I love having strong habits. At the same time, I find myself breaking those habits all the time. I used to feel bad about it. Not anymore. When falling off the bandwagon, I usually try to “fake it until I make it”. Just going through the motions without really being present, just to keep the…
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Universal Paperclips: An Educational AI Game
Recently, I got addicted to Universal Paperclips, a clicker game with unexpected philosophical implications. The user plays the role of an AI programmed to only want one thing: paperclips. It’s based on a famous thought experiment by Swedish philosopher Nick Bostrom. It begs the question: where does our technological progress and constant optimization lead? In the game…
Compound Your Relationships
I am a big believer in the concept of “compound interest”. It’s something I think a lot about, in different contexts. Maybe it’s a natural process of getting older. I increasingly like the idea of “compounding my relationships”. Instead of constantly meeting new people, focus on your existing network. Instead of making new friends, focus…
Improve Your Sleep with Noise Cancelling Headphones
I have been using my Bose QuietComfort 20 for several years. I use them on planes, on trains, in co-working spaces, and even to help me sleep. I discovered that they are actually quite comfortable to sleep with. I don’t use them often to sleep. When needed, they worked very well. Noisy neighbors, having to…
The International Flag of Planet Earth
When you view Earth from space, you can’t see any borders. Heck, you can’t even see humans! Borders and nations are just an invention, an artificial concept. They are not natural laws. I understand why we have them, but can’t we do better? Our world is becoming more global every year. The internet, global trade,…
Read Books Twice
I love reading books. However, if I go too fast and read through too many books, I have trouble remembering what I learned. Also, I want to avoid chasing the “number of books” I have read. It doesn’t mean anything. That’s why I really liked the idea by Rolf Dobelli of reading each book a…
Peer-to-Peer Microlending: Review of Zidisha.org
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” — Maimonides I love microlending. Here’s how it works: You give an entrepreneur in a developing country a loan for his business, e.g. to buy a water irrigation system for his…
“Margin of Safety” as a Principle of Life
In my last post I talked about the key principles of value investing. The one principle I keep using almost daily is the “Margin of Safety” principle. It’s such a powerful concept that I try to apply it almost everywhere in my life, especially to time management. When I have an appointment, I give myself…
The Key Principles of Value Investing
The style of investing that speaks most to me is value investing, as practiced by Warren Buffett and Benjamin Graham. I’m often asked: “What is value investing exactly?” Here is my understanding of the core principles: Have more purchasing power in the futureThe goal of all investing is laying out money today, so that you…
Practical Wisdom for Relationships: Read to Each Other
A friend recently brought up this topic: He is regularly reading to his partner in the evening, and they are both enjoying it very much. I told him that my partner and I have discovered the same thing. Pick something that interests you both. It’s wonderful quality time. You are near each other. You learn…