Current Events in December 2015

Let's start by noting that you are lucky to get any food when flying coach on a U.S. airline. That said, when passengers are served food at 30,000 feet, just how healthy is it?

That was the question DietDetective.com set out to answer. Its report rates the food for 12 airlines, with five stars being the highest rating and no stars being the lowest. The survey includes health ratings, average calories per airline, cost, comments, best bets, food offerings, calories, and exercise equivalents.

“This year Virgin America wins the top spot again with the "healthiest" food choices in the sky with Delta and JetBlue tied for second,” said Charles Platkin, editor of DietDetective.com and a professor at Hunter College and the City University of New York School of Public Health.

Frontier Airlines received the lowest score, and Platkin says was the least cooperative.

Virgin America gets four and a half stars

Virgin America achieved four and a half stars with an average calorie count – including meals, snack boxes, and individual snacks – of 352.27 calories.

Delta flew away with a four star rating but an average calorie count of 512. JetBlue also achieved a four star rating. Its average calorie count was lower than both Virgin America and Delta – 327.

When flying, Platkin says you are likely to get hungry. Though security restrictions are much tighter than they used to be, he suggests travelers bring food with them, or purchase it after passing through security.

Bringing your own

Water is one of those things you'll probably have to buy at the concourse snack bar or gift shop. But it's important, Platkin says, because dehydration can lead to -- or increase -- hunger, jet lag, and fatigue.

He says low-calorie cereals are also a good choice. Look for portable choices at under 120 calories per cup. You can also look for cereal in a cup. It's portion controlled in 1.5-ounce packs that are easy to store and easy to use, he says.

Fruit and salads are very healthy but can't always stand up to the rough treatment air travel often entails. You can buy them at the airport and pay a little more than if you made them at home, but Platkin says it is always a better alternative to what is served on board.

For ease and convenience, it's hard to beat an energy bar. Although they tend to be high in calories and fat, Platkin says they are sure to be healthier than a slice of pizza or a candy bar at the airport.

Connectedness is key in the kitchens of the future. Whether you’re looking to reduce food waste, cook to address your personal health profile, or stay better connected to the origins of your food, smart appliances will be at your service. Basically, thanks to Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, all appliances within the home will be able to “talk” to each other.

The advent of these smart appliances goes hand in hand with the advancement of smart phone technology, according to Brian Jones, director of marketing for appliance brands Sub-Zero and Wolf. “The trend of appliances being controlled by phones is now a reality as phones get smarter and become more integrated into personal lives,” says Jones.

“Homeowners want to manage and control their home features and appliances from anywhere they wish, be it on a command center in their home, on their phones or other devices in the home, or remotely," he says — and in the kitchens of the future, that becomes a possibility. 

Future features

What else is cooking in the kitchens of the future?

• Appliances will be wired to actively monitor their contents and reorder when it senses supplies are running low. Products that are near their expiration dates would be moved closer to the front.

• Each family member can print the dinner they want when they want using a countertop 3-D printer that takes likes and dislikes, food allergies, and nutritional needs into account.

• Induction cooktops using magnetic energy and compatible pans will heat up only the pan placed on it; the rest of the surface can be safely used for other tasks.

• At the touch of a button, counters, sinks and cooking surfaces can move up or down appealing to the height of people sharing a kitchen as well those with disabilities. Stoves can be moved up so children don’t hurt themselves, while the sink can be lowered so they can easily wash their hands.

• Integration facial recognition technology will make it so that the kitchen can automatically set itself to a combination of desired settings—from counter height to ambient lighting and background music—as soon as the user is home.

• Virtual chefs will be projected directly into consumers’ kitchens to guide their cooking.

• Integrated systems will read data from fitness-monitoring devices and suggest meals appropriate to certain situations, such as muscle recovery after a strenuous workout.

• Sinks would come equipped with a finger sensor that could read users’ hydration levels, dispensing water when it’s needed.

