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U.S. stocks fell Monday as investors faced another medley of earnings and evaluated the outlook for interest rates following January's blowout jobs report.

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) closed down 0.6%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) edged a modest 40 points, or 0.1%, lower. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) declined 1%.

Dell Technologies (DELL) said Monday it would eliminate about 6,650 jobs, or roughly 5% of its global workforce, making it the latest in a wave of technology companies to announce layoffs. Shares fell 3% on Monday.

In a memo to employees, co-Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clarke said the company is grappling with market conditions that "continue to erode with an uncertain future."

Elsewhere in stock moves, Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) shares spiked as much as 115%, rising above $6.50 as a recent rally in the meme stock gains momentum.

In other pockets of the market, the U.S. dollar edged higher for a third consecutive day after surging 1% following Friday's jobs report.

Oil prices rose, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude up 1.4% to $74.40 per barrel.

The moves Monday come after stocks dropped in the previous trading session but closed higher for the week. Despite Friday's declines, equity markets have been on an uptrend this year. In 2023 to date, the S&P 500 is up 7.7% as of Friday's close, the Nasdaq 14.7% after rising for five straight weeks, and the Dow 2.4%.

Whether this momentum can be sustained will be a big focus of the week ahead, especially after the government's monthly jobs report showed payrolls rose by 517,000 last month. For investors, this dampened prospects the Federal Reserve may pause raising interest rates this year, an expectation that has fueled this year's rally.

"Job creation in January was eye-popping and contrary to the market narrative earlier in the week of the Fed not only pausing but reversing course and lowering interest rates later this year," BMO Wealth Management’s chief investment strategist Yung-Yu Ma said in a note. "Unless this labor market strength turns out to be a one-month blip, the hawks on the Fed are likely to dig in and keep rates higher for longer."

Meanwhile, even as the earnings season slows, Wall Street will have a docket of financials to parse through this week. Among names set to be most closely watched are Walt Disney (), Uber Technologies (), PayPal (), and PepsiCo ().

Spring season is around the corner, and there are lots of March happenings that will take place (and you might want to celebrate some of these events especially if they’re relevant or personal to you).

Some March Happenings That You Might Like to Observe

Women should be celebrated every month of every year. But this March is specially dedicated to them — to remind us that women achieved (and will continue to achieve) so much more compared to last year. And by recognizing their contributions, more women will be motivated to strive for success — whether it be as big as what women in the music industry are doing right now, or as simple as becoming a self-sustaining momtrepreneur.

Self-harming is a dangerous behavior. In the past few years, it’s been observed that more teens and young adults are engaging in this type of negative coping behavior. This March 1, we can take the time to ponder how we can help these people get out of their gloomy skies.

This 2nd of March, the state of Texas will be commemorating its 187th year of independence from Mexico. We can look back on Texas’ rich history this March to remind us and honor the ones who fought for independence — so that the state can be declared the Republic of Texas.

Animals aren’t exactly having the time of their lives right now. Hence, why we should observe World Wildlife Day — to remind us that we share the planet with them. As the species who somehow had to do something with the destruction of their habitation, we also have the capability to rebuild and protect their homes — and ultimately, their lives. Celebrate these beautiful animals this March 3.

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic that we’re yet to eradicate. Many Americans suffer from this. As a result, people who suffer from obesity are prone to health problems that range from mildly uncomfortable to fatal ones. On the 4th of March, we can learn more about how we can prevent obesity and how to get people (especially the ones we know and love) out of this — most of the time — preventable condition.

Time to get your Irish luck this March 17 for St. Paddy! Most states (especially the ones with huge Irish influences, culture, and roots) celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in their own ways — who said you had to be from Boston, Chicago, or New York? Attend a parade, grab a drink, or watch a sport! Do just about anything fun!

If you’re a pet parent, you’re probably wondering why National Puppy Day is even a thing. We all know these pooches make it a point that every day is their day! However, some of their fellow Fidos don’t have a human to “own” (or terrorize). This March 23, let’s put these wonderful pups in the spotlight. If you’re looking for ways to change your life for the better, you can adopt a pup — it’ll also change their lives thanks to you!

Earth Hour has been going on for a couple of years now; it’s a movement that the World Wildlife Fund initiated back in the early 2000s. This March 25, let’s give Mother Earth (and our eyesights) a rest for a bit. You can switch off as many electric devices as you can for one hour — starting from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Go ahead and participate! Let’s slow down climate change — you can contribute for the better, even if you don’t think it’s that huge of a difference!

If you think about it, none of the freedom we have right now would be possible without the people who bravely fought hard for it — and the American (and allied) soldiers did their best when they were battling against Communism during the Vietnam war. In one American POW cell in Vietnam, written there are the words, “Freedom has a taste to those who fight and nearly die for it, that the protected will never know.” Let’s make sure this March 29, we thank our veterans who courageously fought for our rights.

