The Weekly Journal - Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Demographic Decline imposes changes

Entrepreneurs must change recruiting, marketing strategies to stay in business

onstant economic challenges and the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017 have caused a significant decrease in Puerto Rico’s population, which in turn has presented additional challenges to the business sector in terms of attracting new customers and employees.

According to investigative economist and former executive director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics

(IEPR, for its Spanish acronym) Mario Marazzi, the passage of the hurricane five years ago drastically increased the island’s migratory pattern, which has not recovered yet and has worsened with the drop in the natality.

According to Marazzi, between 2020 and 2021 about 31,000 people died, a figure that significantly exceeds the reported 19,000 births, thus leaving the balance of 12,000 more people deceased than the number of births.

“There are already 12,000 more people dying

Efraín Montalbán Ríos & Juan A. Hernández, The Weekly Journal

a week in review

Be enchanted By Ballet concierto’s nutcracker

With over 40 years in its repertoire, Ballet Concierto of Puerto Rico is pleased to once again present The Nutcracker on the stage at Centro de Bellas Artes in Santurce. An ensemble of over 125 dancers will share the stage with company dancers from Ballet Concierto. To top it all off, this year’s production will feature the artistry of guest star Maykel Acosta from the National Dominican Ballet. Acosta will be performing the role of the Cavalier. The shows begin Friday, December 16 at 8 pm with a gala. Regular shows begin Saturday, December 17 at 4 pm. The Youth Symphony Orchestra of Puerto Rico, directed by Carlos Ávila, will accompany all performances.

new stores open at plaza del cariBe in time for the holidays

Fit2Run, Season by Pharmamax, and Barras have just opened their doors at Plaza Del Caribe in Ponce. Fit2Run offers athletic footwear from recognized brands as well as apparel and accessories for sports. The 3,030 square foot store is located on the second level next to Exentrix. At Seasons by Pharmamax, customers will find everything from homewares, toys, and Christmas decorations to beauty and skincare products. Seasons is on the first level in front of Me Salvé. Crafted around a soaps and skincare concept born out of Ponce, Barras presents a variety of scented bar and liquid soaps, shampoos, skin creams and other similar products. These three new stores join other recent retail and restaurant openings at Plaza Del Caribe such as Zafiro, La Nueva Era, Black City Tattoo, Charlotte Russe, For Eyes y Arby’s, for a total of 28,397 square feet of new spaces.

President Salvador Hasbún shasbun@elvocero.com

JetBlue expands service to paris

Starting on the summer of 2023, JetBlue plans to expand transatlantic flying into Continental Europe with new a service to Paris. The City of Light will be JetBlue’s second transatlantic destination after launching its service to London earlier this year. With service to both London and Paris, JetBlue will become a low-fare, high value disruption in these routes, heavily dominated by high-fare legacy carriers. JetBlue will launch nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) next summer, with non-stop service from Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) and Paris-CDG to follow soon after. France is the world’s most visited country and is on track to reach nearly 75 million visitors this year.

Powered BY El Vocero de Puerto Rico, 1064 Ave Ponce de León 2nd floor San Juan, PR

Postal Address: PO Box 15074, San Juan, PR 00902

Vp of Marketing and Business Operations Michelle Pérez Miperez@elvocero.com

VP of Accounting Félix A. Rosa frosa@elvocero.com VP of Production Eligio Dekony edekony@elvocero.com

Phone: 787-622-2300, 787-721-2300 Customer Service: 787-622-7480

than being born in a year, and it is projected that deaths will continue [to raise] to 17,000 by the year 2022. We will continue to see how this trend of more deaths than births expands and, as long as there are more deaths than births, only a massive immigration input could stop Puerto Rico’s decrease in population,” said Marazzi.

Also, available statistics seem to corroborate Puerto Rico’s migration outlook is just as discouraging as it was at the beginning of the pandemic. Although Marazzi mentioned the arrival of people in search of the tax benefits that Puerto Rico offers, he pointed out that it has not been enough to balance-out the declining population.

In fiscal year 2022, more people left —about 44,000— than those who arrived to the island. According to the 2021 census, Puerto Rico has just over 3.2 million inhabitants.

“No one knows how long the effects of the pandemic will last, but even taking all those factors [into consideration], this population decrease that we are seeing is very difficult. We are going to continue to see this reduction… And those 44,000 people that I mentioned represent 1.5% of the population of Puerto Rico,” added Marazzi.

The statistician warned entrepreneurs must direct business strategies to population sectors that are growing, or export products so that they remain in the country’s commercial ecosystem.

“Local consumers’ market is going to continue to shrink. Under these conditions, what can an entrepreneur do? There are small niches or groups where there can be growth, but the alternative is to export. That has to be the

focus, to export services and products,” Marazzi emphasized.

