Above the Fold

Democrats Charge Forward with Impeachment 

The Democrat-led House will likely continue to move forward with what’s been a highly partisan push for impeachment. And though Trump will likely become the third president to be impeached (accused of acts that could remove him from office), it is highly likely that the Republican-led Senate will acquit him, leaving the President in power. The two other presidents who were formerly impeached by the House, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, were also both acquitted by the Senate.

As momentous and solemn as impeachment of the highest office in the land is, the stock market, economy and most Americans following the process are NOT expecting any earth-shattering reactions or reverberations in global markets. The majority of both parties have made their intentions clear and while Trump will be theoretically “impeached,” the charges set before him are likely to be thrown out, according to several sources. There is a small possibility that some senators could pressure a drawn-out trial, which some strategists believe could ironically work in favor of President Trump. 

One thing is certain, the media attention given to this process and headlines generated will surely affect voters on both sides and especially those in the middle, but we have yet to see how those opinions shake out as the January Democratic primaries near, with the full election less than 11 months away. 

Three Things

1. Trash = Treasure on Amazon – A Wall Street Journal investigation revealed a plethora of Amazon Market participants who peddle other people’s trash for a profit. The nefarious sellers were spotted selling everything from books and electronics to games and even foodstuffs as new, even though they may have been found in a dumpster or discarded in trash bags. What’s worse, many of them recorded their deeds on YouTube. 
2. The Smartest Pizza – As the world’s largest pizza chain and a pioneer in the delivery business since the 60s, Domino’s is innovating once again. Instead of outsourcing to companies like Uber Eats and Grubhub Inc., Domino’s will invest, mostly in tech, to run a fleet of soon-to-be driverless cars. The company will also use AI cameras to photograph and analyze pies to ensure consistency and correctness with its orders. 
3. A MAJOR Tech Truce – Adversaries Apple, Google and Amazon have partnered with the Zigbee Alliance to develop a standard dubbed “Project Connected Home over IP.” The accord is expected to make communications between the different devices, like CO sensors, door locks and cameras not only easier, but seamless. Other major brands like Samsung, Signify, IKEA and Resideo are already working with Zigbee on a common platform. 

Did You Know?

Giving, Getting and Returning During the Holidays

Most Christians know that the modern day idea of Santa Claus came from the fourth-century bishop, St. Nicholas, who, according to legend, offered his massive inheritance to help the needy and also rescued women from servitude — he was also said to love children. The bishop’s name in Dutch is Sinterklaas, and as Dutch settlers made their way to America, the name and tales surrounding him morphed into Santa Claus. 

And even though Sinterklaas did have a white beard and wore a red bishop’s hat, it wasn’t until 1931, when Coca-Cola hired artist Haddon Sundblom, that the modern-day image of our jolly gift-giving friend was born.