now the year can begin

The world is full of lonely people afraid to make the first move.

Author

Micael Balioni
March 06, 2025

THE MUSTS

World

saudades daquilo que nao vivi

Baby, it’s Carnival!

Let's forget about politics for a moment, today we're going to talk about Carnival in the best country in the world: In the country where samba is almost a religion, Carnival is a veritable marathon of joy... and money.

  • By 2025, the streets of Brazil’s main cities brought together more than 50 million people and the events and parties alone are expected to bring in 12 billion to the country's economy.

Arê-rê-êêêêê: With and 8% increase in the number of people joining the parties (bloquinhos) this year, Carnival has established itself as one of the biggest parties on the planet - impacting everything from street vendors to luxury hotels.

Rio de Janeiro: In 2025, CarnaRio welcomed 8 million people. From the avenue to the street parties, around R$5.5 billion was generated in the marvelous city alone. In Sapucaí, more than 120,000 people came each night, and in the streets, more than 6 million people. My friends were there!

São Paulo: My birth city is not far behind, with 4.5 million people and R$6.4 billion in turnover over the holiday. The city was pumping (and stopping in many places), with a total of 767 bloquinhos.

Bahia: In Bahia, the festival isn't just in Salvador, but spreads throughout the state. There was around 3.5 million visitors, generating R$7 billion. With 850,000 tourists in the capital alone, the festival saw a 63% increase in revenue compared to last year.

Pernambuco: With a carnival that lasted 10 days, the state welcomed 2.3 million tourists, attracting more and more people every year. The highlight is Olinda (and its gigantic dolls), which in 2024 alone received 4 million tourists during the festival.

Luxury Carnival: The VIP cabins are still hotly contested, with tickets costing over R$5,000 and the right to an open bar, buffet and exclusive shows. For those who want to party in comfort - and ostentatiously - this is the golden ticket. Maybe one day….

What else in on

  • Israel: Israel and Hamas exchanged the bodies of four Israeli hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners whose release Israel had previously delayed. It was the final exchange of the first phase of their ceasefire. (Read)

  • Argentina: Milei appointed two judges to the Supreme Court without waiting for the Senate's approval. For critics, this is a dangerous precedent by ignoring the traditional process. (Read)

  • South Korea: For the first time in nine years, the birth rate in South Korea has risen. The country, which boasts the world's lowest fertility rate, saw a slight increase in 2024, from 0.72 to 0.75. (Read)

  • USA: Word of the day is tariffs. Following speculation, Donald Trump has once again activated his protectionist strategy and imposed new tariffs on products imported from Canada, Mexico and China. (Read)

 

Economy & Business

in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

Have faith in your investments

Money, religion, and politics: all dinner table no-nos. But what about an investing strategy that combines them all?

A growing number of asset managers are picking investments based on the specific ideological, religious, or even political leanings of their investors—and making a profit to boot.

The biggest faith-based fund manager on the market is Inspire Investing. The firm screens for investments based on an “Inspire Score” which it calculates “based on their alignment with biblical values and the degree to which they operate as blessings to their customers, communities, workforce and the world” according to its website. That means screening out companies with any involvement in what it calls “violations” such as embryonic stem cell research, gambling, tobacco, abortion rights, and IVF.

  • The firm’s largest fund, the $331 million Inspire 100 ETF (BIBL) — is made up of the 100 largest “biblically aligned” companies in the United States.

Meanwhile, some asset managers are catching the conservative wave that is currently sweeping over corporate America. One expressly political conservative fund is the $87 million God Bless America ETF (YALL) — which is for “god-fearing, flag-waving conservatives,” according to its website. These flag-wavers had a good year: The fund beat the S&P 500 in 2024.

Many faith-based asset managers, such as GuideStone Funds, which has $24 billion in assets under management, are using their stakes in major companies to pressure them to end policies such as covering employee travel costs to get abortions. While these funds don’t hold large enough stakes in massive corporations to pull off a successful activist campaign, they can still mount public pressure to push them in the direction of the fund’s values.

