Weekend Briefing No. 540
Magic Pill -- The Sins of the Educated Class -- Foolish Ideas
Welcome to the weekend.
Here’s my June playlist it’s primarily focused on singer / songwriters including Noah Kahan, Chance Pena and Zach Bryan.
Prime Numbers
474,717 — Tokyo is taking action to address its declining marriage and birth rates by introducing a dating app, as the city faces a concerning demographic trend. In 2022, there were 504,930 marriages, but this number dropped to 474,717 last year, accompanied by a significant decrease of 43,000 births.
221 — The global shipping industry has set a new record, losing only 221 out of 250 million containers at sea, a significant improvement from the previous low of 661.
6 — The U.S. cricket team's historic upset against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup tells a charming story of immigration. At least six of the players on the American team are of Indian descent. Apparently, the star bowler is an engineer at oracle. Did he have to get his PTO request approved by his manager to play in the World Cup?
Magic Pill
In a world where over 70% of Americans are classified as overweight or obese, and the average adult weighs nearly 25 pounds more than they did in 1960, the search for a solution has led to the rise of a new $6 billion industry: weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. Hailed by some as "magic pills" and projected to reach $100 billion within a decade, these medications have sparked a fierce debate. Are they the lifesaving answer we've been seeking, or are they merely a Band-Aid to combat the artificial ingredients in processed foods? Check out this podcast to explore the extraordinary benefits and disturbing risks of these new weight-loss drugs. Honestly (85 minutes)
The Sins of the Educated Class
Are today's highly educated, elite progressives truly advancing societal progress? They may be contributing to three concerning dynamics. First, they grapple with a contradiction between their anti-elite ideology and their own privileged status within elite institutions. Virtue is defined by being anti-elite, but today's educated class constitutes a significant portion of the elite itself. Second, an overabundance of elites competing for status and influence has led to increased social discord, as they engage in fierce power struggles with one another. Third, they've transformed political beliefs into tools for asserting dominance, causing discussions to resemble aggressive contests for social, cultural, and economic might. To prevent a potential cross-partisan backlash against them, the educated class should seriously consider reforming the system they have created. New York Times (11 minutes)
What Would You Put On a Billboard?
If you’ve crossed the Bay Bridge into San Francisco lately, the billboards have surely convinced you that artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing Software as a service (SaaS). Here’s what they don’t tell you: 1) Scientists are decoding animal language to unlock secrets of our planet’s species. 2) LLMs are delivering personalized health care to reduce maternal deaths in Kenya. 3) Teachers are building dream AI tools to help their students thrive. 4) Rural Indians are creating training data to increase livelihood by 20X. Go beyond the billboards. Subscribe to Fast Forward’s AI for Humanity newsletter for delightfully forwardable stories of builders leveraging AI for humanity. Fast Forward (Sponsored)
Foolish Ideas
Techno-optimist Vinod Khosla believes in the world-changing power of "foolish ideas." He offers 12 bold predictions for the future of technology, including: 1) AI-enabled expertise could provide everyone with free, 24/7 access to essential services like primary health care and education. 2) Innovative public transit systems could replace most cars in cities, offering faster, cheaper, and on-demand transportation, while advancements in air travel could allow people to fly from New York to London in just a few hours. 3) Entrepreneurs are working on carbon solutions, such as a cement plant in California that has doubled its output while capturing and repurposing carbon dioxide, which could significantly reduce the environmental impact of various industries if similar upgrades are applied to existing plants. TED (10 minutes)
Gates Goes Nuclear
TerraPower, a nuclear energy startup founded by Bill Gates, has begun construction on their next-generation Natrium plant in Wyoming. This breakthrough in nuclear power plant design requires fewer resources to operate than traditional facilities and can produce low-cost, carbon-free power. Once operational, the Natrium plant will generate 350,000 megawatts of energy, enough to power approximately 400,000 homes in the United States. TerraPower's innovative technology has attracted significant attention and funding, including the largest single grant ever given to a private company for nuclear energy by the Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. New York Times (9 minutes)
Living in America
Have you ever wondered how much money you need to live comfortably as a single adult in each U.S. state? This map illustrates the annual income required for single adults to live comfortably in each U.S. state, with "comfortable" defined as covering a 50/30/20 budget allocation for necessities, discretionary spending, and savings or investments. Massachusetts ranks as the most expensive state, requiring an annual income of $116,022 or $55.78 per hour for a single adult to live comfortably. In contrast, West Virginia is the least expensive state, where a single adult needs to earn an estimated $78,790 annually or $37.88 per hour. To live comfortably on one's own in the top five states, a person would need to earn nearly double the typical income for single earners in the U.S., which is around $60,000 according to Labor Bureau data. Visual Capitalist (5 minutes)
Drone Photos
The 2024 Drone Photo Awards have just been announced, showcasing stunning aerial photography from around the world. As someone who loves a good overhead shot, I'm thrilled to see the unique perspectives and breathtaking compositions captured by these talented drone photographers. From sweeping landscapes to intimate moments, these images remind us of the beauty and complexity of our planet when viewed from above. Siena Awards (5 minutes)
Should We Work Together?
Hi! I’m Kyle. This newsletter is my passion project. When I’m not writing, I run a law firm that helps startups move fast without breaking things. Most founders want a trusted legal partner, but they hate surprise legal bills. At Westaway, we take care of your startup’s legal needs for a flat, monthly fee so you can control your costs and focus on scaling your business. If you’re interested, let’s jump on a call to see if you’re a good fit for the firm. Click here to schedule a one-on-one call with me.
Founder Fridays
Check out my other email Founder Fridays — a Friday morning briefing helping startup founders and operators scale smarter.
Weekend Wisdom
Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. -C.S. Lewis