College used to be for learning, friendship and self-development. Now it’s all about likes, clicks and followers — and jealousy.
Recently, the University of Miami’s student newspaper ran a cover story headlined “Freshman Influencers Take Over TikTok” and featuring three incoming students with large followings.
It was enough to leave the rest of the school’s wannabe influencers on the brink of tears.
The Miami Hurricane student newspaper recently ran a front cover featuring campus influencers with large followings. The Maimi Hurricane/ Instagram
“There’s enough room for all the influencers in the world, but at UMiami right now, it doesn’t feel that way,” Sienna, a freshman who was featured in an accompanying article but not on the cover, said in a TikTok video that also mentions wiping away her “tears.”
“It made me realize that, like, micro influencers don’t get enough recognition … ,” said Sienna, who has just over 24,000 followers on the platform. “I just don’t feel appreciated right now.”
But her FOMO is misdirected. She’s not missing out on this cover story — like so many college influencers right now, she’s missing out on real life.
One campus “micro-influencer” took to TikTok to complain she wasn’t featured on the student paper’s cover. @ xoxosienna16/ TikTok
And it’s not just UMiami, of course. By repackaging and repurposing rites of passage for social media consumption and the pursuit of brand deals, too many Gen-Z students are using college life to entertain an audience rather than experiencing it for themselves.
“You had to be there” is a phrase of the past.
Campuses are crawling with social media influencers who post “Get Ready With Me” videos from their dorm rooms. They take followers along to classes and film themselves studying in the library.
Sorority rush is a spectacle, where hopefuls post their “look of the day” into the digital abyss and share teary videos after the cool house on campus rejects them.
Colette Couillard told the Miami Hurricane that she first went viral as a sophomore in high school. Colette Couillard/ Instagram
And campus gates have been flung open for public consumption, with videos of dancing sorority sisters delivered straight to creeps around the world.
Let’s not pretend it’s all done for fun. There’s also a competitive exhibitionism at play.
For eternally-on-social-media students, the college experience is less an opportunity to learn and make lifelong friends and more about raw material they can turn into content to gain followers and clout.
Featured influencer Julia Thomas posted about being accepted to the University of Miami on her TikTok page. @ juliaathomasss/ TikTok
At the University of Arizona, an August TikTok — one single video — of Kappa Kappa Gammas dancing to “Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani raked in 41.4 million views. The sister featured up front was flown to New York Fashion Week with her mom as part of a brand deal.
The three freshmen featured on the cover of UMiami’s newspaper have 664,000, 323,000 and 72,000 followers on TikTok. But success isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
One of them, Colette Couillard, told The Miami Hurricane that she first went viral when she posted a video about being broken up with, back when she was still a high-school sophomore.
Another influencer featured on the cover, Nikki Pindor, posts “Get Ready With Me” videos from campus. @ nikkipindor/ TikTok
“I posted it on TikTok, and it went super viral,” she said. “At first I thought it was just funny, but then I realized people were actually following me and interested in my life.”
But, she admitted, “I’m on my phone all the time, doomscrolling” and “I post almost everything.”
This isn’t a dig at Couillard; to her credit, she also said, “If I have a big brand deal due the same week as exams, I just tell them to wait one second — school comes first.”
A video of University of Arizona Kappa Kappa Gamma members dancing earned one sorority sister an invite to New York Fashion Week. Kappa Kappa Gamma Tucson/ TikTok
But as someone less than a decade older than these girls, I feel genuine concern. They’ve been taught that exposing everything is a virtue.
Kids are incentivized to post everything at all times, in case one of those videos turns out to be their viral breakthrough. The eye of the internet is there, all the time. No moment is sacred, no memory is personal.
When Gen Z looks back on their college days, it may just be a big blur of doomscrolling and content production.
The BP (LSE: BP.) share price has bounced back strongly after hitting a three-year low in April. With Q3 results out today (4 November) showing further signs of improvement, I believe investors are starting to regain confidence in the company’s future prospects.
Q3 numbers
BP reported an underlying replacement cost profit of $2.2bn, down around $200m from the previous quarter. The decline was largely due to a higher tax rate.
Its refining division was the standout performer, delivering around $100m higher profit. That strength was driven by improved realised refining margins and the lowest level of turnaround activity in two decades.
By contrast, oil trading was weaker in the quarter, while production and operations remained broadly flat.
However, BP’s project pipeline looks particularly strong. In Kirkuk, the Iraqi government has now activated its contract to rehabilitate the region’s vast oilfields.
