MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola denied he has a “personal problem” with Kevin De Bruyne and insisted Tuesday the playmaker's absence from the team in recent weeks was down to his fitness issues. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola denied he has a “personal problem” with Kevin De Bruyne and insisted Tuesday the playmaker's absence from the team in recent weeks was down to his fitness issues. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola denied he has a “personal problem” with Kevin De Bruyne and insisted Tuesday the playmaker’s absence from the team in recent weeks was down to his fitness issues. City has not won in seven games in all competitions — its worst run under Guardiola — and De Bruyne has featured only as a substitute in the last five of those matches after recovering from a pelvic injury. The Belgium midfielder was injured during City’s Champions League match with Inter Milan on Sept. 18 and hasn’t started since. A number of prominent pundits, including former City defender and club ambassador Micah Richards, have questioned why De Bruyne has not been starting games amid the champions’ dramatic slump. Richards said on “The Rest is Football” podcast that it appeared “there’s some sort of rift going on” between De Bruyne and Guardiola. Guardiola responded in his news conference ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, saying: “People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin. Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? No, I don’t want Kevin to play? “The guy who has the most talent in the final third — I don’t want it? I have a personal problem with him after nine years together? He’s delivered to me the biggest success to this club, but he’s been five months injured (last season) and two months injured (this year). He’s 33 years old. He needs time to find his best, like last season, step by step. He’ll try to do it and feel better. I’m desperate to have his best.” Both De Bruyne and Guardiola have spoken since of the pain De Bruyne was in after his injury against Inter and the need to ease him back into action. De Bruyne is in the final year of his contract. “I’d love to have the Kevin in his prime, 26 or 27. He would love it too — but he is not 26 or 27 anymore,” Guardiola said. “He had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy. You think I’m complaining? It’s normal, it’s nature. He’s played in 10 or 11 seasons a lot of games and I know he is desperate to help us. He gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have.” ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer AdvertisementOTTAWA — Parents of children who died because of online sexual extortion are urging MPs to act on online harms legislation. The bill and other legislation have been blocked from moving forward for months due to a parliamentary privilege debate raging between the Liberals and Conservatives. Justice Minister Arif Virani split the bill into two parts this week heeding calls from critics to separate the more controversial hate speech provisions from the child exploitation components. But the bill still can’t move forward until the privilege filibuster is over. Barbie Lavers, whose teenage son died by suicide after being extorted online over intimate images, told House of Commons committee today that she supports the act and asked politicians to come to a temporary alliance and stop using children as political pawns to show “one party is more correct than the other.” Carole Todd, whose daughter Amanda died by suicide due to online sextortion, told MPs it is hurtful to watch political arguments after waiting 12 years for legislation. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press
During the just-concluded campaign for attorney general, Republican Will Lathrop dodged a question about whether he supported his party’s presidential candidate by saying he was “laser focused” on public safety issues in Oregon and not on national politics. National issues, he suggested, were not a major part of the job for an Oregon attorney general. He was wrong. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
1. E.l.f.'s Hydrating Core Lip Shine in the "Ecstatic" shade, which reviewers say captures the some magic as " Black Honey, " the $25 ~universal shade~ from Clinique that's blowing up on TikTok at a fraction of the price. It doesn't shift colors as magically as the other version, but it's a perfect, non-sticky "go-to" lip to keep in all your favorite bags and haunts this fall. I personally will live, breathe, and die by the magic of $25 "universal" Black Honey version — it lasts FOREVER and also functions as the perfect blush — but it sells out so often that I am also deeply relieved to know it has a cheap alternative in case of lip emergency! Promising review : "I absolutely love this product. The dark color is perfectly sheer. It also adds the most beautiful color to your lips . I am a Clinique Black Honey lip fan, and this gives me the same look for a fraction of the cost. I love it and have multiple that I keep in various spots. Not sticky either, which is my biggest gripe about lip glosses. My hair doesn’t get stuck in this like some glosses, but I get the shine ." — Hamps5 Get it from Amazon for $7 (also available in eight other shades). 2. A fabric defuzzer to revitalize all your favorite knits and cardigans so you can let them shine the way the autumnal gods and the MRCN (Meg Ryan Cinematic Universe) intended. Promising review: "I have watched TikTok after TikTok before buying this, and it has saved many of my clothes that I considered not wearing anymore. For example, sweatpants after a few months of wear and washing get extremely linty. This has saved them and they look almost new. " — Sasha Get it from Amazon for $12.60+ (available in six colors and two styles). 3. A TikTok-beloved "Soft" perfume rollerball that honestly has no right smelling so delectable and layering so well considering it's only five cash dollars. Reviewers are obsessed with the scent's warm sweetness with a hint of citrusy zest, comparing it to waffle cones, lemon pound cake, and warm vanilla scones ... and this $65 bottle of Pink Sugar 👀. Promising review: "Like so many, I found this scent on TikTok. I was a bit skeptical at first but finally got around to trying it. First off, this scent smells amazing! Almost every time I've worn it, I receive compliments. It has a sweet smell, almost like warm cake or sugar cookies with a hint of lemon . With such an affordable price, I would definitely recommend this to anyone curious about trying it." — Chrissy Get it from Amazon for $6.06 (available in two styles). 4. A teensy undetectable laptop mouse jiggler you can slide into the USB to keep your computer active on Teams, Slack, and all those other various technological overlords that keep track of you when you're working from home. Sometimes, a human has to pee or walk the dog or fall into a ten-minute TikTok abyss without worrying their screen is going to tattle on them to Daddy Capitalism!! Promising review: "Saves me from auto logouts! My brother recommended this handy gadget. I work from home and have three monitors. When I leave my desk for lunch, the computer goes to sleep, and when I come back, everything is logged out, and whatever was on three monitors ends up on two. SO frustrating. This is programmable for three settings, and I use it on the minimal movement, so when I come back, everything is just as I left it. Revolutionary! Just remember to turn it on!" — Isaiah Get it from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in eight colors). 5. Essence's "What the Fake!" Plumping Lip Filler to give your lips a lil' extra ~vavoom~ — this tingly formula not only volumizes your lips, but it's made with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to leave them extra moisturized and hydrated. Check out a TikTok of the plumping lip filler in action. Promising review : "I got this as an add-on last minute because of the price. It's small, but wow, it's impactful. A little goes a long way, and you can feel it working instantly. There is a tingle, not quite a burn. I'd def use a bit at a time when starting, but it works great right away." — Bt2turntup Get it from Amazon for $3.99 (available in two tints). 6. A NeeDoh Nice Cube , an *elite* quiet sensory fidget toy – this goo-filled, delightfully colorful fidget has a satisfying squish and weight to it, and reviewers love that it doesn't have the kind of stickiness that picks up debris and makes it hard to clean. Schylling is a small business that specializes in modern and retro toys, games, and sets. Check out a TikTok of the Needoh in action (where users are suggesting to try ~freezing~ it for even a completely different texture). Promising review: "High quality and very durable! This cube is fantastic for any age and any need. The cube provides slight resistance when compressed, which is both stress-relieving and satisfying!!! Once squeezed, it quickly returns to its natural shape. A great choice!" — Joe stevenson Get it from Amazon for $9.20 (the color is either blue, pink, or purple and gets selected for you at random!). 