Energy Independence in Eastern Europe

Monday

• Coy Wire was in New Orleans for the Super Bowl.
• The Philadelphia Eagles are seeking redemption against the Chiefs after losing to them two seasons ago.

Eastern Europe

• Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia disconnected from the Russian electricity grid before synchronizing their own electricity.
• The disconnection was motivated by energy independence.
• The three countries have been preparing to sever ties with Russia since joining the European Union in 2004.
• Over a billion dollars has been invested in Grants for these efforts.
• Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 underscored the importance of ending energy dependence on Russia.
• The three states renovated existing infrastructure and built new power lines.
• Undersea cables provide a crucial link to the mainland European grid.
• Six months ago, the Baltic countries notified Russia of their intention to synchronize from the Soviet Electric grid.
• Lithuania's grid operator initiated the process to cut old Soviet cables.
• All countries disconnected on Saturday
• Briefly functioning as a power island with electricity they produce before synchronizing new independent grid with the Continental Europe synchronous area on Sunday.
• Vootele Päi explains that cheap Russian energy comes with a price that no democratic European countries should afford
• The Baltic states are disconnecting 30 years after Soviet troops retreated and two decades after joining NATO.
• Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are looking nervously towards Russia.
• The war in Ukraine demonstrates Moscow's willingness to weaponize and disrupt daily life in Europe through sabotage, as warned by NATO.
• Cyber attacks are a concern (Asen).
• There are three new undersea cables in Estonia (Nordic countries), which are a critical link to Poland.
• Estonia has been able to stop buying electricity from Russia for over two years.
• There is concern over the Estlink-2 cable being badly damaged on Christmas Day.
• A ship en route from Russia is suspected by Finnish police of dragging its anchor almost 100 km along the seabed.
• Moscow denies any involvement, calling it "anti-Russian hysteria."
• Kaliningrad, home to Russia's Baltic Fleet, is the westernmost outpost.

Pizza Trivia

• Pizza originated in Naples, Italy.
• Modern pizza evolved from flatbreads in the 18th century.
• Super Bowl Sunday, Halloween, and New Year's Eve are the busiest days for pizza delivery in the US.
• Pizza prices haven't changed significantly in decades.
• Vanessa Yur Cavage explores the affordability of pizza and whether it is inflation-proof.
• The movie "Home Alone," released in 1990, presents an interesting economic question related to pizza.
• In "Home Alone," the McAllister family paid $122.50 for 10 pizzas.
• The McAllister family's order of 10 pizzas in 1990 is still comparable in price 35 years later.
• The $1 Pizza Slice in New York has become a victim of inflation.
• Many pizza chains have maintained steady prices, while other fast-food chains have raised theirs.
• Domino's and Papa John's offer large carry-out pizzas for $12.
• Pizza Hut offers two large pizzas for around $14 each.
• The name "Little Nero's" and the mascot in "Home Alone" resemble Little Caesars.
• Little Caesars pizza was $4 in 1990, $5 in 2003, and is now $7.
• Greg Hamilton, Little Caesar's CMO, states that value has been a part of their identity for decades.
• Food and labor costs are always considered.
• Fluffy and feathered furry friends predicted the outcome of Super Bowl 59.
• Lions, tigers, bears, and bald eagles weighed in on the Chiefs-Eagles Showdown.
• Misha the tiger walked off with a choice chief's box.
• Two Montana bear cubs tied as they ate cake for each team.
• Sitca the eagle picked Kansas City.
• Vulcan the lion voted for the Eagles in a 4 to 1 animal kingdom upset.

Tuesday- North Korea

• North Korea is set to allow tourists for the first time in 5 years.
• The city of Rasan, a remote economic zone in northern North Korea, will be the first post-pandemic tourist destination open to western tourists.
• Pyongyang, the country's capital, remains closed to foreign visitors.
• North Korea is a highly centralized one-party totalitarian dictatorship where three generations of the Kim family have ruled.
• Tourists were restricted within the hermit kingdom, which sealed its border in 2020 due to COVID-19.
• Beijing tour operator Coro Tours recently announced bookings would reopen with organized tours to Rason.
• Rason, as a special economic zone, has operated differently as a testing ground for new economic policies.
• Visitors will see locations like factories, schools, art galleries, and a bank where they can open a North Korean bank account.
• First tours are set to start on February 12th, around North Korea's biggest national holidays.
• Celebration is planned for the birthday of the country’s late leader Kim Jong Eel.
• Bookings are available for visitors from all countries except for the United States and South Korea.
• Most tourists in North Korea have been from China and Russia.
• Rason is not exactly a tourism hotspot.
• Rason is a remote economic zone closer to China and Russia than the capital Pyongyang.
• Rason is known for its shoe factory and banking system.
• Textile factory and sea cucumber breeding farm.
• Simon, who made nearly 200 trips, said traveling there is "not for anyone."
• An American college student, Otto Warmleader, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for stealing a propaganda poster from his Pyongyang hotel.
• After 17 months in detention, Otto returned home in a vegetative state and died days later.
• The State Department banned US tourists from visiting North Korea ever since.

Other trivia

• Don't pro*tize religiously, illegal
• Don't break any law.
• Artwork by Andy Warhol currently sits on the moon.
• The Apollo 11 astronauts placed his drawing of the lunar module in 1969.

Fine Arts Auction House Christies (FAAH Christies)

• Is holding its first art auction devoted entirely to dozens of pieces created with artificial intelligence (AI).
• The art sale, called "Augmented Intelligence," consists of about 30 pieces.
• Works are created or enhanced by AI tools.
• Blockchain and the cryptocurrency community are involved.
• Many works are expected to sell for tens of thousands of dollars.
• Last year, a painting by an AI robot of WW2 codebreaker Alan Turing was sold for over a million dollars at Salt Beaks.
• Initial estimates range from $120,000 to $180,000.
• AI enhances what the artist can do.
• The online auction runs from February 20th to March 5th.

10/10

• Celebrities shared keys to success at the Super Bowl.
  • Maria Taylor: Everything that makes you different is your strength.
  • Shaquille O'Neal: Listen to your mother and father.
  • Jameis Winston: There's always a seed of good in everything.

Wednesday- North Korea

• North Korea is set to allow tourists for the first time in 5 years.
• North Korea says t

Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia have disconnected from the Russian electricity grid, prioritizing energy independence. Motivated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine this disconnection marks the end of energy dependence on Russia. The countries invested in infrastructure and power lines and undersea cables.