James L. Paris's Blog, page 123
November 26, 2016
Teachers Unions Find Many Members Were Trump Voters
Going into Election Day, there was a not-insignificant amount of speculation regarding the idea that Donald Trump might actually defeat Hillary on the strength of what some saw as ���secret��� Trump voters - people who were quietly supporting the Republican nominee while many in their various circles appeared to be vocal fans of Hillary.
Well, as the dust settles on the election, and details about just what took place come into focus, it seems as though the idea of secret Trump voters may, indeed, be valid.
Some proof to that effect can be found in the voting results posted by the memberships of America���s teachers unions: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the National Education Association (NEA).
According to an article over at USA Today, although both unions endorsed the Democratic nominee for president and were otherwise enthusiastic supporters of her candidacy for president, it does not appear that everyone who makes up the rank and file went along with the recommendation of union leadership.
While the final numbers are still being crunched, estimates reveal that roughly 20 percent of the membership of the AFT voted for Trump, while over 30 percent of the NEA���s members did the same.
More broadly, although the vast majority of America���s biggest labor unions were ���all in��� for Clinton almost as soon her campaign began in earnest, exit polls indicate that she bested Trump among union households by a rather modest margin of 51% to 43%.
In trying to explain the defeat of Clinton, Randi Weingarten, the president of the AFT, believes sexism is the principal reason she lost, saying, ���Frankly I was always concerned about whether the country was ready to have a female president. There was an intensity of hatred that male political figures never get. So I think we���re never really going to understand it.���
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
Values-Based Investing Demonstrates Acute Success in Emerging Markets
So-called values-based investing, better known in days past as socially-responsible investing, involves making decisions about which stocks to buy and sell in consideration, at least partly, of the company���s track record with respect to environmental , social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues. It has not, however, been a popular paradigm for many investors, historically.
The knock on this kind of investing has been the tepid (at best) returns realized from applying great weight to these factors. In other words, the predominant view is that investors have been best-served by paying attention to the underlying fundamentals of companies, as well as the markets, overall, and that such should be the limit of what is evaluated on behalf of prospective portfolio transactions.
As it happens, that outlook may be changing.
According to an article at CNBC.com, while values-based, or ESG, investing is still struggling to gain traction in developed markets, it is showing signs of resonating with folks who are investing in those parts of the world still working toward full economic maturity. A look at the data reveals that while the broad-based MSCI Emerging Markets index was up 9.7 percent over the 12-month period ending October 31, the MSCI Emerging Markets ESG index rose 14.7 percent during the same time.
While there is no clear-cut explanation for why ESG-based investing has been yielding such beneficial results in emerging markets, one theory says that investors see companies with high ESG scores as having greater sustained viability in economic environments that are more distressed, inherently. Such a difference (between companies with low and high ESG scores) is not going to be as great in developed markets, it is thought, where even those firms that do not place an explicit premium on ESG factors are still more likely, by virtue of the broad culture in which they operate, to fall on the right side of values-oriented considerations.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
November 25, 2016
Biggest Black Friday Discounts, Overall, By Store and Product Category
There���s a lot of ways to shop for Black Friday deals.
One way, of course, is to go down through your Christmas shopping list, item by item, and work diligently to find the lowest price for each of the presents you plan to purchase.
Another way, though, that might be very helpful, depending on your list and on how you are able to shop, is to simply know which stores are offering the biggest savings, both overall as well as by product category, and do much, or even all, of your shopping at a couple of those.
If that information will really help you out, then Lifehacker has you covered. The weblog is highlighting the results of WalletHub���s recent survey of more than 8,000 deals from Black Friday ad scans to determine which stores are sources of the greatest savings.
For starters, here are the five retailers handing shoppers the biggest discounts, without regard to product category:
Macy���s: 63.4%
Stage: 62.8%
JCPenney: 62.8%
Harbor Freight: 62.6%
Gordmans: 61.6%
There���s more, though���a lot more. For example, here are the five retailers offering the deepest discounts in apparel and accessories:
Gordmans: 67.4%
Stage: 64.5%
JCPenney: 60.7%
Shopko: 59.4%
Macy���s: 59.0%
And these five stores are providing the best deals when it comes to computers and phones:
Kmart: 54.9%
JCPenney: 49.0%
Office Depot and OfficeMax: 41.3%
Walmart: 37.2%
Meijer: 37.0%
To learn more, including the retailers offering the deepest discounts in product categories like consumer electronics, toys, and appliances, visit the link embedded in this story���and happy shopping!
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
Many Leading Retailers Now Offering the Same In-Store Black Friday Deals Online
The wealth of Black Friday deals available online continues to grow.
In an item appearing over at USA Today, NerdWallet���s Courtney Jespersen reports that the number of shoppers who will buy gifts online this holiday season is expected to be greater than ever, if the results of Deloitte���s annual holiday survey ring true.
As the battle for market share continues to grow fiercer among retailers, many are responding to the continually-increasing trend toward online shopping by making available to cybershoppers the same great deals they would find if they ventured into physical store locations.
