) as white people (26%) to know of an LGBT person who has been murdered. Even in London and Paris, which both have a reputation of being queer-friendly cities, hate crimes have increased in recent years. A report from Stonewall in 2017 found that 25% of Londons LGBT community had experienced harassment or assault. Brazils second-largest city, Rio de Janeiro, has been branding itself as an LGBT tourist destination for years. It has made huge efforts in providing anti-bullying projects aimed at students, and has outlawed discrimination in nightclubs. However, the last year has seen record numbers of violent attacks against the queer community. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro once said: Yes, Im homophobic and very proud of it. Photograph: Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images And with a newly elected far-right government, there are fears it could get worse. With the election of an openly homophobic president, Jair Bolsonaro, who has infamously said he would rather have a dead son than a gay son, Rios reputation as a destination city may falter, and violence increase, Reid says. Rio is seen as a liberated city, but also has high levels of [homophobic] violence. Gay Disneyland Conversely, in some countries with backward and dangerous attitudes to the LGBT community, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, discreet but vibrant underground scenes can thrive. This is even the case in Russia, where activists say two people were killed last week and nearly 40 detained, as part of a new homophobic crackdown by police in the Chechnya region. Youll find a gay scene in many places that may surprise you, says Ed Salvato, an LGBT travel expert. Some places like Moscow and St Petersburghave vibrant gay communities, despite the homophobic laws there. In Dublin, an exciting scene exploded out of a staunchly Catholic country. Dublin is like gay Disneyland now, and that wasnt the case 20 or 30 years ago, says Prof Andrew Reynolds, founder of the University of North Carolinas LGBTQ Representation and Rights Research Initiative. With the last couple of referendums, Ireland and Dublin have embraced their new presentation as an inclusive, progressive and loving place. When Reynolds visited Ireland in 2016, many from the LGBT population told him stories of growing up in conservative coastal towns and moving away due to prejudice. The country was the first to legalise gay marriage by popular vote, in a 2015 referendum with a yes vote of 62%. He says: They went to Australia. They went to America. Now theyve come home. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ireland became the first country in the world to adopt same-sex marriage by popular vote in 2015. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters Progress in politics The political glass ceiling has broken for many LGBT people across the world, which inevitably has ripple effects on the community. Minneapolis made US history last year by electing Andrea Jenkins, the first openly trans woman of colour to office in 2017. The gay stronghold of Palm Springs, California, has elected an entire city council that identifies as LGBT. And in November, Jared Polis became the first openly gay man to be elected as a US state governor. In Poland, one of Europes most Catholic and conservative countries, voters in the small city of Slupsk this year elected a gay atheist mayor, Robert Biedron. Just a few years ago, Biedron was attacked on the streets of his city because of his sexuality. In Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunil Pant became Asias first openly gay federal-level elected official in 2008, resulting in a spate of public scrutiny. I think that the spinoff is that Kathmandu is a lot more gay-friendly than it was before, says Reynolds. Whilst it is not perfect by any stretch, like Bogot, it is a place now that I feel like is much more friendly and accepting and thats obviously coming from a place where the Hindu religion was not helpful before. LGBT London: what venue closures mean for the capital's future Read more As the most direct representatives of citizens, city officials are uniquely positioned to understand and address the needs of their communities, says Xavier Persad of the Human Rights Campaign, pointing to the need to provide for ones family without the fear of being fired, to secure housing without the fear of eviction, and to participate in community life. When cities enact LGBTQ-inclusive protections, he adds, they send a clear message that they value and welcome everyone, attracting the countrys top talent and spurring economic growth. Ultimately, even the most progressive laws and equal representation at political levels do not necessarily reflect the efficiency of enforcement, or indeed capture the lived experience of discrimination and fear many LGBT people face every day. Follow Guardian Cities on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to join the discussion, and explore our archive here

Bogot is one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in the world. However, the issue is not clear-cut and there are many factors to consider. For more information on how to vote, visit the Human Rights Campaign website.

ctrlsum

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jan/23/which-is-the-worlds-most-lgbt-friendly-city

Which is the world's most LGBT-friendly city?

