Next Avenue: Would you rather be useful or youthful? Here’s what 83% of older adults said in a survey.

In this article, we will look at 25 part-time retirement jobs that pay well. We will further explore the emerging trends around retirement in the US, examine reasons why it’s considered a good idea to work part-time after retirement and the ways retirees can earn some extra money. If you want to skip our detailed […] In this article, we will look at 25 part-time retirement jobs that pay well. We will further explore the emerging trends around retirement in the US, examine reasons why it’s considered a good idea to work part-time after retirement and the ways retirees can earn some extra money. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 10 Part-Time Retirement Jobs That Pay Well. Retirement marks a significant milestone in one’s life and thus, it is often followed by a well-deserved transition from the traditional workforce. However, for many retirees, the desire to remain active and financially independent continues to burn brightly. Part-time jobs offer a promising solution that not only allows retirees to unlock new opportunities but also utilize their skills, and undertake journeys that align with their passions. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a wave of early retirements among older Americans, raising concerns about long-term workforce changes. However, recent data suggest a positive shift, with approximately 1.5 million retirees reentering the U.S labor market in 2021, helping to compensate for the pandemic-induced labor shortage. Is It Good to Work Part-Time in Retirement? Reduced COVID-19 concerns, along with flexible work culture and rising inflation that strain fixed incomes, have motivated retirees to seek employment opportunities. Moreover, the tight labor market, accompanied by more job openings than the number of unemployed people, has led employers to target retirees by offering part-time or remote work options. It’s important to note that financial constraints, rather than voluntary choices, often drive retirees back into the workforce. However, some retirees, including those with higher socioeconomic status, opt to work after retirement because they find it fulfilling and enjoyable. Some believe that remaining employed can have positive effects on retirees’ well-being that provides them with an overall structure to their day to day life, socialization opportunity, and cognitive stimulation. Moreover, semi-retirees are increasingly seeking flexible roles that offer purpose and opportunities for learning that allow them to pursue their passions or somehow reduce their working hours. While historically limited, the availability of flexible jobs for retirees has improved due to the current tight labor market, remote work options, and the push for shorter work weeks. This shift in retirement trends reflects a rise in labor-force participation rates among older adults, while younger generations are experiencing a decrease. Although financial necessity is the driving force for some retirees, it is the desire for personal fulfillment that mainly contributes to their decision to remain in the workforce. In 2022, over 50 million Americans left their jobs, seeking less demanding and more fulfilling careers. However, as inflation places pressure on retired seniors, many are reentering the workforce, particularly in the service industry. Cashiers, retail associates, and restaurant hosts are among the positions filled by seniors, as the additional income helps offset the hardships of inflation. Older workers bring valuable interpersonal skills and are often more dependable, punctual, and less likely to switch jobs frequently compared to their younger counterparts. As health concerns ease, a growing number of individuals are seeking customer-facing jobs, leading to an increase in part-time employment. From February 2020 to February 2021, the number of Americans working part-time rose from about 17 million to over 21 million. So, How Can a Retired Person Make Extra Money? Firstly, retirees have various avenues to capitalize on their expertise and experience, including freelance services, or leveraging the gig economy. Barbara ‘Grammy’ Pry, a 90-year-old grandmother from New Jersey, is a prime example of retirees embracing these opportunities. Despite being in retirement, Pry works part-time as her church’s secretary, showcasing how freelancing can provide flexible work options. AARP’s study reveals that 26% of adults aged 50 and older engage in freelance or contract jobs. Platforms like Upwork Inc (NASDAQ:UPWK) connect retirees with remote or project-based work opportunities in diverse fields. Another option is Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE:UBER), a leading player in the gig economy, where retirees can leverage the platform to work as part-time drivers. Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE:UBER) allows retirees to enjoy the flexibility to set their own schedule while earning income based on their availability. Secondly, retired individuals who own property, such as a second home or investment property, can generate additional income by renting it out. This can be done through long-term leasing or by listing the property on vacation rental platforms like Airbnb Inc (NASDAQ:ABNB). Renting out a portion of their primary residence, such as a spare room, can also be a viable option. Thirdly, retirement can be an ideal time for retirees to pursue their passions or hobbies by starting a small business. This allows them to do something they love while potentially earning income. Whether it’s selling handmade crafts, providing gardening services, or offering specialized tours, there are numerous possibilities to explore. According to a survey, nearly two-thirds of Americans plan to open a small business in retirement, with 65% expressing their desire to do so. Retirees are motivated to build a business and implement strategies that can lead their enterprises to success by leveraging their experience, capital, and time. In fact, you can check out some of the businesses that have high profitability but low initial costs. We covered them in our list of the most profitable businesses with low startup costs. The survey also revealed that 54% of retirees are excited about the idea of succeeding and taking pride in their business. However, concerns about financial security, financial commitment, and fear of failure are seen as potential obstacles. Lastly, the Internet offers a plethora of opportunities for retirees to earn extra money. They can consider activities such as blogging, creating and selling products online on platforms like Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN), tutoring or teaching online, participating in online surveys or market research, or even becoming a virtual assistant. These options allow retirees to work from the comfort of their own homes and set their own hours. Copyright: halfpoint / 123RF Stock Photo Methodology For our list of part-time retirement jobs that pay well, extensive research was conducted using reliable sources including US News. We also sifted through multiple subreddits on jobs for our selection. The chosen jobs were based on consensus found across our sources. Average hourly salaries were derived from ZipRecruiter, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information. Thus, the jobs are ranked in ascending order of high average per-hour salaries in the US. Here is a list of 25 part time retirement jobs that pay well: 25. Bookkeeper Average Salary per Hour: $20.57 With a focus on financial record management, retirees can leverage their meticulous attention to detail to ensure accuracy and compliance. The job offers flexibility in working hours and competitive wages that makes it an appealing choice for those looking to maintain financial engagement and contribute their expertise in a part-time capacity. 24. Community College Instructor Average Salary per Hour: $22.40 For retirees seeking to share their knowledge and passion for a specific subject, becoming a part-time community college instructor can be an excellent choice. It is also one of the most well-paying part time jobs for seniors over 65. As an instructor, retirees can engage with students and facilitate learning in a supportive and inclusive environment. This role allows retirees to stay intellectually stimulated while imparting their knowledge to the young. 23. Paralegal Average Salary per Hour: $23.81 Pursuing the role of a paralegal holds immense value as it is an excellent part time job for seniors over 65. With part-time jobs specifically tailored for seniors, becoming a paralegal allows retirees to utilize their skills and experience in legal research, document preparation, and case management. 22. Personal Chef Average Salary per Hour: $24.39 The job of a personal chef can allow retirees to showcase their culinary expertise alongwith enjoying a flexible work schedule and the satisfaction of creating something valuable, and of course, delicious, for clients. With competitive compensation and the joy of sharing their love for cooking, being a part-time personal chef can be a rewarding and enjoyable post-retirement choice. 21. Group Fitness Instructor Average Salary per Hour: $24.91 For retired athletes or individuals with a physically active background, transitioning into the role of a group fitness instructor can offer a seamless and fruitful career path. Hence, becoming a group fitness instructor would certainly allow them to continue sharing their passion for fitness and inspire others on their fitness journeys. 20. Electrician Average Salary per Hour: $25.20 Retirees with a background in electrical work can find a rewarding part-time career as an electrician. Drawing upon their extensive knowledge and experience, they can provide valuable services in troubleshooting, repairs, and installations. As part-time electricians, retirees can enjoy the flexibility to choose projects that suit their preferences and availability. This make this position one of the most excellent choices for part time retirement jobs that pay well. 19. Virtual Travel Agent Average Salary per Hour: $26.13 Virtual travel agents can assist clients in planning and booking trips, providing destination recommendations, and ensuring smooth travel experiences. With the flexibility of part-time hours, retirees can balance their newfound freedom with the thrill of helping others explore the world. Platforms like Upwork Inc (NASDAW:UPWK) can connect retirees with clients looking for virtual travel agent services, and offer a convenient avenue to showcase their skills and building a client base. 18. Insurance Sales Agent Average Salary per Hour: $26.64 For retirees searching for a part-time job with potential for financial growth, becoming an insurance sales agent can be a lucrative choice. As an insurance sales agent, retirees can capitalize on their interpersonal skills to sell insurance policies, provide personalized guidance to clients, and build lasting relationships. 17. Librarian Average Salary per Hour: $26.82 Part-time librarian positions are often available at local libraries, educational institutions, or even online platforms. These opportunities allow retirees to stay connected with their love for books, share their knowledge, and cherish a sense of community. 16. Nutritionist Average Salary per Hour: $27.23 Retirees who are passionate about health and wellness can find a rewarding part-time career as nutritionists, provided a background in the field. As nutritionists, they can provide valuable guidance and expertise in creating personalized meal plans, offer dietary recommendations, and help promote healthy lifestyles. It is a highly sought after low stress job after retirement for fitness-conscious seniors. 15. Online Course Creator Average Salary per Hour: $28.13 Retirees can leverage their prior experience or skillset in teaching and related fields to design engaging course materials, record video lectures, and facilitate interactive learning experiences. It’s a popular choice when it comes to part time jobs for seniors over 65. Retirees can continue to make a meaningful impact by empowering others to acquire new skills and knowledge, all while enjoying the flexibility and satisfaction of part-time work as online course creators. 14. Home Inspector Average Salary per Hour: $29.16 Home inspection is one of the most well-paying part time jobs in retirement. With their wealth of knowledge and expertise, retirees can conduct comprehensive inspections of residential properties, identifying potential issues related to the structure, electrical systems, plumbing, and more. As part-time home inspectors, retirees can independently offer their services or join established home inspection companies. 13. Plumber Average Salary per Hour: $29.34 By drawing upon their expertise in plumbing systems, retirees can offer valuable services in troubleshooting, repairs, and installations. Part-time plumbers have the flexibility to choose projects that align with their availability and preferences. Given lucrative salaries and the lack of a steep learning curve, plumbing can be one of the most profitable part-time jobs in retirement. 12. Truck Driver Average Salary per Hour: $30.00 Retirees with experience in driving and a passion for the open road can consider part-time jobs as truck drivers. They can transport goods and materials across different locations, contributing to the supply chain and logistics industry. If a retiree has an authorized carrier with a CLD (commercial driver’s license), they should consider joining and working at Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE:UBER) Freight services as it offers competitive salaries and flexible working hours. 11. Executive Administrative Assistant Average Salary per Hour: $30.84 In this role, retirees can provide support to executives, handling tasks such as managing schedules, coordinating meetings, preparing documents, and maintaining efficient office operations. Click here to see 10 Part-Time Retirement Jobs that Pay Well. Suggested Articles: 12 Questions to Ask Before Early Retirement 15 Biggest Retirement Mistakes You Will Regret Forever 21 Best Places to Retire in U.S in 2023 Disclosure: None. 25 Part-Time Retirement Jobs that Pay Well is originally published on Insider Monkey......»»

While cost is important to patients when choosing a healthcare provider, location and convenience also rank highly in the decision-making process, according to JLL’s new Healthcare Patient Consumer Survey. Location and convenience affect the care experience, which, along with the quality of service provided and the comfort of the facility,... The post New survey finds location a key factor in healthcare choices appeared first on Real Estate Weekly. While cost is important to patients when choosing a healthcare provider, location and convenience also rank highly in the decision-making process, according to JLL’s new Healthcare Patient Consumer Survey. Location and convenience affect the care experience, which, along with the quality of service provided and the comfort of the facility, drive positive experiences that lead patients to return to a particular provider. More than 80% of responders evaluating primary and preventative or specialist care noted whether a provider or hospital accepts their insurance as one of the top five factors considered when deciding to seek care. Location and proximity ranked as the second-most-likely factor for all types of care, aside from outpatient behavioral health, for which it ranked third. “It’s not surprising that cost is the No. 1 factor for patients, but convenience is also key when making healthcare-related decisions,” said Jay Johnson, U.S. Practice Leader, Healthcare Markets, JLL. “Patients want to get care quickly and get on with their day. Through providing a broad coverage network and optimizing site selection, providers can deliver convenient care for patients, which was shown to improve a patient’s overall experience and the likelihood that they will return to a provider.” When care is needed urgently, decision factors are simplified, and location and proximity ranked even higher than most other types of care. For urgent care and emergency care, insurance, location and proximity, wait time and past experience were most important. Reputation, physical accessibility and hospital network are not all important for these care types. This shift in sites of care leads to patient volumes increasing for outpatient services and decreasing for inpatient, prioritizing convenience. “What this means for healthcare providers and health systems is that a strong location strategy can both improve reach and improve positive outcomes,” said Alison Flynn Gaffney, FACHE, President, Healthcare Division, JLL. “It’s critical to strike the right balance between convenience and cost – health systems need to balance the benefits of being close to their target populations with the cost of a new facility or a provider’s time in transit from a local clinic to the hospital.” Making locations convenient by placing them close to other errands, in retail locations or in small offices in neighborhoods can improve patient experience. More than 58% of those who evaluated a healthcare experience went to an additional location as part of the trip, which could benefit retail stores and play into a retail center’s larger strategy when selecting tenants. JLL found that the younger the person, the less likely they are to use primary care, as younger generations apply a “wait-until-it-breaks model” versus proactively seeking regular care. Nearly 80% of adults 65 and older have two or more chronic conditions, increasing their need for continuous care and more than 70% of Baby Boomers received primary and preventative care within the last year, as opposed to only 26% of Gen Z. Millennials and Gen Z were also more likely to report receiving urgent care, emergency care and outpatient behavioral health than other generations. A consistent relationship with a primary care provider has been shown to improve health outcomes, lower healthcare costs and reduce emergency room visits, but low provider supply compared with population growth contributed to reduced access to primary care, especially for an appointment for an urgent need. “Younger populations seek medical care on a more reactive basis, waiting for an urgent or emergency need rather than regularly scheduled primary care services,” said Kari Beets, Senior Manager, Research, JLL. “Older generations are more likely to have relationships with providers due to more frequent care needs, and smaller retail locations with primary care providers can allow convenient access to primary care.” Hospitals, physicians and other care providers can locate relevant facilities using a demographics-based site selection strategy or drive younger populations to preventative care through expanding value-based care models. Providers can also locate urgent and standalone emergency care near younger populations to improve access and wait times, make it easier to find or schedule same-day appointments with a primary care provider and increase transparency of costs for sick visits for urgent and primary care – as younger generations with less savings may postpone care due to concerns about cost. Telehealth is one avenue to address wait times and increase access for care, allowing providers to address concerns before or without an in-person visit. Telehealth remains steady in usage and acceptance. The percentage of respondents that had a telehealth visit remained steady from our 2022 survey. “In-person visits in physical facilities is – and will always be – an essential part of healthcare, but providers also need to make sure to accommodate telehealth in their space planning,” Johnson said. “Telehealth is a key tool in addressing patient access in remote areas or for those without adequate transportation for an in-person visit.” Patients seek out experts to recommend care. After insurance and location, physician quality and reputation ranked highly as factors for a healthcare decision; in fact, it was ranked in the top five by over 40% of participants in all categories. Referrals play a larger role in specialist, outpatient surgery and inpatient care, with 45.5%, 52.6% and 50.5% of respondents placing it in the top five, respectively. Recommendations from friends ranked most highly for behavioral health, given the personal nature of such care, and was ranked in the top five by 31% of respondents. JLL found that quality of service affects patient experience most, followed by comfort of facilities. Additionally, respondents noted the age of facilities does not have a significant impact on patient experience, meaning through quality maintenance and attention to details that affect patient comfort like waiting rooms, cleanliness and safety, a healthcare provider can overcome an old facility. “Designing facilities for patient comfort and implementing a strong facilities management program can create more positive experiences and increase loyalty,” Gaffney added. The JLL Healthcare Patient Survey was conducted via Engine Insights with a nationally representative group of 4,017 U.S. residents from April 19, 2023, to April 28, 2023. Of the respondents, 51 percent were female, and 48 percent were male. JLL Healthcare provides a full range of real estate and facilities solutions for hospitals, physicians and other care providers as well as real estate investors that own and operate medical and seniors housing properties. We help our healthcare clients plan, find, finance, buy, lease, sell, construct, optimize, manage and maintain the most-advantageous facilities anywhere in the US for all property types along the continuum of care, serving over 550 million square feet of healthcare property annually. Our professionals have deep technical expertise and market knowledge and are armed with the most innovative, data-driven analytics and business intelligence in the industry. Visit us at us.jll.com/healthcare to learn more. The post New survey finds location a key factor in healthcare choices appeared first on Real Estate Weekly......»»

Juul's high-nicotine vaping products have long been blamed for sparking a national surge in teen vaping. HARTFORD, Conn. — Electronic cigarette maker Juul Labs will pay nearly $440 million to settle a two-year investigation by 33 states into the marketing of its high-nicotine vaping products, which have long been blamed for sparking a national surge in teen vaping. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced the deal Tuesday on behalf of the states plus Puerto Rico, which joined together in 2020 to probe Juul’s early promotions and claims about the safety and benefits of its technology as a smoking alternative. The settlement resolves one of the biggest legal threats facing the beleaguered company, which still faces nine separate lawsuits from other states. Additionally, Juul faces hundreds of personal suits brought on behalf of teenagers and others who say they became addicted to the company’s vaping products. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The state investigation found that Juul marketed its e-cigarettes to underage teens with launch parties, product giveaways and ads and social media posts using youthful models, according to a statement. “Through this settlement, we have secured hundreds of millions of dollars to help reduce nicotine use and forced Juul to accept a series of strict injunctive terms to end youth marketing and crack down on underage sales,” Tong said in a press release. Read More: ‘It’s Insidious’: How Juul Pitched E-Cigs to Native American Tribes The $438.5 million will be paid out over a period of six to 10 years. Tong said Connecticut’s payment of at least $16 million will go toward vaping prevention and education efforts. Juul previously settled lawsuits in Arizona, Louisiana, North Carolina and Washington. Most of the limits imposed by Tuesday’s settlement won’t affect Juul’s practices, which halted use of parties, giveaways and other promotions after coming under scrutiny several several years ago. Teen use of e-cigarettes skyrocketed after Juul’s launch in 2015, leading the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to declare an “epidemic” of underage vaping among teenagers. Health experts said the unprecedented increase risked hooking a generation of young people on nicotine. But since 2019 Juul has mostly been in retreat, dropping all U.S. advertising and pulling its fruit and candy flavors from store shelves. The biggest blow came earlier this summer when the FDA moved to ban all Juul e-cigarettes from the market. Juul challenged that ruling in court, and the FDA has since reopened its scientific review of the company’s technology. The FDA review is part of a sweeping effort by regulators to bring scrutiny to the multibillion-dollar vaping industry after years of regulatory delays. The agency has authorized a handful of e-cigarettes for adult smokers looking for a less harmful alternative. While Juul’s early marketing focused on young, urban consumers, the company has since shifted to pitching its product as an alternative nicotine source for older smokers. “We remain focused on our future as we fulfill our mission to transition adult smokers away from cigarettes – the number one cause of preventable death – while combating underage use,” the company said in a statement. Read More: It’s Too Simple to Call the Juul Ban a Public Health Triumph Juul has agreed to refrain from a host of marketing practices as part of the settlement. They include not using cartoons, paying social media influencers, depicting people under 35, advertising on billboards and public transportation and placing ads in any outlets unless 85% of their audience are adults. The deal also includes restrictions on where Juul products may be placed in stores, age verification on all sales and limits to online and retail sales. Juul initially sold its high-nicotine pods in flavors like mango, mint and creme. The products became a scourge in U.S. high schools, with students vaping in bathrooms and hallways between classes. But recent federal survey data shows that teens have been shifting away from the company. Most teens now prefer disposable e-cigarettes, some of which continue to be sold in sweet, fruity flavors. Overall, the survey showed a drop of nearly 40% in the teen vaping rate as many kids were forced to learn from home during the pandemic. Still, federal officials cautioned about interpreting the results given they were collected online for the first time, instead of in classrooms. Perrone reported from Washington, D.C......»»

