At A Glance

Foolproof formula to avoid awkward goodbyes.

The newly discovered math of shattering objects.

The purchasing power of $100 by state.

Why you can't wiggle your toes one at a time.

... and why your body shivers when you're cold.

What it costs to live like a celebrity, mortgage edition.

Countries where tourists spend the most and least money.

Ranking the most annoying Christmas songs.

Clickbait: Cover charge for wedding crashers.

Historybook: Actor Kirk Douglas born (1916); Actress Dame Judi Dench born (1934); “A Charlie Brown Christmas” debuts (1965); Diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph Bunche dies (1971); World Health Organization confirms smallpox has been eradicated (1979).

1440 Trivia: Thank you all for testing 1440 Trivia with us! We're winding down this feature, but we deeply appreciate the thousands of readers who played alongside us. You can continue exploring topics you're interested in via 1440 Topics here.

10 anti-inflammatory foods for more energy, less pain and better health

Quick Clips

 

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> President Donald Trump becomes first US president to host the Kennedy Center Honors, distributing lifetime achievement awards to actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Crawford, rock band KISS, and singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait; ceremony will air Dec. 23 on CBS and Paramount+ (More)

> Indiana takes No. 1 spot in 12-team field competing for college football's 2025 national championship (More) | Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami to first MLS Cup title (More)

> The UK's Lando Norris wins first Formula 1 world championship title following third-place finish in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (More) | Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett dies at age 39 (More)


Science & Technology
> OpenAI reportedly moves up the release of ChatGPT 5.2 to as early as this week; move follows CEO Sam Altman's "Code Red" memo in response to Google's Gemini 3 (More)

> Scientists develop process using CO2 to create carbon-negative construction materials; concrete production accounts for about 8% of global CO2 emissions (More)

> California officials issue warning against wild mushroom foraging after identifying 21 cases and one death linked to amatoxin poisoning, likely linked to the "death cap" mushroom (More)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets rise Friday (S&P 500 +0.2%, Dow +0.2%, Nasdaq +0.3%), with analysts projecting a nearly 90% chance the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates again Wednesday (More)

> SpaceX to offer insider shares valuing it at $800B, passing OpenAI as the most valuable privately held company; may eye initial public offering late next year (More) | What we've learned about SpaceX (1440 Topics) | ... and IPOs (1440 Topics)

> Federal officials waive final, $11M installment of $140M against Southwest Airlines over its 2022 holiday meltdown that left more than 2 million travelers stranded; decision cited company's efforts to upgrade infrastructure (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> Supreme Court to hear case challenging President Donald Trump's move to fire Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, testing 90-year-old limits on presidential power to remove regulators (More)

> Japan says Chinese jets locked radar on its fighter jets; incident comes weeks after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated the country could get involved if China took action against Taiwan (More)

> Hong Kong voters elect 90-member legislature weeks after fire in Tai Po kills at least 159 people; turnout is estimated at nearly one-third of the eligible population (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

TEN Years Retired

 

December, once it ends, represents TEN FULL YEARS that my wife and I have been retired.  At first my wife was concerned that it would be difficult to pay our bills with our combined working salaries reduced by 50%, but after the first year, she started to realize she needed not to be worried.

During the last 15-20 years of our working careers, we managed to save a substantial amount of money by watching how we spent our money and making sure we remained debt free.  It also helped that I had a side income from my consulting business.  You would be surprised what businesses will spend when you call yourself an EXPERT.

However, I more than had the experienced credentials to back up all of my claims, especially in the areas of:  PROJECT and QUALITY MANAGEMENT and STRATEGIC PLANNING.   There were not many people who could teach and audit the ISO National Quality Standards if you wanted to sell goods in Europe.

Rather than invest those extra monies into the STOCK MARKET which can be volatile at times, we invested in CDs.  

Fortunately, during the Biden administration, inflation was high, so we were able to invest in HIGH INTEREST CDs that really helped our savings grow faster than normal.

We were also fortunate to have a family who was moving into East TN to avoid the high crime in Chicago who was willing to pay a substantial amount MORE for our house than we were asking.

Consequently, our investments grew to the point where we are now at a level of income that is greater than our income when we were working...  TEN YEARS AGO.

Now, were we in the right place at the right time?

Yes...

as a matter of fact we were...

But, we were also in a unique position to take advantage of being in the right place at the right time.

PLANNING, caused that position to happen.

Somewhat Political

 

Nordic Eating Habits May Hold the Secret to Longer, Healthier Lives

A large Swedish study shows that closely following the new Nordic dietary guidelines may reduce premature death while also supporting environmental sustainability. Using data from over 76,000 Swedish adults, the researchers found lower overall mortality, as well as reduced deaths from cancer and cardiovascular disease, among those who adhered most closely to the recommendations. Credit: Shutterstock

A new study from Aarhus University shows that the updated Nordic dietary guidelines, designed to support both human and planetary health, are linked to increased longevity.

