Good morning readers. In a swift U-turn, Tesla has quietly shelved its tough stance on Cybertruck resales. Just yesterday, the fine print screamed "no reselling in year one without our nod," backed by a hefty $50K penalty or a lawsuit threat. Fast forward to today, and this clause has vanished from their website. While Tesla plays coy about whether this change is here to stay, it's a head-scratcher what sparked this sudden shift. Mark this as another chapter in Tesla's ongoing crusade against resellers, famously known for their "no sell" blacklist. Keep an eye on this space, dear readers, Tesla's rulebook might just have more surprises in store.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Superhero movies just aren’t the same anymore

• Headline Hustle: stocks rise after latest CPI report, GM halts all driverless operations, Israeli forces raid Al-Shifa hospital

• How a supercomputer is redefining research and discovery

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

MEDIA

Marvel Universe is having an identity crisis

In Hollywood, it seems the sequel formula may need a new ingredient. The once box-office-busting Marvel Cinematic Universe is looking more like a cinematic multiverse of madness—and not the fun, Doctor Strange kind. With “The Marvels” pulling in numbers that made execs cringe, it’s clear that even the mightiest of franchises aren’t immune to fatigue. I mean, how many times can the fate of the world hang in the balance before we leave it to the caped crusaders and grab a latte instead?

Fresh faces outshine the usual suspects

It's not just Marvel feeling the slump. Tom Cruise’s gravity-defying stunts in "Mission Impossible" and DC’s hero squad are also watching their numbers do a not-so-heroic nosedive. Yet, as these titans wobble, who’s there to catch the falling box office cash? Barbie and Mario, that’s who. “Barbie,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” and “Oppenheimer” are laughing all the way to the bank, proving that audiences might just be craving a playdate with new pals over another superhero showdown.

Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, seems to get the memo, hinting at a much-needed shake-up focusing on, dare we say, quality. And while Nintendo’s gearing up to take us down the Hyrule rabbit hole with a “Zelda” movie, it’s clear the allure of the familiar is still Hollywood’s favorite blanket.

Looking ahead…the big screen’s big question remains: Can Tinseltown resist the siren call of the surefire hit long enough to let fresh ideas bloom? The success of fresh-faced IPs whispers a resounding "Yes" to originality. As much as we love our comfort-viewing, the stories that have us perched on the edge of our seats are the ones we haven’t heard a thousand times before. So, here’s to hoping the industry's giants are ready to take a gamble on the next unscripted chapter of Hollywood history—before the audience decides to write their own ending.

Headline Hustle

📈 Stock market rallies after CPI inflation report. In a bullish surprise, October's chill on inflation rates sent stocks and bonds into a celebratory rally, with Wall Street's forecast outpaced by reality. The CPI holding steady sparked investor optimism, propelling the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to their most significant one-day surges since spring, as markets anticipate a cozy landing over Fed hikes. Tech and rate-sensitive stocks are basking in the glow of renewed interest, with whispers of a "Santa Claus rally" making rounds. As traders exchange their bear hats for party caps, the market's spirits are as high as the autumn leaves were just weeks ago.

🚗 GM's Cruise pulls over for a safety pit stop. General Motors' Cruise has hit the brakes on all its driverless operations, opting for an "orderly pause" after a concerning accident led to public safety fears. The self-driving car unit isn't taking any chances, roping in independent experts for a thorough safety tech shakedown. While GM's robo-taxis are off the streets, simulations and closed-course trials keep the wheels of innovation turning. This proactive pit stop comes amidst a backdrop of skeptical lawmakers, a wary public, and GM's high-stakes bet on a driverless future promising big bucks but facing real-time roadblocks, including a recent recall and production halt. The road to autonomy seems to need a few more safety checks before it's clear for all.

🏥 Israeli forces raid Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital. In a dramatic day that put international law under the spotlight, Israeli forces targeted Hamas operations inside Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital. This bold move came despite the White House's earlier caution against such an action, raising tensions and humanitarian concerns. The hospital's dual use—a medical facility and a militant hub as per Israel and U.S. claims—has led to a dangerous predicament for civilians and patients. Amidst shattered glass and dwindling medical supplies, the grim reality of warfare's impact on human life is starkly evident. With protests in Washington reflecting a divided stance and Secretary of State Blinken voicing distress over civilian casualties, the Biden administration navigates a tightrope of diplomatic pressures and security commitments.

TECHNOLOGY

Aurora: The dawn of exascale computing

Chicago's about to be known for more than deep-dish pizza and jazz. Tucked away at the Argonne National Laboratory, the world's second-most-powerful supercomputer, Aurora, is gearing up for its big debut. Think of it as a brainiac on steroids, crunching numbers at the mind-boggling pace of one quintillion operations per second—yeah, that's a one with 18 zeroes. From unraveling cancer's mysteries to getting the 411 on climate change, Aurora's got the brains to revolutionize how we tackle some of the trickiest scientific puzzles.

Aurora's already snagged the title of second-most-powerful supercomputer worldwide, and it's not even fully operational. Imagine the tech flex of over 60,000 GPUs and a memory that overshadows its nearest rival by 70%. We're talking about a machine that can screen billions of drug molecules faster than you can say “pharmaceutical”—a dream for researchers and a nightmare for diseases.

What's next on Aurora's to-do list? How about mapping the neural pathways of the brain or whipping up climate forecasts that are as intricate as they are accurate. And for the cherry on top, Aurora's set to be a game-changer in battery design, making energy storage safer and more efficient. Think less battery fire headlines and more "How did we ever live without this?" moments. With AI integration and a sidekick like the Advanced Photon Source, Aurora isn't just a supercomputer—it's a super-scientist ready to usher us into a new age of discovery, leaving human biases in the dust and possibly redefining the essence of experimentation itself.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• House lawmakers passed a Republican bill with significant Democratic support to fund federal agencies and prevent a partial government shutdown.

• The PGA Tour plans to grant professional players equity ownership in a new entity after it reaches a deal with investors, as revealed by a CNBC-obtained internal memo.

• Airbnb has purchased the AI startup GamePlanner.AI for an unconfirmed $200 million, according to a company announcement and reports by CNBC.

• Amazon has partnered with Snap to enable direct purchases from ads on Snapchat, complete with real-time information and Prime eligibility.

• Netflix is set to launch its first live sports broadcast with a crossover event featuring F1 racers and golfers competing for the Netflix Cup, ahead of potential future bids on NBA games.

• A confrontation between a Republican senator and the Teamsters union president nearly escalated to a fistfight during a Senate hearing, which was defused by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

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