Highlights of the Biden Executive Orders Signed in His First 30 Days

by Mike Tucker, posted in Uncategorized

Most U.S. Presidents want to get off to a fast start when they take office. Since the election gives them the mandate to make some changes, the first 100 days are often seen as a gauge of what to expect in the coming years.

When Biden was sworn into office, he started signing executive orders within hours to begin the process of correcting what he thought was wrong with the country.

Here are the highlights of the various executive orders signed in the first month of the Biden Administration.

Biden Made an Aggressive Push on the Executive Order Front

The following table doesn’t show the proclamations, changes, or requests that don’t involve an executive order.

For example, Biden’s first action was to re-engage with the World Health Organization. That step didn’t require an executive order to complete on January 20.

Executive OrderSubject MatterDate
Create the position of a COVID-19/coronavirus response coordinator.This EO provides for streamlined vaccine distribution and virus management duties.January 20
Revoke Keystone XL pipeline.Biden paused energy leasing in ANWR while stopping the construction of the oil transportation pipeline.January 20
Launched an initiative to advance racial equity in schools.This EO effectively ended the 1776 Commission that looked at how American history got taught.January 20
OSHA guidance updates.This order looks at how to keep workers safe from COVID-19.January 21
Re-establish the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.The goal of this EO is to address the needs of low-income Americans.February 14
Revoke city targeting when local officials declare themselves as sanctuaries.With this executive order, Biden hopes to remove “anarchist” titles from U.S. communities.February 24
Rebuild the U.S. refugee resettlement program.This order works to restore the systems used to resettle refugees when their lives are threatened in their home countries.February 4

World GDP Growth Expected to Reach 4% in 2021

by Mike Tucker, posted in Uncategorized

The global economy is expected to expand by 4% in 2021. That GDP growth is exciting news, especially after the 2020 losses, but it isn’t a guaranteed forecast.

Economists say that the 4% GDP estimate is based on the assumption that COVID-19 vaccines become widespread throughout the year. There must continue to be a positive immune response in people, despite potential variants, for economic activity.

The only reason why 2020 wasn’t worse is that China was able to recover faster than expected, while the advanced economies had a shallower contraction than anticipated. Those actions still resulted in a 3.5% loss.

The United States Will Have a Below Average Recovery

The World Bank expects the United States to fall short of the global recovery forecast, although not by much.

As the world reaches 4% GDP growth with a COVID-19 vaccine, the U.S. is expected to see a 3.5% surge in 2021. If China gets excluded from the economic numbers, Americans would be slightly above the global average.

Japan and Europe, which saw even more of a contraction in their economies than Americans, will have similar growth struggles in 2021. Europe is expected to grow at the same rate as the United States, while the Japanese might reach 2.5% for the year.

If infections continue to rise and complications in the vaccine rollout occur, the growth estimates could be slashed by almost 70%.

Economists don’t see two consecutive years of GDP loss, but global expansion could be limited to approximately 1.5%.

On the other end of the equation, a faster-than-anticipated vaccine rollout could help the world recover 20% faster.

Although COVID-19 is creating debt risks and other significant problems in emerging economies, it is also providing new opportunities to explore business opportunities. If a vaccine can be successfully administered to most people, we should see a return to normalcy by 2022.

Tokyo Olympics Could Cost $26 Billion

by Mike Tucker, posted in Uncategorized

After spending a year on hold, Japan plans for the 2020 Olympic games to be held in the summer of 2021 in Tokyo. The remaining competition schedule is expected to stay the same, with the next Summer Olympics scheduled in 2024.

The original cost estimate for the Olympic Games was $7.3 billion. After the organizers released an updated budget with $12.6 billion in costs, an audit took a look at the rest of the books.

Japan’s Board of Audit found billions of expenditures from national and municipal governments that weren’t included on the financial ledger. They estimate that the Tokyo Olympics could cost over $26 billion to operate.

If COVID-19 protocols are still necessary when they’re held, the price could get even higher.

