The housing market started off 2019 with buyers in a much better position than they were a year earlier, according to a report from Redfin, (www.redfin.com), the next-generation real estate brokerage. U.S. home-sale prices increased 2.9 percent in January compared to a year ago, to a median of $285,900 across the metros Redfin tracks. Albeit…
Year: 2019
I Wish You Enough!
By Kip Kolson, Special for The Times USA This story was recently circulated through emails. I…
Seven Employment Engagement Trends Businesses Should be Watching
Employee engagement is top-of-mind in the HR industry these days since the employee hiring environment is so incredibly competitive. The tight job market is only getting more challenging, driving employers to work more diligently to retain workers who are apt to go elsewhere to seek the working environment they desire. Employee engagement is key in…
Get Your Business Back in the Black: 4 Strategies for Reducing Operating Costs
When it comes to boosting the bottom line, cutting down on unnecessary expenses can be just as useful as increasing sales or profits. Even financially successful businesses should always look for new ways to cut down on operating costs as long as these measures don’t impact customer service or employee performance. New companies also stand…
Americans are Starving for Intimacy, According to Recent Research
A study released on this Valentine’s Day week by Nonfiction Research, an independent, Brooklyn-based company, reveals that large numbers of Americans are secretly craving a level of intimacy and connection that they do not have. The confessions of close to 700 people paint a picture of an America whose heartbreaking struggles with shame and self-worth…
One of the Last “Gender Neutral” LTC Insurance Company Changes Stance and Its Impact on the Industry
By the Price of Business, Media Partner of TTUSA. Brian Gordon of MAGA LTC is a leading authority on one of the biggest issues facing Baby Boomers today — long term care. He is a contributor on the Price of Business show, which is a partner of this news site. On a recent Price of…
A Bipartisan Effort Toward Lowering Drug Prices
Alex Azar of the New York Post recently wrote “President Trump has exposed the dirty secret of drug pricing: There is a shadowy third player in the transaction between patients and their pharmacists: middlemen who have taken a big kickback from the drug manufacturer, which may or may not be reflected in patients’ out-of-pocket costs….
Men and Women are Looking for Different Things in Their Next Home
To get a better grasp on what features buyers really want in a home, Zolo Realty (zolo.ca) surveyed more than 1,800 respondents in January 2019. The results show that buyers are no longer dazzled by HGTV-inspired living spaces or add-on luxuries such as pools. Turns out homebuyers — both male and female — are more interested…
Text Retrieval Beyond Words
By Elizabeth Thede, Special for The Times USA When most people think of text retrieval, they think of word searching: alphabet soup or banana pie. And that is usually the main focus of text retrieval like dtSearch, which instantly search terabytes of Microsoft Office files, PDFs, emails with multilevel attachments, databases, Internet and Intranet data, and…
How To Choose A Business Consultant
By James J Talerico, Jr., Special for The Times USA For many business owners, choosing a consultant is almost like shooting in the dark. According to a recent study, only 7% of businesses feel they know all the questions they should be asking when hiring a consultant. The purpose of this article is to take…
Men Prefer Hanging Out with Friends More than Partners
Men may want romantic partners to be their valentine, but when it comes to hanging out, dining or even going on a cruise, they tend to have more fun with just about anyone else. That’s the surprising finding of an online survey by OC&C Strategy Consultants ahead of Valentine’s Day, which asked 6,000 adults about…
Senior House Republican Makes Case for Improved Retirement Security
The top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee Kevin Brady (R-TX) delivered the following opening statement at a Full Committee Hearing on Improving Retirement Security For America’s Workers. Before the start of today’s hearing, Rep. Brady, the top Republican on the Ways and Means Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee Adrian Smith (R-NE), and the…
Leading Long Term Care Expert Addresses Consumer Questions
By the Price of Business, Media Partner of TTUSA. Brian Gordon of MAGA LTC is a leading authority on one of the biggest issues facing Baby Boomers today — long term care. He is a constributor on the Price of Business show, which is a partner of this news site. On a recent show, TTUSA…
Is Darwinian Evolution in Trouble?
