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Did I overstep when I gave unsolicited advice to my sons soccer teammate?

The question My 12-year-old son plays soccer and at a recent practice I made two comments to the goalkeeper about mistakes he was making. I was wearing ear buds at the time and apparently I was louder than I would ordinarily have been. I said: You should roll the ball out with more vigour and it wont be picked off." And after several went through his hands into the net: You should tip those over the bar. Fairly innocuous but, true, totally unsolicited. The reason I spoke to him was he was frustrated with his play and was pounding the turf and punching the posts, so I thought I could help him. And Ive coached this team, though I do not know this boy. But the boy didnt appreciate my comments and told me to stop talking to him. The following day at their game I offered the parents an apology and the mom accepted but I felt some lingering resentment then and still do almost one month later. I get the cold shoulder: no eye contact, smiles or greetings. The mom also is the club co-ordinator and when the soccer kits were given out, all I got was a T-shirt with no socks or shorts and a perfunctory explanation. I now feel tense going to watch my boy practise and play and cant imagine how this can go on. The answer I scarcely know where to begin. First of all, take your ear buds out of your ears, bud, when youre talking to people. I do not understand this modern phenomenon of leaving them in but to me it seems the height of rudeness. Especially since you approached the kid, not the other way around. Second, unsolicited is the lowest form of advice. Maybe teachers and parents can get away with it. I would use this as a teaching moment and never, ever try to foist your counsel on anyone ever again unless they ask you for it. I dont even like unsolicited comments. It so happens I wear shorts well into the fall. Oh-ho-ho shorts in October eh? some total stranger on the street will say, snapping me out of whatever reverie I might have been enjoying. Youre quite eccentric! I know they mean no harm, but its annoying. Because I could offer a few about you. (Of course I dont.) And your target and timing couldnt possibly have been worse. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement To be a goaltender, as I know from having a hockey-goalie son, is a highly emotional and pressure-filled thing to be. You feel the entire weight of the games outcome on your shoulders and know your teammates kind of feel the same way. Youre a hero. They cant even look you in the eyes. Ive seen it many times. Ive also seen my son let in an easy one, costing his team the game and subsequently throw himself face-down on the ice and weep. Unwise. Im surprised the kid didnt tell you off in stronger language. And Im not surprised the mom is giving you the cold shoulder and stiffed you on the shorts and socks. Well, I know from bitter experience what its like having someone who hardly knows you form a dislike for you. It can really prey on your mind. But I wouldnt keep trying to reapproach them. Give them a wide berth for a while, be kind and friendly if you do encounter them, and see if the passage of time solves it, soothes it and acts as a balm. Story continues below advertisement After all, I know Ive been giving you a hard time, but in the grand scheme of things, its a pretty minor and obviously well-intentioned infraction. Maybe theyll come around to seeing that. If not, well, something I learned a long time ago: Not everyone can like you. You might just have to learn to live with their frostiness. Send your dilemmas to damage@globeandmail.com. Please keep your submissions to 150 words and include a daytime contact number so we can follow up with any queries. Live your best. We have a daily Life & Arts newsletter, providing you with our latest stories on health, travel, food and culture. Sign up today.

My 12-year-old son plays soccer and at a recent practice I made two comments to the goalkeeper about mistakes he was making. I was wearing ear buds at the time and apparently I was louder than I would ordinarily have been. The boy didn't appreciate my comments and told me to stop talking to him.

bart

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/relationships/article-did-i-overstep-when-i-gave-unsolicited-advice-to-my-sons-soccer/

Is David Camerons new haircut an apology for his breezy Brexit gamble?

The former prime ministers punt on the EU referendum didnt work out as hed planned. Name: David Camerons haircut. Age: About a month. Appearance: Short, neat, chastened. Yes. People are desperate for him to say sorry with something, and last week he was pictured jogging, with hair much shorter than he has had before, cropped close on the back and the sides. No, perhaps not quite that severe. Apparently, Cameron got a short back and sides while on holiday in Costa Rica, then had it tidied up by his usual hairdresser back in London. A celebrity stylist called Lino Carbosiero. You may remember that he sensationally changed the position of Camerons parting back in 2010. Ah, yes. That was such sweet sorrow. Carbosiero has also cut the hair of Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Paul McCartney. A basic cut from him at the Daniel Galvin salon in Marylebone costs 50. Yes. A referendum that he said would settle the European question has made it much more divisive and damaging because the question was so vague that its impossible to agree what implementing the decision means. Not even leavers think theyre getting what they want. It was kind of irresponsible, in retrospect. Oh, it was just a breezy gamble that he assumed would work out OK. Things generally do work out OK when youre a millionaire who is married to an aristocrat. He doesnt put much thought into it, Carbosiero told the Times. OK. Thats right. Perhaps he could get even sorrier, now I think about it. No. He says he doesnt regret calling the referendum because he promised that he would then conveniently says nothing about whether he regrets making the promise. No. He regrets the way things have gone, but adds: I dont think its going to be helped by me giving a running commentary. Pity. Luckily, Carbosiero will do the commentating for us. Hairdressers could have done a better job, says Carbosiero. Do say: Come back when its a hair shirt. Dont say: Lets spend the 350m we send to Brussels every week on locking Cameron in the stocks.

David Cameron's new haircut is seen as an apology for the EU referendum.

ctrlsum

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/shortcuts/2019/jan/21/is-david-camerons-new-haircut-an-apology-for-his-breezy-brexit-gamble

Is David Camerons new haircut an apology for his breezy Brexit gamble?

The former prime ministers punt on the EU referendum didnt work out as hed planned. Name: David Camerons haircut. Age: About a month. Appearance: Short, neat, chastened. Yes. People are desperate for him to say sorry with something, and last week he was pictured jogging, with hair much shorter than he has had before, cropped close on the back and the sides. No, perhaps not quite that severe. Apparently, Cameron got a short back and sides while on holiday in Costa Rica, then had it tidied up by his usual hairdresser back in London. A celebrity stylist called Lino Carbosiero. You may remember that he sensationally changed the position of Camerons parting back in 2010. Ah, yes. That was such sweet sorrow. Carbosiero has also cut the hair of Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Paul McCartney. A basic cut from him at the Daniel Galvin salon in Marylebone costs 50. Yes. A referendum that he said would settle the European question has made it much more divisive and damaging because the question was so vague that its impossible to agree what implementing the decision means. Not even leavers think theyre getting what they want. It was kind of irresponsible, in retrospect. Oh, it was just a breezy gamble that he assumed would work out OK. Things generally do work out OK when youre a millionaire who is married to an aristocrat. He doesnt put much thought into it, Carbosiero told the Times. OK. Thats right. Perhaps he could get even sorrier, now I think about it. No. He says he doesnt regret calling the referendum because he promised that he would then conveniently says nothing about whether he regrets making the promise. No. He regrets the way things have gone, but adds: I dont think its going to be helped by me giving a running commentary. Pity. Luckily, Carbosiero will do the commentating for us. Hairdressers could have done a better job, says Carbosiero. Do say: Come back when its a hair shirt. Dont say: Lets spend the 350m we send to Brussels every week on locking Cameron in the stocks.

David Cameron's new haircut is seen as an apology for the EU referendum. But the former PM's hairdresser says it was just a 'breezy gamble' Cameron says he doesn't regret calling the referendum because he promised that he would then conveniently says nothing about whether he regrets making the promise.

ctrlsum

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/shortcuts/2019/jan/21/is-david-camerons-new-haircut-an-apology-for-his-breezy-brexit-gamble

Could Roger Goodell have saved Saints with obscure NFL rule?

CLOSE SportsPulse: This will likely go down as the worst officiated championship weekend ever. But if you are a fan of chaos and pure insane entertainment it was incredible. Trysta Krick breaks down how the Patriots and Rams punched their ticket to the Super Bowl. USA TODAY Yes, the officials at the NFC Championship game whiffed on what should have been pass interference on Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman after he rammed into New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis. But no, there is NO WAY Roger Goodell is going to step in and tell the Rams and Saints to go back to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and play the game over from that egregiously missed penalty call. Yet that's something the commissioner theoretically has the authority to do, and it's a rule fans started citing on Monday morning, partially thanks to Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas sending out this tweet: Rule 17 Section 2 Article 3 @NFL Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) January 21, 2019 From Rule 17, Section 2 ("Extraordinarily unfair acts"), Article 3 of the NFL rule book: "The Commissioner's powers under this Section 2 include the imposition of monetary fines and draft-choice forfeitures, suspension of persons involved in unfair acts, and, if appropriate, the reversal of a game's result or the rescheduling of a game, either from the beginning or from the point at which the extraordinary act occurred." Again: Goodell can reverse a game right to the moment an "unfair act" occurred. Let's just stop it right there, though. Let's go back to Article 1 ("Commissioner Authority") of Section 2 to figure out what this means: "The Commissioner has the sole authority to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary and/or corrective measures if any club action, non-participant interference, or calamity occurs in an NFL game which the Commissioner deems so extraordinarily unfair or outside the accepted tactics encountered in professional football that such action has a major effect on the result of the game." "Outside the accepted tactics encountered." That doesn't sound like it's covered by an official's missed call. Sorry, Saints fans. Not happening. MORE: NFL Championship Sunday Awards: Bill Belichick angrily tossing a tablet was too good New Orleans papers front page perfectly roasted refs over missed Saints pass interference call Tom Brady dropped an emotional F-bomb on live TV when asked about Super Bowl Tom Brady found a classy way to share a special moment with Patrick Mahomes after win Complain all you want, you'll miss these Patriots when they're gone

There is no way Roger Goodell is going to step in and tell the Rams and Saints to play the game over from that egregiously missed penalty call.

pegasus

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ftw/2019/01/21/roger-goodell-could-have-saved-the-saints-with-obscure-nfl-rule/38932261/

Could Roger Goodell have saved Saints with obscure NFL rule?

CLOSE SportsPulse: This will likely go down as the worst officiated championship weekend ever. But if you are a fan of chaos and pure insane entertainment it was incredible. Trysta Krick breaks down how the Patriots and Rams punched their ticket to the Super Bowl. USA TODAY Yes, the officials at the NFC Championship game whiffed on what should have been pass interference on Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman after he rammed into New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis. But no, there is NO WAY Roger Goodell is going to step in and tell the Rams and Saints to go back to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and play the game over from that egregiously missed penalty call. Yet that's something the commissioner theoretically has the authority to do, and it's a rule fans started citing on Monday morning, partially thanks to Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas sending out this tweet: Rule 17 Section 2 Article 3 @NFL Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) January 21, 2019 From Rule 17, Section 2 ("Extraordinarily unfair acts"), Article 3 of the NFL rule book: "The Commissioner's powers under this Section 2 include the imposition of monetary fines and draft-choice forfeitures, suspension of persons involved in unfair acts, and, if appropriate, the reversal of a game's result or the rescheduling of a game, either from the beginning or from the point at which the extraordinary act occurred." Again: Goodell can reverse a game right to the moment an "unfair act" occurred. Let's just stop it right there, though. Let's go back to Article 1 ("Commissioner Authority") of Section 2 to figure out what this means: "The Commissioner has the sole authority to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary and/or corrective measures if any club action, non-participant interference, or calamity occurs in an NFL game which the Commissioner deems so extraordinarily unfair or outside the accepted tactics encountered in professional football that such action has a major effect on the result of the game." "Outside the accepted tactics encountered." That doesn't sound like it's covered by an official's missed call. Sorry, Saints fans. Not happening. MORE: NFL Championship Sunday Awards: Bill Belichick angrily tossing a tablet was too good New Orleans papers front page perfectly roasted refs over missed Saints pass interference call Tom Brady dropped an emotional F-bomb on live TV when asked about Super Bowl Tom Brady found a classy way to share a special moment with Patrick Mahomes after win Complain all you want, you'll miss these Patriots when they're gone

Refs missed a pass interference call against the Saints in the NFC Championship game. Roger Goodell has the power to reverse a game right from the moment an "unfair act" occurs.

ctrlsum

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ftw/2019/01/21/roger-goodell-could-have-saved-the-saints-with-obscure-nfl-rule/38932261/

Could Roger Goodell have saved Saints with obscure NFL rule?

CLOSE SportsPulse: This will likely go down as the worst officiated championship weekend ever. But if you are a fan of chaos and pure insane entertainment it was incredible. Trysta Krick breaks down how the Patriots and Rams punched their ticket to the Super Bowl. USA TODAY Yes, the officials at the NFC Championship game whiffed on what should have been pass interference on Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman after he rammed into New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis. But no, there is NO WAY Roger Goodell is going to step in and tell the Rams and Saints to go back to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and play the game over from that egregiously missed penalty call. Yet that's something the commissioner theoretically has the authority to do, and it's a rule fans started citing on Monday morning, partially thanks to Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas sending out this tweet: Rule 17 Section 2 Article 3 @NFL Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) January 21, 2019 From Rule 17, Section 2 ("Extraordinarily unfair acts"), Article 3 of the NFL rule book: "The Commissioner's powers under this Section 2 include the imposition of monetary fines and draft-choice forfeitures, suspension of persons involved in unfair acts, and, if appropriate, the reversal of a game's result or the rescheduling of a game, either from the beginning or from the point at which the extraordinary act occurred." Again: Goodell can reverse a game right to the moment an "unfair act" occurred. Let's just stop it right there, though. Let's go back to Article 1 ("Commissioner Authority") of Section 2 to figure out what this means: "The Commissioner has the sole authority to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary and/or corrective measures if any club action, non-participant interference, or calamity occurs in an NFL game which the Commissioner deems so extraordinarily unfair or outside the accepted tactics encountered in professional football that such action has a major effect on the result of the game." "Outside the accepted tactics encountered." That doesn't sound like it's covered by an official's missed call. Sorry, Saints fans. Not happening. MORE: NFL Championship Sunday Awards: Bill Belichick angrily tossing a tablet was too good New Orleans papers front page perfectly roasted refs over missed Saints pass interference call Tom Brady dropped an emotional F-bomb on live TV when asked about Super Bowl Tom Brady found a classy way to share a special moment with Patrick Mahomes after win Complain all you want, you'll miss these Patriots when they're gone

Refs missed a pass interference call against the Saints in the NFC Championship game. Roger Goodell has the power to reverse a game right from the moment an "unfair act" occurs, according to the NFL rule book. But that's something the commissioner theoretically has the authority to do.

ctrlsum

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ftw/2019/01/21/roger-goodell-could-have-saved-the-saints-with-obscure-nfl-rule/38932261/

Can we survive without coffee?

According to a new study published in Science Advances, at least 60 percent of the world's coffee species are at risk of extinction. Among the species at risk is the Arabica bean, which is the most popular coffee for commercial production. Both casual coffee drinkers and addicts shutter at the thought of higher-priced coffee and empty pots. Others say they'd be just fine if coffee disappeared; there are other ways to get a caffeine boost. PERSPECTIVES According to the new report published in Science Advances, 60 percent of the world's coffee species are "threatened with extinction." CNN's Lauren Kent spoke with senior researcher Aaron P. Davis on why this is the case: 'Considering threats from human encroachment and deforestation, some (coffee species) could be extinct in 10 to 20 years, particularly with the added influence of climate change,' Davis said. Fewer coffee crops means your morning cup might get more expensive and taste worse. The year is 2030. Your Starbucks order costs no less than $10.00 and is less "triple-pump-cold-foam" and more "dark-brown-sludge-in-a-cup." It won't even matter that your coffee is not Instagramable because Instagram no longer exists; the world is too bleak. The Sunday Scaries have taken on a whole new meaning as you rock yourself back and forth, with no steaming cup near to awake your soul. The world's most popular coffee species are going extinct According to one write-in on Quora, the world would continue to turn without coffee. The market will adjust and fill the hole in everyone's coffee-laden hearts with other sources of energy: Coffee is a commodity, so results of a shortage is relatively easy to predict. As supplies of coffee dwindles, the price would shoot up higher and higher. These price spikes would quickly move consumers from coffee to other caffeine sources such as energy drinks or sodas. Life goes on a normal... Another writer offers a different proposal for survival: Thanos' plan would come to pass. Half the population would kill the other half and we'd have enough resources to continue without further damage to the environment. A world without coffee would also have huge economic consequences. According to Vice's Samantha Power: In Canada, over 170,000 jobs relate to coffee, from roaster to barista. In the US it's over 1.6 million. The National Coffee Association in the US estimates economic impact of coffee to be $225.2 billion (EU200.5 billion EUR.) 7.75 million 60 kilo bags were exported globally in July alone. Plus, as more and more people turn to other caffeine sources like soda and energy drinks, sugar consumption will likely go up, accelerating America's obesity epidemic. Perhaps a life without coffee would be better for everyone. According to Caffeine Informer, quitting coffee can lower your blood pressure, improve your sleep quality and decrease anxiety. Maybe the world should do away with caffeine consumption altogether: Bottled coffees, teas, energy drinks, and sodas often contain an assortment of preservatives designed to give them a longer shelf-life...Cutting these out of your diet can be beneficial to one's overall long-term good health. 20 Awesome Benefits of Quitting Caffeine or Coffee The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

A new study says 60 percent of the world's coffee species are at risk of extinction. Among the species at risk is the Arabica bean, which is the most popular coffee for commercial production. A world without coffee would also have huge economic consequences.

pegasus

https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/01/can_we_survive_without_coffee.html

Can we survive without coffee?

According to a new study published in Science Advances, at least 60 percent of the world's coffee species are at risk of extinction. Among the species at risk is the Arabica bean, which is the most popular coffee for commercial production. Both casual coffee drinkers and addicts shutter at the thought of higher-priced coffee and empty pots. Others say they'd be just fine if coffee disappeared; there are other ways to get a caffeine boost. PERSPECTIVES According to the new report published in Science Advances, 60 percent of the world's coffee species are "threatened with extinction." CNN's Lauren Kent spoke with senior researcher Aaron P. Davis on why this is the case: 'Considering threats from human encroachment and deforestation, some (coffee species) could be extinct in 10 to 20 years, particularly with the added influence of climate change,' Davis said. Fewer coffee crops means your morning cup might get more expensive and taste worse. The year is 2030. Your Starbucks order costs no less than $10.00 and is less "triple-pump-cold-foam" and more "dark-brown-sludge-in-a-cup." It won't even matter that your coffee is not Instagramable because Instagram no longer exists; the world is too bleak. The Sunday Scaries have taken on a whole new meaning as you rock yourself back and forth, with no steaming cup near to awake your soul. The world's most popular coffee species are going extinct According to one write-in on Quora, the world would continue to turn without coffee. The market will adjust and fill the hole in everyone's coffee-laden hearts with other sources of energy: Coffee is a commodity, so results of a shortage is relatively easy to predict. As supplies of coffee dwindles, the price would shoot up higher and higher. These price spikes would quickly move consumers from coffee to other caffeine sources such as energy drinks or sodas. Life goes on a normal... Another writer offers a different proposal for survival: Thanos' plan would come to pass. Half the population would kill the other half and we'd have enough resources to continue without further damage to the environment. A world without coffee would also have huge economic consequences. According to Vice's Samantha Power: In Canada, over 170,000 jobs relate to coffee, from roaster to barista. In the US it's over 1.6 million. The National Coffee Association in the US estimates economic impact of coffee to be $225.2 billion (EU200.5 billion EUR.) 7.75 million 60 kilo bags were exported globally in July alone. Plus, as more and more people turn to other caffeine sources like soda and energy drinks, sugar consumption will likely go up, accelerating America's obesity epidemic. Perhaps a life without coffee would be better for everyone. According to Caffeine Informer, quitting coffee can lower your blood pressure, improve your sleep quality and decrease anxiety. Maybe the world should do away with caffeine consumption altogether: Bottled coffees, teas, energy drinks, and sodas often contain an assortment of preservatives designed to give them a longer shelf-life...Cutting these out of your diet can be beneficial to one's overall long-term good health. 20 Awesome Benefits of Quitting Caffeine or Coffee The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

According to a new report, 60 percent of the world's coffee species are "threatened with extinction" The Arabica bean is the most popular coffee for commercial production. Fewer coffee crops means your morning cup might get more expensive and taste worse. A world without coffee would also have huge economic consequences.

bart

https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/01/can_we_survive_without_coffee.html

Is Brad Pitt dating Angelina Jolies enemy Charlize Theron?

If its true that Brad Pitt is dating this beautiful Academy Award-winning A-lister, the world could look forward to the next Hollywood super couple. The Daily Mail, picking up on a story from another British tabloid The Sun, reports that 55-year-old Pitt started seeing Charlize Theron, 43, over the Christmas holidays a few weeks after he and estranged wife Angelina Jolie reached an agreement in their bitter, high-profile custody battle. On Jan. 12, Pitt and Theron were seen getting cozy at an insider event at Chateau Marmont, the famous Hollywood gathering spot. The new lovebirds were all over each over at the event, a source told The Sun. CLICK HERE if you are having trouble viewing the gallery on your mobile device. The event was a screening and party for the acclaimed film Roma. Pitt had been at another screening earlier that evening at a private home in the Hollywood hills for If Beale Street Could Talk a film for which he is an executive producer. BRAD PITT AND CHARLIZE THERON!!!!!!!! Im so shook!!!!!! https://t.co/ii0n4tZaRW Perez (@ThePerezHilton) January 20, 2019 When the Beale Street party wrapped, Pitt headed to Chateau Marmont, where he changed his outfit and joined Theron in a corner at the bar, The Sun said. She was on a vodka cocktail while he stuck to mineral water, a source told The Sun. They were ridiculously touchy-feely, and his arm was around her back. At one point he winked at her. Brad seemed in a really good place, the source added. They both looked really happy. With regard to Pitt sticking to mineral water, the Fight Club actor said in a 2017 interview that he stopped drinking alcohol after Jolie filed for divorce in 2016. Pitt and Jolie couple had been married for two years, but they had been together more than a decade, leading a high-profile life of making movies, raising six children and presenting themselves as globe-trotting humanitarians. Amid their nasty breakup, reports surfaced that Jolie left Pitt because he was drinking too much, and he had trouble controlling his anger, including when he got involved in some kind of altercation with oldest son Maddox, then 15, on a private plane returning from Europe. If its true that Pitt and Theron are seeing each other, their romance could mark Pitts first serious relationship since he split from Jolie. It could also mean that Pitt has chosen to date another talented, glamorous female star who also has happens to be his ex-wifes enemy, the Daily Mail reported. Angelina Jolie seen for the first time since claims Brad Pitt is dating Charlize Theron Daily Mail https://t.co/BPQTOEZ597 pic.twitter.com/axXbGDAP4i U.S.A. News (@US_NewsXP) January 20, 2019 Citing Radar Online, the Daily Mail said Theron and Jolie cant stand each other and have been feuding for years over film roles, including a proposed remake of the horror classic Bride of Frankenstein. Jolie was courted to play the lead role, and Theron was the runner-up, the Daily Mail said. But Radar Online claimed Jolie was stringing Theron along, refusing to commit to the project, and denying the star the opportunity to accept other roles, as she awaits a decision. The Sun said Pitt and Theron were first introduced when Theron was engaged to Sean Penn. Theron called off the engagement in 2015. The Sun said Theron has recently been seeing Pitt at his home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Los Feliz, but has yet to meet his six children: Maddox, 17; Pax, 14; Zahara, 13; Shiloh, 12; and twins Vivienne and Knox, 10. Theron has two adopted children: Jackson, 7, and August, 3. They have been casually seeing each other for nearly a month now, a source told the Sun. Theyve been friends for some time ironically, through Sean but things have developed. The Daily Mail contacted representatives for Pitt and Theron, but had not received a comment about their possible relationship. Though Theron and Pitt have never worked together on a film, she co-starred with his friend Matt Damon in the 2000 film The Legend of Bagger Vance. Theron previously was linked to Big Little Lies star Alexander Skarsgard.

The Daily Mail reports that Brad Pitt is dating Charlize Theron.

ctrlsum

https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/01/21/is-brad-pitt-dating-angelina-jolies-enemy-charlize-theron/

Will government shutdown impact security at Super Bowl LIII?

CLOSE SportsPulse: This will likely go down as the worst officiated championship weekend ever. But if you are a fan of chaos and pure insane entertainment it was incredible. Trysta Krick breaks down how the Patriots and Rams punched their ticket to the Super Bowl. USA TODAY Super Bowl LIII could be the first major sporting event in more than two decades held during a government shutdown, although federal officials told USA TODAY Sports that those attending the game or the events surrounding it shouldnt worry any more than the first 52 games that were played with a fully employed government. Nothing has been curtailed, FBI spokesman Kevin Rowson told USA TODAY Sports. We are fully operational. This years Super Bowl, scheduled for Feb. 3 between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots, is a SEAR 1 event, the federal governments second-highest security classification. The State of the Union address, categorized at the highest level (NSSE), is scheduled for Jan. 29, although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested to President Trump last week that it be postponed because of security concerns surrounding the shutdown. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host its first Super Bowl when the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots meet in Atlanta on Feb. 3. (Photo: Danny Karnik, AP) While not necessarily a terrorism target, a SEAR 1 event is of enough national or international importance to require federal support and equipment, as well as cooperation and coordination between federal, state and local authorities. The Department (of Homeland Security) takes the security of special events like the Super Bowl extremely seriously, and we continue executing our protection responsibility and supporting our local public safety partners for this event," DHS spokesperson Tyler Q. Houlton said in a statement last week. "The current lapse in government funding will have no effect on our commitment to assuring a safe and secure event. More: 32 things we learned from NFC, AFC Championship Games heading into NFL's Super Bowl LIII More: Get that gumbo: Rams CB Marcus Peters relishes revenge vs. Saints More than 1,500 public safety personnel are involved in Super Bowl security, Rowson said, though its not clear how many of those are federal agents and officials. (None of the FBI agents are currently being paid.) Or how many will be working the Super Bowl without pay if the shutdown has not been resolved. The Secret Service, FBI, TSA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection are among the federal agencies charged with working with local law enforcement and private security to secure the Super Bowl and many of the surrounding events/ The federal agencies involved HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) , FBI, ICE and CPB are essential and will be working as usual, but many arent going to be getting paid, said John Torres, CEO of the security consulting company Guidepost Solutions and a former HSI agent. Theyll still do their jobs whether they are paid or not." Security consultant Aloke S. Chakravarty told USA TODAY Sports that federal law enforcement officials who have't gotten paid as the shutdown drags on "are professionals who don't do their jobs for money, but their families are impacted like anyone else's would be." You could ... see a drop off in efficiency," said Chakravarty, a former federal prosecutor who worked the Boston Marathon bombing case and is currently a partner at Snell & Wilmer. "While agents at the FBI, Secret Service and other agencies will be working because (Super Bowl security) was already budgeted, the people who support them, like analysts, could be furloughed. Analysts may not be at their terminals because of the shutdown." Rowson and Atlanta Police Department spokesman Carlos Campos said the shutdown will not impact security. Federal, state and local officials have been planning for the Super Bowl for two years, and are fully prepared. An event like (the) Super Bowl is all about planning, preparation and partnerships, Rowson said in an email. We want to assure the public that we have planned for this to ensure that nothing happens, Rowson added. But if something does happen, we are ready, and prepared to transition into crisis response and investigation. That means most of the federal employees working the Super Bowl will be doing it without pay if the shutdown is ongoing. DHS is one of the nine departments that is unfunded but workers who are considered essential are still expected to do their jobs. The Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2, 1996 was the last major sporting event held during a shutdown. The federal government was closed for 21 days as President Bill Clinton and Congress sparred over the budget. Nebraska won the game to claim the national title. While four World Series (1977, 1978, 1979 and 1986) overlapped with prior shutdowns, the 1978 World Series (Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees) was the only one that came during a lengthy standoff (18 days). Contributing: Michael Collins

Super Bowl LIII could be the first major sporting event in more than two decades held during a government shutdown. This years Super Bowl, scheduled for Feb. 3 between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots, is a SEAR 1 event. More than 1,500 public safety personnel are involved in Super Bowl security.

bart

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/01/21/super-bowl-liii-government-shutdown-impact-security-atlanta/2618394002/

Can Quebecs Bloc Qubcois win back party status in the House of Commons?

MONTREALJustin Trudeau is not the only federal leader who could benefit from the decline of the NDP in Quebec come next falls general election. The Bloc Qubcois, under its latest leader, is also banking on the weakness of the New Democrats under Jagmeet Singh to help it earn back official party status in the House of Commons next fall. Yves-Francois Blanchet makes an announcement on the leadership race of the Bloc Qubcois in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Nov. 26, 2018. Blanchet was acclaimed as leader on Jan. 17. As a former environment minister in Quebec his green credentials should help him in the upcoming federal campaign, Chantal Hbert writes. ( Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS ) It might just work. Winning a dozen seats up only two from the sovereigntist partys current MP complement might seem like a modest goal for a parliamentary group that once held the lofty title of official opposition but it was only a few months ago that the Bloc was given up for dead. Having narrowly avoided implosion, the party has put its divisions behind it or at least set them aside to kick off the election year under a just-acclaimed new leader. Article Continued Below Yves-Franois Blanchet sat in the national assembly as a Parti Qubcois member from 2008 to 2014. After his defeat, he joined the ever-expanding cast of political pundits. The experience both raised his public profile and allowed him to acquire a serious amount of federal background knowledge he might otherwise have spent the next few months trying to acquire. In his previous political life, Blanchet spent a bit more than a year serving as premier Pauline Marois environment minister. With climate change expected to hold pride of place in the upcoming federal campaign those green credentials could hold him in good stead. They could make the Bloc more attractive to the score of young voters who were drawn to Qubec Solidaires militant environmental agenda in last falls provincial election. As counterintuitive as it may seem, the sharp downturn in Parti Qubcois fortunes provincially could turn out to be a saving grace for the Bloc next fall. Since 1993, the federal party has achieved its best scores at times when its sovereignist cousins were out of power in Quebec. The more remote the possibility of another referendum on the provinces political future, the more comfortable some Quebec voters are with supporting a federal party devoted exclusively to their interests, especially if Justin Trudeau collides with Premier Franois Legault between now and the election. At the same time, with a majority Coalition Avenir Qubec government in place and the leaderless PQ twice removed from provincial power for at least the next few years, the survival of the Bloc has become, if only by default, job one for the sovereignty movement. The announcement in late November that Blanchet was running for leader seems to have already had a positive impact on the partys finances. December turned out to be its best fundraising month since the last election. Article Continued Below All 10 Bloc MPs have now confirmed they will be seeking re-election next fall. When it comes to holding a seat, incumbents usually have an edge on newcomers. The first test of the Blocs claim that it can still bounce back from quasi-oblivion will be the Feb. 25 byelection in Outremont. Over Thomas Mulcairs dozen years as the Montreal ridings MP, the Blocs share of the vote averaged just a bit less than 10 per cent. Over the five federal elections fought in the pre-Mulcair era, it used to average 30 per cent. The Liberals have been counting on an NDP collapse to make gains in Quebec next fall. It is not a coincidence that both last weeks cabinet retreat and Trudeaus prime ministerial town hall took place in New Democrat territory. But Trudeau may have already brought home most of the Quebec voters who are liable to float between the Liberals and the NDP. In 2015, the Liberal vote in the province went up 21 points while the New Democrats take went down 17 points. Moreover, the prime ministers climate change record which Blanchet has in his sights is hardly bulletproof. The notion that the Bloc could become the focus of a sovereigntist save-the-furniture bid crusade is also not good news for Andrew Scheers Conservatives. Coming on the heels of the founding of Maxime Berniers breakaway, the possibility of a Bloc resurgence throws yet another unwelcome unknown in the Conservative partys Quebec calculations. It does not help that the Conservative foothold in the province is in francophone territory, where the Bloc is best placed to split the non-Liberal vote. The Bloc has been on a downward spiral for eight years and two federal elections. The next campaign is a make-or-break one for the party and increasingly for Quebecs once mighty sovereignty movement. It could still upset the best-laid plans of its national rivals. Chantal Hbert is a columnist based in Ottawa covering politics. Follow her on Twitter: @ChantalHbert Read more about:

The Bloc Qubcois is banking on the weakness of the New Democrats under Jagmeet Singh to help it earn back official party status in the House of Commons.

bart

https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2019/01/21/can-quebecs-bloc-qubcois-win-back-party-status-in-the-house-of-commons.html

Can Quebecs Bloc Qubcois win back party status in the House of Commons?

MONTREALJustin Trudeau is not the only federal leader who could benefit from the decline of the NDP in Quebec come next falls general election. The Bloc Qubcois, under its latest leader, is also banking on the weakness of the New Democrats under Jagmeet Singh to help it earn back official party status in the House of Commons next fall. Yves-Francois Blanchet makes an announcement on the leadership race of the Bloc Qubcois in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Nov. 26, 2018. Blanchet was acclaimed as leader on Jan. 17. As a former environment minister in Quebec his green credentials should help him in the upcoming federal campaign, Chantal Hbert writes. ( Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS ) It might just work. Winning a dozen seats up only two from the sovereigntist partys current MP complement might seem like a modest goal for a parliamentary group that once held the lofty title of official opposition but it was only a few months ago that the Bloc was given up for dead. Having narrowly avoided implosion, the party has put its divisions behind it or at least set them aside to kick off the election year under a just-acclaimed new leader. Article Continued Below Yves-Franois Blanchet sat in the national assembly as a Parti Qubcois member from 2008 to 2014. After his defeat, he joined the ever-expanding cast of political pundits. The experience both raised his public profile and allowed him to acquire a serious amount of federal background knowledge he might otherwise have spent the next few months trying to acquire. In his previous political life, Blanchet spent a bit more than a year serving as premier Pauline Marois environment minister. With climate change expected to hold pride of place in the upcoming federal campaign those green credentials could hold him in good stead. They could make the Bloc more attractive to the score of young voters who were drawn to Qubec Solidaires militant environmental agenda in last falls provincial election. As counterintuitive as it may seem, the sharp downturn in Parti Qubcois fortunes provincially could turn out to be a saving grace for the Bloc next fall. Since 1993, the federal party has achieved its best scores at times when its sovereignist cousins were out of power in Quebec. The more remote the possibility of another referendum on the provinces political future, the more comfortable some Quebec voters are with supporting a federal party devoted exclusively to their interests, especially if Justin Trudeau collides with Premier Franois Legault between now and the election. At the same time, with a majority Coalition Avenir Qubec government in place and the leaderless PQ twice removed from provincial power for at least the next few years, the survival of the Bloc has become, if only by default, job one for the sovereignty movement. The announcement in late November that Blanchet was running for leader seems to have already had a positive impact on the partys finances. December turned out to be its best fundraising month since the last election. Article Continued Below All 10 Bloc MPs have now confirmed they will be seeking re-election next fall. When it comes to holding a seat, incumbents usually have an edge on newcomers. The first test of the Blocs claim that it can still bounce back from quasi-oblivion will be the Feb. 25 byelection in Outremont. Over Thomas Mulcairs dozen years as the Montreal ridings MP, the Blocs share of the vote averaged just a bit less than 10 per cent. Over the five federal elections fought in the pre-Mulcair era, it used to average 30 per cent. The Liberals have been counting on an NDP collapse to make gains in Quebec next fall. It is not a coincidence that both last weeks cabinet retreat and Trudeaus prime ministerial town hall took place in New Democrat territory. But Trudeau may have already brought home most of the Quebec voters who are liable to float between the Liberals and the NDP. In 2015, the Liberal vote in the province went up 21 points while the New Democrats take went down 17 points. Moreover, the prime ministers climate change record which Blanchet has in his sights is hardly bulletproof. The notion that the Bloc could become the focus of a sovereigntist save-the-furniture bid crusade is also not good news for Andrew Scheers Conservatives. Coming on the heels of the founding of Maxime Berniers breakaway, the possibility of a Bloc resurgence throws yet another unwelcome unknown in the Conservative partys Quebec calculations. It does not help that the Conservative foothold in the province is in francophone territory, where the Bloc is best placed to split the non-Liberal vote. The Bloc has been on a downward spiral for eight years and two federal elections. The next campaign is a make-or-break one for the party and increasingly for Quebecs once mighty sovereignty movement. It could still upset the best-laid plans of its national rivals. Chantal Hbert is a columnist based in Ottawa covering politics. Follow her on Twitter: @ChantalHbert Read more about:

The Bloc Qubcois is banking on the weakness of the New Democrats under Jagmeet Singh to help it earn back official party status in the House of Commons. Yves-Franois Blanchet was acclaimed as leader on Jan. 17.

bart

https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2019/01/21/can-quebecs-bloc-qubcois-win-back-party-status-in-the-house-of-commons.html

Who fared the best in Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's proposed budget?

Corrections & clarifications: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect number of schools that would receive results-based funding under Gov. Doug Ducey's budget plan. Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday released an $11.9 billion spending plan that aims to capitalize on the highest projected budget surplus in a decade. The governor's proposal would split that surplus about $1.1 billion in half. Ducey would put $542 million in the state's rainy day fund to better prepare the state for the next economic downturn, officials said, while dedicating $538 million to education, public safety and other longtime priorities. Here's who benefited most from the plan: 1. State employees (well, some of them) Gov. Doug Ducey speaks after being sworn in by Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Scott Bales at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix at the 2019 State of Arizona Inauguration ceremony Jan. 7. (Photo: Tom Tingle/The Republic, Tom Tingle/The Republic) The governor has proposed a raise for about 45 percent of state workers, with average pay increases ranging from 5 to 15 percent. Public-safety employees are the primary winners. Corrections officers, who start at less than $32,000 and haven't received a raise in about a decade, would get a 10 percent raise worth about $36 million. Department of Public Safety troopers also would get a 10 percent pay raise, to the tune of $22 million. Other agencies where employees would see pay bumps: Department of Child Safety Department of Health Services Department of Juvenile Corrections Department of Game and Fish Department of Transportation Attorney General's Office Department of Liquor Arizona State Parks and Trails Department of Agriculture Department of Insurance Corporation Commission CLOSE "More transparency and more accountability," Ducey says are needed for taxpayers dollars spent in schools. Brian Snyder, Arizona Republic 2. High-performing K-12 schools Duceys budget proposal more than doubles the funding for the state's controversial results-based funding program for public schools, from $38 million this year to $98 million for the upcoming budget. The purpose of the program, according to the Governor's Office, is to recognize, reward and replicate excelling schools with most of the money going to teachers and the rest toward expanding successful schools or programs. For the past two years, the money has gone to schools based on AzMERIT test results. Under the governors proposal, the $98 million would instead be divided between schools graded A and B by the State Board of Education. The money would go to 675 schools, according to a projection from the Governors Office. Schools with higher levels of poverty would get more money than schools with lower levels of poverty. B-letter-grade schools with more than 60 percent of the student population eligible for free and reduced lunch would receive results-based funding. On the flip side, that means low-performing schools are left out when it comes to this money. Many critics of the states letter-grading system say it is just a measure of poverty, where wealthier schools often see higher grades and poorer schools see lower grades. CLOSE Doug Ducey, legislative leaders discuss the need for Arizona to join a drought contingency plan at a Jan. 15, 2019, press conference. Tom Tingle, The Republic | azcentral.com 3. Prospective teachers In Duceys first year in office, he slashed nearly $100 million from Arizona's public universities. This year, the universities avoided the same fate, with more than $100 million in new spending proposed for higher education. The cornerstone of Duceys education agenda would beef up the teachers' academy at the three state universities by putting money into a program Ducey first announced, but didnt fund, in 2017. The governors plan would give $21 million to the three state universities for the teachers' academies, designed to address the teacher shortage by allowing students a free college education if they agreed to teach in Arizona. Although more than 200 students participated last year, the programs werent yet providing four years of free college due to a lack of funding. In 2018, only juniors and seniors could access the academy at Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. At the University of Arizona, it's a one-year master's program. The added money would expand the program to four years and beyond education majors in a big win for the universities. 4. Weekend warriors Backups on Interstate 17 are routine on weekends, especially holidays, as people in the Phoenix area head to the mountains then head back down to the Valley before work on Monday. The two-hour drive often turns into four or more when accidents cause miles-long backups. Duceys budget proposes $40 million next year and $45 million each of the following two years to add a third travel lane between Black Canyon City and Anthem. Already, the Arizona Department of Transportation is moving ahead on flex lanes that will allow more traffic heading north or south, depending on the day of the week. The additional money will allow ADOT to address the entire corridor from Sunset Point to Anthem at once, rather than incrementally. With work beginning in 2020, drivers should see relief by 2023. The Gaggle has some thoughts. William Flannigan, azcentral 5. Rural residents and the internet Up to 54 percent of households in rural Arizona counties do not have high-speed connectivity. Ducey's budget proposes the addition of a full-time state broadband director who would manage a competitive rural-broadband development grant program. That program would set aside $3 million over the fiscal year "to offset the construction costs of expanding broadband services in underserved rural areas across the state." Another $1 million of Ducey's proposal would fund new prenatal-care telemedicine grants, allowing pregnant women in rural areas to access better health care without having to travel. Current care gaps put women and children in those parts of the state at higher risk of complications during and after pregnancy. 6. Arizonans during the next recession Officials say Ducey's massive proposed contribution to the state's rainy-day fund would help the state weather an economic downturn without having to make significant, abrupt cuts. The $542 million deposit would bring the fund to $1 billion, an amount more closely aligned with economists' state-savings recommendations. The guiding principle here is being fiscally conservative, fiscally responsible, preparing for the future and not making the mistakes of the past," said Daniel Scarpinato, Ducey's chief of staff. "When you look at whats recommended, when you look at what other states are doing, and you look at what happened during the Great RecessionWe want to be very careful about ongoing spending commitments." The rainy-day proposal faces an uphill battle in the Legislature. CLOSE Gov. Doug Ducey emphasized the importance of water and securing the state's water future in his State of the State address on Jan. 14, 2019. Under Ducey's plan, not every state agency that asked for employee raises would receive them. The teacher-raise plan wouldn't cover support staff, such as bus drivers and cafeteria workers. Other funding the Governor's Office says could be used for this purpose is not guaranteed to end up in employees' hands, as districts have several competing priorities. And taxpayers, through a controversial vehicle-registration fee, are footing the bill for some interstate and road-maintenance projects. 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/politics/arizona/2019/01/21/arizona-budget-who-were-winners-gov-duceys-proposed-budget/2620361002/

Gov. Doug Ducey has proposed a $11.9 billion budget for 2019-2020. Public-safety employees are the primary winners.

ctrlsum

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2019/01/21/arizona-budget-who-were-winners-gov-duceys-proposed-budget/2620361002/

Who fared the best in Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's proposed budget?