Millennials are part of a "vast and accidental social experiment," one expert said. We've never seen a generation "with so much financial baggage." Millennials have been shortchanged by the economy.Noam Galai/Getty Images Millennials have been carrying around economic baggage since the Great Recession. While some are faring financially well, others have faced a host of challenges. Student debt, a housing crisis, and now inflation, are just a few of their economic woes. Millennials just can't catch a break.The generation, made up of people turning ages 26 to 41 this year, has long had a notorious bout of bad economic luck. Although they've been subject to the narrative of a frivolous generation who prefers to blow money on avocado toast, the reality is that their entrance into adulthood has been shortchanged by the economy."In a way, millennials are part of a vast and accidental social experiment," Kenan Fikri, the director for research at the Economic Innovation Group, previously told Insider. "We've never launched an entire generation with so much financial baggage." He added that they're unique because they graduated into the throes of the Great Recession. From there, they became saddled with student-loan debt and soaring living costs only to stare down their second recession before the age of 40. Now, as they enter a life stage filled with big spending, their finances are marred by inflation.Of course, not all millennials fit this bill. Some millennials, which generational researcher Jason Dorsey has dubbed "mega-llennials" for the "outsized advantage" they have over their less fortunate peers, don't identify with the negative stereotypes associated with their generation because they feel ahead of the game."It's almost like they got a head start," Dorsey told Insider, referring to the subset of millennials who don't fit the traditional media narrative of their generation. "They've been working and doing normal work-related stuff, but often are not getting attention for it." But the average millennial feels behind in their career and finances. Here's a complete timeline of all the economic dominoes that have fallen on their path to financial stability.2007: The financial crisis hits when the oldest millennials were age 26. They bore the true brunt of the recession, entering a tough job market and experiencing wage stagnation.Andia/Getty ImagesThe financial crisis of 2008 left no generation untouched: Silent, boomer, and Gen X households all experienced wealth loss. But "older millennials were squarely hammered," Mark Muro, a senior fellow and policy director at the Brookings Institution, previously told Insider."Millennials have lifelong damage, given the severity of the Great Recession," he added.The Great Recession split the generation down the middle, between the older millennials who walked into a dismal job market and younger millennials who experienced the recovery period and became risk-averse by watching the recession unfold.Coming of age in an era of slower economic growth has made it less possible for millennials to establish a solid career foundation and build wealth, Ernie Tedeschi, a managing director and policy economist for Evercore ISI, told Insider. "This has consequences for individual career prospects and affects their sense of dynamism," he said.It was a rocky start to adulthood. Research shows that those who graduate during a recession could see stagnation in financial growth for up to 15 years. A St. Louis Fed report found that nearly a decade later in 2016, people born in the '80s had 34% less wealth than they likely would have if the financial crisis hadn't occurred.But the recession also exacerbated a number of other problems millennials would soon have to deal with.  2012: Student debt crosses the $1 trillion threshold after exploding during the Great Recession, making it that much harder for millennials to save money.Bebeto Matthews/AP PhotosThe financial crisis intensified America's rising student-loan debt burden: graduates had less money to pay off their loans; more millennials enrolled in graduate school during a slow economic recovery, adding to their debt totals; and colleges hiked tuition prices due to lack of state funding. In the 2010s, college tuition more than doubled since the 1980s."Prior generations started building wealth right as they hit the labor market," Fikri told Insider. "By contrast, college-bound millennials spent the first decade of their careers digging out of debt."In a 2019 Business Insider Intelligence survey of more than 2,000 millennials, 60% of respondents said they took out a student loan for undergraduate or graduate education — and 43% owed between $10,000 and $49,999 at graduation."My student loans have been the center of my financial world," Daniela Capparelli, who graduated in 2007 with a degree in economics and finance and $150,000 in debt, told Insider two years ago. "I have always felt a huge weight on my shoulders because of this astronomical financial burden."Fikri described college as a "millennial Catch-22": Many feel that the ticket to a decent standard of living is a college degree, but going into debt makes it a rather expensive ticket and undermines the value of the degree itself."The burden of student debt relative to income and available opportunities keeps them trapped in a sort of limbo that's financially, emotionally, socially, and economically damaging," he said. 2017: As wages stagnate, cost of living gets out of control. The average housing price across US cities becomes more expensive than they were right before the Great Recession.People walk by a sold sign in front of a house along the Erie Canal in Pittsford, New York, on Monday, Sept. 6, 2021.Ted Shaffrey/AP PhotoBetween 1974 and 2017, adults ages 25 to 34 only saw increased earnings of $29 annually, when adjusted for inflation. During the same time period, those ages 45 to 54 saw an income growth of nearly $5,400.Millennials' paltry wage increase hasn't kept up with all the living costs that inflated in the 2010s. Hospital services, college tuition, medical services, and housing all began ticking up past the average inflation around the time of the Great Recession, according to the American Enterprise Institute's famous inflation chart, outpacing the hike in average hourly wages.In early 2017, average home prices across large US cities started to exceed their mid-aughts bubble highs, according to the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index. It left the typical millennial renting longer and buying later as they struggled to save for a down payment. By 2018, millennials buying their first home were paying 39% more than boomers did at the same age nearly 40 years ago.With stagnated wages and little wealth built up, millennials' finances were proving no match for the economy.  2020: Before the oldest millennial turns 40, the generation faces their second recession when the pandemic hits.Noam Galai/Getty ImagesBy 2019, the oldest millennials had finally narrowed their 34% wealth deficit. A follow-up St. Louis Fed report found that those born in the 1980s have median wealth levels 11% below older generations at similar ages."It turns out that millennials may not be as 'lost' as we once thought," read the report.But the following year, the pandemic hit. While there isn't enough data yet to determine the exact impact it had on millennials, it was another curveball for the generation. It widened the millennial inequality that dated back to the Great Recession, with wealthier millennials faring well while their low-earning peers are struggling.Millennials who already had lower earnings prepandemic and millennials with children were among those who suffered the most, Christine Percheski, demographer and associate professor of sociology at Northwestern University, previously told Insider. About 40% of millennial parents saw huge increases in hardships, she added, due to increases in food and housing insecurity and mothers cutting back employment hours or quitting work altogether to meet caregiving needs during the pandemic's school closures.  When unemployment peaked in April 2020, 14.5% of Americans ages 25 to 34 were unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's higher than the 10% unemployment peak of the Great Recession in 2009. And while some millennials may have escaped job loss, not all skirted past pandemic pay cuts. "I would imagine a lot of people are burning through whatever savings they had as they experienced unemployment," Percheski said. 2021: Just as millennials are ready to buy a house, they get screwed by their second housing crisis in 12 years in which record-high prices box many first-time homeowners out of the market.Newsday LLC/Getty ImagesCome 2021, millennials had finally reached the peak age for first-time homeownership. After spending years saving for a down payment, historically low mortgage rates and the flexibility of remote work enabled them to finally achieve their homebuying dreams.But the demand exacerbated an already shrinking housing inventory that was first fueled by contractors underbuilding homes since the Great Recession, and a housing boom soon became a housing crisis. Starter homes were the biggest victims of the dwindling inventory, as the national median home sale continuously climbed upward before reaching a record high of $386,888 in June 2021. Just as homeownership fell within millennials' grasp, it began to slip out of their fingers again."Now that they have economically recovered and are looking to buy a home for the first time, we're faced with this housing shortage," Daryl Fairweather, the chief economist at Redfin, told Insider last year. "They're already boxed out of the housing market."There have been 20 times fewer homes built in the past decade than in any decade as far back as the 1960s, according to Fairweather.She added that was not enough homes for millennials, who are the biggest generation, to buy.Gay Cororaton, the director of housing and commercial research for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), told Insider homeownership was "going to be more difficult for millennials."It was yet another wealth avenue lost for millennials. 2022: Millennials experience inflation for the first time as it surges to a 41-year-high. Of all age groups, they're impacted the most.All signs point to groceries getting more expensive, or going out of stock.Luis AlvarezInflation hit a 30-year high in November before surging again through March at a 41-year-high. It's the first time millennials have experienced inflation, just as many enter their high-spending years. They're also feeling the effects of it more than any other age group.A study by Wells Fargo analyzed the Consumer Expenditure Survey to determine which cohorts have seen the steepest rise in cost of living. An age breakdown showed that millennials experienced the highest inflation: 6.8% for the 25 to 34 age group and 6.9% for the 35 to 44 group (the latter also includes the youngest Gen Xers). It has a lot to do with their spending habits, as they're shelling out more for big ticket items thanks to the life stage they're currently in.Wells Fargo senior economist Sarah House told Insider that millennials are more likely to spend on used and new cars as well as gas, both of which have seen the steepest rise in prices the year through December. Millennials are also spending more on housekeeping goods and home furnishings since many are buying homes for the first time, House added.Unfortunately for millennials, not much of their spending goes toward the areas that have mostly escaped inflation. "On the other side of the equation, millennials spend relatively less on some of the areas that have seen the slowest rise in prices over the past year, such as healthcare, which has held down inflation rates for other groups more than millennials," House said.The Fed has hinted at raising interest rates in an effort to cool down prices. But that still comes at a cost, in the form of much pricier credit cards and loans. Considering all the big spending involved in millennials' current life stage, it could end up being their next economic challenge.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Over A Third Of Nigerians Are Invested In Bitcoin, Crypto; New Report Finds Authored by Shawn Amick via BitcoinMagazine.com, KuCoin conducted a report with multiple surveys that shows 35% of the adult population aged 18-60 in Nigeria are vested in bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. The investor class is largely made up of a youthful population driven by Nigeria’s median age of 18.4 years old, which leads to 52% of the investors being below the age of 30. Nigeria hosts many long-term investors in the space as its currency, the Naira, has seen a 60%-plus depreciation against the dollar since 2014. 37% of investors in the space have been invested for over 3 years. KuCoin, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, recently released a report titled “Into The Cryptoverse” where they discussed the penetration of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies into populations of varying countries. Most notable among them is Nigeria; 35%, or 33.4 million, of its adults aged 18-60 owned or traded bitcoin or some form of cryptocurrency in the last 6 months. USERS WITH INTERNET ACCESS This staggering amount of 35% of adults becomes even more bewildering when one recognizes that as of January 2022, only 51% of the entire population of Nigeria has access to the internet, according to the report. Of that 51% of the population, 86% of Nigerian internet users are familiar with cryptocurrency as an investment vehicle. The report also states that according to Google Trends, Nigeria hosted the highest number of searches for Bitcoin in early 2021. A survey conducted of the penetrated 35% shows that 70% of those users intend to increase their holdings within a short period of time. Another 6% of the population not currently invested were surveyed and said they are interested in investing within the next six months. YOUTHFUL INVESTOR INTEREST GROWS AS NAIRA FALLS Over the course of the last eight years, Nigeria’s currency, Naira, has depreciated over 60% against the dollar. The adoption rate of Bitcoin is far more substantial in populations that have a need for Bitcoin, rather than just a want for it. The failing Naira led to earlier adoption than most, as 37% of those currently involved in bitcoin have been invested or trading in the asset for more than 3 years, with another 27% having just started within the past 6 months. A need to opt out of the existing structure is being driven by the youthful population of Nigeria as its median age sits at 18.4 years old, according to Statista cited in the report. This drives the statistic in which 52% of Nigerians invested in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies under the age of 30. GENDER PARITY AMONG INVESTORS OF NIGERIA One interesting statistic KuCoin uncovered in a survey of those currently vested in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies showed 50% gender parity. Nigeria seems to be proving that when economic need, youth of a population, and innovation collide, gender plays no role in the adoption of an emergent monetary system. NIGERIA’S LONG-TERM INVESTOR OUTLOOK Low-time preference seems molded with entrepreneurial spirit in Nigeria with 62% of investors believing this emerging system is the future of finance and 50% of investors saying they are in it for the long run. 40% of investors look to use their gains to start a business, 36% are looking for another revenue stream, and 26% seek to rely on their investment as primary income. PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION The portfolio diversification, or the lack of diversification in some cases, is a fascinating statistic among Nigerian investors. On average, these investors allocate 60% to cryptocurrency, 20% to cash or bank deposits, and 7% to foreign currencies with additional financial instruments closing the gap, which means over 52% of investors are allocating over half of their portfolio to cryptocurrencies, according to the report. A little over one-fifth of these investors (22%) store over 90% of their assets in bitcoin or another cryptocurrency. This minority group tends to be slightly older and less familiar with other financial products with a focus on money transfers and transactions, rather than trading. CONCLUSION As of February 2022, 65% of these investors utilize peer-to-peer trading to deposit fiat for cryptocurrencies after the Central Bank of Nigeria barred banks from enabling crypto transactions in February 2021, according to another survey conducted by KuCoin cited in the report. Further KuCoin data shows a 1,386.7% increase in monthly transactions across African countries from January 2021 - January 2022. During the same period, active users also increased by 2,467.2%. Countries like Nigeria showcase the need of a new monetary system that allows cross-border payments with minimal fees and global access in its most reliable form. The central authorities of Nigeria have failed to properly care for its citizenry and its youthful population has taken it upon themselves to enforce needed change. While bitcoin certainly serves as a store-of-value for many in more developed places of the world, the humanitarian and altruistic use cases of Bitcoin are what truly make it inevitable.  Tyler Durden Wed, 04/13/2022 - 12:25.....»»