7. An itty bitty multifunctional lightning cable keychain that's also a bottle opener, which, flex . Everyone is going to be so impressed when your friend is like, "My phone's on two percent and I have no idea how to get this bottle open" and you're like, "You don't say??" Promising review : "I love them!! I bought three already. Durable, portable, great quality, and works great. Fits in your pocket, wallet, or wrist purse, and can be clipped on your keys. I take them in my carry-on when I travel." — LJO Get it from Amazon for $7.16 . 8. Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener , which became the internet's holy grail for concealing and brightening dark circles under your eyes so fast that everyone's old concealers are doing double takes. This lightweight color-adapting formula is designed for truly ~invisible~ coverage that makes a drastic difference. The color-adaptive formula is designed so one of two shades will work on any skin tone. Promising review: "Took years off my eyes! This product is so reasonably priced. I came across a TikTok promoting this and decided to take a chance since the price was super reasonable. My eyes looked brighter in a good way, and the concealer worked so well that I felt I looked younger. I got compliments from friends asking what I did differently with my makeup. I recommend it." — Monica T. Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in two shades). 9. Plus, Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel , a cult-fave product for your beauty arsenal that will quickly help minimize eye puffiness and swelling thanks to its winning combo of caffeine and hyaluronic acid. It's basically an alarm clock for your eyeballs, because boy howdy are they awake now!! Good Molecules is a small business that specializes in affordable skincare products. Promising review: "I love this product and have noticed a huge difference when using it consistently. I am on the younger side and don’t have the worst under eye bags, but on those occasional mornings where my eyes are puffy with somewhat visible dark circles, this product definitely does the trick! Honestly love all the Good Molecules products." — Hayden Smith Get it from Amazon for $5.99 . 10. A set of 2-in-1 magnetic rechargeable hand warmers that are a genuine must-have for cold weather climates — you can keep these in your pockets to keep your hands the kind of roasty toasty warm that radiates through your whole body, and makes it a heck of a lot easier to endure the elements. Bonus: both hand warmers double as device chargers, so they'll come in handy in warm weather, too! Promising review: "These are amazing! I use them when I volunteer at the outdoor food bank and they keep my hands nice and toasty. I keep them in my coat pocket and they warm me right up! They are easy to charge and easy to use!" — Karen Get it from Amazon for $17.49+ (clip the 30% off coupon on the product page for this price; available in eight colors). 11. A Baccarat Rouge 540-inspired moisturizing body wash infused with white jasmine, red currant, and sweet amber that reviewers swear by for a cheap alternative to keep that delectably luxe scent on them all day long. Nothing wrong with smelling a lil' ~~expensive~~! I bought this after being peer-pressured by all the lovely reviews and I'm happy to report it lives up to the hype. The scent is lovely — it has depth with a hint of floral, but it's light and not at all overpowering . My favorite thing about it is how easily it pairs other scents, because I am a body mist gremlin who swaps out her scents every day. The lather is also deeply satisfying and I feel quite refreshed and squeaky clean without ever feeling dry. Promising review: "Cremo's body wash is nothing short of exceptional. If you’re a fan of luxurious fragrances, this product will quickly become your new favorite. It boasts an incredible scent that perfectly mimics Baccarat Rouge 540 — a fragrance renowned for its sophisticated and captivating aroma. What sets this body wash apart is not just its stunning scent but also its longevity. The fragrance lingers beautifully throughout the day , ensuring you stay enveloped in that luxurious aroma long after your shower." — Ralph D. Thompson II Get it from Amazon for $9.99 . 12. A cleverly designed rechargeable electric candle lighter with a flexible neck so you can light all your coziest, deepest candles without worrying about the "YIKES" of being near an open flame. This is also windproof and super portable for anyone looking for options to light candles or fires outside, too! Promising review : "I absolutely love this product. Now I’m able to light candles where the candle wax has melted down, and it’s hard to reach inside the jar. I also love the fact that you charge this with a USB cable, and the charge lasts for a long time. It has indicator lights to let you know how much of a charge is remaining. I’ve only had to charge it once since I purchased it. I Very durable and a great value for the price. I definitely recommend this. " — Cassandra S. "Another product I got from TikTok. It’s a necessity. No more struggling and almost burning yourself. Stays charged for days. A week at most if you use it frequently." — Nijada Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in five colors and in two packs). 13. E.l.f's brand new Lash XTNDR Tubing Mascara , a GODSEND for anyone with thin or fragile lashes. This uses lightweight ~tubing~ technology to wrap around lashes and give them a natural-looking, smudge-proof extension so good it almost looks fake. The real boon, though, is how easily the "tubes" slide off in clean, easy swipes at the end of the day when you're washing your face — absolutely no smudging, over-scrubbing, or special eye makeup removal products required. Check out a TikTok of the E.l.f. tubing mascara in action. I am not a new human to the tubing mascara game, and in fact readily spent $26 on the famous OG blend from Blinc every time it needed replacing . I didn't even love it for the length half as much as the fact that tubing mascara like this genuinely never smudges, but can I just say — regardless of price, the E.l.f. tubing mascara formula blows all the others I've tried out of the water. It gives me way more length and volume than other brands, slides on so much more easily, stays put ALL day, and never, ever smudges. My favorite part, though, is how gently and easily it comes off with soap and water. In the past, other mascara removals have felt rough on my lashes, but this comes off so fast that I'm like ??? was I even wearing mascara a minute ago?? Anyway, I hesitate even writing this review because I want to gatekeep the hell out of this before it sells out, but the world needed to know. I'm a big fan of the brown shade (which is what I'm wearing above!), but it also comes in black and soft black. Get it from Amazon for $7 (available in three shades). 14. A saline nasal gel to help soothe your poor, dry nostrils. You can apply one to two drops directly around your nostrils for instant relief from the discomfort, including soothing aloe to moisturize the area. Promising review: "I don't like to talk about it, but every year, my nose becomes super dry to the point where I sometimes get a bloody nose. I usually use some squeeze saline, but it got so bad this year that I decided to get this gel. A dab on a finger or a swab and my nose is hydrated, moistened, and not dry as a desert. No winter bloody noses! It is very light, is not slimy or like Vaseline, and it does not have any smell." — Catherine Get it from Amazon for $3.62 . 15. Lottabody's Coconut Oil Foaming Curl Mousse designed for all hair types to give you satisfyingly hydrated, volumized, frizz-free curls at a FRACTION of the price of its competitors. Promising review: "I have super frizzy, curly hair and live in New England where we have super humid summers. I have been struggling to find a product that de-frizzes my hair without making it look oiled down, and this is it. I put it in my wet hair after washing, towel dried, and put my hair in a pony tail to go to work. My hair was frizz-free all night — even working outside in high humidity. People even asked if I did something to my hair! This is an amazing product for the price. Absolutely buying again and would recommend to anyone with a frizz issue." — Marissa Get it from Amazon for $3.98. 