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Articles by John Willis
The Stone Wall
One of the most bucolic and idyllic settings of rural life on Block Island is the stone wall. They are everywhere, property boundaries, animal corrals, garden garnishes, or just old structures along our roads. Almost every home or property here has a stone wall somewhere. There are rules in place to preserve such primitive formations. Most stone walls in all of New England have been in place for almost 300 years. Little by little they are disappearing. Some think of them as a nuisance.
College Football Season Is Creeping Up, but Some of the Seasoning Has Been Lost
It may be hotter than the devil’s sauna outside, but AT&T Stadium is blasting a sweater-worthy 68 degrees of red-blooded, American air-conditioning. The roof is not open for reporters, administrators, coaches, and select players who have descended upon North Texas’ football castle for Big 12 Media Days Wednesday and Thursday. It’s a lesson in coachspeak, what you often hear here. At the end of the day, nine times out of 10, the team who scores more points walks away with a victory.
How Can I Become More Comfortable with Conflict?
One of the most common questions friends and family often ask me is, “How do I become more comfortable with conflict?” You know the feeling, the slightest sense of conflict has you running for the hills, and the idea of conflict gives you jitters in your stomach and makes you stay up at night! Watch this video to learn the importance of conflict resilience, and some key tips about how you can sit more comfortably with conflict, have less tension in your life and in your relationships, and...
Four Ways to Support Learning Coaches More Effectively
By John Willis As we approach the three-year mark since schools in North America closed their doors to slow the spread of COVID-19, a lot of attention is being given (and rightfully so) to supporting the mental health not only of students, but also of teachers and principals. Educators and administrators have been under a great deal of stress since the pandemic began, and this stress has taken a significant toll on their wellbeing.
LT for President
Early voting has begun in Tarrant County. There’s a candidate you’ve not thought of but who should be on your radar this election season. In the first change in top leadership since 2003, TCU is searching for a president. Here’s some free advice for Korn Ferry, the bougey headhunting firm the school has retained: Hire LaDainian Tomlinson. TCU probably won’t, but they should think seriously about it.
Steppin’ Time
Texas Rangers games are impossible to watch. I don’t mean trying to find whatever Bally Sports is on my Roku. I was just settling into remembering how to get to Fox Sports Southwest, so that ain’t happening. I recently tried to attend an affair between the Rangers and the Athletics of Oakland, an “in-person” event as it’s known in the 2020s, and it was tough. Globe Life Park is a bit like Nebraska Furniture Mart.
50 Shades of Gary
For TCU fans watching Gary Patterson-influenced Texas host Alabama last Saturday, the emotions were more complicated than Middle Eastern geopolitics. Also, kind of like if your kid goes to college at your alma mater’s rival. Yeah, you attend the parents’ weekend game — and, yeah, you wear an overpriced Nike polo from the bookstore — but, damnit, you don’t have to like it. In this case, Gary lived in TCU’s house even longer than 18 years.
LinkedIndiana
Brett Yormark ain’t in New York anymore, but he will be in Kansas shortly. And Lubbock and Stillwater and even the Fort. The incoming Big 12 commissioner — an outside-the-box hire having worked for NASCAR, the Brooklyn Nets, and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation — was probably hoping for a stealthy migration south of the Mason-Dixon Line to Big 12 headquarters in Irving. Yormark, announced as commissioner earlier this summer, was set to start with the Big 12 officially on Aug. 1.
War and the Collateral Damage of Nature Dependent Trade
By John Willis, Director of Research, Planet Tracker Over the last decade, 40 percent of annual world trade (USD 7.6 trillion), was made up of nature dependent exports – 36 percent of which derived from non-democratic regimes, as defined by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index.
Police violence meets spiritual resistance in the struggle over DAPL
Six years after Energy Transfer Partners began the project, its Dakota Access Pipeline for Bakken shale oil remains a fundamental affront to environmental safety and tribal sovereignty. A federal judge recently ordered a shutdown of DAPL while its permit is reconsidered, thanks to the legal challenge of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This week, an appeals court reversed that order. The pipeline remains in operation—for now.
Police Violence Meets Spiritual Resistance in the Struggle Over DAPL.
An appeals court overruled the shutdown of DAPL, pending a full environmental review. The fight against a pipeline that provoked unprecedented resistance continues. Six years after Energy Transfer Partners began the project, its Dakota Access Pipeline for Bakken shale oil remains a fundamental affront to environmental safety and tribal sovereignty.
