Protectionism has grown quite popular in the United States as workers worry about losing jobs to other countries.

One particular sore spot for Americans across the political spectrum has been the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, the landmark free-trade agreement that aims to slash tariffs and promote economic growth among 12 nations in the Pacific Rim — excluding China.

Over the last year, both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton zeroed in on these anxieties by saying they oppose the deal as they vied for the top job in the White House.

Trump in particular made the debate over free trade one of the central topics of his campaign after criticizing China, Mexico, and Japan. He called the TPP "a rape of our country," and at one point even suggested putting a 45% tariff on Chinese imports.

Now that he has been elected the 45th president of the United States, the possibility of the TPP deal passing has effectively dropped to nil. And that could have major implications for the Asia Pacific.

"...the chances of TPP passing this year are not high, and if it is not passed by the end of the lame duck session of Congress, then it probably will not be passed at all — at least, as presently constituted," wrote analysts at BMI Research. 

"Failure to pass the TPP would be a sea-change for US trade policy, as the US has never before failed to ratify a negotiated trade agreement," they added.

“I think the TPP is dead, and there will be blood all over the floor if somebody tries to move that through the Congress any time soon,” Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions told the New York Observer. “Both candidates opposed it, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.”

One country in particular that will feel the effects here is Japan, whose "hopes for the TPP [are now] dead and buried," according to Capital Economics' Marcel Thieliant.

"The key immediate economic implication of Donald Trump's election win is that the TPP trade deal, which many in Japan had hopes would drive faster gains in productivity, has no hope of being implemented," he wrote in a note to clients. "The upshot is that the long-term losses for Japan from the TPP not coming into force are substantial."

-It's not just the economy, stupid-

Still, despite voters' job concerns, the TPP is not just about economics. As China continues to grow economically on the global stage and militarily in Asia, the deal is arguably more about the United States' long-term position in Asia than about the near-term financial advantages.

Notably, back in September, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe furiously promoted the TTP deal at various investment and media events when major world leaders congregated in New York for the UN General Assembly.

During one event attended by the prime minister that week, an investment seminar hosted by the Japan External Trade Organization and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry at the Pierre Hotel, Dr. Ziad Haider, special representative for commercial and business affairs at the US Department of State said, "Secretary Kerry ... likes to say that foreign policy is economic policy, and in saying that he's referring to that interplay between foreign policy, foreign affairs, economic issues, and it's certainly true with bilateral diplomatic relations, as well."

"A lot depends on TPP," Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer previously told Business Insider. "If it doesn't get done, China will become the fall-back leader for Asian economic architecture. And US relations with many countries in the region will slip."

And so, the US somewhat receding from the Asia Pacific if the TPP deal fails likely comes with geopolitical ramifications going forward.

"If Trump wins, the Japanese are more freaked out than almost anyone in the region," Bremmer told Business Insider in an interview as the election results were rolling out on Tuesday night. "And, yes, they'll focus more on their military, but really they'll recognize the United States is not as committed to them as an ally and they'll need to find ways to work with the Chinese economically."

"In Asia, at the very least, China is the economic power; China has political stability; China long-term feels like a country that isn't going anywhere. Where the Americans used to be your friend and now who knows after the 2016 election?" he continued.

"So that's the issue. No where else in the world is there a country that can take America's place. In Asia, China feels like increasingly they can. So a lot of American allies would be aligning with the Chinese accordingly."

Taking it a step further, the BMI Research team argued that, "a Trump presidency would represent a radical departure from the status quo" in the region, writing:

"Firstly, he has questioned the usefulness of stationing American troops in Japan and South Korea, thus challenging the pillars of US military power in East Asia for the last 70 years (the US maintains 40,000 troops in Japan and 28,000 troops in South Korea). Trump wants Tokyo and Seoul to pay Washington to defend them, or failing that, has suggested that they could develop their own nuclear arsenals for deterrence. The latter suggestion goes against decades of US policy aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, and in Japan's case, decades of anti-nuclear sentiment. Even Japanese and South Korean defence hawks are cautious about expressing the need for atomic arms. [...]

Trump's apparent lack of commitment to Japan and South Korea could embolden their adversaries."

As an interesting side note, it's notable that as the US appears to be withdrawing from the Asia Pacific, Canada seems to be moving closer — at least economically. China and Canada announced that they opened "exploratory talks" on a possible free-trade agreement in September, and the country applied to join the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, AIIB in late August.

The only two major economic powers not yet in the AIIB? The US and Japan.

- -

*SEE ALSO: One of the most important trade deals in the world lives — but so does anti-globalization sentiment*

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: LIZ ANN SONDERS: The most unsettling outcome for the markets would be a surprise Trump win Reported by Business Insider 18 hours ago.

Twenty-seven years ago today the Berlin Wall, which had stood, brutally dividing that city, began to fall. Soon it would be gone and the two sides of Berlin, and Germany, reconciled. My new book, The Tunnels: Escapes Under the Berlin Wall and Historic Films the JFK White House Tried to Kill (Crown), focuses on what came before, going back to incredible episodes of bravery (and many murders) in the 1960s. But it also carries the story to its logical, and inspiring conclusion.

Here is a brief excerpt from The Tunnels:

The tide of history could not be resisted any longer. Neighboring countries had opened their borders, and tens of thousands of East Germans crossed into Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Mass protests swelled in the GDR, first in Leipzig and then Berlin. Honecker was pushed out of his leadership position. Their rock concert ploy having failed, GDR officials decided to open another safety valve by making visas more easily available. On the night of November 9, 1989, a government spokesman named Schabowski went on TV to preview the new policy but bungled the message, accidentally conveying that everyone was free to pass through checkpoints without any approval--and that they could do so "immediately."

Hardly believing their ears, thousands of East Germans promptly started streaming to checkpoints. At Bonholmer Strasse, more than 20,000 rushed the gates. Among them was a young chemist named Angela Merkel, an activist in the pro-government Free German Youth for many years who had lately turned against the state. Nearing midnight the guards could hold them back no longer. Formalities were abandoned at other crossing points into West Berlin. Residents on both sides of the Wall were delirious, overwhelming checkpoints throughout the city. Some climbed on the Wall and danced, others smashed it with sledgehammers.

A pastor came upon a group of East Berliners nearly flat on the ground near Bernauer Strasse. He thought they had suffered an accident until he learned that they had unfolded a map of West Berlin, spread it out and were studying it intently before crossing. All they had ever had was an "image" of the West in their minds, he later said, "and they didn't know where things were exactly. It was as if they'd dug a tunnel and emerged on the other side."

On that night, legendary escape helper Hasso Herschel was cooking a meal in his kitchen, with the television on in the living room, when he heard the first reports. He initially could not believe them--he felt it was like a Hollywood movie unfolding. He called a few friends. "And twenty of us, thirty, even old diggers, we went to all the checkpoints and drank champagne and spent money until 11 o'clock in the morning," he would recall. "I couldn't imagine the Wall would stay open. I thought they would close it in another day or two and it would stay closed. But when that didn't happen we felt it was maybe even the end of the Cold War, and all other wars, it was our hope, our dream."

The same night, Burkhart Veigel, then an orthopedist living in Stuttgart, cried for hours in front of his TV, terribly moved. This was exactly what he had dreamed about for decades: "I wanted freedom for the people. Suddenly, they were free. It was the most important experience of my life." The next day, when his children asked him why he was still crying, he told them for the first time "what I had done back then."

A friend of former tunneler Joachim Rudolph in the East had a brother living in West Berlin. The day after the Wall opened, Rudolph offered to drive him and his wife to the West to see his brother. At the border on both sides thousands of people continued to gather so it was very difficult to pass by car. Rudolph told the couple they should press their East German passports against the window and display them to people outside. When the celebrants in the streets saw this they burst into cheers, and knocked on the car roof in approval- "an amazing situation," Rudolph later said.

During the following days and then weeks, police on both sides began to remove parts of the wall to build more border crossing points, at Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz, and elsewhere. "Very often I was there to watch it," Rudolph said. "Many cars with satellite dishes and reporters were there, and many Berliners came to watch. I remember in that time this terrible weather, but I was there at night many hours with an umbrella--and next morning I had to go to work. In my life I never will forget that exciting time."