Value investing

Investing based on personal values isn’t a new phenomenon. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, for example, swept the asset management world in 2021, before losing popularity among retail traders and institutional investors alike.

And Christian-based investing certainly isn’t the only form of faith-focused finance. There are forms of faith-based investing centered on other religions, such as halal investment screening.

The bottom line: A key job of financial advisors is to help clients invest in line with their values regardless of whether they fall into any specific ideology or religion. This article was based on what I found about value investing in religion, but it can be so much bigger than that. It include screening out investments in countries with human rights abuses, or publicly traded companies that collaborated with the Nazis in World War II, for example. Investing is personal for everyone, whether you’re looking at a company's labor policies or its balance sheet. Ultimately you must choose what’s best for your conscience—and your profits.

What else is on:

  • Bad News for Tesla: While EV sales grew by 37% in Europe, the company's sales fell by almost half (-45%) in January compared to January 2024. Europeans boycotted Elon Musk's brand precisely because of his political stance and involvement. Can you blame them? (Read)

  • Prada Versace. Prada is negotiating the purchase of Versace for almost 1.5 billion euros. The deal could be closed later this month, consolidating a move to strengthen Italian fashion in the face of global giants LMVH and Kering. (Read)

  • Who are they? A superbillionaire is someone whose wealth exceeds $50 billion. There are 24 of them in the world, and their combined net worth is higher than the GDP of France. (Read)

  • Politics messing with my dollars. Stocks tumbled immediately following a televised shouting match between President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (Read)

  • Cheers! AB InBev is selling less beer, but making more money as it raises prices, even after year long protests against supporting diverse groups, particularly the LGBTQ+ community. (Read)

  • Who’s Gemini anyway? OpenAI has announced its new ChatGPT 4.5, promising it will feel more “natural” than other large language models. (Read)

  • Good luck babe. Instagram may turn Reels into an independent app as part of its strategy to compete with TikTok. (Read)

Culture & Life

that’s why I am posting way less…

Is disappearing from the internet the new luxury?

 

 It used to be the car of the year. Then, the most exclusive handbag... Now, the true status symbol of the super-rich can be something much simpler: Not existing online.

Putting it into context... Think that the logic of luxury is simple: if everyone has access to something, it ceases to be exclusive - and becomes inclusive. The luxury market has always lived by this principle, but the internet has messed up this logic a little.

What was once restricted can now be copied, replicated and bought at the click of a button. The recent example of the Walmart bag imitating the Hermès bag proves this.

  • The same goes for an exclusive restaurant revealed in that viral TikTok or any habit revealed on social media - just by following the right profiles.

This is precisely what the super-rich want to avoid. No wonder the use of social networks among billionaires has fallen by 20% in the last 5 years and most Fortune 500 CEOs don’t use social media. The new answer to maintaining exclusivity seems to be to leave no trace, especially in digital.

This is impacting everything from social networks to the digital security sector. Companies specializing in “digital erasure” have grown by 80% in the last year, offering tailor-made packages to remove any trace online.

The luxury market has also adapted. Brands are creating exclusive experiences for those who want to disconnect, such as resorts where Wi-Fi doesn't exist and elite clubs with a single rule: no social media.

What else is on:

  • Oscar time: During the day, Brazil had its eye on Carnival, but at night, attention turned to the Oscars, with I’m Still Here competing in the Best Film and Best International Film categories, and Fernanda Torres vying for the Best Actress award. We cannot have it all, but the award for Best International Film did come which was Brazil's first ever statuette at the Academy! (Read)
    Everything is blue: Surgery to change the eye color is becoming popular. Keratopigmentation is permanent and works like a “tattoo on the eye”. Doctors warn of the risks of permanent sensitivity to light, infections, a feeling of sand in the eyes and even loss of vision. Fun! (Read)