So far in 2025, BP has made 12 new discoveries. The highlight is Bumerangue in Brazil – its largest find in 25 years. Early tests indicate a 1,000-metre gross hydrocarbon column, pointing to significant long-term potential.
Dividend star
The oil giant kept its dividend at 8.25 cents per share, giving a forward dividend yield of 5.6%. The payout is still 22% lower than in 2019. But it has been steadily rebuilt in recent years, as the chart below shows. This points to growing confidence in cash generation.
Chart generated by author
The key question now is dividend sustainability. Last year, it reported earnings per share of just 2.38 cents. This is well below the level needed to cover its dividend. But for capital-intensive industries, cash-based measures offer a clearer picture of financial strength. On that basis, the company’s position looks far more robust.
Operating cash flow last year was more than five times the dividend payout, and the same pattern holds when looking at free cash flow. Since 2021, the dividend has consistently consumed less than half of its free cash flow – a clear indication that, despite profit volatility, the payout remains well supported by cash generation.
Oil mispriced
Oil markets are behaving in an extraordinary way. Despite strong support from the US administration, prices are roughly 20% lower than last November. Investor interest in oil is muted, and bearish sentiment is widespread – a scenario that has historically presented opportunities, as we saw in gold a couple of years ago.
Prices have lingered around $60 for some time, a level that seems unsustainable. Many US small producers are operating below break-even, meaning production could soon peak and decline.
The stress on the industry is clear: over the past two years, rig counts in the Permian basin have dropped 30%. While efficiency gains explain part of this decline, it is unlikely to account for such a sharp fall in such a short period.
Sustained low prices are weighing on commodities producers, with lay-offs becoming increasingly common. BP itself has already announced thousands of job cuts.
Bottom line
Despite negative sentiment across the industry, I believe oil prices are heading higher over the next 12-24 months. With improving fundamentals, I see BP as one of the major beneficiaries – which is why I continue to add to my position when finances allow.
It appears that Justin Baldoni’s original $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds is over. It’s almost unceremonious because the actor chose to let the deadline for appeals lapse, and the judge inevitably closed the case. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the end for either party.
Justin Baldoni missed the filing deadline in his $400 million lawsuit
As for Blake, according to TMZ, the star apparently replied to U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman about the appeal deadline and asked that her request for legal fees remain active. The judge granted this.
Perhaps the reason for the lack of appeal is the reason the judge dismissed the case in the first place. According to the judge, Justin’s lawsuits were dismissed, ruling that the claims lacked “sufficient legal grounds.”
The judge said the team “failed to allege that Lively was responsible for any statement beyond those made in her official complaint to the California Civil Rights Department, which are legally protected and privileged.”
Justin’s further claims against Ryan, Blake’s publicist Leslie Sloan, and the New York Times did not “meet the standard for defamation.” According to the judge, the claims did not show that “those parties seriously doubted the truth of their statements.”
Justin and his team continue to deny any wrongdoing. While his initial lawsuit ends here, Blake’s lawsuit continues and set to go to trial in March 2026. However, it’s possible Justin’s team is simply regrouping to file a more substantial case as opposed to appealing the former one.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT?
Victor Conte, the architect of a scheme to provide undetectable performance-enhancing drugs to professional athletes including baseball stars Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi and Olympic track champion Marion Jones decades ago, has died. He was 75.
Conte died Monday, SNAC System, a sports nutrition company he founded, said in a social media post. It did not disclose his cause of death.
The federal government’s investigation into another company Conte founded, the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, yielded convictions of Jones, elite sprint cyclist Tammy Thomas, and former NFL defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield along with coaches, distributors, a trainer, a chemist and a lawyer.
Conte, who served four months in federal prison for dealing steroids, talked openly about his famous former clients. He went on television to say he had seen three-time Olympic medalist Jones inject herself with human growth hormone, but always stopped short of implicating Bonds, the San Francisco Giants slugger.
The investigation led to the book “Game of Shadows.” A week after the book was published in 2006, baseball Commissioner Bud Selig hired former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to investigate steroids.
The Steroids Era
Conte said he sold steroids known as “the cream” and “the clear” and advised on their use to dozens of elite athletes, including Giambi, a five-time major league All-Star, the Mitchell report said.
“The illegal use of performance-enhancing substances poses a serious threat to the integrity of the game,” the Mitchell report said. “Widespread use by players of such substances unfairly disadvantages the honest athletes who refuse to use them and raises questions about the validity of baseball records.”
