Simulations, Space Exploration & The Tween App that could cause Global Unrest
What I Learned at School this Week
Happy Friday Friends,
Life feels like an emotional rollercoaster these days. High highs and low lows. Definitely feels a bit like a movie or TV Show. But the difference is: 1) there’s no end in sight and 2) well, it’s not a movie. And to be clear: by no means do I think it’s all bad. Frankly, I think much of life is choice — be that how you spend your time, or how you choose to view something. At least, that’s what I’m choosing to believe! :)
So, here are a few things that happened in this week’s episode of “The Real World”.
Antitrust Politics
Below is a rundown from Ben Thompson of Stratechery. Stratechery “provides analysis of the strategy and business side of technology and media, and the impact of technology on society.” He started writing full-time in 2014, and was previously at Apple, Microsoft, and Automattic.
Stratechery - Antitrust Politics
I like the depth of this article. But it kept my attention. Snippets of videos and quotes from the hearings last week, history reminders, and some helpful hand-drawn graphics.
This topic is complicated, but it’s certainly an inflection point of a long-anticipated match-up of the government versus big technology players’ seemingly unstoppable — no other way to say it — power. Especially consumer companies with large amounts of data on a large amount of US citizens. Anyone’s guess how it plays out, but this article helped me think through some of the different perspectives and problems to watch out for.
Talks To Acquire TikTok
Oh you won’t let me into your party? Cool, well actually, your dad just adopted me so now this is my house. Where are the solo cups?
As you probably have heard by now: in a fascinating turn-of-events, President Trump went from planning to outlaw TikTok in the US, to helping facilitate an acquisition of TikTok, by Microsoft.
At first, the plan was to buy TikTok’s US division, only. A division of the parent company: ByteDance. But now MSFT is trying to scoop all of TikTok (globally).
Meanwhile, in classic Facebook fashion, Zuck released a slick little look-alike TikTok product this week, called “Reels”.
So why all the buzz anyway?
In one graph, here is why TikTok matters so much to tweens, suburban moms and (thus) technology companies:
Simulation Theory Flicks
The recent talk of UFO’s nudged me (back) down the path of exploring simulation theory, among others. I rewatched Inception this week, and it was as incredible as I remembered it.
Then, I came across this article: 10 Simulation Theory Themed Movies and TV Shows to Question Your Reality. I realized that half of them are some of my favorite movies/shows (specifically: #1, #4, #9 and #10). Solid list, fun thought experiment, trippy times.
PS - do Religions fall under the category of a simulation theory?
SpaceX Goes To Space (And Returned This Week!)
Just incredible.
Tracking Bitcoin
Earlier this week, Bitcoin hit $12K (then crashed) for the first time since 2018. It’s holding steady around $11.5K now.
Cherry-picking: at the current price, had you put your $1,200 stimulus check into BTC on March 12th, you would have tripled your money to-date: $3,600 (300% gain).
Nasdaq would have gotten you up to $1,800 (50% gain).
S&P: $1,600 (35% gain).
Hindsight’s 20/20. Also, I’m sure BTC will continue on a volatile roller coaster ride for years to come. But fun to track.
Finally, a quote I heard that I’ve been mulling over:
“I wake up in the morning torn between the desire to save the world and to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” – E.B White
Have a great weekend, y’all!
With love,
Brendan J Short