Corrections & clarifications: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect number of schools that would receive results-based funding under Gov. Doug Ducey's budget plan. Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday released an $11.9 billion spending plan that aims to capitalize on the highest projected budget surplus in a decade. The governor's proposal would split that surplus about $1.1 billion in half. Ducey would put $542 million in the state's rainy day fund to better prepare the state for the next economic downturn, officials said, while dedicating $538 million to education, public safety and other longtime priorities. Here's who benefited most from the plan: 1. State employees (well, some of them) Gov. Doug Ducey speaks after being sworn in by Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Scott Bales at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix at the 2019 State of Arizona Inauguration ceremony Jan. 7. (Photo: Tom Tingle/The Republic, Tom Tingle/The Republic) The governor has proposed a raise for about 45 percent of state workers, with average pay increases ranging from 5 to 15 percent. Public-safety employees are the primary winners. Corrections officers, who start at less than $32,000 and haven't received a raise in about a decade, would get a 10 percent raise worth about $36 million. Department of Public Safety troopers also would get a 10 percent pay raise, to the tune of $22 million. Other agencies where employees would see pay bumps: Department of Child Safety Department of Health Services Department of Juvenile Corrections Department of Game and Fish Department of Transportation Attorney General's Office Department of Liquor Arizona State Parks and Trails Department of Agriculture Department of Insurance Corporation Commission CLOSE "More transparency and more accountability," Ducey says are needed for taxpayers dollars spent in schools. Brian Snyder, Arizona Republic 2. High-performing K-12 schools Duceys budget proposal more than doubles the funding for the state's controversial results-based funding program for public schools, from $38 million this year to $98 million for the upcoming budget. The purpose of the program, according to the Governor's Office, is to recognize, reward and replicate excelling schools with most of the money going to teachers and the rest toward expanding successful schools or programs. For the past two years, the money has gone to schools based on AzMERIT test results. Under the governors proposal, the $98 million would instead be divided between schools graded A and B by the State Board of Education. The money would go to 675 schools, according to a projection from the Governors Office. Schools with higher levels of poverty would get more money than schools with lower levels of poverty. B-letter-grade schools with more than 60 percent of the student population eligible for free and reduced lunch would receive results-based funding. On the flip side, that means low-performing schools are left out when it comes to this money. Many critics of the states letter-grading system say it is just a measure of poverty, where wealthier schools often see higher grades and poorer schools see lower grades. CLOSE Doug Ducey, legislative leaders discuss the need for Arizona to join a drought contingency plan at a Jan. 15, 2019, press conference. Tom Tingle, The Republic | azcentral.com 3. Prospective teachers In Duceys first year in office, he slashed nearly $100 million from Arizona's public universities. This year, the universities avoided the same fate, with more than $100 million in new spending proposed for higher education. The cornerstone of Duceys education agenda would beef up the teachers' academy at the three state universities by putting money into a program Ducey first announced, but didnt fund, in 2017. The governors plan would give $21 million to the three state universities for the teachers' academies, designed to address the teacher shortage by allowing students a free college education if they agreed to teach in Arizona. Although more than 200 students participated last year, the programs werent yet providing four years of free college due to a lack of funding. In 2018, only juniors and seniors could access the academy at Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. At the University of Arizona, it's a one-year master's program. The added money would expand the program to four years and beyond education majors in a big win for the universities. 4. Weekend warriors Backups on Interstate 17 are routine on weekends, especially holidays, as people in the Phoenix area head to the mountains then head back down to the Valley before work on Monday. The two-hour drive often turns into four or more when accidents cause miles-long backups. Duceys budget proposes $40 million next year and $45 million each of the following two years to add a third travel lane between Black Canyon City and Anthem. Already, the Arizona Department of Transportation is moving ahead on flex lanes that will allow more traffic heading north or south, depending on the day of the week. The additional money will allow ADOT to address the entire corridor from Sunset Point to Anthem at once, rather than incrementally. With work beginning in 2020, drivers should see relief by 2023. The Gaggle has some thoughts. William Flannigan, azcentral 5. Rural residents and the internet Up to 54 percent of households in rural Arizona counties do not have high-speed connectivity. Ducey's budget proposes the addition of a full-time state broadband director who would manage a competitive rural-broadband development grant program. That program would set aside $3 million over the fiscal year "to offset the construction costs of expanding broadband services in underserved rural areas across the state." Another $1 million of Ducey's proposal would fund new prenatal-care telemedicine grants, allowing pregnant women in rural areas to access better health care without having to travel. Current care gaps put women and children in those parts of the state at higher risk of complications during and after pregnancy. 6. Arizonans during the next recession Officials say Ducey's massive proposed contribution to the state's rainy-day fund would help the state weather an economic downturn without having to make significant, abrupt cuts. The $542 million deposit would bring the fund to $1 billion, an amount more closely aligned with economists' state-savings recommendations. The guiding principle here is being fiscally conservative, fiscally responsible, preparing for the future and not making the mistakes of the past," said Daniel Scarpinato, Ducey's chief of staff. "When you look at whats recommended, when you look at what other states are doing, and you look at what happened during the Great RecessionWe want to be very careful about ongoing spending commitments." The rainy-day proposal faces an uphill battle in the Legislature. CLOSE Gov. Doug Ducey emphasized the importance of water and securing the state's water future in his State of the State address on Jan. 14, 2019. Under Ducey's plan, not every state agency that asked for employee raises would receive them. The teacher-raise plan wouldn't cover support staff, such as bus drivers and cafeteria workers. Other funding the Governor's Office says could be used for this purpose is not guaranteed to end up in employees' hands, as districts have several competing priorities. And taxpayers, through a controversial vehicle-registration fee, are footing the bill for some interstate and road-maintenance projects. 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/politics/arizona/2019/01/21/arizona-budget-who-were-winners-gov-duceys-proposed-budget/2620361002/

Gov. Doug Ducey has proposed a $11.9 billion budget for 2019-2020. Public-safety employees are the primary winners. High-performing K-12 schools get a boost.

ctrlsum

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2019/01/21/arizona-budget-who-were-winners-gov-duceys-proposed-budget/2620361002/

Who fared the best in Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's proposed budget?

Corrections & clarifications: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect number of schools that would receive results-based funding under Gov. Doug Ducey's budget plan. Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday released an $11.9 billion spending plan that aims to capitalize on the highest projected budget surplus in a decade. The governor's proposal would split that surplus about $1.1 billion in half. Ducey would put $542 million in the state's rainy day fund to better prepare the state for the next economic downturn, officials said, while dedicating $538 million to education, public safety and other longtime priorities. Here's who benefited most from the plan: 1. State employees (well, some of them) Gov. Doug Ducey speaks after being sworn in by Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Scott Bales at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix at the 2019 State of Arizona Inauguration ceremony Jan. 7. (Photo: Tom Tingle/The Republic, Tom Tingle/The Republic) The governor has proposed a raise for about 45 percent of state workers, with average pay increases ranging from 5 to 15 percent. Public-safety employees are the primary winners. Corrections officers, who start at less than $32,000 and haven't received a raise in about a decade, would get a 10 percent raise worth about $36 million. Department of Public Safety troopers also would get a 10 percent pay raise, to the tune of $22 million. Other agencies where employees would see pay bumps: Department of Child Safety Department of Health Services Department of Juvenile Corrections Department of Game and Fish Department of Transportation Attorney General's Office Department of Liquor Arizona State Parks and Trails Department of Agriculture Department of Insurance Corporation Commission CLOSE "More transparency and more accountability," Ducey says are needed for taxpayers dollars spent in schools. Brian Snyder, Arizona Republic 2. High-performing K-12 schools Duceys budget proposal more than doubles the funding for the state's controversial results-based funding program for public schools, from $38 million this year to $98 million for the upcoming budget. The purpose of the program, according to the Governor's Office, is to recognize, reward and replicate excelling schools with most of the money going to teachers and the rest toward expanding successful schools or programs. For the past two years, the money has gone to schools based on AzMERIT test results. Under the governors proposal, the $98 million would instead be divided between schools graded A and B by the State Board of Education. The money would go to 675 schools, according to a projection from the Governors Office. Schools with higher levels of poverty would get more money than schools with lower levels of poverty. B-letter-grade schools with more than 60 percent of the student population eligible for free and reduced lunch would receive results-based funding. On the flip side, that means low-performing schools are left out when it comes to this money. Many critics of the states letter-grading system say it is just a measure of poverty, where wealthier schools often see higher grades and poorer schools see lower grades. CLOSE Doug Ducey, legislative leaders discuss the need for Arizona to join a drought contingency plan at a Jan. 15, 2019, press conference. Tom Tingle, The Republic | azcentral.com 3. Prospective teachers In Duceys first year in office, he slashed nearly $100 million from Arizona's public universities. This year, the universities avoided the same fate, with more than $100 million in new spending proposed for higher education. The cornerstone of Duceys education agenda would beef up the teachers' academy at the three state universities by putting money into a program Ducey first announced, but didnt fund, in 2017. The governors plan would give $21 million to the three state universities for the teachers' academies, designed to address the teacher shortage by allowing students a free college education if they agreed to teach in Arizona. Although more than 200 students participated last year, the programs werent yet providing four years of free college due to a lack of funding. In 2018, only juniors and seniors could access the academy at Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. At the University of Arizona, it's a one-year master's program. The added money would expand the program to four years and beyond education majors in a big win for the universities. 4. Weekend warriors Backups on Interstate 17 are routine on weekends, especially holidays, as people in the Phoenix area head to the mountains then head back down to the Valley before work on Monday. The two-hour drive often turns into four or more when accidents cause miles-long backups. Duceys budget proposes $40 million next year and $45 million each of the following two years to add a third travel lane between Black Canyon City and Anthem. Already, the Arizona Department of Transportation is moving ahead on flex lanes that will allow more traffic heading north or south, depending on the day of the week. The additional money will allow ADOT to address the entire corridor from Sunset Point to Anthem at once, rather than incrementally. With work beginning in 2020, drivers should see relief by 2023. The Gaggle has some thoughts. William Flannigan, azcentral 5. Rural residents and the internet Up to 54 percent of households in rural Arizona counties do not have high-speed connectivity. Ducey's budget proposes the addition of a full-time state broadband director who would manage a competitive rural-broadband development grant program. That program would set aside $3 million over the fiscal year "to offset the construction costs of expanding broadband services in underserved rural areas across the state." Another $1 million of Ducey's proposal would fund new prenatal-care telemedicine grants, allowing pregnant women in rural areas to access better health care without having to travel. Current care gaps put women and children in those parts of the state at higher risk of complications during and after pregnancy. 6. Arizonans during the next recession Officials say Ducey's massive proposed contribution to the state's rainy-day fund would help the state weather an economic downturn without having to make significant, abrupt cuts. The $542 million deposit would bring the fund to $1 billion, an amount more closely aligned with economists' state-savings recommendations. The guiding principle here is being fiscally conservative, fiscally responsible, preparing for the future and not making the mistakes of the past," said Daniel Scarpinato, Ducey's chief of staff. "When you look at whats recommended, when you look at what other states are doing, and you look at what happened during the Great RecessionWe want to be very careful about ongoing spending commitments." The rainy-day proposal faces an uphill battle in the Legislature. CLOSE Gov. Doug Ducey emphasized the importance of water and securing the state's water future in his State of the State address on Jan. 14, 2019. Under Ducey's plan, not every state agency that asked for employee raises would receive them. The teacher-raise plan wouldn't cover support staff, such as bus drivers and cafeteria workers. Other funding the Governor's Office says could be used for this purpose is not guaranteed to end up in employees' hands, as districts have several competing priorities. And taxpayers, through a controversial vehicle-registration fee, are footing the bill for some interstate and road-maintenance projects. 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/politics/arizona/2019/01/21/arizona-budget-who-were-winners-gov-duceys-proposed-budget/2620361002/

Gov. Doug Ducey has proposed a $11.9 billion budget for 2019-2020. Public-safety employees are the primary winners. High-performing K-12 schools are the biggest losers under the plan. The budget is expected to be signed into law by the end of the month.

ctrlsum

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2019/01/21/arizona-budget-who-were-winners-gov-duceys-proposed-budget/2620361002/

Have Barcelona Sacrificed Their World Famous La Masia Academy for Short Term Success?

Before Barcelona's 3-1 victory against Real Betis in 2013, a banner produced by their supporters was emblazoned with the words 'La Masia no es toca' which translates to 'hands off our academy.' Originally displayed as a protest towards FIFA's decision to give the Blaugrana a transfer ban for illegally signing players, the sentiment behind it could ironically be linked to the club's current situation. Since this statement of defiance, only one academy graduate has managed to secure a permanent place in Barcelona's starting eleven with Sergi Roberto establishing himself as the club's first choice right back following Dani Alves' departure to Juventus. Quality Sport Images/GettyImages When Barcelona completed one of the greatest Champions League comebacks of all time against PSG in 2017, the clinching goal from Roberto was celebrated with an exuberance rarely seen at the Camp Nou. For the clubs Cules, the Masia graduate's classy strike symbolised much more than a goal to send them through to yet another European quarter final. In a team full of stars purchased for premium prices such as Neymar and Luis Suarez, it was one of their own who had made history, a player who they could relate to as he was living their dream of representing the Blaugrana on the biggest of occasions. Yet nearly two years on from that remarkable night, Roberto remains the club's most recent academy success with fellow graduates Sergi Samper and Rafinha failing to make a lasting impression for manager Ernesto Valverde. VI-Images/GettyImages Last season saw the club respond to the sudden 198m departure of Neymar to PSG by spending extortionate amounts of money on Ousmane Dembele (135.5m) from Borussia Dortmund and Phillipe Coutinho (105m) from Liverpool. Neither player has come close to justifying their fees with both only showing glimpses of their undeniable talent. Coutinho in particular has been lambasted by the Catalan press this season for his poor form with many supporters questioning just why their club didn't just focus on developing some of the youth academy's brightest prospects instead. The summer arrivals of Arturo Vidal, Arthur, Malcom and Clement Lenglet have had a mixed impact on the club's fortunes yet Barcelona once again are leading La Liga and have comfortably progressed into the last sixteen of the Champions League. Quality Sport Images/GettyImages By making these signings, the message sent to the Blaugrana's youth players is incredibly alarming as their goal of representing the club grows ever harder. Even Barcelona's greatest prospects such as midfielder Carles Alena have been shunted in favour of statement transfers ordered by president Josep Bartomeu, who is a figure that divides opinion amongst shareholders at the Camp Nou. Once tipped to be the heart of the first team's midfield for years to come, Alena's only appearances for the club have come primarily as a substitute as Valverde is unwilling to put his faith in the youngster. Rumours circling that the Blaugrana could be about to sign Ajax starlet Frenkie de Jong will certainly do nothing to help the 21-year-old's quest to become a regular first team starter and could even cast a doubt over the youngster's future. Quality Sport Images/GettyImages Unfortunately the promising playmaker is far from the only example of Barcelona's recent disregard for their academy graduates as striker Munir El Haddadi was also given limited chances to establish himself as part of a traditional front three. The 23-year-old's immense frustration of only being a sporadic member of the squad drove him to seek an alternative future at Sevilla, joining the Los Rojiblancos on Saturday for just 1m and becoming yet another member of La Masia to fail to make a lasting impact for the club. As of January 2019, only four members of their typical starting eleven graduated from the club's world famous academy with three of those (Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique) entering the latter stages of their career. Whereas this generational talent will be undoubtedly tough to replace and in the case of Messi almost impossible, there are still a host of promising young talent coming through the ranks at La Masia. GLYN KIRK/GettyImages Creative midfielder Riqui Puig caught the attention of supporters when he impressed on the club's pre-season tour whilst Oriol Busquets and Abel Ruiz have both stood out for Barcelona B during this year's campaign. Yet given the current situation at Barcelona, if one of the three eventually find their way into the starting eleven in Catalunya, it would be somewhat of a miracle. In what was a club that was once championed for their promotion of the youth, Barcelona have transformed in recent years into something that the majority of their supporters despise, a 'Galactico'-style team who rely solely on expensive transfer after expensive transfer. Alex Caparros/GettyImages Indeed in this modern era it is irresponsible to think that you can achieve long term success through not spending money yet in the case of the Catalan giants, a limit was set during the tenure's of Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola who got the best out of the local talent. The height of Barcelona's success was their 3-1 Champions League Final victory over Manchester United in 2011 which was built on the foundations of La Masia with seven out of the starting eleven coming through its system. LLUIS GENE/GettyImages A golden generation of players that included the imperial Carles Puyol and the mercurial figures of Xavi and Iniesta, brought a pride to their supporters that the current side with its numerous imports from around the world will probably never reproduce. The board at Barcelona are playing a dangerous game by continuously selling their best Masia graduates and could pay a long-term price if they continue to ignore a youth academy that helped produce what has arguably been the club's best era of football in their 119-year history.

Barcelona have been criticised for their lack of faith in their youth players. The Catalan giants have splashed the cash on Ousmane Dembele and Phillipe Coutinho in recent seasons. The club have been accused of sacrificing the future of the La Masia academy for short-term success.

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https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/01/13/have-barcelona-sacrificed-their-world-famous-la-masia-academy-short-term-success

How many AFC Championship Games has Tom Brady reached with Patriots?

The Patriots advanced to their eighth-straight AFC championship game on Sunday after defeating the Chargers 41-28 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. New England's streak is unprecedented in NFL history, the longest such run of consecutive conference championship appearances. The Raiders hold the second-longest conference title streak, reaching the AFC championship game in five-straight seasons from 1973-78. Tom Brady has been at the helm of New England's eight-straight conference title appearances. Brady and head coach Bill Belichick are 84 in AFC title games since 2001. Tom Brady has an NFL record 38 playoff games as a starting QB. Peyton Manning is next, with 27 Tom Brady has an NFL record 28 playoff games as a winning QB. Joe Montana is next, with 16 Tom Brady has an NFL record 15 playoff games with 300 yards. Peyton Manning is next, with 9. Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) January 13, 2019 Brady and Belichick each hold the record for most Super Bowl appearances for a quarterback and coach, respectively. New England is 53 in the Super Bowl in the Brady-Belichick era. The Patriots will travel on the road for the AFC title game. The Chiefs will host New England with kickoff from Arrowhead Stadium slated for 6:45 p.m. ET.

The Patriots have reached the AFC championship game eight-straight seasons. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are 84 in AFC title games since 2001.

pegasus

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/13/new-england-patriots-afc-championship-game-tom-brady-eight-straight

How many AFC Championship Games has Tom Brady reached with Patriots?

The Patriots advanced to their eighth-straight AFC championship game on Sunday after defeating the Chargers 41-28 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. New England's streak is unprecedented in NFL history, the longest such run of consecutive conference championship appearances. The Raiders hold the second-longest conference title streak, reaching the AFC championship game in five-straight seasons from 1973-78. Tom Brady has been at the helm of New England's eight-straight conference title appearances. Brady and head coach Bill Belichick are 84 in AFC title games since 2001. Tom Brady has an NFL record 38 playoff games as a starting QB. Peyton Manning is next, with 27 Tom Brady has an NFL record 28 playoff games as a winning QB. Joe Montana is next, with 16 Tom Brady has an NFL record 15 playoff games with 300 yards. Peyton Manning is next, with 9. Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) January 13, 2019 Brady and Belichick each hold the record for most Super Bowl appearances for a quarterback and coach, respectively. New England is 53 in the Super Bowl in the Brady-Belichick era. The Patriots will travel on the road for the AFC title game. The Chiefs will host New England with kickoff from Arrowhead Stadium slated for 6:45 p.m. ET.

The Patriots advanced to their eighth-straight AFC championship game after beating the Chargers 41-28 on Sunday. Tom Brady has been at the helm of New England's eight-straight conference title appearances.

pegasus

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/13/new-england-patriots-afc-championship-game-tom-brady-eight-straight

How many AFC Championship Games has Tom Brady reached with Patriots?

The Patriots advanced to their eighth-straight AFC championship game on Sunday after defeating the Chargers 41-28 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. New England's streak is unprecedented in NFL history, the longest such run of consecutive conference championship appearances. The Raiders hold the second-longest conference title streak, reaching the AFC championship game in five-straight seasons from 1973-78. Tom Brady has been at the helm of New England's eight-straight conference title appearances. Brady and head coach Bill Belichick are 84 in AFC title games since 2001. Tom Brady has an NFL record 38 playoff games as a starting QB. Peyton Manning is next, with 27 Tom Brady has an NFL record 28 playoff games as a winning QB. Joe Montana is next, with 16 Tom Brady has an NFL record 15 playoff games with 300 yards. Peyton Manning is next, with 9. Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) January 13, 2019 Brady and Belichick each hold the record for most Super Bowl appearances for a quarterback and coach, respectively. New England is 53 in the Super Bowl in the Brady-Belichick era. The Patriots will travel on the road for the AFC title game. The Chiefs will host New England with kickoff from Arrowhead Stadium slated for 6:45 p.m. ET.

The Patriots advanced to their eighth-straight AFC championship game after beating the Chargers 41-28 on Sunday. Tom Brady has been at the helm of New England's eight-straight conference title appearances. The Raiders hold the second-longest conference title streak, reaching the AFC championship game in five-straight seasons from 1973-78.

pegasus

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/13/new-england-patriots-afc-championship-game-tom-brady-eight-straight

Is Vanguard Information Technology ETF a Buy?

If you haven't heard yet, 2018 ended on a sour note for the stock market. Many high-growth technology names got hit especially hard, and the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEMKT: VGT) was a good proxy for that; the fund fell as much as 24% from its autumn high point to finish out the year. In spite of the ugly performance the last few months, though, Vanguard Information Technology still beat the market for full-year 2018 with a 1% gain, versus a 6% decline for the S&P 500 index. That's because technology continues to make inroads into the whole economy, and the Vanguard ETF is a good way to capitalize on its continued growth. A woman with a thought bubble and bag of money illustrated above her head. More Image source: Getty Images. Vanguard Information Technology is an exchange-traded fund, a basket of companies that can be bought and sold like a stock. It carries an internal expense ratio of just 0.10% a year, contains 337 stocks, and currently yields a 1.5% dividend. With over 300 names in it, the Vanguard ETF is an easy way to get broad exposure to the technology industry. However, the fund is market-cap weighted -- the larger the company is, the larger its allocation. As such, the top 10 holdings make up 55% of the fund's total assets, so it's important to make sure these top companies are what you want in your portfolio. Company % Allocation of Vanguard Information Technology ETF Apple 15.7% Microsoft 14.7% Visa 4.3% Intel 4.1% Cisco Systems 4.1% Mastercard 3.4% Oracle 2.6% Adobe 2.2% IBM 2.1% Accenture 1.9% Holdings as of Nov. 30, 2018. Data source: Vanguard. Though the Vanguard offering is a high-growth ETF, the lineup of top holdings doesn't mean investors need to sacrifice quality. The top holdings Microsoft and Apple have been around a long time and are staples to build any investment portfolio around. Vanguard Information Technology is undoubtedly a tech-focused investment, that doesn't mean it isn't diversified. Tech reaches deep into all areas of the economy, with software services and device manufacturing a key part of other sectors -- from the auto industry to healthcare to consumer goods. The ETF is representative of technology's deep roots. Top names like Microsoft, Oracle, and Adobe provide exposure to a wide swath of software services for businesses, including cloud-based computing. The fund also has the leaders in payment processing in the mix, as well as emerging payment tech companies like PayPal. Device manufacturing is also well represented, with semiconductor stocks and consumer product makers like Apple. According to Vanguard, the underlying stocks in Vanguard Information Technology have an average trailing P/E of 22.9. That's a premium over the S&P 500's current P/E of 19.8. However, since the fund's inception in 2004, it has beaten the S&P 500 with dividends reinvested. If technology continues as the fastest-growing industry, that premium could be worth paying over the long term.

Vanguard Information Technology is an exchange-traded fund, a basket of companies that can be bought and sold like a stock.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/vanguard-information-technology-etf-buy-221900038.html

Is Vanguard Information Technology ETF a Buy?

If you haven't heard yet, 2018 ended on a sour note for the stock market. Many high-growth technology names got hit especially hard, and the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEMKT: VGT) was a good proxy for that; the fund fell as much as 24% from its autumn high point to finish out the year. In spite of the ugly performance the last few months, though, Vanguard Information Technology still beat the market for full-year 2018 with a 1% gain, versus a 6% decline for the S&P 500 index. That's because technology continues to make inroads into the whole economy, and the Vanguard ETF is a good way to capitalize on its continued growth. A woman with a thought bubble and bag of money illustrated above her head. More Image source: Getty Images. Vanguard Information Technology is an exchange-traded fund, a basket of companies that can be bought and sold like a stock. It carries an internal expense ratio of just 0.10% a year, contains 337 stocks, and currently yields a 1.5% dividend. With over 300 names in it, the Vanguard ETF is an easy way to get broad exposure to the technology industry. However, the fund is market-cap weighted -- the larger the company is, the larger its allocation. As such, the top 10 holdings make up 55% of the fund's total assets, so it's important to make sure these top companies are what you want in your portfolio. Company % Allocation of Vanguard Information Technology ETF Apple 15.7% Microsoft 14.7% Visa 4.3% Intel 4.1% Cisco Systems 4.1% Mastercard 3.4% Oracle 2.6% Adobe 2.2% IBM 2.1% Accenture 1.9% Holdings as of Nov. 30, 2018. Data source: Vanguard. Though the Vanguard offering is a high-growth ETF, the lineup of top holdings doesn't mean investors need to sacrifice quality. The top holdings Microsoft and Apple have been around a long time and are staples to build any investment portfolio around. Vanguard Information Technology is undoubtedly a tech-focused investment, that doesn't mean it isn't diversified. Tech reaches deep into all areas of the economy, with software services and device manufacturing a key part of other sectors -- from the auto industry to healthcare to consumer goods. The ETF is representative of technology's deep roots. Top names like Microsoft, Oracle, and Adobe provide exposure to a wide swath of software services for businesses, including cloud-based computing. The fund also has the leaders in payment processing in the mix, as well as emerging payment tech companies like PayPal. Device manufacturing is also well represented, with semiconductor stocks and consumer product makers like Apple. According to Vanguard, the underlying stocks in Vanguard Information Technology have an average trailing P/E of 22.9. That's a premium over the S&P 500's current P/E of 19.8. However, since the fund's inception in 2004, it has beaten the S&P 500 with dividends reinvested. If technology continues as the fastest-growing industry, that premium could be worth paying over the long term.

Vanguard Information Technology is an exchange-traded fund, a basket of companies that can be bought and sold like a stock. The fund is market-cap weighted -- the larger the company is, the larger its allocation.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/vanguard-information-technology-etf-buy-221900038.html

Is Vanguard Information Technology ETF a Buy?

If you haven't heard yet, 2018 ended on a sour note for the stock market. Many high-growth technology names got hit especially hard, and the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEMKT: VGT) was a good proxy for that; the fund fell as much as 24% from its autumn high point to finish out the year. In spite of the ugly performance the last few months, though, Vanguard Information Technology still beat the market for full-year 2018 with a 1% gain, versus a 6% decline for the S&P 500 index. That's because technology continues to make inroads into the whole economy, and the Vanguard ETF is a good way to capitalize on its continued growth. A woman with a thought bubble and bag of money illustrated above her head. More Image source: Getty Images. Vanguard Information Technology is an exchange-traded fund, a basket of companies that can be bought and sold like a stock. It carries an internal expense ratio of just 0.10% a year, contains 337 stocks, and currently yields a 1.5% dividend. With over 300 names in it, the Vanguard ETF is an easy way to get broad exposure to the technology industry. However, the fund is market-cap weighted -- the larger the company is, the larger its allocation. As such, the top 10 holdings make up 55% of the fund's total assets, so it's important to make sure these top companies are what you want in your portfolio. Company % Allocation of Vanguard Information Technology ETF Apple 15.7% Microsoft 14.7% Visa 4.3% Intel 4.1% Cisco Systems 4.1% Mastercard 3.4% Oracle 2.6% Adobe 2.2% IBM 2.1% Accenture 1.9% Holdings as of Nov. 30, 2018. Data source: Vanguard. Though the Vanguard offering is a high-growth ETF, the lineup of top holdings doesn't mean investors need to sacrifice quality. The top holdings Microsoft and Apple have been around a long time and are staples to build any investment portfolio around. Vanguard Information Technology is undoubtedly a tech-focused investment, that doesn't mean it isn't diversified. Tech reaches deep into all areas of the economy, with software services and device manufacturing a key part of other sectors -- from the auto industry to healthcare to consumer goods. The ETF is representative of technology's deep roots. Top names like Microsoft, Oracle, and Adobe provide exposure to a wide swath of software services for businesses, including cloud-based computing. The fund also has the leaders in payment processing in the mix, as well as emerging payment tech companies like PayPal. Device manufacturing is also well represented, with semiconductor stocks and consumer product makers like Apple. According to Vanguard, the underlying stocks in Vanguard Information Technology have an average trailing P/E of 22.9. That's a premium over the S&P 500's current P/E of 19.8. However, since the fund's inception in 2004, it has beaten the S&P 500 with dividends reinvested. If technology continues as the fastest-growing industry, that premium could be worth paying over the long term.

The Vanguard Information Technology ETF is a good way to invest in tech. The fund's top 10 holdings make up 55% of the fund's total assets. Tech is a fast-growing industry, and the fund has beaten the S&P 500 with dividends reinvested.

pegasus

https://news.yahoo.com/vanguard-information-technology-etf-buy-221900038.html

Are chicken feathers tomorrow's protein bars?

It's a weird suggestion, but one backed by a study just published by New Zealand researchers. The Massey University paper found these feathers could have potential as a protein supplement for people wanting to build or maintain lean body mass. Keratins are structural, thiol-rich proteins which comprise 90 per cent of total poultry feather weight. Advertisement "Normally we don't eat feathers because we can't digest them, even though they are full of protein," said Professor Steve Stannard, who, with Dr Matthew Barnes, supervised the study by Dr Emma Crum and Dr Yanita McLeay. "But for our study the feathers went through a process called acid hydrolysis which vastly improved solubility." The mixture was then cooled and a base was added to raise the pH of the solution to form a neutral pH edible protein mix. That solution was dried and milled, and flavouring added to form a protein powder. The supplement was consumed as two protein bars, of two different flavours, and the remainder of the protein requirement, in powder form, mixed with water to make a drink. Fifteen trained male cyclists, aged between 18 and 50, were recruited for the Manawatu-based study. They were then given four-weeks of soluble keratin supplementary to their diet to see if it would have effects on body composition, blood and cardiorespiratory variables and cycling performance, compared to casein protein, or dairy. Stannard said while the total body mass and percentage body fat did not change significantly, the study unearthed an interesting finding. "Our data showed that while keratin consumption is not useful as a performance enhancing aid, it was associated with significant increases in lean body mass during the four weeks of exercise training." Professor Steve Stannard of Massey University's School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition. Photo / Supplied The dairy-based supplement didn't have the same effect. "Despite not inducing any significant changes in cycling performance, the keratin was well-tolerated by the study participants," Stannard said. "It perhaps has the potential to be used as a supplement for people who want to improve their lean body mass such as the elderly or some sports-people." The study was published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

Feathers could have potential as a protein supplement for people wanting to build or maintain lean body mass. Membranes are structural, thiol-rich proteins which comprise 90 per cent of total poultry feather weight.

pegasus

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/science/news/article.cfm?c_id=82&objectid=12178311&ref=rss

Are chicken feathers tomorrow's protein bars?

It's a weird suggestion, but one backed by a study just published by New Zealand researchers. The Massey University paper found these feathers could have potential as a protein supplement for people wanting to build or maintain lean body mass. Keratins are structural, thiol-rich proteins which comprise 90 per cent of total poultry feather weight. Advertisement "Normally we don't eat feathers because we can't digest them, even though they are full of protein," said Professor Steve Stannard, who, with Dr Matthew Barnes, supervised the study by Dr Emma Crum and Dr Yanita McLeay. "But for our study the feathers went through a process called acid hydrolysis which vastly improved solubility." The mixture was then cooled and a base was added to raise the pH of the solution to form a neutral pH edible protein mix. That solution was dried and milled, and flavouring added to form a protein powder. The supplement was consumed as two protein bars, of two different flavours, and the remainder of the protein requirement, in powder form, mixed with water to make a drink. Fifteen trained male cyclists, aged between 18 and 50, were recruited for the Manawatu-based study. They were then given four-weeks of soluble keratin supplementary to their diet to see if it would have effects on body composition, blood and cardiorespiratory variables and cycling performance, compared to casein protein, or dairy. Stannard said while the total body mass and percentage body fat did not change significantly, the study unearthed an interesting finding. "Our data showed that while keratin consumption is not useful as a performance enhancing aid, it was associated with significant increases in lean body mass during the four weeks of exercise training." Professor Steve Stannard of Massey University's School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition. Photo / Supplied The dairy-based supplement didn't have the same effect. "Despite not inducing any significant changes in cycling performance, the keratin was well-tolerated by the study participants," Stannard said. "It perhaps has the potential to be used as a supplement for people who want to improve their lean body mass such as the elderly or some sports-people." The study was published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

Feathers could have potential as a protein supplement for people wanting to build or maintain lean body mass. Membranes are structural, thiol-rich proteins which comprise 90 per cent of total poultry feather weight. The study was published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

pegasus

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/science/news/article.cfm?c_id=82&objectid=12178311&ref=rss

Why was Eric Bieniemy passed over this year?

A strong argument could be made for Bieniemy. Hes in the spot that has produced Eagles coach Doug Pederson and Bears coach Matt Nagy, both of whom have quickly become great head coaches. The Chiefs offense found a higher level this year, in Bieniemys first season as the O.C. Scroll to continue with content Ad I think the biggest difference is the mentality, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said on the #PFTPM podcast in late September regarding the transition from Nagy to Bieniemy. Coach Bieniemy brings a fierce, aggressive mentality to the offense. Kind of a gritty, punch-you-in-the-mouth-type of mindset, and I think that has rubbed off on everybody, from Pat [Mahomes] throwing the ball aggressively down field. The play calling is a little bit more aggressive and, sure enough, everybody getting the ball has been a north runner. Theres not too much running sideways. Everybodys getting downhill trying to finish the plays in the end zone. The problem is that Bieniemy doesnt call plays. Then again, Nagy only called plays for half of a season in 2017, a season that saw the offense sputter after a strong start to the season. The explanation could be more about the pursuit of quarterback whisperers, and Bieniemys lack of background in that area. I think the big thing is teams are looking for quarterback guys, one league source opined to PFT. Matt, Doug are both former quarterbacks and former quarterback coaches. Bieniemy isnt. Story continues Theres still a belief in Kansas City that Bieniemy will become a great coach someday. For now, the Chiefs benefit. Then again, they likely benefit either way; theyve done a great job filling the pipeline with more great offensive coordinators, as their offensive coordinators become great coaches.

Eric Bieniemy has been the Chiefs' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. He was passed over for the head-coaching job this year because of his lack of quarterback expertise.

ctrlsum

https://sports.yahoo.com/why-eric-bieniemy-passed-over-165959502.html?src=rss

Why was Eric Bieniemy passed over this year?

A strong argument could be made for Bieniemy. Hes in the spot that has produced Eagles coach Doug Pederson and Bears coach Matt Nagy, both of whom have quickly become great head coaches. The Chiefs offense found a higher level this year, in Bieniemys first season as the O.C. Scroll to continue with content Ad I think the biggest difference is the mentality, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said on the #PFTPM podcast in late September regarding the transition from Nagy to Bieniemy. Coach Bieniemy brings a fierce, aggressive mentality to the offense. Kind of a gritty, punch-you-in-the-mouth-type of mindset, and I think that has rubbed off on everybody, from Pat [Mahomes] throwing the ball aggressively down field. The play calling is a little bit more aggressive and, sure enough, everybody getting the ball has been a north runner. Theres not too much running sideways. Everybodys getting downhill trying to finish the plays in the end zone. The problem is that Bieniemy doesnt call plays. Then again, Nagy only called plays for half of a season in 2017, a season that saw the offense sputter after a strong start to the season. The explanation could be more about the pursuit of quarterback whisperers, and Bieniemys lack of background in that area. I think the big thing is teams are looking for quarterback guys, one league source opined to PFT. Matt, Doug are both former quarterbacks and former quarterback coaches. Bieniemy isnt. Story continues Theres still a belief in Kansas City that Bieniemy will become a great coach someday. For now, the Chiefs benefit. Then again, they likely benefit either way; theyve done a great job filling the pipeline with more great offensive coordinators, as their offensive coordinators become great coaches.

Eric Bieniemy has been the Chiefs' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. He was passed over for the head-coaching job this year because of his lack of quarterback whisperers. The Chiefs offense has been much more potent under his tutelage.

ctrlsum

https://sports.yahoo.com/why-eric-bieniemy-passed-over-165959502.html?src=rss

What Is Ivanka Trumps Role in the White House?

We were originally led to believe that this heightened, unbreakable bond would pay dividends, that her White House office stood as a flag planted in the ground of reason and sanity. If he proposed something loathsome, she would steal down the plushly carpeted hallway on little cat feet and steer him around to something more reasonable. But this seems not to be the case. More often, apparently, she ends up back in her office, patting her tears dry and accepting thatas everher dad will go his own way. There was also the notion that Ivanka would be able to conduct back-channel meetings with problematic peoplefor example, Cecile Richards, the former head of Planned Parenthoodwhom she would charm with B-school solutions to common problems. But when Richards later said that the Trump White House was the worst for women that Ive seen in my lifetime, that hope also died. In July 2017, in Hamburg, Trump stepped away from a meeting of the Group of 20. Ivanka. But she did not serve a grateful nation. There was a buzz of distaste, even of anger, in the media ether, and the family had to go down the ladder from Ivanka to Don Jr. to stop it. Oddly, given her insistence on being a thoroughly modern woman, she wants greater power for her husband, who is Trumps very opposite: personally disciplined, loath to speak in public, willowy, deeply committed to making his one marriage last. In the end, Ivanka stands alone among the daughters of the modern presidency. She is not Margaret Truman, forever remembered for her earnest piano playing; shes not Tricia Nixon, stunned and silent when her dad got in trouble, or Julie Nixon, roaring out of her corner, gloves up, when it happened; nor is she Chelsea Clinton, holding on to her parents hands in an attempt to hold their marriage together on that long walk across the White House lawn. She is not, in other words, a supporting player; shes some kind of principal, but beyond that, we dont know much. Ivanka is a mystery, less powerful than she seemed at first, but still firmly wedged in there at the very center of whatever is going on in our strange, unpredictable, and increasingly dangerous White House.

