Nike Is in Trouble. Can the Olympics Save It?
Let's be honest, for most Americans the Olympics are not a big deal and will not change buying behaviors. Emerging brands like On are eating into Nike's revenue because people want something new and different. On has a ubiquitous design, and their recent partnership with Zendaya signals their intention to capture the younger buyer. At the end of the day, I think On is designing better looking shoes than Nike right now and doing a better job at getting their shoes on their target demographic (I swear 50% of every Barry's class are in On). I just bought Steph a pair this week (don't tell her if, they show up later this week – they were sold out in stores).

The Most Terrifying Part

President Biden stepped down without even a formal address—just a tweet on a  Sunday. We haven't seen him since. 

Meanwhile, the RNC is parading out Kid Rock, Dana White and Hulk Hogan (who rips his shirt off and yells Trump Mania!) as Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen dump millions into the Trump campaign:

Elon Musk plans to commit ~$45M per month to America PAC, a new pro-Trump super PAC; other backers include 8VC's Joe Lonsdale and the Winklevoss twins

Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz have told a16z staff in recent days that they plan to make large donations to PACs supporting Donald Trump's campaign

It's all just so laughably bad. Like how did we ACTUALLY get here? Where are we? It's like we are living inside a bad Bravo reality show that we can't escape.

The most terrifying part?

I'm not sure we even care anymore... Maybe we just sit back, enjoy the show, and send our loved ones memes as our republic slowly crumbles, amirite?

The Kirkland Signature White T-Shirt

I'm here to tell you that I'm turning 40 and somehow just discovered that the best white T-shirt on the planet is available in a six-pack for $26 at Costco.

Don't waste your youth searching and spending money on white t-shirts. I've done Uniqlo, Gildan, Muji, and J.Crew... The Costco T-shirt is better. AND IT'S A FRACTION OF THE COST (honestly spending $45+ on a single white t-shirt is insane). As I rapidly age, price point and quality matter... luckily with the Kirkland Signature Men's Crew Neck T-Shirt, YOU GET BOTH!

Also, FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK those dorks at Buck Mason. The dudes that work there are too much. 

Have you ever been in before? Beeeeeecause we do things here a little differently – the first thing you'll notice is our T-shirts are curved at the bottom. 

Despite all buzz, I think their white t-shirts are soooooo bad – for me they fit like total shit. There is something very unnatural about a t-shirt with a curved bottom hem (not a hem God ever intended). When I told them that I hated the fit they took it VERY personally and became very rude, encouraging me to go "check out "UNTUCKit." Which was very good BURRRRRRN, but totally unnecessary. It was almost as if they associated the bad fit with the curved bottom hem and felt like I must require a shirt that is longer in the front? Or they were just being dicks and insinuating that I had poor taste because I didn't like their shirt. Regardless, the whole experience turned me off of the brand. 

Kinds of Kindness was good, but it felt like they were trying a bit too hard. Like the writer saw Poor Things and said, "I can do this shit" and hired the exact same cast. 

Good Email Sign-Offs

And in case I don't see you, good afternoon, good evening, and good night,
Don

With loving scrutiny,
Don

May thy knife chip and shatter,
Don

Who really cares anymore,
Don

Malibu, CA

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Steph for The Strategist

Celebrities Are Just Like Us!

More Nuclear Energy News

Back in March, I wrote about how generative AI requires an insane amount of computing power and as adoption increases rapidly, the demand for energy will surge. 

I predicted and continue to predict that AI companies will struggle to meet power demands, likely leading to the adoption of (small modular) nuclear reactors.  

This week, it was announced that DOE is funding $900 million for next-gen small modular reactor deployment. The anticipated funding aims to prepare the domestic nuclear industry for deployments, particularly those in information technology and data center industries, favoring the development of advanced and small modular nuclear (SMR) reactors to connect sustainability and power reliability goals.

Nuclear power is inevitable. 

Celebrities Are Just Like Us!

