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Could Craig Kimbrel's return to Red Sox be "a foregone conclusion"? | originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com He may not get that six-year deal his agent said he was initially looking for, but Craig Kimbrel is likely headed back to the Red Sox after finding a surprisingly tepid free agent market for a 30-year-old closer who's 14th on the all-time saves list with 333. Scroll to continue with content Ad That's the conclusion of veteran baseball writer Richard Justice of MLB.com. In his rundown of potential landing spots for the seven remaining high-profile, free-agent relievers, Justice writes of Kimbrel: He might not get the six-year deal the Red Sox have resisted giving the 30-year-old right-hander. But he could still match the largest contract ever given a closer, that being the five-year, $86 million deal Aroldis Chapman got from the Yankees two offseasons ago. With the loss of Kelly and the lack of a proven closer being the only real question for the defending champions, Kimbrel's destination seems a foregone conclusion. Joe Kelly signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving the Sox closer options dwindling, though Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and Alex Cora have expressed faith in setup men Ryan Brasier and Matt Barnes to close. Dombrowski also stated publicly at the winter meetings that the team wasn't planning on "big expenditures on an elite closer." Still, if Kimbrel's price comes down and a veteran closer is preferred, a Kimbrel reunion could make sense, as NBC Sports Boston Red Sox Insider Evan Drellich reported earlier this winter. Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device. NBC SPORTS BOSTON SCHEDULE | Craig Kimbrel could return to the Boston Red Sox. The 30-year-old is 14th on the all-time saves list with 333. Joe Kelly signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. | pegasus | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-craig-kimbrels-return-red-222753053.html?src=rss | 0.206265 |
Could Craig Kimbrel's return to Red Sox be "a foregone conclusion"? | originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com He may not get that six-year deal his agent said he was initially looking for, but Craig Kimbrel is likely headed back to the Red Sox after finding a surprisingly tepid free agent market for a 30-year-old closer who's 14th on the all-time saves list with 333. Scroll to continue with content Ad That's the conclusion of veteran baseball writer Richard Justice of MLB.com. In his rundown of potential landing spots for the seven remaining high-profile, free-agent relievers, Justice writes of Kimbrel: He might not get the six-year deal the Red Sox have resisted giving the 30-year-old right-hander. But he could still match the largest contract ever given a closer, that being the five-year, $86 million deal Aroldis Chapman got from the Yankees two offseasons ago. With the loss of Kelly and the lack of a proven closer being the only real question for the defending champions, Kimbrel's destination seems a foregone conclusion. Joe Kelly signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving the Sox closer options dwindling, though Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and Alex Cora have expressed faith in setup men Ryan Brasier and Matt Barnes to close. Dombrowski also stated publicly at the winter meetings that the team wasn't planning on "big expenditures on an elite closer." Still, if Kimbrel's price comes down and a veteran closer is preferred, a Kimbrel reunion could make sense, as NBC Sports Boston Red Sox Insider Evan Drellich reported earlier this winter. Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device. NBC SPORTS BOSTON SCHEDULE | Craig Kimbrel is likely headed back to the Red Sox after finding a surprisingly tepid free agent market. The 30-year-old right-hander could still match the largest contract ever given a closer, that being the five-year, $86 million deal Aroldis Chapman got from the Yankees. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-craig-kimbrels-return-red-222753053.html?src=rss | 0.24208 |
Should Trump withdraw from Afghanistan? | Almost immediately after President Trump directed the Pentagon withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria, he ordered a reduction of U.S. forces in Afghanistanmore than 7,000 soldiers, which is about half of the current force. Given the hysterical reaction of Washingtons foreign policy establishment about the presidents Syria decision, there will certainly be an even more shrill the sky is falling chorus regarding Afghanistan. But whatever one thinks of the presidents temperament, his management style, and the decision-making process (or lack thereof), his decision about Syria was the right thing to do, and so is his decision to pull back in Afghanistan. After more than 17 years, its well past time to wind down Americas longest war. It is important to remember the original mission in Afghanistan authorized by Congress was to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons. In other words, Usama bin Laden, al Qaeda, and the then Taliban-led government in Afghanistan (because they gave safe haven to bin Laden and al Qaeda.) The Taliban was driven from power in a matter of weeks. Over the next few years, al Qaedas senior leadership was disrupted and scatteredlargely to neighboring Pakistan. And in May 2011, Usama bin Laden was found and killed by U.S. Special Operations Forces. So the original mission has been long since accomplished. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON AFGHANISTAN AT FOXNEWS.COM Yet along the way, well before bin Laden was killed, the mission morphed into propping up the fledgling Karzai government in Kabul. As such, the U.S. military effort was no longer about going after those who were responsible for 9/11, but became an exercise in democratic nation-building. Buthowever desirable a representative, multiethnic, democratic government in Afghanistan would beit is not an absolute necessity for U.S. national security. The overriding requirement is that whatever government controls Afghanistan, it understands that the United States will not tolerate support for or the harboring of any terrorist group with global reach that directly threatens the United Stateseven if such a government is not a friendly government. Al Qaeda and ISIS are terrorist threats in Afghanistan, but neither are a direct, existential threat to the American homeland. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Moreover, we cant commit the military resources required to fight a war in Afghanistan, a fact that policymakers have been unwilling to acknowledge or discuss with the American public. According to FM3-24, the U.S. Army's counterinsurgency manual, "Twenty counterinsurgents per 1000 residents is often considered the minimum troop density required for effective COIN [counterinsurgency] operations." With a population of over 33 million, a force of 660,000 troops would be needed in Afghanistan. For a sense of scale, the total U.S. Army active duty force is less than 500,000 soldiers. It's also worth noting that peak U.S. troop deployment during the Vietnam War was more than 500,000 soldiers and we did not win that counterinsurgent operation. Even if the whole of Afghanistan doesn't need to be secured, it is still a bridge too far. According to the most recent Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) quarterly report, 11.6 million Afghans live in areas either under the control of, or contested by, insurgents. That would require 232,000 troops, which is more than double the peak U.S. troop deployment in Afghanistan of roughly 100,000 soldiers and some 15 times more than the current force in Afghanistan. Finally, cost cannot be ignored. According to the Pentagon, the war in Afghanistan is costing $45 billion per year. A report published last year by the Center for Strategic and International Studies concluded that Department of Defense (DoD) Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding for the Afghan conflict from Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 to FY 2018 would be more than $840 billion. However, one estimate has the war costing more than $1 trillion to date and another estimates total war spending for Afghanistan at roughly $2 trillion when other war-related costs are included. No wonder a recent survey found that 57 percent of Americans, including 69 percent of military veterans, said they would support a decision by the president to remove all troops from Afghanistan. It would be easy to dismiss President Trumps decision to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan as simply a political decision in which Trump is making good on a campaign promise. The reality is that it reflects what Americans want because they understand that a continued U.S. military presence Afghanistan no longer is in our national security interest its a conflict we dont need to fight, cant win, and cant afford. | President Trump ordered a reduction of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. | bart | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/should-trump-withdraw-from-afghanistan | 0.166227 |
Should Trump withdraw from Afghanistan? | Almost immediately after President Trump directed the Pentagon withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria, he ordered a reduction of U.S. forces in Afghanistanmore than 7,000 soldiers, which is about half of the current force. Given the hysterical reaction of Washingtons foreign policy establishment about the presidents Syria decision, there will certainly be an even more shrill the sky is falling chorus regarding Afghanistan. But whatever one thinks of the presidents temperament, his management style, and the decision-making process (or lack thereof), his decision about Syria was the right thing to do, and so is his decision to pull back in Afghanistan. After more than 17 years, its well past time to wind down Americas longest war. It is important to remember the original mission in Afghanistan authorized by Congress was to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons. In other words, Usama bin Laden, al Qaeda, and the then Taliban-led government in Afghanistan (because they gave safe haven to bin Laden and al Qaeda.) The Taliban was driven from power in a matter of weeks. Over the next few years, al Qaedas senior leadership was disrupted and scatteredlargely to neighboring Pakistan. And in May 2011, Usama bin Laden was found and killed by U.S. Special Operations Forces. So the original mission has been long since accomplished. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON AFGHANISTAN AT FOXNEWS.COM Yet along the way, well before bin Laden was killed, the mission morphed into propping up the fledgling Karzai government in Kabul. As such, the U.S. military effort was no longer about going after those who were responsible for 9/11, but became an exercise in democratic nation-building. Buthowever desirable a representative, multiethnic, democratic government in Afghanistan would beit is not an absolute necessity for U.S. national security. The overriding requirement is that whatever government controls Afghanistan, it understands that the United States will not tolerate support for or the harboring of any terrorist group with global reach that directly threatens the United Stateseven if such a government is not a friendly government. Al Qaeda and ISIS are terrorist threats in Afghanistan, but neither are a direct, existential threat to the American homeland. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Moreover, we cant commit the military resources required to fight a war in Afghanistan, a fact that policymakers have been unwilling to acknowledge or discuss with the American public. According to FM3-24, the U.S. Army's counterinsurgency manual, "Twenty counterinsurgents per 1000 residents is often considered the minimum troop density required for effective COIN [counterinsurgency] operations." With a population of over 33 million, a force of 660,000 troops would be needed in Afghanistan. For a sense of scale, the total U.S. Army active duty force is less than 500,000 soldiers. It's also worth noting that peak U.S. troop deployment during the Vietnam War was more than 500,000 soldiers and we did not win that counterinsurgent operation. Even if the whole of Afghanistan doesn't need to be secured, it is still a bridge too far. According to the most recent Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) quarterly report, 11.6 million Afghans live in areas either under the control of, or contested by, insurgents. That would require 232,000 troops, which is more than double the peak U.S. troop deployment in Afghanistan of roughly 100,000 soldiers and some 15 times more than the current force in Afghanistan. Finally, cost cannot be ignored. According to the Pentagon, the war in Afghanistan is costing $45 billion per year. A report published last year by the Center for Strategic and International Studies concluded that Department of Defense (DoD) Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding for the Afghan conflict from Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 to FY 2018 would be more than $840 billion. However, one estimate has the war costing more than $1 trillion to date and another estimates total war spending for Afghanistan at roughly $2 trillion when other war-related costs are included. No wonder a recent survey found that 57 percent of Americans, including 69 percent of military veterans, said they would support a decision by the president to remove all troops from Afghanistan. It would be easy to dismiss President Trumps decision to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan as simply a political decision in which Trump is making good on a campaign promise. The reality is that it reflects what Americans want because they understand that a continued U.S. military presence Afghanistan no longer is in our national security interest its a conflict we dont need to fight, cant win, and cant afford. | President Trump ordered a reduction of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Peter Bergen: It's well past time to wind down Americas longest war. He says the original mission in Afghanistan was to go after those responsible for 9/11. | bart | 2 | https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/should-trump-withdraw-from-afghanistan | 0.136818 |
Can Marijuana Stop Beer Sales From Falling? | As more states legalize marijuana, speculation has grown about the potential for it to be the catalyst that finally reverses the years-long decline in the beer industry. Yet as Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD) becomes the latest brewer to partner with a marijuana producer, investors ought to step back, ignore the buzz, and ask themselves whether this is more fad than trend. Brewers often latch onto gimmicks, like ice beer, imperials, nitros, the oxymoronic black IPAs (it's an India pale ale after all), or the new New England IPAs that are cloudy rather than clear. You can still find these beers on store shelves, but their heyday has largely come and gone. Although marijuana-infused beer appears to be another publicity stunt that will eventually fade away to become a niche product, this time brewers are paying tens of millions of dollars -- sometimes hundreds of millions -- for the privilege. Female and male smoking marijuana and drinking beer More The law prohibits you from getting high and catching a buzz from a single beverage. Image source: Getty Images. Canna-beer is here Legal weed is still a new phenomenon, and because it's not yet national it still has a mystique that makes pairing suds and buds a seemingly forbidden pleasure. While Boston Beer and distiller Brown-Forman have warned in their SEC filings for years that legalization is a threat to alcoholic beverages because of the so-called substitution effect, there have been brewers that have been offering a happy mix from the beginning. In Colorado, where marijuana has been legal longest, Dad & Dude's Breweria has been successfully selling a cannabis-infused beer for years, and Oregon's Coalition Brewing has introduced several varieties of beer made with cannabidiol (CBD). Similarly, Heineken's Lagunitas introduced its SuperCritical limited edition ale made with terpenes, which is responsible for the cannabis plant's unique aroma and flavor, while Vermont's Long Trail Brewing made a limited run IPA-like beer made with cannabis compounds. Although these beers were popular when introduced and enjoy a cult-like following, it's only because of their newness and the heightened attention to legal weed that they got off the ground. Marijuana is now attracting the big guns of the business, like Anheuser-Busch, which paid $50 million to partner with Tilray; Constellation Brands, which initially bought a 9.9% stake in Canopy Growth early last year for $190 million and then added another $4 billion investment later in the year; and Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP), which is forming a joint venture with Hydropothecary (NASDAQOTH: HYYDF), in which the brewer will have the controlling interest as it pursues cannabis-infused beverages. Legal implications But it's not as if you're going to get high while having a beer. The government doesn't allow the psychoactive compounds of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, to be mixed with alcohol, which is why CBD and terpenes are most often used (there are over 100 cannabinoids, or the chemical compounds secreted by cannabis flowers that are found in both cannabis and hemp plants). So if you're buying a marijuana-infused beer thinking you will feel the effects from both, you're likely going to be disappointed. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) has pretty strict standards about what products brewers and distillers can use in their alcoholic beverages and what the labels can say. Brewers have to submit lab analyses of their products stating whether they're using oils, seeds, or some other component of the plant; how much THC, if any, is detected; and submit a sample to be tested by the TTB. Also, no words, description, images, slang, etc. can be used "implying or referencing the presence of hemp, marijuana, any other controlled substance; or any psychoactive effects." | As more states legalize marijuana, speculation has grown about the potential for it to be the catalyst for reversing the years-long decline in the beer industry. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/marijuana-stop-beer-sales-falling-135900428.html | 0.152904 |
Can Marijuana Stop Beer Sales From Falling? | As more states legalize marijuana, speculation has grown about the potential for it to be the catalyst that finally reverses the years-long decline in the beer industry. Yet as Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD) becomes the latest brewer to partner with a marijuana producer, investors ought to step back, ignore the buzz, and ask themselves whether this is more fad than trend. Brewers often latch onto gimmicks, like ice beer, imperials, nitros, the oxymoronic black IPAs (it's an India pale ale after all), or the new New England IPAs that are cloudy rather than clear. You can still find these beers on store shelves, but their heyday has largely come and gone. Although marijuana-infused beer appears to be another publicity stunt that will eventually fade away to become a niche product, this time brewers are paying tens of millions of dollars -- sometimes hundreds of millions -- for the privilege. Female and male smoking marijuana and drinking beer More The law prohibits you from getting high and catching a buzz from a single beverage. Image source: Getty Images. Canna-beer is here Legal weed is still a new phenomenon, and because it's not yet national it still has a mystique that makes pairing suds and buds a seemingly forbidden pleasure. While Boston Beer and distiller Brown-Forman have warned in their SEC filings for years that legalization is a threat to alcoholic beverages because of the so-called substitution effect, there have been brewers that have been offering a happy mix from the beginning. In Colorado, where marijuana has been legal longest, Dad & Dude's Breweria has been successfully selling a cannabis-infused beer for years, and Oregon's Coalition Brewing has introduced several varieties of beer made with cannabidiol (CBD). Similarly, Heineken's Lagunitas introduced its SuperCritical limited edition ale made with terpenes, which is responsible for the cannabis plant's unique aroma and flavor, while Vermont's Long Trail Brewing made a limited run IPA-like beer made with cannabis compounds. Although these beers were popular when introduced and enjoy a cult-like following, it's only because of their newness and the heightened attention to legal weed that they got off the ground. Marijuana is now attracting the big guns of the business, like Anheuser-Busch, which paid $50 million to partner with Tilray; Constellation Brands, which initially bought a 9.9% stake in Canopy Growth early last year for $190 million and then added another $4 billion investment later in the year; and Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP), which is forming a joint venture with Hydropothecary (NASDAQOTH: HYYDF), in which the brewer will have the controlling interest as it pursues cannabis-infused beverages. Legal implications But it's not as if you're going to get high while having a beer. The government doesn't allow the psychoactive compounds of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, to be mixed with alcohol, which is why CBD and terpenes are most often used (there are over 100 cannabinoids, or the chemical compounds secreted by cannabis flowers that are found in both cannabis and hemp plants). So if you're buying a marijuana-infused beer thinking you will feel the effects from both, you're likely going to be disappointed. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) has pretty strict standards about what products brewers and distillers can use in their alcoholic beverages and what the labels can say. Brewers have to submit lab analyses of their products stating whether they're using oils, seeds, or some other component of the plant; how much THC, if any, is detected; and submit a sample to be tested by the TTB. Also, no words, description, images, slang, etc. can be used "implying or referencing the presence of hemp, marijuana, any other controlled substance; or any psychoactive effects." | As more states legalize marijuana, speculation has grown about the potential for it to be the catalyst for reversing the years-long decline in the beer industry. But marijuana-infused beer appears to be another publicity stunt that will eventually fade away. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/marijuana-stop-beer-sales-falling-135900428.html | 0.163754 |
Can Marijuana Stop Beer Sales From Falling? | As more states legalize marijuana, speculation has grown about the potential for it to be the catalyst that finally reverses the years-long decline in the beer industry. Yet as Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD) becomes the latest brewer to partner with a marijuana producer, investors ought to step back, ignore the buzz, and ask themselves whether this is more fad than trend. Brewers often latch onto gimmicks, like ice beer, imperials, nitros, the oxymoronic black IPAs (it's an India pale ale after all), or the new New England IPAs that are cloudy rather than clear. You can still find these beers on store shelves, but their heyday has largely come and gone. Although marijuana-infused beer appears to be another publicity stunt that will eventually fade away to become a niche product, this time brewers are paying tens of millions of dollars -- sometimes hundreds of millions -- for the privilege. Female and male smoking marijuana and drinking beer More The law prohibits you from getting high and catching a buzz from a single beverage. Image source: Getty Images. Canna-beer is here Legal weed is still a new phenomenon, and because it's not yet national it still has a mystique that makes pairing suds and buds a seemingly forbidden pleasure. While Boston Beer and distiller Brown-Forman have warned in their SEC filings for years that legalization is a threat to alcoholic beverages because of the so-called substitution effect, there have been brewers that have been offering a happy mix from the beginning. In Colorado, where marijuana has been legal longest, Dad & Dude's Breweria has been successfully selling a cannabis-infused beer for years, and Oregon's Coalition Brewing has introduced several varieties of beer made with cannabidiol (CBD). Similarly, Heineken's Lagunitas introduced its SuperCritical limited edition ale made with terpenes, which is responsible for the cannabis plant's unique aroma and flavor, while Vermont's Long Trail Brewing made a limited run IPA-like beer made with cannabis compounds. Although these beers were popular when introduced and enjoy a cult-like following, it's only because of their newness and the heightened attention to legal weed that they got off the ground. Marijuana is now attracting the big guns of the business, like Anheuser-Busch, which paid $50 million to partner with Tilray; Constellation Brands, which initially bought a 9.9% stake in Canopy Growth early last year for $190 million and then added another $4 billion investment later in the year; and Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP), which is forming a joint venture with Hydropothecary (NASDAQOTH: HYYDF), in which the brewer will have the controlling interest as it pursues cannabis-infused beverages. Legal implications But it's not as if you're going to get high while having a beer. The government doesn't allow the psychoactive compounds of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, to be mixed with alcohol, which is why CBD and terpenes are most often used (there are over 100 cannabinoids, or the chemical compounds secreted by cannabis flowers that are found in both cannabis and hemp plants). So if you're buying a marijuana-infused beer thinking you will feel the effects from both, you're likely going to be disappointed. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) has pretty strict standards about what products brewers and distillers can use in their alcoholic beverages and what the labels can say. Brewers have to submit lab analyses of their products stating whether they're using oils, seeds, or some other component of the plant; how much THC, if any, is detected; and submit a sample to be tested by the TTB. Also, no words, description, images, slang, etc. can be used "implying or referencing the presence of hemp, marijuana, any other controlled substance; or any psychoactive effects." | As more states legalize marijuana, speculation has grown about the potential for it to be the catalyst that finally reverses the years-long decline in the beer industry. But marijuana-infused beer appears to be another publicity stunt that will eventually fade away to become a niche product. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/marijuana-stop-beer-sales-falling-135900428.html | 0.162878 |
Why Is Big Lots (BIG) Down 25.3% Since Last Earnings Report? | Big Lots (BIG) reported earnings 30 days ago. We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues. A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Big Lots (BIG). Shares have lost about 25.3% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. Big Lots Slumps on Q3 Earnings Miss, Cuts FY18 View Big Lots reported dismal third-quarter fiscal 2018 earnings wherein earnings lagged estimates for the third straight quarter, while sales beat the same. Moreover, the company lowered its earnings guidance for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2018, which is discouraging. Lets Delve Deeper This Columbus, OH-based company posted adjusted loss of 16 cents a share compared with earnings of 6 cents in the prior-year quarter. Further, the figure was wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 1 cent. The bottom line also fell short of the companys guidance for earnings of 4 cents to a loss of 6 cents. Net sales grew 3.6% to $1,149.4 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,139 million. Top-line growth was backed positive comparable store sales (comps) and the fiscal calendar shift, partly negated by reduced store count. Comps improved 3.4%, in line with the companys guidance of 2-4% increase. This marked the second consecutive quarter of positive comps. While the companys gross profit increased 3.5% year over year to $459.2 million, gross margin contracted 10 basis points to 39.9%. This was due to high seasonal markdown rate and elevated costs owing to higher tariff. In the reported quarter, SG&A expenses came in at $436.8 million, up 7% year over year. Operating loss was $9.6 million compared with operating income of $5.8 million in the prior-year quarter. Other Financial Details The company ended the fiscal third quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $61.9 million. Inventories were up 3.4% to $1,073.9 million. Total shareholders equity was $592.7 million. Long-term obligations under the bank credit facility totalled $488 million. Big Lots capital expenditures for the fiscal third quarter were $76 million compared with $42 million in the prior-year quarter. Year to date, the company has returned about $139 million to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. Big Lots has announced a cash dividend of 30 cents per share on Dec 4, payable on Dec 28, 2018. This amounted to dividend payment of nearly $12 million made in December. In the fiscal third quarter, Big Lots opened 15 outlets and shut 15. The company ended the quarter with a total number of 1,415 stores. Guidance Following a soft fiscal third quarter and a flattish start to the fourth, mainly in November, the company lowered its comps and earnings guidance for the fiscal fourth quarter. Further, the company trimmed its earnings outlook for fiscal 2018. For the fiscal fourth quarter, comps are now expected to be flat to up 2%. Due to soft comps, lower gross margin and higher expenses compared with last year, the company trimmed its earnings view. Management now expects earnings of $2.20-$2.40 per share, down from the previous guidance of $2.90-$3.00. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.10 per share. For fiscal 2018, adjusted earnings per share are projected to be $3.55-$3.75 compared with the prior guidance of $4.40-$4.55. We note that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fiscal is pegged at $4.44, which might witness a downward revision. Big Lots expects comps to increase roughly 1% in fiscal 2018. Moreover, the company expects cash flow generation of nearly $10-$20 million, which is significantly lower than $100 million anticipated earlier. It turns out, fresh estimates have trended downward during the past month. The consensus estimate has shifted -21.38% due to these changes. VGM Scores At this time, Big Lots has a poor Growth Score of F, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a D. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy. | Big Lots (BIG) reported earnings 30 days ago. Shares have lost about 25.3% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Big Lots reported dismal third-quarter fiscal 2018 earnings. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/why-big-lots-big-down-143002354.html | 0.358197 |
Why Is Big Lots (BIG) Down 25.3% Since Last Earnings Report? | Big Lots (BIG) reported earnings 30 days ago. We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues. A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Big Lots (BIG). Shares have lost about 25.3% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. Big Lots Slumps on Q3 Earnings Miss, Cuts FY18 View Big Lots reported dismal third-quarter fiscal 2018 earnings wherein earnings lagged estimates for the third straight quarter, while sales beat the same. Moreover, the company lowered its earnings guidance for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2018, which is discouraging. Lets Delve Deeper This Columbus, OH-based company posted adjusted loss of 16 cents a share compared with earnings of 6 cents in the prior-year quarter. Further, the figure was wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 1 cent. The bottom line also fell short of the companys guidance for earnings of 4 cents to a loss of 6 cents. Net sales grew 3.6% to $1,149.4 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,139 million. Top-line growth was backed positive comparable store sales (comps) and the fiscal calendar shift, partly negated by reduced store count. Comps improved 3.4%, in line with the companys guidance of 2-4% increase. This marked the second consecutive quarter of positive comps. While the companys gross profit increased 3.5% year over year to $459.2 million, gross margin contracted 10 basis points to 39.9%. This was due to high seasonal markdown rate and elevated costs owing to higher tariff. In the reported quarter, SG&A expenses came in at $436.8 million, up 7% year over year. Operating loss was $9.6 million compared with operating income of $5.8 million in the prior-year quarter. Other Financial Details The company ended the fiscal third quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $61.9 million. Inventories were up 3.4% to $1,073.9 million. Total shareholders equity was $592.7 million. Long-term obligations under the bank credit facility totalled $488 million. Big Lots capital expenditures for the fiscal third quarter were $76 million compared with $42 million in the prior-year quarter. Year to date, the company has returned about $139 million to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. Big Lots has announced a cash dividend of 30 cents per share on Dec 4, payable on Dec 28, 2018. This amounted to dividend payment of nearly $12 million made in December. In the fiscal third quarter, Big Lots opened 15 outlets and shut 15. The company ended the quarter with a total number of 1,415 stores. Guidance Following a soft fiscal third quarter and a flattish start to the fourth, mainly in November, the company lowered its comps and earnings guidance for the fiscal fourth quarter. Further, the company trimmed its earnings outlook for fiscal 2018. For the fiscal fourth quarter, comps are now expected to be flat to up 2%. Due to soft comps, lower gross margin and higher expenses compared with last year, the company trimmed its earnings view. Management now expects earnings of $2.20-$2.40 per share, down from the previous guidance of $2.90-$3.00. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.10 per share. For fiscal 2018, adjusted earnings per share are projected to be $3.55-$3.75 compared with the prior guidance of $4.40-$4.55. We note that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fiscal is pegged at $4.44, which might witness a downward revision. Big Lots expects comps to increase roughly 1% in fiscal 2018. Moreover, the company expects cash flow generation of nearly $10-$20 million, which is significantly lower than $100 million anticipated earlier. It turns out, fresh estimates have trended downward during the past month. The consensus estimate has shifted -21.38% due to these changes. VGM Scores At this time, Big Lots has a poor Growth Score of F, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a D. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy. | Big Lots (BIG) reported earnings 30 days ago. Shares have lost about 25.3% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Big Lots reported dismal third-quarter fiscal 2018 earnings wherein earnings lagged estimates for the third straight quarter, while sales beat the same. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/why-big-lots-big-down-143002354.html | 0.516348 |
Will Apple Raise Its Dividend in 2019? | Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has seen a lot of controversy lately, falling from its former leadership position atop the list of stocks with the highest market capitalizations. With concerns that iPhone sales are starting to struggle, many investors fear that Apple's high-growth days are long behind it. Yet one often-overlooked aspect of Apple's success is how it's returned capital to shareholders. Despite spending billions on stock buybacks over the years, Apple has also been committed to regularly raising its dividend. After boosting its payout by 16% in 2018, Apple reached the seven-year mark in making consecutive annual dividend increases. Let's look at Apple more closely to see what's in store for 2019. Dividend Stats on Apple Current quarterly dividend per share $0.73 Current yield 2% Number of consecutive years with dividend increases 7 years Payout ratio 25% Last increase May 2018 Data Source: Yahoo! Finance. Last increase refers to ex-dividend date. A short history of Apple's dividends For most of its existence, Apple didn't pay a dividend. That was consistent with how tech companies usually worked, instead reinvesting available cash back into their businesses. After starting out with a modest payout, Apple discontinued its dividends in the mid-1990s to focus more on growth opportunities. By 2012, though, Apple had achieved huge success. In response to having so much cash on its balance sheet and free cash flow coming in, Apple started paying a dividend again. The tech giant set an initial yield of about 2%, with a payout ratio of about 30% of its earnings. Outside view of an Apple Store at an outdoor mall with palm trees nearby. More Image source: Apple. In seven years, Apple's dividend yield hasn't really gone anywhere, but that's not for lack of trying. The stock has exploded higher, but the pace of the dividend increases that Apple has paid its shareholders has largely matched the stock's moves. Most of the company's hikes have been in the vicinity of 10% in recent years, but the most recent 16% boost marked an acceleration that stemmed in part from the positive future impact of tax reform. AAPL Dividend Chart More AAPL Dividend data by YCharts. Lately, investors have been in a near-panic about Apple's slowing revenue metrics. Just this past week, CEO Tim Cook warned that revenue would fall from year-ago levels to just $84 billion, with weakness in China and slower rates of upgrades among customers elsewhere weighing on sales. | Apple has raised its dividend for seven years in a row. The tech giant is expected to raise its payout by 16% in 2019. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/apple-raise-dividend-2019-170100776.html | 0.357163 |
Will Apple Raise Its Dividend in 2019? | Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has seen a lot of controversy lately, falling from its former leadership position atop the list of stocks with the highest market capitalizations. With concerns that iPhone sales are starting to struggle, many investors fear that Apple's high-growth days are long behind it. Yet one often-overlooked aspect of Apple's success is how it's returned capital to shareholders. Despite spending billions on stock buybacks over the years, Apple has also been committed to regularly raising its dividend. After boosting its payout by 16% in 2018, Apple reached the seven-year mark in making consecutive annual dividend increases. Let's look at Apple more closely to see what's in store for 2019. Dividend Stats on Apple Current quarterly dividend per share $0.73 Current yield 2% Number of consecutive years with dividend increases 7 years Payout ratio 25% Last increase May 2018 Data Source: Yahoo! Finance. Last increase refers to ex-dividend date. A short history of Apple's dividends For most of its existence, Apple didn't pay a dividend. That was consistent with how tech companies usually worked, instead reinvesting available cash back into their businesses. After starting out with a modest payout, Apple discontinued its dividends in the mid-1990s to focus more on growth opportunities. By 2012, though, Apple had achieved huge success. In response to having so much cash on its balance sheet and free cash flow coming in, Apple started paying a dividend again. The tech giant set an initial yield of about 2%, with a payout ratio of about 30% of its earnings. Outside view of an Apple Store at an outdoor mall with palm trees nearby. More Image source: Apple. In seven years, Apple's dividend yield hasn't really gone anywhere, but that's not for lack of trying. The stock has exploded higher, but the pace of the dividend increases that Apple has paid its shareholders has largely matched the stock's moves. Most of the company's hikes have been in the vicinity of 10% in recent years, but the most recent 16% boost marked an acceleration that stemmed in part from the positive future impact of tax reform. AAPL Dividend Chart More AAPL Dividend data by YCharts. Lately, investors have been in a near-panic about Apple's slowing revenue metrics. Just this past week, CEO Tim Cook warned that revenue would fall from year-ago levels to just $84 billion, with weakness in China and slower rates of upgrades among customers elsewhere weighing on sales. | Apple has raised its dividend for seven years in a row. The tech giant is expected to raise its payout by 16% in 2019. Apple's dividend yield hasn't really gone anywhere, but that's not for lack of trying. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/apple-raise-dividend-2019-170100776.html | 0.410713 |
Will Apple Raise Its Dividend in 2019? | Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has seen a lot of controversy lately, falling from its former leadership position atop the list of stocks with the highest market capitalizations. With concerns that iPhone sales are starting to struggle, many investors fear that Apple's high-growth days are long behind it. Yet one often-overlooked aspect of Apple's success is how it's returned capital to shareholders. Despite spending billions on stock buybacks over the years, Apple has also been committed to regularly raising its dividend. After boosting its payout by 16% in 2018, Apple reached the seven-year mark in making consecutive annual dividend increases. Let's look at Apple more closely to see what's in store for 2019. Dividend Stats on Apple Current quarterly dividend per share $0.73 Current yield 2% Number of consecutive years with dividend increases 7 years Payout ratio 25% Last increase May 2018 Data Source: Yahoo! Finance. Last increase refers to ex-dividend date. A short history of Apple's dividends For most of its existence, Apple didn't pay a dividend. That was consistent with how tech companies usually worked, instead reinvesting available cash back into their businesses. After starting out with a modest payout, Apple discontinued its dividends in the mid-1990s to focus more on growth opportunities. By 2012, though, Apple had achieved huge success. In response to having so much cash on its balance sheet and free cash flow coming in, Apple started paying a dividend again. The tech giant set an initial yield of about 2%, with a payout ratio of about 30% of its earnings. Outside view of an Apple Store at an outdoor mall with palm trees nearby. More Image source: Apple. In seven years, Apple's dividend yield hasn't really gone anywhere, but that's not for lack of trying. The stock has exploded higher, but the pace of the dividend increases that Apple has paid its shareholders has largely matched the stock's moves. Most of the company's hikes have been in the vicinity of 10% in recent years, but the most recent 16% boost marked an acceleration that stemmed in part from the positive future impact of tax reform. AAPL Dividend Chart More AAPL Dividend data by YCharts. Lately, investors have been in a near-panic about Apple's slowing revenue metrics. Just this past week, CEO Tim Cook warned that revenue would fall from year-ago levels to just $84 billion, with weakness in China and slower rates of upgrades among customers elsewhere weighing on sales. | Apple has raised its dividend for seven years in a row. The tech giant is expected to raise its payout by 16% in 2019. Apple's dividend yield hasn't really gone anywhere in the last seven years, but that's not for lack of trying, as the stock has exploded higher. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/apple-raise-dividend-2019-170100776.html | 0.428373 |
Who is set to win big at star-studded Golden Globes? | As the 76th annual Golden Globes get underway in Los Angeles, its Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born that is expected to dominate. The reinterpretation of the enduring Hollywood love story stars Lady Gaga alongside Cooper who also wrote and directed it has everything Hollywood loves fame, music, alcoholism and love. It's the favourite for taking out gongs in Best Picture (Drama), Best Actress (Drama) for Gaga, Best Song for Shallow and Best Actor (Drama) for Cooper. It's main competition is set to come from another musical film, Bohemian Rhapsody, whose star Rami Malek some believe could pull off the acting upset over Cooper. Advertisement Both films are up for Best Picture (Drama) against Black Panther, BlacKkKlansmanand If Beale Street Could Talk. Meanwhile, though the Christian Bale-led political drama Vice the story of former US vice-president Dick Cheney has six nominations (the most of any film), it is Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite, a period power struggle set in the 18th century English court of Queen Anne, that is the most decorated film of the bunch. So far this awards season, there has been no deviation from the acclaim for The Favourite trio of Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone. Sandra Oh (L) and Andy Samberg are hosting the Golden Globes. Photo / Getty Emily Blunt, nominated twice this year by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (Best Actress for Mary Poppins Returns and Best Supporting Actress for A Quiet Place) could give Colman a run for her money, as both are up for the Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) category. Last year's ceremony was the first major awards show after the birth of the #MeToo movement. Female attendees wore black in solidarity, with presenter Natalie Portman pointedly introduced the "all male" directing nominees. A year later, Hollywood remains consumed with gender inequality and highly placed men have continued to fall. But this year's best director nominees are also all male again. Up for the director's gong alongside Cooper are Alfonso Cuaron (Roma), Peter Farrelly (Green Book), Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman) and Adam McKay (Vice). How much these subjects will be discussed in the broadcast, to be hosted by the unexpected pairing of Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh, is unknown. Samberg and Oh have said they're hoping to set a lively and carefree tone. Oh, the star of the BBC America drama series Killing Eve, is also a nominee. Actor Christian Bale. Photo / Getty The lines between film and TV are particularly blurred at this year's Globes as more and more Hollywood stars take roles on the small screen. In fact, there are just as many movie stars nominated in the TV categories as there are in the film categories. Among them: Julia Roberts (Homecoming), Jim Carrey (Kidding), Amy Adams (up for both film Vice and TV miniseries Sharp Objects) Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method), Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose), Penelope Cruz (The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story), Patricia Arquette (Escape At Dannemora), Hugh Grant (A Very English Scandal) and Laura Dern (The Tale). | Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born is expected to dominate at the Golden Globes. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12186499 | 0.18238 |
Who is set to win big at star-studded Golden Globes? | As the 76th annual Golden Globes get underway in Los Angeles, its Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born that is expected to dominate. The reinterpretation of the enduring Hollywood love story stars Lady Gaga alongside Cooper who also wrote and directed it has everything Hollywood loves fame, music, alcoholism and love. It's the favourite for taking out gongs in Best Picture (Drama), Best Actress (Drama) for Gaga, Best Song for Shallow and Best Actor (Drama) for Cooper. It's main competition is set to come from another musical film, Bohemian Rhapsody, whose star Rami Malek some believe could pull off the acting upset over Cooper. Advertisement Both films are up for Best Picture (Drama) against Black Panther, BlacKkKlansmanand If Beale Street Could Talk. Meanwhile, though the Christian Bale-led political drama Vice the story of former US vice-president Dick Cheney has six nominations (the most of any film), it is Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite, a period power struggle set in the 18th century English court of Queen Anne, that is the most decorated film of the bunch. So far this awards season, there has been no deviation from the acclaim for The Favourite trio of Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone. Sandra Oh (L) and Andy Samberg are hosting the Golden Globes. Photo / Getty Emily Blunt, nominated twice this year by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (Best Actress for Mary Poppins Returns and Best Supporting Actress for A Quiet Place) could give Colman a run for her money, as both are up for the Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) category. Last year's ceremony was the first major awards show after the birth of the #MeToo movement. Female attendees wore black in solidarity, with presenter Natalie Portman pointedly introduced the "all male" directing nominees. A year later, Hollywood remains consumed with gender inequality and highly placed men have continued to fall. But this year's best director nominees are also all male again. Up for the director's gong alongside Cooper are Alfonso Cuaron (Roma), Peter Farrelly (Green Book), Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman) and Adam McKay (Vice). How much these subjects will be discussed in the broadcast, to be hosted by the unexpected pairing of Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh, is unknown. Samberg and Oh have said they're hoping to set a lively and carefree tone. Oh, the star of the BBC America drama series Killing Eve, is also a nominee. Actor Christian Bale. Photo / Getty The lines between film and TV are particularly blurred at this year's Globes as more and more Hollywood stars take roles on the small screen. In fact, there are just as many movie stars nominated in the TV categories as there are in the film categories. Among them: Julia Roberts (Homecoming), Jim Carrey (Kidding), Amy Adams (up for both film Vice and TV miniseries Sharp Objects) Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method), Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose), Penelope Cruz (The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story), Patricia Arquette (Escape At Dannemora), Hugh Grant (A Very English Scandal) and Laura Dern (The Tale). | The 76th annual Golden Globes get underway in Los Angeles. A Star Is Born is expected to dominate, while The Favourite is the most decorated film of the bunch. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12186499 | 0.176012 |
