1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,800 Good morning and a warm welcome to your show, Sunny Mornings in Boston. 2 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:13,680 I'm your host, Melissa, and it's Monday, February 26th. 3 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:17,580 Coming up on today's show, we'll get into the weather outlook, then we'll jump into 4 00:00:17,580 --> 00:00:24,400 some local news and a few interesting happenings in business, tech, and science. 5 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:32,800 At first, you'll be interested to know 105 years ago. Today, in 1919, U.S. Congress established 6 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:37,960 the Grand Canyon National Park in northwestern Arizona. 7 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:45,720 And 10 years after that, on this day, they established Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. 8 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:50,680 I highly recommend seeing Grand Teton. It will blow your mind. 9 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:56,420 Checking out the weather in the Boston area. This morning, it's mostly cloudy and feels 10 00:00:56,420 --> 00:01:04,520 like 25 degrees, with 11 mile per hour wind. The sunset will take place at 529 p.m. and 11 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:10,600 it will rise again tomorrow at 623 a.m. It looks like we're in for a slight chance of 12 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:17,680 snow before 8 a.m., then a slight chance of rain between 8 and 9 a.m. 13 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:23,400 It will be cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 49 and southwest 14 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:30,160 wind of 9 to 11 mile per hour. The chance of precipitation is 20 percent. 15 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:35,200 Tonight, partly cloudy, with a low around 31. 16 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:40,400 And for all you beach runners out there, the first low tide Monday will be just after 6 17 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,280 a.m., with a high tide just after noon. 18 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:52,600 The nearshore buoy at Cape Cod Bay reads 39 degrees for the water temperature. 19 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:59,040 Looking ahead in the weather. We'll see partly sunny skies on Tuesday, with a high near 57 20 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:05,280 degrees, turning to a rainy and breezy night. Rain continues through Wednesday, with wind 21 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:10,560 and highs around 59. The first day offers a chance of rain, partly 22 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:18,120 sunny and breezy, with a high near 45 degrees. Expect clearer skies by Friday, with sunny 23 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,400 conditions and a high around 41. 24 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:29,680 Bonjour, food enthusiasts! This podcast is brought to you by Versailles Cafe and Pastries 25 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:37,160 in Encinitas. Nestled on El Camino Real South, just north of Encinitas Boulevard, this cafe 26 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:44,920 is a haven for culinary delights. Indulge in their amazing Eggs Benedict or their gluten-free 27 00:02:44,920 --> 00:02:49,200 crepes. You can grab a panini for lunch or just breeze 28 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:55,360 on through to get your morning coffee. They are open every day from 8 to 5. 29 00:02:55,360 --> 00:03:02,160 So stop on by and don't forget to tell them. Sunny mornings send you. 30 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:08,240 And local news. Boston's housing market is currently the hottest in the nation, outpacing 31 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:13,840 even San Francisco. Data from Altos Research places the Boston, 32 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:20,800 Cambridge and Quincy Metro area at the top, with a market action index score of 60.59, 33 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:28,200 indicating a strong seller's market. This heat is largely due to a severe lack of inventory, 34 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:33,640 with active single-family listings in the area significantly lower than pre-pandemic 35 00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:38,600 levels. Real estate agents like Dove Danzi and Nichol 36 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:44,520 highly observe a return to aggressive buyer tactics, such as paying over asking prices 37 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:49,400 and waiving home inspections. Interest rates, a key factor affecting the 38 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:55,360 market, are leading to increased buyer activity as they stabilize. 39 00:03:55,360 --> 00:04:00,480 Despite this, the market isn't as frenzied as during the pandemic peak, with fewer multiple 40 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,880 offer situations. The average median list price in the metro 41 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:15,120 area has soared to $879,000, reflecting a substantial increase over the past few years. 42 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:20,360 As spring approaches, agents anticipate a slight increase in inventory, but properties 43 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:31,440 in desirable locations are expected to continue selling rapidly. 44 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:36,360 Now onto sports. Hootie Bellinger, once a star with the Dodgers, 45 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:42,780 has reportedly signed a three-year, $80 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. 