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☆ I left my life in DC to live in a 400-square-foot tiny home near Tampa. I feel like I have more space and I'm saving money so I don't regret it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Stefanie Mortenson, a 53-year-old HR director, moved from Virginia to a tiny home near Tampa, Florida in May. Her 396-square-foot dwelling at Escape Tampa Bay Village's tiny home community cost her $159,000. Mortenson says she's saving money and feels like she has more space compared to her previous Virginia apartment. In 1998, I moved to Alexandria, Virginia about 10 miles from Washington, DC for a better career opportunity. The walls started coming in on meIn May, 53-year-old Stefanie Mortenson moved from her apartment in Virginia to 396-square-foot tiny home in Escape Tampa Bay Village's The Oaks neighborhood.

Persons: Stefanie Mortenson, Mortenson, I'm, Roy Hawkes, presales, I've, hasn't, haven't, they're Organizations: Service, Oaks, US, Federal Credit Union Locations: Virginia, Tampa , Florida, Tampa, Wall, Silicon, Alexandria , Virginia, Washington

☆ ‘Barbenheimer’ had incredible box office momentum in its first week
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —It was an explosive week for “Barbenheimer,” with the atomic bomb and the atomic blond working hand in plastic hand to deliver box office dynamite. Greta Gerwig’s dazzling doll surpassed a quarter of a billion dollars, with a stunning $258 million, according to Warner Bros., which produced the movie. (CNN and Warner Bros. are both owned by Warner Bros. Observers say both films are defying box office gravity, even after a blowout opening weekend. “Movies tend to drop of significantly midweek once that opening weekend interest is satisfied.

Persons: “, Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, Greta, Christopher Nolan’s, ”, Paul Dergarabedian, “ Barbie ” Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Warner Bros ., Observers, Boxoffice, Google, Apple

☆ Thousands of French Swifties have bad blood with Ticketmaster after it abruptly halted, then rescheduled the sale of the Eras Tour tickets
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Swifties in France are furious after Ticketmaster abruptly halted Eras Tour ticket sales for Taylor Swift's Paris shows. The company abruptly suspended ticket sales for the star's Eras Tour in Paris and Lyon shortly after presales started on Tuesday, leaving thousands of fans hanging. "The Taylor Swift sale | The 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Eras Tour for Paris La Défense Arena has been put on hold. The Eras Tour ticketing situation got so bad that it even prompted a group of Swifties to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. In March, the Ticketmaster platform also crashed during the ticket sales for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

Persons: Taylor, Taylor Swift, presales Organizations: Ticketmaster, Taylor Swift's, Lyon, Paris, Twitter, Paris La Défense, Federal Trade Commission, Eurovision, Coldplay Locations: France, Taylor Swift's Paris, Paris, Lyon, Mexico City, Singapore

☆ Bachelors in Asia are so desperate to attend Taylor Swift's concert that they are offering themselves up as dates to a bank's cardholders
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Singaporean bank's cardholders have exclusive access to presales for Taylor Swift concert tickets. Swiftie bachelors are going viral as they jokingly search for dates who happen to be cardholders. Over 300,000 fans are expected to attend the concert's Singapore dates, per The Straits Times. Dozens of other Taylor Swift fans are racking up thousands of likes with tweets in the same format. Over 300,000 fans are expected to attend the concert's Singapore dates, per the report.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift's, UOB, Keen, Swifties, that's, Swift, cardholders Organizations: Straits Times, Twitter, United Overeas Bank, Wall Street Locations: Singapore, Taylor Swift's Singapore, Japan, Malaysian, Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam

☆ Some Diablo 4 players reported invalid license error messages after the video game's early access launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Early access for Diablo 4 faced issues, including licensing errors for some PlayStation users. Diablo 4 marks the latest installment of Blizzard "Diablo" series, which began in 1996, and arrives more than a decade after Diablo 3 was released in May 2012. Here's what you need to know about Thursday's early access launch and the coming official release of Diablo 4. It's unclear how many early access players have been impacted by the error. According to Blizzard, Diablo 4 is set decades after the events of "Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls."