Who is set to win big at star-studded Golden Globes? | As the 76th annual Golden Globes get underway in Los Angeles, its Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born that is expected to dominate. The reinterpretation of the enduring Hollywood love story stars Lady Gaga alongside Cooper who also wrote and directed it has everything Hollywood loves fame, music, alcoholism and love. It's the favourite for taking out gongs in Best Picture (Drama), Best Actress (Drama) for Gaga, Best Song for Shallow and Best Actor (Drama) for Cooper. It's main competition is set to come from another musical film, Bohemian Rhapsody, whose star Rami Malek some believe could pull off the acting upset over Cooper. Advertisement Both films are up for Best Picture (Drama) against Black Panther, BlacKkKlansmanand If Beale Street Could Talk. Meanwhile, though the Christian Bale-led political drama Vice the story of former US vice-president Dick Cheney has six nominations (the most of any film), it is Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite, a period power struggle set in the 18th century English court of Queen Anne, that is the most decorated film of the bunch. So far this awards season, there has been no deviation from the acclaim for The Favourite trio of Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone. Sandra Oh (L) and Andy Samberg are hosting the Golden Globes. Photo / Getty Emily Blunt, nominated twice this year by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (Best Actress for Mary Poppins Returns and Best Supporting Actress for A Quiet Place) could give Colman a run for her money, as both are up for the Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) category. Last year's ceremony was the first major awards show after the birth of the #MeToo movement. Female attendees wore black in solidarity, with presenter Natalie Portman pointedly introduced the "all male" directing nominees. A year later, Hollywood remains consumed with gender inequality and highly placed men have continued to fall. But this year's best director nominees are also all male again. Up for the director's gong alongside Cooper are Alfonso Cuaron (Roma), Peter Farrelly (Green Book), Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman) and Adam McKay (Vice). How much these subjects will be discussed in the broadcast, to be hosted by the unexpected pairing of Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh, is unknown. Samberg and Oh have said they're hoping to set a lively and carefree tone. Oh, the star of the BBC America drama series Killing Eve, is also a nominee. Actor Christian Bale. Photo / Getty The lines between film and TV are particularly blurred at this year's Globes as more and more Hollywood stars take roles on the small screen. In fact, there are just as many movie stars nominated in the TV categories as there are in the film categories. Among them: Julia Roberts (Homecoming), Jim Carrey (Kidding), Amy Adams (up for both film Vice and TV miniseries Sharp Objects) Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method), Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose), Penelope Cruz (The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story), Patricia Arquette (Escape At Dannemora), Hugh Grant (A Very English Scandal) and Laura Dern (The Tale). | Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born is expected to dominate at the Golden Globes. It's up for Best Picture (Drama), Best Actress (Drama) for Gaga, Best Song for Shallow and Best Actor (Drama) for Cooper. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12186499 | 0.311202 |
Did 'Bandersnatch' Launch A Storytelling Revolution Or Kill It In the Crib? | Black Mirror: Bandersnatch created an immediate sensation when it dropped on Netflix late last month, giving viewers the opportunity to meaningfully affect the outcome of the story by making choices at key points during the show. Media theorists have talked about this kind of participative entertainment experience for decades, but it has never been attempted at this scale, using the unique capabilities of a streaming service like Netflix. Well, its complicated. Bandersnatch is definitely new and different, at least for TV. The show is essentially a choose your own adventure story, a format that attempts to bring the open-endedness of role playing games to traditionally linear media like books and comics. Readers are presented with choices some trivial, some consequential at different points in the narrative, and their selection takes them down different branches, toward different endings. When used in books, the format adds a layer of participation and control to the passive experience of reading, and provides more re-readability because you want to explore all the possible story paths and endings. Most of the time, though, it feels like a gimmick, even when its simple and convenient to flip back and forth to different pages, because we are so used to reading sequentially. It gets even trickier with film and TV. Not only are production costs higher to create alternate story content, but it's hard to get a mass audience to collectively make choices unless you have some way to give each viewer their own individual story experience.When producers have occasionally tried to do this sort of thing, as in 1995's odd and terrible Mr Payback, they ran into obvious technical limitations, leading to unsatisfying results. Streaming platforms like Netflix change the calculus. They are fundamentally designed around user choice and interactivity, although in practice, that choice rarely extends beyond what am I going to watch right now? on whatever screen you happen to be watching. But the geniuses behind Black Mirror saw streaming media technology as a way to fuse interactivity at the individual level with the scale of a high production value feature film. Purely on a technical level, Bandersnatch is seamless in how its story paths diverge based on user choice. Decision points appear on the screen, viewers select one with their remote (or the choice times out and one of the options is selected by default), and the scene proceeds naturally. Every so often, if a branch hits a conclusion, the story resets to the beginning, briefly summarizes the story path up to the last branch point, and gives the viewer a chance to explore the alternative. Considering how many people are watching and talking about Bandersnatch in the week since its release, its fair to say Black Mirror and Netflix proved the concept. Well maybe, but if so, future productions will have a high standard to match. Thats because the most compelling thing about Bandersnatch is the relationship between the story and the narrative technique. The plot centers on a programmer in the portentous year of 1984 creating a choose-your-own-adventure game on the emerging technology platform of that era, the personal computer. These are big, powerful themes separate from, but also intimately connected to, both the plot of Bandersnatch and the novelty of its storytelling technique. The multiple layers of self-referentiality and allegory both house specialties of the Black Mirror series elevate the interactive technology aspect from a hey, thats cool gimmick to something integral to the work itself. Once youve been through Bandersnatch a time or two, it becomes clear that there is no other way to tell this particular story: the story would be less without the technology, and the technology would be far less without this story to give it purpose and meaning. There is a literary antecedent to Bandersnatch, a 1963 novel called Rayuela (known in English as Hopscotch) by the Argentine author Julio Cortazar. You can read Hopscotch straight through like a standard novel, or you can follow an alternative reading order that fills in details and changes the storyline significantly by skipping around. Like Bandersnatch, the plot and theme tie integrally to the experimental technique. Hopscotch is a non-linear meditation on linearity; a stream-of-consciousness commentary on consciousness and perception; a deconstructed, frustrating narrative full of dead-ends on the difficulties of writing the stories of our own lives. Its a tour de force that opened up new possibilities for the novel as a literary format, and reimagined the relationship between author and reader. Its also not an invitation that many, if any, other authors accepted. Cortazar proved the concept so well that there was nothing else to say or do with it. His technical accomplishment was absolute. Everything else afterwards would seem like either a cheap trick or a pale imitation. If Bandersnatch had employed the interactive storytelling technique in service of a less-ambitious story a thriller, a D&D-style fantasy adventure, or even a dramatic slice-of-life like the intriguing 1998 parallel-timeline film Sliding Doors other creators might have seen potential for the form and ways to use it in ordinary, entertainment-oriented contexts. But the Black Mirror team set the bar so high, and incorporated so many levels of implications into this one story, that it is tough to see many other productions following this and receiving the same kind of reception. The commercial success that Bandersnatch would seem to be enjoying just on the basis of buzz and attention indicates that someone will be tempted to take another bite at this apple. Unless they are very clever indeed, it seems unlikely to be as sweet, or as tart, as this revolutionary production turned out to be. | Black Mirror: Bandersnatch gives viewers the opportunity to affect the outcome of the story by making choices at key points during the show. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2019/01/06/did-bandersnatch-launch-a-storytelling-revolution-or-kill-it-in-the-crib/ | 0.113765 |
Did 'Bandersnatch' Launch A Storytelling Revolution Or Kill It In the Crib? | Black Mirror: Bandersnatch created an immediate sensation when it dropped on Netflix late last month, giving viewers the opportunity to meaningfully affect the outcome of the story by making choices at key points during the show. Media theorists have talked about this kind of participative entertainment experience for decades, but it has never been attempted at this scale, using the unique capabilities of a streaming service like Netflix. Well, its complicated. Bandersnatch is definitely new and different, at least for TV. The show is essentially a choose your own adventure story, a format that attempts to bring the open-endedness of role playing games to traditionally linear media like books and comics. Readers are presented with choices some trivial, some consequential at different points in the narrative, and their selection takes them down different branches, toward different endings. When used in books, the format adds a layer of participation and control to the passive experience of reading, and provides more re-readability because you want to explore all the possible story paths and endings. Most of the time, though, it feels like a gimmick, even when its simple and convenient to flip back and forth to different pages, because we are so used to reading sequentially. It gets even trickier with film and TV. Not only are production costs higher to create alternate story content, but it's hard to get a mass audience to collectively make choices unless you have some way to give each viewer their own individual story experience.When producers have occasionally tried to do this sort of thing, as in 1995's odd and terrible Mr Payback, they ran into obvious technical limitations, leading to unsatisfying results. Streaming platforms like Netflix change the calculus. They are fundamentally designed around user choice and interactivity, although in practice, that choice rarely extends beyond what am I going to watch right now? on whatever screen you happen to be watching. But the geniuses behind Black Mirror saw streaming media technology as a way to fuse interactivity at the individual level with the scale of a high production value feature film. Purely on a technical level, Bandersnatch is seamless in how its story paths diverge based on user choice. Decision points appear on the screen, viewers select one with their remote (or the choice times out and one of the options is selected by default), and the scene proceeds naturally. Every so often, if a branch hits a conclusion, the story resets to the beginning, briefly summarizes the story path up to the last branch point, and gives the viewer a chance to explore the alternative. Considering how many people are watching and talking about Bandersnatch in the week since its release, its fair to say Black Mirror and Netflix proved the concept. Well maybe, but if so, future productions will have a high standard to match. Thats because the most compelling thing about Bandersnatch is the relationship between the story and the narrative technique. The plot centers on a programmer in the portentous year of 1984 creating a choose-your-own-adventure game on the emerging technology platform of that era, the personal computer. These are big, powerful themes separate from, but also intimately connected to, both the plot of Bandersnatch and the novelty of its storytelling technique. The multiple layers of self-referentiality and allegory both house specialties of the Black Mirror series elevate the interactive technology aspect from a hey, thats cool gimmick to something integral to the work itself. Once youve been through Bandersnatch a time or two, it becomes clear that there is no other way to tell this particular story: the story would be less without the technology, and the technology would be far less without this story to give it purpose and meaning. There is a literary antecedent to Bandersnatch, a 1963 novel called Rayuela (known in English as Hopscotch) by the Argentine author Julio Cortazar. You can read Hopscotch straight through like a standard novel, or you can follow an alternative reading order that fills in details and changes the storyline significantly by skipping around. Like Bandersnatch, the plot and theme tie integrally to the experimental technique. Hopscotch is a non-linear meditation on linearity; a stream-of-consciousness commentary on consciousness and perception; a deconstructed, frustrating narrative full of dead-ends on the difficulties of writing the stories of our own lives. Its a tour de force that opened up new possibilities for the novel as a literary format, and reimagined the relationship between author and reader. Its also not an invitation that many, if any, other authors accepted. Cortazar proved the concept so well that there was nothing else to say or do with it. His technical accomplishment was absolute. Everything else afterwards would seem like either a cheap trick or a pale imitation. If Bandersnatch had employed the interactive storytelling technique in service of a less-ambitious story a thriller, a D&D-style fantasy adventure, or even a dramatic slice-of-life like the intriguing 1998 parallel-timeline film Sliding Doors other creators might have seen potential for the form and ways to use it in ordinary, entertainment-oriented contexts. But the Black Mirror team set the bar so high, and incorporated so many levels of implications into this one story, that it is tough to see many other productions following this and receiving the same kind of reception. The commercial success that Bandersnatch would seem to be enjoying just on the basis of buzz and attention indicates that someone will be tempted to take another bite at this apple. Unless they are very clever indeed, it seems unlikely to be as sweet, or as tart, as this revolutionary production turned out to be. | Bandersnatch is essentially a 'choose your own adventure' story. It attempts to bring the open-endedness of role playing games to traditionally linear media like books and comics. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2019/01/06/did-bandersnatch-launch-a-storytelling-revolution-or-kill-it-in-the-crib/ | 0.113962 |
Did 'Bandersnatch' Launch A Storytelling Revolution Or Kill It In the Crib? | Black Mirror: Bandersnatch created an immediate sensation when it dropped on Netflix late last month, giving viewers the opportunity to meaningfully affect the outcome of the story by making choices at key points during the show. Media theorists have talked about this kind of participative entertainment experience for decades, but it has never been attempted at this scale, using the unique capabilities of a streaming service like Netflix. Well, its complicated. Bandersnatch is definitely new and different, at least for TV. The show is essentially a choose your own adventure story, a format that attempts to bring the open-endedness of role playing games to traditionally linear media like books and comics. Readers are presented with choices some trivial, some consequential at different points in the narrative, and their selection takes them down different branches, toward different endings. When used in books, the format adds a layer of participation and control to the passive experience of reading, and provides more re-readability because you want to explore all the possible story paths and endings. Most of the time, though, it feels like a gimmick, even when its simple and convenient to flip back and forth to different pages, because we are so used to reading sequentially. It gets even trickier with film and TV. Not only are production costs higher to create alternate story content, but it's hard to get a mass audience to collectively make choices unless you have some way to give each viewer their own individual story experience.When producers have occasionally tried to do this sort of thing, as in 1995's odd and terrible Mr Payback, they ran into obvious technical limitations, leading to unsatisfying results. Streaming platforms like Netflix change the calculus. They are fundamentally designed around user choice and interactivity, although in practice, that choice rarely extends beyond what am I going to watch right now? on whatever screen you happen to be watching. But the geniuses behind Black Mirror saw streaming media technology as a way to fuse interactivity at the individual level with the scale of a high production value feature film. Purely on a technical level, Bandersnatch is seamless in how its story paths diverge based on user choice. Decision points appear on the screen, viewers select one with their remote (or the choice times out and one of the options is selected by default), and the scene proceeds naturally. Every so often, if a branch hits a conclusion, the story resets to the beginning, briefly summarizes the story path up to the last branch point, and gives the viewer a chance to explore the alternative. Considering how many people are watching and talking about Bandersnatch in the week since its release, its fair to say Black Mirror and Netflix proved the concept. Well maybe, but if so, future productions will have a high standard to match. Thats because the most compelling thing about Bandersnatch is the relationship between the story and the narrative technique. The plot centers on a programmer in the portentous year of 1984 creating a choose-your-own-adventure game on the emerging technology platform of that era, the personal computer. These are big, powerful themes separate from, but also intimately connected to, both the plot of Bandersnatch and the novelty of its storytelling technique. The multiple layers of self-referentiality and allegory both house specialties of the Black Mirror series elevate the interactive technology aspect from a hey, thats cool gimmick to something integral to the work itself. Once youve been through Bandersnatch a time or two, it becomes clear that there is no other way to tell this particular story: the story would be less without the technology, and the technology would be far less without this story to give it purpose and meaning. There is a literary antecedent to Bandersnatch, a 1963 novel called Rayuela (known in English as Hopscotch) by the Argentine author Julio Cortazar. You can read Hopscotch straight through like a standard novel, or you can follow an alternative reading order that fills in details and changes the storyline significantly by skipping around. Like Bandersnatch, the plot and theme tie integrally to the experimental technique. Hopscotch is a non-linear meditation on linearity; a stream-of-consciousness commentary on consciousness and perception; a deconstructed, frustrating narrative full of dead-ends on the difficulties of writing the stories of our own lives. Its a tour de force that opened up new possibilities for the novel as a literary format, and reimagined the relationship between author and reader. Its also not an invitation that many, if any, other authors accepted. Cortazar proved the concept so well that there was nothing else to say or do with it. His technical accomplishment was absolute. Everything else afterwards would seem like either a cheap trick or a pale imitation. If Bandersnatch had employed the interactive storytelling technique in service of a less-ambitious story a thriller, a D&D-style fantasy adventure, or even a dramatic slice-of-life like the intriguing 1998 parallel-timeline film Sliding Doors other creators might have seen potential for the form and ways to use it in ordinary, entertainment-oriented contexts. But the Black Mirror team set the bar so high, and incorporated so many levels of implications into this one story, that it is tough to see many other productions following this and receiving the same kind of reception. The commercial success that Bandersnatch would seem to be enjoying just on the basis of buzz and attention indicates that someone will be tempted to take another bite at this apple. Unless they are very clever indeed, it seems unlikely to be as sweet, or as tart, as this revolutionary production turned out to be. | Black Mirror: Bandersnatch gives viewers the opportunity to affect the outcome of the story by making choices at key points during the show. The show is essentially a choose your own adventure story, a format that attempts to bring the open-endedness of role playing games to traditionally linear media like books and comics. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2019/01/06/did-bandersnatch-launch-a-storytelling-revolution-or-kill-it-in-the-crib/ | 0.133064 |
Did Seattle Seahawks decision to stick with run game cost them a win against the Dallas Cowboys? | The Seattle Seahawks came into Saturdays game against the Dallas Cowboys as the NFCs best rushing team. What they apparently forgot was they also possessed one of the NFLs best passing quarterbacks. The Seahawks couldnt get their running game going against the Cowboys, but their refusal to deemphasize the running game and allow quarterback Russell Wilson to use his arm more often may have been a reason why they lost 24-22 to the Cowboys in a NFC Wild Card playoff game. The Seahawks, who averaged 160 rushing yards a game during the regular season, gained just 73 yards on 24 carries against the Cowboys, with Chris Carson gaining 20 yards on 13 carries. The Seahawks simply couldnt run the football all game long. Yet, head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer stuck to the run game and didnt let Wilson be Wilson in the passing game until it was too late. Carroll was asked, given the struggles to run the ball, if he shouldve tried to pass more often. We would have liked to, Carroll told reporters after the game. The protection was good on play-passes and he threw some strikes. Carroll paused for a few moments. Yeah, its easy to say that now. Wilson completed 18-of-27 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown in the game. Wilson, who arguably throws the best deep-ball in the league, had five completions of at least 20 yards, including completions of 53 and 40 yards to wide receiver Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks showed they could move the football through the air against the Cowboys. The Seahawks continued to run against a wall that was the Cowboys defense. Take away Wilsons 14 rushing yards on three carries and the Seahawks averaged a meager 2.8 yards a carry against the Cowboys. Wilson had just completed one of the best seasons of his career, throwing a career-high 35 touchdown passes while tying a career-low of seven interceptions. Wilson also set a career-high with a 110.9 passer rating despite operating in a run-first offense. Wilson threw 11 passes in the first half and just seven in the second half. Wilson was asked after the game if he wished they had thrown the football more. I wish we would have won the game, Wilson told reporters. The Seahawks defied the trend in the pass-happy NFL by going old school and running the football successfully during the regular season. However, their decision to stick to the run game instead of adjusting to throw the football was in part why they suffered an early dismissal from the playoffs. -- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold | Seattle Seahawks lost 24-22 to Dallas Cowboys in NFC Wild Card playoff game. Seahawks averaged 160 rushing yards a game during the regular season. | bart | 0 | https://www.oregonlive.com/nfl/2019/01/did-seattle-seahawks-decision-to-stick-with-run-game-cost-them-a-win-against-the-dallas-cowboys.html | 0.248039 |
Did Seattle Seahawks decision to stick with run game cost them a win against the Dallas Cowboys? | The Seattle Seahawks came into Saturdays game against the Dallas Cowboys as the NFCs best rushing team. What they apparently forgot was they also possessed one of the NFLs best passing quarterbacks. The Seahawks couldnt get their running game going against the Cowboys, but their refusal to deemphasize the running game and allow quarterback Russell Wilson to use his arm more often may have been a reason why they lost 24-22 to the Cowboys in a NFC Wild Card playoff game. The Seahawks, who averaged 160 rushing yards a game during the regular season, gained just 73 yards on 24 carries against the Cowboys, with Chris Carson gaining 20 yards on 13 carries. The Seahawks simply couldnt run the football all game long. Yet, head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer stuck to the run game and didnt let Wilson be Wilson in the passing game until it was too late. Carroll was asked, given the struggles to run the ball, if he shouldve tried to pass more often. We would have liked to, Carroll told reporters after the game. The protection was good on play-passes and he threw some strikes. Carroll paused for a few moments. Yeah, its easy to say that now. Wilson completed 18-of-27 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown in the game. Wilson, who arguably throws the best deep-ball in the league, had five completions of at least 20 yards, including completions of 53 and 40 yards to wide receiver Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks showed they could move the football through the air against the Cowboys. The Seahawks continued to run against a wall that was the Cowboys defense. Take away Wilsons 14 rushing yards on three carries and the Seahawks averaged a meager 2.8 yards a carry against the Cowboys. Wilson had just completed one of the best seasons of his career, throwing a career-high 35 touchdown passes while tying a career-low of seven interceptions. Wilson also set a career-high with a 110.9 passer rating despite operating in a run-first offense. Wilson threw 11 passes in the first half and just seven in the second half. Wilson was asked after the game if he wished they had thrown the football more. I wish we would have won the game, Wilson told reporters. The Seahawks defied the trend in the pass-happy NFL by going old school and running the football successfully during the regular season. However, their decision to stick to the run game instead of adjusting to throw the football was in part why they suffered an early dismissal from the playoffs. -- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold | Seattle Seahawks lost 24-22 to Dallas Cowboys in NFC Wild Card playoff game. Seahawks averaged 160 rushing yards a game during the regular season. Seahawks stuck to run game and didn't let Russell Wilson be Wilson in the passing game. | bart | 1 | https://www.oregonlive.com/nfl/2019/01/did-seattle-seahawks-decision-to-stick-with-run-game-cost-them-a-win-against-the-dallas-cowboys.html | 0.413684 |
Did Seattle Seahawks decision to stick with run game cost them a win against the Dallas Cowboys? | The Seattle Seahawks came into Saturdays game against the Dallas Cowboys as the NFCs best rushing team. What they apparently forgot was they also possessed one of the NFLs best passing quarterbacks. The Seahawks couldnt get their running game going against the Cowboys, but their refusal to deemphasize the running game and allow quarterback Russell Wilson to use his arm more often may have been a reason why they lost 24-22 to the Cowboys in a NFC Wild Card playoff game. The Seahawks, who averaged 160 rushing yards a game during the regular season, gained just 73 yards on 24 carries against the Cowboys, with Chris Carson gaining 20 yards on 13 carries. The Seahawks simply couldnt run the football all game long. Yet, head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer stuck to the run game and didnt let Wilson be Wilson in the passing game until it was too late. Carroll was asked, given the struggles to run the ball, if he shouldve tried to pass more often. We would have liked to, Carroll told reporters after the game. The protection was good on play-passes and he threw some strikes. Carroll paused for a few moments. Yeah, its easy to say that now. Wilson completed 18-of-27 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown in the game. Wilson, who arguably throws the best deep-ball in the league, had five completions of at least 20 yards, including completions of 53 and 40 yards to wide receiver Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks showed they could move the football through the air against the Cowboys. The Seahawks continued to run against a wall that was the Cowboys defense. Take away Wilsons 14 rushing yards on three carries and the Seahawks averaged a meager 2.8 yards a carry against the Cowboys. Wilson had just completed one of the best seasons of his career, throwing a career-high 35 touchdown passes while tying a career-low of seven interceptions. Wilson also set a career-high with a 110.9 passer rating despite operating in a run-first offense. Wilson threw 11 passes in the first half and just seven in the second half. Wilson was asked after the game if he wished they had thrown the football more. I wish we would have won the game, Wilson told reporters. The Seahawks defied the trend in the pass-happy NFL by going old school and running the football successfully during the regular season. However, their decision to stick to the run game instead of adjusting to throw the football was in part why they suffered an early dismissal from the playoffs. -- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold | Seattle Seahawks lost 24-22 to Dallas Cowboys in NFC Wild Card playoff game. Seahawks averaged 160 rushing yards a game during the regular season. Seahawks stuck to run game and didn't let quarterback Russell Wilson be Wilson in the passing game. Wilson completed 18-of-27 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown in the game. | bart | 2 | https://www.oregonlive.com/nfl/2019/01/did-seattle-seahawks-decision-to-stick-with-run-game-cost-them-a-win-against-the-dallas-cowboys.html | 0.490053 |
Did Chrissy Metz Just Call Out Alison Brie at the 2019 Golden Globe Awards? | Hot mic, Chrissy! In what might be 2019's first new celebrity feudor more likely just a poorly-timed joke accidentally caught on cameraChrissy Metz was caught calling Alison Brie a "bitch" during the tail-end of her interview on the 2019 Golden Globes Facebook Live pre-show on the red carpet outside the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, Jan. 6. After speaking with co-hosts AJ Gibson and Missi Pyle about the third season of This Is Us, returning with its winter premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 15, the actress was asked to help them throw to the GLOW star at the other end of the carpet. "Do you know a girl named Alison Brie?" Gibson asked Metz, to which she replied, with what could be described as a pointed tone to her voice, "Do I?" "Well, I hear she's at the other end of the carpet," he responded, prompting some awkward silence. "Oh," Metz said. | Chrissy Metz called Alison Brie a "bitch" on the 2019 Golden Globes Facebook Live pre-show. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.eonline.com/news/1002167/did-chrissy-metz-just-call-out-alison-brie-at-the-2019-golden-globe-awards?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories | 0.292218 |
Did Chrissy Metz Just Call Out Alison Brie at the 2019 Golden Globe Awards? | Hot mic, Chrissy! In what might be 2019's first new celebrity feudor more likely just a poorly-timed joke accidentally caught on cameraChrissy Metz was caught calling Alison Brie a "bitch" during the tail-end of her interview on the 2019 Golden Globes Facebook Live pre-show on the red carpet outside the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, Jan. 6. After speaking with co-hosts AJ Gibson and Missi Pyle about the third season of This Is Us, returning with its winter premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 15, the actress was asked to help them throw to the GLOW star at the other end of the carpet. "Do you know a girl named Alison Brie?" Gibson asked Metz, to which she replied, with what could be described as a pointed tone to her voice, "Do I?" "Well, I hear she's at the other end of the carpet," he responded, prompting some awkward silence. "Oh," Metz said. | Chrissy Metz called Alison Brie a "bitch" on the Golden Globes Facebook Live pre-show. The actress was asked to throw to the GLOW star at the other end of the carpet. | bart | 1 | https://www.eonline.com/news/1002167/did-chrissy-metz-just-call-out-alison-brie-at-the-2019-golden-globe-awards?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories | 0.281368 |
Did Chrissy Metz Just Call Out Alison Brie at the 2019 Golden Globe Awards? | Hot mic, Chrissy! In what might be 2019's first new celebrity feudor more likely just a poorly-timed joke accidentally caught on cameraChrissy Metz was caught calling Alison Brie a "bitch" during the tail-end of her interview on the 2019 Golden Globes Facebook Live pre-show on the red carpet outside the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, Jan. 6. After speaking with co-hosts AJ Gibson and Missi Pyle about the third season of This Is Us, returning with its winter premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 15, the actress was asked to help them throw to the GLOW star at the other end of the carpet. "Do you know a girl named Alison Brie?" Gibson asked Metz, to which she replied, with what could be described as a pointed tone to her voice, "Do I?" "Well, I hear she's at the other end of the carpet," he responded, prompting some awkward silence. "Oh," Metz said. | Chrissy Metz was caught calling Alison Brie a "bitch" on the Golden Globes red carpet. She was talking to co-hosts AJ Gibson and Missi Pyle on Facebook Live. " Do you know a girl named Alison Brie? " Gibson asked Metz. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.eonline.com/news/1002167/did-chrissy-metz-just-call-out-alison-brie-at-the-2019-golden-globe-awards?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories | 0.330636 |
Should South Korea Participate in China's Belt and Road? | Sungku Jang Security, Eurasia The costs involve more than money. Last year, South Korean President Moon Jae-in declared that the Republic of Korea wanted to participate in the Chinese One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative in Chongqing. And this year, Liaoning province decided to join Chinas OBOR link to the Korean Peninsula. There are four reasons. First, connecting South Korea to the rest of Eurasia by the OBOR has symbolic meaning for South Koreans. Since the outbreak of the Korean War nearly seventy years ago, South Korea has been disconnected from the continent, effectively becoming an island since it could no longer access North Korean territory. Many South Koreans have sought to reconnect with the rest of Asia to escape from their isolation, where the country felt more similar to Japan and the United Kingdom than a country with a one-thousand-year-old culture and a shared history with their northern neighbors. South Korean constitutional law even includes North Korean territory under South Koreas domain (Article 3). Thus, the present division between the two Koreas brings many contradictions to the forefront of South Korean society. If South Korea can connect with North Korea through Chinas OBOR, then Seoul can overcome these contradictions and fulfill the Korean peoples long-held wish. Second, President Moon expects that participation in the initiative will mitigate tensions between South Korea and North Korea by creating joint economic opportunities. If South Korea connects with China through North Korea, South Korea can use multimodal transportation (the ability to transport cargo by land, air and sea). This will increase the efficiency of South Korean trade and its partners will become more varied than before. But South Korea would need to rebuild North Koreas train infrastructure because it is too decrepit to use. After rebuilding the train system, South Korea can resume business with North Korea at the Kaesong industrial complex and Kumgang mountain. These investments and a new, broader economic relationship could help mitigate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Third, South Korea seeks to pioneer a new emerging market and expand its economic area. Last year, President Moon declared that the OBOR initiative and Moons new policies toward Southeast Asia and North Asia have a close relationship. "I am confident a link between the Belt and Road Initiative and New North, New South policies will lead to peace and joint prosperity in the region, he said. If South Korean trains connect with Chinas railway system, South Korea can export its commodities to Central and Southeast Asia more easily. This is especially true since President Moon is expanding South Koreas economic ties with ASEAN as much as the other countries who surround the Korean Peninsula like Japan, China and Russia. In the past decade, ASEAN became the second largest market to South Korea after China. Given that 24.8 percent of South Koreas exports go to China, Seoul needs to expand into other markets to reduce its economic dependence, and therefore its political vulnerability, vis--vis Beijing. Indeed, South Korea had been confronted with Chinese political and economic pressure when Seoul decided to deploy the United States THADD system in response to North Korean missile threats. After political pressure from China, South Korea wants to focus on developing new markets, so participation in the OBOR is attractive to Seoul. Fourth, South Korea can get energy resources more easily, variously and cheaply than before. South Korea is the third largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) after Japan and China. And South Korea will soon buy even more natural gas than before because President Moon is planning to replace South Korean nuclear and coal power plants with natural gas and renewable energy. But LNG is more expensive than pipeline natural gas (PNG)South Korea currently has to buy natural gas in its liquefied state because it cant access the pipelines across North Korean territory. If South Korea can import PNG from Central Asia via China or from Russia, it can remarkably reduce the cost to import natural gas. (80 percent of South Korean gas imports currently come from five countries, with a high dependence on the Middle East and Australia.) South Korea needs alternatives for energy imports so they cannot be blocked or hindered by another countrys resource nationalism, a financial crisis or security reason. Through the One Belt One Road initiative, South Korea can raise the funds to build the pipeline and connect with Central Asia and other countries too. | Liaoning province decided to join Chinas OBOR link to the Korean Peninsula. South Korean President Moon Jae-in declared that the Republic of Korea wanted to participate in the Chinese One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/south-korea-participate-chinas-belt-193100213.html | 0.196107 |
Should South Korea Participate in China's Belt and Road? | Sungku Jang Security, Eurasia The costs involve more than money. Last year, South Korean President Moon Jae-in declared that the Republic of Korea wanted to participate in the Chinese One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative in Chongqing. And this year, Liaoning province decided to join Chinas OBOR link to the Korean Peninsula. There are four reasons. First, connecting South Korea to the rest of Eurasia by the OBOR has symbolic meaning for South Koreans. Since the outbreak of the Korean War nearly seventy years ago, South Korea has been disconnected from the continent, effectively becoming an island since it could no longer access North Korean territory. Many South Koreans have sought to reconnect with the rest of Asia to escape from their isolation, where the country felt more similar to Japan and the United Kingdom than a country with a one-thousand-year-old culture and a shared history with their northern neighbors. South Korean constitutional law even includes North Korean territory under South Koreas domain (Article 3). Thus, the present division between the two Koreas brings many contradictions to the forefront of South Korean society. If South Korea can connect with North Korea through Chinas OBOR, then Seoul can overcome these contradictions and fulfill the Korean peoples long-held wish. Second, President Moon expects that participation in the initiative will mitigate tensions between South Korea and North Korea by creating joint economic opportunities. If South Korea connects with China through North Korea, South Korea can use multimodal transportation (the ability to transport cargo by land, air and sea). This will increase the efficiency of South Korean trade and its partners will become more varied than before. But South Korea would need to rebuild North Koreas train infrastructure because it is too decrepit to use. After rebuilding the train system, South Korea can resume business with North Korea at the Kaesong industrial complex and Kumgang mountain. These investments and a new, broader economic relationship could help mitigate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Third, South Korea seeks to pioneer a new emerging market and expand its economic area. Last year, President Moon declared that the OBOR initiative and Moons new policies toward Southeast Asia and North Asia have a close relationship. "I am confident a link between the Belt and Road Initiative and New North, New South policies will lead to peace and joint prosperity in the region, he said. If South Korean trains connect with Chinas railway system, South Korea can export its commodities to Central and Southeast Asia more easily. This is especially true since President Moon is expanding South Koreas economic ties with ASEAN as much as the other countries who surround the Korean Peninsula like Japan, China and Russia. In the past decade, ASEAN became the second largest market to South Korea after China. Given that 24.8 percent of South Koreas exports go to China, Seoul needs to expand into other markets to reduce its economic dependence, and therefore its political vulnerability, vis--vis Beijing. Indeed, South Korea had been confronted with Chinese political and economic pressure when Seoul decided to deploy the United States THADD system in response to North Korean missile threats. After political pressure from China, South Korea wants to focus on developing new markets, so participation in the OBOR is attractive to Seoul. Fourth, South Korea can get energy resources more easily, variously and cheaply than before. South Korea is the third largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) after Japan and China. And South Korea will soon buy even more natural gas than before because President Moon is planning to replace South Korean nuclear and coal power plants with natural gas and renewable energy. But LNG is more expensive than pipeline natural gas (PNG)South Korea currently has to buy natural gas in its liquefied state because it cant access the pipelines across North Korean territory. If South Korea can import PNG from Central Asia via China or from Russia, it can remarkably reduce the cost to import natural gas. (80 percent of South Korean gas imports currently come from five countries, with a high dependence on the Middle East and Australia.) South Korea needs alternatives for energy imports so they cannot be blocked or hindered by another countrys resource nationalism, a financial crisis or security reason. Through the One Belt One Road initiative, South Korea can raise the funds to build the pipeline and connect with Central Asia and other countries too. | Liaoning province decided to join Chinas OBOR link to the Korean Peninsula. South Korean President Moon Jae-in declared that the Republic of Korea wanted to participate in the Chinese One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative. President Moon expects that participation in the initiative will mitigate tensions between South Korea and North Korea. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/south-korea-participate-chinas-belt-193100213.html | 0.267449 |
Who will face off against Trump in 2020? | Apparently, most members of the press do not like our president, Donald J. Trump. Many of them think he is a tyrant in the making. Others think he is stupid and a tyrant in the making. They believe he is likely to be beaten in 2020. I think he would be beaten, too, if he were running against Franklin D. Roosevelt or Ronald W. Reagan or George Washington, but he will most likely be running against one of the patheticoes bejeweling the Democratic Party today. And frankly, I cannot detect a Roosevelt or a Reagan or a Washington in the field, not even a Washington Boulevard. I can detect a Charles Schumer and a Nancy Pelosi, though both are likely to be undone by President Trumps talk of a wall. Just wait until 2020 and see how unpopular President Trumps wall will be. And let us face the facts: The Democratic Party is getting pretty long in the tooth. It is time for the Party to come up with a new generation, and that suggests the presidential prospects of Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest woman ever to be elected to Congress. The problem is that she sounds like the youngest woman ever to be elected to Congress. I would put her age at roughly 14, and that is not a precocious 14. Then there is Beto ORourke. I am not sure where the congressman got the nickname Beto, but if I were in Betos shoes, I would have stuck with his birth certificate, which clearly reads Robert Francis ORourke. Robert Francis worked for Robert Francis Kennedy, and Beto has a Bob Kennedy haircut and the teeth to go with it. He is famous for raising $70 million to challenge Texas unpopular Sen. Ted Cruz. It is indeed a stupendous pile of lucre, but the problem for him is that he lost to the unpopular Sen. Cruz. What kind of a slogan is Vote for Beto. No, I do not see anyone out there who will unseat President Trump in 2020. The possible candidates in both parties seem a bit threadbare, particularly when compared with our suave president, he of the sonorous tweets. Even the widely esteemed Hillary Clinton strikes me as over the hill. I know, I know; there are many legendary psephologists out there who still see her on her toes and in fighting trim, for instance Philippe Reines and the fabled Begala & Carville tag team. Yet let me be honest. Her candidacy was always preposterous. She was forever being called the inevitable candidate, but anyone who would bother to review her life in politics would be struck by the fact that as Bill Clintons first lady, even as his first lady back in the Little Rock days, she was extraordinarily unpopular with voters. When I wrote Boy Clinton: The Political Biography back in 1996, she was the most unpopular first lady of modern times. In fact, in 1996 she became the first first lady in modern times to receive a thumbs-down from a majority of the American people. Only 43 percent approved of her, and most of them were dubious. My guess is that if there had been first lady ratings going back to the 1920s, even President Warren Gamaliel Hardings bossy wife, known derisively as The Duchess, would have been more popular than Clinton. Yet when she ran for the presidency, the media called her candidacy inevitable twice! Now we are witnessing Clinton and her team of flimflam artists, armed with their Russian dossiers, driving another preposterous fable. They are insisting that Russian President Vladimir Putin somehow linked up with candidate Trump in 2016 to steal the election from Clinton. She who toyed with communists and Black Panthers in college and urged dialoging with Putins predecessors for decades, while the majority of Americans resisted them had somehow raised Putins ire by 2016. He was forced to choose Trump over Clinton. Well, now Trump and Putin are at loggerheads. Special counsel Robert Mueller is going to save the republic from the Putin-Trump cabal, though after months of Muellers investigations and with a vast team of Clinton supporters at his side, there is no evidence of collusion. Only a fantasist would believe that a capitalist in good standing such as Trump would gamble with an erstwhile communist and thug such as Putin. But the modern-day Democrats believe in fantasy. My suggestion for the Democrats for 2020 is that they nominate congresswoman-elect Ocasio-Cortez. She will be the youngest woman ever to lose a presidential race another first. R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. is founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. | Frida Ghitis: I do not see anyone out there who will unseat President Trump in 2020. Even the widely esteemed Hillary Clinton strikes me as over the hill, she says. Ghitis says the Democratic Party is getting pretty long in the tooth. | bart | 2 | https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/01/07/who-will-face-off-against-trump-in-2020/ | 0.127371 |
