#International Tiger Day 2022

[easternmind]

The weird and wonderful history of Kowloon as a digital interactive space - Part II

This article is the continuation of a previous post.

Any comprehensive history of 20th century Hong Kong is not complete without a chapter entirely dedicated to the architectural and urban planning puzzle that was Kowloon Walled City. Quite unlike any other slum in Asia or elsewhere in the world, the extreme conditions under which its inhabitants lived captured the attention of various international journalists and photographers whose reports of this accidental labyrinth, in turn, inspired some of the most remarkable artistic explorations of our time. In this regard, video games did not remain impervious to the powerfully stimulative imagery, as much a reference today as it was when its hardened concrete walls still stood tall.

Kowloon's Gate Suzaku VR - Jetman - 2017

Kowloon's Gate made a most unexpected comeback twenty years after the original episode via the crowdfunded VR project Suzaku developed by Jetman, a studio founded by and composed almost exclusively of ex-SME/Zeque staff. While it is not the remaster many had hoped for, essentially consisting of a walking simulation through some redesigned locations from the original, it does a commendable job in faithfully replicating its instantly recognizable, light-starved alleyways in competent high-definition. It is also the only VR-compatible entry from this list, granting it a degree of uniqueness over its counterparts.

Stranglehold - Midway/Tiger Hill Productions - 2007

Stranglehold is the result of a collaboration with Hong Kong movie director John Woo, developed as a direct sequel to his heroic bloodshed classic Hard Boiled, featuring Chow Yun-fat in the role of detective 'Tequilla' Yuen in his unending confrontations with organized crime. One of the game's most unforgettable levels, Slums of Kowloon, takes place during a particularly rainy day, seemingly in those last days when the zone had been emptied of residents and demolition work was well underway. The visual representation of the quarter is suitably evocative, its buildings in complete state of disrepair, the remnants of local businesses or places of prayer still discernible from under the piles of steel and cement rubble.

Resident Evil 6 - Capcom - 2012

For all its shortcomings, Resident Evil 6 partly succeeds in taking the first two episodes' concept of parallel storylines and realizing it to a much fuller extent. Its choice of different characters translates into entirely different campaigns, locations and playing styles. The very first scene in Chris/Piers' campaign occurs in the fictional Chinese city of Lanshiang, modelled after real-life Hong Kong. The mayhem in the main streets forces the player to take a detour into a location named Poisawan, which bears a striking resemblance to the Kowloon district. Though an unofficial representation, it is among the most skilled replications of the scenery we find in the vast photographic repository of the area. The degree of minutiae with which the district's haphazard electric installation is replicated, alone, suffices to demonstrate a true commitment to authenticity.

Paranormal HK - Ghostpie Studio - 2020

Few would dispute that Kowloon is, itself, naturally conducive to sentiments of dread and anxiety. Paranormal HK is a 2020 made in China production reviving the defunct neighbourhood in a gripping, blood-curdling contemporary ghost story. The player is the cameraman of a paranormal-themed TV show exploring the zone during the evening of the Zhongyuan festival, a scheme suspiciously akin to that of Akira Ueda's 2004 game, Michigan: Report From Hell. As a result of the thorough research work performed by its creators, as well as the impeccable usage of contemporary 3D graphics techniques to achieve accurate lighting conditions, players may momentarily experience the feeling of walking into a photo of the actual city as it existed in the mid eighties.

Sifu - Sloclap - 2022

Notwithstanding of its renaissance during the 128-Bit era, the beat 'em up genre is commonly associated with the arcade games of the late 80s and 90s, the period of time when it flourished and, arguably, reached its zenith. The simplicity of controls and ease of access sufficed to attract players to the arcade cabinet, while the frequently extreme levels of difficulty of advanced levels ensured a steady flow of cash for arcade room owners and game development companies alike. Nevertheless, the genre has but perished and, in many aspects, recent years have indeed elevated it to unforeseeable degrees of complexity. Sifu, by Sloclap, synthesizes the elation of digital hand to hand combat simulation with the real-life complexity of mastering a martial art.

As is the case of previous entries in this list, Sifu makes no admitted reference to Kowloon or Hong Kong. However, the designers left little to the imagination in what pertains to their inspirations when taking on the task of constructing the game's environments. Another notable coincidence stems from the fact that this production was made possibly with the support from a celebrated independent game funding group going by the name Kowloon Nights.

Stray - BlueTwelve Studio - 2022

Stray is one of the most revered independent video games in recent memory, and justifiably so. The long development process yielded many benefits, judging from the consistency and attention to detail that engrossed many an avid player. That the main character is singularly charming feline may have played an equally crucial role. The creators have made no effort to conceal the fact that the notorious Hong Kong district was a pivotal influence to the design of its nameless city. The first indication can be spotted in the game's earliest footage, in which a black cat traverses a street where a particularly conspicuous sign boasted the initials HK. Stray is less concerned with presenting a precise replica of Kowloon than it is about summoning the very essence of its atmosphere. Moreover, in an exquisitely poignant way, its ending lends an entirely new meaning to the term walled city. In the future, robots may well take the place of humans. Invariably, the Walled City is no more. Slitterhead - Bokeh Game Studio - Work in Progress

An sequence of unconscionable mistakes from the part of Sony Computer Entertainment's management galvanized Keiichiro Toyama to part ways with Japan Studio, as it once was, and establish his own game production label. Their debut title, Slitterhead, is described as a grotesque survival horror experience, a genre within which the author moves with matchless ease. Among the few certainties regarding this project is the fact that it will take place prominently - if not exclusively - within the Kowloon City province. A wide variety of aspects included in the preview footage leave the viewer optimistic as to this being one of the most accomplished portrayals of the district ever seen in a video game. Subtle yet telling signs already demonstrate the creator's in-depth knowledge of the quarter's architecture and history. Take, for instance, the suggestive image of the airplane flying mere meters above the top of the buildings. Although the growth of Kowloon was for the most part ungoverned, buildings did not rise above a certain height, even as inhabitants claimed for increased availability of space. This is due to the fact that airplanes landing at the nearby airport would be required to make their descent at relatively low altitude, performing a tight curve as they soared just above the enclave, thus preventing construction from expanding upwards. Another scene shows a child playing on the rooftops of the buildings, which once again is consistent with the documented habits of residents who, starved for sunlight and open space elsewhere within the city limits, had little alternative than to take the stairs all the way to the top.

Warehouse Kawasaki Arcade

I would be remiss not to make some form of allusion to Warehouse Kawasaki, an arcade built to replicate the Walled City with unthinkable detail. Though its ultimate purpose was for visitors to engage in digital entertainment, the venue was scrupulously put together. Point in fact, many of the objects used in the construction of the five floor amusement centre were imported directly from Hong Kong. Like so many other Japanese arcades, it closed its doors in 2019.

In recent years, a rather similar initiative was taken by the Chinese in their attempts to build unique mall spaces. The 文和友 malls in mainland China, found in Changsha, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, attempt to reproduce the walled city aesthetic. Local residents inform me that these are increasingly lacking in foot traffic, for which reason the majority of their stores are closed. Other digital replicas of Kowloon

A number of other videogames set in or deriving inspiration from Kowloon could not be featured in this article. A frequently cited reference in this context is the action/adventure game Fear Effect, one which I emphatically dispute. No doubt remains as to it being located in a futuristic version of Hong Kong, yet I could discern no parallels with the walled city, save for those scattered second-hand visual motifs that were no doubt imported from sci-fi classics such as Blade Runner or Ghost in the Shell.

The Utelek Complex stage of Deus Ex: Makind Divided presents a similar situation, where the overall atmosphere of the futuristic favela bears some resemblance to Kowloon, without meeting the specificity quota that would warrant a more comprehensive exploration.

The 2004 Shout! original Kowloon High-School Chronicle for the PS2 is a unique case, in that it borrows the city's name despite taking place in a massive, Tokyo underground dungeon that is later revealed to be a maze-like Egyptian pyramid. The odd choice of title remains unclear. Shadowrun: Hong Kong game (screenshot above) contains a very direct mention of Kowloon as the place in which an entire episode comes to pass. Another project still in development, Kowloon's Curse (screenshot below), is following the lead of many popular independent horror games in recent memory by using a visual design and structure that elicits memories of the late Playstation/early Dreamcast era. A short prequel episode was made available earlier this year, for free.

Additionally, I refrained from mentioning the Kowloon maps in Call of Duty: Black Ops or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, as I perceive both games to be insufficiently relevant to merit study or contemplation.

A space that refuses to be forgotten

(China rooftop stage from The King of Fighters 2003)

It would be a gross overstatement to claim that Kowloon is a recurring location or level design motif in videogames. The relationship between digital games and the real life ghetto has been one of sporadic references. What makes the subject so engrossing pertains to the quality of the relationship, particularly that of a small cadre from among the titles featured in this article. Kowloon's Gate was one of the most relevant game creations of the 32-Bit era, a game deserving of reverence and cult following inside and outside Japan. Likewise, Shenmue II is the second instalment of a truly ground-breaking and highly advertised series whose production costs alone were unmatched until quite recently.

