Image by Daniel Barnes We scroll past filtered vacations, million-dollar homes, flawless selfies, and designer wardrobes, often thinking: Wow, they really have it all. Celebrities seem to live lives of ease, beauty, and boundless success. But behind the airbrushed images and polished interviews, there’s often a much different reality—one that’s far less perfect and far more constructed than most fans realize. The truth is that celebrity culture runs on illusion. It thrives on controlling perception, manufacturing mystique, and promoting an ideal that’s often impossible to sustain, let alone relate to. If you’ve ever felt bad about your own life in…
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When you think of social media, you might picture viral TikTok dances or humorous memes on X. In the business realm, you might envision consumer brands seizing trends-or creating them. However, for B2B marketers, social media might not immediately stand out as a vital part of the marketing toolkit. Yet, overlooking it could mean missing significant opportunities. In today’s marketing landscape, 83% of B2B buyers require 3-10 interactions before considering a brand reputable.¹ For marketers aiming to expand brand awareness or attract new customers on a budget, every touchpoint counts. With 85% of B2B purchasers being Millennials and Gen Xers,…
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Trane Technologies plc TT shares are trading higher on Wednesday. The company reported first-quarter net revenue growth of 11% year-over-year to $4.69 billion, surpassing the consensus of $4.46 billion. Bookings increased 4% Y/Y to $5.28 billion in the quarter. Enterprise reported an 11% Y/Y increase in both revenues and organic revenues. Enterprise backlog totaled $7.3 billion at the end of the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA rose 21% Y/Y to $851 million, with a margin expansion of 130 bps Y/Y to 18.1% in the quarter. Adjusted EPS of $2.45 (+26% Y/Y) surpassed the street view of $2.20. As of March 31, 2025: Operating cash flow from continuing operating activities reached $346 million, and free cash flow was $230 million through March 31, 2025. Cash and cash equivalents…
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By Lewis Nibbelin, Contributing Writer, Triple-I Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy recently took to the Senate floor to call for restoration of FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, whose elimination the agency announced on April 4. Established by Congress through the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018, the BRIC program has allocated more than $5 billion for investment in mitigation projects to reduce economic losses from floods, wildfires, and other disasters for hundreds of communities. Ending BRIC will cancel all applications from 2020-2023 and rescind more than $185 million in grants intended for Louisiana, leaving the 34 submitted and accepted…
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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 14: U.S. President Donald Trump walks to a ceremony welcoming the 2025 College Football National Champions from Ohio State University to the White House April 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by WIN MCNAMEE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) WASHINGTON, United States — The US economy unexpectedly contracted in the first three months of the year due largely to a surge in imports as businesses and consumers stockpiled ahead of the introduction of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. The gross domestic product of the world’s largest economy decreased at an annual…
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Caution: This story contains descriptions of sexual assault. For many years, I thought concerns over children’s exposure to pornography didn’t apply to my daughter. She’s only 9 years old and has little access to the internet. She won’t see pornography for years, I thought. But that thinking is naive and sorely mistaken, says social scientist Michael Flood, who’s at Queensland University of Technology in Australia. He has been studying how pornography impacts children for two decades. “When we survey parents, we find that they often really underestimate the extent to which their own children are likely to have seen pornography,”…
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Key Takeaways Creativity Transforms Value: Trading a bobby pin for a house exemplifies how innovative thinking can turn low-value items into significant assets through strategic exchanges. Importance of Networking: Building and nurturing connections with potential traders enhances your trading opportunities, showcasing the value of collaboration and community in entrepreneurship. Valuation and Research: Conduct thorough market research to accurately assess the value of items in your trading sequence, ensuring each trade maximizes growth potential. Leveraging Digital Platforms: Utilize social media and online marketplaces to reach a broader audience, enhancing visibility and engagement throughout your trading journey. Growth Strategy Framework: Maintain a…
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The only thing we should be talking about on Wednesday morning was the mammoth achievement by the Pacers to advance past the Bucks in the NBA Playoffs, and the incredible game by Tyrese Haliburton — including hitting the game-winner. Instead, his father, John Haliburton has become the focal point after getting into inane beef with Giannis Antetokounmpo for no reason. John hit the court as soon as the buzzer sounded and began waving a towel with his son’s face on it, while jawing with Giannis. Here’s another angle of Haliburton’s dad and Giannis. This is insane behavior by an old…
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by Jeroslyn JoVonn April 30, 2025 Texas’s GOP-led House is looking to pass a bill that would protect police officers from deadly conduct charges in the line of duty. Texas lawmakers are working to pass a bill that would exempt police officers from deadly conduct charges when acting in the line of duty. House Bill 2436 was up for vote in the lower chamber on April 28 after the Senate approved a similar bill earlier in the month, the Texas Tribune reports. The bill aims to protect law enforcement from being prosecuted under a charge originally intended to fight gang…
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Over the past year, GLP-1 medications have emerged as one of the most talked-about tools in weight management. These prescription drugs [such as Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound)] are transforming the approach to obesity and type 2 diabetes. As more people begin their journey with these medications, one common question remains: “What does a typical week look like while on GLP-1?” The first few days can feel like entering unfamiliar territory. From changes in appetite to adjusting to smaller meals, from experiencing mild side effects to building new habits, there is much to process. Add to this the…