Generation Z and younger millennials have the misfortune of being ready to buy a home amid a prohibitively expensive housing market.As the youngest generation of adults looks to buy their first home‚ theyre finding its often cheaper to just keep renting than to invest in a mortgage right now.Some are waiting out the unwelcoming housing market with a seemingly endless cycle of rent payments‚ but some are biting the bullet and purchasing now.We bought so our money wouldnt go to someone elses mortgage‚ a Gen Z homeowner and new mother of a baby boy in Virginiatold The Daily Wire.She and her husband wanted to own land‚ she said. They plan on putting a few extra thousand dollars toward the principal of their mortgage every year‚ and they also invested in a larger down payment to get a lower fixed interest rate.There are ways to manipulate the system‚ but again‚ you usually need some money up front to do so‚ she said.She added that there is a lot of ignorance among young home buyers.Every young homeowner I have spoken to looks like a deer in the headlights when I mention how crazy it is that your interest rate can end up costing you at least double the cost of the house across 30 years‚ she said. And most people dont realize they are paying mostly interest during the early mortgage years and the bulk of the principal later on. Works great for the loaners.Despite the challenges‚ there have been big upsides to owning a home‚ she said.Homeownership has made us feel unrestricted in our homemaking and privacy‚ the mom said.A Gen Z man who is getting married this summer in the Washington‚ D.C.‚ area said he is planning to wait a year or two before buying a house. His fiance‚ a younger millennial already owns a condo‚ and they plan to hang onto that property as the value goes up‚ although they hope to move into a second home once they have their first child.A medium to large-sized house is pretty much guaranteed to be a million bucks‚ he told The Daily Wire. The 350k or lower dream is kind of out the window After a quick glance at the market a couple months ago‚ it looks like the expectation is 700k or more‚ and thats before all that yucky interest.Home prices are up 47% since the beginning of 2020‚ while rent is up more than 20%. Homelessness has spiked as well‚ rising 12% in 2022‚ according to data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.Renting a two-bedroom residence is now actually cheaper than buying that property for about 89% of Americans‚ according to a November analysis by The Economist.Back in 2020‚ that was true for only 16% of Americans.Meanwhile‚ the housing crash that many potential home buyers hoped for does not look likely to happen. In November‚ nearly half of Americans‚ 44% said they thought the housing market could crash in the next year‚ according to a LendingTree consumer survey. Economists say they do not expect a housing crash either this year or even in 2025.In fact‚ house prices are expected to keep rising as much as 4.1% this year‚ according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Mortgage prices are expected to dip but not by much‚ and rent prices will likely remain about the same due to a glut of newly built apartment buildings with low demand.Nevertheless‚ the tough market has not stopped millennials and even some Gen Z-ers from buying homes‚ perhaps simply because they are fed up with waiting for the market to turn in their favor.About 38% of all home buyers were millennials last year‚ according to a report from the National Association of Realtors‚ up from 28% in the previous year. Among younger millennials ages 25 to 33‚ 75% were buying a home for the first time.The younger Gen Z buyers ages 18 to 24 made up only 3% of home buyers last year‚ showcasing both the difficulty of breaking into the housing market at a young age as well as the tendency of todays young adults to wait before tying themselves down to one property.Baby Boomers‚ the wealthiest generation is also contributing to the housing shortage by staying put in their current homes‚ reluctant to lose the lower mortgage rates they locked in during less expensive years. Previously‚ older generations would typically move into smaller homes as they aged‚ freeing up inventory for younger families‚ but nearly 40% of Boomers have lived in their home for at least 20 years‚ according to Redfin.This shortage is causing any property that does go on the market to sell quickly at very high prices‚ often above the asking price.Despite the daunting circumstances‚ some younger buyers remain optimistic‚ although they have adjusted their expectations.The engaged Gen Z-er said he remains hopeful that he and his fiance will find something they both love.I basically just want a three-bedroom house with a large backyard and some quiet. It exists‚ but its just a lot more than I thought it was‚ he said. My plan is to put a really big down payment on whatever we get.

