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Sunday Sundown Rundown - 1/21/24

3 Up

1. Japan Moon Landing - It's kind of crazy to think in a world with budding AI and all of the technology we are trying to wrap our minds around here on Earth, landing on the moon is still a rarity. Congratulations to Japan for becoming the fifth nation to do so. It'll be nice to get more info as I'm sure the race to the moon for more exploration is on. 

2. Spelman College Donation - The largest-ever donation for an HBCU happened this week with Spelman College receiving a $100M gift. That's cool, and it should be interesting when higher education and institutional power within higher education are at their most fragile. 

3. Taylor Swift Impact - It's 2024, and Taylor continues dominating in amazing ways. One of those is that Swift is responsible for 7% of all vinyl record sales in 2023. Considering her music and the intersection audience that typically adores her and collects vintage which seems on the surface very unlikely - Swift's power and influence knows no boundary. 

3 Down

1. Immigration - From the continued migrants in cities to the discussion at the border, to really nothing being done, it raises the discussion on the seriousness of how we approach immigration, or if we just want to utilize it for political rhetoric. 

2. Cancelled Debate - A Nikki Haley vs. Donald Trump debate is now off after Trump refused to show (again), and Haley refused to do it if Trump declined. I mean, after all, what's the point. Our politics are broken. 

3. Sports Illustrated - Sad week with the announcement of the demise of Sports Illustrated. An establishment for any sports fan of the past, the medium and landscape changed, and SI fell behind. I sort of miss it - coverage and discourse of sports haven't been the same.

Cover Photo

A large statue depicting rapper and actor Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, aka Kid Cudi, is installed in front of the Palais Brongniart in Paris, France, on January 12, 2024. The statue appeared, unannounced, as part of a campaign to promote the release of Kid Cudi's new album. #

Alain Jocard / AFP / Getty

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