Knowing that a visit to Sapporo isn’t complete without... sampling its world-famous seafood, Deputy Chief of Mission Aaron Snipe dropped by Oguma Shoten for an unforgettable “kaisendon” lunch that included Hokkaido’s spectacular scallops! 在札幌米国総領事館show more

Why the world needs Grokipedia? ➤ Wikipedia isn’t the... neutral source of truth it once was. It’s been taken over by far-left activists and often used as a propaganda tool, not an unbiased encyclopedia. ➤ A lot of AIs today get their info from the internet, but the web is full of unfair views, wrong facts, and tons of junk. ➤ Grokipedia will be an open-source encyclopedia focused solely on TRUTH. ➤ Grokipedia won’t be controlled by any activist or political bias. ➤ It will be open-source and free for all to use, a truly public resource without limits. ➤ xAI’s ultimate mission is to understand the universe, and that requires honest, unfiltered information. Grokipedia is a crucial step toward that goal, because you can’t build a truthful AI on biased information. ➤ The vision is for Grokipedia to become the global standard for knowledge. One day, every person and every AI system could rely on it as a trusted source of truth. ➤ Seeking truth is the greatest mission of all and that’s what Grokipedia stands for. Grokipedia is coming.show more

I am very proud of my work at Royal... Caribbean, and I was honored to be set the complex task of reinventing their entire entertainment product from the ground up (by Lisa Lutoff-Perlo and Michael Bayley), and to make it the very best in the industry, if not the world. This lofty mission resulted in an incredibly rewarding decade for all involved. Massive changes delivered massive results. Job done👍. So, as a way to recognize the incredible support that the brand gave to all of my ideas, concepts, developments and inventions (and as a fun way to give back), I always included the famous “Crown & Anchor” logo in every entertainment production. Sometimes I did this openly and loudly and sometimes more subtly, as an “easter egg” for people to discover. It’s always there tho. (Have you spotted all of them?) Here are three examples of my not-so-top-secret “Show The Logo” strategy. – An example of a small hidden one, a medium-sized subtle one, and a LOUD ‘n’ PROUD HUGE ONE, that hides from nobody. Happy hunting. 😉show more

🚨 THE CITY OF LONDON JUST DECLARED WAR FOR... THE WORLD’S GOLD The City Of London Corporation isn’t just a financial district. It’s a separate jurisdiction, with its own police and military system, effectively a country of its own at the center of London, controlled by an elite global network that no government fully oversees… and it runs global finance. Foreign nations including Netherlands, France and Germany pulled out over 500 Tonnes of Gold OUT of the U.S. and storing it in London. Now the Square Mile is planning something bigger. UK’s FCA is lining up tokenized gold. The Bank Of England and LME are tokenizing Physical bars that they have vaulted. Digital claims move at the speed of code. Collateral without trucks. London wants to keep its grip on ~70% of global gold trading while China builds a rival map: Shanghai pricing, Hong Kong vaults, a “Gold Road” network aimed at Singapore, Dubai, Riyadh, Moscow. Interestingly, London Metals Exchange (LME) Treasury Chief Just Quit London For The Crypto Firm “Ripple” As Tokenization of Gold on blockchain advances. The same firm Ripple was chosen in UK Government’s Tokenization Taskforce with JP Morgan and BlackRock. You can now Swap crypto to London’s metal on the XRP Ledger’s Trensik without leaving the book. When the next shock hits… sanctions, dollar weaponization, or something worse, the gold that used to sit under American concrete will already be sitting under the Square Mile. This was exactly warned by the famous City of London banker Lord Belgrave at the start of year.show more

This scene from Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece “Inglourious Basterds” is... a perfect example of cinematic tension and a masterclass in dialogue. The moment Lieutenant Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender) gives himself away by using the wrong hand gesture for “three glasses” is one of the most iconic reveals in modern film history. It’s a small detail, but in the world of espionage, it’s everything. It’s a subtle clue that unravels an entire operation and leads to one of the most explosive and unforgettable showdowns ever filmed. This isn’t just a movie scene; it’s a lesson in screenwriting and acting, where every word, every gesture, and every pause is loaded with meaning. It’s the kind of filmmaking that makes you lean forward in your seat, your heart pounding, even on the tenth rewatch. Tarantino’s ability to build suspense in a single, confined space is unparalleled, and this tavern scene is arguably the best of its kind. What’s your favorite moment from this legendary film?show more

