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We see distortion of the truth in holocaust and genocide denial, in Donald Trump’s refusal to accept his myriad of indictments, and in Putin's denial of invading Ukraine two years ago. Dishonesty and exaggerated claims are commonplace on social media and even work their way into corporate and public bodies, such as we've recently seen in the sub-postmasters’ scandal. Is our increasingly secular society losing touch with its moral compass? Background music: 'Dark Alley Deals' by Aaron Kenny

Britain's disposable income has dropped substantially over the past 14 years compared to where it should be, according to a new report this week. The Centre for Cities said that the average household's disposable income has fallen £10,000 behind where it would have been if pre-2010 growth rates had been maintained. On average we have got better off, but we are well below what would have been expected. Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert look at what the problems could be, why aren't we getting richer quicker, why are we falling behind our international peers and what can be done. Plus, while our living standards aren't rapidly accelerating, house prices have and the average seller made more than £100,000 last year - are property inflation and the slowing in disposable income growth linked? Simon, thinks it's part of the problem. Savings rates have started to slip, so do dividend-paying investment trusts yielding 5% or more look like an attractive move? And finally, some tips on how to make the most of Avios points - but who on the team is the Avios winner, and who is the self-described Avios loser?

Microsoft taking the spot as the largest company in the world is a good reminder that sometimes it takes a while for big names to turn it around. We explain why and talk about how IBM and Comcast could have good times ahead. Bill Mann and Andy Cross discuss Microsoft crossing $3T and surpassing Apple as the largest publicly traded company, Alibaba’s co-founders buying up $200M shares, and the state of investing in China, and Tesla’s tough, but predictable quarter, big subscriber growth from Netflix, and why IBM is a sneaky AI play. Then, 19 minutes in, Motley Fool Money’s Deidre Woollard caught up with Jeff Edison, co-founder and CEO of Phillips Edison & Company, to understand the importance of necessity-based goods in retail, what consumers want right now – both in terms of concepts and convenience. Finally, 30 minutes in, Bill and Andy talk how Comcast looks more interesting as Peacock grows and two stocks on their radar: Spotify and MercadoLibre. Stocks discussed: MSFT, AAPL, BABA, TSLA, NFLX, IBM, SPOT, MELI, PECO. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guests - Bill Mann, Andy Cross, Deidre Woollard, Jeff Edison

Asit Sharma and Deidre Woollard discuss the promise of Tesla’s next-generation vehicles, if Tesla’s energy business is finally ready for prime time, and how ServiceNow’s AI push is paying off. Then, 19 minutes in, Tom King and Mary Long talk about Constellation Software’s history of acquisitions. Companies discussed: TSLA, BYD, NOW, CNSWF. Host - Deidre Woollard; Guests - Asit Sharma, Mary Long, Tom King

Adam Cox is joined by Alison Bull, a Family Mediator and Lawyer from Mills & Reeve, to delve into the objectives of Family Mediation Week and its intended outcomes. They explore the advantages of opting for a mediator over the traditional court process, offering insights for couples seeking legal guidance while aiming to avoid courtroom proceedings. Additionally, the discussion provides advice for individuals looking to navigate settlements independently, without the involvement of a solicitor or mediator. https://www.mills-reeve.com/

People increasingly resort to 'Alter Ego's to develop a resilient or 'tough guy' persona: possibly resulting from criticism in childhood or difficult experiences in adolescence. Being true to oneself calls for having the internal resources to build emotional resilience, for developing coping strategies to deal with those difficult times. Using analogies and metaphors, Adam Cox looks through those facades to find a resilience based on honesty.

In a bumper box office week, James Cameron-Wilson finds the musical reboot of 2004's Mean Girls (#1), dull and lacking fizz, despite Tina Fey's script. Like Simon Rose, he adores Poor Things (#3) from The Favourite director Yorgos Lanthimos, with Emma Stone getting one of 11 Oscar nominations. It's odd, extraordinarily original and visually and aurally glorious. Simon praised The Holdovers, with Paul Giamatti one of 5 nominees, at #6 from Sideways director. #7 is so-bad-it's-good thriller The Beekeeper with Jason Statham, while George Clooney's The Boys In The Boat has sunk to #14. A true Depression-era sporting tale, Simon and James both loved it. James also gave a round-up of the Oscar nominations and who he expects to triumph on the night.

Neil Shah returns to the subject of 4imprint after their year-end update. This well-run company making marketing promotional goods in the US surprised on the upside. Efficient and responsible, they are at a discount to a sensible price. He also looks at Telecom Plus, trading as Utility Warehouse, which provides all your utilities in a single service, using economies of scale to get the best deal for their customers, some of whom become evangelists for the company. This well-positioned business with a good model for growth should continue to expand and has a stickier clientele than the comparison sites.

Steve Caplin digs up the latest from the world of tech. There's a Segway-style two-wheeled wheelchair which rises to the upright position, electric all-terrain skis, a prototype car whose 90-degree-turning wheels enable perfect parking, binoculars that tell you what bird or animal you are looking at, a Stylophone Theremin almost as good as the real thing, a crash-test-dummy hedgehog to train lawnmowers to recognise them, an Elon Musk robot video that didn't quite show what it claimed, a drone disguised as a eagle, the problem of cars getting wider, a Nikon camera for pregnant cows and a new way of choosing wines.

Huge disparities in wealth lie at the heart of most of humanity's problems, including conflict. The route towards participation for all relies on respect for others, however different, and individual freedom: then the respective needs of adults and young people can be met through 'Stock for Data' and inter-generational rebalancing. Here's a summary report from Share Alliance and The Share Foundation of progress in both these areas over the past year. Background music: 'Hopeful Freedom' by Asher Fulero