Category Archives: Uncategorized

Is The UK The ‘Biggest Enabler’ Of Corporate Tax-Dodging?

The Tax Justice Network has revealed the United Kingdom to be the biggest enabler of corporate tax dodging in the world.

British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies dominate the top eight roundup of places allowing multinationals to avoid paying tax on their profits. In total, this makes the UK responsible for about one third of global tax avoidance risk.

EU countries are also responsible for a third of corporate tax abuse risk, whereas African nations are responsible for just four percent of corporate tax abuse risks and Latin America for only three percent. Among the countries to have performed worse than before are Brazil, Poland and Mexico.

Ireland entered the top ten list for the first time in 2024 with an index value of 1,622, ranking in ninth place. It is followed by Luxembourg (1,480) and then the Bahamas, the latter of which is an independent member of the British commonwealth but not an OT or CD. In position 12 comes the Isle of Man and in 13 comes Guernsey, both Crown Dependencies. The United Kingdom places in 18th position with a value of 894.

According to the Tax Justice Network, about half a trillion dollars are lost to tax havens per year.

UNIONS CRIPPLE THE ECONOMY AND ONLY HELP THEMSELVES

Factbox-From Boeing to FedEx, US labor unions flex muscle

FILE PHOTO: Boeing’s Washington state factory workers vote on first full contract in 16 years -The first large-scale strike by dockworkers on the U.S. East and Gulf coast in nearly 50 years, blocking everything from food to automobile shipments, has highlighted again the increasing mobilization by unions in the country since last year.

Here are some key union disruption actions in 2023 and 2024:

PAY US OR WE WILL DESTROY YOUR BUSINESS OR THE ECONOMY seem to be the best motto for having a UNION in your business.

My own personal experience has been friendly and cooperative, and I have several congratulatory plaques on my wall attesting to what a good friend am to workers in my employ or at my company.

In fact one of the companies we acquired had 12,500 Union employees, and another 4,500. I met personally with Teamster top brass in their Washington, DC headquarters and we got along just fine.

As buyers, as acquirers we inherit the union when we buy a unionized business. So, it is what it is,,,however, the attitude of the leadership is often in contravention to the interests of the employees.

Just look at how the union demands have destroyed the trucking business for LTL truck lines.All the major LTL lines are long gone after bankruptcy.

RECENT UNION ‘WINS” which raised costs for everyone

LOGISTICS

Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association walked out at the major U.S. ports on Oct. 1 after talks with United States Maritime Alliance over a new contract failed.

The combined 36 East and Gulf Coast ports handle 57% of U.S. container volume, and analysts warned the disruption will cost the economy billions of dollars a day.

Teamsters union workers at United Parcel Service ratified a new five-year contract in August 2023, averting a strike.

** FedEx pilots have been involved in a standoff with the firm over wages and legacy pensions since May last year.

AIRLINES & AEROSPACE FIRMS

** More than 32,000 Boeing workers in Seattle and Oregon walked off the job on Sept. 13, in the union’s first strike since 2008, seeking a 40% pay rise and restoration of a defined-benefit pension.

** Pilots at airlines including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines Holdings, Spirit Airlines and Jetblue Airways negotiated new job contracts in 2023.

** Spirit AeroSystems negotiated a new contract to end a week-long work stoppage at its Kansas plant in June 2023.

AUTOMOTIVE

** General Motors, Ford and Chrysler-owner Stellantis ratified deals with United Auto Workers members in November 2023. The UAW said on Nov. 15, 2023 that about 3,900 of its members at Mack Trucks ratified a new five-year contract, ending a month-long strike at the Volvo Group-owned company.

MEDIA

** Members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) approved a new three-year contract with major studios on Oct. 9, 2023 after striking in May over compensation, among other issues.

** Hollywood actors reached a tentative agreement with major studios on Nov. 8, 2023 to resolve the second of two strikes, over higher pay in the streaming era, that hit the entertainment industry.

STEEL

** U.S. steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs reached a tentative agreement with the United Steelworkers union in August 2023 on a new labor agreement for its Northshore mining operations.

CONSUMER & RETAIL

** In Las Vegas, thousands of workers reached agreements with casino operators and resorts Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts and Wynn Resorts in November 2023, averting strikes.

** The Detroit Casino Council reached a tentative agreement for a contract covering 3,700 workers at casinos operated by MGM Resorts, Penn and the MotorCity Casino, in November 2023, after calling its first ever strike.

** Over 3,000 workers at more than 150 Starbucks stores held strikes in June 2023, following claims the company had banned Pride Month decorations at some cafes.

** Workers at hundreds of Starbucks stores walked off their jobs during a promotional event last November, over staffing.

** Thousands of Los Angeles-area hotel staffers went on a three-day strike in July 2023 over wages and benefits.

HEALTHCARE

** More than 7,000 nurses went on a three-day strike in New York City over staffing and pay in January this year.

** Kaiser Permanente’s healthcare workers voted to ratify a new contract with the hospital chain on Nov. 9, 2023, following the largest recorded strike in the U.S. medical sector.

** Workers at CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance held a three-day walkout in October 2023 over working conditions and staffing.

ENERGY

** More than 200 Teamsters members working at Marathon’s Detroit refinery walked off their jobs on Sept. 4, 2024 after months of pay- and safety-related negotiations stalled.

** Unionized workers at Phillips 66’s Illinois plant ratified a contract with the refiner in late-stage negotiations over pay and benefits, averting a strike in September last year.

SO NEXT TIME YOUR BUSINESS IS ASKED TO JOIN A UNION…THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE. WILL YOUR BUSINESS SURVIVE IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET WITH YOUR NEW HIGHER EMPLOYEE COSTS?

