Extra, Extra
Even Aid is Dangerous: “In a video obtained by CNN on Friday, an airdrop goes wrong when the parachute on a pallet malfunctions. The pallet and its contents can be seen falling at a high speed towards a residential building near the Fairoz Towers in western Gaza.” At least 5 killed after airdropped aid falls on them in Gaza. Meanwhile, Biden’s announced pier to be used to receive aid will take weeks to build. In the meantime, like always, there’s World Central Kitchen. Inside José Andrés’ risky mission to get food to Gaza. (José Andrés would have been a perfect guest for last night’s SOTU address.)
+ Hacking Off: “Though the existence of these hacking contractors is an open secret in China, little was known about how they operate. But the leaked documents from a firm called I-Soon have pulled back the curtain, revealing a seedy, sprawling industry where corners are cut and rules are murky and poorly enforced in the quest to make money.” Behind the doors of a Chinese hacking company, a sordid culture fueled by influence, alcohol and sex.
+ Scam Slam: “A record $12.5 billion in losses from online scams were reported to the FBI in 2023, fueled by a surge in cryptocurrency investment fraud.” And Wired on a crime we’re likely to see whole lot more of. Florida Middle Schoolers Arrested for Allegedly Creating Deepfake Nudes of Classmates.
+ Pencil Eraser: The SAT will be taken entirely online for the first time in the U.S. this weekend. (Oh damn, I just invested most of my portfolio into Ticonderoga.)
+ It’s Good to Be the King(dom): “Reid was eventually given a three-year prison sentence, a plea deal down from the maximum seven-year stint. Ariel’s family fumed at that, but it only got worse. Like seemingly everything in this story, even meager consequences didn’t stick.” Former Chiefs assistant (and son of Andy) Britt Reid cut the line into the NFL, now he cut the line out of prison. “Can three Super Bowl victories get your son out of jail early? Perhaps. In Kansas City, the Chiefs run a self-described kingdom. What does a governor matter against that?”
+ Chewing Out? “Gum’s bubble burst during the COVID-19 pandemic, when masks and social distancing made bad breath less of a worry and fewer people spent on impulse buys.” Candy companies pitch gum as a stress reliever and concentration aid to revive stale US sales.
+ Party of One: “The typical client is either burned out socially or chasing nostalgia that doesn’t fit their current lifestyle; whatever they’re doing to have fun, the therapy they’ve done, the personal development work, the wellness mantras—none of it seems to be working. I hear from so many different types of people, including dads, who need to find new ways to let loose. DJs who have cut back on substances and realize they don’t have the same social battery that they used to.” GQ (Gift Article): Feeling Awkward About Fill-in-the-Blank Social Obligation? Time to Get a Party Coach. (No thanks. I don’t don’t suffer from FOMO. I suffer from FOBIA, the Fear of Being Invited Again.)
