I wrote a long intro on the final vestiges of the pandemic (i.e. the performative ten-foot walk to your table before removing your mask for 2 hours while the minimum-wage restaurant staff has to be double masked for their entire shift), but I deleted it because it's all just so lame at this point. Do yourself a favor and simply decide to be done with it all. I made that decision in June of 2020. Life is good, and we're ready for a fun summer. We have a baby due in a few weeks which should keep us busy for a while. There's so much going on right now it's getting hard to summarize in links, but I think there's something for everyone this week...
How I Became The Honest Broker by Ted Gioia
https://tedgioia.substack.com/p/how-i-became-the-honest-broker
Best a-political read of the week.
Bitcoin Is Not Backed by Nothing by Parker Lewis
https://unchained-capital.com/blog/bitcoin-is-not-backed-by-nothing/
This is a great piece on what really backs fiat currencies and why Bitcoin is valuable. One of the most insidious cultural phenomena of our times is pervasive cynicism. Ultimately Bitcoin will be as successful as people want it to be, and it is HEAVILY in the people's best interest for it to succeed. No matter what ideological framework, it can potentially solve most of the issues we face. The desire to find fault in it is akin to criticizing the only parachute in the plane while you're headed towards a fiery crash.
The CDC Is Manipulating Data To Prop Up Vaccine Effectiveness
https://off-guardian.org/2021/05/18/how-the-cdc-is-manipulating-data-to-prop-up-vaccine-effectiveness/
Those close to me know I have been on fire about PCR CT values for over a year. The topic was broached once by the NYT but otherwise ignored. It is a simple tool to be able to create or disappear a pandemic. Now it's being used to skew vaccine effectiveness stats and manipulate risk assessment.
How Influencers Have Enabled Anti-Semitism by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
https://unherd.com/2021/05/how-influencers-have-enabled-anti-semitism/
I'm not particularly interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I do get irked with the hypocrisy of being lectured for my entire childhood on "never again" and "support for Israel" only to see virtually all of my family (Jewish) support the institutions fostering genocidal antisemitism and anti-Zionism (great job with the BLM banner on the synagogue, Dad!). But, Ayaan Hirsi Ali certainly has a background that makes her viewpoint valuable here. It's disappointing that she stops short of placing blame with the power centers who actually deserve it.
How I Became The Honest Broker by Ted Gioia
https://tedgioia.substack.com/p/how-i-became-the-honest-broker
Best a-political read of the week.
Bitcoin Is Not Backed by Nothing by Parker Lewis
https://unchained-capital.com/blog/bitcoin-is-not-backed-by-nothing/
This is a great piece on what really backs fiat currencies and why Bitcoin is valuable. One of the most insidious cultural phenomena of our times is pervasive cynicism. Ultimately Bitcoin will be as successful as people want it to be, and it is HEAVILY in the people's best interest for it to succeed. No matter what ideological framework, it can potentially solve most of the issues we face. The desire to find fault in it is akin to criticizing the only parachute in the plane while you're headed towards a fiery crash.
The CDC Is Manipulating Data To Prop Up Vaccine Effectiveness
https://off-guardian.org/2021/05/18/how-the-cdc-is-manipulating-data-to-prop-up-vaccine-effectiveness/
Those close to me know I have been on fire about PCR CT values for over a year. The topic was broached once by the NYT but otherwise ignored. It is a simple tool to be able to create or disappear a pandemic. Now it's being used to skew vaccine effectiveness stats and manipulate risk assessment.
How Influencers Have Enabled Anti-Semitism by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
https://unherd.com/2021/05/how-influencers-have-enabled-anti-semitism/
I'm not particularly interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I do get irked with the hypocrisy of being lectured for my entire childhood on "never again" and "support for Israel" only to see virtually all of my family (Jewish) support the institutions fostering genocidal antisemitism and anti-Zionism (great job with the BLM banner on the synagogue, Dad!). But, Ayaan Hirsi Ali certainly has a background that makes her viewpoint valuable here. It's disappointing that she stops short of placing blame with the power centers who actually deserve it.