Another week, another classified doc haul at an ex-VP's home. If you feel guilty about the clutter at your place, just be glad that it's t-shirts and not nuclear codes that cover your floor. National security concerns aside, we cannot wait for the next season of Hoarders. Hope you all have a great weekend, and let's kick it off with today's 20 Questions!

In today's edition:

• Shopping patters detect cancer?

• First AI speech on House floor

• 20 Questions!

 🔑 Key Stories

Classified Documents Found at Pence’s Home

Mike Pence’s lawyer found classified documents at the former vice president’s Indiana home 

• In August, the FBI raided former president Trump’s Florida estate and found ~100 classified documents. In January, classified documents from the Obama administration were found at President Biden’s homes and offices

• On Tuesday, former vice president Pence revealed that lawyers found classified docs at his home too

• All classified files are supposed to be logged, ID’ed, and returned to the National Archives. Several congressmen are now calling for an overhaul of how classified docs are shared and tracked

Dig Deeper

• Former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama all claim that they do not possess classified documents. The Presidential Records Act of 1978 governs the process through which presidents and vice presidents handle classified documents

Shopping Patterns Detect Cancer?

A study found that shopping data may help spot ovarian cancer early

• Ovarian cancer affects ~20k Americans annually. If caught early, it has a high survival rate; if not, it gets progressively deadlier. Common symptoms include loss of appetite, stomach pain, and bloating

• The study looked at 273 women’s shopping data. 153 of the women developed ovarian cancer; for them, purchases of certain over-the-counter drugs spiked ~1 month earlier than when they visited a doctor

• The researchers say this was the first study of its kind for cancer and it may help predict diagnoses

Dig Deeper

• “As we know early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is key to improving chances of survival, we hope this research can lead to ovarian cancer symptoms being picked up earlier and improve patients’ options for treatment,” the lead researcher said

Melting Robot Dropped

Scientists created a robot that can shift between a solid and liquid state

• The robot, called MPTM, is made of gallium, an element that melts at ~86ºF (~30ºC) — basically, in your hand. It can be controlled with magnetic fields

• Researchers released a video of a lego-like MPTM melting itself down to escape a metal cage, then solidifying and moving away. They also showed it melting in a fake stomach to extract a foreign body

• Researchers say it could be used to remove objects from a body; deliver targeted drugs; fit into small cracks to fix items; weld small objects; and more

Dig Deeper

• The robot can jump 20 times its height, rotate 1,500 times per minute, and move at a rate of 1 meter/ second. It is also an excellent conductor of electricity, and researchers say it could one day be used to repair electronics or cords in hard-to-reach places

Generational Gender Shift

The UK government released 2021 census data that show shifting gender norms among young Britons

• The census was the UK’s first to ask about sexual orientation or gender identity

• Per the data, 1% of Britons 16-24 identify as transgender, twice the national average (.54%)

• 6.91% of 16- to 24-year-old Britons identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or something other than straight, also twice the national average (3.2%)

• The US census doesn’t ask about gender identity, but a recent Pew poll found that ~5% of Americans under 30 identify differently than their sex at birth

FBI Disrupts Hive Network

The FBI announced it infiltrated and disrupted an infamous hacking group known as Hive

• Hive is a criminal organization that has used ransomware — computer viruses that seize and lock victims’ files — to extort ~$100M from thousands of victims, including hospitals and schools

• The FBI said it “hacked the hackers” by breaching their servers and stealing the “keys” that lock and unlock victims’ data. The government returned the keys to the victims, claiming to have saved them ~$130M

• Most ransomware hackers are believed to operate out of Russian-speaking countries in Eastern Europe

You Can't Print More Van Gogh's

Sponsored by Masterworks

The near-zero interest rates and sub-2% inflation that fed the record bull market of the last 10 years are gone. In their place, volatility may rule the next decade. How can you prepare? 

• Ultra-high-net-worth investors are increasing their exposure to the one asset class that outpaced the S&P 500 by 131% over the last 26 years: blue-chip art. Because of this demand, Deloitte expects the asset class to grow nearly 60% in just 3 short years 

• But not just the ultra-rich are benefiting… Masterworks is the easy-to-use investment app that's allowed over 500,000 users to discover the potential of this exclusive, wealth-generating asset 

• Thus far, their team of art market experts has delivered profits on 100% of their exits, the last 3 realizing +13.9%, +35.0%, and +10.4% net returns each

Dig Deeper

• Roca subscribers can skip the waitlist to join here

See important Reg A disclosures.

🍿 Popcorn

ICYMI

• CongressGPT: A congressman read a speech that was written by ChatGPT on the House floor, making it the first AI-generated speech in the chamber's history

• The future is fighting: In an effort to expand its armed forces to meet NATO rules, Denmark plans to require military service for women

• Oh, f*** off, kids: Hit HBO show Succession released a teaser trailer for Season 4, which will premiere on March 26. The Roy kids' battle vs. dad is underway

Wildcard 

• Livin' the high(lander) life: The Scottish winner of the EuroMillions jackpot burned $50M in 8 years, spending the money on a soccer team, luxury cars, and more

• Aloha, freedom: A Hawaiian man who was wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of a tourist in 1991 has been freed. He served more than 20 years in prison

• Brock & roll all night: The San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was the last pick in this year's draft. On Sunday, he will have a chance to take his team to the Super Bowl

👇🏻 What do you think?

Today's Question:

Just 20 Questions!

See yesterday's results below the Wrap! 

🗣 20 Questions

Every Friday, we ask the Roca readers 20 questions, then feature our favorite answers the following week. 

We're all about trying new things here at Roca. So much so that this week, we just couldn't fit our curiosity into the usual 20 Q's. Without further ado, we've got 23 questions .... 

RATINGS EDITION!

We've got 23 prompts, which you will rate on a 1-10 scale, 1 being strong dislike; 10 being love. We will average your scores and include them in here next week. All prompts are calendar themed! 📆

Here's the link. Have an INCREDIBLE WEEKEND!

If you have thoughts, let us know at [email protected]!

 🌊 Roca Clubhouse

Yesterday's Poll:

How many hours do you sleep at night? 😴

4-6 hours: 19.23%

6-8 hours: 65.19%

8+ hours: 15.57%

Yesterday's Question:

Have you ever had a supernatural experience?

Mary Catherine from South Carolina: “When my Grandma passed away my TV volume went from normal volume to its highest level - could not get it to turn down and it even kept doing it after it was unplugged.  It stopped when I got the call she had died.”

Will from Washington: “My supernatural experience was essentially this: My great grandma died a few years back and at the time I was in Hawaii. When she had passed I had bolted awake with a cold shiver and goosebumps at the exact same time (accounting for time difference) she had passed. It also woke up my sister and cousins back home at the exact same time.” 

GiGi from Virginia: “I lived in a 130 year old house on the Eastern Shore of MD…Every time we began renovations, we would see a tall, thin man in a gray long overcoat appear in our home. One night my husband and I were looking out our sliding glass doors as we took a break from replacing our living room flooring, and we saw the man's reflection in the glass as he stood in our kitchen…We never sensed danger when we saw our friend.”

Last Week's 20 Qs Responses:

1. Air Fryer 30.2%, Oven 69.8%

2. Spatula 82.9%, Whisk 17.1%

3. Vacuum 84.1%, Broom 15.9%

4. Blanket 65.4%, Pillow 34.6%

5. Paper towels 58.4%, Reusable towel 41.6%

6. Clorox wipes 44.4%, Cleaning spray 55.6%

7. Hand soap 92.4%, Hand sanitizer 7.6%

8. Fridge 88.6%, Freezer 11.4%

9. Bath towel 82.3%, Bathrobe 17.7%

10. Blender 35.4%, Tupperware 64.6%

11. Doorbell 59.7%, Ring 40.3%

12. Ice mold 19.5%, Ice maker 80.5%

13. Grill 65.5%, Skillet 45.5%

14. Fork 66.4%, Spoon 33.6%

15. Dish soap 71.3%, Dish detergent 28.7%

16. Rug 66.8%, Doormat 33.2%

17. Curtains 48.9%, Blinds 51.1%

18. Loveseat 32.2%, Sectional 67.8%

19. Oven mit 56%, Pot holders 44%

20. Mop 36.4%, Swiffer 63.3%

🧠 Final Thoughts

Happy, happy, happy Friday, Roca Riders. We'll be back on Monday with more news, more questions, and more Ethiopia. Until then, have fun and relaxing weekends.

Stay warm! 

Max and Max