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EZRA LEVANT | Carney's buzzword economics proves he doesn’t have a clue

Rebel News Podcast

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Mark Carney's Economic Approach Criticized as Theoretical and Ineffective: Despite his impressive academic credentials and experience at institutions like Goldman Sachs, the Bank of Canada, and the Bank of England, Carney is criticized for being a theoretician who has never run a business or participated in capitalism directly. His speech is filled with buzzwords like "catalyze" and "transformative investments" rather than addressing practical economic concerns.

New Major Projects Office Viewed as Adding Bureaucracy: Carney's "Major Projects Office" is described as another layer of red tape rather than a solution that would streamline regulations. Instead of cutting red tape, it adds more complexity and political interference in business decisions.

Canadian Companies Moving Operations to the US: The example of Nutrien, a Canadian fertilizer company that chose to build its new export terminal in Washington state rather than Canada, is presented as evidence of Canada's failure to create an attractive business environment. The decision reportedly "came down to economics" rather than politics or nationality.

Foreign Investment Questions: While Saudi Arabia is investing up to $1 trillion in the United States, Carney is criticized for merely establishing investment protection agreements with countries like the UAE rather than bringing substantial foreign investments to Canada. His approach appears to focus more on enabling Canadian investment abroad than attracting investment to Canada.

Fighter Jet Procurement Controversy: The discussion examines whether Canada should maintain its signed deal to purchase American F-35 jets or switch to the Swedish Saab Gripen. Breaking the F-35 contract could damage trade relationships with the US, while the Swedish alternative would take about five years longer to deliver and may not provide the same capabilities.

Alberta's Transgender Policy Legislation: Danielle Smith's government in Alberta has invoked the notwithstanding clause to protect three bills related to transgender policies from judicial challenges: prohibiting gender reassignment treatments for minors under 16, requiring parental consent for name/pronoun changes in schools, and limiting women's sports participation to biological females.

Judicial Overreach Concerns: Guest Lorne Gunter points out that the Supreme Court has increasingly struck down provincial laws (from 20% in the first 30 years of the Charter to 60% more recently), making the notwithstanding clause a necessary tool for provincial governments to maintain their legislation against judicial activism.

Carney's International Travel and Priorities: Carney is criticized for spending significant time outside Canada and showing disinterest in domestic priorities like pipelines (which he called "boring" in a clip). His international approach and focus on climate initiatives are portrayed as disconnected from Canada's economic needs.

Pipeline Development Obstacles: The podcast discusses the barriers to building new oil pipelines, noting that the Carney government has established multiple conditions that make pipeline approval unlikely, including obtaining BC's agreement, First Nations consent, significant carbon tax increases, and expensive carbon capture systems.

Concerns About Carney's Ideological Approach: The host expresses worry that Carney is a "true believer" in his economic and climate ideologies, comparing him to "Al Gore as Prime Minister" and suggesting he may be more rigidly ideological than Justin Trudeau was.
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Freakonomics co-author Steve Levitt tracks down other high achievers for surprising, revealing conversations about their lives and obsessions. Join Levitt as he goes through the most interesting midlife crisis you’ve ever heard — and learn how a renegade sheriff is transforming Chicago's jail, how a biologist is finding the secrets of evolution in the Arctic tundra, and how a trivia champion memorized 160,000 flashcards.

Join the Freakonomics Radio Plus membership program for weekly member-only episodes of Freakonomics Radio. You’ll also get every show in our network without ads. To sign up, visit our show page on Apple Podcasts or go to freakonomics.com/plus.

171. Measuring Pollution on Parallel Earths

People I (Mostly) Admire

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- The Devastating Health Impact of Air Pollution: Michael Greenstone's research on China's Huai River policy revealed that people living north of the river (who received free coal heating) had particulate levels 40% higher than those south of the river, resulting in a shocking 3-5 year reduction in life expectancy. This natural experiment demonstrated that air pollution has much more severe health consequences than previously understood, with effects comparable to smoking half a pack of cigarettes daily.

- Translating Research into Understandable Terms: Recognizing that most people don't understand technical air quality measures, Greenstone developed the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), which translates pollution levels into years of life lost. This tool helps citizens understand the stakes and advocate for cleaner air. If air pollution worldwide were reduced to WHO standards, the average person would gain about two years of life expectancy.

- Market-Based Solutions to Pollution: Greenstone implemented a pioneering cap-and-trade system for industrial pollution in Surat, India. Rather than imposing uniform regulations on all plants, the program allowed efficient plants to sell pollution permits to less efficient ones. The result was a 20-30% reduction in emissions at 12% lower cost, with nearly 100% compliance compared to just 67% under traditional regulation.

- Ambitious Real-World Impact: Building on the success in Surat, Greenstone launched the Emissions Market Accelerator with a goal of helping 1 billion people by 2030. This initiative is creating pollution markets across developing countries, where most of the world's air pollution occurs. Unlike many academics who publish findings and move on, Greenstone is focused on implementation.

- Progress on Climate Change: Despite ongoing challenges, Greenstone sees reasons for optimism about climate change. Three factors have improved the outlook: technological advances making renewables cheaper, the fracking revolution displacing coal with cleaner natural gas, and climate scientists revising their estimates of how sensitive the climate is to carbon emissions. Together, these have shifted projections from potentially catastrophic 4-5°C warming to a less severe (though still concerning) 3°C pathway.

- Balancing Environmental Protection and Economic Development: Greenstone expresses discomfort with climate policies that would impose severe restrictions on developing countries. He calls this the "cruelty of climate arithmetic," noting that global emission caps effectively ask the world's poorest people to sacrifice economic growth. He emphasizes the need for practical solutions that balance environmental protection with human wellbeing.

- Finding Purpose at the Intersection of Economics and Policy: Despite initially struggling to communicate effectively in policy circles (nearly getting fired on his second day in the Obama administration), Greenstone has found his purpose at the intersection of academic research and practical impact. Unlike many economists who focus solely on publishing papers, he's committed to ensuring his work translates into real-world improvements in human wellbeing.
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A dive into the top headlines in Chicago, delivering the news you need in 10 minutes or less multiple times a day from WBBM Newsradio.

CTA fire suspect in court; new questions about Safe-T Act

Chicago All Local

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CTA Train Attack Suspect Held in Custody: 50-year-old Lawrence Reed, charged in connection with a Blue Line train attack that critically burned a woman, has agreed to remain in custody for his safety. The attack occurred while Reed was already on electronic monitoring for a previous case.

Prior Case Details Emerge: According to CWB Chicago, Reed was awaiting trial for allegedly attacking a social worker at a western suburbs hospital in August. He was placed on electronic monitoring after a Cook County judge denied prosecutors' request to keep him in custody.

Safe-T Act and Judicial Discretion: The governor defended the Safety Act, stating it was designed to give judges discretion in detaining criminal suspects. He suggested this approach is better than the cash bail system, which allows those with financial means to secure release regardless of public safety concerns.

Mental Health Considerations: While not directly criticizing the judge who handled Reed's previous case, the governor emphasized that judges should take a suspect's mental health history into account when making custody decisions.
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ESPN's NFL Live scoops the latest news and information from deep inside the NFL and deposits it into your ears.

