Edward Quince's Wisdom Bites: The Enduring Comedy of Being Human – As Told by the XTODs (Part 2: Growth, Learning and Perspective)

Welcome back to Edward Quince's Wisdom Bites. In a world perpetually teetering on the brink of lunacy, perhaps the best way to understand ourselves is to reflect on the scattered insights found amidst the daily noise.

Let us uncork some delightfully peculiar and pointedly witty observations that have graced these digital pages, proving that even in the most serious of times, absurdity (and sometimes, brilliance) finds a way.

On Growth, Learning, and Perspective:

• "You don't need to worry about progressing slowly. You need to worry about climbing the wrong mountain."

• "IN CONSTRUCTION Human beings are only healthy when they are still in construction (intellectually). Aging starts when they become a self-museum."

• "To experience time travel, read. To achieve immortality, write."

• "Take pride in your effort, not your talents. Your talents are a gift, you didn't do anything to earn them. You should take pride in what you do w/ them. True excellence comes from combining gifts with dedication and effort. (Working & studying hard/practicing consistently)"

• "The game of life is the game of everlasting learning. At least it is if you want to win."

• "The deepest insight into life: All benefits in life come from compound interest."

• "You can compound knowledge faster than money."

• "Re-reading is probably more important than reading. Seek to cognitively own a great book rather than just reading it."

• "Acquiring knowledge is easy, the hard part is knowing what to apply and when. That’s why all true learning is “on the job.” Life is lived in the arena."

• "The depth of your understanding is reflected in the simplicity of your explanations."

• "Growth comes from reflection, not rumination. Mistakes don’t define you. They are part of the process - choose growth."

• "The more he saw the less he spoke, The less he spoke, the more he heard, Why aren’t we all like that old bird?”

• "You don’t have to have an opinion on everything—and shouldn’t listen to those who do."

Edward Quince's Wisdom Bites: The Enduring Comedy of Being Human – As Told by the XTODs (Part I: The Inner Game and Our Shared Struggles)

Welcome back to Edward Quince's Wisdom Bites. In a world perpetually teetering on the brink of lunacy, perhaps the best way to understand ourselves is to reflect on the scattered insights found amidst the daily noise.

Let us uncork some delightfully peculiar and pointedly witty observations that have graced these digital pages, proving that even in the most serious of times, absurdity (and sometimes, brilliance) finds a way.

On the Inner Game and Our Shared Struggles:

• "The world is not driven by greed. It’s driven by envy."

• "Envy is a really stupid sin because it’s the only one you could never possibly have any fun at. There’s a lot of pain and no fun. Why would you want to get on that trolley?"

• "The only people who never feel like impostors are narcissists."

• "Being 100% sure of yourself at all times betrays arrogance and breeds complacency. Questioning yourself reflects humility and propels growth. Pangs of doubt are a normal, healthy human response to new challenges."

• "The greatest battle of all is with yourself—your weaknesses, your emotions, your lack of resolution in seeing things through to the end. You must declare unceasing war on yourself."

• "The iron rule of life is that everybody struggles.”

• "Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Everyone struggles. Take solace in that."

• "The price of success is paid in private. Visible triumphs are built on invisible toil."

• "The most socially accepted form of self-sabotage: Overthinking. It’s why you can’t make decisions, finish anything, or sleep without scrolling."

• "Intelligence without courage leads to anxiety because you will spend your time overthinking instead of acting, taking risks, improving your life."

• "Most people wait too long to go into action, generally out of fear. They want more money or better circumstances. You must go the opposite direction and move before you think you are ready."

• "Every single thing you want in life is on the other side of something that sucks. That suck might be 100 hard workouts, 100 bland meals, 100 hours of focused work, or 100 hard conversations. Embrace it as the cost of entry. The answers you seek are found in the actions you avoid."

• "Sometimes, you think you have to figure out your life’s purpose, but you really just need some macadamia nuts and a cold fucking shower."

• "If you only wished to be happy, this could be easily accomplished; but we wish to be happier than other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are.” - Montesquieu

Edward Quince's Wisdom Bites: The Glorious Deluge – Why More Noise, Instant Action, and Absolute Certainty Are Your Only Path!

