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July and August 2026

Aussie PM with Gonzo Elements

Fresh News From Down Under And Evergreen News Elements

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X / Grok Friendly

Online Media Stock Up!

Destination Websites Established And Key Niche Markets

X Corp And Media Man Group Declare War On X Spamers And Slop Websites; A.I Criminals

Back By Popular Demand

"Wall Street Shuffler" (10 cc)
"Gold" *Spandau Ballet)
"Girl Next Door" (Machine Gun Kelly and Wiz Khalifa)
WWE SummerSlam theme
"Welcome To The Blockchain" (Toby Ganger)
"Money Changes Everything" (Cyndi Lauper)
"Smooth Operator" (Sade)
"Rumble in the Jungle" (When We Were Kings documentary). *Fugees, A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, and John Forté)
"Bulls on Parade" (Rage Against The Machine)
"Down Under" (Men at Work)
"Y.M.C.A" (Villiage People)
"Advance Australia Fair" National anthem of Australia (Peter Dodds McCormick)
"Great Southern Land" (Icehouse)
"Golden Brown" (The Stranglers)
"Bull Rider" (Johnny Cash)
"Obsession" (Animotion). (Original theme music for WWE Saturday Night's Main Event)
"Summer Of '69" (Bryan Adams)
"Money, Money, Money" (ABBA)

Media Man Group X: No Mercy VS Slop Websites And Bad Bots!

August 1, 2026 (Australia)

Markets

ASX futures down 61 points/0.7%: 8882
AUD +0.2% at US70.38¢

Bitcoin $62,938.39 -2.03%

Dow +0.7%
S&P +0.9%
Nasdaq +1.2%
Gold -1.3% to $US4049.96 an ounce
Brent oil +1.2% to $US90.12 a barrel
Iron ore +0.2% to $US95.80 a ton

Dogecoin $0.07003 -0.03%

XRP $1.0645 -1.44%

Shares

August 1 (Australia)

Alphabet Inc Class A
$356.13 +6.73% (+22.47)

TKO Group Holdings Inc
$181.81
-1.09% (-2.00)

Netflix Inc
$71.71
-2.00% (-1.46)

Paramount Skydance Corp
$7.96 +1.92% (+0.15)

News Lead Up

July 31

ASX snaps winning streak; gold miners fall

The Australian sharemarket retreated on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 shedding 0.8 per cent to close at 8,967.7 points. The sell-off followed a negative lead from Wall Street after the US Federal Reserve left the cash rate on hold and downplayed the prospect of an interest rate rise in the near-term. BHP was down 1.7 per cent at $59.15, the ANZ Bank fell 0.6 per cent to $37.51 and Wesfarmers finished 1.5 per cent lower at $89.22. However, Santos rose 0.8 per cent to $7.83 and Domino's Pizza Enterprises was up 9.1 per cent at $19.59. (RMS)

X News

WWE SummerSlam Ticket Sales Surge Ahead of Minneapolis Two-Night Clash

SummerSlam kicks off Saturday, August 1, at the 72,287-seat Minneapolis venue, where Night 1 now shows 32,625 tickets distributed after a recent jump of nearly 2,000 seats, thanks to discount codes like $25 deals. Night 2 sits around 32,000 distributed, with resale starting at $76 and new sections opening. The stacked card features blockbusters like Punk defending against Rhodes on Night 1 and Reigns facing Rollins on Night 2, drawing excitement despite debates over turnout compared to last year's 50,493. (Media Man Peg-On): Smart fans were holding off waiting for discounts! Can't blame them! Mark Mania!

News

Cryptos

The crypto market is on the defensive

Market Overview

The crypto market capitalisation has retreated to levels seen at the start of the week, near $2.17T, having failed to mount a sustained rally. The market remains cautious, trading just above its 50-day moving average, which has served as support since the second half of July. Among the popular coins, the top performers over the last day were Uniswap (+8.7%), Filecoin (+4.6%) and VeChain (+4.4%). Notably, Uniswap, with a 60% rise, leads the gains over the last 30 days. The worst performers were Cosmos (-4.2%), Zcash (-3.4%) and Basic Attention Token (-3%). Cosmos has lost 18% over the month, hitting a multi-year low of $1.23 amid high trading volumes and coming relatively close to its all-time low of $1.13, recorded at the market bottom in March 2020.

