 |
|
|
|||||
Just like the dodo and passenger pigeon before it, the affordable new car is about to go extinct as a species. The last new Mitsubishi Mirage model is expected to be sold by the end of this summerand after that, there will be no new cars available for sale in the U.S. for less than $20,000. The Mirage is a fuel-efficient compact hatchback, and until it sells out, it is the cheapest new car on the market. In June it sold for an average transaction price of $18,484. [Photo: Mitsubishi] The Mirage was able to stay so cheap by offering the bare minimum. It’s tiny. And while it has now-standard features like a touchscreen and rearview camera system, it doesn’t have much else. In Car and Drivers review of the final 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage G4, the publication gave the car a 3/10 rating, noting that it was cheap to buy but cheaply made, with a puny engine and drab driving demeanor. “Cheap? Yes. Cheerful? Not so much,” it said. This is a car that gets you from point A to point B. If you want to get there quickly, that’s extra. You get what you pay for. [Photo: Mitsubishi] Mitsubishi said last year that it was ending production of the Mirage, and now there are only some 1,700 left, according to data from the car-services firm Cox Automotive. Based on the current sales pace, the firm predicts the last Mirage will be sold by summer’s end. Buyers looking for the cheapest new car will then have to turn to the 2025 Nissan Versa S ($20,130) or 2025 Hyundai Venue SE ($21,695), per Cars.com. Inflation since the pandemic has hit the automotive industry especially hard, with the average transaction price for a new vehicle rising from about $40,000 in 2020 to nearly $49,000 in 2025, per Kelley Blue Book data. Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have led to increased production costs, and while major automakers have yet to announce consumer-side price increases in response to new import duties, Doug Ostermann, CFO of Stellantis, said during a call on July 21 that he believes we’re coming to the end of that period.” While the Mirage is no-frills, it offered buyers an ultracheap option for when cost was the most important decision-making factor. Without it, the average price of new cars will only continue to climb.
Category:
E-Commerce
I recently saw James Gunns new Superman movie, and as I sat there in the dark theater, I couldnt help but think that Nicholas Hoult based his Lex Luthor on Elon Musk. Something about that smirk he kept flashing throughout the movie reminded me so much of the Tesla CEO’s. But Hoults mannerisms werent the only thing. His Luthor had several other characteristics that I, and many others, see in Musk, most notably a savior complex and a need to be adored. Thats in addition to the fact that in this film, Luthor is a tech billionaire with significant contracts with, and influence over, the government. The thing is, during a lie detector test conducted somewhat in jest by Vanity Fair, Hoult told Superman star David Corenswet that he did not base his Lex Luthor portrayal on Elon Musk. Corenswet noted that Hoult had previously said he wanted to make his Luthor as alpha as possible, and asked whether there were any alpha male podcasts Hoult listened to to prep for the role. Hoult replied that he hadnt listened to any podcasts, but he did listen to the audiobook of Elon Musk’s book, even though I didn’t base the character on Elon at all. But I just thought it’d be interesting. [Note: Hoult did not clarify if he was talking about Musk’s official biography, written by Walter Isaacson in 2023, or Ashlee Vance’s unofficial Musk biography, from 2015.] Still, its hard not to spot the similarities between the controversial Musk and Supermans greatest foe. And Superman isnt the first movie with such similarities, intended or not. In recent years, Musk and other tech billionaires have seemed to have served as direct inspiration for movie villains. Yet things haven’t always been this way. [Photo: Marvel Studios] Elon Musk inspired the most iconic superhero of the 21st century Before Robert Downey Jr. starred as Tony Stark in 2008s Iron Man, few people outside of the comic book world could tell you who Iron Man was. Yet, thanks largely to Downey Jr.s portrayal, Iron Man became a household nameand kick-started the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has allowed now-owner Disney to rake in tens of billions of dollars in box office