Grow Smart Income - week 38, 2024

What happened this week?

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Good day valued readers,

We hope this week's carefully curated selection of news finds you well. In this edition, we cover the latest developments across investing, finance, crypto, AI, and other topics to help you stay informed.

As always, our goal is to provide you with a professional, unbiased roundup of noteworthy news to augment your understanding of what's happening in the world. We take pride in hand-selecting articles from trustworthy sources across a diverse range of industries.

Please enjoy this week's newsletter. We're grateful for the opportunity to share these insights with you and look forward to continuing to be a valuable resource.

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Quote of the week

Source: Wisdom Made Easy

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Investing and Finance

This week's newsletter covers a diverse range of topics from entertainment to finance, technology, and environmental issues. Selena Gomez has joined the billionaire club at 32, showcasing her success beyond the entertainment industry. Wall Street appears cautious about potential interest rate cuts, while the Federal Reserve prepares for a pivotal meeting that could mark the first rate reduction in four years. In tech news, Uber is expanding its driverless ride service to new cities, and United Airlines plans to offer free Starlink Wi-Fi on all flights.

Apple enthusiasts are gearing up for iPhone 16 pre-orders, which investors are watching closely. The federal budget faces challenges with record-high interest payments, while a heartening entrepreneurial story emerges of a 52-year-old who transformed a failing snack company into a $103 million business. AMD celebrates its highest server market share in decades, and Brazil grapples with balancing its climate goals and oil industry ambitions. Amidst recent market fluctuations, Warren Buffett offers his characteristic wisdom on stock ownership, reminding investors to maintain a long-term perspective.

  1. Selena Gomez Is Not Only a Star, but a Billionaire at 32 - Read more

  2. Why Wall Street Probably Doesn't Want a Big Interest Rate Cut Next Week - Read more

  3. Uber Is Expanding Waymo Driverless Rides to Austin and Atlanta - Read more

  4. United Airlines Bringing Free Starlink Wi-Fi To All Flights - Read more

  5. iPhone 16 Pre-Orders Start Today - What Investors Need To Know - Read more

  6. A Record $1.2 Trillion Interest Payments Are Blowing Up The Federal Budget - Read more

  7. 52-year-old quit his job, bought a failing snack company for $250,000 - now it brings in $103 million a year - Read more

  8. What To Expect From Wednesday's Pivotal Federal Reserve Meeting - Read more

  9. AMD records its highest server market share in decades - Read more

  10. Brazil wants to be a climate champion and an oil giant. Can it be both? - Read more

  11. The S&P 500 is down 7.5% - but if you’re worried about it, ‘you shouldn’t own stocks,’ says Warren Buffett - Read more

  12. Fed set to enter new era with first rate cut in 4 years Wednesday. But what comes next? - Read more

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."

Oscar Wilde

Crypto News

This week's cryptocurrency and blockchain newsletter highlights several significant developments in the industry. Coinbase has launched its own version of Wrapped Bitcoin, called 'cbBTC,' expanding the options for Bitcoin representation on other blockchains. In a surprising move, eToro US has announced it will cease almost all crypto trading following a settlement with the SEC, potentially signaling increased regulatory scrutiny in the sector. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has made waves by announcing the launch of World Liberty Financial, embracing cryptocurrency as part of his future financial ventures.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is pushing for greater decentralization of Layer-2 networks, emphasizing the importance of this principle in the blockchain ecosystem. MicroStrategy continues its bullish stance on Bitcoin, with its stock price surging after increasing its holdings to an impressive $14.6 billion. Lastly, Circle, the company behind the USDC stablecoin, has partnered with Sony's blockchain lab to expand USDC's reach, potentially bringing stablecoin technology to new markets and applications.

  1. Coinbase's Version of Wrapped Bitcoin, 'cbBTC,' Goes Live - Read more

  2. eToro US to cease nearly all crypto trading following SEC settlement - Read more

  3. Donald Trump announces launch date of World Liberty Financial: 'We're embracing the future with crypto' - Read more

  4. Ethereum's Vitalik Buterin Amps Up Pressure on Layer-2 Networks to Decentralize Further - Read more

  5. MicroStrategy stock pops 8% after company ups bitcoin holdings to $14.6 billion - Read more

  6. Circle partners with Sony’s blockchain lab on USDC expansion - Read more

"Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship."

Gautama Buddha

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI’s latest model, “o1”, has reportedly scored an IQ of around 120 on the Norway Mensa IQ test, potentially marking the first time an AI model has surpassed the average human IQ. If confirmed, these results would indicate that OpenAI has achieved Stage 2 performance on their 5-tier roadmap towards AGI. This milestone suggests the model can stop, think, and reason about problems to arrive at correct answers more frequently. Link.

This week's AI and technology newsletter covers groundbreaking developments and ethical concerns in the field. Superhuman has introduced automated forecasting, potentially revolutionizing productivity tools. OpenAI has unveiled its o1-preview, likely signaling advancements in their AI capabilities. DataGemma is tackling the persistent issue of AI hallucinations by leveraging real-world data. In global AI competition, a former Google China executive suggests that Chinese AI models are trailing their U.S. counterparts by 6 to 9 months.

Facebook has stirred controversy by admitting to scraping public photos and posts of Australian adult users to train AI without providing an opt-out option. On a positive note, an AI chatbot has shown promise in helping conspiracy theorists question their beliefs. In environmental tech news, AI-piloted drones are being explored as a potential tool for wildfire prevention. Lastly, the "Godmother of AI," likely referring to a prominent figure in the field, is advocating for widespread participation in AI development and application.

  1. Superhuman Automated Forecasting - Read more

  2. Introducing OpenAI o1-preview - Read more

  3. DataGemma: Using real-world data to address AI hallucinations - Read more

  4. China’s AI models lag their U.S. counterparts by 6 to 9 months, says former head of Google China - Read more

  5. Facebook admits to scraping every Australian adult user's public photos and posts to train AI, with no opt-out option - Read more

  6. This AI chatbot got conspiracy theorists to question their convictions - Read more

  7. Tech news: Drones piloted by AI could prevent wildfires - Read more

  8. The Godmother of AI Wants Everyone to Be a World Builder - Read more

"Happiness is not a goal. It's a by-product of a life well-lived."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Top Article Picks this week

This week's newsletter covers a wide range of topics from health and psychology to design and lifestyle. A striking medical insight warns of irreparable consequences for doctors in a certain situation. The science behind our body's reflexes, specifically coughing and sneezing, is explored. Nutritional advice addresses the age-old question of whether skipping breakfast is acceptable. The newsletter delves into the realm of unconscious decision-making, shedding light on scientific findings. A thought-provoking piece examines women's desires, while another article highlights 25 influential designs shaping our world.

For those struggling with relaxation, 11 practical tips are offered. A personal account details the brain changes experienced after giving up refined sugar. The controversial Shroud of Turin is discussed, along with strategies for managing mobile phones in schools. A time-saving hack for learning new skills is revealed, and psychology introduces a fresh approach to fostering healthier masculinity. Contrary to common belief, movement is presented as the best remedy for back pain. Lastly, a simple trick is shared to help overthinkers break free from excessive rumination.

  1. ‘That’s Something That You Won’t Recover From as a Doctor’ (Reading time: 30 min) - Read here

  2. Cough or sneeze? How the brain knows what to unleash (Reading time: 3 min) - Read here

  3. Is It Okay to Skip Breakfast If You’re Really Not Hungry in the Morning? (Reading time: 4 min) - Read here

  4. What the Science Actually Says About Unconscious Decision Making (Reading time: 10 min) - Read here

  5. What do women really want? (Reading time: 6 min) - Read here

  6. The 25 Designs That Shape Our World (Reading time: 12 min) - Read here

  7. 11 Tips for Anyone Who Doesn’t Know How to Relax (Reading time: 12 min) - Read here

  8. How Giving Up Refined Sugar Changed My Brain (Reading time: 12 min) - Read here

  9. What is the Shroud of Turin and why is there so much controversy around it? (Reading time: 4 min) - Read here

  10. How to Deal With Mobile Phones at School (Reading time: 5 min) - Read here

  11. A Little-Known Hack to Learn a New Skill in a Fraction of the Time (Reading time: 4 min) - Read here

  12. Psychology Has a New Approach to Building Healthier Men (Reading time: 4 min) - Read here

  13. The Best Thing for Back Pain is Actually More Movement (Reading time: 4 min) - Read here

  14. Everyone Overthinks - This Simple Trick Will Get You Out of Your Head (Reading time: 5 min) - Read here

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"We will be soldiers, so our sons may be farmers, so their sons may be artists."

Thomas Jefferson

Book of the week

"Toward a Psychology of Being" by Abraham H. Maslow is a seminal work in humanistic psychology that explores the concept of self-actualization and human potential. Maslow's theories, presented in this book, have had a profound impact on psychology, social sciences, and even business management. The author argues that humans have an innate drive towards growth and self-realization, challenging the prevailing focus on pathology in psychology at the time.

Maslow introduces his hierarchy of needs and emphasizes the importance of fulfilling basic physiological and safety needs before progressing to higher-level needs such as love, esteem, and self-actualization. He posits that self-actualization, the pinnacle of human development, involves realizing one's full potential and achieving a state of psychological well-being. The book delves into the characteristics of self-actualized individuals, describing them as more accepting, creative, and capable of peak experiences.

Maslow's writing style is engaging and accessible, making complex philosophical concepts understandable to a wide audience. He balances theoretical discussions with practical insights, offering readers a framework for personal growth and understanding human motivation. The third edition of the book includes updates and revisions, making it relevant for contemporary readers while maintaining the core principles of Maslow's original work.

"Toward a Psychology of Being" challenges readers to consider the positive aspects of human nature and the potential for growth inherent in every individual. Maslow's optimistic view of humanity and his belief in the capacity for self-improvement resonates throughout the text, inspiring readers to reflect on their own journey towards self-actualization. While the book was written decades ago, its ideas continue to influence modern psychology, personal development, and organizational behavior.

"If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it."

Margaret Fuller

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