Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Uber Needs To Do Better When It Comes To Diversity; Huffington Post, March 28, 2017

Ryan Grenoble, Huffington Post; 

Uber Needs To Do Better When It Comes To Diversity


"After years of keeping its diversity data hidden away, Uber released its first diversity report Tuesday, under the direction of its new Chief Human Resources Officer Liane Hornsey.

The report revealed that Uber employees are mostly white and mostly male, especially at the more senior levels of the company. A full 78 percent of Uber’s workers at the director level or above are men, and 76.7 percent of the company leadership is white.

Tuesday’s disclosure is part of a concerted PR effort to right the ship at the company after a series of scandals. Uber has faced allegations of rampant sexual harassment from former employees; a high-profile lawsuit that contends Uber stole trade secrets from a Google-founded competitor; numerous high-profile departures; and a video showing CEO Travis Kalanick telling off a driver.

“​This report is a first step in showing that diversity and inclusion is a priority at Uber,” Kalanick said in a statement. “I know that we have been too slow in publishing our numbers — and that the best way to demonstrate our commitment to change is through transparency.”"

'The Fight of Our Generation'; Inside Higher ed, March 27, 2017

Carl Straumsheim, Inside Higher Ed;

'The Fight of Our Generation'


"The budget cuts loomed over the conference. Keith Michael Fiels, executive director of the ALA, said the budget shows the administration is cutting library funding to upgrade the country’s nuclear arsenal -- a reference to the proposed increase in defense spending.

“The scary thing is that this could actually happen if no one does anything,” Fiels said. “Only a small band of brave individuals stand between this insanity and reality. Who are these brave heroes? They’re us.”

He, like other speakers, implored attendees to call their representatives. “This is the fight of our generation,” he said.

Author Roxane Gay devoted 15 minutes of her Thursday keynote to reflect on life in the “age of American disgrace,” a talk she has given in the months following last year’s presidential election.

“We’re at a really unexpected time where we have to defend factual information and the research that supports this information, and what’s shocking is that this kind of thing is under attack from the executive branch,” Gay said.

Carla D. Hayden, who was confirmed to a 10-year term as librarian of Congress in July, steered clear of politics in her closing keynote. She dodged a question about copyright law and did not address the proposed budget cuts except to say that the Library of Congress is “working on being America’s library, and that can’t be denied.”"

A Better Ladder: Fostering the Leaders Libraries Need; Library Journal, March 20, 2017

Rebecca T. Miller, Library Journal; 

A Better Ladder: Fostering the Leaders Libraries Need


"The talent at work in libraries should make anyone optimistic for the future—not only of libraries but of the varied communities they serve. As the latest class of LJ Movers & Shakers demonstrates, the field is rippling with energetic, committed, innovative people addressing issues to create ever better service. It’s important that today’s leaders guarantee an institutional dynamic that will keep up-and-coming visionaries like these happy in libraries, allow them to flourish, and enable the best to step forward into larger roles.

We also need to continue to develop institutional cultures that these high achievers want to be in as they choose where to contribute their time and skills. Look within: Is your library attracting innovators, spurring their success, and offering paths to advancement and new challenges? Building out a setting that attracts and retains innovative thinkers is critical to the future of our libraries...

Taking the next step, from frontline librarian to management or from management to top leadership, can be challenging and rewarding, and it helps to have guidance along the way (see some perspectives in “The Next Step: Manager,” “The Next Step: Director,” and “Exit Strategies“). We also need to make sure that those challenges are worth taking on—that prospective managers see firsthand that their work will be valued, both financially and emotionally, and that they will be given the chance to take initiative and make a real difference.
If we want to prevent a “pipeline out” of libraries, as Dorothea Salo puts it, we must support our “tall poppies”—speak up for innovators who can feel isolated in their lone roles or see backlash as perceived self-promoters and fight a narrative that pits their efforts in competition with traditional core services. We must also battle microaggressions and institutional bias, which, however unconscious, spawn an unwelcoming environment for librarians of color."

‘I’m not afraid’: The president of tiny Estonia gives a giant lesson in leadership; Washington Post, March 28, 2017

Jonathan Capehart, Washington Post; ‘I’m not afraid’: The president of tiny Estonia gives a giant lesson in leadership

"“No, I’m not afraid. … I trust NATO.”...