Is body in Florida backyard tied to triple homicide? | TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) A body has been located in the backyard of a Florida home and authorities say it may be connected to a triple homicide. Police arrested 25-year-old Shelby Nealy Friday after they caught him with a car stolen from a Florida home where a couple and their son were found dead. Their daughter the man's wife remains missing. Nealy was taken into custody in Ohio. Investigators identified the victims as 71-year-old Richard Ivancic; his wife, 59-year-old Laura Ivancic; and their son, 25-year-old Nicholas Ivancic. Nealy's wife, their 21-year-old daughter, Jamie Ivancic, is missing under what police called "suspicious circumstances." Police said they fear she is a victim of foul play. Pasco County Sheriff's officials said Sunday they'd found a body but released no other details pending the medical examiner's report. The Tampa Times reported it was linked to the Ivancic investigation. ___ Information from: Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.), http://www.tampabay.com. | Body found in backyard of Florida home. Authorities say it may be connected to triple homicide. Police arrested 25-year-old Shelby Nealy Friday. | bart | 0 | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/crime/article/Is-body-in-Florida-backyard-tied-to-triple-13513272.php | 0.350484 |
Is body in Florida backyard tied to triple homicide? | TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) A body has been located in the backyard of a Florida home and authorities say it may be connected to a triple homicide. Police arrested 25-year-old Shelby Nealy Friday after they caught him with a car stolen from a Florida home where a couple and their son were found dead. Their daughter the man's wife remains missing. Nealy was taken into custody in Ohio. Investigators identified the victims as 71-year-old Richard Ivancic; his wife, 59-year-old Laura Ivancic; and their son, 25-year-old Nicholas Ivancic. Nealy's wife, their 21-year-old daughter, Jamie Ivancic, is missing under what police called "suspicious circumstances." Police said they fear she is a victim of foul play. Pasco County Sheriff's officials said Sunday they'd found a body but released no other details pending the medical examiner's report. The Tampa Times reported it was linked to the Ivancic investigation. ___ Information from: Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.), http://www.tampabay.com. | Body found in backyard of Florida home. Authorities say it may be connected to triple homicide. Man arrested in connection with triple homicide is charged with car theft, police say. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/crime/article/Is-body-in-Florida-backyard-tied-to-triple-13513272.php | 0.386328 |
Is body in Florida backyard tied to triple homicide? | TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) A body has been located in the backyard of a Florida home and authorities say it may be connected to a triple homicide. Police arrested 25-year-old Shelby Nealy Friday after they caught him with a car stolen from a Florida home where a couple and their son were found dead. Their daughter the man's wife remains missing. Nealy was taken into custody in Ohio. Investigators identified the victims as 71-year-old Richard Ivancic; his wife, 59-year-old Laura Ivancic; and their son, 25-year-old Nicholas Ivancic. Nealy's wife, their 21-year-old daughter, Jamie Ivancic, is missing under what police called "suspicious circumstances." Police said they fear she is a victim of foul play. Pasco County Sheriff's officials said Sunday they'd found a body but released no other details pending the medical examiner's report. The Tampa Times reported it was linked to the Ivancic investigation. ___ Information from: Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.), http://www.tampabay.com. | Body found in backyard of Florida home. Authorities say it may be connected to triple homicide. Man arrested in connection with triple homicide is charged with car theft, possession of stolen car. He is also accused of stealing a car from the home where the victims were found dead. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/crime/article/Is-body-in-Florida-backyard-tied-to-triple-13513272.php | 0.464481 |
Does the Paint World Need Another White? | Last year, Martin Kesselman, a color consultant to homeowners and decorators, did something controversial. He made a new white. The shade, created with the British paint company Farrow & Ball, is called Elliyah (it was named for Kesselmans then ten-year-old daughter), and is available through INCOLOUR, his showroom in Chinatown. I got a lot of criticism for coming out with it, Kesselman said recently. The color guy has his own white. Benjamin Moore has a hundred and sixty-four versions of it, all of which Kesselman sells. But he believes that Elliyah is different: Whatever the light, natural or artificial, itll read like a true whitebold but not stark, clean and crisp but not jarring. Jonathan Kutzin, a fancy housepainter, said, It sounds weird, but Martin made a really great white. It has just enough gray and cream in it to not feel naked or unfinished. The other afternoon, Kesselman got in his black S.U.V. and drove to Brooklyn, to visit two clients who were relying heavily on Elliyah. He has a clipped beard and wore a black jacket with a pin-striped hood. It was a clear morningthe sky was a shade of blue that resembled Benjamin Moores Icing on the Cake. A lot of my clients have type-A personalities, Kesselman said. He recalled one project. It was an immaculate space, probably twenty million dollars, and a real artisan paint job. Kesselman had chosen a pre-Elliyah shade of white. He wants the whole place redone. Storms out. The painters did the same exact thing. He comes back. Fantastic! On the other end of the spectrum was a man in Tribeca whod instructed the painters not to bother removing his Rauschenberg from the wall: just tilt it up, he told them, and paint underneath. Kesselman arrived at an 1864 brownstone in Fort Greene that belonged to one of the clients, Stacey Lightfoot, whom he described as well versed in color. This was the first time he was seeing the project, he explained. Stacey was on a mission. She wanted the perfect white, but was so busy I couldnt arrange a home visit with her. She came into the showroom and took some samples. Lightfoot answered the door, dressed in satin trousers and a matching blouse in Visa Infinite Privilege Card blue, and enthusiastically showed Kesselman around. They passed through elegant white rooms. In a middle parlor, she said, I know whites, and I really could not find a white I love. I tried seven. I was going to use Wevet. She turned to Kesselman. Wouldnt you say Wevet is lavender? It has a magenta and some blue qualities, but its an interactive experience, Kesselman said. Lightfoot continued, I got a sample of Elliyah and painted the whole room. A friend came over. She has good taste, but I wouldnt say she understands undertones. She said, This is like looking at the most perfect glass of milkbut not cream or one per cent. A perfect glass of two per cent. Kesselman nodded approvingly. More Elliyah was upstairs. You can use Martins color everywhere, Lightfoot said. Well, not everywhere. In the master bedroom, Lightfoot admitted, This is Strong White, by Farrow & Ball. Its greener and darker than Elliyah. Shed chosen it to go with a yellowish rug by Alexander McQueen. Next, Kesselman visited Christie, a client renovating a loft apartment nearby, who said that shed found Kesselman by Googling the words white paint. Kesselman had created a design for a white space with what he called moments of colorcabinets, columns, and behind closed doors: Studio Green in the foyer, Moles Breath in a bathroom. Either my designs are clean and bright, like the ones with Elliyah, or I do dark and stormy, Kesselman said. I dont play in the mid-tones. Where Martins such a savior is that even in such a big, open space he figured out how to make it seem purposeful, Christie said. In my mind, Id always seen white. But Martins influenced me so much that I am thinking, Why not do one of the bedroom walls in a color? I dont do feature walls very much, Kesselman said, in a tone that implied he never does them. Christie shrugged. It was expansive thinking, she said. | Martin Kesselman, a color consultant, created a new white shade called Elliyah. The shade was created with the British paint company Farrow & Ball. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/01/14/does-the-paint-world-need-another-white | 0.120328 |
Why are brands mimicking social movements? | It seems every business worth its salt is taking a social stance these days. Compostable bags from the Co-Op, body positivity from Dove and racial equality from Nike. This list goes on Having social impactabove and beyond a tick-box corporate social responsibility (CSR) exerciseis fast becoming the norm, on account of the success these brands are having in addressing the big picture issues humanity faces. Cynically speaking, the kind of loyalty, passion and keenness to spread the good word that social movements engender are a utopia for brands and big business. Having a strong sense of purpose, that inspires an emotional connection, and commitment to your brand is exactly how Nike achieved an all-time high in share prices, on account of giving a platform to sportsman and police brutality activist Colin Kaepernick in 2018. Alongside validating the #blacklivesmatter movementbreathing fresh air into an issue that was becoming drowned out by increasing political division statesideNike recognised the culture-making power of people of colour across the globe and placed a calculating bet. Building on a long tradition of supporting black athletes with something to say, the brand realised mass impact on the market and the issue is one fell swoop (or should we say swoosh?) Nikes success is no flash in the pan, however. Whilst the kind of influencer marketing that the sports brand utilised in hiring Kaepernick has been around a long timean apparel line was part of the deal toowhen brands engage with influencers with a shared sense of purpose, audiences increasingly follow. As with all social movements, a changemaker people believe is authentic, willing to sacrifice for their cause and set an example in how others can make change toosee Cardi B turning down the Super Bowl half-time show in solidarity in late 2018can provide a powerful legacy for a brand too. Hence why purpose marketing has received such a bad rap. With new generations bringing forth a more conscientious consumer, backing a cause for the sake of sales will see you called out, loudly. Just look at Pepsis efforts to address racial tensions with a supermodel. No-one is buying it. Yet, for brands like Dovewith a few missteps along the waywhich has long dedicated its efforts to the idea of body positivity, through their product development, advertising campaigns and most recently, a pure issue campaigning platform in Be Real partnering with YMCA England. As with all powerful social movements, brands like Dove are investing in the idea of building a community that empowers and powers itself. When a platform and decision-making around how to address the issue is shared, success is more likely to follow, as fellow campaigners commitment and acceptance of the purpose youre all working towards encourages people to spread the word. Thats why Doves Be Real is less successful than GiffGaff, for example. Used a push marketing platform rather than a place to engage those impacted to address their wants and needs, the mobile operator truly listen and respond to customers needs, channelling community for the benefit of all. Whilst brands are cottoning on to the power of social movements, and harnessing their platforms in the service of purpose, change-makers and community to address major social issues and their own bottom-lines, doing so doesnt come without its challenges. The benefit of building a grassroots movement from the ground up is agility, where power can be distributed to those engaged in the issue to make change, and the model enables open participation in campaigning and creating new solutions. For most large, bureaucratic businesses this is nigh on impossible, though that doesnt mean brands arent working with their consumers to send strong socially motivated messages, even when the noise is negative, as U.K. based bakery chain Greggs has amply proved. Having responded to increasing consumer demand for vegan products across its stores, the brand launched its vegan sausage roll early doors in 2019. Using social media to clap back at disgruntled carnivorous fans and an online sparring session with sworn millennial enemy Piers Morgan, in one week, Greggs did more to normalise veganism (and boost its brand credentials) than a decade of campaigning from grassroots organisations. With social impact the expectation from younger generationsnine out of ten millennials would switch brands to support a business which backed a cause their believe inhaving your brand (authentically) engage in social movements shows there is success to be had, all-round. | Brands are mimicking social movements to make a difference to the world. Brands like Dove are investing in the idea of building a community that empowers and powers itself, channelling community for the benefit of all. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurencoulman/2019/01/07/why-are-brands-mimicking-social-movements/ | 0.674284 |
Why are brands mimicking social movements? | It seems every business worth its salt is taking a social stance these days. Compostable bags from the Co-Op, body positivity from Dove and racial equality from Nike. This list goes on Having social impactabove and beyond a tick-box corporate social responsibility (CSR) exerciseis fast becoming the norm, on account of the success these brands are having in addressing the big picture issues humanity faces. Cynically speaking, the kind of loyalty, passion and keenness to spread the good word that social movements engender are a utopia for brands and big business. Having a strong sense of purpose, that inspires an emotional connection, and commitment to your brand is exactly how Nike achieved an all-time high in share prices, on account of giving a platform to sportsman and police brutality activist Colin Kaepernick in 2018. Alongside validating the #blacklivesmatter movementbreathing fresh air into an issue that was becoming drowned out by increasing political division statesideNike recognised the culture-making power of people of colour across the globe and placed a calculating bet. Building on a long tradition of supporting black athletes with something to say, the brand realised mass impact on the market and the issue is one fell swoop (or should we say swoosh?) Nikes success is no flash in the pan, however. Whilst the kind of influencer marketing that the sports brand utilised in hiring Kaepernick has been around a long timean apparel line was part of the deal toowhen brands engage with influencers with a shared sense of purpose, audiences increasingly follow. As with all social movements, a changemaker people believe is authentic, willing to sacrifice for their cause and set an example in how others can make change toosee Cardi B turning down the Super Bowl half-time show in solidarity in late 2018can provide a powerful legacy for a brand too. Hence why purpose marketing has received such a bad rap. With new generations bringing forth a more conscientious consumer, backing a cause for the sake of sales will see you called out, loudly. Just look at Pepsis efforts to address racial tensions with a supermodel. No-one is buying it. Yet, for brands like Dovewith a few missteps along the waywhich has long dedicated its efforts to the idea of body positivity, through their product development, advertising campaigns and most recently, a pure issue campaigning platform in Be Real partnering with YMCA England. As with all powerful social movements, brands like Dove are investing in the idea of building a community that empowers and powers itself. When a platform and decision-making around how to address the issue is shared, success is more likely to follow, as fellow campaigners commitment and acceptance of the purpose youre all working towards encourages people to spread the word. Thats why Doves Be Real is less successful than GiffGaff, for example. Used a push marketing platform rather than a place to engage those impacted to address their wants and needs, the mobile operator truly listen and respond to customers needs, channelling community for the benefit of all. Whilst brands are cottoning on to the power of social movements, and harnessing their platforms in the service of purpose, change-makers and community to address major social issues and their own bottom-lines, doing so doesnt come without its challenges. The benefit of building a grassroots movement from the ground up is agility, where power can be distributed to those engaged in the issue to make change, and the model enables open participation in campaigning and creating new solutions. For most large, bureaucratic businesses this is nigh on impossible, though that doesnt mean brands arent working with their consumers to send strong socially motivated messages, even when the noise is negative, as U.K. based bakery chain Greggs has amply proved. Having responded to increasing consumer demand for vegan products across its stores, the brand launched its vegan sausage roll early doors in 2019. Using social media to clap back at disgruntled carnivorous fans and an online sparring session with sworn millennial enemy Piers Morgan, in one week, Greggs did more to normalise veganism (and boost its brand credentials) than a decade of campaigning from grassroots organisations. With social impact the expectation from younger generationsnine out of ten millennials would switch brands to support a business which backed a cause their believe inhaving your brand (authentically) engage in social movements shows there is success to be had, all-round. | Brands are mimicking social movements to make a difference to the world. Brands like Dove are investing in the idea of building a community that empowers and powers itself, channelling community for the benefit of all. The key is to build a grassroots movement from the ground up, where power can be distributed to those engaged in the issue. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurencoulman/2019/01/07/why-are-brands-mimicking-social-movements/ | 0.731042 |
Is Taiwan's Military Really Ready to Take on China? | James Holmes Security, Asia We asked one of the world's leading experts that very question. Chinese president Xi Jinping issued his latest threat to Taiwan during what the BBC artfully calls a speech marking 40 years since the start of improving ties between the communist-ruled mainland and the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan. Xi exhorted Taiwanese to accept that they must and will be unified with the mainland. Sheesh. If forty years of improving ties culminate in threats to wipe out your negotiating partners political existence, Id shudder to think how forty years of deteriorating ties across the Taiwan Strait would have turned out. But Xis remarks do warrant taking stock of Taiwans defense afresh. To measure the adequacy of Taiwans defense, first, survey its overall strategic posture and then the state of its land, air and sea power. If the ROC armed forces are sufficient to discharge the tasks entrusted to them by the political leadership in Taipei, then the island is in sound shape to uphold its independence. If Taipei has assigned the military more to do than it can reasonably do, then trouble looms: missions must be cut or capabilities expanded until ends and means are in sync. First, strategy. Fewand by few I mean nonations boast the diplomatic, economic and military resources and political artistry to get everything they want. That being the case, they survey the surroundings and devise a strategy for a world of many goals and scarce resources. At its most fundamental, strategy is the art and science of setting and enforcing priorities among things or purposes the nation values, and apportioning resources to attain the priorities it cherishes most. You cant have it all. The Republic of Chinaan island state under the shadow of a continental giant bent on absorbing it by means peaceful or violentmust be more ruthless with itself than most when setting and enforcing priorities. Self-discipline hasnt always been the Taiwanese way. For example, strategists on the island have a habit of placing inordinate importance on defending outlying possessions, islands hard aboard the China coast and in the South China Sea. It strains credulity to think the ROC armed forces could defend the main island of Formosa while also holding offshore islands deep within waters and skies dominated by Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). The Taiwanese military would scatter air and sea assets all over the map in an attempt to do so, at a time when they are heavily outnumbered by increasingly capable PLA counterparts. For political reasons, Taipei probably cannot publicly write off the islandsfew leaders get away with forfeiting sovereign territorybut President Tsai Ing-wen and her lieutenants should tacitly demote them on the ROCs list of priorities. Successfully defend Formosa and preserve your national life, then you can worry about recovering lost peripheral territories. The commitment to national integrity would remain, but Taipei would have accepted it may have to fulfill that commitment in phases rather than all at once. This is not a palatable way of doing things, but it is reality when trying to survive amid moral danger. So to estimate whether Taiwanese strategy comports with reality, gauge whether Taipei is taking a gimlet-eyed approach to fixing priorities or is trying to do everything, everywhere, with a slender inventory of diplomatic, economic and military resources. Small states under duress must decide what they want most, apply themselves single-mindedly to obtain it, and downgrade or triage the rest. Second, military power. The ROC armed forces are undergoing a cultural revolution and are moving in the right direction, if not at the pace friends of Taiwan might like. The cultural revolution is this. During the Cold War, the Taiwanese Navy and Air Force planned to rule the seas and skies adjoining Taiwanese territory. ROC ships and warplanes were fewer in number than those deployed by the lumbering PLA Navy and Air Force. But they were more technologically sophisticated than their Chinese nemeses, and ROC seamanship and airmanship were better to boot. Superior qualityboth material and humanoffset inferior quantity. The culture of command of the sea and sky was imprinted on Taiwans military culture over the course of many decades of strategic competition with the mainland. That the ROC military worked closely with the U.S. military, a force steeped in command of the common, did little to disabuse ROC warriors of their ingrained assumptions about how to wage combat. | James Holmes: Is Taiwan's military really ready to take on China? He says the answer depends on the strategic posture and state of its land, air and sea power. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/taiwans-military-really-ready-china-193300717.html | 0.282195 |
Is Taiwan's Military Really Ready to Take on China? | James Holmes Security, Asia We asked one of the world's leading experts that very question. Chinese president Xi Jinping issued his latest threat to Taiwan during what the BBC artfully calls a speech marking 40 years since the start of improving ties between the communist-ruled mainland and the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan. Xi exhorted Taiwanese to accept that they must and will be unified with the mainland. Sheesh. If forty years of improving ties culminate in threats to wipe out your negotiating partners political existence, Id shudder to think how forty years of deteriorating ties across the Taiwan Strait would have turned out. But Xis remarks do warrant taking stock of Taiwans defense afresh. To measure the adequacy of Taiwans defense, first, survey its overall strategic posture and then the state of its land, air and sea power. If the ROC armed forces are sufficient to discharge the tasks entrusted to them by the political leadership in Taipei, then the island is in sound shape to uphold its independence. If Taipei has assigned the military more to do than it can reasonably do, then trouble looms: missions must be cut or capabilities expanded until ends and means are in sync. First, strategy. Fewand by few I mean nonations boast the diplomatic, economic and military resources and political artistry to get everything they want. That being the case, they survey the surroundings and devise a strategy for a world of many goals and scarce resources. At its most fundamental, strategy is the art and science of setting and enforcing priorities among things or purposes the nation values, and apportioning resources to attain the priorities it cherishes most. You cant have it all. The Republic of Chinaan island state under the shadow of a continental giant bent on absorbing it by means peaceful or violentmust be more ruthless with itself than most when setting and enforcing priorities. Self-discipline hasnt always been the Taiwanese way. For example, strategists on the island have a habit of placing inordinate importance on defending outlying possessions, islands hard aboard the China coast and in the South China Sea. It strains credulity to think the ROC armed forces could defend the main island of Formosa while also holding offshore islands deep within waters and skies dominated by Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). The Taiwanese military would scatter air and sea assets all over the map in an attempt to do so, at a time when they are heavily outnumbered by increasingly capable PLA counterparts. For political reasons, Taipei probably cannot publicly write off the islandsfew leaders get away with forfeiting sovereign territorybut President Tsai Ing-wen and her lieutenants should tacitly demote them on the ROCs list of priorities. Successfully defend Formosa and preserve your national life, then you can worry about recovering lost peripheral territories. The commitment to national integrity would remain, but Taipei would have accepted it may have to fulfill that commitment in phases rather than all at once. This is not a palatable way of doing things, but it is reality when trying to survive amid moral danger. So to estimate whether Taiwanese strategy comports with reality, gauge whether Taipei is taking a gimlet-eyed approach to fixing priorities or is trying to do everything, everywhere, with a slender inventory of diplomatic, economic and military resources. Small states under duress must decide what they want most, apply themselves single-mindedly to obtain it, and downgrade or triage the rest. Second, military power. The ROC armed forces are undergoing a cultural revolution and are moving in the right direction, if not at the pace friends of Taiwan might like. The cultural revolution is this. During the Cold War, the Taiwanese Navy and Air Force planned to rule the seas and skies adjoining Taiwanese territory. ROC ships and warplanes were fewer in number than those deployed by the lumbering PLA Navy and Air Force. But they were more technologically sophisticated than their Chinese nemeses, and ROC seamanship and airmanship were better to boot. Superior qualityboth material and humanoffset inferior quantity. The culture of command of the sea and sky was imprinted on Taiwans military culture over the course of many decades of strategic competition with the mainland. That the ROC military worked closely with the U.S. military, a force steeped in command of the common, did little to disabuse ROC warriors of their ingrained assumptions about how to wage combat. | James Holmes: Is Taiwan's military really ready to take on China? He says the answer depends on the strategic posture and state of its land, air and sea power. Holmes: If the ROC armed forces are sufficient to discharge the tasks entrusted to them, then the island is in sound shape to uphold its independence. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/taiwans-military-really-ready-china-193300717.html | 0.436264 |
How should the Wolves build a contender around Towns now? | When the Timberwolves hired Thibodeau after the 2015-16 season, they looked like a rising force in the Western Conference behind a young core led by back-to-back No. 1 overall picks and Rookie of the Year winners Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. While Minnesota managed to end the NBA's longest playoff drought by securing the eighth seed in the playoffs last year, the ill-fated trade for Jimmy Butler and Wiggins' lack of progress have left the Timberwolves on the outskirts of the playoff picture this season. Towns must be featured in Timberwolves' offense No player is more important to Minnesota's present or future than Towns, an All-NBA third team selection last season at age 22 who subsequently signed a five-year extension worth an estimated $190 million that will kick in this summer. Despite the accolade, the arrival of Butler thrust Towns into a smaller role last season, when his usage rate shrunk from 27.5 percent of the team's plays in 2016-17 to 22.9 percent. Following the Butler trade, Towns' usage is back up to nearly 27 percent this season, but he's still capable of doing more. Interim coach Ryan Saunders, and whoever succeeds him on a permanent basis, ought to consider New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis a model for how to use Towns. Davis' usage rate has topped 30 percent of the Pelicans' plays each of the past two seasons, and hasn't been lower than 29 percent since Alvin Gentry's arrival as head coach in 2015-16. (Coincidentally, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski pointed out that Davis' previous coach, Monty Williams, was a favorite of the Timberwolves' front office before they hired Thibodeau and could be a candidate this time around.) Towns has shown the potential to produce as much offense as Davis. His usage rate was higher during his first two seasons than Davis' at the corresponding point in his career, and Towns has always tended to create more of his own shots. Per Basketball-Reference, Davis was assisted on 72 percent of his field goals during his first four NBA campaigns, as compared to 68 percent for Towns. In part, Towns would benefit from better spacing for his post-ups. Minnesota ranks 26th in 3-point rate and 22nd in made 3-pointers per game this season, with Towns himself contributing 1.7 triples per game. The additions of prolific 3-point shooters Robert Covington and Dario Saric in the Butler trade was a good first step, but the Timberwolves will want to put as much shooting as possible around Towns. Wiggins' potential fading Unfortunately, a coaching change may not do much to help Wiggins, whose 17.0 points per game are his fewest since his rookie season and whose .493 true shooting percentage is a career low. Part of the reason Minnesota hasn't developed as expected is Wiggins' stagnation as a player. With the benefit of hindsight, the warning signs were there in Wiggins' poor advanced stats, which marked him as a volume scorer rather than the kind of key offensive contributor his scoring average suggested. However, there was no reason to expect the regression we've seen from Wiggins the past two seasons. It was easy in 2017-18 to blame Wiggins' struggles on being relegated to an off-ball roll alongside Towns, which indeed forced him to rely more on his mediocre spot-up shooting than his ability to create one-on-one. That argument is more difficult to square with what we've seen from Wiggins since Butler was traded. Wiggins' usage rate hasn't budged, his 3-point attempt rate is higher than ever and he's shooting a career-worst 43 percent on 2-point attempts. It's possible the light will come on for Wiggins and he'll convert his athletic gifts into production on a more regular basis under a new regime. He won't turn 24 until February, after all. More likely, Wiggins will remain more or less the same frustrating player he has been throughout his NBA career. And that means, despite his max salary, Wiggins can't be considered a key part of the Timberwolves' core any longer. Defensive improvement needed Ultimately, Thibodeau's biggest failure in Minnesota had nothing to do with his dual role coaching and overseeing basketball operations. Instead, it was his inability to translate the elite defense his Chicago Bulls teams played to the modern, 3-happy NBA. Thibodeau's Chicago tenure featured four top-five defenses in five seasons, including two No. 1 overall finishes. The Bulls' worst defensive rating under Thibodeau ranked 11th. Yet the Timberwolves finished 26th and 23rd in defense on a per-possession basis the past two seasons, and have been only slightly better (17th) this year. Minnesota did surge defensively during a home-heavy stretch after the Butler trade, ranking third in defensive rating while going 9-3 to climb over .500 on the season. The Timberwolves couldn't maintain that defensive success, slipping to 18th since then, translating into a 6-9 record. With Towns at center, Minnesota will probably always sacrifice some defensive strength for offensive firepower -- particularly with more shooting around him. But the equation for hiring Thibodeau depended on his defensive acumen outweighing his tendency to grind down players, and when that wasn't the case, keeping Thibodeau became tougher to justify. Whoever comes next will have to do more with a similar set of pieces. | Karl-Anthony Towns must be featured in Minnesota's offense. He's shown the potential to produce as much offense as New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis. The Timberwolves will want to put as much shooting as possible around Towns. | pegasus | 1 | https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wolves-build-contender-towns-now/story?id=60207055 | 0.164313 |
How should the Wolves build a contender around Towns now? | When the Timberwolves hired Thibodeau after the 2015-16 season, they looked like a rising force in the Western Conference behind a young core led by back-to-back No. 1 overall picks and Rookie of the Year winners Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. While Minnesota managed to end the NBA's longest playoff drought by securing the eighth seed in the playoffs last year, the ill-fated trade for Jimmy Butler and Wiggins' lack of progress have left the Timberwolves on the outskirts of the playoff picture this season. Towns must be featured in Timberwolves' offense No player is more important to Minnesota's present or future than Towns, an All-NBA third team selection last season at age 22 who subsequently signed a five-year extension worth an estimated $190 million that will kick in this summer. Despite the accolade, the arrival of Butler thrust Towns into a smaller role last season, when his usage rate shrunk from 27.5 percent of the team's plays in 2016-17 to 22.9 percent. Following the Butler trade, Towns' usage is back up to nearly 27 percent this season, but he's still capable of doing more. Interim coach Ryan Saunders, and whoever succeeds him on a permanent basis, ought to consider New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis a model for how to use Towns. Davis' usage rate has topped 30 percent of the Pelicans' plays each of the past two seasons, and hasn't been lower than 29 percent since Alvin Gentry's arrival as head coach in 2015-16. (Coincidentally, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski pointed out that Davis' previous coach, Monty Williams, was a favorite of the Timberwolves' front office before they hired Thibodeau and could be a candidate this time around.) Towns has shown the potential to produce as much offense as Davis. His usage rate was higher during his first two seasons than Davis' at the corresponding point in his career, and Towns has always tended to create more of his own shots. Per Basketball-Reference, Davis was assisted on 72 percent of his field goals during his first four NBA campaigns, as compared to 68 percent for Towns. In part, Towns would benefit from better spacing for his post-ups. Minnesota ranks 26th in 3-point rate and 22nd in made 3-pointers per game this season, with Towns himself contributing 1.7 triples per game. The additions of prolific 3-point shooters Robert Covington and Dario Saric in the Butler trade was a good first step, but the Timberwolves will want to put as much shooting as possible around Towns. Wiggins' potential fading Unfortunately, a coaching change may not do much to help Wiggins, whose 17.0 points per game are his fewest since his rookie season and whose .493 true shooting percentage is a career low. Part of the reason Minnesota hasn't developed as expected is Wiggins' stagnation as a player. With the benefit of hindsight, the warning signs were there in Wiggins' poor advanced stats, which marked him as a volume scorer rather than the kind of key offensive contributor his scoring average suggested. However, there was no reason to expect the regression we've seen from Wiggins the past two seasons. It was easy in 2017-18 to blame Wiggins' struggles on being relegated to an off-ball roll alongside Towns, which indeed forced him to rely more on his mediocre spot-up shooting than his ability to create one-on-one. That argument is more difficult to square with what we've seen from Wiggins since Butler was traded. Wiggins' usage rate hasn't budged, his 3-point attempt rate is higher than ever and he's shooting a career-worst 43 percent on 2-point attempts. It's possible the light will come on for Wiggins and he'll convert his athletic gifts into production on a more regular basis under a new regime. He won't turn 24 until February, after all. More likely, Wiggins will remain more or less the same frustrating player he has been throughout his NBA career. And that means, despite his max salary, Wiggins can't be considered a key part of the Timberwolves' core any longer. Defensive improvement needed Ultimately, Thibodeau's biggest failure in Minnesota had nothing to do with his dual role coaching and overseeing basketball operations. Instead, it was his inability to translate the elite defense his Chicago Bulls teams played to the modern, 3-happy NBA. Thibodeau's Chicago tenure featured four top-five defenses in five seasons, including two No. 1 overall finishes. The Bulls' worst defensive rating under Thibodeau ranked 11th. Yet the Timberwolves finished 26th and 23rd in defense on a per-possession basis the past two seasons, and have been only slightly better (17th) this year. Minnesota did surge defensively during a home-heavy stretch after the Butler trade, ranking third in defensive rating while going 9-3 to climb over .500 on the season. The Timberwolves couldn't maintain that defensive success, slipping to 18th since then, translating into a 6-9 record. With Towns at center, Minnesota will probably always sacrifice some defensive strength for offensive firepower -- particularly with more shooting around him. But the equation for hiring Thibodeau depended on his defensive acumen outweighing his tendency to grind down players, and when that wasn't the case, keeping Thibodeau became tougher to justify. Whoever comes next will have to do more with a similar set of pieces. | Towns must be featured in Timberwolves' offense, like Anthony Davis. Wiggins' stagnation as a player is a big part of the reason Minnesota hasn't developed as expected. The Timberwolves need to find a way to get Towns more involved in the offense. The Wolves need to make sure they don't lose Towns for nothing. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wolves-build-contender-towns-now/story?id=60207055 | 0.181839 |
How will central bankers cope when the next recession comes? | If you ask most central bankers around the world what their plan is for dealing with the next normal-size recession, you would be surprised how many (at least in advanced economies) say fiscal policy. Given the high odds of a recession over the next two years about 40% in the US, for example monetary policymakers who think fiscal policy alone will save the day are setting themselves up for a rude awakening. Yes, it is true that with policy interest rates near zero in most advanced economies (and just above 2% even in the fast-growing US), there is little room for monetary policy to manoeuvre in a recession without considerable creativity. The best idea is to create an environment in which negative interest-rate policies can be used more fully and effectively. This will eventually happen, but in the meantime, todays overdependence on countercyclical fiscal policy is dangerously nave. There are vast institutional differences between technocratic central banks and the politically volatile legislatures that control spending and tax policy. Lets bear in mind that a typical advanced-economy recession lasts only a year or so, whereas fiscal policy, even in the best of circumstances, invariably takes at least a few months just to be enacted. US and China resume trade talks with both eager for compromise Read more In some small economies for example, Denmark (with 5.8 million people) there is a broad social consensus to raise fiscal spending as a share of GDP. Some of this spending could easily be brought forward in a recession. In many other countries, however, notably the US and Germany, there is no such agreement. Even if progressives and conservatives both wanted to expand the government, their priorities would be vastly different. In the US, Democrats might favour new social programmes to reduce inequality, while Republicans might prefer increased spending on defence or border protection. Anyone who watched the US Senate confirmation hearings last September for supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh cannot seriously believe this group is capable of fine-tuned technocratic fiscal policy. This does not mean that fiscal stimulus should be off the table in the next recession. But it does mean that it cannot be the first line of defence, as altogether too many central bankers are hoping. Most advanced countries have a considerable backlog of high-return education and infrastructure projects, albeit most would take a long time to plan and implement. If left-leaning economists believe that fiscal policy is the main way out of a recession in 2019 or 2020, they should be lobbying for the government to prepare a pile of recession-ready projects. Former US president Barack Obama wanted to create an infrastructure bank in part for this purpose; tellingly, the idea never got off the ground. Likewise, many observers advocate bolstering automatic stabilisers such as unemployment benefits. Europe, with much higher levels of social insurance and taxation, has correspondingly stronger automatic stabilisers than does the US or Japan. When incomes fall, tax revenues decline and insurance payments rise, providing a built-in countercyclical fiscal stimulus. But proponents of higher automatic stabilisers pay too little attention to the negative incentive effects that come with higher government spending and the taxes needed to pay for it. To be clear, like many academic economists, I favour significantly raising taxes and transfers in the US as a response to growing inequality. But if there were a broad political consensus in favour of moving in this direction, it would have happened already. A more exotic concept is to create an independent fiscal council that issues economic forecasts and recommendations on the overall size of budgets and budget deficits. The idea is to create an institution for fiscal policy parallel to the central bank for monetary policy. Several countries, including Sweden and the United Kingdom, have adopted much watered-down versions of this idea. The problem is that elected legislatures dont want to cede power, especially over taxes and spending. One can appreciate why central bankers dont want to get gamed into some of the nuttier monetary policies that have been proposed, for example helicopter money (or more targeted drone money) whereby the central bank prints currency and hands it out to people. Such a policy is, of course, fiscal policy in disguise, and the day any central bank starts doing it heavily is the day it loses any semblance of independence. Others have argued for raising inflation targets, but this raises a raft of problems, not least that it undermines decades of efforts by central banks to establish the credibility of roughly 2% inflation. Central bankers who are serious about preparing for future recessions should be looking hard at proposals for how to pay interest on money, both positive and negative, which is by far the most elegant solution. It is high time to sharpen the instruments in central banks toolkit. Over-reliance on countercyclical fiscal policy will not work any better in this century than in it did in the last. Kenneth Rogoff is professor of economics and public policy at Harvard University. He was the IMFs chief economist from 2001-03. Project Syndicate | Many central bankers think fiscal policy alone will save the day in a recession. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/07/central-bankers-recession-fiscal-policy | 0.218722 |
How will central bankers cope when the next recession comes? | If you ask most central bankers around the world what their plan is for dealing with the next normal-size recession, you would be surprised how many (at least in advanced economies) say fiscal policy. Given the high odds of a recession over the next two years about 40% in the US, for example monetary policymakers who think fiscal policy alone will save the day are setting themselves up for a rude awakening. Yes, it is true that with policy interest rates near zero in most advanced economies (and just above 2% even in the fast-growing US), there is little room for monetary policy to manoeuvre in a recession without considerable creativity. The best idea is to create an environment in which negative interest-rate policies can be used more fully and effectively. This will eventually happen, but in the meantime, todays overdependence on countercyclical fiscal policy is dangerously nave. There are vast institutional differences between technocratic central banks and the politically volatile legislatures that control spending and tax policy. Lets bear in mind that a typical advanced-economy recession lasts only a year or so, whereas fiscal policy, even in the best of circumstances, invariably takes at least a few months just to be enacted. US and China resume trade talks with both eager for compromise Read more In some small economies for example, Denmark (with 5.8 million people) there is a broad social consensus to raise fiscal spending as a share of GDP. Some of this spending could easily be brought forward in a recession. In many other countries, however, notably the US and Germany, there is no such agreement. Even if progressives and conservatives both wanted to expand the government, their priorities would be vastly different. In the US, Democrats might favour new social programmes to reduce inequality, while Republicans might prefer increased spending on defence or border protection. Anyone who watched the US Senate confirmation hearings last September for supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh cannot seriously believe this group is capable of fine-tuned technocratic fiscal policy. This does not mean that fiscal stimulus should be off the table in the next recession. But it does mean that it cannot be the first line of defence, as altogether too many central bankers are hoping. Most advanced countries have a considerable backlog of high-return education and infrastructure projects, albeit most would take a long time to plan and implement. If left-leaning economists believe that fiscal policy is the main way out of a recession in 2019 or 2020, they should be lobbying for the government to prepare a pile of recession-ready projects. Former US president Barack Obama wanted to create an infrastructure bank in part for this purpose; tellingly, the idea never got off the ground. Likewise, many observers advocate bolstering automatic stabilisers such as unemployment benefits. Europe, with much higher levels of social insurance and taxation, has correspondingly stronger automatic stabilisers than does the US or Japan. When incomes fall, tax revenues decline and insurance payments rise, providing a built-in countercyclical fiscal stimulus. But proponents of higher automatic stabilisers pay too little attention to the negative incentive effects that come with higher government spending and the taxes needed to pay for it. To be clear, like many academic economists, I favour significantly raising taxes and transfers in the US as a response to growing inequality. But if there were a broad political consensus in favour of moving in this direction, it would have happened already. A more exotic concept is to create an independent fiscal council that issues economic forecasts and recommendations on the overall size of budgets and budget deficits. The idea is to create an institution for fiscal policy parallel to the central bank for monetary policy. Several countries, including Sweden and the United Kingdom, have adopted much watered-down versions of this idea. The problem is that elected legislatures dont want to cede power, especially over taxes and spending. One can appreciate why central bankers dont want to get gamed into some of the nuttier monetary policies that have been proposed, for example helicopter money (or more targeted drone money) whereby the central bank prints currency and hands it out to people. Such a policy is, of course, fiscal policy in disguise, and the day any central bank starts doing it heavily is the day it loses any semblance of independence. Others have argued for raising inflation targets, but this raises a raft of problems, not least that it undermines decades of efforts by central banks to establish the credibility of roughly 2% inflation. Central bankers who are serious about preparing for future recessions should be looking hard at proposals for how to pay interest on money, both positive and negative, which is by far the most elegant solution. It is high time to sharpen the instruments in central banks toolkit. Over-reliance on countercyclical fiscal policy will not work any better in this century than in it did in the last. Kenneth Rogoff is professor of economics and public policy at Harvard University. He was the IMFs chief economist from 2001-03. Project Syndicate | Many central bankers think fiscal policy alone will save the day in a recession, writes Andrew Hammond. Hammond: 'Todays overdependence on countercyclical fiscal policy is dangerously nave' In some small economies, there is a broad social consensus to raise fiscal spending as a share of GDP. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/07/central-bankers-recession-fiscal-policy | 0.136067 |
What Does It Mean to Live in the Present? | By Deepak Chopra, MD In recent decades the concept of living in the present moment has been widely discussed, prompted by the surprising success of Eckhart Tolles 1997 book, The Power of Now. For millions of readers Tolles basic thesis, that there is something special about the here and now, came as a spiritual message they could seize upon in daily life. The power that the present moment possesses, as many people now believe, is its reality. To be in the now means that you are not distracted by memories of the past or expectations about the future. You dwell instead on whatever is right in front of you, applying mental clarity, alertness, and your full attention. Simple enoughuntil one looks deeper. Young children live in the now. The elderly suffering from dementia typically have severe memory loss, forcing them to live only in the passing moment, and this condition becomes confusing and blank, not to mention a source of distress. The first thing to say, if we want to unravel these issues, is that the present moment isnt the same as the minutes ticking on the clock. The power of now cannot be found by looking at time, because the whole phenomenon is experiential. To live in the now is to have a completely different experience of mind, body, self, and world. Children offer a clue, if they are young enough, by not being so conditioned that they conform to societys framework of life. In that framework it is bad to be late and good to be on time. One fills the time efficiently at work and in a leisurely fashion on vacation or when given some free time. In other words, time is part of a way of life that we absorbed early on from the people around us, and the whole framework extends to core beliefs about birth and death, growing old, being dominated by memories, hopes, wishes, and fears, all of which are deeply rooted in social conformity. As long as these concepts have the power to define your experiences, the experience of now is overshadowed by conditioning. At the same time, we must look at what the mind is doing right this minute. It is being active, filled with a continuous stream of sensations, images, feelings, and thoughts. Much of this activity is born of habit; if you think the same way today as you did yesterday, your mind is running on autopilot. Moreover, by identifying with all your opinions, beliefs, habits, prejudices, and automatic reflexes, you are relying on a mental construct that is substituting for realty. This construct, which all of us have built since childhood, defines the ego-personality. I is shorthand for a self-made model of mind, body, and world that revolves around what the ego wants and fears, what it finds pleasurable and painful, and so on. With all of that in mind, living in the present moment is a slippery business. The fly in the ointment isnt that time is fleeting but that the person who tries to experience the present moment is actually blind to it. The now is the place where we encounter life, and if we encounter it through layers of conditioning and false assumptions, there is no now. There is only repetition of the old, with a faint recognition of newness if an unexpected experience arises, such as traveling to another country or making a new friend. In fact, for the ego the now is a threat, because it potentially contains the unknown. Always feeling insecure deep down, the ego protects itself from the threat of the unknown by denial or distraction or converting the now into something old and familiar. Therefore, the power of now resides only outside the ego, and since the ego is a product of time and an artificial mental construct, to live in the now means escaping from the bondage of time and the repetitive activity of the mind. No matter what your mind is doing at this moment, it is removing you from the now. To live in the present moment isnt attained through thinking, feeling, acting, or doing anything else associated with the active mind. Instead, living in the present moment involves consciousness. Most people equate consciousness with the mind, but consciousness is actually the source and origin of the mind before any activity, even the slightest thought, arises. Consciousness has been called the screen on which the mind throws images, a metaphor that goes back to Plato and his teaching of light throwing shadows on the wall of a cave. In this metaphor, to pay attention to the shadow play is illusory. Only by turning around and seeing the light directly does one confront reality. Up to now, youll notice that living in the present moment has become increasingly abstract and even metaphysical. It can be a simple matter if you go about it the right way. All that is needed is a shift of attention to your sense of self. At any given moment, no matter what is going on mentally in here or physically out there, the experience is happening to the self, and therefore a sense of self is blended into every experience. Normally we dont notice our sense of selfwe are simply too used to ignoring it. But the self is our connection to consciousness. All of life consists of the self consciously being present. Once you recognize this fact, you can reframe your life beyond the social model you have been conditioned to believe in. The self doesnt have to learn anything new or struggle to escape the old. Your sense of self has been spontaneously present all the time, only unnoticed because the ego has convinced you that it is the self. Once you go beyond the demands of I, experience is transformed. It starts to happen in an open state of awareness that has no agenda. On its own, your sense of self, if you notice it at all, has become entangled in your individual personality and the story of your life, a story you are constantly building day by day, year by year. The present moment is beyond stories. It exists outside time, which is why spiritual traditions all describe a place that is beyond the physical world. This place isnt a mystical Nirvana or the promise of Heaven. It is here and now, as a potential of the present moment. This place is pure awareness, which anyone can access. It is a field of all possibilities, which unfortunately we have shackled through the ego-personality into a small arena of limited possibilities. The present moment is nothing but a liberated state of the sense of self. Having seen this, we can discuss what such a liberated state feels like, what it can deliver every day, and most important of all, how to get there and make the present moment our true home. This will be the subject of the next post. (To be cont.) Deepak Chopra MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation and co-founder of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Chopra is the author of more than 85 books translated into over 43 languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His latest books are The Healing Self co-authored with Rudy Tanzi, Ph.D. and Quantum Healing (Revised and Updated): Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine. www.deepakchopra.com | Deepak Chopra: To live in the now is to have a completely different experience. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/chopra/article/What-Does-It-Mean-to-Live-in-the-Present-13513372.php | 0.130016 |
What Does It Mean to Live in the Present? | By Deepak Chopra, MD In recent decades the concept of living in the present moment has been widely discussed, prompted by the surprising success of Eckhart Tolles 1997 book, The Power of Now. For millions of readers Tolles basic thesis, that there is something special about the here and now, came as a spiritual message they could seize upon in daily life. The power that the present moment possesses, as many people now believe, is its reality. To be in the now means that you are not distracted by memories of the past or expectations about the future. You dwell instead on whatever is right in front of you, applying mental clarity, alertness, and your full attention. Simple enoughuntil one looks deeper. Young children live in the now. The elderly suffering from dementia typically have severe memory loss, forcing them to live only in the passing moment, and this condition becomes confusing and blank, not to mention a source of distress. The first thing to say, if we want to unravel these issues, is that the present moment isnt the same as the minutes ticking on the clock. The power of now cannot be found by looking at time, because the whole phenomenon is experiential. To live in the now is to have a completely different experience of mind, body, self, and world. Children offer a clue, if they are young enough, by not being so conditioned that they conform to societys framework of life. In that framework it is bad to be late and good to be on time. One fills the time efficiently at work and in a leisurely fashion on vacation or when given some free time. In other words, time is part of a way of life that we absorbed early on from the people around us, and the whole framework extends to core beliefs about birth and death, growing old, being dominated by memories, hopes, wishes, and fears, all of which are deeply rooted in social conformity. As long as these concepts have the power to define your experiences, the experience of now is overshadowed by conditioning. At the same time, we must look at what the mind is doing right this minute. It is being active, filled with a continuous stream of sensations, images, feelings, and thoughts. Much of this activity is born of habit; if you think the same way today as you did yesterday, your mind is running on autopilot. Moreover, by identifying with all your opinions, beliefs, habits, prejudices, and automatic reflexes, you are relying on a mental construct that is substituting for realty. This construct, which all of us have built since childhood, defines the ego-personality. I is shorthand for a self-made model of mind, body, and world that revolves around what the ego wants and fears, what it finds pleasurable and painful, and so on. With all of that in mind, living in the present moment is a slippery business. The fly in the ointment isnt that time is fleeting but that the person who tries to experience the present moment is actually blind to it. The now is the place where we encounter life, and if we encounter it through layers of conditioning and false assumptions, there is no now. There is only repetition of the old, with a faint recognition of newness if an unexpected experience arises, such as traveling to another country or making a new friend. In fact, for the ego the now is a threat, because it potentially contains the unknown. Always feeling insecure deep down, the ego protects itself from the threat of the unknown by denial or distraction or converting the now into something old and familiar. Therefore, the power of now resides only outside the ego, and since the ego is a product of time and an artificial mental construct, to live in the now means escaping from the bondage of time and the repetitive activity of the mind. No matter what your mind is doing at this moment, it is removing you from the now. To live in the present moment isnt attained through thinking, feeling, acting, or doing anything else associated with the active mind. Instead, living in the present moment involves consciousness. Most people equate consciousness with the mind, but consciousness is actually the source and origin of the mind before any activity, even the slightest thought, arises. Consciousness has been called the screen on which the mind throws images, a metaphor that goes back to Plato and his teaching of light throwing shadows on the wall of a cave. In this metaphor, to pay attention to the shadow play is illusory. Only by turning around and seeing the light directly does one confront reality. Up to now, youll notice that living in the present moment has become increasingly abstract and even metaphysical. It can be a simple matter if you go about it the right way. All that is needed is a shift of attention to your sense of self. At any given moment, no matter what is going on mentally in here or physically out there, the experience is happening to the self, and therefore a sense of self is blended into every experience. Normally we dont notice our sense of selfwe are simply too used to ignoring it. But the self is our connection to consciousness. All of life consists of the self consciously being present. Once you recognize this fact, you can reframe your life beyond the social model you have been conditioned to believe in. The self doesnt have to learn anything new or struggle to escape the old. Your sense of self has been spontaneously present all the time, only unnoticed because the ego has convinced you that it is the self. Once you go beyond the demands of I, experience is transformed. It starts to happen in an open state of awareness that has no agenda. On its own, your sense of self, if you notice it at all, has become entangled in your individual personality and the story of your life, a story you are constantly building day by day, year by year. The present moment is beyond stories. It exists outside time, which is why spiritual traditions all describe a place that is beyond the physical world. This place isnt a mystical Nirvana or the promise of Heaven. It is here and now, as a potential of the present moment. This place is pure awareness, which anyone can access. It is a field of all possibilities, which unfortunately we have shackled through the ego-personality into a small arena of limited possibilities. The present moment is nothing but a liberated state of the sense of self. Having seen this, we can discuss what such a liberated state feels like, what it can deliver every day, and most important of all, how to get there and make the present moment our true home. This will be the subject of the next post. (To be cont.) Deepak Chopra MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation and co-founder of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Chopra is the author of more than 85 books translated into over 43 languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His latest books are The Healing Self co-authored with Rudy Tanzi, Ph.D. and Quantum Healing (Revised and Updated): Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine. www.deepakchopra.com | Deepak Chopra: To live in the now is to have a completely different experience of mind, body, self, and world. The power of now cannot be found by looking at time, because the whole phenomenon is experiential. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/chopra/article/What-Does-It-Mean-to-Live-in-the-Present-13513372.php | 0.341381 |
What Does It Mean to Live in the Present? | By Deepak Chopra, MD In recent decades the concept of living in the present moment has been widely discussed, prompted by the surprising success of Eckhart Tolles 1997 book, The Power of Now. For millions of readers Tolles basic thesis, that there is something special about the here and now, came as a spiritual message they could seize upon in daily life. The power that the present moment possesses, as many people now believe, is its reality. To be in the now means that you are not distracted by memories of the past or expectations about the future. You dwell instead on whatever is right in front of you, applying mental clarity, alertness, and your full attention. Simple enoughuntil one looks deeper. Young children live in the now. The elderly suffering from dementia typically have severe memory loss, forcing them to live only in the passing moment, and this condition becomes confusing and blank, not to mention a source of distress. The first thing to say, if we want to unravel these issues, is that the present moment isnt the same as the minutes ticking on the clock. The power of now cannot be found by looking at time, because the whole phenomenon is experiential. To live in the now is to have a completely different experience of mind, body, self, and world. Children offer a clue, if they are young enough, by not being so conditioned that they conform to societys framework of life. In that framework it is bad to be late and good to be on time. One fills the time efficiently at work and in a leisurely fashion on vacation or when given some free time. In other words, time is part of a way of life that we absorbed early on from the people around us, and the whole framework extends to core beliefs about birth and death, growing old, being dominated by memories, hopes, wishes, and fears, all of which are deeply rooted in social conformity. As long as these concepts have the power to define your experiences, the experience of now is overshadowed by conditioning. At the same time, we must look at what the mind is doing right this minute. It is being active, filled with a continuous stream of sensations, images, feelings, and thoughts. Much of this activity is born of habit; if you think the same way today as you did yesterday, your mind is running on autopilot. Moreover, by identifying with all your opinions, beliefs, habits, prejudices, and automatic reflexes, you are relying on a mental construct that is substituting for realty. This construct, which all of us have built since childhood, defines the ego-personality. I is shorthand for a self-made model of mind, body, and world that revolves around what the ego wants and fears, what it finds pleasurable and painful, and so on. With all of that in mind, living in the present moment is a slippery business. The fly in the ointment isnt that time is fleeting but that the person who tries to experience the present moment is actually blind to it. The now is the place where we encounter life, and if we encounter it through layers of conditioning and false assumptions, there is no now. There is only repetition of the old, with a faint recognition of newness if an unexpected experience arises, such as traveling to another country or making a new friend. In fact, for the ego the now is a threat, because it potentially contains the unknown. Always feeling insecure deep down, the ego protects itself from the threat of the unknown by denial or distraction or converting the now into something old and familiar. Therefore, the power of now resides only outside the ego, and since the ego is a product of time and an artificial mental construct, to live in the now means escaping from the bondage of time and the repetitive activity of the mind. No matter what your mind is doing at this moment, it is removing you from the now. To live in the present moment isnt attained through thinking, feeling, acting, or doing anything else associated with the active mind. Instead, living in the present moment involves consciousness. Most people equate consciousness with the mind, but consciousness is actually the source and origin of the mind before any activity, even the slightest thought, arises. Consciousness has been called the screen on which the mind throws images, a metaphor that goes back to Plato and his teaching of light throwing shadows on the wall of a cave. In this metaphor, to pay attention to the shadow play is illusory. Only by turning around and seeing the light directly does one confront reality. Up to now, youll notice that living in the present moment has become increasingly abstract and even metaphysical. It can be a simple matter if you go about it the right way. All that is needed is a shift of attention to your sense of self. At any given moment, no matter what is going on mentally in here or physically out there, the experience is happening to the self, and therefore a sense of self is blended into every experience. Normally we dont notice our sense of selfwe are simply too used to ignoring it. But the self is our connection to consciousness. All of life consists of the self consciously being present. Once you recognize this fact, you can reframe your life beyond the social model you have been conditioned to believe in. The self doesnt have to learn anything new or struggle to escape the old. Your sense of self has been spontaneously present all the time, only unnoticed because the ego has convinced you that it is the self. Once you go beyond the demands of I, experience is transformed. It starts to happen in an open state of awareness that has no agenda. On its own, your sense of self, if you notice it at all, has become entangled in your individual personality and the story of your life, a story you are constantly building day by day, year by year. The present moment is beyond stories. It exists outside time, which is why spiritual traditions all describe a place that is beyond the physical world. This place isnt a mystical Nirvana or the promise of Heaven. It is here and now, as a potential of the present moment. This place is pure awareness, which anyone can access. It is a field of all possibilities, which unfortunately we have shackled through the ego-personality into a small arena of limited possibilities. The present moment is nothing but a liberated state of the sense of self. Having seen this, we can discuss what such a liberated state feels like, what it can deliver every day, and most important of all, how to get there and make the present moment our true home. This will be the subject of the next post. (To be cont.) Deepak Chopra MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation and co-founder of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Chopra is the author of more than 85 books translated into over 43 languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His latest books are The Healing Self co-authored with Rudy Tanzi, Ph.D. and Quantum Healing (Revised and Updated): Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine. www.deepakchopra.com | Deepak Chopra: To live in the present moment is to have a completely different experience of mind, body, self, and world. He says the power of now cannot be found by looking at time, because the whole phenomenon is experiential. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/chopra/article/What-Does-It-Mean-to-Live-in-the-Present-13513372.php | 0.477305 |
Is Franklin Income Adviser (FRIAX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | Allocation Balanced fund seekers may want to consider taking a look at Franklin Income Adviser (FRIAX). FRIAX bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective FRIAX is one of many Zacks' Allocation Balanced mutual funds to pick from. Allocation Balanced funds seek to invest in a balance of asset types, like stocks, bonds, and cash, though including precious metals or commodities is not unusual; these funds are mostly categorized by their respective asset allocation. Investors utilize Allocation Balanced funds as a way to get a good start with diversified mutual funds, as well as for core holdings in a portfolio of funds. History of Fund/Manager Franklin Templeton is based in San Mateo, CA, and is the manager of FRIAX. The Franklin Income Adviser made its debut in August of 1948 and FRIAX has managed to accumulate roughly $11.09 billion in assets, as of the most recently available information. The fund's current manager is a team of investment professionals. Performance Of course, investors look for strong performance in funds. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 4.24%, and is in the middle third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 7.06%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. The standard deviation of FRIAX over the past three years is 6.39% compared to the category average of 8.12%. The standard deviation of the fund over the past 5 years is 7.54% compared to the category average of 8.29%. This makes the fund less volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors cannot discount the risks to this segment though, as it is always important to remember the downside for any potential investment. In the most recent bear market, FRIAX lost 39.17% and underperformed comparable funds by 2.93%. This means that the fund could possibly be a worse choice than its peers during a down market environment. Even still, the fund has a 5-year beta of 0.62, so investors should note that it is hypothetically less volatile than the market at large. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. The fund has produced a negative alpha over the past 5 years of -2.63, which shows that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, FRIAX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.46% compared to the category average of 0.90%. From a cost perspective, FRIAX is actually cheaper than its peers. While the minimum initial investment for the product is $0, investors should also note that there is no minimum for each subsequent investment. Bottom Line Overall, Franklin Income Adviser ( FRIAX ) has a neutral Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively similar performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, Franklin Income Adviser ( FRIAX ) looks like a somewhat average choice for investors right now. Your research on the Allocation Balanced segment doesn't have to stop here. You can check out all the great mutual fund tools we have to offer by going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds to see the additional features we offer as well for additional information. We have a full suite of tools on stocks that you can use to find the best choices for your portfolio too, no matter what kind of investor you are. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (FRIAX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | Franklin Income Adviser (FRIAX) bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 3 (Hold) Allocation Balanced funds seek to invest in a balance of asset types, like stocks, bonds, and cash. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/franklin-income-adviser-friax-strong-120012761.html | 0.107598 |
Is Franklin Income Adviser (FRIAX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | Allocation Balanced fund seekers may want to consider taking a look at Franklin Income Adviser (FRIAX). FRIAX bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective FRIAX is one of many Zacks' Allocation Balanced mutual funds to pick from. Allocation Balanced funds seek to invest in a balance of asset types, like stocks, bonds, and cash, though including precious metals or commodities is not unusual; these funds are mostly categorized by their respective asset allocation. Investors utilize Allocation Balanced funds as a way to get a good start with diversified mutual funds, as well as for core holdings in a portfolio of funds. History of Fund/Manager Franklin Templeton is based in San Mateo, CA, and is the manager of FRIAX. The Franklin Income Adviser made its debut in August of 1948 and FRIAX has managed to accumulate roughly $11.09 billion in assets, as of the most recently available information. The fund's current manager is a team of investment professionals. Performance Of course, investors look for strong performance in funds. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 4.24%, and is in the middle third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 7.06%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. The standard deviation of FRIAX over the past three years is 6.39% compared to the category average of 8.12%. The standard deviation of the fund over the past 5 years is 7.54% compared to the category average of 8.29%. This makes the fund less volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors cannot discount the risks to this segment though, as it is always important to remember the downside for any potential investment. In the most recent bear market, FRIAX lost 39.17% and underperformed comparable funds by 2.93%. This means that the fund could possibly be a worse choice than its peers during a down market environment. Even still, the fund has a 5-year beta of 0.62, so investors should note that it is hypothetically less volatile than the market at large. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. The fund has produced a negative alpha over the past 5 years of -2.63, which shows that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, FRIAX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.46% compared to the category average of 0.90%. From a cost perspective, FRIAX is actually cheaper than its peers. While the minimum initial investment for the product is $0, investors should also note that there is no minimum for each subsequent investment. Bottom Line Overall, Franklin Income Adviser ( FRIAX ) has a neutral Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively similar performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, Franklin Income Adviser ( FRIAX ) looks like a somewhat average choice for investors right now. Your research on the Allocation Balanced segment doesn't have to stop here. You can check out all the great mutual fund tools we have to offer by going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds to see the additional features we offer as well for additional information. We have a full suite of tools on stocks that you can use to find the best choices for your portfolio too, no matter what kind of investor you are. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (FRIAX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | Franklin Income Adviser (FRIAX) bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 3 (Hold) Allocation Balanced funds seek to invest in a balance of asset types, like stocks, bonds, and cash. In the most recent bear market, FRIAX lost 39.17% and underperformed peers by 2.93%. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/franklin-income-adviser-friax-strong-120012761.html | 0.115742 |
Is Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology A (FBTAX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | Sector - Health fund seekers should not consider taking a look at Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology A (FBTAX) at this time. FBTAX bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 4 (Sell), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective Zacks categorizes FBTAX as Sector - Health, a segment packed with options. Sector - Health mutual funds offer investors a focus on the healthcare industry, one of the largest sectors in the American economy. These funds can include everything from pharmaceutical companies to medical device manufacturers and for-profit hospitals. History of Fund/Manager Fidelity is based in Boston, MA, and is the manager of FBTAX. The Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology A made its debut in December of 2000 and FBTAX has managed to accumulate roughly $691.85 million in assets, as of the most recently available information. The fund's current manager, Eirene Kontopoulos, has been in charge of the fund since July of 2018. Performance Of course, investors look for strong performance in funds. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 8.98%, and is in the top third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 0.51%, which places it in the middle third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. The standard deviation of FBTAX over the past three years is 26.83% compared to the category average of 10.59%. The standard deviation of the fund over the past 5 years is 25.88% compared to the category average of 10.68%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors cannot discount the risks to this segment though, as it is always important to remember the downside for any potential investment. In the most recent bear market, FBTAX lost 26.12% and outperformed its peer group by 7.12%. These results could imply that the fund is a better choice than its peers during a sliding market environment. Nevertheless, investors should also note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 1.43, which means it is hypothetically more volatile than the market at large. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. With a negative alpha of -3.42, managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Holdings Investigating the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is largely on equities that are traded in the United States. Right now, 76.78% of this mutual fund's holdings are stocks, which have an average market capitalization of $45.74 billion. The fund has the heaviest exposure to the following market sectors: Health Other Turnover is about 45%, so those in charge of the fund make fewer trades than the average comparable fund. Expenses For investors, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is key, since costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing. Competition is heating up in this space, and a lower cost product will likely outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, all things being equal. In terms of fees, FBTAX is a load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.06% compared to the category average of 1.32%. FBTAX is actually cheaper than its peers when you consider factors like cost. Investors should also note that the minimum initial investment for the product is $0 and that each subsequent investment has no minimum amount. Bottom Line Overall, Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology A ( FBTAX ) has a low Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively strong performance, worse downside risk, and lower fees, Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology A ( FBTAX ) looks like a somewhat weak choice for investors right now. Don't stop here for your research on Sector - Health funds. We also have plenty more on our site in order to help you find the best possible fund for your portfolio. Make sure to check out www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for more information about the world of funds, and feel free to compare FBTAX to its peers as well for additional information. For analysis of the rest of your portfolio, make sure to visit Zacks.com for our full suite of tools which will help you investigate all of your stocks and funds in one place. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (FBTAX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology A (FBTAX) bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 4 (Sell) Zacks categorizes FBTAX as Sector - Health, a segment packed with options. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/fidelity-advisor-biotechnology-fbtax-strong-120012526.html | 0.147123 |
Is Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology A (FBTAX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | Sector - Health fund seekers should not consider taking a look at Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology A (FBTAX) at this time. FBTAX bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 4 (Sell), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective Zacks categorizes FBTAX as Sector - Health, a segment packed with options. Sector - Health mutual funds offer investors a focus on the healthcare industry, one of the largest sectors in the American economy. These funds can include everything from pharmaceutical companies to medical device manufacturers and for-profit hospitals. History of Fund/Manager Fidelity is based in Boston, MA, and is the manager of FBTAX. The Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology A made its debut in December of 2000 and FBTAX has managed to accumulate roughly $691.85 million in assets, as of the most recently available information. The fund's current manager, Eirene Kontopoulos, has been in charge of the fund since July of 2018. Performance Of course, investors look for strong performance in funds. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 8.98%, and is in the top third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 0.51%, which places it in the middle third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. The standard deviation of FBTAX over the past three years is 26.83% compared to the category average of 10.59%. The standard deviation of the fund over the past 5 years is 25.88% compared to the category average of 10.68%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors cannot discount the risks to this segment though, as it is always important to remember the downside for any potential investment. In the most recent bear market, FBTAX lost 26.12% and outperformed its peer group by 7.12%. These results could imply that the fund is a better choice than its peers during a sliding market environment. Nevertheless, investors should also note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 1.43, which means it is hypothetically more volatile than the market at large. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. With a negative alpha of -3.42, managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Holdings Investigating the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is largely on equities that are traded in the United States. Right now, 76.78% of this mutual fund's holdings are stocks, which have an average market capitalization of $45.74 billion. The fund has the heaviest exposure to the following market sectors: Health Other Turnover is about 45%, so those in charge of the fund make fewer trades than the average comparable fund. Expenses For investors, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is key, since costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing. Competition is heating up in this space, and a lower cost product will likely outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, all things being equal. In terms of fees, FBTAX is a load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.06% compared to the category average of 1.32%. FBTAX is actually cheaper than its peers when you consider factors like cost. Investors should also note that the minimum initial investment for the product is $0 and that each subsequent investment has no minimum amount. Bottom Line Overall, Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology A ( FBTAX ) has a low Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively strong performance, worse downside risk, and lower fees, Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology A ( FBTAX ) looks like a somewhat weak choice for investors right now. Don't stop here for your research on Sector - Health funds. We also have plenty more on our site in order to help you find the best possible fund for your portfolio. Make sure to check out www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for more information about the world of funds, and feel free to compare FBTAX to its peers as well for additional information. For analysis of the rest of your portfolio, make sure to visit Zacks.com for our full suite of tools which will help you investigate all of your stocks and funds in one place. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (FBTAX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | Fidelity Advisor Biotechnology A (FBTAX) bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 4 (Sell) FBTAX has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 8.98%, and is in the top third among its category peers. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/fidelity-advisor-biotechnology-fbtax-strong-120012526.html | 0.149993 |
Is American Funds New World A (NEWFX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | If you've been stuck searching for Non US - Equity funds, you might want to consider passing on by American Funds New World A (NEWFX) as a possibility. NEWFX carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 4 (Sell), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective We classify NEWFX in the Non US - Equity category, which is an area rife with potential choices. Investing in companies outside the United States is how Non US - Equity funds set themselves apart, since global funds tend to keep a good portion of their portfolio stateside. Many of these funds like to allocate across emerging and developed markets, and will often focus on all cap levels. History of Fund/Manager NEWFX finds itself in the American Funds family, based out of Los Angeles, CA. Since American Funds New World A made its debut in June of 1999, NEWFX has garnered more than $13.49 billion in assets. The fund is currently managed by a team of investment professionals. Performance Of course, investors look for strong performance in funds. NEWFX has a 5-year annualized total return of 2.69% and it sits in the middle third among its category peers. Investors who prefer analyzing shorter time frames should look at its 3-year annualized total return of 7.07%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. Compared to the category average of 8.77%, the standard deviation of NEWFX over the past three years is 10.99%. Looking at the past 5 years, the fund's standard deviation is 11.02% compared to the category average of 8.91%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors should always remember the downsides to a potential investment, and this segment carries some risks one should be aware of. NEWFX lost 53.05% in the most recent bear market and outperformed its peer group by 5.37%. This might suggest that the fund is a better choice than its peers during a bear market. Investors should note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 0.85, so it is likely going to be less volatile than the market at large. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. The fund has produced a negative alpha over the past 5 years of -6.06, which shows that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses Costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing, and particularly as competition heats up in this market. And all things being equal, a lower cost product will outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, so taking a closer look at these metrics is key for investors. In terms of fees, NEWFX is a load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.99% compared to the category average of 1.25%. NEWFX is actually cheaper than its peers when you consider factors like cost. Investors need to be aware that with this product, the minimum initial investment is $250; each subsequent investment needs to be at least $50. Bottom Line Overall, American Funds New World A ( NEWFX ) has a low Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively similar performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, this fund looks like a somewhat weak choice for investors right now. This could just be the start of your research on NEWFXin the Non US - Equity category. Consider going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for additional information about this fund, and all the others that we rank as well for additional information. Zacks provides a full suite of tools to help you analyze your portfolio - both funds and stocks - in the most efficient way possible. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (NEWFX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | American Funds New World A (NEWFX) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 4 (Sell) NEWFX has a 5-year annualized total return of 2.69% and it sits in the middle third among its category peers. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/american-funds-world-newfx-strong-120012040.html | 0.110819 |
Is American Funds New World A (NEWFX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | If you've been stuck searching for Non US - Equity funds, you might want to consider passing on by American Funds New World A (NEWFX) as a possibility. NEWFX carries a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 4 (Sell), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective We classify NEWFX in the Non US - Equity category, which is an area rife with potential choices. Investing in companies outside the United States is how Non US - Equity funds set themselves apart, since global funds tend to keep a good portion of their portfolio stateside. Many of these funds like to allocate across emerging and developed markets, and will often focus on all cap levels. History of Fund/Manager NEWFX finds itself in the American Funds family, based out of Los Angeles, CA. Since American Funds New World A made its debut in June of 1999, NEWFX has garnered more than $13.49 billion in assets. The fund is currently managed by a team of investment professionals. Performance Of course, investors look for strong performance in funds. NEWFX has a 5-year annualized total return of 2.69% and it sits in the middle third among its category peers. Investors who prefer analyzing shorter time frames should look at its 3-year annualized total return of 7.07%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. Compared to the category average of 8.77%, the standard deviation of NEWFX over the past three years is 10.99%. Looking at the past 5 years, the fund's standard deviation is 11.02% compared to the category average of 8.91%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors should always remember the downsides to a potential investment, and this segment carries some risks one should be aware of. NEWFX lost 53.05% in the most recent bear market and outperformed its peer group by 5.37%. This might suggest that the fund is a better choice than its peers during a bear market. Investors should note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 0.85, so it is likely going to be less volatile than the market at large. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. The fund has produced a negative alpha over the past 5 years of -6.06, which shows that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses Costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing, and particularly as competition heats up in this market. And all things being equal, a lower cost product will outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, so taking a closer look at these metrics is key for investors. In terms of fees, NEWFX is a load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.99% compared to the category average of 1.25%. NEWFX is actually cheaper than its peers when you consider factors like cost. Investors need to be aware that with this product, the minimum initial investment is $250; each subsequent investment needs to be at least $50. Bottom Line Overall, American Funds New World A ( NEWFX ) has a low Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively similar performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, this fund looks like a somewhat weak choice for investors right now. This could just be the start of your research on NEWFXin the Non US - Equity category. Consider going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for additional information about this fund, and all the others that we rank as well for additional information. Zacks provides a full suite of tools to help you analyze your portfolio - both funds and stocks - in the most efficient way possible. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (NEWFX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | American Funds New World A (NEWFX) has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 4 (Sell) NEWFX has a 5-year annualized total return of 2.69% and it sits in the middle third among its category peers. NEWFX is actually cheaper than its peers when you consider factors like cost. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/american-funds-world-newfx-strong-120012040.html | 0.138392 |
Is Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail (WTSLX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | Mid Cap Growth fund seekers should consider taking a look at Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail (WTSLX). WTSLX bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective WTSLX is part of the Mid Cap Growth section, a segment that boasts a wide array of possible selections. While Mid Cap Growth mutual funds choose companies with a stock market valuation between $2 billion and $10 billion, stocks in these funds are also expected to show broad considerable growth opportunities for investors compared to their peers. To be considered a growth stock, companies must consistently report impressive sales and/or earnings growth. History of Fund/Manager Segal Bryant is based in Chicago, IL, and is the manager of WTSLX. Since Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail made its debut in October of 1999, WTSLX has garnered more than $69.33 million in assets. A team of investment professionals is the fund's current manager. Performance Obviously, what investors are looking for in these funds is strong performance relative to their peers. This fund in particular has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 5.59%, and it sits in the bottom third among its category peers. If you're interested in shorter time frames, do not dismiss looking at the fund's 3-year annualized total return of 10.48%, which places it in the bottom third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. WTSLX's standard deviation over the past three years is 15.04% compared to the category average of 14.86%. Over the past 5 years, the standard deviation of the fund is 14.95% compared to the category average of 14.71%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors should always remember the downsides to a potential investment, and this segment carries some risks one should be aware of. WTSLX lost 50.24% in the most recent bear market and outperformed its peer group by 2.79%. This could mean that the fund is a better choice than comparable funds during a bear market. Investors should note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 1.13, so it is likely going to be more volatile than the market at large. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. WTSLX has generated a negative alpha over the past five years of -5.69, demonstrating that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Holdings Examining the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is largely on equities that are traded in the United States. This fund is currently holding about 94.86% stock in stocks, which have an average market capitalization of $4.05 billion. The fund has the heaviest exposure to the following market sectors: Technology Other Health Services Industrial Cyclical Non-Durable Turnover is about 58%, so those in charge of the fund make fewer trades than the average comparable fund. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, WTSLX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.97% compared to the category average of 1.29%. WTSLX is actually cheaper than its peers when you consider factors like cost. This fund requires a minimum initial investment of $250,000, while there is no minimum for each subsequent investment. Bottom Line Overall, Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail ( WTSLX ) has a high Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively weak performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, this fund looks like a great potential choice for investors right now. This could just be the start of your research on WTSLXin the Mid Cap Growth category. Consider going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for additional information about this fund, and all the others that we rank as well for additional information. If you are more of a stock investor, make sure to also check out our Zacks Rank, and our full suite of tools we have available for novice and professional investors alike. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (WTSLX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 1. | pegasus | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/westcore-small-cap-growth-ii-120012456.html | 0.108579 |
