The Ultimate Guide to Crypto Finance. DeFi, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies. Level up. Go bankless.

Inside Gary Gensler’s SEC: A Conversation with Former Crypto Policy Advisor Corey Frayer

Bankless

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Inside Gary Gensler's SEC Approach to Crypto: Corey Frayer, former Senior Advisor on Crypto Policy at the SEC, explains that the agency's approach wasn't anti-crypto but focused on treating economically identical activities consistently. He challenges the misconception that the SEC favored traditional finance, noting his own history of criticizing banks following the 2008 crisis.

The Evolution of SEC Crypto Policy: The SEC's focus shifted from targeting individual ICOs under Jay Clayton to addressing platforms trading potential securities under Gensler. Frayer describes early efforts to invite crypto platforms to register with the SEC, aiming to create a "competitive advantage" for compliant platforms rather than pursuing endless enforcement actions.

Core Philosophical Divide on DeFi: A fundamental disagreement exists about what constitutes true intermediary-less finance. Frayer argues that while pure peer-to-peer transactions are outside SEC jurisdiction, once entities become intermediaries or raise capital in traditional ways, they must follow securities laws like everyone else. The crypto industry counters that startups need flexibility to build toward decentralization.

Uniswap and Code as Speech: The SEC's case against Uniswap highlights the disagreement over when code becomes an exchange. Frayer rejects the argument that open-source code deployed on-chain automatically escapes regulation, arguing that identifiable entities developing, updating, and profiting from the protocol should be accountable under securities laws.

Defining Securities and Howey Test Application: Frayer defends the flexible Howey test approach, arguing that rigid definitions would create a "roadmap around securities laws." He emphasizes that the SEC viewed the "offering and selling" of tokens as securities transactions rather than claiming the assets themselves were inherently securities.

Investment Protection vs. Innovation: The SEC's mission of investor protection, according to Frayer, doesn't mean preventing risk but ensuring consistent rules and disclosures. He argues that sound regulation ultimately strengthens markets rather than harming them, citing how regulated US financial markets became the strongest globally after initial resistance.

Conflicts of Interest and Vertical Integration: A major sticking point was the SEC's refusal to allow crypto platforms to combine exchange, custody, and other functions—practices prohibited in traditional finance since the Great Depression. Frayer points to FTX's collapse as validation of this concern about consolidated business models.

The GENIUS Act and Stablecoins: Frayer criticizes the GENIUS Act, arguing that stablecoins represent centralized entities offering private currencies without appropriate regulation. He predicts traditional payment companies will exploit this regulatory gap, undermining consumer protections.

SAB 121 Accounting Guidance: Defending the controversial accounting guidance requiring crypto assets to be reported on balance sheets, Frayer argues it addressed legitimate questions about bankruptcy treatment. He notes some banks created clarity around custody treatment and were exempted from these requirements.

SEC Enforcement Consistency and Precedent: Frayer criticizes the current SEC under Paul Atkins for dropping enforcement actions, arguing this undermines institutional credibility. He notes that courts view the SEC as a continuous 90-year institution, making dramatic policy reversals problematic.

The Political Dimension of Crypto Regulation: Regarding claims that Gensler's approach cost Democrats the election, Frayer dismisses the idea that crypto issues were decisive. He expresses concern about Trump's shift from viewing crypto as a "scam" to embracing it after getting involved in the business, suggesting potential corruption.

The Future of Crypto Regulation: Frayer believes effective regulation would strengthen rather than harm crypto markets by building trust. He argues that as crypto activities increasingly resemble traditional finance, they cannot claim exemption from established rules that maintain market integrity.
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What does it mean to live a good life? Is it about happiness, health, friendship, love, or meaning? What about work, wealth, purpose, service, or something else? Can you live a good life even when things are hard? These are the questions and topics we explore every week in conversation with leading voices from health, science, art, industry, mindset, and culture, like Brené Brown, Matthew McConaughey, Mel Robbins, Alex, Elle, Adam Grant, Elizabeth Gilbert, Yung Pueblo, Maya Shankar, Mitch Albom, Glennon Doyle &amp; hundreds more. The New York Times says, "the show’s holistic approach to fulfillment is bound to resonate." Listen now! Hosted on Acast. See&nbsp;<a href="http://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a>&nbsp;for more information. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Hope, Not Fear: New Conversations on Cancer Breakthroughs | Future of Medicine [Ep. 6]

Good Life Project

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Cancer as Multiple Diseases, Not Just One: Cancer is not a single disease but hundreds of distinct conditions with different molecular profiles. This understanding has evolved from viewing cancer as one disease in the 1960s-70s to recognizing that even cancers originating in the same organ (lung, brain, etc.) have different molecular subtypes. This differentiation is critical because treatments can now be tailored to the specific molecular aspects of a patient's cancer, making them more effective and better tolerated.

Earlier Detection and Intervention: A revolutionary approach is emerging focused on identifying and treating cancer in pre-cancerous stages. Cancer develops as a process over time, with early states that are not yet cancer but not normal either. New technologies like genomic tests and improved radiology can detect these early changes, potentially allowing intervention before cancer fully develops. This "interception" approach could dramatically reduce cancer incidence.

Advances in Precision Diagnosis: Making a correct, precise, and molecularly informed diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment. Modern tools like molecular sequencing and advanced pathology provide granular information about a patient's specific cancer, allowing doctors to create more personalized treatment plans. This molecular understanding not only informs immediate treatment but helps plan for alternative approaches if needed.

AI's Transformative Role in Cancer Care: Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing cancer diagnosis and treatment by amalgamating more information than the human brain can process alone. AI algorithms provide decision support, helping healthcare providers make more informed choices. They can pre-screen radiology and pathology images, allowing specialists to handle more cases efficiently. AI may also help discover new aspects of cancer biology by analyzing massive datasets.

Immunotherapy Breakthroughs: Harnessing the patient's own immune system represents a major advancement in cancer treatment. This includes drugs that activate the immune system, vaccines that teach it to attack cancer, and cellular therapies where patient cells are modified to become cancer killers. These approaches are transforming previously untreatable cancers into manageable or even curable conditions.

Evolving Cancer Prevention: While specific lifestyle changes can reduce cancer risk in some cases, the science continues to evolve. Taking control of health factors like diet, exercise, and metabolic parameters may benefit patients with pre-cancerous conditions. New tools like GLP-1 agonists that improve metabolic health may potentially impact cancer incidence, though long-term data is still emerging.

Next-Generation Treatment Technologies: Cancer treatment is evolving rapidly with new chemical biology approaches that can target proteins in previously impossible ways, CRISPR technology, gene therapy, and more sophisticated biological manipulation. The pace of innovation is accelerating, with research breakthroughs moving from concept to clinical application faster than ever before.

Challenges in New Detection Methods: While technologies like liquid biopsies (detecting cancer through blood tests) and full-body MRIs show promise for early detection, they still need refinement. Current challenges include providing enough specificity to guide next steps clearly and avoiding unnecessary biopsies or procedures that carry their own risks. As these technologies mature, they may revolutionize early cancer detection.

Team Science Driving Progress: Cancer breakthroughs increasingly come from collaborative efforts between basic scientists and clinicians. This team approach, combining laboratory research with clinical expertise, accelerates the translation of discoveries into treatments. Supporting creative, fearless researchers willing to take risks and work together is critical to continued progress.

