This was good. The dynamic between Josh and Andrew was like this perfectly balanced pendulum swing that didn’t lose its inertia. Josh spoke from deep experience and philosophical understanding, while Andrew grounded it in science and insights from other powerful thinkers. There’s so much from his Art of Learning that stands out where instead of mastering all at once, you refine tiny aspects of a skill until they become second nature. Also in understanding that the most heartbreaking, devastating moments often serve as catalysts for the biggest growth. I love how he focuses on finding harmony in chaos by detaching from those intense emotions, this is rooted in Taoism practices. He also adapted Jiu Jitsu into his understanding. Accordingly, when you let go of ego and not be in a dominant position all the time, you will find other angles to win. My favorite is probably the MIQ (Most important Question) - What’s the one thing that, if I focused on it, would bring the biggest improvement? This is such a chess move. Josh Waitzkin won national chess championship 8 times, and International Master (just below Grandmaster at the age of 16). He left chess because of politics and went on to become a world champion in Jiu Jitsu. He also coaches companies and individuals on high-leverage focus, adapting under pressure, and turning struggles into strengths. I love the way he approaches life as he constantly finds ways to grow. He prioritizes depth over surface-level achievements or transactional connections. And I love his lifestyle. He lives in the jungle with his wife and kids, practices martial arts and water sports, and continues to improve himself. There is a movie on his early life from a book written by his father called Searching for Bobby Fischer that came out in ‘93. Weekend goals

Some things I read and heard, and thoughts formed in recent weeks : The only way out is through. Fear is the enemy of pleasure. Let your your higher self be your anchor. Early failure is the price of long-term success. Real growth is the kind that quietly rewires the soul. Breakthrough innovation redefines the rules. Don’t lose your marbles over other people’s drama. There is something fascinating about people who observe rather than speak, who process rather than react, and carry pain in a way that doesn’t demand attention. Be emotionally available to yourself. Competition and jealousy in business is a booster, but in relationships is a red flag. “She is fascinating because she is both vulnerable and strong, both lost and on the cusp of finding herself.” In the crowded space of showing empathy for everyone, don’t forget to show empathy for yourself.

Surveillance Capitalism: A Conversation with Shoshana Zuboff and Jim Balsillie

There will always be noise, political dramas, empty cans, those who are easily swayed, lalangs, etc., perhaps now more than ever. We can either get distracted by them and lower our standards to theirs, or we can focus on the signal and keep moving forward.

she thought it was the misfortune of poetry, to be seldom safely enjoyed by those who enjoyed it completely; and that the strong feelings which alone could estimate it truly, were the very feelings which ought to taste it but sparingly. ― Jane Austen, Persuasion

