Dozens of former armed forces officers are being retrained as cyber security officers in the human services department. Reported by SBS 17 hours ago.

This year, the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival truly belonged to the outsiders. In its 11th year, the annual music and arts festival returned to the western end of Golden Gate Park — filling the stretch from Marx Meadow to the Polo Field with more than 200,000 people Friday-Sunday, Aug. 10-12 — with a new pecking order. Women, artists of color and LGBTQ-friendly performers rose in the ranks, drawing the biggest crowds over the weekend — while the indie rock acts that established the festival in its first decade seemed to serve more as curiosities, offering parents and grizzled festival veterans something to hang onto in a rapidly changing environment. Reported by SFGate 15 hours ago.

Jamie Davies couldn't cope any more after suffering mental health problems since his return from Afghanistan. Reported by Daily Record 10 hours ago.

The UK needs to start recording suicide stats for armed forces veterans to avoid more cases like that of war hero Jamie Davies. Reported by Daily Record 10 hours ago.

Could the early success of the 2018 rookie QB class lead to some veterans getting moved? Reported by SI.com 10 hours ago.

A report into allegations about the activities of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan will be released in a matter of months, the veterans affairs minister says. Reported by SBS 9 hours ago.

Based in Chicago, North Square Offers Institutional Quality, Actively-Managed Investments in Select Asset Classes Through Well-Established Intermediary Relationships - North Square Intends to Partner with Talented Investment Teams and Boutique Asset Managers Seeking Distribution and Operational Scale

(PRWEB) August 13, 2018

North Square Investments (“North Square”) has officially launched as a new Chicago-based investment management firm. In July, 2018 North Square acquired a minority stake in a boutique asset manager, managing more than $2 billion of assets and, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, North Square also intends on acquiring approximately $700 million of mutual fund assets. North Square’s resources currently include a dedicated sales, marketing and distribution team of 10 professionals, over 300 selling agreements with distribution intermediaries, twelve mutual fund and retail managed account product offerings, three established partnerships with investment boutiques, a strong pipeline of additional investment-team affiliation opportunities and access to growth capital.

North Square’s focus is to source, develop and deliver institutional quality, active investment products primarily for high net worth and retail investors through strong relationships with financial consultants and advisors dedicated to building better portfolios for their clients. North Square’s products are being developed and offered in an effort to complement both passive and active strategies which North Square believes are often at the core of well-designed portfolios.

Mark Goodwin is the CEO of North Square, leading a team of industry veterans who previously worked together at Chicago-based Oak Ridge Investments (“Oak Ridge”). Mark lifted out 24 experienced people in total along with North Square’s distribution, operations and product platforms from Oak Ridge. North Square also has acquired a minority equity stake in Oak Ridge. Prior to joining Oak Ridge, Mark spent over 20 years at Putnam Investments and Pioneer Investments, building strong industry relationships and spearheading many established, broad-based growth initiatives.

“Unburdened by legacy assets under management in categories challenged by passive investments, we are free to focus on pursuing growth opportunities rather than defending an eroding or legacy asset base,” said Goodwin, whose team made significant personal investments to launch North Square.

Goodwin added, “For investment teams desiring access to distribution or operations, and for financial advisors seeking differentiated institutional-quality active strategies for their clients, North Square can be relied upon for the specialized knowledge and experience that our team and network of relationships can offer. And, of course, we thank David Klaskin and Oak Ridge Investments for supporting this opportunity.”

North Square’s business strategy is to affiliate with investment teams and boutique money managers specializing in niche asset classes, either through direct ownership or through strategic operating partnerships, such as sub-advisory relationships, fund adoptions, revenue sharing arrangements or joint venture structures. North Square will focus on packaging and delivering creative investment solutions ranging from alternative investments to specialty strategies to improve portfolio construction and risk-adjusted returns.

Estancia Capital Management (“ECM”) brings substantial industry knowledge and capital to North Square. Additionally, ECM and North Square have partnered with several former industry executives and leaders as co-investors. Amongst a broader group of North Square co-investors, John Amboian (former CEO and Chairman of Nuveen Investments), Brian Gaffney (former CEO of Allianz Global U.S.), and Neil Cummins (a founding management committee member of Barclays Capital) will serve on North Square’s board of directors. These seasoned leaders bring extensive industry experience and global relationship networks which North Square believes will augment its growth plans.

“By offering institutional managers access to the U.S. retail market via multiple product vehicles, North Square provides value-add distribution capabilities to accelerate asset growth and enhance the intrinsic value of our affiliate partners and North Square. Estancia believes the intermediary distribution solution provided by North Square addresses one of the largest business challenges facing boutique managers,” says Takashi Moriuchi, ECM Co-Founder and Managing Director.

Speaking on behalf of Brian Gaffney, Neil Cummins and himself, John Amboian said, “We’re pleased to invest with and collaborate alongside Mark Goodwin, the North Square team and Estancia. We believe the combined talents and experiences of the people backing North Square are as strong as those backing much larger and recognized asset management firms. We see tremendous opportunities for North Square to grow and be a highly respected industry player.”

Philip Callahan will serve as Head of Distribution & Marketing for North Square. Callahan has over 20 years of prior experience as National Sales Manager for Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Lehman Brothers Asset Management and Neuberger Berman.

“Our message to advisors and research teams is that we can save you time by identifying, vetting and delivering outstanding active investment managers. This includes boutique or institutional investors you may not have heard of, but each possessing pedigree, a disciplined investment process and excellent risk-adjusted performance,” explains Callahan.

North Square will initially offer investment strategies developed by three distinct partner firms: Oak Ridge, Algert Global and Capital Innovations. Its current product offerings include Growth Equities (Small Cap, SMID Cap, Mid Cap, All Cap, Dividend Growth); Quantitative Small Cap Equities (International Small Cap, U.S. Small Cap); Real Assets (Global Resources & Infrastructure) and Multi-Strategy. North Square is seeking additional investment management partners in an effort to broaden its product lineup across three major themes: International/Global Equities, Specialty Fixed Income, and other Specialty Strategies.

ABOUT NORTH SQUARE INVESTMENTS
Founded in 2018, North Square Investments is an independent, multi-boutique investment firm dedicated to vetting and delivering differentiated active investment strategies to the market.

Our website is under development and will be fully launched in the coming months. Please visit northsquareinvest.com to sign up and receive the latest news and announcements.

ABOUT ESTANCIA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
Estancia is a private equity firm focused on small to lower middle market investments in Institutional-Quality Asset Management, Wealth Management and related Business Services companies. The Principals – Messrs. Mendez, Moriuchi, Kang, Jeffries and Kurttila – have a successful history of partnering with management and investment teams. Estancia provides equity, growth and working capital to facilitate strategic and opportunistic development of portfolio companies including management buy-outs from larger financial firms, private ownership/succession transitions and growth initiatives. Estancia is currently investing on behalf of a diverse base of Limited Partners. Reported by PRWeb 6 hours ago.

8th Annual celebration of women adds ‘new’ tribute to female veterans and everyday women making a difference

WASHINGTON (PRWEB) August 13, 2018

From pioneers to innovators, nationally-syndicated Café Mocha Radio continues its tradition of honoring outstanding women with the 2018 Salute Her™: Beauty of Diversity Tour. Presented by Toyota, this year’s tour will inspire women with a dual theme and call to action, “The Time is Now.” Set to launch in partnership with AARP, the former luncheon turned evening networking reception and Salute Her AwardsTM will be held in theater-style venues across the country with Cafe Mocha affiliates; WHUR-FM 96.3-Washington, DC (August 22), WBLS-FM 107.5 New York City (September 27), MAJIC-FM 94.5 Dallas (November 3), WBAV-FM V101.9 Charlotte (November 9) and MAJIC-FM 107.5 Atlanta (November 16).

The Gracie Award winning Café Mocha show has emerged as the #1 radio show for multicultural women and has amplified the dialogue around various women’s issues ranging from health, relationships, beauty to social justice. Known as ‘radio from a woman’s perspective,’ the show continues to push boundaries addressing today’s political climate in an engaging environment, thanks to hosts actress/comedian Loni Love, legendary Hip Hop icon YoYo and broadcast veteran Angelique Perrin. Says Café Mocha creator and executive producer Sheila Eldridge, “The Salute Her Tour brings Café Mocha to life in a way that not only inspires our listeners to be champions for positive change, but also allows us to recognize everyday ‘she-roes’ and celebrities who are doing just that.”

New Salute Her honorees in 2018 include the inaugural “Toyota’s American Pride Award” presented to a female veteran in each market. AARP returns encouraging the public to nominate an everyday woman doing extraordinary things through the show’s ‘HER’ initiative. Newly-minted supporting beauty partners Mielle Organics Hair Care and Vera Moore Cosmetics will host ‘Conversation with’ CEO chats in select markets at the Salute Her: Beauty of Diversity Chic Boutique pre-receptions.
Café Mocha Radio 2018 Salute Her: Beauty of Diversity Tour Schedule

Wednesday, August 22        –         Washington, DC; Arena Stage Theater
Thursday, September 27     –         New York City; Mist Harlem
Saturday, November 3         –         Dallas; Renaissance Addison Hotel
Friday,     November 9         –         Charlotte; Booth Theater
Friday,     November 16     –         Atlanta; Riverside Theater

The SHT supports the Mocha Cares Foundation, which helps provide services to combat homelessness, domestic violence and foster care through mentorship programs.