• Video monitoring will help consumers see exactly what they have and systems that are linked to ovens and stoves will create recipes that use the meal preparation ingredients that are expiring.

• A fridge will use ultraviolet light to sterilize food within it, keeping it safe from spoilage. A blast chiller instantly takes leftovers out of the danger zone where bacteria thrive.

Volkswagen has announced the appointment of attorney Kenneth Feinberg to design and administer a program to address claims related to the 2.0L and 3.0L TDI vehicles affected by the diesel emissions scandal.

If that name sounds familiar, it should. Feinberg has been the point man for major claims settlements for more than a decade. His appointment is the clearest signal yet that Volkswagen is prepared to write some big checks.

“We are pleased to announce the retention of Kenneth Feinberg,” said Michael Horn, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. “His extensive experience in handling such complex matters will help to guide us as we move forward to make things right with our customers.”

That experience includes being appointed by then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to administer the September 11^th Victims Fund. In 2010, when a BP oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, spilling millions of gallons of crude, President Obama and BP's chairman agreed on Feinberg to run the claims process that handed out billions of dollars in checks.

Major step

“This is a major step in resolving Volkswagen’s diesel challenges,” said Karl Brauer, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “The company’s TDI customers are some of its most loyal and passionate, which is why many have felt so disappointed by the events of the past few months. Feinberg’s experience in organization and resolving matters between customers and large corporations is exactly what VW needs right now.”

Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for Autotrader, cut straight to the chase.

“Kenneth Feinberg has become the go-to money dispenser for companies with problems that require payouts to customers,” she said.

Starting immediately

In good news for affected owners, VW said Feinberg will immediately get to work on designing an independent claims process for consumers who own the affected vehicles.

Horn said the company hopes to have a claims program in place as soon as it is practicable.

“In order to do so, we will need the input not only of Volkswagen, but also vehicle owners, their lawyers, and other interested parties,” Horn said.

For consumers with a vested interest in the outcome of this latest development, information is available here.

Nissan North America is recalling 18 model year 2015-2016 GT-Rs manufactured February 24, 2014, to June 16, 2015 to be sold in Puerto Rico.

The recalled vehicles have a Certification Label that is missing the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

Due to the label missing the GVWR/GAWR information, the operator may overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will apply a corrected label, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 32,784 model year 2015-2016 Jeep Cherokees manufactured February 18, 2015, to September 10, 2015 and equipped with the power liftgate option.

Water may leak into the Power Liftgate Control Module and result in a high resistance short circuit. A short circuit in the module increases the risk of a fire.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the module and connectors for corrosion, replacing the damaged components as necessary. The mastic shield will be removed and the module will be covered with a water shield. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R67.

The recalled bean bag chairs have two zippers, including an outer zipper that does not have a pull tab and another zipper directly underneath that zipper.  Although the outer zipper on the bean bag chair does not have a pull tab, children can open it. Once they have opened the outer zipper, they can open the inner zipper which contains the foam beads and crawl inside.

Children can suffocate or choke on these foam beads. The voluntary standard requires non-refillable bean bag chairs to have closed and permanently disabled zippers. Ace met the voluntary standard’s requirement for a warning label.

The two deaths involved a 13-year old boy from McKinney, Texas died and a 3-year-old girl from Lexington, Ky. who suffocated from lack of air and inhaling the chair’s foam beads. Both children were found inside the chairs.

The recalled chairs with zippers that can be opened were sold in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors and fabrics. They include round or L-shaped, vinyl or fabric, and are filled with polystyrene foam beads.

They were sold in a variety of colors, including purple, violet, blue, red, pink, yellow, Kelly green, black, port, navy, lime, royal blue, turquoise, tangerine and multi-color.  The round bean bag chairs were sold in three sizes, 30, 32 and 40 inches in diameter. The L-shaped bean bag chair measures 18 inches wide by 30 inches deep by 30 inches high. “ACE BAYOU CORP” is printed on a tag sewn into the bean bag chair’s cover seam. They were made in China.

The recalled bean bag chairs, manufactured in China, were sold at Bergner's, Big Lots, Bon-Ton, Boston Store, Carson's, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's, Meijer, Pamida, School Specialty, Wayfair, Walmart and Younkers stores and online at Amazon.com, Meijer.com, Walmart.com and other websites from 1995 to 2013 for between $30 and $100.

To prevent another death, consumers should check the outside zipper on their bean bag chair to ensure that it has a metal staple to disable the outer zipper. If it does not have a metal staple, take the recalled bean bag chair away from children immediately and contact Ace Bayou for the free repair kit to permanently disable the zipper.

Consumers may contact Ace Bayou toll-free at 855-571-8151 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday or online atwww.acebayou.com and click on “Recall Information” for more information.

Focus Bicycles USA of Carlsbad, Calif., is recalling about 501Focus Izalco Max bicycles in the U.S. and Canada.

The headset could cause the carbon-fiber fork steer tube to crack, posing a fall hazard.

The firm has received 11 reports of incidents outside the U.S., including one reported injury in France. No incidents have been reported in the U.S.

This recall involves the 2014-2015 Focus Izalco Max bicycles with Acros-brand upper headsets. The headsets are black with the word “Acros” printed in white on the upper headset.

The bicycles, manufactured in Germany or Taiwan, were sold at independent bicycle retailers nationwide,  and online at www.bikebling.com andwww.carbonconnection.com from January 2014 through August 2015 for between $1,800 and $9,500.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycles and contact Focus Bicycles to schedule a free repair.

Consumers may contact Focus Bicycles USA toll-free at 877-753-4480 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday or online at http://recall.focusbikesusa.com/.

Car makers and technology companies are driving like mad to test and develop driverless cars. But California, the state with more autonomous cars on the road than any other, is putting on the brakes.

The state's Department of Motor Vehicles is proposing an outright ban on "driverless" cars -- meaning cars with no licensed driver. It wants to have at least one licensed driver onboard any car that rolls along public roads, so that someone can take control if things go awry.

The DMV also wants to require a steering wheel and brake pedal. Again, just in case. 

“The primary focus of the deployment regulations is the safety of autonomous vehicles and the safety of the public who will share the road with these vehicles,” said DMV Director Jean Shiomoto in a prepared statement. “We want to get public input on these draft regulations before we initiate the formal regulatory rule making process.”

"Gravely disappointed"

Google, which sees itself as leading the autonomous car derby, reacted negatively.

“Safety is our highest priority and primary motivator as we do this,” spokesman Johnny Luu wrote in an e-mail to Automotive News. ”We’re gravely disappointed that California is already writing a ceiling on the potential for fully self-driving cars to help all of us who live here.”

It's not as dramatic as it sounds. For one thing, the DMV is required by a law passed in 2012 to adopt regulations governing self-driving vehicles. It would be surprising if it simply said, in effect, "anything goes."

Or as Shiomoto's statement put it: "The draft regulations are designed to address complex questions related to vehicle safety, certification, operator responsibilities, licensing and registration, privacy, and cyber-security."

The thing about regulations is that, unlike laws. they can be changed as conditions and politics warrant, so whatever the DMV does this year can be modified down the road as autonomous cars are perfected.

Significant impact

Nevertheless, any rule adopted by California will have significant impact on the future of autonomous cars. Google's self-driving cars have been plying the streets of Palo Alto for years and have run up more than a million miles, according to Google. The state is likely to remain Ground Zero for autonomous vehicles in the future. 

Besides being home to Google and other high-tech companies, California is by far the largest state and has more registered vehicles -- nearly 30 million -- than any other state. Texas is second with about 23 million.

Google, which started testing its self-driving cars in Austin, Texas, this summer, issued a statement saying the proposed California regulations woud hamper the development of technology that could prevent car crashes and improve mobility for those who don't drive.

