ET Pro Geopolitical Conflict Monitor

The Chinese Panoptistate

By Ben Hunt | September 25, 2018 | 0 Comments

A Twitter user coined the term “Panoptistate” to describe what China is doing with its social data monitoring effort. It’s a good opportunity to revisit the classic ET note about the Panopticon.

Big brother from 1984 looking down

Guest Post: The Two Worlds of Data Infrastructure

By Ben Hunt | September 24, 2018 | 0 Comments

There are two systems states use to control our data: The Black Mirror version in China, and the western system that is well on its way there. There is another way.

Mailbag: Mastering the Art of French Cooking

By Ben Hunt | September 23, 2018 | 0 Comments

In which a fellow Slummerville old-timer writes in with a Savenor’s update: A dream job has been posted, and is now available. But who can afford a dream anymore? Oh, also I got an email from my mom. Hi, mom!

It's a floor wax AND a dessert topping!

It's a Floor Wax AND a Dessert Topping

By Ben Hunt | September 22, 2018 | 0 Comments

Coinbase – do they run a prop desk or don’t they run a prop desk? My answer: it’s not a prop desk. No, what they are doing is worse and less fair to clients than a prop desk.

A famous example of a Type 1 error

The Curse of Category

By Ben Hunt | September 21, 2018 | 0 Comments

In investing and in life, we are always quick to judge the book by its cover. We’re quicker to judge a book by who wrote it. We’re quickest to judge a book by what shelf it’s on.

Julia Child with a knife

Mastering the Art of French Cooking

By Ben Hunt | September 19, 2018 | 0 Comments

In which I discuss that one time I followed Julia Child through a grocery store in the least creepy manner I could manage, and the most delicious white corn I’ve ever enjoyed.

Professor Harold Hill (Harold Hill!)

But Our Interests Are Aligned!

By Ben Hunt | September 18, 2018 | 1 Comment

The modern use of stock-based compensation is a confidence game, in the true sense of the word, that would be very familiar to the Music Man (but he doesn’t know the territory!).

Notes From the Road: Roadkill

By Rusty Guinn | September 17, 2018 | 0 Comments

Part 2 of the Notes from the Road series, about the value of and problems with adaptive frameworks. In this installment, an exploration of……roadkill, and what evolution can tell us about our adaptations.

Rosebud.

You Provide the Pictures and I’ll Provide the War

By Ben Hunt | September 17, 2018 | 0 Comments

Billionaires don’t buy media properties as vanity projects, because they care deeply about them as institutions, or for profit. They buy them because they understand the political and economic power of Fiat News.

Author of The Rights of Man, Thomas Paine

True Freedoms / Hollow Freedoms

By Ben Hunt | September 16, 2018 | 0 Comments

Our liberty is our birthright, not granted to us by the State or the Oligarchs. It is not theirs to give. It cannot be taken away. But we can give it away. Don’t.