October 30, 2020 06:14 ET | Source: Research and Markets

Dublin, Oct. 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Investment Funds and Asset Management Market in Poland, 2020-2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

"Investment Funds and Asset Management Market in Poland 2020-2022" provides a comprehensive overview of investment funds and asset management sector in Poland. The analysis covers three main pillars of the market including mutual funds, insurance, and pension assets. The report also includes a mid-term forecast of key volumes for the period 2020-2022.

In line with trends observed in previous years, assets under management in Poland remained very volatile in 2019 and in the 1st half of 2020. Total assets went down to PLN 588 billion in H1 2020 and this drop could be attributed to a very weak performance of equity markets impacted by accelerating Covid-19. The extraordinary situation has negatively affected all segments of the AM sector, although this was not equally visible across particular segments, in particular in the case of the 3rd pillar, where strong new inflows more than offset falling valuations.

Outlook

Overall assets under management in Poland are expected to fall in 2020 but then rebound through 2022. Particularly promising will be the 3rd pillar pension segment where significant new flows will drive AuM regardless of their initial performance. The new legal framework, in force since mid-2019, has mandated employers to enroll their employees and to match employee contributions. A further boost to 3rd pillar assets will be supplied by the final dismantling of 2nd pillar pension funds, expected around 2021-2022.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Asset Management Market

3. Investment Funds

4. Pension Funds

5. Insurance Assets

6. Forecasts

7. Notes on methodology

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/i29rku

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Formats available:

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Poland Investment Funds and Asset Management Market Report 2020: Focus on Mutual Funds, Insurance, and Pension Assets - GlobeNewswire

BEIJING, Oct. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Puhui Wealth Investment Management Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: PHCF) ("Puhui" or the "Company"), a third-party wealth management service provider with a focus on wealth management services for high net worth ("HNW") individuals and corporate clients, today announced its financial results for the year ended June 30, 2020. The Company also filed these results on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which can be viewed at http://www.sec.gov. All amounts in this press release are in USD unless otherwise noted.

Financial and Operating Highlights

Mr. Zhe Ji, the Chairman and CEO of the Company, stated, "There was a considerable impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on our business during the past fiscal year, as our offices remained closed between February and June 2020. Since that time, we have begun to see business return due to a combination of strong relationships with our customers along with demand for investment and financial planning expertise in China's wealth management industry following the pandemic. While it was a challenging period, we did take the opportunity to focus on operational improvements through providing our workforce with the ability to service clients remotely. We are in a stronger position today to handle any potential challenges in the future than prior to the pandemic."

Mr. Ji continued, "We believe that the fundamental aspects of our independent wealth management business have increased value in the current volatile market environment. HNW clientele across China are continuing to seek an independent advisor that provides access to several investment products without bias. At Puhui, we are solely focused on aligning our available products with whatever financial objectives our clients are seeking. Our acquisition of Granville in December 2019 represented our first entry into the international market, which increases our potential customer base over time. Our focus for the remainder of the year is to add new HNW customers that can take advantage of our product offering, and intend to be active in marketing as well as optimizing our branch network in the coming months."

Financial Review for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2020

Wealth Management

Asset Management

Revenues

Cost of Revenues

Operating Expense

Net Loss Attributable to Puhui Wealth

Liquidity and Capital Resources

About Puhui Wealth Investment Management Co., Ltd.

Headquartered in Beijing, China and founded in 2013, Puhui is a third-party wealth management service provider focusing on marketing financial products (including private equity and other diversified products and services) to, and managing funds for, individuals and corporate clients in the PRC. On December 27, 2018, the Company's ordinary shares were listed and began trading listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (ticker: PHCF).

Additional information about Puhui can be found at the Company's corporate website: http://www.puhuiwealth.com.

Additional Disclosure Concerning COVID-19

The impacts of COVID-19 on Puhui's business, financial condition, and results of operations include, but are not limited to, the following:

Forward Looking Statement

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "plan", "outlook", and "project" and other similar expressions that indicate future events or trends or are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on our management's current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events.

Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside of our control and all of which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements can be found in our reports filed with theSecurities and Exchange Commission, which are available, free of charge, on theSEC'swebsite atwww.sec.gov.