About the Salute Her AwardsTM:
Café Mocha launched its annual Salute Her Awards events in 2011, with a mission to recognize dynamic women who have made contributions in their communities and breaking down barriers. Since its inception eight years ago past honorees include activist Sybrina Fulton, broadcast personality Wendy Williams and Iyanla Vanzant, “Empire” actress Ta’Rhonda Jones, CNN correspondent Fredricka Whitfield, renowned White House journalist and author April Ryan and legendary actress Pam Grier, actress/humanitarian Sheryl Lee Ralph, Cynthia Bailey, Kim Fields, Malinda Williams, Terri J. Vaughn and Vy Higginsen, singers Gloria Gaynor, Stephanie Mills, Fantasia Barrino Taylor, Syleena Johnson and Tamela Mann, influencers Constance White, Luvvie Ajayi, Lola Ogunnaike, Jamie Foster Brown, Shirley Strawberry, fashion designer Barbara Bates, Dr. Bernice King, Deanna Brown Thomas, Ricki Fairley, NBA mom Wanda Durant and Ilyasah Shabazz to name few. Take a look at our 2017 Salute Her Tour highlights.

For more information on how to attend, nominate and support the 2018 Salute Her Awards and Tour go to http://www.cafemocharadio.com or http://www.saluteher.com and download the Café Mocha app to enter to win a ‘weekend getaway’ with Café Mocha hosts Loni Love, YoYo and Angelique.

About Café Mocha Radio:
Café Mocha is the brainchild of award-winning media veteran Sheila Eldridge. Created by and for Women of Color and syndicated nationally in more than 30 markets and on Sirius/XM Channel 141, Airing in such major markets as New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Washington, D.C is co-hosted by comedienne/television host Loni Love (Fox’s “The Real”), hip-hop icon YoYo, and broadcast veteran Angelique Perrin. The two-hour show features the latest in urban music, lively chats from an unabashedly women’s perspective, no-holds barred advice and exclusive interviews with top performers, celebrities, politicians and civic leaders. Syndicated by Compass Media Networks, Café Mocha is the only national show that speaks directly to African-American women, ages 25 to 54, who represent a combined buying power of more than $1.2 trillion. Visit Cafe Mocha Radio on @cafemocharadio IG, twitter, Facebook; YouTube: Cafemocharadio; and download the Café Mocha app. Here's a taste of Cafe Mocha!

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sheila Eldridge
Miles Ahead Broadcasting
301-249-1700/ 201-887-5100
Sheila@MilesAheadEntertainment.com

FOR MEDIA REQUESTS CONTACT:
Alex Hill
Miles Ahead Entertainment
313-213-2149
Alex@MilesAheadEntertainment.com Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.

A project to relieve traffic congestion on a busy Shelby County corridor has been postponed. Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon told WVTM 13 the cost to widen Alabama 119 between Fulton Springs Road and Veterans Park is more than was originally estimated.  Alabaster’s City Council recently gave Goodwyn Mills and Cawood the green light to apply for a federal grant to help offset project costs. Project costs include the purchase of several properties for right-of-way. The project calls for a total… Reported by bizjournals 51 minutes ago.

Low-income veterans can now apply for Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, according to David Cohen, senior executive vice president and chief diversity officer at Comcast in a company announcement Monday. The Internet Essentials program, which started in 2011, works to provide high-speed internet to low-income Americans for $9.95 per month. Through the program, eligible participants can also buy an internet-ready computer for less than $150 and have free access to digital literacy training.… Reported by bizjournals 22 hours ago.

A comprehensive three-day program focused on elevating the customer experience.

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. (PRWEB) August 13, 2018

On Location, a nationwide provider of labor and management services for exhibits, events and environments, will host its 2018 Annual Meeting August 15th to 17th at the DoubleTree Suites in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. This three-day program brings together all various components of the organization, including management, sales, operations and administration. As in previous years, On Location will put the spotlight on elevating customer experience with a focus on building value and advancing processes that directly benefit its client base. The agenda includes a company year in review, short-term outlook and long-term goal setting with a mix of large and small group roundtable sessions to discuss processes and procedures. One such advancement is the new On Location mobile APP, featuring a client and employee portal with current and historical project-related details along with general public access to company resources, news and contacts. The APP will be rolled out as a beta for internal users to start and to customers by year end. In planning for this year’s meeting, On Location recently conducted customer surveys and the feedback will be used as key discussion points. There will also be a hosted video conference with various clients including both exhibitors and exhibit houses.

Each year the highly anticipated gathering takes a “look inside” approach to learning from each other alongside an open discussion with those from outside the organization to provide a 360-degree view of the company. “This concept is a perfect complement to our on-going investment in continuing education and promotion from within,” says On Location General Manager, Michael Mulry. “It further reaffirms our greatest commitment - delivering the highest quality service to our clients for each and every job. It is what we call Return on Experience (ROE).”

“This meeting champions cohesive collaboration across various job disciplines further reiterating the importance of teamwork – from the executive level to those on in the field,” continued Mulry. Insights from clients and industry partners complement the internal view, offering invaluable knowledge. Together, the program strengthens relationships among On Location team members and provides a greater understanding of clients’ evolving needs. These are both key components to providing a seamless flow of communication critical in achieving a positive ROE.

Key to the company’s goal of working to exceed client expectations is challenging the team to achieve better results by choosing to make good things happen through hard work and commitment. On Location Operations Manager-West Coast, Jim Dillard, has been with the company since 2009 and said. “The annual meeting brings together managers who are both seasoned and new,” says Dillard. “While the industry veterans group shares tips from past experience, the newer team members bring a fresh perspective and approaches to challenges.” He goes on to add that each year there are many unique takeaways with one commonality. “I always return from the meeting with a better appreciation for all the hard work and importance of the various roles we all play in delivering the best service. It’s definitely a team effort.”

On Location makes it a point to keep the meeting program fresh and welcomes input from it new faces. Says Jennifer Anderton, a long-time industry veteran who joined the company as an Account Executive in April 2018, “I’m so excited to meet everyone. It will be so great to put faces with names.” After participating on several calls in preparation for the event, Anderton added, “The meeting is very well planned with a remarkable attention to detail in the same way we work with clients. There are also clear goals so whether it’s the large group sessions or breakout roundtables, I look forward to coming away from the meeting with great insight.”

Speaking of roundtables, Account Executive Jeff Popovich helped design the discussion groups – one in which the team is segmented by job role to explore three challenges and overcoming them; the other a blend of staff from varied departments tasked with exploring how client expectations are evolving and ways to make On Location better. “This is my 5th annual meeting and each one has been better than the last,” he notes. “We all learn from one another and do so in an environment where all ideas are welcome.”

The Annual Meeting is not all work and the relaxed casual nature is one that encourages an open sharing of ideas and experiences “We always look to have fun,” Mulry explains. “Although many of us see co-workers in the field throughout the year, this is an opportunity to spend time in a less pressure atmosphere and get to know one another on a more personal level.” Each year there are several team building and social activities plus staff recognition during the three-day program. “Every member of our team has something to contribute – an idea, an experience, a point of view,” says Mulry. “When we come together with the shared goal of delivering the highest quality of client service, making good things happen becomes easier.”

Ron Bailey, National Operations Manager added, “We help guide our customers through the often-confusing landscape of on-site activities and consider it our duty to do so much more than just provide on-site labor,” he says. “We promise peace-of-mind in this complex labor landscape – we won’t let our customers down. We’re passionate about excellence and the annual meeting is another way to reinforce this message.”

About On Location
For more than 25 years, On Location has provided nationwide labor and management services for exhibits, events and environments that deliver a positive Return on Experience for its customers - on time and on budget – throughout the country and around the world. As a leading exhibitor assigned contractor, highly trained and experienced employees help clients develop a custom plan, adapting the company’s comprehensive processes to fit one’s unique business needs and providing nationwide continuity of hands-on service before, during and after each event. For more information, visit: http://www.onlocationind.com. Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.

Reported by SeekingAlpha 19 hours ago.

New clinic in Clarksville provides high-quality, accessible, outpatient mental health care for military veterans and their families

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (PRWEB) August 13, 2018

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sergeant Ryan Pitts and representatives from the Cohen Veterans Network and Centerstone today gathered in Clarksville, Tenn., to celebrate the grand opening of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, a new resource targeted to post-9/11 veterans and their loved ones, as well as families of active duty service members.

“Clarksville is home to one of the largest populations of retired military in the country,” said Lisa Eggebeen, MSSW, LCSW, clinic director for the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone. “The need for mental health care services in this region and among this population is great, and this clinic will be an incredible resource for the community. We are pleased that we can provide timely and compassionate care that changes people’s lives for the better.”

The Cohen Clinic at Centerstone provides confidential, high-quality, mental health care and case management resources for veterans, regardless of discharge status or role, their families and families of active duty military, including spouse, partner, children, parents, siblings and caregivers, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Clients are given an intake screening upon their first contact with the clinic and can expect their first appointment within seven days.

The clinic offers outpatient treatment for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, adjustment and transition issues, anger, grief and loss, family and relationship issues and children’s behavioral problems. It began accepting clients in April and has already served more than 150 service members and their families.

The Cohen Clinic at Centerstone is a partnership between Cohen Veterans Network, a not for profit philanthropic organization that serves veterans and their families through a nationwide system of mental health clinics, and Centerstone, a national leader in behavioral health care.

Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) was established in 2016 with a $275 million commitment from philanthropist Steven A. Cohen. The organization works with selected provider partners, like Centerstone, to operate a growing networking of clinics for military veterans and their families nationwide.

“We are committed to filling gaps in care for military veterans and their families,” said Dr. Anthony Hassan, CEO of Cohen Veterans Network. “Veterans have served our country, and it is our moral duty to provide timely, low cost mental health care services they need. We have the opportunity to support post-9/11 veterans on their next mission: happy and healthy lives.”

The Cohen Clinic at Centerstone is the tenth CVN-funded clinic and the first in the state of Tennessee.

“We’re honored Cohen Veterans Network selected Centerstone for this partnership,” said Dr. Bob Vero, CEO of Centerstone. “Our organizations share a commitment to providing specialized care to veterans, service members and their loved ones. This clinic expands the ways Centerstone serves military families, and we look forward to working with the Cohen team to continue to explore how we can leverage our resources and expertise to reach more people in need.”

Staff at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone are trained in military competencies and are aware of the unique challenges veterans and their families face. There are currently four full-time therapists, and the clinic will add staff, as needed, to ensure that all clients are seen in a timely manner.