Changing Cancer Incidence Patterns: Cancer prevalence continues to evolve. Some cancers are increasing in younger populations (like colon cancer) for reasons not yet fully understood. Conversely, as people live longer due to advances in treating other diseases like cardiovascular conditions, age-related cancers are becoming more common. Understanding these changing patterns is crucial for future prevention and treatment strategies.
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Find your purpose, build your network and make money doing what you love with Earn Your Happy, a motivation-packed podcast! You’ll think bigger, dig deeper and gain the confidence to go for your (world dominating) goals.
Each week, learn how to get to the next level personally and professionally with host Lori Harder, best-selling author, investor, multi-passionate entrepreneur, and founder of Glōci, for which Lori raised over $2 million through the strong network she has built.
Lori will give you a vulnerable, behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of growing a business, the toll it can take on your relationships and mental health, and how to support yourself through it all so you can reach your massive goals. Be mentored through your earpods on the topics of starting and scaling a company, building a personal brand, manifestation, boundaries, money, fear, relationships and taking the next big leap in life. Get the inside scoop on who you need in your circle, how to find them and the lies you need to stop believing to be successful. You’ll laugh, cry and feel like you’re not alone in the journey.
Follow Lori @loriharder on Instagram for more inspiration and behind-the-scenes of how she is building Lite Pink. This podcast is sponsored by GrowthDay and part of the GrowthDay Podcast Network: https://growthday.com/podcasts.

Turn Low-Ticket Offers Into Millions (The $27 Funnel That Built an 8-Figure Business) with Maria Wendt

Earn Your Happy

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Traffic Is The Only Thing That Matters In Your Business: Maria Wendt emphasizes that traffic (eyeballs on your offer) can solve virtually any business problem. If you send enough people to your checkout page, your business will grow regardless of optimization issues. Many entrepreneurs waste time on small tweaks when they should focus on generating more eyeballs on their offers. Traffic is the foundation of sustainable sales.

Low-Ticket Business Model That Scales to 8 Figures: Maria has built an 8-figure business selling only low-ticket courses (around $27-$200). She has had multiple $850,000 months selling inexpensive courses. Her business focuses on helping millions of people make a little bit of money rather than helping a few people make millions. This approach allows her to reach a massive customer base while maintaining a small team of about 8-9 people.

The Pricing "Dead Zones" To Avoid: Effective low-ticket products should be priced at $17, $27, $47, $57 or up to $200. Maria warns against the "pricing dead zone" of $250-$1,000 - these products are not cheap enough for impulse buys but not expensive enough to justify the sales infrastructure needed for high-ticket items. Pricing in this zone typically leads to poor conversion rates.

SamCart and 6-25% Conversion Rates: Maria attributes much of her success to using SamCart for her checkout pages and funnels. Her overall conversion rate is around 6% (industry average is 1-2%), with some pages converting as high as 25%. SamCart's platform is optimized for conversions with features that make it easy to add order bumps, which can turn a $27 sale into a $400 sale through strategic upsells.

The Rule of Five Ones for 7-Figure Success: To hit seven figures, Maria teaches the "Rule of Five Ones" - solve one problem for one target market with one product on one platform for one year. Every student who has followed this rule has hit over a million dollars. Most entrepreneurs make the mistake of launching multiple products too early, which dilutes their focus and prevents mastery of marketing.

Copy That Converts to Sales: In low-ticket offers, copy can literally turn words into money. The two main reasons why copy doesn't sell well are: 1) People aren't clear on what they'll get, and 2) People aren't clear on why they should buy now. Effective copy clearly communicates both the benefit/end result and creates urgency for immediate purchase.

Minimal Course Content Is More Effective: For low-ticket offers, less is more. Maria's courses typically contain around 11 videos of about 7 minutes each. She puts the best, most valuable content first since most people don't complete courses. The goal is to deliver the promised result in as little content as possible while being extremely specific about what problem you're solving (e.g., "Selling with Instagram Stories" rather than a vague "Instagram Academy").

The 4-Post-Per-Day Instagram Strategy: Maria grew from 300K to 600K Instagram followers in one year by consistently posting 4 times daily: a reel at 7am, a nurture carousel at noon, a selfie reel at 3pm, and a studio reel (podcast clip or professional content) at 5pm. Consistency is more important than quantity - she recommends starting with one consistent post and gradually building up rather than posting inconsistently.

Content Creation Systems That Scale: With a content assistant, Maria's workflow focuses on repurposing existing content across platforms. She aims to stay about a week ahead on content, but admits they're often just a day ahead. The key is making the upload schedule non-negotiable while being flexible about how it happens. Most of her work (80-90%) is just creating content, as the sales systems are automated.

From High-Ticket to Low-Ticket Pivot: After getting pregnant and later going through an unexpected divorce, Maria pivoted from high-ticket coaching ($3K-$72K) to low-ticket courses to have more time with her daughter. While the initial transition required as much work for a $27 sale as for a high-ticket sale, it eventually became much more automated, allowing her to spend 80-90% of her time with her daughter while earning $30K+ daily.

Ads Strategy for Beginners: Maria encourages her students to start running ads immediately, even at just $5/day. This approach helps overcome limiting beliefs around advertising (especially common among women) and can generate sales within 24-48 hours, providing the momentum to keep going. She spends about $300,000 monthly on ads with a 2.5 return on ad spend.

Low-Ticket Supporting High-Ticket Businesses: For high-ticket entrepreneurs wanting to add low-ticket offers, Maria advises understanding that typically only about 2% of low-ticket customers will ascend to high-ticket. However, low-ticket offers can pay for themselves, cover ad costs, create brand goodwill, and still provide a consistent stream of high-ticket customers when done at scale.
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Start your day with The Athletic NBA Daily – a fast, entertaining recap of the most important games and stories from the world of professional basketball with new episodes dropping Monday through Friday. Hosted by Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and Esfandiar Baraheni with regular appearances by The Athletic’s award-winning NBA reporters. Andrew Schlecht and Alex Spears cap the week with the full-length Saturday Slam n’ Jam episode.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

LeBron is back + NBA Cup Preview

The Athletic NBA Daily

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Cleveland Cavaliers Struggling to Find Their Identity: The Cavaliers are underperforming compared to last season, lacking physicality and consistency. Despite having talented players like Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, the team often relies too heavily on individual heroics rather than cohesive team play. Injuries to key players like Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland have contributed to their struggles, but as Zena points out, many teams are dealing with similar challenges this season.

LeBron James Defying Age Despite Health Issues: Despite being diagnosed with arthritis in his foot and dealing with sciatica, the 41-year-old LeBron James put up an impressive 29-point performance against the 76ers after taking a game off for rest. The Lakers' offense flows efficiently with the trio of LeBron, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves creating easy opportunities for teammates like Rui Hachimura.

Orlando Magic Hit with More Injury Woes: Just as Paolo Banchero returned from injury, the Magic lost Franz Wagner to a knee injury and potentially Jalen Suggs to a groin injury. This creates significant challenges for their offense heading into their NBA Cup quarterfinal against Miami, as Wagner is a key driver of their offensive engine and an underrated defender.