Mitchell said the problems didn’t develop overnight. Mitchell said everyone involved in baseball in the prior two decades — including commissioners, club officials, the players’ association and players — shared some responsibility for what he called “the Steroids Era.”
The federal investigation into BALCO began with a tax agent digging through the company’s trash.
Conte wound up pleading guilty to two of the 42 charges against him in 2005 before trial. Six of the 11 convicted people were ensnared for lying to grand jurors, federal investigators or the court.
Bonds’ personal trainer Greg Anderson, pleaded guilty to steroid distribution charges stemming from his BALCO connections. Anderson was sentenced to three months in prison and three months of home confinement.
Bonds was charged with lying to a grand jury about receiving performance-enhancing drugs and went on trial in 2011. Prosecutors dropped the case four years later when the government decided not to appeal an overturned obstruction of justice conviction to the Supreme Court.
A seven-time National League MVP and 14-time All-Star outfielder, Bonds ended his career after the 2007 season with 762 homers, surpassing the record of 755 that Hank Aaron set from 1954-76. Bonds denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs but has never been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Bonds didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.
Conte told The Associated Press in a 2010 interview that “yes, athletes cheat to win, but the government agents and prosecutors cheat to win, too.” He also questioned whether the results in such legal cases justified the effort.
Conte’s attorney, Robert Holley, didn’t respond to an email and phone call seeking comment. SNAC System didn’t respond to a message sent through the company’s website.
Defiant about his role
After serving his sentence in a minimum security prison he described as “like a men’s retreat,” Conte got back in business in 2007 by resuscitating a nutritional supplements business he had launched two decades earlier called Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning or SNAC System. He located it in the same building that once housed BALCO in Burlingame, California.
Conte remained defiant about his central role in doling out designer steroids to elite athletes. He maintained he simply helped “level the playing field” in a world already rife with cheaters.
To Dr. Gary Wadler, a then-member of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Conte may as well have been pushing cocaine or heroin.
“You are talking about totally illegal drug trafficking. You are talking about using drugs in violation of federal law,” Wadler said in 2007. “This is not philanthropy and this is not some do-gooding. This is drug dealing.”
The hallway at SNAC System was lined with game jerseys of pro athletes, and signed photographs, including athletics stars Tim Montgomery, Kelli White and CJ Hunter, all punished for doping.
Conte wore a Rolex and parked a Bentley and a Mercedes in front of his building. He told the AP in 2007 he wouldn’t drive over the speed limit.
“I’m a person who doesn’t break laws anymore,” he said. “But I still do like to look fast.”
Years later, he met with the then-chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Dick Pound.
“As someone who was able to evade their system for so long, it was easy for me to point out the many loopholes that exist and recommend specific steps to improve the overall effectiveness of their program,” Conte said in a statement after the meeting.
He said that some of the poor decisions he made in the past made him uniquely qualified to contribute to the anti-doping effort.
SNAC System’s social media post announcing Conte’s death called him an “Anti-Doping Advocate.”
___
Associated Press writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report.
Former US vice president Dick Cheney has died from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family has said.
In a statement, his family said the 84-year-old was surrounded by his wife Lynne, daughters Liz and Mary, and other family members.
The Republican was one of the most polarising vice presidents in US history under George W Bush from 2001 to 2009, and was a leading advocate of the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Image: Dick Cheney with George W Bush. Pic: Reuters
Image: Then prime minister Tony Blair meets Dick Cheney in 2002. Pic Reuters
In later life, he became a target of Donald Trump, especially after his daughter, Liz Cheney, became the leading Republican critic and examiner of Mr Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol.
Image: Dick Cheney looks on as his daughter Liz Cheney takes the oath of office in 2017. Pic: AP
“In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who was a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump,” Mr Cheney said in a TV advert for his daughter.
“He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him. He is a coward.”
Image: Queen Elizabeth and Dick Cheney tour the Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2007. Pic: Reuters
Image: Dick Cheney stands with former prime minister Margaret Thatcher and his wife Lynne at a ceremony in memory of the victims of the September 11 attacks in 2006. Pic: Reuters
Last year he said he was voting for Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, to be president against Mr Trump.
Mr Cheney survived five heart attacks and declared in 2013 he woke up each morning “with a smile on my face, thankful for the gift of another day”.
Image: George W Bush and Dick Cheney. Pic: Reuters
He was previously a congressman for Wyoming and served as secretary of defence under Mr Bush’s father, George HW Bush, directing the US military operation to expel an Iraqi occupation army from Kuwait in the first Gulf War.