🇬🇷 There is a distinct, poetic charm that sets... the Ionian island of Corfu entirely apart from the rest of Greece. While the Cyclades are famous for their barren landscapes and stark white walls, Corfu is a lush, emerald paradise shaped by centuries of Venetian, French, and British rule. It is a destination wrapped in a romantic magic that somehow keeps calling you back year after year, offering the perfect intersection of sophisticated European elegance, raw nature, and authentic Greek hospitality. To truly unlock the soul of the island, you need to immerse yourself in its diverse landscapes. Begin your journey inside the UNESCO-protected Corfu Town. Walking through its labyrinth of tall, pastel-hued apartment blocks and narrow stone alleys, known locally as kantounia, feels exactly like stepping into a hidden neighborhood in Venice or Naples. Once you have taken in the history, make your way northwest to the legendary shores of Paleokastritsa. This dramatic coastline features deep, jagged bays where dense pine forests tumble directly into impossibly clear, translucent turquoise waters that are perfect for afternoon boat excursions. As the day draws to a close, you have two spectacular options to watch the landscape transform. You can travel to the sheer vertical clay cliffs of Loggas Beach to watch the sun sink directly beneath the horizon line of the Ionian Sea. Alternatively, make the winding drive up to the mountain village of Pelekas to stand at Kaiser's Throne. Built as a personal retreat for Kaiser Wilhelm II, this panoramic lookout offers breathtaking, unobstructed views of the island's rolling olive groves and distant coastlines. Finally, no journey here is complete without diving deep into Corfu's unique culinary heritage. Because of its history, the local tavernas swap out standard Greek fare for iconic island comfort foods. Be sure to order a steaming clay bowl of pastitsada, tender meat braised in a rich, deeply spiced red-wine sauce served over thick Bucatini pasta or sample sofrito, an incredibly aromatic dish of tender veal simmered in an intense garlic, parsley, and white wine reduction. It is a culinary and sensory legacy that encapsulates a timeless way of life. 🎥 travelstoriesbyalexandra | IGshow more

Building The On-Chain Cooperative 🟡 Welcome to the dawn... of a new era in the crypto space, where the buzzword "community" is not just a hollow echo but a vibrant force that propels us towards a brighter future. Let's delve into the heart of MODE, the Onchain Cooperative that seeks to redefine the landscape of web3. What does MODE stand for? MODE stands for building an on-chain cooperative focused on sustainable growth and collective prosperity. At its core, MODE is guided by the principles of cooperation, shared incentives, and community-driven development. The goal is to shift from the "fat protocol" mentality where most value accrues to the blockchain/protocol itself, towards an ecosystem where builders, users, and applications can thrive together. What’s MODE's vision and mission in the web3 space? MODE's vision is to return to web3's founding promise - a future that is better for all, not just the individual. A world with aligned incentives that drive growth for everyone involved. A place with opportunities for all, not just the few. The mission is to pioneer the on-chain cooperative - where contributors are rewarded fairly based on the value they provide. Features like Sequencer Fee Sharing distribute a portion of fees to smart contract developers, incentivizing participation. The aim is to encourage collaboration instead of confrontation. Together, the MODE community can deliver new models for cooperation and shared prosperity in web3. Mode Network will solve many problems today in Web3: • Lack of incentives for developers: Developers creating decentralized apps (dApps) currently have few direct economic incentives to create and maintain their projects. Mode provides them with a steady source of income through fee-sharing. • Lack of collaboration: There are few incentives for blockchain projects to compete less and collaborate more for the benefit of the entire ecosystem. Mode's model encourages collaboration by aligning participants economically. • Excessive value accrual at the protocol layer: Mode aims for a more balanced model where the protocol's success is fueled by the success of application developers/builders and the wider community. Growth is a two-way street – "as we grow, you grow". The MODE Pledge 💛 The promise of crypto and blockchain is a brighter future. One that is better for all not just the individual. Where nothing is more important than community. We've strayed from this path. Entering a world of player vs player. Where value is extracted rather than shared. The game is zero sum rather than positive sum. And incentives are aligned with domination, rather than cooperation. Mode is the dawn of a new age. and a return to the promise of what can be. A world with aligned incentives that drive growth for builders, users and projects. A place with opportunities for all, rather than the few. Where we say goodbye to the 'fat protocol', and hello to the onchain cooperative. Join us on our mission to grow together. If this vision for a community-powered web3 ecosystem resonates - where creators are rewarded for their contributions - you can join the MODE on-chain cooperative! Visit Join the discord community Follow Mode 🟡 Together, we can transform web3 into a positive-sum game that unlocks new possibilities for all. Where your growth fuels the growth of others. Let's build the on-chain cooperative!show more

