big ideas
Navalmanack: A guide to wealth and happiness
Last week I shared a compilation of Peter Thiel quotes on progress and stagnation. This week, we have a similar compilation of Naval Ravikant’s words. | learn more
thoughts of food
Taco Bell is now selling its own custom wine
“There’s tons of cheese on Taco Bell’s menu, so a wine to pair with it is a natural next step.” It’s only in Canada, though. Any Canadian readers willing to pick one up for me?! | learn more
under the microscope
Claims of aging ‘reversal’ with hyperbaric oxygen treatment study
A new study published in peer-reviewed journal Aging finds improvements in both general cognitive function and cerebral blood flow. “The main improvements include attention, information processing speed and executive functions, which normally decline with aging.” The study used a control group, but […]
under the microscope
Battery-free Game Boy runs forever
This is the “first-ever battery-free, energy-harvesting, interactive device. The research offers a sustainable alternative to batteries, which end up in landfills.” | learn more
retail therapy
Amazon employee bribes lead to indictments
This sort of enforcement is great for consumers. I hope it discourages other sellers from going this route. “The U.S. Department of Justice has charged six people with bribing Amazon employees and contractors in an attempt to supply third-party sellers […]
retail therapy
Amazon 1st party, 3rd party and private label by category
One of many highlights: “Fashion has been a “throw everything at the wall” private label endeavor, and it’s working.“ | learn more
better doing
The trouble with optionality
“The shortest distance between two points is reliably a straight line. If your dreams are apparent to you, pursue them. Creating optionality and buying lottery tickets are not way stations on the road to pursuing your dreamy outcomes. They are […]
better doing
Hedonism leads to happiness
“Relaxing on the sofa or savoring a delicious meal: Enjoying short-term pleasurable activities that don’t lead to long-term goals contributes at least as much to a happy life as self-control, according to new research from the University of Zurich and […]
tech, startups, internet
Amazon’s impressive new products for Alexa and Echo
Many cool announcements: A new generation of Echo products, Luna gaming service and controller, Ring Drone camera for home, car camera, car alarm, Alexa Care Hub to monitor family, and more. | learn more
tech, startups, internet
Rocket Internet: European startup pariah — or pioneer?
Rocket Internet has been executing a fast-follower strategy for years, cherry picking markets and models from Silicon Valley and blitzscaling them in other markets. “Startup company builder Rocket Internet has always had its critics but, as it delists, is it time to […]