South Dakota Governor Tells Higher Education Board To Remove Mandates On Preferred Pronouns Authored by Mimi Nguyen Ly via The Epoch Times, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem issued a letter on May 25 to the governing board that oversees the six public universities in the state. In it, she lamented about the situation of higher education in the country, and challenged the board to a series of actions to “show the nation what quality higher education is supposed to look like.” Among several points, the Republican governor told the board it should ban drag shows on university campuses, and, separately, remove all preferred pronouns in school materials, as well as remove all mandates that compel people to use preferred pronouns. However, what appears to be the priority is the first point of action she raised, which is that the board should aim to raise graduation rates across its six universities to 65 percent by 2028, compared to the current graduation rate of 47 percent. Meanwhile, in 2020, the national graduation rate was 63 percent. “At the K-12 level, we are taking steps to improve our standards and expand school choice in South Dakota so that all kids have access to a high-quality education that prepares them for whatever comes next after high school,” Noem told the board in her letter (pdf). “For those who choose to start attending a university after graduating, less than half are graduating. We must do better than that. I look forward to working with you all on ideas to improve our graduation rates.” The Epoch Times has emailed the Board of Regents for comment. ‘State of Crisis’ Noem said that higher education across the United States is in a “state of crisis.” “For the last several decades, many states have allowed liberal ideologies to poison their universities and colleges. Once a hotbed of ideological diversity, debate, and the pursuit of truth and discovery, many institutions have become one-sided, close-minded, and focused on feelings rather than facts,” she wrote. “Professors have discarded reason and logic in favor of subjectivity and relativism. Higher education leaders have rejected universal truth and knowledge and replaced it with ‘individual truth.'” She said that students on campuses across the United States “have been taught the importance of diversity and equity and given access to ‘safe spaces’ instead of learning to tolerate the disagreement, discomfort, and dissent that they will experience in the real world.” “In many cases, students and their parents are not even aware of the damage these ideas have caused,” she said. Regarding drag shows, she wrote: “Just as other dangerous theories have been allowed to thrive on college campuses, gender theory has been rebranded and accepted as truth across the nation. “These theories should be openly debated in college classrooms, but not celebrated through public performances on taxpayer-owned property at taxpayer-funded schools.” Regarding preferred pronouns, she wrote that mandating them at some campuses has “compelled and coerced” some students to “provide speech they do not agree with.” “Students should have the ability to exercise their right to free speech. Colleges and universities should never compel students to speak or take a position on any issue,” the governor said. Noem also told the board her administration has created a new whistleblower hotline where students, faculty members, parents, or taxpayers, can report concerns at institutions of higher education in the state, by calling 605-773-5916. “Our children are our future, and South Dakota universities and technical colleges should best prepare them for our future,” Noem said in a post on Twitter. The governor noted that she recently appointed two members to the board, and will be making more appointments soon. Five Other Points Besides raising graduation rates, banning drag shows, and removing preferred pronouns and their enforcement, Noem noted that some universities have restricted speech on topics some people find “offensive.” “The Board of Regents should remove any policy or procedure that prohibits students from exercising their right to free speech,” she said. “Black Hills State University was recently challenged on and ultimately removed a policy that allowed administrators to silence opinions they disagreed with,” the governor noted, adding that colleges and universities should review and revise all policies that infringe on students’ right to free speech. The colleges should also adopt policies that “develop and strengthen resiliency among students” for when they encounter opposing ideas. Noem also wanted the Board of Regents to “take more steps to partner with businesses on registered apprenticeship programs and offer the lowest possible credit rates.” She noted that roughly 43 percent of students who graduated still found themselves unemployed or underemployed. The other three action points she presented to the board were: to cut costs to make higher education more affordable; to require a course in American Government and a course in American history as part of graduation requirements; and to remove any monetary influence, whether by funding or donations, from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). “The [CCP] has been known to fund Confucius Institutes and other similar centers at American universities in order to provide skewed Chinese cultural training for U.S. students,” said Noem. “This is part of a multi-faceted propaganda effort, and money from the CCP has no place in South Dakota. The Board of Regents should reject any donations from sources and any other government that is hostile to the United States.” Tyler Durden Mon, 05/29/2023 - 17:10.....»»

Chinese Developers Resorting To "Negative Down Payment" Practices In its attempt to reboot China's real estate property market bubble, which burst spectacularly in late 2021 when most housing developers blew up in the aftermath of Evergrande's historic bankruptcy amid Beijing's ill-fated deleveraging push, and which according to Goldman calculations is the world's largest real estate bubble... ... China's real estate agencies have been quietly resorting to some of the oldest tricks in the US housing bubble book, such as marketing homebuying with "zero down payment" or "negative down payment" so that consumers not only don't need to pay for down payment but also can obtain funds for future renovation, according to media reports. Of course, with Beijing still stuck in some bizarro Schrodinger economic purgatory where the government both wants housing to reclaim its pre-bubble all time highs yet is loath to inject the massive amounts of credit required, the It didn't take long for some local overzealous bureaucrat to spill the beans, and as the Global Times reports, the Shenzhen Real Estate Intermediary Association in South China's Guangdong Province released a notice on Friday, cautioning local agencies to avoid participating in or assisting the illegal practices of "zero down payment" and "negative down payment," which have sparked discussion among homebuyers. One real estate agency based in Shenzhen reportedly was telling clients that if a property is evaluated at 5.7 million yuan ($806,828) the owner would sell it at 5.2 million yuan, the homebuyer could then buy the property in full using a bank loan of 5.7 million yuan while using the remaining 500,000 yuan for renovation, cnr.cn reported. As for the so-called "negative down payment," the report said that it is executed through developers using down payment installments and returning down payment to buyers or setting a relatively high contract price for consumers to apply for a larger bank loan. If the funds returned to the buyer from the developer, or the bank loan secured against the property exceed the original down payment, the a "negative down payment" is "achieved," per the report from cnr.cn. The Shenzhen Real Estate Intermediary Association on Friday issued the reminder to caution the market, stressing that the so-called practices of "zero down payment" and "negative down payment" violate China's financial and credit policies. It warned local agencies and practitioners to strictly abide by the principle that "houses are for living in, not speculation," calling for review and adjustment of agency management and prohibiting any form of participation in similar practices. If local agencies and practitioners are found to have been involved in offering assistance in implementing these illegal practices, the association will immediately report these parties to the competent administrative departments for investigation and punishment in accordance with the law. The so-called "negative down payment" is essentially the creation of a fictitious purchase agreement, which in turn inflates the purchase price of a home in order to fraudulently obtain a larger loan for the down payment, Yan Yuejin, research director at Shanghai-based E-house China R&D Institute, told the Global Times. Yan stressed the importance for financial regulators to monitor the situation, aiming to prevent the emergence of financial instability or financial risk, calling for a greater effort to regulate fraudulent contracts, falsified loan materials, and lax bank audits. Yan also noted that the concept of a "negative down payment" is illegal and comes with high risk. The leverage will be easily raised if a home purchase is not backed by a real down payment, burdening subsequent payment pressure for homebuyers and resulting in a higher risk of mortgage default. Chinese authorities issued a notice in 2017, strictly banning domestic developers and real estate intermediaries to engage in illegal practices such as providing down payment financing or down payment installments. Earlier in May, Huizhou in Guangdong issued a notice to further strengthen regulation and on property sales tackling the aforementioned illegal practices, according to media reports. Tyler Durden Mon, 05/29/2023 - 17:45.....»»

