A woman was elected president of the United States one hundred years ago. Naturally, this did not actually happen, but one of the first surviving on-screen representations of a woman in that position is a fictional female president who made an appearance in a movie published precisely one hundred years ago, in 1924.

JG Blystone is the director of the silent comedy The Last Man on Earth, which stars Earle Foxe. Foxe portrays Elmer, the lone adult male character in the year 1954 who has not succumbed to “masculitis” yet. Fortunately for him, he was living alone in a jungle when the virus struck, making him a desirable specimen when he returns to society. Two “senatresses” compete in a boxing contest to win the right to marry him after the government pays $10 million for him, but Elmer is only interested in his boyhood sweetheart.

The Last Man on Earth, which is based on a short fiction by John D. Swain, is essentially a pretext for having some risqué fun with the masculine ideal of being pursued by many women. The Virginia State Board of Censors criticised this “smutty” and “indecent” work, noting that “little, if any, attempt is made to conceal the fact that they are propelled by erotic impulse.” However, the movie also makes fun of the concept of a society where women are in leadership roles. The White House is messy and overgrown, and Martha Mattox, the president, would rather care for stray cats than lead the nation.

“Just imagine,” advises Erika Cornelius Smith, a specialist in how women are portrayed in fiction and the head of Research Strategy at the University of Illinois. “Boxing by women! Women in politics! In popular culture, viewers could only handle this kind of thing if they understood it was ridiculous and would never occur.

Few other female US presidents appeared on screen over the remainder of the 20th century. The majority of filmmakers adhered to the well-known status quo of male presidents, while Betty Boop and Olive Oyl made brief animated visits to the White House in 1932 and 1948, respectively. Smith claims that popular culture is a place of opportunity, innovation, and imagination. However, [creators of film and television] find it difficult to strike a balance between the requirement to sell advertising and turn a profit and this fantastic chance to be creative. There must be a market for their shows. Profitability and possibility will always be in competition.

[On-screen] women with political ambition prove to be untrustworthy, or their presidencies often end in tragedy – Karrin Vasby Anderson

However, why would a female president jeopardise that financial success? If a movie or television show deviates from reality in other ways, why should not it do the same here? In the past, such a persona would have turned off more conservative viewers, according to Colorado State University’s Karrin Vasby Anderson, co-author of a book on the topic titled Woman President. According to her, “the US presidency has long been one of the most significant manifestations of heteronormative family values and traditional masculinity in the world, with the first lady playing an essential supporting role.” “That is upended by a female president.”

Changing tropes

In many ways, the president in The Last Man on Earth established the standard for her uninspired successors for decades to come, which may be one of the reasons why when a female president does appear on television, she is rarely taken seriously.

The fact that the scenario is set in a future where, it is implied, the world is strangely different from our own is one recurrent theme. Project Moonbase, a 1953 film set in 1970, is the first example of this, following The Last Man on Earth. As Smith notes, the heroine (Donna Martell), a colonel in command of a lunar mission, is “easily terrified and turns to her male colleague and love interest as soon as the situation becomes serious.” Ernestine Barrier plays Madam President, and other women hold positions of authority.

Back to the Future Part II (1989), Battlestar Galactica (2003-2009), Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), For All Mankind (2019-present), and Do not Look Up (2021) would all go on to depict female presidents in their envisioned futures and futuristic other realities. Lisa Simpson is “America’s first straight female president” in the 2000 Simpsons episode Bart to the Future.The fact that her predecessor was a certain President Trump is one of the episode’s foreboding jokes.Another cliché is that crises, rather than regular, free, and fair elections, are frequently used to elect female leaders. Naturally, it is a particularly serious issue in The Last Man on Earth. To paraphrase Farran Smith Nehme from Film Comment: “Every single man on Earth had to die before a woman could be elected president, with the possible exception of a hermit who lived in a tree and was probably not registered to vote.Even in less dramatic situations, however, it is typical for a woman to take over as president only after the male has passed away or resigned while in office in films and television series. Take a look at a few recent instances: Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Selina Meyer in Veep (2012-2019), Robin Wright’s Claire Hale Underwood in House of Cards (2013-2018), Patricia Wettig’s Caroline Reynolds in Prison Break (2005-2017), and Geena Davis’s Mackenzie Allen in Commander in Chief (2005) all became presidents without the consent of the electorate.

