Fabrice Grinda

  • Playing with
    Unicorns
  • Featured
  • Categories
  • Portfolio
  • About Me
  • Newsletter
  • AI
    • Pitch me your startup!
    • Fabrice AI
  • EN
    • FR
    • AR
    • BN
    • DA
    • DE
    • ES
    • FA
    • HI
    • ID
    • IT
    • JA
    • KO
    • NL
    • PL
    • PT-BR
    • PT-PT
    • RO
    • RU
    • TH
    • UK
    • UR
    • VI
    • ZH-HANS
    • ZH-HANT
× Image Description

Subscribe to Fabrice's Newsletter

Tech Entrepreneurship, Economics, Life Philosophy and much more!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Menu

  • EN
    • FR
    • AR
    • BN
    • DA
    • DE
    • ES
    • FA
    • HI
    • ID
    • IT
    • JA
    • KO
    • NL
    • PL
    • PT-BR
    • PT-PT
    • RO
    • RU
    • TH
    • UK
    • UR
    • VI
    • ZH-HANS
    • ZH-HANT
  • Home
  • Playing with Unicorns
  • Featured
  • Categories
  • Portfolio
  • About Me
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ
  • Fabrice AI
  • Pitch me your start up!
  • Privacy Policy
Skip to content
Fabrice Grinda

Internet entrepreneurs and investors

× Image Description

Subscribe to Fabrice's Newsletter

Tech Entrepreneurship, Economics, Life Philosophy and much more!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Fabrice Grinda

Internet entrepreneurs and investors

Month: March 2007

You must read Crimes against Logic

You must read Crimes against Logic

Jamie Whyte’s angry and witty rant against the rhetoric, faulty reasoning and misinformation we are subjected to from all sources is fascinating, enlightening and fun. The book is a quick read and will equip you with the tools you need to become a staunch defender of truth.

You can buy it at:
http://www.amazon.com/Crimes-Against-Logic-Jamie-Whyte/dp/0071446435/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-5283451-1587818?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174864371&sr=8-1

Author FabricePosted on March 25, 2007July 24, 2023Categories Books3 Comments on You must read Crimes against Logic

Morality in Primates

Morality in Primates

The New York Times had a very interesting article on morality in primates. As many primates display empathy, understand who has done them favors, display altruistic behavior and take into consideration the greater good of their group when resolving disputes, they are displaying some of the required building blocks for morality.

You can read the entire article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/20/science/20moral.html?ref=science

Author FabricePosted on March 22, 2007July 24, 2023Categories Interesting Articles2 Comments on Morality in Primates

Youtube: I told you so :)

Youtube: I told you so :)

In a previous post (http://www.fabricegrinda.com/?p=120), I mentioned that my biggest concern with the Google / Youtube deal was not the valuation, but copyright issues. Now that Viacom has sued Google for $1 billion, those fears seem validated.

That said, traditional media companies probably don’t want to alienate their viewers too much by refusing to embrace the web so chances are that they will settle for a large dollar amount plus a licensing deal.

I wonder how much of the $1.65 billion was put in escrow to be used against copyright claims…

Author FabricePosted on March 18, 2007July 24, 2023Categories Business Musings4 Comments on Youtube: I told you so :)

Happiness and the dangers of belief in the written word :)

Happiness and the dangers of belief in the written word :)

It’s interesting how gullible we humans are. If we read something or watch it in a documentary, we are more likely to believe it. Then there is the magic of Google. If you write enough on a topic, you start showing up in search results on the topic – regardless of how much you really know. Soon enough someone comes along taking you for an expert in the field and asks to interview you.

And so I was pleasantly surprised to be mistaken for an “International Expert on Happiness” and asked to answer a few questions. I started by telling my interviewer that she was up for a big disappointment if she thought I was an expert on happiness, but decided to play along.

I reproduce some of my answers below for your reading pleasure 🙂

How would you define happiness?