Welcome back to Edward Quince's Wisdom Bites, where the path to prosperity is paved not with old-world prudence, but with cutting-edge conviction! Forget everything you thought you knew about "wisdom" – today, we celebrate the true hallmarks of financial genius: bold predictions, relentless action, and an insatiable appetite for ALL the information!

The Best Worst Advice: A Modern Playbook for Prosperity

• The Glorious Illusion of Absolute Certainty: Predict Everything, Always! Forget the antiquated notion that "Nobody knows anything, and that's okay". That's for the timid! True visionaries know that "forecasting the future is a fool's errand" for others, but for you, it's your daily bread. Embrace the "constant demand for forecasts" and supply them yourself, with unshakeable conviction. Who cares if predictions are historically "less reliable than the flip of a coin"? That's just a challenge to be overcome with superior "takes". Always believe that "this time is different" – because it always is, until it isn't, and then it's different again! Ignore the "pundits" who tell you to ignore them; instead, revel in the certainty they claim to offer. After all, why aim to "understand the exponential function" if not to guarantee endless growth? And if anyone asks, never say "I don't know" – always have an answer, no matter how confident or vague.
  
  

• Chasing Fleeting Gains: Amplify Returns Through Daring Speculation and Maximum Risk! Who wants to "Never risk permanent loss of capital"? That's how you stay permanently mediocre! Instead, chase those "bonanzas" with reckless abandon, for true catastrophe only happens to those who hesitate. Leverage? It's not a "risk of ruin"; it's the ultimate amplifier for your genius, pushing "routine risks" into the stratosphere of spectacular returns! The "Idiot Lender" who underwrites "a reduction in rates in two years" is simply ahead of their time – because rates will come down, won't they? Jump into the "Hawk Tuah meme coin crash of 2024" not as a victim, but as a fearless trendsetter. And as for Munger's quaint advice about index funds – "It is absolutely wrong to gamble in stocks the way the average man does", so gamble your way, spectacularly!
  
  

• The Noise Nirvana: Drown in Data, Starve for Silence! Reject the ridiculous notion that "Clarity comes from subtraction, not addition". More data means more knowledge! Immerse yourself in the "Noise Bottleneck" – every "stream of data and opinion" is a golden opportunity. The "constant pressure to do something" isn't a problem; it's a call to action! Why ignore what "won't matter in 5 YEARS" for "5 MINUTES"? Give it all your attention! The "daily deluge of financial 'news'" is your ultimate competitive advantage, allowing you to react at lightning speed, far faster than those who foolishly try to "filter" it all out. Be the person who reads all the "sheep guts" of today's financial reporting – because then, and only then, will you truly "know what's going on".
  
  

• Corporate Bullshit as a Strategic Asset: Performance Over Purpose! Master "corporate speak" – it's the language of power! Learn to say "Open up the kimono" when you mean "HR violation," and claim "We use AI" even if you don't. And remember Charlie Munger's witty dismissal of EBITDA? He clearly didn't understand its true power to mask different realities for different audiences! Embrace "enshittification" as the genius strategy it is – once you've locked in your customers, extract every last ounce of "value" in the "blind pursuit of profit"! Pile on those "features of dubious value" (the "additive bias") – they keep the "quarterly earnings drumbeat" going. And always, always, "focus more on your competitor than your customer", for that's where true market dominance lies!
  
  

• Overthink and Over-Act: Drama Reigns Supreme! To the sages who say "Overthinking is the most socially accepted form of self-sabotage", we say: Overthinking is analysis! Let your intelligence spiral into anxiety, for that anxiety will fuel endless "acting" and "risks". Never listen to the misguided whisper, "Don't just do something, sit there!". Instead, heed the roar of the market: "Don't just do something, do everything!". Who needs consistency when you can be spectacular? Who needs discipline when drama gets all the attention? Forget "aiming for the best is a recipe for misery"; aim for the absolute peak, every single time, for it is the constant struggle, the endless pursuit, that defines true success. Your forecast absolutely matters more than your behavior, so shout it from the rooftops! And finally, ignore the foolish advice that "It’s easier to be lazy than it is to fail" – true success is born from ceaseless effort, even if it's in the wrong direction!
  
