Wednesday☕️

22 Jan 2025 — 4 min read

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The U.S. Coast Guard announced swift action to implement executive orders from the White House, marking one of the first instances of the U.S. adopting the term “Gulf of America” in its operations. Acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday ordered an immediate deployment of cutters, aircraft, boats, and specialized forces to enhance security across critical maritime regions.

These include the southeastern U.S. border near Florida to address potential mass migration from Haiti or Cuba, the maritime borders around Alaska, Hawai’i, U.S. territories, the Bahamas and South Florida, the Pacific border with Mexico, and the Gulf of America near Texas.
The Coast Guard will also assist Customs and Border Protection along the maritime portions of the southwest U.S. border. Working in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense, the Coast Guard is focused on detecting, deterring, and intercepting illegal migration, drug trafficking, and other threats before they reach U.S. shores.

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Environment & Weather:

Yesterday, North Florida experienced a rare winter event, with snowfall ranging from 2 to 8 inches across the region. Areas like Pensacola saw up to 8 inches, while parts of the eastern Panhandle received around 2 to 6 inches.

This historic snowfall marks one of the most significant snowfalls in the area since December 1989, when Jacksonville recorded nearly 2 inches of snow. Snow-covered beaches and roads created a unique sight but also hazardous travel conditions, prompting Winter Storm Warnings and advisories.

Space:

Yesterday, January 21, SpaceX completed two successful Falcon 9 rocket launches, expanding its Starlink satellite network. The first launch took place at 12:24 a.m. Eastern Time from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission deployed 21 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, further enhancing SpaceX’s global high-speed internet service. The Falcon 9 booster from this launch safely returned to Earth, landing on the drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” in the Atlantic Ocean.

The second launch occurred later that morning at 10:45 a.m. Eastern Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This mission carried 27 Starlink satellites into orbit and marked a significant milestone as SpaceX’s 400th successful booster landing. The booster for this launch also returned successfully, landing on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean. These back-to-back launches demonstrate SpaceX’s efficiency and its ability to operate at a high frequency while advancing its satellite internet constellation.

Science & Technology:

The U.S. government has announced the Stargate Project, a $500 billion investment in advanced AI infrastructure, with contributions from OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. Announced by President Donald Trump, the project aims to strengthen the United States’ global leadership in AI development and innovation. Starting with an initial $100 billion investment, the initiative will focus on building advanced data centers, with the first locations in Texas, and is projected to create 100,000 technology-related jobs across the country.

Stargate combines government resources with private industry expertise to address growing competition in AI, particularly from countries like China. Key figures involved include OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. The project prioritizes building cutting-edge AI infrastructure, advancing research and development, and integrating quantum computing, with plans to expand partnerships to sustain long-term innovation in the field.

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