2025 World Humanoid Robot Games: Full Video

The inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games took place in Beijing, China, from August 15-17, 2025. The event was a major showcase of the latest advancements in humanoid robotics and was organized in an Olympics-style format. 

Here are some key details about the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games: 

Host City: Beijing, China 

Dates: August 15-17, 2025 

Venue: National Speed Skating Oval ("Ice Ribbon") 

Participants: Over 500 humanoid robots from 280 teams representing 16 countries. 

Events: 26 events across three main categories: 

Athletic Competitions: This included sports like running, long jump, football (soccer), boxing, and gymnastics. 

Performance Showcases: Events such as solo and group robot dances. 

Scenario-based Challenges: Tasks that simulated real-world applications, including sorting materials, cleaning, and sorting medicines in a hospital-like setting. 

The games were a high-profile event that drew significant attention, with live audiences and global online viewership. The competition highlighted both the impressive progress and the current limitations of humanoid robots, with spectators witnessing moments of both success and humorous falls. The event was seen as a strategic move by China to position itself as a global leader in the robotics and artificial intelligence industry, and organizers hope to make the World Humanoid Robot Games a regular event.

Guilt tipping - It's a thing

Guilt tipping is the practice of leaving a tip, often at a higher amount than you normally would, due to a feeling of social pressure or awkwardness. This is a growing phenomenon, largely driven by the widespread adoption of digital point-of-sale systems that present customers with pre-selected tip options. 

This happens in situations where a customer is faced with a tablet or screen that displays tip percentages like 15%, 20%, and 25% or even higher. The employee often rotates the screen to face the customer and watches as they make their selection. This direct interaction can make it feel uncomfortable to choose the "no tip" or "custom tip" option, leading many people to select one of the higher-preset options out of a sense of obligation. 

Why Is Guilt Tipping a Thing? 

Psychological Pressure: The human desire to avoid confrontation and appear generous in front of others is a powerful motivator. The public nature of the transaction makes it feel like a test of character. 

Convenience: Digital systems make it incredibly easy to select a pre-set tip with a single tap, while the option to enter a custom amount is often less prominent or requires extra steps. 

Shifting Norms: The traditional idea of tipping as a reward for exceptional service has blurred. These digital prompts have normalized tipping for quick-service or take-out transactions where minimal service is provided, like at a coffee shop or bakery. 

Some research suggests that this practice can be quite effective for businesses, with some reporting a significant increase in tips. However, it also raises questions about who is truly responsible for paying a living wage to employees—the customer or the employer. 

Life lesson: If you receive good service, leave an appropriate tip. Never feel obligated to reward inferior service. 

USDOT taking back take Union Station

 .@SecDuffy “Today, we’re announcing that we’re going to take Union Station back under @USDOT control… We want to make this place beautiful and the premier train station not just in America, but the premier train station in the world.” pic.twitter.com/cMAoKXBtvO

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 27, 2025

Recent reports indicate that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is planning to reclaim management of Washington D.C.'s Union Station. This move follows a period where management was held by Amtrak and the non-profit Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC). 

According to a statement from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the decision is based on concerns that the station has "fallen into disrepair" and has not been a source of pride for the city. The plan is to leverage the commercial aspects of the station to reinvest in its upkeep, improving things like lighting, elevators, security, and the roof. 

The USDOT is currently renegotiating a cooperative agreement with the USRC and Amtrak, and formal action to confirm USDOT's renewed control is expected in September.

Cracker Barrel's rebranding backfires

Cracker Barrel's recent rebranding, which included a new, simplified logo, sparked significant public backlash. The company's decision to remove the "Old Timer" figure from its logo was seen by many, particularly conservatives, as an unnecessary change and a move away from the brand's traditional identity. This led to calls for boycotts and accusations that the company was going "woke." 

In response to the controversy, President Donald Trump weighed in on the issue, using his social media platform to urge Cracker Barrel to revert to its old logo. He described the customer response as the "ultimate Poll" and suggested the company should "admit a mistake" and use the situation as a "great opportunity" to "Make Cracker Barrel a WINNER again." 

Following the intense criticism and calls from prominent figures, including President Trump, Cracker Barrel announced that it would, in fact, be restoring its original logo and thanked its customers for their feedback.