LZ Granderson: What is Ivanka Trump's role in the White House? LZ: She is a mystery, less powerful than she seemed at first, but still firmly wedged in there at the very center of whatever is going on in our strange, unpredictable, and increasingly dangerous White House.

ctrlsum

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/01/what-is-ivanka-trumps-role-in-the-white-house/580045/?utm_source=feed

Are we now a sanctuary county?

The Review-Journals Tuesday article regarding how Clark County commissioners plan on spending our tax money should send off the alarm bell (Kirkpatrick to chair county board). Newly elected Tick Segerblom and other commissioners want to spend $500,000, along with $100,000 in grant money over the next two years, on UNLVs Immigration Clinic. This will allow the clinic to provide legal aid to people who have entered this country illegally and to help them fight deportation. This is absurd and possibly illegal. So they are using our money to fight the federal government, which is prosecuting people who entered the country illegally. In essence, this makes Clark County a sanctuary county.

Clark County commissioners want to spend $500,000 on UNLVs Immigration Clinic. This will allow the clinic to provide legal aid to people who have entered this country illegally. In essence, this makes Clark County a sanctuary county.

pegasus

https://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/letters/are-we-now-a-sanctuary-county-1573008/

Has the Brexit vote saved London tenants 1,800 pa in rent?

Tenants in London have saved as much as 1,800 in rent as a result of the Brexit referendum in 2016, according to an analysis of more than 100,000 rental properties listed on the Zoopla property website. Rent price growth in London is almost 3% lower than the projected rate of growth since the EU referendum announcement, leaving tenants with more money at the end of the month. Outside of London, rents have been firmer, with the Midlands recording the highest rates of increase, the companys Landbay rental index shows. Landbay attributed the 1,800 Brexit dividend to reduced demand from migrants from the EU but added that other factors are also at play. It said there was evidence of higher levels of internal migration within the UK, with priced-out young adults leaving the capital for Birmingham, Manchester and other lower-priced cities. Landlords may have also been fearful of raising rents in the face of banks potentially moving jobs from the capital to Frankfurt, Paris or Dublin. The impact of EU workers on the London rental market, particularly in central parts of the city, is substantial. Separate research by agents Hurford Salvi Carr found that in 2018, 40% of all rentals in the financial district, midtown areas such as Soho and in the east London area of Canary Wharf, were taken out by European nationals. British nationals who were renting made up just 28% of the London market covered by the research. John Goodall, the chief executive of Landbay, said: Its hard to ignore the impact that the vote to leave the EU has had on property market in London. While tenants are better off, without necessarily realising it, uncertainty in the market has caused a conundrum for landlords. Tenants in England spend half their pay on rent Read more Many landlords will have been looking to offset the governments punitive tax regime by raising rents. However, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit has forced the vast majority to forfeit this to maintain a steady income. Separate research by Savills shows that in 2018, the total value of the UKs housing stock rose by 190bn (2.7%) to reach a record 7.3tn despite slower house price growth. This increase has been attributed to fears about Brexit. Sign up to the daily Business Today email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk The gains came from the regional markets as Londons residential stock recorded a 1.5% fall the first since 2009. The capital still accounts for almost a quarter of UK housing value, compared to a fifth a decade ago. Londons housing stock is worth 1.77tn, more than four times the combined value of Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Bristol, Liverpool and Sheffield all cities that experienced higher rates of price growth than the capital in 2018. Lawrence Bowles, residential research analyst at Savills, said: Our analysis demonstrates the scale of the housing market and underlines the importance of housing to the economies of London and the UK as a whole, both as an asset class and store of private wealth. Once again, we see that wealth concentrated in ever fewer, older hands, to the extent that the UKs over-50s hold a quarter of all UK homeowner equity, while the over-65s in London and the South of England alone account for over three-quarters of the total. At the same time, as affordability becomes more stretched, younger households are having to put off buying their first home until later in life. Its great that were seeing more housing delivery, but development will have to make up a much higher proportion of new housing value if we are to come anywhere need building the homes this country needs.

Tenants in London have saved as much as 1,800 in rent as a result of the referendum. Rent price growth in London is almost 3% lower than the projected rate of growth.

bart

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/14/has-the-brexit-vote-saved-london-tenants-1800-pa-in-rent

Has the Brexit vote saved London tenants 1,800 pa in rent?

Tenants in London have saved as much as 1,800 in rent as a result of the Brexit referendum in 2016, according to an analysis of more than 100,000 rental properties listed on the Zoopla property website. Rent price growth in London is almost 3% lower than the projected rate of growth since the EU referendum announcement, leaving tenants with more money at the end of the month. Outside of London, rents have been firmer, with the Midlands recording the highest rates of increase, the companys Landbay rental index shows. Landbay attributed the 1,800 Brexit dividend to reduced demand from migrants from the EU but added that other factors are also at play. It said there was evidence of higher levels of internal migration within the UK, with priced-out young adults leaving the capital for Birmingham, Manchester and other lower-priced cities. Landlords may have also been fearful of raising rents in the face of banks potentially moving jobs from the capital to Frankfurt, Paris or Dublin. The impact of EU workers on the London rental market, particularly in central parts of the city, is substantial. Separate research by agents Hurford Salvi Carr found that in 2018, 40% of all rentals in the financial district, midtown areas such as Soho and in the east London area of Canary Wharf, were taken out by European nationals. British nationals who were renting made up just 28% of the London market covered by the research. John Goodall, the chief executive of Landbay, said: Its hard to ignore the impact that the vote to leave the EU has had on property market in London. While tenants are better off, without necessarily realising it, uncertainty in the market has caused a conundrum for landlords. Tenants in England spend half their pay on rent Read more Many landlords will have been looking to offset the governments punitive tax regime by raising rents. However, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit has forced the vast majority to forfeit this to maintain a steady income. Separate research by Savills shows that in 2018, the total value of the UKs housing stock rose by 190bn (2.7%) to reach a record 7.3tn despite slower house price growth. This increase has been attributed to fears about Brexit. Sign up to the daily Business Today email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk The gains came from the regional markets as Londons residential stock recorded a 1.5% fall the first since 2009. The capital still accounts for almost a quarter of UK housing value, compared to a fifth a decade ago. Londons housing stock is worth 1.77tn, more than four times the combined value of Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Bristol, Liverpool and Sheffield all cities that experienced higher rates of price growth than the capital in 2018. Lawrence Bowles, residential research analyst at Savills, said: Our analysis demonstrates the scale of the housing market and underlines the importance of housing to the economies of London and the UK as a whole, both as an asset class and store of private wealth. Once again, we see that wealth concentrated in ever fewer, older hands, to the extent that the UKs over-50s hold a quarter of all UK homeowner equity, while the over-65s in London and the South of England alone account for over three-quarters of the total. At the same time, as affordability becomes more stretched, younger households are having to put off buying their first home until later in life. Its great that were seeing more housing delivery, but development will have to make up a much higher proportion of new housing value if we are to come anywhere need building the homes this country needs.

Tenants in London have saved as much as 1,800 in rent as a result of the referendum. Rent price growth in London is almost 3% lower than the projected rate of growth. Outside of London, rents have been firmer, with the Midlands recording the highest rates of increase.

bart

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/14/has-the-brexit-vote-saved-london-tenants-1800-pa-in-rent

What Did Donald Trump's Tweet About H-1B Visas Mean?

On January 11, 2019, Donald Trump surprised the business and policy community by announcing via Twitter that positive changes are coming soon for H-1B visa holders. H-1B holders in the United States can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship, tweeted Trump. We want to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the U.S. Attorneys were quick to point out legal problems with the tweet. It is unclear what the presidents reference to a path to citizenship means; H-1B visa holders are already eligible to adjust status to permanent residency (and thereafter apply for citizenship) under existing law and regulation, explained Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL) in a short analysis. DHS has not indicated in its regulatory agendas or in any public forum that it is considering changes to the current path to permanent residence and citizenship for H-1B visa holders. Some believe Trump may have been recently briefed on the proposed regulation to change the order of the H-1B lottery, which would have no effect on green cards for H-1B visa holders. He may also be responding, at least rhetorically, to entreaties from business leaders concerned about the direction of U.S. immigration policy under his administration. Based on currently available information, the BAL analysis seems reasonable: There is no evidence that the Trump administration is altering the course of its H-1B policy of the past two years, which has been generally to restrict access for foreign skilled workers. Stephen Yale-Loehr, a Cornell Law School professor and an advisor to the National Foundation for American Policy, told me in an interview that sometimes people can read too much into Donald Trump's tweets and statements. He advised people to focus instead on concrete policy actions. This tweet runs counter to what the administration has actually done against H-1B workers, he noted. Ever since the President issued his Buy American and Hire American executive order in April 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made it harder for employers to hire H-1B workers and to keep them. Yale-Loehr pointed to the National Foundation for American Policy report that showed a 41% increase in the denials of H-1B petitions in the 4th quarter of FY 2017. Just last week, a company sued USCIS in federal court after the agency denied a companys extension request for an H-1B employee, even though the agency had approved four H-1B petitions before for the same person in the same job, he noted. In effect, the President has built an invisible wall against H-1B workers. Given all that, why should we believe this apparent about-face? The green card process is governed by laws, not regulatory actions solely within the authority of the executive branch. Even if President Trump is serious about making it easier for H-1B workers to stay permanently in the United States, his administration cannot do that unilaterally, explains Yale-Loehr. Congress would have to pass a law. He points out Congress is divided on immigration issues, making this type of reform, particularly in isolation, difficult to picture in the current environment. Even though it may be unlikely given the policies over the past two years, if the Trump administration were interested in enacting a more welcoming agenda, then here are steps it could take on high-skilled immigration. Reverse the USCIS policy of refusing to honor earlier approvals of H-1B petitions and other high-skilled visas when professionals try to extend their visas. This policy has resulted in denials of people who have worked for years in the U.S., which has forced them to leave the country despite working for years and waiting legally for their green card. Companies have noted many denials are based on USCIS claiming a job is not in a specialty occupation or does not meet a USCIS definition of an employer-employee relationship. Support legislation to eliminate the per-country limit for employment-based immigrants, which would significantly shorten the wait time for many Indian professionals waiting potentially decades for permanent residence. Support immigration reforms to increase the number of employment-based green cards, but without the (divisive) demand that family-based categories be reduced or eliminated. Combined with eliminating the per-country limit, more H-1B visas and improved policies on international students, that would fulfill the pledge in Donald Trumps tweet to encourage talented and highly skilled people to pursue career options in the U.S. Stop the regulatory action to eliminate the ability of the spouses of H-1B visa holders to work in the United States. Investors and entrepreneurs would welcome the administration halting its action to rescind the International Entrepreneur Rule. Refrain from implementing measures to make it more difficult for international students to stay in the United States and to work after graduation. This would mean not ending the current policy that allows international students to remain in America for the duration of their studies. It would also mean expanding, not restricting or eliminating, Optional Practical Training (OPT) for international students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. If Donald Trump and his administration wish to help rather than hinder the ability of U.S. employers to hire and retain high-skilled foreign nationals, then the steps enumerated above would be a good place to start.

Donald Trump surprised the business and policy community by announcing via Twitter that positive changes are coming soon Attorneys were quick to point out legal problems with the tweet. Some believe Trump may have been recently briefed on the proposed regulation to change the order of the H-1B lottery. The green card process is governed by laws, not regulatory actions.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2019/01/14/what-did-donald-trumps-tweet-about-h-1b-visas-mean/

Have we overpaid stamp duty because the house has an annexe?

Q Ive received three letters from a company claiming to be specialists in reclaiming stamp duty advising us that we may have overpaid 6,208 in stamp duty when we bought our house because it has an annexe. They have offered to make a claim on our behalf on a no-win, no-fee basis (Im not sure what the fee would be but assume it would be a percentage of the successful claim). We purchased our house in September 2018 and it does indeed have a separate annexe, which has two units with a bedroom and a bathroom each (one also has a lounge) the previous owners used this as accommodation for their sons and then more recently as a B&B. I just wondered if this stamp duty claim was worth pursuing and what the potential pitfalls might be Im very much of the view: If it seems to be good to be true it probably is. However, having looked at the reviews on the company website and trustpilot.com, I do wonder if there might be something in this. My main concern is that if we successfully make a claim but it is later found to be incorrect then we may have to repay the stamp duty including the commission for the claims company plus potentially additional late payment charges. JM A It is true that you may have paid too much stamp duty land tax (SDLT) because your house has an annexe. When the rules for higher rates of SDLT for additional properties were first introduced, properties with a self-contained annexe or so-called granny flat were treated as two dwellings and so were liable for the higher rates. However, the rules were updated in 2018 so that a property with a self-contained annexe is treated as a single dwelling, provided the main part of the house is worth at least two-thirds of the value of the whole property and the annexe is within the main property or in the grounds of the main property. So if those conditions apply to your property, it could be that whoever dealt with your conveyancing was unaware of the change in the rules and paid the higher rate of SDLT on your behalf. So you need to go back to your conveyancer and check what rate of SDLT you paid on the purchase. If it turns out that you did pay the higher rate of SDLT, I suggest that you get the conveyancer to resubmit your SDLT return with the correct amount of SDLT. Alternatively, you can claim a refund yourself using the HM Revenue & Customs online SDLT guidance on amending a return. You do not need to pay a chunk of any refund to an SDLT reclaim company.

It is true that you may have paid too much stamp duty land tax (SDLT) The rules were updated in 2018 so that a property with a self-contained annexe is treated as a single dwelling.

ctrlsum

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/14/have-we-overpaid-our-stamp-duty-because-house-has-an-annexe

Have we overpaid stamp duty because the house has an annexe?

Q Ive received three letters from a company claiming to be specialists in reclaiming stamp duty advising us that we may have overpaid 6,208 in stamp duty when we bought our house because it has an annexe. They have offered to make a claim on our behalf on a no-win, no-fee basis (Im not sure what the fee would be but assume it would be a percentage of the successful claim). We purchased our house in September 2018 and it does indeed have a separate annexe, which has two units with a bedroom and a bathroom each (one also has a lounge) the previous owners used this as accommodation for their sons and then more recently as a B&B. I just wondered if this stamp duty claim was worth pursuing and what the potential pitfalls might be Im very much of the view: If it seems to be good to be true it probably is. However, having looked at the reviews on the company website and trustpilot.com, I do wonder if there might be something in this. My main concern is that if we successfully make a claim but it is later found to be incorrect then we may have to repay the stamp duty including the commission for the claims company plus potentially additional late payment charges. JM A It is true that you may have paid too much stamp duty land tax (SDLT) because your house has an annexe. When the rules for higher rates of SDLT for additional properties were first introduced, properties with a self-contained annexe or so-called granny flat were treated as two dwellings and so were liable for the higher rates. However, the rules were updated in 2018 so that a property with a self-contained annexe is treated as a single dwelling, provided the main part of the house is worth at least two-thirds of the value of the whole property and the annexe is within the main property or in the grounds of the main property. So if those conditions apply to your property, it could be that whoever dealt with your conveyancing was unaware of the change in the rules and paid the higher rate of SDLT on your behalf. So you need to go back to your conveyancer and check what rate of SDLT you paid on the purchase. If it turns out that you did pay the higher rate of SDLT, I suggest that you get the conveyancer to resubmit your SDLT return with the correct amount of SDLT. Alternatively, you can claim a refund yourself using the HM Revenue & Customs online SDLT guidance on amending a return. You do not need to pay a chunk of any refund to an SDLT reclaim company.

We received three letters from a company claiming to be specialists in reclaiming stamp duty. They said we may have overpaid 6,208 in stamp duty when we bought our house. It is true that you may have paid too much stamp duty land tax because your house has an annexe.

pegasus

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/14/have-we-overpaid-our-stamp-duty-because-house-has-an-annexe

Is Apple's Problem In China The Economy Or Simply A Loss Of Market Share?

At the end of the first day of trading in the New Year, Apple announced that it was cutting its revenue guidance. Tim Cook, Apples CEO, blamed a slowing Chinese economy and the impact of the trade war between the U.S. and China for the reduced guidance. In a letter to investors, Cook said: While we anticipated some challenges in key emerging markets, we did not foresee the magnitude of the economic deceleration, particularly in Greater China Chinas economy began to slow in the second half of 2018. The government-reported GDP growth during the September quarter was the second lowest in the last 25 years. While China is Apples third-largest market by sales, there are growing signs that the companys market share has slipped badly in recent years. Both were early leaders in mobile phones, not only in China, but also globally. Neither company exists today. The remnants of Motorola were purchased by Lenovo in 2014, and Nokia was purchased by Microsoft in 2013. Even big, successful companies can and do fail. It happens all of the time, particularly when strong market forces are at work like those in China today. With respect to Chinas economy, it is true that GDP growth is slowing, but the magnitude of the economic deceleration is not nearly as large as Cook suggests. In the final quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, Chinas economy grew by 6.8%. From there, it fell to 6.7% in the second quarter, and 6.5% in the third quarter, which happens to be Chinas official, published growth target for the entire year. For 2019, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that Chinas economy would grow by 6.2%, down from an earlier forecast of 6.4%, citing the negative effect of recent tariff actions. While tariffs may take 0.2 percentage points off of Chinas growth rate in 2019, the impact of the trade war in 2018 has been more psychological in nature. Due to negative investor sentiment caused by trade tensions, the yuan, Chinas currency, is lower by about 8% against the U.S. dollar, and the Shanghai Stock Exchange closed the year 25% lower, its worst performance in 10 years. Meanwhile, in the real economy, exports to the U.S. have increased by 8% through October, the latest month for which data is available. Also, Chinas overall export growth accelerated from 9.8% in August to 14.5% in September, with analysts predicting that exports will have expanded by 8.7% for all of 2018. Rather than the trade war dragging down Chinas economy in 2018 as Cook suggests, the deleveraging campaign that China began implementing in late 2017 is the major cause of the slowdown. In order to de-risk its financial sector, China has been restricting the overall growth in credit. This, in turn, has led to fewer loans available for corporations; the collapse of many online lending platforms; a greatly reduced level of margin debt; and a dramatic decline in shadow lending. Its quite simple: more and more local competitors have come on the scene, and every year they, as a group, are producing more and better smartphones that are more affordable and that Chinese consumers want to buy. As in most industries these days, the China smartphone market is one of the largest in the world. In 2017, there were approximately 660 million smartphone users in China, about one-third of the two billion users worldwide. In that year, there were 454.4 million smartphones shipped in the country, which means that Chinese users are replacing their smartphones about every 18 months. Therefore, having new models and features is important. Of the smartphones shipped in China in 2017, Huawei was the clear leader, shipping 102 million units, followed by OPPO and Vivo, with shipments of 77.6 million and 72.2 million units, respectively. Apple was fourth with shipments of 51.1 million units, followed closely by Xiaomi with 50.1 million units. The top five companies accounted for 78% of the China market. In 2015, a large number of new smartphone companies and models came onto the market, and consumers responded to the greater number of choices available by dramatically increasing phone purchases. With more competition and an expanded market, Apples market share declined from its peak of 13.6% in 2015 to 9.6% in 2016. In both 2016 and 2017, smartphone shipments by Huawei, OPPO and Vivo increased dramatically and their market shares expanded. Xiaomis market share slipped in 2016, but increased significantly in 2017. Meanwhile, Apples shipments have been relatively flat during this period, causing its market share to drift lower to 9.3% by the end of 2017. In the third quarter of 2018, Huawei, OPPO and Vivo all increased unit sales over the second quarter Vivo by 14%, OPPO by 7.5% and Huawei by 6.6%. Xiaomis unit sales slipped by 4%, while Apple registered a 10% decrease. Chinese consumers are still buying smartphones they just arent buying Apples! One of Apples problems is that its smartphones are at the high end of the market in terms of price, and this is especially challenging in China where consumers have a fundamentally different and lower cost perspective than consumers in the U.S. Counterpoint, a technology research firm, has estimated that Apple has 79% of the global market for phones priced at over $800. In China, Apple had 65% of the $600 and above segment, but only 11% of the market for handsets priced from $400 to $600. With Chinese consumers emphasis on affordability, and with smartphone users trading in their phones every 18 months, the market for lower priced phones is clearly growing much faster than the premium segment. Chinas lower cost perspective, in combination with the way in which the country has developed, has created two markets in the country a purely local market that is characterized by domestic manufacturers with lower priced phones with fewer features, and a higher priced segment that has both foreign and local brands offering phones with more features and better technology. Two key characteristics of Chinas purely local market is that first, it keeps growing, and that secondly, the local companies dont just stand still. Many improve their quality and technology. Apple has clearly been focused on the foreign/local market where it is at a comparable price point with Samsung. Meanwhile, the companies competing in the purely local market for smartphones have been growing their sales and developing their products. Just like in appliances, passenger cars and almost every other product being made in China today, local companies are making better products that are also more affordable than those made by their international competitors. Among the local companies, for example, Huawei is leading the way in the development of 5G technology, an area where Apple has lagged. The ultimate challenge for Apple will occur when the Chinese smartphone makers take their more affordable products and begin to compete in Apples markets outside China. In summary, Apples problem in China is not simply a slowing Chinese economy as Cook suggests. Smartphone shipments in China have been falling for at least six quarters. With an already high smartphone penetration rate, the market is saturated, and Chinese consumers have been watching and waiting for the development of new features like 5G. With respect to Apple itself, the companys products are too high priced for the bulk of the China market where the competition is only getting stronger. Finally, in a market, where users are constantly upgrading their phones, Apple has not done a particularly good job as far as introducing new products and innovations. The net result has been a significant loss of market share in the worlds largest market for smartphones.

Apple CEO Tim Cook blamed a slowing Chinese economy and the impact of the trade war between the U.S. and China for the reduced guidance.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackperkowski/2019/01/14/is-apples-problem-in-china-the-economy-or-simply-a-loss-of-market-share/

Is Apple's Problem In China The Economy Or Simply A Loss Of Market Share?

At the end of the first day of trading in the New Year, Apple announced that it was cutting its revenue guidance. Tim Cook, Apples CEO, blamed a slowing Chinese economy and the impact of the trade war between the U.S. and China for the reduced guidance. In a letter to investors, Cook said: While we anticipated some challenges in key emerging markets, we did not foresee the magnitude of the economic deceleration, particularly in Greater China Chinas economy began to slow in the second half of 2018. The government-reported GDP growth during the September quarter was the second lowest in the last 25 years. While China is Apples third-largest market by sales, there are growing signs that the companys market share has slipped badly in recent years. Both were early leaders in mobile phones, not only in China, but also globally. Neither company exists today. The remnants of Motorola were purchased by Lenovo in 2014, and Nokia was purchased by Microsoft in 2013. Even big, successful companies can and do fail. It happens all of the time, particularly when strong market forces are at work like those in China today. With respect to Chinas economy, it is true that GDP growth is slowing, but the magnitude of the economic deceleration is not nearly as large as Cook suggests. In the final quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, Chinas economy grew by 6.8%. From there, it fell to 6.7% in the second quarter, and 6.5% in the third quarter, which happens to be Chinas official, published growth target for the entire year. For 2019, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that Chinas economy would grow by 6.2%, down from an earlier forecast of 6.4%, citing the negative effect of recent tariff actions. While tariffs may take 0.2 percentage points off of Chinas growth rate in 2019, the impact of the trade war in 2018 has been more psychological in nature. Due to negative investor sentiment caused by trade tensions, the yuan, Chinas currency, is lower by about 8% against the U.S. dollar, and the Shanghai Stock Exchange closed the year 25% lower, its worst performance in 10 years. Meanwhile, in the real economy, exports to the U.S. have increased by 8% through October, the latest month for which data is available. Also, Chinas overall export growth accelerated from 9.8% in August to 14.5% in September, with analysts predicting that exports will have expanded by 8.7% for all of 2018. Rather than the trade war dragging down Chinas economy in 2018 as Cook suggests, the deleveraging campaign that China began implementing in late 2017 is the major cause of the slowdown. In order to de-risk its financial sector, China has been restricting the overall growth in credit. This, in turn, has led to fewer loans available for corporations; the collapse of many online lending platforms; a greatly reduced level of margin debt; and a dramatic decline in shadow lending. Its quite simple: more and more local competitors have come on the scene, and every year they, as a group, are producing more and better smartphones that are more affordable and that Chinese consumers want to buy. As in most industries these days, the China smartphone market is one of the largest in the world. In 2017, there were approximately 660 million smartphone users in China, about one-third of the two billion users worldwide. In that year, there were 454.4 million smartphones shipped in the country, which means that Chinese users are replacing their smartphones about every 18 months. Therefore, having new models and features is important. Of the smartphones shipped in China in 2017, Huawei was the clear leader, shipping 102 million units, followed by OPPO and Vivo, with shipments of 77.6 million and 72.2 million units, respectively. Apple was fourth with shipments of 51.1 million units, followed closely by Xiaomi with 50.1 million units. The top five companies accounted for 78% of the China market. In 2015, a large number of new smartphone companies and models came onto the market, and consumers responded to the greater number of choices available by dramatically increasing phone purchases. With more competition and an expanded market, Apples market share declined from its peak of 13.6% in 2015 to 9.6% in 2016. In both 2016 and 2017, smartphone shipments by Huawei, OPPO and Vivo increased dramatically and their market shares expanded. Xiaomis market share slipped in 2016, but increased significantly in 2017. Meanwhile, Apples shipments have been relatively flat during this period, causing its market share to drift lower to 9.3% by the end of 2017. In the third quarter of 2018, Huawei, OPPO and Vivo all increased unit sales over the second quarter Vivo by 14%, OPPO by 7.5% and Huawei by 6.6%. Xiaomis unit sales slipped by 4%, while Apple registered a 10% decrease. Chinese consumers are still buying smartphones they just arent buying Apples! One of Apples problems is that its smartphones are at the high end of the market in terms of price, and this is especially challenging in China where consumers have a fundamentally different and lower cost perspective than consumers in the U.S. Counterpoint, a technology research firm, has estimated that Apple has 79% of the global market for phones priced at over $800. In China, Apple had 65% of the $600 and above segment, but only 11% of the market for handsets priced from $400 to $600. With Chinese consumers emphasis on affordability, and with smartphone users trading in their phones every 18 months, the market for lower priced phones is clearly growing much faster than the premium segment. Chinas lower cost perspective, in combination with the way in which the country has developed, has created two markets in the country a purely local market that is characterized by domestic manufacturers with lower priced phones with fewer features, and a higher priced segment that has both foreign and local brands offering phones with more features and better technology. Two key characteristics of Chinas purely local market is that first, it keeps growing, and that secondly, the local companies dont just stand still. Many improve their quality and technology. Apple has clearly been focused on the foreign/local market where it is at a comparable price point with Samsung. Meanwhile, the companies competing in the purely local market for smartphones have been growing their sales and developing their products. Just like in appliances, passenger cars and almost every other product being made in China today, local companies are making better products that are also more affordable than those made by their international competitors. Among the local companies, for example, Huawei is leading the way in the development of 5G technology, an area where Apple has lagged. The ultimate challenge for Apple will occur when the Chinese smartphone makers take their more affordable products and begin to compete in Apples markets outside China. In summary, Apples problem in China is not simply a slowing Chinese economy as Cook suggests. Smartphone shipments in China have been falling for at least six quarters. With an already high smartphone penetration rate, the market is saturated, and Chinese consumers have been watching and waiting for the development of new features like 5G. With respect to Apple itself, the companys products are too high priced for the bulk of the China market where the competition is only getting stronger. Finally, in a market, where users are constantly upgrading their phones, Apple has not done a particularly good job as far as introducing new products and innovations. The net result has been a significant loss of market share in the worlds largest market for smartphones.

Tim Cook, Apples CEO, blamed a slowing Chinese economy and the impact of the trade war between the U.S. and China for the reduced guidance.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackperkowski/2019/01/14/is-apples-problem-in-china-the-economy-or-simply-a-loss-of-market-share/

Is Apple's Problem In China The Economy Or Simply A Loss Of Market Share?

At the end of the first day of trading in the New Year, Apple announced that it was cutting its revenue guidance. Tim Cook, Apples CEO, blamed a slowing Chinese economy and the impact of the trade war between the U.S. and China for the reduced guidance. In a letter to investors, Cook said: While we anticipated some challenges in key emerging markets, we did not foresee the magnitude of the economic deceleration, particularly in Greater China Chinas economy began to slow in the second half of 2018. The government-reported GDP growth during the September quarter was the second lowest in the last 25 years. While China is Apples third-largest market by sales, there are growing signs that the companys market share has slipped badly in recent years. Both were early leaders in mobile phones, not only in China, but also globally. Neither company exists today. The remnants of Motorola were purchased by Lenovo in 2014, and Nokia was purchased by Microsoft in 2013. Even big, successful companies can and do fail. It happens all of the time, particularly when strong market forces are at work like those in China today. With respect to Chinas economy, it is true that GDP growth is slowing, but the magnitude of the economic deceleration is not nearly as large as Cook suggests. In the final quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, Chinas economy grew by 6.8%. From there, it fell to 6.7% in the second quarter, and 6.5% in the third quarter, which happens to be Chinas official, published growth target for the entire year. For 2019, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that Chinas economy would grow by 6.2%, down from an earlier forecast of 6.4%, citing the negative effect of recent tariff actions. While tariffs may take 0.2 percentage points off of Chinas growth rate in 2019, the impact of the trade war in 2018 has been more psychological in nature. Due to negative investor sentiment caused by trade tensions, the yuan, Chinas currency, is lower by about 8% against the U.S. dollar, and the Shanghai Stock Exchange closed the year 25% lower, its worst performance in 10 years. Meanwhile, in the real economy, exports to the U.S. have increased by 8% through October, the latest month for which data is available. Also, Chinas overall export growth accelerated from 9.8% in August to 14.5% in September, with analysts predicting that exports will have expanded by 8.7% for all of 2018. Rather than the trade war dragging down Chinas economy in 2018 as Cook suggests, the deleveraging campaign that China began implementing in late 2017 is the major cause of the slowdown. In order to de-risk its financial sector, China has been restricting the overall growth in credit. This, in turn, has led to fewer loans available for corporations; the collapse of many online lending platforms; a greatly reduced level of margin debt; and a dramatic decline in shadow lending. Its quite simple: more and more local competitors have come on the scene, and every year they, as a group, are producing more and better smartphones that are more affordable and that Chinese consumers want to buy. As in most industries these days, the China smartphone market is one of the largest in the world. In 2017, there were approximately 660 million smartphone users in China, about one-third of the two billion users worldwide. In that year, there were 454.4 million smartphones shipped in the country, which means that Chinese users are replacing their smartphones about every 18 months. Therefore, having new models and features is important. Of the smartphones shipped in China in 2017, Huawei was the clear leader, shipping 102 million units, followed by OPPO and Vivo, with shipments of 77.6 million and 72.2 million units, respectively. Apple was fourth with shipments of 51.1 million units, followed closely by Xiaomi with 50.1 million units. The top five companies accounted for 78% of the China market. In 2015, a large number of new smartphone companies and models came onto the market, and consumers responded to the greater number of choices available by dramatically increasing phone purchases. With more competition and an expanded market, Apples market share declined from its peak of 13.6% in 2015 to 9.6% in 2016. In both 2016 and 2017, smartphone shipments by Huawei, OPPO and Vivo increased dramatically and their market shares expanded. Xiaomis market share slipped in 2016, but increased significantly in 2017. Meanwhile, Apples shipments have been relatively flat during this period, causing its market share to drift lower to 9.3% by the end of 2017. In the third quarter of 2018, Huawei, OPPO and Vivo all increased unit sales over the second quarter Vivo by 14%, OPPO by 7.5% and Huawei by 6.6%. Xiaomis unit sales slipped by 4%, while Apple registered a 10% decrease. Chinese consumers are still buying smartphones they just arent buying Apples! One of Apples problems is that its smartphones are at the high end of the market in terms of price, and this is especially challenging in China where consumers have a fundamentally different and lower cost perspective than consumers in the U.S. Counterpoint, a technology research firm, has estimated that Apple has 79% of the global market for phones priced at over $800. In China, Apple had 65% of the $600 and above segment, but only 11% of the market for handsets priced from $400 to $600. With Chinese consumers emphasis on affordability, and with smartphone users trading in their phones every 18 months, the market for lower priced phones is clearly growing much faster than the premium segment. Chinas lower cost perspective, in combination with the way in which the country has developed, has created two markets in the country a purely local market that is characterized by domestic manufacturers with lower priced phones with fewer features, and a higher priced segment that has both foreign and local brands offering phones with more features and better technology. Two key characteristics of Chinas purely local market is that first, it keeps growing, and that secondly, the local companies dont just stand still. Many improve their quality and technology. Apple has clearly been focused on the foreign/local market where it is at a comparable price point with Samsung. Meanwhile, the companies competing in the purely local market for smartphones have been growing their sales and developing their products. Just like in appliances, passenger cars and almost every other product being made in China today, local companies are making better products that are also more affordable than those made by their international competitors. Among the local companies, for example, Huawei is leading the way in the development of 5G technology, an area where Apple has lagged. The ultimate challenge for Apple will occur when the Chinese smartphone makers take their more affordable products and begin to compete in Apples markets outside China. In summary, Apples problem in China is not simply a slowing Chinese economy as Cook suggests. Smartphone shipments in China have been falling for at least six quarters. With an already high smartphone penetration rate, the market is saturated, and Chinese consumers have been watching and waiting for the development of new features like 5G. With respect to Apple itself, the companys products are too high priced for the bulk of the China market where the competition is only getting stronger. Finally, in a market, where users are constantly upgrading their phones, Apple has not done a particularly good job as far as introducing new products and innovations. The net result has been a significant loss of market share in the worlds largest market for smartphones.

Apple announced that it was cutting its revenue guidance at the end of the first day of trading in the New Year. CEO Tim Cook blamed a slowing Chinese economy and the impact of the trade war between the U.S. and China for the reduced guidance.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackperkowski/2019/01/14/is-apples-problem-in-china-the-economy-or-simply-a-loss-of-market-share/

Which harmful additives are in my food, and how do I avoid them?

Open this photo in gallery In some people, additives can trigger hives, headache, diarrhea, asthma, even severe anaphylactic allergic reactions. And some may contain carcinogenic compounds. heinteh/iStockPhoto / Getty Images Most of us dont have time to prepare all of our meals and meal ingredients from scratch. We rely on processed foods such as ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, sliced bread, canned tomatoes, frozen meals, packaged snack foods and store-bought condiments. Read ingredient lists and you may find that food additives are a bigger part of your diet than you thought. Most have excellent safety records, but others are controversial because questions about their safety have been difficult to answer. Food additives are used by manufacturers to improve texture, enhance taste and/or appearance, maintain nutritional quality or prevent spoilage. Story continues below advertisement Regulated by the Food and Drug Regulations issued by Health Canada, food additives must pass through rigorous testing that assesses their effectiveness and safety. Still, some scientists and watchdog groups are concerned that consuming certain permitted additives may pose health risks. In some people, additives can trigger hives, headache, diarrhea, asthma, even severe anaphylactic allergic reactions. And some may contain carcinogenic compounds. Heres what you need to know about controversial synthetic additives what theyre used for, which foods youll find them in and how to avoid them. Allura Red, Sunset Yellow, tartrazine These synthetic dyes are used to enhance a foods natural colour or add colour thats not naturally present. On ingredient lists, they also go by FD&C Red No. 40 (Allura Red), FD&C Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow) and FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine). These artificial colours are allowed to be added to jams and jellies, candy, fruit-juice concentrates, caviar, relish, ketchup, smoked fish, lobster paste and sherbet. Sunset Yellow can also be used to colour cheese-flavoured corn chips and sausage casings. Food dyes have been linked to hyperactivity and aggressiveness in a small percentage of children, even those with no prior behavioural problems. In Europe, food products that contain these dyes must carry a warning that the additives may have adverse effects on activity and attention in children. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement Tartrazine may cause allergic reactions such as hives, itching and nasal congestion in some people. Lab studies also suggest these dyes contain cancer-causing contaminants. One such chemical in Allura Red is thought to be possibly carcinogenic to humans. To date, theres no evidence that consuming foods containing these dyes increase cancer risk in people. And the evidence that they do so in lab rodents is controversial and inconclusive. Even so, it seems an unnecessary risk to be eating foods that contain artificial colours. BHA, BHT Allowed in shortening, olive oil, margarine, potato chips, breakfast cereals, parboiled rice and chewing gum, these preservatives prevent oils in foods from oxidizing and becoming rancid. Most studies on BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) have been conducted in animals and test tubes, not in people. While findings on BHT have been mixed, international organizations have found BHA to cause cancer in lab animals. In 2010, after evaluating the science, Health Canada concluded that BHA is not harmful to human health at current levels of exposure. Use of BHA and BHT in foods is restricted in Europe. Story continues below advertisement Azodicarbonamide (ADA) This dough-conditioning agent may be added to white and whole-wheat flour to add volume and texture to products such as hamburger buns, English muffins, pizza dough and doughnuts. ADA was banned in Europe after it was learned that the additive breaks down to form carcinogenic chemicals during baking. Health Canada has deemed the additive and its byproducts safe after an assessment of data collected by Statistics Canada four decades ago outdated research according to some experts. If ADA is added to flour thats used as an ingredient in bread, the food additive does not have to be included on the ingredient list. (It must be declared on ingredient lists in the United States.) Brominated vegetable oils Banned in Europe and Japan, brominated oils are permitted in Canada. They are added to some soft drinks and sports drinks to prevent citrus flavouring from separating and floating to the surface. The concern: Brominated oils contain bromine, a chemical element also found in brominated flame retardants. Bromine appears to accumulate in the body and some reports suggest that consuming drinks with brominated oils may lead to muscle problems, fatigue and memory loss. How to avoid: To avoid these synthetic additives, read ingredients lists to find out if theyre in a food product (this doesnt work for bakery products made from flour with ADA). Story continues below advertisement Use your voice. Its up to food manufacturers to decide whether or not to use certain additives; let them know your concerns. Eat more whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, eggs, fish and poultry. Make time to cook more foods from scratch; batch-cook on the weekend. Consider choosing organic foods, which are produced without synthetic additives. Leslie Beck, a Toronto-based private-practice dietitian, is director of food and nutrition at Medcan. Live your best. We have a daily Life & Arts newsletter, providing you with our latest stories on health, travel, food and culture. Sign up today.

Food additives are used by manufacturers to improve texture, enhance taste and/or appearance, maintain nutritional quality or prevent spoilage. Regulated by the Food and Drug Regulations issued by Health Canada, food additives must pass through rigorous testing. In some people, additives can trigger hives, headache, diarrhea, asthma, even severe anaphylactic allergic reactions.

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https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/article-which-harmful-additives-are-in-my-food-and-how-do-i-avoid-them/

What happened to sheriff who caught Green River Killer?

