HOUSTON — Fans were celebrating the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/houston-astros-world-series-champions-phillies-af94071eece8c17cb91322a0bd398cd9">Houston Astros' World Series</a> win with a downtown parade on Monday.

Houston
 Mayor Sylvester Turner said he encouraged fans coming to the victory 
parade to “arrive early, wear Astros' colors, be loud and celebrate 
safely.” The parade started at noon.

Yordan Alvarez hit a towering
 three-run homer and the Astros clinched their second World Series title
 in six seasons on Saturday, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in 
Game 6.

The city said in a news release that the downtown <a href="https://apnews.com/article/parades-ap-top-news-baseball-houston-george-springer-2685ff95965d4e178480bceafea3166f">parade after the Astros' 2017 win</a> brought in about 1 million people, and organizers expected about that many people to attend Monday's parade.

Saturday's win gave the Astros' <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dusty-baker-world-series-most-games-bb60066be88e056332df1bb637b77d7f">73-year-old manager Dusty Baker</a> his first title in 25 seasons as a manager, the last three in Houston.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667851581822.jpeg" alt="Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, foreground, a prolific Texas gambler, and the Houston Astros players gather before a victory parade for the Houston Astros' World Series baseball championship Monday in Houston. (AP Photo/David Phillip)" />
 <figcaption>Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, foreground, a prolific Texas gambler, and the Houston Astros players gather before a victory parade for the Houston Astros' World Series baseball championship Monday in Houston. (AP Photo/David Phillip)</figcaption>
 </figure>Associated PressHOUSTON — Fans were celebrating the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/houston-astros-world-series-champions-phillies-af94071eece8c17cb91322a0bd398cd9">Houston Astros' World Series</a> win with a downtown parade on Monday.Houston
 Mayor Sylvester Turner said he encouraged fans coming to the victory 
parade to “arrive early, wear Astros' colors, be loud and celebrate 
safely.” The parade started at noon.Yordan Alvarez hit a towering
 three-run homer and the Astros clinched their second World Series title
 in six seasons on Saturday, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in 
Game 6.The city said in a news release that the downtown <a href="https://apnews.com/article/parades-ap-top-news-baseball-houston-george-springer-2685ff95965d4e178480bceafea3166f">parade after the Astros' 2017 win</a> brought in about 1 million people, and organizers expected about that many people to attend Monday's parade.Saturday's win gave the Astros' <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dusty-baker-world-series-most-games-bb60066be88e056332df1bb637b77d7f">73-year-old manager Dusty Baker</a> his first title in 25 seasons as a manager, the last three in Houston.

Fans celebrate Houston Astros' World Series win with parade

&nbsp;By LINDSEY BAHR Associated Press

Jimmy Kimmel is ready to host the Oscars again, completing a trilogy 
that started with him presiding over the chaotic “envelope-gate" 
ceremony.

The late-night talk show host will preside over the ceremony in March, the show’s producers said Monday.

“We’re
 super thrilled to have Jimmy score his hat trick on this global stage,”
 executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner said
 in a joint statement. “We know he will be funny and ready for 
anything!”

Kimmel has hosted the show twice before, in 2017, when he managed the chaotic final moments in which the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/62158a8bf146420784f738fefd9505fe">wrong best picture winner was called</a>, and then the next year, which came just months into the #MeToo reckoning.

“Being
 invited to host the Oscars for a third time is either a great honor or a
 trap,” Kimmel said. “Either way, I am grateful to the academy for 
asking me so quickly after everyone good said no.”

After the 90th 
Oscars in 2018, which Kimmel hosted to generally positive reviews, the 
Academy Awards went without a host until the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-oscars-show-9a69424884de11649b68a12a284353a1">94th ceremony earlier this year</a> when Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes shared the stage.

“Jimmy
 is the perfect host to help us recognize the incredible artists and 
films of our 95th Oscars,” added academy CEO Bill Kramer and academy 
President Janet Yang. “His love of movies, live TV expertise, and 
ability to connect with our global audiences will create an 
unforgettable experience for our millions of viewers worldwide.”

Molly
 McNearney, who is the co-head writer and executive producer of “Jimmy 
Kimmel Live!” and is married to Kimmel, will also serve as an executive 
producer <a href="https://oscars.org/">on the Oscars broadcast.</a> Ratings have been a bit a of a rollercoaster for the esteemed Hollywood awards show. The 94th Oscars was an <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-oscars-ratings-ed962eb7824c0d994e8a86b15d69abbd">improvement with 15.36 million viewers</a>, but that was also in comparison to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-arts-and-entertainment-entertainment-academy-awards-television-d17308440bfa7388a2d21ca8c2d7fee8">previous year’s record low</a>, which befell many COVID-modified awards shows. As always ratings will be paramount for broadcaster ABC.

“Having
 Jimmy Kimmel return to host the Oscars is a dream come true. As we see 
every night on his own show, Jimmy can handle anything with both heart 
and humor, and we know that he will deliver the laughs and celebratory 
moments that define the Oscars,” said Craig Erwich, president of ABC 
Entertainment, Hulu &amp; Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals.
 “We love being the home of Hollywood’s biggest night and can’t wait to 
toast the success of this year’s cinema and storytelling.”

This 
next event is a landmark anniversary year for the show, and the first to
 follow The Slap, in which Will Smith struck presenter Chris Rock on 
stage. Smith, who went on to win best actor that night, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/will-smith-oscars-ban-664346ac2d2441939764f35be2d8026b">was banned from the Oscars for 10 years as a result</a>. The organization's leadership has said that they'd like to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chris-rock-entertainment-movies-will-smith-7eb32aa3cb65a1deecdbfcabebc4d8b8">move on from the slap</a> and focus on a ceremony that celebrates cinema.

The
 95th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 12 at the Dolby Theatre in 
Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on ABC in more than 200 
territories worldwide.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667851376804.jpeg" alt="Associated Press graphic" />
 <figcaption>Associated Press graphic</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By LINDSEY BAHR Associated PressJimmy Kimmel is ready to host the Oscars again, completing a trilogy 
that started with him presiding over the chaotic “envelope-gate" 
ceremony.The late-night talk show host will preside over the ceremony in March, the show’s producers said Monday.“We’re
 super thrilled to have Jimmy score his hat trick on this global stage,”
 executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner said
 in a joint statement. “We know he will be funny and ready for 
anything!”Kimmel has hosted the show twice before, in 2017, when he managed the chaotic final moments in which the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/62158a8bf146420784f738fefd9505fe">wrong best picture winner was called</a>, and then the next year, which came just months into the #MeToo reckoning.“Being
 invited to host the Oscars for a third time is either a great honor or a
 trap,” Kimmel said. “Either way, I am grateful to the academy for 
asking me so quickly after everyone good said no.”After the 90th 
Oscars in 2018, which Kimmel hosted to generally positive reviews, the 
Academy Awards went without a host until the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-oscars-show-9a69424884de11649b68a12a284353a1">94th ceremony earlier this year</a> when Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes shared the stage.“Jimmy
 is the perfect host to help us recognize the incredible artists and 
films of our 95th Oscars,” added academy CEO Bill Kramer and academy 
President Janet Yang. “His love of movies, live TV expertise, and 
ability to connect with our global audiences will create an 
unforgettable experience for our millions of viewers worldwide.”Molly
 McNearney, who is the co-head writer and executive producer of “Jimmy 
Kimmel Live!” and is married to Kimmel, will also serve as an executive 
producer <a href="https://oscars.org/">on the Oscars broadcast.</a> Ratings have been a bit a of a rollercoaster for the esteemed Hollywood awards show. The 94th Oscars was an <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-oscars-ratings-ed962eb7824c0d994e8a86b15d69abbd">improvement with 15.36 million viewers</a>, but that was also in comparison to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-arts-and-entertainment-entertainment-academy-awards-television-d17308440bfa7388a2d21ca8c2d7fee8">previous year’s record low</a>, which befell many COVID-modified awards shows. As always ratings will be paramount for broadcaster ABC.“Having
 Jimmy Kimmel return to host the Oscars is a dream come true. As we see 
every night on his own show, Jimmy can handle anything with both heart 
and humor, and we know that he will deliver the laughs and celebratory 
moments that define the Oscars,” said Craig Erwich, president of ABC 
Entertainment, Hulu &amp; Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals.
 “We love being the home of Hollywood’s biggest night and can’t wait to 
toast the success of this year’s cinema and storytelling.”This 
next event is a landmark anniversary year for the show, and the first to
 follow The Slap, in which Will Smith struck presenter Chris Rock on 
stage. Smith, who went on to win best actor that night, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/will-smith-oscars-ban-664346ac2d2441939764f35be2d8026b">was banned from the Oscars for 10 years as a result</a>. The organization's leadership has said that they'd like to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chris-rock-entertainment-movies-will-smith-7eb32aa3cb65a1deecdbfcabebc4d8b8">move on from the slap</a> and focus on a ceremony that celebrates cinema.The
 95th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 12 at the Dolby Theatre in 
Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on ABC in more than 200 
territories worldwide.

Jimmy Kimmel to host Oscars again: 'Great honor or a trap'

By JOSH WOODS <a href="https://theconversation.com/pickleballs-uphill-climb-to-mainstream-success-193052">The Conversation</a>

Most newer sports are hybrids of older ones, and pickleball is no 
exception. The progeny of tennis, badminton and pingpong, pickleball is 
played by singles or doubles teams who hit a ball back and forth over a 
3-foot-high net until one opponent commits a fault.

In 1965, the <a href="https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/history-of-the-game/">inventors of pickleball</a> played with what they had – a repurposed badminton setup, pingpong paddles and a perforated plastic ball.

Today’s <a href="https://usapickleball.org/about-us/organizational-docs/pickleball-fact-sheet/">4.8 million</a> American pickleballers have much more to play with: In the U.S. there are <a href="https://usapickleball.org/about-us/organizational-docs/pickleball-fact-sheet/">38,140</a> courts, <a href="https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated/2022/05/24/pickleball-fastest-growing-sport-daily-cover">300</a> manufacturers of pickleball equipment and
<a href="https://usapickleball.org/get-involved/pickleball-clubs/">hundreds</a> of grassroots clubs.

There’s been a good amount of speculation about the explosion of 
pickleball’s popularity. But now the sport seems poised to burst into 
the mainstream, with <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/03/sports/major-league-pickleball.html">Lebron James</a> and other luminaries of the NBA and NFL recently announcing large investments in the professional circuit.

Still, the young sport is not immune to growing pains. As I argue in my book “<a href="https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-76457-9">Emerging Sports as Social Movements</a>,”
 the popularity of some fledgling sports may seem self-evident in 
splashy headlines. But their less visible social undercurrents 
ultimately shape whether they’ll continue to attract new players and 
fans.

For an organized sport to grow, it needs structure – a common set of 
rules, rankings, equipment standards, scheduled events and a sense of 
identity that can unite players and fans.

At present, pickleball’s social fabric is spread thin and woven 
together by a network of competing interests. For every headline about 
pickleball’s miraculous growth you can also find stories about conflicts
 and infighting among various leagues and governing bodies, as well as 
between pickleballers and tennis players.

The sport has three professional leagues battling for control of the 
pickleball kingdom. It has two international governing bodies: the 
International Federation of Pickleball and the World Pickleball 
Federation. The lesser lords of pickleball also <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/07/25/can-pickleball-save-america">feud with tennis players</a> over dual-use courts and plans for expansion in public parks, with reports of “<a href="https://jezebel.com/pickleball-turf-wars-are-the-niche-drama-ravaging-the-c-1849678697">turf wars</a>” and “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/09/20/pickleball-growth-tennis/">a tug-of-war</a>” between the two racket sports.

“<a href="https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated/2022/05/24/pickleball-fastest-growing-sport-daily-cover">Picklebalkanization</a>,” anyone?

Internal squabbles are common in emerging sports movements. Cornhole, disc golf and esports, for instance, have faced <a href="https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-76457-9">similar challenges</a>.
 In some cases, conflict can be a good thing. It may spur innovation. 
But it can also leave some would-be fans, sponsors and players wondering
 whom they should watch, invest in or play for.

Compared with traditional racket sports, pickleball is less 
expensive, requires less space and may be more compatible with the aches
 and pains that come with age. And unlike other emerging sports, 
pickleball’s future seems bright. But for now it has more in common with
 <a href="https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-03781-3.html">French feudalism</a>
 of the ninth century – when territorial disputes were commonplace – 
than a modern unified sport movement headed for the Olympics.

If two strangers meet in a bar and happen to share an interest in 
pickleball, they won’t be strangers for long. Shared passion is the glue
 and fuel of emerging sports communities. But the human tendency to bond
 with those who are like us also poses a problem for sports seeking to 
achieve widespread popularity.

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.415">Sociological studies</a>
 show that our love of sameness partly explains why our groups and 
social networks tend to be homogeneous, such as male-dominated 
occupations, predominantly white community groups, and friendship 
circles united by a single religion. For grassroots sports, which spread
 through social networks, the sameness problem can limit growth by 
narrowing the flock to those with similar feathers.

Pickleball insiders like to talk about the sport’s relatively balanced <a href="https://usapickleball.org/about-us/organizational-docs/pickleball-fact-sheet/">gender ratio</a>,
 which stands at roughly 60% to 70% men and 30% to 40% women. The newest
 professional league, Major League Pickleball, is promoting the sport 
through <a href="https://www.majorleaguepickleball.net/mlp-descriptions">mixed-gender competitions</a>, with teams comprising two men and two women – a unique format in the male-dominated world of pro sports.

But grassroots sports sprout from the ground up, and long-term growth
 depends partly on the demographic diversity of core players. Pickleball
 may be trending younger, but one-third of its avid players are of <a href="https://usapickleball.org/about-us/organizational-docs/pickleball-fact-sheet/">retirement age</a>.
 Roughly half the population of pickleball players probably saw the 
Apollo 11 moon landing. Calculating accurate statistics on niche 
communities is difficult, but based on my review of multiple academic 
and <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/1081257674/americas-fastest-growing-sport-pickleball">journalistic sources</a>,
 pickleballers are predominantly older, white, affluent and suburban. 
For instance, two survey-based studies with large samples estimated the 
proportion of white players at <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31629346/">93.5%</a> and <a href="https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/japa/27/1/article-p28.xml">94.1%</a>.

Demographic homogeneity is a tough trend to buck. Of course, some sports, like golf and NASCAR, have expanded their reach <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/02/which-sports-have-the-whitest-richest-oldest-fans/283626/">without solving the sameness problem</a>.
 But given the nation’s reckoning around race and gender, a successful 
push for greater diversity could be the one thing that separates 
pickleball from the crowd of dreamer upstarts.

Will the revolution even need to be televised?

That sports grow when mainstream media pay attention to them seems 
obvious. Increased media coverage from ESPN or CBS attracts more 
participants and consumers, enticing sponsors and fostering stronger 
sport institutions.

Yet, as a growth strategy, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/07/24/744775904/cornhole-and-other-less-traditional-sports-gather-more-attention">buying airtime</a>
 on ESPN – which sports like cornhole and ax throwing are doing – may 
provide little more than airy hope. As pickleball strives to expand its 
audience, it faces stiff competition from traditional sports brands like
 the NFL and NBA, as well as emerging brands like esports, mixed martial
 arts, disc golf, cornhole, drone racing, round net, darts and ax 
throwing.

With so many options, some sports just won’t make it big. The history
 of emerging sports is filled with booms and busts. Interest in gambling
 sports like jai alai and horse racing has <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/longform/2013/2/28/4036934/jai-alai-sport-in-america-miami">declined tremendously</a> since the late 20th century. ESPN’s X Games popularized alternative sports like <a href="https://www.goskate.com/top/47-facts-about-x-games-skateboarding/">skateboarding</a> in the late 1990s, but some disciplines, like <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/x-games">street luge</a>, were left behind. Drop “poker” in a <a href="https://trends.google.com/trends">Google Trends</a> search box and you’ll see that the Texas hold ‘em boom lasted for about three years, from 2004 to 2006.

The next big thing in sports may not boom at all. Given that younger consumers are <a href="https://www.theringer.com/sports/2021/4/15/22385705/live-sports-streaming-wars-future-industry">migrating to streaming services</a>, the revolution may not be televised to a mass audience but instead will be streamed to die-hard fans.

Niche sports like pickleball may have an advantage as sports 
spectatorship fragments. For small sports, a modest audience with slow 
but steady growth could be a recipe for sustainable success. There are 
numerous options for watching pickleball matches, such as YouTube 
channels, livestreams via Facebook, fuboTV, and some coverage on 
broadcast and cable channels, but demand for live coverage <a href="https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/zane-explains-3/">remains modest</a>.

Ultimately, with so many shiny new sports to choose from, the winners
 will be determined not by flashy media exposure or top-down commercial 
forces but rather by bottom-up community development. No matter how hot 
the publicity gets around pickleball, the consumer base for watching the
 sport will draw heavily on people who already love playing it. The love
 of any sport has roots in culture – not commerce.

If pickleball lives up to the hype, it will do so on the backs of 
volunteers and grassroots organizers who can transform a loose network 
of casual players into an international community of pickleball 
fanatics.

Josh Woods is a Professor of Sociology at West Virginia University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667837607677.jpg" alt="For every headline about pickleball’s miraculous growth, you can also find stories about conflicts and infighting. Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>For every headline about pickleball’s miraculous growth, you can also find stories about conflicts and infighting. Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOSH WOODS <a href="https://theconversation.com/pickleballs-uphill-climb-to-mainstream-success-193052">The Conversation</a>Most newer sports are hybrids of older ones, and pickleball is no 
exception. The progeny of tennis, badminton and pingpong, pickleball is 
played by singles or doubles teams who hit a ball back and forth over a 
3-foot-high net until one opponent commits a fault.In 1965, the <a href="https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/history-of-the-game/">inventors of pickleball</a> played with what they had – a repurposed badminton setup, pingpong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. Today’s <a href="https://usapickleball.org/about-us/organizational-docs/pickleball-fact-sheet/">4.8 million</a> American pickleballers have much more to play with: In the U.S. there are <a href="https://usapickleball.org/about-us/organizational-docs/pickleball-fact-sheet/">38,140</a> courts, <a href="https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated/2022/05/24/pickleball-fastest-growing-sport-daily-cover">300</a> manufacturers of pickleball equipment and
<a href="https://usapickleball.org/get-involved/pickleball-clubs/">hundreds</a> of grassroots clubs.There’s been a good amount of speculation about the explosion of 
pickleball’s popularity. But now the sport seems poised to burst into 
the mainstream, with <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/03/sports/major-league-pickleball.html">Lebron James</a> and other luminaries of the NBA and NFL recently announcing large investments in the professional circuit.Still, the young sport is not immune to growing pains. As I argue in my book “<a href="https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-76457-9">Emerging Sports as Social Movements</a>,”
 the popularity of some fledgling sports may seem self-evident in 
splashy headlines. But their less visible social undercurrents 
ultimately shape whether they’ll continue to attract new players and 
fans. <h2>Pickleball’s feudal period</h2>For an organized sport to grow, it needs structure – a common set of 
rules, rankings, equipment standards, scheduled events and a sense of 
identity that can unite players and fans.At present, pickleball’s social fabric is spread thin and woven 
together by a network of competing interests. For every headline about 
pickleball’s miraculous growth you can also find stories about conflicts
 and infighting among various leagues and governing bodies, as well as 
between pickleballers and tennis players.The sport has three professional leagues battling for control of the 
pickleball kingdom. It has two international governing bodies: the 
International Federation of Pickleball and the World Pickleball 
Federation. The lesser lords of pickleball also <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/07/25/can-pickleball-save-america">feud with tennis players</a> over dual-use courts and plans for expansion in public parks, with reports of “<a href="https://jezebel.com/pickleball-turf-wars-are-the-niche-drama-ravaging-the-c-1849678697">turf wars</a>” and “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/09/20/pickleball-growth-tennis/">a tug-of-war</a>” between the two racket sports.“<a href="https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated/2022/05/24/pickleball-fastest-growing-sport-daily-cover">Picklebalkanization</a>,” anyone?Internal squabbles are common in emerging sports movements. Cornhole, disc golf and esports, for instance, have faced <a href="https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-76457-9">similar challenges</a>.
 In some cases, conflict can be a good thing. It may spur innovation. 
But it can also leave some would-be fans, sponsors and players wondering
 whom they should watch, invest in or play for.Compared with traditional racket sports, pickleball is less 
expensive, requires less space and may be more compatible with the aches
 and pains that come with age. And unlike other emerging sports, 
pickleball’s future seems bright. But for now it has more in common with
 <a href="https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-03781-3.html">French feudalism</a>
 of the ninth century – when territorial disputes were commonplace – 
than a modern unified sport movement headed for the Olympics.<h2>Birds of a feather dink together</h2>If two strangers meet in a bar and happen to share an interest in 
pickleball, they won’t be strangers for long. Shared passion is the glue
 and fuel of emerging sports communities. But the human tendency to bond
 with those who are like us also poses a problem for sports seeking to 
achieve widespread popularity.<a href="https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.415">Sociological studies</a>
 show that our love of sameness partly explains why our groups and 
social networks tend to be homogeneous, such as male-dominated 
occupations, predominantly white community groups, and friendship 
circles united by a single religion. For grassroots sports, which spread
 through social networks, the sameness problem can limit growth by 
narrowing the flock to those with similar feathers.Pickleball insiders like to talk about the sport’s relatively balanced <a href="https://usapickleball.org/about-us/organizational-docs/pickleball-fact-sheet/">gender ratio</a>,
 which stands at roughly 60% to 70% men and 30% to 40% women. The newest
 professional league, Major League Pickleball, is promoting the sport 
through <a href="https://www.majorleaguepickleball.net/mlp-descriptions">mixed-gender competitions</a>, with teams comprising two men and two women – a unique format in the male-dominated world of pro sports.But grassroots sports sprout from the ground up, and long-term growth
 depends partly on the demographic diversity of core players. Pickleball
 may be trending younger, but one-third of its avid players are of <a href="https://usapickleball.org/about-us/organizational-docs/pickleball-fact-sheet/">retirement age</a>.
 Roughly half the population of pickleball players probably saw the 
Apollo 11 moon landing. Calculating accurate statistics on niche 
communities is difficult, but based on my review of multiple academic 
and <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/1081257674/americas-fastest-growing-sport-pickleball">journalistic sources</a>,
 pickleballers are predominantly older, white, affluent and suburban. 
For instance, two survey-based studies with large samples estimated the 
proportion of white players at <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31629346/">93.5%</a> and <a href="https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/japa/27/1/article-p28.xml">94.1%</a>.Demographic homogeneity is a tough trend to buck. Of course, some sports, like golf and NASCAR, have expanded their reach <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/02/which-sports-have-the-whitest-richest-oldest-fans/283626/">without solving the sameness problem</a>.
 But given the nation’s reckoning around race and gender, a successful 
push for greater diversity could be the one thing that separates 
pickleball from the crowd of dreamer upstarts.<h2>Will the revolution even need to be televised?</h2>That sports grow when mainstream media pay attention to them seems 
obvious. Increased media coverage from ESPN or CBS attracts more 
participants and consumers, enticing sponsors and fostering stronger 
sport institutions.Yet, as a growth strategy, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/07/24/744775904/cornhole-and-other-less-traditional-sports-gather-more-attention">buying airtime</a>
 on ESPN – which sports like cornhole and ax throwing are doing – may 
provide little more than airy hope. As pickleball strives to expand its 
audience, it faces stiff competition from traditional sports brands like
 the NFL and NBA, as well as emerging brands like esports, mixed martial
 arts, disc golf, cornhole, drone racing, round net, darts and ax 
throwing.With so many options, some sports just won’t make it big. The history
 of emerging sports is filled with booms and busts. Interest in gambling
 sports like jai alai and horse racing has <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/longform/2013/2/28/4036934/jai-alai-sport-in-america-miami">declined tremendously</a> since the late 20th century. ESPN’s X Games popularized alternative sports like <a href="https://www.goskate.com/top/47-facts-about-x-games-skateboarding/">skateboarding</a> in the late 1990s, but some disciplines, like <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/x-games">street luge</a>, were left behind. Drop “poker” in a <a href="https://trends.google.com/trends">Google Trends</a> search box and you’ll see that the Texas hold ‘em boom lasted for about three years, from 2004 to 2006.The next big thing in sports may not boom at all. Given that younger consumers are <a href="https://www.theringer.com/sports/2021/4/15/22385705/live-sports-streaming-wars-future-industry">migrating to streaming services</a>, the revolution may not be televised to a mass audience but instead will be streamed to die-hard fans. Niche sports like pickleball may have an advantage as sports 
spectatorship fragments. For small sports, a modest audience with slow 
but steady growth could be a recipe for sustainable success. There are 
numerous options for watching pickleball matches, such as YouTube 
channels, livestreams via Facebook, fuboTV, and some coverage on 
broadcast and cable channels, but demand for live coverage <a href="https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/zane-explains-3/">remains modest</a>.Ultimately, with so many shiny new sports to choose from, the winners
 will be determined not by flashy media exposure or top-down commercial 
forces but rather by bottom-up community development. No matter how hot 
the publicity gets around pickleball, the consumer base for watching the
 sport will draw heavily on people who already love playing it. The love
 of any sport has roots in culture – not commerce.If pickleball lives up to the hype, it will do so on the backs of 
volunteers and grassroots organizers who can transform a loose network 
of casual players into an international community of pickleball 
fanatics.Josh Woods is a Professor of Sociology at West Virginia University.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193052/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

Pickleball’s uphill climb to mainstream success

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lionel Richie soared. Pat Benatar roared. Duran Duran stumbled but stayed sophisticated. Eminem was Eminem.

The
 four acts found very different ways to celebrate on Saturday night, but
 all can now forever say they're Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Famers. So are 
Carly Simon, Eurythmics, Harry Belafonte, Judas Priest and Dolly Parton,
 who gave the honor an enthusiastic embrace after temporarily turning it
 down.

The first act inducted at the Microsoft Theater in Los 
Angeles after a memorable speech from a shaven-headed Robert Downey Jr.,
 Duran Duran took the stage and launched into their 1981 breakthrough 
hit “Girls on Film.”

The shrieking crowd was there for it, but the
 music wasn't. The band was all but inaudible other than singer Simon Le
 Bon, whose vocals were essentially a cappella.

It was a fun if inauspicious beginning to a mostly slick and often triumphant show.

“The wonderful spontaneous world of rock ‘n’ roll!” the 64-year-old Le Bon shouted as the band stopped for a do-over.

They
 kicked back in at full volume, playing a set that included “Hungry Like
 the Wolf” and “Ordinary World," quickly snapping back into what Downey 
called their essential quality: “CSF — cool, sophisticated fun.”

Lionel
 Richie brought both chill and warmth to the room hours later, opening 
his set with a spare rendition of his ballad “Hello" that seemed to make
 him nearly break down from the weight of the moment.

“His songs are the soundtrack of my life, your life, everyone’s life," Lenny Kravitz said in inducting Richie.

After
 “Hello,” Richie breezed into his 1977 hit with the Commodores, “Easy.” 
The vibe went from smooth to triumphant when Foo Fighters front man Dave
 Grohl made a surprise appearance to play a guitar solo and swap vocals 
with Richie. That led into a singalong, celebratory rendition of 1983's 
“All Night Long” that brought the night's biggest reaction.

In his acceptance speech, Richie lashed out at those during his career who accused him of straying too far from his Black roots.

“Rock
 ‘n’ roll is not a color,” he said. “It is a feeling. It is a vibe. And 
if we let that vibe come through, this room will grow and grow and 
grow.”

Eurythmics took the stage next with a soulful, danceable rendition of 1986's “Missionary Man.”

“Well
 I was born an original sinner, I was born from original sin,” singer 
Annie Lennox belted, bringing the audience clapping and to its feet four
 hours into the show. It was followed by a rousing rendition of their 
best-known hit, “Sweet Dreams.”

Moments later her musical partner,
 Dave Stewart, called Lennox “one of the greatest performers, singers 
and songwriters of all time.”

“Thank you, Dave, for this great adventure,” a tearful Lennox said.

As
 he has been throughout his career, Eminem was the outlier. He was the 
only hip-hop artist among the inductees, the only one whose heyday came 
after the 1980s, and he brought an edge to the evening that was 
otherwise missing outside of the heavy metal stylings of Judas Priest.

He
 also took the guest star game to another level. After opening briefly 
with 1999's “My Name Is,” he brought on Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler to sing
 the chorus of “Dream On” for 2003's “Sing for the Moment,” which 
samples the Aerosmith classic. Then he brought on Ed Sheeran to sing his
 part on the 2017 Eminem jam “River” as rain fell on the stage.

“I'm
 probably not supposed to actually be here tonight for a couple of 
reasons,” Eminem, wearing a black hoodie, said as he accepted the honor.
 “One, I know, is that I’m a rapper and this is the Rock &amp; Roll Hall
 of Fame.”

He's only the 10th hip-hop artist among well over 300 members of the Hall of Fame.

He was inducted by his producer and mentor Dr. Dre, whom he credited with saving his life.

But hitmakers of the 1980s defined the night.

“Pat
 always reached into the deepest part of herself and came roaring out of
 the speakers," Sheryl Crow said in her speech inducting Benatar.

Benatar,
 inducted along with her longtime musical partner and husband Neil 
Giraldo, took the stage with him and displayed that power moments later.

“We
 are young!” the 69-year-old sang, her long, gray hair flowing as she 
soared through a version of 1983's “Love is a Battlefield."

Inductees
 absent from the ceremony included Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor, 
who is four years into a fight with advanced prostate cancer, the 
95-year-old Belafonte and Simon, who lost sisters <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-joanna-simon-new-york-obituaries-8d3e1b9f8dd0b2ed1c19b5671dfbf0a0">Joanna Simon and Lucy Simon</a>, both also singers, to cancer on back-to-back days last month.

Carly
 Simon was a first-time nominee this year more than 25 years after 
becoming eligible. Olivia Rodrigo, 60 years Simon's junior and by far 
the youngest performer of the night, took the stage to sing Simon's 
signature song, “You're So Vain.”

Janet Jackson appeared in a 
black suit with a massive pile of hair atop her head, remaking the cover
 of her breakthrough album “Control," as she inducted the two men who 
made that and many other records with her, writer-producers <a href="https://apnews.com/article/britney-spears-entertainment-travel-music-8ee900272c36979c2d64e4fa79bd12b4">Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.</a>

When the nominees were announced in May, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-travel-music-arts-and-lifestyle-0f9e881aa60f31f1f1550d340315b70c">Parton “respectfully” declined</a>,
 saying it didn't seem suitable for her to take a spot as a 
country-to-the-core artist. She was convinced otherwise, and ended up 
the headliner Saturday night.

“I’m a rock star now!” she shouted as she accepted the honor. "This is a very, very, very special night."

Parton said she would have to retroactively earn her spot.

She
 disappeared and emerged moments later decked out in black leather with 
an electric guitar and broke into a song she wrote just for the 
occasion.

“I‘ve been rockin’ rockin' rockin' rockin' since the day I was born,” she sang, “and I'll be rockin' to the day I'm gone.”

She
 closed the night leading an all-star jam of her fellow inductees on her
 country classic “Jolene.” Le Bon, Benatar and even Judas Priest singer 
Rob Halford took a verse.

“We got a star-studded stage up here,” Parton said. “I feel like a hillbilly in the city.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lionel Richie soared. Pat Benatar roared. Duran Duran stumbled but stayed sophisticated. Eminem was Eminem.The
 four acts found very different ways to celebrate on Saturday night, but
 all can now forever say they're Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Famers. So are 
Carly Simon, Eurythmics, Harry Belafonte, Judas Priest and Dolly Parton,
 who gave the honor an enthusiastic embrace after temporarily turning it
 down.The first act inducted at the Microsoft Theater in Los 
Angeles after a memorable speech from a shaven-headed Robert Downey Jr.,
 Duran Duran took the stage and launched into their 1981 breakthrough 
hit “Girls on Film.”The shrieking crowd was there for it, but the
 music wasn't. The band was all but inaudible other than singer Simon Le
 Bon, whose vocals were essentially a cappella.It was a fun if inauspicious beginning to a mostly slick and often triumphant show.“The wonderful spontaneous world of rock ‘n’ roll!” the 64-year-old Le Bon shouted as the band stopped for a do-over.They
 kicked back in at full volume, playing a set that included “Hungry Like
 the Wolf” and “Ordinary World," quickly snapping back into what Downey 
called their essential quality: “CSF — cool, sophisticated fun.”Lionel
 Richie brought both chill and warmth to the room hours later, opening 
his set with a spare rendition of his ballad “Hello" that seemed to make
 him nearly break down from the weight of the moment.“His songs are the soundtrack of my life, your life, everyone’s life," Lenny Kravitz said in inducting Richie.After
 “Hello,” Richie breezed into his 1977 hit with the Commodores, “Easy.” 
The vibe went from smooth to triumphant when Foo Fighters front man Dave
 Grohl made a surprise appearance to play a guitar solo and swap vocals 
with Richie. That led into a singalong, celebratory rendition of 1983's 
“All Night Long” that brought the night's biggest reaction.In his acceptance speech, Richie lashed out at those during his career who accused him of straying too far from his Black roots.“Rock
 ‘n’ roll is not a color,” he said. “It is a feeling. It is a vibe. And 
if we let that vibe come through, this room will grow and grow and 
grow.”Eurythmics took the stage next with a soulful, danceable rendition of 1986's “Missionary Man.”“Well
 I was born an original sinner, I was born from original sin,” singer 
Annie Lennox belted, bringing the audience clapping and to its feet four
 hours into the show. It was followed by a rousing rendition of their 
best-known hit, “Sweet Dreams.”Moments later her musical partner,
 Dave Stewart, called Lennox “one of the greatest performers, singers 
and songwriters of all time.”“Thank you, Dave, for this great adventure,” a tearful Lennox said.As
 he has been throughout his career, Eminem was the outlier. He was the 
only hip-hop artist among the inductees, the only one whose heyday came 
after the 1980s, and he brought an edge to the evening that was 
otherwise missing outside of the heavy metal stylings of Judas Priest.He
 also took the guest star game to another level. After opening briefly 
with 1999's “My Name Is,” he brought on Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler to sing
 the chorus of “Dream On” for 2003's “Sing for the Moment,” which 
samples the Aerosmith classic. Then he brought on Ed Sheeran to sing his
 part on the 2017 Eminem jam “River” as rain fell on the stage.“I'm
 probably not supposed to actually be here tonight for a couple of 
reasons,” Eminem, wearing a black hoodie, said as he accepted the honor.
 “One, I know, is that I’m a rapper and this is the Rock &amp; Roll Hall
 of Fame.”He's only the 10th hip-hop artist among well over 300 members of the Hall of Fame.He was inducted by his producer and mentor Dr. Dre, whom he credited with saving his life.But hitmakers of the 1980s defined the night.“Pat
 always reached into the deepest part of herself and came roaring out of
 the speakers," Sheryl Crow said in her speech inducting Benatar.Benatar,
 inducted along with her longtime musical partner and husband Neil 
Giraldo, took the stage with him and displayed that power moments later.“We
 are young!” the 69-year-old sang, her long, gray hair flowing as she 
soared through a version of 1983's “Love is a Battlefield."Inductees
 absent from the ceremony included Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor, 
who is four years into a fight with advanced prostate cancer, the 
95-year-old Belafonte and Simon, who lost sisters <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-joanna-simon-new-york-obituaries-8d3e1b9f8dd0b2ed1c19b5671dfbf0a0">Joanna Simon and Lucy Simon</a>, both also singers, to cancer on back-to-back days last month.Carly
 Simon was a first-time nominee this year more than 25 years after 
becoming eligible. Olivia Rodrigo, 60 years Simon's junior and by far 
the youngest performer of the night, took the stage to sing Simon's 
signature song, “You're So Vain.”Janet Jackson appeared in a 
black suit with a massive pile of hair atop her head, remaking the cover
 of her breakthrough album “Control," as she inducted the two men who 
made that and many other records with her, writer-producers <a href="https://apnews.com/article/britney-spears-entertainment-travel-music-8ee900272c36979c2d64e4fa79bd12b4">Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.</a>When the nominees were announced in May, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-travel-music-arts-and-lifestyle-0f9e881aa60f31f1f1550d340315b70c">Parton “respectfully” declined</a>,
 saying it didn't seem suitable for her to take a spot as a 
country-to-the-core artist. She was convinced otherwise, and ended up 
the headliner Saturday night.“I’m a rock star now!” she shouted as she accepted the honor. "This is a very, very, very special night."Parton said she would have to retroactively earn her spot.She
 disappeared and emerged moments later decked out in black leather with 
an electric guitar and broke into a song she wrote just for the 
occasion.“I‘ve been rockin’ rockin' rockin' rockin' since the day I was born,” she sang, “and I'll be rockin' to the day I'm gone.”She
 closed the night leading an all-star jam of her fellow inductees on her
 country classic “Jolene.” Le Bon, Benatar and even Judas Priest singer 
Rob Halford took a verse.“We got a star-studded stage up here,” Parton said. “I feel like a hillbilly in the city.”

Duran Duran stumbles, Dolly Parton rolls into Rock Hall

By DÉBORA REY Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — In the middle of the concrete jungle that is Argentina's bustling capital, <a href="https://youtu.be/DBG_CCmByPw">a huge mural</a> has emerged of Diego Maradona wearing a national team jersey, his right hand in a fist and a defiant expression on his face.

The
 massive artwork, 148 feet high and 131 feet wide (45 meters by 40 
meters) and painted on the side of a 14-story building in Buenos Aires, 
is one of several tributes that Argentines have dedicated to their 
soccer “God” shortly before the start of this year's <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup">World Cup</a> in Qatar, the first since Maradona's death on Nov. 25, 2020.

Maradona's
 feats and defeats as a player on the national team are being 
remembered, from the famous and infamous goals against England before 
the county won the 1986 World Cup to the failed final against West 
Germany four years later, and the doping test that got him expelled from
 the following World Cup in 1994.

Well-known street artist Martín 
Ron was behind the world's largest mural, inspired by a photograph of 
the then-Argentina captain that captures his expression shortly before 
he sang the national anthem at the 1990 World Cup final against West 
Germany, which Argentina lost 1-0.

“It's a photo of Diego when he 
was close to winning the country's third star,” Ron told The Associated 
Press during a break from the work he began a month ago.

Argentina also won the World Cup in 1978, but Maradona didn't make the team for that tournament.

“This photo summarizes everything Diego was,” Ron said. “Beyond the player, he was the guts, the motor, the heart.”

To
 one side of Maradona's face, Ron painted a constellation of stars in 
the shape of a kite, a reference to his nickname “cosmic kite," which is
 what one well-known radio commentator called the soccer star following 
his second goal against England in 1986.

“His absence will be 
felt, Diego was always a star. In all the World Cups he did his own 
thing, inside and outside the field," Ron said. “And in Qatar, he will 
sadly not be there.”

Ron's mural was officially unveiled on Sunday to coincide with the soccer great's birthday.

Days earlier, the Argentine soccer association received the original <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-business-b48b459b4d01a1b975805cfdc41d8a07">jersey that Maradona wore</a>
 in the 1986 World Cup. It was a gift from Germany great Lothar 
Matthäus, who exchanged jerseys with Maradona after the final that 
Argentina won 3-2 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

“One of 
the happiest moments with him was when (Brazilian referee) Arppi Filho 
blew the whistle during the final in Mexico. I just happened to be very 
close to Diego, I was lucky that he hugged me before anybody else,” 
former player Ricardo Giusti recalled during a recent event alongside 
other former World Cup champions outside Buenos Aires.

“We enjoyed
 it so much, everybody enjoyed Diego. That's what's sad. It makes us 
feel a lot of sadness, sorrow and disillusion,” the former midfielder 
said.

Matthäus' donation was a sort of reparation for Argentina 
after it failed to win an auction for the jersey Maradona wore in the 
match against England in the quarterfinals of that World Cup tournament.
 An unknown bidder from outside the country bought the iconic item at 
auction for a record $9 million in May.

In 1994, Maradona played 
his last World Cup match against Nigeria in the group stage. He was 
suspended for 15 months following the 2-1 victory after a positive 
doping test.

As Argentina coach, Maradona led the national team to
 the quarterfinals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but the team 
lost to Germany 4-0.

One of the most disturbing images came eight 
years later at the 2018 World Cup in Russia when an overweight and 
somewhat disoriented Maradona collapsed at the stadium in St. Petersburg
 following a 2-1 victory over Nigeria.

Maradona died at the age of
 60 while he was under hospital care in his home following brain 
surgery. Judicial authorities continue to investigate if medical 
negligence was involved.

“He is missed, Diego's image has been, 
and is, very strong,” said Carlos Tapia, another member of the 1986 
championship team. “He was our reference, captain, everything. He was 
always close to each one of us. Let's hope he can be a guiding light 
from above in Qatar."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667832396107.jpeg" alt="Women play with balls during the inauguration of a mural of Diego Maradona by artist Martin Ron in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. Sunday marks the birth date of Maradona who died on Nov. 25, 2020 at the age of 60. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)" />
 <figcaption>Women play with balls during the inauguration of a mural of Diego Maradona by artist Martin Ron in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. Sunday marks the birth date of Maradona who died on Nov. 25, 2020 at the age of 60. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DÉBORA REY Associated PressBUENOS AIRES, Argentina — In the middle of the concrete jungle that is Argentina's bustling capital, <a href="https://youtu.be/DBG_CCmByPw">a huge mural</a> has emerged of Diego Maradona wearing a national team jersey, his right hand in a fist and a defiant expression on his face.The
 massive artwork, 148 feet high and 131 feet wide (45 meters by 40 
meters) and painted on the side of a 14-story building in Buenos Aires, 
is one of several tributes that Argentines have dedicated to their 
soccer “God” shortly before the start of this year's <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup">World Cup</a> in Qatar, the first since Maradona's death on Nov. 25, 2020.Maradona's
 feats and defeats as a player on the national team are being 
remembered, from the famous and infamous goals against England before 
the county won the 1986 World Cup to the failed final against West 
Germany four years later, and the doping test that got him expelled from
 the following World Cup in 1994.Well-known street artist Martín 
Ron was behind the world's largest mural, inspired by a photograph of 
the then-Argentina captain that captures his expression shortly before 
he sang the national anthem at the 1990 World Cup final against West 
Germany, which Argentina lost 1-0.“It's a photo of Diego when he 
was close to winning the country's third star,” Ron told The Associated 
Press during a break from the work he began a month ago.Argentina also won the World Cup in 1978, but Maradona didn't make the team for that tournament.“This photo summarizes everything Diego was,” Ron said. “Beyond the player, he was the guts, the motor, the heart.”To
 one side of Maradona's face, Ron painted a constellation of stars in 
the shape of a kite, a reference to his nickname “cosmic kite," which is
 what one well-known radio commentator called the soccer star following 
his second goal against England in 1986.“His absence will be 
felt, Diego was always a star. In all the World Cups he did his own 
thing, inside and outside the field," Ron said. “And in Qatar, he will 
sadly not be there.”Ron's mural was officially unveiled on Sunday to coincide with the soccer great's birthday.Days earlier, the Argentine soccer association received the original <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-business-b48b459b4d01a1b975805cfdc41d8a07">jersey that Maradona wore</a>
 in the 1986 World Cup. It was a gift from Germany great Lothar 
Matthäus, who exchanged jerseys with Maradona after the final that 
Argentina won 3-2 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.“One of 
the happiest moments with him was when (Brazilian referee) Arppi Filho 
blew the whistle during the final in Mexico. I just happened to be very 
close to Diego, I was lucky that he hugged me before anybody else,” 
former player Ricardo Giusti recalled during a recent event alongside 
other former World Cup champions outside Buenos Aires.“We enjoyed
 it so much, everybody enjoyed Diego. That's what's sad. It makes us 
feel a lot of sadness, sorrow and disillusion,” the former midfielder 
said.Matthäus' donation was a sort of reparation for Argentina 
after it failed to win an auction for the jersey Maradona wore in the 
match against England in the quarterfinals of that World Cup tournament.
 An unknown bidder from outside the country bought the iconic item at 
auction for a record $9 million in May.In 1994, Maradona played 
his last World Cup match against Nigeria in the group stage. He was 
suspended for 15 months following the 2-1 victory after a positive 
doping test.As Argentina coach, Maradona led the national team to
 the quarterfinals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but the team 
lost to Germany 4-0.One of the most disturbing images came eight 
years later at the 2018 World Cup in Russia when an overweight and 
somewhat disoriented Maradona collapsed at the stadium in St. Petersburg
 following a 2-1 victory over Nigeria.Maradona died at the age of
 60 while he was under hospital care in his home following brain 
surgery. Judicial authorities continue to investigate if medical 
negligence was involved.“He is missed, Diego's image has been, 
and is, very strong,” said Carlos Tapia, another member of the 1986 
championship team. “He was our reference, captain, everything. He was 
always close to each one of us. Let's hope he can be a guiding light 
from above in Qatar."

A giant Maradona emerges in Argentina, days before World Cup

By VINAYA MANCHAIAH and CORY PORTNUFF <a href="https://theconversation.com/over-the-counter-hearing-aids-offer-a-wide-range-of-options-here-are-things-to-consider-before-buying-192936">The Conversation</a>

Following the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-finalizes-historic-rule-enabling-access-over-counter-hearing-aids-millions-americans">U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ruling</a> in August 2022, nonprescription over-the-counter hearing aids went on sale <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/17/hearing-aids-are-now-available-over-the-counter-from-walgreens-cvs-and-best-buy.html">at pharmacies, supermarkets and consumer electronic stores</a> on Oct. 17, 2022. These devices are intended only for people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.

For millions of Americans, these over-the-counter hearing aids are <a href="https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/over-counter-hearing-aids">easier to access and less expensive</a> than prescription versions. Some people view them as a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/over-the-counter-hearing-aids/">tremendous innovation</a>. Yet others say <a href="https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/healthcare/333943-sen-warrens-not-listening-otc-hearing-aids-will-do-more-harm-than-good/">they won’t work optimally</a>, as the device may be of poor quality, or consumers may not self-diagnose or customize the device appropriately.

As <a href="https://som.ucdenver.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/36711">audiologists specializing</a> in <a href="https://www.uchealth.org/provider/cory-portnuff/">hearing care</a>, we are actively involved in <a href="https://scholar.google.at/citations?user=rgECg40AAAAJ&amp;hl=en">health care research</a> and the <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JdYxmRoAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">clinical care</a> of people with a range of hearing disorders. We have also conducted research on <a href="https://virtualhearinglab.org/">over-the-counter hearing aids</a>.

Our aim is to present a balanced view on what is known about 
over-the-counter aids based on academic research – and provide you tips 
on what to know when shopping for these devices. 

The newly available <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/08/17/2022-17230/medical-devices-ear-nose-and-throat-devices-establishing-over-the-counter-hearing-aids">over-the-counter hearing aids</a> add to a range of existing devices, including <a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/guidance-documents-medical-devices-and-radiation-emitting-products/class-ii-special-controls-guidance-document-transcutaneous-air-conduction-hearing-aid-system-tachas">conventional prescription hearing aids</a> and <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/28/2019-23464/medical-devices-ear-nose-and-throat-devices-classification-of-the-self-fitting-air-conduction">self-fitting hearing devices</a>.
 Conventional hearing aids are tailored to fit by a hearing care 
professional. But over-the-counter devices come either in self-fitting 
types – meaning they adjust to the wearer’s hearing after self-testing –
 or preset, a type that is less individualized.

In addition, there are three other categories of hearing-related devices to be aware of. These include <a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/hearing-aids-and-personal-sound-amplification-products-what-know">personal sound amplification products</a>, which serve as hearing enhancement devices for individuals with normal hearing. A second type are called <a href="https://www.hearingtracker.com/hearables">hearables</a>,
 like wireless earbuds designed for listening to music or tracking 
fitness. The third fall under consumer audio, like headphones.

None of the products in those categories are regulated, because they 
are not considered medical devices. But as technology advances, many of 
them may have functions similar to hearing aids. In other words, all the
 hearing devices listed above may look similar to one another and may be
 hard to distinguish just by their appearance. 

Because of the variety of devices on the market, you should read 
product labels to make sure you’re not confusing over-the-counter 
hearing aids with other technologies. It is not uncommon to see <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/1995/11/ftc-settles-false-advertising-charges-against-maker-miracle-ear">false advertising claims</a>, such as personal sound amplification products or hearables advertised as over-the-counter hearing aids.

As noted, over-the-counter hearing aids come in two types: 
one-size-fits-most, with preset listening programs, and self-fitting, 
which can be more finely adjusted using apps on a smartphone. The latter
 type goes through a more rigorous <a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/device-approvals-denials-and-clearances/510k-clearances">government approval process</a>
 and generally costs more. The least expensive ones cost around US$200, 
with the most running about $800. For comparison, prescription hearing 
aids start at roughly $1,000 and go up to approximately $6,000 per pair.
 The difference in cost is based on the technology level of the device 
as well as added services provided by hearing care professionals.

<a href="https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S135390">Our review of the literature</a>
 on over-the counter aids revealed the following: First, several studies
 looking at their acoustic characteristics – that is, the degree of 
sound distortion and self-generated noise – found mixed results. Some 
over-the-counter hearing products <a href="https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/827463">don’t measure up to acceptable standards</a>, whereas others <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000001414">do provide appropriate amplification</a>.

Second, several <a href="https://hearingreview.com/hearing-products/marketrak-viii-utilization-of-psaps-and-direct-mail-hearing-aids-by-people-with-hearing-impairment">large-scale consumer surveys in the U.S.</a> and <a href="https://www.ehima.com/surveys/">Japan</a>
 suggest that users are less satisfied with over-the-counter aids than 
with conventional prescription hearing aids. This lower satisfaction can
 be primarily attributed to consumers choosing inappropriate devices or 
being unable to personalize or handle them.

Conversely, several clinical trials <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/2331216519900589">measuring the self-fitting process</a> and the benifits of over-the-counter hearing aids <a href="https://doi.org/10.1044/2017_AJA-16-0111">generally report positive outcomes</a> for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. More <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=Hearing+Loss%2C+Sensorineural&amp;term=OTC+hearing+aid&amp;cntry=&amp;state=&amp;city=&amp;dist=">clinical trials are ongoing</a>.

To add to the confusion, there is another caveat to those studies: 
Most examined early generations of direct-to-consumer hearing devices 
such as the personal sound amplification products – not the 
over-the-counter hearing aids that are now on the market. That is why 
consumers should take the results of those early studies with some 
skepticism. What’s more, as the market matures, a combination of 
competition and regulation will likely improve the quality of the 
devices.

You’ll want to take into account the look, feel and capabilities of 
the device. Ask yourself: Do you want a hearing aid that looks more like
 a wireless earbud – small and not noticeable? Is it comfortable to wear
 or irritating after several hours? Will it work with a smartphone and 
Bluetooth? How often does it need to be recharged?

Also: What is the warranty? How can I get the device fixed if it 
breaks? What’s the return policy? Is there free customer support after 
the purchase? Is the device appropriate for my particular kind of 
hearing issue?

Only a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/reviewed/2022/10/17/otc-hearing-aids-buy-now-bose-lively/10523887002/">handful of companies</a>
 now offer over-the-counter hearing aids. Some may not be in the 
business for very long. So choose a brand with a good reputation that 
stands behind its product, offers customer service assistance and lets 
you return the device and receive a refund if it doesn’t work for you.

Studies show that people often <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.15009">underestimate the severity of their hearing loss</a>.
 For these people, the over-the-counter devices may not provide adequate
 amplification. Remember, they work only for those with mild to moderate
 hearing loss. In addition, some people may have treatable hearing 
problems, like earwax buildup, that need medical treatment instead of 
hearing aids.

That’s why we strongly recommend consumers get a hearing test from an
 audiologist before purchasing the over-the-counter hearing aids. If 
that is not feasible, you can take a <a href="https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation/hearwho">free online hearing test</a> and also <a href="https://sites.northwestern.edu/cedra/">screen yourself for risk of an ear disease</a> or other conditions that may affect hearing. And <a href="https://doi.org/10.1044/2018_JSLHR-H-18-0370">online consumer reviews</a> provide user reports on the perceived benefits and limitations about specific products.

If you find the over-the-counter devices don’t work for you, there may be <a href="https://www.hearingloss.org/hearing-help/technology/otc-hearing-devices/otc-hearing-aids/">some issues that are fixable</a>. But if not, don’t forget: You always have the option to return them – and then, make an appointment with <a href="https://theconversation.com/newly-available-over-the-counter-hearing-aids-offer-many-benefits-but-consumers-should-be-aware-of-the-potential-drawbacks-189041">a hearing health care professional</a>.

Vinaya Manchaiah, Professor of Otolaryngology – Head &amp; Neck Surgery , University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Cory Portnuff, Assistant Clinical Professor of Audiology, Clinical Audiologist, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667752867123.jpg" alt="Now that over-the-counter hearing aids are available, it’s important to know what questions to ask. Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Now that over-the-counter hearing aids are available, it’s important to know what questions to ask. Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By VINAYA MANCHAIAH and CORY PORTNUFF <a href="https://theconversation.com/over-the-counter-hearing-aids-offer-a-wide-range-of-options-here-are-things-to-consider-before-buying-192936">The Conversation</a>Following the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-finalizes-historic-rule-enabling-access-over-counter-hearing-aids-millions-americans">U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ruling</a> in August 2022, nonprescription over-the-counter hearing aids went on sale <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/17/hearing-aids-are-now-available-over-the-counter-from-walgreens-cvs-and-best-buy.html">at pharmacies, supermarkets and consumer electronic stores</a> on Oct. 17, 2022. These devices are intended only for people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.For millions of Americans, these over-the-counter hearing aids are <a href="https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/over-counter-hearing-aids">easier to access and less expensive</a> than prescription versions. Some people view them as a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/over-the-counter-hearing-aids/">tremendous innovation</a>. Yet others say <a href="https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/healthcare/333943-sen-warrens-not-listening-otc-hearing-aids-will-do-more-harm-than-good/">they won’t work optimally</a>, as the device may be of poor quality, or consumers may not self-diagnose or customize the device appropriately. As <a href="https://som.ucdenver.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/36711">audiologists specializing</a> in <a href="https://www.uchealth.org/provider/cory-portnuff/">hearing care</a>, we are actively involved in <a href="https://scholar.google.at/citations?user=rgECg40AAAAJ&amp;hl=en">health care research</a> and the <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JdYxmRoAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">clinical care</a> of people with a range of hearing disorders. We have also conducted research on <a href="https://virtualhearinglab.org/">over-the-counter hearing aids</a>. Our aim is to present a balanced view on what is known about 
over-the-counter aids based on academic research – and provide you tips 
on what to know when shopping for these devices. <figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WgUdp_LgVBQ"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Hearing device categories</h2>The newly available <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/08/17/2022-17230/medical-devices-ear-nose-and-throat-devices-establishing-over-the-counter-hearing-aids">over-the-counter hearing aids</a> add to a range of existing devices, including <a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/guidance-documents-medical-devices-and-radiation-emitting-products/class-ii-special-controls-guidance-document-transcutaneous-air-conduction-hearing-aid-system-tachas">conventional prescription hearing aids</a> and <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/28/2019-23464/medical-devices-ear-nose-and-throat-devices-classification-of-the-self-fitting-air-conduction">self-fitting hearing devices</a>.
 Conventional hearing aids are tailored to fit by a hearing care 
professional. But over-the-counter devices come either in self-fitting 
types – meaning they adjust to the wearer’s hearing after self-testing –
 or preset, a type that is less individualized.In addition, there are three other categories of hearing-related devices to be aware of. These include <a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/hearing-aids-and-personal-sound-amplification-products-what-know">personal sound amplification products</a>, which serve as hearing enhancement devices for individuals with normal hearing. A second type are called <a href="https://www.hearingtracker.com/hearables">hearables</a>,
 like wireless earbuds designed for listening to music or tracking 
fitness. The third fall under consumer audio, like headphones. None of the products in those categories are regulated, because they 
are not considered medical devices. But as technology advances, many of 
them may have functions similar to hearing aids. In other words, all the
 hearing devices listed above may look similar to one another and may be
 hard to distinguish just by their appearance. Because of the variety of devices on the market, you should read 
product labels to make sure you’re not confusing over-the-counter 
hearing aids with other technologies. It is not uncommon to see <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/1995/11/ftc-settles-false-advertising-charges-against-maker-miracle-ear">false advertising claims</a>, such as personal sound amplification products or hearables advertised as over-the-counter hearing aids. <h2>About over-the-counter aids</h2>As noted, over-the-counter hearing aids come in two types: 
one-size-fits-most, with preset listening programs, and self-fitting, 
which can be more finely adjusted using apps on a smartphone. The latter
 type goes through a more rigorous <a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/device-approvals-denials-and-clearances/510k-clearances">government approval process</a>
 and generally costs more. The least expensive ones cost around US$200, 
with the most running about $800. For comparison, prescription hearing 
aids start at roughly $1,000 and go up to approximately $6,000 per pair.
 The difference in cost is based on the technology level of the device 
as well as added services provided by hearing care professionals. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S135390">Our review of the literature</a>
 on over-the counter aids revealed the following: First, several studies
 looking at their acoustic characteristics – that is, the degree of 
sound distortion and self-generated noise – found mixed results. Some 
over-the-counter hearing products <a href="https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/827463">don’t measure up to acceptable standards</a>, whereas others <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000001414">do provide appropriate amplification</a>. Second, several <a href="https://hearingreview.com/hearing-products/marketrak-viii-utilization-of-psaps-and-direct-mail-hearing-aids-by-people-with-hearing-impairment">large-scale consumer surveys in the U.S.</a> and <a href="https://www.ehima.com/surveys/">Japan</a>
 suggest that users are less satisfied with over-the-counter aids than 
with conventional prescription hearing aids. This lower satisfaction can
 be primarily attributed to consumers choosing inappropriate devices or 
being unable to personalize or handle them.Conversely, several clinical trials <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/2331216519900589">measuring the self-fitting process</a> and the benifits of over-the-counter hearing aids <a href="https://doi.org/10.1044/2017_AJA-16-0111">generally report positive outcomes</a> for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. More <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=Hearing+Loss%2C+Sensorineural&amp;term=OTC+hearing+aid&amp;cntry=&amp;state=&amp;city=&amp;dist=">clinical trials are ongoing</a>. To add to the confusion, there is another caveat to those studies: 
Most examined early generations of direct-to-consumer hearing devices 
such as the personal sound amplification products – not the 
over-the-counter hearing aids that are now on the market. That is why 
consumers should take the results of those early studies with some 
skepticism. What’s more, as the market matures, a combination of 
competition and regulation will likely improve the quality of the 
devices.<h2>Questions to consider before purchasing</h2>You’ll want to take into account the look, feel and capabilities of 
the device. Ask yourself: Do you want a hearing aid that looks more like
 a wireless earbud – small and not noticeable? Is it comfortable to wear
 or irritating after several hours? Will it work with a smartphone and 
Bluetooth? How often does it need to be recharged?Also: What is the warranty? How can I get the device fixed if it 
breaks? What’s the return policy? Is there free customer support after 
the purchase? Is the device appropriate for my particular kind of 
hearing issue?Only a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/reviewed/2022/10/17/otc-hearing-aids-buy-now-bose-lively/10523887002/">handful of companies</a>
 now offer over-the-counter hearing aids. Some may not be in the 
business for very long. So choose a brand with a good reputation that 
stands behind its product, offers customer service assistance and lets 
you return the device and receive a refund if it doesn’t work for you.Studies show that people often <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.15009">underestimate the severity of their hearing loss</a>.
 For these people, the over-the-counter devices may not provide adequate
 amplification. Remember, they work only for those with mild to moderate
 hearing loss. In addition, some people may have treatable hearing 
problems, like earwax buildup, that need medical treatment instead of 
hearing aids. That’s why we strongly recommend consumers get a hearing test from an
 audiologist before purchasing the over-the-counter hearing aids. If 
that is not feasible, you can take a <a href="https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation/hearwho">free online hearing test</a> and also <a href="https://sites.northwestern.edu/cedra/">screen yourself for risk of an ear disease</a> or other conditions that may affect hearing. And <a href="https://doi.org/10.1044/2018_JSLHR-H-18-0370">online consumer reviews</a> provide user reports on the perceived benefits and limitations about specific products. If you find the over-the-counter devices don’t work for you, there may be <a href="https://www.hearingloss.org/hearing-help/technology/otc-hearing-devices/otc-hearing-aids/">some issues that are fixable</a>. But if not, don’t forget: You always have the option to return them – and then, make an appointment with <a href="https://theconversation.com/newly-available-over-the-counter-hearing-aids-offer-many-benefits-but-consumers-should-be-aware-of-the-potential-drawbacks-189041">a hearing health care professional</a>.Vinaya Manchaiah, Professor of Otolaryngology – Head &amp; Neck Surgery , University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.Cory Portnuff, Assistant Clinical Professor of Audiology, Clinical Audiologist, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/192936/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