NBA Cup Quarterfinal Predictions: The hosts analyze the upcoming NBA Cup quarterfinals, with most agreeing that the Thunder (currently 23-1) will easily handle the Suns, and the Lakers should defeat the Spurs. The Heat-Magic and Knicks-Raptors matchups are expected to be more competitive, with opinions split among the hosts on who will advance to the semifinals in Las Vegas.

Thunder's Incredible Start Despite Missing Key Players: Oklahoma City has maintained their dominance even without star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, demonstrating remarkable depth and consistency at 23-1. Their "plug and play" system has allowed them to overcome injuries that would significantly impact other teams.

Lakers' Offensive Firepower: The Lakers' offense has become increasingly potent with the combination of LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reeves, making it "too easy" for them to score. Their ability to create for each other and for role players like Rui Hachimura makes them a dangerous playoff matchup for any team.
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For thousands of years, Kabbalists have been studying on a daily basis for their and humanity's spiritual progress. Continuing this tradition into today's globally connected world, the Bnei Baruch Kabbalah Education & Research Institute, studies daily from authentic Kabbalistic sources, with commentary by Dr. Michael Laitman. (Audio)

08 Dec 25 11:38 UTC; Work with Faith Above Reason

Daily Kabbalah Lesson (Audio)

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Connecting Through Unity for Spiritual Development: The podcast opens with reflections on a recent Unity Day event that brought together many groups from around the world, creating a warm atmosphere of love and connection that gave participants strength and hope.

The Goal of Kabbalah Study: The ultimate purpose is to become "Adam" (similar to the Creator) by transforming the desire to receive into a desire to bestow. While humans naturally consist of the desire to receive pleasure, the work involves clothing this desire with an external behavior oriented toward bestowal.

Faith Above Reason: A central concept discussed is working with "faith above reason," where faith represents the form of bestowal and reason represents the desire to receive. The spiritual work involves elevating bestowal above reception through intention.

The Role of Obstacles in Spiritual Growth: The podcast emphasizes that obstructions in spiritual work come from above and serve a purpose. These obstacles are not random but are precisely calibrated to each person's ability to overcome them, creating opportunities for growth and connection with the Creator.

Dependence on the Creator's Help: Unlike material pursuits where one can succeed through personal efforts alone, spiritual advancement requires the Creator's help. The obstacles deliberately placed in our path are designed to make us needy of divine assistance, forcing us to turn to the Creator in prayer.

The Power of the Ten (Group Work): Working in groups of ten is highlighted as essential for spiritual development. When individuals connect their "sparks of sanctity" within a group setting, they create a vessel for revealing the Creator and generate the proper prayer needed for spiritual advancement.

Returning to Our Spiritual Root: The podcast discusses how each person was once part of the collective soul of Adam Rishon before its shattering. Our work now is to reconnect these scattered sparks through proper connection with others, awakening from the "dream" of our current reality to recognize our true place in the spiritual system.

True Prayer as the Path to Victory: When people genuinely ask the Creator to transform their desire to receive into a desire to bestow, the Creator says "My sons have defeated me." This represents the ultimate victory where creation becomes similar to the Creator through proper intention.

Building a Dwelling Place for the Creator: Through proper connection in groups of ten, participants aim to build a system of relationships where the Creator can be revealed. The essence of their connection must be directed at the Creator, forming a state similar to the Creator's state, which allows for divine revelation.

From Recognition to Correction: As individuals develop spiritually, they experience increasing recognition of their egoistic nature. This awareness isn't meant to discourage but to create opportunity for correction through proper support from the group and prayer to the Creator.
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The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

David Rutherford Show: “The Biggest Election Scandal in U.S. History” — Ralph Pezzullo Reveals the Global Conspiracy Undermining America

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

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- Voting Machine Manipulation Origins: In 1998, after Hugo Chavez's election in Venezuela, he faced a referendum in 2004 where polls showed he would lose. With guidance from Fidel Castro, Chavez hired three Venezuelan computer engineers to develop software for electronic voting machines that could manipulate election results undetectably. After successfully stealing the election, Chavez gave them $200 million to perfect the software for use throughout Latin America.

- Global Election Fraud Network: The three Venezuelan engineers founded Smartmatic in Boca Raton, Florida in 2006, bringing their election manipulation software to the United States. Through corporate shell games and strategic acquisitions including Sequoia and later Dominion Voting Systems, they maintained control of the source code while hiding Venezuelan government ownership. Today, Smartmatic runs elections in 72 countries worldwide.

- Cartel del Sol and Criminal Financing: Chavez nationalized Venezuela's oil industry and created a massive drug trafficking organization called Cartel del Sol using the Venezuelan military. Working with partners in Bolivia and Colombia, they developed a trillion-dollar criminal enterprise that funds their global operations. This money, along with financial support from China, Iran, and Russia, finances their election manipulation efforts worldwide.

- U.S. Intelligence Compromise: The investigation uncovered evidence that foreign agents infiltrated U.S. intelligence and government agencies. Frank Holder, described as a Cuban agent who became the paymaster for Cartel del Sol, positioned himself to control major U.S. security companies and provided misleading intelligence. After the 2020 election, the Trump campaign unknowingly hired Holder's Berkeley Research Group, which concluded there were no electoral irregularities.

- USAID Involvement: U.S. taxpayer funds were used to promote Smartmatic's voting systems globally through USAID grants totaling $8-9 billion given to an organization called the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPS). U.S. embassies pressured foreign governments to adopt these compromised systems against their will.

- First U.S. Target: According to Pezzullo, the first U.S. election targeted by this system was the Democratic primary when Barack Obama ran against Hillary Clinton. Despite Clinton's prominence and Obama being a first-term senator, the election was allegedly manipulated in Obama's favor using the Venezuelan-developed software.

- Government Response: Despite early warnings from a U.S. Representative and embassy officials questioning Smartmatic's origins, no significant action was taken. California engineers evaluated the software and reported it appeared designed to steal elections, but these warnings were largely ignored. According to Pezzullo, recent investigations by the FBI and DOJ under the Trump administration confirmed the whistleblowers' findings, but official action has been slow.

- Book Publication Challenges: Pezzullo's book documenting this investigation was initially contracted with a major publisher, who later backed out claiming legal concerns despite no lawsuits materializing from previously released videos on the topic. Pezzullo ultimately self-published the book in September 2023.

- Whistleblower Credentials: The investigation was led by Gary Berntsen, described as one of the greatest CIA operations officers of his generation, and Martín Rodil, characterized as the greatest source the DEA ever had. They initially discovered the election fraud while investigating money laundering in Venezuela, when their sources revealed the parallel operation to manipulate elections.

- Hybrid Warfare Strategy: The election manipulation is described as part of a broader "hybrid warfare" strategy by Venezuela, Cuba, China, Iran and Russia to destroy the United States from within. By controlling elections, these countries can install leaders who will implement policies favorable to their interests without resorting to traditional military confrontation.
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Want financial freedom through real estate investing? Then the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast is for you. Sit down every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with Dave Meyer, the Head of Real Estate at BiggerPockets, as he uncovers tried and true tactics and shares candid conversations with real estate investors who are building wealth in today’s market. Join Dave to walk through deals that went right (and wrong) and learn the strategies you can deploy—start growing your side income today to take control of your financial future. 

