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According to Dealroom’s Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2025, Paris just overtook London as the #1 startup hub in Europe — and is now fourth globally behind Silicon Valley, New York, and Boston. While London still brings in more cash, the City of Light is growing faster in unicorns, AI talent, and enterprise value.

Also: fairly surprised this wasn’t technically already the case given what I know of the French Tech ecosystem, but I guess capital/language/culture used to make it easier for London up until now.

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This week, 300 French organizations - including startups, public bodies, corporates and tech heavyweights dropped a “manifesto” for European tech independence.
The goal? Break free from the grip of U.S. and Chinese tech superpowers and reclaim control over French data, infrastructure, and destiny. (…)
Think: a European small business act, sovereign AI infrastructure, a unified cloud, and better startup-corporate matchmaking platforms.

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Monocle & Jony Ive

Since visiting the Monocle café last weekend, I’ve been re-inspired by the space, but also the magazine, its radio, and its editorial pieces. I’m seriously considering subscribing again.

So as I make up my mind, it was a joy to discover this article on Jony Ive, LoveFrom, published on the day of possibly the biggest announcement in about a decade, in the Tech Industry

Auto-generated description: The webpage features an interview article about Jony Ive, along with a cityscape image, an illustration of a man, and advertisements for Monocle Radio and a watch.

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The end to a lovely weekend

A bottle of Uivo Renegado wine is on a table next to two filled wine glasses and some coasters in a cozy room.A red building with a sign announcing a performance by Soccer Mommy and Bored at My Grandma's House at Le Trabendo.A person is walking on a tree-lined path with a stroller under a canopy of lush green trees.A cozy cafe features wooden tables and chairs, wall art, and a few patrons enjoying their time.A musician (Soccer Mommy) is performing on stage with purple lights illuminating the scene in front of an audience.A tray displays a round loaf of brioche, a pistachio or nut-topped cake, and a stack of glazed pastries.A street scene shows a bike rack with parked bicycles and a sign in French advertising café, magazines, and more.A wall-mounted wooden bookshelf displays a variety of magazines and newspapers in a neatly arranged manner.A cozy bookshop entrance with a glass door, leading into a warmly lit interior lined with shelves full of books.Customers are standing at the counter of a cozy cafe with a variety of drinks and pastries on display, surrounded by framed art on the walls.People are sitting at an outdoor café on a sunny street with a classic European-style building in the background.A taqueria with outdoor red tables and chairs is situated on a city street, featuring a menu above the entrance.A picturesque building with a brick facade stands beside a canal, surrounded by a few trees and people walking nearby.People are relaxing by a canal on a sunny day, with buildings and a blue sky in the background.

I’ve got newfound respect for Jonathan Claus:

Just because discrimination doesn’t concern you, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to it. I haven’t experienced racism, but I’m still interested in saying it’s not cool for the people who suffer it.

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“Kyle Goon: The Baltimore ‘O!’ is about community pride. Don’t lecture us about it.”

We’re here, we’re proud of the place we live, and we want it to thrive. (…) The “O!” is a Baltimore thing. It’s a Maryland thing. It’s about a shared identity and community that we’re all rooting for, which is patriotic in and of itself.

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Panini Top Class: Euroleague 2024-2025

Really excited by this new “Top Class” Euroleague series of Panini trading cards!

First time that we get this in Europe, and the quality is superb: great card thickness (I’m used to less from Topps), the images are very high quality, and the holographs and graphic details look stunning!

Now to get my Paris Basketball cards signed…

A collection of "Top Class" basketball trading card packs and a box are displayed on a wooden table.A hand is holding a fan of basketball trading cards with various players and colorful designs.A collection of basketball trading cards featuring various players on a wooden surface.

Very happy to be home 🏡 🛬

A New Yorker magazine cover features an abstract design with a silhouette of a person holding a baseball bat against a patterned background.A stylized illustration on a magazine cover features an art deco design with geometric shapes, displaying the title "The New Yorker" and the date May 15, 2023.

Planning to use today’s travel day back home to catchup on new music releases and the Baltimore Hardcore/Punk scene I’ve been reading about lately!

A collage of four music album covers featuring "Young & Dumb" by Avril Lavigne and three EPs by Turnstile.A collection of album covers showcasing various styles and themes, including hardcore and artistic designs.A screenshot displays six album covers from artists including Turnstile, André 3000, Sleep Token, Kali Uchis, F1, and The Kooks.A music player interface displays the album "Even In Arcadia" by Sleep Token, with a background of lush, pink foliage.

Outside of my Caps/Habs series, it’s been hard not to cheer for Canadian teams in these #NHLPlayoffs (for self-evident reasons):

100% behind the Jets, Oilers, and Maple Leaves in their respective series! Go Canada!