Gaslighting: The American People Are Trapped In A Textbook Abusive Relationship Authored by Daisy Luther via The Organic Prepper blog, Imagine this. A woman, for the sake of my story, is in a marriage with a partner who does not respect her. He insults her regularly, belittles her efforts to improve herself or her situation, and minimizes her feelings. In fact, when she tries to stand up for herself, things get even worse. The partner calls into question her memories of the event. He dismisses the way things made her feel, calling the emotions “ridiculous” or “stupid.” He convinces her she’s overreacting and that he was only trying to do what was best for her. When she brings something up, he completely rewrites the event, causing her to doubt what actually happened because she’s in a vulnerable state due to the constant abuse. In a situation like this, the abused partner often feels powerless, confused, and unable to leave the situation. They are at a disadvantage because they’ve been influenced to doubt their own reality. This leaves them trapped deeper and deeper in the abusive scenario. They feel unable to escape because they’re really not sure what actually happened. Were they blowing things out of proportion? Are they, in fact, stupid, forgetful, and inept? Abusive relationships follow a pattern. There’s a period of breaking the victim down, isolating them from their support systems, and making them dependent on the abuser. Then, the abused partner is maneuvered into the belief that she can’t get by on her own. This master manipulation is how people become trapped in abusive relationships. And, as I’m about to show, not all abusive relationships are one-on-one romantic relationships. What is gaslighting? Medical News Today defines gaslighting. Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse in which a person or group causes someone to question their own sanity, memories, or perception of reality. People who experience gaslighting may feel confused, anxious, or as though they cannot trust themselves. The term “gaslighting” comes from the 1944 classic film (and before that, the play), Gaslight. In the story, a husband tries to make his wife believe she is suffering from a mental illness. Starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer, it’s well worth a watch. Gaslighting is a form of narcissistic abuse. For a quick refresher on the definition of a narcissist and the techniques they use, go here. Forbes offers the following signs you are being gaslit: Signs to watch for include: The “Twilight Zone” effect. Victims of gaslighting often report feeling like a situation is surreal—like it’s happening on a different plane from the rest of their life. Language describing you or your behavior as crazy, irrational or overemotional. “When I asked women about their partners’ abusive tactics, they often described being called a ‘crazy bitch,’” Sweet writes in “The Sociology of Gaslighting” in American Sociological Review. “This phrase came up so frequently, I began to think of it as the literal discourse of gaslighting.” Being told you’re exaggerating. Feeling confused and powerless after leaving an interaction. Isolation. Many gaslighters make efforts to isolate victims from friends, family and other support networks. Tone policing. A gaslighter may criticize your tone of voice if you challenge them on something. This is a tactic used to flip the script and make you feel that you’re the one to blame, rather than your abuser. A cycle of warm-cold behavior. To throw a victim off balance, a gaslighter may alternate between verbal abuse and praise, often even in the same conversation. Gaslighting is a deliberate attempt to provoke self-doubt, confusion, and dependence. How does someone gaslight another person? Again, let’s look to the experts. Medical News Today provides these examples of how gaslighting might take place: Countering: This is when someone questions a person’s memory. They may say things such as, “Are you sure about that? You have a bad memory,” or “I think you are forgetting what really happened.” Withholding: This involves someone pretending they do not understand the conversation, or refusing to listen, to make a person doubt themselves. For example, they might say, “Now you are just confusing me,” or “I do not know what you are talking about.” Trivializing: This occurs when a person belittles or disregards how someone else feels. They may accuse them of being “too sensitive” or overreacting in response to valid and reasonable concerns. Denial: Denial involves a person refusing to take responsibility for their actions. They may do this by pretending to forget what happened, saying they did not do it, or blaming their behavior on someone else. Diverting: With this technique, a person changes the focus of a discussion by questioning the other person’s credibility. For example, they might say, “That is just nonsense you read on the internet. It is not real.” Stereotyping: An article in the American Sociological Review says that a person may intentionally use negative stereotypes about someone’s gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, nationality, or age to gaslight them. For example, they may say that no one will believe a woman if she reports abuse. After a period of time, this emotional barrage results in the target of the gaslighting suffering from confusion, doubt, and self-blame. feeling uncertain of their perceptions frequently questioning if they are remembering things correctly believing they are irrational or “crazy” feeling incompetent, unconfident, or worthless constantly apologizing to the abusive person defending the abusive person’s behavior to others becoming withdrawn or isolated from others The Forbes article offered these specific examples of gaslighting in romantic relationships. “Ebony’s partner would steal her money and then tell her she was ‘careless’ about finances and had lost it herself.” “Adriana’s boyfriend hid her phone and then told her she had lost it, in a dual effort to confuse her and prevent her from communicating with others.” “Jenn described her ex-boyfriend as a ‘chameleon’ who made up small stories to confuse her, like lying about what color shirt he had worn the day before to make her feel disoriented.” “Emily described her ex-husband stealing her keys so she could not leave the house and then insisting she had lost them ‘again.’” But if you think this phenomenon is limited to women being abused by their husbands or boyfriends, you’d be wrong. Gaslighting doesn’t just happen in romantic relationships. Gaslighting is a complicated thing. While it’s common in abusive romantic relationships, it can also occur in unhealthy parent-child relationships, sibling relationships, or even workplaces. But that’s not all. It can also occur on a much broader scale. Racial gaslighting According to an article in Politics, Group, and Identities, racial gaslighting is when people apply gaslighting techniques to an entire racial or ethnic group in order to discredit them. For example, a person or institution may say that an activist campaigning for change is irrational or “crazy.” Political gaslighting Political gaslighting occurs when a political group or figure lies or manipulates information to control people, according to an article in the Buffalo Law Review. For example, the person or political party may downplay things their administration has done, discredit their opponents, imply that critics are mentally unstable, or use controversy to deflect attention away from their mistakes. Institutional gaslighting Institutional gaslighting occurs within a company, organization, or institution, such as a hospital. For example, they may portray whistleblowers who report problems as irrational or incompetent, or deceive employees about their rights. This often occurs to cover up a mistake that could result in the person who erred facing punitive consequences or to keep people “in their place.” It’s a control mechanism, pure and simple. Have we been gaslit by our own government? I don’t think it’s farfetched to say that we, the people of the United States of America, have been gaslit. Does this sound familiar? Lockdowns that keep you away from friends and loved ones? Losing your income and becoming dependent on handouts doled out by the government? Being censored and mocked when you say anything that is not in line with the official narrative? Being treated like a crazy conspiracy theorist who should be punished because of the harm you’re causing to others if you refuse to go along? When you look at it this way, it feels like the entire US government and media have colluded to abuse the people. Many of the Covid-related “truths” that were promoted by the government and the media that we were not allowed to dispute have now been proven to be false. Stories we couldn’t question about the origins of the pandemic have been proven false. In another incident of broad-scale gaslighting unrelated to the pandemic, a lot of evidence has been produced that shows the Biden family may have received money from influence-peddling, but the media tells us not to believe it. And like good little victims, it seems like a hefty portion of the country is refusing to believe the evidence, instead believing in the good intentions of their abusers. They’ve been gaslit, brainwashed, and are unable to break free of the manipulation. And it’s still going on. Recently Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote a scathing opinion of the US government’s handling of the Covid pandemic, saying that we “have experienced the greatest intrusions on civil liberties in the peacetime history of this country.” “Executive officials across the country issued emergency decrees on a breathtaking scale. Governors and local leaders imposed lockdown orders forcing people to remain in their homes. They shuttered businesses and schools, public and private. They closed churches even as they allowed casinos and other favored businesses to carry on. They threatened violators not just with civil penalties but with criminal sanctions too. They surveilled church parking lots, recorded license plates, and issued notices warning that attendance at even outdoor services satisfying all state social-distancing and hygiene requirements could amount to criminal conduct. They divided cities and neighborhoods into color-coded zones, forced individuals to fight for their freedoms in court on emergency timetables, and then changed their color-coded schemes when defeat in court seemed imminent,” he said. At the federal level, he highlighted not only immigration decrees but vaccine mandates, the regulation of landlord-tenant relations and pressure on social media companies to suppress “misinformation.” The gaslighting blowback was immediate, with breathlessly outraged headlines. Slate eloquently opined, “Neil Gorsuch’s List of “Civil Liberties Intrusions” Is, Uh, Missing a Few Things.” making sure to throw plenty of insulting talking points into their introductory paragraph in their attempt to liken a Supreme Court Justice who was educated at Harvard Law, Oxford, Georgetown, and Columbia, to an ignorant relative one merely tolerates. And they insinuated he was a racist. Gorsuch has long railed against such policies, and his opinions have taken on an increasingly shrill tone, like the Fox News–poisoned uncle who hectors you about the plandemic in 3,000-word Facebook comments. The justice’s rant in Arizona v. Mayorkas, however, hits a new low, moving beyond the usual yada-yada grievance parade to issue a thesis statement of sorts… …As Vox’s Ian Millhiser quickly pointed out, this sweeping claim leaves out two “intrusions on civil liberties” that any person with a basic grasp of history and sanity would surely rank as worse than pandemic policies: slavery and Jim Crow. An opinion piece published in the NY Times gasped, “Neil Gorsuch Has Given Himself Away,” made it seem as if the Justice was belittling every other civil rights mishap in the history of America while also blithely disregarding the folks who died during the pandemic. The New Republic condescendingly liberal-splained to the rest of us “What Neil Gorsuch Got Wrong About the Pandemic,” stating that “The justice’s vision of the judiciary’s role in public health may be more dangerous than any Covid-era restriction.” The site Above The Law literally said Gorsuch was stupid in the piece, “For An Originalist, Gorsuch Is Clearly Slacking On His Definitions And Their Historical Meanings.” The subheading reads, “Is what he said stupid? Yes. But let’s be technical here.” Law and Crime website also played the race card and did so right in the headline: Neil Gorsuch implies COVID restrictions were worse than slavery and Jim Crow, and the internet noticed. Let’s look at that definition of political gaslighting again… For example, the person or political party may downplay things their administration has done, discredit their opponents, imply that critics are mentally unstable, or use controversy to deflect attention away from their mistakes. Oof. If that textbook case of gaslighting isn’t embarrassing, it should be.  Then again, narcissists are rarely embarrassed. The gaslighting will escalate. Another thing about narcissists: they just get angry when they’re called out. They will respond by gaslighting you harder or seeking to “ruin” you. (source) They’ll punish you with a loss of “privileges,” money, material goods, and freedom. We’ve watched it happen again and again in our cancel culture media. Some of us have been unfortunate enough to have personal relationships with narcissists and learned this the hard way. The only way to end narcissistic abuse and gaslighting is to recognize it and remove yourself from the situation as much as you can. Obviously, when it’s our entire government and society, that becomes complicated. You may be stuck with just recognizing it. But that in itself gives you a certain amount of freedom and personal power. It helps you get off the hamster wheel, and you begin to spot the manipulations more easily. One thing we can be sure of is that this will escalate as more and more people say, “No, that’s not what happened.” This is something we can expect, and in some small way, maybe we can take comfort in the response. Perhaps we can smile to ourselves because we know those who were trying to manipulate us all are on the defensive. Tyler Durden Mon, 05/29/2023 - 18:20.....»»

