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☆ It's becoming clear that AI is going to whack the mediocre middle of office workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Matt Turner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

More specifically, AI could disproportionately impact the middle class of white-collar workers — the folks who are mid-career, mid-ability, mid-level, and yes, in some cases, mediocre. In other words, the lessons learned from months or years of experience are baked into an AI tool. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella for example recently told Time that the same could be true for software developers. This doesn't mean the great software developers won't remain great software developers but the ability for more people to enter the field will increase. That's good news for many wannabe software developers, but it's also bad news for many existing software developers.

Persons: —, Erik Brynjolfsson, Lindsey R, Raymond, Danielle Li, Satya Nadella, it's, Aki Ito, Carl Benedikt Frey, Uber, Frey, Mark Muro, Jacob Zinkula, Richard Baldwin, Aaron Mok Organizations: Service, Fortune, Microsoft, Oxford Martin School, London, BT Group, Workers, Brookings Institution, Geneva Graduate Institute Locations: London, British, Switzerland

☆ From Wall Street to Washington: Which finance execs would make the best public servants?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

There has long been speculation that America's most-famous banker has plans to run for some sort of public office. The path from Wall Street to Washington is well worn, with plenty of high-profile executives taking up positions in the government. When most Wall Street executives were still afraid of the public cloud, she was ready to embrace it with open arms. Jon Gray — Treasury SecretaryBlackstone's president and chief operating officer has already had a brush with public office. The idea of him holding public office doesn't seem far-fetched.

Persons: Dan DeFrancesco, TikTok, I'm, we've, nabbing, Joe Biden's, Kevin McCarthy's, Jamie Dimon, Larry Downing, hasn't shied, Dimon, Dimon's, Bill Ackman, Kenneth Chenault —, Kathy Hochul, she's, Chenault, He's, Larry Fink —, We've, Larry, Fink, Adena Friedman, Friedman, Jon Gray —, Gray, Donald Trump, Gray's, Wall, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Ken Griffin, Griffin, hasn't, Griffin hasn't, Ron DeSantis, he'll, Brian Moynihan —, Moynihan, Dan Schulman —, PayPal — he's, Taylor Swift, Kevin Mazur, Larry Fink, Franklin Templeton, It's, Rockefeller, Stephen Schwarzman, Warren Buffett, Cliff Asness, that's, Here's, Jeffrey Cane, Nathan Rennolds Organizations: JPMorgan, REUTERS, Bloomberg, American Express, Catalyst, Washington Post, BlackRock, SEC, CFTC, OCC, Nasdaq, Wall, Democrat, GOP, Florida Gov, Commerce, PayPal, Express, Virgin Mobile, Rockefeller Capital Management, Putnam Investments, Blackstone, Credit Suisse, UBS, Reuters, LinkedIn Locations: NYC, Washington, New York, Florida, Chicago, Miami, Ohio, Swiss, London

Besides looking into life insurance policies, we also decided it would be best to update current insurance coverage we have, including our renters insurance plan. I realized that now that we have a baby at home, we need to upgrade our insurance policy. See Insider's picks for the best renters insurance companies »Compare Renters Insurance Quotes1. When I reviewed our renters insurance plan, I noticed that our current policy only covered $20,000 worth of personal property coverage. I want a higher deductibleWith my current renters insurance policy, I have the lowest deductible that my insurance offers, $250 a year.

Persons: We've, —, we've Organizations: Service

☆ Special Report: Dozens of babies die in orphanage as Sudan war takes grim toll on Khartoum
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Maggie Michael | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +13 min

[1/7] A view from inside an orphanage in Khartoum, Sudan, in this handout image released April 20, 2023. There was no one there,” said Abdullah, speaking by phone from the orphanage, the cries of wailing babies audible in the background. Frini and the director of the orphanage, Zeinab Jouda, referred questions about the total death toll to Abdullah, Mygoma’s medical chief. ABANDONED CHILDRENOfficially called The Orphan's Care Centre, Mygoma, the orphanage is housed in a three-storey building in central Khartoum. She said that a day earlier, two babies who died were instead buried in a city square close to the orphanage.

