Grant Cardone warns of biggest real estate correction of his life but sees tremendous opportunity' for some

Prolific real estate investor Grant Cardone is sounding the alarm on significant changes within his industry.

During a recent conversation on Fox Business with host Charles Payne, Cardone shared a grim forecast for the real estate market.

Were going to have the biggest real estate correction we've ever had here in the next 12 months, he said. It'll be monster, and it will hit Gen Zs in a way that they'll never touch that asset class again.

The implications of major real estate downturns are profound, as evidenced by the Great Recession in the late 2000s in which millions of Americans defaulted on their mortgages and lost their homes.

This time, however, Cardone believes the impact will be unprecedented and focused primarily on larger developments rather than single-family homes. And if Cardones predictions are true, a certain group of investors are likely to benefit from this correction.

For most people, the single-family home is still thought of as the most accessible and familiar real estate asset. Multi-unit properties, by contrast, have typically been beyond the reach of the average American.

However, Cardone believes this dynamic is set to change.

You have major institutions that are releasing assets back to regular, ordinary, everyday people, he said. Institutions are having to let those properties go because their debt is due.

According to Cardone, this presents a tremendous investment opportunity for regular Americans. He even thinks it could serve as a gateway to substantial opportunities for all age groups, particularly Gen Z.

This is true generational wealth redistribution, he argues.

Cardone is no stranger to making bold statements. After all, the man once called buying a home the worst investment people can make.

Instead, Cardone favors rental properties, seeing them as a more robust investment. In fact, despite anticipating a significant market correction, he remains confident about the future of this asset class.

I'll make a prediction right now real estate will be the number one [investment] category by the year 2026, for all age groups. I guarantee it, he told Payne, outlining several of its advantages.

Its easy to leverage, protects you against inflation, benefits from rent increases, and provides cash flow that people have to have today, said Cardone.

He makes a compelling argument: real estate is widely recognized as an effective hedge against inflation. As the price of raw materials and labor goes up, new properties are more expensive to build. This can drive up the price of existing real estate.

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Well-chosen properties offer more than just potential for price appreciation. Investors also get to earn a steady stream of rental income. Plus, rental rates typically rise with inflation, further enhancing the investments value over time.

The best part? You dont need to be a real estate mogul like Cardone to own rental properties. These days, there are many real estate investment trusts (REITs) and crowdfunding platforms that enable everyday Americans to earn rental income without becoming a landlord.

So, while there may be some facts to face for single-family homeowners over the next year, there could be a new investment to seize just a few blocks away.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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Grant Cardone warns of biggest real estate correction of his life but sees tremendous opportunity' for some - Yahoo Finance

Entering her 10th season at Florida, Gators gymnastics head coach Jenny Rowland has pioneered UF to seven-straight SEC regular season championships and four-straight Four on the Floor appearances.

But success in the sport isnt Rowlands only goal for her team.

Her experience as a gymnast shaped her coaching philosophy, prioritizing enjoyment and self-improvement alongside winning.

You can work hard, you can enjoy what you're doing and you can have success, Rowland said. Those are three things that I really just lean on and what Ive lived by since I got back into the sport and especially when I started coaching.

Rowland was a USA National Team member from 1985-1990, and she was named an All-American on the uneven bars in 1993 for Arizona State University.

Following her career, Rowland stepped back from the gym, enrolling at the University of Oklahoma to work toward her bachelor's in health and sports sciences.

There was a point in time where I completely lost my love for the sport, Rowland said. But having to pay my way through school, a gym just happened to fall into my lap.

That gym was the Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy in Norman, Oklahoma. Rowland credits the academy for reestablishing her love for the sport she dedicated her childhood and early adult years to.

She then began her position as an assistant coach for Oklahoma before leaving in 2010 to take the same job at Auburn.

At Auburn, Rowland became the associate head coach and was named Co-National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015 after helping the Tigers reach the NCAA Super Six for the first time in 22 years.

Her talents as a Tiger attracted the Gators. UF hired her within months, and she became the seventh head coach in program history.

Since then, Rowland has established herself as one of the top coaches in the nation, winning the 2020 Womens Collegiate Gymnastics Association National Coach of the Year award and three SEC Coach of the Year awards.

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Having coached some of the top gymnasts in the country in her time at UF, Rowland established a unique culture for the program one less focused on scores but fixated on being competitive and having fun.

We like to say, Train freely, compete freely, Rowland said. When you train freely, you compete freely. We like to win, but were going to enjoy the process.