The newly built facility includes 10,000-square feet of office space, with private waiting areas and well-furnished clinic offices. There is also a family waiting area suitable for children of all ages and a community room where events and classes will be held in the future.

For more information, visit: https://centerstone.org/cohen.

Stay connected. Facebook: @CohenCenterstone // Twitter: @CohenClinicTN

About Centerstone

Centerstone is a not-for-profit health care organization dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives. We are a nationally recognized leader, providing mental health and substance use treatment, related crisis care, education and support to people of all ages in communities in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. Nationally, we offer specialized care for service members, veterans and their loved ones, and develop employee assistance programs for businesses of all sizes. Our research institute improves behavioral health care through research, evaluation and technology, and our foundation secures philanthropic resources to support our work. For more about Centerstone, please call (888) 291-4357 or visit centerstone.org.

About Cohen Veterans Network

The Cohen Veterans Network is a 501(c)(3) national not for profit philanthropic organization for post-9/11 veterans and their families. CVN focuses on improving mental health outcomes, with a goal to build a network of outpatient mental health clinics for veterans and their families in high-need communities, in which trained clinicians deliver holistic evidence-based care to treat mental health conditions. Learn more about the Cohen Veterans Network.

Media contacts:

Sarah Brawner, DVL Seigenthaler | FINN Partners

615-610-0323 / sarah.brawner@dvlseigenthaler.com

Scott Hudson, Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone

931-221-3872 / wayne.hudson@centerstone.org

Paul Wood, Cohen Veterans Network

Paul.Wood@cohenveteransnetwork.org Reported by PRWeb 19 hours ago.

Comcast's Internet Essentials program has been expanded to include all low-income veterans. Reported by philly.com 16 hours ago.

Trump has intentionally cleaved America into two warring camps: pro-Trump or anti-Trump. Most Americans aren’t passionate conservatives or liberals, Republicans or Democrats. But they have become impassioned for or against Trump.

As a result, people with different political views have stopped talking with each other. This is a huge problem because democracy depends on our capacity to deliberate together.

So what can we do–all of us–to begin talking across the great divide? Here are 10 suggestions:

1. *Don’t avoid political conversations with people who are likely to disagree with you, even in your own family.* To the contrary, seek them out and have those discussions.

2. *Don’t start by talking about Trump*. Start instead with “kitchen table” issues like stagnant wages, shrinking benefits, the escalating costs of health care, college, pharmaceuticals, housing.

3. *Make it personal*. Ask them about their own experiences and stories. Share yours. Try to find common ground.

4. *Ask them why they think all this has happened.* Listen carefully and let them know you’ve heard them.

5. *If they start blaming immigrants or African-Americans, or elites, or Democrats, or even Obama – stay cool.* Don’t tune out. Ask them about why they think these people are responsible.

6. *Gradually turn the conversation into one about power – who has it, who doesn’t. *Ask about their own experiences at work, what’s happened to their jobs, how others among their families and friends are treated.

7. *Ask them about the roles of big corporations and Wall Street*. For example:

–Why is it that when corporations and Wall Street firms violate the law, no executive goes to jail?

–Why did Wall Street get bailed out during the financial crisis but homeowners caught in the downdraft didn’t get help?

–Why do big oil, big agriculture, big Pharma, and Wall Street hedge-fund managers get special subsidies and tax loopholes?

8. *Get a discussion going about how the system is organized, for whom, and how it’s been changing*. For example:

–Why is it that only 4 major airlines fly today when a few years ago there were 12? Why are there only 4 Internet service providers?

–How is this increasing concentration of economic power across the entire economy driving up prices?

–Why are pharmaceutical companies and health insurers able to charge more and more?

–Why can corporations and their top executives declare bankruptcy and have their debts forgiven, when bankruptcy isn’t available to people laden with student debt or to homeowners who can’t meet their payments?

–Why are the biggest benefits from the tax cut going to billionaires?

9. *Then get to the core issue: Do they think any of this has to do with big money in politics?*

–Is the system rigged? And if so, who’s doing the rigging, and why?

–How can average people be heard when there’s so much big money in politics? Should we try to get big money out of politics?

–And if so, how do we do it?

Notice, you’re not using labels. You’re not talking about Democrats or Republicans, left or right, capitalism or socialism, government or free market. You’re not even talking about Trump.

You’re starting with the everyday experiences of most people–with their wages and living expenses and experiences on the job– and from there moving to economic and political power.

10. *Oh, and don’t forget to use humor*. Humor is the great disinfectant. For example, the Supreme Court says corporations are people. Well, you’ll believe they’re people when Texas executes a corporation.

Remember, the point isn’t to convince them you’re right and they’re wrong. It’s to get us thinking about what’s really happening to America. It’s exposing the abuses of power all around us.

If we can join together around these fundamental issues, we will all win

·

· Saturday, August 11, 2018

**TRUMP AND THE ART OF THE NO DEAL**

Donald Trump promised to be America’s dealmaker-in-chief, touting his “extraordinary” ability to negotiate. But so far, Trump has shown he can’t make a deal. Here’s the list of biggest no-deals:

*1. No deal with North Korea*. Following his summit with Kim Jong Un, Trump declared on Twitter that “there is no longer a nuclear threat” from North Korea. But in fact, there’s no deal. Kim conceded nothing on weapons and missile programs. Recent satellite imagery shows North Korea is actually improving its nuclear capability.

*2. No deal with Russia. *At the Helsinki summit, Russia agreed to nothing. But Trump gave away the store, even casting doubt on Russia’s collusion in the 2016 election in the face of the conclusions of America’s own intelligence agencies.

3. *No deal with China on trade.* Instead, we’re on the brink of a trade war with China, which is retaliating against U.S. tariffs.

4. *No deal with Europe on trade*. Instead, Europe has merely agreed to negotiate towards a resolution of the trade war Trump provoked in the first place.

5. *No deal on Iran*. Trump announced America’s exit from the Iran nuclear deal. Since then, no negotiations.

6. *No deal on climate change*. Trump simply pulled out of the Paris accords. There have been no negotiations since.

7. *No deal with the Group of 7 leading economic powers*. Instead, Trump just pulled out of the joint communique.

8. *No deal on immigration or the DREAMers.* Trump promised a new immigration bill, and a new deal from the young people brought to America as children. But since then, nothing.

9. *No budget deal with Congress.* The government is still operating under a “continuing resolution.”

10. *No deal on replacing the Affordable Care Act.* Trump promised to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act. But there’s been no repeal, and no replacement. He and the Republican Congress never agreed to a new plan.

11. *No deal on gun control*. After the Parkland shooting, Trump promised to tighten background checks for gun buyers and said he’d consider raising the age for buying certain types of guns. Instead, he bowed to the NRA.

Bottom line: Trump can’t make deals. He can only pull out of deals already made, or pretend he’s made deals that soon evaporate, or give away the store.

He’s perfected the art of the no deal.

· *Where Trump Sees Foreign Danger*

Monday, August 6, 2018

What’s the most worrisome foreign intrusion into the United States – unauthorized immigrants, Chinese imports, or interference in our democracy?

For Trump, it’s immigrants and imports. He doesn’t care much about the third.

“Border security is national security,” Trump said last week, as he threatened a government shutdown if Congress didn’t come up with money to build a wall along the Mexican border (at an estimated cost at least $25 billion).

Meanwhile, Trump has ordered his administration to consider raising tariff rates on $200 billion of Chinese goods, prompting China to threaten higher tariffs on $60 billion more of American goods.

Yet Trump continues to assert that talk of Russian meddling in American elections is “a big hoax.” And his White House still has no coordinated plan for dealing with it.

Trump has it backwards.

Illegal immigration isn’t the problem he makes it out to be. Illegal border crossings have been declining for years.

And if the Chinese want to continue to send us cheap imports that we pay for with U.S. dollars and our own IOUs, that’s as much of a potential problem for them as it is for us.

But Russian attacks on our democracy are a clear and present threat aimed at the heart of America.

Facebook recently announced it uncovered a major disinformation campaign with the hallmarks of the same Kremlin-linked Internet Research Agency responsible for election interference in 2016.

Trump’s own Department of Homeland Security found that in that 2016 election, Russian hackers tried to breach election systems in at least 21 states, likely scanned systems in all 50 states, stole the private information of hundreds of thousands of people, and infiltrated a company that supplies voting software across the nation. These findings led to the July indictment of 12 Russian Intelligence Officers.

Russian hackers are likely planning the same sort of intervention in this November’s midterm elections. Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary of Homeland Security, worries about Russia’s ongoing “willingness and a capability” to hack into the American election infrastructure, including voter rolls and voting machines.

FBI Director Christopher Wray warns that “Russia … continues to engage in malign influence operations to this day.” Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence, says “Russians are looking for every opportunity … to continue their pervasive efforts to undermine our fundamental values.”

Trump himself has admitted that his campaign aides met with Kremlin-linked Russian nationals on June 9, 2016 “to get information on” Hillary Clinton – even though federal law prohibits soliciting help from foreign nationals in connection with a federal election.

Russia isn’t the only foreign danger to our democracy.

The trial of Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, reveals another. It shows that Manafort hired a small army of American lawyers and lobbyists from both parties to influence U.S. lawmakers on behalf of Kremlin-connected former Ukrainian strongman, Viktor F. Yanukovych,

These were essentially laundered bribes – from Yanukovych through Washington-based influence peddlers, then on to U.S. politicians through the political action committees run by those influence peddlers.

A similar kind of laundered bribe from abroad occurred recently after the Chinese telecom giant ZTE was caught red-handed violating international sanctions on Iran. When the Commerce Department imposed penalties on the firm, ZTE hired the big Washington firm Hogan Lovells – which got Trump to lift the sanctions.

The timing was curious. Just before Trump came to ZTE’s rescue, Chinese state enterprises agreed to give $500 million in loans to a project in Indonesia that included Trump-branded hotels, residences and golf courses – funneling millions of dollars into Trump’s pockets.