Bitcoin found support late on Thursday, but its rally stalled once again upon breaching the $65K level, pushing the price back down to $64K at the start of active trading in Europe. We have repeatedly warned of a prolonged consolidation for the leading cryptocurrency following a decline towards the 200-week moving average, as has been the case in several previous instances. It appears that there is active rotation among holders at these levels, but the price is trading within a narrow range.

News Background

Ethereum Institutional, which focuses on the institutional adoption of the ETH blockchain, has attracted over 100 investors as part of an ecosystem funding round. All proceeds will go towards accelerating work with banks, asset managers and custodians to develop their products within the ETH ecosystem.

According to Santiment, the number of Ethereum wallets with a non-zero balance has exceeded 200 million for the first time. Although a single user may own multiple wallets, this figure remains an important indicator of investor activity on the network.

30 July marked the 11th anniversary of the Ethereum mainnet's launch. On that day, the first block was created, heralding the era of smart contracts and decentralised applications. Over the years, the project has evolved from an experimental idea into a global infrastructure, becoming the foundation for the development of DeFi and NFTs, and for the transition to the Proof of Stake consensus algorithm.

XRP metrics: price, trading volume and open interest continue to decline. According to CryptoQuant, open interest on Binance has fallen to its lowest level since 2024. Over the past 12 months, XRP has fallen by more than 65%.

Summary: The crypto market has once again gone on the defensive: market capitalisation has retreated, Bitcoin is stuck at $64–65K, and the positive momentum in Ethereum contrasts with XRP’s weakness. (FxPro)

News

Gold

Gold: The Fed will lead the way!

Markets are awaiting the Fed’s decision on interest rates

Gold’s reaction will depend on the Fed’s rhetoric and the number of dissenting votes

The US dollar has retreated as traders square positions ahead of the FOMC meeting results announcement. The futures market puts the odds of a Fed rate hike at 1 in 3 following the 28–29 July meeting. There is a high risk of a surprise from the Fed, so speculators are unwinding some of their record net long positions in the greenback, the highest since 2015.

Data points to rates being held steady: June employment figures cooled after strong spring growth, and inflation has slowed. Furthermore, several FOMC officials have stated that monetary policy is in the right place, and Kevin Warsh gave no indication of tightening in his testimony before Congress.

Conversely, advocates of monetary tightening argue that the start of a tightening cycle signals the Fed’s readiness to deploy all its resources to ensure inflation returns to the 2% target, as Kevin Warsh has repeatedly stated. Without a 25-basis-point rise in July, the Fed may need to hike by 50 basis points in September. At the same time, the new Fed Chair could demonstrate his independence and the central bank's independence from White House directives.

The Fed’s decision is of paramount importance for gold. The precious metal is under pressure and is unlikely to stray far from the $4,000-per-ounce mark, as the futures market anticipates two rounds of Fed rate hikes in 2026. In this regard, even if rates remain at their current level, hawkish rhetoric could have dire consequences for gold.

On the other hand, the US dollar risks weakening significantly if the Fed does not adjust its monetary policy and there are no more than two dissenting votes. This is the view of TD Securities, which forecasts that the presidents of the Cleveland and Dallas Feds, Beth Hammack and Lori Logan, will vote in favour of a rate hike. In this scenario, gold could head towards $4,150 and beyond.

The precious metal has reacted calmly to the rise in oil prices caused by Iran’s unexpected strikes on US bases in Jordan and to Hong Kong’s increase in gold bar imports to their highest level since late 2014. This points to strong demand from mainland China. However, history shows that when gold flows from West to East, i.e., from ETFs to Asian consumers, a downward trend in gold prices is the most common outcome.

Summary: Gold’s path hinges on the Fed: hawkish signals could pressure prices, while steady rates and limited dissent may weaken the dollar and lift gold.

News Lead Up

Oil

Oil: a surplus on the horizon

The de-escalation of the conflict in the Middle East has sent Brent prices tumbling

The oil market could return to a surplus as early as the end of 2026

The US dollar and oil have lost their correlation. Brent recorded its worst daily fall in three months after reports of a ceasefire in the Middle East, and it continued to slide amid US optimism on progress in negotiations with Iran. Previously, falling Brent prices tended to weaken the greenback by reducing expectations of higher inflation and further Fed rate hikes. This time, investors fear the Federal Reserve could make a surprise move.

CME derivatives put the odds of a monetary policy tightening in July at 38%, the highest uncertainty since September 2024. If the central bank surprises the markets, this could provide fresh tailwinds for the US dollar.

