Welcome to the 39th edition of The Daily Zap — A Daily Newspaper (Kind of 🙏). Here, you'll get links to all of the latest news and updates mostly from the last 24 hours, divided in Sections (much similar to pages on a newspaper).
Let's unfold!
~Bitcoin News of the Day~Bitcoin News of the Day
Tesla Quietly Transfers $765 Million In Bitcoin
- According to BitcoinTreasuries, Tesla holds the fourth-largest stash of Bitcoin among U.S. public companies. Only MicroStrategy and crypto mining giants like MARA Holdings and Riot Platforms hold more. Tesla’s Bitcoin holdings, though substantial, still make up less than 1% of the company’s total $705 billion market cap. This starkly contrasts with other companies where Bitcoin represents a hefty chunk – sometimes over 25% – of their value.
Global Trade & ~EconGlobal Trade & ~Econ
IMF predicts global public debt will be at 93% of GDP by end of 2024
- Global public debt will exceed $100 trillion by the end of this year unless major economies step up to stabilise borrowing, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The surge in government debt, driven largely by increased spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to climb, with the US and China leading the way.
~Politics_and_Law~Politics_and_Law
Size matters: 2024 becomes the genitalia campaign
- Trump’s comments about Palmer were hardly out of character for him. Down the homestretch, his campaign has more illicit sex and golf references than a John Updike title. Not long before he was verbally ogling Palmer’s sex organ, he was criticizing Harris surrogate and the billionaire Mark Cuban for his “Really low clubhead speed.”
~Stacker_Sports News~Stacker_Sports News
2024-25 NBA season preview: Rankings, predictions, odds: ESPN
- There are a few major storylines to follow this season. The new-look Philadelphia 76ers being the newest quasi-superteam, assuming they can all get on the court together. The continued rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder, fueled by the addition of some high-class role players. The ascension of Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The challenge of past champions, the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets, to regain momentum with franchise players in their primes. And, of course, LeBron and Bronny James on the Lakers.
~Tech & ~Science~Tech & ~Science
New Apple Airpods update will help hearing-impaired
- ABC News’ Rebecca Jarvis visit’s Apple Fantasia Lab, a one-of-its kind audio lab where Apple engineers have spent years working on technology that can turn a set of Airpods into a hearing aid.
~History with Mystery~History with Mystery
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/alaska-russias-american-folly
- In 1867 the United States purchased Alaska from Tsar Alexander II at a price of just two cents an acre. What brought Russia’s American empire to such an ignominious end?
~Entertainment World~Entertainment World
‘Smile 2’ grinning to No. 1 at box office while ‘Anora’ glitters in limited release
- “Smile 2" was the big newcomer, taking first place with a better than expected $23 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. Parker Finn returned to write and direct the sequel to the supernatural horror “Smile,” his debut. Originally intended for streaming, Paramount pivoted and sent the movie to theaters in the fall of 2022. “Smile” became a sleeper hit at the box office, earning some $217 million against a $17 million budget.
Thanks for reading 🙏
At the time, purchasing Alaska was called "Seward's folly" in the US. As dumb as it may look for Russia now, it's worth remembering that it wasn't considered such at the time.
Because I'm not there in the USA, I've always considered Alaska was purchased by USA to counter Russia.
But I now believe Alaska is much more worth than only projecting it as a counter measure against an enemy state.
At the time, they had no idea about Alaska's vast oil and mineral wealth. The Russians used it primarily for furs, which are an underrated commodity when people talk about economic history.
It's very remote and some of the natives were very difficult to subdue. From a managerial perspective, I'm sure it was a huge pain in the ass.
What's the situation now? I believe USA is exploiting the riches of Alaska pretty well.
Not really. Alaska is full of anti-development weirdos who prevent unbelievable amounts of economic activity.
The state has very high taxes on oil development, such that the pipeline flow has almost fallen below the point of operability.
There's also the largest known deposit of gold, and several other metals in the world, just sitting around because people who live nowhere near it are opposed to mining. The mineral value is estimated at somewhere around one trillion dollars and it's in the middle of nowhere.
It's interesting to know. I was thinking otherwise. I've also seen people there go to the riverside in search of Gold and they often find it. I think they don't want to lose what's been theirs.
Almost no one goes gold panning anymore, except as a fun novelty. It's easy to find trace amounts of gold flakes, but almost all of the nuggets have been found.
I believe you for I had just seen them do in a video. May be they were just showing the tourists how their ancestors used to find Gold.
Anyways, I'm interested in Alaska because I had dreamt to ride on Dalton highway all the way upto Arctic.
I had no idea Tesla held so much Bitcoin. Interesting.
They have it and they even accepted Bitcoin for Tesla at one point.
I doubt many true bitcoiners would buy a new Tesla with it. I wonder if Elon gets it then. Listening to him talk about it, it seems like he doesn't to me.
In fact many people bought when it was on. I don't know if they were true Bitcoiners or not. The definition of true Bitcoiners is often too complex to reach a conclusion. Sometimes some people say 'spend Bitcoin' and sometimes some say 'just Hold'.
I don't know what a true bitcoiner is. But for me, living without extravagant things like a new tesla is part of it. I don't think of crypto douches in lambos. I think self sustaining communities. I love exchanging Bitcoin. But with others who believe. Not for fancy toys. But that's just me.
This is th same for me. I believe in long term vision not the shorter ones.