Skype Use Surges 70 Percent, Goosing Microsoft Shares

With an expected 300,000 visitors descending on the city, some wonder if Detroit is ready to handle this onslaught of attention. But city officials insist the city is more than prepared. The din of construction greets visitors to Woodward Avenue, Detroit’s main thoroughfare. The brand-new Hudson’s Tower, now officially the city’s second-tallest building, reached its top height of 681 feet on April 11.

Skills matter but don’t be deceived, says Mark Miller. Unless you harness your skills in tandem with the right heart, your skills become irrelevant. Have you ever known a leader who appeared to have it all: vision, creativity, passion, a knack for team building, and a fair share of really good ideas?

The takeaway: we’d rather get a recommendation from a friend. It turns out there are some benefits to having a smaller social media following. According to a new study published in the Journal of Marketing, influencers with fewer followers have a little more leeway when it comes to the language they use to shill their wares.

Multiple studies suggest that jobs held by women are more likely to be disrupted by advancements in artificial intelligence. Many workers are worried that their jobs will be replaced by artificial intelligence, and a growing body of research suggests that women have the most cause for concern.

As global leaders negotiate the world’s first plastic pollution treaty, here are some real-world ways to start phasing out single-use plastic. Of the 400-million-plus tons of plastic that the world produces each year, more than a third is only used once before it’s thrown out. Each minute, by some estimates, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic waste ends up in the ocean.

Communities across the US are finding clever ways to crack down on the short-term housing market, making more homes available for residents. This story was originally published by Reasons to Be Cheerful.