Today's Photo Of The Day is "Red Fox Posing in the Snow" by Eric Wellman. Location: Nebraska.
Want to get your images in the running for a Photo of the Day feature? Photo of the Day is chosen from various galleries, including Assignments, Galleries and Contests. Assignments have weekly winners that are featured on the website homepage, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To get your photos in the running, all you have to do is submit them.
To help you enjoy the rest of your college experience and have a smoother path to graduation, here are some helpful tips on how to schedule your study sessions and enhance the quality of your assignments.
Achieving a positive mindset is half the battle in the sales sector. Can you use online training to adjust negative attitudes and enforce positive behaviors in the workplace?
If you had room to grow and didn't, you're a failure – regardless of your achievements. David Shapiro said, "The purpose of life is to grow and give." Only perfect people don't need… Continue reading →
The Yellow Pine Pit, a legacy mining site that was used throughout the 20th century to mine for gold, tungsten, antimony and silver in the historic Stibnite Mining District of central Idaho. Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times
YELLOW PINE, Idaho — Net in hand, Louis Reuben waded into the frigid waters where his ancestors once fished, long before Idaho's rivers were dammed and contaminated, before the Nez Perce were driven off their land when white miners struck gold.
"They used to say you could walk across the river on the backs of salmon," he said one rainy autumn morning as he tallied and measured the depleted stocks of young Chinook salmon that hatch in these mountain creeks. "Now, it's totally different. It's devastating, if you think about it."
President Biden came into office vowing to safeguard Native American resources like these and uphold the rights of tribes that have endured generations of land theft and broken treaties. But in the rolling headwaters of central Idaho, where mining interests have long overrun tribal rights, the administration's promise is colliding with one of its other priorities: starting a revolution in renewable energy to confront climate change.
Deep in the Salmon River Mountains, an Idaho mining company, Perpetua Resources, is proposing a vast open-pit gold mine that would also produce 115 million pounds of antimony — an element that may be critical to manufacturing the high-capacity liquid-metal batteries of the future.
As it seeks the Biden administration's approval for its mining plans on federal lands, Perpetua is waging an aggressive campaign to cast itself as an ally in a new clean-energy economy. It says its Stibnite Gold Project would be the only American mine to produce antimony, which now largely comes from China, and would supply the metal to a Bill Gates-backed start-up that makes batteries that could one day store energy on solar-powered electricity grids.
"It's responsible, modern mining," Mckinsey Lyon, a Perpetua vice president, said as she led a tour up to the dormant mining site, still contaminated by decades of mining. She said Perpetua would clean up the mountainous basin while extracting "minerals our country needs for energy security."
The Biden administration has warned that failing to expand the nation's supply of rare-earth minerals, including antimony, could present a risk to the nation's energy and military preparedness. But deposits of antimony in the United States, unlike the one in Idaho, are generally small, and some of them locked away in mines that have been shuttered for decades.
Perpetua has launched a Washington campaign to press its case. In Idaho, it has made direct promises of money to neighboring communities, contingent on the project's success.
Residents in Yellow Pine support the proposed mine because of the employment opportunities it would bring to the area.Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times
Members of the Nez Perce tribe's Department of Fisheries Resources Management track how many male and female coho salmon have returned to Lapwai Creek.Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times
The clean-energy public relations campaign is the newest threat to the Nez Perce, who for generations have watched fish populations decline and pollution rise. Mining interests drove them out of their homelands and fouled their rivers and ancestral hunting grounds. For a community trying to preserve its culture and kinship with the territory, an effort that has involved millions of dollars invested in restoring fish stocks, the proposed mine represents another existential threat.
A review by the Environmental Protection Agency found that Perpetua's initial plan for a 20-year operation would inflict "disproportionately high and adverse impacts" on tribes, according to a November 2020 letter from the agency, and environmental groups have warned that the mine could damage or destroy huge swaths of fish habitat.
The Nez Perce are not alone. Across the American West, tribal nations are on the front lines of a new debate over how to balance the needs and costs of clean energy. Extracting the fuels of the future is a process that is often far from clean, and just as fights over the environmental costs of oil exploration helped define the fossil fuel era, conflicts like this one are creating the battle lines of the next energy revolution.
The push to unearth new minerals presents a hard choice for the Biden administration in politically divided Western states where mining remains an important source of jobs and political power. The choices are destined to grow more challenging as commodities like lithium, copper, cobalt and antimony become more valuable, and critical to the nation's future.
Perpetua says its Idaho mine holds enough antimony to one day power a million homes using hulking batteries that would capture and release energy created by solar farms. Perpetua and its partner, the battery-maker Ambri, say the batteries would last for 20 years and lose little of their power-storing capacity over their lifetimes, potentially revolutionizing America's power grids.
But the batteries are a new technology that have yet to prove their effectiveness in the real world. And it will likely be at least another five years before any Perpetua project is able to deliver any antimony to be made into batteries.
In the Santa Rita Mountains in Arizona, a Canadian mining company that is seeking federal approval to dig an open-pit mine over the objections of the Tohono O'odham, Pascua Yaqui and Hopi people has said its copper will provide "the key element to our green energy future."
The tribes say the mines would damage their hunting and fishing lands, siphon scarce water and desecrate burial grounds and ceremonial sites.
In Nevada, the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone are protesting a mining company's efforts to blast apart a dormant volcano to dig for lithium — a critical mineral used in batteries for electric cars. In the Big Sandy River Valley in Arizona, another lithium mining project could destroy a hot spring considered sacred by the Hualapai Tribe.
An hour outside of Phoenix, leaders of the San Carlos Apache have been reaching out to Democratic leaders to stop a copper mining project that the tribe says would destroy a swath of sacred ground called Oak Flat. The British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto wants to dig an underground copper mine that would create a mile-wide crater in the earth, which Apache people say would destroy land where they pray and hold four-day ceremonies to usher girls into womanhood.
The Biden administration delayed the project by withdrawing an environmental review that was fast-tracked in the final days of the Trump administration. But the tribe wants the project killed.
Terry Rambler, chairman of the San Carlos Apache, said he had been calling Mr. Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, whose agency oversees the Tonto National Forest where the proposed mining site sits. The tribe has vested special hopes in persuading Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American cabinet secretary, to intervene.
"There's a lot of hope and trust in her," Mr. Rambler said.
Environmental groups worry that the mine could be devastating to fish habitat in the area.Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times
The Biden administration already has put limits on exploration, going to court to disrupt the Pebble Mine project in Alaska and barring new oil and gas leases in Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. Other projects are also getting renewed scrutiny, but the administration has not closed any doors.
Steve Feldgus, the Interior Department's deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management, said in a statement that the department was committed to building a clean-energy economy while also protecting communities.
"We recognize that as demand for clean energy technology increases over the short- and medium-term, an increased supply of critical minerals and materials will be necessary to meet national and global climate goals," he said. The agency will be engaging with a variety of groups, including tribes, to "ensure critical minerals production is sustainable and responsible," he said.
We all know that in relationships, it's important to tell your person how you really feel. Whether you're looking for good morning texts, flirty texts for your wife, sweet text messages for a girlfriend, we've got you covered with loving text messages for her!
There are so many great ways to show how you feel, but communication is always key, right? So let her know she's on your mind with these loving text messages for her!
Loving Text Messages for your Wife
1. It doesn't matter how many years we've had together, I'm still amazed that you chose me.
2. You are my forever.
3. I'm just a grateful husband today, thinking of my fantastic wife and wondering how the heck I got so lucky in this life.
4. I wonder if you realize how lucky you make me feel every single day just to be yours?
5. You are the one thing in my life that I know I can always count on; thank you!
6. Getting to spend my days trying to show how much I love you is basically my life's work and I am NOT complaining!
7. I just had to stop what I'm doing to tell you that you are somehow getting more and more beautiful with each passing year.
8. For my birthday this year, I don't even want anything. You've literally given me everything a man could possibly want.
9. Being your husband is an honor, just an FYI.
10. It doesn't matter how busy our days get, you are still in my thoughts each and every day.
11. You are still my everything.
12. You are the main reason the future always looks so bright, do you know that?
13. Our past, our present, our future, I’m here for all of it, babe.
14. Building a life with you is a dream come true and I’m so proud to be your husband.
15. Can I take you out later? I just like being able to show off my beautiful wife every once in a while.
Funny Text Messages for Her
16. The only time I really question your judgment is when I'm trying to figure out why the heck an angel like you settled for me?
17. Every day I'm just trying my hardest to make you happy so you don't look over at me and wonder "what the heck was I thinking with this guy?" Is it working so far?
