News December 29, 2024
Our 10 Favorite Stand Mixers We’ve Tested and Reviewed (2024)
The secret to making fluffy sponges, perfectly peaked meringues, and house-warming loaves is in the equipment you use. Mixing, kneading, and whisking by hand may feel wholesome, but why bother when you can get a stand mixer to do the hard work for you? Stand mixers are not only convenient and easy to use, but also look great on the kitchen countertop. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colorways to suit your setup and have stylish finishes and statement hues to choose from. We’ve put them through their paces (while stuffing ourselves with cake) to rate the latest models on performance, versatility, and design.
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As Birth Rates Plummet, Women’s Autonomy Will Be Even More at Risk
In the past, all freedoms were conditional, but in 1920, the Soviet Union legalized abortion as part of its commitment to women’s health and well-being. Sixteen years later, that decision was reversed once Stalin was in power and realized that birth rates were falling. The pressure on all nations to keep up their population levels has never gone away, but by 2025, it is going to get even crunchier, and the casualty will be gender rights. In both the United States and the United Kingdom, the rate at which babies are being born has been plummeting for 15 years, and in Japan, Poland, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, and many other countries, the fertility rate is already down to 1.3 or lower. Research published by The Lancet medical journal predicts that by 2100, almost every country on the planet won’t be producing enough children to sustain its population size.
A good deal of this is because women have more access to contraception, are better educated than ever, and are pursuing careers that mean they are more likely to avoid or delay having children. Parents are investing more in each child that they do have. The patriarchal expectation that women should be little more than babymakers is thankfully crumbling.
But the original dilemma remains: How do countries make more kids? Governments have responded with pleas and incentives to encourage families to procreate. Hungary has abolished income tax for mothers under the age of 30. In 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was seen weeping on television as he urged the National Conference of Mothers to do their part to stop declining birth rates. In Italy, Premier Giorgia Meloni has backed a campaign to reach at least half a million births a year by 2033.
However, as these measures fail to have their intended effect, though, the pressure on women is taking a more sinister turn. Conservative pro-natalist movements are promoting old-fashioned nuclear families with lots of children, achievable only if women give birth earlier. This ideology at least partly informs the devastating clampdown on abortion access in some US states. Anyone who thinks that abortion rights have nothing to do with population concerns should note that in the summer of 2024, US Senate Republicans also voted against making contraception a federal right. This same worldview feeds into the growing backlash against sexual and gender minorities, whose existence for some poses a threat to the traditional family. The most extreme pro-natalists also include white supremacists and eugenicists.
The more concerned that nations become about birth rates, the greater the risk to gender rights. In China, for instance, the government has taken a sharply anti-feminist stance in recent years. President Xi Jinping told a meeting of the All-China Women’s Federation in 2023 that women should “actively cultivate a new culture of marriage and child-bearing.”
For now, most women are at least able to exercise some choice over if and when they have children, and how many they have. But as fertility rates dip below replacement levels, there is no telling how far some nations may go to buoy their population levels. 2025 looks to be a year in which their choice could well be taken away.
The 40 most addictive reality TV shows streaming on Netflix
The Real World is a classic reality TV series that has been on the air for over two decades. The show follows seven strangers who live together in a house while cameras film their every move. The show’s 9th season, which took place in New Orleans in 2000, and its 16th season, which took place in Austin, Texas, in 2005, are stand-out classics that have been streaming on Netflix for years.
The Real World is known for its cast of diverse characters, with each season bringing new and interesting people to the house. The show’s 9th season was particularly notable for its diverse cast, which included a gay couple, a transgender woman, and a person who identified as non-binary. The show also featured a number of memorable moments, such as the infamous “kissing episode” between two of the show’s main characters, Melissa and Danny.
The Real World has been on the air for over 20 years, and it has become a staple of reality TV. The show has also spawned several spin-offs, including The Real World: New York City and The Real World: Los Angeles.
In addition to its original cast, The Real World has featured many other notable guests on the show over the years. Some of these guests include celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, and David Beckham. The show has also featured a number of famous musicians, including Kanye West, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé.
The Real World has been on the air for over 20 years, and it continues to be a popular show among fans of reality TV. The show’s unique format and diverse cast have made it a staple of reality TV, and it continues to be a favorite among fans of the genre.
NYT Strands hints, answers for December 29
Strands is a word search game with a unique twist. The words can be made from linked letters in any direction, but they can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer, and there’s always a theme linking every solution. The game provides an opaque hint and not the word list, making it a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than other games like Wordle and Connections. If you’re feeling stuck or don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, Mashable has all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace. The theme for today is Festival of Lights delights and the spangram answer is HannukahFoods.