Burrowed Time

NFL Live

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Texans' Defense Stifles Bills: The Houston Texans dominated defensively in their 23-19 win over the Buffalo Bills, sacking Josh Allen eight times. Will Anderson Jr. and Kalen Bullock were standout performers, with Bullock recording two interceptions. The Texans lead the NFL in both yards and points allowed.

Bills' Turnover Troubles: After a 4-0 start, the Bills have gone 3-4 in their last seven games, with turnovers being a major issue. Buffalo has committed nine turnovers in their last three games. Last season, they were +24 in turnover differential (best in the NFL), but they're currently -2 this season, highlighting a significant regression.

Joe Burrow's Injury Status: Bengals QB Joe Burrow is listed as questionable with a turf toe injury, which he's been working through since Week 2. If he plays against New England, he'll need to balance competing at a high level while protecting himself from further injury. The injury affects the plantar plate in his big toe, requiring special footwear modifications.

Eagles vs. Cowboys Matchup: For the Eagles to attack Dallas' inconsistent defense, experts recommend using multiple tight end sets with play-action passing on early downs to exploit the middle of the field. For Dallas, the key is providing enough protection for Dak Prescott to find CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens against Philadelphia's improved pass rush.

Aaron Rodgers' Availability in Question: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers is questionable with a left wrist injury, which affects his ability to take snaps under center. If he can't play against Chicago, Mason Rudolph would start. The Bears are dealing with their own injury issues, with all three starting linebackers ruled out.

Chiefs' Playoff Predictor: At 5-5, the Chiefs have a 53% chance of making the playoffs, but Sunday's game against the 8-2 Colts is critical. A win would boost their chances to 64%, while a loss would drop them to 34%. Kansas City hasn't missed the playoffs since 2014 and is one appearance shy of matching the NFL record for consecutive playoff appearances.

Matthew Stafford vs. Baker Mayfield: Sunday marks the first head-to-head matchup between these quarterbacks, who both rank in the top five in touchdown-to-interception ratio this season. With the Buccaneers missing key defensive players like Jamel Dean, the Rams are expected to be aggressive with deep shots early, particularly targeting Puka Nacua and Demarcus Robinson.

Shadeur Sanders' First NFL Start: Cleveland Browns QB Shadeur Sanders will make his first NFL start against the Raiders. The advice for Sanders is to have a plan for every play, play fast and clean, and move forward in the pocket rather than backing away from pressure.

Packers vs. Vikings Strategy: For the Packers to counter the blitz-heavy Vikings defense, they should feature Christian Watson more prominently, move Jordan Love outside the pocket, and use empty formations to gain pre-snap information. The key is not playing into Brian Flores' defensive strategy by being too conservative.

Texans' Rising Defense: Will Anderson Jr. and the Texans defense showed how a well-coordinated pass rush and tight coverage can shut down even the most talented quarterbacks. The combination of schematic pressure and individual talent at all three defensive levels makes Houston one of the league's most formidable defenses.
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WAR ROOM: Pandemic is the first and most comprehensive program to bring the most up to the minute information on the news of the day. Stephen K. Bannon brings medical experts, politicians, business leaders, and those on the front lines for a comprehensive look at the latest news from all and provide their insider insights.

WarRoom Battleground EP 897: China’s Grip Over UK Political Class Exposed

Bannon`s War Room

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• Chinese Infiltration of UK Political Class: According to the Times of London, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has made "thousands of approaches" to members of the UK political class. Joseph Robertson notes that China has been aggressively pursuing an agenda to extend its influence within British government and civil service for decades, not just to gather secrets but to influence thinking and policy decisions.

• Cultivation and Compromise Strategy: The CCP targets individuals with offers of money or job opportunities, initially seeking low-level information to build trust relationships. Once compromised, these individuals become harder to extricate from these relationships, allowing China to extend its influence across the political system.

• Long-Term Chinese Strategy: Robertson emphasizes that "China never builds for tomorrow, it builds for 100 years from now." Unlike Western short-term thinking, China operates with multi-generational strategic patience, targeting educational systems, natural resources, and digital platforms like TikTok as part of a comprehensive influence operation.

• UK Government's Weak Response: Despite clear evidence of infiltration, the UK government refuses to designate China as an official threat to national security under the National Security Act 2023. Robertson characterizes the government's response as "performative" and "theatrical" rather than substantive.

• Collapse of Legal Cases Against Chinese Spies: The discussion highlights how legal cases against alleged Chinese spies Christopher Cash and Christopher Bowie collapsed because China is not officially designated as a national security threat, which Robertson suggests indicates a deeper unwillingness to confront the issue.

• Bosnia and Herzegovina as a Cautionary Tale: The second half of the episode examines Bosnia and Herzegovina approaching the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Accords. Philip Gaspar explains how this "managed state" remains a protectorate dependent on US and EU support without true sovereignty, with an unelected "High Representative" having dictatorial powers over elected officials.

• Parallels with Ukraine's Future: Gaspar draws parallels between Bosnia's situation and the potential future of Ukraine, suggesting that US security guarantees might create a similar "managed peace" without sovereignty that keeps Western powers indefinitely entangled in Ukrainian affairs.

• Digital ID and Surveillance Concerns: Robertson warns that the UK government's push for digital ID systems mirrors CCP control mechanisms, potentially leading to an authoritarian surveillance state. He argues this represents a fundamental threat to civil liberties that would enable comprehensive tracking of citizens.
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The most important stories about money, business and power. Hosted by Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson, with Jessica Mendoza. The Journal is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal.

Get show merch here: https://wsjshop.com/collections/clothing

KFC Got Fried in the Chicken Wars. Can It Come Back?

The Journal.

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• America's Chicken Obsession: Americans consume an average of 100 pounds of chicken per year, with fast food chicken restaurants experiencing significant growth while other fast food categories struggle. Popular chains include Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane's, Dave's Hot Chicken, Wingstop, Zaxby's, Popeyes, and Bojangles.

• KFC's Origin Story: Kentucky Fried Chicken was founded by Harland Sanders (the Colonel) in the 1930s at a gas station in Kentucky. Sanders perfected his recipe of 11 herbs and spices, using a pressure cooker for crispier chicken. He received the honorary "Colonel" title from the state of Kentucky for his chicken, not for military service. After a highway reroute threatened his business in the 1950s, he began franchising his recipe to restaurants.

• Rise to Fast Food Dominance: By the 1960s, KFC had hundreds of franchise stores and became America's biggest fast food chain. The company expanded internationally early, becoming the first Western fast food chain in China in 1987, and now operates in 150 countries. KFC's family-style buckets of chicken with sides were particularly successful for feeding families an inexpensive, hot meal.

• Falling Behind Competitors: While KFC focused on its traditional bone-in chicken buckets, competitors like Chick-fil-A gained popularity with boneless chicken offerings like sandwiches and tenders. The rise of portable, car-friendly chicken meals aligned with changing American eating habits, leaving KFC's family-style buckets less appealing to on-the-go consumers.

