oddities

Figuratively Speaking for October 26, 2014

Figuratively Speaking by by John MacIntyre
by John MacIntyre
Figuratively Speaking | October 26th, 2014

Percentage of post-recession growth that has been captured by the richest 1 percent of Americans, according to an analysis of 2014's richest and poorest states by WalletHub: 95

Ranks of The District of Columbia, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland and Massachusetts on the list of the country's richest states: 1 (tie), 3 (tie), 5

Ranks of Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, South Carolina and New Mexico on the list of the country's poorest states: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Source: WalletHub.

When workers were asked how they would rate their boss's leadership skills, percentage who said they were very strong, according to a survey developed by OfficeTeam: 44

Percentage of workers who believe they couldn't do a better job than their manager: 67

Source: OfficeTeam.

Ranks of Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day on the list of the most popular holidays among 15- to 25-year-olds, according to a survey conducted by ooVoo: 1, 2, 3

Source: ooVoo LLC.

Number of motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) in the U.S. where one could possibly enjoy a horrorfest this Halloween, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 4,540

Ranks of California, Texas, New York and Florida on the list of states that have the most movie theaters: 1, 2, 3, 4

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Percentage of Americans who said they are most likely to have a "hangry attack" (the feeling that comes from having hunger to the point of being angry) at work, according to a Jack Link's commissioned survey: 43.1

Percentage who said midafternoon is the time it is most likely to strike: 34.8

Source: jacklinks.com.

Though a majority of Class of 2014 college graduates are currently working, percentage of that group who are in jobs that don't require a degree (includes 45 percent of four-year degree graduates and 57 percent of associate degree graduates), according to a CareerBuilder survey: 51

Percentage of 2014 college graduates who are in full-time, permanent positions (49 percent, four-year; 25 percent, associate): 36

Source: CareerBuilder.com.

Percentage of CFOs who said they contend with at least one unexpected crisis a week, according to an Accountemps survey: 36

Source: Accountemps.

Percentage of American moms who say they are at least "somewhat" stressed, according to a survey of moms ages 18 years of age and older conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of the Clinton Foundation: 67

Percentage of single moms who are likely to report that they are at least "somewhat" stressed, compared to 64 percent for moms who are married/cohabiting: 78

Percentage of moms with a household income below $50,000 who report being at least "somewhat" stressed, compared to 63 percent for moms with a household income of $50,000 or over: 73

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Percentage of women executives from across Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific who have participated in sports, according to research released by the EY Women Athletes Business Network and espnW: 94

Percentage of these women who agree that a background in sports can help accelerate a woman's leadership and career potential: 74

Source: Ernst & Young.

Among U.S.-based travel agency owners, managers and frontline travel agents who book luxury travel, percentage who stated that luxury hotel bookings have "increased or remained steady" compared to 2013, according to a survey by Travel Leaders Group: 90

Source: Travel Leaders.

Idle Thought

"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within." -- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, psychiatrist and author (1926-2004)

(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre(at)bwr.eastlink.ca.)

oddities

Figuratively Speaking for October 19, 2014

Figuratively Speaking by by John MacIntyre
by John MacIntyre
Figuratively Speaking | October 19th, 2014

Percentage of Americans who reported they would feel completely relaxed if they were entirely "off the grid" (without any electronics or Internet access), according to results from a survey by Princess Cruises: 67

Percentage who say that having a smartphone makes it harder to relax: 52

Percentage of Americans who choose music to help decompress: 40

Source: Princess Cruises.

Percentage of college students between the ages of 18 and 23 who said they usually do not go more than 10 minutes without using some form of technology during an average school day, according to the results of an annual survey by Vital Source Technologies Inc.: 45

Source: Vital Source Technologies Inc.

Ranks of values, emotional support, discipline and income on the list of what Americans say is "extremely important" for a father to provide, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center: 1, 2, 3, 4

When Americans were asked the same question about the role of mothers, ranks of values, emotional support, discipline and income: 1 (tie), 3, 4

Source: Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends.

Percentage of Americans who think that it's easier to meet someone online than at a public place, according to a survey by YouGov: 52

Percentage of Americans who believe that it is acceptable for people of all ages to use online dating sites or apps: 44

Percentage who believe that relationships formed through online dating sites are just as likely to succeed as relationships formed elsewhere: 36

Source: YouGov.

Percentage of marketing professionals who said they spend three to four hours a day on email, according to the results of a study that looks at a day in the life of a marketer by AtTask: 34

Percentage of marketers who said they frequently multitask in meetings: 41

Of those, percentage who also said they do so reluctantly: 43

Source: AtTask.

