SatPost by Trung...
9 Best Things of 2023
My favourite book, film, podcast, meme, investment and more for the year.
11 months ago
My favourite book, film, podcast, meme, investment and more for the year.
Essays - Benedict...
Metabrand
Has Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook, or rebranded VR? What is the
metaverse? And can any...
over a year ago
Has Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook, or rebranded VR? What is the
metaverse? And can any company decide to build the future anymore?
Rest of World -...
The role of trust in building fintech for Africa
Yanmo Omorogbe of Nigerian wealth management firm Bamboo talks about navigating government...
5 months ago
Yanmo Omorogbe of Nigerian wealth management firm Bamboo talks about navigating government regulations and the role of longevity.
Platformer
Twitter’s risky plan to save its ads business
Agree to personalize your ads — or else
over a year ago
Agree to personalize your ads — or else
Working Theorys
How to Do Business School Right | Theory No. 22
There’s an age-old debate about whether you should go to business school or not. It rarely comes up...
a year ago
There’s an age-old debate about whether you should go to business school or not. It rarely comes up these days but yes, I went to business school — arguably to the most business-school-y of business schools, Harvard Business School. Business school isn’t “popular” in modern...
Business Brainstorms
Squeeze page builders, better Bible App, why you're stuck, 1X vs. 2x Founders, talk to people!
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write...
a year ago
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write this email to share the most interesting trends, frameworks, opportunities, and ideas with you. Let's dive in! 💡 Opportunities “There is a desperate need for new software devs in the...
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 Phil is the founder of my favorite email software and he’s 100% correct here. Google sucks for...
11 months ago
#1 💡 Phil is the founder of my favorite email software and he’s 100% correct here. Google sucks for recommendations. The algorithm has been gamed to death. Just in the past two days I’ve asked GPT for recommendations on 2 high ticket decisions (job board in specific region,...
Tech + Economics +...
Another 3 men raise another few million
From Relevance AI (emphasis mine)
We're thrilled to announce our USD$10M raise by leading...
a year ago
From Relevance AI (emphasis mine)
We're thrilled to announce our USD$10M raise by leading investors from
around the world including King River Capital, Peak XV Partners,
Insight Partners and Galileo Ventures supporting Relevance’s mission to
enable any...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Stored Hashcash
One of the greatest inventions in the history of computer security is Hashcash. Internet blights...
over a year ago
One of the greatest inventions in the history of computer security is Hashcash. Internet blights like spam and denial-of-service attacks are…
AVC
Etsy Lens
I am the Chair of the Etsy Board and have been an investor and board member at Etsy since the...
a year ago
I am the Chair of the Etsy Board and have been an investor and board member at Etsy since the mid-2000s. It is a company that I love and get great joy from being part of. Last year Etsy quietly launched a feature that has completely changed the way I use Etsy. It is called […]
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Allocation investing and the social premium
The rational way to invest in something – a startup, public company, venture capital firm, real...
over a year ago
The rational way to invest in something – a startup, public company, venture capital firm, real estate project, etc. – is to base your…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Why the web economy will continue growing rapidly
Here’s the really good news for the web economy over the next decade. Consumers are spending more...
over a year ago
Here’s the really good news for the web economy over the next decade. Consumers are spending more and more time online, yet only about 1…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
There are three New York Cities
There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born...
over a year ago
There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born here, who takes the city for granted and…
Working Theorys
3 Hours or Nothing
Musing #14 | The merits of being binary with your time
8 months ago
Musing #14 | The merits of being binary with your time
Rest of World -...
Parents turn to AI tablets after China’s tutor crackdown
Tech companies iFlytek, Baidu, and BKK are cashing in on parents who fear their child will fall...
10 months ago
Tech companies iFlytek, Baidu, and BKK are cashing in on parents who fear their child will fall behind their peers.
Paul Graham: Essays
You Weren't Meant to Have a Boss
over a year ago
Tech + Economics +...
There is only one form of passive income worth celebrating. It’s a UBI.
The romanticised notion of passive income typically conjures up picturesque
images of digital...
a year ago
The romanticised notion of passive income typically conjures up picturesque
images of digital nomads lounging on immaculate beaches, their bank
accounts growing with the profits from their latest online course on
becoming a digital nomad.
Dividends from investments in...
The Thinking Cap
The Future of No Code is Low Code
Or why we should write more programming languages instead of trying to build virtual legos.
over a year ago
Or why we should write more programming languages instead of trying to build virtual legos.
Rest of World -...
Apple finally breaks Android’s grip on Southeast Asia
Rising wealth in the region has young professionals ditching cheaper Chinese smartphones for...
a year ago
Rising wealth in the region has young professionals ditching cheaper Chinese smartphones for iPhones.
Noahpinion
The American socialist worldview is just totally broken (repost)
Plus a new update showing how right I was.
a year ago
Plus a new update showing how right I was.
Working Theorys
Define the Game | Theory No. 14
I grew up playing tennis with my sister at the public courts near home. For a long time, I just...
a year ago
I grew up playing tennis with my sister at the public courts near home. For a long time, I just cherished the joy of playing and watching the careers of the "big 3" unfold. But recently I’ve started to appreciate something more about tennis: the clarity of the meta-game around...
Paul Graham: Essays
Why to Start a Startup in a Bad Economy
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
The AI artist who used Bad Bunny’s voice — and shot to fame
Meet the Chilean artist who made it big using others’ voices.
5 months ago
Meet the Chilean artist who made it big using others’ voices.
Unpacked
Highlights: First Quarter of Unpacked
Bold product moves, AI things accelerate, Tech policy in the front seat, Interesting things...
a year ago
Bold product moves, AI things accelerate, Tech policy in the front seat, Interesting things continue. This post is a bird’s eye view of the seventeen articles published on Unpacked in the past quarter.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Is now a good time to start a company?
Back in 2006, my co-founder at Hunch, Caterina Fake, wrote a blog post called “It’s a bad time to...
over a year ago
Back in 2006, my co-founder at Hunch, Caterina Fake, wrote a blog post called “It’s a bad time to start a company.” There were no doubt…
Rest of World -...
The Northeast Indian YouTubers challenging cultural stereotypes through mukbang
Tribes in Northeast India have long been isolated from the rest of the country. Creators are using...
5 months ago
Tribes in Northeast India have long been isolated from the rest of the country. Creators are using YouTube to challenge the cliches that isolate them.
Data Boutique
Web Scraping Legal Context
As the need for data grows, so does the need for clearer regulation
a year ago
As the need for data grows, so does the need for clearer regulation
Rest of World -...
Argentina’s far-right front-runner is not the crypto candidate fans think he is
Milei’s plans for the dollarization of Argentina’s economy might even depress crypto adoption.
a year ago
Milei’s plans for the dollarization of Argentina’s economy might even depress crypto adoption.
Nadia Asparouhova
Understanding science funding in tech, 2011-2021
For those who sit between science and tech, it’s hard not to notice the proliferation of new...
over a year ago
For those who sit between science and tech, it’s hard not to notice the proliferation of new initiatives launched in the last two years, aimed at making major improvements in the life sciences especially.
While I don’t have a science background, nor any personal relationship to...
Business Brainstorms
A/B QR, how to run a business, airport rides, high-growth Asia-Pacific companies, lessons from Keith...
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write...
a year ago
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write this email to share the most interesting trends, frameworks, opportunities, and ideas with you. Let's dive in! 💡 Opportunities “i want to go to a doctor that will run every single...
Platformer
Why you can't trust Twitter's encrypted DMs
A promised audit hasn't actually happened, sources say. PLUS: Twitter's Turkey problem, and a new...
a year ago
A promised audit hasn't actually happened, sources say. PLUS: Twitter's Turkey problem, and a new CEO
Rest of World -...
Argentina’s OnlyFans stars are becoming coaches for a new generation of performers
Lessons include tips to attract customers with provocative poses and seductive words, and how to...
6 months ago
Lessons include tips to attract customers with provocative poses and seductive words, and how to withdraw money from the platform.
Noahpinion
If Trump loses the election, our nation can finally rest
Let's not bring back the wacky 2010s.
a month ago
Let's not bring back the wacky 2010s.
Rest of World -...
Catching a break: How gig workers find rest
Rest of World asked over 100 gig workers across 10 cities how they take a break between tasks.
9 months ago
Rest of World asked over 100 gig workers across 10 cities how they take a break between tasks.
Noahpinion
Why it's so hard to fix the information ecosystem
Misinformation is a job; correcting misinformation is a hobby.
a year ago
Misinformation is a job; correcting misinformation is a hobby.
