February 2025

DON’T LICK THE WALLS, DON’T DRINK THAT SHAKE

The majority of protein powders for sale in the US contain lead and other toxins

The demand for fitness, health, and wellness products have skyrocketed over the last 10 years. In fact, for protein supplements in particular, that number has doubled. Go back to 2015 data and you’ll find the protein supplement industry in the US hovered just below the $7 billion mark. Today, that number is approximately $9.69 billion and projected to grow to a staggering $21.97 billion by 2033. Industry analysts estimate the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.56%. 

This growth is driven by increasing health consciousness, much of which may be attributable to social media influencers–such as celebrity kickboxer Andrew Tate, four-time Mr. Olympia winner Jay Cutler and the like–who have made a lifestyle brand of themselves; showing off six-pack abs, and the kind of guns not covered by the second amendment. They hit the gym, and suck down a thick, protein smoothie at the end of it all as the sweat glistens off every rippling muscle. TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have put this type of physique goal in the palm of everyone’s hands…including our youth, who are buying into the idea that you can drink your way to big muscles. 

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Elon Envy – How Silicon Valley’s tech titans are scrambling to mimic Musk’s moves in Washington & curry favor with the Trump White House

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For years, it’s been a two-man race for the coveted title of “The World’s Richest Man” between tech titans Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. But in 2025, that moniker bears little import relative to the power of the President of the United States of America. So if you’re among the class of tech billionaires not in the running for the title of ‘richest man’, and you didn’t just stage the wildest political comeback in a century, your next best move is being power-adjacent.

That appears to be the tact embraced by industry elites in Silicon Valley just moments after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. A flood of donations came roaring in from the typically liberal-leaning west coast. More than $170M rushed into the coffers for his inauguration fund, with tech executives writing hefty checks to bankroll the festivities, and to secure their seat behind the dais. 

Million dollar donations came from Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft exec Bill Gates, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman were among the laundry list of Silicon Valley’s biggest names to make it rain on the incoming administration, helping Trump eclipse any predecessor’s inauguration fund easily by $100M. Inaugural ceremony aside, no tech bro is any match for the total donations coming from one single donor–Elon Musk, who gave the Trump campaign roughly $277M. 

This mind-blowing amount is likely what’s earned Musk the unofficial title of ‘First Bro’, securing him not only a front row seat to the inauguration but even his own office in the West Wing. It’s no secret that Musk has Trump’s ear on everything from social issues, to trade and tariffs, to foreign policy and wars, leading many in Washington to view Musk as the most influential man in the world. And the rest of Silicon Valley has taken note. 

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Mother Orca Grieving, Again

SAN FRANCISCO, February 7 – Just before Christmas Eve, Tahlequah (J35), a majestic Salish Sea Orca that grieved in 2018 for 17 days whilst carrying her calf in her mouth for 1000 miles (1600km), gave birth to a female, J61.

One-week later J61 died. Over again, Tahlequah began grieving. This time she clutched her daughter for 11 days and swam 650 miles (1046km) before mother and corpse disappeared on 11 January 2025.

The Salish Sea is nestled between British Columbia, Canada, and Washington, United States. There are about seven million people in near proximity to this sea.

Image credit: WordPress.com
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