Traffic congestion in the U.S. has surged to record levels, exceeding pre-pandemic figures, NPR reports, citing Texas A&M Transportation Institute data. The average American now spends a whopping 63 hours in traffic each year. Delays have also become more widespread, affecting more times and days of the week. To combat this issue, regions are exploring dynamic pricing and congestion pricing strategies to help better manage traffic flow.
Levi Strauss, American Eagle, and Gap have spent millions to enlist celebrities as they fight a new "denim war" in a global market valued at more than $100 billion, CNBC reports. Their ads have featured Beyoncé, Sydney Sweeney and Martha Stewart, and Katseye, respectively, as competition intensifies. Across the industry, the number of TV spots selling denim this year is up nearly 70% over last year, per EDO data. Brands see opportunity with a greater variety of styles in fashion and weaker brand loyalty among young consumers.
👴🏼👵🏻 It’s a constant battle! 💣
😮” Scammers can acquire some of a person’s information from data leaks, the fruits of which are sold on the dark web, said Nicole Liebau, the strategic partnership and engagement director for the Senior Medicare Patrol, a federally funded agency that assists beneficiaries in cases of fraud. When they call, they may already have the target’s address, age, and Social Security or Medicare number, which lends them some credibility.
After some nebulous network of data brokers pieces together enough information on a Medicaid or Medicare recipient, it might be able to charge a company that does not exist for products and services that the victim didn’t ask for, doesn’t need, and may not ever receive…..
👉🏼The costs of fraudulent Medicare charges are borne not just by the federal government, Ms. Liebau said. Secondary insurers or the Medicare recipient may be billed for portions.
👉🏼They can also warp Medicare’s understanding of a patient’s health.
“If your Medicare number is compromised, there’s actually a higher health impact of you not being able to access certain types of care,” Ms. Liebau said. “You could have false diagnoses, records that show misinformation about your allergies, and incorrect lab results.”
🤬When hospices are fraudulently charged, Medicare administrators may think the recipient is dead or dying, she said, adding, “You can’t get curative care if you’re marked as receiving hospice and you didn’t even know it.”
❤️🤗 My advice:
1) Teach your parents to let all unidentified calls go to voicemail.
2) Show them how to block and delete phone numbers and text messages.
3) In their cell phone’s Settings - Set up their phone to automatically send unsaved phone numbers to voicemail.
4) Double-check their call logs, text messages, emails, and voicemails weekly. Clear any and all unfamiliar communications to keep your parent from accidentally calling or texting one by mistake.
Home Depot's shortage of supersized holiday decorations — particularly Santa and his doting reindeer — has fueled a frenzy amongst holiday decorators, leading to significant price markups in the resale market, The Wall Street Journal reports. Many shoppers are frustrated by the lack of availability and are even considering buying resold items at inflated prices or making hours-long trips to secure certain coveted items. Some speculate that the shortage may be linked to tariffs, since many holiday products are manufactured in China.
For real-life Clark Griswolds, the Christmas planning starts in March, when photos and videos of Home Depot's upcoming supersized holiday decorations are leaked online from an annual event for insiders.
But as August turned to September and the giants didn’t materialize on Home Depot’s website, panic started to set in.
Then rumors circulated confirming decorators’ worst fears: The giants wouldn’t be available in the U.S. this year.
The revelation fueled theories about why the massive lawn ornaments are sitting out this Christmas. Was it tariffs? Are they gone forever?
It also spawned a gray market of Santas, reindeer, and 7-foot candy canes—some marked up more than seven times the original price.