Dave Reichert became a national celebrity in 2001 when, as a county sheriff in Washington, he used DNA analysis to help capture the nations most elusive serial murderer, the Green River Killer. That high-profile arrest vaulted Reichert into politics and the U.S. House, where he just completed seven terms representing Washingtons 8th Congressional District. Now, in another life transition, Reichert is joining a firm that is assisting Central American countries in developing DNA databases, which they could use to reunite separated families and combat human trafficking. This is something that, it seemed to me, brought me back full circle, Reichert said in a recent interview with McClatchy. Expanding DNA forensics in Central America will bring me back to the law enforcement realm, but in an entirely different way. Reichert is joining Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs as a vice president, the firm announced Monday. The firm, which has offices in Tacoma and D.C., is a subcontractor for the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. In 2017, the State Department awarded the north Texas science center a $3.3 million federal grant to assist Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in expanding their DNA forensics and sharing information. Digital Access For Only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. Under the terms of the grant, the science center is tasked to establish a DNA database of known samples from parents or family members with missing or abducted children in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, or enhance any existing database which can provide this service. Reicherts role will be to meet with Central American officials at the highest levels, and help with passage of laws and data-sharing agreements among the three countries, said Tim Schellberg, president of Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs. Dave has always had a passion for this (DNA forensics), said Schellberg. Hes the ideal match for this project. The U.S. push on genetic forensics comes as U.S.-Mexico border security has become the most high-profile issue at the White House, prompting a partial government shutdown. While theres been a drop in migrants illegally crossing the U.S. border from Mexico in recent years, there still are hundreds who die every year making the attempt, some of them victims of human trafficking. Irma Carrillo of Phoenix holds up a heart with two holes in it for her two children who have been missing since 1999, as she speaks during a hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, on Oct. 5, 2018, at the University Colorado in Boulder, Colo. Human rights groups have been calling for greater use of DNA analysis to help families find missing loved ones in the U.S.-Mexico border region. David Zalubowski AP When bodies are found near the border, they often are examined by experts such as Bruce Budowle, a internationally known forensics scientist at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, who is heading up the Central America database project. He has the unpleasant task of using DNA to try and identify human remains found in Texas. Sometimes they are murdered, sometimes they die of dehydration, said Budowle, noting that many of the migrants cannot easily be identified. Some hail from distant countries, such as Guatemala, Honduras and beyond. Without family reference samples DNA from the victims close relatives in those countries scientists such as Budowle cannot make a solid match. More expansive DNA databases, he said, would also help in identifying children in the border region who are alive but get separated from their parents, or who are being trafficked across the border by criminals. We want to develop capabilities, and take the capabilities we have, so the governments can demonstrate to the people they care about them, and can solve some of these cases, he said. Developing effective databases across multiple countries, however, will not be easy. Programs have to be set up to encourage families especially those with missing family members to submit their DNA for analysis. Before that occurs, each country must establish laws and protocols for protecting the privacy of participants, a key step for winning public trust. While Guatemala last year passed regulations for creating a genetic data bank, similar regulations and data-sharing agreements must be negotiated among the three countries. That is the challenge, said Reichert, referring to the need to win widespread public support. As I begin to meet with folks in that region, I hope we could just focus on missing persons, and then construct laws that put us in that space, so that people in those countries feel comfortable with this new technology. A tube of extracted DNA. Jacquelyn Martin Associated Press Reichert used DNA forensics in the Green River case, but that only came after two decades of often-vexing sleuthing. Reichert, who joined the King County sheriffs department in 1972, was the first detective assigned to the case, in 1982. It was the start of gruesome series of killings that would eventually claim the lives of at least 49 young women, many of them prostitutes and runaways. After Reichert became sheriff in 1997, he reopened the investigation, and caught a break because of a saliva sample taken in 1987 from one of the possible suspects, Gary Leon Ridgway. Genetic analysis wasnt an option in the mid-1980s, but in 2001, investigators were able to match Ridgways DNA to evidence taken from some of the murder scenes. Ridgway was arrested in November of that year, and his confession ended one of the most confounding serial killer investigations in U.S. history. Although I had looked forward to this day for almost 20 years, nothing could have prepared me for the emotion I felt, Reichert stated in a 2004 book, Chasing the Devil, which he co-authored with a ghost writer. Like others on the task force, I had been frustrated and angry over our past failures. Now those feelings had disappeared. During his 14 years in Congress, Reichert established himself as a moderate Republican who grew increasingly popular in his district, winning his last reelection, in 2016, with 60 percent of the vote. Part of his focus in Congress was improving foster care and combating sex trafficking, priorities rooted in his years investigating the Green River case. In the fall of 2017, Reichert announced he would not again seek office, creating an open seat in a congressional district made up of growing suburbs and rural areas east of Seattle and Tacoma that was trending more blue. Reicherts decision came after he had called Donald Trump a joke during his presidential campaign and talked openly about his frustrations with an increasingly partisan Congress. Reichert said he has few regrets about leaving Congress, even though his retirement created an opportunity for Democrats to take the 8th District seat, which they did, with Kim Schrier defeating the GOPs Dino Rossi. In his new job, Reichert will need to travel regularly, but not as often as when he was shuttling from D.C. to his home state. It is a little bittersweet, but I think this transition will make it easier, he said. Reicherts new job will go beyond the Central America project. Although he is barred from lobbying for one year, he will advising Gordon Thomas Honeywells clients on certain issues, particularly trade matters, said Schellberg. He will also be helping one of the firms clients, Thermo Fisher Scientific, which is working to sell state and local agencies on its Rapid DNA technology. Rapid DNA would allow police departments to immediately test people arrested, to see if they were involved with other crimes, such as ongoing serial rapes. But the practice is controversial, because it would require about 20 states to change their laws, allowing DNA analysis of people arrested, not just convicted, for crimes. It also would take DNA analysis out of hands of established labs, separate from police departments, and put it directly in police hands. Most of Reicherts immediate focus, said Schellberg, will be on the human trafficking project. If that effort proves successful in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, the State Department plans to expand it to other Central American countries.

Dave Reichert became a national celebrity in 2001 when he used DNA analysis to help capture the nation's most elusive serial murderer, the Green River Killer.

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https://www.star-telegram.com/news/nation-world/national/article224077655.html

What happened to sheriff who caught Green River Killer?

Dave Reichert became a national celebrity in 2001 when, as a county sheriff in Washington, he used DNA analysis to help capture the nations most elusive serial murderer, the Green River Killer. That high-profile arrest vaulted Reichert into politics and the U.S. House, where he just completed seven terms representing Washingtons 8th Congressional District. Now, in another life transition, Reichert is joining a firm that is assisting Central American countries in developing DNA databases, which they could use to reunite separated families and combat human trafficking. This is something that, it seemed to me, brought me back full circle, Reichert said in a recent interview with McClatchy. Expanding DNA forensics in Central America will bring me back to the law enforcement realm, but in an entirely different way. Reichert is joining Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs as a vice president, the firm announced Monday. The firm, which has offices in Tacoma and D.C., is a subcontractor for the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. In 2017, the State Department awarded the north Texas science center a $3.3 million federal grant to assist Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in expanding their DNA forensics and sharing information. Digital Access For Only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. Under the terms of the grant, the science center is tasked to establish a DNA database of known samples from parents or family members with missing or abducted children in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, or enhance any existing database which can provide this service. Reicherts role will be to meet with Central American officials at the highest levels, and help with passage of laws and data-sharing agreements among the three countries, said Tim Schellberg, president of Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs. Dave has always had a passion for this (DNA forensics), said Schellberg. Hes the ideal match for this project. The U.S. push on genetic forensics comes as U.S.-Mexico border security has become the most high-profile issue at the White House, prompting a partial government shutdown. While theres been a drop in migrants illegally crossing the U.S. border from Mexico in recent years, there still are hundreds who die every year making the attempt, some of them victims of human trafficking. Irma Carrillo of Phoenix holds up a heart with two holes in it for her two children who have been missing since 1999, as she speaks during a hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, on Oct. 5, 2018, at the University Colorado in Boulder, Colo. Human rights groups have been calling for greater use of DNA analysis to help families find missing loved ones in the U.S.-Mexico border region. David Zalubowski AP When bodies are found near the border, they often are examined by experts such as Bruce Budowle, a internationally known forensics scientist at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, who is heading up the Central America database project. He has the unpleasant task of using DNA to try and identify human remains found in Texas. Sometimes they are murdered, sometimes they die of dehydration, said Budowle, noting that many of the migrants cannot easily be identified. Some hail from distant countries, such as Guatemala, Honduras and beyond. Without family reference samples DNA from the victims close relatives in those countries scientists such as Budowle cannot make a solid match. More expansive DNA databases, he said, would also help in identifying children in the border region who are alive but get separated from their parents, or who are being trafficked across the border by criminals. We want to develop capabilities, and take the capabilities we have, so the governments can demonstrate to the people they care about them, and can solve some of these cases, he said. Developing effective databases across multiple countries, however, will not be easy. Programs have to be set up to encourage families especially those with missing family members to submit their DNA for analysis. Before that occurs, each country must establish laws and protocols for protecting the privacy of participants, a key step for winning public trust. While Guatemala last year passed regulations for creating a genetic data bank, similar regulations and data-sharing agreements must be negotiated among the three countries. That is the challenge, said Reichert, referring to the need to win widespread public support. As I begin to meet with folks in that region, I hope we could just focus on missing persons, and then construct laws that put us in that space, so that people in those countries feel comfortable with this new technology. A tube of extracted DNA. Jacquelyn Martin Associated Press Reichert used DNA forensics in the Green River case, but that only came after two decades of often-vexing sleuthing. Reichert, who joined the King County sheriffs department in 1972, was the first detective assigned to the case, in 1982. It was the start of gruesome series of killings that would eventually claim the lives of at least 49 young women, many of them prostitutes and runaways. After Reichert became sheriff in 1997, he reopened the investigation, and caught a break because of a saliva sample taken in 1987 from one of the possible suspects, Gary Leon Ridgway. Genetic analysis wasnt an option in the mid-1980s, but in 2001, investigators were able to match Ridgways DNA to evidence taken from some of the murder scenes. Ridgway was arrested in November of that year, and his confession ended one of the most confounding serial killer investigations in U.S. history. Although I had looked forward to this day for almost 20 years, nothing could have prepared me for the emotion I felt, Reichert stated in a 2004 book, Chasing the Devil, which he co-authored with a ghost writer. Like others on the task force, I had been frustrated and angry over our past failures. Now those feelings had disappeared. During his 14 years in Congress, Reichert established himself as a moderate Republican who grew increasingly popular in his district, winning his last reelection, in 2016, with 60 percent of the vote. Part of his focus in Congress was improving foster care and combating sex trafficking, priorities rooted in his years investigating the Green River case. In the fall of 2017, Reichert announced he would not again seek office, creating an open seat in a congressional district made up of growing suburbs and rural areas east of Seattle and Tacoma that was trending more blue. Reicherts decision came after he had called Donald Trump a joke during his presidential campaign and talked openly about his frustrations with an increasingly partisan Congress. Reichert said he has few regrets about leaving Congress, even though his retirement created an opportunity for Democrats to take the 8th District seat, which they did, with Kim Schrier defeating the GOPs Dino Rossi. In his new job, Reichert will need to travel regularly, but not as often as when he was shuttling from D.C. to his home state. It is a little bittersweet, but I think this transition will make it easier, he said. Reicherts new job will go beyond the Central America project. Although he is barred from lobbying for one year, he will advising Gordon Thomas Honeywells clients on certain issues, particularly trade matters, said Schellberg. He will also be helping one of the firms clients, Thermo Fisher Scientific, which is working to sell state and local agencies on its Rapid DNA technology. Rapid DNA would allow police departments to immediately test people arrested, to see if they were involved with other crimes, such as ongoing serial rapes. But the practice is controversial, because it would require about 20 states to change their laws, allowing DNA analysis of people arrested, not just convicted, for crimes. It also would take DNA analysis out of hands of established labs, separate from police departments, and put it directly in police hands. Most of Reicherts immediate focus, said Schellberg, will be on the human trafficking project. If that effort proves successful in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, the State Department plans to expand it to other Central American countries.

Dave Reichert became a national celebrity in 2001 when he used DNA analysis to help capture the nation's most elusive serial murderer, the Green River Killer. Now, Reichert is joining a firm that is assisting Central American countries in developing DNA databases.

pegasus

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/nation-world/national/article224077655.html

Why is Canada so hot under the collar about Venezuela?

For mild-mannered Canada, the denunciation of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was unusually harsh. Today, Nicolas Maduros regime loses any remaining appearance of legitimacy, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said Thursday in a statement marking the Venezuelan presidents inauguration for a second term. An opposition member holds a sign with the likeness of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro with text that reads in Spanish "Tyrant" during a protest in Caracas on Friday. The head of Venezuela's opposition-run congress says that with the nation's backing he's ready to take on Nicolas Maduro's presidential powers and call new elections. ( Fernando Llano / AP ) Having seized power through fraudulent and anti-democratic elections, Freeland went on, the Maduro regime is now fully entrenched as a dictatorship We call on him to immediately cede power. Exactly why Justin Trudeaus Canadian government is so hot under the collar about Maduro is unclear. Article Continued Below True, Venezuela is a mess economically. In part, this is the result of outside pressure from those opposed to the regime. But in the main, the Maduro governments sheer incompetence is to blame. Maduro himself has said that internal corruption is the biggest culprit. True also that the election last summer that returned Maduro to power was flawed. But arguably so was the election last year of Brazils new right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. In that contest, Bolsonaros most formidable opponent, left-leaning Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, was barred from running. Certainly, a countrys failure to follow democratic norms has not bothered Canada in other instances. Ottawa does not question the legitimacy of Chinas Communist President Xi Jinping. It gets along famously with Middle Eastern autocrats in the United Arab Emirates. It has never fussed much about the fact that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi seized power in a bloody military coup. And while it has complained about the Saudi Arabian monarchy, it has never questioned the legitimacy of that undemocratic regime. Indeed, it is famously supplying the Saudis with weapons. In part, the answer may be that Ottawa wants to stake out a position in Latin America. Canada is already an economic player in the region and hopes to do more business there. In taking on Venezuela, Ottawa has allied itself not only with the new rightist government in Brazil but with other countries in the 14-member Lima Group, such as Argentina and Peru. Thirteen members of the Lima Group, which was set up in 2017 to challenge Maduro, issued a separate communiqu last week attacking the Venezuelan president. Tellingly, Mexico one of the groups original members refused to sign it. Mexico, along with Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Uruguay continues to recognize Maduro as Venezuelas legitimate president. In fact, Mexicos new left-leaning president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, invited Maduro to his inauguration. This underscores the second dynamic in the Maduro controversy: right-of-centre governments tend to want him out; leftish governments tend to be more forgiving. The third dynamic is the proverbial elephant in the room: the U.S. America desperately wants to see oil-rich Venezuela under new management. U.S. President Donald Trump has mused about invading Venezuela. Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson talked publicly of a coup, predicting that Venezuelas military would successfully manage a peaceful transition to a new president. Last fall, the New York Times reported that American officials had met secretly with Venezuelan coup plotters for more than a year, stopping only after Maduros security forces arrested most of the would-be putschists. But the U.S. has to be careful. Its history of deposing governments unfriendly to American business is not remembered fondly in Latin America. In the event of a coup, it would be better for the U.S. if no fingerprints were left that might implicate Washington. And it would be better still if the fiercest rhetorical attacks on Maduros political legitimacy came from non-U. S. sources like Canada. I suspect its not. I suspect it doesnt much care what happens in that country. But at time when Canada is increasingly offside from Trumps Washington, Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government is looking for areas in which it can demonstrate to the U.S. that it is still a staunch ally. And Maduro is a convenient target. Thomas Walkom is a Toronto-based columnist covering politics. Follow him on Twitter: @tomwalkom Read more about:

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland called on Venezuela's Maduro to cede power. Why is Canada so hot under the collar about Venezuela? It's unclear, but it may be because Ottawa wants to stake out a position in Latin America. The U.S. wants to see oil-rich Venezuela under new management.

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https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2019/01/14/why-is-canada-so-hot-under-the-collar-about-venezuela.html

Are boarding schools effective?

When it comes to education, everyone wants the best. Some say attending a boarding school is a better option than attending a "day school," or any other school where students arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon. Boarding school advocates argue the total immersion approach offers students more competition and teaches them greater responsibility. Others say boarding school achieves the opposite; separating kids and families too early can stunt emotional growth. PERSPECTIVES Boarding school fosters independence and responsibility. When you are surrounded by teachers and classmates, helicopter parenting becomes a thing of the past. No one is asking you if you got your homework done, telling you to go to bed or asking you to come down for dinner. You're on your own much in the same way that you will be during college, putting boarding school students on a quicker path to maturity. As the Boarding School Review's Robert Kennedy points out: It's never easy to leave the nest. Of course it does. You will learn how to cope with life and all its many high and low points within a community of your peers who are going through the same things you are. All of this is happening under the watchful eye of your teachers who are mentors, not baby-sitters. 10 Top Reasons to Go to Boarding School Boarding school isn't always the academic haven perched on a grassy hill that you imagine (let's be honest, you're all picturing PCA from "Zoey 101"). According to The Guardian's Nick Duffell, a psychotherapist and former boarding school teacher, in Britain, boarding school is a rite of passage for those who can afford it-much to their detriment, in Duffell's opinion. Leaving your family at an early age has a huge psychological impact, and Duffell believes that doing so leaves boarding school students emotionally stunted. Parents obviously hope for the best when they send their kids away for school, probably believing that a regretful separation will result in stronger academics and greater leadership potential for their kids. Yet, according to Duffell: But it is less well known that costly, elite boarding consistently turns out people who appear much more competent than they actually are. They are particularly deficient in non-rational skills, such as those needed to sustain relationships, and are not, in fact, well-equipped to be leaders in today's world. My studies show that children survive boarding by cutting off their feelings and constructing a defensively organized self that severely limits their later lives...Prematurely separated from home and family, from love and touch, they must speedily reinvent themselves as self-reliant pseudo-adults. Why boarding schools produce bad leaders Classes at boarding schools can also be much smaller than what you might find at a traditional public school. The Boarding School Review continues: If you are in a public school with 30-40 students to a class, chances are that you will just be a number...In a boarding school, on the other hand, classes typically are 10-15 students. You cannot hide in a class that small. You have to participate. And according to Teen Life's Marie Schwartz, smaller classes and a tight-knit community might be what a student needs in order to succeed. For some, boarding school is just a better fit: Even the best local public or private school may not be a good fit for your student. 'The public school was too large and the (local) private schools had too entitled an atmosphere,' one parent said. 10 Reasons Why Boarding School is Worth It According to author Dr. Meg Meeker, boarding schools are not worth the sacrifice for teens. She writes: While some students may study harder, receive better instruction or be exposed to a greater breadth of academic studies, parents sacrifice enormous opportunities for their children's psychological, spiritual and intellectual growth when they live separately. Furthermore, although class size is certainly an issue in many schools, there are other ways for students and parents to supplement education that stop short of shipping students off to boarding school: With advances in technology, most teens can access any academic materials they need in order to excel and succeed in college. Yes, they need good teachers but the truth is, there are many great teachers in private day schools, public schools and parochial schools. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

Boarding schools produce bad leaders.

ctrlsum

https://www.cleveland.com/education/index.ssf/2019/01/are_boarding_schools_effective.html

Are boarding schools effective?

When it comes to education, everyone wants the best. Some say attending a boarding school is a better option than attending a "day school," or any other school where students arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon. Boarding school advocates argue the total immersion approach offers students more competition and teaches them greater responsibility. Others say boarding school achieves the opposite; separating kids and families too early can stunt emotional growth. PERSPECTIVES Boarding school fosters independence and responsibility. When you are surrounded by teachers and classmates, helicopter parenting becomes a thing of the past. No one is asking you if you got your homework done, telling you to go to bed or asking you to come down for dinner. You're on your own much in the same way that you will be during college, putting boarding school students on a quicker path to maturity. As the Boarding School Review's Robert Kennedy points out: It's never easy to leave the nest. Of course it does. You will learn how to cope with life and all its many high and low points within a community of your peers who are going through the same things you are. All of this is happening under the watchful eye of your teachers who are mentors, not baby-sitters. 10 Top Reasons to Go to Boarding School Boarding school isn't always the academic haven perched on a grassy hill that you imagine (let's be honest, you're all picturing PCA from "Zoey 101"). According to The Guardian's Nick Duffell, a psychotherapist and former boarding school teacher, in Britain, boarding school is a rite of passage for those who can afford it-much to their detriment, in Duffell's opinion. Leaving your family at an early age has a huge psychological impact, and Duffell believes that doing so leaves boarding school students emotionally stunted. Parents obviously hope for the best when they send their kids away for school, probably believing that a regretful separation will result in stronger academics and greater leadership potential for their kids. Yet, according to Duffell: But it is less well known that costly, elite boarding consistently turns out people who appear much more competent than they actually are. They are particularly deficient in non-rational skills, such as those needed to sustain relationships, and are not, in fact, well-equipped to be leaders in today's world. My studies show that children survive boarding by cutting off their feelings and constructing a defensively organized self that severely limits their later lives...Prematurely separated from home and family, from love and touch, they must speedily reinvent themselves as self-reliant pseudo-adults. Why boarding schools produce bad leaders Classes at boarding schools can also be much smaller than what you might find at a traditional public school. The Boarding School Review continues: If you are in a public school with 30-40 students to a class, chances are that you will just be a number...In a boarding school, on the other hand, classes typically are 10-15 students. You cannot hide in a class that small. You have to participate. And according to Teen Life's Marie Schwartz, smaller classes and a tight-knit community might be what a student needs in order to succeed. For some, boarding school is just a better fit: Even the best local public or private school may not be a good fit for your student. 'The public school was too large and the (local) private schools had too entitled an atmosphere,' one parent said. 10 Reasons Why Boarding School is Worth It According to author Dr. Meg Meeker, boarding schools are not worth the sacrifice for teens. She writes: While some students may study harder, receive better instruction or be exposed to a greater breadth of academic studies, parents sacrifice enormous opportunities for their children's psychological, spiritual and intellectual growth when they live separately. Furthermore, although class size is certainly an issue in many schools, there are other ways for students and parents to supplement education that stop short of shipping students off to boarding school: With advances in technology, most teens can access any academic materials they need in order to excel and succeed in college. Yes, they need good teachers but the truth is, there are many great teachers in private day schools, public schools and parochial schools. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

Boarding school advocates say the total immersion approach offers students more competition and teaches them greater responsibility. Others say boarding school achieves the opposite; separating kids and families too early can stunt emotional growth.

ctrlsum

https://www.cleveland.com/education/index.ssf/2019/01/are_boarding_schools_effective.html

Was Aurora Cannabis Smart to Buy MedReleaf?

Marijuana stocks have started out 2019 on a positive note, and investors who see the promise of the cannabis industry are looking for the best way to invest in the space. One key proposition for many cannabis investors is finding promising companies that are likely to get attention from bigger players in the field, whether it's through key partnerships with nonmarijuana companies or buyouts from established marijuana businesses looking to expand their scope. Smart deals can make a company more successful, but bad deals can prove costly in the current ultracompetitive environment. One of key deals in 2018 involved the acquisition of MedReleaf by Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB). The $2.5 billion deal became the largest buyout in industry history, marking the latest in a series of Aurora purchases designed to add to its growing capacity. Having been announced in May, Aurora completed the acquisition in July. Six months after the deal closed, now's a good time to reflect on the MedReleaf acquisition to see what difference it's made for Aurora -- and whether it represents a model for other cannabis companies to follow in their own expansion plans. Rows of cannabis plants under dim lighting in a greenhouse. More Image source: Aurora Cannabis. Why Aurora thought MedReleaf was a good buy Under the terms of the deal, shareholders got 3.575 shares of Aurora Cannabis for every MedReleaf share that they owned. That represented a 34% premium above the average price of MedReleaf shares during the 20 trading days preceding the offer. Although that's a sizable markup, it was far less than Aurora had paid in some of its previous deals. Still, even at the time, some had concerns about how much Aurora was paying for MedReleaf. With MedReleaf having annual production capacity of roughly 140,000 kilograms of cannabis at the time of the deal, the purchase price amounted to nearly $18,000 per kilogram of capacity. Moreover, Aurora structured its purchase of MedReleaf as an all-stock deal. For investors who've gotten used to the big share-price increases that cannabis stocks saw in the second half of 2018, that might seem to have been a good capital allocation strategy. Yet at the time of the deal in May, Aurora Cannabis was going through a share-price slump that had lopped nearly half its value off the stock in just a few months. That didn't stop Aurora from issuing the huge number of new shares necessary to make the deal go through. What MedReleaf has done for Aurora So far, Aurora seems to be happy with how the acquisition went. In Aurora's most recent quarterly conference call, CEO Cam Battley pointed to several success stories related to MedReleaf: MedReleaf's San Rafael brand had the most popular strain of cannabis in the Ontario recreational market, helping Aurora hit 30% market share in the province. MedReleaf's brands have shown similar success across the adult recreational marijuana market. The addition of MedReleaf production facilities helped Aurora more than double its production levels in just three months' time. Aurora has been able to use MedReleaf's operational methods and data-driven cultivation practices to boost production across its network. MedReleaf's interest in a Colombian business has helped Aurora expand its scope in South America, which has a lot of potential to be a key market for the marijuana company. Of course, not everything about the deal was immediately beneficial. Because of the way that MedReleaf priced its extract products, overall average sales prices fell for Aurora after the integration was complete. Yet MedReleaf got higher prices for its dried cannabis products on the medical side of the business, and that had positive effects for Aurora. In the long run, Aurora has high hopes that the successful integration of MedReleaf will lead to innovative new products, advances in production capacity, and efficiency gains that will benefit shareholders. With its Markham facility contributing to Aurora's overall boom in total cannabis capacity, MedReleaf could well prove to have been a crucial buy for the budding marijuana giant.

Aurora Cannabis bought MedReleaf for $2.5 billion in July. Six months later, the company is happy with how the deal went.

ctrlsum

https://news.yahoo.com/aurora-cannabis-smart-buy-medreleaf-131300744.html

Was Aurora Cannabis Smart to Buy MedReleaf?

Marijuana stocks have started out 2019 on a positive note, and investors who see the promise of the cannabis industry are looking for the best way to invest in the space. One key proposition for many cannabis investors is finding promising companies that are likely to get attention from bigger players in the field, whether it's through key partnerships with nonmarijuana companies or buyouts from established marijuana businesses looking to expand their scope. Smart deals can make a company more successful, but bad deals can prove costly in the current ultracompetitive environment. One of key deals in 2018 involved the acquisition of MedReleaf by Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB). The $2.5 billion deal became the largest buyout in industry history, marking the latest in a series of Aurora purchases designed to add to its growing capacity. Having been announced in May, Aurora completed the acquisition in July. Six months after the deal closed, now's a good time to reflect on the MedReleaf acquisition to see what difference it's made for Aurora -- and whether it represents a model for other cannabis companies to follow in their own expansion plans. Rows of cannabis plants under dim lighting in a greenhouse. More Image source: Aurora Cannabis. Why Aurora thought MedReleaf was a good buy Under the terms of the deal, shareholders got 3.575 shares of Aurora Cannabis for every MedReleaf share that they owned. That represented a 34% premium above the average price of MedReleaf shares during the 20 trading days preceding the offer. Although that's a sizable markup, it was far less than Aurora had paid in some of its previous deals. Still, even at the time, some had concerns about how much Aurora was paying for MedReleaf. With MedReleaf having annual production capacity of roughly 140,000 kilograms of cannabis at the time of the deal, the purchase price amounted to nearly $18,000 per kilogram of capacity. Moreover, Aurora structured its purchase of MedReleaf as an all-stock deal. For investors who've gotten used to the big share-price increases that cannabis stocks saw in the second half of 2018, that might seem to have been a good capital allocation strategy. Yet at the time of the deal in May, Aurora Cannabis was going through a share-price slump that had lopped nearly half its value off the stock in just a few months. That didn't stop Aurora from issuing the huge number of new shares necessary to make the deal go through. What MedReleaf has done for Aurora So far, Aurora seems to be happy with how the acquisition went. In Aurora's most recent quarterly conference call, CEO Cam Battley pointed to several success stories related to MedReleaf: MedReleaf's San Rafael brand had the most popular strain of cannabis in the Ontario recreational market, helping Aurora hit 30% market share in the province. MedReleaf's brands have shown similar success across the adult recreational marijuana market. The addition of MedReleaf production facilities helped Aurora more than double its production levels in just three months' time. Aurora has been able to use MedReleaf's operational methods and data-driven cultivation practices to boost production across its network. MedReleaf's interest in a Colombian business has helped Aurora expand its scope in South America, which has a lot of potential to be a key market for the marijuana company. Of course, not everything about the deal was immediately beneficial. Because of the way that MedReleaf priced its extract products, overall average sales prices fell for Aurora after the integration was complete. Yet MedReleaf got higher prices for its dried cannabis products on the medical side of the business, and that had positive effects for Aurora. In the long run, Aurora has high hopes that the successful integration of MedReleaf will lead to innovative new products, advances in production capacity, and efficiency gains that will benefit shareholders. With its Markham facility contributing to Aurora's overall boom in total cannabis capacity, MedReleaf could well prove to have been a crucial buy for the budding marijuana giant.

Aurora Cannabis bought MedReleaf for $2.5 billion in July. Six months later, the company is happy with how the deal went. But some question whether it was a smart move to buy a company with such a large production capacity. The company is also looking to expand its operations in South America.

ctrlsum

https://news.yahoo.com/aurora-cannabis-smart-buy-medreleaf-131300744.html

Will Boeing Do a Stock Split in 2019?

Boeing (NYSE: BA) has been a huge performer in recent years, and 2018 was no different, building on its past success with another solid gain. Admittedly, percentage gains in the low-teens for the year was nothing compared to 2017's monumental rise of nearly 90%, but Boeing is still leading the pack in terms of reaping aircraft orders and capitalizing on a strong airline industry. At times during 2018, Boeing shares approached the $400 mark. Some investors saw that price as being too high, thinking that a stock split would be an appropriate move to reduce the share price and signal confidence in the aerospace giant's long-term future. Let's take a closer look at the company and whether a stock split could come this year. BA Chart More BA data by YCharts. Looking for an even dozen Longtime Boeing shareholders are no strangers to stock splits earlier in the company's history. From the 1950s to the 1990s, Boeing split its shares 11 times, with a roughly even division between 2-for-1 splits and 3-for-2 splits. The decision-making process that Boeing seems to have followed back then was quite consistent with what you saw from most companies at the time. Early on, it took only modest increases in share prices to prompt a move. Over time, the threshold seemed to grow, hitting the roughly $50 mark in the 1980s and then moving up from there. By the mid-1990s, Boeing let its stock climb to more than $100 per share before pulling the trigger on what proved to be its 11th and final split. Split Date Ratio 100 Shares in 1950 Became... May 9, 1952 3-for-2 150 shares May 7, 1954 2-for-1 300 shares July 13, 1956 2-for-1 600 shares May 3, 1966 2-for-1 1,200 shares Aug. 11, 1977 2-for-1 2,400 shares March 12, 1979 3-for-2 3,600 shares March 14, 1980 3-for-2 5,400 shares May 10, 1985 3-for-2 8,100 shares May 12, 1989 3-for-2 12,150 shares May 18, 1990 3-for-2 18,225 shares May 16, 1997 2-for-1 36,450 shares Data source: Boeing investor relations. Since then, the reasons for making frequent splits have nearly disappeared. It used to be that it was difficult to buy stock in less than 100-share blocks, but now, purchases of even a single share are not only possible but reasonable. In some cases, financial institutions will let you buy just a fraction of a share, making it possible even for those investing $50 or $100 a month to buy a stock whose shares cost more than $300 each. Boeing no longer even stands out among its industry peers. Plenty of defense contractors sport share prices in the $200 to $300 range, and several others have triple-digit stock prices. Aerospace supplier TransDigm Group has even seen its price rise above Boeing's regularly over the past several months.

Boeing split its shares 11 times from the 1950s to the 1990s. The company hasn't done a stock split since the mid-1990s. Boeing shares rose nearly 90% in 2018, making it one of the year's best performers. The aerospace giant is expected to split its stock in 2019.

ctrlsum

https://news.yahoo.com/boeing-stock-split-2019-131600694.html

Does A Board Realize What's Needed For The Cybersecurity Of Their Company?

When it comes to accountability, the board of directors should be the last stalwart, the group of people ultimately responsible for the company. Weve seen what can happen to a member of the board when there is a cybersecurity breach, such as when the CEO of a large retailer was forced to resign back in 2014 after a credit card breach that affected 40 million of its customers. A question all companies should ask is, "Does our board of directors understand cybersecurity?" In my experience, about 2 in 10 CEOs can provide an explanation of what their chief information security officer (CISO) does. By comparison, a CEO could be fired if they dont have an answer for their CFO. In an era when technology often is the business, members of a board need a rock-solid understanding of the security risks facing their company. This is needed to not only ensure that security teams have the capabilities to mitigate and respond to attacks but to prepare for the fallout when measures fail. Board members and CEOs should be asking why data breaches and ransomware attacks keep making headlines. While information security spend is on the rise worldwide -- in 2019, Gartner is forecasting 8.7% growth to $124 billion -- this doesnt mean the board should sleep more soundly. When it comes to the cyberthreats, underground criminals and nation states continue to win, which takes years to pay for and resolve -- even when companies think they have robust defenses. Here is a significant opportunity that is often overlooked: Include a CISO or a cybersecurity expert to serve as an observer and advisor on the board. This expert will help the board understand the requirements for robust cybersecurity defenses. A CISO or cybersecurity expert can coach the board on how to prevent and prepare for a breach beyond just the technical response. An Automated Fight A boards security expert should start by asking, "Is the cybersecurity automated or manual?" Because the battle between cybercriminals and corporate security teams is often tilted in favor of the adversaries who utilize automation at scale. When there is a digital reward -- whether its money, espionage, intellectual property or private data -- cyberattackers have persistence and automation on their side. They dont follow the rules of change management, and they enjoy working while you sleep. They even benefit from the poorly contrived compensating controls and audit exceptions, which do little to thwart an attacker but do allow organizations to pass compliance audits. Todays attackers will probe your defenses until they find a weakness. These well-organized criminals often use automation to initiate and replay their attacks, delivering malware, stealing accounts and deploying backdoors. Remember, they only need one breakthrough to be successful. Most cyberthreats are not advanced. All it takes is one impulsive click on a phishing email containing fairly crude malware to take down a network or even attempt to erode a democracy. Finding an answer starts with the help desk, an already overwhelmed resource. Could it be malware or a link to a phishing site?" These questions take time to answer. Attackers have time on their side, attacking when they want and as often as they like. When it comes to patrolling the attack surface of a corporate network, most teams have too few resources to do the job properly. When an attack does occur, theres not much time to respond. And an infection can spread at network speed. There is also little warning because overburdened security can miss the initial signs of an attack. Security tools are notoriously noisy, giving off more alerts than analysts can handle. Couple that with the shortage of security talent available for hire. Organizations can regain ground by looking at their weaknesses: Fog of war: Most security teams observe a small percentage of their computing network using their limited legacy tools. Faulty defenses: Many rely on manual and error-prone work for their defenses. Lack of understanding: Analysts often cant answer if an event should be flagged as normal or if its a security risk. Using Machine Learning To Buy Time And Answer Tough Questions A CISO can explain how investing in automation can make security teams more effective. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around since the 1950s, and despite the hype, AI is often not well understood. The term AI gets liberally applied to any system that performs tasks with a semblance of automated decision making. AI rules are generally static and unable to adapt to the innovations of cybercriminals. Criminals will continually probe network defenses for vulnerabilities, and basic AI is not designed to learn and adapt. While AI systems appear to be intelligent because they make decisions without a human, theyre often dependent on static rules that were drafted by humans. Contrast this with technologies that dynamically learn from the behavioral patterns in data to make their decisions. Machine learning can provide the right answers to the right humans and machines -- a huge time-saver and advantage for our cybersecurity defenders. 2019s Cyberthreat Landscape Cyberthreats will continue to be challenging in 2019. Having a CISO or cybersecurity expert working with the board will give companies a better understanding of the challenges and risks they face. Using technologies like machine learning will give back time to our cyber defenders so companies can take the right steps to detect and respond to the next attack.

The board of directors should be responsible for the cybersecurity of their company.

ctrlsum

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/01/14/does-a-board-realize-whats-needed-for-the-cybersecurity-of-their-company/

Does A Board Realize What's Needed For The Cybersecurity Of Their Company?

When it comes to accountability, the board of directors should be the last stalwart, the group of people ultimately responsible for the company. Weve seen what can happen to a member of the board when there is a cybersecurity breach, such as when the CEO of a large retailer was forced to resign back in 2014 after a credit card breach that affected 40 million of its customers. A question all companies should ask is, "Does our board of directors understand cybersecurity?" In my experience, about 2 in 10 CEOs can provide an explanation of what their chief information security officer (CISO) does. By comparison, a CEO could be fired if they dont have an answer for their CFO. In an era when technology often is the business, members of a board need a rock-solid understanding of the security risks facing their company. This is needed to not only ensure that security teams have the capabilities to mitigate and respond to attacks but to prepare for the fallout when measures fail. Board members and CEOs should be asking why data breaches and ransomware attacks keep making headlines. While information security spend is on the rise worldwide -- in 2019, Gartner is forecasting 8.7% growth to $124 billion -- this doesnt mean the board should sleep more soundly. When it comes to the cyberthreats, underground criminals and nation states continue to win, which takes years to pay for and resolve -- even when companies think they have robust defenses. Here is a significant opportunity that is often overlooked: Include a CISO or a cybersecurity expert to serve as an observer and advisor on the board. This expert will help the board understand the requirements for robust cybersecurity defenses. A CISO or cybersecurity expert can coach the board on how to prevent and prepare for a breach beyond just the technical response. An Automated Fight A boards security expert should start by asking, "Is the cybersecurity automated or manual?" Because the battle between cybercriminals and corporate security teams is often tilted in favor of the adversaries who utilize automation at scale. When there is a digital reward -- whether its money, espionage, intellectual property or private data -- cyberattackers have persistence and automation on their side. They dont follow the rules of change management, and they enjoy working while you sleep. They even benefit from the poorly contrived compensating controls and audit exceptions, which do little to thwart an attacker but do allow organizations to pass compliance audits. Todays attackers will probe your defenses until they find a weakness. These well-organized criminals often use automation to initiate and replay their attacks, delivering malware, stealing accounts and deploying backdoors. Remember, they only need one breakthrough to be successful. Most cyberthreats are not advanced. All it takes is one impulsive click on a phishing email containing fairly crude malware to take down a network or even attempt to erode a democracy. Finding an answer starts with the help desk, an already overwhelmed resource. Could it be malware or a link to a phishing site?" These questions take time to answer. Attackers have time on their side, attacking when they want and as often as they like. When it comes to patrolling the attack surface of a corporate network, most teams have too few resources to do the job properly. When an attack does occur, theres not much time to respond. And an infection can spread at network speed. There is also little warning because overburdened security can miss the initial signs of an attack. Security tools are notoriously noisy, giving off more alerts than analysts can handle. Couple that with the shortage of security talent available for hire. Organizations can regain ground by looking at their weaknesses: Fog of war: Most security teams observe a small percentage of their computing network using their limited legacy tools. Faulty defenses: Many rely on manual and error-prone work for their defenses. Lack of understanding: Analysts often cant answer if an event should be flagged as normal or if its a security risk. Using Machine Learning To Buy Time And Answer Tough Questions A CISO can explain how investing in automation can make security teams more effective. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around since the 1950s, and despite the hype, AI is often not well understood. The term AI gets liberally applied to any system that performs tasks with a semblance of automated decision making. AI rules are generally static and unable to adapt to the innovations of cybercriminals. Criminals will continually probe network defenses for vulnerabilities, and basic AI is not designed to learn and adapt. While AI systems appear to be intelligent because they make decisions without a human, theyre often dependent on static rules that were drafted by humans. Contrast this with technologies that dynamically learn from the behavioral patterns in data to make their decisions. Machine learning can provide the right answers to the right humans and machines -- a huge time-saver and advantage for our cybersecurity defenders. 2019s Cyberthreat Landscape Cyberthreats will continue to be challenging in 2019. Having a CISO or cybersecurity expert working with the board will give companies a better understanding of the challenges and risks they face. Using technologies like machine learning will give back time to our cyber defenders so companies can take the right steps to detect and respond to the next attack.

"Does our board of directors understand cybersecurity?" is a question all companies should ask. A CEO could be fired if they dont have an answer for their CFO.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/01/14/does-a-board-realize-whats-needed-for-the-cybersecurity-of-their-company/

Does A Board Realize What's Needed For The Cybersecurity Of Their Company?

