Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of material from 11 contributing columnists , along with other commentary online and in print each day. To contribute, click here . ••• On a random Sunday afternoon in November, I got a text message from a friend containing a photo of a midsize family vehicle with a turkey on top. The turkey, to be clear, was alive. More than merely alive, in fact, she was majestic — a proud beast astride her noble steed. Imagine if a turkey on a Subaru roof in a parking garage had recently vanquished the armies of Napoleon and was having the victory memorialized in bronze. That was the vibe. She looked like a creature moved by the great forces of destiny. In reality, however, she was mostly just there to poop on some windshields. Which makes her about the Platonic ideal of a Minnesota urban turkey. Whether standing stubbornly in the intersections of Minneapolis, grazing in the backyard of the governor’s mansion in St. Paul or roaming in malevolent packs through the streets of Moorhead, wild turkeys are a fixture of our cities — generally as agents of chaos if not outright violence. When I asked Minnesotans on social media for their favorite turkey interactions, they told tales like the time a turkey faced off, tail feathers spread, against an ambulance. Or the couple of turkeys who became so enamored with their own reflections in a freshly washed vehicle that the birds refused to let the humans back into the car and, instead, chased them around a gas station parking lot. But the urban turkey is also a strangely beloved figure. People will tell you stories of their kids being harassed by a belligerent bird, but with a note of pride, as though this small childhood trauma was an honor. Back in March, Minneapolis’ Kenny neighborhood mourned the untimely death of a turkey known as “Gregory Peck,” who earned himself both a street-corner memorial and an article in this very publication . This duality of love and hate fits well with the birds’ history in our state. Turkeys are native to at least part of what is now Minnesota. But a combination of overhunting and (ironically) urbanization drove them to the brink during the 20th century. Even just two decades ago, it was rare to see the birds in Minneapolis or St. Paul, said Nathaniel Huck, resident game-bird specialist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “If you look at a map from the early 2000s of turkey distribution in North America, we have a big hole over the Twin Cities,” he said. The abundance of turkeys we ... let’s say “enjoy” ... today is the result of years of deliberate effort. Between the 1920s and 1960s, the DNR tried a number of different tactics to solve the problem of dwindling Minnesotan turkey populations, including hand-rearing birds in pens and importing turkeys from South Dakota, Arkansas and Nebraska. Everything failed. It wasn’t until a bird swap with Missouri in 1971 that a pack of wild turkeys released into rural Houston County near La Crosse, Wis., managed to survive and thrive. (The same cannot be said, sadly, for the ruffed grouse we sent to Missouri.) Minnesotans worked long and hard to bring turkeys back to the state. But the birds themselves are responsible for their urban success story, Huck said. The species has simply proven to be highly adaptable. Some individuals were able to tolerate people better than others. They were smart enough to learn how to find new food sources and navigate new environments. The turkey populations that do well in cities have higher levels of stress hormones than their country cousins, he told me, but they seem to suffer less harm from those hormones as well. In fact, these birds are so well adapted to cities that you can’t solve the “problem” of troublesome urban turkeys by returning them to nature. They aren’t from there. “You stick them in the middle of nowhere and they’ll wander around until they find another city to be successful in,” Huck said. We wanted turkeys. We got turkeys. But we have only so much control over how nature works. Humans can change the world in ways that make it harder for a species to thrive. We can overhunt (or overeat). And we can try to correct our mistakes. But when we do that, we can’t expect the species to be grateful and docile, primly refilling the exact ecological niche we drove it out of. Sometimes it finds a new gap to fit into. Sometimes a species comes back mean. You can try all you like to return to Eden, but what you might get is a flightless fowl fouling your windshield in a parking garage. And that’s actually pretty amazing. Huck sounded a little in awe when he told me urban turkeys don’t act anything like rural turkeys. “I’m a hunter and ... trying to pursue a [rural] turkey, they run the other direction. In town they don’t even act like they notice you.” For all their faults, we like urban turkeys because they are a symbol of resilience and independence ... and of simply not giving a damn. They don’t owe us civility. They know it. And it’s a kind of glorious, transcendent glimpse of the power of nature that you could not possibly get in the woods.
