The Last Dance
The Last Dance
3.29 "There's an important difference between giving up and letting go." - Jessica Halchigan
*PSA
We are stepping away…
Next week will be our last edition of the Weekly Edible for the time being…
News and Numbers
Markets this Week:
S&P 500 is up 1%
NASDAQ 100 is up 1%
Bitcoin-USD is up 5%
Ethereum-USD is up 6%
Headlines from this Week:
Argentina’s new president Javier Milei vows to eradicate corrpution.
Sam Altman returns as OpenAI’s CEO after staff threatened to quit.
Professional Fighters League (PFL) acquires Bellator MMA to 'change the MMA landscape' and create a stronger competitor to the UFC.
Finance
By Vlad Estoup, B.Comm. (Finance); working in Ethereum cybersecurity
Freedom Test
Another country has fallen because of socialism: Argentina. Now it’s time to test whether libertarianism is really objectively better than socialism, and the odds are pretty good according to the financial markets.
At this point, the debate on whether socialism is even an approach worth considering in the economic policy path has reached a final point. If we continue to enable governments to grow, intervene in trade, and take on the role of mom & dad of its citizens, the result will always be more poverty for all on average, and huge inefficiencies in the commercial sphere.
Argentina has long been a socialist country. For over 20 years, most of its economic policy has revolved around big government, high taxes, a redistributionist fiscal system, and protectionism at the international level. This has proven to result in decadence, and great harm to the population.
It has now become evident that only those countries which embrace the ideas of freedom, capitalism, working for what you have, and free trade have been able to advance economically. The aspect of China that drove it to take people out of poverty is that of free trade and wealth creation through the private sector. That is where the wealth comes from, and often times pro-socialism theorists are reluctant to pinpoint which part of its economic approach was successful in improving the quality of life of its population.
In Canada, similarly, we have seen the results of socialist policies. The so-called “liberal” government has failed to keep costs of living at bay while increasing salaries. What we have seen is a modest decrease in salaries in real terms, accompanied by a large increase in the costs of housing and essential items. The opposite was true under the more free-market-oriented conservative government of Harper. We often look back at those times as times of more freedom and prosperity, while back then many of us voted Liberal in order to gain new social freedoms. Now that was ironic.
The truth is that if we continue to even allow socialism to have a political voice, we are letting evidently bad ideas have a say in our government. In four years, the world’s clearest and most obvious study on socialism vs libertarianism will come to an end. We will have tangible figures out of Argentina to see which approach is better for the people. At that point, it would be wise to discard the ideas of government involvement in favour of a small government and free trade.
This is not financial advice and you should always do your own research before investing in any securities or cryptocurrencies.
Sci-Tech
By Keyann, Software Engineer in Web3
Bridging Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity
One of the most elusive problems evading physics today is the quest to unify quantum mechanics (QM) and general relativity (GR) into a single, cohesive theory of quantum gravity. This pursuit not only seeks to reconcile the probabilistic nature of the quantum world with the deterministic fabric of spacetime but also to understand the fundamental nature of reality. This article delves into the complexities and philosophical underpinnings of this quest, exploring why it's essential and where the current challenges lie.
The Dichotomy of Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity: Quantum mechanics, governing the realm of the very small, is characterized by probabilities, uncertainties, and wave-particle duality. Conversely, general relativity, Einstein's theory of gravity, describes the universe at the macroscopic scale, where massive objects bend the spacetime continuum, creating what we perceive as gravity. These two theories, despite their individual success, are fundamentally incompatible. While QM is discrete and probabilistic, GR is continuous and deterministic, leading to conflicts particularly in extreme conditions like black holes or the early universe.
The Quest for Unification: Unifying these two theories means developing a framework where the quantized, probabilistic nature of particles and forces can coexist with the smooth, deterministic curvature of spacetime. This pursuit is not just about mathematical elegance; it's about seeking a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the universe. Theoretical physicists have proposed various approaches, such as string theory and loop quantum gravity, but a definitive solution remains elusive.
Philosophical Implications and Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem: Philosophically, this endeavor raises questions about the nature and limits of scientific knowledge. Gödel's Incompleteness Theorems, which state that within any sufficiently powerful mathematical system, there are propositions that cannot be proven or disproven, suggest that our quest for a unified theory might confront fundamental limits. These theorems highlight the possibility that there might be aspects of the universe inherently unknowable within our current frameworks.
Emergence and the Role of Complexity: A promising perspective is to view gravity as an emergent phenomenon arising from the collective behavior of quantum particles. This approach aligns with the concept of emergence in complex systems, where macroscopic behaviors manifest from the interactions of microscopic entities. However, translating this idea into a formal mathematical and physical theory is incredibly challenging. The complexity of summing quantum functions for a vast number of particles and the transition from quantum uncertainty to classical determinism (decoherence) are major hurdles.
Challenges and Computational Limitations: Practical challenges also abound. Quantum gravity effects are expected to be noticeable only at the Planck scale (approximately 10−3510−35 meters), far beyond current experimental capabilities. Additionally, the computational complexity of modeling such a large number of quantum interactions is formidable.
Conclusion: The unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity into a theory of quantum gravity remains one of the most profound and complex challenges in physics. It requires not only bridging two theoretically disparate domains but also contending with philosophical questions about the nature of reality and our ability to understand it. While current approaches offer glimpses of potential pathways, the journey towards a unified theory is as much about embracing the intricacies of the universe as it is about the technicalities of physics. As we push the boundaries of knowledge, we may find that the universe is even more intricate and multifaceted than our current theories can encompass.
