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The best winter boots for men in 2021

Jue, 10/14/2021 - 19:19

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  • When winter hits, be prepared with the best boots for inclement weather.
  • Whether you're interested in stylish or utilitarian boots, here are 15 great choices.
  • All these boots are insulated and waterproof or water-resistant.
Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky

Winter is on the way and when the temperature drops, you better have something on your feet that will keep your toes from freezing. Whether you're looking for a boot that's super stylish or a utilitarian boot for shoveling snow, we've put together a guide to 15 of the best choices available.

At the very least, a winter boot should be waterproof and have insulation, whether from materials like PrimaLoft or Thinsulate, which are both lightweight and made of synthetic fibers, or wool, which some people prefer since it isn't man-made.

Besides waterproofing and insulation, a third major consideration is how a boot will handle icy conditions. Look for a boot with good traction. Many of the selections below use outsoles from Vibram, a storied Italian company famed for its rubber lug soles.

The last consideration is use. We've included winter boots that work for the office or social events but can still handle foul weather, all the way to boots built for winter hiking through snow and across ice. And many that fall in between these two extremes. You're probably not going to want to wear a handmade pair of Italian boots to shovel snow or sport high rubber boots at the office, but we're sure you'll find exactly what you need in this roundup.

Here are the best winter boots for men in 2021: L.L.Bean 10-inch Shearling-Lined Bean Boots

L.L.Bean's 10-inch Shearling-Lined Bean Boots feature waterproof leather on the outside to handle snow and sleet while soft shearling lining and PrimaLoft insulation keep your feet warm. 

  • Sizing options: 7 to 14
  • Color options: Brown

L.L.Bean has been crafting winter boots for more than 100 years — it was the first product when the brand launched in 1912 — and today it still makes the Bean Boot in Maine. This 10-inch shearling-lined duck-style boot incorporates waterproof leather uppers that are triple-stitched, with a steel shank and a rubber chain-tread bottom to keep you stable. Inside, a natural shearling lining and PrimaLoft insulation keep your feet warm down to 25°F for light outdoor activity and -20°F for moderate activity.

10-inch Shearling-Lined Bean Boots (button) Merrell Men's Thermo Glacier Mid Waterproof Boot

Merrell's Thermo Glacier Mid Waterproof Boots are the perfect winter hikers, especially if your toes tend towards being cold. These boots are also lightweight, waterproof, and great in icy conditions. 

  • Sizing options: 7 to 15
  • Color options: Earth, Merrell Grey

If you're looking for some winter hikers, Merrell has been making exceptional hiking boots for 40 years, and the Thermo Glacier Mid Waterproof Boot is one of its bestsellers. According to shoppers, these boots are light, extra warm, comfortable, durable, completely waterproof, and have great traction in icy conditions. They feature Vibram outsoles, a bellows tongue to prevent moisture and debris from getting in, are lined in fleece, have PrimaLoft Aerogel insulation over the toes, and a heat-reflecting insole that traps body heat around the foot.

Men's Thermo Snowdrift Zip Mid Shell (button) Sorel 1964 Pac T Boot

Sorel's 1964 Pac T boots have everything you'd want in a winter boot, plus eco-friendly materials like leather from a sustainable tannery and recycled felt. 

  • Sizing options: 7.5 to 14 
  • Color options: Black, Hickory/Black

Sorel's 1964 Pac T Boot has everything you want in a winter boot, plus it's made using eco-friendly materials. The Pac T features waterproof leather from a sustainable tannery and vulcanized rubber upper that's seam-sealed to keep moisture out. It's insulated with a removable washable recycled felt inner boot, is lined in micro-fleece, and has a Sherpa pile snow cuff for extra warmth. Finally, it has a molded EVA footbed and a thick rubber outsole to keep your feet happy and steady when you're tromping around in the snow. 

1964 Pac T boots (button) Nisolo All-Weather Andres Boot

Beauty and brawn meet in the Nisolo All-Weather Andres Boot that works as well in the office as it does outdoors.

  • Sizing options: 8 to 13
  • Color options: 6 colorways

Nisolo's All-Weather Andres Boot combines elegance and toughness for a boot that works as well in the office as it does on a winter hike through the woods. These beauties are Nisolo's version of a traditional trench boot and are handcrafted in Peru using sustainably produced water-resistant leather for the uppers in a factory that pays its workers a living wage. The gusseted tongue keeps out moisture and the shock-absorbing studded rubber outsoles will keep you surefooted when it's slippery out. 

All-Weather Andres Boot (button) Timberland Premium 6-inch Waterproof Boots

The Timberland Waterproof Boots are iconic for a reason: They have unmistakable style and what it takes to keep you comfortable when the temperature drops. 

  • Sizing options: 6 to 18; regular and wide sizes
  • Color options: 6 colorways

The Timberland Waterproof Boots are iconic not just for their unmistakable style but because they can actually stand up to the elements. They have sustainably produced waterproof leather uppers that are seam-sealed to prevent moisture from seeping in, 400 grams of PrimaLoft ECO insulation inside to keep out the chill, and thick rubber lugged outsoles to keep you from slipping on the icy pavement. There's a good amount of padding on the collar around the ankle and a leather-lined footbed for comfort. Then there are the unique colorways available, but the basic black is also a real standout. 

Men's Premium 6-inch Waterproof Boots (button) Danner Hood Winter Light Boot

Danner's Hood Winter Light Boot has a full-grain leather upper, a waterproof Gore-Tex liner, Thinsulate insulation, and Vibram outsole, all in one stunning package. 

  • Sizing option: 7 to 15; regular and wide sizes
  • Color options: Brown

The American heritage brand Danner began making boots for Oregon loggers back in 1932 and, as you'd expect, its footwear is built for the outdoors and harsh weather. It is also stunningly handsome. The Hood Winter Light Boot is a style Danner recently brought back just in time for colder weather. It's got a full-grain leather upper, a breathable waterproof Gore-Tex liner to keep out the rain and snow, 200 grams of Thinsulate to keep out the cold, and a Vibram Kletterlift outsole with tons of traction. And, it's made in the U.S. 

Hood Winter Light Boot (button) Muck Boots Men's Arctic Outpost Pull-On

The Original Muck Boot Company is famous for its rain boots but its winter boots are also superb. The Arctic Outpost Pull-On has a full-grain leather and thick neoprene upper and is lined in fleece for those cold winter days. 

  • Sizing options: 7 to 15
  • Color options: Brown

You may know the Original Muck Boot Company for its rain boots, but the brand also makes wonderful winter boots. The Arctic Outpost Pull-on has a full-grain leather and thick waterproof neoprene upper that protects you from the snow, a soft fleece lining to protect you from the cold, and a Vibram Arctic Grip Outsole to protect you from falling down. And the pull-on style means they're easy to get in and out of. 

Men's Arctic Outpost Pull-On (button) Kamik Men's Hunter Cold-Weather Boot

The Kamik Hunter Cold-Weather Boot is made in Canada, rated for -40°F, and is a great value at under $60. 

  • Sizing options: 7 to 15
  • Color options: Black

Kamik is a family-owned Canadian company with a history going back to the turn of the 20th century. The Hunter Cold-Weather Boot is made of waterproof synthetic rubber and includes a removable thermal liner. It hits about mid-calf so it's high enough to keep deep snow out, and has a nylon collar to further prevent snow from getting in. It's rated to -40°F, manufactured in Canada, and will cost you less than $60. 

Men's Hunter Cold-Weather Boot (button) Irish Setter Canyons Pull-On Boot

Irish Setter Canyons Pull-On Boots are your cold-weather friends that are insulated, waterproof, sturdy, and easy to get on and off. 

  • Sizing options: 8 to 14; regular and wide
  • Color options: Brown

The Irish Setter Canyons Pull-On Boot is a Chelsea-style boot made for winter weather. It features full-grain waterproof leather uppers, 200 grams of PrimaLoft insulation, and even has an exclusive ScentBan process that kills odor-causing bacteria to keep your boots smelling fresh. The Vibram outsole will keep you surefooted no matter the terrain.

Canyons Pull-On Boot (button) The North Face Chilkat IV

The North Face Chilkat IV boots are attractive enough for city wear but serious enough for a winter trek in the woods.

  • Sizing options: 7 to 14 
  • Color options: Zinc Grey, Utility Brown, and TNF Black 

The North Face Chilkat IV is a serious winter boot that features waterproof leather and molded rubber uppers, ample insulation that's also eco-friendly, and temperature-sensitive rubber lugs for increased traction in icy conditions. Then there's the EVA midsole and molded footbed for a comfortable ride. And above and beyond all that, they're attractive enough for tromping through city streets and are also snowshoe compatible for weekends in the country. 

Men's Chilkat IV Boots (button) Keen Slater II Waterproof Boots

The Keen Slater II Waterproof Boots are stylish, yes, but more than that. They're also waterproof, insulated, have a wool collar, and use environmentally friendly leather. 

  • Sizing options: 7.5 to 11.5 
  • Color options: Magnet

Keen is better known for shoes you wear in the summer, but its winter boots are also impressive. The Slater II Waterproof Boots are, as their name indicates, waterproof. They're also insulated, supportive, use environmentally friendly leather for the uppers, have warm wool at the ankle, and look quite stylish when paired with your favorite jeans and a thick winter sweater. 

KEEN Slater II Waterproof Boot - Men's (button) Wolverine Yak Insulated Boot

The Wolverine Yak Insulated Boot is like a duck boot on steroids.

  • Sizing options: 7 to 14; regular and wide  
  • Color options: Brown, Gravel

Wolverine is known for its hard wearing work boots and its winter boots are no exception. The Yak Insulated Boot is like a duck boot on steroids — waterproof, breathable, nicely insulated and cushioned in all the right places. The uppers have full-grain waterproof leather, there are 200 grams of Thinsulate Ultra insulation on the inside, and they have thick rubber outsoles for gripping the winter ground. 

Men's Yak Insulated Boot (button) Fracap M120 Alto Brill Boots

The Fracap M120 Alto Brill Boots are works of art you can wear on your feet in the winter. 