Moreover, this is an affair that is far from concluded. The unexpectedly high number of allusions to Kowloon in videogames released or revealed just last yet demonstrates that its aesthetic is still very much present in the minds and hearts of artists and designers working in the field. The walled city lives on as a digital demarcation that is certain to resurface time and again in years to come.

[what-breaks-my-heart]

Watched in 2023

Korean Drama:

Apple of My Eye (KBS daily drama, 2023)

Between Him and Her (Channel A, 2023 - ongoing)

Can We Be Strangers? (Genie TV, 2023)

Check Out the Event (MBC short drama, 2021)

Elegant Empire (KBS daily drama, 2023 - ongoing)

Lady Durian (TV Chosun, 2023)

Live Your Own Life (KBS weekend drama, 2023 - ongoing)

Meant to Be (MBC daily drama, 2023)

My Dearest (MBC miniseries, 2023)

Numbers (MBC miniseries, 2023)

Pandora: Beneath the Paradise (tvN, 2023)

Perfect Marriage Revenge (MBN, 2023)

The Real Has Come! (KBS weekend drama, 2023)

The Third Marriage (MBC daily drama, 2023 - ongoing)

The Witch’s Game (MBC daily drama, 2022 - 2023)

Three Bold Siblings (KBS weekend drama, 2022 - 2023)

Unpredictable Family (KBS daily drama, 2023 - ongoing)

Woman in a Veil (KBS daily drama, 2023)

KBS Drama Special:

To My Assailant (2020)

While You're Away (2020)

One Night (2020)

Scenery of Pain (2021)

Siren (2021)

Ordinary Jae Hwa (2021)

The Effect of a Finger Flick on a Breakup (2021)

Underwear Season (2022)

Do You Know Ashtanga (2022)

Silence of the Lambs (2022)

The Distributors (2022)

No Path Back (2023)

Half Lies (2023)

Do Hyun's Confession (2023)

We Were There (2023)

Dog Days of Summer (2023)

The True Love of Madam (2023)

Love Attack (2023)

Korean Movie:

Confidential Assignment (2017)

Confidential Assignment 2: International (2022)

Emergency Declaration (2022)

Exit (2019)

Gate (2018)

Recalled (2021)

The Roundup (2022)

The Roundup: No Way Out (2023)

The Tower (2012)

Chinese Drama:

Gank Your Heart (2019)

Love You Seven Times (2023)

Nothing But You (2023)

She and Her Perfect Husband (2022)

Song of the Moon (2022 - 2023)

The Romance of Tiger and Rose (2020)

Chinese Short Drama

Love at Second Sight (2023)

Chinese Movie:

My Blue Summer (2022)

Yesterday Once More (2023)

Taiwanese Movie:

Someday or One Day (2022)

Taiwanese Drama:

Someday or One Day (2019)

Japanese Drama:

Bokura wa Koi ga Hetasugiru (2020)

Japanese Toku Series

Kamen Rider Ex-Aid (2016 - 2017)

Avataro Sentai Donbrothers (2022 - 2023)

Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger (2023 - ongoing)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 6.18

Holidays

Academy Day (Scientology)

Autistic Pride Day

Clark Kent Day

Clean Your Aquarium Day

Count Your $$ Day

Drone Safety Day

Festival of Invisible Pornography

Finest Hour Speech Day

Foundation Day (Benguet, Philippines)

Go Fishing Day

Hand Cart Day (French Republic)

Horned Poppy Day

Human Rights Day (Azerbaijan)

International Day for Countering Hate Speech

International Declaration of Human Rights Day

International Panic Day

Jack Herer Day

Justice Institution Employees Day (Turkmenistan)

Mela Khir Bhawani (Kashmir, India)

National Black America’s Day of Repentance

National Internet Cat Day

National Jesse Day

National Relationship Day

National Splurge Day

National Wanna Get Away Day

National Wear Blue Day

Neurodiversity Pride Day (Netherlands)

No Headline Day

Police Inspector’s Day (Ukraine)

Queen Mother’s Day (Cambodia)

618 Day

Sustainable Gastronomy Day

Tabasco Day (Mali)

Trouser Day

Veterinary Appreciation Day (a.k.a. Veterinarian Appreciation Day)

Waterloo Day (UK)

Wild Den Dancing Day

World Day Against Incarceration

World Wide Knit in Public Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Insalata Day (Italy)

International Picnic Day

International Sushi Day

National Cheesemaker’s Day

National Cherry Tart Day

Independence & Related Days

Aldrodnia (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Bacolod City Charter Day (Philippines)

Constitution Day (Seychelles)

Egypt (a.k.a. Eid el-Galaa, evacuation of foreign troops, 1954)

Flinders (Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

Jailavera (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Leprechia (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Naga City Charter Day (Philippines)

Onontakeka (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Snagov (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

3rd Tuesday in June

National Accounts Payable Appreciation Day [3rd Tuesday]

National Cherry Tart Day [3rd Tuesday]

Royal Ascot begins (UK) [3rd Tuesday]

Taco Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Weekly Holidays beginning June 18 (3rd Full Week)

National Water Safety Week (Ireland) [thru 6.25]

Royal Ascot (thru 6.22)

Festivals Beginning June 18, 2024

Marysville Strawberry Festival (Marysville, Washington) [thru 6.23]

RMA Convention (Maui, Hawaii) [thru 6.21]

Taste of Little Italy (San Diego, California) [thru 6.19]

Feast Days

Amandus, Bishop of Bordeaux (Christian; Saint)

Andim Day (Pastafarian)

Bernard Mizeki (Anglican and Episcopal Church)

Chris Van Allsburg (Artology)

Elisabeth of Schönau (Christian; Saint)

Elvis Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Ephraem (Christian; Saint)

Erik Ortvad (Artology)

Festival of Anna (Ancient Rome; Everyday Wicca)

Going Forth of Neith Along the River (Ancient Egypt’ Goddess of War and Hunting)

Gregorio Barbarigo (Christian; Saint)

Gregory of Fragalata (Christian; Saint)

Into Raymi Festival begins (Inca Sun Worship Festival; until 24th)

James Montgomery Flagg (Artology)

John Bellany (Artology)

Joseph-Marie Vien (Artology)

Leontius, Hypatius and Theodulus (Christian; Saints)

Leroy (Muppetism)

Marina the Monk (Maronite Church, Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria)

Mark and Marcellian (Christian; Martyrs)

Media Ver XI (Pagan)

National Splurge Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Now Panic Day (Pastafarian)

Osanna Andreasi (Christian; Saint)

Theodoric the Great (Positivist; Saint)

Three Lasting Things of Cormac Mac Art: Grass, Copper and Yew (Celtic Book of Days)

Tiger-Get-By’s Birthday (Shamanism)

Islamic Lunar Holidays

Eid al-Adha, Day 3 [Muslim Feast of Sacrifice] (a.k.a. ... 

Al Adha (Bahrain)

Corban Bairam (Sudan)

Eid al Adha (Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen)

Eid e-Ghorban

Eid ul-Ad’haa (Maldives)

Feast of Sacrifice (Uzbekistan)

Gurban Bayram (Azerbaijan)

Hari Arafat (Malaysia)

Hari Raya Qurban (Malaysia)

Id el Kabir (Nigeria)

Kurban Bayram (North Cyprus)

Kurban Bayramy (Turkey)

Qurbon Hayit (Uzbekistan)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [36 of 57]

Premieres

The Adventures of Ellery Queen (Radio Series; 1939)

The Bully (Ub Iwerks Flip the Frog Cartoon; 1932)

Casey Bats Again (Disney Cartoon; 1954)

Dangerous When Wet (Film; 1953)

Dare To Be Stupid, by Weird Al Yankovic (Album; 1985)

Day & Night (Pixar Cartoon; 2010)

Der Freischütz (or The Marksman), by Carl Maria von Weber (Opera; 1821)

DodgeBall (Film: 2004)

(Everything I Do) I Do It For You, by Bryan Adams (Song; 1991)

Eyes in Outer Space (Disney Cartoon; 1959)

Goodbye Cruel World, by Elvis Costello (Album; 1984)

The House with a Clock in Its Walls, by John Bellairs (Novel; 1973)

Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train (Documentary Film; 2004)

Ice Station Zebra, by Alistair MacLean (Novel; 1963)

An Ideal Husband (Film; 1999)

Inside, Outside, by Herman Wouk (History Book; 1985)

Lady and the Lamp (Disney Cartoon; 1979)

Last Action Hero (Film; 1993)

Le Marteau sans Maître, by Pierre Boulez (Chamber Cantata; 1955)

Luca (Animated Film; 2021)

Morning, Noon and Nightclub (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1937)

My Cousin Rachel, by Daphne du Maurier (Novel; 1952)