🌭 Nathan’s Famous: The Immigrant Dream That Became America’s... Iconic Hot Dog 🔥 In 1916, a young Polish-Jewish immigrant named Nathan Handwerker took everything he had — a $300 loan and his wife Ida’s secret spice blend — and opened a tiny hot dog stand on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island. He sold them for a nickel. Half the price of his former employer, Feltman’s. The risk? Massive. The reward? A legend that’s still sizzling over a century later. Nathan wasn’t just selling food — he was selling trust. To convince skeptical New Yorkers that his cheap “mystery meat” was safe, he hired men in white coats to eat at his stand. Customers assumed they were doctors… and business exploded. By the Great Depression, Nathan’s was feeding the masses. FDR even served them to the King and Queen of England in 1939. The Magic Behind the Snap • All-beef franks (no pork or fillers) with that signature snappy bite. • Ida’s grandmother’s secret spice mix — still closely guarded today. • “Kosher-style” branding that appealed widely without full rabbinical certification. What started as one small grill grew into an empire: supermarkets nationwide, hundreds of locations, and the world-famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest every Fourth of July. Legend says the very first contest happened right there in 1916 when four immigrants settled a patriotism debate with franks. Nathan’s isn’t just a brand — it’s the ultimate American street food success story. From a Polish shoemaker’s son sleeping on floors and eating free hot dogs to build savings, to an institution that defines summer in New York. Next time you bite into that juicy dog with mustard and sauerkraut, you’re tasting pure hustle, immigrant grit, and Coney Island magic.show more

