Hey ScorpA\rents!

Happy festive season, and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
I hope your days are filled with good food, fewer emails, and just enough quiet time to actually finish a thought before someone asks, “What’s for dinner?”

As we wrap up the year, it’s funny how everything feels louder—AI headlines, market moves, holiday shopping carts magically filling themselves. From data centers becoming the new power players, to Tim Cook casually backing Nike, to redefining what real strength looks like in life and recovery, this issue is all about confidence—quiet, intentional, and forward-looking.

Speaking of carts filling themselves (no judgment), today’s sponsors fit right into the season. Roku is helping brands catch shoppers right when they’re ready to click “buy,” and Lindy AI is here to help you work smarter, not harder—so you can spend less time juggling tasks and more time enjoying the holidays.

Let’s dive in.

🔎 TL;DR

1) STING OF GROW: AI HUSTLES

• Data centers are the real AI backbone
  AI growth isn’t just software — power, compute, and infrastructure are becoming the new bottlenecks and big opportunities.

2) STING OF WEALTH: INVESTING

• Insider confidence sparks curiosity, not certainty
  Tim Cook buying Nike signals belief, but smart investors still wait for proof, not headlines.

3) STING OF SUCCESS: MILLIONAIRE MINDSET

• Recovery starts with self-worth
  Quit Like a Woman reframes quitting as strength — clarity, control, and better choices compound over time.

Estimated Reading Time: 5-6 minutes

TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNER

Shoppers are adding to cart for the holidays

Over the next year, Roku predicts that 100% of the streaming audience will see ads. For growth marketers in 2026, CTV will remain an important “safe space” as AI creates widespread disruption in the search and social channels. Plus, easier access to self-serve CTV ad buying tools and targeting options will lead to a surge in locally-targeted streaming campaigns.

Read our guide to find out why growth marketers should make sure CTV is part of their 2026 media mix.

Learn more.

Data Centers: The New Powerhouses Rising

Not long ago, data centers were the quiet engines of the internet. Out of sight, out of mind.
In 2025, that changed fast — and loudly.

When the “Backend” Shows Up in Your Backyard

Data centers used to live far away in abstract “cloud” land.
Now they’re popping up near homes, schools, and towns.
And people are asking, “Wait… who agreed to this?”

AI Needs Power, Lots of It

AI didn’t just grow — it exploded.
Since 2021, U.S. spending on data center construction is up 331%.
That means massive buildings, massive energy use, and massive attention.

The Backlash Is Real

Across 24 states, more than 140 activist groups are pushing back.
Why? Higher electricity bills, environmental worries, and AI ethics.
When your power bill rises, suddenly “cloud infrastructure” feels very personal.

Who’s Building? Everyone With a Big Balance Sheet

Google. Microsoft. Meta. Amazon.
Washington is involved too, pushing AI as national infrastructure.
The message is clear: this buildout isn’t slowing anytime soon.

Politics Enter the Chat

Energy costs tied to AI could shape the 2026 elections.
Some projects are already paused or blocked — $64B worth, according to trackers.
That’s when policymakers start paying attention.

Tech Fights Back – Selling the Story

Tech groups are lobbying, running ads, and giving “data center tours.”
The pitch? Jobs, growth, and competitiveness.
But convincing voters is harder when bills keep climbing.

ScorpA\rents's Quick Strike

For parents, it’s about cost of living and community impact.
For investors, it’s a reminder: AI growth depends on physical assets, not just code.
For side hustlers and builders, infrastructure is now part of the AI story.

• AI isn’t just software — it’s steel, concrete, and power grids.

• Data centers are becoming political, not just technical.

• Watch utilities, infrastructure plays, and energy pricing into 2026.

• The AI boom continues — but the friction is rising.

The backend is officially center stage.

Read More

Tim Cook's Nike Choice: Confidence Boost?

We already knew Tim Cook loves his sneakers.
Now he’s backing that love with real money — 50,000 shares of Nike, about $2.95M.
Question is: is this conviction… or just loyalty to a long-time board seat?

Insider Buy, But Read Carefully

Cook has been on Nike’s board since 2005 and lead independent director since 2016.
So yes, this is notable — but no, it’s not a magic bottom signal.
Think “confidence nudge,” not “all-clear siren.”