Estimated number of Americans who are aged 100 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 53,000

Of those, percentage who are women: 83

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Number of "social media assets" (Twitter handles, employee blogs, etc.) owned by the average mid-size or large-size company (1,000 employees or more), according to Marketingeasy: 178

Percentage of companies that offer social business training to their employees: 25

Source: Marketingeasy.

Number of times more likely that children of parents who have used marijuana are to use it themselves, according to a nationwide survey of youth ages 18 to 25 commissioned by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's Center for Public Advocacy: 3

Among children who reported their parents had used or currently use marijuana, percentage who indicated they also have used marijuana: 72

Percentage of children whose parents have never used marijuana who reported having used marijuana themselves: 19.7

Source: Hazelden.

Percentage of Americans who have not saved any money for retirement, according to a Bankrate.com report: 36

Percentage of 18- to 29-year-olds who haven't saved anything for retirement: 69

Percentage of 30- to 49-year-olds who haven't saved anything for retirement: 33

Percentage of 50- to 64-year-olds who haven't saved anything for retirement: 26

Source: Bankrate Inc.

Percentage of Americans who indicated they were paid via direct deposit, according to results from the 2014 Getting Paid In America survey, conducted by the American Payroll Association: 96

Source: American Payroll Association.

Idle Thought

"One is happy as a result of one's own efforts once one knows the necessary ingredients of happiness: simple tastes, a certain degree of courage, self denial to a point, love of work, and above all, a clear conscience." -- George Sand, novelist, 1804-1876

(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre(at)bwr.eastlink.ca.)

oddities

Figuratively Speaking for October 12, 2014

Figuratively Speaking by by John MacIntyre
by John MacIntyre
Figuratively Speaking | October 12th, 2014

Percentage of Americans who said they would be willing to be late for work -- and risk getting scolded by their boss -- in order to get their morning coffee, according to the results of a survey by Cumberland Farms: 56

Percentage of respondents who said they would prefer giving up alcoholic beverages for a week than giving up coffee: 69

Source: Cumberland Packing Corp.

Percentage of credit card holders who asked their credit card issuers to waive a late payment fee who were successful, according to a CreditCards.com report: 86

Percentage of cardholders who asked for a lower interest rate who were approved: 66

Source: Bankrate.com.

Average age that working Americans plan to retire, according to the results from an Ipsos eNation survey: 64

Average age that working Americans think they will realistically be able to retire: 66

Percentage of those who say they will never be able to retire, up from 7 percent last year: 13

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Percentage of employees who report feeling guilty if they do not work, either on site or from home, when they are sick, according to a poll of adults who work full-time conducted on behalf of Randstad: 47

Percentage who feel compelled to monitor their emails once their workday is over: 45

Source: Randstad-USA.

Percentage of consumers globally who now say they are very concerned about environmental problems, compared with 56 percent in 2012, according to results of the 2014 Greendex, a collaboration between National Geographic and global research consultancy GlobeScan: 61

Rank of U.S. consumers' behavior on the list of the sustainable lifestyles of all countries surveyed since the inception of the Greendex study in 2008: 17 (last)

Source: National Geographic Channel.

Although the frost has barely touched the pumpkin, percentage of consumers who have already begun their holiday shopping, according to CFI Group's Holiday Retail Spending Report: 22

Source: CFI Group.

Ranks of the 2014 Lexus RX 450h, 2014 Lexus ES 350 and the 2014 Lexus RX 350 on the list of the top 15 most worry-free cars to own, according to research by Cars.com: 1, 2, 3

Source: Cars.com.

Year that the nation's oldest institution of higher learning conferred its first nine college degrees, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1642

Year that the school then called the "New College," founded by Puritans in 1636, began teaching: 1638

Year that it was renamed in honor of John Harvard, a young minister who bequeathed his library and half his estate to the institution: 1643

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Percentage of business-to-consumer marketers who say they have acquired a customer through Facebook, compared to 60 percent for a company blog, according to research by Marketing Charts: 77

Among business-to-business companies, percentage that said they had acquired a customer through the professional network LinkedIn: 65

Source: Marketing Charts.

Percentage of U.S. broadband households that have at least one TV series that they "never miss," according to Parks Associates: 50

On average, number of hours that consumers spend each week watching video on TV screens, compared to 1.3 hours on tablets and 1.6 hours on smartphones: 20

Source: Parks Associates.

Idle Thought

"Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members." -- Pearl S. Buck, Nobel prize-winning novelist

(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre(at)bwr.eastlink.ca.)

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