Go woke, go broke!

God bless you, President Trump!
pic.twitter.com/l2P321jCP0

— Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) August 26, 2025

President Trump - Creating assets instead of debt

.@SecScottBessent: "President Trump is going to be the only president in modern times who creates assets for the American people rather than debt... He saw that Intel had been given grants, and wanted to know why the American taxpayer wouldn't participate in the upside." pic.twitter.com/FKs0Da9Mjq

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 27, 2025

 "President Trump is going to be the only president in modern times who creates assets for the American people rather than debt... He saw that Intel had been given grants, and wanted to know why the American taxpayer wouldn't participate in the upside."

Predicting the future price of XRP - Pure speculation

Predicting the future price of any cryptocurrency, including XRP, is extremely difficult and speculative. The market is highly volatile and influenced by a wide range of factors. I cannot give you a definitive price. However, I can provide an overview of the key factors that will likely influence XRP's value over the next year:

Market Sentiment: The overall sentiment of the cryptocurrency market, especially the performance of Bitcoin, plays a huge role in the price movements of altcoins like XRP. A bull run in the broader crypto market would likely lift XRP's price, while a bear market could drive it down.

Regulatory Environment: The outcome of ongoing legal and regulatory matters is a crucial factor for XRP. The most significant of these is the legal case between Ripple (the company behind XRP) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The resolution of this case could have a massive impact on XRP's price, either positively or negatively, depending on the outcome. Clarity from regulators around the world will also affect its price.

Adoption and Partnerships: The adoption of Ripple's payment technology by financial institutions is a major driver of value for XRP. The more banks and financial services companies that use Ripple's On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) product, which utilizes XRP for cross-border payments, the more demand there will be for the token. New partnerships or developments in this area could lead to price increases.

Technological Developments: Any new features, upgrades, or partnerships related to the XRP Ledger could also impact its value. These could include improvements to scalability, new smart contract capabilities, or other features that make the ledger more attractive for developers and businesses.

Macroeconomic Conditions: Global economic factors, such as inflation, interest rates, and geopolitical events, can also affect the cryptocurrency market as a whole, including XRP.

Ultimately, while there are many predictions from various sources about where XRP might be in a year, these are not guarantees. Investing in cryptocurrency carries a high degree of risk, and you should always do your own research and consider your own risk tolerance before making any investment decisions.

Nobody knows where the price will be in a day, a week, a month, a year. So please invest wisely.

President Trump's accomplishments during the first six months of his administration

In the initial months of the current administration, the focus has been on enacting a series of policy changes through executive orders, proclamations, and legislative initiatives. A key theme has been deregulation across various sectors. Some of the notable actions and accomplishments of the administration in the past six months include: 

Economic and Trade Policy: The administration's economic policies have included a focus on deregulation to boost specific industries, such as energy and manufacturing. A major legislative achievement was the passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill," which includes significant tax cuts and other economic measures. The administration has also continued to utilize tariffs to address what it views as unfair trade practices. 

Immigration and Border Security: The administration has implemented new measures to tighten border security and change immigration policies. These include executive orders aimed at reducing illegal immigration, a crack down on cartels, and an effort to end taxpayer subsidies for undocumented immigrants. 

Energy and Environment: The administration has pursued a policy of "energy dominance," which has involved issuing new regulations to streamline permitting for energy and AI data center infrastructure. The administration has also provided exemptions to certain environmental regulations for specific industries and withdrawn the United States from the World Health Organization. 

Social and Cultural Issues: The administration has issued several executive orders addressing cultural and social issues, including policies on gender identity and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs within the federal government. These actions are aimed at promoting a "merit-based" system and what the administration refers to as "biological reality." The administration has also focused on issues like banning certain food dyes and other additives to improve public health. 

Judicial and Governmental Appointments: The administration has continued to make appointments to the judiciary and has also issued executive orders aimed at reorganizing and streamlining the federal bureaucracy. One of these created the Department of Government Efficiency. 

Foreign Policy: The administration has pursued a policy of "America First," with a focus on securing what it considers more favorable trade deals and encouraging allies to increase their defense spending. It has also brokered several peace agreements.

President Trump is truly making America great again!