The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman (Novel; 2013)

Odelay, by Beck (Album; 1996)

Once Upon a Forest (Hanna-Barbera Animated Film; 1993)

Origin of Symmetry, by Muse (Album; 2001)

Polar Fright (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1966)

Popeye Meets Hercules (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1948)

The Sparks Brothers (Documentary Film; 2021)

Suppressed Duck (WB LT Cartoon; 1965)

Tarzan (Animated Disney Film; 1999)

Toy Story 3 (Animated Pixar Film; 2010)

The Underground World (Fleischer Cartoon; 1943) [#16]

The Wild Bunch (Film; 1969)

Wouldn’t It Be Nice, by The Beach Boys (Song; 1966)

Today’s Name Days

Elisabeth, Ilsa, Marina (Austria)

Asen, Chavdar (Bulgaria)

Elizabeta, Marcel, Ozana, Paul (Croatia)

Milan (Czech Republic)

Leontius (Denmark)

Auli, Aurelia, Auri, Reeli, Reelika, Reili (Estonia)

Tapio (Finland)

Léonce (France)

Elisabeth, Ilsa, Isabella, Marina (Germany)

Erasmos, Leontios (Greece)

Arnold, Levente (Hungary)

Gregorio, Marina, Marinella, Marinetta (Italy)

Alberts, Madis (Latvia)

Arnulfas, Ginbutas, Marina, Vaiva (Lithuania)

Bjarne, Bjørn (Norway)

Efrem, Elżbieta, Gerwazy, Leonia, Marek, Marina, Paula (Poland)

Ipatie, Leontie, Teodul (România)

Vratislav (Slovakia)

Marcelino, Marcos (Spain)

Bjarne, Björn (Sweden)

Leo, Leon (Ukraine)

Effie, Efrain, Eph, Ephraim, Marina, Marnie, Nevaeh (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 170 of 2024; 196 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 25 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 10 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Geng-Wu), Day 13 (Gui-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 12 Sivan 5784

Islamic: 11 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 20 Blue; Sixday [20 of 30]

Julian: 5 June 2024

Moon: 88%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 1 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Theodoric the Great]

Runic Half Month: Dag (Day) [Day 10 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 92 of 92)

Week: 3rd Full Week of June)

Zodiac: Gemini (Day 29 of 31)

Calendar Changes

Charlemagne (Feudal Civilization) [Month 7 of 13; Positivist]

[mariacallous]

Two years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin is restructuring and expanding the country’s military in anticipation of a conflict with NATO within the next 10 years, Estonia’s foreign and military intelligence chiefs said in an interview on Wednesday.

Contrary to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s expectation of seizing the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in a matter of days, the first months of the invasion revealed profound shortcomings in Russian military planning as poorly equipped troops foundered in the face of fierce resistance by the Ukrainian armed forces. Experts as well as U.S. and foreign officials were quick to declare the Russian army a paper tiger.

“The Kremlin often claimed it had the second-strongest military in the world,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a speech last June. “Today, many see Russia’s military as the second-strongest in Ukraine.”

But as the war enters its third year, Putin is looking increasingly confident. His main political rival, Alexei Navalny, is dead; vital U.S. military aid to Ukraine is stalled in Congress; and Russia has shifted its economy to a war footing, fueling defense production and economic growth in defiance of international sanctions.

“Everything is more or less going to the plan again” for Russia, said Kaupo Rosin, the director-general of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service (EFIS), during a meeting with a small group of journalists in Washington.

Russian military leaders have learned from the mistakes of the opening phases of the war and are adapting with uncharacteristic speed. “It seems that the Russians are, in principle, turning into a learning organization in the military,” said Rosin, who added that they were now resolving problems encountered on the battlefield within a matter of months.

The Ukrainian armed forces have impressed Western military leaders with their ability to innovate on the battlefield and adapt to new technologies, which has given them an edge against a larger and better-equipped adversary. Russia’s centralized control structure is slow to learn, but when it does, “it is able to systematize it across the military and through its large defense industry,” retired Australian Army Maj. Gen. Mick Ryan wrote in Foreign Affairs in February.

“The Russians, according to our understanding, have always fixed their issues or problems through mass. And this has worked out for them throughout history,” said Rosin, adding that reforms to the Russian armed forces were likely to result in a low-tech, Soviet-style army with “a lot of firepower and artillery.”

In late 2022, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced plans to overhaul the structure of the country’s armed forces and expand its personnel by 30 percent, to 1.5 million people, by 2026. The Kremlin’s “highest priority for force generation lies in the Western strategic direction and Ukraine,” EFIS noted in its public annual report, published in February.

In light of Finland’s accession to NATO, which doubled the military alliance’s shared border with Russia, Moscow may look to double the nearly 19,000 troops it had stationed at its western borders before the invasion of Ukraine, the report added. Since that report was published, Sweden has also formally joined NATO.

The Russian reforms have been accompanied by a significant boost in military spending, with defense set to account for one-third of all government spending this year, while arms manufacturers have been urged to work around the clock.

As military aid from the United States has been held up by partisan infighting on Capitol Hill, congressional leaders have warned that Ukrainian troops have been forced to ration their use of artillery shells even as they face punishing barrages from Russian forces.

Moscow has dipped into its stockpile of artillery shells, ramped up production, and even turned to North Korea and Iran for imports, leaving Russia with a 7-to-1 firepower advantage over Ukraine, said Ants Kiviselg, the head of Estonian military intelligence. On Monday, CNN reported that Russia is on course to produce three times more artillery munitions than Europe and the United States.

Estonia, which was occupied by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, has long been regarded as punching above its weight when it comes to its intelligence assessments of Russian capabilities and intentions. After the end of the Cold War, the Baltic country was used as an early testing ground for Russian disinformation and cyberwarfare tactics that were later used against the United States.

The stark warnings from Estonia’s intelligence chiefs echo similar remarks from other senior European policymakers and defense officials.

In January, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned that Russia could seek to attack a NATO member state within “five to eight years,” while his Danish counterpart, Troels Lund Poulsen, said the speed with which Russia was rearming had forced NATO officials to revise their assessments. “It cannot be ruled out that within a three- to five-year period, Russia will test Article 5 and NATO’s solidarity. That was not NATO’s assessment in 2023. This is new knowledge that is coming to the fore now,” he said in early February.

In January, the chief of the British Army, Gen. Patrick Sanders, warned that the British public must be prepared for a potential conflict with Russia.

A war between Russia and NATO is not inevitable, said Rosin, who noted that much could still be done to deter Moscow. “A lot of the future scenarios depend on our activities in the West,” he said.

“The concrete task at hand,” he added, “is to make Ukraine successful in this war because the future in Europe depends heavily on the outcome of this war.”

[prettyhennytea]

The LSU Tigers recently clinched the 2022-23 women's college basketball title, but their journey has encountered some unexpected hurdles. During Friday night's game, the team was without their star player, Angel Reese, leaving fans and reporters curious about her absence. Coach Kim Mulkey remained tightlipped when questioned about it, expressing hope for Reese's return without providing further details. This development followed Reese being benched during a previous game against Kent State. Adding to the team's challenges are off-court tensions between Reese's mother and fellow LSU star Flau'jae Johnson's mother that have spilled onto social media.

In a post-game interview after LSU's 73-50 victory over Southeastern Louisiana, Coach Kim Mulkey addressed Angel Reese's absence from the lineup. She confirmed that Reese was not in uniform but emphasized her importance as part of the basketball team and expressed optimism for her return in due course. However, Mulkey refrained from elaborating further on the matter.

Reese's recent absence follows her being benched during LSU's 109-79 win over Kent State earlier in the week. The decision to keep her out of play for the second half raised eyebrows among spectators and sparked speculation about potential issue within the team or coaching decisions.

In another setback for the Tigers, they suffered their first loss of the season just 11 days ago when they were defeated by Colorado Buffaloes with a score of 92-78 on November 6th. As if that wasn't enough to contend with, tensions have arisen between Angel Reese's mother (Angel Webb Reese) and Flau'jae Johnson's mother (Kia Brooks), which have spilled over onto social media platforms.

Angel Webb Reese took to her Instagram stories to express her frustration with a lengthy message she received. She criticized the message for containing numerous grammatical errors that made it difficult for her to comprehend its intended meaning. While she did not explicitly mention who sent the message, it became apparent when Kia Brooks, Flau'jae Johnson's mother, responded on Instagram with a post of her own. Brooks urged Reese and her mother to stop being petty, fake, and hateful while also suggesting they take responsibility for their actions. The response from Brooks emphasized the importance of humility and remembering one's roots. 

The LSU Tigers' triumph in secuing the women's college basketball title has been accompanied by challenges both on and off the court. With Angel Reese's absence from recent games, including being benched during one match, questions arise about potential underlying issues within the team or coaching decisions. Additionally, tensions between Reese's mother and Flau'jae Johnson's mother have added another layer of complexity to navigate. As fans eagerly await further updates regarding Angel Reese's status and resolution of any internal conflicts within the team dynamics, it remains clear that success in sports often comes hand-in-hand with unforeseen obstacles that require careful management both on social media platforms and behind closed doors.

