Digest

The podcast begins with hosts Neil Fryman and Toby Howell discussing Halloween festivities in Des Moines, Iowa, which is celebrating its first trick-or-treating night in nearly 90 years. They then delve into the topic of corporate landlords, exploring their growing presence in the housing market and the potential impact on home prices and rents. The hosts discuss a new Transportation Department rule requiring airlines to automatically process refunds for delayed or cancelled flights, aiming to simplify the refund process for passengers. They also highlight a security risk associated with Strava, a fitness tracking app, where bodyguards have inadvertently revealed their protectees' locations by posting their workouts on the platform. Neil Fryman presents "Niels Numbers," a segment featuring three interesting statistics from the week's news, including the exorbitant spending on US elections, a massive fine imposed on Google by a Russian court, and a record-breaking predation event observed by scientists. The podcast concludes with a call to action for listeners to share the episode and enjoy Halloween.

Outlines

00:00:00

Halloween Festivities and Corporate Landlords

The podcast begins with Halloween greetings and discusses Des Moines' first trick-or-treating night in nearly 90 years. It then delves into the topic of corporate landlords, exploring their growing presence in the housing market and the potential impact on home prices and rents.

00:06:59

Airline Refunds and Strava Security Risks

The hosts discuss a new Transportation Department rule requiring airlines to automatically process refunds for delayed or cancelled flights. They also highlight a security risk associated with Strava, a fitness tracking app, where bodyguards have inadvertently revealed their protectees' locations by posting their workouts on the platform.

00:14:10

Niels Numbers and Headlines

Neil Fryman presents "Niels Numbers," a segment featuring three interesting statistics from the week's news, including the exorbitant spending on US elections, a massive fine imposed on Google by a Russian court, and a record-breaking predation event observed by scientists. The hosts then briefly discuss several news headlines.

00:26:50

Conclusion and Call to Action

The podcast concludes with a call to action for listeners to share the episode and enjoy Halloween.

Keywords

Q&A

• How are corporate landlords impacting the housing market?

  Corporate landlords are having a significant impact on the housing market, particularly in certain neighborhoods where they are concentrated. They are driving up home prices and rents, potentially displacing local residents. However, some studies suggest that they may also invest in improvements that benefit the community.

• What are the new rules regarding airline refunds?

  The Transportation Department has implemented a new rule requiring airlines to automatically process refunds for passengers whose flights are significantly delayed or cancelled. This eliminates the need for passengers to actively pursue refunds and provides clearer standards for when refunds are due.

• How has Strava become a security risk?

  Strava's location data sharing feature has been exploited to track the movements of high-profile individuals, including political figures. Bodyguards have inadvertently revealed their protectees' locations by posting their workouts on the app, raising concerns about privacy and security.

• What is the significance of the Google fine imposed by Russia?

  The fine imposed on Google by a Russian court is astronomical, exceeding the total amount of money in the world. It stems from a legal battle over YouTube's suspension of Russian news accounts. The fine has been exponentially increasing due to Google's continued refusal to reinstate the channels.

• How did scientists observe the largest predation event ever recorded?

  Scientists used a new technique called Ocean Acoustic Wave Guide Remote Sensing to observe a massive predation event where cod devoured millions of capillan fish. This technique involves sending sound waves into the ocean and analyzing the echoes to identify and quantify different species.

Show Notes