16. A stackable oval gem ring so gorgeous and well-made that reviewers use it as a temporary wedding ring when they're traveling. Psst — people love stacking it with other high quality Pavoi rings ! TBH, I bought this ring after seeing it blow up on TikTok, and I love it. I wear it every single day, and I've gotten SO many compliments on it — friends are always stunned when I tell them how cheap it is! I've been wearing it for months now without any wear and tear that a quick cleaning won't fix. Pictures don't do it justice; it really does ✨gleam✨ like real jewels. (Bonus: I use this as a fake wedding ring when I travel to encourage humans to leave me alone, lolololol.) Get it from Amazon for $14.95+ (available in three plates and sizes 5–10). 17. A set of eye-popping fine point pens designed not to bleed through pages for planners and journals, so you can — gasp — color code your to-do lists, journals, and calendar in the cutest way possible. Promising review: "I got these to help motivate me to write in a journal to help my mental health. They work great, and I LOVE seeing all the different colors in my journal! It makes me happy. :)" — Ella B. "I love these pens. They were on a TikTok review, I thought I would give them a shot. I don't doodle, I write. They write smooth like a felt tip pen. Plus the option of colors, yahoo! For $7 you can't go wrong!" — Heatherfoy68 Get a set of 18 from Amazon for $5.59 (clip the 20% off coupon on the product page for this price). 18. Death Wish Instant Coffee Packets so downright (dare I say, DANGEROUSLY) delicious that even the biggest coffee snobs you know might trade in their precious pour-overs. That is, if they can handle the 300mg of caffeine per cup 👀. Check out a TikTok of the Deathwish Instant Coffee in action. (Also I read at least one review of someone PUTTING THIS IN THEIR MORNING SMOOTHIE , some of you are WILD.) Note: According to the Mayo Clinic , up to 400mg of caffeine is safe for most healthy adults. Death Wish Coffee is a small business that specializes in coffee pods, grounds, whole beans, and more. Promising review : "So let me start by saying that this coffee is delicious and works if you’re someone like me who wants to stay awake. I work night shifts at a hospital, and in the mornings, when I get home, I’m quite tired and sleepy. I made myself a cup of coffee and waited for it to work. Now let me tell y’all!!! This coffee kept me awake for hours!! BOY, WAS I WOWED INDEED ... best believe I went ahead and ordered three more boxes. This is now my to-go coffee if I need a BOOST!!!!!! If you like coffee and want to stay awake, then BUY THIS COFFEE!!! I’m happy I no longer have to take naps to get re-energized." — nancy Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $10.99 . 19. A pair of wireless over-the-ear headphones crafted to look like AirPods Max, so you can still enjoy the comfort and chic style of their iconic headphones without shelling out hundreds of dollars. These feature premium cushion padding, a built-in mic with the ability to take calls, 10 hours of playtime per charge, and surprisingly decent noise blocking for the price. iJoy is a small business that specializes in headphones and tech accessories. I own a pair of these, and because I'm vain as heck and need to own all things pink, but I was decently surprised by how well they muffle noise! I feel like these are ideal for people who still want to hear some of the world around them (read: parents, people working in open offices), but still want to listen to their tunes comfortably . The charge on these goes for at least four hours (I haven't tried it beyond that yet), and the Bluetooth connects to my devices super easily. Excellent pair of headphones for the price point. Promising review : "These headphones surprised me. I thought they were not going to be as great because of how cheap they are, but the bass is amazing! The noise cancellation is so good that I can’t hear anything. The volume is loud and sound quality is a win , and just how I like it. Very snug and comfy, recommend! Thanks TikTok, lol :)." — Chevelle Revero Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in five colors). 20. A pair of waterproof wireless earbuds with AirPods Pro energy — except these feature a charging case that, bless its technologically savvy heart, has an LED display letting you know exactly how much charge is left. Reviewers also love how delightfully comfortable and sweatproof these are, making them a solid, affordable option for talking on the phone and exercising. Promising review: "I use these every day at work! Love these — easy to learn and to use. Best thing about them? Well, everything, lol. Good sound, they hold a charge for long periods, and I don’t have to worry about them losing power. I can answer my phone easily and then go back to music without a problem. Definitely a great buy and worth the money! Love this color, too!" — Erin Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in eight colors). 21. A six-piece (!!) set of high-performance matte lipsticks at a *fraction* of the price of its competitors that stays the heck put without drying or cracking your lips by the end of the day. (Seriously, reviewers are DRAGGING major brands in their comments, these are so cheap and effective.) Promising review: "What can I say, I saw a TikTok about this lipstick, and for $10 had to try it! The reviews are right, for some reason, this lipstick is better than even $20 name-brand ones bought from Ulta. Not only does it smell great, but dries in under a minute and survived eating a cupcake, a Starbucks drink, and an entire evening out, no smudging, and had to be removed with a makeup wipe. Fantastic product!!" — Claire Get a six-piece set from Amazon for $8.99 (available in five sets). 22. A set of satin pillowcases that not only have a cooling effect, but are soft on your skin and create less friction for your hair so it won't get as tangled while you sleep. Promising review: "My hair has never been better! I got this because of TikTok and it has done wonders for my hair. My hair isn’t frizzy or dull looking when I get up in the morning." — Aaron Key Get a set of two from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 37 colors and five sizes). 23. A pair of classic round polarized sunglasses so you can have the elevated look of Ray-Bans without the constant fear of losing $300 sunglasses somewhere because you got distracted squinting at a meme on Instagram. Promising review: "Sojos have been my number one choice of sunnies for years now. Even if Ray-Bans were this price, I’d still choose Sojos. They are high end quality without the price tag, lightweight yet durable, truly polarized, fashionable, comfortable, the list goes on! They are the best of the best, don’t hesitate, just buy them!" — maggie Get it from Amazon for $12.73 (available in eight styles). 24. A jar of internet-beloved The Pink Stuff , which tackles so many darn things that it'll be the BFF of every room in your house. Need to paint over a stain on the wall? Get it off with The Pink Stuff. Think you need to replace that caked-over grimy pan? Put The Pink Stuff to the test. About to hire cleaners to tackle whatever the heck is going on in your tub? 1-800-The-Pink-Stuff, baby!! A lot of people compare it to the Magic Eraser in paste form, so even your weirdest, most stubborn stains will meet their match. Promising review: "I used this product for my stove because it's one thing I dislike cleaning. I have used many degreaser sprays, and they all are so toxic and don't work for me. The Magic Eraser was okay, but I used several at a time, and I had to scrub so hard. But this product, oh my goodness, is legit a miracle. It doesn't have any type of smell . I put the paste on a cloth, clean the area, then wipe it off with a damp cloth, and voilà, magic!" — May Get it from Amazon for $5.97 . 25. A set of affordable lavender shower steamers so you can have a dose of ~calm~ to cap off a long day of capitalism and help your poor overworked brain getting into de-stressing mode. Read more about aromatherapy and stress and tension at Johns Hopkins . Promising review : "Hubby bought these for me because I work full time and just decided to go back to school full time, and he figured I'd be a little stressed, haha . They all smell wonderful, they work great, they'll definitely help me calm down, especially during exam time at school or budget season at work." — Tyleena Gloeker Get a set of six from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three styles). 