Good Morning. The most prestigious night in Hollywood just crowned its winners — and one film walked away with six golden statues (Conan’s opening and monologue).
We also share the dodo comeback, a Chevron-CIA bombshell, and state income tax divergence (forwarded this email? Join 523K readers).
TOP STORY TODAY
Iran-UAE Escalation
Iran threatened to attack United Arab Emirates ports Saturday, claiming the U.S. used UAE facilities to strike Iran's Kharg Island oil terminal. Gulf nations reported new attacks Sunday morning. A drone struck a fuel tank at Dubai International Airport, prompting Emirates airline to suspend flights and divert aircraft.
Dubai International, the world's busiest international travel hub, temporarily halted operations. Some flights were rerouted to Dubai World Central. The U.S. also confirmed six service members died Thursday when a military refueling aircraft crashed while supporting operations against Iran (NYT).
President Trump called on allied nations to deploy warships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open, though no firm commitments emerged over the weekend.
Dodo Resurrection
Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based company valued at $10.2 billion, announced plans to resurrect the dodo, woolly mammoth, and other extinct species using ancient DNA and Crispr gene-editing technology. The firm gained attention last year after producing three wolf pups it called resurrected dire wolves (TIME).
Scientists are divided. Critics argue Colossal's dire wolves are genetically modified gray wolves, not true resurrections, calling the company's claims overstated. Colossal edited 14 of 19,000 gray wolf genes to produce the animals. Bird species like the dodo present additional technical challenges, as birds cannot be cloned like mammals (More).
Colossal says its work addresses what it describes as a moral obligation amid Earth's ongoing extinction crisis, and hopes resurrected animals will eventually be released to restore lost ecological functions.
Hollywood’s Big Winners
Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" won Best Picture at the 98th Academy Awards Sunday night in Los Angeles, taking home six total Oscars including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. Conan O'Brien hosted the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre for the second consecutive year.
Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for "Sinners," while Ryan Coogler took Best Original Screenplay for the same film. Jessie Buckley claimed Best Actress for "Hamnet." Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for "One Battle After Another," and Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for "Weapons."
"Sinners" finished with four total wins. "Frankenstein" nabbed three awards including costume design and production design. Full list of winners here.
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TODAY’S LIFE ADVICE
How Much is a Custom Home Build?
Building custom runs 20-30% more expensive than buying new construction — and most people don't realize why until they're already in it.
The base numbers from this video:
Raleigh, NC custom build: ~$350/sq ft
National builder comparison: ~$260/sq ft
What that price doesn't include:
Land purchase
Low-voltage wiring (Cat 6, security, LED strips)
Specialty lighting and speakers
Upgraded doors and internet infrastructure
The hidden trap: Once framing starts, builders hold all leverage. Post-drywall upgrades cost double or triple.
Bottom line: Have significant cash reserves before breaking ground.
The cheapest states to build are Florida ($130/sq ft), Georgia ($134/sq ft), and West Virginia ($143/sq ft) according to Architectural Digest.
One Idea About Consistency:
“If you show up everyday, the results won’t have a choice.”
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Fun Links
Browse YouTube like channel surfing [Resource]
Inside the Oscars’ Rolex Greenroom [Blog]
A beginner’s guide to birding [Blog]
Steph Curry’s favorite bible verse [Video]
Russia’s latest censorship test [Blog]
First male actor to win all 5 awards [Post]
Redbull’s zero gravity tire change [Video]