Why CW stopped producing superhero shows

I asked Google why CW no longer produces TV shows like Smallville, Arrow and the Flash. Here's what it had to say.

The CW stopped producing superhero shows due to its acquisition by Nexstar Media Group and a strategic shift to attract older audiences, focus on more profitable unscripted and procedural content, and prepare for James Gunn's new DCU. The high costs of VFX for superhero shows also made them less financially viable for the network. 

Reasons for the change:

• Nexstar Media Group's Acquisition:After Nexstar acquired a controlling stake in The CW in 2022, the network underwent a content strategy overhaul to become profitable by 2025. 
• New Content Strategy:The new leadership shifted the network's focus to programs that could attract a "bigger and broader," older audience, including unscripted series, procedural dramas, and broad-skewing comedies, rather than teen-centric shows or superhero content. 
• Financial Viability:Superhero shows, especially those with significant visual effects (VFX) like Superman & Lois, were expensive to produce. As network television faced declining viewership and more scripted shows moved to streaming, the high budgets became a significant factor in canceling these costly series. 
• DC Studios Reboot:The establishment of a new DC Universe under James Gunn meant a reboot of DC's film and television properties. To avoid competing with this new slate, DC Studios did not want The CW producing its own competing Superman products, leading to the cancellation of series like Superman & Lois. 
• End of the Arrowverse:The long-running DC superhero universe, known as the Arrowverse, concluded with the end of The Flash and Superman & Lois. This marked the official end of the era of shared DC storytelling on The CW. 

Major Reasons for Flooding in the Philippines

I asked Chat GPT to create a pie chart showing the major reasons for flooding in the Philippines. I wanted to know if Filipinos were spending their time and resources on solving the major problems. Here's what the AI tool had to say.

Creating a pie chart to represent the major causes of flooding in the Philippines requires synthesizing both natural and human-made factors. Here’s a realistic breakdown, based on research, expert reports (e.g. from PAGASA, DPWH, DENR), and trends observed over the years.

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🥧 Pie Chart: Major Causes of Flooding in the Philippines

Cause	Estimated Contribution (%)	Description
Poor Drainage and Urban Planning	30%	Inadequate or clogged drainage systems, poor waste disposal, and lack of green spaces in cities. Rapid urbanization without corresponding infrastructure.
Deforestation and Land Use Changes	20%	Logging, mining, and agricultural conversion remove trees that absorb water, leading to runoffs. Upland developments worsen lowland floods.
Climate Change and Extreme Weather	20%	Heavier and more frequent rainfall, stronger typhoons, and rising sea levels driven by climate change.
Encroachment on Natural Waterways	10%	Informal settlers, buildings, and infrastructure built on riverbanks, esteros, and floodplains block natural flow of water.
Siltation and River System Degradation	10%	Rivers and estuaries become shallow due to silt buildup, reducing their water-carrying capacity. Often caused by upstream erosion and quarrying.
Corruption and Inefficiency in Flood Control Projects	10%	Delays, substandard works, and misallocated funds weaken flood control systems like pumping stations, dikes, and drainage canals.

How can the Philippines stop corruption in flood control projects?

I asked Chat GPT how the Philippines can stop corruption in flood control projects. Here's what it had to say.

Stopping corruption in flood control projects in the Philippines—or in any country—requires a multi-layered approach involving policy reform, technology, transparency, and community involvement. Here’s a targeted plan that addresses both systemic issues and project-specific vulnerabilities:

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🔧 1. Transparent and Accountable Procurement Process

Problems:

• Overpricing of materials

• Ghost projects or substandard work

• Favoritism in awarding contracts

Solutions:

• Digital Procurement Portals: Require all flood control contracts to be bid and awarded publicly online (e.g., through PhilGEPS).

• Independent Procurement Boards: Include private sector, academic, and civil society representatives in bidding committees.

• Blacklist Corrupt Contractors: Maintain and publicly share a list of firms involved in irregularities.

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👀 2. Real-Time Project Monitoring Using Technology

Problems:

• Lack of verification of actual project completion

• Difficult for citizens to know progress or quality

Solutions:

• Drone & Satellite Monitoring: Use geotagged images to verify physical progress of flood control projects.

• Public Dashboards: Host live dashboards that show the status, budget, and progress of each major project.

• Blockchain for Tracking Funds: For high-value projects, blockchain can provide an immutable ledger of where every peso goes.

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🏛️ 3. Strengthen Oversight Institutions

Problems:

• Weak enforcement from the COA, DPWH, and Ombudsman

• Delays in investigations and penalties

Solutions:

• Fast-Track COA Audit Reports: Mandate shorter timelines for auditing infrastructure projects.

• Special Anti-Corruption Unit: Create a task force focused solely on public infrastructure corruption (can be under the DOJ or Ombudsman).

• Whistleblower Protection: Offer incentives and protection for engineers or officials who expose wrongdoing.

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🧱 4. Use Standardized Designs and Materials

Problems:

• Contractors cut corners by using substandard materials

• Projects are designed to be unnecessarily complex (to inflate cost)

Solutions:

• Adopt Modular Designs: Standard designs for dikes, canals, pumps, etc., that are proven effective.