The fictitious women themselves are not always eager to perform the task either. According to Anderson, “the only women who can be trusted as US president in television and cinema are ones who do not want to be there.” Téa Leoni’s role in Madam Secretary is an example of a heroic female president who must be forced into public service.Politically ambitious women, like Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s character in Veep and Cherry Jones’s president in 24, either turn out to be unreliable or their presidencies frequently end tragically. Male fictional presidents can be effective, politically aspirational, and morally upright. On-screen women still have to decide between being trustworthy and having ambition.

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She expressed her desire for women who have experienced sexual assault to understand that “it is not for us to bear shame – it is for them” in front of the Avignon court.

“I want all women who have been raped to say: Madame Pelicot did it, I can too. I don’t want them to be ashamed any longer,” she said, referring to her request for an open trial and for the videos of the alleged rapes to be shown.

Ms Pelicot, 71, was taking the stand following a request from her legal team that she be given the chance to respond to the evidence and testimony that have been shared so far at the trial.

She claimed to have seen several defendants’ wives, mothers, and sisters testify that the accused were “amazing men” over the past few weeks.

She went on, “That is just like who I had back home,” However, a rapist is not someone you encounter late at night in a dark parking lot. He is also present among friends and relatives.

According to Ms. Pelicot, she is “totally shattered” and will need to rebuild herself. She continued, “I do not know if my whole life will be enough to understand.”

“I wish I could still call him Dominique,” she remarked, referring to her ex-husband as Mr. Pelicot. For fifty years, we shared a home, and I was a contented, happy woman.

“I never had any doubts about you; you were a kind, considerate husband. We laughed and we cried together,” she said, her voice cracking.

In 2021, she filed for divorce from Dominique.

Certain aspects in this narrative might be upsetting to some readers.

Dominique has acknowledged using the internet to find men to rape his wife between 2010 and 2020 while she was under the influence of strong sedatives and sleeping medications that he secretly gave her.

When she was dealing with health problems that were subsequently found to be related to the medications he was giving her, Ms. Pelicot recalled how fortunate she used to feel to have him by her side.

“I am trying to understand how this man, who to me was perfect, could have done this. How can he have betrayed me at this point? How could you let these strangers into my bedroom?” she said.
“I want to say to him: I’ve always tried to lift you higher, towards the light. You chose the darkest depths of human nature. You’re the one who made this choice.”

The way Dominique allegedly drugged her was by cooking her meals and bringing her ice cream after dinner, according to Ms. Pelicot: “I used to remark to him: how blessed am I, you are a sweetheart, you truly care after me.”

She went on to say that she must have fainted rapidly when she was drugged because she never felt dizzy or had a racing heart. She claimed to think that long walks were the reason she would wake up in her own bed the next morning feeling especially exhausted.

“I experienced gynaecological problems, and on some mornings, I woke up feeling as though my waters had broken. “I never knew how to read the signs, but they were there,” she continued.

Ms Pelicot and her solicitors also talked about whether Dominique’s affair with a coworker, their perceived social status difference, or the fact that she had a loving childhood while he did not could have contributed to her inferiority complex.

“I have been told I am brave,” she remarked, referring to the response the trial has generated. This is about having the will and desire to transform society, not about being brave.

“To be brave is to dive into the ocean to save a life. “I simply possess willpower and determination,” she remarked.

“I come here every day for this reason… Because of all the men and women right behind me, I will persevere even if I hear unimaginable things.

Asking for the trial to be open has never made her regret it, she said: “I did it because what happened to me can never happen again.”

Many of the alleged rapes were captured on camera.

Since they were unaware that Ms. Pelicot was unconscious, the defendants claim they cannot be held accountable for the rape since they did not “know” they were raping her.

Ms. Pelicot has appeared in court on most days, but she has only testified twice.

On September 18, she claimed to have been “humiliated” by rumours that she had consented to play a sex game in which she feigned to be asleep when the guys her husband had enlisted online visited their house.

“I was raped by these men. “This courtroom session is so embarrassing and demeaning,” she remarked.