When it comes to accountability, the board of directors should be the last stalwart, the group of people ultimately responsible for the company. Weve seen what can happen to a member of the board when there is a cybersecurity breach, such as when the CEO of a large retailer was forced to resign back in 2014 after a credit card breach that affected 40 million of its customers. A question all companies should ask is, "Does our board of directors understand cybersecurity?" In my experience, about 2 in 10 CEOs can provide an explanation of what their chief information security officer (CISO) does. By comparison, a CEO could be fired if they dont have an answer for their CFO. In an era when technology often is the business, members of a board need a rock-solid understanding of the security risks facing their company. This is needed to not only ensure that security teams have the capabilities to mitigate and respond to attacks but to prepare for the fallout when measures fail. Board members and CEOs should be asking why data breaches and ransomware attacks keep making headlines. While information security spend is on the rise worldwide -- in 2019, Gartner is forecasting 8.7% growth to $124 billion -- this doesnt mean the board should sleep more soundly. When it comes to the cyberthreats, underground criminals and nation states continue to win, which takes years to pay for and resolve -- even when companies think they have robust defenses. Here is a significant opportunity that is often overlooked: Include a CISO or a cybersecurity expert to serve as an observer and advisor on the board. This expert will help the board understand the requirements for robust cybersecurity defenses. A CISO or cybersecurity expert can coach the board on how to prevent and prepare for a breach beyond just the technical response. An Automated Fight A boards security expert should start by asking, "Is the cybersecurity automated or manual?" Because the battle between cybercriminals and corporate security teams is often tilted in favor of the adversaries who utilize automation at scale. When there is a digital reward -- whether its money, espionage, intellectual property or private data -- cyberattackers have persistence and automation on their side. They dont follow the rules of change management, and they enjoy working while you sleep. They even benefit from the poorly contrived compensating controls and audit exceptions, which do little to thwart an attacker but do allow organizations to pass compliance audits. Todays attackers will probe your defenses until they find a weakness. These well-organized criminals often use automation to initiate and replay their attacks, delivering malware, stealing accounts and deploying backdoors. Remember, they only need one breakthrough to be successful. Most cyberthreats are not advanced. All it takes is one impulsive click on a phishing email containing fairly crude malware to take down a network or even attempt to erode a democracy. Finding an answer starts with the help desk, an already overwhelmed resource. Could it be malware or a link to a phishing site?" These questions take time to answer. Attackers have time on their side, attacking when they want and as often as they like. When it comes to patrolling the attack surface of a corporate network, most teams have too few resources to do the job properly. When an attack does occur, theres not much time to respond. And an infection can spread at network speed. There is also little warning because overburdened security can miss the initial signs of an attack. Security tools are notoriously noisy, giving off more alerts than analysts can handle. Couple that with the shortage of security talent available for hire. Organizations can regain ground by looking at their weaknesses: Fog of war: Most security teams observe a small percentage of their computing network using their limited legacy tools. Faulty defenses: Many rely on manual and error-prone work for their defenses. Lack of understanding: Analysts often cant answer if an event should be flagged as normal or if its a security risk. Using Machine Learning To Buy Time And Answer Tough Questions A CISO can explain how investing in automation can make security teams more effective. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around since the 1950s, and despite the hype, AI is often not well understood. The term AI gets liberally applied to any system that performs tasks with a semblance of automated decision making. AI rules are generally static and unable to adapt to the innovations of cybercriminals. Criminals will continually probe network defenses for vulnerabilities, and basic AI is not designed to learn and adapt. While AI systems appear to be intelligent because they make decisions without a human, theyre often dependent on static rules that were drafted by humans. Contrast this with technologies that dynamically learn from the behavioral patterns in data to make their decisions. Machine learning can provide the right answers to the right humans and machines -- a huge time-saver and advantage for our cybersecurity defenders. 2019s Cyberthreat Landscape Cyberthreats will continue to be challenging in 2019. Having a CISO or cybersecurity expert working with the board will give companies a better understanding of the challenges and risks they face. Using technologies like machine learning will give back time to our cyber defenders so companies can take the right steps to detect and respond to the next attack.

The board of directors should be responsible for the cybersecurity of their company. A boards security expert should start by asking, "Is the cybersecurity automated or manual? " The battle between cybercriminals and corporate security teams is often tilted in favor of the adversaries who utilize automation at scale.

ctrlsum

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/01/14/does-a-board-realize-whats-needed-for-the-cybersecurity-of-their-company/

What Does It Say When A Legal Blockchain eBook Has 1.7M Views?

Blockchain For Lawyers, a recently-released eBook by Australian legal tech company Legaler, drew 1.7M views in two weeks. Clearly, blockchain is a hot legal topic, along with artificial intelligence (AI), and legal tech generally. Its also a hot investment; last year a record $1B was pumped into legal tech. The global enthusiasm for tech is manifest in the throngs that attended the Legal Geek Conference, the Global Legal Hackathon, and a slew of events held by legal tech organizations around the world. Tech is the mortar of a global legal community that is transforming law from territorial profession to borderless industry. One explanation is its plain-speak effort to demystify blockchain and analyze its current and future adaptations to law. The book also provides a framework for understanding how AI, software, the cloud, and other technological advances enable new delivery models to better respond to consumer demand for more transparent, efficient, scalable, cost-effective, and predictable outcomes. There is a hungerespecially among those in the early and mid-stages of their careers-- to understand these tools and new delivery models and, more importantly, how it will impact their careers. The immense interest in new delivery models, legal tech, and transformation underscores that law today is as much about the new models, tools, and skillsets that drive it as it is about practice expertise. Law is no longer solely the province of lawyers; it is also comprised of non-licensed legal professionals and others involved in its delivery, funding, and innovation. The profession is being subsumed by a rapidly-evolving industry. Lawyers once controlled the profession and the industry. Clients control the industry now, and that is impacting how the profession operates, the models from which its expertise is most effectively delivered, the skillsets and resources required to augment it, and changing economics. Legal practice and delivery are each changing. New practice areas like cryptocurrency, cybersecurity, and Internet law are emerging as law struggles to keep pace with the speed of business change in the digital age. Concurrently, several staples of traditional practice--research, document review, etc.-- are becoming automated and/or no longer performed by law firm associates. There is more turnover of practice tasks, more reliance on machines and non-licensed attorneys to mine data and provide domain expertise used by lawyers, and more collaboration than ever before. The emergence of new industries demands that lawyers not only provide legal expertise in support of new areas but also that they possess intellectual agility to master them quickly. Many practice areas law students will encounter have yet to be created. That means that all lawyers will be required to be more agile than their predecessors and engage in ongoing training. Legal delivery, once the back office of practice, is now an integral part of the legal delivery process. Technology, process, the inexorable shift to multidisciplinary, collaborative delivery required to solve complex business challenges are now as critical as practice expertise to deliver effective, efficient, predictable, cost-effective, and data-based solutions to complex business challenges. The integration of practice and delivery has become the new paradigm for legal services and is seldom derived from a sole source. Law has become a team game. It is against this backdropand perhaps because of itthat many in the legal industry have a growing anxiety about their future. Law, like so many segments of the society it serves, is changing rapidly and requires ongoing (re)training and dedication to lifelong learning. Todays fast-paced, dynamic, fluid legal industry bears little resemblance to the one most law schools are preparing graduates for. This is another reason why cogent explanations of forces propelling that changelike Legalers eBookare appealing and helpful. Blockchain For Lawyers Stevie Ghiassi, Legalers CEO and Blockchain For Lawyers author, endeavors to offer an easy-to-digest, holistic take on how blockchain applies to the legal industry. Ghiassis book dispenses with unnecessary jargon, explains the basics of blockchain technology, and examinesin his words-- the profound innovation of creating digital trust in a digital age, and how that impacts every aspects of our lives. Ghiassi contends that blockchain represents a new evolutionary stage of trust, arguably the most central concept for organizing human organization. Societies initially relied on tribalism, a personalized, localized trust. As society scaled, institutional trust in governments, corporations, came to replace personal trust as societys glue. Blockchain technology represents a new transparent, distributed trust phase facilitated by decentralized networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Ghiassi argues the degree to which people trust each other and how they manage those trusted relationships is often intermediated by lawyers. With such a profound shift in the nature of trust, the role of lawyers is likely to change. The confluence of blockchain, cryptocurrency, smart contracts, and zero knowledge proofs facilitates new businesses processes that remove intermediaries and reduce transactions costs, making legal services more accessible. This disintermediation process is already underway in law and is accelerating rapidly with the concurrent adoption of AI, platforms, metrics, and other tools and resources enabling new providers to build client-centric delivery models. They are transforming legal delivery from a labor-intensive, lawyer-centric model to a tech and process-enabled, customer centric one. Ghiassi is a poster child for the contemporary legal professional. He does not hold a law license and facetiously notes in his Linkedin profile that All legal knowledge acquired from Suits seasons 1 to 7. He does have a keen grasp of the legal industry and a clear-eyed objective for his technological prowess: Pursuing a better world through technology to advance the delivery of legal services and expand access to justice by leveraging distributed ledger technologies like blockchain and decentralization. Perhaps it is because Ghiassi is not a lawyeryet understands the profession and its new tools-of-the-tradethat he is able to explain and contextualize blockchain so effectively. Ghiassi views legal delivery from an outcome perspectivewhat it should accomplishrather than a practice onewhat is has historically meant to be a lawyer. Conclusion This is an exciting time to be in the legal industry. It was long a guild; now it is an emerging global community. It was homogeneous, and it is slowly morphing into a more diverse culture. It was parochial by design and now it is becoming borderlessat least with respect to the new business models, tools, and resources available to provide legal services. It was lawyer-centric, and is increasingly multi-disciplinary. Law was once exclusively about lawyers; now it is about legal professionals and other disciplines, technology, and new providers expanding access to and improving delivery of legal services. Many in the profession rue these changes, and some remain steadfast in opposing them. The socio-economic forces driving change across multiple industries are far too powerful for the remnants of the legal guild to repel. Law should look more closely at other industries for ideas that can be leveraged. A good place to start is customer-centric companies. The profession will not be compromised by this process; its ability to better serve legal buyers and society will be enhanced. Stevie Ghiassis thoughtful book that encourages lawyers to embrace technology as a tool to better serve legal consumers and society is deserving of even more views. Hopefully, it will encourage others to do the same .

A recently-released eBook by Australian legal tech company Legaler drew 1.7M views in two weeks. Tech is the mortar of a global legal community that is transforming law from territorial profession to borderless industry.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/markcohen1/2019/01/14/what-does-it-say-when-a-legal-blockchain-ebook-has-1-7m-views/

What Does It Say When A Legal Blockchain eBook Has 1.7M Views?

Blockchain For Lawyers, a recently-released eBook by Australian legal tech company Legaler, drew 1.7M views in two weeks. Clearly, blockchain is a hot legal topic, along with artificial intelligence (AI), and legal tech generally. Its also a hot investment; last year a record $1B was pumped into legal tech. The global enthusiasm for tech is manifest in the throngs that attended the Legal Geek Conference, the Global Legal Hackathon, and a slew of events held by legal tech organizations around the world. Tech is the mortar of a global legal community that is transforming law from territorial profession to borderless industry. One explanation is its plain-speak effort to demystify blockchain and analyze its current and future adaptations to law. The book also provides a framework for understanding how AI, software, the cloud, and other technological advances enable new delivery models to better respond to consumer demand for more transparent, efficient, scalable, cost-effective, and predictable outcomes. There is a hungerespecially among those in the early and mid-stages of their careers-- to understand these tools and new delivery models and, more importantly, how it will impact their careers. The immense interest in new delivery models, legal tech, and transformation underscores that law today is as much about the new models, tools, and skillsets that drive it as it is about practice expertise. Law is no longer solely the province of lawyers; it is also comprised of non-licensed legal professionals and others involved in its delivery, funding, and innovation. The profession is being subsumed by a rapidly-evolving industry. Lawyers once controlled the profession and the industry. Clients control the industry now, and that is impacting how the profession operates, the models from which its expertise is most effectively delivered, the skillsets and resources required to augment it, and changing economics. Legal practice and delivery are each changing. New practice areas like cryptocurrency, cybersecurity, and Internet law are emerging as law struggles to keep pace with the speed of business change in the digital age. Concurrently, several staples of traditional practice--research, document review, etc.-- are becoming automated and/or no longer performed by law firm associates. There is more turnover of practice tasks, more reliance on machines and non-licensed attorneys to mine data and provide domain expertise used by lawyers, and more collaboration than ever before. The emergence of new industries demands that lawyers not only provide legal expertise in support of new areas but also that they possess intellectual agility to master them quickly. Many practice areas law students will encounter have yet to be created. That means that all lawyers will be required to be more agile than their predecessors and engage in ongoing training. Legal delivery, once the back office of practice, is now an integral part of the legal delivery process. Technology, process, the inexorable shift to multidisciplinary, collaborative delivery required to solve complex business challenges are now as critical as practice expertise to deliver effective, efficient, predictable, cost-effective, and data-based solutions to complex business challenges. The integration of practice and delivery has become the new paradigm for legal services and is seldom derived from a sole source. Law has become a team game. It is against this backdropand perhaps because of itthat many in the legal industry have a growing anxiety about their future. Law, like so many segments of the society it serves, is changing rapidly and requires ongoing (re)training and dedication to lifelong learning. Todays fast-paced, dynamic, fluid legal industry bears little resemblance to the one most law schools are preparing graduates for. This is another reason why cogent explanations of forces propelling that changelike Legalers eBookare appealing and helpful. Blockchain For Lawyers Stevie Ghiassi, Legalers CEO and Blockchain For Lawyers author, endeavors to offer an easy-to-digest, holistic take on how blockchain applies to the legal industry. Ghiassis book dispenses with unnecessary jargon, explains the basics of blockchain technology, and examinesin his words-- the profound innovation of creating digital trust in a digital age, and how that impacts every aspects of our lives. Ghiassi contends that blockchain represents a new evolutionary stage of trust, arguably the most central concept for organizing human organization. Societies initially relied on tribalism, a personalized, localized trust. As society scaled, institutional trust in governments, corporations, came to replace personal trust as societys glue. Blockchain technology represents a new transparent, distributed trust phase facilitated by decentralized networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Ghiassi argues the degree to which people trust each other and how they manage those trusted relationships is often intermediated by lawyers. With such a profound shift in the nature of trust, the role of lawyers is likely to change. The confluence of blockchain, cryptocurrency, smart contracts, and zero knowledge proofs facilitates new businesses processes that remove intermediaries and reduce transactions costs, making legal services more accessible. This disintermediation process is already underway in law and is accelerating rapidly with the concurrent adoption of AI, platforms, metrics, and other tools and resources enabling new providers to build client-centric delivery models. They are transforming legal delivery from a labor-intensive, lawyer-centric model to a tech and process-enabled, customer centric one. Ghiassi is a poster child for the contemporary legal professional. He does not hold a law license and facetiously notes in his Linkedin profile that All legal knowledge acquired from Suits seasons 1 to 7. He does have a keen grasp of the legal industry and a clear-eyed objective for his technological prowess: Pursuing a better world through technology to advance the delivery of legal services and expand access to justice by leveraging distributed ledger technologies like blockchain and decentralization. Perhaps it is because Ghiassi is not a lawyeryet understands the profession and its new tools-of-the-tradethat he is able to explain and contextualize blockchain so effectively. Ghiassi views legal delivery from an outcome perspectivewhat it should accomplishrather than a practice onewhat is has historically meant to be a lawyer. Conclusion This is an exciting time to be in the legal industry. It was long a guild; now it is an emerging global community. It was homogeneous, and it is slowly morphing into a more diverse culture. It was parochial by design and now it is becoming borderlessat least with respect to the new business models, tools, and resources available to provide legal services. It was lawyer-centric, and is increasingly multi-disciplinary. Law was once exclusively about lawyers; now it is about legal professionals and other disciplines, technology, and new providers expanding access to and improving delivery of legal services. Many in the profession rue these changes, and some remain steadfast in opposing them. The socio-economic forces driving change across multiple industries are far too powerful for the remnants of the legal guild to repel. Law should look more closely at other industries for ideas that can be leveraged. A good place to start is customer-centric companies. The profession will not be compromised by this process; its ability to better serve legal buyers and society will be enhanced. Stevie Ghiassis thoughtful book that encourages lawyers to embrace technology as a tool to better serve legal consumers and society is deserving of even more views. Hopefully, it will encourage others to do the same .

A recently-released eBook by Australian legal tech company Legaler drew 1.7M views in two weeks. Tech is the mortar of a global legal community that is transforming law from territorial profession to borderless industry. Law is no longer solely the province of lawyers; it is also comprised of non-licensed legal professionals.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/markcohen1/2019/01/14/what-does-it-say-when-a-legal-blockchain-ebook-has-1-7m-views/

Could A Cryptocurrency Service Help Save Venezuela?

Venezuela's government can't seem to do anything right these days, so some enterprising folks have stepped forward to help the inflation-ravaged country. Steve Hanke, hyperinflation expert, and professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University has teamed up with AirTM, a Mexico City-based blockchain-powered currency platform. Their goal is to get financial aid to beleaguered Venezuelans and they've named the project "AirdropVenezuela." The initial target is to attract cryptocurrency donations totaling $1 million and then distribute the money to 100,000 people in Venezuela via the AirTM platform. "In effect, we provide in effect a clearinghouse that allows for the exchange of bolivars for dollars and vice versa," says Hanke who is now a member of AirTM's board of directors. "This is also much superior to distributing physical cash because you dont have to run the risk of driving your armored truck into the country." Armored cash-delivery vehicles are prone to get hijacked. There's a clear need for humanitarian aid in Venezuela. The South American country is suffering brutal hyperinflation leaving the population without access to basic necessities such as food and medicine. The annualized inflation rate hit a record high of 117,681% on January 10 according to estimates from Hanke. For reference, 100% annual inflation halves the spending power of money within a year. Venezuela's current inflation makes the Bolivar worthless in a trice. The result of the money being close to worthless is that Venezuelan stores are mostly empty of essential supplies. While the country's president Nicolas Maduro could solve the currency crisis in an instant by pegging the Bolivar to the U.S. dollar, he and his supporters haven't so far been inclined to do so. That's despite the fact that pegging to the dollar would almost certainly fix the humanitarian crisis afflicting the country. Meanwhile getting aid directly to the country's people is problematic because the socialist regime doesn't allow for the free trading of the Bolivar at market rates. As part of that, the Venezuelan government has no desire to see private foreign exchange dealing inside its country. That's where AirTM comes in handy. "In Venezuela, we dont have a bricks-and-mortar Cambio, that would be illegal," says Hanke. "Instead we have a Cambio in the sky." Cambio is synonymous with a Bureau de Change, where small lots of currency change hands. His reference to "a Cambio in the sky" is because the money can be distributed via the AirTM on-line platform. In other words, the money will be distributed through the ether or cloud. Successful distribution of the target $1 million would also help pave the way to dollarize Venezuela, says Hanke. In other words, the AirTM platform could be used to prompt Venezuelans to use U.S. dollars in everyday transactions, so helping stabilize the economy which has been in freefall lately. It is notable that in one of Zimbabwe's periods of hyperinflation the populous spontaneously decided to use dollars rather than the Zimbabwe dollar which at the time had become worthless. Quickly Zimbabwe's economy stabilized. Hanke also foresees a future potential move by some humanitarian organizations to distribute aid to crisis-stricken areas in a similar way. Crypto Boost The move by AirTM could also be a boost for other all cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, which is perhaps the best known of them all. One of the problems with Bitcoin and the other electronic currencies is that they don't truly meet the grade to qualify as money. For anything to be money it must act as a unit of account, a medium of exchange, and a store of value. So far, cryptocurrencies fail on the latter two conditions: They neither act as a widespread medium of exchange nor do they act as a store of value. Bitcoin values have crashed spectacularly since mid-December 2017 to $around $3,500 recently from close to $20,000 a little over a year ago. However, this experiment by AirTM could help demonstrate crypto's ability to be a widely used medium of exchange. "You could now have the additional demand for cryptos for use as a medium of exchange versus what you have now which is only the speculative demand," says Hanke. In other words, if the Airdrop Venezuela project boosts the use of crypto in everyday transactions, then it could perhaps satisfy the second required attribute of all money. "This experiment would demonstrate whether it could qualify and check that box," says Hanke. Data boost too A further benefit of the AirdropVenezuela project is that by promoting the use of the platform it will help economists get a better gauge on the real free market exchange rate. The Venezuelan government has an official exchange rate and doesn't allow the free exchange of Bolivars at a market rate.

AirdropVenezuela aims to get financial aid to beleaguered Venezuelans. The initial target is to attract cryptocurrency donations totaling $1 million and then distribute the money to 100,000 people in Venezuela.

ctrlsum

https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonconstable/2019/01/14/could-a-crypto-currency-service-help-save-venezuela/

Could A Cryptocurrency Service Help Save Venezuela?

Venezuela's government can't seem to do anything right these days, so some enterprising folks have stepped forward to help the inflation-ravaged country. Steve Hanke, hyperinflation expert, and professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University has teamed up with AirTM, a Mexico City-based blockchain-powered currency platform. Their goal is to get financial aid to beleaguered Venezuelans and they've named the project "AirdropVenezuela." The initial target is to attract cryptocurrency donations totaling $1 million and then distribute the money to 100,000 people in Venezuela via the AirTM platform. "In effect, we provide in effect a clearinghouse that allows for the exchange of bolivars for dollars and vice versa," says Hanke who is now a member of AirTM's board of directors. "This is also much superior to distributing physical cash because you dont have to run the risk of driving your armored truck into the country." Armored cash-delivery vehicles are prone to get hijacked. There's a clear need for humanitarian aid in Venezuela. The South American country is suffering brutal hyperinflation leaving the population without access to basic necessities such as food and medicine. The annualized inflation rate hit a record high of 117,681% on January 10 according to estimates from Hanke. For reference, 100% annual inflation halves the spending power of money within a year. Venezuela's current inflation makes the Bolivar worthless in a trice. The result of the money being close to worthless is that Venezuelan stores are mostly empty of essential supplies. While the country's president Nicolas Maduro could solve the currency crisis in an instant by pegging the Bolivar to the U.S. dollar, he and his supporters haven't so far been inclined to do so. That's despite the fact that pegging to the dollar would almost certainly fix the humanitarian crisis afflicting the country. Meanwhile getting aid directly to the country's people is problematic because the socialist regime doesn't allow for the free trading of the Bolivar at market rates. As part of that, the Venezuelan government has no desire to see private foreign exchange dealing inside its country. That's where AirTM comes in handy. "In Venezuela, we dont have a bricks-and-mortar Cambio, that would be illegal," says Hanke. "Instead we have a Cambio in the sky." Cambio is synonymous with a Bureau de Change, where small lots of currency change hands. His reference to "a Cambio in the sky" is because the money can be distributed via the AirTM on-line platform. In other words, the money will be distributed through the ether or cloud. Successful distribution of the target $1 million would also help pave the way to dollarize Venezuela, says Hanke. In other words, the AirTM platform could be used to prompt Venezuelans to use U.S. dollars in everyday transactions, so helping stabilize the economy which has been in freefall lately. It is notable that in one of Zimbabwe's periods of hyperinflation the populous spontaneously decided to use dollars rather than the Zimbabwe dollar which at the time had become worthless. Quickly Zimbabwe's economy stabilized. Hanke also foresees a future potential move by some humanitarian organizations to distribute aid to crisis-stricken areas in a similar way. Crypto Boost The move by AirTM could also be a boost for other all cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, which is perhaps the best known of them all. One of the problems with Bitcoin and the other electronic currencies is that they don't truly meet the grade to qualify as money. For anything to be money it must act as a unit of account, a medium of exchange, and a store of value. So far, cryptocurrencies fail on the latter two conditions: They neither act as a widespread medium of exchange nor do they act as a store of value. Bitcoin values have crashed spectacularly since mid-December 2017 to $around $3,500 recently from close to $20,000 a little over a year ago. However, this experiment by AirTM could help demonstrate crypto's ability to be a widely used medium of exchange. "You could now have the additional demand for cryptos for use as a medium of exchange versus what you have now which is only the speculative demand," says Hanke. In other words, if the Airdrop Venezuela project boosts the use of crypto in everyday transactions, then it could perhaps satisfy the second required attribute of all money. "This experiment would demonstrate whether it could qualify and check that box," says Hanke. Data boost too A further benefit of the AirdropVenezuela project is that by promoting the use of the platform it will help economists get a better gauge on the real free market exchange rate. The Venezuelan government has an official exchange rate and doesn't allow the free exchange of Bolivars at a market rate.

AirdropVenezuela aims to get financial aid to beleaguered Venezuelans. The initial target is to attract cryptocurrency donations totaling $1 million and then distribute the money to 100,000 people in Venezuela via the AirTM platform. The move could also be a boost for other all cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

ctrlsum

https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonconstable/2019/01/14/could-a-crypto-currency-service-help-save-venezuela/

Are Investors Undervaluing Fly Leasing (FLY) Right Now?

Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks. Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks. Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels. In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment. One company value investors might notice is Fly Leasing (FLY). FLY is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), as well as a Value grade of A. The stock has a Forward P/E ratio of 4.12. This compares to its industry's average Forward P/E of 11.08. Over the past 52 weeks, FLY's Forward P/E has been as high as 6.72 and as low as 3.85, with a median of 5.75. We also note that FLY holds a PEG ratio of 0.41. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. FLY's PEG compares to its industry's average PEG of 1.09. Over the past 52 weeks, FLY's PEG has been as high as 0.67 and as low as 0.38, with a median of 0.58. Investors should also recognize that FLY has a P/B ratio of 0.48. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This company's current P/B looks solid when compared to its industry's average P/B of 1.27. Over the past year, FLY's P/B has been as high as 0.77 and as low as 0.44, with a median of 0.68. Value investors also use the P/S ratio. The P/S ratio is is calculated as price divided by sales. Some people prefer this metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement. This means it could be a truer performance indicator. FLY has a P/S ratio of 0.82. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 1.2. Finally, our model also underscores that FLY has a P/CF ratio of 1.57. This figure highlights a company's operating cash flow and can be used to find firms that are undervalued when considering their impressive cash outlook. This stock's P/CF looks attractive against its industry's average P/CF of 4.10. Over the past 52 weeks, FLY's P/CF has been as high as 2.61 and as low as 1.46, with a median of 2.23. These are only a few of the key metrics included in Fly Leasing's strong Value grade, but they help show that the stock is likely undervalued right now. When factoring in the strength of its earnings outlook, FLY looks like an impressive value stock at the moment. 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

Fly Leasing (FLY) is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) and a Value grade of A. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued. When factoring in the strength of its earnings outlook, FLY looks like an impressive value stock.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/investors-undervaluing-fly-leasing-fly-141002530.html

Can Buyouts & Project Centennial Fuel Flowers Foods Further?

Flowers Foods, Inc.s FLO shares have gained close to 7% in a year, against the industrys decline of 15.2%. The company has been befitting from strategies like focus on buyouts along with its Project Centennial, though at the same time it is battling cost-related hurdles. So, lets see if Flowers Foods endeavors can help offset obstacles and fuel growth at this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. Project Centennial & Buyouts on Track Flowers Foods is progressing well with Project Centennial. The company is also making several efforts to revive its core business, lower costs, make use of product advances and develop leading capacities. Project Centennial, which is an enterprise-wide multi-year initiative, is aimed at streamlining operations, fueling efficiencies, improving margins by curtailing costs, optimizing supply chain and making prudent investments to solidify Flowers Foods competitive position, aiding revenue growth, and returning value to stockholders. Further, the company intends to expand its portfolio and increase adjacencies in the bakery category through organic growth and acquisitions. Markedly, management expects gross savings in the upper end of $38-$48 million in 2018, on the back of a more productive organizational structure, lower expenditure on purchased goods and services, supply-chain optimization, and enhanced order and stale reduction efforts. Talking of acquisitions, the company concluded the buyout of gluten-free baking firm Canyon Bakehouse LLC in December 2018. The inclusion of this Johnstown-based company is likely to expand Flowers Foods presence in the gluten-free foods category, which is gaining traction from consumers rising demand for the same. Well, Flowers Foods has long been focused on acquisitions to strengthen its product portfolio and expand in untapped markets. Notably, the company has acquired more than 100 companies since 1968. In 2015, the company bought Daves Killer Bread (DKB) and Alpine Valley Bread companies. With the acquisition of DKB, the company got access to the Pacific Northwest market. These efforts are likely to continue enhancing Flowers Foods portfolio, which, in turn, will help it gain market share. Notably, strength in DKB, Nature's Own and Wonder brands drove Flowers Foods market share in the third quarter of 2018, which marked the companys ninth consecutive quarter of market share improvement. Flowers Foods has been witnessing a year-over-year decline in EBITDA for the past four quarters. In third-quarter 2018, adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 140 basis points (bps) to 10.6%, due to increased costs of marketing inputs, manufacturing, workforce and freight. Also, the company continued to be impacted by disruptions associated with the inferior yeast. Incidentally, the company encountered operational hurdles at many bakeries during the third quarter, owing to substandard yeast received from a supplier. These factors also weighed on gross margin in the reported quarter, which declined 4.1% from the year-ago quarter. Moreover, materials, supplies, labor and other production costs (excluding depreciation and amortization) have been rising for four straight quarters. In the third quarter of 2018, materials, labor, supplies and other production expenses as a percentage of sales expanded 150 bps to 52.6%. This upside was mainly associated with elevated commodity costs, lower production volumes, greater outside product purchases owing to robust demand for DKB breakfast items and lower manufacturing efficiencies. We believe that persistence of rising costs is a threat to the companys margins and profitability. That being said, we expect Flowers Foods growth strategies to tide over these headwinds and help the company draw more attention from investors. Dont Miss These Solid Food Stocks McCormick & Company, Incorporated MKC has long-term earnings per share growth rate of 9% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Campbell Soup Company CPB, with long-term earnings per share growth rate of 5.5%, also carries a Zacks Rank #2. Lamb Weston LW, with a Zacks Rank #2, has long-term earnings per share growth rate of 12%. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>>

Flowers Foods is progressing well with its Project Centennial. Management expects gross savings in the upper end of $38-$48 million in 2018.

pegasus

https://news.yahoo.com/buyouts-project-centennial-fuel-flowers-141302072.html

Can Buyouts & Project Centennial Fuel Flowers Foods Further?

Flowers Foods, Inc.s FLO shares have gained close to 7% in a year, against the industrys decline of 15.2%. The company has been befitting from strategies like focus on buyouts along with its Project Centennial, though at the same time it is battling cost-related hurdles. So, lets see if Flowers Foods endeavors can help offset obstacles and fuel growth at this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. Project Centennial & Buyouts on Track Flowers Foods is progressing well with Project Centennial. The company is also making several efforts to revive its core business, lower costs, make use of product advances and develop leading capacities. Project Centennial, which is an enterprise-wide multi-year initiative, is aimed at streamlining operations, fueling efficiencies, improving margins by curtailing costs, optimizing supply chain and making prudent investments to solidify Flowers Foods competitive position, aiding revenue growth, and returning value to stockholders. Further, the company intends to expand its portfolio and increase adjacencies in the bakery category through organic growth and acquisitions. Markedly, management expects gross savings in the upper end of $38-$48 million in 2018, on the back of a more productive organizational structure, lower expenditure on purchased goods and services, supply-chain optimization, and enhanced order and stale reduction efforts. Talking of acquisitions, the company concluded the buyout of gluten-free baking firm Canyon Bakehouse LLC in December 2018. The inclusion of this Johnstown-based company is likely to expand Flowers Foods presence in the gluten-free foods category, which is gaining traction from consumers rising demand for the same. Well, Flowers Foods has long been focused on acquisitions to strengthen its product portfolio and expand in untapped markets. Notably, the company has acquired more than 100 companies since 1968. In 2015, the company bought Daves Killer Bread (DKB) and Alpine Valley Bread companies. With the acquisition of DKB, the company got access to the Pacific Northwest market. These efforts are likely to continue enhancing Flowers Foods portfolio, which, in turn, will help it gain market share. Notably, strength in DKB, Nature's Own and Wonder brands drove Flowers Foods market share in the third quarter of 2018, which marked the companys ninth consecutive quarter of market share improvement. Flowers Foods has been witnessing a year-over-year decline in EBITDA for the past four quarters. In third-quarter 2018, adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 140 basis points (bps) to 10.6%, due to increased costs of marketing inputs, manufacturing, workforce and freight. Also, the company continued to be impacted by disruptions associated with the inferior yeast. Incidentally, the company encountered operational hurdles at many bakeries during the third quarter, owing to substandard yeast received from a supplier. These factors also weighed on gross margin in the reported quarter, which declined 4.1% from the year-ago quarter. Moreover, materials, supplies, labor and other production costs (excluding depreciation and amortization) have been rising for four straight quarters. In the third quarter of 2018, materials, labor, supplies and other production expenses as a percentage of sales expanded 150 bps to 52.6%. This upside was mainly associated with elevated commodity costs, lower production volumes, greater outside product purchases owing to robust demand for DKB breakfast items and lower manufacturing efficiencies. We believe that persistence of rising costs is a threat to the companys margins and profitability. That being said, we expect Flowers Foods growth strategies to tide over these headwinds and help the company draw more attention from investors. Dont Miss These Solid Food Stocks McCormick & Company, Incorporated MKC has long-term earnings per share growth rate of 9% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Campbell Soup Company CPB, with long-term earnings per share growth rate of 5.5%, also carries a Zacks Rank #2. Lamb Weston LW, with a Zacks Rank #2, has long-term earnings per share growth rate of 12%. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>>

Flowers Foods has been progressing well with its Project Centennial. Management expects gross savings in the upper end of $38-$48 million in 2018. The company has acquired more than 100 companies since 1968.

pegasus

https://news.yahoo.com/buyouts-project-centennial-fuel-flowers-141302072.html

Can Buyouts & Project Centennial Fuel Flowers Foods Further?

Flowers Foods, Inc.s FLO shares have gained close to 7% in a year, against the industrys decline of 15.2%. The company has been befitting from strategies like focus on buyouts along with its Project Centennial, though at the same time it is battling cost-related hurdles. So, lets see if Flowers Foods endeavors can help offset obstacles and fuel growth at this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. Project Centennial & Buyouts on Track Flowers Foods is progressing well with Project Centennial. The company is also making several efforts to revive its core business, lower costs, make use of product advances and develop leading capacities. Project Centennial, which is an enterprise-wide multi-year initiative, is aimed at streamlining operations, fueling efficiencies, improving margins by curtailing costs, optimizing supply chain and making prudent investments to solidify Flowers Foods competitive position, aiding revenue growth, and returning value to stockholders. Further, the company intends to expand its portfolio and increase adjacencies in the bakery category through organic growth and acquisitions. Markedly, management expects gross savings in the upper end of $38-$48 million in 2018, on the back of a more productive organizational structure, lower expenditure on purchased goods and services, supply-chain optimization, and enhanced order and stale reduction efforts. Talking of acquisitions, the company concluded the buyout of gluten-free baking firm Canyon Bakehouse LLC in December 2018. The inclusion of this Johnstown-based company is likely to expand Flowers Foods presence in the gluten-free foods category, which is gaining traction from consumers rising demand for the same. Well, Flowers Foods has long been focused on acquisitions to strengthen its product portfolio and expand in untapped markets. Notably, the company has acquired more than 100 companies since 1968. In 2015, the company bought Daves Killer Bread (DKB) and Alpine Valley Bread companies. With the acquisition of DKB, the company got access to the Pacific Northwest market. These efforts are likely to continue enhancing Flowers Foods portfolio, which, in turn, will help it gain market share. Notably, strength in DKB, Nature's Own and Wonder brands drove Flowers Foods market share in the third quarter of 2018, which marked the companys ninth consecutive quarter of market share improvement. Flowers Foods has been witnessing a year-over-year decline in EBITDA for the past four quarters. In third-quarter 2018, adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 140 basis points (bps) to 10.6%, due to increased costs of marketing inputs, manufacturing, workforce and freight. Also, the company continued to be impacted by disruptions associated with the inferior yeast. Incidentally, the company encountered operational hurdles at many bakeries during the third quarter, owing to substandard yeast received from a supplier. These factors also weighed on gross margin in the reported quarter, which declined 4.1% from the year-ago quarter. Moreover, materials, supplies, labor and other production costs (excluding depreciation and amortization) have been rising for four straight quarters. In the third quarter of 2018, materials, labor, supplies and other production expenses as a percentage of sales expanded 150 bps to 52.6%. This upside was mainly associated with elevated commodity costs, lower production volumes, greater outside product purchases owing to robust demand for DKB breakfast items and lower manufacturing efficiencies. We believe that persistence of rising costs is a threat to the companys margins and profitability. That being said, we expect Flowers Foods growth strategies to tide over these headwinds and help the company draw more attention from investors. Dont Miss These Solid Food Stocks McCormick & Company, Incorporated MKC has long-term earnings per share growth rate of 9% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Campbell Soup Company CPB, with long-term earnings per share growth rate of 5.5%, also carries a Zacks Rank #2. Lamb Weston LW, with a Zacks Rank #2, has long-term earnings per share growth rate of 12%. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>>

Flowers Foods, Inc.'s FLO shares have gained close to 7% in a year, against the industrys decline of 15.2%. The company has been befitting from strategies like focus on buyouts along with its Project Centennial.

pegasus

https://news.yahoo.com/buyouts-project-centennial-fuel-flowers-141302072.html

Which Oregon counties have the most drunken driving crashes?

A Marion County Sheriff's deputy pulls over a suspected drunk driver (Courtesy MCSO) In Oregons 20 most-populous counties, law enforcement officers responded to at least 3,618 traffic crashes involving drunken drivers in the past five years. Across the state, officers documented drivers with blood alcohol contents of .08 or higher in crashes that killed 543 people from 2013 to 2017. An Oregonian/OregonLive analysis of the most-recent five years of documented crashes involving impaired drivers found 482 deaths across the states 20 most-populous counties. As Sen. President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, said he would push this month to lower the states legal blood alcohol limit to .05, the numbers paint a picture of a state where impaired driving remains a serious issue. The total number of drunken driving crashes in Oregons most-populous 20 counties declined 8 percent from 2016 to 2017. But the 770 crashes tallied in the most-recent year with data available represent a 15 percent increase from the figure in 2013. The Oregonian/OregonLive compared the past five years of DUII data from the states transportation department to population estimates from Portland State Universitys Population Research Center to create the number of total crashes per 100,000 residents. Thats the universal metric used to calculate homicide, assault and crime rates.

In Oregon's 20 most-populous counties, officers responded to at least 3,618 traffic crashes involving drunken drivers in the past five years. In Marion County, officers documented drivers with blood alcohol contents of.08 or higher in crashes that killed 543 people from 2013 to 2017.

ctrlsum

https://www.oregonlive.com/expo/news/g66l-2019/01/531b37de473269/which-oregon-counties-have-the.html

Is Veeva Systems a Millionaire-Maker Stock?

While working at Salesforce.com, Peter Gassner realized that the pharmaceutical industry had specific cloud-based needs. These needs were so industry-specific that Salesforce couldn't be the answer to the sector's problems. Armed with that information, he founded Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) in 2007 to build a cloud solution for drug companies. Investors -- myself included -- have been rewarded handsomely; Shares have nearly quintupled since February 2016. That's not surprising given that the company has been capturing huge swaths of its total addressable market and continues to add new products to its list of offerings. Medical worker shows the data cloud on blurred background. More Image source: Getty Images And yet, even though I'm a shareholder myself, I'm doubting that Veeva has the potential to truly be a "Millionaire-Maker" stock -- a stock with the potential to increase in value ten times over in the course of two decades. A barbell technique that keeps on working While the visual might not be perfect, best-selling author and former trader Nassim Nicholas Taleb has highlighted a way for companies -- or individuals -- to continue pursuing opportunities without jeopardizing themselves in the long run. He calls it the barbell technique: Devote roughly 80% of your resources to business that is reliable and stable. This is the "safe" area of your business, and is protected by a wide moat. With the other 20%, pursue high-risk, high-reward ventures. Most will fail, but the few that succeed will lead to massive returns. Veeva is a textbook implementation of the barbell method. When the company got its start, it focused on providing customer relationship management (CRM) solutions for drug company salespeople. It then took the reliable cash streams from that Software-as-a-Service offering and invested in Vault -- an entirely different venture. Vault aims to be a one-stop cloud repository for everything a drug company needs to bring a compound from the idea stage through clinical trials and FDA approval, and finally to the market. It has been a resounding success. Chart showing Veeva revenue by segment since 2014 More Chart by author. Data source: SEC filings. All figures rounded to nearest million. 2018 figures reflect trailing twelve months as of September 30, 2018. Within Vault, the company adds two or three new key products every year. I wouldn't be surprised to see it outshine the commercial cloud (principally the CRM suite) in the next 18 months. Not only that, Vault has been so popular that companies outside of life sciences -- namely consumer-packaged goods and chemical companies -- have asked for access to a Vault-esque product. Veeva rolled it out, on a limited basis, over the past 18 months.

Shares of Veeva Systems have nearly quintupled since February 2016. The company has been capturing huge swaths of its total addressable market. Veeva has the potential to truly be a "Millionaire-Maker" stock.

pegasus

https://news.yahoo.com/veeva-systems-millionaire-maker-stock-154232806.html

Is Veeva Systems a Millionaire-Maker Stock?