Crowds of East Berliners ransacked Stasi headquarters, then secured rooms with files holding hundreds of millions of pages. Countless other documents had been shredded by Stasi staffers in their final days there, until the shredders burned out from overuse. Over 170,000 Stasi informers would be found identified by name in the files--about 10,000 of them under the age of eighteen--but estimates of the actual number of informers went as high as half a million, and even much higher if occasional collaborators were included.

*Greg Mitchell's latest book is The Tunnels: Escapes Under the Berlin Wall and Historic Films the JFK White House Tried to Kill (Crown).*

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 17 hours ago.

A teenager was flown to Auckland City Hospital after falling off her horse.The young woman suffered a morderate pelvic injury after the fall on Great Barrier Island yesterday evening and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter airlifted her... Reported by New Zealand Herald 15 hours ago.

G2 Crowd finds SurePayroll tops satisfaction ratings while Paychex Flex earns highest overall market presence score

Chicago (PRWEB) November 09, 2016

G2 Crowd, the world’s leading business software review platform, today released the Fall 2016 Small Business Payroll Software Grid report to help small businesses make the best payroll technology buying decision. SurePayroll, QuickBooks Desktop, and ADP Workforce Now were named Leaders in the report, receiving a strong customer satisfaction score with a large market presence.

Patriot Payroll, APS Payroll Solution, Wagepoint, and Fuse Workforce Management were named High Performers in the report, earning strong customer satisfaction marks with smaller market presence scores. SurePayroll earned the highest overall satisfaction score, while Paychex Flex earned the highest overall market presence score.

The Grid leverages customer satisfaction data reported by authenticated users along with vendor market presence determined from social and public data. Based on a combination of these scores, each software solution is categorized as a Leader, High Performer, Contender or Niche.

About the Small Business Payroll Software Grid report:

-The report is based on more than 430 reviews written by business professionals.

-Of the 69 products listed in G2 Crowd’s Payroll category, the ranked products each received ten or more reviews to qualify for inclusion on the Grid.

About G2 Crowd, Inc.

G2 Crowd, the world’s leading business software review platform, leverages more than 100,000 user reviews to drive better purchasing decisions. Technology buyers, investors, and analysts use the site to compare and select the best software based on peer reviews and synthesized social data. Monthly more than a half-million people visit G2 Crowd’s site. Co-founded by the founder and former executives from SaaS leader BigMachines and backed by roughly $12 million in capital, G2 Crowd aims to bring authenticity and transparency to business technology research. For more information, go to G2Crowd.com. Reported by PRWeb 14 hours ago.

*Indian spinners were taken to the cleaners by the English batsmen as the visitors posted a mammoth 537 on the second day of the opening cricket Test here today.
*
India made a cautious start reaching 63 for no loss with openers Murali Vijay (25 not out) and Gautam Gambhir (28 not out) at the crease.

Englands first innings total was their third-highest ever in this country, showing their batsmen were in total control against Indian spinners especially Ravichandran Ashwin, who conceded 167 runs in 46 overs taking only two wickets.

Amit Mishra fared no better, having being hit for 98 runs in 23.3 overs.

India still need 275 more runs to avoid following on, on a track showing increasing signs of wear and tear after its easy-paced nature on day one yesterday.

The hosts also trailed the visitors by a massive 474 runs with all ten wickets in hand going into day three tomorrow. Both faced testing spells of fast bowling and probing spin bowling to remain unbeaten for carrying on the daunting task faced by the home team.

Vijay had faced 70 balls, striking four fours - three of which came in one over off Stuart Broad.

Gambhir, playing his second Test on the trot after his recall from hibernation, struck four fours in his 68-ball knock as they batted out the shortened last session of play.

Earlier, New Zealand-born England all rounder Ben Stokes became the third century maker in the visitors' first innings after Joe Root yesterday and Moeen Ali today morning.

The tourists, in particular Stokes who made an attacking 128 which was the innings highest score, batted right down the order to post the massive total before being all out to end the extended session two.

Englands total revolved mainly around Root's classical, foundation-laying 124 on day one, Ali's attractive knock of 117 the enterprising hundred by Stokes against a listless Indian bowling attack that was plundered for a whopping 139 runs in 30 overs in the pre-lunch period.

Only the 652 made in 1984-85 in Chennai and 559 for 8 declared at Kanpur repeat Kanpur made way back in 1963-64 topped the total raised by England in this city, hosting its first-ever Test. This was also the first instance after 2009 by Sri Lanka in Motera that three visiting team's players triple digit scores.

Stokes, who struck 2 sixes and 13 fours in his 235-ball knock, departed just before the scheduled tea interval and England lost their last wicket, that of Zafar Ansari for 32 during the extended second session to be all out after posting their third-best innings total in India.

Amit Mishra trapped Ansari leg before on the sweep shot to bring the innings to a close after England had batted for nearly ten and a half hours.

Earlier, the Indian bowlers appeared clueless on how to dismiss the left-handed Stokes who was finally out to a diving catch to his right by wicket keeper Wriddhiman Saha off Umesh Yadav.

Saha had earlier put down Stokes in successive overs of Yadav in his second spell, when the batsman on 60 and 61 respectively.

India had let off rival captain Alastair Cook, debutant Haseeb Hameed and Ali yesterday.

In the morning session, the visitors scored at will after England resumed at last evening's score of 311 for four and advanced to 450 for six.

The batsmen out before lunch were overnight unbeaten batsman Ali who duly completed his career's fourth Test century after being one short of the coveted landmark at stumps on day one and Jonny Bairstow, who made a quick 46 off 57 balls.

Both wickets were claimed by pace bowlers - Shami and Yadav.

Ali was out in a somewhat fortuitous manner for the home side that looked bereft of ideas as he shouldered arms to an angled-in ball from Shami and lost his off- stump.

Wicket keeper Bairstow chased a wide ball from Yadav and was caught behind low down to his right after he had grassed two catches off Stokes in successive overs from the same bowler earlier.

Stokes and Bairstow put on a brisk stand of 99 for the sixth wicket in just 80 minutes and 127 balls against some mediocre bowling performance before the latter got out chasing a wide ball.

Ali, the second century maker in the innings after no. 3 batsman Root yesterday, batted for just over four and a half hours and struck 13 fours.

Ali, who added 179 runs for the fourth wicket with Root yesterday, put on a further 62 runs in 87 minutes and 113 balls with the left-handed Stokes for the fifth wicket.

Post-lunch India did manage to control the run-flow and also grabbed two quick wickets through the left- arm spin of Ravindra Jadeja, who had bowled just one over late in the first session, before England pressed on further to grind the home team's insipid attack.

The local boy struck in the very first over after resumption of play when he had Chris Woakes poking at a wide ball and edging to wicket-keeper Saha after the addition of just one run to the lunch score of 450.

Jadeja was into his wicket taking act again six overs thereon to send back Adil Rashid who was caught at mid-on by Yadav and India appeared to have a good chance to restrict England under 500 at the fall of the eighth wicket at 465. This was not to be as the New Zealand-born Stokes not only completed his century, after carrying on from his lunch score of 84 to become the England innings' third centurion after Root and Ali but also added 62 runs for the ninth wicket with Ansari to take the score past the 500 mark.

The 25-year-old Stokes, who was not afraid to come down the wicket to the spinners, completed the fourth century of his career with a four off Jadeja, his 12th of the innings added to one six, in 222 minutes and 173 balls.

Also inexplicably Jadeja did not get to bowl his left arm slow stuff till 15 minutes to lunch by which time 26 overs had been gone through in the morning. He was then replaced after one over before resuming his bowling at the start of session two.

The left arm bowler emerged the most impressive bowler with figures of 3 for 86, while premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the most expensive and gave away 167 runs for his two wickets after bowling 46 overs.

Speedsters Mohammed Shami (2 for 65) and Yadav (2 for 112) got among the wickets, while leg spinner Mishra got the final wicket to fall and gave away 98 runs. Reported by Deccan Herald 6 minutes ago.

Submitted by David Stockman

America’s voters fired their ruling elites last night. After 30 years of arrogant misrule and wantonly planting the seeds of economic and financial ruin throughout Flyover America, the Wall Street/Washington establishment and its mainstream media tools have been repudiated like never before in modern history.