DAY IN THE LIFE OF JEFF BEZOS-AMAZON FOUNDER

Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO Amazon.com — Jeff Bezos’ daily schedule looks different now that he’s not running Amazon.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is the second richest man in the world.
He’s no longer CEO of Amazon, but he now spends extra time with his space company.

He may no longer be running Amazon, but he’s kept busy.

The Amazon cofounder has a net worth of $195 billion, according to Forbes. In addition to founding the online retail behemoth Amazon, Bezos also owns The Washington Post and an aerospace company, Blue Origin.

Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon in 2021 to focus on his rocket company Blue Origin, but he still advises the company as chairman and gives his input on AI efforts. Andy Jassy took over the CEO role. Now, Bezos spends most of his time on his rocket company, saying recently in a podcast interview that he’s “working harder than I ever have.”

Bezos has also been dating his fiancée Lauren Sánchez since 2019.

So what does daily life look like for the tech mogul? Sánchez described their morning routine in an interview with People.

Here’s a look inside his daily routine:

He wakes up every morning naturally, without the aid of an alarm clock.

Jeff Bezos prioritizes eight hours of sleep every night.Drew Angerer / Getty Images

Bezos makes sure to get enough rest — he sleeps for eight hours every night. The former CEO told CNBC in 2021 that while he could sleep less and be more productive, the quality of his decisions would be lower, which isn’t worth it to him.

“I prioritize it,” he said at a dinner hosted by the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. “I think better. I have more energy. My mood is better.”

Bedtime is 9:30 p.m., according to his fiancée.

Jeff Bezos like to “putter” around in the morning.

“I like to putter in the morning,” Bezos told a gathering of Economic Club of Washington, DC, Axios reported “So I like to read the newspaper. I like to have coffee.”

Bezos and Sánchez have a no-phone rule in the mornings

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in Aspen, Colorado, last holiday season. — Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez in Aspen, Colorado, last holiday season.BG041/Bauer-Griffin

Sánchez told People she and Bezos have a “magic moment” before the kids wake up, where it’s just the two of them talking in the morning. She said during this time, the two don’t use their phones and it’s “one of the rules.”

“He definitely made that rule,” Sánchez told People. “It wasn’t me. But the mornings are just us for as long as we can.”

Bezos and Sanchez also like to start off their morning with journaling, although Sánchez said in a Vogue interview in November that the two weren’t quite there yet.

“We’ll do it, like, three days a week,” she told Vogue.

Whoever wakes up first makes the coffee, Sánchez said.

While the billionaire Amazon founder drinks his morning coffee in a self-heating Ember mug, Sánchez says she uses a mug Bezos got her from Amazon that says, “woke up sexy as hell again.”

Bezos reportedly never schedules early-morning meetings, in order to spend quality time with his family.

Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez.MEGA / Getty Images

Bezos has said he likes a slow morning to spend time with his family.

Sánchez told Vogue Bezos calls out, “don’t learn anything I wouldn’t learn.” The line has become a staple in their everyday routine and her daughter now finishes it for him.

Once the kids leave, Sánchez and Bezos get to work

Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos hold hands and walk on a sidewalk. — Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos at the Sun Valley Conference 2024.Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Sánchez told People that once the morning rush is over and the kids drive to school, her and Bezos get to work.

“After the kids leave, it’s just me and Jeff and the dogs,” she said, People reported.

Bezos also reads the newspaper and chats with his fiancé before heading to the gym for cardio and weightlifting, he said.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon — The Amazon founder goes to the gym even when he doesn’t feel like it.Drew Angerer, Getty images

“Most days, [going to the gym is] not that hard for me, but some days it’s really hard and I do it anyway,” he said.

The billionaire said he goes to the gym almost every day.

Bezos said in a Lex Fridman podcast on a good day he does 30 minutes of cardio and 45 minutes of weightlifting or resistance training of some kind.

“I have a trainer who you know I love who pushes me,” Bezos said in the podcast. “Which is really helpful.”

But Sánchez said they don’t do the same exercises.

“He’s on a whole different level than I am,” Sánchez said in the Vogue interview. “He is a monster in the gym.”

But he does like to get his more intensive meetings rolling before noon. “I do my high-IQ meetings before lunch,” he told the Economic Club of Washington, DC.

“Like anything that’s going to be really mentally challenging, that’s a 10 o’clock meeting,” Bezos said back in 2018, according to Axios.

Bezos usually keeps his afternoons clear of high-intensity meetings.

amazon hq2 jeff bezos — If high-IQ meetings come up at the end of the day, Jeff Bezos holds them off.Alex Wong/Getty Images

If something that necessitates a “high-IQ meeting” pops up later in the day, Bezos typically puts it off until the next day.

“By 5 p.m., I’m like, ‘I can’t think about that today. Let’s try this again tomorrow at 10 a.m,'” he told the Economic Club of Washington, DC in 2018.

When it comes to meals, Bezos has a taste for unusual dishes.

He was photographed eating an iguana once.

And, during a meeting with Woot founder Matt Rutledge, he ordered octopus with potatoes, bacon, green garlic yogurt, and eggs for breakfast.

“When I look at the menu, you’re the thing I don’t understand, the thing I’ve never had,” Bezos said. “I must have the breakfast octopus.”

Bezos and Sánchez like to cook. Sanchez said Bezos makes churros in his deep fryer, a recipe passed down from his Cuban grandfather.

“Abuelo made churros whenever we were with him,” Bezos said.

Bezos also has a fondness for food trucks.

In 2014, he told Henry Blodget, who was then Business Insider’s editor-in-chief, about a phenomenally popular truck outside of Amazon’s headquarters. “It’s out of control, actually,” he said.

Bezos said he’s never worked harder than he has since he left Amazon.

photo of Jeff Bezos wearing Blue Origin jumpsuit and cowboy hat — Jeff Bezos’s space company Blue Origin has a multi-million dollar contract with NASA to build a space station.Joe Raedle / Staff / Getty Images

His day revolves around reading documents and having meetings in person or over Zoom, he told Lex Fridman in a podcast.