• The Chicken Sandwich Wars: In 2019, a major competition erupted between chicken chains, particularly Popeyes and Chick-fil-A, over chicken sandwiches. This led to dramatic sales increases for participants – Popeyes saw a 42% year-over-year sales increase in Q4 2019. KFC was late to this trend, not widely selling chicken nuggets until 2023.

• KFC's Decline: KFC fell to fourth place among chicken spots in the US and began closing stores. Customer complaints increased about tired-looking restaurants and outdated offerings compared to newer competitors.

• Revival Strategy: KFC's parent company Yum Brands has brought in new US leadership with fresh marketing experience. The company is testing a new concept called "Saucy" that focuses on boneless options and various sauces. KFC has also adopted edgier marketing that directly challenges competitors, leverages nostalgia by bringing back popular menu items from the past, and offers discounts on original buckets. Recent earnings show a 2% same-store sales growth after six quarters of losses, suggesting these changes may be starting to work.
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Uniquely Human: the Podcast expands the conversation on autism and neurodiversity by amplifying the voices of autistic individuals and thought leaders in providing insightful, cutting-edge and practical information about the autistic experience. Hosted by Barry Prizant and Dave Finch.

Connecting with Young Children through Sensoriaffective Integration: A Discussion with Dr. Carrie Alvarado

Uniquely Human: The Podcast

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• Dr. Carrie Alvarado's Personal Journey: Carrie's interest in how people experience the world differently began with her aunt Jenny, who had Down syndrome. This early exposure to neurodivergence led her to become an occupational therapist, eventually specializing in supporting autistic children through DIR/Floortime and PACT (Pediatric Autism Communication Therapy).

• Sensory Affective Integration: This describes how sensory experiences and emotional responses are interconnected. For neurotypical development, sensory information gradually integrates in a predictable way, but for autistic individuals, social interactions can create overwhelming, unpredictable, and chaotic sensory experiences that are difficult to process.

• The Social Sensory Experience: Social interactions involve multiple sensory inputs happening simultaneously without the predictability of self-initiated actions. Carrie compared this to a choir where all singers are performing different songs at their own pace, creating a disorganized sensory load that can be overwhelming for autistic children.

• All Humans are Wired for Connection: Carrie emphasizes that all people, including autistic individuals, are wired for connection, but may need different approaches to make those connections feel safe and manageable. The myth that autistic people don't desire connection has been perpetuated by the medical model and has prevented presuming competence.

• Parent-Mediated Interventions: Rather than having therapists directly intervene with children, Carrie coaches parents to support their children effectively. Using video feedback, she helps parents identify moments of successful connection with their child, empowering them to build on these strengths.

• Validating Parental Intuition: Much of Carrie's work involves helping parents recognize and trust their intuitive understanding of their child. Rather than a top-down approach of telling parents what to do, she highlights what they're already doing well and helps them build on those strengths.

• Creating Sensory Safety: By helping parents learn to "orchestrate" and "zip up" their interactions with their child in more organized, predictable ways, Carrie teaches them to present stimuli that feel safer and more manageable, allowing for more positive emotional connections.

• The Impact of Sensory Trauma: Repeated experiences of overwhelming sensory input can create trauma for autistic individuals. While we can't always control the environment perfectly, relational safety can help autistic children develop strategies to cope with unpredictable sensory experiences.

• Supporting the Whole Family System: Carrie emphasizes that effective intervention involves working with the entire family, not just the child. Parents also need connection and support to effectively help their children, especially when they are neurotypical parents with neurodivergent children - essentially bridging two different cultures.

• Lifelong Applications: The skills and approaches Carrie teaches for supporting young autistic children have applications throughout the lifespan and can improve interactions with people of all ages and neurotypes.
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Motley Fool Money is a daily podcast for stock investors. 
Weekday episodes offer a long-term perspective on business news with The Motley Fool's investment analysts. Weekend shows are a mix of investing classes and longer-form interviews.
The show is hosted by Dylan Lewis, Ricky Mulvey, and Mary Long.

Market Volatility and Opportunities We See Today

Motley Fool Money

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Understanding Current Market Volatility: The recent market volatility represents a normal "tug of war" phase that bull markets typically go through. Despite the market being within 5% of all-time highs, fear indicators are at extreme levels, suggesting investors may be overreacting to normal market fluctuations.

NVIDIA and AI Market Reactions: Despite NVIDIA delivering strong earnings, market enthusiasm quickly faded as investors questioned potential second-order effects across the AI ecosystem. This highlights the time disconnect between the years needed for technology to show full potential versus the short-term trading mentality.

Bitcoin's Dramatic Decline: Bitcoin has fallen from $125,000 to below $84,000 in just two months, largely due to forced liquidations as leveraged positions get unwound. This underscores the dangers of investing with borrowed money in volatile assets like cryptocurrency.

MicroStrategy's Bitcoin Strategy: Michael Saylor's approach with MicroStrategy represents a highly leveraged play on Bitcoin through financial engineering, using bonds and preferred stock to purchase Bitcoin. This strategy works well when Bitcoin rises but creates significant risks when prices fall.

Restaurant Industry Opportunities: Despite ongoing inflation challenges, the restaurant sector may offer buying opportunities. Domino's Pizza (DPZ) trades near its lowest valuation in a decade, while high-growth Cava is down 70% from its highs but still requires successful execution of growth plans.

CEO Hall of Fame Analysis: The panel evaluated several tech CEOs' legacies: Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai are likely headed for the Hall of Fame despite missteps; Sam Altman's legacy remains undecided; Tim Cook earned Hall of Fame status as the "Cal Ripken of CEOs" for reliable performance; Brian Nickel's reputation is at risk after struggling at Starbucks; and Bob Iger earned mixed reviews for leadership development.

Defensive Sector Considerations: Traditional defensive sectors like financials and utilities may offer value, but investors should be cautious as many companies in these sectors have seen valuations increase due to AI connections. Individual company analysis is crucial rather than buying entire sectors.

Stocks on Radar: Mercado Libre (MELI) offers exposure to Latin American economic growth through its marketplace, payments network, and logistics operations. Five Below (FIVE) presents an opportunity in the low-price retail space with strong growth prospects, good financials, and potential for better-than-expected same-store sales.
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Meduza’s English-language podcast, The Naked Pravda highlights how our top reporting intersects with the wider research and expertise that exists about Russia. The broader context of Meduza’s in-depth, original journalism isn’t always clear, which is where this show comes in. Here you’ll hear from the world’s community of Russia experts, activists, and reporters about issues that are at the heart of Meduza’s stories and crucial to major events in and around Russia.

Russia’s elites once dreaded war. Now, they fear peace.

The Naked Pravda

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- Elite Reshuffling During Wartime: The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 marked a turning point for Russia's political system. Even officials who initially opposed the war quickly rallied around Putin, recognizing that this was the beginning of a new era where hardliners, hawks, and ultra-loyalists would dominate. The war accelerated Russia's shift from authoritarianism toward totalitarianism.

- Fear and Isolation Among Officials: Russian elites now experience unprecedented levels of fear. The suicide of Transport Minister Roman Starovoit in 2024 exemplifies this atmosphere of dread. Officials find themselves trapped—unable to travel abroad, barred from western countries, and afraid to leave Russia lest they be deemed traitors by security services. Many adapt by completely changing their public personas and values to demonstrate loyalty.