Jawa White Series Trax 12: Review
Lightweight and tough, the Jawa White Series Trax 12 is perfect for heading out on tough tracks — without shirking comfort. There’s something about recent camper trailer manufacturing that, to me, is all about world-leading innovation. It’s refreshing to see raw ingenuity come to life from the fledgling ideas and experiences of smart Aussie campers simply going about their business, camping.
NHBA - Bar News Issue
Bar News - May 17, 2017 Real Property Law: Putting the ‘Ease’ in Easements: More than Just a Deeded Right By: Easements can be created by deed, implication, necessity, and prescription. They can make a tremendous difference in the value of real estate – by preventing a property from being landlocked or by providing access to a lake, for example. Disputes over easements often lead to litigation. Easements by deed can be vague.
Executive changes at Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Ruby Tuesday, and Bovis Homes
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: Jeffrey Lacker, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, one of the 12 district banks of the Federal Reserve System, announced his immediate resignation, leaving the bank to search for a successor. In the process he admitted that in 2012 he had let slip confidential information about bank deliberations in a private conversation that potentially benefited bond traders.
Evanescent wave boundary layers in metamaterials and sidestepping them through a variational approach
Evanescent wave boundary layers in metamaterials and sidestepping them through a variational approach Ankit Srivastava, John R. Willis Proc. R. Soc. A 2017 473 20160765; DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2016.0765. Published 26 April 2017
Executive changes at AIG, Nu Skin, and Interserve
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: AIG’s CEO Resigns but Stays on a While At über-insurance firm American International Group, the two-year holder of the top exec’s office, Peter Hancock, has announced his imminent departure as president and CEO. He joined the company in 2010 as an EVP. But with no one yet found, even on an interim basis, to take over from Hancock, he has agreed to stick around until his successor is chosen.
TRUE STORY: I Was a White Gangster. Here's How I Ended Up in a Chinese Gang.
The author is serving a 20-year federal prison term for drug and money laundering charges. At 17, 18, there was nothing anyone could tell me. I was angry at the world; I was going to do what I was going to do and that was it. My mother died when I was a kid, my father had left when I was 3. The people who raised me were from a different world. This was about the struggle of not having parents, of having to prove yourself on a daily basis, to learn a new culture.
Executive changes at Tiffany, Teva, and Hasbro
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: Famed jeweler Tiffany & Co. has let go CEO Frederic Cumenal quite abruptly after two years of falling revenue and net income. (The recent holiday season was said to be particularly low-performing.) Cumenal’s resignation came, in fact, after less than two years on the job. He had previously held high-level posts at LVMH, another world-class retailer of luxury goods.
Executive changes at Yahoo!, Southwest Airlines, and Cutera
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: Yahoo!’s Mayer to Leave Board upon Partial Sale to Verizon Marissa Mayer, president and CEO of faltering internet publisher Yahoo!, on the job for more than four years, will be leaving the board this year if the sale of most of the company to Verizon goes through.
Executive changes at Exxon Mobil, CKE Restaurants, Hertz Global, and Dun & Bradstreet
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: President-elect Donald Trump interviewed several candidates over the last few weeks to head the Department of State, but ultimately gave the nod to Exxon Mobil chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson. He’s held that post for a decade and worked for the giant oil company for a full 40 years.
Executive changes at PG&E, Nasdaq, and the SEC
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: New CEO to Take Power at PG&E California utility giant PG&E made the announcement that it has chosen a new president and CEO to take the position next March. She’s Geisha Williams, currently president of electric at subsidiary Pacific Gas and Electric, a post she’s held since last year; Williams has been with PG&E for about a decade.
Here's hoping Congress does its job this time, by Ursula and John Willis - SentinelSource.com: Letters To The Editor
By the time this letter is published, we probably (barring recounts) will have elected a new president of the United States, a U.S. senator, and a member of Congress, as well as state, county, and local officials.
Executive changes at Hershey, Caterpillar, and Visa
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: Famed confectioner The Hershey Company announced a week ago that president and CEO John Bilbrey had given about eight months’ notice that he will be stepping down in mid-2017. Bilbrey has been on the job since 2011 and also holds the chairman’s post, which he will retain after dropping the executive position.
Executive changes at E*TRADE, Time Inc., and Weight Watchers
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: E*TRADE Exchanges One CEO for Another Online brokerage E*TRADE announced an abrupt departure for CEO Paul Idzik in a major reorganization of the business. Trading has slowed and debt has increased at the company in recent months, and the board decided to oust Idzik after three years and promote general counsel Karl Roessner to his spot. Roessner had held the legal post at E*TRADE for seven years.
