Reddit has many strange forums: r/WolvesWithWatermelons, r/BreadStapledtoTrees, r/IsTodayFridaytheThirteenth, etc.. There’s even one called r/Alzheimers in which a user makes the same post every day under a different title. One that has skyrocketed in popularity over the last year is called r/AmIUgly. It’s a forum in which users post pictures of themselves and get feedback on whether they’re ugly. July activity is up ~1300% from last July. We would share screenshots but we got banned after submitting Fox and CNN logos.

In today's edition:

• “Show emotion”: DeSantis’ debate prep

• Spam to the rescue in Hawaii

• 20 Questions

 🔑 Key Stories

DeSantis Debate Memo

A memo posted online by Ron DeSantis’ Super PAC revealed its recommended strategy for him at the first Republican debate, scheduled for next week

• Super PACs can raise money for candidates but can’t directly work for them. As a work around, they sometimes post advice to public websites without making the link public

• That means the content is not “officially” for the candidate, but risks someone finding it. Someone found one such doc meant for DeSantis. Soon after news of the memo spread, it was taken down

• The memo outlines “four basic must-dos”:

  • “Attack Joe Biden and the media 3-5 times”

  • “State GRD’s positive vision 2-3 times”

  • “Hammer Vivek Ramaswamy in a response”

  • “Defend Donald Trump…in response to [an] attack”

Dig Deeper

• The memo advises DeSantis to avoid talking about policy and instead focus on dramatic, headline-grabbing statements. Another was to defend Trump against an anticipated attack: “Trump isn't here so let's just leave him alone. He's too weak to defend himself here,” the memo advises he say. It also suggests he focus on his “family, kids,” and wife, all while “showing emotion”

• DeSantis’ campaign hasn’t commented on it. On X (formerly Twitter), Ramaswamy said: “Another boring, establishment attack from Super PAC-creation “Robot Ron” who is literally taking lame, pre-programmed attack lines against me”

Chess Trans Ban

Chess’s global governing body banned trans women from competing in women’s competitions

• Per data provided to Roca by Chess.com, the world’s largest chess site, 66.3% of the platform’s players are men. As of 2020, just 37 of 1,600+ international grandmasters – chess’ top rank – were women. Many attribute that to boys’ greater access to chess at a young age

• On Monday, chess’s governing body banned trans women from competing in women’s chess competitions. It said it will strip trans men of any women’s trophies they won before their transition

• The decision provoked a fierce response from the LGBT community. Others supported the decision, though, saying it protects competitiveness in women’s chess

Dig Deeper

• The National Center for Transgender Equality said the ban “relies on ignorant anti-trans ideas”; a trans chess Master said trans players are not “the biggest threat” to women in chess

Lahaina Fallout

The wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, has left locals bringing lawsuits while fearing outsiders will buy the land

• Last week, a wildfire burned down much of Lahaina. 111 are dead, and 1,000+ still missing

• Several lawsuits have been filed against Hawaii Electric, alleging it failed to prepare for the known risk of a wildfire. Scrutiny is also mounting into why government officials didn’t ring Maui’s 80 alarm sirens

• There are concerns that investors will buy up land at cut rates. In June, the median Lahaina house sold for $990,000; Oprah and Jeff Bezos own land nearby. Hawaii’s governor has warned against a “land grab”

Dig Deeper

• On Wednesday, Hawaii’s governor told investors to stay away: “People are right now traumatized,” he said. “Please don’t approach them with an offer to buy land. Please don’t approach their families to tell them that they are going to be better off if they make a deal, because we’re not going to allow it.” He added, “My intention from start to finish is to make sure that no one is victimized from a land grab”

Superconductor Debunked

Mounting evidence suggests South Korean researchers did not create a superconductor that works at room temperature and pressure

• Superconductors are types of conductors that do not waste any electricity through “resistance.” They only work at extremely low temps or high pressure

• In July, a team of South Korean researchers claimed to have created a superconductor that works at room temperature and pressure – a breakthrough

• Numerous investigations have since debunked core aspects of that claim, with one study showing the material actually has very high levels of resistance

Dig Deeper

• On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that Korea University is investigating one of the paper’s authors for allegedly posting it without the permission of the other authors. That research team has not released all data related to their initial purported breakthrough

🍿 Popcorn

ICYMI

• The author’s side: The Blind Side author Michael Lewis defended the Tuohy family, saying they offered him royalties for the movie but that he refused them

• Ratings in defeat: Australia’s semifinal loss to England on Wednesday became Australia’s most-watched TV program since the audience measurement system began in 2001

• Spam to the rescue: Spam donated 264K cans of meat products worth ~$1M to Maui wildfire victims. Hawaii consumes 7M cans of spam annually, more than any other state

Wildcard

• If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em: Police arrested a wanted Georgia man who applied online for a job at an Arkansas police department while in hiding in South Carolina

• Ur-inder arrest, son: Police jailed a 10-year-old Mississippi boy for public urination after they caught him peeing while his mother was inside an office

• Poor man’s cocaine: Europe is preparing for a potential influx of captagon, a drug dubbed the “poor man’s cocaine.” It is primarily produced and trafficked by Syrian groups

👇🏻 What do you think?