  

So, there you have it, discerning readers. Cast aside the dull shackles of "intellectual humility" and "long-term perspective". Embrace the exhilarating chaos of the moment, the intoxicating allure of certainty, and the irresistible urge to act. For in this brave new world, the worst advice is truly the best advice! Now go forth, predict, speculate, consume, strategize, and act – relentlessly!

Edward Quince's Wisdom Bites: A Curated Collection of Cackles and Critiques from the XTOD Archives (Part III of III)

 Welcome back to Edward Quince's Wisdom Bites, where the signal is scarce, the noise is deafening, and the truth, much like a well-aged single malt, is often found in the most unexpected drams. You asked for the finest vintage of humor and satire from the hallowed halls of our XTODs (X/Twitter Thoughts of the Day), and who am I to deny such a discerning palate? After all, in a world perpetually teetering on the brink of lunacy, a good chuckle is often the soundest investment.

Because sometimes, the best way to understand the profound absurdity of our modern world – especially in finance – is to laugh at it.

So, without further ado, let us uncork some of the more delightfully peculiar and pointedly witty observations that have graced these digital pages, proving that even in the most serious of times, absurdity (and sometimes, brilliance) finds a way.

Today will be part III of III.

III. Political Punditry & Economic Ironies:

The intersection of politics, economics, and media narratives is a goldmine for satirical observation.

• On the Central Bank & Economic Forecasting:

    ◦ "XTOD: My experience with Jackson Hole is that the actual contents of the speech rarely matter. It’s an opportunity to identify the point of maximum pain, and squeeze". A cynical, but often accurate, take on the true purpose of central bank gatherings.

    ◦ "XTOD: Jamie Dimon said the fact that central banks got financial forecasting “100% dead wrong” about 18 months ago should prompt some humility about the outlook for next year. He should know since JPMorgan Chase forecasts weren't exactly, you know, accurate." A delightful call-out of hypocrisy in financial prognostications.

    ◦ "XTOD: Amount of attention, digital ink spilling and coverage the FOMC gets is totally out of proportion with the level of signaling it carries. These guys are systematically wrong and literally have no fucking clue what they are doing or where they are heading... Hell a monkey would do better. And never any accountability." A scathing, comprehensive takedown of the Federal Reserve's perceived competence and the media's disproportionate coverage.

    ◦ "XTOD: Michael Kantrowitz - bearish stocks... Michael Burry - bearish stocks... What do they all have in common? Anyone?" This XTOD sets up a punchline, though the answer isn't explicitly given in the sources, the implication is either their shared first name or that despite their bearishness, markets continue to defy them, highlighting the futility of constant negativity.

• On Political Rhetoric and Media Bias:

    ◦ "XTOD: NEW: President Joe Biden announces a remarkable "billion 300 million trillion 300 million" dollar infrastructure plan. I'll admit, that's impressive! In the same breath of saying Donald Trump doesn't know what he's talking about, Biden appeared to claim that America is having an "infrastructure decade" with a price tag of "over a billion 300 million trillion $300 million dollars." Very cool!" A masterclass in political satire, lampooning the hyperbole and gaffes in public discourse.

    ◦ "XTOD: This time no rise in U at all, so completely different process. Oh, and a lot of the inflation resurgence was about the Iranian revolution and oil prices". This XTOD critiques common economic arguments by highlighting overlooked factors and fundamental differences.

    ◦ "XTOD: My AI-agent write this post while streaming Disney+ from the riviera that used to be Gaza." A darkly humorous and unsettling juxtaposition of severe geopolitical realities with the mundane and frivolous.

    ◦ "XTOD: The Bear. The Penguin. Baby Reindeer, these aren’t just things in RFK’s freezer." A specific pop culture reference with dark, satirical undertones related to political figures.

    ◦ "XTOD: 'Think of how stupid the average person is and then realize half of them are stupider than that.' - George Carlin". A classic Carlin quote frequently used to explain societal and market irrationality, delivered with dry wit.