The proposal hits hardest at those that could be dreaming of deploying fleets of robotic taxis that would pick up passengers, drop them off at their destination, and then continue on, driverless, to their next pick-up.

The DMV has scheduled two public hearings for early next year to take testimony on the proposed regulations. It has also asked California Partners for Advanced Transportation Technology (PATH), a research program of the University of California, Berkeley, to conduct a review of the "behavioral competencies necessary to safely operate autonomous vehicles."

The goal of the peer review is to engage industry experts, researchers, and other stakeholder organizations in more in-depth technical discussions of behavioral competencies in the context of the regulations. This peer review will also supplement feedback gathered in the public workshops. 

The full text of the draft for autonomous vehicle deployment regulations and the workshop notice is available on DMV Autonomous Vehicles.

Looking to boost your home’s IQ? Whether in the interest of saving money, time, or the environment, incorporating some eco-efficient products into your home can make a big difference on your daily life.

Sustainable home improvement store TreeHouse just released its list of top smart-home products. From thermostats that know when you're sleeping, door locks and lighting controls that you manage from your phone, and ceiling fans that sense when you're in the room, 2015 has been a year of innovation in the world of smart-home technology.

"2015 was huge because we saw products become easier to use and less expensive,” said the company’s president and co-founder, Jason Ballard. 'Smart home' no longer means building the Jetsons' house. It means adding products to your home that make it safer and healthier."

Here is TreeHouse’s list of the top seven smart-home products of the year.

• Combination Smoke Alarms. The smoke and carbon monoxide detector combinations that hit the market this year offer features like industrial-grade smoke sensors, self-tester functions, and durability to last up to a decade. With one brand in this category, Nest Protect, you can hush the alarm straight from your phone.
• Smart Sprinklers. Use your laptop to schedule watering times and automatically adjust for the weather. The Rachio Intelligent Sprinkler Controller boasts a 20-50% savings on watering bills.
• Home Security. Now easier to install than ever, smart locks and video cameras allow you the ability to lock and unlock your door from your phone. Nest Cam has live streaming, night vision, and activity alerts, and with August Lock, you can create virtual keys for guests.
• Smart Thermostats. Nest thermostats are a best-seller over at TreeHouse. Another consumer favorite is the Ecobee smart thermostat, which features the ability to monitor the temperature in multiple rooms. Both brands have been popular choices for people buying their first smart-home tool.
• Lighting. Make it seem like you’re home when you’re not, with geofencing technology — the biggest lighting innovation since LED. Your lights can welcome you home or turn off automatically when you leave. Most brands in this category let you change the color of the lighting in your home, and some, like Philips Hue, can even keep you informed about the weather.
• Air Quality Monitors. These smart devices monitor the air in your home and tell you how to make it better. The Foobot detects volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity.
• Smart Fans. Big Ass Fans’ residential ceiling fan was the only product over $500 to make the list. The company’s Haiku fan knows when you enter or leave a room and even offers a ‘Whoosh’ mode that simulates a natural breeze.

Tactics including illegal visits to consumers at their homes and workplaces, empty threats of legal action, lying about consumers’ rights, and exposing consumers to bank fees through unlawful electronic withdrawals have gotten EZCORP into hot water with the feds.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has ordered the company to refund $7.5 million to 93,000 consumers, pay $3 million in penalties, and stop collection of remaining payday and installment loan debts owed by roughly 130,000 consumers. EZCORP is also barred from future in-person debt collection.

“People struggling to pay their bills should not also fear harassment, humiliation, or negative employment consequences because of debt collectors,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “Borrowers should be treated with common decency. This action and this bulletin are a reminder that we will not tolerate illegal debt collection practices.”

Loads of unlawful activities

Until recently, EZCORP, headquartered in Austin, Tex., and its related entities provided high-cost, short-term, unsecured loans, including payday and installment loans, in 15 states and from more than 500 storefronts. It did this under names including “EZMONEY Payday Loans,” “EZ Loan Services,” “EZ Payday Advance,” and “EZPAWN Payday Loans.”

