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☆ New Rule for Buying a Home: Fire Your Real-Estate Agent
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Albert Fox Cahn | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

She had never purchased a home, and as a lawyer, I just assumed I knew how the system worked: The buyer has an agent, but the seller pays a commission (typically 6% of the sale price) that's split between their agent and the buyer's agent. So my agent wasn't going to find me my dream house, and the work of hunting was basically on me. But the real-estate industry has made it hard for many buyers to understand just how little having an agent can help. The class-action settlement with the NAR is going to make it a lot harder for sellers to be forced to pay for buyers' agents. Going forward, for people like me without an agent, a savvy seller may pay just 3% of the sales price to their own agent instead of 6% to be split with a buyer's agent.

Persons: it's, vouched, Obvious, Stephen Brobeck, Alice, Wonderland, I'd, I've, —, cosmically, Brobeck Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Hunger, US Department of Justice, Realtors, Consumer Federation of America, New York City, NAR Locations: Brooklyn, New York City, McCarren, Williamsburg, New York

☆ Pluto’s heart was likely created by an ancient collision
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A deep basin called Sputnik Planitia, which makes up the “left lobe” of the heart, is home to much of Pluto’s nitrogen ice. The New Horizons spacecraft took an image of Pluto's heart on July 14, 2015. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/NASAThrough new research on Sputnik Planitia, an international team of scientists has determined that a cataclysmic event created the heart. The teardrop shape of Sputnik Planitia is a result of the frigidity of Pluto’s core, as well as the relatively low velocity of the impact itself, the team found. The researchers believe that the new theory regarding Pluto’s heart could shed more light on how the mysterious dwarf planet formed.

Persons: Clybe Tombaugh, Pluto, it’s, ”, Harry Ballantyne, Erik Asphaug, ” Asphaug, “ That’s, Sputnik Planitia, Martin Jutzi, Kelsi Singer, ” Singer Organizations: CNN, Regio, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Research Institute, NASA, Sputnik, Pluto, University of Bern, University of Arizona’s, Laboratory, University of Bern’s Physics, Kelsi, Southwest Research, New Locations: United States, Switzerland, Boulder , Colorado

☆ Netflix is shifting strategy away from big-budget action flicks and big-name stars. Here's its new plan.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dan Lin, Netflix's new film chief, wants to diversify its movie offerings. Dan Lin, the company's new film chief, now wants to change that, according to The New York Times. Netflix's previous film chief, Scott Stuber, left the company in January following clashes with bosses over what kinds of films to produce. AdvertisementLin quickly went to work reorganizing the company's film department, laying off 15 of its 150 film department staff, and reorganizing the department by budget rather than genre, according to the outlet. Lin also "indicated that Netflix is no longer only the home of expensive action flicks featuring big movie stars."

Persons: Dan Lin, —, Mark Wahlberg, Wahlberg, Critics, Robert P, Scott Stuber, Bela Bajaria, Bajaria, Lin Organizations: Service, Netflix, The New York Times, Business, Rotten, Times

☆ One man’s artistic wonderland, created secretly in rented apartment, given protected status
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Gittins surrounded the fireplace in this room with a large minotaur head, above which he painted portraits of Greek philosophers. Together they established the Wirral Arts and Culture Community Land Trust (WACCLT), which launched a crowdfunding campaign through the website Ron’s Place, applied for listed status and eventually bought the building last year. Now, the property has been granted “Grade II” listing by Britain’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of national heritage body Historic England. Ron’s Place is the first example of Outsider Art to be given protected status in England, according to Historic England. There is little to hint at what lies behind the front door of this red-brick house in Birkenhead, England.

Persons: Ron Gittins, Gittins, Jan Williams, “, ”, Williams, Chris Teasdale, Ron, ” Williams, ‘, I’ve, Tate, Jarvis Cocker, Cocker Organizations: London CNN, Historic, CNN, Wirral Arts, Culture, Land Trust, “, Britain’s Department for Culture, Media, Sport, England Locations: British, Birkenhead, Liverpool, England, Egypt, Georgian England, Historic England, Jan Williams . Historic England, Ron’s, Birkenhead , England

☆ Knowing my husband's location was great. Then, I caught him in a lie and became obsessed with checking it constantly.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Carolyn Wynnack | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I caught him in a lie and I became obsessed with tracking where he was. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementMy husband and I were married a little over seven years the first time either of us shared our location with the other. I became obsessed with tracking his locationWe vowed to rebuild our relationship, but I became obsessed with tracking his location, watching it — and him — religiously. Our marriage ended not long after, its demise not caused, but also not avoided, by the transparency offered by a shared location.

