Tuesday, September 30
Headlines
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
Robert Reich
What elected Dems REALLY need is the courage to stop taking big money and raise taxes on the wealthy to finance what most Americans need
Friends,
I recall participating in heated debates in late 1968 and early 1969 about why Democrats lost the presidency to “tricky Dick” Nixon. And another set of debates in the early 1980s about why Democrats lost to smooth-talking right-winger Ronald Reagan.
And then, after the disastrous midterm elections of 1994, why they lost both houses of Congress. And then in 2000 and again in 2004, why they lost to the insipid George W. Bush. And, worst of all, in 2016 and then again in 2024, to the monstrous Trump.
These debates usually occur within the rarified precincts of Democratic think tanks located in well-appointed offices in Washington, D.C.
At A Glance
What was going on the day you were born?
Barbecue dynasty feud has a Texas town divided.
An in-depth look at whether burritos are sandwiches.
Remembering a deadly craze for radioactive "miracle water."
She's 75 and training for the world powerlifting championships.
Jumping spiders go from creepy crawlies to beloved pets.
What you'd receive if the world's top billionaires redistributed their $1.8T.
See the 61 bars added to a Michelin-style cocktails list.
Clickbait: Vicious falcon wins New Zealand's bird election.
Historybook: American novelist and screenwriter Truman Capote born (1924); Babe Ruth is first player to hit 60 home runs in a season (1927); Actor James Dean dies in a car crash (1955); President John F. Kennedy authorizes federal troops to integrate University of Mississippi (1962); Oscar-winning actress Simone Signoret dies (1985).
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Europe tops the US to win golf's Ryder Cup for the ninth time in the last 12 matches (More) | Four Top 10 teams upset in college football's Week 5 (More)
> Assata Shakur, Black liberation activist who was convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper, dies at age 78 after living in Cuba in exile for 40 years (More)
> "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" fully back on the air after network TV giants Nexstar and Sinclair reinstate Kimmel more than a week after suspending his show (More) | Dolly Parton postpones upcoming December shows in Las Vegas, citing health issues (More)
Science & Technology
> Amazon expected to unveil new models of its Kindle reader and Echo speakers, among other products, at its annual fall hardware event tomorrow (More)
> Dual-drug inhaler cuts asthma attacks in children aged 5 to 15 by 45% in clinical trials; approach would replace the commonly used salbutamol inhaler (More)
> Engineers demonstrate micro-robots made from lung cells; devices may enable targeted drug delivery in hard-to-reach areas of the body (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close up Friday (S&P 500 +0.6%, Dow +0.7%, Nasdaq +0.4%) following report core inflation held steady in August, as expected (More)
> Video game company Electronic Arts is reportedly set to go private this week via a $50B acquisition by investment group, including President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner (More)
> IT consulting firm Accenture warns it will fire workers who cannot be retrained to use AI; firm has laid off 11,000 staff in the past three months (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> New York City Mayor Eric Adams ends his bid for reelection; Adams was running as an independent after winning his first term as a Democrat (More)
> Crowd surge at a rally in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu kills at least 40 people (More) | State Department revokes Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa after he joins pro-Palestinian rally in New York (More)
> Tropical Storm Imelda forms in the Atlantic, is expected to bring heavy rains to the Southeast US this week (More)
END OF SEPTEMBER
The official first day of fall 2025 was September 22... but I don't see fall as starting until the beginning of October, which is tomorrow.
When I was an adolescent, the seasons were substantially different, so it is entirely possible that I might have seen fall as starting sometime in September, but never right after LABOR DAY which is the day school resumed... as it was just simply still too hot.
For me, Fall begins with October and extends through November and December with winter beginning in January of the NEW YEAR.
However, the weather does not always support my analysis and it can still feel like spring or early fall in December... however, the unseasonal temperatures do not last that long.
NOW... and before I go any further... I am speaking about the weather patterns in EAST TENNESSEE which may or may not be similar to what you are experiencing, especially if you live in the DEEP SOUTH, or heaven forbid, the HIGH NORTH or even in the MIDWEST or WESTERN section of our country.
East Tennessee weather is always going to be different because on the west we are protected by the CUMBERLAND PLATEAU and on the east, we are protected by the GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS.
East Tennessee is exposed north and south but it is seldom, yet it does happen, that we get adverse weather from those directions.
With the end of September, I expect the see colorful leaves in the mountains, an end to lawn mowing, and the ritual trimming of bushes and trees, and the sowing of grass if need be. Gutters need to be cleaned, furnaces checked, and winterizing of the house, especially around windows.
With the beginning of October, my wife and I exchange out our summer clothes for our winter clothes and making sure that our vehicles have plenty of antifreeze, although, periodic tune-ups and maintenance typically check that for you.
Nothing like being prepared...
First proof of plasma ripples reveals link between nuclear fusion energy and cosmos
Researchers in South Korea have solved a long-standing mystery in plasma physics by experimentally demonstrating how tiny magnetic ripples can trigger large-scale structural changes within plasma.
The phenomenon, known as multiscale coupling, was confirmed for the first time by a research team led by Hwang Yong-Seok, PhD, a professor at the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Seoul National University (SNY).
For the study, Hwang and his team, including Park Jong-Yoon, PhD, an assistant professor at the university, and Yoon Young Dae, PhD, a theoretical physicist at the Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics (APCTP), integrated fusion experiments and cosmic plasma theory.
Monday, September 29
Headlines
Pacific Press/Getty Images
Robert Reich
Trump’s increasingly bizarre behavior can no longer be attributed to a calculated “strategy.”
Friends,
Over the weekend, on his Truth Social, Trump shared a video purporting to be a segment on Fox News — it wasn’t — in which an AI-generated, deepfaked version of himself sat in the White House and promised that “every American will soon receive their own MedBed card” that will grant them access to new “MedBed hospitals.”
What?
Believers in the “MedBed” conspiracy theory think certain hospital beds are loaded with futuristic technology that can reverse any disease, regenerate limbs, and de-age people. No one has an actual photo of these beds because they don’t exist.
Trump also posted (again, without any basis in fact) that the FBI “secretly placed … 274 FBI Agents into the Crowd just prior to, and during” the January 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, during which they were “probably acting as Agitators and Insurrectionists.”
At A Glance
The people who eat 100-year-old military rations.
Revisiting the first zeppelin trip around the world.
How Hollywood helped finance World War I.
Several time zone disputes throughout history.
Egyptian wrestler pulls a ship using his teeth.
Why the world's oldest person is often a woman.
... and learning from the DNA of a 117-year-old.
Kindergarten asks parents to pay up for kids' art.
Clickbait: Meet AI actress Tilly Norwood.
Historybook: John D. Rockefeller becomes world’s first billionaire (1916); Pope John Paul II is first pope to visit Ireland (1979); Stacy Allison becomes first American woman to climb Mount Everest (1988); Basketball star Kevin Durant born (1988).
In The NEWS
A brief look at recessions
Stemming from the Latin word “recessus” (meaning “a retreat”), recessions are sustained periods of declining activity in a country’s economy. During a recession, unemployment rises while economic output falls across a large swath of industries. Recessions are inevitable in modern economies, with one occurring about every six to seven years.
One common definition of a recession is when a country logs two consecutive quarters of shrinking gross domestic product, but in practice, these economic phenomena are more complex.
The US has been through 34 recessions since 1854, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. But over time, they’ve become both shorter and less frequent. Since 1980, the US has only experienced six recessions.
... Read our full deep dive on recessions here.
Also, check out ...
> Amid market downturns, some let their roots grow out—so-called "recession blondes." (More)
> The eight people who decide whether the US is in a recession. (More)
> Visualizing the trends of recessions and recoveries over 150 years. (More)
Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!
Opera, explained
Opera (derived from the Italian word for “artistic work”) is an art form that shares narratives through singing and music. The style was born in 16th-century Florence at the end of the Italian Renaissance. In the 1600s, it spread to other parts of Europe and took different shapes and styles for centuries (listen to operatic singing).
Operas and musicals are often incorrectly conflated. Operas emphasize music, rather than lyrics and dialogue, to serve the storytelling. The message transcends language in opera, exemplified by how operas are often performed in languages foreign to their audiences.
While cost barriers and a changing cultural landscape have mostly sidelined opera today, it remains culturally relevant in modern television, movies, and sports coverage that continue to use its iconic melodies.
... Read our full deep dive on opera here.
Also, check out ...
> Why Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" was so controversial. (More)
> Everything you need to know about opera etiquette. (More)
> Understanding the economic hardships opera faces. (More)
We Have Been Given LIFE
As we enter the last couple of days of September 2025, I am reminded that time seems to move faster as we get older which is good sometimes like when you have an upset stomach or nothing seems to be going right...
But, each day is a blessing of sorts, in the sense that you are above ground and will soon not be, so regardless of the day being good or bad, one should take advantage of it...
Earlier I read where some billionaires are investing heavily in items they think will extend their lives... while also investing heavily in research that will extend the lives of human beings. Maybe they gain five to ten years of additional life and can use that time to double or triple their net worth... THEY WILL STILL DIE...
For me, money does not provide me with happiness; it provides me with opportunities to have what I never thought I would have or see, but that is not necessarily happiness.
Happiness is illusive to most Americans and Global citizens; the exception being the HINDU MONKS who see happiness as finding enlightenment.
Look at it another way...
Our religious God and Jesus never spoke of wealth is the sense of it being what one should seek during their lives...
WHY???
Do our religious beliefs not see becoming wealthy as something we should strive for?
And yet, lots of wealthy people thank God for giving them the money.
Why do they not thank Jesus too?
For me, I see our religious faith and seeking wealth as being mutually exclusive and one does not beget the other... if it does, it is just coincidence...
None of those wealthy people share their wealth with poor people to the extent they would redistribute 80% of their wealth...
They may share 1-2%...
This posting started out focusing on time and it is time that I want to end with.
Time equals life.
Life is precious.
One should accept the life that one has been given as that gift has been given for a reason that you may never discover in your lifetime.
Use nature as an example as to how you should live your life.
It's just a metaphor.
A New Quest for Consciousness
In the 10 minutes before the official start of class, Professor Anne Harrington (abive) somehow managed to cover descriptions of Gilbert Ryle’s classic “category mistake” critique of mind-body dualism, Richard Feynman’s self-experimentation on falling asleep, and the layout of her course’s Canvas site.
In the 10 minutes before the official start of class, Professor Anne Harrington ’82 somehow managed to cover descriptions of Gilbert Ryle’s classic “category mistake” critique of mind-body dualism, Richard Feynman’s self-experimentation on falling asleep, and the layout of her course’s Canvas site. There was no clear beginning of the class, it seemed, only the seamless transition from casual conversation to formal lecture. Like its subject — consciousness — the boundaries of the class were amorphous.
Sunday, September 28
CULTURE
Hollister via Abercrombie
Nostalgia is a powerful thing: The taste of a cold Capri-Sun can remind you of soccer practice when you were a kid, or the smell of secondhand smoke can remind you of the ride home. Lately, the nostalgic lens has pointed toward Y2K, and brands and advertisers are riding the wave of fond memories.
In the hands of marketing professionals, positive memories create an emotional connection with consumers. The recent vogue for all things aughts is no exception. In fashion:Hollister, which saw its sales surge 19% last quarter, has leaned into the trend, recently bringing back some of its Y2K-era clothing for a limited time.
Von Dutch trucker hats are “poised to make a comeback this fall,” per USA Today.
Handbag-maker Vera Bradley recently enlisted ’90s teen heartthrob Devon Sawa to star in a short film dripping with Y2K-ness.
And on the streets: To promote director Darren Aronofsky’s new film Caught Stealing, which is set in 1998, a team planted payphones around New York.
Why 2K?
While millennials might appreciate seeing their scrunchies and wallet chains go up in value, it’s actually Gen Z that’s driving the Y2K renaissance.
Younger generations often pick up pieces of the past, but data suggests that Gen Z is specifically yearning for a taste of the pre-digital age. According to a 2023 Harris Poll, 60% of Gen Z adults say they wish they could return to a time before everyone was “plugged in,” which is not something they ever actually experienced. The Y2K era, which helped bridge the pre-digital and digital ages, is a natural place for Gen Z to land, because they can experience the best of both worlds.
Nirvana unplugged: Social psychologist Clay Routledge wrote in a guest essay for the New York Times that Gen Zers are increasingly worried about their relationship with technology and that “mining the past” can help them better appreciate “offline living” in the future. So, put on a CD, grab your bucket hat, and step into an analog tomorrow.—BC
Robert Reich
An extraordinary week for America
Friends,
It was an extraordinary week. The slumbering giant of America is awakening.