Charles Darwin and his views about evolution have been “orthodoxy” in the scientific community for literally generations. Somewhere along the way it went from a “theory” to something that has been given the same weight as any law. However, some serious thinkers in the scientific community are reconsidering Darwin and his theories. Over 1000 doctoral…
5 Tips to Improve Any Relationship: A Brief Introduction
By Ed Daube, PHD, Special for The Times USA If I were to ask you to list your relationships, you would probably think only of the obvious ones such as your spouse, your kids, important family members or neighbors and so forth. You probably would not think about your co-workers (or boss), the clerk…
San Diego’s GOP Mayor Has a Plan to Make His City More Welcoming and Change Attitudes towards the Parties
On the surface it appears San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer is simply wanting to have a softer approach towards immigrants than is different than most Republicans. It is perceived that the GOP has largely given up any hope of winning the votes of immigrants. But that is not the case. In fact, in recent…
Peril Persists when it Comes to Office Relationship
Like it or not, workplace romance is a reality most employers face. Although some workplaces completely ban office romance, more often, employers establish policies placing certain restrictions and parameters on dating, particularly between those who have reporting relationships, says a new XpertHR report on workplace romance. While it’s commonly acknowledged that co-workers in a direct…
In Spite Declarations of “Patience,” the Fed is Poised for Another Dramatic U-Turn
The main message from this report is clear: While financial markets and business confidence measures were moving south in recent months, employers kept adding workers at a fast rate, specifically 304,000 new jobs in January. If anything, employment growth has accelerated in recent months. Due to the government shutdown, some of the data in this…
Anti-depressants Raise New Health Care Concerns
Patients taking anti-depressant medications classified as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are 40 percent more likely to develop severe gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly when they also use common over-the-counter pain relievers, according to a research review in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. Nearly 13 percent of Americans 12 years and older take an antidepressant,…
Will Success Growing Pains Make You Fail?
By Daphne Michaels, Special for The Times USA Pursuing success can be confusing because the dynamics at play cross many paradigms. On one hand, knowing there are no guarantees sets you up to work hard. In this no guarantees paradigm failure is attributed to not beating the competition — in terms of product, marketing and customer service…
Best And First – Best Vacuum Cleaner for Pets Carpet and Hardwood
We enjoy our animals and can’t live our life without them, yet living with the hair your dog or cat loses everywhere can promptly become tedious. That’s why having one of the very best Vacuum Cleaner(new post from Vacuum Cleaner) for animal hair on wood or carpet is vital for those people that share our homes…
Website Exposes How Colleges Spend Money
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) announced that it has launched HowCollegesSpendMoney.com, an innovative gateway into a vast trove of data on college spending across the country. HowCollegesSpendMoney.com provides unprecedented ease of access to financial information and spending trends from 1,500 public and private colleges and universities. Visitors can select specific colleges…
Leading House Republican Weighs in on the Issue of Pre-Existing Conditions and Health Insurance
The top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee Kevin Brady (R-TX) delivered the following opening statement at a Full Committee Hearing on Protecting Americans With Pre-Existing Conditions. Before the start of today’s hearing, Rep. Brady and the top Republican on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Devin Nunes (R-CA) sent a letter to Ways and…
Details on Nancy Pelosi’s $200k Taxpayer Funded Trip to Italy and the Ukraine
Judicial Watch announced today that it obtained documents through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Air Force detailing $134,587.81 plus $50,000 for an advance of funds for an “escort officer” for a total of $184.587.81 for then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) Congressional delegation (CODEL) to Italy and Ukraine in 2015. Judicial…
What Things are Most Popular with Teens Today
Fuse, a marketing agency specializing in reaching teens and young adults, has released a new report on teens. At the start of a new year, it’s valuable for marketers to consider what is most popular with teens. So, to kick the year off, Fuse asked 1,000 about their favorite things. 1. Technology: Teens and smartphones remain…
The Business Model of Today’s Universities is Proving to be Unsustainable
A new report from Kaufman Hall shows a striking 66 percent of higher education finance professionals today say their current business models are not sustainable for the next five to 10 years. Yet two-thirds are very or somewhat confident their organizations can adapt to the new realities, according to 2019 CFO Outlook: Performance Management Trends…
In Spite Concerns, Manufacturing Industry Remains Optimistic
Eight out of 10 U.S. manufacturers expect to grow sales this year, buoyed by their optimism about the strength of regional, national and global economies, according to the 2019 National Manufacturing Survey Report prepared by Leading Edge Alliance (LEA), a global association of 220 accounting and consulting firms. “Across the board, manufacturers are optimistic about the…
