1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,400 Good morning and a warm welcome to your show, Sunny Mornings in Boston. 2 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:11,960 We're the daily podcast that gets you started on the right foot and always with a positive 3 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:12,960 vibe. 4 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:17,960 I'm your host, Melissa, and it's Wednesday, February 21st. 5 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:23,960 You'll be interested to know today's National Sticky Buns Day. 6 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:29,560 Originally known as Schnecken, these confections are a Philadelphia specialty, believed to 7 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,560 have been introduced by German settlers in the 18th century. 8 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:39,880 Though typically a breakfast item, sticky buns are also known as cinnamon rolls, caramel 9 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:42,160 rolls or monkey bread. 10 00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:44,960 Yes, please. 11 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:49,440 Now grab yourself a sticky bun and a coffee while we check out the weather in the Boston 12 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:51,320 area. 13 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:58,240 This morning it's partly cloudy and feels like 16 degrees with 5 mile per hour wind. 14 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:05,680 The sunset will take place at 5.23 p.m. and it will rise again tomorrow at 6.31 a.m. 15 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:11,280 It looks like we're in for a partly sunny day with a high near 35 and east wind 5 to 16 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,320 9 mile per hour. 17 00:01:13,320 --> 00:01:21,480 Tonight, mostly cloudy with a low around 26 and east wind of 5 to 8 mile per hour. 18 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:26,800 For all you beach runners, the first high tide Wednesday will be just after 9 a.m. with 19 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,560 a low tide at 3.30 p.m. 20 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:39,080 The nearshore buoy at Cape Cod Bay reads 39 degrees for the water temperature. 21 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:40,640 Looking ahead in the weather. 22 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:47,200 We'll see mostly sunny conditions on Thursday with a high near 43 degrees, turn into a cloudy 23 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:53,200 Friday with a 70% chance of rain and highs around 48. 24 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:59,000 The weekend will be clearer and cooler with sunny skies, breezy conditions and highs ranging 25 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,560 from 35 to 41 degrees. 26 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,840 Bonjour, food enthusiasts. 27 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:12,560 This podcast is brought to you by Versailles Cafe and Pastries in Encinitas. 28 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:19,040 Nestled on El Camino Real South, just north of Encinitas Boulevard, this cafe is a haven 29 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,880 for culinary delights. 30 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:27,480 Indulge in their amazing Eggs Benedict or their gluten-free crepes. 31 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:32,840 You can grab a panini for lunch or just breeze on through to get your morning coffee. 32 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,320 They are open every day from 8 to 5. 33 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,800 So stop on by and don't forget to tell them. 34 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,560 Sunny mornings send you. 35 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,520 In local news. 36 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:53,080 In the Boston metro area, home vacancies reached a 20-year low with just 0.4% of homes vacant 37 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,260 and for sale at the end of 2023. 38 00:02:57,260 --> 00:03:02,000 This figure indicates a tight housing market, as reported by Axios. 39 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:08,560 For much of the last decade, vacancies in greater Boston have remained under 1%. 40 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:15,560 Although homeowner vacancies increased slightly between 2020 and 2022, home sale prices continue 41 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,080 to soar. 42 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:21,480 Rental vacancies also declined in 2022. 43 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:27,600 In response to low inventory, U.S. homebuilders are increasing new construction. 44 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:34,680 Nationally, homeowner vacancies were at a near-record low of 0.9% in the fourth quarter. 45 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:39,800 However, experts emphasize the need for a diverse mix of housing to address the housing 46 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:40,800 shortage. 47 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:46,640 In greater Boston, permits for new housing rose over the past decade, but the housing 48 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,580 stock is still limited and costly. 49 00:03:50,580 --> 00:03:56,360 Some suburbs like Newton and Dedham have permitted fewer new constructions, resisting state efforts 50 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:01,040 to increase multifamily housing near train stops. 51 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:05,720 Medford stands out, having permitted the most new housing in Massachusetts. 52 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:11,640 Meanwhile, Boston and other major cities are considering converting old office spaces into 53 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:22,760 housing, with tax incentives for developers pursuing such projects. 