Saturday, April 12
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture> The 2025 Cannes Film Festival (May 13-24) lineup announced, headlined by films from Wes Anderson and Richard Linklater; see full festival lineup (More)
> Film director James Toback ordered to pay $1.68B in damages to 40 women for alleged sexual assault that spanned 40 years (More)
> All-British cast version of "Saturday Night Live" to launch in 2026 on UK broadcaster Sky; "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels will executive produce the show (More)
Science & Technology
> OpenAI adds feature allowing ChatGPT to use past conversations to inform answers, framing the capability as referencing "memories" (More) | DoorDash launches robot delivery in Chicago and Los Angeles (More)
> La Niña, the weather phenomenon driven by cold water in the Pacific Ocean, disappears after a short-lived three months (More) | How El Niño and La Niña influence global climate patterns (More)
> Scientists develop brain cell graft that can be applied without triggering rejection by the immune system; approach may enable new treatments for neurological diseases like Parkinson's (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets tumble (S&P 500 -3.5%, Dow -2.5%, Nasdaq -4.3%) after White House confirms cumulative tariffs on Chinese imports will total 145% (More)
> US consumer price index falls to 2.4% year over year in March from 2.8% in February; excluding food and energy, core inflation rose 2.8% year over year—the lowest rate for core inflation since March 2021 (More) | Egg prices rise to record-high of $6.23 per dozen in March, up roughly 60% from a year ago (More)
> Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, reportedly aiming for $2B fundraising target for her generative AI startup, Thinking Machines Labs, in what could be the largest seed round in history (More) | How generative AI works (1440 Topics)
Politics & World Affairs
> Supreme Court rules Trump administration must begin process of returning Maryland man wrongfully sent to El Salvador prison (More) | See overview of case (More)
> Six people dead after a helicopter crashes into the Hudson River, with rescue crews recovering the bodies of all three adults and three children; authorities are investigating the crash (More)
> House lawmakers, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R, LA-4), adopt Senate's budget resolution in a 216-214 vote to begin carrying out President Donald Trump's agenda on taxes, energy, and immigration (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Downsizing
My wife and I retired 10 years ago, and 2 years ago we decided to downsize. We went from a 3,000 square foot home to a 1,400 square foot home; from an acre lot to let than a 1/4 acre lot. Mowing and trimming used to take 3 hours, now it take an hour. We went from a house on two levels to a house on one level.
However, we have exactly the living space we need, not too little and not too much.
I purchased my first home in 1975 and have own my own home ever since, despite living in the south on low wages.
The 3,000 square foot house in East TN, cost 50% less than a 3,000 square foot house in the Piedmont of NC. and even less around the suburbs of Washington, DC or New York City.
I suppose it is what one gets used to that makes a difference... for example, those who leave NYC for the south are going to have culture shock when it comes to the nightlife and entertainment.
The same holds true for southerners who decide to move up north for higher wages.
But, downsizing is different. Once you reach a certain age, the size of what you live in does not really matter, at least it does not matter to us.
There are some people who own 12,000 to 15,000 square foot homes and I doubt that they spend much time in all the rooms. Quest rooms only used when quests arrive. Dining rooms that are used maybe once or twice a year. Formal living rooms and non formal living rooms; libraries and studys that are occasionally used for privacy.
Then there is the cost of heating, cooling, cleaning, and making sure the furniture does not go out of date. But... if you have that much money, it doesn't really matter much.
Still, I see no reason to have what you're not going to use.
Archaeological breakthrough as 'lost city' found 4,000ft under Giza pyramids could be far older than originally thought
A team of Italian and Scottish archaeologists has made a controversial claim that a "lost city" beneath the Giza pyramids could be thousands of years older than experts originally believed.
If true, their findings could dramatically transform human understanding of ancient civilisations and history.
Now, the researchers have asserted that the Giza pyramids in Egypt are approximately 38,000 years old - not 4,500 years old as widely claimed.
This bombshell revelation comes alongside claims that they have discovered a "lost city" beneath the famous landmarks, having deployed radar technology to identify "an entire hidden world of many structures" 4,000 feet beneath the pyramids.
Friday, April 11
Robert Reich
Twelve small reasons for modest hope
This week's slightly encouraging news
Friends,
My heart leapt last Saturday when I saw how many people turned out for the Hands Off protests: More than 1,200 rallies were held across all 50 states — drawing an estimated 3 million participants. Even red states like Alaska, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Kentucky had well-attended protests.
Across the land, demonstrators were peaceful, civil, and respectful; the atmosphere was buoyant and joyful — yet determined.
There were other reasons for modest hope this week. Herewith:
1. Trump’s wild retreat on tariffs.
Trump has called tariffs the key to American prosperity and said trade wars are easy to win. But investors think otherwise, and on Wednesday Trump decided maybe investors are right. It was a large and embarrassing retreat.
After a flight from U.S. assets and a rout in the bond market, Trump announced a pause for 90 days on the worst of his “liberation” tariffs on most countries, China excepted.
At A Glance
Ranking the world's wealthiest cities in 2025.
... and 15 US restaurants worth planning a trip around.
What would happen if an asteroid hit Earth? (via YouTube)
Visualizing the spring migration of songbirds.