Even when cities seem progressive on the surface, the lived experience of members of the LGBT community can tell a dramatically different story Amid a mass of colour and pounding Latin rhythms, revellers at this years Bogot Pride march waved banners stating not one step back. They were among tens of thousands who took to the streets to celebrate and support Colombias LGBT community. Many annual Pride marches that were once solemn protests against repression have become celebrations of now-existing rights or progress, reflecting the strength of LGBT communities. In Bogot, for example, the capital of a macho and socially conservative country, there has been surprising progress in LGBT rights. In March, Anglica Lozano Correa, a former member of the Bogot city council, became the first openly LGBT person to be elected to the countrys Senate. In 2016 the countrys government passed laws allowing same-sex couples to adopt and marry, and the previous year it granted transgender people the right to change their identity on official government documents policies which have allowed more equality and openness. But while these laws and political representation might suggest Bogot is friendly and tolerant of the LGBT community, the issue is not clear-cut. This years Bogot Pride march was marked by an undertone of resistance to and fear of the right-wing government of the new president, Ivan Duque. Duque openly opposes the LGBT-inclusive peace agreement his predecessor, Juan Manuel Santos, signed with leftist rebels Farc in 2016. Activists claim he is also against same-sex marriage and adoption rights. Although the government promised there would be no setbacks to LGBT rights, the appointment of several anti-LGBT officials, cuts in resources for public policies and the continued strengthening of radical religious movements that promote hate speech and misinformation against the LGBT population are worrying, says Marcela Snchez, director of Colombia Diversa, a leading LGBT rights organisation. Facebook Twitter Pinterest A man decorates his facade with clothes of the rainbow flag in Spain during the week of Pride celebrations. Photograph: Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images Rough measures Indeed, determining a citys attitude towards the LGBT community is complex. Studies that try to do this often look at political or legal metrics such as freedom to marry, or laws protecting against discrimination. Equaldex, a collaborative knowledge base for the global LGBT movement that maps the legality of homosexuality, identifies a number of factors including freedom to change gender and to adopt although it hasnt ranked countries or cities in order of best to worst. An index from the Human Rights Campaign looks at municipal services, law enforcement and the city leaderships public position on equality across the US. Seventy-eight out of 506 US cities had a perfect score of 100, for reasons such as introducing trans-inclusive health benefits to city employees, as in Brookings, South Dakota. Birmingham, Alabama, obtained a full score for passing comprehensive nondiscrimination ordinances, along with other cities such as Cleveland in Ohio, a state that had previously prohibited same-sex marriage and civil unions. However, the Human Rights Campaign clearly states its index does not and cannot reflect a citys friendliness. Other global surveys have tried to assess friendliness by covering public attitudes, access to nightlife and personal safety. A 2017 survey by the housing website Nestpick ranked the best LGBT cities by asking thousands of people how friendly they felt their city was based on safety and nightlife. Madrid, Amsterdam and Toronto came out as the top three. Facebook Twitter Pinterest San Francisco has the biggest proportion of LGBT residents in the US. Photograph: Brigitte MERLE/Getty Images/Photononstop RF Modern strongholds for LGBTQI culture remain in western Europe and Canada, says Merryn Johns, editor and chief for Curve, a lesbian-focused magazine in New York. Arguably the size of the LGBT population in urban areas could reflect the level of friendliness, as many LGBTI folk head to cities from rural areas because of the promise of a freer, more tolerant life there, says Andr du Plessis, executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. A study of US metro areas found San Francisco has the biggest proportion of LGBT residents in the country at 6.2%, followed by Portland and Austin. San Francisco has often been called the gay capital of the world for its culture of tolerance and vibrant scene. But even when cities seem progressive on the surface, the lived experience of members of the LGBT community can tell a dramatically different story. For a certain social strata [sic], Cape Town and Johannesburg are gay meccas, but at the same time black lesbians living in poor areas there are dealing with violence and targeted rape, says Graeme Reid, director of the LGBT rights programme at Human Rights Watch. A study in 2017 found that four in 10 LGBT South Africans know of someone who has been killed for being or suspected of being LGBT. Black members of this community are twice as likely (49%) as white people (26%) to know of an LGBT person who has been murdered. Even in London and Paris, which both have a reputation of being queer-friendly cities, hate crimes have increased in recent years. A report from Stonewall in 2017 found that 25% of Londons LGBT community had experienced harassment or assault. Brazils second-largest city, Rio de Janeiro, has been branding itself as an LGBT tourist destination for years. It has made huge efforts in providing anti-bullying projects aimed at students, and has outlawed discrimination in nightclubs. However, the last year has seen record numbers of violent attacks against the queer community. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro once said: Yes, Im homophobic and very proud of it. Photograph: Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images And with a newly elected far-right government, there are fears it could get worse. With the election of an openly homophobic president, Jair Bolsonaro, who has infamously said he would rather have a dead son than a gay son, Rios reputation as a destination city may falter, and violence increase, Reid says. Rio is seen as a liberated city, but also has high levels of [homophobic] violence. Gay Disneyland Conversely, in some countries with backward and dangerous attitudes to the LGBT community, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, discreet but vibrant underground scenes can thrive. This is even the case in Russia, where activists say two people were killed last week and nearly 40 detained, as part of a new homophobic crackdown by police in the Chechnya region. Youll find a gay scene in many places that may surprise you, says Ed Salvato, an LGBT travel expert. Some places like Moscow and St Petersburghave vibrant gay communities, despite the homophobic laws there. In Dublin, an exciting scene exploded out of a staunchly Catholic country. Dublin is like gay Disneyland now, and that wasnt the case 20 or 30 years ago, says Prof Andrew Reynolds, founder of the University of North Carolinas LGBTQ Representation and Rights Research Initiative. With the last couple of referendums, Ireland and Dublin have embraced their new presentation as an inclusive, progressive and loving place. When Reynolds visited Ireland in 2016, many from the LGBT population told him stories of growing up in conservative coastal towns and moving away due to prejudice. The country was the first to legalise gay marriage by popular vote, in a 2015 referendum with a yes vote of 62%. He says: They went to Australia. They went to America. Now theyve come home. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ireland became the first country in the world to adopt same-sex marriage by popular vote in 2015. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters Progress in politics The political glass ceiling has broken for many LGBT people across the world, which inevitably has ripple effects on the community. Minneapolis made US history last year by electing Andrea Jenkins, the first openly trans woman of colour to office in 2017. The gay stronghold of Palm Springs, California, has elected an entire city council that identifies as LGBT. And in November, Jared Polis became the first openly gay man to be elected as a US state governor. In Poland, one of Europes most Catholic and conservative countries, voters in the small city of Slupsk this year elected a gay atheist mayor, Robert Biedron. Just a few years ago, Biedron was attacked on the streets of his city because of his sexuality. In Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunil Pant became Asias first openly gay federal-level elected official in 2008, resulting in a spate of public scrutiny. I think that the spinoff is that Kathmandu is a lot more gay-friendly than it was before, says Reynolds. Whilst it is not perfect by any stretch, like Bogot, it is a place now that I feel like is much more friendly and accepting and thats obviously coming from a place where the Hindu religion was not helpful before. LGBT London: what venue closures mean for the capital's future Read more As the most direct representatives of citizens, city officials are uniquely positioned to understand and address the needs of their communities, says Xavier Persad of the Human Rights Campaign, pointing to the need to provide for ones family without the fear of being fired, to secure housing without the fear of eviction, and to participate in community life. When cities enact LGBTQ-inclusive protections, he adds, they send a clear message that they value and welcome everyone, attracting the countrys top talent and spurring economic growth. Ultimately, even the most progressive laws and equal representation at political levels do not necessarily reflect the efficiency of enforcement, or indeed capture the lived experience of discrimination and fear many LGBT people face every day. Follow Guardian Cities on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to join the discussion, and explore our archive here

