Author: Elon Mark

The closure of the Red Sea corridor has added a new layer of volatility to global supply chains. Since early 2024, shipping lines have been forced to reroute via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid geopolitical risk. This has extended voyages by up to 30 days, reshaping freight flows and financial planning across industries. The implications are far-reaching. First, the cost of freight has spiked, with higher bunker fuel expenses and increased vessel time on water. This added cost is being passed down the supply chain, ultimately reaching end-users. Second, import volumes have become more erratic, undermining the just-in-time…

Whether you’re a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional, building a strong personal brand is key to standing out and showcasing your unique value. A well-crafted personal brand can help you land a job, advance within your company, and even attract investors or partners for your venture. But personal branding is rarely a one-time effort. You must regularly evaluate your brand to ensure it aligns with your goals and successfully communicates your differentiators. That’s where a personal brand audit comes in. Here’s what a personal brand audit is, why it matters, and how to conduct one effectively. Free E-Book: Your Guide…

Slowly but surely, Apple TV+ has found its feet. The streaming service, which at launch we called “odd, angsty, and horny as hell,” has evolved into a diverse library of dramas, documentaries, and comedies. Now its library is so packed that we’ve declared it “the new HBO.”Curious but don’t know where to get started? Below are our picks for the best shows on the service. (Also, here are our picks for the best movies on Apple TV+.) When you’re done, head over to our guides to the best shows on Netflix, best movies on Hulu, and best movies on Amazon…

Valero Energy’s broad refining footprint and global assets position it to benefit from rising long-term demand for petroleum and liquid fuels. Strong cash flow generation supports robust dividend growth and aggressive share buybacks, enhancing total shareholder returns and compounding value. Despite a premium valuation versus peers, I see VLO as a ‘Buy’ for its dividend compounding potential and commitment to returning cash to shareholders. Valero’s disciplined payout policy and history of increasing dividends make it an attractive choice for income-focused investors seeking exposure to the energy sector. Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) is a growing, diversified energy company with large refining capacity that…

LegalZoom is one of those online legal services that in most cases can handle basic legal tasks for you. I recently tried it out to make an LLC for my cosmic country band, Steel Fringe (shameless plug), and it appears to have worked just fine (we’re still waiting on a full evaluation from legal experts for a future guide to these services). If you use a LegalZoom promo code right now, you will get a discount on the service.I found it super easy to set up my LLC, and after about $500 and 30 minutes of my time, I was…

The Kingdom’s reform-led reputation shift presents fresh opportunities for collaboration, investment, and long-term growth. Saudi Arabia’s global reputation is changing fast, and for the oil and gas industry, that shift speaks volumes. According to CARMA’s 5th Annual Kingdom Reputation Report, the Kingdom saw a 25% increase in positive global media coverage in 2024, while negative sentiment dropped 55% compared to 2020. Driving this transformation: a deliberate move to reposition the country from a traditional hydrocarbons heavyweight into a diversified energy and investment powerhouse. For oil and gas professionals, this changing perception reinforces Saudi Arabia’s status not just as a producer, but…

Zoë Schiffer: Totally. OK. I need to shift us to a new topic because I’m already feeling quite depressed. This one is about outer space. So my first question for you is how do you feel about outer space, Jake? And would you go if you had the chance? Normally I would say, no, thank you. I’m not interested. But I don’t know after this maybe, yeah, take me to Mars.Jake Lahut: Weirdly, I would probably be more comfortable going to outer space than doing deep ocean exploration. That could be a recency bias with the-Zoë Schiffer: I was going…

Square Robot, Inc., a global leader in robotic tank inspections, has knocked down two more barriers for its onstream, robotic tank inspections. The SR-3 submersible robot has formally received the NEC/CEC Class I Division 2 (C1D2) certification and Square Robot’s Side Launcher has received the NEC/CEC Class I Division 1 (C1D1) certification. The C1D2 and C1D1 certifications were issued by third-party Nationally Recognized Test Lab, FM Approvals, proving Square Robot’s systems safe for use in hazardous locations. As part of the operating methodology for launching into floating roof tanks, often containing low flashpoint products, the Side Launcher’s C1D1 certification confirms…

Baseline or paused “reciprocal” rate MapSize by 2024 imports Since returning to office, President Trump has waged a global trade war without parallel in modern history. With steep and sometimes punishing tariffs on America’s friends and foes alike, the president has sought to reset the world trading order, raise new federal revenue and pressure private businesses to make more of their products in the United States.But Mr. Trump’s campaign is only beginning — and whether he will succeed remains an open question with great consequence for the U.S. economy.On Aug. 1, the president is set to impose another round of taxes…

Familiar is a new woman-founded sex toy company that launched earlier this year, and it only sells three sex toys at the moment. None of them are what I’d call standard fare—there’s the Aurora, a dual G-spot and clitoral stimulator with an alien-like shape, and the Orbit, a wand vibrator with a unique round ball head. But the Nebula intrigued me the most.Unlike most vibrators that come assembled, the Nebula is so big—even bigger than the Le Wand Dive, by a little over four inches in length—that it came in two pieces. It also came with a small (and matching!)…