Is Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail (WTSLX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | Mid Cap Growth fund seekers should consider taking a look at Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail (WTSLX). WTSLX bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective WTSLX is part of the Mid Cap Growth section, a segment that boasts a wide array of possible selections. While Mid Cap Growth mutual funds choose companies with a stock market valuation between $2 billion and $10 billion, stocks in these funds are also expected to show broad considerable growth opportunities for investors compared to their peers. To be considered a growth stock, companies must consistently report impressive sales and/or earnings growth. History of Fund/Manager Segal Bryant is based in Chicago, IL, and is the manager of WTSLX. Since Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail made its debut in October of 1999, WTSLX has garnered more than $69.33 million in assets. A team of investment professionals is the fund's current manager. Performance Obviously, what investors are looking for in these funds is strong performance relative to their peers. This fund in particular has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 5.59%, and it sits in the bottom third among its category peers. If you're interested in shorter time frames, do not dismiss looking at the fund's 3-year annualized total return of 10.48%, which places it in the bottom third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. WTSLX's standard deviation over the past three years is 15.04% compared to the category average of 14.86%. Over the past 5 years, the standard deviation of the fund is 14.95% compared to the category average of 14.71%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors should always remember the downsides to a potential investment, and this segment carries some risks one should be aware of. WTSLX lost 50.24% in the most recent bear market and outperformed its peer group by 2.79%. This could mean that the fund is a better choice than comparable funds during a bear market. Investors should note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 1.13, so it is likely going to be more volatile than the market at large. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. WTSLX has generated a negative alpha over the past five years of -5.69, demonstrating that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Holdings Examining the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is largely on equities that are traded in the United States. This fund is currently holding about 94.86% stock in stocks, which have an average market capitalization of $4.05 billion. The fund has the heaviest exposure to the following market sectors: Technology Other Health Services Industrial Cyclical Non-Durable Turnover is about 58%, so those in charge of the fund make fewer trades than the average comparable fund. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, WTSLX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.97% compared to the category average of 1.29%. WTSLX is actually cheaper than its peers when you consider factors like cost. This fund requires a minimum initial investment of $250,000, while there is no minimum for each subsequent investment. Bottom Line Overall, Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail ( WTSLX ) has a high Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively weak performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, this fund looks like a great potential choice for investors right now. This could just be the start of your research on WTSLXin the Mid Cap Growth category. Consider going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for additional information about this fund, and all the others that we rank as well for additional information. If you are more of a stock investor, make sure to also check out our Zacks Rank, and our full suite of tools we have available for novice and professional investors alike. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (WTSLX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) WTSLX is part of the Mid Cap Growth section, a segment that boasts a wide array of possible selections. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/westcore-small-cap-growth-ii-120012456.html | 0.334198 |
Is Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail (WTSLX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | Mid Cap Growth fund seekers should consider taking a look at Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail (WTSLX). WTSLX bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective WTSLX is part of the Mid Cap Growth section, a segment that boasts a wide array of possible selections. While Mid Cap Growth mutual funds choose companies with a stock market valuation between $2 billion and $10 billion, stocks in these funds are also expected to show broad considerable growth opportunities for investors compared to their peers. To be considered a growth stock, companies must consistently report impressive sales and/or earnings growth. History of Fund/Manager Segal Bryant is based in Chicago, IL, and is the manager of WTSLX. Since Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail made its debut in October of 1999, WTSLX has garnered more than $69.33 million in assets. A team of investment professionals is the fund's current manager. Performance Obviously, what investors are looking for in these funds is strong performance relative to their peers. This fund in particular has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 5.59%, and it sits in the bottom third among its category peers. If you're interested in shorter time frames, do not dismiss looking at the fund's 3-year annualized total return of 10.48%, which places it in the bottom third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. WTSLX's standard deviation over the past three years is 15.04% compared to the category average of 14.86%. Over the past 5 years, the standard deviation of the fund is 14.95% compared to the category average of 14.71%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors should always remember the downsides to a potential investment, and this segment carries some risks one should be aware of. WTSLX lost 50.24% in the most recent bear market and outperformed its peer group by 2.79%. This could mean that the fund is a better choice than comparable funds during a bear market. Investors should note that the fund has a 5-year beta of 1.13, so it is likely going to be more volatile than the market at large. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. WTSLX has generated a negative alpha over the past five years of -5.69, demonstrating that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Holdings Examining the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is largely on equities that are traded in the United States. This fund is currently holding about 94.86% stock in stocks, which have an average market capitalization of $4.05 billion. The fund has the heaviest exposure to the following market sectors: Technology Other Health Services Industrial Cyclical Non-Durable Turnover is about 58%, so those in charge of the fund make fewer trades than the average comparable fund. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, WTSLX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.97% compared to the category average of 1.29%. WTSLX is actually cheaper than its peers when you consider factors like cost. This fund requires a minimum initial investment of $250,000, while there is no minimum for each subsequent investment. Bottom Line Overall, Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail ( WTSLX ) has a high Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively weak performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, this fund looks like a great potential choice for investors right now. This could just be the start of your research on WTSLXin the Mid Cap Growth category. Consider going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for additional information about this fund, and all the others that we rank as well for additional information. If you are more of a stock investor, make sure to also check out our Zacks Rank, and our full suite of tools we have available for novice and professional investors alike. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (WTSLX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | Westcore Small Cap Growth II Retail has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) WTSLX is part of the Mid Cap Growth section, a segment that boasts a wide array of possible selections. The fund is currently holding about 94.86% stock in stocks, which have an average market capitalization of $4.05 billion. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/westcore-small-cap-growth-ii-120012456.html | 0.341522 |
Will Nokia Show A New 6310 At MWC? | The biggest surprise of Mobile World Congress 2017 was Nokias launch of the new 3310. It was a 2G phone in a 4G world and it took the show by storm. The biggest surprise of Mobile World Congress 2018 was Nokias launch of the new 8110, a 4G version of its third most iconic phone. And thats what was surprising. Nokia chose to bring back the 8110 and not the 6310. The obvious follow-up to the 3310 would have been Nokias most successful business phone, a device which still has a dedicated fan base. Indeed it was such a hit than when Nokia dropped the 6310, Vodafone got into discussions with Nokia about buying the rights to continue the manufacture. I regularly encounter people who are still in love with the old Nokia. In its day it was advanced with Bluetooth and data, but today its a technology dinosaur. But one which has a surprisingly high price. One Amazon vendor has them at top smartphone money One of the celebrity fans of the 6310 is ex-Formula 1 driver and Le Mans winner, Richard Attwood, now in his 70s, Attwood is still one of the fastest men on four wheels, regularly out-racing young bucks who are a quarter of his age. I was amused when he pulled a Nokia 6310 from his pocket, a phone which is only a tad younger than current F1 driver Max Verstappen. Its a classic phone and I was excited because Im a phone geek. Attwood uses it precisely because hes not. Indeed he said hed bought a couple of spares should his Nokia go wrong. Here was a man who was practiced at shaving tenths of a second off a lap of Silverstone but wasnt too concerned if he didnt read an email for a day or two. He told me that if he was instructing for Porsche hed leave his phone in the office for the day and check his messages when he got back. Compare this with recent research which says that most people look at their phone 300 times a day. But the thing about Richard Attwoods view about modern technology is that it is what marketing types would call on trend, there is a growing interest in making life more simple. The reboot of the Nokia 3310 has seen an amazing amount of interest in a phone which only does talking and text. Its good to know that over 50 years after he first lined up on the F1 grid, Attwood is still in pole position. But Attwood and all the other 6310 lovers have a problem. Its 2G and as a thirty-year-old technology, there is less and less investment going into the networks. Capacity at 900 MHz and 1800MHz is increasingly being migrated to 4G, and much of the new infrastructure is 4G-only relying on Voice over LTE to do calls. We can expect there to be a sniff of 2G for quite a while but it will become increasingly difficult for all the 6210, and other 2G mobile phone, users to get a signal. What they want is a 4G version of their beloved phone. If it does no-one will be surprised. | The biggest surprise of Mobile World Congress 2017 was Nokias launch of the new 3310. It was a 2G phone in a 4G world and it took the show by storm. Nokia chose to bring back the 8110 and not the 6310. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonrockman1/2019/01/07/will-nokia-show-a-new-6310-at-mwc/ | 0.142903 |
What Do Tomorrow's Leaders Look Like During The Digital Work Crisis? | Tomorrows leaders operate with a different set of rules. They know, at an intuitive level, how to look at organizational challenges in a completely distinct way, whereas most people look at the same challenges in terms of status quo thinking. For example, when management teams are given the task to increase business velocity through digitalization, I've found that they often talk in terms of collaboration tools, better project governance, Agile methodologies or breaking down silos. While all of these enhancements are good, my experience as a chief product and technology officer has shown me that tomorrows leaders understand that, by themselves, these changes miss the bigger picture. These future leaders see that as companies race to digitize, the conversion typically happens piece by piece by process, by department, by team and so on. They see that a new, holistic strategy for enterprise work is missing. Digitization creates infinite possibilities, which also brings new pressures that todays organizations are often not equipped to handle. These pressures represent a new paradigm in work that disrupts the common corporate practices of the past century and results in a few trends I've noticed: 100 times faster: Speed is the new currency. Global complexity: We're shrinking geographic boundaries. Millions of variations: Every work product is custom -- iteration is the new normal. Infinite work streams: We're seeing high-volume, short and parallel sprints. Networked and social: Work gets done across a self-organizing collective. Exponential work product: There are exabytes of data and digital artifacts. The Crisis The aforementioned trends can feed massive complexity resulting in functions and teams that are easily disconnected and not executing together, analog work processes that operate at differing paces, and millions of data points and artifacts that are trapped in disparate silos. This is the digital work crisis, and companies that fail to modernize work to effectively remediate these issues are being left behind, as I mentioned in a previous article. To top it all off, executives are often flying blind with no way to plan, execute or measure the work their organizations do at a strategic level. The problems are only getting worse each day as more and more work is being digitized. I believe that work is mostly invisible to decision makers. The Current Options In my experience, management teams typically follow three paths to navigating the digital work crisis. First, they try to leverage legacy productivity tools in order to minimize both cost and workforce disruption. While this may be the easiest option, it can also be the least effective. Second, management considers adding point solutions to patch gaps in their processes. These efforts are usually incremental, band-aid answers that, at best, get the business to a good enough for now state. Third, management will stretch existing applications and platforms in which the business has already invested. This option comes with its own compromises, as teams outside the core use case for the platform may be required to accept constraints if the solution is a force-fit for their business function. Tomorrows Leaders From my perspective, the leaders of tomorrow see the opportunities in challenges. They think differently about how to organize around those opportunities. They seek disruptive, holistic solutions to driving work forward. They look beyond the underlying tech and first champion new models for how they think the organization should operate for example, by going from disconnected to networked, from inconsistent to consistent and from invisible to precise and certain. Tomorrows leaders could be the solution to the digital work crisis, and they are all around you. Here are five traits of these leaders by which you can identify them: 1) They raise their hand to volunteer for new challenges that are important to the business, even when they are considered unseasoned and the challenge seems to reside outside of their domain expertise. 2) They create discomfort in those hesitant to explore possibilities beyond the status quo, yet they also inspire hope for a better future state of the organization. 3) They lead difficult projects to success relentlessly, no matter their current role or title. 4) They convince you to invest more in their efforts because they push your business forward, sometimes in disruptive ways. 5) They see change as the solution, not an obstacle. These leaders rise to the occasion again and again. Our CEO tells a story about sitting between two of our customers at a recent conference. He was listening to a customer -- who was near the end of his career -- picking the brain of a young leader. The customer asked the young leader, Who is your executive sponsor? To which she replied: Its me. I was responsible for some great results last year, got promoted to director, and now have people on my team doing the job that I was doing before. These are the leaders of tomorrow. Find them in your business, or somebody else could. Empower them, encourage them and, most importantly, challenge them. I believe they will be instrumental in guiding your organization through todays crises and into the future -- because they are the future. | As companies race to digitize, the conversion typically happens piece by piece. They see that a new, holistic strategy for enterprise work is missing. This is the digital work crisis, and companies that fail to modernize work are being left behind. Tomorrows leaders could be the solution to the digital work crisis, and they are all around you. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/01/07/what-do-tomorrows-leaders-look-like-during-the-digital-work-crisis/ | 0.161175 |
Could online courses help solve Williamson County Schools' overcrowding problem? | Buy Photo Williamson County Schools is looking to expand its online learning program that could include a full-time option for high school students. (Photo: File / The Tennessean)Buy Photo Hundreds of high school students logged onto online classes last year, giving the program a successful jump start in Williamson County Schools and possibly providing a viable option for making more room in crowded classrooms. The online course program, which launched at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, allows high school students to take online courses for up to half of their course load classes like English, algebra and personal finance. Last year, 460 students mostly seniors enrolled in online courses. School officials said they are looking to give high school students an option to pursue their diplomas completely online. "We'd like to get to where they can do full online school if that's what they want," WCS Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney said. "I foresee it becoming a full-fledged high school that exists on the internet." The option to allow students to attend high school entirely online would mean fewer students in Williamson's packed schools, and Looney admitted it's a "part of the puzzle" when it comes to solving the overcrowding issue. "This will be a really viable option, and for other students, it may not be the best option," he said. The district this year boasted record enrollment numbers, and it expects to see its population increase by 20,000 over the next decade. Some of that enrollment boom could come from the upcoming Amazon arrival in Nashville, which will likely pump students into surrounding districts like Williamson. The company will bring as many as 5,000 high paying jobs to the area. The district's latest five-year plan calls for $543 million to fund capital projects, including new school buildings. RELATED: How Nashville public schools, others are looking toward Amazon's arrival Looney said he expects to ask the school board to expand the online learning program. The board has the chance to approve six additional online courses to be offered beginning in 2019. They include ecology, guitar, psychology, sociology and statistics. The board will begin work on the 2019-20 budget in January. Keeping online learning on par with Williamson's high standards According to Looney, the district hesitated to pull the trigger on online high school because it struggled to find a program that would match the rigor of its classroom learning. "We've been focused on quality and rigor," he said. "Many online programs didn't meet our standards." Looney looked to Forsyth County Schools, a high-achieving school district north of Atlanta, as an example of a quality blended learning program. The district looks similar to WCS in size and top-of-the-state test scores. FCS offers part-time online learning for kindergartners and high school students, as well as full-time online learning for high school. Currently, 1,531 students there take part in its online learning options. "The biggest thing is offering flexibility to our students," said Jason Naile, director of instructional technology and media at FCS. "I think, in general, the overall landscape of school is changing. Parents and students love the flexibility it provides." Naile added the online program has been beneficial to students who are involved in acting or specialized sports that may keep them away from traditional school hours. In Williamson, the online program was approved by the NCAA, giving its student-athletes the ability to work toward college play with online coursework. Looney said that, so far, there hasn't been a slip in academic outcomes for students choosing online courses. "We're quite pleased where the data is pointed," he said. "We dont see a notable difference in academic achievement between online and traditional learners. The grades look very close to each other, and we havent had a lot of students drop out." Allison Fischer, the online learning program's administrator for WCS, said students take advantage of online courses for a number of reasons. "Some take it to make room for something extra at their own school, or to get credit sufficient to graduate on time," she said. Registration will begin soon for students who want to take classes through the WCS online learning program during the 2019-20 school year. Last year, the district created spots for 500 online learners. "Honestly, there are districts across the county that are doing (online school) and are ahead of us on this," Looney said. "Being a premiere school district, we want to offer our students this opportunity. RELATED: 5-year plan gives Williamson County School Board sticker shock Reach Amelia Ferrell Knisely at aferrell@tennessean.com, 615-210-8286 or follow @ameliaknisely on Twitter. Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/schools/2019/01/07/online-school-williamson-county-overcrowding-problem/2379843002/ | Williamson County Schools is looking to expand its online learning program. The program allows high school students to take online courses for up to half of their course load. Last year, 460 students mostly seniors enrolled in online courses. | bart | 1 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/schools/2019/01/07/online-school-williamson-county-overcrowding-problem/2379843002/ | 0.148891 |
Could online courses help solve Williamson County Schools' overcrowding problem? | Buy Photo Williamson County Schools is looking to expand its online learning program that could include a full-time option for high school students. (Photo: File / The Tennessean)Buy Photo Hundreds of high school students logged onto online classes last year, giving the program a successful jump start in Williamson County Schools and possibly providing a viable option for making more room in crowded classrooms. The online course program, which launched at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, allows high school students to take online courses for up to half of their course load classes like English, algebra and personal finance. Last year, 460 students mostly seniors enrolled in online courses. School officials said they are looking to give high school students an option to pursue their diplomas completely online. "We'd like to get to where they can do full online school if that's what they want," WCS Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney said. "I foresee it becoming a full-fledged high school that exists on the internet." The option to allow students to attend high school entirely online would mean fewer students in Williamson's packed schools, and Looney admitted it's a "part of the puzzle" when it comes to solving the overcrowding issue. "This will be a really viable option, and for other students, it may not be the best option," he said. The district this year boasted record enrollment numbers, and it expects to see its population increase by 20,000 over the next decade. Some of that enrollment boom could come from the upcoming Amazon arrival in Nashville, which will likely pump students into surrounding districts like Williamson. The company will bring as many as 5,000 high paying jobs to the area. The district's latest five-year plan calls for $543 million to fund capital projects, including new school buildings. RELATED: How Nashville public schools, others are looking toward Amazon's arrival Looney said he expects to ask the school board to expand the online learning program. The board has the chance to approve six additional online courses to be offered beginning in 2019. They include ecology, guitar, psychology, sociology and statistics. The board will begin work on the 2019-20 budget in January. Keeping online learning on par with Williamson's high standards According to Looney, the district hesitated to pull the trigger on online high school because it struggled to find a program that would match the rigor of its classroom learning. "We've been focused on quality and rigor," he said. "Many online programs didn't meet our standards." Looney looked to Forsyth County Schools, a high-achieving school district north of Atlanta, as an example of a quality blended learning program. The district looks similar to WCS in size and top-of-the-state test scores. FCS offers part-time online learning for kindergartners and high school students, as well as full-time online learning for high school. Currently, 1,531 students there take part in its online learning options. "The biggest thing is offering flexibility to our students," said Jason Naile, director of instructional technology and media at FCS. "I think, in general, the overall landscape of school is changing. Parents and students love the flexibility it provides." Naile added the online program has been beneficial to students who are involved in acting or specialized sports that may keep them away from traditional school hours. In Williamson, the online program was approved by the NCAA, giving its student-athletes the ability to work toward college play with online coursework. Looney said that, so far, there hasn't been a slip in academic outcomes for students choosing online courses. "We're quite pleased where the data is pointed," he said. "We dont see a notable difference in academic achievement between online and traditional learners. The grades look very close to each other, and we havent had a lot of students drop out." Allison Fischer, the online learning program's administrator for WCS, said students take advantage of online courses for a number of reasons. "Some take it to make room for something extra at their own school, or to get credit sufficient to graduate on time," she said. Registration will begin soon for students who want to take classes through the WCS online learning program during the 2019-20 school year. Last year, the district created spots for 500 online learners. "Honestly, there are districts across the county that are doing (online school) and are ahead of us on this," Looney said. "Being a premiere school district, we want to offer our students this opportunity. RELATED: 5-year plan gives Williamson County School Board sticker shock Reach Amelia Ferrell Knisely at aferrell@tennessean.com, 615-210-8286 or follow @ameliaknisely on Twitter. Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/schools/2019/01/07/online-school-williamson-county-overcrowding-problem/2379843002/ | Williamson County Schools is looking to expand its online learning program. The program allows high school students to take online courses for up to half of their course load. Last year, 460 students mostly seniors enrolled in online courses. The board has the chance to approve six additional online courses to be offered beginning in 2019. | bart | 2 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/schools/2019/01/07/online-school-williamson-county-overcrowding-problem/2379843002/ | 0.198663 |
Should the US hand over Minnesota's Northwest Angle to Canada? | Image copyright Jacob Norlund/Flickr It's a geographic curiosity - a bit of US land at the top edge of Minnesota, disconnected from the rest of the state. The Northwest Angle is known to local residents, people who love to fish - the region is famous for its walleye - and geography buffs. It is accessible by land only through the Canadian province. Now, someone has anonymously launched a petition urging the US to hand the land over to its northern neighbours. "Make America great by correcting this critical survey error," states the petition posted on 30 December on the White House "We the People" site, which allows citizens to petition Congress on issues that matter to them. The petition is titled "Give Canada back the Northwest Angle located in Manitoba". The nub of Minnesota state is roughly 123 square miles (318 square km) and is farther north than any other part of the contiguous United States. Much of the land is owned by the Native American Red Lake Nation of the Chippewa tribe. Living above the 49th parallel, Angleites - as local residents are known - are the northernmost American citizens, barring Alaskans. It can be reached by driving through Canada or by boat across the Lake of the Woods. Image copyright BBC News Image caption The Northwest Angle borders Canada's province of Manitoba The protrusion of land is due to a historic mapping mistake. When the American Revolutionary War ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, Britain and the US agreed on the new border based on a map maker's error about the source of the Mississippi River, which was used to help draw the boundary. The boundary line was redrawn in 1818 to address the snafu, shaping the Northwest Angle. So far, the petition is just shy of 3,500 signatures, a far cry from the 100,000 signatures needed to get a response from the White House. And at this point, the effort is being greeted with something of a shrug by Angleites. Image copyright Tony Webster/Flickr Lisa Goulet, who owns Angle Outpost Resort with her family, told the BBC that while it's a fun story, when she came across the petition she "didn't really give it another thought". She says the roughly 100 residents are on "absolutely nothing but friendly terms" with their Canadian neighbours - but she isn't about to add her signature to the petition. "We understand it was a mistake, that it wasn't on purpose that the United States or that Minnesota was gifted this area, but we are blessed and so grateful for this area and we don't take it for granted," she said. "So it's not like we're just willing to say 'Oh, right, you can have it back', because it's our home." It's not the first time the threats of secession has been raised. Some residents brought up the idea in the late 1990s during some tension between Canada and the US over fishing regulations, though the two countries eventually came to an agreement. Image copyright DeAgostini/Getty Images Image caption The Lake of Woods, pictured here in Ontario, occupies the boundary between Minnesota and Manitoba and Ontario Ms Goulet is happy her remote corner of the world is getting some attention and says she's is proud to hail from the Northwest Angle. She calls it "a conversation starter". "Even if you're not a fantastically interesting person, you come from an interesting place, you have something interesting to say." | A petition has been posted on the White House "We the People" site. It urges the US to hand over Minnesota's Northwest Angle to Canada. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46741175 | 0.165736 |
Should the US hand over Minnesota's Northwest Angle to Canada? | Image copyright Jacob Norlund/Flickr It's a geographic curiosity - a bit of US land at the top edge of Minnesota, disconnected from the rest of the state. The Northwest Angle is known to local residents, people who love to fish - the region is famous for its walleye - and geography buffs. It is accessible by land only through the Canadian province. Now, someone has anonymously launched a petition urging the US to hand the land over to its northern neighbours. "Make America great by correcting this critical survey error," states the petition posted on 30 December on the White House "We the People" site, which allows citizens to petition Congress on issues that matter to them. The petition is titled "Give Canada back the Northwest Angle located in Manitoba". The nub of Minnesota state is roughly 123 square miles (318 square km) and is farther north than any other part of the contiguous United States. Much of the land is owned by the Native American Red Lake Nation of the Chippewa tribe. Living above the 49th parallel, Angleites - as local residents are known - are the northernmost American citizens, barring Alaskans. It can be reached by driving through Canada or by boat across the Lake of the Woods. Image copyright BBC News Image caption The Northwest Angle borders Canada's province of Manitoba The protrusion of land is due to a historic mapping mistake. When the American Revolutionary War ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, Britain and the US agreed on the new border based on a map maker's error about the source of the Mississippi River, which was used to help draw the boundary. The boundary line was redrawn in 1818 to address the snafu, shaping the Northwest Angle. So far, the petition is just shy of 3,500 signatures, a far cry from the 100,000 signatures needed to get a response from the White House. And at this point, the effort is being greeted with something of a shrug by Angleites. Image copyright Tony Webster/Flickr Lisa Goulet, who owns Angle Outpost Resort with her family, told the BBC that while it's a fun story, when she came across the petition she "didn't really give it another thought". She says the roughly 100 residents are on "absolutely nothing but friendly terms" with their Canadian neighbours - but she isn't about to add her signature to the petition. "We understand it was a mistake, that it wasn't on purpose that the United States or that Minnesota was gifted this area, but we are blessed and so grateful for this area and we don't take it for granted," she said. "So it's not like we're just willing to say 'Oh, right, you can have it back', because it's our home." It's not the first time the threats of secession has been raised. Some residents brought up the idea in the late 1990s during some tension between Canada and the US over fishing regulations, though the two countries eventually came to an agreement. Image copyright DeAgostini/Getty Images Image caption The Lake of Woods, pictured here in Ontario, occupies the boundary between Minnesota and Manitoba and Ontario Ms Goulet is happy her remote corner of the world is getting some attention and says she's is proud to hail from the Northwest Angle. She calls it "a conversation starter". "Even if you're not a fantastically interesting person, you come from an interesting place, you have something interesting to say." | The Northwest Angle is a bit of US land at the top edge of Minnesota, disconnected from the rest of the state. It borders Canada's province of Manitoba and is accessible by land only through the Canadian province. A petition has been posted on the White House "We the People" site urging the US to hand the land over to Canada. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46741175 | 0.253766 |
What does China want to do on the Moon's far side? | Here are a few things the mission is designed to do. Learn about the Moon's history No space mission has ever explored the far side from the surface. As such, it's the first chance to explore a mysterious region of Earth's natural satellite. The "face" that's never seen from Earth has some key differences to the more familiar "near side". The far side has a thicker, older crust that is pocked with more craters. There are also very few of the "maria" (dark basaltic "seas" created by lava flows) that are evident on the near side. Chang'e-4 has reportedly landed at a site known as Von Krmn crater, a 180km depression located in the far side's southern hemisphere. But Von Krmn lies within a much bigger hole punched in the Moon - the South Pole-Aitken basin. It's the oldest, largest and deepest such basin on the Moon and formed when an asteroid - perhaps 500km across, or more - collided with it billions of years ago. This event was so powerful that it is thought to have ploughed through the Moon's outer crust layer and through into the zone known as the mantle. One of the mission's objectives is to study any exposed material from the mantle present at the landing site. This would provide insights into the internal structure and history of the Moon. Image copyright NASA Image caption The South Pole-Aitken basin was formed by a giant impact billions of years ago Indeed, data from orbiting spacecraft show that the composition of the basin is different from the surrounding lunar highlands. But exposed mantle material on the surface is just one possibility among several to explain this observation. The rover will use its panoramic camera to identify interesting locations and its Visible and Near-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (VNIS) to study minerals in the floor of the crater (as well as of ejecta - rocks thrown out by nearby space impacts). Additionally, the Lunar Penetrating Radar (LPR) instrument will be able to look into the shallow subsurface of the Moon, down to a depth of about 100m. It could probe the thickness of the lunar regolith - the broken up rocks and dust that make up the surface - and shed light on the structure of the upper lunar crust. After the huge impact that created the South Pole-Aitken basin, a large amount of melted rock would have filled the depression. The science team wants to use Chang'e-4 to identify and study variations in its composition. Filling an astronomy gap The far side of the Moon has long been regarded as an ideal spot for conducting a particular kind of radio astronomy - in the low-frequency band - because it's shielded from the radio noise of Earth. There's a frequency band (below about 10MHz) where radio astronomy observations can't be conducted from Earth, because of manmade radio interference and other, natural factors. Chang'e-4's lander is carrying an instrument called the Low Frequency Spectrometer (LFS) which can make low frequency radio observations. It will be used in concert with a similar experiment on the Queqiao orbiting satellite. Image copyright ESO Image caption Radio telescopes on the Moon would be able to observe at frequencies not accessible to arrays on Earth The objectives include making a map of the radio sky at low frequencies and studying the behaviour of the Sun. Speaking in 2016, Liu Tongjie, from the Chinese space agency (CNSA), said: "Since the far side of the Moon is shielded from electromagnetic interference from the Earth, it's an ideal place to research the space environment and solar bursts, and the probe can 'listen' to the deeper reaches of the cosmos." Thus, the mission will fill a gap in astronomical observation, allowing scientists to study cosmic phenomena in a way that has never been possible from our planet. Radiation on the Moon Image copyright Science Photo Library Image caption Understanding the radiation environment will be vital for future human exploration Several space agencies want to land humans on the Moon in the not-too-distant future, and might send astronauts there for longer than we've ever stayed before. So understanding the potential risks from radiation are vital. Earth's thick atmosphere and strong magnetic field provide adequate shielding against galactic cosmic rays and energetic charged particles travelling from the Sun. But astronauts on the Moon will be outside this protective bubble and exposed to particles travelling through open space at near the speed of light - with potentially damaging consequences for their health. The Lunar Lander Neutrons and Dosimetry (LND) experiment, supplied by researchers in Germany, will aim to fill in some gaps in our understanding about the lunar radiation environment. It will provide dosimetry (measure the ionising radiation dose that could be absorbed by the human body) with a view to future exploration, and contribute to understanding of particles originating from the Sun. Follow Paul on Twitter. | Chang'e-4 is the first mission to explore the far side of the Moon from the surface. It aims to learn more about the composition of the lunar mantle. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46748602 | 0.184474 |
What does China want to do on the Moon's far side? | Here are a few things the mission is designed to do. Learn about the Moon's history No space mission has ever explored the far side from the surface. As such, it's the first chance to explore a mysterious region of Earth's natural satellite. The "face" that's never seen from Earth has some key differences to the more familiar "near side". The far side has a thicker, older crust that is pocked with more craters. There are also very few of the "maria" (dark basaltic "seas" created by lava flows) that are evident on the near side. Chang'e-4 has reportedly landed at a site known as Von Krmn crater, a 180km depression located in the far side's southern hemisphere. But Von Krmn lies within a much bigger hole punched in the Moon - the South Pole-Aitken basin. It's the oldest, largest and deepest such basin on the Moon and formed when an asteroid - perhaps 500km across, or more - collided with it billions of years ago. This event was so powerful that it is thought to have ploughed through the Moon's outer crust layer and through into the zone known as the mantle. One of the mission's objectives is to study any exposed material from the mantle present at the landing site. This would provide insights into the internal structure and history of the Moon. Image copyright NASA Image caption The South Pole-Aitken basin was formed by a giant impact billions of years ago Indeed, data from orbiting spacecraft show that the composition of the basin is different from the surrounding lunar highlands. But exposed mantle material on the surface is just one possibility among several to explain this observation. The rover will use its panoramic camera to identify interesting locations and its Visible and Near-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (VNIS) to study minerals in the floor of the crater (as well as of ejecta - rocks thrown out by nearby space impacts). Additionally, the Lunar Penetrating Radar (LPR) instrument will be able to look into the shallow subsurface of the Moon, down to a depth of about 100m. It could probe the thickness of the lunar regolith - the broken up rocks and dust that make up the surface - and shed light on the structure of the upper lunar crust. After the huge impact that created the South Pole-Aitken basin, a large amount of melted rock would have filled the depression. The science team wants to use Chang'e-4 to identify and study variations in its composition. Filling an astronomy gap The far side of the Moon has long been regarded as an ideal spot for conducting a particular kind of radio astronomy - in the low-frequency band - because it's shielded from the radio noise of Earth. There's a frequency band (below about 10MHz) where radio astronomy observations can't be conducted from Earth, because of manmade radio interference and other, natural factors. Chang'e-4's lander is carrying an instrument called the Low Frequency Spectrometer (LFS) which can make low frequency radio observations. It will be used in concert with a similar experiment on the Queqiao orbiting satellite. Image copyright ESO Image caption Radio telescopes on the Moon would be able to observe at frequencies not accessible to arrays on Earth The objectives include making a map of the radio sky at low frequencies and studying the behaviour of the Sun. Speaking in 2016, Liu Tongjie, from the Chinese space agency (CNSA), said: "Since the far side of the Moon is shielded from electromagnetic interference from the Earth, it's an ideal place to research the space environment and solar bursts, and the probe can 'listen' to the deeper reaches of the cosmos." Thus, the mission will fill a gap in astronomical observation, allowing scientists to study cosmic phenomena in a way that has never been possible from our planet. Radiation on the Moon Image copyright Science Photo Library Image caption Understanding the radiation environment will be vital for future human exploration Several space agencies want to land humans on the Moon in the not-too-distant future, and might send astronauts there for longer than we've ever stayed before. So understanding the potential risks from radiation are vital. Earth's thick atmosphere and strong magnetic field provide adequate shielding against galactic cosmic rays and energetic charged particles travelling from the Sun. But astronauts on the Moon will be outside this protective bubble and exposed to particles travelling through open space at near the speed of light - with potentially damaging consequences for their health. The Lunar Lander Neutrons and Dosimetry (LND) experiment, supplied by researchers in Germany, will aim to fill in some gaps in our understanding about the lunar radiation environment. It will provide dosimetry (measure the ionising radiation dose that could be absorbed by the human body) with a view to future exploration, and contribute to understanding of particles originating from the Sun. Follow Paul on Twitter. | Chang'e-4 is the first mission to explore the far side of the Moon from the surface. It aims to learn more about the composition of the lunar mantle. It also aims to fill a radio astronomy gap on the Moon's far side. The mission is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46748602 | 0.187929 |
Does Netflix Have a "Cash Flow Conundrum"? | Spencer Neumann has a big task to take on as the new CFO of Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX). The video-streaming pioneer has been bleeding cash for the last five years or so as it delves deeper into original programming and expands globally. A headline in The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) shortly after Netflix announced Neumann's new job said he'll have to tackle Netflix's "cash flow conundrum." Netflix's cash burn is becoming increasingly expensive in an environment with rising interest rates, but it's hardly a conundrum. Netflix's decision to spend more cash than it takes in is a calculated risk, and it's one with relatively little downside despite increasing competition from the likes of Disney (NYSE: DIS) and AT&T's (NYSE: T) WarnerMedia. Exterior of Netflix headquarters in Los Angeles. More Image source: Netflix. Peak cash burn Netflix had some good news for investors when it released its third-quarter earnings report in mid-October. Cash burn in 2018 will come in at the low end of its original outlook of $3 billion to $4 billion. What's more, it expects a similar level of cash burn in 2019 before showing improvements back toward positive cash flow in 2020. There are several factors at play here. First, Netflix may be reaching a sustainable level of investment in original content. Over the past few years, it became increasingly evident that traditional media companies like Disney and WarnerMedia would recapture some of their licensed content from Netflix in order to improve viewing through their own channels. Both have since announced their own direct-to-consumer plans. Netflix quickly ramped up the volume of original content as well as the marketing spend on promoting those series, films, and comedy specials. But the need to replace licensed content with originals is subsiding. That's not to say Netflix won't continue to ramp up original content spending and marketing, it's just that it won't outspend the increase in net cash generated from operating activities. On top of that, Netflix is still growing subscribers quickly. Netflix members increased 25% year over year in the third quarter. It added more subscribers through the first nine months of 2018 than in any other year. And those subscribers are paying more, on average, than they did last year. Netflix has continually raised prices as it increases the value of the service, and it ought to continue that pattern. WarnerMedia's HBO charges $15 per month for HBO Now, and many subscribers (and critics) say Netflix's content is even better. Neflix's last price increase was in October 2017. Netflix's plans range from $7.99 to $13.99 per month. The combination of increasing subscriber growth and higher average revenue per user is leading to better top-line growth for the company -- top-line growth that's in line with the increase in content spending. Revenue increased 34% year over year in the third quarter while cash spent on content increased 35%. All this is to say Netflix has already proven its strategy works. Neumann's job is to make sure the company stays on the path it's been on for the last few years by managing content and marketing spend to grow the subscriber base and executing appropriate price increases. One small challenge Running the company with cash burn will become slightly more challenging going forward. Netflix funds its investments in original content and marketing by tapping the debt market. As the Fed has raised interest rates, using debt has become more expensive for Netflix. | New Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann will have to tackle the company's "cash flow conundrum" Netflix's cash burn is becoming increasingly expensive in an environment with rising interest rates, but it's hardly a conundrum. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/does-netflix-cash-flow-conundrum-133900433.html | 0.154775 |