On July 29, 2015, after the CFPB launched its investigation, EZCORP announced that it would cease offering payday, installment, and auto-title loans in the U.S.

The CFPB found that EZCORP collected debts from consumers through unlawful in-person collection visits at their homes or workplaces, risked exposing consumers’ debts to third parties, falsely threatened consumers with litigation for non-payment of debts, and unfairly made multiple electronic withdrawal attempts from consumer accounts, causing mounting bank fees.

Specifically, the CFPB’s investigation found that EZCORP:

• Visited consumers’ homes and workplaces to collect debt in an unlawful way;
• Illegally contacted third parties about consumers’ debts and called consumers at their workplaces despite being told to stop:
• Deceived consumers with threats of legal action;
• Lied about not conducting credit checks on loan applicants;
• Required debt repayment by pre-authorized checking account withdrawals;
• Exposed consumers to fees through electronic withdrawal attempts; and
• Lied to consumers, saying that they could not stop electronic withdrawals or collection calls or repay loans early.

Terms of enforcement

Under the consent order, EZCORP must:

• Pay $7.5 million to 93,000 consumers;
• Stop collection of its remaining payday and installment debt;
• Stop illegal debt collection practices; and
• Pay a civil penalty of $3 million.

The government funding bill headed toward President Obama's desk contains a provision that seemed to come out of nowhere – a lifting of the 40-year ban on U.S. oil exports.

Republicans pushed that proposal back in August, but Democrats blocked it. Most seemed to think the issue was dead.

But in end-of-the-year deal making, Democrats traded their acceptance of lifting of the ban for new renewable energy incentives. Of course, not all Democrats were opposed to allowing U.S. oil producers to sell their oil overseas.

In the newly oil-rich state of North Dakota, the state's two senators – Democrat Heidi Heitkamp and Republican John Hoeven, worked together to persuade other lawmakers to go along.

Heitkamp said she has worked for more than a year to repeal the export ban, meeting with members of Congress – especially Senate Democrats – and top White House officials to explain why lifting the ban makes sense.

Tough sell

Heitkamp admittedly had the tougher job, since Republicans were already in favor of lifting the ban. One by one, Heitkamp found members of her party who saw the merits of her point of view.

Hoeven said he has repeatedly called for repealing the ban and worked persistently to get it included in year-end legislation. The senator, who serves on the Energy Committee, is a co-sponsor of bipartisan legislation lifting the ban that passed the committee this summer.

“Lifting the ban on crude oil exports is a triple win – it will create jobs and grow our economy. It will keep the price of gasoline lower at the pump for consumers because of more supply, and it will bolster national security through energy security,” said Hoeven.

He points to studies at the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the non-partisan Brookings Institute and the Harvard Business School as supporting a resumption of U.S. oil exports, stopped in the 1970s during persistent shortages and rising prices.

Gasoline exports have never been banned

Current law does not block exports of U.S. gasoline, only oil. In the last year, since a price war launched by Saudi Arabia, the growing U.S. oil industry has been stopped in its tracks.

Hoeven says a study by IHS, a global provider of data and analysis, projects that lifting the ban will attract an estimated $750 billion in new investments and create nearly 400,000 additional jobs in the U.S. between 2016 and 2030.

“This deal to lift the 40-year old ban on exporting oil is a huge win for North Dakota and it reinforces the importance of good-faith, bipartisan negotiations and legislating,” said Heitkamp.

What's it mean for consumers?

Consumers worried that a resumption of U.S. oil exports will end the low gasoline prices they currently enjoy might have a point. However, every credible source suggests there is so much oil, both in the U.S. and around the world, and demand is actually leveling off, that supply is likely to outpace demand for the foreseeable future. Exports of U.S. oil will just make the current oil glut larger.

If U.S. refiners are allowed to sell as much gasoline on the world market as they want, and it hasn't raised prices, it might follow that exporting oil currently sitting in storage tanks might not have an impact either.