  • Sizing options: 6 to 16; regular and wide  
  • Color options: Brown

If you're looking to splurge on winter boots, you couldn't do any better than the Fracap M120 Alto Brill Boots. Sure, they're alluring because of their full-grain Italian calf leather uppers, fur collars, and hand-milled outsoles. But they're also handmade in Italy by a small family-run business that's been around since 1908 and will ship your boots internationally for free. These are works of art that double as winter boots. 

M120 Alto Brill Boots (button) Blundstone Thermal Boot

The Blundstone Thermal Boots are just like your favorite Blunnies, except that they're built for winter with added insulation and shearling footbeds. 

  • Sizing options: 8 to 13 
  • Color options: Antique Brown, Black, and Rustic Brown

The Blundstone Thermal Boot is just like your favorite Blundstone Chelsea — premium waterproof leather uppers, patented comfort system for all-day wear, and durable TPU outsoles to keep you surefooted — plus these Blunnies are winterized. They have plush, removable shearling footbeds and Thinsulate insulation to keep your feet warm when the temperature drops. 

Blundstone Thermal Boot - Men's (button) Columbia Hyper-Boreal Omni-Heat Tall Boot

The sleek design of the Columbia Hyper-Boreal Omni-Heat Tall Boot hides a ton of functional elements to keep your feet warm and comfortable. 

  • Sizing options: 7 to 14
  • Color options: Dark Grey, Black

Street style meets winter functionality in the Columbia Hyper-Boreal Omni-Heat Tall Boot. The boot holds a surprising amount of functional elements in its sleek design that are all there to help keep your feet warm and comfortable. The Hyper-Boreal Omni-Heat Tall Boot includes 200 grams of insulation plus the company's patented heat reflection system that helps retain heat while allowing moisture to dissipate. Then there's the lightweight midsole with plenty of cushioning for all-day comfort. 

Hyper-Boreal Omni-Heat Tall (button) Read the original article on Business Insider

Beijing expands regulatory crackdown to brokerages that give Chinese investors access to US stocks

Jue, 10/14/2021 - 19:15
  • Beijing's regulatory crackdown that began last year is now spreading to Chinese brokerage firms.
  • China's personal data privacy law that takes effect on November 1 could lead to violations and compliance risks for brokerages.
  • Shares of UP Fintech and Futu Holdings fell 24% and 15%, respectively, in Thursday trades.
  • Sign up here for our daily newsletter, 10 Things Before the Opening Bell.

The year-long regulatory crackdown from Beijing has now spread to Chinese brokerage firms that give mainland investors access to trade US stocks.

The state-run People's Daily newspaper said Chinese online brokerages could face violations and compliance risks once a new data privacy law takes effect on November 1, according to Reuters. They give Chinese investors access to securities that trade in other markets like the US and Hong Kong.

This latest regulatory crackdown follows an ongoing trend of Chinese authorities going after different industries, from Jack Ma's Alibaba and Ant Group, to private tutoring companies and video game firms.

The new data privacy rule will regulate the export of personal information, which would make compliance difficult for online brokerage firms that offer cross-border trading services.

Shares of UP Fintech and Futu Holdings fell as much as 24% and 15%, respectively, in Thursday trades. These Chinese brokerages don't have licenses in mainland China, but allow Chinese citizens to open up accounts after submitting personal information derived from IDs, tax records, and bank statements.

The People's Daily asked, "after personal information is collected, where does it go?"

If brokerage firms are unable to comply or adapt to the new privacy data law taking effect next month, they could be forced to cut off mainland Chinese investors' access to trading US and other foreign stocks.

Read the original article on Business Insider

'Scythe,' a super popular dystopian YA book, is perfect for anyone who loved 'The Hunger Games'

Jue, 10/14/2021 - 18:59
"Scythe," by Neal Shusterman, is the first book in a popular young adult, dystopian sci-fi series that fans of "The Hunger Games" will love.

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  • "Scythe" is a bestselling young adult science fiction novel.
  • I don't read many sci-fi novels, but I loved the world-building and fast-paced plot in this one.
  • I recommend it to anyone who likes "The Hunger Games."

To be honest, I don't read science fiction or fantasy novels often. No matter how well-written they are, I sometimes struggle to imagine the elaborate worlds built by the authors, enriched with advanced technology or complex magic.

But it took me only three days to completely devour "Scythe," a wildly popular dystopian novel.

"Scythe," a young adult sci-fi book by author Neal Shusterman, was published in 2016 and is the first in a completed trilogy followed by "Thunderhead" and "The Toll." It's also currently being adapted into a movie by Universal Pictures.

by Neal Shusterman (small)

Before I opened the book, all I knew was that it's about a world where humanity has conquered mortality and now the only way humans die is by the hands of a scythe - humans who are designated, trained, and spend their lives in charge of "gleaning" people for population control.

Reading "Scythe," the story follows two reluctant teenagers, Citra and Rowan, who are chosen to apprentice a scythe, even though neither of them wants the role. As they begin to understand the intricacies of scythedom, their journeys are complicated by a stipulation: Only one will become a scythe - and their first act will be to glean the other.

I'm not the only one who's obsessed with this book. "Scythe" has great reviews - 84% of its nearly 200,000 reviews on Goodreads are 4- and 5-stars - and I couldn't agree more. This novel is fast-paced, involves excellent world-building, and - you heard it here first! - has the potential to become the next "Hunger Games."

Here are the three things I loved the most about "Scythe":The fantastical world feels a lot like our own, making it easy for non-fantasy fans to follow along.

I generally have a problem with the elaborate world-building in most fantasy and science-fiction novels. Even with beloved high fantasy series like "Game of Thrones" or "The Lord of the Rings," it's too difficult for me to keep track of all the different magic, characters, family trees, and histories that are crucial to the plot, making them personally not very enjoyable for me to read.

But in "Scythe," the dystopia (or utopia, depending on how you see it) is built swiftly and easily: It's reminiscent of the world we currently live in, but a few hundred years into the future. 2042 was the year the world decided to combine all the information that's currently stored in the "cloud" into one massive artificial intelligence system known as the Thunderhead.

As the Thunderhead immediately knew the collective knowledge of humanity, it was able to solve world hunger, wealth inequality, and all the other problems in the world. (Sure, you could poke some holes in this, but it's a YA science fiction novel. I just rolled with the information I was given.)

A post shared by Kat’s Book Stacks (@kats.stacks)

In this world, there are public cars that drive themselves, people have "nanites" in their bodies that regulate pain and emotion, and there are machines that can reset your age to any time in adulthood. Because this futuristic world felt plausible and familiar, it helped me become obsessed with the premise as quickly as I did.

"Scythe" presents a series of ethical dilemmas that kept me invested in the story.

Most scythes take the responsibility of taking a life very seriously, acting with a reverence for the gleaned and their families. They glean people in a similar ratio to the present-day mortality rate, randomly choose from a group to eliminate bias, and ensure they're gleaning the population evenly across gender, race, and age.

Each scythe has their own specific method of choosing who to glean. Some strictly follow the statistics of mortality from before the age of immortality, while others choose based on who seems ready to be done with life. Others mirror mass tragedies from history, wiping out hundreds of people at a time, but only a few times per year.

The book poses many ethical dilemmas that I won't spoil, but the main one is this: How does one person choose when another one should die? I still find myself pondering this question, which is one of the main reasons I loved the book so much, and can't wait to read the next ones.

This book is incredibly fast-paced and full of plot twists, which made me order the sequel.

I absolutely couldn't put this book down. Every time the apprentices would seem to conquer a challenge, another one arose. Even in the short moments that seemed like lulls, there were huge overarching problems that needed to be resolved and kept me turning the pages.

My only critique is the book didn't end in a very gripping cliffhanger. I know which problems will be addressed in the next book (not spoiling anything, promise!) but I didn't feel the immediate urge to open the next one until I read the description of the sequel.

That being said, I've already ordered the sequel, "Thunderhead," and recommended "Scythe" to every single one of my sci-fi-loving friends.

If you're looking for a fascinating dystopian science fiction book with all the page-turning excitement of "The Hunger Games," read this book (and the whole "Arc of the Scythe" series).

by Neal Shusterman (button)Read the original article on Business Insider

Here's how you can be paid $6,800 - plus doughnuts - to binge-watch all 706 episodes of 'The Simpsons'

Jue, 10/14/2021 - 18:58
"The Simpsons" has a scarily accurate ability to predict future events.
  • A company plans to pay an analyst $6,800 for eight weeks to watch 706 episodes of "The Simpsons."
  • "The Simpsons" has accurately predicted future events, such as the election of Donald Trump.
  • The analyst would make note of important events in the show that could happen in the future.

Your binge-watching habits might finally pay off now that one company is hiring an analyst to watch all 706 episodes of the TV classic "The Simpsons."

"It's a well-known phenomenon that The Simpsons has predicted major life events, and in our industry we too like to predict what the future has in store for us," said Platin Casino, an online casino company. "The Simpsons Series Analyst will get paid to note down standout events from the show, to help us predict the probability of each one happening."

"The Simpsons" has developed a reputation for being able to accurately predict future events, including the election of Donald Trump, the voyage of billionaire Richard Branson into space, and the discovery of the Higgs boson equation.

The analyst is expected to receive $6,800 and a weekly box of doughnuts to work 35-hour weeks for eight weeks watching the show and "The Simpsons Movie."

Platin Casino did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

"During each episode the professional will be asked to take notes on stand out storylines to feedback to us and our team of prediction experts. We will then compile the events into a list of future predictions with a probability of each one happening," the casino company said.

Similar to many jobs during the pandemic, this one is remote-friendly with flexible hours, but it requires a laptop or TV, strong writing skills, and fluency in English.

"And of course, a love for The Simpsons is desirable," the company said.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Facebook is working on AI tech that will monitor your every move

Jue, 10/14/2021 - 18:47
  • Facebook is working on tech that will monitor human life, the company said in a new blog post.
  • The idea is to build AI that sees the world as humans do, from a first-person perspective.
  • This AI could be used for what Facebook envisions as the future of smartglasses.

