Latest / Sunny Mornings Boston / Credit Cards, NFL Kickoffs, Steve Martin, Food Trucks, Cleopatra

Transcript

Credit Cards, NFL Kickoffs, Steve Martin, Food Trucks, Cleopatra · Sunny Mornings Boston

• 0:00
  Good morning and a warm welcome to your show, Sunny Mornings in Boston.
• 0:08
  I'm your host Melissa, and it's Wednesday, March 27th.
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  Coming up on today's show, we'll get into the surf report and the weather outlook, then
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  we'll jump into some local news and a few interesting happenings in business, tech,
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  and entertainment.
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  But first, you'll be interested to know, 2071 years ago, today in 47 BC.
• 0:34
  Amidst the power struggle in Rome between Julius Caesar and Pompey, also known as Pompey
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  the Great, Cleopatra saw an opportunity to solidify her reign.
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  Following Pompey's assassination in Egypt, Caesar arrived in Alexandria, leading to a
• 0:50
  romantic and political alliance between him and Cleopatra.
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  This partnership resulted in Cleopatra's reinstatement as Queen of Egypt in 47 BC,
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  after she had been exiled by her brother Ptolemy.
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  Supported by Roman military might, Cleopatra's re-ascension to the throne not only highlighted
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  her strategic acumen, but also marked the beginning of a significant era of prosperity
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  and peace under her rule.
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  So now you know.
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  And now you know what time it is.
• 1:25
  It's time for the weather report.
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  In the Boston area.
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  This morning it's cloudy and feels like 37 degrees, with 6 mile per hour wind.
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  The sunset will take place at 7.05 and it will rise again tomorrow at 6.32.
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  It looks like we're in for areas of drizzle with a chance of showers and patchy fog afternoon.
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  Otherwise cloudy with a high near 37 and wind of 14 to 17 mile per hour.
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  Chance of precipitation is 40 percent, with new rain amounts of less than a tenth of an
• 2:03
  inch.
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  Tonight, areas of drizzle with a chance of showers and patchy fog.
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  For all you beach runners out there, the first low tide Wednesday will be at 7.30 a.m. with
• 2:16
  a high tide just before 1.30.
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  The nearshore buoy at Cape Cod Bay reads 41 degrees for the water temperature.
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  Looking ahead in the weather.
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  Thursday features rain a high of 52 degrees with a 90 percent chance of precipitation.
• 2:37
  The rain continues into the night with temperatures dropping to 39.
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  Friday starts with likely morning rain, leading to a mostly cloudy day at 47 degrees and breezy
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  conditions.
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  Saturday turns mostly sunny with a high of 51 despite strong wind.
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  Sunday is sunny, reaching 52 degrees with steady northwest wind.
• 3:02
  Bonjour, food enthusiasts.
• 3:06
  This podcast is brought to you by Versailles Cafe and Pastries in Encinitas.
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  Nestled on El Camino Real South, just north of Encinitas Boulevard, this cafe is a haven
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  for culinary delights.
• 3:21
  Indulge in their amazing Eggs Benedict or their gluten-free crepes.
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  You can grab a panini for lunch or just breeze on through to get your morning coffee.
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  They are open every day from 8 to 5.
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  So stop on by and don't forget to tell them.
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  Sunny mornings send you.
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  This year, the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy in downtown Boston will host more than two
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  dozen food trucks, marking the 15th season of its food truck program starting April 1.
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  The lineup features 25 local businesses.
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  Notably, nine new trucks will join the program, including Bees and Thank You, Daddy's Bonetown
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  Burgers, Hometown Pokey, Mr. Gourmet, Northeast of the Border, Smoke Food Truck, Tandor and
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  Curry on Wheels, Vita Gelato, and Zaki.
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  These trucks, offering a variety of cuisines from bubble tea and burgers to cookies and
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  cakes, will be located across various Greenway sites, with the program also featuring a food
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  truck festival on May 4 at Rose Wharf Plaza.
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  Now on to sports.
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  The NFL is introducing a significant change to kickoffs to enhance safety and increase
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  the number of returns.
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  This new approach involves positioning the majority of players downfield before the kick,
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  aiming to reduce high-speed collisions.
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  Players will kick off from their 35-yard line with their teammates at the receiving team's
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  40-yard line and most of the return team between their 35 and 30-yard lines.
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  This setup is expected to lower injury rates and make the play safer, while aiming to double
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  the return rate from 21% in 2023 to between 50% and 60% in 2024.
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  The change, seen as one of the most significant since the introduction of Replay Review, will
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  be tested as a one-year experiment.
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  Sounds kinda crazy to me.
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  Last night in local sports, the Bruins at home beat the Panthers 4-3.
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  And tonight, the Bruins are on the road in Tampa to take on the Lightning.
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  In talk news, the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge has spotlighted the
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  urgent need for infrastructure attention in the U.S.