Brent prices are under pressure as the conflict in the Middle East de-escalates. According to Macquarie Bank, the conflict will end within weeks rather than months, owing to the approaching US mid-term elections. As a result, the company believes the oil market could see a surplus of 2 million barrels per day as early as the fourth quarter. In the first quarter of 2027, the surplus is set to double.

Although traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains subdued, oil continues to flow through the Red Sea. According to Kpler’s estimates, around 25 tankers have passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. As long as the Houthis’ threats remain unfulfilled, the market breathes a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's resumption of operations in the Black Sea further eases fears of supply disruptions and contributes to the fall in Brent prices.

Nevertheless, the bulls are not giving up. Barclays claims that oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have fallen from 5.9 million bpd to 2.9 million bpd, whilst Société Générale believes that around 4% of global supplies are at risk. Furthermore, each month of conflict in the Middle East will add $10 per barrel to Brent's price.

Prices will find it harder to return to pre-war levels, as evidenced not only by the fragile ceasefire but also by expectations that Chinese imports will rise from a 10-year low of 6.2 million bpd in June to 7.8 million bpd in July. Rising global oil demand will keep Brent prices high even as the conflict in the Middle East continues to de-escalate.

Summary: The dollar may gain amid surprise risks from the Fed, while Brent falls on de-escalation, though Chinese demand limits the downside. (FxPro)

News (ICYMI)

Alphabet

Alphabet’s stake in Anthropic expands

The value of Alphabet’s stake in the artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic has soared to around $US124 billion ($178 billion), making it one of the most lucrative bets in the company’s history.The Google parent disclosed in a filing on Thursday (Friday AEST) that the value of its investments in unidentified private companies totalled roughly $US124.3 billion as of June 30. The filing noted that this value is “primarily” driven by one investment, which is a reference to Alphabet’s stake in Anthropic, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information is not public. The company said it recorded about $US77 billion in unrealised gains from its private investments in the second quarter, without providing further details in the filing. Google has emerged as one of Anthropic’s biggest backers over the past several years. The technology giant first invested $US3 billion in the start-up starting in 2023. Earlier this year, it agreed to invest as much as $US40 billion more, consisting of $US10 billion upfront and a potential $US30 billion in additional funding tied to operational and financial milestones through 2030.Alphabet’s filing on Thursday showed the remaining commitment has fallen to $US20 billion as of June 30 from $US30 billion at the end of the first quarter, suggesting that Google invested another $US10 billion in the start-up last quarter. (BB and AI)

News

Sports Media (Australia/World)

July 24

SBS's secret 2030 FIFA World Cup broadcast deal

The Australian Financial Review - Page 8 : 24 July 2026
It can be revealed that SBS some months ago extended its contract with FIFA to broadcast the World Cup until 2030, but that it is yet to formally announce the extension. The hybrid public broadcaster has shown every World Cup tournament on free-to-air television since 1986, while the 2030 FIFA World Cup will be the the first to be held across three continents. The news that SBS has extended its deal to broadcast the FIFA World Cup comes after the recently finished 2026 event was a big success for it. (RMS)

News Lead Up

Pop Culture

X News

Trick Williams Challenges Baron Corbin for US Title at SummerSlam

Williams, who won the United States Championship from Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 42 Night 2 on April 19 and has defended his custom fur-lined belt for nearly 100 days, now faces Corbin after the Lone Wolf's shocking return on July 10 SmackDown. Corbin interrupted a clash between Williams and Carmelo Hayes, hit both with End of Days, and cut a promo calling out Williams as his top target. WWE made the August 1 or 2 matchup official at Minneapolis' U.S. Bank Stadium, though some fans gripe that Hayes gets sidelined again while Corbin jumps straight to a title shot. (Media Man Peg-On). We love all the talent here. Looking for Corbin to ge the W. Corbin's Corner! End Tricky's title run! Hungry like a wolf!