During the course of the past year, upwards of 70 million citizens—–59 million for Trump and 13 million for Bernie Sanders—-have voted for dramatic change. That is, for an end to pointless and failed wars and interventions abroad and a bubble-based economic policy at home. The latter showered Wall Street and the bicoastal elites with vast financial windfalls—-even as it left 90% of Flyover America behind, where households struggled with stagnant wages, vanishing jobs, soaring health costs, shrinking living standards and diminishing hope for the future.

The voters also said in no uncertain terms that they are fed-up with a “rigged” system that has one set of rules for establishment insiders and another for everyone else. In essence, that’s what servergate, the Clinton Foundation pay-to-play scandals and the trove of Wikileaks DNC/Podesta hacks was all about.

Indeed, in his brawling style, the Donald in effect convinced a huge slice of the electorate that the Clintons amounted to America’s leading crime family. And while he may have exaggerated the extent of their personal crimes and misdemeanors, the latter functioned as a proxy for the beltway racketeering that has become the modus operandi of the Imperial City.

Stated differently, the people did connect the dots. There is a straight line from repeal of Glass-Steagall by the Rubin-Clinton democrats in the late 1990s through the resounding repudiations of the Clintons last night.

This string includes the M&A roll-up of the giant Wall Street banks after 1998; the subprime mortgage scams, housing booms and subsequent crash during the next decade; the panicked multi-trillion bailouts of the Wall Street gambling houses in the fall of 2008 and the lunatic spree of central bank money pumping that followed; the soaring stock market fueled by the Fed’s free money that arose therefrom; and the egregious global fund-raising and shakedowns of the Clinton Foundation and personal wealth accumulations by the Clinton’s personally, capped by Hillary’s notorious $250,000 off-the-record speeches to Goldman Sachs.

What happened was that during the eight Obama years, Washington essentially borrowed $10 trillion, or nearly as much as the first 43 presidents did over 220 years, while the Fed expanded its balance sheet by 5X more than had happened during its first 94 years of existence.

This feckless resort to monumental public borrowing and money printing did generate a faux prosperity in the Imperial City and a $25 trillion gain in financial wealth among the gambling and financial asset owing classes at the top of the economic ladder. But the bicoastal elites in Washington, Wall Street and Silicon Valley and its environs, luxuriating in their good fortune, essentially assumed that all was fixed and all was forgotten from the dark days of the financial crisis.

Not at all. The rubes remembered. No one in America supported the Wall Street bailouts except a few ten-thousands Wall Street operators, hedge funds and other gamblers; and the politicians and Keynesian policy apparatchiks who saw it as a new route to power and spoils.

What happened last night—especially in the rust belt precincts where 70,000 factories have already closed and 6 million breadwinner jobs have disappeared—–was nothing less than the third vote on TARP. Whereas the cowardly House GOP had capitulated to Wall Street and their spineless leaders on the second vote in late September 2008, the rank and file voters of Flyover America last night proclaimed  loudly that it had not been done with their leave. Not at all.

The resentments and anger on main street has not only been simmering for years; its inhabitants have also figured out that it was on their backs that Wall Street was rehabilitated and then inflated to hideous valuations that bear no relationship to the faltering economy of main street.

Indeed, after getting a bailout they hated, main street then got a rogue central bank run by clueless Keynesian academics who deliberatively and callously savaged savers and retirees; and also tried purposefully to trash worker wages with even more inflation than what was already destroying their jobs and shrinking the purchasing power of their paychecks.

We are now more convinced than ever that 2% inflation targeting is the greatest governmental assault on the working classes known to modern history. And the working classes of Flyover America—-whose jobs are most exposed to the China Price on goods and the India Price on services—-finally said they are not going to take it any longer.

That’s a start, but it’s way too late for orderly reform and incremental change. The essence of last night’s thunderbolt—-Brexit 2.0 on steroids—–is that the ruinous rule of the existing Wall Street/Washington  establishment has been repudiated and ended.

But there is nothing to replace it. Donald Trump has no coherent program at all—-just a talent for name-checking the symptoms and rubbing them raw.

So as I said on Fox Business last night at about 11:30 PM, when I called the election for Trump long before the networks could bring themselves to face the truth, the election is over and the nation’s long nightmare has just begun.

Watch the latest video at video.foxbusiness.com

For months and years to come, the Imperial City will be ungovernable and the nation will be racked with fiscal, financial, political and even constitutional crisis. By kicking the can in a ruinous direction for decades, America implicitly opted eventually for the bleeding cure.

To wit, the giant stock market bubble will now crash. The stock-price obsessed C-suites of corporate America will now panic and begin pitching inventory and workers overboard. We will be in an official recession within 6 months. The Federal budget will plunge back into trillion dollar annual deficits very soon.

Accordingly, Washington will descend into permanent warfare over the debt ceiling and an exploding $20 trillion+ public debt. Any notion of a Trump economic revival program—-even if it could now be confected—will be stillborn in the financial and fiscal chaos ahead.

And most important of all, the almighty Fed will be stranded high and dry—-out of dry powder and under political attack like never before from angry politicians and citizens alike.

The jig is up. Reported by Zero Hedge 11 hours ago.

An early medieval belt buckle and a Roman alloy copper brooch has been unearthed in Lincolnshire. The medieval silver and gold buckle has been confirmed as early medieval but its exact date remains to be confirmed. It was found on February 4 when land was being cultivated for crops in the Nettleham area. The medieval period lasted from the fifth to the 15th century. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. READ MORE:... Reported by Lincolnshire Echo 7 hours ago.

(NaturalNews) After three decades of controversy and scandal, will Tuesday's presidential election loss for Hillary Clinton finally close the book on one of the great American political crime families, as well as the party to which they belong?She doesn't think so and neither... Reported by NaturalNews.com 6 hours ago.

Yesterday marked the 27th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. It also heralded the ascendancy to the world’s most powerful office of a man whose most famous campaign pledge is to construct a massive wall along the length of America’s southern border. “We’re going to build it,” declared Trump, “and Mexico’s going to pay for it.”

This promise of harder borders, combined with a commitment to protectionism and nativism tapped into a yearning in America for a radical change in direction and serves as an emphatic repudiation of the status quo. The comparison with the UK’s Brexit vote only goes so far.

Yes, the vote can be seen as an act of rebellion, even of protest. But despite the popular interpretation, many of Brexit’s keenest advocates were arguing for more engagement with the world, more free trade.

*Read more*: These are Donald Trump's policies on tax, trade deals, China and M&A

President-elect Trump is not only against these ideas but he also represents a more brutal and simplistic view of the world. He says he’ll make Apple manufacture their iPads in the US. How? He says he’ll bring back the jobs that have been shipped overseas. How?

He cosies up to Russia and sows suspicion about entire races and religions. And yet there he is: the keys to the White House are in his hand and he will sit in the Oval Office with the full weight of a Republican House and Senate behind him.

This full sweep of the arms of government may in fact provide some reassurance to Trump’s critics: at least he won’t face gridlock and who knows, speaker Paul Ryan may moderate Trump’s wilder tendencies. If so, it would prove to be a thin silver-lining to a pretty depressing cloud. Trump is an interventionist, and has already singled out M&A deals to block.

*Read more*: Who are the winners and losers of a Trump triumph?

He’s vowed to turn his back on trade liberalisation and global cooperation. The markets may have regained their nerve in the immediate aftermath of the result, but future stability cannot be taken for granted. In his victory speech, Trump pledged to “double our growth and have the strongest economy anywhere in the world.” These are stump-speech, Tweet-friendly soundbites and are unlikely to be realised by his high-spending, tax-slashing and protectionist economic policies. Trumpism is set for a violent clash with reality and it’s hard to know which will come off worse.

The embedded content could not be displayed. Please go to the article to view this content. Reported by City A.M. 6 hours ago.

Denver, Colo., Nov 10, 2016 / 12:02 am (CNA).- He hates the way things are done these days, and church sure ain’t what it used to be.

Church Curmudgeon may be one of the most cantankerous guys on Twitter, but he’s also one of the most hilarious. His complaints range from sinful dancing to boring homilies to music that’s too loud to shenanigans from the “youths” at church.

While the character himself is actually Southern Baptist, it turns out grumpy old men who complain about things in church are not just reserved to one denomination. His nearly 90 thousand followers on Twitter come from all walks of life - Catholic, Evangelical, and even some atheists.

