What I Am Reading:
GPT-3 Generates Hype in Closed Beta
Open AI’s language model can do things like write computer code from a simple description given to it by a human or generate a thought leadership essay on a particular topic (no matter how esoteric). This is the most exciting and incredible technology I have seen in decades. Some of the things I have seen people do with it are truly incredible!
What will happen to cryptocurrency in the 2020s - The Coinbase Blog
This article was written in January and we are now 8 months into 2020. It’s interesting to see how much of Brian Armstrog’s predictions actually came true as Bitcoin breaks the $10K barrier.
The Ability to Regulate Your Emotions is Quickly Becoming The Premier Skill of The 21st Century
When I am asked about what traits I am looking for in a founder the most important one for me is emotional fortitude. Excerpt: “When something happens, our brain’s automatic response is to be reactive. When our amygdala, the small part of our brain that regulates fight or flight is set off, we have to avoid taking the bait of our raw emotional reactions that make us want to overreact,” Kris says.
What I Am Reading:
Why Nerds Are Unpopular
"Popularity is only partially about individual attractiveness. It's much more about alliances. To become more popular, you need to be constantly doing things that bring you close to other popular people, and nothing brings people closer than a common enemy. Like a politician who wants to distract voters from bad times at home, you can create an enemy if there isn't a real one."
Why Walking Helps Us Think
I do my best thinking and memorizing while pacing back and forth. This finally explains why!
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What I Am Reading:
The Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes by Donald Hoffman
A few months ago I wrote about Donald Hoffman’s Interview on Sam Harris’ PODCast. I had watched his TED Talk and was fascinated by his Interface Theory of Perception. Well now he’s written a book about how Darwinian Natural Selection has actually not selected for us to perceive objective reality as it truly is, but rather has shaped our perceptions as an interface that abstracts away the complexities of whatever the objective reality is. Instead of perceiving the true nature of reality, we perceive everything as icons that give us cues about fitness payoffs in our interface. I’ve drank the kool aid on this one. This book will 🤯.
The Playing Field - Graham Duncan’s Blog
During these uncertain financial times, fear reigns on the markets and investors. This article gave me some great insights on how I should be thinking and acting by breaking down the different levels of investors from the Apprentice to the Expert to the Professional and finally, to the Master. Get to know what it takes to up your investing game and act accordingly.
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Check out what I’ve been reading and listening to that has helped me navigate through these crazy and unprecedented times. From remaining unemotional during tough decision making in this economic whirlwind, to adapting in Quarantine isolation while still staying happily married, sane, and productive, to new ways of rejuvenating my immune system in a time when immunity is extra important. These resources helped me keep perspective, stay motivated and bring a lot of benefit and positivity into my life during the otherwise devastating crisis of COVID-19.
What I Am Reading:
The Three Equations for a Happy Life, Even During a Pandemic
The point of everything you do is ultimately for you and yours to be happy. If you can figure out how to be happy during lockdown then imagine how happy you will be once things start to open up again!
Standing on the Shoulders of Solitude: Newton, the Plague, and How Quarantine Fomented the Greatest Leap in Science
How are you spending your time in quarantine? Seems like Newton was able to accept his situation and make the best of it by using that downtime to come up with his most brilliant theorems. Stop watching Netflix and get to work on your next business venture, the book you always wanted to write, or the course you’ve always wanted to take.
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What I am reading:
If You’re Willing To Look Stupid For Long Enough, You’ll Eventually Become a Millionaire - Publishous
This article resonated with me a lot. I clearly remember when I first started JoonBug everyone thought that there would be no way people wanted to see their party photos online nor wanted to buy tickets to events online. Every event producer or club owner rejected us for months until all of a sudden they loved us when we started to bring in cash $$ for them. Likewise when I started EZ Texting everyone told me that SMS was old news and that apps were the things of the future. "SMS is dead," is what I was told by investors and users. Now SMS has the highest open rates and is growing in usage by 25%+ a year. Who looks stupid in the end?
The 20 Best Works of Nonfiction of the Decade - Lit Hub
I exclusively read non-fiction books and I am always looking for great recommendations. This is one of the best lists I have found so far. My favorite: How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell.
Human Health Is in the Hands of Bacteria - Time
Ever since I have taken my health and diet seriously, I've noticed that many of the benefits and results I've achieved is because of my healthy gut. Your health is definitely the sum of your parts and this article shows you how true that is. Take care of your gut and live well and long.
The Illusory Truth Effect: Why We Believe Fake News, Conspiracy Theories and Propaganda
I read Farnam Street religiously every Sunday and subscribe to their email newsletter. If you are looking to change the way you think, learn, and live life then this is the right blog for you. In particular this article compels you to rethink what you find to be true and how you came to believe in your truth in the first place.
What I am watching:
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What I am buying:
If you use a new MacBook then you know how bad the keyboards are. If you also own an iPad then you also know that there aren’t very many good keyboard solutions out there either (I currently use a Brydge but its pretty heavy and bulky). The keyboard struggle is real and this new keyboard promises to solve both issues in one. I am looking forward to hopefully receiving mine once they get through the first production run.
Kickstarter - Nu Type Keyboard
For the past few months I have been looking for a solution to replace my kitchen oven with a smart oven that can be turned on with an app. While doing my research I couldn’t find anything that was both internet enabled and good quality. But I came across this kick starter project which can internet enable any offline appliance or switch simply by physically pressing the on button when you use the app. Still waiting on delivery of this genius product and I hope it can deliver as promised!
Kickstarter - Fingerbot
I suffer from chronic lower back pain yet I still workout everyday and usually use a foam roller to release the knotted fascia in my leg and back muscles. I saw an ad on Instagram for this massage ball that turned out to be surprisingly very effective and the best workout recovery I use now. After 15 minutes of using it I am much looser and feel way better than using the foam roller.
Hyperice - Hypersphere Massage Ball
What I am reading:
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What I am reading:
Nicholas Pelham, the Middle East Correspondent for the Economist gives a rare glimpse into the conditions in modern day Iran. His account is particularly fascinating to me because my parents immigrated from Iran in 1977 and I have never been able to go back to visit given safety concerns. Warning this is a long read.
1843 Magazine - Trapped in Iran
Howard Marks is one of the most successful investors around and in my opinion his brilliance exceeds even Warren Buffet's. I look forward to reading his famous Memos that typically come out every quarter. His latest one speaks about the parallels between real life situations and investing with game theory. After reading it I have been actively looking for a poker coach for myself and my daughter.
Oak Tree Capital - You Bet!
I love watching nature and animal shows and am particularly fascinated with exotic animals like Giraffes (although I dont have any pets). If you are too, then have this quick read about some fascinating facts about Giraffes I bet you never knew.
Quartz - A tall drink of water
