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Will a Roy Moore win be a blessing or a curse for the GOP?
Tomorrow is Election Day in Alabama - and all eyes are on a special senatorial election that should have flown under the radar for this traditionally Republican-friendly state. That was until Judge Roy Moore won the primary and his past suddenly became public. To date, eight women have come forward with accusations ranging from sexual impropriety to molesting of a 14 year old girl when Moore was in his 30s. When the accusations surfaced, at first the Republican establishment started to abandon Moore - recently that mood has changed. With a Moore victory on Tuesday the GOP stands to bolster its hold on power in the Senate. A loss would reduce the Trump administration’s grip on control. However, Republican victory could also be a double-edged sword. What does it say to Americans if a person with so many allegations is elected to office? Will Moore have any credibility once he arrives in Washington? And will his election signal a revolt to the Democratic side come the mid-term elections in 2018? With polling showing a virtual tie between the Republicans and Democrats in Alabama - what will Tuesday’s result mean for America and the ongoing scandals emerging in Washington, Hollywood and across the country. There are a lot of scenarios that could play out and even more questions to be asked - that’s where the experts from Cedarville can help. Dr. Mark Caleb Smith is Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Center for Political Studies at Cedarville University. He is an expert in the areas of American politics and particularly presidential politics. Dr. Smith is a media-regular and was interviewed often during the last presidential election. He is available to speak to this latest development in politics. To book an interview – simply click on Dr. Smith’s icon to arrange a time. Source:
Robert F. Darden, professor of journalism and founder of Baylor’s Black Gospel Music Restoration Project, treasures the rich sounds of Christmas spirituals, which differ from Christmas carols. “So many of the spirituals are written in what has been performed as and what scholars call the ‘eternal now,’” Darden said. “If you read the lyrics as they were transcribed, many of them are in the present tense.” To illustrate his point, Darden referenced the spiritual “Were You There?” in which the lyrics read, “It causes me to tremble.” Darden said that since slaves in America were not book-educated and struggled with the concept of time, the Bible was a contemporary account of what was going on for them. In their minds, they conflated Abraham in the Bible with Father Abraham Lincoln who was going to free them, and associated Harriett Tubman with Moses and the Ohio River with the Jordan River. Darden said the powerful resonance in these spirituals is unmatched because of the passion of the people who sang them. “When you hear the Christmas spirituals, you’re hearing people who (believe) this is a real live event,” Darden said. “Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born, not was born. That gives them more of an immediacy and a power than songs that are in the past tense.” Darden also said that slaves had a more intimate understanding of the nativity story because they identified with the conditions into which Christ was born. They understood what it was like to come from a foreign land to a place where they were despised and enslaved in the same way that Christ was born as a refugee child with people seeking to kill him. “The spirituals reflect a people who believe they’re in the middle of the Bible story. I think that gives them a power that’s hard for others to match and why the Gospel artists, who would later record these songs, tried to capture that and keep that immediacy and intimacy that I think a lot of Christmas carols don’t have,” Darden said. Darden said the modern world still needs Christmas spirituals. While commercialism gets people excited and inspired for the holidays, people in 2017 need something that will help them reflect on what truly matters about the season. They need something that will not only remind them of history but will also evoke the sensation of gratitude for a needed savior. “By noticing and listening to the words of the spirituals, you see how they focused on what really matters," he said. Source:
For many, this Christmas will be the first holiday without a special loved one. The loss of a family member or a friend brings obvious grief. And for those who have the opportunity to interact with a bereaved person, there are often questions: What do I do? What do I say? Grief expert Helen Harris, Ed.D., associate professor in Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, suggests the following: 1. Listen more than talk. 2. Acknowledge the loss and express your caring. 3. Find a way to include the lost loved one in the holidays. “I recommend families find a way to include the lost loved one in the holidays: to light a candle on the mantel to burn through the day as a symbol of his continued presence, to make an ornament with her name and place it on the tree, to talk about their roles and be intentional about who will assume those roles now of carving the turkey, etc., to use at least one of their favorite recipes for a holiday dish.” 4. Take time to tell stories and look through old photos. But don’t push it. “If folks find it too painful, there should be no pressure to do it,” Harris said. “There will be other holidays, other times and other gatherings.” 5. Ask what helps and be open to what doesn’t. 6. Avoid “helpful” actions that are actually hurtful. “When you stay away, pretend it didn’t happen or walk the other way in a store so you don’t have to say anything – those things hurt,” Harris said. 7. Understand that there’s no set time frame for someone who suffers a loss to be “over it” or “move on.” Harris said adjustment to loss is a long process and tends to get worse before it gets better. Those not closely connected to the loss will move on with their busy lives while the person who has lost a spouse or child or parent will experience fresh loss over and over again for the first year while facing the first Thanksgiving, birthday, anniversary, Christmas, vacation, etc. without the person with whom they had always shared those moments. “There is a time when we manage our grief more than it manages us, and a time when the healing becomes strength, like a healed broken bone is stronger at the point of healing than the bone around it. But we are always changed, different because of both the life and the death of the person we loved and lost,” Harris said. Source:
What's next in the Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump saga?
North Korea continues to test missiles and the latest appears to be the most advanced yet. North Korea said the new missile reached an altitude of about 4,475 km (2,780 miles) - more than 10 times the height of the International Space Station - and flew 950 km (590 miles) during its 53-minute flight. So, what's next? How will Donald Trump react? What about other countries like Canada and the EU? Our Experts at Insights Consulting have the answers for your story. Source:
Done in by digital? What will the sale of Time mean for the industry?
On Monday, a once mighty media juggernaut was sold off for $2.8 billion dollars. Time Inc. – the publisher of Time, Fortune, Sports Illustrated and People was now property of the Meredith Corporation. The Des Moines, Iowa-based company better known for its Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Parents and Family Fun magazines. It’s a bitter and sad end for Time. The company was once the industry leader in magazines and world-respected periodicals. The magazines were’ must-reads’ for the informed. But times have changed, and Time never did catch on or catch up with the digital wave that has transformed journalism as we know it. So, what will all of this mean? Can the world of print media survive and adapt to changing times and tastes? As well, with shrinking circles of media ownership – will regulators let this sale proceed? And what will this mean for the many journalists? More job cuts and shrinking news rooms? Will they move from NYC to Iowa? Has the lustre and allure of being a New York based journalist lost its shine? There are a lot of questions that still need to be addressed and answered. That’s where the experts from Cedarville University can help. Dr. Marc Clauson is a professor of history and law at Cedarville. Marc is an expert in the fields of anti-trust regulation and the economic impact of mergers and takeovers like this. Dr. Clauson is available to speak with media – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview. Source:
Sabres are rattling. What’s next for North Korea?