First day of VBS, and I got 3 kids to rededicate themselves to staying off the lawn.

— Church Curmudgeon (@ChrchCurmudgeon) June 6, 2016 We tracked down the guy behind the wisecracking angry old man staring back at you from the Twitter handle @ChrchCurmudgeon. Here’s the story behind the sass:

*What was the inspiration for Church Curmudgeon?*

Back when I was first getting on Twitter, there were a few anonymous accounts that would be parody pastors or worship leaders. And I thought why shouldn’t there be somebody like the grumpy old guy at the back of the church who complains about everything? And so I decided to be that guy.

I am a music minister so I had a lot of experience with the older folks in the congregation and people who would...complain about the music and this that and the other thing, and how things used to be done, and how they aren’t done that way anymore. I thought I could add a humorous side to that.

*What is the value of the Church Curmudgeon in the church community in real life?*

Early on in my ministry, I was encouraged to get to know the seniors group at my church. I was encouraged to go to their potlucks and bible studies and get to know them as people, because they are people who have a lot more life experience and a lot more life wisdom than I did. They’ve been through wars, they’ve been through depression, children and grandchildren and building businesses and working their whole lives - they’ve had a lot of life experiences and they’ve been through much, and I can learn a lot from them.

So essentially with the Church Curmudgeon, what I wanted to do was humanize them.

#4picswhereiwasthehappiest pic.twitter.com/zNDo4pfdOU

— Church Curmudgeon (@ChrchCurmudgeon) August 14, 2016 *What made you take to Twitter?*

I’ve always had a wisecracking sense of humor where I like to put in my two cents. It’s gotten me in trouble in staff meetings and things, but I love to have a little wisecrack here and there, I love puns, I love wordplay and all of that, and Twitter was kind of just a really good way to scratch that itch.

I could say something useful or just something funny or that brought a different light to a situation, or just kind of crack wise, and I’d get a positive response from it.

*What is the value of humor and satire?*

I like to poke fun at myself a lot through the Church Curmudgeon, because the target of his ridicule is often the music guy, and that’s me. So I get to poke fun at the way I do things.

It's one thing to be at a loss for words in worship. It's another to write a song called "Jesus, I'm All, Like, Dude".

— Church Curmudgeon (@ChrchCurmudgeon) February 8, 2013 I am a Baptist and I like to poke fun at Baptists. A lot of people think I’m being mean spirited at times, especially on Facebook - some people take things so seriously.

But I’ve always believed that you do have to take yourself lightly. There are matters that we need to treat with a great deal of gravity, and I try to do that appropriately, but at the same time, I think that sometimes you laugh the hardest at a funeral, because you’re remembering what’s important, and you realize that there is so much joy and mirth and life that we do need to have that brought out to us, and it reminds us of great truths.

*Church Curmudgeon is a Southern Baptist, but much of what he says applies to Christians across the board. Why is that?*

I have been in lots of different evangelical churches, and so I have some broad church knowledge. I grew up Mennonite, I’ve been in Presbyterian churches, independent churches, non-denominational churches, megachurches, mini churches, I’ve experienced all kinds of church life here and there. And I’ve realized from my friendships but also from my church audience, there’s a lot of these things that apply very broadly, so it resonates.

The main reason he’s Southern Baptist is because as a character - he needed something that he really was, you know? It helps to settle your character a little bit. I don’t think that limits him to speaking only to Southern Baptists, I think it just helps him be a developed character.

*What are some of the Curmudgeon music complaints that you hear as a music minister?*

It’s too loud, too many new songs, they’re too repetitive, you played that too fast or you played that too slow. There have been days when I have gotten equal and opposite complaints.

But I really must say i’ve been blessed to have congregations that really love me as a person and who respond to what I do. I have had relatively little complaint in my life.

I know that sometimes among worship leaders there is a tendency not to listen to people and to think that they’re there for their own artistic expression, they think that they’re there to be a rock star, and that’s not it. Their goal is to assist people in the worship of God,

*Is there a Church Curmudgeon complaint that you most identify with?*

That the music reflects the reverence of God in the congregation. It’s not just self-expression when we worship together.

Worship leader's at a songwriting conference to learn how to rearrange the same seven words louder & with fewer chords.

— Church Curmudgeon (@ChrchCurmudgeon) August 16, 2016 Because I think a lot of the art has gone out of musical expression.

*What posts have been the most popular with your followers?*

There have been a couple that were specifically towards Baptists. Baptists are notoriously against dancing, at least in most people’s memories. If you were a Southern Baptist, you didn’t dance, it wasn’t allowed.

But probably the most popular post of all time was: “Do you know why God doesn’t let Baptists dance? Have you ever watched a Baptist dance?”

#NationalDanceDay pic.twitter.com/QQKliy3dJC

— Church Curmudgeon (@ChrchCurmudgeon) July 31, 2016 That and some things about how Baptists are generally very stoic in their worship, like: “The reason that Baptists have to hire a pentecostal to change the lightbulbs in the sanctuary is because otherwise they’d have to raise their hands in church.”

One of my first break-out popular tweets was in the fall, when we were changing the clocks back. I made a post saying it’s Benny Hinn day, everyone fall back. He’s a Pentecostal preacher who slays everybody in the spirit and everyone in the auditorium falls over when he moves his arms around. That was one of the big days when my inbox blew up from all of the responses. I had to turn off notifications after that.

*Do you have a wide following across denominations?*

It’s interesting because there are priests and nuns who follow me, I’ve been retweeted by Rick Warren and Andy Stanley and other big name pastors. I have Methodists and Pentecostals and Presbyterians, and there’s some atheists out there who think I’m genuinely anti-Church.

I’m always kind of mystified by that, because my hope is that people see that I have a genuine love for the body of Christ and for the people of the Church. I can count on two hands the number of Sundays that I have not been in church in my adult life, and I’m pushing 50, so it’s the fabric of who I am.  

*You’re a one-man team - do you accept contributions?*

I have some people who have sent me some ideas, but if they do I rewrite them in my own voice. That’s only happened a handful of times, I really have strived to do it on my own and to keep it original.

*When you’re not running Church Curmudgeon, what do you do?*

I’m a music minister, dad, and freelance musician.  

*Are you willing to out yourself?*

I’ve remained somewhat mysterious and that’s worked out well for me so far. But if people really want to do their research they can figure out who I am.

I’m also working on a book about the Church Curmudgeon, so my name will be on there.
 This article originally ran on CNA Aug. 18, 2016. Reported by CNA 5 hours ago.

A 110’ concrete grain silo located adjacent to the Des Moines River and Hawkeye Bridge will be transformed into a work of art as identified in the Northwest River District Revitalization Plan. The Fort Dodge community is currently seeking design proposals from artists and statements of qualifications from painting contractors, with plans to complete the project by the fall of 2017.

Fort Dodge, Iowa (PRWEB) November 10, 2016

Located by the Des Moines River and in a district that is planning for many significant improvements is a 110’ silo that previously housed grain harvested by area farmers. Currently owned by Extreme Adventures, LLC and now vacant of the grain that it was designed to hold, it offers an excellent opportunity to be repurposed into a work of art.

The silo is located along Hawkeye Avenue in a highly traveled district that sees approximately 7,300 vehicles pass by every day. It is also visible from several vantage points in the community, including the Des Moines River.

The goal of this project is to establish a mural that highlights or reveals what is unique about the Fort Dodge Community and Northwest River District. Projected completion is scheduled for the fall of 2017.

Request for Qualifications for painting contractors is currently available with submission briefings to be held November 14th, 15th and 21st. Statements of Qualifications (SOQ)'s must be submitted no later than December 12th. Interested contractors are asked to go online to download the RFQ and to attend one of the upcoming briefings.

Artists to create the design for the mural are encouraged to attend the briefings as well and to go to the Request for Proposal to learn how to submit their visions for the mural, also due by December 12th.

“The Northwest River District is a prime area of the Fort Dodge community for redevelopment that includes recreational amenities and projects like the proposed mural,” states Carissa Harvey, Senior Planner with the City of Fort Dodge. “We are a community that was built on the Des Moines River and we would like the mural to reflect this and celebrate our community’s past, present and future.”