Bogot is one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in the world. However, the issue is not clear-cut and there are many factors to consider. For more information on how to vote, visit the Human Rights Campaigns official website.

ctrlsum

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jan/23/which-is-the-worlds-most-lgbt-friendly-city

What will Andy Murray be worth in retirement?

Image copyright Getty Images As Andy Murray's retirement moves a step closer following his defeat by Roberto Bautista Agut in the Australian Open, the tennis star remains poised to continue making as big an impact off court as he did on it. With a burgeoning range of business interests the Scot - never one to shirk speaking his mind - has the power to remain vividly in the public consciousness whichever route he chooses to go down. There is talk of him potentially moving into the world of politics or media analysis, while current business interests include property ownership, backing UK start-up firms and talent representation. 'Strong legacy' But one lucrative sphere which will provide a huge chunk of his post-playing earnings will be that of brand endorsement. A number of major sports stars, from footballer David Beckham, to golfer Greg Norman, and basketball stars such as Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson have shown it is possible to continue earning strongly through the selling power of their personality and sporting legacy. Murray set to have statue at Wimbledon His career prize money ranks fourth all-time among male players, behind his three eternal rivals from the so-called "Big Four" players of his generation - namely Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Murray picked up his second Wimbledon men's trophy in 2016 According to US business bible Forbes, Murray will end his playing days with at least $165m (129m) in career earnings, with prize money making up just $61m, and the bulk - some $100m - coming from endorsements, bonuses and appearance fees. Over the years he has been associated with a number of major firms, including Adidas, Under Armour, Head, Jaguar, Standard Life, Highland Spring, Robinsons, Royal Bank of Scotland, Fred Perry and Tag Heuer. And Murray's rough-round-the-edges personality is an asset which industry observers believe he can continue to use as a means of generating income when he hangs up his racquet. 'Authentic personality' "He is definitely different from the other top players," says brands expert Anastasia Kourovskaia, who has followed the 31-year-old's tennis and commercial career closely. "He has already created a strong legacy, one that has enabled him to keep his brand presence alive when he was fighting injury over the past 18 months. "The authenticity of his personality is his main asset. A lot of people are changed by success, but he is consistent. It is a fantastic quality from a marketing point of view." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Murray has 'fantastic qualities' that firms can use, experts say She says while he will not reach the same earnings level in retirement, there will still be companies looking to be associated with the three-time Grand Slam winner. Ms Kourovskaia says: "He has a great opportunity for leveraging his brand name when he stops playing, but in a way that suits his personality. "He will not be a David Beckham of British tennis, nor a Roger Federer - he will never be a global icon as they are. He has always been an 'outsider', whose success has been greatly assisted by his grit and doggedness. "From a marketing view he occupies a very tight niche - as long as he retains the same qualities and does not look to acquire a more glamorous image." Murray's exit at the 2019 Australian Open in Melbourne, an event which could become the swansong of his career, saw him wearing British sportswear brand Castore. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Scot's latest commercial deal was unveiled at a teary media conference The Scot's new sponsorship emerged over the weekend, where he held a teary news conference - wearing Castore's Johansson T-shirt and Ghost Cap - stating that he would be retiring from tennis this year after struggling with a hip injury. Castore replaced US firm Under Armour, which Murray had been with since signing a four-year deal in 2015. "He needs to choose brands that highlight him as an outsider, which is why the Castore deal was bang on," says Ms Kourovskaia. "He will be worth much more to a niche brand seeking to make, or build, exposure. "Castore is a British brand which has a high priority in widening its exposure, which is why it is a perfect deal for both parties," she says. 'Supporting entrepreneurs' Murray has won 45 career titles, including the trio of Grand Slams, and also won two Olympic singles gold medals. His peak earnings year was 2016 when he won nine titles, including Wimbledon, and led the ATP prize money chart with $16.3m. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Murray, who won his first major in the US in 2012, wants to make tennis more accessible In recent years, Murray has also moved outside the mainstream endorsement field, and invested and partnered with equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs in 2015. It focuses on business and technology start-ups, and currently has stakes in more than 30 ventures. He has in the past said that "giving recognition and support to British entrepreneurs is important to me". Last year he invested in Deuce, a new start-up app aimed to make tennis more accessible and affordable. It helps players find courts and coaching sessions around the UK. Simon Chadwick, professor of sports enterprise at Salford Business School, says: "While these investments may be a small proportion of his total income, and while they also may provide a potential future revenue stream, I see them as being part of an overall strategy to market Murray as a 'people's man' after his playing career. "He is good with kids, and he is an enlightened commentator on things like gender issues, so I see these investments in start-ups, including ones to make tennis more accessible, as part of his brand positioning." Meanwhile, property is another commercial interest. The 31-year-old bought Cromlix House hotel near his home town of Dunblane in 2013, turning it into a luxury venue. 'Strong convictions' Also in 2013 he set up his sports management agency, 77, with business advisers Matt Gentry and Gawain Davies and has signed up a number of young athletes, among them Aidan McHugh and Katie Swan from the emerging pool of young British tennis talent. And although it is unlikely that he is to become a globetrotting coach to other players, opening his own academy could be another route to go down. "He has already inspired the current generation of emerging British tennis players, so in some ways this sporting legacy is in place already," says Ms Kourovskaia. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A future as a tennis analyst in the media is another potential career path for Murray "But opening his own academy is definitely something he should consider, as it could only benefit him as a brand, and ultimately the country if new British players came through from it." Meanwhile, she says should the father of two girls - who has a dry sense of humour and has supported causes such as women's rights and Scottish independence in the past - go down a media or political route then his forthright outlook is an asset. "People like him for this, and it does not raise eyebrows as it might in, say, someone like Nadal. His strong convictions and strong views are also qualities that can be leveraged for him as a brand."