Organizers Say They’re Not Responsible for the Additional Money

Tokyo 2020 is fighting back on the idea that they’re responsible for the $26 billion that the Board of Audit suggests is the real cost of the games.

The organizers say that the board aggregates several projects from across the country that could be seen as game contributors. It didn’t matter whether the expenses were part of the official program or not.

Japanese media calculate that the price of holding the Tokyo Games could reach more than $28 billion. That’s compared to the $6.9 billion in place for the 2028 games expected to be held in Los Angeles.

The one difference between Tokyo and LA is that the American organizers expect to use several existing venues for the competition. Japan had to build several items, including a national stadium and a village for the athletes.

It’s not all bad news for the 2020 Summer Olympics organizers. Sponsorship sales have reached $3.3 billion, and ticket sales have been strong enough that lotteries have had to be established. When the event’s economic impact gets analyzed, it will still be a profitable venture for the city and Japan.

Ring with 12,638 Diamonds Sets Guinness Record

by Mike Tucker, posted in Uncategorized

How many diamonds do you think you could wear on your finger?

If you’re getting engaged in 2021, you might think that a ring with one beautiful Princess-cut diamond is enough. Some gifts might provide a handful of these gorgeous gems, set in a beautiful design that reflects the wearer’s personality.

Rennai Jewels in Meerut, India, decided that a ring with 12,638 diamonds was the best way to show love. Harshit Bansal is the designer of this masterpiece, introducing it to the public late in 2020.

It currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most diamonds on a single ring.

The Ring Weighs almost Six Ounces (165g)

Bansal named the diamond ring “Marigold.” It’s also referred to as the “Ring of Prosperity.”

The foundational design uses an ornate flower to serve as the resting place for most of the diamonds. It employs thousands of 38-carat natural gemstones to create a one-of-a-kind sparkle.

The previous record-holder in this category was Hallmark Jewelers, which is also based in India. They designed a piece that contained 7,801 diamonds.

Each petal in the ring’s design is unique. It took Bansal about two years to complete the work on this piece, which he started almost immediately after graduating from local jewelry design courses.

Underneath the diamonds is an 18-karat gold surface. Bansal only used conflict-free gemstones for the stunning ring.

All of the diamonds are of VVS clarity and in the E to F color range.

The Creator Says the Ring Is Wearable

When asked about what it was like to wear such a massive creation, Bansal said that the jewelry was comfortable and wearable.

His target was always to exceed 10,000 diamonds with the design. Prospective buyers have already inquired about the piece, but Bansal says he’s not interested in selling it at the moment.

“It’s a matter of pride,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s priceless.”

Ikea Ends Iconic Catalog with a 40 Million Printing Run

by Mike Tucker, posted in General

Ikea decided to discontinue its annual catalog in 2020. The Swedish furniture company called the decision “emotional,” but they also said it was a rational choice to stop producing the fan-favorite publication.

That doesn’t mean the company is abandoning the concept this year. The final issue will have 40 million copies for everyone to enjoy, allowing you to flip through the pages to see the unique styles and updates offered.

When 2021 arrives, the 70-year run for Ikea and its catalog will come to an end. It’s a remarkable shifting of the consumer landscape, since it was only 2016 when Ikea published 200 million copies of its catalog.

If you were thinking about recycling your Ikea catalog this year, it might be a better idea to hold onto it. The item could become a collector’s edition!

The Decision Is a Sign of Our Digital Times

After the events of 2020 caused some people to start washing their fruits and vegetables in bleach, the idea of getting a catalog handled by multiple hands is somewhat unappealing. Even with several COVID vaccines in play, our global society is now a germ-sensitive environment.

We are moving online more with everything because the digital world doesn’t have the same physical restrictions.

Although people used the iconic catalog to see new items or think about how they’d look in their home, the company’s online sales surged by 45% since September 2019. With the website getting more hits per month than the catalog numbers printed, funneling money into that asset makes more sense.

If you still need an Ikea catalog fix, the furniture producer intends to offer a “museum” that allows fans to browse every issue ever printed.