Additional information is available by contacting Carissa Harvey at the City of Fort Dodge, 819 1st Avenue South, Fort Dodge, IA 50501 or by emailing your request to fdpublicart(at)gmail.com. The City of Fort Dodge is a regional hub located in North Central Iowa. Everyone is encouraged to visit the website at http://www.fortdodgeiowa.org or ask questions by calling (515) 576-8191. Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.

HONG KONG, Nov. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

*-- Higher revenue driven by growth in **ELPs **and CMS*

-- Group revenue increased by 5.9% to US$982.9 million

-- Gross margin increased from 30.8% to 31.9%

-- Profit attributable to shareholders of the Company decreased by 28.7% to US$71.4 million, mainly due to one-off LeapFrog integration costs

-- Integration of LeapFrog largely complete

-- Interim dividend of US17.0 cents per ordinary share, the same as the dividend paid in the same period last year

*VTech Holdings Limited (HKSE: 303) *today announced its results for the six months ended 30 September 2016, reporting higher Group revenue.

Group revenue for the six months ended 30 September 2016 rose by 5.9% over the same period of the previous financial year to US$982.9 million, with growth in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Profit attributable to shareholders of the Company declined by 28.7% to US$71.4 million. The fall in profit was mainly attributable to a lower operating profit resulting from the one-off costs associated with the integration of LeapFrog, the majority of which have been taken in the first half. Basic earnings per share decreased by 28.8% to US28.4 cents, compared to US39.9 cents in the corresponding period last year.

The Board of Directors has declared an interim dividend of US17.0 cents per ordinary share, which is the same as the dividend paid in the corresponding period last year.

"The first six months of the financial year 2017 saw an increase in Group revenue. The increase was driven by the sales consolidation from recently acquired LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (LeapFrog) and growth in contract manufacturing services. This offset lower sales of telecommunication products. Profitability was lower largely because of one-off costs associated with the integration of LeapFrog," said Mr. Allan Wong, Chairman and Group CEO of VTech Holdings Limited.

*Costs and Operations*

Gross margin increased over the same period last year. Cost of materials as a percentage of Group revenue was largely unchanged. Direct labour costs and manufacturing overhead declined, as wages in the Group's factories in China held steady and the Renminbi depreciated against the US dollar. VTech again increased efficiency by reducing the workforce through automation and process improvement.

*Segment Results*

North America

Group revenue in North America in the first six months of the financial year 2017 increased by 2.8% to US$474.4 million, as higher sales of electronic learning products (ELPs) offset lower sales of telecommunication (TEL) products and contract manufacturing services (CMS). North America remains the Group's largest market, accounting for 48.3% of Group revenue.

ELPs revenue in North America rose by 26.2% to US$187.6 million, as sales of LeapFrog products were consolidated into VTech following completion of the acquisition on 4 April 2016. Overall, sales of both standalone and platform products increased and VTech maintained its position as the number one manufacturer of electronic learning toys from infancy through toddler and preschool in the US[1].

In standalone products, growth was driven by the core infant and toddler products. This was augmented by the launch of new Go! Go! Smart family products, which were well received by the market. In particular, the new Go! Go! Smart Wheels^® Treasure Mountain Train Adventure^™ playset was named to Walmart's "Chosen by Kids" Top 25 Holiday List. This is the third year in a row that a Go! Go! Smart Wheels product has made the list. The playset also won recognition at the prestigious National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA), alongside eight more VTech ELPs. Another major success was the new Go! Go! Smart Friends^® Enchanted Princess Palace^™, featuring the Group's proprietary MagicPoint^® technology. It was included in The Toy Insider's "Hot 20" list as well as the TTPM "Most Wanted" holiday list.

The sales growth in platform products was driven by the launch of new products and the combined VTech and LeapFrog educational tablet offerings. The Touch & Learn Activity Desk^™ Deluxe hit the shelves of US retailers in August 2016. It features an interactive desktop and activity cards filled with engaging content including letters, numbers, music and colours. Very positively received, this product has made all of the major holiday toy lists, including the TTPM "Most Wanted" list and the NAPPA awards. The LeapFrog brand introduced to the market a new interactive learning system, LeapStart^™. Helping children acquire a range of school and life skills, LeapStart has also been included in the TTPM "Most Wanted" list. In contrast, sales of Kidizoom^® Smartwatch declined during the period as the product family entered its third year of sales.

Revenue from TEL products in North America decreased by 9.0% to US$182.1 million. Although sales of commercial phones and other telecommunication products were on an upward trend, this was offset by lower sales of residential phones.

Sales of residential phones continue to be impacted by the decline in the fixed-line telephone market and orders were affected as some major retailers tightened inventory management. VTech nonetheless further increased its market share and maintained its number one position in the US residential phone market[2].

Commercial phones and other telecommunication products posted good growth. Baby monitors had the strongest performance, driven by new product launches, strong sell-through and increased product placements. ErisTerminal^™, VTech's SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) based business phone system saw sales increase as distribution channels were expanded. Sales of hotel phones rose as VTech's reputation in the hospitality sector continues to grow, enabling it to increase market share and secure new projects. New Bluetooth headsets specially designed for the professional trucker market boosted sales of cordless headsets, while ErisStation^™, the Group's conference phone with wireless microphones, saw steady growth.

CMS revenue in North America decreased by 7.1% to US$104.7 million. The decline was the result of lower sales of professional audio equipment and communication products, which offset higher sales of solid state lighting and home appliances. Professional audio equipment experienced lower orders because of an excess inventory issue and the delay of new projects by a customer, while sales of communication products declined because of lower orders for a home security system from an existing customer. In contrast, solid state lighting recorded a sales increase as there was the sales contribution from a new customer. An existing customer transferring the production of a new series of products to VTech also supported growth. Sales of home appliances rose as there was increased demand from existing customers. The industrial products business was stable during the period.

Europe

Group revenue in Europe in the first six months of the financial year 2017 was up 10.4% to US$412.6 million, as higher ELPs and CMS sales offset a decline in TEL products. Europe is the second largest market of the Group, representing 42.0% of Group revenue.

ELPs revenue in Europe increased by 11.8% to US$144.5 million. Growth was recorded in all the Group's key European markets, namely the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. During the first nine months of the calendar year 2016, VTech further strengthened its position as the number one infant and toddler toy manufacturer in France, the UK, Germany, Belgium^^[3] and the Netherlands.

Sales of standalone products in Europe grew, led by the core infant, toddler and preschool products. There were higher sales of Kidizoom camera and the Kidi line, while sales of the Toot-Toot family of products were stable and Kidizoom Action Cam saw sales decline.

Platform products also recorded growth. Sales of children's educational tablets increased with the addition of LeapFrog branded tablets, while the introduction of DigiGo^® in late September 2015 added incremental sales. During the first six months of the financial year 2017, VTech started rolling out the second generation of Kidizoom Smartwatch to all its major Western European markets. The LeapFrog branded LeapStart also hit shelves in the UK in July 2016.

VTech's ELPs continued to gain wide recognition across Europe. In the UK, Toot-Toot Drivers^® Gold Mine Train Set was named to the "Top Toy Predictions for Christmas 2016" by Argos. In France, the singalong microphone set Kidi Super Star, the interactive doll Little Love^® Cuddle and Care, as well as DigiArt Creative Easel^™ all won "2016 Grand Prix du Jouet" awards presented by La Revue du Jouet magazine.

TEL products revenue in Europe decreased by 15.3% to US$63.0 million on lower sales of residential phones, commercial phones and other telecommunication products.

Sales of residential phones declined as the fixed-line telephone market contracted further and the weak Euro reduced the purchasing power of the Group's customers.

In commercial phones and other telecommunication products, sales of CAT-iq (Cordless Advanced Technology—internet and quality) handsets were lower as a key customer changed its sales and marketing strategy on product bundling, while sales of SIP phones, baby monitors and IADs (integrated access devices) were affected by the delayed launch of new products by customers. During the first half of this financial year, VTech started shipping fixed-line telephones specially designed for the hearing impaired to several European customers, tapping the demand of this unfulfilled market.