Tennis star Andy Murray is set to retire from the sport at the end of the year. He is expected to make at least $165m (129m) in career earnings.

ctrlsum

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46863214

What will Andy Murray be worth in retirement?

Image copyright Getty Images As Andy Murray's retirement moves a step closer following his defeat by Roberto Bautista Agut in the Australian Open, the tennis star remains poised to continue making as big an impact off court as he did on it. With a burgeoning range of business interests the Scot - never one to shirk speaking his mind - has the power to remain vividly in the public consciousness whichever route he chooses to go down. There is talk of him potentially moving into the world of politics or media analysis, while current business interests include property ownership, backing UK start-up firms and talent representation. 'Strong legacy' But one lucrative sphere which will provide a huge chunk of his post-playing earnings will be that of brand endorsement. A number of major sports stars, from footballer David Beckham, to golfer Greg Norman, and basketball stars such as Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson have shown it is possible to continue earning strongly through the selling power of their personality and sporting legacy. Murray set to have statue at Wimbledon His career prize money ranks fourth all-time among male players, behind his three eternal rivals from the so-called "Big Four" players of his generation - namely Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Murray picked up his second Wimbledon men's trophy in 2016 According to US business bible Forbes, Murray will end his playing days with at least $165m (129m) in career earnings, with prize money making up just $61m, and the bulk - some $100m - coming from endorsements, bonuses and appearance fees. Over the years he has been associated with a number of major firms, including Adidas, Under Armour, Head, Jaguar, Standard Life, Highland Spring, Robinsons, Royal Bank of Scotland, Fred Perry and Tag Heuer. And Murray's rough-round-the-edges personality is an asset which industry observers believe he can continue to use as a means of generating income when he hangs up his racquet. 'Authentic personality' "He is definitely different from the other top players," says brands expert Anastasia Kourovskaia, who has followed the 31-year-old's tennis and commercial career closely. "He has already created a strong legacy, one that has enabled him to keep his brand presence alive when he was fighting injury over the past 18 months. "The authenticity of his personality is his main asset. A lot of people are changed by success, but he is consistent. It is a fantastic quality from a marketing point of view." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Murray has 'fantastic qualities' that firms can use, experts say She says while he will not reach the same earnings level in retirement, there will still be companies looking to be associated with the three-time Grand Slam winner. Ms Kourovskaia says: "He has a great opportunity for leveraging his brand name when he stops playing, but in a way that suits his personality. "He will not be a David Beckham of British tennis, nor a Roger Federer - he will never be a global icon as they are. He has always been an 'outsider', whose success has been greatly assisted by his grit and doggedness. "From a marketing view he occupies a very tight niche - as long as he retains the same qualities and does not look to acquire a more glamorous image." Murray's exit at the 2019 Australian Open in Melbourne, an event which could become the swansong of his career, saw him wearing British sportswear brand Castore. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Scot's latest commercial deal was unveiled at a teary media conference The Scot's new sponsorship emerged over the weekend, where he held a teary news conference - wearing Castore's Johansson T-shirt and Ghost Cap - stating that he would be retiring from tennis this year after struggling with a hip injury. Castore replaced US firm Under Armour, which Murray had been with since signing a four-year deal in 2015. "He needs to choose brands that highlight him as an outsider, which is why the Castore deal was bang on," says Ms Kourovskaia. "He will be worth much more to a niche brand seeking to make, or build, exposure. "Castore is a British brand which has a high priority in widening its exposure, which is why it is a perfect deal for both parties," she says. 'Supporting entrepreneurs' Murray has won 45 career titles, including the trio of Grand Slams, and also won two Olympic singles gold medals. His peak earnings year was 2016 when he won nine titles, including Wimbledon, and led the ATP prize money chart with $16.3m. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Murray, who won his first major in the US in 2012, wants to make tennis more accessible In recent years, Murray has also moved outside the mainstream endorsement field, and invested and partnered with equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs in 2015. It focuses on business and technology start-ups, and currently has stakes in more than 30 ventures. He has in the past said that "giving recognition and support to British entrepreneurs is important to me". Last year he invested in Deuce, a new start-up app aimed to make tennis more accessible and affordable. It helps players find courts and coaching sessions around the UK. Simon Chadwick, professor of sports enterprise at Salford Business School, says: "While these investments may be a small proportion of his total income, and while they also may provide a potential future revenue stream, I see them as being part of an overall strategy to market Murray as a 'people's man' after his playing career. "He is good with kids, and he is an enlightened commentator on things like gender issues, so I see these investments in start-ups, including ones to make tennis more accessible, as part of his brand positioning." Meanwhile, property is another commercial interest. The 31-year-old bought Cromlix House hotel near his home town of Dunblane in 2013, turning it into a luxury venue. 'Strong convictions' Also in 2013 he set up his sports management agency, 77, with business advisers Matt Gentry and Gawain Davies and has signed up a number of young athletes, among them Aidan McHugh and Katie Swan from the emerging pool of young British tennis talent. And although it is unlikely that he is to become a globetrotting coach to other players, opening his own academy could be another route to go down. "He has already inspired the current generation of emerging British tennis players, so in some ways this sporting legacy is in place already," says Ms Kourovskaia. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A future as a tennis analyst in the media is another potential career path for Murray "But opening his own academy is definitely something he should consider, as it could only benefit him as a brand, and ultimately the country if new British players came through from it." Meanwhile, she says should the father of two girls - who has a dry sense of humour and has supported causes such as women's rights and Scottish independence in the past - go down a media or political route then his forthright outlook is an asset. "People like him for this, and it does not raise eyebrows as it might in, say, someone like Nadal. His strong convictions and strong views are also qualities that can be leveraged for him as a brand."