Get Ready For March Happenings!

March is more than the start of the spring season. It’s also a month where we can “march” for extremely relevant celebrations, observances, and movements. There are far too many March happenings to not find which one you’d like to celebrate the most — but why not celebrate all of it?

Ever wonder what slasher movies are really about, or ponder the role of the creep in mass entertainment?

Do you stay awake at night mulling over the musical legacy of The Grateful Dead?

If so, you might want to check out some of many programs presented during the 44th Southwest Popular/American Culture Association Conference in Albuquerque Wednesday through Saturday. More than 70 subject areas, ranging from film director Alfred Hitchcock to ‘Star Trek’ to Wonder Woman to zombie culture, will be covered.

The conference is open to the public at a cost of $125 for the four days. But don’t show up expecting to see people costumed as the Green Lantern or the Scarlet Witch.

“We are an academic association,” said Tamy Burnett, conference coordinator and the organization’s treasurer. She said 700 to 800 people — independent scholars and university/college professors, graduate students and undergraduates — attend the conference to pursue a cerebral approach to music, movies, novels, comics, television and such genres as fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery and suspense.

Noir and games

Burnett is a professor in the honors program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and teaches a course there called Sitcoms and Social Change, which delves into such TV series as “I Love Lucy” (1951-57), “The Brady Bunch” (1969-1974) and “The Golden Girls” (1985-1992).

“The course looks at gender, race, sexuality, disability, socio-economic status and family structure on television,” she said.

That gives you an idea of the nature of programs at this week’s conference. Participants engage in roundtable discussions on such topics as “The Creep in Popular Culture” and “What the Slasher Movie Means,” and present papers titled ” ‘Welcome Home, Mr. Bailey’: Christmas Movies in the Postwar Era” and ” ‘Star Trek’ and a Changing American Culture.”

“It’s a good conference because it is a nice mix of established scholars and also a good opportunity for new scholars to get their feet wet,” said David Sweeten, associate professor of English at Eastern New Mexico University. He is one of a team of ENMU teachers and students who will be at the conference.

“It’s an opportunity to put various interests into conversations with each other,” Sweeten said.

Just because it’s studious in nature doesn’t mean the conference is dull.

Noir Film Night on Wednesday presents the classic 1949 movie “The Third Man,” starring Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten; Thursday evening is game night; and on Friday there’s a screening of a “Mystery Science Theater 3000” episode featuring eccentric movie director Ed Wood’s “Bride of the Monster,” starring Bela Lugosi and Tor Johnson.

And who could resist a session titled “Drums in the Deep: The Monstrous and Fantasy Fiction”?

Distant menace

Sweeten, who is moderator of the “Drums in the Deep” session, said the title refers to harrowing sounds heard by the fellowship of heroes in J.R.R. Tolkien’s foundational fantasy work “The Lord of the Rings.”

“The sense of distant menace coming closer increases the threat even before the (demonic monster) Balrog appears,” Sweeten said.

The “Drums in the Deep” session, which includes presentations by ENMU graduate students Fabian Sisneros, Cristina Mosetty, Cody Wilhelm and Audra Bagwell, and ENMU undergraduate Sierra Beverly, is derived from a class Sweeten taught at the university.

Science fiction and fantasy literature play a vital role in ENMU’s curriculum because of Jack Williamson (1908-2006), a prominent writer in those genres who was a professor at the university and donated a significant collection of science fiction and fantasy to the school.

“We create opportunities for our students to engage with this collection,” Sweeten said. “We are trying to keep (Williamson’s) legacy going as best we can.”

Sweeten said the theme of the “Drums in the Deep” conference session is how monstrous elements affect narrative in fantasy.

“The driving narrative for fantasy tends to be a component that is monstrous — either literal or metaphorical monsters,” he said.

In Wilhem’s paper about folklore’s wife-murdering figure Bluebeard, patriarchal power is a bigger monster than the killer husband. The monster in Bagwell’s paper, based on Peter Beagle’s fantasy novel “The Last Unicorn,” is the domination of marginalized groups.

Mosetty is a San Antonio, Texas, resident who takes online classes at ENMU and is working on a horror novel that will be her master’s thesis. Her conference paper was inspired by New Mexico science fiction and fantasy author Rebecca Roanhorse’s 2020 novel “Black Sun.”

One thing about “Black Sun” that appealed to Mosetty is that the novel’s setting is inspired by the civilizations of pre-Columbian America, rather than the more typical European fantasy realms of knights, elves and dragons. Another thing she appreciated was Roanhorse’s distinctive characters.

