OVERWORLD:
-AI Beauty pageants are now a thing… nooo fuuuuck-

ONE BETWEEN:
-Isolated Amazon tribe gets internet — kids grow porn addiction instantly-

THE DEPTHS:
-They finally uncovered the origin of the “Backrooms”-picture-

"I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific."
— Lily Tomlin

✦DISCOVERY PICKS✦

▶️ YouTube:
Sources of Uncorrelated Returns

👽 Reddit:
The punishment for being gay in Indonesia

✖️ X:
Klarna CEO is shrinking number of employees by 20% per year and has stopped recruitment

❓
Mystery link.

Not the beginning, but the middle of the end

AI beauty pageants are now a thing… nooo fuuuuck

Be honest. You want to fuck AI influencers. You’re a disgusting freak, the worst member of society…. But at least you're not alone.

In fact humans are gathering to vote for the most fuckable AI — an AI influencer beauty pageant.

In April, Fanvue, an AI-focused creator platform, launched the "world's first beauty pageant for AI creators."

Now, 10 semifinalists from over 1,500 applicants, will compete for a $20,000 prize.

Among them are:

✦It kinda makes sense✦

When you think about it, AI beauty pageants aren’t a completely illogical evolution from traditional beauty contests — because they’re both stupid.

Pageant culture's relationship with physical enhancement and image manipulation has long been accepted. This AI shit is just the next level of that.

The only way it's radical is probably that there aren't any actual humans that look unrealistic. It's literally unreal people.

✦Where human effort comes in✦

But the human factor that is being judged is actually quite interesting. Fanvue will be judging social media influence and prompt usage by creators, not just appearance.

After all, these are intentionally put together and orchestrated efforts by humans.

For example, Seren Ay's creator and their team filtered 300 initial designs to select Seren Ay for her realistic look -- all the other ones were "too attractive." That requires some sense of skill, curation and taste.

Perhaps this isn’t a beauty pageant more than it is an art competition.

✦Still stupid✦

But even when sky's the limit, the AI pageant still reflects societal biases; most finalists are thin and light-skinned. This reinforces existing media portrayals, creating a feedback loop.

Ultimately, AI beauty contests like Fanvue's highlight society's fixation on specific beauty standards, whether in humans or AI creations. These contests mirror broader cultural issues rather than signaling drastic changes in societal values.

✦QUICK HITS✦

✦Business & Tech

SpaceX's fourth Starship test successfully launched from Texas, reaching sub orbit. Despite one engine failing and a reentry flap catching fire, the rocket largely met its objectives. The booster splashdown and partial success of Starship's ocean landing mark progress toward reusable space travel.

Let’s go: The EU is intensifying its scrutiny of Big Tech, particularly Microsoft’s Bing, for potentially violating the Digital Services Act. Brussels is investigating Microsoft's handling of AI-generated content, including misinformation and deepfakes, ahead of the European Parliament elections.

Microsoft will disable the Recall feature by default on new PCs after security concerns were raised. Recall, which logs user activities, will now require manual activation and additional security measures to protect user data.

Mainstream-ification: Crypto culture's "HODL" practice may decline as ETFs and traditional investors, who regularly rebalance portfolios, adopt bitcoin. Institutional adoption has increased, with ETFs tracking bitcoin's price gaining traction. Experts suggest rebalancing bitcoin exposure within portfolios can reduce volatility and enhance risk-adjusted returns, although long-term holders currently sell during bull markets.

✦Fashion & Culture✦

Cool or lame? Pharrell Williams' animated biopic "Piece by Piece," directed by Morgan Neville, uses LEGO animation to depict Williams' life and career. Featuring voice cameos from stars like Snoop Dogg and Justin Timberlake, the film highlights his musical journey and messages of authenticity and perseverance.

Civilization 7 has been officially announced by 2K at Summer Game Fest. Launching in 2025, it will be available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. More details and a gameplay showcase are coming in August.

Niiiice: To celebrate its 70th anniversary, Akira Kurosawa's epic "Seven Samurai" returns to theaters in 4K. This lauded film, depicting a village defended by samurai, faced budget challenges but became a classic.

The Fashion Workers Act has been passed by the New York Assembly and Senate, pending approval from Gov. Kathy Hochul. This law aims to regulate management agencies, ensuring timely payments, contracts, and protection from harassment and discrimination for fashion workers. It also aims to prevent high fees and promote fair treatment in the industry.

✦Hmm… Interesting✦

Gene therapy restores hearing to children with inherited deafness

For perverts: How many High Streets are there in London?

What makes gambling wrong but insurance right?

Watch: Guy meticulously traces the origin of the skull trumpet meme

Cozy 1-minute-read: Feedback Loops

Cozy 5-minute-read: My favorite 1980's Canadian TV show: Bits and Bytes

Big read for big brains: Secret Hand Gestures in Paintings

ONE 

BETWEEN

No surprise

Isolated Amazon tribe gets internet — kids grow porn addiction instantly

In a remote indigenous village in the Amazon rainforest, the Marubo tribe is transforming. They just got Starlink — cutting-edge internet connection.

Here’s the gist of it:

✦Just like us fr fr✦

It’s an identical double-edged sword to the one the West has had a decade-long struggle to control.

On one hand, it’s insanely addictive and poisoning society. On the other hand, it has probably saved countless lives. The Marubo are facing this exact dichotomy.

Starlink's satellite internet service has enabled them to connect with the outside world, which is crucial in life-or-death emergencies.

For example, a deadly snake bite requires swift rescue by helicopter. Before the internet, they relayed a message via radio between several villages to reach the authorities. One could die long before relief arrives.

And so, the internet has introduced conveniences such as video chats with distant relatives and emergency calls, which have already saved lives.

✦Culture killer✦

Many young Marubo are now more interested in social media and online entertainment than traditional practices.

This has caused friction within the community, as some elders worry about the loss of cultural heritage and increased exposure to negative aspects of the internet, such as addictive social networks and inappropriate content.

Despite these concerns, the Marubo recognize that returning to a life without the internet is no longer an option.

(Per NYTimes)

THE DEPTHS

Detective work

They finally uncovered the origin of the “Backrooms”-picture

This picture is a fucking classic. Nobody knows where it came from though, until last week.

The image of empty rooms, known as "The Backrooms," originated as a mysterious photograph circulating on message boards in the 2010s.

It was just one of those "oddly off-putting spaces"-pictures people would post. But then it blew up in 2019, when it was paired with a banger creepypasta:

The lack of a source for the image fueled its mystery, inspiring countless adaptations.

A subreddit (294k members), web series, and numerous video games were based on this single image.

Here are some memes and fan renditions:

✦Where the fuck did it come from✦

The best wrinkle in this whole cultural movement is that nobody could point to where the image came from.

But... some WaybackMachine time-travelers recently uncovered this.

In March 2003, during renovations at Rohner’s Home Furnishings in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a photo was taken of some renovations. This became "The Backrooms" image.

This photo, DSC001561.JPG, was archived by the Internet Archive’s WaybackMachine, revealing its origin as a mundane snapshot from a furniture store renovation. Kinda boring, but kinda cool.