‼️🇺🇲🇷🇺🇵🇱 BIG | Russia is preparing for a large-scale... military provocation, which could take place against Poland or one of the Baltic states. The US has warned Poland that the Russian Federation is preparing an armed provocation in the coming months, The Telegraph and the Polish publication Onet report, citing intelligence services. Russia's target could be Poland's critical infrastructure via missiles and drones, or Russian soldiers might cross the border into NATO territory. Washington has already sent several warnings to Warsaw about this plot, sources close to Polish President Karol Nawrocki told the Polish news outlet Onet, which, along with The Telegraph, is owned by Axel Springer and is part of its Global Reporters Network. The purpose of the Russian provocation would be to escalate tensions and force Western allies to halt aid to Ukraine. This could begin in a few months. Polish security service sources also do not rule out a more conventional attack, such as a small-scale ground incursion by Russian soldiers onto NATO's eastern flank. According to Onet's security service sources, provocation scenarios could include drone attacks on critical infrastructure like power plants, or simulated airstrikes, forcing Poland to activate its air defense systems. A Polish intelligence source stated that in the most extreme scenario, a "hybrid attack in the border region" could occur. According to the same source, an armed incursion involving Russian or Belarusian soldiers is possible. This could be presented by Russia as an accidental crossing into Polish territory due to a GPS malfunction, or as a suspicious rescue mission to retrieve a damaged helicopter. Polish sources told Onet that Russia hopes that in such a situation, instead of opening fire on Russian or Belarusian soldiers, the US would pressure Poland to negotiate with Russia or Belarus rather than respond with force. A scenario in which the Russians leave Poland as a result of these negotiations, rather than through military coercion, would be seen as a victory from Moscow's perspective. During such negotiations, in exchange for withdrawing troops from Poland, Russia's main demand could even be the termination of Western support for Ukraine. "The US systematically provides information to Poland about new Russian plans for a conventional attack on NATO's eastern flank, from which Poland is by no means excluded," said a source close to the Polish President. A second source, an ambassador of one of Poland's NATO allies, also confirmed that a provocation in the Baltic states and Poland is a serious risk. This information was confirmed by a third source within the Polish Ministry of Defense. A fourth security source from the Baltic states confirmed to The Telegraph that such plans are indeed being discussed in Moscow. Following this, Russia might attempt to claim that the provocation was carried out by Ukraine. Any ground attack by Russia could be launched either from Kaliningrad—Russia's exclave north of Poland where nuclear weapons are stationed—or from the east, via Belarusian territory. Such methods are Russia's only realistic way to stage a provocation. Because its forces are bogged down in Ukraine, it lacks the resources to wage a full-scale war against NATO allies. Although Poland remains a committed security ally of Ukraine, relations have become strained in recent months due to differing views on World War II-era history and the competitive agricultural industries of the two countries. There are fears that Moscow will attempt to widen this rift even further. In the worst-case scenario for NATO, Russia's goal would be to undermine Polish sovereignty, portray NATO as a "paper tiger" (demonstrate its helplessness), and force the cessation of Western support for Ukraine—all without triggering a conventional war with the alliance. Video is made Grok AIshow more

ELON MUSK’S DEEP LOVE FOR HUMANITY: FIGHTING FOR A... BRIGHT, MULTIPLANETARY FUTURE At the core of everything Elon does—from SpaceX’s mission to xAI’s truth-seeking AI—is a profound care for humanity’s survival, flourishing, and potential. He doesn’t just talk about progress; his actions stem from wanting to protect and expand the light of consciousness in a vast, uncertain universe. “I love humanity. I think we should fight for a good future for humanity. We should be optimistic about the future… Some hate humanity, but I love humanity so much.” This love drives his biggest bets: • Making life multiplanetary — To safeguard consciousness against Earth-bound disasters (natural or man-made), turning humanity from a single-planet species into one that endures across worlds. • Maximally truth-seeking AI — Building xAI to ensure AI serves and loves humanity, not harms it, by prioritizing truth over deception. • Sustainable energy & abundance — Through Tesla, accelerating the shift to renewables so humanity can thrive long-term without destroying its home. • Preserving the light of consciousness — Viewing humanity as a rare, fragile “tiny candle in a vast darkness” that must be protected and extended. Elon’s drive isn’t cold calculation—it’s rooted in genuine affection for people, optimism about our potential, and urgency to secure a future where we prosper, explore, and endure. In a world where some express cynicism or hatred toward humanity, he stands as a vocal defender and builder for our species. The path forward is clear: love humanity enough to act boldly. Which part of Elon’s vision—multiplanetary backup, helpful AI, or sustainable Earth—resonates most with you? Let’s keep the optimism alive and build that better future.show more