Persons: —, We'd Organizations: Service, Vigilance, Google Locations: Seattle, Arizona

☆ Great Lakes small businesses and ski areas pivot following a record warm winter
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Whitney Wild | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

All told, eight states experienced a record-warm season, including Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and Minnesota, plus North Dakota, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire. Instead of a winter wonderland, the past several months have offered tourists less snow, less ice aind less opportunity for some outdoor activities. According to the BEA, snow activities in states clustered around the Great Lakes add hundreds of millions of dollars to the region’s economy. For example, Wisconsin snow activities added $83.6 million in 2022, according to the BEA, and roughly $130 million in Michigan the same year. “The identity of the UP and especially Marquette is very much tied to the winter season and always has been.

Persons: Kelli, ”, –, “, Covid, I’ve, Tim Waltz, Susan Estler, ” Estler, Erin Hooley, Darlene Welch, Estler, Christopher Germain Christopher Germain, Germain, ” Germain Organizations: Chicago CNN, National Center for Environmental Information, US Drought Monitor, Small Business Administration, ”, Travel Marquette, CNN, BEA, Lake Superior Community Partnership Locations: Gwinn , Michigan, Marquette, Wisconsin , Michigan, New York, Minnesota, North Dakota , Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Michigan , Minnesota, Marquette , Michigan, Lake Michigan, Montrose Harbor, Chicago, Alaska, “, Estler

☆ Nicolas Cage says he probably didn't get paid for his Oscar-winning role in 'Leaving Las Vegas' — but he doesn't care
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Caralynn Matassa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Nicolas Cage said it's probably true he didn't get paid for "Leaving Las Vegas." AdvertisementNicolas Cage may have left a paycheck behind when he was leaving Las Vegas. Cage told BI he feels similarly. "I got to play a part that I absolutely had to play," he told BI. Well, yes, it is, but it's also not only that," Cage told BI.

Persons: Nicolas Cage, it's, didn't, Oscar, —, Ben Sanderson, Cage, Mike Figgis, Figgis wasn't, Cage's —, Mandy, Lon Chaney, Ben Brewer, Cage's, Mike Nilon Organizations: Service, Las Vegas, Globe, SXSW, TV, Business Locations: Las Vegas, Hollywood

Learn moreAmazon's third-generation Echo Buds are the brand's most budget-friendly headphones yet. Amazon Echo Buds (2023) Amazon's third-generation Echo Buds lack noise cancellation, but they sound solid for the money and include hands-free Alexa support on a budget. And unlike more expensive headphones, the third-gen Echo Buds don't come with active noise cancellation (ANC) to help reduce background sounds that might interfere with your music. Sarah Saril/InsiderDespite their drawbacks, the Echo Buds are still a solid budget choice for users of multiple devices. Sarah Saril/InsiderThe Echo Buds (3rd Gen) aren't for everyone, but they have their appeal.

Persons: Sarah Saril, Alexa, there's, earbuds, Lizzy McAlpine, Alison Wonderland, aren't, that's, Bose Organizations: Business, Alexa, Amazon, Sony, Bose, Samsung, Apple, ANC

☆ Why this snowy Japanese island is a food lover’s paradise
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Milly Chan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Hokkaido, Japan CNN —Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, is unlike anywhere else in the country. Chef Tomoyuki Takao in the kitchen of his eponymous Hokkaido restaurant. “I realized that the indigenous Ainu people were the most knowledgeable about the forest,” Takao says. It was the first Japanese wine ever served in the iconic restaurant Noma in Copenhagen, and is a firm favorite on Takao’s wine list. The ocean’s winter bountyVideo Ad Feedback Discover why these clams taste best in winter 06:25 - Source: CNNSeafood is an integral part of Hokkaido’s food culture.

