May 18, 2025
I realize some of my references are getting incredibly niche, so I've decided to do something about it.
If I go further down the rabbit hole and even Joey can't recognize the Lonely Island reference from "Quick Hits" section, I'll balance it out with a more mainstream reference to his favorite musical group, Backstreet Boys.
Never met someone more obsessed with the Backstreet Boys than that man, anyways, let's get into it.
- Alex Blackwood
⚾ We like sportz and we don't care who knows - In a move that has me tripping over my own laces, Dick’s Sporting Goods is buying Foot Locker for a cool $2.4 billion. Dick’s is not just cornering the market on baseball gloves and pickleball paddles, but is now sprinting into sneaker supremacy as it targets a younger demographic. Foot Locker, which has been trying to turn its business around, saw its stock rebound on the news after being pummeled by tariffs and sluggish sales. Meanwhile, Dick's stock price plummeted 13% on the news. It has since regained some of the lost value. Foot Locker will keep its own brands and stores. The deal is expected to close later this year.
📺 Crossing cables - Big news in the world of cable and internet: Charter Communications and Cox Communications are joining forces in a $34.5 billion deal that promises to deliver even more robust service, and, presumably, even longer wait times for customer support. The combined company will be a powerhouse in broadband, mobile, and video, with plans to bring jobs back to the US and offer “high-quality customer service,” which is corporate speak for “we hope you like automated menus.” Charter will take over Cox’s commercial fiber and IT operations, while Cox’s residential cable business will join Charter’s existing partnership. The new entity will eventually be called Cox Communications, but don’t worry, Spectrum will still be the brand you see when your WiFi cuts out during a Zoom call.
🛢️ Silicon Valley meets oil Mecca - Move over, Silicon Valley, Abu Dhabi is now home to the world’s most ambitious AI playground, thanks to the $100 billion Stargate Initiative. Nvidia, Cisco, and OpenAI are teaming up with Emirati firm G42 to build a 5-gigawatt data center that’s basically the tech equivalent of a space station, minus the zero gravity but with plenty of server racks. Nvidia is supplying its latest Blackwell chips, Cisco is wiring up the digital nervous system, and OpenAI is expected to be the anchor tenant, training AI models that will probably know your coffee order before you do. The Stargate project is designed to deliver low latency AI to half the world’s population, run on 100 percent renewable energy, and, just for good measure, help the US and UAE leapfrog China in the global AI race. If you thought your local data center was impressive, wait until you see what happens when oil money meets GPU fever.
IPOs are back baby!
What Happened?
After a long stretch of IPO market hibernation, the past week began showing signs of stirring. eToro, the social trading platform, made a splashy Nasdaq debut, popping 29% on its first day and raising nearly $310 million after pricing shares above expectations. Digital health darling Hinge Health is up next, targeting a $2 to 3 billion valuation as it readies its own public debut. Meanwhile, digital bank Chime filed its prospectus (S-1), prepping for a highly anticipated IPO after years of speculation. Galaxy Digital hit the US public markets this past week as well, and CoreWeave has already hit the public markets this year, with CoreWeave grabbing headlines again on a revenue growth announcement.
If you’re getting déjà vu from the IPO mania of 2021, don't. The mood is less “fear of missing out” and more “show me the money.”
Why Is This Happening Now?
A few ingredients have cooked up this mini IPO resurgence:
What Does This Mean?
Why Should Investors Care?
Bottom Line
The IPO market isn’t just thawing, it’s heating up. But this isn’t a return to the wild days of 2021. Investors and companies alike are more cautious, more focused on fundamentals, and more attuned to risk. For investors, that means a fresher, more disciplined set of opportunities, but as always, caveat emptor.
So, after a long dry spell, the IPO party is potentially back on. Just remember: this time, it’s BYOB, Bring Your Own Balance sheet.
With The Johnson sold out and already operational, all eyes turn to its big brother: The Johnson II. Our largest offering to date, this beautiful house has already attracted over $430,000 in investment since its launch.
Designed by world-renowned Austin mid‑century architect AD Stenger, this 5‑bed, 3‑bath home sits within steps of Zilker Park and Austin City Limits. With more than a year of verified operating history producing an NOI north of 8%, The Johnson II already has over half of 2025 booked.
Acquired privately off‑market at more than 2% below asking, The Johnson II comes fully furnished (>$110k in turnkey interiors) and boasts a heated pool, outdoor kitchen, carport, and ample parking.
Building on the success of the The Johnson, this is your chance to buy a share in our flagship Austin property.
If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I’ll just snooze my alarm,” Goggins is here to bellow, “WHO’S GONNA CARRY THE BOATS?!”
Suddenly, your coffee tastes just like jet fuel. Part memoir, part no-excuses boot camp, this is a wild ride through 100-mile ultramarathons, Navy SEAL hell-weeks, and the mental rewiring that turns pain into rocket fuel.
I don't care who you are, reading this book will inspire you to push yourself in ways you never have before (both physically and mentally). By the last page you won’t just be inspired; you’ll be up, lacing shoes you didn’t even know you owned, because comfort suddenly feels way more painful than effort.
⭐ 4.78 / 5.0 in my book (no pun intended)
The longest single-word place name, which is located in New Zealand, is 85 letters:
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu.
Perfect for Scrabble.
Written by Alex Blackwood & Thomas Horcel
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