- Security Services Dominate the System: Russia's security forces have increased pressure on officials, using corruption cases to demonstrate their power while never facing accountability themselves. Civil servants often become scapegoats for failures that should be attributed to the military or security services, as seen in the Kursk region invasion where officials rather than security forces faced consequences.

- Elite Purges and Clan Destruction: The removal of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in 2024 represented "the greatest wave of elite repression in modern Russia's history," as Putin dismantled an entire clan of officials. Putin typically replaces leaders of powerful factions with independent managers who don't have their own teams or clans, as seen with Andrei Belousov replacing Shoigu.

- The Rise of "New Elites": Putin now publicly praises war veterans as "the new elite" while expressing disappointment with the "old elite" who weren't enthusiastic about the war. This creates tension between established power players who control significant resources and the rising military-affiliated figures being integrated into the system.

- Anxiety About the War's End: Russian officials are preoccupied with how the conflict will conclude. They fear the chaos that will follow, including the challenge of reintegrating potentially millions of traumatized soldiers back into society, possible unrest from ultra-conservative factions, and the likelihood of scapegoating within the government for battlefield failures.

- Nuclear Escalation Fears: Those within the system who know Putin well believe he prioritizes his image above all else and might resort to nuclear weapons if facing humiliation. Many officials believe the war cannot end without substantial negotiations and compromises with Putin, regardless of Western reluctance to offer concessions.

- Putin's System Without Putin: Even if Putin were to disappear tomorrow, his legacy would endure through the millions of people in law enforcement and the military who have benefited from his rule and become accustomed to using violence. Combined with ongoing youth indoctrination, these elements ensure aspects of Putinism will outlast Putin himself, creating significant challenges for Russia's future.
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A roundup of the most compelling market action each trading day at the closing bell from Investor's Business Daily.

Russell 2000 Soars, Caps Volatile Week; AbbVie, BrightSpring, Alphatec In Focus

Stock Market Today With IBD

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- Volatile Market Week Closes with Mixed Recovery: The market experienced extreme volatility, with the previous day seeing an unusual 2% gain followed by a 2% loss - something that's only happened 12 times in Nasdaq history. Friday saw a recovery with the Nasdaq up 0.9%, S&P 500 up 1%, Dow up 1.1%, and Russell 2000 leading with a 2.8% gain, though it remained an "inside day" (high and low within previous day's range).

- Technical Market Signals Show Caution: Several technical indicators are flashing warning signs. The 21-day moving average is on the verge of crossing below the 50-day moving average, which would signal the end of the "Power Trend" that began in May-June. Various regression analyses show the market has broken down from its previous trend, and multiple indicators suggest the market needs time to rebuild a base.

- Sector Rotation in Progress: Money appears to be rotating out of technology and growth stocks into healthcare, energy, and some small-caps. Healthcare (XLV) and biotech (XBI) sectors are showing particular strength and resilience, maintaining stability during the recent volatility. The hosts suggest these sectors are "disconnected" from the broader market turbulence.

- Strategies for Volatile Markets: The hosts recommend reducing position sizes during choppy markets, following Marty Schwartz's advice to "get smaller" until positive feedback loops return. They suggest looking for stocks with tight trading ranges during volatile days, as these indicate potential disconnection from broader market swings. Incremental buying and selling is preferred over all-in, all-out approaches.

- Interest Rate Speculation Affecting Markets: The market has been particularly reactive to changes in Fed Funds futures expectations. The probability of a December rate cut shifted dramatically in recent days (from 39% to 69%), though the hosts suggest this focus may be overblown since the debate is only about timing rather than direction.

- Recovery Checklist for Bullish Outlook: The hosts outlined specific technical criteria needed before becoming more constructive on the market: 1) Close above the 21-day moving average, 2) Low of the day above the 21-day, 3) Close up on the day, and 4) Low above the 21-day for three consecutive days with meaningful upside price action.

- Highlighted Stocks to Watch: The hosts featured several medical sector stocks showing resilience including AbbVie (forming a cup with handle pattern), BrightSpring Health Services (showing a mini double-bottom formation), and Alphatec (demonstrating stability during market volatility with tight price action). These stocks showed disconnection from the broader market turmoil, particularly by having small trading ranges on high-volatility days.

- Breadth Showed Improvement: Friday's market action showed stronger breadth than the headline index numbers suggested, with advancers outnumbering decliners by 4-to-1 on NYSE. Equal-weighted indexes like RSP (up 2% versus S&P 500's 1%) and QQEW (up 1.6% versus QQQ's 0.75%) outperformed, indicating strength in the average stock despite continued weakness in some large caps.

- Historical Context for Current Volatility: The hosts noted that previous instances of extreme volatility (like Thursday's reversal) typically occurred during crisis situations such as the dot-com bubble (2000-2001), financial crisis (2008), COVID (2020), and tariff disputes. The October 10th market action may have marked the beginning of a corrective phase that was interrupted by positive news, creating an unnatural market environment.

- Housing and Interest-Rate Sensitive Sectors Rallying: The housing sector ETF (ITB) had a massive move up on Friday, as did many interest-rate sensitive stocks, reacting to the 10-year Treasury yield coming down. However, the hosts cautioned that many of these sectors remain in downtrends despite the strong day, making them still risky for trend followers.
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We try to make sense of the world, one question at a time. No question too big, no question too small. Hosted by PJ Vogt, edited by Sruthi Pinnamaneni.
***Named one of the best podcasts by Vulture, Time, The Economist, & Vogue. (OK, in 2023, but still...)***

Colossus 2

Search Engine

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Elon Musk's Data Center Arms Race: Colossus, Elon Musk's ambitious AI data center project in Memphis, represents his riskiest bet yet. XAI has scaled up from its initial facility to Colossus 2, with plans to reach a million GPUs. For Musk, there is no "finish line" in AI development - he envisions AI eventually harnessing "most of the power of the sun, and ultimately, most of the power of the galaxy."

The Financing Bubble Behind AI: XAI has taken on enormous debt to finance its expansion, including a $5 billion loan. This is part of a larger trend where Wall Street firms are "tripping over themselves" to lend money for data centers, potentially creating a bubble that could reach $1 trillion by 2028. Many of these loans use Nvidia GPUs as collateral, but there's significant disagreement about how long these chips hold their value before becoming obsolete.

Questionable Collateral Value: Unlike previous infrastructure booms (railroads, fiber optics) where the assets remained valuable for decades, Nvidia GPUs have a rapid obsolescence cycle of potentially just 1-6 years. This creates a significant risk in the financing model, as investors are counting on these chips maintaining value if companies default on their loans.

Memphis vs. Colossus: To expedite the launch of Colossus before grid connections were ready, XAI installed dozens of natural gas turbines (essentially mobile generators) that emitted unknown pollutants into the local air. This sparked significant community backlash from residents in nearby Boxtown, a historically black neighborhood, who organized protests and public meetings demanding the turbines be removed.

The Turbine Controversy: Despite emotional community meetings and protests, Memphis officials ultimately granted XAI the permit to continue operating. For Colossus 2, XAI strategically placed its turbines just over the state line in Mississippi to avoid similar regulatory battles, showing how the company adapted to local resistance without fundamentally changing its approach.

