July 2024 - cypherpunks - lists.cpunks.org

Matterport Stockholder Sues In Del. For Books On Merger
by Gunnar Larson 29 Jul '24

29 Jul '24

Matterport Stockholder Sues In Del. For Books On Merger <https://www.law360.com/mergersacquisitions/articles/1862611?nl_pk=a34c25b5-…> By Jeff Montgomery A shareholder of 3D-imaging and digitization venture Matterport Inc. has launched a Delaware Court of Chancery lawsuit seeking company documents, citing concerns that the business was selling itself to global real estate analytics company CoStar Group in part to protect insider equity from pending litigation. Complaint attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/mergersacquisitions/articles/1862611?nl_pk=a34c25b5-…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/mergersacquisitions/articles/1862611?nl_pk=a34c25b5-…>

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EU Banks Must Improve Cyberattack Protection, ECB Says
by Gunnar Larson 29 Jul '24

29 Jul '24

EU Banks Must Improve Cyberattack Protection, ECB Says <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1862462?nl_pk=a94fc…> By Tom Fish Lenders in the eurozone still suffer from "shortcomings" in fighting against and recovering from a severe — but plausible — cyberattack, the European Central Bank said Friday after it conducted a resilience stress test. Read full article » <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1862462?nl_pk=a94fc…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1862462?nl_pk=a94fc…>

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Fraudster Sentenced For Instagram Motor Insurance Scam
by Gunnar Larson 29 Jul '24

29 Jul '24

Fraudster Sentenced For Instagram Motor Insurance Scam <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1862461?nl_pk=a94fc…> By Dawood Fakhir A man who made almost £18,000 by operating as a "ghost broker" and selling invalid car insurance policies on Instagram has been handed a suspended prison sentence of 24 months at a London court, City Police has said. Read full article » <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1862461?nl_pk=a94fc…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1862461?nl_pk=a94fc…>

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UK Gov't Denies Leaked Greensill Probe Caused Him Harm
by Gunnar Larson 29 Jul '24

29 Jul '24

UK Gov't Denies Leaked Greensill Probe Caused Him Harm <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1850218?nl_pk=a94fc…> By Eddie Beaver The Insolvency Service leaked private details of an investigation into Lex Greensill, the founder of collapsed finance company Greensill Capital, to the national press, the government has admitted in court filings — but denied it caused him any harm. Read full article » <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1850218?nl_pk=a94fc…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1850218?nl_pk=a94fc…>

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FCA To Overhaul Prospectus Rules To Boost Capital Markets
by Gunnar Larson 29 Jul '24

29 Jul '24

FCA To Overhaul Prospectus Rules To Boost Capital Markets <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1862456?nl_pk=a94fc…> By Josh White The Financial Conduct Authority set out plans to shake up the U.K.'s prospectus regime Friday, including new rules for public offers and risk disclosures, to help boost the country's ailing capital markets. Read full article » <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1862456?nl_pk=a94fc…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1862456?nl_pk=a94fc…>

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Fwd: Elon looks into the abyss and comes up with X.ai, the Dems try 'Saving Democracy,' entrepreneurs as artists, and g…
by Gunnar Larson 29 Jul '24