receipts over the past 17 years. In the script, Downey Jr.s Stark was charming, intelligent, and slightly arrogant. He leveraged his extreme wealth and technological prowess to make the world a better place. This take on the characterwho had existed in comic book form since 1963was heavily based on Elon Musk. In a 2022 interview with New York Magazine, Iron Man screenwriter Mark Fergus made it clear that the Tesla billionaire was an inspiration for Stark. Fergus said that Stark had historically been a Howard Hughes-style figure, but 2008s Iron Man needed a more contemporary inspiration. Fergus and his colleagues decided that the contemporary Stark was somewhat of a trinity figure, a mixture of three people. The first two were Donald Trump and maybe a little Steve Jobs. But it was Elon Musk who was the guy who grabbed the torch [from Howard Hughes]an industrialist who also would appear in the gossip pages. Trump was fun before he became presidenthe was actually kind of a goofy celebrity. Steve Jobs was always serious and angry; he never quite had that gift of the bullshit . . . Fergus explained. Musk took the brilliance of Jobs with the showmanship of Trump. He was the only one who had the fun factor and the celebrity vibe and actual business substance. Marvel didnt shy away from this comparison, either. After the first film became a smash hit in 2008, the studio quickly greenlit a sequel, Iron Man 2, which came out in 2010. In that film, Downey Jr.s Stark actually meets the real Elon Musk at a party in Monaco and compliments the real-world billionaire on SpaceX’s Merlin engines. Yet, the late 2000s are a long time ago now, especially in terms of politics, culture, and Musks public persona. Musk and tech billionaires are now movie villains Ive previously opined about how the world will likely never have another Steve Jobsa tech leader beloved by the general public. There are many reasons for this. The primary one is that Big Tech companies were generally seen as wondrous institutions improving our lives on a nearly monthly basis in the early 2000s. Since then, their integration with our lives and influence over it have dramatically expandedand not for the better. Tech companies are now largely viewed as self-interested entities that prioritize their profits over the greater good. E-commerce giants destroy small businesses, social media companies engagement algorithms reward bad behavior and poison public discourse, and artificial intelligence firms are so entwined with government and power that one cant help but be concerned about where it will all lead. And because of this shift in public sentiment towards tech companies, a shift has also occurred in the publics perception of the billionaire CEOs who lead them. This is perhaps nowhere more true than with Musk, who has publicly involved himself in governmental affairs of nations like no other CEO before him. All these changes have led, rightfully, to more distrust of the tech industry and those who lead the companies that power it. Suddenly, those same leaders have become the role models for fictional movie villains. It’s hard to watch the 2017 film The Circle and not see parallels between Tom Hankss evil ocial media CEO and Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg. And two films in 2022Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Jurassic World Dominion seem to have patterned their villains after Musk and Apples Tim Cook, respectively. The thing is, no director or actor in these movies has confirmed that any real-life tech CEO is the direct inspiration for these characters. In Glass Onions case, director Rian Johnson denied that the antagonist, Miles Bron, played by Edward Norton, was based on Musk, despite many observers seeing similarities between the two. Thats just sort of a horrible, horrible accident, Johnson told Wired. But he also noted that Theres a lot of general stuff about that sort of species of tech billionaire that went directly into [the movie], adding, But obviously, it has almost a weird relevance in exactly the current moment. That weird relevance has lasted years now. And, as Superman shows, it’s easier than ever for audiences to accept tech CEOs as modern-day villains, whether or not that villain is directly inspired by any singular individual. Societys ongoing tendency to now view tech leaders as the bad guys likely means that we can expect more in the future. At least until they own all the movie studios.