CMS revenue in Europe rose 20.6% to US$205.1 million on broad based growth, offsetting slightly lower sales of home appliances and communication products. Significant sales growth of hearables was mainly due to the successful launch of the world's first wireless smart earphones by a new customer. Sales also benefited as customers' products were well received by the market. In professional audio equipment, more orders were secured for USB audio interface products, offsetting a reduction in demand for mixers. Switching mode power supplies saw a temporary boost in sales despite the customer's change of ownership. Industrial products were supported by higher sales of smart meters in the UK market as utility suppliers, backed by Government regulation, began to encourage households to install the units to track their consumption patterns. During the first six months, the Group started shipping hearing aids products to a European customer, driving growth in medical and health products.

Asia Pacific

Group revenue in Asia Pacific increased by 17.1% to US$69.9 million in the first six months of the financial year 2017 as sales of all product lines rose. The region accounted for 7.1% of Group revenue.

ELPs revenue in Asia Pacific was up 17.9% to US$24.4 million, driven by sales increases in Australia and Korea, which offset declines in China and Japan. Australia posted significant growth on stronger sales and marketing efforts following the establishment of VTech's own sales office in the country, while LeapFrog products also made a contribution. Sales in the Korean market benefited from more product launches and an increased sales effort. In China, sales in local currency terms showed modest growth but retreated slightly in US dollar terms due to the depreciation of the Renminbi. Sales to Japan were affected by excess inventory at one customer.

TEL products revenue in Asia Pacific increased by 0.6% to US$16.6 million as higher sales in China and India offset lower sales in Australia, while those to Japan were stable. In China, VTech began shipping its hotel phones to one of the top luxury hotel chains, while in India the Group won more orders for cordless phones from a key customer. Sales declined in Australia due to the contraction of the market for fixed-line telephones, but VTech continued to gain market share.

CMS revenue in Asia Pacific grew by 28.4% to US$28.9 million. Higher sales were recorded for home appliances, medical and health products, solid state lighting and professional audio equipment, whereas sales of hearables and communication products registered a decline. Home appliances benefited from the good sell-through of a customer's products, while the medical and health products business was boosted by higher sales of parts for ultrasound machines. The sales growth of solid state lighting was driven by increased demand in China. Professional audio equipment saw increased orders from existing customers.

Other Regions

Group revenue from Other Regions in the first half of the financial year 2017 fell by 21.5% to US$26.0 million, as higher sales of ELPs were insufficient to offset the declines in TEL products and CMS. Other Regions, which include Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, represented 2.6% of Group revenue.

ELPs revenue in Other Regions rose by 6.8% to US$9.4 million. Higher sales were achieved in the Middle East and Africa, offsetting a sales decline in Latin America.

TEL products revenue in Other Regions declined by 31.6% to US$16.2 million, led by lower sales in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

CMS revenue in Other Regions was US$0.4 million, as compared to US$0.6 million in the same period last year.

*Snom Acquisition*

On 21 October 2016, VTech announced that it had entered into a binding definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the share capital of Germany's Snom Technology AG (Snom) for approximately US$15 million. Snom is the pioneer and a leading brand of professional and enterprise VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) telephones. The main synergies of the acquisition are in hardware and software development, expanded sales channels in VoIP telephony and improvements in operational efficiency. The transaction will be financed through internal resources and is subject to the approval of the relevant regulatory authorities.

*Outlook*

With the good momentum behind ELPs and CMS, and sales of TEL products anticipated to pick up in the second half, management is expecting Group revenue for the full year to increase. Profitability is expected to improve in the second half as Group revenue will be higher, while the majority of the LeapFrog integration costs has already been incurred in the first half results.

ELPs revenue is forecast to be higher year-on-year as sales of both standalone and platform products are expected to grow.

Supplemented by contributions from LeapFrog branded products, the positive trend of infant, toddler and preschool standalone products will continue. Growth will also be supported by VTech's award-winning Go! Go! Smart family of products, especially from the expanded Go! Go! Smart Friends line and the newly launched Go! Go! Smart Sea World line. New products for the Kidi and Little Love lines will also provide additional growth.

Sales of platform products will be supported by a broadened portfolio of VTech and LeapFrog branded products, including educational tablets from both brands. VTech branded platform sales will be driven by Touch & Learn Activity Desk Deluxe, the launch of Kidizoom Smartwatch DX in the Group's key European markets, as well as DigiGo. For the LeapFrog brand, the newly launched LeapStart is expected to make a good contribution, augmented by LeapReader^™.

Sales of TEL products are expected to pick up in the second half as the growth in commercial phones and other telecommunication products accelerates. 

In commercial phones, the acquisition of Snom will boost sales worldwide by bringing an immediate sales contribution, strengthening the product portfolio, expanding VTech's global sales channels and adding new interoperability and technology partners. This will be augmented by the shipment of SIP terminals to a major Korean customer in the fourth quarter of the financial year 2017. Sales of CAT-iq handsets will also increase as VTech will start shipping the handsets to one of the largest US wireless communication service providers. Sales of hotel phones are on track to rise, with the Group gaining further market share and winning new projects.

Sales of other telecommunication products are expected to increase due to a number of factors. Sales of baby monitors in the US will grow further, driven by increased product placements and new products, including the launch of a model featuring cutting-edge video technology that will hit the shelves in March 2017. The Group will also introduce VTech branded baby monitors to the Eastern European markets, while more units will be shipped to Western Europe.  Wireless monitoring system sales will benefit from the expansion of the product range, as VTech introduces its first remote access IP camera to the US market in the fourth quarter of this financial year. Furthermore, shipment of IADs in Europe will resume growth.

The residential phones business will remain slow worldwide, but VTech will continue to increase its market share in North America and Australia.

The good performance of CMS will continue, although growth in the second half is expected to moderate slightly. The professional audio business should stabilise as the customer's excess inventory issue has been resolved. Hearables, industrial products, solid state lighting and medical and health equipment will all achieve growth. Hearables will sustain their positive trend as customers' products continue to perform well in the market, while industrial products will benefit from the policy to install smart meters in UK households. Solid state lighting will be supported by orders from the new customer and the transfer of the production of the new product series by an existing customer. In addition, VTech will move from the manufacturing of parts to producing entire ultrasound machines for a customer in Japan, which will boost growth in medical and health products. However, the switching mode power supplies business faces uncertainty due to the change of ownership of a customer.

With VTech CMS manufacturing more hearing aids products, as well as other medical and health products, new strategic business units have been set up to manage the expected growth.

In the last annual results, the Group announced that CMS had acquired the fixed assets of a company that manufactures high precision metal tooling and parts. Contribution from this acquisition will start in the fourth quarter of this financial year.

"The financial year 2017 has got off to a solid start. With the integration of LeapFrog now largely completed and Group revenue expected to rise, the second half will see an improvement in profitability. Moving forward, VTech will continue to strive for product innovation, gains in market share, geographic expansion and operational excellence to enhance shareholder value," said Mr. Wong.

[1] Source: NPD Group, Retail Tracking Service. Ranking based on total retail sales in the combined toy categories of infant electronic learning, other infant toys, bath toys, electronic entertainment (excluding tablets) and preschool electronic learning for the calendar year ending September 2016

[2] Source: MarketWise Consumer Insights, LLC

[3] Source: Ranking for France, the UK, Germany and Belgium are based on total retail sales (NPD Group, Retail Tracking Service) of infant and toddler toys for the calendar year ending September 2016

*About VTech*

VTech is the global leader in electronic learning products from infancy to preschool and the world's leading manufacturer of cordless phones. It also provides highly sought-after contract manufacturing services. Founded in 1976, VTech has been a pioneer in the electronic learning toy category with cutting-edge and innovative products that provide fun and learning to children across the world. By leveraging decades of success, VTech provides a diverse collection of telecommunication products that elevate the consumer experience with state-of-the-art technology and design. The Group is also one of the world's leading electronic manufacturing service providers, offering world-class, full turnkey services to customers in a number of product categories. The Group's mission is to design, manufacture and supply innovative and high quality products in a manner that minimises any impact on the environment, while creating sustainable value for its stakeholders and the community. Please visit www.vtech.com for further information.