Nike in Rehab – The Turnaround Is Still Limping

Nike’s FY26 Q2 didn’t implode, but it didn’t heal either.
Revenue barely grew 1%, while profits fell 32%.
That’s not a bounce — that’s stabilization with a limp.

The Real Problems Aren’t Subtle

• Margins: Down 300 bps to 40.6%.

• China: Sales down 17%, sixth straight quarterly decline.

• Tariffs: A $1.5B headwind still looming.

Bottom line? The bottoming process isn’t done cooking yet.

Why Lululemon Looks Healthier

Now compare that with Lululemon Athletica.
China is a tailwind, not a trap — international revenue up 33%.
Yes, margins dipped too, but at 55.6%, LULU still has pricing oxygen.

Guidance Tells the Real Story

Lululemon raised full-year revenue and EPS guidance.
Nike is warning of another tough quarter.
Same consumer, same tariffs — very different momentum.

Options Market – Quiet Before the Move?

Nike’s options are flashing something interesting.

• Open interest is high.

• Implied volatility is crushed (IV Rank 6 vs HV 48).

Translation? Options are cheap — but direction still matters.

ScorpA\rents’s Bite of Wealth

You don’t need hero trades — you need clarity.
Nike is a high-volatility turnaround that needs proof, not faith.
Lululemon is showing execution + global growth, which matters when time and capital are limited.

• Treat Cook’s buy as sentiment, not a thesis.

• Nike: Wait for China stabilization + margin repair.

• Lululemon: Cleaner growth story if you must pick a side.

• For traders: Low IV = opportunity, but risk isn’t gone.

Sneakers may be iconic — but portfolios still need discipline.

Read More

Quit Like a Woman — Rewriting the Rules of Recovery

By Holly Glenn Whitaker

When “Just One Drink” Stops Being Just One

Ever told yourself, “I’ve got this,” and still felt stuck?
Between work stress, parenting, and social pressure, drinking quietly becomes a coping tool.
This book calls that out — without shame, labels, or finger-pointing.

Why Quitting Is Harder for Women

Women don’t drink the same way men do — and they don’t quit the same way either.
Social norms, motherhood guilt, and “wine-mom culture” blur the line between normal and harmful.
The problem isn’t willpower — it’s the system around you.

Addiction Without the Label

You don’t need to hit rock bottom to question your habits.
Whitaker reframes addiction as a relationship problem, not a moral failure.
Ask yourself: Is alcohol helping my life — or quietly shrinking it?

Watch the Triggers – Symbols That Keep You Stuck

Girls’ night. Friday wine. “I deserve this.”
These rituals look harmless, but they wire drinking into identity and belonging.
Once you see the symbols, you can finally choose differently.

Reparenting Yourself – The Real Work

Instead of punishment, the book pushes compassion.
Learn to “parent yourself” — setting boundaries, offering care, and choosing long-term safety over short-term relief.
It’s discipline with kindness, not force.

Rebuilding Your Circle – Life Beyond the Bar

If all your friendships orbit alcohol, quitting feels like social exile.
The book shows how to find — or build — connection without drinking.
Spoiler: real friendships get deeper when booze leaves the room.

ScorpA\rents’s Strike of Success

Clarity is a superpower when you’re juggling kids, work, and side hustles.
Better sleep, sharper decisions, and emotional steadiness compound over time — just like good investments.
You can’t build a strong future while numbing the present.

• Question habits without judging yourself.

• Replace “coping” with real care.

• Choose energy, presence, and clarity over autopilot routines.

Because quitting isn’t about losing something.
It’s about finally choosing yourself — and the life you’re building.

Read More

TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNER

Build smarter, not harder: meet Lindy

Tired of AI that just talks? Lindy actually executes.

Describe your task in plain English, and Lindy handles it—from building booking platforms to managing leads and sending team updates.

AI employees that work 24/7:

• Sales automation

• Customer support

• Operations management

Focus on what matters. Let Lindy handle the rest.

Get $20 Worth of Free Credits

Have a question or want to learn more? 
Hit reply and let me know what you’re most curious about! Your feedback helps me dive deeper into topics that matter to YOU in the next edition.

Let’s make AI work for us, not the other way around.

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