Connecting the dots
January 2021 Edition
Welcome to the first edition of Connecting The Dots.
In this segment, I try to focus on assisting my readers to improve the clarity of their thinking and help them make better investing decisions by separating the signal from the noise. As always, I look forward to your feedback.
Top Reads of the Month
The Dynamics of Cyber Conflict and Competition
This is an important piece in the light of the recent SolarWinds cyber attack on key US infrastructure components. The fragility of the system was on full display and it led me to do a deep dive on the startups trying to make a mark in this space. If you can figure out which 5 of them are going to be in the top 50, you are looking at a 100x return on your investment.
7 Reasons Why Silicon Valley Will Have a Tough Time With the Biden Administration
The past six years have seen fabulous returns for those who invested in the FAANG stocks. But it seems like the winds have changed direction. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that it is for the common good that the political elite have started waging a battle with Big Tech with the intent to punish them for censoring free speech. It is the insecurity of the political class to regain control of lost power. Their tool of choice in this case is Anti-Trust. Keep a close eye on these developments and on the weightage of tech names in your portfolio
China warns of harm to US ties with Trump’s support for Taiwan, Tibet bills
Interesting development; goes on to show how the temperatures between the risen power and rising power are soaring slowly but steadily.
Central Bank Digital Currency: A Primer
In the wake of all central banks talking about digital (not crypto) currencies, this is a must read.
U-2 spy plane flies for the first time with an AI co-pilot
Most fancy articles centered around AI are in some shape or form just fluff and hype. But what we see here is the top end of AI’s use being brought into practice.
Top Podcast
Understanding the STABLE Act and the Push to Regulate Crypto
**Highly recommended conversation.** Host of the Hidden Forces Podcast Demetri Kofinas speaks with guest Rohan Grey on a variety of topics.
Top Tweet
Top Quick Learns
As a student of the school of realism, I feel one can learn more from this short video than by reading an entire book written by an opinionated journo with a degree in gender studies.
Top Musing
Even as a kid, I was fascinated by Bruce Lee - not the actor but the enigma. I still am. I fondly remember my father bringing me a magazine like book on the legendary martial artist and being blown away by the color photographs inside it. As an adult, I’ve read everything I can lay my hands on regarding Bruce’s life and was not surprised to find that there was a philosopher embedded in the persona we saw and loved on screen.
Here’s an unseen photo of a young Bruce training in his front-yard.
The quote below has had such a profound impact on my life both as a mental model and a way of life. My wife often jokes that this line is tattooed to the behind of my forehead.
“Running water never goes stale. Be like water!”
Bruce Lee
And this insightful interview……no words necessary. I bet it will be the best 3 minutes you spend today!