DATA POINTS
- 14.2%: The projected growth of employment for computer occupations in the next decade
- $15.93: The amount Starbucks’ stock gained this week after announcing their new CEO, Brian Niccol, the former CEO of Chipotle
- 126: The total number of Olympic Medals won by the U.S. in the Paris Olympics
- $500,000: The amount Snoop Dogg was paid each day to be an Olympic Correspondent
- 2.9 Billion: The number of records stolen from a National Public Data hack, including Social Security numbers
- $10.32 Billion: The current value of the Dallas Cowboys; the first professional sports team to be valued over $10 billion
Every Time You Vote in the Box to the Left
Over the past two decades, voting trends have largely followed gender lines: women have voted more left while men lean to the right. These trends may play an impactful role in the 2024 election where voting preferences align with each candidate’s gender. The polls are already painting the picture. Vice President Harris has a 14-point lead over former President Trump with women; Former President Trump has a 17-point lead over Harris with men.
Generally speaking, the Democratic platform is more appealing to issues young women care about, including climate change and access to reproductive rights. While men’s depression, anxiety, loneliness, and suicide rates are on the rise, the left typically sidesteps those issues – but the social media reactionaries on the right often do. Conservative voices like psychologist and author Jordan Peterson have been forthright in addressing issues facing young men, even if recent remarks have become increasingly inflammatory.
So, Liberals are messaging to women and Conservatives are messaging to men. Is there more at play here? This might be a symptom of a broader issue: Americans are increasingly politically divided from one another. The right is going further right, the left is going further left, and polarization is taking the day.
Don’t fret quite yet, since nearly four-in-ten voters (about 36%) identify as moderates. There is far more common ground among Americans than people realize.
Don’t go Breaking My Heart
Breaking (or breakdancing) made a flashy debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics, capturing attention with electrifying performances like the viral routine by Australia’s Rachael Gunn, aka “Raygun.” Despite the excitement the new sport generated, breaking will not be a part of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Why? Well, the host city, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), decided to go a different direction, introducing flag football and squash as new Olympic sports and bringing back lacrosse, cricket, baseball, and softball. These choices reflect a blend of global appeal and American sporting culture, likely aiming to resonate with both international audiences and the local fan base.
Getting a sport into the Olympics is like trying to score an exclusive VIP invitation. A sport must gain recognition from the IOC and meet rigorous standards, including compliance with the Olympic Charter and various codes. It also needs to be practiced globally, with clear rules and a broad spectator appeal.
As planning for the 2028 games begin, it’s clear that Los Angeles is putting its stamp on the Olympics, mixing tradition with fresh energy. So, while we wave goodbye to breaking (for now), fans can look forward to an exciting lineup of new and returning sports that promise to make the LA games unforgettable.
(Don’t) Call Me Maybe
Do you find yourself glued to your phone at work? You’re not alone. A Gallup survey shows that 58% of U.S. adults feel they’re using their smartphones too much. With constant notifications and endless apps, it’s no wonder we’re hooked. But here’s the not-so-secret kicker: all that screen time could silently be ruining your career.
When you’re on your phone, you’re likely to miss key information, hurt your productivity, and leave a less-than-stellar impression on your colleagues. But this can be fixed. Start by tracking your phone usage to know when and why you’re picking up your device. Consider setting boundaries, like designated phone-free times during the workday or turning off notifications when you need to focus. You may also find progress by introducing non-digital routines, like a quick walk or coffee break, to break the habit of doom-scrolling.
By dialing down your phone usage, you’ll not only boost your focus and productivity but also ensure you’re leaving a great impression at work.
Homeward Bought
The housing market is being shaken up (again). A landmark legal settlement reached by the National Association of Realtors will go into effect on August 17 and will change how real estate agents earn their commission on home sales – affecting its 1.5 million members.
In the status quo, sellers agree to a certain percentage of the sale price for their agent’s commission (typically 5%), then the seller’s agent splits that amount with the buyer’s agent. After the new rules take effect, local databases will no longer show whether a seller is offering to pay a buyer’s agent since buyer’s agents will be paid a set price as negotiated between themselves and the buyer. This allows buyers to determine the cost of their agent rather than leaving it up to the seller’s agent. There will still be negotiation among all parties involved, but it allows more flexibility and buy-in from all of them.
The change does not automatically mean lower commissions for agents – it means buyers and their agents talk price upfront. Also, due to the rule change, roughly 50 million sellers who sold in the past decade may be eligible for a modest payout (and that may be you).
If you want to buy a home, nothing requires you to hire an agent. You can go it alone or hire an attorney, but if you decide to employ a realtor, you should expect to pay them slightly more than 2.5% of the home you’re purchasing.
Read More at The Wall Street Journal
The Tunes They Are A-Changin’
“Your parents will never like your music” has always been true. Big band swing led into the Beatles, which paved the way for rock and roll, only to be overtaken by RnB and soul music. Soul was beaten out by glam rock and disco, which hip hop killed. Music does more than speak to a generation – it is the generation. So, in today’s era of limitless access to music spanning genres, influences, and tones, how are modern musicians cutting through the noise? They don’t have just one preceding generation of music to influence them – they have everything at their fingertips; and they use it.
Music today exists in an era of limitless creativity. With new artists emerging every day, tunes that do not conform to one genre generate their own to encompass it. From Math Rock and Bubble Trance to Boogie Western and Folk Punk, we are living in an era unshielded from our own imagination. Take the meteoric “Playing God” by Polyphia as an example. Despite being heavily influenced by metal, it’s played entirely on two classical guitars, has a whistle solo, does not utilize the brand-dependent distortion effect metalheads crave, and employs jazz chords at every turn, all while the band does not have a lead singer. So, is it metal?
If it is or isn’t, it doesn’t matter. We will not opine on Aristotle’s definitions of the “essence” of something. Rather, we recommend enjoying something for its own sake – even if that sake is that it’s new and outside of your always-on playlists.
See you next week!
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