A Comprehensive Timeline Of COVID-19 Vaccines And Myocarditis Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), 2020 Sept. 22, 2020: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies myocarditis as an adverse event of special interest, or a potential side effect. Oct. 30, 2020: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identifies myocarditis as an adverse event of special interest. December 2020: One case of pericarditis reported to the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which is co-managed by the CDC and FDA. Dec. 11, 2020: FDA authorizes the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for Americans 16 and older. Dec. 13, 2020: CDC launches V-safe, a new vaccine safety monitoring system, without including myocarditis as an option in the adverse events list. Dec. 18, 2020: FDA authorizes the U.S. government-backed Moderna vaccine for Americans 18 and older. 2021 2021: Myocarditis cases spike in the U.S. military. January 2021: 28 cases of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis reported to VAERS. January 2021: First U.S. military member experiences postvaccination myocarditis, according to a study published months later. January 2021: First cases of postvaccination myocarditis recorded in Israel. January 2021: VAERS report processing is delayed due to unexpected spike in reports. February 2021: 64 cases of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis reported to VAERS, including two deaths. Feb. 1, 2021: Israeli teenager is hospitalized with myocarditis after Pfizer vaccination, doctors say. Feb. 18, 2021: Safety signal for myocarditis triggered in VAERS using CDC-endorsed method called Proportional Reporting Ratio. Feb. 19, 2021: Safety signal for myocarditis triggered in VAERS using another method called Fisher’s Exact Test. Feb. 24–25, 2021: CDC meets with its advisers but does not discuss COVID-19 vaccines. Feb. 27, 2021: FDA authorizes Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine. Feb. 28, 2021: Israeli officials privately alert CDC to "a large number of reports of myocarditis, particularly in young people, following the administration of the Pfizer vaccine." Feb. 28, 2021: 57 cases of myocarditis or pericarditis within seven days of vaccination in Pfizer's database in document given to the FDA in April 2021 and not revealed to the public until November 2021. March 2021: 54 cases of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis reported to VAERS. March 1, 2021: CDC officials disclose (pdf) that two postvaccination cases were identified in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), another CDC-run system. March 2, 2021: CDC recommends Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine for adults. March 3, 2021: Israeli authorities meet with hospital officials to discuss postvaccination heart problems. March 4, 2021: Israeli officials confirm they're investigating postvaccination pericarditis. March 5, 2021: FDA holds meeting with its advisers. Myocarditis is not discussed. March 6, 2021: Rutgers University becomes first major US school to announce COVID-19 vaccine mandate. March 8, 2021: Australian health officials contact CDC about U.S. myocarditis cases. March 9, 2021: U.S. internal memorandum says Israel received around 40 reports of postvaccination myocarditis. U.S. officials say some postvaccination cases were reported in the United States and acknowledge issues with passive surveillance such as underreporting. "Thus, FDA has not made a final determination regarding the causality between myopericarditis and the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines," the memo stated. March 20, 2021: First postvaccination myocarditis case report is published in the literature. March 20, 2021: Pfizer contract with South Africa (pdf) says that "there may be adverse effects of the vaccine that are not currently known." March 31, 2021: Second postvaccination myocarditis case report published. March 31, 2021: First death from postvaccination myocarditis reported in Israel. The deceased was a 22-year-old previously healthy woman. April 2021: 158 cases of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis reported to VAERS. April 2021: CDC holds multiple public meetings with no discussion of myocarditis. April 1, 2021: Israel has received 84 reports of postvaccination myocarditis or pericarditis, news outlet reports. April 2, 2021: U.S. military officials, CDC meet on postvaccination myocarditis cases. April 5, 2021: Israeli officials brief the CDC on postvaccination myocarditis cases. April 5, 2021: Canada reports first case of postvaccination pericarditis. April 7, 2021: U.S. government call covers myocarditis cases recorded in military members after vaccination. April 10, 2021: CDC-funded Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment program reviewed postvaccination myocarditis cases, email shows. April 12, 2021: U.S. military officials brief CDC on postvaccination myocarditis cases. April 12, 2021: Canada reports first case of postvaccination myocarditis. April 13, 2021: U.S. military has submitted manuscripts on myocarditis cases to two journals, CDC official says. April 13, 2021: CDC, FDA advise pause in administration of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine due to six cases of blood clotting. April 15, 2021: Two otherwise healthy adults hospitalized with chest pain and diagnosed with myocarditis after Moderna vaccination, CDC adviser tells agency. April 17, 2021: CDC official tells adviser there have been reports of myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination "but we aren't observing any clear indication of a safety signal." April 20, 2021: Three cases of myocarditis after second Pfizer dose in Idaho, official tells CDC. April 23, 2021: United States lifts recommended pause on Johnson & Johnson's vaccine. April 23, 2021: Israeli Ministry of Health report on postvaccination myocarditis identifies two deaths, Israeli media report. The second deceased was a previously healthy 35-year-old man. Among men aged 18 to 30, there is a one in 20,000 probability of developing myocarditis, the report found. "It seems that these events can be a signal of a possible connection to the vaccine," the committee said. The findings were sent to the FDA. April 26, 2021: U.S. military officials are tracking 14 cases of myocarditis following messenger RNA vaccination, Military.com reports. April 26, 2021: CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says CDC "aware of" cases in the military. She says "we have not seen any reports of those" and that "we have not seen a signal" in CDC databases. April 27, 2021: CDC officials privately acknowledge that processing of VAERS reports is "taking longer than usual." April 27, 2021: CDC officials say 24 cases of myocarditis were identified in VSD. April 27, 2021: U.S. military official warns that pausing administration of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines "will have an adverse impact on US/CA vaccination rates." April 28, 2021: France detects safety signal for postvaccination myocarditis. April 28, 2021: CDC director receives notes from discussion with military on myocarditis cases. April 29, 2021: First cases of pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination reported in the literature. April 30, 2021: FDA receives Pfizer report noting myocarditis cases in Pfizer's database. May 2021: 487 cases of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis reported to VAERS, including four deaths. May 2021: CDC forms a team to review medical records for reported cases of postvaccination myocarditis. May 5, 2021: CDC meets with advisers but doesn't discuss COVID-19 vaccines. May 7, 2021: European Medicines Agency announces it has asked Pfizer for information on myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination. May 10, 2021: FDA authorizes Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 15. It does not mention myocarditis. May 12, 2021: Myocarditis is not discussed during meeting on Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, a CDC official, gives a presentation on blood clotting after Johnson & Johnson vaccination. May 12, 2021: Dr. Walensky recommends Pfizer's vaccine for virtually all children aged 12 to 15, based on advice from advisers. May 13, 2021: CDC officials told to direct questions on potential myocarditis cases to two top vaccine safety officials, Drs. John Su and Shimabukuro. May 13, 2021: Same officials discuss analyzing VAERS data for myocarditis using the Proportional Reporting Ratio in heavily redacted emails. The agency says the analysis didn't actually start until 2022. May 13, 2021: CDC adviser says "multiple people texting and email[ing] me with concerns" about myocarditis. May 13, 2021: Children's National in Washington registers two suspected cases. May 14, 2021: Dr. Shimabukuro seeks "experts in myocarditis." May 16, 2021: CDC official says in email, "we are hearing quite a lot about this now, and I don't have a clear understanding of what is and has been being done." May 17, 2021: CDC workgroup says there are "relatively few" reports of myocarditis after vaccination and that rates "have not differed from expected baseline rates." May 17, 2021: Dr. Shimabukuro speaks with American Academy of Pediatrics officials to "centralize our coordination" with outside groups. May 17, 2021: Dr. Su says health care providers "aren't reporting these cases to VAERS." May 17, 2021: Dr. Su says the "myocarditis thing" is "exploding." May 18, 2021: States across the U.S. publicly report cases of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination. May 18, 2021: First case report of an American person with postvaccination myocarditis published. May 19, 2021: CDC tells state officials it has been "closely monitoring" myocarditis and pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination and that cases "can be serious." May 20, 2021:  Three more cases of postvaccination myocarditis at Connecticut Children's Medical Center, official tells CDC. May 20, 2021: CDC officials hold meeting with doctors from pediatric hospitals on myocarditis cases. Slides from the meeting were provided to The Epoch Times fully redacted. May 23, 2021: The American Heart Association says the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination for everyone eligible "enormously outweigh the rare, possible risk of heart-related complications, including inflammation of the heart muscle." May 24, 2021: CDC workgroup acknowledges for the first time that the number of reports of postvaccination myocarditis to VAERS was higher than expected in those 16 to 24. May 24, 2021: French Society of Cardiology calls for vaccinating heart failure patients without acknowledging possible vaccine-myocarditis connection. May 24, 2021: Massachusetts official asks CDC for "messaging" on postvaccination myocarditis. May 25, 2021: Dr. Paul Offit, an FDA adviser, says about myocarditis and COVID-19 vaccines, "there’s every reason to think this isn’t a problem." May 26, 2021: The New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority says there's a safety signal for myocarditis and COVID-19 vaccines. May 28, 2021: CDC says to keep vaccinating everyone eligible, or virtually all Americans 12 and older. May 28, 2021: Case series of young, previously healthy males hospitalized with postvaccination myocarditis discloses hospitalizations happened as early as Jan. 30, 2021. May 28, 2021: CDC says it is focusing on reported cases among those 30 and under. May 28, 2021: Nine postvaccination myocarditis cases from one state not reported to VAERS, according to CDC. May 30, 2021: Brighton Collaboration issues case definition for myocarditis. June 2021: 752 cases of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis reported to VAERS, including five deaths. June 2021: Some experts start calling on U.S. authorities to pause COVID-19 vaccination of young, healthy people. June 2, 2021: Israel says "there is some probability for a possible link between the second vaccine dose and the onset of myocarditis among young men aged 16 to 30" after researchers find incidence of one in 3,000 to one in 6,000 men aged 16 to 24. June 4, 2021: U.S. researchers report seven cases in healthy young males following Pfizer vaccination. June 10, 2021: 99 cases of myocarditis/pericarditis detected in FDA's Biologics Effectiveness and Safety Initiative database, and 1,260 cases reported in Medicare claims data, FDA official says (pdf). June 10, 2021: CDC working to rapidly follow up on reports of myocarditis following vaccination among people aged 30 and under, CDC official says (pdf). Most cases are in young adults after a second dose. June 10, 2021: "There’s a lack of alternative explanations" apart from vaccination given the consistency across postvaccination cases, Dr. Cody Meissner, an FDA adviser, says. June 10, 2021: "I think the myocarditis is something that needs to be looked at closely because we’re likely seeing the tip of the iceberg," says Dr. Michael Kurilla of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, another FDA adviser. June 10, 2021: Pfizer spokesperson tells news outlets that "the benefit-risk profile of our vaccine remains positive." June 11, 2021: European Medicines Agency announces investigation into reports of myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination. June 23, 2021: CDC’s safety committee says evidence now suggests a "likely association" of mRNA vaccination and myocarditis. June 23, 2021: Number of myocarditis cases recorded in VSD rise to 75. Based on VAERS reports, CDC says number of events higher than expected after dose two in males aged 12 to 49 and females aged 12 to 29. Among children 12 to 17, 188 cases were reported within 21 days of vaccination through June 11. CDC advisers say data suggest vaccines cause myocarditis. June 23, 2021: CDC estimates (pdf) Pfizer's vaccine will cause up to 69 myocarditis cases per million second doses but will prevent 215 hospitalizations and two deaths in males aged 12 to 17. June 25, 2021: FDA adds warnings about "the suggested increased risks" of myocarditis and pericarditis to labels for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. June 28, 2021: The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs says privately it detected more myocarditis cases than expected. June 29, 2021: Military researchers report 22 previously healthy members suffered myocarditis after receiving a messenger RNA vaccine. "The presentation pattern and clinical course suggest an association with an inflammatory response to vaccination," they say. The cases are among hundreds reported in the literature this month. June 29, 2021: CDC officials say of reported cases that "the striking clinical similarities in the presentations of these patients, their recent vaccination with an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, and the lack of any alternative etiologies for acute myocarditis suggest an association with immunization." June 30, 2021: Canada adds myocarditis and pericarditis risk information to labels of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. July 2021: 364 cases of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis reported to VAERS, including seven deaths. July 3, 2021: 13 young males with postvaccination myocarditis treated at a single hospital in Washington state between April 1, 2021, and June 21, 2021, researchers report. July 6, 2021: CDC estimates for every million doses of vaccination, dozens of cases of myocarditis can be expected, including 56 to 69 cases among 12- to 17-year-olds. The expected benefits outweigh the risks, though, according to the agency. July 9, 2021: European Medicines Agency recommends listing myocarditis and pericarditis as side effects for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines after identifying 221 cases after mRNA vaccination. Five of the patients died. July 10, 2021: South Korean researchers report a 22-year-old man was killed by vaccine-induced myocarditis, the first such death reported in the literature. July 22, 2021: CDC says it confirmed 282 postvaccination myocarditis cases in people aged 18 to 29. July 28, 2021: Pfizer tells FDA of "important identified risk" of myocarditis and pericarditis after vaccination and discloses 17 deaths among the cases reported. July 30, 2021: Data mining does not show a signal for myocarditis among adolescents 12 to 17, CDC and FDA say. July 31, 2021: Australian experts recommend people be informed about possibility of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination. August 2021: 311 cases of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis reported to VAERS, including seven deaths. Aug. 4, 2021: UK delays recommending second dose for 16- and 17-year-olds. Aug. 10, 2021: 15 children hospitalized at Boston Children's Hospital with postvaccination myocarditis between May 1 and July 15, 2021, researchers say. Aug. 13, 2021: Canada identifies a safety signal for postvaccination myocarditis. Aug. 17, 2021: Death of 27-year-old man following myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination reported by U.S. researchers. Family declined an autopsy. No non-vaccination causes identified. Aug. 18, 2021: U.S. researchers report death of 42-year-old man with myocarditis following Moderna vaccination. No other causes identified. Aug. 18, 2021: Dr. Walensky and other U.S. government officials call for COVID-19 vaccine boosters to be cleared due to waning effectiveness. Aug. 19, 2021: Two deaths from myocarditis following Pfizer vaccination, Pfizer reports to the EMA. Aug. 19, 2021: Dr. Walensky notified of UK preference for Pfizer over Moderna for adolescents. Aug. 23, 2021: FDA approves Pfizer's vaccine for people 16 and older. Approval theoretically has a higher bar than authorization. The agency says that analyses of reported events "will not be sufficient to assess known serious risks of myocarditis and pericarditis." Aug. 24, 2021: South Korean authorities determine a young man died from myocarditis after Pfizer vaccination. Aug. 30, 2021: One myocarditis case and one pericarditis case occurred among vaccinated trial participants, Pfizer reveals. Aug. 30, 2021: Of 742 reports in VAERS that met the CDC case definition of myocarditis or myopericarditis after vaccination, 701 patients required hospitalization and 18 are still hospitalized, CDC official reports (pdf). Twenty-three percent of patients whose cases were detailed in VAERS reports were not known to have recovered at the time of the report. Aug. 30, 2021: Highest rate of reported myopericarditis cases within seven days of a shot was 71.5 cases per million second Pfizer doses among boys aged 16 or 17, according to the CDC. Aug. 30, 2021: Myocarditis and pericarditis cases in VSD rise to 115, with some patients still experiencing symptoms, CDC official says (pdf). Aug. 30, 2021: Benefits of Pfizer's vaccine continue to outweigh the risks, CDC officials say. They estimate every million Pfizer shots among 16- to 17-year-olds will cause 73 cases of myocarditis but prevent more hospitalizations. Aug. 30, 2021: Woman who died in New Zealand after Pfizer vaccination perished from myocarditis, an independent safety panel said. September 2021: 377 cases of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis reported to VAERS, including 10 deaths. Sept. 2, 2021: 654 reports of myocarditis or pericarditis in Pfizer's safety database, company says. Seventy-seven reports of myocarditis or myocarditis and pericarditis in Moderna's safety database, company says. Some patients, including a young male, died or had not recovered. Sept. 2, 2021: Based on the reports and other data, a causal association between myocarditis/pericarditis and the mRNA vaccines is "considered of at least a reasonable possibility," the European Medicines Agency says. Sept. 3, 2021: 67 myocarditis/pericarditis cases recorded in VSD among people aged 12 to 39, CDC says. Sept. 8, 2021: Healthy, young boys face a higher risk of cardiac events from vaccines than from COVID-19, U.S. researchers find. Sept. 9, 2021: U.S. President Joe Biden and his administration announce COVID-19 vaccine mandates for tens of millions of Americans, including many young, healthy people. Sept. 15, 2021: Hong Kong changes recommendation from two doses of Pfizer to one dose after spike in myocarditis cases. Sept. 17, 2021: Excess myocarditis risk for vaccinated males aged 16 or 17 "approaching 200 cases per million," FDA discloses, based on data from Optum health care claims database. Sept. 21, 2021: "A clear signal for vaccine associated myocarditis has emerged," U.S. doctors say. Sept. 22, 2021: One case of myocarditis reported after Pfizer booster, CDC official says. Not possible to determine the risk of rare side effects like myocarditis after boosting, CDC safety committee says. Sept. 22, 2021: V-safe does not collect information on myocarditis, CDC official admits. Sept. 22, 2021: FDA authorizes a Pfizer booster for millions of Americans. Sept. 23, 2021: CDC officials say they don't know how many cases of myocarditis booster shots will cause. They project up to 26 cases per million boosters in 18- to 29-year-olds, but say more COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations would be prevented. Sept. 24, 2021: CDC recommends Pfizer's booster for certain populations. Sept. 27, 2021: New Zealand expert tells CDC it "seems to make huge sense to me" to delay second doses for young people. Sept. 28, 2021: Pfizer vaccine may have "played a role" in death of 15-year-old California boy who died after receiving shot, medical examiner tells CDC. Sept. 29, 2021: CDC meets on non-COVID vaccines. Sept. 30, 2021: CDC falsely tells California officials that reports of postvaccination myocarditis did not come until June 2021. October 2021: 321 cases of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis reported to VAERS, including five deaths. Oct. 4, 2021: Identification of postvaccination myocarditis cases "does not change clinical decision-making," JAMA Internal Medicine editors say. Oct. 7, 2021: Norway, Finland, and Sweden suspend use of Moderna's vaccine for younger people due to myocarditis risks. Oct. 8, 2021: Iceland suspends use of Moderna's vaccine due to the heart inflammation. Oct. 11, 2021: CDC director briefed on how Nordic countries are limiting vaccination due to myocarditis. Oct. 12, 2021: Secret U.S. government meeting considering counting post-infection immunity as one or more vaccine doses ends with no update. Oct. 14, 2021: FDA says more myocarditis/pericarditis cases have been reported to its Biologics Effectiveness and Safety Initiative system. Oct. 21, 2021: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has identified 7 post-vaccination myocarditis cases, CDC publicly discloses, but no signal was established and all cases resolved. Oct. 21, 2021: Highest rate of myocarditis following vaccination, based on VAERS data, is 69.1 cases per million second shots among males aged 16 or 17, Dr. Su says (pdf). Oct. 21, 2021: About a quarter of cases in people 29 or younger reviewed in VAERS were not known to have recovered, according to available data, with 19 still hospitalized. Oct. 21, 2021: Analyses of VSD data "indicate that both Pfizer and Moderna are associated with increased risk of myocarditis/pericarditis in 12–39-year-olds," Kaiser Permanente doctor says (pdf). Myocarditis/pericarditis cases in VSD rise to 138, with rates higher after Moderna vaccination compared to Pfizer vaccination. Oct. 21, 2021: CDC says tens of millions of Americans should get a Pfizer or Moderna booster. Oct. 22, 2021: Rates of reported cases among males aged 18 to 24 approximately 139 per million after Moderna second dose and 43 per million after Pfizer second dose, French researchers say. Oct. 22, 2021: Norway says adolescents can't get second doses of Pfizer's vaccine. Oct. 26, 2021: FDA says benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks. Projection of harm is highest for 16- and 17-year-old males, at 196 postvaccination myocarditis/pericarditis cases, and 171 myocarditis/pericarditis hospitalizations per million doses. Oct. 26, 2021: CDC cardiologist Dr. Matthew Oster says "we don't know a whole lot" about myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination. "We really need to see what the long-term outcomes for these kids will be," he added later. Oct. 26, 2021: Dr. Michael Nelson, an FDA vaccine adviser, says he's concerned that some cases of postvaccination myocarditis aren't being reported. Oct. 26, 2021: Dr. Eric Rubin, another FDA adviser, says "we’re never going to learn about how safe this vaccine is unless we start giving it." Oct. 27, 2021: World Health Organization says the mRNA vaccines likely cause myocarditis. Oct. 27, 2021: Prevalence of postvaccination myocarditis may be underestimated due to its reliance on symptoms for diagnosis, researchers say. Oct. 28, 2021: Dr. Su says myocarditis reported after COVID-19 vaccination "has been neither severe nor persistent ... however, we'll need to wait to see if longer-term complications arise." He also says CDC does not know what percent of cases became chronic. Oct. 29, 2021: FDA authorizes Pfizer's vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 despite dearth of efficacy data. Oct. 30, 2021: Seventeen myocarditis patients seen at a single facility in Switzerland between March and July 2021, researchers report (pdf). Oct. 31, 2021: FDA delays decision on approving Moderna's vaccine for children. November 2021: 267 cases of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis reported to VAERS, including six deaths. Nov. 1, 2021: Dr. Su says in email that "we're all doing our part to build confidence" in COVID-19 vaccines. Nov. 1, 2021: English researchers estimate vaccinating children aged 12 to 17 will prevent 230 to 4,590 COVID-19 hospitalizations while causing 160 cases of myocarditis requiring hospitalization. Nov. 1, 2021: Seven patients still had symptoms about a month after being diagnosed with myocarditis, U.S. researchers report. Nov. 2, 2021: Nine deaths with myocarditis reported among people 29 and younger in VAERS. Most deaths had at least one potential non-vaccination cause while evaluation of two was still ongoing, CDC official says (pdf). Nov. 2, 2021: Of postvaccination myocarditis patients who received cardiac MRIs, 72 percent had abnormal results, official says. Of patients who responded to CDC survey, 48 percent reported symptoms persisting after three months. Nov. 2, 2021: Rates of myocarditis after Pfizer vaccination in children aged 5 to 11, if cleared, is unknown, CDC says (pdf). Rates in those 12 to 15 are as high as 108.5 per million second doses among males. Nov. 2, 2021: CDC recommends virtually all children aged 5 to 11 receive a Pfizer series. Nov. 3, 2021: 18-year-old previously healthy woman dies after COVID-19 vaccination with fulminate myocarditis, Washington state officials tell CDC. They attribute the myocarditis to asymptomatic COVID-19. Family declined an autopsy at one facility and King County Medical Examiner's Office says it did not perform an autopsy due to "social and complex" reasons. Nov. 8, 2021: France halts Moderna's vaccine for people under 30. Nov. 16, 2021: UK recommends second dose for 16- and 17-year-olds. Nov. 18, 2021: Reported cases of myocarditis as high as 117 per million after doses of Moderna, and 47 per million doses of Pfizer, among males aged 18 to 29, German researchers say. Nov. 19, 2021: Lower rates of myocarditis reported to VAERS after booster doses, CDC official says (pdf). Fifty-four reports were lodged, with some people not known to have recovered. Nov. 19, 2021: CDC enables all adults to receive a booster of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Nov. 23, 2021: Between Dec. 27, 2020 and Sept. 3, 2021, 113 patients with suspected myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination presented to a single practice, German researchers report. Nov. 26, 2021: Six people were reported to have died with myocarditis or pericarditis after Pfizer vaccination, the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb reports. Other causes were found for two of the deaths. Nov. 28, 2021: Hong Kong researchers find rate of 212 myocarditis cases among 12- to 17-year-old males per million Pfizer second doses. Nov. 28, 2021: Three verified cases of post-booster myocarditis, CDC discloses in private emails. Nov. 29, 2021: UK recommends second dose for 12 to 15-year-olds. December 2021: 304 cases of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis reported to VAERS, including five deaths. Dec. 1, 2021: 22-year-old woman spent 74 days in hospital with myocarditis after AstraZeneca vaccination, South Korean researchers report. Dec. 2, 2021: European Medicines Agency says safety signal confirmed for postvaccination myocarditis. Dec. 2, 2021: Israeli researchers estimate 106.9 myocarditis cases per million vaccinated males aged 16 to 29. Dec. 9, 2021: FDA authorizes booster doses for 16- and 17-year-olds. Dec. 9, 2021: CDC says 16- and 17-year-olds should get a booster shot. It does not mention myocarditis. Dec. 14, 2021: 114 vaccinated people had myocarditis listed as a cause of death on their death certificate, English researchers report. Dec. 16, 2021: Eight cases of myocarditis among children aged 5 to 11 confirmed, including one in a 6-year-old male, CDC official says. Dec. 18, 2021: 26-year-old New Zealand man's death ruled as being caused by vaccine-induced myocarditis following an autopsy. Dec. 25, 2021: Males under 40 face an excess risk of 101 cases per million second doses, UK researchers find. Dec. 27, 2021: Incidence of myocarditis among males 12 to 39 is 195.4 per million second doses among males aged 12 to 39, U.S. researchers estimate. They identify cases missed by the CDC.Dec. 28, 2021: Risk of myocarditis much higher from Moderna's vaccine compared with Pfizer's shot, Canadian officials report. Dec. 30, 2021: 21 patients with myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination admitted to a single center between Dec. 15, 2020, and June 15, 2021, U.S. researchers report. Dec. 30, 2021: 14-year-old hospitalized with shock after Pfizer vaccination, Moroccan doctors say. 2022 Jan. 3, 2022: Non-vaccine causes of death ruled out in death of 57-year-old New Zealand woman who experienced myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination, researchers report. Read more here... Tyler Durden Thu, 09/21/2023 - 22:20.....»»

In this article, we look at the 25 best cities for singles over 50. People have different needs at different stages of their life, and where they choose to live is particularly important. From vibrant nightlife to parks and opportunities to meet new people – you can skip our detailed analysis on the best-suited cities […] In this article, we look at the 25 best cities for singles over 50. People have different needs at different stages of their life, and where they choose to live is particularly important. From vibrant nightlife to parks and opportunities to meet new people – you can skip our detailed analysis on the best-suited cities for people aged fifty or above by heading over to our article, 10 Best Cities for Singles over 50. According to the PEW Research Survey, about 31% of Americans in 2020 called themselves single. The youngest and oldest age groups in the country were most likely to be single. 41% of the youth aged between 18 and 29 were single according to the survey. They were closely followed at second spot (36%) by America’s elderly population aged 65 or above. An estimated 28% of the population aged 50-64 were also single. While half of America’s single population is content being single, the other half is actively on the lookout for a relationship or casual dates. Interestingly, the older segment of the population that is aged 40 or above are more likely than younger adults to search for casual dates. A number of old adults are also turning to online dating platforms to find romance. A report by PEW in July 2023 highlighted that about one in six Americans aged 50 or above have used a dating application at least once. About 6% of the people in this age group who are now partnered say they found their significant other through online dating. Match is the preferred dating service for the elderly population. The service is owned by Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH), along with several other dating platforms such as Tinder, Hinge, Meetic, OkCupid, and Plenty of Fish. The company operates the largest portfolio of online dating services in the world and is a key player in the online dating industry, which had an estimated size of $9.62 billion in 2022, as noted by Research and Markets. The size of the industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.9% to reach $16.4 billion by 2030. Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH) also owns OurTime, which is a dating app specifically created for men and women aged 50 or above. Fraud or scam on online dating apps has been a major concern for senior citizens, with about 47% reporting that they encountered persons trying to scam them. Moreover, 45% of the adults aged 50 or above said they faced unwanted behaviors such as receiving sexually explicit messages or images they had not asked for and receiving threats of physical harm. OurTime ensures safety of users with its features like web-based messaging system that allow matches to talk to each other without sharing personal information like phone number or house address. Catering to the dating requirements of all age groups has allowed Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH) to be the market leader in the dating industry and results show. Gary Swidler, the President and CFO of the company made the following remarks in Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH)’s Q2 2023 Earnings Call: “Q2 adjusted operating income, or AOI, was $301 million, exceeding $300 million for the first time ever. It was up 5% year-over-year, representing a margin of 36%. Q2 AOI and margins were above our expectations, as Tinder outperformed and we continued to achieve cost savings across the company. Overall expenses, including SBC expense, were up 4% year-over-year in Q2, excluding depreciation and amortization/impairment of intangibles. We incurred approximately $6 million of severance and similar costs in the quarter. Cost of revenue, including SBC expense, grew 4% year-over-year and represented 30% of total revenue, flat year-over-year. App Store fees increased $18 million year-over-year, including the $8 million escrow payment to Google. The last required escrow payment of approximately $3 million was made in July. We expect AOI of $320 million to $325 million in Q3, representing year-over-year growth of 13% to 14% and margin of 37% at the midpoint of the ranges. We expect overall marketing spend to increase year-over-year in Q3 by about 2 points as a percentage of total revenue compared to Q2. We’ll be spending up at Tinder and Hinge as well as some of our newer growth apps, including Archer and The League. We expect IAP fees to continue to be a year-over-year headwind in Q3, though we have stopped placing funds into the Google escrow after July per the terms we agreed to. We expect to continue to be cautious on spending in all other categories within our control. We expect to incur approximately $2 million of severance and similar costs in Q3. For full year 2023, Match Group is on pace to achieve 6% to 7% top-line growth and deliver better AOI margins than we did in 2022, as Tinder’s revenue continues to reaccelerate and we remain very cost disciplined overall.” Another big player in the online dating industry is Bumble Inc. (NASDAQ:BMBL), which owns popular dating services Bumble, Badoo, and Fruitz. The company generated a revenue of $903 million in 2022, up by 19% compared to the previous year. Bumble Inc. (NASDAQ:BMBL) is one of the top dating sites for single women over 50 because of its unique feature of women initiating conversations. This helps them feel safer and more secure, as well as confident in starting conversations. Founder and CEO, Whitney Herd, shared in Bumble Inc. (NASDAQ:BMBL)’s Q2 2023 Earnings Call about how this has driven strong word-of-mouth and had a positive impact on the company’s growth: “Bumble app’s business model is built around generating durable growth. We focus on building preference, particularly with women, for our brand and our product, which in turn, drives strong word-of-mouth, downloads and high engagement. This delivers consistent growth quarter after quarter and is sustainable as we scale. The results are clear. Our core markets continue to grow, fueled both by new registrations and re-engaged users. According to Morning [indiscernible], bumble continues to retain the top Net Promoter Score among dating apps for women in the U.S., and this favorable brand awareness translates into valuable customer acquisition opportunities and makes us a highly sought out marketing partner.” That being said, while dating services remain popular among young and old alike, and help them find the perfect match, no relationship can remain strong only in the digital space. It is of great significance to meet and understand each other in person. Cities that are best-suited for singles over 50 are those that have a sizable population of singles in their age group and have places of congregation where they can get the opportunity to gather, meet new people, and enjoy different experiences and activities. Methodology We have ranked the 25 best cities for singles over 50 based on the percentage of populations across various cities in the US that are aged 50 or above, and are single. This is because senior citizens are more likely to find a match of their age group in cities where there is a greater percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single. Data on population and marital status has been sourced from the Census Bureau and is for the year 2022. Men and women aged 50 or above who are divorced, separated or have never married have been considered in our analysis as well. wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com Let’s now head over to the list of the best cities for singles over 50. 25. Boston, Massachusetts Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 46.13% Boston was listed as the best city for singles of all age groups in 2021 by Bumble Inc. (NASDAQ:BMBL). The city has plenty to offer for senior citizens looking for their perfect match with its vibrant nightlife and an abundance of bars. 24. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 46.70% Philadelphia is a great place to be for singles over 50 since it has plenty of bars, restaurants, and places for outdoor activities during the warmer months. There are approximately half a million men and women in the 50 years or older age group in the city. 23. Fort Lauderdale, Florida Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 47.22% About 23% of the senior population at Fort Lauderdale has never married. It is a happening city that is well known for its beaches and parties. It also has several parks, outdoor restaurants, bars, and boutiques. The cost of living in the city is also lower compared to Miami. All of these factors combine to make Fort Lauderdale one of the best cities for singles over 50 in America. 22. Norfolk, Virginia Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 47.25% Norfolk in Virginia is home to more than 30,000 people that are aged 50 or above, and are single. About 40% of them have never married in their lives. Norfolk is among the best cities for singles over 50 due to its affordable and safe living. Moreover, its abundant wildlife and pristine beaches offer plenty for its residents to enjoy in outdoor activities. 21. Toledo, Ohio Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 47.50% A significant share of Toledo’s elderly population is single. The city offers various outdoor activities and places to visit. A notable one is the Toledo Museum of Art, the Toledo Zoo, and the Toledo Botanical Gardens. There are also a number of restaurants and bars lined up in the streets that present singles over 50 a place to gather and socialize with people of their age group. 20. Oakland, California Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 47.55% Nearly three in every ten people in Oakland belonging to this age group have never married, while 18% are single after divorcing or separating from their partners. The city has a host of sports teams where people can go to attend games and socialize. Moreover, there are plenty of eateries and pubs that serve as great dating spots, such as the Mad Oak Bar, Telegraph Bar and Beer Garden, and Drake’s Dealership. 19. Columbus, Ohio Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 48.26% Columbus is one of the most populous cities in the United States and about a quarter of the residents are aged 50 or above, of which 28% are divorced and single, while 20% of the men and women in this age group never married at all. It is one of the best cities for singles in America for people over 50 and has a host of outdoor activities to attend that present opportunities to meet new people. The city is home to several sports teams including the Columbus Blue Jackets, Columbus Crew, and Columbus Clippers. Columbus is one of the top cities for seniors to find a date. 18. Newark, New Jersey Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 49.42% Meetup is one of the preferred dating platforms in Newark. It hosts several groups, comprising people aged 50 or above, that plan outdoor activities such cycling, hiking, book chats, and happy hours. These present a great opportunity for senior citizens who are on the lookout for their perfect match to meet and socialize with singles from their age group. 17. Miami, Florida Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 49.48% Miami is the second most populous city in the state of Florida and is known for its pristine beaches. Nearly half of the city’s population aged 50 or above is either divorced or has never married. Miami has plenty to offer in terms of outdoor activities for singles looking to date. It is also home to several sports teams – most notably, the soccer team Inter Miami FC. 16. Memphis, Tennessee Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 49.62% Memphis is one of the best cities for singles of all age groups looking to date, and is popular across the US for its vibrant nightlife and entertainment, where you can potentially find your future soulmate. It is one of the best cities for senior dating. 15. Birmingham, Alabama Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 50.10% One-third of the population in Birmingham, Alabama comprises men and women who are aged 50 plus. Of them, more than half are currently single, with about 22% who never married at all. The Library in the Forest, Birmingham Picnic Company, and the Oak Mountain State Park are popular dating sites in the city. 14. New Orleans, Louisiana Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 50.47% Love blossoms at every corner of New Orleans. There is a great vibe to this city with its jazz music, top notch cuisine, and vibrant nightlife. According to Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH), The National World War II Museum, Garden District, and Frenchmen Streets are some of the top places to go on a date. 13. Portland, Oregon Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 50.69% Portland is one of the best cities for singles over 50. It has consistently been rated among the top cities in America for singles, with about 45% of the adult population unmarried and 13% divorced. An estimated 24% of the population aged 50 or above in the city never got married. 12. St. Louis, Missouri Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 51.99% St. Louis has a collection of vibrant neighborhoods that are known for their nightlife. According to Fox 2, it has the fourth highest number of nightlife attractions in the country per 100,000 people. While dating services owned by Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH) and Bumble Inc. (NASDAQ:BMBL) remain popular, there is a home-grown dating app as well, called Approach Dating. This is developed by two women, Allison and Riley, who also arrange meet-events for users, which allows single people an opportunity to meet their match in person. 11. Minneapolis, Minnesota Percentage of population aged 50 or above that is single: 52.42% An estimated 23.40% of the elderly population in Minneapolis is divorced, while 29% never got married. The city is full of exciting locations and also offers affordable living, which is a key facet required by singles to thrive. Having a wide range of bars to museums, libraries, and beaches – Minneapolis is among the best cities for singles over 50. Click to continue reading and see the 10 Best Cities for Singles over 50. Suggested Articles: 25 Best Cities for Singles in the U.S. 20 Most Popular Dating Apps In The US 15 Free International Dating Sites Without Payment Disclosure: None. 25 Best Cities for Singles over 50 is originally published on Insider Monkey......»»