29 Jul '24

Letter to entrepreneurs as artists *“Within the vast cultural panorama of each nation, artists have their unique place. Obedient to their inspiration in creating works both worthwhile and beautiful, they not only enrich the cultural heritage of each nation and of all humanity, but they also render an exceptional social service in favor of the common good.* *Those who perceive in themselves this kind of divine spark which is the artistic vocation — as poet, writer, sculptor, architect, musician, actor [entrepreneur] and so on —feel at the same time the obligation not to waste this talent but to develop it, in order to put it at the service of their neighbor and of humanity as a whole.”* —*Excerpt from Pope John Paul II’s Letter to Arists <https://substack.com/redirect/fb25215c-2686-4a8c-b7f7-6f417aa68697?j=eyJ1Ij…> in 1999. JPII’s first vocation was as an actor <https://substack.com/redirect/1afa48a6-d82d-4aec-b322-79c2e433c66e?j=eyJ1Ij…>.* ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: The Cryptonite Weekly Rap <cryptoniteventures(a)substack.com> Date: Sun, Jul 28, 2024, 10:01 PM Subject: Elon looks into the abyss and comes up with X.ai, the Dems try 'Saving Democracy,' entrepreneurs as artists, and g… To: <g(a)xny.io> ‘We want Democracy!’ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ Forwarded this email? Subscribe here <https://substack.com/redirect/2/eyJlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9jcnlwdG9uaXRldmVudHVyZXM…> for more <https://substack.com/redirect/2/eyJlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9jcnlwdG9uaXRldmVudHVyZXM…> Elon looks into the abyss and comes up with X.ai, the Dems try 'Saving Democracy,' entrepreneurs as artists, and getting a good sleep... <https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=1665481&post_id=146998187…> Anthony Perkins <https://substack.com/@anthonybperkins> and The Cryptonite Weekly Rap <https://substack.com/@cryptoniteventures> Jul 29 <https://substack.com/@anthonybperkins> <https://substack.com/@cryptoniteventures> <https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=1665481&post_id=146998187…> <https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=1665481&post_id=146998187…> <https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=1665481&post_id=146998187…> <https://substack.com/redirect/2/eyJlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9vcGVuLnN1YnN0YWNrLmNvbS9…> READ IN APP <https://open.substack.com/pub/cryptoniteventures/p/copy-cryptonite-weekly-r…> <https://substack.com/redirect/dd8e5495-7b06-4444-968b-f26a8167c8b3?j=eyJ1Ij…> Getting inside Elon’s the head. ‘We want Democracy!’ Well, our year-end prediction that Great Grandpa Joe 'does not make it to the finish line' came true. Two Rap's back, we also speculated right before the Big Debate 'that the powers-at-be can see the electroencephalogram chart on the wall and will be waiting in the shadows, chronicling mental fumbles and freezes to help shove the Big Guy off the ticket.' The President was indeed unceremoniously sacked in what some are calling a 'coup,' but we see more as a mad scramble after the bad decision of running Biden for a second term. [image: Cryptonite's top predictions for 2024...Blessed New Year to all!] <https://substack.com/redirect/2da4a1ad-1aaa-413e-a958-7623093a2501?j=eyJ1Ij…> Cryptonite's top predictions for 2024...Blessed New Year to all! <https://substack.com/redirect/2da4a1ad-1aaa-413e-a958-7623093a2501?j=eyJ1Ij…> The Cryptonite Weekly Rap <https://substack.com/profile/146561965-the-cryptonite-weekly-rap> · December 27, 2023 Read full story <https://substack.com/redirect/2da4a1ad-1aaa-413e-a958-7623093a2501?j=eyJ1Ij…> A steep grade to win still sits in front of the Democrats. 97% of California voters did not support Ms.Kamala's first run for President, even though that is her home state, and the rest of the country will soon see why. They also face the challenge of reconciling their campaign messaging of 'Saving Democracy' while offering up a non-democratically chosen candidate as their Party's Presidential nominee. Mr. Biden was certainly strong-armed and replaced with Ms. Kamala by a politically powerful few with a lot of pressure from a Donor Class threatening to cut off funds if things didn't go their way. This cloudy process feels more like a smoke-filled backroom meeting of the CCP's Politburo Standing Committee <https://substack.com/redirect/bc814993-452f-49f2-ad6d-ea4685aea55c?j=eyJ1Ij…>, where the Gang of 7 picks the next boss. In their last meet-up, they essentially anointed Xi for life. 😳 <https://substack.com/redirect/dd2c178f-08bf-4461-8954-0bbb72325e86?j=eyJ1Ij…> The seven members of China’s Politburo Standing Committee have everything under control. We suppose most Democrats feel it's a big relief to get Great Granpa Joe off the stage after finally seeing/acknowledging that he was lacking mental agility and clearly can no longer function, never mind beating the Bogeyman <https://substack.com/redirect/d98d868b-4687-4aa5-b75e-5485fe2db910?j=eyJ1Ij…>. Unfortunately, Ms. Kamala got more bad news in a new YouGov/Times of London <https://substack.com/redirect/fbdcb29d-02e8-428a-9697-dc396563d052?j=eyJ1Ij…> poll showing that a whopping 92 percent of respondents say that she was, in part, behind the coverup to hide Biden's failing health, further exposing the hypocrisy and incompetence of it all. <https://substack.com/redirect/d6248faf-d626-4884-a0ee-750f7a7a2605?j=eyJ1Ij…> However, they keep trying to spin it; the irony bells are ringing so loud that this drama must become a South Park episode. Just as Meeghan and Prince Harold flew the world in a private jet chanting, 'We want our privacy!' (see South Park clip above), we can imagine posh scenes of gatherings, from Malibu to Martha's Vinyard, where members of the Donor Class <https://substack.com/redirect/8e1b36b3-ac90-4616-90fa-d166ba32e9c9?j=eyJ1Ij…>hoist their glasses full of the finest varietals to cheer their horses in the race—Barack, Nancy, Chuck, Hakeem, and Ms. Kamala— while all are chanting 'We want Democracy! We want Democracy!' <https://substack.com/redirect/9dc7fd52-2f9b-45e6-aa9e-a4b501217f50?j=eyJ1Ij…> This July 2nd Reuters/Ipsos poll <https://substack.com/redirect/30fd162e-852b-4601-a7af-7e051f8b4872?j=eyJ1Ij…> showed that only former first lady Michelle Obama could definitively defeat Trump in the 2024 election. The next scene shows Pelosi and Schumer playing good cop—bad cop, browbeating the Commander in Chief to give over the White House keys. Their leverage is Ms.Kamala has given them the permission to invoke the 25th Amendment to get their way. Then, over to a shot at a beach club in Bali—on the other side of the planet—where Michelle Obama and her besties are cocktailing while she keeps sending Barack's calls to voicemail. 