Because she waived her right to privacy and asked for an open trial, Ms. Pelicot has become a feminist icon in France, where the trial has garnered a lot of attention. Opening the trial, according to her legal team, would return the “shame” to the accused.

Marches in support of Ms. Pelicot were place in over a dozen French cities on Saturday. A number of feminist groups are also requesting that the French government include a consent element to the rape statute.

On September 2, the trial got underway. Due to the large number of defendants who must be questioned, the hearings are barely halfway done, despite the extended daily sessions.

Late December is when a verdict is anticipated.

The BBC Action Line website offers a list of groups that are prepared to offer assistance and guidance if this story has affected you.

Hard hats are the team headgear of working-class America — the people who built the United States with their bare hands. The people who still build the USA today.

Tip your safety cap to Edward W. Bullard (1893-1963), a U.S. Army veteran who crafted the world’s most important piece of industrial protective equipment after returning from the carnage of World War I.

“Hard-hat workers are brave people doing important work,” said Wells Bullard, CEO of E.D. Bullard Co. in Kentucky, a manufacturer of personal safety equipment. She’s also a great-granddaughter of the hard-hat inventor.

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“They are the people building our roads, bridges and infrastructure, moving our economy forward,” she added.

The effort requires a lot of Bullard’s hard hats.

Some 33 million Americans, about 10 percent of the national population, work hard-hat jobs today, according to Cam Mackey, president and CEO of the International Safety Equipment Association. Edward Bullard helped found the nonprofit trade association in 1933.

The hard hat today is more than just an important piece of personal safety equipment.

It came to symbolize the growing schism between working-class Americans and leftist elitists during the Vietnam War, most notably during the New York City Hard Hat Riot of 1970.

Construction workers, incensed by images of people burning American flags, walked off their job sites en masse and clashed with largely college-educated, white-collar anti-American protesters in Lower Manhattan.

About 150 people were battered and bloodied on the streets, 40 of them suffered head wounds, six men were beaten unconscious, David Paul Kuhn, author of “The Hardhat Riot: Nixon, New York City, and the Dawn of the White Working-Class Revolution,” told basicdailyexpress.

“After that day, the hard hat became a political symbol,” he said.

The nation is still dealing with the fallout today.

The hard hat carries symbolism far from the job site.

Edward R. Bullard was born in Liberty, N.M., on Dec. 1, 1893 before moving as a young boy with his family to California.

His father, Edward D. Bullard, founded the E.D. Bullard Co. in San Francisco in 1898, providing lamps and other gear to miners who flooded the region during the Gold Rush. The company in recent decades moved its operations to Kentucky.

The younger Bullard graduated from the University of California at Berkeley before shipping off to France in World War I.

“He was in the trenches in Europe,” Wells Bullard said, then returned from war to work at the family business.

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“Realizing the need for greater safety within the mines, Bullard designed a hard hat for miners inspired by the steel doughboy helmet he wore as a soldier,” states a Bullard company biography.

“The helmet was made of canvas, glue and black paint, and given the trademarked name ‘Hard Boiled’ because of the steam used in the manufacturing process,” the National Museum of American History reports.

The Hard Boiled Hat, first developed in 1919, quickly evolved with better designs and safety measures, including webbing to provide a cushion of space between the helmet shell and a worker’s head.

Bullard applied for a patent for his product in 1927, receiving approval in 1929.

His hard hat soon played a crucial role in some of the nation’s most ambitious — and most dangerous — construction projects.

The Golden Gate Bridge, built between 1933 and 1937, was the first major construction project to require hard hats on the job — Bullard’s hard hats.

He was inspired to help with the project after realizing the deadly danger posed by falling rivets. More than 1.2 million rivets hold together the majestic bridge.

Any one of them could prove deadly.

Bullard’s hard hat worked. Eleven men died on the project, a horrific figure by today’s standards — but the death total was far better than the standards of the day.

Projections indicated as many as 35 workers would die while building the Golden Gate Bridge, reports Constructors Inc.

The Hoover Dam and various New Deal projects, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, also served as proving grounds for the protective equipment.

Hard hats became mandatory on most job sites with the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in December 1970. The year proved critical in the history of the hard hat.