Architecture and technology meetings almost every day about different subsystems inside the vehicle and engines.

“My favorite part of it is the technology,” Bezos said.

His least favorite part is building the organization, he said.

Bezos does “little thinking retreats.”

Jeff Bezos Charlie Rose — The billionaire said he’s very good at focusing.Scott Olson / Getty Images

The billionaire said he’s very good at focusing but he doesn’t keep to a strict schedule.

He told Lex Fridman he believes in wandering and his “messy” meetings often go overtime.

Family movie nights are a Saturday night tradition in the Bezos household, according to his fiancee.

“Of course, Jeff’s favorite movie was Oppenheimer, and I love Barbie,” she told Vogue. “And there you have us summed up in two movies.”

Sánchez told People it takes a “little bit of time” to decide what to watch but the two “love” their TV time. They recently watched Baby Reindeer, Fallout, Presumed Innocent, and Severance, People reported.

Amazon now runs several popular original series, like “The Man in the High Castle” and “Transparent,” but the former Amazon CEO is a Trekkie.

Jeff Bezos Star Trek alien — Bezos on the set of “Star Trek Beyond.”Jeff Bezos/Vine

Bezos even made a surprise cameo in the 2016 film “Star Trek Beyond.”

Other than watching “Star Trek,” Bezos has another space-related hobby: gliding about in a submarine looking for old NASA rockets.

Jeff Bezos rocket model — Bezos with a model rocket.Win McNamee/Getty Images

He’s brought his kids along for the adventure.

“As a senior executive, you get paid to make a small number of high-quality decisions. Your job is not to make thousands of decisions every day,” he said, according to Axios.

“Is that really worth it if the quality of those decisions might be lower because you’re tired or grouchy?” Bezos asked the Economic Club of Washington, D.C.

ACCOUNTING IS CRUCIAL FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS

ACCOUNTING IS CRUCIAL FOR YOUR BUSINESS REPORTING

There are many reasons why businesses fail, but many failures can be attributed to poor financial management. Financial health is the bedrock of any successful business, and effective bookkeeping lies at the core of strong financial management. Bookkeeping is often seen as a tedious administrative task, but in reality, it’s the backbone of any successful business. Effective bookkeeping not only ensures compliance with legal and tax regulations but also provides invaluable insights into a business’s financial health, enabling informed decision-making. So, the question begs to be asked: is your bookkeeping truly helping your business, or is it holding you back?

The Costs of Poor Bookkeeping

We all know driving blindfolded would be a bad idea. You will not be able to see the road ahead, how fast you are going, or even what direction you are headed. Similarly, operating a business without meticulous bookkeeping is akin to driving blindfolded. This can cost you in multiple ways:

Inaccurate Financial Reporting – Inaccurate financial reporting is arguably the most significant consequence of poor bookkeeping practices. Without a clear understanding of a business’s financial position, you risk making uninformed decisions that could jeopardize your company’s long-term viability. Incorrect financial statements can also lead to legal and tax issues, resulting in costly penalties and fines.
Inefficient Cash Flow Management – Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business, and effective bookkeeping is crucial for managing it efficiently. Poor bookkeeping practices can lead to missed invoices, late payments, and a lack of visibility into your company’s cash position. This, in turn, can result in missed opportunities for reinvestment, slow growth, and even bankruptcy.
Missed Tax Deadlines and Penalties – Failing to keep accurate records of your business’s income, expenses, and deductions can lead to costly tax penalties and missed deadlines. In some cases, poor bookkeeping practices can even result in audits by tax authorities, further compounding the financial and administrative burden on your business.

Clarity and Control: The Power of Informed Decisions

Accurate and current financial records illuminate the path ahead, allowing you to confidently steer your business. Up-to-date books provide the visibility to make informed choices as well as avoid costly detours and wrong turns that could otherwise derail your enterprise’s progress.

The benefits of effective bookkeeping include:

Improved Financial Visibility and Control – Effective bookkeeping provides a clear and accurate picture of your business’s financial health. With up-to-date financial records, you can quickly assess your company’s performance, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions about resource allocation, investment opportunities, and strategic planning.
Cash Flow Management: This is probably the most important thing that a good bookkeeper can do to improve your business. Understanding your cash flow, and the movement of money in and out of your business is crucial. This allows you to identify potential cash flow issues, take proactive measures to address them, and ensure that your business has sufficient funds to meet its obligations and capitalize on growth opportunities.
Tax Preparation: At its core, bookkeeping is the meticulous process of recording all financial transactions. This serves as the backbone for effective tax preparation. Organized and accurate bookkeeping records make tax filing a breeze. This saves you time, minimizes the risk of penalties, and ensures you take advantage of all available deductions and credits.

From Chaos to Calm: Streamlining Your Operations

Disorganized bookkeeping breeds chaos and inefficiency. Receipts accumulate in haphazard piles, invoices go missing, and looming deadlines cast an ominous shadow. This disarray not only squanders precious time but also breeds frustration and costly errors. Embracing effective bookkeeping brings order and clarity to your financial operations through:

Establishing Consistent Processes – Effective bookkeeping begins with establishing consistent processes for recording and categorizing financial transactions. This includes setting up a chart of accounts, documenting bookkeeping procedures, and defining clear roles and responsibilities for those involved in the bookkeeping process.
Leveraging Professional Expertise – For many small business owners, bookkeeping can be a daunting task, particularly when navigating complex tax regulations and financial reporting requirements. Partnering with a professional bookkeeper or accountant can provide valuable expertise and ensure that your financial records are accurate and compliant.
Fostering a Culture of Financial Discipline – Ultimately, effective bookkeeping requires a culture of financial discipline within your organization. This means instilling the importance of accurately recording and documenting financial transactions, adhering to established bookkeeping processes, and fostering open communication and collaboration between all stakeholders involved in the bookkeeping process.