When Congress threatened to reinstate the penalties on ZTE nonetheless, Hogan Lovells turned its sights on lawmakers. The firm’s political action committee made fat donations to legislators who had the power to reduce the penalties.

The strategy paid off. Last Wednesday, the Senate passed a bill containing far weaker sanctions on ZTE than lawmakers originally intended.

The Trump administration is also ending the requirement that nonprofit groups that engage in political activity disclose the names of their large donors – another loophole through which foreign money can stream in to influence American politics.

All this raises the fundamental question of what we mean by national security.

Yes, our borders should be secure, and, yes, our trading partners should play fair.

But the essence of America – the attribute we must hold most secure because it defines who we are and what we strive for – is a system of government “of the people, by the people, for the people,” as Lincoln put it.

If Putin or a Kremlin-connected Ukrainian strongman or even a giant Chinese company undermines this, they rob us of our most precious legacy.

Trump cares more about unauthorized immigrants and Chinese imports than about the sanctity of our democracy. This is a tragic mistake.

· Sunday, August 5, 2018

**THE BIGGEST THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY THAT YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF**

**

*The biggest threat to our democracy that nobody is talking about is the real possibility of a rogue Constitutional convention – empowering extremists to radically reshape the Constitution, our laws, and our country.*

If just a few more states sign on to what’s called an “Article V convention” for a balanced budget amendment, there’s no limit to the damage they might do.

Let me explain.

There are 2 ways to amend the United States Constitution: One way – the way we’ve passed every amendment since the Bill of Rights – is for two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate to vote for a proposed amendment, and then have it ratified by at least three quarters of the states – now 38 in number.

But there’s a second way to amend the Constitution. Two thirds of the states may demand that Congress form a constitutional convention to propose amendments.

Once such a constitutional convention is convened, there are no rules to limit or constrain what comes next.

Amendments proposed by an Article V convention are supposed to be ratified by 38 states. But convention delegates could hijack the process and change the ratification process itself, tossing out the 38 state requirement.

A balanced budget amendment would be crazy enough. But nothing would be safe. A woman’s right to choose. Marriage equality. First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press. Equal protection of the laws. Checks and balances.

An Article V convention would allow delegates to write their own agenda into our Constitution.

Already 28 states have called for a constitutional convention. They only need 6 more to succeed.

Unlimited money in politics and partisan gerrymandering have already given Republicans control of a majority of state legislatures. Big money interests like the Koch Brothers and ALEC are investing heavily in the push for a constitutional convention – which means that they’d be calling the shots if one takes place.

You’re probably already overwhelmed with political actions you need to take. But, believe me, this is important. With just a few states to go, your voice is needed. Please tell your state lawmakers to reject calls for an Article V convention.

· Thursday, August 2, 2018

**THE ROADBLOCK TO COMMON SENSE PENSION REFORM**

55 million Americans — about half of the entire private-sector workforce — have no employer-sponsored retirement plan at all. Many work for small businesses in the low-wage service and hospitality sectors. If they don’t save money independently, they will have nothing when they stop working.

This is very different from four decades ago when most workers retired with a company pension.

The good news is that several states – including Oregon, California, Illinois, Connecticut, and Maryland — now let such workers put money away in state-sponsored retirement plans that allow them to withdraw their accumulated savings, tax free, when they hit retirement.

The bad news is that the investment industry is aggressively seeking to block these plans, fearing the competition.

That’s because the fees charged by most state retirement plans are capped at around 1 percent – much lower than the fees of similar plans operated by banks and investment companies. And state fees are expected to drop even lower as more workers enroll.

If each of America’s 40 million retirees saved on average $50,000 in the state program, they’d have an additional $20 billion in the first year. That’s $20 billion more in the pockets of retirees, not financial institutions.

Right now, the industry’s efforts appear to be winning.

Republicans in Congress – backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a coalition of Wall Street investment firms – are seeking to block states from implementing these plans at all.

Investment and insurance companies are also spending like mad on election campaigns of friendly state legislators and threatening lawsuits. Which is why many proposed state-run retirement plans are languishing in statehouses around the country.

Folks, the anger and frustration that led to Trump continues to simmer. If we allow the moneyed interests to block common-sense reforms like this, in future years, America could face an even worse fate than Trump.

When you vote in November, vote for legislators who want to allow workers to save for retirement and against legislators who are shills for the financial sector.

· *Trump’s Two Kinds of Lies – and Why They’re Undermining American Democracy*

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

There are two kinds of Donald Trump lies. One is about facts. The other is about those who call him out on his fabrications.

An example of the first occurred Sunday, when Trump issued a tweetstorm of lies:

“The Robert Mueller Rigged Witch Hunt, headed now by 17 (increased from 13, including an Obama White House lawyer) Angry Democrats, was started by a fraudulent Dossier, paid for by Crooked Hillary and the DNC. Therefore, the Witch Hunt is an illegal Scam!”

These assertions have all been contradicted by Trump’s own FBI director and even by GOP congressional leaders.

It’s bad enough when a president of the United States tells the public nonstop lies. It’s worse when he impugns those who are pointing out he’s wrong — the second type of Trump lie.

An example of this second category occurred last week when Trump was speaking to a veterans group. “What you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening,” he said.

In other words, you should only trust me.

Trump is ramping up both kinds of lies — lies about the facts, and lies about those who are reporting the truth.

Both categories of lies are dangerous to a democracy. The first misleads the public. The second undermines the capacity of the public to discover they are being misled.

In the words of George Orwell, “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

For those who believe both kinds of lies, Trump (backed by his Fox News propaganda machine) is the only credible source of information in America. That means he can say anything at all and remain unaccountable.

In escalating his war on the media, Trump is also blocking unfriendly reporters from covering him.

Last week, newly installed Deputy Chief of Staff Bill Shine and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins she could not attend Trump’s open-media event in the Rose Garden because they objected to her questioning of Trump earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, Trump’s increasing attacks on the media are causing journalists to worry about their safety. New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger warned that the attacks were “contributing to a rise in threats against journalists and will lead to violence.”

Democracy is imperiled when a president of the United States tells bald-faced lies. It is doubly imperiled when a president convinces a portion of the public not to trust anyone who contradicts him.

As statesman and poet Vaclav Havel put it, “If the main pillar of the system is living a lie, then it is not surprising that the fundamental threat to it is living the truth.”

These two kinds of lies are becoming more common in Europe as well. Indeed, the central political divide in the West is no longer right or left as we’ve come to understand the terms since World War II — emphasizing choice between small or large government.

It is coming to be authoritarianism based on lies versus democracy based on truth.

Trump’s two kinds of lies are lending legitimacy to European leaders who are actively suppressing the truth to entrench their power, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Poland’s Law and Justice Party.

Close behind them, although not yet in power, are France’s Marine Le Pen and Britain’s Nigel Farage. Italy’s new deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, also falls into this category.

It is tempting to attribute the public’s willingness to believe lies to a growing disillusionment with global capitalism, especially the broken promise of higher standards of living.

Despite low unemployment, the median wage in the United States (adjusted for inflation) is barely higher than it was in the late 1970s, and economic insecurity is widespread. Europe still suffers high unemployment.

As in the 1930s, when global capitalism broke down, economic hardships fuel the rise of demagogues who direct anger and resentment toward scapegoats such as immigrants and minorities – lying about them with impunity.

Added to this has been a concerted effort by Russian President Vladimir Putin to attack democratic institutions across America and Europe. The aim of his cyber-warfare campaign is to confuse the public about both the truth and the reliability of truth-tellers.

The logical endpoint to both kinds of lies is fascism.

Few living today remember the birth of fascism in Europe and Soviet Russia in the 1930s. Maybe that explains why the free world seems relatively passive in the face of these current attacks on democracy and truth.

This is no time for passivity. The truth is still getting through to most people. But in sharp contrast to the 1930s, an American president is now helping lead the charge against it.

· *Why Wages Are Going Nowhere*

Monday, July 30, 2018

The official rate of unemployment in America has plunged to a remarkably low 3.8%. The Federal Reserve forecasts that the unemployment rate will reach 3.5% by the end of the year.

But the official rate hides more troubling realities: legions of college grads overqualified for their jobs, a growing number of contract workers with no job security, and an army of part-time workers desperate for full-time jobs. Almost 80% of Americans say they live from paycheck to paycheck, many not knowing how big their next one will be.

Blanketing all of this are stagnant wages and vanishing job benefits. The typical American worker now earns around $44,500 a year, not much more than what the typical worker earned in 40 years ago, adjusted for inflation. Although the US economy continues to grow, most of the gains have been going to a relatively few top executives of large companies, financiers, and inventors and owners of digital devices.

America doesn’t have a jobs crisis. It has a good jobs crisis.

When Republicans delivered their $1.5tn tax cut last December they predicted a big wage boost for American workers. Forget it. Wages actually dropped in the second quarter of this year.

Not even the current low rate of unemployment is forcing employers to raise wages. Contrast this with the late 1990s, the last time unemployment dipped close to where it is today, when the portion of national income going into wages was 3% points higher than it is today.

What’s going on? Simply put, the vast majority of American workers have lost just about all their bargaining power. The erosion of that bargaining power is one of the biggest economic stories of the past four decades, yet it’s less about supply and demand than about institutions and politics.

Two fundamental forces have changed the structure of the US economy, directly altering the balance of power between business and labor. The first is the increasing difficulty for workers of joining together in trade unions. The second is the growing ease by which corporations can join together in oligopolies or to form monopolies.

*What happened to unions*

By the mid-1950s more than a third of all private-sector workers in the United States were unionized. In subsequent decades public employees became organized, too. Employers were required by law not just to permit unions but to negotiate in good faith with them. This gave workers significant power to demand better wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions. (Agreements in unionized industries set the benchmarks for the non-unionized).

