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Today we're covering Altman’s Neuralink competitor, the end of AOL dial-up, and wisdom from Epictetus.

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OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman is backing brain-computer interface startup Merge Labs to compete with Elon Musk's Neuralink. The company is raising funds at an $850 million valuation, with OpenAI's ventures team expected to provide much of the $250 million investment.

Altman will co-found Merge Labs alongside Alex Blania, who runs the eyeball-scanning World project. The venture aims to develop brain-computer interfaces using recent AI advances, targeting what Silicon Valley calls "the merge" between humans and machines (More).

The investment heightens rivalry between former OpenAI co-founders Altman and Musk, who left the board in 2018. Neuralink raised $650 million at a $9 billion valuation earlier this year, leading the brain-computer interface sector against emerging competitors like Precision Neuroscience.

How do these brain chips work?

Small-business optimism increased in July despite tariff uncertainty, the National Federation of Independent Business reported. The Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.7 points to 100.3, slightly above the long-term average of 98, with 16 percent saying it's a good time to expand.

Business owners reported better conditions and expansion opportunities, though uncertainty spiked 8 points to 97. Labor quality emerged as the top concern for 21 percent of respondents, increasing 5 points from June. About 11 percent cited inflation as their most important business problem (WSJ).

The uncertainty index reflects concerns over trade policy and congressional action on tax deductions. NFIB's chief economist said the next six months should provide business owners with greater clarity on policy directions and economic conditions. Many small businesses, however, are being forced to raise prices.

AOL announced it will discontinue its dial-up internet service on September 30, the company said on its website. The service, which launched in 1989, became synonymous with 1990s internet connectivity through its distinctive connection sounds and widespread CD distribution campaigns (including a movie).

Dial-up internet converts computer data into audio signals transmitted over phone lines, requiring users to choose between internet access and telephone use. The technology offered significantly slower speeds than modern broadband, making simple downloads lengthy processes that could take several minutes.

As of 2022, only 0.1% of American households still relied on dial-up service, according to Census Bureau data. Rural communities losing access will need alternative internet solutions, tech historian W. Patrick McCray said.

History of the Internet here.

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This piercing question from ancient philosopher Epictetus drives the heart of Ryan Holiday's The Girl Who Would Be Free, a story that transforms our understanding of limitation into liberation.

The tale follows a young slave girl navigating life with a crutch, someone society would dismiss as disadvantaged. Yet her mentor reveals a profound truth: "From birth, you've had to wrestle with fortune each and every day, and she is a strong sparring partner. But that is why you have an advantage over other students." What appears as hardship becomes her greatest strength.

The girl's physical limitation forces her to develop mental resilience that others never need to cultivate. While her peers coast through easier circumstances, she builds unshakeable character through daily challenges. Her struggle becomes her superpower.

Epictetus reminds us that "a person's worth is no greater than their ambition" — not the ambition for external validation, but the inner drive to grow despite circumstances. The girl's worth isn't diminished by her crutch; it's amplified by her refusal to let it define her limits.

The story culminates in Holiday's essential wisdom: "Every situation has two handles — we can grab the one that empowers us, or the one that doesn't. We can see the obstacle or the opportunity." The girl with the crutch chose empowerment. The question remains: which handle will you choose?

Here’s a live reading of the book — for kids.

The viral TikTok trend showing cluttered attics and basements with the caption "all of this used to be money" hits different. These videos reveal rooms packed with forgotten purchases — exercise equipment, holiday decorations, impulse buys gathering dust. Every item represents dollars spent on temporary wants rather than lasting needs. The visual reminder is both sobering and motivating: our homes have become expensive storage units for regret purchases (this also reminds us of George Carlin’s “Stuff” bit).

> Spirit Airlines admits substantial doubt about surviving past August 2026 amid $246M quarterly loss (More).

> Perplexity AI bids $34.5B for Google's Chrome browser, offering 2.5x its own valuation (More).

> Trump considers marijuana rescheduling from Schedule I to III within weeks, wouldn't legalize federally (More).

> Kickresume report reveals specific facial expressions could accidentally sabotage job interviews despite preparation (More).

> Used-car prices surge 4.8% annually, outpacing new vehicles as supplies tighten above $30K mark (WSJ).

How to browse the dark web.

The inner workings of Big Bird.

Saab’s hidden speedometer from the 1990s.

This guy will strap a jet engine to anything.

1,000 hours filming hummingbirds.