Leveraging Technology: From Physical to Digital

Accounting as we know it, double-entry bookkeeping, was invented sometime around 1300-1400 AD for centuries after its invention, people relied upon paper ledgers and handwritten entries. Today, the act of bookkeeping is a lot more digital than physical. Leveraging technology in bookkeeping will allow you to streamline record management, minimize errors, and optimize efficiency. The following are several ways to leverage technology in bookkeeping:

Cloud-Based Accounting Software – The advent of cloud-based accounting software has revolutionized the way businesses manage their bookkeeping tasks. These platforms offer a range of features, including automated data entry, real-time financial reporting, and secure data storage, making it easier than ever to maintain accurate financial records.
Mobile Accounting Apps – In today’s fast-paced business environment, the ability to access and update your financial records on the go is invaluable. Mobile accounting apps allow you to capture expenses, track mileage, and even generate invoices from your smartphone or tablet, ensuring that your bookkeeping is always up to date.
Integration with Other Business Tools – Many modern bookkeeping solutions offer seamless integration with other business tools, such as e-commerce platforms, point-of-sale systems, and payroll software. This integration streamlines data flow, reducing the risk of errors and improving the overall efficiency of your bookkeeping processes.

Drive Business Growth: Recording the Past to Valuable Insights

While maintaining accurate bookkeeping records is essential, it’s only the first step in leveraging financial data to drive business growth. Regular financial reporting and analysis are crucial for extracting valuable insights and making informed decisions that can propel a company forward. Financial reporting involves the preparation and distribution of comprehensive financial statements, including the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. These reports provide a snapshot of a business’s financial performance over a specific period, allowing the monitoring of key metrics, identification of trends, and the tracking of progress toward financial goals.

Income Statement Analysis – The income statement is a critical tool for analyzing a business’s profitability. By examining revenue and expense line items, you can identify areas for cost optimization, assess pricing strategies, and evaluate the performance of various product lines or services.
Balance Sheet Review: The balance sheet provides a comprehensive overview of a business’s assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time. Regular analysis of the balance sheet will help to monitor the company’s financial health, assess liquidity and solvency, and make strategic decisions regarding investments, debt management, and capital allocation.
Cash Flow Monitoring – Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business, and monitoring the cash flow statement is crucial for ensuring adequate liquidity and avoiding cash flow shortages. By analyzing cash inflows and outflows, you can identify potential cash flow issues, implement strategies to improve collections and optimize your working capital management.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) – In addition to traditional financial statements, it’s essential to track KPIs that are specific to your industry and business objectives. These metrics can range from customer acquisition costs and lifetime value to inventory turnover ratios and employee productivity measures, providing valuable insights into a business’s operational efficiency and growth potential.

Beyond the Numbers: Building Trust and Credibility

Attempting to secure a loan from a bank without financial statements would be futile. Well-maintained financial records are the bedrock upon which trust and credibility with external parties are built. Proper bookkeeping strengthens a business’s standing in the following ways:

Investor Confidence: Investors rely heavily on accurate financial data to make informed investment decisions. Comprehensive bookkeeping records provide a transparent window into a business’s financial health and stability, enhancing its attractiveness to potential investors.
Lender Trust: Financial institutions mandate clear, well-organized financial statements when evaluating loan applications. Having meticulous bookkeeping in place demonstrates financial responsibility and increases your chances of securing favorable loan terms.
Vendor Relationships: Strong bookkeeping practices foster better relationships with vendors and suppliers. Timely payments, facilitated by organized records, showcase your business’s reliability, potentially leading to preferential payment terms or discounts.

Conclusion

Bookkeeping is often perceived as a mundane and tedious task, but its impact on the success of a business cannot be overstated. Effective bookkeeping practices provide the foundation for informed decision-making, efficient cash flow management, and compliance with legal and tax requirements. By embracing technology, establishing consistent processes, and fostering a culture of financial discipline, you can transform your bookkeeping from a burden into a strategic asset that drives your business’s growth and long-term success.

DIOR $2,800 Ladies Bags Cost $57 To Make, only the Stupid Buy them!

IF YOU ARE THE DUMMY PAYING $2,800 for a $57 Ladies handbag…you are the chump making billionaires ever richer.

The Italian police raided some of LVMH’s Dior suppliers that make luxury handbags.
Italian prosecutors found Dior paid $57 to produce bags retailing for $2,780.
Judges placed Dior and Armani units under judicial administration for one year.

Two Italian luxury giants pay just a small amount to produce handbags that retail for thousands of dollars, according to documents in a sweeping investigation of subcontractors.

There’s a lot to love about designer goods. The luxurious materials, quality craftsmanship, prestigious logos, and fashionable silhouettes — the list goes on and on. But let’s face it: those price tags can be discouraging.

Still, you shouldn’t have to keep coveting that trendy handbag or even a classic investment piece. From resale to rentals, there are plenty of online retailers where you can find new and used luxury items at a discount. For example, The Real Real is one of the most popular consignment shops that features both household names and lesser-known designers.

If you want to test drive a designer bag so you can swap it out the next month for a different one, we recommend Vivrelle. Contributing author Talia Ergas used Vivrelle to rent her Gucci camera bag, and was so impressed with its pristine condition that she ended up buying it.

$57 Bag Sells for $2,800

The prosecution said violating labor rules was a common industry practice that luxury giants relied on for higher profits.

“It’s not something sporadic that concerns single production lots, but a generalized and consolidated manufacturing method,” court documents about the decision to place Dior under administration said, according to Reuters.