Yet starting in the 1980s and with increasing ferocity since then, private-sector employers have fought against unions. Ronald Reagan’s decision to fire the nation’s air-traffic controllers, who went on an illegal strike, signaled to private-sector employers that fighting unions was legitimate. A wave of hostile takeovers pushed employers to do whatever was necessary to maximize shareholder returns. Together, they ushered in an era of union-busting.

Employers have been firing workers who attempt to organize, threatening to relocate to more “business friendly” states if companies unionize, mounting campaigns against union votes, and summoning replacement workers when unionized workers strike. Employer groups have lobbied states to enact more so-called “right-to-work” laws that bar unions from requiring dues from workers they represent. A recent Supreme Court opinion delivered by the court’s five Republican appointees has extended the principle of “right-to-work” to public employees.

Today, fewer than 7% of private-sector workers are unionized, and public-employee unions are in grave jeopardy, not least because of the Supreme Court ruling. The declining share of total US income going to the middle since the late 1960s – defined as 50% above and 50% below the median – correlates directly with that decline in unionization. (See chart below).

Perhaps even more significantly, the share of total income going to the richest 10 percent of Americans over the last century is almost exactly inversely related to the share of the nation’s workers who are unionized. (See chart below). When it comes to dividing up the pie, most American workers today have little or no say. The pie is growing but they’re getting only the crumbs.

*What happened to antitrust*

Over the same period time, antitrust enforcement has gone into remission. The US government has essentially given a green light to companies seeking to gain monopoly power over digital platforms and networks (Google, Apple, Amazon, Facebook); wanting to merge into giant oligopolies (pharmaceuticals, health insurers, airlines, seed producers, food processors, military contractors, Wall Street banks, internet service providers); or intent on creating local monopolies (food distributors, waste disposal companies, hospitals).

This means workers are spending more on such goods and services than they would were these markets more competitive. It’s exactly as if their paychecks were cut. Concentrated economic power has also given corporations more ability to hold down wages, because workers have less choice of whom to work for. And it has let companies impose on workers provisions that further weaken their bargaining power, such as anti-poaching and mandatory arbitration agreements.

This great shift in bargaining power, from workers to corporations, has pushed a larger portion of national income into profits and a lower portion into wages than at any time since the second world war. In recent years, most of those profits have gone into higher executive pay and higher share prices rather than into new investment or worker pay. Add to this the fact that the richest 10% of Americans own about 80% of all shares of stock (the top 1% owns about 40%), and you get a broader picture of how and why inequality has widened so dramatically.

*What happened to politics*

Another consequence: corporations and wealthy individuals have had more money to pour into political campaigns and lobbying, while labor unions have had far less. In 1978, for example, congressional campaign contributions by labor Political Action Committees were on par with corporate PAC contributions. But since 1980, corporate PAC giving has grown at a much faster clip, and today the gulf is huge.

It is no coincidence that all three branches of the federal government, as well as most state governments, have become more “business-friendly” and less “worker-friendly” than at any time since the 1920s. As I’ve noted, Congress recently slashed the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%.

Meanwhile, John Roberts’ supreme court has more often sided with business interests in cases involving labor, the environment, or consumers than has any Supreme Court since the mid-1930s. Over the past year it not only ruled against public employee unions but also decided that workers cannot join together in class action suits when their employment contract calls for mandatory arbitration.

The federal minimum wage has not been increased since 2009, and is now about where it was in 1950 when adjusted for inflation. Trump’s labor department is busily repealing many rules and regulations designed to protect workers.

The combination of high corporate profits and growing corporate political power has created a vicious cycle: higher profits have generated more political influence, which has altered the rules of the game through legislative, congressional, and judicial action – enabling corporations to extract even more profit. The biggest losers, from whom most profits have been extracted, have been average workers.

America’s shift from farm to factory was accompanied by decades of bloody labor conflict.The shift from factory to office and other sedentary jobs created other social upheaval.

The more recent shift in bargaining power from workers to large corporations – and consequentially, the dramatic widening of inequalities of income, wealth, and political power – has had a more unfortunate and, I fear, more lasting consequence: an angry working class vulnerable to demagogues peddling authoritarianism, racism, and xenophobia.

[This article originally appeared in the July 29, 2018 edition of The Guardian, under the title “Almost 80 Percent of Americans Live From Paycheck to Paycheck. Here’s Why.”]

· Saturday, July 28, 2018

**6 REASONS FOR HOPE IN TRUMP TIMES**

In these darkest of days, here’s what gives me hope:

*First, Donald Trump has been a giant wake-up call that we can’t take democracy for granted.* The young people of America get this. I’ve been teaching for 40 years and I don’t recall a generation as committed to social justice, reforming this country, and making it work for all and not just a few.

Look at those kids in Parkland, Florida. Or the millions more who are getting involved in their communities and in politics. They are America’s future, and they won’t give up.

*The second thing that makes me optimistic is occurring at the grassroots of America, where there’s more activism than I remember in half a century.* The #MeToo movement, Time’s Up, #BlackLivesMatter, #Neveragain, the Poor People’s Campaign, Indivisible.org, swingleft.org.

They and thousands of other groups and millions of Americans are united by a commitment to end abuses of power – whether by sexual predators, or the police, the National Rifle Association, or billionaires out to undermine our democracy.

*Third, Fueled by Trump’s election, more women are running for office than ever before.* According to Emily’s List, more than 36,000 women are interested in running for office in 2018 and beyond. By comparison, 920 women contacted Emily’s List in the 2016 campaign.

*Fourth, I’m optimistic because America’s history shows that every time we’ve gotten off track, Americans mobilize to get our country back on track.* We did this after the Gilded Age of the 1880s and 1890s, when robber barons monopolized the economy; politics was poisoned by money; and poverty, and disease, and horrendous working conditions claimed thousands of lives each year.

We did it again in the Depression decade of the 1930s, after the economy collapsed because of Wall Street’s excesses. And again in the 1960s and 1970s, when we embraced civil rights and voting rights, Medicare and Medicaid, and environmental protection. If history teaches us anything, we will again reform this system.

*Fifth, I’m also optimistic because these grueling years of the Trump presidency have made us all realize how fragile our democracy really is, and what we need to reform*–from the Electoral College and super-delegates to gerrymandering, voter ID laws, and hacker-proof voting machinery.

And most of us now know how important it is to vote.

*Finally, I’m optimistic because I don’t like the alternative*. We must have hope.

The fate of this nation depends on every one of us becoming an activist, joining with others, and reclaiming this land from those bent on destroying it.

· Monday, July 23, 2018

**WE’RE LIVING A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS**

I keep hearing that if Trump fires Mueller, we’ll face a “constitutional crisis.” Or if Mueller subpoenas Trump to testify and Trump defies the subpoena, it’s a “constitutional crisis”. Or if Mueller delivers substantial evidence that Trump is guilty of colluding with Russia or of obstructing justice, and the House does nothing to impeach him, we have a “constitutional crisis.”

Well, I have news for you. We’re already in a “constitutional crisis.”

You see, the Constitution is a tiny document. It requires that presidents and others in positions of power be bound by norms, unwritten rules, and long-established understandings of their constitutional responsibilities.

Yet look at what’s happened since January 2017:

Trump fires the head of the FBI and conjures up a plot that the FBI installed a spy in his campaign; blames the entire Mueller investigation on a conspiratorial “deep state” that’s out to remove him from office; uses pardons to demonstrate to people already under investigation that they don’t need to cooperate because he can pardon them, too; and asserts that the appointment of the special counsel was unconstitutional, and that he has the power under the Constitution to end the investigation whenever he wants.

He initially denies that Russia intruded in the 2016 election, when all America’s intelligence agencies show it has; and even now asserts that they are not continuing to mount a cyberattack on America, when his intelligence chiefs say otherwise.

Beyond this, he berates judges who disagree with him, and journalists and news organizations that criticize him; uses the presidency like a personal fiefdom to enrich himself and his family; unilaterally breaks treaties, starts trade wars with long-standing allies, and cozies up to some of the most murderous dictators in the world; treats Americans who didn’t vote for him and disapprove of him as his enemies; and tweets and holds rallies with his followers that fuel division and hate.

There is no exact definition of a constitutional crisis. Presumably it’s when the United States Constitution is in crisis. And it is in crisis now, today, because the president of the United States is abusing it to entrench his power.

As long as he can get away with it, as long as Republicans who control Congress won’t stand up to him, as long as Americans who oppose this have no capacity to stop him, even though they may be in the majority, this rogue president will do more and more damage to our system of government. And the constitutional crisis will worsen.

A malignant megalomaniac facing no countervailing power will continue to expand his terrain until he is stopped.

The best response is to vote for a Congress this November that will constrain him. And then, in November 2020, vote him and his regime out of office.

If he refuses to accept the results of that election – as he threatened to do if he lost the 2016 election – he must be removed from office.

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**10 STEPS TO FINDING COMMON GROUND**

Trump has intentionally cleaved America into two warring camps: pro-Trump or anti-Trump. Most Americans aren’t passionate conservatives or liberals, Republicans or Democrats. But they have become impassioned for or against Trump.

As a result, people with different political views have stopped talking with each other. This is a huge problem because democracy depends on our capacity to deliberate together.

So what can we do–all of us–to begin talking across the great divide? Here are 10 suggestions:

1. *Don’t avoid political conversations with people who are likely to disagree with you, even in your own family.* To the contrary, seek them out and have those discussions.

2. *Don’t start by talking about Trump*. Start instead with “kitchen table” issues like stagnant wages, shrinking benefits, the escalating costs of health care, college, pharmaceuticals, housing.

3. *Make it personal*. Ask them about their own experiences and stories. Share yours. Try to find common ground.

4. *Ask them why they think all this has happened.* Listen carefully and let them know you’ve heard them.

5. *If they start blaming immigrants or African-Americans, or elites, or Democrats, or even Obama – stay cool.* Don’t tune out. Ask them about why they think these people are responsible.