Persons: Tomoyuki Takao, CNN “, “, ” Takao, Takao, ”, Sonoko Fukae, “ I’ve, Yu Uchida, Uchida, ” Uchida, Japow isn’t, Soga, Yoichi, Soga’s, ” Takahiko, Akio Kashiwamura, ” Kashiwamura, Kashiwamura, doesn’t, Akemi Yokoyama, Kazuki Akazawa, Akazawa, it’s Organizations: CNN, Japan CNN, Michelin, European, Ebetsu, ”, CNN Seafood Locations: Hokkaido, Japan, Sapporo, French, Honshu, Shikisai, Copenhagen, Takao, Burgundy, France, Okhotsk, ”, Notsuke, Tomakomai

☆ How Azzi Glasser uses fragrance to help Hollywood celebrities tell a story
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Susan Griffin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Her character was a chain-smoking alcoholic psychiatrist, but Bonham Carter hadn’t gone “method”; she had simply spritzed herself with a bespoke fragrance created specifically for her by fragrance designer Azzi Glasser. Now, a bespoke fragrance from Glasser can cost up to £15,000 ($19,000), though she also offers a lower-priced collection of fragrances to enable people to discover their own fragrance DNA. To play King Henry VIII in upcoming movie Firebrand, actor Jude Law told Azzi Glasser he wanted to smell exactly like the king would have, despite knowing it would be repulsive. “As actors know, fragrance can transform you and take you on a journey. It opens up passages and doors in the brain, working through the olfactory system to bring out emotions,” noted Glasser.

Persons: Helena Bonham Carter, Bonham Carter hadn’t, Azzi Glasser, Enid, Glasser, ”, Bonham Carter, Enid Blyton, Harry Potter ”, “ Alice, Miss Havisham, Azzi “ Helena couldn’t, Alicia Vikander, Noomi Rapace, Damian Lewis, Orlando Bloom, Stephen Fry, Kylie Minogue, Adam Lambert, Johnny Depp, ” Depp, Barnabas, “ Azzi, “ We’ll, I’ll, Jude Law’s, ulcerated Henry VIII, King Henry VIII, Jude Law, Jude, “, Pope, ‘, Henry, ’, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Austin Butler, Kaia Gerber, Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber, David Linley, Princess Margaret, Antony Armstrong, Jones — Glasser, Cindy Crawford's, Azzi “ David Organizations: CNN, Azzi Locations: London, ”, Wonderland, India

☆ These are the best scenic family road trips for families, from a parent and travel expert who's been to all 50 states.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Taryn White | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Road trips are the ultimate symbol of freedom, discovery, and the boundless beauty of the US. As a travel expert, I believe these three incredible routes are the best if you're looking to go on an amazing road trip experience with your own family. AdvertisementTake a road trip through ArizonaFrom majestic mountains to captivating canyons, Arizona's glorious scenery cannot be fully realized by visiting just one destination. For a rush of adrenaline, set out on a whitewater rafting excursion with companies like Advantage Grand Canyon. Families can also take a boat cruise on Lake Powell and visit the Glen Canyon Dam.

Persons: I've, Dana Point, Battery, Taryn White, Coyote, Lake Powell Organizations: Business, Santa Barbara Zoo, San Luis Obispo, Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, Roanoke Star, Biltmore Estate, River Arts, Asheville Museum of Science, North Carolina Arboretum, Biltmore, Asheville Glamping, Railway Locations: California, Dana, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Ellwood, San Luis, Big, Carmel, Monterey, Golden, Battery Spencer, Virginia, North Carolina, North Carolina ., Shenandoah, Smoky, Crabtree Falls . Roanoke, Mountain, Meadows, Dan ,, Asheville, River Arts District, Bohemian, Arizona, Phoenix, Sedona, Boynton Canyon, Grand, El Tovar, Williams, Bend, Lake Powell

☆ They left the US for a new life abroad. Things didn’t all go to plan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. CNN —In travel news this week: trending flight routes around the world, the latest on Qantas’ record-breaking Project Sunrise, plus the Americans leaving the States behind for new lives overseas. She’s one of a number of influencers who’s struck a chord with people who love the fairytale fantasy of starting over with a new, better life. However, for the brave souls who take the plunge, things don’t always run smoothly or according to plan. But right now Death Valley National Park – the driest place in the country – is offering visitors a rare kayaking opportunity in a temporary lake in Badwater Basin.