The Community Perspective: Residents of Boxtown, located near Colossus, expressed concerns about environmental impact but were equally concerned about whether the project would provide any actual jobs for local people. As one resident put it: "you gonna throw up a building out here in a black neighborhood and then don't hire anybody on that job. It's just like pouring milk in a paper sack with a hole in it."

The Wider Economic Risk: Finance experts warn that AI investments have "metastasized through the economy" into various investment vehicles from retirement accounts to real estate trusts, making it difficult for average people to avoid exposure to the potential AI bubble. The complex financing arrangements for data centers show many of the same warning signs that preceded the 2008 financial crisis.
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As one of the longest-running podcasts, "Grumpy Old Geeks" discovers what went wrong on the Internet, and who's to blame. Every week they cut through the BS from big tech and tell you what's really going on. With wide-ranging topics, this show has something for everyone. There is a reason Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and that crowd all hate this podcast. Listen and find out for yourself!

723: Don’t Want No Samsung

Grumpy Old Geeks

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* YouTube Success and Experimentation: The hosts discuss their recent foray into YouTube content, noting surprising viewership numbers with their full episode getting 853 views while a short clip reached 1,400 views. They mention the additional work this creates, particularly for Jason who handles production, and joke about now having to consider their wardrobe choices for video content.

* Departures and Disappointments: Several high-profile exits are discussed, including chef Eric Greenspan leaving Elon Musk's Tesla Diner (reportedly due to Musk's demands for "epic" menu items like "epic bacon"), Larry Summers quitting OpenAI's board after embarrassing Jeffrey Epstein emails surfaced, and rumors that Tim Cook may be ready to leave Apple as early as next year.

* AI and Tech Investment Reality Check: Despite the AI hype, evidence mounts that the technology isn't living up to expectations. Nvidia's earnings showed massive profits but triggered stock drops as investors question the sustainability of AI investments. A KPMG study revealed only about 2% of businesses report any return on their AI investments, yet companies are urged to "turbocharge" spending anyway.

* Crypto's Continued Controversies: Bitcoin's value has fallen dramatically, losing 30% since its October peak. Meanwhile, former DOJ officials described Trump's pardon of Binance co-founder CZ as "unprecedented corruption," especially as reports show Binance continues processing illicit money despite paying a $4 billion fine for Bank Secrecy Act violations.

* AI Limitations and Absurdities: The hosts mock various AI developments, including OpenAI celebrating that ChatGPT can now avoid using em dashes (when specifically instructed not to), and Elon Musk's Grok AI producing absurdly flattering descriptions of Musk, including claims he's more fit than LeBron James and would beat Mike Tyson in a fight.

* Educational Crisis and AI Integration: Two alarming trends are highlighted from Atlantic articles: UC San Diego reports that one in eight incoming freshmen can't handle middle-school level math, and many college students have never read entire books. Despite these issues, companies like OpenAI are pushing AI tools into education, potentially worsening learning gaps.

* Intuit and Pornhub's AI Implementations: Intuit signed a nine-figure deal with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT with TurboTax, QuickBooks, and other services, raising concerns about AI handling sensitive financial information. Meanwhile, Pornhub is requesting tech giants implement age verification at the device level to address privacy concerns and traffic losses following age verification laws.

* Media Reviews and Disappointments: The hosts share mixed reviews on recent entertainment, with disappointment over The Witcher season 4 with Liam Hemsworth replacing Henry Cavill, criticism of Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" for poor effects and storytelling, and praise for "Pluribus" on Apple TV+ and Ken Burns' "The American Revolution" documentary series.

* The Dark Side with Dave Segment: Dave Bittner discusses text-based adventure games like Zork becoming open source, issues with the iOS keyboard that have gotten worse recently, and why modern movies don't "feel real" anymore compared to older films with practical effects, citing Return of the Jedi's Death Star attack sequence as a prime example of effective filmmaking.

* Technical Artistry vs. Digital Excess: A discussion about filmmaking highlights how constraints often produce better art. The hosts critique modern movies and shows that use excessive CGI and digital enhancements, arguing that limitations in older productions (like Return of the Jedi) forced more creative, tactile solutions that actually felt more real to audiences.

* Thanksgiving Plans and Traditions: The hosts share their Thanksgiving plans, with Dave hosting 13 people (his first year without his parents), Jason cooking and taking food to a 98-year-old friend, and Brian (in Canada) noting they celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving in October with a trip to Paris.
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Industry veterans, degenerate gamblers & besties Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks & David Friedberg cover all things economic, tech, political, social & poker.

Epstein Files Fallout, Nvidia Risks, Burry's Bad Bet, Google's Breakthrough, Tether's Boom

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

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- Epstein Files Fallout: The House and Senate voted nearly unanimously to release the Epstein files. Jason believes Epstein may have worked with intelligence agencies due to his connections with scientists and wealthy individuals. The hosts discuss how Epstein integrated himself with powerful people, spread money around, and had cameras everywhere, potentially for blackmail purposes. A key unanswered question is where Epstein's money came from, as his supposed tax advice business model doesn't fully explain his wealth.

- Tether's Impressive Business Model: Chamath discusses his dinner with Paolo Arduino, CEO of Tether, explaining how the stablecoin works—users swap their local currency for dollar-pegged tokens while Tether invests the backing dollars in US Treasuries. With $135 billion in Treasuries, they earn billions yearly in interest. The business serves half a billion users globally, particularly helping people in countries with unstable currencies. The hosts note that competition will eventually drive down Tether's exceptional profit margins.

- Michael Burry vs. Nvidia's Accounting Practices: Friedberg refutes Michael Burry's criticism of Nvidia's depreciation accounting. He explains that under GAAP standards, the useful life of chips is properly accounted for as long as they continue generating revenue. Burry's claim that tech companies are "cooking the books" misunderstands how depreciation works and how transparent financial statements already are. The hosts discuss how chip technologies are being specialized for different AI applications.

- Google's Gemini 3 and TPU Breakthrough: Google has released Gemini 3 and regained leadership on AI benchmarks. The hosts discuss speculation that Gemini 3 was trained entirely on Google's TPUs rather than Nvidia's GPUs. Chamath predicts a future of fragmented decoder chips with different solutions for different markets. Jason believes Google will successfully defend and grow its search franchise against AI competitors, while OpenAI may lose market share.

- Investing Personal Money vs. LP Capital: Chamath shares that his investment returns have been better when investing his own money, as he can take bigger risks and cut losses faster. With LP money, he focused on never losing money and returning capital quickly. Friedberg reveals he's focusing all his energy on Ohalo after running a venture studio with multiple companies, having realized being a chairman wasn't fulfilling enough.

- The Psychology of Poker with Alan Keating: Professional poker player Alan Keating joins to discuss his unconventional playing style. He explains that his success comes from "soul reading" opponents and mastering fear at the poker table. Keating thrives in chaotic situations where opponents aren't prepared, and brings this same philosophy to investing. He embraces risk and accepts potential losses with humor, often deliberately making bets where failure would put him "in a little bit of trouble" as motivation.

