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(Bonus) Is Silicon Valley "Over?" With Bloomberg's @noahpinion

Feb 13, 2021

Guest

Noah Smith

Noah Smith, Bloomberg's Economics Opinion Columnist, shares his remarkable insights on economics and technology. He dives into the future of remote work, highlighting shifts in urban living and the implications for Silicon Valley's dominance. The discussion also covers the impact of Substack on digital discourse and how online platforms shape opinions. Additionally, Noah and the host explore the world of science fiction literature, recommending beloved titles and discussing a new podcast that blends economics with sci-fi humor.

38:26

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insights

INSIGHT

Remote Work's Impact on Cities

Remote work's impact on cities depends on whether workers stay near their office.
Full remote work requires remote networking and job searching, which is challenging.

insights

INSIGHT

City Hub Formation

The reasons why certain cities become hubs for specific industries are not fully understood.
Tacit knowledge exchange and thick markets are two potential factors.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Clubhouse Example

Clubhouse, a hot startup, is located in San Francisco, benefiting from proximity to Andreessen Horowitz.
This exemplifies the advantages of thick markets and local networks.

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The Future of Remote Work and Urban Dynamics

02:16 • 10min

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Balancing Workouts and Career Growth

12:28 • 2min

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The Future of Silicon Valley: Shifts in Tech Talent and Urban Living

14:18 • 14min

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Substack's Influence on Digital Discourse

28:10 • 7min

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Exploring Beloved Sci-Fi Reads

The Uplift War is the third book in David Brin's Uplift Universe series. It follows the invasion of the human colony world of Garth by the Avian Gubru, who seek to discover and adopt the native Garthling species. The story delves into the sociological implications of Uplift and the stringent codes of Galactic warfare. The Gubru's complex command structure and internal power struggles are central to the plot, as are the resistance efforts of humans and neo-chimpanzees. The novel explores themes of galactic politics, alien cultures, and the consequences of war on a galactic scale.

The Culture Series

A Collection of Science Fiction Novels

Iain M. Banks

The Culture series by Iain M. Banks is a collection of science fiction novels that explore the intricacies of a utopian, post-scarcity society. The Culture is a civilization composed of humanoid aliens, artificially intelligent sentient machines, and other sentient life forms. It is characterized by its advanced technology, lack of scarcity, and absence of money, leading to a largely hedonistic society. The series delves into themes such as the ethical dilemmas faced by an advanced civilization when interacting with less advanced societies, personal trauma, and the moral ambiguities of intervention and manipulation. Each novel is self-contained but contributes to the broader narrative of the Culture's interactions with other civilizations and its internal societal dynamics.

A Fire upon the Deep

Vernor Vinge

In 'A Fire Upon the Deep', Vernor Vinge explores a vast universe divided into 'zones of thought' where the potential of intelligent life varies greatly. The story begins with a human expedition that awakens a destructive artificial intelligence, the Blight, which threatens to destroy entire civilizations. Two children, Jefri and Johanna Olsndot, escape the initial destruction but are captured by the Tines, an intelligent dog-like alien species with a hive mind. Meanwhile, Ravna Bergsndot, an intergalactic librarian, and her companions embark on a perilous rescue mission to save the children and recover an artifact that could stop the Blight. The novel is renowned for its complex world-building, unique alien cultures, and blend of hard science fiction and high drama.

Oryx And Crake

Margaret Atwood

In this novel, Margaret Atwood delves into a future where genetic engineering and pharmaceutical manipulation have catastrophic consequences. The story follows Jimmy, also known as Snowman, who survives a global pandemic that wipes out most of humanity. The narrative alternates between Jimmy's current survival in a harsh environment and his past, where he grew up in a corporate-controlled world. The novel introduces the Crakers, genetically engineered beings designed to replace humanity, and explores themes of genetic modification, corporate power, and the dangers of unchecked technological advancement. Atwood raises profound questions about the ethics of scientific intervention and the future of humanity.

Barrayar

Lois McMaster Bujold

Barrayar is a direct sequel to Shards of Honor, following Cordelia and Aral Vorkosigan as they face political turmoil and personal challenges on the planet Barrayar. The novel explores themes of societal integration, power struggles, and the complexities of Barrayaran culture. It won both the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel in 1992.

All the Birds in the Sky

Charlie Jane Anders

Metaplanetary

a novel of interplanetary civil war

Tony Daniel

In 'Metaplanetary', Tony Daniel crafts a vast interplanetary saga where humanity has expanded across the solar system, creating a complex network known as the Met. The story revolves around a dictator named Amés, who seeks to control all of humanity, and the resistance led by Colonel Roger Sherman from Neptune's moon Triton. The novel explores themes of freedom, identity, and the future of humanity amidst advanced technologies like nanotech and AI.

Ninefox Gambit

Yoon Ha Lee

Ninefox Gambit is a space opera that explores themes of identity, power, and the intersection of mathematics and magic within the Hexarchate, a complex interstellar empire. The story centers around Captain Kel Cheris, who must reclaim the Fortress of Scattered Needles from heretics with the assistance of the consciousness of General Shuos Jedao, a brilliant tactician with a dark past. The novel delves into the intricate world-building of the Hexarchate, where adherence to a specific calendar system enables advanced technologies.

If you want the single best person in economics twitter to follow, it’s Noah Smith, Bloomberg’s Economics Opinion Columnist. If you want to him, its @noahpinion, by the way. If you want a great substack to sign up to, try noahpinion.substack.com… the free article this week is called Triumph of the HODler’s… I hope I remember to link to it in the show notes. It’s the best summation I’ve read of what’s going on with Bitcoin at the moment. But also, as you’ll hear, he has a great new podcast with another economist I respect, Brad Delong. Noah is just a smart, smart guy. If you want a smart economics angle to anything happening in the world right now, he’s just the best. Noah and I have been friendly on Twitter over the years, occasionally exchanging DMs about obscure details about the Holy Roman Empire, but this is the first time I “met” him if you will. It’s been a while since I was sort of starstruck to interview someone, but here you go. The great Noah Smith…

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