Persons: “, ”, Kacie Rose Burns, who’s, skywatchers, you’re, Olivia, Noah, ” Expedia, there’s, There’s, Malcolm Park Organizations: CNN, Qantas, Expedia Group, Chicago, ”, Alaska Airlines, Ski Locations: America, United States, Italy, Chicago, Bahamas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Badwater Basin, North America, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Asia, Perth, Bali, Tampa, Toronto, Nevada, Australia, Sydney, New York, London, Montchavin, France

☆ The Death of Snow in America; Winters Are Getting Permanently Warmer
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Alexandria Herr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

These bands of snow just completely have missed Hayward," Shawn Connelly, the Birkebeiner Ski Foundation's marketing and communications director, said. The climate crisis is altering our winters forever — making them warmer, shorter, and less predictable. "I could not have envisioned a scenario where we could not make snow or we had no snow in January. Peter McClellandWith warmer weather eating into the peak of the season, it's getting harder and harder to sustain a winter-based business. If we get low snow, we're going to find that snow and use it as best we can to get out there."

Persons: Jocie Nelson, Nelson, Hayward, Shawn Connelly, Alexander Gottlieb, Justin Mankin, Snowpack, Gottlieb, we're, Claire Wilson, couldn't, Wilson, It's, Peter McClelland, McClelland, we've, Glenn Albrecht, —, Alexander Lee, it's, Kate Nordstrum, Nordstrum, Connelly, Alexandria Herr Organizations: Office, Northern, Nelson, Loppet Foundation, Alaska Pacific University, Loppet Locations: Minnesota, Hayward , Wisconsin, Midwest, Minneapolis, Minnesota's, Southwest, New York City, Great, Alexandria, Brooklyn

☆ Want to try this beef snack? Join the 43-year waitlist
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Taste of JapanIn Takasago City, Japan, a brand of frozen Kobe beef croquettes is so popular that the waiting list is longer than most mortgages. Bakery chain Kimuraya is advancing that further by using AI to produce “romance bread” targeted at the nation’s love-averse youth. The Japanese island of Kyushu is where sugar was first introduced to the country by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The island retains a sweet tooth to this day and is home to Japan’s most beloved sweet treats. Try to squeeze in as many as you can on a trip to the region.

Persons: Linda Ford, they’ve Organizations: CNN, JFK, JFK Airport, Air, Manhattan, Apple, City, Henley, of Locations: Japan, Takasago City, Kobe, Kyushu, Portuguese, Turkey’s, Georgia, Rize, Tokyo, Odawara, New, Air France, Paris, France, City of, Europe, Asia, of Malta, Superior, Costa Rica

☆ I tried working a full day wearing Apple's Vision Pro. It's the ultimate WFH device.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

I tried working from home using the Apple Vision Pro on Wednesday. And it turns out the Apple Vision Pro is perfect for remote workers like me who like to multitask. While working on the Vision Pro, I had multiple windows floating in my field of vision. I couldn't last more than 4 hours in the Vision Pro, and by lunchtime, I needed a break from screens. The Vision Pro keyboard is touch-to-type.

Persons: —, Jordan Hart Organizations: Apple, Service, Vision

☆ The future of the American amusement park in a Disney, Universal dominated world of thrills
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Kevin Williams | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

Eric Thayer | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThe theme park business, like many others, is consolidating and changing along with consumer habits. Coney's closing ended an era for Cincinnati-based theme park consultant Dennis Speigel. And there's an underlying rationale for the deal related to what's occurred on the national theme park landscape in recent decades. watch nowA more consistent ride at Cedar Fair Comparatively, Cedar Fair has seen its attendance decline from 22.9 million visitors in the first nine months of 2019 to 20.9 million in 2023. "Disney and Universal have theme parks in several global markets and are considered destination resorts," Baker said.

Persons: Eric Thayer, Knotts, Looney, Richard Zimmerman, Selim Bassoui, Universal, Dennis Speigel, Speigel, Don Helbig, Helbig, Zimmerman, Bassoul, David Katz, Jeffries, It's, Katz, Salim, Berry, Stifel, Carissa Baker, Baker, Dallas restauranteur Shannon Wynne's, Wynne, Wynne's, Angus, Louis, Texans haven't, hadn't, Elizabeth Ringas, Ringas, it's Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Disney, Comcast's, Cedar Fair, Flags, Looney Tunes, Marvel, Cedar, Department of Justice, Fair, Dominion, Universal, Google, Dell, Six, Revenue, Cedar Fair Entertainment, Six Flags Entertainment Corp, Getty Images Bloomberg, SIX, University of Central, SeaWorld, Paramount Parks, Premier Parks for Six, Seaworld, Dallas, Texans, American, Enthusiasts, Comcast, CNBC Locations: Valencia , California, Florida, Cincinnati, Coney Island, York, Coney's, Coney, Kings, Virginia, New York, North America, Buena Park , California, Americas, University of Central Florida, Texas, Dallas, Greater Atlanta, St