After rising for two weeks in a row, first-time applications for state unemployment benefits have posted a decline.

The Department of Labor (DOL) reports initial jobless claims were down 11,000 in the week ending December 12, to a seasonally adjusted 271,000. The previous week's level of 282,000 was unrevised.

Officials say there were no special factors affecting this week's initial claims.

The four-week moving average, which strips out the volatility of the weekly report and is considered a more accurate gauge of the labor market, came in at 270,500, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's unrevised average.

The complete report is available on the DOL website.

Economic outlook

The Conference Board's Leading Economic Index (LEI) rose in November for a second consecutive month.

The forecaster of economic performance for the next 3-6 months was up 0.4%, following a 0.6% increase in October. It was flat in September.

“The U.S. LEI registered another increase in November, with building permits, the interest rate spread, and stock prices driving the improvement,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Director of Business Cycles and Growth Research at The Conference Board. “Although the six-month growth rate of the LEI has moderated, the economic outlook for the final quarter of the year and into the new year remains positive.”

The LEI, essentially a composite of several individual indicators, is constructed to summarize and reveal common turning point patterns in economic data in a clearer and more convincing manner than any individual component

The ten components of the LEI include:

1. Average weekly hours, manufacturing
2. Average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance
3. Manufacturers’ new orders, consumer goods, and materials
4. ISM Index of New Orders
5. Manufacturers' new orders, non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft orders
6. Building permits, new private housing units
7. Stock prices, 500 common stocks
8. Leading Credit Index
9. Interest rate spread, 10-year Treasury bonds less federal funds
10. Average consumer expectations for business conditions

BMW of North America is recalling 13 model year 2015-2016 Rolls-Royce Phantoms manufactured May 22, 2015, to September 23, 2015.

The recalled vehicles have left and right side curtain air bags that may not been manufactured properly.

As a result, the air bags may not position themselves as intended during deployment, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a vehicle crash.

Rolls-Royce will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin January 11, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

In one of the best-telegraphed moves in history, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee has voted to raise the Federal Funds interest rate by 0.25%.

The tiny rate hike is significant only because the Fed has kept the rate at 0% since 2008, part of its effort to keep the economy on life support in the wake of the financial crisis and Great Recession.

After several false starts – Wall Street thought it would happen in September – there was little doubt the Fed would move at the December meeting. The only question was whether it should raise rates. There are plenty of economists who argued against it.

The reason? The economy is still weak and inflation is nowhere in sight. In the past the Fed has raised rates to dampen inflation and cool an overheating economy. That's clearly not the environment now.

So why raise?

So why is the Fed doing it? Some have speculated that, as bizarre as this might sound, the Fed wants higher rates so it can lower them again if the economy begins to falter.

Former Obama Administration economic advisor Larry Summers has argued on his blog that raising rates now, just for the sake of raising rates, is a serious mistake, especially if it slows an already slow economy.

“There is certainly a real risk that slow speed becomes stall speed becomes recession,” Summers wrote. “On average mature recoveries like the present one last less than an additional three years. And given how low rates are and the political aversion to the use of fiscal policy a substantial slowdown could have very severe consequences.”

Impact on consumers

In truth, whether this rate hike shoves the economy into a recession is by far the biggest potential impact it will have on consumers. While it is true that credit card rates are often influenced by the Federal Fund Rate, a quarter percent rise is unlikely to be noticed much if you're already paying about 15% on your balance.

And yes, if you have a savings account at your local bank, you might see a little more interest – but a tiny bit.

Consumers who own stocks and bonds will also feel the impact. In anticipation of the Fed rate hike, the value of “junk,” or high-risk bonds, has plunged in recent weeks. Some think stocks are poised for a sell-off over the next few months.

A Bank of America poll of fund managers found 58% expect the Fed to raise rates three more times in the coming 12 months. A net 43% of regional fund managers expect China’s economy to weaken in 2016, up from a net 4% last month.