David Perell
Intellectual Loneliness
I have a confession to make: I leave most parties early because I’d rather read a book. That’s not...
over a year ago
I have a confession to make: I leave most parties early because I’d rather read a book. That’s not what I tell people though. Usually, I make up an excuse. Something like “Oh, I have early plans in the morning.” I don’t like being deceptive, but there’s no socially acceptable way...
David Perell
Thoughts on Free Will
My friend Chris Sparks says: “When it comes to creating your environment, assume you have free will....
over a year ago
My friend Chris Sparks says: “When it comes to creating your environment, assume you have free will. When it comes to living in it, assume you have no free will.” Here’s an example: I lost my love of working out during the pandemic. Before it started, I worked out at a nice,...
Steve Blank
Gordon Bell R.I.P.
Gordon Bell passed on this month. I was a latecomer in Gordon Bell’s life. But he made a lasting...
7 months ago
Gordon Bell passed on this month. I was a latecomer in Gordon Bell’s life. But he made a lasting impact on mine. The first time I laid eyes on Gordon Bell was in 1984 outside a restaurant in a Boston suburb when he pulled up in a Porsche. I was the head of Marketing for […]
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What’s not evil: ranking content fairly *and* letting public content get indexed
Please see update at bottom Most websites spend massive amounts of time and money to get any of...
over a year ago
Please see update at bottom Most websites spend massive amounts of time and money to get any of their pages index and ranked by Google’s…
AVC
Read Write Own
Chris Dixon, who leads the A16Z crypto fund, and has been an entrepreneur, VC, and friend of mine...
11 months ago
Chris Dixon, who leads the A16Z crypto fund, and has been an entrepreneur, VC, and friend of mine for over twenty years, has written a book called Read Write Own that is available for pre-order now and will start shipping at the end of the month. Chris gave me a copy right before...
Rest of World -...
In Indonesia, social media is a “hunting ground” for religious minorities
Conservative Muslim influencers spread hate speech to their millions of followers on TikTok and...
5 months ago
Conservative Muslim influencers spread hate speech to their millions of followers on TikTok and YouTube, with little pushback from authorities or platforms.
Noahpinion
The debt ceiling deal: What was the whole point?
A manufactured crisis leads to an ineffectual "solution"
a year ago
A manufactured crisis leads to an ineffectual "solution"
Platformer
In latest round of Twitter cuts, some see hints of its next CEO
Is the job Steve Davis' to lose? PLUS: A smart new tool to fight child exploitation online
a year ago
Is the job Steve Davis' to lose? PLUS: A smart new tool to fight child exploitation online
Unpacked
Tech's Pledge To Fight AI Election Interference & Twillio’s woes with Segment | EP 6
Last week, 20 tech companies across Big Tech, social networks and AI providers signed a voluntary...
10 months ago
Last week, 20 tech companies across Big Tech, social networks and AI providers signed a voluntary pledge to fight election interference from AI-generated content going through 2024. We dive into the timing of the announcement (2024 is a big election year across the globe), some...
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Notes on raising seed financing
Last night I taught a class via Skillshare (disclosure: Founder Collective is an investor) about how...
over a year ago
Last night I taught a class via Skillshare (disclosure: Founder Collective is an investor) about how to raise a seed round. After a long…
AVC
Voice Input
Smartphones have had voice input for over a decade now and yet I don’t know that many people who use...
a year ago
Smartphones have had voice input for over a decade now and yet I don’t know that many people who use voice input regularly. I would guess that maybe 10 to 20% of smartphone users are using voice input regularly. That’s a guess based on absolutely no data other than observing...
Rest of World -...
Mother-son YouTubers cook Nepali dishes with sides of nostalgia and ASMR
Started as a pandemic hobby, KanchhiKitchen is giving Nepalis around the world a glimpse of...
a year ago
Started as a pandemic hobby, KanchhiKitchen is giving Nepalis around the world a glimpse of traditional village life.
Rest of World -...
What global investors need to know about funding Pakistani startups
Hasib Malik is the co-founder and CEO of Tiger Global-backed financial services startup CreditBook.
6 months ago
Hasib Malik is the co-founder and CEO of Tiger Global-backed financial services startup CreditBook.
XO Capital - Field...
Fresh Cheddar
Couple of announcements:
We've got some fresh cheddar!
We just got access to up to $2M to deploy....
11 months ago
Couple of announcements:
We've got some fresh cheddar!
We just got access to up to $2M to deploy. We're looking for 1-2 businesses:
b2b saas
$30k+ MRR
This is about 2x what we've already deployed so far which is a big deal. We will
Working Theorys
How to Be Like Derek Guy
If you spend any time on Twitter, you know the handle @dieworkwear by heart. And you know it’s the...
6 months ago
If you spend any time on Twitter, you know the handle @dieworkwear by heart. And you know it’s the handle of Derek Guy, menswear expert extraordinaire. (I’m still unsure if that’s his real name, but I haven’t bothered to look it up because at this point I trust him implicitly.) I...
Unpacked
Instagram Threads: The Problem With The "Everything for Everyone" Approach
In recent times, Twitter has been through a roller coaster of events. What started with Elon Musk's...
a year ago
In recent times, Twitter has been through a roller coaster of events. What started with Elon Musk's turbulent acquisition has now been followed up by a series of controversial product decisions. To list a few: Twitter limited the number of daily tweets
Rest of World -...
A step counter, but for your prayers
At least 20 apps exist to help Muslims track their dhikrs, a form of Islamic worship in which people...
2 months ago
At least 20 apps exist to help Muslims track their dhikrs, a form of Islamic worship in which people repeat prayers and holy phrases.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Crypto token roundup
Roundup of lots of recent posts on crypto tokens: Balaji S. Srinivasan — Thoughts on Tokens Fred...
over a year ago
Roundup of lots of recent posts on crypto tokens: Balaji S. Srinivasan — Thoughts on Tokens Fred Wilson — ICOs and VCs here, Ethereum in 2…
Tech + Economics +...
The block button is the ultimate source of dopamine. Use it.
I’m seeing this debate pop up on Threads and Mastodon, and I’ve speed-run
the whole discourse so...
a year ago
I’m seeing this debate pop up on Threads and Mastodon, and I’ve speed-run
the whole discourse so many times from Twitter to Bluesky that I’m
exhausted. But let me be clear. It's perfectly okay to use the block
function on any and every single platform. Block whoever you...
Noahpinion
Americans hate inflation more than they hate unemployment
Lesson #2 from Trump's victory.
a month ago
Lesson #2 from Trump's victory.
Rest of World -...
Shein and MercadoLibre are fighting over vendors in Brazil’s largest garment market
After the pandemic pushed Brazilian manufacturers and store owners to digitize their businesses,...
8 months ago
After the pandemic pushed Brazilian manufacturers and store owners to digitize their businesses, e-commerce platforms began pulling out all the stops to lure vendors.
Rest of World -...
Pese a prohibición, apps de préstamos depredadores proliferan en la tienda de Google Play
Google dice que se toma el problema muy en serio, pero más de una docena de apps continúa disponible...
11 months ago
Google dice que se toma el problema muy en serio, pero más de una docena de apps continúa disponible en la tienda.
Noahpinion
Some thoughts on where the war in Ukraine is headed
And some perspective on what's happened already.
a year ago
And some perspective on what's happened already.
tomcritchlow.com
3,573 Days On The Road
Every year on the 24th October I've written a reflection on the last year of my independent...
3 months ago
Every year on the 24th October I've written a reflection on the last year of my independent consulting. This would have been my 10th issue, but is instead a special issue, for reasons that will become apparent.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Samsung’s predicament
In the past year, Samsung went from being a moderately successful electronics manufacturer to the...
over a year ago
In the past year, Samsung went from being a moderately successful electronics manufacturer to the leading non-iOS mobile device maker…
Noahpinion
The perverse incentives of euthanasia
Suggesting that people die is not a good way of saving taxpayer money.
8 months ago
Suggesting that people die is not a good way of saving taxpayer money.
Entrepreneur's Edge
Scale 10X with Court Lorenzini (Founder/CEO Docusign)
A conversation around building your startup, making the right bets, and achieving operational...
a year ago
A conversation around building your startup, making the right bets, and achieving operational leverage as an organization.
Noahpinion
Harris has the right idea on housing
It has to be managed as both a consumer good and as an asset class.
4 months ago
It has to be managed as both a consumer good and as an asset class.
AVC
How This Ends (Part Three)
The venture capital sector has been in a sustained downturn for almost eighteen months. How does...
a year ago
The venture capital sector has been in a sustained downturn for almost eighteen months. How does this downturn end? Well, it may have already ended, but let’s see about that. We will know for sure in a few quarters. The NASDAQ peaked at roughly 16,000 in November 2021. By June...