Aging citizenry

For his part, José R. Acarón, Puerto Rico state director of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), a non-profit entity that provides services to people over 50 years of age, coincided that Puerto Rico is facing a change in its population composition, becoming the eleventh aging country in the world.

José R. Acarón, AARP state director for Puerto

Acarón characterized the island’s economy as the “economy of longevity,” because most of Puerto Rico’s consumption is being made by people over 50 years of age.

“61% of what is consumed in Puerto Rico is consumed by the segment of 50 years or older. This is the economy of longevity,” said Acarón.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau most recent annual population estimates, by age and sex, for the municipalities of Puerto Rico, the population under 18 years of age decreased from 567,614 in 2020, to 545,790 in 2021, or a 3.4% decrease. Meanwhile, the number of people 65 years or older, increased by 2.4%, or a total of 740,489 people.

However, the AARP state director pointed that companies do not prioritize the population 60 and over, but direct business plans to people between 18 and 49 years old. Acarón urges companies to take into consideration the increasing older population.

“When we make business plans we have to include all ages, we must speak to everyone and we must do it in an inclusive way,” Acarón said.

Meanwhile, Elisa Pacheco, president of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) said companies will notice a change in the workforce in the coming years, with an increase in workers from the ‘baby boom’ generation –people

Companies will notice a change in the workforce in the coming years, with an increase in workers from the ‘baby boomer’ generation.

In fact,

61% of what is consumed in Puerto Rico is consumed by the segment of 50 years or older. This is the economy of longevity.

Rico

In fact, The fact that there are retired people returning to the labor market points more to their need of supplementing their income in order to meet their regular needs.

who were born between 1946 and 1964– applying for work.

“The ‘boomerangs’ are back. Just last week, I interviewed [for a job] someone who had retired in 2018,” Pacheco said.

“That is the talent that we need, people with experiences, with knowledge and context, and who know how to make changes in organizations,” she added.

She recommended that, in order to attract the younger generations, companies must offer work experiences, future professional development, create a participatory community and generate work colleague alliances.

Exportation as a solution

Even though it has worsened over time, for economist and COO for ABEXUS Analytics Eduardo Burgos, the diminishing population issue is nothing new.

“I think that the last three years have been a period for learning. We experienced a pandemic, and many businesses had to go digital. And even though that may have been the subject of some resistance then, at this moment digitalization is the door to markets abroad at the lowest possible cost,” Burgos said.

The economist recalled that some 30 years ago if an entrepreneur decided to export its goods or services the only resources available to him were the traditional ones. But the process of digitalization experienced by most businesses in the island have unequivocally moved them into transitioning into a digital market. “This in turn allows them to tackle some markets that had not

been initially considered in their plans,” he said.

For Burgos, the key to reinvigorating the economy is to start exporting goods and services. Keeping a locally based approach to business “is absurd.”

Also, he does not consider broadening the consumer’s profile, to include or attract older adults, to be a viable alternative. Aside from considering whether the products and services being provided appeal to that demographic segment, the fact that income tends to become fixed as people go into retirement, must also be considered.

“The fact that there are retired people returning to the labor market points more to their need of supplementing their income in order to meet their regular needs, than to having extra income for goods and services they don’t regularly use,” said Burgos.

“Puerto Rico’s economy continues to shrink, despite the federal transfers improving current figures a little. But, what is going to happen five years from now?,” he asked.

Burgos pointed to the lack a policy to attract new and younger population to the island that could promote economic development.

“Businesses will not have any alternative but to look into international markets and start exporting goods and services,” Burgos argued, while highlighting the possibilities Latin American markets present.

According to Burgos, the greatest opportunity is for the economic sectors that specialize in developing contacts between markets. “As we have seen the development of globalization in several specific processes, we know there are many businesses wanting to get into the North American markets.” The economist cited as an example the field of education.

“I’m convinced there are a lot of people in Latin America wanting to have an education accredited by an American university. Puerto Rico has all the conditions to offer those services at a lower cost, just for being in the [political, geographical] position it is in,” Burgos contended. The economist further argued this wouldn’t need of any new or special incentives to start happening.

The fact that there are retired people returning to the labor market points more to their need of supplementing their income in order to meet their regular needs.

Eduardo Burgos, COO for ABEXUS Analytics

Hair restoration: a strong component of the beauty industry

Restoration attends health and social concerns of customers

Madison Choudhry, Special to The Weekly Journal

Famously, there is an anonymous quote which continues to circulate around the internet which states, “Your hairstyle speaks its own language; it can tell people to come toward you, or it can tell them to back away from you, so it can be your greatest ally if you want to meet people or keep them out.”