'Mich—You gotta do it! Don't worry, I promise to run the country—Please call me back!' (Most polls <https://substack.com/redirect/30fd162e-852b-4601-a7af-7e051f8b4872?j=eyJ1Ij…>show that Michelle has the best chance to beat Trump and is reportedly most feared by the Trump campaign). Dr. Jill would, of course, be ever-present, leading Joe around the Oval Office talking to her husband like a three-year-old. ‘Ok, Joey, go take a tinkle. Israel’s Prime Minister is here to see you, so we have to hurry up now.’ After watching a presidency meltdown in front of us—a candidate nearly assassinated with an honest spectator killed in the line of fire, the shadowy sacking and swapping-out of the Democratic Presidential candidate in a Politburo Standing Committee-style move—all within just 26 days—we are in desperate need of some good old South Park comic relief. Please, please. 🙏🏼 Share <https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=1665481&post_id=146998187…> *Wall Street and the Trump go crypto* The Ethereum ETFs offered by BlackRock, Ark Invest/21Shares, VanEck, Grayscale, Fidelity, Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, iShares, and Invesco <https://substack.com/redirect/1d780b40-7065-46f5-af3f-d4607a96c1d8?j=eyJ1Ij…> began trading on July 23, 2024, and brought in $1 billion on the first day. While the trading volume cooled to under $900 million by the third day, ETFs are projected to drive demand for Ethereum, absorb 1% of the Ether in circulation, and haul in $4 billion in new funds by the end of the year. This event was pivotal because it gives institutional investors easier access to Ether and further validates its role in the decentralized crypto economy. Ironically, these moves, plus AI, blockchain, and crypto innovation, will also accelerate the downsizing of Wall Street and create an exodus of a legion of disintermediated <https://substack.com/redirect/9bc1c0f3-5988-4f84-af09-b4332af01914?j=eyJ1Ij…> pinstriped middlemen. <https://substack.com/redirect/17f4ce2b-4e74-4b91-bf32-5d84b072af6d?j=eyJ1Ij…> “The Bogeyman wants more Bitcoin” *Artist: A.I.* Donald Trump gave a Bitcoin 2024 <https://substack.com/redirect/bbbbc68c-41c8-47d7-b9ab-d86a1f25547f?j=eyJ1Ij…> keynote speech in Nashville that was a shocking and even semi-sophisticated reversal from his 'Bitcoin is a scam! <https://substack.com/redirect/85ca19a7-844c-477f-9eb3-e422a2ccac78?j=eyJ1Ij…>' attitude during the last election cycle. Trump Bitcoin 2024 keynote excerpts *"For too long, our government has violated the cardinal rule that every bitcoiner knows by heart: Never sell your bitcoin. My administration policy is for the US to keep 100 percent of all the Bitcoin we currently hold or acquire into the future as the core of a strategic national Bitcoin stockpile."* *"On day one, I will fire Gary Gensler and appoint a new SEC Chairman. The rules will be written by people who love your industry, not hate your industry,"* *"Bitcoin stands for freedom, sovereignty, and independence from government coercion and control. If elected, we will transform the US into the crypto capital of the planet and the world's superpower of Bitcoin. If we don't embrace crypto and Bitcoin technology, China will, other countries will, and they will dominate." * *"We will immediately shut down Operation Choke Point 2.0 <https://substack.com/redirect/ea652ab0-8624-4388-a14c-59f201bdbace?j=eyJ1Ij…>." [The crypto industry's term for anti-crypto regulatory policy, such as SAB 121 <https://substack.com/redirect/26a699ed-ab09-4b6a-9413-465c36db3312?j=eyJ1Ij…>, issued by the US Securities and Exchange Commission in March of 2022.]* Trumps new Bitcoin stockpile would have a great start. The US has seized an estimated 210,000 bitcoins since 2020, worth $15 billion today, making it one of the world's biggest holders. Trump was also pleased to remind the audience that he is the first presidential candidate to take cryptocurrency donations. Since the Trump campaign opened its crypto wallet in May, it has raised over $4 million in crypto contributions <https://substack.com/redirect/9107744f-3ec1-4dca-ae07-cd530756dd33?j=eyJ1Ij…>, and acceptsa variety of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu coin, XRP, and USDC. BTC CEO David Bailey <https://substack.com/redirect/c85b913f-5c5d-4969-a5b4-151a76de9605?j=eyJ1Ij…>, who produced Bitcoin 2024 <https://substack.com/redirect/bbbbc68c-41c8-47d7-b9ab-d86a1f25547f?j=eyJ1Ij…>, pledged in June to raise $100 million and turn out over 5 million voters for Trump's re-election, just one more indicator of the crypto industry's shift to Trump. ------------------------------ Keep on keepin’ on We remain highly long-term bullish on BTC, ETH, other quality coins, the many great ones to come, and the tokenization of all tradable assets. This transformation will not only create $200 trillion in new wealth but also dramatically downsize inefficient institutions, return power back to the people, and create a more private and safe world. *—Anthony Perkins, founder & editor Cryptonite <https://substack.com/redirect/5194f93c-451a-4a47-b82f-9c692ec82c68?j=eyJ1Ij…>* Cryptonite Weekly Rap’s paid members gain access to company and investor lists and analytics and enjoy invitations to private events and global summits. 