DATA POINTS
- 2: Dr. Pepper’s ranking in the USA; overtaking Pepsi for the second-place spot it’s held since 1985
- 3: The number of years Juneteenth has been celebrated as a federal holiday
- 7%: The percentage of stay-at-home parents that are fathers
- 13: The number of days until the first presidential debate
- 120: The number of fuel pumps at the new Buc-ee’s; the world’s largest convenience store
- $18,118: The average annual cost of owning and maintaining a single-family home in the U.S.
Pickleball Potentially Picking the President
Bingo and pickleball – the newest forums for finding voters. At least, that is what the Biden campaign is hoping will be the case. The program, Seniors for Biden-Harris, is officially launching across to country to mobilize senior voters with bingo nights in Arizona, a pickleball tournament in Virginia, a pancake breakfast in Georgia, and a phone bank event in New Hampshire. These events will coincide with a series of ads targeting the TV programs seniors watch the most, like early evening news and game shows.
It’s a strategy tailored to elder voters who turn out to the polls in droves, especially compared to other demographics. If the new program is successful, it could produce a tremendously powerful voting bloc for Team Biden, who already polls 5 points ahead of Trump with people 65+.
The quest for innovative campaign tactics is not new. In a previous campaign era, it was considered “uncouth” to campaign for yourself, which challenged candidates to rally third-party supporters to speak on their behalf. While 21st century campaign culture certainly doesn’t bar a candidate from self-promotion, endorsements carried water then, and it works today. In 1920, candidate Warren Harding secured nods of approval from the influencers of the time: film stars including Al Jolson, Lillian Russell, and Mary Pickford. JFK deployed a similar tactic when he received support from Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Junior. Candidate Ronald Reagan got backing from Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra. Fast forward to today. Biden has received campaign nods from Bridgerton creator Shonda Rhimes, singer Christina Aguilera, and even Star Wars actor Mark Hamill. Trump has gotten a thumbs up from the likes of Brett Favre, Jason Aldean, Jim Caviezel, and Kid Rock.
And when words fail, music speaks. Candidate George McGovern serenaded supporters through the sweet sounds of Simon and Garfunkel in 1972, and President Jimmy Carter received a helping hand from fellow Georgians – the Allman Brothers Band – to raise money and appeal to an evolving audience. Carter attributes his success in the 1976 elections to the band, sharing in the “Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President” documentary film that “The Allman Brothers helped put me in the White House by raising money when I didn’t have any.”
With 144 days until the election, don’t put it past candidates to pull rabbits from their hats. (And, please, someone convince a candidate to reunite Simon and Garfunkel!)
The Faults in Our AI
Apple recently announced a Siri makeover that should theoretically enhance the iOS feature using AI – if the AI can deliver on its promise. 2023 was the year of the AI, but with every new capability announced, wonky side effects and inadvertent results plagued what companies claimed were ready-for-market thinking machines. While Apple promises the new Siri will be able to do far more by utilizing the AI, it’s too early to tell if it can deliver, especially since the announcement did not include live demos.
Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft have spent the past year bragging about their AI, but few are flawless (or even reliable, secure or functional). Apple is even using ChatGPT to serve as a backstop for its own new AI functions in case it cannot do what the user requests. The AI race is ongoing at full speed, and tech companies are trying to gain the upper hand with new advancements – that oftentimes come slower than they would like. If companies like Apple are going to put their eggs into this basket, they need to deliver big or be beaten by ChatGPT.
Read More at The Washington Post
Don’t Worry. Be Happy.
In a time of doom-scrolling and worldwide decline in mental health, it can be hard to focus on the good that is in front of us. Stress, if left unchecked, can hit you harder than a Monday morning. But recent studies show that a glass-half-full-attitude can actually be a remedy to improve quality of life. Optimism is about focusing on the positive things in different situations rather than ignoring the negatives. Focusing on the positive can prevent physical effects that result from continual stress and help maintain physical functioning with age.
If you are a natural Debbie Downer, don’t sweat it – you can quickly adopt optimism into your lifestyle. From focusing on what you are grateful for at the beginning of the day to the good things around you in a moment, optimism starts small. Concentrating on what you have control over, rather than worrying over what you cannot change, can also aid in being more positive. If you are in a difficult situation, focus on whether you assume the best or worst. Efforts to become more optimistic will make hard times easier to navigate and improve your health in the long run.
Restaurants Trimming Fat and Serving Success
Have you noticed yourself dining out more in 2024? If so, you’re not alone. In 2024, the U.S. restaurant industry is cooking up a storm, projected to achieve record sales of $1.1 trillion, a remarkable recovery after COVID-19 left a bitter taste with restaurant owners. The National Restaurant Association attributes this growth to increased consumer spending, innovative technology adoption, and evolving customer preferences.
Spending at U.S. food service establishments is expected to rise 5.4% this year, reaching $1.106 trillion, up from $1.049 trillion in 2023 and $864 billion in 2019. The secret recipe? Restaurants are heavily investing in technology to enhance operations and customer experiences. Innovations like automated ordering systems, delivery solutions, and potential future robotics in kitchens and dining rooms are becoming standard. Social media and digital marketing are also playing crucial roles in attracting and retaining customers.
Despite the growth, challenges remain. The broader industry is still dealing with a shortage of over a million jobs in restaurants and accommodations. While finding top-notch staff is easier now than during the pandemic, it’s still a challenge. Tech is a big help here too, automating simpler tasks so human workers can focus on creating memorable dining experiences.
As 2024 unfolds, the restaurant industry is not just surviving – it’s thriving. With a blend of cutting-edge technology and timeless service, the future of dining looks exciting.
The Leaning Tower Tilts Right
Italy recently elected far-right Giorgia Meloni to serve as its Prime Minister as her Brothers of Italy party confirms its status as the country’s most popular party. Italy is not alone in scooching over to the right; all of Europe has been moving in the same direction. The European parliamentary elections represent a major challenge for moderates and centrists in the government as the Euroskeptic right (those who criticize the European Union as an institution) took greater power in the multinational government. The centrist parties maintained a majority in the election, but the far right gained more influence.
These elections will force centrists to form coalitions with leftist branches on certain votes to keep checks and balances in play. In contrast to American governance, EU coalitions are not concrete; rather, lawmakers vote on an issue-by-issue basis. This means that while the center right and far left could vote together on support for Ukraine while attacking each other on climate initiatives and immigration reform. The blossoming relationship between President Biden and Meloni, who have found ways to work together effectively, illustrates how even ideologically unaligned leaders can be allies on specific issues.
Changing tides are putting pressure on leftist and independent leaders to move rightward as well. Notably, French President Emmanuel Macron defeated far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in 2017 but still had to shift his priorities to work on behalf of all of France. Democracies shift fluidly as culture, current events, and the times change (it’s something democracies generally excel at doing). How Europe maintains a balance of power in its central institution will be worth keeping an eye on as lawmakers head to Brussels.
See you next week!
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