The Top Ten Greatest Concert Tours of All Time
The Beatles‘ 1965 U.S. Tour takes home the top spot in the Top 100 Greatest Tours of All Time, announced today by Vivid Seats—the country’s largest independent ticket marketplace—and Consequence of Sound, a leading online music site. The study explores the most significant, groundbreaking and memorable concert tours to ever traipse the globe. Michael Jackson‘s…
Award Winning Actress Sarah Jesica Parker Takes Lead in Clean Water Effort
Stella Artois and Water.org co-founders Matt Damon and Gary White are rallying America to “Pour it Forward” by choosing Stella Artois to help end the global water crisis – and they’re challenging some famous friends to spread the word, starting with Sarah Jessica Parker. “Pour it Forward” is Stella Artois’ take on the goodwill trend of…
Netflix’s New Murder Documentary Promises to be Revitting
Netflix has released the following statement in anticipation of its latest documentary: “CONVERSATIONS WITH A KILLER: THE TED BUNDY TAPES brings the infamously twisted mind of serial killer Ted Bundy into the light for the very first time and invades our psyche in a fresh yet terrifying way through exclusive, never-before-heard interviews from the “Jack…
The Legacy of MLK
With Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaching, black conservative activists are commemorating the late civil rights icon’s life, lessons and legacy. Members of the Project 21 black leadership network are available to discuss Dr. King’s importance in American history and how they feel others have honored – and dishonored – his legacy. “Dr. King’s legacy is…
Brexit Uncertainty will Continue to Create Concern
The British parliament took a decisive step today in the Brexit divorce process to not support the plan negotiated by Prime Minister May with the European Commission. Uncertainty has dominated the entire process until now and, as expected, it is not going to decrease in the upcoming weeks. Uncertainties have already impacted consumer confidence, inflation,…
Small Businesses in the Following States Hardest Hit by Shutdown
Small businesses in California, Texas, New York, Florida and Ohio will be hurt the most by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, according to a ValuePenguin.com study. The government shutdown, currently in its 25th day, has put a hold on all Small Business Administration (SBA) activities, including the processing of SBA 7(a) loans, a key source of funding for thousands of small…
Special Report: Ten Neighborhoods that are Both Hot and Affordable
Expensive coastal hubs remain the most coveted places to live, but neighborhoods in Baltimore and Philadelphia are gaining popularity as the most desired affordable neighborhoods in 2019, according to new reports from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the next-generation real estate brokerage. Redfin’s Hottest Affordable Neighborhoods report is an adaptation of the annual Hottest Neighborhoods report, which tracks…
Group Seeks to Radically Change the Business Model of the Pharmaceutical Industry
Achieving the full societal benefits of curing chronic or life-threatening diseases will remain an elusive goal unless the pharmaceutical industry changes its economic model, according to new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The report, titled Aligning Economic Incentives to Eradicate Diseases, was recently released. The study recommends that the industry replace its current economic…
A First: More are Likely to Die from this than an Auto Accident
For the first time in U.S. history, a person is more likely to die from an accidental opioid overdose than from a motor vehicle crash, according to National Safety Council analysis. The odds of dying accidentally from an opioid overdose have risen to one in 96, eclipsing the odds of dying in a motor vehicle…
The Surprising Large Number that Find Jobs Through Social Media
Nearly 15% of people use social media to find a new job, according to a new survey from Clutch, a B2B ratings and reviews firm. Social media use in recruiting varies by industry. For example, recruiters in creative fields can identify candidates on visual platforms like Instagram, while traditional businesses are more likely to discover…
The College of Charleston Uses AI to Stengthen Development Workforce
Gravyty, is a leading provider of AI-enabled fundraising software. This week it announced that The College of Charleston (CofC), a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences university with 10,000 undergraduate and approximately 1,000 graduate students, internationally known for its history, architecture, culture, and coastal environment, has expanded the capacity of its Advancement workforce by…
The Winter White House is Eight Miles from one of America’s Murder Capitals – and it isn’t Where You Think
NeighborhoodScout, a web-based platform from Location, Inc. that delivers custom crime risk and real estate market reports, trends and forecasts, and analytics on school quality for any address, today released its annual list of the Top 30 Murder Capitals of America for 2019. Eight Miles from the Winter White House is one of America’s Murder Capitals…
Pointless Meetings Cost Hundreds of Billions of Dollars Annually
A new report from the world’s leading scheduling platform, Doodle, interviewed over 6,500 professionals across the USA, Germany, Switzerland & the UK and examined 19 million meetings arranged through its platform in 2018. Professionals spend 2 hours a week in pointless meetings, which will add up to over $541bn worth of resource in 2019 –…