Eleven, in heaven

"To turn 100 dollars in 110 dollars is work. To turn 100 million dollars in 110 million dollars is unevitable" - Edgar Bronfman Sr

Author

Micael Balioni
February 08, 2024

THE MUSTS

World

baby shark, doo doo doo doo

China pressures women to have more children

It seems the tables have turned. In 2015, after 35 years, China ended its one-child policy with the expectation that birth rates would increase.

Contrary to expectations, China is experiencing a population decrease for the first time since the '60s, with a 40% decrease in birth rates over half a decade, resulting in India overtaking it as the most populous nation.

  • By the end of the century, the Chinese population, currently at 1.4 billion, is expected to decrease to half a billion. The demographic is also graying, with predictions of over 40% being above the age of 65 by 2100.

In light of these trends, the government has found someone to blame: Women. According to Xi Jinping, it's time for Chinese women to embrace marriage and a "procreation culture."

Women who are not mothers are receiving phone calls from the government stressing the significance of getting pregnant, and the Communist Party has been organizing lectures and events on the matter.

The strategy, however, is meeting resistance: There is a growing movement of Chinese women who want to save money and enjoy life without children. The situation has escalated to the point where the authorities are censoring feminist activists' social media accounts.

The bigger picture: With an aging and shrinking population, Beijing anticipates a shortage of 30 million workers in the industry by next year. Despite high unemployment among the youth, there's a lack of interest in manufacturing roles.

Slower growth: China's economy was growing by double digits annually until 2011. In 2023, it barely breached 5% growth — the 3rd worst performance since the 1990s.

What is happening around the globe

Economy & Business

“…smiling next to Oprah and the Queen…”

Good time to be a billionare

It’s never a bad time to be rich, but now seems like an extra-good time to be part of the monocle-wearing class: Bloomberg's latest ranking revealed that the world's richest families, including new entries from Middle Eastern royal families, saw their collective fortunes increase by 1.5 trillion dollars.

Simultaneously, Oxfam's research highlights that the world's five richest people, including names like Elon Musk, Bernard Arnault, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Warren Buffett, more than doubled their wealth since 2020, going from 405 billion dollars to 869 billion dollars by November 2023.

  • These figures not only underline the growing economic disparity but also suggest that, if current trends continue, the world could witness the emergence of its first trillionaire within a decade.

Win win situation? 

Of course not. This skyrocketing wealth growth comes with the caveat that almost 5 billion people have become poorer in the same period, with extreme poverty still more prevalent in the poorest countries than before the pandemic.

Fun fact: Jeff Bezos earned +U$7.9 million per hour in all of 2023. In under 13 minutes, he brought in the equivalent of what the typical person earns in a lifetime.

Not all evil: More than 250 billionaires and millionaires - including one Brazilian - sign a letter wanting to pay more tax on large fortunes - Just right me the check honey.

What else is on:

  • Another trial. The CEOs of the world's largest social networks held a five-hour meeting with US senators. The reason: A hearing has been called to discuss the impact of social media on children and teenagers. It was bad.

  • Breaking: Social network Reddit finally plans to launch its IPO in March. It would be the first IPO of a major social media company since Pinterest's (PINS.N), opens new tab debut in 2019.

  • WeWork. Adam Neumann prepares offer for WeWork five years after being 'kicked out'.

 

Culture & Life

my favorite season is awards season

Miley Cyrus performing Flowers at the 2024 Grammy Awards Cerimony

Grammy 2024

On a night dominated by female nominations in the main categories, Taylor Swift, SZA and Miley Cyrus were the highlights of Grammy 2024. The ceremony took place on Sunday (4) in Los Angeles, hosted by Trevor Noah. Check out the highlights you should know:

  • Continuing her momentum. Taylor Swift won Album of the Year, making her the only artist to have won the main Grammy category four times.

  • The tortured poets department. She also announced her new upcoming album on her acceptance speech, with release date for April 19th.

  • She can buy whatever she wants. Miley Cyrus received her first two Grammy Awards, for Recording of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance, both for the song "Flowers".

