“POISON IN EVERY PUFF.” A new anti-smoking measure takes effect in Canada today that will require individual cigarettes to include warnings in all-caps lettering, like this one. The labels aim to make it “virtually impossible [for smokers] to avoid health warnings.” Can’t wait for the next iteration of cig deterrence where they implant a tiny speaker that plays “Baby Shark” all day.

In today's edition:

Meta announced that as of yesterday, Canadian users will no longer be allowed to access news sites through its platforms

Uber reported that over the second quarter of 2023, it made an operating profit for the first time

A federal grand jury indicted former President Trump in relation to the 2020 election

Brazilian police rescued four Nigerian migrants who had spent 14 days on a cargo ship’s rudder

Together with LMNT

LMNT, pronounced “element,” is the electrolyte drink mix we recommend Roca Riders hydrate with this summer

Can you fall in love with more than one person at once?

Reply to this email with your answers!

See yesterday's results below the Wrap!

He landed a job at a major Chinese e-commerce conglomerate, where he worked his way up to become a manager with a competitive salary and perks. But he soon found himself burned out: His job “involved long hours, caused a lot of anxiety, and constantly pushed [me] to do more.”

There was also a “societal expectation of me going down the path of buying an apartment, getting married, having kids, and living this typical upper-middle-class lifestyle.”

The pandemic left Huang isolated, worn out, and depressed. He quit his job last year and took a new job with his parents: A “full-time adult son.”

Huang cooks and does chores for his parents, brings them to the doctor’s, and arranges social gatherings for them. In exchange, they pay him a monthly salary of 3,500 yuan – ~$500.

Thousands of young adults in China have quit their jobs or stopped looking for them to live with their parents as “full-time children.” They blame China’s uniquely competitive society.

Chinese college admissions are determined almost exclusively by the nation’s standardized Gaokao exam, which students study years for. Scores determine where a student can attend college and what career they can pursue.

College graduates then compete for a limited number of jobs in lucrative fields, but many can’t find a job. For 16- to 24-year-olds, China’s unemployment rate is 21.3%.

China also has a notoriously intense work culture. Its work-life balance is often referred to as “996” – working from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week. Low-level employees are generally expected to work later than their bosses.

In 2020, a viral video showed a student at one of China’s most prestigious universities studying on his laptop while biking. People began using a new term to describe people like him: “Neijuan king.”

Neijuan refers to the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of stress, anxiety, and constant work. It often implies a lifestyle in which a person is expected to live a competitive life for nothing.

A year later, another new term emerged on Chinese social media: “Lying flat.” The term referred to many Chinese youth who, faced with a tough job market and work culture, voluntarily chose not to pursue work. A trend called on Chinese people “lie flat” and refuse the “neijuan” lifestyle.

For many, “lying flat” meant quitting demanding jobs or taking gap years. For some, it meant becoming “full-time children.”

In recent months, #FullTimeChildren has gone viral on Chinese social media. Widely-circulated videos show young adults posing with their parents and doing housework and chores. Some, like Huang, get paid; others don’t.

Some Chinese people praise the movement as a culmination of the “lying flat” mentality; others celebrate it as a sign of devotion to one’s elders.

But others accuse full-time children of “chewing the old” – a Chinese expression meaning mooching off one’s parents. Others say it isn’t a financially stable option.

China’s government – which has tried to improve China’s “996” work-life balance and reduce academic competitiveness – is a critic of both the “lying flat” and “full-time children” trends.

“In the face of pressure, choosing to ‘lie flat’ is not only unjust, but shameful. There is no value whatsoever in this poisonous [situation],” one Chinese official wrote. President Xi Jinping has advised young people to “eat bitterness,” meaning endure hardship.

For now, though, many Chinese youth appear to want the opposite of hardship.

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

Would you be/are you comfortable living within 50 miles of a nuclear power plant?

Yes: 55%
No: 45%

Is Travis Scott responsible for the Astroworld incident?

Huzaifa from Mumbai: "Ofc he is my guy was singing in autotune while people were dying and even his apology was “that’s sick I’m so famous that people are dying to see me live”"

Philip: “no performers have little to nothing to do with the the setup.”

Bill from Colorado: "Yes. And it’s possible to trust an arsonist to run the fire department."

Gabe from Foresthill, California: “With events this large there has to be a fireman's maximum person limit. If the tickets sold were more than the amount permitted for the event, then you should claim some responsibility. In the end, it's hype music and I think the people got going a little too hard. In addition, I love to know how many of the killed and injured were on drugs.”

Ginger from Houston, Texas: “No, Travis Scott is not responsible. Open air concerts are hard to manage. There is no way to keep people back in a big crowd. Why do you think they are crossing the border in crowds? Because you can't stop them. People have lost consideration of others. Mindfulness was once a thing they were trying to use to help this, but it is too late for the overwhelming selfishness this country has created in our children over the last 30 years.”

Cheryl from Arizona: “That responsibility belongs to a group consisting of Security, Booking Venue and Concert managers. Mr. Scott's job was to show up and rap away”

Chris from New Orleans: “The PIF can buy a lot, but it couldn’t buy Messi or Mbappé. Ronaldo going was for the money. He is as good as retired for the Portugal National team, and the primary competitive leagues don't care to have him. Instead of completely retiring, he will take the wad of cash and play around in the dessert where competition is no factor (I dont blame him at all). Messi is also good as retired, so going for the "Michael Jordan deal" is effectively the same thing, but moving his family to Miami probably gives them a nicer way of life. Mbappe choosing to stay in the competitive leagues (going to La Liga) is because he is nowhere near retirement and needs to stay competitive to play for France National. England National was right to kick out Beckham when he came to MLS due to competition.”

Andrea from Chicago: “Wow! Thank you for the great article ‘Mbappe in the Desert’. Getting the history on how actions transpired over the last 85 years to develop to the point of being able to afford millions for an athlete is very interesting.”

Happy Hump Day Roca Riders. To those of you who are “lying flat” — maybe you’re reading this email after you’ve slept until noon and enjoyed a home-cooked meal. To those of you who are “eating bitterness” — maybe you’re reading this e-mail from work.

Either way, we hope it’s an enjoyable break in your day! Thanks for reading Roca, and see you tomorrow.

—Max and Max