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Good morning! My wife loves teasing me about my silly dreams — like the time a T. rex was chasing me and I tried to kick the mighty monster only to hit our bedroom wall. Guess what: Research shows I was smart to have shared that dream with her! In Monday’s mix you’ll discover cool new science on love and meet a pathbreaking Brazilian trans politician. If you’re missing fancy weddings, take a trip down memory lane. And if you’re craving fun, take a Japanese joyride that lets you work remotely. |
| | Charu Sudan Kasturi, Senior Editor |  |
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|  | | | | | 4. Don’t Bank on BonusesThree of America’s biggest banks — Bank of America, Citibank and JPMorgan Chase — have told their employees not to expect bonuses in line with rapid profits they’ve earned in some financial sectors in recent months. Food stamps, thankfully, aren’t going anywhere yet, with a federal judge striking down a Trump administration move to cut nearly 700,000 jobless people from the program. |
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| Work-a-RoundTired of work-from-home? Japan has the answer. |
| Sometimes, it’s good to go around in circles. A Tokyo amusement park has turned its ferris wheel into a remote working station where teleworkers can use portable Wi-Fi to answer office emails and fill out spreadsheets while taking a socially distant ride. You can also choose a haunted house as your office — though that’s probably not advisable if you get dinosaur nightmares like I do. |
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|  | | Tie-dye is out. Suede sneakers are in. We love the ones from Cariuma because they’re not just stylish, but crazy-comfy and ethically made. Get ahead of the curve and buy your pair now! And as a gift, we got you a discount that is exclusive for our readers — use OZYxCariuma to get $15 off when you get them today. |
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|  | Black Beacons of South AmericaThe U.S. isn’t the only place grappling with a legacy of racism. Meet some of South America’s unlikely Black stars. |
| 1. Érica MalunguinhoIt was an election in which Brazil elected a homophobic president in Jair Bolsonaro. But the October 2018 vote also elevated his polar opposite: Malunguinho became Brazil’s first trans woman elected to a state congress, just months after fellow Afro Brazilian and LGBTQ activist Marielle Franco was murdered. Raised by her mother, she grew up battling racism and questions over her gender. Now she’s helping Black Brazil rediscover itself through Aparelha Luzia, a unique community space that she’s created in São Paulo where art, music, dance and politics come together to celebrate a long-ignored culture. |
| 2. ChocQuibTownTheir Latin Grammy-winning song De Donde Vengo Yospeaks of their homeland — filled with gold and platinum riches but tainted by racism. And Goyo, Tostao and Slow — the three Afro Colombian members of this stunning group — bring that same wealth of influences to their music. You’ll hear the strains of traditional African sounds, but also those of Jamaican reggae and hip-hop. Get ready to dance to their rhythm. |
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|  | Science of LoveLove’s no rocket science. That’s what we all think until we can’t seem to figure it out. Check out some of the most fascinating new research on love — and don’t blame me if you start looking at your partner differently after this! |
| 1. Look-Alike LoversIf you've wondered whether there's more than coincidence to the similar jaw structure shared by supermodel Gisele Bündchen and husband and football superstar Tom Brady, we now have an answer. Couples don’t start looking more like each other over the years — they often unknowingly pick someone who looks like them to start with. Sophie Hunter, remember everything Benedict Cumberbatch told you about why he loves you? Nonsense. As a certain Sherlock would have said: "You see, but you do not observe." |
| 2. Same-Sex SuccessCouples of the same sex have higher-quality social lives and interactions with others than heterosexual couples, scientists have found. But because of prejudices, man-man couples have the smallest social networks. Well, it's not the same-sex couples that are losing out. It's the rest of society. |
| 3. Share Your DreamsSharing details of your dreams with your partner helps you develop greater empathy for each other, science shows. Yet only 15 percent of couples share their dreams. If you're not in that group, it might be time for a change. At the least, it’ll bring humor into your partner’s life — as my wife will testify. |
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|  | | More than 44 percent of eligible Americans did not vote in the 2016 presidential election. VoteAsIf.org aims to change that. Check out VoteAsIf.org’s tools to learn how you can register in any state, the requirements for voting and even whether you’re registered properly. The organization is also taking donations. Be sure to vote as if … |
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| | Marriage MillionsNew York officials announced on Saturday that they had banned an Orthodox Jewish wedding in Brooklyn that might have attracted 10,000 guests. Just in case you’re beginning to forget what big, fat weddings looked like, we’ve got you some of the most extravagant ones … ever. |
| | 2. China’s Kim and KanyeThe real Kanye West and Kim Kardashian supposedly spent $12 million on their 2014 wedding. The Chinese couple often compared to them — actress, singer and model Angela Yeung and actor Huang Xiaoming — spent $31 million on their opulent Shanghai event. Yeung wore a Dior gown that took nearly five months to make. Her wedding band alone cost over $1.5 million. |
| 3. On a Different PlaneThe Gupta family were among former South African President Jacob Zuma’s biggest financiers. So when it was time for a niece to get married in 2013, they used a military air base to fly in guests, sparking controversy and forcing the suspension of multiple South African officials. We know a great newsletter when we see one. From travel, style and dining to fitness, sex and pop culture, our friends at InsideHook help you put your free time to good use. Sign up for InsideHook now! |
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|  | Magical CarpetsOK, ready for today’s teaser? We all know about the legendary brilliance of Persian carpets. But can you match the carpets in the images above to their place of origin? |
| a. Morocco b. Turkmenistan c. Scandinavia d. China |
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