Kaljulaid is the first woman and youngest person to ever be elected president of Estonia. What makes her ascension even more remarkable is that she is in a job she did not initially seek. Kaljulaid was in her 12th year on the European Court of Auditors when the Estonian Parliament, which elects the head of state, turned to her as a compromise candidate in October...

And during the Brussels Forum, the president of the young, free country rose up to deride the consumerism that defines democracy today. “Too many people in the world associate democracy with their ability to go and buy more and more every year,” Kaljulaid said. “I come from a country where it’s much more popular to remind people that democracy is available at every income level and this is something which you need to protect … The freedom of speech. The freedom of thinking. The freedom of coming and going.”

BrewDog backs down over Lone Wolf pub trademark dispute; Guardian, March 27, 2017

Rob Davies, Guardian; 

BrewDog backs down over Lone Wolf pub trademark dispute

"Branding expert Graham Hales, chief marketing officer at the Chemistry Group, said BrewDog had made the right decision by backing down. “Lawyers have their jobs to do and any brand needs to protect its trademark,” he said. “That being said, the sense of David versus Goliath in a business context is something people will comment on."

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Not Leadership Material? Good. The World Needs Followers.; New York Times, March 24, 2017

Susan Cain, New York Times; Not Leadership Material? Good. The World Needs Followers.

"What if we said to college applicants that the qualities we’re looking for are not leadership skills, but excellence, passion and a desire to contribute beyond the self? This framework would encompass exceptional team captains and class presidents. But it wouldn’t make leadership the be-all and end-all.

What if we said to our would-be leaders, “Take this role only if you care desperately about the issue at hand”?

And what if we were honest with ourselves about what we value? If we’re looking for the students and citizens most likely to attain wealth and power, let’s admit it. Then we can have a frank debate about whether that is a good idea.

But if instead we seek a society of caring, creative and committed people, and leaders who feel called to service rather than to stature, then we need to do a better job of making that clear."

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Cubs mastermind Theo Epstein is No. 1 on Fortune’s ‘greatest leaders’ list. The pope is No. 3.; Washington Post, March 23, 2017

Marissa Payne, Washington Post; Cubs mastermind Theo Epstein is No. 1 on Fortune’s ‘greatest leaders’ list. The pope is No. 3.

"The Chicago Cubs winning the World Series was a big deal. Like, a really big deal, according to Fortune, which put the team’s president, Theo Epstein, on top of its “World’s Greatest Leaders” list on Thursday. The 43-year-old baseball mastermind beat out Chinese businessman Jack Ma, the executive chairman of the ever-growing Alibaba commerce empire, as well as No. 3 Pope Francis — you know, the head of the Catholic Church.

Yes, it appears ending the Cubs’ 108-year title drought is much more impressive than, say, calling on the Church to accept LGBT worshipers, or suggesting that maybe it’s time to loosen Catholicism’s strict rules about celibacy among clergy, or just generally guiding the moral compasses of the estimated 1.2 billion Catholics in the world."

As Uber Grew Hastily, Diversity Took a Backseat; Bloomberg, March 24, 2017

Olivia Zaleski and Eric Newcomer, Bloomberg; 

As Uber Grew Hastily, Diversity Took a Backseat

"Efforts to hire more women and people of color at Uber Technologies Inc. have been long hindered by a peculiar constraint. Members of the recruiting team were denied access to information about the company’s diversity makeup, according to several people familiar with Uber’s hiring apparatus."

A Wheelchair on Broadway Isn’t Exploitation. It’s Progress.; New York Times, March 24, 2017

Neil Genzlinger, New York Times; 

A Wheelchair on Broadway Isn’t Exploitation. It’s Progress.


"Sometimes, what seems a cheesy gimmick or instance of exploitation is really just the front edge of needed change. Some theatergoers were probably outraged the first time a black Juliet was cast against a white Romeo. Did that change how some of Shakespeare’s lines registered and imbue the play with new meanings? Sure. Is race-blind casting now widely accepted and the theatergoing experience richer for it? Yes."

Trump learns that dealmaking is not the same as leadership; Washington Post, March 24, 2017

Karen Tumulty, Washington Post; Trump learns that dealmaking is not the same as leadership

"President Trump has gotten a hard lesson from his first legislative debacle: Leadership takes more than being able to close a deal."

Can Arianna Huffington Save Uber?; NPR, March 24, 2017

Aarti Shahani, NPR; 

Can Arianna Huffington Save Uber?