Today's Question:

Just 20 Questions!

Thanks to Roca Reader Jenny, who suggested this poll after we wrote about Travis King in yesterday’s newsletter. She said, “Can you pose a reader question about Travis King in North Korea? Personally, I think we should leave him there. He went willingly, and I do not feel that we should enter into negotiations with North Korea to get him back.”

See yesterday's results below! 

🗣 20 Questions

Today we are bringing back an old tradition, something we used to do every Friday but have since strayed away from: 20 Questions, open-ended edition.

Rather than do 20 polls or 20 ratings, these are 20 open response questions. You don't need to respond to all of them, but you are certainly encouraged to. We want to hear what you all think on these hot-button issues.

We hope you have great weekends, and look forward to reading over these!

If you have thoughts, let us know at [email protected]!

 🌊 Roca Clubhouse

Yesterday's Poll:

Which spelling is correct?

Laser: 93%
Lazer: 7%

Yesterday's Question:

Is it ethical to conduct experiments on brain-dead patients?

Rojer from Detroit, Michigan: "The term "brain dead" like everything else in America, seems to be subject to change to fit someone else's narrative. The idea that,anything can change meaning at anytime, without reason is unethical, imo. Opinion subject to change without notice, haha.”

Anonymous: "With the next-of-kin's written permission. It really isn't much different from organ donation.”

Courtney: “Heck NO!!! Both science and accounts from people who have been revived shows that what we consider “brain dead” may not be actually dead. To me, it’s tantamount to torture.”

Ben from Brisbane, Australia: “Speaking as a biomedical scientist, no. The right to autonomy is a big thing, and should not be superseded by things like injury. Imagine if it wasn’t a brain injury but instead tetraplegia? What about a terminally degenerative disorder? No matter the medical issue, patient interest is key. Here in Australia, you cannot be compelled to give something as minor as blood against your will, even if doing so would save a life right then and there. Long story short? Autonomy and respect for personhood mean no, you can’t.”

Yesterday's Wrap Replies:

Ann from Stamford, Vermont: “No, there was no law in place at that time so no legal action should be allowed.”

Mio: “No. The cells were taken to be used as was the norm at the time. We can’t be constantly applying todays standards to historical events.”

Rudy from Franklin, Texas: “Of course they do, the real question is how much. The idea that consent was not possible during those days is strictly a legal, not a ethical argument. How unfortunate these too are seldomly on the same page. There are many types of compensation that are supplied when people donate any part of their chemistry to science. Most of which do not hurt the overall profits of the cooperation using these cells. After all, there is never a guarantee that a breakthrough will happen from their particular cells.”

Jerry from Nebraska: “No. It was common practice at the time. Do we sue the car companies for deaths that occurred before seat belts were required in motor vehicles?”

Ruth from Ottowa, Canada: “YES the family deserves compensation for the BILLIONS of dollars that have been made thanks to Henrietta's cells that were taken from her with no consent. And everyone should read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Great reporting!”

Last Week's 20 Qs Responses:

1. Live concerts are better than live sporting events
   True: 59%

   False: 41%

2. Mustard is better than ketchup

   True: 44%

   False: 56%

3. History is the most interesting school subject

   True: 49%

   False: 51%

4. Mozzarella sticks were the best school lunch

   True: 74%

   False: 26%

5. Never eat the fish at McDonald's

   True: 64%

   False: 36%

6. CNN and Fox News want you to be happy

   True: 5%

   False: 95%

7. Just "Max" is a better name than Maximilian

   True: 73%

   False: 27%

8. We should not use shampoo every day

   True: 73%

   False: 27%

9. We should not use deodorant every day

   True: 82%

   False: 18%

10. Patrick Star is the best SpongeBob character

    True: 60%

    False: 40%

11. Squidward would be a great desk mate at work

    True: 70%

    False: 30%

12. Books are generally better than their movie adaptations

    True: 95%

    False: 5%

13. The Star Wars prequels were great movies

    True: 60%

    False: 40%

14. Nails on a chalkboard are a worse sound than loud chewing

    True: 70%

    False: 30%

15. Paper straws are over-hated

    True: 45%

    False: 55%

16. You prefer chess to checkers

    True: 60%

    False: 40%

17. Alt milks (oat, almond, etc.) are better than regular milk

    True: 23%

    False: 77%

18. Honey mustard is the best chicken nugget dipping sauce

    True: 59%

    False: 41%

19. AI will be writing most movies in 20 years

    True: 52%

    False: 48%

20. Dolly Parton is more iconic than Bruce Springsteen

    True: 81%

    False: 19%

🧠 Final Thoughts

We hope you all have wonderful weekends. One of the Maxes is moving across New York City; the other is cooking in 113º Phoenix heat. While neither of us will have the most comfortable weekends, we certainly won't be bored….after all, we’ll have your 20 questions to read.

See you Monday.

–Max and Max