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Sources

Do the Benefits of Aquaculture Outweigh Its Negative Impacts? | KQED. 

Consider climate | Seafood basics. 

The Salmon on Your Plate Has a Troubling Cost. These Farms Offer Hope. 

About The Company and Fish | Local Coho 

New Study Shows How to Design Marine Farms to Mitigate Climate Change. 

On Friday, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio was nominated by House republicans through a secret ballot to fill the Speaker position, still vacant after California Representative McCarthy was ousted on October 3rd. 

It seems, however, that he was not the first choice for the job.

Feeling the immense divide within the US House of Representatives and losing confidence in his chances of winning, Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise chose to withdraw his name from ballots for the House Speaker position. Scalise was initially the top contender among House Republicans, surpassing Representative Jim Jordan by 14 votes. His withdrawal from consideration came as a great shock to the house, sending it into further turmoil. 

Jordan is backed by Donald Trump, but his success with the floor vote is much more contested, even among the GOP. He will be facing off against the Democratic nominee and New York representative, Hakeem Jeffries. Will enough members of the House voice Jordan’s name to make him the Speaker, or will he fall short of the 217 votes he’ll need to secure the position? 

If history is any indication, Jordan may have a tough time gaining the necessary support. 

He was given the weekend to rally his supporters and convince skeptics he’s the man for the job, while the House republicans declared a recess before the floor vote. A defender of Trump’s actions on Capital Hill and co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, Jordan receives much skepticism from the GOP. Many Republicans consider him a quote “brawler” among politicians and are not in a hurry to put their weight behind someone who defends the January 6th attack on the capital. Jordan is also one of the leading figures in the impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden, and while some republicans fear further political polarization, others find his unwavering principles refreshing. But is that enough to override contentions against him?

Jordan’s past as assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University may be grounds for further hesitation by House voters. He was accused by several members of the team of turning a blind eye to ex-coach Richard Strauss’ sexual misconduct, to which he denies any guilt. But the accusation continues to haunt him five years later.

In the meantime, House voters now face the troubling question of present situations. With the November 17th government funding deadline growing closer and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza falling deeper into violence, the House must decide whether or not to extend interim Speaker Patrick McHenry’s power. 

But everyone, including House Representatives, are wondering what today’s vote will decide. Is Jim Jordan going to be the next Speaker of the House, or will the house remain in shambles? 

Thanks for listening to today’s C2 Story, and we’ll see you all on the other side!

In a major twist in the tech world, Microsoft has officially completed its acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard, maker of the highly popular Call of Duty franchise. This monumental deal, valued at a staggering $69 billion, stands as the largest acquisition ever made in the gaming industry.

Following over 20 months of debates and regulatory reviews, Microsoft successfully secured Activision Blizzard, surmounting challenges from antitrust regulators and opposition from rivals like Sony. The decision's unexpected nature has introduced a level of uncertainty into the global gaming landscape. 

Concerns have been raised about potential market domination by Microsoft, particularly in the gaming sector, and antitrust regulators fear that this control over major franchises, such as Call of Duty, could restrict competition, hamper innovation, and exert undue influence in the rapidly expanding cloud gaming sector. Despite the completion of regulatory reviews, the US Federal Trade Commission continues to express ongoing concerns about possible threats to competition, suggesting that there could be more developments in this story.

This acquisition is a strategic component of Microsoft's broader initiative to diversify its business beyond traditional domains such as operating systems and productivity software. Aligned with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's vision of business diversification, this move aims to fortify the company's resilience and adaptability in an ever-evolving tech landscape.

In the previous fiscal year, Activision Blizzard achieved an impressive revenue of $7.5 billion, a notable financial milestone. This accomplishment positions Microsoft strongly to not only enhance but also expand Activision's revenue streams in the years to come.

With this massive acquisition, the gaming industry anticipates significant changes as Microsoft navigates uncharted territories.

Thanks for listening to this Current2 story and share with us your thoughts on Miscrosft potentially violating any antitrust laws. Bravo 6 going dark…

In breaking news within the healthcare industry, a new AI learning system is about to change the way brain surgery is done forever. Artificial intelligence device, Sturgeon, has the technology to accurately diagnose patient brain tumors.

A brain tumor is a lump or mass that forms in the brain when cells grow in an uncontrolled way. It can be benign, which means it's not cancerous and doesn't spread, or malignant, which is cancerous and can spread. Besides cancer, brain tumors can have varying effects, with some of the worst including problems with memory and thinking, difficulty with movement, seizures, and death.

Sturgeon works by analyzing a small sample of the tumor's DNA. From limited genetic data, it can rapidly figure out the tumor type. This solves a huge problem for doctors and patients alike.

Knowing the tumor type is critical for planning surgery. It helps surgeons determine how aggressive they can be in removing the tumor or placing tumor-killing drugs directly into the brain. Without an accurate diagnosis, they can't tailor their approach.