Steve Blank
The Department of Defense Is Getting Its Innovation Act Together – But More Can Be Done
This post previously appeared in Defense News and C4SIR. Despite the clear and present danger of...
11 months ago
This post previously appeared in Defense News and C4SIR. Despite the clear and present danger of threats from China and elsewhere, there’s no agreement on what types of adversaries we’ll face; how we’ll fight, organize, and train; and what weapons or systems we’ll need for...
Noahpinion
What America needs to do now on national security
The Ukraine-and-TikTok bill is a good start. Here are five more things we need to work on.
8 months ago
The Ukraine-and-TikTok bill is a good start. Here are five more things we need to work on.
Data Boutique
Scrape Or Buy? The Zalando Case Study
Cost of Web Data in a Real-Life Example
a year ago
Cost of Web Data in a Real-Life Example
haseeb qureshi
Another decade
I recently turned 30. When the decade began in 2010, I was still 20, a professional poker player, a...
over a year ago
I recently turned 30. When the decade began in 2010, I was still 20, a professional poker player, a college dropout, and deeply unhappy. What did I believe I’d be doing a decade later? I don’t think I knew, only that I definitely wouldn’t be playing poker anymore. I’d be doing...
Rest of World -...
The politics of Africa’s TikTok bans
TikTok was recently banned in Senegal and Somalia, and there have been efforts to do the same in...
a year ago
TikTok was recently banned in Senegal and Somalia, and there have been efforts to do the same in Kenya, Uganda, and Egypt.
Tech + Economics +...
TikTok is revolutionizing news consumption - by eroding context.
The metamorphosis of news consumption is undeniable. TikTok, rising from
the ashes of Vine and the...
a year ago
The metamorphosis of news consumption is undeniable. TikTok, rising from
the ashes of Vine and the gradual decline of Instagram, captivated a new
generation, becoming a primary news source for many. This seismic shift
towards snackable, viral news content brings a host of...
Rest of World -...
This Indian state wants to be a tech hub. But the government keeps shutting down the internet
Manipur’s startup community is struggling to survive, with tech professionals moving to Bengaluru or...
a month ago
Manipur’s startup community is struggling to survive, with tech professionals moving to Bengaluru or Hyderabad.
Rest of World -...
Foreign tech workers hit hard by South Africa’s new immigration laws
Lured by rich job opportunities in South Africa's tech scene, thousands of migrants from across the...
a year ago
Lured by rich job opportunities in South Africa's tech scene, thousands of migrants from across the continent flooded into the country. Now, those jobs are out of reach.
Rest of World -...
Uber hates this app that tells drivers whether it’s worth picking you up
Brazil’s StopClub app shows drivers what every minute and mile of your ride is worth.
a year ago
Brazil’s StopClub app shows drivers what every minute and mile of your ride is worth.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Come for the tool, stay for the network
A popular strategy for bootstrapping networks is what I like to call “come for the tool, stay for...
over a year ago
A popular strategy for bootstrapping networks is what I like to call “come for the tool, stay for the network.” The idea is to initially…
Internal Tech Emails
Microsoft execs on Apple's music store
We were smoked.
a year ago
Data Boutique
From Zero to a Fully Automated Web Data Pipeline
Step by step guide
a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Technology predictions
For those of us in the prediction business, it’s sometimes useful to go back and read past...
over a year ago
For those of us in the prediction business, it’s sometimes useful to go back and read past predictions to try to discern patterns in what…
Rest of World -...
The truth behind VinFast’s stunning stock market debut
Beware of EV companies bearing SPACs.
a year ago
Beware of EV companies bearing SPACs.
Roberto Vitillo's...
Counting at scale
How engaged are users for a certain segment of the population? How many users are actively using a...
over a year ago
How engaged are users for a certain segment of the population? How many users are actively using a new feature? One way to answer that…
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#13)
Climate messaging, antitrust, Chinese consumption, the Fed and inflation, marriage and happiness,...
a year ago
Climate messaging, antitrust, Chinese consumption, the Fed and inflation, marriage and happiness, historical data, and some Star Trek recommendations
Rest of World -...
South Africa’s competition watchdog takes aim at Google
The group is pushing Google to do more local business promotion, but experts say this could put the...
a year ago
The group is pushing Google to do more local business promotion, but experts say this could put the country’s digital economy at risk.
42!
How we manage our product roadmap
The screenshot here is our company Trello board, where we manage our product roadmap. We are...
over a year ago
The screenshot here is our company Trello board, where we manage our product roadmap. We are extremely lucky in that our thousands of happy customers give us a steady stream of suggestions for new features and improvements, which we used to just throw on this board.
However,...
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#11)
"Bullshit jobs", racial depolarization, the YIMBY-union alliance, China's last boosters, Biden's...
a year ago
"Bullshit jobs", racial depolarization, the YIMBY-union alliance, China's last boosters, Biden's foreign policy, low-carbon steel, and Javier Milei
Noahpinion
Nobody knows how many jobs will "be automated"
Whatever that even means.
a year ago
Whatever that even means.
Data Boutique
How to Estimate Sales Using Inventory Web-Scraped Data
A powerful use case for web data
9 months ago
A powerful use case for web data
AVC
What Will Happen In 2023
I want to focus this post on the macro environment for tech, startups, web3, and climate because...
a year ago
I want to focus this post on the macro environment for tech, startups, web3, and climate because that is where my head is at right now. I believe that sometime in the first half of 2023, the central banks around the world will start backing off the tightening that they have been...
Steve Blank
Secret History – When Kodak Went to War with Polaroid
This part 2 of the Secret History of Polaroid and Edwin Land. Read part 1 for context. Kodak and...
7 months ago
This part 2 of the Secret History of Polaroid and Edwin Land. Read part 1 for context. Kodak and Polaroid, the two most famous camera companies of the 20th century, had a great partnership for 20+ years. Then in an inexplicable turnabout Kodak decided to destroy Polaroid’s...
Working Theorys
The Idea That Won't Go Away | Theory No. 24
In a battle of new and old ideas, which one wins?
a year ago
In a battle of new and old ideas, which one wins?
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Matt Stoller Explains Monopolies
The latest episode of my podcast Better Online is a conversation with Matt Stoller — America’s...
3 months ago
The latest episode of my podcast Better Online is a conversation with Matt Stoller — America’s leading voice on monopoly and antitrust matters, and a thoughtful and prolific writer. You can find Matt on Twitter here, and his newsletter here.
It was a timely conversation. At the
Roberto Vitillo's...
How to conduct a system design interview
The system design interview is a great way to assess the seniority of a candidate in an interview....
over a year ago
The system design interview is a great way to assess the seniority of a candidate in an interview. You can find a lot on the Internet on how…
Devmoh
The Fall of Stack Overflow, Explained
Stack Overflow's decline is partly self-imposed, but also somewhat out if its control.
a year ago
Stack Overflow's decline is partly self-imposed, but also somewhat out if its control.
SatPost by Trung...
The Psychology of Disneyland
From Walt Disney's original vision to Imagineering to pricing strategy.
a year ago
From Walt Disney's original vision to Imagineering to pricing strategy.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Silicon Valley's False Prophet
The tech industry has craved a messiah since the death of Steve Jobs, but in OpenAI CEO Sam Altman...
6 months ago
The tech industry has craved a messiah since the death of Steve Jobs, but in OpenAI CEO Sam Altman they’ve discovered more of a false prophet — a seedy grifter that uses his remarkable ability to impress and manipulate Silicon Valley’s elite to mask a total
Platformer
Google goes to court
On the eve of a major antitrust trial — and its 25th birthday — the company is bracing for a fight
a year ago
On the eve of a major antitrust trial — and its 25th birthday — the company is bracing for a fight
Roberto's blog
From Gatsby to Hugo: a Markdown minimalist's journey
I have been using Gatsby for my blog and I have never been fond of it’s complexity considering that...
7 months ago
I have been using Gatsby for my blog and I have never been fond of it’s complexity considering that all I need is Markdown rendering. Trying to update Gatsby and its dependencies to the latest version was painful enough to motivate me to jump ship. After looking at what’s out...
Tech + Economics +...
A decade of discontent is coming.
The 10 years ahead will see dramatic, radical change. The potential for
large-scale upheaval and...
a year ago
The 10 years ahead will see dramatic, radical change. The potential for
large-scale upheaval and the reordering of societal structures is
significant. We are already witnessing the dismantling of long-standing
institutions and the rise of new paradigms. The struggle between...
Noahpinion
Americans are still not worried enough about the risk of world war
In which I try to be Gandalf instead of Cassandra.
8 months ago
In which I try to be Gandalf instead of Cassandra.