As Generation Z (defined as those between 16 and 20) starts shopping for briefcases and baby boomers head out the door, a generational shift in the workplace can be felt. As a result, employers have begun looking for ways to engage these younger counterparts of Gen Y — a generation for whom technology is second nature and fun appears to be a priority.

Statistics show this generation already makes up nearly 7% of the American workforce, and by 2019, 30 million of them are expected to be employed.

According to Bruce Tulgan, founder of Rainmaker Thinking, the entrance of Generation Z will lead to profound changes in the workplace.

"Generation Z grew up with great uncertainty. They grew up in times of war, and it's much different than Generation Y that grew up with peace and prosperity," says Tulgan, in an interview with USAToday.com. "They've come out with radically different prospects of what they need to do in their work lives."

So what attracts this generation to a place of employment and motivates them to succeed?

Rewards and clear-cut demands

Showing them the prize, so to speak, is one way to drive performance. This is a generation that has grown up with awards for everything they do and lots of do-overs, according to Tulgan. Employers will have to negotiate performance standards and reward clearly and specifically on a continual basis — and it will pay off.

“There will be highly valuable rising stars in this group who are attracted to employers who can offer them jobs with elements that excite them,” he says.

And while Gen Ys prefer more money as incentive to work harder (in order to pay off student loans and move out of their parent's basement), Gen Zs prefer career opportunities. They are entrepreneurial-minded.

Interpersonal mentoring

Interpersonally, however, this group will need some mentoring. Generation Z’s interpersonal skills are often lacking as a result of not having gotten basic manners ingrained in them the way other generations did.

"They have tremendous energy and enthusiasm, but there's a big gap in the old-fashioned basics like personal responsibility and work habits," Tulgan says. “Many of them lack problem-solving skills, and this is due in part to an increased level of ‘helicopter parenting’ of this generation."

They have not demonstrated an ability to look at a situation, put it in context, analyze it, and make a decision. So in order to tap the intelligence on this group, they’ll need structure.

Defined roles

“They’re very accustomed to boundaries and protection,” says Tulgan, so a laser-focused explanation of their role and a well-defined chain of command are needed.

Small, highly-defined work groups with a strong peer leader work best. Investing in high-tech, interactive team building exercises, such as The Go Game, can also be helpful in driving performance and retaining talent.

A big misconception about Gen Z is that they are exactly like Gen Ys, and it’s not true. Gen Ys are more optimistic (and therefore come across as entitled), but Gen Zs are realistic with their workplace expectations. This outlook alone is set to have a huge impact on the workplace.

New home construction took off in November following a slump the month before.

A joint release from the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development puts privately-owned housing starts at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,173,000 -- up 10.5% from the revised October rate of 1,062,000. It's also 16.5% above the same month a year ago.

Ground-breaking for single-family homes was up 7.6% last month to a rate of 768,000, while starts for apartment buildings -- those with five units or more -- totaled 398,000, a gain of 68,000 over October.

“This month’s housing starts report is the first solid, meaningful report on new construction we’ve seen since the early spring,” said realtor.com Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke. “The monthly and yearly trends in both starts and permits were statistically significant, meaning the data are finally communicating a clear and positive trend.”

Building permits

Regarding building permits, authorizations for construction of privately-owned housing units shot up 11.0% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,289,000 -- is 19.5% above the November 2014 rate of 1,079,000.

Permits for single-family construction came to 723,000, 1.1% above the revised October figure of 715,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 539,000, down 127,000 from October.

The surge in permits would appear to bode well for the year ahead.

“We expect starts to increase 12% in 2016,” said Smoke, “reaching 1.23 million starts for the year, which will be the highest year for starts since 2007, when the 30-year fixed conforming mortgage rate averaged 6.34 percent.”

The complete report is available on the Census Bureau website.

Mortgage applications last week surrendered nearly all the gains they made the previous week.

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey shows applications were down 1.1% in the week ending December 11.