64% Of Americans Don't Work-Out At All How do Americans work out? While hitting the gym is something that around a third of those who practice sports do at least occasionally, Statista's Katharina Buchholz notes below that the Great Outdoors is also a major pull for people looking for some (light) physical exercise. According to a survey by Statista Consumer Insights, hiking is the most popular form of exercise in America, with 35 percent of those who do sports engaging in it at least from time to time. Other popular outdoorsy pursuits are hunting and fishing (26 percent of sporty Americans do this) and cycling (25 percent). Running is slightly less popular at just 21 percent of respondents naming it as an exercise of choice. You will find more infographics at Statista At 29 percent, basketball is the most popular ball game or team sport on the list, followed by (flag) football (25 percent) and baseball/softball (20 percent). Another quarter of the survey's respondents said they liked to get a workout in by boogieing down on the dancefloor (or maybe just in their living room). Responses picked less frequently include soccer (13 percent), cricket (11 percent), table tennis (10 percent) and rugby (6 percent). However, 64 percent of Americans do not work out at all according to the survey. Tyler Durden Mon, 05/29/2023 - 18:55.....»»

The Theranos founder was convicted of four counts of fraud-related charges. She is scheduled to start serving her 11-year sentence on Tuesday. Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes is scheduled to start her prison term on Tuesday.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Inmates at a Texas federal prison camp are looking forward to Elizabeth Holmes' arrival, per WSJ. Holmes is scheduled to start serving her 11-year sentence at the federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas on Tuesday. The Bryan prison camp is a minimum security, all-female facility about 100 miles from Houston. Inmates at a Texas federal prison camp are looking forward to Elizabeth Holmes' arrival, according to a Sunday report from The Wall Street Journal.The founder of Theranos — who was convicted of four counts of fraud-related charges — is scheduled to start serving her 11-year sentence at the federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, on Tuesday.The judge in her case, District Judge Edward Davila, had ordered Holmes to report to prison by 2 p.m. on May 30."Some people are like 'I want to be her friend,'" Tasha Wade, a current inmate at the facility, told the Journal."But other people are like, 'I can't believe that's all she got for taking all that money,'" Wade added. Another unnamed inmate told the media outlet that a corrections officer joked about ordering Holmes to scrub pans.One inmate who was released in March told the Journal a copy of John Carreyrou's 2018 book "Bad Blood" — which chronicles the rise and fall of Theranos — was spotted in the prison camp's library earlier this year.The Bryan prison camp is a minimum security, all-female facility about 100 miles from Houston. It houses about 655 inmates right now, which is about 90% of its capacity, per The Journal.Inmates here have mostly been convicted of white-collar crimes, low-level drug offenses, and for harboring illegal immigrants, WSJ reported, citing the Federal Bureau of Prisons, or BOP, as well as current and former inmates.Holmes can expect 6 a.m. wake-up calls at the facility, according to an inmate handbook. She will also have to comply with a litany of rules, including making her bed in a prescribed manner.The BOP and Holmes' representatives did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Memorial Day TV sales end today, so don't miss your chance to save some serious cash on everything from budget smart TVs up to top-of-the-line OLEDs. Steven Cohen/InsiderWhen you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.Today's your last chance to score one of these excellent Memorial Day TV sales. Some of these TV deals have been running over the last week, but we always see prices rise sharply again the day after Memorial Day itself, so now's the time to strike. All the big-box stores are getting involved today and we're seeing strong discounts on everything from budget smart TVs from $69, all the way up to hundreds of dollars being smashed off the best high-end screens from the likes of LG and Samsung. Gamers and movie fans should be very excited as even items from our best 4K TV guide are seeing discounts. If you're not going to bite today, then you might be able to find something on Amazon Prime Day in July, but there seems to be a more extensive selection today than in Amazon's annual summer sale. And after that, it's a long wait until the Black Friday season. We've also been busy covering the latest Memorial Day mattress sales and the wider world of Memorial Day sales if you're looking to treat yourself today.If you'd like to browse the latest offers yourself, here's a handy selection of links to Memorial Day TV sale pages at some of the best stores. Below that, you'll find some of our favorite highlights on specific deals. Stay tuned, as we'll keep adding fresh picks as we find them. The best Memorial Day TV salesBest Buy: Prices start at just $69 todayWalmart: Vizio, Hisense, and more dominate the budget picksAmazon: Strong offers on LG, Sony, Samsung, and moreB&H Photo: heavy focus on discounted 4K Samsung TVsMemorial Day TV dealsThe Samsung S95B delivers impressive color and contrast performance.Best Buy#1 - Samsung S95B 65-inch OLED TV - $2,000 $1,700 at Best BuyThe S95B is our top pick for the best 4K TV you can buy right now. The display was Samsung's first 4K OLED TV when it hit stores in 2022, and one of the first to feature quantum dots to produce a wider range of colors. Down to $1,700, this deal matches the price it dropped to last Memorial Day. Roku#2 - Roku Plus Series 65-inch QLED TV - $650 $600 at Best BuyThe flagship model in Roku's first lineup of in-house TVs, the Roku Plus Series 4K TV offers solid performance for a midrange QLED. Though we think its original MSRP of $800 was overpriced, this $600 sale price is a great deal. The 65-inch Fire TV Omni QLED is priced competitively at $800.Amazon#3 Amazon Fire TV Omni 75-inch QLED TV - $1,100 $900 at AmazonA 75-inch Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED would usually cost $1,100, but right now you can save $200 in the first deal we've seen for it yet. A huge step up from the standard Omni TV, we like this model for its convenient set of Alexa features. Its image quality can be a bit lackluster at full price, but for only $900, this is a good deal for the best Amazon smart TV yet. LG#4 LG G2 Evo Gallery Edition 55-inch OLED TV - $1,600 $1,500 at AmazonOne of LG's top OLEDs from 2022, the G2 Evo Gallery Edition displays movies with more pop and detail than cheaper models. It also features a uniformly thin design which makes it our top pick for wall mounting in our guide to the best 4K TVs. Down to $1,500, this is a rare chance to save on a smaller, but beautiful OLED. Amazon#5 - Hisense U7H 65-inch Smart TV -  $800 $750 at Best BuyYou don't have to break the bank in order to enjoy a QLED TV. The Hisense U7H is our pick if you're looking for a midrange QLED 4K TV. Despite its low price, this display offers impressive performance with exceptional brightness, color, and local dimming. Currently down to $750, this is a solid deal.The S95C is Samsung's newest OLED TV, with sizes ranging from 55 to 77 inches.Steven Cohen/Insider#6 - Samsung S95C 65-inch 4K TV - $3,300 $3,200 at Best BuyA $100 discount may not seem like a lot for a TV that's over $3,000, but this is one of the first discounts we've seen for our best gaming 4K TV pick. The Samsung S95C is one of the brightest OLED TVs there is and one of the first to officially support a 144Hz refresh rate for high-end PC gaming. It also allows you to stream games through Xbox Game Pass. Best Buy #7 - Hisense U6GR 65-inch Smart TV - $600 $500 at Best BuyIf you're on a tight budget, the Hisense U6G delivers solid streaming and image quality for a low price. This is an entry-level QLED but you still get advanced picture quality features like quantum dot color and local dimming. Right now, it's even more affordable than ever at an all-time low of $500.Best Buy#8 - Insignia F20 Series 24-inch HD Smart TV - $119.99 $69.99 at Best BuyThis is the cheapest price we've seen on this always-affordable TV line. As a TV for a guest room or young children, this is a great deal, especially with a 4.7 customer rating from over a thousand reviews at Best Buy. It's only 720p HD rather than 1080p, but that's fine for the price. You're also getting the Amazon Fire TV smart TV features built-in along with a Fire TV remote. That's a huge selection of streaming apps to enjoy right off the bat and the remote is basic, but also fantastically simple and has nice tactile buttons.  Vizio#9 - Vizio MQX Series 50-inch QLED TV - $630 $498 at AmazonWith a 120Hz refresh rate and an LED backlight with quantum dot color and local dimming, this is a good yet affordable TV designed for gamers. Down to only $500, this deal matches the previous best price the MQX Series has seen in the past. Best Buy#10 - Insignia F30 Series 50-inch Fire TV - $400 $220 at Best BuyNow on clearance from Best Buy, this price drop matches the previous all-time low for the Insignia F30 Series 50-inch TV. A basic option that won't cost you much, this TV has a 4K Ultra HD display, an Alexa remote, and Fire TV interface. Though you won't get the color or contrast performance that more expensive models offer, you'll still get capable streaming and decent entry-level 4K picture. Memorial Day TV sale FAQsWhen is Memorial Day 2023?Memorial Day lands on Monday, May 29, this year. That being said, there's no need to wait until then as all the stores have already kicked off their TV sales.  Is Memorial Day a good time to buy a TV?Memorial Day offers solid deals on TVs but the discounts are rarely as big as those you'll find on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Though the end of the year remains the best time to snag the latest TVs for a low price, Memorial Day does coincide nicely with the release window for new TV models. Spring is when manufacturers launch their latest displays, so you can often find older stock at a solid discount. As a general rule of thumb, one-year-old TV models tend to be very similar to the new sets they're being replaced by, so we generally recommend saving some money by snagging an older display if it's on sale for a good price.However, buyers should keep in mind that Amazon Prime Day is expected to kick off this summer, and it's possible we could see even better TV deals then.How to shop for a TVFinding the best TV for your needs can be tricky. Prices vary depending on the features and size you want. On the low-end, you can find some small HDTVs for as little as $100. On the other hand, flagship 4K models in bigger screen sizes can cost $1,500 or more. If you prioritize high-end picture quality for the best movie-watching experience, you'll want to opt for a 4K TV with at least a 65-inch screen. The best 4K TVs often use an OLED panel, or an advanced LED screen (often branded as QLED) with features like local dimming and quantum dots. These technologies enable the highest contrast and deepest black levels for a gorgeous high dynamic range (HDR) image.On the other hand, buyers who just want a simple smart TV for casual viewing will likely be satisfied with a smaller display that uses a standard, budget-friendly LED screen. Though picture quality won't be as impressive as pricier models, there are plenty of cheap 4K TVs with solid performance, including budget picks that still manage to offer 4K, HDR, and plenty of apps.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

