Weekend Briefing No. 550
The Weather Gods -- Pronatalism -- Removing Low Velocity Activity
Welcome to the weekend.
Prime Numbers
4,094 — Since 2016, girls' participation in high school tackle football has doubled to 4,094 players in 2023. Meanwhile, girls' flag football has seen explosive growth, more than doubling in just one season to reach 42,955 players.
500 — Over 500 private, nonprofit, four-year institutions have closed in the last 10 years. That is three times what it was in the decade prior.
72 — The "Wow!" signal, a 72-second intense radio transmission detected in 1977 at 1,420 MHz — a frequency protected from human transmissions — has intrigued Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) researchers for nearly 50 years due to its unusual characteristics that some argue are consistent with a potential extraterrestrial origin, though its true source remains unexplained.
The Weather Gods
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is investing heavily in cloud seeding technology, spending tens of millions of dollars on research, specialized aircraft and advanced weather monitoring systems in an effort to increase rainfall in its arid climate. While officials claim a 23% increase in annual rainfall in seeded areas, the program's effectiveness remains scientifically uncertain. Beyond addressing water scarcity, the UAE's cloud-seeding efforts serve to position the country as a leader in climate modification techniques, potentially yielding soft power benefits and technological exports. Despite the high costs, with each mission running up to $8,000, the UAE sees this as a strategic investment in water security and technological prowess, aiming to produce water more cheaply than desalination if successful. WIRED (12 minutes)
Pronatalism
What could a world with dramatically fewer children look like? Pronatalism, a movement advocating for higher birth rates, stems from growing concerns about the long-term consequences of global population decline. As fertility rates continue to fall worldwide, proponents warn of potential economic and social upheavals. A shrinking workforce could lead to reduced economic growth, decreased innovation and challenges in supporting an aging population. Fewer working-age individuals might struggle to maintain pension systems and health care for a growing elderly demographic, potentially straining intergenerational relationships and social cohesion. Moreover, pronatalists argue that declining populations could result in the closure of schools, the abandonment of rural areas, and a general loss of cultural vitality and diversity, fundamentally altering the fabric of society as we know it. Vox (11 minutes)
When AI Speaks Your Language
A teacher in Karnataka, India earns her monthly salary in just six hours. A college student outearns his field labor wages while sitting at home. The secret? Their smartphones, mother tongues, and AI. AI-powered nonprofit Karya pays rural Indians to teach AI their native languages through simple tasks like reading aloud or transcribing text. It pays 20 times the local minimum wage and it's redefining ethical AI data work. This AI-powered nonprofit is a textbook example of how we can build a different kind of future with AI. Subscribe to Fast Forward’s AI for Humanity newsletter for delightfully-forwardable stories of builders leveraging AI for humanity. Fast Forward (Sponsored)
Removing Low Velocity Activity
What if the secret to skyrocketing your productivity isn't about working faster but about ruthlessly cutting what's holding you back? In order to increase our personal productivity, we often focus on optimizing our high-performance periods. However, the reality is that low-velocity activities — like sifting through unnecessary emails, idling in unproductive meetings or engaging in office small talk — can dramatically drag down our overall output. These time-sinks make it nearly impossible to achieve significant productivity gains, even if we improve our efficiency in other areas. The key to substantial improvement lies not in marginally enhancing our peak performance, but in identifying and eliminating these pervasive, low-value activities that quietly consume large portions of our day. A Smarter Bear (8 minutes)
Robots and Solar Panels
Can robots solve the solar industry's labor shortage and accelerate the clean energy transition? The solar energy sector is grappling with a significant workforce deficit, leading companies like AES Corporation to develop advanced robots such as Maximo, capable of installing solar panels twice as fast as humans at half the cost. Other firms, including Built Robotics and Terabase Energy, are also innovating with automated solutions to expedite solar farm construction and reduce expenses. While this shift toward automation raises concerns about job displacement, industry leaders argue that it can enhance worker safety, boost efficiency and potentially create new job categories, all while speeding up the deployment of renewable energy to meet escalating demand and ambitious climate targets. New York Times (7 minutes)
Rituals Versus Habits
Habits and rituals are closely related but distinct concepts. A habit is simply what you do — an automatic, often unconscious behavior performed regularly. In contrast, a ritual is how you do something — a deliberate, intentional practice that imbues an action with deeper meaning or significance. While habits are typically performed with little thought, rituals involve conscious attention and often evoke emotional responses. For example, brushing your teeth is a habit, but always brushing your teeth before showering as part of a specific morning sequence could be considered a ritual. This intentional approach to routine actions can transform mundane tasks into more meaningful experiences, potentially enhancing productivity and emotional well-being. Fast Company (6 minutes)
All Dressed Up
What can the attire of concertgoers reveal about music, culture and personal expression? A captivating series of 56 photo montages showcases music fans outside venues, capturing the diverse crowds at concerts ranging from the Spice Girls to Dolly Parton, Björk to the Sex Pistols. These vibrant collages offer a fascinating glimpse into the sartorial choices and subcultures surrounding different musical acts, highlighting how fans use fashion to express their allegiance and personality. By juxtaposing various fan bases, the series provides an entertaining and insightful exploration of music's influence on identity and style across genres and eras. James Mollison (4 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
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Weekend Wisdom
Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see. -John F. Kennedy