Forking Humanity
Stoicism, Kobe & Demented Puppets
For those that didn’t see this coming years ago, the lessons of '2 weeks to flatten the curve' have become clear. Humanity and society are breaking down into two distinct camps.
One side is interested in human liberty and autonomy, in voluntarism and the decision to actively align with like minded individuals who value freedom, liberty and choice. The other side (literally) masks their actions in ‘equity’, while doubling down on history’s worst ideas. They are so convinced of their correctness, that anything or anyone that interferes must be canceled or destroyed. It's intolerance run amok.
The fundamental difference remains, whether the Constitution and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are a workable protocol, or an anachronism that needs to be discarded. The Right has their own peculiarities and neurosis, but fundamentally, they are comfortable with someone having a different opinion and choosing to live life their way. Pink haired FemiNazis, 16 year old bladed gladiators and woke cityfolk vaccinating their 2 year olds may not be the rural Right’s cup of tea, but it’s live and let live for the most part.
The Left on the other hand views any opposing lifestyle choice as an existential threat in need of cancellation. Any challenge to their ideological purity or encounters with an opposing opinion is met with a command line function - comply or die. A full Borg-like you must assimilate or be destroyed mentality.
All I can say is thank God for bitcoin. Without it, I'd have to pay much more attention to politics and if you're paying attention, we’re in a full fight or flight simulation.
The bitcoin culture, and many of the outsiders I align with who have not yet discovered Bitcoin (pre-coiners), share it’s guiding consensus principles of self-determination, freedom, voluntarism and most of all, the deep desire to build a better, alternative path. There is almost no institution on the left that can say the same. The tech-autocracy backed up the deep state intelligence voraciously censors anyone it perceives not walking the approved party line. It's a China-lite approach that seeks to slowly boil noncompliant frogs.
In crypto, the concept of a ‘fork’ is used to describe anything that diverges or splinters from an already existing piece of software or code. But gradually, the definition has gone on to become much broader then what it was initially used for.
To Fork means to change, differ, or diverge from something that already exists, either to upgrade and leave the old stuff behind or start something entirely new based on the previously existing rules.
It's what the Colonists began to do in 1770 when taxation without representation and the oppression of the Crown became insufferable. They forked their current government and created what became known as America.
While America is in need of a (hopefully soft) fork again, this time there is a global component. Witness the protests in the UK, Germany and elsewhere. The internet has been an incredibly empowering window and tool for communication. While the powers-that-be in the multinational big corporations, intelligence community and tech autocracy have done their best to control and reign in the internet’s native power, there is still an interconnectivity that is unmatched.
On the negative side, this has allowed a tyranny of the minority as small politically and financially connected groups have been able to push radical agendas like CRT and gender transitioning children without consent. While that is a notable downside, the internet has also allowed people in disparate geographies to come together in a single, aligned global community. As Michal Krieger notes in the podcast of the week highlighted below, if I grew up in NY (or SoCal like I I did), went to a good high school, elite college and took a professional services job (lawyer, doctor, banker), I most likely socialized with a very homogenous class of people who have very similar perspectives and viewpoints.
The internet has unlocked and opened up diverse, broad communities and the ability to align with like-minded people whether they are in Norway, Singapore or Raleigh.
The implications are unclear, but what is clear is that a broad portion of the globe have been either red-pilled or orange-pilled and are slowly waking up to the endemic corruption, the needless scarcity, and the endless deprivation and strife that the political and media establishment intentionally promote. Instead of playing along, they are opting out and choosing a different protocol to organize their lives around, and many are evolving to a higher level of consciousness to create a better path. Whether that path is a 4th Turning, a Ken Wilbur Phase 5 or some other ascension remains to be seen, but for the first time in history we are seeing the potential for the collapse of the nation-state as the only way to self-govern and a more moral, decent and efficient alternative being iterated.
It will not happen overnight, and the change will be brutal at times. Creative destruction promises a brighter evolution, but the destruction part reigns supreme for a time.
But whether it is a newfound and growing spiritual awakening of Christ-like principles and disciples, a psychedelic consciousness expansion or just plain-old clear, logical thought enhanced by the unvarnished access to truth without the filtering and propaganda designed to maintain the existing power structure, we are mutating and migrating to a better path. This is the way.
I still believe there will be mass chaos and strife in the next 4-5 years as the above, and the technological progress and integration of AI, robotics, genetic engineering and other technological advances wreak havoc and progress simultaneously. However, I’m optimistic the period that follows will likely be fascinating experimentation followed by a golden age in the latter 1/3 of the decade. If and only if, we continue to ‘hold the pass’, evolve and innovate.
Demented Puppets
So, Russia is massing troops on the border with Ukraine. Ukraine is threatening to take Crimea back by force.
China is threatening Taiwan and its neighbors while also threatening our ships and Navy.
North Korea is testing missiles again and restarting its nuclear weapons program.
Iran has been emboldened and making more than their normal threats.
Israel has been disrespected and its enemies funded.
Our southern border is a massive and intentional humanitarian disaster caused directly by this administration, and the administration that promised transparency is hiding it and not letting the media have access.
Ford is closing a plant and moving it to Mexico after just bringing it back from Mexico because of the current Administration’s plan for Increased taxes.
Price of steel up 145%, lumber 126%, wheat up 25%, food index up 25%, cotton 35%, silver 38%, copper 50%, soybeans 71%, oil 80%, etc, etc.
Pipeline jobs lost.
Wall construction jobs lost.
Gas prices 20% higher.
$1.9 trillion in stimulus that funds the administration's pet projects and only paid a fraction to the people.
$29 trillion in debt with a $4.8 trillion projected 2021 deficit before the $2 trillion dollar stimulus proposed today for the new green deal. ♂️
6+% unemployment with millions of job openings that can’t be filled because federal unemployment assistance makes it more advantageous for people to stay home than work.
No actual press conferences. Nothing genuine, just scripted propaganda.
All in the first 80 days.
Whether it's stumbling up a flight of stairs, forgetting his pre-fed lines mid-sentence, or pandering to his base to stoke racial and social division, it's getting harder and harder to hide the sheer incompetence of this bumbling clown and his woke administration.
The latest nail in the coffin that is the parody called America these days is the picture below.
Biden was the ONLY world leader wearing a mask, sitting by himself with no flag visible at a virtual summit yesterday.
This photo has been described as a tombstone for a once exceptional country.
As the Twitterati were quick to note, "Biden yesterday: 'Science is back.' Biden today: *Wears a mask on a Zoom call*"
Yet another tweeted: "Know when Khrushchev decided to put missiles in Cuba? When he met Kennedy and came out of that meeting thinking he was soft. (Thank God he turned out to be wrong.) This stuff actually matters. The world’s wolves are watching. And they like what they see."
The current President is an unmitigated disaster.
Kamala won’t be any better, but at least there will be a human being not in late stage Alzheimer's having his puppet strings pulled and embarrassing us as a nation every time he steps out into public.
Unmask the Children
Almost a year to the day ago, I laid out plan to open up everything as the initial data on Covid IFR didn’t pan out and it became utterly clear to any rational person that the lockdown “cure” was infinitely worse than the disease. Every point I made back then has been borne out in spades including the obvious, masks don’t work, and the lockdowns decimated the economy and psychological health of the nation, with children bearing the brunt of our nations’s neurotic adults psychosis.
Recent data by the CDC also affirmed that approximately 90% of the still massively inflated casualties were born by people over the age of 75, or those with serious comorbidities.
If you're still wearing a mask anywhere other than where it is absolutely required by a business, you’re a data illiterate livestock incapable of critical thought.
Same goes if you’re out here actively campaigning for vaccine passports. That’s the line in the sand, or Rubicon if you will.
If a government or business can mandate you get jabbed with the quickest approved 'vaccine’ in history, (one that still has not been fully approved by the FDA and is operating under an EUA with full liability exemption for manufacturers), then they can mandate anything - what you watch, what you say, where you spend your money, and as a I forecast several years ago, what you can eat.
Back in 2016 I told an LA-based friend of mine that the government would eventually use climate-change to ration commercial farming of meat or make it illegal. He said I was insane (as he often does), but here we are only a 4 years later and the Biden administration is floating a trial balloon to limit Americans to one burger per month.
There is no stopping the Leviathan if we keep giving in. It’s time to draw the line in the sand and as I’ve written about in prior letters, implement a blend of the strategic retreat, throw sand in the gears, and build a better path. As Buckminster Fuller noted,
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
We need to build in parallel, but we’re in a wartime setting, and it’s time to implement a wartime footing. That means:
👉 Withdraw to a defensible position.
👉Defend encroachment from the Left’s mental illness and all it's control mechanisms and poisons like The Green New Deal, and the cancer that is CRT.
👉 Actively work to disrupt and starve the existing kleptocracy and woke totalitarianism by strategically weaponizing our spending, time and investment.
👉 Plan for obstruction, disregard and/or secession as a last resort while openly throwing up financial, social and physical roadblocks to progressive Californian and New Yorkers fleeing their own self-created bombed out craters.
👉 Have a secondary fallback or exit plan if Olympus falls.
Lessons on Stoicism.
Stoicism is an ancient Greek and Roman philosophy designed to make us more resilient, happier, more virtuous and more wise–and as a result, better people.
Stoicism has been a common thread though some of history’s great leaders. It has been practiced by Kings, presidents, artists, writers and entrepreneurs. Marcus Aurelius. Frederick the Great, Montaigne, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill, Theodore Roosevelt —just to name a few—were all influenced by Stoic philosophy.
Here’s a primer on Stoicism courtesy of Ryan Holiday and the Curious Expeditions Substack.
Lesson #1: Stoicism is built around four virtues: Courage, Discipline, Justice, Wisdom. No one is fit to rule who hasn’t first mastered themselves.
“Fight to be the person philosophy tried to make you.” — Marcus Aurelius
Lesson #2: To teach your kids Stoicism, Ryan recommends to (a) embody it and (b) focus on individual lessons, reinforcing the Stoic principle that we do not control what happens, but we control how we respond, in everyday life (e.g. when a kid breaks their arm, gets cut from the soccer team).
“Don't talk about your philosophy, embody it.” — Epictetus
Lesson #3: Marcus Aurelius’ teacher (Rusticus) said “Nothing should encourage us as much as the different qualities of the people around us.” Actively work to disconfirm your beliefs and seek different perspectives. Ryan recounts how Marcus Aurelius decided to see first-hand the kingdom he was supposed to lead. He walked the streets to meet hungry beggars, desperate gladiators, scheming senators, aggressive merchants, and where the rich lived well and the poor suffered.
“It's impossible to learn that which you think you already know.” — Epictetus
Lesson #4: Develop a love for learning. Ryan introduces his kids to big ideas and people they can learn from and ask questions to (vs. memorizing facts). Actively seek mentors and catalog what you learn. In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius thanks his various teachers (e.g. rhetoric, philosophy, Latin, grandfather, adopted father, etc.).
Lesson #5: Rusticus said “Through the pages of a book, we can talk to people who lived long ago, and learn easily what they learned with great difficulty.” Ryan views reading as part and parcel of becoming great at whatever you choose to do in life - the younger you start the better. Push yourself to read something you do not understand now, then come back to it five years later.
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” — Harry Truman
Lesson #6: There is a perception that Stoicism is a resignation — however, almost all Stoics were active participants politically, socially, and in their careers and communities. Stoicism is actively trying to make the world better while accepting that many things are outside of our control. A Stoic tries to root their ambition solely in things that are up to them.
“If, at some point in your life, you should come across anything better than justice, wisdom, discipline, courage—it must be an extraordinary thing indeed.” — Marcus Aurelius
Of Dips and Mania
Those of you who decided to ignore my advice and hang out in the casino, hopefully you got out with some of your chips. Last newsletter I briefly mentioned the idiocy of DogeCoin, and other worthless crap floating around. If one thing is consistent in crypto, it's been the quick and brutish corrections. While I think the long and brutish 80% crash we saw in 2018 are done with, we will still continue to see drawdowns of 25% or more frequently.
In the current bull market that started in September, there have been at least five 25-30% drawdowns. Each time BTC has rallied to a new high. Each time people who asked me should they buy (usually at a new high) are given the same advice - wait for the dip and buy there. Dollar cost average in during these 20-30% dips, you'll be happier in the long run and less emotional about corrections.
Mamba Mentality: 6 Stories of Kobe Bryant’s Crazy Work Ethic
It’s been a little over a year since Kobe Bryant’s tragic death. The NBA and fans worldwide continue to remember him by retelling stories of his mystical work ethic.
Bryant coined the phrase “Mamba Mentality,” which in his own words simply meant “trying to get better every day.”
There are numerous moments in Bryant’s career which exemplify the “Mamba Mentality.” Here are a few which stand out:
Working out in the middle of the night
In the summer of 2012, Bryant was playing for the USA basketball team, who were training for the upcoming Olympic games in London. According to the team trainer, Bryant called him at 4:15am and asked him to come to the gym. They worked out for 75 minutes before the trainer went back to the hotel to catch some sleep before the team’s 11am practice. But Bryant wasn’t done.
TRAINER: This next part I remember very vividly. All the Team U.S.A. players were there, feeling good for the first scrimmage. LeBron was talking to Carmelo if I remember correctly and Coach Krzyzewski was trying to explain something to Kevin Durant. On the right side of the practice facility was Kobe by himself shooting jumpers. And this is how our next conversation went — I went over to him, patted him on the back and said,
TRAINER: Good work this morning.
BRYANT: Huh?
TRAINER: Like, the conditioning. Good work.
BRYANT: Oh. Yeah, thanks Rob. I really appreciate it.
TRAINER: So, when did you finish?
BRYANT: Finish what?
TRAINER: Getting your shots up. What time did you leave the facility?
BRYANT: Oh just now. I wanted to make 800 so yeah, just now.
Bryant was always the first to get to practice
Bryant’s desire to work harder than everyone else was well documented. No more so than in his desire to beat every one of his teammates to practice. Former teammate John Celestand tells a story from when they were teammates in 1999:
The first time I began to understand why he was the best was in the pre-season. In a game against the Wizards, Kobe broke the wrist on his shooting hand. He was always the first person to practice every day, arriving at least an hour and a half early. This would infuriate me because I wanted to be the first person to practice, just as I had always been at Villanova and Piscataway High in New Jersey. To add insult to injury, I lived only 10 minutes from the practice facility — while Kobe was at least 35 minutes away.
I am ashamed to say that I was excited the day after his injury because I knew that there was no way that No. 8 (as former Laker point guard Tyronn Lue called him) would be the first to practice, if he would even be there at all.
As I walked through the training room, I became stricken with fear when I heard a ball bouncing. No, no, it couldn’t be! Yes it could. Kobe was already in a full sweat with a cast on his right arm and dribbling and shooting with his left.
His intense game-day workouts
Most NBA players prefer to take it easy in the day leading up to games. Not Bryant.
According to Hall of Fame sportscaster, Rick Reilly, Bryant’s game day routine was far from a walk in the park.
Among a dozen other drills, Bryant does suicide push-ups. At the top of the pushup, he launches himself off the mat so hard that both feet come off the ground and his hands slap his pecs. He does three sets of seven of these. This makes me turn away and whimper softly.
Bryant was also known for his pregame shooting routine. It would usually last between 20-30 minutes with 250 shots made as a requirement before he would leave the court, lathered in sweat.
Bryant’s work ethic was evident in high school
In high school, Bryant would reportedly get to the gym at 5 a.m. and wouldn’t leave until 7 p.m. … every single day. He would even challenge teammates to one-on-one games to 100 points. In his worst game, Bryant still won 100-12.
It comes as no surprise that Bryant was a maniac even in high school. At a young age, he had his sights set on being an NBA legend.
Bryant taught himself Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” on piano by ear
Bryant’s work ethic and drive wasn’t exclusive to the basketball court. After retiring from the game in 2016, Bryant wrote a children’s book and won an Emmy. He also reportedly taught himself how to play piano.
@Kdawwwgz 1year. I learned moonlight by ear. reminded me of strength, fragility, joy,love, pain etc.. I learned it for Vanessa #ourjourney
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 22, 2013
He watched film of himself during halftime
Bryant’s desire to improve never ceased. As documented by the great Jackie McMullan, Bryant watched film of himself during halftime in order to make in-game adjustments for the second half.
“He often corrals teammates, fires up the laptop, and shows them precisely how they can carve out easier shots for themselves,” said McMullan
-By Joe Morgan originally on Daily Wire
What I’m Reading…
**Great breakdown of ARK's 2021 Big Investment Ideas.
**Taibbi interviews Glenn Greenwald, one of the few remaining true journalists.
**The future of warfare… without humans.
**First ever malaria vaccine has a 75% efficacy rate.
**Wetiko - the psycho-spiritual disease that’s at the root of our all problems.
**State of Louisiana commends Bitcoin for reaching a trillion-dollars and success.
**The case for a separate, lower capital gains tax rate. Explosive, sustainable economic growth is only possible in a society where the best ideas win. Just as workers should be free to leave their jobs in pursuit of more fruitful careers and entrepreneurs to devote their energy to whichever causes inspire them, investors must be free to reallocate their funds to the most compelling projects and assets in the economy.
Robinhood, Three Friends and the Fortune That Got Away. Shocking ending (that’s sarcasm).
What I’m Listening to…
One of my favorites Michael Krieger on the socio-cultural dynamics at play in the world today, and bitcoin 'pleb' culture.
Why are we bullish? The meeting of the bulls. Pysh, Booth, Mallers, Saylor and HODL
Twitter Octagon
Parting Words….
As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and whoever protects their master will be honored.
As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart.
Death and Destruction are never satisfied,
and neither are human eyes.
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but people are tested by their praise.
Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
grinding them like grain with a pestle,
you will not remove their folly from them.
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all generations.
That’s all for this week. As always, make sure you’ve subscribed so you don’t miss the next one.
Know someone else who could enjoy, or benefit from this? Share it below.
Thanks for reading. I appreciate the support.