[xtruss]

Inside The World of Ultra Wealthy Extreme Tourism

— By Anna Skinner | June 22, 2023

Ultra-luxurious vacations costing hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars have increased in popularity since COVID-19 traveling restrictions have eased.

Luxurious vacations can include everything from visiting the International Space Station, to scaling Everest, to going on a private jet tour around the world's safaris.

Such excursions can threaten the environment or lead to exorbitant rescue missions and, rarely and most recently, tragedy.

Many consider a vacation as an escape to the beach for a week or, if they're lucky, traveling overseas. But for the world's ultra-wealthy travelers, the sky isn't even the limit.

For a price, tourists have access not only to the depths of Earth's oceans to visit the RMS Titanic in its final resting place, but also to out-of-this-world destinations like the International Space Station.

These excursions can be risky. The former—a trip costing $250,000 per person—took a horrifying turn as five people are now presumed dead after their submersible lost communication only one hour and 45 minutes into its trip. Operator OceanGate Expeditions announced Thursday afternoon that it believes all five lives have "sadly been lost," and the U.S. Coast Guard said that debris found in the area was consistent with a "catastrophic implosion" of the vessel.

For some, the risk involved in going on the ultimate adventure is all part of the appeal, and businesses to cater to their taste for adventure are booming.

In perhaps the most extreme example, three civilians paid an estimated $55 million each to board a SpaceX rocket and be blasted to the International Space Station in April 2022.

Other wealth thrill-seekers have to content themselves with staying on Earth. A trip to the South Pole can be arranged for about $100,000. A no-expense-spared expedition to conquer Everest costs about the same, although for the elite it is becoming rather crowded: on a single day in 2019, 354 climbers made it to the top.

For those seeking a slightly more sedate taste of the wild, sought-after trips span from luxurious African safaris to guided tours in the Arctic Circle.

Exclusivity, adventure, and danger are a potent mix for the ultra-rich, and it is increasingly becoming impossible for them to resist the allure—or to brag about it afterward.

Guests observe elephants at the Singita Serengeti House in Africa. Courtesy of Mike Johnson/Singita

A Look Inside a Wealthy Vacation

International travel companies like Abercrombie and Kent offer one-of-a-kind excursions that present incredible opportunities, such as searching for Bengal tigers in India or encountering the endangered mountain gorilla in the Ugandan wild. Many of these luxurious vacations are equipped with the utmost comforts. In Abercrombie and Kent's case, clients have access to a private jet.

Trips come with a four- to six-digit price tag. With the more luxurious options, clients can experience some of the world's elusive locations crackling with adventure while bypassing many of the headaches that accompany world travel.

Abercrombie and Kent's director of media relations Pamela Lassers told Newsweek that the international travel company strives to "create thrilling adventures for top-tier clients who have pretty much done everything."

Take for example Abercrombie and Kent's 25-day trip "Wildlife Safari: Around the World by Private Jet 2024", which takes clients on a private jet tour around the world, exposing them to a multi-continental safari with everything from snow monkeys and whale sharks to orangutans, gorillas and Bengal tigers in one trip.

The trip, which costs just shy of $165,000 per person, often sells out within three months.

By participating, clients not only are exposed to myriad environments and safaris, but they are able to bypass international gateways and are accompanied by their own crew on the private jet. Private transportation saves time, which Lassers says many Abercrombie and Kent clients, often busy entrepreneurs, don't have much of.

"They have traveled a lot and seen a lot of the world and now they are interested to getting to more remote places," Lassers said of Abercrombie and Kent's clientele, who seek out the organization's wildlife safaris or expedition cruises to Antarctica.

Lassers added that many of the destinations include access to experts to educate travelers. For example, when a client visits Antarctica, they might encounter a specialist who educates them on the changes that have taken place on the continent because of climate change.

“They have traveled a lot and seen a lot of the World and now they are interested to getting to more remote places.” — Abercrombie and Kent Director of Media Relations Pamela Lassers

"It's a learning vacation in addition to being an adventure," Lassers said.

Lassers told Newsweek that Abercrombie and Kent has seen a dramatic uptick in those seeking adventurous vacations through the company, and 2023 is the company's strongest year in its 61-year history. She said that the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the way people travel and inspired them to take advantage of trips that expose them to the world.

Easing COVID-19 travel restrictions also has led to an increase in Singita bookings as well. Singita is an African-based game lodge operator exposing visitors to safari lodges and wildlife reserves.

Guests partake in a hot air balloon ride at the Singita Serengeti House in Africa. Courtesy of Singita

"Singita has seen an incredible bounce back in business; and demand for ecotourism," Singita spokesperson Lisa Carey told Newsweek in a statement. "Our guests are longing to travel consciously; to get into nature to disconnect from the pressure of daily life."

Singita lodges expose travelers to "restorative sanctuaries and encounters in the bush that guests won't find anywhere else," accompanied by privacy and award-winning hospitality, according to Carey. In addition to witnessing African wildlife in their natural habitat, Singita guests can choose from a variety of luxury accommodations and activities, such as massage treatments.

Rates for the luxurious lodges vary greatly, depending on the size of room and what part of the year a tourist books their vacation. For example, at the Singita Faru Faru Lodge, rates are as low as $1,910 per adult per night in a suite for the off-season to $12,254 per night for a two-bedroom suite, which can accommodate up to four guests.

The organization appeals to clients with a philanthropic heart, as well.

"They can contribute to numerous conservation initiatives and community empowerment [programs]," Carey said. "Modern conservation requires a keen focus on keeping tourism, communities and wildlife in a constructive balance. Our guests are looking for ways to travel more responsibly and be immersed in nature and learn about local cultures or food; and to make a difference by choosing to travel with a sustainable provider."

The Darker Side of Luxurious Travel

Exploring the far corners of the world comes with risks, too.

There is the threat to life that the Titan submersible crew has encountered. Action Aviation Chairman Hamish Harding, who was aboard the Titan submersible, has taken several dangerous trips that expose him to extreme parts of the world.

In March 2021, Harding shared an Instagram photo of receiving a Guinness World Record award from actor and singer John Travolta for breaking the Round-the-World record for an aircraft flying over the North and South Poles. Harding and former International Space Station Commander Colonel Terry Virts set the record at 46 hours, 40 minutes and 22 seconds in 2019.

In the post, Harding writes that curiosity is "utterly addicting" and stated his foremost goal as "the complete exploration of our Earth and beyond".

Harding's trips have included visiting the ocean's deepest point at Challenger Deep—more than 35,000 feet below the ocean's surface near the Mariana Trench. In 2016, he accompanied astronaut Buzz Aldrin in traveling to the South Pole. He also took part in a project that reintroduced cheetahs to India.

Harding and the other four passengers on the submersible—Stockton Rush, Paul-Henry Nargeolet, Shahzada Dawood and Suleman Dawood—are now feared to be dead. A rescue mission discovered debris related to the sub near the Titanic's resting place.

The Titan is a carbon fiber and titanium submersible. All five passengers onboard are feared to be dead. Oceangate

Another extreme adventure sought after by wealthy travelers is climbing Everest, a dangerous journey that has led to hundreds of fatalities. In May, Outside magazine reported that for 2023, fatalities had already reached double digits with several climbers still missing.

More often than risking a person's wellbeing though, wealthy travel can threaten the environment.

For example, private jets can worsen global warming by producing greenhouse gases from burning fuel. For several years, executives and other members of the world's wealthiest class have faced criticism for flying private jets to destinations. In November 2021, the BBC reported that private jets usually produce significantly more emissions per passenger than commercial flights.

Lorri Krebs, a professor of geography and sustainability at Salem State University, told Newsweek that easing COVID-19 travel restrictions and the allure of posting showy photos on social media both contribute to wealthy travelers at times taking advantage of some of the world's most precious resources.

"It's our natural resources that they're after," Krebs said, citing instances such as U.S. National Parks becoming overrun with tourists. "It's exacerbated by social media and people wanting to post the greatest things they've done. They want those pictures and those experiences, and they want to show them off.

"People want to do something that other people can't do," she added.

The lavish trips come with a high cost, and not only that paid for by the tourists. The trips require support mechanisms, such as a potential rescue of travelers hiking Mt. Everest or, recently, multiple organizations racing against the clock to rescue the 23,000-pound submersible lost thousands of feet beneath the ocean's surface.

Krebs explained that although all wealthy travelers aren't worsening the environment, those seeking the highest comforts while they travel could be causing harm. For example, those visiting the Titanic's resting place may disturb the water currents around the ship's remains.

"They want to see the most fragile environment or most fragile ecosystem," she said. "They want to see the gorillas or polar bears, and those are the ones at risk of the biggest impact."