- The Future of AI Hardware: Friedberg predicts that by 2026, Huawei will emerge as a significant player in the chip market, using China's lithography technology to create chips rivaling current options for certain applications. The hosts discuss how AI chip architecture is transitioning from general-purpose workhorses to specialized chips for different applications, which poses a potential risk to Nvidia's dominance.

- Friedberg's Return to CEO Role: Friedberg shares how watching "Oppenheimer" prompted him to step in as CEO of Ohalo after years of being a chairman to various companies. Despite previously swearing off the CEO role for health reasons, he realized being just a board member wasn't fulfilling his potential for impact. His investors were supportive of the move as they had hoped he would eventually run a company again.
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Principal Center Radio brings you the best in professional practice for school leaders, in an audio format that you can access in the car, on the treadmill, or anywhere you'd like to listen.

Erin Lehmann & Bill Barnes—Leading Educator Wellness: Six Critical Actions to Support All Staff

Principal Center Radio

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- Wellness as an Organizational Priority: The authors identified concerning indicators of poor wellness among educators, both before and especially after the Covid pandemic. These signs included increased absenteeism, rising healthcare costs, challenges with work-life balance, and staff retention issues. The growing problem couldn't be ignored as it became a critical risk for school districts.

- Moving Beyond Episodic Self-Care: Traditional approaches to educator wellness, like isolated "wellness days" or telling staff to "practice self-care," have proven ineffective and sometimes even offensive to educators. The authors advocate for systemic approaches rather than episodic ones that don't address root causes of workplace stress and burnout.

- The Four Dimensions of Educator Wellness: Building on Tim Kainold and Tina Bugren's work, the authors focus on physical, mental, emotional, and social wellness. They emphasize that leadership must start by prioritizing their own wellness before effectively leading wellness initiatives for staff.

- A Systematic Approach Through Six Critical Actions: The book outlines a process that includes assembling a wellness team, conducting a needs assessment, performing root cause analysis, setting goals, creating action plans, and implementing professional learning. This approach aims to embed wellness into existing structures rather than adding another layer of work.

- Customized Solutions Over One-Size-Fits-All Approaches: Different schools and districts have unique wellness needs and challenges, requiring tailored solutions. The authors propose a multi-tiered system of support for educators, similar to what's often provided for students, recognizing that wellness work is intensely personal and defined differently by everyone.

- Financial Investment in Wellness: Effective wellness initiatives often require financial investment, such as stipends for wellness representatives, dedicated time for professional learning, and training resources. However, these costs should be weighed against the expenses associated with turnover and hiring new staff.

- Shifting the Professional Culture: The education profession is moving away from the "whatever it takes for students" mentality that often led to burnout and martyrdom. The new paradigm recognizes that dysregulated adults cannot effectively support students, making educator wellness essential to student success rather than competing with it.
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Technology's daily show (formerly the Technology Brothers Podcast). Streaming live on X and YouTube from 12 - 3 PM PST Monday - Friday. Available on X, Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Guide to the AI Barnyard, Eli Lilly Hits $1T Valuation, Has AI Ruined the Em Dash? | Julia Steinberg, Bobby Ghoshal

TBPN Live

TBPN

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Eli Lilly Hits $1 Trillion Valuation with Weight Loss Drugs: Eli Lilly has become the first pharmaceutical company to reach a $1 trillion market cap, largely driven by its GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Unlike tech and oil companies that typically reach this milestone, Lilly achieved it through the obesity treatment market. While Novo Nordisk initially led the GLP-1 market, Lilly has caught up by focusing on a similar biological mechanism. Despite price competition causing margins to fall from 80% to 60%, the massive market growth has more than offset this, with Lilly expected to generate over $100 billion in weight loss drug sales by 2034.

Competitive Dynamics in the Weight Loss Drug Market: The GLP-1 weight loss drug space doesn't function like a typical pharmaceutical market with strict patent protections. While companies can patent specific chemicals, they can't patent the biological mechanism itself (mimicking the GLP-1 hormone). This has allowed multiple companies to create similar products, creating a duopoly between Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly with others entering. Supply is the key constraint—companies that can manufacture these drugs will sell them at good margins due to overwhelming demand. The next frontier in this market is developing pill forms of these drugs.

Guide to the AI Barnyard: A Market Map Metaphor: The hosts present a humorous "AI barnyard" market map using animal idioms to represent various AI companies and dynamics. The map includes Meta as "pigs at the slop trough" (criticized but potentially valuable), Nvidia as the "cash cow" (most profitable AI company), Elon Musk/xAI as the "bull in the china shop" (disruptive force), Google as the "fat cat" (resource-rich), Microsoft/Satya Nadella taking the "lion's share" (of OpenAI), and OpenAI's $1.4T valuation as the "elephant in the room." Other metaphors include SSI as a "dark horse" and Chinese open-source models as "snakes in the grass."

Adobe Acquires SEMrush and Integrates AI Models: Adobe is buying SEMrush for $1.9 billion, providing a notable exit in the SEO space. This acquisition offers a comparison point for companies in the generative engine optimization (GEO) market. Adobe is also integrating various AI models, including Firefly and nanobanana, into its products through partnerships with companies like Fal, allowing them to integrate essentially any model for inference rather than building their own proprietary models exclusively.

AMD's Challenge to Nvidia's AI Chip Dominance: Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, is positioning the company as a strong competitor to Nvidia in the AI chip market. Since pivoting the company toward AI in late 2022, AMD has nearly quadrupled in size to over $335 billion in market value. Su recently secured a marquee deal with Oracle and OpenAI for AMD's newest MI450 Mica chips, demonstrating the company's ability to compete with Nvidia. She believes the AI chip market will reach $1 trillion annually and is focused on both training and inference computing chips.

The Em Dash Controversy in AI-Generated Text: The em dash (—) has become a telltale sign of AI-generated content, with many considering it a "GPTism." Joel Stein defends the em dash in a Wall Street Journal piece, noting that professional writers use em dashes 4.4 times more than average people, which explains why AI models trained on professional writing use them frequently. Even OpenAI's CEO acknowledged the issue, suggesting users add custom instructions to ChatGPT to avoid em dashes. The hosts note that other AI writing tells include contrastive parallelism ("It's not X, it's Y") which appears across different AI models.

Challenges of Overregulation in Green Technology: Peter Reinhardt, CEO of Charm Industrial, highlighted the prohibitive costs of regulatory compliance for green tech innovations. He shared an example of a device designed to cut truck emissions by 90% that requires $27 million in certification costs across different engine families just to prove it doesn't increase emissions. This illustrates how regulatory barriers can impede the adoption of environmentally beneficial technologies despite their proven effectiveness.

Julia Steinberg on Arena Magazine and Higher Education: Julia Steinberg discussed Arena Magazine's upcoming Issue 006 themed "An Ode to Capitalism." She shared her skepticism about government-led infrastructure projects, preferring private market solutions. She also reflected on her high school experience during the college admissions scandal, which revealed corruption in the system. Steinberg suggested provocatively that college admissions should be auctioned to the highest bidder rather than maintaining the current system's pretense of meritocracy, though acknowledging this would significantly change university dynamics.

