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Dec 23 2025OPINION

The Hustler Who Taught Me to Fake It Till I Make It

In the summer of 2005, a young writer found himself in New York City, far from his Texas roots. He was working as an assistant to a literary agent, a job that didn't quite align with his dreams. He met a man named Marty Reisman, a self-proclaimed con artist and ping-pong hustler. Marty was a colorfu

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Dec 23 2025POLITICS

Faith and Politics: A Shaky Alliance

In 2025, President Trump has been very busy. He has signed 225 executive orders in just one year. This is more than he did in his entire first term. Some of these orders are about religion. They talk about making America a more Christian nation. For example, one order created a task force to stop C

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Dec 23 2025FINANCE

Holiday Stock Talks: Finance Experts Share Their Frustrations

During the holiday season, finance experts often find themselves in a tricky spot. While everyone else is enjoying time with family, these professionals are often bombarded with questions about stock picks and market predictions. It's a common scenario that many of them dread. The stock market is a

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Dec 23 2025POLITICS

Canada's New U. S. Ambassador: A Seasoned Financier Steps In

Canada has chosen a new ambassador to the United States. Mark Wiseman, a well-known figure in the world of finance, will take on this important role. He is set to start his new job in mid-February. Wiseman has a lot of experience. He has worked in Canada's pension funds and big U. S. financial compa

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Dec 23 2025ENVIRONMENT

How Tiny Life Forms in Wetlands Can Tame Toxic Metals

Wetlands are like nature's kidneys, cleaning up the environment. But they're under attack from harmful metals and metalloids (HMs) from human activities. These nasty substances can be super toxic and move around easily, depending on their form. Microbes in the soil can change these forms through pro

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Dec 23 2025ENVIRONMENT

River Projects Get a Boost from Local Grants

Money is flowing into the Quad-Cities area to support projects along the river. Several groups have been given grants to work on these initiatives. The funds will help improve the river's environment and make it a better place for people to enjoy. The grants come from different sources, including p

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Dec 23 2025FINANCE

Americans Feeling Less Optimistic About the Future

People in the US are feeling less sure about the economy. This is the fifth month in a row that their confidence has dropped. They are worried about jobs and how businesses are doing. A recent report showed that the measure of how people feel right now about the economy is at its lowest since early

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Dec 23 2025HEALTH

When Flies Take Over: A Look at a Severe Case of Maggot Infestation

A man without a home, battling alcohol addiction, ended up in the emergency room with shakes, restlessness, and pain all over. Doctors quickly realized he had a serious brain injury and needed emergency surgery. But that was just the start of his problems. After the operation, they found something s

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Dec 23 2025POLITICS

China and Japan: A Growing Tension Over Taiwan

Tensions between China and Japan are heating up. This is due to Japan's support for Taiwan. China is not happy about this. They have been using strong words and actions to show their displeasure. Recently, Chinese officials shared a map on social media. This map showed possible missile paths from C

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Dec 23 2025POLITICS

Biggest Ever Arms Deal: US Boosts Taiwan's Defense

The United States has just made a big move. They announced a massive arms deal with Taiwan. It's worth $11. 1 billion. This is the biggest deal ever. China is not happy about it. They see Taiwan as part of their country. They want the US to stop selling weapons to Taiwan. This deal makes Donald Tru

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