In a new collection of pictures, Saudi Arabia presents the planned megacity of Neom as a vacation paradise. Experts have warned of a darker reality. This concept image shows the planned design of 'The Line,' a 'vertical skyscraper' from the planned futuristic Saudi Arabian city of Neom that cuts through the desert in the northwest of the country.NEOM Saudi Arabia unveiled new pictures of the Neom megacity planned by its ruler, Mohammed bin Salman. They highlight the landscapes surrounding the city, and present it as a vacation paradise.  But human-rights groups have concerns about the city's plans for mass surveillance. In a desert in the arid northwest of Saudi Arabia, plans for a trillion-dollar, futuristic megacity are beginning to take shape.Neom is the brainchild of Saudi Arabia's crown prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman.In his bid to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, the crown prince aims to attract billions in investment to Neom, which he envisages as a tourism attraction and global hub for technology and innovation. In a new set of pictures released by Neom and Unsplash, the city is portrayed as a paradisaical adventure holiday resort. But activists are warning that that rights are being trampled as Saudi Arabia readies parts of the resort to be opened to visitors. Let's take a look at the latest images. Saudi Arabia is seeking to draw millions of tourists to NeomAn photograph released in May 2023 showing a desert canyon in Saudi Arabia where Neom is due to be builtGettyImages/Unsplash/NeomFor decades, Saudi Arabia was better known for its ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam and oil wealth than as a tourist destination. The kingdom already hosts millions of Muslims making the pilgrimage to Mecca every year, but was essentially closed to other visitors. It made a dramatic change in 2019, issuing its first tourist visas.Crown Prince Mohammed has ambitious plans to drive further change, and hopes to attract 100 million visitors to the kingdom each year.Neom is being billed as a core attraction, and is described on its website as the "world's most ambitious tourism project." The city will be built on 10,200 square miles of desertThis promotional photograph shows the Saudi Arabian desert where the city of Neom will be built.NEOM/GettyImages/UnsplashThe new images depict the unspoilt desert wilderness where the city will be built. Saudi Arabia has been keen to highlight to ecological credentials of the project as it seeks to pivot away from fossil fuels as part of its Vision 2030 plan. The city, planners say, will run entirely on renewable energy and 95% of the surrounding landscape and sea will be "protected for nature."  The coral reefs and hidden wrecks of the Red Sea are presented as among the exotic attractionsAn photograph showing a diver in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, near the site of the planned Neom megacityGettyImages/Unsplash/NeomTabuk Province, where Neom is being built, has the longest stretch of Red Sea coastline in Saudi Arabia. As well as Neom, luxury residences and eco resorts are being built on islands off the coast.The kingdom aims to attract scuba divers and yachters to the resorts.  "Go diving in Tabuk before the rest of the world discovers this dive area. You will be rewarded with crystal-clear, warm waters and pristine coral reefs few people have ever dived," said the diving news outlet Scubaverse in 2022.   The first part of Neom slated to be finished is Sindalah, an island due to include yacht marinas and luxury hotels. Officials say it will be opened to visitors from 2024.A concept image of the island of Sindalah, a planned yachting resort due to form part of the Neom project.NEOM"The destination will create a new season for superyachts, a dream alternative for yacht owners who want to spend the winter in an easily accessible location," Luca Dini, CEO of Luca Dini studio which designed the island resort, told Arab News.A new airport opened in the resort in 2019. But critics believe that the scale and ambition of the project mean it may never be fully realised, and ambitions for millions to live there in around a decade seem fanciful, Money Week reported. The images present the desert site as a place of mystery and wonderAn photograph showing a nighttime view of mountains in the region in northwest Saudi Arabia where planners say Neom will be built.GettyImages/Unsplash/NeomThe main planned residential area of Neom is "The Line," a 130-mile long building tower that cuts through the desert and is described by designers as a horizontal skyscraper.Residents and visitors are promised sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. Saudi Arabia says it'll be able to preserve vast swaths of the desert, and will even begin reintroducing vanished wildlife.   But the glossy prospectus doesn't tell the whole story, and activists are raising alarm about Saudi Arabia's human-rights record.A Saudi Arabia flag flies behind barbed wires at the backyard in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on October 13, 2018Yasin AKGUL / AFP) (Photo by YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty ImagesSaudi Arabia in May sentenced three men to death from the Howeitat tribe, which traditionally lives on lands earmarked for Neom's development. The cause was that they refused to be evicted from the site, the UN said. "Despite being charged with terrorism, they were reportedly arrested for resisting forced evictions in the name of the Neom project and the construction of a 170km linear city called The Line," the UN experts said. The UN alleges that Saudi Arabian officials evicted the tribe from three villages in the area, and despite promises did not compensate them adequately. One man resisting eviction was killed by Saudi special forces, it said in May.And experts told Insider that recent deals with China hint at plans for the sweeping surveillance of Neom residentsSaudi security personnel monitor the hajj pilgrimage from a control room in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, in October 2012.FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty ImagesCrown Prince Mohammed has presented himself as a reformer, keen to open up the kingdom to investment and liberalize the ultra-conservative society.But critics say that this masks a brutal authoritarian streak, and point to the crown prince's persecution of critics, the war he has waged in Yemen, and the 2018 assassination of dissident Jamal Khashoggi (the crown prince has denied any involvement in the killing.)Activists are alarmed by recent deals between Saudi Arabia and Chinese tech giants, which they say could enable Saudi security services to harvest data from residents and surveil them.  Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

One writer disses most of New York's new skyscrapers over 984 feet, arguing that both they look bad and don't serve the city's everyday residents. Billionaires' Row.Bruce Katz Courtesy of PA Press New York City is home to 17 supertall towers measuring over 984 feet, the most of any metropolis. Writer Eric P. Nash claims the towers alter the skyline but add little to the city's character. Instead, he said, these towers are an ugly reflection of billionaires' social and political power. A person walks in Central Park with Billionaires' Row towers looming in the background.Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty ImagesThe 21st century has seen real estate stretch to new heights. Enter the "supertall" skyscraper, defined by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat as a tower that clocks in at or above 984 feet — or about twice the height of the Washington Monument in DC. Billionaires' Row.C. Taylor Crothers/Contributor/Getty ImagesIn "Sky-High: A Critique of NYC's Supertall Towers from Top to Bottom," out from PA Press on June 27 and with photography by Bruce Katz, writer Eric P. Nash dives into the current state of Manhattan development, in which the supertall reigns supreme. It's a generation of architecture he is less than impressed with. He gamely takes turns explaining New York City's new skyline by plucking out its newest additions and dunking on what architect Steven Holl called "profane spires."Nash argues this moment's infatuation with supertalls has choked resources for civic buildings and affordable low-rise housing, and turned big-name architects' attention away from projects that would benefit a larger population because they lack the prestige that supertalls offer.The Vessel, a sculpture designed by architect Thomas Heatherwick at Hudson Yards.Business Insider/Jessica Tyler"It's not that the intellectual groundwork for attractive public housing hasn't been laid out," Nash writes, "it's just that there is no fame or money in it for careerists."Nash believes the race to complete supertalls has often zapped New York City of its urban character, making it less for the public and more for a select few.The 2019 opening of 30 and 35 Hudson Yards, both reaching over 1,000 feet and built atop a platform over a rail yard on Manhattan's west side, characterized that shift for Nash.Hudson Yards.Related-OxfordNash has few kind words to spare about the neighborhood on the city's far west side, saying it is "nothing if not completely consumed by the dollar.""Hudson Yards," Nash writes, "the largest private development in the history of the United States, is the unacceptable face of quintessential capitalist production of space."He goes on: "Cities designed from the top down like Hudson Yards emit a decaying whiff of totalitarianism." They are not, he said, spaces designed for public use.On top of that, he adds, the cluster of new supertalls and skyscrapers are so disjointed that "[a]esthetically, Hudson Yards resembles a random assortment of chess pieces."One Manhattan West.Michael Lee/Getty ImagesOne Manhattan West on the easternmost edge of Hudson Yards is a 995-foot office tower that was completed in 2019. Its 67 floors are home to consulting firm Accenture, accounting giant Ernst & Young, and the National Hockey League. One Manhattan West.Bruce Katz Courtesy of PA PressHowever, Nash calls the building, by revered architecture firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, "slouchy" and "eminently forgettable."Billionaires' Row.Bruce Katz Courtesy of PA PressTwenty minutes north by subway, a cluster of supertall buildings — currently four towers with a fifth slated to join — make up Manhattan's so-called Billionaires' Row.The sky-high spires dot the southern border of Central Park and have permanently altered the New York City skyline.    