Good afternoon, wonderful people, and Merry Christmas to all of you who are celebrating today, hopefully with family and friends.
This afternoon’s For Your Commute picks up where yesterday left off: Millennials areworried the internet has been enshittified, but a group of odd bedfellows (Zuck, meet Mastodon. Mastodon, meet Zuck.) think they may have a way of making the social web a lot more open and (possibly) a lot more pleasant. We have the rundown below.
And speaking of saving the internet — or at least saving us from the bowels of Egyptian internet — this song has been stuck in our heads since the weekend. It’s only fair to spread the pain around. Merry Christmas, y’all.
After a relatively busy morning, we are now being faced with a dead-silent afternoon, with no real big news to speak of here at home.
THE BIG STORY ABROAD
The latest attack on Gaza by IDF forces last night that claimed 91 Palestinian lives is leading the conversation in the international press, as the enclave has suffered one of its deadliest evenings since 7 October as Israeli airstrikes intensified in central Gaza, says Reuters. At least 68 Palestinians were killed in al-Maghazi refugee camp, adds the Associated Press, whereas in Khan Younis, 23 more lost their lives — bringing the overnight death toll to 91, continues Reuters. Meanwhile, a joint Egypt-Qatari three-step proposal has been submitted to Israel, the US and European governments to end the attacks. The steps include a ceasefire, progressive hostage releases, and the formation of a new Palestinian government, tell us the Associated Press and Reuters. The US is also pushing for the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza through meetings with President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. However, Israel isn’t playing ball, as it continues to refuse to unblock USD 140 mn in taxes meant for Gaza alongside the salaries for the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, explains the Washington Post.
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WHO YOU ARE- We're looking for gifted storytellers with a minimum of four years of work experience in investor relations, finance, banking, economics, or a related field to develop cutting-edge products and maintain relationships with a portfolio of clients. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree or higher in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, or a related discipline. We're looking for someone whose passion for storytelling is matched with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to interpret and present financial data — with a keen eye for details and accuracy.
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Life for early stage startups and businesses is getting tougher and tougher as restrictions on the use of foreign currency pile up. Every business that needs to pay Google or Microsoft — or that wants to run an ad campaign online, pay for cloud infrastructure, subscribe to a monitoring service, or pay for an industry-specific software tool — needs access to foreign currency.
?️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- Look for patches of clouds tomorrow as the mercury hits a high of 23°C at its peak in the day and drops to a cooler 16°C in the evening, our favorite weather app tells us.
Yesterday, we spoke about how (some) Millennials (may) want to hang up their hashtags following the enshittification of the interwebs. Today, we introduce you to the folks who think they have a way of making it better.
Dreamers among us are envisioning a better online world — one where we could have social media that is decentralized, open, and interoperable through a protocol called ActivityPub, David Pierce writes for The Verge.
We all know social media now is broken. The platforms we use every day are riddled with misinformation, hate speech, harassment, and polarization. They are also centralized, controlled by a few powerful corporations that dictate the rules and algorithms that shape our online interactions. And they are addictive, designed to keep us hooked and scrolling for hours, at the expense of our mental health and well-being.
No wonder: They were built for advertisers, not consumers.
What if we could choose who we follow and what we see, without being manipulated by opaque algorithms? What if we could own our own data and switch platforms easily, without losing our connections and content? That’s the vision of ActivityPub, a new protocol that aims to create a federated social web.
The name is, frankly, dumb but once you can look past it, things can start to look a bit brighter. It is not particularly new, either. ActivityPub’s first version was released in 2018. In recent months, however, “a number of tech companies have thrown their resources into ActivityPub and what’s now known as ‘ the Fediverse.’”
Think of it as email for social media: ActivityPub isn’t a platform, but a set of rules that allow different platforms to communicate with each other. Think of it as a common language that lets you send and receive messages across different apps and services, just like email.