Image: Pic: Reuters
His family’s statement said: “For decades, Dick Cheney served our nation, including as White House Chief of Staff, Wyoming’s Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President of the United States.
“Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing.
“We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country.
“And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.”
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Today’s top stories
Dick Cheney, widely regarded as the most powerful vice president in American history, died yesterday, according to a statement from his family. He was 84. The cause of death was complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, the statement added. Read more about his life and legacy here.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, who extolled the power of the presidency, died Monday at the age of 84, his family said in a statement.
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Alex Wong/Getty Images
Voting concludes today in a series of closely watched races across the U.S. — including the mayoral election in New York City and the races for governor in New Jersey and Virginia. In California, a special election on redistricting could have national implications, as it may help shape which party takes power in Congress next year. Here’s a closer look at the four races to watch.
🎧 Many democratic candidates are favored to win, but there are significant differences among them, NPR’s Ashley Lopez tells Up First. In New York City, frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, and Abigail Spanberger, who could become the first woman governor in Virginia, represent different parts of the Democratic coalition.
➡️ Keep up with the latest news about the 2025 elections here.
The Trump administration says it will restart SNAP, the national food assistance program, using funds from a Department of Agriculture contingency fund. The money will provide recipients with partial payments. It is unclear when low-income families who rely on the program will receive these funds, as the administration anticipates significant delays. In the meantime, communities across the country are taking steps to fill the gap.
🎧The contingency fund has about $4.5 billion, which will allow the administration to pay people half of the benefits they typically receive, NPR’s Jennifer Ludden reports. In a court filing yesterday, a USDA official stated some state processing systems are decades old, potentially causing delays in benefit distribution of weeks or even months. The administration notes that since it is using up its contingency fund, there is no money to sign up any new people for SNAP this month.
About 375,000 more people are suffering from famine in war-torn Sudan, with many of those people in Darfur. The Rapid Support Forces, the group opposed to the government, allegedly moved into El Fasher in the Darfur region, killed many people, and put the rest in danger.
🎧 NPR’s Emmanuel Akinwotu says the city has been under siege by the RSF for a year and a half. Residents have been forced to eat animal food and hides as community kitchens are bombed. The U.N. says about 70,000 people have fled, but fewer than 10,000 have been accounted for. The majority of people who have escaped are women who have witnessed their loved ones gunned down and tortured, according to organizations helping them.
Members of the National Guard patrol near the U.S. Capitol in March in Washington.
Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images
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Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images
Members of the National Guard patrol near the U.S. Capitol in March in Washington.
Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images
For years, President Trump and several high-ranking officials in his second administration have discussed using the National Guard to assist with mass deportations and immigration raids. This consideration arises despite U.S. laws that generally prohibit the military from being used for domestic law enforcement. During Trump’s second term, he and Stephen Miller, his right-hand man on immigration, have considered invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow the president to deploy the military within the U.S. under specific circumstances. Legal experts, activists, and watchdog groups are now concerned that the Trump administration could fundamentally change how the military operates on U.S. soil.
➡️ The idea is part of Project 2025, a conservative action plan.
➡️ Miller has promoted the concept publicly for years, including in 2023 on the late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s podcast.
➡️ Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, says she is worried about what the presence of troops might mean for voters as they cast their ballots in the upcoming 2026 elections.
Read more about why Trump’s deployment of troops isn’t random here.
Picture show
“So what’s my name? Watch out! I’m Black Freddie, and I’m blaaaack. Ha ha ha ha ha. Even as we get older, there’s an inner child … that lies within us. They are us, you know. We’re still them because the inner child lives in us,” said Antwone Coward dressed as Black Freddy Krueger at New York Comic Con in 2024.
Isaac Campbell for NPR
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Isaac Campbell for NPR
Black and Caribbean cosplayers say they find New York Comic Con exciting because it is a safe space that welcomes geeks and nerds of all heritages. Many told NPR that they grew up feeling isolated, both within their own communities and among other cosplayers. For four days, NYCC let them feel valued and seen. See photos of the cosplayers finding their community at Comic Con.
3 things to know before you go
Tylenol, which contains acetaminophen, has been at the center of a disputed claim that it is linked to autism.
Scott Olson/Getty Images North America
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Scott Olson/Getty Images North America
Consumer giant Kimberly-Clark, which makes Huggies diapers and Kleenex tissues, is buying Kenvue, the company that makes Tylenol and Band-Aids, in a merger deal valued at nearly $49 billion.
