Former International Monetary Fund chief economist Olivier Blanchard of France recently gave this narrative a clear voice. Writing on X, he wondered why California’s wealthiest are spending so heavily to defeat Proposition 40, the supposed one-time 5 percent tax on the net worth of billionaires. Blanchard added that billionaires “typically have not indicated that they are building their wealth to eventually make the world a better place.”

The entire notion misunderstands how fortunes are made. In a market economy, people don’t build great wealth first and redeem it later through good works. They build it by making the world better first.

When I buy an $800 smartphone, it’s because I value the phone more than whatever else I would have bought with the money. The seller values my $800 more than they do the phone. We both walk away richer by our own measure. Neither owes the other anything more.

Repeat this exchange a few hundred million times, and vast fortunes take shape for the people who create amazing technology so abundantly and affordably that we take it for granted. More importantly, though, people hand over every cent of it voluntarily.

As my colleague Arnold Kling aptly explained over the weekend, “Profits are earned within a positive-sum game for society. Profits induce firms to serve consumers and to innovate.” The drive for wealth taxes relies on “the opposite point of view. It regards profits as something that businesses take from the rest of us, as if we can take innovation and efficiency for granted. (It) acts as if we are in a zero-sum environment in which one person’s gain is necessarily another person’s loss.”

And, yes, the gains are divided more fairly than people think. Nobel laureate and Yale University economist William Nordhaus estimated that innovators in the U.S. business sector personally captured, on average, a mere 2.2 percent of the social surplus they created between 1948 and 2001. The other 97.8 percent went to everyone else in the form of lower prices, higher wages, better products and goods, and services that didn’t previously exist.

In short, the world has already been compensated, many times over.

Those urging billionaires to acquiesce also err by blithely assuming that the state that grabs the money will use it well enough to “make the world a better place.” The burden of proof is on them. California’s government already spends roughly $350 billion a year. What will the extra few billion accomplish that the rest hasn’t?

“Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys,” as journalist and satirist P.J. O’Rourke used to say. Maybe California’s billionaires aren’t eager to fund a Merced-to-Bakersfield rail line that the state prices at around $35 billion and its inspector general puts closer to $48 billion. Perhaps they’re hesitant to backfill pension funds like CalPERS, whose staff concedes is unlikely to hit an assumed 6.8 percent return without leaning on private equity.

Prop 40’s revenue is earmarked for healthcare, but money is fungible. In the end, California has one budget. Every earmarked dollar frees another for something else. Some billionaires might simply have concluded that their philanthropy does more good elsewhere, or that their dollars are more beneficial when invested in private enterprises.

The tax also doubles down on California’s worst habit: spend, spend, spend, and then tax, tax, tax. The money is never enough to cover all the spending. A one-time levy spent over five years doesn’t fix that. It funds new commitments with temporary money. Some will want to make the tax permanent, which its intellectual architects clearly prefer and may have made possible. And yet that still won’t be enough.

That’s the commitment problem that Blanchard admits California can’t solve. Billionaires are wise to distrust the “one-time” promise.

What worries me most is the moral framework. When a society convinces itself that the people making life better and less costly are the problem, we eventually stop getting those people.

Contrary to Blanchard’s naive belief, billionaires aren’t lacking in public spirit. Even if we ignore their often massive charitable giving, we can’t forget that the market already collected their contribution and handed a large share of it to the rest of us. We should stop demanding they apologize for the other two cents.

Written by Veronique de Rugy

Official website; http://twitter.com/veroderugy

That mix matters because classroom work is both personal and practical. Teachers explain ideas, read the mood of a group, adjust in real time and keep learning themselves. Grand Canyon University, a private university that offers education programs, is one example of a school where students can explore preparation for that path through a degree in teaching. 

You explain things clearly, even when someone is frustrated 

Strong communication is one of the clearest signs that teaching may suit you. Good teachers do more than talk. They choose examples that fit the learner, ask follow up questions and notice when confusion is building. A student who says “I don’t get it” may need a different explanation, not more volume or more repetition. 

This skill shows up outside classrooms too. If friends come to you because you make hard steps feel simple, that matters. If younger relatives understand your instructions because you break tasks into pieces, that matters too. Teaching relies on clear language, active listening and feedback. The American Psychological Association notes that effective feedback supports student learning, which is one reason communication is more than a nice extra in teaching. See APA guidance on student learning and effective feedback. 

You have patience that looks like consistency 

Patience in teaching is not endless sweetness. Patience is the ability to stay consistent when progress is slow, behavior is uneven or a lesson does not land the first time. Students do not all learn on the same schedule, and even motivated students can have off days. 

A person well suited to teaching usually does not take every setback personally. That person can repeat directions without sarcasm, reteach a concept without acting annoyed and hold boundaries without escalating every conflict. This kind of patience is practical. It helps create a predictable classroom where students know what to expect. 

If you can stay calm while correcting mistakes and still keep expectations high, that is a stronger sign than simply saying you “like helping people.” 

You adapt instead of freezing when the plan changes 

Adaptability is one of the least discussed but most important signs of teaching fit. A lesson can be strong on paper and still need revision once real students are in front of you. Technology can fail. Half the class may already know the material. Another group may need more background first. 

Teachers who adapt well do not see these moments as proof they failed. They treat them as information. The American Psychological Association defines resilience as adapting well in the face of stress or adversity, and that idea fits the daily rhythm of teaching. Classroom work often requires exactly that kind of steady adjustment. APA’s resilience guidance for parents and teachers is useful here because it frames resilience as something people practice, not something a few people magically have. 

If you tend to regroup quickly, try another route and stay engaged after a rough day, teaching may feel demanding but not misaligned. 

You like your subject enough to keep studying it 

Subject knowledge matters, but not in the way many people assume. You do not need to know everything before you begin preparing to teach. You do need genuine interest in the material and the discipline to keep building your knowledge over time. 

Students often ask unexpected questions. Sometimes the right answer is a clear explanation. Sometimes the right answer is, “Let’s check that and come back to it.” A good teacher is not threatened by that. Instead, a good teacher respects accuracy and models curiosity. 

This is why preparation matters. Teacher education often includes both content study and training in instruction, assessment and classroom practice. If you enjoy learning how people understand a subject, not just the subject itself, that is a strong clue. 