“I argue in my paper that ‘Black Sun’ is a novel where characters are deeply affected by stories surrounding their identities and their cultures,” she said. “What makes (the characters) monstrous is the stories that are told about them.”

True heart

Sweeten will join ENMU languages and literature department colleagues Micah Donohue and Ben Fuqua in a conference session titled “Adaptation of Fantasy and the Fantasy of Adaptation.”

“It’s about the different takes on fantasy works in film and on television,” Sweeten said. He is looking at Amazon Prime Video’s adaptation of Robert Jordan’s “Wheel of Time,” a series of high-fantasy novels. He said fans get hung up on adaptations being true to the books.

“The ‘Wheel of Time’ books and the series are subtle retellings of the Arthurian tales,” he said. “The tales of King Arthur and his knights are told over and over, but they are always being changed. It’s not about being true to what you are adapting, but about being true to the heart of what you are adapting.”

If you go

WHAT: 44th Southwest Popular/American Culture Association Conference.

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 22, through Saturday, Feb. 25. For full schedule go to southwestpca.org, click on “conference,” then on “conference programs” and then on “program 2023 final.”

WHERE: Albuquerque Marriott, 2101 Louisiana NE.

COST: General public can pay $125 registration fee, covering entire conference, at the hotel.

More from Ollie Reed Jr.

By Joshua Meyer | Reporter

As we experience longer, colder winters and increasingly warmer summers, one must take a step back and ponder some possible solutions to the very real problem of global climate change — one being a change to electric vehicles.

According to the Department of Transportation website, the U.S. federal government is making strides to curb the use of high-emissions vehicles by the public, promoting a policy that they hope will result in half of the cars purchased in the year 2030 to be electric vehicles. If that is to be the case, then Baylor University must also do its part in promoting the use of electric vehicles by installing the proper charging stations across campus.

As of today, Baylor does not possess the proper charging stations that are necessary for sustained use of electric cars around its campus, with the closest supercharging station being a 5-mile drive north of Waco in Bellmead. According to Electrek, a company that compiles news regarding the change from fossil fuels to renewable energy, as of today, the state of Texas boasts 5% of the total national electric vehicle registrations. That number is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years with the influx of residents from California, a state that currently holds 42% of these electric vehicle registrations.

With that being said, there’s already been a noticeable increase in the use of electric vehicles by students on campus over the past few years alone. If Baylor hopes to promote the use of electric vehicles on its campus, then it must invest in the proper facilities to maintain the use of these cars.

According to J.D. Power, the cost of installing these electric charging stations is relatively cheap in comparison to the cost of the irreparable damage done by the emissions produced by gas and diesel vehicles. The ethical argument for promoting low-emissions vehicles isn’t the only incentive Baylor would gain from the installation of these charging stations, because as of 2023, the university would also receive significant corporate tax credits for this action as well.

If Baylor hopes to maintain its image as an innovative institution, then it must start by making these small steps that will no doubt lead to big change for our school, and our planet. It’s decisions like these that will help us to continue to carve the right path as we move ahead into the future.

Throughout 2023, the Smithsonian will be issuing multiple publications, presenting public programming and displaying manuscripts and objects based on material from the collection of the self-taught ethnographer, biographer and documentarian Robert “Mack” McCormick.

On April 4, Smithsonian Books will release Biography of a Phantom, a book on the life and legacy of blues musician Robert Johnson that was left unfinished and unpublished at the time of McCormick’s death. The publication offers new insights into the life of one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

On Aug. 4, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings will release Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack McCormick, 1958 – 1971, a three CD/six LP box set of previously unheard field recordings from McCormick’s archive that includes a 128-page book of photographs from the collection and essays by leading blues scholars from the Smithsonian and beyond.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will exhibit items from the collection beginning June 23, and the display will run for two years. More public programming and events will follow.

A link is available to listen to “Train Roll Up” by Leroy “Country” Johnson and Edwin “Buster” Pickens from Playing for the Man at the Door.

McCormick collected materials related to vernacular music and musicians, especially the blues, in Texas and the surrounding areas beginning in the 1950s, eventually amassing one of the world’s most significant and wide-ranging archives of its kind. McCormick’s collection contains 590 reels of sound recordings, which now reside with the Smithsonian Folkways label, and 165 boxes of materials, totaling more than 70 cubic feet of unpublished manuscripts, original interviews and research notes, thousands of photographs and negatives, playbills, posters, maps, booking contracts and business records, which now reside with the National Museum of American History. The physical materials will be available to researchers beginning this summer.

The holdings in this collection offer a glimpse into a rarely discussed time and place in African American history, and these upcoming projects give voice to often overlooked communities and individuals while acknowledging the problematic elements of how the recordings and objects were collected.