2026 Home Price Predictions: The Correction Continues?

BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast

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• 2026 Home Price Prediction: The Great Stall: Dave Meyer predicts home prices in 2026 will be between -4% and +2%, with a personal lean toward -1% to -2% year-over-year growth. This "Great Stall" prediction represents his base case scenario with about 50-60% probability.

• Affordability as the Key Driver: The housing market is primarily driven by affordability, which is at 40-year lows. This affordability crisis consists of three key factors: high home prices, high mortgage rates, and wages. While people still desire to buy homes, many simply cannot afford to do so.

• Real vs. Nominal Prices: Dave feels confident that "real" home prices (adjusted for inflation) will decline in 2026, even if nominal prices remain flat or rise slightly. With inflation at around 3%, even a 1% increase in nominal prices would represent a 2% decline in real home prices.

• The Quantitative Easing X-Factor: The biggest potential upside case (30% probability) would be quantitative easing after May 2026 when Jerome Powell's term as Fed Chair ends. This could push mortgage rates down to the 5-5.5% range, increasing affordability and potentially driving prices up 2-7%, though not to the extreme appreciation seen during COVID.

• Downside Risk Scenario: There's a smaller possibility (about 10%) that affordability worsens if inflation stays high or increases and mortgage rates rise again. In this scenario, prices could drop 5-10%, though a major crash remains unlikely without widespread forced selling.

• Investment Strategy for Uncertainty: Dave recommends preparing for the Great Stall while protecting against downside risks and positioning to take advantage of potential upsides. This means being patient, picky, and conservative when buying properties.

• Focus on Long-Term Assets: In this market, investors should focus on properties they want to hold for 5-10 years, ensuring they cash flow within a year of stabilization. This approach allows investors to weather market fluctuations while still benefiting from cash flow, tax advantages, and mortgage amortization.

• Lower Appreciation Expectations: Dave advises investors to adjust their mindsets to care less about short-term returns, particularly appreciation. He believes investors can still achieve 7-12% returns without market appreciation through cash flow, tax benefits, amortization, and value-add strategies.

• Why Buy Now vs. Wait: While some might consider waiting for better conditions, Dave argues that quality deals producing good cash flow are worth pursuing now. This keeps investors in the market to benefit from any upside, while still providing solid returns through cash flow, amortization, and tax benefits even if appreciation is slow.

• Conservative Underwriting Is Key: In this uncertain market, Dave emphasizes the importance of underwriting deals conservatively, being selective about purchases, and focusing on properties that would make sense to own even if prices declined for a year or two after purchase.
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The Business of Biotech is the pod dedicated to leaders of emerging biopharma firms. SUBSCRIBE to our new newsletter at www.bioprocessonline.com/bob. We bring you insight into organizational, finance and funding, HR, clinical, manufacturing, regulatory, and commercial challenges you’ll face as you navigate your company from an idea to success in the clinic and beyond. Each episode features guest commentary and best practices from accomplished founders and biopharma industry luminaries. The Business of Biotech is produced by Life Science Connect.

Engineering B Cells With Immusoft's Sean Ainsworth

Business Of Biotech

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- From Naval Service to Biotech Entrepreneurship: Sean Ainsworth started his career in the Navy before studying microbiology at UCSD with help from the GI Bill. After lab work in stem cell modification, he transitioned to business, citing the realization that bench work wasn't his long-term calling. His first entrepreneurial venture, Compendia Bioscience, was acquired by Thermo Fisher for $50 million.

- RetroSense Therapeutics and the Innovation in Optogenetics: Ainsworth founded RetroSense Therapeutics, which developed the first optogenetic approach to enter clinical trials for vision restoration in retinal degenerative disorders. Despite launching during the 2008-2009 economic downturn, the company was acquired by Allergan for $555 million after dosing its first patient. The team raised only $15 million in total funding, which was modest by industry standards.

- Immusoft's Engineered B Cell Platform: At Immusoft, Ainsworth is developing autologous B cell therapies that overcome limitations of traditional gene therapies. Their approach engineers a patient's own B cells to produce therapeutic proteins, avoiding the need for immunosuppression or myeloablation that's required with viral vector or stem cell approaches. The process differentiates B cells into plasma cells, which naturally produce thousands of proteins per second.

- Advantages of B Cell Therapy for MPS1: Immusoft's lead program targets MPS1, a lysosomal storage disorder. Unlike current enzyme replacement therapies requiring weekly four-hour infusions, their approach may provide continuous 24/7 protein delivery with potential annual dosing. Their first patient showed significant improvements including a 240-meter enhancement in a six-minute walk test and major pain reduction.

- Manufacturing and Redosing Capabilities: The Immusoft process takes cells from the patient via apheresis, engineers them over a one-week culture period, conducts sterility testing for three weeks, and returns them to the patient for a one-hour infusion. Unlike AAV gene therapies which trigger immune responses preventing redosing, engineered B cells can be readministered, making them particularly valuable for pediatric patients who need treatment that grows with them.

- Strategic Pipeline Development: After MPS1, Immusoft is advancing MPS2 and exploring other lysosomal storage disorders as well as more ambitious therapeutic areas like Parkinson's, obesity, diabetes, oncology, and autoimmune diseases. Their strategy involves establishing proof-of-concept in orphan diseases first, then partnering for larger indications while retaining core programs in-house.

- Regulatory Environment for Cell and Gene Therapies: Ainsworth notes the FDA has been evolving with the science, implementing innovative pathways for cell and gene therapies. Immusoft's MPS1 program received fast track designation, and the company has secured regulatory alignment on pivotal trial design. Ainsworth highlighted the importance of reinstating the Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher program, which can provide significant financial incentives (vouchers worth ~$150 million) for companies developing treatments for rare pediatric diseases.
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In a world of short-form content, it's important to engage with long-form ideas. Book Overflow is a podcast created for software engineers, by software engineers to discuss the best technical books in the world. Join co-hosts Carter Morgan and Nathan Toups each week as they discuss a new technical book! New episodes every Monday!

Will Larson Reflects on Staff Engineer

Book Overflow

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Industry Context for Staff Engineer Role: Will Larson wrote "Staff Engineer" mostly in 2020 (published 2021) during a period of rapid tech company growth. He observed many companies promoting people to staff engineer titles without clear understanding of what the role should entail. Many engineers mistakenly believed becoming a staff engineer meant gaining more freedom to ignore leadership, when the reality is that senior roles require even more alignment with organizational needs.

Anti-Patterns in Staff Engineering: Larson identifies several problematic behaviors that derail staff engineers, including "preening" (high visibility but low impact work), "snacking" (working on easy, rewarding tasks while avoiding difficult completions), and "chasing ghosts" (applying outdated knowledge to new contexts). Successful senior engineers need to maintain conviction about reality while still aligning with leadership's vision.

The Challenge of Career Progression: Achieving staff-level roles requires understanding that higher authority comes with narrower acceptable paths for using that authority. Larson emphasizes that the most successful engineers are those who can see reality clearly and have strong convictions, while still effectively collaborating with leadership who may have different perspectives.