You are comfortable working with groups, not just one person at a time 

Some people love tutoring one on one but feel drained when managing a whole group. Teaching usually involves group dynamics, which means attention is split across many needs at once. You may be explaining directions, tracking behavior, checking understanding and watching the clock all in the same moment. 

Being comfortable with groups does not mean being loud or naturally extroverted. Quiet, thoughtful people can become excellent teachers. The better question is whether you can guide a room, set a tone and stay aware of several people at once. Group comfort also includes noticing who is left out, who is dominating discussion and who needs another way to participate. The U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET profile of elementary school teachers includes teaching students individually and in groups and adapting methods to different needs. That helps show why group awareness matters. 

If leading groups energizes you more than it intimidates you, that is a meaningful sign. 

You care about growth more than instant results 

Teaching is a long game. Some of the most important progress is gradual and easy to miss in the moment. Students build skills over weeks and months. Trust develops over time too. 

People well suited to teaching often value progress over quick proof. They can celebrate a small breakthrough, such as a student asking for help sooner, using better evidence in writing or staying focused for ten more minutes than usual. That mindset helps teachers stay grounded in realistic goals instead of daily perfection. 

How to tell the difference between interest and fit 

If you are unsure, ask yourself a few honest questions. Do you enjoy explaining, or only performing? Can you correct people kindly? Do shifting plans make you curious or angry? Can you work with a group while keeping individuals in mind? Are you willing to keep learning, even after formal training begins? 

If most of those answers are yes, teaching may be more than a passing interest. It may be a career that fits how you think, communicate and lead. 

Staff Writer; Peter Johnson

License Conditions and Soft2Bet AML Operation

An operator holding a license meets a stated outcome and chooses the working method that reaches it. Licensed gambling environments process account activity through accounts at high volume, which defines the pace AML control on the Soft2Bet platform has to keep. Laundering patterns appear over time and can build up through small, repeated steps, so the company applies its check across the activity and not at one fixed point. Soft2Bet adjusts its monitoring to that pace and builds it into the platform the company supplies, so a written obligation reaches a specialist as operational work.

That work continues without pause, and activity monitoring on the Soft2Bet platform reads each account against the history and the profile verified at identity checks, since a single step looks ordinary by itself. Each observation is recorded as it happens, so the company holds evidence produced while the control runs.

Evidence held that way makes AML control demonstrable on the Soft2Bet platform, since a specialist returns to the entry and reads the observation with its time stamp. Governance questions reach an operator as a request for what supports a step, and a dated record addresses that level. Monitoring reads account movement against identity status from KYC, and Soft2Bet runs both as modules that are connected through shared records.

Account Movement Read in Sequence at Soft2Bet

Monitoring works from what the account recorded before it. Soft2Bet reads each new movement against the history already held and the identity record established at KYC. Relevance appears in that comparison, and one account view holds every earlier step in a continuous record that supports it. Activity on the Soft2Bet platform is therefore read as a sequence, where each new entry gains the meaning the earlier ones give it.

A sequence read that way shows direction, timing, and repetition, the three properties that bring an account forward for closer attention. Repeated small steps, unusual timing, and movement that sits apart from the verified profile are among the patterns Soft2Bet monitoring checks for. One account view keeps them together, so every specialist starts from the same picture.

Identity status from KYC sits next to account history on the Soft2Bet platform, so monitoring reads each new entry against both at once. A mismatch between the profile and the activity therefore raises a concern, while the same pattern on an account whose history supports it stays unremarkable. Risk relevance stays a reading at that stage, and the layer opening after it tests that judgment against the evidence already attached.

Soft2Bet Flags as Points of Specialist Attention

A risk flag on the Soft2Bet platform marks activity that the record behind it has made worth closer attention. Monitoring stops at that mark, since a flag states what was observed. The account’s context travels with the flag, so the specialist who picks it up reads from evidence already in hand.

Detection and judgment stay apart on the Soft2Bet platform, so monitoring identifies the pattern and a specialist decides what follows from it. The flag reaches that specialist carrying its date and the account view behind it, and all three stay together as one item. The specialist reads them and either closes the case with a reason on file or sends it to review, which is a separate layer holding its own evidence and decisions.

Each flag enters the Soft2Bet record in the form in which it was raised, naming what was seen, when, and on which account. The entry holds the observation and no reading of it, so the layers above monitoring start from the same evidence the flag carried. Recorded that way, the flag becomes evidence of control activity the platform can produce on request.

Dated Entries That Keep Soft2Bet Monitoring Demonstrable

Monitoring, flags, and specialist decisions each leave a record on the Soft2Bet platform, which is what makes AML control demonstrable. The record forms while the control runs, so the evidence and the activity stay in one place. Each entry names what was observed, when, and the account view behind it, and the Soft2Bet platform keeps the link between a step and its record intact.

Reviewability follows from that link, since a specialist returning to an entry sees the evidence the step rested on. Accountability rests on the same property, and the Soft2Bet platform makes both legible to operators running products on it. Account activity leaves a dated sequence on one account view, monitoring adds an observation tied to that sequence, a flag enters with that observation attached, and specialist review records its reading against the flag.

Soft2Bet holds each entry in the sequence that produced it, so a flag arrives for review with its observation already attached. The flag, its date, and the reading set against it stay in one place, so an operator examining the account can confirm from the record alone that AML control operated. The entry stops at what the control did, and how the platform stores it belongs to a separate layer of the technology.

Governance Value of the Soft2Bet AML Chain

AML control earns its standing from the record of the operation behind it, produced while monitoring runs. Monitoring works from account activity read in sequence, and that reading continues across the life of the record on the Soft2Bet platform. A flag drawn from that reading marks activity for attention and leaves the outcome open, which keeps it a step in the chain and not a decision. Soft2Bet writes the flag into the record held against the account, in the system that observed the activity.

The specialist work that follows belongs to a separate layer on the Soft2Bet platform, starting from the flag entry, its date, and the account view behind it. Entries of this kind are what accountability is checked against, since each one shows a dated step on its platform and the evidence it rested on. Governance work needs that level of detail, because an operator answers for what the control did and when it ran. Soft2Bet holds the answer where the activity was observed, so the control and its evidence stay in one system.

