Trees of the Month (March 2026)

Preface

It’s been a while since my last post, so first off, let me apologize for the gap—and wish you all a wonderful year ahead!

I had actually planned to post back in December, but as you know, the end-of-year rush hits both work and personal life hard. So here I am, starting the year with this update.

Looking back, 2025 was a rollercoaster of events, both good and bad. I hope to make 2026 an even better year!

We also had a major event at home, which I’ll share more about in the afterword.

But for now, let’s dive into this month’s “tree of news” topics!

News

Nasdaq Applies for “23-Hour Trading, 5 Days a Week”

Nasdaq Wants to Trade 23 Hours a Day, 5 Days a Week

Recently, Nasdaq applied to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to extend trading hours almost around the clock on weekdays—23 hours per day, 5 days a week.

What’s Changing?

Currently:

• Normal trading hours + pre/post-market = ~16 hours per day

Proposed:

• 4 AM – 8 PM: Regular “day session”
• 8 PM – 9 PM: 1-hour system maintenance
• 9 PM – 4 AM: New “night session”

That’s nearly 24/7 trading on weekdays!

Why Do This?

Nasdaq says it’s responding to global investors who want to trade anytime, including those in different time zones or people who can’t trade during regular work hours.

💡 Call-out:
Longer trading hours could make the stock market feel more like a 24-hour global arena—but beware of thin liquidity and volatility at night.

What to Watch Out For

• Some order types may be restricted during night hours
• Regulatory oversight may be slightly relaxed at night

✅ Pros:

• More flexibility for investors worldwide
• Real-time reaction to global news/events

⚠️ Cons:

• Price swings may increase during low-volume hours
• Continuous market movement could be stressful

Approval is still pending at the SEC, but if greenlit, the change could roll out late 2026.

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Banksy’s Identity: Solved or Still a Mystery?

The rumor mill is buzzing: “Banksy’s identity might finally be known!”

The British street artist Banksy has been famous worldwide—but always anonymous. Recent investigation by Reuters examined 25-year-old police files and pointed to a person long suspected: Robin Gunningham from Bristol, UK.

Why Banksy is Unique

• Sudden street appearances
• Sharp social and political satire
• Complete anonymity

Even if Robin matches many details—location, age, graffiti history—it’s not confirmed. Why?

Call-out:
The mystery itself is part of the art. Revealing the identity could reduce the brand value and change street art culture forever.

So maybe Banksy being unknown is the masterpiece itself.

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New Era for NYC Subway: AI Fare Gates

Ever wondered why New York subway turnstiles are still waist-high and old-fashioned?

The subway opened in 1904, and while payment systems evolved, turnstile design hasn’t. This has led to widespread fare evasion.

From Paper Tickets to Modern Fare Gates

• 1904: Paper tickets, manually checked
• 1920s: Turnstiles introduced
• 1953: Tokens
• 1993: MetroCard
• 2019: OMNY contactless system
• 2020s: Modern fare gates with sensors & automatic doors

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is now rolling out tall, glass, sensor-equipped gates similar to airport security gates.

💡 Fun fact:
Even with new gates, people will always find ways to sneak in. It’s a never-ending battle between tech and human creativity!

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Future of Dentistry: From Painful Drills to Regenerative Gel

Dentistry is entering a sci-fi era. Here are some highlights:

1. Regenerating Enamel Gel

• Developed by Nottingham University, this bio-gel helps teeth regrow enamel
• Works by mimicking natural processes and attracting calcium/phosphate
• Hardness and durability approach natural enamel

2. Keratin-Based Coatings

• Hair protein (keratin) can form protective layers on teeth
• Environmentally friendly, long-lasting, and safer than plastics

3. Epigenetics & Tooth Regeneration

• Research explores controlling tooth growth without changing DNA, potentially regrowing lost teeth

4. 3D Printing Dentistry

• Crowns, bridges, models, and orthodontics can now be printed on-site
• Saves time, improves precision, and reduces office visits

5. AI-Powered Early Detection

• AI can detect early cavities and assess periodontal disease risk
• Makes treatment more efficient and understandable

✅ The future: Pain-free, faster, and natural-healing dentistry

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US Dual Citizenship Ban?

A new bill in the U.S. Senate, the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025, could ban dual citizenship.

Key Points

• No American can hold another nationality
• Current dual citizens must choose within 1 year
• Failure to choose = automatic loss of U.S. citizenship
• Secretary of State maintains a dual-citizenship database

What’s at Stake?

• Challenges for expatriates, international families, and dual-national researchers
• Sparks debate over loyalty vs. global mobility

💡 Call-out:
This isn’t just law—it’s a conversation about what kind of country the U.S. wants to be in a globalized world.

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Collector Alert: Last U.S. Penny Sells for Million

In November 2025, the last 1-cent coins were minted with an Omega (Ω) symbol, marking the end of a 232-year era.

• Auctioned as a set: ~$17 million (~¥2.5 billion)
• Historical molds included
• Why valuable? High cultural and historical significance

💡 Fun fact:
With pennies gone, some stores are already rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel!

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TSA’s New Option for Travelers Without REAL ID

Starting February 1, 2026, travelers without a REAL ID can still fly domestically using TSA ConfirmID.

• Extra verification process: $45 fee
• Checks name, birthdate, and other info more thoroughly than usual
• ConfirmID is valid for 10 days for multiple flights

Why Now?

• REAL ID enforcement began in May 2025
• Aims to streamline identity verification while keeping airports secure

💡 Tip for travelers:
If you don’t have a REAL ID, consider ConfirmID early to avoid delays!ます。

Pick-up

I will be taking a break this month.

Gadget/Lifehacks

I will be taking a break this month.

Personal Finance

My performance since the last update is as follows:

• AORT: 5.86%
• CIEN: 7.77%
• AA: 14.35%, (1.85)%
• B: 0.11%
• MU: 7.36%
• KALU: 2.03%

As the market has been weakening overall lately, I’m currently taking a cautious approach and avoiding new long positions. At the moment, I don’t hold any stocks.

Shop/Restaurant

Dervish Turkish Restaurant Wayne

After a long time, I finally found an opportunity to go on a date with my wife, and we discovered a fantastic Turkish restaurant.

Every dish we tried was excellent, but the bread served as an appetizer truly stood out—it was exceptional.

Normally, the bread at this restaurant is made without pasteurized milk. However, after explaining our situation, the staff kindly went out of their way to prepare a separate batch using pasteurized milk just for us. Their thoughtfulness really made the experience even more special.

Postscript

As I briefly mentioned in the preface, my wife is expecting a baby boy, with a due date in late May or early June.

We’ve already decided on his full name, including a middle name, but since Japan doesn’t really have the concept of middle names, we’re still figuring out how to register it. Some parents in Japan combine the first and middle names when registering, but for now, we plan to register just the middle name in Japanese.

Being half American and half Japanese, it looks like the paperwork won’t stop at his name—navigating both countries’ administrative processes seems like it could get pretty complicated.

With the birth just around the corner, I want to do everything I can to support my wife during this exciting time!