18. You're the complete package, just call me UPS because I'm here to take you wherever you want to go.
19. Did you always know you’d someday be royalty? Y’know, since you’re the queen of my world?
20. I'm just a guy trying to figure out what the heck a girl like you is doing with a schmuck like me?
21. You're so cool I feel like I need to get you some wool socks for your birthday.
22. I think you might be my kryptonite… one look from you and I'm weak in the knees and can't think straight! Who needs strong knees and clear thinking anyway?
23. You're so sweet you're going to give me a cavity but I'm not worried… you're worth it.
Good Morning Texts for Her
24. Each morning I literally leap out of bed now because I know the sooner I get moving, the sooner I get to see you.
25. Good morning beautiful, are you tired from running through my dreams all night long?
26. I know it's a little early, but let's be honest: you don't need any more beauty sleep, you're just making it incredibly unfair for all the other women in the world!
27. I hope you had a great night's sleep, I definitely did because I got to dream of you.
28. Woke up snuggling my phone this morning because it's basically the closest I can get to you right now… I'll take it!
29. I wake up with a smile on my face because we are together… here's hoping I can put a smile on yours, too.
30. I dream of you each night and still wake up craving your presence… I've got it bad here!
31. Good morning to the woman who drives me crazy (in the best of ways!) all day and all night.
32. Good morning to the prettiest woman I know.
33. Good morning babe, here's hoping you have a day that's all smiles and sunshine!
34. My mornings became a whole lot brighter when you came into my life.
35. I know you were worried about today, just want you to know you've got this and I'm proud of you!
36. Good morning! Mornings are actually really good now that you’re in my life.
Flirty Texts for Her
37. I am planning a date night for us… torn between wanting to take you out and show you off to the world and wanting to keep you all to myself… any thoughts?
38. Okay, okay, okay… I know you can handle yourself out there, but as irresistible as you are, are you just out there swatting guys back left and right? How exhausting that must be!
39. I think about you all day long and all I can say is… please keep it up, I love it!
40. I’m just over here counting down the minutes until I get to see you again.
41. To the woman who makes me smile like a cheese ball all day long, hello!
42. Just sliding in your DMs the same way you are sliding in my thoughts all day long.
43. So is your superpower charm, beauty, wit, smarts, or all of the above? Because I feel like it’s all of the above and it doesn’t seem fair that one woman could be so powerful in this world!
44. It’s a beautiful day today, but not nearly as beautiful as you.
45. I'm just a dude hoping to make his girl smile a little… did it work?
Spicy Texts for Her
46. How am I supposed to get any work done when thoughts of you keep me deliciously distracted all day???
47. I keep thinking about last night with you. I'm not complaining, btw.
48. I can still smell your perfume on my pillow. I LOVE it.
49. There is something about the way the corner of your lip curls up when you give me "that look" that just drives me wild… I can not get it out of my mind!
50. What we did last night has completely wrecked any chance I had of being productive today. I would like to do it again tonight, what do you think?
51. You’re like a song that I can’t get out of my head, but it’s more like a feeling in my body that just won’t stop.
52. I just keep thinking of you and all the naughty things we will hopefully be doing later tonight.
53. You really turned up the heat last night… I mean, I might need some aloe over here today!
54. Remember our first time? Yeah, me too…!
55. Your voice and your smarts and your face and your body are a lethal combination and I’m about dead after last night… wanna do it again?
56. I remember the way you taste and let’s just say it is not helping me stay on track at work today.
57. Just seeing your name pop up on my screen sets my body on fire.
58. I can not get last night out of my mind and it is not helping productivity here, I can tell you that.
59. Did you know you could set someone’s mind on fire with just a text? Because you just did.
60. I'm getting ready for our date tonight and just the thought of being with you is making it hard to stay focused here, lol.
61. I am craving you today, please tell me I can see you tonight?
62. You're like a movie that's just always playing on a loop in my thoughts and it is NOT PG.
Sweet Text Messages for your Girlfriend
63. Somehow, the more I learn about you, the more I like you. Is there no upper limit to this thing?
64. You are seriously the cutest person I've ever known, I just keep chuckling about the other day!
65. Since you’ve come into my life, every day seems to get a little better; thank you!
66. You are so funny, I keep laughing to myself thinking about that thing you told me the other day.
67. Someone asked me if I had a girlfriend the other day, and I think I was actually blushing trying to tell them about you… what kind of voodoo magic are you doing on me over there? Don't stop.
68. Learning more about you just makes me even more into you, thank you for sharing so much of yourself with me.
69. I think you're absolutely gorgeous and I just feel crazy lucky to call you my girlfriend.
70. Of course it’s not all about looks but OMG YOU’RE SO BEAUTIFUL IT MAKES ME CRAZY.
71. You are the coolest girlfriend ever and I just wanted you to know that.
72. I keep thinking about you at work and it makes me grin this super cheezy grin, people are starting to wonder what the heck is going on with me, I think!
73. I want to take you out later because I'm still in disbelief that you're my girlfriend, we need some witnesses to this thing.
74. My favorite part of you being my girlfriend is EVERYTHING.
75. Someone asked me if you were my girlfriend the other day and it basically made my entire day to be able to say yes!
There are so many ways to build a strong relationship and maintain great connection with your favorite person, but sending loving text messages for her every now and again is a sure-fire way to remind her that even when you're apart, she still has your heart!
Updated on December 31st, 2021 by Bob Ciura Grocery stocks are in an uncertain position. Industry trends are changing, as more consumers gravitate toward online shopping and grocery delivery, trends that were accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, competition among grocery stocks is heating up. E-commerce giant Amazon.com (AMZN) made a huge entry into grocery […]
Updated on December 30th, 2021 by Bob Ciura To invest in great businesses, you have to find them first. That's where Warren Buffett comes in… Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) has an equity investment portfolio worth more than $293 billion, as of the end of the 2021 third quarter. Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio is filled with quality stocks. […]
We asked our reporters to write about the most memorable sports moments of 2021 — not the grandest or most historic events, just the moments they think of first when they look back on the year.
The Cincinnati Bengals, led by Joes Burrow and Mixon, center, had 575 total yards of offense in their win last week over Baltimore.Andy Lyons/Getty Images
All times are Eastern.
Football
On Saturday, watch the Fiesta Bowl, as Notre Dame (11-1) takes on Oklahoma State (11-2) (1 p.m., ESPN). Notre Dame is hoping to clinch its first win in one of the top six New Year's Day bowl games in over two decades. In the evening, watch Utah (10-3) play Ohio State (10-2) in the Rose Bowl (5 p.m., ESPN).
On Sunday, watch the Arizona Cardinals face the Dallas Cowboys (4:25 p.m., Fox). While Arizona has clinched a playoff spot, they have lost three consecutive games and may play with some desperation, Emmanuel Morgan writes. Kansas City and the Cincinnati Bengals are likely to provide the best contended game of the weekend (Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS). After a 3-4 start, Kansas City has not lost since October, and its defense has improved drastically after being one of the league's worst.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Get a warm-up for the 2022 Olympics by catching some skiing and snowboarding on the first day of the year.
Peacock will be streaming the World Cup circuit's stop in Calgary, which will double as a U.S. Olympic qualification event for freestyle skiing halfpipe athletes (Saturday, 8 p.m.). And at noon, watch the beginning of snowboard slopestyle's World Cup season.
Sign up for the On Soccer With Rory Smith newsletter, for Times subscribers only.
Chief soccer correspondent Rory Smith takes you from the biggest matches to the smallest leagues, covering the tactics, history and personalities of the world's most popular sport.
For those of us who report from Canada for The New York Times, it was again a year in which there was no escape from covering the pandemic. But the arrival of vaccines and the drop in infection rate (remember that?) did mean that we were again regularly traveling throughout the country.
Here are some highlights from our recent experiences.
Sections of Merritt, British Columbia, were washed out by the flooding in November.Ian Willms for The New York Times
A Day in the Mountains
British Columbia couldn't catch a break in 2021. There was a record heat wave that led to hundreds of deaths and wildly out of control forest fires that destroyed the town of Lytton. Flooding this fall killed four people and caused damage to buildings, highways, utility lines and railways. The rainfall was devastating, killing 628,000 chickens, 420 dairy cows, 12,000 hogs and submerging 110 beehives.
More grim findings soon followed from other First Nations communities.
The discoveries were confirmation of former students' stories that many of their classmates died while being forced to attend the schools: from malnutrition, disease spread through overcrowding, fires, neglect and abuse from clergy who ran the schools.
In my many years reporting on the residential school system — established to eradicate Indigenous identity and cultures — I hadn't seen the same level of intense public reaction that these recent events evoked. The unmarked graves seemed to have made real the horrors of residential schools for many Canadians and people around the world.
It was while reporting on the issue in Kamloops, British Columbia, that I had a meeting I won't soon forget. Garry Gottfriedson is a residential school survivor, educator, a former rancher and a poet who studied under Allen Ginsberg.