Chronic absenteeism rates in K-12 schools, which nearly doubled during the pandemic, are finally showing steady signs of improvement, according to a new report.
The Trump administration is reviewing the safety of a common vaccine additive that contains aluminum, raising concerns among public health experts that it may try to eliminate this ingredient.
Thinking about investing in New York real estate? You’re looking at a market with incredible variety and potential. From the five boroughs to the quiet beauty of the Finger Lakes and the comeback stories of upstate cities, there’s a property for every kind of investor. But it’s not enough to just pick a good spot. The real winners know it’s about two things: picking the right kind of property and using smart financial tactics to get the most bang for your buck.
The Unstoppable Appeal of Short-Term Rentals
Airbnb and similar platforms didn’t just create a new way to travel; they created a goldmine for property investors. In New York, short-term rentals (STRs) are especially hot in tourist spots like the Hamptons, the Hudson Valley, and the Catskills. These rentals can bring in high nightly rates, leading to serious cash flow during peak seasons. Even in the cities, STRs can be big earners, but you have to be careful to follow all the local rules.
The benefits go beyond just rental income. For those with high W-2 salaries, there’s a “short-term rental loophole” that can be a game-changer. If you’re actively involved in managing the property, you might be able to use its losses to lower your taxable income from your day job.
Multi-Family Housing in Up-and-Coming Areas
If you’re looking for something more stable with a steady paycheck, multi-family homes are a classic choice. While the competition in New York City is intense, there are fantastic opportunities in upstate cities like Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. These areas are seeing new economic life and more people are moving in, which keeps demand for rental housing strong and steady.
Investing in a duplex, triplex, or a small apartment building gives you several streams of income from one property. This helps cushion you if one apartment is empty for a month. You also get to save on management and repair costs.
Finding Your Niche: Medical and Industrial Properties
Don’t just look at houses and apartments. Commercial properties can be a great way to find stable, high-paying investments. Two sectors that really stand out are medical offices and industrial buildings. Medical offices, especially those near hospitals or in areas with an aging population, are considered incredibly safe bets. They’re attractive to long-term tenants like doctors and clinics, which means reliable income for you.
At the same time, with everyone shopping online, warehouses and delivery centers are in huge demand. Any facility near a major highway is a critical piece of the e-commerce puzzle, making it a very valuable asset. Both of these commercial property types are also eligible for powerful tax strategies that can make their returns even better.
The Secret Weapon: Cost Segregation
No matter what kind of property you buy, cost segregation is one of the best moves you can make to boost your ROI. So, what is it? It’s a detailed engineering study that breaks your property down into different parts for tax purposes. Your building’s structure gets written off slowly, over 27.5 or 39 years. But other things, like carpets, lights, and landscaping, can be written off much faster. We’re talking 5, 7, or 15 years.
This lets you take bigger tax deductions right away. This process dramatically lowers your taxable income, which helps minimize taxes in New York and puts more cash back in your pocket. That’s money you can use for upgrades, pay down your loan, or save for your next deal. It’s worth noting that New York has its own take on bonus depreciation rules, so getting expert advice is key to doing it right.
Winning in New York’s fast-paced real estate game isn’t about just one thing. It’s a one-two punch: first, you find the right property for your goals, and second, you use smart financial strategies to squeeze every drop of value out of it.
Professional dancer Alan Bersten, who suffered injuries, will return to the floor of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ with his leg supporter, animal advocate Elaine Bredehoft, after a week where she was not competing due to an injury. The couple shared a very emotional message announcing their happiness to dance again and at the same time connecting with their audience in a deep way. The news of their return has been a great relief and added a lot of excitement for the viewers after the couple’s absence, which was very impactful.
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In a very simple but strong manner, Alan Bersten said, ‘We can’t wait to dance for you all on Tuesday 🙏🏼❤️’. The following day’s playful video showed the partners’ vibrancy and assertiveness, as if they were already claiming the dance floor. The announcement was a beacon of hope to the spectators after the couple had gone through a rather difficult episode.
Last week’s performance was an emotional roller coaster for the fans, and many messages pointed out the strong emotional impact of seeing Bersten all alone on stage. A user put it in a very poignant way, saying, ‘Elaine might never miss a show again because I’ve never seen Alan so sad as last week when he was standing alone on stage! 😭💔’. He was making the sadness that the audience felt very clear, and indeed it was very compassionate of one person to be concerned and talk about the hardship of the professional dancer when another said, ‘I never want to see you that sad again,’ making the undercurrent of concern very clear.