The Refinance Index, meanwhile, was up 1%, sending the refinance share of mortgage activity up 2% -- to 60.7% of total applications.

The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity fell to 6.0% of total applications, the FHA share was unchanged at 14.0%, the VA share rose to 11.2% from 10.8 percent the week prior, and the USDA share of total applications slipped to 0.6% from 0.7% a week earlier.

Contract interest rates

• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs) with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) was unchanged at 4.14%, with points increasing to 0.45 from 0.43 (including the origination fee) for 80% loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate was unchanged from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year FRMs with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,000) dipped to 4.01% from 4.02%, with points decreasing to 0.30 from 0.40 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year FRMs backed by the FHA was down one basis points from 3.91% to 3.90%, with points decreasing to 0.31 from 0.43 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 15-year FRMs fell to 3.38% from 3.39%, with points decreasing to 0.35 from 0.39 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs rose two basis points to 3.25%, with points increasing to 0.36 from 0.30 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.

The survey covers over 75% of all U.S. retail residential mortgage application.

Kawasaki Motors U.S.A., of Irvine, Calif., is recalling about 19,500 Teryx recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs).

Sticks or other debris can break through the vehicle’s floor board and protrude into the foot rest area, posing an injury hazard to the operator and front passenger.

About 11,000 ROVs were recalled for the same hazard in July 2014, and 7,000 for a different hazard in August 2012.

The company has received 628 incident reports of debris cracking or breaking through the floor boards of the vehicles, including eight reports of injuries to riders’ lower extremities.

The recall involves 2012 and 2013 model year Teryx4 750 4x4 (four seats) and 2014, 2015, 2016 model year Teryx 800 4x4 (two seats) and 2014, 2015 and 2016 model year Teryx4 800 4x4 (four seats) recreational off-highway vehicles.

These four-wheel off-highway vehicles have automotive style controls and seating for two or four. The Teryx 800 has side-by-side seating for two people, two doors, a roll bar with hand holds and a cargo bed. The Teryx4 750 and Teryx 4 800 have side-by-side seating for four people, four doors, a roll bar with hand holds and a cargo bed.

The models come in three different styles: Non-EPS, EPS and EPS LE. The LE style has a roof and aluminum wheels. The model name is printed on the driver’s side of the hood or on the left and right front fender.

The 2012 Teryx4 750 model comes in blue, camo, green, yellow, and red. The 2013 Teryx4 750 model comes in black, camo, green, red, white, and yellow. The 2014 Teryx4 800 model comes in green, camo, yellow, and orange.

The 2015 Teryx4 800 model comes in green, orange, white, camo, and black. The 2016 Teryx4 800 model comes in camo, white, green, red, and gray.

The 2014 Teryx 800 model comes in camo, green, and blue. The 2015 Teryx 800 comes in green, white, black and camo. The 2016 Teryx 800 comes in green, gray, camo, and white.

The ROVs, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at Kawasaki dealers nationwide from November 2011, through November 2015, for between $13,400 and $16,300.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vehicles and contact an authorized Kawasaki dealer to schedule a free repair, consisting of the installation of floor board guards and replacing damaged floorboards. Consumers with previously repaired vehicles should contact Kawasaki dealers to receive this additional repair.

Consumers may contact Kawasaki toll-free at 866-802-9381 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PT_ Monday through Friday or online at www.kawasaki.com and click on Recall/Safety Info at the bottom of the page for more information

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BMW of North America is recalling 42 model year 2015-2016 M3 Sedans manufactured May 30, 2015, to September 2, 2015; 2016 M4 Coupes manufactured July 3, 2015, to September 11, 2015; and 2015-2016 M4 Convertibles manufactured May 29, 2015, to August 4, 2015.

The affected vehicles have a driveshaft with a slip-joint that may not have been filled with grease, resulting in failure of the slip-joint over time. The resulting loss of power to the rear axle would cause the vehicle to stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driveshaft, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2016.

Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.