    ◦ "XTOD: 'Everything in life is volatility times time. As volatility increases, time compresses. But what we care about is the validity of the fixed point. If we lose it, everything in the past becomes meaningless.' — Myron Scholes". While a serious quote, its frequent appearance often precedes XTODs that highlight the unpredictable nature of markets and news, implying that much of the daily "noise" is indeed meaningless in the face of true volatility.

In the grand theater of markets and life, these XTODs serve as a delightful reminder that sometimes, the most profound insights are wrapped in humor and satire. They encourage us to look beyond the obvious, question the narratives, and perhaps, take ourselves a little less seriously. Because ultimately, as Edward Quince reminds us, "Your behavior matters more than your forecast". And a good laugh certainly improves one's behavior.

Edward Quince's Wisdom Bites: A Curated Collection of Cackles and Critiques from the XTOD Archives (Part II of III)

Welcome back to Edward Quince's Wisdom Bites, where the signal is scarce, the noise is deafening, and the truth, much like a well-aged single malt, is often found in the most unexpected drams. You asked for the finest vintage of humor and satire from the hallowed halls of our XTODs (X/Twitter Thoughts of the Day), and who am I to deny such a discerning palate? After all, in a world perpetually teetering on the brink of lunacy, a good chuckle is often the soundest investment.

Because sometimes, the best way to understand the profound absurdity of our modern world – especially in finance – is to laugh at it.

So, without further ado, let us uncork some of the more delightfully peculiar and pointedly witty observations that have graced these digital pages, proving that even in the most serious of times, absurdity (and sometimes, brilliance) finds a way.

Today will be part II of III.

II. The Peculiarities of Human Behavior (and the Modern Condition):

From personal habits to societal trends, many XTODs cast a wry eye on the human animal.

• On Our Digital Lives and Declining Discourse:

    ◦ "XTOD: Confession: in the past 3 years, I've never listened to a single podcast that someone has sent to me. I'm maxed out. Always feels like main point can be summed up in a tweet or a paragraph rather than expecting me to block out 1-3 hours." A relatable lament on information overload and the fleeting nature of modern communication.

    ◦ "XTOD: A whole generation appears to think you can copy other’s exact words without using quotation marks as long as you acknowledge the source. That’s as good a proof as any that our universities aren’t up to snuff." A sharp, critical observation on the decline of academic rigor and intellectual honesty.

    ◦ "XTOD: LinkedIn Observation: When Did LinkedIn Become OnlyFans? A comparison of LinkedIn to OnlyFans, noting the shift from professional networking to engagement-bait posts and self-promotion. Let's face it, LinkedIn is where professional aspirations go to die." A biting, multi-source critique of the degradation of professional social media into a platform for "humblebrags and corporate porn".

    ◦ "XTOD: “Old George Orwell got it backward. Big Brother isn’t watching. He’s singing and dancing. He’s pulling rabbits out of a hat... He’s making sure your attention is always filled. And this being fed, it’s worse than being watched." A dark, insightful satire on the modern attention economy and its subtle control over our minds.

• On Everyday Absurdities and Relatable Woes:

    ◦ "XTOD: I cannot believe Bob Barker lived as close to 100 as possible without going over." A simple, playful nod to a pop culture icon and game show rules.

    ◦ "XTOD: Who tricked everyone into thinking that travel is the most fun thing you can do in life? When I'm taking a trip, maybe 25% of it is actually fun The rest of it is logistics, packing, checkins/outs, spending stupid money, running out of clothes, crowds, lines, airports, etc" A humorous, relatable debunking of the idealized notion of travel.

    ◦ "XTOD: This economy stinks I just paid $128 to have someone else get off their couch, pick up my caviar for me, drive it to my house and drop it off at my doorstep And they wanted a tip!?!? How am I supposed to live?" A comedic take on "first-world problems" and the increasingly bizarre economics of convenience.

    ◦ "XTOD: Incredible work by the Wells Fargo analyst who ordered the same burrito bowl 75 times at eight different Chipotles in NYC to prove the portion size inconsistency" A hilarious, albeit somewhat obsessive, example of applying analytical rigor to the mundane.