Billionaires' Row.francois-roux/Getty ImagesNash traces Billionaires' Row's roots back to developers' discovery that the superrich would forgo the tasteful, palatial classic six-style apartments of yore for a seven-figure "pied-a-terre in the clouds, in what amounts to a safe-deposit box in the sky, mostly with foreign equity in untraceable nested shell companies."111 West 57th Street with its fluted siding stands in the foreground.Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesOne of the Billionaires' Row spires, 111 West 57th Street, stands as the world's "skinniest" skyscraper. Completed in 2020, the residential tower tops off at 1,400 feet and features an 82-foot lap pool with a limestone deck and luxury cabanas.Currently, a $66 million, four-bedroom triplex penthouse is for sale, with two private elevators — one for direct building access and another to glide between all three floors — and 1,300 feet in private outdoor space overlooking Central Park.111 West 57th Street.Bruce Katz Courtesy of PA PressHowever, because it's perched atop the landmarked concert venue Steinway Hall, Nash finds the "lavish, expensive detailing" of 111 West 57th Street's exterior, an intricate terracotta fluting by lauded architecture firm SHoP, completely "lost on the man on the street."Billionaires' Row.Bruce Katz Courtesy of PA PressCentral Park Tower, another addition to Billionaires' Row, reached 1,550 feet and is now the world's tallest residential building. Condos currently on the market range from a three-bedroom seeking $9.5 million to a 17,500-square-foot penthouse seeking $250 million.Central Park Tower.Bruce Katz Courtesy of PA PressAlthough it claims the title of the world's tallest residential building, Nash notes, "a full fifth of the building's height is unoccupied vanity height." Of the 131 floors of Central Park Tower, only 98 are residential, creating empty floors potentially for the sake of a title."The stats on Central Park Tower have been fudged by the developer for marketing superlatives," writes Nash.53 West 53.Bruce Katz Courtesy of PA PressSix blocks south of Central Park but nonetheless part of the extended Billionaires' Row, the 77-floor 53 West 53 opened to residents in 2021 and reaches 1,050 feet. A four-bedroom penthouse is currently listed for sale at $63 million.Residents of the tower can access VIP concierge services like in-home visits from celebrity hairstylist John Barrett and helicopter rides to the airport. 53 West 53.Bruce Katz Courtesy of PA PRessNash actually finds 53 West 53 "sophisticated" and "respectfully contextual" for how architect Jean Nouvel integrates the tower at street level with other buildings and incorporates setbacks.He finds the "quilt-like" patterns on the tower to have a sense of playfulness that's missing in other projects. It's just about the only building in the book he praises. Central Park Tower.Bruce Katz Courtesy of PA PressNash argues that New York City's infatuation with supertalls has "shamelessly pandered to the one percent instead of aiding the public." Substantial tax breaks were given away to developers for buildings that serve only as "billionaire's playgrounds."The spire of the Chrysler Building.Bruce Katz Courtesy of PA PressIn time, Nash argues, supertalls will be seen like the Chrysler Building — as living chapters of the city's history. This chapter, however, will be about the social and political power of billionaires in the 21st century.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Restaurants use app location data to time when they start cooking orders, ensuring they're ready and still hot when customers arrive. McDonald's burger and fries.Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images McDonald's and Chick-fil-A are tracking the locations of customers who place mobile orders. Their restaurants use this data to make sure orders are ready and still hot when customers arrive. McDonald's is currently piloting this feature, while Chick-fil-A is rolling it out this summer. McDonald's and Chick-fil-A are both introducing app features that track mobile-order customers' locations so staff can start making their meals when they're close to the restaurant.Chick-fil-A said earlier this month that under the new feature, if a customer places a curbside or carryout order on its app and enables their location services, then the restaurant in question will be alerted when the customer is close so that staff can start preparing their order.By carefully timing when mobile orders are made, restaurants are able to cut down on how long their customers wait to collect their order, while ensuring their burgers and fries are still crispy and piping hot. The technology is known as geofencing — using GPS to create a virtual fence around a location. McDonald's introduced a geofencing feature to its app in March."Using existing location data, it allows our crew to start assembling a customer's order prior to their arrival at the restaurant, ultimately delivering hot, fresh food when customers arrive to pick up their order," CFO Ian Borden said at the fast-food giant's earnings call last month.Restaurant Business reported that McDonald's geofencing technology alerts a restaurant when a mobile order customer is three minutes away."While it's still early days deploying this new digital enhancement, initial results are already pointing to improved service times and elevated customer satisfaction scores," Borden told investors.Though it's unclear exactly what proportion of McDonald's orders are made on its app, Borden said that digital sales — orders placed made through the McDonald's app, at an order kiosk in a restaurant, or via a delivery service — made up around 40% of all sales in the first quarter of 2023.Chick-fil-A is rolling out its geofencing technology at restaurants in the early summer. It said it had already tested the feature at 100 US restaurants and found that customers' wait times were, on average, reduced by between one and two minutes.The chicken-sandwich chain said that it was also adding a feature that gives customers an estimate of when their mobile order would be ready, based on factors including order complexity and size"Even though it's an estimate, it's pretty accurate," Chick-fil-A said in a press release.The fast-food industry was already seeing substantial growth in off-premise consumption before the pandemic really accelerated this trend. More people are getting food delivered, placing orders in advance online, or ordering to-go, like at a drive-thru, and restaurants are changing their operations to adapt to this.McDonald's, for example, opened a small-format test restaurant aimed at take-out and delivery customers in late 2022. It includes an order-ahead lane where customers can drive up and retrieve mobile orders from a conveyer belt, dedicated parking spots for delivery drivers, and pick-up shelves where customers can collect orders.Chick-fil-A has also tested an express drive-thru lane exclusively for mobile orders, allowing them to skip the traditional drive-thru line.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Insider's Phil Rosen breaks down what to know in markets and the economy as Biden and McCarthy reach an agreement in principle on the debt ceiling. Happy Memorial Day, readers. Phil Rosen here in New York. (Did you see last night's Succession series finale?)Today's newsletter will be brief — below I've rounded up key stories to know before financial markets reopen on Tuesday. If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.US President Joe Biden shakes hands as he presents a copy of his speech to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., before he delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, on February 7, 2023 in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images1. The White House and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached an agreement in principle on the debt ceiling. The deal will allow government borrowing to rise and avoid a default ahead of a June 5 deadline. Negotiators are now racing to finalize the bill's text ahead of a vote which is expected to take place on Wednesday. Read more. 2. Nvidia has blown away its longtime rival Intel this year. The AI craze has powered triple-digit stock gains for the former, and no one else has been close to matching its meteoric rise. Full details.3. JPMorgan seems to be working on a ChatGPT-style tool that will enable AI-powered investing. A trademark application revealed that it could be called "IndexGPT," and Morgan Stanley is also planning to introduce a similar chatbot, CNBC reported. Still, analysts say these products will struggle with what investing legend Howard Marks called "second-level thinking."4. China won't catch up to the US economy because security concerns will sabotage growth, according to a Claremont McKenna professor. Both world powers are prioritizing national security above their economies, but Beijing will still suffer more, Minxin Pei wrote in a recent op-ed. As firms see growth taking a back seat, private investment in China has only climbed 0.4% so far this year.5. Bank of America strategists warned that the Fed could pop the AI bubble. In their view, investors shouldn't chase the nascent sector's hype as financial conditions tighten. More on that here.Curated by Phil Rosen in New York. Feedback or tips? Tweet @philrosenn or email prosen@insider.com.Edited by Jason Ma in Los Angeles and Hallam Bullock (@hallam_bullock) in London.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Apple, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, and Meta now account for over a quarter of the S&P 500's total market cap. Six stocks – including Apple – now account for over 25% of the S&P 500's overall market capitalization.Brandon Bell/Getty Images Big Tech stocks have jumped in 2023, with Meta and Nvidia both soaring over 100%. Those gains have only increased the technology giants' dominance of the S&P 500. The higher concentration levels could make the benchmark index vulnerable to wild swings. Never before in the history of US stocks has a small clutch of companies from the same industry held such sway over the entire market.Six stocks – Apple, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, chipmaker Nvidia, and Facebook owner Meta Platforms – now have a combined valuation of around $10 trillion and make up over a quarter of the S&P 500's total market capitalization.But that could be bad news for investors.Soaring share pricesAll of the stocks have surged by double digits in 2023 – with Nvidia and Meta more than doubling in price – thanks to the AI craze and the expectation that the Federal Reserve will soon pause its interest-rate hikes.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r.....»»