ActivityPub is now used by a few mn people globally — mainly your nerd friends on platforms like Mastodon (which, for the uninitiated, is kind of like Twitter), where most of the action in the “Fediverse” is happening. The platforms are diverse and independent, but they can interact with each other seamlessly, forming a network of networks. Users can follow, like, comment, and share content across different platforms, without having to create multiple accounts or give up their privacy.
Think of it this way, all snark aside: You post something important to you on Instagram. Your mom or dad can catch it on Facebook — and if they like or comment, the like and the comment shows up in your IG feed, attached to your original post. Just like email, it doesn’t matter what app you use.
ActivityPub is also a standard, meaning that anyone can implement it and join the “network.” It is based on open source software and open web technologies, and it is endorsed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the same organization that sets the standards for the web. ActivityPub is not owned or controlled by any single entity, but by a community of developers, users, and advocates who collaborate and innovate together.
But look, there’s no immediate panacea in ActivityPub — it faces challenges and limitations. It is still a young and evolving protocol, and it needs more adoption, support, and funding to grow and improve. And it’s not going to solve all of social media’s problems by itself — things like moderation, governance, and discovery. It does, however, offer a promising alternative to the status quo, and a way to reclaim users’ agency and autonomy online.
Not everyone will be too happy with ActivityPub, however. Social media giants will probably have to adapt and change or lose their business entirely if the standard is adopted. One other potential segment of losers: Ad-reliant publishers, whose content would then have the ability to be followed by any number of people not on their own platforms. This is already happening as Tech Crunch reported WordPress blogs can now be followed in the fediverse, including on Mastodon.
And the Fediverse got a big boost from Meta, which a few days ago made posts from a limited number of Threads users (all of them working on building out the Twitter-alternative) interoperable on Mastodon and other platforms.
Is ActivityPub the future of social media? It could be — if enough people want it to be. It is still complex and is nowhere near universal adoption, but ActivityPub promises to be a way to create a more diverse, democratic, and decentralized web, where people can connect with each other on their own terms.
2023 has given us some well spent hours in front of the television screen. If you want to spend the last few days of the year reminiscing over what you watched — or like most of us, intend to reconnect with your television after this year’s estrangement during the end of year slump — we may have something for you to watch.
This list is by no means exhaustive. If you want a fully long and comprehensive line-up, there are a few lists that you can refer to on The Guardian, Roger Ebert, IMDb, and Rotten Tomatoes.
#1- First up is Slow Horses, which is now in its third seasonand already greenlit for a fourth (watch trailer, runtime: 2:22). Whether you’re tuning back in or looking for something to binge over the holiday season, Gary Oldman’s grinch-like Jackson Lamb is good company to keep. You can find a more in-depth argument of why we think you should tune in here. You can find all three seasons on Apple TV+.
#2- Gen V is one of the shows we missed out on while it was airing, but it’s a mistake that can be rectified. Fans of the wild, gory, and critically acclaimed The Boys will have their itches scratched as they wait for the forthcoming fourth season. This spin-off (watch trailer, runtime 2:04) centers on the upcoming generation of superheroes, the first to find out that their powers were induced artificially by Vought’s Compound V.
Not familiar with the original series? No problem. While both shows are set in the same universe, Gen V has a coherent main plot separate from the original story. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
#3- It’s no secret how much we loved Blue Eye Samurai. This animated masterpiece (watchtrailer, runtime: 2:21) has everything you need — a compelling plot, amazing character development, beautiful scenery, and lots and lots of blood. It follows Mizu, a skilled samurai shunned by her community for being mixed-race. She’s on a quest to find the only four white men in all of Edo-era Japan in search of her father — who she plans to kill. You can find it on Netflix.
#4-Bodies is a whodunnit that transcends time and space. The series (watch trailer, runtime2:11) follows four different plotlines each concerned with the discovery of a dead body on Longharvest Lane. The kicker? These plotlines are set in 1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053… and they all come across the same body. We follow each timeline’s detective trying to unravel the mystery behind the person consistently dying in each time period. This mind-bender is streaming on Netflix.