The tumor type also determines treatments after surgery. Certain drugs target specific mutations found in different brain tumors, so picking the right therapies requires understanding the exact tumor biology through diagnosis.

In the past, biopsy results took over a week. And they weren't always correct, leading to poor treatment choices. Sturgeon provides an accurate diagnosis from limited DNA in minutes.

In one test, it correctly identified 45 out of 50 frozen tumor samples in under 40 minutes. When used during pediatric cancer surgeries, it diagnosed the tumor in 90 minutes for 18 out of 25 children.

In summary, AI device Sturgeon is revolutionizing healthcare by enabling accurate and rapid diagnosis of brain tumors. This level of accuracy and speed is expected to save countless lives from the dangers of cancer. Sturgeon exemplifies how innovative AI tools can solve medical mysteries, empower doctors, and improve outcomes for patients.

Thank you for listening to this C2 story. On a personal note, this story means a lot to me and my family, my younger brother is a brain cancer survivor, and with a tool like Sturegon in doctors hands, more kids like him can live, and beat this horrible disease.

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Sources

New AI tool diagnoses brain tumors on the operating table

Brain tumor classification using deep CNN features via transfer learning - ScienceDirect. 

Brain Tumor: Symptoms, Signs & Causes 

Disorder in Pixel-Level Edge Directions on T1WI Is Associated with the Degree of Radiation Necrosis in Primary and Metastatic Brain Tumors: Preliminary Findings - PMC 

AI Tool Decodes Brain Cancer’s Genome During Surgery | Harvard Medical School 

How We Diagnose Brain Tumors - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Boston, MA. 

Brain Tumor Surgery | Johns Hopkins Medicine. 

When documentary filmmakers, Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick, set out to survey a lakebed in Lake Huron, they weren’t expecting to find the remains of a ship that mysteriously vanished 128 years ago. 

And yet, that’s exactly what they discovered. 

The two filmmakers were collecting footage for their upcoming documentary, All Too Clear, about the ecological repercussions of the invasive freshwater mussels for which the Great Lakes have become infamous. 

Drebert and Melnick sent out an underwater vehicle equipped with an ultra-low-light high resolution camera system and received front row seats to the shocking discovery waiting for them. Expecting to find a quote “a pile of rocks,” the filmmakers instead beheld what remains of a ship known as the Africa, which disappeared during its voyage from Ohio to Ontario in 1895. 

During a typical midwestern snowstorm, the Africa was separated from its sister-carrier, The Severn, which ran aground. Meanwhile, the Africa was lost to the lake, and its 11 crew members were never found. Both ships were carrying coal at the time.

The pair couldn’t believe their eyes. They’d been driven to that particular region of Lake Huron due quote “an anomaly”found on sonar readings. Expecting to find apt footage for their documentary on mussels, the filmmakers instead found the shipwrecked Africa quote “looming up from the depths”. 

And what did Drebert and Melnick have to thank for this 130-year old, now solved, mystery?

The invasive quagga mussels coating every inch of the ship’s surface. 

Needless to say, Drebert and Melnik found more than they bargained for, and in the process, answered questions about The Africa’s bizarre disappearance over a century ago. 

If you enjoyed listening to this C2 Story, don’t forget to share it with someone who might appreciate it…or at least find it a little ironic. 

This Friday, October 13th, Taylor Swift's much anticipated film "The Eras Tour concert" is set to premiere and break records. After tickets to her sold out stadium tour were reselling for over $1,000, Taylor Swift felt it was only right to release a 165-minute concert film of her Eras Tour for everyone to enjoy on the big screen.

For those who don't know, Taylor Swift is one of the biggest pop stars of the 21st century. With 11 Grammys and over 200 million records sold, she has inspired so-called quote “Swifties” worldwide with her emotional songwriting and brave authenticity. From country to pop to folk, Taylor's music reflects her personal journey and connects deeply with millions.

Now, after years of writing chart-toppers and selling out stadiums, Taylor is poised to have the highest grossing concert tour film of all time. The excitement is unreal - 4,200 showtimes have already "sold out" in major cities like New York, LA, Chicago, Boston and Philly. With $100 million in presales on opening night alone, other films have been forced to rearrange their schedules! To put this in perspective, Barbie's blockbuster premiere only had 500 sold out shows. And that movie went on to make $162 million in its first day!

Get ready Swifties - this Friday, Taylor is making history once again. Mark your calendars, this is a cinematic event you won't want to miss!

Thanks for listening to this Current2 story and share with us your thoughts on Taylor Swift’s film after you watch it!

Sources

Taylor Swift's Eras tour could become the highest grossing tour of all time | CNN Business 

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour - SoFi Stadium 

Life and Career | Taylor Swift Museum. 

‘Taylor Swift: Eras Tour’ Box Office: Concert Film Sellouts Outpacing ‘Barbie’ – Deadline 

Get excited baseball fans - the MLB playoffs are underway! After another thrilling regular season, 12 teams now advance to October baseball with hopes of winning the World Series.