6. *Gradually turn the conversation into one about power – who has it, who doesn’t. *Ask about their own experiences at work, what’s happened to their jobs, how others among their families and friends are treated.

7. *Ask them about the roles of big corporations and Wall Street*. For example:

–Why is it that when corporations and Wall Street firms violate the law, no executive goes to jail?

–Why did Wall Street get bailed out during the financial crisis but homeowners caught in the downdraft didn’t get help?

–Why do big oil, big agriculture, big Pharma, and Wall Street hedge-fund managers get special subsidies and tax loopholes?

8. *Get a discussion going about how the system is organized, for whom, and how it’s been changing*. For example:

–Why is it that only 4 major airlines fly today when a few years ago there were 12? Why are there only 4 Internet service providers?

–How is this increasing concentration of economic power across the entire economy driving up prices?

–Why are pharmaceutical companies and health insurers able to charge more and more?

–Why can corporations and their top executives declare bankruptcy and have their debts forgiven, when bankruptcy isn’t available to people laden with student debt or to homeowners who can’t meet their payments?

–Why are the biggest benefits from the tax cut going to billionaires?

9. *Then get to the core issue: Do they think any of this has to do with big money in politics?*

–Is the system rigged? And if so, who’s doing the rigging, and why?

–How can average people be heard when there’s so much big money in politics? Should we try to get big money out of politics?

–And if so, how do we do it?

Notice, you’re not using labels. You’re not talking about Democrats or Republicans, left or right, capitalism or socialism, government or free market. You’re not even talking about Trump.

You’re starting with the everyday experiences of most people–with their wages and living expenses and experiences on the job– and from there moving to economic and political power.

10. *Oh, and don’t forget to use humor*. Humor is the great disinfectant. For example, the Supreme Court says corporations are people. Well, you’ll believe they’re people when Texas executes a corporation.

Remember, the point isn’t to convince them you’re right and they’re wrong. It’s to get us thinking about what’s really happening to America. It’s exposing the abuses of power all around us.

If we can join together around these fundamental issues, we will all win

**TRUMP AND THE ART OF THE NO DEAL**

Donald Trump promised to be America’s dealmaker-in-chief, touting his “extraordinary” ability to negotiate. But so far, Trump has shown he can’t make a deal. Here’s the list of biggest no-deals:

*1. No deal with North Korea*. Following his summit with Kim Jong Un, Trump declared on Twitter that “there is no longer a nuclear threat” from North Korea. But in fact, there’s no deal. Kim conceded nothing on weapons and missile programs. Recent satellite imagery shows North Korea is actually improving its nuclear capability.

*2. No deal with Russia. *At the Helsinki summit, Russia agreed to nothing. But Trump gave away the store, even casting doubt on Russia’s collusion in the 2016 election in the face of the conclusions of America’s own intelligence agencies.

3. *No deal with China on trade.* Instead, we’re on the brink of a trade war with China, which is retaliating against U.S. tariffs.

4. *No deal with Europe on trade*. Instead, Europe has merely agreed to negotiate towards a resolution of the trade war Trump provoked in the first place.

5. *No deal on Iran*. Trump announced America’s exit from the Iran nuclear deal. Since then, no negotiations.

6. *No deal on climate change*. Trump simply pulled out of the Paris accords. There have been no negotiations since.

7. *No deal with the Group of 7 leading economic powers*. Instead, Trump just pulled out of the joint communique.

8. *No deal on immigration or the DREAMers.* Trump promised a new immigration bill, and a new deal from the young people brought to America as children. But since then, nothing.

9. *No budget deal with Congress.* The government is still operating under a “continuing resolution.”

10. *No deal on replacing the Affordable Care Act.* Trump promised to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act. But there’s been no repeal, and no replacement. He and the Republican Congress never agreed to a new plan.

11. *No deal on gun control*. After the Parkland shooting, Trump promised to tighten background checks for gun buyers and said he’d consider raising the age for buying certain types of guns. Instead, he bowed to the NRA.

Bottom line: Trump can’t make deals. He can only pull out of deals already made, or pretend he’s made deals that soon evaporate, or give away the store.

He’s perfected the art of the no deal.

**THE BIGGEST THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY THAT YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF**

**

*The biggest threat to our democracy that nobody is talking about is the real possibility of a rogue Constitutional convention – empowering extremists to radically reshape the Constitution, our laws, and our country.*

If just a few more states sign on to what’s called an “Article V convention” for a balanced budget amendment, there’s no limit to the damage they might do.

Let me explain.

There are 2 ways to amend the United States Constitution: One way – the way we’ve passed every amendment since the Bill of Rights – is for two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate to vote for a proposed amendment, and then have it ratified by at least three quarters of the states – now 38 in number.

But there’s a second way to amend the Constitution. Two thirds of the states may demand that Congress form a constitutional convention to propose amendments.

Once such a constitutional convention is convened, there are no rules to limit or constrain what comes next.

Amendments proposed by an Article V convention are supposed to be ratified by 38 states. But convention delegates could hijack the process and change the ratification process itself, tossing out the 38 state requirement.

A balanced budget amendment would be crazy enough. But nothing would be safe. A woman’s right to choose. Marriage equality. First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press. Equal protection of the laws. Checks and balances.

An Article V convention would allow delegates to write their own agenda into our Constitution.

Already 28 states have called for a constitutional convention. They only need 6 more to succeed.

Unlimited money in politics and partisan gerrymandering have already given Republicans control of a majority of state legislatures. Big money interests like the Koch Brothers and ALEC are investing heavily in the push for a constitutional convention – which means that they’d be calling the shots if one takes place.

You’re probably already overwhelmed with political actions you need to take. But, believe me, this is important. With just a few states to go, your voice is needed. Please tell your state lawmakers to reject calls for an Article V convention.

**THE ROADBLOCK TO COMMON SENSE PENSION REFORM**

55 million Americans — about half of the entire private-sector workforce — have no employer-sponsored retirement plan at all. Many work for small businesses in the low-wage service and hospitality sectors. If they don’t save money independently, they will have nothing when they stop working.

This is very different from four decades ago when most workers retired with a company pension.

The good news is that several states – including Oregon, California, Illinois, Connecticut, and Maryland — now let such workers put money away in state-sponsored retirement plans that allow them to withdraw their accumulated savings, tax free, when they hit retirement.

The bad news is that the investment industry is aggressively seeking to block these plans, fearing the competition.

That’s because the fees charged by most state retirement plans are capped at around 1 percent – much lower than the fees of similar plans operated by banks and investment companies. And state fees are expected to drop even lower as more workers enroll.

If each of America’s 40 million retirees saved on average $50,000 in the state program, they’d have an additional $20 billion in the first year. That’s $20 billion more in the pockets of retirees, not financial institutions.

Right now, the industry’s efforts appear to be winning.

Republicans in Congress – backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a coalition of Wall Street investment firms – are seeking to block states from implementing these plans at all.

Investment and insurance companies are also spending like mad on election campaigns of friendly state legislators and threatening lawsuits. Which is why many proposed state-run retirement plans are languishing in statehouses around the country.

Folks, the anger and frustration that led to Trump continues to simmer. If we allow the moneyed interests to block common-sense reforms like this, in future years, America could face an even worse fate than Trump.

When you vote in November, vote for legislators who want to allow workers to save for retirement and against legislators who are shills for the financial sector.

**6 REASONS FOR HOPE IN TRUMP TIMES**

In these darkest of days, here’s what gives me hope:

*First, Donald Trump has been a giant wake-up call that we can’t take democracy for granted.* The young people of America get this. I’ve been teaching for 40 years and I don’t recall a generation as committed to social justice, reforming this country, and making it work for all and not just a few.

Look at those kids in Parkland, Florida. Or the millions more who are getting involved in their communities and in politics. They are America’s future, and they won’t give up.

*The second thing that makes me optimistic is occurring at the grassroots of America, where there’s more activism than I remember in half a century.* The #MeToo movement, Time’s Up, #BlackLivesMatter, #Neveragain, the Poor People’s Campaign, Indivisible.org, swingleft.org.

They and thousands of other groups and millions of Americans are united by a commitment to end abuses of power – whether by sexual predators, or the police, the National Rifle Association, or billionaires out to undermine our democracy.

*Third, Fueled by Trump’s election, more women are running for office than ever before.* According to Emily’s List, more than 36,000 women are interested in running for office in 2018 and beyond. By comparison, 920 women contacted Emily’s List in the 2016 campaign.

*Fourth, I’m optimistic because America’s history shows that every time we’ve gotten off track, Americans mobilize to get our country back on track.* We did this after the Gilded Age of the 1880s and 1890s, when robber barons monopolized the economy; politics was poisoned by money; and poverty, and disease, and horrendous working conditions claimed thousands of lives each year.

We did it again in the Depression decade of the 1930s, after the economy collapsed because of Wall Street’s excesses. And again in the 1960s and 1970s, when we embraced civil rights and voting rights, Medicare and Medicaid, and environmental protection. If history teaches us anything, we will again reform this system.

*Fifth, I’m also optimistic because these grueling years of the Trump presidency have made us all realize how fragile our democracy really is, and what we need to reform*–from the Electoral College and super-delegates to gerrymandering, voter ID laws, and hacker-proof voting machinery.

And most of us now know how important it is to vote.

*Finally, I’m optimistic because I don’t like the alternative*. We must have hope.

The fate of this nation depends on every one of us becoming an activist, joining with others, and reclaiming this land from those bent on destroying it.

**WE’RE LIVING A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS**

I keep hearing that if Trump fires Mueller, we’ll face a “constitutional crisis.” Or if Mueller subpoenas Trump to testify and Trump defies the subpoena, it’s a “constitutional crisis”. Or if Mueller delivers substantial evidence that Trump is guilty of colluding with Russia or of obstructing justice, and the House does nothing to impeach him, we have a “constitutional crisis.”

Well, I have news for you. We’re already in a “constitutional crisis.”

