Identifying Local Opportunities

1. Apartment demand proves costly
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A9366D47EFAD60?  p=AWNB

     I think that this article is primarily about the recent and large increase in apartment mortgages in The U.S. Basically, people are buying less and less houses, and thus causing more of a demand for apartments and renting instead. As an effect of this shift from the norm, apartment renters have begun to feel "cost-burdened", which I feel is the main issue of this article. "The housing market defines a "cost-burdened renter" as someone who spends at least 30 percent of his or her income on housing. At 30 to 50 percent, renters are deemed "moderately burdened." If they pay more than 50 percent, they are counted as "severely burdened."

2. Snowstorm disrupts flights in S. Florida
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A8E37AB077C6A0?p=AWNB

        To me, this article is mainly about all of the flights that were recently canceled in the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, due to the extreme weather in the region. In addition to that, there were many flights also delayed in this airport because of the snowstorm in the east. This therefore, heavily slows down travel, leaving problems for all those passengers waiting for their flight. 

3. Jobless claims hit 6-month high
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A8E37879B1BEB0?p=AWNB

         I feel that this article as on the high number of people seeking unemployment benefits in recent times, as a result of being laid off, specifically during the winter holidays. This is because, as the author indicates, many retail employers are laid off, therefore also being the ones who have the problem. Ultimately, this issue is divided between the employees being laid off and the time period in which they are laid off in.

4. KitKat in no shape for trademark
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A88E9A1E3FE968?p=AWNB

         This article all comes down to rivalry in my opinion. This rivalry is specifically between a couple of chocolate brands trying to trademark the chocolate bar, "KitKat". While Nestle and Cadbury both tried to trademark this bar, Britain's High Court ruled that it hasn't acquired a distinct enough character to satisfy trademark requirements. Thus, leaving both of these brands out of this pursuit. Still, Nestle planned to appeal, saying that the shape of the bar had been used in Britain for more than 80 years.

5. No consensus on privacy issue
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A8380A091AFA78?p=AWNB

         I feel that this article surrounds the topic of privacy in our society today. Nowadays, pretty much every place there is to know, from one's car to their home, is public property, and can be seen by practically everyone. And although there are certain benefits to public display of information, such as lower energy bills, people still do believe that privacy has become a non-existent idea now, and needs to be given more importance.