“They want to see the gorillas or polar bears, and those are the ones at risk of the biggest impact.” — Professor Lorri Krebs

Krebs commended the travelers and organizations that are conscious of their impact and those who choose to redirect the tourism dollars to beneficial conservation efforts or toward becoming a monetary lifeforce for underdeveloped countries.

[mehtaraveena]

Raveena Mehta Top Singer, Artist And Songwriter.

Raveena Mehta, Artist and Singer, was born in Antwerp, Belgium and moved to Mumbai, India as a teenager. Having lived in two such diverse environments, cultural influences have shaped her perspective and have been large components of what shape her music and art practice. While living in Belgium, she became multilingual, speaking English, Hindi, French (basic proficiency) and Gujar. In 2020, Raveena continued to engage her audience with new music and covers and subsequently grew her social media following. Her notable works from this year included collaborations with various acclaimed artists, contributing significantly to her total viewership. During the Covid lockdown, Raveena teamed up with producer Rishi Rich, to release their song Jab Tu Hai Wahi. In 2021, she sang a duet with Tiger Shroff as the female lead on his song Casanova (Acoustic). Her 2022 song Bewafaa garnered 35 Million views on YouTube[14][15], despite being an independent release. Year Song Album/Single 2020 "Yaadein"[20][21][22] Yaadein 2020 "Jab Tu Hai Wahi" Jab Tu Hai Wahi 2020 "Keh Na Saku" Keh Na Saku 2020 "Aaja Mere Naal"[23] Aaja Mere Naal 2021 "I Want You (Reprise)"[24] I Want You (Reprise) 2022 "Bewafaa"[25] Bewafaa 2022 "Tujhse Milne Ki Aas" Tujhse Milne Ki Aas 2022 "Moonlight" Moonlight 2022 "Tere Liye" Tere Liye 2023 "Kho Jaun Main" Kho Jaun Main 2023 "Sona Jeha Chehra" Sona Jeha Chehra 2023 "Awara"[26] Awara 2024 "Na Ja" Na Ja References

"Singer-songwriter Raveena Mehta dazzles in diamonds at the 75th Cannes Film Festival's red carpet". The Times of India. 2022-05-21. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

"Rambagh Palace, Jaipur witnesses a fairytale wedding executed by SATEC & OMO Events". EVENTFAQS Media. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

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"Here's Everything To Know About Raveena Mehta And Her Decade Long Musical Journey - Elle India". 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

India, Rolling Stone (2023-11-02). "New Indian Indie Raveena Mehta, Azadd, Carley Varley, Ambar Das, Pritisha Borthakur". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

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"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

Kalsi, Kulbir Singh (2022-12-13). "Indian-British singer & songwriter Raveena Mehta tied the knot with Saket Mehta". The Financial World. Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

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"Shamshera Actress Vaani Kapoor praises Indie Artist Raveena Mehta". www.radioandmusic.com. Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

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"इंडियन-ब्रिटिश सिंगर रवीना मेहता ने BF साकेत मेहता संग रचाई शादी, हैवी लहंगे में दिखीं खूबसूरत". BollywoodShaadis. 2022-12-05. Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

"रवीना मेहता का नया गाना 'तेरे लिए' रिलीज, हिंदी गाने को दिया नया लुक". ndtv.in (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

"Raveena Mehta and Rishabh Kant collaborate for a new track 'I Want You!' featuring rapper A$AD". The Times of India. 2020-11-06. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

Tagat, Anurag (2023-12-05). "Raveena Mehta Drops 'Awara' Video, Talks Marriage and Moving". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

[enterprisewired]

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Dismisses Reports of Equity Stake at All-Hands Meeting

[Source – business-standard.com]

At an all-hands meeting on Thursday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed rumors regarding his potential acquisition of a substantial equity stake in the company. Altman denied these claims, calling them “just not true,” according to an attendee who spoke on condition of anonymity. Alongside Altman, OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar also commented, noting that investors had raised concerns over Altman not having any equity in the highly valued artificial intelligence firm, which he co-founded nearly nine years ago.

No Plans for Equity Stake for Sam Altman

Sam Altman clarified that there are no current plans for him to receive an equity stake in OpenAI, despite ongoing discussions. “There are no current plans here,” Altman reportedly said during the meeting, which was conducted via video. OpenAI Chairman Bret Taylor further confirmed that while the board had considered compensating Altman with equity, no specific figures or decisions have been made. “The board has had discussions about whether it would be beneficial to the company and our mission to have Sam be compensated with equity, but no specific figures have been discussed nor have any decisions been made,” Taylor told CNBC in a statement.

OpenAI Faces Executive Departures Amid Restructuring Talks

The meeting also came on the heels of ongoing discussions within OpenAI’s board regarding a potential restructuring of the company. A source familiar with the situation revealed that OpenAI is considering shifting to a for-profit structure while retaining a separate non-profit entity. The changes, though not yet finalized, have been a topic of internal discussion for nearly a year.

Despite Altman denying any direct connection, the company has seen a series of high-profile executive departures. On Wednesday, Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati announced her departure after six and a half years with the company. She was followed by Research Chief Bob McGrew and Vice President of Research Barret Zoph. Sam Altman, speaking at Italian Tech Week on Thursday, stated, “I think this will be hopefully a great transition for everyone involved and I hope OpenAI will be stronger for it.”

Leadership Changes Amidst Expansion and Funding Round

Sam Altman dismissed reports suggesting that the executive exits were tied to the potential restructuring. Instead, he emphasized that the changes reflect individual choices and a shift toward a new generation of leadership. Murati, in a memo to employees, explained that she was stepping away to focus on personal exploration while ensuring a “smooth transition” for the company.

OpenAI has been navigating rapid growth since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, which has catapulted the company into the spotlight. Backed by Microsoft, OpenAI is currently seeking a new funding round that could value the company at over $150 billion, with significant investments anticipated from Thrive Capital and Tiger Global. However, this fast-paced expansion has raised concerns among some employees about the safety and sustainability of the company’s growth.

Altman himself was briefly ousted in November, only to be reinstated days later following a strong outcry from OpenAI employees, nearly all of whom signed an open letter supporting him.

[riley-travels]

August 1- Lotus Pond and Qishan Train Station

Today was a pretty easy day, Sabrina and I went down to breakfast. We both decided to try the hotel’s match latte, which was surprisingly really good. We met up with everybody and headed to the lotus pond. Sadly the dragon and tiger temple was under construction but it was still really cool to walk through, and I got some cool pictures in the area. Also sadly the Confucius Temple that we were supposed to visit was closed which I was looking forward to. Then we got all you can eat lunch which was delicious and very filling. We went to a train station that was pretty far away, but the bus ride was a great time to watch my current show and listen to music. Sabrina and I spent a pretty long time relaxing and then headed out for dinner, which we ended up eating at about 20:00 before walking back across the river and relaxing before bed.

Academic:

The 2022 report's mention of Taiwan highlights significant developments and ongoing challenges in the realm of religious freedom. The Legislative Yuan's enactment of a law allowing qualified religious groups to register real estate assets under the name of their religious foundation, rather than individuals, addresses long-standing conflicts related to property disputes and inheritance issues. This move exemplifies Taiwan's commitment to ensuring religious organizations operate within a clear legal framework, thereby reducing conflicts and promoting stability. However, the exclusion of domestic service workers and caretakers from the Labor Standards Law remains a critical issue, as it limits their ability to attend religious services. This exclusion predominantly affects foreign caregivers and household workers from Indonesia and the Philippines, hindering their religious practice. The Ministry of Labor and other authorities have taken steps to address this by expanding respite care services and educating employers on the importance of allowing these workers a weekly rest day. Despite these efforts, religious leaders continue to urge more significant action to ensure these workers' rights are fully respected.

Taiwan's Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom's participation in international conferences underscores the nation's role as a model for religious tolerance and freedom. Taiwan's diverse religious landscape, where various beliefs coexist peacefully, is highlighted as a potential model for the Indo-Pacific region. However, the ambassador's statement that political motives within religious beliefs advocating for unification with China could threaten Taiwan's sovereignty reflects the complex interplay between religion and national security. Taiwan's approach to religious freedom demonstrates both progress and areas needing improvement. However, ongoing challenges such as the need for better protections for domestic workers and more flexible immigration policies for religious workers indicate that further efforts are necessary to fully realize the ideals of religious freedom.

[cyallowitz]

Happy International Tiger Day

I love tigers.  Even did a big post about them on February 6, 2022.  Missed stuff about the rare Golden Tiger, which there are only 30 of in the world.  I’ll add a video about them if I can find one.  For now, enjoy the memes and the day.