The former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia lit with orange lights, in recognition of the children whose bodies were discovered there.Amber Bracken for The New York Times
Mr. Gottfriedson invited the photographer Amber Bracken and me to travel with him up into the mountains outside of Kamloops where his grandmother spent her summers. We were joined by some of his extended family members and planned to hunt for a medicinal root.
The harvest didn't work out. Mr. Gottfriedson learned from a cousin that the plant had matured beyond its harvest point earlier in the year. But we did have an extraordinary day. We sat under a tree, its pine scent filling the air, for a long conversation about residential schools, his activist rancher parents who also traveled the rodeo circuit, poetry and life in general.
Much of our conversation made it may into an article. The Times's podcast "The Daily" used it to tell the story of residential schools.
In a year of much bad news, meeting Mr. Gottfriedson, among many other Indigenous people, brought me hope. He and others are living proof that the residential school system ultimately failed in its objective of destroying their cultures.
— Ian Austen
Unforgettable landscapes and people
Residents and visitors in Domaine de la Florida live in temperatures well below freezing, with plastic palm trees imported from China.Nasuna Stuart-Ulin for The New York Times
In a pandemic year, made worse by the agony of periodically being stuck at home, the stories that stand out are the ones that allow me to explore new landscapes. Among the most memorable was a faux Florida retirement community in Quebec, with 30-foot fake plastic palm trees covered with snow.
I went there during a chilly March. Because the pandemic had spoiled their annual pilgrimages to Miami, the 520 residents of Domaine de la Florida had re-created a make-believe tropical refuge in Quebec, trading in their bathing suits for thermal underwear and living in identical boxy houses on streets with names like Cocoa Avenue.
The complex had a pool (closed off because of freezing temperatures) and golf carts to whisk residents to summertime shuffleboard games. Locals even decorated their gardens with pink flamingos, and held outdoor barbecues in winter.
The effect was both surreal, a tad kitsch and entirely endearing, impressing upon me the adaptability of human beings during a pandemic.
"At least we had a white Christmas this year and can pretend we're in Miami," Gérard Ste-Croix, a 71-year-old resident, told me while cradling his shivering Yorkshire terrier, Mala.
My year was also defined by a series of heartbreaking stories. The one that stood out the most was a reporting trip to Manawan, an Indigenous reservation, to report on the death of Joyce Echaquan, an Indigenous mother of seven, who passed away in a Quebec hospital amid a torrent of racist taunts, which she had captured on video.
Joyce Echaquan's husband, Carol Dubé, at Mirermowin camp, outside Manawan, Québec.Hubert Hayaud for The New York Times
The trip to the reserve over a 50-mile unpaved dirt road was harrowing, and made me wonder how ambulances endured it. Indigenous leaders on the reserve told me that road accidents were frequent.
The trip underlined the health care challenges faced by Canada's 1.7 million Indigenous citizens, including prejudices that were shortening life spans. On the reserve, families of as many of 20 people were living in four-room houses, making self-isolation challenging during a pandemic.
I was awed by the resilience of Ms. Echaquan's husband, Carol Dubé, who told me about the pain he had endured since her death, including having to tell his young children that they no longer had a mother.
— Dan Bilefsky
Trans Canada
Braulio Rocha showing bar mitzvah photographs to the Rosen family children at a Montreal synagogue.Nasuna Stuart-Ulin for The New York Times
This week's Trans Canada section was compiled by Vjosa Isai, Canada news assistant.
Braulio Rocha, a Roman Catholic Portuguese immigrant, started his life in Canada as a janitor at a Montreal synagogue, where a chance encounter launched him on a new path as the city's bar mitzvah photography king. Mr. Rocha is the subject of this week's Saturday profile by Dan Bilefsky.
Devon Island is an uninhabited Arctic outpost in Nunavut featuring a 14-mile-wide crater left by a cosmic impact. For scientists, it's also the perfect backdrop for pretending to be on the moon or Mars.
The Montreal-born director Jean-Marc Vallée, who made a big mark in Hollywood, sought to expose the imperfections of human nature. He was found dead last weekend of a heart attack, his publicist confirmed. He was 58.
Health care pressures are mounting across Canada as hospitals battle the Omicron wave. In Quebec, health care workers who test positive for Covid-19 will be required to continue showing up for their shifts if they satisfy certain requirements, including being asymptomatic. The province also reinstated a curfew on New Year's Eve.
The World Junior Championship, an annual hockey tournament scheduled to run until Jan. 5 in Alberta, was canceled on Wednesday after several players tested positive for Covid-19.
A native of Windsor, Ontario, Ian Austen was educated in Toronto, lives in Ottawa and has reported about Canada for The New York Times for the past 16 years. Follow him on Twitter at @ianrausten.
Dan Bilefsky is a Canada correspondent for The New York Times, based in Montreal. He was previously based in London, Paris, Prague and New York. He is author of the book "The Last Job," about a gang of aging English thieves called "The Bad Grandpas." @DanBilefsky
How are we doing? We're eager to have your thoughts about this newsletter and events in Canada in general. Please send them to nytcanada@nytimes.com.
Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here.
Yes, you heard that right, a diesel engine in what is essentially a salvaged Tesla Model 3 will soon house an oil burner powered by the fuel of Satan. YouTuber Rich Rebuilds is known for his Tesla-centric content on the web, and this one is his next project.
We really do live in some strange times. I mean who would have thought about a decade ago that a family sedan could give zillion-dollar hypercars a run for their money. Back then most people would associate an EV with milk floats or those buggies or golf carts you see at a fancy resort. The Tesla Model S Plaid is a far cry from those days and Tesla is responsible for initiating a paradigm shift in the auto industry.
Pickup trucks have dominated the American market for the longest time, and this isn't bound to change anytime soon. There are tens of pickup trucks available today, and unless you are clear with your requirements, you are sure to get confused with what to pick. With electric trucks entering the market, the confusion is only going to intensify. When we sat down to pick the best trucks of 2021, we knew we were in for a trouble given the numerous choices that we have. So, to make it simpler, we decided to go with new that were launched in 2021.
Presenting to you, the five best pickup trucks of 2021. Spoiler alert – two of these are EVs!
The BMW M5 is offered in standard and Competition versions, with the latest one delivering a total of 617 horsepower. However, there was also the M5 CS - which was rolled out in March 2021 - which delivered a total of 627 horsepower and was also 230 pounds lighter than the M5 Competition. Even if the M5 CS is already out of production, the German tuner G-Power decided to offer current owners the possibility to add a lot more power under the hood.
San Francisco is one of the most distinctive places, at least to anyone who isn't native to the US, or the state of California. While the city, with its up/downhill streets, is a favorite location for many iconic movies – "Bullit", "Dirty Harry", "Escape from Alcatraz", and others – which we know and love, it's another thing to see footage from the city's dynamics, on street level. If you are one of the people who lived the 1950s and 1960s San Francisco life, the following footage would take you down memory lane.
You are subscribed to email updates from Top Speed. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.
Email delivery powered by Google
Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States
It's been a very difficult year in the market. The Bauman Letter itself has done reasonably well, with some picks not having done very well, but we did have a couple of them that saw triple-digit gains just during this calendar year. The more aggressive picks that we reserve for things like my Profit Switch portfolio, and to a certain extent for our options portfolios run by Clint Lee, have had a torrid time of it, particularly in the second half of the year.
I think there's a story behind that, and it's one that is going to be increasingly important going forward. Because if things carry on the way they are, it's difficult to see how ordinary investors are going to be able to identify the kinds of stocks that are going to give the kind of gains that we want, really without doing incredible amounts of analysis. To try to dig deep and find particularly small and microcap stocks that are on the cusp of maybe doing big things.
On the other hand, buying popular names in the market has proved to be a very unprofitable business this year, and here is why. One of the big statistics for this year, one of the things that struck me more than anything else, was the notion that the amount of liquidity that flowed into stocks this year was larger than the previous 19 years combined.
Now, what that means is that the money that flowed into equity funds, which is things like ETFs, mutual funds, and other funds that invest in equities, simply blew everything else away. Part of the reason for that, of course, was because bonds are relatively unattractive because of just super-low interest rates. So, you can blame the Fed for some of this. But there's another factor behind that, and that's what some people call a perpetual motion machine in the market.
So let's start with the fact…
Right now, the concentration of the top 10 stocks in the S&P 500 is at its highest level since the late 1970s. The only time when we've seen more concentration in the S&P 500 was during the dot-com bust, or boom and then bust. But otherwise, we've tended to see a much more broadly based, more participative market.
All that changed right around 2015, 2016. Really, I think the deciding factor was after the Taper Tantrum, when the Fed tried to pull back on the QE. You can see that in 2012 and 2013. When it abandoned that, then basically the market took off. I think a lot of that had to do with the arrival of just mega, mega amounts of liquidity courtesy of the Fed, even if it's indirect.
