Last Stand is only marginally useful with a marginal last stander monster (Silver II, 22 mana, Odd One’s Out rule set, Death/Earth/Fire splinters available).

I’m thinking about sitting out next season’s Splinterlands battles and just renting out much of my deck. I’ve really got to build up my deck and level up some key summoners and monsters. During the current season, my rating went above 3,000 for the first time. Nominally good enough for Diamond, but my Collection Power is only Silver-range so far so the 3k rating comes from battling with lower level summoners and monsters that wouldn’t fare well in higher leagues.

Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, and Debt:

Nvidia shares plunge after Q1 figures, crypto mining card revenue ‘nominal’

Portuguese Congress Rejects Two Bills Seeking to Tax Crypto

Federal tax receipts boom, powered by inflation

The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday it now expects federal revenue this year to jump by a whopping $800 billion — equivalent to the Pentagon’s annual budget.

Coronavirus News, Analysis, and Opinion:

We’re finally learning more about long Covid

Nation’s latest COVID-19 wave largely hidden from view, health experts say

China’s Top Two Leaders Diverge in Messaging on Covid Impact

Politics:

Republicans Ignore the Southern Baptist Scandal

There are few things that members of the American right emphasize more often about themselves than their deep commitment to protecting children — particularly when it comes to the threat of sexual abuse. In recent months, they’ve shown how intense that commitment is by labeling just about anyone who supports equality for LGBTQ people as ‘groomers’ who are preparing children to be sexually abused.
So when news broke this past weekend of a blockbuster report about sexual abuse (including of children) and a coverup within the Southern Baptist Convention, the GOP and conservative movement rose up in outrage. Republican politicians such as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis demanded further investigation, QAnon adherents turned their focus to this conspiracy, and conservative media couldn’t stop talking about the story.
Actually, none of that happened.

GOP Rep. Paul Gosar spread a baseless transphobic rumor that the Uvalde school-shooting suspect was a ‘transsexual leftist illegal alien’

American Madness

My sister is a teacher in America, which means she has had to teach her fourth grade students about how to defend themselves against people who might walk into her public school with guns. Once, during a false alarm, her class followed the “safety protocol” they had learned. What did these children do to protect themselves from the shooter they thought was in the building? One boy wielded a peanut butter jar. Another: Purell. A student with a broken leg held up his crutch. My sister crouched behind her desk and told them they were doing great.

Three Reasons Why Mass Shootings Will Keep Happening

“It’s fucking nuts to do nothing about this.” — Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ)

Retired Russian general’s plane ‘blown out of the skies’ in Ukraine combat mission

Putin promotes personal bodyguard to ‘Emergencies Minister’ after predecessor mysteriously fell to his death from a 90ft waterfall

Things heard at WEF: "We need a re-calibration of human rights like freedom of speech..."

https://t.co/Kw5QyCJJWQ
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 23, 2022

Customs and Border Protection bulletin: American fighters headed to Ukraine questioned at U.S. airports

The Department of Homeland Security is worried about white supremacists returning to the U.S. with battlefield experience. Critics say it’s bought Russia’s propaganda.

The U.S. Can’t Force the Rest of the World to Support Ukraine. Here’s Why.

Putin’s real goal in Ukraine isn’t territory

Putin isn’t just trying to take over Ukrainian land — he is trying to obliterate Ukrainian identity.

⚡️UK Intelligence: Russia capturing Sievierodonetsk ‘pocket’ would result in whole of Luhansk Oblast under Russian occupation.

According to the UK Defense Ministry, the operation to capture Sievierodonetsk is currently Russia's main effort.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) May 24, 2022

GOP Lawmaker Revises Story on January 5 Capitol Tour

Under pressure from the Jan. 6 select committee, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) issued a statement last week acknowledging that he had led a ‘constituent family’ through the Capitol complex on Jan. 5, 2021 — the day before a violent mob breached the Capitol and threatened the transfer of power.
But he’s repeatedly adjusted his description of that group, raising additional questions about the circumstances of his tour — questions his office has so far declined to answer.
Notably, the Capitol had been closed to tours at the time because of Covid restrictions, and Loudermilk didn’t publicly acknowledge bringing in guests even after Democrats raised concerns about suspicious visitors inside the complex the day before the attack.