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- Game of Drones
Game of Drones
+ Damn, they’re good
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OVERWORLD:
-Game of Drones: China and the USA’s battle for Taiwan.-
ONE BETWEEN:
-Taylor Swift could sue Trump.-
THE DEPTHS:
-Damn, they’re good.-
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Modern warfare
Game of Drones: China and the USA’s battle for Taiwan
In case you were having a good day: The U.S. government is increasingly convinced that China may soon attempt to invade Taiwan. It’s kinda common sense right now.
Losing Taiwan to China fucks up the balance of power in the region, giving China more control over the Western Pacific and threatening U.S. military bases and allies in the area.
Also, Taiwan runs the world right now. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), based in Taiwan, makes a significant portion of the world's advanced semiconductors. Controlling that means controlling the tech sector.
In 2024, war is different, the Pentagon has devised a bold, drone-centric defense strategy:
The method: Transform the Taiwan Strait into a nightmarish battlefield of autonomous drones. This involves deploying thousands of drones by land, sea, and air to create chaos and buy time for U.S. and allied forces to respond effectively.
Drone hellscape: The idea is to deploy swarms of low-cost, networked drones capable of targeting Chinese aircraft, ships, and other assets, thereby disrupting their advance and gathering critical intelligence.
Robot wars: From Ukraine to the Middle East, drones run shit in modern warfare. In Taiwan this means creating a "hellscape" that would significantly hinder Chinese military operations.
Drones vs. Drones: China won’t stand still. With the world's largest maritime force and a rapidly expanding drone arsenal, Beijing is well-prepared for a potential conflict. Chinese drones, both military and commercial, dominate global markets, giving China a significant advantage in a prolonged conflict.
Response: To counter this, the U.S. military's plan focuses on developing and deploying diverse and scalable drone systems that can effectively challenge Chinese forces in the Taiwan Strait.
The Pentagon's Replicator initiative is central to this strategy, aiming to mass-produce autonomous drones quickly. The initiative has already started delivering systems designed to overwhelm Chinese defenses, such as loitering munitions and unmanned surface vessels.
As tensions continue to build, the U.S. is racing to ensure it is prepared to defend Taiwan, leveraging advanced drone technology to create a formidable barrier against Chinese aggression.
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✦QUICK HITS✦
✦Business & Tech✦
Wow: Elon Musk's $13 billion Twitter acquisition debt has become a historic burden for banks, with losses on unsellable loans hampering their finances and damaging their investment banking standings.
Billionaire AI-shopping: Bernard Arnault, LVMH CEO and the world’s fourth-richest person, is increasingly investing in AI through Aglaé Ventures. In 2024, Aglaé invested in five AI firms, contributing to $300 million in funding rounds.
✦Fashion & Culture✦
Nailing it: Nail art is huge. It has evolved from traditional designs to experimental, sculptural works, with artists like Juan Alvear and Mei Kawajiri pushing boundaries using mixed media and surrealist themes, gaining mainstream acclaim.
✦Hmm… Interesting✦
Cozy 1-minute-read: writing thrusts me into uncharted territory
Big read for big brains: The Waiting Time Paradox, or, Why Is My Bus Always Late?
Really, really cool: Spine: 2D skeletal animation for games
ONE
BETWEEN
Don’t use my face
Taylor Swift could sue Trump, if she feels like it
“I accept!”
That’s what Trump posted on Truth Social along with AI-generated images of women in “Swifties for Trump” t-shirts.
Among these also an AI-created image of Taylor Swift dressed in an Uncle Sam-style outfit, accompanied by the caption, “Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump.”
Why this is funny/weird/disorienting is obvious. Does Trump know that the images are fake? Or has his 78-year-old brain been confused, as many in his generation do, into believing they are real?
But who the hell cares? It’s not the craziest thing he has tweeted, and it most definetly won’t baptize Swifties into Trumpies overnight.
But, but but… Trump posted just as Tennessee, where Swift’s business entities are registered, has passed the ELVIS Act.
This law, effective July 1, 2024, safeguards the likeness, voice, and image of individuals from unauthorized commercial use, potentially making Trump’s posts illegal if Swift chooses to take legal action.
Her team has not yet commented on these AI-generated endorsement images, leaving the situation unresolved for now.
THE DEPTHS
Pretty, pretty
Damn, they’re good.
Moscow has the 2nd busiest subway (after Tokyo) for two reasons: First, Moscow has 13 million residents. Second, it’s so beautiful that people just want to be in there.
Unlike the cold and purely functional design seen in many other cities, Moscow's subways were created with beauty and artistry in mind.
Each station tells a different story, reflecting themes of Soviet ideology, Russian folklore, and significant historical events. The architects and artists of the time poured their talents into making these subterranean spaces feel like palaces for the people.
Opened in 1935, the Moscow Metro was envisioned by Soviet leaders as a symbol of technological advancement and cultural prestige.
This grand vision is evident in the elaborate design of its stations. And elaborate is just what it is: it’s adorned with chandeliers, intricate mosaics, and statues that celebrate the country's history and achievements.
✦Rapid fire facts.✦
✦ A pretty place to hide from bombs: During WW2, some metro stations were used as bomb shelters during World War II.
✦ Secret tunnels: There are rumors about a secret parallel subway system, known as Metro-2, allegedly built for the use of government and emergency services, stretching even deeper beneath the city than the public metro.
✦ It’s freaking big: The network has rapidly expanded over the years and now boasts over 200 stations, spanning more than 400 kilometers (about 250 miles) of route, making it one of the largest subway systems worldwide.
✦ Sniper precision: All trains on the Moscow Metro are run on a precise schedule, with a minimal interval between trains of just 90 seconds during peak hours.
