Thursdays are all about longform links on Abnormal Returns. Wherever possible, free links for premium sites are used. You can check out last week’s linkfest including a look at the modern grocery delivery business.
Quote of the Day
"The Trump administration’s assault on state institutions is weakening the material sources of American power. Across core sectors—finance, technology, and energy—the administration is making the United States less central than it used to be."
(Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman)
Technology
- The electrification of everything is inevitable. (notboring.co)
- Has the value of 'Big Data' been oversold? (jamesrball.com)
Education
- The gap between the highest and lowest performing students in the U.S. is growing. (afterbabel.com)
- A profile of Joe Liemandt, founder of AI School. (joincolossus.com)
Diversity
- Nick Clegg, “It is a cultural thing, through from Elon Musk’s chainsaw-wielding stuff to any Silicon Valley podcast. If you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.” (theguardian.com)
- DEI was a horrible acronym, but diversity is a good thing. (hamiltonnolan.com)
Work
- Its becoming clear that AI is affecting early career outcomes. (derekthompson.org)
- Why Americans fear global trade: the lack of a social safety net and job transition. (nytimes.com)
Food
- Who gets to decide what's good coffee? (slate.com)
- A profile of some of the graduates from Hot Dog University on Chicago's north side. (switchboardmagazine.com)
Longreads
- How the U.S. sheperds its water resources. (construction-physics.com)
- Kodak is a poster child for the innovator's dilemma. (quartr.com)
- The entire extended Kennedy family has been dragged into the broader MAHA controversy. (nymag.com)
- Why cities love to build housing for seniors, i.e. no schools to build. (theargumentmag.com)
- On the risks that police pursuits represent for civilians. (indianacapitalchronicle.com)
- It took billions of years for that diamond to reach your finger. (forkingpaths.co)
- The North had very real economic advantages over the South leading up to the Civil War. (unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com)
- Maybe things really are better in Finland. (slate.com)