*Note: Starting from 22:30, 10 November 2016 (HKT), the video archive of the 2016/2017 interim results announcement can be accessed through VTech website via this link **https://www.vtech.com/en/investors/financial-briefings/**.*

For further information, please contact:

Grace Pang    


VTech representative in Hong Kong

VTech Holdings Limited 


Nan Dong, Golin

(852) 2680-1000 (office)


(852) 2501-7902 (office)

grace_pang@vtech.com (email)


ndong@golin.com (email)

Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20151203/8521508294LOGO Reported by PR Newswire Asia 3 hours ago.

* Sinking to its lowest level in over 4 months, benchmark Sensex today crashed about 699 points, its biggest single-day fall since February 11, to drop below the key 27,000-level on sustained foreign fund outflows combined with weakening trend globally.*

Besides, the rupee breaching the 67-mark against the US dollar by plunging 59 paise to 67.22 (intra-day) at the forex market too had its bearing.

Offloading of positions by cautious participants ahead of September IIP data, to be released later in the day, also added to weakened sentiment.

Investors seemed to be cautious on fears that US President-elect Donald Trumps planned huge spending policies would be inflationary which may lead to higher US interest rates and dent the appeal of emerging markets, equity brokers said.

The Sensex after opening lower at 27,344.85 continued to slide on heavy selling pressure in blue-chips, forcing the index to touch a low of 26,777.18 before settling at 26,818.82, down 698.86 points, or 2.54 per cent, its biggest single-day fall since February 11 when it had lost 807.07.

This was the weakest closing since June 29, 2016.The gauge had rallied 265.15 points in the previous session.

The 50-share NSE Nifty broke 8,300-mark after plunging 229.45 points, or 2.69 per cent, to 8,296.30, its lowest closing since June 30.

For the week, the Sensex dropped 455.33 points, or 1.66 per cent, while the Nifty lost 137.45 points, or 1.62 per cent.

The fall was so widespread that 29 Sensex stocks closed with losses including M&M, Adani Ports, ICICI Bank, Tata Motors, Hero MotoCorp, Asian Paint, HDFC Ltd, Maruti Suzuki, GAIL, Bajaj Auto, Power Grid and TCS, falling up to 6.02 per cent.

Only Sun Pharma ended in the green territory by recording a rise of 3.30 per cent on the back of better-than-expected quarterly earnings.

Weak earnings from countrys largest lender SBI and other bluechip companies also affected the market sentiment, a broker said.

SBI today reported 99.6 per cent dip in consolidated net profit at Rs 20.7 crore for the September quarter. SBI shares slumped 3.09 per cent.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 733.49 crore yesterday, as per provisional data.

Other Asian markets also ended mixed with Hong Kongs Hang Seng falling 1.35 per cent, while Japans Nikkei rose 0.18 per cent. Shanghai Composite Index up 0.78 per cent.

European shares were also lower with indices in UK and France were down in their early deals. Reported by Deccan Herald 34 minutes ago.

Two top engagement strategists from Inmar, Inc. will share insights on data-driven shopper targeting at the Fall 2016 LEAD Marketing Conference taking place on Wednesday, November 16.

Winston-Salem, NC (PRWEB) November 10, 2016

Two top engagement strategists from Inmar, Inc., a technology and analytics company, will share insights on data-driven shopper targeting at the Fall 2016 LEAD Marketing Conference taking place on Wednesday, November 16. Tim Clark, Director, Inmar Center for Brand Excellence, and Charlie Gage, Senior Shopper Strategist, Inmar, will present “Identifying the Right Targets: Data-Driven Strategies for Understanding and Engaging Your Shoppers” at 3:50 p.m. ET.

Their program, which closes the day-long event, will identify the in-depth data marketers need to understand their shoppers in order to reach their “true” customer, and will explore the tools available to collect this data. Brands who leverage these tools will be better positioned to accelerate growth and build share.

The LEAD Marketing Conference is produced and hosted by the Shopper Technology Institute and CPGmatters. This unique “virtual” conference is presented live and entirely online and will run from 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET, November 16. It is billed as “the only collaborative conference for CPG manufacturers and retailers covering all aspects of loyalty, engagement, analytics and digital applications.” More than 500 industry professionals are expected to attend the day-long event which will include eight presentations from a select cadre of industry experts.

Those interested in participating in the conference can register at the conference website.

ABOUT INMAR
Anyone who has redeemed a coupon, filled a prescription or returned a product, has touched Inmar. We apply technology and data science to improve outcomes for consumers and those who serve them. As a trusted intermediary for over 35 years, we have unmatched access to billions of consumer and business transactions in real time. Our analytics, platforms and services enable engagement with shoppers and patients, and optimize results.

For more information about Inmar’s products and services, please contact (866)440-6917 or visit http://www.inmar.com. Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.

*NOTE: I wrote this on Tuesday afternoon.
*
I entered law school in the fall of 1968. It was still the heyday of the Warren Court. Many members of my generation chose law school in no small part because we were inspired by the extraordinary achievements of the Warren Court. With its decisions on racial segregation, voting rights, criminal justice, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the right of privacy, and a host of other issues, the Warren Court had transformed constitutional law.

To cite just a few examples:

in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) the Court held racial segregation of public schools unconstitutional;

in Mapp v. Ohio (1961) it held that evidence obtained in an unconstitutional search must be excluded when offered by the government against the victim of the unconstitutional search;

in Engel v. Vitale (1962) it held school prayer unconstitutional;

in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) it held that indigent criminal defendants have a constitutional right to court-appointed counsel;

in Reynolds v. Sims (1964) it held that malapportioned legislative districts were unconstitutional and embraced the principle of "one person, one vote";

in New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) it recognized that the First Amendment guarantees a freedom of speech that must be "uninhibited, robust, and wide-open" and placed sharp restrictions on libel actions by public officials;

in Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) it held that individuals have a right of privacy that protects their right to use contraception;

in New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) it recognized that the First Amendment guarantees a freedom of speech that must be "uninhibited, robust, and wide-open" and therefore placed sharp restrictions on libel actions by public officials;

in Miranda v. Arizona (1966) it gave substance to the privilege against compelled self-incrimination by requiring the police to warn suspects of their rights before interrogating them;

in Katz v. United States (1967) it overturned prior decisions to hold that wiretapping is a "search" within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment;

in Loving v. Virginia (1967) it held unconstitutional state laws that prohibited persons of different races from marrying;

and in Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) it held that government ordinarily cannot prohibit speech unless the speech creates a likely and imminent danger of grave harm.

Of course, not everyone cheered. Critics insisted that the justices on the Warren Court had abused their constitutional authority by being too activist. Defenders of the Warren Court responded that the justices had done precisely what the Framers of our Constitution intended them to do. That is, they had interpreted and applied the guarantees of the Constitution in a manner that constrained the majority's power to disregard of the rights of those who cannot not effectively protect themselves in the political process. Like the Framers, they understood that that was the fundamental reason for having a Bill of Rights in the first place.

By the time I graduated from law school, though, the Warren Court was no more. Over the next twenty-four years, Republican presidents appointed ten consecutive justices to the Supreme Court, completely transforming the vision of the Court. No longer interested in protecting the rights of minorities, the Court over the last four decades has instead indulged its judicial activism by holding unconstitutional affirmative action programs, laws designed to protect the voting rights of racial minorities, laws regulating guns, and laws limiting the amount that corporations and billionaires can spend in the political process.

The role of "liberal" justices over the past four decades has been largely limited either to dissenting from activist conservative decisions or trying to preserve aging liberal precedents. With the notable exception of the Court's decisions protecting the rights of gays and lesbians, the Court's more liberal justices over the past four decades have had little if any opportunity to expand the rights of those groups and individuals who were the focus of the Warren Court's jurisprudence and of the Framers' concern.

But now, for the first time in four decades, with the election of Hillary Clinton and a Democratic Senate, we are likely to see a majority of the justices appointed by Democratic presidents. Should this come to pass, those students now in law school face a completely new and uncharted future. What will a "liberal" Supreme Court do in the twenty-first century? It has been so long since we have had such Court that it is difficult even to imagine the possibilities.

What will this new, more liberal Court do as it looks to the future? Will it recognize a constitutional right to at least a minimal education? Will it recognize a right to publicly-funded birth control and abortion? Will it hold political gerrymandering unconstitutional? How will it deal with legislative efforts to limit the franchise in ways that are clearly designed to manipulate the right to vote in a partisan manner? How will it interpret the Fourth Amendment in the face of ever-evolving threats to our privacy?

