To The Place I Was BeforeMaui Burns, The House Wins, The Scotus with the MostestEvery summer we read about mass wildfires that cause extreme destruction somewhere. To the locals, it's often the tragedy of a lifetime. To others, it's the destruction of a place they've never seen. But this week, as a hurricane-fueled fire swept across Maui, millions of people around the country and the world are witnessing the loss of a place they've visited, a tree in front of which they've taken family photos, and a place they thought of as paradise, lost. "Deadly wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui have torched thousands of acres, destroyed hundreds of structures and sent scores of residents and visitors fleeing. The death toll climbed from six to 36 on Wednesday evening." 2Pocket Rocket"If you’re one of the (many, many) fans who find it irritating to now get much of your sports news filtered through the lens of what it means for bettors, the situation can only get worse as ESPN gets more centrally involved in gaming. Or maybe it’ll just turn you into a gambler against your better judgment, precisely as intended." Sports Betting Won. I'm covering this story a lot because I think it will have a huge societal impact, especially among young men. We're talking about a generation already addicted to their phones who are now carrying a casino in their pockets, while constantly being marketed to about the joys of laying a bet. From yesterday, The Mouse Always Wins. 3The Scotus with the Mostest"At least 38 destination vacations, including a previously unreported voyage on a yacht around the Bahamas; 26 private jet flights, plus an additional eight by helicopter; a dozen VIP passes to professional and college sporting events, typically perched in the skybox; two stays at luxury resorts in Florida and Jamaica; and one standing invitation to an uber-exclusive golf club overlooking the Atlantic coast." ProPublica on Clarence Thomas’ 38 Vacations and more. The ongoing story about all the stuff people offer to Thomas is the gift that keeps on giving. And he keeps on accepting. 4A Sobering Tale"Bartenders don’t see too many teenagers flashing fake IDs at establishments with a $14,500 bottle of wine on the menu, so Mr. Weintraub stood out. Again and again, staff members refused his increasingly aggressive attempts to buy a drink, the lawsuit said, until finally, in 2021, the hotel banned him entirely. What happened next was at first annoying and then disruptive and eventually led to a series of events so bizarre and disturbing that the hotel, The Mark on East 77th Street on the Upper East Side, sued Mr. Weintraub, now 19, for defamation." Things often get weird when underage people try to buy up. But not this weird. NYT (Gift Article): A Wealthy Teenager, a 5-Star Hotel and a Bizarre Defamation Fight. No, really weird. "The celebrity (Drake), who is Jewish, later complained to hotel management that he was disturbed to hear someone screaming about Holocaust denial as he tried to come and go from the hotel." There’s a new shirt in the NextDraft store. It’s about time people new the truth! 5Extra, ExtraWhen Words Turn to Sticks and Stones: "The complaint includes numerous social media posts believed to have been made by Robertson threatening to kill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as several officials involved in prosecuting former President Donald Trump." Man killed during FBI raid in connection with threats against Biden, other officials. 6Bottom of the News"Loud and flashy peafowl have taken over a suburb of Miami. But with the birds’ population growing, residents have been looking for a way to humanely keep their numbers in check. Now, the town is pursuing a clever solution: It has hired a veterinarian to perform peacock vasectomies." Get a copy of my 📕, Please Scream Inside Your Heart, or grab a 👕 in the Store. |