Wallmart story, German Crisis, Eye drops to correct vision

So, buckle up. The world spun this week like a popcorn machine on overdrive.

Positive News (Yes really)

But the world does not stop turning and more bad things happen than good, atleast in news. So here is the sad twist

Diplomatic Shenanigans: In what might be the most “Hold my drink” moment yet, eight European leaders piled into the White House to ask Trump for NATO-style protection for Ukraine, while he casually paused the meeting to chat with Putin. Real trust-building behavior.

Market Mayhem: Wall Street had mood swings this week, waiting for Jerome Powell to speak like he’s Beyoncé dropping a surprise album. Oil and gold kept climbing, because when the world panics, people buy shiny rocks and sticky liquid. Bitcoin slipped below $115k, because even imaginary money can get a bad horoscope. Ethereum hit new highs following hints of a Fed rate cut. Somewhere, crypto bros are popping champagne.

Cultural Contrast: Meanwhile, in Busan, South Korea, the glamorous “One World One Family” streaming festival kicked off, 100 nations, 100 days, one big kumbaya. At least something in this world is actually harmonious.

Weather Whiplash: The UK is on track for its hottest summer ever, heatwaves, wildfires, hosepipe bans. Basically, the apocalypse is a weather forecast now.

Health Headlines: Canada just reminded us all that vaping isn’t the magic switch everyone hoped for: the Canadian Lung Association and Canadian Thoracic Society warn there's not enough evidence to recommend e-cigarettes as quitting aids, they even flag the risk of renormalizing smoking and youth addiction. Well “less harmful” isn't the same as “safe,”

Real Money, Real Investment, No Advice

When we talk about building AI agents, we’re really talking about creating digital systems that can think, learn, and act on their own. These agents are already part of our everyday lives, from virtual assistants to recommendation systems, and they’re rapidly changing industries like healthcare, education, and finance.

That’s why it’s so important for everyone to understand how they work, and not just engineers. With some knowledge, you can see both the benefits, like saving time on repetitive tasks, and the risks, such as bias or misuse. If more of us understand AI agents, we can use them responsibly, make better decisions about where and how they are applied, and even prepare for future jobs that will rely on this technology.

Most importantly, learning about AI gives us the power to shape it into something that truly serves people in fair and meaningful ways.

So if you want to build it with me, read more here: https://newsletter.themvpletter.com/p/building-and-ai-agent-1

First African American President

Democratic politician Barack Obama became the first African American to be nominated for the presidency by either major party; he later defeated Republican John McCain to win the office.

Germany’s social safety net is having a midlife crisis: too many retirees, not enough young contributors, spiraling costs, and a political class so reform-shy they’d sooner move in with their parents than raise the retirement age. As the Baby Boomers stampede toward pension payouts while contributing less and less in the way of future children, experts warn that ignoring tough reforms now means even bigger bills tomorrow – think social contributions gobbling up over half your paycheck

This matters because, left unchecked, the system’s lavish promises may turn into IOUs, forcing cuts, private savings, or using grandma’s house to fund her nursing care. The lesson: good times don’t fund themselves forever, and when the demographic clock starts ticking, it’s time for bold, sometimes unpopular, change before the entire Jenga tower collapses.

YouTube’s hush-hush AI video makeover saga has creators losing their original flavor faster than a microwave reheats leftovers. While users thought they were uploading authentic, imperfectly charming content, YouTube secretly blended AI-powered enhancements into their Shorts, leaving creators bewildered by unasked-for smoother skin and plastic-perfect pixels; some are left wondering, “Did I just get deepfaked by my own platform?”

This controversy pokes holes in the social media trust bubble, spotlighting issues of consent, creator rights, and transparency, especially as platforms clamp down on AI-generated spam but apply their own algorithmic beautification on genuine human content. Unilateral changes risk eroding the trust between platforms and creators, while audience perceptions of authenticity are shaken when the original creative intent is filtered away without warning

The takeaway? Platforms must respect creator agency and communicate transparently about any content modifications, AI-driven or otherwise. This saga teaches that digital creativity thrives best where consent is king and algorithms act only as invited guests, not party crashers; if platforms want healthy, trusting relationships with creators, they should let the artists choose their own brushstrokes, even if that means embracing a little grain and imperfection along the way.

You’re about to dive into the life of a man whose business philosophy is so stubbornly effective, it’s almost smug; Sam Walton. From a Depression-scarred childhood in Missouri that taught him "work, work, work" from his dad, Walton hallmarked his career with unrelenting discipline, endurance, and yes, an inexplicable optimism that normal people might call delusional

He started with a unimpressive dime store in Arkansas and used lessons from J.C. Penney, like targeting small towns and running lean, to launch what would become Walmart’s empire. His signature mantra? Buy cheap. Sell low. Every day. With a grin Walton was also fanatically frugal, so much so that “Walmart” may have gotten its name because cheaper signs cost less with fewer letters

He mastered "management by wandering around," flying to stores in a plane he learned to pilot himself, because why not add flying to the absurd list of self-served responsibilities?

Walton’s ethos: unshakeable perseverance, relentless efficiency, and a quasi-spiritual belief that serving the customer, always exceeding expectations, is the only way forward

🐽Pig lung transplanted to a braindead Human

👁️FDA approves eye drop to fix near vision without glasses. Just in time for me :-)

👴4% retirement rule gets an update. Read what has changed with the 30 year old rule.

🤑Linked in goes big on creator content. LinkedIn is expanding its video advertising program, adding new publishers and creator-led shows to draw marketing dollars.

In Japan, letting a sumo wrestler make your baby cry is considered good luck, finally, a sport where tears mean victory!