Regardless of where you find yourself today, you only need to lean across your table and say, “Your hair looks great today,” to receive a genuine smile and grateful thank you.

to the mainland surmised there may be an opportunity not only for his son but for all of Puerto Rico.

The solution, the HairClub center could be brought to the island, and so it was done. From then on the rest was history. The franchise opened its doors in Puerto Rico in 1999.

“We had 3,000 leads in Puerto Rico, which was promising. But, at the time we were working out of a very small basement office space. In those very early stages we were still waiting for our equipment. All we really had was the credibility of the HairClub name and a promise to our people that we were to help,” Strepman reminisced with a soft smile.

It is estimated that there is about 90 million people who are affected by hair loss.

In Puerto Rico this attraction with hair is demonstrated by the success of the leading hair restoration center in the Caribbean, HairClub.

Established in Puerto Rico in 1999, the franchise was brought to the island out of the love from a father to son. Sergio Strepman, an entrepreneur and concerned father witnessed his son’s hair loss while simultaneously battling a heart condition. Strepman observing his son’s continuous trips

Strepman continued, “When we started back in 1999, we were curious how this would be received. However, in the first year alone we broke even. We realized then we were truly doing more than helping people with their hair. Interacting with our client is became obvious our impact was much deeper than surface level. HairClub was changing lives.”

HairClub presents their company slogan as, “Regardless of the reason of your hair loss, we have a solution”. From the results presented to the press, the evidence speaks for itself.

However, it should also be mentioned the sex of a person is not a deterrent. Woman are welcomed. Men are welcomed. In addition,

HairClub does not stop their services with adults.

As a company, HairClub provide children, ages 1 to18 years, with free hair restoration services regardless of their financial circumstance.

HairClub estimates that there is about 90 million people who are affected by hair loss. The significance of this number may seem mundane. However, when considering how each individual carries their own story of grief, this number becomes overpowering.

Currently in Puerto Rico there is one center in the San Juan area. HairClub currently has 15 employees located in its San Juan center. However, Strepman is optimistic about expanding into other locations around the island.

“Each person who comes through our doors, is viewed as an individual, with their own specifics concerns. And that is how we approach their treatment. Everything is designed around their specific needs.” Mike Nassar COO of HairClub explained.

In fact,

When we started back in 1999, we were curious how this would be received. However, in the first year alone we broke even.

Sergio Strepman, owner and operator of HairClub

New digital strategies for business development

E-Businesses grow 15% annually

Efraín Ríos Moltabán, The Weekly Journal

After the rapid insertion of local businesses into new digital platforms as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the constant increments in operational costs, entrepreneurs have opted for the creation of electronic business strategies to speed up and reduce the costs of maintaining and create a business establishment.

According to Ernesto González, CEO of Socius Digital –a support company for growth of the digital commerce sector– going into the new digital era has become an affordable and fast way to start your own business.

“It can help you start your own business less expensively and you could start tomorrow. If you are a consulting firm, you don’t have to rent an office in Hato Rey, you just set up a good digital presence and develop a good marketing strategy,” González said.

He also stressed that entrepreneurs must update their way of doing business and look at technology as an alternative that helps efficiency and reduce operating expenses in specific areas, such as payroll, rent, and electric power rates, among other benefits.

increased sales 15% annually. González assured that, between 2023 and 2027, digital sales worldwide are expected to increase to $7.5 billion.

González also pointed that electronic businesses have grown in all categories, with the fashion segment being the one with the greatest demand. He anticipates that companies not willing to adapt to the digital world could be left out of business.

In fact,

Consumers in the island increasingly buy and spend more in online stores. Over one million people currently buy online inside and outside of Puerto Rico.

“Technology has definitely caused great disruption in the way we do things and help us save a significantly by automating certain processes in company’s sales division. Let’s say that I don’t have any salespeople, but what I do need is a business-tobusiness salesperson to create a platform where companies can buy from me in bulk. Then I wouldn’t need to hire anymore people,” González explained.

According to the creator of Puerto Rico’s first internet advertising agency, internet sales have contributed about $416 million to the local economy since 2020. At the same time, they have

The administration proclaimed November 18, 2022, as the ‘eBusiness Day’, when executives and entrepreneurs from tech sector of the economy, and electronic marketing and commerce in Puerto Rico could offer a wide spectrum of new digital tools, technologies and services in the cloud, as well as training workshops to create a successful digital business.

“This is an excellent opportunity to learn how to increase revenue using new e-business technologies and learn about new trends in the global digital business market. Entrepreneurs could also connect with local technology providers and experts,” González said.

A study commissioned by the Association of Sales and Marketing Executives of Puerto

Rico (SME), reveals consumers in the island increasingly buy and spend more in online stores. Over one million people currently buy online inside and outside of Puerto Rico. The study also revealed a 41% to 43% increase in the number of people who make purchases online and in the amount of money they spend, which increased from $196 to $218 from one year to another.

