More than five decades of brutal leadership by the Assad family came to an end in a historic blink of an eye. But the fall of Syrian regime in thirteen days was connected to a chain reaction of global events—beginning with the October 7th attack—that rube goldberged their way to a new era in Syria. Even in the Arab world that just weeks ago was welcoming Assad back into the fold, the latest turn of events comes as a shock. No one can be quite sure how things in the newly freed Syria will play out, but for now, Syria's former President Bashar al-Assad is in Moscow with his family after Russia granted them asylum on what a Kremlin source calls ... wait for it ... "humanitarian grounds." What we do know is that the fall of Assad is bad news for Putin and the latest piece of really bad news for Iran. David Leonhardt in the NYT (Gift Article) on Iran’s Very Bad Year. "Most questions about Syria’s future don’t have clear answers. Will the Islamist rebels who have taken over the country create a harsh Taliban-style government? Or do the rebels’ recent hints of moderation point toward something gentler? The situation remains uncertain. But one implication of President Bashar al-Assad’s downfall seems clear: It caps a remarkably bad year for Iran." 2Talking Out of School"While her family slept, Madi had texted a friend that she planned to overdose on her anxiety medication. That information shot to the school’s head counselor, who sent it to the police. When Ms. Cholka and the officer reached Madi, she had already taken about 15 pills. They pulled her out of bed and rushed her to the hospital." The NYT (Gift Article) on surveillance technology that is put on student Chromebooks to altert schools when students mention self hard. Spying on Student Devices, Schools Aim to Intercept Self-Harm Before It Happens. "Millions of American schoolchildren — close to one-half, according to some industry estimates — are now subject to this kind of surveillance, whose details are disclosed to parents in a yearly technology agreement. Most systems flag keywords or phrases, using algorithms or human review to determine which ones are serious. During the day, students may be pulled out of class and screened; outside school hours, if parents cannot be reached by phone, law enforcement officers may visit students’ homes to check on them." 3Healthcare Hitman"Luigi Mangione was picked up in a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after an employee called the cops, multiple law enforcement officials tell CNN. He had multiple fake IDs and a gun with a suppressor, the officials say. He was also in possession of a document railing against the health care industry." Suspect in custody for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing. 4The Bronx Bombshell"Fifteen years, $765 million, no deferred money. The numbers of Juan Soto's contract with the New York Mets, agreed to Sunday night in a deal that sets a new standard for the largest contract in professional sports history, tell a story. A baseball-loving phenom from the Dominican Republic arrived in the big leagues at 19 years old, thrived instantaneously, bet on himself by turning down a $440 million contract offer two years ago and now emerges with a record number of dollars and years -- and reminds the sports world of the endless possibilities when extreme talent meets a free market. It's not the only story, though. This is as much about the Mets as it is Soto -- about a franchise that for its 63-year existence has lived in the shadow of its pedigreed neighbor." How Juan Soto's deal with the Mets transforms baseball. (Juan Soto is now only a few hundred million short of qualifying for a Trump cabinet spot.) 5Extra, ExtraBird Watching: "The national milk supply must be tested for bird flu under a federal order announced Friday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture." (Science-backed health directives... Enjoy them while you can.) 6Bottom of the News"Ellen Oredsson of the blog How to Talk About Art History explains in one post that 'cultural values about male beauty were completely different back then. Today, big penises are seen as valuable and manly, but back then, most evidence points to the fact that small penises were considered better than big ones.'" Why Aren’t Classical Statues Very Well-Endowed? Because of the statue of limitations?
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