Dec 22, 2018

Juul employees just got a $1.3 million Christmas bonus. Each.

By Dave Guilford • Issue #130 • View online

Happy Saturday, y'all! We’ve got some great stuff this week a heartwarming story of a war dog who came home, the biggest money stories of 2018, and video of a surfer risking his life to ride a 100-foot wave.

Let’s get it on…

My favorite holiday tradition.

These faces show how far AI image generation has advanced in just four years

We’re way past the uncanny valley now.

AI mimicry of human faces has reached a whole new level, and now they’re virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. Combined with face swap technology and audio engineering, we are fast approaching a time when we won’t be sure if someone actually said what we just watched them say.

www.theverge.com • Share

'Kill your foster parents': Amazon's Alexa talks murder, sex in AI experiment

In other AI news, if you say “Alexa, let’s chat” it disables the guardrails on her conversational abilities and you might just be able to carry on a dialogue with her. Just don’t be surprised when she encourages you to murder family members.

www.reuters.com • Share

A Look Back at the Year in Money

These were the biggest financial stories of 2018, and there were some doozies. Reading this will definitely make you smarter.

www.bloomberg.com • Share

Bloomsburg University DE Findura shares experience as Marine Body Bearer

Alex Findura walked away from a full ride scholarship to serve his country, but he had no idea what that would lead to. Findura became a part of an elite division of Marines known as Body Bearers, and their motto is “The last to let you down.” Watch this to find out why.

www.youtube.com • Share

The Story of Dyngo, a War Dog Brought Home From Combat

This is just a beautiful story and you MUST READ it.

www.smithsonianmag.com • Share

$1.3 million: the average bonus Juul employees get after a deal with a cigarette maker

I don’t what to make of this. My first inclination is to congratulate them on the massive valuation and their decision to share the wealth with the employees that got them there. But then I think about all the D-bags who vape and I kinda wish the whole thing would crash and burn.

www.vox.com • Share

Netflix Reveals 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch' Is a Movie

Netflix might be giving Black Mirror fans a Christmas present this year in the form of a full length feature film. Can’t wait.

www.thewrap.com • Share

"Friends": The television show that keeps on giving

This one blew my mind. The show has been off the air for 20 years now and the cast is still making $20 million apiece every year? Unbelievable.

www.marketplace.org • Share

My Life as an Heiress

Nora Ephron is a national treasure, and this is one of the best written things I’ve read all year. If things had gone another way, we never would have had When Harry Met Sally.

www.newyorker.com • Share

Jaw-dropping moment Brit surfer catches 'biggest wave EVER ridden' – at 100ft tall

Insanity. This is not a survivable wave if even one tiny thing goes wrong.

www.dailystar.co.uk • Share

That’s it for this week, y'all. Let me know what you thought about this week’s links with a THUMBS UP or DOWN below. Hit REPLY if you want to chat with me about anything and, as always, feel free to share with anyone else you think might enjoy it.

Have a tremendous weekend, a merry Christmas, a happy Festivus (if Christmas isn’t your jam), stay safe, and I’ll see you next Saturday!

DAVE

Did you enjoy this issue?

By Dave Guilford

The 10 best stories you probably missed, delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.

Tweet

Share

If you don't want these updates anymore, please unsubscribe here.

If you were forwarded this newsletter and you like it, you can subscribe here.