Andy Murray's career prize money ranks fourth all-time among male players. The Scot will end his playing days with at least $165m (129m) in career earnings. Industry observers believe he can continue to use as a means of generating income when he hangs up his racquet.

pegasus

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46863214

What time is the vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal?

After five days of debate on Theresa May's Brexit agreement, MPs will finally vote on the deal later. The final day of debate will end with a speech from the prime minister at about 18:20 GMT. But before the vote on the Brexit agreement happens, MPs will get a chance to reshape, or reject, the deal by voting on a series of amendments to it, from about 19:00 GMT. This will start with votes on three or four backbench amendments that could reshape the deal. Each amendment will take about 15 minutes. The vote on the withdrawal agreement itself is unlikely to happen before 20:00 and is expected to be followed by a statement from Mrs May. There will be live updates on the BBC News website and it will be broadcast on the BBC News channel or watch BBC Parliament live on BBC iPlayer. Amendments give MPs the chance to reshape, or reject, the deal. Commons Speaker John Bercow has selected four amendments to be put to the vote: Labour frontbench amendment Rejects the deal because it fails to provide a permanent customs union and "strong single market deal", as set out in Labour's "six tests" Rejects leaving with no deal Resolves to "pursue every option" that prevents either no-deal or leaving on the basis of the current deal SNP and Plaid Cymru amendment Declines to approve Theresa May's Brexit deal "in line with the views of the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly that they would be damaging for Scotland, Wales and the nations and regions of the UK as a whole" Calls for the UK's departure from the EU to be delayed until another withdrawal deal is agreed. Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh's amendment Makes clear the Northern Ireland backstop is temporary and should remain temporary Calls for assurance that, if the backstop doesn't end by the close of 2021, this will be treated as a fundamental change of circumstances and would terminate the Withdrawal Treaty on 1 January 2022 Backed by 15 other Tory Brexiteers. Conservative MP John Baron's amendment Gives the UK the right to terminate the Northern Ireland backstop without the agreement of the EU Amendment backed by cross-party group of Brexiteers, including 12 Conservatives, one independent and one DUP MP. John Bercow told MPs that if they back Sir Edward Leigh's amendment, John Baron's amendment will not be voted on. There is a question mark over how far the government's withdrawal agreement could be modified by MPs before it no longer has force under international law, or the EU judges it to be in breach of what was agreed by Mrs May. The government had indicated it would back an amendment proposed by Conservative MP Hugo Swire, which accepted the government's deal as the EU Withdrawal Bill but included provisions to: Make the government report to Parliament in March 2020 on the status of the arrangements to supersede the Northern Ireland backstop. This is the controversial "insurance policy" aimed at preventing the return of a physical border in Northern Ireland if the UK and EU have not agreed on a new trade deal by December 2020 Give Parliament a vote on whether to extend the 21-month post-Brexit transition period, which would end in December 2020 Give Parliament a vote on whether to implement the backstop Impose "a duty" on the government to agree a future relationship with the EU, or alternative arrangements, within one year of the backstop coming into force. But Speaker Bercow has not selected this amendment to be put to the vote, although MPs will be able to refer to it during the debate.