Americans forced Disney to put Jimmy Kimmel back on the air. Over 6 million people watched Kimmel’s Tuesday monologue assailing Trump’s attempt to censor him. Another 26 million watched it on social media, including YouTube. (Kimmel’s usual television audience is about 1.42 million.)
Trump’s dictatorial narcissism revealed itself nearly as dramatically in the criminal indictment of former FBI director James Comey, coming immediately after Trump fired the U.S. attorney who refused to indict him.
As did Trump’s demand that prosecutors go after philanthropist George Soros, Senator Adam Schiff, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and other perceived enemies.
At A Glance
How millennial tastes and basic ROI are shrinking roller coasters.
Disney World is mosquito-less, thanks to civil engineer Joe Potter.
How China makes sand—crucial for construction—by crushing rocks.
Long barred from playing, women would eventually make bowling popular.
Gas station sushi, experts say, is actually pretty safe to eat.
Earth is the only planet in our solar system with fire.
Seventeen of history's most peculiar heists.
See rate of burnout among major occupations.
"Jaws" creators generally regret how the work stigmatized sharks.
Ian Falconer's pig character "Olivia" was based on his niece.
What does the Rosetta Stone actually say?
The stories of the voice actors behind hit kids' show "Bluey."
The "butterfly effect" is the informal name for chaos theory.
Why firms that manage wealthy families' money have boomed since 2010.
The one-time fad of investing long-term in Beanie Babies.
In The NEWS
New York City gunman had CTE, medical examiner finds.
The 27-year-old shooter who killed four people this summer in the NFL headquarters building was found to have low-stage chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma, which causes symptoms including memory loss, confusion, and aggression. The disease is commonly associated with football (which the shooter played in high school) and can only be diagnosed after death.
Supreme Court approves emergency request to withhold $4B in foreign aid.
The high court, in a 6-3 decision, temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that required the Trump administration to spend more than $4B in foreign aid appropriated by Congress before the funds expire Sept. 30. The conservative majority said enforcing the order would likely cause greater harm to Trump's foreign policy than to aid recipients. The liberal justices dissented, arguing the issue merited a full briefing or oral arguments.
UN delegates walk out on Netanyahu's speech.
Dozens of delegates left the UN's New York headquarters yesterday before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address. Speaking to a half-empty hall, Netanyahu directed his remarks to hostages held by Hamas, citing that Israel had put speakers around Gaza and took over phones to broadcast his words. He vowed to continue Israel's military campaign and admonished countries—including France and the UK—that recently moved to recognize Palestinian statehood.
Immigration officers detain Iowa school superintendent.
The superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, Ian Roberts, was detained Friday for being in the US illegally. A final order of removal was issued against him last year and he had no work authorization. Roberts was found in possession of a loaded gun, a hunting knife, and $3K in cash after fleeing from immigration officers during a traffic stop. Roberts, who was born in Guyana and had entered the US in 1999 on a student visa, had led the Des Moines school district since 2023.
Anthropic to triple international workforce.
The San Francisco-based AI startup's Claude chatbot now serves over 300,000 enterprise customers. Nearly 80% of usage comes from outside the United States, with per-person adoption in South Korea, Australia, and Singapore surpassing the US. The $183B company is opening its first Asia office in Tokyo, hiring for over 100 roles across Europe, and recruiting leadership in nations including India and New Zealand.
The Netherlands returns looted fossils to Indonesia.
The Dutch government agreed to return over 28,000 fossils to Indonesia, after a commission ruled they were wrongfully removed during the late 19th century. Local communities, for whom the fossils held spiritual and economic value, were coerced into revealing sites to Dutch settlers. The soon-to-be-repatriated Dubois Collection, housed in a Dutch natural history museum, includes a skull fragment considered the first fossil evidence of Homo erectus, an ancestor of modern humans.
'Rocky Horror Picture Show' turns 50.
Originally a 1975 film adaptation of a stage musical, "Rocky Horror Picture Show" follows a stranded couple who stumble into the mansion of a flamboyant scientist and his eccentric guests. The film initially flopped, earning roughly $1M ($6M today) before being pulled from theaters. It has since become a cult classic, earning around $160M worldwide, and remains the longest-running theatrical release in history.










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