Millennials may no longer be the economic victims of years past. While they're making up lost ground, three major hurdles still stand in their way. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images The average American millennial is better off financially than they were five years ago. Higher salaries have allowed many to grow their wealth and buy homes. Under the weight of student debt and childcare, they may still be worse off than prior generations. This story is kicking off a series called Millennial World, which looks at the state of the generation around the globe.Millennials are growing up.The oldest of the generation, which includes anyone born between 1981 and 1996, is now past the age of 40. In recent years, many have checked off major life milestones including buying a home and having children, and some could even be on the verge of a midlife crisis. But getting older has already come with some growing pains. Over the past decade — and longer for some — many millennials have faced high costs of housing and childcare, staggering student-loan debt, and the Great Recession's impact on the job market. This trifecta hit older millennials the hardest and continues to have lingering effects.Despite these obstacles, the average millennial is faring better financially than they have in the past. And while some of this may simply be a byproduct of getting older — people tend to earn more over the course of their careers — some experts have argued that even compared to past generations, millennials are doing pretty well financially these days.From saving to spending and financial behaviors in between, here's what life is like for the average American millennial.The typical US millennial makes between about $52,000 and $62,000 a year.Jean TwengeThe Great Recession took a financial toll on millennials and their salaries. By 2014, the median household income of millennials aged 25 to 34 had fallen by more than 10% since 2000 when adjusted for inflation, according to Census Bureau data. But things have improved in recent years. By 2019, the same age group had a median household income of $70,283. By 2021, it was $74,862. Older millennials have seen income gains as well. The median income for millennials aged 35 to 44 has risen from $66,693 in 2014 to $90,312 in 2021. This growth holds up well when adjusted for inflation — even compared to past generations. As of 2019, the median millennial household income, when adjusted for inflation, was roughly $10,000 higher than those of median Gen X and boomer households at the same age, according to the Current Population Survey. According to a SmartAsset analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics from the third quarter of last year, the median salary of a US adult aged 25 to 34 is $52,156. The median salary of an adult aged 35 to 44 is $62,444. At this point, millennials will be anywhere from 26 to 42 years old. American millennials' average net worth has grown considerably in recent years and now sits at about $127,793.jacoblund / Getty ImagesThe average US millennial's net worth more than doubled between the first quarter of 2020 to $127,793 as of the first quarter of 2022, according to a MagnifyMoney analysis of Federal Reserve data.Older millennials appear to be driving the gains. A December Forbes analysis of Federal Reserve data found that the average net worth of Americans under age 35 was $76,300, compared to $436,200 for those aged 35 to 44. It's taken some time for millennials to catch up to prior generations when it comes to wealth. A Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis analysis of 2016 data found that the families of older millennials had a median wealth about 34% percent lower than people of prior generations at the same age. But by the time 2019 data was available, the gap had shrunk to 11%. More recently, a St. Louis Fed's analysis of 2022 data found that "young Americans" — a group with an average age of 33 to 34 — had roughly the same average wealth adjusted for inflation as Gen X did at the same age. The fact that some millennials may be doing just as well — but not a lick better — than older generations arguably isn't worthy of much celebration in a country where parents want their children's lives to be better than their own. But at least they no longer appear to be trailing so far behind. Almost half of millennials have student-loan debt and are, on average, $40,614 in the hole.Student-loan borrowers and advocates gather for the People's Rally for Student Debt Cancellation during the Supreme Court hearings on student-debt relief on February 28, 2023, in Washington, DC.Jemal Countess/Getty Images for People's Rally to Cancel Student DebIn 2020, Insider reported that nearly 45% of millennials had student-loan debt. As of June 2022, 43.5% of older millennials aged 36 to 41 had a student-debt balance of $20,000 or less, according to the St. Louis Fed. The average millennial with student debt had a balance of $40,614, according to an Experian analysis of internal data.  While the cost of college has been one of millennials' key financial obstacles, those with federal student debt could be set to have up to $20,000 of their debt canceled as part of a Biden administration plan. Currently, the debt-relief proposal is paused due to two conservative-backed lawsuits that blocked the implementation of the relief in November, and borrowers are awaiting a Supreme Court decision on the legality of the relief, expected by the end of June. A Morning Consult and Politico poll of over 2,000 registered voters last June found that 65% of respondents aged 18 to 34 supported Biden forgiving $10,000 per borrower; 61% of respondents aged 35 to 44 thought the same. More than half of millennials have now managed to buy a home.A couple moving into a new home.Getty ImagesMillennials crossed a notable threshold in 2022. By the end of the year, a majority of them — about 51.5% — owned a home, a RentCafe report that analyzed housing data from the Current Population Survey for each generation across 260 US metro areas found. The average millennial was 34 years old when the generation reached this milestone. Gen X and Boomers were 32 and 33 years old respectively when their generations became majority owners. The millennial generation has been on a homebuying spree in recent years. Seven million of the 10.8 million new millennial homeowners gained over the past decade bought their homes over the past five years, RentCafe reported. Low interest rates provided a great buying opportunity for many millennials during the early days of the pandemic. But the Federal Reserve has since raised rates to combat inflation, leaving millennials that didn't jump in on the homebuying spree with a much more challenging landscape today. In July 2020, the typical annual US mortgage payment was 27.5% of the median American's household income — the lowest figure since 2013 — according to the Atlanta Fed. As of last September, this figure rose to 43.7%, the highest level since at least 2006, when the Fed's data begins. As of March, the median annual mortgage payment was 39.9% of the median household income. The typical millennial is a parent but has been slower than past generations to grow their families.GettyWhile many millennials have managed to buy a home, they have been slow to fill them up with children. As of 2018, 55% of surveyed 22-  to 37-year-old millennial women had given birth to a child, according to a Pew Research survey that spanned both Gen Z and millennials, compared to 62% of Gen X and 64% of boomers at the same age. After hitting a record low in 2020, the US birth rate rose for the first time in seven years in 2021, but it remained near the record low reached the year prior. The birth rate was reported as 1.66 births per woman, a decline from 2.12 in 2007, and the rate of 2.1 needed for the population to naturally replace itself.There's evidence that many millennials are open to having more children, but haven't ultimately done so due to a variety of factors. One could be the high childcare costs many millennial parents face. National childcare costs average between $9,000 and $9,600 annually, per the advocacy organization Child Care Aware, a rate that's unaffordable for nearly two-thirds of working parents in the US — and the cost could shoot even higher over the next year as federal funds dry up.  Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Over the past few months, hundreds of tech workers have taken to social media to discuss low-stress job options. Some say they're burnt out. Some burnt-out tech workers say they're searching for lower-stress jobs.Getty stock illustration Tech workers on Blind are discussing ways to find "low pressure" jobs. Some tech workers said they'd be willing to take lower pay in exchange for less stress. The golden era of tech is on its way out as tech workers continue to face mass layoffs. It could be a sign that tech's rise-and-grind era is coming to an end: Over the past few months, hundreds of tech workers have taken to social media to discuss low-stress job options, with some saying they're burnt out.Earlier this week, a Meta worker posted on the anonymous job site Blind asking peers if they had any ideas for "low-pressure jobs." The post generated 100 responses. It was just one of more than a dozen separate posts on the issue across Blind and Reddit over the past few months."I think I am burnt out. I have no motivation left," the Meta worker wrote. "I feel like I need a low pressure job where I am not constantly worried about if what I am doing is enough to avoid PIP," or a performance-improvement plan.Blind allows its users to post anonymously, but requires them to verify their status as an employee of a particular company by requiring the use of their work email address. Insider did not independently verify the employment of the users cited in this story.The Meta worker said that while they don't mind 50-hour work weeks, the stress of performance-improvement plans "eats me up" and that they've had difficulty finding the motivation to keep going after having kids.Performance-improvement plan typically come after companies put workers on notice. The plans offer paths to improvement after lackluster performance reviews or act as a form of discipline, and are often considered precursors to termination. The use of PIPs has become increasingly common at Big Tech companies like Meta that have initiated mass layoffs. Meta reportedly handed out thousands of low performance reviews earlier this year.A Meta spokesperson told Insider earlier this year that the performance reviews are intended to incentivize employees, while also giving them actionable feedback.A Snap worker who says they used to work at Meta said that they "felt a lot better after leaving Meta culture" in response to the post."I'm still not quite all the way healed, but I've gone from completely hopeless and ready to give up, to at least hopeful and enjoying time with the family again," the Snap worker wrote.A Meta spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment from Insider ahead of publication, but the company addressed reports of worker burn out in 2021. At the time, a company spokesperson said that "addressing challenges and building for the future requires us to develop teams, systems and technologies that have never existed before. We value and support the people doing this difficult and complex work."Other workers on Blind expressed similar anxieties, and several tech workers said they'd be willing to accept much lower pay to work in a less stressful environment.Some tech workers on Blind suggested the only way to escape a high-pressure job was to leave the industry entirely, advising workers to consider government work, the auto industry, or project management roles."No such thing as high pay low stress job in tech," an Amazon worker said in a separate post.The Blind posts echo a Reddit thread from earlier this month in which thousands of workers weighed in on low-stress jobs that could pay over $100,000.Hustle culture has always been a big part of the corporate work environment, particularly in Silicon Valley where pulling all-nighters at the office has become something of a rite of passage. But amid mass layoffs, concerns over AI replacing software engineers, and a shift away from Big Tech perks and salaries, the golden era of tech appears to be on its way out.What's more, the idea of going above and beyond at work appears to be losing its luster for younger generations. Insider's Kali Hays previously reported that students and young engineers have grown fed up with Big Tech companies.Earlier this week, NYU Stern School of Business professor Suzy Welch told CNBC she's seen a "generational shift" in how younger workers are approaching employment. They are moving away from trusting their employers, she said, and prioritizing work-life balance over pay.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