Happiness is an emotional or affective state that is characterized by feelings of enjoyment and satisfaction. As such, like being in love, you are either happy or not, but don’t necessarily know why – you just are. As a result, many people define happiness as things they do or have, as Charlie Brown does below:

HAPPINESS
From You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
(Clark Gesner)

Happiness is finding a pencil.
Sleeping in moon light.
Telling the time.
Happiness is learning to whistle.
Tying your shoe
For the very first time.
Happiness is playing the drum
In your own school band.
And happiness is walking hand in hand.

Happiness is two kinds of ice cream.
Knowing a secret.
Climbing a tree.
Happiness is five different crayons.
Catching a firefly.
Setting him free.
And happiness is being alone every now and then.
And happiness is coming home again.

Happiness is morning and evening,
Daytime and nighttime too.
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That’s loved by you.

Happiness is having a sister.
Sharing a sandwich.
Getting along.
Happiness is singing together
When day is through,
And happiness is those who sing with you.

Happiness is morning and evening,
Daytime and nighttime too.
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That’s loved by you.

However, while doing those things makes Charlie Brown happy – sometimes – they may not work for you.

What do you consider to be an important step toward happiness?

Despite what I said above there are clear deliberate steps you can take towards being happy.

Specifically:

  1. Don’t equate happiness with money.
  2. Don’t commute.
  3. Exercise regularly.
  4. Have lots of sex.
  5. Devote time and effort to close relationships.
  6. Pause for reflection, meditate on the good things in life (in other words be grateful).
  7. Seek work that engages your skills, look to enjoy your job.
  8. Give your body the sleep it needs.
  9. Don’t pursue happiness for its own sake, enjoy the moment.
  10. Take control of your life, set yourself achievable goals (in other words have goals).
  11. Have an optimistic attitude and outlook on life.

You might argue that things like “being grateful” are not easy to do, but even something as artificial as writing three good things that happened to you today in a notebook every day has been proven to work extremely well!

Do you believe it is possible for an individual to be truly content most of the time?

Absolutely! Many people are generally happy just because – based on a combination of their upbringing and genes. However, even if by default you were only of average happiness, you can take the 11 deliberate steps mentioned above to make you significantly happier.

Non-sequiturish conclusion: The average academic journal article is read by 7 people, including the author’s mom. Maybe the real experts should be writing blogs 🙂

Author FabricePosted on March 13, 2007April 9, 2025Categories Happiness9 Comments on Happiness and the dangers of belief in the written word :)

The Science of Happiness

The Science of Happiness

I recently came across an interesting article on the science of happiness in Harvard Magazine recounting the emergence of “positive psychology” as a field of study, its findings and the emergence of new research areas such as the study of joy instead of happiness.

Many of the findings will be familiar to the readers of my previous posts on happiness. However, a few of the research results were surprising such as the fact that having kids tends to slightly decrease happiness.

Here are two interesting paragraphs:

“Nobel Prize-winning psychologist and behavioral economist Daniel Kahneman of Princeton (see “The Marketplace of Perceptions,” March-April 2006, page 50) asked thousands of subjects to keep diaries of episodes during a day—including feelings, activities, companions, and places—and then identified some correlates of happiness. “Commuting to work was way down there—people are in a terrible mood when they commute,” Etcoff says. “Sleep has an enormous effect. If you don’t sleep well, you feel bad. TV watching is just OK, and time spent with the kids is actually low on the mood chart.” Having intimate relations topped the list of positives, followed by socializing—testimony to how important the “need to belong” is to human satisfaction.”

“Gilbert reconsiders his grandmother’s advice on how to live happily ever after: “Find a nice girl, have children, settle down.” Research shows, he says, that the first idea works: married people are happier, healthier, live longer, are richer per capita, and have more sex than single people. But having children “has only a small effect on happiness, and it is a negative one,” he explains. “People report being least happy when their children are toddlers and adolescents, the ages when kids require the most from the parents.” As far as settling down to make a living—well, if money moves you into the middle class, buying food, warmth, and dental treatment—yes, it makes you happier. “The difference between an annual income of $5,000 and one of $50,000 is dramatic,” Gilbert says. “But going from $50,000 to $50 million will not dramatically affect happiness. It’s like eating pancakes: the first one is delicious, the second one is good, the third OK. By the fifth pancake, you’re at a point where an infinite number more pancakes will not satisfy you to any greater degree. But no one stops earning money or striving for more money after they reach $50,000.”