David Perell
What I Got Wrong About Business
Too many people waste years in hollow ‘entrepreneurship’ classes.
Instead, we need to develop the...
over a year ago
Too many people waste years in hollow ‘entrepreneurship’ classes.
Instead, we need to develop the domain expertise that leads to entrepreneurial ideas.
The post What I Got Wrong About Business appeared first on David Perell.
Rest of World -...
As muggings spike, phone thieves in Brazil have an easy target: Gig workers
Losing a phone can devastate gig workers’ ability to make a living, while the apps they work for...
a year ago
Losing a phone can devastate gig workers’ ability to make a living, while the apps they work for provide little support.
Rest of World -...
Traffic laws can’t keep up with Mexico City’s electric mopeds
Chinese-made mopeds have become popular in the traffic-clogged city, but users and manufacturers...
4 months ago
Chinese-made mopeds have become popular in the traffic-clogged city, but users and manufacturers aren’t sure which laws apply to them.
Roberto Vitillo's...
I am back
It's been three years since my last post on my old Wordpress blog! You can still find my earlier...
over a year ago
It's been three years since my last post on my old Wordpress blog! You can still find my earlier posts there as I was too lazy to move…
Rest of World -...
Ride-hailing drivers in Nigeria are suffering after government triples fuel prices
Uber and Bolt drivers say the fuel subsidy removal has put them at risk of losing their livelihoods.
a year ago
Uber and Bolt drivers say the fuel subsidy removal has put them at risk of losing their livelihoods.
Working Theorys
Zero-Sum vs. Positive-Sum Product Theory | Theory No. 25
What kind of product are you building?
11 months ago
What kind of product are you building?
Blog posts of...
Close your office. Now. How to operate your startup under lock-down.
What a week. The US declared the state of emergency. Many leading startups closed their office. And...
over a year ago
What a week. The US declared the state of emergency. Many leading startups closed their office. And I expect that all startups in...
Rest of World -...
How Bangladesh’s tech industry navigated an unprecedented political crisis
July’s internet blackout and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s sudden exit is estimated to have cost...
3 months ago
July’s internet blackout and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s sudden exit is estimated to have cost the industry $300 million.
Paul Graham: Essays
High Resolution Fundraising
over a year ago
David Perell
Zena Hitz: Liberal Arts Thinking
My guest today is Zena Hitz, a tutor at St John’s and the author of an excellent book called Lost in...
over a year ago
My guest today is Zena Hitz, a tutor at St John’s and the author of an excellent book called Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life. Her book explores the meaning and the value of learning for its own sake, through images and stories of bookworms,...
Paul Graham: Essays
Do Things that Don't Scale
over a year ago
Noahpinion
Three more books about the technology wars
"The Wires of War", "Four Battlegrounds", and "The Digital Silk Road"
a year ago
"The Wires of War", "Four Battlegrounds", and "The Digital Silk Road"
cdixon.org RSS Feed
"Bitcoin is the currency the internet deserves and needs"
George Gilder discusses the importance of Bitcoin in a very interesting interview: To have a...
over a year ago
George Gilder discusses the importance of Bitcoin in a very interesting interview: To have a civilization you need more than just bits and…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Best practices for raising a VC round
Having raised a number of VC rounds personally and observed many more as an investor or friend, I’ve...
over a year ago
Having raised a number of VC rounds personally and observed many more as an investor or friend, I’ve come to think there are a set of…
Working Theorys
Ping Minimalism
OR: "Personal firewalls" or "Few may disturb"
6 months ago
OR: "Personal firewalls" or "Few may disturb"
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The tragedy of the anticommons
Seems very relevant to today’s music industry, and potentially relevant to the internet/software...
over a year ago
Seems very relevant to today’s music industry, and potentially relevant to the internet/software industry in the near future as patent…
Working Theorys
The Taste Discount
Everything is easier when tastes align.
8 months ago
Everything is easier when tastes align.
essay – snarfed.org
Deep piano
Roberto Chignoli I started playing piano again recently, after a 20 year hiatus. Our 6 year old...
over a year ago
Roberto Chignoli I started playing piano again recently, after a 20 year hiatus. Our 6 year old Brooke started learning, and we suddenly had a keyboard in the house again, so I joined her. It’s been great! I’m playing scales and exercises, diving into Rachmaninoff and Debussy,...
Platformer
How banning one Palestinian slogan roiled Etsy
The company secretly banned the phrase “from the river to the sea” on sellers’ wares. Some employees...
a year ago
The company secretly banned the phrase “from the river to the sea” on sellers’ wares. Some employees aren’t happy
Stephen Diehl
Building a Better Custom Haskell Prelude
over a year ago
Platformer
How Google is making up for lost time
The company is finally bringing AI to the places that matter
a year ago
The company is finally bringing AI to the places that matter
Tom Blomfield
Automating Customer Service at a Startup
Customer service can make or break a company; it has been one of the key differentiators as a new...
over a year ago
Customer service can make or break a company; it has been one of the key differentiators as a new generation of startups seeks to compete against incumbents. While people remember examples of awesome customer service, the opposite is also true.
At GoCardless, we decided early on...
Rest of World -...
How InstaDeep became Africa’s biggest AI startup success
Karim Beguir is the co-founder and CEO of InstaDeep, a Tunisian startup that was acquired for $682...
3 months ago
Karim Beguir is the co-founder and CEO of InstaDeep, a Tunisian startup that was acquired for $682 million by BioNTech.
Roberto Vitillo's...
How distributed systems fail
At scale, any failure that can happen will eventually happen. Hardware failures, software crashes,...
over a year ago
At scale, any failure that can happen will eventually happen. Hardware failures, software crashes, memory leaks - you name it. The more…
Internal Tech Emails
Microsoft exec: "my recent discussions with Steve [Jobs]"
some stuff has been tense, as I have really been pushing them on a few issues, and I am forcing...
a year ago
some stuff has been tense, as I have really been pushing them on a few issues, and I am forcing Apple to do a lot of stuff they'd rather not do (using Office as leverage)
Paul Graham: Essays
Why It's Safe for Founders to Be Nice
over a year ago
tomcritchlow.com
9 Years on the Road
October 24th is my indie-versary, the anniversary of quitting my last full time job. Every year I...
11 months ago
October 24th is my indie-versary, the anniversary of quitting my last full time job. Every year I write a set of reflections about this strange and magical journey.
Paul Graham: Essays
The Top Idea in Your Mind
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
The chilling power of Gaza’s internet blackout
Ongoing bloodshed makes the territory’s digital ties even more important.
a year ago
Ongoing bloodshed makes the territory’s digital ties even more important.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Software patents should be abolished
The alleged societal benefit of patent law is that it creates a financial incentive to innovate....
over a year ago
The alleged societal benefit of patent law is that it creates a financial incentive to innovate. The societal drawback is that it reduces…
SatPost by Trung...
From Beatlemania to Taylor-mania
How the meteoric rise of The Beatles helps to explain Taylor Swift's "Eras" tour, on pace to be the...
a year ago
How the meteoric rise of The Beatles helps to explain Taylor Swift's "Eras" tour, on pace to be the first tour ever to gross $1B.
Platformer
Google unveils Gemini
CEO Sundar Pichai and DeepMind's Demis Hassabis talk to Platformer about the promise — and product...
a year ago
CEO Sundar Pichai and DeepMind's Demis Hassabis talk to Platformer about the promise — and product roadmap — of their answer to GPT-4
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The importance of asking people questions
Andy Weissman’s blog has the tagline “Maximizing the serendipity around you.” It’s a good...
over a year ago
Andy Weissman’s blog has the tagline “Maximizing the serendipity around you.” It’s a good philosophy. I think one of the simplest ways to…
Blog posts of...
Refactoring larger legacy codebases
This article is based on a comment of mine to a HackerNews question. Thought it might be useful to...
over a year ago
This article is based on a comment of mine to a HackerNews question. Thought it might be useful to explain it here a bit more in d...
Tom Blomfield
Automate Everything
Performing manual, repetitive tasks enrages me. I used to think this was a corollary of being a...
over a year ago
Performing manual, repetitive tasks enrages me. I used to think this was a corollary of being a programmer, but I’ve come to suspect (or hope) that this behaviour is inherent in being human.
But being able to hack together scripts simply makes it much easier to go from a state of...
Unpacked
Epic Games, Google and App Store Monopolies
In a surprise win for the makers of Fortnite, a jury ruled that Google engaged in anti-competitive...
a year ago
In a surprise win for the makers of Fortnite, a jury ruled that Google engaged in anti-competitive conduct by suppressing other app stores and banning alternate payments
Stephen Diehl
The Intellectual Incoherence of Cryptoassets
over a year ago
Working Theorys
In Defense of 'Tarpit Ideas'
In the startup world, there’s a term called “tarpit ideas.” These ideas look enticing at first. They...