In today's edition: A fake personal assistant named Matt, signs that ChatGPT is a black swan event, and more headlines. Happy Memorial Day, mates. I'm Diamond Naga Siu, and I'm excited that the French Open main draw is in full swing today.I'd love to watch it in-person someday. But flying to France is super expensive (especially from San Diego).So maybe I'll try this flight hack — called skiplagging — that airlines hate. My colleague Taylor Rains breaks down how this hack legitimately finds you a cheaper flight. But it runs the risk of you getting banned from the airline.Maybe it's worth it to see my favorite tennis players compete on clay.Before I try skiplagging, let's dive into today's tech.If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.Left to right: Teresha Aird, Jasmine Cheng, Ihor Stefurak, and Randy Baruh.Teresha Aird/Jasmine Cheng/Ihor Stefurak/Randy Baruh1. ChatGPT helped these people earn more money and become better at their jobs. Many people are using ChatGPT to level up their work. Insider profiled four of them about how it has made their jobs easier: a recruiter, broker, entrepreneur, and chief marketing officer.They each use the technology for different aspects of their roles. One of them likened the technology to "having a 24/7 assistant." Another uses ChatGPT as their chief technology officer.They each took us behind the scenes of how ChatGPT helps with their specific tasks. But the common thread among their experiences is how much time ChatGPT saves them.My colleague Jack Sommers gathered their profiles and highlighted how these workers turbocharged their jobs with technology.Get their full stories here.In other news:Jamira BurleySource: Jamira Burley2. "I have a fake personal assistant." Jamira Burley works in tech and has a personal assistant named "Matt." He answers emails. He negotiates rates. He schedules meetings. But he's not real. Here's why she created him a decade ago.3. Amazon gave up on its climate pledge. The e-commerce giant previously promised to make half its shipments net-zero carbon by 2030. It recently reversed course and even deleted the blog post announcing its initiative. But Insider dug it up anyways. Read it here.4. ChatGPT is a "black swan event." These rare events occur when something unforeseen happens with far-reaching impacts — but in hindsight, it looked inevitable. Many signs (like how ChatGPT blew up Big Tech) point to it qualifying. Check them all out here.5. This couple rents properties to sublet them on platforms like Airbnb. Nathan and Taniera Turner turned to this side hustle after both got laid off at the start of the pandemic. Now, they've scaled up to 25 different properties. Here's how they did it.6. "Remote-first" Robinhood is going back in-person. CEO Vladimir Tenev ordered employees back to the office four days per week, starting in September. He wrote, "there is value in us being together," in the email. Read his full office order here.7. The bare-bones Tesla Cybertruck interior. We might just have gotten a first look inside the Tesla Cybertruck. Photos — allegedly from a shareholder day — began circulating online. And the interior is shockingly minimalistic. Drive over to check it out here.8. $20,000 doesn't go far for a car. Around five years ago, 60% of used cars were under $20,000. Now, only around 30% of used cars are under that pricepoint. Hop in to see the full used car landscape here.Odds and ends:University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center9. The world's largest polymer 3D printer. It's like a massive glue gun with hundreds of settings. The gigantic device (60-feet long and 10-feet tall) helped print a 600-square foot tiny home in Maine. Tour the structure here, btw. Then, get a full, 360-look at the printer here.10. "I run a homeschool agency for clients like Kylie Jenner and Khloé Kardashian." It's a one-stop shop for families whose lifestyles didn't align with traditional schooling. Tiffany Sorya shares what it's like catering education for the ultra-rich. Get her schooling story here.What we're watching today:The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers kicks off its annual International Conference on Robotics and Automation.The first Manhattanhenge of the season is tonight. It's a phenomenon when the sunset aligns perfectly with the Manhattan street grid.Happy birthday, Mel B — tell me what you want!Curated by Diamond Naga Siu in San Diego. (Feedback or tips? Email dsiu@insider.com or tweet @diamondnagasiu) Edited by Alistair Barr (tweet @alistairmbarr) in San Francisco and Hallam Bullock (tweet @hallam_bullock) in London.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Jim Rogers, the cofounder of George Soros' Quantum Fund, warns that excessive borrowing has paved the way for a worse bear market than in 2008. Jim Rogers.REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Jim Rogers is preparing for the most devastating bear market of his lifetime. The veteran investor sees higher interest rates and serious threats to the US dollar. Rogers is bullish on commodities and skeptical that governments will adopt bitcoin. Jim Rogers is bracing for the biggest market downturn in eight decades.The 80-year-old investor issued the grave warning during a recent RealVision interview. He also cautioned the US dollar's global dominance is under threat, and higher interest rates will be necessary to rein in soaring prices.The cofounder of George Soros' Quantum Fund also slammed US lawmakers for the current debt-ceiling debacle, touted commodities as the best hedges against inflation, and dismissed the idea that governments will embrace bitcoin.Here are Rogers' 7 best quotes, lightly edited for length and clarity:1. "The next bear market will be the worst in my lifetime, because the debt has gone up by such staggering amounts in the past 14 years." (Rogers said the 2008 crash was caused by excessive amounts of debt, and borrowing has ballooned since then, suggesting a far worse downturn lies ahead.)2. "We should always be concerned about Washington. They don't have a clue what they're doing. And they prove it day in and day out." (He was discussing the current political gridlock over raising the debt ceiling.)3. "You should be extremely worried. If you're not, you don't know what's going on. Many countries are starting to look for alternatives to the US dollar, partly because of its horrendous debt problem. I'm looking every day, because I know that something bad is going to happen in the currency markets in the next two or three years." (Rogers was commenting on de-dollarization fears.)4. "Interest rates are going to go higher worldwide. I don't know how high they have to go to kill inflation this time around. The world has never seen the debt and the spending and the money printing like in the last few years. So something is going to have to be very, very ruinous to solve this problem this time."5. "There'll be trouble in all the markets — property markets, stock markets, bond markets, currency markets, everything. You have to learn about cash or selling short in order to survive what's coming."6. "I don't think that the world is going to convert to bitcoin. It will be computer money, but it will be government computer money."7. "The best place to be when you have inflation is real assets, and real assets are commodities. The cheapest asset that I know is still commodities." (Rogers said he owns some silver and gold currently.)Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

As well as teaching Ukrainian soldiers how to build the bombs, British experts are bringing key components to build the bombs to Ukraine, according to CNN. Ukrainian soldiers in Bakhmut in December 2022.SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images British explosive experts are teaching Ukrainians how to build can-sized bombs by hand. Similar technology was reportedly used to bring down a building on Russian troops in Bakhmut. "If we have a high-priority target, we of course use this equipment against it," one fighter told CNN. Ukrainian soldiers fighting against Russia are reportedly being taught how to make powerful, can-sized bombs by British explosives experts.The weapons have been used to target individual Russian soldiers and bring down Russian-held buildings, according to CNN."If we have a high-priority target, we of course use this equipment against it," one anonymous Ukrainian soldier told the TV channel."This equipment is used to destroy the enemy," they added. "We use it to produce explosive devices we can use on the ground, on the battlefield, or in the air as munition for drones."CNN's Nic Robertson describes the bombs as a "secret weapon" in Ukraine's army. Similar technology was also used to bring down a building on dozens of Russian troops in Bakhmut, per CNN.Russia claimed it had captured the destroyed eastern city last week, but Ukrainian forces are believed to be planning a counter-offensive.As well as teaching Ukrainian soldiers how to build can-sized bombs, the British experts are bringing key components – including switches, microchips, and 3D printers – to Ukraine, according to CNN.It tends to be faster for Ukraine to get key supplies via experts coming into the country than through its NATO trading partners.Leaked files published last month showed that the UK had the highest number of special forces personnel operating in Ukraine, followed by Latvia, France, and the US.The UK has also supplied the Ukrainian army with long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles, NATO-standard Challenger 2 battle tanks, and attack drones since Russia's invasion in February 2022.