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<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple">Apple</a> is expected to expand Apple Intelligence with an iOS 18.2 update on December 2.</li><li>It will feature enhanced writing tools, ChatGPT, and a visual intelligence tool.</li></ul>Apple has one more AI drop in store for consumers this year.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-intelligence-features-rollout-timeline-iphone-16-2024-9">Apple Intelligence, i</a>ts highly anticipated genAI software, launched with the first set of features on October 28, and the tech giant said it plans to continue the rollout in December.Apple said it plans to build out Apple Intelligence over the next several months, with drops in December and April. The new AI software is only available on iPhone 15 Pro or later.Its upcoming launch is expected to be on December 2 as part of the iOS 18.2 update, in time for the holiday season, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-11-03/apple-finally-finds-its-game-console-rival-with-the-new-m4-and-m4-pro-mac-minis-m31na57p">Bloomberg</a>. Apple said it will include updates to the writing tools feature to handle more specific requests, the introduction of ChatGPT, and Apple's new visual intelligence tool.With visual intelligence, Apple said iPhone 16 owners can use their new <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-16-camera-button-creating-buzz-despite-no-ai-2024-9">Camera Control button</a> to get information on objects or places — or translate languages with AI.Although Apple didn't specify if the customizable emojis known as "genmojis" will be a part of the December launch, Bloomberg reported that would will likely be in iOS 18.2, as well as its image generator app called Image Playground.Top tech companies, like Apple, Microsoft, and Meta, have been spending more on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-scraps-kendall-jenner-tom-brady-celebrity-ai-chatbots-2024-8">AI projects</a> to create the next big thing in GenAI. While its rivals have been quick to announce and launch their AI offerings, Apple is taking a slower approach.Apple Intelligence was announced at the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-wwdc-event-live-updates-keynote-announcements-2024-6">Worldwide Developer Conference</a> in June. The first features debuted four months later.So far, the upgrades expected "in the coming months" also reportedly include a more personal Siri that can better understand context and prioritized notifications. Apple said support for non-English languages will come in April.

Apple has a new batch of AI features arriving in time for the holidays

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Now in <keyword id="19896940" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Walmart" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Walmart" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Walmart">Walmart</keyword> aisles: a <keyword id="23944922" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Skibidi-Toilet-action-figure" source="keywords">Skibidi Toilet action figure</keyword> — a $45 mystery toilet bowl.</li><li>The head of brands for toilet-maker <keyword id="23944923" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bonkers-Toys" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bonkers Toys" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bonkers Toys">Bonkers Toys</keyword> says it's selling well.</li></ul>Recently at my local Walmart, I saw a massive display in the main aisle of the toy section: It featured a plastic toilet, about a foot tall, with a ghoulish head sticking out. For $44.95, I could be the proud owner of the <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-link--underline" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/skibidi-toilet-is-good-actually-2023-10">Skibidi Toilet</a> — complete with <keyword id="23944930" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="toilet-themed-toys" source="keywords">toilet-themed toys</keyword> in the bowl. And in case you were wondering: Yes, it makes a flushing noise. If you've spent any time lately around someone who isn't old enough to drive, you've probably heard some utterance of the word "skibidi." I'll spare you the full summary of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/skibidi-toilet-gen-z-alpha-memes-internet-culture-outdated-old-2023-7" target="_blank">Gen Alpha meme</a>, but the short form is: It's a YouTube series about a dystopian battle of good and evil (the toilet guys are the villains). My colleague Lindsay Dodgson <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/skibidi-toilet-is-good-actually-2023-10" target="_blank">describes</a> it as "part 'Terminator,' part 'Bladerunner,' and obviously, part toilets." She says the series is actually good. What's interesting to me is that this absurd toilet meme appears to be doing a robust business in the toy aisle of your local discount store. I spoke with Dan Meyer, head of brands at Bonkers Toys, the company behind the flush. "Right away we noticed that it was exploding," Meyer said of the skibidi phenomenon online. Bonkers made a licensing deal and started pitching vendors on the toilet toy — an easy sell, he said. Bonkers started making prototypes of the toilet toy in early 2024 — and it's hit the shelves in time for the holiday season, a tight timeline. "When we're pitching it to [retailers], we had enough data to see that in middle schools and elementary schools, the term skibidi was already a thing," Meyer said. Bonkers could point to the YouTube views the Skibidi Toilet series had racked up — its channel has more than 40 million followers — or how if they searched Instagram, they'd find "hundreds and hundreds" of people dressed in homemade Skibidi Toilet costumes. Bonkers Toys, founded in 2017 in San Diego, has carved a niche for itself by licensing intellectual property from YouTube creators. Its first big toy was the giant "mystery egg" toy for Ryan's World. At the time, Ryan's World was one of the top channels on YouTube, a pioneer in the genre of "little kid opening toys." <div type="image" title="skibidi toilet toys" height="3000" width="3000" msid="115096128" hostid="261"></div>Bonkers' move into memes is in line with what retailers are trying to achieve, Blake Droesch, a senior retail analyst with BI sister company Emarketer, told me. He said big box stores like Walmart are trying to respond quickly to online trends, especially for toys. They need to move fast to compete with viral shopping on the likes of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-gen-x-boomers-love-temu-2024-1">Temu</a>. "This environment has certainly created demand for manufacturers who can produce fast and cheap products that will serve this growing market," he said. "It's no different than fast fashion, but for toys. They respond quickly to viral moments and get products on the shelves while the trend is still hot." The original Skibidi Toilet was the creation of animator Alexey Gerasimov, who made it for his YouTube channel DaFuq!?Boom!, which has 44.3 million subscribers. Gerasimov has partnered with Invisible Narratives, a companyfounded by Adam Goodman, the former president of DreamWorks SKG and Paramount Pictures who works with YouTube creators to help them make the jump to more traditional media, like movies and TV. It also helps them with licensing their brands for merchandise, like Skibidi's deal with Bonkers. Merchandising, like with the toys from Bonkers Toys, is crucial to success for these new media brands, he said. "We believe that young people don't want to pay for content anymore," Goodman told Business Insider. "Their parents pay for subscriptions, and the don't really go to movies the way that they used to — but they like buying stuff." Skibidi Toilet is certainly not the first YouTube creation to enter into consumer merchandise. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-mrbeast-pitches-brands-sponsorship-deals-jimmy-donaldson-youtube-2024-10">MrBeast</a> sells chocolates and premade lunches along with Logan Paul and KSI, who make the popular drink Prime. <div type="image" title="Skibidit toilet plush toy" height="3000" width="3000" msid="115096131" hostid="261"></div>Meyer wouldn't provide numbers on how many toilets they've sold, but so far, things are looking promising, he said. He said Bonkers' launch of a LankyBox-themed product about three years ago — which was another product centered on a YouTube creator — was one of the "biggest, most successful-selling brands in the boys' action aisle" at discounters, including Walmart. He said the Skibidi Toilet was outselling LankyBox by around double. (Walmart didn't respond to requests for comment on sales numbers.) Right now, there are only a few Skibidi Toilet-theme products from Bonkers: individual action figures, mini-figures, plushes (aw, cute), and the aforementioned "mystery" toilet, which includes stickers, minifigures, and lanyards. But there will be more products for next year, Meyer said — including what every little boy and girl dreams of getting from Santa: a remote-controlled toilet bowl. Correction: November 8, 2024 — In the Skibidi Toilet YouTube series, the toilet guys are the bad guys, not the good guys.

