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IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ

Davos: Coachella For CEO’s Every year the world’s supposed “movers and shakers” gather together in a Swiss Alpine resort to caress themselves and bask in the glow of their own importance (and take a lot of selfies). This year saw the usual self-congratulatory rhetoric as well as a few other highlights:

• Technology: This year’s conference focused on the “fourth industrial revolution” (cue the use of this new buzz term everywhere) focusing on artificial intelligence, 3D printers, internet of things etc. The conference even had its own “humanoid” attendee called HUBO. Separately, Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook encouraged users to “like-attack” pro-ISIS pages on Facebook (because, fairytales).  
• Brexit: Britain’s referendum on EU membership (aka the EU’s unnecessary crisis) caused headaches in Davos with executives warning of the risks of a “no” vote and David Cameron trying to reassure them that Britain would stay in the Union. Goldman Sachs, always popular with voters, donated money to campaign for a “yes to EU membership” vote.  
• Blockchain: Discussions over the future of the finance industry revolved around blockchain, a new buzzword that most people at Davos don’t understand. Even the IMF got involved publishing its own white paper on digital currencies (probably means those currencies will crash).
• Europe: George Soros, a voice for optimism, warned that “Europe is on the verge of collapse,” over its refugee crisis and the Dutch PM gave Europe “six to eight weeks” to fix it (presumably he won’t be much help). Meanwhile, Davos delegates, in an attempt to learn empathy, could experience life as a refugee by attending an interactive workshop. 

NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ

Brits To Putin: Sorry Old Chap…You’re A MurdererA British inquiry found that Vladimir Putin “probably” approved the poisoning of ex-FSB (KGB 2.0) spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006. Litvinenko fled to the UK in 2000 and worked as a “consultant” to MI6, implicating high-level Russian officials in organized crime. He was murdered when highly radioactive polonium-210 was put in his tea and died in front of the world’s media. One of the alleged killers is now…wait for it…a member of  the Russian parliament. This follows the murder of another dissident in London with an umbrella.

GOOD READ: Why Was Litvinenko a Marked Man?

US To Do Something About Those Pesky North Korean NukesThe Pentagon reckoned it should start taking North Korea’s occasional nuclear tests seriously and began talks at establishing a permanent missile defense base in Hawaii. China wasn’t too thrilled at the announcement saying it would be “counter-productive.” Considering that China is North Korea’s biggest ally it could solve this issue by telling North Korea to give up its nukes.

#pnut4prez: No One Hates Ted Cruz Like Republicans…Republican Senators warned of an open rebellion and “cataclysmic losses” in the general election if Ted Cruz won the republican nomination. Senator Bob Dole called Cruz an “extremist” and questioned his allegiance to the Republican party. Cruz, a Senator for Texas, repeatedly attacks other Senators from his own party for doing terrible things like compromising with Democrats to govern the country. 

Keeping Our Eye On…
 

• Justice: Oklahoma Policeman Holtzclaw was sentenced to 263 years in prison (the US is 240 years old) for using his position as a policeman to rape and abuse several women. Holtzclaw would prey on women with criminal backgrounds so they wouldn’t report him. A**hole.   
• Bickering: US Secretary of State John Kerry said the fight with Bibi Netanyahu over the Iran Nuclear Deal was now “over” after the two met in Davos this week. We assume they also took a selfie together.  
• War: The US Senate is thinking about authorizing the use of military force against ISIS. The proposed bill comes 14 months after the US began fighting ISIS… better late than never?

LOOSE NUTS: FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

Is It A Bird, Is It A Plane….No It’s A Bullet! Amazon is gearing up to release its new drone delivery system. Key challenges: FAA, no problem (register your drone here), trees, no problem (drones can dip, dodge, dive and duck) but guns are a bigger issue. The Amazon drones won’t be able to prevent your neighbor from shooting it down as it can’t dodge bullets yet (no flying over Texas then). Gun lobby vs. Amazon Prime… 

Weekend Reads:A massive snowstorm is headed for the East Coast of the US (Washington DC, NYC, Boston) so here are a few things to read instead of watching reporters try to act cool by braving the storm:

• George Soros on Trump recruiting for ISIS and the EU on the verge of collapse. 
• Trump’s 19th century foreign policy.
• Rebranding the billionaire Koch brothers.
• How Trump defeats Hillary Clinton.
• Russia’s last dissident?
• The 100 best documentaries to watch free online.
• Meet the woman shaping Iran’s oil industry.
• Using the Pope to scam a TV producer.
• Why Planet Nine will help us with interstellar travel.
• The best way to prepare for the oncoming east coast snow apocalypse.
• “In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin” By Erik Larson. 

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