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☆ Why these three states are the most consistent tipping point in American politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Ronald Brownstein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

Trump won the presidency in 2016 by stunning Democrat Hillary Clinton to win all three states by a combined margin of about 80,000 votes. But, as in other states, Democrats have been concerned about the risk of depressed turnout and some gains for Trump among Black voters in Philadelphia. Eight years later, the two states split again, when Roosevelt comfortably won Pennsylvania and Michigan narrowly went to Republican Wendell Willkie. This trio of states has arguably become the most consistent tipping point in American politics. In the nine elections since 1920 when they split their vote, the candidate who carried two of these three states won seven times.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump –, Trump, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Harris, Bob Shrum, Shrum, Tad Devine, “, Biden, PRRI, William Frey, Tim Marema, don’t, Mason, Dixon, Barack Obama, Tony Evers, Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, Republican Sen, Ron Johnson, Dane County, Ben Wikler, Pete Giangreco, ”, You’ve, That’s, Gene Ulm, Roe, Wade, Whitmer, Branden Snyder, It’s, Clinton, Dante Chinni, White, ” Chinni, they’ve, They’ve, Republican pollster Patrick Ruffini, Ruffini, “ I’m, ” Ruffini, Geoff Garin, Michael Dukakis, Republican George H.W, Republican George H.W . Bush, James Buchanan, John C, Franklin D, Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Republican Wendell Willkie, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Theodore Roosevelt’s, Al Gore, John Kerry, Republican Thomas Dewey, Hubert Humphrey, Garin Organizations: CNN, White House, Democratic, Michigan, Wisconsin, AdImpact, Trump, Center, University of Southern, “, Republicans, Survey, Blacks, of Labor Statistics, Public Religion Research, Whites, GOP, Brookings Metro, for Rural, doesn’t, Keystone State, Republican, Center for Rural, Democrats, Biden, Black, White, Wisconsin , Michigan Democrats, Detroit, Electoral, American Communities Project, …, Democrat, Pennsylvania, Republican Party Locations: Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina , Arizona, Nevada, Flint , Michigan, University of Southern California, California , New York, Illinois, Texas, Florida, Ohio, . Michigan, Wisconsin’s, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Detroit, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Madison, Dane, Dane County, Eau Claire, Appleton, La Crosse, Outagamie, Winnebago, Green Bay, Green, Chicago, Scranton, Wilkes, Barre, ” Michigan, “ Michigan, Gaza, Wisconsin , Michigan, United States, “ Pennsylvania, Ulm, Pittsburgh, Butler , Pennsylvania, Republican George H.W ., Fremont, North Carolina, Michigan , Pennsylvania, “

☆ American fast-food giants are going big on a China wager, betting they can get the country's new middle class to love them back
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

An expansion rate surpassing America'sKFC, run by Shanghai-headquartered Yum China, has historically enjoyed the lion's share of the country's fast-food cravings. Hopes for a new middle class in ChinaCities in China are unofficially grouped into tiers according to their status, size, and wealth. Chinese KFC has nearly doubled its menu itemsExpanding during a sluggish economy might make sense for fast food brands, which are often classified as recession-proof as consumers downgrade their spending. Advertisement"Now, they are doubling down further on this strategy by expanding into the inland regions of China, especially Tier Three and Tier Four cities with a growing middle class," they told BI. Yum China has also been expanding aggressively in the country's burgeoning coffee scene, establishing a popular spin-off called KCoffee.

Persons: —, It's, McDonald's, Shaun Rein, Rein, Allison Malmsten, Malmsten, Cui Nan, Wang Gang, Jonathan Bernstein, Bernstein, Kung Fu, Daxue, it's, They've Organizations: Service, Thursday, Business, McDonald's, Tier, China Market Research Group, KFC, LONG, Future Publishing, Getty Images, China, US, Yum China, Daxue Consulting, Publishing, China News Service, Getty, Analysts, Yonder Consulting Locations: China, Kentucky, Weibo, Hangzhou, China's, Shanghai, China Cities, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanyang, Suqian, Jiangsu, London, Asia, Shanghai thronged

☆ I've spent 50 years in one of the 'best places to live.' I love it, but that doesn't mean moving here is a good idea.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-03 | by ( Helen Wolkowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Montreal is a gem of a city: It's safe and walkable, with a vibrant nightlife and a cultural calendar packed with events. It's also one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, so why wouldn't you want to get in on the action? AdvertisementIt has become harder for Montreal renters to check everything off their wish lists without raising budgets. AdvertisementGiven the condition of Montreal's housing market, our "starter" is now just our forever home. Christopher O'Donnell/ShutterstockBusinesses also have to compete against the city's carousel of construction projects, which can reduce foot traffic, among other issues.

Persons: —, It's, I've, Lisette Jemmott, Anatoli Igolkin, Jemmott, she's, Michael Falduto, isn't, Catherine Zibo, Falduto, it's, Glenn Castanheira, Marc Bruxelle, Yönder, Christopher O'Donnell, Castanheira, Helen Wolkowicz Organizations: Service, Business, The Coalition, Housing Committees, Associations of Quebec, McGill, Concordia, Concordia University, City, Montreal —, Montreal Locations: Finland, Montreal, Canada, Canadian, Toronto, Quebec, City of Montreal

☆ ‘My vision went dark’: CNN reporter experiences 6G-force before hitching a fighter jet ride
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Four South Korean F-4 fighter jets fly in formation on May 8, 2024, during a commemorative final flight of the aircraft. That test would come a few weeks before the F-4 flight at a South Korean Air Force medical facility south of Seoul. Lendon in the back seat of a South Korean F-4 Phantom flying over southern South Korea on May 8, 2024. South Korean Air Force F-4s flying in formation with two KF-21 fighter jet prototypes over southern South Korea on May 8, 2024. A total of 120 are expected to be delivered to the South Korean Air Force by 2030, and the jet is expected to be exportable.

Persons: Douglas, Lendon, –, didn’t, I’m, It’s, Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, I’d, don’t, South Korea Brad Lendon, Daegu –, vomited, “, ”, wouldn’t Organizations: South Korea CNN —, South Korean Air Force, US Navy, CNN, US Navy Blue Angels, US Air Force Thunderbirds, hometown Cleveland National Air, South, McDonnell, US, Korean, Wright, Daegu Air Base, Daegu, General, KF, Korean Air Force, South Korean Air Force Korea Aerospace Industries, Phantoms, Boeing, South Korean Airforce, Suwon Air Base Locations: Suwon, South Korea, Midway, Japan, Vietnam, North Korea, Seoul, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Daegu, Ohio, Korean, South Korean

☆ A millennial and her husband left San Francisco and embarked on 'a grand nomadic tour of the US.' She shares why they ended up moving to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Rachel Pohl, 34, who lived in San Francisco for several years, and her husband, Jesse Rosenthal, are just two of the people who left. They had been considering moving away from California for quite some time before leaving San Francisco in the fall of 2020. She has also found the people are more diversified in terms of jobs, as opposed to the dominance of tech in the San Francisco area. Realtor.com noted both San Francisco and Chattanooga as buyer's markets at the moment, where the "supply of homes is greater than the demand for homes." Have you moved out of San Francisco or somewhere else in the US?

Persons: —, Francisco, It's, Rachel Pohl, Jesse Rosenthal, they're, Pohl, she's, let's, " Pohl, hadn't, Chattanooga Pohl, it's, Realtor.com Organizations: Service, Chattanooga, Business, ., San Locations: San Francisco, Chattanooga , Tennessee, California, . Montana, Chattanooga, Durham , North Carolina, Francisco, Tennessee, San Franciso, there's, mhoff@businessinsider.com

☆ Wouldn't hold my breath for Apple AI developments: Yonder Consulting
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWouldn't hold my breath for Apple AI developments: Yonder ConsultingManfred Abraham, CEO of Yonder Consulting, helps dissect Apple's earnings, its plans for AI, and the biggest share buyback in U.S. history.

Persons: Manfred Abraham Organizations: Yonder Consulting

☆ Dolly Parton and Cher remind us it’s greater, later
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Something to sip on…Dolly Parton In the film "Rhinestone" in 1984 and Cher in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. Getty ImagesDolly Parton and Cher are both making 77 years old look lovely. The same day Parton was on the football field, Cher performed her new Christmas single “DJ Play a Christmas Song” at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. You should listen to…Sir Paul McCartney performing in 2017. Poet Paul Muldoon collaborated with Sir Paul McCartney on the bestselling book, “The Lyrics: 1965 to Present,” and their relationship is clear in the ease of their conversations on this podcast.

Persons: Lisa Respers, Dolly Parton, Cher, Parton, Diana Ross, Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, Steve Martin, Samuel L, Jackson, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Kevin Mazur, Giselle Knowles Carter, Beyoncé ”, – she’s, Bey, EGOT, Oscar, Tony, Sir Paul McCartney, “ McCartney, Paul Muldoon, McCartney, ”, … Catherine Tate, David Tennant, Who, ” Peope, Russell T Davies, it’s “ Organizations: CNN, Getty, Dallas Cowboys, ”, Disney Locations: Lisa Respers France, Los Angeles , California, London, England, Atlanta, AFP

☆ Irish employee benefits startup Kota just raised a $5.3 million seed round. Check out the 11-slide pitch deck it used to land the funds.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Employee benefits startup Kota has raised $5.3 million in a seed round led by Swedish investor EQT Ventures. Kota helps businesses and employees track their enrollment and contributions through integrations with benefits providers. "Europe is very fragmented with lots of different pension and insurance plans making it hard for small companies to offer benefits because it's expensive and often very manual." Kota's seed round was led by EQT Ventures with participation from existing investors Northzone and Frontline Ventures. Check out Kota's 11-slide seed funding pitch deck below:

Persons: Luke Mackey, Kota, Mackey, Van Der Voort, Romain Huet, EQT Organizations: EQT Ventures, Irish, Frontline Ventures Locations: Swedish, Europe, Kota

☆ My mother taught me to keep my eyes open when I jump. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Emily Halnon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Emily's mother, Andrea Halnon, was also afraid to jump out of a plane, but she "met her fear with joy and determination," her daughter says. The door slid open, the plane was moving 100 miles per hour, and a torrent of wind rushed in. On this big grief day, when I didn’t know how to cope with feeling too far away from my mom, I’d found the answer. I carried every emotion with me as I let go of the plane — fear, joy, grief, longing, love. My eyes were wide open, and I could see I was exactly where I wanted to be.

Persons: CNN —, Toshi, We’d, “, Eugene Skydivers, Andrea, Andrea Halnon, Ole Thomsen, I’d, I’ve, Emily Halnon, hadn’t, Toshi gestured, ” Toshi, They’re Organizations: CNN, Guardian, Washington Post Locations: Willamette, Maine, Oregon, Eugene, Toshi, Eugene , Oregon, ”

☆ Rhiannon Giddens Is a Songwriter, Too
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Jon Pareles | More About Jon Pareles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Giddens amassed the songs on “You’re the One” over more than a decade, channeling and mixing favorite styles, mingling homages and hybrids. Its oldest song is “Hen in the Foxhouse,” a cheerful yet pointedly feminist funky blues — with a scat-singing bridge — that she wrote 14 years ago. “In terms of my own songwriting lineage, my lyricist lineage, it’s a through line: Stephen Sondheim, Tom Lehrer, Tin Pan Alley. “She wanted this new album to be brighter and lighter and open and colorful,” Jack Splash said in a phone interview, and she wanted all of her musical influences to come into play. It has a large room where a band of a dozen musicians — merging Giddens’s folky regulars with Jack Splash’s R&B experts — could record together live.

Persons: Giddens, “, ”, Stephen Sondheim, Tom Lehrer, Tin, Jack Splash, Valerie June, Kendrick Lamar, CeeLo, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Allman, Jack Splash’s, — Organizations: Bee Locations: Miami, Louisiana

☆ Chatbots Are Stepping Toward Supply Chains
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Liz Young | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Logistics experts say chatbots could be used to tell companies in simple language how to plan their inventories. Photo: ANP/Zuma PressLogistics experts are trying to find out whether the latest development in artificial intelligence, a chatbot that has triggered a global race to refine the technology for work tasks, can tell them how to fix their supply chains. Big software providers including Blue Yonder Group Inc., SAP SE and Manhattan Associates Inc. have research programs under way looking at how the tech known as generative AI can improve forecasting, procurement, inventory management and even the nuts and bolts of shipping decisions.

☆ Apple continues to quietly build on its fintech ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In payments, specifically, its made progress via Apple Pay, the Apple Wallet, and the Apple Card. On Monday, Apple took another step deeper into financial services, announcing the launch of a high-yield savings account (4.15%) via its Apple Card. And now, as Goldman tries to salvage what's left of its consumer dreams, Apple continues to roll on. What's not clear, though, is what type of terms Goldman gets for serving as the back-end partner partner. Click here to read more about the top eight executives shaking up payments, including a key leader at Apple Pay.

☆ Yonder, a fintech startup that helps expats get credit cards and offers rewards for spend, raised $78 million in debt and equity using this 11-slide pitch deck
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

London-based fintech startup Yonder has raised $78 million in debt and equity. Yonder, a London-based credit card startup, has raised $78 million in debt and equity in a new funding round. Yonder previously brought in $26 million in debt and equity as part of a seed funding round. This latest raise comes in the form of £12.5 million, about $15.7 million, in equity and £50 million, roughly $62.6 million, in debt. Yonder also plans to launch in two further unspecified cities and offer more events to users with its new capital, Chong said.

☆ Amazon Launches Supply-Chain Software Service
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Paul Berger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +2 min

Amazon’s launch of its cloud application, AWS Supply Chain, adds Amazon to a growing list of software suppliers, such as Manhattan Associates and Blue Yonder, that help merchants juggle increasingly complex cargo flows and inventory demands. Microsoft Corp. launched its own supply-chain management software platform earlier this month. Companies are relying more on sophisticated supply-chain software as a growing share of sales shifts away from sending goods in bulk to retailers and moves more toward direct-to-consumer online sales that require better balancing and positioning of stock. Amazon has a ready audience for its software with a phalanx of small- and medium-size businesses in its third-party marketplace. The software identifies risks and provides recommendations to guard against shortages and delays so that companies can “quickly see and respond to potential supply-chain disruptions,” said Diego Pantoja-Navajas, vice president of AWS Supply Chain at Amazon Web Services.

☆ Don't bank on free returns: 60% of retailers roll out stricter policies
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Roughly 60% of retailers said they're making changes to existing returns policies, with fewer promising free returns, according to a recent survey of retail executives. "These adjustments in return policies are not there to cover costs," Kieboom said. "The more money retailers lose on returns the more they have to make up for that by raising prices," Beitelspacher said. How to avoid return feesStill, shoppers love free returns almost as much as they love free shipping. In fact, 98% of consumers said that free shipping was the most important consideration when shopping online, followed by more than three-quarters who said the same about free returns, according to a recent report by PowerReviews.

☆ Retailers are starting to charge fees to return stuff you bought online. Here's why free returns may be a thing of the past — and how you can avoid getting charged.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The easiest way to avoid paying a return fee is to bring your items back to the store in person. Here's how we got here, which retailers are changing their tune, and what shoppers can do to avoid paying for returns. Which means retailers are losing, on average, millions of dollars every year by letting you return your unwanted goods for free. Some companies have taken a different approach by offering free returns only to its most loyal shoppers. Translation: Retailers are hoping something else will catch your eye when you come into the store to make your return.

☆ New & Notable: Latest releases from GoPro, YETI and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Gabriella Depinho | Gabriella Depinho Is A Production Coordinator For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

This story is part of Select's New & Notable column, where we highlight our favorite product launches, major sales, what we're buying and some of our latest recommendations and advice. This week, we’ve got a new carpet cleaner from one of our favorite vacuum brands, YETI’s latest water bottle and a mini camera from GoPro. New this weekTineco, one of our favorite vacuum brands, launched the Carpet One Spot, a compact carpet cleaner, which retails at $499. It also has GoPro’s highest level of video stabilization and widest field of view in a Hero camera, according to the brand. GoPro says it’s compatible with the GoPro Quik app where it automatically uploads footage to the cloud, and provides you with a highlight video when charging.

☆ Free returns may soon be a thing of the past as retailers roll out stricter policies
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Crew (which was once well-known for a generous return policy that spanned the lifetime of a garment) have shortened their regular return windows to within a month. Changing the return policy is an easier pill for the costumer to swallow than an increase in the purchase price. "Changing the return policy is an easier pill for the costumer to swallow than an increase in the purchase price." How to avoid return feesStill, shoppers love free returns almost as much as they love free shipping. In fact, 98% of consumers said that free shipping was the most important consideration when shopping online, followed by more than three-quarters who said the same about free returns, according to a recent report by PowerReviews.

☆ From Gap to Zara, Returning Things You Don’t Want Gets Harder
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Rachel Wolfe | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Shoppers became accustomed to using their homes as dressing rooms during the pandemic, as retailers let them buy several items online and then decide what to keep. Stores are now trying sharp measures to curb that habit. Retailers bent over backward to make returns easy so that people would keep shopping through Covid-19 shutdowns, says Erin Halka, a retail strategist at supply-chain consulting firm Blue Yonder. But that fed a pattern of buying and returning that grew costly for companies.

☆ Good Luck Returning Your Unwanted Clothes and Electronics
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Rachel Wolfe | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Leslie Jordan death in car accident is tragic loss for my autistic son and other fans
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Karin Crompton | Karin Crompton Is A Writer In Southeastern Connecticut | Where She Lives With Her Son | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

For much of 2021, my 11-year-old son and I had a bedtime ritual: brush teeth, watch Leslie Jordan videos, read. Our nightly Leslie Jordan check-ins had become more than just punchlines and stories. A gay actor and comedian, Jordan would toe the line with sexual innuendo one day (have you seen his Back Door Donuts post? With all due respect to social skills therapists, a Jordan video proved much more fun than our usual lessons about tone of voice and body language. “But is he married or is he gay?” Daniel asked, and around and around we went one night.

☆ Leslie Jordan loved Instagram and it loved him right back
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Scrolling through Leslie Jordan’s Instagram account could make you smile, laugh, and, now, cry. Instagram brought Jordan more fame and offered his audience a platform to connect with a sassy, funny, uncle-type many needed during a dark time. Jordan told the Washington Post in 2020 that he had returned from California to his native Chattanooga on family business and decided to stay to shelter in place with his loved ones. Jordan grew an Instagram following of nearly 6 million people over who reveled in his jokes, observations and stories. You’ve got to help one another.”Jordan’s final post before he died, posted Sunday, gave some chills in light of what was to come.

☆ 'Rosaline' review: 'Romeo and Juliet' gets a rewrite with Kaitlyn Dever as a star-crossed cousin
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Tapping into the twin markets of A) lovers of rom-coms and B) recovering English majors, “Rosaline” promotes a fleetingly mentioned “Romeo and Juliet” character front and center, then builds a very clever and breezy movie around her. The result is a welcome starring showcase for Kaitlyn Dever more likely to prosper in the hamlet of Hulu than it would have fared in the province of theaters. For those a little rusty on their Shakespeare, Romeo had actually been pining for Juliet’s cousin before they met and set in motion that whole star-crossed lovers thing. When their get-together prevents her from attending a party, the feckless Romeo falls for the visiting Juliet (Isabela Merced). “Rosaline” premieres October 14 on Hulu in the US, Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in other territories.

☆ The era of free returns may be coming to an end. Here's why retailers have started charging return fees – and how you can avoid them.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Avery Hartmans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some retailers have started charging customers a fee to ship back their returns. The easiest way to avoid paying a return fee is to bring your items back to the store in person. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyThe era of free returns may be coming to an end. Here's how we got here, which retailers are changing their tune, and what shoppers can do to avoid paying for returns. Some companies have taken a different approach by offering free returns only to its most loyal shoppers.

☆ Companies continue to prioritize AI and cloud for innovation investment, according to the latest Transforming Business poll
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-20 | by ( Julia Hood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Cloud and AI top the list of innovation investments by companies according to the latest Transforming Business poll. Racial and gender biases in AI applications are issues no company can ignore. Visit Insider's Transforming Business homepage for more stories. But the insights available via tools like AI and the cloud can do much more than some companies have figured out. AI applications have come under fire, demonstrably shown in some cases to reflect racial and gender bias in hiring tools, and voice and facial recognition.

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