Rami's Readings #33

Welcome to Rami’s Readings #33 - a weekly digest of interesting articles, videos, Twitter threads from my various sources across the Internet. Expect a list of reads covering technology, business, culture, fashion, travel and more. Learn about what I do at ramisayar.com/about.

Don’t miss “What Are Dreams For?” from The New Yorker. ⬇️

Please Consider Donating to Help in Morocco and Libya

Double tragedy this week. Heavy, torrential rain in Libya led to two dams breaking, killing at least 5,000 people in the coastal city of Serna. My heart goes out to all the families affected by this disaster. It is so hard to imagine your whole life being swept away.

Just a reminder, Morocco was also recently devastated by an earthquake. If you need help understanding the challenges faced by search and rescue, read this article from the Turkey earthquake I previously shared.

Please donate to the relief efforts. If you are based in the US, the NYTimes has a roundup on how to help Morocco. FastCompany has a roundup on how to help Libya.

💼 Business Reads

Apple announcements galore. I will be upgrading to the latest iPhone 15 Pro Max after holding off for three generations.

Alumni Networks in Venture Capital Financing

Notes: From Prof. Strebulaev of Stanford. Paper was published last July.

Ultra-Rich Buy Ultra-Luxury Counseling to Get Kids Into Harvard

Notes: These consulting fees are wild.

Attitudes Towards Capitalism in 34 Countries on Five Continents

Notes: Poland, the United States, the Czech Republic, Japan, Argentina, South Korea, and Sweden are the only countries with predominantly positive attitudes toward capitalism out of the 34 countries surveyed.

“The Tyranny of the Marginal User” hits a little too close to home.

The Tyranny of the Marginal User A friend and I were recently lamenting the strange death of OKCupid. Seven years ago when I first tried online dating, the way it worked is that you wrote a long essay about yourself and what you were looking for. You answered hundreds of questions about your personality, your dreams, your desires for your partner, your hard nos. Then you saw who in you… Nothing Human · 3 years ago · 115 likes · 33 comments · Ivan Vendrov The Tyranny of the Marginal User

✈️ Travel Reads

This week is a reminder that corporations will continuously optimize for their bottom line no matter how you feel and how loyal you are. Delta announced significant changes to their SkyMiles program and lounge access. The changes caused fury across social media. They were due to two issues: SkyClub (Delta’s lounges) overcrowding and inconsistencies in the SkyMiles qualification status requirements. This week, all frequent travelers are reminded that if everyone is special, then no one is. Delta’s changes force that into perspective.

What happened? Who benefits?

The only beneficiary is Delta. These changes are meant to benefit the Delta One & First Class (FC) fare purchasers. However, the changes do little for even this class. Delta One & FC fares are already prioritized entry into the SkyClubs (no wait lines), so there is less crowding in the lounge for those passengers. The SkyMiles status qualifications also do not matter for this fare class since they already get the best seats, benefits, etc., with their fare. Delta is banking on its superior experience and on-time arrival history to push people to pay outright for expensive tickets, benefiting its bottom line.

Conrad Close, a Chicago-based content marketing manager. Close says he has been loyal to Delta since status was “attainable,” even though the airline isn’t as convenient for him. “I could fly direct on United for much cheaper but I’ve always flown Delta; that’ll change now.”

Delta’s SkyMiles changes have convinced me to stop chasing airline status, and that’s liberating.

Why should you care?

Almost all traveler groups other than Delta One & FC purchasers are hurt by these changes. My airline loyalties have been with Delta for the last three years, and the changes in 2024 will significantly hurt me. Unfortunately, I fall into all three of these categories. I rarely fly for work, and I have to use an Amex corporate card when I do. Gratefully, Microsoft has a deal with Delta, and we always get Main fares (not Basic Economy). Travel dollars spent on hotels & taxis will not count towards the new higher MQD requirements, which 100% means I will not qualify for the MQD requirements through business travel. I will also have to ration my SkyClub access through my credit card for long layovers when I genuinely need them to be able to continue working throughout the day. For my frequent flights to the East Coast, I often do not buy business class, so it will be tough to maintain my status and benefit from seat upgrades starting in 2025. The only reason I will choose to fly Delta in 2025 will be price, flight schedule, and flight quality. I will no longer go out of my way to fly Delta.

P.S. I normally avoid the passive voice, but I feel it is warranted in this segment.

🔀 Other Reads

What Are Dreams For?

Notes: This is a fascinating article about dreams and rem sleep. Must read!

The brain uses rem sleep to “learn” the body.

The Politics Behind Morocco Turning Down Help After the Devastating Earthquake

Notes: Broken trust is hard to regain.

🛡️CyberSecurity Reads

Update Everything: Chrome, Firefox, Brave, and Edge

Notes: A WebP rendering vulnerability means any image is a potential hack attempt. Update your browser!

That is all for this week. Signing off from Redmond.