💪🏼😎 Upgrade to paid <https://substack.com/redirect/2/eyJlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9jcnlwdG9uaXRldmVudHVyZXM…> Pay for annual subscription with Crypto! <https://substack.com/redirect/3fa3688f-cb71-4ace-80e7-a013f3e8fcba?j=eyJ1Ij…> Jordan Peterson’s conversation with Elon Musk part 1 Famous Canadian psychologist, author, and educator Jordon Peterson <https://substack.com/redirect/84294f3d-f92f-4f7f-a617-47183840aebe?j=eyJ1Ij…> caught up with Elon Musk last week at the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin, Texas <https://substack.com/redirect/03ffaa5c-81d8-423d-947e-bb45b736f37b?j=eyJ1Ij…>, for a deeply insightful chat made slightly chaotic by JP’s hyperactive behavior. (JP is great, but he is better off being interviewed rather than being the interviewer—sometimes can’t STFU🤬) We have published excerpts of our favorite interchanges, and a smattering of commentary below. Enjoy! <https://substack.com/redirect/09a15576-1633-432e-b77c-d083949db359?j=eyJ1Ij…> Elon had just flown in from pulling an all-nighter at his company X.ai <https://substack.com/redirect/d6fa742b-ad9e-4f9a-8095-04848e241aa9?j=eyJ1Ij…> in Memphis, where they are building the most powerful AI on the planet. The AI arms race *JP:* I use Grok and ChatGPT a lot as research assistants. ChatGPT lies a lot, so you have to watch out for them, as they can deviate quite a bit. Why did you call your AI app Grok, and how does it perform compared to (Google's) Gemini and ChatGPT? *Elon:* To Grok something is to understand it at a very deep level. X.ai's stated goal is to understand the nature of the Universe <https://substack.com/redirect/d6fa742b-ad9e-4f9a-8095-04848e241aa9?j=eyJ1Ij…> and, even more, to understand what questions to ask about it. So I think that is a good goal. I do want to emphasize that X.ai is a relatively new company—it has only been around for a year—so we have a lot of catching up to do. But we are moving fast—our velocity of improvement is higher than any company out there. We were able to bring online a massive new training center in Memphis in only 19 days—from getting hardware installed to beginning training—that's the fastest set-up ever by any AI company by far. However, the foundation model of Grok is still an order of magnitude weaker than GPT. Our newest Grok release is sort of our 1.5 version. Grok 2 just finished training with 15,000 H100 GPUs (AI chips), and we are hoping to release it in a month, which will put Grok on par with a GPT 4. The training we are doing in Memphis is for Grok 3 and should be done in about three or four months. After bug fixing and fine-tuning, we are hoping for a December launch, at which point Grok 3 should be the most powerful AI in the world. ------------------------------ *Editor's Take: The speed of X.ai's time to market shows how AI can and will exponentially increase the production and transaction velocity of all companies in the future. As we move into the second half of the year, AI commercialization is starting to scale. Every category: developer tools and infrastructure, search, the collaboration and productivity suite, games and entertainment, the creative suite, and biology—to name just a few—will be transformed over the next decade by AI innovation. It will do the same for the individual who stays current with the AI tools impacting the industries they are passionate about. The three-work week is on the horizon for those who master the AI tools of their trade.* <https://substack.com/redirect/5e505136-09db-4cde-98e4-ccd47b8a8391?j=eyJ1Ij…> *Staring into the abyss <https://substack.com/redirect/f3c0655b-37fd-4b1e-bd97-648ab00b2ab8?j=eyJ1Ij…>* *JP:* So what the hell do you think you're building with these AI systems? (waving arms) *Elon:* All AI companies are building digital superintelligence that is far smarter than any human—and ultimately, superintelligence that is far smarter than all humans combined. Now, one can ask, 'Is this a wise thing to do? Is this dangerous?' Unfortunately, whether we think so or not, it is still being done. So, from my standpoint and that of the X.ai team, it's better we are participants rather than spectators. *JP:* That's life, man... *Elon:* Yes. As participants, we have a better chance of steering AI in a beneficial direction for humanity. *JP:* Why do you trust yourself on the front? *Elon:* Well, I don't trust myself entirely. *JP:* Good! Fair enough. But you are still confronting an ethical conundrum. Elon: Maybe we have a chance of doing it better than others from a moral standpoint and trying to avoid their pitfalls. From what I've seen, the others are not striving for truth. I mean, these systems are trained to give an answer, but they are also trained to be politically correct—the woke mind virus <https://substack.com/redirect/05e90d09-e256-4f8c-a843-6aa55403b3ea?j=eyJ1Ij…> is woven throughout. I'm sure you have recognized that. *JP:* I sure have. *Elon:* Perhaps I should go back to the foundation of my philosophy because that will help explain my actions. When I was about 11 or 12 years old, I had somewhat of an existential crisis—there just didn't seem to be any meaning in the world or to life. I was a voracious reader as a kid, so I actually tried to read all the religious texts—the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, Hindu scriptures. At 12, I didn't understand these things super well. *JP:* Well, you understood enough to have an existential crisis at 12, and that's a start. *Elon:* Then I dug into the philosophy books and read quite a bit of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche—which was quite depressing to read as a kid—not so much so as an adult. And nothing really gave me the answers that resonated with me. Then I read Douglas Adams's *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy <https://substack.com/redirect/f6e3a28e-1727-4370-9271-6eac70d3d20d?j=eyJ1Ij…>*, which is really philosophy disguised as humor. The point Adams was trying to make is that we do not know all the answers obviously—in fact, we don't even know the right questions to ask. So the book is about this giant computer that was built to answer the question, 'What is the meaning of life? And it comes up with the answer 42. (laughs) So what does that mean? It was then that I understood it would take a computer far more powerful than us just to know the right questions to ask. So, that was my fundamental turning point. <https://substack.com/redirect/f547bbf1-f892-4861-8e4c-5acc694d2ba8?j=eyJ1Ij…> *"He who fights with monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."