Dear Santa: Please bring me a Skibidi Toilet for Christmas

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/starbucks">Starbucks</a>' mobile app appeared to be down during the morning coffee rush on Thursday.</li><li>Some users got a message saying, "mobile ordering is currently unavailable."</li></ul>Some Starbucks customers could not place orders through its mobile app on Thursday, the first day of the coffee chain's holiday menu.Dozens of Starbucks app users posted on social media early Thursday saying that they weren't able to order beverages or buy merchandise, such as the company's reusable cups, through the app. Instead, users got a message directing them to place their order at a Starbucks store.<div type="image" title="A message in the Starbucks app indicates that mobile ordering isn't available." height="1084" width="680" msid="115060200" hostid="261" sizebytes="18602"></div>Downdetector, a website that tracks website outages, showed a spike in user reports of problems with the Starbucks app around 8 a.m. ET — a busy period at many Starbucks cafés as customers stop by for their morning cup of coffee. Business Insider employees in Washington, DC, and New York City could not use the app.The exact scale of the outage wasn't clear. Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, though it did respond to customers <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/StarbucksCare/status/1854534461305885079">on X</a>, saying the company is "currently experiencing a temporary outage of the order ahead and pay feature in our app. We continue to welcome and serve customers in our drive-thrus and stores." Thursday is the first day Starbucks' holiday offerings are on sale. They include a gingerbread-flavored chai as well as holiday-themed merchandise such as tumblers and mugs.Starbucks has grown orders through its app over the past several years, but some store employees have told BI that they have been overwhelmed by the number of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-online-orders-might-stand-in-way-new-ceo-plans-2024-10">mobile orders at times</a>, especially when customers customize their drinks.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-will-add-guardrails-to-mobile-ordering-process-2024-10">Brian Niccol</a>, who became Starbucks' CEO in September, said last month that he would put "guardrails" on mobile orders to simplify the process for baristas.Do you work at Starbucks and have a story idea or information to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com

Starbucks' app is down on the first day of the chain's holiday menu

If you're looking for some inspiration on how to spend the upcoming holiday season, it's time to take cues from fellow Indians. A recent study by American Express has highlighted that a staggering 97% of Indians have their travel plans set for the forthcoming festive season, and more than 30% have already made their bookings. What's more, around 93% won't shy away from spending a few extra bucks if it means making their trip more comfortable and fun. A recent <keyword id="23687478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Skyscanner-report" source="keywords">Skyscanner report</keyword> titled Travel Trends 2025 also underlined this growing preference for <keyword id="23687479" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="comfortable-travel" source="keywords">comfortable travel</keyword> among Indians. Per the report, 57% of Indians were okay spending a little extra to get a good quality in-flight meal. For 47%, good seats and hence, seat selection was a priority, and 42% of surveyed Indians preferred comfort right from the trip's start-valuing access to airport lounges. Per the <keyword id="23687477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="American-Express-study" source="keywords">American Express study</keyword>, while most people (63%) just want to let their hair down and relax, 54% want to don their explorer hats and see new places. About 27% just want to get away from the chaos of their daily lives and spend time with their near and dear ones. Most of us (around 88%) just have Bharat Darshan on our itinerary, while 61% felt like the world was calling us, which is why they plan to travel internationally. Irrespective of destinations, a staggering 91% of Indian travelers believe holidays can help build resilience and strength, so they’re better able to handle the stresses of everyday life. But even amidst all this traveling, Indians do not forget to be budget-conscious, which explains why 73% of Indians won't shy away from generously using their <keyword id="23687480" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-card-points" source="keywords">credit card points</keyword>, <keyword id="23687481" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="airline-miles" source="keywords">airline miles</keyword>, or loyalty rewards. Soak in the festivities and experience The American Express study, which spanned Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, apart from India, only reinforced that pretty much everyone across the world is in a mood to travel and relax. Globally, 58% of respondents from these countries had plans to visit their family and friends. For those few who had no travel plans but rather wanted to lounge and laze in their homes, 40% had family or friends visiting them. But quality time with loved ones was not the only thing on the list, with 55% also taking trips outside of visiting family. Also, buying gifts during the season is seemingly passe. Every 1 in 3 respondents chose gifting their loved ones an experience rather than a material gift. Atop this gift list are entertainment-related experiences, preferred by 59% of respondents. Travel-related experiences come next, chosen by 54% of those surveyed, followed by food and drink-related experiences, which were opted for by 49% of respondents. The Skyscanner also highlighted that 66% of Indian travelers plan to travel more in 2025. As to the deciding factors for choosing the next travel destination, food, culture, and weather played a crucial role for 63%, 58%, and 57% of respondents, respectively. Skyscanner's report also highlighted this trend, noting that people were increasingly looking forward to having unique experiences. 53% of Indians surveyed wanted to travel to watch a live game or sporting event in 2025. At 54%, this number was slightly higher amongst the 25-34 age cohort.

Travel, Eat, and Have Fun: How Indians plan to spend their holidays

Apple has officially launched iOS 18.2, introducing a wave of innovative features that redefine personalisation, creativity, and AI-powered user interactions. The update, available across compatible iPhones, places a spotlight on advanced capabilities like <keyword id="22547841" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Image-Playground" source="keywords">Image Playground</keyword>, GenMoji, and <keyword id="21995043" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Siri-enhancements" source="keywords">Siri enhancements</keyword>, setting the stage for a more immersive and intelligent iOS experience. One of the standout features of iOS 18.2 is Image Playground, a dynamic tool that turns user prompts into visually striking creations. Leveraging advanced AI technology, this feature allows users to generate unique images by describing their vision in text. Whether crafting personalised holiday cards or brainstorming creative concepts, Image Playground ensures that every output is polished and tailored to the user’s imagination. Another exciting addition is GenMoji, a next-generation avatar builder that blends realism with extensive customisation. From lifelike facial expressions to intricate accessories, users can create avatars that resonate with their individuality. These GenMojis integrate seamlessly across Apple services, including messaging and social media sharing, making communication more expressive than ever. Siri also receives a significant upgrade in iOS 18.2. The virtual assistant now offers enhanced contextual understanding, allowing it to deliver smarter recommendations and more precise real-time translations. For example, Siri can provide tailored suggestions for navigating through apps or managing daily tasks, thanks to its improved understanding of user behaviour. The update also highlights Apple’s commitment to creativity and inclusivity. For instance, iOS 18.2 introduces accessibility features that cater to users with diverse needs, ensuring the operating system remains user-friendly for everyone. iOS 18.2 is not just about individual features—it’s about delivering a cohesive experience. The update integrates AI-powered tools to create a system that feels intuitive, engaging, and innovative. Apple is positioning this release as a bridge between personalisation and practicality, empowering users to explore their creativity while making everyday tasks more seamless. The rollout of iOS 18.2 aligns with Apple’s broader vision of enhancing its ecosystem with smarter tools and inclusive technologies. The company continues to raise the bar for mobile operating systems, ensuring that iPhones remain at the forefront of technological advancement. With iOS 18.2 now available for download, users can experience the future of personalisation, creativity, and AI-driven interactions right at their fingertips.

Apple unveils iOS 18.2: Here are the new Apple Intelligence features

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Bella DePaulo has always been single and chooses to spend most of her time alone.</li><li>She used to feel self-conscious but now shares her experience to help other singles.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bella DePaulo, 71, a social scientist and author who lives in California. The following has been edited for length and clarity.As a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/woman-always-been-single-loves-being-in-control-of-life-2024-9">71-year-old single woman</a> who's happily never had a serious romantic relationship, people are often confused by my lifestyle.They think I must wish I was coupled up and just can't understand that being on your own, even <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/solo-travel-things-to-know-before-first-trip">vacationing alone</a>, can be a wonderful experience rather than something sad, desperate, and lonely.There's a preconception that if you're single, you're either stuck at home alone or forced to do things on your own because you don't have anyone. And while that can be true of some people, we're really misled when we think that's true of all single people.I consider myself single at heart, which means I'm happiest and most fulfilled when I'm not in a relationship.Those who know me well know that I enjoy being with others, especially close friends and family, and I also really love <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/introvert-parenting-tips-managing-energy-2024-9">doing things on my own</a>.I actively enjoy spending a weekend, or even an entire week alone. I love getting to decide what I want to do, when I want to do it, how long I want to stay up, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/couple-married-60-years-different-dinners-compromise-annie-korzen-2024-11">what I want to eat</a>, and whether I want to be with other people, and if so, who and for how long.<h2 id="f8399624-bf24-4099-bd0b-1e3e2cb07c33">I see friends once or twice a week</h2><div type="image" title="Bella DePaulo headshot" height="1344" width="982" msid="115211828" hostid="261" sizebytes="59204"></div>Through my early to mid-adulthood I liked having one to two days a week all to myself. As I've gotten older it's flipped and I'm happy to have five or six days a week to myself, although I'm happy to do more socializing than that.On an average week, I see friends once or twice, usually for lunch or dinner.I almost always go out for a daily walk. I live in Summerland, California, which is right on the cusp of the Pacific Ocean, so I either walk along the beach or one of the spectacularly beautiful trails.On the weekends, I often do some errands, maybe going <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-gen-z-splurge-groceries-spending-inflation-gen-z-boomers-2024-4">grocery shopping</a> or something like that. Sometimes I'll go to a farmers market and get fresh fruit and vegetables to make a wonderful dinner. I wish somebody else would swoop in and clean up afterwards and then leave, but I do like the cooking and the eating part.At night I like watching TV or a movie or reading a novel. I'm a social scientist and author and a lot of times I do my writing and reading relevant to work because I really enjoy it. I study and write about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/never-date-again-prefer-drama-free-single-life-2024-10">the joy of single life</a> and have recently been touring my book "Single at Heart," around Washington DC, New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.<h2 id="8456ada1-18d6-43c3-a485-44106a851273">I'm happy to spend the holidays alone</h2><div type="image" title="Bella DePaulo sits on a plastic chair at a table on the beach." height="1200" width="1600" msid="115211825" hostid="261" sizebytes="119148"></div>Growing up, my house was a really sociable place. I was raised in Pennsylvania with several siblings, and my mom had a lot of siblings who all lived near us. So there were big family gatherings all the time.Over Christmas, my mom would make tons and tons of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-easy-cookie-recipe-icing-professional-baker-2023-12">Christmas cookies</a> and we'd have waves of people coming in. That was fun up to a point, but I was also happy when they left.Before I moved to California in 2000, I worked at the University of Virginia, which was 377 miles away from my family home, so I always went back there for family Thanksgivings.I don't have a yearly Thanksgiving or Christmas tradition now but I've celebrated them with friends, family, and on my own. I'm happy with whichever.I have a friend who visits me every other year for Thanksgiving. Another friend often comes for New Year's Eve, and sometimes, I travel. Just before COVID, I spent Christmas in Mexico, and that was a lot of fun.I don't have any plans for Christmas yet.<h2 id="be2425a0-ef8e-4c88-93ea-505610948973">I used to feel self-conscious about being alone on big holidays</h2><div type="image" title="Bella DePaulo holds a copy of her book &quot;Single At Heart&quot; in a Spanish restaurant." height="1352" width="1036" msid="115211819" hostid="261" sizebytes="103502"></div>I've always enjoyed spending time on my own, even on days like Christmas when you're "supposed" to be with people. What's changed is that I used to be self-conscious about it.When I was younger, I felt judged and hoped that nobody would ask me what my plans were, even though being alone was what I wanted.I've gotten way past that now. I feel proud to be happy on my own and show up to an event filled with couples and upend their expectations.I hope that by being open about that, I'm making it easier for other people, too.

