WEBVTT 00:00:01.580 --> 00:00:04.540 Good morning and a warm welcome to your show, 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:09.099 Sunny Mornings in Boston. I'm your host, Melissa, 00:00:09.320 --> 00:00:13.660 and it's Thursday, February 12th. You'll be interested 00:00:13.660 --> 00:00:20.500 to know. 102 years ago, today, in 1924, George 00:00:20.500 --> 00:00:23.879 Dershwin unveiled his Rhapsody in Blue in a landmark 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:26.800 concert blending classical technique with jazz 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:30.809 rhythms, thrilling a cosmopolitan audience. The 00:00:30.809 --> 00:00:33.770 premiere signaled a major American musical achievement, 00:00:34.390 --> 00:00:38.109 legitimizing jazz within concert halls and inspiring 00:00:38.109 --> 00:00:41.289 composers and audiences toward fresh national 00:00:41.289 --> 00:00:47.090 artistic identity. So now you know. And now it's 00:00:47.090 --> 00:00:52.729 time for the weather report. This morning it's 00:00:52.729 --> 00:00:56.429 mostly cloudy and it feels like 14 degrees with 00:00:56.429 --> 00:01:00.390 9 mile per hour wind. The sunset will take place 00:01:00.390 --> 00:01:04.430 at 512, and it will rise again tomorrow at 639. 00:01:05.569 --> 00:01:07.950 It looks like we're in for a mostly sunny day 00:01:07.950 --> 00:01:11.590 with a high near 34 and a gentle northwest wind 00:01:11.590 --> 00:01:16.370 around 10 miles per hour, gusting up to 21. Tonight, 00:01:17.349 --> 00:01:20.909 expect mostly clear skies with a low around 17 00:01:20.909 --> 00:01:24.189 and light winds. For all you beach runners out 00:01:24.189 --> 00:01:27.319 there, The first high tide Thursday will be just 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:32.000 before 7, with a low tide just after 1 .30. The 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:36.159 nearshore gooey at Cape Cod Bay reads 32 degrees 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:40.340 for the water temperature. Looking ahead in the 00:01:40.340 --> 00:01:43.980 weather, Friday will be sunny with a high near 00:01:43.980 --> 00:01:47.640 35 and a west breeze around 7 miles per hour, 00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:50.400 then a slight chance of snow overnight with lows 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:54.629 near 21. Saturday and Sunday stay mostly sunny 00:01:54.629 --> 00:01:57.109 with highs in the mid to upper 30s and light 00:01:57.109 --> 00:02:00.049 west to northwest winds. But Sunday night brings 00:02:00.049 --> 00:02:03.629 a slight chance of snow after 11 p .m. with lows 00:02:03.629 --> 00:02:08.509 near 24. Bonjour, food enthusiasts. This podcast 00:02:08.509 --> 00:02:11.650 is brought to you by Versailles Cafe and Pastries 00:02:11.650 --> 00:02:15.650 in Encinitas. Nestled on El Camino Real South, 00:02:16.150 --> 00:02:19.169 just north of Encinitas Boulevard. This cafe 00:02:19.169 --> 00:02:23.210 is a haven for culinary delights. Indulge in 00:02:23.210 --> 00:02:26.689 their amazing Eggs Benedict or their gluten -free 00:02:26.689 --> 00:02:30.750 crepes. You can grab a panini for lunch or just 00:02:30.750 --> 00:02:32.969 breeze on through to get your morning coffee. 00:02:33.509 --> 00:02:37.569 They are open every day from 8 to 5. So stop 00:02:37.569 --> 00:02:40.990 on by and don't forget to tell them. Sunny mornings 00:02:40.990 --> 00:02:50.050 send you. Greek restaurant and luxury shops will 00:02:50.050 --> 00:02:54.210 replace Neiman Marcus at Copley Place. Just as 00:02:54.210 --> 00:02:57.030 Saks Global announced the closure of Massachusetts, 00:02:57.349 --> 00:03:00.509 only Neiman Marcus. Amid bankruptcy proceedings, 00:03:00.930 --> 00:03:03.750 Copley Place quickly revealed its plans for a 00:03:03.750 --> 00:03:07.169 multi -level space. This exciting development 00:03:07.169 --> 00:03:10.990 will feature Casa Tua Cucina, a Miami -based 00:03:10.990 --> 00:03:15.009 Italian marketplace, and Testatorio Milas, a 00:03:15.009 --> 00:03:18.840 Greek seafood restaurant. Additional luxury boutiques, 00:03:19.180 --> 00:03:22.699 including Dolce & Gabbana, will join expansions 00:03:22.699 --> 00:03:26.400 of F .E .N .D .I. and Tourneau. Construction 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:29.120 is set to begin later this year, with phased 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:33.759 openings planned for 2028. Mark Silvestri, president 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:37.080 of development at Simon, emphasized that Cochley 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:40.080 