Grumpy Editor

LARGE EXPENSES CURB VACATIONS FOR MILLENNIALS

Most millennials, struggling with bills, simply can’t afford vacations, observes Grumpy Editor after noting findings of a recent Deloitte study.

The study finds allocating more money toward vacations may not be possible for millennials when they are facing large expenses.

 

Millennials are mired in student loan debt, saving for down payments on mortgages while working to increase salaries. This combination of factors contributes to millennials’ struggle to afford vacations.

 

And millennials are not happy about it: 74% of them wish they could save more money to spend on vacations.

 

Millennials, points out Deloitte, also are the least likely generation to fund vacations by using credit cards.

 

Compare that to nearly 28% of those in the 54 to 72 age range, otherwise known as baby boomers, who are more likely to use credit cards as the primary source of vacation funding.

 

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

 

 

 

BLACK BEAR VISITS LADIES ROOM.  Guests at the Buck's T-4 Lodge in Big Sky, Mont. are startled to see a young black bear hanging out on the counter in the ladies room.

BUSY ON SUNDAY MORNING TALK SHOWS.  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday appears on ABC’s “This Week,” NBC’s “Meet the Press,” CBS’ “Face the Nation,” CNN’s “State of the Union” and Fox News Sunday.

DORIAN THREATENED ALABAMA, SAYS NOAA.  In a Sept. 6 statement, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which oversees the National Weather Service, says Alabama indeed was threatened by Hurricane Dorian at the time President Donald Trump tweeted Alabama would “most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated,” reports the Washington Post.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE DONATES PULITZER WINNINGS.  The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette donates its $15,000 Pulitzer Prize winnings to the Tree of Life – Or L’Simcha Congregation, where 11 people were shot and killed last October in the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in U.S. history.

FAVORITE "CHILD" IS A PET.  In a survey of 2,000 American pet-owning adults, 34% say their pet is their favorite “child” and a fifth of those pet-owning parents admit to buying gifts for their furry companions more recently than gifts for their own kids.

MOST IN  SURVEY SAY REPORTERS DESERVE SCRUTINY.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national survey finds 61% of likely U.S. voters think reporters at major news organizations like CNN, Fox News and the New York Times are public figures who deserve the same level of scrutiny as the people they cover.

SISTERS REACH GENERAL RANK.  Maj. Gen. Maria Barrett and younger sister Brig. Gen. Paula Lodi are the first sisters to attain general’s rank in the service's 244-year history, the Army believes.

STUDY: MILLENNIALS PREFER GOLDEN OLDIES IN MUSIC

A study, not covered by most U.S. media, finds millennials prefer golden oldies in music --- from the 1960s to 1990s --- rather than the relatively bland, homogenous pop of today, notes Grumpy Editor.

 

Golden oldies proved to be much more memorable than tunes released in the 21st century, according to the study that appeared in Metro, Britain’s highest circulation newspaper in tabloid format.

 

Metro explains that “scientists tested a group of millennials on their ability to recognize hit records from different decades. The 643 participants, typically aged 18 to 25, maintained a steady memory of top tunes that came out between 1960 and 1999. In contrast, their memory of 21st-century songs from 2000 to 2015 – while higher overall – diminished rapidly over time.”

 

The newspaper adds, researcher Dr. Pascal Wallisch, from New York University, said: “The 1960s to 1990s was a special time in music, reflected by a steady recognition of pieces of that era-even by today’s millennials. During this period songs reaching the top of the U.S. Billboard charts were significantly more varied than they were between 2000 to 2015, or the 1940s and 1950s.”

Certain songs were far more memorable than others, according to the study, with “well known examples including ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ by Percy Sledge (1966), ‘Baby Come Back’ by Player (1977) and ‘The Tide is High’ by Blondie (1980). Others, including ‘Knock Three Times’ by Dawn (1970), ‘I’m Sorry’ by John Denver (1975) and ‘Truly’ by Lionel Richie (1982).”

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

 

TWO-DAY SUMMIT IN HANOI  SET.  President Donald Trump will hold his second summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Feb. 27 and 28 in Hanoi. A key goal: Continuing efforts to persuade Kim to give up nuclear weapons. 

OVERLOOKED BY MOST MEDIA. White-garbed Nancy Pelosi and many similar dressed female Democrats refused to stand or applaud when President Donald Trump, in the State of the Union address, mentioned taking care of veterans.

BUSINESS NEWS SITES THRIVE.  Crain’s New York ran an article pointing out some business news web sites are thriving at a time when general news sites are struggling, coupled with layoffs.

POLICE HANDCUFF PHOTOGRAPHER, DISCIPLINED.  The Denver Police Department disciplined two officers who handcuffed and detained a journalist who was photographing them as they were dealing with a man sitting naked on a public sidewalk. The department determined the officers were in violation of police policy for detaining the journalist for recording an officer in a public place.

