Wednesday, February 28, 2024

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2024

Good Morning! On this date in 1953, two scientists walked into a British pub and announced, “We have discovered the secret of life.” They were Francis Crick and James Watson, and they had just discovered the double-helix structure of DNA. (See Photos)

The real secret of life, if you listen to the Dutch, is niksen, which means “doing nothing.” You can learn how they use that philosophy to stay happy in our Wednesday Wisdom section below.

In case you haven’t signed up for The Flyover yet, you can do that here with one click.

Today’s edition is brought to you by our friends at hear.com. Check out their hearing products below.

US Army Moves to Cut 5% of Its Force

The U.S. Army will eliminate nearly 5% of its force, or about 24,000 posts, as the military begins a restructuring effort due to recruiting shortfalls.

According to officials, the Army is “significantly over-structured,” and there aren’t enough soldiers in its current ranks to fill existing units. The proposed cuts primarily represent empty posts, not actual soldiers, held over from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As part of the move, Army leaders say the service will pivot from a close-combat, counterinsurgency strategy to the larger-scale, multi-domain structure needed to fight the next major war.

Police Release Osteen Church Shooting Video

Officials released security video of the Feb. 11 shooting at Joel Osteen’s Houston megachurch, revealing the frightening moments when the shooter was killed and her son critically injured. Here is edited footage; be aware that it remains intense.

The full video, available on YouTube under an advisory, is too graphic to link here. It shows the frantic period when Genesse Moreno enters the church in a trenchcoat with her rifle and son, and shooting starts.

The footage includes body camera video showing churchgoers officers fleeing in panic while officers take cover and exchange shots. At least one officer is heard praying as police approach the shooter.

Wendy’s to Test ‘Surge Pricing’ for Burgers

The Wendy’s hamburger chain plans to experiment with a dynamic “surge-pricing” strategy in 2025, where prices rise as demand goes up.

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner said the burger chain will invest $20 million to outfit corporate-owned restaurants with digital menu boards that will update prices in real time.

Tanner didn’t elaborate on how much prices would fluctuate or if the cost of a burger would fall during slower periods. Shares of Wendy’s fell slightly in Tuesday morning trading.

We’re happy to report that The Flyover keeps growing, now surpassing 600,000 readers thanks to our advertisers and readers like you. Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ President Biden and Donald Trump are scheduled to make separate trips to the Texas border on Thursday. Biden heads to Brownsville while Trump goes to Eagle Pass, where the administration is in a legal standoff with state officials. (More)

➤ The average favorability rating for Donald Trump hit 42%, his highest rating since 2022, according to RealClearPolitics. President Biden’s average favorability rating stands at 40%. (More)

➤ Texas pastor Ryan Binkley ended his longshot campaign to win the GOP presidential nominations after loaning himself $10 million for the race. He earned only 2,000 votes across the four early state primaries. (More)

➤ A letter containing a white powdery substance was sent to the Florida home of Donald Trump Jr. Monday, who opened it and then called 911. Initial tests on the powder indicated it was not deadly. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

What if, this year, you resolved to never say “what?” ever again?

That means no more straining to hear your friends across the table. No more FOMO or missing things. What if, in 2024, every conversation felt effortless. And every word was crystal clear?

That’s where hear.com’s new IX hearing aids come in. They’re the world’s first devices with multi-stream processing, so you can follow the conversation wherever it goes. Multiple people? No sweat. Lots of noise? No problem.

Unlock the clarity you’ve been missing and try them at no-risk today.

Start your no-risk trial today

➤ Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers for $700 million, hit a 2-run homer in his spring training debut. (See Video)

➤ Award-winning NFL journalist Peter King announced his retirement after covering football for over 40 years. King is best known for his work at Sports Illustrated and, most recently, NBC Sports. (More)

➤ Arizona State University hockey player Tucker Ness has been suspended for starting a fight with Alaska’s Dawson Bruneski last weekend. “There is no place in college hockey for what happened,” said ASU coach Greg Powers. (See Video)

➤ In a sport known for pranks, the Atlanta Braves replaced scoreboard images of Baltimore Orioles players with pictures of Baltimore literary icon Edgar Allan Poe during Monday’s spring training game. (See Photos)

Market Report 02/27/2024

▲	NASDAQ Natl. Assoc. of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	16,035.30	+0.37%
▲	SPX S&P 500	5,074.97	+0.11%
▼	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	38,964.45	–0.27%
▲	BTC Bitcoin	$56,780.19	+4.15%
▲	JANX Janux Therapeutics, Inc.	$49.75	+229.47%

➤ Big Stock Move: Janux Therapeutics rocketed up 230% Tuesday, tripling in value, after unveiling promising results in trials for its prostate cancer treatment. (More)

➤ Macy’s announced it was closing 150 “underproductive locations” in the face of sales woes, leaving the company with 350 stores. The company says it will focus on expanding its higher-end luxury brands. (More)

➤ Bitcoin hit a two-year high Tuesday, passing $57,000 in value at one point during the day, its highest price since 2021. The cryptocurrency is up 30% for the year. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

Speech clarity is the most important factor when it comes to hearing aids. And audiologists everywhere are raving about “the new gold standard” when it comes to clarity in conversation. They’re referring to hear.com’s Horizon, which features a first-of-its-kind dual-processing system.

What does this mean? It means clarity. It means speech gets clearer and crisper – more than ever before. Conversations and listening become effortless. And because Horizon comes in a tiny, nearly invisible design, no one will even know you’re wearing them.

Ready to experience the transformative power of dual processing for yourself?

Start your no-risk trial today

➤ Japan’s lunar lander, SLIM, emerged from a planned weeks-long hibernation to re-establish communication with Earth. Despite initial setbacks, SLIM can still take photos and conduct experiments. (See Photos)

➤ The Colombian government is launching an expedition using underwater robots to recover billions in lost treasure from the San Jose, the “Holy Grail” of shipwrecks that sank in 1708. (See Images)

➤ Researchers using special image processing discovered three new moons in the solar system. One is circling Uranus, and two are orbiting Neptune. (See Image)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Scientists discover a new way to fight aging with time-line. Experience it for yourself and save 30% today with claim code 30FLYOVER. (Learn More)

➤ The Dutch term niksen means doing nothing, and some in the Netherlands say that’s the secret that makes them among the happiest people in the world. They offer tips on how to make niksen work in your life. (See Tips)

➤ Spring is around the corner, breathing fresh life into the world. It’s a good time to recommit and recharge, as these 36 quotes about new beginnings, hope, and change illustrate. (See Quotes)

➤ Great communicators offer seven tips for becoming a superior conversationalist with friends, strangers, and loved ones. (See Tips)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ This card is worth its weight in gold. If you have outstanding credit card debt, getting a new 0% intro APR credit card could help ease the pressure while you pay down your balances. (Learn More)

➤ “Moon Phases,” a Jeff Koons sculpture featuring 125 small orbs inspired by historic people, became the first art installation on the moon after being carried into space by the Odysseus lunar lander. (See Photos)

➤ Michigan’s historic Cherry Bowl Drive-in, opened in the golden age of drive-ins in 1953, has been put up for sale. The $625,000 listing features 10 acres, a mini-golf course, a playground, a barn, and a concession stand. (See Photos)

➤ Elaborate floats assembled using nearly 500,000 lemons and oranges, more than 140 metric tons, took center stage at this month’s 90-year-old French Fête du Citron festival. (See Photos)