6 months ago
In the startup world, there’s a term called “tarpit ideas.” These ideas look enticing at first. They have universal surface appeal, but they end up being huge drains on time and resources, and ultimately, they fail. The common trope is that young, first-time founders pursue...
Stephen Diehl
Reflecting on Haskell in 2016
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Non-linearity of technology adoption
When I was in business school I remember a class where a partner from a big consulting firm was...
over a year ago
When I was in business school I remember a class where a partner from a big consulting firm was talking about how they had done extensive…
Rest of World -...
Technology is transforming the deadly voyage from Cuba to Florida
From Havana to Key West on a surfboard and a cellphone.
a year ago
From Havana to Key West on a surfboard and a cellphone.
Rest of World -...
Political campaigns embrace AI to reach voters across language barriers
Advocacy groups like AAPI Victory Alliance are using ChatGPT and Claude to reach speakers of Hindi,...
3 months ago
Advocacy groups like AAPI Victory Alliance are using ChatGPT and Claude to reach speakers of Hindi, Tagalog, and more.
Noahpinion
Decoupling isn't phoney
The global trading system is starting to rearrange itself, and it's mostly not Biden's doing.
a year ago
The global trading system is starting to rearrange itself, and it's mostly not Biden's doing.
The Thinking Cap
Where Are the Good AI Products?
On waiting for AI's Godot.
10 months ago
On waiting for AI's Godot.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Timing your startup
I never had the opportunity to invest in YouTube but I have to admit that if I did I probably would...
over a year ago
I never had the opportunity to invest in YouTube but I have to admit that if I did I probably would have passed (which of course would have…
Tech + Economics +...
Internet access is a human right.
Fast, reliable and independent internet access is no longer a luxury or a
convenience. It has...
12 months ago
Fast, reliable and independent internet access is no longer a luxury or a
convenience. It has become a necessity and a function of modern society.
The digital divide, the gap between those with and without internet access,
has profound implications for an individual's...
Steve Blank
How Saboteurs Threaten Innovation–and What to Do About It
“Only the Paranoid Survive” Andy Grove – Intel CEO 1987-1998 I just had an urgent “can we meet...
2 months ago
“Only the Paranoid Survive” Andy Grove – Intel CEO 1987-1998 I just had an urgent “can we meet today?” coffee with Rohan, an ex-student. His three-year-old startup had been slapped with a notice of patent infringement from a Fortune 500 company. “My lawyers said defending this...
essay – snarfed.org
Blockchain’s real world problem
A while back, early in the blockchain hype cycle, a startup called Verisart popped up and promised...
over a year ago
A while back, early in the blockchain hype cycle, a startup called Verisart popped up and promised to “fix” fine art. Not sure if that painting is real? Can’t find out who owns it, or where they got it? Worried that the gallery you’re emailing is a scammer? Worry no more!...
Tech + Economics +...
Stop treating human beings like NPCs.
Technology has made it stupidly easy to avoid real human interaction. Our
eyes are glued to our...
11 months ago
Technology has made it stupidly easy to avoid real human interaction. Our
eyes are glued to our phones as we walk down streets, barely noticing the
people around us. Even in real-world interactions, we talk over the top of
our screens, anything to avoid face-to-face...
Platformer
How BeReal missed its moment
To become the next big social app, competitors have to move faster
a year ago
To become the next big social app, competitors have to move faster
Stephen Diehl
The Underlying Technology Shibboleth
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
Venezuelan migrants helped build Colombia’s tech scene. Now the country is kicking them out
New rules make getting a visa more difficult, even as Colombia struggles to find enough tech...
a year ago
New rules make getting a visa more difficult, even as Colombia struggles to find enough tech workers.
Rest of World -...
How we measured air quality for gig workers in South Asia
Rest of World gave pollution monitors to riders in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh so they could...
9 months ago
Rest of World gave pollution monitors to riders in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh so they could gather data on what they breathe.
Internal Tech Emails
Instagram cofounder on Mark Zuckerberg
will he go into destroy mode if I say no
a year ago
will he go into destroy mode if I say no
Noahpinion
In which British writers scold America on trade
If you don't acknowledge the point of tariffs, how can you hope to criticize them?
7 months ago
If you don't acknowledge the point of tariffs, how can you hope to criticize them?
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for your weekend (#15)
Working-class wealth, the education gap, zero-sum thinking, data uncertainty, and indigenous...
a year ago
Working-class wealth, the education gap, zero-sum thinking, data uncertainty, and indigenous knowledge
Noahpinion
Argentina's macroeconomic situation is even worse up close
A guest post by Karl T. Muth
a year ago
A guest post by Karl T. Muth
Rest of World -...
Using AI to revive nostalgia — and preserve Hong Kong’s past
Michael Chang, CEO of Capture.HK, talks about how the company helps digitize old albums and video...
a year ago
Michael Chang, CEO of Capture.HK, talks about how the company helps digitize old albums and video tapes.
essay – snarfed.org
New job, hello climate tech
I have a new job! I’m doing climate tech at NCX (née SilviaTerra), using satellite imagery to...
over a year ago
I have a new job! I’m doing climate tech at NCX (née SilviaTerra), using satellite imagery to prevent deforestation and sequester more carbon in trees. A few years ago, I looked around for a side project on the climate crisis. Nothing big, maybe 5-10 hours a week, but I was ready...
Stephen Diehl
The Explicit Choice by the SEC Not to Regulate Crypto
over a year ago
Tom Blomfield
Growth
“When eating an elephant, take one bite at a time.”
- Creighton Abrams
I was chatting with an...
over a year ago
“When eating an elephant, take one bite at a time.”
- Creighton Abrams
I was chatting with an investor a year or two ago, shortly after our Series A, and the subject of revenue goals came up.
At the time, our revenue was pretty low - less than 10% of monthly costs. We estimated...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Four types of mobile apps
If you are a founder trying to create a new mobile app or an investor trying decide whether an app...
over a year ago
If you are a founder trying to create a new mobile app or an investor trying decide whether an app has enduring value, it is helpful to…
Tech + Economics +...
The unchecked rise of theocracy will extinguish liberal democracy.
As a transgender woman, under any form of populist theocracy, my existence
would be illegal. This...
a year ago
As a transgender woman, under any form of populist theocracy, my existence
would be illegal. This is the reality of governance by faith-based
doctrine. And it's a reality that cannot be allowed to spread.
Religious freedom is a cornerstone of liberal democracy. Individuals...
Working Theorys
The Co-Sign That Changes Everything
Ascendancy in any domain is a game of two moves: self-made wins and high-status vouches. You...
3 months ago
Ascendancy in any domain is a game of two moves: self-made wins and high-status vouches. You alternate between the two, taking leaps from one step to the next, aiming for that mythical high point (before either crashing down or fading away under the same community’s judgment or,...
Platformer
TikTok nears the endgame
Breaking off TikTok from ByteDance might be the right thing to do — but it will come at a high cost....
a year ago
Breaking off TikTok from ByteDance might be the right thing to do — but it will come at a high cost. PLUS: How Twitter keeps competitors off its For You page
haseeb qureshi
How DeFi cannibalizes PoS security
On-chain lending has become the most popular decentralized finance (DeFi) application today,...
over a year ago
On-chain lending has become the most popular decentralized finance (DeFi) application today, with over $600M in loans originated this year across MakerDAO, Compound, and dYdX. On-chain lending has the potential to disrupt traditional secured lending. But it seems it may do more...
Noahpinion
Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper
Yes, market-rate!
9 months ago
Platformer
Meta unspools Threads
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri on the company's big new swing at Twitter
a year ago
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri on the company's big new swing at Twitter
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Bitcoin and volatility
The beauty of software platforms is that you can solve almost any problem by writing more software....
over a year ago
The beauty of software platforms is that you can solve almost any problem by writing more software. For example, one of the most common…
Internal Tech Emails
Bill Gates on "hard-core detractors" | Elon Musk responds to Tesla investor
The key point is that they can't both be right. They share only one thing - saying negative things...
over a year ago
The key point is that they can't both be right. They share only one thing - saying negative things about Microsoft.
Internal Tech Emails
Apple execs on Facebook
On Jul 11, 2011, at 8:03 PM, Steve Jobs wrote: I agree - if we eliminate Fecebooks third proposal it...
a year ago
On Jul 11, 2011, at 8:03 PM, Steve Jobs wrote: I agree - if we eliminate Fecebooks third proposal it sounds reasonable.
