Weekend Briefing No. 566

Ghost Gun Assassin -- How the Algorithm Ruined Your Favorite Bar -- Electric Vehicles Transform Rwanda

Dec 14, 2024

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Prime Numbers

34 — The secondary market for premium Scotch whisky is experiencing a significant downturn, with Noble & Co.'s analysis showing a 16% drop in sales volume, a decline in average auction prices, and a particularly sharp 34% decrease in sales of bottles over £1,000 ($1,047).

13,000 — A humpback whale has set a new migration record by traveling at least 13,000 kilometers from Colombia to Zanzibar, with its identity confirmed through the Happywhale photo identification program that uses facial recognition technology adapted for whale flukes.

76 —Despite feeling secure in their jobs, workers express widespread dissatisfaction with their compensation, with over 70% feeling underpaid, yet notably, 76% of employees report going above and beyond their job expectations.

Ghost Gun Assassin

A homemade weapon once dismissed as a hobbyist's experiment has now been thrust into the national spotlight following the shocking murder of UnitedHealthcare's CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street. The Free Men Don’t Ask (FMDA) 19.2 design represents a watershed moment in do-it-yourself weaponry, combining commercially available parts with 3D-printed components to create reliable, practical firearms that can fire hundreds or thousands of rounds without failure. While earlier models were prone to breaking, these hybrid weapons use metal rails and precision engineering to achieve performance comparable to traditional firearms. The implications for law enforcement and gun control are staggering, as these untraceable weapons can be produced without background checks or waiting periods, effectively circumventing existing regulations. WIRED (14 minutes)

How the Algorithm Ruined Your Favorite Bar

Across the globe, cafés, music and art are beginning to look eerily similar — not by coincidence, but by algorithmic design. Social media platforms' algorithms are creating a feedback loop that rewards certain aesthetics and styles, leading creators to increasingly mimic what performs well rather than pursue genuine innovation. The impact is profound: musicians now structure songs for TikTok virality, artists adopt Pixar-style illustrations regardless of personal preference, and local businesses worldwide converge on Instagram-friendly aesthetics that are indistinguishable from Tokyo to Toronto. This "flattening of culture" raises an unsettling question: as algorithms shape both creation and consumption, are we heading toward a future where authentic creative expression is replaced by content optimized for engagement? El Pais (8 minutes)

Procera - Patagonia of Alcohol?

What if an ultra-premium gin company could be a “Trojan Horse” to change the way the world looks at Africa. Creating meaningful and tangible environmental and social impact as its core tenants whilst also just happening to distill the world’s best gin? That’s the vision of Procera Gin from Kenya. For every bottle a customer buys, Procera plants a juniper tree. They guarantee to buy juniper berries from the local communities who nurture the trees, guaranteeing the success of the reforestation project. Procera Gin aims to turn Juniperus Procera berries into an annual cash crop rivalling Kenyan Coffee, Tea, and Flowers (grown in the same terroir) but by building an equitable supply chain from the outset, so the lion’s share of the revenue goes to the landowners and harvesters and not middlemen and foreign trading houses. Procera (Sponsored)

Electric Vehicles Transform Rwanda

A deceptively simple solution is revolutionizing how African farmers get their produce to market — nimble electric trucks that cost just pennies per trip. Unlike traditional expensive transport options that force farmers to either watch their harvest spoil or sell only what they can personally deliver, these purpose-built electric vehicles (EVs) are enabling farmers to expand production dramatically, with some increasing their sales tenfold. The Ox Delivers fleet combines smart design (easily maintainable, flatpack-assembled trucks) with an innovative rental model where farmers pay as little as a dollar to ship their goods rather than hundreds to rent an entire vehicle. What began as a novel transportation experiment has evolved into a transformative force for Rwanda's agricultural economy, though significant challenges remain around charging infrastructure and cold chain logistics. Reasons To Be Cheerful (8 minutes)

Silicon Valley’s Good Intentions

A radical Catholic priest turned influential social critic of the 1970s, Ivan Illich delivered a blistering critique of well-meaning American volunteers that eerily mirrors today's Silicon Valley techno-optimists and their AI salvation narrative. Like those earlier volunteers who couldn't speak the language of those they aimed to help, today's tech evangelists forge ahead with their vision of digital salvation without truly understanding the communities they claim to serve. Illich argued that institutions and technologies often reach a tipping point where they begin to work against their original purpose — a warning that feels particularly relevant as tech companies promise to solve humanity's greatest challenges without truly understanding the communities they claim to serve. The tech industry's messianic rhetoric about unprecedented prosperity through artificial intelligence (AI) advancement reveals a familiar pattern of imposing solutions from above while lacking the humility to first listen and understand. Convivial Society (9 minutes)

Failure is a Teacher

Why do some people succeed after failing while others continue to flounder? A groundbreaking study has uncovered a hidden threshold that separates those who ultimately succeed from those who continually fail. It's not about how many times you try but how well you learn from each attempt. By analyzing massive datasets across three vastly different domains (scientific grants, startups and terrorist attacks), researchers discovered that success isn't determined by luck or simple persistence, but by reaching a critical learning threshold where enough lessons from past failures are incorporated into future attempts. Most surprisingly, the research found that people just slightly below this learning threshold are doomed to perpetual failure, while those marginally above it are almost guaranteed eventual success, making the difference between triumph and endless frustration razor-thin. Kellogg Insights (12 minutes)

Travel Like a Pro Journalist

A veteran foreign correspondent reveals that the secret to globe-trotting readiness isn't about luxury gear but clever multi-purpose solutions that prepare you for both palace and warzone. Drawing from decades of experience across 160 countries, Nicholas Kristof's strategic packing list centers on pick-pocket-proof clothing with hidden compartments, quick-drying fabrics that can be washed in sinks, and dual-purpose items like shorts that work for swimming, sleeping or running. Most fascinating is his approach to security. From carrying a decoy wallet for robbers to using ski locks to cable bags together, these aren't typical travel tips but rather hard-won lessons from someone who has learned to expect the unexpected while keeping his kit carry-on size. New York Times (8 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.

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Weekend Wisdom

The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding. - Albert Camus

Weekend Briefing