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Today we're covering why firetrucks cost $2 million dollars each, those hilarious Astronomer CEO memes, and how one big wave surfer levels up grip strength.

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YouTube became the most-watched video provider on U.S. televisions earlier this year, Nielsen data shows. Viewers now watch over one billion hours daily on TV sets, surpassing Disney's combined broadcast, cable, and streaming services. The shift represents a generational migration from mobile devices to living rooms (WSJ).

YouTube creators are producing longer, higher-quality content for TV audiences, boosting ad revenue significantly. MoffettNathanson estimates YouTube's 2024 revenue at $54.2 billion, ranking second only to Disney among entertainment companies. Popular shows like "Good Mythical Morning" now see 53% of viewership on TVs.

YouTube is enhancing its TV app with Netflix-like features, including episode queuing and personalized content feeds. The company aims to dominate future entertainment by becoming viewers' primary gateway to internet video content. Traditional Hollywood faces mounting pressure as free YouTube competes with expensive streaming subscriptions. Netflix settles for #2.

Fire departments nationwide struggle with aging fleets and skyrocketing costs. Chicago firefighters crashed a 25-year-old truck after brake failure, while Los Angeles has 100+ unusable vehicles. Private equity consolidation reduced manufacturer competition significantly (More).

Fire truck prices surged from $300,000-$500,000 in mid-2010s to over $1 million today, with ladder trucks costing $2 million. Production delays stretch 2-4.5 years. Three companies control the $3 billion annual market after consolidation (chart).

The International Association of Fire Fighters urged federal antitrust investigation into manufacturer consolidation. About 70% of departments are volunteer-run with limited budgets, forcing reliance on outdated equipment threatening public safety.

See how actor Jeremy Renner collects and donates firetrucks for this reason, here.

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron was filmed embracing chief people officer Kristin Cabot on a Coldplay concert jumbotron Wednesday in Massachusetts. Videos went viral, sparking cheating allegations and memes. Coldplay's Chris Martin joked about the pair having an affair during the performance.

A fake statement expressing Byron's regret circulated online, but Astronomer confirmed it was not authentic. The data infrastructure startup achieved unicorn status in 2022. Former CEO Ry Walker distanced himself from the incident, noting he left the company in 2022 (What is Astronomer?)

Byron and Cabot have not publicly responded to the controversy. The incident highlights workplace relationship scrutiny and social media's role in amplifying private moments. Whether the executives will address the allegations publicly remains uncertain.

Here’s 11 hilarious memes about this event.

Big Wave Surf Legend's Grip Training Secret: Progressive water-load training using adjustable resistance to maintain functional grip strength and prevent age-related decline (see the viral video).

Hamilton watched fellow surfers lose their edge in their 40s. Most athletes chase maximum weight, but he discovered adjustable resistance was the secret.

The breakthrough: Four buckets + spilling water = instant load adjustment mid-exercise (if needed).

Farmer's carries naturally strengthen your entire kinetic chain—core, shoulders, traps, and forearms—while improving posture and real-world functionality.

Why this matters: Longevity expert Peter Attia confirms grip strength predicts mortality risk. Hamilton's approach: "Keeping grip strength strong and the pillar stable, for long term health."

How to properly train to failure (video).

Just scheduling regular "deloading" phases — strategic periods of doing nothing productive — outperforms constant hustle culture. Tim Ferriss alternates intense work batches with extended periods of "unplugging and f*cking around," decreasing anxiety 50 percent while doubling his income in 12 months. He proves that "slack time" creates breakthrough ideas that grinding never could. Strategic laziness beats relentless productivity every single time.

Read this blog post.

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