☆ Babies Are Expensive—This Amazon Credit Card Helps Me Ease the Sting
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

To my surprise, one simple solution has taken out some of the sting, saving us hundreds of dollars: The Prime Visa credit card (previously known as the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature). (Note: To be eligible you need an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $139 per year.) I knew the Prime Visa existed—I’ve been writing about personal finance for 11 years—still, when my husband suggested we apply, I was skeptical. With my daughter about to turn one, I hope our Amazon spending will slow down a bit (though some experienced parents may smirk at my optimism). Either way, I’ll continue to put any Amazon purchases on this card and would recommend it to any new parents.

Persons: Samantha Sharf, I’ve, —, I’ll Organizations: Visa, Amazon, Amazon.com, Foods, Smart, Amazon HALO, Chase Travel, Amazon Prime, Michelin Locations: Europe

☆ Pricing Power: This Is Kate Spade’s Hottest Bag…and It Costs $500
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Suzanne Kapner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

One of Kate Spade’s most popular styles is a handbag that looks like a sheepdog. Photo: kate spade new yorkThere’s a new status symbol in corporate America: the ability to keep raising prices. Companies continue to jack up prices on a range of goods from diapers to handbags—and some are even bragging about it to investors as a sign of brand strength. In some cases, the increases more than cover the hit from higher raw material, labor and other costs, fattening profit margins.

☆ Chinese baby product firms seek to age up, sell more abroad as population falls
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Farah Master | Thomson Reuters | Farah Master Is A Senior Correspondent At Reuters Where She Focuses On Health | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

HONG KONG, May 11 (Reuters) - For many of China's manufacturers of baby and children's products, painful reverberations from last year's historic decline in the country's population are already upon them. Hong Kong-listed Health and Happiness (H&H) (1112.HK), which gains nearly half of its revenue from baby products such as infant formula, food and diapers, is one such company. China's market for baby food and diapers is the world's largest at $37.9 billion, accounting for around a third of global sales annually, according to research from Euromonitor. Adult diaper revenue, however, shot up 13% - highlighting how China's rapidly ageing population is prompting shifts in consumer spending. Reuters GraphicsShares for the three firms now trade between a third and a fifth of their all-time highs.

☆ This Asian MMA promotion wants to crack the US market -- without the blood and trash-talking
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Could 2023 be the year mixed-martial arts (MMA) in the United States finally returns to its pure, humble beginnings nurtured in Asia nearly 5,000 years ago? “I can’t wait for the US fans to be exposed to true martial arts. Fighting on American soil, it’s amazing to be able to headline this landmark event,” said the former longtime UFC champion, who joined One in 2018. Courtesy Aaron Pan/ONE ChampionshipWhat “true martial arts” means in new-era combat sports is certainly up for interpretation. That’s more true to the spirit of martial arts and its traditional values.

☆ McDonald’s, PepsiCo, GM Flex Their Pricing Power
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Heather Haddon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo: Angus Mordant/Bloomberg NewsShoppers looking for price breaks on basics may have to wait. Consumers remained willing to pay more for burgers, soda, diapers and other everyday items in the beginning of the year, lifting sales of companies including McDonald ’s Corp., PepsiCo Inc., and Kimberly-Clark Corp. even as some executives warn that shoppers may become more resistant to price increases.

☆ P&G Earnings Powered by Higher Prices, Again
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Sabela Ojea | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Tide maker Procter & Gamble said it now expects overall revenue for the fiscal year ending in June to rise. Photo: Richard B. Levine/Levine Roberts/Zuma PressConsumers continue to absorb higher prices for Pampers diapers and Tide detergent, boosting quarterly sales and profit at Procter & Gamble Co. The company raised prices by about 10% across its various brands in the March quarter from a year earlier. It was the second straight quarter with a 10% year-over-year increase as the global company passed along higher costs and widened its profit margins.

☆ Consumers Keep Paying Higher Prices for Detergent, Toothpaste
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Sabela Ojea | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo illustration: Adele MorganConsumers continue to absorb higher prices for Pampers diapers and Tide detergent, boosting quarterly sales and profit at Procter & Gamble Co. as businesses and households battle elevated inflation. The company raised prices by about 10% across its various brands in the March quarter from a year earlier. It was the second straight quarter with a 10% year-over-year increase as the global company passed along higher costs and widened its profit margins.

