Chad Aaron Hall

In recommendation media, content is not distributed to networks of connected people as the primary means of distribution. Instead, the main mechanism for the distribution of content is through opaque, platform-defined algorithms that favor maximum attention and engagement from consumers. The exact type of attention these recommendations seek is

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These proteins are critical for electrical conductivity and cell function as they allow sodium ions to travel through the cell membrane. Nerve cells that overproduce these sodium channels can result in electrophysiological hyperactivation — a common symptom of autism.

Subcultures allow for an escape from status as a zero-sum game. If you’re the king of your own world, you don’t feel bad for being at the bottom of someone else’s social ladder (1, 2). Bloggers know they aren’t universally popular, but it doesn’t matter as long as you have your corner of the internet.

In contrast, Substack totally violates Social... See more

Existing media companies will either need to adopt AI so they aren’t undercut by AI-first companies, or derive their value from things AI can’t replicate: appointment viewing, live events, exclusive IP, or counter-positioning as exclusively “human-made.” This is part of the reason why sports rights continue to grow more expensive. Creators will... See more

The rural population is declining, from more than half of the US population in 1910 to just 20% in 2010. The abandoned main streets show the wear and tear of an economy that has shifted away from rural people, and of public policy that has forgotten to pay attention.

“Better note-taking” misses the point; what matters is “better thinking”

Lots of people write about solutions to the problem that Note-writing practices are generally ineffective. The vast majority of that writing fixates on a myopic, “lifehacking”-type frame, focused on answering questions like: “how should I organize my notes?”, “what kind of... See more

Thiel was right. By the end of February 2000, the two sides were looking at a 55/45 merger. Levchin was still unhappy but told Thiel that he would reluctantly accept it. That was the case until, on a visit to X’s offices, Musk told Levchin that Confinity was getting “a f**king deal.”

“My blood just boiled, and so I thought, it’s off ,” Levchin... See more