🎥 What to consider before buying over-the-counter hearing aids

By AMY LIEBERMAN <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-at-stake-this-election-day-7-essential-reads-193699">The Conversation</a>

As Election Day closes in, uncertainty and concern about potential 
chaos – from violence at polling sites to candidates refusing to accept 
defeat – <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63494618">continue to rise</a>.

Problems that have historically plagued the U.S. electoral and 
political system – like voter intimidation – are cropping up ahead of 
the midterms. But so, too, are less familiar issues, like how previously
 run-of-the-mill state election positions are becoming opportunities for
 political activism.

Here are seven key issues that affect the midterm elections, drawn from stories in The Conversation’s archive.

Voter participation during midterm elections is typically low – though <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/11/01/turnout-in-u-s-has-soared-in-recent-elections-but-by-some-measures-still-trails-that-of-many-other-countries/">some experts say</a>
 that there could be heavy turnout this year. But the question of who 
actually heads to the polls will also be critical, as races in key <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-election-forecast/">swing states tighten</a>.

Young voters are much less likely to vote during midterms than older 
people, as opposed to their higher turnouts during presidential 
elections, American University government scholar <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=1XMWY78AAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Jan Leighley</a> wrote. Young voters are also more likely to identify as Democrats.

“So if younger voters are underrepresented in the November 2022 
elections, more Republicans may be elected, as well as candidates less 
likely to reflect younger citizens’ views on key issues,” <a href="https://theconversation.com/young-voters-are-more-likely-to-skip-midterm-elections-than-presidential-races-192314">Leighley wrote.</a>

Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/young-voters-are-more-likely-to-skip-midterm-elections-than-presidential-races-192314">Young voters are more likely to skip midterm elections than presidential races</a>

This year, meanwhile, record numbers of Latinos are also expected to 
turn out to vote. In 2020, most Latinos voted for President Joe Biden – 
but increasing numbers of Latino voters are also supporting GOP 
candidates, including former president Donald Trump, <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-gop-made-gains-among-latino-voters-in-2020-but-democrats-remain-the-party-of-choice-for-upcoming-midterms-192679">wrote University of Tennessee social work</a> scholar <a href="https://experts.utk.edu/experts/mary-lehman-held/">Mary Lehman Held.</a>

One reason is that Latino voters have different backgrounds, values 
and priorities. And not all would be turned off by Republican 
candidates’ restrictive immigration politics. 

“Immigration policies only affect a subset of Latinos, most notably 
Mexicans, followed by Salvadorans, Guatemalans and Hondurans,” Lehman 
Held explained.

Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-gop-made-gains-among-latino-voters-in-2020-but-democrats-remain-the-party-of-choice-for-upcoming-midterms-192679">The GOP made gains among Latino voters in 2020 but Democrats remain the party of choice for upcoming midterms</a>

It’s the economy, stupid, <a href="https://politicaldictionary.com/words/its-the-economy-stupid/">as the famous</a> 1992 political adage about voters’ top concern goes.

Soaring inflation <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-inflation-will-likely-stay-sky-high-regardless-of-which-party-wins-the-midterms-193416">rates top voters’</a>
 concerns this year, even though neither political party has been found 
particularly more effective at tackling the issue and bringing down 
inflation, as Texas State University finance scholar <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=eP0xZ1kAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">William Chittenden wrote.</a>

Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-inflation-will-likely-stay-sky-high-regardless-of-which-party-wins-the-midterms-193416">Why inflation will likely stay sky-high regardless of which party wins the midterms</a>

There was a flurry of political activism around the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn <a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1971/70-18">Roe v. Wade</a>
 in June 2022, undoing the federal right to an abortion. But just four 
months later, men and women both say that abortion politics are not 
bringing them to the polls, according to Harvard Kennedy School and 
Northwestern University social science scholars <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vUKLlG4AAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Matthew A. Baum</a>, <a href="https://scholar.harvard.edu/alaunasafarpour/home">Alauna Safarpour</a>, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=P_3neYQAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Jonathan Schulman</a> and <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0JH3YoUAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Kristin Lunz Trujillo</a>.

“The Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson decision may have initially 
mobilized some voters in June and July, particularly women, but its 
effects appear to have diminished when we asked Americans about their 
intentions to vote again in August and October,” <a href="https://theconversation.com/abortion-is-not-influencing-most-voters-as-the-midterms-approach-economic-issues-are-predominating-in-new-survey-191836">they wrote.</a>

Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/abortion-is-not-influencing-most-voters-as-the-midterms-approach-economic-issues-are-predominating-in-new-survey-191836">Abortion is not influencing most voters as the midterms approach – economic issues are predominating in new survey</a>

3. Elections aren’t what they used to be

Gone are the days when election administrators were considered low 
profile, conducting essential – but not flashy – work, like organizing 
voter lists, staffing polling places and counting election results. 

Overall mistrust in elections is high in the U.S. following the 2020 
elections – and former President Trump’s refusal to accept his defeat. 
It’s a new era in politics, where it is not necessarily a given that 
“elections happen, votes are counted, the winners are declared and 
democracy moves on,” wrote Arizona State University’s <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=FdltMX4AAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Thom Reilly</a>, a public governance scholar and former state election official.

One complicating factor is that the U.S. is the only democracy that 
elects many of its election officials, and high-ranking members of the 
Republican or Democratic parties usually oversee elections at the state 
level. 

“That partisan system largely worked until now because, in essence, 
each party checked the other party’s ability to influence election 
outcomes. As long as states were politically diverse, members of the two
 major parties acted in good faith, and this model functioned – albeit 
imperfectly,” <a href="https://theconversation.com/good-faith-and-the-honor-of-partisan-election-officials-used-to-be-enough-to-ensure-trust-in-voting-results-but-not-anymore-189510">wrote Reilly</a>.

But there’s already evidence that newly minted and highly partisan 
poll workers and election observers plan to disrupt the elections, 
potentially diminishing public faith in this essential democratic 
institution and weakening democracy itself. And a high number of 
candidates running for state election administration roles are election 
deniers. If they win, wrote Reilly, that will further erode public 
confidence in election integrity. 

Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/good-faith-and-the-honor-of-partisan-election-officials-used-to-be-enough-to-ensure-trust-in-voting-results-but-not-anymore-189510">Good faith and the honor of partisan election officials used to be enough to ensure trust in voting results – but not anymore</a>

4. Black voters face possible intimidation

Amid warnings from the Department of Homeland Security about 
political violence on Election Day – which University of Maryland, 
Baltimore County security researcher <a href="https://cybersecurity.umbc.edu/richard-forno/">Richard Forno</a> <a href="https://theconversation.com/political-violence-in-america-isnt-going-away-anytime-soon-193597">recently explored</a> – there’s an increased risk that polling sites will become yet another place for political violence.

Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/political-violence-in-america-isnt-going-away-anytime-soon-193597">Political violence in America isn't going away anytime soon</a>

The threat brings to mind <a href="https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/elections/right-to-vote/voting-rights-for-african-americans/">long-standing efforts</a> by white supremacists to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/10/27/voter-intimidation-surging-2020-protect-minority-voters-column/6043955002/">intimidate and</a> threaten Black voters.

Georgia is one place with a long history of voter intimidation that 
is rolling out election reform laws, making it actually harder for 
voters – especially people of color – to vote. One part of this new law,
 called SB 202, removes some voting drop boxes, which people of color 
predominantly use. This comes as Black voters gain number and power in 
Georgia – and the tightened voting rules are reminiscent of the 1940s 
and other times when white conservatives cracked down on voting rights 
in response to rising Black political strength.

“The almost immediate passage of new election laws at a time of 
growing Black political strength suggests the persistence of a white 
backlash in Georgia,” <a href="https://theconversation.com/georgias-gop-overhauled-the-states-election-laws-in-2021-and-critics-argue-the-target-was-black-voter-turnout-not-election-fraud-192000">wrote</a> Emory University <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard-Doner-2">political science scholar Richard Doner</a>.

Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/georgias-gop-overhauled-the-states-election-laws-in-2021-and-critics-argue-the-target-was-black-voter-turnout-not-election-fraud-192000">Georgia's GOP overhauled the state's election laws in 2021 – and critics argue the target was Black voter turnout, not election fraud</a>

Amy Lieberman is Politics + Society Editor at the The Conversation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667396556650.png" alt="Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>By AMY LIEBERMAN <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-at-stake-this-election-day-7-essential-reads-193699">The Conversation</a>As Election Day closes in, uncertainty and concern about potential 
chaos – from violence at polling sites to candidates refusing to accept 
defeat – <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63494618">continue to rise</a>. Problems that have historically plagued the U.S. electoral and 
political system – like voter intimidation – are cropping up ahead of 
the midterms. But so, too, are less familiar issues, like how previously
 run-of-the-mill state election positions are becoming opportunities for
 political activism.Here are seven key issues that affect the midterm elections, drawn from stories in The Conversation’s archive.<h2>1. Who is voting</h2>Voter participation during midterm elections is typically low – though <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/11/01/turnout-in-u-s-has-soared-in-recent-elections-but-by-some-measures-still-trails-that-of-many-other-countries/">some experts say</a>
 that there could be heavy turnout this year. But the question of who 
actually heads to the polls will also be critical, as races in key <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-election-forecast/">swing states tighten</a>. Young voters are much less likely to vote during midterms than older 
people, as opposed to their higher turnouts during presidential 
elections, American University government scholar <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=1XMWY78AAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Jan Leighley</a> wrote. Young voters are also more likely to identify as Democrats. “So if younger voters are underrepresented in the November 2022 
elections, more Republicans may be elected, as well as candidates less 
likely to reflect younger citizens’ views on key issues,” <a href="https://theconversation.com/young-voters-are-more-likely-to-skip-midterm-elections-than-presidential-races-192314">Leighley wrote.</a> 
 
 
 Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/young-voters-are-more-likely-to-skip-midterm-elections-than-presidential-races-192314">Young voters are more likely to skip midterm elections than presidential races</a>
 
 
This year, meanwhile, record numbers of Latinos are also expected to 
turn out to vote. In 2020, most Latinos voted for President Joe Biden – 
but increasing numbers of Latino voters are also supporting GOP 
candidates, including former president Donald Trump, <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-gop-made-gains-among-latino-voters-in-2020-but-democrats-remain-the-party-of-choice-for-upcoming-midterms-192679">wrote University of Tennessee social work</a> scholar <a href="https://experts.utk.edu/experts/mary-lehman-held/">Mary Lehman Held.</a>One reason is that Latino voters have different backgrounds, values 
and priorities. And not all would be turned off by Republican 
candidates’ restrictive immigration politics. “Immigration policies only affect a subset of Latinos, most notably 
Mexicans, followed by Salvadorans, Guatemalans and Hondurans,” Lehman 
Held explained.
 