Rowlands position offers her a prestigious opportunity to watch her athletes grow from their time as freshmen to progressing toward their future, whether that be in the sport or another avenue.

Its really important to find something else that you are just as passionate about in life other than gymnastics, because gymnastics may not always be there, Rowland said. So helping them find an identity and understand that we acknowledge that they are not just a gymnast.

Her athletes embrace this philosophy.

Junior Leanne Wong is the CEO of Leanne Wong Bowtique, where she sells bows and other accessories to young girls.

She hopes the business can inspire the future generation of gymnasts.

I started my bow business in December of 2021, Wong said. Its something I love to do outside of school and gymnastics.

Wongs overall excellence both on and off the mat awarded her a spot as a replacement athlete for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Im super grateful to have such a great support staff and the best coaches here to be able to see me through both college and the elite season, Wong said.

Florida associate head coach Owen Field joined the program at the same time as Rowland. Field will be traveling with Wong to coach her in Paris.

Im super proud of Leanne and all the hard work shes put in, Field said. Its really rewarding to see all that pay off and to see her accomplish some of her goals.

Field was promoted to the associate head coach role this summer. His coaching dynamic compliments Rowlands, both preaching to enjoy the sport.

We remind [Wong] to enjoy every moment and stick to the plan, Field said. Her position as an alternate is to be ready whenever they need her, so that constant reminder of treating every day like she is competing so that if something happens shes ready to go.

Now heading into her tenth season as the Florida coach, Rowland and Field have the same goal for the team: be the best version of yourself in every aspect of your life.

We want to help them become a more well rounded person, and be ready to attack life once they graduate, Rowland said. Were trying to get them 1% better in the gym, 1% better at life.

Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @maxbernstein23.

The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

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Jenny Rowlands emphasis on personal growth, fun inspires success in Florida gymnasts - The Independent Florida Alligator

Angle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Emma Echols (not pictured) receives $1,056 a month in Social Security and has to supplement that income with her part-time bus driver job. Laura Olivas

Emma Echols, 68, lives off $1,056 a month in Social Security and a part-time bus driver job in Alabama. She said she may never retire, but she's not too worried.

Echols has worked since she was 12, working as a chef, a convenience store general manager, and a bus driver. Throughout her life, she's rarely been financially stable, though she's kept bills down by living frugally and giving to others when she's able.

Though it's unlikely she can step away from work anytime soon, she's stayed active in her community to help others in worse situations than her. Still, she feels people like herself should get more retirement benefits and respect.

"I've always worked for what I needed or wanted, with no public or government assistance, but people who have not worked have very nice housing," Echols said. "Our world is confused. They reward the ones who will do nothing, who do not pay their bills on time, and not those who are school teachers who gave the system 50 years of their lives. I know teachers who knew exactly how many times a month they could wash their clothes to maintain their electric bills."

Millions of Americans at or approaching the typical retirement age of 65 lack the savings to quit working. Dozens of older Americans have told Business Insider this year they can't retire, as some estimates say retirees need well above a million dollars to retire comfortably. This is particularly out of reach for the more than half of Americans over 65 making under $30,000 a year, according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey.

While Echols said she wouldn't know what to do with over $1 million, getting more than $1,000 a month from the government would go a long way.

Echols got her first job at 12 as a babysitter, and at 14, she served soda and popcorn at a drive-in theater. Almost six decades later, she hasn't stopped working since.

"I always wanted to earn my own money," Echols said. "I always wanted to work, and at the age of 14, someone started my Social Security records for me. I waited 45 years to get that paycheck."

She worked as a chef at a seafood restaurant for over a decade, putting her in a "very good income bracket." At 27, she enrolled in community college but didn't graduate.

She switched to another company for nine years making minimum wage $3.35 at the time then got a new position as a convenience store assistant manager paying over $11 an hour, though she was later laid off. She acknowledges she and others in her generation should have been more informed about saving and investing strategies.

Over two decades ago, she got a job as a bus driver making about $9 an hour, though this increased over the years to about $26 an hour. She also gets health benefits and is building a pension.

"Before my rate went up, I didn't even make enough money to be able to pay $500 to $600 a month in rent," Echols said. "I have good income at my part time position where I have good benefits, but I understand the struggle for all senior citizens. For federal government housing, they do not want you to have more than $1,500 a month in income to qualify for one of their houses or apartments."

Her monthly expenses are $500 for rent with an extra water and garbage bill, $95 for phone and internet, almost $500 for her car payment, $89 a month on car and renters insurance, and about $300 for transportation expenses. She rarely eats out, and she tries to avoid spending on meat to cut back on costs. She's saving up for new tires and car maintenance fees that can cost $400.

