Other Half new look

Late last year, we hinted that Brooklyn’s Other Half would have a new, expanded taproom soon. Soon is now, as they opened their more spacious space in the adjoining building at 191 Centre Street in Gowanus. No more cramped dark rooms – the new space is well-lit, has tables, a long bar, and 20(!) draft lines.

Developing World AI

The relation between AI and the developing world is thus a subtle one, with multiple intertwined dimensions that will change as technology and society unfold. There are manifold ways in which AI can benefit the developing world, and some of these have been reviewed above. There are also numerous ways in which the developing world can and will contribute powerfully to the advancement of AI and associated technologies – including obvious ones such as the brainpower of young scientists emerging from developing-world universities and startup incubators, and less obvious ones such as the contribution of the developing-world spirit of mutual aid to the psyches of powerful AGIs as they emerge.

The Uber Dilemma

Understanding that Benchmark is focused on achieving liquidity on its all-time greatest investment suggests 2 potential outcomes: The most straightforward is that Benchmark hopes to push Uber to an IPO sooner-rather-than-later; clearly Kalanick was an obstacle as CEO, and according to reports, has sought to reestablish control of the company via his control of the board, driving away Meg Whitman, who was reportedly Benchmark’s choice for CEO. This also explains the urgency of this suit: Benchmark is trying to prevent Kalanick from naming 2 more members to the board, further complicating the CEO selection process. The other potential outcome is that Benchmark is looking for an exit. Softbank, which is looking to dominate car-sharing globally, has reportedly had discussions with Benchmark and other investors about buying their shares; reports have been mixed as to who wants to make a deal — Kalanick or Benchmark — but if it is the latter a lawsuit is an excellent way of getting the former to agree to a sale.

Extremely aged wine

i’m not an expert, but this one might have gone bad?

The Römerwein, or Speyer wine bottle—so called after the German region where it was discovered in the excavation of a 4th century AD Roman nobleman’s tomb—dates “back to between 325 and 359 AD,” and has the distinction of being “the oldest known wine bottle which remains unopened.”

Barbed wire history

Barbed wire is one of the most important inventions of the past 150 years. It tamed the Wild West and solidified the concept of land ownership in America. Because of the expense of running dedicated telephone services over long distances, some farmers opted to run their telecommunications over the 100s of 1000s of km of barbed wire criss-crossing the land.