Fashion, Optics, and Hypocrisy: Meghan Markle’s Balenciaga Problem For... a couple who have built a considerable portion of their public identity around mental health and child safety, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to display a baffling lack of self-awareness. The Archewell Foundation, which they co-founded, has made child protection and online safety central to its mission—launching campaigns calling for safer digital spaces, stricter social media safeguards, and protection for young people from the documented harms of online abuse, exploitation, and anxiety. It’s an admirable cause on paper. Yet, once again, their actions betray their own messaging. During Paris Fashion Week, Meghan Markle was seen attending the Balenciaga show—yes, that Balenciaga. The same fashion house that ignited global outrage for its 2022 advertising campaign featuring small children holding the brand’s teddy bear handbags dressed in bondage-inspired accessories. The campaign was condemned worldwide for its deeply inappropriate imagery, with critics pointing out that such visuals blurred the moral boundaries that protect children. In a related campaign (Garde-Robe), Balenciaga also included props such as a Supreme Court decision on child pornography in visual materials — which stirred further outrage over the blurred boundaries between fashion and exploitative symbolism. The backlash was so severe that Balenciaga swiftly removed the campaign, issued public apologies, and faced ongoing reputational damage for months. For most people, the lesson was clear: you don’t associate children with adult themes. Full stop. It should have been common sense. But apparently not for Meghan Markle—the self-proclaimed advocate for children’s wellbeing and online safety. While her Archewell Foundation preaches the importance of shielding children from harm, manipulation, and predatory influences, Meghan was photographed supporting a brand that became a symbol of precisely the moral decay such advocacy is meant to challenge. To wear or publicly support Balenciaga in any capacity—even years after the scandal—undermines her stated values entirely. The passage of time does not erase the original transgression, nor does it excuse the tone-deaf optics of a supposed child-safety campaigner aligning herself with a brand that used children in a context universally condemned as exploitative. This is not about fashion—it’s about consistency, credibility, and integrity. It’s fair to ask: does an invitation to Paris Fashion Week now outweigh the values Archewell claims to hold so dear? Because that is how it looks. The image of the Markle, smiling from the front row of a Balenciaga show, is a direct contradiction to the image of a humanitarian working to make the digital and physical worlds safer for children. It is precisely the kind of hypocrisy that erodes public trust—not just in her, but in the very causes she claims to represent. To make matters worse, the timing could not be more ironic. Within days, Meghan and Harry are set to receive the “Humanitarian of the Year” award from Project Healthy Minds at the upcoming World Mental Health Day Gala in New York. The irony is staggering: accepting a humanitarian honour for their advocacy on mental health and child safety, while simultaneously endorsing—through presence and fashion—a brand that became infamous for its insensitivity toward children. This is not the behaviour of serious advocates. This is performance. If there were any genuine understanding of what child protection means, such a public association would have been unthinkable. But as history continues to show, the Sussexes’ greatest consistency lies in their inconsistency. When the optics suit them, they preach virtue. When the cameras flash, those principles are conveniently forgotten. Perhaps Archewell’s PR team will attempt a quiet clean-up—pretending the Balenciaga appearance never happened or insisting that the Duchess of Sussex was merely “supporting the arts.” But even that will not wash. True advocates for child safety do not endorse or elevate brands that have, however briefly, crossed such a moral line. In the end, this is not just another minor misstep—it’s a symptom of a much larger problem. When your entire brand is built on compassion and advocacy, hypocrisy becomes your greatest enemy. And as Meghan and Harry prepare to take the stage and accept yet another humanitarian accolade, they might do well to remember that the public isn’t blind. You cannot claim to protect children with one hand and applaud a brand condemned for exploiting their image with the other.show more