The roles that women have played throughout history is truly incredible. The first shift in feminist movement probably happened during Jesus of Nazareth period as he gave as equal power to become his followers. The second trigger might be during the industrial wave 19th century when women started working in factories and contributed to contribute to household finances. The third shift which is a huge contributor to the modern feminist movement would be the knowledge-based movement in the 20th century when power and wealth shifted from muscular-needs to knowledge-based. Taking a closer look into history... When we look back way before the old testament circa 3000 BC, physical strength was needed for survival, so men naturally took up the role of lead and provision while women were confined to domestic roles in a patriarchal structure. Evolution has a lot of contribution on the women-men dynamics and it should not be discarded. As time went on, during Old testament period 400 BC, there were the rise of women like Miriam (Moses’s sister), Ruth (one of my fav chapters - on love, loyalty and redemption), Queen Esther and Deborah, a judge and prophetess who brought peace to Israel through Barak. But there remain social constraints like Hagar who was given to Abraham by Sarah and birth Ismael which led to religious tensions till today and Tamar who was passed on from one son to another until she decided to get knocked up through the father instead. Between the old and new Testament, the Catholic Bible covers this period well - this is called the second temple era. This is the whole Athenian Greek culture under Alexander the Great and later by the Romans, the Peloponnesian war which marked the starting point of democracy. Spartan women had more freedom culturally compared to Greek women. Judith, from the Catholic bible (book of Judith), fought to protect her people. The New Testament (1st century AD) perhaps triggered the first revolutionary rise of women’s recognition as equals based on how Jesus would engage with them (Samaritan woman, Mary Magdalene, his mother). Women and men don’t speak to each other in public, let alone treat strangers or diff social status with respect and kindness. For Jesus, all were welcome to be his followers. I think Phoebe was identified as the first nurse and deacon in the bible. The early christian era (1st - 4th century) saw a rise of faith-based women leadership, there were women martyrs and saints but churches remain a patriarchal structure. During the medieval period (5th - 15th century) the elites played a crucial role in bringing some form of education to their children and although women were educated at home, there were more opportunities for women to expand their roles as theologians, scientists, and artists. But they remain largely restricted to marriage and motherhood outside religious institutions. The 15th century to the 18th century was the renaissance and enlightenment era. Thinkers like Mary Wollstonecraft (A Vindication of the Rights of Woman), Christine de Pizan (a medieval court writer) or Artemisia Gentileschi (a Renaissance artist) began advocating for women’s rights. (I am in my Jane Austen era at this moment - his pride and her prejudice - dang this movie never gets old). The industrial revolution perhaps triggered the second revolutionary rise of women’s recognition and importance. There were more women who started working in factories despite low wages and poor working conditions, and brought money home - which changed the dynamics of a home welfare that was once absolutely dependent on men (and taxation of course). The 20th and 21st century transformed the women's roles drastically mainly due to survival during wars and the rise of knowledge based industries. Knowledge does not require physical strength but it can pay the bills. The shift of dynamics in the importance of women’s role vs the patriarchal stubborn need to not be equals has seen the rise of various feminist waves from flapper moment to workplace equality to harassment etc in the last century. I love how in today’s world, women are empowered to make conscious choices. Modern feminism has made significant stride in offering women more options and challenging outdated societal norms. But what I find to be damaging is how modern feminism is sometimes boxed in by political moments - and it become too focused on specific political stances or identity categories which sidelines the broader, more inclusive aspects of feminist thought. To me a highly valued woman is not what the ‘left’ or ‘right’ expects her to be. She is not defined based on what society defines her but the respect she gives herself and the dignity she carries. Her values are intrinsic and not based on anyone’s validation. A highly valued woman does not contribute to dynamics that feel performative, manipulative, attention-seeking or lack genuine connection. She seeks relationships rooted in honesty and growth. I also deeply believe that the support structure of men is fundamentally important in how women rise and grow. And it works both ways. This could be seen from the times of Marie and Pierre Curie and their shared love for science and reading, to examples set by even our own parents on mutual support. A highly valued woman can be the emotional anchor a man needs to continually grow and pursue his dreams, and vice versa. As we look back throughout history, the dynamics between men and women have definitely changed but what's beautiful in today’s world is that respect comes from within because you want to, not because you have to.

I find it fascinating how much of what is considered "modern" Western discovery has actually been a long-standing practice in Southeast Asia. 1. Going barefoot - common when entering a home or sacred place. Leave the dirty shoes outside to maintain cleanliness and respect. Grounding however is not an explicit term used but it's been a norm without realising it through practises like meditating outdoors and spending time in nature and more. 2. Meditation retreats - has long been a part of Southeast Asian culture. 3. Sunlight - In tropical countries that don't experience four seasons, sunlight is a natural part of life. 4. Seed oil is bad - In SEA, lard, ghee, palm oil, coconut oil have always been commonly used. 5. Raw milk is good - it's commonly available in restaurants and it is even delivered to homes daily. 6. Fermented food - common in many Southeast Asian diets (tempeh, tempoyak, fish sauces etc). 7. Herbal remedies and natural health - for generations, southeast asians have relied on herbal remedies, and alternative medicines (traditional chinese herbal medicine, ayurvedic medicine, malay herbal treatments, and borneo indigenous herbal practices among the Iban, Kadazan, Dayak, and Bidayuh peoples) 8. Spiritual significance - Many aspects of life in Southeast Asia, from daily practices to festivals, carry deep spiritual meaning. 9. Aphrodisiac foods - Ingredients like Tongkat Ali and various herbal drinks are commonly available. Southeast Asia is culturally integrated due to centuries of colonization by various empires, as well as its strategic position as a global trade hub which brought together different groups of people. The divisions that exist today are mostly artificial social constructs which are deeply embedded in religious practices, politics, and corrupt power plays.

