05.15.19 | The desire for hand-me-down furniture has evaporated due to taste, economics, or simple lack of space, as rents rise and living spaces shrink. More young people are leaning into the rental or sharing economy — owning less of everything and renting and sharing a whole lot more. The popular workplace-advice site Ask A Manager uploaded a salary survey on how much people get paid. More than 12,000 respondents have answered the survey to date.

05.14.19 | Grammy-winning singer Vicente Fernández, known as “The King of Ranchera Music,” refused a liver transplant over fear of a gay donor. An Oklahoma law is banning bans on plastic bags and other recyclables. And a Pennsylvania bride is upset after a guest loaded up 7 Tupperware containers with food, 3 containers of homemade cookies, a couple bottles of beers, and most of the centerpieces. The guest gave a $5 bill as a wedding gift.

05.08.19 | Comedian, journalist, pop culture expert, and author Frank DeCaro joins The Focus Group. His latest book, Drag—Combing Through the Big Wigs of Show Business is a must have for your coffee table and a great hostess gift! The photos and smart writing is everything you want it to be and more. Get it!

05.07.19 | When covering the stories for TFG Unbuttoned, that quote was never more accurate. The Department of Health and Human Services continues to push forward with allowing “religious freedom” to dictate whether a health care provider can treat LGBTQ Americans, blue states tend to be more LGBTQ business friendly, and major corporations dance around support for Brazil’s homophobic leader. Bottom line: It’s still OK in this country to discriminate against LGBTQ people.

05.01.19 | The Supreme Court takes up three cases that will decide whether federal law protects LGBT employees from being fired for who they are. Albert Davis Lasker, known as ‘The father of Modern Advertising,’ has a Business Birthday. But first, the Brits have a unique way of drawing attention to pot holes, and Tim Gunn throws some shade at Marie Kondo—make it work!

04.30.19 | Gay-friendly towns in red states draw LGBTQ tourists, and Northwest Arkansas is one of many regions trying to build an oasis for LGBTQ visitors from rural America. Nielsen says the TV shows watched by queer people aren’t all that different from straight folks, and Pete Buttigieg was declared ‘Most Likely to Be President’ in High School.

04.24.19 | Gucci is selling a new sneaker that looks dirty and used for as much as $1,500. Many on Twitter feel you could get the same shoe at the Goodwill for four bucks! A Kansas couple has eaten the same meal, at the same restaurant, 6 days a week, for the last 15 years. But first, Tim and John have a beef with taxes, there are no mirrors in bathrooms at Disney World, and a bachelorette party gets out of hand. Chairman of Microsoft, John W. Thompson is the Business Birthday.

04.23.19 | The Royal Canadian Mint will be issuing a new $1 coin to commemorate 50 years since the partial decriminalization of homosexuality. The new Loonie, to be released on April 23rd, is causing backlash from both LGBT activists and social conservatives. Gallup tells us that fewer people than ever consider themselves part of organized religion and rarely attend formal services at a church, synagogue, or mosque. Finally, a 40-year-old man is suing his parents for $87,000 after they tossed his 12 boxes of porn movies, smutty mags, and sex toys.

04.17.19 | Millennials were supposed to be the “car-free” generation, but their ownership of autos looks a lot like that of older Americans. Some tips for stopping modern distractions from stealing your attention, and shopping while having some drinks can really add up. Music exec Don Kirshner is our Business Birthday, and overheard conversations in Los Angeles caught John’s eye.