Now, what's that got to do with the structure of the market?
Well, here's the thing. What happens when a lot of money goes into index funds, for example? When they go into mutual funds, which are a form of index fund, or ETFs, which are a form of index fund? Well, there's a certain dynamic that becomes self-reinforcing.
So, let's look at what has happened with these so-called passive strategies … in other words, where you buy a fund and somebody else picks the stock for it. Here's a chart that shows passive holdings as a percent of assets under management of all U.S. equity, and then also global in the black line.
What happened to the passive strategies?
In 2021, we passed 50%. We were at 50% in 2019, 2020, but it peaked above that in 2021. Now, what that means in practice is that more than half of the money invested in stocks is not being invested by active investors, but by passive investors who are buying index funds, buying ETFs, buying mutual funds, and other people are doing the picking.
Now, when a stock is added to an index fund or a smart beta fund, in other words, a fund that tries to focus on low volatility as opposed to high volatility, it's kind of an artificial form of increased popularity of that stock. Right?
I mean, if people who manage these funds, these index funds, adds these positions to their stocks, it basically becomes a more popular stock and its price goes up. That in turn pushes up the value of the index funds that are investing in all of that, and as a result, as they increase in size and more people buy, these managers have to buy more of these stocks. So that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, a perpetual-motion machine.
Now, when growth stocks, technology stocks, and low volatility all become basically the same thing, and when people then begin to design index funds and other kinds of products based on those factors, where you're trying to get growth, you're trying to get exposure to big tech like Apple, Google, Amazon, etc. … you're trying to get low volatility, all that ends up into a situation where all those things get a crowded trade.
But the crowded trade is not coming from retail investors. It's coming from the money managers who are essentially piling money into the same kinds of stocks at the index fund level.
Now, what that's done is created a long-term trend where the top stocks in these index funds end up really driving markets to 15% to 20%, even 25% returns on an annualized basis. But behind that, the rest of the market hasn't done all that well.
That's what's happened this year.
So effectively, if you look at the performance of the top five or six stocks in the S&P 500 right now, they account for more than 50% of the gains in the market this year. So more than half of the gains in the S&P 500 have come from just those five, or six, or seven top stocks.
Now again, what that means is that if you're running an index fund that includes, let's say, the S&P 500, or top stocks, or whatever, then you're going to buy a lot of those stocks, and that's going to push their price up even further. And when you have a lot of liquidity coming into markets like we've had this year, the result is that you get this perpetual-motion machine that artificially pushes the market up and leaves everything else behind.
Now, the big question is, why were things so different during 2020?
What was different in 2020?
Why did we see such outsized gains beyond those top stocks?
Well, it was simple. Because everything crashed during the COVID crisis. And when the Fed stepped in to basically backstop the market, it led to massive gains if you bought near those bottoms. And people made triple-digit gains hand over fist. It was happening all over the place with all kinds of stocks.
Now, I was skeptical.
A lot of people who've been following my channel for a while like to throw the double bottom thing at me.
I get it. Basically, I did not expect the market to react that way. But clearly there were factors like the increased liquidity that came from Federal stimulus payments, the fact that people were bored at home, the so-called bored market hypothesis of Matt Levine at Bloomberg. All these things led to very unusual market situation, which led to big gains.
But then we got to the first quarter of this year, and when we got to February and March, all of a sudden the market decided they'd had enough. Investors decided they'd had enough with these high-growth, at least high-momentum stocks that were seeing just ridiculous valuation metrics. Their multiples were getting out of hand.
So right around the end of the first quarter of this year, all those stocks, the stocks that people had piled into and that had done really well in the previous six, or eight, or nine months, all of a sudden those stocks fell off a cliff.
And as I've pointed out quite a few times, as we've spoken about on Your Money Matters on Mondays, our videos then, we've also seen a big fall in the average stock. The average stock in almost every major index is down by more than 10%. In some cases by more than 20%, depending on the index.
That means that the average stock is in correction or in a bear market in every single index, whereas the indexes themselves have reached multiple highs. In fact, 2021 has the second-highest number of new records for the S&P 500 in history. The only one that was higher was back right before the dot-com bust.
Now, here's the problem with that. If you're trying actively to find stocks and to try to beat the market, you've got two options. One is that you buy what everybody else is buying, and then use leverage to try to boost your gains. Or you have to go and look for other kinds of stocks, and hope that you get the right ones that are going to beat this market that is growing at this high rate because it's become a perpetual-motion machine.
Just to recap, when stocks get concentrated, everybody wants those stocks. Everybody buys them as part of a passive investment strategy. As passive investment strategies become more popular and more money goes into those funds, those stocks increase even more, pulling them even further away from the market and making it more and more difficult to beat the average benchmark.
6 out of 10 couldn't beat the market
Now, here's a chart that shows the relative performance of active managers.
This is not just people like me who run newsletters, but everybody. We're talking about hedge funds, we're talking about all kinds of investment advisors who manage money on behalf of clients.
If you look at the proportion of those who beat the market during 2021, it's only about 40%. So only about 4 out of 10 active managers actually managed to beat the market this year. That's actually higher than it was in 2020. The percentage who missed, of course, is over 60%. Those who missed by quite significant amounts range from 40% to 50%.
So the bottom line here is that everybody who has tried to find value, find yield outside of this very, very top of the market, has struggled this year. I've struggled this year.
Now, the stocks that we've picked that deliver dividends and that deliver strong-quality cash flows, those stocks have done well.
Those that are going to earn most of their profits in the future when they break through, they're building a new product, they're building a new market, those are the stocks that have taken a beating.
Now, the big question is, what do you do in a situation like this going forward?
Do you just accept that from now on the only way to invest is to put your money in a passive index fund, and you're going to guarantee yourself 20% a year as long as these huge stocks keep making money?
Their earnings are growing, and they're growing rapidly because they're quasi-monopolies. So even without the PE expansion that we've seen in the last couple of years, they're still going to do well. Right?
So question is, how do you beat that?
I think what it's going to take is a return to the kind of investigative looking at very, very small-cap companies that are on their way up. That is the traditional preserve of most high-returning investment managers.
Now, Cathie Wood at ARK, for a long time has been seen as the kind of model for that approach. But she's also struggled this year, because the stocks that she piled into and that she helped to push up by buying loads of them into her funds have also fallen off this year. And she's had a torrid year, like a lot of other of people.
Now, the big question is: What does it take to turn that around?
Well, the first thing is that those companies that have seen big losses this year are going to have to turn their own profitability and their own margins around. They're going to have to demonstrate that they are the next big earners, the next quasi-monopolies, if you like, in their areas.
In fact, the two highest gainers for The Bauman Letter, both the two companies that are at the very top of our performance are both what you could call quasi-monopolies. They hold enormous market share, over 50% in their relative markets. That seems to be the secret. But to get there, you've got to start somewhere. And the big question is going to be in 2022, what are the stocks that are really going to start turning hype and promise into actual earnings and return?
That's going to come by having good products that people want, not just by telling good stories. The good-story approach to buying stocks, the SPAC approach? That really fell apart at the beginning of this year and it has yet to recover.
So my big call for next year is that we have to find a way to beat passive investing, and the only way to do that is to find the stocks that are actually performing and ignore those that are just being hyped up.
Because if you get high up in that PE-ratio hype, where multiples are expanding because everybody wants the stock, you're just as likely to get slaughtered over the next couple of months and quarters as to do well.
That's been the lessons of 2021.
Well, that's it for 2021. Happy new year. See you on the other side.
I believe together, we can hit 50,000 by midnight ET.
I'm talking about extending our Strong Hands Nation with our YouTube subscribers.
You see, it's one of my goals for 2022. And I'll need your help to hit that number.
Recording the IanCast for you is the best part of my week. It's the best way for me to get face time (virtually) with you on some of the biggest trends we watch:
Crypto.
Tesla.
Cannabis.
And market happenings.
I want to help more Main Street investors — you, your friends, family, neighbors, barber — make big investing $$.
And to do that, I want IanCast to go viral!
I believe in you! And what we do here. So, 50,000 subscribers by midnight tonight? Let's do it.
And if we do, I'll try to talk Paul into doing something fun and special in an upcoming IanCast to celebrate.
If you're reading this, I'm assuming that you're a person who, like me, experiences some level of vision impairment. Or maybe you see the world in 20/20 but you're down to clown with the "dad" aesthetic and are curious about the style potential of a longtime boomer eyewear trend synonymous with ur-curmudgeon Larry David. Either way, you've come to the right place, because I'm about to spew some knowledge on transition lenses — also known as light-responsive, light-intelligent, or photochromic lenses — and how they have significantly improved my day-to-day viewing experience.
