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☆ Biden and McCarthy's bumpy journey to a debt ceiling deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

During months of tense exchanges over the U.S. debt ceiling, McCarthy has also taken some swipes at Biden. Arguing that Biden should meet him to discuss his demands for lifting the debt ceiling in March, McCarthy made fun of the 80-year-old president's advanced age. "I would bring lunch to the White House. But it also preserves much of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and punts the next debt ceiling showdown into 2025, which Republicans hate. Although he initially called for the debt ceiling to be raised without negotiations, he ended up making compromises.

☆ Opinion | If You’re Reading This, You’re Probably ‘WEIRD’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( The Ezra Klein Show | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +83 min

You’re probably very weird, and not just for all the obvious reasons you’re thinking of. Because, obviously, there’s going to be some overlap in the curve here. How you’re going to behave with your professor is quite different than how you’re going to behave with your friends. But it’s really kind of faceless, and you’re not really helping anybody you know. I think things are dynamic, and directions are changing, and that sort of thing.

☆ 6 daily micro habits recommended by Google's executive coach to reduce stress and increase focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AK Ikwuakor is a 38-year-old executive coach lead at Google from Marina del Rey, California. I've served as an executive coach for leaders across the globe. One of my micro habits is walking out the door each morning. Here are six daily micro habits that I recommend to Googlers and others to become less stressed and more focused. People often struggle at first, but as they continue listing things like "I know I'm amazing with people," "I know I'm a strong marketer," "I know I'm a great friend," and so on, it gets easier.

☆ US economy on the brink as time runs low to avert debt default
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

After a weekend of acrimony between negotiators for House Republicans and the White House, Biden will meet House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Monday for critical talks on pulling the economy back from the precipice. Biden and McCarthy to meet MondayThe rhetoric eased a little, however, after Biden and McCarthy spoke as the president flew home on Air Force One. McCarthy already passed a bill raising the debt ceiling in exchange for a wish list of Republican demands. This is a balance of power that ought to drive both sides towards a compromise, but extremist elements in the House GOP could make that impossible. Like McCarthy, Biden also faces political pressure within his own party after some progressive Democrats expressed fears he would offer the speaker too much in any deal.

☆ Michael Block shoots sensational hole-in-one to cap storybook PGA Championship ending
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Hollywood screenwriters might have rejected the script for being too unbelievable, but Michael Block would not be denied the storybook ending to his PGA Championship fairytale. The 46-year-old – head pro at a public golf club in California – drilled a hole-in-one to put the gloss on a remarkable performance at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York on Sunday. Or, based on what he charges for an hour-long session at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, 1,922 golf lessons. “If it makes any sense, the one thing in the world that makes me cry is golf,” an emotional Block told reporters. They kind of documented my big goal this week was to be the low club pro; right?

But Michelin, Continental and Pirelli (PIRC.MI) told Reuters they are pursuing alternatives to 6PPD, with Michelin and Continental adding collective industry action may be necessary to find solutions. Continental said its dandelion tyres were developed to find a sustainable form of natural rubber, and addressing 6PPD was a separate focus. The worst-performing rival tyres Michelin has tested so far emit around 8 kg per year. Michelin and Continental said they are already focused on making their tyres more durable - Michelin cut its tyre emissions 5% between 2015 and 2020, Roget said. "The advent of the EV is the time to make this change," to improve tyres," Enso's Erlendsson said.

☆ ‘High Desert’ Review: Patricia Arquette, Chaotic Californian
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Matt Dillon and Patricia Arquette Photo: Apple TV+‘High Desert” establishes itself right away as a feel-good series, because you feel so good that you aren’t Peggy Newman. When we meet her, federal drug agents are raiding her Thanksgiving, traumatizing the family party as her husband ( Matt Dillon ) tries to jam the evidence down the drains à la Lorraine Bracco in “Goodfellas.” A long 10 years later, Peggy is still kicking around Southern California, still trying to kick drugs, and working as an actress/re-enactor in an Old West theme park called Pioneer Town. Her mother, Rosalyn (Bernadette Peters), is dead. And she gets her way mostly because people want her to go away.

☆ SVB Financial Group says quarterly results filing will be delayed
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 9 (Reuters) - SVB Financial Group will not be able to meet the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's deadline for reporting its quarterly results, the bankrupt parent of Silicon Valley Bank disclosed in a filing on Tuesday. SVB Financial said its limited staff was dedicated to exploring strategic alternatives for the remaining businesses. Californian regulators shuttered Silicon Valley Bank in early March and appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. The failures of SVB and Signature Bank triggered the biggest banking crisis since 2008, fueling volatility in the stocks of several regional lenders and exacerbating recession fears. Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini GanguliOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Podcast: Title 42 ends, debt ceiling drags and Haley hangs in
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Follow on Apple, Google or Spotify. As a Covid-era order ends, thousands of migrants are amassing on the U.S. border, setting up a political showdown for the Biden administration. Recession fears grow as debt ceiling talks stall. And a Californian man tries to reverse aging. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Feinstein claims there's been 'no slowdown' with her absence before blaming GOP for slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein argued that her absence from the Senate hasn't harmed her party. In her newest statement, Feinstein expressed optimism about returning to the Senate. Republicans have been able to stall some of President Joe Biden's judicial nominees during Feinstein's absence from the panel. Both political parties in recent years have put an enormous focus on confirming judicial nominees to lifetime federal appointments. Beyond judicial nominees, Democrats are expected to face a potentially razor-thin margin on avoiding a catastrophic debt default that could come as soon as early June.