This trend is also reflected in the increase in the Sales and Use Tax (IVU, for its Spanish acronym) collections. According to statistics from Puerto Rico’s Department of the Treasury, cumulative revenues from Voluntary Withholding Agents and Market Facilitators for Fiscal Year 2022, as of last May, totaled $174 million. This is $26 million more than the amount collected the previous tax year, or an additional 18%.

If you are a consulting firm, you don’t have to rent an office in Hato Rey, you just set up a good digital presence and develop a good marketing strategy.

Ernesto González, CEO of Socius Digital

Fed official suggests substantial rate hikes may be needed

Hikes could further heighten the risk of recession

Christopher Rugaber – The Associated Press

The Federal Reserve may have to raise its benchmark interest rate much higher than it has previously projected to get inflation under control, James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, said Thursday.

Bullard’s comments raised the prospect that the Fed’s rate hikes will make borrowing by consumers and businesses even costlier and further heighten the risk of recession. Wall Street traders registered their concern by sending stock market futures further into the red early Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 180 points, or 0.5%, in morning trading.

The cumulative effect has been to make many consumer and business loans costlier and to raise the risk of a recession.

Those increases have boosted the Fed’s shortterm rate to a range of 3.75% to 4%, up from nearly zero as recently as last March, to the highest level in nearly 15 years.

restrains growth, though she added the central bank would need to move “further into restrictive” territory.

Bullard’s remarks followed speeches by other Fed officials in recent days that suggested they see only limited progress, at most, in their use of steadily higher rates to fight inflation. Bullard’s views have added significance because he is a voting member of the Fed’s rate-setting committee this year.

The Fed’s key short-term interest rate “has not yet reached a level that could be justified as sufficiently restrictive,” Bullard said. “To attain a sufficiently restrictive level, the policy rate will need to be increased further.”

The Fed is seeking to raise borrowing rates to a level that restrains economic growth and hiring in order to cool inflation.

The central bank has rapidly raised its benchmark rate by an aggressive three-quarters of a point at each of its last four meetings — the fastest series of hikes since the early 1980s.

Bullard suggested that the rate may have to rise to a level between 5% and 7% in order to quash inflation, which is near a four-decade high. He added, though, that that level could decline if inflation were to cool in the coming months.

Loretta Mester, president of the Cleveland Fed, echoed some of Bullard’s remarks in her own speech Thursday, when she said the Fed is “just beginning to move into restrictive territory.”

That suggests Mester, one of the more hawkish policymakers, also expects rates will have to move much higher.

In Fed parlance, hawks tend to focus more on lifting rates to combat inflation, while doves typically prefer lower rates to support growth and hiring.

By contrast, Fed Vice Chair Lael Brainard, a more dovish official, suggested several times Monday that the Fed has already gotten rates to a level that

And on Wednesday, Esther George, president of the Kansas City Fed, said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that a recession was likely given how rapidly the Fed has tightened credit.

“I have not in my 40 years with the Fed seen a time of this kind of tightening that you didn’t get some painful outcomes,” she said.

Fed officials, including Chair Jerome Powell, have clearly signaled that they will likely lift rates by a half-percentage point at their next meeting in December, a step down from their previous increases.

Yet at the same time, they have taken pains to emphasize that the smaller hikes — most analysts expect quarter-point increases at the February and March meetings — don’t mean the Fed is necessarily nearing an end to its increases, as the financial markets have often assumed.

“Pausing is off the table right now — it’s not even part of the discussion,” San Francisco Federal Reserve president Mary Daly said in a Wednesday interview on CNBC.

James Bullard, president of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank. >AP Photo/Steve Helber, File

I have not in my 40 years with the Fed seen a time of this kind of tightening that you didn’t get some painful outcomes.

Esther George, president of the Kansas City Fed

The Fed is seeking to raise borrowing rates to a level that restrains economic growth and hiring in order to cool inflation.

In fact,

In fact,

U.S. turkey supplies per capita are at their lowest level since 1986.

Rising food costs take a bite out of Thanksgiving dinner

Americans are bracing for a costly Thanksgiving this year

Dee-Ann Durbin – The Associated Press

In early November, Hays Culbreth’s mother sent a poll to a few family members. She said she could only afford to make two sides for their group of 15 this Thanksgiving and asked them each to vote for their favorites.

Culbreth guesses green beans and macaroni and cheese will make the cut, but his favorite — sweet potato casserole with a brown sugar crust — will not.

“Talk about Thanksgiving being ruined,” joked Culbreth, 27, a financial planner from Knoxville, Tennessee.

