First Derivative [21]
YC—rural Trump—Chinese cash—blockchain—asset forfeiture—saudi politics—VC musings—opiate treatments—Russian investigation—vegetarianism
s/o to Farzan Vafa for being an avid subscriber!
One balmy May evening, thirty of Silicon Valley's top entrepreneurs gathered in a private room at the Berlinetta Lounge, in San Francisco. Paul Graham considered the founders of Instacart, DoorDash, Docker, and Stripe, in their hoodies and black…
very interesting profile of YC's young president—TK
How Trump Is Transforming Rural America
When Karen Kulp was a child, she believed that the United States of America as she knew it was going to end on June 6, 1966. Her parents were from the South, and they had migrated to Colorado, where Kulp's father was involved in mining operations…
In Urban China, Hardly Anyone Is Using Cash Anymore
There is an audacious economic experiment happening in China. It has nothing to do with debt, infrastructure spending or the other major economic topics du jour. It has to do with cash — specifically, how China is…
Behind the scenes with Tezos, a new blockchain upstart
Odds are you have at least one buddy who bought bitcoin a year or two back. Odds are that they are giddy about their good fortunes. And they should be–since Satoshi launched the network in 2009 bitcoin has risen to a market cap of $40…
one of the more legitimate ICO stories—TK
Jeff Sessions Should Drop His Expansion of Civil Asset Forfeiture
Attorney General Jeff Sessions should reconsider his plan to expand the use of civil asset forfeiture in the service of the so-called war on drugs. If he fails to do so, Congress should reconsider it for him — indeed, Congress ought to act…
civil asset forfeiture is an incredibly un-American, unconstitutional practice that liberals, conservatives, libertarians, etc. should fight—TK
Saudi King's Son Plotted Effort to Oust His Rival
As next in line to be king of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Nayef was unaccustomed to being told what to do. Then, one night in June, he was summoned to a palace in Mecca, held against his will and pressured for hours to give up…
backroom machinations behind the change in Crown Prince—TK
A Discussion with Albert Wenger
The transcript doesn't start right at the beginning. We started off talking about philosophy and economics, specifically the focus the ancients had on the good life and how much of that wisdom is lost to us in modernity. We also covered Marx and…
an interview I did with Albert Wenger, partner at venture capital firm USV. Topic was 'world after capital' and we covered basic income, monetary policy, science ficiton, Stoic philosophy, blockchain, etc.—TK
A decade ago, a small biotech company based outside of Boston faced a quandary. Its scientists had cracked a puzzle that long eluded the industry. But that soon led to another problem: There was no obvious way to market its promising new product.
Trump's lawyers seek to undercut Mueller's Russia investigation
Some of President Trump's lawyers are exploring ways to limit or undercut special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's Russia investigation, building a case against what they allege are his conflicts of interest and discussing the president's authority…
What more evidence do we need to stop killing pigs for food?
Domestic pigs, the kind portrayed in hot-pink neon above barbecue joints, curly tailed and carefree, have prodigious memories. In problem-solving with computers, they match wits with little kids and win. They are able to plan ahead, and they live…