PUHUI WEALTH INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CO., LTD AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

For the Years Ended June 30,

2020

2019

REVENUES

Revenues

$

1,481,980

$

3,052,371

Revenues - related parties

697,500

128,263

Total revenues

2,179,480

3,180,634

OPERATING EXPENSES

Cost of revenues

(202,637)

(316,718)

Selling expenses

(1,517,968)

(2,005,367)

General and administrative expenses

(4,977,537)

(3,427,040)

Total operating expenses

(6,698,142)

(5,749,125)

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

(4,518,662)

(2,568,491)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)

Interest income

74,824

62,967

Other finance expenses

(191,238)

(206,081)

Other income, net

126,858

808

Total other income (expenses), net

10,444

(142,306)

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

(4,508,218)

(2,710,797)

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

Current

-

11,803

Deferred

179,449

380,302

Total income tax provision

179,449

392,105

NET LOSS

(4,687,667)

(3,102,902)

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

(641,719)

(645,716)

NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO PUHUI WEALTH

$

(4,045,948)

$

(2,457,186)

NET LOSS

$

(4,687,667)

$

(3,102,902)

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

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Puhui Wealth Investment Management Co. Ltd. Announces Financial Results for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2020 - PRNewswire

Bitcoin (BTC) has gained significant notoriety in the decade since its 2009 launch. Big mainstream players such as MicroStrategy have recently begun to invest large sums of money into the asset, normalizing its viability as an investment for some. Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital, said Bitcoin is now an obvious financial play.

"On a risk-adjusted basis, BTC is an easier bet today than it has ever been," Novogratz said in an Oct. 27 tweet. "Its being de-risked daily."

Cointelegraph reached out to Novogratz for additional details, but received no response as of press time. This article will be updated accordingly should a response come in.

"Adjusted by its volatility, Bitcoin has presented the best return in one or two years against all other asset classes," Cointelegraph markets contributor Marcel Pechman said when asked to weigh in on Novogratz tweet. "Few investors expect gold to rally 60%, but it never went below -8% so the Sharpe index adjusts returns based on volatility.

Although MicroStrategy bought more than $400 million worth of BTC in recent months, it is not the only mainstream giant to join the party. Square, headed up by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, purchased $50 million of Bitcoin recently, publicized on Oct. 8. After disclosing his BTC holdings in May 2020, billionaire Paul Tudor Jonescompared the asset to an investment in Apple before its boom.

With its mainstream involvement, including thetraditional trading productsbeing built around it, Bitcoin is much easier to gain financial exposure to today than it once was. Though it was originally designed as an alternative form of currency, Bitcoin has gainedprevalence more as a store of value and investment option in recent years.

"I don't think Bitcoin is going to be used as a transactional currency any time in the next five years," Novogratz said in aninterview with Bloomberg TV, posted onOct. 23. "Bitcoin is being used as a store of value," he added. "People are worried that the central banks around the world are debasing fiat currencies."

The U.S. government, for example,printed a massive amount of its national currency in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic; and action that could ultimately decrease the value of the American dollar as a whole.

See more here:
Bitcoin becoming less-risky as an investment, Novogratz says - Cointelegraph

It could be the long-awaited turning point in the world of venture capital and beyond. Yale, whose $32 billion endowment has been led since 1985 by the legendary investor David Swensen, just let its 70 U.S. money managers across a variety of asset classes know that for the school, diversity has now moved front and center.

According to the WSJ, Swensen has told the firms that from here on out, they will be measured annually on their progress in increasing the diversity of their investment staff, from hiring to training to mentoring to their retention of women and minorities.

Those that show little improvement may see the prestigious university pull its money, Swensen tells the outlet.

Its hard to overstate the moves significance. Though Yales endowment saw atypically poor performance for part of last year, Swensen, at 66, is among the most highly regarded money managers in the world, growing Yales endowment from $1 billion when he joined as a 31-year-old former grad student of the school, to the second-largest school endowment in the country after Harvard, which currently manages $40 billion.

Credited for developing the so-called Yale Model, which is short on public equities and long on commitments to venture shops, private equity funds, hedge funds and international investments, Swensen has inspired legions of other endowment managers, many of whom worked for him previously, including the current endowment heads of Princeton, Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania.