#5- If you haven’t boarded The Bear train yet, now’s the time to do it. This show (watch trailer,runtime 1:51) is a favorite at Enterprise, and with good reason. It follows Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), a world-class chef thrust back into the kitchen of his family’s run-down sandwich shop after his brother’s tragic death. It’s a tense show, but a deeply engrossing one too. If you’re a film bro and a foodie, we can’t think of a better fit for you. You can find The Bear on Disney+ and Apple TV.
Related
⚽ The Egyptian Super Cup is back with a new look: The games begin today with its new system where four teams participate in a group championship hosted by the UAE, where an elimination system will be implemented from one match played.
Who is taking part? Instead of one match that joins the title holder of the league and the cup, the new structure brings together the victor of the league (Al Ahly), the runner up (Pyramids) and the champion of the Egyptian Association Cup (Ceramica Cleopatra), and the Egypt Cup winner (also Al Ahly, so Modern Future plays in their stead).
Hold on, where is Zamalek? They should have been playing in the Super as runners up to Al Ahly and the third after the Red Devils and Pyramids, but they chose not to participate in the last edition of the Super League so the Egyptian Football Association banned them from joining this time.
On to today’s matches…Pyramids will be playing Modern Future in a match that kicked off at 3pm and will be continuing after we dispatch. Meanwhile, Al Ahly will be playing Ceramica Cleopatra at 7pm tonight.
In the Nile League: El Gouna will be playing Enppi in gameweek 10 of the Egyptian Premier League at 4pm. Later tonight, Baladiyat Al Mahalla will be playing the National Bank of Egypt at 7pm.
Related
? EAT THIS TONIGHT-
Head to EV if you’re looking to treat yourself to an elegant night out. Located at the Dusit Thani in Lakeview, the restaurant is a fine dining experience that offers Turkish cuisine. The decor and ambience are tasteful and chic, perfect for those nights when you want to dress up.
Everything on the menu is worth a try and the service is really commendable. We’d recommend starting off with a selection of their mezzes, then follow it up with one of EV’s signature dishes, Dana Kaburga (slow cooked marinated beef ribs flambéed with herbs, garlic, and root vegetables). But make sure to leave room for dessert so you can wrap up the night with a tasty, traditional Baklava and tea.
It can get pricey though, so maybe save it for a special occasion. The mezzes can run you between EGP 130-230 and the main dishes can run anywhere between EGP 250 to around EGP 1.2k. Several dishes are designed to share like the Kuzu Tandir (slow-baked lamb with rice) that has a portion for one or four persons.
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? OUT AND ABOUT- (all times CLT)
THEATER-
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’d make a good detective, here’s your chance to find out.Tahqiq is carried out by a group of actors staging an unscripted and interactive murder-mystery at Theatro Arkan. It’s up to you to figure out this whodunnit, which you can do tomorrow from 8pm. Book your tickets here.
Enter the improv world in 2024. Starting Friday, 5 January, Ramsi Lehner will be hosting a ten-class improv workshop to help you improve your public speaking skills, expand your range as an actor or performer, help you develop your standup comedy, or even just make you better at communication. The classes will take place every weekend on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30pm to 10pm. Register here to claim a spot.
ART-
See the tale of three women through art at the A Tale of an Ethereal City exhibition by Khadiga Abou Hussien in collaboration with Rasha Arous & Sara Kouedi at Bibliothek Art Gallery. The exhibition opened its doors last Saturday and will continue until Tuesday, 2 January from 7-10pm.
Get ready, aspiring photographers: The Fujifilm festival is just over a month away. You’ll have four full days of activities, meetups, and talks, as well as a photography contest and an exhibition that you can partake in. You can bring your camera along to get a gratuitous CMOS and lens cleaning, and check out the GFX 100 ii Studio on site. Fujifilm X-Photographers and creators will be there too — don’t miss out on the networking potential. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
MUSIC-
Warm up your vocal chords, gang. Karaoke Night is back at ROOM Art Space and Cafe. ROOM’s doors are open tomorrow, and every Tuesday through to 27 February for you and your friends to belt out your favorite tunes, starting at 8pm and ending at 10pm. You can reserve your spot here.