Hard hats were at the center of America’s culture war in 1970, when blood spilled on the streets of Manhattan.

Anti-American protests erupted around the nation in the wake of the killing of four Kent State University students on May 4 that year.

The 23-year-old followed his father Paolo and grandfather Cesare in pulling on the famous blue shirt, making his debut by coming off the bench in the 74th minute.

His father – considered one of the greatest defenders in soccer history and who played with AC Milan, winning seven Scudettos and five European Cups – watched his son from the stands in Udine. Paolo Maldini made 126 appearances for Italy during his glittering career, making him the third highest capped player for Italy.

Cesare Maldini, meanwhile, played 14 times for Italy – his last appearance came over 61 years ago.

“I’m very happy that I came on and that the match went well. I’m glad my parents were here to watch. I will talk to them when I get home,” Daniel said after the game.

It’s the first time three generations have played for four-time world champion Italy, according to Opta.

Unlike his father, the youngest Maldini is an attacking midfielder and has impressed for Serie A side Monza this season.

Italy was already 3-1 up when he was introduced in the second half. Mateo Retegui and Giovanni di Lorenzo gave the Italians a 2-0 lead before Mohammad Abu Fani halved the deficit.

Davide Frattesi’s strike and another goal from Di Lorenzo secured the win to ensure Italy remained top of Group A2.

France wins in dramatic fashion

Elsewhere on a night of Nations League fixtures, France edged past Belgium 2-1 in a match punctuated by a number of incidents.

The Red Devils had the chance to take an early lead but midfielder Youri Tielemans sent his penalty over the bar, after William Saliba had bundled Loïs Openda over in the box.

Les Bleus then capitalized on the missed opportunity, taking the lead through a penalty of their own after Belgium’s Wout Faes handled the ball. Randal Kolo Muani made no mistake from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Openda, though, equalized for Belgium before the break. His stoppage time header at the end of the first half was initially ruled out for offside, but the decision was overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR).

Both sides then had chances to take the lead, but it was Kolo Muani who struck again in the 62nd minute, his header proving the difference on the night.

France was made to particularly work hard for the win when Aurélien Tchouaméni was sent off with 14 minutes to go after picking up a second yellow card.

The win means France stays second in Group A2, behind Italy by one point.

Meanwhile, Germany beat the Netherlands 1-0 in another clash between two of Europe’s best sides.

Jamie Leweling scored the only goal of the game with an emphatic finish in the second half as the Dutch failed to create many scoring opportunities.

Germany is now five points clear at the top of Group A3 as it closes in on a place in the quarterfinals.

Turkish wonderkid shines

Arda Güler continued his rise as one of the best teenagers in the world with another fine performance for Turkey.

The 19-year-old helped his side beat Iceland in dramatic fashion on Monday, scoring a late goal to help the Crescent Stars secure the win.

Orri Óskarsson had given Iceland the lead after just three minutes before Turkey turned the tables with two quick goals in the second half through İrfan Kahveci and Hakan Çalhanoğlu.

The host then equalized in the 83rd minute courtesy of Andri Guðjohnsen to set up a frantic end to the game.

Güler capitalized on a goalkeeping error to hand his side the lead in the 88th minute, before Muhammed Kerem Aktürkoğlu sealed the victory with a goal in stoppage time.

The win takes Turkey top of Group B4, two points ahead of Wales in second.

Using those on-the-go protein shakes, bars, powders and other supplements can seem like an easy fix for those looking to up their protein intake. But when it comes to teenagers, pediatricians worry that they may be relying too much on supplements.

Two in 5 parents say their teen consumed protein supplements in the past year, with teen boys being more likely to consume the supplements every or most days than teen girls, according to a new C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll released on Monday.

Of the 46% of teen boys who consumed protein supplements in the past year, more than half their parents said it was for muscle gain. Of the 36% of teen girls who consumed the supplements, parents said their daughters used protein supplements more for weight loss or to replace a meal when they were busy. Nearly 1 in 5 parents say their teen is not taking in enough protein.

“Marketing can lead people to believe that a higher amount of protein means a product is healthier — but that isn’t necessarily true!” said Sarah Clark, Mott Poll codirector and a research scientist in pediatrics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, via email.