Mentorship vs. Sponsorship: The book distinguishes between mentorship (guidance) and sponsorship (actively advocating for someone's advancement). Sponsorship is often underemphasized but critical for career advancement. Larson suggests that while companies may not consistently provide these relationships, engineers can proactively create learning communities to fill this gap.

Learning Circles as Professional Development: Larson shares his experience creating "learning circles" - small groups of peers who meet regularly to discuss professional challenges. He's maintained one such group for over five years, with a format where participants briefly share challenges and then collectively discuss selected topics, focusing on personal experiences rather than direct advice.

Making Strategic Migrations Successful: When considering technical migrations (like moving off a monolith), Larson advises that many migrations aren't worth doing unless there's a concrete problem being solved. He recommends structuring projects to fail fast if they're going to fail, starting with something easy, then testing with something hard to validate the approach early rather than leaving difficult parts for the end.

The Right Hand Archetype: Among the staff engineer archetypes described in the book (Tech Lead, Architect, Solver, and Right Hand), the "Right Hand" role particularly surprised many readers. This role functions as a force multiplier for senior leadership, but requires high organizational visibility to be effective - which is why Larson advocates for having senior engineers report directly to engineering leadership.

Developing Engineering Intuition: One underutilized tactic for staff engineers is simply asking questions about why things are done certain ways. When starting new initiatives, asking "is there something I'm missing?" can prevent wasted effort. Larson emphasizes restructuring projects to get feedback quickly, rather than building for months only to discover fundamental flaws.

Navigating Frequent Job Changes: While switching jobs provides exposure to different engineering approaches and prevents fixating on "one true way," Larson notes that staying in roles long enough to see the consequences of decisions is also valuable. He highlights how even staying at the same company can feel like working at multiple companies during periods of hypergrowth (like when Uber grew from 200 to 2,000 engineers in two years).

Book Structure and Impact: The inclusion of real engineers' stories forms the heart of "Staff Engineer," moving beyond Larson's personal opinions to showcase diverse paths to staff roles. These stories helped dispel myths like the necessity of a "staff project" for promotion, and provided models that readers could connect with regardless of their specific career trajectory.
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I paesi asiatici hanno una vita politica e culturale che ne determina l'identità e la proposizione internazionale. Solo che il più delle volte siamo portati a parlarne sulla base di immagini stereotipate, superficiali e che non rappresentano la realtà. Anziché considerare gli Stati asiatici pedine in mano alle principali potenze, paesi esotici e misteriosi, “Altri Orienti” propone una narrazione asiatica dei fatti del mondo per gettare uno squarcio approfondito su quanto accade all'interno di quei mondi, come evolvono i loro conflitti sociali, le novità tecnologiche, le tendenze culturali e la propria “visione del mondo”. L'Asia è ormai una grande potenza demografica, economica, culturale e militare: quello che succede in quella parte del mondo finirà per avere delle conseguenze anche sulle nostre società e le nostre vite.


ALTRI ORIENTI è un podcast di Chora News prodotto da Chora Media.
E' scritto da Simone Pieranni.
La cura editoriale è di Francesca Milano.
La supervisione del suono e della musica è di Luca Micheli.
La post produzione e il montaggio sono di Daniele Marinello.
La producer è Martina Conte.
Musiche su licenza di Universal Music Publishing Ricordi Srl e di Machiavelli Music

EP.45 - Il video del generale che non obbedì alla legge marziale

Altri Orienti

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• Video evidence of General Xu Qinxian's refusal to enforce martial law: A historic document has been released showing the trial of Major General Xu Qinxian, who commanded the 38th Army Group of the People's Liberation Army. The video confirms that Xu refused to lead troops to enforce martial law in Beijing during the 1989 student protests.

• The 38th Army's prestigious status: The 38th Army of the People's Liberation Army was considered one of the most important and prestigious military units in China, stationed near Beijing. Its prestige derived largely from its past accomplishments, which made Xu's refusal even more significant.

• Xu's moral courage: Joe Feng, Executive Director of Human Rights in China, noted that Xu's actions reflected moral courage. The video provides first-hand evidence confirming anti-martial law sentiments within the military, corroborating that many soldiers in Beijing did not support the crackdown.

• Details from the military prosecutor's document: The video includes accusation document #90 from the Beijing military prosecutor of the People's Liberation Army. It states that Xu had been appointed commander of the 38th Army Group on September 1 and was relieved of his command on May 23, 1989, after refusing orders.

• Xu's reasoning for refusal: When ordered to deploy troops to Beijing, Xu expressed that such action should be discussed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the State Council. He argued that the order lacked proper state authorization and was inappropriately issued only in the name of the party, stating that "history will judge" whether such action deserves merit or condemnation.

• The military's judgment: The military judges concluded that Xu's defiance of martial law orders interrupted the deployment of troops, encouraged the arrogance of violent elements, increased difficulties for troops carrying out required duties, seriously damaged the political reputation of the army, and caused extremely negative political influence nationally and internationally.
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Everton FC podcasts from the Liverpool ECHO, including our main Royal Blue show with Joe Thomas, Chris Beesley, Connor O'Neill, Paul Wheelock, Ian Croll and Gavin Buckland.

How realistic are Everton's European aspirations following Nottingham Forest win?

Royal Blue: The Everton FC Podcast

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- Everton's Resounding Victory Over Nottingham Forest: Everton secured a commanding 3-0 win against Sean Dyche's Nottingham Forest at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Blues got off to a perfect start with an own goal inside 82 seconds, before Tierno Barry scored his first goal for the club just before halftime, and Kieran Drewsbi-Hall wrapped things up 10 minutes from time.

- Tierno Barry's Breakthrough Moment: Barry's first goal for Everton was a significant milestone after several months of hard work without scoring. The celebration showed his relief and the collective joy throughout the stadium. There's hope this goal will be a springboard for the young striker who had previously shown his goal-scoring ability in Spain with Villarreal.

- Kieran Drewsbi-Hall's Impact in Midfield: Through circumstances rather than design, Everton may have discovered an excellent box-to-box midfielder in Drewsbi-Hall. After playing as a number 10 initially, injuries have forced him into a deeper role where he has flourished, potentially giving Everton a new dimension with a midfielder who can both create and score.

- Tarkovsky Controversy: James Tarkovsky was fortunate to avoid a red card for an incident in the 11th minute, with Nottingham Forest subsequently filing a complaint to the PGMOL. While praised for his defensive contributions and leadership, there are concerns about Tarkovsky's tendency to engage in unnecessary physical confrontations that could put Everton in trouble in future matches.

- European Aspirations: The win briefly lifted Everton to fifth in the Premier League table. While the hosts acknowledge European qualification might be more unlikely than likely, the team is 12 points better off than at the same stage last season, showing significant progress. Even finishing in the bottom half without relegation concerns would represent improvement as young players like Barry continue to develop.
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Monday through Friday, Marketplace demystifies the digital economy in less than 10 minutes. We look past the hype and ask tough questions about an industry that’s constantly changing.

Using AI chatbots for mental health support poses serious risks for teens, report finds

Marketplace Tech

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- Teen Reliance on AI Chatbots for Emotional Support: More than half of teenagers are using AI chatbots for companionship according to new research from Stanford and Common Sense Media. Many teens are engaging with these systems for purposes beyond academic assistance, seeking emotional support and connection.