"Disney adults" used to be the butt of the joke. Now millennials and Gen Z-ers without kids are flocking to Disney Parks and spending big on meals, merch, and experiences. Insider spoke to more than 20 people from parks visitors to employees and travel agents to understand why Disney parks have become the hottest destination for monied millennials without kids.Arantza Pena Popo/Insider Child-free millennials and Gen Z-ers are now as commonplace at Disney Parks as families with kids. Disney plans to invest $60 billion in the parks over the next decade, the Wall Street Journal report. We spoke to over 20 people, including company insiders, about the impact of 'Disney adults' on the parks. Since the start of 2023, Sarah Rachul, a public-relations professional who lives in Ohio, has logged more than half a dozen trips to Disney parks, including Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland in Anaheim, California.Her target? Ten Disney trips by the year's end."It just melts away some of the stress. I'm not looking around my house going, 'Oh, I have to clean that,' or 'I have to sort that.' I'm not thinking about my job. I'm just in this cool, fake, around-the-world walk," 29-year-old Rachul said of her impromptu visits to Epcot, usually with a cocktail in hand as she strolls through the world showcase with its pavilions modeled after countries from Italy to China. Rachul's parents, members of the Disney Vacation Club, a timeshare program, accompany her on some visits, helping make the trips more affordable than, say, a vacation to Tuscany. When she turns 30 next year, Rachul and her boyfriend are already set to ring in her third decade aboard a Disney cruise. Rachul is one of a growing share of 20- and 30-somethings without kids who are packing into Disney parks, particularly Walt Disney World in Orlando — frequently making these often-lavish trips as couples or in groups of friends. That's according to interviews Insider conducted with more than 20 people, ranging from annual pass holders to current and former Disney employees (most of whom requested anonymity to speak freely about company business and policies) to travel agents and others familiar with foot traffic at the parks.Collectively, they painted a picture of an undeniable demographic shift that could have big implications for Disney's parks' business, from an influx of consumer dollars — childless earners tend to have more disposable income than parents — to an impact on in-park rides and experiences. It comes as Disney is investing in parks in a major way over the next 10 years, with the Wall Street Journal reporting Tuesday — citing a regulatory filing — that the entertainment giant will pour some $60 billion into the parks division, which also encompasses cruises and merchandise. Disney also posted a blog about the plan.The phenomenon is also eroding the stigma surrounding the "Disney adult," a term that in recent years has been used to poke fun at grown-ups with a tendency to display their die-hard devotion to the Mouse House. One Urban Dictionary entry defined a "Disney adult" as a millennial who "can't stop talking about Disney" and is "one of the most terrifyingly intense people you'll ever encounter." But the idea of donning a pair of Mickey ears or "DisneyBounding" — dressing for park visits in outfits inspired by famous Disney characters — is becoming more mainstream, and perhaps even cool, for more and more kidless millennials and Gen Zers. Disney's not just for hot, tired parents chaperoning their kids from character breakfasts to rides on Aladdin's magic carpets anymore."It's two hours away, but it's an escape," said Molly May, a 38-year-old mental-health counselor based in Florida, who, along with her husband, has held an annual Disney World pass for several years. The couple got engaged there, celebrated their five-year anniversary at Disneyland, and visited Disneyland Paris earlier this year. They're planning to commemorate 10 years with a visit to Tokyo Disneyland."The responsibility I have as an adult," May added, "disappears as soon as I walk through the gate."Francis Dominic, a social-media creator, previously worked for both Disney World and Disneyland in various roles, including as a tour guide, for four years beginning in 2014. Now he creates Disney-themed content, much of which is focused on park tips and experiences, for his audience of more than 108,000 followers on TikTok. "I hear from every single age group, from 80s all the way to teens, of just people ready to have so much fun in these parks and being so unapologetic about it," Dominic, 30, said."As millennials growing up, we were teased about loving certain princesses or certain things," he added. "Now it's more of like an 'I don't give a fuck' moment."Francis Dominic is a former Disney Parks employee who's built a robust following on TikTok creating Disney-themed content about attractions and films.Taylor Jaxson PhotographyOn a given day, 40% to 50% of parkgoers at Disney World could be child-free adults, a former parks executive saysThe trend has emerged at a time of manifold pressures for The Walt Disney Company, from a share price that's fallen more than 25% over the past year to a recent Wall Street Journal report suggesting that traffic to the Florida parks dwindled this summer. Meanwhile, rising ticket prices, coupled with soaring inflation, could be deterring some parks visitors. In the last year, 93% of respondents in a consumer survey agreed that the cost of a Disney World vacation had become untenable for "average families," and a popular Disney travel blog estimated that a "baseline" five-night trip for family of four to the Orlando parks could exceed $6,300.On top of that, throw in a monthslong political battle with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — which led Disney to scrap plans for a new $1 billion campus near Orlando that would have created roughly 2,000 jobs — as well as a looming threat from its crosstown rival Universal, which will open its fourth Orlando theme park in 2025, and it's clear there are challenges ahead for Disney Parks.But in the face of all this, Disney World appears to be accelerating efforts to lure adult visitors, including pricey experiences that seem less likely to appeal to families.In recent months, its Epcot theme park has introduced $250-a-person omakase dinners at the Japan pavilion's Takumi-Tei restaurant, for instance, burnishing the rite of passage known as "Drinking Around the World." It's a favorite pastime for Epcot visitors over the age of 21 who get tipsy shuffling from one country pavilion to the next, ordering internationally inspired cocktails or sipping flights of spirits at venues like the Mexico pavilion's La Cava del Tequila bar. Along with that dining glow-up, multiple high-tech rides have debuted since last year, as well as a fresh slate of holiday experiences lined up for this winter. "You can see Disney is pushing to be competitive for that adult, thrill-seeking group," Jonathan de Araujo, the founder of the Disney-authorized travel-planning service The Vacationeer, told Insider. A Disney spokesperson declined to comment for this story, and company insiders say obtaining data about any aspect of the business — such as foot traffic — can be opaque (the Journal's reporting, for example, was based on stats from the third-party company Touring Plans, which tracks wait times for rides). But, according to a former Disney executive with close knowledge of Disney World, between 40% to 50% of typical crowds at the Orlando parks are composed of adults visiting without children — people the executive categorized as "nonfamily."That number is "astonishing when you think about it," the executive, who worked in travel marketing, said, "because it's not the perception that people have." And that stat has been on a gradual uptick for several years, this person and others familiar with Disney World's foot traffic said.Tara Goldstein and Ann van Oostendorp, independent travel planners who specialize in Disney trips and call themselves the "Magic Planning Sisters," told Insider that between mid-2020 and 2023, 53% of the Disney vacations they planned were for adults only. They attributed much of the shift to the advent of hot rides — like a cutting-edge roller coaster themed after the tentpole "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise, for example — that appeal to an older audience. "Disney knows the kids want to go," van Oostendorp said. "Now it's time to bring in the adult population."From weddings to special meals, millennials without kids are bringing disposable income to the parksTwenty-three-year-old Natalie Schwartz remembers all the visits she and her boyfriend, Brett, made to Disney World as students at the University of Tampa. "I just always have had this little-girl dream of getting married there," Schwartz told Insider several weeks after her June wedding, a nearly 120-person affair at Disney World's Grand Floridian resort. Among the perks were discounted park tickets the couple could share with more than a dozen friends, and together they spent two days venturing through the parks ahead of the ceremony. Schwartz also took her grandmother on the It's a Small World ride.This summer, Schwartz returned to Disney World to celebrate her friend Sierra Keller's 24th birthday. "Disney kind of just transports us somewhere else," said Keller, who now lives about 10 minutes from the parks in a home her family built specifically to be close to Disney. "You're not worried about elections. You're not worried about laws passing or what tomorrow's going to look like, or how many bills do I need to pay or anything. You're just in that moment and you get to kind of be carefree."Newlyweds Natalie and Brett Schwartz exchanged vows at Walt Disney World in Orlando this summer.Disney Fine Art PhotographyThe growing share of visitors like Schwartz and Keller has "slowly influenced the product choices" within the parks, the former Disney travel marketing executive said. Ultimately, the groups bringing new spending are "going to drive those decisions," this executive added. "If you look at it and you say, 'Hey, we're going to continue to do baby rides,' it's like, 'Well, wait a minute — do we really need those? Don't we have that?'"In 2021, Epcot added Space 220, an upscale restaurant designed for the Instagram age. The decor could only be described as interstellar chic — think big bay windows overlooking a simulated image of the Earth. Jason Petrina, the restaurant's general manager, told Insider he's seen more adults without kids — couples, friend groups — coming in lately, noting that many are local annual pass holders or members of Disney's timeshare program. He's gotten to know some regulars by name."They're not really concerned about spending money as long as they get a great experience," Petrina said. And that could mean springing for premium wines or lavish dishes like rib-eye steaks or lobster. He estimated that 15% to 20% of the restaurant's income stems from this group — "a huge piece of our business," he said. "If you're down 15 to 20% in sales, you might close."Drinking with mates or boozing with Mickey? How Disney's parks and retail experience is evolving.Inside the parks, signs of Disney's efforts to satisfy an older crowd — the same group it has lured to cineplexes with its investments in the Star Wars and Marvel franchises — seem ubiquitous. One of the most obvious examples is the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster, which opened in May 2022 and features preshow content starring actors like Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldaña. The coaster — which launches riders backward before hurtling them into a dark, cavernous space meant to emulate the universe at the beginning of time — features songs like "September" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," hits likelier to perk up older ears than younger ones. This year, the Magic Kingdom added Tron: Lightcycle Run, an indoor-outdoor coaster with motorcycle-like seating. Both rides offer a far more thrill-seeking edge than stalwarts like It's a Small World.Meanwhile, Disney has said it will sunset DinoLand USA, an older corner of Animal Kingdom that featured several kid-friendly dinosaur-themed rides. Beyond that, reports in September indicated that the Magic Kingdom will debut a new tavern serving alcohol in close proximity to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and inspired by the Disney film franchise, but the precise timeline for the project is uncertain.The parks have also extended hours through their "After Dark" events, giving late-night visitors protracted access to rides. At Disneyland in California, the Anaheim parks introduced their inaugural Pride Nites this June. And this month, three Disneyland restaurants — the Carnation Cafe, River Belle Terrace, and Cafe Orleans — began serving alcohol.Plus, the company has announced new holiday offerings at Disney World's Hollywood Studios, including a series of "Jollywood Nights" throughout November and December. The events — with ticket prices ranging from $159 to $179 per person — will feature a DJ, special cocktails, "glitz and glamor galore" at a jazz lounge, and a "soiree" at the Hollywood Tower Hotel Courtyard, the site of the Tower of Terror ride.These unique experiences are casting a spell on millennial and Gen Z wallets. "When you're here, everything feels like it's laced with magic and truly pixie dust. Sure, we'll buy $20 drinks — but if we do that at a regular bar, I'm like, 'That would be crazy.' But if it's at Disney, it's fine," said Dominic, the TikTok influencer. Beyond food and beverage offerings, high-end merch throughout the parks seems to speak to Disney's desire to capture these consumer dollars. At Hollywood Studios, sleek lightsabers like the blades wielded by iconic "Star Wars" characters such as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Emperor Palpatine retail for upward of $200. One Disney World worker said she'd witnessed tears welling up in many adults' eyes the first time they activated their laser swords.Also on the merchandise front, Disney has launched multiple capsule collections in partnership with glossy brands like Gucci, Dooney & Bourke, and Coach, emblazoning Disney iconography on everything from jeans to accessories, including a Coach backpack for nearly $600. Last year, in connection with the celebration of Disney World's 50th anniversary, merch designers from across the company worked on developing styles that would appeal to older shoppers, the former Disney travel marketing executive recalled. Many items intentionally emphasized fresh color schemes or iridescence to appeal to a customer with "more sophisticated" tastes, this former exec said.'Hey, there's a lot of adults in the parks. We haven't met a single kid today,' cast members sayDisney has had its eye on this demographic and its spending power for several years.In 2018, the company piloted a campaign called #HappyPlace, which mainly consisted of a series of videos incubated by teams at Yellow Shoes, Disney's internal advertising agency devoted to parks, experiences, and products. #HappyPlace content was geared toward child-free adults who were "definitely above the drinking age," said Neph Trejo, a creative director who worked for Disney until earlier this summer and was integral to the campaign's development.The videos showcased what a trip to Disney World without children could look like for adult friend groups — including sipping on sake and feasting on fresh gyros. One video posted to Trejo's website, called "Swag Safari," is set to a moody soundtrack and portrays a fictionalized trip to Animal Kingdom in which a handful of millennials embark on the Kilimanjaro Safari and, from a high-end hotel terrace, watch giraffes wake up."Our approach was to shine a light on the beautiful tapestry of people that come to Walt Disney World," Trejo said. "It's not just about rides. It's not just about churros. It's not just about Dole Whip," he added, referring to the parks' famous frozen-pineapple treat.Halle Bailey performs at Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration in 2021.Kent Phillips/ABC via Getty ImagesEven Disney characters are fielding hugs and selfies with grown-up customers these days. One Disney World employee said lines to meet iconic characters can sometimes be made up of half or more adults without children. "We're like, 'Hey, there's a lot of adults in the parks. We haven't met a single kid today,'" this person said. "Or, 'I was just out there for an hour and I saw three kids the entire time of the two to three hundred people I met.'"But there's a darker side of this demo that's created pain points for some Disney workers. Some visitors get a thrill from performing stunts seemingly conjured to go viral on social media. On TikTok, examples are plentiful of teenagers and 20-somethings physically touching or recording cast members, asking personal questions to try to break their unflappable depictions of figures like Cinderella. One video shows a woman laying her hands on the chest of an actor playing Gaston from "Beauty and the Beast." The Disney World employee recalled a guest who broke park rules by lapping water from decorative fountains. Management has addressed the situation in private conversations with parks talent, according to the employee, who said Disney World has adopted a strict policy that its actors refrain from participating in social-media trends. "You can absolutely step away or you can ask for a leadership position to come over and chat with them if it's something that's uncomfortable," the person said, describing the company's guidance. "With the internet these days, everything you do is probably going to be put online at some point, so be aware of that. So it's definitely something they touch on in our training."Ultimately, though, the parks worker says the uptick in adult attendees is "an open road for new growth.""It's a lot easier to cater to an older crowd because you can better know their wants and needs, whereas with kids, kids don't even know what they want," this employee explained, pointing to the customer-experience surveys Disney sends visitors. "It's really the adults' opinions who they care about and who they're trying to cater to."'There is a tug of war from adult to family at times,' said a former Disney ImagineerJeremy Singh loved classic Disney movies growing up and still recalls the first time he set foot in the parks at age 12. He felt an instant connection."I knew from that first trip that I'd found my thing," he said. "I wanted to know more about it, how it came to be, how everything worked."But even Singh couldn't have predicted that a decade later, he'd have relocated to Orlando, where his fascination with theme parks would blossom into a career. Now, as a content creator focused on Disney World, Singh, 23, has amassed a million followers on his JeremyTheTea TikTok page, and has been hired by Disney in what he said is a bid to reach this prized young-adult demographic."I know that when I'm called to do these things, they're probably trying to get to that audience," said Singh, noting that his primary following ranges between 21 and 28 years old.Prior to the actors' strike, which has paralyzed the promotion of most new films by movie stars and online content creators alike, Singh helped support marketing efforts surrounding Disney's live-action "Little Mermaid" film earlier this year and attended a Disneyland performance by the movie's lead actor Halle Bailey that was broadcast on "American Idol." He's also been tapped to promote Disney's Halloween festivities, which he said would tie into the company's "Haunted Mansion" film premiere, inspired by the eponymous ride.Singh has become a leading voice within a burgeoning community of Disney-focused influencers that emerged during the pandemic years and, according to experts, has helped fuel adults' interest in the parks. A search for the term #DisneyWorld on TikTok reveals that the hashtag has been associated with content viewed some 20 billion times, while Disney Parks' own TikTok page has surpassed 5.7 million followers.Francis Dominic, the former parks worker turned influencer, has also been tapped to promote Disney parks and films. He cohosted an advanced screening of Disney and Pixar's "Elemental" this year alongside Patrick Dougall, another Disney creator who's built up a TikTok following of 380,000. Attendees — the vast majority of whom were millennials — were asked to dress as their favorite element inspired by the film.But even as Disney makes a concerted push to keep this all-important audience coming back, some warn that the parks can't afford to alienate their other vital fandom: kids."There is a tug of war from adult to family at times," said Mark Eades, a former Disney Imagineer in the 1980s and early '90s who's watched the brand evolve over the decades. Unless Disney can find an equilibrium that keeps both groups happy, Eades cautioned, "I think they'll realize, 'Uh-oh, we've left the kids at the door.'"It's a difficult tightrope to navigate, but it could define the future of Disney parks. Eades — a pass holder at Disneyland in Anaheim who sits on the board of the Disneyland Alumni Club, a group of roughly 400 former parks employees — likened the situation to the retro cartoons he loved watching growing up. He enjoyed them as a kid, and he still enjoys them now."If they can succeed in doing attractions and entertainment like that," Eades concluded, "that's when you hit it out of the park."Amanda Krause contributed reporting.Are you a Disney parks or Walt Disney Co. insider? Contact this reporter. Reed Alexander can be reached via email at ralexander@insider.com, or SMS/the encrypted app Signal at (561) 247-5758.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