46 00:04:42,780 --> 00:04:47,040 This comes a year after the Dodgers decided against offering him arbitration. 47 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:54,360 Bellinger's journey saw highs and lows. He was the 2019 National League MVP and 2017 48 00:04:54,360 --> 00:05:00,720 Rookie of the Year, but his performance dipped significantly in subsequent seasons due to 49 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:04,020 injuries. Despite these challenges, he had a remarkable 50 00:05:04,020 --> 00:05:10,320 resurgence with the Cubs in 2023, leading to this lucrative contract. 51 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:15,560 The deal includes opt-out clauses after the first two years, offering flexibility. 52 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:21,420 Bellinger's agent, Scott Boris, attributes his earlier struggles to injuries, but is 53 00:05:21,420 --> 00:05:27,520 optimistic about his client's future. This contract represents a significant turn 54 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:32,680 in Bellinger's career, highlighting his potential as a valuable player in Major League 55 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:38,520 Baseball. In the NBA Saturday, the Celtics on the road 56 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:46,040 beat the Knicks 116-102. Al Horford, the 37-year-old backup center, 57 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:50,720 delivered a subtly dominant performance in their latest win. 58 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:56,960 Despite a modest line of 10 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes, Horford's impact 59 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:00,400 was significant. He grabbed four offensive rebounds in the 60 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:08,300 final quarter, showcasing his strength in post-ups and making crucial defensive plays. 61 00:06:08,300 --> 00:06:12,740 This contributed to the Celtics' eighth consecutive victory, extending their streak 62 00:06:12,740 --> 00:06:19,080 of road wins since January 11th. Holding the best record in the East, they lead 63 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:25,360 by eight games and have a lead-best point differential of 10.3 per game. 64 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:31,100 Horford's role has evolved this season, transitioning to a six-man, but his impact 65 00:06:31,100 --> 00:06:35,600 remains pivotal. His physicality and ability to create plays, 66 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:40,360 especially in the fourth quarter, were key factors in overcoming the Knicks' early 67 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:45,560 rebounding advantage. Also on Saturday, the Bruins on their third 68 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:53,760 road game lost to the Knucks in overtime 3-2. Tonight, the Bruins are in Seattle to take 69 00:06:53,760 --> 00:07:01,240 on the Kraken. In top news, the U.S. electric vehicle market 70 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:07,480 is growing, not declining. In the last quarter of 2023, EV sales increased 71 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:15,480 by 40%, hitting over 1 million sales. However, there are some challenges, include 72 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:20,920 high prices, limited charging infrastructure, and complex tax credits. 73 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:27,420 Also, most electric vehicles are pricey, which led Ford to cut prices for the Mach-E and 74 00:07:27,420 --> 00:07:32,800 develop cheaper models. The U.S. needs more fast chargers, currently 75 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:39,960 having less than 40,000 against a requirement of 182,000 by 2030. 76 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:44,360 Automakers are investing in expanding this network. 77 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:50,080 Tax credit rules for EVs are intricate, affecting consumer decisions. 78 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:55,080 But leasing has become popular, allowing broader access to tax credits. 79 00:07:55,080 --> 00:08:01,560 Despite these issues, the EV market is actually on an upward trajectory. 80 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:08,800 In business news, this week, major retailers like Macy's, Urban Outfitters, Best Buy, 81 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:14,560 and TJX report earnings amidst cautious market sentiments. 82 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:19,280 Shoppers have prioritized essentials over clothing and electronics due to higher grocery 83 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:27,760 and gas prices. Macy's, facing leadership changes and takeover bids, reports on Tuesday. 84 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:33,280 Analysts are wary due to challenging mall traffic and evolving fashion relevance. 85 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:39,020 Urban Outfitters, also reporting Tuesday, grapples with price-sensitive younger customers 86 00:08:39,020 --> 00:08:45,480 and is reinvigorating its brand appeal. TJX reports Wednesday, potentially benefiting 87 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:50,440 from a shift to off-price retailing amidst economic pressures. 88 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:56,360 Best Buy, reporting Thursday, might see a demand uptick for electronics as consumers 89 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:01,640 replace aging devices. These reports follow Walmart's indication 90 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:06,960 of lower general merchandise prices, impacting retailer profits. 