“The main problem is obviously people being mistreated: applying labor laws, so health and safety, hours, pay,” Fabio Roia, the president of the Milan Court, told Reuters earlier this year. “But there is also another huge problem: the unfair competition that pushes law-abiding firms off the market.”

Last year, LVMH had 2,062 suppliers and subcontractors and undertook 1,725 audits, according to its environmental- and social-responsibility report.

LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault is the world’s third richest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His daughter, Delphine Arnault, is the CEO of Dior.

I am planning to sell bags I will make by child laborers in North Korea for $2, for $2,800.

GENERAL MOTORS IS A FEMINIST FATALITY, MARY BARRA ITS CEO IS A FLAMING WORTHLESS WOKE LEMMING!

General Motors Company (GM): IS NOT BEING RUN FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS, BUT ON A WOKE AND DISASTROUS FEMINIST PATH

With the passage of time, the role of women in the modern day workplace has slowly started to grow. In less than a century, more women not only lead companies but are also among some of the wealthiest individuals in the world.

At the same time, women have demonstrated that they are equal to men when it comes to disrupting industries. One of the best examples of this phenomena is America’s best known rocket company SpaceX. While SpaceX is famous for its founder and billionaire Elon Musk, the firm’s chief operations officer and president Gwynne Shotwell has been equally responsible for its massive success in the rocket industry which has dislodged decades of monopolies held by a few defense contractors.

In fact, this rising trend of women leading the charge at some of the biggest companies in the world has also generated interesting statistics when it comes to compensation. Data from Equilar shows that in 2023, out of the 341 CEOs part of the study, 25 were women. Their median pay package stood at $17.6 million, which according to Equilar, was 7.7% higher than the figure for the complete data set. At the same time, the 25 female CEOs saw five new executives added to the list when compared to 2022. However, the list is long of failed WOMEN CEO’s and distrous results…

ARE YOU KIDDING, DOES HAPLESS CLUELESS MARY BARRA DESERVE A $20 million annual payday? NO WAY!

In the last several year shareholders were rewarded by a share decline from $60 a share to a low in the twenties, while the woke queen extolled the virtues of every woke piece of jargon, and totally took GM out of the running in the manufacture of fossil fueled vehicles.

Pushing EV’s only with the assistance of the semi-senile old grandpa JOE, she pushed the company ito losing BILLIONS on EV’s which caught homes on fire and lost billions for the company, not to mention killing off the iconic Cadillac as an only ELECTRIC vehicle…

Is the GM Board of Directors asleep? Why is the Board allowing the femiinsts to run this company? Look at their ads? Are there any men in this company ?

Mary Barra fraudulently represents herself in the corporate reports as looking young, but in reality she is a haggard old grandma with woke ideas and is way pat the time she should be getting paid $20 million annually and pushes ideas that will destroy the GM business!

This is the real Mary Barra…OLD over the hill management.

But this is what she publishes as herself in the reports to stockholders; LOL…

WHAT CARS WILL GM SELL IN 2030…WHEN ALL WILL BE ELECTRIC? Oh, yeah, she will long be retired on that gigantic and undeserved pension!

Considering this, it would appear that the gender pay gap in the US appears to be narrowing. To confirm this, we’ll have to look at the pay statistics for the entire country as opposed to only S&P 500 CEOs. Well, on this front, data gathered by Pew shows that there’s a lot to be done. The research firm points out that in 2002, women earned 80% of what men were paid. Two decades later, i.e. in 2022, this stood at 82%, indicating that there’s a lot more to be done to decrease the wage gap between the two genders. However, at the same time, younger women might be changing these trends. This is because according to Pew, women aged between 25 and 34 earned 92% of their male counterparts, which is quite higher than the figure of 86% in 2002.

We ranked publicly traded Fortune 500 companies with female CEOs by the number of hedge funds that had bought the shares in Q1 2024. Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points.

BUT GM IS NO SHINING STAR>.

General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)

Number of Hedge Fund Shareholders In Q1 2024: 78

CEO: Mary T. Barra

General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) is one of the oldest and most iconic car manufacturers in America. Amidst a tumultuous couple of months which have seen General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) resume its autonomous driving efforts and settle disputes with unions for a battery manufacturing facility. Citi kept its Buy rating for the shares and a $96 share price target in June 2024.

The two key reasons behind the sustained optimism even as General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) has struggled in the EV industry are Citi’s belief that the US auto industry is robust and the car maker’s $11 billion share buyback. Between Q2 2024 and 2025, Citi now expects $7.1 billion in share buybacks which is significantly higher than the earlier estimate of $6.3 billion in buybacks.

SHARE BUYBACKS DO NOTHING TO ENHANCE STOCKHOLDER VALUES AND WASTE MONEY THAT SHOULD BE PAID IN DIVIDENDS!

General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)’s forward price to earnings ratio is just 5.02, which is less than 4x the S&P 500’s reading. This shouldn’t fool you though. We remember David Einhorn pitching GM at an investment conference more than 10 years ago and telling investors that GM’s PE ratio is 8 and it is an extremely cheap stock.

If GM’s true PE ratio was really 8 and the company was managed by talented individuals, they would have bought back enough shares to buy 1.5 GMs in 12 years. GM is still an “extremely” cheap company after 12 years and it underperformed the market S&P 500 Index during this period. GM’s market cap is around $50 billion, but it also has nearly $100 billion in net debt. It is a risky stock with a bankruptcy in its history. Unless General Motors’ management demonstrates a clear commitment to prioritizing shareholder interests over those of employees, we remain cautious about the GM stock.

Diamond Hill Capital mentioned the firm in its Q1 2024 investor letter. Here is what the firm said:

Automobile manufacturer General Motors continues capitalizing on the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) while maintaining the strength of its core gas-engine truck and SUV business. Though it has experienced some setbacks — such as needing to roll back its Cruise driverless car project — we believe the company remains well-positioned relative to secular tailwinds ( HE MEANS TO SAY A KICK IN THE BUTT?) within the automobile business.