When the government is the economy, your financial suffering... is their fault. Retail interest rates are predicted to skyrocket. Severe pain is incoming as the sluggish economy is about to get winded by a sucker punch. This is all driven by inflation that has almost nothing to do with discretionary spending – illustrated by the increasing din of roller shutters slamming shut for the last time on the high-street. Restaurants, cafes and bars - gone forever. They’re following the exit of long-established family businesses dropping like flies. Iconic clothing brands, manufacturing companies, and construction companies struggling to keep up with the increasing costs and declining consumer spending. Just a more amplified version of households busting to stay afloat, food, electricity, fuel, insurance and housing all running out of reach. People are hurting. The irony is that the only string holding up the false economy is the very thing causing the inflation that is destroying the real economy. Government spending. More specifically – government borrowing. Governments borrow printed money and spend it with the recklessness of a child buying gems to advance in a game on Mum’s iPhone. Using Mum’s credit card, without her knowing. Like the money isn’t real - and to them it isn’t. But it is to the rest of us who have to live in the real world, it really is. It’s just cruel. It’s one thing to borrow and invest in assets that provide returns, but using the credit card to buy skittles and beer normally comes with a hangover at some point. Welcome to the hangover. It’s as if Canberra has a giant black credit card with a tap and go facility. Mark Butler, the minister in charge of the NDIS has probably racked up the most loyalty points with the way he spends. Who knows what he will pick out of the post parliamentary reward points catalogue when he leaves. Next up would surely be Penny Wong, as she runs around the world tapping our credit card and showering other countries with the gifts we pay for, on borrowed money. Funding regimes like the Taliban… Don’t get me wrong, foreign aid has its place – and I think that is exclusively for our various island neighbours, and only when that is in this Nation’s interest. All the rest is just a waste of money, and a betrayal of the Australian people. Albanese and his team are just feckless and reckless, and Chalmers clearly thinks that spending borrowed money is the economy. It isn’t. Because when borrowed money is created, it is created without the interest (nobody ever prints the interest). But the interest always falls due. All our money supply is printed fiat currency. It’s not backed by anything. But if you are one dollar short on an interest bill – your assets can fall into the hands of the lender. Printed money buys real assets, and real assets are lost on foreclosure, as insiders often swoop in for cents in the dollar. It’s like a giant asset laundering scheme. More is always owed than was minted in the first place, because interest must be paid. So, there must be losers – that much is baked into the game - and as more people lose, more people collapse and even more assets are pooled in the hands of fewer people… and there’s the rub – eventually it all falls into the hands of the money printers and their mates. The system must have been designed by an insane clown. The only way out of this mess is to get rid of this government debt and return to sound money. All government debt just inflates assets – and the cost to hold them. Everything else is just a sideshow. They want us fighting over the gender of a toothpick that never ceded ownership of its tutu, so we don’t look at the rapid collapse of everything in real time. It is government debt and waste that is ruining Australia. Almost everything else is a distraction from the fact that there’s no more free money. I just want Australia back.show more

Donald Trump just claimed again that the US donated... 350 Billion dollars to Ukraine. You are being lied to by your sitting President on the United States of America. Let’s break this down with the facts rather than these random numbers Donnie is trying to sell you after finishing his nap. Independent tracking by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy estimated that between January 24, 2022 and June 30, 2025, U.S committed aid to Ukraine amounted to about $134 billion, not $350 billion….it gets better. Already a $166 Billion dollar difference than what Trump claims. Please understand committed and allocated isn’t the same as what has actually been delivered. 56% ($74.9 billion USD) of all funds “allocated not supplied” were for weapons. HOWEVER the $74.9 of weapons (Allocated and not necessarily all provided) were independently evaluated and subsequently massively overvalued by the US Government. The True cost of lethal aid was predicted to cost around $18.3 billion even by United States weapons pricing. One reason: when equipment is drawn from existing U.S. inventories “drawdown”, the official accounting often uses replacement-cost valuations, rather than the original (or depreciated) cost. To put it plainly, if you give Ukraine one air defense system, you account for the cost of a brand new air defense system to take its place not for the cost of the 45 year old system that was handed over. Many of the weapons provided to Ukraine was soon to be destroyed by the US forces or decommissioned. ALSO it’s important to take note as we all know the American arms industry massively overvalues the cost of all system due to its industry. America prices its systems at anything from 30-100% higher than the cost of European equivalents with the same capabilities. The true value of these weapons could have been anything from $5.49 billion-$18.3 Billion. Even with a significantly lower number of this, Independent analysts suggested that a large share perhaps 60% or more of the nominal military-aid dollar amount may effectively stay within U.S. defense industry…..60%! Out of aid provided $54 Billions dollars was Financial aid consisting of grants, loans, budget support. Of the US $54.0 billion in U.S. financial-aid allocations for that period, about US $19.3 billion was provided as loans, while roughly US $29.7 billion was given as grants. 🚨🚨That means approximately 39–40% of the U.S. financial aid during that time was structured as loans or other repayable/concessional financing.🚨🚨 The US $3.4 Billion in Humanitarian aid. Here is another kicker. After everything I have just said. According to United states press briefings: the U.S. had only delivered around 83% of promised ammunition, about 67% of pledged air-defence systems, and roughly 60% of committed bombs, artillery rounds, other munitions. $5.49 billion-$18.3 Billion $29.7 billion $3.4 Billion That $350 Billion is looking more like it was 38.59- 51.4 billion to me Donnie. And it’s a funny number that. An estimated $30–60 billion dollars was spent by Americans allies fighting alongside the US after 9/11. This included Ukraine. We never once complained about this loss or the lives we lost. Absolutely shameful.show more