54 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:24,940 Now onto sports. 55 00:04:24,940 --> 00:04:31,720 The College Football Playoff has adopted a new 5-plus-7 format for its 12-team expanded 56 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:33,720 playoff. 57 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:39,680 This system includes five automatic qualifying spots for the highest ranked conference champions 58 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,880 and seven at-large spots. 59 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:49,120 The shift from the original 6-plus-6 model occurred after the Pac-12 was reduced to two 60 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:50,520 members. 61 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:55,200 The College Football Board of Managers, which includes a university president from each 62 00:04:55,200 --> 00:05:02,200 of the 10 FBS leagues, and Notre Dame unanimously supported this change. 63 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:07,680 The Pac-12, despite falling short of the membership minimum for an automatic berth, benefits 64 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:11,160 from increased at-large spots. 65 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:16,040 The expanded playoff begins next season with the four highest ranked conference champions 66 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:20,240 receiving buys into the quarterfinals. 67 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:26,280 First round games will start the third week of December, competing with the NFL. 68 00:05:26,280 --> 00:05:31,780 Quarterfinals are scheduled for New Year's, with semifinals in mid-January to avoid clashing 69 00:05:31,780 --> 00:05:35,260 with the NFL's wild-card weekend. 70 00:05:35,260 --> 00:05:40,040 The championship game is set for January 20, 2025. 71 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:44,480 This format will be in place for at least the next two years. 72 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:49,480 No sports last night in Boston, but tonight the Bruins are on the road to take on the 73 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:51,200 Oilers. 74 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:57,280 And tomorrow night, the Celtics are on the road to play the Bulls. 75 00:05:57,280 --> 00:06:02,160 In top news, have you ever heard of aptanems? 76 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:06,140 It's when your name eerily aligns with your career. 77 00:06:06,140 --> 00:06:12,120 Take Frank Fish, a marine biologist or Carla Dove, who leads the Feather Identification 78 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:16,800 Lab at the Smithsonian, handling all things avian. 79 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:22,880 Greg Pond, an aquatic biologist, echoes this unique coincidence, his surname mirroring 80 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,240 his water-focused career. 81 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:32,000 These are not isolated instances, but part of a fascinating pattern where names can curiously 82 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,400 link to professions. 83 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:41,000 This phenomenon extends to other areas, too, like Betsy Weatherhead, an atmospheric scientist, 84 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:45,380 and Jay Sukchung, a blue crab researcher. 85 00:06:45,380 --> 00:06:50,880 Their names unexpectedly have become significant parts of their professional identity, sometimes 86 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:54,360 even influencing opportunities. 87 00:06:54,360 --> 00:07:00,680 While some might see these names as mere coincidences, studies suggest there might be subtle psychological 88 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:07,880 influences at play, with people possibly gravitating towards careers that reflect their names. 89 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:12,640 In a world where names often blend into the background, for these individuals, their names 90 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:18,600 stand out, adding a memorable twist to their professional journeys. 91 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:24,480 In business news, in the finance world, cash remains king. 92 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:31,120 Despite expectations of its decline, cash is holding strong, with investors pouring $128 93 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:36,920 billion into U.S. money market funds since the year's start. 94 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:42,880 Market treasurers are also holding onto cash, with a record $4.4 trillion in reserves by 95 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:45,600 the third quarter's end. 96 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:50,520 This surge in cash holdings contrasts, sharply, with earlier predictions. 97 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:55,240 The cash would lose appeal once the Federal Reserve started cutting interest rates. 98 00:07:55,240 --> 00:08:01,400 However, with policy-easing expectations dialed back, cash remains attractive, especially 99 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:06,760 in money market funds, offering returns of 4% or more. 100 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,800 This trend isn't just a fleeting phenomenon. 101 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:15,240 It's a reflection of a broader shift in financial attitudes post-pandemic, with more people 102 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:21,360 recognizing the value of liquidity and safety in cash holdings. 103 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:26,700 Investors and corporations alike are re-evaluating their strategies, keeping cash in the spotlight 104 00:08:26,700 --> 00:08:29,500 for 2024. 105 00:08:29,500 --> 00:08:35,520 In crypto movement, Bitcoin is currently just under $52,000. 