Original stock photo from "The Shining" recovered after 45 years.
This comedian wants to cure your fear of flying.
The 16 steps to cooking the perfect egg.
Clickbait: Physicists optimize the humble urinal.
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> The 2025 Masters—one of four major championships in men's golf—begins today (3 pm ET, ESPN) from Augusta, Georgia; 2022 and 2024 winner Scottie Scheffler enters as favorite to win (More)
> Universal set to open a theme park in Bedford, UK, its first in Europe, in 2031; Universal currently has theme parks in Los Angeles, Orlando, Japan, Singapore, and China (More)
> "Hamilton" cast album and music by Elton John and Tracy Chapman among 25 recordings added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry (More) | See complete Library of Congress registry list (More)
Science & Technology
> Google unveils Ironwood, its most advanced dedicated AI processor to date; chips are designed to run in clusters of more than 9,200, capable of more than 42 quintillion operations per second (More)
> Engineers develop first wearable device to monitor health by analyzing gases going out of and into the skin (More)
> Complete genomes of six separate ape species fully detailed for the first time; results expected to provide insight into human evolution, inform conservation efforts (More)
Business & Markets
> Apple shares rise 15% in best day since 1998 on President Donald Trump's 90-day tariff pause (More) | Bitcoin surges more than 7% to over $82K as part of broader market rally (More) | Everything you want to know about bitcoin (1440 Topics)
> Delta Air Lines withdraws full-year financial guidance due to global trade disruptions (More) | Walmart pulls guidance for Q1 operating profit growth, vows to keep delivering low prices amid tariff uncertainty (More)
> Former Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee alleging Meta compromised national security by sharing US artificial intelligence initiatives with China to expand its business there (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Trump administration pauses $1B in federal funding for Cornell University and $790M for Northwestern for allegedly violating civil rights on campus (More) | Federal judges in Texas, New York block Justice Department from removing plaintiffs in deportation cases tied to 1798 Alien Enemies Act (More)
> FBI Director Kash Patel removed as acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, replaced with Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll (More) | Acting IRS commissioner plans to resign after data-sharing deal with federal immigration authorities (More)
> Death toll from roof collapse at Dominican Republic music venue rises to at least 124 people (More) | See previous write-up (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Our Govrnment
I grew up in the 1960s, graduated from high school and entered college. The Vietnam War was in full swing and I HATED THE GOVERNMENT for getting America into that war.
From the 1960s until the 2000, up through 2025, our government, mainly the CONGRESS and the PRESIDENT have done very little to change things from the standpoint that the same problems we had in the 1960s are still around today.
The only thing that Congress has done successfully is get themselves re-elected over the years.
- We still had racial issues
- We still have healthcare issues
- We still have drug issues
- We still have crime issues
- We still have educational issues
- We still have wealth gap issues
- We still have the wealthy not paying their fair share of taxes
Care to ask yourself why these issues are still around?
I want the Federal Government to stay the hell out of my life and to quit telling me what to do and how to do it and sometimes when to do it.
Mind your own frigging business...
Give me
- LOW TAXES
- No interference
- Safety and security
- Make the wealthy pay
- keep inflation down
- protect our workers
- educate us
- keep us healthy
Why in the hell would you allow ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS to enter our country when you cannot properly take care of the people who are already here?
What are you really doing to make life better for all of us?
- better jobs
- better pay
- safety
- water
- food
- shelter
What has the government done to make life better for those who are currently or will be in Congress???
Quantum Teleportation Achieved Over Internet For The First Time
A quantum state of light was successfully teleported through more than 30 kilometers (around 18 miles) of fiber optic cable amid a torrent of internet traffic – a feat of engineering once considered impossible.
The impressive demonstration by researchers in the US in 2024 may not help you beam to work to beat the morning traffic, or download your favourite cat videos faster.
However, the ability to teleport quantum states through existing infrastructure represents a monumental step towards achieving a quantum-connected computing network, enhanced encryption, or powerful new methods of sensing.
Thursday, April 10
Robert Reich
Trump only simulates madness
The rest of us pay the price
Friends,
In the last week, Trump has gone wild on the global economy, saying tariffs are the key to American prosperity.
As a result, global stock and bond markets tanked.
Today — telling reporters that “you have to be flexible” and conceding that “over the last few days it looked pretty glum” — Trump paused his tariffs for most countries for the next 90 days, backing down on his policy that had sent markets into a tailspin and threatened to upend global trade.
The reversal prompted the S&P 500 stock index to climb over 7 percent in just minutes.
Traders with inside information about what Trump was about to do — some of them, presumably, Trump family members and cronies — just made a fortune.
It looks like chaos, but Trump’s chaos always creates winners and losers, and Trump makes sure he’s on the winning side.
At A Glance
Explore religious demographics in all 50 states.
What makes some people so sensitive to allergies? (via YouTube)
Ranking the 100 best sci-fi movies ever made.
How shorthand texting makes for terrible dialogue.
Chimpanzee gets curious about a wildlife camera. (w/video)
Cadbury unveils the world's largest creme egg.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has feisty ostrich enc
ounter.
Clickbait: Angry Canadian geese trap students in home for days.
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