"Uber is in crisis. This week the president resigned, after just six months on the job. Morale has been shaken following a damning account of sexual harassment. The board of directors is so concerned about the CEO's ability to lead, they're looking for a No. 2 to help steer the company.

And now — in a curious plot twist — media mogul Arianna Huffington is emerging as chief of Uber's campaign for "culture change.""

Leadership through ethics; Arab News, March 25, 2017

Khalid Abdulla-Janah, Arab News; 

Leadership through ethics


"The fact is that leadership by example is the only model that can deliver real, meaningful and sustainable results — as demonstrated many times over through history and across regions, religions and ideologies.

You can call for greater transparency, but if you are not yourself transparent, the call will not succeed. You can demand ethics, but if you are not yourself ethical, the demand will not succeed. You can initiate reform, but if you are not prepared yourself to reform, all other forms of reform will not succeed. There is a clear and obvious pattern here: You simply cannot succeed in trying to enforce two sets of moral standards. Not in this age.

To have any chance at all of success, we must practice what we preach. This is as true for those put in political leadership positions as it is for those put in all other types of leadership positions, including the business, theological and intellectual elite."

3 Steps to Protect Trade Secrets Under the DTSA; Inside Counsel, March 21, 2017

Autumn Gentry, Inside Counsel; 

3 Steps to Protect Trade Secrets Under the DTSA

"In order to be protected by the DTSA, businesses or individuals must demonstrate that they have taken steps to keep their trade secrets private.

Here are three essential steps companies must take to ensure trade secret protection under the DTSA."

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Season Includes a Same-Sex ‘Oklahoma!’; New York Times, March 19, 2017

Ryan Burleson, New York Times; 

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Season Includes a Same-Sex ‘Oklahoma!’


"“We in leadership positions,” Bill Rauch, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s artistic director, told The New York Times in 2015, “need to do everything we can to reflect the world we live in.”

On Friday, Mr. Rauch and his colleagues continued that push when announcing the festival’s 2018 season, which features a record five plays by women — there are 11 in total — and a production of “Oklahoma!” that has same-sex couples in leading roles. This seven-month series also offers deep explorations of Native American and African-American history."

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Meet the Candidates: ALA President 2018–19; Library Journal, March 14, 2017

Lisa Peet, Library Journal; 

Meet the Candidates: ALA President 2018–19


"Voting for the American Library Association (ALA) 2018–19 presidential campaign opened March 13, and ALA members can cast their ballots through April 5. Results will be announced April 12.

This year’s candidates have experience working in a range of library types. Loida Garcia-Febo, an international library consultant, is a former public librarian and president of Information New Wave in Brooklyn, NY, a nonprofit organization working to bring information access to underserved populations. Terri Grief is a school librarian at McCracken County High School in Paducah, KY. Petition candidate Scott Walter is university librarian, DePaul University, Chicago. LJ has invited the candidates to weigh in on some key issues pertaining to ALA and librarianship; more information can be found on ALA’s Election Information page."

Liverpool libraries saved after budget boost – for now; Guardian, March 13, 2017

Danuta Kean, Guardian; 

Liverpool libraries saved after budget boost – for now

"Public libraries in Liverpool have been saved from closure after the government promised £27m for adult social care in the city – however, the city’s mayor has warned that the decision is a stay of execution, rather than a permanent reprieve for the beleaguered library service.

The £27m injection is Liverpool’s share of an extra £2bn promised last week by the chancellor, Philip Hammond, to shore up local councils’ social care provision across the country. Four of the city’s 13 libraries were due to close, with others to be transferred to community groups, under plans aimed at saving £1.6m. Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson said the cuts were needed to plug a £90m hole in the local authority’s budgets over the next three years.

Announcing the reprieve, Anderson said the money meant council reserves could now be redirected to protect all Liverpool’s libraries for the next three years. Describing the money as “a small bit of breathing space” and libraries as “a fundamental building block of lifelong education”, Anderson added: “The fact that we had to look at cutting its services was genuinely heartbreaking and shows the scale of the problem which councils like Liverpool are having to address.”"

Mastering Marketing; Library Journal, March 9, 2017

Laurie Russo, Library Journal; 

Mastering Marketing 


"Levy explained that traditional PR is dependent on traditional media. A company, or an institution like a library, makes a story pitch to a magazine or newspaper, but, ultimately, the publication’s editors decide whether a story will run. Social media has changed this dynamic, enabling companies to engage with their customers directly. But maintaining engagement requires quality content.

