Today is international “I Hate Coriander Day”. I’m serious. 

Coriander (his friends call him cilantro) is a divisive food. To some it tastes like soap. To others it tastes like I need another double spicy margarita STAT. 

The reason coriander tastes like soap only for some people is because of genetics. Why can’t I have a genetic aversion to chips? 

Top links today:

• Microsoft made a whole new state of matter

• A whale swallowed a kayaker

• Computer chips in your brain

Markets

*Source: CoinGecko.com As of 7:21PM February 23, 2025

World news

Top news stories of the past week

1) Microsoft invents new matter: Microsoft has taken a massive leap forward in the quantum computing race, announcing the Majorana 1 quantum chip. The most unique part of this announcement is that the chip uses an entirely new state of matter called a “topological state”. This matter is very stable, which helps limit the usual sensitivity of quantum chips - a major breakthrough. Your move, Google.

2) Biggest crypto heist ever: Bybit, a major crypto exchange, was hacked and nearly $1.5 billion in Ethereum (ETH) was stolen. This is possibly the biggest heist of all time, not just crypto. What now? Internet sleuths and crypto forensic auditors will try and track down the culprits, while the rest of the crypto market will (continue to) panic.

3) German elections haven’t been this important in decades: Germany’s conservative party won the national election with about 30% of the votes. That doesn’t sound too note-worthy, except that the far-right Alternative for Germany party had about 20% of the votes, giving them a considerable voice moving forward. Keep an eye on this.

Top WEIRD stories of the past week

1) 500 cat figurines were stolen from Gordon Ramsay’s newest London restaurant. Why? Classic British humor is the only possible explanation.

2) A ramen shop in Kyoto has put a bounty on guests who left a bad review, offering a reward to those who identify them and threatening to beat them up. That’s passion.

3) A kayaker was briefly swallowed by a whale in Chile. This guy just got the best “two truths and a lie” story ever.

Personal finance

Ultimate Financial Checklist

Are you in your 30s and wondering if you're on track financially?

Most people think they’re doing fine—but small gaps today can become huge regrets later.

That’s why we put together The Ultimate Financial Checklist for Your 30s—a simple, step-by-step guide to help you:

✅ Optimize your spending
✅ Build your emergency fund
✅ Crush high-interest debt
✅ Max out employer benefits
✅ Start investing with confidence

Technology

On the edge - Brain-computer interfaces

Too lazy to type on your keyboard or scroll on your phone? We have the solution for you! Surgically implant a computer chip in your head. Sounds crazy, but it’s real.

Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) are devices that capture signals transmitted by your brain and then send that information to a computer or robot, controlling it - literally turning thoughts into action.

These devices can go over the scalp in a wearable device, get surgically placed under the scalp, or even get implanted IN YOUR BRAIN.

A leading company in this space is Neuralink - one of the many companies helmed by Elon Musk. 

In 2024, Neuralink implanted a chip into a quadriplegic patient’s brain that allowed him to control a computer. And this is a major use-case moving forward: bringing mobility to disabled people, moving artificial limbs with their thoughts. 

Chart

You like charts? Graphs? Ya you do

The Trump administration is trying to fire up to 10% of all federal employees. Are there a lot? Yes. Has the number been increasing? Not that much tbh.

Investment idea

What are we investing in?

Edge computing

Your smartphone has 5,000x more computing power than supercomputers from the mid-1980s. And you’re probably not maximizing its power by taking selfies and playing Wordle. However, edge computing is a technology that could unleash the full power of every smartphone and every other computing device in the world.

Edge computing is a distributed model that uses local devices, like smartphones, to process data. This is as opposed to using centralized data centers to process information.

What’s the benefit? Faster processing time and improved data security. This is especially relevant for things like autonomous cars, which will need to process complex information quickly and accurately. 

Here’s a couple diversified ways to invest in edge computing

1)  iShares Future Cloud 5G and Tech ETF: This fund invests in companies related to cloud computing and 5G technologies, both of which are closely tied to edge computing. This is pretty specific exposure, but it may be more volatile than diversified funds.

2) Global X Cloud Computing ETF: This invests in companies positioned to benefit from increased cloud computing adoption, including edge computing infrastructure.

History

On this day…

… in 1868, Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, was the first president in U.S. history to face impeachment.

Music

Banger of the week

Most important thing

Meme? Nah. Art.