The discussion about that night went on for quite a while, one viewer critiquing the show’s production, saying, ‘that was diabolical. they never said it was bottom 3. They just be like one of these 3 is going home. Couldn’t they have called them as the first 3 oh my gosh 😑☠’. The gloom of everyone was indeed apparent with many explaining how Bersten hugging himself on stage was a moment that ‘broke me with sadness’.
The atmosphere has finally transformed from one of sadness to the one of pure exhilaration and backing the cause. The followers are right there with the comeback, one comment saying, ‘We’re all soooo excited to see you two dancing again ❤️’. Another supporter insisted, ‘I demand a standing ovation from around the world when Elaine finishes her dance this week. That is all,’ indicating the massive excitement surrounding their return.
The special bond between Bersten and Bredehoft was another point that the commentators highlighted. One viewer accurately described their connection as, ‘You two give off the cool aunt/protective nephew vibe. 👏’. Bersten was, in fact, part of the discussion when he commented about this saying, ‘sounds about right! 🙂🙃,’ which reflects the charming and unique side of their relationship. Another fan mentioned, ‘Their chemistry is so great,’ which seems to be one of the factors that unite the couple’s fanbase.
Support extended even to the smallest fans thus proving the attractivness of the pair to a diverse audience. One mom wrote, ‘My kids aged 9 &12 have been really concerned about you guys this week. We love you and hope you are getting better. Can’t wait to see you sparkle this week.’ Bredehoft did not take long to think it over and replied the mother by asking, ‘Please, give those sweet angels a big hug from me! I’m bruised but I’m going to be just fine. Get ready to cheer for us on Tuesday! ❤️❤️.’ This interaction shows the supportive and heartfelt bond the couple has with their audience in a very accessible way.
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A week that was full of concerns and disappointments has now turned into a positive anticipation-filled atmosphere. The overwhelming response they received to their post announcing return has confirmed the idea that Alan Bersten and Elaine Bredehoft will have the highest level of commitment and the most passionate following. Their story on the show is still one of partnerships, perseverance, and the simple joy of dancing which is told far and wide, as their supporters are always ready to vote and cheer, with their volume turned up more than ever. Fans are particularly excited to see them recreate iconic Parent Trap scenes again. Elaine Hendrix, who shares a special bond with her partner, recently posted about their team partnership. The couple previously delivered a stunning contemporary performance that wowed audiences. Alan has also become known for teaching his viral trust fall move to others.
Writing a novel is a lonely endeavor, one that requires thousands of hours in quiet solitude. Or so I used to believe. In the years after the pandemic, I started meeting with four other writers — Jade Chang, Angela Flournoy, Aja Gabel and Xuan Juliana Wang — for regular work sessions at Little Dom’s, the cozy Italian American restaurant on Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz. We sat cloistered in a corner booth and adhered to the Pomodoro method, increasing the usual 25 minutes of work to 40, with breaks in between to talk, over giant meatballs in marinara sauce, fried potatoes with garlic and lemon, butter lettuce Italian tuna salad. What did we talk about in those breaks? Seldomly about our book projects — but everything else, from the serious to the frivolous. The point wasn’t to share pages or workshop chapters. All of us had published one book and were writing our sophomore manuscripts. The point, simply, was being together, bearing witness to each other’s lives, week by week, as women and as friends.
This fall, three from our group have new novels out: Jade Chang’s “What a Time to Be Alive”; Angela Flournoy’s “The Wilderness”; and Aja Gabel’s “Lightbreakers.” We met up for lunch, no laptops this time, to reflect on the years since we began meeting for “poms.”
Jean Chen Ho: So, how did we start writing together at Little Dom’s?
Jade Chang: I think that we started with only working together occasionally. And I feel like there was a little skepticism. But then people liked it …
Aja Gabel: I was very skeptical. I never worked with other writers before.
Jade Chang, left, wears a vintage tuxedo shirt and custom pants; Angela Flournoy, center, wears a vintage vest, Melody Ehsani earrings and vintage custom bracelets and rings; Aja Gabel, right, wears an Ali Golden dress.
Xuan Juliana Wang: The pomodoros helped.