In this article, we take a look at the 25 best dog breeds for children and families. If you would like to skip our detailed analysis of the US pet industry and emerging trends, you can directly go to the 5 Best Dog Breeds for Children and Families.  Dogs are the most commonly owned pet […] In this article, we take a look at the 25 best dog breeds for children and families. If you would like to skip our detailed analysis of the US pet industry and emerging trends, you can directly go to the 5 Best Dog Breeds for Children and Families.  Dogs are the most commonly owned pet in the US, with more than 65.1 million homes having at least one. As of 2022, this makes up almost 44.5% of all US households, which is a significant chunk when it comes to other kinds of pets. As the number of homes with pets increases, so does the pet ownership cost. According to a Forbes survey, dog owners spend an average of $730 on their dogs, almost half of which goes to veterinary care. If a dog develops sudden illnesses, the veterinary bills can be racked up to $1,000 and even more in some cases. Such unexpected costs lead to people demanding dog breeds that are not highly prone to developing medical issues, which is one of the critical factors that go into determining the best dog breeds for children and families.  However, the advancing trend of having household pets has also led to the creation of multiple jobs in the pet industry, many of which can be acquired by the younger generation, such as dog-sitting. Grand View Research estimated the global pet-sitting market to be at $1.94 billion in 2021 and and forecasted it to grow with a CAGR of almost 11% until 2030. These numbers showcase significant potential for employment in this market, which does not require specialized studies or degrees, making it much more accessible to everyone. Moreover, as per Bureau of Labor Statistics,  overall employment in the animal care industry is expected to grow 16% from 2022 to 2032, with 79,900 job openings being projected for every year in the decade. According to Bloomberg, the overall pet industry is expected to grow to $500 billion by 2030, significantly boosted by higher spending on pet-related healthcare and premium pet food.  Considering a market so conducive to growth, many pet-related corporations in the US have witnessed significant milestones in the previous years. Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) is a Fortune 500 company that develops healthcare technologies for pets and other livestock animals. The company generated a revenue of $8.1 billion in 2022, showcasing the considerable revenue margin of pet healthcare. The pet pharmaceutical market, as a whole, has the potential to reach $25 billion by 2030 as demands for pet healthcare improvements increase. Even for Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS), top company executives have confirmed their faith in the financial health of the company. The corporation generated a 6% revenue increase in the second quarter of 2023, as compared to the second quarter of 2022. Companies like Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:ZTS) are singlehandedly making significant contributions to the pet market in the US, making the lives of companion animals like dogs and, by proxy, their owners a lot easier.  Another pet-related market that is showcasing significant growth is the pet food industry. As people continue to invest in high-quality, specialized food for their pets, the pet food market is expected to grow to $135 billion by the end of the current decade. This is where corporations like Chewy Inc. (NYSE:CHWY) are making a massive name for themselves by establishing a diverse pet-related product portfolio, which includes everything from food to pet grooming supplies. The company generated net sales of $10.1 billion in the year 2022. Chewy Inc. (NYSE:CHWY) has made pet healthcare the main focus of its product sales, hoping to generate most of its revenue from this segment of its product line. Companies like Chewy Inc. (NYSE:CHWY) and Petsmart, Inc. are also performing well as the younger generation continues to show a high consumer trend for investing in pet goods.  Other market trends include a growth in the number of individuals acquiring pet insurance for their dogs. Part of this is due to the fear of rising veterinary costs and the increasing responsibility that individuals now feel towards their pets. According to Forbes, the average monthly cost of pet insurance for dogs is $56, with higher premiums for bigger breeds like golden retrievers compared to smaller mixed breeds like chihuahuas. From 2020 to 2022, annual veterinary costs for dog households increased by a whopping 60%, leading to a need for companies like Trupanion Inc. (NASDAQ:TRUP), which sells insurance policies for cats and dogs. The company had a total of 1,537,573 enrolled pets by the end of 2022, a 31% increase from 2021. Trupanion Inc. (NASDAQ:TRUP) is keeping up with the emerging trends in the market, having integrated AI into its insurance invoice system. This has enabled Trupanion Inc. (NASDAQ:TRUP) to become the pet insurance company with the highest degree of veterinary invoice automation in North America.  Owing to these changing trends in the pet market of the US, people are now wondering more than ever what would be the best dog breeds for children and families. With a ton of options now available in the market, it’s productive to consider which breeds would result in the least possible liabilities for the family, along with being suitable for little children.  Photo by Cristian Castillo on Unsplash Our Methodology  In order to create a list of the best dog breeds for children and families, we resorted to acquiring consumer consensus. We considered people’s opinions on the American site Reddit, where upvotes and the number of mentions were used to rank this list. Based on information from users on the website, here is a list of the 25 best dog breeds for children and families:  25. Portuguese Water Dog Score: 01 Portuguese water dogs are excellent around children and other pets in the family. They don’t shed as much as certain other breeds, so they’re often considered hypoallergenic, which makes them a great option for a home with kids. They’re also highly trainable and showcase great intelligence and empathy. If purchased from a reputable breeder, a Portuguese water dog may cost somewhere around the range of $3,000 to $3,700.  24. English Cocker Spaniel  Score: 02 The general nature of the English cocker spaniel is described as easy-going, gentle, and lively. They tend to portray non-aggressive temperaments, making them suitable family pets. The only point of caution would be to note that the massive popularity of the breed has often led to overbreeding, which may result in high-strung puppies or dogs with multiple health issues. In terms of obedience training and housebreaking, cocker spaniels generally rank average. 23. English Springer Spaniel Score: 03 Springer spaniels generally have a fun-loving nature, which makes them excellent playmates for the whole family. This breed needs a fair amount of training and daily exercise to stay out of mischief, but if properly managed, they make extremely friendly pets. These dogs cannot be left alone for more extended periods as they thrive best in company, which is a point to note for working individuals who may need to leave their apartment empty for long hours of the day.  22. Chihuahua  Score: 04  Chihuahuas are one of the smaller dog breeds on this list, which works great with families. This dog needs to be well-socialized as they can quickly become quite protective of their owners. The training for this breed should begin as early as four months, and owners should be aware that certain things might take a little time for them to get around to as they do many things at their own pace. Chihuahuas might not be the best option for families with younger kids, but older kids can really appreciate them.  21. Rat Terriers Score: 05 The rat terrier was originally bred to be a hunting dog, which may lead to many thinking that they may not be suitable as family pets; however, that’s not true. Rat terriers are exceptionally great with children and older people, making wonderful companion animals. Their hunting nature and origin do require a good amount of focus on training them, but this breed performs great as part of a human family. Traits like these make the rat terriers one of the best dog breeds for children and families.  20. Australian Shepherd  Score: 06 Australian shepherds are medium-sized dogs that work great with families but are most suitable for experienced dog owners. This breed also works well in other roles, such as herding dogs or police animals. This showcases the diversity and intelligence of the breed, along with the reliance that can be expected from them. The American Kennel Club recognized the Australian Shepherd as an official breed in 1991.  19. Cairn Terrier Score: 07 Cairn terriers are among the top smal dog breeds for kids and families on this list. Puppies can range from $1,200 to $2,000 in price. Fully grown dogs in this breed should not weigh more than 13-14 pounds, which are measures to look out for in order to prevent costly health issues. Cairn terriers showcase a lot of loyalty for their owners and also exhibit elements of independent thinking. The breed is sturdy, with a wiry coat that requires care.  18. Boston Terrier  Score: 08 Boston terriers exhibit high amounts of energy. These dogs will want to participate in everything the family does, making them great pets for those looking for active companions. This breed bodes particularly well in urban settings. While the Boston terrier requires regular exercise in order to manage its energy effectively, their airways are structured in a way that excessive exercise may lead to breathing issues. Hence, these pets are only suitable for individuals who have the time to look out for issues like these.  17. Mongrels  Score: 09 Mongrels, also known as mutts or mixed-breed dogs, are particularly well-known for their exceptional health. This breed has a relatively stronger immunity than some of the other best dog breeds for children and families, making them less prone to common health issues. Mongrels might not be suitable for individuals looking for their dogs to accomplish a specific purpose because that factor can only be achieved with purebred dogs.  16. Bernese Mountain Dog Score: 10 Bernese mountain dogs can get along well with other pets in the home if they’re socialized early on. The breed is a quick learner, enabling them to pick up on training quite quickly. These dogs have also been used as watchdogs and livestock guardians owing to their large sizes, but they can be pretty affectionate in family settings. This pet’s loyalty makes it one of the best dog breeds for children and families.  15. Poodle  Score: 11 The poodle comes in three sizes, two of which make it to this list, showing the breed’s popularity in the US. The breed is regarded as one of the most intelligent in the dog family, making poodles highly trainable. They are also exceptionally known for their appearance in dog shows nationwide, which also comes from the ease and convenience of training this breed.  14. Whippet Score: 12 Whippets are considered by many to be natural family pets due to their affectionate nature with children and other dog breeds. A pertinent thing to know about this breed is that they require moments of peace, so an all-time noisy household will not turn out to be the best environment for a whippet. The breed is generally healthy, easy to train, and intelligent.  13. Newfoundland  Score: 13 Newfoundland is among the best big dog breeds for children and families, but due to its moderate energy levels, the dog does not require extensive exercise. They generally possess sweet tempers, with a particular affiliation towards younger children. Due to their webbed feet and natural instincts, Newfies make incredible swimmers, especially good at rescuing people from the water if need be. While the breed possesses a high tolerance for children, their large fur can often knock off toddlers, so it’s best to keep an eye around.  12. Beagles Score: 14  Beagles are one of the best dog breeds for children and families, but there are both pros and cons to be considered. The breed tends to be relatively low-maintenance, especially in terms of associated costs, but these dogs can also be stubborn. Raising a puppy in this breed requires a generous amount of attention and training, so getting one at the same time as having toddlers might not be the best idea. However, young adults tend to be an excellent option for children.  11. Mini Schnauzer Score: 15 The best factor about the mini schnauzer is that it is petite enough to be well-accommodated within an apartment and active enough to become a watchdog for large areas. This makes them a great pet option for a versatile range of owners having significantly different life choices from each other. The breed can be tough and fearless without the added temperament of being aggressive.  10. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Score: 16 Multiple spaniel breeds can be considered in the list of the best dog breeds for children and families, which is a testimony to their suitability as family pets. The King Charles Spaniel, in particular, is known for its great appreciation of the outdoors, where it loves spending time with its human family.  9. Rough Collie Score: 17 Rough collies are considered a wonderful pet option for families and individuals who live by themselves. The breed showcases very high levels of affection and loyalty, along with being quite intelligent. Rough collies also have a wonderfully adaptive personality, enabling them to adjust to various environments. However, some individuals hesitate from this breed due to its fur; for them, the smooth collie is a much more suitable option that offers similar personality traits.  8. Basset Hound Score: 18 Basset hounds are one of the more low-maintenance pets on this list of the best dog breeds for children and families. The dog is quite energetic and comes with a good amount of stamina, but requires only moderate exercise to manage it all. Basset hounds are also highly tolerant of noise and chaotic activity, making them good additions to families with highly active kids.  7. Mini Poodle  Score: 19  Mini poodles require much less space and outdoor exposure as compared to their standard counterparts, making them more popular with individuals who value these elements. They can generate strong bonds with their human families, making them wonderful as companion animals. This breed is especially excellent in training and tends to pick up quickly.  6. Bichon Score: 20 The bichon frise was initially bred as a performance dog for circuses, but over the years, they have garnered a reputation as one of the best dog breeds for children and families. They enjoy playing with children and being a part of their games, which has led to them being known for their liveliness and cheerfulness. This breed can also adjust to diverse environments, making them quite versatile. Click to continue reading and find the 5 Best Dog Breeds for Children and Families. Suggested Articles: Best Dog Foods for Puppies and Small Dogs 20 Most Popular Pets In The US 20 Most Profitable Pets to Breed and Sell Disclosure: None. 25 Best Dog Breeds for Children and Families is originally published on Insider Monkey......»»

Millennials are the last generation born before the July 1, 1997, handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China. Hongkongers walking in Causeway Bay.Marc Fernandes/NurPhoto via Getty Images Over 80% of millennials in Hong Kong live with their parents.  The 2019-2020 protests had an impact on their mindset. Hong Kong's millennials differ from their elders by being more vocal, expressive, and confident in both personality and work. At 33, Ken Ho is what many Hong Kongers aspire to be. At 33, Ken Ho earns well above the average annual salary in Hong Kong.Ken Ho Born and raised in Hong Kong, Ho attended one of the city's top schools before heading to University College London. There, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in economics. He went on to get an MSc in finance at Imperial College London. His parents paid for his entire education.When he came back to Hong Kong, Ho landed a role as an equity research associate at Fidelity Investments, where he worked for four years. Last year, he got his current job as a vice president at a venture capital firm. He earns 1.5 million Hong Kong dollars a year, or $191,000, including the base salary and three months' bonus — well above the average annual salary in Hong Kong. Ho lives in a one-bedroom apartment with his girlfriend in Kennedy Town, a popular and family-friendly expat neighborhood. Like many homes in Hong Kong, their apartment is small, and it's expensive: The space is 430 square feet and costs HK$27,000 a month. Ho faces a struggle many Hong Kongers are all too familiar with — not being able to afford to buy a home. As he's paying the mortgage on his parents' place, he hasn't been able to secure one for himself. "Hong Kong property prices are unreasonable, so at this point renting is more favorable than buying," he told Insider.But Ho's situation is still far better than the average millennial in Hong Kong.Summer Ng, 33, works as an events organizer and makes HK$22,000 a month. She lives at home with her mother and father, who own their 709-square-foot place in Kowloon Bay, an area nestled between the working-class neighborhoods of Kwun Tong and Ngau Tau Kok. Ng has no plans to buy her own place anytime soon due to the extortionate prices. "I don't want to be a property slave," she said.Ng and Ho are part of the millennial generation, which counts those who were born between 1980 and 1994. Millennials account for roughly 20% of Hong Kong's population of 7.5 million people.Millennials are the last generation born before the July 1, 1997, handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China. The event marked the end of 156 years of British rule in the former colony. Those born after the handover have been dubbed the "cursed generation," "1997 kids," the "handover generation," and "handover babies." Millennials are the youngest Hong Kongers with memories of living in a British colony.Insider spoke to six Hong Kong millennials in their 20s and 30s, along with financial and generational experts, to find out what makes this generation tick.More than 80% of Hong Kong's millennials live at home with their parents.Aerial drone view of apartments in Kowloon Bay.GettyAccording to a global survey of 13,000 millennials between the ages of 22 and 29, including 1,000 millennials from Hong Kong, conducted by CBRE Hong Kong in 2016, 84% of Hong Kong millennials live with their parents, accounting for the highest percentage in Asia. Of these surveyed, 21% said they have no plans to leave the family home. About 70% of the surveyed Hong Kong millennials said they can only afford to buy or rent with financial support from family or friends.More recently, government data in 2019 showed that 60% of Hong Kongers between the ages of 25 and 34 are living with their parents, reported the BBC.In comparison, around 25% of millennials in the US live with their parents as of 2022, as published in a report by Property Management. Around 52% of millennials in the US are homeowners, according to Investopedia.In Hong Kong, it's not easy to buy a home. Hong Kong is the most expensive place to buy a house, according to the latest Global Living Report from CBRE. The average property price in Hong Kong is HK$9.8 million — the highest in the world."If I buy a property as a single person, there will be a lot of financial pressure," said Ng. "The continued high property prices make me feel uncomfortable and deterred from buying."Aniqah Bhatnagar, 27, was born in India and moved to Hong Kong at four months old, where she grew up and currently lives. With a permanent Hong Kong Identity Card, she works for a US law firm as a pitch specialist. She lives in an apartment with her mother in Kwun Tong, an area in east Kowloon that has become a hub for both residential and commercial purposes. Her mother owns the apartment. Bhatnagar cannot speak Cantonese, although it is the most commonly used language in Hong Kong. English is the co-official language of Hong Kong, and more than half the population can speak it. Bhatnagar said her long-term goal is to buy a home — but, like many Hong Kongers, Bhatnagar is finding it difficult to get her foot in the door."You have to have saved or have access to a significant amount of liquidity for a down payment," she said.They are focused on saving for the future. Wilson Ho looks out at the Ngong Ping 360 Hong Kong cable cars.Wilson HoWilson So, 36, works as a locksmith. He runs his business with a partner and can make up to HK$50,000 a month. He lives with his wife in a 550-square-foot home in Kai Tak, an up-and-coming part of the city with new high-rises, and pays HK$15,000 a month in rent. So said he saves about 30% of his income as "reserve" cash. Bhatnagar said she tries to save 60 to 70% of her salary, and does so without having to pay a hefty rent — although the "Asian parent gratitude fee is customary in my household," she said, explaining that there's an unspoken rule in Asian households whereby you give a certain percentage of your income back to your parents to thank them for raising you. "It's to show gratitude mainly,  but also to thank my mother because I don't pay rent in a terribly expensive city.Ng said she puts her savings in for future retirement, though it's not much with monthly savings of about HK$2,000 out of her salary. "I also use some as working capital for travel and emergencies," she said.The Hong Kong protests, followed by the pandemic, changed the city.A protester on June 12, 2019 in Hong Kong when crowds gathered in central Hong Kong as the city braced for another mass rally.Anthony Kwan/Getty ImagesThe Hong Kong protests took place between 2019 and 2020, with many students and adults taking to the streets to fight back against the government's decision to introduce an extradition bill between Hong Kong and China. Over six months, clashes between police and protestors caused disruption to city life. The tourism industry took a hit during this period, and the pandemic arrived shortly after. The extradition bill was eventually withdrawn.Ng said she has noticed changes in the city. "After the social incidents, the freedom of news and speech has indeed been restricted," she said. "Newspapers and editorials that once openly criticized the government and political figures, now rarely speak publicly. As for street demonstrations, even 'outspoken people' used to be common, but now they have disappeared."Bhatnagar doesn't see herself living in the city in the long run, saying she's looking to cities like Singapore or Sydney, as she's seen a shift in the job market, which is now more limited to non-Chinese speakers. That being said, the large exodus from Hong Kong during the protests and pandemic gave rise to more job opportunities in the market. Politically, Bhatnagar leans liberal. "The protests were an incredibly uncertain time, but I did feel slightly removed from them, as a lot of the nationalism that was in the atmosphere during that time, was not a feeling I shared," she said. "Hong Kong has changed in the last five years due to the protests and the pandemic and is not somewhere I see myself long term, but that is not a direct result of the protests, it is due to larger issues such as a language barrier in the career workplace."Xu Huang, a chair professor in the department of management, marketing, and information systems at Hong Kong Baptist University said that younger people tend to have different values and focus on self-expression, "They're more willing to tell people their needs, what they want, and ask for help," he said.Many Hong Kong millennials tend to have a localized lens, Huang said: They are focused on local job opportunities, local issues, and the local environment.Summer Ng, 33, is happy to call Hong Kong home.Summer NgMany millennials choose to stay put in Hong Kong."Hong Kong is very unique compared to other European countries and even the mainland. When I ask if millennials want to move somewhere, they say they want to stay in Hong Kong," said Huang. "Even going to the mainland is not in their consideration."This stands in contrast to his observations of European millennials, who he says are more willing to move."In many European countries, millennials are looking for more opportunities outside of their own environments, reaching as far as Asia or South America," said Huang. "Hong Kong locals, in comparison, are very localized, focusing on localized job opportunities, education, and environment. This could be due to a variety of factors, including the fact that Hong Kong has a good education system, Huang said. According to The Deloitte Global Millennial Survey 2019, growing up in a world of accelerated transformation has generally left millennials and the generation after them, Gen Zs, feeling unsettled about the future. Despite global economic growth, expansion, and opportunities, the survey saw these youths respond with deep declines towards their country's social and political climates, institutions like the government, the media, and business.The job market in Hong Kong is notoriously competitive.Central is Hong Kong’s business and retail district.ymgerman/Getty ImagesThe employment rate among millennials in Hong Kong is high.According to the Census and Statistics Department, the employment rate for individuals between the ages of 25 and 39 is between 85.2% and 86.3%, as of June 2023. For comparison, the employment rate for US millennials working full-time in 2018 is 66%, according to Statista.The average salary in Hong Kong as of 2023 is around HK$36,583 per month. The average Hong Kong millennial currently makes less than that. Those between ages 25 and 34 make an average of HK$19,700 a month, per Morgan McKinley. Those between 35 and 44 make an average of HK$21,600.Like other parts of Asia — including Singapore and South Korea — many individuals in Hong Kong have been left overqualified for the job market after obtaining multiple degrees in an attempt to stand out from the rest. This, combined with the effects of the 2008 financial crisis when Hong Kong SAR's GDP growth declined from 6.4% in 2007 to 2.3 in 2008, has contributed to a highly competitive job search process for millennials in Hong Kong.Hong Kong has some of the world's top universities. University of Hong Kong was ranked 31st and Chinese University of Hong Kong was 45, on the World University Rankings in 2023. Annual tuition fees for local students start from HK$17,290, or $2,210. By contrast, state colleges in the US cost an average of $10,230 per year, for residents.Zurine Lau, 29, works as an account manager at a public relations firm, where she makes around HK$30,00 a month. She studied translation and interpretation at university. "Unfortunately I'm still repaying my institutional fee," she said. She lives with her parents and brother in Yuen Long, a town in the western New Territories known for its villages and hiking trails.Lau said she tries to save about 25% of her monthly salary and has no plans to stay in Hong Kong for the long term. "With the increasing house prices, it's getting harder to buy a home here in Hong Kong," she said. Like many of their global counterparts, Hong Kongers are getting married and starting families later in life.Bhatnagar, 27, said financial security is a huge priority before considering kids.Aniqah BhatnagarThe median age of women at first marriage in Hong Kong in 2022 was about 30 years old, according to Statistica. In the US, the corresponding age for women is around 28. Women in Hong Kong are delaying childbirth. The median age at which women had their first child in Hong Kong increased from 26.6 years in 1986 to 31.8 years in 2018, per the Equal Opportunities Commission.A survey published in August by the Family Planning Association found that the number of children among the city's couples dropped to a new low of 0.9.Nearly all of the millennials Insider spoke to for this story expressed a similar sentiment on the topic of childbirth: It's prohibitively expensive to raise a child in Hong Kong. Ng, who is unmarried and has no children, said financial concerns will play a big part in her decision whether to have kids or not. "I will consider getting married, but as for having children, I must have enough financial support first," she said.Bhatnagar said financial security is a huge priority before considering kids. She doesn't foresee herself having kids in the next few years.Ho, the venture capitalist, isn't in a rush to get married and start a family yet, either. "I don't think the environment in Hong Kong is suitable for raising kids," he said, adding that he would consider having children in another country.Shin, 38, and his partner are not considering having kids.Nick ShinNick Shin, 38, a fitness instructor who rents a 200-square-foot apartment with his boyfriend in Tai Koo, said he and his partner are not considering having kids. "We don't know if we can take care of a human life," he said, adding that if they were to buy a home, it would be in another city, not Hong Kong.According to the Hong Kong government's immigration department website, every marriage must be the union of one man and one woman. Same-sex marriages or civil unions are not recognized in Hong Kong. However, same-sex partners do have equal parental rights over their children, are eligible for dependent visas, and can elect for joint tax assessment, per Hong Kong Free Press. However, Hong Kong's top court recently ordered the city's government to set up a new system that can legally recognize same-sex couples, according to CNN. This was considered a victory for LGBTQ+ activists in the city, though the decision didn't include fulfilling their demands for full marriage equality.So, the locksmith, meanwhile, is married and has one kid on the way. The news was "unexpected," he said.  Despite his growing household, he says he has no plans to move somewhere larger, or get another job, after he has his first kid.Hong Kong's millennials are similar to their global counterparts in many ways. They're getting married later in life, unwilling to sacrifice their entire lives to their jobs, and struggling to buy property.Zurine Lau, 29, lives with her parents and brother.Zurine LauStrikingly, several Hong Kong millennials said they feel different from Hong Kong's older generations. Shin, the fitness instructor, said he has very "traditional Chinese parents." "They want me to do a 'nicer' job such as an office job, but I never listen to them," he said.Hong Kong millennials struggle to prioritize well-being, according to a survey run by British health insurance company Bupa. The study surveyed 500 millennials aged 25 to 40 in Hong Kong between July and August 2022. It found that the generation's top three goals are sleeping, exercising, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, for many, those goals are a pipe dream: Over half of those surveyed said they don't have enough time to maintain a healthy lifestyle."Hong Kong is changing in so many ways and on various levels," Lau, the account manager at a public relations firm said. "I'm longing for a big change in lifestyle — that's why I want to live abroad," she added. "I believe the only thing that will never change here is the fast pace of life. This might be the reason millennials didn't want to stick around,"  Lau added.Overall, Ng is happy to call this place home, despite the high prices. "I will stay in Hong Kong. I am a native of Hong Kong. Most of my family and friends live in Hong Kong. If I live abroad, I will not be used to it. Hong Kong is a very convenient city. No matter the transportation or the food, it is good."This story is part of a series called "Millennial World," which seeks to examine the state of the generation around the globe.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

