RRR34: The Cold Brew Price Index, Stoopin', Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, Are We Talking Enough About AI, Larry June, and The Indiana Pacers
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Price is not a proxy for worth. No matter the cost, buying something you don’t need (or really want) is simply too expensive.
Forget the fact that the U.S. faces a cost-of-living crisis. The prices on some “nice-to-have” goods and services are so ridiculous that I believe it’s never been more important to reinforce the principles of price elasticity.
Isn’t there something about the “$7.5 +” combined with the image that is just offensive?
I know, never doubt the American consumer, but at some point our willingness to pay for certain things has got to change…
I’m not sure about you, but I’ll be keeping my eye on the, “cold brew in a major U.S. city” price index as a sign of just how much cultural rot is occurring.
In Recent Times…
It’s funny how life will sometimes give you exactly what you need, at the perfect moment.
One of my best friends recently had to move away from Philadelphia for work. We were accustomed to having plans at least once or twice a week, and could easily have impromptu hang outs a few more times since we only lived three blocks away from one another.
I have a lot of friends scattered throughout the city, but we’re all busy and everyone is pretty locked into their routines on weekly basis. I’ve spent much of the last few weeks thinking about how I’d like a better community in my neighborhood for random little activities like taking a walk, grabbing a coffee, or having dinner.
Enter last night (now two weeks ago since I wrote this).
It started when I went to the gym unusually late for a Friday, and one of my acquaintances from the basketball group at the gym was also there. We played some 1 v. 1 to warm up for our lifts and got to socializing quite a bit.
I stopped on my way home from the gym for groceries, and as I continued on my way, I came across a small party happening on one of the big stoops that line Spruce Street downtown.
In my head I was admiring how nice it must be for this group of friends to be able to enjoy the good company without “doing” anything. Just hangin’ on the front steps.
No sooner than I had formulated that thought, they invited me to join! I was almost in shock.
I ran home to put the groceries away, and when I came back 20 minutes later, they were waiting for me with a drink and a bunch of people to meet.
We spent the rest of the evening getting to know each other, laughing, and inviting more people onto the stoop. I made a bunch of new friends and I got added to a group chat with a bunch of folks that live nearby. Just what the doctor ordered!
As it turns out, you may not need to go looking for a community to join. Just walk a little slower, and say yes when it invites you over to the stoop.
Content Corner 📖🎙📺
I enjoy The Infographics Show YouTube channel for its simplistic breakdowns and easy-to-understand narratives. Not the best place to go if you want to deep dive a subject, but a perfectly reasonable home if you’re looking for a quick intro or recap on something.
Also, you’ve got to give them credit for the eye-catching thumbnails… 😂. Very cheap move, but you need to grab a prospective viewer’s attention somehow.
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 marked one of the most devastating protectionist moments in American history. Even according to the U.S. Senate’s website, “…it was on June 13, 1930, that the Senate passed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff, among the most catastrophic acts in congressional history.”
Yikes.
Democratization of Creation 👾🧬🌼
The gap between how AI superusers and casual users are using the tools at their disposal is pretty big… I think.
I say that because the AI tools out there are now powerful enough that if they were fully adopted and thoughtfully deployed, the world economy would be drastically different than it is today. That probably sounds crazy when the biggest companies in the world are all tightly coupled with AI, but I still think it’s true.
Power users are already leveraging AI agents to build entire applications, debug complex systems, and prototype ideas at lightning speed — essentially wielding AI as a force multiplier that turns thoughts into something real.
I think normal people are mostly using LLMs for much more basic prompts.
This gap in how people contemplate use cases must have existed in the early internet era (someone let me know, I’m not old enough to opine on the technical skill curve that existed at that time).
But it feels like there's something unique happening here — we're not just breaking down information asymmetries anymore, we're democratizing the ability to create, to build, to manifest thoughts into reality through code, image and video generation, and even mass ideation. I am particularly fascinated with the code production capabilities that are already available.
Traditional programming gatekeepers (syntax, system architecture, tool selection) are dissolving faster than we can adapt our educational systems. Soon, the limiting variable won't be coding ability at all. It will be the soft skills, like imagination and problem-solving instincts.
I sort of got at this in RRR23 when I wrote about making knowledge functional, but I did not anticipate where we would be technologically today:
In the past, having particular knowledge about something was actually a net benefit to those around you. Technically, it still is a net benefit, but only if you couple it with the ability to explain it clearly to others, and use it as a framework to think through other problems.
I’m a firm believer that you ought to invest in the soft skills, such as verbal and written communication, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, etc.
AND / OR
become a true subject matter expert on something.
My whole theory on this is that slightly above baseline knowledge and understanding, while awesome to have, is easily acquired now via internet search engines, and can be made even more digestible with the use of LLMs.
We’re approaching a world where being creative is going to matter more than a decade of technical training — what a time to be alive.
Larry June and Redefining the “Flex” in Rap Music 💪🏻🍵
In my opinion, Larry June has become one of hip-hop's most fascinating artists. Rap music is a genre built on bravado and excess, so it’s incredible how he has carved out a niche that celebrates things which are often profoundly ordinary.
From the first time I heard "Watering My Plants," I was struck by his sound and lyrics — rap is supposed to be braggadocios, and he was rapping about utterly attainable things. He was making it cool to pay your bills on time, to drink tea, to go for walks, to water your plants.
Don’t get me wrong — Larry definitely loves some fancy cars and expensive dinners, but his music is relatable in a way for normal people. What is more normal / aspirational than having a smoothie, making sure your car is running well, and hitting a quick bike ride?
The Thunder Win — I’ll Be Thinking of the Indiana Pacers 🕊🏀
It's not often that after an NBA champion is crowned, you're left thinking more about the team that didn't win it all.
But that's exactly how I feel now that the young and remarkable Oklahoma City Thunder capped off a historically great season with an NBA championship.
I'm still thinking about the grit and veteran savvy of Pascal Siakam, who became a spiritual leader for his team throughout the playoffs.
I'm still thinking about the toughness and basketball IQ that Andrew Nembhard displayed throughout the playoffs once again.
I'm thinking about Aaron Nesmith fouling the living hell out of everyone while simultaneously playing stellar defense and drilling clutch shots when it mattered most.
How could I not think about TJ McConnell? A journeyman who wasn't supposed to be THIS impactful in the playoffs, yet somehow became the heartbeat of the bench unit.
And of course, I'm thinking about the absolute heater that Tyrese Haliburton was on before he tragically tore his Achilles in the final game — a cruel twist that robbed us of seeing this magical run reach its full potential.
What made this Pacers team so captivating wasn't any single superstar performance, but rather how a collection of overlooked players, castoffs, and developing talents coalesced into something far greater than anyone imagined.
They played with joy, they played with purpose, and they believed genuinely that they could compete at the highest level. They were right!
In a league increasingly dominated by super teams and manufactured chemistry, the Pacers reminded us that basketball in its purest form is a true team sport. Sometimes the most beautiful stories aren't about the glory of victory, but about how much joy they inspire in others.
So interesting 🙌🙌🙌
So interesting 🙌🙌🙌