On Wednesday, North Korea launched another missile. This is the 15th launch this year, but this one appears different. North Korea claims this is new type of intercontinental ballistic missile with a "super-large heavy warhead" — which is capable of striking the US mainland. America is on alert. New sanctions are being implemented and every effort seems to be in play to avoid conflict. But can conflict be avoided? Has North Korea over-played its hand with a Trump administration that has already vowed ‘the situation will be handled.’ What is left to do and what can be done? That’s where the experts from Cedarville University can help. Dr. Glen Duerr is an associate professor of International Studies at Cedarville University. His research and expertise includes nationalism and secession, comparative politics, and international relations theory. Dr. Frank Jenista is a political science professor at Cedarville University. Before returning to the academic world, Frank spent 25 years of service as a U.S. diplomat working as a Senior Foreign Service Officer at U.S. embassy in Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, South America, and the Philippines. Dr. Jenista is an expert on foreign relations, international issues and diplomacy. Both experts are available to speak with media regarding this issue. Simply click on either icon to arrange an interview. Source:
Baldwin 2020? It could be happening
On Monday, Alec Baldwin took to the stage not in New York – but Des Moines, Iowa as the keynote speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party's fall fundraiser. Known for his visceral Donald Trump imitations that have been one-part in the resurgence of Saturday Night Live, the Golden Globe and Emmy award winning actor took a serious tone in front of an audience of 3,000 party loyalists. On Monday he was calling for unity and pledging that he’s ready to fight to help the Democrats win. It’s also a known fact that the Iowa Democratic Party fall fundraiser has also been the starting point for campaigns. Is Alec Baldwin considering a run for the Oval Office in 2020? Does he have what it takes to win the Democratic primary? Could he beat Trump? And, is a battle of big screen celebrities what America needs in a leader? These are all interesting questions – and that’s where the experts from Cedarville University can help. Dr. Mark Caleb Smith is Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Center for Political Studies at Cedarville University. He is an expert in the areas of American politics and particularly presidential politics. Dr. Smith is a media-regular and was interviewed often during the last presidential election. He is available to speak to this latest development in politics. To book an interview – simply click on Dr. Smith’s icon to arrange a time. Source:
Looks Like ‘X’ Marks the Spot as Apple Cashes in on a $1300 Smartphone
No doubt there were worries and concerns about Apple’s latest offering - the iPhone X; it’s a smartphone like no other, but one that also comes with a hefty price tag of C$1,319 for the 64GB and C$1,529 for the 256GB model. The phone features some very serious upgrades including facial recognition technology and an edge-to-edge screen. For Apple, it appears the bet has paid off. The demand for this luxury item has so far exceeded expectations. Around the globe from Tokyo, to Toronto to Toledo – customers showed up early, lined up and handed over close to a thousand dollars US for the device. But what will this mean for the industry? Has a new price-point been set? Instead of competition driving down costs – can customers expect premium prices for must have items? Can we expect Samsung, LG and others to step up with a first-class product as well? Or, will there buyer’s remorse? The bells and whistles of the iPhone X are impressive – but is it really worth it? There are a lot of questions people need to ask before buying – and that’s where the experts from the IDC Canada can help. Steve Yang is the Senior Analyst, Communications & Mobility for IDC Canada. He’s an expert in the Canadian communications market, specifically focusing on mobility. He provides insights to Canadian wireless players around mobile phones and tablets, along with related communications from a unique Canadian perspective. Steve is available to speak with media regarding the new iPhone X and what this means for the mobile industry. Simply click on either of their icons to arrange an interview. Source:
Gender Gap Grows Wider Globally
The World Economic Forum (WEF) began calculating the global gender gap in 2006. Yesterday, it released the results of the 2017 Global Gender Gap Report and the news is bad – for the first time in more than a decade, the gender gap is widening. This year's report revealed that the divide between men and women stood at 32 percent, up from 31.7 percent last year. The Global Gender Gap Index ranks 144 countries and compares them across four ‘pillars’: economic participation and opportunity, education, political empowerment, and health and survival. The best scores overall belonged to three Scandinavian countries. Iceland had the smallest gender gap at 22 percent. How about the United States? While the U.S. has improved its overall gender gap, this year's report showed it moved down the rankings to 49th place. The score was 0.72 or a gender gap of 28 percent. The pillar featuring economic participation, which includes salaries, workforce participation and leadership, has one of the fastest-growing gaps. Globally, women are earning less than men. The WEF believes the economic gender gap will now not be closed for 217 years. When considering a woman's income as a percent of a man’s, the U.S. came in at 13th place, where a woman can expect to make on average only 64.8 percent of that of what a male earns. Why is this the case even though more women than men are graduating from universities? Can this worrying trend be changed? What steps must be taken to make the playing field equal for all in America? Dr. Shannon Wooden, gender studies expert and professor of English at Missouri State University, can provide insight on this topic. She can address the gender pay gap and why companies need more female representation in senior and board levels. Contact her for an interview. Source:
