Gallup | Americans' Satisfaction Rate Rises in Traditional Pre-Election Bounce | 2016

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On this Election Day, November 8, 2016, the Gallup organization continued a tradition it started in 1979 by releasing the results of a survey of Americans, asking,  “Are you satisfied with the way things are going in the country?” As typical in the past four elections, the satisfaction rate jumped in the October preceding the election. In October, the answer was 28%. This month, the rate of satisfaction climbed nine percentage points, or 32%.

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 37% | Percentage of  Americans who say

they are satisfied with the way things are going in the country

Historical context

37% | Is also the highest satisfaction rate during President Obama's time in office

39% | The last time satisfaction was higher than 37% was in September 2005

Satisfaction up among all major political groups since October

 62% | Democrats who are satisfied

34% | Independents

14% | Republicans

 

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Change in Satisfaction With Way Things Are Going in the U.S. (by Political Party)

	Oct 5-9, 2016	Nov 1-6, 2016	Change
	%	%	pct. pts.
National adults	28	37	+9
Democrats	49	62	+13
Independents	24	34	+10
Republicans	8	14	+6
Source: Gallup

Gallup quote

“In each of the past four presidential election years, Gallup has measured increases in satisfaction from early October to right before the election. This included three-percentage-point gains in 2004 and 2012, a six-point gain in 2008 and a nine-point gain this year. Thus, something about the approaching election - either satisfaction with the democratic process or optimism about the prospect of their preferred candidate winning - may make Americans feel modestly better about the way things are going in the country.”

Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics.

You'll Only Understand This Video If You Have An Asian Grandma

If you're lucky enough to have an Asian grandma, you know there's nothing and no one more lovable.

Like any other grandmother, she'll feed you endlessly and always try to give you money no matter how many times you say no.

But your Asian grandma has an endearing quirkiness that can only be fully understood after you've refused her requests for you to step on her back (for a massage, of course) or watched her do her early morning stretches. (What, exactly, is she doing with her arms?)

In a video published Sunday, BuzzFeed introduces us to a smiling elderly Korean lady who absolutely loves her grandchildren ― and it's inspired in us a whole new appreciation for our own Asian grandmas.

Watch “Things Your Asian Grandma Does” above, then go ahead and give your grandma a call. You know she'd be thrilled!

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Red or Blue, It's Time We Flew Together

After a long and bruising campaign, there is one thing my friends and I can agree on: We're ready for this election to be over.

I was thinking of that when I looked out my window this past weekend and saw a blue jay and cardinal (red bird) close by one another. While I could not capture them in a photograph,  I found a similar one on Flickr by John Flannery who had generously licensed the image for usage via Creative Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.

The Family-Owned Corner Market May Become a New York City Endangered Small Business

Due to a growing operating expense and competition from online services and suburban chains, the number of family-owned corner markets and grocery stores in neighborhoods across New York City is stalling, according to a NYTimes.com real estate story by Ronda Kaysevvov.

Quote:

“The neighborhood grocery store - with its dim and narrow aisles full of provisions precariously stacked from floor to ceiling and the cashier who greets you and your dog by name - is a critical piece of a New York life. Supermarkets of suburban proportions, like Whole Foods, are making their mark on the city; Wegmans will open its first city store, in Brooklyn, in 2018.

“But while these stores have distinctive - and sometimes pricier - offerings like artisanal cheese and artichoke ravioli, they cannot replace the labyrinthine corner market, a linchpin for any neighborhood. It can keep a neighborhood manageable for new parents who need diapers now or seniors who cannot carry their groceries a long way.”

Many of the city's grocers, large and small, have struggled to survive. Some have succumbed to high rent, narrow profit margins and increased competition from upscale supermarkets, online grocers and drugstore chains that have expanded their wares to include grocery items.

Continue reading (…) | NYTimes.com

Photo: Seth Werkheiser via Flickr. (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Is Apple Bringing Back a Flip Phone? Not Likely

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While speculating on the future of Apple products by observing the tea leaves of the company's patent grants is not a part of the SmallBusiness.com beat, this news item was too fun to pass up.

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According to several rumor websites, Apple was recently granted their first patent covering a foldable (or bendable, flipable?) mobile device. Apple filed the patent under an engineer's name to avoid detection, according to Apple watchers.

There are many reasons that can explain the patent, including throwing off those who track Apple patents. However, some practical reasons could involve the development a wider range of iPhones that serve various marketplaces or the ability to use a panel for features that interact with Apple Watches and other devices. Who knows? There may be a two screened iPhone in the future.

While some are calling this a “flip phone,” it's not likely to be that hip or retro. But no matter what it is, we predict there will be people standing in line to buy one on the day they are released.

Eight (More) Tips for Remembering and Using Names

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Our posts on why we can't remember names and strategies for remembering them led several people to email us more tips. Here is a roundup of some more tips (many via Lifehacker.com by Philip Guo).

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Tip 1: Shout out the other person's name (but only in your head).

As soon as you hear the person's name-for example, “Joe”-start repeating it in your head loudly a few times. JOE, JOE, JOE. If you want to practice saying it out loud a few times, ask him about his name. “How do you spell JOE?” Note: After a couple of seconds, you should stop and introduce yourself or risk remembering the name of someone who will think you're very odd.

Tip 2: Let the other person talk about himself.

This is a good rule of thumb for lots of things. (We've explained it before.) People love to talk about themselves. Admit it. Letting the other person talk will help you remember their name and all sorts of tidbits that will come in handy later.

Tip 3: Help for remembering the international, unique or hard-to-pronounce name.

If you live in the U.S., you will meet many people with names like Jason or Julie. However, you will also meet people with unconventional, foreign-language, or, depending on your culture, hard-to-pronounce names. As these people are used to having people look at them with confusion, they won't be offended (we hope) with you saying something like, “Can you help me understand how to say your name phonetically?” (You can try to do the phonetic thing without asking for help, but few people are offended if you ask for ways to help you remember their names.) Ask, “Did I pronounce that correctly?”

Tip 4: DON'T make remarks about a person's name being hard to remember.

This isn't a memory tip. It's a “don't be a jerk” tip. “I have trouble remembering Asian names” is a perfect way to get the other person to quickly forget your name.

Tip 5: Don't use a nickname until the other person uses a nickname.

Unless the other person provides you with a nickname or alternative form of their name, don't use it. Don't even think about using it. Don't immediately start thinking Bob or Rob when they introduce themselves as Robert. Don't be that guy.

Tip 6: Use people's names in the conversation and especially when saying hello and goodbye.

People love hearing their own name. Using their name often helps you remember their name. A win-win tactic. Or, a Wynn-Wynn one, if that's their name.

Tip 7: Never call a person by the wrong name.

If you're not 100 percent certain that you've got someone's name correct, it's probably better not to address them by it. And don't try to cover by saying nicknames like “Hey, Dude, Guy, Friend, Buddy …” It's better to say nothing and ask someone else what you've forgotten.

Tip 8: Don't misspell someone's name in writing.

Heard of Google, Facebook, LinkedIn? Use them to look up the correct spelling of a person's name.

Illustration: From ThinkStock

Celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week | 2016

Each November before U.S. Veteran's Day (this year Veteran's Day is Friday, November 11, 2016), the Small Business Administration celebrates National Veterans Small Business Week.

• Click to learn more about National Veterans Small Business Week Events


• Click to visit the SmallBusiness.com Guide to Resources for Military Veterans


• Share your veteran's small business story on social media using the hashtag #MyVetBiz

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