Latest news with #Robbins
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Miami Herald
Elusive creature captured on video — at 8,500 feet of elevation in CA. See it
A wildlife photographer is one step closer to his mission of photographing an extremely rare creature in the mountains of California. After three years of scouting, Randy Robbins filmed a subspecies of red fox that lives only in high elevations in the Sierra Nevada mountains this past winter, the photographer said in a video posted to his YouTube account on June 14. 'The Sierra Nevada Red Fox is an extremely rare and endangered subspecies of red fox native to very high elevation subalpine terrain along the Sierra crest and north into the Oregon Cascades,' a caption on Randy Robbins Photography's video says. 'There are an estimated 70 individuals remaining in California, 20-30 of which live in the Mt. Lassen area within Lassen Volcanic National Park. Operating under permit with the park service, I have spent three years pursuing footage and photos of the Lassen population. This camera spent the winter in this location at 8500' on a promising rock ledge…' The video shows a fluffy fox walking right up to the snowy ledge to take in the view of the valley below. Another clip shot about a week later after some snow had melted on the rock ledge shows a fox taking the same route, then heading in the other direction for a stretch before returning to perch and then curl up on the ledge overlooking the valley. 'The scientists I've been talking to are very excited about it because it shows behavior,' Robbins told McClatchy News over the phone. 'You usually only get a fleeting glimpse, at night, running by a camera. So this is like three minutes of watching one be a fox, hanging out on a rock, sunning itself.' Robbins believes the foxes 'like to look out over their terrain' and oversee their environment — as much as they enjoy warming themselves on the rock and 'soaking up the sun.' 'This is beautiful to watch,' someone said in the video comments. 'It is nice to see this relaxed fox enjoying the view. May his wilderness never be disturbed.' One person commented saying they loved seeing the fox return 'to patrol their territory.' Several people thought it looked like the fox was simply enjoying the view from its high altitude perch. 'I love how he/she curled up on that rock!' someone said. 'Really must love that view!' Lassen Volcanic National Park is about a 180-mile drive north from Sacramento.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Tony Robbins sounds alarm for Americans on Social Security
An important report reveals that many Americans feel unprepared for retirement - a reality that personal finance author Tony Robbins considers urgent. Robbins believes the path toward catching up on tools such as 401(k) savings and IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) begins with an essential but often-overlooked move: taking ownership of one's financial future. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter While nearly 88% of working Americans foresee Social Security playing at least a partial role in funding their retirement, the typical monthly benefit of around $2,000 is unlikely to support the lifestyle most retirees envision. That gap pushes many to count on alternative streams of retirement income. A significant portion of workers plan to rely on other sources: 84% anticipate using workplace-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k)s, 77% expect to lean on personal savings and investments, and 68% look to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) as additional lifelines, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. This diversified approach is crucial, as depending solely on Social Security will not suffice, Robbins notes. Related: Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary warns Americans on 401(k)s Robbins emphasizes his view that it's time to stop sidestepping the facts. Many have yet to take that first serious step - building a solid savings and investment strategy. As retirement looms, especially for those still trying to catch up, swift and deliberate planning becomes essential. Getty Robbins is vocal about the risks of depending too heavily on Social Security for retirement. In his view, it's a grave misstep to assume those benefits will be enough to sustain most people in their later years - especially with longer life expectancies stretching the cost of retirement well beyond previous generations' norms. According to Robbins, Social Security was never meant to serve as the sole financial foundation for retirement. He says Americans must confront this reality and shake off any passive approach to retirement planning. For him, the wake-up call begins with facing the numbers - doing some straightforward calculations to understand exactly where one stands financially and how far there is to go. More on retirement: Dave Ramsey offers urgent thoughts about MedicareJean Chatzky shares major statement on Social SecurityTony Robbins has blunt words on IRAs,401(k)s Rather than wait for a crisis to force action, Robbins champions a proactive approach. He argues that the ability to plan ahead and anticipate one's financial needs is what separates those who thrive in retirement from those who struggle. "You can ... work toward the ultimate retirement dream: achieving complete financial freedom to do whatever you want with no fear of running out of money," Robbins wrote. In his eyes, financial confidence begins with clarity: Knowing the precise amount needed to retire comfortably is a non-negotiable first step in any serious plan. His core message? Stop avoiding the truth, engage with the