MPs will vote on amendments to Theresa May's deal from about 19:00 GMT. Amendments give MPs the chance to reshape, or reject, the deal. The vote on the withdrawal agreement itself is unlikely to happen before 20:00.

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46507010

What time is the vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal?

After five days of debate on Theresa May's Brexit agreement, MPs will finally vote on the deal later. The final day of debate will end with a speech from the prime minister at about 18:20 GMT. But before the vote on the Brexit agreement happens, MPs will get a chance to reshape, or reject, the deal by voting on a series of amendments to it, from about 19:00 GMT. This will start with votes on three or four backbench amendments that could reshape the deal. Each amendment will take about 15 minutes. The vote on the withdrawal agreement itself is unlikely to happen before 20:00 and is expected to be followed by a statement from Mrs May. There will be live updates on the BBC News website and it will be broadcast on the BBC News channel or watch BBC Parliament live on BBC iPlayer. Amendments give MPs the chance to reshape, or reject, the deal. Commons Speaker John Bercow has selected four amendments to be put to the vote: Labour frontbench amendment Rejects the deal because it fails to provide a permanent customs union and "strong single market deal", as set out in Labour's "six tests" Rejects leaving with no deal Resolves to "pursue every option" that prevents either no-deal or leaving on the basis of the current deal SNP and Plaid Cymru amendment Declines to approve Theresa May's Brexit deal "in line with the views of the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly that they would be damaging for Scotland, Wales and the nations and regions of the UK as a whole" Calls for the UK's departure from the EU to be delayed until another withdrawal deal is agreed. Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh's amendment Makes clear the Northern Ireland backstop is temporary and should remain temporary Calls for assurance that, if the backstop doesn't end by the close of 2021, this will be treated as a fundamental change of circumstances and would terminate the Withdrawal Treaty on 1 January 2022 Backed by 15 other Tory Brexiteers. Conservative MP John Baron's amendment Gives the UK the right to terminate the Northern Ireland backstop without the agreement of the EU Amendment backed by cross-party group of Brexiteers, including 12 Conservatives, one independent and one DUP MP. John Bercow told MPs that if they back Sir Edward Leigh's amendment, John Baron's amendment will not be voted on. There is a question mark over how far the government's withdrawal agreement could be modified by MPs before it no longer has force under international law, or the EU judges it to be in breach of what was agreed by Mrs May. The government had indicated it would back an amendment proposed by Conservative MP Hugo Swire, which accepted the government's deal as the EU Withdrawal Bill but included provisions to: Make the government report to Parliament in March 2020 on the status of the arrangements to supersede the Northern Ireland backstop. This is the controversial "insurance policy" aimed at preventing the return of a physical border in Northern Ireland if the UK and EU have not agreed on a new trade deal by December 2020 Give Parliament a vote on whether to extend the 21-month post-Brexit transition period, which would end in December 2020 Give Parliament a vote on whether to implement the backstop Impose "a duty" on the government to agree a future relationship with the EU, or alternative arrangements, within one year of the backstop coming into force. But Speaker Bercow has not selected this amendment to be put to the vote, although MPs will be able to refer to it during the debate.