Does Netflix Have a "Cash Flow Conundrum"? | Spencer Neumann has a big task to take on as the new CFO of Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX). The video-streaming pioneer has been bleeding cash for the last five years or so as it delves deeper into original programming and expands globally. A headline in The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) shortly after Netflix announced Neumann's new job said he'll have to tackle Netflix's "cash flow conundrum." Netflix's cash burn is becoming increasingly expensive in an environment with rising interest rates, but it's hardly a conundrum. Netflix's decision to spend more cash than it takes in is a calculated risk, and it's one with relatively little downside despite increasing competition from the likes of Disney (NYSE: DIS) and AT&T's (NYSE: T) WarnerMedia. Exterior of Netflix headquarters in Los Angeles. More Image source: Netflix. Peak cash burn Netflix had some good news for investors when it released its third-quarter earnings report in mid-October. Cash burn in 2018 will come in at the low end of its original outlook of $3 billion to $4 billion. What's more, it expects a similar level of cash burn in 2019 before showing improvements back toward positive cash flow in 2020. There are several factors at play here. First, Netflix may be reaching a sustainable level of investment in original content. Over the past few years, it became increasingly evident that traditional media companies like Disney and WarnerMedia would recapture some of their licensed content from Netflix in order to improve viewing through their own channels. Both have since announced their own direct-to-consumer plans. Netflix quickly ramped up the volume of original content as well as the marketing spend on promoting those series, films, and comedy specials. But the need to replace licensed content with originals is subsiding. That's not to say Netflix won't continue to ramp up original content spending and marketing, it's just that it won't outspend the increase in net cash generated from operating activities. On top of that, Netflix is still growing subscribers quickly. Netflix members increased 25% year over year in the third quarter. It added more subscribers through the first nine months of 2018 than in any other year. And those subscribers are paying more, on average, than they did last year. Netflix has continually raised prices as it increases the value of the service, and it ought to continue that pattern. WarnerMedia's HBO charges $15 per month for HBO Now, and many subscribers (and critics) say Netflix's content is even better. Neflix's last price increase was in October 2017. Netflix's plans range from $7.99 to $13.99 per month. The combination of increasing subscriber growth and higher average revenue per user is leading to better top-line growth for the company -- top-line growth that's in line with the increase in content spending. Revenue increased 34% year over year in the third quarter while cash spent on content increased 35%. All this is to say Netflix has already proven its strategy works. Neumann's job is to make sure the company stays on the path it's been on for the last few years by managing content and marketing spend to grow the subscriber base and executing appropriate price increases. One small challenge Running the company with cash burn will become slightly more challenging going forward. Netflix funds its investments in original content and marketing by tapping the debt market. As the Fed has raised interest rates, using debt has become more expensive for Netflix. | New Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann will have to tackle the company's "cash flow conundrum" The video-streaming pioneer has been bleeding cash for the last five years or so. Netflix's decision to spend more cash than it takes in is a calculated risk, and it's one with relatively little downside. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/does-netflix-cash-flow-conundrum-133900433.html | 0.181596 |
What happens to students when private colleges close in Arizona? | CLOSE Higher education reporter Anne Ryman of The Arizona Republic gives five tips to find free money for college. Hannah Gaber/azcentral.com Marta Villanueva was a student at the Art Institute of Phoenix, which closed in December 2018. She's shown here at a culinary program in Mexico. (Photo: Courtesy of Marta Villanueva) Marta Villanueva enrolled in a culinary program at the Art Institute of Phoenix as a way to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety after leaving the Army. She used GI Bill benefits to pay for classes, which began in mid-2017. She dreamed of opening a business one day. But the school closed in December, leaving Villanueva out the time and money, and unsure how, or if, shell get her GI Bill benefits reinstated. Its heartbreaking because we earned these benefits, literally with sweat, blood and tears, Villanueva said. In the weeks before the schools closure, basic cooking supplies, like milk and butter, werent available in her classrooms, she said. There was no need to restock a closing school. But Villanueva still was required to pay a lab fee. Marta Villanueva served in the U.S. Army and earned GI Bill benefits to attend college. In this photo, Villanueva's twin sons embrace her after she returned home from Iraq in 2011. (Photo: Courtesy of Marta Villanueva) Thousands of students like Villanueva have seen their educational ambitions cut short by the unexpected closure of private colleges in Arizona and nationwide. About 120 private, post-secondary schools have shuttered in Arizona in the past five years, according to the state regulatory board that oversees such institutions. The closures include the major chains of ITT Technical Institute, Anthem College and Corinthian Colleges and dozens of smaller, niche schools ranging from yoga institutes to bartending academies. In 2018 alone, two well-known schools, the Art Institutes Phoenix branch and Arizona Summit Law School said they would close. A golf academy in Chandler run by national chain Education Corporation of America also closed, locking its doors on Election Day even as the site was slated as a polling place. MORE: Step-by-step: What students can do when a college closes The closures have left students out money, time and other, less tangible benefits that come with a college degree. They've also had to confront major decisions that can significantly affect their futures and finances. Closures can force students to move to attend a college with a similar program that will accept their transfer credits. Closures can cost them access to career counseling or job placement assistance from their former school. Closed schools no longer produce new graduates, meaning a student's alumni network key to career advancement stops growing. And degrees from closed schools can be seen as less reputable. More immediately, its difficult for students to figure out how or if they can get some of their money back. And they also have to navigate federal programs, credit-transfer rules at other colleges and financial institutions. Villanueva had to fight to just confirm the campus was closing. Once she found that out, there was no single source to turn to for advice or assistance. She and her classmates called anyone they thought could help: their representatives in Congress, Veterans Affairs, the state regulatory board for private colleges. "It was chaos," Villanueva said. A screenshot from The Art Institute of Phoenix's website shows a message stating that the school is no longer accepting new students. (Photo: Via The Art Institute of Phoenix) Art Institute officials did not respond to requests for comment from The Arizona Republic. The Art Institutes operated as for-profit schools for years before a non-profit foundation purchased the schools in 2017. Teri Stanfill, executive director of the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education, the state agency that licenses private schools, said Arizona has seen more, and larger, private college closures in the past few years. Things have just changed. We dont see the large, fancy campuses anymore. Or very few of them. Teri Stanfill, executive director of the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education Stanfill pointed to the lack of campus-based programs as one reason, as many colleges move toward online education. "Things have just changed," she said. "We dont see the large, fancy campuses anymore. Or very few of them." She said the state doesn't track how many students have been affected by closures. But the contraction in private, mostly for-profit colleges isn't only a recent phenomenon, said Toby Merrill, director of the Project on Predatory Student Lending at Harvard Law School. There's a long-term, boom-and-bust cycle that runs counter to unemployment numbers, Merrill said. Although some observers argue students have a responsibility to carefully research colleges, investors with major resources whose job is to investigate companies can't always foresee issues and closure risks at these colleges, National Consumer Law Center attorney Abby Shafroth said. "If theyre (investors) being fooled and deceived into investing their money into the company, I dont know why we would expect students who havent yet gone to school to be in a position to evaluate," she said. Federal programs help with loans, but not private ones State licensing officials said it's in the best interest of schools to coordinate a "teach-out," which has enrolled students complete their studies at the college.But, in some cases, financial circumstances cause the school to close abruptly. And students may choose not to participate in a teach-out because it affects their ability to get refunds from the federal government for loans used to attend the school. For federal loans, students may qualify for the Closed School Discharge if they were enrolled when the school closed or withdrew within 120 days before its closure. But if students decide to transfer from the closed school to a comparable program elsewhere, they're no longer eligible for discharge. It's a tough decision whether to transfer credits or seek relief, said Shafroth, of the National Consumer Law Center. If only a few credits will transfer, it may not be worth the hassle and loss of financial recourse, she said. Advocates for students at closing schools say there's not enough help for affected students. Merrill, of Harvard, said schools and the U.S. Department of Education don't do enough to inform students about the Closed School Discharge. That program is a "really good or even the best option" for a lot of students, she said. State program gives some money back At the state level, the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education operates the Student Tuition Recovery Fund, which helps students at closed schools get some money back. But the fund helps only students who paid cash or used private loans. Grants, scholarships or debt to other government agencies, such as federal loans, can't be recovered through the state fund. And students won't get money back if they participate in a teach-out or transfer their credits to another school. The fund paid out nothing from 2012 to 2014. In 2015, it paid 40 claims totaling about $92,000. In 2016, it paid 38 claims for about $93,000. In 2017, $82,000 for 33 claims. And in 2018, the fund paid out $620 for four claims. Claims must be filed within a year of a school's closure, meaning claims for the Art Institute, Golf Academy and Arizona Summit Law are still likely to come in this year. The money for the fund comes from an annual assessment of some schools the board oversees. The board also can require a school to post a bond if there are red flags, such as accreditation issues, poor student outcomes or financial troubles. A 1,700-mile journey to finish college Some students have to move to complete their education. For students with families, this requires taking their children out of schools. When it became clear in 2018 that Arizona Summit Law School was in danger of losing its accreditation, many students planned to transfer. Arizona Summit Law School, formerly known as the Phoenix School of Law, was founded in 2004. It once had as many as 1,000 students as it admitted more students with lower Law School Admission Test scores. School officials announced in fall 2018 that the law school will eventually close once current students finish their education. No new students are being admitted. (Photo: Tom Tingle/The Republic) Arizona has only two other law schools; both have tougher admission standards. So, the logical choice for many Arizona Summit students was 1,700 miles away in Grand Forks, North Dakota. About two dozen transferred to the University of North Dakota School of Law because the school would accept the bulk of their credits. By contrast, many law schools limit the credits they accept to about a year's worth. The students were on the hook for moving expenses. Officials at the North Dakota law school said they tried to make the transition as easy as possible. School officials took students on tours and helped with housing options. The school's assistant dean, Brad Parish, helped students prepare for a climate that is far different than in Phoenix. In the past, he said school officials have even driven students to Walmart to purchase boots and gloves. "I tell them it's like the heat in Arizona: The cold in North Dakota is a shock when you first get here, but you get used to it and deal with it," he said. For large chains like the Art Institute, students can transfer to branches in other cities. The Art Institute offered discounted tuition at other sites for students leaving the Phoenix campus. But not all credits transfer, even though the schools' ownership is the same. And, students worry, the other branches might not stay open long enough for them to transfer anyway. Some Art Institute students have been through multiple campus closures chasing a degree. Going to court may be an option In November, the Harvard project settled a lawsuit against ITT Tech that erased more than $500 million in debt owed by 750,000 students. The settlement also called for ITT to refund $3 million that students paid after the company had filed for bankruptcy in 2016. But getting reimbursed through a lawsuit is rare and difficult. Closed schools often had financial trouble and there may not be money to get back, Shafroth said. Many private, for-profit colleges required their students to sign forms upon enrollment that forced them into arbitration or prevent class-action lawsuits. Students often have no idea they're signing away their rights to sue, Shafroth said. "There's no way on Earth that they're able to read all of it or understand what these legal terms mean," she said. A new federal rule passed in 2016 said schools that accept students using federal funds can't enforce such clauses, but the Department of Education under Secretary Betsy DeVos has delayed enforcing the rule. In October, a federal judge said the rule could no longer be delayed. Veterans get some money back, but not all Groups that assist veterans have been busy fielding questions after the recent closure of more than 70 campuses under the umbrella of the Education Corporation of America. In Arizona, the company operated the Golf Academy of America in Chandler. Carrie Wofford, president of Veterans Education Success, said 4,000 veterans are affected by the closure of the for-profit chain, which includes the subsidiaries known as Brightwood College and Virginia College. Veterans who were using the GI Bill when these colleges closed can get some money restored but only for the current semester and only if they don't transfer those credits to another school. Her organization is reaching out to members of Congress to see whether they can pass legislation similar to a 2017 law aimed at helping 7,000 veterans affected by the closures of two major for-profit chains, ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges. In those cases, a law known as the Forever GI Bill lets veterans get their full GI benefits restored provided they didn't transfer credits to another school. Wofford said she hopes the same can eventually be accomplished for the most recent round of school closures. Intangible losses when a school closes Although money and time are the most obvious losses when a school closes, other costs aren't as immediately clear. Many private schools, especially those focusing on vocational training or career-based education, advertise their ability to place students in jobs upon graduation. But when a school shutters, students often lose the career services that make that happen. The alumni networks that connect students with other graduates a valuable employment resource also fade after a school closes. Even if students finish their degrees and a school closes, they could face potential employers with a skeptical view of their school's reputation. Some students have said they stopped putting degrees from shuttered schools on their rsums. "Folks have said people looked at their rsum and laughed and said, 'Oh, you got scammed,'" Shafroth said. For Villanueva, the Art Institute student, the future isn't yet clear. She's not interested in moving to another of the school's campuses. She moved enough during her years in the military. She's already exhausted her GI Bill benefits and she doesn't want to be taken advantage of by other schools who see her status as a veteran as a payday. "Even if I was going to finish the degree, I dont believe that I have the skills. ... I havent learned much other than to follow a recipe," she said. What to do if your school closes Figure out how much debt you have and get a copy of your transcript. Getting transcripts is much harder once a school closes. And you should know how much debt and credits you have before deciding what's next. Schools that close will often set up "teach-out" plans so students can finish their education. Classes may be held at the school or through agreements with other institutions. Some schools are in such bad financial shape they are unable to offer teach-out plans. In that case, you have the option to: Try to transfer your credits. Depending on the school, the credits may or may not transfer. Credits from a regional accreditor, such as the Depending on the school, the credits may or may not transfer. Credits from a regional accreditor, such as the Higher Learning Commission , are more readily accepted than those from a national accreditor. If you find your credits aren't transferring you can: Apply to get federal loans discharged: If you aren't transferring credits and you took out federal student loans, you can If you aren't transferring credits and you took out federal student loans, you can apply to have your loans discharged . If you paid cash for your tuition, you may be eligible for reimbursement through the state's Student Tuition Recovery Fund Program . But again, these programs only apply if you aren't transferring credits to another school. You can't transfer credits and get reimbursed. Help for veterans: If you are a veteran, the group If you are a veteran, the group Veterans Education Success provides advice and free legal help to guide you through options. You may be able to get some of your GI Bill benefits reinstated. More info: The The Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education licenses private schools in the state. The board doesn't provide advice, but can help you with your options and if you are having trouble getting your transcripts from the school. Click here to subscribe to azcentral.com. Go to connect.azcentral.com for a staff list, for more information about the newsroom and for details about upcoming events. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2019/01/07/when-private-colleges-close-arizona-summit-law-school-art-institute-education-corp-america-itt-tech/2427509002/ | About 120 private, post-secondary schools have shuttered in Arizona in the past five years. The closures have left students out money, time and other, less tangible benefits. They've also had to confront major decisions that can significantly affect their futures. | bart | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2019/01/07/when-private-colleges-close-arizona-summit-law-school-art-institute-education-corp-america-itt-tech/2427509002/ | 0.6567 |
What happens to students when private colleges close in Arizona? | CLOSE Higher education reporter Anne Ryman of The Arizona Republic gives five tips to find free money for college. Hannah Gaber/azcentral.com Marta Villanueva was a student at the Art Institute of Phoenix, which closed in December 2018. She's shown here at a culinary program in Mexico. (Photo: Courtesy of Marta Villanueva) Marta Villanueva enrolled in a culinary program at the Art Institute of Phoenix as a way to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety after leaving the Army. She used GI Bill benefits to pay for classes, which began in mid-2017. She dreamed of opening a business one day. But the school closed in December, leaving Villanueva out the time and money, and unsure how, or if, shell get her GI Bill benefits reinstated. Its heartbreaking because we earned these benefits, literally with sweat, blood and tears, Villanueva said. In the weeks before the schools closure, basic cooking supplies, like milk and butter, werent available in her classrooms, she said. There was no need to restock a closing school. But Villanueva still was required to pay a lab fee. Marta Villanueva served in the U.S. Army and earned GI Bill benefits to attend college. In this photo, Villanueva's twin sons embrace her after she returned home from Iraq in 2011. (Photo: Courtesy of Marta Villanueva) Thousands of students like Villanueva have seen their educational ambitions cut short by the unexpected closure of private colleges in Arizona and nationwide. About 120 private, post-secondary schools have shuttered in Arizona in the past five years, according to the state regulatory board that oversees such institutions. The closures include the major chains of ITT Technical Institute, Anthem College and Corinthian Colleges and dozens of smaller, niche schools ranging from yoga institutes to bartending academies. In 2018 alone, two well-known schools, the Art Institutes Phoenix branch and Arizona Summit Law School said they would close. A golf academy in Chandler run by national chain Education Corporation of America also closed, locking its doors on Election Day even as the site was slated as a polling place. MORE: Step-by-step: What students can do when a college closes The closures have left students out money, time and other, less tangible benefits that come with a college degree. They've also had to confront major decisions that can significantly affect their futures and finances. Closures can force students to move to attend a college with a similar program that will accept their transfer credits. Closures can cost them access to career counseling or job placement assistance from their former school. Closed schools no longer produce new graduates, meaning a student's alumni network key to career advancement stops growing. And degrees from closed schools can be seen as less reputable. More immediately, its difficult for students to figure out how or if they can get some of their money back. And they also have to navigate federal programs, credit-transfer rules at other colleges and financial institutions. Villanueva had to fight to just confirm the campus was closing. Once she found that out, there was no single source to turn to for advice or assistance. She and her classmates called anyone they thought could help: their representatives in Congress, Veterans Affairs, the state regulatory board for private colleges. "It was chaos," Villanueva said. A screenshot from The Art Institute of Phoenix's website shows a message stating that the school is no longer accepting new students. (Photo: Via The Art Institute of Phoenix) Art Institute officials did not respond to requests for comment from The Arizona Republic. The Art Institutes operated as for-profit schools for years before a non-profit foundation purchased the schools in 2017. Teri Stanfill, executive director of the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education, the state agency that licenses private schools, said Arizona has seen more, and larger, private college closures in the past few years. Things have just changed. We dont see the large, fancy campuses anymore. Or very few of them. Teri Stanfill, executive director of the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education Stanfill pointed to the lack of campus-based programs as one reason, as many colleges move toward online education. "Things have just changed," she said. "We dont see the large, fancy campuses anymore. Or very few of them." She said the state doesn't track how many students have been affected by closures. But the contraction in private, mostly for-profit colleges isn't only a recent phenomenon, said Toby Merrill, director of the Project on Predatory Student Lending at Harvard Law School. There's a long-term, boom-and-bust cycle that runs counter to unemployment numbers, Merrill said. Although some observers argue students have a responsibility to carefully research colleges, investors with major resources whose job is to investigate companies can't always foresee issues and closure risks at these colleges, National Consumer Law Center attorney Abby Shafroth said. "If theyre (investors) being fooled and deceived into investing their money into the company, I dont know why we would expect students who havent yet gone to school to be in a position to evaluate," she said. Federal programs help with loans, but not private ones State licensing officials said it's in the best interest of schools to coordinate a "teach-out," which has enrolled students complete their studies at the college.But, in some cases, financial circumstances cause the school to close abruptly. And students may choose not to participate in a teach-out because it affects their ability to get refunds from the federal government for loans used to attend the school. For federal loans, students may qualify for the Closed School Discharge if they were enrolled when the school closed or withdrew within 120 days before its closure. But if students decide to transfer from the closed school to a comparable program elsewhere, they're no longer eligible for discharge. It's a tough decision whether to transfer credits or seek relief, said Shafroth, of the National Consumer Law Center. If only a few credits will transfer, it may not be worth the hassle and loss of financial recourse, she said. Advocates for students at closing schools say there's not enough help for affected students. Merrill, of Harvard, said schools and the U.S. Department of Education don't do enough to inform students about the Closed School Discharge. That program is a "really good or even the best option" for a lot of students, she said. State program gives some money back At the state level, the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education operates the Student Tuition Recovery Fund, which helps students at closed schools get some money back. But the fund helps only students who paid cash or used private loans. Grants, scholarships or debt to other government agencies, such as federal loans, can't be recovered through the state fund. And students won't get money back if they participate in a teach-out or transfer their credits to another school. The fund paid out nothing from 2012 to 2014. In 2015, it paid 40 claims totaling about $92,000. In 2016, it paid 38 claims for about $93,000. In 2017, $82,000 for 33 claims. And in 2018, the fund paid out $620 for four claims. Claims must be filed within a year of a school's closure, meaning claims for the Art Institute, Golf Academy and Arizona Summit Law are still likely to come in this year. The money for the fund comes from an annual assessment of some schools the board oversees. The board also can require a school to post a bond if there are red flags, such as accreditation issues, poor student outcomes or financial troubles. A 1,700-mile journey to finish college Some students have to move to complete their education. For students with families, this requires taking their children out of schools. When it became clear in 2018 that Arizona Summit Law School was in danger of losing its accreditation, many students planned to transfer. Arizona Summit Law School, formerly known as the Phoenix School of Law, was founded in 2004. It once had as many as 1,000 students as it admitted more students with lower Law School Admission Test scores. School officials announced in fall 2018 that the law school will eventually close once current students finish their education. No new students are being admitted. (Photo: Tom Tingle/The Republic) Arizona has only two other law schools; both have tougher admission standards. So, the logical choice for many Arizona Summit students was 1,700 miles away in Grand Forks, North Dakota. About two dozen transferred to the University of North Dakota School of Law because the school would accept the bulk of their credits. By contrast, many law schools limit the credits they accept to about a year's worth. The students were on the hook for moving expenses. Officials at the North Dakota law school said they tried to make the transition as easy as possible. School officials took students on tours and helped with housing options. The school's assistant dean, Brad Parish, helped students prepare for a climate that is far different than in Phoenix. In the past, he said school officials have even driven students to Walmart to purchase boots and gloves. "I tell them it's like the heat in Arizona: The cold in North Dakota is a shock when you first get here, but you get used to it and deal with it," he said. For large chains like the Art Institute, students can transfer to branches in other cities. The Art Institute offered discounted tuition at other sites for students leaving the Phoenix campus. But not all credits transfer, even though the schools' ownership is the same. And, students worry, the other branches might not stay open long enough for them to transfer anyway. Some Art Institute students have been through multiple campus closures chasing a degree. Going to court may be an option In November, the Harvard project settled a lawsuit against ITT Tech that erased more than $500 million in debt owed by 750,000 students. The settlement also called for ITT to refund $3 million that students paid after the company had filed for bankruptcy in 2016. But getting reimbursed through a lawsuit is rare and difficult. Closed schools often had financial trouble and there may not be money to get back, Shafroth said. Many private, for-profit colleges required their students to sign forms upon enrollment that forced them into arbitration or prevent class-action lawsuits. Students often have no idea they're signing away their rights to sue, Shafroth said. "There's no way on Earth that they're able to read all of it or understand what these legal terms mean," she said. A new federal rule passed in 2016 said schools that accept students using federal funds can't enforce such clauses, but the Department of Education under Secretary Betsy DeVos has delayed enforcing the rule. In October, a federal judge said the rule could no longer be delayed. Veterans get some money back, but not all Groups that assist veterans have been busy fielding questions after the recent closure of more than 70 campuses under the umbrella of the Education Corporation of America. In Arizona, the company operated the Golf Academy of America in Chandler. Carrie Wofford, president of Veterans Education Success, said 4,000 veterans are affected by the closure of the for-profit chain, which includes the subsidiaries known as Brightwood College and Virginia College. Veterans who were using the GI Bill when these colleges closed can get some money restored but only for the current semester and only if they don't transfer those credits to another school. Her organization is reaching out to members of Congress to see whether they can pass legislation similar to a 2017 law aimed at helping 7,000 veterans affected by the closures of two major for-profit chains, ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges. In those cases, a law known as the Forever GI Bill lets veterans get their full GI benefits restored provided they didn't transfer credits to another school. Wofford said she hopes the same can eventually be accomplished for the most recent round of school closures. Intangible losses when a school closes Although money and time are the most obvious losses when a school closes, other costs aren't as immediately clear. Many private schools, especially those focusing on vocational training or career-based education, advertise their ability to place students in jobs upon graduation. But when a school shutters, students often lose the career services that make that happen. The alumni networks that connect students with other graduates a valuable employment resource also fade after a school closes. Even if students finish their degrees and a school closes, they could face potential employers with a skeptical view of their school's reputation. Some students have said they stopped putting degrees from shuttered schools on their rsums. "Folks have said people looked at their rsum and laughed and said, 'Oh, you got scammed,'" Shafroth said. For Villanueva, the Art Institute student, the future isn't yet clear. She's not interested in moving to another of the school's campuses. She moved enough during her years in the military. She's already exhausted her GI Bill benefits and she doesn't want to be taken advantage of by other schools who see her status as a veteran as a payday. "Even if I was going to finish the degree, I dont believe that I have the skills. ... I havent learned much other than to follow a recipe," she said. What to do if your school closes Figure out how much debt you have and get a copy of your transcript. Getting transcripts is much harder once a school closes. And you should know how much debt and credits you have before deciding what's next. Schools that close will often set up "teach-out" plans so students can finish their education. Classes may be held at the school or through agreements with other institutions. Some schools are in such bad financial shape they are unable to offer teach-out plans. In that case, you have the option to: Try to transfer your credits. Depending on the school, the credits may or may not transfer. Credits from a regional accreditor, such as the Depending on the school, the credits may or may not transfer. Credits from a regional accreditor, such as the Higher Learning Commission , are more readily accepted than those from a national accreditor. If you find your credits aren't transferring you can: Apply to get federal loans discharged: If you aren't transferring credits and you took out federal student loans, you can If you aren't transferring credits and you took out federal student loans, you can apply to have your loans discharged . If you paid cash for your tuition, you may be eligible for reimbursement through the state's Student Tuition Recovery Fund Program . But again, these programs only apply if you aren't transferring credits to another school. You can't transfer credits and get reimbursed. Help for veterans: If you are a veteran, the group If you are a veteran, the group Veterans Education Success provides advice and free legal help to guide you through options. You may be able to get some of your GI Bill benefits reinstated. More info: The The Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education licenses private schools in the state. The board doesn't provide advice, but can help you with your options and if you are having trouble getting your transcripts from the school. Click here to subscribe to azcentral.com. Go to connect.azcentral.com for a staff list, for more information about the newsroom and for details about upcoming events. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2019/01/07/when-private-colleges-close-arizona-summit-law-school-art-institute-education-corp-america-itt-tech/2427509002/ | About 120 private, post-secondary schools have shuttered in Arizona in the past five years. The closures have left students out money, time and other, less tangible benefits that come with a college degree. Students also have to navigate federal programs, credit-transfer rules at other colleges. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2019/01/07/when-private-colleges-close-arizona-summit-law-school-art-institute-education-corp-america-itt-tech/2427509002/ | 0.719507 |
What is the NHS long-term plan and can it achieve its aims? | The NHS does not have enough money to keep doing what it does, treating the growing number of sick and often elderly people, many of whom live in the less well-off communities of the country. The organisations chief executive, Simon Stevens, last year played a brilliantly strategic Brexit card (citing referendum promises that EU money would go to the NHS instead) and managed to extract a tidy sum from the government to stop the gaps and improve its functioning in comparison with what other departments are getting. But 20.5bn by 2023-24 will not transform the creakingly overloaded health service. The Long-term plan, published on Monday, and part of a deal with the government to end the political clamour about the overloaded NHS, is about doing more with less. By stopping people getting sick in the first place. The central thrust of the plan is to keep people well and to pick it up really early if they get ill, because its far cheaper to treat cancer or heart disease before its progressed. The focus has to be on primary care picking up problems at the GP surgery and supporting people to improve their own health, for instance, by stopping smoking or taking more exercise. Its a big one to save up to half a million lives. The subtext is that it will save the NHS a lot of money. The plan will prevent 150,000 heart attacks, strokes and dementia cases while more than 3 million people will benefit from new and improved stroke, respiratory and cardiac services over the next decade. There is excited talk of new technology. The NHS will open a digital front door. Consulting a GP online will save her time and yours and encourage more people with potential problems to get checked out. Stevens will be hoping it cuts the numbers heading for A&E because they cant immediately get to see a GP. Digital consultations, plus rethinking the support given to those arriving at A&E so they are channelled to the urgent care centre or somewhere more appropriate to their needs will save 30m trips to hospital and 1bn, says the plan. There will be genetic testing to find people at risk of dangerously high cholesterol levels that could lead to heart disease and strokes. Children will get access to mental health support in schools, in the hope of preventing depression and anxiety escalating into adulthood. Mental health issues will be investigated when people have physical health problems too. There will be a big emphasis on diagnostics and testing to pick up cancer early. Smart inhalers will be given to asthma patients. The NHS is going to fund prevention programmes for obesity and smoking, and promote its already successful weight-loss support for people with type-2 diabetes. Its not the NHSs responsibility alone, it points out but it interacts with 1 million people a day who are sick and may be at a moment in their lives when they will rethink what they are doing about their health. And they pick up the pieces. Obesity causes heart disease and cancers, as well as type-2 diabetes. Not at all. The NHS is being squeezed by the convergence of several intractable problems. Obesity, caused by poor diet and inactivity, is one of them. The growing numbers of frail and elderly people who are in and out of hospital and cant be moved out because there is no social care package for them is another. That money is for the NHS. Local authorities have been crying in pain for some time, because they are responsible for public health programmes on obesity, smoking cessation and alcohol, as well as myriad other vital services and they are not getting enough cash. The NHS plan will help by its focus on supporting people at their GP practice and in their community to adopt healthier behaviour. Money from NHS England will be directed to areas on the basis of their local needs, in a bid to tackle health inequalities. The poorest in society are the sickest. But the NHS cannot sort this alone. The other hugely difficult area is social care for the elderly. Everybody knows it is vital that it is sorted out and it will take a lot of money. The NHS is in jeopardy until that happens. Its much more than that. Stevens is attempting a gradual transformation of the NHS a tightening up and smartening up. New ideas have been trialled in a few areas of the country as vanguard projects and those that work are extended. He wants to dump the Lansley free market reforms. The plan calls for legislation to create publicly accountable integrated care locally; to streamline the national administrative structures of the NHS; and remove the overly rigid competition and procurement regime applied to the NHS, it says. But the biggest problem, worsened by Brexit, will be staffing. The plan talks of taking the pressure off staff in A&E and hospitals generally. Online consultations will be expected to help GPs, too. But there will still be rising numbers of elderly people and a need for treatment, which is costly and really requires an expanding workforce. The nursing shortage, especially, will bite and the plan proposes support to train more. But the workforce issues are unlikely to go away. | Long-term plan is about doing more with less by stopping people getting sick. But 20.5bn by 2023-24 will not transform the creakingly overloaded health service. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/07/what-is-the-nhs-long-term-plan-and-can-it-achieve-its-aims | 0.350983 |
What is the NHS long-term plan and can it achieve its aims? | The NHS does not have enough money to keep doing what it does, treating the growing number of sick and often elderly people, many of whom live in the less well-off communities of the country. The organisations chief executive, Simon Stevens, last year played a brilliantly strategic Brexit card (citing referendum promises that EU money would go to the NHS instead) and managed to extract a tidy sum from the government to stop the gaps and improve its functioning in comparison with what other departments are getting. But 20.5bn by 2023-24 will not transform the creakingly overloaded health service. The Long-term plan, published on Monday, and part of a deal with the government to end the political clamour about the overloaded NHS, is about doing more with less. By stopping people getting sick in the first place. The central thrust of the plan is to keep people well and to pick it up really early if they get ill, because its far cheaper to treat cancer or heart disease before its progressed. The focus has to be on primary care picking up problems at the GP surgery and supporting people to improve their own health, for instance, by stopping smoking or taking more exercise. Its a big one to save up to half a million lives. The subtext is that it will save the NHS a lot of money. The plan will prevent 150,000 heart attacks, strokes and dementia cases while more than 3 million people will benefit from new and improved stroke, respiratory and cardiac services over the next decade. There is excited talk of new technology. The NHS will open a digital front door. Consulting a GP online will save her time and yours and encourage more people with potential problems to get checked out. Stevens will be hoping it cuts the numbers heading for A&E because they cant immediately get to see a GP. Digital consultations, plus rethinking the support given to those arriving at A&E so they are channelled to the urgent care centre or somewhere more appropriate to their needs will save 30m trips to hospital and 1bn, says the plan. There will be genetic testing to find people at risk of dangerously high cholesterol levels that could lead to heart disease and strokes. Children will get access to mental health support in schools, in the hope of preventing depression and anxiety escalating into adulthood. Mental health issues will be investigated when people have physical health problems too. There will be a big emphasis on diagnostics and testing to pick up cancer early. Smart inhalers will be given to asthma patients. The NHS is going to fund prevention programmes for obesity and smoking, and promote its already successful weight-loss support for people with type-2 diabetes. Its not the NHSs responsibility alone, it points out but it interacts with 1 million people a day who are sick and may be at a moment in their lives when they will rethink what they are doing about their health. And they pick up the pieces. Obesity causes heart disease and cancers, as well as type-2 diabetes. Not at all. The NHS is being squeezed by the convergence of several intractable problems. Obesity, caused by poor diet and inactivity, is one of them. The growing numbers of frail and elderly people who are in and out of hospital and cant be moved out because there is no social care package for them is another. That money is for the NHS. Local authorities have been crying in pain for some time, because they are responsible for public health programmes on obesity, smoking cessation and alcohol, as well as myriad other vital services and they are not getting enough cash. The NHS plan will help by its focus on supporting people at their GP practice and in their community to adopt healthier behaviour. Money from NHS England will be directed to areas on the basis of their local needs, in a bid to tackle health inequalities. The poorest in society are the sickest. But the NHS cannot sort this alone. The other hugely difficult area is social care for the elderly. Everybody knows it is vital that it is sorted out and it will take a lot of money. The NHS is in jeopardy until that happens. Its much more than that. Stevens is attempting a gradual transformation of the NHS a tightening up and smartening up. New ideas have been trialled in a few areas of the country as vanguard projects and those that work are extended. He wants to dump the Lansley free market reforms. The plan calls for legislation to create publicly accountable integrated care locally; to streamline the national administrative structures of the NHS; and remove the overly rigid competition and procurement regime applied to the NHS, it says. But the biggest problem, worsened by Brexit, will be staffing. The plan talks of taking the pressure off staff in A&E and hospitals generally. Online consultations will be expected to help GPs, too. But there will still be rising numbers of elderly people and a need for treatment, which is costly and really requires an expanding workforce. The nursing shortage, especially, will bite and the plan proposes support to train more. But the workforce issues are unlikely to go away. | Long-term plan is about doing more with less by stopping people getting sick. But 20.5bn by 2023-24 will not transform the creakingly overloaded health service. The NHS is being squeezed by the convergence of several intractable problems, including obesity and smoking. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/07/what-is-the-nhs-long-term-plan-and-can-it-achieve-its-aims | 0.47676 |
Can Humana (HUM) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Humana (HUM). This company, which is in the Zacks Medical - HMOs industry, shows potential for another earnings beat. When looking at the last two reports, this health insurer has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 5.62%, on average, in the last two quarters. For the most recent quarter, Humana was expected to post earnings of $4.29 per share, but it reported $4.58 per share instead, representing a surprise of 6.76%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $3.79 per share, while it actually produced $3.96 per share, a surprise of 4.49%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Humana lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Humana currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.22%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on February 6, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Humana Inc. (HUM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | Humana (HUM) has excelled when it comes to beating earnings estimates. It has recorded a strong streak of beating earnings estimates. | pegasus | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/humana-hum-keep-earnings-surprise-151003585.html | 0.15129 |
Can Humana (HUM) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Humana (HUM). This company, which is in the Zacks Medical - HMOs industry, shows potential for another earnings beat. When looking at the last two reports, this health insurer has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 5.62%, on average, in the last two quarters. For the most recent quarter, Humana was expected to post earnings of $4.29 per share, but it reported $4.58 per share instead, representing a surprise of 6.76%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $3.79 per share, while it actually produced $3.96 per share, a surprise of 4.49%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Humana lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Humana currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.22%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on February 6, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Humana Inc. (HUM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | Humana (HUM) has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 5.62%, on average, in the last two quarters. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/humana-hum-keep-earnings-surprise-151003585.html | 0.257809 |