 
 Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-gop-made-gains-among-latino-voters-in-2020-but-democrats-remain-the-party-of-choice-for-upcoming-midterms-192679">The GOP made gains among Latino voters in 2020 but Democrats remain the party of choice for upcoming midterms</a>
 
 
<h2>2. What voters want</h2>It’s the economy, stupid, <a href="https://politicaldictionary.com/words/its-the-economy-stupid/">as the famous</a> 1992 political adage about voters’ top concern goes. Soaring inflation <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-inflation-will-likely-stay-sky-high-regardless-of-which-party-wins-the-midterms-193416">rates top voters’</a>
 concerns this year, even though neither political party has been found 
particularly more effective at tackling the issue and bringing down 
inflation, as Texas State University finance scholar <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=eP0xZ1kAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">William Chittenden wrote.</a>
 
 
 Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-inflation-will-likely-stay-sky-high-regardless-of-which-party-wins-the-midterms-193416">Why inflation will likely stay sky-high regardless of which party wins the midterms</a>
 
 
There was a flurry of political activism around the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn <a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1971/70-18">Roe v. Wade</a>
 in June 2022, undoing the federal right to an abortion. But just four 
months later, men and women both say that abortion politics are not 
bringing them to the polls, according to Harvard Kennedy School and 
Northwestern University social science scholars <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vUKLlG4AAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Matthew A. Baum</a>, <a href="https://scholar.harvard.edu/alaunasafarpour/home">Alauna Safarpour</a>, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=P_3neYQAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Jonathan Schulman</a> and <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0JH3YoUAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Kristin Lunz Trujillo</a>. “The Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson decision may have initially 
mobilized some voters in June and July, particularly women, but its 
effects appear to have diminished when we asked Americans about their 
intentions to vote again in August and October,” <a href="https://theconversation.com/abortion-is-not-influencing-most-voters-as-the-midterms-approach-economic-issues-are-predominating-in-new-survey-191836">they wrote.</a>
 
 
 Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/abortion-is-not-influencing-most-voters-as-the-midterms-approach-economic-issues-are-predominating-in-new-survey-191836">Abortion is not influencing most voters as the midterms approach – economic issues are predominating in new survey</a>
 
 
<h2>3. Elections aren’t what they used to be</h2>Gone are the days when election administrators were considered low 
profile, conducting essential – but not flashy – work, like organizing 
voter lists, staffing polling places and counting election results. Overall mistrust in elections is high in the U.S. following the 2020 
elections – and former President Trump’s refusal to accept his defeat. 
It’s a new era in politics, where it is not necessarily a given that 
“elections happen, votes are counted, the winners are declared and 
democracy moves on,” wrote Arizona State University’s <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=FdltMX4AAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Thom Reilly</a>, a public governance scholar and former state election official. One complicating factor is that the U.S. is the only democracy that 
elects many of its election officials, and high-ranking members of the 
Republican or Democratic parties usually oversee elections at the state 
level. “That partisan system largely worked until now because, in essence, 
each party checked the other party’s ability to influence election 
outcomes. As long as states were politically diverse, members of the two
 major parties acted in good faith, and this model functioned – albeit 
imperfectly,” <a href="https://theconversation.com/good-faith-and-the-honor-of-partisan-election-officials-used-to-be-enough-to-ensure-trust-in-voting-results-but-not-anymore-189510">wrote Reilly</a>. But there’s already evidence that newly minted and highly partisan 
poll workers and election observers plan to disrupt the elections, 
potentially diminishing public faith in this essential democratic 
institution and weakening democracy itself. And a high number of 
candidates running for state election administration roles are election 
deniers. If they win, wrote Reilly, that will further erode public 
confidence in election integrity. 
 
 
 Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/good-faith-and-the-honor-of-partisan-election-officials-used-to-be-enough-to-ensure-trust-in-voting-results-but-not-anymore-189510">Good faith and the honor of partisan election officials used to be enough to ensure trust in voting results – but not anymore</a>
 
 
<h2>4. Black voters face possible intimidation</h2>Amid warnings from the Department of Homeland Security about 
political violence on Election Day – which University of Maryland, 
Baltimore County security researcher <a href="https://cybersecurity.umbc.edu/richard-forno/">Richard Forno</a> <a href="https://theconversation.com/political-violence-in-america-isnt-going-away-anytime-soon-193597">recently explored</a> – there’s an increased risk that polling sites will become yet another place for political violence. 
 
 
 Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/political-violence-in-america-isnt-going-away-anytime-soon-193597">Political violence in America isn't going away anytime soon</a>
 
 
The threat brings to mind <a href="https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/elections/right-to-vote/voting-rights-for-african-americans/">long-standing efforts</a> by white supremacists to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/10/27/voter-intimidation-surging-2020-protect-minority-voters-column/6043955002/">intimidate and</a> threaten Black voters. Georgia is one place with a long history of voter intimidation that 
is rolling out election reform laws, making it actually harder for 
voters – especially people of color – to vote. One part of this new law,
 called SB 202, removes some voting drop boxes, which people of color 
predominantly use. This comes as Black voters gain number and power in 
Georgia – and the tightened voting rules are reminiscent of the 1940s 
and other times when white conservatives cracked down on voting rights 
in response to rising Black political strength.“The almost immediate passage of new election laws at a time of 
growing Black political strength suggests the persistence of a white 
backlash in Georgia,” <a href="https://theconversation.com/georgias-gop-overhauled-the-states-election-laws-in-2021-and-critics-argue-the-target-was-black-voter-turnout-not-election-fraud-192000">wrote</a> Emory University <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard-Doner-2">political science scholar Richard Doner</a>. 
 
 
 Read more:
 <a href="https://theconversation.com/georgias-gop-overhauled-the-states-election-laws-in-2021-and-critics-argue-the-target-was-black-voter-turnout-not-election-fraud-192000">Georgia's GOP overhauled the state's election laws in 2021 – and critics argue the target was Black voter turnout, not election fraud</a>
 
 
Amy Lieberman is Politics + Society Editor at the The Conversation.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193699/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

7 essential reads: What’s at stake this Election Day

By JAY L. ZAGORSKY <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-winning-1-5-billion-powerball-jackpot-could-still-lead-to-bankruptcy-193921">The Conversation</a>

The latest <a href="http://www.powerball.com/games/home">Powerball</a> jackpot <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/03/us/powerball-jackpot-drawing-no-winner-thursday/index.html">swelled to US$1.5 billion on Nov. 2, 2022</a> – just shy of the record amount – after another drawing passed with no winning ticket. The next drawing will be held on Nov. 5.

The prize is now the third-largest lottery the world has ever seen, <a href="https://www.today.com/money/1-6-billion-powerball-california-couple-claims-winning-ticket-6-t100966">behind a $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot</a> in 2016 and <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/24/us/mega-millions-drawing-wednesday/index.html">$1.54 billion Mega Millions in 2018</a>.

The <a href="http://powerball.com/#powerball-prizes-and-odds">odds of winning</a> are very small, about 1 in 292 million. You are about <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/lightning/victimdata.html">400 times more likely to be hit by lightning</a>. If <a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045217">every adult</a>
 in the U.S. purchased just one ticket, each with a different number, 
there would still be a good chance – about 11% – that no winner would 
emerge at a given drawing and the pot would grow even larger.

But once a winner is declared and claims the prize, a more 
interesting question arises: What happens to all that money and the 
supposedly lucky ticket holder? As <a href="http://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-012-9299-y">research by me</a> and others shows, it’s often not what you’d expect.

The first thing to bear in mind is that while the jackpot is eye-wateringly large, the actual payout will be much less. 

If someone claims it, the winner would not actually receive $1.5 
billion in one big check. As a single winner, he or she can either 
choose a lump sum payment that amounts to about $756 million or receive 
$1.5 billion worth of annual payments that get progressively higher over
 <a href="http://www.megamillions.com/difference-between-cash-value-and-annuity">30 years</a>.

After that, the taxman gets to take a big bite. The federal government <a href="https://www.usamega.com/powerball/jackpot">will take</a>
 about a quarter of a billion dollars, leaving $470 million if it’s a 
lump sum payment. And then the state in which the winner resides will 
take another bite, unless the winner lives in Florida, Texas or another 
state without an income tax.

That jackpot is starting to look a lot smaller, though it’s still a massive chunk of change. 

The conventional wisdom is that winning the lottery will change your 
life. While that’s probably always true, research suggests that it’s not
 always going to change in the way you might hope. 

Economists Guido Imbens and Bruce Sacerdote and statistician Donald Rubin <a href="https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.91.4.778">showed in a 2001 paper</a>
 that people tend to spend unexpected windfalls. A look at lottery 
winners approximately 10 years after they won found they saved just 16 
cents of every dollar won.

In my own research, I found that the average person in their 20s, 30s or 40s who was <a href="http://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-012-9299-y">given an inheritance or large financial gift</a> quickly lost half the money through spending or poor investments.

And other studies <a href="http://doi.org/10.1162/REST_a_00114">have found</a>
 that winning the lottery generally didn’t help financially distressed 
people escape their troubles and instead only postponed the inevitable 
bankruptcy. <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/06/why-the-560-million-powerball-winner-wants-to-stay-unknown.html">One found</a> that one-third of lottery winners eventually go bankrupt.

So how exactly could a lottery winner blow through hundreds of millions of dollars so quickly? It’s not easy. 

Demographic research on lottery players’ characteristics shows that <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10899-010-9228-7">lottery playing peaks</a> when people are in their 30s and falls as people get older. And the average female in the U.S. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/VSRR10-508.pdf">lives to age 80.5 and the average male to 75.1</a>.

So that means, assuming the winner is in her 30s, she would have 
about 45 years or so to spend the lump after-tax sum of, let’s say, $470
 million. That means she would have to spend a bit over $10 million a 
year, or roughly $29,000 per day, to burn through it all – even more 
when you factor in interest accrued while it sits in the bank.

In addition, really blowing it all means the winner has no assets to show for it. If she uses the money to buy luxury homes, <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2018/10/banksy-says-that-painting-was-meant-to-be-totally-shredded.html">Banksy paintings</a>
 and Ferraris and Aston Martins, her net worth wouldn’t actually change 
and she’d be able to retire with her wealth intact – assuming the 
investments kept their value or rose.

Blowing through the money, which leads to bankruptcy and low savings 
rates, means the winner has nothing to show for her spending besides a 
good time, plus goodwill from friends and relatives who went along for 
the ride.

And that’s basically what a man named Huntington Hartford did. 

Hartford, who lived from 1911 to 2008, was the heir to <a href="https://www.groceteria.com/store/national-chains/ap/ap-history/">the Great Atlantic &amp; Pacific Tea Company</a>
 fortune. This company, which started just before the Civil War, is 
better known as the A&amp;P supermarket chain. A&amp;P was the first 
U.S. coast-to-coast food store, and from World War I to the 1960s, it 
was what <a href="https://www.walmart.com/">Walmart</a> is for today’s American shoppers.

Hartford inherited <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1996555/Huntington-Hartford.html">approximately $90 million</a> when he was 12. <a href="http://businessmacroeconomics.com/">Adjusting for inflation</a> means he was given <a href="https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm">about $1.6 billion</a> as a child, after taxes. Yet Huntington <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/arts/design/20hartford.html">declared bankruptcy</a> in New York in 1992, approximately 70 years after being handed one of the largest fortunes in the world.

Hartford had the reverse Midas touch. He lost millions buying real 
estate, creating an art museum and sponsoring theaters and shows. He 
combined poor business skills with an exceptionally lavish lifestyle. 
After declaring bankruptcy, he lived as a recluse with a daughter in the
 Bahamas until he died. 

Hartford’s life story, coupled with academic research, shows that 
coming into a windfall of cash doesn’t always have a happy ending. 
Squandering that money is easier than it seems. 

If you are planning on playing, I wish you good luck. If you are planning on winning, I wish you even more luck.