I'm 71 and have always been happily single. I used to feel judged for enjoying time alone, including the holidays, but now I'm proud.   

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The International Longshoreman's Association will strike on October 1 if its wage demands aren't met.</li><li>The strike would impact the import and export of goods across most industries, from retail to cars.</li></ul>A major <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-economy-congress-government-shutdown-ports-shipping-strike-september-30-2024-9">maritime workers strike</a> is looming, and it could mean a shutdown of key goods — from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/plug-in-hybrid-prices-soaring-demand-electric-cars-2024-9">cars</a> to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-vs-target-grocery-shopping-which-is-better-review-2024-9">food</a> — across the East and Gulf Coasts.The International Longshoreman's Association, the largest union of maritime workers in the US, announced last week that it was prepared to strike on October 1 if demands in their union contract, primarily <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-us-states-high-wages-salaries-worker-rights-california-2024-8">higher wages</a>, are not met."A sleeping giant is ready to roar on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, if a new Master Contract Agreement is not in place," ILA President Harold Daggett said in a statement.According to an ILA press release, the union wrote in a letter to its membership that its workers, who primarily work on shipping docks to load, unload, and inspect cargo and operate heavy machinery, are "struggling to pay their mortgages and rent, car payments, groceries, utility bills, taxes, and in some cases, their children's education," emphasizing the need for boosted pay in its upcoming contract.A strike would have <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/baltimore-bridge-collapse-impact-imports-exports-cars-coal-farm-equipment-2024-3">widespread implications</a> across the US, with significant shipment delays that could set off a chain reaction of disruptions."A prolonged strike could lead to weeks, or possibly months, of shipping delays and backlogs, worsened by limited rerouting options, high costs and time constraints," Abe Eshkenazi, CEO of the Association for Supply Chain Management, told BI. "The supply chain is inextricably linked, and as we enter the busiest shopping season of the year, businesses, retailers, and consumers alike will feel the impact of a stoppage."According to the National Association of Manufacturers, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://nam.org/mapping-the-impact-of-a-port-strike-32072/?stream=issue-transportation-infrastructure">over half</a> of imports and exports come through the East and Gulf Coast ports, handling pharmaceuticals, vehicles, and retail, among other things, and generating an average of over $2.1 billion each day. Depending on the length of the strike, supply-chain disruptions could also lead to price hikes for consumers.The United States Maritime Alliance, which represents the companies that employ longshoremen, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usmx.com/assets/content/public-resources/9-23-24_USMX_STATEMENT_Update_on_Status_of_USMX-ILA_Negotiations.pdf">said</a> on September 23 that despite attempts to resume bargaining with the ILA they "have been unable to schedule a meeting to continue negotiations.""Our goal remains the same — we want to bargain and avoid a strike, but time is running out if the ILA is unwilling to return to the table," USMX added. In a Monday statement, ILA said that the sides had communicated multiple times in the past weeks but that a stalemate remains in place over wage offers.<h2 id="384d3982-57cd-4459-bfb2-aa16e8cd673d">A strike could delay shipments and trigger price hikes</h2>If the union strikes, all industries will be impacted — but time-sensitive industries, like cars or pharmaceuticals, would face severe disruptions right off the bat, Mia Ginter, director of ocean export products and transportation company CH Robinson, wrote in an August <a target="_blank" href="https://www.chrobinson.com/en-us/resources/blog/prepare-for-a-potential-east-and-gulf-coast-port-strike/">blog post</a>."Many auto parts and components are imported through the East Coast, so the risk of production delays would be high," Ginter said.At the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, operators are trying to bring in "as many ships as possible" ahead of a potential strike, director Bethann Rooney said in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/live/M--o1uIqezs?t=6360s">press conference</a>. That includes encouraging the shippers to get as much cargo out as "humanly possible" and as quickly as possible.The retail industry could also face disruptions from the strike."Many retailers have already taken steps to mitigate the potential impact of a strike by bringing in products earlier or shifting products to the West Coast," Jonathan Gold, the National Retail Federation's vice president of supply chain and customs policy, told BI. "The global supply chain is a complex system and even a minor disruption would have a negative impact and cause delays at a critical time for both retailers and consumers."Gold <a target="_blank" href="https://nrf.com/blog/port-labor-strike-gets-closer-reality">wrote</a> in early September that holiday shipments would likely not arrive on time: "Manufacturers might not receive parts, materials and supplies needed for production, which will lead to assembly lines shutting down. And farmers won't be able to get their products to overseas markets, which could lead to lost sales."The port of New York and New Jersey ranks fourth among the country's top 25 ports for total tonnage, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bts.gov/sites/bts.dot.gov/files/2024-01/2024_Port_Performance_Report_0.pdf">data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics</a>. An <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mitre.org/news-insights/impact-story/capability-support-transportation-system-efficiency-resilience">analysis</a> by the nonprofit research group Mitre found that the strike would have a significant economic impact on ports in New York and New Jersey, with a daily loss of around $640 million."We are coordinating with partners across the supply chain to prepare for any potential impacts," Steve Burns, a PANYNJ spokesperson, told BI. "For the over 600,000 regional jobs our port supports and the $240 billion in goods moved through here each year, we urge both sides to find common ground and keep the cargo flowing for the good of the national economy."Grace Zwemmer, associate US economist with Oxford Economics, wrote in an early September note that it would likely take four to seven days to clear up the backlog from each day the strike continues, "meaning even a two-week strike could disrupt supply chains until 2025." She referred to estimates from Sea-Intelligence, which predicted that a strike would prevent 74,000 shipping containers from being unloaded each day. Additionally, she wrote that the strike would mean it would take longer for manufacturers to receive goods, which would, in turn, jack up prices for consumers.Meanwhile, trade groups <a target="_blank" href="https://documents.nam.org/COMM/Joint%20Association%20Coalition%20Letter%20to%20President%20Biden%20-%20East%20Coast%20Gulf%20Coast%20Port%20Labor%20Negotiations%20-%20Final%20091724.pdf">have called</a> on the Biden administration to step in and help negotiate a deal — or at least ensure negotiations continue instead of a strike. They warned that a labor stoppage could harm both the economy and consumers."A strike at this point in time would have a devastating impact on the economy, especially as inflation is on the downward trend," the trade organizations wrote.Some ports have already begun prepping guidance for customers should the union go on strike — the Port of Houston wrote in a memo that it would be extending its gate hours leading up to the strike to allow more time for the transport of goods, with other ports also scrambling to unload shipments in anticipation of the strike."Throughout the pandemic, Longshore workers never took a day off," ILA Executive Vice President Dennis Daggett <a target="_blank" href="https://ilaunion.org/union-will-be-on-right-side-of-history-if-it-must-strike-october-1-corporate-greed-must-end-ila-executive-vice-president-dennis-a-daggett/">said</a> on September 20. "We ensured the shelves were stocked and the supply chains stayed strong, even as we lost far too many of our own. Now, we need the public's support. The very corporations that profited off our hard work refuse to share those profits with the workers who make them possible."

