Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?
My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”
Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another:
- Disappearing Polymorph – Wikipedia. “Having read The Three Body Problem I’m really enjoying the Netflix adaptation. Without spoiling it too much, it’s fair to say that ‘science stops working’ is a pretty big plot point. Turns out that’s sort of happening: We are no longer able to synthesize certain things we once were. Basically, when a manufacturing process can make two substances, even a tiny ‘seed crystal’ of one substance traps the process into making that substance. In one case a substance called paroxetine anhydrate contaminated the entire world; attempts to make paroxetine hemihydrate failed worldwide. Gotta be honest: The idea that we’re unable to make stuff we once could freaks me out at an existential level.” (Alistair for Hugh).
- The Serbia Thread – Pamplemousse And Circumstances – Threads. “I don’t usually post threads from social platforms, but this is one hell of a story.” (Alistair for Mitch).
- The Odds That Aliens Exist Just Got Worse – Nautilus. “The Drake equation (‘calculating’ how many advanced alien civilizations should be out there) gets an update. If you need plate tectonics for life to emerge, the numbers say things get dicey for the enthusiasts of the extraterrestrial life.” (Hugh for Alistair).
- A Reality Check on Superhuman AI – Nautilus. “Sabine Hossenfelder, physicist and skeptic, is warm on huge AI advances but cold on how we’ll get there. The cost in data and energy to achieve this will be so high as to require a wholesale rearrangement in human civilization, and that hurdle, she thinks will be too high.” (Hugh for Mitch).
- Long Bets. “In a world of short-termism, I love the concept of Long Bets. I’m all abut long-term thinking and I feel like the world of Futurists and ‘what’s going to happen next’ has devolved into more hype and hyperbole than critical thinking and smart perspectives. So, take a look at the bets and predictions and know that the actual ‘betting’ part of this platform is really just another way to fund some great charitable causes. Think you know what’s going to happen next in the world? Wanna bet?” (Mitch for Alistair).
- How Walt Disney World Is Trying To Make Amends With Unhappy Guests – Bloomberg. “Books and case studies have been written and studied about the brand that is Disney. They have done so well in propagating the value of their brand (which includes their own campus to teach executives from other companies how to both innovate and get better at their work). Well, what’s happening now? Sure, it’s not easy to maintain a brand culture over decades, but what’s harder is keeping customers happy when the global economics and shifting nature of work land hard. Going to Disney is not cheap and consumer expectations have – for the most part – become unreasonable (this is a full-throated statement that in a digital, live and instant world, it is impossible for most businesses to live up to these newly created expectations). Can Disney turn this around?” (Mitch for Hugh).
Feel free to share these links and add your picks on X, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.
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