Noahpinion
How Ireland got so rich
Once an underdog, the Emerald Isle is now on top.
a year ago
Once an underdog, the Emerald Isle is now on top.
Paul Graham: Essays
Are Software Patents Evil?
over a year ago
Noahpinion
Toward a shallower future
Adversity isn't worth the price of adversity.
11 months ago
Adversity isn't worth the price of adversity.
Steve Blank
You’re Invited: Hacking for Defense and Lean LaunchPad Final Presentations
Join us for the final presentations of our two Stanford classes this Tuesday June 4th and Wednesday...
6 months ago
Join us for the final presentations of our two Stanford classes this Tuesday June 4th and Wednesday June 5th. Tuesday = Hacking for Defense Wednesday = Lean Launchpad The presentations just get better every year. Attend in person or via Zoom. This year AI seems to be part of...
Rest of World -...
Alibaba.com’s U.S. expansion hinges on wooing mom-and-pop shops
President Kuo Zhang tells Rest of World in an exclusive interview that the company is bullish about...
3 months ago
President Kuo Zhang tells Rest of World in an exclusive interview that the company is bullish about the U.S. market.
Rest of World -...
Inside Foxconn’s struggle to make iPhones in India
Chinese engineers are flying to India to train the next generation of iPhone builders.
a year ago
Chinese engineers are flying to India to train the next generation of iPhone builders.
Noahpinion
Interview: Jean Twenge, psychologist
In which we talk all about generational differences, Millennial angst, and the effects of social...
a year ago
In which we talk all about generational differences, Millennial angst, and the effects of social media and cell phones
Articles - Alex...
The pitfalls of purpose
Purpose is polarising. There are those who promote it as a paragon of
positioning and a...
over a year ago
Purpose is polarising. There are those who promote it as a paragon of
positioning and a silver-bullet strategy for success. Then there are those
who refute purpose’s power and dispute its capacity to connect with
consumers. It is clearly a debate that divides. For every...
Noahpinion
Why Trump (or Harris) might fail to stand up to China
A very real possibility that more people need to be worried about.
4 months ago
A very real possibility that more people need to be worried about.
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 1 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Aaron's Essays
Conflicted Capital
I’ve spent a long time wrestling with how to advise founders about investors and the conflicts of...
over a year ago
I’ve spent a long time wrestling with how to advise founders about investors and the conflicts of interest generated by opposing incentives.[1] These considerations are especially important when a founder thinks about fundraising. The founder needs to figure out how to treat...
Dustin Curtis
Blocked
A couple of years ago, I posted a slight criticism of Elon Musk that led prominent venture...
2 months ago
A couple of years ago, I posted a slight criticism of Elon Musk that led prominent venture capitalist Marc Andreessen to block me. Since then, I have been unable to view his posts1, which is a shame because I valued his thoughts and opinions.
Today, X engineering announced...
Inverted Passion
Notes from the book “Magic Words”
Just finished reading Magic Words by Jonah Berger and my notes follow. 1/ Most of us spend a...
a year ago
Just finished reading Magic Words by Jonah Berger and my notes follow. 1/ Most of us spend a significant amount of time in assembling the thoughts we want to convey, but assume the words to convey them as a given. 2/ This book – written by a professor of business – takes the view...
Paul Graham: Essays
Chapter 2 of Ansi Common Lisp
a year ago
Noahpinion
Japan is not a xenophobic country
It has a substantial amount of immigration, as well as pro-immigration policies and attitudes.
7 months ago
It has a substantial amount of immigration, as well as pro-immigration policies and attitudes.
Essays - Benedict...
Competing in search
A quarter century after 'don't be evil', a judge has found that Google is
abusing its monopoly in...
4 months ago
A quarter century after 'don't be evil', a judge has found that Google is
abusing its monopoly in search. But no-one knows what happens next, and
whether this ruling will change anything. Will Apple build a search engine?
Will ChatGPT change search? Does it matter?
Stephen Diehl
The Philosophical Argument Against Crypto
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The ideal startup career path
For most people I know who join or start companies, the primary goal is not to get rich – it is to...
over a year ago
For most people I know who join or start companies, the primary goal is not to get rich – it is to work on something they love, with people…
Aaron's Essays
Generative AI Might Just Save Venture Capital
Originally published in The Information on November 2.
For the past nine months, nearly every...
over a year ago
Originally published in The Information on November 2.
For the past nine months, nearly every investor with a Twitter account, blog or board seat has been beating a unified and constant refrain: The go-go days are done. Founders were being pushed to build 36 months of runway,...
Rest of World -...
Half of Singapore’s e-commerce scams now happen on WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram
After a 50% increase in scams in 2023, Singapore authorities say Meta isn’t doing enough to stop the...
5 months ago
After a 50% increase in scams in 2023, Singapore authorities say Meta isn’t doing enough to stop the explosion in fraud.
Working Theorys
Explain It Like I'm One of You
Basketball podcasts, new media, and no more ELI5
8 months ago
Basketball podcasts, new media, and no more ELI5
Rest of World -...
The Mexican senator building a plan for artificial intelligence
Alejandra Lagunes leads Mexico’s National Artificial Intelligence Alliance.
a year ago
Alejandra Lagunes leads Mexico’s National Artificial Intelligence Alliance.
Rest of World -...
Chip dreams: Young tech workers are flocking to Taiwan
Southeast Asians are heading to Taiwan to train for semiconductor jobs, which is helping to fill a...
8 months ago
Southeast Asians are heading to Taiwan to train for semiconductor jobs, which is helping to fill a talent gap at the world’s top producer.
Working Theorys
The Generational Business Trap | Theory No. 11
On the varied longevity of businesses & why we shouldn't idolize permanence.
a year ago
On the varied longevity of businesses & why we shouldn't idolize permanence.
SatPost by Trung...
SpaceX's 5-Step Design Process
How rapid failure and iteration will get Starship to orbit and beyond.
a year ago
How rapid failure and iteration will get Starship to orbit and beyond.
Noahpinion
Liberalism is losing the information war
Because it's refusing to fight.
a year ago
Because it's refusing to fight.
Platformer
How Sundar Pichai is thinking about AI
Three takeaways about Google's approach to this moment, after an interview with Google's CEO
a year ago
Three takeaways about Google's approach to this moment, after an interview with Google's CEO
Noahpinion
Feeling strangely optimistic about Egypt
It has many of the building blocks for a successful industrialization story.
a year ago
It has many of the building blocks for a successful industrialization story.
Noahpinion
Realistically, how much damage could Trump do to the U.S. economy?
The biggest risks are all about debt and inflation.
a month ago
The biggest risks are all about debt and inflation.
Paul Graham: Essays
The Acceleration of Addictiveness
over a year ago
Rest of World -...
How Urban Company built an empire of female gig workers
By disrupting the age-old home services industry, the Indian unicorn offered many women a rare...
a year ago
By disrupting the age-old home services industry, the Indian unicorn offered many women a rare opportunity for social mobility. Now, they want more.
Rest of World -...
India’s persistent, gendered digital divide
As the government moves towards gender parity, India’s glaring digital gap is an extension of all...
a year ago
As the government moves towards gender parity, India’s glaring digital gap is an extension of all the biases women contend with.
Rest of World -...
Scan to donate: Brazil’s instant digital payment system brings relief to flood victims
As flooding battered the country, Pix became the most popular way to send and receive aid — and a...
6 months ago
As flooding battered the country, Pix became the most popular way to send and receive aid — and a target for scammers.
Rest of World -...
Hong Kong politicians are making a splash on Chinese social media – and finding mainland fans.
Users have responded enthusiastically to their selfies, food pics, and Father’s Day updates.
a year ago
Users have responded enthusiastically to their selfies, food pics, and Father’s Day updates.
Platformer
Extremely Hardcore: Our New York magazine cover story
Twitter’s staff spent years trying to protect the platform against impulsive ranting billionaires —...
a year ago
Twitter’s staff spent years trying to protect the platform against impulsive ranting billionaires — then one made himself the CEO
Entrepreneur's Edge
Your Name is an Ad Creative that is Everywhere, All at Once
Learn how to leverage cognitive science to create an instant brand advantage.
a year ago
Learn how to leverage cognitive science to create an instant brand advantage.
AVC
Transit Tech Lab
The Partnership for NYC, alongside its partners at the MTA, the Port Authority of New York and New...
11 months ago
The Partnership for NYC, alongside its partners at the MTA, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NJ TRANSIT, and NYC Department of Transportation, launched a call for applications for the 6th annual Transit Tech Lab this week. To kick off this year’s program, the...
Noahpinion
Let us pause to appreciate the remarkable U.S. economy
It really doesn't get much better than this, folks.