THESE GENIUSES THINK THAT??? When pigs fly will Mary Barra lead GM to new glory…if ever!

Let’s list the auto brands that this feminist killed off…..now she is looking to kill off the entire company!

USA AND 13 REALLY STUPID OTHER COUNTRIES LABEL COWS AS CLIMATE TERRORISTS!

These 13 Countries Just Signed an Agreement to Engineer a Global Famine by Destroying Food Supply the USA id ONE OF THEM

Part of the Global Methane Pledge, by the way, involves transitioning the world from eating real foods like beef and chicken to instead consuming crickets and insect larvae, which are toxic and non-nutritious to humans.

As you can clearly see with the ongoing inflationary trend, which appears to be hyperinflation in slow motion, we are reaching a point where meat and food in general will become so unaffordable for the average person that many will have no choice but to try bugs, assuming they want to continue living in such a world.

“We can presume from this language that among the practices being considered are replacing a major portion of the beef and dairy cattle, pork, and chicken stocks that populations rely on for protein with insect larvae, mealworms, crickets, etc.,” says journalist Leo Hohmann about what the Global Methane Pledge entails.

“The U.N., World Economic Forum, and other NGOs have been promoting meatless diets and the consumption of insect protein for years, and billionaires have invested in massive insect factories being built in the state of Illinois, in Canada, and in the Netherlands, where mealworms, crickets, and other bugs will be processed as additives to be inserted into the food supply, often without clear labels that will inform people of exactly what they are eating.”

The powers-that-be REALLY want us eating crickets, lab-grown “meat,” or both. It’s all about control.

COWS ARE NOW CONSIDERED GLOBAL CLIMATE TERRORISTS!

Are we even surprised that our leaders want to murder us by destroying the food supply?

STOP THE INSANITY….!!!!! PLEASE LET ME HAVE STEAK!

THINGS ARE BAD WHEN HOOTERS SHUTS DOWN RESTAURANTS

Hooters has abruptly shuttered 40 locations ,

Hooters – known for its scantily-clad waitresses – is the latest restaurant chain to abruptly shutters locations.

Like other struggling chains such as Red Lobster, Hooters is blaming the rising cost of rent and food.

A raft of closures happened over the weekend, while others were in recent weeks. They include locations in Florida, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia.

The company is not thought to be in as dire financial situation as Red Lobster, which has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In fact, bosses said the 41-year-old brand ‘remains highly resilient and relevant,’ and highlighted a new range of Hooters frozen food which is being sold in supermarkets across America.

Hooters has recently shut around 40 restaurants

The chain is known for its scantily-clad but awfully cute, waitresses

‘Like many restaurants under pressure from current market conditions, Hooters has made the difficult decision to close a select number of underperforming stores,’ a spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

‘We look forward to continuing to serve our guests at home, on the go and at our restaurants here in the US and around the globe.’

Hooters will have about 300 restaurants globally after the closures. That is down from 333 in 2018.

Rivals Dave & Buster’s, Miller’s Ale House and Twin Peaks all have more restaurants.

Restaurants have been putting up prices over the past two years – as they pass on higher costs to customers. But these price hikes have led to a fall in visitors.

Bigger chains like Applebee’s, TGI Fridays and Boston Market have have all recently shuttered restaurants, as have smaller chains like BurgerFi.

The first Hooters opened in Clearwater, Florida in 1983

The sports bar-style restaurant is well known for its wings and its scantily clad waitresses, ‘Hooters Girls’

Hooters,opened six new locations in 2023. Three in Las Vegas, and three in Florida, where the brand originated

I’m one of Hooters’ only XL waitresses – and people think I’m the hottest one

Chains have been worst hit in California where the minimum wage for fast food restaurants jumped to $20-an-hour from April 1. Mexican chain Rubio’s shut 48 locations in the state.

Hooters, as well as being known for scantily clad waitresses, also calls itself ‘the original American wing joint’, and celebrated its 40th birthday in 2023.

Only last May, it was opening restaurants – three in Las Vegas and three in Florida.

The first Hooters opened in Clearwater, Florida in 1983.

PLEASE OPEN SOME MORE SOON!

FORD MOTORS SHAFTS DEALERS WITH SILLY AND POINTLESS EV CERTIFICATION

Dealers Who Forked Out for Ford’s ‘Exclusive’ EV ‘Certification’ Feel Like They Got SHAFTED

*We can tel it is you Grandpa, mask did not hide you!*

Ford has had an awfully good quarter on the EV and hybrid side of the business if you only look at the sales numbers the company reported in May.

Ford Motor’s U.S. new vehicle sales rose 11.2% last month compared with May of last year, boosted by strong sales growth for all-electric and hybrid models.

The Detroit automaker on Tuesday reported roughly 65% increases in sales of both hybrid and all-electric vehicles. That’s compared with a 5.6% rise in sales of Ford’s traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines.

“Woot!” right? Pass the champagne?

Not entirely. Those sales still only make up 14% of Ford’s overall volume – not something a company wants to hear that was going to switch their focus to an all-electric footprint. Hybrids are beginning to outstrip EV sales, which is why Ford has delayed the development of any new EV models.

And the worse EV news of all is what the company loses on every one of the electrics it sells – its asterisk.

…Ford reported in April the division lost $1.32 billion on 10,000 vehicles wholesaled from January through March. While the unit also includes EV-related business such as software, those losses equate to a loss of $132,000 for each vehicle the unit sells.

Even in a world of glassy, Green house gassy, grifting government subsidies and unicorn farts, that is unsustainable.

EV progress at Ford has come at a steep price for everyone involved, not just corporate mucky-mucks and the poor sods who were excited to be assigned to the Lightning line before they shut it down a couple of months later.