“Instead, parents and teens can look for a more balanced product that has some protein, along with other key nutrients and fiber — but very little (or no) added sugar or caffeine.”

The Mott Poll was conducted in August with 989 parents of teens ages 13 to 17. The margin of error is plus or minus 1 to 7 percentage points.

Forty-four percent of parents say they or another family member encouraged their teen to take protein supplements, especially in instances in which the teen expressed an interest in getting in shape, losing weight, looking attractive, improving sports performance or being healthy.

But taking protein supplements might not be addressing these issues, Clark said. Although protein is part of a healthy diet, intake should be considered based on the context of the individual’s overall diet, she added.

Should teens take protein supplements?

It is rarely advised that teens take protein supplements, said Diana Schnee, a pediatric dietitian at Cleveland Clinic Children’s in Ohio who was not involved with the Mott Poll.

Teen girls ages 14 to 18 typically need 46 grams per day, while teen boys of the same age need 52 grams per day, according to the Recommended Dietary Allowances.

Protein supplements could put the user at risk of too much protein intake, which can cause dehydration and puts pressure on the kidneys, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The US Food and Drug Administration does not evaluate protein powders before they go to market, meaning that users could be exposed to other substances, such as stimulants, Schnee said.

The FDA generally regulates dietary supplements as food, and the agency only has the authority to take action against “any adulterated or misbranded dietary supplement product after it reaches the market,” according to the agency’s website.

If teens are getting protein at each meal of the day and in some snacks, then they’re likely getting enough protein. Protein supplements are rarely warranted and may only be recommended to certain teens who follow a restricted diet, such as a vegetarian or vegan plan, Schnee added.

In such cases, she advised people to seek out a nutritionist who may point you in the direction of supplements that the NSF, formerly the National Sanitation Foundation, has certified.

Eating and maintaining a balanced diet

One thing to remember about protein intake is that it is more beneficial to consume protein throughout the day rather than all at once, Clark said.

In a regular meal, people need to consume an adequate amount of protein, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals and water. These can be achieved by choosing a variety of foods from the five main food groups, including fruits and vegetables, fiber and dairy.

There are nine essential amino acids that people should regularly consume throughout the day. All nine can be found in complete proteins, which are typically sourced from animals, and only a few are found in incomplete proteins, usually plant-based foods, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

But eating balanced meals isn’t enough to support a teen’s body. Getting adequate sleep and hydration is also important to ensure that the body is being given enough time to recover, Schnee said.

“That infuriated me,” she said in an interview with basicdailyexpress Sport. “They didn’t believe I did the rides! It’s crazy. Like, ‘You think I’m lying about what I’ve done?’”

There can be no doubting the American this time. Having completed an 18,000-mile trip around the globe in September – 108 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes after she set off – Wilcox beat the previous best time by more than two weeks.

The route saw her start and end in Chicago, taking in Europe, Australia and New Zealand before returning to hometown of Anchorage, Alaska, riding down the West Coast and along Route 66.

“It was this kind of light bulb moment, big idea, and I thought, ‘Well, what do I need to do that?’ The only thing I did was get a new passport!” she remembered. “I went across the country and, by the end, I was totally dead. I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m going to keep going.’”

Eight years later, Wilcox has finally completed the remarkable feat. “It was the ride of my life. I loved it,” she said. “It’s just over a month since I finished, but in some ways, it feels like it happened five years ago.”

‘A woman can achieve that’

Part of the fuel for her trip, she explained, came from wanting to prove the doubters wrong.

“It lights a fire under me because I get this kind of fight in me, where I’m like, ‘I have to prove it,’” she said. “This is important. I want them to see that we can do this. And, you know, that pushes me to race.

“Maybe, they’ll read about it and it’ll change their minds. Maybe, they won’t doubt the next woman that said they did a ride.”

At various stages along her journey, Wilcox was joined by women she had met from Komoot’s Women’s Rallies, an initiative she and Komoot – a mobile app for route planning and navigation – began three years ago, in which between 50 and 70 women join Wilcox on a long ride over multiple days.

“I would almost always be the only woman at any event I went to,” explained Wilcox. “I just thought, ‘Can we change that? Can we encourage more women to be out there?’

