Happy 15th Birthday, Bitcoin: Celebrating 15+ Milestones of Your Legacy To Date!

Happy 15th Birthday, Bitcoin: Celebrating 15+ Milestones of Your Legacy To Date!

Dearest Bitcoin,

As you turn 15, it's time to reflect on the incredible journey you have embarked upon in your short but legendary life. In a world dominated by traditional , centralized, and corruptible financial systems, you emerged as a disruptor, challenging the status quo and paving the way for a decentralized future. Despite facing skepticism and doubt and death more times than anyone can count, you have grown stronger, more resilient, and more secure with each passing year. Let's celebrate your 15 biggest milestones that have shaped your remarkable legacy. Note to Charlie Munger: Rat poison can’t hold a candle to these :)

Pt 1: From Security to Ethics: Exploring the Impacts of the White House Executive Order on AI

Pt 1: From Security to Ethics: Exploring the Impacts of the White House Executive Order on AI

My Opinion Piece Part 1: The White House Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence and the Proposed AI Bill of Rights: Oct 30, 2023

The White House Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence has sparked a much-needed conversation about the responsible development and use of AI technologies. As we delve deeper into this topic, it's essential to consider the proposed AI Bill of Rights, which outlines key principles for the ethical and equitable deployment of AI. Let's explore some key opinions and pros and cons surrounding this proposed bill.

Expatriate Or Not? Reviewing the Pros and Cons of Giving Up American Citizenship

Expatriate Or Not? Reviewing the Pros and Cons of Giving Up American Citizenship

Giving up US citizenship is a significant and life-altering decision that should be carefully considered. While there are potential benefits, such as tax relief, privacy, and an improved quality of life, expatriates must also weigh the drawbacks, including the loss of US passport privileges, limited access to US benefits, and the emotional impact of severing ties with their home country. It is crucial to consult with experienced professionals, such as immigration lawyers and tax advisors, before making this life-changing decision.

Escape Plan: 10 Havens to Consider if America Crumbles

Using ChatGPT4 with the direction to be my unbiased research analyst I edited this report of the 10 best places to move to anywhere in the globe should America’s empire collapse. The prompts were directed to analyze specific states and specific cities as well as countries that may be considered and were to be identified) based upon the following criteria being important. 1) strong rule of law for business dealings 2) low corruption 3) temperate climate and beautiful year-round lifestyle 4) cost of living 5) growing small business environment 6) crypto and bitcoin friendly 7) fair taxes 8) lowest government surveillance 9)best pro-personal freedom legislation. 10) low or fair tax policy and incentives for entrepreneurs 11) democratic constitution The report below are the outcomes (one focused on individuals or couples without children and the other section is reworked adding in an additional criteria of places that also have world class classical education focused on humanities, creativity, philosophy, and ethics. Enjoy.

FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND COUPLES WITHOUT CHILDREN

Based on the aforementioned given criteria, here are the 10 best places to move to for individuals and entrepreneurs seeking a combination of strong rule of law, low corruption, a beautiful and temperate climate, cost-effective living, a thriving small business environment, crypto-friendliness, fair taxes, low government surveillance, pro-personal freedom legislation, and a democratic constitution:

  1. Wellington, New Zealand: Known for its strong rule of law, low corruption, and beautiful natural surroundings, New Zealand offers a great business environment, particularly in the capital city, Wellington. The government is supportive of small businesses and has a growing interest in cryptocurrencies. New Zealand also has a fair tax system and a democratic constitution.

  2. Zurich, Switzerland: Zurich offers a stable economy, low corruption, and a business-friendly environment. Switzerland is known for its beautiful landscapes, strong privacy laws, and crypto-friendly regulations. The tax system can be attractive for businesses, especially in certain cantons.

  3. Copenhagen, Denmark: Denmark is renowned for its low corruption, strong rule of law, and beautiful scenery. Copenhagen, the capital, has a thriving small business environment and has increasingly embraced cryptocurrencies. Denmark has a fair tax system and a democratic constitution.

  4. Vienna, Austria: Vienna is known for its rich cultural history, low corruption, and beautiful landscapes. The city supports a growing small business environment and has a democratic constitution. Austria has a fair tax system and has been gradually adopting a more crypto-friendly stance.

  5. Reykjavik, Iceland: Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, offers a beautiful environment with a strong rule of law and low corruption. Iceland's democratic constitution, fair tax system, and focus on renewable energy make it attractive for entrepreneurs. The country is increasingly adopting a crypto-friendly approach.

  6. Tallinn, Estonia: Estonia is well-known for its digital-first approach and strong rule of law. Tallinn, the capital, boasts a thriving tech scene and a growing interest in cryptocurrencies. The country has a fair tax system, low corruption, and a democratic constitution.

  7. Ljubljana, Slovenia: This picturesque city in Slovenia offers a temperate climate and a beautiful lifestyle. The country has a strong rule of law, low corruption, and a democratic constitution. Slovenia has a growing small business environment and is increasingly becoming crypto-friendly.

