OVERWORLD:
-Corporate suits won’t stop running a train on Supreme-

ONE BETWEEN:
-Communism hits Roblox — bloxxers revolt-

THE DEPTHS:
-Damn, that’s big-

“If you calculate 15 minutes a day to shave, that is 5,000 minutes a year spent shaving.”
— Fidel Castro

✦DISCOVERY PICKS✦

▶️ YouTube:
Facebook Interview

👽 Reddit:
The portrait Australia’s richest woman wants removed from the National Gallery of Art

✖️ X:
a thread of pop culture moments that i can’t believe are real

❓
Mystery link.

Aw shit, here we go again

Corporate suits won’t stop running a train on Supreme

Here’s a rumor: Everyone’s talking about that Supreme is about to get sold.

It’s scandalous because it reminds people that Supreme is basically a corporate fucktoy at this point.

Supreme went from: The coolest grass-roots brand with an anti-establishment message.

And then to: A billion-dollar cash cow passed around by corporate suits for gain.

What happened this time? Here's a crash course:

✦Is Supreme doing bad?✦

In 2023, VF had to deal with some financial issues. They recorded a $735 million loss related to Supreme.

But Supreme itself has grown, but its light has faded somewhat. The brand got too big to continue to be cool.

Basically, the problem comes down to two main reasons:

1. The economy whooped VF’s ass: Interest rates and currency fluctuations are pretty much to blame.

2. Supreme has lost cool-factor: Creative director Tremaine Emory left in August 2023 citing "systemic racial issues". Supreme’s brand image has suffered; partly due to this, partly due to its corporate ownership

✦The truth✦

Supreme is A-OK. VF isn't: Supreme reported double-digit growth in October 2023. Also, they got some positive momentum and impressive results from the new store in Seoul opened in August 2023.

Supreme has to strike a special type of balance to keep making money. A balance that’s too much of a hassle for VF.

Their stock price dropped from $100 in 2020 to $12 in 2024. So VF grapples with a declining share price, plus a significant tax bill from the Timberland acquisition.

Things could be simpler: Now, the new CEO of VF, Bracken Darrell, wants to fix things by focusing on brands that do well and might be easier to manage.

So, selling Supreme could help VF get some money and reduce their debts, allowing it to concentrate on its stronger brands.

✦QUICK HITS✦

✦Business & Tech✦

Well played: Netflix’s ad-supported model has reached 40 million monthly users globally, up from 23 million earlier this year. With 270 million total subscribers, over 40% of new users in ad-supported regions opt for this tier. Netflix is developing an in-house advertising platform.

What did he see? Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI cofounder, and chief scientist, has left the company. He was among those who voted to oust CEO Sam Altman, leading to significant internal turmoil. Jakub Pachocki succeeds him as chief scientist. Here’s a meme.

S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow closed at record highs after a 3.4% annual inflation report for April. Investors expect a Federal Reserve rate cut due to lower inflation and weak retail sales. Grocery prices fell, while housing costs eased slightly.

Yikes: Dutch judges sentenced Alexey Pertsev, a developer of Tornado Cash, to over five years for money laundering. Tornado Cash allowed criminals, including North Korean hackers, to launder $1.2 billion in stolen cryptocurrency.

Frank McCourt (baller billionaire) is assembling a group to buy TikTok after Congress mandated its sale or shutdown due to security concerns. McCourt, focused on data privacy and internet reform, aims to create an alternative internet structure. Challenges include high costs, antitrust scrutiny, and potential Chinese government resistance.

✦Fashion & Culture✦

Soon: Grand Theft Auto VI release date has narrowed down to to "fall 2025." This comes after Take-Two’s Q4 2024 earnings report. GTA V has sold 200 million copies, making it the second best-selling game of all time.

Really cool: Haider Ackermann is the new creative director of Canada Goose. His debut collection launches in autumn, with a special hoodie supporting Polar Bears International and a campaign featuring Jane Fonda.

DJ Akademiks (hip-hop journalist) is being sued for rape and defamation by a woman who claims he and two men assaulted her in 2022. She alleges they spiked her drink and raped her, with Akademiks participating later. He denies the allegations.

Clark fever: More than 2 million people watched Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut, making it the most-watched game in league history on ESPN platforms.

✦Hmm… Interesting✦

OpenAI’s GPT-4o Isn’t ‘Her,’ It’s ‘Metropolis’

For developers: I Coded Something Dumb And I'm Proud of It

But Why a Penguin?

How the Soviets revolutionized wristwatches (2016)

ONE 

BETWEEN

Political turmoil in the metaverse

Communism hits Roblox — bloxxers revolt

Roblox players (your 11-year-old brothers & nephews) are serious. Don't fuck with them.

If you didn't know: there’s currently a mass-hysteric uproar in the "Bloxburg" game.

An update called "Welcome to Bloxburg" reformed the in-game economy. Players did not like it, and are calling it evil communism.

And so, they're banding together to boycott and protest.

✦The details✦

The update adjusted the in-game currency earned for various jobs, like delivering pizzas for the virtual Pizza Planet. Previously, players were rewarded more as they advanced in job levels.

Brutal equality: Now, earnings have been equalized. Different jobs and levels; both new and seasoned players earn a maximum of $2,625 per minute regardless of job experience.

Players are pissed. They feel that their efforts in leveling up jobs are undervalued. And they're likening the change to a form of economic leveling reminiscent of communist principles.

While some players say that forcing income equality is inhumane, others criticize the association of these changes with communism.

Also, check out this TikTok: In it, a player emulating Patrick Henry throws a pizza box into the sea in a nod to the Boston Tea Party. Lol.

@ashleyytheunicornn

Have you been to a bloxburg protest? #roblox #robloxfyp #bloxburg #bloxburgupdates #bloxburgboycott

✦Developers respond✦

In response, Coffee Stain Studios, the creators of Bloxburg, explained that the update aims to balance the game’s economy.

According to them, this will help new players integrate more seamlessly, asserting that the changes are meant to ensure the game’s long-term viability.

They promised more transparent updates soon, indicating ongoing adjustments to address community feedback.

Til then, fire in the skies of Bloxburg.

THE DEPTHS

Somebodies workplace

Damn, that’s big.

You're in a Jeep, roaming through Cairo's sun-soaked sands.

In the distance, a structure seemingly rises from the desert itself. It's a colossal emblem, kinda alien fortress - and it’s super badass.

This is The Octagon. It's Egypt’s new Ministry of Defence headquarters, a symbol of Egypt’s strategic aspirations. It's the largest defense headquarters in the Middle East and one of the largest in the world.

Okay, get this... The Octagon spans an area of 125,000,000 square meters (31,000 acres). Your brain can’t even grasp that.

It's made up out of eight interconnected towers, each representing different branches of the military.

These towers surround a central core. This center houses the main command center, creating a fortified nucleus that enhances both security and communication.

The octagonal design isn't just for style; it's a symbol of unity and strength, chained in a fortress.

What sets The Octagon apart is not just its size but its integration of state-of-the-art technology.

The facility has advanced surveillance systems, cybersecurity measures, and cutting-edge communication networks, ensuring that Egypt can effectively manage its defense operations during digital threats.

In essence, it’s a signal to both good guys and bad guys that Egypt is not to be fucked with.