AG: Yeah, setting the timer. I had an office that I paid for, and then I would sometimes go to meet up with you guys at Little Dom’s, and I started to realize I would get more done in a shorter amount of time, with you guys. Usually if I try to work with someone, I would just talk and talk and talk and talk and talk, be totally distracted. But because everybody was really focused on their novels …
Angela Flournoy: I mean, it’s very hard to write a second book. So it helped to feel like you’re not alone. I also think that for me, I put aside my skepticism because I had been inside, a lot, talking to a child all day. I needed to be outside, talking to adults.
JCH: How far along was everyone on their book projects before the poms and co-working started?
AF: When I started working with you guys, in January of 2022, I was working on my memoir. I gave myself until June, then I sold the book by August. And then the second year of poms, 2023, was all novel. I hadn’t really worked on it since 2019. It was dormant because I was taking care of a child.
JC: I knew what I wanted to write, I knew how I wanted to write it, but I hadn’t really found the voice yet for this novel. I had a lot of notes, pages and pages.
AG: When I really started writing with you all, I had a draft but was like, “God, you need to fix this.” This was like the fifth or sixth draft. I did the whole final draft with you guys, which was kind of a page-one rewrite. I just started at the beginning and rewrote everything again. I pulled some stuff from previous drafts.
“The sheer pleasure of making up stories about people while sitting there with other people who are so good at making up stories is just so fun.”
XJW: I was at a place where I couldn’t write anything. Sometimes it was just having that set time, forcing yourself to write anything down. After the pandemic, and after having kids, it was like I forgot who I was and how to be — and then it took the poms, 30 minutes at a time, to remember who I was again, a writer.
AF: That’s beautiful.
AG: I had been writing and rewriting this novel since I sold it in 2020. I felt like I might not finish it. But I think seeing how determined you guys were to finish reminded me that that’s the mode you have to be in.
JC: Oh, no. Is our closest equivalent like being a run club?
JCH: Ew! No —
AF: Absolutely not.
JC: I thought run clubs are about, like, not being competitive, and everyone finishing? I mean, the last thing I would ever do is join a run club, so truly, I don’t really know.
AG: When we did poms, I would have to come with a plan because we only had the 40-minute chunk, so I was like, “I’m gonna do this scene today.” And when I’m alone, I think I would just be like, “What’s my feeling today?” And then it would take eight hours, and I would get the same scene. At a certain point, when you’re writing a novel, you just need to finish it. You can’t just feel your way through.
“I mean, it’s very hard to write a second book. So it helped to feel like you’re not alone.”
AF: I feel like there was a moment Jade started cracking the whip a little bit at work. We started having timed breaks. Before that, the length of the breaks in between working was purely based on vibes!
AG: Who was in charge of making the poms longer?
AF: Did they used to be 30 minutes? 25? That wasn’t enough time.
JCH: Well, I have to say it’s very inspiring as the person who hasn’t finished their novel to see all of you guys get there, and now your books are all coming out this fall. Can you talk about how it feels to not only have written these books together, but to be in the same publication season?
JC: It’s so much fun! What a weird surprise and treat. When I published the first book, I only knew one other person who had ever written a book. I didn’t know any other writers. I hadn’t gotten an MFA. I didn’t have friends where you get the behind-the-scenes story of how the book was written.
AG: Yeah, because we were there when the stuff was made, you know? When I had the first book out, there were people that I would see who came out at the same time as me, and I was like, they must have done something better than me. But all of us were together when this stuff was all getting cooked. I know we all worked hard. Are you and Julie going to come out in the same season?
JCH: I hope so!
AG: Is our publication affecting you guys?
JC: Yeah, have you been nervous?
JCH: Oh, it’s so much fun when it’s not happening to you. None of the anxiety.
XJW: Yeah, it’s way more fun!
JC: Really?
XJW: It makes me feel like it is possible for me to finish writing the second book. Watching you three do it, it wasn’t like I got the spark and I just suddenly rushed the end of this book. It takes time.
“This was a community of friends that, even if I hadn’t finished my second book, I would still be really grateful for.”
JC: No, it’s a slog for everybody.
JCH: We would always talk very organically about problems that we’re having in our books that we wanted to solve, but it always felt like we were just meeting up as friends. And we met up so much outside of doing pomodoros too. A lot of times we would go straight to happy hour after writing, or we would eat dinner together, or we would go to literary events together. There’s so much we know about each other, like having to take care of kids, family stuff, trying to get jobs, dating, working on screenplays, going on pitch meetings or all of the other things that come up. Being a writer is just a small part of the whole picture, to me, of our very rich and very nourishing friendship.