Dealers who’d paid over half to a million plus dollars to be Ford EV “certified” to be able to sell the all-electric things in what was billed as an exclusive “or else not at all” arrangement were kind of blown away at a surprise announcement out of corporate HQ last week.

Ford yanked the football.

Crazy how Ford required dealers to invest hundreds of thousands to get “certified” to sell EVs

And today discontinued the program on a whim.

One dealer DMd me that they spent over $600K on the certification, and they’re anxious about getting the money back.

Ford claims they…

— Car Dealership Guy (@GuyDealership) June 14, 2024

Businesses that are out as much as more than a million and a half buckarooskies have questions.

Ford ends controversial EV program, shocking dealers

Detroit Big Three automaker Ford (F) is changing the way the brand sells its battery-electric vehicles, with its latest move placing the automaker’s EVs within easy reach of nearly 90% of Americans.

Though the new move can translate to more sales and increased foot traffic for dealers, Ford retailers have mixed reactions, as it involved the axing of a controversial and expensive program that the Blue Oval hung over their heads.

…Originally announced on September 14, 2022, the Model e dealer certification program was designed for the Ford brand to have an edge over EV startups like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid.

While startups conducted online EV sales and dealt with a limited physical footprint, Ford had an advantage with its dealer network, which it envisioned as a one-stop-shop for EV customers buying, maintaining and charging Ford-branded EVs.

Ford initially gave its dealers until October 31 that year to choose an ultimatum for the potential future of their businesses, which was later pushed to December 2 due to weight of the situation at hand.

Those who wanted into the program could choose one of two certification “levels” that required extensive investment in EV infrastructure equipment and training.

Dealers that wanted to be a Model e Certified dealer needed to invest up to $500,000 in training and charging equipment, while those that opted to be a Model e Certified Elite dealer were looking at an investment of up to $1.2 million. Ford executives said that actual costs for dealerships turned out much lower than their estimates.

Dealers also had the ability to opt out of the Model e dealer certification program, but required them to discontinue selling Ford-branded EVs entirely starting on January 1, 2024.

Dealers who fell for the hype feel like they were sold a very expensive bill of goods.

…As part of the program, Jim Seavitt, owner of Village Ford in Dearborn, Michigan bought two DC fast-chargers, as well as eight level 2 chargers; more than enough EV charging capacity for a dealer his size.

“Given the number of EVs we have sold and will sell in the next year, it’s overkill,” he told The Detroit News. “I thought I had to do it to sell electric. Those that didn’t do it got off the hook. They have to make that part of it right.”

Apparently the exclusive EV insult to injury doesn’t end with a check for the chargers they install or the training your mechs went through, either. You’re enrolled in one of those plans like the TV commercials where they send you a box and a bill every three months whether you want or need it, and good luck trying to cancel that sucker.

Ford originally presented their program tiers to dealerships mid-September 2022 with an October drop-dead date, and there were about 2000 dealers who initially thought they’d give it a go.

…That deadline was later extended to December 2nd, as many dealers complained that six weeks wasn’t enough time for such a major decision. The company offered its dealers three options:

Become a Model e Certified Elite dealership

Become a Model e Certified dealership

Discontinue selling Model e vehicles (all Ford BEVs) effective January 1st, 2024

Of the 1,920 franchises that agreed to become Model e dealers, initially, 1,659 chose to be Certified Elite with full sales and service capability. 261 dealers chose to be Certified with full-service capability, limited sales, and a lower investment cost.

I was told today that currently, about 1,500 dealers are Model e certified dealerships, so about 400 of the initial hand-raisers decided against the Model e business model.

There is no doubt those 400 lucky ducks who fell out at the last moment are lighting candles in praise and giving hugely to charity in thanks for their deliverance.

l bet they were happy, especially right now.

Maybe there was even more to scrapping the program than merely trying to make it easier to offload hugely Ford’s expensive EVs piling up.

…I asked Marin Gjaja, COO of Ford Model e if the decision to end the program only six months after it officially began was because of the intense pushback and lawsuits from dealership associations across the country and was told that wasn’t the case, but it’s hard to believe that didn’t play a major role in the decision to pull the plug.

Sure sounds like everyone was unhappy and states were starting to back the dealer associations that went the legal route.

…According to Business Insider, Dealer dissatisfaction with the high costs of the certification program was evident early on, with several dealer associations filing lawsuits against Ford. An Illinois board ruled in favor of dealers, stating that the program violated state laws. By December of last year, more than half of Ford’s nearly 3,000 US dealers had opted out of the EV investment requirements, indicating the program’s failure.

I’m no math major – I only play one here at HotAir – but I imagine making good on those “Elite e” etc. dealerships (if and when Ford ever does) will add a buck or two to the already staggering loss they take on every Ford EV they sell.

Hopefully, results in November will mean they won’t be able to look to POTATUS for more bailouts.

It would be nice to catch a break.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are unhappy but sure have a lot of HOMES !

Inside Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s Multimillion-Dollar Real Estate Empire

A source told PEOPLE the couple are selling the Beverly Hills home they’ve shared since 2023

<p>Christopher Polk/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty </p> Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are quietly trying to sell the $61 million Beverly Hills mansion they’ve shared since June 2023, an insider told PEOPLE. But the impressive spread is far from their only major chunk of real estate.

Amid reports of a strain in their marriage, a source close to Lopez said that neither of the two stars has been happy with the home, which they purchased after a long house hunt in June of last year.

“Ben never liked the house. It’s too far away from his kids,” said the source, adding that the house is “way too big” for the singer. The massive property features 12 bedrooms and 24 bathrooms.

Of course, both Lopez, 54, and Affleck, 51, have owned plenty of other high-profile properties. Here’s everything to know about all the places they’ve lived throughout the years.

