Iran vs. Stanford | Recession Warnings Tes t ‘Schwarze Nulle’ | A Microbetting Problem

Pooya Azadi, head of the Stanford Iran 2040 Project, undermined Iran’s claims of scientific prowess. And Ayatollah Khamenei took notice.

As manager of the Stanford Iran 2040 Project, Pooya Azadi makes a point of tracking Iran’s economic, environmental and social trends. Recently, he found himself at the center of them. In a May 29 speech, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei accused Azadi’s research group of “questioning the scientific achievements of the country” and undermining Iran’s “important academic projects.” Overnight, Khamenei thrust Azadi onto the front pages of Iran’s state media.

While a 36-year-old chemical engineer at Stanford University might seem an odd target for the world’s most powerful ayatollah, Azadi’s multidisciplinary interests have enabled him to spearhead a research group with a focus far beyond his academic background. “Dr. Azadi has a unique combination of skills and talents that can rarely be found in a single person,” says Mohsen Mesgaran, an assistant professor of plant sciences at the University of California, Davis, and a longtime friend of Azadi.

Conducting data-driven research on economic policy, environmental degradation and governance in Iran, Azadi takes a scientific approach to the oft-emotional debate over the country’s trajectory.

The ability to bet on points within matches appeals most to people who may have a serious gambling problem.

In just the last three months, at least seven U.S. states have legalized sports betting, joining the 10 that already have such legal gambling in place. As legalized sports betting continues to roll out across the United States, betting technology is innovating too. The latest? Microbetting, where users don’t just wager on the outcome of a game but on individual points or even small events within matches.

For now, it’s confined to just a few sports, but soon there could be widespread betting on things like possession in a basketball game or the result of each and every snap in football. Unfortunately, such wagers could be preying on people who are vulnerable to the industry: people with gambling addictions. In fact, a study last year found that 78 percent of microbetters met the criteria for problem gambling.

When talk of divorce is in the air, things can get edgy. Factor in an ill-timed blow, and suddenly someone’s going to jail.

Divorce was only meant to be a threat. I mean, I never thought it would actually happen.

Jack, my estranged husband, and I were already two bottles deep when our friend Brian stopped by. We poured the last of a magnum of BV Tapestry and continued to chat. Jack and I had been discussing reconciliation, but then he said to Brian in an offhand way, “In a few months we’ll be divorced anyway.”

He was showing off for Brian. I was pissed, and before I could stop myself, I’d thrown my wine in his face.