Place remains Boston's most exclusive luxury 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:49.750 destination. Now onto sports. American speed 00:03:49.750 --> 00:03:52.729 skater Jordan Stolls won his first gold medal 00:03:52.729 --> 00:03:55.830 in a weird way, setting an Olympic record in 00:03:55.830 --> 00:04:00.430 the 1 ,000 meters with a time of 106 .28 seconds, 00:04:00.729 --> 00:04:03.409 beating Dutch rival Jenning de Boe by a fraction 00:04:03.409 --> 00:04:07.370 of a second. However, Stolls had to wait 15 minutes 00:04:07.370 --> 00:04:10.409 for another skater, Jo Puenemars, to race again 00:04:10.409 --> 00:04:13.909 after being cut off in a previous heat. When 00:04:13.909 --> 00:04:16.949 Whenemores finished in fifth place, Stolls celebrated 00:04:16.949 --> 00:04:20.129 by skating a lap with a flag overhead, joined 00:04:20.129 --> 00:04:24.670 by Snoop Dogg and Eric Haydn. Stolls aims to 00:04:24.670 --> 00:04:27.790 win three more races, feeling less pressure now 00:04:27.790 --> 00:04:32.410 that he has one gold medal. In local sports, 00:04:33.449 --> 00:04:36.829 Peyton Pritchard scored 26 points as the Seas 00:04:36.829 --> 00:04:41.589 rolled past the Bulls 124 -105 on Wednesday night. 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:45.819 Jalen Brown added 24 points, helping the Celtics 00:04:45.819 --> 00:04:49.459 win six of their last seven games. Boston led 00:04:49.459 --> 00:04:53.100 by 28 at halftime, taking advantage of a shorthanded 00:04:53.100 --> 00:04:56.680 Chicago squad, with a lead peaking at 33 in the 00:04:56.680 --> 00:05:00.899 second half. Nicola Vucevic recorded 19 points 00:05:00.899 --> 00:05:04.279 and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, while Rob Dillingham 00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:07.620 led Chicago with 16 points and seven assists. 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:13.480 In top news... Drug cartels are shifting their 00:05:13.480 --> 00:05:16.399 money laundering to cryptocurrency, leaving law 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:20.639 enforcement struggling to keep pace. A vast ecosystem, 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:23.819 supported by the gig economy, has emerged to 00:05:23.819 --> 00:05:27.819 clean this cash. David Skowice operated his illicit 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:31.019 business out of Victory Park in Murrieta, California, 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:34.399 converting cash into cryptocurrency through more 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:38.819 than 4 ,000 transactions. Arrested in June 2023, 00:05:39.259 --> 00:05:42.339 Scoti's case highlights the evolving landscape 00:05:42.339 --> 00:05:44.980 of money laundering, where participants range 00:05:44.980 --> 00:05:48.160 from gig workers to brokers for organized crime. 00:05:49.220 --> 00:05:51.879 Experts warn that without proper oversight, these 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:54.839 operations may slip beyond government control. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:58.259 The future of money laundering is increasingly 00:05:58.259 --> 00:06:03.560 digital and decentralized. In business news, 00:06:04.779 --> 00:06:07.519 the Dutch have quietly adopted a four -day workweek. 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:11.639 raising questions about its sustainability. Gavin 00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:15.180 Arm, co -founder of Positivity Branding, emphasizes 00:06:15.180 --> 00:06:18.439 the importance of family time, stating, your 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:21.920 kids are only young once. His company switched 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:24.779 to a four -day week seven years ago, maintaining 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:28.000 a 32 -hour work schedule without salary cuts. 00:06:29.180 --> 00:06:32.259 Farm's colleague, Bert DeWitt, believes in working 00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:35.339 smarter, not harder, despite skepticism from 00:06:35.339 --> 00:06:39.000 some staff. The Netherlands boasts high productivity 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:42.300 with fewer hours, but challenges remain as the 00:06:42.300 --> 00:06:46.360 workforce ages. Experts caution that expanding 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:49.699 labor supply is crucial for maintaining quality 00:06:49.699 --> 00:06:54.279 of life. In crypto movement, Bitcoin is down 00:06:54.279 --> 00:07:01.740 2 % to $67 ,000. Ethereum is down 2 .5 % to just 00:07:01.740 --> 00:07:08.269 under $2 ,000. And XRP is down 2%. to $1 .38. 