Facebook envisions a future where smartglasses "become as useful in everyday life as smartphones," the company said in a new blog post.

In order to achieve that future, such devices will require powerful AI software that can read and respond to the world around the headset's user. And the only way to train AI to see and hear the world like humans do is for it to experience the world like we do: from a first-person perspective.

"Next-generation AI will need to learn from videos that show the world from the center of action," the blog post said.

Facebook's solution to this problem is a new project, titled, "Ego4D," which will collate data from "13 universities and labs across nine countries, who collected more than 2,200 hours of first-person video in the wild, featuring over 700 participants going about their daily lives."

The data will be open to the research community, the blog post said, but the goal of the project is clear: To create the type of AI that can power a slew of Facebook devices currently in the works.

There's even a Facebook division, known as Reality Labs, that's focused on research and development for the future of VR and AR tech.

That division is headed by longtime Facebook exec Andrew "Boz" Bosworth, who shared images of himself in various prototypes this past week:

-Boz (@boztank) October 13, 2021

The company already makes a very popular virtual reality headset in the Oculus Quest 2, and it has plans to transition from VR to augment reality (AR) in the coming years.

Notably, Facebook currently produces a set of smartglasses in collaboration with Ray Ban, named Ray Ban Stories, and previously deployed a team of staffers to capture data in the world around them using pairs of prototype smartglasses.

Got a tip? Contact Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (bgilbert@insider.com), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.

Read the original article on Business Insider

5 ways to troubleshoot Hulu when it isn't working

Jue, 10/14/2021 - 18:46
You may need to try a few different fixes if your Hulu stream isn't working.
  • If Hulu is not working, there are several simple ways to troubleshoot any problems.
  • If you confirm that the Hulu service is working by checking Downdetector, you can close and restart the app to see if that fixes the problem.
  • You should also check to see if Hulu works on another device; if not, you might have an issue with your internet connection or Wi-Fi speed.
  • Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Like any internet service, Hulu is susceptible to an array of possible problems, any of which can keep you from catching up with the latest episode of "What We Do In the Shadows." If Hulu is not working for you, here are the most common troubleshooting steps to get back up and running as quickly as possible.

What to do when Hulu is not working

It's often hard to know what is causing a glitch with Hulu (or any other streaming service) so you should try each of these potential fixes, starting with the simplest and easiest and then working your way through more complex or less likely solutions.

Check to see if Hulu is down

Hulu is generally reliable with a very high "uptime," but if you get an error or can't connect, the first thing you may want to do is see if the service is offline. If it is offline, you just need to wait a while and try again later. The easiest way to check is to go to Hulu's network status page at Downdetector. You can also just search for "Is Hulu down" in a Google search.

Downdetector should be your first stop if Hulu is unexpectedly not working. Close the Hulu app and restart it

If you're trying to watch Hulu on a mobile device, the Hulu app might be misbehaving. To solve that potential issue, force the Hulu app to completely close, then launch the app again. If you need a refresher, here is how to close an app on Android and close an app on iOS. If you're trying to use Hulu on a smart TV or streaming player like Roku, you can close and restart the app there as well, though the steps will vary depending upon what device you own.

Swipe upward to close the Hulu app on most mobile devices.

If that doesn't fix the problem, then you might want to try restarting the device (here's how to restart your iPhone), especially if you have any suspicion that the phone or tablet itself is misbehaving.

Not working anywhere? Check your WiFi

If Hulu isn't working, the easiest way to see if the problem lies on the device you're using or elsewhere is to try watching it on another device. Hulu not working on your TV? Start the Hulu app on your phone. Or try watching it in a browser on your laptop. If Hulu isn't working on two different devices - but Downdetector doesn't report any issues - then your WiFi might be the culprit. Reboot your WiFi router and cable modem (turn them both off for about two minutes, then turn them back on) and make sure you have a strong WiFi signal on whatever device you are trying to watch Hulu

Clear your device's app cache

If you check Hulu on a second device and it's working elsewhere - just not on the device you really want to use even after starting the app - then you might have a problem with your cache.

If you are using an Android phone or tablet, you can easily clear the cache. The steps might vary slightly depending upon which version of Android you are running, but here's the general procedure:

1. Start the Settings app.

2. Tap Apps & Notifications.

3. Go to the list of apps (you might need to tap See all apps) and tap Hulu.

4. Tap Storage & cache.

5. Tap Clear cache.

Clearing the cache may resolve a problem with Hulu not working.

If you're using an iPhone, there's no way to clear the cache without uninstalling the app, so go ahead and do that - uninstall Hulu from your iPhone, and then reinstall it from the App Store and sign back into your Hulu account.

Dealing with intermittent audio or video problems

There are a few reasons Hulu's audio or video might be inconsistent, stuttering, lagging, or cutting in and out. Start by making sure that audio and video works properly in another app, outside of Hulu. For example, if it always plays fine on YouTube, the problem might be limited to Hulu.

For a more widespread problem, make sure that your internet connection is fast enough to accommodate streaming video. Use a service like Google's Internet Speed Test to see how fast your connection is. Your connection needs to be at least 3Mbps for standard definition video, but ideally you want 16Mbps or more. There are a handful of ways you can speed up your internet connection.

Assess your device's internet speed to see if that's the cause of your Hulu playback issues.

If your internet connection and WiFi speed don't appear to be to blame and you are having trouble with Hulu on your television, it might be your HDMI connection, especially if you're using a streaming media player. Replace the HDMI cable and try again.

12 Hulu tips and tricks to improve your streaming experience and make the most out of your subscriptionHow to watch live TV on Hulu - plans start at $65 a month and include more than 75 channelsHow to use a Google speed test to check how fast your internet speed is12 ways to get the most out of your Netflix subscription and viewing experience, including keyboard shortcuts and other hidden featuresRead the original article on Business Insider

Facebook is fighting to keep records of its own investigation into the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar out of court

Jue, 10/14/2021 - 18:38
  • Facebook is appealing a request for internal records linked to a Myanmar genocide case, filings show.
  • It's the latest development in a legal battle regarding Facebook's role in genocidal violence.
  • The company said sharing users' private content would create "grave human rights concerns of its own."

Facebook on Wednesday challenged part of a judge's order that would require the tech giant to release internal documents and private user content connected to the genocide of 24,000 Rohingya people in Myanmar.

The company is appealing US Magistrate Zia Faruqi's September mandate that said Facebook must disclose records from the company's private investigation into its role in the systematic mass executions of Rohingya civilians by the Myanmar military.

Faruqi's order also asked Facebook to release content posted by accounts affiliated or suspected of being affiliated with Myanmar officials.

"Locking away the requested content would be throwing away the opportunity to understand how disinformation begat genocide of the Rohingya," Faruqi wrote in the ruling.

The tech giant argued that disclosing internet users' private content would violate federal law under the Stored Communications Act, adding that fulfilling such a request would create "grave human rights concerns of its own."

The appeal specified that Facebook would comply with requests to "produce relevant public information and non-content metadata."

In a statement to Insider, Rafael Frankel, Facebook's Director of South and Southeast Asia Policy, said: "We support international efforts to bring accountability for atrocity crimes committed against the Rohingya people. We've made voluntary, lawful disclosures to the UN's Investigative Mechanism for more than a year and we commit to disclosing information to The Gambia to complement that effort. We also support modernizing the SCA and reforms that allow a broader range of disclosures for significant investigations like this, while avoiding a precedent that risks the privacy and human rights of billions of people."

Facebook's filing is the latest development in an international legal battle alleging Myanmar officials of genocide against the Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority.

Beginning in 2016, the military carried out "clearance operations" of the ethnic group that included the rape, torture, and mass executions of tens of thousands of men, women, and children, court documents say.

Digital hate campaigns against the Rohingya on Facebook led to "communal violence and mob justice," The Republic of the Gambia claims in the international court filings, as organized groups used "multiple fake accounts and news pages to spread hate speech, fake news, and misinformation for political gain."

Facebook itself admitted that it was "too slow to respond to the concerns raised" regarding the violence, and said it will cooperate with Faruqi's directive to provide public information on "hundreds of accounts, groups, and pages removed from its platform."

Facebook called the order "sweeping and unprecedented," and said it would leave "internet users' private content unprotected and thereby susceptible to disclosure - at a provider's whim - to private litigants, foreign governments, law enforcement, or anyone else."

Whistleblowers Frances Haugen and Sophie Zhang have raised concerns over Facebook's international security issues.

"Facebook's consistent understaffing of the counterespionage, information operations, and counterterrorism teams is a national security issue," Haugen said in a testimony to lawmakers earlier this month. "I have strong national security concerns about how Facebook operates today."

Zhang, who was fired from Facebook last year, posted a 7,800-word memo detailing how she believed the company allowed authoritarian regimes around the world to manipulate its platform.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Morgan Stanley CEO says bitcoin isn't a large part of the bank's business, but admits crypto is more than just a 'fad'

Jue, 10/14/2021 - 18:32
Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman. Andrew Burton/Getty Images; Samantha Lee/Insider
  • Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman said crypto isn't in demand for the bank's clients.
  • Even so, he admitted on the bank's earnings call that cryptocurrencies aren't just a fad.
  • He said he's watching how regulators plan to handle the space.

Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman says crypto isn't a big part of the bank's business but, he admits, it's more than just a passing trend.

Gorman made the comments on the company's third-quarter earnings call after an equity analyst asked how the bank planned to engage with clients regarding digital assets.

In response, the CEO said Morgan Stanley isn't directly trading cryptocurrencies for retail clients - unlike some of its competitors - but it gives them access to buy digital assets through funds.

"It's just not a huge part of the business demand from our clients, and that may evolve, and we'll evolve with it," he said.

Even so, he admitted: "I don't think crypto is a fad."

"I don't think it's going to go away. I don't know what the value of bitcoin should or shouldn't be, but these things aren't going away. And the blockchain technology supporting is obviously very real and powerful," he said after the company posted an earnings beat, thanks to a boom in investment banking and equity trading.

For the bank, cryptocurrencies are a working space, Gorman said, adding that, "We're watchful of it, we're respectful, and we'll wait and see how the regulators handle it."