A lot has been said about Beyoncs new Cowboy Carter album‚ and even more about her decision to put her own spin on the classic Dolly Parton single‚ Jolene.Its not the first time a modern artist has covered the song and it likely wont be the last. The controversy‚ then‚ lies in how the Grammy Award-winning singer chose to change the meaning.Fans call it a triumph‚ insisting its an example of Beyonc refusing to play the victim to a would-be man stealer. Others claim the vulnerability was the point of the song. These critics cant help but question: if Beyonce didnt agree with the central message in Jolene‚ why didnt she just write a new song?This seems like a silly question in todays era of remakes‚ reboots‚ and never-ending franchises. True originality is a rare commodity in the music industry‚ but for someone with as many accolades and devotees as Beyonc‚ one could argue that there isnt a better place for it to come from. The Single Ladies singer didnt have to worry about dealing with a woman with flaming locks of auburn hair when fans have been talking about Becky with the good hair since 2016.The original Jolene was written and recorded by Parton in 1973. It was named Rolling Stone magazines 500 greatest songs of all time and has been covered by many artists over the years with varying degrees of success. The single was nominated for the Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in both 1975 and 1976.Richard E. Aaron/RedfernsParton said the song was inspired by a red-headed bank employee who flirted with her husband‚ Carl Dean‚ when they were first married. She took the name Jolene from a fan encounter. Throughout the lyrics‚ Parton pleads with a beautiful woman not to steal her man just because she can.You could have your choice of men/but I will never love again‚ Parton pleads.The main criticism with Beyoncs cover is how she changes the entire meaning from vulnerability to aggression. The newest versions main character doesnt plead with Jolene‚ but rather threatens her with harm if she tried to steal away the man in question.Jolene‚ Jolene‚ Jolene‚ Jolene/Im warning you‚ dont come for my man/Jolene‚ Jolene‚ Jolene‚ Jolene/Dont take the chance because you think you can‚ Beyonc sings in the intro.And while the Crazy In Love singer concedes that her competition has beauty beyond compare‚ she still claims thats not enough to persuade her man away. Takes more than beauty and seductive stares/To come between a family and a happy man‚ Beyoncs lyrics say. Jolene‚ Im a woman too/Th games you play are nothing new/So you dont want no hat with me‚ Jolene.Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartRadioMeanwhile‚ Parton admits in her version that her man is being tempted to stray. He talks about you in his sleep/And theres nothin I can do to keep/From cryin when he calls your name‚ Jolene‚ Partons version says. And I can easily understand/How you could easily take my man/But you dont know what he means to me‚ Jolene.Beyonc tells her rival things arent so simple. Weve been deep in love for 20 years/I raised that man‚ I raised his kids/I know my man better than he knows himself (what)‚ she sings. I can easily understand why youre attracted to my man/But you dont want this smoke‚ so shoot your shot with someone else (you heard me).Later‚ Beyonc calls herself a queen and issues her final warning. Im still a Creole banjee b*tch from Louisianne (dont try me)/Theres a thousand girls in every room/That act as desperate as you do/You a bird‚ go on and sing your tune‚ Jolene (what)‚ she sings. I had to have this talk with you/Cause I hate to have to act a fool/Your peace depends on how you move‚ Jolene.Even though the whole meaning of the song is changed with Beyoncs version‚ Parton has been publicly supportive. She said as much on Instagram on March 29‚ the same day as Cowboy Carter was released. Wow‚ I just heard Jolene. Beyonc is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it! the country music legend wrote. pic.twitter.com/6hRpwERG8O Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) March 29‚ 2024Mainstream critics mostly saw the Jolene cover as harmless but forgettable. The Washington Post reviewer described the single as a lower-hanging tribute while Rolling Stone said it was cheeky and humorous even if it doesnt add much.Slate critic Carl Wilson addressed the most obvious criticism‚ saying that removing the pleading and insecurity kills the essence of the message.Why do Jolene if youre going to remove the most unique and powerful element of the song‚ that the narrator is baring her vulnerability and asking the mercy of her rival? Thats something that a post-Lemonade Beyonc could never do‚ so she reduces it to a generic boast track about the greatness of her own marriage‚ he wrote.Daily Wire podcast hosts had similar problems with Beyoncs version of Jolene. As Matt Walsh said on his April 1 show‚ What makes this song unique and interesting‚ which has caused it to resonate over the five decades since its been made‚ is the vulnerability‚ and the heartbreak‚ and the longing in the lyrics and the performance.He described the woman in Partons song as insecure‚ fearful and desperately in love with a man who she believes she cannot afford to lose.Walsh said the insecurity of the main character in Partons song is what makes her so relatable. The fact that Beyonc chose to strip it away made the song demonstrably worse.Just when you think that Beyonc might be growing ever so slightly as an artist and a person‚ she proves you wrong‚ the podcast host added. It turns out she has taken this song full of pain and yearning and emotional honesty and turned it into yet another mediocre girl boss anthem. She has‚ in other words‚ taken everything that makes the song great and replaced it with everything that makes modern pop music terrible.Walsh goes on to argue that if the beautiful woman in the song isnt a worry because Beyonc is such a perfect‚ incomparable queen‚ then the tension and longing in the song is gone‚ rendering the whole message emotionless and pointless.Daily Wire host Michael Knowles went even deeper‚ saying that Beyoncs Jolene was a statement on how modern society views marriage‚ divorce‚ and starting over after two decades of marriage.Women have a special power‚ Knowles says. They have a seductive power to them. Thats real. You gotta be on guard‚ if youre the wife‚ if youre Dolly Parton‚ or if youre the husband. We deny all this though. We deny it at our peril. Is it any wonder that the thing thats supposed to be protected‚ the marriage‚ the family‚ is falling apart?