Here's how it works: 

Each league sends their top 3 division winners and 3 wildcard teams. The wildcards and lowest ranked division winner play an extra best-of-3 series in order to reach the main bracket. From there, it's 2 rounds of playoffs before the World Series.

So far, playoff baseball has been full of surprises. Big underdog wins in the wild card series came from The Minnesota Twins who won their first playoff series since 2004, shocking the Toronto Blue Jays. The 6th seeded Arizona Diamondbacks, who knocked out the Milwaukee Brewers behind clutch homers from Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte. And the scrappy Phillies, who swept the Miami Marlins as they try to improve on last year's so close World Series push.

The series now moves into the best-of-5 game format, Divisional Rounds, where the World Series favorite L.A Dodgers and Atlanta Braves are both struggling. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw had his worst-ever playoff start this past weekend, letting up 6 runs in the first inning against the Diamondbacks, leading to their Game 1 loss. Last night, the Dodgers lost, going down 0-2 as the series slithers down to the deserts of Phoenix, AZ.

As for the Braves, they had Game 1 stolen from them by star Bryce Harper and the Phillies, but a late home run from Austin Riley in game two now leaves the series tied 1-1, heading into game three in Philadelphia, PA. 

Other key series are also delivering drama:

The Minnesota Twins battled in their series with the Houston Astros, now tied 1 a piece.

Meanwhile, the top American League team, Baltimore Orioles and their young star Gunnar Henderson find themselves in a hole, down 2 games against Corey Seager's surging Texas Rangers.

The Astros and Twins start at 4:07 PM followed by the Orioles and Rangers at 8:03 PM EST Both on Fox.

Who do you think will be taking home the commissioners trophy this year? Let us know by texting Current2 your pick, and if you liked this sports coverage let us know and we’ll be sure to bring you more.

Sources

MLB wild card: Day 1 takeaways, keys to Game 2 - ESPN

2023 MLB postseason: Ranking top 30 players in baseball's playoffs with four NL MVP candidates in top five - CBSSports.com

Major League Baseball Wild Card - Wikipedia 

Correa vs. Astros? Phils-Braves rematch? That's just the start 

What you thought you knew about the top 4 seeds in Division Series 

How MLB playoffs work: How many teams, format and more 

What happened in the MLB Wild Card Series: Full results - The Athletic

Sources:

What Is Hamas? | Council on Foreign Relations

What We Know About the Hamas Attack and Israel’s Response - The New York Times

Live updates | Israel says it's at war after surprise Hamas attack | AP News

Israel vows to "destroy Hamas" as death toll rises from unprecedented attack; several Americans confirmed dead - CBS News

Israel retaliates after Hamas attacks, deaths pass 1,100 | Reuters

Tuesday marked a historic moment in U.S. history when House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted out of office, leaving the seat vacant and ripe for the taking. The vote was led by Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, with 7 other House republicans and all democrats piling it on to make the decision final. Unfortunately, this ousting could not have come at a worse time. 

With McCarthy officially and forevermore unseated, the House grapples for control over aid to Ukraine, potential impeachment proceedings for President Biden, and an impending government shutdown which was delayed, but is still right around the corner.

Republicans are currently holding private forums to find a candidate to back, with Representatives Scalise and Jordan throwing their hats in the ring against interim Speaker, Patrick McHenry, who is doing his best to clutch the gavel close to his chest.

A vote for a new Speaker could take place as early as next week; however, until then, chaos reigns and necessary decisions regarding government spending are put on hold.

This day, however, seems to have been long coming.

When McCarthy was voted Speaker of the House in January, it was contingent upon his plans for government funding. Representative Matt Gaetz, as well as other republicans, backed McCarthy, so long as he agreed to push for annual spending bills. The concern was that government spending too often ran out of control. 

When McCarthy was voted Speaker of the House in January, it was under promise that he would push for bills to decrease government spending. However he quickly broke that promise when he worked with House democrats to delay the shutdown. Feeling betrayed, Gaetz led the vote to oust McCarthy for going back on his word. So, what now?

The House is out to recess until they can find a new speaker, and the clock is already ticking on pressing concerns they will have to address. Do you think they’ll get it together in time, or will the House fall into further disarray? Who else didn’t realize just how dramatic politics could be?

If you’ve listened to this point, it would mean the world for you to share this with one person you think would find it interesting. Thank you for listening and we’ll see you again with another C2 story soon.

Sources:

Government shutdown to begin Sunday if no deal is reached. What to expect. 

Senate introduces a bipartisan bill to keep the government open through Nov. 17 

What a Government Shutdown Really Means | September 28, 2023 

Goldman Sachs says the odds of a government shutdown are now 90%—and it could last two to three weeks | Fortune 

U.S. Government Shutdown Is Unlikely to Cause an Immediate Recession - The New York Times 

What Congress is fighting over as shutdown looms | Reuters 

Congress says it wants to avoid a shutdown. But the House and Senate are moving even further apart | AP News