Get ready for a dockworker strike that could disrupt everything from medicine to holiday gifts

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google">Google Maps</a> launched updates to help last-minute shoppers avoid the lines and find nearby products.</li><li>The new "Products Nearby" tab allows users to search in Maps for nearby in-stock items.</li></ul>If you're a last-minute shopper, <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-street-view">Google Maps</a> has you covered this holiday season.If you're someone who saves your shopping until the very end, you can now search for products in Google Maps to find nearby stores that have them in stock.For example, if you're looking for handbags, you can search "handbags" in Google Maps and see results for any stores that have them available in your area.<div type="image" title="Google Products Nearby tab showing holiday sweaters" height="874" width="422" msid="115311169" hostid="261" sizebytes="30942"></div>When you scroll down a bit, you'll find the new "Products Nearby" tab which has relevant in-stock items that you can swipe through and select if you're interested in seeing more detail.The feature adds in-store inventory information from retailers and highlights it on the Google Maps app. Basically, it's a nice way to browse through what's available and save some time scrambling on individual store websites and selecting your home store location.<div type="image" title="Google Maps reporting delays" height="1598" width="780" msid="115311166" hostid="261" sizebytes="43586"></div>The updates to Maps also include a change designed to make it easier to arrive on time. You can report delays and check whether transit lines are impacted. It also offers clearly marked entrances to subway stations and alternate route options available on the map.Other updates include the ability for trailer drivers with Google built-in to their vehicles to add their dimensions to tailor their route to avoid low bridges and tunnels. Google Maps also added an update for EVs that allows drivers to plan trips on the phone and send routes with charging stops to their vehicle's Google app. If drivers don't know their exact charging type, they can add their vehicle's model and it will show compatible stations.The new Google Maps updates come just a couple of weeks after the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-maps-ai-features-reviews-waze-update-gemini-2024-10">platform got an AI overhaul with integrated Gemini features</a>. Google also recently transformed its Shopping platform with personalized recommendations, AI Overviews-like product briefings, and a Deals section.