A growing number of retail���s biggest names are mirroring in-store Black Friday deals at their representative websites, including:
Target
Kohl���s
Sam���s Club
J.C. Penney
Staples
Walmart
Additionally, it is expected that with the increasing number of Black Friday deals online, Cyber Monday will become less of a ���must-do��� for online shoppers. For years, the Monday following Thanksgiving has been earmarked as Black Friday for online shoppers, providing a separate opportunity for consumers to save big online as they did the previous Friday when they ventured out into stores. Now, however, with the continued blurring of the lines between online and offline Black Friday shopping, the importance of being available to shop at your computer on Cyber Monday is likely to diminish.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
November 24, 2016
Should You Buy A 4K TV?
If you have not heard, the hot item this year is the 4K television (also called 4K Ultra HD). What is it? Well, the simple answer is that it is a super high resolution TV. The more technical answer is that 4K has nearly 4,000 pixels of resolution (compared to the 1080 resolution of a standard HDTV). As you will see in some of our other articles on Black Friday, the 4K TV is a major featured item this year and also represents a popular 'door buster' as well.
My wife and I really enjoy these new programs with multiple episodes that both Netflix and Amazon are producing. In fact, I will share with you that I am in 'crisis mode' as I just finished a four season show and need a new one (any recommendations?). So, I thought maybe a 4K TV would be nice to have under the Paris Christmas tree this year. BUT, after doing a little reading and research, I decided not to buy one.
Just as with other new technologies, experts say that the 4K TVs in stores today are early versions that will see tremendous improvements in the next year or two. Additionally, being the new hot item is keeping the prices on the higher side. The big deal breaker for me, however, was realizing that there are presently not that many 4K programs available. So, if you have a 4K TV and are watching a program that is being streamed to you at the 1080 resolution, you will not gain anything in viewing resolution (this includes cable TV, which is presently providing a 1080 resolution stream for the most part). What is deceiving about this is that retailers will be displaying these TVs with a 4K movie or demo playing. This creates the illusion that this is how it will look in your own living room. It will only look that good if the source of your video source is 4K.
Also, many of the doorbuster 4K TVs are not the 'brand quality' that you might expect. A couple of things going on here. First, you will see 4K TVs being offered at incredible prices on Black Friday, but these are completely unknown brands. I did some research on some of these off-brands and the reviews are not good. Everything from complete failure in just a few months, to viewing problems such as being required to view the screen sitting directly in front (viewing from angles was reported as sketchy on many). Secondly, some of the big brands have entered into agreements with retailers to specifically manufacture 4K TVs to be used as loss leaders and doorbusters. These TVs carry the brand name, but a closer look will reveal that the unit is a stripped down version and inferior to that brand's standard 4K TV.
The bottom line is that my best advice is to wait on buying a 4K. Next year is probably going to be a better time to grab one. As a side note, I should mention that since the 4K is the new hot gadget, standard HDTVs are going at fire sale prices. If you are someone that is OK with being a little behind the technology curve, this might not be a bad time to grab that large screen HD television you have always wanted. The reality is that it will be probably a few years before 4K viewing becomes the standard anyway.
Helping you make the most of God���s money!
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
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Black Friday: For Best Results, Go into the Day with a Plan
So, how do YOU approach Black Friday shopping?
You might be disinclined to approach it at all, but assuming you have a rather substantial list of folks for whom to buy gifts this Christmas, or simply desire to take advantage of some great deals for yourself, then Black Friday, and the days near to it, will likely be relevant to you.
That said, the best way to negotiate the madness of Black Friday is with something of a plan - engaging the day with a bit of forethought will help to ensure that you emerge on the other end with your sanity and bank account intact.
The Garden City Telegram quotes Benjamin Glaser, features editor at DealNews, this way on the subject of Black Friday preparedness:
���Have a shopping list and budget, and stick to them. The most important thing you can do is to do your research and have a plan. This way you know you���re getting a good deal ... and you won���t have to think twice when you see a deal. That can mean the difference between getting a good price and having it sell out too quickly.���
One of the real problems with venturing into Black Friday without a firm list and budget is that the emotion of the day can act as a catalyst for going well outside of your spending limits.
���Being in a crowd and having everyone else around trying to buy things kind of urges you to buy,��� says Ivy Chou, DealsPlus director of content and marketing.
It���s worth noting that, with increasing frequency, retailers are no longer demanding that you go into their bricks-and-mortar locations to secure the best deals. That ���requirement��� has been going out of fashion for a while now, as stores intensify their fight for market share. By having the ability to access the same rock-bottom prices for goods online as those available in stores, you are less likely to incur the damage so often done to your wallet by giving in to impulse buys in the retail locations.
Along the same lines, you can help yourself out a great deal by shopping online from home on Thanksgiving Day. Rene Kirschbaum, director of content and marketing at BlackFriday.fm, says that a great many Black Friday deals become active at 12:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving, so even if you have no intention of leaving home that day to go shopping, or if a preferred retailer is entirely closed on Thursday, the same deals that you will find in the stores on Friday will often be available online the day before.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
Major Doorbuster Deals from Leading Retailers Will Be Available on Black Friday
Can you feel it?