While working at Salesforce.com, Peter Gassner realized that the pharmaceutical industry had specific cloud-based needs. These needs were so industry-specific that Salesforce couldn't be the answer to the sector's problems. Armed with that information, he founded Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) in 2007 to build a cloud solution for drug companies. Investors -- myself included -- have been rewarded handsomely; Shares have nearly quintupled since February 2016. That's not surprising given that the company has been capturing huge swaths of its total addressable market and continues to add new products to its list of offerings. Medical worker shows the data cloud on blurred background. More Image source: Getty Images And yet, even though I'm a shareholder myself, I'm doubting that Veeva has the potential to truly be a "Millionaire-Maker" stock -- a stock with the potential to increase in value ten times over in the course of two decades. A barbell technique that keeps on working While the visual might not be perfect, best-selling author and former trader Nassim Nicholas Taleb has highlighted a way for companies -- or individuals -- to continue pursuing opportunities without jeopardizing themselves in the long run. He calls it the barbell technique: Devote roughly 80% of your resources to business that is reliable and stable. This is the "safe" area of your business, and is protected by a wide moat. With the other 20%, pursue high-risk, high-reward ventures. Most will fail, but the few that succeed will lead to massive returns. Veeva is a textbook implementation of the barbell method. When the company got its start, it focused on providing customer relationship management (CRM) solutions for drug company salespeople. It then took the reliable cash streams from that Software-as-a-Service offering and invested in Vault -- an entirely different venture. Vault aims to be a one-stop cloud repository for everything a drug company needs to bring a compound from the idea stage through clinical trials and FDA approval, and finally to the market. It has been a resounding success. Chart showing Veeva revenue by segment since 2014 More Chart by author. Data source: SEC filings. All figures rounded to nearest million. 2018 figures reflect trailing twelve months as of September 30, 2018. Within Vault, the company adds two or three new key products every year. I wouldn't be surprised to see it outshine the commercial cloud (principally the CRM suite) in the next 18 months. Not only that, Vault has been so popular that companies outside of life sciences -- namely consumer-packaged goods and chemical companies -- have asked for access to a Vault-esque product. Veeva rolled it out, on a limited basis, over the past 18 months.

Shares of Veeva Systems have nearly quintupled since February 2016. The company has been capturing huge swaths of its total addressable market. Veeva has the potential to truly be a "Millionaire-Maker" stock. It has the potential to increase in value ten times over in the course of two decades.

pegasus

https://news.yahoo.com/veeva-systems-millionaire-maker-stock-154232806.html

Can Inovio Pharmaceuticals Stock Keep Bounding Higher?

What happened Like most biotechs, Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: INO), a pre-revenue vaccine developer, had a rather poor showing in December. Specifically, it lost exactly a quarter of its value last month, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The upside is that Inovio's year-end sell-off wasn't triggered by a clinical or regulatory setback. Rather, its shares simply fell in tandem with the broader market. So, not surprisingly, they've also come charging back with the market's sharp reversal over the first two weeks of the new year -- gaining a healthy 21% year to date. Man in a suit facing a wall of white arrows pointing to the left and a bigger yellow arrow pointing to the right. More Image Source: Getty Images. So what The particularly noteworthy aspect of last month's downturn is the fact that Inovio -- and, really, all biotechs -- plummeted regardless of events on the ground. As proof, Inovio kicked off December with a solid clinical update: the start of the company's phase 2 cancer trial with big pharma partner AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN). Turning to the details, the two companies announced on Dec. 4 that the first patient had been dosed in a mid-stage trial designed to assess Astra's MEDI0457 (formerly INO-3112 prior to the licensing deal) in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab across a diverse array of cancers associated with the human papilloma virus. This upbeat clinical update failed to save Inovio's stock from the ravages of the moody market, however. Now what Inovio's stock appears set to continue its recent rally in the days and weeks ahead. After all, this clinical-stage biotech sports a promising late-stage cervical dysplasia vaccine known as VGX-3100, which has the potential to generate hundreds of millions in sales over the next decade, according to EvaluatePharma. That said, Inovio's stock will probably remain at the mercy of the broader market until the company finally transforms into a commercial-stage operation and begins to generate profits on a consistent basis. Shareholders should, therefore, expect a good deal of volatility going forward, despite the monstrous commercial opportunity offered by the company's portfolio of high-value vaccine candidates. More From The Motley Fool George Budwell owns shares of AstraZeneca. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: INO) lost a quarter of its value last month. But the company's shares have since rallied 21% year to date. The company has a promising late-stage cervical dysplasia vaccine known as VGX-3100.

ctrlsum

https://news.yahoo.com/inovio-pharmaceuticals-stock-keep-bounding-152200911.html

Is Jeff Bezos still seeing his alleged mistress, Lauren Sanchez?

Jeff Bezos and his alleged mistress, Lauren Sanchez, are still together, despite facing a worldwide scandal last week when their reported affair was revealed to the public. Following the announcement that Bezos and his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie, were getting a divorce, tabloids reported that Bezos had been seeing one another for about nine months. After being reached for comment on a story about his affair, the Amazon CEO reportedly informed his wife that he had been unfaithful. SEE ALSO: 5 things to know about Lauren Sanchez "Jeff had told MacKenzie about Lauren and that the story was going to be coming out, so she was prepared," a source told Page Six. "They're focusing on the kids and their welfare right now. Jeff spent all week at home with the family. They're still living together at the moment." The former couple shares four children. Last week, Page Six also reported that Sanchez, who getting a divorce from her agent husband Patrick Whitesell, had shown a friend dirty text messages that she had reportedly exchanged with Bezos throughout their affair. The alleged texts apparently include "erotic photos" sent by both parties and were obtained by the National Enquirer. Despite the embarrassing texts leaking because of Sanchez, not only is the couple still together, but Bezos also "doesn't blame" her. Sources told Page Six that they consider themselves to be in love with one another. SEE ALSO: Jeff Bezos caught with mistress at the Golden Globes, days before divorce announcement For his part, Whitesell was apparently "blindsided" by his wife's affair with Bezos, who is worth a reported $140 billion. "Patrick was totally blindsided," a source told Us Weekly. "He had no idea how serious the affair was or how long it was going on for. Patrick had no idea she was having an affair with Jeff."

Jeff Bezos and his alleged mistress, Lauren Sanchez, are still together.

pegasus

https://news.yahoo.com/jeff-bezos-still-seeing-alleged-152000390.html

Is Jeff Bezos still seeing his alleged mistress, Lauren Sanchez?

Jeff Bezos and his alleged mistress, Lauren Sanchez, are still together, despite facing a worldwide scandal last week when their reported affair was revealed to the public. Following the announcement that Bezos and his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie, were getting a divorce, tabloids reported that Bezos had been seeing one another for about nine months. After being reached for comment on a story about his affair, the Amazon CEO reportedly informed his wife that he had been unfaithful. SEE ALSO: 5 things to know about Lauren Sanchez "Jeff had told MacKenzie about Lauren and that the story was going to be coming out, so she was prepared," a source told Page Six. "They're focusing on the kids and their welfare right now. Jeff spent all week at home with the family. They're still living together at the moment." The former couple shares four children. Last week, Page Six also reported that Sanchez, who getting a divorce from her agent husband Patrick Whitesell, had shown a friend dirty text messages that she had reportedly exchanged with Bezos throughout their affair. The alleged texts apparently include "erotic photos" sent by both parties and were obtained by the National Enquirer. Despite the embarrassing texts leaking because of Sanchez, not only is the couple still together, but Bezos also "doesn't blame" her. Sources told Page Six that they consider themselves to be in love with one another. SEE ALSO: Jeff Bezos caught with mistress at the Golden Globes, days before divorce announcement For his part, Whitesell was apparently "blindsided" by his wife's affair with Bezos, who is worth a reported $140 billion. "Patrick was totally blindsided," a source told Us Weekly. "He had no idea how serious the affair was or how long it was going on for. Patrick had no idea she was having an affair with Jeff."

Jeff Bezos and his alleged mistress, Lauren Sanchez, are still together, despite facing a worldwide scandal last week. Bezos reportedly told his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie, that he had been unfaithful.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/jeff-bezos-still-seeing-alleged-152000390.html

Is Jeff Bezos still seeing his alleged mistress, Lauren Sanchez?

Jeff Bezos and his alleged mistress, Lauren Sanchez, are still together, despite facing a worldwide scandal last week when their reported affair was revealed to the public. Following the announcement that Bezos and his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie, were getting a divorce, tabloids reported that Bezos had been seeing one another for about nine months. After being reached for comment on a story about his affair, the Amazon CEO reportedly informed his wife that he had been unfaithful. SEE ALSO: 5 things to know about Lauren Sanchez "Jeff had told MacKenzie about Lauren and that the story was going to be coming out, so she was prepared," a source told Page Six. "They're focusing on the kids and their welfare right now. Jeff spent all week at home with the family. They're still living together at the moment." The former couple shares four children. Last week, Page Six also reported that Sanchez, who getting a divorce from her agent husband Patrick Whitesell, had shown a friend dirty text messages that she had reportedly exchanged with Bezos throughout their affair. The alleged texts apparently include "erotic photos" sent by both parties and were obtained by the National Enquirer. Despite the embarrassing texts leaking because of Sanchez, not only is the couple still together, but Bezos also "doesn't blame" her. Sources told Page Six that they consider themselves to be in love with one another. SEE ALSO: Jeff Bezos caught with mistress at the Golden Globes, days before divorce announcement For his part, Whitesell was apparently "blindsided" by his wife's affair with Bezos, who is worth a reported $140 billion. "Patrick was totally blindsided," a source told Us Weekly. "He had no idea how serious the affair was or how long it was going on for. Patrick had no idea she was having an affair with Jeff."

Jeff Bezos and his alleged mistress, Lauren Sanchez, are still together, despite facing a worldwide scandal last week. Last week, tabloids reported that Bezos had been seeing one another for about nine months. Despite the embarrassing texts leaking because of Sanchez, not only is the couple still together but Bezos also "doesn't blame" her.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/jeff-bezos-still-seeing-alleged-152000390.html

Are Data Breaches Becoming More Common?

originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Marc Groman, Former Senior Advisor for Privacy in the White House, co-host of Their Own Devices podcast, on Quora: Although we are reading about data breaches more frequently in the news, it may be that data breaches are not actually becoming more common. What has changed are the laws across the US and world that now require companies to report data breaches. Before such laws were in place, companies were under no obligation to notify individuals, the public, or the government when they experienced a data breach. So what has changed is that announcing data breaches has become more common. There are many reasons for this. Unfortunately, many companies still do not invest adequate resources in data security and cyber security. In other cases, they invest money but implement cookie cutter data security programs that dont actually address the most significant risks. Moreover, companies that produce software and hardware routinely put products on the market that have bugs and vulnerabilities sometimes these are known, other times not. I would like to see companies wait to put products on the market until additional testing has ruled out potential vulnerabilities, but there are often reasons to move forward. Thus we often read about updates to software to fix newly discovered bugs. Another reality is that many data breaches are caused by human error or negligence. This includes the failure to properly configure a server or other hardware, the failure to update software on a timely basis, using administrative passwords, and failing to use strong passwords or two-factor authentication. In addition, many compromises are caused by people clicking on links in phishing emails or in pop ups. Some of the largest and most serious data breaches were caused by mistakes and entirely avoidable. I will also note that there is no such thing as perfect security. In addition, data security is everyones responsibility and just one small mistake by one employee can cause huge problems. The threats and risks are constantly evolving and hackers from organized crime or foreign governments are getting more and more sophisticated. 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:

What has changed is that announcing data breaches has become more common. Many companies still do not invest adequate resources in data security and cyber security.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/14/are-data-breaches-becoming-more-common/

Are Data Breaches Becoming More Common?

originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Marc Groman, Former Senior Advisor for Privacy in the White House, co-host of Their Own Devices podcast, on Quora: Although we are reading about data breaches more frequently in the news, it may be that data breaches are not actually becoming more common. What has changed are the laws across the US and world that now require companies to report data breaches. Before such laws were in place, companies were under no obligation to notify individuals, the public, or the government when they experienced a data breach. So what has changed is that announcing data breaches has become more common. There are many reasons for this. Unfortunately, many companies still do not invest adequate resources in data security and cyber security. In other cases, they invest money but implement cookie cutter data security programs that dont actually address the most significant risks. Moreover, companies that produce software and hardware routinely put products on the market that have bugs and vulnerabilities sometimes these are known, other times not. I would like to see companies wait to put products on the market until additional testing has ruled out potential vulnerabilities, but there are often reasons to move forward. Thus we often read about updates to software to fix newly discovered bugs. Another reality is that many data breaches are caused by human error or negligence. This includes the failure to properly configure a server or other hardware, the failure to update software on a timely basis, using administrative passwords, and failing to use strong passwords or two-factor authentication. In addition, many compromises are caused by people clicking on links in phishing emails or in pop ups. Some of the largest and most serious data breaches were caused by mistakes and entirely avoidable. I will also note that there is no such thing as perfect security. In addition, data security is everyones responsibility and just one small mistake by one employee can cause huge problems. The threats and risks are constantly evolving and hackers from organized crime or foreign governments are getting more and more sophisticated. 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:

It may be that data breaches are not actually becoming more common. The laws across the US and world that now require companies to report data breaches has become more common, says Marc Groman, former Senior Advisor for Privacy in the White House.

ctrlsum

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/14/are-data-breaches-becoming-more-common/

Are Data Breaches Becoming More Common?

originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Marc Groman, Former Senior Advisor for Privacy in the White House, co-host of Their Own Devices podcast, on Quora: Although we are reading about data breaches more frequently in the news, it may be that data breaches are not actually becoming more common. What has changed are the laws across the US and world that now require companies to report data breaches. Before such laws were in place, companies were under no obligation to notify individuals, the public, or the government when they experienced a data breach. So what has changed is that announcing data breaches has become more common. There are many reasons for this. Unfortunately, many companies still do not invest adequate resources in data security and cyber security. In other cases, they invest money but implement cookie cutter data security programs that dont actually address the most significant risks. Moreover, companies that produce software and hardware routinely put products on the market that have bugs and vulnerabilities sometimes these are known, other times not. I would like to see companies wait to put products on the market until additional testing has ruled out potential vulnerabilities, but there are often reasons to move forward. Thus we often read about updates to software to fix newly discovered bugs. Another reality is that many data breaches are caused by human error or negligence. This includes the failure to properly configure a server or other hardware, the failure to update software on a timely basis, using administrative passwords, and failing to use strong passwords or two-factor authentication. In addition, many compromises are caused by people clicking on links in phishing emails or in pop ups. Some of the largest and most serious data breaches were caused by mistakes and entirely avoidable. I will also note that there is no such thing as perfect security. In addition, data security is everyones responsibility and just one small mistake by one employee can cause huge problems. The threats and risks are constantly evolving and hackers from organized crime or foreign governments are getting more and more sophisticated. 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:

What has changed is that announcing data breaches has become more common, says Marc Groman. Many companies still do not invest adequate resources in data security and cyber security, he says. Many data breaches are caused by human error or negligence, Groman says.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/14/are-data-breaches-becoming-more-common/

What Do College Freshmen Struggle With Most?

originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by David Reitman, board-certified adolescent medicine specialist, co-host of Their Own Devices podcast, on Quora: I work with a ton of freshmen in college and I talk about these adjustment issues with LOTS of them. Moving out of the home and starting college is frequently the most difficult and dramatic life change that they have experienced and the degree to which students can struggle cannot be understated. Many students get homesick, particularly half-way into the first semester. They miss their high school friends and family and they have a hard time understanding why they are not as close with their new college peers as they were with their friends from high school and middle school. Social media also presents challenges because they will frequently see their friends posting pictures from other universities and they wonder why they arent having as much trouble adjusting (of course, they dont realize that their friends are only posting the good things). Sleep deprivation frequently becomes a challenge and can exacerbate anxiety, depression or even just plain homesickness. Many students have their first experimentation with alcohol, marijuana and even sex/relationships during their freshman year of college and this can all present challenges to their overall sense of self-worth and adjustment. Its important that parents and friends check in on their college freshmen often. Remind them that this is a hard adjustment and that almost EVERYONE has issues with the adjustment from time to time. Its a normal life stage. But, if the student really is struggling, they should be encouraged to speak with someone in the university counseling center, a residence hall director, etc. who can help support the student if necessary. 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:

Many students get homesick, particularly half-way into the first semester.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/14/what-do-college-freshmen-struggle-with-most/

What Do College Freshmen Struggle With Most?

originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by David Reitman, board-certified adolescent medicine specialist, co-host of Their Own Devices podcast, on Quora: I work with a ton of freshmen in college and I talk about these adjustment issues with LOTS of them. Moving out of the home and starting college is frequently the most difficult and dramatic life change that they have experienced and the degree to which students can struggle cannot be understated. Many students get homesick, particularly half-way into the first semester. They miss their high school friends and family and they have a hard time understanding why they are not as close with their new college peers as they were with their friends from high school and middle school. Social media also presents challenges because they will frequently see their friends posting pictures from other universities and they wonder why they arent having as much trouble adjusting (of course, they dont realize that their friends are only posting the good things). Sleep deprivation frequently becomes a challenge and can exacerbate anxiety, depression or even just plain homesickness. Many students have their first experimentation with alcohol, marijuana and even sex/relationships during their freshman year of college and this can all present challenges to their overall sense of self-worth and adjustment. Its important that parents and friends check in on their college freshmen often. Remind them that this is a hard adjustment and that almost EVERYONE has issues with the adjustment from time to time. Its a normal life stage. But, if the student really is struggling, they should be encouraged to speak with someone in the university counseling center, a residence hall director, etc. who can help support the student if necessary. 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:

Moved out of the home and starting college is frequently the most difficult and dramatic life change that students have experienced. Many students get homesick, particularly half-way into the first semester.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/14/what-do-college-freshmen-struggle-with-most/

What Do College Freshmen Struggle With Most?

originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by David Reitman, board-certified adolescent medicine specialist, co-host of Their Own Devices podcast, on Quora: I work with a ton of freshmen in college and I talk about these adjustment issues with LOTS of them. Moving out of the home and starting college is frequently the most difficult and dramatic life change that they have experienced and the degree to which students can struggle cannot be understated. Many students get homesick, particularly half-way into the first semester. They miss their high school friends and family and they have a hard time understanding why they are not as close with their new college peers as they were with their friends from high school and middle school. Social media also presents challenges because they will frequently see their friends posting pictures from other universities and they wonder why they arent having as much trouble adjusting (of course, they dont realize that their friends are only posting the good things). Sleep deprivation frequently becomes a challenge and can exacerbate anxiety, depression or even just plain homesickness. Many students have their first experimentation with alcohol, marijuana and even sex/relationships during their freshman year of college and this can all present challenges to their overall sense of self-worth and adjustment. Its important that parents and friends check in on their college freshmen often. Remind them that this is a hard adjustment and that almost EVERYONE has issues with the adjustment from time to time. Its a normal life stage. But, if the student really is struggling, they should be encouraged to speak with someone in the university counseling center, a residence hall director, etc. who can help support the student if necessary. 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:

Moved out of the home and starting college is frequently the most difficult and dramatic life change that students have experienced. Many students get homesick, particularly half-way into the first semester. Many students have their first experimentation with alcohol, marijuana and even sex/relationships during their freshman year of college.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/14/what-do-college-freshmen-struggle-with-most/

Who is Montrealer David Lametti, Canada's new justice minister?

David Lamettis interest in politics and the law have been apparent constants over the course of a life that in 2015 saw him elected as a Liberal member of Parliament and named a professor of law at McGill University. Those two mainstays dovetailed dramatically on Monday morning, when 56-year-old Lametti was named federal justice minister in the Trudeau government during a cabinet shuffle that saw incumbent Jody-Wilson Raybould moved to Veterans Affairs. First elected to the riding of LaSalle-mard-Verdun in 2015, Lamettis legal training began at McGill, where he graduated with his first common and civil law degrees in 1989. Lametti worked as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Peter Cory and attended Yale Law School, earning his masters degree in law in 1991 before obtaining a doctorate at Oxford University with a thesis titled Ethical Aspects of the Theory and Practice of Private Property. An internationally recognized expert in property and intellectual property, Lamettis first appointment once in government saw him named parliamentary secretary, International Trade, a post he held from December 2015 to January 2017. Prior to Mondays promotion, Lametti was parliamentary secretary to the minister of innovation, science and economic development. Lamettis interests also include sports. While at Oxford he served as co-captain of the universitys hockey team (along with Mark Carney, who would go on to become governor of the Bank of Canada before assuming the same role with the Bank of England). He also coached youth league soccer in Montreal. The author of numerous publications, Lametti has taught or lectured internationally in French, English and Italian. He has been a professor of law at McGill since 2015 after serving from 2010 to 2012 as the director of its Centre for Intellectual Property Policy, which he co-founded. Born in Ontario, Lamettis interest in politics and the federal Liberals began in his teenage years, when he first worked for the party as a volunteer during the 1979 general election. He later went on to co-found the youth wing of the federal Liberal Party in southern Ontario.

Montrealer David Lametti was named federal justice minister on Monday. Lametti is an internationally recognized expert in property and intellectual property. He has been a professor of law at McGill since 2015.

ctrlsum

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/who-is-montrealer-david-lametti-canadas-new-justice-minister

Who is Montrealer David Lametti, Canada's new justice minister?

David Lamettis interest in politics and the law have been apparent constants over the course of a life that in 2015 saw him elected as a Liberal member of Parliament and named a professor of law at McGill University. Those two mainstays dovetailed dramatically on Monday morning, when 56-year-old Lametti was named federal justice minister in the Trudeau government during a cabinet shuffle that saw incumbent Jody-Wilson Raybould moved to Veterans Affairs. First elected to the riding of LaSalle-mard-Verdun in 2015, Lamettis legal training began at McGill, where he graduated with his first common and civil law degrees in 1989. Lametti worked as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Peter Cory and attended Yale Law School, earning his masters degree in law in 1991 before obtaining a doctorate at Oxford University with a thesis titled Ethical Aspects of the Theory and Practice of Private Property. An internationally recognized expert in property and intellectual property, Lamettis first appointment once in government saw him named parliamentary secretary, International Trade, a post he held from December 2015 to January 2017. Prior to Mondays promotion, Lametti was parliamentary secretary to the minister of innovation, science and economic development. Lamettis interests also include sports. While at Oxford he served as co-captain of the universitys hockey team (along with Mark Carney, who would go on to become governor of the Bank of Canada before assuming the same role with the Bank of England). He also coached youth league soccer in Montreal. The author of numerous publications, Lametti has taught or lectured internationally in French, English and Italian. He has been a professor of law at McGill since 2015 after serving from 2010 to 2012 as the director of its Centre for Intellectual Property Policy, which he co-founded. Born in Ontario, Lamettis interest in politics and the federal Liberals began in his teenage years, when he first worked for the party as a volunteer during the 1979 general election. He later went on to co-found the youth wing of the federal Liberal Party in southern Ontario.

David Lametti was named federal justice minister in the Trudeau government on Monday. Lametti is an internationally recognized expert in property and intellectual property. He has been a professor of law at McGill since 2015 and served as parliamentary secretary, International Trade, from December 2015 to January 2017.

ctrlsum

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/who-is-montrealer-david-lametti-canadas-new-justice-minister

Whats So Controversial About a Medieval Nuns Teeth?

When an academic makes a research breakthrough, two things can happen in the public consciousness: nothing, or something. Its hard to know which is worse. Lets say youre a physicist who discovers a particle that isnt affected by gravity. If nobody outside the physics world cares about your discovery, you sigh, shake your head, get back to the lab. If your story does hit the newspapers, on the other hand, youll have to adjust to a different kind of outrage: Your scrupulous research will be repurposed into some bad headline (GRAVITY DISPROVEN) designed to yank eyeballs, extract clicks, and generally trample over your precious academic principles. Last week, the second thing happened. In a new article for Science Advances, Anita Radini, an archaeologist at Britains University of York, published evidence showing the presence of lapis lazulian ancient, rare, lovely blue stone pigmenton the teeth of a medieval German nun. The nuns skeleton, named B78, dates from the 11th or early 12th century and was found in an unmarked grave in the German town of Dalheim. By working with tartar experts, microscopists, and medieval historians, Radini was able to conclude that this woman must have been a painter or scribe (or both) who illuminated manuscripts. Images of B78s teeth. Christina Warinner, Institute for Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zrich. She must also have been a very good one, since lapis lazuli was an extremely expensive pigment only mined in Afghanistan. It was reserved for the hands of high-end professionals. The pigment probably got into her mouth directly from the paintbrush, over the course of many years of work. The story is delightful, all by itself. Theres an element of chance to the findingsnobody was looking for lapis lazuli on these teethwhich lends them the charm of serendipity. The confluence of beautiful medieval art and chemistry has a poetry all of its own.

An archaeologist published evidence showing the presence of lapis lazuli on a medieval German nun's teeth.

ctrlsum

https://newrepublic.com/article/152887/whats-controversial-medieval-nuns-teeth

Whats So Controversial About a Medieval Nuns Teeth?

When an academic makes a research breakthrough, two things can happen in the public consciousness: nothing, or something. Its hard to know which is worse. Lets say youre a physicist who discovers a particle that isnt affected by gravity. If nobody outside the physics world cares about your discovery, you sigh, shake your head, get back to the lab. If your story does hit the newspapers, on the other hand, youll have to adjust to a different kind of outrage: Your scrupulous research will be repurposed into some bad headline (GRAVITY DISPROVEN) designed to yank eyeballs, extract clicks, and generally trample over your precious academic principles. Last week, the second thing happened. In a new article for Science Advances, Anita Radini, an archaeologist at Britains University of York, published evidence showing the presence of lapis lazulian ancient, rare, lovely blue stone pigmenton the teeth of a medieval German nun. The nuns skeleton, named B78, dates from the 11th or early 12th century and was found in an unmarked grave in the German town of Dalheim. By working with tartar experts, microscopists, and medieval historians, Radini was able to conclude that this woman must have been a painter or scribe (or both) who illuminated manuscripts. Images of B78s teeth. Christina Warinner, Institute for Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zrich. She must also have been a very good one, since lapis lazuli was an extremely expensive pigment only mined in Afghanistan. It was reserved for the hands of high-end professionals. The pigment probably got into her mouth directly from the paintbrush, over the course of many years of work. The story is delightful, all by itself. Theres an element of chance to the findingsnobody was looking for lapis lazuli on these teethwhich lends them the charm of serendipity. The confluence of beautiful medieval art and chemistry has a poetry all of its own.

An archaeologist published evidence showing the presence of lapis lazuli, an ancient, rare, lovely blue stone pigment, on the teeth of a medieval German nun.

pegasus

https://newrepublic.com/article/152887/whats-controversial-medieval-nuns-teeth

Whats So Controversial About a Medieval Nuns Teeth?

When an academic makes a research breakthrough, two things can happen in the public consciousness: nothing, or something. Its hard to know which is worse. Lets say youre a physicist who discovers a particle that isnt affected by gravity. If nobody outside the physics world cares about your discovery, you sigh, shake your head, get back to the lab. If your story does hit the newspapers, on the other hand, youll have to adjust to a different kind of outrage: Your scrupulous research will be repurposed into some bad headline (GRAVITY DISPROVEN) designed to yank eyeballs, extract clicks, and generally trample over your precious academic principles. Last week, the second thing happened. In a new article for Science Advances, Anita Radini, an archaeologist at Britains University of York, published evidence showing the presence of lapis lazulian ancient, rare, lovely blue stone pigmenton the teeth of a medieval German nun. The nuns skeleton, named B78, dates from the 11th or early 12th century and was found in an unmarked grave in the German town of Dalheim. By working with tartar experts, microscopists, and medieval historians, Radini was able to conclude that this woman must have been a painter or scribe (or both) who illuminated manuscripts. Images of B78s teeth. Christina Warinner, Institute for Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zrich. She must also have been a very good one, since lapis lazuli was an extremely expensive pigment only mined in Afghanistan. It was reserved for the hands of high-end professionals. The pigment probably got into her mouth directly from the paintbrush, over the course of many years of work. The story is delightful, all by itself. Theres an element of chance to the findingsnobody was looking for lapis lazuli on these teethwhich lends them the charm of serendipity. The confluence of beautiful medieval art and chemistry has a poetry all of its own.

An archaeologist published evidence showing the presence of lapis lazuli on the teeth of a medieval German nun. The pigment probably got into her mouth directly from the paintbrush, over the course of many years of work. The story is delightful, all by itself, and lends them the charm of serendipity.

ctrlsum

https://newrepublic.com/article/152887/whats-controversial-medieval-nuns-teeth

Who is Shaun Ferguson, NOPDs next police chief?

New Orleans Police Department Commander Shaun Ferguson was named the citys new police superintendent on Monday (Jan. 14) by Mayor LaToya Cantrell. He will be sworn in Friday. Ferguson, 46, who had been seen as a rising star in NOPD by some observers, has served as a district commander at NOPD since 2014. Commanders, 16 of which the NOPD superintendent appoints at will, fall administratively just behind the three assistant superintendents and the superintendent. Ferguson currently serves as commander of the Education and Training Division, which oversees the police academy. He has held the position for the past six months. Prior to overseeing the academy, Ferguson served for about three years as commander of NOPDs 2nd District before being moved to the academy assignment in June 2018. The 2nd District comprises the Carrollton, Freret, Leonidas neighborhoods and Uptown, all within Cantrells former council district. The 2nd District also includes the mayors neighborhood of Broadmoor. He has a reputation for integrity and being a crime fighter, said Peter Scharf, a criminologist at LSU School of Public Health, who spoke about Ferguson last week in an interview about the then-prospective candidate. Fergusons first commander assignment was in the 4th District, which polices Algiers and has often been the starting ground for lieutenants who have been promoted to commander. He was promoted to that job in March 2014, near the end of former superintendent Ronal Serpas tenure. He worked for a time as a supervisor in the homicide division. Shaun Ferguson named new NOPD chief by Mayor LaToya Cantrell Ferguson was hired by NOPD in 1995, NOPD records show. He has a bachelors degree in business administration from Southern University of New Orleans, NOPD said in a 2015 news release about his promotion to 2nd District commander. NOPD said then he was working toward a masters degree, though its unclear if hes yet obtained it. Ferguson graduated from O. Perry Walker High School in Algiers in 1990, according to his personal history record. In the roughly five years between graduating high school and joining the force, he worked as a private security guard and as a maintenance assistant for the Army Corps of Engineers. The summer after graduating high school, he also worked as a deputy for the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office, guarding inmates at the jail. His other jobs shortly after high school included a salesman at Maison Blanche and a mail clerk assistant at Conoco Oil Co. in Algiers. Scharf said Ferguson was mentored by current NOPD Deputy Chief of Operations Paul Noel, an advocate of data-and technology-driven policing whos seen as No. 2 in rank at the department. Its unclear if Noel will remain in that role. Noel and Ferguson worked together in the 2nd District when Noel was the commander there. They made a very powerful team in the 2nd District, Scharf said. They had an open-door policy, very community focused, excellent community policing skills." Jacob Lundy, a former NOPD officer who resigned in 2017 after 10 years and works as a criminal justice consultant, worked under Ferguson in the 2nd District when he joined the department. Hes just a really sincere person. Across the board, people respect him, Lundy said. Lundy described Fergusons management style as valuing the employees under his charge, and that makes people work so much harder, he said. InspireNOLA charter school network in November honored Ferguson with a community service award. Ferguson, along with NOPD 4th District Commander Ceasar Ruffin, appeared alongside Cantrell in August to speak at a peace rally in Eleanor McMain Secondarys gym, to honor slain 15-year-old Chance Smith, a freshman at the school, who was fatally shot by another teen in Algiers on Aug. 18. Ferguson told McMain students at the rally that by spearheading the event and planning a march to City Hall, the they demonstrated their leadership to the community. You just let the city know, no we will not let this unfortunate situation dictate who we are, Ferguson said at the time.

Shaun Ferguson, 46, has served as a district commander at NOPD since 2014. He currently serves as commander of the Education and Training Division, which oversees the police academy. Ferguson will be sworn in Friday.

bart

https://www.nola.com/politics/2019/01/who-is-shaun-ferguson-nopds-next-police-chief.html

Who is Shaun Ferguson, NOPDs next police chief?

New Orleans Police Department Commander Shaun Ferguson was named the citys new police superintendent on Monday (Jan. 14) by Mayor LaToya Cantrell. He will be sworn in Friday. Ferguson, 46, who had been seen as a rising star in NOPD by some observers, has served as a district commander at NOPD since 2014. Commanders, 16 of which the NOPD superintendent appoints at will, fall administratively just behind the three assistant superintendents and the superintendent. Ferguson currently serves as commander of the Education and Training Division, which oversees the police academy. He has held the position for the past six months. Prior to overseeing the academy, Ferguson served for about three years as commander of NOPDs 2nd District before being moved to the academy assignment in June 2018. The 2nd District comprises the Carrollton, Freret, Leonidas neighborhoods and Uptown, all within Cantrells former council district. The 2nd District also includes the mayors neighborhood of Broadmoor. He has a reputation for integrity and being a crime fighter, said Peter Scharf, a criminologist at LSU School of Public Health, who spoke about Ferguson last week in an interview about the then-prospective candidate. Fergusons first commander assignment was in the 4th District, which polices Algiers and has often been the starting ground for lieutenants who have been promoted to commander. He was promoted to that job in March 2014, near the end of former superintendent Ronal Serpas tenure. He worked for a time as a supervisor in the homicide division. Shaun Ferguson named new NOPD chief by Mayor LaToya Cantrell Ferguson was hired by NOPD in 1995, NOPD records show. He has a bachelors degree in business administration from Southern University of New Orleans, NOPD said in a 2015 news release about his promotion to 2nd District commander. NOPD said then he was working toward a masters degree, though its unclear if hes yet obtained it. Ferguson graduated from O. Perry Walker High School in Algiers in 1990, according to his personal history record. In the roughly five years between graduating high school and joining the force, he worked as a private security guard and as a maintenance assistant for the Army Corps of Engineers. The summer after graduating high school, he also worked as a deputy for the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office, guarding inmates at the jail. His other jobs shortly after high school included a salesman at Maison Blanche and a mail clerk assistant at Conoco Oil Co. in Algiers. Scharf said Ferguson was mentored by current NOPD Deputy Chief of Operations Paul Noel, an advocate of data-and technology-driven policing whos seen as No. 2 in rank at the department. Its unclear if Noel will remain in that role. Noel and Ferguson worked together in the 2nd District when Noel was the commander there. They made a very powerful team in the 2nd District, Scharf said. They had an open-door policy, very community focused, excellent community policing skills." Jacob Lundy, a former NOPD officer who resigned in 2017 after 10 years and works as a criminal justice consultant, worked under Ferguson in the 2nd District when he joined the department. Hes just a really sincere person. Across the board, people respect him, Lundy said. Lundy described Fergusons management style as valuing the employees under his charge, and that makes people work so much harder, he said. InspireNOLA charter school network in November honored Ferguson with a community service award. Ferguson, along with NOPD 4th District Commander Ceasar Ruffin, appeared alongside Cantrell in August to speak at a peace rally in Eleanor McMain Secondarys gym, to honor slain 15-year-old Chance Smith, a freshman at the school, who was fatally shot by another teen in Algiers on Aug. 18. Ferguson told McMain students at the rally that by spearheading the event and planning a march to City Hall, the they demonstrated their leadership to the community. You just let the city know, no we will not let this unfortunate situation dictate who we are, Ferguson said at the time.

Shaun Ferguson, 46, has served as a district commander at NOPD since 2014. He currently serves as commander of the Education and Training Division, which oversees the police academy. Ferguson will be sworn in Friday, Mayor LaToya Cantrell says. He has a bachelors degree in business administration from Southern University.

bart

https://www.nola.com/politics/2019/01/who-is-shaun-ferguson-nopds-next-police-chief.html

Are Estimated Taxes Still Due Despite the Government Shutdown?

The IRS might be partially shut down, but you can't use that as an excuse for missing a tax payment. For millions of Americans, that means you still have to pay your final 2018 estimated tax payment by January 15, 2019. Our tax system operates on a "pay-as-you-go" basis, which means the IRS wants its cut of your income when you earn it. For employees, the government gets paid through tax withholding each time you get a paycheck. If you're self-employed, it's up to you to periodically pay the IRS by making estimated tax payments - they're generally due April 15, June 15, and September 15 of the tax year, and January 15 of the following year. Whether you make estimated tax payments or rely on withholding, you could be hit with a penalty if you don't pay enough tax throughout the year. The penalty doesn't apply if you owe less than $1,000 in tax. You can also avoid the penalty if your withholding or estimated tax payments equal at least 90% of your tax due for the current year, or 100% of the tax shown on your return for the prior year. Individuals use Form 1040-ES to calculate and pay estimated taxes. There are a number of ways to pay estimated taxes, including by check, cash, credit card, and debit card. There are many online payment options, too, such as the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). The various payment methods are described in the instructions for Form 1040-ES. Finally, don't forget about your state, whose tax collectors aren't affected by the federal government shutdown anyway. Unless you live in a state with no income tax, you probably owe estimated tax payments to your state, too. Due dates for state payments may or may not coincide with the federal dates, so be sure to check with the appropriate tax agency in your state. EDITOR'S PICKS Copyright 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors

For millions of Americans, you still have to pay your final 2018 estimated tax payment by January 15, 2019.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/estimated-taxes-still-due-despite-171333856.html

Are Estimated Taxes Still Due Despite the Government Shutdown?

The IRS might be partially shut down, but you can't use that as an excuse for missing a tax payment. For millions of Americans, that means you still have to pay your final 2018 estimated tax payment by January 15, 2019. Our tax system operates on a "pay-as-you-go" basis, which means the IRS wants its cut of your income when you earn it. For employees, the government gets paid through tax withholding each time you get a paycheck. If you're self-employed, it's up to you to periodically pay the IRS by making estimated tax payments - they're generally due April 15, June 15, and September 15 of the tax year, and January 15 of the following year. Whether you make estimated tax payments or rely on withholding, you could be hit with a penalty if you don't pay enough tax throughout the year. The penalty doesn't apply if you owe less than $1,000 in tax. You can also avoid the penalty if your withholding or estimated tax payments equal at least 90% of your tax due for the current year, or 100% of the tax shown on your return for the prior year. Individuals use Form 1040-ES to calculate and pay estimated taxes. There are a number of ways to pay estimated taxes, including by check, cash, credit card, and debit card. There are many online payment options, too, such as the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). The various payment methods are described in the instructions for Form 1040-ES. Finally, don't forget about your state, whose tax collectors aren't affected by the federal government shutdown anyway. Unless you live in a state with no income tax, you probably owe estimated tax payments to your state, too. Due dates for state payments may or may not coincide with the federal dates, so be sure to check with the appropriate tax agency in your state. EDITOR'S PICKS Copyright 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors

The IRS might be partially shut down, but you can't use that as an excuse for missing a tax payment. For millions of Americans, that means you still have to pay your final 2018 estimated tax payment by January 15, 2019.

pegasus

https://news.yahoo.com/estimated-taxes-still-due-despite-171333856.html

Are Estimated Taxes Still Due Despite the Government Shutdown?

The IRS might be partially shut down, but you can't use that as an excuse for missing a tax payment. For millions of Americans, that means you still have to pay your final 2018 estimated tax payment by January 15, 2019. Our tax system operates on a "pay-as-you-go" basis, which means the IRS wants its cut of your income when you earn it. For employees, the government gets paid through tax withholding each time you get a paycheck. If you're self-employed, it's up to you to periodically pay the IRS by making estimated tax payments - they're generally due April 15, June 15, and September 15 of the tax year, and January 15 of the following year. Whether you make estimated tax payments or rely on withholding, you could be hit with a penalty if you don't pay enough tax throughout the year. The penalty doesn't apply if you owe less than $1,000 in tax. You can also avoid the penalty if your withholding or estimated tax payments equal at least 90% of your tax due for the current year, or 100% of the tax shown on your return for the prior year. Individuals use Form 1040-ES to calculate and pay estimated taxes. There are a number of ways to pay estimated taxes, including by check, cash, credit card, and debit card. There are many online payment options, too, such as the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). The various payment methods are described in the instructions for Form 1040-ES. Finally, don't forget about your state, whose tax collectors aren't affected by the federal government shutdown anyway. Unless you live in a state with no income tax, you probably owe estimated tax payments to your state, too. Due dates for state payments may or may not coincide with the federal dates, so be sure to check with the appropriate tax agency in your state. EDITOR'S PICKS Copyright 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors

For millions of Americans, you still have to pay your final 2018 estimated tax payment by January 15, 2019. Our tax system operates on a "pay-as-you-go" basis, which means the IRS wants its cut of your income when you earn it. For employees, the government gets paid through tax withholding each time you get a paycheck.

bart

https://news.yahoo.com/estimated-taxes-still-due-despite-171333856.html

Could Marcus Mariota and Mark Helfrich reunite in Tennessee?

