I’ve finally gotten around to reading The Count of Monte Cristo. And almost started the wrong book, the 700+ page condensed version. But I’m now about a third of the way through the complete 1200+ page version in the modern Robin Buss translation. It got off to a slow florid start, but I’m now sucked into the story.
Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, Business, AI, and Debt:
AI agents will kill the web as we know it: Animoca’s Yat Siu
Proposed Ethereum Standard Aims to Help AI Agents Execute Complex DeFi Trades
Coronavirus and Public Health:
Beneficial bacteria in respiratory microbiome may protect against long-COVID symptoms
Iran:
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Terrorism, according to ICE — yes, that ICE — ‘involves violence or the threat of violence against people or property to further a particular ideology.’ The official website goes on to declare that ‘Terrorists do not care who they hurt or kill to achieve their goals.’
If you haven’t read Donald Trump’s Truth Social post from Sunday, above, take a minute to do so. Don’t rely on sanewashed descriptions in the media. And then tell me that Trump doesn’t perfectly fit his own officials’ definition of a terrorist.
Don’t tell me that his cause is just, that the Iranian regime is evil. That’s what terrorists always say, and even if it’s sometimes true, terrorism is defined by its means rather than its ends — by its attempt to achieve political goals by violently attacking the innocent.
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The simple fact that we can’t say ‘definitely no, absolutely not, for sure’ is an astounding commentary on how unhinged and dangerous his presidency has become and how far off the rails the war with Iran has gone as Trump flails about with no plan, no strategy, no exit, and a global economy that day-by-day is reeling from the biggest geopolitical oil shock in history.
Experts dispute US account of deadly Iran sports hall strike in Lamerd
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Politics:
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———— Minnesota Under Siege ————
Newly Obtained Video of Minneapolis Shooting Undermines ICE Account
The shooting was a rare instance in which U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Trump administration ultimately acknowledged a serious lapse. The agency’s acting director, Todd Lyons, said after the charges were dropped that two agents had appeared to have lied under oath about the events, adding that they had been placed on leave and could end up facing criminal charges.
———— The Epstein Coverup ————
New Details About Epstein’s Lenient Plea Deal Emerge
Jeffrey Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal for charges including soliciting a minor for prostitution has long drawn scrutiny, and newly released details are raising further questions about the months he spent on work release from a Florida jail.
———— Putin&Krasnov vs. Ukraine ————
A Choice of Deadly Drones Is Only a Few Clicks Away for Ukrainian Troops
Ukraine has created online marketplaces to let units select their own drones, a break from generations of standardized and centralized weapons procurement.
———— Melon Husk ————
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———— Hegseth on the Rocks ————
———— Mors Imperii ————
Trump Is Putting America’s Weaknesses on Display
What China can learn about the limits of American military capacity
Serendipity:
Strongest El Niño in a century? What this rare phenomenon could bring.
This year’s potential super El Niño is looking increasingly likely to have wide-reaching climate impacts that last into 2027.
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