I was introduced to these high-tech lenses via Transitions Optical — the company that first popularized plastic photochromic lenses in the 1990s — when they asked if I'd like to test-drive their latest release, the XTRActive lenses, which tint very quickly and are specially made for those with extremely sensitive eyes (c'est moi). I've had two invasive eye surgeries — one for lazy eyes, the other for extreme nearsightedness — so I knew I was an ideal candidate for this kind of light-responsive eyewear technology.
According to lens company Vision Ease, the first photochromic lens was developed in 1966 when silver halide crystals were embedded into a molten glass substrate, "[causing] the finished lenses to darken in reaction to UV in just a few minutes, and would achieve maximum darkness after about 15 minutes," their research reported, "[but these] early photochromic lenses did not always perform ideally. If the prescription called for one lens to be thicker than the other, the thicker lens would darken more quickly and become darker than the thinner lens. The photochromic performance could be short-lived, and the lenses often appeared slightly dark indoors." These days, however, transition lenses in their resting, indoor state look virtually clear (as you can see from my before-and-afters below).
First, the pros: These lenses start adjusting to sunlight within seconds; they're impressively nuanced (even on overcast days, they will tint to just a slight shade to protect your eyes); and wearing chameleon-like shades means I don't have to keep switching back and forth between sunglasses and prescription eyewear every time I enter the outside world. As for the main benefits, a rep told me that all Transitions block 100% of UVA and UVB rays and blue light. On super bright sunny days, my XTRActive lenses will go from clear to their darkest shade in mere minutes. (Sorry to all the vintage dads whose lenses took forever to tint. Times have changed!)
As for the cons: Transition lenses don't darken to sunglass level (which means you can't get away with secretly staring at someone) and they add a decent fee on top of whatever frames and prescription costs you accrue. From the two sites I ordered transition lenses from, LensCrafters and EyeBuyDirect, I found that XTRActive lenses run about an additional $130. (Transitions Signature GEN 8 lenses, which is an older iteration of the lens technology, is an additional $80.) But, hot tip: You can absolutely use your eligible FSA or HSA dollars towards a pair of transition-lens glasses at any eligible eyewear retailer!
Ordering these light-intelligent lenses was also a breeze. All that was needed was an up-to-date prescription and the pupillary distance (use this handy tool from Warby Parker to find yours). Ultimately, the hardest part was deciding on the tint color and frames — for my XTRActive pair, I went with classic round-frame Ray-Bans with brown tinted lenses; for my Signature GEN 8 pair, I went with a pair of EyeBuyDirect RFLKT with grey tinted lenses. (While the majority of the fees were comped for testing purposes, my EyeBuyDirect total would have come to $220, which includes the frames, my prescription, and the transitional add-on).
And after testing the two pairs for several weeks now, I can honestly say that both lenses worked similarly for me — although if you're a person who spends a lot of time outdoors, the XTRActive or XTRActive Polarized versions might be more beneficial. But if you're a screen-bound, WFH type like me, the Signature GEN 8 lenses are the more cost-effective way to go. (Plus, you have more tint color options!)
RFLKT Antone, $80 (Transitions Signature GEN 8 lenses, additional $79)
And, lately, I'm not the only one singing the praises of these lenses. My friend Christian Joy also swears by her light-responsive lenses from Warby Parker. (Note: the brand's light-responsive lenses are an additional $100 on top of the frames and prescription fees.) "I'd always known about transitional lenses but was not sure they were for me until I saw a friend rocking them pretty hard. Plus, my mom wore tinted aviators and I thought she always looked ultra-glam," Christian told me. "Because I'm an artist and look for inspiration in colors, I decided to opt for transitional lenses [instead of permanently tinted lenses]. I was actually really surprised at how they change subtly from indoors to outdoors. They feel really comfortable on my eyes and I plan to get them for all my glasses from now on."
Non-prescription glasses wearers can benefit from light-sensitive lenses as well. I asked Refinery29 affiliate strategist Kate Spencer for her thoughts on her non-prescription Transitions XTRActive lenses and she told me, "I was surprised how useful I find my glasses. I was looking for a pair of blue light glasses because I get headaches from staring at my laptop screen all day and I actually didn't realize that all Transitions lenses, no matter prescription or not, help block blue light. My desk faces three windows and I get a pretty bright stream of light on my face in the afternoon, so the fact that my lenses tint automatically has been more useful than I expected! Honestly, I wear these in my house all the time."
If you're going to splurge on the extra fees associated with Transitions, you're likely wondering about the longevity and upkeep. Luckily, it's easy enough to take care of them. "Transitions lenses are designed to last the lifetime of your vision care prescription," a Transitions Optical rep told me. "[They] can be cleaned like most lenses — with a lens cleaner, mild soap, or a microfiber lens cleaning cloth. Do not use window cleaner to clean your prescription eyeglasses, as it contains chemicals that could break down the coatings on your lenses. You should also be careful not to wipe your lenses with a surface that could potentially scratch your lenses, for instance, a facial tissue or paper towel. Keep your glasses in a case when not in use to prevent scratching the lenses."
My final takeaway is this: My vision feels transformed by light-sensitive lenses and I wholeheartedly recommend them to fellow specs-wearing folks. And, I also find these glasses to be a fitting accessory to round out any "ugly trend" or "dad fashion" vibe that Most Wanted editors and readers (you know who you are) can't resist test-driving. Besides, if you've got soon-to-expire FSA dollars to spend anyway, you may as well get yourself an eyewear accessory that not only helps you look, but will help you serve a look, too.
At Refinery29, we're here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
At least once a week, the writers and editors on Refinery29's Life team get into a long Slack conversation about some cool new item that's been absolutely saving or changing or elevating our lives. So we decided to share the wealth, and highlight some of our favorite products each month.
Here's what we found ourselves eating, drinking, carrying, wearing, and decorating our apartments with all December long.
At Refinery29, we're here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Casa Rica Tequila Rosado
"As somebody who tastes, reviews, and curates alcohol as part of my job, it's hard for any alcoholic drink to surprise me — let alone spark a new sense of creativity. But the Casa Rica Tequila Rosado does just that. It's made me think about the color of my cocktails in a whole new way, without compromising taste. For the most part, it tastes like a silver tequila, with an extra juicy edge and makes for the most beautiful cocktails. Elevating even the plainest tequila soda, this tequila will be a staple for all my holiday entertaining for years to come." — Hannah Rimm, Editor
Casa Rica Tequila Casa Rica Tequila Rosado, $, available at Drizly
Meiomi x Social Studies Table Setting
"Since moving into a new apartment in June, I've been meticulously replacing everything from rugs to throw pillows to my bed frame, working to make my place feel more like a forever home. The one thing I struggled to commit to, was the perfect dining set for entertaining. I love my new home and I foresee many a dinner party over the years, so finding the right set of plates, silverware, and glasses has been a priority. I'm not going to lie, this set, which comes with everything you need from plates to bowls to wine glasses to the literal wine, is a splurge item for sure, but for everything you get and the absolute quality and beauty, it's distinctly worth the price tag. Plus, the Meiomi Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect mix of rich and juicy, excellent for welcoming guests or enjoying alone." —HR
Meiomi Meiomi x Social Studies Table Setting, $, available at Meiomi
Sunday Citizen Casablanca Throw
"I live for a good throw and with this newest variant running rampant, having my home be as cozy as possible is a priority. I love all the colors this one comes in and I love that it's machine washable. It's soft and comfy and the exact right kind of warm for winter." —HR
Sunday Citizen Casablanca Throw, $, available at Sunday Citizen
OXB Figaro Chain
"When it comes to jewelry, I want pieces I can wear all of the time without having to worry about wear and tear or breakage, whether I'm attending an event or going for a hike. I really like how this chain sits on my neck and the sweatproof technology means I can wear it as a daily staple without having to worry about it rusting or turning green." —HR
"Although the winter weather outside hasn't been as frightful as it's been some years (sadly, in part, due to the effects of human-induced climate change), I've still been dealing with cold-temperature troubles like dry skin and chapped lips. Thankfully, this lip balm from my favorite skincare line has been coming in clutch. Containing Vitamin E, plant-based oils, shea butter, and beeswax, it's super hydrating, but the ingredients aren't harsh. While some chapsticks have been known to make me break out around my lip line, I've never had that problem with this product after using it for the past two winters. It's now a staple in my purse — about as essential as my phone and face mask." — Molly Longman, Senior Staff Writer
Dr. Barbara Sturm Dr. Barbara Sturm Lip Balm 3G, $, available at Dr. Barbara Sturm
Esther Perel's Where Should We Begin: A Game of Stories
