A Grim Welcome to 2025

Hello again, conversation starters,

I’ve got a packed lineup today. It covers a broad spectrum—from hard news to pop-culture milestones—but hey, that's what keeps it interesting. So take a minute to skim through and find what sparks you. Maybe it's the ripple effect of a pipeline shutdown or simply what happens when Popeye goes free. Thanks for reading, sharing, and staying connected. Let's dive in.

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Your daily lens on the world starts here:

Welcome to our first edition of the new year—though I wish the headlines were lighter. Just after midnight, a pickup truck rammed into revelers in New Orleans, killing 15 and injuring dozens of people. Police shot and killed the suspect, a U.S. Army veteran from Texas with reported ties to ISIS. Bombs, an ISIS flag, and an attempted act of terror ended what should have been a carefree celebration.

Now, a city famous for its jazz, joy, and resilience is reeling. Federal investigators are treating this incident as a terrorist attack. A fatal explosion of a Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas is also being investigated, but it's unclear whether the two are linked. It's a sobering start to 2025—a reminder that even a fresh calendar can't guarantee smooth sailing. Stay tuned for further updates as details unfold.

Pipeline Showdown

Ukraine just put more pressure on Moscow by halting Russian gas deliveries to Europe, ending a prewar deal that kept Gazprom afloat despite the invasion. Zelenskyy says he won't let millions go to the Kremlin, but critics say Russia might strike Ukraine's pipelines again. Still, thanks to ramped-up alternatives and stockpiles, Europe is not panicking. For countries with Russian gas dependency, like Slovakia, winter shortages loom.

One of Moscow's last direct routes is through Ukraine, as Belarus and the Baltic Sea have already been closed (or sabotaged). That makes Kyiv's move all the more symbolic—and risky. For the Kremlin, losing another revenue stream only exacerbates the financial pain caused by the war. The energy chessboard is shifting fast.

A Room of One's Own

Let's celebrate Public Domain Day—when works from 1929 (and certain artists who died in 1954) can be used without copyright restrictions. So you can play with A Farewell to Arms, A Room of One's Own, or create a Popeye webcomic or Tintin story. The Marx Brothers' old comedic stunts and Matisse's bold colors make for a delicious buffet of creative gold.

But it's not all as easy as "copy and paste.” Various versions and translations remain restricted, and laws vary widely by country. (Sorry, Frida Kahlo's art won't be fair game.) For many of us, January 1 is a sweet refreshment—like finding a trunk full of vintage goodies we can share, sell, or make. Let the mashups begin!

Hawking’s Rebel Tech

For all his genius, Stephen Hawking clung to some surprisingly creaky technology. He rejected cutting-edge advances that could have improved his communication system so that his "Perfect Paul" voice could remain unmistakably his. His old-school text-to-speech algorithm (created in the 1980s) had become part of his identity, delivering his words in the voice he was known for.

Why the refusal? Some say it's comforting; others say it's like an audio fingerprint connecting his imagination with the universe. Hawking proved that even the most brilliant scientists sometimes prefer what's personal over what's new. Black holes and the universe's secrets still bear this defiance's auditory signature.

💡 Core Wisdom

📸 Lens to Life

New Year's celebrations around the world.

🧮 Core Count: 35%

A record low percentage of Americans trust the US judicial system.

🗓️ Flashback:

1492 - Mohammed XII surrenders Granada to Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabel I of Castile, ending the Reconquista and centuries of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula.

1570 - Tsar Ivan the Terrible begins his march to Novgorod.

1905 - The Industrial Union Manifesto, issued by 23 industrial trade unionists in Chicago, Illinois, laid the groundwork for Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).

1942 - During World War II, 28 nations pledged not to make separate peace deals with the Axis powers.

I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Fatih Taskiran