Get ready for the season with the Cairo Opera House which will be hosting a series of events celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve:
For Disney fans: The Disney Classics concert will be held at the Opera’s Main Hall tonight. The concert will start at 8pm. Tickets are available here.
Don’t miss the Nutcracker ballet shows. The performances will be presented by the Cairo Opera Ballet, along with the Cairo Opera Orchestra. The first show will be held this tomorrow and will continue until this Thursday, 28 December. Tickets are available here.
The orchestra will also put on another concert on Sunday, 31 December celebrating New Year’s Eve. Click here to book your ticket.
Too short notice? You’ve got two more concerts to choose from on the 30th: Metal Night at Cairo Jazz Club 610, also featuring Catharsis (alongside Crescent and Mythos). You can just show up to Castle of Rock tonight, but contact CJC610 to reserve a spot for Metal Night.
Double Dose of Rock at ROOM Art Space is another one for fans or rock. Happening this Saturday, Paranoid Eyes will also be playing, alongside Hues, a Muse tribute band will also be busting the speakers. Book your ticket to Double Dose here
SPORTS-
Heads up, football fans. Raz3 El Gomhoor is coming to The Marquee on Friday, 5 January to host a two-and-a-half hour in-depth discussion about the forthcoming football season, player transfers, and general analysis of all of your favorite leagues. Both platinum ticket tiers are sold out, but if you act fast, you can still snag yourself a gold. Reserve your spot here.
The Cairo Half Marathon is taking place in a few months: Mark your calendars for Friday, 1 March and start stretching. Cairo Runners is bringing back a fan favorite, offering the same distances as The TriFactory. Tickets are available until 27 February, giving you ample time to convince seven of your friends to join, which will get a 10% reduction in price when you register.
CHRISTMAS EVENTS-
Get into the Christmas spirit with these festive events all around the capital.
The classic Christmas staple The Nutcracker Ballet will be performed at the Cairo Opera House by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company everyday starting this Tuesday up until Saturday.
FILM-
Zawya cinema will be screening five movies by director Ali Badrakhan in a program that should endtomorrow. You can check out the schedule here.
Eins Christmas Bazaar is bringing you some handmade goodies, kicking off this past Friday and continuing until Sunday, 1 January, 2024. The bazaar is being held at the Gallery, in Maadi.
Related
? UNDER THE LAMPLIGHT-
Is there such a thing as freewill? The author, Robert Sapolsky, of Determined: AScience of Life without FreeWill, would like to argue that there isn’t. Diving deep into science and philosophy, he develops the case against our agency and decision making.
One by one, he disarms each standard argument against freewill, and he uses complex science, philosophical theory, and chaos to do it.The book is sure to leave you rethinking everything you know.
Life without freewill… The author finds that there are consequences for his conclusion. For example, no one can ever truly be at “fault” for something if they didn’t make the choice to do it, could they? He uses demonic possession to explain the concept. For years seizures were a sign of supernatural activity, and yet, now we know that no person is to blame for their ailments.
What does this mean for life? Well, Sapolsky opens up a discussion on punishment, morality, and harmony with others. In a world without judgment, much of our current structures would need to be redefined. That transition will be difficult, he admits, but he argues that it will allow for a more humane world.
If you want to expand on your existential dread, Sapolsky has another book you can turn to titled Behave published in 2017. In that earlier book, he analyzes why people do good and why they do bad and blends the discussion into one of physics and chemistry coupled with human behavior — which makes Determined a sort of extension of this endeavor.
The EGX30 rose 1.7% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 2.6 bn (20.4% below the 90-day average). Local investors were net sellers. The index is up 66.0% YTD.
In the green: TMG Holding (+6.5%), Ezz Steel (+4.7%) and Orascom Construction (+4.7%).
In the red: Edita (-2.7%), B Investments Holding (-2.7%) and Orascom Development (-2.2%).
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