[brookston]

Holidays 7.29

Holidays

Air Force Service Day (Indonesia)

Armed Forces Day (Peru)

Americans For Prosperity National Day of Action

Army Chaplin Corps Day

Bonalu (Telangana, India)

Buckinghamshire Day (UK)

Chincoteague Pony Round Up (Chincoteague & Assateague Islands, Virginia)

Constitution Day (Moldova)

Don’t Be A Dick Day

Emancipation Day (Bermuda)

Eunomia Asteroid Day

Festival of the Polymorphously Perverse

Fiery Night Festival (Elder Scrolls)

Four Tops Day (Michigan)

International Butler Day

International Tiger Day (UN)

Life Stories Day (UK)

Manchester Day (UK)

Mary Prince Day (Bermuda; 2nd Day of Cup Match)

Mohun Bagan Day (India)

NASA Day

National Anthem Day (Romania)

National Challenged Champions and Heroes Awareness Day

National Harold Day

National Lipstick Day

National Thai Language Day

Odesza Day (Washington)

Ólavsøkudagur (a.k.a. Ólavsøka; Faroe Islands)

Oslok (a.k.a. St. Olaf's Day; Norway)

Pardon of the Birds Day (Quimperle, Brittany, France)

Photograph Your Children When They’re Not Looking Day

Prescribed Harm Awareness Day

Rain Day (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania)

Special Operations Forces Day (Ukraine)

SSGN 729 Day

Switchgrass Day (French Republic)

World Oral Rehydration Salts Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day

Chicken Wings Day (Buffalo, NY)

Gnocchi Day (Argentina)

National Chicken Wing Day

National Lasagna Day

Independence & Related Days

Peru (from Spain, 1821) [observed]

Territory Day (Wallis and Fortuna)

Wendatia (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

New Year’s Days

Egyptian New Year Feast Day of Wedjet of Buto (Fire-Spitting Cobra Goddess; Ancient Egypt)

5th & Last Monday in July

Carnival Monday (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba) [Last Monday]

Festivals Beginning July 29, 2024

Douglas County Fair (Lawrence, Kansas) [thru 8.3]

Festival of Santa Marta de Ribarteme (Neves, Spain)

Flamingo Republic (Novalja, Croatia) [thru 8.1]

Feast Days

Birthday of Set (Ancient Egypt)

The Bookworms (Muppetism)

Brigham Young Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Cnoc Aine (Celtic Book of Days)

Dave Stevens Day (Artology; Humanism)

Eastman Johnson (Artology)

Feast of Cherries (Medieval Hamburg, Germany)

Feast of Martha the Dragon-Slayer

Felix II (Christian; Saint)

Francesco Mochi (Artology)

Jenny Holzer (Artology)

International Beer Day (Pastafarian) [also 8.7]

Ivan Aivazovsky (Artology)

Lazarus of Bethany (Christian; Saint)

Lupus of Troyes (Christian; Saint)

Martha of Bethany (Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran Church) [Innkeepers]

Mary of Bethany (Christian; Saint)

Olaus, King of Sweden (Christian; Saint)

Olaf II, King of Norway (Christian; Martyr)

Olsok (a.k.a. ... 

St. Olaf’s Day (Norway)

The Day of the Wheat (Everyone Dresses as Sandwiches; Golden Girls)

Everybody Hide the Corn Day

Hay Day

Day of the Princess Pig

Raphael (Positivist; Saint)

Simplicius, Faustinus and Beatrix (Christian; Sibling Martyrs)

Stanley Kunitz (Writerism)

Stikklestad (Honoring Asatru Martyrs)

Susanoo’s Day (Pagan)

Tarasque (Fire-Breathing Dragon Festival; Ancient Tarascon, France)

Thor’s Day (Norse)

William of Brittany (Christian; Saint)

William Pinchon (Christian; Saint)

Ximena Armas (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, by J.R.R. Tolkien (Poetry; 1962)

Another Country, by James Baldwin (Novel; 1962)

Aristocrats (Documentary Film; 2005)

Attack the Block (Film; 2011)

(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes, by Elvis Costello (Song; 1977)

Bad Moms (Film; 2016)

Barcelona (Film; 1994)

Bosko’s Mechanical Man (WB LT Cartoon; 1933)

Cocktail (Film; 1988)

Compressed Hare (WB MM Cartoon; 1961)

Cowboys & Aliens (Film; 2011)

DC League of Super-Pets (Animated Film; 2022)

Eliza Runs Again (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1938)

Enter Sandman, by Metallica (Song; 1991)

The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien (Novel; 1954) [Book 1 of The Lord of the Rings trilogy]

The Fox Hunt (Disney Cartoon; 1938)

Help! (Film; 1965)

Jason Bourne (Film; 2016)

Kiki’s Delivery Service (Studio Ghibli Animated Film; 1989)

Krull (Film; 1983)

Little Red Riding Hood (Ub Iwerks Disney Cartoon; 1922) [1st Disney Short]

Lt. Robinson Crusoe USN (Film; 1966)

The Mask (Film; 1994)

Must Love Dogs (Film; 2005)

National Lampoon’s Vacation (Film; 1983)

The Negotiator (Film; 1998)

Old King Cole (Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1933)

Private School (Film; 1983)

Renaissance, by Beyoncé (Album; 2022)

The Shindig (Disney Cartoon; 1930)

The Smurfs (Animated Film; 2011)

Snowman’s Land (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

Stardust (Film; 2007)

The Trumpet Artistry of Chet Baker, by Chet Baker (Album; 1954)

Whenever I Call You Friend, by Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks (Song; 1978)

Women, by Charles Bukowski (Novel; 1978)

You Try Somebody Else (Betty Boop Cartoon; 1932)

Today’s Name Days

Landislaus, Martha, Lucilla, Olaf (Austria)

Kalin (Bulgaria)

Flora, Lazar, Marta, Urban, Vilim (Croatia)

Marta (Czech Republic)

Oluf (Denmark)

Olaf, Olav, Olavi, Olev (Estonia)

Olavi, Olli, Oula, Uolevi, Uoti (Finland)

Beatrix, Loup, Marthe (France)

Olaf (Germany)

Kallinikos (Greece)

Flóra, Márta (Hungary)

Marta (Italy)

Dzilis, Edmunds, Edzus, Vidmants (Latvia)

Beatričė, Mantvydas, Mantvydė, Morta (Lithuania)

Ola, Olav, Ole (Norway)

Beatrice, Beatrycze, Beatryks, Cierpisław, Faustyn, Konstantyn, Lucylla, Maria, Marta, Olaf, Serafina, Urban (Poland)

Alevtina, Valentina (Russia)

Marta (Slovakia)

Beatriz, Marta (Spain)

Olof (Sweden)

Seraphim, Seraphina (Ukraine)

Bea, Beatrice, Beatriz, Beattie, Marta, Martha, Olaf, Olav, Serafina, Trixie (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 211 of 2024; 155 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of Week 31 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 24 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 24 (Jia-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 23 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 22 Muharram 1446

J Cal: 1 Purple; Oneday [1 of 30]

Julian: 16 July 2024

Moon: 34%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 14 Dante (8th Month) [Raphael]

Runic Half Month: Thorn (Defense) [Day 6 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 40 of 94)

Week: Last Week of July

Zodiac: Leo (Day 8 of 31)

Calendar Changes

Purple (Month 8 of 12; J Calendar)

[heywoodsays]

Documentary Feature: An International Affair

The nominees are:

Bobi Wine: The People’s President

The Eternal Memory

Four Daughters

To Kill a Tiger

20 Days in Mariupol

The Documentary Feature category often has strong international representation — 42% of the nominees from the last 10 Oscars have been foreign language docs. But this year is unique in that the entire cohort are all international. It’s even more surprising that some of these films made it when domestic favorites like American Symphony and Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie didn’t make the cut. (American Symphony won at the PGAs and Still was the pick of the National Board of Review.)

To Kill a Tiger is one of the few nominated films this year I haven’t seen, so I can’t offer any commentary on it, other than it was a hit at TIFF in 2022. The remaining nominees all feature political oppression as a significant theme, though they tackle it in vastly different ways.

Uganda’s Bobi Wine: The People’s President recounts the inspiring story of the musician turned opposition politician as he stands up against his nation’s de facto dictator. Chile’s The Eternal Memory is a moving story about the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on a couple, one of whom is determined to preserve his legacy of holding the Pinochet regime to account.

The overwhelming favorite to win is Ukraine’s 20 Days in Mariupol, one of the year’s most powerful films. While not particularly groundbreaking as a documentary, the work is harrowing beyond measure. Viewers can feel some distance when observing fictional accounts of the atrocities of war, but it’s hard to escape the evil when you know it is reality. That’s what 20 Days does so well. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s an important one.

Contrastingly, Tunisia’s Four Daughters takes a unique approach to storytelling and has the potential to be a monument in the documentary film canon. The film was the darling of Cannes where it won three awards and was nominated for the Palme d’Or. But its account of two teenage girls radicalized by ISIS may not be as timely for American viewers as the ongoing atrocities in Ukraine.

After last year’s win for Navalny, this will be the second straight year the winning documentary has tackled Putin’s regime.