Persons: Blizzard, Rod Fergusson, Adam Fletcher, Inarius, Liam Deane, Omdia Organizations: Diablo, PlayStation, Morning, Blizzard Entertainment, Activision Blizzard, Activision, Windows, Blizzard, Xbox, Druids, Sorceresses, Microsoft, European Union, Sony, Associated Press Locations: U.S

☆ Some Diablo 4 players are reporting invalid license error messages after the video game's early access launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Early access for Diablo 4 faced issues, including licensing errors for some PlayStation users. Diablo 4 marks the latest installment of Blizzard "Diablo" series, which began in 1996, and arrives more than a decade after "Diablo III" was released in May 2012. Here's what you need to know about Thursday's early access launch and the coming official release of "Diablo IV." It's unclear how many early access players have been impacted by the error. According to Blizzard, Diablo 4 is set decades after the events of "Diablo III: Reaper of Souls."

Persons: Blizzard, Rod Fergusson, Adam Fletcher, Inarius, Liam Deane, Omdia Organizations: Diablo, PlayStation, Morning, Blizzard Entertainment, Activision Blizzard, Activision, Windows, Blizzard, Xbox, Associated Press, Druids, Sorceresses, Microsoft, European Union, Sony Locations: U.S

☆ Bipartisan Senate bill would push ticket sellers to disclose fees upfront
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

You also have the option of purchasing live tickets that can be printed directly from your computer or wireless device. WASHINGTON — Swifties, the BeyHive and Cure fans may have a reason to rejoice: Senators on Wednesday are set to introduce a bipartisan bill targeting hidden ticket fees for live events. Dubbed the Transparency in Charges for Key Events Ticketing (TICKET) Act, the measure would require ticketing merchants to disclose upfront full ticket prices, including fees, for concerts, sporting events and other large gatherings. Ticket fees can comprise 21% to as much as 58% of the total cost of tickets, according to a statement from the committee. The bill aims to promote competition "by delivering ticket fee and speculative ticket transparency for the benefit of all consumers," the committee said.

☆ Ticketmaster is looking for a new social media director, and it's asking the hire to be 'brave' after months of fury from fans
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ticketmaster is hiring a Director of Social, and the company is asking bravery of the new hire. Posted five days ago on LinkedIn, Ticketmaster is searching for a social media expert to take over its North America marketing leadership team. Months of messy ticket sales led by Ticketmaster have put the massive entertainment sales site under the microscope. The ticketing debacle even prompted a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled "That's the Ticket: Promoting Competition and Protecting Consumers in Live Entertainment," where a bipartisan group of senators grilled Joe Berchtold, the president and CFO of Live Nation Entertainment. "For too long, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have wielded monopoly power anticompetitively, harming fans and artists alike."

☆ The Harry Potter video game 'Hogwarts Legacy' is here, and topping sales charts — despite the JK Rowling controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"Hogwarts Legacy" was at the top of the Steam PC and PlayStation Store sales charts on Friday. The early success comes despite backlash over Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling's anti-trans comments. The game's early success is in the face of some calls for a boycott over Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling's past anti-trans comments. Warner Bros. Games, which released "Hogwarts Legacy," wrote on the game's FAQ page that Rowling was "not directly involved in the creation of the game." Discovery CEO David Zaslav in November expressed an interest in doing "something with J.K. on Harry Potter going forward."

Two of American Express's Blue cards — the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express — are excellent options for earning cash back. Blue Cash credit card benefits and rewardsAs cash-back credit cards, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express are light on extra perks compared to travel rewards credit cards that often come with high annual fees. Card benefitsThe Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the Amex Blue Cash Preferred both offer statement credits for select purchases. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express also offers two statement credits to cardholders, including the same Disney Bundle credit as the Amex Blue Cash Preferred. When comparing the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, you'll want to look at your own specific spending patterns.

☆ They Poured Their Savings Into Homes That Were Never Built
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Isabelle Qian | Agnes Chang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

We talked to four people who emptied their life savings and took out huge loans for homes that have not been completed. “It was a simple dream — to have a home, a family,” Mr. Tang said. Mr. Tang, who works in a restaurant, sold a small place he had out in the countryside. “When I think about the unfinished apartment, it’s as if I’m falling from heaven to hell, ” Mr. Tang said. Homeowners atop one of the unfinished apartment towers call for construction to fully resume.

