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Did Wikipedia just get dethroned?

Maybe, Grokipedia has just launched as a direct competitor to the original online, open source encyclopedia, but only time will tell if it kicks Wikipedia off its pedestal.

Elon Musk has touted Grokipedia for seeking “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. To accomplish this, Grokipedia will purportedly use its AI namesake to act as a gatekeeper and will tell you if it will allow you to publish an entry.

Not everyone loves the idea -- we talk about why.

Will you be trying Grokipedia out and if so, for what? Let us know in the comments and for the deep dive head over to the Substack at WorldbriefZMC and be sure to vote in the poll!

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Is the Silver Squeeze going to jack up iPhone prices? Probably, and it wouldn’t just be smartphones that see a jump.

So what’s going on? Basically people are suddenly afraid that real silver is running out. This affects electronics because silver is used in just about every electronic device we use. If the price of silver goes up then so too will the electronics that use it.

But why now? The organization, (the London Bullion Market Association or “LBMA”) that dictates what silver should cost is having crisis of confidence and buyers are worried it can’t actually deliver physical silver. This has “frozen” trading and silver prices have jumped quite a bit in the last couple of weeks. If the trend continues it could start effecting retail electronics soon.

Do you think the silver squeeze will affect the price of iPhones? Let me know in the comments and check out our Substack at WorldBriefZMC for the deep dive.

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After only 27 days on the job, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has just announced his resignation. But it’s the reason why that has many so concerned.

That’s because the French government (led by the embattled French President Emanuel Macron), promised its people far more than it could ever deliver and now it can’t pay the bill.

This has led to hundreds of thousands of workers to go on strike as government subsidized pensions, jobs, housing and holidays are all on the chopping block.

For the deep dive head over to our Substack at WorldBriefZMC for more and don't forget to vote in the poll!

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Last week the Vietnamese Central Bank closed 86 Million bank accounts for, among other things, not turning over biometric data. Is this a sign of things to come?

For the deep dive head over to the substack at WorldBriefZMC

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Will the UK force citizens to get digital IDs? Probably.

Reports suggest that Prime Minister Starmer will announce Friday that every single adult in the UK must get a digital ID.

There have been some suggestions that the scheme WON’T be mandatory in the literal sense - but that one will be required to access the internet, housing, employment, banking, transportation or any other essential service. In other words “mandatory”.

Though the final details aren’t yet officially public it seems clear that digital ID’s would rely upon mobile devices - apps - and would be linked to a citizen’s phone number, bank account, medical file and employment and housing history. The premise being that nothing could be done in everyday life without it.

The startling move is being billed as a means to combat illegal immigration but skeptics and human rights groups have rejected this a mere pretext. They point out that, if the British government was really committed to resolving that issue, it could do so easily - without digital ID’s.

Critics of the plan note that, no electronic device is truly “safe” and the consolidation of so much information into one space creates major security risks. Still others note that, these types of mechanisms have already been employed in other countries as a means of maintaining control over their populations in a distinctly undemocratic manner.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments and for the deep dive head over to the Substack page at WorldBriefZMC and be sure vote in the poll.

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Are people becoming allergic to red meat?

Yes, it’s called “Alpha- Gal Syndrome” (AGS) causes people to become violently ill when red meat including beef, pork and lamb are consumed. The affliction is purportedly spread by “lone star ticks” and there is no cure.

Listen to this episode to find out more and for the deep dive head over to our substack at WorldbriefZMC.

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Is it illegal to call someone a “muppet” in England? Yes, yesterday a man was arrested by British police for, allegedly, calling someone a “muppet”. For more, take a look at our Substack at WorldBriefZMC.

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What’s the real reason for the backlash to the Cracker Barrel Rebrand?

It’s not what you may think -- it might be fatigue from non-stop corporate authoritarianism. Take a listen and tell us what you think.

For a deep dive and a comment on Cracker Barrel’s last PR stunt (the ‘great syrup debacle’), take a look at our Substack at WorldBriefZMC and be sure to subscribe and vote in the poll — link in the bio.