"Disney adults" used to be the butt of the joke. Now kidless millennials and Gen Z-ers are flocking to Disney World and Disneyland and spending big on meals, merch, and experiences. Insider spoke to more than 20 people from parks visitors to employees and travel agents to understand why Disney parks have become the hottest destination for monied millennials without kids.Arantza Pena Popo/Insider Childless millennials and Gen Z-ers are now as commonplace at Disney Parks as families with kids. These groups and their spending power are influencing products and experiences at the parks. We spoke to 20 people, from pass holders to Disney employees, about this trend and its effects. Since the start of 2023, Sarah Rachul, a public-relations professional who lives in Ohio, has logged more than half a dozen trips to Disney parks, including Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland in Anaheim, California.Her target? Ten Disney trips by the year's end."It just melts away some of the stress. I'm not looking around my house going, 'Oh, I have to clean that,' or 'I have to sort that.' I'm not thinking about my job. I'm just in this cool, fake, around-the-world walk," 29-year-old Rachul said of her impromptu visits to Epcot, usually with a cocktail in hand as she strolls through the world showcase with its pavilions modeled after countries from Italy to China. Rachul's parents, members of the Disney Vacation Club, a timeshare program, accompany her on some visits, helping make the trips more affordable than, say, a vacation to Tuscany. When she turns 30 next year, Rachul and her boyfriend are already set to ring in her third decade aboard a Disney cruise. Rachul is one of a growing share of 20- and 30-somethings without kids who are packing into Disney parks, particularly Walt Disney World in Orlando — frequently making these often-lavish trips as couples or in groups of friends. That's according to interviews Insider conducted with more than 20 people, ranging from annual pass holders to current and former Disney employees (most of whom requested anonymity to speak freely about company business and policies) to travel agents and others familiar with foot traffic at the parks.Collectively, they painted a picture of an undeniable demographic shift that could have big implications for Disney's parks' business, from an influx of consumer dollars — childless earners tend to have more disposable income than parents — to an impact on in-park rides and experiences.The phenomenon is beginning to lay waste to the stigma surrounding the "Disney adult," a term that in recent years has been used to poke fun at grown-ups with a tendency to display their die-hard devotion to the Mouse House. One Urban Dictionary entry defined a "Disney adult" as a millennial who "can't stop talking about Disney" and is "one of the most terrifyingly intense people you'll ever encounter." But the idea of donning a pair of Mickey ears or "DisneyBounding" — dressing for park visits in outfits inspired by famous Disney characters — is becoming more mainstream, and perhaps even cool, for more and more kidless millennials and Gen Zers. Disney's not just for hot, tired parents chaperoning their kids from character breakfasts to rides on Aladdin's magic carpets anymore."It's two hours away, but it's an escape," said Molly May, a 38-year-old mental-health counselor based in Florida, who, along with her husband, has held an annual Disney World pass for several years. The couple got engaged there, celebrated their five-year anniversary at Disneyland, and visited Disneyland Paris earlier this year. They're planning to commemorate 10 years with a visit to Tokyo Disneyland."The responsibility I have as an adult," May added, "disappears as soon as I walk through the gate."Francis Dominic, a social-media creator, previously worked for both Disney World and Disneyland in various roles, including as a tour guide, for four years beginning in 2014. Now he creates Disney-themed content, much of which is focused on park tips and experiences, for his audience of more than 108,000 followers on TikTok. "I hear from every single age group, from 80s all the way to teens, of just people ready to have so much fun in these parks and being so unapologetic about it," Dominic, 30, said."As millennials growing up, we were teased about loving certain princesses or certain things," he added. "Now it's more of like an 'I don't give a fuck' moment."Francis Dominic is a former Disney Parks employee who's built a robust following on TikTok creating Disney-themed content about attractions and films.Taylor Jaxson PhotographyOn a given day, 40% to 50% of parkgoers at Disney World could be adults without kids, a former parks executive saysThe trend has emerged at a time of manifold pressures for The Walt Disney Company, from a share price that's fallen more than 25% over the past year to a recent Wall Street Journal report suggesting that traffic to the Florida parks dwindled this summer. Meanwhile, rising ticket prices, coupled with soaring inflation, could be deterring some parks visitors. In the last year, 93% of respondents in a consumer survey agreed that the cost of a Disney World vacation had become untenable for "average families," and a popular Disney travel blog estimated that a "baseline" five-night trip for family of four to the Orlando parks could exceed $6,300.On top of that, throw in a monthslong political battle with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — which led Disney to scrap plans for a new $1 billion campus near Orlando that would have created roughly 2,000 jobs — as well as a looming threat from its crosstown rival Universal, which will open its fourth Orlando theme park in 2025, and it's clear there are challenges ahead for Disney Parks.But in the face of all this, Disney World appears to be accelerating efforts to lure adult visitors, including pricey experiences that seem less likely to appeal to families.In recent months, its Epcot theme park has introduced $250-a-person omakase dinners at the Japan pavilion's Takumi-Tei restaurant, for instance, burnishing the rite of passage known as "Drinking Around the World." It's a favorite pastime for Epcot visitors over the age of 21 who get tipsy shuffling from one country pavilion to the next, ordering internationally inspired cocktails or sipping flights of spirits at venues like the Mexico pavilion's La Cava del Tequila bar. Along with that dining glow-up, multiple high-tech rides have debuted since last year, as well as a fresh slate of holiday experiences lined up for this winter. "You can see Disney is pushing to be competitive for that adult, thrill-seeking group," Jonathan de Araujo, the founder of the Disney-authorized travel-planning service The Vacationeer, told Insider. A Disney spokesperson declined to comment for this story, and company insiders say obtaining data about any aspect of the business — such as foot traffic — can be opaque (the Journal's reporting, for example, was based on stats from the third-party company Touring Plans, which tracks wait times for rides). But, according to a former Disney executive with close knowledge of Disney World, between 40% to 50% of typical crowds at the Orlando parks are composed of adults visiting without children — people the executive categorized as "nonfamily."That number is "astonishing when you think about it," the executive, who worked in travel marketing, said, "because it's not the perception that people have." And that stat has been on a gradual uptick for several years, this person and others familiar with Disney World's foot traffic said.Tara Goldstein and Ann van Oostendorp, independent travel planners who specialize in Disney trips and call themselves the "Magic Planning Sisters," told Insider that between mid-2020 and 2023, 53% of the Disney vacations they planned were for adults only. They attributed much of the shift to the advent of hot rides — like a cutting-edge roller coaster themed after the tentpole "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise, for example — that appeal to an older audience. "Disney knows the kids want to go," van Oostendorp said. "Now it's time to bring in the adult population."From weddings to special meals, millennials without kids are bringing disposable income to the parksTwenty-three-year-old Natalie Schwartz remembers all the visits she and her boyfriend, Brett, made to Disney World as students at the University of Tampa. "I just always have had this little-girl dream of getting married there," Schwartz told Insider several weeks after her June wedding, a nearly 120-person affair at Disney World's Grand Floridian resort. Among the perks were discounted park tickets the couple could share with more than a dozen friends, and together they spent two days venturing through the parks ahead of the ceremony. Schwartz also took her grandmother on the It's a Small World ride.This summer, Schwartz returned to Disney World to celebrate her friend Sierra Keller's 24th birthday. "Disney kind of just transports us somewhere else," said Keller, who now lives about 10 minutes from the parks in a home her family built specifically to be close to Disney. "You're not worried about elections. You're not worried about laws passing or what tomorrow's going to look like, or how many bills do I need to pay or anything. You're just in that moment and you get to kind of be carefree."Newlyweds Natalie and Brett Schwartz exchanged vows at Walt Disney World in Orlando this summer.Disney Fine Art PhotographyThe growing share of visitors like Schwartz and Keller has "slowly influenced the product choices" within the parks, the former Disney travel marketing executive said. Ultimately, the groups bringing new spending are "going to drive those decisions," this executive added. "If you look at it and you say, 'Hey, we're going to continue to do baby rides,' it's like, 'Well, wait a minute — do we really need those? Don't we have that?'"In 2021, Epcot added Space 220, an upscale restaurant designed for the Instagram age. The decor could only be described as interstellar chic — think big bay windows overlooking a simulated image of the Earth. Jason Petrina, the restaurant's general manager, told Insider he's seen more adults without kids — couples, friend groups — coming in lately, noting that many are local annual pass holders or members of Disney's timeshare program. He's gotten to know some regulars by name."They're not really concerned about spending money as long as they get a great experience," Petrina said. And that could mean springing for premium wines or lavish dishes like rib-eye steaks or lobster. He estimated that 15% to 20% of the restaurant's income stems from this group — "a huge piece of our business," he said. "If you're down 15 to 20% in sales, you might close."Drinking with mates or boozing with Mickey? How Disney's parks and retail experience is evolving.Inside the parks, signs of Disney's efforts to satisfy an older crowd — the same group it has lured to cineplexes with its investments in the Star Wars and Marvel franchises — seem ubiquitous. One of the most obvious examples is the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster, which opened in May 2022 and features preshow content starring actors like Chris Evans and Zoe Saldaña. The coaster — which launches riders backward before hurtling them into a dark, cavernous space meant to emulate the universe at the beginning of time — features songs like "September" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," hits likelier to perk up older ears than younger ones. This year, the Magic Kingdom added Tron: Lightcycle Run, an indoor-outdoor coaster with motorcycle-like seating. Both rides offer a far more thrill-seeking edge than stalwarts like It's a Small World.Meanwhile, Disney has said it will sunset DinoLand USA, an older corner of Animal Kingdom that featured the kid-friendly Dinosaur ride. The parks have extended hours for late-night visitors through their "After Dark" events, and at Disneyland in California, the Anaheim parks introduced their inaugural Pride Nites this June. What's more, three new Disneyland restaurants — the Carnation Cafe, River Belle Terrace, and Cafe Orleans — began serving alcohol to guests in September. Plus, the company has announced new holiday offerings at Disney World's Hollywood Studios, including a series of "Jollywood Nights" throughout November and December. The events — with ticket prices ranging from $159 to $179 per person — will feature a DJ, special cocktails, "glitz and glamor galore" at a jazz lounge, and a "soiree" at the Hollywood Tower Hotel Courtyard, the site of the Tower of Terror ride.These unique experiences are casting a spell on millennial and Gen Z wallets. "When you're here, everything feels like it's laced with magic and truly pixie dust. Sure, we'll buy $20 drinks — but if we do that at a regular bar, I'm like, 'That would be crazy.' But if it's at Disney, it's fine," said Dominic, the TikTok influencer. Beyond food and beverage offerings, high-end merch throughout the parks seems to speak to Disney's desire to capture these consumer dollars. At Hollywood Studios, sleek lightsabers like the blades wielded by iconic "Star Wars" characters such as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Emperor Palpatine retail for upward of $200. One Disney World worker said she'd witnessed tears welling up in many adults' eyes the first time they activated their laser swords.Also on the merchandise front, Disney has launched multiple capsule collections in partnership with glossy brands like Gucci, Dooney & Bourke, and Coach, emblazoning Disney iconography on everything from jeans to accessories, including a Coach backpack for nearly $600. Last year, in connection with the celebration of Disney World's 50th anniversary, merch designers from across the company worked on developing styles that would appeal to older shoppers, the former Disney travel marketing executive recalled. Many items intentionally emphasized fresh color schemes or iridescence to appeal to a customer with "more sophisticated" tastes, this former exec said.'Hey, there's a lot of adults in the parks. We haven't met a single kid today,' cast members sayDisney has had its eye on this demographic and its spending power for several years.In 2018, the company piloted a campaign called #HappyPlace, which mainly consisted of a series of videos incubated by teams at Yellow Shoes, Disney's internal advertising agency devoted to parks, experiences, and products. #HappyPlace content was geared toward childless adults who were "definitely above the drinking age," said Neph Trejo, a creative director who worked for Disney until earlier this summer and was integral to the campaign's development.The videos showcased what a trip to Disney World without children could look like for adult friend groups — including sipping on sake and feasting on fresh gyros. One video posted to Trejo's website, called "Swag Safari," is set to a moody soundtrack and portrays a fictionalized trip to Animal Kingdom in which a handful of millennials embark on the Kilimanjaro Safari and, from a high-end hotel terrace, watch giraffes wake up."Our approach was to shine a light on the beautiful tapestry of people that come to Walt Disney World," Trejo said. "It's not just about rides. It's not just about churros. It's not just about Dole Whip," he added, referring to the parks' famous frozen-pineapple treat.Halle Bailey performs at Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration in 2021.Kent Phillips/ABC via Getty ImagesEven Disney characters are fielding hugs and selfies with grown-up customers these days. One Disney World employee said lines to meet iconic characters can sometimes be made up of half or more adults without children. "We're like, 'Hey, there's a lot of adults in the parks. We haven't met a single kid today,'" this person said. "Or, 'I was just out there for an hour and I saw three kids the entire time of the two to three hundred people I met.'"But there's a darker side of this demo that's created pain points for some Disney workers. Some visitors get a thrill from performing stunts seemingly conjured to go viral on social media. On TikTok, examples are plentiful of teenagers and 20-somethings physically touching or recording cast members, asking personal questions to try to break their unflappable depictions of figures like Cinderella. One video shows a woman laying her hands on the chest of an actor playing Gaston from "Beauty and the Beast." The Disney World employee recalled a guest who broke park rules by lapping water from decorative fountains. Management has addressed the situation in private conversations with parks talent, according to the employee, who said Disney World has adopted a strict policy that its actors refrain from participating in social-media trends. "You can absolutely step away or you can ask for a leadership position to come over and chat with them if it's something that's uncomfortable," the person said, describing the company's guidance. "With the internet these days, everything you do is probably going to be put online at some point, so be aware of that. So it's definitely something they touch on in our training."Ultimately, though, the parks worker says the uptick in adult attendees is "an open road for new growth.""It's a lot easier to cater to an older crowd because you can better know their wants and needs, whereas with kids, kids don't even know what they want," this employee explained, pointing to the customer-experience surveys Disney sends visitors. "It's really the adults' opinions who they care about and who they're trying to cater to."'There is a tug of war from adult to family at times,' says a former Disney ImagineerJeremy Singh loved classic Disney movies growing up and still recalls the first time he set foot in the parks at age 12. He felt an instant connection."I knew from that first trip that I'd found my thing," he said. "I wanted to know more about it, how it came to be, how everything worked."But even Singh couldn't have predicted that a decade later, he'd have relocated to Orlando, where his fascination with theme parks would blossom into a career. Now, as a content creator focused on Disney World, Singh, 23, has amassed a million followers on his JeremyTheTea TikTok page, and has been hired by Disney in what he said is a bid to reach this prized young-adult demographic."I know that when I'm called to do these things, they're probably trying to get to that audience," said Singh, noting that his primary following ranges between 21 and 28 years old.Prior to the actors' strike, which has paralyzed the promotion of most new films by movie stars and online content creators alike, Singh helped support marketing efforts surrounding Disney's live-action "Little Mermaid" film earlier this year and attended a Disneyland performance by the movie's lead actor Halle Bailey that was broadcast on "American Idol." He's also been tapped to promote Disney's Halloween festivities, which he said would tie into the company's "Haunted Mansion" film premiere, inspired by the eponymous ride.Singh has become a leading voice within a burgeoning community of Disney-focused influencers that emerged during the pandemic years and, according to experts, has helped fuel adults' interest in the parks. A search for the term #DisneyWorld on TikTok reveals that the hashtag has been associated with content viewed some 20 billion times, while Disney Parks' own TikTok page has surpassed 5.7 million followers.Francis Dominic, the former parks worker turned influencer, has also been tapped to promote Disney parks and films. He cohosted an advanced screening of Disney and Pixar's "Elemental" this year alongside Patrick Dougall, another Disney creator who's built up a TikTok following of 380,000. Attendees — the vast majority of whom were millennials — were asked to dress as their favorite element inspired by the film.But even as Disney makes a concerted push to keep this all-important audience coming back, some warn that the parks can't afford to alienate their other vital fandom: kids."There is a tug of war from adult to family at times," said Mark Eades, a former Disney Imagineer in the 1980s and early '90s who's watched the brand evolve over the decades. Unless Disney can find an equilibrium that keeps both groups happy, Eades cautioned, "I think they'll realize, 'Uh-oh, we've left the kids at the door.'"It's a difficult tightrope to navigate, but it could define the future of Disney parks. Eades — a pass holder at Disneyland in Anaheim who sits on the board of the Disneyland Alumni Club, a group of roughly 400 former parks employees — likened the situation to the retro cartoons he loved watching growing up. He enjoyed them as a kid, and he still enjoys them now."If they can succeed in doing attractions and entertainment like that," Eades concluded, "that's when you hit it out of the park."Amanda Krause contributed reporting.Are you a Disney parks or Walt Disney Co. insider? Contact this reporter. Reed Alexander can be reached via email at ralexander@insider.com, or SMS/the encrypted app Signal at (561) 247-5758.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

FDA Authorizes New Covid-19 Shots From Pfizer, Moderna The matrix keeps glitching... Now that only the most mentally unstable liberals are demanding that the government protect them from near certain death by forcing them to wear face diapers that don't - and have never - worked, on the afternoon of September 11 US drug regulators - many of whom are undoubtedly hoping to get a job offer at either Pfizer or Moderna as soon as they quit the public sector - authorized new COVID-19 vaccines to try to counter the poor effectiveness the current slate provide. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared shots from Moderna and Pfizer that will be available to Americans as young as 6 months of age later this month. It's a different question if anyone will take said shots following the recent newsflow suggesting that the side effects of the covid shots are far more dangerous than the so-called "vaccine" which doesn't actually prevent infection. "Vaccination remains critical to public health and continued protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death," Dr. Peter Marks, a top FDA official, said in a statement.  "We very much encourage those who are eligible to consider getting vaccinated." The FDA approved the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for people aged 12 and older. Regulators granted emergency authorization for the shots for people aged 6 months to 11 years of age. There was no mention of Novavax, whose vaccine is also available in the United States. The shots target XBB.1.5, a subvariant of the Omicron virus variant. That subvariant has already largely been displaced by newer strains, including EG.5, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The authorizations came despite a lack of data from clinical trials. As Epoch Times reports, Moderna says its new shot in a trial induced immune responses against EG.5 and other newer variants. Pfizer says preclinical data has shown antibodies generated by its new vaccine "effectively neutralize" EG.5, also known as Eris. The new shots were authorized based on studies on neutralizing antibody levels that appeared to show "a similar magnitude to the extent of neutralization observed with prior versions of the vaccines against corresponding prior variants against which they had been developed to provide protection," the FDA said. "This suggests that the vaccines are a good match for protecting against the currently circulating COVID-19 variants." The CDC plans to meet with its advisers on Tuesday to consider to which populations it should recommend receive the new vaccines. If the panel recommends a vaccine, the federal government must pay for it. Many countries have suggested younger, healthy people not to receive COVID-19 vaccinations as the disease has died down. The United Kingdom, for instance, in August, said that vaccination this fall was only recommended for select groups, including people designated as at-risk. The CDC scaled back its recommendations earlier this year for some populations. CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said earlier this year that the CDC was poised to recommend annual COVID-19 shots. Pfizer and Moderna have said the new shots will cost approximately $110 to $130. Number of Shots The new shots are cleared for varying numbers of shots, depending on age group and prior vaccination. People aged 5 years and older, whether or not they've received a vaccine, are eligible to receive a single dose of one of the new shots. Children aged 6 months through 4 years who have previously been vaccinated can receive one or two doses of one of the new vaccines. Children in that age group who have not been vaccinated can receive three doses of the new Pfizer vaccine or two doses of the new Moderna vaccine. Another Replacement The FDA cleared, and the CDC recommended, updated shots in the fall of 2022 amid waning effectiveness. Those shots were bivalent, containing components of the Wuhan strain and Omicron. Those shots have not performed well against infection or severe disease, according to observational data. They were authorized and recommended based on animal testing. Just 17 percent of the U.S. population had received a bivalent dose as of May 10, the last date the CDC lists the data for. Some doctors have opted against receiving them. The FDA said it expects to update the vaccines on an annual basis. That's currently done for the influenza vaccines. A survey of more than 2,000 adults in Arizona found that the primary reason for not receiving a bivalent was having protection from prior infection. Other common reasons included wariness about side effects, belief the booster would not add protection, and belief the booster would not protect against infection. Novavax had said its newer shot performed well against newer variants, but the FDA did not clear it. Novavax said in a statement that its updated vaccine is "under review" by the FDA, which did not respond to a request for comment. Criticism Some experts have criticized U.S. authorities for clearing the new shots without strong data. "There's essentially no data," Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo told a recent press conference. "Not only that, but there are a lot of red flags." He pointed to studies finding effectiveness of the vaccines turn negative over time. Other papers have found the vaccines cause cardiac problems like heart inflammation, the doctor noted. "It's truly irresponsible for FDA, CDC, and others to be championing something ... when we don't know the implications of it," he said. Dr. Paul Offit, an FDA adviser, suggested to the Daily Mail that younger, healthy people who have already been vaccinated do not need one of the new doses. "We are best served by targeting these booster doses to those who are most at risk of severe disease," such as people over 75 years of age, Dr. Offit said. "Boosting otherwise healthy young people is a low-risk, low-reward strategy," he added. Tyler Durden Mon, 09/11/2023 - 15:25.....»»