Other prominent market players have also stayed away from cryptocurrencies amid regulatory uncertainty. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon went so far as to call bitcoin "worthless" this week.

Regulators have been grappling with how to manage the space for months. The Fed recently said it has no plans to ban crypto, and the US Securities and Exchange Commission said it's in the process of coming up with a regulatory framework for the market. Last week the SEC approved the closest thing to a US bitcoin ETF so far.

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America's new retirement age is 62 - or younger. The 'Great Resignation' is giving boomers their golden years back.

Jue, 10/14/2021 - 18:32
Residents in the square of The Villages, Florida, retirement community in 2016.
  • Nearly half of Americans in a New York Fed survey said they expected to retire before turning 62.
  • Retiring earlier lets Americans use their "golden decade" for better financial planning.
  • But the economy depends on older workers, and a move to retiring early could upend the labor market.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.

Americans plan to retire earlier than ever.

In a July survey of about 1,300 American household heads conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the average chance adults expect to work beyond 62 is 50.1%. That's down from 51.4% in March and marks the smallest share since the Fed's survey began in 2014.

Conversely, the average likelihood Americans retired before 62 closed in on 50%. The chance Americans work beyond 67 also fell in July to a record-low 32.4% from 32.9%.

This could be good news for workers but presents challenges for the American economy.

3 reasons Americans are retiring early

More than 1 million older workers have exited the workforce since COVID-19 struck the US in February 2020, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Factors driving the mass exodus - deemed the "Great Resignation" by the psychologist Anthony Klotz - vary.

For some, the risk of catching the coronavirus countered the desire to keep working. Roughly 1.5 million Americans cited COVID-19 as the main reason they stayed out of the labor force in August, according to the jobs report. That count held flat from July levels.

Others likely stayed unemployed because of a lack of attractive employment options. The biggest labor shortages are in the service industries that took the biggest hits during the pandemic. It's possible older workers balked and decided to retire early, Julia Pollak, a labor economist at the job site ZipRecruiter, told Insider's Juliana Kaplan in July.

Soaring stocks also made more people rich enough to retire. The number of 401(k) and individual retirement accounts holding at least $1 million soared to a record 754,000 in the second quarter of 2021, Fidelity said in an August report, up 75% from the year-ago level.

For all workers, the average 401(k) balance rose 24% to $129,300 from the year-ago period, Fidelity said. The average IRA balance climbed 21% to $134,900.

The latest Fed data suggests early exits are the new normal, not a pandemic-era oddity.

Unlocking the 'golden decade'

The wave of pandemic retirements stands to overhaul the US economy.

For one, it freed up younger baby boomers to better enjoy their 60s (the oldest boomers turned 75 this year). The decade already covers the most common retirement ages, but it also serves as the "golden decade" for tax planning, according to tax experts at Aspire Planning Associates, because it's old enough to retire and young enough to plan ahead to reduce tax costs.

Early retirements could also relieve some pressure on the labor market and force employers to shift their focus toward younger workers, as employers have grown increasingly reliant on older workers over the past two decades. While employment has been almost flat for workers younger than 55 since 2000, it's grown by nearly 20 million employees for Americans 55 and older, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Simply put, the US economy was increasingly reliant on workers less than a decade from the average retirement age.

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The aging of the workforce is another piece in the puzzle of an America shown by the 2020 census to be having fewer babies, with fewer workers around to power the economy. With Americans less likely to work into their 60s and instead take advantage of the golden decade, employers will have to look elsewhere for workers.

The search is already taking place. Job openings fell slightly to 10.4 million in August, a historically elevated level that reveals demand for workers is still intense. Yet hiring slowed sharply that month and was even weaker in September. Employers will just have to find ways to get younger workers to do the jobs of older ones - or robots will have to pick up the slack.

And of course, not all retirements are out of choice. A Boston College study that followed the New York Fed survey found that more than a third of Americans between 65 and 69 years old don't have the cash to cover just a year of minimal care.

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LinkedIn is shutting down its Chinese site after drawing criticism for censoring profiles with content considered offensive to the country's government

Jue, 10/14/2021 - 18:31
Chinese leader Xi Jinping
  • LinkedIn is ending its localized version in China, replacing it with a site without a social feed.
  • It had blocked accounts of reporters and researchers sharing content considered offensive to the CCP.
  • LinkedIn is the last big American social media site operating in China, the WSJ reports.

LinkedIn is shutting down its local version in China after coming under fire for censoring accounts in the country that shared content considered offensive to China's government.

The company, which is owned by Microsoft, said in a blog post on Thursday that it will sunset the localized version later this year.

"While we've found success in helping Chinese members find jobs and economic opportunity, we have not found that same level of success in the more social aspects of sharing and staying informed," the post reads. "We're also facing a significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China."

LinkedIn says it will replace the localized site, which launched in 2014, with InJobs. This will strictly be a jobs application site; it won't have a social feed or the ability to share posts or articles.

"Our new strategy for China is to put our focus on helping China-based professionals find jobs in China and Chinese companies find quality candidates," the post continued.

LinkedIn is the last big American social media site running in China, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The platform made headlines earlier this year for censoring profiles of users who shared "prohibited content." In June, writer and photographer Jojje Olsson was told by LinkedIn that he had to remove mention of the Tiananmen Square massacre from his profile or his account would be hidden from view in China.

At the time, LinkedIn said, "It's clear to us that in order to create value for our members in China and around the world, we will need to implement the Chinese government's restrictions on content, when and to the extent required."

Last month, LinkedIn blocked accounts of journalists and researchers on its Chinese site whose profiles contained content considered offensive to the ruling Chinese Communist Party, as Insider's Katie Canales reported.

LinkedIn told those affected users, "While we strongly support freedom of expression, we recognized when we launched that we would need to adhere to the requirements of the Chinese government in order to operate in China."

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T-Mobile is investigating an alleged data breach affecting 100 million users - and the hacker is offering private data in exchange for bitcoin

Lun, 08/16/2021 - 00:58

T-Mobile on Sunday said it is looking into an alleged massive data breach compromising over 100 million users based on a claim made in an underground forum post, according to Vice's Motherboard.

The seller, according to the post, is asking for bitcoin in exchange.

While the post did not mention T-mobile per se, the seller did mention that the data came from T-mobile's servers.

"T-Mobile USA. Full customer info," the seller said in the post, according to Motherboard.

This information included details such as social security numbers, phone numbers, names, physical addresses, and driver's licenses information, the seller said, according to Motherboard.

In exchange, the seller wants six bitcoins, worth around $274,000 as of publishing, just for a portion of the data, which would consist of 30 million social security numbers and driver's licenses.

The seller, according to Motherboard, said they are privately offering the rest of the data.

Shortly after, the seller mentioned being booted out of the servers but claimed to have backed up the data.

"I think they already found out because we lost access to the backdoored servers," the seller said, according to Motherboard. "It's backed up in multiple places."

A T-mobile spokesperson said the company is "aware of claims made in an underground forum" and is "actively investigating their validity."

"We do not have any additional information to share at this time," the spokesperson added.

Cryptocurrencies have been at the center of recent high-profile cyberattacks, demanded as ransom by criminals because transactions are either anonymous or very difficult to trace.

In the US, the Biden administration is said to be ramping up efforts to trace cryptocurrencies used in cyberattacks and is planning to offer bounties of up to $10 million for information that will help catch criminals.

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I tried Domino's 2-minute curbside pickup guarantee and it was one of the quickest ways I've ever picked up food

Dom, 07/11/2021 - 15:37
  • Domino's launched 'carside delivery,' with a guarantee that it will be brought out in two minutes.
  • Pizza restaurants thrived during the pandemic and delivery grew.
  • Fast curbside service makes Domino's better able to compete with traditional fast-food chains.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.
Domino's now offers what it calls "carside delivery," which is essentially curbside pickup by another name. The offer comes with a two-minute guarantee, meaning that after pizza is ordered online and says it is ready, it will arrive at your car within two minutes of you checking in. The carside delivery comes with a two-minute guarantee. If the pizza isn't ready and in your car in two minutes, you have your choice of a free pizza or 20% of your next order. Domino's is offering a free pizza if it misses the deadline. I downloaded Domino's app to test out this guarantee. Domino's released a "Two minute service guarantee" for carside delivery. The app shows which stores are closest to you, and also how they're operating right now under COVID restrictions. My area only had contactless options. Domino's released a "Two minute service guarantee" for carside delivery. Carside delivery is available online or through Domino's app. The app is nothing special, but it's easy enough to use. Domino's released a "Two minute service guarantee" for carside delivery. It makes is simple to build a pizza with the toppings, crust, and sauce of your choice. Domino's released a "Two minute service guarantee" for carside delivery. You can even control how much of each topping you want, or if you just want it on half of the pizza, which seems convenient when ordering for a group. Domino's released a "Two minute service guarantee" for carside delivery. Apply coupons in the app, and make sure your order is right before checking out. Domino's released a "Two minute service guarantee" for carside delivery. Choose what time you'd like to get your pizza, and how you want to pick it up. Domino's released a "Two minute service guarantee" for carside delivery. For carside delivery, Domino's requires that you input some information about your car, presumably to make delivery easier. Curbside pickup programs at Walmart and Target have adopted similar measures. Domino's released a "Two minute service guarantee" for carside delivery. One of the most useful features is pre-selecting where you'd like the pizza placed in the car, which can make delivery even faster. Domino's released a "Two minute service guarantee" for carside delivery. Once the order is finally placed, watch its progress on Domino's tracker. Domino's released a "Two minute service guarantee" for carside delivery. The chain also sent me a text that my order was received and a way to check-in if I didn't have the app. Domino's released a "Two minute service guarantee" for carside delivery. When the app told me my pizza was ready, I got in my car and headed to the restaurant. Domino's released a "Two minute service guarantee" for carside delivery. There was a parking spot right in front of the entrance marked for carside delivery. Domino's is offering carside delivery. The same instructions in the app were also posted on the store's window. Domino's is offering carside delivery. After taking a few pictures, I checked in and turned on the hazard lights. Domino's is offering carside delivery. I had my fiance, who was in the car with me, start a timer on his phone the second I checked in. The server brought it out in just under a minute, safely within the guaranteed time frame. Domino's is offering carside delivery. I test out a lot of drive-thru and curbside experiences, and this was definitely one of the quickest, though the restaurant was also not very busy when I went, which may have contributed. Domino's is offering carside delivery. Pizza sales boomed during the pandemic as they already had the infrastructure set up for delivery as dining rooms closed and people felt safer staying at home. Now, as the US reopens and people venture back into restaurants, carside pickup is Domino's pitch to customers to stay relevant in 2021 and beyond. Domino's is offering carside delivery.