"I live frugally, and I purchase only what I need," she said. "I've always been a clearance rack shopper, even some thrifting."

She rarely spends on entertainment, occasionally seeing a $5 movie near her home. She tries to stay healthy to avoid added medical costs, and she's kept her furniture and clothes purchases minimal.

She's gearing up to move from her duplex in the suburbs to an efficiency apartment in her city to reduce her transportation and car insurance expenses, as she can walk to work.

Her Social Security is $1,056 a month, a 25% reduction from her potential full benefit because she accepted payments early. She said it helps her cover rent and some other expenses, though she said she must work to supplement other costs and plan for her future. She has very little debt.

"People my age, we worked during a time when incomes were low, and I know people whose Social Security is $1,400, $1,500 a month, and it's not enough for them to live," Echols said. "I don't see myself being able to retire, but I'm grateful and healthy."

She said two of her sisters are in nursing homes, while her other two sisters have health issues. She gives gifts to family members when she can and tries to help them financially if she has money left over.

Echols also said some of her friends are dealing with similar situations, as many live on a fixed income and are struggling to pay all their bills.

She said religion has empowered her to continue giving what she has to help others in even worse situations, as she believes she will be repaid for her efforts and will never be homeless. If she had more money, she said she would use it to start a program to assist other women in difficult financial situations.

"I've never been a worrier, because in spite of what our world looks like, what's going on in the world, I truly believe that God has the final say," Echols said.

Are you worried about retirement? Reach out to this reporter at nsheidlower@businessinsider.com.

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Boomer lives on $1,056 a month in Social Security, works as bus driver - Business Insider

When Antonio Brown abruptly left the Buccaneers during the 2021 season, they could have used a veteran wide receiver for the playoffs. And Terrell Owens wrote on social media at the time that he was that wide receiver. Two and a half years later, Owens is blaming Tom Brady for the Bucs not signing him.

Owens said on the Bubba Dub Show that he attempted to contact Brady to ask for a chance to play for the Bucs in the playoffs, and Brady ignored him.

Tom Brady ignored me, Owens said. The year that AB went crazy . . . they just needed somebody to fill some holes with AB leaving at the receiver position. I reached out to him through Randy and some other people, just to come in and play third down and red zone situations. This dude ignored me. It just shows you the lack of respect there, but then when they get in front of you they want to act like they respect you.

At the time, Owens was 48 years old and hadnt played in the NFL since he was cut after three weeks of training camp with the Seahawks a decade earlier. Its probably less that Brady didnt respect Owens achievements as a former NFL receiver, than that Brady didnt want to waste time during playoff preparation talking to someone who had zero chance of making the roster.

Originally posted here:
Terrell Owens: I tried to come out of retirement with the Bucs, Tom Brady disrespected me - NBC Sports

Social media was abuzz after Monday nights (July 15) bombshell episode of The Bachelorette.

Fans went wild after contestant Aaron Erb gave Devin Strader an emotional intelligence self-help book mid-beef. This cinematic show of drama was reminiscent of a situation encountered by Aarons twin brother Noah Erb on Season 16 of the show.

Its no secret that Aaron and Devin have been at odds this season. In Mondays episode, the two finally sidebar for a chat, in which Aaron continuously calls Devin Dylan. While both desperately compete to gain Bachelorette Jenn Trans attention for the remainder of the episode, neither are awarded the group date rose.

While the guys selected are on their group date with Jenn, Aaron confronts Devin about his lack of self-awareness. Their conversation becomes heated, and eventually results in Aaron labeling Devin a bully and giving him a self-help book. He tells him, Honestly, Im supportive of you and I just wanted to encourage you. I have a little something to give you, before returning with a copy of Principles for Self Growth by Dr. Brandon OConner.

I brought this with me. Its my own book. Its something Ive read a few times, Aaron says. Its helped me grow as a person. I want to give it to you because I want to see you win, and if its with Jenn, Im supporting you, if its with someone else, I just want to see you do your best.

His words are interesting, considering what happened to his twin brother in Season 16.

Devin smirks at the book and says, Thanks man, I really appreciate it.

Needless to say, the internet had some opinions.

At this point, the bachelorette franchise has seen more self-help books than most men in America #thebachelorette, one user wrote.

If I had a nickel for every time one man gives another man a book on emotional intelligence, Id have two nickels. Which isnt a lot, but its weird that it happened twice #thebachelorette #bachelorette, another user tweeted.