"With Omicron spreading quickly across the U.S., I'm preparing for the fact I may need to hunker down in the new year with my old COVID-19 pod. And this delightful deck of story-telling prompt cards may become a staple of our future game nights. Created by renowned relationship and sexuality expert Esther Perel, the game is designed for reconnecting and getting intimate during an era of isolation. As Perel told former R29er Kristin Iversen in an interview, sometimes you'll have "people who actually think they know each other extremely well, but when you have the right questions, you realize there's so much more to learn." This game proclaims to ask such questions through creative "Prompt" and "Story" cards. If you're in the mood to share and you're with folks you feel comfortable getting vulnerable with, I've found the game to be a blast. It may even help you unearth memories you'd all but forgotten." — ML
Ester Perel Esther Perel's Where Should We Begin: A Game of Stories, $, available at EsterPerel.com
The Class: Beyond Resolutions
"I love any workout that'll make me forget I'm actively engaging in exercise. And this New Year's program does just that. I had the opportunity to try it before its Jan. 1 launch and wasn't disappointed. It's led by Taryn Toomey, who founded The Class, and her army of trainers. They'll take you through moves like donkey kicks, planks, and, yes, the occasional set of burpees — but interspersed throughout are freeform dance movements that'll make you feel free. You'll also be guided through meditations and given journal prompts that'll help you reconnect with your body and reflect on what you what from 2022. I'll admit, some of it is a little 'woo-woo.' But it's a chill, sweaty, fun way to start the new year." — ML
"I drink mostly homemade seltzer, courtesy of my Sodastream. But every so often, I pick up a pack of flavored cans as a 'treat' (sad). I have my favorites — La Croix's peach-pear; Spindrift's lemon, 365's ginger, Polar's grapefruit. Recently, I added Waterloo's black cherry to my A list. Cherry is a tricky flavor for water — it can so easily taste medicinal. Waterloo's, though, has a lovely depth of flavor, and it's bubbly without being painful, if you know what I mean." — Mirel Zaman, Deputy Director
Waterloo Waterloo Black Cherry Sparkling Water, $, available at Target
Adidas 4DFWD Shoes
"I'm partial toward Adidas running shoes, but I have to admit I was skeptical of these. They're 3D printed, and the sole has an unusual lattice pattern that appeared decidedly not supportive. They're also trendy looking, a trait that always makes me a little wary, the assumption being that they must sacrifice function in the name of looking good. But these shoes are some of the most comfortable I've run in. The upper is super-stretchy and the soles provide just the right amount of feedback — they don't, as I'd feared, collapse with each stride. I also love the higher-than-usual back tab, which holds my heel in super securely." — MZ
"I mess around with other water bottles all the time, but I always come back to this guy. I've had and loved the 24-ounce and the 32-ounce sizes, and it's just — to me — the perfect bottle. That's mostly thanks to the straw, which is long enough to pick up every last drop of water, has a squishy tip that resists being destroyed by nervous biting, and can be tucked away and locked in place. Other bonuses: The handle can conveniently clip onto a bag, and the entire thing is lightweight and easy to clean." — MZ
Contigo Contigo Autospout Water Bottle, $, available at Amazon
The Astrology Deck: Your Guide To The Meanings And Myths Of The Cosmos
"I've picked up a surprising-to-me amount of astrology know-how over the several years that I've editing horoscopes and zodiac-related articles, but I can still find my head spinning over the specifics. Lisa Stardust has worked with us a ton over the years (she writes our monthly horoscopes!) and she's translated her know-how into this 70-card deck, which aims to present all the most interesting info about the planets, stars, asteroids, and signs in easy-to-understand paragraphs. You can even learn how to do your own birth chart." — MZ
Lisa Stardust The Astrology Deck: Your Guide to the Meanings and Myth, $, available at Amazon
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
We're entering a brand-new year with hope in our hearts. We begin 2022 with Venus in retrograde in the sign of Capricorn, a movement that asks us to be cautious in our romantic relationships and encounters. But when Venus, the Planet of Love, Beauty, and Money, stations direct in practical Capricorn on January 29, we're ready to climb out of our shells and embrace exciting new possibilities. If you're single, you'll feel supported by the flirtatious powers of this intoxicating planet. If you're in a relationship, you could be inspired to heat things up with your partner and create financial stability.
Prepare yourself for a surprise on February 17, when lucky Jupiter forms a sweet sextile with chaotic Uranus. If you've been looking to reignite your fire, you could be motivated to put extra effort into finding love. You may feel drawn towards people who challenge your thinking. Bountiful Jupiter forms a conjunction with dreamy Neptune on April 12, helping to open our hearts and minds. But hold off on making any relationship decisions on this day, as our minds aren't particularly detail-oriented under this transit.
Two solar eclipses come our way in 2022, offering new chances for love — the first on April 30 in stable Taurus and the second on October 25 in sensitive Scorpio. If you're single, keep an eye out for new faces that come into your world around these times — you might just meet someone great. In a relationship? These eclipses could help you to push your relationship forward in an exciting new direction. Unavoidable truths are revealed around the lunar eclipses on May 16 in serious Scorpio and November 8 in stubborn Taurus. Pay close attention to the themes that these signs highlight in your relationships. It's up to you to break negative cycles.
Learn to trust the universe on May 3, when expansive Jupiter creates a sextile with transformative Pluto. This hopeful transit will inspire you to make a daring change for the better. If you're single, the effects of this movement could draw you closer to a special someone if you're willing to put in a little effort. Attached? Make positive strides towards strengthening your bond with your partner as you navigate this energy.
Aries
2022 begins with a renewed knowledge of what you want from your relationships, Aries. Affection-ruling Venus moves retrograde through Capricorn until January 29, giving you some time to review your love connections. When the love planet stations direct in Capricorn, she helps you shed any burdens by bringing light back into your relationships; be mindful that you don't repeat patterns in this next cycle. If you're unattached, you may find yourself seeking more profound connections around April 12, when philosophical Jupiter creates a conjunction with spiritual Neptune. Superficial conversations aren't cutting it when these planets meet in the sky. You might be feeling particularly spontaneous starting on May 2, when Venus enters Aries. Single or attached, this is a brilliant time to enjoy exercising your seduction skills — enjoy the chase. Try not to overextend yourself beginning October 30, when Mars stations retrograde in unpredictable Gemini. You might find your thoughts scattered during this transit. If you're in a relationship, take it easy and let your partner take the lead. Single? This transit is a great time to lay low and recollect your energy and thoughts.
Taurus
Are you ready to release what's no longer serving you, Taurus? The practice of shadow work could help you as romantic-ruling Pluto stations retrograde in disciplined Capricorn on April 29. Whether you're in a relationship or single, you need to take a look at your shadow self so that you can break out of jealous thoughts, bad habits, or anxious feelings. The powerful exercise of confronting your shadow side through journaling can help you achieve inner growth. Practice strengthening self-love until Pluto stations direct in Capricorn on October 8. You're blessed with a flirty day of fun on May 3, as bountiful Jupiter forms a sextile with Pluto. Schedule some time with your special someone and enjoy each other's company under this happy transit. Soon after, on May 28, ruling Venus enters Taurus. This movement could encourage you to stimulate your senses and indulge in earthly delights if you're single. But attached Taureans should be careful not to be too possessive of their partners during this intoxicating transit. A little trust goes a long way.
Gemini
Open your heart to the magic of the unexpected, Gemini. A lucky transit arrives on February 17, when love-ruling Jupiter creates a sextile with enigmatic Uranus. If you're single, use this power to manifest the conditions to begin meeting new people who inspire and attract you. In a relationship? Conjure the ingredients for a memorable day of delight with your loved one. Another lucky day arrives on April 12, when romantic Jupiter forms a conjunction with influential Neptune. If you're single, you could attract an admirer from your professional circle or through social media. Be careful to iron out any details before you get in too deep, though, as this transit can be all style and have little substance. In a relationship? This transit could inspire your partner to help support your career goals and discuss the impact on your shared future. Change is being made for the better on May 3, when loving Jupiter makes a sextile with routine-ruling Pluto. Consider how you can better support the well-being of both you and your partner during this transit. Take a digital detox, experiment with new recipes, or simply get outside together more often. If you're single, you could have a serendipitous moment with someone special as you're running errands or working out.
Cancer
It can often feel like you're being pushed and pulled in all directions when it comes to your relationship, Cancer. Ruled by the Moon, you've got a lot of emotions to work through as you adjust to external influences. The lunar eclipses of 2022 — in strategic Scorpio on May 16, and in warmhearted Taurus on November 8 — offer you new ways of thinking. Whether you're single or in a relationship, these eclipses will help to reveal how to best protect your heart. Listen closely to your intuition during these lunations. On June 4, you're blessed with the chance to write new rules establishing how you deserve to be treated as love-ruling Saturn stations retrograde in independent Aquarius. Stay strong while the ringed planet moves in reverse, and he'll be ready to support your efforts as of October 23, when Saturn stations direct in Aquarius.