☆ Hasbro defends Magic: The Gathering strategy, says 'there is no evidence' cards are overprinted
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Photographer: Mark Abramson/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesHasbro is defending its strategy for its popular Magic: The Gathering game. Williams said the company typically spreads out its tentpole releases of Magic: The Gathering card sets in two-month intervals. She said Hasbro prints and reprints cards based on demand both during presales and once the product has been released. But Cocks said that he doesn't think raising prices on Magic cards is the answer to expanding the business over the long term. Hasbro's most engaged Magic players are those who play both online and in-person at local game shops or with friends.

☆ Ticketmaster's botching of Taylor Swift ticket sales 'converted more Gen Z'ers into antimonopolists overnight than anything I could have done,' FTC chair says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Disastrous presales for Taylor Swift's Eras tour renewed controversy over Ticketmaster's dominance. In 2010, Ticketmaster merged with Live Nation, raising antitrust concerns. Live Nation has been facing an ongoing DOJ antitrust investigation since before the Taylor Swift-Ticketmaster saga, the New York Times reported last month. Representatives for Ticketmaster and Live Nation did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday morning. Former FTC policy director David Balto previously told Insider that the Eras Tour ticket crisis shows the merger's anti-competitive effects on consumers, including exorbitant fees.

☆ Startup backed by Tesla investor promises $300,000 flying car by 2025: 'This is not more complicated than a Toyota Corolla'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Alef Aeronautics wants to start delivering its $300,000 Model A flying car to customers by 2025. It's the timing: The company says it plans to begin delivering the vehicles to customers by the end of 2025. In a statement in October, Dukhovny referenced "road conditions, weather and infrastructure" as potential reasons to briefly take flight. But for a flying car to actually appear on highways anytime soon, a lot needs to happen, experts say. The FAA even reportedly gave another flying car concept, Samson Sky's Switchblade, the go-ahead for flight testing in July.

☆ Costco’s Credit Card Is Also Great for Filling Your Gas Tank
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

By Ana StaplesURL:WRITER: Ana StaplesThe Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi is a rewarding combination of a Costco store credit card and a cash back credit card. Plus, no other credit card from a major bank offers such a high rewards rate on gas and EV charging. The 3% rate on dining and travel also gives this card an edge and is comparable to rewards offers on some of the best travel credit cards. You’ll get a credit card reward certificate once a year with your February billing statement. If that’s the case, you might want to look into a secured credit card that earns rewards.

Over a dozen current and former employees told Insider's Eugene Kim that the division is in crisis — and the mounting losses and massive cuts underscore the swift downfall of Alexa. Go inside Amazon's Alexa unit. Jerod Harris/Getty ImagesWalt Disney stunned Hollywood this week by reinstating Bob Iger as its chief executive, and company insiders told us that his return to the throne came together in a matter of days. Getty ImagesTwitter's remaining employees are now expected to keep its CEO Elon Musk up to date on everything they work on each week. Responding to a tweet citing correspondent Kali Hays' report on the leaked email, Musk said the decision was "not unreasonable."

☆ Some of Taylor Swift's biggest fans are also lawyers. After Ticketmaster's botched handling of her Eras Tour, they're mobilizing to take the ticketing giant down.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Nicole Tabak | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Ticketmaster badly botched its sale of Taylor Swift tour tickets last week. Facing endless questions and concerns over the chaos that ensued during presales for Swift's upcoming Eras Tour, fans gathered on social media not just to commiserate, but to take action. How Ticketmaster's chaotic handling of the Eras Tour presale may lead to its undoingSwift fans shared screenshots of the long queues for tickets. "And I know that sounds stupid to people who don't love Taylor Swift the way that a lot of us do. The momentum may be thanks to her Eras Tour, but this is about holding a monopoly accountable.

[1/3] Taylor Swift poses on the red carpet for the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) at the PSD Bank Dome in Duesseldorf, Germany, November 13, 2022. The company said it is working to shore up its technology "for the new bar that has been set by demand for the Taylor Swift's Eras Tour". Chaos around the Swift tour prompted calls for the U.S. government to break up the company. For those who did not get tickets to the Eras tour, Swift said her hope was to provide "more opportunities for us to all get together and sing these songs." She has promised hits from albums spanning her career on the Eras tour.