* *—Friedrich Nietzsche, from his book Beyond Good and Evil (1886) <https://substack.com/redirect/e51bf06b-f0d2-44ef-ac5d-e4c688e8e3d9?j=eyJ1Ij…>.* *JP:* Ok, so it seems to me that you are intimating that your discovery through Adams that 'the question is the thing' was the key to the resolution of your existential crisis, and that's part of the reason you are motivated to build Grok 3 and look deeper. *Elon:* That's correct. So we can understand the Universe. *JP:* How old were you by then, and what did that discovery make you do? *Elon:* Maybe I was 15, and I was a lot happier after that because I decided to accept that we are ignorant about a great many things, and anything we can do to deepen our understanding of the Universe, learn the right questions to ask about the Universe, and become less ignorant is good. And I think that was Adam's central point. *JP:* And that was good enough to soothe your craving? *Elon:* It was for me, at least. Is this a 'religion'? I don't know, maybe it is. But I think it's a good one. I call it the Religion of Curiosity. It's the religion of enlightenment. And what falls out of that is the expansion of consciousness in scale and scope. So, not only is there more consciousness but also varied consciousness, so people don’t all end up thinking the same. I think it is probably good to have multiple religions that provide different perspectives on things. From there, we need to take a set of actions that increase the probability that the future will be good for humanity. <https://substack.com/redirect/4c2c8623-2f42-4536-8895-bd2bd12d01af?j=eyJ1Ij…> Sam Harris's identification as a cultural Christian highlights a growing trend among secular thought leaders who value the cultural and ethical dimensions of Christianity without adhering to its religious beliefs. *JP:* Did you see where Sam Harris (best known as one of the ‘*Four Horsemen <https://substack.com/redirect/88f23c4d-9d59-4d37-97ea-32687fbc378e?j=eyJ1Ij…>* <https://substack.com/redirect/88f23c4d-9d59-4d37-97ea-32687fbc378e?j=eyJ1Ij…>*of New Atheism <https://substack.com/redirect/88f23c4d-9d59-4d37-97ea-32687fbc378e?j=eyJ1Ij…>*’, alongside Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett) now describes himself as a cultural Christian? *Elon:* Yes. I do believe Jesus' teachings are good and wise, and there is tremendous wisdom in turning the other cheek. For a while, I thought it was a weak thing to do. But the notion of forgiveness is important and essential. If you do not forgive—as someone said— ‘An eye for an eye makes everyone blind’—you have this endless cycle of vengeance. So, I am actually a big believer in the principles of Christianity—I think they are very good. So, I am probably a cultural Christian. I was baptized and brought an Anglican, and simultaneously went to a Jewish nursery school (laughs). I am in favor of the principles that will result in the greatest happiness and contentment for humanity, not just for today but also for future humans. *Editor's Take: We defer to Nietzsch’s words above for our take on this section. Watch out for those eyeballs looking back at you from the **abyss <https://substack.com/redirect/f3c0655b-37fd-4b1e-bd97-648ab00b2ab8?j=eyJ1Ij…>**, and take heart that Elon has *proven* one can go to hell and back and still go on to do great things. * <https://substack.com/redirect/5f23d150-36cc-4ddf-a09b-e43edb95ca5d?j=eyJ1Ij…> 'Don't worry, my dear Faust <https://substack.com/redirect/ec8e5955-e5df-4d3f-a475-02207e8993e4?j=eyJ1Ij…>, you will soon be uploaded to our computers and will never be conscious of life's pain and misery again—Muahahahahahaha', comforts Mephistopheles <https://substack.com/redirect/ec8e5955-e5df-4d3f-a475-02207e8993e4?j=eyJ1Ij…>, agent of the Beast😈 Confronting the Beast *JP: *So you were involved with the project now called OpenAI, which Sam Altman runs? *Elon:* Yes, the company was my idea. I was one of the primary founders and named it. The reason OpenAI exists at all is because I used to be really close friends with (Google cofounder) Larry Page. I used to stay at his house in Palo Alto all the time because I was splitting my time between living in LA running Space X and Silicon Valley running Tesla, and I didn’t own a home in the Bay Area for over a decade. We would have these long conversations into the middle of the night about AI safety, and I became increasingly concerned that Larry was not sufficiently worried about AI safety. If you have some radical new technology, you want to set standards that maximize the probability it will do good and minimize the likelihood it will do bad things. You can't just barrel forward and hope for the best. And at one point, he called me a speciesist. (eyes raise). There were witnesses there. *JP: *Yes! You are one! *Elon*: Yes. I am correctly labeled because I favor humans relative to digital intelligence. Larry just seemed more focused on achieving digital superintelligence—essentially a Digital God as soon as possible. Larry's view (chuckling), if I am not misspeaking, is that we will all ultimately upload our minds to the computer, and everyone will be robots, and there will be no need for humans. And I said that we needed to ensure that humanity thrives and grows—that’s when he called me a speciesist. I told him I guess I am pro-human, and asked 'What are you?' (chuckles) <https://substack.com/redirect/b6a7da47-a528-499b-8bfc-a91d6cf1c97e?j=eyJ1Ij…> Elon’s former BMF Larry Page, cofounder of Google. *JP: *Right. That's the question! He's describing the death of humanity. It's like <https://substack.com/redirect/ec8e5955-e5df-4d3f-a475-02207e8993e4?j=eyJ1Ij…>