  8. Vilnius, Lithuania: Lithuania is known for its strong rule of law, low corruption, and beautiful landscapes. Vilnius, the capital, has a growing small business environment, and the country is increasingly embracing cryptocurrencies. Lithuania has a democratic constitution and a fair tax system.

  9. Perth, Australia: Perth has a strong rule of law, low corruption, and a beautiful climate. The city is known for its thriving small business environment and increasing interest in cryptocurrencies. Australia has a fair tax system, a democratic constitution, and a strong emphasis on personal freedom.

  10. Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is known for its strong rule of law, low corruption, and beautiful landscapes. The city has a thriving small business environment and a growing interest in cryptocurrencies. Sweden has a democratic constitution and a fair tax system.

NOTE TO READER: Please note that these rankings are subjective, and individual experiences may vary. It is always recommended to visit and research each location thoroughly before making any decisions. For instance I spent a summer in 2018 living in Tallinn, Estonia and its an absolutely delightful country and incredible city and very affordable and digitally progressive. However, I personally couldn’t live their 8.5 months of the year since it is very cold and the sun is only up in the fall from 930am-til 330pm. However, Summers are fantastic (sun basically barely goes down and the weather is pleasant and a mix of cool and warm from late May until early September.

FOR FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN

Taking into consideration the additional criteria of the best classical education systems that focus on teaching students to think, be empathetic, and creative, the list of the 10 best places to move to is slightly adjusted:

  1. Wellington, New Zealand: Wellington still ranks at the top and offers a strong rule of law, low corruption, and beautiful natural surroundings. New Zealand's education system is highly regarded and focuses on developing well-rounded individuals. Private schools in the country offer classical education options.

  2. Zurich, Switzerland: Zurich's education system is known for its quality and focus on critical thinking. The city offers a range of private schools that emphasize classical education, in addition to strong rule of law, low corruption, and a business-friendly environment.

  3. Copenhagen, Denmark: Denmark is known for its progressive and high-quality education system. Copenhagen offers both public and private schools that emphasize critical thinking and empathy, while also meeting the other criteria mentioned previously.

  4. Vienna, Austria: Vienna's education system is highly regarded and offers a variety of classical education options in both public and private schools. The city also meets the other criteria listed.

  5. Reykjavik, Iceland: Reykjavik has a strong emphasis on education, with numerous classical education options available. The city offers a beautiful environment, strong rule of law, and low corruption.

  6. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Amsterdam's education system is known for its quality and makes it a new entrant to this list, and the city offers a variety of classical education options. The Netherlands has a strong rule of law, low corruption, and a growing interest in cryptocurrencies. Amsterdam also boasts a thriving small business environment.

  7. Helsinki, Finland: Finland's education system is considered one of the best globally adding it to the list of top 10, with a strong emphasis on critical thinking, empathy, and creativity. Helsinki meets the other criteria as well, including a strong rule of law, low corruption, and a thriving small business environment.

  8. Ljubljana, Slovenia: Slovenia's education system is known for its quality, and Ljubljana offers a range of classical education options. The city also meets the other criteria listed.

  9. Perth, Australia: Perth's education system offers classical education options in both public and private schools. The city continues to meet the other criteria, including a strong rule of law, low corruption, and a beautiful climate.

  10. Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm's education system offers classical education options in both public and private schools. The city continues to meet the other criteria, including a strong rule of law, low corruption, and beautiful landscapes.

A Tale of Two Monetary Systems: Is Bitcoin the Bet of the Century?

A Tale of Two Monetary Systems: Is Bitcoin the Bet of the Century?

The Bet of the Century

As you seek to look for a life-raft for whatever your rainy-day funds or savings or long term liquid positions may be it seems ludicrous to me not to store that value in a system that is truly governed by code and decentralized and immune to the censorship of nation states. Sure countries can ban or regulate or tax crypto and Bitcoin in ways that are confiscatory or otherwise and many probably will in the coning years, but in an age where mobility, connectivity, and community are the core values of a global generation of billions of people under the age of 39, I believe it is inevitable that water (in this case “freedom” ) will continue to find its level and talent will migrate with their assets to the places where friction is less and this makes it very hard for me to imagine a world where Bitcoin ever goes to zero. The bet you are making with your holdings in Bitcoin is a 5-10 year bet that if it doesn’t go to zero that it by shear force of its limited supply (21m total) and demand must then become worth whatever the amount of global economy chooses to containerize itself for transfer and transactional activity over its network. This means an asymmetric risk and return reward for those who add it to their portfolio in some way now. Do your own research as always and this is just my opinion and not investment advice! Good luck out there.

The Anatomy of Digital Revolution: How the Metaverse, NFTs, AI, and Blockchain Transform Business

The Anatomy of Digital Revolution: How the Metaverse, NFTs, AI, and Blockchain Transform Business

Author: Chris J. Snook is the co-host of Web3 Show and is an accomplished entrepreneur, best-selling author, and sought-after keynote speaker with over two decades of experience in technology, marketing, and venture capital. He is currently the managing partner at 9LEVEL9-a digital asset venture studio and production company.

Discover how the metaverse, NFTs, AI, and blockchain technologies revolutionize business, explained through human body analogies. Unlock new business models and revenue streams with these powerful digital tools.