Category:
E-Commerce
Dr. Rachel Laryea is an asset wealth management researcher at JPMorganChase and the founder of Kelewele, a cultural lifestyle brand that creates bespoke African travel experiences and vegan plantain-based treats. She is an anthropologist and Black studies scholar specializing in race and money. Whats the big idea? We are living in unprecedented sociopolitical times that, for so many, make the elusive American Dream feel even farther out of reach. Those most disproportionately affected by the economic downturn in a highly polarized political climate are wondering how to make ends meet, take care of loved ones, and enjoy life. We are all bearing witness to the harm of capitalism as it works to pit us against one another. Black Capitalists are showing how to make the most of our broken system to secure prosperitybut not at the expense of others. They demonstrate that we can participate within capitalism from a place of power, purpose, and community. Below, Rachel shares five key insights from her new book, Black Capitalists: A Blueprint for What Is Possible. Listen to the audio versionread by Rachel herselfbelow, or in the Next Big Idea App. 1. Race makes a difference in how we participate in capitalism To many, the term Black Capitalists is oxymoronic. Black people were the labor force that built the infrastructure of American capitalism through the violent enforcement of legalized slavery, so they cannot, and should not, aspire to be the beneficiaries of it. But the persistence of Black economic striving and achievement, despite this enduring history which has produced the Racial Wealth Gap, poses a provocative question: What if there is a way to thrive within capitalism without diminishing someone elses life chances through exploitative practices? Black Capitalists are showing us how. From newly minted undergraduates who find themselves working 20-hour days to prove their worth on Wall Street to Nigerian startup founders working to build global credit scores, the stories and analysis of Black Capitalists (who are as ambitious as they are altruistic) demonstrate the resilience, creativity, and ingenuity of Black people who have long been excluded from the full benefits of the American economic system. Black Capitalists show us a more productive and inclusive way forward. 2. Black Capitalism provides a hopeful, pragmatic way forward The term capitalism comes with so much social and emotional baggage, but at its core, capitalism is a political economy in which private actors own the means of production to freely create and sell commodities with the intent to yield excess capital. Anyone can be that private actor. Whats important is how the tools of capitalism are used in restorative ways to create opportunities for collective economic thriving, rather than reproducing the harms of capitalism, such as exploitation and extraction. I define a Black Capitalist as a Black person who is a strategic participant of capitalism with the intention to benefit from the political economy to create social good. Although the term Black Capitalism has been around for several decades, I redefine it as a pragmatic theory that accounts for the ways any actorsindividual and collective, race-agnosticreposition themselves within capitalism to achieve social good. The practice of Black Capitalism means: Acknowledging the sacrifices that you make to create opportunities for yourself, but always leaving room to name the privileges inherent in your experience and the responsibility that comes with that. Using the tools of capitalism to create and own the means of production and capital, unlocking access to economic power, and using it to advance peoples life chances. Being aware that your practice of capitalism connects to someone elses practice. Using capital to produce ethical value out of an imperfect system and improve the life chances of the economic majority rather than the elite minority. 3. Black Capitalism is a unique form of fugitive planning The undercommons is a term coined by theorists Fred Moten and Stefano Harney and used to describe a subversive space wherein marginalized groups within an institution resist and challenge power structures without fighting for inclusion or attempting to reform these institutions. In what these scholars call fugitive planning, members of the undercommons discover ways to exist beyond the grip of institutional power to evade capture. If this concept seems abstract, consider the creation of the Underground Railroad as one concrete example of fugitive planning in action. As people (enslaved and free) realized that they could not upend the system, they created an undercommons within itthe Underground Railroadwhere activists became conductors and carried out the work of fugitive planning to liberate themselves and each other. Similarly, the practice of Black Capitalism serves as a blueprint for how we can break free from the version of capitalism that aims to trap us. 4. The tools of capitalism utilized by Black Capitalists During the antebellum period, Black entrepreneurship required enslaved men and women to double as bondsmen who hired their own time and depended on human capital to support their nascent businesses. During the War of 1812, an enslaved man named Free Frank McWorter contracted his time to build a saltpeter factory in Kentucky (saltpeter being a key ingredient in the creation of gunpowder). By 1817, he was able