☆ ‘Sometimes I Think About Dying’ Review: Life, in Drab Gray
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Alissa Wilkinson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Her mental tableaux of death look as if they were staged by the artist Gregory Crewdson. She imagines standing alone in a nondescript finished office basement as a giant snake slithers by. She imagines death, essentially, as peace in the midst of ever-changing nature. By day, Fran (Daisy Ridley) dons drab business casual and works in the sort of space that makes the environs of “The Office” seem like a magical wonderland. By night, Fran’s life isn’t much more interesting, but at least she’s in control of it.

Persons: Fran, Gregory Crewdson, Daisy Ridley Locations: “, Pacific

The 300 volunteers were divided into eight teams, each named for a different Santa’s reindeer. The transformation — praised by Jill Biden, the first lady, as a result of “hard work and painstaking attention to detail” by the droves of volunteers — resulted in a holiday-themed White House overflowing with historical touches. No matter the administration, turning the White House complex into a wonderland is a feat that relies on donated materials and the time of volunteers. Here are a few numbers behind this year’s display. 200: Age of ‘’Twas the Night Before Christmas’When planning began this spring, Dr. Biden told her team that she wanted visitors to experience the décor through the eyes of a child.

Persons: Jill Biden, ’, Biden Organizations: House, Cross Locations: Nantucket

☆ I'm an American mom of 3 living in India. My kids learn multiple languages, and their schools focus more on STEM subjects.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Katherine Ernst Mehta | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementMy foray into the Indian school system began with education — not my children's, but my own. We now have three sons, aged 10, 8, and 4, who are enrolled in an Indian school. My experience living in the megacity of New Delhi and navigating the school system here vastly differs from what I grew up with. My kids are learning several languagesMost Indian schools adopt a bilingual approach to education. While navigating the Indian education system — and the education system in any country, for that matter — has its own set of challenges, our family has embraced this adventure.

Persons: —, Eid Organizations: Service, Independence Locations: Ohio, New Delhi, There's, India

☆ Jill Biden unveils White House holiday decorations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Christy Choi | Sam Fossum | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Complete with 98 Christmas trees, 72 wreaths and 2.8 miles of ribbon, the White House has been transformed into a classic winter wonderland for the holidays. The little engine that could: A vintage toy train chugs around the base of a Christmas tree in the Blue Room. The White House expects some 100,000 people to visit during the holiday season. Decorations in the Vermeil Room celebrate music and performance, complete with a mechanical theater featuring rotating United States Marine Band figures. Evan Vucci/APDeck the halls: The White House's China Room transformed into a dessert shop, tables laden with festive treats.

Persons: Santa Claus, Fraser, Jill Biden, Joy ”, ”, Biden, It’s, Evan Vucci, children’s, Gerald Ford, Kevin Dietsch, Saint Nick, Mandel Ngan Organizations: CNN, White, National Guard, Historical Association, United States Marine, Santa, Getty Locations: China, Santa, AFP

☆ I shopped at Home Depot and Lowe's for holiday decorations, and one store made me feel like I'd stepped into a winter wonderland
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Amanda Krause | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Still, I think Lowe's is the superior store for holiday decor this year. If I needed holiday decorations, I'd probably only return to Lowe's this year. Amanda Krause/Business InsiderI wouldn't say I disliked shopping at Home Depot for winter decorations, but I probably wouldn't return again this year. At Lowe's, on the other hand, I felt like I had stepped into a winter wonderland. So if I had to pick one home-improvement store to shop at this year for winter decorations, it'd have to be Lowe's.

