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Share Radio's tech expert Steve Caplin tells Simon Rose of the Chinese students who must take compulsory swimming tests to graduate and who are now having to do it online! Alexa is exploring cloning the voices of the dead, IKEA is producing an app that lets you remove your existing furniture, the police now have contactless fingerprinting, there's an autonomous truck with no cab, a mysterious moon crater, passenger-carrying airships and Philips are crowdfunding an ultra-short-throw projector.

Welcome to our 250th commentary, produced over these last five years since Share Radio moved to 100% online broadcasting. It's been a period of massive change and increasing clarity on what we need to do to sort out the problems of the world, and we hope these thoughts are making some contribution in that respect. To mark this staging point we thought it might be helpful to set out some of the guiding principles which have steered, and will continue to steer, our comment. For our full list of commentaries, please visit https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/ Background music: Hovering Thoughts by Spence

A mortgage stress test designed to stop borrowers overstretching themselves will be scrapped, it was revealed this week. The mortgage industry has long bemoaned this supposedly unrealistic test that makes lenders check if borrowers can afford their repayments at a level higher than the fix or tracker deal they may be taking, their lender's standard variable rate plus 3%. Yet, isn't a bit of an odd time to finally get rid of this, just as interest rates are finally rising and the base rate has jumped from 0.1% to 1.25% in six months? What's more, it's forecast by some to keep rising and go as high as 3% by the end of the year: meaning almost that entire 3% rise which the stress test uses. Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce discuss why the Bank of England is doing this and whether it is the right move, or could lead to risky lending and even higher house prices? Also, the team discuss inflation and how to (at least) try to do something to combat it with your savings - and also, why investors are finding it so hard to buy the dip and be greedy when others are fearful in the inflation storm. The renewed fervour for offering bumper deals on current accounts also goes under the microscope, but is a bung to join, an interest rate on your balance, or the ability to categorise your spending the best readon to switch? And finally, you live in an end of terrace house, someone wants to build next door using your wall and making your home a mid-terrace: surely that couldn't be allowed? Or would it? Listen to the end to find out.

Most restaurant businesses operate in a single category, but not Darden Restaurants. Jason Moser discusses Olive Garden driving the bulk of revenue, a comeback by Darden's fine dining segment, capital decisions that we like (dividend increase!) and don't like (share buyback plan), and Rite Aid's stock pop and raised guidance still not being enough to get us interested in buying shares. Plus, at 14:41 minutes in and with shares down nearly 70% over the past year, is Zoom Video a screaming buy or past its prime? Jason Hall and Ryan Henderson debate bull vs. bear! Stocks discussed - DRI, RAD, CVS, WBA, ZM, MSFT; Host - Chris Hill; Guests - Jason Moser, Jason Hall, Ryan Henderson

We’ve got a lot of space. And a whole lot of it is unused in office buildings, city centers, and shopping malls. We also need a lot of space for multifamily housing, data centers, and warehouses. Is there some opportunity in the middle for investors? Deidre Woollard and Matt Argersinger discuss the complexities in transforming an office building into apartments, commercial real estate trends catching their attention, and ideas for investors who like dividends. Stocks/REITs mentioned - BX, AMZN, HHC, PLD, SRG, STAG, DRE, ARE, MAA, VICI, EPR; Host - Deidre Woollard; Guest - Matt Argersinger

Trauma and anxiety can often be linked to a few recurring thoughts, particularly those that arise from within. They can be a struggle to fight — the more you try to suppress them, the worse they become. This episode uses a metaphor to help you detach yourself from these thoughts, using an acknowledged technique called 'Acceptance and Commitment Therapy' (ACT) in order to help minimise such intrusive/unpleasant thoughts.

Adam Cox is joined by Charles Ellis, Benign Prostatic Enlargement (BPH) sufferer, to discuss the condition and the effects it can have on sufferers. He explains how BPH has impacted his daily life, and also talks about Water Vapour Therapy and how it is used to treat BPH. www.bostonscientific.com

Adam Cox is joined by Rick Thompson, CEO of rare disease charity Beacon, to discuss the challenges of living with a rare disease and why patient groups are so important. He explains how Beacon are helping those with a rare disease and the actions the charity are calling for. www.rarebeacon.org

Adam Cox is joined by James Lambert, MD of Lyme Bay Winery, for English Wine Week to discuss new research revealing the top 5 different types of wine drinkers. They look at how the English wine industry is doing, and also what to look out for in a bottle of wine this summer. www.lymebaywinery.co.uk

Adam Cox is joined by Donna Kunyo, National Bingo Caller of the Year, and Miles Baron, Chief Executive of The Bingo Association, for National Bingo Day to discuss why Bingo is still so popular in the UK. Donna explains what made her fall in love with Bingo and how she became a Bingo caller, and Miles explains what's going on across the UK for the day and the future of the game. www.bingo-association.co.uk