106 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:37,880 Ethereum is up to $3,000. 107 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:44,080 And Solana is $106. 108 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:46,400 Moving on to a more local vibe. 109 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:53,200 In our community spotlight on health and wellness, we are working with a national Pilates studio 110 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:57,480 to bring you some free classes, so listen up. 111 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:01,800 Check out Club Pilates, with several locations in the Boston area. 112 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:07,880 Pilates presents a comprehensive wellness approach, cultivating strength, reducing tension, 113 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,200 and elevating mental well-being. 114 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,440 Scientific research affirms its benefits. 115 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:18,720 So now you can check out Club Pilates for a free class. 116 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:25,120 With locations in Canton, Wellesley, Hingham, Brookline, and Framingham, just be sure to 117 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:29,160 tell them Sunny Morning sent you by. 118 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:32,000 And now, back to the show. 119 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,180 Let's talk science. 120 00:09:35,180 --> 00:09:40,760 At just four months old, babies in bilingual homes display unique brain patterns, setting 121 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:44,400 them apart from their monolingual peers. 122 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:50,400 A study led by Boria Blanco at the University of Cambridge revealed that when exposed to 123 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:57,060 speech, these bilingual infants show broader and more extensive brain activation. 124 00:09:57,060 --> 00:10:03,680 This study used functional near-inferred spectroscopy to track changes in cerebral blood flow, highlighting 125 00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:09,980 differences in brain activation between infants raised in monolingual Spanish homes and those 126 00:10:09,980 --> 00:10:14,020 exposed to both Spanish and Basque. 127 00:10:14,020 --> 00:10:19,440 The bilingual babies not only had activations in the usual speech-processing areas of the 128 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:25,240 brain's left hemisphere, but also in the right hemisphere's corresponding areas. 129 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:31,960 Interestingly, these infants reacted similarly to forward and backward speech, unlike monolingual 130 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:38,880 infants who showed more interest in backward speech, possibly because it was more novel. 131 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:43,600 This early brain development in bilingual infants suggests they might be better equipped 132 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:48,880 to differentiate between languages from a young age, a skill that could have long-term 133 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,440 linguistic benefits. 134 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:56,560 The study underscores the profound impact early language exposure has on the developing 135 00:10:56,560 --> 00:11:02,800 brain. 136 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:10,280 And in entertainment news, Matt Damon, celebrated for his role as Jason Bourne, is keen on joining 137 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:13,600 a potential newborn movie. 138 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:19,200 Reports emerged in November about a possible new installment, with Edward Berger, acclaimed 139 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:24,880 for the movie, All Quiet on the Western Front, rumored to direct. 140 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:30,320 On a late show with Stephen Colbert, Damon confirmed Berger's involvement and expressed 141 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,040 enthusiasm about working with him. 142 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:40,320 However, Damon, now 53, acknowledged the challenges of playing the action-packed role at his age, 143 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:44,200 hinting at a possible future recast. 144 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:49,440 The Bourne series, based on Robert Ludlum's novels, has seen Damon star in four of its 145 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:50,840 five films. 146 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:57,400 The new project, still in early stages at Universal, has no confirmed cast, but Damon 147 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,960 is a likely first choice. 148 00:11:59,960 --> 00:12:06,480 Damon's recent works include Offenheimer, Drive Away Dolls, and a forthcoming project 149 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,120 with Ben Affleck. 150 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:14,960 Well, alrighty folks, it's time for the quote of the day, and today our quote comes from 151 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,440 Matt Damon in Rounders. 152 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:18,440 Great movie. 153 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:22,080 Listen, here's the thing. 154 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:28,600 If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker. 155 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:29,600 Poof. 156 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:30,600 Brutal. 157 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:34,880 And that's a wrap for this morning. 158 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,200 Remember to stay tuned tomorrow for more news and updates. 159 00:12:38,200 --> 00:13:05,200 Have an amazing day, my good friends.