Can Humana (HUM) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Humana (HUM). This company, which is in the Zacks Medical - HMOs industry, shows potential for another earnings beat. When looking at the last two reports, this health insurer has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 5.62%, on average, in the last two quarters. For the most recent quarter, Humana was expected to post earnings of $4.29 per share, but it reported $4.58 per share instead, representing a surprise of 6.76%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $3.79 per share, while it actually produced $3.96 per share, a surprise of 4.49%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Humana lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Humana currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.22%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on February 6, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Humana Inc. (HUM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | Humana (HUM) has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 5.62%, on average, in the last two quarters. For the most recent quarter, Humana was expected to post earnings of $4.29 per share, but it reported $ 4.58 per share instead. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/humana-hum-keep-earnings-surprise-151003585.html | 0.420152 |
Can Asbury Automotive (ABG) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | It is worth considering Asbury Automotive Group (ABG), which belongs to the Zacks Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales industry. This auto dealership chain has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 13.06%. For the last reported quarter, Asbury Automotive came out with earnings of $2.21 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.85 per share, representing a surprise of 19.46%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.95 per share and it actually produced earnings of $2.08 per share, delivering a surprise of 6.67%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Asbury Automotive lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Asbury Automotive has an Earnings ESP of +6.21% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 5, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (ABG) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | Asbury Automotive Group (ABG) has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 13.06%. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 5, 2019. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/asbury-automotive-abg-keep-earnings-151003477.html | 0.413046 |
Can Asbury Automotive (ABG) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | It is worth considering Asbury Automotive Group (ABG), which belongs to the Zacks Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales industry. This auto dealership chain has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 13.06%. For the last reported quarter, Asbury Automotive came out with earnings of $2.21 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.85 per share, representing a surprise of 19.46%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.95 per share and it actually produced earnings of $2.08 per share, delivering a surprise of 6.67%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Asbury Automotive lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Asbury Automotive has an Earnings ESP of +6.21% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 5, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (ABG) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | Asbury Automotive Group (ABG) has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 13.06%. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 5, 2019. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/asbury-automotive-abg-keep-earnings-151003477.html | 0.41762 |
Can NXP (NXPI) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | It is worth considering NXP Semiconductors (NXPI), which belongs to the Zacks Semiconductor - Analog and Mixed industry. This chipmaker has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of -9.55%. For the last reported quarter, NXP came out with earnings of $2.01 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.92 per share, representing a surprise of 4.69%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.64 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.25 per share, delivering a surprise of 23.78%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for NXP lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. NXP has an Earnings ESP of +0.14% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 6, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) has an average surprise for the past two quarters of -9.55%. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/nxp-nxpi-keep-earnings-surprise-151003307.html | 0.116037 |
Can NXP (NXPI) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | It is worth considering NXP Semiconductors (NXPI), which belongs to the Zacks Semiconductor - Analog and Mixed industry. This chipmaker has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of -9.55%. For the last reported quarter, NXP came out with earnings of $2.01 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.92 per share, representing a surprise of 4.69%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.64 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.25 per share, delivering a surprise of 23.78%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for NXP lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. NXP has an Earnings ESP of +0.14% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 6, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) has an established record of topping earnings estimates. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of -9.55%. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/nxp-nxpi-keep-earnings-surprise-151003307.html | 0.19542 |
Can NXP (NXPI) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | It is worth considering NXP Semiconductors (NXPI), which belongs to the Zacks Semiconductor - Analog and Mixed industry. This chipmaker has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of -9.55%. For the last reported quarter, NXP came out with earnings of $2.01 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.92 per share, representing a surprise of 4.69%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.64 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.25 per share, delivering a surprise of 23.78%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for NXP lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. NXP has an Earnings ESP of +0.14% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 6, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) has an established record of topping earnings estimates. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of -9.55%. NXP has an Earnings ESP of +0.14% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/nxp-nxpi-keep-earnings-surprise-151003307.html | 0.279335 |
Can Bank of New York Mellon (BK) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | It is worth considering Bank of New York Mellon (BK), which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Major Regional industry. This trust bank has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 0.96%. For the last reported quarter, Bank of New York Mellon came out with earnings of $1.06 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04 per share, representing a surprise of 1.92%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.03 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.03 per share, delivering a surprise of 0%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Bank of New York Mellon lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Bank of New York Mellon has an Earnings ESP of +0.80% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on January 16, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | Bank of New York Mellon has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates. The average EPS surprise for the last two quarters was 0.96%. | pegasus | 0 | https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bank-york-mellon-bk-keep-151003924.html | 0.238856 |
Can Bank of New York Mellon (BK) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | It is worth considering Bank of New York Mellon (BK), which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Major Regional industry. This trust bank has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 0.96%. For the last reported quarter, Bank of New York Mellon came out with earnings of $1.06 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04 per share, representing a surprise of 1.92%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.03 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.03 per share, delivering a surprise of 0%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Bank of New York Mellon lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Bank of New York Mellon has an Earnings ESP of +0.80% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on January 16, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | Bank of New York Mellon (BK) has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 0.96%. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on January 16, 2019. | bart | 1 | https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bank-york-mellon-bk-keep-151003924.html | 0.383981 |
Can Bank of New York Mellon (BK) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | It is worth considering Bank of New York Mellon (BK), which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Major Regional industry. This trust bank has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 0.96%. For the last reported quarter, Bank of New York Mellon came out with earnings of $1.06 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04 per share, representing a surprise of 1.92%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.03 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.03 per share, delivering a surprise of 0%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Bank of New York Mellon lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Bank of New York Mellon has an Earnings ESP of +0.80% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on January 16, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | Bank of New York Mellon (BK) has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 0.96%. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on January 16, 2019. | bart | 2 | https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bank-york-mellon-bk-keep-151003924.html | 0.399115 |
Can Disney (DIS) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | It is worth considering Walt Disney (DIS), which belongs to the Zacks Media Conglomerates industry. This entertainment company has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 3.95%. For the last reported quarter, Disney came out with earnings of $1.48 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.31 per share, representing a surprise of 12.98%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.97 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.87 per share, delivering a surprise of 5.08%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Disney lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Disney has an Earnings ESP of +0.47% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 5, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Walt Disney Company (DIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | Disney has an average surprise for the past two quarters of 3.95%. | bart | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/disney-dis-keep-earnings-surprise-151003227.html | 0.117863 |
Can Disney (DIS) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | It is worth considering Walt Disney (DIS), which belongs to the Zacks Media Conglomerates industry. This entertainment company has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 3.95%. For the last reported quarter, Disney came out with earnings of $1.48 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.31 per share, representing a surprise of 12.98%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.97 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.87 per share, delivering a surprise of 5.08%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Disney lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Disney has an Earnings ESP of +0.47% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 5, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Walt Disney Company (DIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | Disney (DIS) has an average surprise for the past two quarters of 3.95%. For the last reported quarter, Disney came out with earnings of $1.48 per share. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/disney-dis-keep-earnings-surprise-151003227.html | 0.228507 |
Can Disney (DIS) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | It is worth considering Walt Disney (DIS), which belongs to the Zacks Media Conglomerates industry. This entertainment company has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 3.95%. For the last reported quarter, Disney came out with earnings of $1.48 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.31 per share, representing a surprise of 12.98%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.97 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.87 per share, delivering a surprise of 5.08%. Price and EPS Surprise Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Disney lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Disney has an Earnings ESP of +0.47% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on February 5, 2019. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Walt Disney Company (DIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | Walt Disney (DIS) has an established record of topping earnings estimates. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 3.95%. For the last reported quarter, Disney came out with earnings of $1.48 per share. This is a surprise of 12.98%. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/disney-dis-keep-earnings-surprise-151003227.html | 0.292589 |
What's Driving First Solar's Weaker Than Expected Margin Guidance? | 2019 could prove to be an interesting year for First Solar, the largest U.S. solar panel manufacturer, as it scales up production of its much anticipated Series 6 panels. Production of the next-generation panel is likely to grow to between 3 GW and 3.2 GW this year, accounting for about two-thirds of the companys output. However, despite the transition, First Solars margin guidance for 2019 was relatively lackluster. In this note, we take a look at some of the factors impacting the companys weaker-than-expected margin outlook, and why we believe things could pick up from 2020 onwards. You can modify the various drivers to arrive at your own forecasts for the companys 2019 revenue and EPS. First Solars Gross Margin Guidance First Solar has guided for gross margins of 20% to 21% for 2019. While this is ahead of the 18.5% to 19.5% margins projected for 2018, the markets were expecting better margins, on account of an increasing mix of Series 6 modules and also because a high-margin project sale in Japan was moved from 2018 to 2019. However, First Solar has noted that there are multiple factors influencing the weaker than expected margins. Firstly, the companys systems business which is expected to account for 55% to 60% of its net sales is likely to dilute overall gross margins. While margins for EPC projects are expected to come in at about 15%, self-developed projects could have margins of as much as 20%. This is well below the margins projections for the companys panel-only sales. Moreover, the company will continue to ship its Series 4 modules over 2019 (about 2 GW planned production). These panels are likely to have weaker margins, as they are likely less competitive in the current marketplace, considering their lower power ratings. Additionally, efficiency ratings for Series 6 over the early part of the year could remain low, as production facilities ramp up to capacity, and this could also hurt gross margins. Full Impact of Series 6 Could Be Seen In 2019 That said, its possible that First Solar could see a bump in margins starting in 2020 and 2021, as it is expected to stop production of Series 4 panels next year. Moreover, as its Series 6 manufacturing process gains maturity, costs could come down and conversion efficiencies could rise with factory utilization rates also improving. The new panels have a significantly higher rated capacity compared to its legacy Series 4 panels, with manufacturing costs also estimated to be as much as 40% lower. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own | First Solar has guided for gross margins of 20% to 21% for 2019. The markets were expecting better margins, on account of an increasing mix of Series 6 modules. However, the companys systems business is likely to dilute overall gross margins. As its Series 6 manufacturing process gains maturity, costs could come down and conversion efficiencies could rise. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/01/07/whats-driving-first-solars-weaker-than-expected-margin-guidance/ | 0.474211 |
Why did Trump's love affair with US generals turn sour? | Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mr Trump's initial picks for his administration heavily relied on high-profile military men Apparently, among President Trump's favourite movies is the Second World War epic Patton: Lust for Glory. General George Patton was a charismatic, no nonsense and hard-fighting kind of officer. He got results but he was also self-absorbed and controversial - twice striking soldiers suffering from combat stress. If so, then he will have been deeply disappointed by the raft of generals whom he appointed to his administration. Indeed, we know that he was because he has said so, most recently castigating General James Mattis - his defence secretary - as a failure, who he had "effectively fired". General Mattis, of course, actually resigned. Let's set aside Mr Trump's first national security adviser, General Michael Flynn, who did indeed have to fall on his sword. He was forced to resign in February 2017 after lying to Vice-President Mike Pence over his contacts with the Russians. The most noteworthy aspects of Mr Trump's initial picks for his administration were his heavy reliance upon high-profile military men. Retired Marine Corps General John Kelly was appointed as Secretary of Homeland Security, before subsequently becoming the White House chief-of-staff. Another senior Marine General, James Mattis, became defence secretary, and the errant Michael Flynn was replaced as national security adviser by the widely respected and innovative military thinker, Army General HR McMaster. Image copyright AFP Image caption Chief of Staff John Kelly (r) is the 28th person to resign or be fired during Mr Trump's administration Fast forward to the end of December 2018 - all three men, first Gen McMaster in March, then Gen Kelly and finally Gen Mattis, have all gone. This is no surprise. It was seen as being almost inevitable when I spoke to a raft of experts a year or so into the Trump administration's tenure. Their argument was that the president would prove impossible to brief and ignorant of detail. Ultimately the military men would be forced to choose between the code of values that they had followed during their professional careers rather than adopting those of the property magnate and reality TV show star who now sat in the White House. And so it has proved. It should be remembered that it was the context that made the generals' roles so significant in this administration, not that they came from the military as such. It is often forgotten that President Obama too had his raft of former military appointees, among them his first national security adviser and secretary of veterans affairs, both of whom were ex-generals. But what made the Trump team so different was the fact that many Republican-leaning foreign policy experts refused at the outset to have anything to do with it. Mr Trump himself of course has never served in the military. The closest he came to the armed forces was during part of his education at a military-style academy. He received five draft deferments (four for education and one on medical grounds) that meant he did not have to serve in Vietnam. But his fascination with military men is almost palpable. In his recent televised cabinet session he spoke admiringly of the military's upper echelons. "When I became president," he noted, "I had a meeting at the Pentagon with lots of generals. They were like from a movie. Better looking than Tom Cruise, and stronger." No wonder then he sought to fill out key posts with military men. Image copyright AFP Image caption Army Lieutenant General HR McMaster (l) was replaced as national security adviser after just over a year in the job The trio of Mattis, Kelly and McMaster were part of a small group dubbed by some as "the adults in the room". They were supposed to speak truth to power; to curb the president's excesses; reassure allies and so on. And for a period they did. The president for example may have castigated his Nato allies in public while Defence Secretary Mattis tried, as far as he was able, to reassure them that at a practical level it was pretty much business as usual. The generals went into this knowing that it was almost mission impossible and one by one they have fallen by the wayside. Serving Donald Trump could be explained away for a time as serving the nation. But as his behaviour remained erratic and his policy decisions mercurial, for each of these men there came a moment when they could no longer remain in their posts. For James Mattis, for example, it was the decision to unilaterally pull US ground troops out of Syria that was the last straw. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Mr Trump has previously described Gen Mattis, 66, as "a true general's general" President Trump's Syria decision has been widely criticised by the experts. Some say it is too rapid; others that it lacks any guiding strategy. But - and this is a crucial "but" - it may be popular among ordinary voters. America's military campaigns in places like Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan have merged in the general imagination into what some call "the Forever Wars" and many Americans are sick and tired of it. On this issue, as on one or two others, Mr Trump's rationalisation of policy may be adrift but his gut instincts may not. In choosing military men for such high profile positions, President Trump did not then get what he expected. As the leading expert on US civil-military relations, Professor Eliot Cohen of Johns Hopkins University, told me, "the most interesting thing in all of this is the fact that the military so deeply embodies the post-World War II American foreign policy consensus." This means, he explained, that "they believe in our alliance system, in global engagement, in persistent policies (including the Forever Wars), and in preserving the social values of the last half century (note their stand on transgender service personnel). This was not in tune with the president's own outlook." Eliot Cohen is no fan of Mr Trump. But his expertise is such that he gave evidence before the Senate Armed Services Committee when it met to decide if long-standing restrictions might be waived to allow the relatively recently retired James Mattis to take up the post of defence secretary. "Mr Trump", he says, "has an adolescent view of the military as a bunch of tough guys who, moreover, would be personally loyal to him. Again and again, he has found out that they really aren't that way." | John Defterios says President Trump's love affair with US generals has turned sour. He says the president's reliance on high-profile military men was notable. But he says it was the context that made the generals' roles so significant in this administration, not that they came from the military as such. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46766271 | 0.206901 |
Do NASA And SpaceX Collaborate? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Never ask why until you know whether. Space-X exists because of NASA. Space-X, Blue Origin, and Sierra Nevada are the principle beneficiaries of a series of commercial space incubation projects started by NASA under the Bush administration and continued to date. NASA remains a principle customer for Space-Xwhich tells you a lot has changed. From 1958, when NASA was created until the end of the century, American spacecraft were contracted for NASA in the same way weapons systems were contracted by the military (and often by the same companies, using the same basic spacecraft). This got the job done, but with the federal government as the only customer, it didnt exactly spur economy. Whats changed in the last twenty years is that NASA is now encouraging companies to develop commercial space services which they can then sell to NASA or anyone else. NASA promises work to qualifying participants, but those participants own their own assets. Thats why Space-X has developed fly-back boosters where no one else has before. No one did before because NASA didnt require it. But now, Space-X thinks they can make money by reusing their boosters, and using each one to sell multiple launches to NASAand others. This is an economic game changer. As I write this, Space-X has now moved well beyond NASAs incubation, and is flying the Falcon Heavy which they created on their own, for their own commercial purposes, but based on the Falcon series of boosters that NASA helped foster and incentivize. This is exactly what these programs were meant to lead to. Next, Space-X is developing the BFR (or whatever they are calling it this week) which Musk wants to use to colonize Mars and blast executives into orbit or who knows what. NASA didnt incentivize any of that, but if Space-X pulls off the booster, NASA might very well book passage on it. Meanwhile, they continue to develop the SLS in the old cost-plus accounting military procurement model because, well thats where we still are today. Well see. These commercial incubation programs have made the last twenty years the most significant in the development of the American aerospace industry since the decades of the 1920s and 30s, when the NACA and the Guggenheim prizes did much the same for aeronautics. This is what NASA is forthis and the basic research and exploration that occupy 2/3 of its budget. 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: | Never ask why until you know whether Space-X exists because of NASA, says Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX. NASA is now encouraging companies to develop commercial space services which they can then sell to NASA. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/07/do-nasa-and-spacex-collaborate/ | 0.103999 |
What Would An Effective Solution To Climate Change Look Like? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D. Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, on Quora: We need climate solutions that will: Generate energy from clean sources that dont produce carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases - because fossil fuel extraction and combustion is the number one cause of climate change, responsible for about two-thirds of the problem (see figure below). Reduce heat-trapping gas emissions from other important sectors, like agriculture, land use change, industrial processes, wastewater treatment and more - because these are responsible for the remaining third of the problem. Suck some of the carbon dioxide weve produced back out of the atmosphere and put it into the soil fuel stone Theres no one silver bullet that will fix it for us: but there is a lot of silver buckshot. And the very best type of buckshot are solutions that fix other things at the same time: like increasing clean energy use, which grows the local economy, reduces air pollution, and increases energy security; reducing food waste, which also tackles hunger; and my personal favorite, educating women and girls, which reduces infant mortality, increases economic security, and allows them the freedom to choose how many children they have. For a truly inspirational list of viable, practical, and beneficial climate solutions, please check out Project Drawdown. And as for how to implement these solutions, the answer is simply: at all levels. Simple solutions we implement in our own lives, our homes, our communities and our organizations. We know they wont make a dent in the global carbon budget, but they sure as heck can make a dent in our own consciousness of this issue and that of those around us and give us the hope we need to make a difference in this world, as well as giving us the oomph we need to chivvy and encourage our elected leaders to do their job. Exhibit A, climate scientist Peter Kalmus and his vision to change the way he and his family lives. Exhibit B, the amazing churches and congregations that are taking action through Interfaith Power and Lights Cool Congregations program. Regional solutions implemented across a business, an industry, a city, a state or a province. From giant Walmart, the richest corporation in the world, whos aiming for 50% clean energy by 2025 and leading an effort to cut a gigaton of carbon from the worlds supply chain; to tiny Georgetown TX, who decided to go 100% clean energy after a student initiative at the local university paved the way and showed how much money theyd save. And yes, national and international solutions as well, such as the country of Ireland, thats chosen to divest itself of its fossil fuel investments; Canada, thats put a price on carbon; India, thats replacing more than three quarters of a billion light bulbs with LEDs; Bhutan, thats maintained and expanded its forests (including setting the record for the most trees planted in one hour, 50,000) such that they absorb three times more carbon than its population emits; and of course the Paris Agreement, where countries commit to the reductions we need to make sure that we are able to prepare for and adapt to the impacts that will occur. When it comes to fixing climate change, we need all options on the table and all hands on deck. Trends in Global CO2 and Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions (2017) 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: | Katharine Hayhoe: We need climate solutions that will: Generate energy from clean sources that dont produce carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/07/what-would-an-effective-solution-to-climate-change-look-like/ | 0.138185 |
What Would An Effective Solution To Climate Change Look Like? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D. Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, on Quora: We need climate solutions that will: Generate energy from clean sources that dont produce carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases - because fossil fuel extraction and combustion is the number one cause of climate change, responsible for about two-thirds of the problem (see figure below). Reduce heat-trapping gas emissions from other important sectors, like agriculture, land use change, industrial processes, wastewater treatment and more - because these are responsible for the remaining third of the problem. Suck some of the carbon dioxide weve produced back out of the atmosphere and put it into the soil fuel stone Theres no one silver bullet that will fix it for us: but there is a lot of silver buckshot. And the very best type of buckshot are solutions that fix other things at the same time: like increasing clean energy use, which grows the local economy, reduces air pollution, and increases energy security; reducing food waste, which also tackles hunger; and my personal favorite, educating women and girls, which reduces infant mortality, increases economic security, and allows them the freedom to choose how many children they have. For a truly inspirational list of viable, practical, and beneficial climate solutions, please check out Project Drawdown. And as for how to implement these solutions, the answer is simply: at all levels. Simple solutions we implement in our own lives, our homes, our communities and our organizations. We know they wont make a dent in the global carbon budget, but they sure as heck can make a dent in our own consciousness of this issue and that of those around us and give us the hope we need to make a difference in this world, as well as giving us the oomph we need to chivvy and encourage our elected leaders to do their job. Exhibit A, climate scientist Peter Kalmus and his vision to change the way he and his family lives. Exhibit B, the amazing churches and congregations that are taking action through Interfaith Power and Lights Cool Congregations program. Regional solutions implemented across a business, an industry, a city, a state or a province. From giant Walmart, the richest corporation in the world, whos aiming for 50% clean energy by 2025 and leading an effort to cut a gigaton of carbon from the worlds supply chain; to tiny Georgetown TX, who decided to go 100% clean energy after a student initiative at the local university paved the way and showed how much money theyd save. And yes, national and international solutions as well, such as the country of Ireland, thats chosen to divest itself of its fossil fuel investments; Canada, thats put a price on carbon; India, thats replacing more than three quarters of a billion light bulbs with LEDs; Bhutan, thats maintained and expanded its forests (including setting the record for the most trees planted in one hour, 50,000) such that they absorb three times more carbon than its population emits; and of course the Paris Agreement, where countries commit to the reductions we need to make sure that we are able to prepare for and adapt to the impacts that will occur. When it comes to fixing climate change, we need all options on the table and all hands on deck. Trends in Global CO2 and Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions (2017) 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: | Answer by Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D. Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. We need climate solutions that will: Generate energy from clean sources that dont produce carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/07/what-would-an-effective-solution-to-climate-change-look-like/ | 0.120751 |
Has U.S. Fracking Activity Peaked Already? | Shale drilling activity in the US likely dropped to 44 jobs per day in November 2018, Rystad Energys analysis of preliminary data suggests. We conclude that nationwide fracking activity was mostly stable from April 2018 to August 2018 at an average daily level of 48 to 50 fracked wells. However, the fracking rate has slipped some since and remains between 44 and 46 in the period of September to November 2018. After reaching a peak in May/June 18, fracking activity in the Permian has gradually decelerated throughout the second half of 2018, says senior analyst Lai Lou. (Click to enlarge) A key observation is that as we move into November, there is evidence that seasonal activity deceleration might have started in all major plays except Eagle Ford, Lou adds. There has been a considerable slowdown in Bakken and Niobrara in November based on our estimation. The latest FracFocus update, a national US database, was released on January 1. It provides sufficient visibility on fracking operations across the US in November 2018, yet the uncertainty range for November remains significant, as indicated by the figure above. Some major operators are bucking the general slowdown. The largest operator, ExxonMobil, experienced a strong uptick in October, making it one of the months with the highest number of fracked wells in this period. Energen Corporation is also unaffected by the slowdown. (Click to enlarge) In general, many of the key operators have exhibited a largely flat trend from June to October 2018, which implies that the market-wide deceleration in fracking activity has a more significant implication for smaller operators in contrast to the major players in the Permian, Lai said. In terms of absolute numbers, the reduction in the number of jobs for top 10 operators collectively is around 10% from June to October while the corresponding percentage for the remaining operators is as high as 48% in the same timeframe. Rystad Energys analysis is based on currently available data. Underreporting implies that the reduction in percentage will be smaller then what we see as of today. By Rystad Energy More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: | Rystad Energy: Fracking activity in the US likely dropped to 44 jobs per day in November. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/u-fracking-activity-peaked-already-180000175.html | 0.132535 |
Has U.S. Fracking Activity Peaked Already? | Shale drilling activity in the US likely dropped to 44 jobs per day in November 2018, Rystad Energys analysis of preliminary data suggests. We conclude that nationwide fracking activity was mostly stable from April 2018 to August 2018 at an average daily level of 48 to 50 fracked wells. However, the fracking rate has slipped some since and remains between 44 and 46 in the period of September to November 2018. After reaching a peak in May/June 18, fracking activity in the Permian has gradually decelerated throughout the second half of 2018, says senior analyst Lai Lou. (Click to enlarge) A key observation is that as we move into November, there is evidence that seasonal activity deceleration might have started in all major plays except Eagle Ford, Lou adds. There has been a considerable slowdown in Bakken and Niobrara in November based on our estimation. The latest FracFocus update, a national US database, was released on January 1. It provides sufficient visibility on fracking operations across the US in November 2018, yet the uncertainty range for November remains significant, as indicated by the figure above. Some major operators are bucking the general slowdown. The largest operator, ExxonMobil, experienced a strong uptick in October, making it one of the months with the highest number of fracked wells in this period. Energen Corporation is also unaffected by the slowdown. (Click to enlarge) In general, many of the key operators have exhibited a largely flat trend from June to October 2018, which implies that the market-wide deceleration in fracking activity has a more significant implication for smaller operators in contrast to the major players in the Permian, Lai said. In terms of absolute numbers, the reduction in the number of jobs for top 10 operators collectively is around 10% from June to October while the corresponding percentage for the remaining operators is as high as 48% in the same timeframe. Rystad Energys analysis is based on currently available data. Underreporting implies that the reduction in percentage will be smaller then what we see as of today. By Rystad Energy More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: | Shale drilling activity in the US likely dropped to 44 jobs per day in November 2018, Rystad Energys analysis of preliminary data suggests. We conclude that nationwide fracking activity was mostly stable from April 2018 to August 2018 at an average daily level of 48 to 50 fracked wells. | pegasus | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/u-fracking-activity-peaked-already-180000175.html | 0.160229 |
What happens when Tobi Nussbaum vacates his seat in Rideau-Rockcliffe? | With Coun. Tobi Nussbaum leaving Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward for the National Capital Commission, remaining councillors will soon choose how they want to replace him. It all has to start with a written resignation from Nussbaum himself, submitted to the city clerk. At this point in time, no such notice has been provided and, therefore, no decisions have been formally taken, the citys media office said in an email Monday. Eventually, council declares the seat vacant. At that point, the Municipal Act gives it choices: Appoint someone to serve out the rest of the term; or Hold a by-election. It has to make this announcement within 60 days of declaring the seat vacant. From there, it can allow anywhere from 30 to 60 days for nominations. After nominations close, there would be 45 days until the vote, and probably one advance voting day. Nussbaum is leaving city hall to be the new CEO of the NCC. ALSO IN THE NEWS: Firefighters save home after residents report chimney fire Murderer in downtown nightclub death has conviction downgraded by appeal court Not fade away: Older Canadians are having more sex than ever tspears@postmedia.com twitter.com/TomSpears1 | Coun. Tobi Nussbaum is leaving Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward to be the new CEO of the NCC. | bart | 0 | https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/what-happens-when-tobi-nussbaum-vacates-his-seat-in-rideau-rockcliffe | 0.267788 |
What happens when Tobi Nussbaum vacates his seat in Rideau-Rockcliffe? | With Coun. Tobi Nussbaum leaving Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward for the National Capital Commission, remaining councillors will soon choose how they want to replace him. It all has to start with a written resignation from Nussbaum himself, submitted to the city clerk. At this point in time, no such notice has been provided and, therefore, no decisions have been formally taken, the citys media office said in an email Monday. Eventually, council declares the seat vacant. At that point, the Municipal Act gives it choices: Appoint someone to serve out the rest of the term; or Hold a by-election. It has to make this announcement within 60 days of declaring the seat vacant. From there, it can allow anywhere from 30 to 60 days for nominations. After nominations close, there would be 45 days until the vote, and probably one advance voting day. Nussbaum is leaving city hall to be the new CEO of the NCC. ALSO IN THE NEWS: Firefighters save home after residents report chimney fire Murderer in downtown nightclub death has conviction downgraded by appeal court Not fade away: Older Canadians are having more sex than ever tspears@postmedia.com twitter.com/TomSpears1 | Coun. Tobi Nussbaum is leaving Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward to be the new CEO of the NCC. The Municipal Act gives council the option of appointing someone to serve out the rest of the term or holding a by-election. | bart | 1 | https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/what-happens-when-tobi-nussbaum-vacates-his-seat-in-rideau-rockcliffe | 0.44645 |
What happens when Tobi Nussbaum vacates his seat in Rideau-Rockcliffe? | With Coun. Tobi Nussbaum leaving Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward for the National Capital Commission, remaining councillors will soon choose how they want to replace him. It all has to start with a written resignation from Nussbaum himself, submitted to the city clerk. At this point in time, no such notice has been provided and, therefore, no decisions have been formally taken, the citys media office said in an email Monday. Eventually, council declares the seat vacant. At that point, the Municipal Act gives it choices: Appoint someone to serve out the rest of the term; or Hold a by-election. It has to make this announcement within 60 days of declaring the seat vacant. From there, it can allow anywhere from 30 to 60 days for nominations. After nominations close, there would be 45 days until the vote, and probably one advance voting day. Nussbaum is leaving city hall to be the new CEO of the NCC. ALSO IN THE NEWS: Firefighters save home after residents report chimney fire Murderer in downtown nightclub death has conviction downgraded by appeal court Not fade away: Older Canadians are having more sex than ever tspears@postmedia.com twitter.com/TomSpears1 | Coun. Tobi Nussbaum is leaving Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward to be the new CEO of the NCC. The Municipal Act gives council the option of appointing someone to serve out the rest of the term. It has to make this announcement within 60 days of declaring the seat vacant. After nominations close, there would be 45 days until the vote. | bart | 2 | https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/what-happens-when-tobi-nussbaum-vacates-his-seat-in-rideau-rockcliffe | 0.516572 |
Was Carol Burnett Right About Variety Shows In The Modern Era? | Last night's Golden Globes was often surprising, with a Best Picture - Drama entry that few predicted in Bohemian Rhapsody, just as Green Book won for Best Picture - Comedy. Beyond surprises, the night had glamour alongside some truly excellent speeches (Jeff Bridges and Christian Bale come to mind). Notable among the speeches included a moving, thought-provoking tribute to TV from the iconic and influential Carol Burnett, speaking on her love for the TV industry and her doubt that variety shows, the classic show format of The Carol Burnett Show that thrived in America from the 1940s through the 1980s, could get enough network support to survive in today's world. Requiem for a Variety Show The Hollywood Foreign Press Association had invited Burnett as the first recipient of the newly-christened The Carol Burnett Award honoring individuals for "outstanding contributions to television on or off the screen." Having been honored with Kennedy Center Honors (2003), the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2013), and receiving a Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award (2015), her influence on comedy has been as great as her well-deserved honors. Burnett's moving speech ended with her gracious expression of joy at the career she's had: This award, oh my gosh, so generously named after me, is dedicated to all those who made my dreams come true, and to all those out there who share the love I have for television and who yearn to be part of this unique medium that has been so good to me... Im just happy that our show happened when it did. And that I can look back and say once more I am so glad we had this time together. Notably, Burnett expressed her joy over having been able to launch "The Carol Burnett Show" in an era where networks would support such a show. In her words: Nothing like our show, and I might add other variety shows at the time, could ever see the light of day today because the networks just wouldnt spend the money... And because there are so many cable competitors, they are not going to take a chance. Variety is the Spice of Life Variety shows, once a major force in the TV landscape, have largely gone away. Saturday Night Live is perhaps the most successful continuing variety show proper in the U.S., with elements of the format (and their mixture of music, comedy, and other performances in a singular show) influencing other Late Night TV shows and, in a competition format, shows like America's Got Talent. Beyond SNL, variety shows proper have had a harder time in recent decades since the 1980s. Fox's Osbournes Reloaded (2009) was canceled after only one episode. A pilot episode for Rosie Live (2009) failed to take off at NBC. More recently, The Maya Rudolph Show (2014) sparked the May 2016 premiere of Maya & Marty (2016), which failed to thrive past its first limited season. One must wonder why these show, all backed by great talent, continue to fail today. I would argue that variety series absolutely can work these days, but perhaps network TV is no longer the right venue. With Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu all vying for content (and Disney and Warner Media set to be on their tails soon) the TV content market is huge without even consideration of premium channels like HBO and Showtime, cable, or network TV. Streaming services are exactly the right venue for a variety resurgence. On the one hand, companies like Netflix and Amazon have enough money to gamble on the resurgence of the classic format, and it is strongly in their interest to do so. Hear me out. Netflix and Amazon (in particular) have been vying for Hollywood legitimacy--competing for major awards (Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes), original content, and the talent to back that up. Old-guard Hollywood has been hesitant (though it is safe to say that hesitancy is slowly eroding given the increased proliferation of awards-season support for their offerings). What they don't have is history. Newer tech titans are flush with cash but have no storied legacies, yet giving rebirth to a storied Hollywood pastime like variety programs would be a perfect way to ingratiate themselves to Old Hollywood purists while pinning themselves as the start of a new chapter. The format is also perfect, adding the sort of streamable flexibility that individuated variety show elements (performances, skits, etc) could thrive with. The key to their success then would be the show's quality--the timeliness of the format, quality of writing, etc. The format is not too old to survive, but its content needs to be resonant with modern themes, comedic and musical styles, etc. -Invite A-tier comedians to guest-write skits. -Instead of a house band, have musical acts provide guest musical accompaniment. -Make sure the material is cutting edge and aimed at younger, streaming-savvy generations The notion that celebrity-packed content is enough to garner an audience is, it seems, an inconsistent bet at best. Putting The Rock in a film may help sell it to US markets, for example, but it sure didn't help Skyscraper--so much high-quality content competes for attention and popular acts are so prolific that celebrity is only a partial draw. Variety shows can thrive, but they need the right venue... and the right quality... to survive. | Carol Burnett gave a moving speech at last night's Golden Globes. She said she didn't think variety shows could survive in today's world. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffewing/2019/01/07/was-carol-burnett-right-about-variety-shows-in-the-modern-era/ | 0.149786 |