Americans are bracing for a costly Thanksgiving this year, with double-digit percent increases in the price of turkey, potatoes, stuffing, canned pumpkin and other staples. The U.S. government estimates food prices will be up 9.5% to 10.5% this year; historically, they’ve risen only 2% annually.

Lower production and higher costs for labor, transportation and items are part of the reason; disease, rough weather and the war in Ukraine are also contributors.

“This really isn’t a shortage thing. This is tighter supplies with some pretty good reasons for it,” said David Anderson, a professor and agricultural economist at Texas A&M.

Wholesale turkey prices are at record highs after a difficult year for U.S. flocks. A particularly deadly

strain of avian flu — first reported in February on an Indiana turkey farm — has wiped out 49 million turkeys and other poultry in 46 states this year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

As a result, U.S. turkey supplies per capita are at their lowest level since 1986, said Mark Jordan, the executive director of Jonesboro, Arkansasbased Leap Market Analytics. Jordan predicts the

measures it put in place after the last big bout of flu in 2015.

But it could be harder for shoppers to find turkey breasts or other cuts, Jordan said. And higher ham prices are giving cooks fewer cheap alternatives, he said.

Avian flu also pushed egg prices into record territory, Anderson said. In the second week of November, a dozen Grade A eggs were selling for an average of $2.28, more than double the price from the prior year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Egg prices would have been higher even without the flu, Anderson said, because of the rising cost of the corn and soybean meal used for chicken feed. Ukraine is normally a major exporter of corn, and the loss of that supply has caused global prices to soar.

wholesale price of a frozen, 8-16 pound turkey hen — the type typically purchased for Thanksgiving — will hit $1.77 per pound in November, up 28% from the same month last year.

Still, there will be plenty of whole birds for Thanksgiving tables, Jordan said. Companies have been shifting a higher percentage of birds into the whole turkey market for the last few years to take advantage of the consistent holiday demand.

And not every producer was equally affected. Butterball — which supplies around one-third of Thanksgiving turkeys — said avian flu impacted only about 1% of its production because of security

Add that to rising prices for canned pumpkin — a 30-ounce can is up 17% from last year, according to market researcher Datasembly — and it’s clear Thanksgiving dessert will be costlier too. Nestleowned Libby — which produces 85% of the world’s canned pumpkin — said pumpkin harvests were in line with previous years, but it had to compensate for higher labor, transportation, fuel and energy costs.

The good news? Not every item on holiday shopping lists is significantly more expensive. Cranberries had a good harvest and prices were up less than 5% between the end of September and the beginning of November, said Paul Mitchell, an agricultural economist and professor at the University of Wisconsin. Green beans cost just 2 cents more per pound in the second week of November, according to the USDA.

This really isn’t a shortage thing. This is tighter supplies with some pretty good reasons for it.

David Anderson, professor and economist at Texas A&M.

Ricardo Álvarez-Díaz,

FAIA – Licensed architect and entrepreneur www.andelanipress.com

My Santurce: Past and Future

My relationship with Santurce goes deep. Many generations, on both sides of my family tree, have been irresistibly drawn to this tiny patch of land less than nine square miles in size. Small as it is, its attractions as a city are large and looming –and always have been.

For five centuries, Santurce –the largest and most populous of the barrios in the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico– has been the subject of admiration, controversy, and commercial interest. Its cultural diversity has made it unique:

Nevertheless, by the end of the 20th century, my birthplace had noticeably fallen into disarray. When I revisited Santurce as an architect, my reaction was one of disappointment. The glamour of yesteryear had vanished. The illusion had burst. What confronted my eyes was a vista of despair and decay. Once fashionable and neat, Santurce looked neglected and abandoned.

The truth is that Santurce already possesses the bare bones of what an urban center needs

in terms of education, health care, arts, culture, retail, and commerce. It has museums, theaters, performing arts centers, a music conservatory,

state-of-the-art medical facilities, schools ranging from kindergarten through graduate school –all the basic elements needed to construct and connect a vibrant, revitalized, and thriving community.

The basic skeleton is there, yet, within the existing infrastructure, some of the crucial connectors are missing. In a phrase, Santurce needs to be connected –both physically and virtually. It needs technology as well as a unique public transport strategy. Its sidewalks and streets need to be walkable, well-lit, and clean. More open areas need to be redeveloped and a clear mixed-income zoning strategy policy should be fostered to incentivize private investment to continue building adequate housing in the area.

Much of the impetus behind the crafting of my new book: My Santurce: Past and Future, came from my heartfelt desire to promote, in an efficient and far-reaching manner, the enormous potential of Santurce as a growing epicenter with grand possibilities, a great place to live, work, and play. In the book I explore the intriguing and multidimensional history of Santurce, —its people, its buildings, and its illustrious role in our island’s rich and colorful past. With three basic recommendations focused on technology, transportation, and walkability; Santurce can redevelop faster and stronger as a functioning workable urban center.

