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Good morning, it's Saturday, June 20, and we're exploring the origins of an annual dragon boat racing competition dating back over 2,000 years.
Also in today's Digest: a Sam Altman biopic needs a new home (Quick Hits), readers remember their fathers (Humankind(ness)), the secret to Wordle wizardry (Etc.), and much more.
One Big Headline
Dragon Boats Return
Communities across China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival yesterday as competing teams paddled colorful, long dragon-shaped boats through rivers and harbors before crowds of spectators. See photos here.
The holiday dates back more than 2,000 years; it's traditionally linked to a poet and government official named Qu Yuan, who, according to legend, drowned himself in China's Miluo River after his kingdom of Chu fell to the rival state of Qin. Villagers raced out in boats to search for him and tossed rice into the river to protect his body from fish, inspiring today's races and the festival food zongzi, a sticky rice dumpling wrapped in leaves.
Dragon boats can stretch more than 40 feet long and require crews of up to 20 people paddling in sync to the beat of a drum. The dragon symbolizes power and good fortune in Chinese culture. Watch how the boats are built here.
In partnership with Pendulum
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Quick Hits
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon delays US-Iran talks.
Israel and Hezbollah have reportedly reached a ceasefire agreement after deadly clashes led the US and Iranian officials to postpone talks in Switzerland yesterday. A peace deal signed by the US and Iran earlier this week is contingent on an end to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon (see previous write-up). As of this writing, it is unclear whether the US and Iran will reschedule the talks. (More)
UK special election could challenge Starmer's leadership.
Andy Burnham won a parliamentary seat yesterday, positioning the former mayor of Greater Manchester as a potential challenger to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Roughly 52% of Britons say Starmer should step down, and Burnham is the preferred replacement, per recent polling. In Britain, the governing party can replace its leader with another member of parliament without holding a general election. (More)
US wins its second World Cup match against Australia.
The win guarantees the US Men's National team a top-two finish in their four-team World Cup group and a spot in the Round of 32. The team’s last group stage match is against Turkey on Thursday at 10 pm ET in California. The Round of 32, which is a single-elimination stage, begins Sunday, June 28, and runs through July 3. (More)
1440 is partnering with Men in Blazers to bring you the most detailed coverage of the world’s biggest tournament this summer. Sign up here to get daily, in-depth updates.
Amazon drops nearly finished Sam Altman biopic after OpenAI deal.
Amazon MGM Studios yesterday confirmed it is abandoning the film project, led by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino and starring "Spider-Man" star Andrew Garfield as the OpenAI CEO. The move comes months after Amazon and OpenAI struck a roughly $50B partnership. The filmmakers are now seeking a new studio. (More)
Greece's ancient Parthenon unveils biggest facelift in 220 years.
The monument's western face looks more complete, thanks to newly installed marble blocks. The milestone is part of a decades-long effort to repair centuries of damage from war, weather, and looting. The Parthenon was built nearly 2,500 years ago atop Athens' Acropolis as a temple to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and drew about 4.6 million visitors last year. (More, w/photos)
Explore an interactive tour of the full Acropolis here.
Summer solstice marks the longest day of the year in the US.
Tomorrow will be the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest in the Southern Hemisphere. The Earth's axis will be tilted such that the sun appears at its highest point in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere (see visual). After Sunday, daylight hours across North America, Europe, and much of Asia and Africa will gradually decrease until late December. (More)
See how people around the globe celebrate the summer solstice here.
Humankind
Argentine soccer fans bike nearly 11,000 miles over nine months to reach the US for the World Cup, where a Kansas City official surprises them with tickets to Argentina’s opening match. (More)
Shuttle driver saves a child and two women from a rip current off a remote coast of Louisiana. (More)
Former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro Aldon Smith spent his final hours delivering pizza to people experiencing homelessness. (More)
Artist paints portraits of the hospital staff who supported him through his battle with brain cancer; he's now cancer-free. (More, w/photos)
In partnership with EnergyX
The Hidden Cost of ChatGPT: A Lithium Crisis
That ChatGPT answer you just got? It ran on electricity. A lot of it. OpenAI's data centers consume more power than some small countries, and every one of them runs rows of lithium-ion batteries. The world isn't producing enough lithium to keep up.
EnergyX is ready to fill the gap. They just announced plans for a second lithium project in the United States, with approximately 2.4M tons of lithium. They’re projecting $600M+ in annual revenue, at full scale.
49k+ people have already invested. Join them as lithium demand is projected to hit 5.5 million tons by 2040. Invest in EnergyX by July 16.*
Humankind(ness)
Dear readers— In honor of Father's Day this month, we're pausing our usual act of kindness stories to share reader submissions about dads. Enjoy!
"When I was old enough to start dating, my dad came home one day with a bouquet of flowers and a card for me. The card simply said, 'There will be many a young man who will bring you flowers. I just wanted to be the first. Love, Dad'."
— Meredith B. in San Diego, California
"I grew up in my father's sculpture studio and began my formal apprenticeship at age 16. He was a great teacher. One day I said, 'You've given me this great life filled with skills and opportunities. How can I ever repay you?' He said simply, 'You can't. But what you CAN do is, when those sparklers come through YOUR studio, YOU teach them.' Many years have passed and I have had that opportunity to share my knowledge and skills with countless students. It is an honor and a privilege to carry on the traditions and preserve his legacy in this way."
— Simone A. in Dover, Massachusetts
"Times were tough for my dad’s shop, Spike’s Duall Auto Upholstery, in 1960. To add to the family’s financial woes, the washing machine broke down. My father, having never worked on a washing machine (this was well before YouTube), took it out to the backyard, tore it apart, figured out the problem, and fixed the machine. His actions inspired me not to shy away from problems, rather to dive in and find solutions."
— Miles in Ventura, California
Humankind(ness) is a reader-built corner of joy. So, what act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. And if these stories made you smile—share our email (copy URL here).
Etcetera
39 chefs recall their dads' most impactful dish.
Inside the Pakistani factory making FIFA soccer balls. (w/video)
Lightsaber used in the “I am your father” Darth Vader scene is up for auction.
When public officials issue a kill order on lanternflies, should you listen? (w/audio)
Australian town crier smashes the record for loudest shout by a man.
Could 1940s math theory make you a Wordle wizard?
Americans read less; here's what they're doing instead.
How to become the most likable person in the room.
Cast and crew remember "Labyrinth"—and David Bowie—40 years later.
The stories hidden within a $100 garage sale haul.
We think they're cute, but do animals think we're cute? (w/video)
Nearly 1 in 4 people can't smell properly. What does it mean for their health?
Every position in soccer, explained. (w/video)
Most Clicked This Week: Chick-fil-A dethroned as America's favorite fast-food chain.
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