“If you can build your own audience on social media, that’s great,” she said. “But in order to get your audience to consume your content and want to share it, it has to be of substance, it has to be meaningful, it has to [have] editorial quality.” Libraries need to define which demographic is their top marketing priority and what content would be most relevant to that audience, Levy said, and then can use a “story brief” worksheet and outline to create effective content. She also shared techniques for presenting content to customers and amplifying a brand message across channels, emphasizing the importance of including details in stories to make them memorable, and encouraging attendees not to be afraid of showing some personality on a library’s social media accounts. Having a unique voice provides “an opportunity to amplify your brand across channels. When you have a bifurcated and very disparate sense of media—there’s no longer one local paper that people read: there’s online papers, there’s social media, there’s a mom’s Facebook group—there are all kinds of places for you to reach your patrons. If you can come up with a distinctive voice and be bold enough to put a twist on your library, you can make a mark in the community and have your community think about your library in a refreshing way.”"

A New Challenge for ALA: Leading Between Activism and Advocacy; Library Journal, March 9, 2017

John N. Berry III, Library Journal; 

A New Challenge for ALA: Leading Between Activism and Advocacy


"Those of us who are activists are always impatient with our adversaries. ALA’s new administrators will have to find ways to engage with both those activists and their opposition—not an easy undertaking.

Of course, I am already worried that the supporters of the ALA milquetoast approach to advocacy and societal politics might prevail, as they often have. Still, the other side of that coin is that misplaced excessive activism can destroy whatever avenues to real clout librarians have built. ALA management must be willing and able to expend a great deal of policymaking skill and strength to win little power in the larger arena. Fortunately, librarians are used to jobs like that.

ALA’s most recent controversies, such as the debate at the Midwinter Town Meeting in Atlanta over its response to the Trump administration and the close vote to require that the next ED hold an MLS degree, are an early warning of how difficult recruiting new leaders—and their task once chosen—can be. To make that work possible, ALA must develop more effective ways to tap membership sentiment on crucial issues."

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Trump’s actions raise fears about access to government data; The Spokesman-Review, March 8, 2017

Stuart Leavenworth and Adam Ashton, The Spokesman-ReviewTrump’s actions raise fears about access to government data

"Wondering who is visiting the White House? The web-based search has gone dark. Curious about climate change? Some government sites have been softened or taken down. Worried about racial discrimination in housing? Laws have been introduced to bar federal mapping of such disparities. Federal rules protecting whistleblowers? At least one has been put on hold.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has made a series of moves that have alarmed groups with a stake in public access to information – historians, librarians, journalists, climate scientists, internet activists, to name a few. Some are so concerned they have thrown themselves into “data rescue” sessions nationwide, where they spend their weekends downloading and archiving federal databases they fear could soon be taken down or obscured...

“What is unprecedented is the scale of networking and connectivity of groups working on this, and the degree it is being driven by librarians and scientists and professors,” said Alex Howard, deputy director of the Sunlight Foundation, a group that tracks transparency in government."

Another Wave of Jewish Center Bomb Threats Prompts All 100 Senators to Ask White House to Do More; Slate, March 7, 2017

Elliot Hannon, Slate; 

Another Wave of Jewish Center Bomb Threats Prompts All 100 Senators to Ask White House to Do More


"Despite condemnations and appeals from all corners, another round of bomb threats were made against Jewish community centers across the United States late Monday night and into Tuesday, forcing lockdowns and evacuations. The threats were emailed and phoned in to community centers, schools, synagogues, and offices across at least eight states and Washington, D.C. The New York, Washington, Boston, and Atlanta offices of the Anti-Defamation League were also targeted, according to the organization.

The latest wave of threats prompted the entirety of the United States Senate—all 100 senators—to sign on to a letter urging the Trump administration to provide federal assistance to combat the spike in threats of violence. “These cowardly acts aim to create an atmosphere of fear and disrupt the important programs and services offered by JCCs to everyone in the communities they serve, including in our states,” the letter reads. “We encourage you to communicate with individual JCCs, the JCC Association of North America, Jewish Day Schools, Synagogues and other Jewish community institutions regarding victim assistance, grant opportunities or other federal assistance that may be available to enhance security measures and improve preparedness.”"