The new Google Maps update is perfect for last-minute shoppers

Top 5 foreign holiday destinations in 2024

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Welcome back to our Saturday edition! One man found a simple way to lose 145 pounds — eating less and moving more. Sounds familiar, right? <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/yo-yo-dieter-kept-weight-down-small-portions-more-movement-2024-10">Find out how he kept it off</a>.On the agenda:<ul><li>Testosterone injections are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/young-men-testosterone-therapy-masculine-ideal-2024-10">young men's newest obsession</a>.</li><li>Scammers are using AI to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scammers-use-ai-deed-fraud-title-theft-to-steal-homes-2024-10">steal homes from under owners' noses</a>.</li><li>A luxury vacation planner shares <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/secrets-for-traveling-like-rich-from-luxury-travel-planner">how to travel like the wealthy</a>.</li><li>A Michelin star might just <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/restaurants-awards-michelin-star-new-york-city-dining-rent-costs-2024-10">kill your favorite restaurant</a>.</li></ul>But first: If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today-sunday-edition">sign up here</a>. Download Insider's app <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.insider.com/app">here.</a><h3 id="2d2d81c1-e984-4ab1-b11e-26ada0d3da0b">This week's dispatch</h3><div type="image" title="Sabrina Ionescu smiling and holding her arms out as confetti falls during the New York Liberty's victory parade in New York City." height="3299" width="4949" msid="114623019" hostid="261" sizebytes="683924"></div><h2 id="d7055cb8-03eb-4d75-adcc-b919b46032aa">The New York Liberty's investment paid off</h2>New York City's Financial District was turned into an outdoor party on Thursday as the city celebrated the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-liberty-wnba-championship-parade-photos-2024-10">Liberty's championship win</a> over the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA finals.Although it's the first time the team has won a championship in its history, it's not the only record-making moment they've had this season.In June, it was reported that the New York Liberty had the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.si.com/wnba/here-what-every-wnba-franchise-worth">third-highest value in the league</a> ($130 million), and brought in the most revenue last year ($18 million). The Liberty was also the league's first team to eclipse <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/clark-fever-liberty-429f20ebcf27bd0d6c0e7534bf69b64f">$2 million in ticket revenue </a>for a single game in May.It likely doesn't come as a surprise to the team's billionaire co-owners Clara Wu Tsai and her husband Joseph Tsai, who bought the team in 2019 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/07/sport/wnba-clara-wu-tsai-new-york-liberty-spt-intl/index.html">for an undisclosed amount</a>. Wu Tsai made a series of key investments that have paid off."The first thing we wanted to do was to bring the team back to Barclays Center so they could have a bigger stage," she said after the team's win. "This is what can happen when you invest in women."After building out a state-of-the-art locker room, Wu Tsai focused on filling out an all-star bench. She credits getting Breanna Stewart, a two-time WNBA champion and one-time league MVP at the time, to sign on as being a turning point for her team's roster.Now with a championship under the team's belt, Wu Tsai said her new challenge will be maintaining popularity for the Liberty while also keeping the games accessible.One fan told Business Insider at the parade that next year's season ticket prices are more than double, but she still plans to support the team. "As long as that money goes back to the players, I'm OK with that," Brooklyn resident Gris Osses said, "because they deserve it."<h2 id="cc30e20d-acf4-4a4e-ad8f-02c3a04a9dbb">Low T? No problem.</h2>Once taboo, tracking testosterone levels has suddenly become a point of pride for some men. Young men are increasingly turning to testosterone-replacement therapy to, in their view, optimize their bodies.Testosterone is prescribed to treat a set of vague symptoms for men hoping to feel "better," though it's not exactly clear what it does or who needs it. And while low T does have genuine health impacts, it's not common — nor is it an inevitability awaiting all men as they age.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/young-men-testosterone-therapy-masculine-ideal-2024-10">Inside the testosterone boom</a>.<h2 id="f3efdf5d-fcfc-4813-9e6c-8e3b9040c25d">Great, a new reason to fear AI</h2><div type="image" title="An eerie empty house with a desk in the middle of the room and a computer on top." height="2800" width="4200" msid="114623022" hostid="261" sizebytes="391280"></div>Seller impersonation fraud — when someone fakes the identities of property owners to sell their properties — is fairly common. New AI tech is only emboldening some scammers in their attempts at deed theft.From Elvis Presley's Graceland to more modest homes, fights over who really owns houses and land are playing out across the country.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scammers-use-ai-deed-fraud-title-theft-to-steal-homes-2024-10">How AI-powered deed fraud works</a>.<h2 id="4e812ecf-a060-401e-9848-be206a63cddb">How the other half travels</h2><div type="image" title="luxury travel planner collage with Vatican, gifts, and money" height="1000" width="2000" msid="114623027" hostid="261" sizebytes="151624"></div>Leila Najafi has been curating trips for wealthy and elite clients for more than a decade. From family vacations to honeymoons, she's arranged holidays for some of the world's most discerning travelers.As a luxury travel advisor, she's learned a few secrets about how the rich spend their vacations. They're not interested in tourist-dense areas, but they do want local experiences that aren't available to the public.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/secrets-for-traveling-like-rich-from-luxury-travel-planner">Five lessons from a high-end travel agent</a>.Also read:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/summer-travel-vacation-now-fall-autumn-instead-2024-10">For some wealthy travelers, fall is the new summer</a></li></ul><h2 id="483172dd-9e06-415f-8357-1bdb6f813f7b">The poisoned chalice</h2><div type="image" title="Server holding tray of food being knocked off by Michelin star" height="1500" width="2000" msid="114623021" hostid="261" sizebytes="366712"></div>While you might cherish that hidden gem restaurant down the street, it likely doesn't see its "hidden gem" status as being particularly ideal. The industry is notoriously tough, so receiving a big award — think Michelin stars — is typically good news.Except, success can sometimes come back to bite the business. Getting good is one thing. Getting big is another, and not every operation is up to the task. In fact, one researcher found that restaurants given a Michelin star were more likely to shutter.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/restaurants-awards-michelin-star-new-york-city-dining-rent-costs-2024-10">When big wins become big problems</a>.<h2 id="5fef756b-4b6b-4037-8f33-9635854b9d8b">What we're watching this weekend</h2><div type="image" title="A TV with still feautiring Josh Hartnett and Ariel Donoghue staring in a scene from the movie &quot;Trap&quot;" height="1500" width="2000" msid="114623025" hostid="261" sizebytes="275026"></div><ul><li>"Trap": This year's buzzy M. Night Shyamalan thriller, starring Josh Hartnett as a dad whose concert outing with his teenage daughter takes a dark turn, is now streaming on Max.</li><li>"Beauty in Black": Tyler Perry's latest Netflix project is an eight-episode series about a stripper who finds herself embroiled with the dysfunctional (and extremely rich) family behind a cosmetics empire.</li><li>"Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band": This Hulu/Disney+ doc gives an inside look at how the legendary band headed by the 75-year-old rocker prepared for their live performances as they set out on their first tour since 2017.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-shows-movies-streaming-netflix-max-hulu-october-25-24">See the full list</a>.<div type="image" title="A red shopping bag surrounded by $100 bills." height="1500" width="2000" msid="114623023" hostid="261" sizebytes="244828"></div><h2 id="a09a70ef-5e7e-4bf4-80b2-3731f70bdc6e">Deals we love</h2><ul><li>Luxury jewelry without luxury prices: Jewelry doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. By skipping the heritage brand names and unnecessary overhead, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/style/best-place-to-buy-affordable-fine-jewelry">these fine jewelry brands</a> keep prices low for shoppers.</li><li>Swifties, it's not too late. Time is running out to see Taylor Swift's Eras Tour live. Her last US show is scheduled for November 3, after which she'll only perform for a few more weeks in Canada. Here's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/streaming/how-to-buy-taylor-swift-tour-tickets-concert-prices-compared">how to get tickets to her sold-out concerts</a>.</li><li>20% off linens we love: Brooklinen is synonymous with luxurious textiles that elevate any room. They aren't cheap, though, so its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/deals/brooklinen-friends-and-family-sale-2024-10">Friends and Family sale</a> is a great way to save on everything from sheets to bath mats.</li></ul><h2 id="3a2e4b99-8063-4f80-8653-d1ec4a2af89a">More of this week's top reads:</h2><ul><li>Standing desks <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/standing-desk-study-health-risks-sitting-2024-10">may not be that good for you</a>.</li><li>Eva Longoria invested <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eva-longoria-producer-john-wick-2024-10">$6 million of her own money to save "John Wick."</a></li><li>Why one Fortune 500 worker <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quit-job-brat-summer-charli-xcx-work-unhappy-2024-10">quit his job to have a "Brat summer."</a></li><li>Celeb children's books</li><li>China's luxury spending slump is about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/whats-behind-china-luxury-goods-slowdown-economy-changing-consumer-tastes-2024-10">more than its struggling economy</a>.</li><li>Meet TikTok's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-european-kid-louis-fake-rich-aris-yeager-profile-storytime-2024-10">favorite fake rich kid</a>.</li><li>Step inside Rolls Royce's new "Private Office" <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rolls-royce-nyc-private-office-custom-ultra-expensive-cars-2024-10">for customizing cars</a>.</li><li>Spend a night at Blind Tiger, a historic <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blind-tiger-portland-maine-review-victorian-historic-hotel-2024-9">boutique hotel in Portland, Maine</a>.</li><li>The NFL's $1,000 jackets are a sign of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-partnership-luxury-fashion-brand-pricey-women-team-jackets-2024-10">fashion's newfound love affair with sports</a>.</li><li>A "free range" parent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/free-range-parenting-mom-lets-kids-fly-alone-2024-10">allowed her 15-year-old to fly solo to France</a>.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/dan-defrancesco">Dan DeFrancesco</a>, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/jordan-parker-erb">Jordan Parker Erb</a>, editor, in New York. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/lisa-ryan">Lisa Ryan</a>, executive editor, in New York. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/amanda-yen">Amanda Yen</a>, fellow, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago.