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On the Eve of Netanyahu’s Address to Congress, Senator Bernie Sanders Delivers a Breathtaking Assessment of His War Crimes
by Gunnar Larson 27 Jul '24

27 Jul '24

https://wallstreetonparade.com/2024/07/on-the-eve-of-netanyahus-address-to-… By Pam Martens and Russ Martens: July 25, 2024 ~ Senator Bernie Sanders Excoriating Netanyahu as a War Criminal from the Senate Floor, July 23, 2024 Senator Bernie Sanders Excoriating Netanyahu as a War Criminal from the Senate Floor, July 23, 2024 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to pull off a public relations coup to build support for his war in Gaza has backfired badly. On the evening before Netanyahu was set to address a joint session of Congress yesterday afternoon, one of the most respected members of the U.S. Senate, independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, took to the Senate floor to deliver a scathing breakdown of Netanyahu’s war crimes against the people of Gaza. Senator Sanders is Jewish, making his assessment of Netanyahu’s atrocities all the more poignant. A transcript, verified by us, of Senator Sanders’ full remarks is provided below as well as a video of his full remarks. Sanders also broke some major news in his remarks on Tuesday, stating this: “Just today, Madam President, I’m happy to say that seven major trade unions here in the United States, including the Association of Flight Attendants, the American Postal Workers Union, the International Union of Painters, the National Education Association, the Service Employees International Union, United Auto Workers and the United Electrical Workers, some of the largest unions in America representing some 6 million workers, sent a letter to President Biden calling on him to immediately halt all military aid to Israel.” Sanders started his campaign against Netanyahu being allowed to speak to Congress more than a month ago in appearances on various news programs. On June 4, Sanders stated the following on MSNBC’s “All In with Chris Hayes”: “I think I speak not just for myself but for a number of other Senators who think that that decision is a very, very bad one. You do not honor a foreign leader by addressing a joint session of Congress who is currently engaged in creating the worst humanitarian disaster in the modern history of this country. Obviously, as we all know, Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism in the terrible attack of October 7, but what it is doing now is going to war against the entire Palestinian people, and what we are seeing now is starvation and famine impacting thousands and thousands of children. The architect of that policy is not somebody you honor by bringing to the United States Congress, in my view.” Protesters Outside of the Capitol Prior to Netanyahu’s Arrival to Speak As a sea of thousands of protesters outside the Capitol held signs calling Netanyahu a war criminal and burning effigies of him, Republicans in the joint session of Congress repeatedly delivered thunderous applause and standing ovations to Netanyahu. At times, it felt like scenes from a sick sci-fi movie – with the people of conscience and courage in the streets being pepper-sprayed and arrested while those protected by police inside the Capitol, elected to represent the values of Americans, insanely cheering a documented war criminal. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib Holds Up War Criminal Sign As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Delivers a Speech to Congress, July 24, 2024 Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib Holds Up War Criminal Sign As Netanyahu Delivers a Speech to Congress, July 24, 2024 There was one more courageous member of Congress yesterday. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, a progressive Democrat from Michigan, broke ranks with fellow progressives who boycotted Netanyahu’s speech. Tlaib attended the joint session of Congress, but only to suggest that the real “useful idiots” were her colleagues that were giving standing ovations to Netanyahu as he spoke lie after lie from the podium. (Netanyahu attempted to denigrate the protesters outside by calling them “Iran’s useful idiots.”) Tlaib had a round sign on a wood stick which she repeatedly displayed from her seat in the chamber as Netanyahu spoke. One side of the sign said “War Criminal,” the other side read: “Guilty of Genocide.” ~~~ Below are Senator Bernie Sanders remarks on the Senate floor on Tuesday, July 23, 2024: Madam President, tomorrow, Wednesday will be a unique moment in Congressional history. Throughout the many years of our country, leaders from dozens of countries with all kinds of political backgrounds and persuasions have been invited to address a joint session of Congress. To the best of my knowledge, however, tomorrow will be unique: in bringing Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress, it will be the first time in American history that a war criminal has been given that honor. Frankly, this invitation to Netanyahu is a disgrace and something that we will look back on with regret. With this invitation, it will be impossible, with a straight face, for the United States to lecture any country on earth about human rights and human dignity. Madam President, as you well know, along with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and several others, Prime Minister Netanyahu has been credibly accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court, the ICC. That court may soon issue arrest warrants for Sinwar and Netanyahu. The case against Sinwar and his Hamas accomplices are clear. They were the organizers of the horrific October 7th terrorist attack on Israel that began this war and involved the mass murder of 1,200 innocent men, women, and children, the taking of hostages, and sexual violence. These war crimes are well-documented, and very few people would dispute the merits of these charges. The ICC prosecutor’s charges against Netanyahu are also well-founded. The charges focus on the starvation of civilians as a method of war, as well as intentional attacks against the civilian population. Specifically, the prosecutor says that Netanyahu is responsible for ‘depriving [civilians] of objects indispensable to their survival, including willfully impeding relief supplies as provided for under the Geneva Conventions.’ A separate UN independent commission of inquiry likewise found that both Hamas and the Israeli military have committed war crimes since October 7th, leading to widespread civilian deaths. The commission said the Israeli military’s ‘intentional use of heavy weapons with large destructive capacity in densely populated areas constitutes an intentional and direct attack on the civilian population, particularly affecting women and children.’ Madam President, I think we all agree that Israel had the right to defend itself against the horrific Hamas attack on October 7th. But Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government has, since that attack, waged what amounts to a total war, a total war against the entire Palestinian people, making life unlivable in Gaza and killing tens of thousands. These actions have trampled on international law, on American law, and on basic human values. Madam President, I understand that the mass media and many of us in Congress have been preoccupied in recent weeks with the awful assassination attempt against former President Trump and the changes at the top of the Democratic presidential ticket. But while all that is going on, it is absolutely irresponsible for us to turn our backs on one of the worst humanitarian disasters in modern history, especially when that disaster has been aided and abetted by U.S. taxpayer dollars and weapons. In other words, it’s not just the Israeli government. It is us and our money and our weaponry as well. Madam President, let us be clear – let us be very clear – as to what is going on in Gaza. Since this war began, among a population of 2.2 million people, at least 39,000 Palestinians have been killed and 89,000 injured – sixty percent of whom are women, children, or elderly people. Most observers believe that the death toll is much higher, because thousands of people remain buried under the mountains of rubble. Their bodies have not yet been recovered. Madam President, some 1.9 million people – out of a population of 2.2 million – have been driven from their homes, 90% of the population. Take a deep breath, 90% of the population driven from their homes. The vast majority of these desperate and poor people have now been displaced not once, not twice – but in some cases four or five times – herded around like cattle. Just yesterday, Israel announced another evacuation order for Khan Younis, and 150,000 people were forced to flee on a moment’s notice. Just yesterday. Madam President, when we talk about housing in Gaza, it’s not just that people have been displaced time and time again. More than 60 percent of Gaza’s housing has been damaged or destroyed – including 221,000 housing units that have been completely destroyed. Where are these people going to go to, if and when this war ever ends? And with that housing destruction, more than one million people have been made permanently homeless. Entire neighborhoods have been wiped out. Today, more than a million Palestinians, almost half of the population of Gaza, are living in tents, trying to find shelter, trying to find protection from the intense summer heat in that area. Madam President, it is not just the housing that has been destroyed. Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has also been devastated. Water and sewage systems have been made inoperable. And the result: raw sewage is running through the streets of Gaza, spreading disease, and there is very little clean water. Many roads are impassable, and there is virtually no electricity now in Gaza. But it’s not just the housing that’s been destroyed; not just the infrastructure that has been destroyed. Madam President, Gaza had twelve universities, schools of higher learning. Every single one of those universities has been bombed, and 88 percent of all school buildings have been damaged. In other words, under Mr. Netanyahu’s leadership, the entire educational system in Gaza has been annihilated. In fact, 540 people have been killed while sheltering, sheltering, in UN schools. But Madam President it’s not just the housing that’s been destroyed. Not just the infrastructure of Gaza that has been destroyed. Not just the educational system which has been destroyed. At a time when almost 90,000 people are dealing with war-related injuries in Gaza – including many, many children who’ve lost their arms and their legs, who are suffering all kinds of diseases – the healthcare system in Gaza has been systematically obliterated. Twenty-one of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are completely out of service, and the remainder can only partially function. The World Health Organization has recorded more than 1,000 attacks on healthcare facilities since October 7th. As a result, disease is spreading due to shortages of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. Cases of hepatitis, dysentery, and other infections are on the rise. And cases of polio have now been detected. Malnourished women struggle to breastfeed their newborns, formula is inaccessible, and even when available cannot be used without reliable sources of clean water. So, the tiniest children and their mothers suffer as well as a result. But, Madam President, it is not just the displacement of 1.9 million people, it’s not just the mass destruction of housing, it’s not just the obliteration of the infrastructure, it is not just the destruction of the educational system, it’s not just the annihilation of the healthcare system in Gaza that we are seeing. It is even worse than that. And I hope that my colleagues who attend Mr. Netanyahu’s remarks on Wednesday remember this as they rise, time and time again, to give him a standing ovation. As a result of Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid, people in Gaza are now starving to death. So, remember when people stand up and applaud: children, women, innocent people in Gaza are now starving to death. According to the best available research, drawing on leading experts from the UN and other aid organizations around the world, some 495,000 Palestinians face starvation. These groups estimate that more than 50,000 children require treatment for acute malnutrition and are at risk of starving to death. At least 30 children – documented cases, and I suspect it’s a lot higher than that – have already starved to death. So, as you stand up and applaud that guy, remember the starving children that he has created. But even those who get the lifesaving care they need – children – will carry the scars of this disaster for the rest of their lives. Every psychologist will tell you, a child’s brain develops fastest in the first two years of life, and childhood malnutrition does lifelong cognitive and physical damage. That is what Netanyahu is doing to the children of Gaza. And I would ask my colleagues to stop for a moment and think about the psychological damage this war has done to the children there. Imagine being a child living with the constant buzzing of drones above your head, wondering whether those drones are going to rain fire and bullets onto your home. Wondering if they might strike you at any moment. Imagine being a little 5-year-old witnessing your relatives killed, your neighborhood destroyed. Think about being a 10-year-old going hungry night after night, searching around for water and for food to survive. Think about being pushed from one place to another, not knowing where you’ll be tomorrow, carrying your few belongings through the streets running with sewage and amid piles of rubble and trash. That is what Mr. Netanyahu – the man Congress is honoring tomorrow – has done to the children of Gaza. According to the UN and virtually every humanitarian organization functioning in Gaza, Israel has intentionally blocked humanitarian aid – including food, water, and medical supplies – from reaching the desperate people in Gaza. And let us be clear: there is NO excuse for this. Blocking humanitarian aid, killing aid workers, and creating the conditions for starvation – these are not only acts of extreme cruelty, but they are clear violations of both U.S. and international law. They are war crimes. They are war crimes. And Netanyahu heads the government that has enacted these policies. So tomorrow, Madam President, when Netanyahu comes before Congress, I hope that for one second that members who attend, will focus just for a second, on the starving children in Gaza. I hope while they applaud, they will think about the hundreds of aid workers killed, the dozens of hospitals bombed, the housing destroyed, and the universities obliterated. Madam President, when Mr. Netanyahu rises to speak tomorrow, I also hope that my colleagues remember that all this death and destruction is not just the unfortunate byproduct of a brutal war. Revenge and destruction are the explicit policy of Netanyahu’s extremist right-wing government. Two days into the war, two days after October 7, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, ‘I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.’ That is exactly how they have pursued this war. They define the Palestinian people as ‘human animals’ – and, tragically, they have acted consistent with that view. Madam President, let us remember and understand that the Israel of today is not the Israel of the past. It is now run by a right-wing, extremist government. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the man who oversees the police, has long advocated for the forcible expulsion of Palestinians from the region. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the man responsible for the occupied West Bank, is also an extreme racist and has called for the expulsion of Palestinians from the land. He has called for segregated hospital wards for Jews and Arabs because, ‘Arabs are my enemies.’ And that is the man who is in charge of the occupied West Bank. And that is the current Israeli Finance Minister as well. Madam President, it should come as no surprise that this extremist government, in addition to destroying Gaza, has overseen record Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, in violation of international law and commitments to the United States. Israeli forces and vigilante settlers have killed more than 500 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7th, including 131 children. Just last week, the International Court of Justice issued a ruling on the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. A panel of 15 accomplished judges from around the world confirmed what most of the world has long known: that occupation is illegal and must end. I know that there are some here in Congress, not many, but some, who have condemned Netanyahu and his extremist government. But condemning Netanyahu is not enough. We cannot condemn a Prime Minister, who the ICC considers to be a war criminal, while at the same time continuing to provide his government with tens of billions of dollars in military aid. That is hypocrisy at its worst. Just today, Madam President, I’m happy to say that seven major trade unions here in the United States, including the Association of Flight Attendants, the American Postal Workers Union, the International Union of Painters, the National Education Association, the Service Employees International Union, United Auto Workers and the United Electrical Workers, some of the largest unions in America representing some 6 million workers, sent a letter to President Biden calling on him to immediately halt all military aid to Israel. And they are absolutely right. Netanyahu is a right-wing extremist and a war criminal who has devoted his career to killing the prospects of a two-state solution and lasting peace in the region. He should not be welcome to the United States Congress. On the contrary, his policies in Gaza and the West Bank should be roundly condemned, and his right-wing extremist government should not receive another nickel from U.S. taxpayers. Thank you Madam President and I yield the floor.