Investing is often painted as a game of timing. Buying low, selling high, and capturing profits when the market peaks. But for some investments, the wisest choice might be to forget about the sell button altogether. Whether you’re a dividend seeker, a global investor, or a tech enthusiast, these investments offer something unique for every type of portfolio. CIBC stock Let’s start with ( ). As one of Canada’s Big Five banks, CIBC has a long history of weathering financial storms while rewarding shareholders. At its current price of $94.08, CIBC boasts a market capitalization of nearly $88.85 billion and a forward dividend yield of 4.02%. In its most recent earnings report, CIBC posted strong results, with revenue reaching $22.7 billion over the trailing twelve months and a return on equity (ROE) of 12.37%. Even more impressive is its quarterly earnings growth of 25.6% year over year, proving that this isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving. CIBC’s valuation is another reason to hold on tight. With a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12.08, the stock remains attractively priced compared to its peers. The bank’s strategic focus on growing its wealth management and capital markets businesses has strengthened its revenue mix — all while its disciplined risk management has kept loan losses in check. As interest rates stabilize and the economy remains resilient, analysts expect CM to continue delivering solid results. VXC Next up is ( ), a global investing powerhouse that removes the guesswork from diversification. VXC is a one-stop shop for investors who want exposure to the world’s largest companies without overlap in Canada. It holds some of the biggest companies in the world, with a blend of developed and emerging market stocks. With net assets totalling $2.22 billion, VXC has proven its popularity among Canadian investors, and its stellar year-to-date (YTD) return of 28.75% as of writing speaks for itself. That performance wasn’t a fluke either. The exchange-traded fund (ETF) one-year return sits at a whopping 29.04%. Clearly, VXC has ridden the wave of global economic recovery and surging technology stocks. What makes VXC particularly attractive for long-term investors is its low cost and diversification. Vanguard’s ETFs are known for their minimal fees, ensuring more of your returns stay in your pocket. The ETF’s holdings are spread across sectors like technology, healthcare, and financial services, providing a cushion against downturns in any single industry. With VXC, investors also gain exposure to regions like Europe, the United States, and emerging markets, spreading risk globally. By holding onto VXC indefinitely, you’re effectively betting on the continued growth of the world’s largest and most innovative companies. Topicus Finally, we come to ( ), the rising star of Canada’s tech sector. Topicus, a spin-off of the renowned , has quickly built a reputation for growth and innovation. Specializing in and scaling vertical market software businesses, Topicus operates a proven and highly profitable model. In its most recent quarter, the company reported impressive year-over-year growth, with earnings per share (EPS) jumping to €0.28, up from €0.22, a 27% increase. Topicus’s forward price-to-earnings ratio of 45.66 might seem high, yet investors are paying for growth. Over the past year, TOI.V has returned 25.74%, comfortably outpacing the 22.25% gain. What sets Topicus apart is its long runway for expansion. While many tech companies focus on flashy, consumer-facing products, Topicus targets essential, niche software solutions that businesses rely on every day. This strategy ensures recurring revenue and high margins. As the tech sector continues to grow, Topicus is well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities, both through organic growth and strategic purchases. Bottom line At the end of the day, great investments are like good friends. You stick with them through thick and thin. CIBC, VXC, and Topicus have all proven their worth with little reason to part ways. Whether you’re in it for dividends, diversification, or growth, these three investments deserve a permanent home in your portfolio. And each will likely reward your patience for decades to come.
Longtime SAP Veteran, Former UiPath CEO and Google Cloud President to Lead Workday's Global Commercial Strategy for the Company's Next Phase of Growth PLEASANTON, Calif. , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY), a leading provider of solutions to help organizations manage their people and money , today announced the appointment of Rob Enslin to the newly created role of president, chief commercial officer (CCO). Enslin will be responsible for driving Workday's revenue growth and leading the company's global sales, partnership and customer experience efforts. Enslin brings more than 30 years of experience in the technology industry, most recently serving as CEO of UiPath where he led the company to non-GAAP profitability, advanced the company's AI strategy, and drove expansion into new markets. Before joining UiPath, Enslin was president of cloud sales at Google Cloud, where he scaled the company's sales operations and drove significant revenue growth. Enslin's extensive career also includes 27 years at SAP, culminating in his role as president of the Cloud Business Group and executive board member. In addition to deep enterprise expertise, Enslin brings a strong global perspective, having held roles in South Africa , USA , Germany , and Japan throughout his career. "Rob is a world-class leader with a track record of building high performing go-to-market teams, a deep understanding of industry and partner ecosystems, and unique global experience, making him the ideal leader to help guide Workday's next phase of growth," said Carl Eschenbach , CEO, Workday. "We're confident that his vision and commitment to providing exceptional customer experiences will unlock even greater potential for Workday and businesses around the world." "Joining Workday at this pivotal moment is incredibly exciting," said Enslin. "Workday's unparalleled dataset, combined with its commitment to innovation, positions the company to become the definitive AI leader in the ERP market. I'm thrilled to be part of this transformation and shape the future of work." Enslin's appointment will be effective as of December 2, 2024 . About Workday Workday is a leading enterprise platform that helps organizations manage their most important assets – their people and money. The Workday platform is built with AI at the core to help customers elevate people, supercharge work, and move their business forever forward. Workday is used by more than 10,500 organizations around the world and across industries – from medium-sized businesses to more than 60% of the Fortune 500. For more information about Workday, visit workday.com . © 2024 Workday, Inc. All rights reserved. Workday and the Workday logo are registered trademarks of Workday, Inc. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding Workday's leadership, growth, transformation, and potential. These forward-looking statements are based only on currently available information and our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. If the risks materialize, assumptions prove incorrect, or we experience unexpected changes in circumstances, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements, and therefore you should not rely on any forward-looking statements. Risks include, but are not limited to, risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including our most recent report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K and other reports that we have filed and will file with the SEC from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. Workday assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release, except as required by law. Any unreleased services, features, or functions referenced in this document, our website, or other press releases or public statements that are not currently available are subject to change at Workday's discretion and may not be delivered as planned or at all. Customers who purchase Workday services should make their purchase decisions based upon services, features, and functions that are currently available. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/workday-names-rob-enslin-president-chief-commercial-officer-302316896.html SOURCE Workday Inc.New Delhi: The 75 iconic lighthouses in the country saw more than 10 lakh visitors in FY25 (till September), the government said on Friday. These 75 iconic lighthouses have been developed with an investment of Rs 60 crore. According to Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the fiscal year 2023-24 alone, these 75 dedicated lighthouses attracted an impressive 16 lakh visitors, a rise of more than 400 per cent footfall of tourists from 4 lakhs in 2014. More than 500,000 tourists visited the lighthouses between April and June this year, validating the vision of transforming these iconic maritime structures into vibrant tourists hotspots as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These developments have also resulted in job creation, with 150 direct and 500 indirect employment opportunities emerging in nearby hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transportation services, and local shops and artisans. With a coastline spanning over 7,500 kilometres, India is home to 204 lighthouses that silently guard its rich maritime heritage. Traditionally serving as navigational aids for seafarers, these iconic structures are now being reimagined as tourism destinations under the government of India’s developmental vision. This initiative aims to preserve the historical and architectural significance of lighthouses and unlock their potential for economic growth and community empowerment. The central government is actively promoting lighthouse tourism as a part of its broader Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 and Amrit Kaal vision 2047 to enhance India’s cultural heritage and maritime legacy. By developing these sites, the government seeks to enhance India’s tourism offerings while creating employment opportunities and fostering local economic growth. Some lighthouses date back centuries and are near Unesco World Heritage Sites like Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu or other prominent cultural landmarks.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.Chief 'disappointed' to see clean water used as a political tactic by Conservatives
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.With the holiday season now underway, Visa, the global leader in digital payments, reminds shoppers to stay vigilant amidst a rise in fraud schemes. Visa’s Payment Ecosystem Risk and Control (PERC) team released the 2024 Holiday Threats Report, outlining common methods fraudsters use to steal money, data, and account details while people plan their festivities. Top holiday shopping scams one should be aware of are: Phishing and social engineering: Scammers impersonate trusted sources to steal personal information through emails, texts, and calls. Consumers should be wary of common scams to obtain financial details, like emails/texts about fraudulent Black Friday deals, travel discounts, and package delivery updates. They also orchestrate more sophisticated frauds like digital arrests where one is held ransom through their phone on false pretexts that can be very harrowing for the lay consumer. Fraudsters also use real platforms to post fake job ads and demand payments for false expenses like background checks. Consumers should also be careful before donating to charities they don’t know. Scam websites: Fake online stores and imitations of real brands are a growing threat in e-commerce. Such sites have increased with scammers building almost legitimate looking websites, and using search engines and social media ads to attract buyers with unrealistic deals on luxury or popular items, with no delivery of goods. Consequently, victims could either lose money or share sensitive information that fraudsters use for other nefarious activities. Travel scams: The holiday season sees many fraudulent travel websites positioned as authentic and appealing, with deals like “last minute price drop”. Scammers make these websites as close to real as possible and offer discounts on travel-related expenses like flights, taxis and hotels. Consumers may also receive phishing emails with fake flight cancellation notices and be asked to pay for re-booking, or see advertisements with fake vacation rentals at low prices, that collect deposits for non-existent properties. Consumers should steer clear of malicious festival-based apps like Santa Trackers or holiday planners that are loaded with malware. These apps can steal login and payment details once downloaded. Theft and skimming: Always be vigilant in busy malls and public spaces that are hotspots for thieves. Common risks include physical theft or pickpocketing of cards and wallets. Beware of skimming devices fitted on legitimate ATMs or payment terminals to collect card information; always choose to tap and pay where possible. How you can stay safe: Visa offers these tips to protect yourself during the holiday season. • Don’t click on links in unsolicited/unknown emails or texts • Check websites for legitimacy before making purchases. Genuine URLs will ideally start with “https://” • Use only trusted platforms or agents for travel bookings • Keep wallets and devices secure in crowded places • Report suspicious activity at ATMs or payment terminals immediately to the nearest authority As a shopper, stay alert and informed to shop and spend safely and enjoy a worry-free holiday season. For more tips, visit Visa’s website and for more information on scams, read the 2024 Holiday Threats Report by Visa.
Published 5:39 pm Thursday, November 21, 2024 By Data Skrive Let’s take a look at the injury report for the New Orleans Pelicans (4-12), which currently has eight players listed (including Brandon Ingram), as the Pelicans prepare for their matchup against the Golden State Warriors (11-3, two injured players) at Smoothie King Center on Friday, November 22 at 7:30 PM ET. Watch the NBA, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. The Pelicans fell in their most recent game 128-100 against the Cavaliers on Wednesday. In the losing effort, Antonio Reeves paced the Pelicans with 34 points. The Warriors took care of business in their last game 120-97 against the Hawks on Wednesday. Andrew Wiggins’ team-leading 27 points paced the Warriors in the win. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get live and on-demand access to NBA games. Get tickets for any NBA game this season at StubHub. Catch NBA action all season long on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .