DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ A real-estate agent explains how regular homebuyers can compete with all-cash buyers using 'pre-underwriting' — and 3 other ways to get your offer accepted in a competitive market
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The housing market is competitive right now and homes are selling quickly. Realtor Dana Bull shares the strategies that her clients are using to win bids in a competitive market. Real-estate agent, consultant, and investor Dana Bull says that her market, Boston, is more competitive than ever. The main advantage is that the everyday buyer can close quickly, which used to only be a luxury for all-cash buyers who didn't have to worry about securing financing. Big picture, you win the bid and you get the house because you're able to close quickly; but you may not be getting the best rate."

☆ 7 things the Class of 2022 wish they knew before graduating from college: 'Don't be afraid to take time off'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

One of the most exciting parts of leaving college is leaving behind the scripted, predictable rhythm of school. After college, your friends change, your responsibilities change, your routine and habits change. If I could go back, I would tell myself to enjoy life a little bit more. Now is the time to enjoy life – don't be afraid to take time off from work, travel and take advantage of every opportunity to explore new places. Kalidas Shanti, 23, Cambridge, MassachusettsShanti graduated from Amherst College in May 2022 and started working as a data analyst at Mathematica in October.

☆ Researchers found a surefire predictor of success — and what separates those who find it from those who keep failing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Susie Allen | Kellogg Insight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Using this insight, the researchers are able to successfully predict an individual's long-term success with just a small amount of information about that person's initial attempts. Indeed, in another recent study, Wang himself found that an early career setback often set up scientists for later success. In all three datasets, an individual's second-to-last attempt did tend have a higher probability of success than their very first effort. Rather, there's a singular learning threshold that separates eventual successes from the rest. "Thomas Edison said, 'people give up because they don't know how close they are to success,'" Wang explains.

A fresh downpour loosened the earth on a hillside above a village in Vuveyi Lac area, burying the victims as they slept in their houses below, said Alain Kiwewa, Lubero's military administrator. Repeated recent downpours have also raised the water table in the broader region, increasing the likelihood of flooding, said meteorology and hydrology engineer Theodore Lokakao Ilemba. "It's everywhere in the Congo and in Rwanda, it worsens (the impact of) the rainfall and all pre-existing problems like water drainage and land use," he said. Rains also triggered flooding and landslides in neighbouring Rwanda last week, killing 130 people and destroying more than 5,000 homes. Writing by Alessandra Prentice; editing by Philippa FletcherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Mercedes car "a nasty piece of work" fumes Wolff
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MIAMI, May 6 (Reuters) - Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff slammed the Formula One outfit's car as "a nasty piece of work" on Saturday after a frustrating qualifying effort for the Miami Grand Prix left the Austrian scratching his head and at times speechless. But it has been all downhill from there with Russell qualifying sixth for Sunday's race and Hamilton 13th, his worst ever qualifying at any circuit in the United States. "It's the lack of comprehension of what it is, that makes this car such a nasty piece of work. "I think that the car is not a nice car, not a good car and I wouldn't even be able to point out fundamentally it's just...," paused Wolff searching for the right words. "That's worse than I thought because we have 20 months on since we were last time in Miami and the car is just marginally better," said Wolff.

☆ Ukraine's talking loudly about its coming counterpunch but holding key secrets tight because the stakes couldn't be higher. Here's what we know.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Insider spoke to military experts about the possible timing, location, and goals of the coming assault. Ahead of this specific offensive, Ukraine was also likely waiting for the ground to dry after a cold and muddy winter. But there's more than just military strategy to consider — politics plays a key role as well, military experts said. Military experts and analysts are betting the bulk of the offensive will be focused in Ukraine's southeast, particularly in the Zaporizhzhia region. The single most important aim for Ukraine's next push is taking back its territory, the military experts said.

☆ Obesity is a chronic disease. It's why treating it will be so profitable unless payers push back
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Lilly manufactures tirzepatide, which is sold under the brand name Mounjaro as a type 2 diabetes treatment. It's the chronic nature of obesity that will make these drugs so profitable, analysts have said. Huynh increased his target due to higher expectations for Mounjaro sales this year. Huynh boosted his prediction for the drug's sales this year to $3.7 billion from an prior estimate of $2.7 billion. "$48 billion is a monster number," Holz said, referring to an annual sales estimate that Bank of America has floated for future Mounjaro sales.

☆ Supreme Court decision on Biden's student loan forgiveness plan is key for those who never finish college
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"Growing numbers of stop-outs and fewer returning students have contributed to the broader enrollment declines in recent years," said Doug Shapiro, executive director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. "There's a variety of issues students face in college, many unexpected," said Rick Castellano, a spokesperson for Sallie Mae. Students with 'some college' more likely to defaultIf Biden's plan to cancel $400 billion in student loans is blocked, default rates may spike, the U.S. Department of Education has warned. But the borrowers most in jeopardy of defaulting are those who start college but never finish. The default rate among borrowers who leave with student debt but no degree is three times higher than the rate for borrowers who have a diploma.

☆ There are only 3 EV plugs for every 10,000 Americans, a disparity threatening automakers' $1.2 trillion investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A lack of access to public electric car charging is a huge barrier to EV adoption. More than seven out of every 10 EV chargers are in the richest US counties, according to Bumper. Meanwhile, more than 95% of EV chargers are in counties with majority-white populations. And while over 63% of the counties in the US have charging stations, 36% of counties do not. Data indicates there were more than 51,000 public EV charging stations in the US as of March, with over 131,000 plugs.

☆ I left teaching and now make $450,000 in revenue a year covering up scars and stretch marks with tattoos. Here's how I built my lucrative business from scratch.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Natalie Rahhal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Laura Lara, a paramedical tattoo artist, who lives in El Paso, Texas. In 2022, I made $457,000 in revenue working full-time for myself in the paramedical tattoo industry. There's also pigment camouflage, which is done when the stretch marks are flat, white, and over a year old. Some people think paramedical tattooing is just for women, but stretch marks don't discriminate. Paramedical tattooists are changing people's lives and that's the best part of itThe paramedical tattoo industry is growing and evolving.

☆ 3 ways to rethink old age and retirement, MIT expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Americans are living longer — and it's changing the nature of retirement planning. The classic retirement framework aims for seniors to have enough money to fund their lifestyle in old age. While not incorrect, the framework is "incomplete," Joseph Coughlin, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab, told CNBC. "Longevity planning" is a better way for society to think about old age — especially since the future is "much grayer than it's ever been before," he said. "Leisure is a story we wrote for retirement when it was short," said Coughlin, author of "The Longevity Economy: Unlocking the World's Fastest-Growing, Most Misunderstood Market."

☆ I'm a car dealer. Here are the things customers get dead wrong about our business.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I grew up in a family dealership and did everything from marketing to customer service to a little bit of sales. From a customer service perspective, it became very difficult during COVID and it's still difficult now with parts. Whitney Yates-WoodsMy most challenging thing right now would be that customer service pieceThose parts taking a long time to get in is still really very prevalent. I think sometimes people think that that 1950's car salesperson persona still existsIt's evolving from the stereotypical car sales guy. I especially want women coming in by themselves to not feel like they're going to get taken advantage of.

☆ 'Queen Charlotte': 'Bridgerton' character gets her own spin-off
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Natasha Mulenga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Maja SmiejkowskaLONDON, April 21 (Reuters) - Regency-era London took over the British capital's Leicester Square on Friday as the "Queen Charlotte" cast premiered the first spin-off from hit Netflix (NFLX.O) period drama "Bridgerton" dedicated to the fan favourite character. "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" is an origin story of the "Bridgerton" monarch, explaining her rise to power and love life. With two timelines, Golda Rosheuvel reprises her "Bridgerton" role as the monarch while India Amarteifio plays the young Queen Charlotte. Showrunner Shonda Rhimes, also behind "Bridgerton", said it was "very exciting" to make Queen Charlotte the centre of her own story. "Queen Charlotte" begins streaming on May 4.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHere's what led Virgin Orbit to bankruptcyVirgin Orbit seemed like a promising company. It was well capitalized, had a dedicated team of talent and a functioning launch system. But launch delays, an inability to land a major customer and an evolving satellite launch market eventually got the company in hot water. Watch the video to find out more about what led to Virgin Orbit's eventual bankruptcy.

☆ Elon Musk holds the keys to the moon because SpaceX's Starship megarocket launch is crucial to NASA's return
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Marianne Guenot | Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The rocket, which NASA has tagged for upcoming missions, is crucial to NASA's return to the moon. The highly anticipated Starship launch will determine whether NASA's Artemis moon program is on track for success. NASA's SLS relies on Starship for the moon landingA Starship prototype being launched. NASA's SLS rocket, by contrast, has a high price tag for the taxpayer: The project has cost $50 billion in development since the program's inception in 2006. All of this makes NASA's SLS a poor competitor to SpaceX's shiny new rocket.

Deal Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (256GB) Amazon’s $200 deal on the Galaxy S23 Ultra is an all-time low price for Samsung’s most powerful smartphone to date. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs. Galaxy S23 Ultra: Performance and battery lifeBoth the Galaxy S23 Plus (left) and Galaxy S23 Ultra (right) have the same performance, but the Galaxy S23 Plus surprisingly has better battery life. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs. Galaxy S23 Ultra: CamerasOne of the Galaxy S23 Ultra's main differentiating factors is its camera system. Galaxy S23 Plus Galaxy S23 Ultra 256GB $999.99 $1,199.99 512GB $1,119.99 $1,379.99 1TB N/A $1,619.99To be sure, Samsung and carriers (especially carriers) offer tempting trade-in deals for your old phone to offset the cost of a new Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus vs. Galaxy S23 Ultra: Which should you buy?

☆ Strategists are gloomy going into the start of first quarter earnings season
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

I noted last week that following a strong first quarter (S & P up over 7%), the S & P 500 almost invariably is up even more by the end of the year. For the most part, the strategist community is fairly gloomy going into first quarter earnings season and the prospects for further gains in 2023. He too noted that the S & P 500 is now "within spitting distance" of his year-end price target of 4,200 and announced Tuesday he was shifting direction. Indeed, it looks like a race to the bottom to see who can claim the mantle of "lowest estimate on the Street" for full-year 2023 earnings. 2023 earnings: the trough is Q1 Q1: $50.63 Q2: $54.13 Q3: $56.84 Q4: $58.32 Source: Refinitiv That works out to $219.83, just a tad above the $218.09 that 2022 printed.

☆ The next threat to Airbnb: Superhosts want to leave the platform and take their listings with them
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hosts want to cut out the middle manTop hosts have spoken out recently about their desire to leave the platform. In December, influencer couple Sara and Tony Robinson told Insider they were planning to "quit" Airbnb and funnel their $1.3 million portfolio into direct bookings. (The couple would still leave a few of their 22 listings on the platform, they said.) Alaska resident Amie Somer echoed the Robinsons in her insistence on using direct bookings for her $1 million Arizona home, where she landed $50,000 in bookings in her first year. "I don't want all my eggs in one basket," she told Insider.

☆ How TikTok became a 'gold mine' for dancers looking to get discovered and changed the way they make money
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

"This app is a gold mine for artists like me who are still looking for their big break," Dharmapuram said. As TikTok has ascended, popular artists from Dua Lipa to Lizzo have integrated TikTok dances into their promotional strategies and seen their songs go viral. TikTok creators, professional dancers, choreographers, and dance companies who spoke with Insider said the app had changed the way they choreographed, helped them earn more money, and given them access to career opportunities they otherwise wouldn't have had. TikTok has also given dance companies and agents access to talent they otherwise wouldn't have known about. Even dance companies like American Ballet Theatre have gotten on the bandwagon.

Lowest Price Google Nest Hub Max With a 10-inch display and great sound, the Google Nest Hub Max is the largest and most entertainment-friendly smart display in Google's lineup. Shop at WalmartGoogle Nest Hub vs. Nest Hub Max: PricingWith a larger screen and built-in camera, it makes sense that the Google Nest Hub Max ($230) comes with a higher price tag than the second-gen Nest Hub ($100). Google Nest Hub vs. Nest Hub Max: Display size and soundThe Nest Hub Max has an impressive speaker system for a smart display. Google Nest Hub vs. Nest Hub Max: Smart featuresThe newer Nest Hub has the Soli chip, which powers features like Sleep Sensing. Google Nest Hub vs. Nest Hub Max: PrivacyGoogle makes it fairly easy to modify your privacy controls, but you'll need to dive into the Google Home app to make these changes.

If you have one of the Chase IHG Rewards credit cards, you'll earn an extra 10 points per dollar with the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, or 5 points per dollar with the IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card. Other ways to redeem IHG pointsOpt for airline miles instead of IHG Rewards pointsIf you'd rather receive airline miles for your stays instead of IHG Rewards points, that's an option, though redemption rates vary by airline. Transfer IHG points to a friendThere's also an option to transfer IHG points to a friend or family member at a cost of $5 per 1,000 points, or buying them through IHG's website. Some of these redemptions are as low as 100 IHG points, so if you haven't had any activity in your account recently, this is a good way to keep your IHG points from expiring. Use IHG points to attend special eventsThrough IHG Auctions, you can redeem IHG points for concerts, sports, special events, or other experiences.

☆ How TikTok has changed the dance industry, becoming a 'goldmine' for performers looking for their big breaks and driving choreography that fits the frame
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

"This app is a goldmine for artists like me who are still looking for their big break," Dharmapuraum said. As TikTok has ascended, popular artists from Dua Lipa to Lizzo have integrated TikTok dances into their promotional strategies and seen their songs go viral. TikTok has also given dance companies and agents access to talent they otherwise wouldn't have known about. Even dance companies like American Ballet Theatre have gotten on the bandwagon. As more people have hopped on TikTok dance trends, creators, especially those of color, have called for proper crediting for choreography, which the app has tried to address with more tools.

☆ Tim Cook says he met with Elon Musk and Donald Trump because 'it's even more important to engage when there's disagreement'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple CEO Tim Cook told GQ that he believes in "engaging" even in "disagreement." Cook made the remarks in reference to past meetings with figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk. "I actually think it's even more important to engage when there's disagreement," Cook told GQ. Cook had also met with Donald Trump when, as president at the time, Trump was pushing for a series of tariffs on imports from China. In 2019, amid Trump's escalating moves on trade, Cook met with Trump, reportedly earning the then president's praise as a "a great executive" who "calls me and others don't," and possibly the moniker "Tim Apple."

☆ News organizations say they won't pay for Elon Musk's Twitter Blue because 'verified checkmarks no longer represent authority and expertise'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some news organizations say they won't pay for their reporters to get Twitter Blue. The New York Times and LA Times said they won't pay to get their Twitter accounts verified either. One of his most contentious projects has been to drastically switch up Twitter Blue, the site's subscription service. Twitter Blue is also required for accounts to get blue checkmarks next to their names. "Now a Blue checkmark just says they are a Twitter Blue subscriber.

☆ Bicyclists are getting killed on American streets, and they want Congress to fix it
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

They're asking for e-bike tax credits and road safety funding, among other things. He's brought that message to Minnesota and federal lawmakers as part of his pro-bicycle advocacy for the last 20 years. This week, bike advocates from all 50 states descended on DC as part of the League of American Bicyclists' National Bike Summit. My kids tease me — please teach me how to ride a bike,'" Grilley said. Lindsey Nicholson/Getty ImagesElectrifying bike transportAdvocates for e-bike tax credits say they reduce the number of car trips people take, cutting emissions and congestion, and boosting public health.

Search resuls for: "it's EV"

25 mentions found