Dupe.com's Approach to Finding Better Deals: Bobby Ghoshal explained how Dupe helps users find identical or similar products at lower prices, focusing initially on furniture where many items are made in the same factories but sold by different brands at varying prices. The company has built partnerships with major retailers like Walmart while facing legal challenges from some established brands. Dupe has vectorized millions of products to identify similarities, expanded into fashion and other categories, and is approaching $100 million in GMV with 18 million shoppers using the platform.

San Francisco's Ongoing Urban Challenges: Discussion about San Francisco revealed continuing issues with homelessness and public safety despite the massive tech wealth in the area. There was speculation about whether OpenAI's wealth ($500 billion valuation with billions in employee pockets) might improve the city given it's headquartered there. The city does experience temporary improvements during major events like Salesforce conferences or diplomatic visits (like Xi Jinping's), but persistent urban issues remain, making it primarily appealing to younger residents willing to accept these challenges.
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Trust in the media is at an all-time low. And there’s a reason—endless virtue signaling and manufactured outrage. Finally, there’s an alternative. Morning Wire is presented by Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief, John Bickley, and co-host Georgia Howe. Get daily coverage of the latest developments in politics, culture, education, sports, and more. Wake up with Morning Wire and get the facts first on the news you need to know.

Evening Wire: Trump Meets Mamdani & More Illegal CDLs Exposed | 11.21.25

Morning Wire

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- Trump and Mamdani Meet at White House: President Trump hosted New York City Mayor-Elect Zoran Mamdani at the White House for a closed-door meeting. Both emphasized their shared desire for New York City's success during a joint press appearance, with Trump stating, "The better he does, the happier I am." When questioned about past comments, Mamdani sidestepped a direct answer about whether he had called Trump a fascist.

- Commercial Driver's License Fraud Among Illegal Immigrants: A Texas operation revealed that 31 out of 105 truckers pulled over were in the country illegally, many with commercial driver's licenses issued in California. The Trump administration is threatening to withhold nearly $75 million in federal funding from Pennsylvania unless it revokes illegally issued CDLs, and has already withheld $40 million from California for failing to enforce English language requirements for truck drivers.

- Welfare Spending Controversies: A Republican senator revealed that taxpayers are funding approximately $250 million annually in SNAP benefits for fast food purchases in nine Democrat-led states. Separately, an investigation by Christopher Rufo found billions in welfare fraud in Minnesota during Governor Tim Walz's administration, with allegations that some funds have been sent to Somalia and ended up in the hands of the terror group Al-Shabaab.

- Foster Care Executive Order: The Trump administration enacted a new executive order aimed at helping young people transition out of foster care. The order directs the development of partnerships with agencies, private sector organizations, academic institutions, and nonprofits to create educational and employment opportunities for individuals in or transitioning from foster care.

- International Crises: Iran is facing such a severe water crisis that its president announced the country must relocate its capital from Tehran, where parts of the city are sinking up to 30 centimeters annually. Meanwhile, Japan is experiencing an unprecedented wave of bear attacks, with nearly 200 people injured and 13 killed this year, leading officials to declare a "national wildlife emergency."

- Crime and Transportation Safety Updates: New FBI data shows U.S. homicide rates have fallen over the past four years, with almost 6,000 fewer killings in 2024 than in 2021. A federal investigation into a fatal UPS cargo jet crash in Louisville revealed fatigue cracks and overstress failure where the engine connected to the wing.
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From UFOs to psychic powers and government cover-ups, history is riddled with unexplained events. You can turn back now or learn the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know ... an audio podcast from iHeartRadio.

3I/Atlas: We are Obsessed with the Newest (or Oldest?) Instellar Object

Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

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The Mystery of 3I/Atlas: Earth's Third Confirmed Interstellar Visitor: 3I/Atlas is the third confirmed interstellar object to enter our solar system (after Oumuamua in 2017 and Borisov in 2019). It's extremely unusual because of its age (potentially 7-11 billion years old, older than our solar system), its speed (42 miles per second, about 10 miles per second faster than typical comets), and its hyperbolic trajectory suggesting it came from outside our solar system.

Unusual Chemical Composition and Behavior: 3I/Atlas exhibits several anomalies that scientists find difficult to explain. It has a higher ratio of carbon dioxide to water vapor than typical comets, unusual outgassing of nickel at temperatures too cold for metals to normally vaporize, and it delayed its outgassing until much later than expected as it approached the sun. It also changed colors multiple times and became brighter faster than any known comet.

Professor Avi Loeb's Controversial Theories: Harvard physicist Avi Loeb suggests 3I/Atlas could potentially be of technological origin rather than a natural phenomenon. While he doesn't definitively claim it's an alien spacecraft, he has stated there's a "1 in 100 million chance of it being natural." Loeb has previously made similar claims about Oumuamua and other potential interstellar objects, drawing both interest and criticism from the scientific community.

Scientific Debate and Skepticism: Most astronomers and astrophysicists maintain that 3I/Atlas is likely an anomalous comet of natural origin. They acknowledge its unusual characteristics but caution against jumping to conclusions about extraterrestrial technology. The scientific community remains divided on Loeb's research, with some viewing it as valuable thought experiments and others dismissing it as sensationalism.

Unexplained Phenomena: Some initially exciting observations, like supposed radio signals from 3I/Atlas detected by South Africa's Meerkat Radio Telescope, were later explained as natural phenomena related to hydroxyl radicals in the comet's coma. However, many aspects of the object remain difficult to explain based on our current understanding of comets.

Missing High-Resolution Images: In October 2023, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured high-resolution images of 3I/Atlas, but as of the podcast recording in November 2023, these images had not been released to the public, purportedly due to a government shutdown. This has fueled further speculation about the object.

The Cosmic Perspective: Loeb's philosophical take suggests that even if advanced extraterrestrial civilizations exist, they might view Earth like humans view ants - not worthy of special attention. This raises questions about humanity's place in the universe and how we might interact with potential extraterrestrial intelligence in the future.
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Bloomberg Radio host Barry Ritholtz looks at the people and ideas that shape markets, investing and business.

The Art of Spending Money with Bestselling Author Morgan Housel

Masters in Business

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- Money vs. Happiness: Wealthier people might have fewer bad days than poor people, but they don't necessarily have more good days. Having money removes certain stresses but doesn't automatically create happiness. Money leverages who you already are - if you're an unhappy person, wealth likely won't fix your problems, but if you're already content, money can enhance that.

- Rich vs. Wealthy: Being rich means having the income to buy things you want, while being wealthy means having independence - both financial independence and intellectual/lifestyle independence. Some people earn millions but have no wealth (independence), while others with modest incomes can be psychologically wealthy through contentment and freedom from societal expectations.

- Psychology of Market Cycles: People tend to extrapolate recent events into the future, which is why after the 2008 financial crisis, everyone expected a "double-dip recession" that never materialized. Similarly, uncertainty is constant, but our awareness of potential risks varies - the periods just before 9/11, the 2008 crisis, and COVID had the lowest perceived uncertainty but proved to be the most uncertain times.

- The Role of Luck: True luck is completely outside your control - when you were born, where you were raised, and the random people you meet. While hard work and skill are essential for success, luck plays a significant role that can't be denied. Acknowledging this doesn't diminish achievement but recognizes reality.