• Independent Testing of Materials: Require DPWH or third-party labs to certify quality of cement, steel, etc.

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🤝 5. Engage Local Communities and CSOs

Problems:

• Local residents are unaware or not empowered to report issues

• Civil society is underutilized in project monitoring

Solutions:

• “Bantay Baha” Citizen Watch Groups: Empower local residents to report anomalies during construction.

• Public Posting of Projects: Every barangay with a flood control project must display a project info board (budget, duration, contractor, hotline for complaints).

• Hotline & App for Complaints: Allow easy anonymous reporting of corruption or delays.

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📚 6. Enforce Penalties Without Exception

Problems:

• High-level officials or contractors often go unpunished

• Settlements and delays weaken deterrence

Solutions:

• No-Settlement Policy for Corruption: Public officials or contractors involved in graft should face criminal prosecution, not just administrative penalties.

• Permanent Disqualification: Contractors proven to have engaged in fraud should be barred from all government projects.

• Lifestyle Checks for DPWH Officials: Regular audits of assets and lifestyle vs. declared income.

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🚧 7. Pilot “Integrity Zones” in High-Risk Areas

Target flood-prone regions (e.g., Metro Manila, Pampanga, Cagayan Valley) with anti-corruption pilot programs:

• Full transparency on flood control budgeting

• Special ombudsman oversight

• Performance-based bonuses for clean delivery

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Final Thoughts

Corruption in flood control is especially destructive—it wastes public money and puts lives at risk. Ending it is not just a governance issue; it's a moral and safety imperative. The Philippines needs:

• Political will

• Public pressure

• Tech-enabled transparency

• Real accountability

Blackwater's Defense

Despite their bad record this conference, as a basketball fan, I'm happy with the way Jeff Cariaso is using the resources available to him. Jopia is a defensive revelation. I think he got more defensive stops using Jopia than when he had Rosario. And I like how Blackwater is defending as a team. I hope Cariaso can instill this team minded defense in his players so that when Barefield is healthy, they might get back on the winning track.

I believe Cariaso has a lot of love for Casio. But it is time to pass on the point-guard responsibilities to a younger generation - in the same way Magnolia is trying to build a future after Mark Barroca. TNT believed in Tungcab and Montalbo. And Ilagan was also promising. But if their playing time is being taken up by an import, then, they will have a hard time developing. Give Escoto's playing time to Tungcab or Suerte.

Which leads me to the question, why hire a guard when you have a conference where the maximum import height is unlimited? This is the conference where you can get a big more dominant than Fajardo, and yet you still stick with King? Chemistry ... it's not like King has already won a conference for Blackwater in the same way Brownlee has for Ginebra and Hollis-Jeferson has for TNT. When an import has one a title, then you consider him for the long term. NLEX found a gem of an import in Watkins and the same goes for Northport and Converge. Isn't finding the right import more of a scouting issue? Whose job is it to find these guys?

And I thought David would blossom in his role as center / power forward once Rosario left. But David is lazy, settling for 3-point shots when he should be developing his body to become like a Danny Ildefonso powerhouse inside the paint. Big's should be learing how to shoot the three-point shot when they are near retirement, not before. Who is gonna rebound if they miss their three-point shot? Only Coach Guiao believes in three point shooting big men. But when was the last time he won a championship using a 3 point shooting big? Probably during his days with Penisi.

SMB Jabari Narcis

This guy was amusing to watch. He was taking three point shots as if he were a better option than Marcio Lassiter, the PBA's all time leader in 3-point shots. He would also carry the ball coast-to-coast as if he were RJ Abarrientos only for it to get stolen, or lost as an error. And when he posted in the paint, he could not pivot like a natural center even though he was taller than Jun Mar Fajardo. Sure he could dunk, but that's expected when you have a guy his height. But watching him feels like San Miguel ran out of a budget to find a Professional athlete, so they opted for one from the Amateur ranks. 

But at least he has more energy than Quincy Miller. And he solves some of SMB's biggest problems right now - rebounding and defense in the paint. You'ld say, well don't they have Jun Mar? But I'm afraid Jun Mar isn't the defensive presence he used to be. And small guards easily run circles around Fajardo at this point in his career. Narcis solves that problem since Tautua and Brondial aren't defensive minded enough. And Narcis helps relieve some of the pressure on Fajardo in the paint by being another post option.

I still believe in Coach Leo Austria despite being benched for some time. I do hope he uses Rosales, Enciso, Teng as additional 3-point options. They surely would have a better shooting percentage from long range than Jabari Narcis. Even Cahilig has a better chance at making threes than Narcis. And Austria used to pride himself in establishing player roles - and Narcis is a rebounder and defender first, and probably a scoring option when no one else is open. Stop giving him point guard duties. Give him the ball when he is established inside the paint.

Pros were amateurs before they became pros. Maybe Narcis needs this experience to become one. 18 points in the last outing was decent - but with the number of attempts he had - if he made them, that SMB vs Magnolia game would have been a blowout. Let's see if he gets another chance in SMB's next game.