Has anyone trained AI-driven feedback systems using metadata through federated learning, homomorphic encryption, or differential privacy (with noise injection)? Would love to hear your thoughts on the development and infra complexities

I started this year with a footprint on personal empowerment. I couldn't help but notice how different these philosophical ideas are next to each other, but as a whole, it's a nice balance. Buddhist Teachings (Thích Nhất Hạnh, Dalai Lama) - ego and attachment to desires causes suffering. True happiness comes from selflessness. My take - I love this, and agree entirely, but love yourself first, so that you can be whole as you love others. Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich) - tap into your inner ego. Align purpose with actions. My take - Over the years I’ve realised that good intention is more important than anything else. Marcus Aurelius (Stoicism) - accept what we cannot control, and strengthen resilience when facing challenges. Virtue and rationality are core Stoic principles. My take - I’ve grown to appreciate the wisdom of emotional detachment. It’s not about suppressing love or your deepest desires and drive but ensuring you don’t succumb to emotional prison that carries destructive emotions like anxiety, fear, and insecurity - as it can rule you and ruin your relationship with those around you. The Secret (Law of Attraction) - visualise and live in a positive bubble with gratitude, till it becomes real. My take - manifestation is great BUT those who manifest without reality check can be imposing, manipulative and egoistic. Rhonda Byrne, in The Secret - our thoughts shape our reality My Take - it leans towards the mystical part of manifestation, not my cup of tea. Prayer (Christianity) - manifestation with a reality check (God’s will is the arch) Reality transurfing - let the universe decide. Tweak your thoughts and intentions so that you can shift your energy and awareness to align with parallel realities My take : I love the energy and universe concept, but I also believe you determine your own destiny. Gabby Bernstein - don’t trust the universe. Trust faith, fate and divine energy My take : I love the romantic notion of fate, but not one out of despondency. And I also deeply believe that our actions and choices shape our destiny, and this is how your soul’s call to greatness is defined. Faith-Based Self-Help (e.g., Zig Ziglar, Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking) - trust in faith and miracles without tangible evidence. My take : I am my father’s daughter and believe in the strength of faith especially as it provides a sense of purpose and resilience during challenging times. But faith also changes the structure of your brain so I am more realistic than mythical about it. Tony Robbins - you decide and act on it. My take : makes me want to run a marathon after listening to it. David Goggins - you are 100% responsible for your life. My take : Absolutely. But it comes with the understanding that everyone has different levels of challenges. Jocko Willink (Discipline Equals Freedom) - rigid discipline for daily structure and self control is non-negotiable. My take : this is my 6am - 8am motivation for pilates and sunrise walks. Eckhart Tolle (The power of now) - live in the present, discard ego’s obsession over past or future My take : agreed, but reflection and striving makes you whole. Marie Kondo (The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up) - keep what “sparks joy” . My take : Agreed. We all should definitely declutter life every now and then - remove noise or ambivalence that drains us and focus on the signal Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REMT - Albert Ellis) - logical thinking improves emotional responses. My take : I love this. It sets the stage for modern concepts of “reframing” and “mindfulness” Atomic Habits (James Clear) - on small, incremental improvements. My take : I find this to be most helpful when you go through an extreme period of pain and you find it hard to carry on and so you start with small shifts until you gradually see yourself getting better. Overall these books have similar goals - empowering yourself, strengthening your mind, resilience, growth. It depends on what you need when, for example : self awareness & compassion - Buddhist teaching, stoicism moments of crisis - Atomic habits, stoicism long-term goals - think and grow rich, Tony Robbins clarity and balance - Marie Kondo positive mind - faith based, the secret discipline - jocko spirituality - Gabby Bernstein, prayer relationship & teamwork - REBT For all other times, a balance of these philosophies can be pretty powerful (but with a reality check)

Stalemate is an interesting tactic. You avoid it when you're winning, but go for it when you're losing. It reminds me of life, where people sometimes settle for whatever they can get, either out of fear of losing more or a lack of belief in something better.