Insider Today: Young men's new obsession

<keyword id="22362521" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourists-travellers" source="keywords">Tourists Travellers</keyword> from India have taken to <keyword id="20166206" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-travel" source="keywords">international travel</keyword> with newfound enthusiasm over the past two years, a new report by ride-hailing platform <keyword id="19895382" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uber" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Uber" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Uber">Uber</keyword> revealed on Wednesday. Indians travelled close to 1,000 cities across 68 countries significantly broadening their horizons, the report revealed. Their top destinations, however, remained consistent in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. As per the report the <keyword id="22362520" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="summer-holiday-period" source="keywords">summer holiday period</keyword> when schools and colleges break, emerged as the prime time for these adventures for Indians. Interestingly, it said May 2023 outpaced June 2022 as the most popular month for <keyword id="21753645" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="overseas-travel" source="keywords">overseas travel</keyword>, indicating a shift in vacation timing. While abroad, Indians traveled longer distances, averaging 25 per cent more distance than their trips back home. Their Uber journeys spanned 21 different products, from premium electric vehicles like Comfort Electric to multimodal transit options that integrate trains and other mass transit modes, along with the ubiquitous UberX. The report underscores a significant uptick in the number of Indians using Uber internationally, with 2023 seeing Indian travellers ranking second only to Americans in terms of app usage abroad. During the ongoing summer travel season, Indians are expected to cross records set in the previous years, the report predicted. Moreover, many countries frequented by Indians support peer-to-peer ridesharing, allowing individuals to use their personal vehicles for Uber rides. This not only highlights the global appeal of the <keyword id="19913761" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gig-economy" source="keywords">gig economy</keyword> but also showcases the country's adaptability and enthusiasm for diverse transportation options, the report noted. Commenting on the trend, Prabhjeet Singh, President, Uber India and <keyword id="19897710" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="south-asia" source="keywords">South Asia</keyword>, said, "Indians have been breaking all travel records over the past couple of years, and it's heartwarming to see how Uber continues to be their trusted last-mile partner in these travels. Be it the familiarity when landing at an airport in a new city or the safety when riding late at night, it's a huge mark of trust for us to see Indians book an Uber for their overseas travels."

