SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " kp " 4,041 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Science meets art beneath the sea in Phoenix's latest immersive experience
Dive beneath the waves in Phoenix! Sounds of the Ocean is a 47-min immersive experience of marine life, whale songs & ocean art at the Dorrance DOME.
Experience Science City's KidFEST
Lead Outreach Educator Jordan Fox joins Shane and Kerrigan to share what you can expect from KidFEST at Science City.
Girls flag football elevated to 29th varsity sport in Ohio
The Browns were the driving force and led efforts in the elevation process, with the sport exploding in popularity
Putting tiny backpacks on butterflies—for science
With the Project Monarch App, users can track their 3,000-mile-long migration.
Cleveland Fed’s Hammack questions whether U.S. inflation will keep slowing
The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland president says more needs to be done to get to the Fed's 2% target for inflation.
11 Tips from Business Leaders on How to Let Workers Lead the Way
Businesses on this year’s Best Workplaces list put employees in the driver's seat. Here’s how that strategy pays off.
Vaping in schools concern health and school leaders
What's concerning health and school leaders is vaping in schools.
Appeals court strikes down formula used to calculate ‘qualifying payment amount’ under No Surprises Act
Radiologists and other provider groups praised the decision on Aug. 12, contending that "QPAs have been completely detached from reality."
Ardagh considers selling off metal packaging business after restructuring
Ardagh Holdings, which has a 76% stake in Ardagh Metal Packaging, disclosed Thursday it may take steps to facilitate a sale to a third-party buyer. AMP’s revenues totaled $5.5 billion last year.
How public health research supports accountability for Israeli war crimes in Gaza
During previous Israeli attacks, 30-41% of those killed were women and children. Between 7 October and 24 November 2023, that figure was 67%.
Single Powerball ticket sold in Illinois wins $1.04 billion jackpot, eighth-largest in US history
Wednesday's Powerball drawing produced a single Illinois winner who matched all six numbers to claim the $1.040 billion jackpot, eighth-largest ever.
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ star says Leonardo DiCaprio ‘put her off’ her BAFTAs performance: ‘He was not smiling’
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ singer Ejae cited uncomfortable eye contact with Leonardo DiCaprio as a reason for ‘mistakes’ in her ‘Golden’ performance at the BAFTAs: ‘He was not smiling.’
Moment of Science: Ozone
You can't escape ozone in a big city, but we can all work to make less of it. Dan Smith shows how combining three oxygen atoms can make a big difference in our daily health. 💨🫁
Kinetic Publishing Showcase Recap: Every Reveal, Including the New Sam Barlow Game
Kinetic Publishing just held its first ever showcase - here are all the details on the five games included.
Sports fans never sleep: Ericsson says 5G is becoming central to game-day
Fans increasingly expect seamless digital experiences before, during and after sporting events, p | The World Cup may be over, but the race to improve fan experiences is not. Advanced 5G networks are increasingly shaping everything from stadium connectivity and concessions to media production and public safety.
Ben Affleck is running for mayor of L.A. when his son is kidnapped in ‘Animals’ teaser
Ben Affleck plays a man running for Los Angeles mayor whose son is kidnapped in the first teaser for ‘Animals.’ The thriller also stars Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, and more.
Early morning fire damages Biloxi business, cause under investigation
The fire broke out at Perry’s Refrigeration and Air Filter Services.
Post-Primary Recap: All Politics Is (Still) Local
Last night's primary results were a reminder that candidate and campaign quality matter – a lot.
Investing in young people is a win for business and society
Developing young people in the workplace is an imperative – and the private sector has the scale, expertise and market insight to help them acquire the needed skills and experience.
Politics Report: Baños Cerrados
Last week, former San Diego City Councilmember Donna Frye sent one of the staffers for Mayor Todd Gloria a picture of poop. “This Kodak Moment is from Mission Bay Park this morning near one of the closed bathrooms. Please share with the mayor.”
Satechi Launches 240W ChargeView Desktop Charger With Six USB-C Ports
Satechi today launched the ChargeView 240W Desktop Charger, a successor to the 140W ChargeView released last year. The ChargeView 240W can power multiple devices at one time, splitting 240W across six USB-C ports. The ChargeView 240W has an LCD display that shows the live wattage of all ports that are in use. The C1 and C2 ports offer up to 140W each, while ports C3 and C4 can deliver up to 100W each. The final two ports offer up to 30W.
How smoke in the atmosphere impacts your health
Smoke from massive wildfires burning in the Pacific Northwest has reached central Nebraska, pushing air quality index readings higher than normal and prompting health warnings for at-risk residents.
UCSD researcher wins America’s oldest science prize
Mark Thiemen's decades of research on isotopes changed what scientists know about earth’s origins.
Rockport nonprofit sports complex completes $6.9M expansion
Midccoast Recreation Center sees over 100,000 visits each year. With the expansion, it's able to accommodate more programming and playtime.
RTC’s Game Day Express returns for 2026-27 sports season
Get the full list of casino pickup locations and departure schedules as the Regional Transportation Commission kicks off its direct stadium transit service.
Saber's newest game trailer takes a shot at Gearbox's CEO, if you look closely
The first hint that something might be up with the recent debut trailer for Saber Interactive’s Rideshare Stimulator is an unusual choice of words—aside from that second one in the game’s title. “Don’t take your passengers too seriously,” the trailer’s narrator says, as he describes this upcoming game. It a car game about the gig work of driving eccentric people to their destinations, a riff on Crazy Taxi. And then, he says: “When I think I’ve met the randiest of passengers, someone even stranger gets in.” “Randiest”? That suggests “randy,” which usually means having strong sexual desire. Yet none of the oddball backseat occupants featured in the trailer seem particularly lustful. One is an old man who considers his grandson a failure, another shares the theory that birds might control traffic lights, another says he’s banned from an aquarium. A little later, there’s a license plate, shown 63 seconds into the trailer, on the front of an SUV: USB DRV It’s a Texas plate. The symbol between those letters is a cog wheel. If you know, you know. That’s a reference to Texas-based Borderlands game development studio Gearbox Software (their logo features a cog wheel). More specifically, it’s a reference to Gearbox’s CEO Randy Pitchford, who in 2018 found himself explaining the nature of video he’d saved on a USB drive that was found at a Medieval Times restaurant before being returned to the studio: “It was ‘barely legal’ porn. This girl’s handle was ‘Only 18.’” The “girl” in the video had committed a solo sex act that Pitchford, an avid practitioner of magic, found remarkable. “I realized, this is not a sex worker…This is a fucking magician.” Back then, the USB drive was central to competing lawsuits against Gearbox by the studio’s former lawyer and by Gearbox against him. A settlement in late 2019 “exonerated” Pitchford, per the Hollywood Reporter. The USB story has resurfaced at times, now in a trailer from a company that not long ago was corporate brethren with Gearbox. Saber vs. Gearbox The head of Saber told Game File that the reference is payback. “The dig is because Randy took shots at Embracer in Borderlands 4,” Saber CEO Matt Karch told me when I asked him about the license plate. “Without Embracer, Randy is performing magic tricks at birthday parties for a living.” Having interviewed Karch during a cross-country flight in late 2024, I can confirm that Karch was unimpressed with Pitchford during their time both working in the Embracer group. I’d approached him not out of surprise that there was animosity but that it was manifesting publicly now. Gearbox was founded in 1999, worked on a port of Halo early on, and developed hit series such as the loot-based sci-fi shooter Borderlands before it was purchased by The Embracer Group in early 2021 for $363 million (with a possible earn-out of over $1 billion, if certain targets were hit by 2027). Saber was founded in 2001, worked on a remaster of Halo early on, had a big hit with zombie shooter World War Z and was purchased by Embracer in early 2020 for $150 million, with a potential earn-out of up to $375 million. For a few years, the Embracer group was a voracious acquirer of game studios. Then, as investment dried up, it choked. In March 2024, Embracer sold Saber to an investment company controlled by Saber CEO Matt Karch, and it sold Gearbox in an all-stock deal to long-time Borderlands publisher Take Two Interactive. Other studios were shut down. Hundreds of developers were laid off. Gearbox didn’t say much about their Embracer experience, nothing too direct, at least. In the summer 2024, Pitchford told reporter and occasional Game File contributor Nicole Carpenter that Borderlands 4’s story was in some way thematically connected to Gearbox’s experience at Embracer: “There’s this cultural and emotional shift in me, personally, and at the studio. What does it mean to trade some autonomy for organization?” When Borderlands 4 came out, there was something stranger: the matter of “Embracer’s Bluff,” a location in the game featuring an AI-powered toilet and a large trash dump, according to a detailed Kotaku account of the place. Gearbox never commented on it; Take Two never got back to me about it when I asked them last year. By contrast, since Saber exited Embracer, Karch has been one of Embracer’s biggest defenders, casting their management as well-meaning and supportive despite the layoffs and studio closures that resulted from their excessive expansion. Like others, Saber’s Karch saw Embracer’s as a shot. With Rideshare Stimulator’s trailer, he’s returned fire. “It’s amazing to me how fast people forget those who went above and beyond for them,” Karch told Game File. A rep for Gearbox did not comment by press time. Game File is a reader-supported publication. Your backing makes my reporting—including any coverage of trailer-based beefs—possible. Good news! I’m currently running Game File’s first big sale of 2026. You can get a one-year subscription for 23% off. Click here to take advantage of the limited-time offer. And thank you for your support! Item 2: In brief… 🚫 Wal-Mart has laid off the staff of Restart, a games media outlet launched in 2024, Aftermath reports. 🟥 A GTA VI preview is on the way, at last, via an “extended look” that will premiere, unusually, on Netflix at 3pm ET on August 27, then officially go live elsewhere six hours later. Last week, Game File noted that Take Two label Rockstar Games is overdue for showing off GTA VI, based on the timing of the initial hands-off previews of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2. During a call with investors, Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said pre-orders for GTA VI were “unprecedented and astonishing,” but added the company can’t predict how many of those pre-orders represent bonus sales vs. sales that otherwise would have been made at launch. During the same call, Zelnick was noticeably bullish on the future of playing games over streaming cloud connections (predicting wider adoption in three or so years). He sounded unbothered by Sony’s plans to stop making discs for new games (he said the business is 90% digital already and predicted that there could still be limited edition physical editions of games “in the same way there’s still vinyl in the recorded music business.”) 👀 Take Two wrote off $43 million in their spring quarter after deciding “not to proceed with further development of an unannounced title in its pipeline from a third-party developer.” 🤔 Some rare age-demographics from a big publisher: Capcom recently told investors that “users in their 20s account for approximately half of the users of both Pragamata and Resident Evil Requiem.” Item 3: The week ahead Tuesday, August 11 Game releases: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (Switch 2; already out for PC, PS5, Xbox) continues the Bethesda strategy of putting Elder Scrolls games on everything; Royalty Free-For-All is a Smash Bros.-style fighting game featuring public domain characters such as Mother Goose brawling with Oliver Twist in a stage based on the original Little Shop of Horrors movie. Wednesday, August 12 Game release: Pro Jank Footy (PC, console) is an arcade-style Australian Rules Football game with increasingly ridiculous rules, the more you play (I enjoyed the Steam demo) Thursday, August 13 Game release: Super Mario Sunshine (Switch 2, originally released in 2002 on the GameCube) is released for Switch 2’s Nintendo Switch Online service. This game is the black sheep of 3D Mario games. It’s the successor to the breakthrough Super Mario 64 and the rare Mario game built around a single (vacation resort) theme. Mario’s got a water-spraying backpack, a Yoshi pal and a lot of blue coins to collect.
5 SWLA residents accused of stealing equipment from closed business near Crowley
Five Southwest Louisiana residents are among several people accused of stealing from a vacant building off I-10 near Crowley.
California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics
States are debating whether to crack down on social media influencers making political advertisements without disclosing that they were paid.
Beebe Healthcare rolls out wearable safety buttons for frontline staff
Beebe Healthcare is rolling out wearable duress buttons for frontline employees as part of a new effort aimed at improving workplace safety across the health system.
Local businesses damaged by West Eugene fire
A vacant home was completely destroyed and three nearby businesses were damaged in a second alarm fire in West Eugene on Sunday evening.Just before 6:30 p.m., E
The rise of managed intelligence: AI is rewriting the cybersecurity playbook
AI adoption is accelerating. Learn why governance, cybersecurity and executive oversight are essential to reduce risk and scale AI safely.
Ella’s Top Corral celebrates 50 years of business
On Aug. 6, Ella, the woman behind the name of ‘Ella’s Top Corral,’ celebrated her birthday.
Ella’s Top Corral celebrates 50 years of business
On Aug. 6, Ella, the woman behind the name of ‘Ella’s Top Corral,’ celebrated her birthday.
Inside Business Top Workplaces 2026: TowneBank
TowneBank President and Chief Experience Officer Dawn Glynn shared workplace insight.
Inside Business Top Workplaces: The Sports Facilities Cos.
Virginia Beach Sports Center General Manager Ryan Ladd shared workplace insight for The Sports Facilities Cos.
Lifestyle medicine helps patients make healthy changes stick
Jefferson Health’s Lifestyle Medicine Program helps patients improve sleep, nutrition, stress and movement through practical goals and team-based support.
The Jackpod: The politics of us against them
On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on how “affective polarization” and partisan hatred has come to define American political culture.
Ben Jones, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ star-turned-congressman, dies at 84
Ben Jones, who won the hearts of viewers as Cooter Davenport on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ before winning a seat in Congress as a Democrat in Georgia, has died. He was 84.
How ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 ending ‘condemns Rhaenyra to the path she’s chosen’
The ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 ending ‘condemns Rhaenyra to the path she’s chosen,’ star Emma D’Arcy says of the latest finale.
15 Mini Gadgets That Can Easily Fit Into Your Pocket Or Backpack
If you're looking for useful everyday carry gear, these compact gadgets will slip into your pocket and solve real problems wherever you go.
AI Texas Gold named Business of the Month
ROCKPORT — Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce recognized A1 Texas Gold as Business of the Month for August. Chamber Board Members, Small Business Council, and staff along with special guests celebrated
Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society celebrates business car acquisition, progress on Pleasant Lake Railyard
21Alive News at 6
Steam reportedly refunds Battlefield 6 player with 470 hours logged after EA quietly pulled Rush mode from Quickplay
A Battlefield 6 player "upset" at the removal of the popular Rush mode claims to have secured a full refund from Steam despite having clocked up 470 hours.
Mental health expert shares tips for managing back-to-school stress
Back-to-school stress is common, but for some students and families, it can develop into more serious mental health concerns.
Decatur County woman hosts health expo to teach community about scam prevention, wellness
A Decatur County woman hosted a health expo Saturday, Aug. 8, aimed at teaching community members how to identify and prevent scams, while also addressing a range of health and financial topics.
Decatur County woman hosts health expo to teach community about scam prevention, wellness
A Decatur County woman hosted a health expo Saturday, Aug. 8, aimed at teaching community members how to identify and prevent scams, while also addressing a range of health and financial topics.
Asking Eric: Mother says ‘no politics’ but keeps talking politics
Mom shuts down political conversations with the letter writer attempts to rebut her.
As the world rediscovers 'The Odyssey,' disabled actors in Greece explore the pain of war
As Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” renews global interest in Homer’s epic, Greece’s ancient Epidaurus theater is presenting another side of the Trojan War.
As the world rediscovers 'The Odyssey,' disabled actors in Greece explore the pain of war
As Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” renews global interest in Homer’s epic, Greece’s ancient Epidaurus theater is presenting another side of the Trojan War.
Valley Health Systems hosts annual back-to-school event, free supplies for students
The backpack is filled, the supplies are checked off, but there are still a few things that families need to take care of before that first day creeps up.
‘I bring receipts’: Sheriff Paula Dance plans to address ‘underbelly of politics’
‘I bring receipts’: Sheriff Paula Dance plans to address ‘underbelly of politics’ in social media post
‘I bring receipts’: Sheriff Paula Dance plans to address ‘underbelly of politics’
‘I bring receipts’: Sheriff Paula Dance plans to address ‘underbelly of politics’ in social media post
The U.S. Is Burning Through Weapons in Iran. Russia and China Are Taking Note.
The Iran war has depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles, resulting in a significant erosion of firepower. A more drawn-out Iran conflict benefits Moscow and Beijing, some analysts say.
Kalamazoo County Fair returns with new entertainment, 4-H as cornerstone
In 2025, the fair was limited to the Kalamazoo County 4-H Showcase, while the county performed a feasibility study to determine the future of the fair. The result of the study brought investment from Kalamazoo County and a fair with more days, new shows and the classic, fried fair food that visitors love.
The Business of Immigration: Ethics, Economics, and the Future of Our Region
About this Program: Immigration has long shaped the identity, economy, and culture of the San Diego–Baja California region. Today, it remains one of the most significant—and often most debated—public policy issues facing our communities. As employers grapple with workforce shortages, governments respond to evolving immigration policies, and families pursue opportunity and security, important questions arise about the economic, ethical, and practical implications of immigration for our region's future. As part of the Engage San Diego: Tough Topics, Real Discussion series, moderator Andrew Blum will lead a thoughtful conversation with community leaders to examine these issues from multiple perspectives. Together, the panel will explore how immigration and immigration policy influence regional economic growth, workforce development, cross-border commerce, public services, and community well-being. The discussion will consider both the opportunities and the challenges immigration presents for employers, policymakers, and the broader San Diego economy, while also examining the ethical considerations that inform business and public policy decisions. Rather than advocating for a single viewpoint, this program is designed to foster informed, respectful dialogue and deepen public understanding of one of the defining issues of our time. Through a balanced exchange of ideas, panelists will explore practical approaches to strengthening our region while recognizing the diverse perspectives that shape this complex conversation. Join us for an engaging discussion that reflects the spirit of the Engage San Diego series—bringing together diverse voices to tackle difficult topics through civil discourse, informed analysis, and constructive community engagement. What We’ll Explore Immigration and the Regional Economy How does immigration influence San Diego's workforce, economic growth, business competitiveness, and cross-border prosperity? Ethics, Policy, and Public Responsibility How can communities balance economic needs, humanitarian values, public safety, and the rule of law in shaping immigration policy? The Business and Government Perspective What roles do employers, local government, and community leaders play in addressing workforce challenges and creating opportunities for shared prosperity? The Future of Our Region As immigration policy continues to evolve, what practical solutions can help strengthen our economy, support our communities, and ensure the long-term success of the San Diego–Baja California region?
Workers are creating 'burnout funds' to afford career breaks
Workers are building burnout funds to prepare for career breaks as workplace pressure, job insecurity, and living costs increase.
The 5 daughters of Africa’s richest men: Inside the corporate power and business of the Dangote and Rupert heiresses
Across Africa’s most influential billionaire dynasties, a new generation of women is stepping into major business roles
Cruisin’ the Coast turns 30 with new events, expanded entertainment
Cruisin’ the Coast marks its 30th anniversary this October with new events, expanded entertainment and a projected record number of vehicles along the South Mississippi coast.
Martin Theatre’s rebuild underway; will turn into an entertainment venue
Now, after being silenced for nearly a decade by Hurricane Michael, the historic venue is preparing for its highly anticipated second act.
Weekly Portland women’s sports wrap up (8/7)
Weekly Portland women’s sports wrap up (8/7) Presented by Rivermark Community Credit Union and Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery.
Entertainment center in Mesa hosting new First Friday event
One of the Valley’s most popular events is rebranding and moving to a different location after organizers were forced to scale back due to crime concerns.
First Fridays relocate from Roosevelt Row to Mesa entertainment center
One of the Valley’s most popular events is rebranding and moving to a different location after organizers were forced to scale back due to crime concerns.
High-res ASUS Googlebook renders have leaked, and this thing looks gorgeous
Earlier this week, we covered the initial leaks surrounding the ASUS Googlebook CX9406 - a 2.2-pound ceramic-alloy beast packing Intel's next-gen Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series) silicon, up to...
Trump Orders Leak Probe After Venting About Media Coverage of Munitions Stockpile
Move followed weeks of headlines describing depleted munitions levels.
High school sports tryouts and practices kick off Aug. 17
Our high school fall sports season will kick off on Monday, Aug. 17, with tryouts and practices beginning for high school football. Tryouts and practices for all other high school sports, including cheerleading, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, boys' cross country, girls' cross country, girls' tennis, girls' swimming and diving and volleyball, will begin on Monday, Aug. 24. Tryouts and practice schedules Tryout and practice schedules are available via the practice schedules button located on the fall sports page of our website. Please note that practice schedules are subject to change due to inclement weather or unanticipated circumstances. Registration information As a reminder, students and parents must fill out all required paperwork on Final Forms to participate in tryouts and practices. A physical conducted within the last 12 months is mandatory for any student interested in trying out for an athletic team and must be uploaded into Final Forms platform. Families are encouraged to get a completed physical from their child's physician. If you are unable to get a physical from your child's physician, you can schedule a free physical with Whitney Young's school-based health center by calling (518) 573-2556. Additionally, the district physician will also be available to facilitate sports physicals at Albany High in room 4253 on the following dates: Monday, Aug. 17 from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20 from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sports physicals on Aug. 17 and 20 are free and no appointment is necessary. Academic Eligibility As a reminder, students must be in good academic standing to participate in athletics. Academic eligibility will start at the beginning of each academic year. Eligibility is determined based on quarterly grades, and interim progress reports will serve as an important academic checkpoint for all student‑athletes. For additional details about academic eligibility, please see our Athletic Code of Conduct. Falcons, we can't wait to see you soar this fall season!
At least 3 businesses burglarized in south suburbs: police
There were at least three businesses burglarized early Thursday morning in the south suburbs, police said.
Powerball jackpot soars to $856 million, next drawing Saturday night
Over a million tickets were sold as hopeful players tried their luck, but no one scored in Wednesday’s Powerball jackpot, sending the prize soaring to an estimated $856 million.
Michigan health officials lift lettuce, salad greens warning as cyclosporiasis cases decline
Michigan residents can resume routine guidance on eating lettuce and salad greens, state health officials said Thursday, as cyclosporiasis cases begin to decline.
Trump grows angry over reports on depleted munitions — believing it weakens him in Iran negotiations
President Donald Trump has privately complained in recent days that disclosures on the dwindling US munitions stockpile make the United States look weak at a critical juncture, senior US officials said.
Free Play Days – NBA 2K26, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Wax Heads, and More
Game Pass members can hop into Sports Renovations this weekend, while all XBOX players can enjoy Ghost Recon Wildlands, Ghost Recon Breakpoint, NBA 2K26, and a free trial for Wax Heads.
IAM Union: Workers Deserve Protection from Deadly Heat
As record-breaking temperatures continue to put working people at risk across the country, the Trump Administration is pulling back protections for workers from one of the fastest-growing workplace hazards: extreme heat. Recent reports say the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reduced the heat-focused inspections and enforcement efforts that were previously expanded under the
Amazon, Avril, Ferguson team up for housing as questions hang over WA's business climate
"Seattle's given me a lot," Avril said. "For me, it was all about just being able to pour back into the city that's given me so much."
Science|Business summer reads of 2026
As most people in the European research and innovation policy bubble are going on a well-deserved summer break, we have come up with a list of our favourite books, podcasts and essays from the past year that ask deeper questions about science, technology and politics.BooksPasteur’s Quadrant: Basic Science and Technological Innovation, by Donald StokesIf you haven’t read Pasteur’s Quadrant yet, now is the time. In the EU and elsewhere, we’re living through a period of dwindling faith that curiosity-driven research automatically leads to economic growth and technological progress. Pasteur’s Quadrant, published in 1997 by the Princeton academic Donald Stokes, is the most influential critique of the standard “linear model” of R&D: the idea that new discoveries made in ivory-tower labs get neatly passed on for commercialisation by start-ups. In reality, Stokes argues, practical applications often inspire more theorical lines of inquiry. Of course, we have long known that things are more complex than the linear model, but even today, it’s still often assumed in Brussels discourse. The book is a useful corrective, and is being used now to argue for new types of scientific institutions. David MatthewsThe Weaponization of Expertise: How Elites Fuel Populism, by Jacob Hale Russel and Dennis PattersonAre society’s problems solvable by technical expertise alone? “If only the benighted would listen,” say Jacob Hale Russel and Dennis Patterson, two professors at Rutgers Law School who got frustrated with how scientists and politicians handled public health communication during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the book, they argue that clichéd mantras about scientific evidence and expertise perpetrated by academics, journalists and politicians have harmed public trust in the very institutions they were trying to defend. Paradoxically, slogans such as “we believe in science,” “follow the science” and “defer to the experts” can fuel mistrust in science, experts and democratic institutions. The authors criticise “condescension” and “technocratic paternalism” in the public discourse and make the case for a more nuanced approach to scientific and expert policy advice that rests on humility, doubt, scepticism and open dialogue. “Most complex social questions in fact revolve around values, not the recitation of unambiguous facts,” they say. Florin ZubascuBreakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future, by Dan WangIn this book, Dan Wang compares the structural differences between the US and Chinese industrial policies, but raises a very timely question for innovation policy wonks: how can advanced manufacturing know-how contribute to technology-intensive economic growth? Wang says technology has three components: the tools, the blueprints and patents, and the process knowledge. The third component represents the “proficiency gained from practical experience, which isn’t easily communicated and requires years of implementation.” According to Wang, rather than seeing tools and blueprints as the ultimate ends of technological progress, policymakers should see them as milestones in the training of better scientists and manufacturers. Over the past decades, China has amassed “process knowledge” because capital flowed to complex fabrication facilities, while investors in the West have parked their money in capital-light businesses such as digital platforms or chip companies that focus on design. As it turns out, thanks to its oversized focus on manufacturing, China has gained remarkable advantages in the global technology race. Florin ZubascuBaltic: The Future of Europe, by Oliver MoodyWhat can Europe learn from the nine countries surrounding the Baltic Sea? Alongside the familiar stories about Estonia's digital transformation, the book examines how the region has used technology, resilience, education, governance and long-term thinking to respond to geopolitical, economic and security challenges. Innovation policy wonks might find fresh perspectives on how innovation can strengthen defence, societal resilience and Europe's capacity to adapt in an uncertain world. Whether or not you agree with all of Oliver Moody's conclusions, the book is a useful guide to a region that is increasingly shaping European debates on security, competitiveness and technology. Goda NaujokaityteThe Invention of Nature, by Andrea Wulf This book chronicles the wild and adventurous life of natural science pioneer Alexander von Humboldt who at some point in the 19th century seems to have been just about the most famous person in the world. Through scientific expeditions to the Andes Mountains and to the depths of Siberia, von Humboldt contributed a host of discoveries and concepts. During his life he met and formed relationships with historical figures as different as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Simon Bolivar, Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon Bonaparte and Charles Darwin. He is also claimed to be the person in the world with most things named after him, a list that includes an ocean current, a penguin and a region of the Moon. Still venerated in Germany, with numerous scientific institutions named after him, von Humboldt has slipped out of public consciousness in most of the rest of the world. For anyone not familiar with him, this book does a good job of describing his fascinating life. Ole EllekrogCareless People, by Sarah Wynn-WilliamsYou may have heard this referred to as the book Meta doesn’t want you to read. The 2025 memoir from Sarah Wynn-Williams, former director of global public policy at Meta, then just called Facebook, includes explosive claims about everything from a toxic workplace culture to how the company worked with advertisers to target vulnerable teens, and the lengths it was prepared to go to in order to break into China. It’s a fascinating insight into how and why the tech company gradually shifted its approach to policy, whether in the US, Europe or Asia. Meta has denied the allegations in the book, and last year won an emergency ruling to prevent Wynn-Williams from promoting it. In response, the author is now suing her former employer. If that doesn’t make you want to read it. Martin GreenacrePodcastsThe Europeans: Europe’s anti-ElonThis podcast is a great choice for a light-hearted dose of European policy and culture news. Most of it has little to do with research, innovation and technology, but this particular podcast features an interview with Mastadon’s founder Eugen Rochko. He talks about his experience running an open-source, federated, European-made social media platform, and leaving it all behind. The conversation, which starts 14 minutes in, gently encourages us to reflect on what kind of technology we, as Europeans, want to make. Goda NaujokaityteSolarpunk and how we escape dystopiaNew technologies are very often taken from science fiction. Alberto Santos-Dumont, inventor the airship, was inspired as a child by the adventure stories of Jules Verne. OpenAI’s attempt to build a personal assistant with the voice of Scarlett Johansson was lifted from the 2013 film Her, completely ignoring the movie’s cautionary message. So if we want better tech, we need to imagine it first. Unfortunately, the state of current sci-fi is relentlessly dystopian, giving inventors precious few ideas or hope. However, a new genre, Solarpunk, which envisages a technologically advanced but ecologically harmonious future, is now taking off. The actual tech the genre imagines, such as permaculture, renewable energy or community repair workshops, while nice, isn’t all that inspiring or ambitious. But it’s a first step towards rescuing sci-fi from its pessimistic Blade Runner rut. David MatthewsEveryday AbundanceLaunched in June, Everyday Abundance is a podcast that tells the stories of the inventions we now take so for granted that we barely given them a second thought. For example, the washing machine, which liberated women from a lifetime “bent over washtubs and washboards.” Or modern dentistry, which ended the reality that “tooth pain was simply part of human life.” Historians of technology, Virginia Postrel and Charles C Mann are very much on the optimistic end of the spectrum when it comes to the capacity of invention to improve human life. Here, they set out their case: if it wasn’t for progress, you might be hunched over a washtub with toothache rather than reading these words. David Matthews‘We will not know what we lost’: Conservation fallout a year after USAID shutdownSince his return to the White House, Donald Trump has been on a mission to undermine science. He slashed jobs at federal agencies, terminated grants in some research areas, took unprecedented control over university affairs and, within hours of his inauguration, suspended the US Agency for International Development. While its initial focus was to administer health and food aid around the world, it had since expanded to conservation projects. The result? Some of these projects were stopped abruptly. In this Mongabay podcast, environmental reporter Michelle Nijhuis tells the story of the EcoGuard conservation programme in Liberia, whose local patrols had helped protect rainforests, monitor endangered wildlife and track illegal threats. From one day to the next, these were left without salaries. Luckily, she notes, the initiative was able to get emergency funding from international NGOs, but its future remains “incredibly uncertain.” Juliette PortalaEssaysThe Mars Delusion, by Henry WismayerWhy is humankind so fixated on establishing a colony on Mars? asks London-based writer Henry Wismayer. From space evangelists promoting Martian settlement as an insurance policy, to billionaire Jeff Bezos, who said humans should settle on Mars “because it’s cool,” the mission is not running short of advocates. However, in this essay, Wismayer reminds us that some critics expect any future Mars pioneer to end up “irradiated, sick, mad and dead.” Scientists have already looked into the possible effects of prolonged exposure to Martian gravity, and it’s not pretty: muscle shrinking, bones weakening, changes to the central nervous system and other biological modifications to make us all reconsider the journey. “Some researchers have forecast that the future settler, after generations of evolutionary conditioning, will look less like an Übermensch and more like ET,” Wismayer writes. Juliette Portala
Texas giant sues Beavercreek small business over logo dispute
Buc-ee’s filed a lawsuit on July 28 in U.S. District Court in Dayton against Hanes Road Carryout, which operates here as Beaver’s Mini Mart.
Rep. Chuck Edwards drops reelection bid after censure recommendation for sexual harassment claims
The House Ethics Committee said there is "substantial reason to believe" Rep. Chuck Edwards violated House rules related to sexual harassment and hostile workplaces. Edwards denied any wrongdoing.
Wednesday Rockpile: Should Brennan Bernardino have been traded?
Colorado Rockies news and links for Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Sitting up straight may improve your mood and decision-making
A simple change in posture may subtly affect how people feel and make decisions. Participants who sat upright reported greater feelings of pride and took more successful risks in a virtual balloon game than those who hunched over. Most did not realize researchers had influenced their posture, helping rule out the possibility that they were merely responding to expectations. The results suggest workplace ergonomics could influence more than physical comfort.
Post-Primary Recap: The Electability Argument Falls Flat
Kingmaking isn’t what it used to be in Democratic politics.In Democratic primaries for governor of Kansas, Michigan’s 7th district, and Michigan’s open Senate seat, battle-tested and popular Democratic elected officials urged voters to select the candidates they said would be stronger general election choices. Instead, Democratic primary voters picked candidates who were more progressive, despite warnings that those nominees could tank the party’s chances of clawing back control of Congress.
Todd Blanche confirmation: Susan Collins says she is a ‘no’
The Republican from Maine said in a statement that Blanche is a “capable lawyer” but the that Justice Department “has become increasingly political.”
Global Credit Union Opens Branch in Utqiaġvik
Global Credit Union, with help from Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation, opened a new branch inside the AC Stuaqpak supermarket in Utqiaġvik.
WWE Hall of Famer, former heavyweight champ dead at 85: ‘Helped build this business’
Triple H announced his passing.
Leveraging HR Services to Overcome Workplace Challenges: Advancing HR Knowledge to Drive Business Results
Voice of Business Blog Throughout this series, we’ve explored how workforce data helps HR identify challenges, guide decision-making, and demonstrate measurable impact. As HR’s role at the leadership table continues to expand, developing HR professionals is a critical business investment. By strengthening expertise in disciplines such as talent acquisition and talent management, employee and labor…
New ASE guideline aims to improve workplace safety for cardiac sonographers
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a major safety concern in the field of echocardiography, impacting up to 90% of all cardiac sonographers.
Deadline Approaching for the 2026 IAM Safety & Health Conference
The IAM Safety and Health Department is accepting registrations for the 2026 IAM Safety & Health Conference, taking place Sept. 27 to Oct. 2, 2026, at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, Md. This annual conference provides IAM members with the knowledge and tools needed to address today's workplace safety and health
MrBeast Sales Slow, Angel Stock Falls, MUBI and Neon Look for Hits, and Will an NBA Franchise Set a Sales Record?
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) You probably remember egg prices spiking a few years ago. This led to a lot of debate between the pro-market/pro-competition/antitrust/Neo-Brandesian crowd and the center/center-right/center-left/abundance/libertarian crowd over the cause, whether it was the avian flu outbreak or whether industry consolidation led to price fixing, using avian flu as a convenient cover. Basel Musharbash wrote a whole investigation at BIG looking at it. Well, two years later, we have our answer: it was price fixing. The Justice Department found proof, via emails, of price fixing. Indeed, just the threat of an investigation brought prices down two years ago: I bring this up because at least half a dozen of my favorite political writers and pundits, who were skeptical about price fixing at the time, haven’t written any mea culpas on this issue. It’s really dispiriting and makes it much, much harder to trust their work on other issues. If you take a hard stand on an issue, then you get it wrong, you need to explain how and why you got it wrong. Or update your priors. This is how epistemological bubbles are formed! All of which is to say, it’s time for another installment of “What I Got Right, What I Got Wrong”. Last issue, I mostly focused on the “wrong” side of the equation, so today’s is a bit more balanced, but with one big mea culpa (though I still stand by my original concerns). Let’s dive right in! Subscribe CORRECTION: UFC Didn’t Release Subscriber Data (But Seems to Have Bragged About It Internally) In my analysis of the viewership of UFC Freedom 250, I wrote... “Paramount has also released datecdotes bragging about their subscriber numbers. Earlier this year, they claimed that the first UFC fight on Paramount+ brought in 1 million subscribers.” Well, that datecdote did not come from a PR rep, but from great reporting from James Faris at Business Insider. The actual quote was this: “Paramount’s flagship streaming service generated about a million new subscribers on the day of its first-ever UFC event, Paramount product chief Dane Glasgow told employees in a town hall on Tuesday morning, three staffers who attended the meeting told Business Insider.“ This wasn’t the biggest goof in the world; even Faris emphasized to me that this is more a “clarification” than a correction. Still, it sounds like, internally, the folks at Paramount were very happy about this result—and I’m guessing they were happy with this news getting out—even though the gains didn’t last through the quarter, dropping to 700K adds. RIGHT: MrBeast’s Struggles Continue... I’m very skeptical about MrBeast’s burgeoning media “empire” and, in particular, its $5 billion valuation, as I wrote earlier this year and last year. Sure enough, according to Business Insider, regarding its “booming” consumer products division_:_ “US sales volume grew 13% year-over-year in 2025, following a 33% leap the previous year, according to a presentation deck dated May 2026....A February 2025 investor deck viewed by Business Insider showed Feastables’ net revenue more than doubled in 2024 from 2023, to $215 million, and was forecast to grow 74% in 2025, to $375 million.” [Emphasis mine.] If you told investors that you projected 74% growth but delivered 13%,1 that’s not ideal. But it’s not just MrBeast. Logan Paul and KSI’s Prime had sales drop in half for their energy drinks. It’s one thing to build a successful entertainment company and an entirely different thing to succeed in the heavily-consolidated-but-also-very-competitive consumer packaged goods space! CPGs are dominated by a few firms with very wide moats compared to YouTube, which has few barriers to entry. These businesses require different skill sets and have completely different business environments. WRONG: Does the NBA Have an $8 Billion Bidder? Almost as soon as I published my article about the NBA’s finances, casting skepticism on NBA expansion, I saw this Front Office Sports headline: One group “claims to have already raised $8 billion” for the Vegas expansion team. I mean, wow. That’s just $2 billion less than what the Los Angeles Lakers were valued at when they were sold just last year. And they’re arguably the most popular team in the NBA. (Side note: the new owner is now under an investigation for fraud in how he went about financing the Lakers and the Dodgers purchases.) So much for the “dried up” language I used in that article. (This is why I usually stick to my “Entertainment Nuance Guy” tone in articles...) I went off old information—from April, when I read/heard about the NBA downplaying expansion efforts—instead of doing a quick double-check for new news. That said...if you read the article, the market for Seattle is “slow”, with just one reported bidder. So I wasn’t entirely off. This goof has annoyed me since I first published it, mainly because it undercut that article’s real point, which I stand by: NBA franchises are really overvalued right now. Now, I get why NBA teams are overvalued. When it comes to owning sports teams, it’s basically never wrong to assume that some rich person somewhere will care more about owning a team (or just being part of a group since they’re so expensive) than the actual financials. There are only so many teams to own, and opportunities to buy in preferred markets don’t come along very often. This explains why the teams sell for such high multiples (usually above a 10 to 12.5 revenue multiple, which is very high). You only need one person to overpay! Beyond the ultra-wealthy luxury good explanation, I worry NBA teams are becoming speculative assets. More and more private equity investors are buying into NBA teams. But the value, in owning a team, comes from selling it later, not any meaningful relationship to revenue or profit growth. In other words, the newer NBA owners are increasingly expecting someone later to buy their inflated asset. That’s not sound economics; that’s the “greater fool” theory at work.2 At some point, actually making money has to matter. Especially since revenue growth is now below the growth of the stock market. (And this matters because the NBA doesn’t have easy levers to pull to drastically lower their costs—half of their revenue has to go to players and then you actually have to run a team, including coaching, training, travel, media expenses, and more—or raise revenues aside from one-off expansions in America and overseas.) I just don’t see how investors make their money back buying NBA teams, except for selling at a higher price later on down the line. But if revenue/profit growth continues to slow, at some point, someone will be left holding the bag. RIGHT: Baseball and Basketball are about equally popular. Related to the above, I wanted to cite two quick pieces of evidence for one of my other theories: that the NBA and MLB are about as popular as each other, but the NBA gets much, much better media coverage. One YouGov survey has that fans prefer basketball to baseball by 52% to 48%, which I’m guessing is within the margin of error for that poll. That’s virtually even, meaning they’re about the same popularity. Over on NBC, a recent Red Sox-Yankees game averaged 4 million viewers, higher than Sunday Night Basketball’s average of 3.4 million on the same network. A Yankees-Dodgers game averaged 3.9 million two weeks ago. Not every game averages this much, but it shows you that baseball isn’t far off from basketball, depending on the matchup. Altogether, the NBA is just slightly more popular than baseball, but NBC is paying MLB a fraction of what they pay the NBA, a point I’ve made before. RIGHT: Angel, MUBI and Neon Updates... I’ve long been skeptical about many of Hollywood’s buzziest startups/smaller indie studios. It’s not that they don’t make great movies—films like Anora and Everything Everywhere All at Once are amazing—or that they’re not (rightfully) pushing the majors to make better films, but...they get a ton of hype, and that hype often doesn’t live up to the reality or difficulty in scaling up. Starting with MUBI, well, The Wall Street Journal wrote a feature on MUBI’s struggles last April, best summarized by the subheader “After Sequoia valued Mubi at $1 billion, a left-wing revolt sent the indie film company into a tailspin”. MUBI lost $7.3 million on $200 million in revenue in Q4 2025, but reportedly hit a record 1.7 million subscribers at the end of Q1. As for Neon, Department M purchased a “significant stake” in the company earlier this year. How much is that “stake” worth? According to Deadline, “No financial figures for the Neon-Department M deal were disclosed.” So...that’s not great! If it was a big valuation, we’d hear about. Also, I found this curious: “Both Neon and Department M already have separate partnerships with Qatar. The Qatar Film Committee has a slate deal in place with the former, and a biopic production pact with the latter.” Color me skeptical about much Middle Eastern investment dollars. See: LIV Golf. Finally, as for Angel (formerly Angel Studios), their stock very, very slightly popped last month after Young Washington ($20 million budget) which made $45 million in the US, but their stock is still way down from its opening. Smaller Updates RIGHT: The WGA should focus on antitrust concerns! I’ve been on this for years. Post-WGA/AMTPT deal in 2023, I wrote an article for the Ankler calling on the WGA to focus and organize against industry consolidation. Sure enough, the WGA filed a lawsuit against the Paramount-WBD merger, and people are organizing around this issue now. I wish this energy had coalesced earlier (specifically to lobby Washington much earlier), but better late than never! WRONG: Actually, the chip shortage might be due to market manipulation. In my last “Long Reads for the Long Summer” article, I shared an article about how LLMs are causing memory chip prices to spike, which will make all electronics more expensive. Well, turns out, three RAM manufacturers control 90% of the market, and now a private lawsuit accuses them of price-fixing. So yeah. WRONG/UPDATE: The Odyssey will hold! Two weeks ago, I wrote, “As of this moment, we haven’t had a super-blockbuster, though The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday could all cross the $500 million mark. (At this point, The Odyssey would need a very strong hold to get there.)” Well, it’s safe to say it’s going to have that hold! It only dropped 30% in weekend two and IMAX screenings are sold out all month. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is also off to a great start. RIGHT: People are rushing to get shows out yearly. I’ve long been bullish on yearly, weekly-released shows, and Leslie Goldberg at The Ankler wrote about how many people in town are now listening. WRONG: Mark Carney reverses Canada’s stance on homegrown production. After writing about Canada installing domestic production quotas, Canada has backed off. WRONG: I don’t trust Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s online “views”. When I originally wrote about the latest Spider-Man film’s record-breaking trailer, I thought this was just YouTube views, but after watching this Corridor Crew video and doing more research, well, it’s all social views of the trailer globally. Really? That stat includes TikTok, Reels and YouTube Shorts views. Basically, I don’t trust it anymore. (This film will probably set record, but I trust the pre-sales data more.) RIGHT: Celebrity Production companies are still struggling. I’ve written about this for years, but the company that I didn’t track was Kevin Hart’s HartBeat, which was valued at $650 million but is struggling now and might just end soon, especially after Kevin Hart pulled his endorsement deals. And Bad Robot is moving to NYC. CORRECTION: SpongeBob is a “second run” title. In my 2025 recap article, I had _SpongeBob SquarePants_labelled as a “library” title, when it is still a “second run” show, with new episodes still coming out on Nickelodeon. CORRECTION: In my last “What I Got Right, What I Got Wrong” update, I offered a correction from Doug Creutz and misspelled TD Cowen. Thanks, Grammarly! 1 Though he could have increased prices to make up for the gap, he couldn’t have increased them that much. 2 There’s a theory, which I think that Daryl Morey created and Bill Simmons popularized, that, to be successful building your team, you only need a handful of bad GMs in the league to take advantage of. To be clear, Daryl Morey’s theory was also for signing bad contracts, that you could always get out of bad contracts. Basically, there’s always someone who will make a bad trade. It’s not the same exact thing, but similar enough to the Greater Fool Theory that I really like it.
The Purple-State Problem
Most close readers of this column know that I see our nation’s political divisions as so great as to make the last line in the Pledge of Allegiance, that we are “one nation” and “indivisible,” hardly descriptive.While some states or congressional districts are characterized as red for Republicans or blue for Democrats, purple states or districts are thought of as fair fights where neither party has a distinct advantage. In those purple regions, it’s often thought that to win, a candidate must do well with voters near the ideological center.
SNAP changes push more North Carolina families to food pantries, food banks
In some places, locally supported nonprofits are stepping up, but leaders say their work can never fill the hole left by cuts to the federal food stamps program.
Peak Design's City Line Features Six 'Everyday Life' Bags and Backpacks
Peak Design has announced the City Line, a series of six new bags that it says are built around lightweight construction.
Gov. Bill Lee
It was an honor to join business & community leaders with the Rotary Club of Nashville today to highlight our city & state’s bright future.
Minot business leaders see economic opportunity with proposed pig iron plant
KMOT’s Joe Skurzewski met with business leaders in rural Minnesota to learn more about a proposed pig iron plant for Minot and its role in a renewed push for domestic steel production.
Ukraine uses business principles to maximize Russia’s casualties and economic costs, potentially crushing its will to keep fighting, RAND says
Ukraine has KPIs for the military—just like corporations, which use them to track output from employees or subsidiaries.
Women’s sports are No. 1 at this new bar in North Park
One of Us in North Park is San Diego’s first women’s sports bar. It’s already become the go to spot to watch Wave FC matches.
Pixel 11 Made by Google 2026 launch event: How to watch and what to expect
From the new Pixel 11 series, the new Pixel Watch 5, and everything in between, we've got you covered.
Johnson County Criminal Mental Health Court would offer treatment plans instead of jail time
Johnson County is considering adding a criminal mental health court program aimed at helping repeat offenders with serious mental illness.
How Virunga Park protects people and gorillas from Ebola in eastern DRC
Health checkpoints and surveillance aim to contain the outbreak and protect endangered mountain gorillas.
New mental health clinic opens in east Lincoln
A new mental health clinic opened in east Lincoln on Friday.
Free dental screenings, backpacks offered at local health clinics in Allentown, Bethlehem
Saturday's clinics were for children - hosted at both their downtown Allentown and north side Bethlehem locations.
Twins vs Mariners Highlights ⚾️ MLB on FOX
Watch the best highlights between the Minnesota Twins and the Seattle Mariners.
Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center, Portsmouth Partnership join forces to grow small businesses
Amber Kostka, an owner of The Stockpot restaurant, is joining the effort as a business adviser.
Saturday Throwback: 1994 summer program teaches rocket science to kids
In today's Saturday Throwback, take a look back to 1994 at some of the things these kids learned in a summer program that teaches rocket science.