- Market Valuations and Narratives: "Every market valuation is a number from today multiplied by a story about tomorrow." With social media and low interest rates, narratives can drive stock valuations for years, turning stocks into "voted upon" rather than "weighed upon" assets for extended periods.

- Experience Shapes Worldview: Your personal experiences make up perhaps 0.000001% of what's happened in the world but around 80% of how you think the world works. This explains why people with different backgrounds have such different perspectives on economics, politics, and life choices.

- Spending and Contentment: The highest value of money is purchasing independence and time. Rather than chasing happiness (which is fleeting), we should pursue contentment. Possessions bring joy not inherently, but when they serve as conduits to experiences and relationships that fulfill us.

- Status-Seeking and Comparison: Much of our spending is driven by status-seeking and the desire to impress others, yet most people aren't paying attention to our possessions. The most valuable financial asset is not needing to impress anyone - freedom from social comparison provides true psychological wealth.

- The Visibility of Wealth: True wealth is invisible - it's what you don't see. While we can see people's houses and cars, we can't see their bank accounts or investments. Many who appear wealthy are actually in debt, while those with true wealth may live modestly.

- Reverse Obituary Exercise: Writing what you'd want your obituary to say helps clarify priorities. Most people want to be remembered as good parents, spouses, friends, and citizens - not for the size of their house or salary. This exercise reveals the gap between what truly matters and what we often pursue.

- Personal Fulfillment: The qualities that earn true respect and admiration - being a good parent, spouse, friend, and decent human - account for 98% of how others value you. Financial success might bump that up to 99%, but makes relatively little difference in meaningful relationships.

- Finding Your Own Path: There's no universal formula for spending money wisely. What works for one person may not work for another. The key is to spend time understanding yourself and your own values rather than following others' spending patterns.
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The Story: the flagship podcast from The Times and Sunday Times. One remarkable story, told in depth, each day. Hosts Manveen Rana and Luke Jones take you to the heart of the story you need to know with exclusive reports and investigations. Plus, each month, William Hague hosts an agenda-setting interview with a key newsmaker or thinker. Discover the story behind the story with world-class journalism from The Times and Sunday Times. The Story is available at the start of your day from Monday to Friday, with bonus ‘Inside the Newsroom’ episodes every Saturday for Times subscribers, available by connecting your subscription via Apple Podcasts. <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.

The world's first AI actress and 'her' creator - the Saturday story

The Story

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The Rise of Tilly Norwood, AI Actress: Tilly Norwood, introduced as "the first AI actress," has sparked controversy in Hollywood. Created by Eline van der Velden, Norwood initially appeared as a struggling London actress on Instagram before gaining notoriety when A-list actors like Emily Blunt, Natasha Lyonne, and Whoopi Goldberg expressed concerns about her existence.

Creator's Background and Intent: Eline van der Velden, Norwood's creator, has a diverse background in both arts and science - studying musical theatre, physics at Imperial College, and working in plasma physics before returning to creative pursuits. She founded AI production company Particle 6 and developed Norwood through a meticulous creative process, carefully selecting her appearance and British identity after reviewing thousands of images.

Original Purpose vs. Public Response: Van der Velden didn't anticipate the backlash, explaining her intention was never to replace human actors. She envisioned creating an "AI universe" similar to the Marvel Universe with Norwood as the centerpiece character - not competing for roles in traditional films. Despite this, the Screen Actors Guild issued warnings about working with Norwood.

The Technology's Implications: The controversy highlights growing tensions about AI in entertainment. Van der Velden sees AI as "a calculator for the creative mind" that still requires significant human direction and creativity to produce quality content. She argues that using AI will become as essential as using computers, noting her company is already producing AI-generated historical Dutch streets for a television series.

Hollywood's Fears: The acting community's strong reaction stems from legitimate concerns - AI can potentially work continuously without breaks, appear in multiple productions simultaneously, and combine traits from various actors. As Whoopi Goldberg noted, this could create "an unfair advantage" though she maintained that AI currently lacks the natural movement and authentic human connection of real actors.

The Future of Tilly Norwood: Van der Velden is developing Norwood to become interactive - "building her brain" with personality traits, humor, and response patterns that will eventually enable live interactions and interviews. She describes herself as "like Frankenstein" in pushing storytelling boundaries, acknowledging the "creepy" aspects of this development.

The Blurring Line Between Animation and Reality: While van der Velden views her creation as more akin to animation, the article's author questions this distinction. The technology will improve, potentially making the use of multiple human actors (with their various scandals and scheduling conflicts) seem inefficient compared to generating custom AI actors for specific roles - fundamentally changing how entertainment is created and consumed.
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Have you been attempting to use Law of Attraction or Hypnosis to Attract Financial Abundance, a Soulmate or Career Success?  Would you like Be Happy, Motivated and Successful, Have Better Health, Experience Enlightenment, Enjoy More Fulfilling Relationships, Overcome Struggle, and Gain Self-Mastery?  Then join me on this Amazing Self-Help Podcast where you'll Unleash the Power of Your Mind.  I'll be sharing 20 years of Wisdom and Techniques  of Hypnotherapy, LOA, Visualization, NLP, Meditation, Personal Growth, Positive Affirmations and other Effective Methods to help you Tap into the great Power which resides in your Mind and become the Best Version of Yourself.  Subscribe and Listen Now!
http://www.hyptalk.com

#451 New You Hypnosis Session,

Tap into The Power of Your Mind using Law of Attraction and Hypnosis Techniques

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- Embracing Your New Identity: This hypnosis session focuses on letting go of your past identity and stepping into an empowered version of yourself. It emphasizes that while your current personality has served its purpose, you have dormant traits and characteristics within you that can be activated to create different results in your life.

- The Heart-Centered Approach: The session begins by guiding you to a place within your heart where you can listen with compassion and empathy, access wisdom, and open to your true self. This creates a safe space to hear what will help you along your path of personal growth.

- Setting Clear Intentions: You're encouraged to visualize the end result you want to create—seeing yourself smiling, laughing, and feeling good again. The session emphasizes focusing on what you want to become rather than what you don't want, as whatever you focus on most is what you will become.

- Identifying Desired Traits: The hypnosis guides you to identify specific traits you'd like to develop—whether it's being funnier, more charismatic, or adopting characteristics you admire in others. You're prompted to imagine how you'll handle everyday situations, what words you'll use, and how you'll interact with others.

- Visualization for Transformation: Throughout the session, you're encouraged to see, hear, and feel yourself with these new qualities—to experience what it's like to walk in these new shoes and express yourself differently. This visualization practice helps train your mind to adopt these traits in real life.

- Building Confidence in Social Settings: The hypnosis specifically addresses developing the ability to talk to anyone about anything, thinking clearly and quickly, and always knowing what to say in any situation. These social skills are framed as natural abilities you already possess that are just waiting to be activated.

- Creating Lasting Change: The session concludes by emphasizing that your subconscious mind is accepting this information and working toward bringing out the person you were always meant to be—your true self. Regular listening to the session for 21-30 days is recommended for best results in manifesting these changes.
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