It isnt a stretch to imagine these managers and many others will again follow Swensens lead, one that was inspired by the growing diversity with Yale itself. Should such metrics become standard, they could dramatically change the stubbornly intractable world of money management, which remains mostly white and mostly male.

Indeed, while the dearth of woman and minorities within the ranks of venture firms may not be news to readers, a 2019 study commissioned by the Knight Foundation and cited by the WSJ underscores how big an issue it remains across asset classes. According to its findings, women and minority-owned firms held less than 1% of assets managed by mutual funds, hedge funds, private-equity funds and real-estate funds in 2017, even though their performance was on a par with such firms.

As for why Swensen didnt write this letter much sooner to the universe of fund managers backed by Yale, Swensen tells WSJ that he has long talked about diversity with them but says he held off on asking for systematic changes owing to a belief, in part, that there were not enough diverse candidates entering into asset management.

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement that gained momentum this spring, he decided it was time to take the leap anyway.

As for that perceived pipeline concern, fund managers will have to figure it out. For his part, Swensen reportedly offered a suggestion to those same U.S. managers. He proposed that they forget the same resumes for which theyve long looked and consider recruiting directly from college campuses.

Continued here:
Yale may have just turned institutional investing on its head with a new diversity edict - TechCrunch

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Turning Point Brands, Inc. ("TPB") (NYSE: TPB), a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded consumer products with active ingredients, today announced a $15 million strategic investment in leading global cannabinoid companydosistand an exclusive co-development and distribution agreement of a new national CBD brand, created in partnership withdosist'sthc-free business unit. Additionally, TPB has an option to invest another $15 million at pre-determined terms within the next 12 months.

"The cannabis market is exploding and now is the opportune time to invest in the space and significantly expand our addressable market," said Larry Wexler, CEO of Turning Point Brands. "With its leadership in results-oriented plant-based formulas and dose control technology, global recognition, consumer trust and scalability, dosist was the clear choice to be our new partner in this critical growth market. We couldn't be more pleased to enter into this agreement with dosist, to not only help fuel its exciting new business and co-create a completely new CBD brand for our retail partners, but also to leverage their expertise as a marketing powerhouse to help build the future of both our companies."

"We are extremely proud to partner with Turning Point Brands on our next phase of growth and distribution as we continue to transcend the way consumers think about their health and wellness," said Gunner Winston, CEO of dosist. "Turning Point's leadership team has demonstrated remarkable foresight and vision about the future and opportunity for federally legal cannabinoid products. The synergy between our brands around this scope and mission is incredible and we are excited by what we will achieve together with this partnership."

Since its launch in 2016, dosist has quickly established itself as a pre-eminent and globally recognized cannabis brand through its award-winning innovations (Time Magazine, Fast Company, Bloomberg), and superior marketing prowess. The renowned dosist product portfolio, including its internationally patented dose-control inhalation technology, delivers scientifically engineered formulations targeting key human need states. dosist formulas offer consumers a complete range of solutions, starting with its core line featuring balanced ratios of cbd to thc, and their thc-plus line, a collection of high potency formulas designed for targeted thc-forward experiences.

All dosist formulas are delivered via their proprietary dose-controlled devices, which include their completely re-engineered inhalable disposable dose pen, the newly launched dose pen rechargeable system and the dose dial, which dispenses a 3.7 mg sublingual tablet. In the coming 3-6 months, dosist plans to expand on its current platform with a substantial innovation pipeline including tinctures, gummies and dynamic live resin and full spectrum formulas developed in collaboration with some of the most progressive brands in the space.

dosist'sleading cannabis products are currently available in California, Colorado, Nevada and Canada, serving a total dispensary network of more than 700 stores. The company has plans to launch into key new markets in the coming months, adding geographies as they continue their North American expansion. dosist has consistently elevated the retail experience across all markets which they currently service, including a transformative retail store on iconic Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, CA, and a flagship shop-in-shop in Planet 13 in Las Vegas, the largest cannabis retail destination in the world, in addition to other numerous and impactful retail experiences across their distribution channels.