MPs will vote on amendments to Theresa May's deal from about 19:00 GMT. Amendments give MPs the chance to reshape, or reject, the deal. The vote on the withdrawal agreement itself is unlikely to happen before 20:00 and is expected to be followed by a statement from Mrs May.

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46507010

Will Molina Healthcare Continue to Surge Higher?

As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Molina Healthcare, Inc (MOH). As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Molina Healthcare, Inc MOH. The stock has moved higher by 0.7% in the past month, while it is also above its 20 Day SMA too. This combination of strong price performance and favorable technical, could suggest that the stock may be on the right path. We certainly think that this might be the case, particularly if you consider MOHs recent earnings estimate revision activity. From this look, the companys future is quite favorable; as MOH has earned itself a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), meaning that its recent run may continue for a bit longer, and that this isnt the top for the in-focus company. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

Molina Healthcare, Inc (MOH) has moved higher by 0.7% in the past month.

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https://news.yahoo.com/molina-healthcare-continue-surge-higher-113011103.html

Will Molina Healthcare Continue to Surge Higher?

As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Molina Healthcare, Inc (MOH). As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Molina Healthcare, Inc MOH. The stock has moved higher by 0.7% in the past month, while it is also above its 20 Day SMA too. This combination of strong price performance and favorable technical, could suggest that the stock may be on the right path. We certainly think that this might be the case, particularly if you consider MOHs recent earnings estimate revision activity. From this look, the companys future is quite favorable; as MOH has earned itself a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), meaning that its recent run may continue for a bit longer, and that this isnt the top for the in-focus company. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

Molina Healthcare, Inc. MOH has moved higher by 0.7% in the past month. The stock has moved higher by 0.7% in the past month.

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https://news.yahoo.com/molina-healthcare-continue-surge-higher-113011103.html

Will Molina Healthcare Continue to Surge Higher?

As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Molina Healthcare, Inc (MOH). As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Molina Healthcare, Inc MOH. The stock has moved higher by 0.7% in the past month, while it is also above its 20 Day SMA too. This combination of strong price performance and favorable technical, could suggest that the stock may be on the right path. We certainly think that this might be the case, particularly if you consider MOHs recent earnings estimate revision activity. From this look, the companys future is quite favorable; as MOH has earned itself a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), meaning that its recent run may continue for a bit longer, and that this isnt the top for the in-focus company. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

Molina Healthcare, Inc (MOH) has moved higher by 0.7% in the past month. MOH has earned itself a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), meaning that its recent run may continue for a bit longer, and that this isn't the top for the in-focus company.

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https://news.yahoo.com/molina-healthcare-continue-surge-higher-113011103.html

Will Williams Companies Continue to Surge Higher?

As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Williams Companies, Inc. As of late, it has definitely been a great time to be an investor in Williams Companies, Inc. WMB. The stock has moved higher by 2.5% in the past month, while it is also above its 20 Day SMA too. This combination of strong price performance and favorable technical, could suggest that the stock may be on the right path. We certainly think that this might be the case, particularly if you consider WMBs recent earnings estimate revision activity. From this look, the companys future is quite favorable; as WMB has earned itself a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), meaning that its recent run may continue for a bit longer, and that this isnt the top for the in-focus company. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. From more than 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank, these 10 were picked by a process that consistently beats the market. Even during 2018 while the market dropped -5.2%, our Top 10s were up well into double-digits. And during bullish 2012 2017, they soared far above the market's +126.3%, reaching +181.9%. This year, the portfolio features a player that thrives on volatility, an AI comer, and a dynamic tech company that helps doctors deliver better patient outcomes at lower costs. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (WMB) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research

Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (WMB) has moved higher by 2.5% in the past month.

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https://news.yahoo.com/williams-companies-continue-surge-higher-111511000.html