“McCormick’s field recordings allow us to ponder the possibilities, power dynamics, problems and promise associated with interactions between ‘folklorists’ and ‘the folk,’ between a white collector and mostly Black artists, at a time and in places where Jim Crow traumas continued to prevail,” said John Troutman, curator of music at the National Museum of American History, co-producer of Playing for the Man at the Door and editor of Biography of a Phantom.

“As McCormick sought to find the next commercially viable Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter or Mississippi John Hurt, what he found was far more sublime—a rich tapestry of voices by people who had entertained their families, neighbors and communities long before and long after folks like McCormick came knocking. Although many of the people featured in McCormick’s collection were little known beyond their intimate circles of family, friends, co-workers, fellow buskers, nightclub patrons and church congregants, the musical traditions they nurtured and sustained, cultivated and innovated, will continue to nourish and prompt contemplation for all who hear their voices.”

“Biography of a Phantom”

When blues master Johnson’s little-known recordings were rereleased to great fanfare in the 1960s, little was known about his life, giving rise to the legend that he gained success by selling his soul to the devil. On April 4, Smithsonian Books will publish Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey, McCormick’s all-consuming search, from the late 1960s until his death in 2015, to uncover Johnson’s life story. McCormick spent decades reconstructing Johnson’s mysterious life and developing theories about his untimely death at the age of 27, but never made his discoveries public. Smithsonian Books will publish this compelling work, Biography of a Phantom, for the first time, including 40 unseen black-and-white photographs documenting McCormick’s search. More information and how to preorder the book are available.

“Playing for the Man at the Door”

On Aug. 4, Smithsonian Folkways will release Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack McCormick, 1958 – 1971, a three CD/six LP box set of previously unheard field recordings from McCormick’s archive. Recorded everywhere from nightclubs to prison farms, these 66 performances capture a wide range of African American musicians in the region McCormick dubbed “Greater Texas”—Western Louisiana, East Texas and sections of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Because McCormick never published or released most of these materials, his collection became a thing of legend and intense speculation among scholars, blues aficionados and musicians alike. This set, the first drawn from this fabled collection, features never-before-heard performances not only from musicians who became icons in their own right—including Lightnin’ Hopkins and Mance Lipscomb—but also, crucially, performers whose names may be unfamiliar to even the most devoted blues fans and scholars. The 128-page liner notes feature essays from producers Jeff Place and Troutman on McCormick’s life, McCormick’s daughter Susannah Nix on growing up surrounded literally and figuratively by her father's massive collection, and musicians and scholars Mark Puryear and Dom Flemons on the marginalized communities to which McCormick devoted his life’s work. Flemons writes, “With his collection now part of the Smithsonian, we may benefit from the awe-inspiring performances captured by Mack McCormick’s microphone. Playing for the Man at the Door is a reminder that we still have a lot to learn about the blues.” Information on preordering the set is available as well as the tracklist and additional information.

National Museum of American History’s Upcoming Display

“Treasures and Trouble: Looking Inside a Legendary Blues Archive” will feature highlights from the recently acquired, one-of-a-kind archive documenting the blues as compiled by McCormick. The display will be prominently featured in the museum’s Archives Center exhibition cases. The late McCormick built one of the world’s largest and most significant blues archives, with research materials on hundreds of artists beginning in the 1950s, and the collection contains items dating well before that. The display will ask visitors to consider questions such as how has history been told and who has done the telling?

Smithsonian Books

Smithsonian Books publishes a select list of trade nonfiction and illustrated books. Our publishing program covers categories where the Smithsonian’s authority is unparalleled, such as history; natural history; science and technology; space, aviation and military; art; and signature illustrated books, as well as works based on museums, collections and artifacts. For more than 175 years, the Smithsonian has been guided by its mission of “the increase and diffusion of knowledge,” and we build on this powerful tradition in our book publishing. Smithsonian Books are distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services; our titles are available wherever books are sold.

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the “National Museum of Sound,” makes available close to 60,000 tracks in physical and digital format as the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian, with a reach of 80 million people per year. A division of the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the non-profit label is dedicated to supporting cultural diversity and increased understanding among people through the documentation, preservation, production and dissemination of sound. Its mission is the legacy of Moses Asch, who founded Folkways Records in 1948 to document “people’s music” from around the world. For more information about Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, visit folkways.si.edu.

National Museum of American History

Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History seeks to empower people to create a more just and compassionate future by examining, preserving and sharing the complexity of our past. The museum, located on Constitution Avenue N.W., between 12th and 14th streets, is open daily except Dec. 25, between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Admission is free and passes are not required. The doors of the museum are always open online and the virtual museum continues to expand its offerings, including online exhibitions, K–12 educational materials and programs. The public can follow the museum on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. For more information, go to https://americanhistory.si.edu.

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