  • From trash to smash. Forensics have confirmed that a painting found by a junk dealer 50 years ago in Italy is in fact a legitimate work by Pablo Picasso. The painting “Portrait of Dora Maar” was discarded in an abandoned cellar in 1962, when the young junk dealer found the canvas, thought it was beautiful and decided to take it home. (Read)

  • Talking about luxury: If age comes for everyone, for some it comes with more class. A new trend is causing baby boomers to spend millions to grow old in so-called life plans communities. In addition to the high-standard apartments, residents can count on chef-designed dishes at every meal, modern gyms, performances and concerts, chauffeurs at their disposal and 24-hour medical assistance. Where do I sign up? (Read)

     

EDITOR’S RECOMMENDATIONS

TED Talk

the benefits of not watching Love Island

 How to Hack Your Brain for Better Focus by Sasha Hamdani: In a past edition, I talked about how I sometimes feel like I’m living on autopilot. This year, that theme has been on my mind more than ever— So when this TED Talk found its way to me, it felt like perfect timing.

  • In a world that constantly fragments our attention, Dr. Sasha Hamdani—a psychiatrist and ADHD expert—breaks down how we can hack the brain’s Default Mode Network and reclaim our focus. And she does it in such a human, relatable, and honestly really funny way. (I’m not exaggerating when I say this is one of the first TED Talks that actually made me laugh a few times.)

Dr. Hamdani is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate. She’s worked closely with the White House and the Surgeon General’s team to push for mental health awareness, and in 2023, Harvard recognized her as a public health leader.

In this talk, she explains how embracing moments of mindlessness—yes, mindlessness. Big disclaimer: this is not about meditation. If you’re struggling to focus in a world full of distractions, I think this one is worth your time. (Rating: 8/10)

WHAT ABOUT ME?

Micael

I don’t say hi, I say, keys to the Benz

 

Today’s What About Me is a bit nostalgic. Remember in my third edition when I talked about twerking—about how I started dancing, how much I loved being terrible at it, and how it pushed me out of my comfort zone? Almost a year later, I wrote about my first performance—how I went from being too embarrassed to join my team to standing on stage, inviting my friends, and just feeling myself. It was one of the best things I did last year.

And recently, I stopped going to dance class.

This decision was a tough one. On one hand, I had made a commitment to myself, and I hate breaking promises—especially the ones I make to myself. Dance was fun, it was something different, and let’s be honest, it was a cool thing to add to my “interesting personality traits” list. Don’t we all have that one hobby we’re proud of? But on the other hand, I’ve been working more, studying more, and I reached a point where I was just exhausted. And honestly? The last few classes weren’t fun anymore.

You know that feeling when you’re somewhere you should be enjoying—on a date, at a yoga class, watching a movie with friends—but instead, you’re just checking the time, waiting for it to be over? Maybe because you’re too tired, or because you have a million things waiting for you at home, or maybe you just want to lay down. That’s how it started feeling for me.

I don’t want to give up my newsletter—this is my baby, and it’s one of the best ways I stay connected to so many of you who, after more than a year, still keep reading. I don’t want to give up therapy—that’s what keeps me sane in an insane world. I don’t want to give up the gym. And I can’t give up the other things. But we can’t do it all.

  • In the internal debate I had with myself, I realized that sometimes, quitting is an act of mercy—on your body, on your mind. And let’s relax a little too: nothing is forever. Just like I stopped going to dance classes, two months from now, I might start again. Or maybe I’ll find a new hobby. Or maybe I’ll discover a different style of dance. Life is about changing and unchanging, right?

Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying this so you can use it as an excuse to quit something the second it gets hard. We don’t endorse easy quitting here. But if you’re someone—like me—who tends to be too stubborn with your commitments, sometimes letting go (even just for a while) is the best thing you can do.

And if you later realize it wasn’t the right call? Just come back like nothing ever happened. I won’t tell.

With love,
Micael.

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