Who will win: 20 Days in Mariupol

But look out for: Four Daughters

Who I’d vote for: 20 Days in Mariupol

If I could add one more: Still: A Michael J .Fox Movie

◄ Previous: Animated Feature | Next: Live Action Short ►

2024 OSCAR PICKS | FEATURES AND SHORTS: International Feature | Animated Feature | Documentary Feature | Live Action Short | Animated Short | Documentary Short | TRADE CRAFTS: Cinematography | Film Editing | Production Design | Costume Design | Makeup and Hairstyling | Sound | Visual Effects | Original Score | Original Song | TOP CATEGORIES: Original Screenplay | Adapted Screenplay | Supporting Actor | Supporting Actress | Actor | Actress | Director | Picture | TOP 10 FILMS OF 2023

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 7.29

Holidays

Air Force Service Day (Indonesia)

Armed Forces Day (Peru)

Americans For Prosperity National Day of Action

Army Chaplin Corps Day

Bonalu (Telangana, India)

Buckinghamshire Day (UK)

Chincoteague Pony Round Up (Chincoteague & Assateague Islands, Virginia)

Constitution Day (Moldova)

Don’t Be A Dick Day

Emancipation Day (Bermuda)

Eunomia Asteroid Day

Festival of the Polymorphously Perverse

Fiery Night Festival (Elder Scrolls)

Four Tops Day (Michigan)

International Butler Day

International Tiger Day (UN)

Life Stories Day (UK)

Manchester Day (UK)

Mary Prince Day (Bermuda; 2nd Day of Cup Match)

Mohun Bagan Day (India)

NASA Day

National Anthem Day (Romania)

National Challenged Champions and Heroes Awareness Day

National Harold Day

National Lipstick Day

National Thai Language Day

Odesza Day (Washington)

Ólavsøkudagur (a.k.a. Ólavsøka; Faroe Islands)

Oslok (a.k.a. St. Olaf's Day; Norway)

Pardon of the Birds Day (Quimperle, Brittany, France)

Photograph Your Children When They’re Not Looking Day

Prescribed Harm Awareness Day

Rain Day (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania)

Special Operations Forces Day (Ukraine)

SSGN 729 Day

Switchgrass Day (French Republic)

World Oral Rehydration Salts Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day

Chicken Wings Day (Buffalo, NY)

Gnocchi Day (Argentina)

National Chicken Wing Day

National Lasagna Day

Independence & Related Days

Peru (from Spain, 1821) [observed]

Territory Day (Wallis and Fortuna)

Wendatia (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

New Year’s Days

Egyptian New Year Feast Day of Wedjet of Buto (Fire-Spitting Cobra Goddess; Ancient Egypt)

5th & Last Monday in July

Carnival Monday (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba) [Last Monday]

Festivals Beginning July 29, 2024

Douglas County Fair (Lawrence, Kansas) [thru 8.3]

Festival of Santa Marta de Ribarteme (Neves, Spain)

Flamingo Republic (Novalja, Croatia) [thru 8.1]

Feast Days

Birthday of Set (Ancient Egypt)

The Bookworms (Muppetism)

Brigham Young Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Cnoc Aine (Celtic Book of Days)

Dave Stevens Day (Artology; Humanism)

Eastman Johnson (Artology)

Feast of Cherries (Medieval Hamburg, Germany)

Feast of Martha the Dragon-Slayer

Felix II (Christian; Saint)

Francesco Mochi (Artology)

Jenny Holzer (Artology)

International Beer Day (Pastafarian) [also 8.7]

Ivan Aivazovsky (Artology)

Lazarus of Bethany (Christian; Saint)

Lupus of Troyes (Christian; Saint)

Martha of Bethany (Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran Church) [Innkeepers]

Mary of Bethany (Christian; Saint)

Olaus, King of Sweden (Christian; Saint)

Olaf II, King of Norway (Christian; Martyr)

Olsok (a.k.a. ... 

St. Olaf’s Day (Norway)

The Day of the Wheat (Everyone Dresses as Sandwiches; Golden Girls)

Everybody Hide the Corn Day

Hay Day

Day of the Princess Pig

Raphael (Positivist; Saint)

Simplicius, Faustinus and Beatrix (Christian; Sibling Martyrs)

Stanley Kunitz (Writerism)

Stikklestad (Honoring Asatru Martyrs)

Susanoo’s Day (Pagan)

Tarasque (Fire-Breathing Dragon Festival; Ancient Tarascon, France)

Thor’s Day (Norse)

William of Brittany (Christian; Saint)

William Pinchon (Christian; Saint)

Ximena Armas (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, by J.R.R. Tolkien (Poetry; 1962)

Another Country, by James Baldwin (Novel; 1962)

Aristocrats (Documentary Film; 2005)

Attack the Block (Film; 2011)

(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes, by Elvis Costello (Song; 1977)

Bad Moms (Film; 2016)

Barcelona (Film; 1994)

Bosko’s Mechanical Man (WB LT Cartoon; 1933)

Cocktail (Film; 1988)

Compressed Hare (WB MM Cartoon; 1961)

Cowboys & Aliens (Film; 2011)

DC League of Super-Pets (Animated Film; 2022)

Eliza Runs Again (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1938)

Enter Sandman, by Metallica (Song; 1991)

The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien (Novel; 1954) [Book 1 of The Lord of the Rings trilogy]

The Fox Hunt (Disney Cartoon; 1938)

Help! (Film; 1965)

Jason Bourne (Film; 2016)

Kiki’s Delivery Service (Studio Ghibli Animated Film; 1989)

Krull (Film; 1983)

Little Red Riding Hood (Ub Iwerks Disney Cartoon; 1922) [1st Disney Short]

Lt. Robinson Crusoe USN (Film; 1966)

The Mask (Film; 1994)

Must Love Dogs (Film; 2005)

National Lampoon’s Vacation (Film; 1983)

The Negotiator (Film; 1998)

Old King Cole (Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1933)

Private School (Film; 1983)

Renaissance, by Beyoncé (Album; 2022)

The Shindig (Disney Cartoon; 1930)

The Smurfs (Animated Film; 2011)

Snowman’s Land (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

Stardust (Film; 2007)

The Trumpet Artistry of Chet Baker, by Chet Baker (Album; 1954)

Whenever I Call You Friend, by Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks (Song; 1978)

Women, by Charles Bukowski (Novel; 1978)

You Try Somebody Else (Betty Boop Cartoon; 1932)

Today’s Name Days

Landislaus, Martha, Lucilla, Olaf (Austria)

Kalin (Bulgaria)

Flora, Lazar, Marta, Urban, Vilim (Croatia)

Marta (Czech Republic)

Oluf (Denmark)

Olaf, Olav, Olavi, Olev (Estonia)

Olavi, Olli, Oula, Uolevi, Uoti (Finland)

Beatrix, Loup, Marthe (France)

Olaf (Germany)

Kallinikos (Greece)

Flóra, Márta (Hungary)

Marta (Italy)

Dzilis, Edmunds, Edzus, Vidmants (Latvia)

Beatričė, Mantvydas, Mantvydė, Morta (Lithuania)

Ola, Olav, Ole (Norway)

Beatrice, Beatrycze, Beatryks, Cierpisław, Faustyn, Konstantyn, Lucylla, Maria, Marta, Olaf, Serafina, Urban (Poland)

Alevtina, Valentina (Russia)

Marta (Slovakia)

Beatriz, Marta (Spain)

Olof (Sweden)

Seraphim, Seraphina (Ukraine)

Bea, Beatrice, Beatriz, Beattie, Marta, Martha, Olaf, Olav, Serafina, Trixie (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 211 of 2024; 155 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of Week 31 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 24 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 24 (Jia-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 23 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 22 Muharram 1446

J Cal: 1 Purple; Oneday [1 of 30]

Julian: 16 July 2024

Moon: 34%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 14 Dante (8th Month) [Raphael]

Runic Half Month: Thorn (Defense) [Day 6 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 40 of 94)

Week: Last Week of July

Zodiac: Leo (Day 8 of 31)

Calendar Changes

Purple (Month 8 of 12; J Calendar)

[twf2020]

Big cats in the city? The leopards of Mumbai

When one thinks of Mumbai, or Bombay as it is popularly still remembered as, we think of a metropolis, we think of a concrete jungle by the sea. Known as the financial capital of India, Mumbai stands as one of the fastest developing cities. The tall skyscrapers and the glamor of Bollywood brings in a wave of migrants every year, with housing in Mumbai becoming a bigger nuisance as each day passes. Mumbai currently stands as one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with 25,000 people per square km. Amongst the hustle-bustle, one almost might feel disconnected from nature and wildlife. Despite this, another conservation miracle is unfolding and that is the story of Mumbai’s leopards.

The Leopards of Mumbai

When considering all this, it becomes hard to imagine that Mumbai could be home to a plethora of flora and fauna, let alone a big cat like the leopard. But that is the case, with Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park, an urban national park nestled right in the heart of the city, hosting as many as 35 leopards, with many undocumented leopards moving through wildlife corridors.