You see, the Constitution is a tiny document. It requires that presidents and others in positions of power be bound by norms, unwritten rules, and long-established understandings of their constitutional responsibilities.

Yet look at what’s happened since January 2017:

Trump fires the head of the FBI and conjures up a plot that the FBI installed a spy in his campaign; blames the entire Mueller investigation on a conspiratorial “deep state” that’s out to remove him from office; uses pardons to demonstrate to people already under investigation that they don’t need to cooperate because he can pardon them, too; and asserts that the appointment of the special counsel was unconstitutional, and that he has the power under the Constitution to end the investigation whenever he wants.

He initially denies that Russia intruded in the 2016 election, when all America’s intelligence agencies show it has; and even now asserts that they are not continuing to mount a cyberattack on America, when his intelligence chiefs say otherwise.

Beyond this, he berates judges who disagree with him, and journalists and news organizations that criticize him; uses the presidency like a personal fiefdom to enrich himself and his family; unilaterally breaks treaties, starts trade wars with long-standing allies, and cozies up to some of the most murderous dictators in the world; treats Americans who didn’t vote for him and disapprove of him as his enemies; and tweets and holds rallies with his followers that fuel division and hate.

There is no exact definition of a constitutional crisis. Presumably it’s when the United States Constitution is in crisis. And it is in crisis now, today, because the president of the United States is abusing it to entrench his power.

As long as he can get away with it, as long as Republicans who control Congress won’t stand up to him, as long as Americans who oppose this have no capacity to stop him, even though they may be in the majority, this rogue president will do more and more damage to our system of government. And the constitutional crisis will worsen.

A malignant megalomaniac facing no countervailing power will continue to expand his terrain until he is stopped.

The best response is to vote for a Congress this November that will constrain him. And then, in November 2020, vote him and his regime out of office.

If he refuses to accept the results of that election – as he threatened to do if he lost the 2016 election – he must be removed from office.

**IS TRUMP A TRAITOR?**

Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki was a betrayal of the nation he has a sworn duty to protect.

Under Article III Section 3 of the Constitution, the crime of treason is defined as “giving aid and comfort” to enemies of the United States. Trump has betrayed the American people in 5 ways we already know of:

1. *He ignores attacks on our democracy*. According to American intelligence, there’s no doubt about Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. And no doubt they’re continuing to attack, and planning further attacks, on our democratic institutions and even our energy infrastructure.

Yet Trump casts doubt about the conclusions of the intelligence community, blames past presidents, and turns a blind eye to safeguarding America from current and future attacks.

2. *He publicly undermines U.S. intelligence officials* – taking the side of Putin, a former KGB officer, when Putin claims Russia didn’t interfere in the election. And Trump accuses his own government officials of being part of a so-called “deep-state” conspiracy out to get him.

3.* He attacks our closest allies, weakening America’s standing in the world and playing into Putin’s hands*. During his trip to Europe, Trump insulted German Chancellor Angela Merkel, mocked British Prime Minister Theresa May, and was rebuked by the French President. His unreasonable demands on NATO – that members increase their military expenditures to 4 percent of their GDPs – have frayed our most important security alliance.

4. *His campaign knowingly sought help from a Russian agent.* In June, 2016, senior members of Trump’s campaign, including Don Jr., Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort, met with a Russian lawyer who, before they met, had promised them damaging information on Clinton.

5. *Then in July 2016 Trump publicly encouraged Russia to meddle in our election,* asking Russia to hack Hillary Clinton’s email server and release the emails to the public. That same day Russian operatives initiated their cyberattack, and weeks later released the emails.

Never before has a President of the United States so brazenly sided with a ruthless dictator intent on destroying American democracy.

If this is not treason, what is it?

**THE FOG OF TRUMP**

Trump uses 5 tactics to create a fog of confusion and bewilderment, so we don’t pay attention to the real damage he’s doing – undermining our democracy; rewarding the rich and hurting the working class, middle class, and the poor; stoking hatefulness; and undercutting America’s standing in the world.

1. *His first tactic is to distract us – dominate the news with tweets and rants, accusations, who he’s fired, who he’s insulted, what he’s demanded*. He wants us to be so preoccupied with all this that we lose sight of the big picture.

2. *His second tactic is to divide and conquer, pitting groups against each other, riling up his base, stoking racial tensions, and vilifying opponents.* He targets transgender people in the military. Goes after athletes – mostly black – who won’t stand for the anthem. Fuels fears of immigrants and foreigners, of liberals and Democrats. This way, public dialogue and discussion becomes so angry, bitter, and vitriolic that we end up shouting at each other instead of seeing the damage Trump is actually doing.

3. *His third tactic is to lie and distort*. He generates a torrent of “alternative facts” so we become disoriented and confused. Asserting that 3 to 5 million people fraudulently voted for Hillary Clinton in the last election, with no evidence they did. That unauthorized immigrants are responsible for a disproportionate number of murders and rapes. That climate change isn’t caused by people. His goal is for us to lose confidence in the truth so we can’t be sure of what he’s doing.

4. *Fourth: conjure up conspiracies*. He fuels paranoia about a “deep state” that’s intent on removing him from office, engaged in a “witch hunt” to undermine him, plotting to impeach him. But he never identifies who or what this “deep state” actually is. The mere assertion of a conspiracy is enough to generate suspicion, erode trust in the political system and in the media, and sow doubts about anyone who criticizes him or any findings that could show he acted illegally.

5. *Fifth and finally: accuse the accusers.* He alleges that others are doing what he is in fact doing. When the media catch him in a lie, he accuses them of disseminating fake news. He allows corporate lobbyists to run departments and agencies, and then accuses critics of being part of the Washington swamp. He seeks to cover up whatever he and his aides did with Russian operatives, and then accuses investigators of a being involved in a coverup.

These 5 tactics are all designed to hide what Trump is actually doing so we don’t mobilize against him. Be aware. Don’t allow Trump’s fog to cloud the truth.

** 7 TRUTHS ABOUT IMMIGRATION**

1. A record high of 75 percent of Americans now say immigration is a “good thing” for the country.

2. America needs more immigrants, not fewer, because our population is rapidly aging.

3. Historically, new immigrants have contributed more to society in taxes than they have taken from society in terms of public assistance.

4. Most immigrants don’t take jobs away from native-born Americans. To the contrary, their spending creates more jobs.

5. Trump’s claim that undocumented immigrants generate more crime is dead wrong. Both legal and undocumented immigrants are significantly less likely to commit crimes than people born in the United States.

6. Violent crime rates in America are actually at historical lows, with the homicide rate back to its level from the early 1960s.

7. Illegal border crossings have been declining since 2014 – long before Trump’s “crackdown.” There is no “surge” in illegal immigration.

Please spread the truth.

**HOW TO PREVENT FUTURE TRUMPS**

Why did so many working class voters choose a selfish, thin-skinned, petulant, lying, narcissistic, boastful, megalomaniac for president?

It’s important to know, because we need to stop more Trumps in the future.

The answer lies in the interplay between deep-seated racism and stagnant and declining wages. Both must be addressed.

Some white working class men and women were – and still are – receptive to Trump’s bigotry.  But what made them receptive? Racism and xenophobia aren’t exactly new to American life. Fears of blacks and immigrants have been with us since the founding of the Republic.

What changed was the economy. Since the 1980s, the wages and economic prospects of the typical American worker have stagnated. Nearly 80 percent now live paycheck to paycheck, and those paychecks have grown less secure.

Meanwhile, all the economy’s gains have gone to the richest ten percent, mostly the top 1 percent. Wealthy individuals and big corporations have, in turn, invested some of those gains into politics.

As a result, big money now calls the shots in Washington – getting subsidies, tax breaks, tax loopholes (even Trump promised to close the “carried interest” loophole yet it remains), and bailouts.

The near meltdown of Wall Street in 2008 caused a recession that cost millions their jobs, homes, and savings. But the Street got bailed out and not a single Wall Street executive went to jail.

In the two years leading up to the 2016 election, I revisited many of the places I had visited when I was labor secretary in the 1990s.

People told me the system was “rigged” against them. A surprising number said they planned to vote either for Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump – the two anti-establishment candidates who promised to “shake up” Washington.

But Trump’s racism and xenophobia focused the cumulative economic rage on scapegoats that had nothing to do with its causes. It was hardly the first time in history a demagogue has used this playbook.

If America doesn’t respond to the calamity that’s befallen the working class, we will have Trumps as far as the eye can see.

A few Democrats are getting the message – pushing ambitious ideas like government-guaranteed full employment, single-payer health care, industry-wide collective bargaining, and a universal basic income.

We also need ways to finance these things, such as a carbon tax, a tax on Wall Street trades, and a progressive tax on wealth.

To accomplish all this we have to get big money out of politics.

Even if “Citizens United” isn’t overruled, big money’s influence can be limited with generous public financing of elections, full disclosure of the source of all campaign contributions, and a clampdown on the revolving door between business and government.

Trump isn’t the cause of what’s happened to America. He’s the consequence – the product of years of stagnant wages and big money’s corruption of our democracy combined with a long legacy of racism and bigotry.

If we really want to stop Trump and prevent future Trumps, we will need to address these causes of Trump’s rise.

**What We Must Do Now**

My friends, this is a dark hour. Intolerance, cruelty, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and environmental destruction have been let loose across the land.

Trump controls the Republican Party, the Republican Party controls the House and Senate, and Trump may soon control the Supreme Court.

But here’s the thing. Only 27 percent of Americans are Republican, according to the Gallop Poll.

Moreover, the vast majority of Americans disapprove of Trump. He lost the popular vote in 2016 by 2.8 million. Since then, his approval ratings haven’t exceeded 45 percent.

The GOP itself is no longer a political party, anyway. It is now little more than Donald Trump, Fox News, a handful of billionaire funders, and rightwing Christians who oppose a woman’s right to choose, gay marriage, and the Constitution’s separation of church and state.