Nevertheless, one key lesson, whether you play or not, is that when 
you get a windfall or win the lottery, plan ahead and resist the 
all-too-human temptation to spend all the money.

Jay L. Zagorsky is a clinical associate professor at Boston University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667590791099.jpg" alt="Got the winning ticket?" />
 <figcaption>Got the winning ticket?</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAY L. ZAGORSKY <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-winning-1-5-billion-powerball-jackpot-could-still-lead-to-bankruptcy-193921">The Conversation</a>The latest <a href="http://www.powerball.com/games/home">Powerball</a> jackpot <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/03/us/powerball-jackpot-drawing-no-winner-thursday/index.html">swelled to US$1.5 billion on Nov. 2, 2022</a> – just shy of the record amount – after another drawing passed with no winning ticket. The next drawing will be held on Nov. 5.The prize is now the third-largest lottery the world has ever seen, <a href="https://www.today.com/money/1-6-billion-powerball-california-couple-claims-winning-ticket-6-t100966">behind a $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot</a> in 2016 and <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/24/us/mega-millions-drawing-wednesday/index.html">$1.54 billion Mega Millions in 2018</a>.The <a href="http://powerball.com/#powerball-prizes-and-odds">odds of winning</a> are very small, about 1 in 292 million. You are about <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/lightning/victimdata.html">400 times more likely to be hit by lightning</a>. If <a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045217">every adult</a>
 in the U.S. purchased just one ticket, each with a different number, 
there would still be a good chance – about 11% – that no winner would 
emerge at a given drawing and the pot would grow even larger.But once a winner is declared and claims the prize, a more 
interesting question arises: What happens to all that money and the 
supposedly lucky ticket holder? As <a href="http://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-012-9299-y">research by me</a> and others shows, it’s often not what you’d expect. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667590869489.jpg" alt="You’re 400 times more likely to get hit by a bolt of lightning than win the Powerball. Pixabay photo" />
 <figcaption>You’re 400 times more likely to get hit by a bolt of lightning than win the Powerball. Pixabay photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A smaller prize than it seems</h2>The first thing to bear in mind is that while the jackpot is eye-wateringly large, the actual payout will be much less. If someone claims it, the winner would not actually receive $1.5 
billion in one big check. As a single winner, he or she can either 
choose a lump sum payment that amounts to about $756 million or receive 
$1.5 billion worth of annual payments that get progressively higher over
 <a href="http://www.megamillions.com/difference-between-cash-value-and-annuity">30 years</a>. After that, the taxman gets to take a big bite. The federal government <a href="https://www.usamega.com/powerball/jackpot">will take</a>
 about a quarter of a billion dollars, leaving $470 million if it’s a 
lump sum payment. And then the state in which the winner resides will 
take another bite, unless the winner lives in Florida, Texas or another 
state without an income tax.That jackpot is starting to look a lot smaller, though it’s still a massive chunk of change. <h2>Where windfalls go</h2>The conventional wisdom is that winning the lottery will change your 
life. While that’s probably always true, research suggests that it’s not
 always going to change in the way you might hope. Economists Guido Imbens and Bruce Sacerdote and statistician Donald Rubin <a href="https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.91.4.778">showed in a 2001 paper</a>
 that people tend to spend unexpected windfalls. A look at lottery 
winners approximately 10 years after they won found they saved just 16 
cents of every dollar won. In my own research, I found that the average person in their 20s, 30s or 40s who was <a href="http://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-012-9299-y">given an inheritance or large financial gift</a> quickly lost half the money through spending or poor investments. And other studies <a href="http://doi.org/10.1162/REST_a_00114">have found</a>
 that winning the lottery generally didn’t help financially distressed 
people escape their troubles and instead only postponed the inevitable 
bankruptcy. <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/06/why-the-560-million-powerball-winner-wants-to-stay-unknown.html">One found</a> that one-third of lottery winners eventually go bankrupt. <h2>It’s not easy to blow it all</h2>So how exactly could a lottery winner blow through hundreds of millions of dollars so quickly? It’s not easy. Demographic research on lottery players’ characteristics shows that <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10899-010-9228-7">lottery playing peaks</a> when people are in their 30s and falls as people get older. And the average female in the U.S. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/VSRR10-508.pdf">lives to age 80.5 and the average male to 75.1</a>.So that means, assuming the winner is in her 30s, she would have 
about 45 years or so to spend the lump after-tax sum of, let’s say, $470
 million. That means she would have to spend a bit over $10 million a 
year, or roughly $29,000 per day, to burn through it all – even more 
when you factor in interest accrued while it sits in the bank.In addition, really blowing it all means the winner has no assets to show for it. If she uses the money to buy luxury homes, <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2018/10/banksy-says-that-painting-was-meant-to-be-totally-shredded.html">Banksy paintings</a>
 and Ferraris and Aston Martins, her net worth wouldn’t actually change 
and she’d be able to retire with her wealth intact – assuming the 
investments kept their value or rose. Blowing through the money, which leads to bankruptcy and low savings 
rates, means the winner has nothing to show for her spending besides a 
good time, plus goodwill from friends and relatives who went along for 
the ride.<h2>Riches to rags</h2>And that’s basically what a man named Huntington Hartford did. Hartford, who lived from 1911 to 2008, was the heir to <a href="https://www.groceteria.com/store/national-chains/ap/ap-history/">the Great Atlantic &amp; Pacific Tea Company</a>
 fortune. This company, which started just before the Civil War, is 
better known as the A&amp;P supermarket chain. A&amp;P was the first 
U.S. coast-to-coast food store, and from World War I to the 1960s, it 
was what <a href="https://www.walmart.com/">Walmart</a> is for today’s American shoppers. Hartford inherited <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1996555/Huntington-Hartford.html">approximately $90 million</a> when he was 12. <a href="http://businessmacroeconomics.com/">Adjusting for inflation</a> means he was given <a href="https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm">about $1.6 billion</a> as a child, after taxes. Yet Huntington <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/arts/design/20hartford.html">declared bankruptcy</a> in New York in 1992, approximately 70 years after being handed one of the largest fortunes in the world.Hartford had the reverse Midas touch. He lost millions buying real 
estate, creating an art museum and sponsoring theaters and shows. He 
combined poor business skills with an exceptionally lavish lifestyle. 
After declaring bankruptcy, he lived as a recluse with a daughter in the
 Bahamas until he died. <h2>May the odds be ever in your favor</h2>Hartford’s life story, coupled with academic research, shows that 
coming into a windfall of cash doesn’t always have a happy ending. 
Squandering that money is easier than it seems. If you are planning on playing, I wish you good luck. If you are planning on winning, I wish you even more luck.Nevertheless, one key lesson, whether you play or not, is that when 
you get a windfall or win the lottery, plan ahead and resist the 
all-too-human temptation to spend all the money.Jay L. Zagorsky is a clinical associate professor at Boston University.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193921/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

How winning $1.5B Powerball jackpot could still lead to bankruptcy

If you are adding or changing your <a href="https://www.medicare.gov/" target="_blank">Medicare</a> or <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">Healthcare.gov</a>
 coverage during open enrollment, watch out for unsolicited calls 
claiming to "help" you find the best deal. Unfortunately, scammers see 
this open enrollment period as a chance to trick people out of money and
 personal information. Open enrollment runs through December 7 
(Medicare) or December 15 (Healthcare.gov).

Open enrollment has just begun, but <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>
 has already gotten numerous reports of scam calls pretending to be from
 Medicare. In one report, the target received "an automated message from
 Medicare and how they could help me. When I followed the prompts, it 
led me to a nice-sounding male who claimed they were working for 
Medicare." In another report, the person received calls claiming, "I 
requested information from them about Medicare on the Medicare website, 
which I NEVER did."

If you stay on the line, these callers allege they can enroll you in a better plan than what you currently have, according to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us" target="_blank">Scam Tracker reports.</a>
 This new plan is cheaper, and you can keep all the same services. To 
get started, all you need to do is provide some personal information, 
such as your Medicare ID number.

No matter how good the deal sounds and how convincing the caller 
seems, don't do it! The call is a scam, and sharing personal information
 will open you up to identity theft.

Selecting a health insurance plan can be challenging and complex. Be on the lookout for common red flags.

If you are unsure whether a call or offer is from Medicare or you 
gave your personal information to someone claiming to be with Medicare, 
call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it. If you suspect fraud when signing up 
for ACA coverage, go to <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/how-can-i-protect-myself-from-fraud-in-the-health-insurance-marketplace/" target="_blank">HealthCare.gov</a>&nbsp;or call the Health Insurance Marketplace call center at <a href="tel:8003182596" target="_blank">800-318-2596</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBIf you are adding or changing your <a href="https://www.medicare.gov/" target="_blank">Medicare</a> or <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">Healthcare.gov</a>
 coverage during open enrollment, watch out for unsolicited calls 
claiming to "help" you find the best deal. Unfortunately, scammers see 
this open enrollment period as a chance to trick people out of money and
 personal information. Open enrollment runs through December 7 
(Medicare) or December 15 (Healthcare.gov).<h2>How the scam works&nbsp;</h2>Open enrollment has just begun, but <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>
 has already gotten numerous reports of scam calls pretending to be from
 Medicare. In one report, the target received "an automated message from
 Medicare and how they could help me. When I followed the prompts, it 
led me to a nice-sounding male who claimed they were working for 
Medicare." In another report, the person received calls claiming, "I 
requested information from them about Medicare on the Medicare website, 
which I NEVER did."If you stay on the line, these callers allege they can enroll you in a better plan than what you currently have, according to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us" target="_blank">Scam Tracker reports.</a>
 This new plan is cheaper, and you can keep all the same services. To 
get started, all you need to do is provide some personal information, 
such as your Medicare ID number.No matter how good the deal sounds and how convincing the caller 
seems, don't do it! The call is a scam, and sharing personal information
 will open you up to identity theft.Tips to avoid open enrollment scamsSelecting a health insurance plan can be challenging and complex. Be on the lookout for common red flags.<ul>
 <li>Be wary of anyone who contacts you out of the blue. <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov" target="_blank">Healthcare.gov</a> and Medicare provide <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll/get-help-applying/" target="_blank">legitimate help with figuring out which plan</a>
 is right for you. These people — sometimes called Navigators or 
Assisters — are not allowed to charge for their support. If someone asks
 you for payment, it's a scam. You will also need to contact them. They 
will not call you first.&nbsp;&nbsp; </li><li>Be wary of free gifts and "health screenings." Keep a healthy level of skepticism any time a broker offers you <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/13033-scam-alert-beware-of-the-medicare-back-brace-scam" target="_blank">free gifts</a>
 or other special deals. Never sign up with a broker who offers you an 
expensive sign-up gift in exchange for providing your Medicare ID number
 or additional personally identifiable information. Other times, <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/17378-scam-alert-when-a-free-health-screening-is-really-a-health-insurance-scam" target="_blank">brokers offer free "health screenings" to weed out people who are less healthy</a>. This technique is called "cherry picking" and is against Medicare rules. </li><li>Guard your government-issued numbers. Never offer 
your Medicare ID number, Social Security number, health plan info, or 
banking information to anyone you don't know. </li><li>Go directly to official websites.&nbsp;If you want to make changes to your health care plan, go directly to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicare.gov/">Medicare.gov</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/">Healthcare.gov</a>, or your employer's health insurance provider. Don't click on links in suspicious messages.&nbsp; </li><li>Contact your employer directly. If you receive an 
unexpected email about benefits policies, ask your employer about it 
before you click on anything to make sure it's legitimate.&nbsp; </li>
 </ul><h2>For more information: &nbsp;</h2>If you are unsure whether a call or offer is from Medicare or you 
gave your personal information to someone claiming to be with Medicare, 
call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it. If you suspect fraud when signing up 
for ACA coverage, go to <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/how-can-i-protect-myself-from-fraud-in-the-health-insurance-marketplace/" target="_blank">HealthCare.gov</a>&nbsp;or call the Health Insurance Marketplace call center at <a href="tel:8003182596" target="_blank">800-318-2596</a>.&nbsp;

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