I envy my current students. For the first time in four decades, they can look forward to a Supreme Court that will once again protect those rights that are truly fundamental to our society.

*As I said, I wrote the above on Tuesday afternoon.*
Now, with a President Trump and a Republican Senate, we are likely over the coming years to see a Supreme Court, especially if one or more of the Court's oldest justices - Ginsburg, Kennedy, and Breyer - steps down, that is even more conservative than any we have seen in over a century. It is not, at least for me, a happy prospect.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 12 hours ago.

Following the Fall Signing Period, the Arizona Basketball team officially signs allfour of its basketball commitments from the 2017 class.Without much of a hiccup, Sean Miller, and the Arizona Basketball team officially signed allfour of their basketball commits for the fall signing period.Unl... Reported by FOX Sports 12 hours ago.

*Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara hit unbeaten half centuries as India made a forceful reply to Englands imposing first innings total of 537 on the third morning of the opening Test here today.*At lunch, the home team were 162-1 in their first innings, 375 runs behind England, after starting at the overnight score of 63-0 at the SCA Stadium. Opener Vijay was unconquered on 57, after having faced 142 balls and hitting 2 sixes and 5 boundaries in his 224-minute stay.Pujara, who joined Vijay at the fall of opener Gautam Gambhirs wicket in the second over of the day, had overtaken the opener to be 62 not out off only 86 balls. His 117-minute essay contained 12 fours.By lunch the second wicket duo had added 94 runs for the unfinished second wicket by rotating the strike nicely. The lone batsman to be dismissed was left-handed opener Gambhir, who fell in the second over to Stuart Broad, after which Vijay and Pujara held fort till the end of the first session.When the third days play commenced India were faced with the daunting task of adding 275 more runs to avoid following on behind Englands massive first innings 537.Openers Vijay and Gambhir had started well last evening to put on an unfinished half century stand, but the latter departed early today after adding just one to his overnight 28. He was dismissed in the seventh ball of the day.The left-handed batsman, on a comeback trail after being in the wilderness for more than two years, was trapped right in front of the stumps by Broad with the first ball of his morning spell.Gambhir tried to turn the fuller length ball to the leg side but failed to connect and it rapped him bang in front of the stumps with India on 68. Vijay and new batsman Pujara - who has in the past scored a triple century for Saurashtra in Ranji Trophy at this very ground, then took up the daunting task of replying strongly to Englands third-highest ever score in India.The two batsmen complemented each other nicely -- a trait evident from their massive record-setting partnership of 370 for the second wicket against Australia in the Hyderabad Test match three years ago.Pujara was confidence-personified from the first ball he faced, off-driving Broad for a sweetly timed four. With Vijay playing second fiddle, Pujara set about getting the runs - quite a few of them with excellently timed boundary hits.The Rajkot-born batsman clipped Broad off his pads and then drove Moeen Ali off the firing line by striking him for two fours - a square cut followed by a twinkle-toed dance down the wicket for an on-drive.Ali was replaced by left-arm slow bowler Zafar Ansari and Vijay, quiet after the arrival of Pujara, greeted his arrival to the bowling crease by coming out of the crease and smacking the bowler for a six over long on, the first of the innings.The maximum from Vijay also heralded Indias 100 in the 32nd over. Broad gave way to Chris Woakes at the other end and he once struck Pujara on the back of his helmet by digging the ball in short.Vijay, too, was lucky as his leading edge to an attempted flick off Ansari did not go to the cover fielders hands. Barring these two incidents, the two batsmen were in control as 43 runs were added in 13 overs in the first hour of play.Woakes bowled a fiery spell of five overs in which he conceded just 6 runs but the moment he was off the firing line Pujara helped himself to three fours in two overs from Englands century maker Ben Stokes, the caressing shot bisecting cover and mid off fielders being the pick.The local star was quickly narrowing the run-gap with Vijay who was content to play the supporting role. As is his wont Vijay suddenly went into the attacking mode and clouted Ansari for a second six over long on, to the same area where he hit his first, and followed it with a lofted four to long off.The six took the opener to his 15th career half-century in his 43rd game, third against England and sixth at home. It came off 129 balls and he consumed 204 minutes and included two sixes and four fours.In the very next over Pujara too reached the minor landmark by exquisitely driving Stokes to the cover fence. It was his 10th four and his half century came off only 74 balls and in 100 minutes.Vijay survived some anxious moments against leg spinner Adil Rashid in the last over before lunch. India added 99 runs in 27 overs in the two-hour period. Reported by Deccan Herald 5 hours ago.

* Cheteshwar Pujara was one run short of a coveted century in his home city, and alongside Murali Vijay, helped India give a strong reply to England's 537 on day three of the opening Test here today.
*
The 28-year-old Pujara was a run short of his ninth century in his 39th Test after he was reprieved on 86 by the Decision Review System which is being used by India at home for the first time.

With opener Vijay for company, who was also close to reaching his own century, Pujara - not out after hitting 15 fours in 166 balls at tea - stitched a fighting 160-run stand to pilot the home team to an impressive 228 for one at the end of the second session. It was the sixth time that the duo has forged a 100-plus partnership.

At tea, Vijay was not out on 86, after a stay of 343 minutes, and India were 309 runs behind the Englands total on a track that has proved to be full of runs.

Both the batsmen were lucky to have survived the session, Pujara having been given a new lease of life by DRS and Vijay escaping being caught off Stuart Broad.

But in between they showed grit aplenty against some tight and probing bowling, especially from Broad and Chris Woakes to remain unconquered after batting for nearly the entire duration of two sessions.

They had come together at the fall of opener Gautam Gambhir off the first ball of the second over today morning when India were on 68, having added just five to their overnight score.

Vijay, who survived a leg before the wicket shout in the last over before lunch against Adil Rashid, continued to find the leg spinner a difficult proposition post lunch.

With first Woakes and then Broad, who bowled a spell of 5-4-1-0, strangling the scoring rate at the other end, Vijay added just 7 runs in 49 balls.

He was also distinctly lucky to be grassed by debutant Haseeb Hameed off Broad at short covers when on 66. It was a drive on the up by Vijay but Hameed could not latch on to the ball after diving full length to his left.

Pujara, at the other end, batted much more fluently but was also stifled by the England bowlers as just 33 overs came in 15 overs.

The duo also raised a century partnership during this period of play for the second wicket in 129 minutes and 175 balls.

Pujara was more assured of the two against Rashid. In the first session the duo added 94 runs after coming together at the fall of Gambhir's wicket in the second over of the day when the score read 68. Reported by Deccan Herald 3 hours ago.

By Leman Zeynalova

The ability of Donald Trump as the US president to influence the oil market will not be concentrated in the US but in three other places – Libya, Venezuela and Russia, Gal Luft, co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS), a Washington based think tank focused on energy security, and a senior adviser to the United States Energy Security Council, told Trend Nov.10.

“Trump will re-engage with Libya and bring about to its reconstruction. This will mean, among other things, restoring Libyan production which alone could easily bring one million barrels a day to the market,” he said.

The expert pointed out that Trump administration will work to expedite the fall of the Venezuelan government and this will trigger turmoil in the short run, but a rebound of the country some years later.

Regarding the US-Russia relations, Luft said that the improvement in the relations with Russia will result in lifting of the sanctions and reopening of the Russian oil sector.

Further, he noted that on the demand side, Trump administration will emphasize greater utilization of natural gas and its products as automotive fuel which will lead to greater diversification of the fuel supply and reduction in domestic demand for gasoline and diesel.

The US held presidential election November 8. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump won the election.

Given Trump’s pledge to open all federal land and waters for fossil fuel exploration, there are prospects of increased US oil output.

Trump’s energy policy includes the following goals: declare the country’s energy dominance a strategic economic and foreign policy goal; become, and stay, totally independent of any need to import energy; encourage the use of natural gas and other US energy resources that will both reduce emissions and the price of energy and increase its economic output. Reported by Eurasia Review 8 hours ago.

The fall leaves have dropped to the ground in many areas of the United States, and in some places it has been snowing. But in the Washington, DC area autumn came late this year and just recently the colorful foliage blanketed the region. VOA’s Deborah Block took video of the vibrant leaves. Reported by VOA News 6 hours ago.