An Ode to When PlayStation Ads Were Completely Unhinged
There was a time where Sony’s corporatized self-satire let us all cringe and laugh together, something that's brutally missing in today's gaming landscape.

Totoro

I've now watched Totoro 8-10 times. We read the book at night. I make ocarina sounds as I get him ready for bed. There is something really beautiful about the story – it feels magical. The illustration style, music, and pacing are perfect. Unlike a lot of children's movies today, it has a sort of calming effect on Sonny. I have to credit my sister and brother-in-law for turning us on to it. 

I've included some of my favorite stills from the movie below:

🚫 BAN DOGS

We have a dog problem in the US.

Dogs are fucking everywhere. 

Every park has been overrun by these wild animals. In most cases, off-leash. Shitting everywhere.

Now, we have dogs in restaurants and grocery stores. When did this become ok? And more importantly, WHY is it ok?  

We were in Santa Barbara a few weeks ago, and this young woman had her nasty little dog sitting at the table, and she was feeding it as if it was her child. Now granted, it was Mother's Day, and she might have identified the dog as her child, but it wasn't; it was her dog. And the dog was licking the table. It was gross and, somehow, totally accepted.

Is this the first sign of a collapsing society? A complete disregard for public etiquette... hygiene... health codes... safety?!?! 

And I'm not even talking about this dog barking, which happened, a lot.

Why do we allow this? I think MOST people don't like dogs in restaurants. I think MOST people don't like to see dogs licking restaurant tables. I think MOST people don't like hearing a dog bark while they are dining.

I only hope that the more I publicly complain, the more people will join me in the resistance. I'm aging rapidly. These are the things I care most deeply about now. 

Join me in going full Gran Torino mode on all dogs.

🚫 GET THEM OUT OF OUR PARKS! 

🚫 GET THEM OUT OF OUR RESTAURANTS!

🚫 GET THEM OUT OF OUR YARDS!

🚫 GET THEM OUT OF OUR GROCERY STORES 🚫 GET THEM OUT OF OUR PLANES!

*service dogs are an exception of course to all this

RAV4 Excellence

If you liked Endorphin Port, you're gonna love Stand Up Solutions. This is the funniest thing on the internet right now. In a segment, Connor spends 10 minutes talking about his Toyota Rav4. Watch that segment here... 

👉 Here is a link to the whole thing. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. You're welcome.

Father's Day Gift Guide!

The definitive father's day gift guide for discerning fathers!

1. TECHNIVORM MOCCAMASTER – really the best coffee machine out there. No timer. No clock. No buttons. Just one switch. A coffee machine your grandfather would approve of.

2. HIGH WIZARD "NUCLEAR FAMILY" T-SHIRT – it's time we celebrate the nuclear family.

3. ORSLOW 107 2-YEAR WASH DENIM – I buy these out at Canoe Club in Boulder. They are the best jeans and every dad should own a pair.

4. RALPH LAUREN BLUE OXFORD – the older I get the simpler I want things to be. If the occasion calls for something more than a long sleeve black or navy t-shirt, I am wearing this simple blue oxford. I've had my blue oxford for years and it gets better and better the older (we) it gets.

5. ZEN MIND BEGINNER'S MIND – one of my all time favorite books – "little by little."

Right Back To It

I highly recommend investing in premium mineral water for your home. We'd been using a Lifestraw filter, but this is way better. Mountain Valley Spring Water is delivered every few weeks in this killer glass 5 gallon glass bottle. It's sort of like a gym – you pay for it and it forces you to go – you're paying a premium for it so you drink it more often.  

We saw Waxahatchee last week. One of the best songwriters making music right now (right there alongside Big Thief!). 

Not so sunny Mother's Day weekend in Santa Barbara. After a week in San Francisco for a work trip.

Starting to see a lot of Cybertrucks around. I saw this one in San Francisco. I had a chance to buy one a few months back but I'm sort of glad we passed. There is something off about the ratios – specifically the backend. The whole thing looks sort of janky. Feels like you are paying a lot of money to drive a meme.

Picked up this killer backpack for Sonny at the San Francisco MoMa Museum store. VERY COOL. 