Black Friday is coming, and, with it, a mountain of great deals.
One of the most popular features of Black Friday are the ���doorbuster��� deals���those extra-special savings opportunities on popular items that are typically available for limited times or on limited quantities, and designed to bring shoppers into retail locations with the hopes that they���ll leave having bought a lot more.
U.S. News & World Report has compiled its list of the top doorbuster deals available this Black Friday, on the basis of merchandise category. Here���s a sample of what the folks there were able to uncover:
The best TV doorbuster deals include a big one from Target. It is a Samsung 50-inch 4K UHD, regularly priced at $749.99, on sale for just $397.99. The deal is based on limited quantities, and will be available both in-store and online when Target opens up at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
Don���t need a TV? How about a new refrigerator? Sears is knocking over 50 percent off of the regular price of its Kenmore French Door Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator, from $2,199.99 down to $999.99. According to U.S. News, the deal will run from 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving to 1 p.m. on Black Friday, while supplies last.
What about lower-priced gifts���like ���stocking-stuffer��� kinds of things? In that case, Kmart has you covered with a wide assortment of DVDs and Blu-rays available for just $1. The crazy prices kick in at 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving, and continue for as long as supplies last.
For the full list of the best doorbuster deals as assembled by U.S. News, refer to the article link embedded in this story���and happy hunting!
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
November 23, 2016
Sudanese Christians and Muslims Reportedly ���Very Happy��� Over Trump Election
While much of the U.S. remains practically apoplectic over the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States, there are, apparently, highly-distressed parts of the world that are looking upon his victory with great favor.
Reporting by The Christian Post details that both Christians and Muslims from war-torn Sudan and South Sudan are actually ���celebrating��� the victory of Trump over Hillary Clinton ��� this according to a human rights worker who has a long history of assisting in the region.
Faith McDonnell, director of the Religious Liberty Program and Church Alliance for a New Sudan at the Institute on Religion & Democracy, gave an interview to the Post in which she said, ���For my Sudanese friends, both Christian and Muslim, they were afraid of a Clinton presidency because of her closeness to the Muslim Brotherhood with the Clinton Global Foundation and what's been coming out about that.
���They saw [a Clinton victory] as a way for Arab countries to get even more influence than they already have under President Obama.���
McDonnell said that she has been receiving a great many positive messages from Christians and Muslims from both South Sudan and the Nuba and Darfur regions of Sudan about the election of Trump, some of which go as far as to convey unhappiness with Hillary Clinton���s historical financial ties to Islamic regimes.
One such email received by McDonnell, which she provided to The Christian Post, reads, in part:
���We believe Hillary is corrupt and has constantly received Middle Eastern dictators' money that have long fought to protect [Sudan's dictator] al-Bashir. They get money through her foundation to promote the pro-Arab policy that has devastated our people in Darfur and Sudan at large. We are sure that Donald will not take money from Middle Eastern dictators to promote pro-Arab policy, genocidal policy within the Department of State.���
Another message, received from someone in Juba, read, ���Congratulations, my sister! We are very happy for the election of Donald Trump! Close your eyes and picture the streets of Juba [South Sudan's capital].���
It has been reported that after learning Donald Trump had defeated Hillary, citizens of Juba flooded the streets there, dancing and chanting ���USA, USA��� and Trump, Oyee!���
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
Medical Identity Theft on the Rise
Like we didn���t have enough about which to worry already.
Are you familiar with medical identity theft? If not, pay attention, because it is on the rise, and comes with its own very-costly consequences.
CNBC.com is reporting on a recent study that shows this kind of ID theft becoming very popular among scammers, with victims facing an average cost of $13,500 to repair the damage.
Medical ID theft can appear in a variety of forms, and can include such things as the use of your insurance to visit a doctor, get prescriptions, purchase any of a variety of medical equipment, and even file a false claim.
Eva Velasquez of the Identity Theft Resource Center says about medical identity theft that ���it is vastly under-reported and misunderstood even by victims experiencing it.��� Part of the reason for that, says Velasquez, is that so many of the victims are older citizens, a demographic that, sadly, tends to be more predisposed to being exploited. Exacerbating the problem is that as people age, they tend not to check their credit as often, and also find themselves relying on others more regularly for assistance.
As bad as medical ID theft can be, there are some things you can do to limit the chances of becoming a victim.
These include:
Obtaining a copy of your medical records. Update them yourself with each visit you make to a doctor. This way, you will have your real records to present to insurance companies, doctors��� offices, and investigators if it appears someone else is using your information.
Carefully reading the ���explanation of benefits��� statements you receive after each visit. If you notice something that does not seem familiar, be sure to bring it to your doctor���s/insurer���s attention. Of course, if you receive an explanation of benefits without having even visited a health professional recently, that is, of course, a BIG red flag.
If you believe that you have been the victim of medical identity theft, report it right away to your insurance company, doctor, and/or other relevant party. Additionally, as with all other kinds of ID theft, be sure to fill out an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