Author and podcaster Coleman Hughes‚ appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience‚ declared that the reason that the Israel-Hamas war was unique was that the terrorist group Hamas had employed a strategy that should not be allowed in the world we live in.If you ask the question‚ What is unique about this war? What is different about this war than all other wars?‚ its not the civilian death toll‚ Hughes‚ the author of The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America‚ began. The ratio of (dead Hamas) combatants to (Palestinian) civilians‚ I think its better than the American armys was when we got ISIS out of Mosul. That was like 10‚000 civilians dead to kill 4‚000 ISIS. This is 19‚000 civilians dead to kill 13‚000.Whats unique about this war‚ unlike every other war that I could think of‚ is you have an army in Hamas that has perfected the art of embedding itself‚ enmeshing itself with civilians so that you cannot hit them without hitting the people around them‚ he explained. Other armies have done this but none have perfected it to the extent that Hamas has. No army that I know of in military history has had 15 years to build 300 miles of tunnel underneath a city that they dont use to shelter the civilians‚ but they use to shelter themselves so that they can operate right under a kindergarten‚ right under a mosque.So this is a challenge no army has faced and so thats what makes this war different‚ he asserted. I agree with all of the absolute tragedy and suffering of the Palestinian people but what creates that is the way Hamas fights. And either we can say one of two things: We can either say‚ Well‚ Israel doesnt have a clean shot and so they have to let Hamas get away with it because its too much to bear then we are essentially creating a situation where terrorists have found the perfect solution‚ which is that you can cross the border‚ go house to house slaughtering your enemies and then hide behind your own people and they can do nothing about it. Its a perfect strategy.Can we live in a world where we allow that to be an acceptable strategy? he asked rhetorically. I dont think so. And its very ugly to watch its heartbreaking and I completely understand why people dont think the way I think when they see the videos‚ I completely get it. I dont think we can actually live in a world where thats allowed to be a strategy.CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APPWell said‚ @coldxman. pic.twitter.com/CjZcdBcuyJ AG (@AGHamilton29) April 4‚ 2024

Harvard University is employing around-the-clock security to protect an anti-Israel apartheid wall created by students that features a quote from the leader of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.The wall includes various anti-Israel art and a quote from Ghassan Kanafani‚ the former spokesperson for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine‚ a communist Palestinian terrorist organization known for hijacking aircraft and mass murder. Kanafani was assassinated in Beirut in June of 1972 by the Mossad after being linked to the massacre of 26 peopleincluding American touristsat Ben Gurion airport two months earlier‚ according to Jewish News Syndicate.The Palestinian cause is not a cause for Palestinians only‚ but a cause for every revolutionary wherever he is‚ as a cause of the exploited and oppressed masses in our era‚ the Kanafani quote reads.The guards have been giving the display 24-hour coverage while sporting jackets with a Securitas logo‚ a security firm that has a relationship with Harvard. A Harvard alum who lives near campus told The Daily Wire that one of the security guards started yelling when asked who he was employed by.A Securitas guard protecting Harvards apartheid wall.He thought that we were filming and started yelling at us that we are escalating the situation and that he is going to call his supervisor‚ the alum who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of retribution said. He started walking to the car and then turned around and started yelling that we are going to threaten him in his family‚ because this is what you people do‚ threaten people and steal their lands.When the alum notified the Harvard Police‚ they confirmed he worked for a security firm contracted by the school and said that the guard would not return to protect the wall.Harvard Law Students Resign From Student Govt Over Secret Ballot Anti-Israel VoteA quote on Harvard Universitys apartheid wall from former PFLP terrorist Ghassan Kanafani.To pay to have a guard 24/7 protecting a wall that displays statements issued by U.S.