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Grapevine |
Welcome to Grapevine, our weekly look at the most colorful, thought-provoking and original feature stories from The Wall Street Journal. We're curating the best stories from across the WSJ about the world beyond business and emailing them to you once a week. So take some time and enjoy the read. — Lisa Bannon, Life & Arts Coverage Chief |
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| George Lucas posed with Disney characters in Star Wars garb in 2010. PHOTO: TODD ANDERSON/DISNEY/GETTY IMAGES |
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The Dark Side of Disney’s Bet on Star Wars |
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Disney bought a world created by the visionary George Lucas and plugged it into its franchise-making machine, hoping to turn the investment into an interconnected product chain of merchandise, theme-park attractions and films that promise years of future revenue, write Erich Schwartzel and R.T. Watson. The Star Wars business so far has been good for Disney. But some worrying fissures have formed. READ FULL STORY >> |
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| In 2012, after three years of renting it, Elon Musk bought this mansion overlooking Bel-Air Country Club from Mitchell Julis, co-founder of hedge fund Canyon Capital Advisors. MICHAEL MCNAMARA |
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Elon Musk Buys Out the Neighbors |
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Billionaire Elon Musk is known for his over-the-top antics. But when it comes to his personal real estate, the Tesla and SpaceX chief uses the same strategy adopted by a number of the mega-wealthy: Buy up the neighborhood. Nancy Keates gives a rundown of his $100 million portfolio of properties. READ FULL STORY >> |
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| Prof. Anita Elberse with rapper LL Cool J in her class on the business of stardom at Harvard Business School. PHOTO: KEVIN WOLF |
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Celebrities Seek Her Advice. Executives Line Up for Her Harvard Class. |
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Professor Anita Elberse built an academic career—and a massive Instagram following—studying the conditions that create the greatest success stories in sports and entertainment, writes Kathryn Dill. Here are her top insights. READ FULL STORY >> |
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| Tiu Kelep waterfall in Senaru, in northern Lombok. Jamie James, a longtime resident of the region, writes that the island has become Bali as it was 30 years ago, before the boom. PHOTOS: MARTIN WESTLAKE FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL |
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| Restaurants line the beach in the town of Senggigi on Lombok’s west coast. |
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| Sunset at Malimbu Beach, with Bali’s Mount Agung in the distance. |
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An Under-the-Radar Tropical Paradise |
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The Indonesian island of Lombok isn’t as popular—or strategically slick—as neighboring Bali, and it’s in no big rush to change, writes Jamie James in a guide to visiting. |
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| Becky Powell with her children (from left) John Luke, 18, Boone, 25, and Madison, 26. Ms. Powell’s husband, Mark, died by suicide in 2013. PHOTO: ILANA PANICH-LINSMAN FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL |
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As Suicides Rise, More Attention Turns to the People Left Behind |
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New research shows just how severe the aftermath of the suicide of a loved one is—and that it is different from other kinds of loss, writes Andrea Petersen. “It brings high-functioning people to their knees,” says one expert. But there are emerging treatments that offer hope. READ FULL STORY >> |
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A Prescription of Poetry to Help Patients Speak Their Minds |
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For the doctor's visit, one patient asked for “Invictus,” a dark 19th-century poem that he remembered from his past. Sumathi Reddy looks at how more hospitals and medical schools are turning to the power of the written word, and poetry in particular, to help patients process their conditions and heal. READ FULL STORY >> |
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| Norwegian Air Shuttle will start flying from Austin, Texas, to Paris nonstop in May. As soon as the new flights went on sale, ticket prices on other airlines offering connecting flights between those two cities fell. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES |
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How Sly Travelers Cut Their Airfares in Half |
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Want to save some money on airfares? Scott McCartney writes about one method savvy travelers use to spot major potential price changes. And watch for a bonanza of new, cheaper options in 2020. READ FULL STORY>> |
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| The Hicks family has gotten into debates about cashless payment for chores. From left to right: Becky Hicks, Susan Levin, August Hicks, Oliver Hicks and Jono Hicks. SEFRA ESCOBAR FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL |
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Need to Pay the Babysitter? Don’t Even Think About Using Cash |
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As more Americans move away from cash, a generational divide is appearing. The younger members of the Hicks family prefer the convenience of a digital wallet to physical cash. “It blew me away because I’ve always felt that cash is king, but he had no interest at all,” said Jono, a 47-year-old sales manager who tried to pay his 20-year-old son Oliver $50 in bills for yard work. READ FULL STORY>> |
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| F. MARTIN RAMIN/THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, STYLING BY ANNE CARDENAS |
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A Guide to 50 Holiday Gifts: Functional vs. Fun |
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The Off Duty 50 addresses the eternal dilemma for anyone choosing presents: Should you go purely practical or indulgently frivolous? We found the best of both. SEE THE COLLECTION>> |
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| Dwayne Johnson has become a Hollywood action hero with comedic flair. ALASDAIR MCLELLAN FOR WSJ. MAGAZINE, STYLING BY ILARIA URBINATI |
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The Rock, From Strength to Strength |
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Newly remarried and appearing in this month’s “Jumanji” sequel, Dwayne Johnson has become one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars—and an entrepreneur whose strength is never looking like one, writes Josh Eells. (Though there are a few things he isn’t good at.) SEE FULL STORY>> |
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On the Rise at Art Basel Miami Beach |
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What to Give? Check Out These Mystery Books |
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For holiday shopping, Tom Nolan chooses a tempting array of books by and about the great authors and characters in the genre. Leading off the list is Ashley D. Polasek's compilation, “Being Sherlock: A Sherlockian’s Stroll Through the Best Sherlock Holmes Stories”—a great present for any Baker Street aficionado. |
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