Curated Commons // Edition 62
Thank you for subscribing and welcome to the 62nd edition of Curated Commons. Let’s dive right in ($ indicates potential paywall).
What if HBO acquired Netflix?
In 2006, before HBO started their streaming business, some execs at HBO apparently wanted to acquire it. In 2013, Ted Sarandos, now CEO of Netflix, famously said “The goal is to become HBO faster than HBO can become us.” We know how it ended. - Read here
Can you be a CIA spy if you have an active online social profile?
This is good, fun read on Gen-Z, CIA and online presence and what it takes to be a spy when every applicant has a strong online presence already. - Read here
Using London Cabbies’ brains for Alzheimer’s research
This is a fascinating story on how researchers are checking what they can learn from the phenomenal memory of a London black cab driver. - Read here
CEOs too are part of the great resignation
The next time you are pressured by your HR partner to reduce attrition in your team, show them this! - Read here
The Mummy Returns. Circa 2021. Thanks to global warming
Climate change impacts us in different ways globally. Heaviest rains in 7 years in Egypt have apparently resulted in scorpions entering villages and houses in record numbers. - Read here ($)
How climate change and supply chain issues are impacting…America’s pie supply - Read here ($)
The rise of the alternative MBA
Some interesting news in recent days about alternative MBAs:
Some large companies like EY are apparently coming up with corporate MBA programs customized to their needs - Read here ($)
A startup in India has just raised some money for its 6-month part-time MBA - Read here
Not like these developments are impacting demand from MBA from traditional b-schools. GMAC report is out. - Read here
It’s still day one
Quick reminder that even in the US, share of ecommerce as percentage of retail is still only 13%. Like Amazon keeps reminding every year, it’s still Day One indeed. - Read here
Nvidia wants to create a digital twin for the earth
This is a fascinating development. A powerful supercomputer to help predict climate change. - Read here
China’s loss, India’s gain.
"For every dollar invested in Chinese tech in the quarter that ended September, $1.50 went into India"
And on the topic and in the region, Pakistan too is experiencing a boom in startup funding - “More money has flowed into Pakistan’s nascent technology sector during 2021 than in the previous six years combined” - Read here ($)
Humans beating algorithms, work from home edition
Shoot. And then talk. Russia style.
Russia did a missile test to blast a satellite. Adding to the space debris that now needs to be tracked for years. - Read here ($)
Slowly. And then suddenly - the rise of Amazon’s cashierless stores
Amazon is apparently set to open 260 stores in the UK, all cashierless. - Read here
And more interestingly, Starbucks partnered with Amazon to launch a store with the cashierless tech. Fascinating given Starbucks’ strength in retail. Amazon must have been really convincing ;-) - Read here
And Amazon has also opened a 35,000 square feet cashierless store. Great scale-up of the tech from a small express grocery format! - Read here
More Interesting reads:
The US Dept of Defense’s guidelines on Responsible AI are out - Read here
Avatars, metaverse, and dysmorphia - Read here
Good super-long read on Ivermectin - Read here
Good explainer on drop shipping, the source of so many side-gigs for influencers - Read here
Likely an upcoming Netflix series. A German man and his teenage daughter were murdered in Paraguay over some rare violins and a certificate that proves their authenticity - Read here
Norway is running out of dirty cars to tax - Read here
Good interview with Airnb CEO Brian Chesky on future of work/travel - Read here
Profile of Metakovan, the Indian crypto enthusiast who now has an NFT collection worth millions - Read here
Good read on Pencils - Read here
Great read on the Intel 4004 - Read here ($)
And finally, wonder why they say NFTs are a scam - Read here ($)
Stay safe, and happy reading! And if you liked the newsletter, please do share on your social networks. My DMs on Twitter are always open for any feedback.