Alinejad speaks about Ali Zarei, but leaves out a... crucial part of his story: his political views and his support for Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi even as he faces a death sentence. Why is this part left out? Because it does not fit her narrative. That is what an “incomplete narrative” looks like. “Woman, Life, Freedom” matters, but the Iranian people did not stop there. Their political demands continued to evolve and expand, moving beyond the narratives that had been presented to the outside world for years. For years, Alinejad told the world that compulsory hijab was the “Berlin Wall” of the Islamic Republic, and that if this wall fell, the Islamic Republic itself would fall with it. Yet we have repeatedly seen the Islamic Republic itself use unveiled women in its programmes and staged propaganda events. The impression still being conveyed to the world is that hijab is the defining issue in Iran, while the Islamic Republic itself, at least for the time being, appears unwilling to enforce it in the way it once did. Dear Mark R. Levin, I know how difficult it can be for those outside Iran to understand Iranian politics and the various currents within the opposition. Over the decades, the Islamic Republic has developed numerous visible and hidden networks of influence, making it extremely difficult to navigate the competing narratives. So my suggestion is simple: listen carefully to what people inside Iran were shouting on 8 and 9 January. Within the opposition, listen to those who call out the name of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and support his leadership, because they believe this reflects the voices heard from people inside Iran. His position towards the Islamic Republic has been clear: there should be no distinction between reformists, hardliners or other factions of the same system. The Islamic Republic must go in its entirety. If you want to understand the criticism that some Iranians have levelled at Masih Alinejad, and examine for yourself the claims and documents circulated by her critics, search the hashtag #AlinejadBloodDealear and judge the evidence for yourself. But there is also a simpler criterion: pay attention to those who clearly support Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s leadership and the demand for a complete end to the Islamic Republic, rather than allowing other issues to obscure that central objective. It is much like an issue on which you yourself have consistently taken an unequivocal position, without “ifs”, “buts” or qualifications: ARM THE IRANIAN PEOPLE! #AliZareishow more

Times Square - New York City 🇺🇸 The origin... of this place was known as Long Acre Square, but it was renamed Times Square after being located in 1904, at the intersection of 42nd Street, the offices of the New York Times. In 1913, the newspaper’s offices moved to 229 43rd Street, and the building was renamed 1 Times Square in 1961. History of Times Square, at the beginning of the 20th century, Times Square became one of the most important places in New York City, with the construction of theaters, restaurants and luxury and first class hotels. The site began to change in the 30’s where it became a dangerous place with prostitution, crime and drugs, this lasted for more than half a century. History of Times Square During the 1980s, Mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins began a redevelopment project for Midtown Manhattan that included Times Square. In the 1990s, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani tackled the project to clean up the area with the closure of pornographic theaters, sex shops and the purchase of the nine historic theaters on 42nd Street by the State of New York. Times Square is located between 7th Avenue and Broadway, and 42nd and 47th streets, it is currently the heart of the city in general and of the New York theater district in particular. The entire area is illuminated day and night by large illuminated signs and huge television screens, this has made it famous throughout the world, as well as the descent of the Crystal ball every December 31 from the top of 1 Times Square announcing the new Year. Up to two million people flocked to Times Square to ring in the year 2000 with the lowering of Waterford’s Millennial Crystal Ball, a huge Swarovski crystal ball made specifically for this event. The north end of the square, between 46th and 47th Streets, is known as Duffy Square in honor of Father Francis P. Duffy, chaplain of the New York Regiment of Infantry during World War II. Half-price same-day Broadway show tickets are available at the TKTS Box Office, located in the center of Duffy Square. The ticket offices, renovated in 2008, are covered on its roof with wide steps in the form of a staircase that allow visitors to sit or enjoy a panoramic view. On May 25, 2009, the city council temporarily closed the section of Broadway that runs through Times Square to pedestrian traffic. The experiment was a great success and it has become a permanent pedestrian plaza where the place is more enjoyable with new metal benches, chairs and tables. Times Square has its own police station, its street cleaning company, and its tourist office that has all the information about the city, and it is also a small museum dedicated to this important square. Times Square wouldn’t be recognizable without its amazing illuminated signs. An image that is admired by two million people who pass through this square every day and many millions more in the world who enjoy it through photographs, paintings, cinema and television. Times Square began to fill with large advertisements in 1916, when the City Council encouraged its installation in this part of the city. Since then there are many who have passed through here, some true works of art. In addition, they played an important role in the remodeling of the square during its most decadent period: as a measure of pressure on the city’s rulers, one night their neighbors turned off all the signs for 15 minutes. The measure had excellent results and the negotiation was carried out. Today, a municipal ordinance obliges the buildings in this area to give up their facade for the installation of such advertisements. 🎥 : Times Square in 1932 (Colorized) 🎥© lostintimevid (IG) #archaeohistoriesshow more