Yet Trump is about to make the second Supreme Court nomination of his presidency. And that second nominee – like Trump’s first, Neil Gorsuch – is likely to be young enough to remain on the Court for the next 40 years.

If confirmed, Trump’s new justice would join four other Republican-appointed justices to form a majority that will interpret the U.S. Constitution and laws in ways inimical to the values of a majority of Americans.

For example, Trump’s new justice is all but certain to join the four other Republican-appointed justices in overturning Roe v. Wade, a 1973 compromise on abortion that still has the support of two-thirds of Americans.

Trump’s new justice is likely to do the same in revoking same-sex marriage, also now supported by about two-thirds of Americans.

I don’t have to remind you that this comes after Republicans essentially stole a Supreme Court seat by refusing to consider President Barack Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland.

In addition to everything I’ve noted above, Republicans also now control both chambers in 32 states (33 if you count Nebraska) and 33 governorships.

In many of these states they are entrenching their power by gerrymandering and arranging to suppress votes.

Enough. The question is what are we – the vast majority – to going to do about t Reported by Eurasia Review 12 hours ago.

[India], Aug 14 (NewsVoir): Veteran gaming head for JV with Alibaba group company, Dushyant Saraswat has launched his own skill-based games business which offers multiplayer, free-to-play cash Reported by Sify 43 minutes ago.

Veteran gaming head for JV with Alibaba group company, *Dushyant Saraswat *has launched his own skill-based games business which offers multiplayer, free-to-play cash games with www.mindhuntergames.com.

 
*Mindhunter - A Skill-based Cash Games Platform*

 

The team is going to focus on Skill-based games and gamification around e-commerce business and will be expanding to multiple South Asian countries soon. The team is 20 members strong and based out of the tech town of Pune.

 

The co-founders are *Dushyant Saraswat* who had previously put together the JV with AGTech and Paytm (link to EnTrackr) and has lead Gaming business with firms like Disney India and Zapak (Reliance ADA Group) and Xerxes Mullan who has been a boutique game studio focussed on high quality Augmented reality and other high quality mobile gaming content for multiple international game publishers.

Currently, their website www.mindhuntergames.com is running a range of skill-based Trivia games, some of them free to play. Interestingly they seem to have adopted HTML5 as the key strategy for distribution over having an app.
 

*Dushyant Saraswat, CEO & Co-founder of Mindhunter Games Technologies Pvt. Ltd*. said, "India is now the second largest smart-phone owning population in the world. This will lead to a great uptake on content especially around gaming. This unique combination where gaming meets commerce with incredible payments features will be something we are keen to build as a showcase and a strong business railroad from India, for Indians and then eventually take it to other markets."

 

*Xerxes Mullan*, *CTO & Co-founder* said, "The next successful models will be built by passionate gamers and will be grown inside out. We are excited that all the games that you see on our portal have been designed by us from original ideas by the co-founders over the years. This is the coming of age for Indian gaming companies. I'm excited that that together we bring together decades of experience on deep game development & monetisation married to a platform play, to India."

 

*About Mindhunter Games*

Mindhunter Games is a live trivia quiz game, that lets you learn and earn at the same time! Get instant cash credited into your Paytm wallet every day just by answering a series of questions across different genres. All you have to do is register/signup using your mobile number and then choose between the options of Cash Blast, Mega Shark and Pool Prize to proceed.

  Reported by NewsVoir 6 hours ago.

ConstructConnect, The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Hanley Wood Media collaborate with sponsors to improve a Houston women’s substance abuse treatment and recovery center

CINCINNATI (PRWEB) August 14, 2018

Many companies, including YKK AP, USG, Vinyl Institute, Kawneer and Formica have made significant contributions to help renovate the Santa Maria Hostel in Houston. The women’s substance abuse treatment and recovery center was chosen earlier this year as the recipient of AEC Cares’ eighth annual blitz build, projectHouston, which will take place on October 5, 2018.

The Santa Maria Hostel is one of Texas’ largest multi-site residential and outpatient treatment centers, serving over 4,640 individuals in 2017 for addictions, homelessness, incarceration, abuse and other traumas. Its mission is to empower women and their families to lead healthy, productive and self-fulfilling lives.

“AEC Cares projectHouston is a wonderful opportunity for us to work with talented professionals to re-design and renovate our location so that we can give our residents a beautiful, functional space in which to begin their recovery journey,” said Nadine Scamp, Santa Maria Hostel CEO.

ConstructConnect, one of the leading providers of construction information in North America, AIA and Hanley Wood Media have joined forces the past eight years for the AEC Cares’ blitz build, an annual building project that provides community support for worthwhile projects across the United States.

“We at ConstructConnect are proud of the $2.5M+ worth of renovations that AEC Cares has contributed to needy communities throughout the US over the past seven years,” explained Laura Marlow ConstructConnect vice president of strategic partnerships and AEC Cares executive director. “We’re looking forward to rolling up our sleeves with local architects, engineers, GC’s, product manufacturers and other volunteers to renovate the Santa Maria Hostel in Houston. Together, we’ll help to give these ladies and their children a brighter, more attractive environment in which to build a better life.”

Past AEC Cares projects include the following:· New Orleans (2011) – rebuilt five homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina
· Washington D. C. (2012) – revitalized the training center at Sasha Bruce YouthWorks
· Denver (2013) – renovated over $250,000 of improvements to a veterans’ homeless shelter
· Chicago (2014) – transformed a 30-year-old former school into a low income early-learning center
· Atlanta (2015) – renovated a shelter dedicated to homeless and runaway youths
· Philadelphia (2016) – revitalized several rooms at the Philadelphia Athletic Recreation Center
· Orlando (2017) - upgraded several areas in the women’s center at the Coalition for the Homeless

Additional projectHouston sponsors this year include MAPEI, Assemble Systems, DesignIntelligence and Wells & Kimich, Inc.

To sponsor the AEC Cares project or to find additional information, visit aeccares.com.

About ConstructConnect
ConstructConnect is a leading provider of construction information and technology solutions in North America and is committed to transforming the way the construction industry does business by providing its customers the tools, information and connections needed to drive their success. ConstructConnect brings the construction industry together with the most complete, accurate and actionable construction data and tools to drive success in national, regional and local markets. For more information, visit constructconnect.com.

About AEC Cares
AEC Cares is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation actively supported by ConstructConnect with the AIA and Hanley Wood, generous sponsors, donors, and volunteers. Bringing together architects, contractors, manufacturers and industry professionals from across the United States and Canada, AEC Cares works to create positive change through meaningful projects that benefit a new community every year. To learn more about AEC Cares, visit aeccares.com. Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.

A free tome to empower engineers with the knowledge needed to understand the complexities of the PCB design process.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (PRWEB) August 14, 2018

EMA Design Automation® (http://www.ema-eda.com), a full-service provider and innovator of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) solutions, today announced the launching of its new and free eBook titled, "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to PCB Design", a timely and much-needed resource for electrical engineers seeking to understand the complexities involved in PCB design.

“The role of the electrical engineer in PCB design is changing,” said Manny Marcano, president and CEO of EMA. “EE’s are now being tasked with ownership of the full PCB design process from concept through manufacturing. Unfortunately, many of the skills and knowledge needed is not taught in the classroom leaving new engineers unprepared for the responsibilities being asked of them. The goal of this eBook is to empower the newer generation of PCB design engineers and enable them to take on this additional role knowing they have the foundation required to make sound design decisions.”

"The Hitchhiker’s Guide to PCB Design" is a play off the original Douglas Adams novel and offers a cheeky, easy-to-understand dive into the PCB design and manufacturing process. The eBook takes the reader on the journey of Ian, a new EE getting his footing in PCB design. In Ian’s first project, he makes some major mistakes which produces a design that cannot be manufactured. However, thanks to the input and advice of several industry veterans, Ian is given a crash course on how to design a successful, manufacturable board and assembly.

With over 100 pages of real-world, actionable tips from experienced industry professionals and several checklists, detailed graphics, and links to additional resources, engineers are provided with the foundational knowledge needed for design success, no matter what CAD software they may use.

This eBook will help engineers learn how to identify and communicate effectively with key stakeholders, set up a successful design workflow, and avoid common design missteps, addressing such items as:· How to create a robust and manufacturable PCB layout beyond routing the rats
· Who your project stakeholders are and why their involvement is essential for design success
· Why it's important to incorporate DFX (Design for Excellence) and the many topics it covers
· Design best practices you need to know and more!

"The Hitchhiker’s Guide to PCB Design" is something every person interested in PCB design should have. To download the eBook for free, readers can visit: go.ema-eda.com/PCBGuide. For more information about EMA, go to http://www.ema-eda.com or call 585.334.6001.

About EMA Design Automation, Inc.

EMA Design Automation is a trailblazer in product development solutions offering a complete range of EDA tools, PLM integrations, services, training, and technical support. EMA is a Cadence® Channel Partner serving all of North America. EMA develops Ultra Librarian®, TimingDesigner®, CircuitSpace®, CIP™, EDABuilder®, and a host of custom solutions to enhance the OrCAD products, and all are distributed through a worldwide network of value added resellers. EMA is a privately held corporation headquartered in Rochester, New York. Visit EMA at http://www.ema-eda.com for more information.

EMA Design Automation, TimingDesigner, CircuitSpace, EDABuilder, Ultra Librarian and the EMA logo
are registered trademarks, and Component Information Portal is a trademark of EMA Design Automation, Inc.
Cadence, Allegro, and OrCAD are registered trademarks of Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
All other trademarks in this release are the property of their respective owners. Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.

After the deluge, this morning is a picnic. Good tidings, folks, and let's get on with it. Oh boy. The hot frying fat has spattered at Nike. A class-action lawsuit raises questions about groping, naked pictures, complaints ignored … Read more about it from the Portland Business Journal.  About a million military veterans will get Comcast's Internet Essential, its low-cost, high-speed service. "Veterans have stood up for our country, now it's time for us to stand up for them," said Comcast… Reported by bizjournals 2 hours ago.