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Chuck Norris, Rhinos, & "Do-nothing" Workout
Good morning! The weekend edition is 723 words, a 3-minute read.
What’s on tap:
National AI policy
Doctor adopts orphan patient
Hotels.com hiring room service critic
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Today’s Big Story
The Immortal Chuck Norris Passes
Chuck Norris, the martial artist and action star whose nine-season run as CBS's "Walker, Texas Ranger" made him a symbol of rugged American masculinity, died Thursday at 86.
Born in Ryan, Oklahoma, he served in the US Air Force and discovered martial arts while stationed in South Korea. Norris rose to prominence as a martial arts champion before befriending Bruce Lee, who cast him as his opponent in the climactic Colosseum fight scene in "The Way of the Dragon." He went on to star in "Missing in Action" and "Code of Silence" before "Walker, Texas Ranger" cemented his place in American popular culture.
In the 2000s, satirical "Chuck Norris facts" portrayed him as so impossibly tough that normal rules of physics didn't apply to him, spawning a viral meme phenomenon that introduced him to a new generation. (See 103 of the best Chuck Norris jokes here) He was also a vocal conservative political advocate.
Saturday’s Quick Hits
Uganda has reintroduced four rhinos into Kidepo Valley National Park, where the animals were poached out of existence in 1983. The southern white rhinos came from a breeding sanctuary that has raised the mammals since 2005. Conservationists called it a milestone for a species still under threat — rhino horn fetches more than gold on black markets in parts of Asia. (More)
The Trump administration released a framework yesterday for a single national AI policy, proposing child-safety rules, data center energy standards, and copyright protections — while calling on Congress to block states from writing their own AI laws. Tech companies have warned that a patchwork of state rules would hurt innovation. The White House wants a bill signed this year, but Republicans hold only a thin congressional majority. (More)
CBS News is shutting down its radio service after nearly 100 years, ending a broadcast that launched the network in 1927 and once carried Edward R. Murrow's World War II reports. The service currently feeds hourly news updates to about 700 stations nationwide. It will end on May 22. CBS blamed changing station programming and a tough ad market. (More)
The US is considering occupying or blockading Iran's Kharg Island oil terminal to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — despite Trump suggesting he wasn't planning to put boots on the ground. Analysts warn the plan carries serious risks — American forces would be exposed to Iranian drone and rocket fire in a confined 20-square-mile space. (More)
Two studies from Mass General Brigham find that the thymus — a small chest organ long thought irrelevant after puberty — may significantly affect adult health. Using AI to scan tens of thousands of patients, researchers found adults with healthier thymuses had 50% lower risk of death. In cancer patients, better thymic health predicted stronger responses to immunotherapy. (More)
Hawaii officials are warning that a dam on Oahu could fail after two powerful storms dumped up to 12 inches of rain on the island in 16 hours. Water is flowing over the top of the Wahiawa dam, prompting evacuation orders for about 4,000 people in two nearby towns. The dam, built in 1906 and owned by Dole Food Company, was rated in poor condition in 2020. (More)
Weekly Dose of Positive
A Nebraska anesthesiologist found a 4-year-old alone before heart surgery, contacted his caseworker, and eventually adopted him and helped place all five of his siblings in permanent homes. (More)
A Texas dad group raised $6,800 to surprise their school crossing guard, who'd been riding the bus to work for six months, with a replacement car. (More)
A Tennessee woman's TikTok of an elderly DoorDash driver struggling up her steps raised $940,000 for him — and he says he plans to keep delivering anyway. (More)
Paris Hilton launched a fund with a $350,000 personal contribution to raise over $1 million for women-owned small businesses recovering from natural disasters. (More)
Extra Credit
Workout focusing on doing the bare minimum is gaining popularity.
England opens the world’s longest coastal path.
Research confirms clothing does come back in style every 20 years.
Hotels.com is hiring a “room service critic” for $5K.
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