XJW: One thing you guys taught me, which I wouldn’t have learned outside of this, was when Jean got her page proofs back, you were actually having fun doing your page proofs at pomodoros. I always thought page proofs were pure torture. And then you guys were making it so fun, in a good mood. That’s the last part of editing the book before it comes out, you’re not supposed to think of it as the worst chore ever. When we were working together, I was always in a good mood. I’m going to get through this chore. And then, you know, have a drink.
JC: Oh, yes, having treats in any way is good.
JCH: How did we start making Little Dom’s our main writing office? Because we started at Alcove, and we tried other places.
AF: On the weekends Julie brought her kids there, I brought mine there. So it wasn’t like we were just there during weekdays, working. And just talking to the people who work there, Danny, Laura, Noah, Emily. And also always being, like, if you need me to move, tell me to get the f— out of here. Not being entitled to the space. Because, I mean, we should acknowledge that it’s not what you’re supposed to be doing, opening your laptop at a restaurant!
AG: I think they were charmed by the fact that we were all friends, too.
JCH: OK, last question. What has been your favorite part of this pomodoro writing experience and being in this group?
JC: The sheer pleasure of making up stories about people while sitting there with other people who are so good at making up stories is just so fun.
AG: This was the first friend group that I had in L.A. That’s really important. Some people don’t have that, a group of friends that they can hang out with regularly. Like, I have a lot of friends, here and there. But this was a community of friends that, even if I hadn’t finished my second book, I would still be really grateful for.
AF: I think the thing that made me realize how much fun pomodoros felt like is when I had to really hide to finish the book. I was like, oh, this is hell! I wrote so many thousands of words, but I’m just alone at home, making my back hurt, hunched over my desk. But I just needed to go a little feral.
XJW: I feel like I couldn’t have imagined another way to reemerge into the world, after the pandemic. Everything was there, friendship and mom advice and making Friday night plans, and we could riff off of each other and talk about everything. All my favorite things. Even if nothing else was going well, I had this space.
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) stock’s been one of the highlights of earnings season so far. After the company posted its Q3 results, its share price shot up more than 10%.
Wall Street analysts believe it can keep climbing. Here’s a look at some new price targets for the Big Tech stock.
Strong Q3 earnings
Amazon’s Q3 earnings were strong, and much better than expected. For the quarter, revenue was up 13% year on year to $180.2bn. Analysts had been expecting $177.8bn.
Earnings per share came in at $1.95. This was up 36% and miles ahead of the consensus forecast of $1.57.
What really excited investors was a reacceleration in cloud computing (AWS). Here, growth was 20% – the fastest rate since 2022 (analysts had been expecting 18%).
Granted, this wasn’t as high as the level of growth that Microsoft (39%) and Alphabet (34%) generated in cloud computing. Amazon’s a bigger company so it’s unlikely to grow as fast.
Another highlight was revenue from digital advertising (where Amazon is the third largest player in the world today). This was up 24% to around $17.7bn.
New price targets
Since the Q3 earnings, Wall Street analysts have been scrambling to raise their price targets for the stock. And many have pencilled in $300 as a medium-term target.
Some of the firms that have gone to $300 (or higher) include Barclays, Bernstein, BMO, BofA Global Research, Canaccord Genuity, Citigroup, Citizens, DA Davidson, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Susquehanna, TD Cowen, UBS, and Wedbush. So clearly, the consensus is that $300’s achievable.
Note that this figure represents a gain of around 17% from here. That would be a good result from a large-cap stock in the medium term, however, there’s obviously no guarantee it will get there.
Worth a look today?
Is the stock worth considering given this bullish analyst sentiment? I think so.
The way I see it, this company is almost guaranteed to get much bigger in the years ahead. Not only does it have a fast growing cloud computing division (which just announced a partnership with OpenAI), but it also has online shopping, its own high-powered computer chips, digital advertising, self-driving cars, and space satellite operations.
As for the valuation, it’s not stretched right now if you ask me. Looking at analysts’ earnings forecasts for next year (which may be increased in the weeks ahead after the great Q3 results), the forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 31.
That may not be a bargain valuation. But I don’t think it’s unreasonable for a diversified tech company that has rewarded investors with 20%+ returns a year over the last few decades.
Of course, there are plenty of risks here. These include a slowdown in online shopping due to consumer weakness, competition in cloud computing, and disruption in digital advertising (eg consumers ordering goods directly from ChatGPT).
Overall though, I like the risk/reward proposition at current prices. To my mind, this stock could be a great core holding to consider (it is for me).