Your credit card could get you access to high-demand events like Taylor Swift's latest concert. Jun Sato/TAS18/Getty ImagesMany credit card issuers offer access to presale, preferred seating, and VIP ticket offers. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightIf you have a Citi credit card or debit card, you can access exclusive ticket offers through the Citi Entertainment program. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. Don't wait until a day or two before presale to open a credit card that'll give you this access, as you won't receive it in time.

☆ Taylor Swift slams 'outside entity' over ticket fiasco: 'I'm not going to make excuses for anyone'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"I'm not going to make excuses for anyone because we asked them, multiple times, if they could handle this kind of demand and we were assured they could. The CEO of Live Nation's largest shareholder defended Ticketmaster on Thursday, chalking up the issues to Swift's popularity and bots. "It's a function of Taylor Swift. The site was supposed to open up for 1.5 million verified Taylor Swift fans," Maffei told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." Maffei said Ticketmaster sold more than 2 million tickets on Tuesday and demand for Swift "could have filled 900 stadiums."

Ticketmaster announced in a tweet on Thursday it had canceled the public sale of tickets to Taylor Swift's "The Eras" Tour. "Due to extraordinarily high demands on ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory to meet that demand, tomorrow’s public on-sale for Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour has been cancelled," Ticketmaster wrote in the tweet. This meant 1.5 million fans were invited to buy tickets while the remaining 2 million were waitlisted. In its statement, Ticketmaster said that even if a ticket sale goes perfectly, fans still tend to leave empty-handed. Despite the bungled pre-sale, Ticketmaster said more than 2 million tickets were sold on Nov. 15 for Swift's tour.

☆ Ticketmaster's largest shareholder blames massive demand − including from bots − for Taylor Swift ticket fiasco
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Live Nation is sympathetic to fans who couldn't get tickets, Greg Maffei said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" Thursday. "It's a function of Taylor Swift. Liberty also said it would create a new stock called Liberty Live, which will include its stake in Live Nation. People amplified their complaints this week when tickets for Taylor Swift upcoming Eras tour went on presale on Ticketmaster's website. Maffei also defended Live Nation against lawmaker and activist concerns that Ticketmaster and Live Nation are abusing their market power.

☆ U.S. senator questions Ticketmaster after Taylor Swift sales complaints
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Ticketmaster faced new questions from a Democratic U.S. senator over its sales practices on Thursday, two days after Taylor Swift fans complained about website outages and long waits to buy tickets to her upcoming U.S. tour. In the letter to Ticketmaster parent Live Nation Entertainment Inc (LYV.N), Senator Amy Klobuchar voiced "serious concern about the state of competition in the ticketing industry and its harmful impact on consumers." On Tuesday, Swift fans swarmed the Ticketmaster website and encountered long wait times, with many unable to buy tickets. Ticketmaster said the tour generated unprecedented demand and it worked quickly to fix problems. Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged in a 2010 deal approved by the Justice Department.

☆ Ticketmaster expected 1.5 million 'verified' Taylor Swift fans on the site but 14 million people were trying to get tickets, Live Nation chairman says: 'We could have filled 900 stadiums'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ticketmaster was only supposed to be opened to 1.5 million "verified" Taylor Swift fans for presale. Live Nation's chairman said 14 million people tried to get tickets, and could've filled 900 stadiums. "Despite all the challenges and the breakdowns, we did sell over 2 million tickets that day," Live Nation's Greg Maffei said. However, among the 14 million fans were bots, "which are not supposed to be there," Maffei said. Maffei said Ticketmaster attempted to build "capacity for peak demand," but Swift's ticket sales "exceeded every expectation."

☆ Taylor Swift resale ticket prices soar past $28,000 amid fan frenzy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Presales began on Tuesday and brought millions of people to the Ticketmaster website, causing periodic outages and long online wait times. "The Eras Tour" is Swift's first since 2018, and it is not unusual for websites to encounter problems for hot shows or products such as collectible sneakers or video game consoles. A new round of Swift ticket presales, for Capital One credit card holders, proceeded on Wednesday with fewer complaints on social media. Some fans said wait times stretched past three hours in online queues, and many left empty-handed when ticket allotments sold out. She has promised hits from albums spanning her career on the "Eras" tour.

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