Source: Insider

The new model also puts Domino's more on par with fast food like McDonald's or Burger King as a reliably fast meal that can be picked up on the go. Domino's is offering carside delivery.

Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.

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Brokerage eToro says client holdings of dogecoin vaulted above bitcoin and ether in the 2nd quarter

Dom, 07/11/2021 - 15:33

Holdings of meme token dogecoin vaulted above bitcoin and ether among eToro clients in the second quarter, according to data from the brokerage.

After cardano, which held the top spot in both quarters, dogecoin zoomed past the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization to claim second place, according to a June 30 snapshot from eToro.

Bitcoin for the second quarter held the fifth spot, tumbling from second in the first three months of the year.

Ether meanwhile, held the fourth spot for the second quarter, also lower from the previous quarter's third place ranking.

Consistently in the top five is altcoin tron, which was founded in 2017. Its native cryptocurrency is TRX.

Q2 2021CryptocurrencyQ1 20211Cardano12DogecoinN/A3Tron44Ether35Bitcoin2

The decision of eToro to add dogecoin trading to its platform only came in May this year, after much contemplation, according to Yoni Assia, CEO of eToro. He told Insider that it did not feel "sensible" to list the shiba inu-themed token at first due to its background.

Dogecoin, which started as a joke in 2013, has seen a blistering rally in 2021 even taking into account recent steep declines, thanks in part to well-known backers such as Elon Musk and Mark Cuban.

The coin was boosted this year by listings on numerous cryptocurrency exchanges, including eToro, Coinbase and Gemini. It was also named "asset of the year" by the billionaire founder of crypto exchange FTX.

Most recently, in an S-1 filing for its upcoming IPO, Robinhood revealed that the trading platform generated nearly $30 million in revenue from customers trading dogecoin in the first quarter of 2021 - a figure expected to have further ballooned in the second quarter when dogecoin's price spiked more than 1,375%.

The rise of altcoins has been closely documented as bitcoin's share of the total crypto market drops below 50% for the first time in three years. It stands at 43%, according to data from CoinGecko.

"People are looking at the broader universe of altcoins for alpha relative to the very crowded BTC trade," Jack McDonald, CEO of fintech firm PolySign, told Insider. "While there's an obvious correlation between BTC and the rest of the market, altcoins represent an opportunity to diversify one's exposure."

Buying and holding altcoins, especially those founded relatively recently, also show a greater trust in the ecosystem, Everett Kohl, founder of Dbilia.com, a company in the NFT space, told Insider.

For some, though, like Eloisa Marchesoni, co-founder and COO of Blockchain Consulting, investing in altcoins comes with more risks.

"Unless you're taking profits as you go, you risk sitting on a load of dead or stagnant capital hoping they survive crypto winter and regain their price action," she told Insider. "Historically just a few of them make it from one bull run to the next."

Read the original article on Business Insider

Las Vegas has a new $4.3 billion crypto-friendly resort - take a tour inside the first new casino on the Strip in a decade

Dom, 07/11/2021 - 15:18
The exterior of Resorts World Las Vegas.
  • The Las Vegas Strip has a new hotel: the $4.3 billion Resorts World Las Vegas.
  • Resorts World has tech-forward amenities like "cashless wagering" and partnerships with Grubhub and Gemini.
  • Take a tour of the new hotel, which officially opened June 24.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.
The Las Vegas Strip's newest hotel officially opened on June 24: the $4.3 billion Resorts World Las Vegas. Resorts World Las Vegas. The hotel was developed by Malaysia-based Genting Group and its official opening could not have come at a more fortuitous time as people begin traveling again. The casino. "A brand-new Las Vegas opening like Resorts World can drive increased visitation," Barry Jonas, managing director of Truist Securities, told Katie Young and Contessa Brewer for CNBC. "As many customers looking to trial the new property also like to visit multiple properties during their stay." Fireworks on the opening night of Resorts World Las Vegas on June 24.

Source: CNBC

Any Las Vegas aficionado will know that a crowd-pleasing Las Vegas Strip hotel must have plenty of food, gambling, pool, and drinking options. Resorts World Las Vegas' casino, Luckily, Resorts World offers all four, often with a tech-forward twist. A Rolls-Royce Phantom on display at Resorts World Las Vegas on June 24. Let's take a look inside. Resorts World Las Vegas during the opening night. Behind the flashy Resorts World sign lies a well-known hospitality company: Hilton. Resorts World Las Vegas during its opening night on June 24. In February 2020, the hospitality giant partnered with Resorts World Las Vegas to introduce three Hilton brands to the resort. Resorts World' Crockfords Las Vegas chairman's villa. The three Hilton brands - Hilton Hotel and Resorts, LXR, and Conrad - make an appearance throughout the 3,500-room hotel. Resorts World's Conrad Las Vegas lobby. The hotel has 236 rooms under Hilton's luxury segment, LXR. Resorts World' Crockfords Las Vegas palace. Guests staying in these rooms will have their own entrance and lobby, and upgraded rooms, suites, and villas ranging from 550 square feet to a whopping 7,000 square feet. The lobby for Crockfords. Then there's the Conrad segment, which includes 1,496 rooms and suites spanning from 550 square feet to 2,800 square feet. Resorts World's Conrad Las Vegas premium queen Finally, the majority of the rooms - 1,774, to be exact - are made up of "Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World" rooms ranging from 400 square feet to 3,300 square feet. Resorts World's Las Vegas Hilton deluxe king room. Besides Hilton, Resorts World has a long list of partnerships with recognizable names, such as the Kardashian-Jenner family in the form of a pop-up Kardashian Kloset, the family's online clothing and accessory resale site. Resorts World' Crockfords Las Vegas palace. Not interested in raiding the celebrity powerhouse family's closet? The Lily Ballroom. Resorts World also has a two-floor, 70,000-square-foot shopping venue for guests in need of retail therapy. The Pepper store. Besides the Kardashian family and Hilton partnerships, the hotel is also working with food ordering and delivery platform Grubhub. Fuhu Shack. Guests can use the Grubhub app or scan the Grubhub QR codes located throughout the resort, to order food or retail items. A dessert. From there, the charge can be placed on the guests' room or credit card. The Suns Out Buns Out store. But that's not the only tech-forward feature of the modern hotel. Resorts World Las Vegas' gym It's 2021, so of course, Resorts World has cryptocurrency capabilities. Resorts World's lobby Resorts World has partnered with Gemini - a cryptocurrency platform founded by Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron Winklevoss - to turn the property into "one of the most crypto-friendly resorts on the Las Vegas Strip," according to a press release. RedTail. Like more modern hotels, Resorts World also uses mobile check-ins, an artificial intelligence concierge, and digital keys. Wally's Wine and Spirits. The resort even has a tunnel that connects it to the Las Vegas Convention Center via Tesla cars. One of the high occupancy vehicles. Now, let's take a look at Resorts World's theater, which has space for 5,000 live entertainment fans or convention attendees. The lobby of the theater. The theater houses one of the biggest stages on the Vegas Strip, according to the resort. The theater. In total, the stage spans 64 feet deep and 196 feet wide, totaling 13,550 square feet. The theater. So far, headliners at the massive theater are set to include A-listers like Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, and Luke Bryan. Miley Cyrus performing at Ayu Dayclub at Resorts World Las Vegas on July 4. The property will also have 250,000 square feet worth of meeting spaces and ballrooms for folks headed to Sin City strictly for work purposes. The Jasmine Ballroom. Moving right along to everyone's favorite part: the food. Food at Famous Foods. Las Vegas has always been known for its bustling food and buffet scene, among other Vegas attributes. The exterior of Dawg House. Resorts World is no different, and the property will have over 40 food and drink options. The interior of the Suns Out Buns Out store. Let's start off with Famous Foods Street Eats, a 24,000-square-foot food hall with 16 stalls. Several of these stalls include Asian-inspired options and restaurants with Michelin Plate or Bib Gourmand recognition. Famous Foods Street Eats. There's even a speakeasy inside the food hall. The speakeasy. But don't fret if a food hall isn't your scene. The Neon Bar. Resorts World has a whole list of other food and drink options. Fred Segal's store. This includes Genting Palace, an "old-world glamour" Cantonese eatery … The interior of Genting Palace. … sushi and teppanyaki hotspot Kusa Nori … Kusa Nori. … vegan ice cream from Craig's, an iconic Los Angeles eatery … The interior of Craig's. … and RedTail, a game bar with food options. Food from Redtail. Speaking of which, what would a Las Vegas resort be without bars? One of the bars in Resorts World Las Vegas Resorts World also has several drinking spots, including Starlight on 66 with views of the city, Nashville-transplanted Dawg House Saloon and Sportsbook, and the "most technologically advanced nightclub in Las Vegas," Zouk Nightclub. The entrance of Zouk Nightclub. There'll even be a champagne-forward Gatsby's Cocktail Lounge with live music and DJs. Gatsby's Cocktail Lounge. Like Resorts World's theater, Zouk Nightclub and the hotel's other club, Ayu Dayclub, will have recognizable headliners or residents like Zedd, Tiësto, Jack Harlow, and Madison Beer. DJ Ruckus performing at Ayu Dayclub on July 4. Now moving on to the casino. The 117,000-square-foot space is filled with all the classic gambling options, such as 1,400 slot machines, 30 poker tables, and 117 table games. The poker room at Resorts World Las Vegas. Resorts World's casino even has cashless options, including "cashless wagering." A dealer at the casino. Think "tap-(or scan)-and-go," but on a slot machine or at a table game. Resorts World Las Vegas. If you've been gambling indoors for a bit too long, go unwind at the 5.5-acres worth of pools, including everyone's favorite, an infinity pool. The cabana pool. The seven pools also have what Resorts World calls the "largest pool deck in Las Vegas," as evidenced by the rendering below. The pool complex. And when it's time for some rest and relaxation from all the Vegas chaos, head to the 27,000-square-foot spa. The beauty salon. If these amenities all sound pretty enticing to you, you're not alone. Devin Lucien, DJ Five, and Brody Jenner at Gatsby's Cocktail Lounge on July 2 "We were waiting, optimistic that things would get better when we opened," Scott Sibella, president of Resorts World Las Vegas, told CNBC. "But here we are at 100% [capacity] and everything's going well in Las Vegas, and we're excited to be part of that." Resorts World Las Vegas.