I wonder how many ppl realize the self help book that Aaron gave Devin is the same book Bennett gave Aarons brother Noah in a previous season of #TheBachelorette , a third user commented.

Aarons dramatic response to Devin stealing Jenn away for some gelato caused some fans to change their opinion of the originally highly-anticipated contestant.

Seriously, Erb 2 (Aaron?) let it go. He stole her, you all stole the time back. Its over, read the room, dont sabotage yourself #TheBachelorette #BachelorNation, wrote one user.

Did Noah Erb not tell his brother Aaron Erb how the show works?!? whys he starting this lame beef #TheBachelorette, tweeted another.

So far this season, eleven contestants have faced elimination, including Brendan, Brett, Ricky, Matt, Kevin, Dakota and Moze. The most recent eliminations were Brian, Marvin and Jahaan.

Fans currently speculate that the seasons winner will be Devin, based on a report from Reality Steve, aka Steve Carbone, who is infamous for his spoilers for The Bachelor and its spinoffs. Only time will tell if his sources are correct this time!

The Bachelorette releases new episodes every Monday at 8/7c on ABC.

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'The Bachelorette's Aaron Erb breaks the internet after giving Devin Strader the same self help book his twin brother received - Decider

A reader asks:

As someone that spends too much time thinking about buying a lake house, I would love to hear your thoughts. The argument that you will feel tied down and obligated to go to the lake house at the expense of other travel worries me.

A few weeks ago I wrote about my all-time high in savings and why it was a mistake. Heres something I shared:

But I no longer feel its necessary to go over and above when it comes to saving. I want to enjoy some of my money now while I can.

Thats the biggest reason our savings fell off a little in 2022 and 2023. We took a bunch of trips. We did some minor renovations to the house that added hangout spaces. We bought a boat. We own a lake house.

A few people asked if I would share my experience of owning a vacation house.

Were in a fortunate position to own a house on the lake but there was also some fortuitous timing involved along with some risk.

Our oldest daughter was 3 years old when our twins were born in 2017. We quickly realized travel was going to be nearly impossible what with all the car seats, strollers, pack-n-plays and such.

That same year our good friends were building a house on a lake so we got to spend some time in a new area. We loved it. And it just so happened that a brand new development was getting underway right on the water.

We had always discussed buying a lake house someday but never explored it too seriously until we saw this place. There were plans for a community pool, a marina, and a restaurant (that never happened), but the development was still in its infancy, so lots werent selling all that quickly. It was a risk, and prices reflected that.

We got a really good deal in 2018 and built a wonderful place right by the water. As they slowly but surely added more homes we decided we would eventually trade up when the second phase got underway and lots with better views opened up. Those conversations with the builder took place starting in 2019.

Then the pandemic hit. Plans to build more houses were shelved because of the supply chain issues. Our house skyrocketed in value. By the time we sold it in 2022, it was up ~75% in less than four years.

We used that equity to buy a new house in a better location with better lake views. The timing of that purchase will be the best investment well ever make.

The builder allowed us to lock in the price in late-2021, which was still reasonable at the time. The lender allowed us to lock in a rate before the construction even started when mortgage rates were still 3%. The house took 18 months to build as the construction industry slowly thawed. By the time it was done in the spring of 2023 mortgage rates were approaching 7% while the price of houses exactly like ours were going for 50% more than we paid.1

If you just base it on the down payments we made, were talking Nvidia-like returns here. Sure, we took some risk by buying one of the first homes in a new development but we got very lucky with how the timing of everything worked out.

Id call it 20% the risk we took2 and 80% luck.

Thats our story. Now lets discuss some pros and cons of owning a vacation home.

Lets start with the cons:

Two mortgages.Obviously, its more expensive.

Higher property taxes.The property taxes on a second home are much higher than a primary residence. The property taxes on our vacation house are roughly double what we pay on our primary home.

The upkeep. Taking care of another property when you dont live there full-time an be challenging.

Luckily, were part of an association that handles landscaping, snow removal and upkeep. Thats another monthly cost (even though its worth it).

Its also a pain to take deliveries and get things serviced since youre not there all the time.

Usage. I saw a statistic estimating that people spend an average of about six weeks a year in their vacation homes.

Were higher than that (it helps that our place is only an hour away from home base) butsome people might not use it enough to justify the cost.

I love going to the lake most weekends but some people might prefer more variety.

Concentration risk.Owning multiple homes makes you concentrated in the housing market. We have a big chunk of our net worth invested in Michigan real estate.

