MY WRITING JOURNAL

Friday, December 13

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> 2025's Academy Awards ceremony will be livestreamed on Hulu alongside ABC broadcast (More) | Sundance Film Festival (Jan. 23 to Feb. 2) announces its lineup of 87 feature films (More) | Michael Cole, actor known for starring role in "The Mod Squad," dies at 84 (More)

> Berlin tapped to host its first regular season NFL game in 2025 (More) | NCAA looking to expand March Madness tournaments to 72 or 76 teams in near future (More) | Rocky Colavito, nine-time MLB All-Star, dies at 91 (More)

> Six-time Super Bowl champion coach Bill Belichick, who stepped down as coach of the New England Patriots in 2023 after 24 seasons, hired as next head coach at the University of North Carolina (More)

Science & Technology
> James Webb Space Telescope detects and estimates the mass of a galaxy that existed just 600 million years after the Big Bang; "Firefly Sparkle" expected to shed light on how the Milky Way developed (More) | See the 1440 Topics page on the James Webb (More)

> Researchers discover a new type of magnetism; altermagnetism phenomenon may lead to faster and more efficient digital memory devices (More)

> Engineers develop microscopic robots for delivering drugs to specific locations inside the body; demonstration project successfully treated bladder tumors in mice (More)

Business & Markets
> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 +0.8%, Dow -0.2%, Nasdaq +1.8%); Nasdaq tops 20,000 for first time, lifted by Alphabet, Tesla, Amazon, and Meta, which all closed at record highs (More)

> Consumer price index rose 2.7% year-over-year in November and 0.3% month-over-month; both figures are in line with expectations but higher than the 2.6% and 0.2% growth rates in October (More)

> SpaceX valuation rises to $350B as the company and its investors agree to buy back stock from insiders (More) | Stock buyback 101 (More) | Macy's misses analyst estimates, cuts earnings outlook after concluding investigation into employee who hid $151M accounting error (More)

Politics & World Affairs
> FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign before President-elect Donald Trump takes office next month; the announcement by Wray, who Trump appointed in 2017, comes after Trump named Kash Patel as his intended FBI director (More)

> House of Representatives pass $895B defense bill for 2025 fiscal year, a 1% increase from 2024; the bill, which the Senate is expected to approve next week, would give 14.5% raise to junior enlisted service members (More)

> Federal judge rejects satirical site The Onion's $1.8M bid to purchase Alex Jones' Infowars site as part of bankruptcy auction proceedings, citing problems with the auction process; sale now turns to trustee to manage (More)

SOURCE: 1440 NEWS

Friday the 13th

What does Friday the 13th represent?
Friday the 13th symbolizes a day of bad luck and superstition for many people across the world. According to history.com, this belief combines two elements of misfortune: the day Friday, historically seen as unlucky in various cultures, and the number 13, which has long been viewed as an ill-fated number in both Western and Eastern traditions. Together, they create a day feared by some for potential mishaps.

What happens when it's Friday the 13th?
On Friday the 13th, people often approach the day with caution, avoiding significant decisions or events. Superstitions around this day may include avoiding travel, delaying surgeries or steering clear of major financial decisions. Airlines have even reported a drop in bookings on this date, and some buildings omit the 13th floor entirely.

What is the true story behind Friday the 13th?
The superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th seem to be a mix of religious beliefs, folklore and historical events. The most famous historical event tied to this date is the arrest of the Knights Templar, but there is no single, definitive "true story" behind Friday the 13th.

Somewhat Political

The Ultra-Compact Engine

The automotive industry is buzzing about the Avadi MA-250 engine, the first ultra-compact internal combustion engine. Developed by Michael Arseneau, this innovative engine challenges the industry’s focus on electrification by offering a blend of efficiency and compact design that could revolutionize the market. The engine is small, efficient, and showcases innovative technological design.

Is there still room for newly developed internal combustion engines?
The Avadi MA-250 engine may spark controversy in the current era focused on renewable energy, as it represents a step away from electrification toward improving internal combustion technology. However, it highlights the need for more efficient combustion engines as a bridge to a future with cleaner, renewable energy sources. A more sustainable transition requires refining current technologies while building the infrastructure and scaling renewable alternatives, and the MA-250’s efficiency may play a crucial role in that process.

The Avadi MA-250 could redefine internal combustion engine technology with its innovative design. Developed since 2015, the compact rotary engine features a unique piston mechanism that eliminates the crankshaft, offering improved efficiency and reduced emissions. This breakthrough could give combustion engines a new role in the automotive world, providing a more efficient alternative in an era dominated by electric vehicles. By enhancing ICE technology, the MA-250 could serve as a key transitional step toward a greener, more sustainable future.
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