2 months ago
It really doesn't get much better than this, folks.
Noahpinion
Is it time for the Revenge of the Normies?
An optimistic take on technology and inequality.
a year ago
An optimistic take on technology and inequality.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#43)
Slop wars; Poland and Ukraine; AI bubble; MMT reversal;
5 months ago
Slop wars; Poland and Ukraine; AI bubble; MMT reversal;
Roberto Vitillo's...
Spark best practices
Spark execution model Spark's simplicity makes it all too easy to ignore its execution model, and...
over a year ago
Spark execution model Spark's simplicity makes it all too easy to ignore its execution model, and still manage to write jobs that eventually…
Noahpinion
Turkey, you were doing so well! (repost)
An economic success story runs off the rails.
a year ago
An economic success story runs off the rails.
Rest of World -...
Why Meta still needs China
You can take Facebook out of China, but you can’t take China out of Facebook.
a year ago
You can take Facebook out of China, but you can’t take China out of Facebook.
Dustin Curtis
Tesla and Storytelling
Last week, Tesla unveiled two world-changing products: Robotaxi1, a fully self-driving taxi with no...
2 months ago
Last week, Tesla unveiled two world-changing products: Robotaxi1, a fully self-driving taxi with no steering wheel or pedals, and an autonomous humanoid robot, called Optimus2, that can walk and has fully functioning hands and feet. Both of these products have been depicted in...
Noahpinion
Is the West falling behind in science?
China is now the leader in applied physical sciences. How can the U.S. and its allies catch up?
6 months ago
China is now the leader in applied physical sciences. How can the U.S. and its allies catch up?
Rest of World -...
Las compañías de autos eléctricos quieren el litio de Argentina. Poco queda para sus ciudadanos.
A los habitantes de la Isla Paulino se les prometió baterías de litio para reducir el uso de...
8 months ago
A los habitantes de la Isla Paulino se les prometió baterías de litio para reducir el uso de generadores. El proyecto se frenó. Mientras tanto, las exportaciones de litio crecen.
Rest of World -...
What Elon Musk’s new biography leaves out
Looking beyond the Tesla reality-distortion field.
a year ago
Looking beyond the Tesla reality-distortion field.
Articles - Alex...
Thinking rationally about emotion
In advertising, using emotion is entirely logical. Creative agencies have
made this case...
4 months ago
In advertising, using emotion is entirely logical. Creative agencies have
made this case consistently. But in 2013 Les Binet and Peter Field bought
some much-needed data to the discussion. In their seminal report, The Long
and The Short of It, the duo analysed 30 years of...
Rest of World -...
Brazil banned X. Right-wing politicians are still using it
Echoing Elon Musk, the politicians claim they are defending free speech.
3 months ago
Echoing Elon Musk, the politicians claim they are defending free speech.
Noahpinion
The danger of another American civil war is low
Re-upping some arguments I've made before.
a year ago
Re-upping some arguments I've made before.
Noahpinion
How we'll know if Trump is going to sell America out to China
Keep an eye on the export controls. They are the key.
a week ago
Keep an eye on the export controls. They are the key.
Rest of World -...
Why African governments must prioritize affordable internet and smartphones
Lacina Koné of Smart Africa discusses the continent’s digital transformation and potential.
a year ago
Lacina Koné of Smart Africa discusses the continent’s digital transformation and potential.
Rest of World -...
Apple’s biggest competition in India? Used iPhone sellers
“We give them the same phone, in the same brand-new condition,” says one seller.
a year ago
“We give them the same phone, in the same brand-new condition,” says one seller.
Rest of World -...
Can someone please make an iPhone-theft thriller already?
Forget the Apple store heist in Seattle; South Asia has a pretty riveting script on cross-border...
a year ago
Forget the Apple store heist in Seattle; South Asia has a pretty riveting script on cross-border smartphone theft waiting to be written.
Rest of World -...
Unleash the bololô: Masses of delivery workers set off horns and fireworks at bad customers’ homes
In Brazil, workers protest nasty customers with bikes, horns and fireworks.
a year ago
In Brazil, workers protest nasty customers with bikes, horns and fireworks.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
To make smarter systems, it’s all about the data
As this article by Alex Wright in the New York Times last week reminded me, when the mainstream...
over a year ago
As this article by Alex Wright in the New York Times last week reminded me, when the mainstream press talks about artificial intelligence…
Noahpinion
Who's "weird"?
A campaign insult offers a window into American society in the 2020s.
4 months ago
A campaign insult offers a window into American society in the 2020s.
Platformer
Yes, Elon Musk created a special system for showing you all his tweets first
After his Super Bowl tweet did worse numbers than President Biden’s, Twitter’s CEO ordered major...
a year ago
After his Super Bowl tweet did worse numbers than President Biden’s, Twitter’s CEO ordered major changes to the algorithm
Noahpinion
The case of the angry history postdoc
Elite overproduction spotted in the wild.
6 months ago
Elite overproduction spotted in the wild.
42!
The case of WOPR and the lost code...
I got an email earlier this week from a guy reaching out after he read a post of mine on a gaming...
over a year ago
I got an email earlier this week from a guy reaching out after he read a post of mine on a gaming forum that was posted over two decades ago!
I couldn't for the life of me remember what I had said, but he reiterated that it was about a simulation that I wrote in BASIC that was...
Stephen Diehl
Purely Narrative-driven Bubbles
over a year ago
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Chris Sacca on the implied user contract
Chris Sacca nicely summarized today’s FB vs Google vs Twitter controversy: It comes down to what...
over a year ago
Chris Sacca nicely summarized today’s FB vs Google vs Twitter controversy: It comes down to what each company has promised its users…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
If you aren’t getting rejected on a daily basis, your goals aren’t ambitious enough
My most useful career experience was about eight years ago when I was trying to break into the world...
over a year ago
My most useful career experience was about eight years ago when I was trying to break into the world of VC-backed startups. I applied to…
Rest of World -...
The most surprising tech champions of 2024
From Threads to Bluesky and Zello to Black Myth: Wukong, a handful of small and large tech champions...
2 weeks ago
From Threads to Bluesky and Zello to Black Myth: Wukong, a handful of small and large tech champions stood out for their impressive growth this year.
AVC
The VC’s Customer
I saw Dan Primack assert that the venture capitalist’s customer is their limited partners in this...
a year ago
I saw Dan Primack assert that the venture capitalist’s customer is their limited partners in this tweet about the Citizen app, the recap, and their VCs: I DM’d Dan to let him know that is not the right way to think about the venture capital business. Back in 2005, in the early...
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 “When I've worked for organizations without QA teams, I introduce the concept of "sniff...
a year ago
#1 💡 “When I've worked for organizations without QA teams, I introduce the concept of "sniff tests". This is a short (typically 1 hour) test session where anybody in the company / department is encouraged to come and bash on the new feature. The feature is supposed to be...
Noahpinion
Japan isn't quite "back", but it has a fighting chance
Here are some ideas for what it can do to be truly "back".
10 months ago
Here are some ideas for what it can do to be truly "back".
SatPost by Trung...
OpenAI Saga: The Best Links and Memes
PLUS: Ridley Scott's directing secret sauce.
a year ago
PLUS: Ridley Scott's directing secret sauce.
Ed Zitron's Where's...
Lost In The Future
Soundtrack: Post Pop Depression - Paraguay
I haven't wanted to write much in the last...
a month ago
Soundtrack: Post Pop Depression - Paraguay
I haven't wanted to write much in the last week.
Seemingly every single person on Earth with a blog has tried to drill down into what happened on November 5 — to find the people to blame, to somehow explain what could&
Working Theorys
Second Encounters
Firsts are overrated
9 months ago
Noahpinion
Is U.S. industrial policy learning from its mistakes?
I hope so, because mistakes are being made.
11 months ago
I hope so, because mistakes are being made.
Rest of World -...
How Tesla’s Mexico plans stalled out
When the Monterrey factory finally arrives, will Elon still want it?
6 months ago
When the Monterrey factory finally arrives, will Elon still want it?
Platformer
Meta is building a decentralized, text-based social network
Is this the Twitter replacement we've been waiting for?
a year ago
Is this the Twitter replacement we've been waiting for?
Ed Zitron's Where's...
CrowdStruck
Soundtrack: EL-P - Tasmanian Pain Coaster (feat. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Cedric Bixler-Zavala)
When I...
5 months ago
Soundtrack: EL-P - Tasmanian Pain Coaster (feat. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Cedric Bixler-Zavala)
When I first began writing this newsletter, I didn't really have a goal, or a "theme," or anything that could neatly characterize what I was going to write about other than that I was
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The computing deployment phase
Technological revolutions happen in two main phases: the installation phase and the deployment...
over a year ago
Technological revolutions happen in two main phases: the installation phase and the deployment phase. Here’s a chart (from this excellent…
Rest of World -...