Persons: I'd, Amanda Krause Organizations: Home Depot Locations: Lowe's

☆ ‘Hollywood and the Movies of the Fifties’ Review: Wide-Screen Wonderland
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Tom Nolan | Foster Hirsch | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

What was the greatest decade in the history of American movies? Buy Book Amazon Barnes & Noble Books a Million BookshopAs exhilarating as that span was, the movie industry itself was experiencing a number of crises. As Mr. Hirsch observes in “Hollywood and the Movies of the Fifties,” the government forced studios to sell their theaters on antitrust grounds, while increasing numbers of moviegoers stayed home to watch their new televisions. Creative types had provocative stories to tell, rousing the wrath of censors—even as congressional committees investigated the presence of Communists in the business. Mr. Hirsch, a professor of film at Brooklyn College and the author of many books, has written an entertaining survey of this productive and problematic period.

Persons: Foster Hirsch, Eve ”, “, Eden ”, —, Barnes, Hirsch Organizations: Foster Hirsch Knopf, Noble, Brooklyn College Locations: “ An American, Paris, “, Hollywood

☆ The Store Where Christmas Started in September
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Christopher Barnard | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A little before noon on Oct. 5, Richard Morrison was hanging a glass ornament that resembled a head of garlic on a small metal tree. It was one of several trees that had been installed inside a John Derian store in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood, where Mr. Morrison, a floor manager, and his colleagues had been setting up holiday décor since Sept. 30. It was the earliest that John Derian, 61, had begun the Christmas season at his store since he started his namesake retail business in New York in 1995. Mr. Morrison, 36, was one of five employees unpacking and arranging ornaments at the shop on Oct. 5, a balmy Thursday. “People don’t buy furniture as Christmas gifts,” he said, “so I thought it might be fun to do it in here.”

Persons: Richard Morrison, John Derian, Morrison, ”, Claire Cook, Mr, Derian Locations: East Village, New York

☆ With Black Friday deals and flashy displays, retailers try to convince reluctant shoppers to spend
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

And a steady drip of Black Friday deals, started early in November at many retailers, has also delayed the rush, as some shoppers bet that the best deals are still coming. Holiday shoppers spent 7% less in dollars and 6% less in units from mid-October to mid-November compared with the year-ago period, Circana found. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesBlack Friday state of mindAmong the biggest themes this holiday season: shoppers are hungry for deals and willing to wait for them. "We're going to have a sustained drumbeat of great offers for the entire holiday season, starting this week," he said on a call with CNBC. Some retailers, such as Best Buy, are trying to rush shoppers to hit the "buy" button by dangling short-term sales.

Persons: Melissa Repko, Mario, Luigi, Nintendo's, Lowe's, Marshal Cohen, Circana, " Cohen, You've, you've, Barbie, Mario Tama, John David Rainey, Rainey, Steve Madden, Edward Rosenfeld, Marvin Ellison, Ellison, Corie Barry, Macy's Organizations: CNBC, National Retail Federation, Walmart, Nordstrom, Target, Dick's Sporting, Amazon's, NPD, Consumers, Getty, nab, Footwear, Shoppers, Disney Locations: New York City, Manhattan, Dallas, Los Angeles, Burbank , California

Cher, “Christmas”Political Cartoons View All 1260 ImagesSomehow, “Christmas" is Cher's first holiday album — not that she hasn't been asked to do one in the past. “I didn’t know how I was going to make it a ‘Cher Christmas album.’” The secret, it turns out, was to get a bunch of A-list collaborators on her album, something she's never done before. Brandy, “Christmas with Brandy”For those looking for a seductive holiday album: the search is over. Like on “Christmas Gift,” which features her daughter Sy’Rai, and “Feels Different.”Elsewhere, Brandy offers a PG-13 holiday special. Humor abounds, like in the pop-rocking comedic additions of “You Made Me Believe in Christmas,” “Feels Like Christmas,” “Mean Christmas."

Persons: Maria Sherman, Ella Fitzgerald, “ Ella, hasn't, “, ”, she's, There’s Cyndi Lauper, ” Stevie Wonder, ” Darlene Love, ” Michael Bublé, Tyga, Brandy ”, Brandy, Sy’Rai, I’m askin, Andrea, Matteo, Virginia Bocelli, Andrea Bocelli, ” Andrea, Virginia, ’ Natale, levity —, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Grace, Foster, Luther Vandross, “ Luther Vandross, ” “, Ally Brooke, Brooke Organizations: ANGELES, Associated Press, AP, Party, Chicago, Tabernacle Choir, Fifth Harmony Locations: Chicago, Italian, “

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