☆ NASCAR Le Mans entry can be springboard for Button and Johnson
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, May 4 (Reuters) - Former Formula One champion Jenson Button wants to drive a Hypercar at Le Mans next year and says he would be up for a full season of the world endurance championship if the right opportunity comes along. The Briton will be taking part in the 24 Hours race at the Sarthe circuit on June 10-11 this year as part of a special NASCAR entry with seven times NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and former Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller. Johnson, 47, has never been to Le Mans while Button, 43, endured a short-lived debut in 2018 with the Russian-backed SMP team. The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has seven rounds, including Le Mans, while the North American IMSA series has 11 but is nearer to home. "I’m running out of items, especially in a major professional setting," said the Californian, who was never able to race Le Mans previously due to calendar clashes with NASCAR and IndyCars.

☆ Tucker Carlson helped broker the deal that made Kevin McCarthy House speaker after 14 failed votes, text messages show
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Tucker Carlson won concessions from Kevin McCarthy in a deal that made him House speaker, per his texts. McCarthy needed 218 votes to win his bid to become House speaker, giving him a small margin of error. The result was 14 rounds of votes that failed to produce a House speaker, making it the most contested speaker election in more than 150 years. Grossberg discussed some of the conversations between her and Carlson regarding McCarthy's House Speaker election in an interview with CNN on Tuesday night. On January 7, the House held its 15th vote for House Speaker.

☆ JPMorgan takes over First Republic after it's seized by Californian financial regulator
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A view of the First Republic Bank logo at the Park Avenue location, in New York City, March 10, 2023. The Californian financial regulator took possession of First Republic Monday, resulting in the third failure of an American bank since March, after a last-ditch effort to persuade rival lenders to keep the ailing bank afloat failed. JPMorgan Chase acquired all of First Republic's deposits, including uninsured deposits, and a "substantial majority of assets," according to a release. "As part of the transaction, First Republic Bank's 84 offices in eight states will reopen as branches of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, today during normal business hours," the FDIC said in a statement. "All depositors of First Republic Bank will become depositors of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, and will have full access to all of their deposits."

☆ Kevin McCarthy Shores Up GOP Lines as Debt-Ceiling Battle Looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Natalie Andrews | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) prevailed last week with a GOP bill that would pair a lift in the debt ceiling with spending cuts. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg NewsWASHINGTON—House Speaker Kevin McCarthy won the preliminary round in his effort to lead Republicans into debt-ceiling negotiations. Now the main event begins. For the Californian, this fight will encompass the two mammoth missions he has taken on as leader of the chamber: balancing demands of different wings of often-chaotic House Republicans, while keeping the government functioning in his role as Republicans’ top negotiator in Congress. It comes just months after he squeaked into the speakership after 15 rounds of votes.

☆ Travel news: Underwater metro routes and marine discoveries
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Get the latest news in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments. CNN —Incredible Italian home makeovers, jaw-dropping marine discoveries and ritzy new trains in Scotland and Taiwan: We’ve got all this and more in our latest roundup of news and features from CNN Travel. Massachusetts couple Doug and Leah Johnson renovated a 14th-century apartment in the town of Vasanello in Lazio that they bought for less than $14,000. Life on the railsAustralia and India are celebrating milestones in underwater travel. And on April 12, Kolkata’s new underwater metro route completed its maiden run, ahead of opening to the public in November.

☆ Two strangers met walking the Camino de Santiago. Two weeks later they were engaged
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

CNN —When Loni Philbrick-Linzmeyer decided to walk the Camino de Santiago, she was adamant this was something she had to do alone. Courtesy Loni BergqvistIt was around two weeks into their respective trips that Kjartan and Loni first met. It was an amazing evening, but the next day Loni woke up feeling conflicted. Walking the CaminoKjartan and Loni grew close after walking the Camino de Santiago together. “Santiago didn’t really matter anymore,” says Kjartan.

☆ The best of Milan Design Week 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Marianna Cerini | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Milan CNN —The design world’s largest annual fair enjoyed a return to full pre-pandemic form with its 2023 showcase, transforming the city of Milan with hundreds of exhibitions, site-specific installations, pop-ups and public projects. Almost everywhere, the focus was on sustainable design, circular economy, material innovation and artistry combining craft with innovation. Some of the most interesting ideas were those that looked at waste – literally – to rethink what design can do when it uses what is already there. Shown in various stages of decomposition, the chair challenged viewers to approach products with the end of their lifecycle in mind. Top image: One of two bags design legend Gaetano Pesce created for Bottega Veneta’s Milan Design Week installation.