The company will also release a catalog compendium in 2021 for the 2022 sales year for those who can’t resist the idea of turning pages.

Bob Dylan Sells Music Catalog for $300 Million

by Mike Tucker, posted in General

You won’t find a more prolific or successful musician on our planet. Bob Dylan continues to break records that many people thought were impossible even to reach.

Although bands like The Rolling Stones have had lasting power, Dylan has nearly six decades of industry experience after writing titles like “Blowin’ in the Wind.

He recently sold his entire song catalog, which encompasses over 600 songs, to the Universal Music Publishing Group. The whole deal is estimated to be worth over $300 million, making the deal potentially the largest investment ever for songwriting rights.

Full disclosure: Universal has not disclosed their negotiated purchase price.

Why Would Universal Pay That Much for Dylan’s Music?

Universal falls under the ownership umbrella of Vivendi, which is a French media giant. Now that the rights have transferred from Dylan to them, they’ll receive compensation whenever another artist covers a song that the musician wrote.

Vivendi also get the revenues from streamed songs, commercial sales, and broadcasts. If you hear a Bob Dylan song in a movie, this company gets paid for that result.

Songwriting rights are different than recording rights.

Dylan’s music has already been recorded by others over 6,000 times, including hits from Guns N’ Roses and Jimi Hendrix. Universal is not getting a piece of that pie. Instead, they’re receiving the portion that Dylan gets for being the author of the work.

At 79 years old, Dylan has had numerous notable accomplishments during his career. He’s won an Oscar, holds a Golden Globe, and over ten Grammy awards. Five of his songs are currently in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The deal struck by Universal includes every song, starting with his self-titled debut and ending with his latest album called “Rough and Rowdy Ways.”

Dylan has been recording music since 1962 and sold more than 125 million records.

Over $280 Billion Spent in Ottawa on COVID-19 Fight

by Mike Tucker, posted in General

The total spending from the Trudeau administration to fight COVID-19 in Canada is staggering. CBC News investigations found that the levels are unprecedented, averaging about $952 million per day.

That figure includes about $240 billion in transfers and payments to government entities, organizations, businesses, and individuals starting at the first lockdowns that happened on March 13, 2020.

Over 100 measures are responsible for this spending, with most of them created from scratch as a response to the pandemic.

The figures are easily available from the government, but the taxpayers don’t know who is getting most of the funds. That’s why the public is starting to push back against Trudeau’s handling of the COVID issue.

The Total Could Rise to $322.3 Billion for All of 2020

The final spending figures for the COVID fight aren’t expected until the middle of 2021. Early estimates suggest that the government could reach over $320 billion in new spending from the previous fiscal year. 

That means there isn’t a way to budget governmental needs because it is unknown what the public and private sectors will need. Although the COVID vaccine results look promising, the final groups might not get their shots until late in the year.

CBC News tracked over $105 billion sent to individuals as part of the study. They also took a look at the $81 billion sent to the CERB – the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit. It provides $2,000 monthly payments to qualified Canadians who are unable to work.

In comparison, only $9 billion was spent during the pandemic on youth employment and skills development. Just $6.11 billion went to PPE purchases.

Many people wonder what they can do to support themselves and their family during these challenging times with COVID. The first and best step is to strengthen your immune system. With products from brands like Renew Life and Enzymedica, you’ll be able to take the next step forward on your journey through 2021.

23 Million Americans May Relocate Due to Remote Work

by Mike Tucker, posted in Uncategorized

Up to 23 million Americans are currently planning to relocate to a new region or city because of telework, telecommuting, and freelancing.

With fewer companies requiring in-office work, families have more opportunities to explore affordable housing options. This trend is happening for organizations of all sizes, significantly widening the accessible talent pool.

Up to 50 million more Americans are employed through the gig economy, following a similar relocation trend with their self-employment.

Employers benefit from this trend. It creates more opportunities to reach talented workers where they live. With fewer overhead costs and the potential for more productivity, everyone can do more and spend less.

Over Half of Small Businesses Plan to Offer Remote Work

A recent Intermedia survey found that 57% of American SMBs intend to offer remote work as a long-term option for many employees.