☆ P&G earns household-staple status
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The $356 billion company said on Friday that sales grew 4% year-over-year to $20 billion in the three months ended March 31. That growth was led by a 10% price hike for the second consecutive quarter, while also growing market share in the United States. P&G warned of higher commodities and packaging costs, as well as wage inflation. P&G is proving that the cushy Charmin double roll is irreplaceable. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

SummarySummary Companies P&G beats sales estimates for 12th quarterHiked prices in U.S., Europe again in Jan-MarchShares up 2% premarketApril 21 (Reuters) - Procter & Gamble Co's (PG.N) customers continued to show little resistance to repeated price hikes, helping the Tide detergent maker boost its annual sales forecast and third-quarter margins. But shrinking consumer wallets in the face of high inflation have fanned concerns of how much longer rising prices will be tolerated before triggering a switch to cheaper, private-label brands. The fabric and home-care unit, P&G's biggest segment, saw sales volumes fall 5%, with average price rising to 13%. The company expects fiscal 2023 organic sales growth of about 6%, compared with its previous forecast for a 4% to 5% increase. P&G maintained its annual earnings forecast of flat to a 4% rise.

☆ Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson discussed the urge to have sex, with Musk claiming 'birth control and abortions' could cause civilization to collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

They discussed sex, population decline, and civilization collapse. During the discussion, Musk claimed that the human urge to procreate had been "subverted," leading to population decline. I mean, the urge to have sex and to procreate is – after breathing and eating – the most basic urge. But once you have birth control and abortions and whatnot, now you can still satisfy limbic instinct, but not procreate," Musk replied. Musk has long claimed that population decline poses a grave threat to civilization, tweeting in 2022 that "population collapse due to low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming."

☆ Meet a childcare worker who makes $15 an hour and lives with 4 roommates to be able to afford doing the job she loves
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Marie is a childcare worker in Georgia, where she makes $15 an hour to teach 3-year-olds. She said that many childcare workers don't make enough to live on, leading to staffing shortages. In 2021, childcare workers made an average of $533 a week. Many childcare workers found themselves facing hard conditions and low pay — and, rather than accept those, left the profession entirely. That's led to labor shortages, which in turn has led to less-available childcare and fewer parents able to work.

☆ Opinion: Don't count DeSantis out yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Patrick T. Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A third Trump presidential nomination would indicate that Republican primary voters may prefer style over substance. But if they are serious about not just making liberals mad but advancing actual policy, GOP voters should consider other names, starting with the Florida governor. Recognizing key figures and institutions on the right in this way suggests a DeSantis administration would be serious about delivering on conservative principles. In short, DeSantis offers Republicans a glimpse into what a successful conservative approach to governing could look like. If GOP voters decide their primary operating principle is to enrage the media and “own the libs,” they will nominate Trump.

☆ Play defense with these fortress stocks in the second quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Bahnsen's investment philosophy focuses specifically on high-quality stocks that have a high dividend yield, along with consistent increases. One of his favorite plays is Procter & Gamble , which currently has a dividend yield of 2.5%. EOG has a 2.9% dividend yield and also has been paying a special dividend. Health-care names Names in the health-care sector are generally considered defensive. Quanta Services has a dividend yield on the lower end, at 0.2%.

☆ Florida lawmakers are working at breakneck speed to pass DeSantis' agenda before a presidential run: 'Our colleagues are tripping over themselves'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

DeSantis is quickly signing bills into law in Florida this legislative session, which ends May 5. After the legislation session, DeSantis is expected to mount a presidential run, challenging Trump. Ron DeSantis that will give him a list of accomplishments to brag about during a widely anticipated 2024 presidential run. Lawmakers began meeting for their 60-day session just three weeks ago, and already the governor has signed bills into law amid much fanfare at public events. Last week DeSantis signed a bill to curb lawsuits in the state.

