Updates for government notices, Things to do, Artists, General things

Dragon Federation is making huge waves. This local Utah tech company is 120% funded after launching on Kickstarter just 48 hours ago. Why is this worthy of you and your audience's time?

• The love for dragons in pop culture today
• Local company going to Kickstarter to crowd-fund, as well as to build their international community
• It's a dragon you can hatch, train and one day ride!!
• Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence innovation in gaming
• Founders Samson Madsen and Michael Madsen are available for interviews

Dragon Federation's Kickstarter Campaign

Media kit and press release on Dropbox (click here)

Watch the Product Demo Video

Quick Overview:
The idea was born when Co-Founder Samson Madsen's kids wanted a pet. Instead of a dog or a cat, he thought: ‘Why not a dragon?’ These physical eggs from the Mountain Skál species come with a mobile app that allows owners to form a bond with their baby dragon and track its growth. Once hatched, owners use Augmented Reality to interact with the dragon in the real world. In 2020, owners will use Virtual Reality to go into the dragon realm where they can play, train, and even ride on their dragon's back. The Dragon Federation is launching their app and ten styles of dragon eggs. Backers will get a physical dragon egg and a mobile app to interact with their dragon using AR and VR. The company is looking to raise $30,000 to produce the dragon eggs professionally and at scale in the USA. 

 
A Bit of Lore:
Ages ago, when dragons were hunted near to extinction, the ancient Federation of Dragons sent them to their own world, the Dragon Realm, where they would be safe. Dragon Federation is the modern iteration of the Federation of Dragons, and has developed technology to peer into and even enter the dragon realm. Dragon Federation is recruiting new members who want to join the Federation, protect these mythical creatures and create a world where humankind and dragonkind can live together peacefully.

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Secretary Perdue to Speak at ERS and NIFA Employee Meeting, Hold Press Call About Relocation

(Washington, D.C., June 13th, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will speak at an all hands-on meeting with Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) employees TODAY, Thursday, June 13th about the relocation of these agencies.

Secretary Perdue to speak at ERS and NIFA Employee Meeting

WHEN: TODAY, Thursday, June 13th beginning at 3:00pm ET. Following the event, Secretary Perdue; Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, Dr. Scott Hutchins; Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, Donald Bice; and Associate General Counsel for General Law and Research, L. Benjamin “Benny” Young, Jr. will hold a press call with members of the media at 4:00pm ET. The number of lines are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so please limit to one per outlet.

WHERE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Building Jefferson Auditorium, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C.

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Secretary Perdue to Speak at ERS and NIFA Employee Meeting, Hold Press Call About Relocation

(Washington, D.C., June 13th, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will speak at an all hands-on meeting with Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) employees TODAY, Thursday, June 13th about the relocation of these agencies.

Secretary Perdue to speak at ERS and NIFA Employee Meeting

WHEN: TODAY, Thursday, June 13th beginning at 3:00pm ET. Following the event, Secretary Perdue; Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, Dr. Scott Hutchins; Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, Donald Bice; and Associate General Counsel for General Law and Research, L. Benjamin “Benny” Young, Jr. will hold a press call with members of the media at 4:00pm ET. The number of lines are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so please limit to one per outlet.

WHERE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Building Jefferson Auditorium, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C.

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USDA Radio Newsline

Wednesday, June 13th Stories:

• 1890 Land Grant University Scholarship Initiative Celebrated 
• Historic Happenings at 1890 Land Grant Celebration 

Have a Listen

3 Tips To Help You Stop Agonizing

Over Investments In A Down Market

When the market takes a tumble, many fainthearted investors panic and rid their portfolios of stocks that are taking a beating. But such investment decisions can be a big mistake.

“Average investors earn below average market returns and the reason is they let emotions guide their buy-and-sell decisions,” says Dr. Joseph Belmonte, an investment strategist and author of Buffett and Beyond: Uncovering the Secret Ratio for Superior Stock Selection (www.buffettandbeyond.com).

To illustrate that point, he suggests looking at research by Dalbar Inc., a company that studies investor behavior. Dalbar found that in the 20-year period that ended Dec. 31, 2015, the S&P 500 averaged a 9.85 percent annual return, while mutual-fund investors saw average yearly returns of just 5.19 percent.

“What this study tells us is that buying and selling is not working for the average investor,” Dr. Belmonte says. “Thus, investors should consider a buy-and-hold strategy. The question is why don’t they? The answer is the average investor does not have the confidence to stay with good stocks during both good and not-so-good times.”

But how do you know the stocks you have invested in are good ones? Dr. Belmonte says you should:

• Look for consistency. Find stocks that are not only making money, but are doing so consistently year after year. “In other words,” Dr. Belmonte says, “we want stocks that are making profits 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 52 weeks a year.” For Dr. Belmonte, McDonald’s is a good example. Although the price of the stock can go up or down on any given day, the value of the stock increases over time. “If we know we have stocks that are increasing in value each and every day, then when the market and our stocks’ prices decline, we will have much greater confidence that the price of our stocks will come back,” Dr. Belmonte says.
• Check how the stock performed in rough times. Look at how a stock performed during the market decline from June 30, 2008, to March 30, 2009. The S&P 500 fell almost 50 percent at one point over this period and was down 40 percent on March 30, 2009. Yet, Dr. Belmonte notes that certain stocks weathered the storm much better than the overall market. McDonald’s, for example, fell just 10 percent during the period and was at break even on March 30, 2009, he says. Home Depot fell as much as 20 percent, but by March 30, 2009, was at the same price as it was on June 30, 2008. “In other words, it didn’t lose any money while the S&P was still down by 40 percent,” he says.
• Examine a company’s earnings history. Dr. Belmonte says his firm, Buffett and Beyond Research, uses a specialized Return on Equity over the past 10 years that tells them if a company is consistently growing its earnings year over year. For investors who don’t have the tools to do that, he says, simply go back 10 years and look at the company’s earnings. If there has been steady continuity to earnings growth year over year, investors can have confidence to stay with the company even when the stock price is declining.

“If you fill your portfolio with stocks that are consistently making money,” Dr. Belmonte says, “then these stocks will have staying power both in your pocket book and your mind. That means you will not lose confidence in your holdings when the market goes through its tantrums.”

About Dr. Joseph Belmonte

Dr. Joseph Belmonte, author of Buffett and Beyond: Uncovering the Secret Ratio for Superior Stock Selection (www.buffettandbeyond.com), is an investment strategist and stock market consultant. He is fond of saying, “If you want to live on the beach like Jimmy Buffett, you've got to learn how to invest like Warren Buffett.” Dr. Belmonte has developed hedged growth income strategies for family offices, and has lectured to numerous professional and investment groups throughout the country. His weekly video newsletter is sent to thousands of investors, money managers, and academics both nationally and internationally.