Dan Simpson: Ethics, schmethics; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 8, 2017

Dan Simpson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; 

Dan Simpson: Ethics, schmethics


"The idea that the president’s choice to be U.S. attorney general, the nation’s top law enforcement official, would lie under oath to the Senate committee considering his nomination — people who were his colleagues as senators for 20 years — is stunning and possibly a sign of just how far down the standard of ethics in Washington has descended.

Nonetheless, that is exactly what Jefferson B. Sessions, who went on to be voted into office as attorney general, did. Asked a direct question about the Trump campaign’s contacts with Russian officials, he replied, “I did not have contact with the Russians.” It turns out subsequently, after the Senate had approved his nomination, that he did, on two occasions, once in his own office.

One of the problems of the descent of a nation, particularly one as large and important as the United States of America, is that the fall can occur, step by step, in the form of death by a thousand cuts. I am not saying that it is all over for us yet, but I am saying that Mr. Sessions’ lie to the senators, the position he was being considered for and the subsequent so-far refusal of President Donald Trump to fire Mr. Sessions for what he did, are grave evidence of the low state of ethics at the very top of our government."

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Ohio State University seeks to trademark The Oval; Columbus Dispatch, March 7, 2017

Mary Mogan Edwards, Columbus Dispatch; 

Ohio State University seeks to trademark The Oval


"Forget about any plans you might have to appeal to OSU-lovers everywhere with a line of T-shirts evoking that signature grassy expanse that's something between a circle and a rectangle: Ohio State University is claiming "The Oval" — the place name and the image, not the geometrical shape — as its own.

Seeking trademark protection is the ultimate step in brand defense, said Rick Van Brimmer, OSU's assistant vice president for trademark-licensing services. The university is moving The Oval up to that category (where Brutus Buckeye, Woody Hayes, The Shoe, Urban Meyer and the like dwell) because the university is using it these days as a neck label on apparel and other items."

Monday, March 6, 2017

Ethics And Hacking: What You Need To Know; Forbes, March 6, 2017

Forbes Technology Council, Forbes; 

Ethics And Hacking: What You Need To Know


"The term hacking gets bandied about a great deal in both the industry and in the media. Some stories carry the image of bored tweens, building skills while bragging about tearing up someone else’s hard work. Other stories talk more about offshore groups using server farms to mass phish for information.

The kinds of damage that hackers can cause is as varied as functions of a computer or device: Lost finances, trade secrets, and files swapped or erased are only the tip of what could be done to a person or company. Sometimes, just being one of the few people aware that different companies are talking to each other about business can mean opportunities for the unethical.

So the question gets raised: Can the arts of hacking be used to improve lives on a broader scale, or is it a purely destructive activity? Below, Forbes Technology Council members weigh in on ethics and hacking."

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Openness Is Key to Becoming Employer of Choice for Millennials; Inside Counsel, February 17, 2017

Devdeep Ghosh, Ally Klein, Inside Counsel; 

Openness Is Key to Becoming Employer of Choice for Millennials


"To drive change, it is important that these values are communicated to the entire department through sustained campaigning. While documented policies and guidelines (both from an HR and departmental perspective) are essential, it is critical to design a messaging campaign around the rollout of such culture-building initiatives. In the messaging campaign it is critical to answer the “what’s in it for me?” question; i.e., the law department needs to show how these values and the openness help each and every attorney and staff member in their daily work. The rollout of such a campaign needs to have a framework that will work in a loop to identify and develop the content needed, roll out the message, gather feedback and revise periodically. The framework should include types of communications, proposed media, frequency/cadence and audience, as well as success measures.

To ensure a cultural change, law departments also need to find a way to measure and review their alignment to these values. For example, criteria can be built into performance management reviews in order to ensure that all attorneys and staff are adhering to and promoting a culture of openness and collaboration instead of one that solely promotes competitiveness and individual merit. The law department should promote and require open feedback, as well as encourage employees to share information and be honest, responsive and transparent with their colleagues."

Trump’s Company Is Hiring an Ethics Adviser. Should Yours?; Inside Counsel, February 28, 2017

Michael W. Peregrine, Inside Counsel; 

Trump’s Company Is Hiring an Ethics Adviser. Should Yours?