Credits: Steve Winter

Examining human-leopard interactions

Looking at leopards, they are classified as ‘vulnerable’ in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list. Exact population statistics have been hard to calculate, given the animal’s widespread range of over 70 countries. Over the past century, India has seen a severe fall of nearly 75–90% in leopard population, driven directly or indirectly by human interference. Despite all these factors, leopards have been able to adapt to new situations fairly well. A 2022 study suggests that there is a high leopard density (22���26 leopards per 100 sq.km) on the fringes of Sanjay Gandhi National Park despite very heavy human presence (over 20,000 people per sq.km).

A 2021 joint report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) puts India near the top on the list of countries most affected by human-animal conflict. The major and most obvious factors behind this is India being the most populated country in the world, and still boasting a very healthy population of tigers, leopards, lions, elephants, one horned rhino among other species (Gross et al, 2021).

When looking at Maharashtra, as many as 54 people in 2017 to 88 people in 2020 were victims of human-animal conflict. Tigers and leopards were responsible for the majority of these incidents. Much of these incidents highlight the increasing spatial overlap between human and animal territories, driven mainly by urbanization and industrial development. Large cats require bigger prey populations and more area to roam, which causes them to roam into human territories, further adding to the problem.

Competing Territories

The impact of urban encroachment on available wildlife habitat and even leopard behaviour has been profound. In Mumbai, encroachment currently stands as one of the biggest threats to the park, as not only is there a decrease in available land but, such settlements restrict the spaces that act as animal movement corridors. Severe habitat fragmentation of leopards as well as their prey in addition to the changing lifestyle and daily practices of the slum dwellers encroaching SGNP further exacerbates the problem. With heavy human movement comes domesticated animals like dogs, as well as large amounts of garbage.

The leopard, being an extremely adaptive feline, has quickly adjusted to disruptions to its movement and prey availability by shifting to easier prey in the form of animals that flock at open garbage sites. With a mixed diet of both what’s readily available in the park, like spotted deer, they also find their way onto the streets of the city, where they can find more supplements to their diet in the form of pigs, chickens, goats, rats and all the other such animals that tend to go hand-in-hand with human settlements.

Tensions at Aarey Milk Colony

Because of extreme overlap in territories, combined with the leopard’s adaptability to Mumbai’s landscape, sightings of leopards in Aarey Milk Colony are very common. The Aarey Milk Colony borders the southern wall of the national park, allowing for free and unrestricted movement of wildlife to-and-from.

Aarey Milk Colony initially came into being in 1949, when 1300 hectares of land from the Aarey forest was allocated to Mumbai’s Dairy Development Board to find a solution to Mumbai’s expensive and poor quality milk. As a result, all of the city’s cattle was systematically shifted to the colony. Present day, there are over 16,000 cattle being reared in the 32 cattle farms of Aarey Milk Colony.

It is estimated that at any time, there exist 5–6 leopards within Aarey Milk Colony. With increasing leopard and human population, incidents of conflicts are rising. There have been 9 cases that have been reported between the months of August and October 2021 alone. With 2 of the attacks having been on children, tension amongst the locals has increased, who currently demand either the relocation, or monitoring of all leopards in Aarey at all times.

What lies ahead for Mumbai’s leopards?

Conventional methods used in conservation management have proven to be ineffective in dealing with Mumbai’s leopard situation. The first strategy employed in the case of a leopard sighting is to set up a baited trap and when the animal is captured, to relocate it to another site or to place it in a zoo. Continuous release of leoaprds to the same few sites has led to conflict at release sites as well. Furthermore, responding to ‘foreign’ places, the leopards have a homing instinct which causes them to try and walk back to their original territory. This has also caused conflict in locations near the release site.

The case of Mumbai has proved that traditional conservation strategies will not prove to be effective. In such a case, environmentalists and conservations alike all preach the same message — one of peaceful coexistence and sustainable development. The residents of Mumbai must become aware about the cat and its behavior. Unnecessary panic over a mere sighting will only cause greater risk to both, the animal and the humans. For people living around the forest, it is suggested they not roam around in the dark alone and without a flashlight.

Leopards are shy creatures, and noises from a group or a light from the flashlight deters it from crossing paths with humans. Most importantly, cornering a leopard with a crowd is one of the worst ideas there is, yet something so many urban communities resort to. This only aggravates an animal that’s merely trying to escape.

We at Think Wildlife Foundation recently launched our Livelihoods for Conservation project to provide alternative, sustainable livelihoods to the communities living with wildlife. This is with the aim to incentivize conservation while uplifting these communities economically. You can purchase merchandise from these communities here!

Written by: Udit Murarka

Originally published at https://thinkwildlifefoundation.com on August 9, 2023.

[turpentinecreek]

May 30, 2022 - Happy 7th Birthday Aurora Tiger!

Today we celebrate the 7th birthday of one of our white tigers, Aurora! She lives in the Discovery Area with her habitat mate Lakota. Aurora enjoys spending her day swimming, sunbathing, or stalking staff and visitors. Happy Birthday Aurora!

Originally sharing a habitat with Khaleesi, Joey, and Lakota, Aurora tended to be the biggest diva of the four - often seen taking control of the benches and gently nipping at her roommates. Eventually, this behavior led us to separate her from the other girls, who now still shares her habitat with Lakota. When she is not sunbathing or swimming, Aurora enjoys spending her days chasing staff vehicles and stalking visitors. Aurora is known to be very active and playful with her toys, including dragging them into her pool during the summer months! She will most likely be caught stalking or playing chase with her keepers and guests.

Species: Tiger (Panthera tigris)

DOB: May 30, 2015

Sex: Female

Arrival Date: September 30, 2016

Rescue Story: In 2016, the owner of a Colorado-based cub petting and breeding operation was diagnosed with cancer, and could no longer run his profitable business. Turpentine Creek acquired the 12-acre closed-down exhibition facility to enable our rescue of the 115 animals onsite. There, we found big cats suffering in cramped cages with flimsy plywood dens that were dangerously exposed to public areas. Onsite records showed very little history of veterinary care but revealed that the owner had ties to Joe Exotic, and was breeding his big cats to supply other entities within the cub petting and entertainment industries.

TCWR staff and interns spent six months both on-site caring for the animals and in the relocation of every animal to accredited sanctuaries throughout the nation. After 6 months and many miles traveled, all animals were placed in forever homes for a second chance at life and 34 of those animals came to Turpentine Creek. Aurora is one of those 34 animals.

Learn more about Turpentine Wildlife Refuge at https://www.turpentinecreek.org/

Find us on the following Social Media Channels & Pages

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurpentineCreekWildlifeRefuge

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turpentinecreek/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/turpentine-creek-wildlife-refuge/

[enterprisewired]

OpenAI Considers Restructuring Amid Executive Departures

OpenAI is reportedly exploring plans to restructure into a for-profit business, while keeping its non-profit arm separate, according to an anonymous source familiar with ongoing discussions. This shift could simplify investment processes and offer employees more straightforward liquidity options.

The news follows a series of high-profile departures, including Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, who announced her exit after six and a half years. CEO Sam Altman later confirmed the departure of Research Chief Bob McGrew and Research Vice President Barret Zoph, marking a wave of leadership changes within the company.

Murati explained in a memo, which she also shared on social media platform X, that she was stepping down to “create the time and space” for personal exploration, ensuring a smooth leadership transition. Altman noted that McGrew and Zoph’s decisions to leave were independent, but the timing allowed for a collective handover to the next generation of leadership.

These executive exits are part of a larger pattern. OpenAI considers restructuring as the company has seen notable talent departures following the significant traction gained after the 2022 release of ChatGPT. Earlier this year, co-founder Ilya Sutskever and former safety leader Jan Leike left, and co-founder John Schulman departed last month for rival AI company Anthropic.

OpenAI’s Financial Landscape

Despite these changes, OpenAI’s financial standing remains strong. The company, valued at over $150 billion, is pursuing a funding round led by Thrive Capital, which plans to invest $1 billion. Tiger Global, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Apple are reportedly also in talks to invest.

Murati previously made headlines when she briefly served as interim CEO in November 2023 after Altman’s controversial ousting by the board, which accused him of inconsistent communication. Almost all OpenAI employees threatened to leave in protest, leading to Altman’s return days later and the removal of several board members, including Sutskever.

OpenAI Considers Restructuring Amid Challenges of Rapid Growth

Amid its meteoric rise, OpenAI has faced internal concerns about the safety of its rapid growth. Murati, during a WSJ Tech Live conference in June, sparked debate by suggesting that AI could displace some creative jobs, though she also emphasized AI’s potential to enhance human intelligence and creativity.

As OpenAI considers restructuring, the company is navigating the challenges of scaling responsibly while retaining top talent, positioning itself at the forefront of the artificial intelligence industry.