Staff Writer; Fred Barnes

If they had advanced from the National League championship round and then beat the American League champion the Dodgers would have become the first National League team to accomplish such a feat and one of just a handful of professional teams in any sports to win three consecutive championships.

However, the Dodgers failed in their attempt to three-peat. It would have been a testament to the players and the management of the organization.

The Dodgers probably more than any baseball or professional sports team has been the avant-garde. The organization that broke the color barrier with the signing of Jackie Robinson.

That brought Latino fans to ball parks by signing players like Fernando Valenzuela and Pedro Guerrero. Japanese trailblazer Hideo Nomo over thirty years ago and now with Japanese and other Asian fans buying tickets and game shirts featuring the names of Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.

The sports columnists and other talking heads had bad-mouthed and blamed the Dodgers the entire season for an expected owners’ lockout. Now they were fast to declare the Dodgers failure to win a third consecutive championship to the Dodgers players being old, tired looking and no longer hungry.

Maybe, however, the Dodgers ran into a team that at the moment was playing better baseball then they were playing. A huge negative about the current MLB playoff format is that a team with a mediocre regular season sneaks into the playoffs and gets hot and lucky and ends up winning the World Series. This year’s World Series could have easily been between the Astros and Phillies.

But the real reason the Dodgers did not make it to the World Series this year is simple. It had nothing to do with being old, tired or not hungry. The reason the Dodgers failed to make it a third straight time to the World Series is because on July 23rd of this year they went to the White House.

After going to the White House, the Dodgers season went from dominant to mediocre. The next game after going to the White House they won, then they went on to lose seven straight games. They went from looking invincible and playing that way to a team that over the next several weeks basically did not win a series.

They went on gallantly despite injuries to star players to limp to the finish line. Several of their players who made the National League All Star team shortly after July 23rd ended up being injured.

For many Dodgers fans they were not surprised the Dodgers failed to three-peat after going to the White House. Some openly predicted that outcome because they went.

Many could not understand why the team would go to the White House after its current occupant had basically declared war on the city of Los Angeles. Who sent armed troops to the city for no reason other than to cause chaos and confusion. Who would state that Iran could “take out” the city of Los Angeles as if it was no big thing. But they went to the White House.

The Dodgers  have players, stars players, from Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Cuba and Canada all places where the current occupant of the White House has openly expressed hostility and aggression.

So why did Dodgers’ management “encourage” its players to go to the White House? Was it fearful like some countries, universities, media outlets, non-governmental organizations, major law firms and corporations to stand up to evil and instead take a knee and shallow their dignity and integrity?

The criticism of the Dodgers going to the White House had nothing to do with politics, but everything to do with right and wrong, good and evil. Unfortunately, after going to the White House, the Dodgers were cursed.

Yes, cursed. There are probably many in this age of smartphones, AI and all the other technological wonders which demonstrate how advanced mankind is find the idea preposterous. Yes, the advances in technology which makes the idea of curses, witches, devils, good and bad, evil and even God irrelevant.

Yes, technological advances which allows man to be quicker and more efficient in its killing of other men. Yes, we may hold smartphones and wear fitness watches and AI glasses but evil is everywhere and man remains a troglodyte.

Evil does exist and Satan and his army are working overtime. In fact, he is having a heyday.

One needs to look no further than 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The evil that has oozed out of there is unprecedented in US history. Again, this is not a political statement, but a statement based on morality, goodness and righteousness.

The suggestion is made to whoever wins the World Series this year and teams that win championships in other sports that they refuse to go to the White House. That is if they want to have another championship season until the White House undergoes an utter and thorough exorcism.

Staff Writer; Al Alatunji

Question or comment regarding this article? Feel free to send a message to: Alatunji@ThyBlackMan.com.

Key Takeaways

• Standard insurance products may not address every business operation, contract, or exposure.
• Specialty placements depend on clear communication among the business, insurance professionals, underwriters, and carriers.
• Delegated authority can allow qualified underwriting organizations to make certain decisions within carrier-approved guidelines.
• Accurate information, realistic pricing, and strong oversight remain essential for difficult risks.
• Businesses should review policy limits, exclusions, conditions, deductibles, and claims procedures before purchasing coverage.

Not every business fits neatly into a standard commercial insurance application. A company may use emerging technology, operate in a specialized industry, work under demanding contracts, or have property in an area with unusual weather exposure. These risks are often described as hard to place, meaning they may require more detailed underwriting or access to specialty insurance markets.

Specialty placements are not necessarily reserved for unsafe businesses. Often, the issue is simply that the operation does not match the assumptions built into a standard policy. Understanding the role of a managing general agent, along with agents, brokers, underwriters, and carriers, can help business owners make better coverage decisions.

Why Standard Coverage Falls Short

Standard coverage is designed to efficiently serve common, relatively predictable risks. That approach can work well for many offices, retailers, and service companies. It may be less suitable when a business has uncommon equipment, a limited operating history, significant contractual obligations, multiple locations, or specialized professional services.

A hard-to-place risk is not automatically a poor risk. It may simply need a policy structure that reflects its actual operations. For example, a software development business may have concerns about network security, professional services, and customer contracts that differ from those of a traditional storefront.

How Specialty Insurance Moves Through The Market

The specialty placement process usually begins with a thorough description of the business. The applicant provides information on revenue, locations, employees, services, safety procedures, contracts, prior losses, and requested coverage. A retail agent or broker then reviews the information and identifies possible insurance markets.

When the risk does not fit an accessible standard market, a wholesale broker or specialty underwriting organization may help locate capacity. The underwriter evaluates the submission, determines whether the risk fits its guidelines, and may offer terms on behalf of a carrier. If the terms are accepted, the policy is issued with stated limits, conditions, exclusions, and premiums.

Photorealistic candid documentary-style photo of a small business owner meeting with an insurance broker and specialty underwriter at a modest office table, reviewing business documents and a laptop with natural window light, realistic paperwork and coffee cups, subtle imperfect lighting, genuine in-the-moment collaboration, no posed smiles, no visible logos or readable text.

A simple placement path looks like this: Business owner or manager, retail agent or broker, wholesale specialist when needed, specialty underwriter, carrier, issued policy, and ongoing service.