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Disney Bets on Deadpool, Wolverine and Dirty Jokes to Save Marvel
by Gunnar Larson 27 Jul '24

27 Jul '24

Disney Bets on Deadpool, Wolverine and Dirty Jokes to Save Marvel https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-25/disney-bets-on-deadpool-… Not that long ago, superhero movies could be counted on to fill theaters’ seats and studios’ coffers. But in recent years, a deluge of often-indistinguishable caped-crusader films overtaxed audiences, turning the once-reliable money-spinners into financially risky bets.

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Yellen Rejects Roubini Claim of ‘Manipulation’ in Treasuries
by Gunnar Larson 27 Jul '24

27 Jul '24

Yellen Rejects Roubini Claim of ‘Manipulation’ in Treasuries https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-26/yellen-rejects-roubini-c… US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen firmly rejected an accusation from the economist Nouriel Roubini that her department has manipulated the issuance of Treasury securities in a way that lowers real borrowing costs across the economy.

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JD Vance’s ‘Cat Ladies’ Insult Sparks Criticism of Trump’s VP Pick
by Gunnar Larson 27 Jul '24

27 Jul '24

JD Vance’s ‘Cat Ladies’ Insult Sparks Criticism of Trump’s VP Pick https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-26/jd-vance-s-cat-ladies-in… Just a week after riding high on conservative euphoria at the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump’s running mate is confronting a harsher reality.

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