Dear TikCoin Community, We know that many of you... have been waiting for the listing, and you have every right to do so. For more than a year, we have built this community together. We understand the excitement because we share exactly the same goal. Nobody wants to see TikCoin listed more than we do. Over the past months, we have made tremendous progress. The exchange integrations are almost complete, the required licenses are in place, and in the coming weeks you will see important structural changes as more parts of the project move under official companies and legal entities. We are building TikCoin for the long term, not just for launch day. After many discussions, we have made one difficult decision. If we listed TikCoin today, we believe it would not achieve the value we are working toward. A listing by itself does not create value. A strong market is built on demand, utility, and millions of people who actually use the ecosystem. Without buyers, there is no healthy market. Without utility, there is no long-term demand. Without demand, no cryptocurrency can reach its true potential. That is exactly why TikOS is so important. TikOS will launch this month and will transform TikCoin into much more than a mining app. It will become a social platform that people actually use every day. Instead of only attracting miners, we will attract creators, communities, and everyday social media users. Immediately after the TikOS launch, we will begin a major marketing campaign together with influencers who will introduce TikCoin to millions of new people. Our goal is to create real demand before the listing so TikCoin enters the market with momentum instead of relying only on speculation. Because of this, we have decided to move the listing date from October 10 (10.10) to December 12 (12.12). We know this is disappointing for some of you. But we would rather delay the listing by two months than spend years regretting that we rushed it. Please remember: Nobody is forced to stay. Every person must decide for themselves what they believe in. We respect every decision. But if you believe in the vision of TikCoin, then these next two months are the most important part of our journey. The good news is that supporting the project is incredibly simple. You don’t need to spend money, and you don’t need to watch advertisements if you don’t want to. Simply open the app once a day and activate your mining session. That’s enough to remain part of the journey. Watching ads for additional bonuses is completely optional. Two months may sound like a long time, but after everything we have built together over the past year, they will pass quickly. Look at how far we’ve already come. From a simple idea… to a global community… to hundreds of thousands of users… to exchange integrations… to licenses… to simplest KYC... to TiKChain... to fastest Blockchain... to TikWallet… and now to the launch of TikOS. Every milestone that many people once thought was impossible has become reality. That is why we remain confident about the future. We are not building hype we are building an ecosystem. We know TikCoin is different. Our mission has never been to create another coin that appears on an exchange and disappears a few weeks later. Our mission is to build something that people actually use, because real usage creates real demand, and real demand is what creates long-term value. These next two months are incredibly important. This is the time to stay united, stay patient, and continue building together. The stronger our community is before the listing, the stronger TikCoin will be after the listing. Thank you for your patience, your trust, and your belief in this project.show more