The Key Players In A Specialty Placement

Businesses And Policyholders

Business owners provide the details that enable insurance professionals to evaluate exposure. Incomplete or outdated information can delay a quote, affect pricing, or create problems when a claim occurs. Operations should be described clearly, especially when the company changes its services, locations, ownership, payroll, equipment, or contractual responsibilities.

Retail Agents, Brokers, And Wholesale Brokers

Retail insurance professionals generally work directly with the business. They help identify coverage needs, explain policy options, and prepare a usable submission. Wholesale brokers can help retail professionals access specialized markets and provide perspective on risks that require more targeted underwriting.

Specialty Underwriters And Carriers

Specialty underwriters focus on defined classes of business or coverage lines. The carrier provides the insurance capacity and ultimately assumes the contractual risk under the policy. Depending on the arrangement, underwriting organizations may perform specific functions for a carrier, while the carrier establishes the program parameters and oversight requirements.

What Delegated Authority Means

Delegated authority means that an insurer authorizes another organization to perform certain tasks on its behalf under a written agreement. The authority may include reviewing risks, setting terms in accordance with approved rules, binding coverage, issuing documents, processing endorsements, or supporting claims administration.

That authority is not unlimited. Agreements commonly set boundaries around eligible classes of business, geographic areas, limits, pricing rules, reporting, audits, and claims responsibilities. Licensing requirements also vary by jurisdiction. The guidance for state producer licensing programs includes a section on managing general agents and illustrates why regulatory requirements should be checked at the state level.

MGA, Broker, And Agent: Key Differences

• Retail agent: Works with the business customer, explains coverage options, and submits applications to available markets.
• Broker: Helps a customer seek suitable coverage and may approach multiple insurers or markets, depending on licensing and market access.
• Wholesale broker: Assists retail professionals with specialty placements and access to markets that may not be directly available.
• Managing general agent: May have delegated authority to underwrite, price, bind, issue, or administer policies in accordance with carrier-approved guidelines.
• Carrier: Provides the policy capacity and is the insurer named in the insurance contract.

Titles can overlap in day-to-day insurance distribution, and an organization’s authority depends on its licensing, appointments, and agreements. A broader overview of the managing general agent role in insurance distribution can provide useful background, but the policy documents and applicable state rules control a specific transaction.

Examples Of Hard-To-Place Risks

• Technology companies: They may need protection related to cyber events, technology services, and contractual liability.
• Construction businesses: Complex projects, subcontractor requirements, project locations, and specialized work can require closer review.
• Renewable energy operators: Equipment values, repair logistics, weather exposure, and revenue interruptions may require tailored analysis.
• Medical and professional practices: Coverage needs can depend on the services provided, credentials held, procedures performed, and regulatory obligations.
• New business models: A limited operating or claims history can make it harder for an underwriter to evaluate expected loss patterns.

Questions To Ask Before Choosing Coverage

• Which carrier is issuing the policy?
• Who can quote, bind, change, or cancel coverage?
• Which risks, services, locations, or events are excluded?
• Do the limits meet contractual, lender, or asset-protection needs?
• What deductible or self-insured retention applies?
• How must claims be reported, and who will handle them?
• Are there ongoing conditions involving safety, maintenance, inspections, or cybersecurity?
• What information must be updated before renewal?

What May Shape Specialty Insurance

Technology, weather exposure, supply chain conditions, privacy obligations, and changing business models can all affect how underwriters assess specialized risks. Better data tools may support more detailed analysis, but they do not replace reliable submissions, clear documentation, or sound judgment.

Specialty insurance works best when every participant understands their role. Businesses provide accurate information, insurance professionals explain the available options, underwriters evaluate the details, and carriers provide the financial backing. When those elements align, a complex risk can receive coverage tailored to real operations rather than being forced into a standard template.

Staff Writer; Derrick Jones

Imagine being a 25-year-old, 6’5” guy who goes by the local park. There you see eight-year-old kids playing basketball. You ask if you can join, and they readily agree. Then you dominate. You score at will. You block any shot that they dare put up. In short, you are unstoppable.

It would seem that this analogy applies to Elon Musk. When he joined Tesla, it was common wisdom that nobody could set up a new car company. Some, like DeLorean, tried, but they all failed. There was Mercedes, Fiat, GM, Ford, etc., and that was it. You could try something, but it would either fail or be gobbled up by the big guys for pennies on the dollar. Then came Tesla. Tesla’s current market capitalization of nearly $1.5 trillion is more than 10 times that of the “Big Three” combined. And Musk was not the son of Lee Iacocca or some car engineer who wanted to prove others wrong. He showed up out of the blue, made and makes incredible cars, and is leading the world in driverless vehicles with Robotaxis poised to supplant the traditional cab and Uber business models.

And Musk seems to be like this in every field he enters. When our kids were young, I showed them the Tintin color cartoon videos. They were clean, they were high-quality, and most importantly, our kids learned English from them. In one of Hergé’s books and the subsequent movie, Tintin’s friend Calculus takes a rocket to the moon. In the video, the rocket lands very nicely upright on the moon. I said that was dumb and explained to the kids about disposable boosters, capsule, lunar lander, etc. I am not worth a trillion dollars. Maybe Musk saw the same thing as a kid and said, “That’s a great idea. Point noted.” He was the first to land rocket boosters upright, and he is still the only one to catch them in the air. He has run circles around NASA, Boeing, and others who seem to have never left the cocoon of Apollo success from the 1970s.

In every field and during every period, there have been individuals who have stood head and shoulders above their peers. In Madrid, there was a ball hung over 9 feet in the air to mimic the height of a ball that Ronaldo knocked in with a header. Michael Jordan won six championships, was MVP multiple times, and also was defensive player of the year. Thomas Edison is still the benchmark for patents and inventions in multiple key fields. There are simply people who are much better than those around them, and it oftentimes isn’t even close. When I was a kid, I was enamored with Vida Blue. At just 21 years of age, he accomplished the following:

39 Starts

24-8 record

312 innings pitched

301 strikeouts

24 complete games

AL MVP and Cy Young Winner

Just for a smidgen of comparison: in 2026, in the entire Major League Baseball, there were 21 complete games, while the strikeout leader had 252.