Beverly Hills

The couple bought the 38,000 square-foot home they’re currently trying to sell in the spring of 2023, per the TheWall Street Journal, after tying the knot the previous year.

Located on five acres of land, the house has “12 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, a 12-car garage and a pool, plus a sports complex with basketball and pickleball facilities, a gym and a boxing ring,” according to the newspaper.

Bel Air

Lopez found a buyer for her previous Bel Air mansion in October 2023, according to a report from the Journal. First listed for $42.5 million in February of that year, the eight-acre estate eventually sold for just under $34 million.

At more than 12,000 square feet, the sprawling property features nine beds and 12 and a half baths. Originally designed by architect Samuel Marx, it was later reworked into a French country-inspired retreat, according to the listing.

Fittingly, at the time of the listing, a private screening room on the lower lounge level featured posters for Lopez and Affleck’s movies.

The Maid in Manhattan star unloaded her $25 million New York City penthouse in April 2024, after seven years on and off the market.

The asking price for the four-bedroom, seven-and-a-half bathroom property, located near Manhattan’s Madison Square Park, was most recently $24,990,000, though its listing agents didn’t confirm the final sale price.

The 9,500-square-foot space is in a historic 1924 mansion conversion and features an indoor/outdoor design with four private terraces that offer views of the New York City skyline.

Amenities include a full-time doorman, top-of-the-line kitchen with a large island, a stainless-steel wine fridge, breakfast bar and a private guest wing with three bedrooms, staff quarters and a laundry room.

Pacific Palisades

Affleck listed his Pacific Palisades home in August 2022 for $30 million, following his marriage to Lopez. The 13,500-square-foot property, featuring seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, is located near the swanky Riviera Country Club, with mountain views.

Per the Los Angeles Times, he sold it for $28.5 million in October 2022.

The Argo director purchased the then-newly-built gated property in 2018 for $19 million after his divorce from ex-wife Jennifer Garner, according to the Journal.

<p>David LEFRANC/Gamma-Rapho/Getty</p> Star Island — Star Island

Miami’s Star Island

Lopez and former fiancé Alex Rodriguez, purchased a 10-bedroom mansion on Miami’s Star Island for $32.5 million in 2020, according to WSJ

The exclusive island, which is located in Biscayne Bay, is known to attract A-list residents.

<p>Kevin Mazur/Getty</p> Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez — Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez

Malibu

Lopez and Rodriguez, who ended their engagement the following April, put their Malibu fixer-upper on the market in July 2020.

They listed the five-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom oceanfront home for $7.99 million, after having purchased it from Entourage actor Jeremy Piven for $6.6 million in February 2019, according to the L.A.Times.

The home, spanning more than 4,400 square feet of living space over three levels, is in the heart of Malibu, with over 50 feet of private beachfront. It features walls of glass and expansive terraces on each level overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

In March 2019, shortly after the couple bought the property, home renovation star Joanna Gaines visited the couple there and was photographed with a film crew on the beach outside. A source told PEOPLE at the time that Gaines was considering helping Lopez and Rodriguez remodel the home.

It sold for $6.775 million, less than two months later, according to the Journal.

Hamptons

In 2013, Lopez dropped $10 million on a three-acre Hamptons property on New York’s Long Island, according to Forbes. The 8-bedroom, 7.5 bathroom home includes a pool, pool house, theater, sauna, steam room and covered porches.

Hidden Hills

Lopez bought this sprawling California estate in 2010 for $8.2 million, and completely renovated it during her time there, according to the Los Angeles Times. She sold it for $10 million in 2017.

Some of its highlights included formal and informal living rooms, a primary suite with a sitting room and a private terrace, dance and recording studios, a 20-seat theater, a game room, a speakeasy-style bar and a resort-style swimming pool.

<p>Kevin Mazur/Getty</p> Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony — Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony

Long Island

Lopez lived in a Brookville, Long Island, mansion when she was married to Marc Anthony, between 2004 and 2014.

“It was the place they brought their kids up,” Douglas Elliman vice chair Dottie Herman told ABC News, referring to Max and Emme, the twins Lopez and Anthony welcomed in 2008. “It’s hard to believe with J.Lo and Marc Anthony that they were regular people, but their kids and them had a normal life in a wonderful place that they felt was their home.”

The home was listed for $9 million in 2015, and according to Newsday, sold for $4.5 million in 2017.

Georgia

Affleck purchased an 87-acre property on Hampton Island Preserve outside Savannah, Georgia, as a getaway in 2003, reportedly paying $7.11 million for it, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The compound, which includes three houses, river access and a dock complex, served as the site of wedding celebrations Affleck and Lopez held with friends and family in August 2022, a month after getting married in Las Vegas.

The pair had “an extraordinary weekend of celebrations planned,” leading up to their second wedding, including “a pre-wedding party, a ceremony and … lots of fun lined up,” a source told PEOPLE at the time.

Miami

According to Forbes, Lopez owned a 1929 waterfront property on Biscayne Bay until selling it in 2005 to businessman Mark Gainor, who renovated the home. The 1.2-acre property included seven bedrooms, nine and a half baths and Miami skyline views.

In 2015, Phil Collins paid $33 million for the property.

The Summit

According to Trulia, Lopez owned a Los Angeles mansion called The Summit from 2000 to 2004. Gwen Stefani purchased the seven-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bath residence with Gavin Rossdale in 2006 and sold it for $21,650,000 in 2019.

Features touted in the listing included an infinity pool, playground, chicken coop, lighted tennis court and expansive outdoor living spaces.

Is love just great the third, fourth and fifth time around???

These 13 Countries Just Signed an Agreement to Engineer a Global Famine by Destroying Food Supply the USA id ONE OF THEM

Without farms, there is no food-you GLOBAL MORONS!