News

Culture

'Welcome To The Blockchain' aka

The Bitcoin Song

Intro

We're now standing on the precipice of a global revolution
Of economics, of politics, and government
Welcome to the blockchain

verse

Power corrupts, money is power
The power to control the money is one that is now
In the hands of those who pretend we can't function without them
So how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated interest rates to give the banks
A way to create money with the loans that they're giving out daily (yup)
That means our money is debt
That we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No wonder then why the middle class is going under
When the one's above them gotta cover and come to collect
And many have no access to banking
Making payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We can not wait, welcome to the blockchain

chorus

Welcome to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us

Bitcoin

verse

Bitcoin is a decentralized ledger
And the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You can send it anywhere and instantly
No one can intervene, no third party in between
There's no counterfeiting
Algorithms control the outer limits of how many coins can get released
Programmable money, no government can seize it
Payments can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts can be written cementing your agreements
With terms that can't be bent once you consent then it completes it
Autonomous businesses are possible
Where profit is distributed amongst those adopting it
Paradigm shift we must adjust to the ending
With the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning

chorus

Welcome to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin

bridge

Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building

chorus

Welcome to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin

Writer: Toby Ganger

News Flashback

Feb 2026

Mining/Energy/Resources/Biz

Rio Tinto dodges merger bullet

Rio Tinto has dodged two 'bullets' due to Glencore's rejection of a merger proposal: a possible BHP takeover bid and a dangerous acquisition. BHP looked closely at whether to bid for Rio Tinto if the latter announced a merger with Glencore. The two companies would make excellent merger partners; amongst others things, their staff and senior people have similar cultures, they are co-operating on future Australian iron ore projects and they are copper joint venture partners in Chile and the US. Meanwhile, there are significance cultural differences between Rio Tinto and Glencore; there is little doubt that Rio Tinto's CEO Simon Trott would have had doubts about a merger once he understood these cultural differences. (RMS)

News/Snapshot

Australian Mining

Global Commodity Rankings

Australia holds some of the world's largest reserves and is a leading producer of several key minerals.

#1 Producer: Iron Ore, Bauxite, Lithium, Rutile, and Zircon.

#1 Reserves: Iron Ore, Gold, Lead, Nickel, Rutile, Uranium, and Zinc.

#2 Producer: Gold, Alumina, and Manganese.

Key Mining Hubs & Major Projects

Western Australia: The nation's "engine room," producing 98% of Australia's iron ore and 60% of its gold. Major sites include the Pilbara (iron ore) and the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie (gold).

Queensland: A global leader in metallurgical coal (Bowen Basin) and silver/lead production (Cannington mine).

South Australia: Home to Olympic Dam, which contains the world's largest single uranium deposit and significant copper and gold reserves.

Major Players

The sector is dominated by several multinational giants and significant domestic players:

BHP: Often ranked as Australia's most valuable company; major interests in iron ore, copper, and coal.
Rio Tinto: A world leader in iron ore (Pilbara) and aluminum.

Fortescue (FMG): Primarily focused on iron ore and rapidly expanding into green energy.

Hancock Prospecting: Australia's largest private mining company, led by Gina Rinehart, the nation's wealthiest person.

South32: Spun out of BHP; manages a diversified portfolio including manganese, silver, and nickel.

2026 Trends & Developments

Critical Minerals Push: The government has introduced a $23 billion package to support domestic processing and manufacturing of critical minerals to reduce global reliance on single-country supply chains.

Uranium Rally: Prices exceeding US$100/lb have sparked renewed interest in Australian prospects like the Kalkaroo project.

M&A Activity: Major merger talks continue between giants like Rio Tinto and Glencore as they seek to consolidate copper exposure for the EV market.

Workforce Challenges: The Minerals Council of Australia is currently calling for migration reforms to address a significant "skills crunch" in the sector.

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

Media Man Group

Cryptocurrency, Finance and World

"Volatility is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael Saylor

"Bitcoin is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme." — Naval Ravikant

"We have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical framework that is free of politics and human error." — Tyler Winklevoss

"You can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere, and the world will have to readjust. World governments will have to readjust." — John McAfee

"Bitcoin is the most important invention in the history of the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver

"Cryptocurrency is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn governments." — Charles Lee

"In the future, national currencies will become obsolete. Bitcoin will become the single global currency." — Jack Dorsey

"The future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng Zhao

"Crypto offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged." — Elizabeth Stark

"The new frontier of innovation is in decentralization. Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott

"Digital currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter of how long before governments embrace it." — Brad Garlinghouse