26. Eos' Shea Butter Vanilla Cashmere body lotion , which TikTok is going *feral* over both because of the lightweight, long-lasting moisture, and the soothing, delicious smell that reviewers compare to more expensive brands like Philosophy and Bath & Body Works. Promising review: "Heaven sent for your skin; heavenly scent to enjoy. This feels absolutely amazing going on. Gets absorbed quickly, for a lotion rich with oil. Doesn't leave a greasy feeling, as long as you give it a minute or two to fully absorb. The scent is, for me anyway, like aromatherapy. It smells like an iced sugar cookie, and is a great base layer for fragrance. Very relaxing. " — Dragonheart Jo "Better than TikTok said! OMRyan Gosling, this is an amazing lotion!!! Run, don’t walk, and buy this lotion! The name is vanilla cashmere and that is exactly what this is! Love love love!" — DeeDra Billings Get it from Amazon for $8.98 (available in various scents and packs). 27. L’Oréal Paris Collagen Daily Face Moisturizer so intensely hydrating, plumping, and smoothing that reviewers compare it to the $92 Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream 👀. Not only is this super effective (and affordable!) for use overnight *and* overtime, but its nongreasy formula makes it play super well with makeup. Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this product. The texture is just like the CT Magic Cream . It is super rich but doesn't make the skin feel greasy. I have extremely sensitive/acne prone skin and this doesn't break me out at all. I have been using it for about two years now and I will never stop using it. Super inexpensive and works wonders!" — Monica S. Get it from Amazon for $11.49 (available in two sizes, and unscented and fragranced). 28. A foaming garbage disposal cleaner you can plop into your sink, run a little water on, and let its blue magic fizz its way up to the top while clearing out all the gunk from your culinary adventures in one go. Promising review: "Saw on TikTok (don’t judge) and automatically added to cart. So easy to use, takes probably a minute to fully bubble up and clean, and you’re left with a clean sink! I use with other drain cleaning products, but would 100% recommend for weekly maintenance." — Jessica Hamilton Get a four-pack from Amazon for $3.78 . 29. A bottle of Elizavecca Hair Treatment , an Olaplex-like repairing mask infused with collagen ingredients and protein extracts that will help restore hair health and reduce shedding. All you gotta do is apply it on wet hair after a shampoo, wait five minutes, and rinse it out. This is designed to work on all hair types, with reviewers with 2b to 4c curls mentioning it worked for them! Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok, and in between other compares products that were four times the price, I decided to bite the bullet and buy this — let me tell you, best decision ever! I shampooed my hair, then heavily massaged this in, from ends to scalp. The carton says 5–20 minutes... But I ended up leaving it in for two days! And after washing it out, my hair was so shiny, bouncy and CURLY! My curl recovery journey has been long, but this has helped restore so much vibrance and shape to my hair . My mom has been stealing it from my bathroom every couple of days, after having similar results on her hair. Going to need to buy a few more to ward her off." — curlyhead3 Check out BuzzFeed's full Elizavecca hair treatment review for more deets! Get a bottle from Amazon for $7.40 . 30. A jewelry-cleaning stick with cleansing solution on a brush designed specifically to get in the nooks and crannies of your jewelry, so you can dig out all the grime that's accumulated over the years on the cheap instead of taking it to the jeweler. Promising review: "I absolutely love this product. I saw it on TikTok and figured I would give it a try. My grandmother passed away almost eight years ago, and she left me her first engagement ring in her will. I have tried so many jewelry cleaners, toothpaste and toothbrush, you name it, tried everything except for sending it away to get cleaned. I ordered the Diamond Dazzle Stik on Thursday and it arrived the following Saturday, fast shipping! Today is Sunday and I cleaned my ring with the Diamond Dazzle Stik. My ring is just as shiny as it was when my grandfather bought it for my grandmother many many years ago . I will definitely use this Diamond Dazzle Stik on all my jewelry. Highly recommended!" — Heather Get it from Amazon for $7.48+ (available in four pack sizes). 31. A pair of ~dreamlux~ leggings made with an oh-so-buttery soft material reviewers compare to Lululemon's Align ... but WAY cheaper. If you're looking for a reliably squatproof, comfy, compressive legging, look no further than these. I bought these on Prime Day, which is the only day I will buy leggings because I hate wearing leggings with a burning passion. My "I'm not like other girls" bit is that for some reason, I am always comfier in jeans than leggings. BUT NOT THESE!!! They slide on. The fabric is so lightweight and breathable that it feels like a whisper. The band is so deceptively comfortable that sometimes I'm like, "Am I still wearing them??" I use them to run outdoors because that is the only circumstance I'll wear a legging, and I'm happy to report after several washes, they are durable and compressive enough to withstand workouts. They would be excellent for lounging if I weren't wired in this odd anti-legging way. I have already bought two more pairs and made my friends buy them, too. Promising review: "Super comfy. I usually don’t write reviews, I tried this first before buying Lulu, and these are the most comfortable leggings for every day and even for workouts. Highly recommended!" — Criselle Johnson Get them from Amazon for $29 (available in women's sizes XXS–XXL, two inseams, and 21 styles). 32. A nine-pair set of hypoallergenic golden hoop earrings because sometimes you have to get the outfit vibe just! right!!! which means mixing things up from your usual go-to hoops (bless their overworked hearts). This gives you plenty of affordable, chic options so you can try out a different set every day of the week. Promising review: "I'm picky when it comes to jewelry and love these. They haven't tarnished on me at all or hurt my ears, and the gold isn't tacky looking. Love the variety and you can't beat the pricing. Also, a great gift!" — Marisa Get a set of nine from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in silver and rose gold). 33. Marc Anthony "Grow Long" Leave-In Conditioner Spray with some real ~Olaplex~ energy to help detangle and prevent breakage and restore health in curly, dry, and damaged hair. We've got biotin, we've got vitamin E, we're got caffeine — TBH, your split ends and breakage-prone locks should be SHAKING knowing this is coming for them. This is designed for all hair types. For results, you should apply it to wet or damp hair from root to end, then style as usual without rinsing out. Promising review : "This stuff is magical! Honestly, it’s the best leave-in conditioner I have ever used on my hair. I have highlighted long blonde hair that frizzes and tangles easily. I have tried every leave-in product, and none has compared to this one. It softens, hydrates, smooths, and leaves my hair looking like I just walked out of a salon! Not to mention it smells divine!" — Penelope "I have very long, wavy hair and this product makes it so soft, defines my waves, and takes away the frizz! Smells AMAZING! I have them all too, PUREOLOGY, Oual, Olaplex... and it’s just as great, at way better price !" — Amazon user Get it from Amazon for $7.67 . 34. A bottle of wood polish to instantly make your scuffed-up doors, hardwood floors, and furniture look so spanking new that you'll wonder if it's not actually wood polish but a time machine. Why get new tables or fancy professional restoration when you've got a $9 secret weapon?? Promising review: "This stuff is absolutely AMAZING. My wife and I were getting tired of looking at our worn-out cabinets and wood paneling and were very close to paying a professional thousands of dollars to refinish it all, but then we came across this product. Our paneling and cabinets were looking rough. This stuff was like a Magic Eraser for water spots, scratches, scuffs, and any other blemish. We simply wiped the product on with a paper towel and let it sit for 20 minutes before wiping it off with a clean towel. Everything looks brand new. I'm buying a couple more so we can finish our cabinets and wood paneling. We're so glad we found this product." — Kris Get a bottle from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in different sizes). 35. A ~weightless~ liquid cream blush with some real Rare Beauty blush energy that's having a whole moment and a half on Amazon right now. Reviewers adore how high-pigmented and blend-able the colors are, and how soft and dewy the effect is on their skin. Promising review: "Creamy and dreamy! This liquid blush is worth every penny and seriously just as good as the high end, super expensive ones . I love the formula — it’s highly pigmented and extremely easy to blend. Works perfectly over foundation, over blush (for a dewy look), and even right on top of clean skin." — Ashlyn H. Get it from Amazon for $5.59 (available in 12 shades and in sets). 