Something I’ve read:

I always knew the deal to have Google as the default search engine on Apple devices was a significant revenue stream for Apple, but I didn’t know how big. It’s an eye-watering $8bn – $12bn according to this article which also introduced me to ‘co-opetition‘, that’s a significant chunk of revenue for Apple.

Given the lawsuit that’s been filed on this topic it’ll be interesting to watch.

Something I’ve watched:

The debate in the UK around funding for free school meals has been pretty divisive. I’ll be frank and say I’m a centrist on this, as I am on many issues – wanting to balance short-term intent with long-term reconciliation, but given the external societal context this debate is taking place in, I think this clip of The West Wing really sums up my thoughts…

Something I’m thinking about:

One of my favourite podcasts is the BBC’s ‘More or Less’. A recent episode explored the ‘History of Probability‘. My key takeaway was just how recent the common acceptance – although more limited understanding – of probability is within our thinking and consideration of events. The fact that the British government used to pay the same annuity rate to all ages(!!) demonstrates that.

Something I’ve read:

Why willingly let the fox in the hen house? To make your hens better at fighting the fox.

This article highlights the approach China took in welcoming Tesla into the Chinese market. It had two impacts:

• Ensured a local supply chain was formed, which in turn could then be exploited by local auto manufacturers.
• Drove innovation and resources into domestic competitors

Considering the race to electrification it’s hard to argue that the approach hasn’t been effective for China.

Something I’ve watched:

Can never get enough David Goggins straight-talk:

Something I’m thinking about:

I often read Brain Pickings for inspiration, interest and contemplation. It was there that I first found Art Young’s art collection, Trees at Night.

Here’s ‘Weary & Heavy Laden’…

Something I’ve read:

I’ve been taking a keen interest in the development and progression of a COVID-19 vaccine, here’s a good summary of the current position.

Something I’ve watched:

Speed reading is a superpower…

Something I’m thinking about:

I’m close to finishing Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, one of those books I’ve had on the bookcase but never made the effort to read. Tough going in places given the antiquated language but overall an enlightening read. After doing a lot of reading around Stoicism over the last few years, this quotation resonated:

“I learned to look more upon the bright side of my condition, and less upon the dark side, and to consider what I enjoyed, rather than what I wanted : and this gave me sometimes such secret comforts, that I cannot express them ; and which I take notice of here, to put those discontented people in mind of it, who cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them, because they see and covet something that he has not given them. All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have”

Something I’ve read:

Always slightly sceptical about articles like this because they oversimplify skill(s) equalling reward. But that said, it’s interesting to see how they rank the languages. And ultimately #coding is fun!

Something I’ve watched:

I’m coming towards the end of Episode 8 of The Last Dance on Netflix. It is absolutely magnificent – engrossing, detailed, motivational – a superb piece of television.

Something I’m thinking about:

If you haven’t read or listened to This is Water – then you should.

“None of this is about morality, or religion, or dogma, or big fancy questions
of life after death. The capital-T Truth is about life before death. It is about
making it to 30, or maybe 50, without wanting to shoot yourself in the
head. It is about simple awareness — awareness of what is so real and
essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, that we have to keep
reminding ourselves, over and over: “This is water, this is water.”

Something I’ve read:

Many people don’t understand exponential growth, and clearly that also means they don’t understand exponential decay either. Important factors as COVID-19 waxes and wanes in different countries and regions.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200812-exponential-growth-bias-the-numerical-error-behind-covid-19

Something I’ve watched:

A clear demonstration of the New Defender’s capability.

Something I’m thinking about:

Just about to start reading a biography of Theodoor Roosevelt, here’s arguably his most famous quote:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

It’s always interesting to look at a company’s press release boilerplate to see what a company concisely and simply thinks of itself. Apple have just updated theirs to include the Apple Watch – the confidence just oozes out…

Apple reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, defined the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad and has announced Apple Watch, its most personal device ever. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store, continues the rapid pace of innovation of mobile software with iOS and integrated services including Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world with OS X, and free iOS and OS X apps like iWork and iMovie.

Taken from: https://www.apple.com/uk/pr/library/2014/09/15Apple-Announces-Record-Pre-orders-for-iPhone-6-iPhone-6-Plus-Top-Four-Million-in-First-24-Hours.html