    ◦ "XTOD: Text a coworker at a random time “are you joining this meeting?” as a fun holiday prank" A simple, relatable piece of workplace mischief.

Edward Quince's Wisdom Bites: A Curated Collection of Cackles and Critiques from the XTOD Archives (Part I of III)

Welcome back to Edward Quince's Wisdom Bites, where the signal is scarce, the noise is deafening, and the truth, much like a well-aged single malt, is often found in the most unexpected drams. You asked for the finest vintage of humor and satire from the hallowed halls of our XTODs (X/Twitter Thoughts of the Day), and who am I to deny such a discerning palate? After all, in a world perpetually teetering on the brink of lunacy, a good chuckle is often the soundest investment.

Because sometimes, the best way to understand the profound absurdity of our modern world – especially in finance – is to laugh at it.

So, without further ado, let us uncork some of the more delightfully peculiar and pointedly witty observations that have graced these digital pages, proving that even in the most serious of times, absurdity (and sometimes, brilliance) finds a way.

Today will be part I of III.

I. The Corporate & Financial Circus: Where Common Sense Goes to Die

The world of big business and high finance often provides fertile ground for satire, revealing a reality far stranger than fiction.

• On Corporate Bullshit and Bureaucracy:

    ◦ "Navigating 'corporate speak' isn't easy. Here's a helpful guide I put together: 'Let me check with my team' = No... 'Open up the kimono' = HR violation... 'We use AI' = We don't use AI". A scathing yet painfully accurate dictionary for deciphering the modern workplace, where words often mean the opposite of what they say.

    ◦ "XTOD: “Every time you hear EBITDA, just substitute it with bullshit”. A blunt, timeless critique of a beloved financial metric, attributed to Charlie Munger.

    ◦ "XTOD: 'Not only will we not tell you the accurate marks, but we’re hilarious!' Aside from the cringeworthy video, can we please stop calling highly correlated levered equities “alternatives” because they don’t update the prices? That doesn’t make them bad investments, but they ain’t alternatives." A pointed jab at financial firms' marketing spin, particularly referencing a "cringeworthy video."

    ◦ "XTOD: “I wished I commuted to the office to provide maximum shareholder value more often.” This XTOD sarcastically highlights the often-performative nature of corporate work culture.

• On Market Mania and Dubious Investments:

    ◦ "XTOD: Mark Cuban said that after investing nearly $20 million in 85 startups on “Shark Tank,” he’s taken a net loss across all of those deals combined." Even the titans of industry aren't immune to the allure of a bad bet.

    ◦ "XTOD: Rumors circulating that NYC migrants will be given 10,000 in $NVDA calls". This absurd rumor highlights the fever pitch of market speculation and the bizarre narratives that emerge during a "bubble".

    ◦ "XTOD: Bored Ape Yacht Club. WTF was that?" A concise, rhetorical question perfectly encapsulating the bafflement at past speculative fads.

    ◦ "XTOD: I survived the Hawk Tuah meme coin crash of 2024". If you're interested in a T-shirt, feel free to post a comment." This self-referential XTOD mocks the fleeting, often disastrous, nature of meme coin crazes. The blog post also mentions "Hawk Tuah" memes and the emergence of "Fartcoin" as an "ultimate safe haven asset".

    ◦ "XTOD: “This is the Brownfield Fund. I’m wanting to offload my credit default swaps.” “Alright, whatcha got?” “20 double-A tranches of BBS CDOs” “These are pretty bad?” “Complete shit. Burritos underlying these didn’t even have extra guac.” XTOD: "They're called Chimichanga Default Swaps" XTOD: You are telling me these loans are backed by consumers who ordered burritos on DoorDash?" This extended, brilliant piece of satire strips away the opaque jargon of complex financial instruments, comparing them to fast-food derivatives and exposing their dubious underlying value.

    ◦ "XTOD: What stage of the market cycle is it when people are making Nvidia purses?" A humorous, albeit concerning, observation on the signs of market exuberance and mania.