Tax Write-Off Movies Are Becoming a Problem in Hollywood

A roll of movie film in a trash can to signify that it was used as a tax write off in Hollywood

How are movies being used as tax write-offs in Hollywood? What financial engineering practices are studios using? What are their potential impacts on the entertainment industry? Hollywood studios are increasingly prioritizing financial maneuvering over artistic content creation and distribution. These tactics, including shelving films to claim tax losses and manipulating profit-sharing agreements, are reducing the diversity of content. Here’s a deeper look into Hollywood’s tax write-off movies and what it might mean for the future of cinema.

Smart TVs Are Collecting Your Data—and Using It Against You

A TV in a living room with an image of an eye on the screen, signifying that smart TVs are collecting data

Do you have a smart TV in your home? Did you know that smart TVs collect data on you? What can you do to protect yourself? Your smart TV isn’t just entertaining you—it’s watching you back, according to a recent report by a digital watchdog group that calls connected TVs a “privacy nightmare.” Smart TV and streaming companies are accelerating their surveillance capabilities, collecting increasingly extensive personal data about viewers, often without their knowledge or consent. Continue reading to learn why smart TVs are becoming privacy risks.

The US Housing Shortage: Causes, Impacts, & Solutions

A drawing of a family of four standing in a field in front of a house amid the US housing shortage

What’s causing the current US housing shortage? What are the different ways it can be handled? An unprecedented housing shortage is undermining Americans’ quality of life and the health of the economy. It’s created a housing affordability crisis for both buyers and renters and exacerbated homelessness. Continue reading as we explore potential solutions as well as the potential impact of Trump administration policies.

Carbon Capture and Storage in the UK: Benefits & Risks

An artistic image depicting a factory on a hill with a splice to show water underground, indicating how carbon capture and storage works

What is carbon capture and storage (CSS)? How could this affect climate change initiatives? Britain is investing $29 billion to capture carbon and store it beneath the Irish and North seas.  The project faces enormous challenges, including high costs, operational risks, and potential impacts on marine ecosystems. Keep reading to learn how carbon capture and storage in the UK will put them on track to reach net zero by 2050.

Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Relocation Program: A City Saver?

An artistic rendering of the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma

What is Tulsa, Oklahoma’s relocation program? Could it be a solution to the US’s brain drain problem? What challenges do cities face managing such initiatives? As cities across the United States lose talented workers to coastal hubs, Tulsa, Oklahoma is testing a solution with promising early results: paying remote workers $10,000 to relocate. After initial promise, other cities around the US are starting to follow Tulsa’s example. Keep reading to learn about Tulsa’s relocation program and what it could mean for the city, and others like it.

Geoffrey Hinton’s AI Warnings (The “Godfather” of AI)

Geoffrey Hinton, the "Godfather of deep learning" standing at a podium

What are Geoffrey Hinton’s AI concerns? Why is the “Godfather of AI” advocating for regulations? As machines grow smarter, artificial intelligence pioneers like Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton warn they could someday pursue their own goals at our expense. Although we’re reaping transformative benefits across many fields, they fear there’s a thin line between AI innovation and potential catastrophe for humans. Here’s what humans need to look out for and why regulations are so important.

Do Performance Improvement Plans Work? The Pros and Cons

A drawing of two managers in suits looking through a magnifying glass to signify an employee Performance Improvement Plan

Does your company use PIPs? Do Performance Improvement Plans actually work? What are the alternatives? Companies’ use of Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) to address employees’ work shortcomings is on the rise. Despite the dread they evoke and their well-known flaws, PIPs will likely remain prevalent as companies embracing AI demand greater efficiency from their remaining human workforce. Keep reading for a look at the pros and cons of PIPs, and some alternative management methods.

Will There Be a Bird Flu Pandemic? What the Experts Say

A black and white image of chickens on a farm as worries of a bird flu pandemic arise

Why are US health officials growing concerned about bird flu? What mutations are scientists finding in recent human cases? Will there be a bird flu pandemic in 2025? Bird flu has spread rapidly through US dairy farms and poultry operations, infecting nearly 1,000 dairy herds and causing mostly mild illness in dozens of exposed workers. While bird flu hasn’t been transmitted between humans yet, health officials are concerned that it could be. Here’s a look at the situation and the studies.

Is Cable TV Dying or Will It Continue to Stick Around?

An older man watching the news on his tv, signifying that cable tv is dying

With the rise of streaming services, is cable TV dying? How is the shift to streaming affecting consumers? Cable TV subscriptions are declining rapidly as viewers shift to streaming, but streaming services’ inability to turn a profit is prolonging cable’s life. The transition from cable to streaming threatens the future of news coverage, particularly local news, as streaming services aren’t required to maintain news operations. Keep reading as we examine experts’ views on this situation.

The Great Boomer Wealth Transfer May Set America Backward

A hand holding an old photograph of a baby boomer age couple with trees in the background

How will the baby boomer wealth transfer affect the economy? What are the different ways wealth is being passed down? The largest transfer of wealth in US history is underway, as Baby Boomers begin passing down $84 trillion in assets to younger generations. Rather than improving the economy, the Great Wealth Transfer is expected to widen inequality. Here’s a look at the problems the wealth transfer might cause and some fiscal changes that may be on the horizon.