Save or murder the world?

+ EU regulators pull out their dicks

July 03, 2024

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OVERWORLD:
-Saving the world by murdering it, with Patagonia-

ONE BETWEEN:
-Meta acts shady again — EU regulators pull out their dicks-

THE DEPTHS:
-The first written words started here-

“Johnny ate a booger and it taste like sugar.”
—IShowSpeed

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✦DISCOVERY PICKS✦

Oxymoron

Saving the world by murdering it, with Patagonia

Is it physically (or even metaphysically) possible for a fashion business to be successful if it’s not growing?

The world is burning. And as of right now, growing means selling more products, which makes the world burn more. Sticky situation.

Sure, stakeholder capitalism—serving society as a whole—is becoming more of a thing, but shareholder supremacy still reigns king.

It’s a heck of a nut to crack.

Patagonia isn’t new to said nut, however. Founded by rock climber and environmentalist Yvon Chouinard in 1973, it has always tried to balance profit with purpose.

Cash + charity cow: Patagonia makes a lot of money ($1.5 billion in 2022) and donates a portion ($200 million over the years) to environmental causes.

Hippie businessman: In 2022, founder Yvon Chouinard made Earth (yes, our planet) Patagonia's only shareholder. Now, profits not reinvested in the company go towards fighting climate change. They’re almost a full nonprofit.

Anti-consumer ethos: Patagonia encourages customers to buy secondhand items through its Worn Wear program and offers repairs to extend the life of products. These efforts are profitable but still a small part of the business.

✦Outerwear’s devil and angel✦

In a BoF interview, CEO Ryan Gellert admits he’s in a tough spot. Since 2020, he’s been running a paradox business; he protects Earth by increasing consumption.

“There’s a tension around growth, and certainly around growth for growth’s sake. The biggest magic trick in business [is figuring out how to] be impactful and ascendant while standing still,” he tells BoF.

Exhibit A: Patagonia’s campaigns are concentrated manifestations of this, like the 2011 "Don’t buy this jacket" ad. Ironically, this ad sold a lot of jackets made out of plastic.

Exhibit B: Their recent mockumentary, "The Shitthropocene," aimed to critique overconsumption. If you didn’t know, the title is a play on “Anthropocene,” which describes the era where humanity’s hand affects nature.

The film actually fell flat with many viewers. To some, Patagonia was virtue signaling; again, a great symbol of the paradox. At the end of the day, they’re making billions by slinging polyester jackets, no amount of preaching can change that. Still, they’re pioneering by trying.

THE KING NEEDS YOU

Human, you are a mere . Do you not seek grander ventures? A greater title? Honor? Take up arms, and help me expand my kingdom!

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Refer a friend with this link.
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✦QUICK HITS✦

✦Business & Tech✦

Here they come: Mt. Gox, a bankrupt bitcoin exchange, will soon return $9 billion in bitcoin to 20,000 creditors, causing investor concern. Analysts expect a short-term bitcoin price drop as many sell to profit.

That sucks: Polestar Automotive reported a $1.46 billion operating loss, up from $1.29 billion last year, amid weaker demand and organizational issues. The company has lost 95% of its value since separating from Volvo.

Hmm… shady: A lawsuit accusing influencer Keith Gill, aka “Roaring Kitty,” of a “pump and dump” scheme with GameStop shares was dropped within days. Gill’s posts led GameStop stock to soar from $17 to $48.75 in May; he later disclosed owning 9 million shares.

✦Fashion & Culture✦

Billion dollar baby: Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” hit $1.014 billion worldwide, making it 2024's highest-grossing film and the fastest animated movie to reach $1 billion. 70% of its audience were families; 14% teens.

Actually cool: Harmony Korine announced his upcoming film The Trap, as a hip-hop anime, 10 years after its original live-action plan with Jamie Foxx. Currently in talks with Japanese partners, it follows a gangster's revenge against a rapper.

Kanye West and Milo Yiannopoulos face a lawsuit where emails of porn by Bianca Censori was emailed to minor employees. The lawsuit also alleges unpaid wages, racist environment, overtime, and emotional distress.

✦Hmm… Interesting✦

Cozy 2-minute read: To All The Cameras I’ve Loved Before

Weird rabbit hole: Getting the World Record in HATETRIS

For developers: My Python code is a neural network

ONE 

BETWEEN

Titans clash

Meta acts shady again — EU regulators pull out their dicks

Zuck.

On Monday, Meta got the good ol' European dick flash.

Accusations from EU regulators claim Meta is breaking antitrust laws over how it runs its ad-supported subscription service in Europe.

Here’s the gist of it:

The crime itself: Meta introduced a new service in Europe where users have two choices:

1. Pay to use Facebook and Instagram without ads.

2. Use the services for free but allow Meta to use their personal data to show them personalized ads.

EU's rage: The European Commission says this setup is unfair. They argue that Meta forces us to either pay them or give up their personal data. To them, Meta is smoking crack.

EU’s solution: Users should have a third option: use Facebook and Instagram for free without sharing as much data, even if it means less personalized ads.

Meta's defense: Meta says that their model is EU-kosher according to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). They believe they are complying with the law and are willing to talk more with the EU to resolve this issue. Which is a nothing answer, lol.

Fuuuuck, that's bad: If the EU finds Meta guilty of breaking the rules, Meta could face a fat fine up to $13.4 billion. The investigation started in March and will wrap up within a year.

THE DEPTHS

Why you can read, maybe

The first written words started here

Uruk, in modern Iraq, is where the world's first written words were born.

A sign stands at the site, “The first written words started here”. A heck of a statement; one that declares Uruk as the cradle of recorded history.

✦Like a baby’s first words✦

Around 3200 BCE, in the fertile plains of Mesopotamia, the ancient Sumerians of Uruk developed cuneiform, the earliest known form of writing.

This revolutionary system utilized pictographs and later, abstract symbols impressed onto clay tablets with a reed stylus. This was humanity's leap from prehistory to history; enabling the recording of transactions, laws, and literary works.

Initially, cuneiform was used for practical purposes like tracking crops and trade. But soon, it recorded laws, epic tales, and even astronomical data, laying the groundwork for complex societies.

The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of humanity's oldest literary masterpieces, originates from Uruk. This epic poem, inscribed on cuneiform tablets, narrates the adventures of King Gilgamesh, reflecting the themes of friendship, heroism, and the human quest for immortality.

Today, the sign in Uruk is a modern Cyrus Cylinder (maybe not quite as dope, but you get it). It reminds us of humanity's unending quest to understand and document the world.