math, and take charge before time runs out. Related: Tony Robbins sends strong message to Americans on 401(k)s To reduce reliance on Social Security, Robbins encourages people to approach retirement planning with clear-eyed realism and ambition. He believes that too many individuals make the mistake of planning around their income rather than their actual spending habits. For Robbins, knowing what you spend - especially if it's more than you earn - is the true foundation for estimating how much you'll need once work life ends. He stresses the importance of tracking annual expenses, not just to build awareness but to identify areas where spending can be reined in. Developing this habit now not only sharpens financial discipline but also frees up more resources for long-term savings. Once you've got a solid handle on your typical yearly spending, Robbins recommends multiplying that figure by 20 - a rough estimate for the number of years one might reasonably expect to live in retirement, given increasing life spans. He advises being cautious and realistic with assumptions, preferring conservative projections over overly optimistic ones. While this formula provides a baseline, Robbins knows many retirees dream of more than simply maintaining their current lifestyle. Whether it's globe-trotting, a luxury home upgrade, or new adventures, he urges people to run the numbers on their aspirational retirement too. Use the same framework, then apply it to the lifestyle you actually want - not just the one you have. Ultimately, Robbins challenges people to think beyond survival and aim for fulfillment. He believes retirement planning should inspire you to ask not only what you'll need - but what you truly desire. Related: Dave Ramsey warns Americans on Social Security The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Tony Robbins sends strong message to Americans on 401(k)s
Many Americans preparing for retirement through savings and investments often encounter significant financial hurdles as they work toward a secure and enjoyable future. They eventually come to realize that while Social Security provides a foundational stream of income, it was never designed to fully support every cost of living throughout the entirety of retirement. According to renowned motivational speaker and author Tony Robbins, although 401(k) plans offer valuable opportunities, workers frequently encounter scenarios that could jeopardize their long-term financial well-being. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Regularly contributing to retirement accounts that offer tax advantages - such as 401(k) plans and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) - is a smart financial strategy. Taking full advantage of these contributions, particularly with regard to 401(k) plans when an employer match is available, can greatly enhance retirement savings over the long term. Robbins has emphasized the importance of financial awareness when it comes to retirement planning. One of his key messages is a warning to American workers regarding misconceptions about Social Security and 401(k) plans. Related: Jean Chatzky sends strong message to Americans on Social Security A crucial part of effective retirement planning certainly involves understanding how Social Security benefits are determined and carefully choosing when to begin claiming them. By postponing benefits beyond one's full retirement age, retirees can receive higher monthly payouts from the program. Considering this background, Robbins highlights a critical caution about how 401(k) plans are used - urging workers to avoid common pitfalls that could affect their financial futures. Tony Robbins points out that for three decades, companies managing 401(k) plans were not required to reveal how much they were charging in fees. Now that disclosure is mandatory, he believes many providers hide those costs in lengthy, complex documents - making it hard for individuals to truly grasp what they're paying and keeping them largely uninformed. "What the majority of Americans don't realize is that an increase in 1% in fees will cost you 10 years in retirement income," Robbins wrote. More on retirement: Dave Ramsey offers urgent thoughts about MedicareJean Chatzky shares major statement on Social SecurityTony Robbins has blunt words on IRAs,401(k)s Robbins uses a straightforward hypothetical scenario to underscore the long-term impact of investment fees on retirement savings. In his example, three employees - let's call them Employee 1, Employee 2, and Employee 3 - each invest $100,000 at age 35 into separate mutual funds. All three investments generate the same steady annual return of 8%, and none of them withdraw any funds for 30 years. However, each employee is subject to a different annual fee: 1%, 2%, and 3%, respectively. By the time they reach age 65, Robbins clarifies, the variation in fees has created a striking difference in their account balances. Despite identical contributions and returns, Employee 1, who paid the lowest fee, has nearly double the retirement savings of Employee 3, who paid the highest. Related: Dave Ramsey sends strong message to Americans on Medicare Robbins emphasizes that the cost of high investment fees doesn't end at retirement. Using the scenario of each employee needing $60,000 annually to fund their retirement, he notes that the long-term consequences become even clearer. The employee facing the highest fees - Employee 3 - depletes their savings before reaching 75, while Employee 1, who paid the lowest fees, sees their nest egg last until age 95. According to Robbins, this stark contrast demonstrates how even small differences in fees can compound into significant