to purchase the freedom of his wife, and then his own two years later. He expanded his enterprise and went on to purchase freedom for 16 of his enslaved family members. Examples of Black ingenuity and resilience in capitalism were on full display then and now. In the recent past, a Black couple in Northern California whitewashed their home (i.e. removed all evidence that a Black family lived there, including swapping their family photos for photos of a white family and having white friends front as the homeowners) all in an effort to have their home appraised for what its worth$1,482,500almost half a million dollars more than the $995,000 estimation they initially received from a white appraiser. Black Capitalists are finding meaningful ways to redesign capitalisms house in various sectors, including industry, entrepreneurship, academia, the arts, and more. In corporate America alone, these visionaries are volunteering their time to recruit and retain Black talent in predominantly white institutions, leading the crucial conversation on Black ownership, consumerism, and communal methods to unlocking generational wealth, building grassroots programs to increase cultural competency across industries, democratizing access to financial and investing literacy, establishing special purpose credit programs to grant access to lending opportunities otherwise inaccessible to many, and allocating millions of dollars worth of capital to communities most affected by systemic inequality. Black Capitalists are finding meaningful ways to redesign capitalisms house in various sectors, including industry, entrepreneurship, academia, the arts, and more. In the entrepreneurial sphere, founders like Wemimo Abbey are striking the balance between profit and social good. Having been born in Nigeria and immigrated to America as a young adult, Wemimo is the cofounder of Esusu Financial, a U.S.-based fintech company that automates credit building by reporting monthly rent payments to credit bureaus. Esusu was built to unlock access to better credit health or a new credit history entirely for millions of people. Those best positioned to benefit from Esusus technology are the economically disenfranchised. Due to the racial wealth gap in this country, the people in question are disproportionately people of color. Today, this 7-year-old fintech company has a valuation of more than $1 billion. By December 2023, Esusu had reported the creation of over 107,000 new credit scores and more than $21.9 billion in capital unlocked for renters through new tradelines. More than 8,000 evictions were prevented. Mortgages totaling more than $14 billion became accessible, in addition to thousands of student and car loans for people who were once financially invisible. Wemimo describes his work as bridging the racial wealth gap by leveraging technology to create a permanent bridge to financial access and inclusion. Wemimo is using the tools of capitalism anew to build a bridge to economic access, namely for immigrants and minorities in America. This is Black Capitalism. 5. Black Capitalism is a global and scalable practice that prioritizes profit and social good. The story of Sangu Delle and his Ghana-based venture is a perfect example. Having been born in Ghana but professionally trained in the U.S., Sangu built CarePoint, a real estate, financial services, and healthcare business designed to create value for African consumers across the continent. A proponent of Pan-Africanism (a movement that aims to build solidarity between indigenous people and diaspora of the African continent), Sangu realized that the remittances of African diaspora in America are a large market and funder of economic activity on the African continent. In 2023 alone, migrant workers remitted $95 billion to their communal networks in Africa. One way Sangus firm is capitalizing on this phenomenon while producing social good is through the development of a product akin to health insurance. The diaspora pays a monthly fee, and physicians on the ground conduct regular check-ups on family members and provide access to the best medical care. As Sangu argues, If the African Union represents 54 African countries, $2 trillion, and a billion people, its a different bargaining situation . . . .If Black purchasing power can move with one voice, it suddenly has tremendous economic power. This is Black Capitalism. This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.
Category:
E-Commerce
Im a coffee drinker. Period. It doesnt matter if it’s in the waiting area at Jiffy Lube, in the parking lot at Dunkin’, or at a vibey Indie mom-and-pop caf� that harvests their Arabica. If there’s hot bean water, I’m having a cup (or three).Obviously, I’d rather my coffee not taste like it’s been sitting in a pot for the better part of the dayslightly burnt and watered down. In a perfect world, or in a world with perfect coffee, it should jolt you from grogginess and at the same time, be bursting with flavor. I want my coffee strong and hot (I swear were still talking about coffee). A dash of milk, too, please. Oh, and I also want my daily morning bev to be undeniably good for me. You can’t always have everything when it comes to your morning drink. Its just coffee, after all. Its not a winning lottery ticket or a miracle drug, you know? Bulletproof coffee is seriously upping the bean water game and making me rethink so many hundreds (thousands!?) of subpar