- Safety Guardrails Deteriorate in Extended Conversations: While chatbots often respond appropriately to initial mental health-related prompts (like suicidal thoughts) with scripted responses directing users to resources like the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, these safety mechanisms tend to break down during longer conversations. The chatbots frequently miss warning signs across multiple messages and become distracted by tangential details.

- Sycophantic Responses Provide Unhealthy Relationship Models: Dr. Darja Djordjevic notes that chatbots' tendency to be overly agreeable and validating doesn't model healthy human relationships. This poses developmental concerns as young people are still learning social skills, how to read facial cues, and build authentic relationships.

- Failure to Recognize Serious Mental Health Warning Signs: Researchers found concerning examples where chatbots missed clear indicators of mental health issues. In one simulation of a user with bulimia who mentioned self-induced vomiting, the chatbot recommended consulting a gastroenterologist rather than recognizing the eating disorder warning signs and suggesting appropriate mental health resources.

- Recommendation Against Teen Usage: The report concludes that teens should not use chatbots for mental health support as the risks outweigh potential benefits for those under 18. Though this recommendation may be difficult to implement given how ubiquitous these tools have become, researchers emphasize the need for education and regulation.

- Multi-Pronged Approach Needed: Dr. Djordjevic calls for a comprehensive strategy involving adult guidance, surveillance, and regulation of AI chatbot use. Parents, teachers, counselors, and mental health professionals need to advise young people about the limitations of these tools and steer them toward appropriate human support resources.
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AppStories is a weekly exploration of the world of apps by MacStories' Federico Viticci and John Voorhees. Each week, they discuss the best new apps, the impact of apps on our culture, and cover the stories behind popular apps. Hosted by Federico Viticci and John Voorhees.

Vibe Coding Your Own Productivity Tools

AppStories

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Vibe Coding: Definition and Origins: Vibe coding refers to using LLMs (Large Language Models) to create code by describing what you want in plain language rather than writing the code yourself. The term originated from Andrej Karpathy (former OpenAI co-founder) who described building personal projects by communicating with LLMs without paying much attention to the actual code.

Professional Vibe Coding vs. Actual Software Development: Federico and John emphasize that while vibe coding is great for personal projects, it's inappropriate for commercial software. They criticize self-proclaimed "professional vibe coders," noting this is an oxymoron since commercial software requires understanding the underlying code, maintenance, security, and customer support.

LLM-Assisted Coding vs. Vibe Coding: The hosts distinguish between vibe coding (by non-programmers) and LLM-assisted coding used by professional developers. Professionals like Simon Willison and Harper Reed use AI to accelerate their work while still understanding the code, serving as "orchestrators" of AI agents rather than just trusting the output blindly.

Shared Workflow for Building Tools: Both hosts use a similar process: 1) Brainstorm ideas in Claude, 2) Create comprehensive documentation and plan, 3) Use Claude Code (often with GitHub) to build the project, 4) Iterate on the solution. They emphasize starting with small, focused projects before expanding features.

Federico's Chrome Extension Project: Federico built a menu bar app for macOS and a Chrome extension that lets Chromium browsers run Shortcuts with input from webpages - something normally only Safari can do. The app accesses the private Shortcuts database and coordinates with the browser extension.

John's Python Scripts: John created several Python tools, including a CSV splitter for analyzing large data files and a 1400-line Amazon deal analysis script that scores deals based on Mac Stories preferences and filters out noise to create curated lists.

Benefits of Building with LLMs: Both hosts have created tools for various platforms including JavaScript for Drafts actions, plugins for Typin Mind, and Notion integrations. These projects would have previously taken much longer through traditional copy-paste from Stack Overflow.

Future of Vibe Coding in 2026: The hosts predict that friction in app creation will continue to decrease, with the emergence of "alternative app stores" and social platforms for sharing AI-generated apps. They believe Apple's revised mini app rules anticipate this trend, and Swift Playgrounds could evolve into an "AI playground" for vibe coders.

The Value Proposition: For Federico and John, vibe coding allows them to create tools they wouldn't have otherwise built due to time constraints or technical barriers. While these tools still take time to build and refine, they don't require learning entire programming languages or APIs from scratch.
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In the Teach 4 the Heart podcast, Linda Kardamis shares ideas and inspiration to help you overcome your teaching challenges and make a lasting difference in your students’ lives. 

Designed for Christian teachers in both public and private schools, Teach 4 the Heart strives to present every discussion from a Biblical perspective.

Season 1 will discuss classroom management. Future season's topics TBA but will likely include work/life balance, how our faith should affect our teaching, and more.

366: 8 Truths to Encourage Your Heart During Conflict

Teach 4 the Heart

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- Conflict is Normal and Expected in Teaching: When facing difficult situations with parents, colleagues, administrators, or students, it's important to remember that trials and sufferings are to be expected. The Bible teaches that we will experience challenges, and these difficulties are used by God to develop our character and make us more like Him.

- Identity is Found in Christ, Not in Teaching: Though teaching is an important role, it doesn't define your core identity. When you allow your job to become your identity, any criticism or challenge to your teaching feels like an attack on who you are. Remember that your citizenship is in heaven and your worth comes from being God's workmanship.

- Your Worth is Determined by God, Not Others: When facing criticism, remember that your value isn't defined by what others say about you. God calls you chosen, holy, righteous, and dearly loved. This truth should anchor you when others' words try to define you negatively.

- You Can't Control Others, Only Your Response: You aren't responsible for others' actions, but you are responsible for how you respond. God will give you the grace to respond with love, humility, patience, and forgiveness, regardless of how you're treated. Colossians 3:12-14 provides guidance for responding to difficult situations.

- Differing Opinions Don't Mean You're Wrong: Just because someone disagrees with your methods doesn't necessarily indicate you're in error. You can listen with grace and reflect with humility without losing confidence in yourself. Sometimes people simply have different opinions, and that's okay.

- God's Strength, Not Yours, Is Sufficient: You don't have to depend on your own strength or abilities. Unlike the world's message of "you are enough," the Gospel teaches that Christ is enough, and His strength is made perfect in weakness. When you feel inadequate, remember that God will enable you with His grace and strength.

- God Is in Control and Good: Even when situations are difficult and don't make sense, you can trust that God is in control. His goodness is constant, and you can choose to rest in that truth during challenging circumstances.

- The Christian Life Is Meant to Be Lived in Community: God designed faith to be lived out with others. When struggling, reach out to someone in your church, a friend, or a colleague. Allow them to speak truth into your life as you do the same for others.
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The Thomistic Institute exists to promote Catholic truth in our contemporary world by strengthening the intellectual formation of Christians at universities, in the Church, and in the wider public square. The thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Universal Doctor of the Church, is our touchstone.

The Thomistic Institute Podcast features the lectures and talks from our conferences, campus chapters events, intellectual retreats, livestream events,  and much more. 

Founded in 2009, the Thomistic Institute is part of the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC.

The History of Devotion to Mary: She Who Leads Us to Jesus – Fr. John Langlois, O.P.

