Previously posted on my Facebook Page.
Associated Press: “Why the U.S.-Iran war is suddenly spreading far beyond the Strait of Hormuz.” Iran is obviously widening its leverage, before it again sits to discuss another deal, more to its (political) favor and less about economics, I guess. Tehran’s hardline leadership knows it can always prolong its war via the IRGC’s proxy armies, regardless of cessation of hostilities, if ever. So this is a tough bitch for both the U.S, and the Arab League, whose pumped-up economic projects are continually threatened by the war’s escalation. It’d seem only a regime change could “fix” this crisis?
Meanwhile, this news. BBC: “Hamas official says group agreed to disarm under U.S. plan. Israel has yet to comment.” As we know it, the IRGC funds Hamas. Weapons and military training, to support its operational and structural capabilities. So Hamas temporarily disarming is good news. Next issue: How Bibi Netanyahu responds. And when we say Israel’s next stance? That’d be Washington’s other side of the divide. Yes, tough. ☮️☮️☮️
NBC: “Men detained in Guthrie investigation file notice of claim against Pima County sheriff.” It has been over six months since the disappearance of 84-year old Nancy Guthrie. The most current official report: The forensic testing on a recovered hair sample came back inconclusive with no suspect profile. This high-profile, massively-publicized case baffles me. With an array of technological advances and intel capabilities that law enforcement now employs, still no break in the investigation. Something in this story that fishy. ⚖️😒⚖️
Rolling Stone: “Willie Nelson releases statement about environmental concerns with data centers.” Data centers evolved as imperatives of current life, much like gasoline stations or grocery stores. Data centers pile up, process, and send vast amounts of digital information that we consume, 24/7. The activism pushback pretty much is a standard protest narrative: <>Massive electricity consumption strains power grids and raises residential utility bills. <>Heavy water usage. <>Constant industrial noise pollution and heavy construction traffic. The same objects of dissent per Big Oil etcetera.
Meanwhile, as Big Tech upgrades their R&Ds and Artificial Intelligence mojo, annual budgets spike. Microsoft’s AI allotment, for example, is a lot more than the yearly spending money of smaller nations Tuvalu, Nauru, and Kiribati combined. Sure, these data centers also generate thousands of jobs. Same as other companies. I don’t intend to exude pragmatism over the issue but can’t dissent instead level the trajectories to what matters more, such as anti-war advocacy? 🦿🤖🦾
Associated Press: “At least 34 die as 60,000 migrants surge into Spanish enclave on the Morocco border.” Europe’s migrant crisis officially started in 2015 as thousands fled Syria, although the problem actually started to grow as the Schengen Area’s idealistic border laxity commenced in 1995. In 2016, the EU and Turkey struck a deal to stop illegal migrant crossings from the latter into Greek islands. The EU handed Turkey 6 billion euros for refugee aid and border control.
Greece designated Turkey a "safe third country" for certain asylum seekers to facilitate deportations, but legal challenges culminated in formal rulings (such as political actions by Greek and European courts) that stalled sending asylum seekers back, ending regular operational returns. Etc etcetera. Ergo, the original 2016 vision of a smooth, reciprocal swap and containment pact has largely disintegrated into fragmented border management.
And then top EU members prioritized other matters, such as their continued support of Ukraine in its war versus Russia. Then the economy stalled at 1 percent or below. Add the region’s pesky quarrels with Donald Trump, which pretty much occupy public discourse. And so here comes another surge of migrants into Spain as the country faces wildfires. I believe Europe “knows” what to fix first but the region’s baffling choice of priorities in the last few decades continues to weaken their once formidable stature. (And then Trump is blamed.) 🗽🏃♀️🏃
Yahoo Sports: “Cunningham rips Storm co-owner for confronting teens.” Without me necessarily commenting on whatever the issue was, we are now reading more of Sophie The Politician or Sophie The Influencer rather than Sophie The Basketball Player. Not because she prepped herself up to be in the limelight beyond the game, but that’s how today’s media works.
Although Ms Cunningham is not a starter for the Indiana Fever, she’s not a mediocre athlete either. Yet she gained prominence not for her good points, such as her tough D and 3-point shots, but more as a vocal enforcer of Caitlin Clark (you know why). From that point, the media did the rest. Then Soph carried on. Like a fine click-bait fodder, she “plays along” with the attention. Of course when the media focuses on you, the crowd (or Social Media) would savor you like ice cream. Regardless you are a good frolic or a bad pitch. 🏀⛹️♀️🏀