What languages dominate the internet?
The one you’re reading this in, for starters.
a year ago
The one you’re reading this in, for starters.
Business Brainstorms
Never launch, AI as an anti-signal, slow news, zero shame in pulling the plug.
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write...
a year ago
Hey, this is Jakob Greenfeld, author of the Business Brainstorms newsletter - every week I write this email to share the most interesting trends, frameworks, opportunities, and ideas with you. Let's dive in! 💡 Opportunities “Billing for software is broken. Stripe is REALLY good...
Rest of World -...
How translator-influencers bring banned foreign videos onto China’s internet
On social media platform Weibo, influencers curate, translate, and edit content from the outside...
a year ago
On social media platform Weibo, influencers curate, translate, and edit content from the outside world.
Internal Tech Emails
Google looks at acquiring YouTube
can I get a quick analysis of the likely cost of acquiring youtube? Eric
over a year ago
can I get a quick analysis of the likely cost of acquiring youtube? Eric
Inverted Passion
Notes from the book “Decoding the Why”
Finished (well, skimmed) the book “Decoding the Why: How Behavioral Science is Driving the Next...
a year ago
Finished (well, skimmed) the book “Decoding the Why: How Behavioral Science is Driving the Next Generation of Product Design”. It’s a decent introductory book if you have not delved into behavioral science before, but if you have, most of the ideas in the book won’t come across...
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Agency problems
“Agency problems” are what economists call situations where a person’s interests diverge from his or...
over a year ago
“Agency problems” are what economists call situations where a person’s interests diverge from his or her firm’s interests. Large companies…
Business Brainstorms
💡 Business Brainstorms 💡- My favorite ideas of the week
#1 💡 Lots of interesting discussions after Sam Altman got fired from OpenAI. One of the interesting...
a year ago
#1 💡 Lots of interesting discussions after Sam Altman got fired from OpenAI. One of the interesting themes: What does the guy actually do? Is he actually important for the company? Surely other people, the technicians, are responsible for the breakthroughs, right?
Rest of World -...
A Ponzi scheme targets desperate workers amid Zimbabwe’s employment crisis
E-Creator offered an opportunity to earn money by writing fake reviews for e-commerce websites.
a year ago
E-Creator offered an opportunity to earn money by writing fake reviews for e-commerce websites.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The bowling pin strategy
A huge challenge for user-generated websites is overcoming the chicken-and-egg problem: attracting...
over a year ago
A huge challenge for user-generated websites is overcoming the chicken-and-egg problem: attracting users and contributors when you are…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
Some thoughts on mobile
People tend to lump smartphones and tablets together as “mobile”. This can be misleading. Ask people...
over a year ago
People tend to lump smartphones and tablets together as “mobile”. This can be misleading. Ask people who run internet companies and they’ll…
Noahpinion
Why America's future could hinge on Elon Musk
Iron Man, or Dr. Doom?
a month ago
Noahpinion
A better way to build a downtown
It's time to learn a Japanese word: "zakkyo".
2 months ago
It's time to learn a Japanese word: "zakkyo".
Stephen Diehl
Sunsetting "What I Wish I Knew"
over a year ago
XO Capital - Field...
2023 In Review
2023 was a tough year. It started out with a bang (high expectations, everything going right) and...
a year ago
2023 was a tough year. It started out with a bang (high expectations, everything going right) and ended with a whimper for us. The zero interest rate environment really came down hard on a few products like Cold Email Studio and now that the AI craze is cooling off, we&
Working Theorys
Tattoo Decisions
On making opinionated commitments
5 months ago
On making opinionated commitments
SatPost by Trung...
The Dorito-fication of Media
How the evolution of media created ultra-processed junk food for our mind.
a month ago
How the evolution of media created ultra-processed junk food for our mind.
Steve Blank
Reorganizing the DoD to Deter China and Win in the Ukraine – A Road Map for Congress
This article previously appeared in Defense News. It was co-written with Joe Felter, and Pete...
a year ago
This article previously appeared in Defense News. It was co-written with Joe Felter, and Pete Newell. Today, the U.S. is supporting a proxy war with Russia while simultaneously attempting to deter a China cross-strait invasion of Taiwan. Both are wakeup calls that victory and...
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things to start your week (#33)
TSMC Arizona back on track, drawing arrows on graphs, the downsides of inclusionary zoning, why...
8 months ago
TSMC Arizona back on track, drawing arrows on graphs, the downsides of inclusionary zoning, why people hate inflation, and interesting ideas about market power
Noahpinion
Why skilled immigration (usually) benefits both countries
When to worry about brain drain, and when not to worry.
a year ago
When to worry about brain drain, and when not to worry.
Noahpinion
The elemental foe
Lifting humanity out of poverty is Job #1.
5 months ago
Lifting humanity out of poverty is Job #1.
Working Theorys
Crypto social games don’t need the crypto
Crypto social games, work "trials," and meeting your creations in the wild
10 months ago
Crypto social games, work "trials," and meeting your creations in the wild
Noahpinion
Trump and inflation
There are several good reasons to be worried.
6 months ago
There are several good reasons to be worried.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
“The typical path of how people respond to life-changing inventions
I’ve never heard of it. I’ve heard of it but don’t understand it. I understand it, but I don’t see...
over a year ago
I’ve never heard of it. I’ve heard of it but don’t understand it. I understand it, but I don’t see how it’s useful. I see how it could be…
cdixon.org RSS Feed
The “thin edge of the wedge” strategy
Establishing relationships with new users is the hardest part of growing a startup. For consumer...
over a year ago
Establishing relationships with new users is the hardest part of growing a startup. For consumer products establishing relationships can…
Noahpinion
Is immigration raising rents in America?
No, but in a few big cities it might be.
a year ago
No, but in a few big cities it might be.
Rest of World -...
This app makes sure dinner is halal
The Indonesian app Momasa features recipes, cooking lessons, and restaurants that meet the standards...
2 months ago
The Indonesian app Momasa features recipes, cooking lessons, and restaurants that meet the standards of Islamic law.
Rest of World -...
The SoftBank-backed fintech that helped Nigerians through a cash crisis is eyeing “innovative...
Olu Akanmu, co-CEO and president of OPay Nigeria, on the importance of cloud infrastructure and the...
a year ago
Olu Akanmu, co-CEO and president of OPay Nigeria, on the importance of cloud infrastructure and the company’s future plans.
cdixon.org RSS Feed
What the NYC startup world needs (and doesn’t need)
Here’s what I think NYC needs to become a serious, long-term startup hub: Some extremely successful...
over a year ago
Here’s what I think NYC needs to become a serious, long-term startup hub: Some extremely successful startups. We need PayPals – companies…
Unpacked
DOJ v. Google: Case outline & arguments analysis
The DOJ is going after specific anti-competitive mechanisms, and the specifics of Google's onerous...
a year ago
The DOJ is going after specific anti-competitive mechanisms, and the specifics of Google's onerous Android deals might be the smoking gun
Rest of World -...
Using AI to build the “definitive” Spanish writing tool
Abraham López is the CEO of Correcto, an AI-powered grammar tool.
6 months ago
Abraham López is the CEO of Correcto, an AI-powered grammar tool.
Noahpinion
At least five interesting things for the middle of your week (#35)
Chinese defense spending, activists vs. normies, corporate diversity, phones in schools,
7 months ago
Chinese defense spending, activists vs. normies, corporate diversity, phones in schools,
Working Theorys
Status Limbo | Theory No. 27
To get status, you have to give up status.
11 months ago
To get status, you have to give up status.
Rest of World -...
How a Ugandan startup wound up in Mexico
Assak's unexpected entry into Mexico bodes well for international investment.
a year ago
Assak's unexpected entry into Mexico bodes well for international investment.
Paul Graham: Essays
Why There Aren't More Googles
over a year ago
SatPost by Trung...
Sculpting Ourselves
Thoughts on Antoni Gaudí, Etsuro Sotoo, La Sagrada Família and finding the right ideas to work on.
a year ago
Thoughts on Antoni Gaudí, Etsuro Sotoo, La Sagrada Família and finding the right ideas to work on.
Rest of World -...
ShopeeFood underestimates delivery distances. Gig workers in Vietnam are paying the price
Rest of World reviewed nearly 50 orders on Vietnam’s second most popular food delivery app, and in...
9 months ago
Rest of World reviewed nearly 50 orders on Vietnam’s second most popular food delivery app, and in most cases, the distance was estimated lower than Google Maps’ estimate.
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