Source: CNBC

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The fight to protect voting rights at the federal level is dead. But there's still a glimmer of hope.

Dom, 07/11/2021 - 15:17
Activists from various grassroots organizations rally outside City Hall in Los Angeles, California on July 7, 2021, calling on Congress and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to remove the filibuster and pass the "For the People Act" to expand voting rights.
  • The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Arizona's law that makes it harder to vote.
  • Congress has stalled out on advancing legislation to protect voting rights.
  • But while the fight for voting rights may have died on the federal level, there is still hope to drive out people and protect voting at the state level.
  • Michael Gordon is a longtime Democratic strategist, a former spokesman for the Justice Department, and the principal for the strategic-communications firm Group Gordon.
  • This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court signed the death certificate for voting rights. In a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, the Court decided that Arizona could implement restrictions that hamper the ability of Black and brown voters to cast their ballot.

In essence, more than 50 years after the Voting Rights Act became law, the federal protections against racially discriminatory voting policies have been stripped away. The conservative majority on the Supreme Court has given new energy to right wing states that want to keep minority voters away from the polls.

Democrats have the Supreme Court and red states against them. So their only choice left is to go local - and out-organize anyone standing in their way.

The big lie on steroids

While Republican-controlled states have passed onerous voting laws for years, the recent spate of voter suppression tactics all stem from former President Donald Trump's "Big Lie." The fact that President Joe Biden won the reliably Republican states of Georgia and Arizona sent a shockwave through the GOP. We all know, and perhaps expected, Trump to falsely claim that there was voter "fraud" after his 2020 loss. But now Republicans are falling all over themselves to please the former President by enacting laws to prevent these nonexistent "irregularities" from happening again.

Arizona, where the Supreme Court case originated, prevents friends and neighbors from helping someone turn in absentee ballots. It also allows the state to disqualify voters who accidentally vote in the wrong precinct. Republicans claim they are trying to prevent fraud, but the actual intention is clear when you recognize that local GOP officials routinely shift voting locations in minority neighborhoods - making it easier for these voters to accidentally run afoul of the new law.

Georgia's new laws, the cause of much outcry earlier this year, not only tighten voter ID requirements - a dog whistle for preventing Black folks from voting - but also make it a crime to pass out water to voters in line. Considering there are generally longer lines where Black voters vote, the water bottle law is designed to force Black voters out of line before making it to the front.

These laws aren't just in swing states, either. States like Arkansas, Alabama, and Oklahoma have all passed laws making it harder to vote by mail, on top of many other voting restrictions. This is an epidemic, and Democrats must use every means at their disposal to fight back before it's too late.

Filibustering the filibuster

The conventional wisdom is that the Democrats' most effective response to voter suppression is to pass a new federal voter protection law. Indeed, some of the very first bills put forth in the US House and Senate this year were to protect voting rights, like the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. The bills have not seen much success because of Republican intransigence.

The most common solution to move past the GOP is changing the filibuster, which prevents any bill from moving forward in the Senate unless it has 60 supporters. Given the 50-50 split in the chamber, this effectively gives the Republican minority veto power over almost every bill brought to the Senate floor.

After the Supreme Court decision, Democrats are calling again for an end to the filibuster so that the voting rights law can pass. But that ship has sailed. The Democrats in the ideological center of the Senate, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, have not moved on changing the filibuster. And with their stubbornness on the filibuster goes any chance of a new federal voting law.

Democrats across the country need to stop hoping that Congress or the courts will fix this problem. They won't. Democrats need to take charge themselves.

Voter suppression boomerang

While efforts may be stymied at the federal level, Democrats do have a chance to harness the energy and outrage around voter suppression to increase voter turnout at the state and local level.

To start, they need to let Black, brown, and younger voters know that Republicans are trying to prevent them from voting, and inform them of how to stay on top of their right to vote. Major Democratic Super PACs are already investing in this kind of work, but more funds and more people will be necessary to make a real difference.

In Arizona, where casting a ballot in the wrong place can lead to disqualification, voter education campaigns are essential. The GOP technique only works to suppress the vote when voters don't know their polling location. With solid organizing, Democrats can ensure every single voter knows where to cast their ballot.

In Georgia, ground zero for many false claims of election fraud, Democrats have already shown what it takes to fight back. Stacey Abrams' Fair Fight has been on the front lines of combating voter suppression. As a result, Georgia Democrats helped flip the White House and Senate in 2020. If Democrats are serious about combating voter suppression, they should set up a Fair Fight in every single state.

Perhaps the single largest step that Democrats can take to fight suppression and increase turnout is to invest in year-round organizing. In too many places, young Democratic staffers parachute in for one campaign cycle and then leave, forgoing the ability to forge the deep connections it takes to win over and help voters.

The chair of the Wisconsin Democrats credits year-round organizing for the slim wins in both Wisconsin and Georgia, and the Democratic state party in Texas is already investing in this. It gets results. Texas Democrats managed to defeat an earlier attempt to pass draconian voter suppression laws, although the governor is still trying.

For the time being, Democrats can't do anything about the Supreme Court. But the right to vote is precious, and we can use the threat of these new laws to inspire people to hold onto what's theirs and fight back against Republican attempts to subvert democracy.

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2 ways jobs and pay didn't make sense before the pandemic that are now 'unwinding', according to a top economist

Dom, 07/11/2021 - 15:15
U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen (L) greets Howard University Economics Professor William Spriggs (R), who serves as chief economist to the AFL-CIO, as she arrives to deliver opening remarks at a summit on diversity in the economics profession at the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington October 30, 2014.
  • Right now, a whole lot of jobs are open - and a whole bunch of workers are quitting.
  • But the labor market being weird is nothing new, according to economist William Spriggs.
  • The current shifts could be an 'unwinding' of more than a decade of declining wages and an aging workforce.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.

The labor market is weird right now.

A lot of people remain unemployed, even though the number of job openings is high and businesses are desperate to hire. Americans that do have jobs are quitting at record-breaking rates. In other words, a major reshuffling is going on in the labor market.

As it turns out, a confusing labor market is nothing new, said Dr. William Spriggs, an economics professor at Howard University and chief economist at the AFL-CIO. Spriggs told Insider that low-paying jobs and older people remaining in the workforce were both surprising features of the last 20 years of the American economy. And what seems weird right now is actually just an "unwinding" of these two trends giving way to higher-paying jobs and younger workers.

The labor shortage is actually healing major dysfunctions in the 21st century economy, Spriggs explained.

Low-wage jobs rose and real wages declined

Since the early 2000s, the number of low-wage jobs grew, even as people became more educated. (Brookings' defines "low-wage" as two-thirds of their area's median wage, or less.)

A Brookings analysis from 2019 found that 53 million Americans work for low wages - which comes to 44% of workers ages 18 to 64. And it's not just teenagers; more than half of those low-wage workers fall between the ages of 25 and 50.

"It was very hard to explain how, in the 21st century, we gained so many low-wage jobs," Spriggs said.

Though pay growth picked up in the years preceding the pandemic thanks to states raising minimum wages above the federal level of $7.25 an hour, wages have declined over the past five decades.

Now some of those past patterns are "unwinding," said Spriggs. He attributes some of that to more consistent hours in some sectors, like those benefitting from the rise of online shopping. Workers - especially women, who have had a rockier recovery - are flocking to industries like construction, transportation, and warehousing.

"With this transition going on, the workers who are employed are finding ways to get jobs in the sectors that are expanding and hiring," Spriggs said.

Older workers stuck around longer than expected

The other "really strange thing" about the 21st century labor market was that the number of workers over age 50 has been on the upswing, and participation for people under 25 fell. Spriggs pointed out that there was much talk about the 21st century being the "age of the computer."

"I think everybody thought that people over 50 will continue to retire and people under 25, this would be the best cohort ever if you were young, because you will have to backfill all those jobs," he said.

Dr. William Spriggs.

Instead, younger workers were unemployed at higher rates than older workers after the Great Recession, and were then hit harder by COVID job losses.

The pandemic might have evened out generational representation as a wave of older workers opted (or were pushed) into retirement over COVID fears, layoffs, and bleak industry outlooks. The Retirement Equity Lab found in an October report that, for the first time in 50 years, workers over 55 were unemployment at higher rates than the younger cohort.

After teen unemployment dropped significantly in May, it leveled out in June, coming in close to pre-pandemic levels. Insider's Ayelet Sheffey and Madison Hoff reported that some expected teens would step in and fill the labor shortage, but June's jobs report seemed to disprove that theory. Spriggs agrees that "there's no evidence of that so far."

The current labor market rollercoaster could create lasting change beyond temporary signing bonuses and other measures employers are using to lure in workers.

"Maybe because of the shift in demand, we finally shift to some of these other jobs that aren't necessarily higher paying," Spriggs said, but ones with more hours. That's a potential advantage for workers: "The annual pay is much higher."

