Enduring Legacy: This interesting piece from the NYT (Gift Article) suggests that SCOTUS getting rid of affirmative action could impact the extent to which elite colleges can favor alumni children. “The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments this fall about race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. If the court ends or rolls back the widely used practice of considering race in selecting students, as many experts expect, the ruling could prompt a reconsideration of legacy applicants. Explicitly favoring the children of alumni — some of whom would be competitive applicants regardless because of socioeconomic advantages — would become harder to defend if racial preferences are no longer allowed.” (Trust me, this court will find a way to thread the needle.)

+ Nuclear Family Conflict: “I continue to believe that diplomacy is the best way to achieve this outcome.” … “The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program the free world will use force.” Biden, Lapid agree to stop Iran nuke program, differ on how.

+ The Fall in Rome: Italian PM Mario Draghi offers resignation after coalition falls apart. “European Union Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, who is himself a former Italian prime minister, said earlier the EU’s executive was watching developments in Rome ‘with due detachment, but with worried astonishment.'” (That’s my mindset every time I open my laptop.)

+ Scam Spam: “She’s fielding up to 20 spam phone calls every day on her mobile phone, adding to her already sky-high levels of stress. Since her diagnosis in August 2019, the number of scam attempts has shot up while the topics have gotten strangely specific, including Medicare or senior benefits. ‘I’ve gotten some calls about funeral insurance. That kind of bums me out … I’ve got cancer, but you don’t have to rub it in.'” The nonstop scam economy is costing us more than just money.

+ Money Pit: “I have an obligation to return my resources to society in ways that have the greatest impact for reducing suffering and improving lives. And I hope others in positions of great wealth and privilege will step up in this moment too.” Bill Gates vows to drop off world’s rich list. (Beats vowing to buy Twitter…)

+ Selfie Sticks: Van Gogh self-portrait found hidden behind another painting. “The self-portrait was found on the back of Van Gogh’s ‘Head of a Peasant Woman’ when experts at the Edinburgh gallery took an X-ray of the canvas ahead of an upcoming exhibition … Van Gogh was known for turning canvases around and painting on the other side to save money.” (If only he had gotten into the NFT biz…)