slurps. Bulletproofs founder, Dave Asprey, wanted to create a cup of coffee that offers more than a quick jolt of energy. After learning about the benefits of combining caffeine and fat while drinking butter tea in Tibet, he created a brand that would do just that. Bulletproof Coffee, which contains coffee, MCT oil, and grass-fed ghee (clarified butter), was born. Now, arguments have been made over the years (arguments Ill gladly cling to) that coffee, when consumed in moderation, is actually fairly healthy. It may be especially good for heart health. However, Bulletproof coffee attempts to take the coffee is healthy argument to a whole new level. In addition to the Bulletproof butter recipe, the individual flavors have a variety of different ingredients that may offer mind and body benefits, like MCT oil, which is supposed to support focus and mental clarity, and feeling full for longer. Some Bulletproof Coffee flavors have additions like prebiotics, which research has shown can support gut health, along with slippery elm bark, B vitamins, and lions mane, which has been shown to help with mood. In June the company launched a rebrand, where it introduced two different packaging optionsone for its Enhanced line and one for its Artisan line. The Enhanced line is about energy, focus, and gut health and comes in white packaging. The Artisan line features coffee thats focused on taste and clean ingredients, and comes in black packaging. “This rebrand is about more than just a new look, it’s a reflection of where we’re headed,” said Andy van Ark, CCO of Bulletproof in a statement. “We’ve evolved alongside our consumers, and today’s Bulletproof is focused on energizing and empowering consumers to own their day. In the spirit of owning my day, I tried three different Bulletproof coffees: the Original, the High Achiever from the Enhanced line, and the Mentalist from the Artisan line. First up, was the Original, and it was love at first sip. The flavor is smooth, yet bold and robust. I knew I could spend every morning with this same brew and never get bored. It also seemed to provide steady energy, meaning I felt focused for longer than usual. Next, I sampled the High Achiever, which is especially formulated to help with both energy and focus. I wasn’t expecting to notice a huge difference from the Original flavor. But wildly, I felt super focused through my entire work day, and beyond. While I’m usually a three-mugs-a-morning kinda gal, I found myself zipping through work, organizing my office, and only requiring one cup to do it. I mean, I still had two, but I didn’t need two. Notably, I didnt hit an afternoon slog, which is pretty common for me after my morning caffeine wears off. Instead, I felt energized all day, which my dog especially appreciated because it meant she got an extra long walk. Last, but definitely not least, came the Mentalist. Like the others, I’d gladly drink this one every day, but in terms of flavor, it was the winner. It has the exact flavor I’m always looking for in a cup of coffee, with hints of cherry, almond, and caramel, and while, no, I didn’t pick those all up myself, (I read them on the package), they came together perfectly. Like the original, I felt focused for longer than usual, too. A 12-ounce package of ground coffee runs about $16.99, a bit higher than budget brands, although subscribe and save options on the site can shave off a few dollars. Still, I do think it helped my focus and energyespecially the High Achieverpretty undeniably. If you’re looking for a cup of coffee that tastes really great and has even better body and brain-boosting benefits, Id recommend not sleeping on Bulletproof. After just one cup, you’ll be so full of energy, sleep will be the last thing on your brain anyway.
Category:
E-Commerce
Lets face it, work can be a slog. And while you might be struggling to engage personally, theres also evidence that youre in good company. All over the world were more disengaged than weve been in years. But even as youre not inspired, motivated, or energized, you know you still have to show up and perform well. So how can you be effective when engagement eludes you? There are some unexpected, but powerful strategies that can help you through. WE ARE DRAGGING Evidence from Gallup shows engagement is at a 10-year low, globally. In fact, only 31% of employees say they are engaged. These are the people who feel enthusiastic about their work. Only 42% say they know whats expected of them at work. And 17% of people are actively disengaged, meaning they feel negative and resentful about their work. It’s reasonable that were not jumping out of bed every morning to show up in the office or onscreen. Were overwhelmed and fearful, and this can make it difficult to throw ourselves fully into our work. In a survey of 32,000 people in 28 countries Edelman found that 88%61% of people were afraid of everything from inflation and economic concerns to climate change, nuclear war, or information war. In addition, theres a lot of uncertainty today. According to DDI, which studied 11,000 leaders, fully 42% of CEOs were concerned about uncertainty. Moreover, in a GlobeScan survey of almost 30,000 people across 31 countries, 78% said they felt that things were changing so fast, they couldnt cope and struggled with anxiety as a result. Its tough to stay engaged when were feeling overloaded, disoriented, or disheartened by so many stressors, but