“Some of the rallies have had 1,600 people register,” she continued. “The age range: I think it’s been like 19 to 70. From all over the world, probably like 60 different countries, and so I get to hear their stories.

“One ride, a woman was like three months pregnant. When this happens, it inspires all the others around because they’re like, ‘Well, if she can do it, then I can do it too.’”

A test of endurance

While Wilcox is passionate about showing what’s possible, her trip was far from straightforward.

“Day four, I was throwing up all day, it never stopped raining and I was getting punctures.

“(Later) I got some kind of poison ivy in Germany, and so then I had it spreading on my stomach, my legs, my arms, for like three weeks,” she remembered. “I was like, ‘Is this going to go away or do I need to go to the hospital?’ Eventually, it went away.

While Wilcox is passionate about showing what’s possible, her trip was far from straightforward.

“Day four, I was throwing up all day, it never stopped raining and I was getting punctures.

“(Later) I got some kind of poison ivy in Germany, and so then I had it spreading on my stomach, my legs, my arms, for like three weeks,” she remembered. “I was like, ‘Is this going to go away or do I need to go to the hospital?’ Eventually, it went away.

The home stretch

As Wilcox returned to the US and began the last leg of her journey, she began to feel that everything had been worth all the sickness and storms.

“Coming through San Francisco, I had like 200 riders (with me), and my family. So, so cool,” she remembered.

Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma soon followed, before the final stretch across Missouri and up through Illinois to Chicago.

“It was incredible. It was almost this thing that kind of built from three days until the finish,” said Wilcox. “I was so focused on every single day that I wasn’t thinking about finishing, ever. Because that seems like, ‘I can’t go there, what if something happens?’ You know? Mentally, I just kind of blocked that.

“And then three days from the finish, I’m a little over 1,000km (around 621.4 miles), maybe 1,100km (about 683.5 miles), and then I start doing the math in my head like, ‘When could I finish from here?’”

Already on course to comfortably beat the record, Wilcox was still not content.

“At first, I thought four days. And then I thought, if I push it a little bit, I go faster and I go a little bit farther each day, I could finish in three. And then the idea of shaving a day off set me on fire,” she said.

“I was riding faster than I had the whole trip, and I just had this extra energy kind of pulling me to the end.”

The end, when it finally came, is a moment the 38-year-old will remember for the rest of her life.

“I finished in Chicago, just at sunset. And it was, like, the same path I had taken away three-and-a-half months before, seeing it again coming into the skyline, the most beautiful time of day. That was so, so incredible,” she reflected. “I just started crying, you know?

“There were probably 100 people riding with me, and then maybe like 100 people just waiting at the statue (where the trip finished),” said Wilcox. “I didn’t know what to expect and I was just kind overcome with emotion, like: ‘I did it.’”

Just over a month since it was set, Wilcox’s around-the-world record is already potentially under threat. Indian cyclist Vedangi Kulkarni became the youngest woman to cycle around the world in 2018 and is currently part of the way through another attempt to become the fastest.

Wilcox is just happy that more and more women are taking up the challenge. “I think records are meant to be broken,” she said.

“I had a good ride, I’m happy with it. I’d love for someone else to go out and smash it, you know? And then I think, would that make me want to go do it again? To try to go faster?

“My muscles are tight, my immunity is low, but I still just want to ride my bike.”

Consumer and producer price indexes for September both came in around expectations, showing that inflation is drifting down to the central bank’s 2% target.

In fact, economists at Goldman Sachs think the Fed may already be there.

The Wall Street investment bank Friday projected that the Commerce Department’s personal consumption expenditures price index for September will show a 12-month inflation rate of 2.04% when it is released later this month.

If Goldman is correct, that number would get rounded down to 2% and be right in line with the Fed’s long-held objective, a little over two years after inflation spiked to a 40-year high and unleashed an aggressive round of interest rate hikes. The Fed prefers the PCE as its inflation gauge though it uses a variety of inputs to make decisions.

“The overall trend over 12, 18 months is clearly that inflation has come down a lot, and the job market has cooled to a level which is around where we think full employment is,” Chicago Fed President said in a basicdailyexpress interview Thursday after the latest consumer price data was released. “We’d like to get both of them to stay in the space where they are right now.”

