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Blake, Wm. Job's Evil Dreams. 1821.

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Up to 58% of people experiencing sleep paralysis report sensing a “nonhuman” presence, and 22% actually see figures, which are often perceived as demonic entities. This phenomenon occurs during the vulnerable transition between sleep stages, accompanied by an inability to move.

Scientifically, these experiences are linked to the state of atonia during REM sleep, where the body remains immobile while the brain exhibits high activity. This dissonance can create vivid, often terrifying hallucinations.

Preventative advice includes regular sleep patterns and managing stress, as disruptions in these areas can increase susceptibility to sleep paralysis. Techniques like focusing on small movements, such as wiggling toes, can help shorten or end episodes.

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Blake, Wm. Ode to Adversity- Page 5. 1797.

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A virus is threatening global chocolate production, primarily affecting cacao trees in Ghana. Cacao swollen shoot virus disease has resulted in significant harvest losses, compromising between 15% and 50% of the yield.

The virus spreads through mealybugs that consume various parts of the cacao tree, posing challenges to control methods like pesticides, which are largely ineffective against the mealybugs. In response, researchers are exploring vaccines for trees as a mitigation strategy.

A mathematical model developed by researchers seeks to optimize the planting distance between vaccinated and unvaccinated trees to prevent the spread of the virus. This model helps determine safe spatial arrangements that limit mealybugs’ ability to transfer the virus from one tree to another.

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Blake, Wm. The Goddess of Fortune. 1824.

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Millennial wealth is significantly increasing, with the average household under 40 seeing a 49% rise from 2019 to 2023. This growth marks a historic increase, positioning millennials with an average wealth of $259,000.

The increase in millennial wealth includes higher property ownership and reduced debt levels, despite economic challenges posed by the pandemic. This contrasts sharply with past generations, who saw much smaller gains post-recession.

Stimulus measures and a strong labor market during the pandemic have been pivotal in boosting financial outcomes for younger Americans. Notably, real median net worth for those under 35 grew by 143% from 2019 to 2022.

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Blake, Wm. Christian Beaten Down by Apollyon, object 21. 1824.

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An Iranian rapper has been sentenced to death for supporting the 2022-23 Woman, Life, Freedom protests. Toomaj Salehi was first arrested in October 2022 after the protests were ignited by the death of an Iranian woman arrested for allegedly wearing an “improper” hijab.

Salehi’s trial was conducted by a revolutionary court in Isfahan, where he was accused of spreading lies, propaganda against the state, and inciting violence. His previous six-year sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court due to procedural flaws, but he was re-arrested and newly charged.

Despite efforts to fight the sentence, including a Supreme Court intervention, Salehi faces the death penalty under renewed charges. His lawyer confirmed they would appeal the latest verdict within the given 20-day window.

The backdrop of Salehi's sentencing is a broader crackdown in Iran, where the protests have led to hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests, with nine executions carried out in response to protests.

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Blake, Wm. Joseph of Arimathea Among the Rocks of Albion. 1773.

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Police are now using an AI tool called Draft One by Axon that can turn footage from body cameras into detailed police reports. The technology has already reduced report writing time by 82% in a trial with the Fort Collins Colorado Police Department.

There are concerns about the AI's accuracy and potential biases, especially in crucial legal evidence. The AI sticks to facts from the footage to reduce errors and “hallucinations.”

Axon’s AI Product Manager: “The simplest way to think about it is that we have turned off the creativity. That dramatically reduces the number of hallucinations and mistakes… Everything that it’s produced is just based on that transcript and that transcript alone.”