financial disparities. It's a powerful reminder, he says, that being mindful of investment costs isn't just a matter of saving money - it's a crucial step in safeguarding long-term financial security. "I learned about these abuses while writing 'Money: Master the Game,' and it made me so angry that people were getting robbed blind," Robbins wrote. "So I brought in America's Best 401(k)." America's Best 401(k) is a retirement plan provider that says it aims to reduce the high fees commonly associated with traditional 401(k) plans. Robbins asked the firm to asses the 401(k) plan used by his own research company and ended up using their proposed solution. "They showed me that we were paying 276% more than we needed to for the same exact stocks," Robbins wrote. "It saved my employees $5 million in their retirement, and it cost nothing." Related: Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary warns Americans on 401(k)s The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
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Miami Herald
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Meet Miami City Ballet's new artistic director, the third in the company's history
When Lourdes Lopez, Miami City Ballet's artistic director, announced last February that the 2024-25 season would be her last with the company, one of the reasons she cited for stepping down was to help usher in a new chapter for the 40 year old company. 'A company needs new energy, a new way of looking at the dancers, a new way of looking at the community.' The venerable organization may have found just that with Gonzalo Garcia, 45, who has been named MCB's new artistic director effective Aug. 11. He will be only the third artistic director since the ballet was founded in 1985 with Edward Villella, who helped launch the company, being the first. Garcia's has spent most of his career as a principal dancer —first with the San Francisco Ballet and then New York City Ballet, where he was a principal dancer until announcing his retirement in 2022. He was appointed Repertory Director for the company and was on the faculty of the School of American Ballet at the Lincoln Center, co-founded by George Balanchine. He'll leave those two positions to lead MCB. At 15, the native of Zaragoza, Spain, was the youngest dancer to receive a gold medal at international dance competition the Prix de Lausanne (Switzerland) in 1995. At 17, he was offered a contract to join San Francisco Ballet but decided to study one more year, joining the company in 1998. He was promoted to principal dancer at 22, one of the youngest dancers in the company to reach the status. He arrived at New York City Ballet as a principal dancer in 2007. Garcia's known for his strong dance repertoire, which included works by Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, and for creating original roles in works by two of the contemporary choreographic masters, Justin Peck, resident choreographer and artistic advisor of New York City Ballet, and choreographer Alexei Ratmansky. For his farewell performance with NYCB in February of 2022 he danced works by Balanchine, Robbins and Peck. It is this pedigree that led to MCB's board of directors choosing Garcia as the right fit to take the reins. Villella, MCB's founding artistic director, worked with Balanchine as a principal dancer from 1957 to 1979 at NYCB. Legendary changemaking choreographer Jerome Robbins created his 1976 ballet 'Watermill' to be danced by Villella, among other dance partnerships with Villella. Shortly after Lopez's 16th birthday, while attending the School of American Ballet, Balanchine invited her to join the corps of NYCB, and she became principal in 1984, playing numerous roles in choreographies created by Balanchine and Robbins. 'The two artistic directors we've had both were with Balanchine and Robbins and they had that pedigree about them,' said Jeff Davis, MCB's chair of the board of trustees. 'Gonzolo was heavily trained in the Balanchine technique [and] in Jerome Robbins.' The company's repertoire includes more than 100 ballets, with significant works by Balanchine and Robbins. It has expanded its repertoire to include contemporary choreographers including Peck and Ratmansky. 'Gonzalo is in tune with the next wave of choreographic voices,' said Davis. 'He has great connections with Justin Peck, Patricia Delgado [a former Miami City Ballet principal, she won the 2025 Best Choreography Tony Award along with husband Peck for Broadway's 'Buena Vista Social Club'], and [British choreographer] Wayne McGregor.' Garcia mentions 'destiny' when it comes to his appointment. 'It was meant to happen. The more I went through the process, the more I felt energized and more comfortable with the idea that it was me. I kept thinking, 'that's me. I speak Spanish. I'm an immigrant. I can relate to so many people that represent the community. I also have this incredible trajectory with the Balanchine and the Robbins and these American companies that have been represented in Miami City Ballet's history. I feel like it's been like almost every step and every skill that I have acquired through my life has brought me to this place and I do believe that strongly.' While the 40th anniversary season is already programmed, Garcia will begin working on what's next for the company, including the following season but also using his skills as 'a great collaborator.' 'I love being in the studio with dancers, I'm a teacher and an educator. I understand the different needs and technical abilities, but I also understand emotional abilities because I have danced a lot of the repertoire. I think [the company} needs someone that is going to get in there and really inspire them, reenergize them.' Garcia also sees MCB becoming more a part of what he says is the culture that is Miami. 