Read the original article on Business Insider

I went on JetBlue's newest aircraft, the Airbus A321neoLR, that's taking flyers to Europe next month and now I'm ready to book a ticket

Dom, 07/11/2021 - 15:04
Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR.
  • JetBlue Airways is launching its first flights to London next month and using a new plane to do it.
  • Only 138 seats are offered with a sizeable business class cabin to draw in premium passengers.
  • In-flight entertainment, in-flight WiFi, and hot meals will be complimentary for all flyers.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.
JetBlue is going to London, UK next month, and powering its transatlantic debut will be a brand-new aircraft to its fleet, the Airbus A321neoLR. JetBlue Airways' first Airbus A321neoLR.

Read More: JetBlue is promising London-bound passengers free meals, wider seats, and more when service finally starts this summer — take a look

The next-generation and "long-range" version of Airbus' largest single-aisle jet offers JetBlue a 4,000-nautical mile range while also burning less fuel on the overseas journey. JetBlue Airways' first Airbus A321neoLR. Passengers accustomed to flying the New York-London route will note that it's the smallest aircraft to service the busy transatlantic corridor that's generated billions in revenue for some airlines. But JetBlue is giving the plane a fresh new look compared to its other jets to help bring more travelers across the pond. Inside JetBlue Airways' Airbus A321neoLR. Take a look inside the jet that will take JetBlue passengers to London starting in August. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. From the outside, JetBlue's newest plane looks like any other in the leisure carrier's fleet. On the inside, however, is a technological marvel jam-packed with passenger-friendly amenities. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Only 138 seats are offered on an aircraft that can normally seat around 200. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Mint business class is also making its transatlantic debut with brand-new seats to boot. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. A total of 24 business class seats are angled towards the aisle in what's known as a herringbone pattern. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. There's one seat on each side of the aisle in a 1-1 configuration, as opposed to the alternating 2-2, 1-1 configuration on JetBlue's first-generation Mint planes. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. The arrangement is ideal for solo travelers as they offer complete privacy from the rest of the aircraft. JetBlue told Insider that privacy was the greatest request that it received from Mint flyers. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. And to that effect, each seat will have fully closeable doors that block passengers off from the rest of the plane. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. JetBlue is traditionally a leisure airline but is enticing premium customers the most business class seats it has ever offered on a single plane. And it shows, the cabin is so deep that it stretches all the way to the aircraft's wings. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Each seat offers an abundance of privacy since flyers don't have to share the row and high walls create a feeling of exclusivity. This seat is referred to as the "Mint Suite." Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Wireless charging pads are also available in yet another unique touch. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Lighting in the suites is offered through a personal reading lamp and a larger lamp with customizable mood lighting. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. A pillow and comforter kit is left on each seat before boarding. JetBlue tasked Tuft & Needle with designing a new comforter complete with a "foot nook" to keep feet warm during the flight. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Vegan leather material was used to create the seat, which is actually a mattress also crafted by Tuft & Needle. Flyers seeking maximum sleeping time can also flick on the "do not disturb" light and flight attendants will know not to bother them or serve them meals. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Standard at each business class seat is a 17-inch entertainment system. One of the features unique to JetBlue is that the screens can be extended during taxi, takeoff, and landing. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. The in-flight entertainment system can be controlled by touch or by using one of the tethered remotes that also act as game controllers. Device-pairing is also an option so flyers can use their phones as a remote. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. In-seat power is offered with 110V AC power outlets and USB charging ports, as well as a hook on which to wrap cords. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Each business class flyer will receive an amenity kit from Wanderfuel with the essentials to survive a long flight. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. The other type of seat in Mint is the "Mint Studio," located in the first row of the cabin. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. There are only two of these seats, both in row one, and JetBlue is selling them at a premium because of the extra space they offer. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. The Mint Studio is ideal for those wanting more space or traveling with a companion. There's more living space and even a cushioned bench for a companion to use. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. JetBlue ran with this idea and even installed another tray table so flyers can work side by side or share a meal. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. There's even an additional power outlet in the seat. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Other perks of the Mint Studio include a larger 22-inch in-flight entertainment screen. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. There's also more storage space in the Mint Studio with additional compartments throughout. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. A personal storage closet, ideal for a handbag or other small items, is yet another perk of booking the Mint Studio. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. The remaining 114 seats house the economy section in a standard 3-3 configuration. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Seats are split between 24 extra-legroom "even more space" seats and 90 "core" seats with standard legroom. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Even more space seats, denoted by their orange headrests, offer 35 inches of legroom. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Seat width in the section is the standard 18.4 for inches that every economy seat has. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. These seats are also among the closest to the front so flyers can get off of the plane sooner than most, while also enjoying early boarding privileges compared to the rest of economy. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Beyond extra legroom and being closer to the front, there's not much more that these seats offer. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Even more space seats are nearly identical to standard core seats, with both offering adjustable headrests, in-seat power, and seat-back entertainment screens. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. But the extra legroom may make a bigger difference to some on the longer eastbound transatlantic crossings. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. The first row in economy is actually an exit row seat that isn't listed as part of JetBlue's "even more space" product because it doesn't recline. The legroom, however, is quite generous. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. And with only four rows of seats for the entire plane, there are not many to be had. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. The remaining 90 seats are the domain of JetBlue's core product. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Each seat in this cabin offers 32 inches of pitch and the standard 18.4 inches of width. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Each seat in economy will offer 10.1-inch seat-back screens with JetBlue's latest entertainment product. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. A selection of movies, television shows, games, and a moving map will be available during the flight. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Armrest remotes aren't being offered by the screens can be controlled by touch or by pairing a device. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. In-seat power in economy is available both through 110v AC power outlets and USB charging ports underneath the screens. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Complimentary in-flight WiFi will also be available for all passengers throughout the entire flight, with JetBlue the only carrier on the route to offer it. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Hot meals will be offered in economy, with JetBlue tapping Dig to provide the service. Examples of some main courses are charred chicken and brown rice, meatballs and tomato farro, and spiced eggplant and quinoa. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. In the back of the plane, available for economy flyers, is the "pantry." The self-serve station will have drinks and snacks for passengers to take at their leisure. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. All flyers in economy will receive a blanket but no pillow as part of the initial launch offering. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. All the armrests go up in economy rows so flyers can use the row as a bed if one is entirely free. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. There are some economy seats to be avoided, however, and those are the ones in rows 22 and 23 as the windows are misaligned. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. London's Heathrow Airport is famous for its approaches that fly right over iconic sites as Canary Warf, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the Palace of Westminster. But flyers in those rows won't get to see them. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Otherwise, there are no truly bad seats in the cabin. One of the last rows in economy is also reserved for the flight crew to rest so fewer flyers will be relegated to what is often regarded as the worst place to sit in economy. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. One Mint seat is also blocked for flight attendants to rest. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Above the cabin, mood lighting will help shape the ambiance in the cabin with a variety of settings depending on the phase of flight. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. At night, for example, relaxing colors will ease flyers to sleep and then gently wake them up. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Flights to London begin on August 11. Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR. Read the original article on Business Insider

We are lawmakers from 5 states that finally put an end to child marriage. It's past time for the other 45 US states to follow our lead.

Dom, 07/11/2021 - 15:04
A demonstrator wearing a bridal gown takes part in a protest urging legislators to end Massachusetts child marriage at the Massachusetts State House in Boston on March 27, 2019.
  • Bipartisan legislators who ended child marriage in five states call on their colleagues in the other US states to follow their lead.
  • Child marriage creates a legal trap for minors, who often cannot file for divorce.
  • Don't cave to loopholes or compromises; there is no reason for marriage before age 18.
  • State Representative Kim Williams has served in the Delaware General Assembly since 2012.
  • Senator Sandy Pappas has served in the Minnesota Senate since 1990.
  • This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the authors.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.

We ended a human rights abuse in our five states. And now we, a bipartisan group of state legislators, call on lawmakers in the remaining 45 states to do the same. End child marriage - an archaic, sexist practice that destroys girls' lives - even if you get the pushback we got at first.

Unless you live in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, or Rhode Island, child marriage is legal in your state. In our states, we partnered with the nonprofit organization Unchained At Last to close the dangerous legal loopholes that allowed it.

Child marriage is a nightmare of a legal trap

Nearly 300,000 children were married legally in the United States between 2000 and 2018, Unchained found. Most were girls wed to adult men with an average age difference of four years. Nearly all were age 16 or 17, though a few were as young as 10.

Even for the most mature 17-year-olds, marriage creates a nightmarish legal trap. They can be entered into marriage by a parent and/or a judge, with little or no input from them, before they even have the basic legal rights to navigate a contract as serious as marriage.

Minors typically cannot leave home to escape from parents planning an unwanted wedding or leave an abusive spouse until they are 18. They also usually cannot enter a domestic violence shelter, since these shelters usually turn away unaccompanied minors.

Children cannot easily retain an attorney, since contracts with children, including retainer agreements, typically are voidable. They usually cannot even file for divorce independently. Minors typically are not allowed to bring a legal action in their own name.

Even when it is not forced, marriage before 18 is a human rights abuse, according to the US State Department. It destroys nearly every aspect of American girls' lives, from their education and economic opportunities to their health. It also triples a girl's risk of experiencing domestic violence.

Child marriage also undermines statutory rape laws. Some 60,000 marriages since 2000 occurred at an age or with a spousal age difference that should have been considered a sex crime, according to Unchained.

Don't cave to compromise. End child marriage.

You probably will get opposition when you introduce the simple, commonsense legislation we introduced in our states, which eliminated the dangerous loopholes that allowed marriage before age 18.

Do not compromise. Do not replace one loophole with another; insist on a marriage age of 18 - or higher if the age of adulthood is higher in your state - without exceptions. There is no room for negotiation when you are ending a human rights abuse.

You will hear, as we did, from legislators and others whose grandmothers married at 14. Remind them that the world has changed since grandma was a kid.

You will hear arguments about young love. Respond by asking what harm comes to a young couple if they wait a matter of months to marry. Minors must wait until 18 to enter almost any other contract, regardless of how passionately they feel about it.

But what if a girl is pregnant, some will ask you. If the girl is too young to consent to sex, we should investigate a rape, not plan a wedding. Either way, we would be harming, not helping, if we married off pregnant girls. Studies show teen mothers in the US who marry are more likely to suffer economic deprivation and instability than teen mothers who stay single.