Leo
Do you love a challenge, Leo? Single or attached, you're ready to charm and conquer hearts starting January 18, as love-ruling Uranus stations direct in persistent Taurus. You're in the mood to flirt up a storm around February 17, when lucky Jupiter forms a sextile with romantic Uranus. If you're single, anyone who crosses your gaze could be taken in by your magnetic personality. Attached Leos should use this magical energy to enchant their partners and enjoy an impromptu date. Your spontaneity is intoxicating. Charge up your self-esteem on July 22, when the Sun celebrates your first house of self, first impressions, and appearance. You're simply irresistible under this transit. Romantic-minded Uranus stations retrograde in patient Taurus on August 24, helping you to retrace any missteps you've made in your relationships. When Uranus moves in reverse, he helps you to revisit changes that need to be made. Shifts come slower, and we're given more time to react to events and obstacles in our path. Allow yourself to take the time you need to make the right decisions for your emotional health.
Virgo
Are you ready to take a big step in your relationships, Virgo? You could be on the verge of taking your partnership to the next level around April 12, when domestic-ruling Jupiter forms a conjunction with love-minded Neptune. If you're seeing someone, you might be inclined to introduce them to your family, move in together, or check out a property. Single Virgos might meet a potential partner through family or close to home. Play it safe, as this transit can influence grand gestures. Life feels a little more serious starting on June 4, when pleasure-seeking Saturn stations retrograde in cautious Aquarius. The ringed planet challenges you to make your own fun while he moves in reverse. This transit could influence you to take more risks and encourage you to embrace your freedom if you're single. In a relationship? Don't wait for your partner to take the lead, and start planning a new adventure this summer. Saturn stations direct beginning October 23 in Aquarius, ready to give you a break as entertainment director. Romantic Neptune stations retrograde in sensitive Pisces on June 28, helping you see your relationships more clearly. When the Planet of Illusions and Dreams moves in reverse, he lets us behind the curtain. Take note of this new perspective, and act accordingly when Neptune stations direct in Pisces.
Libra
Stability is a pillar in your foundation of love, Libra. A conversation concerning money could arise on May 3, when communication-governing Jupiter creates a sextile with financial-ruling Pluto. If you share resources with your partner, you could come to a lucky investment or make an intelligent decision on saving your resources. Single or attached, you may seek out more solitude beginning July 28, when eloquent Jupiter stations retrograde in confident Aries. Use this transit to collect your thoughts, and get away from the influence of others. Ultimately, you'll be attracted to people who inspire you to connect with your spiritual side. You'll be ready to share a new perspective starting on November 23, when Jupiter stations direct in imaginative Pisces. The world is a little topsy-turvy as of October 30, when love-ruling Mars stations retrograde in chatty Gemini. The fiery planet only moves in reverse every two years, encouraging you to make a readjustment in your relationships. Use this transit to conserve your energy and re-learn what sets your heart on fire. If you're in a relationship, don't be afraid to ask for what you want. You'll have a better understanding of your desires and emotions when Mars stations direct in Gemini on January 1, 2023.
Scorpio
Are you ready to get your mojo back, Scorpio? Love-ruling Venus stations direct in witty Capricorn on January 29, helping you to shake off your slump. If you're in a relationship, you may notice that while Venus moved in reverse, you had time to focus on your partner and evaluate what makes each other tick. When Venus strides forward again, she lends us the courage to be bold and adventurous with our partners and objects of affection. Single Scorpios, step out of your comfort zone and take a risk on romance. Your self-esteem begins to grow starting on October 8, when ruling Pluto stations direct in ambitious Capricorn. This power is attractive and magnetic — be conscious of the persona you present to the world, as it will surely snare a few admirers. Loving Venus strides into seductive Scorpio on October 23, opening you up to transformative experiences in your relationships. Be careful to protect your energy with others beginning October 30, as wellness-ruling Mars stations retrograde. It's easier to be susceptible to illness if you bite off more than you can chew.
Sagittarius
Your flame flickers brightly, Sagittarius. As a mutable fire sign, your attention can be sporadic, thanks to the movement of your love ruler Mercury, who stations retrograde about three times per year. In 2022, Mercury first stations retrograde in independent Aquarius on January 14 before beginning to move direct in realistic Capricorn on February 3, a transit that may help you to gain more self-sufficiency. Next, on May 10, the planet stations retrograde in chatty Gemini, moving direct again on June 3 in stable Taurus. His last full retrograde of the year begins on September 9 in social Libra, and stations direct in exacting Virgo on October 2, although the year concludes with Mercury entering retrograde once more in ambitious Capricorn on December 29. If you're seeking to better understand your inner workings, try keeping a journal of the events during these retrograde motions. This practice may shed some light on how you're affected by the messenger planet. One more date to know: April 12. If you're seeing someone new, you may want to introduce them to your loved ones around then, as it's when your ruling planet, Jupiter, forms a conjunction with home-loving Neptune. Pay attention to the reception of your family, as this transit can cloud your decisions, and it's important to guard your heart.
Capricorn
Getting in touch with your sensitive side could be helped with some simple planning, Capricorn. Ever the strategist, you can analytically approach your love life by keeping tabs on the moon, your romantic ruler. Try downloading a moon calendar so that you can better understand how your emotions wax and wane. Mark your calendar for the upcoming eclipse series, as secrets and opportunities are revealed. 2022's solar eclipses arrive on April 30 in warmhearted Taurus and on October 25 in loyal Scorpio, offering new chances to build and start relationships. You'll be made aware of changes that need to be met in your relationships by paying attention to the lunar eclipses on May 16 (in determined Scorpio) and on November 8 (in stubborn Taurus). Don't underestimate the power of clear communication in your relationships. Take care to be aware of how you come across to your partner or potential dates starting on June 28, when your conversation ruler Neptune stations retrograde in sensitive Pisces. Neptune rules illusions and dreams, so his veil is lifted from our eyes when he moves in reverse. If you're in a relationship, you may notice that your tone, or how you're being received by your partner or potential dating pool, has changed. Take note to make adjustments before Neptune stations direct in Pisces on December 3.
Aquarius
Are you ready to trust the timing of your life, Aquarius? Your planets help keep your emotional life in check as your love-ruling sun moves through each of the 12 houses. It enters your first house of self, first impressions, and appearance on January 19, starting the year off with a bang. You're ready to take on the world with your unique perspectives and ethereal aura. You're blessed with a clean slate on February 17, when lucky Jupiter forms a sextile with ruling Uranus. It's time to make some moves towards achieving personal happiness, which ultimately makes you glow from the inside out. If you're in a relationship, you may have the chance to level things up around the solar eclipse in Taurus on April 30 and the subsequent solar eclipse on October 25 in Scorpio. If you're single, these eclipses may help to reveal potential partners or mark unexpected encounters. Together with their pair, the lunar eclipse, these events will help to indicate anything that's no longer working in your life. Single or attached, pay close attention to the circumstances surrounding the lunar eclipses in Scorpio on May 16 and in Taurus on November 8. It could be time for you to express your desires to achieve full transparency. You're ready to heat things up starting on May 20, as your romantic Sun sashays into your 5th house of romance, creativity, and children. This is an excellent time for single water-bearers to make their mark on the dating scene and impress a gaggle of admirers. If you're in a relationship, you'll be happy to get a little more serious with your special someone as of July 22, when the sun brightens up your 7th house of relationships. You could cozy up to an old friend beginning on November 22, as the sun illuminates your 11th house of friendship, groups, and goals. If you've been too shy to make a move with that special someone — now is the time. It's also a good day for coupled Aquarians to talk about their dream projects with their partners — they'll provide a great support system to help you get ideas off the ground.
Pisces
How are you currently surfing through your emotions, Pisces? Romantic-ruling Mercury stations retrograde in Aquarius on January 14 before moving direct again in Capricorn on February 3. The messenger planet will turn retrograde again on May 10 in Gemini until resuming his direct motion on June 3 in Taurus, and make his third full reverse movement of 2022 on September 9 in Libra, stationing direct in Virgo on October 2. The year concludes with Mercury entering retrograde in Capricorn on December 29. Observe how Mercury's movements affect your feelings, and you'll be sure to get a better handle on your emotions. Being water signs, Pisceans have an unbreakable bond with the moon. Anticipating the earth-shaking eclipses can help you steady yourself for exciting new connections and beginnings within your existing partnerships. We're greeted by a solar eclipse in reliable Taurus on April 30 and another on October 25 in strategic Scorpio. Solar eclipses are always accompanied by lunar eclipses, and they'll occur on May 16 in secretive Scorpio and November 8 in security-loving Taurus. Stay alert, as these lunations will spotlight anything you need to let go of in your life. Ruling Neptune could help you see the reality of your relationship or love life more clearly beginning on June 28, when the Planet of Dreams and Illusions stations retrograde in intuitive Pisces. Sometimes, you need to see things exactly as they are. But you'll be ready to dive back into your romantic dreamworld when Neptune stations direct in Pisces on December 3.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Benelli has organized its first Dealer Technician Skill Contest 2021 (DTSC). 43 dealer technicians participated in the national level contest. The first-ever DTSC had three contest stages including qualifiers, semi-final and final. While qualifiers and semi-final stages were organized digitally, the final stage took place at Benelli India?s training centre in Hyderabad.