Marcus Mariota and Mark Helfrich took the Oregon Ducks to the greatest season in program history. Since then, the two have gone their separate ways in the NFL. Mariota is the star quarterback for the Tennessee Titans and Helfrich is the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. However, the two could reunite in Tennessee. The Titans are looking for a new offensive coordinator and Helfrich is being mentioned as a potential candidate for the position. There are the obvious options such as Mark Helfrich and John DeFilippo to replace Matt LaFleur as #Titans OC, then there's a candidate that hasn't been mentioned but is a perfect fit. https://t.co/PEu3GPkW9w TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) January 10, 2019 The Titans previous coordinator, Matt LaFleur, was named head coach of the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday. LeFleur was in the position for the 2018. Helfrich has been mentioned along with current Titans quarterbacks coach Pat OHara and former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. The Titans could contact former Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak, who was expected to become the offensive coordinator with the Broncos, but reportedly will not be joining the Broncos. While Helfrich is the offensive coordinator with the Bears, head coach Matt Nagy calls the plays. Helfrich worked with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky during his first season in the position, helping the quarterback develop and improve. Trubisky threw 24 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions in 2018 after throwing just seven scoring passes and seven interceptions in 2017. Titans general manager Jon Robinson said he and head coach Mike Vrabel will take their time making a decision. Were probably going to be a little bit more deliberate in our approach here, not rush into anything, take a lot of things into consideration as we make a decision for whats best for our team," Robinson told reporters last week. Playing under Helfrich, Mariota set Ducks program single-season records with 4,454 passing yards and 42 touchdowns along with just four interceptions while leading the Ducks to the national championship game during the 2014 season. Mariota was the Heisman Trophy in 2014 and was the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL draft. When the Titans do find their next offensive coordinator, it will be Mariotas fifth coordinator going into his fifth season. Robinson said he would like to find a coordinator who can provide some continuity. It is always challenging when you are talking about new terminology, and concepts. I kind of liken it to learning a foreign language, and he is on his fifth language now, Robinson told reporters. But well do our best to try and help the team and keep a lot of that the same." -- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold

Marcus Mariota and Mark Helfrich took the Oregon Ducks to the greatest season in program history. Helfrich is the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. The Tennessee Titans are looking for a new offensive coordinator.

pegasus

https://www.oregonlive.com/nfl/2019/01/could-marcus-mariota-and-mark-helfrich-reunite-in-tennessee.html

Could Marcus Mariota and Mark Helfrich reunite in Tennessee?

Marcus Mariota and Mark Helfrich took the Oregon Ducks to the greatest season in program history. Since then, the two have gone their separate ways in the NFL. Mariota is the star quarterback for the Tennessee Titans and Helfrich is the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. However, the two could reunite in Tennessee. The Titans are looking for a new offensive coordinator and Helfrich is being mentioned as a potential candidate for the position. There are the obvious options such as Mark Helfrich and John DeFilippo to replace Matt LaFleur as #Titans OC, then there's a candidate that hasn't been mentioned but is a perfect fit. https://t.co/PEu3GPkW9w TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) January 10, 2019 The Titans previous coordinator, Matt LaFleur, was named head coach of the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday. LeFleur was in the position for the 2018. Helfrich has been mentioned along with current Titans quarterbacks coach Pat OHara and former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. The Titans could contact former Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak, who was expected to become the offensive coordinator with the Broncos, but reportedly will not be joining the Broncos. While Helfrich is the offensive coordinator with the Bears, head coach Matt Nagy calls the plays. Helfrich worked with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky during his first season in the position, helping the quarterback develop and improve. Trubisky threw 24 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions in 2018 after throwing just seven scoring passes and seven interceptions in 2017. Titans general manager Jon Robinson said he and head coach Mike Vrabel will take their time making a decision. Were probably going to be a little bit more deliberate in our approach here, not rush into anything, take a lot of things into consideration as we make a decision for whats best for our team," Robinson told reporters last week. Playing under Helfrich, Mariota set Ducks program single-season records with 4,454 passing yards and 42 touchdowns along with just four interceptions while leading the Ducks to the national championship game during the 2014 season. Mariota was the Heisman Trophy in 2014 and was the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL draft. When the Titans do find their next offensive coordinator, it will be Mariotas fifth coordinator going into his fifth season. Robinson said he would like to find a coordinator who can provide some continuity. It is always challenging when you are talking about new terminology, and concepts. I kind of liken it to learning a foreign language, and he is on his fifth language now, Robinson told reporters. But well do our best to try and help the team and keep a lot of that the same." -- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold

Marcus Mariota and Mark Helfrich took the Oregon Ducks to the greatest season in program history. Helfrich is the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. The Tennessee Titans are looking for a new offensive coordinator. The Titans previous coordinator, Matt LaFleur, was named head coach of the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday.

pegasus

https://www.oregonlive.com/nfl/2019/01/could-marcus-mariota-and-mark-helfrich-reunite-in-tennessee.html

What To Expect From CSX Corporation's Q4 Results?

CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) is set to release its Q4 financial performance on January 16, and we expect the company to post steady growth in all segments. The company saw a record low operating ratio of 58.7% in the previous quarter, as it effectively managed its costs. We expect this trend to continue in Q4 as well, and aid the bottom line. Overall, we estimate the company to post $3.60 adjusted EPS for the full year 2018. We have created an interactive dashboard analysis ~ What Is The Outlook For CSX Corporation ~ on the companys expected performance for the full year 2018 and 2019. You can adjust the revenue and margin drivers to see the impact on the companys earnings, and price estimate. Below we discuss the key segments which could see growth in Q4. Expect Coal Freight To See Mid-Single Digit Growth For The Full Year We expect CSXs coal freight revenues to grow in mid-single digits led by both volume and price gains for the full year 2018. The company posted a 14% jump in coal revenues in the previous quarter, as the weakness in utility coal was offset by strength in the export business, and we expect this trend to continue in the near term. The U.S. coal export segment is seeing growth due to a rise in global benchmark coal prices, which were up roughly 15% in 2018. The decline in utility coal demand can largely be attributed to the trends in natural gas prices. The benchmark Henry Hub natural gas price is currently trading around $3 levels, similar to what it was in the prior year. The prices did move to north of $4.50 last month over supply concerns, but have corrected since then. With gas prices being more attractive, the dependency on coal as an energy source continues to come down. In fact, as per the latest EIA estimates of 650 million short tons (mst) coal consumption in 2019 will mark the year with the lowest coal consumption over the last 40 years. On the other hand, there has been a sharp growth in the coal exports, which were up over 25% (y-o-y) to 87 mst for the nine month period ending September 2018. For the full year, exports are estimated to grow in mid-teens, according to EIA. As such, the utility coal shipments for CSX will likely remain lower, while exports should continue to trend higher in the near term. Intermodal Will Likely See High Single Digit Revenue Growth For The Full Year CSXs Intermodal segment has seen volume gains of late, and we expect this trend to continue in the near term. This can be attributed to continued driver shortage after the full implementation of the ELD mandate in late 2017, which has put capacity constraints in the trucking industry, and manufacturers are looking for alternative means of transport. The segment revenues were up in high single digits for the nine month period ending September 2018, and we forecast a similar growth in Q4 as well. Merchandise Freight Revenues Could Grow In Mid-Single Digits Looking at Merchandise freight, we forecast mid-single digit growth in segment revenues, primarily led by automotive, metals, and forest products. In fact, the segment revenues were up 12% for the nine month period ending September 2018, with growth across all sub-segments but fertilizers, which saw low single digit revenue decline amid closure of a facility in late 2017. This trend could continue in Q4 as well. However, pricing gains may be moderate going forward, given that crude oil prices have fallen sharply over the last couple of months. Note that fuel surcharge is a component of average revenue per carload for railroad companies, and the same is impacted by any movement in oil prices. We forecast the companys EBITDA margins to expand by 300 bps for the full year 2018, as the company remains focused on reducing its operating ratio. We estimate the EBITDA to be a little under $7 per share in 2018. We currently have a $80 price target for CSX Corporation, which we will update post the Q4 earnings announcement. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own.

CSX is set to release its Q4 financial performance on January 16. We expect the company to post steady growth in all segments.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/01/14/what-to-expect-from-csx-corporations-q4-results/

What To Expect From CSX Corporation's Q4 Results?

CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) is set to release its Q4 financial performance on January 16, and we expect the company to post steady growth in all segments. The company saw a record low operating ratio of 58.7% in the previous quarter, as it effectively managed its costs. We expect this trend to continue in Q4 as well, and aid the bottom line. Overall, we estimate the company to post $3.60 adjusted EPS for the full year 2018. We have created an interactive dashboard analysis ~ What Is The Outlook For CSX Corporation ~ on the companys expected performance for the full year 2018 and 2019. You can adjust the revenue and margin drivers to see the impact on the companys earnings, and price estimate. Below we discuss the key segments which could see growth in Q4. Expect Coal Freight To See Mid-Single Digit Growth For The Full Year We expect CSXs coal freight revenues to grow in mid-single digits led by both volume and price gains for the full year 2018. The company posted a 14% jump in coal revenues in the previous quarter, as the weakness in utility coal was offset by strength in the export business, and we expect this trend to continue in the near term. The U.S. coal export segment is seeing growth due to a rise in global benchmark coal prices, which were up roughly 15% in 2018. The decline in utility coal demand can largely be attributed to the trends in natural gas prices. The benchmark Henry Hub natural gas price is currently trading around $3 levels, similar to what it was in the prior year. The prices did move to north of $4.50 last month over supply concerns, but have corrected since then. With gas prices being more attractive, the dependency on coal as an energy source continues to come down. In fact, as per the latest EIA estimates of 650 million short tons (mst) coal consumption in 2019 will mark the year with the lowest coal consumption over the last 40 years. On the other hand, there has been a sharp growth in the coal exports, which were up over 25% (y-o-y) to 87 mst for the nine month period ending September 2018. For the full year, exports are estimated to grow in mid-teens, according to EIA. As such, the utility coal shipments for CSX will likely remain lower, while exports should continue to trend higher in the near term. Intermodal Will Likely See High Single Digit Revenue Growth For The Full Year CSXs Intermodal segment has seen volume gains of late, and we expect this trend to continue in the near term. This can be attributed to continued driver shortage after the full implementation of the ELD mandate in late 2017, which has put capacity constraints in the trucking industry, and manufacturers are looking for alternative means of transport. The segment revenues were up in high single digits for the nine month period ending September 2018, and we forecast a similar growth in Q4 as well. Merchandise Freight Revenues Could Grow In Mid-Single Digits Looking at Merchandise freight, we forecast mid-single digit growth in segment revenues, primarily led by automotive, metals, and forest products. In fact, the segment revenues were up 12% for the nine month period ending September 2018, with growth across all sub-segments but fertilizers, which saw low single digit revenue decline amid closure of a facility in late 2017. This trend could continue in Q4 as well. However, pricing gains may be moderate going forward, given that crude oil prices have fallen sharply over the last couple of months. Note that fuel surcharge is a component of average revenue per carload for railroad companies, and the same is impacted by any movement in oil prices. We forecast the companys EBITDA margins to expand by 300 bps for the full year 2018, as the company remains focused on reducing its operating ratio. We estimate the EBITDA to be a little under $7 per share in 2018. We currently have a $80 price target for CSX Corporation, which we will update post the Q4 earnings announcement. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own.

CSX is set to release its Q4 financial performance on January 16. We expect the company to post steady growth in all segments. The company saw a record low operating ratio of 58.7% in the previous quarter.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/01/14/what-to-expect-from-csx-corporations-q4-results/

What To Expect From CSX Corporation's Q4 Results?

CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) is set to release its Q4 financial performance on January 16, and we expect the company to post steady growth in all segments. The company saw a record low operating ratio of 58.7% in the previous quarter, as it effectively managed its costs. We expect this trend to continue in Q4 as well, and aid the bottom line. Overall, we estimate the company to post $3.60 adjusted EPS for the full year 2018. We have created an interactive dashboard analysis ~ What Is The Outlook For CSX Corporation ~ on the companys expected performance for the full year 2018 and 2019. You can adjust the revenue and margin drivers to see the impact on the companys earnings, and price estimate. Below we discuss the key segments which could see growth in Q4. Expect Coal Freight To See Mid-Single Digit Growth For The Full Year We expect CSXs coal freight revenues to grow in mid-single digits led by both volume and price gains for the full year 2018. The company posted a 14% jump in coal revenues in the previous quarter, as the weakness in utility coal was offset by strength in the export business, and we expect this trend to continue in the near term. The U.S. coal export segment is seeing growth due to a rise in global benchmark coal prices, which were up roughly 15% in 2018. The decline in utility coal demand can largely be attributed to the trends in natural gas prices. The benchmark Henry Hub natural gas price is currently trading around $3 levels, similar to what it was in the prior year. The prices did move to north of $4.50 last month over supply concerns, but have corrected since then. With gas prices being more attractive, the dependency on coal as an energy source continues to come down. In fact, as per the latest EIA estimates of 650 million short tons (mst) coal consumption in 2019 will mark the year with the lowest coal consumption over the last 40 years. On the other hand, there has been a sharp growth in the coal exports, which were up over 25% (y-o-y) to 87 mst for the nine month period ending September 2018. For the full year, exports are estimated to grow in mid-teens, according to EIA. As such, the utility coal shipments for CSX will likely remain lower, while exports should continue to trend higher in the near term. Intermodal Will Likely See High Single Digit Revenue Growth For The Full Year CSXs Intermodal segment has seen volume gains of late, and we expect this trend to continue in the near term. This can be attributed to continued driver shortage after the full implementation of the ELD mandate in late 2017, which has put capacity constraints in the trucking industry, and manufacturers are looking for alternative means of transport. The segment revenues were up in high single digits for the nine month period ending September 2018, and we forecast a similar growth in Q4 as well. Merchandise Freight Revenues Could Grow In Mid-Single Digits Looking at Merchandise freight, we forecast mid-single digit growth in segment revenues, primarily led by automotive, metals, and forest products. In fact, the segment revenues were up 12% for the nine month period ending September 2018, with growth across all sub-segments but fertilizers, which saw low single digit revenue decline amid closure of a facility in late 2017. This trend could continue in Q4 as well. However, pricing gains may be moderate going forward, given that crude oil prices have fallen sharply over the last couple of months. Note that fuel surcharge is a component of average revenue per carload for railroad companies, and the same is impacted by any movement in oil prices. We forecast the companys EBITDA margins to expand by 300 bps for the full year 2018, as the company remains focused on reducing its operating ratio. We estimate the EBITDA to be a little under $7 per share in 2018. We currently have a $80 price target for CSX Corporation, which we will update post the Q4 earnings announcement. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own.

CSX is set to release its Q4 financial performance on January 16. We expect the company to post steady growth in all segments. The company saw a record low operating ratio of 58.7% in the previous quarter. Overall, we estimate the company to post $3.60 adjusted EPS for the full year 2018.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/01/14/what-to-expect-from-csx-corporations-q4-results/

How does PG&E bankruptcy affect CA customers & employees?

PG&E is about to go bankrupt. But the troubled utility said it will keep the lights on and is committed to a fair and expeditious resolution of the billions of dollars it faces in potential liabilities from the Camp Fire and the 2017 wine country fires. Heres a look at what might happen, and what it would mean to the state, ratepayers throughout Northern California and those impacted by the wildfires. On or about Jan. 29. The utility was required, under a state law signed in September by former Gov. Jerry Brown, to give 15 days notice before filing. Thats what it did Monday. The notice came out about 12 hours after CEO Geisha Williams resigned. Digital Access for only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. In a press statement, the utility company said it does not expect any impact to electric or natural gas service for its customers. It also said it is committed to continuing to make investments in system safety as it works with regulators, policymakers and other key stakeholders to consider a range of alternatives to provide for the safe delivery of natural gas and electric service for the long-term in an environment that continues to be challenged by climate change. It also said its employees are expected to continue to receive their pay and benefits. The Legislature, in passing SB 901 last fall, gave PG&E and other utilities limited protection against wildfire claims. Among other things, the law says the Public Utilities Commission could allow utilities to pass some wildfire claim expenses onto ratepayers if the utilities arent strong enough financially to shoulder the costs themselves. The protection, however, only includes the 2017 fires, not the massive Camp Fire last year. Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, has said he would introduce legislation to extend the protections to include the Camp Fire. Fire officials have not determined a cause for that fire, but many residents already have sued PG&E, which had a power-line malfunction near the fire ignition point. It is uncertain whether the Legislature will be willing to go to bat for the utility a second time. No, and no. PG&E would file for protection under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code. Chapter 11 allows the company to stay in business while it sorts out its ever-growing debt load. PG&E kept the lights on during the three years it spent in Chapter 11 between 2001 and 2004, when it was clobbered by rising power costs during the energy crisis. The state suffered several days of rolling blackouts in 2001, but they were spread beyond PG&Es territory and werent caused by the bankruptcy. Rates could go up, but not necessarily because of a bankruptcy filing. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has already asked the Public Utilities Commission for authority to raise rates by 6.4 percent in 2020. If the rate hike is granted in full, monthly gas bills would increase $1.84 and electric bills would rise $8.73, on average. The higher rates would generate about $1.1 billion in additional annual revenue. PG&E says about half would be spent on wildfire prevention initiatives, such as installing high-definition cameras in remote areas and trimming trees more aggressively. But bankruptcies can add enormous legal costs, and PG&E could seek to have ratepayers absorb those expenses. Bankruptcy is never a clean, easy process, and theres a lot of costs involved just in terms of lawyers and accountants, said James Bushnell, a UC Davis energy economist. Some of that is going to be passed onto ratepayers. Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network in San Francisco, said ratepayer interests would be neglected. It puts the decision in the hands of a bankruptcy judge whose first priority is paying creditors off. The ratepayers are the last priority. SHARE COPY LINK The Camp Fire tore through Paradise, California, becoming the deadliest and most destructive in state history. Sacramento Bee staff recount covering the impact of the deadly wildfire. Chapter 11 gives companies breathing room of sorts, the chance to sort out their debts while they keep operating. One possible outcome is that PG&E would use a court-supervised auction to sell its natural-gas division to raise money to pay wildfire claims. Bankruptcy could reduce the amount of money available for paying survivors whove sued PG&E over the Camp Fire and the 2017 fires. Survivors would be declared unsecured creditors and would be lumped in with other such creditors namely the investors who hold roughly $18 billion in long-term debt owed by the utility and its corporate parent, PG&E Corp. Wildfire victims seeking recovery could be in deep trouble, said Jared Ellias, a bankruptcy-law expert at UC Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. Ellias did say, however, that bankruptcy could speed the processing of damage claims. A bankruptcy trustee could require that survivors get some funds long before the courts could resolve the mountain of lawsuits. Bankruptcy is often much faster than state court, he said. Its too early to tell. But its worth noting that PG&Es bonds have been trading at about 78 cents on the dollar, said Carol Levenson of Gimme Credit LLC, a debt-analysis firm. That suggests bondholders arent counting on getting paid in full, she said. The same could apply to fire survivors. Survivors lawyers say they believe they can recover damages for their clients regardless. PG&E has a lot of assets, said Dario de Ghetaldi, a Bay Area lawyer whos suing PG&E on survivors behalf. For many California ratepayers, it would mean writing two utility checks each month instead of one. Sacramento residents do that already, paying PG&E for gas and SMUD for electricity. A sale would be overseen by the PUC. We really have to make sure that who they sell it to is experienced (and) has a good track record in operating gas pipeline systems in a safe manner, Toney said. Yes. The company already suspended quarterly dividend payments in late 2017, and its stock price has been crushed since it disclosed that it experienced trouble on a transmission tower near the spot where the Camp Fire ignited Nov. 8. PG&E shares fell to $9.06 in Monday morning trading, and have lost 80 percent of their value since the Camp Fire started. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who used to be mayor of PG&Es hometown of San Francisco, issued a statement early Monday saying in part: Everyones immediate focus is, rightfully, on ensuring Californians have continuous, reliable and safe electric and gas service ... Aside from bankruptcy, plenty. A federal judge has told PG&E to appear in court Jan. 30 to respond to his plan to require the company to fix transmission lines and take other safety steps. In February, PG&E will release its latest financial results, which will provide more detailed analysis on the potential liabilities from the Camp Fire.

PG&E will file for bankruptcy on or about Jan. 29. The utility company says it does not expect any impact to electric or natural gas service for its customers. PG&e employees are expected to continue to receive their pay and benefits.

ctrlsum

https://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article224188410.html

Did The European Commission Authorize B&B's Bank 'Destruction' With 22B State Aid?

The effective destruction of Bradford & Bingley (B&B), the former bank, savings and mortgage company, by the Bank of England, HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the so-called Tripartite bodies, a decade ago in late September 2008, was completed when the European Commission (EC) authorized some 22 billion of State aid to Santander, Spains largest bank, a shareholder action group has claimed. Campaigners involved in the B&B Action Group (BBAG) seeking investor compensation for those that lost out - many of them pensioners - when the bank was nationalized in a transatlantic telephone called between Gordon Brown, the then British prime minister, and Chancellor Alistair Darling. At the time B&B was a highly regarded and viable business, which BBAG have repeatedly argued, was first established in 1851 and based in the North of England. And, the campaigners maintain it had a "far stronger balance sheet" than Northern Rock, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS). For 2007, the B&B, which counted 2,862 employees, reported an operating income of 572.3 million and net income of 93.2 million. Indeed, since B&Bs destruction and the run-down of its mortgage book, it has repaid all State aid, interest, corporation tax, leaving a surplus that will pass - not to former shareholders with now worthless shares on the stock register at least - but to the Treasurys coffers - unless action is taken and matters can be rectified. Furthermore, the sale to Santander of B&Bs 21 billion deposit book, retail network and Isle of Man International operations for c.400 million, was according to BBAG chairman David Blundell deeply flawed since the market value was nearer 1.0 billion, according to the former insurance industry executive. Since October 2010, Bradford & Bingley has been managed and governed under the Board of UK Asset Resolution (UKAR), the holding company for B&B and NRAM Limited (i.e. Northern Rock), created to facilitate the orderly management of the closed mortgage books of both B&B and NRAM and maximise value for taxpayers. In its interim statement for the six month period ended September 2018, UKAR reported that statutory profit had decreased to 49.5 million (H1 2017/18: 216.8 million), which included a 295.2 million profit on two sales. These were namely: (1) 5.0 billion of B&B mortgage assets to an investor group led by Barclays Bank in May 2018; and, (2) 860 million portfolio of equity release mortgages to Rothesay Life Plc. The Leeds-based campaigner and businessman, who has worked in the insurance sector and largely led the campaign since September 2008 to the present day, said: The Treasury have attempted to justify this sale on numerous occasions culminating in the Right Honourable Sajid Javids statement, in a debate with Philip Davies, MP for Shipley, in Westminster Hall on the July 17 2013, describing a competitive process prior to the sale. However, despite numerous Freedom of Information (FOI) requests initiated by the campaign group over the years, the Treasury has refused to provide details of this process. In one reply to Mr Blundell from the Treasury and signed by Nicholas Macpherson, then Permanent Secretary), which I have seen, it was stated that deleting records was fairly standard practice after Treasury staff and officials had departed the organization. Part of the letter dated February 24, 2015, reads as follows: I would like to assure you that there was nothing unusual or out of the ordinary to delete these records." It went on: The Departments policy was then - and remains - that it is not necessary to systematically retain the legacy mailboxes or home drives of any Treasury staff who leave the Department. This approach to record-keeping both encourages users to file accurately and reduces the long-term retention of ephemeral data through the indiscriminate archiving of redundant user accounts. Surely though we are talking about an event and matter of national importance - and impacting just shy on one million people. And, once those records are gone it is a rather convenient for those individuals who had been involved in the discussions around B&B and Santander. Despite the obfuscation of the various authorities and frustration of the shareholder action group in being denied FOI requests (e.g. it was not in the public interest, too difficult to find, etc. ), BBAG have claimed that they now have compelling evidence - inadvertently supported by Baron Macpherson, who stepped down from the Treasury in March 2016, that the competitive process was a parody of the truth resulting in the sale securing only a fraction of its market value. In response to numerous FOI requests over a period of more than ten years, the Treasury has according to the action group (led by Mr Blundell) repeatedly attempted to justify banking failures in the U.K. by talking of a worldwide crisis. Blundell asserted on that point: "This is a fiction. The main causes of the U.K. banking crisis in 2008/9 was the gross misfeasance of the British Government: Firstly, the dilution of the regulatory powers of the Bank of England in 2001; Secondly, ignoring European Union (EU) directives by the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in 2005; and, thirdly, the light touch regulatory approach of the Tripartite of which Gordon Brown was so inordinately proud, which enabled greedy bankers to indulge in false accounting." In addition, a fourth cause highlighted, which the action group contended was the total failure of the British government to ensure that economic growth was based on sound money. Leeds-based Blundell stated: After ten years and numerous FOI requests, which have been initiated by BBAG and other parties - it is clear that the Tripartite are determined to suppress the truth as to why it and the European Commission colluded in providing around 22 billion of state aid to Santander, a bank recently fined nearly 33 million by the FCA for failing to transfer 183 million to the estates of deceased clients. He added: This [act] effectively destroyed as an on-going business to the total disadvantage of its employees and 930,000 shareholders, most of whom are just about managing retail investors, who are entitled to know why their company was not supported rather than Santander? The action group assert that it is clear that the only way of securing the truth and overcoming the institutionalized mendacity of the Treasury and the FCA is an independent inquiry. Hopefully, as Blundell puts it, the U.K. is still an open democratic society subject to the rule of law with an independent judiciary and in which those who hold high office are accountable to the people. However, they cannot be held accountable when they fail to explain how they exercise their powers, Blundell stressed. BBAG has written to the current Prime Minister, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable several times requesting they support an independent inquiry into the destruction of Bradford & Bingley. Replies garnered from the Cabinet Office, a department of the Government responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the U.K., have been the standard buck passing obfuscation according to BBAG. It is understood that Sir Vince has not replied and Mr Corbyns office has confirmed that he will not support such an inquiry. These are the same politicians who regularly profess their support for the people, said Blundell. The B&B shareholders, the former owners of the company, are entitled to an independent inquiry to establish the full details of how and why their company was destroyed by the U.K. Government and the European Commission on October 1 2008, whilst simultaneously selling their deposit book and retail network for less than half its market value to Santander (who also received 22 billion of State aid from the UK Government. Back in September 2017, Blundell met his local MEP John Procter and a Reformists group member in Brussels, who was said to have expressed astonishment at the treatment to which B&B shareholders and bond holders have been subjected. The BBAG chair also had a meeting with Nicky Morgan over the issue. He added: The treatment of B&B shareholders by successive U.K. Governments, who have totally failed in their duty of care to them, has been deplorable. And, the spirit of Sir Humphrey from the British political satire sitcom Yes Minister would seem to be very much alive and well in the corridors of Whitehall. The action group suggested in 2015 that the level of compensation sought for dispossessed B&B shareholders was between 55p and 100p a share, which would equate to between 339.9 million and 618 million based on the number of B&B shares cited as being issued from the banks 2007 annual report and accounts. But with the banks subsequent rights issues the number could nudge 1 billion.

The European Commission (EC) authorized some 22 billion of State aid to Santander, Spains largest bank.

ctrlsum

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogeraitken/2019/01/14/did-the-european-commission-authorize-bbs-bank-destruction-with-22b-state-aid/

Did The European Commission Authorize B&B's Bank 'Destruction' With 22B State Aid?

The effective destruction of Bradford & Bingley (B&B), the former bank, savings and mortgage company, by the Bank of England, HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the so-called Tripartite bodies, a decade ago in late September 2008, was completed when the European Commission (EC) authorized some 22 billion of State aid to Santander, Spains largest bank, a shareholder action group has claimed. Campaigners involved in the B&B Action Group (BBAG) seeking investor compensation for those that lost out - many of them pensioners - when the bank was nationalized in a transatlantic telephone called between Gordon Brown, the then British prime minister, and Chancellor Alistair Darling. At the time B&B was a highly regarded and viable business, which BBAG have repeatedly argued, was first established in 1851 and based in the North of England. And, the campaigners maintain it had a "far stronger balance sheet" than Northern Rock, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS). For 2007, the B&B, which counted 2,862 employees, reported an operating income of 572.3 million and net income of 93.2 million. Indeed, since B&Bs destruction and the run-down of its mortgage book, it has repaid all State aid, interest, corporation tax, leaving a surplus that will pass - not to former shareholders with now worthless shares on the stock register at least - but to the Treasurys coffers - unless action is taken and matters can be rectified. Furthermore, the sale to Santander of B&Bs 21 billion deposit book, retail network and Isle of Man International operations for c.400 million, was according to BBAG chairman David Blundell deeply flawed since the market value was nearer 1.0 billion, according to the former insurance industry executive. Since October 2010, Bradford & Bingley has been managed and governed under the Board of UK Asset Resolution (UKAR), the holding company for B&B and NRAM Limited (i.e. Northern Rock), created to facilitate the orderly management of the closed mortgage books of both B&B and NRAM and maximise value for taxpayers. In its interim statement for the six month period ended September 2018, UKAR reported that statutory profit had decreased to 49.5 million (H1 2017/18: 216.8 million), which included a 295.2 million profit on two sales. These were namely: (1) 5.0 billion of B&B mortgage assets to an investor group led by Barclays Bank in May 2018; and, (2) 860 million portfolio of equity release mortgages to Rothesay Life Plc. The Leeds-based campaigner and businessman, who has worked in the insurance sector and largely led the campaign since September 2008 to the present day, said: The Treasury have attempted to justify this sale on numerous occasions culminating in the Right Honourable Sajid Javids statement, in a debate with Philip Davies, MP for Shipley, in Westminster Hall on the July 17 2013, describing a competitive process prior to the sale. However, despite numerous Freedom of Information (FOI) requests initiated by the campaign group over the years, the Treasury has refused to provide details of this process. In one reply to Mr Blundell from the Treasury and signed by Nicholas Macpherson, then Permanent Secretary), which I have seen, it was stated that deleting records was fairly standard practice after Treasury staff and officials had departed the organization. Part of the letter dated February 24, 2015, reads as follows: I would like to assure you that there was nothing unusual or out of the ordinary to delete these records." It went on: The Departments policy was then - and remains - that it is not necessary to systematically retain the legacy mailboxes or home drives of any Treasury staff who leave the Department. This approach to record-keeping both encourages users to file accurately and reduces the long-term retention of ephemeral data through the indiscriminate archiving of redundant user accounts. Surely though we are talking about an event and matter of national importance - and impacting just shy on one million people. And, once those records are gone it is a rather convenient for those individuals who had been involved in the discussions around B&B and Santander. Despite the obfuscation of the various authorities and frustration of the shareholder action group in being denied FOI requests (e.g. it was not in the public interest, too difficult to find, etc. ), BBAG have claimed that they now have compelling evidence - inadvertently supported by Baron Macpherson, who stepped down from the Treasury in March 2016, that the competitive process was a parody of the truth resulting in the sale securing only a fraction of its market value. In response to numerous FOI requests over a period of more than ten years, the Treasury has according to the action group (led by Mr Blundell) repeatedly attempted to justify banking failures in the U.K. by talking of a worldwide crisis. Blundell asserted on that point: "This is a fiction. The main causes of the U.K. banking crisis in 2008/9 was the gross misfeasance of the British Government: Firstly, the dilution of the regulatory powers of the Bank of England in 2001; Secondly, ignoring European Union (EU) directives by the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in 2005; and, thirdly, the light touch regulatory approach of the Tripartite of which Gordon Brown was so inordinately proud, which enabled greedy bankers to indulge in false accounting." In addition, a fourth cause highlighted, which the action group contended was the total failure of the British government to ensure that economic growth was based on sound money. Leeds-based Blundell stated: After ten years and numerous FOI requests, which have been initiated by BBAG and other parties - it is clear that the Tripartite are determined to suppress the truth as to why it and the European Commission colluded in providing around 22 billion of state aid to Santander, a bank recently fined nearly 33 million by the FCA for failing to transfer 183 million to the estates of deceased clients. He added: This [act] effectively destroyed as an on-going business to the total disadvantage of its employees and 930,000 shareholders, most of whom are just about managing retail investors, who are entitled to know why their company was not supported rather than Santander? The action group assert that it is clear that the only way of securing the truth and overcoming the institutionalized mendacity of the Treasury and the FCA is an independent inquiry. Hopefully, as Blundell puts it, the U.K. is still an open democratic society subject to the rule of law with an independent judiciary and in which those who hold high office are accountable to the people. However, they cannot be held accountable when they fail to explain how they exercise their powers, Blundell stressed. BBAG has written to the current Prime Minister, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable several times requesting they support an independent inquiry into the destruction of Bradford & Bingley. Replies garnered from the Cabinet Office, a department of the Government responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the U.K., have been the standard buck passing obfuscation according to BBAG. It is understood that Sir Vince has not replied and Mr Corbyns office has confirmed that he will not support such an inquiry. These are the same politicians who regularly profess their support for the people, said Blundell. The B&B shareholders, the former owners of the company, are entitled to an independent inquiry to establish the full details of how and why their company was destroyed by the U.K. Government and the European Commission on October 1 2008, whilst simultaneously selling their deposit book and retail network for less than half its market value to Santander (who also received 22 billion of State aid from the UK Government. Back in September 2017, Blundell met his local MEP John Procter and a Reformists group member in Brussels, who was said to have expressed astonishment at the treatment to which B&B shareholders and bond holders have been subjected. The BBAG chair also had a meeting with Nicky Morgan over the issue. He added: The treatment of B&B shareholders by successive U.K. Governments, who have totally failed in their duty of care to them, has been deplorable. And, the spirit of Sir Humphrey from the British political satire sitcom Yes Minister would seem to be very much alive and well in the corridors of Whitehall. The action group suggested in 2015 that the level of compensation sought for dispossessed B&B shareholders was between 55p and 100p a share, which would equate to between 339.9 million and 618 million based on the number of B&B shares cited as being issued from the banks 2007 annual report and accounts. But with the banks subsequent rights issues the number could nudge 1 billion.

The European Commission (EC) authorized some 22 billion of State aid to Santander, Spains largest bank, a shareholder action group has claimed.

ctrlsum

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogeraitken/2019/01/14/did-the-european-commission-authorize-bbs-bank-destruction-with-22b-state-aid/

Did The European Commission Authorize B&B's Bank 'Destruction' With 22B State Aid?

The effective destruction of Bradford & Bingley (B&B), the former bank, savings and mortgage company, by the Bank of England, HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the so-called Tripartite bodies, a decade ago in late September 2008, was completed when the European Commission (EC) authorized some 22 billion of State aid to Santander, Spains largest bank, a shareholder action group has claimed. Campaigners involved in the B&B Action Group (BBAG) seeking investor compensation for those that lost out - many of them pensioners - when the bank was nationalized in a transatlantic telephone called between Gordon Brown, the then British prime minister, and Chancellor Alistair Darling. At the time B&B was a highly regarded and viable business, which BBAG have repeatedly argued, was first established in 1851 and based in the North of England. And, the campaigners maintain it had a "far stronger balance sheet" than Northern Rock, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS). For 2007, the B&B, which counted 2,862 employees, reported an operating income of 572.3 million and net income of 93.2 million. Indeed, since B&Bs destruction and the run-down of its mortgage book, it has repaid all State aid, interest, corporation tax, leaving a surplus that will pass - not to former shareholders with now worthless shares on the stock register at least - but to the Treasurys coffers - unless action is taken and matters can be rectified. Furthermore, the sale to Santander of B&Bs 21 billion deposit book, retail network and Isle of Man International operations for c.400 million, was according to BBAG chairman David Blundell deeply flawed since the market value was nearer 1.0 billion, according to the former insurance industry executive. Since October 2010, Bradford & Bingley has been managed and governed under the Board of UK Asset Resolution (UKAR), the holding company for B&B and NRAM Limited (i.e. Northern Rock), created to facilitate the orderly management of the closed mortgage books of both B&B and NRAM and maximise value for taxpayers. In its interim statement for the six month period ended September 2018, UKAR reported that statutory profit had decreased to 49.5 million (H1 2017/18: 216.8 million), which included a 295.2 million profit on two sales. These were namely: (1) 5.0 billion of B&B mortgage assets to an investor group led by Barclays Bank in May 2018; and, (2) 860 million portfolio of equity release mortgages to Rothesay Life Plc. The Leeds-based campaigner and businessman, who has worked in the insurance sector and largely led the campaign since September 2008 to the present day, said: The Treasury have attempted to justify this sale on numerous occasions culminating in the Right Honourable Sajid Javids statement, in a debate with Philip Davies, MP for Shipley, in Westminster Hall on the July 17 2013, describing a competitive process prior to the sale. However, despite numerous Freedom of Information (FOI) requests initiated by the campaign group over the years, the Treasury has refused to provide details of this process. In one reply to Mr Blundell from the Treasury and signed by Nicholas Macpherson, then Permanent Secretary), which I have seen, it was stated that deleting records was fairly standard practice after Treasury staff and officials had departed the organization. Part of the letter dated February 24, 2015, reads as follows: I would like to assure you that there was nothing unusual or out of the ordinary to delete these records." It went on: The Departments policy was then - and remains - that it is not necessary to systematically retain the legacy mailboxes or home drives of any Treasury staff who leave the Department. This approach to record-keeping both encourages users to file accurately and reduces the long-term retention of ephemeral data through the indiscriminate archiving of redundant user accounts. Surely though we are talking about an event and matter of national importance - and impacting just shy on one million people. And, once those records are gone it is a rather convenient for those individuals who had been involved in the discussions around B&B and Santander. Despite the obfuscation of the various authorities and frustration of the shareholder action group in being denied FOI requests (e.g. it was not in the public interest, too difficult to find, etc. ), BBAG have claimed that they now have compelling evidence - inadvertently supported by Baron Macpherson, who stepped down from the Treasury in March 2016, that the competitive process was a parody of the truth resulting in the sale securing only a fraction of its market value. In response to numerous FOI requests over a period of more than ten years, the Treasury has according to the action group (led by Mr Blundell) repeatedly attempted to justify banking failures in the U.K. by talking of a worldwide crisis. Blundell asserted on that point: "This is a fiction. The main causes of the U.K. banking crisis in 2008/9 was the gross misfeasance of the British Government: Firstly, the dilution of the regulatory powers of the Bank of England in 2001; Secondly, ignoring European Union (EU) directives by the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in 2005; and, thirdly, the light touch regulatory approach of the Tripartite of which Gordon Brown was so inordinately proud, which enabled greedy bankers to indulge in false accounting." In addition, a fourth cause highlighted, which the action group contended was the total failure of the British government to ensure that economic growth was based on sound money. Leeds-based Blundell stated: After ten years and numerous FOI requests, which have been initiated by BBAG and other parties - it is clear that the Tripartite are determined to suppress the truth as to why it and the European Commission colluded in providing around 22 billion of state aid to Santander, a bank recently fined nearly 33 million by the FCA for failing to transfer 183 million to the estates of deceased clients. He added: This [act] effectively destroyed as an on-going business to the total disadvantage of its employees and 930,000 shareholders, most of whom are just about managing retail investors, who are entitled to know why their company was not supported rather than Santander? The action group assert that it is clear that the only way of securing the truth and overcoming the institutionalized mendacity of the Treasury and the FCA is an independent inquiry. Hopefully, as Blundell puts it, the U.K. is still an open democratic society subject to the rule of law with an independent judiciary and in which those who hold high office are accountable to the people. However, they cannot be held accountable when they fail to explain how they exercise their powers, Blundell stressed. BBAG has written to the current Prime Minister, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable several times requesting they support an independent inquiry into the destruction of Bradford & Bingley. Replies garnered from the Cabinet Office, a department of the Government responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the U.K., have been the standard buck passing obfuscation according to BBAG. It is understood that Sir Vince has not replied and Mr Corbyns office has confirmed that he will not support such an inquiry. These are the same politicians who regularly profess their support for the people, said Blundell. The B&B shareholders, the former owners of the company, are entitled to an independent inquiry to establish the full details of how and why their company was destroyed by the U.K. Government and the European Commission on October 1 2008, whilst simultaneously selling their deposit book and retail network for less than half its market value to Santander (who also received 22 billion of State aid from the UK Government. Back in September 2017, Blundell met his local MEP John Procter and a Reformists group member in Brussels, who was said to have expressed astonishment at the treatment to which B&B shareholders and bond holders have been subjected. The BBAG chair also had a meeting with Nicky Morgan over the issue. He added: The treatment of B&B shareholders by successive U.K. Governments, who have totally failed in their duty of care to them, has been deplorable. And, the spirit of Sir Humphrey from the British political satire sitcom Yes Minister would seem to be very much alive and well in the corridors of Whitehall. The action group suggested in 2015 that the level of compensation sought for dispossessed B&B shareholders was between 55p and 100p a share, which would equate to between 339.9 million and 618 million based on the number of B&B shares cited as being issued from the banks 2007 annual report and accounts. But with the banks subsequent rights issues the number could nudge 1 billion.

