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Blake, Wm. Dante Conversing with Farinata Degli Uberti, object 21. 1824.

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In 2023, California authorities confiscated roughly 62,000 pounds of fentanyl, enough to potentially kill the global population nearly twice over. This alarming amount of fentanyl equates to a street value of over $509 million.

The record seizure was part of counter-drug operations supported by the California National Guard, marking a significant escalation from the amounts seized in previous years, which were 5,300 pounds in 2021 and 28,000 pounds in 2022.

Over 110,000 Americans died from drug poisonings in 2022, with about 70% linked to fentanyl.

Governor Gavin Newsom: “California is cracking down—increasing seizures, expanding access to substance abuse treatment, and holding drug traffickers accountable to combat the immeasurable harm opioids have caused our communities.”

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Blake, Wm. Beatrice Addressing Dante from the Car. 1824.

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Bugatti is set to unveil a new hypercar in June, and unlike the trend of electric cars, it will be powered by a new hybrid engine.

The car will be the successor to the Chiron and will replace the brand’s long-standing “W16” quad-turbo engine which served both the Veyron and Chiron for almost two decades.

A new video shows the new hybrid “V16” engine for the first time, producing a deep sound low down before rising to a scream toward the top of the rev range.

The French manufacturer says the car, slated for production in 2026, will be “incomparable in every detail.”

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Blake, Wm. Albion Rose. 1795.

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Motivated by the desire to become a father, one man lost 210 pounds after adopting a carnivore diet. Isaiah Caldwell initially weighed 434 pounds, but now weighs 224 pounds.

To improve his fertility, Caldwell switched to a diet consisting solely of meat, eggs, and dairy. This drastic lifestyle change was spurred by concerns that his weight might be affecting his ability to conceive.

Despite the restrictive nature of the carnivore diet, Caldwell found success, noting significant improvements in his physical health and mental clarity. He expanded his diet to include some fruits and dairy after losing 118 pounds in ten months.

Isaiah Caldwell: “Having a baby became an obsession of ours—we were really excited about it. We started trying for a year before we began to suspect that there might be some issues fertility-wise. I knew if there was anything I could do to give us a chance, I would do it. I felt unbelievable even a week in - psychologically I felt so much better, my brain fog was totally gone. I felt a million times better.”

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Blake, Wm. Eve Tempted by the Serpent. 1799.

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A naked woman caused a commotion at Venice Beach by attacking locals, prompting another lady to fight back with medieval weapons.

The bizarre encounter, which unfolded in broad daylight, saw both participants wielding spiked clubs after the nude woman had one thrown at her. After the second club was thrown at her, the woman did a catwalk wielding both of them.

Witnesses captured the event, reporting that the fight lasted about six minutes without police intervention. One man even approached the naked lady with his phone for a close-up video.

The situation’s resolution remains unclear, as authorities have yet to comment on the incident.

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Blake, Wm. Every Man Also Gave Him a Piece of Money. 1805.

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Qatar has launched the “Startup Qatar Investment Program” to support tech startups, backed by a $100 million fund. 

The program offers up to $500,000 for early-stage companies to establish a presence in Qatar and up to $5 million for growth-stage companies to expand. It targets startups in over 15 sectors, including fintech and AI. 

This move is part of Qatar's broader strategy to diversify its economy and increase its share in the MENA region’s venture capital market, currently dominated by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

CEO of Qatar Development Bank: “QDB is intensifying its efforts to position Qatar as a major hub for startups across various industries, particularly the tech sector due to its strategic importance. Through these efforts, we aim to attract and retain talents in various fields to support our entrepreneurship ecosystem, foster innovation and accelerate technology adoption across all domains in a bid to contribute to a sustainable and business-friendly economy.”