Nine dealer technicians out of forty-three contestants qualified for the final stage and were challenged to perform herculean tasks including the following:
Problem identification & solving approach in electrical/EFI/Engine & vehicle-related concerns
Completion of the task in the given timeframe
Use of workshop & measuring instruments
Inspection of different engines & electrical parts
Checking different key parameters of the vehicle
Mr Shekar M from Benelli-Bengaluru dealership aced the Dealer Technician Skill Contest 2021 (DTSC) and was awarded as the winner of the national-level contest. Mr Shahnawaz Akram (Benelli-Noida) and Mr Abhilash VD (Benelli-Vyttila) were adjudged as first and second runner ups, respectively.
Mr Vikas Jhabakh, MD, Benelli India said, ?It gives us immense pleasure to organize the first Dealer Technician Skill Contest. We are delighted to witness encouraging participation from each zone and congratulate all the finalists. Our service heroes are the pillars of Benelli?s state-of-the-art service centres across India and are playing a pivotal role in building the brand. The DTSC is aimed at recognising the top talents at the dealerships and providing them with a national platform where they can showcase their talent. The next edition of DTSC will be grander and shall witness increased participation. Benelli India will continue to nurture its top talents by organizing, even more, employee centred activities.?
The votes are in! We are proud to announce the winners of our Faby’s Awards for Best of 2021 in fashion, beauty, and more.
Discover our 2021 winners below:
Outfit of the Year: Cardi B in Dolce and Gabbana at the BET Awards
Cardi B’s Dolce and Gabbana crystal-adorned bodysuit at the 2021 BET Awards is the winner for 2021 Outfit of the Year. This was such an iconic moment when the rapper announced her second pregnancy in this dazzling look.
Fashion Bomber of the Year: Montrez from Virginia
With over 83% of the votes, Montrez from Virginia is our Fashion Bomber of the Year. The wardrobe stylist and personal shopper managed to win us over with his clean yet color-filled style.
Designer of the Year: Anifa Mvuemba of Hanifa
Winning the category for a second year in a row, Anifa Mvuemba of Hanifa is our 2021 Designer of the Year. Captivating us with her absolutely-chic designs and innovative fashion presentations this year, she continues to be a game-changer who turns heads and makes history with more greatness to come.
Fashion Bombshell of the Year: Kia from Wisconsin
Amputee model Kia from Wisconsin became our Fashion Bombshell of the Year! Snagging over 48% of the votes, her confidence and positive energy matched with her individualistic personal style made her a bombshell to watch.
Most Fashionable Man of the Year: Steve Harvey
Going for the three-peat, Steve Harvey is once again our Faby’s Most Fashionable Man of 2021. It is no secret that Steve Harvey is a fan-favorite fashionisto with a style that incorporates rich hues and luxe fabric choices. Throughout the year, the television host did not miss a beat with his eye-catching looks.
Makeup Artist of the Year: Erika La Pearl
Erika La Pearl is the winner of our 2021 Fabys Makeup Artist of the Year, sponsored by Urban Skin Rx. This is the makeup artist’s second time winning the category, with her first win during our first Fabys in 2019. With over 43% of votes, Erika La Pearl’s artistry leaves her clients, like regular Cardi B, looking undeniably flawless at all times.
Model of the Year: Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell has been crowned as our Fabys 2021 Model of the Year. With an unforgettable strut that has been gracing the biggest runways for years now, Naomi Campbell continues to prove that she is truly a fashion icon.
Hairstylist of the Year: Tokyo Stylez
Tokyo Stylez was named as this year’s Fabys Hairstylist of the Year, with 51% of the votes. Delivering moments of vibrant colors on innovative styles, Tokyo Stylez always wows us with her hair creations, especially those done on Cardi B.
Stylist of the Year: Elly Karamoh
With Steve Harvey as this year’s Most Fashionable Man once again, it was quite fitting that his stylist Elly Karamoh was voted as the 2021 Fabys Stylist of the Year. With so many fresh, dapper style moments styled by Karamoh for his regular, the style genius kept the television host fly all year long.
Most Fashionable Kid: Papa Bear
Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty’s adorable Papa Bear is our 2021 Most Fashionable Kid. Matching with his parents in designer looks, Papa Bear stole our hearts with his style and cuteness overload.
Shoe Designer of the Year: Sybille Guichard of SybG
Fashion Bomb Daily Shop designer Sybille Guichard of SybG was named as this year’s Shoe Designer of the Year. Gracing figures like Meagan Good and Angela Simmons, SybG and its must-have shoes quickly became a favorite with celebrities and readers.
Fashionista of the Year: Rihanna
Bad gal Rihanna gave us quite the year in fashion and style, and now she is our 2021 Fabys Fashionista of the Year. From reaching billionaire status through her growing empire to supplying countless street style moments, Rihanna dominated the industry in many ways this year.
Most Fashionable Couple: Jay-Z and Beyoncé
The Carters, aka Jay-Z and Beyoncé, are this year’s Most Fashionable Couple of 2021. From becoming Tiffany & Co.’s newest ambassadors to bomb couple style moments during overseas trips, we saw a lot of Jay-Z and Beyoncé this year with the couple understanding the assignment each time.
Collaboration of the Year: Gucci x Balenciaga
Formulating the biggest luxury mashup of the year, Gucci and Balenciaga reign supreme as our 2021 Fabys Collaboration of the Year. Together, the fashion labels delivered all the drama and glam with crystals, vibrant prints, and ultra-logomania.
Thank you for voting and congratulations to our 2021 Fabys Winners!
If you live in Atlanta, definitely check out the New Black Wall Street located at 8109 Mall Parkway in Stonecrest, Georgia!
The mall is full of black owned vendors, selling fashion, art, food, and more! The original Black Wall Street was in the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was the hub of many thriving black owned businesses. A race war in 1921 resulted in the death of many black professionals, along with looting and raging fires that completely obliterated the area. The shopping hub in Stonecrest embodies the spirit of Greenwood, with signs that say ‘Ownership,’ and ‘Buy Black.’
I purchased green juices and hot sauce, and had my eye on a few fashionable items! They’ll be around until SUNDAY, however they may stay open longer, pending the support they receive. So make it one of your New Years Resolutions to support black owned business at the New Black Wall Street!
Art by Nigerian PaintersT-Shirts and HoodiesBlack Wall Street Jacket
Among the many highlights of a career that began in 1949 were star turns on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in the 1970s and "Saturday Night Live" in 2010.
International travelers in search of Covid-19 tests are scrambling to find sites that can get them results before their flights take off — and sometimes failing.
A period of intense drought created the conditions for the flames to spread on Thursday in areas between Denver and Boulder, destroying houses, a shopping complex and a hotel.
Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York announced that nearly 600,000 public university students will soon be required to get vaccination booster shots as coronavirus cases in the state continue to rise.
From the Stoics to the snails, by way of music, matter, and the mind.
It is an annual ritual to glance over time’s shoulder each year and reflect on what has made it most livable and worthy of living through my writing — always the clearest mirror of what irradiated and perturbed my heart and mind as our uncommon planet made its steady revolution around its common star.
Inevitably, patterns emerge that were not obvious in the moment-by-moment experience. Inevitably, those patterns reveal that however tumultuous the seasons of being might feel — and what a tempest of uncertainty and disorientation 2021 has been for all of us in the world, what a tempest of loss sudden as frostbite and slow-blooming rebirth for my personal world — the things that make life most luminous with aliveness are variations on eternal themes, impervious to our passing perturbations.
Here are the best of these eternal echoes — as usual, a composite best: a hybrid of the pieces I poured the most heart into writing and the pieces most widely read and shared by those whose hearts they touched.
For a decade and half, I have been spending hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars each month composing The Marginalian (which bore the unbearable name Brain Pickings for its first fifteen years). It has remained free and ad-free and alive thanks to patronage from readers. I have no staff, no interns, no assistant — a thoroughly one-woman labor of love that is also my life and my livelihood. If this labor makes your own life more livable in any way, please consider lending a helping hand with a donation. Your support makes all the difference.
newsletter
The Marginalian has a free weekly newsletter. It comes out on Sundays and offers the week's most inspiring reading. Here's what to expect. Like? Sign up.
WordPress.com
Video: 
No comments:
Post a Comment