The Thomistic Institute

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Biblical Foundations of Marian Devotion: All Catholic teaching and devotional practices concerning Mary are rooted in Scripture. Key biblical references include the Annunciation in Luke where the angel addresses Mary as "full of grace" (foundation for her sinlessness), the wedding at Cana where Mary intercedes with Jesus, Jesus entrusting Mary to John at the cross (making her the mother of all disciples), and her presence with the apostles at Pentecost.

Mary as the New Eve: Early Church Fathers Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (2nd century) developed the parallel between Eve and Mary. While Eve's disobedience brought death, Mary's obedience brought salvation through Christ. This parallel complements St. Paul's portrayal of Christ as the New Adam who undoes Adam's disobedience through his perfect obedience.

Early Marian Devotion and Prayers: The 3rd century Egyptian prayer "Sub Tuum" ("We fly to your protection") is one of the earliest Marian prayers that acknowledges Mary as Mother of God and invokes her protection, showing how early Christians accepted Jesus's gift of Mary as their mother.

The Theotokos Controversy: In the 5th century, Nestorius questioned whether Mary should be called Theotokos (God-bearer). The Council of Ephesus in 431 formally approved this title, affirming Mary as truly the Mother of God. This led to the dedication of the first basilica to Mary in Rome in 432.

Development of the Rosary: The Rosary developed during the High Middle Ages (1000-1300), a period of intense Marian devotion when Gothic cathedrals were being built across Europe, most dedicated to Mary. It emerged in a context that was both Marian and Christ-centered, with new religious orders like the Dominicans and Franciscans seeking to live evangelical lives.

The Lay Psalter: Early forms of the Rosary involved counting 150 prayers (either Our Fathers or Hail Marys) on beads, corresponding to the 150 Psalms that monks would chant. This became known as the "Lay Psalter," allowing illiterate people to participate in a form of prayer that paralleled monastic practices.

Evolution of the Rosary Structure: Blessed Alan de la Roche, a Dominican, promoted dividing the 150 Hail Marys into groups of ten, with each group punctuated by an Our Father, combining the traditions of the Our Father and Hail Mary Psalters.

The Rosary Mysteries: By the late 15th century, picture book rosaries began appearing, depicting 15 scenes from the life of Christ to meditate on while praying. The 1483 Ulm picture book established the standard three sets of mysteries: Joyful (Jesus's childhood), Sorrowful (Christ's Passion), and Glorious (events following the Passion, including Mary's Assumption and Coronation).

Completion of the Modern Rosary: The second half of the Hail Mary prayer ("Holy Mary, Mother of God...") wasn't added until the 16th century by Dominican Pope St. Pius V, completing the Rosary's development into its modern form.

Spiritual Value of the Rosary: The Rosary is a powerful prayer because it draws us closer to Jesus through Mary. When we pray the Rosary, we both call on Mary for intercession and are led by her to a deeper relationship with Christ through meditation on the mysteries that summarize God's love and mercy.

The Rosary as a Tool for Spiritual Growth: By meditating on the virtues exemplified by Christ and Mary, we are drawn to imitate them in our own lives. Even when we cannot fully meditate, the Rosary serves as a spiritual "hotline" to heaven, bringing peace and reminding us of Mary's maternal presence.
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Seeking Alpha's flagship Wall Street Breakfast provides investors an overview of key investment news every morning and afternoon. Transcripts: seekingalpha.com/wsb

IBM to buy Confluent in further AI push

Wall Street Breakfast

<answer>
• IBM's Acquisition of Confluent: IBM is in advanced negotiations to acquire Confluent, a real-time data infrastructure company, for approximately $11 billion. This acquisition would strengthen IBM's position in hybrid cloud and AI by incorporating Confluent's data streaming technology, helping IBM compete more effectively against AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. Confluent, founded by the creators of Apache Kafka, specializes in managing real-time data streams critical for AI models and enterprise automation.

• Pharmaceutical Companies Enter China's Private Insurance Market: Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson have secured positions in China's first innovative drug catalog for private insurance. The program includes 19 medicines for conditions like cancer, Alzheimer's, and rare genetic disorders. Additionally, Eli Lilly's diabetes drug Mounjaro will be added to China's state-run health insurance starting January 1st. The new program aims to make expensive medications more accessible through private commercial plans with negotiated discounts of 15-50%.

• Trump Administration's Farmer Aid Package: The Trump administration is preparing to roll out a $12 billion aid package for U.S. farmers affected by trade tariffs and low crop prices. The program will primarily benefit producers of soybeans, pork, and other commodities facing retaliatory measures from major trading partners. Most of the aid (up to $11 billion) will come as one-time payments under the Department of Agriculture's New Farmer Bridge program.

• Market Trends and Upcoming Events: Stock index futures are slightly higher in pre-market trading, with the final Fed meeting of the year scheduled for Wednesday. A quarter-point rate cut is expected, though there could be up to five dissents. Other notable events include the announcement of Golden Globe nominations amid Netflix's proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner Brothers assets.
</answer>

Don’t Let Their Name Fool You—Sea Slugs Are Awesome

Science Friday

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- Sea Slugs: Diverse and Beautiful Marine Mollusks: Sea slugs are a diverse group of marine mollusks related to garden snails and slugs. Unlike their terrestrial relatives, sea slugs have evolved to live without shells and display vivid colors and intricate patterns. There are an estimated 10,000 different species, ranging from quarter-sized creatures to species weighing up to 30 pounds.

- Remarkable Adaptations and Abilities: Sea slugs have evolved extraordinary abilities to survive without shells. Some can suck fluids from fish, others live in open water as "sea butterflies," and remarkably, some species can detach their heads from their old bodies and regenerate entirely new bodies in just a week or two—making them the most advanced organisms known to have this regenerative ability.

- Specialized Diet and Defensive Strategies: Each sea slug species typically eats only one type of toxic food source (like sponges, corals, or seaweeds), allowing them to concentrate these toxins in their bodies as defense mechanisms against predators. This high specialization is why there are so many different species—they don't compete with each other for food, unlike generalist predators like sharks.

- Kleptoplasty: Borrowing Photosynthesis: Some sea slugs perform a remarkable trick called "kleptoplasty" where they consume seaweed, extract the chloroplasts, and incorporate these plant organelles into their own cells. The chloroplasts remain active for weeks or even months, allowing the sea slugs to photosynthesize and obtain energy from sunlight—essentially functioning as part plant, part animal.

- Complex Reproductive Biology: All sea slugs are simultaneous hermaphrodites (both male and female at the same time), leading to elaborate reproductive systems and behaviors. Some engage in mutual fertilization, while others have evolved "hit and run" mating through hypodermic insemination, injecting sperm anywhere on another slug's body. Larger species like sea hares release pheromones that attract others for group mating scenarios.

- Contributions to Neuroscience: Sea hares (a type of sea slug) have unusually large neuromuscular junctions that are visible to the naked eye, making them invaluable for studying nerve cell function. Eric Kandel won a Nobel Prize for his research on sea hares, studying how nerve cells record experiences as memory—work with potential implications for understanding neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

- Potential Medical and Technological Applications: The unique chemistry of sea slugs has already led to FDA-approved cancer drugs, and researchers believe there's potential for more medical applications. Additionally, studying how sea slugs maintain chloroplasts may lead to improved biophotovoltaic cells and solar energy technology.
</answer>

You don't have to be born a Genius to become one. Follow health and science journalist, New York Times bestselling author, TV personality and nutrition expert Max Lugavere as he speaks to the most insightful minds of our time about what it means to live like a Genius.