Im OK with this risk but its a risk nonetheless.

Now for the benefits:

It feels like a vacation every time. The anticipation of a vacation often gives you the biggest psychological boost. I get that feeling on a weekly basis in the summer.

I still get excited every time we head north.

More time spent outdoors.We spend far less time indoors looking at our phones, social media or television.

Our kids are outside all the time swimming, boating, fishing, going for walks, playing on the beach, going for bike rides, etc.

We could do more of this at home, but having a lake house forces you to be outside more.

You could rent it out.Our association doesnt allow Airbnbs and the like but I know some people who own a second home who rent it out to help cover the costs.

Remote semi-retirement. My job affords me the flexibility to work from anywhere.

We often extend our weekends in the summer to spend Friday-Monday at the lake. We were there for ten days around the 4th of July.

The ability to combine work with relaxation and fun is one of my favorite parts of having another place.

The water.Being around water puts me in a better mood.

[my happy place]

Its also a valuable selling point as an investment. A friend told me a house on the water will never go down in value.

This is an exaggeration but probably right 90% of the time.

The memories. Buying a second home was the best/luckiest financial decision weve ever made.

But even if we lost money on our second house experiment, the investment would have been worth it.

Were creating memories that will last a lifetime and its hard to put a price on that.

The best thing about having a vacation home is that it provides an excuse to spend more time with friends and family.

I discussed this question on Ask the Compound:

Bill Sweet joined me on the show to discuss questions about executing a die with zero retirement strategy, changing tax status on your tax return, tax-optimizing your retirement distributions and muni bond funds.

Further Reading: My All-Time High in Savings

1Prices caught up in a hurry. The first-mover advantage helped here too.

2We had a few friends, family members and unnamed financial advisors try to talk us out of it. Im glad they didnt.

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The Best Investment I Ever Made (the Pros & Cons of Owning a Vacation Home) - A Wealth of Common Sense

Dried blood could be seen on a chess table next to a coffee cup inside Tompkins Sq. Park where two people were shot on the morning of July 12.

One victim, a 74 year-old man was administered CPR on the scene but perished and was pronounced dead shortly after he was raced to Bellevue Hospital. A second victim, a 44 year old male, staggered out of the park and into a deli on Avenue A near the corner of E. 8th St. He too was rushed to Bellevue Hospital and was listed in stable condition.

Said one poster on the blog EV Grieve, I live on the corerm of 7th and A. I heard the gunshots and immediately looked out my window. I saw the 44 year old victim running across A with blood all over his shirt.

A sad day in the EV, he continued. I hope they find the shooter.

Another poster who went by Sarah on the site said, Jesus Christ. This is awful. Sympathies to the victims and their families.

Police told Straus News that no arrests have been made.

Ron Luvov, a retired guidance counselor who lives in Stuyvesant Town told Our Town he was going to head to the park to do some bird watching and grab lunch when he got the alert about the shooting on the Citizens app.

Theres definitely more crime happening lately, he said. Its back to the 80s.

Another young woman the scene said, I used to live around here and come back all the time. While she said crime seems to have spiked recently, she said long time denizens of the neighborhood tell me it was a lot worse years ago.

The chess tables have been a source of problems in the park in recent years. Police said a person of interest was seen in the park wearing gloves, a mask and a hoodie shortly before the shooting at 9:45 a.m. He fled East on E. 7th St. after the shooting. Police were said to be searching for crime scene footage of the shooting.

At least five shots rang out, according to one posting on the blog EV Grieve.

Luvov said there seems to be a growing spate of violent crime in the area lately, although he noted that a recent fatal stabbing a few blocks north two weeks earlier resulted in a clean up drive by law enforcement. The finally cleaned up E. 14th St, Luvov said.

Eric Adams and local city council leaders had called for a crackdown on vagrants who were congregating along the south side of East. 14th between Ave. A and First Ave. after the triple stabbing

The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on E. 14th St. runs a weekly flea market in the court yard between the church and the now shuttered elementary school, but the licensed vendors inside also seemed to attract a raft of unlicensed vendors to the sidewalk outside in recent years. Locals tabbed the unlicensed vendorswho set up blankets on block and sold everything from canned food, housewares and electronicsthe thieves market.

In the stabbing death on June 30, police arrested a homeless man, Alejandro Piedra, 30, and charged him with murdering 38 -year-old Clemson Coxfield, who had attempted to come the aid of a woman who was also stabbed by a deranged Piedra. According to one report in the New York Times, Piedra had some stolen items that he was attempting to exchange for drugs on the block. But when he was turned down, he went on a violent rampage.