-designated terror organizations‚ and propagates conspiracies against Israel and the Jewish people‚ and simultaneously not do so to protect posters of hostages whose photos have been hatefully and regularly defaced and vandalized‚ is bizarre and poor judgment in the extreme‚ Harvard Chabad Rabbi Hirschy Zarchi told The Daily Wire.Harvard Accused Of Promoting Eco-Terrorism For Plans To Screen How To Blow Up A Pipeline FilmFliers of Jewish civilians taken hostage by Hamas have been repeatedly vandalized on campus‚ including last month when a groundskeeper employed by a company contracted by Harvard acted aggressively when being confronted for ripping down posters. He was asked to leave campus and will not be assigned to work on campus again‚ according to a Harvard spokesperson.In another incident‚ hostage posters were vandalized with anti-Semitic and 9/11 conspiracy graffiti at the start of this spring semester.In December‚ Zarchi revealed for the first time that the university told him that he must put away the menorah he lights on campus during Hannukah to avoid vandalism.VIDEO: Anti-Israel Mob At Harvard Chants Outside Israeli Popstar Ishay Ribos ConcertThe university‚ since the first Hanukkah‚ would not allow us to keep this menorah here overnight because there is fear that it will be vandalized‚ he said at the time. We in the Jewish community are instructed‚ Well let you have the menorah. You made your point. Okay‚ pack it up. Dont leave it out overnight because there will be criminal activity‚ we fear‚ and it wont look good.It pains me to have to say‚ sadly‚ that Jew-hate and anti-Semitism is thriving on this campus‚ he added. 26 years Ive given my life to this community. Ive never felt so alone.Shabbos Kestenbaum‚ a graduate student who is suing Harvard over claims of enabling anti-Semitism‚ said the quote is part of a bigger trend of anti-Jewish hate on the campus.It is hardly surprising that the same group of students who interrupt classes to yell about globalizing the intifada‚ publish and promote anti-Semitic cartoons‚ and intimidate Jewish students on campus would also be comfortable quoting and glorifying Palestinian terrorism‚ he said.Harvard University did not respond to a request for comment.

Madonna is responding to two fans who filed a lawsuit against the pop singer for starting her concert three hours late.Concert attendees Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden sued Madonna and concert organizer Live Nation for false advertising when the singer didnt take the stage until hours past the scheduled start time on December 13 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The two fans argued that concertgoers suffered hardship because of the late start.The lawsuit claims they were confronted with limited public transportation‚ limited ride-sharing‚ and/or increased public and private transportation costs at that late hour. In addition‚ many ticketholders who attended concerts on a weeknight had to get up early to go to work and/or take care of their family responsibilities the next day‚ the Daily Mail reported.The document further accused Madonna and Live Nation of wanton exercise in false advertising‚ negligent misrepresentation‚ and unfair and deceptive trade practices.Court documents obtained by the Daily Mail show Madonna filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on Wednesday. The 65-year-old recording artist said via her lawyers that most fans understand that shes not likely to be on time.No reasonable concertgoer and certainly no Madonna fan would expect the headline act at a major arena concert to take the stage at the ticketed event time‚ the motion filed on behalf of the pop star stated.Fans got just what they paid for: a full-length‚ high quality show by the Queen of Pop‚ the document continued.Madonnas lawyers also presented evidence that one of the plaintiffs wrote a positively worded Facebook post after the show‚ saying the concert in question was incredible as always.CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APPThey further asserted that concert attendees are well aware of how long shows typically last.The Complaint itself concedes that Madonna fans‚ like Mr. Hadden‚ would not expect Madonna to appear onstage at the printed 8:30 p.m. event time‚ alleging that she has a years-long history of arriving several hours late to prior concerts‚ such that Plaintiffs knew or should have known that the Concerts would not start at 8:30 p.m.‚ the filing says.Reasonable concertgoers also know that concert lengths vary based on numerous factors‚ such as the duration of the opening act and the artists set list for the night. So‚ they would not reasonably expect the night to end by 10:30 p.m. unless an advertisement or ticket says as much and none did here.

