Tuesday 15th October 2024

How to… delete your 23andMe data - MIT Technology Review (No paywall)

But truly deleting your personal genetic information from the DNA testing company is easier said than done.

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Cameron Diaz took a break from Hollywood and shook up the wine world - Fortune (No paywall)

Diaz is the cofounder of organic and vegan-friendly wine brand Avaline, which she started with Katherine Power in 2020. (Power founded both cosmetics brand Merit Beauty and skincare brand Versed.) Diaz and Power were friends, often bonding over a glass of wine and a chat. But one night they realized something.

“One day we just sort of asked what was in the bottle,” Diaz said. “We turned the bottle around and realized there was no label, no ingredient list.” The duo wouldn’t consume anything else if they didn’t know what it was made of, so why ignore the ingredients in their sips of wine? 

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Putin’s Children - Foreign Affairs (No paywall)

More than two and a half years after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his “special military operation” in Ukraine, the disproportionate effects on Russian youth have become clear. At home, young people face ubiquitous indoctrination and greater constraints on their freedom. Many try to distract themselves from this new reality, not paying too much attention to it; the very few who express their discontent openly—or do things like trying to set fire to a military recruitment center—are sometimes punished with harsh prison sentences despite their young age. 

Military service, which applies to all Russian men between the ages of 18 and 30 who don’t have an exemption from the army, has become especially fraught. Although by law conscripts (as opposed to volunteers, contract soldiers, and those who have been specifically mobilized) cannot end up in a war zone, not everyone now believe that the military maintains this restriction. In other words, a fundamental feature of the conflict is that Putin and his aging Politburo are deciding for the younger generations not only how to live but also how to die.

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Will the U.S. Election Make a Difference to U.S. Foreign Policy? - Foreign Policy (No paywall)

EA: I actually think Trump probably has the edge, too, but it’s very close. More importantly, after the last six months, I’m not ruling out some big October surprise that shakes up the race again. We’ve had assassination attempts, candidates dropping out, and natural disasters. We’ve even got one member of Congress speculating that the government is creating hurricanes and targeting them at swing states—and that’s still not the craziest thing she’s said in the last month. Who’s to say things will stay stable until Nov. 5?

Foreign policy could certainly provide an October surprise, for example. We’ve got a rapidly escalating war in the Middle East: Israel has invaded Lebanon and is apparently planning a retaliatory strike on Iran. Does it change the electoral dynamics if the United States is involved in a shooting war by Election Day? More involved than now, I suppose I should say.

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What If Google’s Biggest Problem Isn’t AI? - Intelligencer (No paywall)

While Google is scrambling to catch up on AI, Amazon is carving off a big slice of its core business.

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These Apps Help People With Disabilities Travel Smarter and Safer - WIRED (No paywall)

Technology makes travel easier by allowing us to research and map out our travel plans. But for the disability community, technology can be the most valuable travel companion. The following apps and sites help people with disabilities make smart and safe choices so they can get out in the world and explore more than ever.

The service AccessibleGO was created by Miriam Eljas, whose mom, Emma, had multiple sclerosis and was a wheelchair user. The site allows you to book accessible flights and hotels across the United States. Then, a team member calls each of the vendors to confirm they can meet your needs. Founder Eljas tells me that the additional follow-up call offers assurance for clients with disabilities, “so you know a real person has understood your accessibility requirements and has personally spoken with your hotel, airline, or car company to ensure a smooth trip.”

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The life-changing magic of Japanese clutter | Aeon Essays

The world sees Japan as a paragon of minimalism. But its hidden clutter culture shows that ‘more’ can be as magical as ‘less’

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"With TradeBriefs, you're not just consuming information - you're engaging in second and third-order thinking. The newsletter forces you to think about how today's decisions and trends will unfold in ways that aren't immediately obvious. That's a rare quality and one I greatly value."
- Sara Khan, Investment Strategist, Global Finance Partners

These are the best ways to measure your body fat

Move over, BMI. It’s time to get SAD.

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"With TradeBriefs, you're not just consuming information - you're engaging in second and third-order thinking. The newsletter forces you to think about how today's decisions and trends will unfold in ways that aren't immediately obvious. That's a rare quality and one I greatly value."
- Sara Khan, Investment Strategist, Global Finance Partners

How to Work with a Bad Listener - Harvard Business Review (No paywall)

It’s frustrating to work with people who don’t listen. Whether your colleagues interrupt you, ramble on, or seem distracted, the impact is the same: you feel ignored and the chances for misunderstandings — and mistakes — rise. There are, however, ways you can encourage your colleagues to listen better. First, consider their work styles. Ask them how they like to receive information. Some people are visual; others are verbal. Second, be an empathetic listener. Let your colleagues say what they need to. When there’s a natural pause in the conversation, validate their points, and then share your thoughts. Third, highlight the magnitude of your message when you’re communicating a critical point. Say: “I have something important to say. And I need you to listen.” Finally, sometimes it’s necessary to call out your colleague’s behavior —  but try to do it in a positive, compassionate way. Say: “You seem distracted. Is there anything I can help you with?”

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"With TradeBriefs, you're not just consuming information - you're engaging in second and third-order thinking. The newsletter forces you to think about how today's decisions and trends will unfold in ways that aren't immediately obvious. That's a rare quality and one I greatly value."
- Sara Khan, Investment Strategist, Global Finance Partners

The big idea: should we be thinking about luck differently?

At around midday on 19 August 1949, wreathed in thick mist, a British European Airways DC-3 going from Belfast to Manchester flew into a hillside on Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District, near Oldham. All the crew and 21 of the 29 passengers died on impact or soon afterwards. Eight passengers survived, including a young boy and his parents, although, devastatingly, their younger child was one of the fatalities. That surviving boy became my friend and statistical colleague, Prof Stephen Evans.

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"With TradeBriefs, you're not just consuming information - you're engaging in second and third-order thinking. The newsletter forces you to think about how today's decisions and trends will unfold in ways that aren't immediately obvious. That's a rare quality and one I greatly value."
- Sara Khan, Investment Strategist, Global Finance Partners