A decline in third places (bars, parks, coffee shops, pools) is exacerbating the US loneliness crisis. If we build them, people will come together. Researchers, developers, the US surgeon general, and elected officials alike are beginning to form a new kind of adage: If you build it, they will come together.Arantza Pena Popo/InsiderIn her 20s, Sara Hoy made close friends in her Central Pennsylvania hometown through an organization called Third Place. The group, named after what sociologists call any social setting that's not home (the first place) or work (the second), was led by a local church leader and sought to help young professionals build community.In her 30s, Hoy joined the Peace Corps in Moldova, and then worked in Korea and Sweden. By the time she came home six years later, most of her Third Place friends had started families, and the sense of community had faded. So when she heard about Culdesac, a buzzy new $170 million car-free community opening up outside Phoenix, she applied to live there, even though she'd never been to Arizona. In May, Hoy became one of the first residents to move in.Now 40, Hoy lives alone in a studio apartment. She was prepared to feel what millions of Americans feel today: lonely. "I've been through that before living in other places and knowing what I needed to do is put myself out there, introduce myself to neighbors," she said. Culdesac's design, she says, has made that easier.The development is centered on shared spaces for its 1,000 residents: a plaza, a gym, a grocery store, a restaurant, a coffee shop, coworking space, and shaded courtyards. There's weekly bike karaoke along with art fairs and all sorts of other programming to get neighbors to meet up. Culdesac's founders were inspired by multigenerational Egyptian farming villages, Erin Boyd, the head of government and external affairs, told me. Walkable, tightly knit communities might be new to suburban Arizona, but they're "actually a very old way of living," she said.Culdesac, in short, is an experiment to save one of the most endangered aspects of American life: a place to hang out.Third spaces, which include bars, parks, coffee shops, libraries, and even sidewalks, have been in decline for decades. Racism, classism, the climate crisis, overpolicing, a car-based economy, and the privatization and rising costs of amenities have all narrowed access to them.We're also going to third places less often — working longer hours to compensate for wage stagnation and spending less time with one another. For decades, Americans reported spending about 6 ½ hours a week with friends. But from 2014 to 2019, it suddenly dropped by 37%, to four hours a week. (2014, not coincidentally, was the year smartphone ownership in the US passed 50%.) Instead, we spend much more time online, alone. Instagram, Twitch, and podcasts are the new, placeless third places. We can see this shift everywhere. The characters of the biggest shows of the '90s — "Friends," "Seinfeld," "Cheers" — spent the overwhelming majority of their time hanging out at the café, diner, and bar, and work was either an afterthought or a running joke. In today's biggest shows — "Succession," "Superstore," "Industry" — work is all-consuming, and life beyond it is an afterthought or, in the case of "Severance," wholly inaccessible.The dwindling of places to spend time together is a catastrophe for our communities and for us, exacerbating what US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy calls an epidemic of loneliness. One in five Americans reported feeling lonely or socially isolated often or all the time in 2018. One study found the rate of loneliness among young adults rose almost every year between 1976 and 2019. In a 2019 YouGov poll, 22% of millennials reported having no friends at all. And being lonely and spending a lot of time alone are associated with bleak health outcomes, including significantly raising the risk of premature death, especially from a stroke or coronary artery disease.The good news is that more people are seeing loneliness, in part, as a design flaw in the built environment. Researchers, developers, the surgeon general, and elected officials alike are beginning to form a new kind of adage: If you build it, they will come together.3rd places at a priceHow did we get so scattered? Well, cars, for one. As American cities were reshaped around the car in the early 20th century, streets became a lot less welcoming. Cars also brought suburbia, sprawl, highways that slashed through neighborhoods, and an environment that made it easier to isolate yourself in a private vehicle than walk, bike, or take mass transit.Racial and class segregation have also long shaped and limited access to public places. In New York, the predominantly Black residents of Seneca Village were forcibly displaced to clear the way for the creation of Central Park in the mid-1800s. In Washington, DC, exclusive zoning around Rock Creek Park further separated the city's Black and white residents. In Los Angeles, three Mexican American neighborhoods were destroyed to make way for Dodger Stadium in the 1950s.Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, places some of the blame on the government's decadeslong disinvestment in America's downtowns. "Downtowns were a real place where people connected," he told me. "My sense of identity was very much connected to the localness and to the local identity of the place that I grew up in," which was Wethersfield, Connecticut. Now Murphy thinks both local governments and the federal government should help revitalize downtowns, because "it was government's decision to support unrestrained globalization and online commerce that emptied" them out. The recent rise of remote work has only worsened the problem, further emptying downtowns as businesses abandon offices in droves.Sen. Tina Smith, a Minnesota Democrat, told me the "privatizing of space" — or when businesses become the only (and cost-prohibitive) third places — also has a lot to do with both rising isolation and income inequality."If you look at most major American cities, you see pretty extreme segregation between wealthy communities and poor communities," Smith said. "Wealthy people live in places where they can have big gated houses and their own swimming pool and their own private park." Meanwhile, lower-income and "even middle-class families find themselves living in places where there aren't enough trees, there aren't enough public spaces," she added, "whether it be the local swimming pool or the local park."When wealthier folks move into lower-income neighborhoods, that gentrification also attracts pricier retail, restaurants, and other amenities that many longtime residents can't afford or don't feel comfortable using. Sweetgreen, Soho House, and SoulCycle are third places only to some. As Leslie Kern, an urban scholar and author, put it, "If your greasy spoon isn't there anymore and now it's a $5 or $6 cup of coffee, instead of a $1 or $2 cup with free refills all day, that's a big barrier." Community-oriented developments like Culdesac, which will offer only market-rate apartments, are also exclusive.The more things to do, the more people come, the more comfortable people are, the more they interact.For a time, malls and their food courts served as relatively effective third spaces, says Kern. Though they were privately owned bastions of commercialism, all kinds of people could hang out in them, without needing to spend money. They had heating, air conditioning, and bathrooms. But Hot Topic is no longer a hot topic — as the retail apocalypse continues, malls have been dying in droves.For the few free-to-affordable third places that remain, says Kern, "there's a lot of pressure" on them "to address, in some way, a lot of challenging social and economic problems." The result: Café workers are fired for feeding homeless people, teens are barred from Chick-fil-A, and older people are limited to 20 minutes at a McDonald's table.There might be less pressure on private spaces, experts say, if there were attractive and accessible parks, community centers, and other public places.Building for social connection"Does the government have a role to play in making sure that every small town has a pub or a local restaurant?" Murphy says. "Maybe not. But we should at least be exploring those questions."In July, Murphy introduced legislation to form a national strategy to combat loneliness. The bill would create an Office of Social Connection Policy to advise the president and federal agencies on boosting social infrastructure and developing national guidelines for preventing loneliness, and send $5 million a year for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to research the prevalence of loneliness.Murphy also wants to see funds from the 2021 infrastructure bill support more vibrant downtowns and concentrated development, rather than sprawl. And he wants to use tax policy "to help the bottom lines of small retailers, instead of padding the pockets of the big quasi-monopolistic retailers."Urban planners have also gained a lot of knowledge about the types of places that foster social connection, and the types that don't. "What we call parks look like parking lots with some grass on them, perhaps a baseball diamond. That's not the kind of park that draws people in," Tayana Panova, a researcher who studies the built environment's effects on mental health, told me. "We need parks that have amenities and assets that make it desirable for people to go there." A third space of dreams isn't a barren field. It also includes pools, benches, art, fountains, playgrounds, and food stands — things people gather at. As the climate warms, shade and water are increasingly necessary in outdoor spaces. Culdesac, situated just outside the hottest major city in America, won't have any asphalt and is maximizing shade to cool the neighborhood.The more things to do, the more people come, the more comfortable people are, the more they interact. Mitchell Reardon, the director of urban planning at the Canadian design firm Happy Cities, pointed to a 2014 study his firm did in Seattle called "the lost-tourist experiment." An actor pretended to be lost on two different street corners, one beside a long blank wall and nothing else, and one next to a bunch of shops and cafés. The "tourist" did their best to look confused and waited for a stranger to volunteer to help them get oriented. On the street with shops, people were four times as likely to stop and offer help than on the street with the wall. One person on the bustling corner even asked the tourist on a date."It's really important for people to have space to have a spectrum of participation, to kind of passively observe, actively observe, dip your toes in actually getting involved, and then being fully involved," Reardon said. "The fundamental rule of public space is that what attracts people most is other people."New York City has fewer than 1,200 public toilets for its 8.5 million residents.Urban designers have also found that communities need to be part of the process of designing their shared spaces to ensure they're used. Smith told me she recently visited a new community space in Rochester, Minnesota, where a group of immigrant women had been deeply engaged in designing the place. "When they were celebrating Eid, they wanted to celebrate it in one of these public spaces because they had been in on it from the beginning," she said.Another surefire way to get more Americans to hang out: Legalize public drinking.As Kristen Ghodsee, an ethnographer who's a professor of Russian and East European Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, noted, public drinking is widespread and celebrated throughout Europe. In Germany, they have a term for the beer you drink as you walk to the next bar, a "wegbier." The US already has regulations around unruly or antisocial behavior that could result from public drinking, Reardon, another proponent of legalized public drinking, said. So it's counterproductive to stop responsible drinkers from enjoying themselves in parks, at street fairs, and in other public places.People also might go to more places if they had more places to go — public bathrooms. "The key to harmonious living among many people that are not related is lots of toilets," Ghodsee said. "And they knew that in the ninth century," pointing to an architectural drawing from AD 820 of the ideal Benedictine monastery that was full of toilets.The US, however, has largely neglected this most basic amenity. There are an average of eight public toilets for every 100,000 people in the US, but access to facilities varies widely. New York City has fewer than 1,200 public toilets for its 8.5 million residents. It's a dire situation, and a group of city-council members recently introduced a bill to build another 3,100 toilets in the next 12 years. By contrast, countries like the UK and Switzerland have many more public toilets per capita. Some even double as public art.People are also willing to pay a premium to live in walkable neighborhoods with lots of third places. Homebuyers in the biggest US cities pay 35% more to live in walkable areas and renters pay 41% more. An overwhelming majority of people say they want to live within an easy walk of amenities like shops and parks and near public transit, a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors found.Some developers, Culdesac included, are also responding to these demands and building their own 15-minute cities. In Houston, the developer Concept Neighborhood is building a $350 million walkable community with 1,000 homes "around lifestyle-enhancing public infrastructure including transit, trails, bike lanes and parks," according to its website. Another developer is transforming a former strip mall in Austin into a car-light, mixed-use development adjacent to a new light rail.There are all kinds of ways to combat loneliness, from individual lifestyle changes to national public investments. The surgeon general has called for a multipronged approach, including investing in paid family leave and accessible mass transit; training healthcare providers to address social disconnection among patients; and reforming digital safety rules. The first pillar of his approach, though, is bringing people together through social infrastructure. Fundamentally, society needs places where people aren't alone.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

A decline in third places (bars, parks, coffee shops, pools) is exacerbating the US loneliness crisis. If we build them, people will come together. Researchers, developers, the US surgeon general, and elected officials alike are beginning to form a new kind of adage: If you build it, they will come together.Arantza Pena Popo/InsiderIn her 20s, Sara Hoy made close friends in her Central Pennsylvania hometown through an organization called Third Place. The group, named after what sociologists call any social setting that's not home (the first place) or work (the second), was led by a local church leader and sought to help young professionals build community.In her 30s, Hoy joined the Peace Corps in Moldova, and then worked in Korea and Sweden. By the time she came home six years later, most of her Third Place friends had started families, and the sense of community had faded. So when she heard about Culdesac, a buzzy new $170 million car-free community opening up outside Phoenix, she applied to live there, even though she'd never been to Arizona. In May, Hoy became one of the first residents to move in.Now 40, Hoy lives alone in a studio apartment. She was prepared to feel what millions of Americans feel today: lonely. "I've been through that before living in other places and knowing what I needed to do is put myself out there, introduce myself to neighbors," she said. Culdesac's design, she says, has made that easier.The development is centered on shared spaces for its 1,000 residents: a plaza, a gym, a grocery store, a restaurant, a coffee shop, coworking space, and shaded courtyards. There's weekly bike karaoke along with art fairs and all sorts of other programming to get neighbors to meet up. Culdesac's founders were inspired by multigenerational Egyptian farming villages, Erin Boyd, the head of government and external affairs, told me. Walkable, tightly knit communities might be new to suburban Arizona, but they're "actually a very old way of living," she said.Culdesac, in short, is an experiment to save one of the most endangered aspects of American life: a place to hang out.Third spaces, which include bars, parks, coffee shops, libraries, and even sidewalks, have been in decline for decades. Racism, classism, the climate crisis, overpolicing, a car-based economy, and the privatization and rising costs of amenities have all narrowed access to them.We're also going to third places less often — working longer hours to compensate for wage stagnation and spending less time with one another. For decades, Americans reported spending about 6 ½ hours a week with friends. But from 2014 to 2019, it suddenly dropped by 37%, to four hours a week. (2014, not coincidentally, was the year smartphone ownership in the US passed 50%.) Instead, we spend much more time online, alone. Instagram, Twitch, and podcasts are the new, placeless third places. We can see this shift everywhere. The characters of the biggest shows of the '90s — "Friends," "Seinfeld," "Cheers" — spent the overwhelming majority of their time hanging out at the café, diner, and bar, and work was either an afterthought or a running joke. In today's biggest shows — "Succession," "Superstore," "Industry" — work is all-consuming, and life beyond it is an afterthought or, in the case of "Severance," wholly inaccessible.The dwindling of places to spend time together is a catastrophe for our communities and for us, exacerbating what US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy calls an epidemic of loneliness. One in five Americans reported feeling lonely or socially isolated often or all the time in 2018. One study found the rate of loneliness among young adults rose almost every year between 1976 and 2019. In a 2019 YouGov poll, 22% of millennials reported having no friends at all. And being lonely and spending a lot of time alone are associated with bleak health outcomes, including significantly raising the risk of premature death, especially from a stroke or coronary artery disease.The good news is that more people are seeing loneliness, in part, as a design flaw in the built environment. Researchers, developers, the surgeon general, and elected officials alike are beginning to form a new kind of adage: If you build it, they will come together.3rd places at a priceHow did we get so scattered? Well, cars, for one. As American cities were reshaped around the car in the early 20th century, streets became a lot less welcoming. Cars also brought suburbia, sprawl, highways that slashed through neighborhoods, and an environment that made it easier to isolate yourself in a private vehicle than walk, bike, or take mass transit.Racial and class segregation have also long shaped and limited access to public places. In New York, the predominantly Black residents of Seneca Village were forcibly displaced to clear the way for the creation of Central Park in the mid-1800s. In Washington, DC, exclusive zoning around Rock Creek Park further separated the city's Black and white residents. In Los Angeles, three Mexican American neighborhoods were destroyed to make way for Dodger Stadium in the 1950s.Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, places some of the blame on the government's decadeslong disinvestment in America's downtowns. "Downtowns were a real place where people connected," he told me. "My sense of identity was very much connected to the localness and to the local identity of the place that I grew up in," which was Wethersfield, Connecticut. Now Murphy thinks both local governments and the federal government should help revitalize downtowns, because "it was government's decision to support unrestrained globalization and online commerce that emptied" them out. The recent rise of remote work has only worsened the problem, further emptying downtowns as businesses abandon offices in droves.Sen. Tina Smith, a Minnesota Democrat, told me the "privatizing of space" — or when businesses become the only (and cost-prohibitive) third places — also has a lot to do with both rising isolation and income inequality."If you look at most major American cities, you see pretty extreme segregation between wealthy communities and poor communities," Smith said. "Wealthy people live in places where they can have big gated houses and their own swimming pool and their own private park." Meanwhile, lower-income and "even middle-class families find themselves living in places where there aren't enough trees, there aren't enough public spaces," she added, "whether it be the local swimming pool or the local park."When wealthier folks move into lower-income neighborhoods, that gentrification also attracts pricier retail, restaurants, and other amenities that many longtime residents can't afford or don't feel comfortable using. Sweetgreen, Soho House, and SoulCycle are third places only to some. As Leslie Kern, an urban scholar and author, put it, "If your greasy spoon isn't there anymore and now it's a $5 or $6 cup of coffee, instead of a $1 or $2 cup with free refills all day, that's a big barrier." Community-oriented developments like Culdesac, which will offer only market-rate apartments, are also exclusive.The more things to do, the more people come, the more comfortable people are, the more they interact.For a time, malls and their food courts served as relatively effective third spaces, says Kern. Though they were privately owned bastions of commercialism, all kinds of people could hang out in them, without needing to spend money. They had heating, air conditioning, and bathrooms. But Hot Topic is no longer a hot topic — as the retail apocalypse continues, malls have been dying in droves.For the few free-to-affordable third places that remain, says Kern, "there's a lot of pressure" on them "to address, in some way, a lot of challenging social and economic problems." The result: Café workers are fired for feeding homeless people, teens are barred from Chick-fil-A, and older people are limited to 20 minutes at a McDonald's table.There might be less pressure on private spaces, experts say, if there were attractive and accessible parks, community centers, and other public places.Building for social connection"Does the government have a role to play in making sure that every small town has a pub or a local restaurant?" Murphy says. "Maybe not. But we should at least be exploring those questions."In July, Murphy introduced legislation to form a national strategy to combat loneliness. The bill would create an Office of Social Connection Policy to advise the president and federal agencies on boosting social infrastructure and developing national guidelines for preventing loneliness, and send $5 million a year for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to research the prevalence of loneliness.Murphy also wants to see funds from the 2021 infrastructure bill support more vibrant downtowns and concentrated development, rather than sprawl. And he wants to use tax policy "to help the bottom lines of small retailers, instead of padding the pockets of the big quasi-monopolistic retailers."Urban planners have also gained a lot of knowledge about the types of places that foster social connection, and the types that don't. "What we call parks look like parking lots with some grass on them, perhaps a baseball diamond. That's not the kind of park that draws people in," Tayana Panova, a researcher who studies the built environment's effects on mental health, told me. "We need parks that have amenities and assets that make it desirable for people to go there." A third space of dreams isn't a barren field. It also includes pools, benches, art, fountains, playgrounds, and food stands — things people gather at. As the climate warms, shade and water are increasingly necessary in outdoor spaces. Culdesac, situated just outside the hottest major city in America, won't have any asphalt and is maximizing shade to cool the neighborhood.The more things to do, the more people come, the more comfortable people are, the more they interact. Mitchell Reardon, the director of urban planning at the Canadian design firm Happy Cities, pointed to a 2014 study his firm did in Seattle called "the lost-tourist experiment." An actor pretended to be lost on two different street corners, one beside a long blank wall and nothing else, and one next to a bunch of shops and cafés. The "tourist" did their best to look confused and waited for a stranger to volunteer to help them get oriented. On the street with shops, people were four times as likely to stop and offer help than on the street with the wall. One person on the bustling corner even asked the tourist on a date."It's really important for people to have space to have a spectrum of participation, to kind of passively observe, actively observe, dip your toes in actually getting involved, and then being fully involved," Reardon said. "The fundamental rule of public space is that what attracts people most is other people."New York City has fewer than 1,200 public toilets for its 8.5 million residents.Urban designers have also found that communities need to be part of the process of designing their shared spaces to ensure they're used. Smith told me she recently visited a new community space in Rochester, Minnesota, where a group of immigrant women had been deeply engaged in designing the place. "When they were celebrating Eid, they wanted to celebrate it in one of these public spaces because they had been in on it from the beginning," she said.Another surefire way to get more Americans to hang out: Legalize public drinking.As Kristen Ghodsee, an ethnographer who's a professor of Russian and East European Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, noted, public drinking is widespread and celebrated throughout Europe. In Germany, they have a term for the beer you drink as you walk to the next bar, a "wegbier." The US already has regulations around unruly or antisocial behavior that could result from public drinking, Reardon, another proponent of legalized public drinking, said. So it's counterproductive to stop responsible drinkers from enjoying themselves in parks, at street fairs, and in other public places.People also might go to more places if they had more places to go — public bathrooms. "The key to harmonious living among many people that are not related is lots of toilets," Ghodsee said. "And they knew that in the ninth century," pointing to an architectural drawing from AD 820 of the ideal Benedictine monastery that was full of toilets.The US, however, has largely neglected this most basic amenity. There are an average of eight public toilets for every 100,000 people in the US, but access to facilities varies widely. New York City has fewer than 1,200 public toilets for its 8.5 million residents. It's a dire situation, and a group of city-council members recently introduced a bill to build another 3,100 toilets in the next 12 years. By contrast, countries like the UK and Switzerland have many more public toilets per capita. Some even double as public art.People are also willing to pay a premium to live in walkable neighborhoods with lots of third places. Homebuyers in the biggest US cities pay 35% more to live in walkable areas and renters pay 41% more. An overwhelming majority of people say they want to live within an easy walk of amenities like shops and parks and near public transit, a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors found.Some developers, Culdesac included, are also responding to these demands and building their own 15-minute cities. In Houston, the developer Concept Neighborhood is building a $350 million walkable community with 1,000 homes "around lifestyle-enhancing public infrastructure including transit, trails, bike lanes and parks," according to its website. Another developer is transforming a former strip mall in Austin into a car-light, mixed-use development adjacent to a new light rail.There are all kinds of ways to combat loneliness, from individual lifestyle changes to national public investments. The surgeon general has called for a multipronged approach, including investing in paid family leave and accessible mass transit; training healthcare providers to address social disconnection among patients; and reforming digital safety rules. The first pillar of his approach, though, is bringing people together through social infrastructure. Fundamentally, society needs places where people aren't alone.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Men and older Americans are eating the most beef. Just 12% of Americans ate half of all the beef consumed in the US in a day. Americans most likely to eat beef were men or people aged 50 to 65, a study found.vectorjuice/Getty ImagesJust 12% of Americans are eating half of all the beef consumed in the US in a day, a study found.Those most likely to eat beef were men or people aged 50 to 65.There could be benefits for the planet even if only some people ditched beef for another protein.Americans savoring the last bits of summer this Labor Day weekend might be barbecuing, picnicking, or trying a new restaurant.There's a good chance beef is on the menu, especially for men or people ages 50 to 65.These two groups were more likely to eat a disproportionate amount of beef in a day, according to a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients. About 12% of Americans reported that kind of diet, accounting for half the nation's beef consumption that day.The study, which was partially funded by the environmental advocacy group Center for Biological Diversity, could help target educational and marketing campaigns that encourage more climate-friendly diets, Diego Rose, a coauthor of the study and professor and nutrition program director at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, told Insider.The food and agriculture industry accounts for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions globally, driven in part by cattle that burp methane and require vast swaths of land to graze on. Beef produces an estimated 8 to 10 times more emissions than chicken, and 50 times more than beans."Beef is an environmentally extravagant protein," Rose said. "It's kind of like the Hummer of animal proteins."Rose added that he didn't expect such a small percentage of Americans to account for an outsized amount of beef consumption."This was a big surprise to us," he said.A "disproportionate" amount of beef was defined as four or more ounces a day — similar to a McDonald's Quarter Pounder before it's cooked. US Agriculture Department guidelines suggest eating four ounces per day of meat, poultry, and eggs combined for those eating 2,200 calories in a day.McDonald's Quarter Pounder.Erin McDowell/InsiderResearchers analyzed data from a federal nutrition survey that asks more than 10,000 adults to report what they ate during the previous 24-hour period. Rose acknowledged this was a limitation of the study, because what people ate in one day might not be typical of their regular diets.Still, the findings suggest there could be big benefits for the planet even if only a small number of people swap out beef for another protein. After all, the US is the second-largest beef consumer per-capita in the world behind Argentina.Some people will be resistant to change, Rose said, noting that beef is often entangled with the culture wars and the American identity. But others might not realize how much they're eating and be open to substituting beef for another protein with a lower carbon footprint."We tend to think of beef as a steak or a brisket," Rose said. "But that's about one-third of what's consumed on any given day. The other two-thirds are from mixed dishes like soups, stews, pastas, and burritos. There's a way to cut back on beef in all of those dishes if you're concerned about your health or the environment."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