A hockey player in a blue uniform celebrates a goal on the ice rink while a referee is nearby and another player from the opposing team looks on.

Food, it’s good!

A person wearing sunglasses is sitting outdoors, drinking from a large container with a straw.A person wearing sunglasses is sitting on a bench while eating a donut topped with pink icing.

Half day in Baltimore’s inner harbor and discovering Pratt Street Farmer’s Market for lunch (aka Charm City)

A street scene features a curved road leading to a pedestrian crossing, surrounded by brick buildings and trees under a partly cloudy sky.A waterfront scene features modern buildings, calm water, and the Maryland state flag flying prominently.Skyscrapers and a building with the sign "IT'SUGAR" are set against a blue sky with clouds.A colorful "Visit Baltimore" sign stands in a grassy area surrounded by trees and urban buildings.A waterfront scene features calm water, city buildings in the distance, and a clear sky with scattered clouds.A waterfront scene featuring boats docked near a brick pathway, modern buildings, and a blue sky with scattered clouds.A historic brick building with large smokestacks is reflected in a body of water, set against a partly cloudy blue sky.A street scene features a brick-paved pathway lined with modern buildings and outdoor seating, under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.People are gathered around food trucks and a menu board in a brick-paved urban area under a partly cloudy sky.A lively outdoor market features people walking among vendor booths and tents on a sunny day.A traffic utility box covered in graffiti art featuring a detailed portrait is situated on a street corner next to a blue vehicle.Two people walk towards a waterfront with a large sailing ship docked nearby on a sunny day.A museum exhibit features various dinosaur skeletons and fossils displayed in a spacious hall with large windows.A street scene features a row of brick houses with trees and a parked car in the foreground.

Day out to Washington DC: always like the architecture and being able to walk all around!

Local DC Bros are the worst, local city folks are the best!

A café counter displays a menu board with various food and drink options, alongside pastries, snacks, and a selection of cookies in the foreground.A train interior features a staircase with a sign reading "NO SITTING or STANDING on STAIRS," leading to seats filled with passengers.The United States Capitol building is seen under a dramatic cloudy sky, surrounded by greenery and pathways.Several people walk towards a large historic building with three American flags and a prominent statue in front, under a partly cloudy sky.A spacious hall features an ornate, domed ceiling with people walking or gathered near a modern, green glass installation on the marble floor.A modern architectural complex features circular-topped buildings with a mix of curved and straight lines, set against a cloudy sky and framed by wide stone steps.A person stands at a crosswalk facing the U.S. Capitol building under a cloudy sky.A historic building with tall columns stands on a sunny street lined with parked cars and other urban structures under a clear blue sky.A street scene features the corner of a building with "Hotel Harrington" signage and a few pedestrians near a crosswalk.A bustling street scene features a colorful Chinatown gate with construction workers, orange cones, and modern buildings in the background.Several flags are displayed on tall poles along a pathway, with a building in the background under a cloudy sky.A stone building facade features a central doorway with the word "COMMISSION" above it, flanked by decorative lamps and steps leading up, with an architectural relief above.A bustling urban street features historic red-brick buildings, a pointed tower, pedestrians, and traffic under a partly cloudy sky.A colorful, urban building with sports-related murals stands on a city street corner under a clear sky.

3pm on a strip mall in the American suburbs is a helluva time 😳

2-0 at halftime! Really hoping Inter finishes the job against Barça! #ChampionsLeague

Really loving the way @theathletic.bsky.social has implemented stories-like sports video recaps within its app!

A basketball game is captured in action with a text overlay stating, "Aaron Gordon hits a Second Playoff Game-Winner."

Another big day at the office

A tweet humorously questions the excitement of watching overtime playoff hockey compared to snorting cocaine and riding a motorcycle out of a helicopter.A sports schedule displays various matches, including soccer, basketball, and hockey games, listed with their respective times and teams.A sports schedule displays multiple live and upcoming matches across various leagues, including the Champions League, NHL, MLB, WNBA, and NBA.

Wonderful little day out to Annapolis, state capital of #Maryland, today :)

A cozy bar features patrons seated on stools and is adorned with various university flags and sailing decor.A cloudy marina setting features boats docked near a waterfront, with nearby houses and parking visible.A historic brick building with a tall, white-domed steeple is surrounded by greenery and overcast skies.A cobblestone street is lined with colorful buildings, parked cars, and overhead power lines under a cloudy sky.

Daring Fireball: Trump Has No Idea What the Declaration of Independence Means

_ …by the time he gets toward the end of this second term they’re going to have to somehow try to keep him away from microphones. You can’t get out of the fourth grade without being able to describe what the Declaration of Independence means._

With 2 seconds remaining the Winnipeg Jets are scoring to push for overtime — glad I stayed on this Game 7 against the St Louis Blues! #NHLPlayoffs