Most people dont want anything to steal the spotlight on their wedding day‚ but some astronomy lovers are willing to make an exception when it comes to the April 8 solar eclipse! In fact‚ almost 300 couples are getting ready to celebrate their nuptials during the celestial event‚ according to Newsweek. Theyll be reciting their vows in a mass wedding at Total Eclipse of the Heart‚ a music festival in Russellville‚ Arkansas. Although couples need to purchase their own marriage licenses and event tickets for anyone attending‚ the ceremony itself is free. However‚ its not the price thats attracting most of these brides and grooms. Instead‚ its the prospect of celebrating their wedding day in the midst of the upcoming solar eclipse. One couple told KATV that absolutely nothing compares to this spectacular astronomical event! Photo by Karl Magnuson on UnsplashBeing in the path of totality during a solar eclipse is just something‚ said bride-to-be Carlotta Cox ahead of her wedding. Theres not an experience like it and for people that have not really experienced it‚ I recommend that they put it on their bucket list.She continued‚ When totality hits‚ the cicadas come out‚ and then all the other animals‚ night animals‚ theyre starting to come out for a few minutes and then the temperature drops. I dont know how to explain the feeling that it gives you.Photo by Vadim Paripa on UnsplashWhat an unforgettable way to tie the knot! We hope all these couples enjoy their truly magical weddings during the April 8 solar eclipse. You can find the source of this storys featured image here.The post Hundreds Of Couples Are Tying The Knot During April Eclipse In Total Eclipse of the Heart appeared first on InspireMore.

The United States will soon experience a semi-rare event a total solar eclipse. One of the main concerns for people is eclipse safety. It is unsafe to look directly at the sun during an eclipse without eclipse viewing glasses. Although we learned about eclipse safety in elementary school‚ many adults need a quick refresher on what happens if you dont wear eclipse glasses.Image from TikTok.As this scientist explains‚ you dont need special glasses for a few minutes while the sun is completely eclipsed. However‚ you need to protect your eyes during the time leading up to and after the eclipse. @distilledscience Are you going to see the eclipse next week? Ill be there! somewhere traffic permits Next up: debunking claims about the sun boiling water in your retina #science #stem #eclipse #solareclipse2024 original sound Avisha Science Made Simple Looking at the sun can damage your retina‚ causing permanent and irreparable vision problems. The intensity of the burn can leave blind spots. You must take precautions because you wont feel this burn until the damage is done. A retina burn can cause later symptoms such as wavy vision and blind spots.Image from TikTok.Standard sunglasses will not protect you during a solar eclipse. To look skyward‚ you must wear approved eclipse safety glasses. Eclipse glasses have solar filters capable of blocking more than one thousand times the amount of light. Eclipse safety glasses are available in various styles‚ including disposable glasses made with paper or thin cardboard frames.Selecting Proper Eclipse Safety GlassesWhen selecting eclipse safety glasses‚ look for ISO and CE certification. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sets safety guidelines. Glasses with an ISO 12312-2 certification have received independent safety inspections. CE certification stands for Conformit Europenne‚ French for European conformity.Image from Wikimedia Commons.There are (unfortunately) a lot of fake eclipse safety glasses. Please look for certified viewing glasses to filter out IR‚ UV‚ and visible light. Eclipse glasses should filter out 99 percent of all visible light. If you wear them inside‚ you should see nothing but darkness.If you forgot to purchase eclipse safety glasses‚ you can still view the eclipse with a DIY gadget called a pinhole viewer. If you use this method‚ please keep your back to the sun while the eclipse begins and ends (waxing and waning). This is an excellent project for younger kids. You can make pinhole viewers for everyone in your household.The Last Complete Solar Eclipse Until 2044The uniqueness of THIS solar eclipse is in what they call the path of totality. The 2024 eclipse will pass over more populated areas of the US than other eclipses‚ increasing peoples ability to experience this phenomenon. The next total eclipse wont happen for another 20 years (Aug. 23‚ 2044)‚ and its path of totality will be along a less accessible route.Image from NASA.The National Weather Service tells us that a total eclipse can only occur during a new moon‚ when the moons orbit is tilted five degrees to Earths orbit around the Sun. The path of the 2024 scheduled eclipse bisects the Midwest region‚ making the eclipse viewable for more people than average. When the path of totality passes over open water or mountainous areas‚ fewer people can view the event. Please use proper eclipse safety viewing methods. You only get one pair of eyeballs‚ so take good care of them. If you have children‚ please discuss safety and proper eye protection with them. Enjoy this beautiful event! Share this with friends who may need or enjoy the information.You can find the source of this storys featured image here.The post What Happens If You Dont Wear Eclipse Glasses? A Scientist Explains appeared first on InspireMore.