A new study from Aarhus University reports that the new Nordic dietary guidelines, which aim to support both human health and environmental well-being, are linked to a longer lifespan.

The guidelines advise reducing meat and added sugar while increasing the intake of whole grains, legumes, fish, and low-fat dairy products. These recommendations, released in 2023, were developed with attention to both nutritional needs and climate impact.

According to the Aarhus University research team, people who follow the guidelines tend to have lower mortality rates. The work was conducted by Associate Professor Christina Dahm together with PhD-Student Anne Bak Mørch.

READ MORE...

Joni Mitchell Both sides now on Mama Cass Show 1969

Relaxing

 

Sarah Westall

 

Russell Brand

 

Mountain Stream

 

Alex Jones

 

The White House

 

TimcastIRL

 

Mountain Light

 

Headlines

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Los Angeles issued first occupancy permit in Pacific Palisades since wildfires. It’s been almost a year since the Palisades Fire in California began in January 2025. On Saturday, the developer Thomas James Homes hosted an open-house-style event at the ~4,000-square-foot home it’s completed building at 915 Kagawa St., the first in the Palisades to receive a certificate of occupancy since the tragedy, according to the office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. While some locals see it as a sign of hope for the community, others dispute the milestone. Thomas James Homes bought the home for $3.4 million two months before the fire, according to the Wall Street Journal, and planned to conduct a complete demolition, but the wildfire destroyed it before that could happen. The developer is not selling the house; instead, it’s being used as a model home for the 100 additional houses it hopes to build in Pacific Palisades next year.

Trump hosted Kennedy Center Honors, a first for a president. President Donald Trump and the first lady attended the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, months after removing the organization’s bipartisan leadership. According to the Associated Press, the president said during a dinner for the honorees on Saturday that he would be hosting “at the request of a certain television network.” CBS and Paramount+ will air the ceremony on Dec. 23. Both are owned by Paramount Skydance, which is heavily funded by Larry Ellison, a top Trump ally. While walking the red carpet for the event, Trump told reporters that the Netflix–Warner Bros. Discovery deal has “to go through a process, and we’ll see what happens.” He confirmed that he had met with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos last week, whom he called “fantastic.” The president said he would be involved in deciding whether to green-light the deal. The 2025 Kennedy Center honorees included Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, the rock band Kiss, and former Phantom of the Opera star Michael Crawford.

A pipe burst at the Louvre, damaging hundreds of tomes. France’s national museum and art gallery can’t seem to catch a break. The Louvre’s deputy general administrator said that flooding last week led to a pipe bursting in one of the rooms of the Egyptian antiquities department’s library, soaking 300 to 400 books, visual periodicals, archaeology journals, and other works, some of which date back to the 1800s. A complete count of affected items is being conducted, and museum staff are attempting to dry and dehumidify them. A major renovation of the Louvre’s HVAC had been planned beginning in September 2026 including the area of the museum affected by the damaged pipe. Didier Rykner, a French art historian, wrote in La Tribune de l’Art that the antiquities department had repeatedly asked the deputy general administrator for funds “to protect these books from a potential rupture of the pipes running through the false ceilings, whose state of dilapidation is well known.”—HVL

READ MORE..

Robert Reich

Who’s the Last Person in the World to Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?
The person who’s been waging illegal wars





Friends,

Trump recently had his name engraved on the U.S. Institute of Peace — now renamed the “Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace.” On Wednesday, the White House confirmed the renaming, calling it “a powerful reminder of what strong leadership can accomplish for global stability.”

Actually, it’s a reminder of what a strong malignant narcissist can accomplish when untethered from reality.

On Friday, Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, the world football league, awarded Trump the first (and likely last) annual FIFA Peace Prize — along with a hagiographic video of Trump and “peace.”

What FIFA has to do with peace is anyone’s guess, but Infantino is evidently trying to curry favor with Trump. (Infantino, by the way, oversaw the 2020 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, defending and minimizing Qatar’s miserable human rights record. He also played a key role in selecting Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, notwithstanding the Saudi murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.)

READ MORE...

At A Glance

Speech commonalities across languages.

Watch snowflakes form under a microscope.

Teenager's origami structure holds 10,000 times its weight.

Never-before-seen photos of Rosa Parks.

See art pieces made from radiation masks.

The evolution of skiwear fashion.

Watch a seal wander into a New Zealand bar.

The world's smallest buffalo measures just over 2 feet.

Clickbait: Brace yourself for Ozempets.

Historybook: Mary, Queen of Scots born (1542); The US declares war on Japan (1941); Musician Jim Morrison born (1943); John Lennon murdered outside his residence in New York City (1980); Astronaut and senator John Glenn dies (2016).