Inside Tompkins Sq. Park, there were was several shootings in March only five days apart. In one incident, two innocent bystanders were wounded in a March 16th shooting. In another shooting incident five days later, no one was injured. Police arrested Waldemar Alverio, 33, on attempted murder, assault, and reckless endangerment charges for the two shootings that occurred on March 16 and March 21.

No arrests had been made in the July 12 shooting at presstime but police said the investigation is continuing.

More here:

Chess Table Murder: One Dead, One Wounded in Latest Spasm of Violence in the East Village - ourtownny.com

Director of cult favorites The Favorite and Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimoss Kinds of Kindness is a cruel contemplation on the painful sacrifices we make to get what we want. The film asks: Are we controlled by our desires? And how much control do we give to those who hold the key?

Fittingly, the film opens with the high-synth Eurythmics Sweet Dreams Are Made of These, in which Annie Lenoxs voice calls, Some of them want to use you / Some of them want to get used by you. Kinds of Kindness concludes with Emma Stone dancing feverishly to COBRAHs Brand New Bitch.

In the nearly three hours which connect these two blithely-spirited moments, Lanthimos offers a triptych of stories each with different plots that all use the same set of actors. The cast includes Lanthimoss long-time favorite Emma Stone protagonist of Poor Things Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Jesse Plemons and Margaret Qualley, among others.

The first parable, dubbed The Death of R.M.F., follows businessman Robert, played by Plemons, as he grows consumed by the commands of his boss Raymond, played by Defoe. Raymond determines when Robert eats, sleeps and has sex. The audience never quite learns why Robert is so intent on pleasing his boss. Perhaps that is the point: Lanthimos critiques the all-too-common fiending after wealth and status.

R.M.F. is Flying, the second story, trails along as police officer Daniel, also played by Plemons, investigates whether his wife Liz just recently back from being lost at sea has been replaced by an imposter. As a test of her identity, Daniel asks Liz, played by Stone, to complete brutish tasks. In one scene, she chops off her finger to serve as dinner. In another, she cuts out her liver. Chilling, I know.

In the final story, R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich, Andrew, played by Plemons, is a member of a purity-obsessed cult in the bayou. Guided by a prophecy, Andrew along with Emily, played by Stone searches for a girl with the power to bring the dead back to life. The subsequent tale includes bizarre sauna ceremonies, a set of twins played by Qualley and a resurrection.

If these stories packed with rituals, sacrifice and prophetic dreams sound a bit sacramental, thats no accident. Not only does Kinds of Kindness include biblical references, including to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but the entire film is also a rumination of gods and their followers. Several characters become god-like to those around them: the boss, Raymond or the policeman, Daniel. Those in their lives Raymonds employee, Daniels wife are driven mad by a feverishness to satisfy. What will we do to please the people we worship?

In addition to the films religious allegory, there are both visual and conceptual sinews which bind the film together: games of power and control, moments of dark humor. And in each narrative, the surreal is mapped against the ordinary. In the last story, for instance, Stone drives a purple Dodge Challenger to find a veterinarian who has the power to resurrect the dead into the living. Cloaked in everyday clothes, the characters embark on medieval-esque endeavors against the backdrop of New Orleans.

Of course, violence serves as a persistent throughline of the film. The characters treat both sex and violence with a subversive flippancy, while operating in a world that looks remarkably like our own. The absurdity of Kinds of Kindness mirrors our own existence: while the real world may appear more buttoned-up on the outside, it is just as rotten as that of Lanthimoss sick fables. Or so the film posits.

Especially as a fan of Poor Things, it feels tempting to chalk off the films gore and debauchery to some high-brow genius spilled from Lanthimoss imagination. Theres brutal rape, a myriad of naked female bodies notably, very few male ones orgies and faint-inducing violence. But ultimately, its perversion masked as intellectualism. Strip away the biblical references and avant-garde air, and the film is mere bone-chilling depravity.

Perhaps, I told myself, Im approaching Kinds of Kindness all wrong. Maybe Im too uptight. But Lanthimos never properly develops any part of the film. The entire spectacle seems to operate on the surface of a surrealist dream with no real center. The film never pushes past the rather incoherent first unravelings of each story. Its a strange, lurid world not simply without rules or logic, but without depth.

Lanthimos-fans might declare the film as representing a sort of nihilism that resonates with our time. Its a tired story. As our world teeters toward ruin, nothing means anything. We are all savage animals of flesh and bone. Frankly, Im bored of it. I just cant help but feel Kinds of Kindness is ultimately empty.

