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HEALTH NEWS   Analysis of 82 Trials Shows Black Seed May Improve Cardiovascular Risk Markers New Study Reveals Herpesvirus Infection May Accelerate Alzheimer's Disease Favorable lifestyle factors reduce dementia risk across key genetic profiles People are living longer, but spending more years in poor health Imbalances in the oral microbiome linked to symptomatic hand osteoarthritis       Analysis of 82 Trials Shows Black Seed May Improve Cardiovascular Risk Markers Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Iran), July 21 2026 (Natural News)     A pooled analysis of 82 randomized controlled trials involving 5,026 adults has found that supplementation with Nigella sativa, commonly known as black seed or black cumin, is associated with improvements in multiple cardiovascular risk markers.   The meta-analysis, published in the journal Pharmacological Research, was conducted by researchers from several Iranian universities. The analysis used a GRADE-assessed, dose-response method to evaluate the effects of black seed compared with placebo or standard care.   According to the study, black seed supplementation led to significant reductions in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. The analysis noted that daily amounts used in most trials ranged from 1 to 3 grams of ground black seed or 1 to 3 milliliters of black seed oil. According to the researchers, one teaspoon of ground black seed contains roughly 4 grams, meaning a single daily teaspoon stirred into food falls within the range used in studies. For those who prefer oil, a half teaspoon delivers close to 2 milliliters. The researchers emphasized that consistency, rather than a large single dose, appears to drive positive results.   New Study Reveals Herpesvirus Infection May Accelerate Alzheimer's Disease Cardiff University (UK), July 21, 2026 (SciTech Daily) In a new study, researchers found that herpesvirus infection intensified memory problems and other Alzheimer's-related changes in mice already vulnerable to the disease. The damage appeared to be driven not simply by the virus itself, but by the immune system's prolonged attempt to control it. Herpesviruses are a large family that includes viruses associated with cold sores, childhood infections, and glandular fever. After the initial illness passes, some can remain dormant inside the body and reactivate later, repeatedly drawing the immune system into action. Scientists results suggest that T cells, immune cells that identify and attack infected cells, can enter the brain during herpesvirus infection and accelerate cognitive decline. Following infection, large numbers of immune cells moved into the brain. Most were CD8+ T cells that specifically recognized the virus, showing that they had entered the tissue as part of the body's attempt to contain the infection. Similar T cells have previously been found in the brains and spinal fluid of people with Alzheimer's disease, although their exact role has remained uncertain. The results indicate that a virus-driven immune response can actively speed the progression of Alzheimer's-like disease rather than merely appearing alongside it.     Favorable lifestyle factors reduce dementia risk across key genetic profiles     Kyushu University (Japan), June 5 2026 (News-Medical) With dementia cases expected to nearly triple worldwide by 2050, researchers are increasingly focused on identifying ways to prevent or delay the disease. While lifestyle and health-related factors, such as blood pressure control and physical activity, influence dementia risk, genetics also play a major role. Currently, it is unclear if maintaining a favorable lifestyle reduces dementia risk equally across different genetic backgrounds. A new study led by Kyushu University examines whether favorable modifiable risk factors (mRF)-behaviors or conditions that people can change or control-can lower dementia risk even among individuals with high genetic susceptibility. The researchers analyzed data from 9,605 community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older. They determined each participant's APOE ε4 genotypes, a primary genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, and calculated the mRF score based on lifestyle and health-related factors. This allowed the team to evaluate how genetic predisposition and lifestyle choices jointly interact to influence dementia risk. The results showed that dementia risk rose progressively with the number of APOE ε4 alleles. Notably, among individuals with one or no APOE ε4 alleles, maintaining a healthier profile with lower mRF scores was linked to a significantly lower risk of dementia. In contrast, among individuals with two APOE ε4 alleles, dementia risk did not differ significantly between those with lower and higher mRF scores. These findings suggest that maintaining favorable lifestyle and health conditions can effectively mitigate dementia risk, even among individuals carrying a single APOE ε4 allele. This underscores the importance of population-based prevention strategies focused on managing vascular and lifestyle risk factors.     People are living longer, but spending more years in poor health Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (US), July 21 2026 (Eurekalert)   People are living longer, but spending more years in poor health  The morbidity gap—the number of years people live in poor health—widened in nearly all countries, with wealthier nations facing the largest gaps.      The US has the largest morbidity gap, closely followed by Australia and Canada.   Women consistently live longer but spend more years in poor health than men.   Musculoskeletal disorders, mental health conditions, hearing loss, and falls and other unintentional injuries are driving most years lived in poor health worldwide.  Within a generation, the global morbidity gap widened by nearly two years, increasing from 8.8 years in 1990 to 10.7 years in 2023. Globally, people spent an average of 14.5% of their lives in poor health in 2023, up from 13.6% in 1990. Instead of occurring only in the final years of life, the widening morbidity gap was observed across the adult lifespan, suggesting that people are spending more years living with disease and disability throughout adulthood.  Between 1990 and 2023, global life expectancy at birth increased from 64.6 years to 73.8 years, while healthy life expectancy rose from 55.9 years to 63.1 years. In 2023, the United States had the largest national morbidity gap at 14 years, followed by Australia at 13.9 years and Canada at 13.7 years.   Imbalances in the oral microbiome linked to symptomatic hand osteoarthritis Central South University (China), July 21 2026 (Medica Xpress) A study published RMD Open has linked specific imbalances and disruptions in the oral microbiome to symptomatic hand arthritis. Its findings suggest that the microbial environment of the mouth may influence the disease process of hand arthritis, which is associated with pain, stiffness and reduced grip strength and can severely impair quality of life. The oral microbiome plays a role in systemic inflammation and interacts closely with the gut microbiome, which is significantly associated with symptomatic hand arthritis. To assess the role of the oral microbiome, saliva samples from 52 people with symptomatic hand arthritis recruited from a community-based osteoarthritis study and 712 people without the condition were analyzed using ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Compared with samples taken from participants without hand arthritis, samples from participants with symptomatic hand arthritis showed significantly lower oral microbial richness and altered composition. Specifically, the abundance of Trichococcus bacteria was significantly higher in the symptomatic hand arthritis samples and positively associated with the severity of hand arthritis symptoms. Trichococcus abundance in the oral microbiome was also positively associated with the gut microbial tyrosine metabolism pathway—a metabolic pathway previously implicated in hand arthritis. Samples from participants with symptomatic hand arthritis also displayed reduced oral-gut microbiome correlations compared with controls, suggesting the balance between these two microbial communities was disrupted.

Brett Forrest, The Lost Son: An American Family Trapped Inside the FBI's Secret Wars. This segment introduces the core of the mystery surrounding Billy Riley, a young man from Oxford, Michigan, who disappeared after traveling to Russia in May 2015. Billy is described as a product of the post-9/11 era whose life was fundamentally redirected by that event, leading him to develop a deep, self-taught expertise in global conflicts, religions, and foreign languages while operating from his parents' home as a "keyboard commando." His prolific internet activities eventually drew the attention of the Detroit FBI, who recruited him as a Confidential Human Source (CHS)—a type of freelance operative or "informant." The narrative highlights the tension between Billy's imaginative world and his physical reality; although he had not traveled widely, he was handling increasingly dangerous assignments for the FBI. One such assignment involved an online relationship with an individual in the Philippines suspected of being linked to Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic terror group allied with ISIS. Though Billy nearly traveled to Manila in December 2014 to meet this person, he backed out at the airport. However, by May 2015, he was determined to seek adventure in Russia, specifically heading toward the war-torn Donbas region of Ukraine. His parents, Terry and Bill Riley, were aware he worked for "the men"—his name for his FBI handlers—but Billy had become adept at being "coy," sharing just enough to intrigue them without keeping them fully informed. Notably, despite growing up in a traditional Catholic environment, Billy had converted to Islam through personal study, often reading the Quran in his Catholic school classes. The night before his fateful departure for Moscow, he met with his main FBI handler for dinner, a meeting shrouded in mystery that left his mother with a sense of parental intuition that something was wrong. (1)1900

"Spain's national soccer team shared a photo of the team's celebration after winning the 2026 World Cup to social media on Sunday, July 19. Notably absent from the photo was United States president Donald Trump.As expected, Trump helped FIFA president Gianni Infantino present the World Cup trophy to Spain after La Roja won the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Argentina on Sunday.However, Trump lingered on the podium for part of Spain's celebration, despite Infantino's apparent efforts to usher him off the stage that had been set up in the middle of the pitch.""A Senate Democrat — for the second time in four days — criticized CBS's coverage of President Donald Trump's primetime speech on CBS's own air.Speaking with Margaret Brennan on CBS's Face the Nation Sunday, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) called out network leadership for opting to air Trump's speech about election integrity — in which numerous fact checkers found the president made a bevy of false claims.“There are so many absurdities and falsehoods in Trump's Thursday night speech,” Warner said. “And I'm glad that most media treated it not as serious news — and I know some folks at your network, the journalists I have huge respect for. I was disappointed that your senior management made the decision to cover it as news.”"Mo'Kelly, Gary Dietrich, and Sarah Kendzior will join to discuss the top stories. Today's Guests LinksLooking for Sarah Kendzior's substack? https://sarahkendzior.substack.com/You can slso find links to Sarah's books at: https://sarahkendzior.com/The Mark Thompson Show 7/20/26Today's Guests LinksGary Dietrich, CBS TV & iHeart Radio Political Analyst https://twitter.com/garydietrichGary Dietrich's segment is sponsored by Bill Campbell at RE/MAX GOLD. If you're relocating in, to or from Northern California you need a highly respected real estate professional… like Bill Campbell of RE/MAX GOLD. Call or text Bill at (530) 448-7474… (530) 448-7474.Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Suite 106 Bakery use code MarkT to save 15%Here's a special link:https://suite106bakery.com/discount/MARKT

Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we delve into a series of industry-shaping events, reflecting the ever-evolving landscape of drug development, regulatory challenges, and strategic maneuvers. In a significant move within the sector, Jasper Therapeutics has merged with Kira Pharmaceuticals, a strategic decision aimed at expanding its footprint in autoimmune therapeutics. This merger brings to Jasper a valuable asset in KP-104, a dual-inhibitor with the potential to address rare diseases—an area of considerable unmet need. Such consolidations highlight an industry trend where companies seek to bolster their portfolios with promising candidates that can tackle complex medical conditions. The merger exemplifies how strategic expansions are becoming increasingly integral to maintaining competitive edges in the biotech arena. Turning to clinical trials, Takeda's Zasocitinib has demonstrated promising results for patients suffering from moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. In Phase 3 trials, a significant 75% of patients achieved clearance of scalp psoriasis. Zasocitinib operates as a TYK2 inhibitor, targeting the IL-23 pathway—a crucial mechanism in autoimmune diseases like psoriasis. This breakthrough promises to enhance patient care by providing a more effective treatment option for those struggling with difficult-to-treat psoriasis. On the regulatory front, Novartis' Fabhalta (Iptacopan) has gained FDA approval for its role in slowing kidney function decline in patients with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy. As a small molecule complement inhibitor, Iptacopan introduces a novel treatment class for this autoimmune kidney disorder. This approval underscores ongoing innovation within nephrology and offers renewed hope for improved patient outcomes. Recent regulatory updates also saw Novartis securing full FDA approval for Fabhalta—an affirmation of progress in addressing immunoglobulin A nephropathy through innovative therapeutic options. Business development remains a driving force in shaping industry landscapes. The acquisition of Mission Therapeutics' AKI candidate MTX652 by Dimerix is a prime example. This $5 million deal, with potential milestones up to $292 million, reflects high stakes and ambitions to advance treatments for acute kidney injuries—a field with significant unmet medical needs. The integration of artificial intelligence continues to revolutionize drug discovery processes. Aqemia's collaboration with Sanofi highlights this trend, showcasing AI's crucial role in expediting drug development and uncovering novel therapeutic targets. Their partnership potentially worth $140 million underscores AI's transformative potential within pharmaceutical research. Notably, Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna's foray into AI-powered protein design signifies an exciting intersection between gene-editing technology and artificial intelligence. Her involvement signals potential revolutions in drug discovery through enhanced precision in protein engineering. However, regulatory challenges persistently loom over the industry. Novo Nordisk and Alvotech have faced FDA scrutiny concerning manufacturing deficiencies—an issue that accentuates the importance of stringent quality control and operational excellence in biologics manufacturing. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) report on U.S. drug shortages during Q2 2026 reveals vulnerabilities within supply chains, notably impacting oncology drugs. These shortages emphasize the critical need for robust strategies to ensure consistent drug availability for essential therapies. Furthermore, geopolitical dynamics are influencing pharmaceutical supply chains. A U.S. Senate bill aimed at increasing transparency highlights concerns over China's dominance in drug ingredient supplies—an issue necessitating strategic adjustments by globally operating companies. Elsewhere within the sector, GSK made headlines by discontinuing the development of its chronic cough treatment camlipixant following mixed Phase 3 trial results—a setback illustrating the critical nature of trial outcomes in determining drug viability and market potential. In market trends, biotech IPOs have surged during the first half of 2026—a sign of robust investor interest fueled by innovations and favorable funding environments despite associated market volatility risks. Strategic adjustments continue across companies with mergers and acquisitions leading to workforce reductions—projected layoffs exceeding 14,000 within biopharma during H1 2026—as organizations streamline operations or pivot towards more promising research domains. Lastly, Merck's FDA approval for an oral PCSK9 inhibitor marks a significant achievement in cardiovascular care—representing another stride forward in therapeutic innovation. In summary, these developments encapsulate a landscape defined by scientific pursuits yielding mixed results amidst evolving regulatory interactions and strategic realignments—all contributing towards innovative healthcare solutions while navigating complex industry dynamics.Support the show

Nicole Camp, founder and winemaker of LaShellé Wines, has been honored as Best Black Winemaker in The Seattle Medium's inaugural Best of the Best Northwest Readers' Choice Awards. Her Woodinville-based LaShellé Wines, which began as a backyard experiment, has grown into an award-winning boutique winery. Notably, it is one of Washington state's few Black woman-owned wineries, signifying a significant milestone in regional entrepreneurship and craftsmanship. Interview By Chris B. Bennett.

South African law enforcement has apprehended 69 individuals following an anti-immigrant demonstration that escalated into public disorder and extensive looting. This unrest occurred on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the coastal town of Jeffreys Bay, situated in the Eastern Cape province. The protest was orchestrated by an anti-migrant organization known as "March and March".  The demonstration spiraled into chaos, leading to the looting of at least 23 foreign-owned tuck shops (spaza shops).  At least three individuals required medical assistance, with one person hospitalized. Several foreign nationals were relocated to temporary shelters for their safety.  However, the 69 individuals detained range in age from 18 to 52. They face charges of public violence and are set to appear before the Humansdorp Magistrate Court.This incident is part of a broader trend of anti-immigrant protests that have emerged across South Africa. Notably, prominent anti-migrant groups had previously issued a deadline of June 30 for undocumented migrants to exit the country. Over 900 individuals were arrested during nationwide marches in late June and early July. The ongoing hostility and door-to-door intimidation by vigilante groups have resulted in significant displacements, with approximately 150,000 foreign nationals fleeing or being repatriated by their home countries in recent weeks.  While local authorities indicate that the situation in the Kouga region has stabilized, foreign-owned businesses remain closed as a precautionary measure. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has ramped up search-and-seizure operations to recover stolen goods and is actively investigating the leaders of the protest for inciting the violence.

This Day in Legal History: The National Minimum Drinking Age ActOn July 17, 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, the law that effectively set the drinking age at 21 across the entire country. What makes the Act a fixture of law-school classrooms isn't the policy itself—it's the clever, and constitutionally fraught, mechanism Congress used to achieve it.Here's the problem Congress faced. Setting a drinking age is a classic exercise of state police power; the federal government has no general authority to tell states how old someone must be to buy a beer. So Congress didn't order the states to do anything. Instead, it reached for its spending power. The Act directed that any state which failed to raise its drinking age to 21 would lose a percentage of its federal highway funds. States remained technically “free” to keep a lower drinking age—they'd just forfeit a slice of the highway money they depended on. Within a few years, every state had fallen into line.South Dakota challenged the law, and in the 1987 case South Dakota v. Dole, the Supreme Court upheld it. The Court laid out the framework that still governs conditional federal spending: conditions must be unambiguous, related to a federal interest, not otherwise unconstitutional, and—critically—must not be so coercive that they amount to “compulsion” rather than mere “encouragement.” The Court decided that losing about five percent of highway funds was just mild pressure, not coercion. That last piece became enormously important decades later. In the 2012 healthcare decision, NFIB v. Sebelius, the Court for the first time found that a spending condition had crossed the line into unconstitutional coercion, when Congress threatened states with the loss of all their Medicaid funding. The significance of July 17, 1984 is that a law about drinking age quietly established the constitutional playbook for how the federal government leverages its money to steer state policy—and where the limits of that leverage finally lie.A federal appeals court has reinstated the Pentagon's policy requiring journalists to be accompanied by a government escort inside the building, handing the Trump administration a win in its press-access fight with The New York Times. A lower-court judge had blocked the escort requirement in June, but a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit put it back in place. The legal reasoning is worth parsing. The Times argued the escort rule was retaliation against the press in violation of the First Amendment. The panel disagreed—at least for now—finding the Pentagon likely to succeed on its argument that a “generally applicable escort requirement” isn't a “sufficiently adverse action” to support a First Amendment retaliation claim. In other words, because the rule applies to all reporters rather than singling out particular outlets or viewpoints, the court was skeptical it amounts to unconstitutional retaliation. This is an interim ruling on a preliminary question, not a final decision; the Times says it looks forward to litigating the merits on an expedited basis. The significance is part of a broader pattern we've tracked this week—friction between the administration and the press over access and newsgathering. Here the court signaled that neutral, across-the-board restrictions on where reporters can roam are harder to attack than targeted ones, even as the deeper question of press access to the government remains very much alive.US appeals court keeps in place Pentagon's escort policy for journalists | ReutersA federal judge has warned the Justice Department after government lawyers cited a court decision that does not exist—an apparent AI “hallucination”—in an immigration detention case. In the Michigan matter, DOJ lawyers argued that the Sixth Circuit had barred courts from second-guessing an immigration judge's bond decision, and cited a case, Taylor v. Hott, that simply isn't real. Notably, the judge who caught it was appointed by President Trump, and he observed that fabricated AI citations have fueled “a rash of cases” clogging the courts with fake authorities. If this sounds familiar, it should—we covered a nearly identical episode on Monday, when the Eleventh Circuit sanctioned a private lawyer for the same mistake. The rule is the same regardless of who commits it: when you sign a brief, you certify that its legal contentions are grounded in real, existing law, and generative AI tools routinely invent confident, well-formatted citations to cases that were never decided. What makes this one notable is that it's the government's own lawyers doing it, in a case about detaining a human being. The judge declined to impose sanctions but issued a pointed warning that future filings must not contain nonexistent authorities. The significance is that the AI-hallucination problem has reached the Justice Department itself, and the courts' patience—already thin—is not going to extend just because it's the government at the podium.US judge warns Justice Department about AI use in immigration case | ReutersThe Trump administration is reviving the “public charge” rule, a policy that can deny green cards to immigrants deemed likely to rely on public benefits. The rule appeared in the Federal Register on Thursday, will be formally published July 20, and takes effect September 18. Here's the concept. “Public charge” is a very old idea in immigration law—the government has long been able to refuse admission or permanent residency to someone likely to become primarily dependent on government support. The fight is over how broadly to define it. The version being revived, first adopted in 2019, dramatically expanded the definition to sweep in anyone who received a government benefit—things like food stamps, Medicaid, or housing vouchers—for more than twelve months in any three-year period. The Biden administration abandoned that broad approach in 2022 and narrowed the grounds for denial; now the expansive version is back. Immigrant advocates warn of a powerful “chilling effect” beyond the green-card applicants themselves: the fear that using benefits could jeopardize their status leads people—including in mixed-status families with citizen children—to avoid the doctor, skip food assistance, or hesitate to file taxes. The significance is that a technical change to the definition of a single term can reshape the behavior of millions, deterring lawful use of public programs out of fear it will be held against someone later.US to revive rule that could deny green cards to immigrants using public benefits | ReutersAnd finally, DraftKings has sued the city of Philadelphia after receiving a subpoena, arguing that the city's consumer-protection ordinance is preempted by Pennsylvania state law. The dispute is a clean illustration of a recurring structural question: who gets to regulate what. Gambling in Pennsylvania is heavily regulated at the state level, through a comprehensive statutory scheme and a state gaming authority. Philadelphia enacted its own ordinance and issued DraftKings a subpoena as part of an investigation into potential violations. DraftKings' core argument is preemption—the principle that when a higher level of government has occupied a field, a lower one can't layer on conflicting or duplicative rules of its own. The company contends the city ordinance essentially copies Pennsylvania law, and that gambling regulation belongs to the state, not the city, so Philadelphia lacks the authority to investigate and enforce in this space. This is the same preemption logic we've seen play out between the federal government and states—here it's just one rung down, between a state and one of its cities, governed by state law and the limits of municipal power. The significance is both immediate and broad: immediately, it's a bid to quash a subpoena and fend off a city investigation; more broadly, it tests how much room local governments have to police national sports-betting companies when the state has already claimed the field.DraftKings sues Philadelphia after receiving subpoena | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Jaci and Bill Kousoulas July 16th, 2026, Thursday, 6 PM ET Topic: Mothman Tragedy: The Untold Story of Loss, Mystery, and Post-Traumatic Growth BIO Jaci and Bill Kousoulas Jaci, a retired USPS Postmaster and current business owner/operator, is a holistic teacher and lecturer specializing in Reiki, Crystals, and Research. Bill, a seasoned professional with 30 years of experience in sales and sales management and holds degrees in English and Psychology. Our shared mission is to assist others by delving into research, crafting insightful writings, and publishing books that explore growth after trauma and related subjects. Additionally, both of us harbor a profound fascination with the paranormal – Jaci as an experiencer and Bill as an unwavering student. In 2021, we embarked on a research journey to investigate the 1967 Silver Bridge Disaster. This catastrophic event was preceded by a thirteen-month paranormal onslaught featuring UFOs, Men in Black, Cattle Mutilations, and Poltergeist activity. Notably, over 100 reports described a black, winged being known as Mothman. The culmination of our eighteen-month qualitative study, titled "Bridging the Tragedy: Silver Linings in the Mysterious Ohio River Valley," showcases interviews with several Point Pleasant natives, including Jeff Wamsley, Denny Bellamy, and Andy Colvin. Our upcoming book will delve deeper into the connection between trauma and paranormal experiences, extending beyond the confines of the Ohio River Valley. We extend a warm welcome into our lives and eagerly anticipate hearing from you! Feel free to reach out, and let's connect. Social Media: Website: https://www.prpconnect.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhenomenologyResearchProfessionals United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com

Preparations for the 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) are in full swing, with the event set to take place in Melbourne from 13 to 23 August 2026. This year, over 130 films in over 30 languages will be showcased, with Sitaare Zameen Par, Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1, and Saiyaara receiving the highest number of nominations. Notably, Punjabi cinema will also have a special representation at this year's festival, including Anmolveer Sidhu's film "Kikkran De Phull" featured in the lineup. - 17ਵੇਂ ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਫਿਲਮ ਫੈਸਟੀਵਲ ਆਫ਼ ਮੈਲਬਰਨ (IFFM) ਦੀਆਂ ਤਿਆਰੀਆਂ ਪੂਰੇ ਜ਼ੋਰਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਹਨ, ਜੋ 13 ਤੋਂ 23 ਅਗਸਤ 2026 ਤੱਕ ਮੈਲਬਨ 'ਚ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਇਸ ਸਾਲ 130 ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਫ਼ਿਲਮਾਂ 30 ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਭਾਸ਼ਾਵਾਂ 'ਚ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਜਾਣਗੀਆਂ, ਜਿੰਨ੍ਹਾਂ 'ਚ ਸਿਤਾਰੇ ਜ਼ਮੀਨ ਪਰ, ਕੰਤਾਰਾ: ਅ ਲੇਜੰਡ ਚੈਪਟਰ ਵਨ, ਸੈਯਾਰਾ (Saiyaara) ਵਰਗੀਆਂ ਫ਼ਿਲਮਾਂ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਨਾਮਜ਼ਦ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਹਨ। ਖਾਸ ਗੱਲ ਇਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਵਾਰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿਨੇਮਾ ਦੀ ਵੀ ਖਾਸ ਨੁਮਾਇੰਦਗੀ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ, ਜਿਸ 'ਚ ਅਨਮੋਲਵੀਰ ਸਿੱਧੂ ਦੀ ਫ਼ਿਲਮ "ਕਿੱਕਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਫੁੱਲ" ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੈ।

Movie of the Year: 2006The Devil Wears Prada (feat. Katie Walsh!)The Devil Wears Prada Podcast Episode: Fashion, Power, and the Best of 2006Welcome to The Devil Wears Prada podcast episode from Movie of the Year: 2006. This week, the Taste Buds enter the gleaming offices of Runway magazine. Furthermore, they bring backup. Film critic Katie Walsh joins Mike, Greg, and Ryan to decide whether David Frankel's fashion-world comedy can survive the 2006 bracket. Along the way, the panel debates feminism in the workplace, the myth of the suffering artist, and the eternal question of Andy's terrible friends. Additionally, the episode features a full Anne Hathaway Career Retrospective bracket. Consequently, this one runs deep on both style and substance.About the FilmThe Devil Wears Prada arrived in the summer of 2006 and promptly stole it. Director David Frankel adapted Lauren Weisberger's bestselling novel about a young journalist grinding through an impossible job. Anne Hathaway stars as Andy Sachs, an aspiring writer who lands a position at Runway magazine. Her boss is Miranda Priestly, the most feared editor in fashion, played by Meryl Streep in an Oscar-nominated performance. Moreover, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci deliver career-launching supporting turns. The film earned over $300 million worldwide and near-universal acclaim. Notably, Roger Ebert praised Streep's icy, understated Miranda as the engine of the whole picture. For more background, the Wikipedia entry on The Devil Wears Prada covers its production and legacy in detail. The film now faces its toughest challenge yet: the Movie of the Year 2006 bracket.Guest Panelist: Katie WalshThe Devil Wears Prada 2006 podcast episode welcomes a genuine authority to the panel. Katie Walsh is a Los Angeles-based film critic who reviews weekly releases for the Tribune News Service and the Los Angeles Times. Additionally, she serves as Vice President of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Her writing has appeared in GQ, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Vulture, Slate, and The Playlist. She co-hosted the podcast Miami Nice and has guest-hosted Switchblade Sisters. Furthermore, she frequently appears on KCRW's Press Play and has taught film criticism at Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. In practice, that means the Taste Buds must actually defend their takes this week. Someone in the room knows what she is talking about.Feminism and the WorkplaceIs Miranda Priestly a feminist icon or a cautionary tale? The panel digs into how the film frames women, power, and ambition. Miranda runs an empire, yet the film punishes her with a collapsing marriage. Meanwhile, Andy gets scolded by nearly everyone for taking her job seriously. The episode asks whether the movie critiques workplace sexism or accidentally reproduces it. Notably, Katie Walsh brings a critic's perspective to how 2006 audiences read Miranda versus how we read her now. Two decades of think pieces have flipped the film's villain into its hero. Ultimately, the panel debates whether that reversal says more about the movie or about us.Can Art Only Come from Suffering?Andy suffers for a job she claims to hate, all in service of her writing dreams. Consequently, the Taste Buds tackle a bigger question: does great art require misery? The film suggests that paying dues at Runway makes Andy a better journalist. However, it also shows the cost. She loses friends, a boyfriend, and nearly herself. The panel weighs the romantic myth of the starving artist against the reality of creative work. By contrast, some of the best art comes from stability, support, and cerulean-blue sweaters chosen by someone else. Above all, this segment asks what we actually owe our ambitions.Andy's Friends: The Worst People in FashionEvery rewatch of The Devil Wears Prada produces the same realization: Andy's friends are monsters. They mock her job, demand free designer swag, and play keep-away with her work phone. Meanwhile, her boyfriend Nate pouts because she missed his birthday party for her career. Therefore, the panel litigates the great question of the film's second act. Are these people grounding Andy in reality, or are they sabotaging her? Specifically, the group ranks the friends from least to most insufferable. Nevertheless, at least one Taste Bud attempts a defense of Nate. It does not go well.Anne Hathaway Career Retrospective: The BracketSpecial segment time. The Devil Wears Prada podcast crew builds a full bracket to determine Anne Hathaway's most iconic role. The field spans her entire career. The Princess Diaries, Brokeback Mountain, Rachel Getting Married, Les Misérables, The Dark Knight Rises, and Interstellar all enter the arena. Additionally, deep cuts and dark horses make surprise appearances. Seeding arguments get heated. Upsets happen. As a result, friendships within the panel are tested. Does Andy Sachs herself take the crown, or does an Oscar-winning turn steal it? You will have to listen to find out. Check Anne Hathaway's full filmography on IMDb and play along at home.Why The Devil Wears Prada Still MattersTwenty years later, The Devil Wears Prada refuses to fade. The film remains a Rosetta Stone for conversations about work, ambition, and the price of excellence. Miranda's cerulean monologue is still the definitive speech about how culture actually functions. Moreover, the movie launched Emily Blunt, redefined Anne Hathaway, and gave Meryl Streep one of her signature roles. A 2026 sequel proved the appetite never left. In addition, the film's questions have only grown sharper in the era of hustle culture and quiet quitting. Is Miranda a monster or simply held to a different standard? Ultimately, that debate keeps the film alive, and it makes for a fierce competitor in the Movie of the Year 2006 tournament.Related Episodes from Movie of the Year: 2006Catch up on the season so far, from the 2006 season introduction to the music that defined the year:Movie of the Year 2006: Intro Part 1The 2006 Bracket Reveal: Meet the Sweet 16Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull StoryThe 2006 Mixtape, Part IAll Movie of the Year episodesFAQ: The Devil Wears Prada Podcast and FilmWhat is this episode of The Devil Wears Prada podcast about?The Taste Buds and critic Katie Walsh debate whether The Devil Wears Prada deserves to advance in the Movie of the Year 2006 bracket. Topics include workplace feminism, art and suffering, Andy's awful friends, and a full Anne Hathaway career bracket.What is The Devil Wears Prada about?Aspiring journalist Andy Sachs takes a job assisting Miranda Priestly, the tyrannical editor of Runway magazine. Consequently, Andy must decide how much of herself she will trade for success.Who directed The Devil Wears Prada?David Frankel directed the film. He later directed Marley & Me and worked extensively on Sex and the City. Aline Brosh McKenna wrote the screenplay from Lauren Weisberger's novel.Who stars in The Devil Wears Prada?Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci lead the cast. Streep earned an Academy Award nomination for playing Miranda Priestly.More Questions About The Devil Wears PradaIs Miranda Priestly based on Anna Wintour?Widely, yes. Author Lauren Weisberger worked as an assistant to Vogue editor Anna Wintour, and Miranda is broadly understood as her fictional counterpart. However, Streep has said she modeled the performance on powerful men she knew rather than on Wintour.Who is the guest on this episode?Film critic Katie Walsh joins the panel. She reviews films for the Tribune News Service and the Los Angeles Times and serves as Vice President of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.What is the Anne Hathaway Career Retrospective?It is a bracket-style special segment. The panel seeds Anne Hathaway's most famous roles against each other and votes round by round until one iconic performance remains.Why does The Devil Wears Prada still matter?The film remains the defining movie about ambition, mentorship, and toxic workplaces. Moreover, its cultural conversation keeps evolving, as the 2026 sequel proved.

BB28 Wednesday Live Feed Update July 15, 2026 Big Brother 28 live feeds are all about shifting alliances and a scramble to lock in votes as eviction approaches. Hosted by Taran Armstrong, this recap dives deep into how week one's power players and floaters are navigating a rapidly changing house. AJ joins to help break down every deal, campaign, and misstep from the July 15th live feeds. Dee takes the reins as the current Head of Household, having nominated Mallory, Taylor, and Yash. After Mallory secures the Veto and saves herself, Dee puts Ashley up as a replacement. The eviction target is in constant flux, with Ashley unexpectedly drawing attention as a potential eviction, even though she started as a pawn. The vote still threatens to become split, with houseguests aligning and realigning at every turn. Notably, paranoia is running high, fueled by rumors of a supposed gym alliance meeting and by shifting alliances like the “crossovers” (Dee, Devens, Angela, Drew, Barrett) and Red Corner adding and dropping allies as trust wavers. Dee and Barrett's growing closeness could shift both their positions in the alliance structure, and AJ points out this pairing is raising suspicions across the house. Drew is playing with fire, gathering and leaking information to multiple groups—a tactic Taran describes as risky and likely unsustainable. Angela's paranoia over a rumored alliance meeting in the gym cascades into major strategy shifts, sparking the crossovers to rethink their priorities and solidify keeping Ashley over Taylor or Yash. AJ highlights how some houseguests (like Kamu and Haley) capitalize on this paranoia to forge a Red Corner/crossovers hybrid, quietly uniting the numbers against floating targets. A funny moment: Taylor accidentally drops a tray of champagne glasses in the dark before a birthday celebration, bringing some comic relief to a tense day. The conversation focused on whether the newly formed hybrid alliance will stick together and if Taylor or Yash will find a lifeline in the shifting sands—or if Dee's group has finally learned how to pull house votes from behind the scenes. Will these power brokers make the right call, or are they headed for disaster as eviction approaches? Tune in for the full recap and see who's shaping up as a BB28 kingpin—or a casualty. Chapters: 00:00 Big Brother 28 Morning Reset 06:01 Birthday Mishap Kicks Off Day 08:58 Haughty Harmonies Alliance Formation 13:24 Paranoia Over Big Brother Alliances 19:33 The Cool Kids Target Emerges 29:38 Paranoia Peaks in Big Brother House 36:36 Red Corner and Crossovers Align 42:50 Ashley's Vote Sparks Drama 54:49 Paranoia Settles, Crossovers Stabilize 01:03:53 Big Brother 28 Alliance Power Shifts 01:14:58 Endgame: Vote Plans Take Shape Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Big Brother coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Big Brother podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

BB28 Wednesday Live Feed Update July 15, 2026 Big Brother 28 live feeds are all about shifting alliances and a scramble to lock in votes as eviction approaches. Hosted by Taran Armstrong, this recap dives deep into how week one's power players and floaters are navigating a rapidly changing house. AJ joins to help break down every deal, campaign, and misstep from the July 15th live feeds. Dee takes the reins as the current Head of Household, having nominated Mallory, Taylor, and Yash. After Mallory secures the Veto and saves herself, Dee puts Ashley up as a replacement. The eviction target is in constant flux, with Ashley unexpectedly drawing attention as a potential eviction, even though she started as a pawn. The vote still threatens to become split, with houseguests aligning and realigning at every turn. Notably, paranoia is running high, fueled by rumors of a supposed gym alliance meeting and by shifting alliances like the “crossovers” (Dee, Devens, Angela, Drew, Barrett) and Red Corner adding and dropping allies as trust wavers. Dee and Barrett's growing closeness could shift both their positions in the alliance structure, and AJ points out this pairing is raising suspicions across the house. Drew is playing with fire, gathering and leaking information to multiple groups—a tactic Taran describes as risky and likely unsustainable. Angela's paranoia over a rumored alliance meeting in the gym cascades into major strategy shifts, sparking the crossovers to rethink their priorities and solidify keeping Ashley over Taylor or Yash. AJ highlights how some houseguests (like Kamu and Haley) capitalize on this paranoia to forge a Red Corner/crossovers hybrid, quietly uniting the numbers against floating targets. A funny moment: Taylor accidentally drops a tray of champagne glasses in the dark before a birthday celebration, bringing some comic relief to a tense day. The conversation focused on whether the newly formed hybrid alliance will stick together and if Taylor or Yash will find a lifeline in the shifting sands—or if Dee's group has finally learned how to pull house votes from behind the scenes. Will these power brokers make the right call, or are they headed for disaster as eviction approaches? Tune in for the full recap and see who's shaping up as a BB28 kingpin—or a casualty. Chapters: 00:00 Big Brother 28 Morning Reset 06:01 Birthday Mishap Kicks Off Day 08:58 Haughty Harmonies Alliance Formation 13:24 Paranoia Over Big Brother Alliances 19:33 The Cool Kids Target Emerges 29:38 Paranoia Peaks in Big Brother House 36:36 Red Corner and Crossovers Align 42:50 Ashley's Vote Sparks Drama 54:49 Paranoia Settles, Crossovers Stabilize 01:03:53 Big Brother 28 Alliance Power Shifts 01:14:58 Endgame: Vote Plans Take Shape Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Big Brother coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Big Brother podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Sarah (Jessika Van) and Molly (Courtney Pouroso) receive some unfortunate marketing data in Grind (2026) Intensity:

The S&P 500 rose on Wednesday, with major technology stocks advancing, as traders digested more data showing inflation is cooling.The broad market index finished up 0.38% at 7,572.40, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.62% to settle at 26,269.23. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 150.37 points, or 0.29%, to end at 52,658.64.Investors appeared to be paring exposure to key semiconductor stocks and moving into shares of certain Big Tech names. Notably, Amazon and Alphabet moved up around 3%, while Microsoft was higher by nearly 3%. Apple gained 4%, hitting a new all-time high.SPI up 15 - BHP quarterly - Gold eases - Oil steadyMarcus Today – Daily Market InsightsMarcus Today provides clear, practical commentary for self-directed investors – covering markets, portfolios, education, and decision-making without the noise.If you'd like to go further:Start a free 14-day trial of Marcus Today http://bit.ly/mt-trial-podcastJoin Marcus Today Use code MTPODCAST for 10% off http://bit.ly/mt-join-podcast-offerMT20 – Managed ETF Portfolio A professionally managed portfolio run by Marcus Padley and the team, using ASX-listed ETFs with active market timing. http://bit.ly/mt20-podcastPrinciples – How We Think About Investing A short video series on timing, behaviour, and decision-making. No stock tips. http://bit.ly/mt-principles-podcast—Disclaimer This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice.

This Day in Legal History: The Sedition Act of 1798On July 14, 1798, Congress passed the Sedition Act, the most notorious of the four laws known collectively as the Alien and Sedition Acts. The Sedition Act made it a federal crime to write, print, utter, or publish “any false, scandalous and malicious writing” against the government of the United States, the Congress, or the President—with the intent to defame them or bring them into disrepute. In plain terms, it criminalized criticism of the government.The context was a Federalist administration, under President John Adams, gripped by fear of France and of domestic dissent, and eager to silence the opposition press aligned with Thomas Jefferson's Republicans. And that's exactly how it was used. Federal prosecutors went after Republican newspaper editors and even a sitting congressman, securing convictions for the crime of harsh political speech. Notably, the Act was written to expire in 1801—conveniently, the moment Adams's term would end—so that it could be wielded against his critics but would not outlive his own hold on power.The reaction was fierce and consequential. Jefferson and James Madison drafted the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions arguing the Act was unconstitutional, and the ensuing backlash helped sweep Jefferson into the presidency in 1800; once in office, he pardoned those convicted under it. The Sedition Act was never tested at the Supreme Court, but history rendered its verdict. More than a century and a half later, in New York Times v. Sullivan, the Court looked back and declared that the Act's assault on free expression had been repudiated “in the court of history,” using it as a touchstone for modern First Amendment law. The lesson of July 14, 1798 endures: laws that punish criticism of the government are almost always tools of the powerful against their critics—and a free press is most necessary precisely when the state would prefer it silent.Federal prosecutors have issued subpoenas seeking to compel four New York Times journalists to testify before a Manhattan grand jury, part of a leak investigation into the paper's reporting on security concerns surrounding President Trump's flight on the new Qatari-donated Air Force One. Federal agents delivered some of the subpoenas to the reporters' homes. Here's the legal terrain. There is no absolute federal reporter's privilege—the Supreme Court held decades ago that the First Amendment doesn't categorically shield journalists from grand jury subpoenas—but the Justice Department has long operated under internal guidelines that made going after reporters a last resort. Those guardrails matter here, because in 2025 Attorney General Pam Bondi rescinded the Biden-era policy that had sharply limited subpoenas against journalists, restoring broader authority to pursue them. The Times says it will fight, and can ask a court to quash the subpoenas as overbroad, issued in bad faith, or violating the First Amendment. The significance is the pressure this puts on newsgathering: when the government can subpoena reporters to unmask their sources, sources stop talking, and the kind of national-security reporting at issue here gets harder to do. Press-freedom groups warn this administration has reached for subpoenas and search warrants against journalists—at the Times, the Post, and the Wall Street Journal—more freely than its predecessors.Explainer: Can prosecutors compel New York Times journalists to testify in leak probe? | ReutersA federal judge has voided President Trump's roughly $1.78 billion settlement with the IRS, delivering a scathing rebuke and referring his lawyers for possible discipline. The backstory is unusual. Trump sued his own administration in January over the leak of his tax returns, and by late May had reached a deal with the IRS to create an “anti-weaponization” fund and to “forever bar” the government from any action related to his past tax returns—protection extending to his family and businesses. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams found the whole thing was a setup. The core legal defect is the absence of what courts call adverseness. Federal courts can only decide genuine “cases or controversies”—real disputes between opposing parties. Here, Judge Williams wrote, “there was never adverseness between the Parties; there was never a case or controversy; and there was never a question as to who would prevail,” because Trump was effectively suing himself, with his own Justice Department on the other side agreeing to lose. She found the case was brought for an improper purpose: to get a court's stamp of legitimacy on a settlement with no basis in law or fact. She sanctioned Trump's attorneys and referred one, Alejandro Brito, to the Florida bar, and suggested Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche should face discipline too. The significance is a court refusing to be used as a rubber stamp—insisting that its legitimacy can't be borrowed to bless a collusive deal dressed up as litigation.US judge voids Trump's settlement with IRS | ReutersA federal appeals court has revived more than 500 private lawsuits against Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, alleging that acetaminophen use during pregnancy caused autism and ADHD in children—and here it's worth being clear about the science before the law. There is no firm scientific evidence that Tylenol causes autism or ADHD. The most rigorous recent research, including a large Swedish sibling-comparison study of millions of children, found no causal link once you control for genetic and environmental factors shared within families; mainstream medical bodies continue to regard acetaminophen as one of the safer pain and fever options in pregnancy, and untreated high fevers carry their own real risks. So this ruling is not a finding that Tylenol is dangerous. What the Second Circuit actually decided was narrower and procedural: that the trial judge had wrongly excluded the plaintiffs' expert witnesses. Under the rules governing expert testimony, judges act as “gatekeepers,” admitting expert opinion only if it rests on reliable methodology. The district court had tossed the plaintiffs' experts as unreliable; the appeals court, per Judge Guido Calabresi, said their methods reflected approaches other scientists use and amounted to “acceptable interpretations of scientific evidence where scientists may, and in fact do, disagree.” Crucially, the court stressed it was not deciding whether Tylenol actually causes these conditions. The significance is about who weighs contested science—the ruling lets juries, not just judges, hear the dispute, which is a real win for the plaintiffs procedurally even though the underlying causation case remains, on the current evidence, weak.US appeals court revives private lawsuits linking Tylenol to autism, ADHD | ReutersAnd finally, in my column for Bloomberg Tax this week, I take on a counterintuitive idea: that big corporate taxpayers may come to miss the boring, predictable world of administrative tax law now that the Supreme Court has overruled Chevron deference. My argument, in short, is that a weaker IRS and Treasury is not the unalloyed win a lot of multinationals assume it is.Here's the setup. For forty years, under Chevron, courts deferred to a federal agency's reasonable interpretation of an ambiguous statute. With Chevron gone, courts no longer have to defer to Treasury's reading of the tax code just because the statute is vague and the agency has expertise. A lot of corporate taxpayers cheered that—less agency power sounds like more freedom. But my point is that killing Chevron did nothing to remove the underlying ambiguity in the tax code; it just moved the job of resolving that ambiguity to a different desk. And there are only two other desks it can land on, and I don't love either one for a company that wants predictability.The first desk belongs to the courts. If Treasury can't issue as many binding, prospective rules, then more of these questions get resolved through litigation—case by case, on particular records, often years after the transactions are done. Courts are built to handle controversies, not to administer a global corporate tax system. The Coca-Cola transfer-pricing fight is the stress test I point to: a company may win a great refund that way, but you can't organize a multinational's affairs around the hope that every ambiguous question turns into a bespoke judicial adventure. The second desk belongs to Congress, which is the more democratically satisfying answer—Congress writes the code and is politically accountable. But in practice Congress moves slowly and episodically, usually only when tax changes ride along on some bigger budget deal. By the time Congress fixes an international tax problem, the business model that created it has been reorganized twice and pivoted to something involving AI.So the core of my argument is that corporate taxpayers need to distinguish between a useful litigation win and a stable legal environment—those two things don't always travel together. A bad but clear rule can be modeled and planned around; an ambiguous rule, as I put it, isn't really a rule, it's a threat in the shape of a Treasury notice. My prescription is that Congress should make clearer, more deliberate delegations where technical administration is unavoidable—transfer pricing, international tax, anti-abuse rules—and that Treasury should do a post-Chevron audit of its own regulations to flag where the code is asking too much of administration and too little of legislation. Because the real choice here isn't between IRS power and taxpayer freedom. It's between prospective administration and retroactive improvisation—and multinationals may get their wish, see the IRS diminished, and then find themselves stuck with rules everyone knows are broken but no one can fix.Big Corporate Taxpayers Need More Clarity in a Post-Chevron World | Bloomberg Tax This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

The narrative presented in this episode elucidates the often-overlooked contributions of Ralph W. Drury to the evolution of football headgear, asserting that he may very well be the true innovator of the football helmet. While historical discourse has predominantly celebrated figures such as Joseph Reeves and George Barclay as pioneers, our exploration reveals that Drury's head harness, utilized in 1893, predates these renowned individuals' acknowledged creations. We embark on a meticulous examination of the context surrounding early football equipment, emphasizing the ambiguity that shrouds the origins of protective headgear in this sport. The episode is enriched by insights from Timothy P. Brown of Footballarchaeology.com, who provides an in-depth analysis of Drury's significance within this historical framework. Ultimately, we aim to illuminate the complexities of football's past and correct misconceptions regarding its development, thereby contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the sport's heritage.The conversation is based on Tim's recent article titled: Ralph W. Drury and Football's First Helmet - https://www.footballarchaeology.com/p/ralph-w-drury-and-footballs-firstDon't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga.*OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-StarsDrop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel.Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.comMiss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. The exploration of the origins of the football helmet reveals a captivating narrative, challenging the conventional understanding of its inception. Notably, while figures such as Admiral Joseph Reeves and George Barclay have traditionally been credited with the development of early headgear for football, a lesser-known name emerges from the shadows: Ralph W. Drury. This episode delves into the historical context surrounding Drury's contributions, emphasizing the ambiguity that often accompanies the documentation of early football equipment. Through a thorough examination of various accounts and artifacts, we uncover Drury's role in shaping the evolution of head protection in the sport. The discussion highlights the complexities involved in attributing credit for innovations, particularly when faced with a lack of definitive documentation and the prevalence of soft leather gear mistaken for helmets. Ultimately, this episode not only sheds light on the significance of Ralph W. Drury but also invites listeners to reconsider the narratives that have long been accepted in football history, urging a reevaluation of the figures who have impacted the game's development.

The sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham tectonically shifts our national security firmament. Whether one agreed with his priorities or not, he indisputably filled a unique position in the Senate and the country for which there is no obvious replacement. Notably, he was a tireless champion of Ukraine, Israel and liberating Iran.  Sen. Graham died right after his tenth trip to Kyiv, living to see  the Ukrainians winning the war there – unless Putin goes nuclear. At a time of rampant hostility towards Israel, Lindsey correctly recognized her as a key ally fighting our enemies and warranting our support – especially with respect to “finishing the job” by helping accomplish real regime change in Tehran. Sen. Graham will be most missed, though, in his role as “Trump whisperer,” a trusted confident of the President surrounded by others with sharply differing views.  R.I.P. Lindsey Graham.  This is Frank Gaffney.

This week on Autonomy Markets, Grayson Brulte and Walter Piecyk discuss Tesla‘s unsupervised robotaxi launch in Miami, Waymo preparing to bring four new markets online, and NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison's letter to autonomous vehicle operators.On July 3rd, Tesla launched unsupervised robotaxi in Miami, their first market outside of Texas and California. We were there on the ground conducting field research with no safety monitor and no chase vehicle in sight, riding through torrential downpours and flooded streets. The fleet grew from two vehicles on day one to three vehicles by day three, and it was the best unsupervised robotaxi experience we have ever had.While conducting field research, we counted over two dozen Cybercabs staged in Miami, every single one with a steering wheel and a Florida license plate. We believe these are validation vehicles and that Cybercab will be Tesla's major robotaxi launch vehicle. Notably, Tesla's operating domain extends further west than Waymo's, wrapping around the back side of Miami International Airport.As Tesla scales in Miami, NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison sent a letter to autonomous vehicle operators on July 8th citing a pattern of driverless vehicles interfering with police, fire, and EMS. The timing was notable, as our Tesla robotaxi flawlessly pulled over for an ambulance during our Miami rides. Mr. Morrison's approach of loosening hardware rules while tightening behavioral scrutiny is the regulatory framework we believe the industry needs to scale.Waymo opened employee rides in Las Vegas, San Diego, Tampa, and Denver, the final gate before public service. Tampa confirms the call The Road to Autonomy made three weeks ago when we uncovered Waymo's 100,000 square foot warehouse lease near Tampa International Airport.Beyond the four new cities, OMEGA uncovered corporate filings pointing to potential Waymo deployments in France, Spain, and the Netherlands, along with an Alphabet entity in Singapore holding $21 billion that we verified as a wholly owned Waymo subsidiary through the Delaware Chancery Court.On the Foreign Autonomy Desk, Grayson and Walt discuss Baidu publicly disclosing 143,000 autonomous driving miles in Hong Kong and Zelos securing Malaysia's first L4 public road permit for driverless delivery.Episode Chapters0:00 Tesla Launches Robotaxi in Miami8:50 Tesla's Miami Service Area Compared to Waymo's14:35 NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison's Letter to Autonomous Vehicle Operators19:13 Waymo's New Markets: Las Vegas, San Diego, Tampa, and Denver23:02 Denver: Waymo's First Snow and Ice Market26:41 OMEGA uncovers Waymo's European Grand Ambitions29:32 Waymo's Playbook32:01 Uber's Autonomy Partners Struggles34:27 Foreign Autonomy Desk35:21 Next WeekFollow The Road to Autonomy Indices--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy is the leading applied intelligence platform covering the convergence of automation, autonomy, and the Autonomy Economy.™.Through our podcasts, newsletter, and proprietary applied intelligence, we set the narrative for institutional investors, industry executives, and policymakers navigating the convergence of automation, autonomy, and economic growth.Join institutional investors and industry leaders who read This Week in The Autonomy Economy every Sunday. Each edition delivers exclusive insight and commentary on the autonomy economy, helping you stay ahead of what's next.Sign up for This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Canada and the U.S. have officially made a deal to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge on July 27th. The pathway connecting Windsor, Ontario to Detroit was slated to open last month - until it was postponed after objections by U.S. President Donald Trump. The announcement is being celebrated on both sides of the border.Also: Less than 24 hours after landing from his international trip to Saudi Arabia and the NATO summit in Turkey - Mark Carney is now at the Calgary Stampede, and thrust back in the middle of issues he faces back at home. Notably - his visit comes as Alberta goes through a debate on national unity.And: Canada's first WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo, is quickly gaining fans across the country. Especially in Montreal, where the team are playing two games this weekend as part of a cross-country series. You'll hear how the team is bringing together fans of women's basketball across the nation.Plus: Building a radar system for defence in Canada's North, How news was delivered centuries ago on the shores of Newfoundland, and more

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the high-end of Apple's increasingly tangled MacBook lineup, including the entry-level MacBook Pro, the redesigned high-end models, and the rumored “MacBook Ultra."1:39 Why Apple Is Skipping M6 Pro and M6 Max4:01 MacBook Ultra Timing and First-Generation Problems6:00 How MacBook Pro and MacBook Ultra Could Coexist9:59 Sponsor: Claude11:20 Untangling Apple's Upcoming MacBook Lineup12:47 Which MacBook Models Are Worth Waiting For?18:00 The MacBook Pro Redesign and Dynamic Island23:10 Could MacBook Ultra Replace High-End MacBook Pros?28:18 What Is a Touchscreen Mac Actually For?30:08 Samsung's New Foldable and Apple's iPhone Ultra33:03 MacBook Ultra Pricing, Features, and Dream Apple DevicesApple's chip roadmap for the Mac is reportedly set to take an unusual turn over the next year. The company is said to be skipping the M6 Pro and M6 Max entirely, jumping from the M5 generation straight to the M7 for its high-end laptops. A standard M6 chip will still arrive this year in an entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌, but there will apparently be no Pro or Max variant in that family.As a result, Apple's first high-end OLED laptop will use the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips rather than newer silicon. First-generation buyers would therefore be paying a premium for a redesigned machine featuring the same processors already found in the current ‌MacBook Pro‌, with M7 Pro and M7 Max models expected to follow in the second half of 2027.The launch window remains fluid. The device was long expected to arrive in late 2026, but memory chip constraints and Apple's recent price increases have pushed it toward early 2027. A second-generation model with M7 chips is already planned for late 2027, meaning the first Ultra could remain on sale for a relatively short window.The overlapping releases make for a crowded and confusing roadmap. Across roughly a year, Apple is expected to ship a base M6 ‌MacBook Pro‌, a redesigned base M7 model in the first half of 2027, two M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Ultramodels, their eventual M7 Pro and M7 Max successors, and perhaps new high-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ models with the M7 Pro and M7 Max. Notably, the entry-level M7 model is set to get the new design first, ahead of the pricier high-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ models.The headline changes are reserved for the top-tier "Ultra" model. It is expected to be the first Mac with an OLED display, using the same hybrid tandem ‌OLED‌ technology as the iPad Pro, along with the first touchscreen on a Mac, a Dynamic Island in place of the notch, and a thinner chassis. Both 14-inch and 16-inch sizes are expected. Built-in cellular connectivity for the first time on a Mac is also rumored.Apple is reportedly positioning touch as “touch-friendly, not touch-first," letting users move between touch, trackpad, and keyboard rather than treating the Mac like an iPad. That marks a reversal for a company that long resisted the idea. Steve Jobs argued in 2010 that vertical touchscreens cause arm fatigue, and as recently as 2021 hardware chief John Ternus said the Mac was "totally optimized for indirect input."Signs of the shift are already visible in macOS 27 Golden Gate, which adds direct touch control to Sidecar, so users can tap and interact with macOS elements using a finger on an ‌iPad‌. A reinforced hinge is also expected, so the display does not wobble when tapped. Pricing is likely to be steep. Apple raised prices across the Mac lineup in June, and the current 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ now starts at $1,999, rising to $2,499 with the M5 Pro chip and $4,099 for an M5 Max. The 16-inch M5 Max reaches $4,399, and a fully specced configuration already exceeds $10,000. The high-end ‌OLED‌ model is expected to start higher still.Ready to tackle bigger problems? Get started with Claude today at — https://www.Claude.ai/mac

In this episode, Ray Cochrane breaks down AI distillation, the teacher-student technique frontier labs now lean on to train smaller, cheaper models. He also covers GPT-5.6’s government-vetted rollout, Claude Sonnet 5 landing on AWS, Maryland’s two-year data center pause, and Microsoft’s climbing carbon numbers. Finally, he wraps with Apple’s $30 billion Broadcom deal, Meta’s tamper-proof recording light, Michigan’s parasite outbreak, and a simulation that erased a super El Niño. – Want to start a podcast? Its easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens with a quick personal update. Longer days have him outdoors, including a float trip on the Sandy River at Dabney State Park, where he found clearer water, clay-like sand, and easy footing. Next week brings both a move and a trip home, so he is stocking up on Trader Joe’s “Power Berries” and IKEA bags at his mom’s request. Then he turns to the lead story. AI Distillation Explained: How Frontier Models Teach Each Other Cochrane’s featured story comes from Hugging Face engineer Sergio Paniego. Distillation is teacher-student training for AI: a capable model generates the training signal, and a smaller student learns to match it. The classic off-policy version compresses giant models into cheap students, either through soft labels or piles of worked answers. Google’s Gemma models and DeepSeek’s R1-Distill line were built exactly this way. However, the industry is now converging on multi-teacher on-policy distillation, or MOPD. Labs build reinforcement-learning specialists for math, coding, and agentic work, then have them grade a single student, word by word, as the student generates its own answers. DeepSeek-V4, MiMo-V2-Flash, and NVIDIA’s Nemotron 3 Ultra all run versions of the recipe, and the Qwen3 team reported better results at roughly a tenth of the GPU hours of raw reinforcement learning. Finally, self-distillation lets models like Cursor’s Composer 2.5 learn from better-prompted versions of themselves. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting $6.99/month, WordPress hosting $12.99/month, domains $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. GPT-5.6 Arrives With a Government-Vetted Rollout OpenAI shipped GPT-5.6 as a three-tier family: Sol, Terra, and Luna. Sol costs five dollars in and thirty dollars out per million tokens, half of Claude Fable 5’s rate. The benchmarks split: Sol Ultra wins Terminal-Bench at 91.9 percent, while Claude Fable 5 still leads SWE-Bench Pro. Notably, the API launched in limited preview to roughly 20 partners vetted by the U.S. government, though the model went live in Microsoft 365 Copilot on day one. Claude Sonnet 5 Lands on AWS, Plus Quick AWS Wins Claude Sonnet 5 arrived on AWS through Bedrock, pitched as top-tier intelligence at Sonnet pricing. Additionally, Amazon WorkSpaces for AI agents reached general availability, enabling agents to drive full desktop applications securely. OpenSearch gained a log-analytics engine claiming four times the price-performance, and SageMaker now scales inference about twice as fast. Cochrane also flags that Kendra and Q Business move to maintenance mode at the end of July. Anthropic Wants You to Reflect on Your Claude Habits Anthropic launched Reflect, a beta feature that analyzes your past Claude conversations and visualizes how you actually use the assistant. It requires Memory, excludes incognito and health-related chats, and keeps its insights inside the tool. Cochrane loves the idea. He reviews his own transcripts to extract prompt patterns and turn them into reusable skills, and he suggests listeners simply ask their AI to do the same. AlphaEvolve Goes GA on Google Cloud Google made AlphaEvolve generally available to Google Cloud customers on the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform. The agent acts as an evolutionary collaborator: provide a baseline algorithm and your goals, and it searches for better, human-readable code. BASF, JetBrains, and Kinaxis are the named early adopters. Meanwhile, Cochrane renews his standing wish that DeepMind release AlphaGo as a playable teacher. Google Adds “How This Ad Was Made” AI Labels Google is adding a “How this ad was made” section to My Ad Center across Search, YouTube, and Discover. Ads built with Google’s own AI tools automatically get the disclosure, backed by invisible watermarks. However, ads made with outside tools rely on advertiser self-declaration. Cochrane points out the limits of voluntary disclosure in an AI-flooded content economy. Microsoft’s Carbon Emissions Climb 25 Percent Microsoft’s new sustainability report shows emissions up 25% in 2025, driven by a data center construction spree. The gross figure is 34 million metric tons before offsets, while other coverage puts the net figure at around 20 million. Water consumption also jumped thirty-four percent, even as Microsoft claims its first water-positive year. Cochrane argues regulation needs to catch up, since Google and Amazon report similar increases. Prince George’s County Pauses Data Centers for Two Years Prince George’s County adopted a two-year moratorium on new data center development, the longest pause in Maryland so far. The resolution blocks new applications, including hyperscale projects, until the council passes real regulations. Water and energy impacts remain open questions the county intends to study. Cochrane gives kudos to residents for making their voices heard. Apple and Broadcom Ink a $30 Billion U.S. Chip Deal Apple is expanding its partnership with Broadcom with a multiyear agreement expected to exceed $30 billion. The deal covers custom silicon and wireless components, with more than fifteen billion chips to be made on American soil. Broadcom’s Fort Collins, Colorado plant anchors the work with a $1.5 billion equipment expansion. Tim Cook framed the deal as accelerating Apple’s commitment to American manufacturing. MSI and Intel Ship the First Arc G3 Extreme Handheld Intel detailed how it co-engineered the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, the first handheld on the Arc G3 Extreme processor. Highlights include a heat-spreading board layout and game-tuning loops that Intel says run Cyberpunk 2077 up to thirty-seven percent faster. The device is on sale now in void purple for around $1,500. At that price, Cochrane jokes he would rather buy a computer. Meta’s Glasses Get a Tamper-Proof Recording Light Meta answered the most common privacy questions about its AI glasses. Photos stay private on the device until the wearer imports or shares them, and a white capture LED blinks during any recording with no off switch. Moreover, newer glasses disable the camera if the LED is blocked, tampered with, or destroyed. Cochrane reminds listeners these claims are Meta grading its own homework, but the blink signal is worth recognizing in public. Michigan’s Parasite Outbreak Tops 1,200 Cases Michigan’s cyclosporiasis outbreak reached 1,251 cases since June 22, with roughly forty hospitalizations along the way. Northwest Ohio adds more than five hundred cases. The parasite typically spreads through contaminated fresh produce, and investigators still have not found the source. Cochrane’s advice: wash your produce, and get tested if your symptoms fit. AI Finds the San Andreas Fault’s Silent Slips Researchers paired AI with borehole strainmeters to detect dozens of hidden slow-slip events beneath the San Andreas Fault’s Parkfield section. Each silent slip releases stress within hours and is reliably followed by low-frequency earthquakes. Together, the findings support a continuous spectrum from silent creep to destructive quakes. The study appears in Nature Communications, and Cochrane hopes it will lead to better earthquake prediction. Cloud Brightening Erased a Super El Niño, in a Simulation Finally, a Science Advances study simulated marine cloud brightening in response to the 1997 and 2015 super El Niño events. Seeding clouds over the eastern Pacific erased the events entirely inside the model. Real deployment would take roughly 2,400 ships spraying continuously, and the simulations showed side effects like extra warming over Europe and Asia. Cochrane finds the weather-machine concept fascinating, yet he questions the consequences of altering cycles the planet runs for a reason. The post AI Distillation: How Frontier Models Teach Each Other #1870 appeared first on Geek News Central.

The prevailing sentiment within the furniture industry is one of cautious anticipation, as current economic conditions have engendered a peculiar atmosphere characterized by stagnation in consumer spending, particularly on discretionary items such as sofas and dining tables. This week's analysis highlights a notable acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway, which has agreed to purchase the homebuilder Taylor Morrison for a substantial $8.5 billion; an event that some industry analysts interpret as a harbinger of potential recovery in the housing sector. As we delve deeper into the intricacies of this landscape, we shall explore the underlying factors influencing consumer behavior, including the significant demographic shifts among millennials who are increasingly entering their prime home-buying years. Moreover, we will examine the ramifications of recent promotional strategies that, rather than creating new demand, appear to merely redistribute existing consumer interest. As we navigate through these complex dynamics, we shall also address the pressing need for retailers to recalibrate their approaches to inventory and financing in order to align with the evolving consumer psyche. The current state of the furniture industry is indicative of broader economic uncertainties that are influencing consumer behavior and market dynamics. As we delve into the intricacies of this sector, we observe that a peculiar malaise has settled over the market, exacerbated by a confluence of factors such as soaring inflation, geopolitical tensions, and a housing market that has recently experienced a significant downturn. The prevailing atmosphere is characterized by consumers retreating to the safety of their homes, leading to diminished foot traffic in retail outlets and a resultant stagnation in sales figures. Publicly traded companies have reported a lack of growth, with many experiencing declines compared to the previous year, highlighting the challenges faced by the industry in attracting substantial investments in large-ticket items. Furthermore, even events like Amazon's Prime Day, which traditionally stimulate consumer spending, revealed a concerning trend of reduced average order values. However, amidst this landscape of hesitance and contraction, we note that some astute investors are positioning themselves strategically for a future recovery. Notably, Berkshire Hathaway's recent acquisition of Taylor Morrison signals a potential shift in the housing market's trajectory, as it marks a significant move by Greg Abel, Warren Buffett's successor. This acquisition is interpreted as a bullish indicator by seasoned dealmakers, suggesting that the fundamentals of the housing market remain strong, albeit currently obscured by short-term challenges. The underlying demographic trends, such as the increasing homeownership rate among millennials and a projected wealth transfer of $124 trillion over the coming decades, provide a foundation for optimism regarding future furniture demand. However, the consensus remains that any substantial recovery in the sector will likely align with housing market dynamics over the next 6 to 18 months, necessitating a prudent recalibration of inventory and financing strategies by retailers to better meet the evolving needs of consumers.

Movie of the Year: 2006The Puffy ChairThe Puffy Chair Podcast Hits the RoadThe Puffy Chair podcast episode sends the Taste Buds on a road trip through the Duplass brothers' scrappy 2006 breakout. Ryan, Mike, and Greg buckle up to decide whether this mumblecore landmark deserves a deep run in the Movie of the Year 2006 bracket. Moreover, they bring serious backup this week. Critic and author Keith Phipps joins the panel to help unpack a movie made for the price of a used car. Together, the group digs into fragile relationships, DIY filmmaking, and one very symbolic recliner. Can a $15,000 indie outmuscle the blockbusters of 2006? Press play and ride along.About the FilmThe Puffy Chair follows Josh, a struggling New York booking agent played by Mark Duplass. Josh wins an eBay auction for a burgundy recliner that matches the one his dad owned years ago. Consequently, he plans a road trip to deliver the chair as a birthday gift. His girlfriend Emily, played by Katie Aselton, comes along for the ride. His free-spirited brother Rhett, played by Rhett Wilkins, joins them on the way. Naturally, the trip tests every relationship in the van.Jay Duplass directed the film, which he created with his brother Mark. The brothers shot it for roughly $15,000 borrowed from their parents, and the cast earned $100 a day. The movie premiered at Sundance in January 2005 and later won the Audience Award at South by Southwest. Roadside Attractions and Netflix released it theatrically on June 2, 2006. As a result, it qualifies for our 2006 bracket, and it arrives with real critical pedigree. Check the full credits at IMDb and the reviews roundup at Metacritic. New to the season? Start with our Movie of the Year 2006 introduction.Guest Panelist: Keith PhippsKeith Phipps brings nearly three decades of film criticism to the panel this week. He joined The A.V. Club in 1997 and became its editor in 2004, helping build it into a cultural institution. Later, he co-founded the beloved film site The Dissolve and served as editorial director for film and TV at Uproxx. His byline has appeared in Rolling Stone, Slate, GQ, Vulture, and The New York Times, among many others. Currently, he writes The Reveal, a film newsletter he created with longtime collaborator Scott Tobias. He also co-hosts The Next Picture Show, a biweekly podcast in the Filmspotting family that pairs classic films with modern successors. Additionally, Phipps wrote the acclaimed book Age of Cage: Four Decades of Hollywood Through One Singular Career, an NPR Books We Love selection. Few guests know indie film history better, so the Taste Buds put him straight to work.Josh and Emily (and Rhett)Every road movie needs passengers, and this one packs the van with tension. The panel starts with Josh and Emily, a couple fluent in baby talk but allergic to honest conversation. Their relationship anchors the film, and the podcast crew debates whether Josh ranks among 2006's most frustrating boyfriends. Emily wants commitment and emotional validation. Josh wants to deliver a chair and dodge every hard question along the way. Meanwhile, Rhett climbs aboard and scrambles the whole dynamic. His impulsive romanticism works as comic relief, yet it also lights the fuse under Josh and Emily's slow-motion breakup. Keith Phipps helps the Taste Buds weigh how the improvised performances make these fights feel painfully real. Ultimately, the group asks a simple question. Do we root for this couple, or do we root for the exits?Filmmaking Style on The Puffy Chair 2006 PodcastStyle takes center stage in the second discussion topic. The Duplass brothers shot with handheld cameras, natural light, and a whole lot of improvisation. Critics soon filed the film under mumblecore, a label built on low budgets, naturalistic dialogue, and twentysomething malaise. However, the panel debates whether that label helps or flattens the movie. The Puffy Chair podcast crew also examines the famous snap zooms, the cramped framing, and the brothers' choice to cast their actual parents. Furthermore, Phipps places the film within the mid-2000s indie boom that he covered firsthand as a critic. The $15,000 budget becomes a character in itself. Does the rough look create intimacy, or does it simply look cheap? Notably, the panel connects this DIY approach to the music of the era covered in our 2006 Mixtape Part I.The ChairWhat about the recliner itself? The chair works as the film's MacGuffin, its symbol, and arguably its best supporting player. Josh buys it because it resembles the chair from his childhood living room. Therefore, the purchase says less about his dad and more about Josh's own nostalgia. The panel unpacks what the chair represents: arrested development, misplaced sentimentality, and the gap between a grand gesture and genuine care. Along the journey, the chair suffers indignities that mirror the crumbling relationships around it. By contrast, the film's quietest moments reveal what an honest gift might have looked like. The Taste Buds and Keith Phipps debate whether the chair earns its title billing. No spoilers here, though. The chair's final fate stays a surprise for listeners.Genre BlastThe episode also features a Genre Blast segment, a PopFilter favorite. The Taste Buds zoom out from the film and blast through its genre lineage. Is The Puffy Chair a road movie, a romantic comedy, a breakup drama, or the founding text of mumblecore? Each label carries its own history, and the panel traces them all. Specifically, the crew connects the film to decades of American road pictures and indie relationship stories. Keith Phipps adds critical context from his years covering the movement's rise and fall. Listen to the full episode to hear where the genre conversation lands.Why The Puffy Chair Still MattersTwenty years later, this tiny film casts a surprisingly long shadow. The Duplass brothers parlayed it into a remarkable career spanning Cyrus, Safety Not Guaranteed, Togetherness, and Room 104. Mark Duplass and Katie Aselton became one of indie film's great creative couples. Meanwhile, the movie's distribution deal made history of its own. Netflix co-released it theatrically in 2006, an early experiment that hinted at the streaming future to come. The mumblecore movement it helped launch reshaped American independent film and influenced a generation of DIY creators. Above all, The Puffy Chair podcast conversation proves the film still sparks real debate. Its questions about commitment, communication, and growing up have not aged a day. The AFI Catalog preserves the film's place in the historical record. Our bracket will decide its place in 2006.Related Episodes from Movie of the Year: 2006Movie of the Year: 2006 Intro Part 1Movies of 2006 Bracket Reveal and Sweet 16Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story2006 Mixtape Part IAll Movie of the Year EpisodesFAQ: The Puffy Chair Podcast and FilmWhat is The Puffy Chair podcast episode about?The Puffy Chair podcast episode features the Taste Buds and guest Keith Phipps evaluating the Duplass brothers' 2006 film for the Movie of the Year bracket. Topics include the Josh and Emily relationship, the film's mumblecore style, the symbolism of the chair, and a Genre Blast segment.What is The Puffy Chair about?The film follows Josh, who wins an eBay auction for a recliner matching his dad's old chair. He road-trips to deliver it as a birthday gift, joined by his girlfriend Emily and his brother Rhett. Consequently, the journey exposes every crack in their relationships.Who directed The Puffy Chair?Jay Duplass directed the film, which he made with his brother Mark Duplass, who wrote, produced, and starred. Many sources credit the brothers as a filmmaking team, and the movie launched their careers.Who stars in The Puffy Chair?Mark Duplass stars as Josh, Katie Aselton plays Emily, and Rhett Wilkins plays Rhett. Notably, the Duplass brothers' real parents appear as Josh's parents.Is The Puffy Chair a mumblecore movie?Yes, critics widely consider it a founding film of the mumblecore movement. Its low budget, improvised dialogue, and naturalistic performances defined the style. However, the Duplass brothers have expressed mixed feelings about the label, a tension the episode explores.How much did The Puffy Chair cost to make?The

On June 24, 2026, two consecutive earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude—the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century—devastated the country's northern coast, including the city of La Guaira and parts of Caracas. This episode features Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, WOLA's president, who was visiting Venezuela when the earthquakes hit and subsequently traveled to the hardest-hit zone, and Laura Dib, director of WOLA's Venezuela program, who has closely tracked the humanitarian response and U.S. policy dimensions. Carolina offers a firsthand account of the disaster and its aftermath. She describes the profound isolation caused by the Venezuelan government's pre-existing censorship regime—with platforms like X, CNN, and independent media blocked—which left citizens unable to access life-saving information during the critical first hours. Traveling to La Guaira, she found scenes closer to "a war zone" than a natural disaster, with collapsed buildings, others on the brink of collapse, precarious improvised shelters, and families living in the open air without adequate water, food, or assistance. Above all, she encountered a pervasive sense of abandonment. A central theme of the conversation is the "hollowness" of the Venezuelan state, laid bare by years of corruption, authoritarian misrule, and the emigration of some eight million people—including doctors, nurses, and engineers. Carolina notes that the armed forces, which acted as first responders during earlier tragedies, now function largely as a repressive and surveilling force, controlling access to disaster sites rather than aiding survivors. Laura provides data and policy analysis. The government, through National Assembly head Jorge Rodríguez—brother of de facto ruler Delcy Rodríguez—reports roughly 3,500 deaths and 16,000 injured, though the U.S. Geological Survey estimates the toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000. The UN estimates direct infrastructure damage at $37 billion. Laura situates the disaster within a longstanding humanitarian emergency and explains how the 2025 dismantling of USAID reduced disaster-response capacity, even as the U.S. pledged $300 million, a figure dwarfed by the $1.15 billion pledged after Haiti's 2010 earthquake. Laura and Carolina discuss the uncomfortable U.S. alignment with the unelected Delcy Rodríguez government, whose constitutional legitimacy has expired without new elections. They argue the disaster has badly set back the Trump administration's three-stage transition plan and revealed the state's incapacity to protect its citizens. Notably, Venezuelan social movements are now directing their demands at the U.S. government rather than their own institutions. Venezuela's beleagured civil society is a bright spot. Despite an anti-NGO law criminalizing foreign funding, organizations like Caritas and Fe y Alegría, alongside diaspora networks and ordinary citizens, have organized shelters, distributed supplies, and built databases to track the missing and separated children. A reputable site for donations to disaster relief is Donar Seguro. WOLA recommends that aid flow through transparent, accountable channels; that the anti-NGO law be repealed; that social media and VPN blockades be lifted; that the U.S.-run oil-revenue fund be used transparently for Venezuelans' benefit; and that the Trump administration reinstate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and halt deportations of Venezuelans in the United States. A deportation flight of 146 people arrived on the day of the earthquake, most of whom died in a hotel—a site the political police blocked Carolina from visiting. Venezuela's reconstruction will require a long-term commitment and, crucially, the rebuilding of public trust. This can only happen in the context of a genuine democratic transition.

Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we're diving into a series of compelling stories that showcase the dynamic nature of this industry. In a landmark development, Vertex Pharmaceuticals has made headlines with its acquisition of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals for a staggering $10 billion. This move marks Vertex's strategic expansion into the endocrine disease sector, a significant shift from its traditional focus on cystic fibrosis. Crinetics' innovative approach to treating rare endocrine disorders will allow Vertex to address unmet needs in this area, highlighting a broader industry trend where mergers and acquisitions serve as key strategies for adapting to the evolving scientific landscape and patient demands. While Vertex makes bold moves, Kalohexis is preparing for a confidential initial public offering (IPO), focusing on treatments based on the melanocortin system for obesity and cancer cachexia. The melanocortin system is crucial in regulating energy homeostasis and inflammation, making it a promising target for therapeutic interventions. This development underscores the growing interest in peptide-based therapies and innovative scientific approaches to address complex metabolic disorders, further emphasizing the industry's shift towards tackling significant health challenges such as obesity. Clinical trials continue to be at the forefront of medical advancements. Compass Pathways has reported promising Phase III trial results for COMP360, its psilocybin-based therapy for treatment-resistant depression. These findings indicate a potential breakthrough in psychedelic therapy, offering new hope for patients who haven't benefited from existing antidepressant treatments. The exploration of psychedelics in mental health treatment represents a paradigm shift that could introduce novel therapeutic options and significantly impact patient care. Turning to regulatory news, AbbVie's Tepkinly (epcoritamab) has received European Commission approval for treating relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. This approval is based on robust Phase III data, underscoring the potential of bispecific antibodies as effective cancer therapies. Similarly, PharmaEssentia's Besremi (ropeginterferon alfa-2b) has obtained Health Canada approval for polycythemia vera treatment, highlighting the continued relevance of protein and interferon therapies in managing myeloproliferative neoplasms. In business development news, Novo Nordisk and Vivani Medical have partnered to develop an ultra-long-acting semaglutide implant for chronic weight management. This collaboration showcases advancements in drug delivery systems aimed at improving patient compliance and therapeutic outcomes. Meanwhile, Boehringer Ingelheim's licensing agreement with Prime Vector Technologies involves harnessing viral vectors for cancer vaccine development, emphasizing ongoing efforts to innovate within oncology. Despite these advancements, challenges persist within the industry. Notably, Bristol Myers Squibb's Krazati (adagrasib) failed its Phase III confirmatory trial in metastatic colorectal cancer with KRAS G12C mutations. This outcome highlights the complexities involved in developing targeted cancer therapies and underscores the need for continued innovation and exploration of combination treatments. The financial landscape also reflects strategic adjustments with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals reporting a $127 million charge impacting its earnings due to an in-process research and development expense. Additionally, Novartis is undergoing organizational restructuring with workforce reductions aimed at cost management within large pharmaceutical enterprises. On another front, China's recent approval of the world's first CAR-T therapy for solid tumors marks a significant leap forward from its traditional success in hematological malignancies. This development highlights the potential for CAR-T therapies to address complex challenges posed by solid tumors and could have profound implications for global cancer treatment paradigms. AstraZeneca's partnership with CSPC Pharmaceutical represents another strategic collaboration aimed at co-developing kidney disease drugs, reflecting Western pharmaceutical companies' efforts to leverage Chinese biotechnological capabilities. As companies navigate these complexities through strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and groundbreaking research, their ability to adapt will be crucial in shaping future patient care and therapeutic landscapes. The pharmaceutical and biotech industries remain at the forefront of scientific advancement, continually seeking solutions to complex medical needs while adapting to an ever-evolving global landscape.Support the show

Armin Molavi is a seasoned global brand architect, enterprise marketing executive, and the Chief Marketing Officer at Instructure, the edtech giant behind Canvas by Instructure (the world's leading learning management platform).With over 20 years of experience leading massive brand transformations, Armin specializes in taking complex, legacy organizations and modernizing their market narrative. Before stepping into the edtech space at Instructure, he built a powerhouse career on both the agency and corporate brand sides. Notably, he served as the Global Head of Media and Marketing Operations at Hilton, where he managed their international agency ecosystem, drove massive digital efficiency, and helped steer the hospitality giant through an era of aggressive digital transformation.

In this episode, Ray Cochrane digs into “algorithmic outing,” new research showing that social feeds can infer your sexual orientation before you have consciously come out. He also covers Meta’s privacy-aware AI infrastructure, Alberta’s 466-million-line code scan with Claude, NVIDIA on reinforcement learning, and the many journeys of learning Rust. Along the way, he hits Google DeepMind’s A24 deal, WhatsApp usernames, and scuba-diving cyborg cockroaches. Finally, he looks up with Webb’s puzzling early universe, NASA’s emergency telescope rescue, and a gorgeous aurora from orbit. – Want to start a podcast? Its easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens with a quick personal update. He hopes listeners had a good holiday weekend, and he shares that he spent his time working his other job at Oregon’s Finest, chatting with people around Portland. Because his Blurbry workweek tends to be solitary, he refills his social meter on the weekends. He then recalls a Saturday night out with coworkers at the Hungry Tiger before turning to the lead story. Algorithmic Outing: When Your Feed Knows Before You Do Cochrane leads with new research from Australia that identifies a phenomenon called “algorithmic outing.” In short, the recommendation systems behind your social feeds can infer your sexual orientation or gender identity and start serving related content before you have worked it out yourself. Importantly, the study is small and qualitative, built on in-depth interviews with twenty LGBTQ+ adults in the Hunter region of New South Wales and published in the journal Gender, Place and Culture. The mechanism is engagement signals: what you like, who you follow, and how long you linger on a post, a metric the industry calls dwell time. Lead researcher Dr. Justin Ellis of the University of Newcastle notes that several participants said the algorithm “knew” they were queer before they did, an experience that felt validating for some but frightening for others in public settings. For Cochrane, the deeper worry is what else that hidden pattern encodes, from upbringing to mental health, and where that data ultimately gets sold. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting $6.99/month, WordPress hosting $12.99/month, domains $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. Meta’s Blueprint for Privacy-Aware AI Infrastructure Next, Cochrane turns to a sharp engineering piece from Meta on privacy-aware infrastructure. The core challenge is that a system must understand what a piece of data actually is before any privacy rule can protect it. A field named “age,” for example, might describe a person in one place and a cache setting in another. Meta’s answer deploys a large language model only on the genuinely ambiguous cases, then distills what it learns into fixed, human-reviewed rules. The payoff is concrete. According to Meta, those deterministic rules already handle about 85 percent of the traffic, and only the last 15 percent falls back to the model, which costs roughly 400 times more compute. Cochrane loves this edge-case approach. However, he contrasts it sharply with the AI-everywhere software he wrestles with at his weekend job, which he says the heavy AI reliance genuinely makes worse and harder to audit. Alberta Scans 466 Million Lines of Code With Claude This one comes from Anthropic, and it ties directly to Meta’s theme. A team inside Alberta’s Ministry of Technology and Innovation used Claude to scan 466 million lines of code in about twenty hours, a review Anthropic estimates would have taken humans roughly six and a half years. Notably, they ran around fifty AI agents in parallel, essentially an automated red team and blue team probing the systems at once. For Cochrane, this is the good version of AI in production: cleaning up and locking down real systems rather than running the show unsupervised. NVIDIA on Reinforcement Learning for AI Agents On the AI-building side, Cochrane walks through an NVIDIA developer piece on reinforcement learning for agents. Reinforcement learning rewards a model for good behavior rather than showing it the right answer, much like training a dog with treats. Additionally, he clears up a common mix-up. NVIDIA treats RAG, retrieval-augmented generation, as a separate tool: reinforcement learning changes how a model behaves, while RAG changes what facts it can reach. GitHub Retires Two Gemini Models Meanwhile, GitHub is retiring Gemini 2.5 Pro and Gemini 3 Flash across all of Copilot on July 31. The migration paths are Gemini 3.1 Pro and Gemini 3.5 Flash. Cochrane flags it as a sign of the times, since tools that felt brand new a couple of years ago are already getting sunset. He also wonders how quickly today’s “AI-optimized” chips will turn over as the models keep changing. The Many Journeys of Learning Rust One for the programmers, and Cochrane makes no secret of loving Rust. The Rust blog’s Vision Doc series explores how people actually learn the language, which is built around memory safety and its strict borrow checker. Honest themes surface throughout, including “clone guilt,” where beginners refuse to copy anything, and “silent attrition,” the learners who quietly bounce off. His take stands: getting your brain onto a memory-safe language rewires how you approach a problem. Google DeepMind Partners With A24 In an interesting collision of worlds, Google DeepMind is teaming up with A24, the studio behind Hereditary and Everything Everywhere All at Once. The two call it a first-of-its-kind research partnership, with DeepMind researchers and A24 building creative tools shaped by the artists who use them. Cochrane adds a detail worth noting: Google also invested in A24, so this is money on the table, not just a research handshake. For now, though, the announcement stays deliberately vague, with no named films or products. Google’s $1 Million Africa Indie Game Fund Another one from Google, and it is good news for developers. Google is launching an indie games fund for sub-Saharan Africa, a region whose gaming scene is growing about as fast as anywhere. The fund puts up $1 million across ten local studios, each receiving between $50,000 and $200,000 plus mentorship and hands-on support. Applications close at noon UTC on July 31. WhatsApp Usernames Are Here to Reserve WhatsApp is finally moving off phone numbers as your identity. With usernames, someone can start a conversation with you without ever seeing your number. Starting this week, you can reserve the name you want ahead of the full launch later this year. To claim yours, head into Settings, then Account, then Username. Intel Sets Its Q2 Earnings Date Cochrane flags a date worth watching for anyone tracking Intel. The company reports second-quarter results on July 23, right after market close, with an earnings call at 2 p.m. Pacific. Given recent US government investment and a shifting chip landscape, he is curious how the domestic chipmaker is holding up. Your Smartwatch Might Spot Illness Before You Do Shifting to health, Engadget reports that the wearables-plus-AI wave is starting to deliver. These devices excel at catching the moment your body drifts off its own baseline, often the first nudge to get checked out. A 2025 study from Texas A&M and Stanford suggests smartwatches can detect early signs of COVID or the flu within hours of infection. Additionally, Apple Watch’s irregular-rhythm alerts have flagged AFib correctly about 84 percent of the time. Working Memory and Consciousness Here is a heady one from Scientific American, written by philosopher Henry Taylor at the University of Birmingham. Working memory is the mental scratchpad holding whatever you are doing right now. Taylor opens with the doorway effect, that blank moment when you enter a room and forget why. Intriguingly, when information leaves working memory, it seems to leave conscious awareness at the same instant, a link drawing fresh attention across psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience. Scuba-Diving Cyborg Cockroaches Now for the wild one. Scientists have built tiny diving suits that let Madagascar hissing cockroaches survive underwater for up to three hours, while an unequipped roach suffocates in minutes. The 3D-printed suit feeds oxygen through tubes into the insect’s breathing holes, called spiracles, using a chemical generator with no electronics. This lab already steered the roaches with electrodes, so the diving suit is the new trick on top. Researchers pitch it for search and rescue, though Cochrane notes the reality of the spy bug has already arrived. Quantum Time Runs Backward at Los Alamos Next, a genuine brain-bender. Physicists at Los Alamos, led by Luis Pedro García-Pintos, found a way to make a quantum system look like it is running backward in time. To be clear, time is not literally reversing. Precise measurements just make the system’s evolution appear to unfold in reverse. The useful part is energy: measurement itself becomes a resource in what they call a continuous measurement engine. Cochrane admits the paper drifted further from his reality the more he read. Tall Trees Shrug Off Drought A new study in Science overturns some textbook wisdom. For years, the assumption held that taller trees suffer more in drought because they must lift water higher. However, researchers studying dipterocarps in Southeast Asia found that trees topping seventy meters slowed their growth by about the same amount as short ones during the 2023-2024 El Niño drought. The trick is plumbing: a seventy-meter tree grows base vessels roughly twice as wide as a ten-meter tree, so the real driver of drought stress is subtler than raw height. The Energy Department Purges Conservation Pages This next one frustrates Cochrane. The US Department of Energy deleted roughly 6,000 web pages about energy conservation, and the timing is brutal during a record heatwave. The move followed backlash over New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani urging residents to ease strain on the grid. Fortunately, the Internet Archive and its Wayback Machine preserved the pages before they vanished. For Cochrane, deleting that kind of public information simply does not make sense. Webb’s Puzzling New Universe Heading to space, Quanta Magazine explores how the James Webb Space Telescope keeps finding early-universe objects that should not exist. Those include black holes that grew enormous too fast and hundreds of mysterious “little red dots” around 650 million years after the Big Bang. As astrophysicist Rachel Somerville of the Flatiron Institute puts it, scientists have “almost gone from having too many early galaxies to having too many theories.” The hard part now is figuring out which theory is right. NASA’s Emergency Telescope Rescue NASA has a rescue mission underway for the Swift Observatory, a 2004 telescope that studies gamma-ray bursts. Recent solar storms puffed up Earth’s atmosphere, and the added drag has dragged Swift’s orbit down to about 224 miles, low enough to risk burning up this year. To intervene, NASA enlisted Katalyst Space Technologies of Flagstaff, Arizona, whose LINK spacecraft launched Friday. The plan is to boost Swift back up to roughly 373 miles. A Gorgeous Aurora From Orbit Finally, Cochrane closes on something beautiful. ESA shared a stunning aurora captured from orbit, a shimmering green band of light rippling over the planet. If you have a few minutes, it is well worth a look. Cochrane wraps with housekeeping and a thank-you to GoDaddy for two decades of support, then signs off, wishing listeners a wonderful evening. The post Algorithmic Outing: When Your Feed Knows Before You Do #1869 appeared first on Geek News Central.

The salient point of our discourse revolves around the critical question: Is the consumer turnaround genuine? The evidence suggests that while a recovery is indeed underway, it manifests in a fragmented manner, with the soft home segment demonstrating a more pronounced resurgence compared to the lagging furniture category. Notably, major retailers such as Target and Macy's report early signs of growth in home textiles and decor, contrasting sharply with the persistent softness in larger ticket items like furniture. This nuanced recovery trajectory necessitates a strategic recalibration for those engaged in the furniture market, as the anticipated surge in demand may be slower and less uniform than optimistic headlines might imply. Consequently, we must remain vigilant, particularly as we examine the evolving landscape of consumer preferences and the broader implications for the home retail sector.Takeaways:The current consumer turnaround in the home furnishings sector is occurring incrementally rather than uniformly, indicating a complex recovery process.Soft home goods, including textiles and decor, are rebounding more quickly than larger furniture items, which continue to face challenges in regaining market strength.Target's strategic overhaul of its home furnishings segment has resulted in a modest growth, marking a significant shift after prolonged declines in sales.Builder confidence remains low, reflecting a pessimistic outlook among builders that may adversely affect furniture demand due to constrained housing turnover.Research indicates a shift in mattress retailing strategies, focusing on improving sleep quality rather than merely extending sleep duration for consumers.The integration of services into home retail, as demonstrated by Bed Bath and Beyond, suggests a transformative approach that could redefine consumer expectations in the housing market.

In this revelatory episode, Ben Wright, Director of Stronger Sales Teams, shares why relying on one superstar sales rep can put your entire business at risk. If you're in stage 4 feeling dangerously dependent on a top performer, worried about what happens if they leave or burn out, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- Why depending on a single high-performing sales rep creates massive vulnerability for your company- How to build simple, repeatable processes so your sales engine runs without any one person- What multi-layer customer relationships look like to protect key accountsThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 4 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizBen Wright is a seasoned sales team builder, strategist, coach, and an avid believer that the best sales leaders must constantly sharpen their tools to maintain a competitive edge. He has built high-performing sales teams from the ground up across the corporate world, fast-growth startups, and mature businesses alike. Notably, his last venture was recognized as an Australian Growth Company award winner for two consecutive years, scaling from $0 to $40M in ARR in just over seven years. Defined by grit, Ben is a leader who truly thrives when stepping up to a challenge. Ben is a published contributor to HubSpot and LinkedIn who brings immense energy to everything he does. Want to learn more about Ben Wright's work at COMPANY? Check out his website at http://www.strongersalesteams.com/Connect with Ben through his LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachbenwright/

Click to Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Youtube-Subscribe-SoapDirt Beyond the Gates predictions indicate that Anita Dupree's surgical procedure, Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne's long-awaited confession, and a surprising proposal. Notably, the week kicks off with Tomas "Tom" Hernandez's stunning proposal to Kat, which, despite skepticism from Chelsea Hamilton, may not go as badly as expected. BTG predictions hint that Joey Armstrong finds himself in a tricky situation involving Vanessa McBride's daughter Deanna, who is being haunted by the specter of her deceased father, Dr. Doug McBride. As the week progresses, Anita's lumpectomy happens, and Vanessa's business ties with Joey undergo a significant shift. Beyond the Gates spoilers show that Naomi reveals her BRCA gene positive status to her family, a secret she had been keeping to prevent additional stress on her husband, Jacob Hawthorne, who was working undercover at that time. The week further unravels with Leslie's partnership with the Garland Memorial Hospital coming to an abrupt end, and a surprise job offer for Grayson. BTG spoilers reveal that Samantha raises concerns about Tyrell Richardson, leading to worries about his relationship status. Furthermore, Naomi's revelation about the BRCA gene leaves her family in shock. The week wraps up with potentially life-altering discussions, a special gift for June, and another round of negotiations between Eva Thomas and Isaiah Hawthorne. More Beyond the Gates spoilers confirm that  the medical malpractice case against Dr. Madison Montgomery takes an unsavory turn as Mike digs into her personal life during her deposition. The Soap Dirt podcast has made the Top 100 List for Apple Podcasts in the Entertainment News Category. Visit our Beyond the Gates section of Soap Dirt: https://soapdirt.com/category/beyond-the-gates/ Listen to our Podcasts: https://soapdirt.podbean.com/ And Check out our always up-to-date Beyond the Gates Spoilers page at: https://soapdirt.com/beyond-the-gates-spoilers/ Check Out our Social Media... Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoapDirtTV Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoapDirt Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/soapdirt/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soapdirt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soapdirt/

​Chapter 3 of the Office of the Inspector General's (OIG) report on Jeffrey Epstein's death provides a detailed timeline of events leading up to his suicide on August 10, 2019, at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York. The chapter highlights several critical lapses in protocol and staff performance. Notably, it details how Epstein's cellmate was transferred out on August 9, leaving him alone despite a standing requirement for him to have a cellmate due to his recent suicide attempt. Additionally, the report reveals that correctional officers failed to perform mandatory 30-minute checks on Epstein during the overnight hours, with some officers reportedly sleeping during their shifts and falsifying records to cover up their negligence.The OIG report further examines the condition of Epstein's cell and the circumstances of his death. It notes that surveillance cameras outside Epstein's cell malfunctioned on the night of his death, resulting in a lack of video evidence to clarify the events leading up to his suicide. The report also discusses the findings of the autopsy, which concluded that Epstein's injuries were consistent with suicide by hanging, with no signs of defensive wounds or struggle. These findings underscore the systemic failures at MCC, including inadequate staffing, poor management oversight, and failure to adhere to established protocols, all of which contributed to the environment that allowed Epstein's suicide to occur.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:2 3 - 0 8 5 (justice.gov)

​Chapter 3 of the Office of the Inspector General's (OIG) report on Jeffrey Epstein's death provides a detailed timeline of events leading up to his suicide on August 10, 2019, at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York. The chapter highlights several critical lapses in protocol and staff performance. Notably, it details how Epstein's cellmate was transferred out on August 9, leaving him alone despite a standing requirement for him to have a cellmate due to his recent suicide attempt. Additionally, the report reveals that correctional officers failed to perform mandatory 30-minute checks on Epstein during the overnight hours, with some officers reportedly sleeping during their shifts and falsifying records to cover up their negligence.The OIG report further examines the condition of Epstein's cell and the circumstances of his death. It notes that surveillance cameras outside Epstein's cell malfunctioned on the night of his death, resulting in a lack of video evidence to clarify the events leading up to his suicide. The report also discusses the findings of the autopsy, which concluded that Epstein's injuries were consistent with suicide by hanging, with no signs of defensive wounds or struggle. These findings underscore the systemic failures at MCC, including inadequate staffing, poor management oversight, and failure to adhere to established protocols, all of which contributed to the environment that allowed Epstein's suicide to occur.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:2 3 - 0 8 5 (justice.gov)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

In this episode, Ray Cochrane digs into Claude Science, Anthropic’s new AI workbench for researchers, and explains why its auditable, reproducible outputs matter more than the AI itself. He also covers Google’s June AI recap, the Pulpie web-cleaning model, the PamStealer Mac malware, a synthetic cell that divides on its own, and the first-ever treatment trial for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Finally, he looks skyward with NASA’s year-long Mars simulation and a can’t-miss July skywatching night. – Want to start a podcast? Its easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane opens with a quick personal update. He mentions a busy stretch at Blubrry and an upcoming local move, followed by a late-August trip to Michigan with his partner. He also notes that Oregon is at its summer best right now, with flowers everywhere. Then he sends a happy 30th birthday to his sister Anna before diving into the lead story. Claude Science: Anthropic’s AI Workbench for Researchers Cochrane leads with Claude Science, which Anthropic describes as an AI workbench for scientists. It pulls together scattered research tools into a single environment and ships with more than 60 skills and connectors for fields such as genomics and structural biology. According to Anthropic, every result carries an auditable history: the exact code, the computing environment, and a plain-language account of what happened. For Cochrane, reproducibility is the real story, not AI, because a result that nobody can reproduce does not count for much. The tool runs on macOS and Linux, with Windows support via WSL, and Cochrane says he already has it set up on his own machine for his machine learning work. Notably, it arrived during a busy week for Anthropic. The company also shipped an upgraded Sonnet 5, and its top-tier Fable 5 model returned after a brief pause tied to a US export-control order. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting $6.99/month, WordPress hosting $12.99/month, domains $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. Google Recaps Its June AI Push Next, Cochrane runs through Google’s roundup of its June AI announcements. A Gemini-based prototype aims to help local councils clear administrative backlogs and halve the time to process planning applications. Google is also backing seven bipartisan bills against scams. Meanwhile, its research models now predict river floods up to seven days out, track wildfire boundaries, and forecast cyclone paths. Pulpie Cleans Up the Web for a Fraction of the Cost This one comes from Hugging Face. Pulpie is a web extractor that strips a page down to its main content and tosses the ads, headers, and sidebars. That matters because language models read the web twice, once in training and again at inference. According to the team, cleaning a billion pages costs about $7,900 with Pulpie versus roughly $159,000 with the leading tool, Dripper, and it is open for anyone to use. An AI Alexander Hamilton Comes to Boston The Museum of American Finance, a free Smithsonian affiliate, opens a new home on July 3 at Boston’s Commonwealth Pier. Its headline draw is an AI-generated Alexander Hamilton that chats with visitors in multiple languages. However, Cochrane finds it fun but wonders how much of an upgrade an AI kiosk really is over a scripted one. Arm’s June Roundup: Azure Silicon and Better Mobile Graphics From the Arm newsroom, Cochrane highlights Cobalt 200, Microsoft’s Azure processor tuned for agentic AI. Two Unreal Engine features, MegaLights and Nanite, are also coming to mobile to deliver richer lighting and detail. Additionally, a small open-source robot called Reachy Mini shows off on-device physical AI. Arm also continues shrinking large language models to fit on phones. Meta Marks Ten Years of Backing Python Meta just hit its tenth straight year sponsoring the Python Software Foundation. The nonprofit keeps the language healthy and its global community funded. Beyond funding, Meta supports the developer-in-residence program, PyPI security, and open-source tools like the Pyrefly type checker. Cochrane urges listeners to push their own companies to sponsor the open-source projects they rely on. PamStealer: Mac Malware That Verifies Your Password First Ars Technica reported a stealthy new macOS infostealer called PamStealer. It shows a fake password prompt, then validates the entry through Apple’s own PAM system, so it only keeps confirmed correct passwords. The malware spreads via a fake disk image that poses as Maccy, a legitimate clipboard manager. Cochrane’s advice is simple: only download from maccy.app, and never run a script or press Command-R just because an app told you to. Apple Creator Studio Gets a Suite-Wide AI Update Apple rolled out AI features across its Creator Studio apps. Final Cut Pro leads with auto-generated captions, edit detection, and an auto-mask tool. Meanwhile, Pixelmator adds Match Color, and Logic Pro gains chord identification plus a full teaching session behind a real track. Cochrane calls that built-in lesson a nice leg up for anyone learning to produce music. New York’s Heat Wave Sparks a Thermostat Fight From Inside Climate News, Cochrane covers the backlash after New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to set thermostats to 78 degrees. That advice matched what Con Edison, the state’s largest utility, was already saying. Cochrane sets the politics aside and focuses on the real goal: keeping the grid from buckling during a brutal heat wave. A Synthetic Cell Grows and Divides on Its Own Quanta Magazine reports a major breakthrough. Researchers built a cell from nonliving parts, and for the first time it grew, copied its DNA, and split into two daughter cells. That dividing step had stalled the field for years. Cochrane credits Kate Adamala and her team at the University of Minnesota, who cracked it with a clever membrane trick. First Treatment Trial Begins for the Bundibugyo Ebola Strain The World Health Organization launched the first-ever treatment trial for Bundibugyo, a distinct Ebola strain, amid a serious outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the largest Bundibugyo outbreak on record, with about 1,400 cases and 438 deaths, and Uganda is now seeing cases too. The trial tests an antibody cocktail and the antiviral remdesivir. Cochrane also notes the WHO declared the recent shipboard hantavirus outbreak over. An Orbital Sunrise From the Space Station NASA astronaut Chris Williams photographed a stunning sunrise from the International Space Station on June 26. Because the station circles Earth so quickly, the crew sees sixteen sunrises and sixteen sunsets every single day. Cochrane points listeners to the full image on nasa.gov. NASA Seeks Volunteers for a Year-Long Mars Simulation Scientific American reports that NASA is recruiting for its next Moon and Mars Exploration Analog. Volunteers will live inside a habitat for a full year, facing the isolation and resource limits of a real mission. It begins no earlier than August 2027 at Johnson Space Center. Cochrane admits it is not for him, but calls it an amazing opportunity. NASA’s July Skywatching Guide Finally, Cochrane looks up. On July 11 and 12, a crescent Moon lines up with Mars, Saturn, and Uranus before dawn. Then July 14 brings a new Moon, a great window for the returning Comet 10P/Tempel 2, and prime Milky Way viewing. Saturn’s thin ring angle is a bonus through a telescope. Cochrane wraps with the usual housekeeping and a reminder that every GoDaddy click supports the show. As always, he signs off wishing listeners a great night. The post Claude Science: AI Workbench for Scientists #1868 appeared first on Geek News Central.

There's a trend that you might not have heard of until now, men guiding women on a hike, then losing them. Or worse. Let's get into it.The situation regarding women going missing or being abandoned by male hiking companions—often referred to as the "Alpine Divorce" trend—has gone viral on social media. It involves male partners abandoning or storming ahead of female hikers, leaving them vulnerable to extreme environments. Tragic incidents have even resulted in manslaughter convictions1. The "Alpine Divorce" Phenomenon - The Trend: Women have shared stories on platforms like TikTok detailing experiences where male partners pushed them beyond their limits, stormed ahead to reach summits, or abandoned them in unfamiliar territory.The Consequences: In January 2025, an Austrian mountaineer was convicted of manslaughter after leaving his exhausted girlfriend on a mountain, where she froze to death.The Intent: While some incidents are driven by male ego and impatience, outdoor advocates warn that these actions can be premeditated or life-threatening.2. Search and Rescue OperationsRecent Cases: For example, the search for a 49-year-old female hiker, Jaslinda Saludin, on Malaysia's Gunung Batu Putih trail gained widespread attention. She became separated from a group that included mountain guides and was the subject of intensive search and rescue efforts.Cold Cases: Many historical disappearances highlight the dangers of being left behind. Notably, the disappearance of Michelle Vanek on Colorado's Mount of the Holy Cross gained closure when a female-led rescue team successfully used modern technology to locate her remains nearly two decades later.3. Outdoor Safety and ResponsibilityPartner Dynamics: Experts advise that if a partner abandons you in dangerous or unfamiliar terrain to achieve their own hiking goals, it is a significant relationship red flag.Preparation: Wilderness experts stress the importance of carrying independent gear (like emergency blankets and communication devices) and sticking with hiking partners of similar fitness levels and experience.Show Sources and Materials:Women are being abandoned by their partners on hiking trails. What's behind 'alpine divorce?' - Alaina Demopoulos, The GuardianMen are allegedly abandoning women on hikes, sparking discussion of the Alpine divorce, Rachel Kiley, Yahoo New She Vanished on a Colorado Mountain. 19 Years Later, a Mysterious Dream Helps Rescuers Find Her. - Heather Hansman, 5280 Jaclinda left a note, says mountain guide, New Straits TimesThe Art of Empowering Yourself Against an Alpine Divorce, Climbing.comSend us Fan MailIf you are searching for a fresh, binge-able podcast, this might be the one for you!Support the showSupport Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!***Curious Cat Podcast on Substack!***Buy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!

Movie of the Year: 2006Mixtape, Part IIThe 2006 Mixtape Part 2 Podcast Finishes the PlaylistThe 2006 Mixtape Part 2 podcast picks up exactly where Part I left off. The full five person panel returns to finish what they started: a definitive, collectively built playlist of the best songs of 2006. Ryan, Mike, and Greg, the Taste Buds behind Movie of the Year, are once again joined by guests Nate Ragolia and Taylor Wilhite. Consequently, the debates get sharper as the remaining playlist slots get scarcer.Part I established the ground rules and the early picks. Now, in Part 2, the panel faces the harder half of the job. The obvious anthems are gone. Therefore, every remaining selection demands a real argument, a defense of taste, and a willingness to absorb four rounds of pushback.How the 2006 Mixtape Podcast Format WorksThe Mixtape episodes mark a deliberate departure from the standard Movie of the Year format. Normally, the show runs films through a bracket, as it did in the 2006 bracket reveal. The Mixtape works differently. Each panelist adds one song per round to a shared playlist. There are no eliminations and no head to head matchups. Instead, the tension comes from scarcity and pride.Every pick claims a slot that another panelist wanted. Moreover, every pick invites immediate judgment from the rest of the table. The format rewards conviction above all. A safe choice earns shrugs. A bold choice, defended well, earns respect. In practice, the round-robin structure turns a simple playlist into a portrait of five distinct musical sensibilities colliding in real time.Guest Panelists: Nate Ragolia and Taylor WilhiteNate Ragolia returns for the second half of the Mixtape. Nate co-hosts Debut Buddies, a podcast dedicated to firsts of all kinds, and he has authored three published books. His background as a writer and critic gives his picks analytical weight. Additionally, he arrives with the confidence of someone who has already survived one full round of Taste Bud scrutiny in Part I.Taylor Wilhite also returns to complete the panel. Taylor is a former PopFilter mainstay whose appearances are now rare, which gives the Mixtape episodes a sense of occasion. Longtime listeners know his taste and his willingness to fight for it. Together, the two guests expand the show's usual trio into a five voice ensemble. As a result, the playlist reflects a far wider slice of 2006 than any single host could deliver.The Music of 2006, RevisitedThe year 2006 offered an unusually rich field for a project like this. Pop radio belonged to Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, and Rihanna. Meanwhile, Gnarls Barkley's Crazy became an inescapable cultural event. Emo and pop-punk hit a commercial peak, hip-hop delivered landmark records, and indie rock crossed over to mainstream ears. The full sweep of the year is documented at Wikipedia's 2006 in music page, and it is staggering in retrospect.Movie of the Year usually spends its energy on cinema, the kind of work chronicled at RogerEbert.com. However, the Mixtape episodes prove the same critical instincts apply to music. The panel treats each song the way the show treats films like Brick or Tristram Shandy: with curiosity, skepticism, and a genuine desire to figure out what holds up twenty years later.Completing the PlaylistPart 2 covers the closing rounds of the mixtape. The panel works through the final picks, and the stakes rise with every turn. Notably, the late rounds force each panelist to confront what the playlist still lacks. Does it need another ballad? Another guitar record? Another undeniable radio smash? Each answer reshapes the final product.The completed tracklist stays a surprise until you press play. No spoilers here. Nevertheless, expect passionate defenses, at least one pick that baffles the room, and the special satisfaction of hearing a playlist snap into its final form. By the end, the panel delivers a mixtape that could only exist through this exact collision of five sensibilities.Why the 2006 Mixtape Part 2 Podcast Still MattersThe 2006 Mixtape Part 2 podcast completes the season's most distinctive experiment. The Movie of the Year season began with the 2006 intro episode and a field of 128 films. The Mixtape widens that lens. It argues that a year of culture includes its soundtrack, and that the songs of 2006 shaped memory just as powerfully as its movies did.Above all, the episode captures why list making endures as a critical exercise. A playlist forces choices, and choices reveal values. Ultimately, the 2006 Mixtape Part 2 podcast delivers both a finished tracklist and a spirited argument about what deserves to last. Subscribe, listen to both parts, and then build your own version. Yours will differ, and that is exactly the point.Related Episodes from Movie of the Year: 20062006 Mixtape, Part IMovie of the Year: 2006 Intro, Part 1Movies of 2006: Bracket Reveal and Sweet 16Tristram Shandy: Movie of the Year 2006Brick: Movie of the Year 2006Browse All Movie of the Year EpisodesFAQ: 2006 Mixtape Part 2 PodcastAbout the EpisodeWhat is the 2006 Mixtape Part 2 podcast about?The 2006 Mixtape Part 2 podcast is the concluding half of a special Movie of the Year episode. The five person panel of Ryan, Mike, Greg, Nate Ragolia, and Taylor Wilhite finishes building a collective playlist of the best songs of 2006, one pick at a time.Do I need to listen to Part I first?Listening to Part I first is recommended. Part I establishes the format, introduces the panel, and covers the opening rounds. Part 2 continues directly from that point and completes the tracklist.Who are the guests on the 2006 Mixtape Part 2 podcast?Nate Ragolia and Taylor Wilhite return for Part 2. Nate Ragolia co-hosts the Debut Buddies podcast and has authored three published books. Taylor Wilhite is a former PopFilter regular who now makes occasional guest appearances.About the Mixtape and the MusicHow does the Mixtape format work on Movie of the Year?Each panelist takes turns adding one song per round to a shared 2006 playlist. There is no bracket and no eliminations. Every pick must survive the scrutiny of four other panelists with strong opinions about the music of 2006.What songs are on the 2006 mixtape?The full tracklist stays a surprise until you hear the episodes. The picks span pop, hip-hop, indie rock, R&B, and the emo and pop-punk wave that defined 2006 radio. Listen to both parts to hear every selection and the arguments behind them.Who are the Taste Buds?The Taste Buds are Ryan, Mike, and Greg, the three core hosts of Movie of the Year on the PopFilter network. Each season they run a bracket style competition to crown the best film of a single year. The current season covers 2006.What were the biggest songs of 2006?2006 produced era defining hits like Gnarls Barkley's Crazy, Justin Timberlake's SexyBack, and Beyonce's Irreplaceable. The year also marked a commercial peak for emo and pop-punk. The Mixtape episodes dig into which songs actually deserve playlist immortality.Where can I listen to the 2006 Mixtape Part 2 podcast?You can stream the episode right on this page using the player above. Movie of the Year is also available on all major podcast platforms through the PopFilter network.

The dominant structural shift outlined is a transfer of liability and accountability for AI-generated errors from vendors to the entities deploying these systems—primarily MSPs and their clients. While vendors aggressively promote scalable AI tools and urge rapid adoption, the legal and operational burden of verifying and standing behind AI output falls on deployers, not on the tool providers. Recent court rulings and shifting buyer expectations are accelerating this transfer, fundamentally altering the MSP business model around AI services. Primary evidence for this shift comes from both industry behavior and legal precedent. Kaseya urged MSPs to quickly embrace AI services while revealing that only about 13% of providers are seeing significant revenue from AI, despite roughly half of clients requesting these solutions. Compounding the structural gap is a low conversion rate from proof-of-concept to production (only 20% success, per Kaseya), and high failure rates in AI-generated code—Forbes reported security and logic errors appear far more frequently in machine-produced output than in human code. Notably, courts in Germany and Canada have ruled that organizations are legally responsible for the statements and errors created by their AI, not the vendors providing the underlying tools. Supporting developments reinforce the risk and accountability mismatch. Research cited from Gartner indicates over 70% of CEOs and 75% of CIOs believe current IT operating models are unfit for the demands of the AI era, highlighting a recognized governance gap. Consumer surveys show that over half hold company leadership personally responsible for AI failures. The recurring vendor emphasis on selling tools, combined with product features that prioritize scale over individualized accountability, deepens the structural challenge for service providers. For MSPs and IT service organizations, the primary practical implication is that competitive differentiation and risk mitigation will depend less on which AI products are resold and more on documented processes for reviewing, annotating, and standing behind AI-generated output. Vendors' tools are pervasive and quickly commoditized, so market separation arises from the ability to provide tangible accountability standards—proof of human review, defined sign-off authority, and clear records for client audits and legal defense. Pricing strategies that reflect the cost of accountability, rather than simply product markup, are likely to become more sustainable as client focus shifts from features to liability management in AI adoption. 00:00 The 13% Problem  03:29 The Tool vs. The Work 05:43 The Wrong Answer's New Address 08:37 Why Do We Care?  Supported by:  CometBackup TimeZest   

Interview with George Salamis, President and CEO, Integra ResourcesOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/integra-resources-tsxvitr-strategic-investment-year-unlocks-80-90k-oz-production-in-2027-2028-9377Recording date: 29th June 2026Integra Resources has released a feasibility study for its Florida Canyon gold mine in Nevada, positioning the operation as the financial cornerstone of the company's growth strategy. The study outlines a strong economic profile, including an after-tax net present value of $601 million at a 5% discount rate and approximately $800 million in cumulative free cash flow over an eight-year mine life. Notably, the project requires no upfront capital, as the mine is already built, permitted, and operating.A key highlight is the substantial increase in the mine's scale, with reserves rising by 78% and resources by 128%. This growth stems from 18 months of geological reinterpretation, infill drilling, improved mine planning, steeper pit slope designs, and increased use of ore crushing to enhance recovery. These changes have reshaped the understanding of the deposit, moving beyond simple grade-based models to incorporate structural and lithological controls.In the near term, operations will focus on an intensive waste-stripping campaign to access higher-grade ore zones in the Main C pits. While this phase will keep costs elevated, the company expects all-in sustaining costs to decline toward an average of about $2,300 per ounce over the life of the mine once higher-grade material is reached.Florida Canyon's cash flow is expected to fund ongoing operations and support Integra's broader development pipeline, including the DeLamar project, targeted for construction in roughly two years with partial debt financing, and the Nevada North project. This self-funding model reduces reliance on equity financing and potential shareholder dilution.Additionally, a 42,500-metre drilling program is underway to expand resources further, including exploration of previously underexplored areas and the historical Standard Mine target, marking the first drilling there in 15 years.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/integra-resourcesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Can monogamous people really find what they're looking for at a sex party? Tune in as we chat with Michael Hollice, the Founder and Creative Director of The Play, a revolutionary sex party community that's been breaking boundaries for over 8 years. You might be wondering what happens at one of these parties, or if they're even for you - especially if you're monogamous. The answer might surprise you. Here's what you'll learn from this episode: * The real meaning behind "sex parties" and what sets The Play apart from the rest * Why monogamous people are increasingly drawn to sex parties and what they're getting out of the experience * Essential tips for newbies looking to dip their toes into the world of sex parties * Surprising takeaways from The Play's approach to creating safe, inclusive, and curated events that anyone can learn from * The importance of STI testing and how The Play is leading the way As one of the few black play party owners, Michael brings a unique perspective to the conversation, shaped by his experiences in TV and film production, as well as his time at LinkedIn and Google. Get ready to have your assumptions challenged and your curiosity piqued. Whether you're monogamous, non-monogamous, or somewhere in between, this episode is for you. By listening, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the sex party scene, the benefits of community-driven events, and how to prioritize care, consent, and connection in your own life. And who knows, you might just find yourself wanting to join the party. About our guest: As the Founder and Creative Director of The Play, Michael Hollice has led the play party community for over 8 years, offering a wealth of firsthand experience and knowledge. Guided by The Play's Pillars: Care, Consent, Connection, Creativity, and Community, Michael and his team create safer and inclusive spaces fostering genuine connections and cultural evolution. His experiences in television and film production, coupled with Operation Management roles at LinkedIn and Google, showcase his ability to combine creativity with efficiency. Notably, as one of the few black play party owners, Michael brings a distinct perspective, enriching diversity within the community he passionately shapes. His dedication to authenticity and inclusivity, coupled with his role as a cultural architect, continues to make The Play a beacon of immersive and transformative experiences. To learn more go to ⁠https://theplay.la IG @theplay.la Come to our October 2026 Couple's retreats! Learn more and reserve your spot here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shamelesssex.com/retreat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Do you love us? Do you REALLY love us? Then order ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ now! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shamelesssex.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to snag your copy Support Shameless Sex by sending us gifts via our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Wish List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shamelesssexpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Other links: Get 10% off + free shipping with code SHAMELESS on Uberlube AKA our favorite lubricant at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://uberlube.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 15% off April's favorite vibrator - the Magic Wand Waterproof (and other sexy items) with code SHAMELESSSEX at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://purepleasureshop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

It's In the News - a look at the top diabetes headlines and stories happening now. Our top stories: More information about type 1 and COVID, including the vaccine, why is the latest GLP-1 medication, not yet FDA approved, showing up all over the place, what table sugar and vinegar could mean for drug costs, a new inhaled insulin study and much more  I'll see you at Friends for Life next week. Come find me at Table T18 Learn more about our in-person events here: https://diabetes-connections.com/events/ Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here. Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Omnipod - Simplify Life All about Dexcom  All about VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com  Transcript & links:    Okay.. our top story this week: XX A large Swedish study found that the increased risk of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after COVID-19 infection is mostly limited to the first 30 days after infection and does not continue long term. Researchers followed nearly the entire Swedish population under age 80 from 2020 through 2023 and found that while SARS-CoV-2 infection was linked to a temporary rise in new type 1 diabetes diagnoses, the risk declined over time. The study also found no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination increases the long-term risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Vaccination did not significantly change the relationship between COVID-19 infection and diabetes risk, and any small increase in diagnoses seen among adults shortly after a first vaccine dose was not seen after later doses or during longer follow-up. The researchers concluded that their findings do not support changing current COVID-19 vaccination recommendations because of concerns about type 1 diabetes risk. https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/news/covid19-infection-may-increase-short-term-type-1-diabetes-risk/ XX Two new studies are challenging the traditional view that type 1 diabetes develops solely because the immune system attacks insulin-producing beta cells. Researchers from Indiana University found evidence that beta cells themselves may play an active role in determining whether they survive or succumb to the stresses that lead to type 1 diabetes. In the first study, scientists discovered that some healthy human beta cells can quickly activate an antiviral defense system when exposed to interferon-alpha, an immune signal often produced during viral infections. This response relies on molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are usually associated with cell damage but, in this case, appeared to help switch on protective antiviral genes. Researchers found this defense program in healthy cells and in people at risk for type 1 diabetes, but not in beta cells from people who already had the disease. The findings suggest that losing this built-in defense mechanism may make beta cells more vulnerable during the development of type 1 diabetes. The second study focused on autophagy, the process cells use to recycle damaged or worn-out components. Using a new imaging technique, researchers observed that beta cells in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes showed defects in autophagy before blood sugar levels began to rise and even before a full immune attack was underway. This suggests that problems inside the beta cells may occur early in the disease process rather than being caused entirely by the immune system. Together, the studies point to a more complex picture of type 1 diabetes. While they do not show that beta-cell defects cause the disease, they suggest that differences in how beta cells respond to stress, viral signals, and cellular damage may influence who develops type 1 diabetes and how the disease progresses. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-beta-cells-players-diabetes.html XX Researchers have created the most detailed map yet of how the human pancreas develops during childhood, offering new clues about why children are especially vulnerable to developing diabetes. The study, published in Nature Communications, examined pancreatic tissue from 123 children without diabetes, ranging from newborns through age 10. Using advanced imaging techniques, scientists tracked how insulin-producing islet cells grow and mature during the first decade of life. The researchers found that pancreas size varies dramatically at birth, with some infants having pancreases nearly four times larger than others. They also discovered that insulin-producing beta cells grow more slowly after birth than previously thought, suggesting that much of a person's lifelong beta cell capacity may be established before birth and during early childhood. Other findings showed that insulin-producing cells mature earlier than glucagon-producing cells and that new hormone-producing cells may continue to form after birth. The researchers hope this new understanding of pancreas development will help scientists identify diabetes risk earlier and develop better strategies for prevention and treatment in children. https://news.vumc.org/2026/06/29/unlocking-diabetes-secrets-pediatric-organ-donors-help-map-a-path-to-a-cure-and-prevention/   XX At the American Diabetes Association annual meeting, 2-year results from the SUPPRESS-EARLY trial showed that initiating tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) early in the course of type 2 diabetes led to substantially higher rates of near-normal glycemic control and also led to broader metabolic improvements compared with intensive conventional therapy.   In this MedPage Today video, investigator Stefano Del Prato, MD, of the University of Pisa in Italy, discusses the findings.     Following is a transcript of his remarks:   What happened is that in the tirzepatide-treated arm, 85% of the population at the end of the second year was on the maximum dose of tirzepatide 15 mg. And then the remaining 15 with the different doses.   Interestingly, in the population that had been treated with the intensive conventional approach, 85% of them ended up to have, on top of metformin, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, mainly represented by subcutaneous semaglutide [Ozempic, Wegovy], 60+%, another 15% on oral semaglutide [Rybelsus], and the remaining on dulaglutide [Trulicity].   And I have to say that maybe the recommendation to really push along the line to try to achieve and to strive to achieve [glycemic] control was successful in these individuals. Because the population that had been recruited in the study started off with a baseline A1C of 7.8% and it went down to 6.3% in the conventionally intensive treatment, which is not bad at all, on average is below the target of 6.5%.     However, when we look at the effect of tirzepatide, the final level of A1C at the end of the second year was 5.6%, which is on average below the upper limit of the normal range for A1C, 5.7%. This also translates into more people not only achieving normal glycemia, if we can define normal glycemia as A1C below 5.7%, greater than what we observed in conventionally treated individuals. So it was around three times more people achieving an A1C of 5.7%, in the range of around 65%, as compared to 28% with people on a conventional optimized treatment.   Now, this is not surprising knowing the potency of tirzepatide. But again, going back to the rationale of the design, can we change what is the natural history of the disease? This seems to be at least of interest and it's possibly changing the trajectory of the disease for glycemic control, as I mentioned, but also in terms of the body weight and waist circumference because both body weight and waist circumference went much lower with tirzepatide compared to the conventional treatment.   Tirzepatide also was associated with an improvement in the lipid profile, in particular with the LDL, triglycerides, and the triglyceride concentration and non-HDL cholesterol, and also with a statistically significantly lower systolic blood pressure with a numerical reduction in the diastolic blood pressure.   And also the other thing that probably will ... become more apparent with the study continuing is that the investigators were allowed to add on any other treatment ... needed to achieve their target. So tirzepatide was just metformin and tirzepatide. In the control group, there was already 10% of people who were receiving two drugs on top of the metformin.   So another potential result of the trial is that it's possible to achieve and maintain better glycemic or better metabolic control over the time without really needing to increase the number of medications in order to achieve that goal. And we know that type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition often requiring intensification of the treatment.   So these initial results really stand for a great opportunity with tirzepatide. Of course, we need to wait for the 4 years just to confirm that this is indeed the case, but the initial result seems to point along that line. https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/adavideopearls/121967 XX A study from the University of Virginia found that high blood pressure is extremely common among people with diabetes, even among those who believe their blood pressure is under control. Researchers measured blood pressure in 172 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes during routine eye clinic visits and found that only 8% had normal readings. About half had stage 2 hypertension, and more than 10% had blood pressure levels high enough to be considered a medical emergency. The study also revealed that many patients were unaware of how serious their blood pressure problems were. Among those who thought their hypertension was well controlled, more than half still had stage 2 hypertension. Nearly 60% of participants were advised to contact their primary care provider, and one patient required an emergency department referral. Most patients supported blood pressure screening during eye exams, leading researchers to suggest that routine blood pressure checks in ophthalmology clinics could help identify undiagnosed or poorly controlled hypertension before it leads to serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, or worsening diabetic eye disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-routine-eye-exams-reveal-stage.html XX What is going on with retatrutide? This is the next generation GLP-1 but it's not authorized outside of clinical trials. Big investigation by CBS shows retatrutide is for sale all over the internet, a phenomenon they say has no modern precedent. CBS News identified more than 120 websites selling or promoting retatrutide, including more than 50 clinics staffed by licensed medical professionals. After being contacted by CBS News, at least 21 clinics abruptly removed retatrutide from their websites or changed the language to state they don't offer it. Others defended prescribing it, saying they're confident enough in results from clinical trials sponsored by drugmaker Eli Lilly that they didn't need to wait for the FDA's independent, rigorous review. An FDA spokesperson said retatrutide "has not been found safe or effective for any condition," adding that it "cannot be manufactured or distributed except for investigational use." The Justice Department is prosecuting two cases – in Utah and Florida – involving the sale and prescription of retatrutide. But the first line of enforcement is often at the state level. Ohio's Board of Pharmacy has taken action against several pharmacies and clinics providing retatrutide, and just last month, Alabama's Medical Board warned physicians against prescribing research-grade medications. The FDA has sent 14 warning letters to companies that have advertised retatrutide since 2024. Of these, at least six have continued to offer it online, including a business called Pink Pony Peptides. A TikTok account associated with the firm responded to the warning in April by taunting the FDA, boasting that the business "just had the best 24 hours ever." In May, Eli Lilly announced that participants in a large clinical trial taking the highest dose of retatrutide lost an average of 28% of their body weight over 80 weeks. Side effects – including nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting – were comparable to similar therapies, the company said. "Anyone purporting to sell retatrutide to consumers is breaking the law," an Eli Lilly spokesperson said https://www.cbsnews.com/projects/2026/experimental-weight-loss-drug/ XX Pioneering research has developed a new way of creating carbohydrate-based medicines, which could ultimately replace costly drugs for common health conditions, using two cheap basic ingredients – table sugar and vinegar. These medications include SGLT2 inhibitors, widely prescribed drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Co-lead author Professor Phil Baran, Dr. Richard A. Lerner Endowed Chair at Scripps Research, in San Diego, California, said: "The point of this is to show that anyone in a garage can make an SGLT2 inhibitor with reagents that are widely available. We have not patented this method, so we welcome any generic drug company – or anyone else – who wants to use it to help bring costs down for patients." https://www.newswise.com/articles/new-study-shows-table-sugar-could-hold-a-cheaper-quicker-key-to-making-vital-drugs-for-diabetes-heart-failure-and-chronic-kidney-disease XX England and Wales approve teplizumab to slow progression of T1D. At the moment, the Scottish Medicines Consortium does not have an appraisal of Tzield on the go, so, there is likely to be a disparity in access within the UK for the time being. In Northern Ireland, access will depend on a review and adoption of NICE guidance.  Sanofi is expecting to see an uptick in momentum thanks to two subsequent FDA approvals, one in children as young as one with stage 2 T1D, and a second to delay the decline in endogenous insulin production in children aged eight to 17 years recently diagnosed with stage 3 T1D. btw you might here more people referring to stage 4 diabetes. They've added that to include people diagnosed with type 1 who've been on insulin for a longer period of time – basically long enough to not be eligible for the current guidelines for Tzield. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8mzd94r76oXX XX Obesity Association, a division of the American Diabetes Association® (the association), announced the next section in the Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity, "Screening, Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Staging of Obesity in Adults," published in Diabetes, Obesity, and CardioMetabolic CARE® and BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.  Key highlights of the guidance: Early screening: Annual BMI screening with emphasis on tracking weight trends to identify risk earlier, including a longitudinal life-event weight graph tool for standardized assessment. Enhanced diagnosis: Combines BMI with waist measurements and population-specific thresholds to improve accuracy. Notably, the guidelines recommend that BMI in the overweight range together with central adiposity measurements warrant a formal obesity diagnosis. Comprehensive evaluation: Holistic assessment including medical, behavioral, and social factors. Offers a fully integrated obesity diagnostic algorithm. Risk stratification: Use of tools like the Edmonton Obesity Staging System to guide care. Chronic care approach: Ongoing monitoring and follow-up to support long-term management. Reducing bias: Promotes person-centered, non-stigmatizing care and system-level improvements at the clinical workflow level and encourages screening for prior weight bias/stigma experiences. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-standards-of-care-in-overweight-and-obesity-section-screening-diagnosis-evaluation-and-staging-of-obesity-in-adults-302809670.html XX Dexcom (Nadsaq:DXCM) today announced the launch of its fully reimagined Stelo over-the-counter (OTC) sensor app experience. San Diego-based Dexcom plans to formally begin the new app rollout in July for Apple iPhone and Android users in the U.S. Dexcom said its reimagined app aims to make glucose insights easier to understand and act on. It hopes to help build awareness of how food, activity, sleep and stress influence overall wellbeing.   The company also reiterated plans to launch Stelo internationally. It expects to bring the sensor to the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea later this year, continuing into 2027. https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/dexcom-launches-enhanced-stelo-app/ XX MannKind Corporation recently announced it received a grant from Breakthrough T1D to support the INHALE-1 clinical study of Afrezza, its ultra rapid-acting inhaled insulin, in newly diagnosed pediatric type 1 diabetes patients aged 10 to under 18 years. This external funding for a trial focused on early use of Afrezza in children highlights growing third-party support for inhaled insulin in pediatric diabetes care. https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/pharmaceuticals-biotech/nasdaq-mnkd/mannkind/news/afrezza-pediatric-trial-grant-might-change-the-case-for-inve XX Alexander Zverev heads into Wimbledon with plenty of momentum. The French Open champion returns to the All England Club looking to build on his first Grand Slam title and gain ground on Carlos Alcaraz in the race for the No. 2 spot in the ATP rankings. Zverev has an opportunity to make up points quickly after a first-round exit at Wimbledon last year. But his final tune-up before Wimbledon came with an unexpected challenge. During his semifinal loss to Taylor Fritz at the Halle Open, Zverev said a malfunctioning glucose sensor led to serious diabetes management issues on court. The sensor incorrectly showed his blood sugar was high when it was actually low, causing him to take more insulin than needed. "I had huge problems with the sugar because the sensor I use gave me a completely incorrect reading," Zverev said after the match. "During the match, or rather during the first 45 minutes, I had to consume about 350 grams of sugar. I felt absolutely terrible." Despite feeling unwell, Zverev pushed the match to three sets before falling 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-5 to Fritz. He credited his opponent with playing the better match and said the diabetes-related issue was not an excuse for the result. Zverev, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 4, uses Medtronic diabetes technology to help manage his glucose levels while competing on the ATP Tour. He said the sensor error was the first major problem he has experienced after nearly a decade of using the technology. The German said the incident should not affect his Wimbledon preparations. With the sensor issue behind him, Zverev will begin his Wimbledon campaign focused on adding another strong result to what has already been a breakthrough season.   https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/zverev-says-glucose-sensor-malfunction-affected-halle-semi-final-loss-fritz-2026-06-21/

In this episode, Chris Cochrane leads with a $200,000 Star Wars LEGO collection that exploded into lawsuits, arrests, and a YouTube crusade. Additional stories cover Summer Game Fest 2026, the first Enhanced Games where doping is allowed, an AI collar that claims to translate your dog, Microsoft’s new in-house AI coding models, an AI-industry letter urging Congress to screen synthetic DNA, and Blue Origin’s New Glenn exploding on the test stand. – Want to start a podcast? Its easy to get started! Sign-up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Chris if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Chris Cochrane opens the show, back behind the mic after a long break. First, he previews a packed rundown before digging into the night’s lead story, a consignment deal gone very wrong. From there, the episode runs through gaming, sports, artificial intelligence, and space. Finally, Chris closes with personal updates on recent travel, a new camera, and a media business he is building. The $200,000 Star Wars LEGO Consignment War Chris leads with a sentence he never expected to say on the show. A dispute over a box of Star Wars LEGO has produced a racketeering lawsuit, multiple arrests, and a public statement from the CEO of Patreon. Bryan Mansell and his 83-year-old father, Ed, spent years assembling roughly 780 sealed sets, valued near $200,000. Back in 2023, they consigned the collection to the Keizer, Oregon branch of the franchise chain Bricks and Minifigs, splitting sales 65/35. However, the store changed hands in late 2024, and the new operators allegedly stopped paying and refused to return the unsold sets. From there it escalated fast. Stunt YouTuber Benjamin Schneider, known as “Reckless Ben,” took up the cause and split the claim into about ten small-claims cases, winning default judgments when the store skipped court. Meanwhile, his GoFundMe pushed past $600,000 and his videos drew millions of views. The company fired back with a Utah RICO suit naming Schneider, Mansell, and others, and Schneider was arrested on charges including stalking and trespass. Notably, Patreon CEO Jack Conte refused the company’s demand to pull Schneider’s page, telling Bricks and Minifigs they could “stuff it.” Eventually, the corporate franchisor parted ways with the store owners, cited gross negligence, and invited Mansell to settle. Chris’s own take: had the store simply returned the collection, none of this would have happened, and the owner “kind of deserved” the heat. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting $6.99/month, WordPress hosting $12.99/month, domains $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. Summer Game Fest 2026 Unloads a Stacked Lineup Next, Chris turns to Summer Game Fest, which Geoff Keighley hosted June 5 from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Capcom opened with a remake of the 2000 cult classic, now titled Resident Evil Veronica, bringing Claire Redfield back for a 2027 launch. Square Enix then closed the night with Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, the remake trilogy’s finale, also targeting 2027. Other reveals included a new Spyro the Dragon, the console debut of Guild Wars 3, and a 2027 window for The Wolf Among Us 2. For the record, Fable and Halo Campaign Evolved appeared at the separate Xbox Games Showcase, not SGF itself. Off script, Chris riffed on the games he is most excited about. He flagged GTA 6, now expected in November at a rumored $100-plus price, alongside new Wolverine, Until Dawn, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin titles. The lineup, he admitted, has him ready to finally buy a PlayStation 5. A World Record Falls at the First Enhanced Games The first Enhanced Games ran May 24 in Las Vegas, openly allowing performance-enhancing drugs and skipping anti-doping tests. Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev swam the 50-meter freestyle in 20.81 seconds, beating the official record and pocketing a $1 million bonus. However, he wore a polyurethane supersuit banned since 2010, so the suit arguably mattered as much as any chemistry. Interestingly, several athletes who said they raced clean still won, including sprinter Fred Kerley and swimmer Hunter Armstrong. Predictably, WADA, World Aquatics, World Athletics, and the IOC all condemned the event and will not recognize the results. Chris, for his part, found the whole spectacle more fun than alarming. An AI Collar Claims It Can Translate Your Dog A startup called PettiChat is selling an AI collar that claims to translate barks and meows in real time at 94.6 percent accuracy. To be fair, it is no obvious scam, with real funding, a working app, and coverage from Forbes and Vice. Still, no peer-reviewed research or independent lab backs that number. Reviewers called the demo footage “undeniably staged,” and the best real science reads broad emotion, not full sentences. Chris agreed from experience, noting that any longtime dog owner already reads their pet’s body language well enough. Microsoft Builds Its Own AI Coding Models At its Build conference in early June, Microsoft unveiled MAI-Code-1-Flash, its first homegrown coding model. The tool turns plain-English prompts into source code and plugs into GitHub Copilot and Visual Studio Code. Additionally, Microsoft previewed a reasoning model, MAI-Thinking-1, on its Foundry platform. The strategy is clear: Microsoft remains OpenAI’s biggest backer, yet it wants to depend on OpenAI less and cut developer costs. The timing is loud, too, since Anthropic just filed confidentially for an IPO and OpenAI is reportedly readying its own. AI Leaders Ask Congress to Screen Synthetic DNA On a more sobering note, the CEOs of OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and Microsoft AI signed a joint letter to Congress. Together, they want mandatory screening at the companies that synthesize custom DNA to order. Their argument is blunt: powerful AI is eroding the expertise that once limited who could engineer a biological weapon. Therefore, they urge identity verification, sequence screening, and recordkeeping written into federal law this session. As Chris put it, when the people building the technology sound this worried, it is worth paying attention. Blue Origin’s New Glenn Explodes on the Test Stand Finally, Chris closes the headlines in space. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket erupted in a fireball during a static-fire test at Cape Canaveral on May 28. Fortunately, nobody was hurt and no satellites were aboard, though the first stage and some ground equipment were destroyed. That booster was set to launch Amazon’s first big batch of Leo internet satellites, the constellation formerly known as Project Kuiper. Afterward, CEO Dave Limp vowed to fly again this year, while NASA’s Jared Isaacman pushed to move Blue Origin’s lunar lander onto a backup rocket. Meanwhile, SpaceX flew its next-generation Starship Version 3 for the first time on May 22. Chris’s Travels, a New Camera, and a Media Venture To wrap up, Chris shares what he has been up to away from the mic. First, he recaps a hot, sickness-plagued trip to Disneyland in California, then a far better visit to Portland to see Ray. Proudly, he congratulates his brother on graduating and predicts their dad would be proud too. He also gushes about his new Nikon ZR camera, built on RED technology, which he says rivals a Sony FX3 at half the price. Beyond that, he is building a media business with a friend, taking free shoots to network while leaning on directing as his strength. You can find his work on Instagram at @dis.chris. Chris signs off with the usual ecosystem mentions: GNC Insider at geeknewscentral.com/insider, email at geeknews@gmail.com, the show newsletter, and modern podcast apps at podcastapps.com. He also thanks GoDaddy for over twenty years of support and teases a return to a more regular release schedule. The post The $200k Star Wars LEGO Consignment War #1867 appeared first on Geek News Central.

This podcast episode elucidates the prevailing consumer behavior within the furniture industry, characterized by a marked caution amidst a seemingly stable expenditure pattern. While recent data reveals a superficial rise in retail spending, a deeper examination uncovers a decline in the quantity of items purchased, indicative of a consumer base that is now more discerning and deliberate in their financial decisions. Notably, the discussion further delves into the implications of tariffs, which continue to pose significant challenges for furniture importers, contrasting sharply with the price reductions experienced by broader retail entities. We also highlight a resurgence in Target's home furnishings segment, suggesting a competitive landscape that necessitates strategic adaptation by industry players. Ultimately, this episode serves as a critical analysis of the evolving market dynamics, underscoring the necessity for furniture retailers to cultivate a sense of urgency and value in their offerings to engage this cautious clientele effectively.Takeaways:The consumer landscape is evolving, as individuals become increasingly judicious in their purchasing decisions, emphasizing the need for retailers to adapt their strategies accordingly.Despite an apparent increase in retail spending, the reality reveals a decline in the quantity of items purchased, indicating a shift towards more mindful consumption.Target's recent positive performance in the home goods sector illustrates that even modest gains can signify significant competitive challenges for other market participants.The ongoing tariff situation for furniture imports remains precarious, necessitating proactive measures from companies to navigate refund opportunities and potential pricing pressures effectively.The surge in shopping traffic driven by AI assistants underscores the growing importance of digital optimization for retailers seeking to capture consumer interest and drive sales conversions.Overall, the data suggests that consumers remain engaged yet cautious, highlighting the critical importance of delivering perceived value to stimulate purchasing behavior.

In episode 653: Super Soldier's Teleportation, James Szubski, from episode 591: The Secret Guardian of Hanford, shares spine-tingling tales of paranormal encounters in the region. Inheriting Margie's Outdoor Store, James has collected over 300 reports of strange phenomena, including sightings of Sasquatch, UFOs, and a mysterious black panther creature. Notably, there are accounts of an 11-foot-tall Sasquatch-like being. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to James's story. With a military background that endowed him with extraordinary physical and cognitive abilities, he navigates the rugged terrain with ease, almost as if her were a real life Captain America. His adventures include a personal experience of spatial displacement in Brokeleg Burrows, an area notorious for strange occurrences and disappearances, like that of Chris Zitzowitz. He also mentions sightings of cloaked triangular craft and whispers of covert military operations. James's relentless curiosity and willingness to explore the unknown create a sense of wonder and adventure, inviting others to join him in unraveling the mysteries of the Columbia River Gorge.Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/joinThe Confessionals Social Network App:Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrhGoogle Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZThe Counter Series Available NOW:The Counter (YouTube): WATCH HEREThe Counter (Full Episode): WATCH HERETony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.comIf you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click HereThe Sasqualogist: Stream HereBigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream HereMerkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.comSPONSORSSIMPLISAFE: simplisafe.com/confessionalsGHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tonyQUINCE: quince.com/tonyIVERMECTIN: twc.health/tonyVENICE AI: https://venice.ai/theconfessionalsRUMBLE WALLET: https://rumblewallet.onelink.me/bJsX/ConfessionalsCONNECT WITH USWebsite: www.theconfessionalspodcast.comEmail: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.comMAILING ADDRESS:Merkel Media257 N. Calderwood St., #301Alcoa, TN 37701SOCIAL MEDIASubscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaIReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7hShow Instagram: theconfessionalspodcastTony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficialFacebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcasTwitter: @TConfessionalsTony's Twitter: @tony_merkelProduced by: @jyorkofficial OUTRO MUSICJoel Thomas - MissingYouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

This week, Josh and Drusilla discuss Bertrand Mandico's trans fantasia, The Wild Boys (2017). From wiki: “The Wild Boys (French: Les garçons sauvages) is a 2017 French fantasy drama-surrealist film written and directed by Bertrand Mandico in his feature directorial debut. It stars Vimala Pons, Diane Rouxel, Anaël Snoek, Mathilde Warnier, Pauline Lorillard, Sam Louwyck and Elina Löwensohn. Notably, all the five male protagonists in the film were played by female actors.”Also discussed: The Kubrick Boxset from Criterion, Lake Arrowhead, She-Devil and the career of Susan Seidelman, Amy Heckerling, Penelope Spheeris, Roseanne,  Harry Melling, Please Baby Please, Pillion, Incoherent Manifesto, Brand Upon the Brain and Guy Maddin, and more. NEXT WEEK: Identikit (1974)Bloodhaus: https://www.bloodhauspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodhauspod/https://letterboxd.com/bloodhaus/Drusilla Adeline:https://www.sisterhydedesign.com/https://letterboxd.com/sisterhyde/https://www.instagram.com/sister__hyde/Joshua Conkelhttps://www.joshuaconkel.com/https://www.instagram.com/joshua_conkel/https://letterboxd.com/JoshuaConkel/  

Interview with Nolan Peterson, CEO, Atlas SaltOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/atlas-salt-tsxvsalt-undervalued-investment-series-with-nolan-peterson-9831Recording date: 25th June 2026Atlas Salt is advancing its Great Atlantic Salt Project in Newfoundland from planning into execution after raising $25 million in equity over the past year, including a $15 million round completed in June 2026. The funding is being used to accelerate early-stage development such as site preparation, engineering work, and infrastructure setup, allowing the company to reduce project risk ahead of full-scale financing. The project, with an estimated total cost of $590 million, is positioned to address a well-documented shortage of de-icing salt across the northeastern United States, Midwest, and eastern Canada.The company is structuring a diversified financing package, targeting roughly 60% of capital from senior secured debt, supplemented by subordinate loans, export credit agency support, and equity contributions. Strategic backing includes an $80 million-plus equipment commitment from Sandvik, alongside potential support from Canadian and Swedish export credit agencies. This layered approach reduces reliance on any single funding source while improving financing flexibility.Atlas operates in a stable, infrastructure-like market. Road salt demand is driven by public safety needs and government procurement, with approximately 10,000 municipal and state buyers purchasing through annual contracts. This structure enables pricing flexibility and avoids dependence on long-term off-take agreements. Unlike many mining projects, the salt deposit offers long-term production without the need for continual resource replacement, supporting predictable cash flows.Notably, Atlas is currently the only new salt mine in development in North America, giving it a unique competitive advantage amid declining supply from aging operations. Its anticipated low-cost position, supported by access to regulated electricity and favorable labor conditions, further strengthens its market outlook. The project has already attracted Canadian pension funds, reflecting its long-duration, stable return profile.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/atlas-saltSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Craig Lindsay, CEO, US Operations of Resolution MineralsRecording date: 24th June 2026Resolution Minerals Limited (ASX:RML) is advancing its Horse Heaven project in Idaho at a moment when US policymakers are actively prioritising domestic supply chains for antimony and tungsten which are of limited substitutes and outsized exposure to Chinese supply concentration. China currently processes approximately 80% of global antimony supply and mines around 60% of it, a dynamic that has previously resulted in export restrictions to North America and has elevated supply security to a national policy concern.Horse Heaven sits directly adjacent to Perpetua Resources' Stibnite project, a permitted Idaho gold mine valued at ~$4 billion that has drawn US government and military attention partly due to its antimony content. Resolution's differentiation lies in grade: its antimony veins, ranging from a few inches to a couple of feet thick, average approximately 40%, against Stibnite's sub-1% grade. Because Stibnite's antimony will be recovered only as a byproduct of gold production, Resolution's near-surface, standalone veins may offer a more direct and capital-efficient route to extraction.Craig Lindseay, CEO of US Operations, has overseen approximately $47 million raised over the past six months, predominantly from Australian investors, and the company is now progressing toward a NASDAQ listing intended to broaden access to deeper US capital markets. Resolution is also engaging directly with federal policymakers and the Department of War, and is a member of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium, a channel for accessing critical minerals supply chain funding. Grant applications have been submitted, though outcomes remain undisclosed.Notably, management has been explicit that government capital is not treated as a precondition for project viability. Lindsay stated that the project's high grades and near-surface mineralisation should allow it to function as a standalone development, with government support sought primarily through permitting assistance rather than direct funding dependency. This is reflected in the company's recent award of Fast-41 status, a federal designation that subjects the US Forest Service's permitting process to defined timelines via the Permitting Council, addressing what is widely regarded as the principal bottleneck across the mining sector.On infrastructure, Resolution has acquired a 25-acre private parcel containing the historic Johnson Creek Tungsten Mill, offering more permitting flexibility than public land. The company is pursuing a phased strategy toward early revenue: existing tungsten stockpiles would be sold to third-party processors in the near term, while a bulk sample extraction permit application for a minimum of 500 tons of high-grade antimony material which is roughly equivalent to two years of US military demand is also in progress.A 45,000-foot drill programme is underway, with results expected from late July through year-end and a maiden resource estimate targeted for Q1 2027. The project remains pre-resource and pre-permit for full-scale production, and funding, listing, and permitting outcomes remain pending.View Resolution Minerals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/resolution-minerals-ltdSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

1. HEART OF THE MATTER 1A. Record-Breaking Missionary Numbers — Pres. Oaks at New Mission Leader Seminar At the 2026 Seminar for New Mission Leaders (June 18–21, Provo MTC), President Dallin H. Oaks announced that the Church will soon have the largest number of full-time missionaries in its history, surpassing the current 87,000+ serving worldwide. The surge is driven by the first wave of 18-year-old sister missionaries (following the November policy change lowering the minimum age from 19) and the addition of 55 new missions in July, bringing the global total to 506. President Oaks outlined three characteristics defining the restored Church: (1) the fulness of doctrine (including eternal marriage between a man and a woman); (2) priesthood authority and keys; and (3) a unique testimony of Christ grounded in modern revelation and the First Vision. Sister Kristin Oaks also spoke, sharing six core truths missionaries teach. Source: Church Newsroom, June 20, 2026 Note: Strong potential for discussion on what ‘only true and living church’ means in a pluralistic world — Richie angle? 1B. New Hymn ‘Welcome Home’ — The Story Behind It Composer Andrea Brett explains how a 2017 encounter with Demetrius O’Neal — a recent convert serving as a greeter at a Spokane ward on a snowy Sunday morning — inspired her hymn ‘Welcome Home,’ now published in the new Hymns for Home and Church. Brett submitted 10 pieces when the global hymnbook was announced in 2018; this was the only one she’d written before the call. She received confirmation of its selection in February 2025, then had a full-circle moment when she and O’Neal sat near each other at the April 2025 General Conference as the Tabernacle Choir performed it. O’Neal’s name appears in the hymn’s tune name as a tribute. The hymn is now translated and sung globally. Source: Church Newsroom / Richie’s document 1C. Family History Records Are a ‘Sacred Thread’ — Elder Bragg at International Archivists Congress Elder Mark A. Bragg, General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Family History Department and FamilySearch International, was a keynote speaker at the III Congress of Archivists: Digital Archive Expo (DA-EXPO), held June 8–12 in Astana, Kazakhstan. He called family history records ‘the thin but sacred thread’ tying people together across generations, and argued that records are ‘in a very real sense, witnesses.’ Elder Bragg framed the digital revolution in genealogy in moral terms: for most of history, access to records was shaped by ‘proximity, resources and specialized knowledge,’ but today a record created in one place can be preserved in another, indexed in a third, and discovered by someone on the other side of the world. ‘The reach is astonishing. The speed is breathtaking. The possibilities are almost beyond measure.’ He also said that ‘access is an act of kindness’ — records only fulfill their divine purpose when they are found, understood, and used. His core message: preserving memory is an act of hope. ‘It says that the past is not dead to us and that the future deserves more than fragments.’ Source: Church News, June 17, 2026 Angle: Great ‘quiet but meaningful’ story — LDS family history going global and leveling the playing field for genealogy worldwide. 1D. America Gives — All 50 States Receive Food Donations The Church completed a milestone in its ‘America Gives’ initiative by delivering a shipping container of food to Hilo, Hawaii — marking all 50 states reached. The initiative aims to deliver 250 truckloads of food nationwide in 2026 to celebrate the U.S. 250th anniversary. In Hawaii, the food went to The Food Basket, distributed to 10 local nonprofits. Notably, 42% of residents on the island of Hawaii face food insecurity — the state’s highest rate. Rosie Rios, chair of America 250 and former U.S. Treasurer, praised the milestone. Local Methodist pastor Ted Lesnett said recipients will know ‘when they were hungry, someone cared.’ Source: Church Newsroom / Richie’s document 1E. Church Donates $250,000 NZD to Christchurch Anglican Cathedral Rebuild The Church announced a NZ$250,000 donation (June 19, 2026) toward the restoration of Christchurch’s iconic Anglican Cathedral — damaged in the February 2011 earthquake. Elder Peter F. Meurs (Pacific Area President) and Anglican Bishop Peter Carrell presided at the announcement. The donation comes as the project faces a $45M funding shortfall and an overall $219M budget. The Christchurch City Council has offered $15M contingent on government and Anglican Church matches. Notably, a New Zealand Buddhist community made a similar gift in 2023 — the LDS donation continues a cross-faith pattern of support for the heritage project. Source: Richie’s document Angle: Rare and heartwarming — LDS funds an Anglican cathedral. Good interfaith story. 1F. Central America Humanitarian Blitz — 5 Projects, 500,000+ People In late May and early June 2026, the Church announced five humanitarian projects across Central America (with Sister J. Anette Dennis, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, representing the Church). Projects include: the ‘Windows of Light’ eyecare program in El Salvador (350,000+ screenings to date); safe water access for 250,000+ in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (with UNICEF); nearly 750 computers/tablets donated to 66 educational institutions in Guatemala; and medical equipment for the ‘La Mascota’ children’s hospital in Nicaragua. Source: Church Newsroom, June 2026 2. FAITH & DOCTRINE 2A. President Christofferson in Philadelphia & Toronto A busy week of ministry for President D. Todd Christofferson: He offered the invocation at Becket’s Canterbury Medal Gala in Philadelphia (multifaith event celebrating religious liberty), alongside Elder Gary E. Stevenson and others. The group also visited the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall — fitting, ahead of America’s 250th. Christofferson reflected on D&C 101 and the Constitution’s purpose to protect ‘all flesh.’ From Philadelphia, he and Sister Christofferson traveled to Toronto, meeting 250+ missionaries in the Canada Toronto Mission weeks before it divides into three missions (Toronto West, Toronto East, and Montreal). He also spoke to hundreds of LDS youth, with one — Amelia Fischer — saying ‘no amount of words can describe how I felt tonight.’ Source: Richie’s document / Church Newsroom 2B. BYU Scholar Study: Religion Adds 7.6 Years to Life The BYU Wheatley Institute is releasing three reports analyzing 3,000 of the most scientifically rigorous studies (culled from 60,000+ papers by Duke University) on religion and health. Key findings: 33/34 studies show improved social health; 10/11 show improved mental health; 7/8 show improved physical health. Regular worshippers live an average of 7.6 years longer (up to 13.7 years longer for African Americans). A ‘landmark finding’: 256 studies show religion prevents/aids recovery from substance abuse (vs. 6 showing negative impact). Author Loren Marks recommends public health frameworks treat religious involvement like exercise recommendations. Source: Richie’s document 2C. Elder Soares Testifies in the Philippines Elder Ulisses Soares completed a two-week ministry in the Philippines (mid-May 2026), meeting with 600+ young single adults in Cebu, 450+ in Quezon City, and 340+ missionaries at the Philippines MTC. His recurring message: ‘His arms are extended to all of us.’ The Philippines has more than 905,000 Latter-day Saints — the Church’s fourth-largest national membership. Two new temples were also dedicated in the Philippines this month: the Davao Philippines Temple (Elder Renlund, May 3) and the Bacolod Philippines Temple (Elder Andersen, May 31). Source: Church Newsroom, June 17, 2026 3. CULTURE & CURIOSITIES 3A. LDS Author in Everyman’s Library — A First BYU biology and bioethics professor Steven L. Peck has reportedly become the first Latter-day Saint author included in the prestigious Everyman’s Library series (publishing canonical English fiction since 1906). His 2012 novella A Short Stay in Hell — a philosophical horror story about a Mormon man condemned to an afterlife library containing every possible book — went viral on BookTok and found a new audience. A literature historian noted: ‘No Mormon or Mormon-adjacent writer that I know of has ever been featured in this prestigious series.’ The Salt Lake Tribune covered the story, noting the irony that a theological horror story marks one of the most significant moments in LDS literary history. Source: Salt Lake Tribune / Richie’s document 3B. The Sasine Family — 40 Countries Before Age 1 Keith and Chelsea Sasine, an LDS couple stationed in Germany (Keith is an Army oral surgeon), made history in November 2025 by taking their youngest daughter Mia to 40 countries before her first birthday (March–November 2025), using a Honda Odyssey for European road trips. The family of six (including Izzy, 10; Abby, 9; and John, 4) attends local wards wherever they travel — a faith anchor the couple says strengthened their testimony and taught their kids the importance of the Sabbath globally. They’re planning a move to Colorado Springs in 2026. Source: Richie’s document 3C. Jen Affleck (Secret Lives of Mormon Wives) Expecting Baby #4 Jen Affleck, 27-year-old star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and Dancing with the Stars alum, announced June 18 that she and husband Zac Affleck are expecting their fourth child. She shared the news on Instagram captioned ‘Chapter Four.

    Few careers in military medicine trace an arc as wide as that of CAPT (Ret) Kimberly Elenberg, DNP, RN. In this episode she sits down with WarDocs to map a journey that began as an ROTC cadet who joined because she saw students rappelling down a building in Philadelphia, and that has since carried her from the bedside at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the role of principal investigator on a Carnegie Mellon University team competing in the DARPA Triage Challenge. Along the way she changed uniforms, disciplines, and altitudes of responsibility, but never lost the thread that ties it all together: people first, and the relationships that make hard things possible.     CAPT (Ret) Elenberg describes how early mentors shaped her. Colonel Graham showed her that putting people first is a practice, not a slogan. Major McGee backed her instinct for innovation, and as a young nurse on Ward 51 she built one of the first patient education centers in a military treatment facility, learned to set up networks and hardware, and pursued nursing informatics before the field was common. She recounts moving to research at NIH, where her work on TPA for clearing central line catheters was later adopted as best clinical practice, and her decision to volunteer as an EMT and medic so she would understand field medicine as well as hospital medicine.       From there the conversation follows her into the U.S. Public Health Service, where after 9/11 the Surgeon General asked her to help build the nation's deployable response teams from concept to operation, training them in real communities facing real crises. She explains how anthrax and zoonotic disease drew public health into agriculture and food security, how her long relationship with Carnegie Mellon's Auton Lab began with a bus trip and a phone call, and how that mathematical grounding in probabilistic modeling resurfaced when she was asked to model the effects of policy during COVID and, later, to track military security assistance flowing to Ukraine.     The episode closes on the present and the future: autonomous triage payloads that can read a casualty's physiological state without touching them, robotic snakes that might pack non-compressible hemorrhage, swarms of drones and ground robots that find the wounded and feed the right information to the right echelon. Throughout, CAPT (Ret) Elenberg returns to her core lessons — trust your chain of command, define what success really looks like, build on small wins, and never limit yourself to your military occupational specialty. From an orphanage and a food-service background to teaching at the National Defense University, hers is a story about doors held open and relationships that endure. Chapters (00:54-07:11) From Rappelling Cadet to Innovating Army Nurse (07:11-16:48) Building the Nation's Public Health Response Teams (16:48-22:24) Biosurveillance Modeling COVID and Ukraine Aid (22:24-32:32) The Power of Relationships Across a Career (32:32-37:37) Autonomy Confidence and Knowing When to Explore (37:37-51:33) The DARPA Triage Challenge and Lessons That Last Chapter Summaries (00:54-07:11) From Rappelling Cadet to Innovating Army Nurse The guest traces her start as an ROTC cadet drawn in by students rappelling down a Philadelphia building, her commissioning as an Army nurse, and her first duty station at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Early mentors, including Colonel Graham and Major McGee, taught her that people truly come first and backed her instinct for innovation. On Ward 51 she built one of the first patient education centers in a military treatment facility while teaching herself websites, networking, and nursing informatics.   (07:11-16:48) Building the Nation's Public Health Response Teams Her NIH research on TPA for central line catheters was later adopted as best clinical practice, and she volunteered as an EMT and medic to learn field medicine. After moving to the U.S. Public Health Service for family stability, she answered the Surgeon General's call following 9/11 to build the nation's deployable response teams from concept to operation. Anthrax and zoonotic disease pulled public health into agriculture and food security across the federal enterprise.   (16:48-22:24) Biosurveillance Modeling COVID and Ukraine Aid Tasked to advise on detecting events and discerning intent, she leaned into probabilistic modeling and a long relationship with Carnegie Mellon's Auton Lab that began with a bus trip and a phone call. As Director of Population Health at the Defense Health Agency she modeled total force fitness, then was asked to model the effects of policy during COVID rather than the disease itself. The work forced coordination across agencies, departments, and services on a scale not seen since World War II.   (22:24-32:32) The Power of Relationships Across a Career Describing herself as an introvert, she explains why relationships are the engine of accomplishment, recalling a Ranger literally pushing her up a mountain during advanced camp after a car accident. Those bonds endured and resurfaced decades later in Texas during the DARPA Triage work. She recounts retiring out of Poland after 28 years, where she stood up a secure network to coordinate 26 non-doctrinal partners supporting aid to Ukraine.   (32:32-37:37) Autonomy Confidence and Knowing When to Explore She makes the case for military service as a path to clinical autonomy and the chance to think, decide, and do research that civilian roles often do not allow. She reflects on how to know when to pursue a new opportunity: trust your chain of command, negotiate and listen when you are the one in charge, and act on principles of doing no harm. Confidence, she says, means not being afraid to fail.   (37:37-51:33) The DARPA Triage Challenge and Lessons That Last She gives a plain-language tour of her team's autonomous triage work — payloads that read physiological state without touching a casualty, visual reasoning models tempered by Bayesian rigor, and platforms that deliver the right information to each echelon. Using a DoD-wide tobacco policy as a case study, she explains the art of the doable and building success on small wins. She closes with advice on confidence, integrity, and holding doors open for the next generation.   Take Home Messages Cross disciplines to scale care: The greatest gains often come from teaming up outside your own specialty. Pairing clinical insight with engineering, informatics, and operations lets a single provider extend capability and capacity far beyond what one profession can deliver alone. People first is a practice, not a slogan: Leaders who genuinely put people first earn the trust that makes hard missions possible. The example of a leader who recognized her team while facing her own serious illness shows that the principle is proven in action, not in words. Relationships are the engine of accomplishment: No one knows everything, and progress depends on the people willing to push you up the mountain. Networks built early endure for decades and can be called on when the mission needs them most. Define what success really looks like: Insisting on the perfect outcome can stall progress entirely; agreeing on the art of the doable moves the mission forward. Real success is often a series of small wins that build on one another over time. Confidence means not being afraid to fail: Growth lives outside the comfort zone, and everyone fails sometimes. Acting with honesty, integrity, and your best effort each day — then trusting tomorrow brings another chance — is what builds lasting confidence. Episode Keywords military medicine, Army nurse, military nursing, WarDocs, military medicine podcast, public health service, USPHS, DARPA Triage Challenge, autonomous triage, battlefield medicine, combat casualty care, Carnegie Mellon University, Auton Lab, nursing informatics, biosurveillance, COVID modeling, population health, Defense Health Agency, Walter Reed, military innovation, medical robotics, drone medicine, military mentorship, veteran leadership, military medical research Hashtags #MilitaryMedicine, #WarDocs, #ArmyNurse, #PublicHealth, #BattlefieldMedicine, #DARPA, #MilitaryInnovation, #VeteranLeadership   Biography Dr. Kimberly Elenberg, a retired USPHS Captain, is the Director of Data and Mission Partner Sharing at ECS. A distinguished leader in biosurveillance and emergency response, she applies data science to enhance national security. Notably, she served as the incident response commander for modeling and analytics for the Secretary of Defense COVID Task Force. Previously, as a principal scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, she advanced autonomous systems for biosurveillance. Dr. Elenberg consistently bridges theoretical research with practical healthcare delivery, leveraging her clinical expertise and military discipline to safeguard public health. Her exceptional contributions have earned her several highly prestigious awards, including the 2022 Defense Superior Service Medal, the 2022 USPHS Distinguished Service Medal, and the 2020 National Emergency Preparedness Award for her outstanding operational acumen.         Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission- WarDocs exists to honor the legacy of Military Medicine, preserve its history, and inspire every generation — across all Services, Corps, and Ranks — to serve with excellence and pride. Through mentorship, coaching, and education, we equip those considering, entering, and serving in military medicine with the knowledge, connections, and community they need to thrive. We celebrate Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoW, and Our Nation.   Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guest episodes at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/our-guests Subscribe and Like our Videos on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm   WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible and go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in Military Medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield, demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.     Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast    

Ken and Lima continue debating Brendan Sorsby, with Ken growing more suspicious about the role Cincinnati played in leaking information, questioning why Sorsby's agent keeps throwing the Bearcats under the bus and whether the full story has actually come out yet. Lima pushes back on Ken's reluctance to pursue any quarterback solution, pointing out that Sorsby was the highest-paid transfer quarterback in the portal and that Texas Tech chose him over everyone else for a loaded roster. Ken's bigger concern is trust, arguing that no matter how small the bets were, something still doesn't add up and he can't get there on bringing Sorsby in. Notably, neither ex-teammates nor coaches from his past have come out with serious character concerns, which Lima sees as meaningful evidence that the Big 12 rival schools were simply motivated to bury him.

NSFC: Spirituality, Sex, and Longing in the Song of Songs 4/6 Rev. Dr. Katie Hays Mutuality is Sexy. Notably, the SoS is a duet between lovers – a woman and man, in this case. Moreover, the woman's voice is first and last, and it is she who sets the terms of their relationship in both love and sex. The lovers seek each other, wait for each other, ask for each other, pine for each other, in a way that demonstrates a startling parity between the genders for that time (and ours). Enthusiastic consent, indeed. To tell us your thoughts on this sermon, click through to the web posting and leave us a comment. Or, find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Or, email us the old-fashioned way: info@galileochurch.org. To contribute financially to the ongoing ministry of Galileo Church, find us on Venmo, Patreon, or Zelle (generosity@galileohurch.org), or just send a check to P.O. Box 668, Kennedale, TX 76060