91 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:14,200 Additionally, results from Vizio, AMC Entertainment, Domino's, Papa John's, Dell, and Lowe's 92 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:19,200 are expected. Paramount Global's Wednesday report is notable 93 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:25,840 amid the streaming industry's spending cuts and potential mergers and acquisition activity. 94 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:32,800 The week also brings insights into cloud services demand with Salesforce, Snowflake, Okta, and 95 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:38,320 Workday reporting reflecting on employers' tech budgets and AI demand. 96 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:47,280 In crypto movement, Bitcoin is currently just under $52,000, Ethereum is over $3,000, and 97 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:55,400 Solana is $103. Moving on to a more local vibe. 98 00:09:55,400 --> 00:10:02,080 In our community spotlight on health and wellness, we are working with a national Pilates studio 99 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:06,360 to bring you some free classes, so listen up. 100 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:12,580 Check out Club Pilates with several locations in the Boston area. Pilates presents a comprehensive 101 00:10:12,580 --> 00:10:20,120 wellness approach, cultivating strength, reducing tension, and elevating mental well-being. 102 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:26,080 Scientific research affirms its benefits. So now you can check out Club Pilates for 103 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:30,920 a free class. With locations in Canton, Wellesley, Hingham, 104 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:38,040 Brookline, and Framingham, just be sure to tell them Sunny Morning sent you by. 105 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:44,800 And now back to the show. Let's talk science. 106 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:49,900 Scientists at the Technical University of Dortmund in Germany have achieved a significant breakthrough 107 00:10:49,900 --> 00:10:56,300 in physics by creating a time crystal that lasted about 40 minutes, significantly longer 108 00:10:56,300 --> 00:11:01,440 than previous ones which only lasted a few milliseconds. 109 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:06,920 Time crystals, a new state of matter, have atoms arranged in repeating patterns in time, 110 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:11,220 unlike traditional crystals which are arranged in space. 111 00:11:11,220 --> 00:11:16,680 This particular time crystal was made using a semiconductor crystal of indium gallium 112 00:11:16,680 --> 00:11:24,280 arsenide doped with silicon, cooled to 6 Kelvin, and then exposed to laser light. 113 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:30,200 This process resulted in nuclear spins that oscillated continuously for 40 minutes without 114 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:36,600 decaying, indicating the potential for even longer-lasting time crystals. 115 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:41,840 This discovery could revolutionize quantum computing, where time crystals might serve 116 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:46,880 as qubits. This advancement not only challenges our current 117 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:53,760 understanding of physics, but also opens up new avenues for technological innovation. 118 00:11:53,760 --> 00:12:00,120 And be sure to stay tuned tomorrow for an explanation of qubits. 119 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:07,740 And in entertainment news, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav just announced a significant 120 00:12:07,740 --> 00:12:13,520 shift in streaming strategy, confirming that HBO Max will be bundled with a new sports 121 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:19,880 streaming service launching this fall in partnership with Disney and Fox. 122 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:25,840 This move aligns with Zaslav's long-standing advocacy for bundling to simplify consumer 123 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:32,720 experiences and drive business growth. The bundling strategy, reflecting a pivot 124 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:38,880 back to traditional cable bundle benefits, aims to streamline access to diverse content 125 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:45,520 across multiple platforms. Despite some controversial decisions, Zaslav's 126 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:51,160 approach has led to profitability in the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming segment, signaling 127 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:57,400 potential future savings for consumers through more integrated streaming services. 128 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:02,960 Well, alrighty folks, it's time for the quote of the day. 129 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:09,280 And today our quote comes from the writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. 130 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:13,920 What lies behind you? And what lies in front of you? 131 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:18,200 Nails in comparison to what lies inside of you. 132 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:24,200 Have a great day everyone. And that's a wrap for this morning. 133 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,440 Remember to stay tuned tomorrow for more news and updates. 134 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:44,240 Have an amazing day my good friends.