In addition to their robust portfolio of current and upcoming thc-regulated products, dosist plans to launch a globally scaled omni-channel platform in November, dosist thc-free, bringing the brand's leading standards of precision, quality and targeted performance to the rapidly growing CBD market across multiple product lines. The partnership between TPB and dosist also includes the co-creation of a completely new national CBD brand aimed at the mass market. This partnership combines Turning Point Brands' best-in-class sales and operations infrastructure with dosist's expertise in product innovation, marketing and brand development. The new brand will be exclusively distributed by TPB, which services more than 180,000 points of sale in the United States.

dosist thc-free products will be available nationally across the US starting early November at http://www.dosistthcfree.com and select retailers. For more information about dosistthc-freeand its products follow them on Instagram @dosistthcfree.

Transaction Details

The proceeds of TPB's investment are being used by dosist's thc-free and Canadian business units and cannot be used in connection with or for any cannabis or cannabis-related operations in the United States, unless and until such operations comply with all applicable laws of the United States. TPB has been issued a warrant to receive preferred shares of dosist that will automatically be exercised upon a change in federal laws in the United States to reschedule or deschedule cannabis and/or permit its general cultivation, distribution and possession. As part of this agreement, TPB will also have an option to fill a seat on the board of directors of dosist upon legalization.

About Turning Point Brands, Inc.

Turning Point Brands (NYSE: TPB) is a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded consumer products with active ingredients through its iconic core brands Zig-Zag and Stoker's, and its emerging brands within the NewGen segment. TPB's products are available in more than 210,000 retail outlets in North America in addition to sites such as http://www.zigzag.com, http://www.nu-x.com and http://www.solacevapor.com. For the latest news and information about TPB and its brands, please visit http://www.turningpointbrands.com.

About dosist

dosist, based inLos Angeles, California, launched in 2016 and has since become known as a disruptor in the health and wellness industry. dosist was named one of Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2016, was recognized by Fast Company as one of 2018's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the health sector, and was designated by LinkedInas the number two Top Startups 2019: Hottest U.S. Companies To Work For Now. dosist's new thc-free business is scheduled to launch in early November, providing natural options for some of our most common ailments through dose-controlled targeted cbd+ formulations such as calm thc-free, sleep thc-freeand relief thc-free. For more information about dosistthc-freeand its products visit the website at dosistthcfree.com and follow them on Instagram @dosistthcfree.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan" and "will" or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. As a result, actual events may differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by TPB in this press release speaks only as of the date hereof. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible for TPB to predict these events or how they may affect it. TPB has no obligation, and does not intend, to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by federal securities laws. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to:

Investor Contacts:Robert Lavan, Senior Vice President and CFO, Turning Point Brands [emailprotected]

Anne-Marie Dacyshyn, Chief Marketing Officer, dosist [emailprotected]

Media Contact: Sonia Hendrix, Founder, GALLERY PR [emailprotected]

SOURCE dosist

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Turning Point Brands Makes Strategic Investment into dosist A World-Class and Globally Recognized Cannabis Brand - PRNewswire

PT Tokopedia's mascot Toped sits on display in the reception area at the company's offices in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016.

Photographer: Dimas Ardian

Photographer: Dimas Ardian

Google and Temasek Holdings Pte have agreed to invest about $350 million in PT Tokopedia, people familiar with the matter said, a major cash infusion that will bankroll the Indonesian online malls post-Covid-19 expansion.

The Alphabet Inc. unit and Singapores state investment firm could sign an agreement for the funding soon, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing the deal before its formally concluded. The financing falls short of the initial goal of between $500 million to $1 billion that Bloomberg News reported in July, though Tokopedia may still be looking for more investors.

Tokopedia, the online marketplace backed by SoftBank Group Corp., was said to have held talks with U.S. internet giants including Facebook Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. The backing of Google and Temasek is a vote of confidence for one of Indonesias biggest e-commerce operators, which rode a surge in online shopping during the pandemic.

Americas largest internet corporations have looked increasingly toward Asia as growth in the U.S. and Europe slows, seeking to tap the regions rapidly growing smartphone-savvy population. Facebook is buying a stake in Indias Jio Platforms, while its WhatsApp unit struck a deal to invest in Gojek, which has a popular digital payments service called GoPay. Representatives for Google, Tokopedia and Temasek declined to comment.

Tokopedia co-founder and Chief Executive Officer William Tanuwijaya built Indonesias most valuable startup after Gojek by scoring early backing from SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. co-founder Jack Ma.