  • Blue’s father showed up. Jay-Z received the DR. Dre Global Impact, the 2024 Grammy's prestigious award. During his speech, the rapper criticized the Recording Academy and their judgements.

  • Surprise Appearance. Céline Dion made her first public appearance in months at the event, after stepping away from the stage to treat a rare syndrome.

  • Dark twist. Rapper Killer Mike was handcuffed and escorted out of the event after winning in three categories.

Tony Bennett, Sinéad O'Connor and Tina Turner were remembered among the tributes to artists who have died. Brazilians Astrud Gilberto and Rita Lee also received tributes.

What else is on:

EDITOR’S RECOMMENDATIONS

Music

all I hear is la-da-di-da-da-do

Orquídeas by Kali Uchies: I've always heard good things about Kali, but never took the time to listen to anything but her mainstream songs. Nonetheless, two of my best friends - who do not know each other - recommended this album, so I knew it was the moment to give Kali a chance.

With the release of "Orquídeas," her fourth album, Uchis not only solidifies her position as a standout artist in an industry that is claiming for quality but also raises the bar for musical innovation and diversity. The integration of a mix between R&B and Latin pop is not new to her music, but in "Orquídeas" this fusion reaches new heights.

The album reflects an artistic maturity, characterized by a sophistication and ambition that sets her completely apart from her peers in the contemporary music scene.

Uchis, with her American and Colombian roots, uses this cultural duality to fluidly explore the nuances of her identities, switching between English and Spanish, enriching her expression, and resonating with a global audience.

This balance between innovation and identity is what makes "Orquídeas" an album that not only captures the spirit of the era but also promises to be a landmark in the evolution of Latin pop and R&B. I am totally obsessed about how she is redefining the boundaries between both genres, reflecting a broader trend in the industry towards authenticity and diversity. Orquideas is not ahead of its time, it's perfect in time - in a time where we were needing it.

For those that enjoy Rosalia, Daniel Caesar, SZA, Ariana Grande and Karol G (Rating 9/10)

SHOW ME YOUR SMILE

Fun

random things you might like

  • Above everyone else. If you are like me and love to check rich people’s houses, come see the inside of the world’s tallest residence.

  • Boosting your studies. This site uses AI to help you put together a learning roadmap - from new languages to coding.

  • Business lesson. Here's Walt Disney's original pitch on Disneyland for investors.

  • Econ 101. This video helped me understand economics way more than university classes. Really useful.

  • All dirty... Activists throw soup at the Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre; Watch the video.

WHAT ABOUT ME?

Micael

meeting spot is downward facing dog

My fascination with yoga truly took shape during my time in Australia, where I ventured into my first hot yoga classes. To be honest, at the time the experience didn't capture my heart.

hot yoga unfolds in a warm, humid room, with temperatures soaring between 32°C and 40°C. The practice is a variant of hatha yoga, and involves a sequence of postures demanding more intensity than traditional settings, promising enhanced physical strength and deeper relaxation.

Fast forward to 2024, while curating links for "Tanamesa," I stumbled upon the opportunity that reignited my interest in the practice. Embarking on a thirty-day challenge is never a decision taken lightly, or it shouldn’t be - if you really expect to fulfill it. Indeed, many of my friends who started the journey with me stopped in the middle. Despite the temptation to skip a session, particularly when doing it meant losing sleeping time, the thought of personal accountability kept me going. As discussed in the previous edition, discipline is fundamentally about showing up for oneself. And I really glad that I did.

The most profound lesson from this experience was the newfound appreciation for the simple act of breathing. It's remarkable how much we underestimate the power of breath and its ability to concentrate our energy on specific areas of our body and mind. I can swear to you guys, that this awareness has even permeated other aspects of my life, like when I am at the gym or performing tasks demanding significant mental focus - bringing noticeable improvements in both my physical and mental well-being.

Fun fact: Interestingly, last year in January I stopped drinking for a month - a big contrast to this year's challenge. Funny how so many things can change over just one year.

I'm really grateful for the companionship of those who joined me in this challenge. It served as a really nice intro to the universe of yoga, a topic I'm eager to keep exploring in the future.

With love,

Micael.

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