36. A Skims-inspired seamless, compressive ribbed bodycon jumpsuit reviewers love as the ultimate year-round layering piece, pairing it with button-ups, crop tops, and oversize sweaters. Promising review: "RUN. Don't walk. I never write reviews but legit as soon as I put this on, I knew I had to share with the world. So surprisingly thick (no fear of see through) and stretchy. The ribbed texture is fun and gives that extra snatch effect." — bmg Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in women's sizes S–L and and 10 colors). 37. A pomade hair wax stick designed to work for all hair types for some residue-free *instant* hold for slick-back ponytails or setting flyaways, cowlicks, and baby hairs into place, if that's the vibe you're going for this fall. Reviewers note how easy it is to glide over hair and brush back without leaving hair looking greasy or shiny. Promising reviews: "Saw this on TikTok and saved it. Waited months to buy because I’m cautious about products that are trending. I finally gave it a go and so happy! I had to get a haircut to get rid of dead weight, split ends, etc. So I am aware that my hair is still repairing itself. I did a blow out and then ran the flat iron in my head. The stick went on smooth, only required a little bit and the no fuzz or hair sticking out at the top . Love this! Worked well and I was able to keep my naturally wavy hair straight for three days." — carla Get it from Amazon for $7.59 (available in multipacks). 38. A set of sophisticated cylindrical wineglasses to rival Crate & Barrel's, and to elevate your Friday wine-cheese-and-Netflix nights so instantaneously that you'll feel like an extra in one of those Shows About Rich Families Who Fight All The Time . Joy Jolt is a small business that specializes in modern and pop culture-themed drinkware and kitchen accessories. Promising review: "Crate & Barrel look for less. These look and feel very high end — almost like a thin crystal." — Lauren Get a set of two from Amazon for $19.95 (available in three styles). 39. A cute lil' insect catcher you can set in a plant or near your fruit bowl or compost to deal with any unwanted fluttering guests. These odorless sticky traps are designed to work indoors and outdoors and will stop fruit flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and more — without the high price tag of the electronic or liquid versions. Reviewers note that these work best if you put them somewhere the flies are already attracted to — these will definitely trap them, but they won't attract them on their own. Promising review: "I had a HUGE fruit fly issue after I found a rotting lemon that had called behind a bread box. I paid $20+ for the liquid fly traps, but nothing worked. I ordered these sticky fly traps, and within two days, the sticky traps caught 50+ fruit flies, and I don’t have any more fruit flies. These were the least expensive options I tried and worked the best. I HIGHLY recommend!!!" — Lisa Get a pack of 18 from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 12 styles and packs). 40. A set of cult-favorite, absurdly affordable moisture-wicking exercise socks to spare you both from blisters and the ridiculous price of socks from name brands. I have been buying a new set of these every year since 2020, and they have kept my VERY blister- and chafing-prone feet snug and moisture-wicked on every single long run . They've essentially phased out any of my other socks, because they're extremely comfortable to boot. As a runner who often clocks in 25+ miles a week and often in some "yikes!" summer heat, I cannot recommend these socks enough. Promising review: "These socks are designed perfectly for running socks. The bottoms and toes are thick, the tops are thin, the lower heel is reinforced, the heel top has a tab that provides extra cushion on the Achilles where some shoes like to wear into you. The size is true to fit. I've purchased many packs of these and they are the best I've tried." — SmokeyBear Get a pack of six from Amazon for $14.95+ (available in nine color combos and sizes S–L). 41. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount designed for use on all airlines — not only can you mount it to the tray table of an airplane seat, but to the arm of a chair or any flat surface, so you'll be able to stream content easy as pie wherever you roam. Reviewers have used it on everything from their car dashboards to carry-on handles to office desks to bedside tables. Perilogics is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on the go. Promising review : "I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multi-leg, ultra long-haul trip and it more than held up the entire duration . I was able to finagle it to fit the tray tables on different planes and like others, I find the height just nice when clamped onto a stowed tray table . It also works on my roller carry-on handle during layovers." — Earendil Get it from Amazon for $9.78 . 42. A quick-drying top nail coat , because sometimes you just have to get the show on the road, nail polish situation be damned — this helps dry your wet nails within two minutes so you can get back to business (read: sticking your hand in a chip bag without fear). Promising review: "NEVER GETTING MY NAILS PROFESSIONALLY DONE AGAIN. I love having long nails. I do not like spending fifty bucks just to get them painted. I tried the gel polish with gel top coat, I tried the gel system with the lamps, and I tried every polish out there. My hands get washed hundreds of times daily. This stuff is unbelievable. It really works the way they say it does. I applied it about one or two minutes after finishing a second coat of color, and within minutes, it had bonded and set, and my nails stayed shiny and polished for over a week. That is not the full two weeks claimed, but I am unusually hard on my nails, so over a week is AWESOME. I immediately ordered several more." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $6.99 . Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.In a first, NASA astronaut Joseph M Acaba arrived in Dhaka today to engage with local youth, academia, and media. Acaba's visit is a significant milestone, marking the first time NASA's chief of the Astronaut Office has travelled to Bangladesh, said the US embassy in a statement. His tour will include interactive sessions with students, where he is expected to impress upon young minds to pursue careers in space science, robotics, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. Acaba is also expected to engage in discussions on the role of space exploration in advancing technology and addressing global challenges, such as the climate crisis. In addition to his academic engagements, Acaba is scheduled to give an interview to a TV channel, sharing insights on NASA's contributions to global science and technology, and how Bangladesh can benefit from collaborative efforts in space exploration and technology innovation through the Artemis Accords. The Artemis Accords promote principles for a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space to foster further collaboration between NASA and Bangladesh's growing space and technology sectors. Acaba is an American educator, hydrogeologist, and a returned peace corps volunteer. In May 2004, he became the first person of Puerto Rican descent to be named a NASA astronaut. In 2023, Acaba was appointed the chief of the Astronaut Office. As an astronaut, Acaba logged over 306 days in space across three missions - including spacewalks and groundbreaking scientific research aboard the International Space Station. In a first, NASA astronaut Joseph M Acaba arrived in Dhaka today to engage with local youth, academia, and media. Acaba's visit is a significant milestone, marking the first time NASA's chief of the Astronaut Office has travelled to Bangladesh, said the US embassy in a statement. His tour will include interactive sessions with students, where he is expected to impress upon young minds to pursue careers in space science, robotics, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. Acaba is also expected to engage in discussions on the role of space exploration in advancing technology and addressing global challenges, such as the climate crisis. In addition to his academic engagements, Acaba is scheduled to give an interview to a TV channel, sharing insights on NASA's contributions to global science and technology, and how Bangladesh can benefit from collaborative efforts in space exploration and technology innovation through the Artemis Accords. The Artemis Accords promote principles for a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space to foster further collaboration between NASA and Bangladesh's growing space and technology sectors. Acaba is an American educator, hydrogeologist, and a returned peace corps volunteer. In May 2004, he became the first person of Puerto Rican descent to be named a NASA astronaut. In 2023, Acaba was appointed the chief of the Astronaut Office. As an astronaut, Acaba logged over 306 days in space across three missions - including spacewalks and groundbreaking scientific research aboard the International Space Station.