E-commerce platforms like Tokopedia, Alibabas Lazada Group SA and Singapore-based Shopee -- a unit of Sea Ltd. -- moved quickly to serve the millions of people forced to make their first online purchases during widespread lockdowns. Indonesia has become a key battleground between the regional rivals: The countrys e-commerce market is projected to expand from $21 billion in 2019 to $82 billion by 2025, according to a recent study by Google, Temasek and Bain & Co.

Indonesia is the biggest contributor to the internet economy's growth in the region

Source: Google & Temasek / Bain, e-Conomy SEA 2019

Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal.

See original here:
Google, Temasek Agree to Invest $350 Million in Tokopedia - Bloomberg

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These money and investing tips can help you figure out which portfolio moves if any to make now - MarketWatch

The department of nonprofit management, empowerment, and diversity studies encourages students to talk about empowerment in uncertain times during the ninth annual IZE week.

Alice Delvecchio, the department chair, said that the idea of IZE week originated in 2012 and asked students to identify a social issue that they would like the community to realize, to emphasize and to mobilize.

The theme for the weeks stem around a topic that is of interest to the students that they may think they know about, but actually do not. Delvecchio said that students and faculty know what these uncertain times feel like but may not know how to navigate. She hopes that IZE week will help those understand that they can get through these times.

All of us are really trying to get back to normal as best we can, and everybodys world has been turned upside down, most of us are not doing things the way we had done them before, Delvecchio said.

Those in the nonprofit sector have seen what uncertainty and COVID-19 has done to those who use nonprofit services, such as food banks and services for mental health challenges.

Everybody has been impacted by this COVID piece, Delvecchio said. I have seen how the sector is dealing with it and how students and colleagues are dealing with it. We hear from the students and it is hard to stay confident and in a power mode when the world around you feels so uncertain.

Andrea Altman, a junior dual major in integrated marketing and communications and philanthropy and nonprofit management, is the social marketing chair for the Student Nonprofit Alliance, the organization who helps to coordinate IZE week.

Altman said that they knew everybody was all over the place with COVID and that empowerment during uncertain times would help others to realize that they can have control in this crazy time.

Everyone has been crammed with school and being extremely stressed and we wanted to say we are here for you and we understand what you are going through,' Altman said. We know this is crazy, but there are ways you can gain control.

Gaining control and realizing that students have the power within themselves to be empowered are two key messages that Altman and Delvecchio hope those who attend IZE week walk away with.

IZE week began Oct. 27 and will end Nov. 9, with events such as So Many Ways to Change the World, Sweet and Meet, Empowered through Service, Get Off Your A and Walk Challenge, Self-Care Sunday and Mobilizing for Empowered Communities to end the week.

Part of the Self-Care Sunday event will be presenter Rick Thomas with a self-care workshop with tools that can be used to enhance personal empowerment during uncertain times.

The reality is you can provide opportunities for people to become empowered, Delvecchio said.

To help empower students, Delvecchio and Altman came up with the idea of gratitude bags which can be picked up in the student center across from Starbucks from 11 a.m.-1.p.m. on weekdays.

These bags consist of a pen, 28 small blanks pieces of paper and several items to remind students that the campus community cares about them.

Delvecchio said that students are challenged to write something that they are grateful for every day and to hang the gratitude bag where they can see it.

We really are empathetic with the students because we know this is rough for them and they keep at it, and the freshman, this is definitely not what they signed up for, Delvecchio said.

Part of what is done in the department is to teach people how to change the world.

That change starts with you and if you are empowered you can change the world, Delvecchio said. We want them to know that the world may be trying to change you and it may at times feel like burning and going to hell in a handbasket and our role in the world is not the world itself. Students have the power to change the world.

The nonprofit management program is the only undergraduate program in Pennsylvania. Any students interested in the major or a certificate should get in touch with Delvecchio.

Hope is a senior converged journalism major entering her third year on The Rocket staff and her second year as campus life editor. Previously, she served as assistant campus life editor after contributing to the campus life section her freshman year. After graduation, she hopes to report for a paper either in local journalism or city news. Outside of The Rocket, Hope is also part of the JumpStart Mentor Program, the Student Organization of Latinos Hispanics and Allies (SOL) and Lambda Pi Eta.