Some obstacles ahead

While keeping inflation at bay may not be an easy task, the latest data indicates that though prices are not receding from their troublesome heights of a few years ago, the rate at which they are increasing is pulling back.

The 12-month rate for the all-items consumer price index was at 2.4% in September, while the producer price index, a proxy for wholesale inflation and a leading gauge for pipeline pressures, showed an annual rate of 1.8%.

Goldman’s projection that the PCE index is heading to 2% is also about in line with tracking from the Cleveland Fed.

The central bank district’s “inflation nowcasting” dashboard pegs the 12-month headline PCE rate at 2.06% for September, which would get rounded up to 2.1%. However, on an annualized pace, inflation for the entire third quarter is running at just a 1.4% rate — well below the Fed’s 2% goal.

To be sure, there are some caveats to show that policymakers still have some work to do.

Core inflation, which excludes food and energy and is a metric that the Fed considers a better measure of longer-term trends, is expected to run at a 2.6% annual rate for the PCE in September, according to Goldman. Using just the consumer price index, core inflation was even worse in September, at 3.3%.

Fed officials, though, see the unexpectedly high shelter inflation numbers as a major driver of the core measure, which they figure will ease as a lower trend in rents works its way through the data.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Sept. 30, addressing the rent situation, said he expects housing inflation to continue to recede while “broader economic conditions also set the table for further disinflation.”

From a policy standpoint, lower inflation opens the door for the Fed to keep cutting rates, particularly as it turns its attention to the labor market, though there’s some trepidation about how quickly it should move.

September’s half percentage point reduction to a fed funds range of 4.75% to 5% was unprecedented for an economy in expansion, and the Fed at the very least is expected to return to its normal quarter-point pace. Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic even said Thursday he’d be open to skipping a move altogether at the November meeting.

“Aggressive easing would risk spiking consumer demand just as it is settling into a sustainable pace,” PNC senior economist Kurt Rankin said in a post-PPI analysis. “This result would in turn put pressure on businesses to meet that demand, re-igniting gains in those businesses’ own costs as they jockey for the necessary resources to do so.”

Futures traders are betting on a near certainty that the Fed cuts rates by a quarter point at both the November and December meetings.

Margaret looked up at Arthur, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Do you remember our first date?” she asked, a playful smile dancing on her lips.

Arthur chuckled, his deep voice warm and familiar. “How could I forget? You insisted on wearing that ridiculous hat!” He pointed to a nearby beach vendor selling colorful sun hats. “I thought you’d never take it off.”

She laughed, the sound bright and joyful. “Well, it was the only way to keep the sun out of my eyes while I tried to impress you!”

As they walked, they exchanged stories about their life together—children, travel, and quiet nights spent on the porch. Each memory was like a cherished seashell, polished by time and full of character.

Stopping for a moment, Arthur picked up a small shell from the sand and handed it to Margaret. “For you,” he said, his expression tender. “Just like you, it’s beautiful and unique.”

Margaret held the shell to her heart, her eyes misty with emotion. “Thank you, my love. You always know how to make me feel special.”

They continued along the shoreline, their footprints mingling in the wet sand, a testament to their shared journey. Every so often, Arthur would playfully nudge her, and they’d break into laughter, their joy contagious.

As they reached a secluded spot, Margaret sat down on a driftwood log, taking a moment to admire the view. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Arthur joined her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

“Do you think we’ve done it all?” Margaret mused, watching the waves crash against the shore. “Lived a full life?”

Arthur thought for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “I think we’ve created our own adventure, one day at a time. And there’s still so much more to explore.”

Margaret leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his love envelop her. “You always did have a way of looking at things. It’s what I love about you.”

As the sun dipped lower, they sat in comfortable silence, the world around them fading into a soft blur. The colors of the sky mirrored the warmth in their hearts, a reminder that love, like the ocean, could be both gentle and powerful.

With the first stars appearing overhead, Arthur turned to Margaret, his eyes reflecting the twilight. “Let’s promise to keep walking, hand in hand, no matter where life takes us.”

Margaret smiled, her heart swelling with affection. “Always. Just like this moment, I want to cherish every step.”