Thunderbird Entertainment Group Announces Arrangements to Address Mailing Delays Resulting from Canada Post StrikeNone
Baker Mayfield has equaled his personal best for touchdown passes in a season , and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are riding a three-game winning streak to top the NFC South. The quarterback is gunning for a fourth straight division title with the Bucs (7-6) and believes they need to up their game to not only secure a playoff spot but also to make a significant run in the NFL postseason. "We will take wins. I don’t really care how it looks," Mayfield remarked following a messy 28-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, which pushed the Bucs above. 500 as they aim to recover from a slump where they dropped five of six matchups. Saints facing Derek Carr decision as Spencer Rattler sees starting QB chance emerge Saquon Barkley faces tough MVP reality as Eagles RB inches closer to record "But offensively, we will have to be a lot more consistent for us to be able to make this push that we want to do, and we know that," Mayfield added. "There is a lot of ball left, and we have to continue to get better." Against the Raiders, Mayfield threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns but also had three turnovers in the first half, allowing Las Vegas to remain in contention until the final quarter. For the third consecutive year, the Bucs find themselves needing a late-season surge to escape a midseason downturn and clinch a postseason berth. Mayfield has now thrown 28 TDs, matching his total from last year when he revived his career with Tampa Bay. The Bucs, boasting a 7-1 record in December/January games since last season, remain the only NFC team to have clinched playoff spots consecutively over the past four years. "We’ve got four weeks to play. We’re happy to be playing meaningful football in December. We understand what that means," coach Todd Bowles said. "We have to go out every week and try to squeeze out these games, but it feels good." Although the Bucs are leading the NFC South, their lead is slim. The Atlanta Falcons, who have lost four consecutive games, are at 6-7, while the New Orleans Saints are at 5-8. The Carolina Panthers are the other team in the division at 3-10. It'll be difficult for the Bucs to land a wildcard spot if they fail to win the NFC South, with the Minnesota Vikings (11-2), Green Bay Packers (9-4), and Washington Commanders (8-5) all doing well. Only four teams in the NFL have already secured a playoff spot: the Kansas City Chiefs (12-1), Buffalo Bills (10-3), Detroit Lions (12-1), and Philadelphia Eagles (11-2). Tampa Bay's next clash is against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday before a trip to Dallas to face the Cowboys on December 22. Then comes two crucial games against the Panthers (December 29) and the Saints (January 5). Want to watch more live sports? Peacock has your favorite sports, shows, and more all in one place. Peacock offers plans starting at $7.99 so you can stream live sports like NFL, Premier League, and Big Ten Football.
WBLA: What you need to know as REG, APR carry Rwandan flag in DakarBy Manya Saini, Suzanne McGee and Saqib Iqbal Ahmed (Reuters) -GameStop’s shares jumped on Thursday after a cryptic post from meme stock influencer Keith Gill, who shot to notoriety after his online personas and bullish bets on the video game retailer sparked a trading frenzy among mom-and-pop investors. Gill posted a picture resembling a Time magazine cover from 2006 with a computer screen on social media platform X. Following his post, GameStop’s shares spiked and traded as high as $30.87. The stock closed up 6%. Known as “Roaring Kitty” on YouTube and “DeepF***ingValue” on Reddit’s popular WallStreetBets, Gill was a key figure in the so-called “Reddit rally”, in which GameStop stock surged 1,600% at one point in Jan. 2021, crushing hedge funds that had bet against the videogame retailer. Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers, noted that this is characteristic of a pattern that has evolved in the trading of GameStop: the stock’s price will rally, then when it settles down a bit or retreats, Gill’s “Roaring Kitty” persona tends to emerge with a social media post. “We’ve seen that pattern again recently; the stock was at $21 earlier in November but then rallied to $30 or so around Thanksgiving, only to give back most of those gains over the last couple of days.” On Thursday, about 300,000 GameStop options contracts had changed hands by 2:14 p.m. (1914 GMT), at about 1.5 times the usual pace, according to data from options analytics firm Trade Alert. The stock’s 30-day implied volatility — how much traders expect the shares to move around over the short term — jumped to a 3-week high of 132%, up from 93% in the previous session, data showed. Contracts betting on the shares finishing above $30 by Friday were the most actively traded options, with some 32,000 of them traded by late afternoon. ‘ANIMAL SPIRITS’ Gill resurfaced on social media earlier in 2024, after a three-year hiatus leading to a deluge of excited messages from his followers, many of whom have likened the social media phenomenon to a David who took on Wall Street’s Goliaths and won. “The re-emergence of the popularity of meme stocks tends to follow any general resurgence in market enthusiasm and animal spirits,” said Art Hogan, market strategist at B. Riley Wealth Management. “Whenever markets are at or near all-time highs, that particular part of the speculative side of stocks tends to pop up again.” The meme stock rally in 2021 was set off by Gill’s posts on WallStreetBets subreddit about the gains he had made on his investments in the highly shorted firm. The rally spread to other highly shorted stocks including AMC Entertainment as Reddit users banded together to squeeze bearish hedge funds, costing them billions in losses and drawing scrutiny from U.S. regulators. The entire episode inspired Craig Gillespie’s 2023 movie “Dumb Money”. Other so-called meme stocks also traded higher on Thursday after Gill’s post. Shares of Unity Software closed up 5%, while cinema chain AMC, another darling of retail investors from 2021, climbed 6%. “It wouldn’t surprise me if the faithful haven’t been distracted by other things. Crypto has stolen GameStop’s thunder recently,” Sosnick said. The video game retailer’s stock is up around 76% so far this year. Meanwhile, bitcoin has surged more than 130% and surpassed the $100,000 mark earlier on Thursday, fueled by optimism over easing regulatory headwinds, in what is a stunning rally for the world’s largest cryptocurrency. (Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru, Suzanne McGee in Providence, Rhode Island and Saqib Iqbal Ahmed in New York; Editing by Alan Barona) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
Donald Trump's reelection echoes the rise of Maj. Gen. Edwin A. Walker, a member of the militant right in the 1960s, ODU senior lecturer and author Peter Adams writes in a guest column. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular German restaurant Deutsche Ecke opens in Newport News German restaurant Deutsche Ecke opens in Newport News Second man dies in Newport News triple shooting; police still looking for suspects Second man dies in Newport News triple shooting; police still looking for suspects The latest business openings and closings in Hampton Roads The latest business openings and closings in Hampton Roads Former Hampton High football coach Mike Smith highlights latest Virginia Hall of Fame inductees Former Hampton High football coach Mike Smith highlights latest Virginia Hall of Fame inductees Williamsburg Christmas parade to feature Commanders marching band Williamsburg Christmas parade to feature Commanders marching band Al Roker speaks out after Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade chair mishap Al Roker speaks out after Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade chair mishap 1 dead, 2 seriously injured in Newport News triple shooting, police say 1 dead, 2 seriously injured in Newport News triple shooting, police say New Kent wants public input on future of Makemie Woods New Kent wants public input on future of Makemie Woods The Grinch can’t steal West Point’s Christmas The Grinch can't steal West Point's Christmas Biden pardons his son Hunter despite previous pledges not to Biden pardons his son Hunter despite previous pledges not to Trending Nationally Judge accused of ‘willful misconduct’ for letting illegal immigrant escape court Trump’s talk of reducing or relocating federal workers hits home in Maryland A young Coloradan learning to live with long COVID turns to TikTok to educate about chronic illness Fruit trees and ‘generational learning’ turn this California city into a parrot paradise as temperatures drop NBC’s enhanced yard lines, field numbers for Bills-49ers snow game draw strong reactions from viewers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded the power of 'Nari Shakti' in shaping the Constitution and made a strong pitch for 'united Bharat' in realising the country's dreams in the twenty-first century. Joining the two-day debate on the Constitution, commemorating the 75th year of its adoption, PM Modi said that today, the country is being recognised and celebrated across the world as the 'Mother of Democracy'. "Nari Shakti played a crucial role in shaping and empowering the Constitution. There were 15 women members in the Constituent Assembly, who left their stamp on the sacred book. This is a matter of pride for us," PM Modi said. He further said that his government has focused heavily on women empowerment. "We have shifted focus from women-centric to women-led development. We cleared the Naari Shakti Adhiniyam Vandan to ensure active participation of women in the democracy. Today, women are breaking social barriers and making forays into every sector," PM Modi said in the concluding address in Lok Sabha. Making a strong pitch for 'unity', PM Modi called upon everyone including the Opposition parties to come together and contribute in achieving the shared dreams of the twenty-first century. "It's time for everyone to celebrate the unity in diversity and not get divided by some political motives," the Prime Minister said in the Lower House. The Prime Minister then counted several initiatives of his government and how this was focused on achieving one unified approach in making policies. "Article 370 was a major obstacle in India's unity and hence it was buried under the earth. Goods and Services Tax (GST) played a vital role in ensuring economic unity - one nation, one tax is taking this idea forward," he stated. PM Modi further said that his government strongly pushed for 'One nation, one ration card' to facilitate equitable treatment of every citizen across the country. "Under One nation- one health card i.e. Ayushman Bharat card, any Indian living in any part of the country can avail the same medical benefits under the scheme. One nation, one grid initiative has driven out darkness from urban centres as well as villages," PM Modi said. Laying emphasis on the government's focus on the digital economy, PM Modi said that democratising technology has ensured that the benefits of government schemes percolate down to remote locations without any discrimination. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) 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As we gathered this Thanksgiving, it was easy to take abundance for granted. Leftovers are practically guaranteed. It wasn’t always this way. For most of history, there were no Thanksgiving feasts. Hunger, if not starvation, was the norm. Today, supermarkets are stocked with exotic foods from all over the world. Most of it is more affordable than ever. Even after President Joe Biden’s 8% inflation, Americans spend less than 12% of our income on food, half of what they spent 100 years ago. Why? Because free markets happened. Capitalism happened. When there is rule of law and private property, and people feel secure that no thief or government will take their property, farmers find new ways to grow more on less land. Greedy entrepreneurs lower costs and deliver goods faster. Consumers have better options. Yet today many Americans trash capitalism, demanding government “fixes” to make sure everyone gets equal amounts of this and that. But it’s in countries with the most government intervention where there are empty store shelves and hungrier people. In socialist Venezuela, affordable food is hard to find. In Cuba, government was going to make everything plentiful. But people suffered so much that, to prevent starvation, the Castros broke from communist principles and rented out state-owned land to private capitalists. Millions still go hungry around the world. The cause is rarely drought or “income inequality” or colonialism, but government control. Corruption, tariffs, political self-dealing and short-sighted regulations block food from reaching those who need it most. Last week, we celebrated the Pilgrims, who learned this lesson the hard way. When they first landed in America, they tried communal living. The harvest was shared equally. That seemed fair. But it failed miserably. A few Pilgrims worked hard, but others didn’t, claiming “weakness and inability,” as William Bradford, the governor of the colony, put it. They nearly starved. Desperate, Bradford tried another approach. “Every family,” he wrote, “was assigned a parcel of land.” Private property! Capitalism! Suddenly, more pilgrims worked hard. Of course they did. Now they got to keep what they made. Bradford wrote, “It made all hands very industrious.” He spelled out the lesson “The failure of this experiment of communal service, which was tried for several years, and by good and honest men proves the emptiness of the theory ... taking away of private property, and the possession of it in community ... would make a state happy and flourishing.” Fast forward 400 years, and many Americans have forgotten what Bradford learned. I see why socialism is popular. The idea of one big, harmonious collective feels good. But it brings disaster. Family dinners already have plenty of disagreements — children fight; adults bicker. Imagine what that would be like among millions of strangers. Collectivist systems encourage dependency, stifle initiative and waste resources. The same communal conceit that nearly starved the Pilgrims destroyed lives in the Soviet Union and led to mass starvation in China. When everyone is forced into the same plan, most people will take as much as they can and produce as little as they can get away with. Economists call it the “tragedy of the commons” referring to a common plot of land, controlled by, say, sheep owners. Each has an incentive to breed more sheep, which then eat the common’s grass until all of it is gone, and everyone goes hungry. Only when the commons is divided into private property does each owner agree to limit his herd’s grazing so there will be enough for his sheep to eat tomorrow. These same principles apply to many aspects of our lives: We thrive when individuals have a deed to their property and are confident that they can keep what they create. Then they create more. That’s what the Pilgrims learned: Incentives matter. Capitalist ownership is what creates American abundance. Every Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for free markets and private property. They are the ingredients of prosperity.When Carmen Wageman started a home staging business out of her Richmond Hill garage 22 years ago, she had a hard time convincing sellers she could make their properties look bigger, brighter and newer — leading to faster and more profitable sales. “I was escorted out of houses a couple of times in the beginning because I told them to paint out their gum wood,” Wageman says. “Now, when I go in, one of the first things people say is, ‘You can tell me anything. Tell me to get rid of anything. Just make me some money.’” It’s been a turbulent year in Toronto’s real estate market with housing prices going down and the number of new listings going way up. Despite the downturn — or some say because of it — realtors have relied more than ever on a highly specialized but growing segment of the industry to compete and clinch sales. Staging has never been more popular or lucrative. “This is our best year yet,” says Wageman. “We’ve added more than 20 per cent to our bottom line.” Wageman recently expanded her operation into a 50,000-square-foot warehouse in East York to accommodate a growing inventory: more than 100 neutral sofas and sectionals in many shapes and sizes, large-scale original artwork, and tens of thousands of chairs, coffee tables, linens and toss cushions. With her daughter Jessica Steinman, Wageman this year launched a rental arm to her Stage Right Home business, making all of their inventory available to realtors and home sellers who don’t have the budget for full-service staging. S “This is our best year yet,” says home stager Carmen Wageman. “We’ve added more than 20 per cent to our bottom line.” There is no scientific data that home staging actually nets sellers more money. But there is a growing body of academic research that shows buyers experience a “cognitive deficit” in their hunt for a home. Their ability to make rational