Was Carol Burnett Right About Variety Shows In The Modern Era? | Last night's Golden Globes was often surprising, with a Best Picture - Drama entry that few predicted in Bohemian Rhapsody, just as Green Book won for Best Picture - Comedy. Beyond surprises, the night had glamour alongside some truly excellent speeches (Jeff Bridges and Christian Bale come to mind). Notable among the speeches included a moving, thought-provoking tribute to TV from the iconic and influential Carol Burnett, speaking on her love for the TV industry and her doubt that variety shows, the classic show format of The Carol Burnett Show that thrived in America from the 1940s through the 1980s, could get enough network support to survive in today's world. Requiem for a Variety Show The Hollywood Foreign Press Association had invited Burnett as the first recipient of the newly-christened The Carol Burnett Award honoring individuals for "outstanding contributions to television on or off the screen." Having been honored with Kennedy Center Honors (2003), the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2013), and receiving a Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award (2015), her influence on comedy has been as great as her well-deserved honors. Burnett's moving speech ended with her gracious expression of joy at the career she's had: This award, oh my gosh, so generously named after me, is dedicated to all those who made my dreams come true, and to all those out there who share the love I have for television and who yearn to be part of this unique medium that has been so good to me... Im just happy that our show happened when it did. And that I can look back and say once more I am so glad we had this time together. Notably, Burnett expressed her joy over having been able to launch "The Carol Burnett Show" in an era where networks would support such a show. In her words: Nothing like our show, and I might add other variety shows at the time, could ever see the light of day today because the networks just wouldnt spend the money... And because there are so many cable competitors, they are not going to take a chance. Variety is the Spice of Life Variety shows, once a major force in the TV landscape, have largely gone away. Saturday Night Live is perhaps the most successful continuing variety show proper in the U.S., with elements of the format (and their mixture of music, comedy, and other performances in a singular show) influencing other Late Night TV shows and, in a competition format, shows like America's Got Talent. Beyond SNL, variety shows proper have had a harder time in recent decades since the 1980s. Fox's Osbournes Reloaded (2009) was canceled after only one episode. A pilot episode for Rosie Live (2009) failed to take off at NBC. More recently, The Maya Rudolph Show (2014) sparked the May 2016 premiere of Maya & Marty (2016), which failed to thrive past its first limited season. One must wonder why these show, all backed by great talent, continue to fail today. I would argue that variety series absolutely can work these days, but perhaps network TV is no longer the right venue. With Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu all vying for content (and Disney and Warner Media set to be on their tails soon) the TV content market is huge without even consideration of premium channels like HBO and Showtime, cable, or network TV. Streaming services are exactly the right venue for a variety resurgence. On the one hand, companies like Netflix and Amazon have enough money to gamble on the resurgence of the classic format, and it is strongly in their interest to do so. Hear me out. Netflix and Amazon (in particular) have been vying for Hollywood legitimacy--competing for major awards (Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes), original content, and the talent to back that up. Old-guard Hollywood has been hesitant (though it is safe to say that hesitancy is slowly eroding given the increased proliferation of awards-season support for their offerings). What they don't have is history. Newer tech titans are flush with cash but have no storied legacies, yet giving rebirth to a storied Hollywood pastime like variety programs would be a perfect way to ingratiate themselves to Old Hollywood purists while pinning themselves as the start of a new chapter. The format is also perfect, adding the sort of streamable flexibility that individuated variety show elements (performances, skits, etc) could thrive with. The key to their success then would be the show's quality--the timeliness of the format, quality of writing, etc. The format is not too old to survive, but its content needs to be resonant with modern themes, comedic and musical styles, etc. -Invite A-tier comedians to guest-write skits. -Instead of a house band, have musical acts provide guest musical accompaniment. -Make sure the material is cutting edge and aimed at younger, streaming-savvy generations The notion that celebrity-packed content is enough to garner an audience is, it seems, an inconsistent bet at best. Putting The Rock in a film may help sell it to US markets, for example, but it sure didn't help Skyscraper--so much high-quality content competes for attention and popular acts are so prolific that celebrity is only a partial draw. Variety shows can thrive, but they need the right venue... and the right quality... to survive. | Carol Burnett gave a moving speech at last night's Golden Globes. She said she didn't think variety shows could survive in today's world. She was right about one thing: Netflix and Amazon are right for variety shows. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffewing/2019/01/07/was-carol-burnett-right-about-variety-shows-in-the-modern-era/ | 0.366971 |
Was Carol Burnett Right About Variety Shows In The Modern Era? | Last night's Golden Globes was often surprising, with a Best Picture - Drama entry that few predicted in Bohemian Rhapsody, just as Green Book won for Best Picture - Comedy. Beyond surprises, the night had glamour alongside some truly excellent speeches (Jeff Bridges and Christian Bale come to mind). Notable among the speeches included a moving, thought-provoking tribute to TV from the iconic and influential Carol Burnett, speaking on her love for the TV industry and her doubt that variety shows, the classic show format of The Carol Burnett Show that thrived in America from the 1940s through the 1980s, could get enough network support to survive in today's world. Requiem for a Variety Show The Hollywood Foreign Press Association had invited Burnett as the first recipient of the newly-christened The Carol Burnett Award honoring individuals for "outstanding contributions to television on or off the screen." Having been honored with Kennedy Center Honors (2003), the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2013), and receiving a Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award (2015), her influence on comedy has been as great as her well-deserved honors. Burnett's moving speech ended with her gracious expression of joy at the career she's had: This award, oh my gosh, so generously named after me, is dedicated to all those who made my dreams come true, and to all those out there who share the love I have for television and who yearn to be part of this unique medium that has been so good to me... Im just happy that our show happened when it did. And that I can look back and say once more I am so glad we had this time together. Notably, Burnett expressed her joy over having been able to launch "The Carol Burnett Show" in an era where networks would support such a show. In her words: Nothing like our show, and I might add other variety shows at the time, could ever see the light of day today because the networks just wouldnt spend the money... And because there are so many cable competitors, they are not going to take a chance. Variety is the Spice of Life Variety shows, once a major force in the TV landscape, have largely gone away. Saturday Night Live is perhaps the most successful continuing variety show proper in the U.S., with elements of the format (and their mixture of music, comedy, and other performances in a singular show) influencing other Late Night TV shows and, in a competition format, shows like America's Got Talent. Beyond SNL, variety shows proper have had a harder time in recent decades since the 1980s. Fox's Osbournes Reloaded (2009) was canceled after only one episode. A pilot episode for Rosie Live (2009) failed to take off at NBC. More recently, The Maya Rudolph Show (2014) sparked the May 2016 premiere of Maya & Marty (2016), which failed to thrive past its first limited season. One must wonder why these show, all backed by great talent, continue to fail today. I would argue that variety series absolutely can work these days, but perhaps network TV is no longer the right venue. With Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu all vying for content (and Disney and Warner Media set to be on their tails soon) the TV content market is huge without even consideration of premium channels like HBO and Showtime, cable, or network TV. Streaming services are exactly the right venue for a variety resurgence. On the one hand, companies like Netflix and Amazon have enough money to gamble on the resurgence of the classic format, and it is strongly in their interest to do so. Hear me out. Netflix and Amazon (in particular) have been vying for Hollywood legitimacy--competing for major awards (Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes), original content, and the talent to back that up. Old-guard Hollywood has been hesitant (though it is safe to say that hesitancy is slowly eroding given the increased proliferation of awards-season support for their offerings). What they don't have is history. Newer tech titans are flush with cash but have no storied legacies, yet giving rebirth to a storied Hollywood pastime like variety programs would be a perfect way to ingratiate themselves to Old Hollywood purists while pinning themselves as the start of a new chapter. The format is also perfect, adding the sort of streamable flexibility that individuated variety show elements (performances, skits, etc) could thrive with. The key to their success then would be the show's quality--the timeliness of the format, quality of writing, etc. The format is not too old to survive, but its content needs to be resonant with modern themes, comedic and musical styles, etc. -Invite A-tier comedians to guest-write skits. -Instead of a house band, have musical acts provide guest musical accompaniment. -Make sure the material is cutting edge and aimed at younger, streaming-savvy generations The notion that celebrity-packed content is enough to garner an audience is, it seems, an inconsistent bet at best. Putting The Rock in a film may help sell it to US markets, for example, but it sure didn't help Skyscraper--so much high-quality content competes for attention and popular acts are so prolific that celebrity is only a partial draw. Variety shows can thrive, but they need the right venue... and the right quality... to survive. | Carol Burnett gave a moving speech at last night's Golden Globes. She said she didn't think variety shows could survive in today's world. She was right about one thing: Netflix and Amazon are right to gamble on variety shows, and it is strongly in their interest to do so. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffewing/2019/01/07/was-carol-burnett-right-about-variety-shows-in-the-modern-era/ | 0.433901 |
Is There A Case For Women-Centric, Co-Ed Coworking Spaces? | The share of remote workers in the modern workplace has been on the rise for quite some time. In recent years, many of these remote workers have traded their kitchen table or coffeeshop counter workspaces to lease a spot at one of the now commonplace coworking spaces. Dubbed the future of work, the first generation of the coworking empires which cropped up in the early 2000s - WeWork, Industrious and RocketSpace - were noticeably all run by men, with male-dominated boards. As for the workplaces themselves, it soon became apparent that their designers had turned a blind eye to essentials working women needed. The workplace had moved lightyears ahead, but even in this hyper-modern era, women were still being left behind. Today, just as the dot com era gave rise to these first generation coworking spaces, the #MeToo era is now setting in motion a new kind of coworking space that carries a female friendly promise to those that pay their membership dues. Perhaps the most well known of these "for women, by women" workspaces is The Wing, a no-boys-allowed social club and coworking space that has quickly grown to five locations - with six on the way. In just a few years, the brand has gained serious publicity and capital. In March of 2018; however, it began to make headlines that invited some new criticism of its business model as The New York City Commission on Human Rights launched an investigation into whether The Wing was violating a local law prohibiting gender-based discrimination against potential customers. Despite the investigation, founder Audrey Gelman has stood by The Wings initial premise to offer a safe place for its female members. Two women who founded female-focused coworking spaces that do in fact allow men as card carrying members weighed in on their decision to remain gender inclusive. The Riveter, which recently closed a $15 million Series A funding round, currently has five locations across Seattle and Los Angeles and is described as "a membership network built by women, for everyone." Its female-founded and the workspaces are female-focused by design but they welcome not only women but also men and gender fluid individuals. In fact, today they boast quite a few members that don't identify as female - 25% to be exact. Former corporate litigator, Amy Nelson founded The Riveter because she, like Gelman, believed in creating a better work environment for women. That being said, she believes that any strong movement needs allies and she doesn't want those allies to be stuck outside - she wants them in the room serving as active participants in the conversation. From the beginning, we have always wanted to be an inclusive and open community. We believe that we have a platform to advocate for increasing opportunities to grow and to truly redefine the future of work for all. Women are often left out of those conversations, and while females have more of a seat at the table today, we dont always have the space to be heard. At The Riveter, we want to drive the conversation on how gender equality is not a 'nice-to-have' item on a checklist it is a must-have. At the core, we are changing conversation on how to support women in the workspace so that they can be successful and equity can be achieved. Men and gender-fluid individuals must be a part of that conversation as the future of work depends on their support and input, explains Nelson. Hera Hub is another female-centric yet co-ed coworking space. Founded in 2011, several years ahead of The Wing and The Riveter, the organization now boasts six locations internationally. Much like The Riveter, Hera Hub decided not to exclusively green light female membership hopefuls and its founder Felena Hanson feels strongly that it was the right decision for the organization. Being pro-women doesnt mean you need to be anti-male. Yes, the pillars of business were developed by men - competitive nature and sometimes aggressive tactics - and women have often felt like outsiders but reverse discrimination is not the way to make it right. Our goal is to create spaces where women feel safe and supported, where women know its okay to not have all the answers and they are open to sharing and asking for help. We absolutely need men to be part of the conversation if we are going to create real change, explains Hanson. She believes the men who have signed up for Hera Hub - who currently make up 3% of the membership base - are attracted to the spaces for the same reason women are: practicality, convenience but also due to the sense of community created at Hera Hub. I recently had a male member say, wow, its so great to see how you all really support each other. I wish men would do the same, recalls Hanson. There are a lot of nuances and sticky questions to be considered when it comes to breaking down the pros and cons of gendered coworking spaces. For now, with no definitive answer to the question of whether or not these women-first coworking spaces should ethically, and perhaps even legally, allow men within their membership ranks it seems there exists an option for those of all camps. Should you have the funds and reside in a large enough city, chances are youll be able to find standard coworking spaces with a fairly even distribution of men and women, female-focused co-ed spaces like that of The Riveter and Hera Hub and true "no mans land" options like The Wing to choose from. | Women-focused coworking spaces are becoming more popular. The Riveter and Hera Hub are two of the most well-known female-focused co-working spaces. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/erinspencer1/2019/01/07/is-there-a-case-for-women-centric-co-ed-coworking-spaces/ | 0.31232 |
Is There A Case For Women-Centric, Co-Ed Coworking Spaces? | The share of remote workers in the modern workplace has been on the rise for quite some time. In recent years, many of these remote workers have traded their kitchen table or coffeeshop counter workspaces to lease a spot at one of the now commonplace coworking spaces. Dubbed the future of work, the first generation of the coworking empires which cropped up in the early 2000s - WeWork, Industrious and RocketSpace - were noticeably all run by men, with male-dominated boards. As for the workplaces themselves, it soon became apparent that their designers had turned a blind eye to essentials working women needed. The workplace had moved lightyears ahead, but even in this hyper-modern era, women were still being left behind. Today, just as the dot com era gave rise to these first generation coworking spaces, the #MeToo era is now setting in motion a new kind of coworking space that carries a female friendly promise to those that pay their membership dues. Perhaps the most well known of these "for women, by women" workspaces is The Wing, a no-boys-allowed social club and coworking space that has quickly grown to five locations - with six on the way. In just a few years, the brand has gained serious publicity and capital. In March of 2018; however, it began to make headlines that invited some new criticism of its business model as The New York City Commission on Human Rights launched an investigation into whether The Wing was violating a local law prohibiting gender-based discrimination against potential customers. Despite the investigation, founder Audrey Gelman has stood by The Wings initial premise to offer a safe place for its female members. Two women who founded female-focused coworking spaces that do in fact allow men as card carrying members weighed in on their decision to remain gender inclusive. The Riveter, which recently closed a $15 million Series A funding round, currently has five locations across Seattle and Los Angeles and is described as "a membership network built by women, for everyone." Its female-founded and the workspaces are female-focused by design but they welcome not only women but also men and gender fluid individuals. In fact, today they boast quite a few members that don't identify as female - 25% to be exact. Former corporate litigator, Amy Nelson founded The Riveter because she, like Gelman, believed in creating a better work environment for women. That being said, she believes that any strong movement needs allies and she doesn't want those allies to be stuck outside - she wants them in the room serving as active participants in the conversation. From the beginning, we have always wanted to be an inclusive and open community. We believe that we have a platform to advocate for increasing opportunities to grow and to truly redefine the future of work for all. Women are often left out of those conversations, and while females have more of a seat at the table today, we dont always have the space to be heard. At The Riveter, we want to drive the conversation on how gender equality is not a 'nice-to-have' item on a checklist it is a must-have. At the core, we are changing conversation on how to support women in the workspace so that they can be successful and equity can be achieved. Men and gender-fluid individuals must be a part of that conversation as the future of work depends on their support and input, explains Nelson. Hera Hub is another female-centric yet co-ed coworking space. Founded in 2011, several years ahead of The Wing and The Riveter, the organization now boasts six locations internationally. Much like The Riveter, Hera Hub decided not to exclusively green light female membership hopefuls and its founder Felena Hanson feels strongly that it was the right decision for the organization. Being pro-women doesnt mean you need to be anti-male. Yes, the pillars of business were developed by men - competitive nature and sometimes aggressive tactics - and women have often felt like outsiders but reverse discrimination is not the way to make it right. Our goal is to create spaces where women feel safe and supported, where women know its okay to not have all the answers and they are open to sharing and asking for help. We absolutely need men to be part of the conversation if we are going to create real change, explains Hanson. She believes the men who have signed up for Hera Hub - who currently make up 3% of the membership base - are attracted to the spaces for the same reason women are: practicality, convenience but also due to the sense of community created at Hera Hub. I recently had a male member say, wow, its so great to see how you all really support each other. I wish men would do the same, recalls Hanson. There are a lot of nuances and sticky questions to be considered when it comes to breaking down the pros and cons of gendered coworking spaces. For now, with no definitive answer to the question of whether or not these women-first coworking spaces should ethically, and perhaps even legally, allow men within their membership ranks it seems there exists an option for those of all camps. Should you have the funds and reside in a large enough city, chances are youll be able to find standard coworking spaces with a fairly even distribution of men and women, female-focused co-ed spaces like that of The Riveter and Hera Hub and true "no mans land" options like The Wing to choose from. | Women-focused coworking spaces are becoming more popular. The Riveter and Hera Hub are two of the most well-known female-focused co-working spaces in the U.S. The Wing, a no-boys-allowed social club and coworking space that has quickly grown to five locations - with six on the way. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/erinspencer1/2019/01/07/is-there-a-case-for-women-centric-co-ed-coworking-spaces/ | 0.385282 |
Will Qualcomm Raise Its Dividend in 2019? | One thing potential investors in Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) stock might find attractive is that the shares currently offer a substantial dividend yield of 4.38%, making it one of the largest among semiconductor stocks. Admittedly, one of the factors that has contributed to Qualcomm stock offering such a large yield is that the stock itself hasn't been a great performer. It's off significantly from its peak and was a pretty poor performer in 2018. A Qualcomm Snapdragon chip next to several snapdragon flower blooms More Image source: Qualcomm. I think the answer to that question is yes. Here's why. Qualcomm's history suggests so Qualcomm has a history of boosting its dividend, as the following chart illustrates: QCOM Dividend Chart More QCOM Dividend data by YCharts. Although past performance is no guarantee of future success, companies that value their dividend programs strive to increase their dividends each year, if they're able to. Not only do dividends contribute to a company's total stockholder return, but a company that pays a substantial dividend and has a history of increasing it each year is more likely to be on the radar of investors who value income and dividend growth versus a company that delivers more sporadic increases. Qualcomm can easily afford to Right now, Qualcomm's lucrative wireless technology licensing business -- known as Qualcomm Technology Licensing, or QTL -- is under pressure because Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) refuses to pay. The two companies are currently engaged in a bitter legal battle, and although Apple's refusal to pay has wrought havoc on QTL, Qualcomm has managed to get a few good punches in recently, as well, as Apple has been forced to remove its older iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 from sale in Germany. Nevertheless, even as the two companies battle it out, the reality is that Qualcomm's business -- such as it is -- can still easily support a dividend increase. The company's current dividend on an annualized basis is $2.48 per share. The company is expected to generate non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of $3.85 in fiscal 2019 (up a smidgen from the $3.69 it turned in during fiscal 2018), so the company's business performance -- should it come in close to what analysts expect -- should easily support a bigger dividend from here. (The magnitude of that increase, though, is still a significant unknown.) | Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) stock offers a substantial dividend yield of 4.38%. The company is expected to generate non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of $3.85 in fiscal 2019. Qualcomm can easily afford to increase its dividend. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/qualcomm-raise-dividend-2019-190100004.html | 0.152798 |
Does Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez want to "soak the rich"? | Freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backs the idea of a "Green New Deal" for the U.S., a plan popular in progressive policy circles under which the federal government would pour billions of dollars into renewable energy. Raise taxes on the rich to their highest level since 1980, just before Ronald Reagan started hacking rates. The top tax on the wealthy should rise to as high as 70 percent, Ocasio-Cortez told "60 Minutes" on Sunday. That approach stands in stark contrast to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which gave the lion's share of benefits from reducing federal income tax rates to top earners and corporations. Not surprisingly, conservatives are bashing Ocasio-Cortez' ideas. Americans for Tax Reform founder Grover Norquist wrote on Fox News that her "soaking the rich" plan is "the opening shot in a renewed war against middle class taxpayers." Raising the so-called marginal tax rate on the rich would mark a return to the more progressive tax structure of the 1950s and 1960s -- under Presidents Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, for instance, the rate on those in the top bracket topped 90 percent. Here's what you should know about Ocasio-Cortez's plan and how higher tax rates would work. It's about higher marginal rates -- not a flat rate Rep. Steve Scalise, R.-Louisiana, tweeted that Ocasio-Cortez's approach would lead to the government taking away "70% of your income." Yet that comment misleadingly suggests that every dollar earned by taxpayers would be docked at a flat 70 percent -- that isn't what Ocasio-Cortez is proposing. Republicans: Let Americans keep more of their own hard-earned money Democrats: Take away 70% of your income and give it to leftist fantasy programs https://t.co/NxJPSCqvrt Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) January 5, 2019 Her plan focuses on marginal tax rates, a progressive tax system that's the basis of the U.S. tax code. It works by taxing the lowest amount of income at the lowest tax rate, and then increasing it gradually as a person's income rises. The goal is to tax lower earners at lower rates, while assessing higher rates on wealthier Americans. Sometimes lost in the criticism of Ocasio-Cortez' plan is the fact that higher marginal rates are paid only on each dollar earned above a particular tax bracket. For instance, single Americans now pay at a rate of 10 percent on earnings up to $9,525, while any earnings between $9,526 and $38,700 are taxed at 12 percent. Currently, the top rate for single taxpayers kicks in at 37 percent for every dollar earned over $500,000 in annual income. Jacking up the top tax rate likely wouldn't impact you Ocasio-Cortez doesn't favor imposing a 70 percent tax on the merely rich. Rather, that rate would be for people with annual income of at least $10 million or so. That's why it's not likely to hit your wallet -- only the top 0.1 percent of income earners are likely to come close to that, as this group enjoys average adjusted gross income of $7.3 million. And only 140,000 tax filers make this much money, compared with nearly 70 million who make up the bottom 50 percent of earners. The economy still grew when tax rates were high The U.S. economy boomed in the '50s and '60s when, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, the top rate ranged between 70 percent and 92 percent. Of course, no time periods in economic history are directly comparable. In the post-World War II era, for instance, the baby boom drove massive spending on the housing market and productivity was much higher than it is today. But the point is that higher top marginal tax rates don't appear to cause lower economic growth. Other developed countries have high tax rates Several advanced economies around the world have top tax rates approaching what Ocasio-Cortez favors, and by many measures they enjoy higher standards of living than the U.S. "What we have in mind ... and my policies most closely resemble what we see in the U.K., in Norway, in Finland, in Sweden," she told "60 Minutes." Sweden has a top rate of 70 percent, Matt Bruenig, founder of People's Policy Project, a left-leaning advocacy group wrote in Jacobin magazine. Sweden is ranked No. 11 by the Social Progress Imperative, which looks at the capacity for a country to meet "basic human needs." The U.S. ranks No. 25, just below Portugal. Ocasio-Cortez's plan echoes findings by economists including Nobel laureate Peter Diamond and Berkeley professor Emmanuel Saez, who estimated that the ideal marginal tax rate should be 73 percent. Most other economists (including many conservative and pro-business experts) agree that a fair and productive society includes some form of progressive tax system, even if they vary in their calculations of what that should be. But that may be looking at the wrong question. Higher taxes on every dollar earned above $10 million isn't likely to lower multimillionaires' drive to remain rich (though it could arguably encourage them to seek ways to avoid taxes). Perhaps a more relevant question: Whether the tax system could encourage people to enter lower-paying yet socially useful jobs, such as teaching or scientific research. One study found that a "radical" policy of imposing taxes according to professions -- such as providing tax breaks to teachers while imposing higher taxes on hedge fund managers -- "could grow the economy dramatically," its authors wrote in the Harvard Business Review. Ocasio-Cortez didn't address such ideas, but her goal in taxing the extremely rich at higher levels is to guarantee a job for every American at a fair wage. "When you can't provide for your kids working a full-time job, working two full-time jobs. When you can't have health care. That is not -- that is not dignified," Ocasio-Cortez said. | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants to raise taxes on the rich to their highest level since 1980. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-tax-plan-70-rates/ | 0.368353 |
Does Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez want to "soak the rich"? | Freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backs the idea of a "Green New Deal" for the U.S., a plan popular in progressive policy circles under which the federal government would pour billions of dollars into renewable energy. Raise taxes on the rich to their highest level since 1980, just before Ronald Reagan started hacking rates. The top tax on the wealthy should rise to as high as 70 percent, Ocasio-Cortez told "60 Minutes" on Sunday. That approach stands in stark contrast to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which gave the lion's share of benefits from reducing federal income tax rates to top earners and corporations. Not surprisingly, conservatives are bashing Ocasio-Cortez' ideas. Americans for Tax Reform founder Grover Norquist wrote on Fox News that her "soaking the rich" plan is "the opening shot in a renewed war against middle class taxpayers." Raising the so-called marginal tax rate on the rich would mark a return to the more progressive tax structure of the 1950s and 1960s -- under Presidents Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, for instance, the rate on those in the top bracket topped 90 percent. Here's what you should know about Ocasio-Cortez's plan and how higher tax rates would work. It's about higher marginal rates -- not a flat rate Rep. Steve Scalise, R.-Louisiana, tweeted that Ocasio-Cortez's approach would lead to the government taking away "70% of your income." Yet that comment misleadingly suggests that every dollar earned by taxpayers would be docked at a flat 70 percent -- that isn't what Ocasio-Cortez is proposing. Republicans: Let Americans keep more of their own hard-earned money Democrats: Take away 70% of your income and give it to leftist fantasy programs https://t.co/NxJPSCqvrt Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) January 5, 2019 Her plan focuses on marginal tax rates, a progressive tax system that's the basis of the U.S. tax code. It works by taxing the lowest amount of income at the lowest tax rate, and then increasing it gradually as a person's income rises. The goal is to tax lower earners at lower rates, while assessing higher rates on wealthier Americans. Sometimes lost in the criticism of Ocasio-Cortez' plan is the fact that higher marginal rates are paid only on each dollar earned above a particular tax bracket. For instance, single Americans now pay at a rate of 10 percent on earnings up to $9,525, while any earnings between $9,526 and $38,700 are taxed at 12 percent. Currently, the top rate for single taxpayers kicks in at 37 percent for every dollar earned over $500,000 in annual income. Jacking up the top tax rate likely wouldn't impact you Ocasio-Cortez doesn't favor imposing a 70 percent tax on the merely rich. Rather, that rate would be for people with annual income of at least $10 million or so. That's why it's not likely to hit your wallet -- only the top 0.1 percent of income earners are likely to come close to that, as this group enjoys average adjusted gross income of $7.3 million. And only 140,000 tax filers make this much money, compared with nearly 70 million who make up the bottom 50 percent of earners. The economy still grew when tax rates were high The U.S. economy boomed in the '50s and '60s when, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, the top rate ranged between 70 percent and 92 percent. Of course, no time periods in economic history are directly comparable. In the post-World War II era, for instance, the baby boom drove massive spending on the housing market and productivity was much higher than it is today. But the point is that higher top marginal tax rates don't appear to cause lower economic growth. Other developed countries have high tax rates Several advanced economies around the world have top tax rates approaching what Ocasio-Cortez favors, and by many measures they enjoy higher standards of living than the U.S. "What we have in mind ... and my policies most closely resemble what we see in the U.K., in Norway, in Finland, in Sweden," she told "60 Minutes." Sweden has a top rate of 70 percent, Matt Bruenig, founder of People's Policy Project, a left-leaning advocacy group wrote in Jacobin magazine. Sweden is ranked No. 11 by the Social Progress Imperative, which looks at the capacity for a country to meet "basic human needs." The U.S. ranks No. 25, just below Portugal. Ocasio-Cortez's plan echoes findings by economists including Nobel laureate Peter Diamond and Berkeley professor Emmanuel Saez, who estimated that the ideal marginal tax rate should be 73 percent. Most other economists (including many conservative and pro-business experts) agree that a fair and productive society includes some form of progressive tax system, even if they vary in their calculations of what that should be. But that may be looking at the wrong question. Higher taxes on every dollar earned above $10 million isn't likely to lower multimillionaires' drive to remain rich (though it could arguably encourage them to seek ways to avoid taxes). Perhaps a more relevant question: Whether the tax system could encourage people to enter lower-paying yet socially useful jobs, such as teaching or scientific research. One study found that a "radical" policy of imposing taxes according to professions -- such as providing tax breaks to teachers while imposing higher taxes on hedge fund managers -- "could grow the economy dramatically," its authors wrote in the Harvard Business Review. Ocasio-Cortez didn't address such ideas, but her goal in taxing the extremely rich at higher levels is to guarantee a job for every American at a fair wage. "When you can't provide for your kids working a full-time job, working two full-time jobs. When you can't have health care. That is not -- that is not dignified," Ocasio-Cortez said. | Freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backs the idea of a "Green New Deal" Her plan would raise taxes on the rich to their highest level since 1980, just before Ronald Reagan started hacking rates. | bart | 1 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-tax-plan-70-rates/ | 0.194475 |
Does Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez want to "soak the rich"? | Freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backs the idea of a "Green New Deal" for the U.S., a plan popular in progressive policy circles under which the federal government would pour billions of dollars into renewable energy. Raise taxes on the rich to their highest level since 1980, just before Ronald Reagan started hacking rates. The top tax on the wealthy should rise to as high as 70 percent, Ocasio-Cortez told "60 Minutes" on Sunday. That approach stands in stark contrast to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which gave the lion's share of benefits from reducing federal income tax rates to top earners and corporations. Not surprisingly, conservatives are bashing Ocasio-Cortez' ideas. Americans for Tax Reform founder Grover Norquist wrote on Fox News that her "soaking the rich" plan is "the opening shot in a renewed war against middle class taxpayers." Raising the so-called marginal tax rate on the rich would mark a return to the more progressive tax structure of the 1950s and 1960s -- under Presidents Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, for instance, the rate on those in the top bracket topped 90 percent. Here's what you should know about Ocasio-Cortez's plan and how higher tax rates would work. It's about higher marginal rates -- not a flat rate Rep. Steve Scalise, R.-Louisiana, tweeted that Ocasio-Cortez's approach would lead to the government taking away "70% of your income." Yet that comment misleadingly suggests that every dollar earned by taxpayers would be docked at a flat 70 percent -- that isn't what Ocasio-Cortez is proposing. Republicans: Let Americans keep more of their own hard-earned money Democrats: Take away 70% of your income and give it to leftist fantasy programs https://t.co/NxJPSCqvrt Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) January 5, 2019 Her plan focuses on marginal tax rates, a progressive tax system that's the basis of the U.S. tax code. It works by taxing the lowest amount of income at the lowest tax rate, and then increasing it gradually as a person's income rises. The goal is to tax lower earners at lower rates, while assessing higher rates on wealthier Americans. Sometimes lost in the criticism of Ocasio-Cortez' plan is the fact that higher marginal rates are paid only on each dollar earned above a particular tax bracket. For instance, single Americans now pay at a rate of 10 percent on earnings up to $9,525, while any earnings between $9,526 and $38,700 are taxed at 12 percent. Currently, the top rate for single taxpayers kicks in at 37 percent for every dollar earned over $500,000 in annual income. Jacking up the top tax rate likely wouldn't impact you Ocasio-Cortez doesn't favor imposing a 70 percent tax on the merely rich. Rather, that rate would be for people with annual income of at least $10 million or so. That's why it's not likely to hit your wallet -- only the top 0.1 percent of income earners are likely to come close to that, as this group enjoys average adjusted gross income of $7.3 million. And only 140,000 tax filers make this much money, compared with nearly 70 million who make up the bottom 50 percent of earners. The economy still grew when tax rates were high The U.S. economy boomed in the '50s and '60s when, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, the top rate ranged between 70 percent and 92 percent. Of course, no time periods in economic history are directly comparable. In the post-World War II era, for instance, the baby boom drove massive spending on the housing market and productivity was much higher than it is today. But the point is that higher top marginal tax rates don't appear to cause lower economic growth. Other developed countries have high tax rates Several advanced economies around the world have top tax rates approaching what Ocasio-Cortez favors, and by many measures they enjoy higher standards of living than the U.S. "What we have in mind ... and my policies most closely resemble what we see in the U.K., in Norway, in Finland, in Sweden," she told "60 Minutes." Sweden has a top rate of 70 percent, Matt Bruenig, founder of People's Policy Project, a left-leaning advocacy group wrote in Jacobin magazine. Sweden is ranked No. 11 by the Social Progress Imperative, which looks at the capacity for a country to meet "basic human needs." The U.S. ranks No. 25, just below Portugal. Ocasio-Cortez's plan echoes findings by economists including Nobel laureate Peter Diamond and Berkeley professor Emmanuel Saez, who estimated that the ideal marginal tax rate should be 73 percent. Most other economists (including many conservative and pro-business experts) agree that a fair and productive society includes some form of progressive tax system, even if they vary in their calculations of what that should be. But that may be looking at the wrong question. Higher taxes on every dollar earned above $10 million isn't likely to lower multimillionaires' drive to remain rich (though it could arguably encourage them to seek ways to avoid taxes). Perhaps a more relevant question: Whether the tax system could encourage people to enter lower-paying yet socially useful jobs, such as teaching or scientific research. One study found that a "radical" policy of imposing taxes according to professions -- such as providing tax breaks to teachers while imposing higher taxes on hedge fund managers -- "could grow the economy dramatically," its authors wrote in the Harvard Business Review. Ocasio-Cortez didn't address such ideas, but her goal in taxing the extremely rich at higher levels is to guarantee a job for every American at a fair wage. "When you can't provide for your kids working a full-time job, working two full-time jobs. When you can't have health care. That is not -- that is not dignified," Ocasio-Cortez said. | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants to raise taxes on the rich to their highest level since 1980. The top tax on the wealthy should rise to as high as 70 percent. That approach stands in stark contrast to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-tax-plan-70-rates/ | 0.500982 |
Will Trump repeat terrorist claims debunked (even by Fox News) when he visits the border? | Opinion: You know their desperate when administration propaganda is being exposed by its primary propaganda outlet. President Donald Trump (Photo: Win McNamee, Getty Images) You know President Donald Trump is getting desperate when even Fox News is pointing out the lies the administration is telling about terrorists on the border. All in an effort to build support for Trumps wall. Trump has been making a false claim about thousands of potential terrorists trying to enter through the southern border. Other administration officials, like Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen tried to pass off the same lie. Sarah Sanders give it a try, but... Then, on Fox News this past Sunday it was the turn of Trumps press secretary Sarah Sanders. Only this time instead of simply being able to spread the untrue White House propaganda Sanders bumped into journalist Chris Wallace. He pointed out, first, that while over 3,000 what we call special interest aliens were stopped at the border, special interest aliens are just people who have come from countries that have ever produced a terrorist, theyre not terrorists themselves. And, Wallace added, the state department says, quote, there were no credible evidence of any terrorist coming across the border from Mexico. Fox's Chris Wallace is ready for her That information comes from a state department report. A number of other news operations have used it to debunk the White House claptrap. But that hasnt stopped Trump and his associates from spreading the untruths. Sanders said, We know that roughly nearly 4,000 known or suspected terrorists come into our country illegally, and we know that our most vulnerable point of entry is southern border. Wallace again was ready to point out the baloney. I know the statistic, he said, I didnt know if you were going to use it, but I studied up on this. Airports. Not always Sanders said. It's the government's own report Airports. The state department says there hasnt been any terrorists found coming across the southern border, Wallace said. Thats true. The report reads in part: At years end there was no credible evidence indicating that international terrorist groups have established bases in Mexico, worked with Mexican drug cartels, or sent operatives via Mexico into the United States. It goes on. Rebuilding a wall of lies Sanders persisted, but Wallace to his credit wasnt having it. But theyre not coming across the southern border, Sarah, theyre coming and theyre being stopped at airports, he said. A wall built on lies can be toppled by the truth. That isnt the problem. The problem is it easily can be rebuilt. MORE BY MONTINI: Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/01/07/trump-border-wall-chris-wallace-fox-news/2505327002/ | Trump has been making a false claim about thousands of potential terrorists trying to enter through the southern border. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/01/07/trump-border-wall-chris-wallace-fox-news/2505327002/ | 0.111719 |
Will Trump repeat terrorist claims debunked (even by Fox News) when he visits the border? | Opinion: You know their desperate when administration propaganda is being exposed by its primary propaganda outlet. President Donald Trump (Photo: Win McNamee, Getty Images) You know President Donald Trump is getting desperate when even Fox News is pointing out the lies the administration is telling about terrorists on the border. All in an effort to build support for Trumps wall. Trump has been making a false claim about thousands of potential terrorists trying to enter through the southern border. Other administration officials, like Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen tried to pass off the same lie. Sarah Sanders give it a try, but... Then, on Fox News this past Sunday it was the turn of Trumps press secretary Sarah Sanders. Only this time instead of simply being able to spread the untrue White House propaganda Sanders bumped into journalist Chris Wallace. He pointed out, first, that while over 3,000 what we call special interest aliens were stopped at the border, special interest aliens are just people who have come from countries that have ever produced a terrorist, theyre not terrorists themselves. And, Wallace added, the state department says, quote, there were no credible evidence of any terrorist coming across the border from Mexico. Fox's Chris Wallace is ready for her That information comes from a state department report. A number of other news operations have used it to debunk the White House claptrap. But that hasnt stopped Trump and his associates from spreading the untruths. Sanders said, We know that roughly nearly 4,000 known or suspected terrorists come into our country illegally, and we know that our most vulnerable point of entry is southern border. Wallace again was ready to point out the baloney. I know the statistic, he said, I didnt know if you were going to use it, but I studied up on this. Airports. Not always Sanders said. It's the government's own report Airports. The state department says there hasnt been any terrorists found coming across the southern border, Wallace said. Thats true. The report reads in part: At years end there was no credible evidence indicating that international terrorist groups have established bases in Mexico, worked with Mexican drug cartels, or sent operatives via Mexico into the United States. It goes on. Rebuilding a wall of lies Sanders persisted, but Wallace to his credit wasnt having it. But theyre not coming across the southern border, Sarah, theyre coming and theyre being stopped at airports, he said. A wall built on lies can be toppled by the truth. That isnt the problem. The problem is it easily can be rebuilt. MORE BY MONTINI: Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/01/07/trump-border-wall-chris-wallace-fox-news/2505327002/ | President Trump has been making a false claim about terrorists trying to enter through the southern border. Fox News' Chris Wallace pointed out that the state department says there was no credible evidence of any terrorist coming across the border from Mexico. | bart | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/01/07/trump-border-wall-chris-wallace-fox-news/2505327002/ | 0.23614 |
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