There are echoes of life, just barely audible, between the borders of Kinds of Kindness. Push deep enough, and you will detect something in the film about love about how desperately and wholly we are committed to being loved that we will do anything to receive it. Stone offers poignant acting throughout, giving a glimpse at what Kinds of Kindness might have been if Lanthimos was able to excavate a bit more of that humanness.

Instead, the film chokes up a dark conclusion. Taken from the Eurythmics Sweet Dreams: everyone is looking for something. Lanthimos makes clear that we never quite find it.

Rating:

The rest is here:

Review: Kinds of Kindness is a bleak, disappointing meditation on control - The Dartmouth

Oftentimes I find myself scrolling on my phone for hours without realizing it, or sitting down to do homework with the urge to check notifications or look at a screen every five minutes.

When those tendencies worsen, I like to take a break from certain apps, deleting them for a few weeks to reset and focus on other things. At first, I think about it intermittently, wondering what Im missing out on or wishing I could share a funny thought online, but after a week its the last thing on my mind. Those hours that used to be for scrolling are divided into productivity or phone calls to connect to loved ones.

The constant digital overload of information leads to a need to be up-to-date with trends and social statuses. There are numerous studies on the effects of blue-light and the addictiveness of social media. When factoring in the instant gratification of short-lived data, people are conditioned to only need attention for fleeting moments before moving on to the next topic. However, there are steps one can take to improve their attention span without a self-diagnosis of ADHD.

Many studies have looked at the attention spans of adults to show an average result of 10-15 minutes of attention for a speech or lecture. A study in 2015 from Microsoft Corp. revealed people have an attention span of eight seconds, lower than a goldfish, with an attention span of nine seconds. The National Library of Medicine also found a correlation between high screen time and low brain development in children.

Considering the addictive features of social media with our societys dependence on it, lowering ones screen time is harder than ever. Social media platforms cause surges in dopamine levels in the brain from things like comments or likes. This activates the brains reward center to show effects similar to gambling and drugs. Its impossible to remove screen use completely from our lives, but with this in mind, the practice of moderation weighs heavily on mental health.

Through a fleet of YouTube videos, I've recently developed a fascination with the long term effects of mediation. Meditation is said to increase ones attention span and ability to focus. To meditate, one sits somewhere comfortable and quiet, closes their eyes and slowly breathes through their nose for a period of time.

The point is to completely clear the mind of any thoughts to rest and reset. The only focus should be on breathing and feeling air fill the lungs. Even five minutes of this is difficult after taking in immoderate loads of information all day, but with practice, one can clear their mind for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. I started to meditate every day and found my ability to focus when studying or listening to lectures in class became significantly easier.

The common knowledge of blue light produced from cell phones is the disruption of brain activity. Blue light disrupts ones circadian rhythm and melatonin production to inhibit sleep quality. This cognitive interference should be taken into higher consideration in regard to its negative effects on attention span without quality sleep. One way to counteract this is by putting away devices 30 minutes to an hour before bed, or strengthening habits like reading before sleep.

Reading and journaling are forms of meditation to calm the mind and wear out leftover mental energy that sits unused when trying to shut down for sleep.Sleep is necessary for both learning and memory. The National Institute of Health reported adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep every night, and without those hours, ones ability to focus is slim to none. This makes the instant gratification of content from social media even more desirable.

Taking a break from social media altogether is also an option. Many people set a maximum screen time on their phone to limit their use. To replace that time normally spent mindlessly scrolling, practice hobbies with similar passive entertainment like reading, journaling, baking or creating something artistic.

Calm, a wellness brand, claims other ways to improve attention span are giving yourself breaks, organizing your time by writing things down in a planner, playing classical music, creating small, attainable goals to stay motivated and focusing on one task at a time instead of multitasking.

Shifting away from dependency on phones is difficult when they are an important tool in daily life. However, without active practice in separation to improve attention away from the screen, the iPad kids of the world will become iPad adults, and no one wants to see that. What seems hard at first gets easier, then enjoyed, and eventually its the new normal.

Libby Evans is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Libby know by emailing her at le422021@ohio.edu.