1440 Trivia: What was the name of the Yale University historian who found the “lost city” of the Inca? Check back tomorrow (or dig for it here) to see if you were correct.

... and vote on tomorrow's Trivia topic: Deepfakes or Earthquakes.

This ancient Tuscan recipe is a true comfort food! Ribollita recipe, a s...

Quick Clips

 

In The NEWS

Chronic Joint Pain
Arthritis, 101
Arthritis is an umbrella term for numerous separate conditions that affect the joints of our musculoskeletal system. As damage accrues within the joints, arthritis typically results in progressive symptoms that include decreased motion, inflammation, and pain.

About one in five adults worldwide has been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. The associated pain and dysfunction from arthritis are a leading cause of disability across the globe. (Watch an explainer.)

Currently, there is no cure for arthritis. Once the smooth cartilage surface is lost, it cannot be restored. This is an area of intense research, including hope for the use of stem cells, targeted antibodies, and even synthetic cartilage transplants. In general, if the cause is mechanical—such as in degenerative arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis—medications, physical therapy, braces, and injections are used to manage the pain. If the origin is inflammatory, various medications are available to allow for decreased pain and increased motion.

... Read our full explainer on arthritis here.

Also, check out ...
> Why isn't there a cure for arthritis? (Watch)
> Women are more likely than men to have arthritis. (Read)
> Visualizing how rheumatoid arthritis works. (Watch)
> Examine the anatomy of a healthy knee. (More)



Hedging Bets
How hedge funds work
Hedge funds are private investment firms that trade a wide swath of financial assets (such as the stock and debt of publicly traded companies), aiming to make money when markets are both up and down.

Like mutual funds, hedge funds pool money from investors and invest that sum on their behalf, but the similarities mostly end there. Hedge funds—with portfolios ranging from millions to tens of billions of dollars—buy and sell a wide range of assets, from bankrupt companies' debt to commodities like cattle. Mutual funds tend to buy and sell less complex assets, like stocks.

Hedge funds are now a multitrillion-dollar industry that impacts just about every corner of the economy. Yet, the SEC allows only “accredited investors,” such as family offices, university endowments, and high-net-worth individuals to invest in hedge funds due to their risky and complex strategies.

... Read our full write-up on hedge funds here.

Also, check out ...
> See the world's top 10 hedge funds. (Read)
> Understanding short selling, a risky investment strategy. (Read)
> "Vulture" hedge funds target distressed assets. (Read)
> The world's first hedge fund was launched in the 1940s. (Read)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Hip Surgery

 

Three years ago, my wife had a hip replacement, and her life after that surgery was magnificently HORRIBLE and PAINFUL.

Her surgeon was from a well-known orthopedic surgeon who had a very positive reputation for this type of surgery.

From the spinal block to waking up from surgery, life was very uncomfortable for her, and it took over three weeks, before she could walk without a walker and another two weeks, for her to walk without a cane.

Off and on, her pain lasted for almost a year and was not completely gone until after 18 months, leaving her with the impression, she had a body not suitable for surgeries.

Her other hip needed to be replaced, but she put it off for over a year because of what she experienced last time.

Fortunately, we were able to find a new orthopedic surgeon at Vanderbilt who was somewhat younger than her first surgeon.  Vanderbilt was a four-hour drive from the house.

At Vanderbilt and with this new surgeon, from her spinal block to her waking up after the surgery, she experienced MINIMAL PAIN.   Interestingly, the Vanderbilt surgeon performed the exact same surgery that the Knoxville surgeon did.

In three days, she was walking without a walker and in 10 days, she was walking without a cane and also strong enough to drive a vehicle.

Hard to believe that TWO SURGEONS, using the SAME PROCEDURE, could generate such different results.

Not that my wife want to go through another surgery but if she needs to, then we are most definitely going to VANDERBILT...

Somewhat Political

 

Programmable metamaterial can morph into more configurations than there are atoms in the universe

An artistic rendering of the metamaterial developed by the lab of Prof. Osama Bilal. Credit: Melanie Keogh

The Wave Engineering for eXtreme and Intelligent maTErials (We-Xite) lab, led by engineering assistant professor Osama R. Bilal, has developed a reconfigurable metamaterial that can control sound waves—bending them, dampening them, or focusing them—while encoding real-time tuning with almost infinite possible shapes. Their work is now published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Metamaterials are artificial materials that can achieve extraordinary properties not easily found in nature," explains Ph.D. candidate Melanie Keogh '22 (ENG), the first author of the study. In this case, the research team wanted to develop a material that could control sound waves, while being adjustable in both frequency and function, with potential applications ranging from medical imaging to soundproofing.

READ MORE...

The Association - Along Comes Mary

The Association - Along Comes Mary

Morning Kiss

 

VINCE

 

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