The effective destruction of Bradford & Bingley (B&B), the former bank, savings and mortgage company, was completed in late September 2008. The European Commission (EC) authorized some 22 billion of State aid to Santander, Spains largest bank.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogeraitken/2019/01/14/did-the-european-commission-authorize-bbs-bank-destruction-with-22b-state-aid/

Who is William Barr, Trump's pick to be the next attorney general?

William Barr, President Trump's choice to become the next attorney general of the United States, has already had the job once before. From 1991 to 1993, he served as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush, and has since served as a prominent litigator in private practice. Barr had been floated as a candidate for the job since then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions was forced to resign after the November midterms. On Friday, Mr. Trump said that Barr had been his pick from "day one." "I did not know him for - until recently when I went through the process of looking at people. He was my first choice from day one," Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House. "Respected by Republicans. Respected by Democrats. He will be nominated for the United States attorney general and hopefully that process will go very quickly. And I think it will go very quickly." Barr's credentials may make him a safer bet for confirmation than some of Mr. Trump's other candidates. However, some in the White House worried that the 68-year-old Barr is too moderate and close to the GOP establishment to be an effective pick. Barr was born and raised in New York City. He attended Columbia University and went to work for the CIA after getting his master's degree in 1973. At his mother's suggestion, he took law classes at night at George Washington University while still at the CIA, earning his law degree in 1977. He specialized in Chinese studies during his time at Columbia, figuring it would give him a leg up at the CIA, which was then fixated on the Soviet threat. He figured the law degree would be an asset at the agency too, but left the CIA, where he analyzed Chinese broadcasts and worked in the legislative affairs unit, shortly after Jimmy Carter was elected president. After cutting short his intelligence career, Barr clerked for a federal judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals, worked in private practice, and did a stint as a domestic policy adviser under President Ronald Reagan. He then returned to private practice before joining the Bush campaign in 1988, where he helped select then-Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle to be the vice president's running mate. Bush won, and Barr joined his Justice Department, quickly rising through the ranks. He would sometimes play the bagpipe at Justice Department functions, according to the Los Angeles Times, "outfitted in kilts and other bagpipe apparel." Barr took the bagpipe so seriously, in fact, that his band would travel to Scotland to compete in world championships. Barr became deputy attorney general in 1990, and then acting attorney general in 1991. Bush decided to make that temporary replacement permanent. He was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously, then confirmed by the full Senate by voice vote. Then-Sen. Joe Biden, the Judiciary Committee chairman, predicted that Barr would make "a fine attorney general." At 41, he was one of the youngest attorney generals in U.S. history. When Bush lost, Barr began a distinguished career in corporate law, perhaps most notably as the general counsel and executive vice president for Verizon. He argued cases before the Supreme Court and the European Commission, and was of counsel at the Washington, D.C. firm Kirkland & Ellis until 2017. Barr and Mr. Trump Mr. Trump and Barr are said to not know each other all that well. But since Mr. Trump took office, Barr has emerged as a sometimes defender of the president in the press. In 2017, he told The New York Times that the Justice Department may have more cause to look at a controversial uranium deal involving Hillary Clinton than any alleged collusion between Mr. Trump and Russia. And while he's criticized the "lock her up" chants common at Trump rallies, he's also said there was some good legal cause to investigate the Clintons. Barr has also told The Washington Post that he worries that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team, which has been criticized by conservatives for a perceived partisan slant, may lean too Democratic. He told the newspaper that "prosecutors who make political contributions are identifying fairly strongly with a political party" and added: "I would have liked to see [Mueller] have more balance on this group."

President Trump has chosen William Barr to be the next attorney general. Barr served as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush from 1991 to 1993.

pegasus

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-is-william-barr-attorney-general-trump-nominee/

Who is William Barr, Trump's pick to be the next attorney general?

William Barr, President Trump's choice to become the next attorney general of the United States, has already had the job once before. From 1991 to 1993, he served as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush, and has since served as a prominent litigator in private practice. Barr had been floated as a candidate for the job since then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions was forced to resign after the November midterms. On Friday, Mr. Trump said that Barr had been his pick from "day one." "I did not know him for - until recently when I went through the process of looking at people. He was my first choice from day one," Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House. "Respected by Republicans. Respected by Democrats. He will be nominated for the United States attorney general and hopefully that process will go very quickly. And I think it will go very quickly." Barr's credentials may make him a safer bet for confirmation than some of Mr. Trump's other candidates. However, some in the White House worried that the 68-year-old Barr is too moderate and close to the GOP establishment to be an effective pick. Barr was born and raised in New York City. He attended Columbia University and went to work for the CIA after getting his master's degree in 1973. At his mother's suggestion, he took law classes at night at George Washington University while still at the CIA, earning his law degree in 1977. He specialized in Chinese studies during his time at Columbia, figuring it would give him a leg up at the CIA, which was then fixated on the Soviet threat. He figured the law degree would be an asset at the agency too, but left the CIA, where he analyzed Chinese broadcasts and worked in the legislative affairs unit, shortly after Jimmy Carter was elected president. After cutting short his intelligence career, Barr clerked for a federal judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals, worked in private practice, and did a stint as a domestic policy adviser under President Ronald Reagan. He then returned to private practice before joining the Bush campaign in 1988, where he helped select then-Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle to be the vice president's running mate. Bush won, and Barr joined his Justice Department, quickly rising through the ranks. He would sometimes play the bagpipe at Justice Department functions, according to the Los Angeles Times, "outfitted in kilts and other bagpipe apparel." Barr took the bagpipe so seriously, in fact, that his band would travel to Scotland to compete in world championships. Barr became deputy attorney general in 1990, and then acting attorney general in 1991. Bush decided to make that temporary replacement permanent. He was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously, then confirmed by the full Senate by voice vote. Then-Sen. Joe Biden, the Judiciary Committee chairman, predicted that Barr would make "a fine attorney general." At 41, he was one of the youngest attorney generals in U.S. history. When Bush lost, Barr began a distinguished career in corporate law, perhaps most notably as the general counsel and executive vice president for Verizon. He argued cases before the Supreme Court and the European Commission, and was of counsel at the Washington, D.C. firm Kirkland & Ellis until 2017. Barr and Mr. Trump Mr. Trump and Barr are said to not know each other all that well. But since Mr. Trump took office, Barr has emerged as a sometimes defender of the president in the press. In 2017, he told The New York Times that the Justice Department may have more cause to look at a controversial uranium deal involving Hillary Clinton than any alleged collusion between Mr. Trump and Russia. And while he's criticized the "lock her up" chants common at Trump rallies, he's also said there was some good legal cause to investigate the Clintons. Barr has also told The Washington Post that he worries that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team, which has been criticized by conservatives for a perceived partisan slant, may lean too Democratic. He told the newspaper that "prosecutors who make political contributions are identifying fairly strongly with a political party" and added: "I would have liked to see [Mueller] have more balance on this group."

President Trump has chosen William Barr to be the next attorney general. Barr served as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush from 1991 to 1993. He is said to not know President Trump all that well, but has emerged as a sometimes defender of the president in the press.

pegasus

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-is-william-barr-attorney-general-trump-nominee/

Is there even one Oilers fan who isn't worried about Peter Chiarelli's next trade?

Yes. Maybe 1 in 30 fans, but thats it, about the same percentage who believe Elvis Presley is still alive. For one thing, the trade could be a whopper with the Oilers giving up a sizeable chunk of their future. All last week Bob Stauffer of the Oilers talked about Edmonton trading away a first round pick to address needs this year. Now we have this tweet of an even more substantial trade from team insider Ryan Rishaug of TSN saying: Oilers organization is on a full court press to find help at forward. Scouts and staff deployed en masse. Cap situation could make it tough, but first round pick, a goaltender, maybe a young developing forward likely all in play. To me that sounds like either goalie Cam Talbot or Mikko Koskinen, plus a first rounder, plus Kailer Yamamoto or Tyler Benson or Cameron Hebig on the move, or maybe even Jesse Puljujarvi depending on the reputation of the player coming in return. That is a lot moving out for a veteran forward, but it might well make sense if the right veteran forward comes back to the Oilers. Koskinen plays tonight (for complete info on tonights game, heres Bruce McCurdy post) so well see if hes anywhere close to coming out of his slump. Koskinen also has a full No Movement Clause, so hed have to agree to a move (which is not at all beyond the realm of possibility). His track record isnt convincing. From the start I had concerns about the Milan Lucic signing, though I also felt it might pay off in the short term. Its now playing out as a GM-firing offence, at least in combination with the Griffin Reinhart for a first and second pick trade. I disliked the Reinhart trade the moment it happened and it certainly doesnt look any better today. All that said, what really has me worried is Chiarellis last two deals. For some reason, he moved out a marginal centre in Ryan Strome for a marginal centre/winger in Ryan Spooner. While Strome was struggling at centre with the Oilers, at least he could kill penalties and play centre in somewhat adequate fashion. Spooner cant kill penalties and hes no centre, which has forced Edmonton to move useful winger Jujhar Khaira to centre where hes not so useful. Then theres the moving out of Drake Caggiula for Brandon Manning. Caggiula had to go as he was leaking Grade A scoring chances and goals against in his own end. Chiarelli said he felt Manning was a better player than Kevin Gravel, but Manning quickly proved otherwise, leaking chances and goals against. Maybe if he spends a month or two in the AHL Manning can get the rust off his game but hes not up to NHL speed right now, which is why his coach cant play him. Edmonton has been out-shot 460-338 (all situations) over the last month. That's 31st in the NHL. Edmonton has been outscored 53-37 (all situations) over the last month. That's tied with Ottawa for 27th in the NHL. This is not a team that should be shopping at deadline prices. So right at the exact moment that Chiarelli had to make a few moves to bolster a team on the cusp of pulling into a playoff spot, he made two moves that has hurt that mission rather than help it. And its not just him on the hook but also his advisors and scouts. I have serious doubts, major worries, huge trepidation. Nonetheless, it appears were about to find out. All that said, if Chiarelli can pull the trigger on a deal that does drive the Oilers into the playoffs, that will be huge for the Oilers franchise. A playoff spot is there for the taking, especially if they can find another useful forward or two who can make a positive contribution. Spooner, Tobias Rieder, Lucic and Kyle Brodziak certainly havent been doing the trick (with Spooner, Rieder and Brodziak all recent acquisitions). The odds are long on Chiarelli getting it right but Im not in that camp that argues the Oilers should do nothing, even as the distance between doing nothing and doing the right thing is a huge expanse. The job of the GM is to improve the team. Thats Chiarellis job. So long as hes GM I expect him to do it. If the Oilers arent going to fire the guy, he should do all he can improve the team. And its not like every move hes made in his time here has been bad. Hes made a number of solid ones. If hes still the GM, its his job to make one more. LEAVINS: 9 Things on a Sunday morning LEAVINS: Oilers outworked by Coyotes in 3-2 loss STAPLES: Oilers go back to old recipe on 1st line McCURDY: McRabbit out of the hat beats Panthers

Peter Chiarelli's next move could be a whopper with the Oilers giving up a sizeable chunk of their future. Edmonton has been out-shot 460-338 (all situations) over the last month.

ctrlsum

https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/is-there-even-one-oilers-fan-who-isnt-worried-about-peter-chiarellis-next-trade

Is there even one Oilers fan who isn't worried about Peter Chiarelli's next trade?

Yes. Maybe 1 in 30 fans, but thats it, about the same percentage who believe Elvis Presley is still alive. For one thing, the trade could be a whopper with the Oilers giving up a sizeable chunk of their future. All last week Bob Stauffer of the Oilers talked about Edmonton trading away a first round pick to address needs this year. Now we have this tweet of an even more substantial trade from team insider Ryan Rishaug of TSN saying: Oilers organization is on a full court press to find help at forward. Scouts and staff deployed en masse. Cap situation could make it tough, but first round pick, a goaltender, maybe a young developing forward likely all in play. To me that sounds like either goalie Cam Talbot or Mikko Koskinen, plus a first rounder, plus Kailer Yamamoto or Tyler Benson or Cameron Hebig on the move, or maybe even Jesse Puljujarvi depending on the reputation of the player coming in return. That is a lot moving out for a veteran forward, but it might well make sense if the right veteran forward comes back to the Oilers. Koskinen plays tonight (for complete info on tonights game, heres Bruce McCurdy post) so well see if hes anywhere close to coming out of his slump. Koskinen also has a full No Movement Clause, so hed have to agree to a move (which is not at all beyond the realm of possibility). His track record isnt convincing. From the start I had concerns about the Milan Lucic signing, though I also felt it might pay off in the short term. Its now playing out as a GM-firing offence, at least in combination with the Griffin Reinhart for a first and second pick trade. I disliked the Reinhart trade the moment it happened and it certainly doesnt look any better today. All that said, what really has me worried is Chiarellis last two deals. For some reason, he moved out a marginal centre in Ryan Strome for a marginal centre/winger in Ryan Spooner. While Strome was struggling at centre with the Oilers, at least he could kill penalties and play centre in somewhat adequate fashion. Spooner cant kill penalties and hes no centre, which has forced Edmonton to move useful winger Jujhar Khaira to centre where hes not so useful. Then theres the moving out of Drake Caggiula for Brandon Manning. Caggiula had to go as he was leaking Grade A scoring chances and goals against in his own end. Chiarelli said he felt Manning was a better player than Kevin Gravel, but Manning quickly proved otherwise, leaking chances and goals against. Maybe if he spends a month or two in the AHL Manning can get the rust off his game but hes not up to NHL speed right now, which is why his coach cant play him. Edmonton has been out-shot 460-338 (all situations) over the last month. That's 31st in the NHL. Edmonton has been outscored 53-37 (all situations) over the last month. That's tied with Ottawa for 27th in the NHL. This is not a team that should be shopping at deadline prices. So right at the exact moment that Chiarelli had to make a few moves to bolster a team on the cusp of pulling into a playoff spot, he made two moves that has hurt that mission rather than help it. And its not just him on the hook but also his advisors and scouts. I have serious doubts, major worries, huge trepidation. Nonetheless, it appears were about to find out. All that said, if Chiarelli can pull the trigger on a deal that does drive the Oilers into the playoffs, that will be huge for the Oilers franchise. A playoff spot is there for the taking, especially if they can find another useful forward or two who can make a positive contribution. Spooner, Tobias Rieder, Lucic and Kyle Brodziak certainly havent been doing the trick (with Spooner, Rieder and Brodziak all recent acquisitions). The odds are long on Chiarelli getting it right but Im not in that camp that argues the Oilers should do nothing, even as the distance between doing nothing and doing the right thing is a huge expanse. The job of the GM is to improve the team. Thats Chiarellis job. So long as hes GM I expect him to do it. If the Oilers arent going to fire the guy, he should do all he can improve the team. And its not like every move hes made in his time here has been bad. Hes made a number of solid ones. If hes still the GM, its his job to make one more. LEAVINS: 9 Things on a Sunday morning LEAVINS: Oilers outworked by Coyotes in 3-2 loss STAPLES: Oilers go back to old recipe on 1st line McCURDY: McRabbit out of the hat beats Panthers

Peter Chiarelli's next move could be a whopper with the Oilers giving up a sizeable chunk of their future. Edmonton has been out-shot 460-338 (all situations) over the last month and is tied with Ottawa for 27th in the NHL. It's not a team that should be shopping at deadline prices.

ctrlsum

https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/is-there-even-one-oilers-fan-who-isnt-worried-about-peter-chiarellis-next-trade

Will Gillette's Ad Campaign On Sexual Harassment And Toxic Masculinity Bring Change?

Gillette released a new ad campaign today, addressing #MeToo and toxic masculinity. The almost two-minute short film version of the ad asks Is this the best a man can get? Rowdy and aggressive boys are depicted as are men sexually harassing women. Male bystanders merely look on or laugh. The ad then shows news clips of #Metoo commentary and Terry Crews asserting, Men need to hold other men accountable. Then, men are depicted differently, intervening to stop the bullying and harassment. Heres what the psychology research says. To understand the problem with Gillette ad, its important to understand the work of Robert Cialdini, a preeminent researcher in the area of influence. His work not only illustrates how to best formulate a message in order to influence behavior, but also how some mixed messages can have unintended effects. This may be problem with Gillettes ad the mixed message. According to Cialdini, there are two norms that motivate people. First, people generally want to gain approval and avoid disapproval. The Gillette ad is clearly disapproving of aggressive behavior and harassment. The problem is with the second norm. This norm suggests that people like to do what is popular. In other words, they like to do what everyone else does. The issue with the Gillette ad is that it pits these two motivations against each other. It suggests that most men are bullies and harassers. If you want to be like everyone else, then you need to be a bully and harasser too. To illustrate how this plays out, Cialdini and colleagues performed an experiment aimed at getting visitors to the Petrified Forest to refrain from stealing the petrified wood. Along with the sign which asked visitors not to remove wood from the forest, the experimenters tried installing a sign which read: Your heritage is being vandalized every day by theft losses of petrified wood of 14 tons a year, mostly a small piece at a time. This warning suggested both that stealing is bad and that most people steal. The amount of wood stolen from the forest actually increased - the exact opposite of the intended effect of the message. Visitors thought it was okay to steal, since many others were clearly stealing as well. As it stand now, the Gillette ad sends a similar mixed message. The message is that aggressive behavior is wrong, and yet many men still partake in this behavior. These two messages may work against each other, and viewers are left subconsciously questioning whether they want to behave correctly or like most other men. The Gillette ad would be much more effective if only the second half of the ad were presented. If only men holding one another accountable were depicted, then the message would be consistent. Gillette disapproves of bullying and harassment, and most men are calling out other men who are bullies or harassers. In reality, most men and boys are not bullies or harassers. The ad says that "some men" are already behaving appropriately, but goes on to say , "some is not enough." This message would be more persuasive if it suggested that most men are already behaving appropriately. According to Adweek, research conducted by Gillettes parent company, Procter and Gamble found the following four attributes define a great man: honesty, moral integrity, hard work and respect for others. And when asked what men could do to be great, the most common answers were being a good father, setting a good example and taking unprompted action to help those in need. By this definition, Gillette could easily suggest that many men are already there. Gillette should be praised for helping to keep these issues in the spotlight and in the public dialog. But, in the future, advertisers should be aware that when we try to mobilize action against the problem by demonstrating the prevalence of the problem, we may undermine the message. Hopefully, most men will want to behave like the men at the end of Gillette's ad and not those at the beginning.

Gillette released a new ad campaign today, addressing #MeToo and toxic masculinity. Rowdy and aggressive boys are depicted as are men sexually harassing women. Then, men are depicted differently, intervening to stop the bullying and harassment.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2019/01/14/will-gillettes-ad-campaign-on-sexual-harassment-and-toxic-masculinity-bring-change/

Will Gillette's Ad Campaign On Sexual Harassment And Toxic Masculinity Bring Change?

Gillette released a new ad campaign today, addressing #MeToo and toxic masculinity. The almost two-minute short film version of the ad asks Is this the best a man can get? Rowdy and aggressive boys are depicted as are men sexually harassing women. Male bystanders merely look on or laugh. The ad then shows news clips of #Metoo commentary and Terry Crews asserting, Men need to hold other men accountable. Then, men are depicted differently, intervening to stop the bullying and harassment. Heres what the psychology research says. To understand the problem with Gillette ad, its important to understand the work of Robert Cialdini, a preeminent researcher in the area of influence. His work not only illustrates how to best formulate a message in order to influence behavior, but also how some mixed messages can have unintended effects. This may be problem with Gillettes ad the mixed message. According to Cialdini, there are two norms that motivate people. First, people generally want to gain approval and avoid disapproval. The Gillette ad is clearly disapproving of aggressive behavior and harassment. The problem is with the second norm. This norm suggests that people like to do what is popular. In other words, they like to do what everyone else does. The issue with the Gillette ad is that it pits these two motivations against each other. It suggests that most men are bullies and harassers. If you want to be like everyone else, then you need to be a bully and harasser too. To illustrate how this plays out, Cialdini and colleagues performed an experiment aimed at getting visitors to the Petrified Forest to refrain from stealing the petrified wood. Along with the sign which asked visitors not to remove wood from the forest, the experimenters tried installing a sign which read: Your heritage is being vandalized every day by theft losses of petrified wood of 14 tons a year, mostly a small piece at a time. This warning suggested both that stealing is bad and that most people steal. The amount of wood stolen from the forest actually increased - the exact opposite of the intended effect of the message. Visitors thought it was okay to steal, since many others were clearly stealing as well. As it stand now, the Gillette ad sends a similar mixed message. The message is that aggressive behavior is wrong, and yet many men still partake in this behavior. These two messages may work against each other, and viewers are left subconsciously questioning whether they want to behave correctly or like most other men. The Gillette ad would be much more effective if only the second half of the ad were presented. If only men holding one another accountable were depicted, then the message would be consistent. Gillette disapproves of bullying and harassment, and most men are calling out other men who are bullies or harassers. In reality, most men and boys are not bullies or harassers. The ad says that "some men" are already behaving appropriately, but goes on to say , "some is not enough." This message would be more persuasive if it suggested that most men are already behaving appropriately. According to Adweek, research conducted by Gillettes parent company, Procter and Gamble found the following four attributes define a great man: honesty, moral integrity, hard work and respect for others. And when asked what men could do to be great, the most common answers were being a good father, setting a good example and taking unprompted action to help those in need. By this definition, Gillette could easily suggest that many men are already there. Gillette should be praised for helping to keep these issues in the spotlight and in the public dialog. But, in the future, advertisers should be aware that when we try to mobilize action against the problem by demonstrating the prevalence of the problem, we may undermine the message. Hopefully, most men will want to behave like the men at the end of Gillette's ad and not those at the beginning.

Gillette released a new ad campaign today, addressing #MeToo and toxic masculinity. Rowdy and aggressive boys are depicted as are men sexually harassing women. Male bystanders merely look on or laugh. Then, men are depicted differently, intervening to stop the bullying and harassment.

bart

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2019/01/14/will-gillettes-ad-campaign-on-sexual-harassment-and-toxic-masculinity-bring-change/

Is Netflix phenomenon Marie Kondo most adorable or most annoying?

Open this photo in gallery Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Denise Crew/Netflix/Netflix Listen, you have too much stuff. I have too much stuff. Were all embarrassed about it. Its like being caught by David Suzuki when youre throwing an old toaster into the Green Bin. You could try explaining the other bins are full and besides, somebody must have a good-paying job extracting old toasters and such from the Green Bin stuff. It wouldnt fly. Suzuki would just give you this look. You know the look the disapproving stare disguised behind a slight smile, as if he was seeing you as a Lucifer about to ruin this planet and others nearby with your wanton wickedness. The same look emanates from Netflixs newest sensation, one Marie Kondo. But with less authentic disapproval. Story continues below advertisement Tidying Up with Marie Kondo (now streaming on Netflix Canada) has the chattering classes chattering more than usual. And I might be the last columnist on this benighted planet to weigh in. Were talking cultural phenomenon here. Were also talking about a confidence trick. Flimflammery is the word for it. Kondo, presented as adorable, might be the most deeply annoying person on TV. If youve been lucky enough to escape the presence and influence of Marie Kondo until now, pull up one of those chairs you dont really need and Ill tell you. Open this photo in gallery Kondo is a 34-year-old Japanese organizing consultant who has written bestselling books. Denise Crew/Netflix/Netflix Kondo is a 34-year-old Japanese organizing consultant. Shes written bestselling books. The Netflix show is about decluttering and how that can make you superhappy and less stressed. This involves thanking the house for sheltering its occupant. Also, thanking your clothes for being clothes and determining if said clothes spark joy. If so, the clothes are folded in a very particular way, into rectangles that end up standing upright in your clothes drawers, arranged like a rainbow. By the way, Kondo takes a dim view of the books you have in your house. CNN described Kondo rather cattily as a tiny garbage fairy for messy people, but its an apt description. The pseudo-mysticism of pseudo-praying for guidance about your pile of stuff amounts to scattering fairy dust in order to tidy up. There are no fairies. There is no such thing as fairy dust. Its all delusional. Also, Kondo doesnt actually know how to fold clothes. Not real clothes, anyway. Yours truly. My first paying job as a teenager was in the menswear section at Switzers department store in Dublin. I learned to fold a suit, trousers and other items. If I didnt get it right, a man who had 50 years experience would sigh and make me do it again and again. Yes, I am now that annoying middle-aged man who leans over the counter at Joe Fresh and folds the garment Ive purchased before it goes in the bag. Sometimes the young staffer says thanks. Sometimes they gaze at me the way CBC executives gaze at me. Open this photo in gallery Marie Kondo with her interpreter in a home. Denise Crew/Netflix/Netflix While were at it and Ill stop talking about myself soon Im a dab hand at ironing. Love doing it. Order from chaos. Show me damp cotton and Ill make it crisp, and then fold it properly. Once when I was obliged to return from L.A. on the red-eye flight, and unwilling to just crash into bed, I spent the entire day ironing. By nightfall every darn thing in the house from the curtains to the cats pyjamas, was ironed. A great days work I recall with fondness. Thing is, many of the people Kondo encounters on her show she comes to peoples homes shyly, accompanied by an interpreter dont seem familiar with ironing, folding or even doing laundry in the traditional manner. They are easy marks for the con job that transpires. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement Sensitivity to joy is what Kondo talks about a lot. This is sanctimonious nonsense. It adds fake piety to the issue of having too much stuff. Further, it makes the matter of tidying up and organizing an act of narcissism. Its all about you, your feelings. And, as David Suzuki has been telling us for decades, its not about you. Its about the entirety of nature, other people and the human race. Open this photo in gallery The Netflix show is about decluttering and how that can make you superhappy and less stressed. Denise Crew/Netflix/Netflix When you let go of an item, you must thank it, Kondo says. Well, wed let go of it faster if letting go was not a time-consuming dirge of regret that included thanking an inanimate object. And the issue of books is another irritating part of the Kondo method. If the books dont spark joy, they should go. Thats a strange and unviable approach to books and literature and it underscores the essential materialism and narcissism that are key elements of Kondos approach. Shes selling a fantasy, one made more palatable and intriguing by larding it with prayers and the tinsel of thank-yous to objects. Now its true that the popularity of Kondos tidying regime has led to a surge of donations of clothes to charities. That is actually the one adorable part of it all. See, I have too much stuff and you have too much stuff. Giving it away to the less fortunate isnt about loving yourself and your objects that spark joy. Its just the right thing to do.

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo has the chattering classes chattering more than usual. Kondo, presented as adorable, might be the most deeply annoying person on TV.

bart

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/article-is-netflix-phenomenon-marie-kondo-most-adorable-or-most-annoying/

Is Netflix phenomenon Marie Kondo most adorable or most annoying?

Open this photo in gallery Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Denise Crew/Netflix/Netflix Listen, you have too much stuff. I have too much stuff. Were all embarrassed about it. Its like being caught by David Suzuki when youre throwing an old toaster into the Green Bin. You could try explaining the other bins are full and besides, somebody must have a good-paying job extracting old toasters and such from the Green Bin stuff. It wouldnt fly. Suzuki would just give you this look. You know the look the disapproving stare disguised behind a slight smile, as if he was seeing you as a Lucifer about to ruin this planet and others nearby with your wanton wickedness. The same look emanates from Netflixs newest sensation, one Marie Kondo. But with less authentic disapproval. Story continues below advertisement Tidying Up with Marie Kondo (now streaming on Netflix Canada) has the chattering classes chattering more than usual. And I might be the last columnist on this benighted planet to weigh in. Were talking cultural phenomenon here. Were also talking about a confidence trick. Flimflammery is the word for it. Kondo, presented as adorable, might be the most deeply annoying person on TV. If youve been lucky enough to escape the presence and influence of Marie Kondo until now, pull up one of those chairs you dont really need and Ill tell you. Open this photo in gallery Kondo is a 34-year-old Japanese organizing consultant who has written bestselling books. Denise Crew/Netflix/Netflix Kondo is a 34-year-old Japanese organizing consultant. Shes written bestselling books. The Netflix show is about decluttering and how that can make you superhappy and less stressed. This involves thanking the house for sheltering its occupant. Also, thanking your clothes for being clothes and determining if said clothes spark joy. If so, the clothes are folded in a very particular way, into rectangles that end up standing upright in your clothes drawers, arranged like a rainbow. By the way, Kondo takes a dim view of the books you have in your house. CNN described Kondo rather cattily as a tiny garbage fairy for messy people, but its an apt description. The pseudo-mysticism of pseudo-praying for guidance about your pile of stuff amounts to scattering fairy dust in order to tidy up. There are no fairies. There is no such thing as fairy dust. Its all delusional. Also, Kondo doesnt actually know how to fold clothes. Not real clothes, anyway. Yours truly. My first paying job as a teenager was in the menswear section at Switzers department store in Dublin. I learned to fold a suit, trousers and other items. If I didnt get it right, a man who had 50 years experience would sigh and make me do it again and again. Yes, I am now that annoying middle-aged man who leans over the counter at Joe Fresh and folds the garment Ive purchased before it goes in the bag. Sometimes the young staffer says thanks. Sometimes they gaze at me the way CBC executives gaze at me. Open this photo in gallery Marie Kondo with her interpreter in a home. Denise Crew/Netflix/Netflix While were at it and Ill stop talking about myself soon Im a dab hand at ironing. Love doing it. Order from chaos. Show me damp cotton and Ill make it crisp, and then fold it properly. Once when I was obliged to return from L.A. on the red-eye flight, and unwilling to just crash into bed, I spent the entire day ironing. By nightfall every darn thing in the house from the curtains to the cats pyjamas, was ironed. A great days work I recall with fondness. Thing is, many of the people Kondo encounters on her show she comes to peoples homes shyly, accompanied by an interpreter dont seem familiar with ironing, folding or even doing laundry in the traditional manner. They are easy marks for the con job that transpires. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement Sensitivity to joy is what Kondo talks about a lot. This is sanctimonious nonsense. It adds fake piety to the issue of having too much stuff. Further, it makes the matter of tidying up and organizing an act of narcissism. Its all about you, your feelings. And, as David Suzuki has been telling us for decades, its not about you. Its about the entirety of nature, other people and the human race. Open this photo in gallery The Netflix show is about decluttering and how that can make you superhappy and less stressed. Denise Crew/Netflix/Netflix When you let go of an item, you must thank it, Kondo says. Well, wed let go of it faster if letting go was not a time-consuming dirge of regret that included thanking an inanimate object. And the issue of books is another irritating part of the Kondo method. If the books dont spark joy, they should go. Thats a strange and unviable approach to books and literature and it underscores the essential materialism and narcissism that are key elements of Kondos approach. Shes selling a fantasy, one made more palatable and intriguing by larding it with prayers and the tinsel of thank-yous to objects. Now its true that the popularity of Kondos tidying regime has led to a surge of donations of clothes to charities. That is actually the one adorable part of it all. See, I have too much stuff and you have too much stuff. Giving it away to the less fortunate isnt about loving yourself and your objects that spark joy. Its just the right thing to do.

Denise Crew: Is Netflix phenomenon Marie Kondo most adorable or most annoying? Kondo is a 34-year-old Japanese organizing consultant who has written bestselling books. Kondo takes a dim view of the books you have in your house and doesn't know how to fold clothes.

ctrlsum

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/article-is-netflix-phenomenon-marie-kondo-most-adorable-or-most-annoying/

How tall is Kyler Murray?

There's another height debate brewing around a potential NFL draft pick from Oklahoma. Last year, the focus was on Baker Mayfield. This year, the attention has turned to former Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray. This season's Heisman Trophy winner, Murray, declared for the NFL draft Monday. STAPLES: Kyler Murray Has Two Sports Hanging on His Unique NFL Draft Decision The announcement sparked added intrigue because Murray was selected by the Oakland A's with the No. 9 pick in last June's MLB draft. Rumors have swirled on whether Murray would declare for the draft or play for the A's. While Google lists Murray as 5'11'', the Sooners listed him at 5'10''. VRENTAS: Baker Mayfield, Tua Tagovailoa and the New Quarterback Mold Oklahoma's assistant athletic director Mike Houck tweeted about the matter Monday after writing that he's heard a lot of debate between television personalities. Houck tweeted, "Before the season, our strength staff measured him at 5-9 7/8 in socks." Mayfield is 6' 5/8" and was drafted by the Browns with the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft.

Kyler Murray declared for the NFL draft Monday. The Sooners listed him at 5'10'' while Google lists him as 5'11''. Murray was selected by the Oakland A's with the No. 9 pick in last June's MLB draft.

ctrlsum

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/14/how-tall-kyler-murray

How tall is Kyler Murray?

There's another height debate brewing around a potential NFL draft pick from Oklahoma. Last year, the focus was on Baker Mayfield. This year, the attention has turned to former Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray. This season's Heisman Trophy winner, Murray, declared for the NFL draft Monday. STAPLES: Kyler Murray Has Two Sports Hanging on His Unique NFL Draft Decision The announcement sparked added intrigue because Murray was selected by the Oakland A's with the No. 9 pick in last June's MLB draft. Rumors have swirled on whether Murray would declare for the draft or play for the A's. While Google lists Murray as 5'11'', the Sooners listed him at 5'10''. VRENTAS: Baker Mayfield, Tua Tagovailoa and the New Quarterback Mold Oklahoma's assistant athletic director Mike Houck tweeted about the matter Monday after writing that he's heard a lot of debate between television personalities. Houck tweeted, "Before the season, our strength staff measured him at 5-9 7/8 in socks." Mayfield is 6' 5/8" and was drafted by the Browns with the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft.

Kyler Murray declared for the NFL draft Monday. The Sooners listed him at 5'10'' while Google lists him as 5'11''. Murray was selected by the Oakland A's with the No. 9 pick in last June's MLB draft. He is the second Sooners player to win the Heisman Trophy.

ctrlsum

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/14/how-tall-kyler-murray

How Do Gravity Waves Affect Mass?

originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Kirsten Hacker, post-doc Accelerator Physics, on Quora: When I see a question on gravity waves, Emily Dickensons poem often comes to mind. Tell all the truth but tell it slant Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight The Truth's superb surprise As Lightning to the Children eased With explanation kind The Truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind The reason for this is that everybody approaches the topic with a different angle and it becomes very hard to figure out who is correct but speaking in an obscure language and who is incorrect but speaking in a popular language. When the tower of Babel gets high, everyone starts speaking different languages. With this in mind, I feel invited to approach the topic figuratively with the most painfully literal tools in my arsenal: Archimedes bathtub stories. A gravity wave is a change in gravity as a function of time and space. The amount of mass would change as a function of space and time, but if every mass in a system changes at precisely the same rate, no single mass would have any ability to detect any change because a measurement of mass is relative. To motivate intuition, Ill translate the question into something more tactile: Q: A bubble held underwater in Archimedes bathtub is slowly squeezed by a pressure-wave. At the same time, short, transverse waves reflect off of the compressed bubble and experience a slight phase shift as a result of the pressure wave. A: If the mass of the bubble is defined by the motion of the particles in the bubble relative to the water, then pressurization produces a change in mass through temperature change and rotation change. The phase shift of the reflected waves is sensitive to how quickly a change in bubble diameter becomes a change in temperature and rotation because increased internal motion would tend to counteract the compression. If there is a significant delay between the compression and the increase in internal motion, then the reflected transverse waves will measure the pressure-wave. If there is not a significant delay, they will not. This picture could be redefined such that the bubble is the earth and the long, slow pressure wave is a gravity wave coming in from deep space. If gravity waves change the relative masses of the earth and the moon, then we would detect small changes in the phase of light waves reflected off of the moon - not because the distance to the center of the moon changed, but because the moon itself changed in diameter. Unfortunately, due to the divergence of a laser beam and the precision requirements, this isnt an experimentally feasible measurement. Meanwhile, LIGO attempts to measure gravitational-wave-induced phase shifts produced by reflections between earthbound mirrors, but This change is really too small of a quantity to measure. The phase shift is supposed to be a fraction of the width of a proton - or the width of a hair relative to the distance to Alpha Centauri and back. We have no experimental knowledge of how atomic dimensions within mirrors respond to changes in gravity and we have no direct knowledge of how gravitational waves couple to individual particles. (note that I used the words changes and couple to because we are not concerned with steady states.) That is probably the reason that LIGO avoids framing their experiment in terms of atomic contraction as I have done and instead they tell us that space stretches and contracts at different rates for gravitational and light waves. I wholly disapprove of this manner of speech because it invites sloppy thinking. One can describe space as a coordinate system against which matter moves, stretches, and contracts, or one can describe space as something which contracts and stretches when waves travel through it. LIGO has chosen the latter convention and it is bad because it avoids any description of a physical mechanism. You cant. The bubbles in Archimedes bathtub make this clear. The original Michelson-Morely experiment made this clear as well. I would believe in LIGO if there were an experiment running in parallel which used a completely different mechanism to measure the same effect, but the other options are no more promising than LIGO. You could try to measure a relative change in mass via tiny temperature changes or by counting the number of particles popping into and out of existence, but we cant get enough statistics over a short enough time step to measure this with the required precision. 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:

A gravity wave is a change in gravity as a function of time and space. The amount of mass would change as a function of space and time.

pegasus

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/14/how-do-gravity-waves-affect-mass/

How Do Gravity Waves Affect Mass?

originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Kirsten Hacker, post-doc Accelerator Physics, on Quora: When I see a question on gravity waves, Emily Dickensons poem often comes to mind. Tell all the truth but tell it slant Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight The Truth's superb surprise As Lightning to the Children eased With explanation kind The Truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind The reason for this is that everybody approaches the topic with a different angle and it becomes very hard to figure out who is correct but speaking in an obscure language and who is incorrect but speaking in a popular language. When the tower of Babel gets high, everyone starts speaking different languages. With this in mind, I feel invited to approach the topic figuratively with the most painfully literal tools in my arsenal: Archimedes bathtub stories. A gravity wave is a change in gravity as a function of time and space. The amount of mass would change as a function of space and time, but if every mass in a system changes at precisely the same rate, no single mass would have any ability to detect any change because a measurement of mass is relative. To motivate intuition, Ill translate the question into something more tactile: Q: A bubble held underwater in Archimedes bathtub is slowly squeezed by a pressure-wave. At the same time, short, transverse waves reflect off of the compressed bubble and experience a slight phase shift as a result of the pressure wave. A: If the mass of the bubble is defined by the motion of the particles in the bubble relative to the water, then pressurization produces a change in mass through temperature change and rotation change. The phase shift of the reflected waves is sensitive to how quickly a change in bubble diameter becomes a change in temperature and rotation because increased internal motion would tend to counteract the compression. If there is a significant delay between the compression and the increase in internal motion, then the reflected transverse waves will measure the pressure-wave. If there is not a significant delay, they will not. This picture could be redefined such that the bubble is the earth and the long, slow pressure wave is a gravity wave coming in from deep space. If gravity waves change the relative masses of the earth and the moon, then we would detect small changes in the phase of light waves reflected off of the moon - not because the distance to the center of the moon changed, but because the moon itself changed in diameter. Unfortunately, due to the divergence of a laser beam and the precision requirements, this isnt an experimentally feasible measurement. Meanwhile, LIGO attempts to measure gravitational-wave-induced phase shifts produced by reflections between earthbound mirrors, but This change is really too small of a quantity to measure. The phase shift is supposed to be a fraction of the width of a proton - or the width of a hair relative to the distance to Alpha Centauri and back. We have no experimental knowledge of how atomic dimensions within mirrors respond to changes in gravity and we have no direct knowledge of how gravitational waves couple to individual particles. (note that I used the words changes and couple to because we are not concerned with steady states.) That is probably the reason that LIGO avoids framing their experiment in terms of atomic contraction as I have done and instead they tell us that space stretches and contracts at different rates for gravitational and light waves. I wholly disapprove of this manner of speech because it invites sloppy thinking. One can describe space as a coordinate system against which matter moves, stretches, and contracts, or one can describe space as something which contracts and stretches when waves travel through it. LIGO has chosen the latter convention and it is bad because it avoids any description of a physical mechanism. You cant. The bubbles in Archimedes bathtub make this clear. The original Michelson-Morely experiment made this clear as well. I would believe in LIGO if there were an experiment running in parallel which used a completely different mechanism to measure the same effect, but the other options are no more promising than LIGO. You could try to measure a relative change in mass via tiny temperature changes or by counting the number of particles popping into and out of existence, but we cant get enough statistics over a short enough time step to measure this with the required precision. 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:

A gravity wave is a change in gravity as a function of time and space. The amount of mass would change as a function of space and time. If every mass in a system changes at precisely the same rate, no single mass would have any ability to detect any change.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/14/how-do-gravity-waves-affect-mass/