532: The Best Foods to Boost GLP-1 Naturally and Lose Fat, and the Hidden Triggers to Avoid | Sal di Stefano

The Genius Life

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Faith, Purpose, and Self-Care: Sal Di Stefano shares how finding faith has been the most impactful thing in his life, highlighting the importance of having a strong purpose that guides your values. He emphasizes approaching fitness from a place of self-care rather than self-punishment, which naturally leads to balance in your health journey.

Processed vs. Natural Experiences: Ultra-processed foods are compared to pornography - both provide intense, artificial stimulation that doesn't satisfy natural needs. Just as pornography is a processed version of sex, social media is a processed version of human connection, and both can lead to addiction and disconnection from healthier, more fulfilling experiences.

The Effortlessly Lean Framework: Following two simple rules can help most people achieve a healthy body composition: avoid ultra-processed foods and consume your target body weight in grams of protein (eating protein first at meals). This approach works because protein provides superior satiety, naturally regulating appetite and supporting both fat loss and muscle preservation.

Protein Priority for Women: Women have historically received less messaging about protein importance, with more emphasis on fiber. Sal notes that women would particularly benefit from focusing more on protein intake, while men might need more fiber - the opposite of typical gender-based nutrition advice.

Finding Freedom Through Discipline: True freedom comes from health, not from unrestricted eating. Eating healthy isn't restrictive - it's liberating because it frees you from poor health, mental fog, and hormone disruption. Over time, you naturally begin to crave foods that make you feel good, not just foods that taste good.

GLP-1 Drugs and Muscle Preservation: For those using GLP-1 medications, proper strength training and protein intake are crucial to prevent muscle loss. Without these, up to 40% of weight lost can come from muscle. Protein shakes and creatine supplementation become especially valuable for GLP-1 users due to reduced appetite making it difficult to consume enough protein.

Training Intensity and Individual Needs: Strength training requires intensity to be effective, but this looks different depending on experience level. Beginners can make significant gains with minimal intensity, while experienced trainers might need to approach failure (2 reps in reserve) for continued progress. The goal should be finishing a workout with more energy than you started with.

The Power of Gratitude Practice: Sal shares how setting a silent alarm to note things he's grateful for throughout the day has transformed his outlook. This practice trains the brain to notice positive experiences that might otherwise be filtered out, as our minds are naturally wired to focus on negative or anxiety-inducing stimuli.

"Raw Dogging" Boredom: Modern technology has eliminated boredom from our lives, but younger generations are now challenging themselves to sit with boredom intentionally. This practice of sitting without stimulation for periods of time (what Gen Z calls "raw dogging boredom") can be valuable for mental resilience.

Finding the Right Coach: A good coach provides accountability with grace, helping you develop a relationship with fitness that feels good rather than punitive. The ideal coach has both education and experience and knows how to guide you through setbacks while keeping you on track toward sustainable health habits.
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The only Melbourne Victory based podcast, made by fans for fans. Mon the Vuck.

S11 Ep9 - Vs Macarthur FC

For Vuck's Sake

<answer>
- Disappointing Draw Against Macarthur: Melbourne Victory played to a 0-0 draw against Macarthur FC in a lifeless match that saw Victory generate chances but fail to convert any. While they didn't lose or concede, this extends their scoreless streak to four games, tying a club record from the past.

- Team Stuck in a Quagmire: The hosts describe Melbourne Victory as being in a dire situation under manager Arthur Dillas, comparing the team to a "mouldy lemon" and expressing frustration with the current state of the club. They sit at the bottom of the A-League table, now distinctly last rather than just equal last.

- Chances Created But Not Converted: A recurring theme in Dillas' tenure is that the team creates chances but fails to finish them. The hosts debate whether this is a coaching issue or a player quality problem, with some arguing Victory is "bottom of the league for big chances and big chances missed."

- Tactical Concerns: The podcast hosts suggest Dillas needs to make tactical changes, potentially moving to a two-striker formation or trying different player combinations up front. The current single-striker approach doesn't appear to be working, and the team needs more directness in attack.

- Manager's Future in Question: The hosts previously agreed Dillas should be replaced but question whether Victory will make a change mid-season. They discuss potential replacements like John Aloisi but note Victory isn't as attractive a destination for managers as it once was due to the club's recent history of struggles.

- Home Form Struggles: It was noted that Melbourne Victory hasn't won at home since March, a span of six home matches, highlighting their ongoing struggles at their own stadium.

- Women's Team Update: The Melbourne Victory women's team lost 3-1 to Canberra, though Kennedy White continues her scoring streak. Unlike the men's side, this isn't seen as "panic stations for this champion side."

- Looking Ahead to Adelaide United: The team will face Adelaide United in their next match, which the hosts view as a critical fixture. If Victory doesn't win this game, they believe "the season is absolutely done." Their predictions range from a 1-1 draw to a 2-1 Victory win to a 1-0 Adelaide victory.
</answer>

A pacy round-up of the day’s main news stories, anchored from London by a Monocle editor. The show features informed reporting, prescient business analysis and invaluable industry reports covering everything from technology to aviation and retail to media.

European leaders huddle with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky

The Briefing

<answer>
- Ukraine's Diplomatic Challenges: President Zelenskyy is meeting with European leaders in London after weekend talks between Ukrainian and American officials in Miami. The US appears to be increasingly siding with Russia's view, with Trump suggesting Ukraine is the problem rather than Russia. Meanwhile, Europe has been largely excluded from these negotiations.

- Security Guarantees as the Key Issue: European nations are now faced with the challenge of providing security guarantees for Ukraine, something that wasn't addressed in the Miami talks. A decisive European stance is needed, potentially including pledges to put boots on the ground to guarantee any ceasefire.

- Ongoing Military Pressure: Russia has increased its territorial gains in Ukraine (capturing 200 square miles in November), though this represents only about 1% of Ukraine's territory since November 2022. More significant are Russia's attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure during winter and the psychological pressure these place on civilians.

- Trump's Shifting Foreign Policy: The new US national security strategy positions America as a broker between Europe and Russia, with alarming rhetoric suggesting Europe faces "civilizational erasure." This doctrine effectively sidelines Europe and forces European nations to assert themselves independently.

- One Year After Assad in Syria: Syria is marking one year since the fall of Bashar Al-Assad after 14 years of war. While there's jubilation in the streets, the country still faces high inflation, resource shortages, and episodes of sectarian violence. The current government presents itself as interim, but questions remain about future elections.

- Al-Sharra's Remarkable Transformation: Syria's current president Ahmed Al-Sharra (formerly Abu Mohamed Al-Jelani) went from having a bounty placed on his head by the Pentagon to being welcomed at the White House. He faces challenges balancing relations with the West and the jihadist elements that helped bring him to power.

- Hotel101's Standardized Hospitality Model: This Filipino-Singaporean hotel group is expanding globally with a standardized "Happy Room" concept, creating what they call "the Big Mac of hospitality." While rooms are identical across properties, they localize amenities and facilities to create unique experiences at each location.
</answer>

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