As part of this trend, companies have found that employee availability has risen by nearly 20% with this change.

With people leaving places like New York City in droves to escape COVID-19 and high prices, the emerging behavior could have dramatic implicates for state and local economies. The households that remain could be facing housing price drops, tax increases, and higher expenses for utilities and daily needs.

Imagine that your daily commute involves walking downstairs to your home office. You could take your Neuroscience and Perque, work in comfortable clothes, and manage your family’s schedule with much more flexibility. That’s an inviting scenario for many people.

Approximately 1 out of 5 residents in a major city plans to move beyond the regular commuting distance with the telecommuting trend. Over 54% say that they want to be around two hours away from their current location.

Housing prices suggest the survey information is accurate. The U.S.’s top housing markets saw 13 percentage points more in rental price decreases than those in the bottom 10%.

$50 Million Sought by AMC Theaters to Avoid Bankruptcy

by Mike Tucker, posted in Uncategorized

AMC Theaters is struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ve been hit on three different monetary fronts: ticket sales, food options, and exclusive movie access.

With reduced capacity seating required in most markets, the movie theater chain’s per-screen revenues are down significantly. When fewer customers walk through the door, that means less popcorn gets sold.

The movie studios have also negotiated a significantly lower exclusive run time for new films, hoping to take advantage of the new at-home market.

In an effort to counter these challenges, AMC hopes to sell up to 20 million Class A shares to bring in $50 million in new capital. This news comes on the heels of an October 2020 announcement that stated the organization was on its way toward Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Why Is AMC Struggling During This Time?

AMC found itself handling a lot of debt at a time when it wasn’t needed earlier in 2020. The organization had purchased competitors like Odeon and Carmike, creating a $4.75 billion obligation.

The movie theater chain has been in survival mode for quite some time. It has already looked for ways to boost liquidity while improving its overall balance sheet.

AMC wants to hold on until new content can arrive in theaters. Three titles are expected to potentially tempt customers to come to the big screen again, including “Wonder Woman 1984.”

Those hopes might get dashed with the recent announcement that Wonder Woman will simultaneously premiere on HBO Max.

In the previous quarter, AMC earned approximately $119.5 million in revenues. For the same period in 2019, the theater chain had gained $1.32 billion.

The maximum offering price for each share is $2.39, which would raise a total of $47.7 million if the fundraising offer is successful.

159.8 Million Votes Cast in 2020 Election

by Mike Tucker, posted in Uncategorized

We will point to 2020 for many reasons once we have a few years of history between us and it. Although COVID-19 will be the obvious talking point, several unfortunate events affected people around the world.

From the death of Kobe Bryant to the Australian bush fires that ravaged 47 million acres, everyone who makes it to 2021 will feel like a survivor.

Another significant milestone for 2020 was the U.S. Presidential election. The country tallied the most votes in history, with at least 159.8 million people going to the polls, mailing in their ballot, or using other legal methods.

Voter Turnout Was the Highest Since at Least 1900

About two-thirds of eligible voters made the time to cast a ballot for their preferred candidate in the 2020 election.

It turned out that Democrats held a significant early vote advantage, gaining 43% of the absentee or initial tallies going into Election Day. Republicans were only able to secure 37% of that figure.

Texas led the way in early voting, with approximately 9.6 million ballots cast before Election Day.

The most remarkable statistic from the 2020 election might belong to Pennsylvania. After the in-person votes were counted on Election Day, Donald Trump had more than a 600,000-vote lead over Biden. After the mail-in ballots got added to that figure, there was enough for the Democratic candidate to win the state.

Although COVID-19 topped the list of voter concerns for the election, jobs, the economy, immigration, and abortion were hot-button topics that drove people out in record numbers.

Biden won the election by flipping the upper Midwest states that Trump secured in 2016 on razor-thin margins while flipping Arizona and Georgia, which have been traditional Republican strongholds.

Only time will tell if these voting numbers are a one-off because of the emphasis on mail-in voting.