Pop Culture

Dream Matches: Fantasy Booking

CM Punk vs Cody Rhodes (WWE SummerSlam 2026)
The Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Money INC vs Right To Censor
Bulls vs Bears
Grayson Waller vs NXT Office
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Tony D'Dangelo vs Mike Santana
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Roman Reigns vs CM Punk (WWE WrestleMania)
Green vs The Coal Miners Daughter
AC/DC vs Swifties
Triangle v World Bank
Sarah's Oil vs Big Oil
Mr X vs Mr VOX
Mr X vs Mr Platformer
Mr FOX vs Mr Vice
Fox And The Hound vs The View
The Masked Superstar vs Mr Jones
The Undertaker vs Mankind
UFC Legends vs Father Time
Vinnie Vegas and Oz vs Los Americanos
NXT GM vs The Don
Mr Moneymaker vs Mr Regulator
Mr Blockchain vs Mr EU
WWE Unreal vs The Old Guard
Reality TV vs John Pilger Type Journalism and Docos
Mr Real Deal vs Mr Grifter
Mr Truth vs Mr Shock Jock
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky: Rematch
WWE Wrestlers vs NFL Super Bowl Players
Logan Paul and Bad Bunny vs Jake Paul and The Don - Special ref: Damian Priest
Kelly Gang vs Snow White Clan
BKFC vs PFL vs ONE
Mr Sky vs Mr Vice
Marvel Universe vs DC Universe vs Monster Universe
Logan Paul vs Tom Brady
MMA vs Lucha Libre

Media Man

Tips to deal with loss at an online casino; And tips to general well-being

Always look on the bright side of life

Count your blessings, in and out of the casino at Internet Matrix

Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food - Hippocrates

Elements For Life: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire

May the Sun God shine on you. May The Universe Be On Your Side

Let's take a deep dive before getting into the casino, gambling and technology business.

The topic of life and what makes up the world! ... which casinos, gambling and the web are part of life and the Universe.

The ancient Greeks believed that there were four elements that everything was made up of: earth, water, air, and fire. This theory was suggested around 450 BC, and it was later supported and added to by Aristotle.

(Aristotle also suggested that there was a fifth element, aether, because it seemed strange that the stars would be made out of earthly elements. He would be surprised to learn that they are in fact made up of many elements found on earth, and are so hot they could be said to be on fire all the time!)

The idea that these four elements – earth, water, air, and fire – made up all matter was the cornerstone of philosophy, science, and medicine for two thousand years.

The elements were “pure” but could not be found in that state on earth. Every visible thing was made up of some combination of earth, water, air, and fire.

The four elements were even used to described the four temperaments a person could have, and Hippocrates used the four elements to describe the four “humors” found in the body. These theories stated that the temperaments and humors needed to be in balance with each other in order for a person to be well both mentally and physically.

While we do know now that these previous theories are false, in a way the four elements do align with the four states of matter that modern science has agreed on: solid (earth), liquid (water), gas (air), and plasma (fire).

Ok punter, did we go deep enough for you? Good, now lets focus in on the online gambling side of things, since that's what you are really head to do right punter?

Positive Mental Attitude and Resistance, for dealing with any gambling loss and loss in general

Enjoying a punt on online casino games for real money can bring much fun and delight, but there are dangers to watch out for!

Winning cash is a buzz and lucrative...going for the big one and hit a jackpot!

However, as with all things in life, do your best to also be prepared for losses.. even though the local poker book or casino guide may not mention this!

If you gamble recklessly, you may lose a lot of money and fast!

Be prepared in your mind, or it could be devastating!

Read below on some very solid techniques to make sure your online gambling experience is overall a good one...

The good folks at robinroo online casino wanted you to get these positive messages, as they have your best interests at heart, especially in the online casino domain. If you stay happy and satisfied you will want to stay with us so you can keep pursuing those wins, time after time.

Budget

The first thing that you need to do before losing your hard-earned cash is to stop immediately. You should never gamble more than what you have set aside .Be true to yourself punter.

It's better to save up some extra money so that you don't end up spending too much. Bankroll management. No you know!

Take a Break. Fresh air, water, coffee...

. If you feel like you cannot control your urge to continue playing, then you might want to consider taking a break from the game. Take a break, have a kit-kat, coffee, water, bites, or combo! Get your head straight punter!.

After doing these two things, you should be able to clear your head and feel fresh again.

3. Accept Your Losses
Don't chase your losses. Life is full of risk. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to accept your losses and live with them. Even if you are very good at gambling, losses are bound to happen, Maintain some happy thoughts, but make sure you don't loose your gambling smile or poker face forever. Live to fight another day!.

Wrap-up

As always, have fun and bet with your head, not over it. Hit the casino now.