One of the many amazing aspects of Elon Musk is that he doesn’t use his towering superiority in his fields of endeavor in order to crush his competition. Just the opposite. He has mentioned on several occasions that his patents for Tesla are free for use by competitors. He wants better rockets and better self-driving cars, so he lets others use his company’s advances. It has been reported that he slept on the floor in Washington during his DOGE work and did the same at some of his factories. He has a trailer where he apparently sleeps on site when he is at SpaceX. The anti-Musk would be living it big with a fleet of planes and a yacht that stretches from Boston to New York. He would be suing all of his competitors for patent infringement and looking for ways to knock them out of business. Musk is a rare bird, one that comes along once in every couple of generations. Sure, he is wealthy, but his wealth does not seem to have gotten to his head. He has business and humanity goals, and he seems totally focused on them. As “Mr. Wonderful” said, Elon Musk is 100 percent signal and 0 percent noise.

We should celebrate Musk’s great accomplishments. His cars have generated millions of miles of hands-free driving data. His engineers are making better algorithms for even greater success in self-driving. Like Steve Jobs wanting “only 1 percent” of the market with the original iPhone rollout, Musk is starting his Robotaxis in a few markets before he takes over the hired car business. His rockets will be taking off on daily or even hourly schedules. SpaceX will completely revolutionize human space activities, something not seen since NASA sent astronauts to the moon. The US government is streamlining its permitting in light of Musk’s plans, which in turn is allowing Musk to modify his rockets to make frequent launches more feasible. Watching Starlink satellites pop out of his most recent Starship launch is like living a hundred years forward.

One could easily and correctly make a similar argument about Donald Trump. At 80, he seems to need no sleep. He returns late to the White House from rallies or international trips and starts his formal day at 8 the next morning. He could have retired after 2020 and the Biden DOJ would have left him alone. He chose to run again, was shot at, arrested, had his house ransacked by the FBI, and was dragged through four different court cases. Yet, here he is once again as president, kicking the Chinese out of the Americas, pushing Iran to the brink of destruction, and directing America towards a new economic golden age. Biden was barely there, while Obama caved to America’s enemies and made its health system worse and more expensive. Donald Trump and his secretaries are pointing the US towards 250 years of success and international leadership. Look at Marco Rubio’s speech in Athens. That is the venue for the leader of the modern Western world.

Margaret Thatcher once gave a famous speech in Parliament in which she noted that as the rich got richer, everyone — including the poor — also went up in net worth. She accused her opposition of wanting the rich to be poorer via taxes and, in the process, the poor would also become poorer. Even if one does not own a Tesla or a Starlink receiver, he benefits from Elon Musk’s actions. Musk has set the standards for his fields of endeavor. Waymo looks 19^th-century with its multiple Lidar systems. Musk took a bet and went with cameras and software. Right now, his Robotaxis are winning, and the millions of miles of FSD (Full Self-Driving) on Tesla cars are helping to improve algorithms and object identification in all light and weather conditions. How would you like to be a Boeing executive in front of Congress, describing how they were going to let a first rocket stage land in the ocean? “Why can’t you do like Musk and save us money?” When Starlink adds phone service to its WiFi service for access anywhere on the globe, I might become their next new customer.

Many people are jealous of Elon Musk, while others hate him for his politics/social views. I think that we should appreciate his accomplishments and vision. When some company says that it will have a new product by 2030, I add five years. When Musk says it, I circle the date on the calendar. Musk knows what he wants and can achieve, and then goes about getting the job done. How quickly did he get Grok up as the best AI (or SI) app? Good on Elon Musk.

Written by Alan Joseph Bauer

Official website; https://x.com/bauer_alanjosep

Even if you oppose Israel’s reaction to the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, the answer is still black and white for any person with a conscience. Certainly, it should be for any person who wants to become a naturalized citizen of the United States. After all, Hamas is designated by the State Department as a terrorist organization for, among other things, murdering Americans.

But the fact that Khalil can’t condemn Hamas — and anyone paying attention understands that he supports the terrorist army — not only tells us that he deserves to be deported but also that it’s imperative we deport him.

During the 1960s and 1970s, immigration officials grilled newcomers to the U.S. and elsewhere about their affiliations with communist parties. Why would we import people who want to destroy our system? Newcomers were, and still are, compelled to disavow associations with illiberal movements, violent groups and ideologies. They were also required to promise not to engage in any subversive or revolutionary activity.

Well, Khalil’s entire job as an “activist” is to engage in subversive or revolutionary activity.

Khalil is an Algerian citizen, incidentally, not a Palestinian, though he is a champion of Palestinianism, one of the most nihilistic, bigoted, violent, anti-Western ideologies of the age. There’s no anti-American or Marxist protest or riot anywhere in the world these days where Palestinian flags are not prominent.

The French, of course, don’t need much impetus to riot. But protests that began over a lack of school funding a few weeks ago have now escalated into increasingly destructive and violent riots across France, clearly fueled in part by Marxist pro-Palestinian elements. The red-green alliance between Islamists and communists isn’t new — it’s just more popular than ever. France has over 5 million Muslims.

What you see happening on the streets of Paris is exactly what Khalil hopes to see in the U.S. We saw as much when he was the lead “negotiator” for Columbia University Apartheid Divest, which rioted at the school in 2025. The group’s goal is to fight for the “total eradication of Western civilization,” “global intifada” and the “armed resistance” of Hamas. That doesn’t sound very American.

Khalil’s friend, Mohsen Mahdawi, another leader of CUAD fighting against deportation, reportedly has a propensity to make Hamas-like statements, such as “I like to kill Jews,” “soon, very soon, we will annihilate the Jews,” and that “servants of the Jews or the Americans” will have their heads “cut off.” Would we give citizenship to a foreigner who said, “I like to kill blacks” or “I like to kill Christians”? I hope not.

Khalil is being deported for lying on his application, though he was initially picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for threatening U.S. foreign policy. These deportations should not be treated as a matter of botched paperwork but as a matter of national security.

The problem is that it’s taken years and likely millions of dollars in legal fees to deport Khalil and Mahdawi. If it’s this difficult and expensive to kick out anti-American agitators, it would be far better to block their entry in the first place.

Even if you are staunchly pro-immigration, surely you would rather bestow the gift of citizenship on decent people who embrace the ethos and social cohesion we’ve enjoyed in the U.S. than on extremists.

Yes, free speech is a universal right. And while I support Khalil’s natural right to express himself unfettered in his home country of Algeria, or anywhere else he ends up living, there is no unfettered right to be in the U.S. There is certainly no unfettered right to citizenship. And the only useful adjective to describe the act of knowingly handing it to people who incite unrest and detest us is suicidal.

Written by David Harsanyi

Official website; http://twitter.com/davidharsanyi

For families with a child in middle school, Score Academy Online is our top pick: it is Cognia accredited, its middle school program covers grades 6 to 8 within a wider K-12 private online school, and families can choose among three scheduling formats. These include live small-group classes, live lessons with recordings, and fully self-paced study, all with real teachers. Families who need K-12 continuity during international moves should look closely at Forest Trail Academy. Those who want self-paced study backed by a traditional school support team may find The Keystone School a particularly good fit.

The sections ahead include a quick comparison and guidance on what to look for, followed by detailed profiles of each school. Each profile covers strengths and trade-offs, and the closing questions address common concerns about schedules, support, and school records.

At a glance

What to look for

Choosing well matters in middle school. Grades 6 to 8 build the study habits your child will carry into high school, so scheduling flexibility needs to sit alongside dependable academic support. Look for legitimate credentials, a workable weekly schedule, access to teachers, and courses designed for the middle grades rather than a program that simply offers them on paper.

• Accreditation status: Look for recognition from a known body such as Cognia or WASC. It signals that credits and school transcripts are documented to a standard high schools understand.
• Scheduling options vary: some schools are fully self-paced, some offer live online classes with recordings, and some blend both. Consider whether your child needs to work around travel or benefits from regular live contact.
• Teacher and support access: A strong private online school gives you real educators, advisors, or counselors you can reach, not just videos and quizzes. Check how and when students and parents can get help.
• Grade-level fit matters even within a K-12 school. Make sure the middle school courses, workload, and support are built for ages 11 to 14 rather than adapted from high school without enough attention to younger students.

The 6 best online schools for flexible scheduling

These six schools aim to help families balance school with sports, travel, and everyday life, and each provides documented coursework and teacher or staff support. Their grade ranges and learning formats differ, as do the ways families get help. Number one is our top recommendation for most middle school families; the others may fit better when a particular scheduling or support need takes priority.

#1. Score Academy Online – best for accredited middle school program with multiple formats

Score Academy Online is a private K-12 online school with a middle school program for grades 6 to 8, designed for families who want structure without a rigid school day.

The program lets you get accredited education from home through three packages: live small-group classes, live group lessons with recordings you can review later, and fully self-paced study. Every path includes teacher involvement rather than automated lessons alone. Live packages offer real-time interaction and teacher chat; asynchronous study includes teacher grading and progress tracking, but not live lessons or teacher chat. If scheduling is your main concern, compare these packages against an ordinary training or travel week, including the time your child can realistically set aside for lessons and independent work.

For athletes and travelers, the live option with recordings can be a useful middle ground. Your child gets regular teacher contact and a class rhythm, with recordings available to review from a hotel or rink. Recordings provide replay access; review attendance requirements before planning travel during scheduled lessons. Fully self-paced study works well when schedules change from week to week, while the small-group live format suits students who focus better with peers and a set meeting time.

Strengths

• Cognia accredited private school background, which helps high schools understand your child’s records
• Three formats under one roof, with live small-group classes and recorded live lessons alongside self-paced online learning
• Real teachers in every package, not software only
• Middle grades focus means reading, writing, math, and study skills are pitched for grades 6 to 8
• Record keeping designed to produce a clear transcript for high school applications

Trade-offs

• Fully self-paced study requires a regular progress routine at home, particularly for students still learning to organize their work
• Private school tuition applies, so it is not a free public virtual school option
• Live formats still require some routine, which can be difficult during peak tournament or travel weeks

Best for: Families who want an accredited online middle school with a choice between live teacher contact and independent study with teacher grading.

#2. Sterling Academy – best for year-round rolling enrollment and part-time coursework

Sterling Academy’s Cognia/SACS-accredited program covers grades 6 through 12 and is built around self-paced study with round-the-clock access to coursework. The school also offers K-5, but its stated Cognia/SACS accreditation specifically covers the middle and high school grades.

You can enroll full-time or part-time, pursue a diploma pathway, or take individual courses to supplement homeschool or another program. Enrollment is open year-round. That means families do not have to wait for fall, and students get 24/7 access to online coursework plus opportunities for one-on-one assistance when they get stuck.

That setup fits competitive dancers, hockey players, equestrians, and families who travel for work. Your child can plan coursework for early mornings, evenings, or gaps between events while keeping course-completion deadlines in view. Part-time enrollment and single-course options are useful if you only need math and science online and plan to keep other subjects elsewhere.

Strengths

• Accredited 6 to 12 program with 24/7 coursework access, allowing students to choose when they study
• Full-time and part-time enrollment, plus individual courses for families supplementing another program
• Year-round start dates remove the September-only barrier
• One-on-one assistance available for tougher units
• Clear fit for athletes and performers with uneven weekly hours

Trade-offs

• Self-paced success depends on student motivation and parent check-ins, especially in grades 6 to 8
• Less daily live class community than a live small-group model, which some social learners miss
• A simple weekly plan for progress checks can help keep work from piling up before travel

Best for: Families who want to start any time of year, study part-time, or add single courses around sports and travel.

#3. The Keystone School – best for self-paced learning with traditional school support

The Keystone School is an accredited online school offering self-paced distance learning across elementary, middle, and high school, with full-time enrollment as well as part-time and homeschool routes.

The school-style support behind the self-paced courses is a key part of its appeal. Families have access to educators, administrators, and guidance services staff, and can reach faculty and staff by phone or email. Teachers are state certified, so instruction and feedback come from licensed professionals rather than an automated system alone.

If your child is leaving a brick-and-mortar school, this can feel familiar. There is grading, school structure, and someone to call when you have a question, while your child still controls when learning happens during the day. It suits families who want independent study with a school team available to help.

Strengths

• Self-paced courses across elementary, middle, and high school, available through full-time, part-time, and homeschool routes
• Dedicated faculty and administrators, with guidance staff available for academic and administrative questions
• Licensed teachers provide grading and support
• Reachable by phone or email, which helps parents who want clear accountability
• Good bridge for students moving from a traditional school to flexible online learning

Trade-offs

• Students still need to manage daily progress on their own, so parent oversight matters in middle school
• Fewer scheduled live peer classes than cohort-based models, which can feel quiet for social learners
• Families with very heavy travel may need to build their own weekly rhythm around deadlines

Best for: Students who want to work independently but keep the backing of a full school team.

#4. Forest Trail Academy – best for international families and K-12 breadth

Forest Trail Academy is an accredited international K-12 online school based in West Palm Beach, Florida, with toll-free and direct phone support.

The K-12 range is the draw here. You can keep siblings in one system and continue from middle school into high school without applying to a different school. Its international enrollment makes it relevant to families living abroad, moving often, or schooling across time zones. US-based administration also gives parents a point of contact for school records and questions.

For middle schoolers who travel internationally or split time between countries, staying in one continuous program through grades 6 to 8 and beyond can reduce paperwork and transcript gaps. That continuity is worth considering alongside the day-to-day task of finding study time while away from home.

Strengths

• Accredited K-12 online school, so your child can stay in one program as they grow
• Experience with international families and mobile lifestyles
• US-based office with phone support for admissions and records
• Useful continuity for siblings in different grades
• Documented coursework that supports applications to the next school

Trade-offs

• Keeping one school during travel does not remove the need to reserve consistent study time across changing time zones
• Younger middle schoolers still need a parent to help organize coursework and equipment, and find a suitable place to study

Best for: Families abroad, frequent movers, or parents who want one K-12 home for several years.

#5. Acellus Academy – best for structured platform-led learning

Acellus Academy is a structured online school serving grades K to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12, known for its guided online course system with parent tools.

Students follow a clear course sequence using video-based instruction and practice, with checks for understanding along the way. Automated diagnostics help target missing concepts, and a parent monitoring account shows progress, attendance patterns, and grades. Families can enroll full-time or choose individual courses, and phone support is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time from its Kansas City base. The school holds WASC accreditation.

This is a good fit if your middle schooler likes clear steps and predictable routines. Your child logs in and follows the lesson path, while you can review progress in the evening after practice without having to sit alongside every lesson.

Strengths

• Clear grade bands, including a dedicated 6 to 8 middle school segment
• Structured lesson path with built-in checks that help students fill gaps
• Parent account for monitoring pace and grades
• Full-time or individual course enrollment for flexible planning
• WASC accreditation supports record credibility

Trade-offs

• Platform-led style means less live teacher interaction than live class models
• Phone help is limited to weekday business hours, which can be tricky across time zones or on weekends
• Students who need discussion and peer interaction may find the format quiet

Best for: Independent middle schoolers who thrive with a structured, step-by-step online program and active parent monitoring.

#6. Obridge Academy – best for personalized support with counseling and advisement

Obridge Academy offers flexible online alternatives for middle school and high school with an emphasis on personalized attention.

Alongside subject teachers, the school has an education team that includes counseling and advisement professionals and a Director of Support Services. That team supports international students and those catching up after a tough year, as well as students planning next steps toward higher education pathways. Obridge Academy is Cognia accredited and offers both middle school and high school programs.

For parents, the appeal is access to several kinds of support. Your child can get academic instruction alongside help from an advisement team, a useful combination when a family wants guidance on coursework and the transition to high school.

Strengths

• Online middle school and high school options with flexible pacing
• Built-in counseling and advisement team alongside subject help
• Personalized attention aimed at nontraditional learners and international students
• Support leadership on staff for coordinating interventions
• Pathway guidance that looks ahead to high school and beyond

Trade-offs

• Counseling and advisement complement coursework but do not replace a student’s need for regular study time
• A personalized support approach works best when students communicate difficulties and families stay involved in academic planning

Best for: Middle schoolers who do best with extra adult guidance alongside academics, including students rebuilding momentum.

Frequently asked questions about flexible online middle schools

Which is best for families who want no Zoom and minimal live meetings?

If you want the least live time, compare fully self-paced options first. Sterling Academy, The Keystone School, and Acellus Academy let students progress without daily live attendance, with help available by message, email, or phone. Score Academy Online can also work if you choose its fully self-paced package rather than its live formats. Before enrolling, ask whether any specific course requires live sessions so you can judge the schedule against your family’s commitments.

Which is best for struggling students versus students who just need more time?

For students who are behind or have lost confidence, compare support depth rather than pace alone. Obridge Academy offers counseling and advisement alongside personalized attention, while The Keystone School has guidance staff and licensed teachers behind its self-paced courses. If your child is doing fine academically and mainly needs room for sports or travel, focus on how the schedule works in practice. Score Academy Online’s format choices and Sterling Academy’s self-paced access are worth comparing, with support needs considered separately from timing.

What is the difference between transcripts from flexible online schools and traditional schools for high school admissions?

The learning format matters less than documentation and accreditation. A strong accredited online school issues a transcript that includes courses, grades, credits, and school details high schools know how to read. Ask whether the school is Cognia accredited or WASC accredited, how grades are recorded, and what records you receive if you leave midyear. Keep report cards and course descriptions, along with contact details for the registrar, to make a transfer easier to manage. The receiving high school decides placement and whether any courses taken for high school credit meet its requirements.

What is the difference between a self-paced online school and a live virtual school?

Self-paced means your child controls when learning happens within broad deadlines, which helps around practices and flights. In a live virtual school, classes meet online at set times, adding routine and peer contact but allowing less day-to-day freedom. Some schools blend both approaches through live lessons with recordings. Match the choice to your child: independent workers often prefer self-paced study, while social or easily distracted learners often do better with regular live contact.

What is the difference between accredited and unaccredited online programs and how do you check?

Accreditation means an outside body has reviewed the school’s curriculum quality, teacher qualifications, and record keeping. An unaccredited program can still teach content, but future schools may question its credits. Look for the accreditor’s name on the school site, then find the school in the accreditor’s directory. You can also call the school to ask for its accreditation ID and details of the transcript you receive. Be wary of vague claims that do not name an accrediting body.

Which is best for full-time travel versus part-time supplement?

For full-time travel or a full course load around elite sports, compare Score Academy Online for its middle grade program and format choices, Sterling Academy for year-round starts and 24/7 access, and Forest Trail Academy for K-12 continuity abroad. For part-time needs, Sterling Academy and Acellus Academy offer individual courses, while The Keystone School has part-time and homeschool routes with school support. Choose full-time when you want one transcript source and part-time when you only need one or two subjects.

Your next step by scenario

If your priority is middle school with a choice of learning formats, start with Score Academy Online for its grades 6 to 8 program and real teachers. If you need to start midseason or add single courses, consider Sterling Academy’s rolling entry and part-time paths. If you want self-paced work with a familiar school team behind you, look at The Keystone School. For families living abroad or seeking one school from middle through high school, Forest Trail Academy is a practical option. Acellus Academy suits students who like a clear platform path with parent oversight, while Obridge Academy is worth considering for advisement alongside classes. As you compare options for 2026, use your actual family calendar to judge which schedule leaves room for schoolwork while keeping teacher support and records in place.

Staff Writer; Peter Washington

That is not public service. It is an abuse of public trust.

I did not come to Congress to get rich. I did not walk through the doors of the Capitol with a massive personal fortune or a family stock portfolio worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Since taking office, I have not completed a single stock trade. Not one.

My financial focus is not on finding the next stock to buy. I have focused on delivering results for the people of Arizona’s 8th Congressional District because that’s what public service is about.

That is why I voted for H.R. 7008, the bipartisan Stop Insider Trading Act. This legislation prohibits members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children from purchasing individual stocks while the member is in office. It also requires advance public notice before covered stocks are sold and establishes penalties for violations.

The reason this legislation is necessary should be obvious.

Members of Congress routinely receive classified briefings, meet privately with senior government officials, oversee federal agencies, and learn about legislation and regulations that can move markets. We are given that information to serve the country, not to make a quick buck.

Americans should never have to wonder whether their representative voted for a bill because it was good for the country or because it might increase the value of a personal investment, but they do for good reason.

In 2025 alone, members of Congress reportedly made more than 13,000 trades totaling more than $635 million. Over the past year, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s household reportedly disclosed approximately $52.5 million in trades across 21 transactions.

Pelosi denies involvement in her husband’s investment decisions, but that does not erase the larger problem. When the household of one of the most powerful lawmakers in American history moves tens of millions of dollars through the stock market, the American people have every right to demand answers and stronger safeguards.

This issue is bigger than any one member or any one political party. There is a long list of lawmakers whose wealth has increased dramatically during their time in office. Some congressional households have reported returns that would make professional hedge fund managers jealous.

Maybe every trade was legal. Maybe every transaction can be explained. But the appearance of corruption is itself corrosive. It tells Americans that Washington has one set of rules for the politically connected and another for everyone else.

If a corporate executive traded using confidential information, federal investigators would take notice. If an ordinary American failed to follow securities laws, ignorance would not be accepted as an excuse. Members of Congress should not receive special treatment simply because they write the laws.

If members want to spend their days buying and selling individual stocks, they should resign from Congress and go work on Wall Street.

Some of my colleagues may not like hearing that. I do not care. I was not elected to protect the comfort, portfolios, or reputations of Washington politicians. I was elected to represent Arizona and hold the federal government accountable, even when that means confronting members of my own institution.

One of my constituents recently thanked me for voting for the Stop Insider Trading Act, saying that instead of focusing on my own portfolio, I chose to invest in the people of my district. That is exactly right.

My investment is in securing our border, supporting law enforcement, protecting veterans, lowering costs for working families, strengthening our military, and expanding opportunity throughout Arizona.

The House took an important step by passing the Stop Insider Trading Act. Now the Senate must act and send it to President Trump’s desk.

Congress is not a casino. A congressional office is not a trading desk. Classified briefings are not investment tips.

The American people are tired of politicians getting richer while they get squeezed. I have made zero stock trades since taking office because I did not come to Washington to invest in myself. Wouldn’t it be nice if more politicians had a similar mindset?

Written by Congressman Abe Hamadeh

Official website; https://x.com/RepAbeHamadeh

How to Use Synthetic Indices Signals

Signals can be based on technical concepts like price action, support and resistance, trends, breakouts, momentum, or volatility. Some services also use automated indicators and algorithms to identify chart patterns.

Volatility indices, Boom and Crash indices, Jump indices, Step indices, and other synthetic products each have different movement profiles. You can look for confirmation of the proposed setup and determine whether the suggested entry fits your trading plan. 

Position sizing is also particularly important because fast-moving synthetic instruments can produce substantial gains and losses within a short period. Starting with a demo account can help traders practise executing their strategy without immediately putting real capital at risk.

Where to Learn More About Synthetic Indices Signals

Traders who want to develop a deeper understanding of these markets can start learning more about synthetic indices signals on the SyntxWiki platform. SyntxWiki provides educational guides covering synthetic index categories, strategies, charts, brokers, technical analysis, and individual instruments. 

The platform can be especially useful for beginners who want to understand how different synthetic indices work before attempting to trade them. Its educational materials also emphasize risk management and recommend testing strategies on demo accounts before committing real funds. 

4 Key Benefits of Trading Synthetic Indices

• 24/7 Market Access

Many synthetic indices are available around the clock, including weekends. . 

• Less Dependence on Economic News

Synthetic indices are algorithmically generated. This allows traders to concentrate on price behaviour and their technical strategy. 

• Different Volatility Profiles

Synthetic markets offer instruments with different movement characteristics. Traders can therefore study markets ranging from relatively slower volatility to products designed around faster price movements and sudden spikes.

• Opportunities to Practise Technical Analysis

Traders can practise concepts such as trend identification, support and resistance, breakouts, candlestick analysis, and risk management across different market conditions. This is a recommended strategy as synthetic indices provide continuous chart data.

Overall, the availability of signals does not eliminate trading risk. A signal could be wrong, delayed, or unsuitable for a trader’s account size and strategy. Traders should therefore avoid risking money they cannot afford to lose, use appropriate position sizes, consider stop-loss protection where suitable, and keep a record of their trades. 

Synthetic indices signals can be a useful educational and analytical tool for traders who want to explore algorithm-generated markets. However, the strongest approach is to combine signals with personal chart analysis, a clearly defined strategy, and disciplined risk management. Platforms like SyntxWiki can help traders build their knowledge, understand different synthetic markets, and make more informed decisions. Ultimately, a signal should be viewed as one input into a trading decision.

Staff Writer; Jay Stewart