☆ Ken Potts, Oldest Survivor of U.S.S. Arizona Sinking, Dies at 102
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Sam Roberts | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ken Potts, the oldest known survivor of the Japanese sneak attack that sunk the battleship Arizona at Pearl Harbor in 1941, taking the most lives ever lost on an American warship, died on Friday at his home in Provo, Utah, less than a week after celebrating his 102 birthday. His death was announced by the National Park Service, which administers the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, above the sunken hull where the remains of more than 900 of the 1,177 sailors and Marines who were killed in the attack are still entombed. Lou Conter, a 101-year-old Californian, is now believed to be the only living survivor among the Arizona crewmen who escaped the inferno that Sunday morning. Only 93 of those who were aboard the ship at the time lived; 242 other crew members were ashore.

☆ Guest view: Why bank investors have it the hardest
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Rupak Ghose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But what matters at least as much for shareholders is the risk of near or total wipe-out, as demonstrated by Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse. No investor could have known that Credit Suisse allowed Archegos to fund its trades with insufficient cash collateral. More recently, U.S. authorities seemed to flip-flop on whether uninsured depositors at other banks would enjoy the same protection offered to Silicon Valley Bank’s customers. The upshot for bank investors is that seemingly low valuations might not be low enough. Previously, he was head of corporate strategy at UK-based brokers ICAP and NEX, and an equity research analyst at Credit Suisse focused on the financial sector.

☆ When a Margaret Cho DVD Was Like Precious Contraband to Atsuko Okatsuka
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Juan A. Ramírez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

To me, humor is the unexpected thought that comes through. Atsuko’s work is observational, but it’s delivered through misdirection. It’s rare, in comedy, certainly, but in entertainment in general, to find somebody with a unique point of view that blends so seamlessly into what they do as an artist. And that hair. Nobody in the history of comedy has had better hair.

☆ How to watch the Chevron Championship live: Start time, channel and other things to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Once again, the first women’s golf major of the season tees off with The Chevron Championship. How to watchUS viewers can watch the first and second rounds on the Golf Channel, with coverage running from 10 a.m. CST until 7 p.m. CST. “I think I was in a bit of a panic last year,” Kupcho told reporters Tuesday. But I don’t think that’s going to be my driving force going to any of these events this year.”Ko tees off at the HSBC Women's World Championship in March. “I don’t think I have a weakness in my game at all, and I think that’s partially why I’ve been very consistent,” Hall told reporters.

☆ He Leaned Modern. She Liked a Classic Look. ‘This House Is the Both of Us.’
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Nancy Keates | Photographs Jane Beiles | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When people visit Michael and Mallory Bollinger’s newly built home in Lexington, KY., everyone has a different name for its style. Some are sure it’s Californian casual, while others call it a Kentucky farmhouse or classic Connecticut. That’s because the painted white brick house, which cost about $5 million to build and is 15,117 square feet, with five bedrooms, five full bathrooms and three half bathrooms, could fit any of those descriptions. It has a clean, modern, minimalist feel inside but a traditional exterior, with a front porch, low slung roof, black shutters, dormers and columns.

☆ California and other Western states lead in unhealthy levels of air pollution, report shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The "State of the Air" report found that nearly 120 million people, more than a third of the population, lived in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution between 2019 and 2021. The report assigned letter grades reflecting the number of days that air quality in a specific area reached unhealthy levels on the Air Quality Index. Exposure to unhealthy levels of ozone air pollution makes breathing difficult for more people across the U.S. than any other single pollutant, the report said. Wildfires in the region were a major factor in the increasing number of days and places with unhealthy levels of particle pollution, the report found. The report used data from air-quality monitors managed by state, local and tribal air pollution control authorities in counties across the country.

☆ Elon Musk claims the only thing stopping him from turning part of Twitter's San Francisco HQ into a homeless shelter is the building's owner
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk says he wants to turn one of Twitter's San Francisco buildings into a homeless shelter. "We're only using one of the buildings so the other building could be a homeless shelter," Musk said. The building's owners didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside of regular working hours. When asked for further details about how the homeless shelter would operate, Musk said: "I don't know, we could just let people stay there. Twitter opened its first office in San Francisco in 2006 and the company's HQ has been based there ever since.

☆ People are moving to North Carolina for its natural beauty and country vibes, but finding it doesn't offer a lower cost of living or diversity
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

She and her family considered places like Tennessee and Florida , but ultimately chose North Carolina because of its hands-off government and lush scenery. Five recent movers highlight what stands out about North Carolina, from its natural scenery to its lack of diversity. One thing she's had to get used to in North Carolina is the lack of diversity in food. An Ohio man liked North Carolina so much he moved there twiceJohn Yuschak first dipped a toe in North Carolina in 2012 after moving from Columbus, Ohio. They were pleased with the four seasons North Carolina has to offer, but anticipated higher savings.

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