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Sarah Pribis chronicles her career on social media. She says the odder acting jobs sometimes pay more, like dressing as a panda on live TV. Sarah Pribis chronicles her life and career as a working actor on social media, making TikTok posts about auditions, her acting assignments, and what she earns.Tom & Ute Fotografie. Sarah Pribis is a working actor who also makes TikToks explaining her range of jobs and pay. She's played a toenail on a fungal treatment ad and a panda in a New Year's Eve show. An actor's pay can be unpredictable, with odd jobs sometimes earning more, she told Insider. This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with Sarah Pribis, 36, a working actor who has built a career through roles in commercials, Christmas movies, and hosting jobs — who's had the periodic odd gig that paid unusually well. Insider verified her earnings with documentation she provided.This interview has been edited for length and clarity.I made about $6,500 in my first role as a stand-in for a commercial What a stand-in does is stand in for the main talent while the production sets up lighting and framing for the shot.My agent set me an audition. Within a week, I found out I booked it and also that it would be the following day. I also did not know how much this was going to pay. It's hard to decipher rates a lot of the time.I actually assumed that it would be somewhere around $200 a day, because that is what the stand-in rate is for Screen Actors Guild theatrical contracts.One thing that you'll see as a throughline for the way that I approach work is that I approach it from a posture of curiosity. If there's something that I haven't done before, I'm like, "Oh, great, this is going to be an adventure," or, you never know where something might lead.I had never done stand-in work before. As an actor, I really like to try to have every experience possible, and because I have my social media channels that are dedicated to actor life, I thought it would be a really cool opportunity to do a post on what it looks like to do stand-in work.I got that paycheck, I don't know, maybe like a month later or something like that. It was a bunch of checks that added up to around $6,500. I was absolutely gobsmacked. I was like, how lucky am I!  The reasons that I've gathered that it was so much — because this is not the norm for stand-in work — is that it was a commercial job, and commercial rates for stand-in work are higher. It was the weekend: Weekend rates are higher. We went into overtime, both days, so that's extra money. And we were shooting multiple spots at once. It was for a product that had different flavors. So rather than just shoot one commercial, we were shooting essentially, I think, eight different spots.You can't be on your phone, because you're looking into the lens like the talent would be. So it's not lazy work where you can kind of just sit there, scroll your phone. You do have to be alert and attentive.I think the days were 10 to 12 hour days, something like that.I've built a career as a working actor and want to demystify the experience  I've been doing this since I was 18. I went to NYU Tisch and majored in theater there, and just stayed in New York and did the working actor grind ever since. Working in TV films, commercials. I started originally in theater, but moved out of that. I also do a lot of hosting work. I would say one of my bigger claims to fame is hosting "HQ Trivia." I've been in indie films.To contextualize it a bit, I'd like to point to some of the odd jobs that I've done.I was in a full panda costume on New Year's Eve for "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest." That job paid me around $1,000. We were on camera for all of 60 seconds. What I sought out to tell people through social media is that I've wanted to demystify the working actor experience, and be the big sister that I wish I had while I was in theater school and in my early 20s. And really remove the shame that comes often with these non-glamorous jobs.I thought there were Hollywood A-listers and then there were starving artists, but no in-between. And I work only in the in-between. So really showing that being an actor runs from being in a CW show to doing stand-in work for Chloe Fineman to being in a full panda costume. I have a commercial airing right now where I'm a toenail on TV, like literally my face is on a toenail. They shot it on green screen, and my mouth and my voice are just on a toenail; it's for Kerasal antifungal treatment. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

BlackRock has been priming the next generation of management and making changes at the top. BlackRock CEO Larry FinkThos Robinson/Getty Images for The New York TimesInsider built an org chart showing the most senior executives at BlackRock.BlackRock has been priming the next generation of management and making changes at the top.Our org chart shows where executives said to be in the running to succeed Fink sit.BlackRock has made a number of top personnel changes and internal structural shifts in the past year at a time when it is also wrestling with who will take over from Larry Fink, its cofounder and chief executive.To provide a window into the current power structure, Insider has mapped out the roughly 150 most senior BlackRock executives.BlackRock is the largest asset manager in the world, overseeing $9.1 trillion. The New York firm is run by Fink, the only CEO BlackRock has had since he and seven partners, including president Rob Kapito, founded it in 1988.Fink is now 70, and the firm has been preparing for his and Kapito's retirements for years.Our org chart reflects recent changes to the company's structure. This month, the firm overhauled its alternative-investments business and made changes to the makeup of its Aladdin business, two core BlackRock offerings. Last year, BlackRock formed a new markets unit led by former human resources chief Manish Mehta and a new global client business led by Mark Wiedman.The chart also shows where influential, longtime decision-makers sit within the firm and who they oversee, including executives viewed by company insiders as possible Fink successors.Here is our exclusive org chart of the most powerful people at $9 trillion BlackRock.Do you have a story about BlackRock? Reach this reporter at rungarino@insider.com, by encrypted email at rungarino@protonmail.com, or at (646) 768-4711.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

We're skipping news and bringing you some great finance reads for your Memorial Day weekend. Let's go. Happy Monday! Today's a doubleheader of a holiday — Memorial Day in the US and the spring bank holiday in the UK. Markets are closed, many of us are off work, and the OOO messages are on. So today, we're skipping news and bringing you some great finance reads. Because who doesn't want to dive into the inner workings of Wall Street on a holiday? Let's go.If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.Alex Wroblewski/Stringer via Getty Images; Alyssa Powell/Insider1. Where Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon takes the corporate jet. Goldman has attracted a lot of attention over Solomon's use of private jets. Here's an investigation into where the firm's two corporate jets have flown within the last year and a half.2. Inside Wells Fargo's "chaotic" journey to transform its services for the ultrarich. Advisors have left in droves amid complaints of flip-flopping by Wells Fargo's leaders and a gutting of services. Some clients have taken notice.3. Exclusive: We built a BlackRock org chart. BlackRock's been priming the next generation of management and making changes at the top. We're showing where executives said to be in the running to succeed CEO Larry Fink sit within the company.4. Prestigious Wall Street banks are ditching marijuana testing for job seekers. As more legal marijuana dispensaries open their doors in New York, Insider reached out to investment banks with a significant presence in the city. What we found out.5. ChatGPT could upend jobs across Wall Street. Experts say it will be used to enhance productivity and elevate existing tools in six key areas of finance – from investment banking to wealth management.6. The Rainmakers: Top investment banks still pushed blockbuster deals over the line in what was a tough year for M&A. Meet the 20 powerhouse bankers who orchestrated the biggest deals of 2022 and defied a down market.7. Goldman Sachs tried to help Silicon Valley Bank. It didn't work. Lost in the news around the collapse of SVB was the role played by arguably the most powerful investment bank on the planet. Dive in here.8. The private-credit power players shaping the $1.2 trillion asset class. The expansion of private credit underscores the growing influence of the market's dealmakers — we're highlighting the 20 influential execs and dealmakers to watch.9. Meet Citadel X: The team of engineers at Ken Griffin's $57 billion hedge fund giving it a competitive edge by streamlining and designing its tools. Our report here.10. Rich Americans can give homes to their kids before death and save on taxes with irrevocable trusts. They can stay in the home during the trust, and any appreciation is exempt from gift and estate tax. More on that.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Venice's Grand Canal is sporting a growing patch of fluorescent green, with local police and environmental agencies racing to find the cause. Venice's canal has turned a fluorescent green.Luigi Costantini / AP. A patch of water turned bright green in Venice's canal on Sunday. Police have launched an investigation to find out why the water changed color. The city councilman blamed environmental activists, but none have so far claimed responsibility. A patch of Venice's famed Grand Canal turned fluorescent green Sunday, and no one is sure why. The strange sighting was first spotted by locals in the Italian city, according to Veneto region's president, Luca Zaia."The prefect has called an urgent meeting with the police to investigate the origin of the liquid," he tweeted.Local councils took water samples, examined CCTV footage, and questioned gondola drivers to find out if they had seen anything suspicious, CNN reported.Images on social media show a bright patch of green in the canal along an embankment lined with restaurants.Luigi Costantini / APThe Italian fire service has also been working with the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection to test water samples, according to the Guardian. So far, online speculation has ranged from climate activists causing the change to algae creating a color shift. Maurizio Vesco, from the Regional Agency, told Italian newspaper La Repubblica that the growing streak of green was likely caused by fluorescein, which is a safe test dye. He suspected that up to a kilogram of the dye could have been poured into the canal. Venice's Grand Canal is turning bright green, with the patch growing since Sunday.Luigi Costantini / Associated Press.City councilman Andrea Pegoraro pointed to environmental activists as the potential culprits in the wake of recent protests on Italian cultural sites. Environmental activist group Ultima Generazione covered Rome's Trevi fountain with black liquid last week, while in March, activists spray painted the walls of Florence's town hall orange to bring attention to climate change. No environmental group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident.The green liquid that spread through the water near the arched Rialto Bridge.Luigi Costantini / APIf eco-warriors are responsible for the change in color, it wouldn't be the first time.In 1968, Argentine artist Nicolás García Uriburu dyed the waters of the canal a fluorescent green to make a statement about ecological issues in the region.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»