"There is no broadly accepted portfolio for the role of a separate ethics officer, nor understanding of how such a role might encroach on the existing duties of the general counsel or the chief compliance officer. In addition, there is no general agreement on the qualifications for such a position, even though the evaluation of conflicts of interest and interpretation of federal ethical guidelines usually requires legal training."

We’re Thinking About Organizational Culture All Wrong; Harvard Business Review, January 6, 2017

John Traphagan, Harvard Business Review; 

We’re Thinking About Organizational Culture All Wrong


"In organizations, people interpret and contest values all the time. In my university, one of the core values espoused is responsibility, which is defined as meaning “to serve as a catalyst for positive change in Texas and beyond.” This definition is quite different from my own. I associated the word “responsibility” with accountability and duty, rather than with being a catalyst for change. Also, how does one define positive change? I suspect it is quite different from one member of the university community to another. Even if most members of the university agree that responsibility is an important value, many may not agree with what that means or feel that the stated definition represents their own ideas about responsibility.

To further complicate things, people may contest “common” values while maintaining their commitment to the success of the organization. This may be as obvious as open disagreement, or as subtle as a manager quietly reshaping a project to reflect their personal ideas about how things should be done. It could show up as a tacit rise in absenteeism or overt complaints about decisions made by leaders. Indeed, one might complain about the decisions of leaders precisely because one is committed to the organization and feels that the direction that leadership is moving is wrong."

Uber’s CEO says ‘I need leadership help.’ What should it look like?; Washington Post, March 1, 2017

Jena McGregor, Washington Post; Uber’s CEO says ‘I need leadership help.’ What should it look like?

""When you are seen as somebody who is damaged, you have to find religion" and make substantial changes, said Bob Sutton, a professor at Stanford University who wrote a widely read book on uncivil workplaces called "The No A--hole Rule." He believes Kalanick needs a coach and "he needs to find some humility."...

For Uber, it could take time. "Frankly, fixing the culture of a company is an extremely complex, long-term endeavor, and you usually want to do it with the goose that laid the golden egg," said Nicholas Donatiello, a management lecturer at Stanford University. "It is not unusual for fast-growing, entrepreneurial companies to find themselves with cultures that have been double-edged swords for them. The culture that may help a company get to the point where Uber is may not be the culture to take Uber forward.""

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Director of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art resigns amid pressure; Guardian, February 28, 2017

Guardian Staff, Guardian; 

Director of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art resigns amid pressure

"Daniel Brodsky, the museum’s chairman, issued a separate letter, which said: “We are not looking to appoint a new director immediately but instead will take some time to consider the leadership needs of the museum in a thoughtful and deliberative way.”

During Campbell’s stewardship the museum registered record attendance numbers, but last April, Weiss announced that the museum would have to deal with a $40m deficit if it didn’t get its finances under control.

Campbell’s plan to build a $600m wing for modern and contemporary art, never transpired and former curators criticised his leadership publicly."

Losing a Fortune Often Comes Down to One Thing: Family; Scott James, February 19, 2017

Scott James, New York Times; 

Losing a Fortune Often Comes Down to One Thing: Family


"Heirs are not automatically qualified, competent or visionary leaders, Dr. McGerr said, and when power is passed solely from fathers to sons, those who might better manage an empire — like women family members or outsiders — are excluded.

While Ms. Stroh was being taught how to avoid being kidnapped, the men in her generation were being groomed to lead the company. “It would have been discouraged if a girl in the family had shown some ambition for a role like that,” she said.

Today, Ms. Stroh is a successful businesswoman. Now 50, she lives in San Francisco, and took a relatively modest inheritance of about $200,000 in stocks from her mother and made savvy investments in tech companies and real estate. As a small-time developer and landlord, she is able to live independently in one of the nation’s most expensive cities."

Breitbart News filed for trademark rights to term 'Big Gay Hate Machine' under Steve Bannon leadership; New York Daily News, February 28, 2017

Adam Edelman, New York Daily News; 

Breitbart News filed for trademark rights to term 'Big Gay Hate Machine' under Steve Bannon leadership

"Alt-right news website Breitbart, under the leadership of Stephen Bannon, filed to acquire the trademark rights to the term "Big Gay Hate Machine,” documents obtained by the Daily News show.

Breitbart News filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark the offensive term on May 20, 2015, according to records from the office...

The application for the trademark was abandoned on March 4, 2016 and the right to the trademark on the term was forfeited."