there are ways we can overcome the challenges and bring our best to our work. THINK LONG TERM One of the best ways to perform well, despite feeling disengaged, is to keep the long term in mind. Todays environment might not be great, but doing your best will pay off for a better future. When you perform well, others will notice, and youll be more likely to be selected for the exciting new project or be on the radar when promotion opportunities emerge. In addition, tough times can be great for learning. If you have a subpar manager, you can observe, reflect, and cement your opinions about how not to lead (or how youll lead better someday). Or if your work doesnt fully consume your capacity, you may have extra time to take a class or join an association. You can look at challenging times as opportunities to build your knowledge and resilience for the next phase. Focus on how the work and learning you do today will be an investment in your future. LINK WORK TO YOUR IDENTITY Another lesser-known way to enhance your performance is to link your activities to your sense of yourself. Its healthy to get a sense of identity from your work. In addition to your family, friends, volunteer activities, and personal pursuits, work is one of the ways you express your talents, make a contribution, and reinforce what makes you unique and important. By focusing on who you are, you can find more meaning in your daily tasks. You dont have to do the project just because your boss said you must, youre completing it because youre a brilliant performer. You dont show up for the meeting just because youre on the team, but because youre an innovative thinker and they need your ideas. Thinking of who you are and linking it to why youre taking action, can help you feel motivated by what you value, the value you deliver, and who you are. CULTIVATE A SENSE OF TEAMWORK Another way to increase your motivation to perform well is to remind yourself of how your work impacts others. Its one thing to complete a task and check it off your list, but knowing how it will feed others work can be make a difference to your morale. Even if your responsibilities are largely individual, all work includes some aspects of interdependence. Your coworker is waiting for output from you so she can take the next step. Your colleague needs your input to work on his project. Or theres a customer down the line who will benefit from your portion of the process. We all have an instinct to matter, and knowing we have obligations to others can be motivational when we consider our impacts. MANAGE YOUR WORKFLOW You can also ensure you perform well in the face of less-than-ideal engagement by using tactics that make the work seem more manageable. For example, you can break down a larger responsibility into smaller tasks. Instead of simply telling yourself you have to write the report, consider sub tasks that youll need to accomplish. Give thought to how youll need to research the key topic, summarize the primary ideas, write each chapter, and create recommendations. By separating work into components, youll make it feel less daunting and more doable. You can also be sure that youre focusing on one thing at a time. We lose a lot of time with pings, dings, and interruptions, because multitasking creates the need to reset repeatedly as we shift from one thing to another. But if you can, turn off notifications or change your status to do not disturb, for a period of time. Doing so will help you focus and get things done more effectively. Another surefire way to enhance performance is to plan your tasks based on your own rhythms. Many people are better at analytical or detailed work at the start of their day, when theyre fresh. And then they are stronger with creative or divergent work in the afternoons when theyve been at it for a while. Consider how you work and, as much as possible, plan your tasks based on your energy levels and your assessment of when you can do your best work. You can also boost your performance by taking breaks. Getting away from their desks or taking short brain breaks after finishing key tasks improved productivity for people in studies published in both the Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis and in the Journal of Applied Psychology. And breaks can also increase your energy and reduce fatigue, based on another study that was published in Psychological Reports. REDUCE THE PRESSURE Overall, we may put pressure on ourselves to be always-on and supereffective all the time, but were wise to reduce the burden we impose on ourselves. No one is perfect, and its unrealistic to think that well be constantly achieving. This expectation can cause us to feel trapped by unrealistic standards. But if you can remind yourself that no one is flawless, and that youll have good days and bad days, it can help your mood. In addition, you can give yourself permission to do just enough during a period where yor work is less engaging. Theres an old saying that if youre trudging through a swamp, its best to just keep going. Challenges with engagement are like this, too. There may be muck and mosquitos right now, but you can get through to the other side. Keep at it, validate your efforts, and team up with others to support each other. These will help you survive and even thrive.
Category:
E-Commerce
Sites : [64] [65] [66] [67] [68] [69] [70] [71] [72] [73] [74] [75] [76] [77] [78] [79] [80] [81] [82] [83] next »