Paradigm Shift
By Roman Kuittinen-Dhaoui, CPHR, BBA (Hons)
Sauna
I have been using the sauna since I was a kid. It’s a common activity in Sweden and Finland where my grandparents are from. We would heat up in the sauna and then jump in the lake to cool down. As I have grown up, I have learnt that regular sauna use has notable benefits.
“Emerging evidence suggests that beyond its use for pleasure, sauna bathing may be linked to several health benefits, which include reduction in the risk of vascular diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and neurocognitive diseases; nonvascular conditions such as pulmonary diseases; mortality; as well as amelioration of conditions such as arthritis, headache, and flu. The beneficial effects of sauna bathing on these outcomes have been linked to its effect on circulatory, cardiovascular, and immune functions.”
Saunas have been used for centuries for relaxation and various health benefits such as:
Detoxification: Sweating is a natural way for the body to eliminate toxins. Saunas induce sweating which rid the body of impurities.
Skin Health: Regular sauna use may contribute to healthier skin by promoting blood flow and opening up pores.
Relaxation and Stress Relief: Saunas provide a tranquil environment, promoting relaxation and stress relief.
Improved Circulation: The heat in a sauna causes blood vessels to dilate, leading to increased blood flow.
Muscle and Joint Pain Relief: Saunas can alleviate muscle and joint pain by promoting blood flow to these areas. The heat helps to reduce muscle tension and may provide relief for conditions such as arthritis or muscle soreness.
TLDR: I enjoy using the sauna because is equivalent to low intensity cardio exercise.
(Head)Space
By Keyann
Parting thoughts
Since this is my last headspace for the time being, I’m going to share all the headspace piece ideas i had in my notes, as concisely as I can.
Accountability: Defined as, ‘the responsibility to explain, justify, and take ownership of one's actions and their outcomes’, accountability is a trait that carries much value, yet I’d say that most people are not accountable when it comes down to it, whether to others or themselves. But accountability is absolutely crucial for any venture or pursuit in life. People will talk about success and hard work, but not take responsibility for their work ethic. People will complain about money, but when it comes down to it, they don’t put in the work or effort to earn or save more.
The satisfaction you seek lies in the work you’re putting off: In line with accountability, I keep coming to this lesson that the work that is so undesirable, whether it’s working out, that side hobby/ project you want to pursue, or little tasks like a dentist appointment, are all the things you should be doing for for peace of mind. Be accountable and do the work.
Cognitive Flexibility: Be able to change your mind, take new perspectives, and note feelings is a very powerful cognitive skill. It’s easy to think you’re right, and hard to accept you’re wrong. One of the primary underlying modals that shifts us from delusion to awareness is cognitive flexibility. I find it comes up, time and time again, whether it be engineering solutions, learning new concepts, exercising empathy and compassion in a relationship, or communicating better at work.
Stress Management: People will talk all kinds of hacks for success and work ethic, but I find a more realistic approach is simply stress management. Stress, even in mildest forms, is shown to negatively impact the prefrontal cortex and executive function in the brain, which ultimately undermines your ability to think critically, make wise decisions, shift between perspectives, and much more. Not being able to manage stress can lead to poor performance in school or work, negative health effects, unhealthy relationship patterns, and subsequently more stress and mental illness. Learn to manage stress and keep it at bay. I personally have had a lot of success by taking accountability, bringing awareness to my feelings and emotions when i’m stressed, and then breathing and meditating through it.
Writing tasks down: One of the easiest ways to be productive is by simply breaking down your goals into manageable tasks and picking them off. If you have to work, book a service appointment, dentist appointment, get groceries, call someone, go to the gym, then write it all down.
Critical thinking: This has to be one of the most underemphasized skills for being intelligent. Learning critical thinking really improved my ability to make better, wiser decisions. It improved my ability to learn math and software development, which ultimately paved way for success, security, and confidence.
Drop your ego; embrace failure, criticism, and feedback: Many people who aspire for growth and success, inevitably delay it due to their reluctance to come off as anything but that. However, that mentality is incredibly absurd and irrational. We tend to attribute greatness to the traits and impressions of people who are great, rather than the person they were to become successful. The surest path to success is through failure. People that become the smartest in their field relentlessly and shameless try, fail, and seek feedback to improve themself.
Complex psychology vs Simple: They say we judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions. This is because it’s easy to trust our intentions and thinking than others. With that in mind, I’ve found that not every action merits a complex psychological explanation. If someone gave you a bad impression, it’s more likely they’re going through a stressful time, not that they’re bad people with complex motives. If you’re working in a group and wonder why people don’t work harder, the easiest explanation is not that that they’re lazy or have bad motives, but that the work environment and conditions are properly structured.
Peace of Mind: The more money I make, the less I place value on money. The most important thing is peace of mind. To me that means, being able to be present, healthy, surrounded by people you love and trust (and that love and trust you), manage stress, appreciate the little things, not have regrets, and not have paranoias or trust issues. That is going to make you much happier than any amount of money could ever. Making money is important for freedom and financial security, but be accountable to when you start to prioritize it beyond that and compromise the things in life that carry much more value. You can be the richest person in the world, but if you’re not able to mentally or physically enjoy it, or you have no one to enjoy it with, it’ll all be for nothing. Not to mention, life is so much more temporary than we recognize. To quote my favourite book, ‘Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance’, ‘the only zen you find at the top of the mountain is the zen you bring up there’.
Written by: Vlad Estoup, Keyann Al-Kheder, and Roman Kuittinen-Dhaoui