Santurce is, in essence, a microcosm of Puerto Rico. Implementing these basic recommendations today on this quintessential city center will allow us not only to craft new and exciting planning solutions for the betterment of the city but, even more importantly, may someday serve as a precedent for urban planners in municipalities across the island.

The truth is that Santurce already possesses the bare bones of what an urban center needs in terms of education, health care, arts, culture, retail, and commerce.

Navidad

Happy hygge! Scrabble dictionary adds hundreds of words

Mofongo and horchata are now playable words

Leanne Italie – The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Here’s the sitch, Scrabble stans. Your convos around the board are about to get more interesting with about 500 new words and variations added to the game’s official dictionary: stan, sitch, convo, zedonk, dox and fauxhawk among them.

Out this month, the add-ons in the seventh edition of “The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary” join more than 100,000 words of two to eight letters. The book was last updated in 2018 through a longstanding partnership between Hasbro and Merriam-Webster.

The new words include some trademarks gone generic — dumpster for one — some shorthand joy like guac, and a delicious display of more verb variations: torrented, torrenting, adulted, adulting, atted, atting (as in don’t at me, bro).

“We also turned verb into a verb so you can play verbed and verbing,” said Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, Peter Sokolowski, a smile on his face and a word-nerd glitter in his eye during an exclusive interview with The Associated Press.

Fauxhawk, a haircut similar to a Mohawk, is potentially the highest scoring newbie, he said. Embiggen, a verb meaning to increase in size, is among the unexpected. (Sample sentence: “I really need to embiggen that Scrabble dictionary.”)

Compound words are on the rise in the book with deadname, pageview, fintech, allyship, babymoon and subtweet. So are the “uns,” such as unfollow, unsub and unmute. They may sound familiar, but they were never Scrabble official, at least when it comes to the sainted game’s branded dictionary.

Tournament play is a whole other matter, with a broader range of agreed-upon words.

Sokolowski and a team of editors at MerriamWebster have mined the oft-freshened online database at Merriam-Webster.com to expand the Scrabble book. While the official rules of game play have always allowed the use of any dictionary that players sanction, many look to the official version when sitting down for a spot of Scrabble. Some deluxe Scrabble sets include one of the books.

In the last year or two, the Scrabble lexicon has been scrubbed of 200-plus racial, ethnic and otherwise offensive words — despite their presence in some dictionaries. That has prompted furious debate among tournament players.

Supporters of the cleanup called it long overdue.

Others argued that the words, however heinous in definition, should remain playable so long as points are to be had.

Despite home play rules that never specifically banned offensive words, you won’t find the notorious 200 in the Scrabble dictionary, with rare exceptions for those with other meanings.

The new Scrabble book includes at least one old-fashioned word that simply fell under the radar for years: yeehaw.

Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large

“Yeehaw is like so many of the older, informal terms. They were more spoken than written, and the gold standard for dictionary editing was always written evidence. So a term like yeehaw, which we all know from our childhood and in movies and TV, was something you heard. You didn’t read it that often,” Sokolowski said.

Yeehaw, meet bae, inspo, vibed and vibing, all new additions to the Scrabble dictionary. Ixnay,

In fact,

The MerriamWebster wordsmiths have added a slew of food-related words: iftar, horchata, kabocha, mofongo, zuke, zoodle, wagyu, queso and marg, for margarita, among them.

which was already in the book, has been promoted to a verb, so ixnayed, ixnaying and ixnays are now allowed.

Welp, thingie, roid, skeezy, slushee and hygge (the Danish obsession with getting cozy) also made the cut. So did kharif, the Indian subcontinent’s fall harvest.

The Merriam-Webster wordsmiths have added a slew of food-related words: iftar, horchata, kabocha, mofongo, zuke, zoodle, wagyu, queso and marg, for margarita, among them. Many Scrabble players couldn’t care less about definitions — only points — but informatively:

Iftar is a meal taken by Muslims at sundown to break the daily fast during Ramadan. Mofongo is a traditional Puerto Rican dish made of fried or boiled plantains. Horchata is a sweet drink and kabocha is a winter squash.

Sokolowski wouldn’t reveal all 500 of the new words, challenging players to hunt them down on their own. Are your Scrabble senses scrambled, so to speak?

“All of these are words that have already been vetted and defined and added to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, and now we’ve determined they’re playable in Scrabble,” Sokolowski said. “You’ve got some fun new words.”

So which new entry is the word master’s favorite? It’s the one that sounds like the way acorn is pronounced.

“I like eggcorn,” Sokolowski said, “because it’s a word about words.”

>AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File

Think Barbiecore and all things pink for holiday gifts

Searches for hot pink fashion items have increased over last year

Leanne Italie – The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Barbiecore has legs ahead of next year’s release of the live-action “Barbie” movie and the 60th anniversary of the old gal’s Dreamhouse (the 1979 dwelling was the best).

And where there’s Barbie, there’s pink. Hot pink.

The hue has been everywhere this year and plays into a broader trend for the holidays: all things merry and bright, said Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy’s trend spotter.

“Everyone’s been crazy about hot pink and really just pink in all shades,” she said.

Etsy, the global handmade marketplace of independent sellers, saw a 34% increase in searches for hot pink fashion items over last year.

Valentino created a collection out of the shade, shown on a pink runway in March. LaQuan Smith, Christian Siriano and Tom Ford showed pink in September. Serena Williams wore it front row at Michael Kors. Paris Hilton closed the Versace show in pink, her signature color. Lizzo also wears it regularly, and pink in lots of Barbie-worthy shades rocked the Met Gala.

Barbie pink has creeped into home decor, beauty and accessories. And Barbiecore has hit

heavy on Instagram and TikTok. There are plenty of ways to gift the trend. Some starters:

Pink Gems

Pink sapphire, rose quartz, star ruby, rhodonite, rubellite, pink tourmaline and — last but certainly not least — pink diamonds. If you’re looking for pink in gemstones, there are lots of options but perhaps none so special as the diamond hue. Ben Affleck chose a pink diamond from Harry Winston the first time he proposed to Jennifer Lopez, back in 2002. Pink diamonds are rare and pricey so a lesser gem might have to do. There are also pink opals, pink malaya garnets, pink topaz. I could go on.

Link up with pink gem enthusiasts at gemsociety.org.

Pink Wearables

good ole fashion Barbie workout. $121.

Look for the Alexander McQueen holiday collection Skull Four Ring Clutch in pink for $1,890, or a less expensive bag elsewhere.

In fact,

Pink was made for a party. Giuseppe Zanotti makes the velvet pink and very high Bebe platform sandal. $1,050 at GiuseppeZanotti.com. Stuart Weitzman’s XCurve Crystal 100 Mule serves the trend nicely. $595 at StuartWeitzman.com.

Etsy, the global handmade marketplace of independent sellers, saw a 34% increase in searches for hot pink fashion items over last year.

If an outfit right off the runway isn’t in your budget, how about some more affordable pops of wearable pink?

The brand Good American has lots. There’s a pair of skinny corduroys for $120, a leather bomber jacket for $175 and a body hugger of a midi dress for $99. A pink leather bando, a cropped long-sleeve V-neck collegiate style sweater, a jumpsuit, bodysuit, rugby shirt, pocket T-shirt. The company has thought of it all. Head to GoodAmerican.com.

Koral sells a short onesie in pink and black for a

How about some pink cloud slides for $19.99?

Pink Holiday Decor

You could Barbie-fy a giftee’s holiday decor.

Etsy seller Plush Fiber Craft Co. has a pompom door wreath rich in bright colors, including pink, for $76.28. Another seller, Schemata, has a hand-painted glass ornament with swirls of pink for $27.50. How about an entire artificial tree in pink? They’re all over the place, including Home Depot online.

Miscellaneous Pink

So much pink, so little shopping time.

The Etsy seller Haydaysy offers a pair of vintage pink coffee mugs for $30.

Target is full of pink for the kitchen, from mini donut and cupcake makers by Brentwood (under $50 each) to a 100-count of disposable K-cup lids for Keurig at a cost of $15.95. Is Barbie into saving the planet?

Margo Robbie in character in the film “Barbie,” releasing summer 2023. >Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP

Internet searches for hot pink fashion items have increased 34%over last year.

Thanksgiving might bring changes in holiday-travel habits

Changing habits around work and play might reduce the number of holiday travelers

David Koenig – The Associated Press

More people are expected on airplanes and highways over Thanksgiving than last year, but changing habits around work and play might spread out the crowds and reduce the usual amount of holiday travel stress.

Travel experts say the pandemic and the ability of many people to work remotely has blurred the lines between business and leisure trips. They think many people will start holiday trips early or return home later than normal because they will spend a few days working remotely — or at least tell the boss they’re working remotely.

James Daly of Mission Viejo, California, caught a plane Monday to Oakland with his wife and two young children, getting a head start because the airfare was less expensive that way. Daly, a teacher who was off for the week, said they were also taking advantage of his wife’s ability to work remotely.

“The economy is a little concerning but that’s life,” said Daly, who was traveling to see his parents and extended family flying in from Ireland. “Everything’s getting back to normal since COVID ... So, you want to be part of that joy and part of those relationships.”

