One of the disadvantages of living on the 44th floor with a shower that has one wall entirely made up of a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city is that sometimes random people slide down from the roof to clean it while you’re showering.
Product & Startup Builder
”It Wasn’t The Russians”
So tired of people in general, but tech journalists specifically (because they should know better), blindly blaming Facebook and social media for Trump.
Social media is the problem the same way that frosting on a cake is the delicious part. There are 7 layers of shit underneath.
The culture is broken, social media is just highlighting it for you.
How about the American people focus on the core issues like money in politics, gerrymandering, failed education and healthcare systems, massive and growing economic disparity, tabloid journalism, glorification of celebrity, spineless leaders, voter ID laws, mass incarceration, an inactive liberal voter base that’s more interested in fighting amongst themselves - on and on. These are the things that drive people to vote for a psychopath - not some Facebook posts.
Also, saying "Mark Zuckerberg should have known better" is the perfect "man in the arena" fallacy. Hindsight is 20/20.
A few other points...
1. Russia didn't HACK Facebook. They used FB to stoke the existing fault lines in American culture.
2. Facebook DOESN'T SELL YOUR DATA OR PRIVACY
Related: Making fun of people's EQ and personality (or worse: their looks) is the lowest form of critique.
// Inspired by Kara Swisher's appearance on Realtime With Bill Maher
Some related posts:
1. It wasn't the Russians: https://medium.com/@chri…/it-wasnt-the-russians-2af554abd658
2. Don't #DeleteFacebook because of Cambridge Analytica https://medium.com/…/do-not-deletefacebook-because-of-cambr…
3. The top 10 questions to ask ourselves before getting outraged by the news https://medium.com/…/the-top-10-questions-to-ask-ourselves-…
Movie Recommendation: Oceans Eight (2018)
A joyless movie that’s as confusing as it is full of silly/convenient plot contrivances.
Trevor Noah Live
Relevant Value
The key is not just to bring more value, but rather more relevant value
John McCain Passes Away At 81
An incredible life of a strong, principled man. I didn't agree with him on most things, but at least he was civil and worked hard to be of service. End of an era.
Health Risks
Just saw a post that any amount of alcohol is unsafe and that fluoride (in our water supply) is toxic. Add to that the known health risks of sugary drinks and the pollution left by using water bottles and we're left with nothing to drink
I’m gonna open my mouth and try to catch some rain water. Except that probably has acid in or something.
Reporter to Sanders: Did Trump commit a crime?
Sarah Sanders is really very, very good at her job of being the complicit face of a corrupt and historically evil regime. I wonder how she feels about making this the first lines of her eventual obituary
France To Ban Stores From Throwing Away Unsold Clothing
This seems like an amazing process to mitigate waste. But I also wonder and worry what the unintended consequences are.
Anxiety
Butterflies
A couple of pretty butterflies just flew in front of me, danced around and sort of interacted with me and then flew away. Have never seen something like that before.
Denial Of Reality
Denial of reality is one of the most self-destructive behaviors a person or people can engage in.
The only way to most effectively navigate the world, and affect change in it, is to confront external and internal truths in as sober and objective a way as possible.
Without this, you're fighting straw-men, dogma, fantasy and figments of your imagination. You're creating inherent tensions for no other reason than your own willful ignorance and stubbornness.
This leads to unhappy relationships, broken families, failed states, civil wars and world wars.
Secret Recordings: Trump Saying N-word?
These tapes are interesting and newsworthy of course, but they only re-confirm what's been confirmed countless times before - to no effect. Trump is disgusting on every level.
But watch how, In the first few minutes of this interview, she changes her story twice.
First her line is that it’s dangerous that the president doesn’t know what’s going on, then she admits that he probably lied to her and directed Kelly to fire her, and then she switched back to the more sensational headline that the president is a puppet.
Throughout the interview she's acting like a child in high-school and a patronizing jerk to the interviewer.
Trump had to try really hard to find this many people that are this disgusting and put them in positions of power around him.
The Voice: China
Innovation doesn't just come from Tech Companies
Thoughts On “A Quiet Place”
- How do informative newspapers get printed without making sound?
- Why not live by the River or other white noise?
- Annoying emo kids suck
Vouch From Barry Devlin
I’m loving this advisory thing. It’s really gratifying to be able to help founders like this. Thanks for the kind words Barry Devlin
Personal Feedback Results - 2018
A week ago I asked my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn networks to give me feedback by filling out a survey. I also said I might share the results. Here they are...
3 Words That Describe Me
3 Best Features
3 Worst Features
Kanye West on Trump
“I’ve heard of history class, but I haven’t heard future class. We’re too focused on the past.” - Kanye West
The Ekka is Coming Up
The Ekka is coming up. For those that didn't grow up in Brisbane, it's this weird multi-day event for kids where there's rides, food, and showbags. Showbags are (were?) these plastic bags from various brands/themes packed with crap kids love: candy, cheap toys etc (at least that's how it was when I was a kid - has it changed?)
I remember one year when I was quite young I desperately wanted to go so bad, but I couldn't for some reason (I can't remember what it was).
So somehow my mum got me like 10-15 of the best showbags and piled them into my room overnight. I woke up with them all there. It was like Christmas morning.
She is so awesome
Thanks to Mark for reminding me of this memory and Maggie for giving it to me.
Respect & Empathy
When ending a relationship of any kind, be sure to maintain respect and empathy