decisions is hampered by high emotions. A sparkling clean home, with high-end furniture and counters cleared of any sign of bill payments, is powerful bait for picky buyers, especially in a sluggish market. “We’ve never invested more in staging than in the last year,” says Christina Pinelli, a real estate agent with Heaps Estrin. “There are actually still a lot of buyers out there. It’s just that buyers are taking longer to make a decision and in general they prefer a turnkey home. So if you can provide as close the image of that as possible, it’s easier for them to visualize their life there.” In late September, Pinelli hired a team to transform her client Julie Tyas’s Leaside home. Over just a few days, the traditional two-storey brick house that Tyas, a lawyer, her husband and their three kids called home for 15 years was ripped apart and reset to get it ready for sale. Some of the furniture and most of the bedding was a rented prop brought in by a professional stager, including 13 pillows for Tyas’s bed and comforters piled so high her Jack Russell terrier could barely spring up to his usual spot. Heaps Estrin real estate agent Christina Pinelli arranged for a contractor, home stager and professional organizer to glow up this Leaside home before it went to market in the fall. The property sold in a few days for $2.64 million, nearly $150,000 over its asking price. “It’s hard to not take it personally when your own items have been replaced with items not to your taste but I trusted Christina (the agent) and knew it was being done for a reason,” Tyas says. Alyssa Douglas was part of the small army that Pinelli called up to Tyas’s home. Until last year, organizing and decluttering was a side hustle to her full-time corporate job. But when the number of calls to organize homes for sale grew exponentially, Douglas took a leap into her “dream job,” starting Tidy Rabbit Organizing. “This spring was very, very busy,” says Douglas, who generally charges between $75 $100 hourly, depending on scope. “We were working seven days a week to fit clients in.” Helping people get organized to leave their homes, not live in them, is a high-pressure process that involves working on a tight deadline with the buyer to make quick decisions on what items stay and what needs to go. “It requires a different mindset,” Douglas says. She works room by room, starting with the basement, which typically has the most “stuff,” and goes through every closet and drawer, paring back clothes to a limited wardrobe that matches the season as “buyers want to see a lot of storage space.” Douglas budgets to spend one day on each floor. In Tyas’s home, piles of paperwork and clutter vanished into storage boxes. The tchotchkes that were on display shelves were carefully boxed and replaced with seagrass baskets, leather-bound books and a few objets d’art. A couch the kids like to play on went into storage. Ditto the chairs in their living room, which were swapped for more modern, Scandinavian-style ones. A new coffee table arrived along with spotless area rugs. When she saw the listing photos, Tyas says, “I got it. It was pleasing for the masses.” The first offer landed the same day the house was listed. By the weekend, five buyers sparked a bidding war. Less than a week after hitting the market, the house sold for $2.64 million, $145,000 over asking. Staging a residential property in Toronto can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $18,000 for the first month, depending on the size of the space and how much furniture is required, Wageman says. That amount includes service fees. The standard average cost runs between $5,000 and $8,000. The cost for a second or third month is reduced, reflecting rental fees on the borrowed items. When she started out, homeowners would generally cover the bill for staging. But as competition for lucrative listings increased, many realtors began offering to foot or split the cost. It’s tricky to quantify staging’s impact on sales because there are so many variables but Wageman says she’s confident the work she does increases the home’s appeal to buyers and its ultimate value. “If you pay $7,000 for staging, you know you’re going to get more than $7,000 back. You know, you’re probably going to get more than $14,000, which is doubling your money. You know, you’re probably going to get more than $21,000. Where in investment can you put in a dollar and get three? Staging is probably the last area of investment where you can make a ton of money like that.” Patrick Rocca, a broker with Bosley Real Estate, has tapped Wageman to stage his listings for the past 15 years and credits her with houses routinely selling $150,000 to $300,000 over asking. Rocca will occasionally cover the cost of staging if he’s charging full commission, but more often his clients pay Wageman directly. A few years ago, Rocca took over a stale listing on Bessborough Road near Sunnybrook Hospital that had sat for three months with no bites. He told the clients they needed Wageman to work her magic. “So I come in and I’m the bad cop,” she says. Wageman’s to-do list for the clients was extensive and expensive. “There was a leak in the bedroom from the Juliet balcony so the carpet was all stained,” she says. “It had been fixed but sent red flags everywhere. The colour of the house was all wrong. It was too dark. The colours of the interior were so rich and vibrant but it’s not a mass appeal. As a matter of fact, it was a little oppressive. They needed to paint the entire house, kitchen cabinets included, change the knobs, change all the lighting, get rid of their furniture. And they did it.” While these sellers were highly motivated to co-operate, Wageman says they encounter those who invite them in but then push back. It happens often enough across the industry that Wageman says the average “shelf life” of a home stager is three to five years until burnout. The pandemic didn’t help. “Some sellers have become angrier, they have no filter. They say whatever they want and apologize later.” The Bessborough property owners’ support, though, resulted in a record payday. The house sold for $1 million over asking, a figure Rocca calls a “once in a lifetime” event. The most important part of staging any property, Wageman says, is getting the “money room” right — the first space a buyer sees when walking in the house. There are different statistics on how quickly a potential buyer decides whether or not to make an offer on a home. “Some say 30 seconds, I think it’s more like five,” Wageman says. “If somebody is not wowed within the first five seconds they’re in the house, it’s really hard to get their attention back.” Not everyone agrees staging is worth the cost. Barry Cohen, who is currently listing the most expensive residential property in Toronto — a $34.5 million manse near Casa Loma with its own indoor parking lot complete with built-in turntable and car wash — uses stagers sparingly. While he says “good staging can move buyers across the finish line,” the Re/Max broker generally works with the seller’s furniture. “It costs money,” he says. “Every once in a while I have a seller who says ‘I want to physically stage.’ That seller quickly doesn’t want to pay for the second or third month.” Wageman is mindful that many in the industry are trying to cut costs. In late October, she and Steinman went on a major buying trip to High Point Market in North Carolina. They’re expanding their stock to accommodate the growing rental business. They’re also widening their sales business so realtors and homeowners can purchase furniture, lighting packages, linens and art directly from them through another arm of their business called Hive Society. It’s the first trade store for real estate agents and their clients. In the new year, they’re launching a staging school for realtors who want to learn how to do it properly themselves. Stage Right Home is expanding to teach classes on home staging for realtors who want to save money by doing it themselves. One of the lessons Wageman is eager to teach is that Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace is not everyone’s answer for walls. “My God, if I see this colour one more time,” Wageman says. “We’ll teach them how to choose paint colours and provide them with the selections we choose over and over and over that seem to be successful across the board no matter what.” Cohen predicts the future of staging is virtual. One of his clients recently toured a three-dimensional rendering of his new 7,000-square-foot home at an architect’s office using a virtual reality mask. “He walked into the living room, went to sit on the sofa and fell on the floor,” Cohen says with a laugh. “It’s only a matter of time before the technology is part of every real estate office,” Cohen says. “People won’t need to leave the office.” Wageman isn’t convinced.