I wrote about "Offline Experiences" a few weeks ago, and High Wizard is a great example of what I was referring to. They send out a mailer – a sort of comic book – mixed media collage thing with some great graphics, funny copy, and a scratch-away code that gives you access to the online store. They only sent out 450 of these books and I like how the code is a sort of barrier to entry. The whole experience felt less like "shopping" or "buying" and more like participating. This is where things are going.  

It's been just over a year since we moved, and this spring has been spent trying to dial in our landscaping. 

This last weekend, we installed 38 plants, 2 trees, and a drip system. Outdoor lighting was also put in a month earlier.

Steph is really into craft ice. I went out to an ice distributor to get her 25 perfectly cut ice cubes. Spent 30-min. talking with the owner of the operation. Seems like there is a market for retail here. We're gonna investigate – stay tuned.

 

The Algorithm

It wasn't always like this.

The screens. The scrolling.

We had the sky and at night the stars would come out.

You could see them back then.

That was before the algorithm and everything that came with it.

We didn't even know what an algorithm was. 

The same way we didn't have the internet.

For awhile it was good, it made things easier.

But we didn't know what it would turn into.

Little by Little

Motorcycle Diaries

Third Eye Blind performing at the Minna Art Gallery in San Francisco

Third Eye Blind is Steph's favorite band. She's always liked them. The lead singer, Stephan, had a Bill Murray vibe about him—super self-aware and dry. He made jokes about San Francisco and called other bands sellouts as they played for a small room of investors and tech startups. It was subtle, perfectly timed and very funny. He seemed genuinely amused by the audience and the scene. At the same time, he was very gracious for the opportunity. I was invited backstage after the show to meet him, and he was VERY cool. 

Everyone knows Third Eye Blinds bangers, Semi-Charmed Life, Jumper, How's It Going to Be... but my favorite song by far is Motorcyle Diaries. It reads like a beautiful poem.

I made several How's It Going to B2B jokes.  

Brain ROT

Phones and social media have been compared to cigarettes in terms of addiction.

I think we'll find out they are MUCH, MUCH worse.

Especially when it comes to brain development.

Children are spending more time online than offline, making it increasingly challenging for them to differentiate between what is real and what is not (we see this in adults, too; remember the Qanon movement?). This cognitive dissonance is leading to more depression and anxiety. 

Although there are a lot of factors here, I think the root cause (in addition to poor parenting) is clear. It's social media.

Social media platforms have been weaponized with algorithms that study habits and vulnerabilities to generate engagement (at all cost). So kids, with their brains not fully developed, spend all day mindlessly scrolling through memes and videos that gradually erode their cognitive abilities, alter their thoughts, and change their behavior. Prolonged exposure to this brain-rotting sensory overload shit distorts their perception of reality and diminishes intelligence. Test scores are waaaaay down, and I think we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg here.

We should have been more concerned when kids were eating Tide Pods or killing each other because of Slender Man. These were warning signs that we all ignored.

***UPDATE***

On June 17, Surgeon general calls for social media warning labels [link]. Nice to see at least something being done... although it might be too little too late.

Offline Experiences

Future brands will be built almost entirely offline.

Offline experiences will be a new luxury.

Direct mail correspondence. Obscured website links. 

No Instagram. No online following. No social footprint.  

Word of mouth. Invite only. Impossible to research. 

"Professional Managers"

There is absolutely NOTHING worse than people who actually WANT to manage other people.  

The bigger the company gets, the more these types of people start showing up. They typically are NOT BUILDERS and they seem to spend more time in meetings, managing up, and sending emails that nobody reads. They don't make build anything... they just... "manage." They share biiiiiiiiiiig visions and spend most their time talking about the vision, presenting the vision, and hiring large teams to execute the vision... but the vision never happens because the vision requires a lot of work and not just a bunch of delegation. The bigger the vision the more work is required. And a lot of work requires people to actually be motivated and inspired to do the work... Very few people are inspired by people who just delegate all day long. People are inspired by leaders who work really, really hard.

