Comment on Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Nov. 24, #266

The gap between the president-elect’s claims and market expectations may offer temporary reprieve, but small businesses should prepare for turbulence. A stark reality check looms for America’s 33 million small businesses: while campaign promises suggest dramatic economic shifts, market indicators tell a different story. This disconnect—between political rhetoric and market expectations—creates both uncertainty and opportunity for SMBs, which represent 43.5% of US GDP and employ nearly half of private sector workers.

It may be time to find new ways to motivate your people to challenge the status quo by expanding their horizons. Have you ever had your patience sorely tested by an overly inquisitive child? You know the type: No matter what you say to them, they always respond with the same question:  Why?

Hiring a fractional leader can be a winning solution, especially for small and midsized companies looking to grow their brands. The sharing economy has changed the way we vacation, get around, and even dress for fancy events. Why invest a lot of resources into something you need only for a short amount of time, right?

In 2026, legal agreements that apportion the Colorado River will expire. Federal water officials made public on Wednesday what they called “necessary steps” for seven states and multiple tribes that use Colorado River water and hydropower to meet an August 2026 deadline for deciding how to manage the waterway in the future.“Today we show our collective work,” Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said as she outlined four proposals for action and one “no action” alternative that she and Biden’s government will leave for the incoming Trump Administration — with formal environmental assessments still to come and just 20 months to act.

Spoiler alert: The game and world were lost. Activists and experts who are pushing world leaders to save an overheating planet learned it’s not so easy, even in a simulated world.

Melides, Christian Louboutin's secret escape in Portugal, loses its mystery as tourists flock in. INAQUIM/Getty Images/iStockphotoChristian Louboutin is working to protect his secret hideaway in Portugal from overtourism. The French designer's aim is to prevent the town of Melides from becoming the next St. Tropez. But the area is becoming an A-lister hot spot, drawing the likes of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.