Let's Know Things

This week we talk about STELLARWIND, 9/11, and the NSA.

We also discuss warrantless surveillance, intelligence agencies, and FISA.

Recommended Book: Period: The Real Story of Menstruation by Kate Clancy

Transcript

Immediately after the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001, then President George W...

This week we talk about diplomatic immunity, Trump’s court cases, and the Supreme Court.

We also discuss Nixon, Clinton, and the US Constitution.

Recommended Book: My upcoming book, How To Turn 39 (https://books2read...

This week we talk about Linux, backdoors, and the Open Source community.

We also discuss CPU usage, state-backed hackers, and SSH...

This week we talk about cacao, plantations, and bean-to-bar chocolate.

We also discuss black pod disease, swollen shoot virus, and seed pod currency.

Recommended Book: The City & The City by China Miéville

Transcript

The cocoa bean, also called "cacao," is a seed derived from the cocoa tree, which is native to the Amazon Rainforest in South America...

This week we talk about the Rwandan genocide, the First and Second Congo Wars, and M23.

We also discuss civil wars, proxy conflicts, and resource curses.

Recommended Book: Everyday Utopia by Kristen R. Ghodsee

Transcript

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, was previously known as Zaïre, a name derived from a Portuguese mistranscription of the regional word for "river...

This week we talk about mergers, acquisitions, and the Shale Oil Revolution.

We also discuss liquid natural gas, energy diplomacy, and political hypocrisy.

Recommended Book: Eversion by Alastair Reynolds

Transcript

For the sixth year in a row, the United States is the largest oil producer in the world.

As of March 2024, it's producing an average of 12...

This week we talk about foreign aid, brain drain, and long-term economic consequences.

We also discuss the Rasputitsa, counteroffensives, and strategic rethinks...

This week we talk about virtual reality, the Meta Quest, and the Apple Vision Pro.

We also discuss augmented reality, Magic Leap, and the iPhone.

Recommended Book: Daemon by Daniel Suarez

Transcript

Ransomware is a sub-type of malware, which is malicious software that prevents its victim from accessing their data...

This week we talk about the Meiji Revolution, shoguns, and the Lost Decade.

We also discuss NVIDIA, economic bubbles, and the Tokyo Stock Exchange...

This week we talk about virtual reality, the Meta Quest, and the Apple Vision Pro.

We also discuss augmented reality, Magic Leap, and the iPhone...