Visit link:
Realize, emphasize and mobilize in uncertainty - SRU The Online Rocket

Johnson Citys Seasons of Hope is seeking donations to help one of its low income working families through an illness that has thrown them behind on their bills.

Executive Director Katy Hicks said, like most of the families Seasons of Hope assists through its HOPE Family Program, They live paycheck to paycheck. And due to illness, there was no paycheck this week.

They have experienced a loss of income due to an illness in her family, Hicks said, and her immediate need is for $240 to get them through the end of the month.

A small nonprofit organization with limited resources, Seasons of Hopes focus is on working families that earn too much to meet the standard guidelines for assistance from other charitable organizations and too little to meet all of their childrens needs. Its mission is to empower families who are committed to improving their own situations.

Its HOPE Helping (and) Offering Personal Empowerment Program is a two-year course of mentoring, key life skills classes, encouragement and incentives that together help families harvest the rewards of their own hard work.

Space in the program is limited and families selected to participate are those who pledge to apply themselves to its educational courses, to going to work or to college if they are not already there, to meeting monthly with a HOPE Program mentor, and to giving back to their community through volunteering.

Of the HOPE family in emergency need, Hicks said, This family does a lot of volunteer work for Seasons of Hope (and) the community. And this month, they are struggling to make ends meet.

Her request is for donations earmarked for HOPE Family that can be made on the Seasons of Hope website at http://www.seasonsofhopetn.org or by mail to Seasons of Hope, 706 Antioch Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604.

Ways to help the HOPE Family Program include volunteering as family mentor or sponsoring an incentive reward for a family such as a free haircut, manicure, pedicure or massage, or even more helpful, a grocery, gasoline, clothing or restaurant gift card.

HOPE families are also included in Seasons of Hope annual back-to-school distribution and its Secret Santa Christmas outreach that over the next month and a half will be gathering gifts and clothing for children and teens and food boxes, blessing bags and a modest Christmas wish for each of the families.

Seasons of Hope kicked off its holiday drive this week with its Christmas Morning Breakfast Box in the spotlight.

THicks said that Seasons of Hope believes Every child deserves to wake up on Christmas morning to a gift under the tree, a stocking hung with care and food on the table.

And to get the ball rolling, it has put out its call for donations of pancake mix, syrup, cereal, oatmeal, muffin mix, canned fruit, juice, hot chocolate mix and a $5 gift card for milk and eggs to go into a Christmas breakfast box for each of its families.

Those who wish to help may donate items for the boxes, fill a box or multiple boxes to donate, sponsor a breakfast box food drive, or make a $25 donation to sponsor a box for one family.

More information about the Secret Santa project and HOPE Family Program can be found at http://www.seasonsofhopetn.org or may be obtained by contacting Hicks at 423-724-7398.

If there is a need or a project in your neighborhood the Good Neighbor column can assist with, contact Sue Guinn Legg at 423-722-0538, slegg@johnsoncitypress.com or P.O. Box 1717, Johnson City, TN 37605.

Originally posted here:
Seasons of Hope family in need of help during illness - Johnson City Press (subscription)

Big news: Ariana Grandes in love. Shes also really, really in the mood. This intel does not come from an anonymous source close to the singer. Its broadcasted all throughout her sixth studio album, Positions, a record that boasts the happiest music weve heard from Grande in a while and the naughtiest lyrics weve heard her angelic voice sing, well, ever. Two tracks in, on 34+35 (do the maths), she sings, Can you stay up all night? Fuck me til the daylight, setting the tone for more subsequent filth on tracks such as Nasty. Grandes desire is spelled out in explicit, occasionally eye-popping terms in the best way possible putting a popped cherry on top of a very sexy year for women in music.

Its not like the realm of sex is new territory for Grande. Dont pretend you thought Side To Side was a song about riding bikes. But now, shes moved on from the creative euphemisms and is following Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallions lead, singing pussy, dick and fuck like a kinky lullaby. Its not like this is new territory for female artists in 2020 either. Remember when Dua Lipa sang, When youre going down I get so up on Good In Bed at the start of the year? Or when she begged for someone to put their hands on her in Pretty Please? Dont tell me youve already forgotten about WAP and the subsequent debate it sparked as to whether its appropriate for women to talk about what they want from sex in music. If youre still looking for some clarity on that debate, the answer is: yes, it is.

