Insider Finance - Business - How ‘SuperAgers’ stay sharp

December 27, 2022

Hello, Insiders. Did you travel for the holidays? If so, I hope you got to your destination just fine — and that you weren’t booked on one of the thousands of flights that were canceled or delayed as brutal icy and snowy weather hit the US. 

Last week, I wrote about my own holiday travel woes on a bumpy flight to visit family. One reader asked how I coped, so I figured I’d share some of my tips. First, I try to distract myself by listening to the “Top Gun” soundtrack and imagining I'm a fighter jet pilot, or I treat myself to an in-app purchase in my favorite iPhone game. I also try to remind myself that turbulence (usually) isn’t a big deal — I get on the Wi-Fi and find explainers to help me through the panic. (We have a great video about this.) But if all else fails, I get a drink!

Let me know how you’ve been coping with difficult holiday travel here: insidertoday@insider.com. And now, let’s get to today’s stories.

— Nicholas Carlson

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The latest

• China is losing its place as the center of the world's supply chains. See where supply chains are going instead.

• The White House slammed Greg Abbott of Texas after migrants were reportedly dropped off outside Kamala Harris' house. Read more.

• A 120 million-year-old dinosaur fossil with the bones of its final snack still inside of it reveals it enjoyed eating our ancestors. What to know.

The big story

Alex Nicoll/Insider, Tyler Le/Insider

A band of immigrant tenants went to war with their $31 billion landlord. It's a sneak peek of what's to come.

In 2020, Los Angeles-based real-estate owner-operator CIM purchased a 60-year-old apartment complex on the outskirts of Washington, DC. 

CIM had a vision to meet the needs of the greater Washington community with the complex joining a range of office, hotel, and apartment assets owned by the firm in the area, a representative said.

But instead of improvements and upgrades, tenants received eviction notices during a nationwide ban on evictions — and mold, pest, and other maintenance issues went unresolved. The tenants, many of them African immigrants who have grown to love the community, were worried by their new landlord's agenda. 

Finally, fed up with eviction threats and neglect, the residents fought back, pressuring the company through its investors. "We're not going to leave," one of the residents told Insider. "We're going to continue to put pressure on."

Now, after a long, drawn out battle, CIM is meeting the demands of tenant leaders — and it could be a predictor of what's to come across America.

Top reads

Robert Hunt

• A former factory worker sold almost everything he owned to buy an abandoned water tower and turn it into a sleek home. Robert Hunt spent two-and-a-half years converting a water tower into a four-bedroom home. He wants to sell it next year — but won't settle for less than $2.4 million. See before-and-after photos of the home here.

• A “SuperAger” with the memory of someone decades younger shares what keeps her mind sharp. Scientists are studying the behavior of "SuperAgers," a rare group of elders who have the brains of people 30 years younger than them. Carol Siegler, 85, told us she’s kept her memory sharp, all without a special diet or routine. Here’s what she said.

• The flood of cool new electric cars will continue in 2023. Brands like Tesla, Chevy, Hyundai, and GMC all plan to unleash cutting-edge new models, including pricey pickup trucks, sleek sedans and sporty SUVs. From Chevy's $105,000 truck to Hyundai's spaceship-like sedan, check out eight of the coolest EVs hitting the streets next year.

• Elon Musk's chaotic reign at Twitter proved a huge boost to smaller rivals. Daily usage of Mastodon, Hive Social, and Counter Social are all up dramatically over the last two months. But with tricky user interfaces, security issues, and uneven beta launches, success could be fleeting. So which has staying power and who is the next Clubhouse? See here for a complete look.

• What’s in and what’s out for bedroom-decor in 2023, according to interior designers. Say hello to natural elements (like wood furniture and plants), vintage and heirloom furnishings, and sconces and pendant lighting — and goodbye to all-white bedding, cottagecore, and bare floors. Read what interior designers told us.

Watch this

One of Insider’s most popular videos of the year: A mudslide killed his adoptive family when he was 17 years old. Now, Alhaji Siraj Bah, an up-and-coming entrepreneur, is recycling coconut waste to help prevent deadly landslides. Watch here.

Today's team

This edition was curated by Nicholas Carlson, and edited by Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan, Jordan Parker Erb, and Shona Ghosh. Get in touch: insidertoday@insider.com.

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