Goodbye, My Fantasy Man - Today’s stories for you

July 31, 2021 Hello. Every day, we’ll send you stories we think you’ll love. Let us know what you’re interested in to improve your recommendations. Choose your interests WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED TODAY Who Are the Unvaccinated in America? There’s No One Answer. Eviction Freeze Set to Lapse as Biden Housing Aid Effort Lags Home Prices Are Soaring. Is That the Fed’s Problem? Body of Reuters Photographer Was Mutilated in Taliban Custody, Officials Say In South Africa, Poachers Now Traffic in Tiny Succulent Plants Go to homepage FROM STYLE Modern Love Goodbye, My Fantasy Man I wasn’t willing to settle for less than kismet. But chasing a romantic illusion nearly kept me from finding love. Critic’s notebook Jill Biden, Changing the Fashion Game Cheering the American Olympians, the first lady broke with recent sartorial customs. Marking a Pandemic, One Crane at a Time My son and I took on what seemed like a simple project: fold one origami crane every day during the pandemic. Together, we discovered over the year how making art helps people bear the unbearable. BASED ON YOUR INTERESTS From L.G.B.T.Q. Olympics’ First Openly Transgender Woman Stokes Debate on Fairness Laurel Hubbard, a 43-year-old weight lifter from New Zealand, will compete on Monday, as some question her right to be at the Games. From U.S. Stranded Killer Whale Survives With Help of Good Samaritans Rescuers and wildlife officials kept it cool and wet while waiting for a rising tide. The orca returned to sea about six hours after it was spotted on the rugged shores of an Alaskan island. From National Security Biden Promised to Restore the Iran Nuclear Deal. Now It Risks Derailment. Both sides have much to lose if a delicate negotiation over limiting Iran’s activities in return for a lifting of sanctions falls short. From California ‘This Isn’t How We’re Supposed to Live’: Residents Flee as Dixie Fire Surges Thousands have had to leave their homes in what has grown into a grim ritual in wildfire-plagued Northern California. Many are demanding answers from PG&E, the large utility company. From Sports After 670 Days, the Blue Jays Finally Returned to Canada With a pandemic-forced sojourn to Buffalo and Florida now complete, Toronto’s exciting young team got a chance to experience its actual home crowd. IMPROVE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS Health & Fitness Health news and expert advice Science The wonders of humans and our world Phys Ed Exercise advice for everyday life COLUMNS AND SERIES From Ask Well Is Nose Hair Essential to Fighting Off Colds and Other Viral Illnesses? Expert advice on whether trimming or waxing your nose hairs might increase the risk of respiratory infections. From Work Friend It’s OK to Say No to More Work Remember to draw boundaries early and often — and always invoice for the forced “fun” of team-building activities. From What to Cook This Vegetarian Menu Brings Home the Best of the Market The stalls are overflowing, and this fresh three-course dinner from David Tanis puts that bounty to work. TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT From Science A Plant That ‘Cannot Die’ Reveals Its Genetic Secrets Events in the genome of Welwitschia have given it the ability to survive in an unforgiving desert for thousands of years. From Sports Simone Biles will not compete in the uneven bars or vault event finals. She is still eligible for the finals in the floor exercise and the balance beam. From Latinx Opinion | The Spectacle of Latinx Colorism The idea of sameness can devastate as much as it can connect.  From Books to Read A Brief History of Summer Reading We rarely talk about spring books or winter reading. What is it about summer that inspired a whole genre of its own? From China Those Virus Sequences That Were Suddenly Deleted? They’re Back Chinese researchers have uploaded genetic sequences of coronaviruses to a scientific database more than a year after they took them offline. THAT’S IT FOR TODAY Help us find the best stories for you. Choose your interests To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to the Times|Get the NYT app Change Your Email|Privacy Policy|Contact|Advertise|California Notices The New York Times Company 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018