Beyond the Hype: A Critical Look at ChatGPT-4's Limitations

Beyond the Hype: A Critical Look at ChatGPT-4's Limitations

Following the #OpenAI demo yesterday (embedded below) I decided to sit down and interview ChatGPT-4 on its limitations and the resulting article and blog post is the ultimate output of that conversation in an organized fashion and very illuminating for the developers and creators who are seeking to optimize and understand the boundaries of this latest productivity tool and see beyond the hype and into the possibilities and constraints. Enjoy!

#RebootingRetail Macro Analysis: 1919–2019 R.I.P. Consumerism

#RebootingRetail Macro Analysis: 1919–2019 R.I.P. Consumerism

1919–2019 R.I.P. Consumerism

It was a good run. Well, maybe not really, (as you will see and feel shortly after completing this chapter), but it was a BIG run nonetheless.

Maybe you have asked yourself how dozens of brands from Sears, Toys R Us, Vitamin World, True Religion, Gymboree, Payless, Gander Mountain, Radio Shack, The Limited, BCBG Max Azria, Aerosoles (source https://www.retaildive.com/news/retail-bankruptcies-2017/446086/) to name a few all filed Bankruptcy in 2017 and 2018 with hundreds of more brands shutting down several hundred stores.

Simultaneously to this retailer calamity, Amazon and Apple went over the trillion-dollar market cap mark thanks in part to a decade-long bull market with Dow Jones cracking 25,000 and employment at an all-time low. But, the underlying drivers of the consumer economy are cancerous and terminal, and preparing your enterprise for the coming shift and turbulence should be the utmost priority if you value survival.

In Retail, DevOps is to Experience Like Carbon is to Steel

In Retail, DevOps is to Experience Like Carbon is to Steel

Every retail business that will survive and thrive in the next economy competes firmly and firstly in the realm of 'customer experience'. Rebooting your retail operation begins with understanding that the engine of your profitability is no longer being product-centric, but being customer-centric. This last thirty year shift has not been about e-tailers vs retailers, but rather product-centric vs customer-centric business design.

The Supply Chain Is Becoming A Supply Web Of Blockchains

The Supply Chain Is Becoming A Supply Web Of Blockchains

There are virtually no institutions or industries that aren’t facing a mounting risk of major disruption because of digital transformation, blockchain, and infrastructure.

The last decade of rapid innovation in mobility and commerce, including the beta-launch of autonomous driving vehicles, detailed urban traffic models, and routing algorithms have connected the supply chain in new, and numerous, end-to-end solutions to route physical things where and when they are needed by the customer or end user.

Building the Experience Marketing Framework v1.0

Building the Experience Marketing Framework v1.0

Working with an uber-intelligent colleague and having the creative process come to life with speed, efficiency and deliver powerful insights make me into a fiend for that productivity-high. I got the occasion to experience this reality with @TQ_AZ (Anthony Quiroz) as we set out to build a new business framework to better communicate how we optimize customer experience at our agency.

The C-Suite’s Cheat Sheet to Optimizing Customer Experience

The C-Suite’s Cheat Sheet to Optimizing Customer Experience

The steps in any successful journey begin with getting clear on where you are starting from, knowing where you want to go, getting clear on what you need to do to prepare for the trip, identifying your options for getting there, and acquiring a reliable map/framework to plan and execute.

Final Digital Sense Book Cover Sneak Peak

Final Digital Sense Book Cover Sneak Peak

It looks like we've arrived at our final book cover destination. Thanks to everyone who has left feedback on the previous book covers. Your feedback was crucial in how we viewed the cover. This is the result of the collective. So, thank you!

#FBOMBS - Failure is Valuable Material

#FBOMBS - Failure is Valuable Material

This gritty speech happened in a basement of a building FEMA was moving into after the Colorado Floods in 2013 during @DENSTARTUPWEEK to a room of a few dozen Entrepreneurs in the Founder Institute (@founding) accelerator. I have never been as openly authentic in how I explained these life events. 

The Future of Thinking and Learning As Needed

The Future of Thinking and Learning As Needed

Henry Ford was once ridiculed for not “knowing” a lot of data, and technical answers related to his automobiles, or historical trivia when asked and said something back to the effect of “I don’t fill my brain with useless trivia because I know exactly WHO(the expert) to call

R.I.P. Information Age...Welcome to The Opportunity Age!

R.I.P. Information Age...Welcome to The Opportunity Age!

R.I.P. Information Age 1989-2013. By 2014 data from Morgan Stanley Research shows that mobile web users will finally surpass desktop/laptop web users and the implications are the end of monopolies for our attention, the ubiquity of engagement and the end of marketing and advertiser disruption. We officially evolve from the Information Age into what I am calling The Opportunity Age!

Clear Distinctions: Mentor v. Board Advisor v. Board Director

Clear Distinctions: Mentor v. Board Advisor v. Board Director

Last night gave yet another chance to refine my approach to working with young and passionate entrepreneurs. I had an unfortunate and preventable misunderstanding with a young founder with a great idea whom I began a relationship with as a mentor/mentee close to 12 months ago.