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From the Grapevine: How to counteract a shortening attention span - The Post

On day one of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, at 8:45 a.m., as I walked into the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans and watched the lines of people form, I could hear the commotion beginning. People were ready. But as I entered inside and walked to the Wellness House activation and inside a curtained space with elevated stages, poufy orange cushions to sit on, sound bowls placed around, and sage being spread, it was a completely different scene and vibe. The practitioners, beautiful Black women from New Orleans who were preparing to teach guided meditation and utilize sound therapy, were dressed in ethereal white ensembles, greeting people with warmth and in a calm voice. They were ready, too. They were there and would be there every morning throughout ESSENCE Fest weekend to help guests heal.

Meditation is not necessarily doing anything, says Dirieal Perkins of Stretch Galore Yoga about the practice, which shes done for about five years. As we talk, her two-and-a-half-month-old son Yiannis, also in white, sleeps on her chest in a carrier. It is more so becoming, not necessarily one with your thoughts, but really just entertaining those thoughts and not so much dwelling on it, but just allowing it to flow and just let it pass. It is not, we have to sit down and only think about good things. Thats literally not what it is. Its kind of impossible in a sense. Your mind works; its all over the place. Its allowed to be that, but just also allow yourself to come back to center at some point. Like I said, entertain it. Then let it pass. Let it fly. But dont dwell on or hold on to those thoughts.

One way to entertain and release those thoughts is through breathwork, which Aries D, one of the practitioners who works at NOLAs Divine Essential Magic, says is essential.

We take breath for granted. Thats something that were born with. Thats the last thing we do when we leave this earth. But at the same token, its the main way that you can allow yourself to release not only oxygen, but different endorphins to help yourself relax, she shares. As challenging as it sounds, we have the ability to tell our minds next. So if its a thought that you dont want to have, say next, push it to the next spot. You have so many things that you encounter on a daily basis, let alone that you endure throughout your whole life. So even though its some unwanted memories or thoughts that pop up, you have a plethora of other ones that you could bring forth to manifest different beautiful realities for yourself.

Practicing meditation and learning the ability to acknowledge and then move on from thoughts that fill our minds has changed the life of lead instructor Shan-coa Burke. She has been doing it since 2016 and guided ESSENCE Fest guests through a stirring experience.

I needed to heal. I needed to do some real healing, the Stretch Galore leader recalls. I was ready to grow, and I saw how the power of manifestation changed my life, and I wanted to bring it to our people because it wasnt big in our community. And I was just this Black girl from New Orleans and thought, I need to bring this to our people. Because our people really need some healing. And one thing I know about God, he aligned it, and he aligned me with every one of these women.

Not only does the practice provide mental clarity, but it can also have physical benefits. This was clear from looking at the very youthful Burke, who one might confuse with a young college student but is actually a soon-to-be 30-year-old mother of three.

Even by me looking so young, thats because Im not letting the stress take me. The meditation is the detachment, Burke says. I envision myself detaching from these situations and pushing the negativity out. Pushing it out, inhaling that light, and exhaling that darkness.

The setting for the guided meditation service was quiet, and they even asked vendors across the way to turn down their music to maintain the sanctity of the space. However, the ladies made clear that such introspection doesnt have to be done only in hushed rooms.

The best way is to just do it no matter what youre doing. Most people feel that they have to be in a certain area or a certain spot, and it has to be quiet. I read a book once where it talks about different meditations. So Ive learned a whole lot. But you can literally sit down and eat and do food meditation, focus on the foods that youre eating. You can meditate while youre walking. You can meditate literally while youre working out, in the tub, sitting at your desk, and working. You can literally meditate anywhere. So this whole ideology that it needs to be peace, quiet, certain surroundings only, its not true. So its about just implementing it in everyday life, no matter what youre doing, just knowing you can do it anywhere, Perkins says.

While the guided meditation started with just a few participants, by the time I opened my eyes at the end, the room was full. People were sitting wherever they could find a spot, whether there was an orange cushion to rest on or the hard floor. But they were centered and at peace, ready to take on the Festival experience in a good headspace. That impact is the purpose behind all of the womens work.

Its how you start your day. You control your day because you can meditate and say, Im going to have this kind of day. I just believe in the power of manifestation and positive thoughts, Burke says. I learned this trick and I want to share it with you so you can see how it transforms your life. If you want balance, ask yourself every day, Why is my life balancing out the way I need it to? Ask yourself that because the why reveals itself. The why reveals answers.

She adds, Anytime you question why, your brain starts to work. It helps you cultivate the answer. It starts to find answers, and it starts to reveal things, too. So I want you to get there. I want everybody to be there. I want, especially our people, to be there because we really, really need this. We do this for our people.

Originally posted here:

The Guided Meditation Space At EFOC Was A Perfect Place To Find Healing - Essence