☆ More millennials are turning 40 — and they're changing travel as we know it
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

And they're bringing their tech-savviness, social consciousness and spending habits in tow, which is transforming a travel industry intent on staying ahead of the times. "When it comes to nearly all travel behaviors, millennials are the generation most likely to engage — and they do so often," said Lindsey Roeschke, travel and hospitality analyst at Morning Consult. Where millennials stayFrederic Lalonde, CEO of the travel app Hopper, said its customers are twice as likely to stay in a home than a hotel. "It's all driven by our primary users, who are millennials and Gen Z," he said at the Skift Global Forum 2022. Since 2019, Airbnb home rentals increased the most among travelers with children aged six and younger, according to the company.

☆ I made over $10 million in revenue on Amazon last year. Here's how my husband and I became sellers and earned enough to buy our dream home.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Julie Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In 1999, My husband Andy and I became house parents at the Milton Hershey School. The decision for us to eventually go back and become house parents was an easy one. Throughout our 15 years as house parents, we helped raise around 100 junior high- and high school-aged boys while also bringing up our two biological children. While Andy worked for the Amazon business full-time, I stayed at Milton Hershey School and wrote curriculum. Last year, we made more than $10 million in sales, and we have a team of 47 people who we can comfortably pay to run our Amazon business.

☆ Mary Hilton, Champion of Cloth Diapers, Dies at 85
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( James R. Hagerty | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Around the time that Procter & Gamble Co. was introducing Pampers in the early 1960s, Mary Hilton and her husband, William Hilton , had a different idea: They decided to go into the business of laundering cloth diapers. For the next 40 years, Ms. Hilton fought a valiant rearguard action against P&G and other makers of disposable diapers. Based in Kalamazoo, Mich., her family-owned company at its peak in the mid-1990s had about 10,000 customers in three states and more than 150 employees. Ms. Hilton, who took charge of the company after her husband died in 1978, became one of the biggest operators in a mostly mom-and-pop business and a spokeswoman for diaper-cleaning trade groups.

☆ The 'lipstick index' strikes again: Beauty shoppers are still spending big, even as US consumers dial back on everything else
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Avery Hartmans | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Beauty sales are bucking a trend of declining consumer spending in other categories. The strength in beauty is reflecting a long-held retail indicator called the "lipstick index." Consumers are spending more on beauty in general, with over a third of survey respondents saying they spent over $500 on beauty products in the past year, up from a quarter the year prior, according to Inmar Intelligence. Other beauty retail partnerships, like Sephora and Kohl's, are getting a boost from the lipstick indexUlta and Target aren't the only retailers seeing beauty products fly off the shelves. In fact, the allure of Sephora is so strong that it's helped buoy same-store sales for Kohl's and draw younger consumers.

☆ An Amazon seller with over $200 million in sales shares 9 tips for picking a sell-out product
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

For some, selling products as a side hustle and making an extra $2,000 a month is perfect. If you're selling as a side hustle, a simple Amazon search is enough to collect data, he noted. It indicates a product's sales velocity or how well its selling: the lower the rank, the better it sells. Most seasoned sellers have a general sense of how a product's sales rank converts to sales over time. As a private label seller, Needham avoids selling products that have been monopolized by big, household brands.

It was one of the last still providing Ukrainian citizenship for newborns in the southern city of Kherson which was then under Russian occupation. Early in the occupation, Ukrainian parents faced pressure to accept Russian citizenship for their newborns. "When we asked for diapers, the Russians told us, 'If you come without Russian birth certificates, we will not give you diapers'," said Natalia Lukina, 42. The ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the situation in Kherson during Russian occupation. It is unclear how many babies received Russian citizenship, because Russian officials recorded them and Ukrainian registration workers did not cooperate with them, Klimenko said.

☆ Three Years Into Covid, We Still Don’t Know How to Talk About It
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Jon Mooallem | Photographs Ashley Gilbertson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +53 min

It will play out and reverberate for years or decades, Hagen told me. “The pathological normal,” Hagen calls it: a patchwork of homespun, bespoke realities, each one invested in a different story about what exactly happened when Covid ruptured the story of our lives. garb.”More than once, life seemed to be attaining “an uncanny resemblance to normal life,” as one man put it. But because we don’t totally understand where that experience has delivered us, we don’t know the right gloss to give it. “The days are strange,” one public-school teacher told Milstein toward the end of his first interview, in May 2020.

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