While conservative commentators may feign shock at this development in mainstream music, as one of lifes most basic pleasures, people have made music about sex for much longer than you might expect. Now finding new viral fame on TikTok, blues singer Lucille Bogan was singing lyrics that wouldn't seem out of place as extra verses in WAP in the 1930s. Take this gem from Till The Cows Come Home for example: If you suck my pussy, Baby I'll suck your dick. In 1975, Donna Summer faked 22 orgasms on Love To Love You Baby. In 1981, Grace Jones asked a man to Pull Up To The Bumper" and put a long black limousine in places automobiles have no business being. Then Madonna felt Like A Virgin, before releasing the suitably named Erotica and the even sexier Bedtime Stories. In the midst of Madonnas sexual awakening, Salt-N-Pepa straight up said, Lets Talk About Sex. Two became one with the Spice Girls in 1996. In 2002, Khia gave in depth instructions for oral sex in My Neck, My Back.

The list goes on, and thats only covering the women who have sung horny lyrics. Surprise! Those women are vastly outnumbered by men who have done exactly the same thing. There are the obvious tracks such as Marvin Gayes Lets Get It On and Boyz II Mens Ill Make Love To You, but for a more direct comparison to todays eXXXtra explicit lyrics mainstream, N.W.A.s now infamous album Niggaz4Life is a masterclass in misogynistic approaches to sex. It is incredibly vulgar and, at many points, down right offensive to women, who are merely seen as disposable objects for male pleasure, epitomised by the reprehensible interlude To Kill A Hooker. The sex talk on this album isnt fun because it only pleases one party, while the other is degraded and, essentially, abused. MC Ren raps about a 14-year-old girl on She Swallowed It. See, Cardi B asking you to park that big Mack truck right in this little garage isnt so bad after all, is it?

Those are the ghosts of musics raunchy past, but lets circle back to Grandes foray into dirty talk. And Cardi B and Megans. And Dua Lipas. And Doja Cats. There have arguably been more songs from women talking vividly about sex in the charts than ever before in 2020, with the concept evolving from what was once a titillating novelty to a part of everyday discourse. The most obvious explanation for the rise in female pleasure in music, and the increased demand for it, is that recent conversations around equality and sex positivity have simply loosened up taboos. From Lily Allen launching a range of sex toys to Rihannas Savage X Fenty line of underwear, more women are taking ownership of their sexuality, which means more women want to talk about it and listen to other women talk about it. The onus is no longer on performing sexy for the male gaze; its about genuinely feeling sexy for personal empowerment and pleasure.

Who this music is written by and for is also crucial: Like A Virgin was written by two men. While Summer is credited as a songwriter on Love To Love You Baby, it was actually only the title that she came up with Giorgio Moroder wrote the full song and, at first, it was so explicit that she only agreed to record it as a demo for someone else. Even Rihannas recent tracks Birthday Cake and Sex With Me were written by teams comprised practically entirely of men, bar Fenty herself.

Look at the songwriting credits on Grandes Positions and youll see that representation is much more balanced. Grande is credited as the lead songwriter on almost every track and, on the particularly cheeky songs such as 34+35 and Nasty, shes joined by her longtime collaborators Victoria Mont (who also got pretty raunchy on her debut album Jaguar this summer) and, on the former, Tayla Parx. As David Levesley notes, Dua Lipa made a concerted effort to involve as many women as possible in the creation of Future Nostalgia, which gave us Good In Bed and Pretty Please. Were not just hearing women sing about sex more frequently in music, were specifically hearing it from their perspective, rather than that of a horny man ventriloquising the imagined desires of women.

Perhaps thats whats most shocking about this new wave of sexually empowered pop: not the content itself, but rather the fact that the men arent in control of it. Were some men outraged by WAP because they feared it would turn young girls into nymphomaniacs with no self-respect, or were they simply offended to hear that their own sexual desires werent being prioritised? Is it fair to be angry at women using words like pussy in reference to their own bodies, when men have been using it derogatorily for decades? Some food for thought. Listen to Grandes new album while you mull it over. You might even pick up some tips.

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Ariana Grandes Positions shows the power of women writing about their own orgasms - British GQ