Indians are travelling abroad like never before: Uber study

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The NFL will play two nationally televised games on Christmas this year.</li><li>Previously, the NFL avoided games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but the TV ratings were huge.</li></ul>The NFL is already deeply entwined with Thanksgiving, and now it wants to be a bigger part of Christmas.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?disabled=1&amp;h=da87257629e2ed94e92e971117f6d935a62a1a03acbe85893ff56b7abb0618a4&amp;postID=66169abfd6bbe8bd161355b3&amp;postSlug=nfl-christmas-day-games-tradition-football-history-thanksgiving-tv-ratings-2024-4&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nfl.com%2Fnews%2Fnfl-to-play-two-games-on-christmas-a-wednesday-during-2024-season">The NFL announced</a> in March that it will play two nationally televised games on Christmas this year.While the league has played games on December 25 before, this year is unusual because the holiday falls on a Wednesday, a day the league typically avoids. And, after 2024, the NFL will have had the same number of games on Christmas in the last two years as it did between 1973 and 2003. If that trajectory continues, NFL games on Christmas could be an <a target="_blank" href="https://theathletic.com/5131860/2023/12/15/nfl-christmas-day-games-schedule-tradition/">annual tradition moving forward</a>, and the move could have a huge impact on how millions of Americans spend the holiday.Previously, the NFL only played on Christmas when it fell on one of the traditional days for NFL games — Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. The NFL typically avoids games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to avoid <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nfl-seems-to-be-moving-toward-tuesdays-and-wednesdays-and-maybe-fridays-and-saturdays">short-week scenarios</a> where teams don't have enough rest between games and might be at a higher risk of injury.But the TV ratings for past Christmas games were huge.<h2>The NFL put up massive TV numbers on Christmas</h2>The NFL's three Christmas games in 2023 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2023/12/28/nfl-ratings-dominate-nba-on-christmas/72052196007/">averaged 29.2 million viewers</a>, according to CBS, which broadcasts the game. Those featured some of the most popular teams in the league — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/travis-kelce-taylor-swift-brother-christmas-gift-2023-12">and Taylor Swift</a> — including the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders, and the eventual Super Bowl champions, Kansas City Chiefs.The 2023 Christmas games were <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2024/nfl-posts-93-of-top-100-tv-broadcasts-2023-1234761753/">three of the 19 most-watched programs on TV</a> last year, according to Nielsen. However, they still trailed the Turkey Day games as those averaged 33 million viewers and had two of the top seven TV programs of the year.Without knowing yet which teams will be playing in the games and their time slots, it is difficult to predict how big they will compare to last Christmas' and Thanksgiving games, said Jon Lewis, founder of the sports media news and information site Sports Media Watch."I do think viewership should remain elevated, but last year was a particularly good stroke of luck with the matchups," Lewis told Business Insider.<div type="image" title="Fans attend an NBA game in Denver on Christmas in 2023." height="1566" width="2500" msid="109246639" hostid="261" sizebytes="329442"></div>If the NFL is the big winner on Christmas, it will come at the expense of the NBA, which has long been the main annual sports draw on the holiday, with games featuring the best teams and many of the most popular players.However, the NBA games are not nearly as popular in US households on the holidays compared to the NFL, and the gap is widening. In 2023, the five NBA games played on Christmas averaged 2.9 million viewers, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/nfl-new-years-eve-holiday-2023-24-tv-ratings-1235780558/">according to The Hollywood Reporter</a>. That was down 30% from 2022.<h2>The NFL won't stop at Christmas</h2>With the NFL breaking from the tradition of avoiding Tuesday and Wednesday games, it not only could mean games on Christmas every year, but it could also be the first step in leading to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nfl-seems-to-be-moving-toward-tuesdays-and-wednesdays-and-maybe-fridays-and-saturdays">more mid-week games</a>.More mid-week national TV games were an idea the league seemed to start warming up to last year.In March 2023, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told the media that short-week games <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nfl-seems-to-be-moving-toward-tuesdays-and-wednesdays-and-maybe-fridays-and-saturdays">do not lead to more injuries</a>. He referenced the league's success in moving games to non-traditional days due to COVID-19 outbreaks on teams in 2020, including one game that was moved to a Wednesday."My instinct meshes with what Roger Goodell said when he invoked what happened during the pandemic," Mike Florio, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nfl-seems-to-be-moving-toward-tuesdays-and-wednesdays-and-maybe-fridays-and-saturdays">NBC's NFL analyst,</a> said on "Pro Football Talk" following Goodell's comments in 2023. "In five to 10 years, they are going to be playing games on Tuesday night and Wednesday night every week."<div type="image" title="NFL fans on Christmas" height="1883" width="2500" msid="109246952" hostid="261" sizebytes="415546"></div>If the NFL schedules more games, it could lead to more income for the league.ESPN, which will air 21 national games in 2024, pays the league <a target="_blank" href="https://frontofficesports.com/espn-paying-for-record-amount-of-primetime-nfl-games-and-cashing-in/">$2.7 billion annually</a>. On the other hand, CBS aired <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?disabled=1&amp;h=3d84f69b23dfb4fc52c195f14ddae8c591e37bf320b13e3c528ff899e67eedca&amp;postID=66169abfd6bbe8bd161355b3&amp;postSlug=nfl-christmas-day-games-tradition-football-history-thanksgiving-tv-ratings-2024-4&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paramountplus.com%2Fshows%2Fnfl-on-cbs%2Fnews%2F1010625%2Fnfl-on-cbs-schedule-how-to-watch-live-football-games%2F%3Fftag%3DPPM-07-10bhe4h%26placement%3D373910525%26creative%3D197380391%26geo%3Dct%253DUS%26st%3DCA%26city%3D15778%26dma%3D208%26zp%3D95746%26bw%3D4%26dclid%3DCL3w-PuEj4EDFeGgjggdTOgFCQ">107 games in 2023</a>, but only six were national TV games. That network pays the NFL <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-tv-rights-deals-explained/z4rlycwog3jz1f6pqdqoegbxf">$2.1 billion a year</a>.In total, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/sports/football/nfl-tv-contracts.html">NFL is paid about $10 billion a year for TV deals</a> with CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN, and Amazon.While additional games could lead to more revenue, Lewis is skeptical that the Christmas games will draw bigger audiences than the Thanksgiving matches."I don't see Christmas overtaking Thanksgiving anytime soon, as the latter remains a comfortably bigger draw," Lewis said.

The NFL is starting a new Christmas tradition and it will change how millions of Americans spend the holiday

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Major retailers are hosting big sales events in the second week of October.</li><li>Anchored by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon">Amazon's</a> Prime Big Deals Days, the period is starting to look like Black Friday.</li></ul>Astronomically speaking, it's still summer in the US.Earth doesn't turn towards autumn until the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/what-when-autumnal-equinox">equinox</a> on Sunday, but that's not stopping America's retailers from kicking off the holiday season while the leaves are still green.Recent announcements from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://press.aboutamazon.com/2024/9/prime-big-deal-days-is-back-october-8-9-offering-prime-members-exclusive-access-to-millions-of-early-holiday-deals">Amazon</a>, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://corporate.walmart.com/content/corporate/en_us/news/2024/09/19/walmart-unveils-its-holiday-plans-with-early-shopping-deals-and-affordable-meals.html">Walmart</a>, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://corporate.target.com/news-features/article/2024/09/2024-holiday-plans">Target</a>, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://corporate.bestbuy.com/best-buys-countdown-to-the-holiday-season-begins/">Best Buy</a> have the second week of October shaping up to look like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/deals/black-friday-deals">Black Friday</a>. Anchored by Amazon's Prime Big Deals Days on October 8 and 9, the four companies are going head-to-head to win customers' early holiday dollars, turning what would ordinarily be a shorter-than-normal shopping season into one of the longest ever.Target's event kicks off first, running from October 6 to 12, followed by Walmart from October 8 to 13, with Best Buy and Amazon holding 48-hour blitzes starting October 8.Besides the fact that retailers are always trying to step up their competition against the might of Amazon at this point — note that all the promotions overlap the shopping giant's Prime Day dates — there are two big reasons behind the shift.As just alluded to, the holiday shopping season should be shorter this year as Thanksgiving falls late (the fourth Thursday in November), pushing Black Friday all the way out to November 29.That shaves nearly a week off the period until Christmas, and retailers aren't content to let those big-spending days go.Of course, the Black Friday dam has been broken for years, with deals starting as soon as Halloween. But what's also pulling things so far forward (shall we call it Green October?) is an increasingly picky shopper.One of the biggest takeaways during the last earnings season was that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-budget-era-value-retail-walmart-target-tj-maxx-2024-8">customers were still willing to spend</a> — so long as they thought they were getting a good deal. (They also loved to splurge on special occasions.)After years of high inflation, retailers and the brands they carry are having to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-discount-items-2024-8">compete more vigorously on price</a> to win over consumers. And companies' favorite way of cutting prices is with a bang, not a whimper.There are certainly more retailers beyond the four noted here who have (or will have) early-October sales events, and the industry peer-pressure plus the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/home-depot-lowes-stock-fed-rate-cut-benefit-2024-9">good vibes from the Fed's rate cut decision</a> could encourage any holdouts to join the party.Either way, this year's holiday shopping season is shaping up to be a marathon.

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