And as they resumed their stroll along the beach, the night wrapped around them like a warm blanket. Together, they walked into the fading light, their smiles lighting the way—a testament to a love that had stood the test of time.

Dating apps have become the go-to choice for younger generations seeking the perfect match.

However, experts note that the online trend of swiping left or right doesn’t resonate with everyone. Many individuals over 50 are opting for a more traditional, fast-paced approach to meeting potential partners. In fact, this age group has been deemed “the most lucrative” for speed dating events, according to industry specialists.

Lissy Cleminson, events manager at Slow Dating, sees new relationships forming every week during sessions held in Swindon, Wiltshire.

While most speed dates last just three minutes, Slow Dating allows an extra minute to foster those crucial first connections.

“I don’t believe there’s an age at which people stop seeking companionship,” Ms. Cleminson remarked.

So far this year, Slow Dating has organized 346 events specifically for individuals over 50, representing 40.71% of the company’s total events—an increase of about 21% from previous years.

Initially skeptical about the effectiveness of speed dating, Ms. Cleminson now believes “there’s a science to it.”

“When you spend three to four minutes talking to someone who doesn’t match your energy or isn’t your type, that can feel like a long time,” she noted.

Slow Dating events attract a “variety” of age groups, but Ms. Cleminson emphasized that attendees over 50 are the most prevalent.

“That age group typically prefers not to meet on apps. They didn’t grow up with phones glued to their hands; they courted, dated, and used landlines to connect with people,” she explained.

“This generation seeks genuine interaction—speed dating provides that personal, in-person connection.”

She also pointed out that individuals over 50 have “lived full lives,” many having experienced previous marriages, long-term relationships, and raising children.

“They know what they bring to the table and can be a bit more direct. It’s refreshing to see,” Ms. Cleminson added.

Our Time, a dating site for individuals over 50, discovered that older generations exhibit more confidence in seeking a partner compared to younger ones.

Dating expert Kate Taylor explained, “I attribute this confidence to the many interactions people have throughout their lives—numerous job interviews, first dates, and meeting friends. All those micro-doses of meeting new people matter.”

“You might think they’re insignificant, but they’re not. They actually prepare you to ask questions and get to know someone.”

Ms. Taylor encouraged singles to “believe the positive stories” from couples who found each other through speed dating or online platforms.

“Don’t just take the word of a friend who tried it once and got stood up. Every day, people discover love, friendship, and companionship through online dating,” she added.

• Taylor Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
• The endorsement followed a contentious debate between Harris and former President Donald Trump.
• Swift’s announcement was signed “Childless Cat Lady.”
• In the 2020 election, she also endorsed President Joe Biden and Harris.

Pop superstar Taylor Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president on Tuesday night, just minutes after Harris wrapped up a heated debate with Donald Trump.

“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” Swift stated in an Instagram post to her over 280 million followers.

“I believe she is a steady-handed, gifted leader, and we can achieve so much more in this country if we are guided by calm rather than chaos,” she added, sharing a photo of herself holding a cat.

“I was truly heartened and impressed by her choice of running mate, @timwalz, who has been advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to choose for decades,” Harris said, referencing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Swift signed her post with her full name and as “Childless Cat Lady,” a pointed jab at Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio. Vance has faced criticism since his nomination in July for remarks made in 2021, where he referred to several key Democrats, including Harris, as miserable “childless cat ladies” who want to make everyone else miserable, portraying them as anti-family and anti-children.

Swift mentioned that she was recently “made aware of an AI-generated image of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run that was posted on his site.”

“It really brought to light my concerns about AI and the dangers of misinformation,” she wrote. “This experience made me realize the importance of being transparent about my actual plans for this election. The best way to combat misinformation is with the truth.”

Two officials from the Harris campaign told NBC News that Swift’s endorsement caught them by surprise.

However, the singer had previously endorsed President Joe Biden and his then-running mate, Harris, in the 2020 election.

When asked about Swift’s endorsement on Tuesday, Trump responded, “I have no idea.”

“I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice,” Swift wrote. “Your research is yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I want to especially encourage first-time voters: Remember that you need to be registered to vote!”

She added, “I find it much easier to vote early. I’ll share links for registration and early voting information in my story.”