Nuclear Power

Compute power and energy constraints — nuclear energy will be the only answer.

World Famous Sonny James

Ralph Lauren & Wabi-Sabi

 This shirt, I bought at Kmart. This is living proof of what I believe in. I love the aging of it, I love the rips, I love it all. And I didn't design it? I didn't design it. I assumed it was No, I happen to like this because it's the one that I have memories of. And how come you chose it for this conversation today?

I want it to look great.

The wear and tear of things represents memories and can make something more interesting. We always want to repair any rips, scratches, or stains. I've struggled with this forever, but there is a lot to learn about embracing the beauty that comes with imperfection. 

David Lynch Visualizes How Transcendental Meditation Works

Mexico 2024

Waxahatchee ft. MJ Lenderman (LIVE on The Late Show)

Signed Business Card by Steve Jobs Sells for 181K

Extremely rare, perfectly graded Steve Jobs-signed Apple Computer business card from circa 1983 (via rrauction.com):

Highly coveted circa 1983 Apple Computer business card of Steve Jobs, which is signed neatly in black ink, “steve jobs.” The off-white card, ​​3.5 x 2, features the iconic 'rainbow' version of the Apple 'byte' logo and reads: “Steven Jobs, Chairman Board of Directors,” with the company's address and contact information listed below: “10260 Bandley Drive, Cupertino, California 95014, (408) 996-1010.” In fine condition, with a faint stain on the front from an old tape stain on the back. Encapsulated and graded by PSA/DNA as "GEM MT 10."

Prior to this sale, RR Auction has offered a total of 10 Steve Jobs business cards, with just one dating to circa 1983. This offered Apple Computer business card represents our second from that elusive time frame, but it is made exponentially rarer by the presence of Jobs’s bold, neatly placed signature. Less than five Jobs-signed Apple Computer business cards—from any period—have successfully passed PSA/DNA authentication.

🎶 Music: Waxahatchee & MGMT

This new Waxahatchee album is very good. But there is one song on the album that is legitimately an INSTANT CLASSIC! 

🎶 Waxahatchee featuring MJ Lenderman – Right Back to It

MJ Lenderman also plays in the band, Wednesday, which I previously wrote about here. 

Also worth listening to... the new MGMT. Good album, not as good as Dark Age, but still good. The song linked below is incredible. Feels like an arena song you would have heard Queen play.

🎶 MGMT featuring Christine and The Queens – Dancing in Babylon

DON.EARTH Spring Report (1/8): Carhartt Jackets

***UPDATE***

Just 8 days after this was posted, JJJJound posts a Carhartt collaboration:

 

Taste Matters

"Use data to reinforce decisions. But don’t let data or people tell you what is or isn’t cool. No one actually knows. Make stuff you’re proud of. Stuff that you think is cool. Your taste is entirely unique. Let your taste steer your decisions. You’d be surprised how many people will begin trusting you once you begin making stuff you are proud of."

AI & The Inevitable Nuclear Power Debate

All this Generative AI (LLM and image generators) requires a shit ton of computing power which leads to insane energy consumption. As more and more people begin using these technologies/services, the demand for energy will exponentially increase. Think about how fast the internet was adopted. At first only a few people knew how to use it... but fast-forward a few years, and everyone was on it and understood the value. AI will be the same. We know it's gonna change everything. What I am most interested in is how it's gonna shape other markets, for example, what it's done to chipmaking and NVIDIA's valuation. 

These AI companies will NOT be able to meet the power demands while adhering to their carbon reduction pledges... the only answer will be NUCLEAR REACTORS. I anticipate that we will see intense debate surrounding nuclear power beginning next year. At the same time, we will see a race for companies to get U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval to develop Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). So far, just one company, NuScale has been approved (12,000 page application and 2 million pages of supporting materials).

For a long time, I have thought nuclear energy just needed to be repositioned (A GOOD REBRANDING!) and now is the perfect opportunity. AI will pave the way for us to reconsider nuclear energy.