In this article, we will be looking at a brief overview of the American education system, the basis of US illiteracy as well as the 25 most illiterate cities in America. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 Most Illiterate Cities in America. Education in the US […] In this article, we will be looking at a brief overview of the American education system, the basis of US illiteracy as well as the 25 most illiterate cities in America. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 Most Illiterate Cities in America. Education in the US The education sector in the United States is classified into primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. The primary level encompasses all elementary grades before high school. Secondary education consists of junior and senior high school. Finally, tertiary education refers to bachelor’s and further postgraduate studies. The education system includes both public and private institutions. Public institutes are government funded and supervised while private institutes determine their own policies and curriculum. Roots of US Illiteracy In general, literacy refers to the ability to read and write. The US National Center for Education Statistics reports that it measures functional literacy in the country which includes the ability to read, document, and perform calculations based on data. In 2022, the National Assessment of Educational Progress reported that approximately one-third of students in fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades are proficient in reading. The situation even gets worse for certain groups such as people from a different race, older generations, and those who belong to low-income groups. Let’s dive into why illiteracy is present in the country in the first place. The stem of illiteracy in the US emerges in both child and adult categories. As for children in the United States, the literacy problem starts at the school entry level. The Children’s Reading Foundation reports that 4 out of 10 children in the US enter kindergarten with skills lower than the level required. Similarly, some students even start school with a 1-year gap. Thus, students who tend to be behind form the largest group of dropouts, and they only have a 12% chance of attending a university degree of four years. In the case of adult literacy, the level of education plays a significant role. Apart from the US adults who don’t get an education at all, some adults who usually have just done high school tend to bring average literacy levels lower for all the others who actively participate in higher studies. A survey regarding adult skills by the OECD reported that US adults performed poorly in responding to written texts. They even showed slightly higher than average performance while using mathematical concepts and interpreting information in digital environments regardless of attaining education. Penetration of Edtech in the US In a state of what analysts refer to as the silent literacy crisis for the US, there are several edtech companies that aim to change the current dynamics. The most widely used edtech platforms in the US include Udacity, Inc.,  Udemy Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY), Stride, Inc.(NYSE:LRN), 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU), and StartEd. Since the pandemic hit the country, there has been a booming trend of remote learning and skill development especially among the youth. Based in California, Udacity, Inc. is an online education provider that offers different skill development courses related to data science, programming, business, AI, and product management. It is really popular in the US since job seekers tend to develop essential skills through it. The company reports that 50% of the students who completed the nano degree program, which comprises a number of courses, at Udacity, Inc. got a 33% raise in their pay after graduating from the program. This demonstrates how the platform helps US adults and teenagers become more technologically literate and contribute more to the job market. Udemy Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) is another leading company to introduce technology to learning in the US. The company offers many different courses for job-related skill acquisition among the youth. The company has joined hands with many others in the edtech industry, one of which is Degreed. As the company reported, Udemy Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY) helps corporate employees access many in-demand courses to develop skills on Decreed. An educated workforce hence contributes to better numbers for national literacy. Stride, Inc. (NYSE:LRN) is a known name in the American education system. It is based in Virginia and serves 1 million students around the world, mostly in the United States. The firm has a partnership with 21K school for the US students to learn from an extensive American curriculum. 21K school, which is Asia’s leading online school, reported that it offers 170 electives under this partnership with Stride, Inc. (NYSE:LRN). The company has also collaborated with Southern New Hampshire University. On January 17, Stride, Inc. (NYSE:LRN) reported that Southern New Hampshire University would be offering discounted online courses to high school graduates under this partnership with the company. This initiative was especially taken to relieve many American students from the growing burden of debt acquired to pay for higher education. 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) is another edtech firm famous in the US. It partners with the top US universities to enable them to facilitate the students through online learning. Its top partners include renowned names such as Arizona State University, Harvard University, Michigan State University, and the London School of Economics and Political Science. On August 15, the company reported that it partnered with Drake State Technical and Community College to help learners in Huntsville take part in an online boot camp related to data analytics and cyber security, that too without any cost. This upcoming collaboration will contribute to the technical skill development among Huntsville’s citizens, especially disadvantaged groups like low-income groups or women. StartEd is a popular platform that helps edtech companies at different stages, be it product development or connecting them with edtech investors. In April, Google Cloud announced its partnership with StartEd which enables US-based edtech firms to apply to this program through which they can avail corporate coaching, technical support, and networking with industry experts. The idea behind this collaboration was to enable edtech companies to provide seamless and better education in the United States. Outcomes of Illiteracy Literacy corresponds directly to personal income, employment levels, health, and overall economic growth. The Barbara Bush Foundation reported that the average income of an adult who is at the minimum proficient literacy level tends to be almost twice the amount earned by somebody at a low literacy level. It also reveals that if all US adults reach this bare minimum literacy level, they can contribute $2.2 trillion in annual income. Literacy is also linked with health since better health literacy leads to quick diagnosis and adherence to medical instructions. The Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies reported that US adults who have low literacy levels tend to have poorer health than literate individuals. Regardless of the situation of literacy in some cities of the US, Udemy Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY), Stride, Inc.(NYSE:LRN), and 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) continue to efficiently educate many Americans online. Now that we have taken a look at the illiteracy situation in the country, we can analyze the 25 most illiterate cities in America. Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com Methodology In order to create a list of the 25 most illiterate states in America, we utilized data from the US Census Bureau. This data was taken from the Education Attainment database. We considered certain metrics to define a literate person. We used the population enrolled in high school as our primary metric. To expand our research, we also used the population enrolled in college as a secondary metric. This population covers the age group of 18 to 24.  Please note that the population enrolled in college will represent those who have completed high school. The last metric we used was the population with a Bachelor’s degree, which corresponds to individuals who have passed out of college, aged above 25.  Thus, we gave first priority to the population enrolled in high school followed by the population enrolled in college and the population with a bachelor’s degree. We have considered the top 50 US Metropolitan Statistical Areas with a population greater than 1 million for our research. We created a list of the 25 most illiterate cities in the United States in ascending order of their populations enrolled in high school, college, and those with a bachelor’s degree, as follows: 25. Portland Population Enrolled in High School: 73,573 Population Enrolled in College: 77,346 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 468,388 Portland makes it to the list of the top 25 US cities known to be illiterate. The adult literacy rates are very low. Many students have a basic reading level which is not adequate as per their grade level. 24. Austin Population Enrolled in High School: 70,529 Population Enrolled in College: 84,726 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 512,424 Austin is one of the 25 most illiterate cities in the United States. It is the capital city of Texas, a known US state. Some of the adults in the city have limited proficiency in English and many students fail to get a high school diploma thereby contributing to high illiteracy. 23. Pittsburgh Population Enrolled in High School: 69,936 Population Enrolled in College: 66,984 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 389,763 Located in Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, is another US city that has a low literacy level. Many adults in the city experience unemployment since they do not have the literary skills required for a job. 22. Nashville Population Enrolled in High School: 63,122 Population Enrolled in College: 69,587 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 357,851 Another illiterate city in the United States is Nashville. The Nashville Public Library helps the local adults to develop reading and writing skills. However, the literacy numbers are still low for the city. 21. Indianapolis Population Enrolled in High School: 62,992 Population Enrolled in College: 60,110 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 346,920 Indianapolis also makes it to the list of the top illiterate cities in America. This is because there are many adults who do not even have a high school diploma and lack the basic skills of comprehension. 20. Columbus Population Enrolled in High School: 62,559 Population Enrolled in College: 81,570 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 354,227 Columbus is the most populated city in Ohio, US. It is also one of the most illiterate cities in the country as some adults in the city can’t even read while students struggle with reading at their schools. 19. Kansas City Population Enrolled in High School: 61,098 Population Enrolled in College: 64,965 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 365,996 Kansas City is situated in the midwestern part of the United States. It is also one of the US cities to lack literacy since many adults in the city have a reading level below the one required for fifth grade. Hence, Kansas is among the top illiterate cities in the country. Investors who are interested in the US edtech industry can look up Udemy Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY), Stride, Inc.(NYSE:LRN), and 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU). 18. Cleveland Population Enrolled in High School: 60,072 Population Enrolled in College: 65,971 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 303,162 Located in Ohio, Cleveland, is one of the most illiterate US cities. This is because the overall illiteracy rate is significantly high in the region while adult literacy is an even bigger issue for the city. 17. Oklahoma City Population Enrolled in High School: 51,950 Population Enrolled in College: 57,525 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 202,082 Oklahoma City is the capital of the state of Oklahoma. Some of the adults in the city have a basic literacy level while some fall even below the basic literacy level, making it one of the US cities with significantly low literacy rates. 16. Milwaukee Population Enrolled in High School: 49,299 Population Enrolled in College: 49,475 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 272,652 Milwaukee has a lot of illiterate adults and children who do not perform well on their reading tests since their reading skills are limited. Thus, Milwaukee is one of the most illiterate cities in the United States. 15. Memphis Population Enrolled in High School: 48,852 Population Enrolled in College: 40,133 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 169,981 Another city in the US that doesn’t do well in literacy statistics is Memphis. Memphis is located in the US state of Tennessee. 1 in 7 adults in the city cannot read above sixth-grade level thereby making the city one of the most illiterate cities in the country. 14. Jacksonville Population Enrolled in High School: 48,841 Population Enrolled in College: 50,671 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 263,566 Based in Florida, Jacksonville, is known to have children who are unable to read at their grade level. Early literacy is an issue and hence, Jacksonville is one of the illiterate states in the US. Some companies dominating the US education technology sector include Udemy Inc. (NASDAQ:UDMY), Stride, Inc.(NYSE:LRN), and 2U Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU). 13. Salt Lake City Population Enrolled in High School: 47,052 Population Enrolled in College: 46,246 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 189,318 The capital of Utah, Salt Lake City, is known to be one of the most illiterate US cities. Adult literacy is a problem in the city as many adults struggle to even read thereby bringing the literacy rate lower. 12. Richmond Population Enrolled in High School: 40,469 Population Enrolled in College: 45,365 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 219,962 One of the 25 cities in the United States that are known for illiteracy is Richmond. It is the capital city of Virginia. The city even has adults who do not know how to fill out an application form or read a bus schedule. 11. Tucson Population Enrolled in High School: 39,850 Population Enrolled in College: 48,697 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 139,300 Tucson is another city in the US that is known to have low literacy. It is located in Arizona. The city has many students who can’t read at their grade level and adults who can read only at a basic level. 10. Raleigh Population Enrolled in High School: 38,500 Population Enrolled in College: 52,195 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 299,161 Raleigh is a US city which is based in North Carolina. The city needs to focus on its early literacy levels to develop grade-level knowledge in students. Hence, Raleigh has a low rate of literacy and is one of the most illiterate US cities. 9. Louisville Population Enrolled in High School: 37,715 Population Enrolled in College: 41,487 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 173,456 Another city that fails to achieve adequate literacy levels is Louisville. The city has a large adult population with a basic education, making it one of the most illiterate cities in the United States. 8. Tulsa Population Enrolled in High School: 37,412 Population Enrolled in College: 30,292 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 138,417 Tulsa is another US city that has a low literacy rate. Adult literacy is high and a significant issue in the city. Thus, Tulsa is also one of the 25 most illiterate states in the US. 7. Urban Honolulu Population Enrolled in High School: 37,376 Population Enrolled in College: 32,268 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 162,253 Based in Hawaii is the city of Urban Honolulu, which ranks as one of the most illiterate US cities. High homelessness in the city contributes to illiteracy over here. 6. Fresno Population Enrolled in High School: 36,885 Population Enrolled in College: 39,862 Population Holding a Bachelor’s Degree: 99,450 Fresno is a major city in California. It has a high rate of functional illiteracy which implies that the adults in the city do not even have basic literacy skills. Hence, Fresno is one of the 25 most illiterate cities in America. Click to continue reading and see 5 Most Illiterate Cities in America. Suggested articles: 10 Best Value Penny Stocks to Buy 15 Highest Paying Countries for Economists 25 Most Civilized Countries in the World Disclosure: None. 25 Most Illiterate Cities in America is originally published on Insider Monkey......»»

Nearly 9 in 10 Gen Z investors surveyed said they actively traded stocks in 2023 due to high inflation and interest, according to a Bankrate survey. Gen Z investors sway harder to the beat of rising inflation and higher interest rates than their older peers. But passive investing beats pro trading, says an analyst.Getty Images Gen Z outpaces all other age groups in active stock trading, according to a Bankrate survey. However, a Bankrate analyst says they should become more passive investors. Gen Z investors aren't just bailing out of the market either. They are also more likely to buy stock than other groups. In a year marked by high inflation and interest rates, Gen Z has emerged as the group most likely to be active on the stock market.But that isn't the best play, according to one analyst."The evidence has been shown over and over again: passive investing beats the vast majority of investors, including the pros," wrote Bankrate analyst James Royal in an article published Saturday."While you may be tempted to sell for any number of reasons, such as market volatility, you need to remain a passive investor if you want to earn the index's long-term return," he wrote.His advice was aimed at younger investors — nearly 9 in 10 Gen Z investors surveyed said they actively traded stocks in 2023 in response to high inflation and interest, according to a Bankrate survey published in May. 3,676 US adults responded to the survey conducted in April.This level of trading activity was more than any other group. In comparison, only 35% of baby boomer investors say they actively traded in the same period, while only 2 in 3 millennial investors said they did so.The same survey notes that Gen Z investors aren't just bailing out of the market. In fact, they are more likely to buy stock than other age groups.Over half, or 53%, of Gen Z investors said they expect to invest in stock-related investments in 2023, compared to just 19% of Gen X investors and 9% of baby boomer investors.A previous survey suggests that the fear of missing out, or FOMO, might play a role.Over 40% of Gen Z investors in the US, Canada, and the UK cited FOMO as a major factor behind their decision to start investing, according to a survey by the CFA Institute and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Investor Education Foundation, published in May.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Nearly 9 in 10 Gen Z investors surveyed said they actively traded stocks in 2023 due to high inflation and interest, according to a Bankrate survey. Gen Z investors sway harder to the beat of rising inflation and higher interest rates than their older peers. But passive investing beats pro trading, says an analyst.Getty Images Gen Z outpaces all other age groups in active stock trading, according to a Bankrate survey. However, a Bankrate analyst says they should become more passive investors. Gen Z investors aren't just bailing out of the market either. They are also more likely to buy stock than other groups. In a year marked by high inflation and interest rates, Gen Z has emerged as the group most likely to be active on the stock market.But that isn't the best play, according to one analyst."The evidence has been shown over and over again: passive investing beats the vast majority of investors, including the pros," wrote Bankrate analyst James Royal in an article published Saturday."While you may be tempted to sell for any number of reasons, such as market volatility, you need to remain a passive investor if you want to earn the index's long-term return," he wrote.His advice was aimed at younger investors — nearly 9 in 10 Gen Z investors surveyed said they actively traded stocks in 2023 in response to high inflation and interest, according to a Bankrate survey published in May. 3,676 US adults responded to the survey conducted in April.This level of trading activity was more than any other group. In comparison, only 35% of baby boomer investors say they actively traded in the same period, while only 2 in 3 millennial investors said they did so.The same survey notes that Gen Z investors aren't just bailing out of the market. In fact, they are more likely to buy stock than other age groups.Over half, or 53%, of Gen Z investors said they expect to invest in stock-related investments in 2023, compared to just 19% of Gen X investors and 9% of baby boomer investors.A previous survey suggests that the fear of missing out, or FOMO, might play a role.Over 40% of Gen Z investors in the US, Canada, and the UK cited FOMO as a major factor behind their decision to start investing, according to a survey by the CFA Institute and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Investor Education Foundation, published in May.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

'Gen Z' Job Attitudes Compared With Other Generations Young working adults from Gen Z - born between 1997-2012 - so far have a different relationship with their employers than other generations. Gone are the days of sticking with one company for an entire 40-year career. According to Oliver Wyman, Gen Z workers shop around when it comes to work: 62% of them are actively or passively looking for new jobs. In the chart below, Visual Capitalist's Avery Koop and Bhabna Banerjee, using data from Oliver Wyman’s Gen-Z Report (2023), showcase the generational divides of survey respondents who said they were either actively or passively looking for new work. The survey assessed 10,000 adults in the United States and United Kingdom. The Survey Results As of 2023, Gen Z already makes up approximately 15% of the workforce in the U.S. and UK. By 2031, that share is predicted to climb to 31%, second only to millennials. And many in this young, up-and-coming labor force are more open about seeking alternative employment compared to their older counterparts: While millennials follow closely behind, far fewer Gen Xers and baby boomers are seeking new roles. Part of this, however, could simply be that those in older generations are far more established in their roles or careers, and are less actively looking for change. Regardless, Gen Z is incredibly flexible. When compared to other generations, they are also more than twice as likely to have an additional job on the side of their main role. Shifting Approach to Work One of the biggest reasons Gen Z actively scours available job postings is because of economic disparities between generations. Of Gen Z workers, 37% feel underpaid for the amount of hours they work, compared to 29% of non-Gen Z workers. Gen Z women in particular were found to be almost 60% more likely than Gen Z men to leave a job in search of better compensation. On top of consistently seeking better pay, Gen Z also wants to retire earlier. Looking at average U.S. and UK data, Gen Z’s ideal retirement age is astoundingly young at 54 years old, but most don’t realistically expect to be retired until 60. Gen Z is important to watch as they are the most diverse, most educated, and most technological savvy generation in history. How they want to work will become increasingly important for employers to consider in order to keep them invested. Tyler Durden Mon, 08/21/2023 - 05:45.....»»

Americans More Likely To Turn To Religion For Meaning "What makes life meaningful?" This is an open-ended question asked in a 2021 survey by Pew Research Center to 17 advanced economies. Analysts found that while many people find meaning in their surroundings, both in terms of society and nature, some also mentioned religion. As Statista's Anna Fleck shows in the following graphic, religion and spirituality was mentioned more frequently among US adults, compared to those living in other advanced economies.  Pew analysts also ranked the most frequently mentioned topics, finding that in the US religion came up as the fifth most highly mentioned topic.  By contrast, only one percent of French respondents mentioned spirituality, faith and religion when describing what gives them meaning in life.  Even for this one percent, the topic was less front of mind than it was for their US counterparts, ranking in 15th place. You will find more infographics at Statista These figures may seem low due to the open-ended nature of the question, which increases the range of different possible responses. Respondents who answered with reference to God or to religious communities, church attendance and general mention of spirituality or a higher power were counted for these results. According to the Pew Research Center, mention of religion was fairly similar across age, income, education or gender categories.  That is, apart from in the US, where older adults and Republicans or Republican-leaning independents were more likely to mention the topic than Democrats. Tyler Durden Wed, 08/16/2023 - 23:20.....»»