When it comes to global finance, countries often suffer when currencies clash with political instability and economic uncertainty. In the traditional economic system that has currency dominance or trade hegemony, when gov’ts struggle to defend currency pegs or manage foreign debts & investments, economies become fragile. A part of my interest is understanding at a deeper level how Bitcoin could play a role in creating a more equitable global financial system. In 1994, Mexico’s interest rate ballooned to nearly 100%. This was during the Tequila Crisis of 1994-1995, when Mexico's peso was pegged to the USD and was overvalued. The country’s economy was heavily dependent on foreign capital and was destabilized by the rising political unrest, especially after the assassination of Colosio (who vowed to eliminate corruption from all sectors and was often likened to JFK). In order to remain pegged, Mexico had to buy pesos on the open market whenever speculative pressures arose - but their foreign currency reserve was depleting. So they issued short term bonds (Tesobonos) to attract foreign investment, and these values reflected the huge amount of debts Mexico had. Foreign investors were getting nervous about repayment, so the Mexican government devalued the Peso by 15% from 2.9 pesos to 3.4 Pesos to a dollar. When it comes to devaluation, for foreign investors it should seem like Mexican assets are cheaper in terms of USD, and would produce higher returns once the economy stabilises so the Mexican govt was banking on a positive boost. But instead the devaluation signaled desperation and uncertainty about the government's ability to manage the crisis, causing a dramatic free fall of selling Peso in the open market. Peso lost 50% of its value within a few weeks. To attract investors back, the central bank drastically increased interest rates up to 80% - 100% . Borrowers, businesses and consumers, struggled to repay loans (as they had to pay 2x). Thousands of businesses went bankrupt and millions lost their jobs. Mexico went into severe recession with GDP contracting by 6.2%. Bill Clinton and the IMF sent a ~$40B loan to bailout Mexico. Today the exchange rate is at 20 Pesos to 1 US dollar. A high exchange rate like this makes it more expensive to buy in USD - hence making import harder, while increasing demand in exports for Mexico. This was something Mexico wasn't ready for and couldn't handle. But the reverse also holds true. I remember watching a documentary on China that came under scrutiny for "currency manipulation" , devaluing its Renminbi to boost exports to the US and reduce imports (which fosters internal circulation). While China gained massive trade advantages, many small businesses lost out, especially in SEA and globally. Devaluing currency or artificial currency was part of China’s economic strategy in the 90s and 2000s. It was also once pegged to the US from ‘94 - ‘05 but it has been a floating currency since and its ties with BRICS encourages more trades in RMB. The Mexican Peso crisis might sound very similar to the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. I remember George Soros was a key figure in making speculative attacks that SEA’s strong trade will collapse - we never will know if it's due to him that everyone pulled out or he was right, but the Thai baht, pegged to the USD, could not withstand these speculative pressures. The gov’t lacked sufficient foreign reserves and had high foreign debt, which led to the decision to float the baht, resulting in its massive devaluation. And then the collapse spread like dominoes. I also remember reading about the impact of the rise of interest rates by the US federal reserve which also played a key role in the 1997 Asian Financial crisis. As U.S. interest rates increased, foreign investors pulled out their capital from emerging markets like Thailand in hopes for returns in the U.S. This capital outflow created a vacuum, fueling speculative attacks on these countries' currencies. Defending currency pegs became increasingly expensive because of the higher interest rates. It was a loss-loss situation. Indonesia and the Philippines were also affected. Asian tigers - Korea and Malaysia were impacted with the loss of foreign investment, but Malaysia was originally not pegged. Maddy made the call to peg it to prevent further loss, as its reserve currency was in abundance (few things Maddy did right) When we go through all this global trade chaos and historical economic shocks, can Bitcoin make a difference in the future? In countries where currencies are manipulated or subject to gov’t instability, Bitcoin could serve as a hedge, independent of local gov’t or central bank policies. Given the growing acceptance and accessibility worldwide, businesses can continually operate within the global trade environment despite currency devaluation or capital controls. Small businesses globally will not succumb to unfair competitions like China's currency devaluation strategy to boost export resulting in loss of business to trade hegemony, if importers and exporters use Bitcoin for cross-border payments, layer 2 through lightning. Ultimately, Bitcoin could help provide the economic restart that countries need when they are in a limbo, shifting the power back to the people and away from governments that manipulate currencies for political gain.

such a beautiful piece, so much of deep emotions channeled through this. Charles Lloyd's tribute to Billie Holiday

I was reading this book (‘The world for sale’ by Javier Blas and Jack Farchy) which started off on how this oil and gas trading company called Vitol provided fuel for the rebels during the Arab Spring with the protection of NATO and funding from Qatar, and it piqued my curiosity on Libya’s rebel support. Qatar was an intermediary between Western governments and Libyan rebels. It facilitated the provision of arms and fuel through commodity traders. Vitol was a commodity trader. Some backstory on Libya. Libya was governed by Gaddafi for a very very long time - 42 years. (I’ve written some bits on the political states of North Africa over the last few decades somewhere along these posts). But Gaddafi’s leadership is often commented from opposite ends - One side calls him a ruthless dictator. The other side calls him the most democratic leader in Africa. Muhammad Ali stated in his autobiography that the US and Gaddafi did not see eye to eye because of the political influence on religion. But more importantly Gaddafi controlled Libya’s oil by nationalizing it. Nationalization swept the countries in the middle east and africa in the 70s which loosened the clutches of the global oil dominance by the infamous “Seven Sisters” . In this case, nationalizing it allowed for free trade to happen? (and in the process - petrostate was formed). Libya is in the top 10 crude oil producers in the world. Many wanted their hands on it but it was hard when Gaddafi was controlling it. During the Arab Spring which was a wave of uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa, including Libya, rebel factions rose against Gaddafi's regime. I think when you run for 42 years, even if you were a good person, it prevents strong and decent opponents to rise, and instead creates a vacuum that extremist are quick to fill in. But this period marked a turning point, as both internal dissent and external interventions, including CIA’s and NATO’s involvement, led to Gaddafi's fall and the subsequent struggle for control over Libya’s oil wealth. Back to Vitol and Qatar and funding the rebels - the only way rebels can win the war in Libya is with more fuel (if you remember the Desert Fox incident during WW2- never run out of fuel in the deserts of Africa). And the only way for global powerhouses to control oil in Libya is to fund the rebels to bring down Gaddafi. There was a lot of competition among commodity traders to work with rebels as they barter trade fuel for crude oil through the pipelines. But nothing beats Vitol’s founder Ian Taylor who was a leading donor for the Tories party who won the project. Also ironically Washington sanctioned Gaddafi from buying fuel or selling crude oil, but waived sanction for anyone buying from Vitol’s company. Benghazi, a key city in Libya and a hub for the oil industry, became a battleground during the civil war between rebels and Gaddafi’s government forces. It became a lawless militant state with rising death rates and poorly managed hospitals, food supply etc and people were suffering. Heavily armed youths patrolled the city (a few years down the road, a mob would break into the US consulate and murder the ambassador). Unfortunately Gaddafi was murdered during the NATO-led intervention during the Arab Spring. I read that he was sodomised brutally by rebels with a bayonet and was beaten to death. His gruesome murder was apparently recorded on phone and broadcasted globally. Libya grew from the poorest country - to the richest country in the continent under Gaddafi. And now it’s back to a poor and struggling country controlled by rebels. Gaddafi also had billions of dollars frozen in Western bank accounts. In September 2011, $300 million in Libyan assets in the West was unfrozen - not to aid Libyan citizens, but to settle payments owed to Vitol for supplying fuel to the rebels. Many of these large commodity traders apparently have their offices in sleepy towns in Switzerland or New England. And they work for profit hence supporting whichever rebels or gov’ts that benefited them. From the book, it states "Their numbers have remained relatively small: a large share of the world’s traded resources is handled by just a few companies, many of them owned by just a few people." I am attaching here another piece of article on Libya's governance under Gaddafi. It talks about how Gaddafi promoted direct democracy and was not a dictator because many of his proposals were countered by congress like him wanting home schooling, abolishing capital punishment, to give all oil profits back to the people and even wanting to eliminate the central government. Things he managed to push forth was free schooling, free hospitalisation and free electricity. The combination of socialism and capitalism in Libya can be expanded to a topic of its own (Someday if i have the time, I will write on the historical bridges of socialism and capitalism around the world). This article also talks about CIA interventions and how it advocated the rise of extremist militant Muslims around the world from Muslim brotherhood in Egypt to Sarekat Islam in indonesia to Jamar Al islami in Pakistan to al Qaeda and ISIS over the last 4-5 decades. Will this be the year the CIA is abolished ? Only time would tell. The story of Libya has always saddened me. Makes me hope more than ever for the liberalizations of people in situations like this

CounterPunch.org

Libya: From Africa's Wealthiest Democracy Under Gaddafi to Terrorist Haven After US Intervention

Tuesday marks the four-year anniversary of the US-backed assassination of Libya’s former leader, Muammar Gaddafi, and the decline into chaos of o...

2024 was a lot to handle but losing my boy was my breaking point. To anyone who have lost any form of love, I wish peace fills your heart and that you find the courage to keep moving forward. Let 2025 be a year of healing and recovery. Thinking of my boy always makes me smile. Fido was so kind in his own way. I can only hope that in everything we do, we do it with that deep level of kindness and genuine love, and have fun while at it. And I hope that the goodness that we give out to the world finds its way back to us. Happy New Year everyone.