The Way We Were
Wednesday, February 5th, 2025
World Events — “Take Over” Gaza
Bloomberg
In a significant diplomatic proposal on February 4, 2025, President Trump suggested the United States would "take over" the Gaza Strip, presenting a radical plan to reconstruct the war-torn territory. During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump outlined a vision of transforming Gaza into a "Riviera of the Middle East" with potential US troop deployment, economic development, and housing for Palestinians. While Netanyahu described the idea as potentially "history-changing," regional Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, have publicly rejected the proposal, emphasizing their opposition to relocating Palestinians and establishing ties with Israel without a Palestinian state.
Tech — Meta’s New AR Glasses
Bloomberg
Meta Platforms Inc. is expanding its wearable technology lineup with plans for Oakley-branded smart glasses aimed at athletes, set to launch in 2025. The company is also developing high-end glasses with built-in displays, exploring smartwatches and camera-equipped earbuds to compete with Apple's products, and working on its first true augmented reality (AR) device codenamed "Artemis" for a potential 2027 release. These initiatives are part of Meta's strategy to establish itself as an AI innovator and push forward into the next era of computing. The company's current Ray-Ban smart glasses will see upgrades, including a new high-end model called "Hypernova" with a projected information display, potentially priced around $1,000. Meta's ambitious plans reflect its ongoing investment in AR and VR technologies, despite challenges in achieving widespread consumer adoption.
Business — AMD Bleeding Red
Bloomberg
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) experienced a significant setback in after-hours trading on February 4, 2025, as its shares tumbled more than 8% following the release of its fourth-quarter earnings report. Despite overall revenue topping estimates at $7.66 billion, up 24% year-over-year, investors were disappointed by the outlook for AMD's data center business. The company projected "strong" double-digit percentage growth for this division in 2025, which fell short of expectations in an industry where rival Nvidia has seen sales double annually. AMD's data center revenue of $3.86 billion for Q4 missed analyst projections of $4.09 billion, raising concerns about the company's momentum in the AI hardware market. CEO Lisa Su attempted to reassure investors by highlighting planned product improvements and strong customer interest, but the market reaction suggests ongoing challenges for AMD in catching up to Nvidia's dominant position in AI computing.
Health — FDA Approves a New Painkiller
NBC Health
The FDA has approved Journavx (suzetrigine), a groundbreaking nonopioid painkiller from Vertex Pharmaceuticals designed to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults. Unlike traditional opioids, this innovative medication works by blocking pain signals at a specific sodium channel (NaV1.8), preventing nerve signals from reaching the brain, which means it does not stimulate opioid receptors or produce euphoria. In clinical trials involving tummy tuck and bunion surgery patients, suzetrigine demonstrated approximately 50% pain reduction comparable to opioid treatments, with potentially fewer side effects, and experts hope it can help reduce opioid prescriptions by providing a safer alternative for pain management.
Smoothie — Strawberry Passion fruit Smoothie
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Eating Well
Song — The Way We Were (Barbra Streisand)
What’s too painful to remember, we simply choose to forget… so it’s the laughters, we will remember, whenever we remember, the way we were
Quote of the Day
“Hubbell Gardner: People are more important than their principles.
Katie Gardner: People ARE their principles.” — The Way We Were (1973)