Figuratively Speaking is a statistics column intended to educate and amuse readers with its take on prevailing conventional wisdom. The column shows the vagaries of a life in business, though it offers informational figures about all aspects of society. It is attuned to the twist or the sarcastic, but the chief aim of Figuratively Speaking is to capture changing trends, including the differences between the sexes, the changing workplace, brick and mortar versus high-tech, wages, costs and everything in between.
Formerly self-syndicated, Figuratively Speaking appears in top publications including The Detroit Free Press, the Star-Tribune in Minneapolis, the San Jose Mercury News, The (Portland) Oregonian, The Indianapolis Star, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, the Honolulu Advertiser and many others. Canadian clients include: The Globe and Mail, The Vancouver Sun, and The (Montreal) Gazette.
A fascinating, flexible and thoroughly sourced column, Figuratively Speaking will entertain and enlighten readers.
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News of the Weird ProJohn MacIntyre
John MacIntyre is a versatile journalist with more than 15 years experience as a writer and editor. As the former editor-in-chief of two city magazines, he has directed, written or commented upon a wide range of subjects in all media.
In 1989, MacIntyre launched the column Figuratively Speaking, a statistics column intended to educate and amuse readers with its take on prevailing conventional wisdom.
The column shows the vagaries of a life in business, though it offers informational figures about all aspects of society.
In addition to print media, MacIntyre has written extensively for radio, television and video. He has also started a magazine about antiques and is the author of three books: one on golf, one on motherhood, and the other on Nova Scotia.
MacIntyre earned a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He currently lives in Nova Scotia with his family, which includes a mutt named Skipper.
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Year that Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis received a patent for the use of copper rivet fasteners on denim trousers -- and thus blue jeans were officially born, according to Cotton Inc.: 1873
Average number of pairs of blue jeans owned by the average U.S. consumer: 7
Source: Cotton Inc.
Percentage of 2013 graduates who stated that what they want is financial stability over other considerations, including an on-demand lifestyle (16 percent), freedom (12 percent) and travel experiences (5 percent), according to a survey conducted by Zipcar: 68
Percentage of college seniors who graduated in 2011 who had student loan debt -- with an average of $26,600 per borrower: 66
Source: Zipcar.
Percentage of executives who said clothing choices affect an employee's chances of earning a promotion, according to a survey from OfficeTeam: 80
In 2007, percentage of executives who tied professional wear to advancement prospects: 93
Among those 2007 respondents, percentage who said clothing significantly affects a person's chances of moving up the ladder, versus just 8 percent who feel this way today: 33
Source: OfficeTeam.
Average number of technology products used by Americans, according to a study by Ipsos Open Thinking Exchange: 2.3
Percentage of respondents who use mobile phones: 82
Percentage who use laptops: 66
Source: Ipsos Open Thinking Exchange.
Percentage of respondents who are planning a leisure trip this summer, according to the results of the 2013 summer travel survey by TripAdvisor: 86
Ranks of ocean, city, countryside, National Park and lake on the list of the five most popular summer destination categories this year: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Ranks of New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C., on the list of the most popular U.S. destinations for summer travel: 1, 2, 3
Source: TripAdvisor.
Percentage of shoppers who are more sensitive to price this year than they were in 2012, according to a Parago survey: 75
Percentage of those who feel their purchasing power has decreased: 42
Before shopping, percentage of consumers who now look for deals, rebates and the best prices compared to 69 percent in 2012: 80
Source: Parago.
Percentage of all speaking characters in 2012 films who were female, according to a study by the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism: 28
When they are on screen, percentage of women in 2012 who were shown with at least some exposed skin: 31
Percentage of female teen characters who were shown in sexy attire in 2012, compared with 39.9 percent of women between the ages of 21 and 39: 57
Source: Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
Percentage of adults in their 40s and 50s who have a parent age 65 or older and are either raising a young child or financially supporting a grown child (age 18 or older), according to a Pew Research Center survey: 47
Percentage of middle-aged adults who are providing financial support to both an aging parent and a child: 15
Source: Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends.
Percentage of those in a relationship who would "cheat" on their spouse/partner/significant other by streaming a TV program they had agreed to watch together before their partner had a chance to watch it, according to a survey conducted on behalf of Netflix2: 51
Percentage of U.S. adults (28 million) who confessed they had already cheated: 12
Source: Harris Interactive.
Percentage of employees who believe that businesses are not doing enough to instill in their culture a sense of purpose aimed at making a positive impact on all stakeholders, according to the annual Deloitte Core Beliefs & Culture survey: 68
Percentage of the respondents who said their organization had a strong sense of purpose who were likely to say their company had performed well financially over the last year: 90
Source: Deloitte LLP.
Idle Thought
"Everyone, in some small, sacred sanctuary of the self, is nuts." -- Leo Rosten (1908-1997), author
(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre(at)bwr.eastlink.ca.)
COPYRIGHT 2013 JOHN MACINTYRE INC.published Sunday, June 02, 2013
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