🐤 Small but mighty

Markets: Two of the three major indexes posted gains on Tuesday, led by the Nasdaq Composite’s anticipation of quarterly earnings reports from tech industry titans.

Numbers from Alphabet, Reddit, and Snap came after the markets closed yesterday and companies including Meta, Microsoft, and Apple will be releasing theirs either today or tomorrow.

The S&P 500 finished a fraction of a percent higher while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was just over one-third of a percent lower at the closing bell.

Playoff preview: The College Football Playoff includes a dozen teams this year, which means there will be plenty of action to follow when rankings drop next week. As of the latest stats available, analysts predict to see Oregon, Georgia, Miami, and BYU winning their respective conference championships. Georgia is the only school on the list that has lost a game this year with the other three boasting perfect 8-0 records thus far. Upcoming Clemson-Louisville and Penn State-Ohio State games will have an impact on how teams stack up in the playoff.

Here’s your sign: It’s become a cliche for millennials and those in older generations to deride modern-day schools for not teaching kids how to read and write cursive. Whether or not you believe this is an important skill to possess, there’s no doubt that it’s missing among many young people. Washington College, among America’s oldest universities, has long used the signature of its namesake, founding father George Washington, as its logo. The school recently switched to a typeface deemed more legible … whether or not you can read cursive.

Don’t stand for it: Standing desks have been increasingly common sights in offices over the past several years as part of an effort to address the negative consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. But one recent study not only found that there’s no real evidence of cardiovascular benefits from standing desks, which researchers say could actually increase the risk of certain circulatory problems like varicose veins. Instead of shelling out big bucks for a standing desk, experts say it’s a better idea to stay active throughout the day with stretching and short walks.

Trading places: We’re just a week away from the NFL trade deadline and there are a few possible trades that could shift the league’s trajectory for the remainder of the season. Since the Rams have welcomed two former players, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, back into the fold, leaving other competitive franchises scrambling to piece together the best roster possible in anticipation of the playoffs. Some common recommendations involve the 49ers trading for Jets wide receiver Davante Adams and the Lions acquiring Saints defensive end Chase Young.

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They say good things come in small packages, and Apple is trying to prove that adage right with the latest version of its minimalist desktop computer, the Mac mini. As we reported in yesterday’s newsletter, this is Apple’s self-described week of announcements, with a number of product launches or updates expected over the course of several days.

But we thought this one deserved a bit more attention.

When the chips are down

At the heart of any computer is its microprocessor chip, so that’s probably a good place for a rundown of the new Mac mini to begin. The redesigned computer now comes with either the M4 or M4 Pro chip, meaning a lot more processing power than previous versions.

Here’s how it stacks up against its outgoing M1 predecessor:

• Up to 1.8 times faster CPU performance
• About 2.2 times faster GPU performance
• Quicker data speeds via Thunderbolt 5 ports

And those impressive capabilities are still all housed within a familiar 5 square-inch package.

They’re almost available

Although the M4 and M4 Pro models won’t be ready to purchase until November 8, preorders are currently being accepted. Expect to pay $599 for the base version and $1,399 for the Pro.

In addition to its compact size and powerful chips, there’s more to the new line of Mac minis that might attract some attention.

For starters, it’s the first carbon-neutral product ever released by Apple. More than half of it is made from recycled content and implementing various strategies — like using sustainable materials and eco-friendly manufacturing — slashed greenhouse gas emissions by a whopping 80%.

There are several other features included, such as the Apple Intelligence suite of AI tools, iPhone Mirroring, and improved web browser.

Tomorrow is the last day of October, so you’re probably planning to take a little one out trick or treating, hand out sweets to young visitors from your neighborhood, or sit in the dark with the porch light off while you polish off the bag of Halloween chocolates you’ve been dipping into for the past week.

But aside from the costumes, haunted houses, and of course all the candy, how much do you really know about this spooky holiday? It has a uniquely complex backstory that is worth exploring as we get ready to ring in the holiday.

Common cultural themes

As you might already know, many other cultures throughout recorded history have conducted some sort of ritual or celebration dedicated to spirits … particularly those of the dead. But many also shared other aspects of what has become our modern Halloween tradition.

Consuming sweets and dressing in elaborate costumes are also commonly connected with such holidays around the world, such as Mexico’s Dia de Muertos or Iran’s qasoq-zani.

Becoming Halloween

As for the direct roots of the modern Halloween, experts say it developed from the merger of two existing holidays:

• Samhain: A Celtic festival held to commemorate the end of summer
• All Hallow’s Eve: A day dedicated to preserving rituals from before Christianity

The earliest evidence of celebrations that would eventually become modern-day Halloween can be traced back to the 9th century in Ireland and elsewhere in the British Isles.

The human experience

Historians believe the reason so many of these cultural celebrations share common themes is that we all struggle to make sense of the seemingly arbitrary line between life and death.

As our society advances, many of the underlying rituals lose their significance — but we’re left with the essence of celebrations dating back more than a millennium.

We’ve all been inundated with political advertisements this year warning us of what’s at stake in the upcoming presidential election. One topic that hasn’t gotten much attention at all, however, might be among those most directly impacted by the outcome.

The EV factor

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Electric vehicles have long been touted as a greener alternative to gas-powered cars, but sales aren’t as brisk as environmentalists (or automakers) would prefer.

And that’s where business intersects with politics.

The Biden administration has been a proponent of pro-EV policies, including rebates meant to boost sales and investments in charging stations.

Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, who has spent four years as President Joe Biden’s vice president, is expected to maintain a similar if not bolder agenda if elected.

Former President Donald Trump, on the other hand, has frequently disparaged the push for EV adoption and vows to roll back such policies implemented by Biden.

While it might be up to individual drivers to determine which vehicle is right for them, our elected leaders can tip the scale in one direction or the other. Both Harris and Trump appear to be in a position to do exactly that on the topic of EVs.

A tough sell

Polls indicate that voters are largely in agreement with the respective EV policies of the candidates they support. But the undeniable truth is that many consumers across the political spectrum simply aren’t willing to make the switch.

Only about 3 in 10 Americans said they would even consider an EV when they buy a new vehicle — and there’s no evidence that number will be increasing any time soon. Between 2023 and 2024, the percentage of EVs among all vehicles sold dropped from 8.8% to 6.8%.