Good morning, curious minds!
Today's lineup has everything from Tesla owners swapping logos to researchers swearing by pain relief—plus some Trump drama. Take a sip (or your favorite curse word) and see what's making headlines. Enjoy!
You'll Know First:
• Storm kills 2, brings fierce winds, blizzard conditions, fires, and millions in its path.
• Colombian sex traffickers are exploiting teens on Facebook, Tinder, and Airbnb.
• In the next couple of days, Target and Best Buy warn of higher prices.
The clarity you need for today, right here:
In a billion-dollar deal, BlackRock bought CK Hutchison's Panama Ports—the key gateways at both ends of the Panama Canal—and several other terminals in 23 countries, giving Trump a big geopolitical talking point. Hong Kong billionaire Li Shing pocketed $19 billion, while Trump touted the deal as proof that America is reclaiming strategic waters.
With promises to audit the deal and maintain neutrality, Panama is walking a tightrope. Now, everyone is watching to see if the U.S. has really "taken it back " or is simply shifting one power's grip for another.
Bonus: Here's how the Panama Canal was built and who controls it.
Rebranding Cringe
Tesla owners are taking matters into their own hands—literally—by tearing off the iconic 'T' logo and swapping it for Ford or Acura badges or even projecting anti-Musk messages on their vehicles. "I bought this before he went off the rails" bumper stickers evolved into a full-blown rebrand, reflecting growing frustration with Elon's politics.
These creative (and sometimes hilarious) transformations reveal how quickly a beloved EV brand can crash when its CEO veers from quirk to controversy.
Defiance on Display
During his 100-minute speech to Congress, Trump discussed his "swift and unrelenting" changes: cutting government by using Elon Musk's DOGE department, raising tariffs (and likely prices) to "protect" American goods, and suspending Ukraine aid just weeks after clashing with Zelensky in the Oval Office.
Democrats held protest signs, staged walkouts, and, at one point, watched a colleague get booted for heckling. Republicans cheered. From egg prices to foreign wars, Trump blamed Biden for everything while boasting about deportations and promising more tax cuts. Overall, it was a defiant pep rally for his base, leaving the rest of the country to wonder how far this "common sense revolution" will go.
Bonus:Watch or read President Trump's 2025 address to a joint session of Congress.
Swear Therapy
New research suggests curse words can boost pain tolerance—potentially making cursing one of the cheapest and easiest pain relievers. Studies show that blurting out an f-bomb can boost adrenaline and even boost your strength.
Scientists are now trying to figure out how factors like age, language, and swearing habits affect this strange phenomenon. So, next time you stub your toe, don’t be shy about hollering that colorful expletive—it might just help you heal faster.
💬 Beyond the Core
Spoon-taneous: Wooden spoons might make you sick; here's how to fix it.
Hopen-hearted: It's not just for dreamers; you can actually learn to be more positive.
Jar you ready? Check out what she learned after trying to open a jar for three days.
💡 Core Wisdom
“
We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
— George Bernard Shaw
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📸 Lens to Life
Carnival 2025 photos from around the world.
🧮 Core Count: 25
Out of all the oxygen you breathe, your brain uses this percentage.
🗓️ Flashback:
363 - Roman Emperor Julian moved 90,000 troops from Antioch to attack the Sassanid Empire, leading to his death.
1046 - Persian scholar Naser Khosrow starts his seven-year Middle Eastern journey that'll end up in his book Safarnama.
1496 - English King Henry VII grants John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) a commission to explore new lands.
1770 - The Boston Massacre (Incident on King Street): British soldiers throw snowballs, stones, and sticks at a crowd and kill five men.
1853 - Heinrich Steinweg (later Henry Steinway) founded Steinway & Sons, a piano company in New York City.
1946 - Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech brought attention to Europe's division and popularized the term.
I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!
Fatih Taskiran