00:07:09.829 --> 00:07:14.149 Moving on to a more local vibe. In our community 00:07:14.149 --> 00:07:17.050 spotlight on health and wellness, we are working 00:07:17.050 --> 00:07:20.089 with a national Pilates studio to bring you some 00:07:20.089 --> 00:07:24.670 free classes, so listen up. Check out Club Pilates 00:07:24.670 --> 00:07:28.170 with several locations in the Boston area. Pilates 00:07:28.170 --> 00:07:31.610 presents a comprehensive wellness approach, cultivating 00:07:31.610 --> 00:07:35.129 strength, reducing tension, and elevating mental 00:07:35.129 --> 00:07:38.449 well -being. scientific research affirms its 00:07:38.449 --> 00:07:42.550 benefits. So now you can check out Club Pilates 00:07:42.550 --> 00:07:46.750 for a free class. With locations in Canton, Wellesley, 00:07:47.129 --> 00:07:50.829 Hingham, Brookline, and Framingham, just be sure 00:07:50.829 --> 00:07:55.350 to tell them Sunny Morning sent you by. And now, 00:07:55.589 --> 00:08:00.589 back to the show. Let's talk tech. Elon Musk 00:08:00.589 --> 00:08:03.649 addressed the recent departures of ex -AI staff 00:08:03.649 --> 00:08:08.259 members on February 11th, 2026, stating the company 00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:11.959 was reorganized to improve the speed of execution. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:15.339 This week, two co -founding members announced 00:08:15.339 --> 00:08:18.779 their resignations, with Tony Wu stating it was, 00:08:19.019 --> 00:08:22.319 time for my next chapter, while Jimmy Ba confirmed 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:26.019 it was his last day. These exits leave half of 00:08:26.019 --> 00:08:29.300 the founding team still at XAI, following Greg 00:08:29.300 --> 00:08:32.919 Yang's step back due to health issues. Several 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:35.620 technical staff members also announced departures, 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:38.820 with one former employee citing crazy working 00:08:38.820 --> 00:08:42.379 hours and a lack of growth potential. Another 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:45.299 former member expressed his desire to start something 00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:52.940 new. And in entertainment news, Guy Purse, Jared 00:08:52.940 --> 00:08:56.820 Harris, and Merab Ninnyads will star in Anthony 00:08:56.820 --> 00:09:00.659 McCartan's The Price of Peace. This political 00:09:00.659 --> 00:09:04.600 thriller is set during the pivotal 1945 Potsdam 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:07.659 Conference. The film chronicles the historic 00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:11.080 meeting between President Harry S. Truman, Prime 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:14.019 Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:17.179 Joseph Stalin as they negotiated the future of 00:09:17.179 --> 00:09:20.919 post -war Europe. Principal photography is scheduled 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:23.639 to begin in London and Potsdam during summer 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:30.720 2026, with delivery anticipated in 2027. McCartan, 00:09:30.860 --> 00:09:34.019 known for his work on Darkest Hour and Bohemian 00:09:34.019 --> 00:09:38.059 Rhapsody, stated, this is not a biopic, but rather 00:09:38.059 --> 00:09:40.700 a political thriller where the stakes are frankly 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:45.320 enormous. Well, alrighty folks, it's time for 00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:49.279 the quote of the day. And today, our quote comes 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:52.480 from the American composer and conductor, Leonard 00:09:52.480 --> 00:10:04.559 Bernstein. And he said, transcending boundaries, 00:10:04.940 --> 00:10:09.480 and uniting diverse cultures. And that's a wrap 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:12.679 for this morning. You can check out our Instagram, 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:16.679 YouTube, and TikTok for some captivating aerial 00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:19.820 videos with local news and the weather reports. 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:23.799 Have an amazing day, my good friends. We'll see 00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:26.899 you tomorrow with another episode of Sunny Mornings 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:27.460 in Boston.