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  Despite no signs of negligence, this incident underlines a broader national crisis of aging
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  and underfunded infrastructure.
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  With nearly 10% of the country's 617,000 bridges significantly compromised and countless
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  other critical structures in dire condition, the incident in Baltimore could force a more
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  focused federal response.
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  President Biden has committed to rebuilding the Key Bridge, but many other structures
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  lack similar commitments.
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  The bipartisan infrastructure law of 2021 provides $1.2 trillion over five years, the
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  largest investment in U.S. infrastructure history.
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  Yet experts warn this may only be a temporary fix without sustained funding and maintenance
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  efforts.
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  In business news, Visa and MasterCard's agreement to lower swipe fees by an average of 0.07%
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  over the next five years following a nearly two-decade court battle could have significant
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  implications for credit card rewards.
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  Swipe fees, which can range up to 4% for premium cards, fund various cardholder benefits, including
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  cashback, travel points, and shopping perks.
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  With a reduction in these fees, there might be concerns about the sustainability of these
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  rewards.
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  However, the Electronic Payments Coalition has applauded the settlement, indicating it
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  could prevent the need for the proposed Credit Card Competition Act, which might have negatively
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  impacted consumers and rewards programs.
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  Despite the potential for reduced rewards, this agreement is seen as a positive development
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  for reducing business costs and maintaining consumer benefits.
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  In crypto movement, Bitcoin is at $70,000.
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  Ethereum is at $3,500.
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  And Solana is nearing $188.
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  Moving on to a more local vibe.
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  In our community spotlight on health and wellness, we are working with a national Pilates studio
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  to bring you some free classes, so listen up.
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  Check out Club Pilates with several locations in the Boston area.
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  Pilates presents a comprehensive wellness approach, cultivating strength, reducing tension,
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  and elevating mental well-being.
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  Scientific research affirms its benefits.
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  So now you can check out Club Pilates for a free class.
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  With locations in Canton, Wellesley, Hingham, Brookline, and Framingham, just be sure to
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  tell them Sunny Morning sent you by.
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  And now, back to the show.
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  Let's talk tech.
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  A groundbreaking discovery has unveiled a new chapter in the storied history of William
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  Shakespeare, revealing his younger sister, Joan Shakespeare Hart, as the true author
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  of a long misunderstood family document.
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  This revelation challenges the long-held belief at the document, found in 1757 and believed
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  to be penned by their father, John Shakespeare, signifies a dramatic shift in the understanding
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  of the Shakespeare family's religious affiliations.
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  Joan, a figure previously shattered by her illustrious brother, emerges as a secret Catholic
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  sympathizer in Protestant England.
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  This finding not only sheds light on the secretive nature of the Shakespeare family, but also
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  underscores the evolving methodologies in historical research, leveraging digital archives
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  to solve mysteries that have puzzled scholars for centuries.
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  And in entertainment news, Steve Martin's multifaceted career and personal journey are
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  captured in a unique documentary by Morgan Neville titled Steve, a Documentary in Two
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  Pieces.
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  The film premiering on Apple TV+, dowels into Martin's life, showcasing his evolution
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  from a Disneyland performer and stand-up comedian to a movie star, banjo player, father and
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  comedy duo with Martin Short.
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  Through reflections and archival footage, the documentary attempts to synthesize the
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  various stages of Martin's life, highlighting his impact on comedy and his personal growth.
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  Despite his critical view of his earlier work, Martin acknowledges the joy in his current
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  endeavors, especially his comedic partnership with Short.
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  Now content and considering himself at his best, Martin reflects on a life that seems
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  almost in reverse, marked by a late-stage tranquility and happiness he hadn't anticipated.
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  Well alrighty folks, it's time for the quote of the day.
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  And today, our quote comes from William Shakespeare.
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  The great poet said,
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  Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win,
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  By fearing to attempt.
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  And that's a wrap for this morning.
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  Remember to stay tuned tomorrow for more news and updates.
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  Have an amazing day my good friends.