'The stories that are happening in Miami, maybe that can be represented on stage. And who can be the right dance maker that can bring those stories to life? That's something that I want to invest in. Miami is just simmering with potential from all areas and parts of the world and the country. I don't seek to change what's already been created, but how do we make that bigger and better and how do we add things that are representative of the community we are dancing for?' With his background working with the School of American Ballet, he's also hoping to tap into the potential at the Miami City Ballet School. 'I want to continue teaching. How do we prepare those dancers to be future dancers not only for Miami City Ballet but also internationally to carry on the legacy,' he said. 'Who knows? We might have new choreographers there, perhaps the next Alexei Ratmansky.' The search, according to Davis, was led by Phillip DeBoer of executive search firm DHR Global. 'We started first with surveying all of our stakeholders –our dancers, our board, community members, our funders – asking them what their vision was for the next artistic director. We also contacted artistic directors of other ballet companies, choreographers and presenters. So out of that whole process, we had about 70 prospective names.' It considered 40 applicants. Garcia was one of two final candidates. The new artistic director begins his role in the midst of a precarious state of the arts both in support from the state of Florida and in the federal government. 'The Miami City Ballet has a strategic plan to build an endowment, and it is a very ambitious five year plan. I am going to be very much a part of that and trying to find places that we haven't previously found support. The reality is that in order to move the company forward without certain economic support, it will be very hard to do. So we'll need to be more strategic and conservative, but still ambitious,' said Garcia. He'll move to Miami with husband Ezra Hurwitz, an Emmy Award winning film director (he won the award for his short film 'Inside and Outwards' that was narrated by Sarah Jessica Parker and dealt with mental health during COVID), he's also worked with Tiffany & Co., Dior, Apple and Netflix. Prior to his film career, he was a professional dancer and spent eight years with the Miami City Ballet. He's looking forward to Hurwitz helping the company to expand its digital presence. 'That's something incredibly important for us to be relevant.' Garcia says he met Hurwitz during his last year with MCB. 'I remember going to visit him in Miami and taking class with the company. I've become close with the friends he made there so I have been surrounded with these conversations and his historical knowledge around my living room in New York many times through many years. I have worked with Edward Villella and Lourdes Lopez in different capacities in my life so with all of that, I feel emotionally connected to the company in so many ways.' is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music and more. Don't miss a story at
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bestselling Author and Food Revolution Network President John Robbins Has Passed Away
A Pioneer Who Changed the Way the World Thinks About Food Leaves a Lasting Legacy SANTA CRUZ, Calif., June 14, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--John Robbins, bestselling author, activist, and co-founder of Food Revolution Network (FRN), has passed away from complications of post-polio syndrome. A trailblazer for ethical, healthy, and sustainable food systems, Robbins' work sparked a worldwide movement that continues to shape policy, science, and public consciousness. His bestselling 1987 book Diet for a New America exposed the health, environmental, and ethical costs of industrialized animal agriculture. Robbins went on to author several more bestsellers, including The Food Revolution and Reclaiming Our Health, reaching millions and inspiring a global shift toward conscious eating. Turning away from a path of inherited wealth as the presumed heir to the Baskin-Robbins empire, Robbins chose to champion a life of integrity. His activism extended beyond books: he served on nonprofit boards, spoke on global stages, and received numerous accolades, including the Rachel Carson Award and the Green America Lifetime Achievement Award. Despite contracting polio at age five, Robbins defied medical expectations to become a marathoner, yogi, and triathlete. Diagnosed in 2019 with Post-Polio Syndrome, he continued to live vibrantly—a testament to the diet and lifestyle he advocated. Robbins' legacy lives on through the million-member Food Revolution Network and the newly formed nonprofit, Food Revolution Alliance (FRA), both dedicated to promoting healthy, ethical, and sustainable food for all. "My father was my mentor, my colleague, and my treasured friend," said Ocean Robbins, FRN CEO. "His love, courage, and wisdom touched countless lives. Now, we carry his torch forward." A family statement added: "John met life's challenges with resilience and with love. Even in the face of pain, he never stopped growing, learning, or seeking to make a difference in the lives of others. His presence and his purpose continue to guide and inspire us every day." To learn more, please visit: To honor his legacy, donations may be made to the Food Revolution Alliance at View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Sierra Kohlruss, Chief Operating OfficerEmail: media@ Website: Sign in to access your portfolio