Executive changes at Amtrak, ARRIS, and United Continental
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: America’s passenger rail network, Amtrak, formally known as National Railroad Passenger Corporation, is taking on board a new president and CEO, Wick Moorman. He’s a veteran of the rail freight industry as former chairman and CEO of Norfolk Southern, which operates trains mainly in the eastern and midwestern US, the same area where Amtrak’s train runs are most concentrated.
Executive changes at Starbucks, Noodles & Company, and eHarmony
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: At about the same time that worldwide coffee purveyor Starbucks was announcing a loosening of its dress code for baristas, the company also gave notice of new assignments coming in September for a few of its top employees.
Executive changes at Nestlé, Honeywell, and Walmart Canada
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: Nestlé Plans Ahead for Change at the Top Food-and-drink titan Nestlé displayed in a recent announcement the sort of orderly and well-planned change in the boardroom befitting its global brand. Its septuagenarian chairman, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, will be retiring, come April 2017, having spent just short of a half-century with the company and more than 10 years as CEO and later chairman.
Executive changes at Wendy's, Staples, and Bechtel
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: Wendy’s Squares Off with New CEO in Hand At the end of May, burger meister The Wendy’s Company reannounced the retirement of its CEO and his replacement. Word of Emil Brolick’s departure had come in late 2015, along with the news that Todd Penegor would take his place. Penegor has the title of president as well as CEO, stepping up from the CFO position he had held for more than two years.
Executive changes at Delta, Molson Coors, and Porsche
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: Changes at Top of Delta Air Take Effect Back in February, major US carrier Delta Air Lines announced that CEO Richard Anderson, nearly a decade in the position, would be stepping down the first week of May. He stays on in Atlanta, however, as the company’s chairman, replacing Dan Carp, who remains a director.
Executive changes at Walt Disney, Pultegroup, and AngioDynamics
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: Disney’s COO Sees No Sign of Promotion, Moves On More than a year ago, longtime Walt Disney veteran Tom Staggs took on the COO role at the entertainment conglomerate and was immediately seen as the heir apparent to CEO Bob Iger, whose term of office expires in two years. His having held the CFO post as well for 11 years helped make Staggs seem the natural candidate for the top post.
Executives on the Move: The Week of February 8th - 12th
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: Barclays Chooses CEO’s Former Colleague as New COO Only four months ago, leading British bank Barclays hired a new CEO, Jes Staley, a three-decade veteran of JPMorgan Chase.
Executive changes at United Air, Spirit Airlines, and the FDA
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over the past week. After a heart attack in October caused the CEO of leading US commercial airline United Air and its holding company United Continental Holdings to take a medical leave, doctors in Chicago performed a heart transplant on Oscar Munoz, 57, the first week of this month.
Executive changes at Federal Signal, Marriott, and Lantronix
Here are just a few of the executive changes making headlines over this past week: Safety systems and specialty vehicle manufacturer Federal Signal announced its new president and CEO, who takes over on New Year’s. She’s Jennifer Sherman, presently the COO, who’s been at the company for more than two decades. Retiring from the position after a five-year run is Dennis Martin, who is sticking around, though, as chairman. Current chair James Goodwin will step aside but remain on the board.
Executive changes at DuPont, University of Missouri System, and AGL Resources
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: A month ago Edward Breen was handed the interim chairman and CEO positions at chemical manufacturer E. I. du Pont after the retirement of Ellen Kullman. He had been chairman and one-time CEO of Tyco International plc, and had worked previously at Motorola and General Instrument. Apparently quickly impressed by his leadership abilities, this week DuPont’s board awarded Breen both jobs in full.
Executive changes at Chipotle, Greif, and Wal-Mart
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: Chipotle Mexican Grill, the restaurant chain whose success is mentioned in practically every business story on competitor McDonald’s falters, has decided to hire its first CIO. In late November Curt Garner comes on board from the same position at Starbucks, where he has spent nearly two decades in various posts. Garner also spent time previously at burger-slinger Wendy’s.
Executive changes at United Continental, CSX, and Tempur Sealy
Here are just a few of the interesting executive changes making headlines over this past week: United Continental Replaces CEO as Three Execs Resign under Cloud In the face of a federal investigation into a possible too cozy relationship between top United Air executives and the then-head of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the CEO and two other corporate highfliers resigned from their posts.
Unmaking North and South
‘This is a well-researched work.
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