The busiest travel days during Thanksgiving week are usually Tuesday, Wednesday and the Sunday after the holiday. This year, the Federal Aviation Administration expects Tuesday to be the busiest travel day with roughly 48,000 scheduled flights.

It looks like the rush started early this year, as the Transportation Security Administration screened nearly 2.33 million travelers on Sunday. It’s the first year that the number of people catching planes surpassed the 2.32 million screened the Sunday before Thanksgiving in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“People are traveling on different days. Not everyone is traveling on that Wednesday night,” says Sharon Pinkerton, senior vice president at the trade group Airlines for America. “People are spreading their travel out throughout the week, which I also think will help ensure smoother operations.”

American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts that 54.6 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home in the U.S. this week, a 1.5% bump over Thanksgiving last year and only 2% less than in 2019. The auto club and insurance seller says nearly 49 million of those will travel by car, and 4.5 million will fly between Wednesday and Sunday.

U.S. airlines plan to operate 13% fewer flights this week than during Thanksgiving week in 2019. However, by using larger planes on average, the number of seats will drop only 2%, according to data from travel-researcher Cirium.

Airlines continue to blame flight disruptions on shortages of air traffic controllers, especially in Florida, a major holiday destination.

Controllers, who work for the Federal Aviation Administration, “get tested around the holidays. That seems to be when we have challenges,”

Sharon Pinkerton, senior vice president at Airlines for America.

Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle said a few days ago. “The FAA is adding another 10% to headcount, hopefully that’s enough.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has disputed such claims, saying that the vast majority of delays and cancellations are caused by the airlines themselves.

TSA expects airports to be busier than last year and probably about on par with 2019. The busiest day in TSA’s history came on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2019, when nearly 2.9 million people were screened at airport checkpoints.

People getting behind the wheel or boarding a plane don’t seem fazed by higher gasoline and airfare prices than last year or the widespread concern about inflation and the economy. That is already leading to predictions of strong travel over Christmas and New Year’s.

“This pent-up demand for travel is still a real thing. It doesn’t feel like it’s going away,” says Tom Hall, a vice president and longtime writer for Lonely Planet, the publisher of travel guides. “That’s keeping planes full, that’s keeping prices high.”

American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts that 54.6 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home in the U.S. this week.

In fact,

People are spreading their travel out throughout the week, which I also think will help ensure smoother operations.

Thanksgiving and Pavochón are back!

People are starting to go to family gatherings again

Juan A. Hernández, The Weekly Journal

(lechón). So, the pavochón is a turkey that’s been seasoned and cooked like roasted pork. And, while its preparation is sometimes guarded as an intimate family secret by some mythical local chefs, you too can master the pavochón technique.

Of course, cooking a turkey is a daunting task because these birds are huge, extremely difficult to season properly, and they need hours to cook.

In fact,

Turkeys

And since we’ve already “welcomed” the holiday season since November 1st. –right after Halloween– this Thanksgiving is the perfect occasion for a dress rehearsal for Christmas. And the star of it all is the traditional “pavochón.”

If you don’t feel up for the task –just measuring and preparing the olive oil, vinegar salt, pepper, garlic, oregano and mustard “adobo” is complicated– you can always order out.

Ramón Cruz, owner of El Pitirre.

Now that the pandemic seems to be almost over –because vaccines not only shield our bodies, but also our psyche– we are starting to get out there again... go shopping, go to parties and family gatherings.

in high demand… an avian flu epidemic earlier this year decimated close to 50 million turkeys in the U.S. alone.

scarce

But be ready to spend a pretty penny for your pavochón. Turkeys are scarce and in high demand. To the disruptions in supply chains that we are all too familiar with, an avian flu epidemic earlier this year decimated close to 50 million turkeys in the U.S. alone. Still though, don’t despair.

(former Lechonera Rafy Resto) on PR167 in Bayamón are offering the finger licking pavochón this year, and prices range between $11 and $14 per pound.

“This year, I’m selling pavochón at $11 per pound. That is not much. I’m just breaking even. It’s on the trimmings to I’ll be able to make some money,” said Ramón Cruz, owner of El Pitirre.

A made-up word that is yet to be accepted in Scrabble’s dictionary, it is the combination of the Spanish words for turkey (pavo) and roast pig

In Bayamón alone there are a couple of “lechoneras” and several bakery shops where you can order this year’s pavochón and all its trimmings.

Lechonera Pagán, El Pitirre, and El Familión

Please, bear in mind that supplies are limited, and no lechonera owner expects his inventory to last beyond lunchtime next Thursday.

If it just so happens that you are not able to secure your pavochón on time… well, you’ll have to settle for lechón. And that is not a bad thing since this year it runs par with turkey.

are

and

This year, I’m selling pavochón at $11 per pound. That is not much. I’m just breaking even. It’s on the trimmings to I’ll be able to make some money.