A teen mother who wants to co-parent with the father of the baby can easily do so outside of marriage. He can simply establish paternity, and his insurance and other benefits would cover the baby. We no longer have illegitimacy laws that punish babies born "out of wedlock."

Do not be swayed by the religious argument. We do not know of any religion that requires child marriage; actually, several major religions have supported legislation to end child marriage. Besides, the US Supreme Court has upheld laws that incidentally forbid an act required by religion, if the laws do not target religious practice.

Ending child marriage does not impact reproductive rights. The US Supreme Court has established that states should treat minors' abortions differently from minors' marriage, because the former is time sensitive while the latter is not.

Do not agree to a loophole that allows emancipated minors to be subjected to a human rights abuse. Emancipation is for teens who cannot be reunited with their parents; it gives them some rights of adulthood so they can fend for themselves. Teens do not need marriage to fend for themselves.

Teens do not need marriage, period. If they are in an abusive home or cannot get health insurance from their parents, they deserve resources that do not require them to enter a contractual sexual relationship.

Under United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5.3, the US joined 192 other countries in promising to end child marriage by 2030. We have achieved that goal in five states so far, despite initial resistance from our colleagues.

Now we urge our fellow lawmakers in the 45 other states: Please join us. Every child in the US is relying on us to keep our promise to the world and end all marriage before 18. No exceptions. No compromises.

Delaware Rep. Kim Williams

Delaware Former Sen. Anthony Delcollo

New Jersey Sen. Nellie Pou

New Jersey Asm. Nancy Munoz

Pennsylvania Rep. Perry Warren

Pennsylvania Rep. Jesse Topper

Pennsylvania Sen. John Sabatina

Minnesota Sen. Sandra Pappas

Minnesota Rep. Kaohly Her

Rhode Island Rep. Julie Casimiro

Rhode Island Sen. John Burke

Read the original article on Business Insider

6 strategies for creating a robust, multifaceted approach to improving diversity at your organization

Dom, 07/11/2021 - 15:00
Create opportunities for coworkers of all backgrounds to gather and talk openly to bring about a more inclusive culture.
  • Diversity trainings are only the tip of the iceberg for improving diversity in the workplace.
  • Organizations need to move beyond implicit bias trainings by following up on their trainings.
  • Treat diversity as a real goal, measure it, and create dedicated spaces for underrepresented groups.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.

The racial reckoning of spring 2020 prompted much soul-searching at organizations, as companies, nonprofits, and schools realized they could no longer ignore failures of diversity and inclusion. Many quickly rolled out programming aimed at addressing these shortcomings - in particular, diversity trainings.

But training alone can't address long-standing organizational failings, said Ivuoma N. Onyeador, an assistant professor of management and organizations at the Kellogg School. "It's fine to have trainings," she said, "but trainings are only the beginning of the efforts needed to improve diversity in an organization."

Read more: Inside YouTube VP Malik Ducard's push to fund Black creators and amplify their voices online

On their own, trainings can't address systemic problems: pay inequity, leadership that is mostly white and male, failure to hire underrepresented groups. Additionally, some trainings just don't work or even backfire. For example, research has shown that implicit bias training - a popular approach that seeks to help participants recognize and overcome unconscious prejudices - does not reliably reduce bias in the long term and may reduce participants' sense of responsibility over their own behavior. Yet some organizations have implemented implicit-bias training and figured that's enough.

In a new policy paper, Onyeador, along with coauthors Sa-kiera T. J. Hudson of Yale University and Neil A. Lewis Jr. of Cornell University, explores how organizations can move beyond implicit-bias training. The researchers reviewed the existing literature on diversity efforts in organizations and developed a set of evidence-based recommendations for creating a robust, multifaceted approach to achieving diversity goals.

Here, Onyeador highlights six key takeaways.

Prepare for bad reactions

Diversity efforts may be poorly received. The backlash can range from eye-rolling in a training session to a sense of grievance that underrepresented groups get "special treatment" to outright hostility.

Organizations should be realistic about these challenges and have plans to address them.

"We do this in other arenas - we would never launch a product without anticipating potential snags in the process," Onyeador said.

Organizations can build support for diversity programs by proactively addressing employee concerns. Majority group workers may fear they'll be passed over for promotions in the name of diversity or punished for "saying the wrong thing," or they may simply believe that diversity isn't important - worries that can be allayed before a new program is introduced by addressing them in ways that fit your specific organizations' culture and context.

Facilitate intergroup contact - but also create dedicated spaces for underrepresented groups

When majority group members interact with underrepresented groups, their attitudes change. One recent study found that interracial interactions help white people perceive and combat inequality; another showed that, after hearing people of color discuss their cultural backgrounds, white people displayed more inclusive behavior toward nonwhite coworkers. By creating lots of opportunities for coworkers of all backgrounds to gather and talk openly, organizations can bring about a more inclusive culture.

But it's essential to recognize that intergroup contact may also place a burden on underrepresented group members, who may feel exhausted, singled out, or responsible for teaching others. That's why it's just as important for organizations to create dedicated structures such as affinity groups that allow underrepresented groups to gather. In addition to providing camaraderie, these spaces can facilitate career networking and advancement.

"People of color, for instance, are having a very different experience in these organizations than white people, and it can be nice to have a space where you meet other people and solve problems, share resources, and find role models," Onyeador said.

Messaging matters, but action matters more

It's easy to sing the praises of, say, your company's family-friendly policies in a job description. But it's much harder to actually be accommodating when an employee needs several days off to care for a sick child.

In fact, research shows that organizations that include organizational-diversity messages in job descriptions aren't necessarily better at recruiting a diverse pool of employees or less likely discriminate against them.

"We want to make sure that both of those pieces are in there," Onyeador said. Including inclusive language "is important to do, because it signals to your potential pool of applicants that the organization could potentially be a supportive place for them. But then it's really important to follow that up with action."

Treat diversity as you would any other organizational goal

Action means creating accountability structures - which, according to one 2006 study, is the single most effective way to improve managerial diversity.

Assigning institutional responsibility "can look a number of different ways, like having a chief diversity officer with some sort of oversight role, or diversity officers within units reporting up to a leader who has the power to hold units and managers accountable," Onyeador said.

Organizations can also create incentives for participating in inclusion efforts, like bonuses or perks for serving on a diversity council.

"People are very motivated by extra money at the end of the year," she said. "I suspect that if bonuses were tied to diversity metrics, we would see things shift. We would find the Black engineers. They're there."

You can't improve what you don't measure

Often, organizations are reluctant to collect and analyze data on diversity programming.

But that mentality wouldn't fly with any other important organizational objective, so it shouldn't be acceptable for diversity efforts. If a particular program or training didn't work, "it's imperative that we know that," she said, so it can be improved.

There's a similar hesitance about studying outcomes for the overarching goals of organizational change. All too frequently, companies will set out to improve diversity - but fail to measure the variables of interest.

Onyeador summarizes the attitude this way: "Did we increase the number of women in the C-suite? It's not clear. Is the climate different? We have no idea. Are we retaining more people? Nobody knows." Organizations have the data to answer such questions. Deciding to pay attention to it "will go a long way."

None of this is easy, and that's OK

Diverse organizations are not built overnight or by accident. But just because the work is challenging doesn't mean it's impossible.

In fact, "as organizations, as companies, as universities, we're used to doing hard things by putting our heads down, figuring it out, being really careful, and thinking through everything," Onyeador said.

There's no reason, she said, that the same level of effort can't be applied to diversity.

Read the original article on Business Insider

A Virginia courier company is trying to poach Amazon drivers who stop for coffee at gas stations. It blames the labor shortage

Dom, 07/11/2021 - 14:59
American Dedicated Logistics is approaching drivers at truck stops to try to recruit them amid a shortage of workers.
  • American Dedicated Logistics is sending managers to malls and gas stations to poach drivers.
  • The managers now spend 60% of their time recruiting because of the labor shortage.
  • They've approached "a lot" of Amazon drivers while they are refueling.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.

A Virginia-based courier has come up with a novel idea to beat a nationwide delivery driver shortage: approach Amazon drivers who stop to buy coffee at gas stations, and try to poach them.

It's not just Amazon drivers. American Dedicated Logistics is sending its managers to gas stations to poach truckers and other drivers no matter who they work for, the company's president told Insider.

With online retail surging during the pandemic, delivery companies have encountered a severe shortage of drivers, and some have hiked wages to attract new hires. In May, Utah-based trucking firm CR England announced its largest driver pay increase in its more than 100-year history, hiking wages by more than 50% compared with 2018.

Mark Collins, president of American Dedicated Logistics, which supplies delivery drivers to businesses, said that operations managers at the company were approaching off-duty drivers "who already have jobs but may be dissatisfied." Managers have handed out information cards about the firm, hoping these drivers will make the jump, he said.

Managers are normally expected to spend 40% of their time recruiting but that has climbed to 60% because of the driver shortage, Collins said.

American Dedicated Logistics has had "varying degrees of success" recruiting at gas stations, Collins said. The company also continues to post traditional job adverts on Craigslist and Indeed.com.

Lately, managers had approached "a lot" of Amazon drivers at gas stations when they stopped to buy a coffee or a snack, Collins said. It was hard to say whether this worked: the company employs some former Amazon drivers, but this might not be because of these direct approaches, Collins said.

American Dedicated Logistics has raised its drivers' wages to $16.50 an hour, from $12.50 in 2019, Collins recently told the Wall Street Journal. He told Insider that the company still found it hard to compete with larger companies like Amazon. Amazon says on its website that its drivers earn between $18 and $25 an hour.

Collins said he would like to increase wages further but many of the company's clients were resisting.

The driver shortage had been both a "blessing and a curse" for the company, Collins said. "Our potential customers base has grown because the labor shortage causes more companies to outsource," he said. But he added that this was "no good" without enough drivers to meet demand.

"I have never in the 30-plus years I've been in this business told a customer we wouldn't be able to fill routes," Collins said. "Now we're doing that either because the door shippers won't accept pricing that will attract good drivers, or because we don't have staff in the market they are in to physically go out and find those drivers."

Amazon did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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