OVERWORLD:
-There are (supposedly) 300 million hamster CEOs worldwide-

ONE BETWEEN:
-True Religion is too important to die-

THE DEPTHS:
-This is the Killdozer. It destroyed a town.-

“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.”
— Federico Fellini

✦DISCOVERY PICKS✦

▶️ YouTube:
Internet Anomalies

✖️ X:
Why does Venice float?

❓
Mystery link.

Pervert epidemic

There are (supposedly) 300 million hamster CEOs worldwide

Hamsters = Cool, CEOs = Sex appeal, Crypto = Biblical prophecy.

So, who doesn’t want to be a hamster CEO of a crypto exchange?

This is the premise of Hamster Kombat, a new Telegram mini-game with claims of over 300 million players. The game is so big that Iran's military leader accused it of distracting voters during elections. He called it a tool in the West’s “soft war” against Iran’s theocracy.

✦The 2024 formula✦

According to WIRED, the creators have TikTok to thank for their success in sourcing ideas. Meaning, not TikTok content, but how the actual app itself encourages user engagement.

Hamster Kombat leverages virality; real-world events quickly integrate into gameplay and reward players for social media interactions. The big question remains whether the game’s value will hold or if it will follow the fate of previous crypto fads.

✦QUICK HITS✦

✦Business & Tech✦

It’s happening: The cryptocurrency market crashed on Sunday, losing $270 billion as bitcoin dropped 11% and ether 21%. This selloff paralleled declines in global equities. U.S. stocks fell due to poor earnings and economic data.

It’s fucking happening: Tech stocks have also crashed, with the Nasdaq Composite down 3.4% this week and 8.8% over three weeks. Disappointing earnings and economic concerns impact Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet. Meta and Nvidia are exceptions, showing positive growth. Intel faces severe restructuring challenges.

Duh: AI music company Suno admitted its product was trained on "tens of millions" of publicly accessible music files, including copyrighted ones. Facing a lawsuit, Suno argues for Fair Use, claiming AI training should be allowed without permission or compensation.

✦Fashion & Culture✦

50 Cent won a $1 billion lawsuit from Cory “Ghost” Holland Sr., who accused him of stealing his life story for the show "Power."

MrBeast's production team addressed safety concerns after contestants in his Beast Games series reported dangerous conditions. Issues included lack of food, medical care, and unsafe tasks. Despite problems, most participants accepted invitations to future shows.

✦Hmm… Interesting✦

Cozy 1-minute read: your social media feed doesn't operate in a vacuum

How I program in 2024

Building Lego Machines to Destroy Tall Lego Towers

What is a medieval guild?

ONE

BETWEEN

Duh

True Religion is too important to die.

Between 2008 and 2013 True Religion was truly a religion.

So obviously, hip-hop is the lifeblood of True Religion. And so, they're doubling down on what works.

Accordingly, True Religion has formed partnerships with artists like Chief Keef, Moneybagg Yo, and NLE Choppa.

True Religion’s commitment to urban culture is evident in events like Angie’s BBQ in New York, where it sponsored and supported Saweetie, a key figure in its spring 2024 campaign. Also, Joe Budden and Jadakiss engaged with the brand, showcasing its enduring appeal.

The brand’s influencer strategy includes long-term partnerships, focusing on those who have organically supported True Religion.

Examples include Chief Keef, who designed a collection after being the brand’s unofficial muse for a decade, and Quavo, who has a tattoo of the logo and led a recent campaign.

THE DEPTHS

Relatable

This is the Killdozer. It destroyed a town.

It was in the quiet, simple town of Granby, Colorado, on June 4, 2004, that a man decided to destroy.

Marvin Heemeyer was an expert welder and muffler repair shop owner. For a year and a half, he had been working on a secret project; a weapon of revenge.

Marvin had been pushed to the edge financially and emotionally by a series of zoning disputes and feeling wronged by local officials.

So, he decided to take matters into his own hands, and built the "Killdozer."

The Killdozer was originally a Komatsu D355A bulldozer, which Heemeyer extensively modified by wrapping it in layers of steel and concrete, creating an almost impenetrable shell. This thing could very easily level any ordinary building into dust and rubble.

Marvin was ready for a long, long fight. The cabin was equipped with bulletproof glass and gun ports, making it a formidable fortress. Inside, Heemeyer stocked it with weapons, including rifles and homemade explosives — preparation for a final stand.

June 4th came, it was time. Heemeyer set out on his warpath. He got in the Killdozer, and drove out into town. His primary targets were buildings associated with those he believed had wronged him, including the town hall, the local newspaper office, and a concrete plant.

Over the course of several hours, Heemeyer turned these buildings into nothing, leaving a trail of wreckage in his wake. The helicopter footage is insane. Here it is:

Despite the extensive damage, no lives were lost, a fact that some attribute to Heemeyer’s apparent intent to avoid harming individuals directly.

Heemeyer was literally untouchable inside the Killdozer. Bullets did nothing to it, and nobody knew how to get in it. Law enforcement found themselves helpless against the heavily armored vehicle. Attempts to disable the Killdozer, including using SWAT teams and even heavy construction equipment, did not work.

The rampage only ended when the Killdozer got stuck in the basement of a hardware store, and Heemeyer took his own life inside the vehicle.