JEWISH LEADERS BEHIND PRO-TRUMP AD.  More than 50 leading American Jewish leaders took out a full-page ad in the New York Times to thank President Donald Trump for his efforts to combat anti-semitism across the globe and criticize Democrats for their open embrace of causes advocating the destruction of Israel.

TSA CONFISCATES RECORD NUMBER OF FIREARMS.  The Transportation Security Administration confiscated 7 percent more firearms last year than in 2017, revealed the agency. Of the record 4,239 guns discovered, 3,656 were loaded — an average 10 per day.

NEWSPAPER PROFESSIONALS TO GATHER IN LAS VEGAS.  The Key Executives Mega-Conference in Las Vegas Feb. 25 to 27 is expected to draw about 800 newspaper professionals.  The event is hosted by Inland Press Association, Local Media Association, Southern Newspaper Publishers Association and News Media Alliance, in association with the Nevada Press Association. “Growing digital subscribers is the top priority across the industry, but we know the reason is to reduce the risk of the declining print advertising business,” said Jay Horton, the show’s executive producer.  

BUT DID ANYONE YELL B-I-N-G-O?  A bingo session at a nursing home in Rideau Lakes, Ontario, near the New York border, turned ugly when two women (aged 79 and 86) got into a “physical altercation” over a seat. Others in the room got involved, turning the situation into somewhat of a brawl.

MOST AMERICANS RATTLED ABOUT GOING TO DENTIST

Scarier than Halloween for many Americans, especially millennials, is going to the dentist, even for an annual cleaning, according to researchers at Hello Products, a dental care startup, notes Grumpy Editor.

Polling 2,000 U.S. adults on their oral hygiene habits, a study reveals sitting in a dentist’s chair was a phobia for most respondents.

Overall, 62 percent of adults surveyed say that are too spooked to visit a dentist’s office. Especially freightened are millennials.  Millennials are more likely than those over 55 to create excuses to avoid regular dental checkups (56 percent to 36 percent, respectively), unearths the survey that also finds only three in 10 millennials brush their teeth once a day, and admit they’ve gone two or three days on average without brushing.

Yet, 56 percent of millennials express fear or anxiety over losing teeth, despite possessing slovenly dental habits. 

It’s crucial to take the right steps every day to maintain a healthy mouth,” reminds Craig Dubitsky, Hello Products’ founder. “This involves using effective oral care products, as well as being mindful of your daily habits.”

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

TRUMP PEPPERS SPEECH WITH ONE LINERS.  At Saturday’s annual Gridiron Dinner, President Donald Trump ends his speech (containing many one-liners), with:  "I just want to say this, this is one of the best times I've had with the media — this might be the most fun I've had since watching your faces on election night.”

U.S. OIL OUTPUT HITS RECORD.  While media focus on rising gasoline prices, U.S. crude oil production shatters a 47-year record in November and retreats slightly in December, reports the U.S. Energy Department.  Oil output rises to 10.057 million barrels per day in November while December production edges lower to 9.949 million barrels per day.  Output has surged for several years, stemming from the shale boom, pushing the U.S. past Saudi Arabia among top producers. Only Russia has greater daily oil output.  Gasoline prices almost always rise in March as more drivers hit the road and refiners conduct maintenance.

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REACHES RECORD. Despite stock market volatility in recent days, the U.S. Consumer Confidence Index hit its highest level — 130.8 last month, passing the 128.6 mark set in December, 2000. This compares to the lowest point of 25.3 reached in February, 2009 during the Great Recession.

CONSUMER FRAUD CLIMBS.  The Federal Trade Commission’s annual report of top U.S. consumer complaints notes Americans were defrauded of $905 million in 2017, $63 million more than in the prior year.  Debt collection fraud tops the list for the third year in a row, followed by identity theft and tax fraud.   Most scammers ask for money over the phone.  Top states for fraud in 2017:  Florida, Georgia and Nevada. 

PBS GEARS UP FOR CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW.  Columnist Michael Gerson and commentator Amy Holmes are teaming to start a conservative-oriented talk show on PBS.  “In Principle” will air Friday nights starting April 13.  After an eight-week run, PBS will decide on continuing the program. Hosts plan to interview two guests per show, aiming for an in-depth discussion on issues and their formative political experiences. 

MILITARY PARADE LIKELY AROUND VETERANS DAY.  The Pentagopn is moving ahead with plans for a military parade around Veterans Day (Nov. 11), possibly in conjunction with the World War I centennial commemoration.

ADVANCED WEATHER EYE IN SKY LAUNCHES.  NASA launches one of the most advanced weather satellites, focusing on the western U.S.  It will provide crisp images of storms, wildfires, floods, mudlslides and other events.