Author FabricePosted on March 12, 2007August 23, 2023Categories Happiness6 Comments on The Science of Happiness

Inside Facebook is a fun, quick read that allows you to experience the startup spirit!

Inside Facebook is a fun, quick read that allows you to experience the startup spirit!

Reading the book, I felt like I was reading about the first two years of almost every startup I have been involved with. The names of the people and product were different, but the ethos and spirit was truly there. I suppose it’s partly that spirit that keeps me going back and starting from scratch over and over again!

The book’s self-help parts are annoying and the story would have been stronger if it focused only on Facebook, but that aside Inside Facebook, with its compelling characters and a story line on the way to fairy tale ending, is extremely fun and energizing!

Author FabricePosted on March 11, 2007August 4, 2023Categories Books, EntrepreneurshipLeave a comment on Inside Facebook is a fun, quick read that allows you to experience the startup spirit!

Why people believe in God

Why people believe in God

The NY Times just published a great article called “Darwin’s God” discussing why people believe in God. It’s a great complement to reading the enlightening and entertaining “The God Delusion.”

While there are some scientific debates, especially on the evolutionary components of religion, it seems that our three fundament mental frameworks and cognitive tools – agent detection, causal reasoning and theory of mind – predispose us to belief.

Read the full article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/magazine/04evolution.t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&pagewanted=all

Author FabricePosted on March 7, 2007July 18, 2023Categories Interesting Articles, Personal Musings1 Comment on Why people believe in God

Warren Buffet’s 2006 Letter to his Shareholders

Warren Buffet’s 2006 Letter to his Shareholders

I have been a fan of Warren Buffet’s letter to his shareholders for many years. It is clear, concise, honest, often funny, and provides insight into many matters outside of Berkshire Hathaway. The 2006 version is no exception to the rule.

You should also check out the full Berkshire Hathaway annual report at: www.berkshirehathaway.com

Author FabricePosted on March 4, 2007August 4, 2023Categories Business MusingsLeave a comment on Warren Buffet’s 2006 Letter to his Shareholders

Search

Recent Posts

  • The Meaning of Life
  • FJ Labs Q2 2025 Update
  • World of DaaS Conversation with Auren Hoffman: Diversified Portfolios, Secondary Sales & Dinner Parties
  • Episode 50: Venture Market Trends
  • Decoding the Future: AI, Venture Market & Marketplaces

Recent Comments

  • Ahmed Aladdin on The Meaning of Life
  • Ahmed Aladdin on The Meaning of Life
  • Germine Rose on The Meaning of Life
  • Fabrice on 2024: Amélie
  • Michael J on 2024: Amélie

Archives

  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • March 2006
  • February 2006
  • January 2006
  • December 2005
  • November 2005

Categories

  • Crypto/Web3
  • Books
  • Business Musings
  • Displays of Creativity
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Featured Posts
  • Year in Review
  • Life Optimization
  • FJ Labs
  • Decision Making
  • The Economy
  • Asset Light Living
  • Musings
  • Optimism & Happiness
  • Dogs
  • FJ Labs
  • Happiness
  • Interesting Articles
  • Interviews & Fireside Chats
  • Marketplaces
  • Movies & TV Shows
  • New York
  • OLX
  • Panels & Roundtable Discussions
  • Personal Musings
  • Playing with Unicorns
  • Plays
  • The Economy
  • Quotes & Poems
  • Speeches
  • Tech Gadgets
  • Travels
  • Video Games
  • Year in Review

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Pitch me your startup!
  • Home
  • Playing with Unicorns
  • Featured
  • Categories
  • Portfolio
  • About Me
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ
  • Fabrice AI
  • Pitch me your start up!
  • Privacy Policy
× Image Description

Subscribe to Fabrice's Newsletter

Tech Entrepreneurship, Economics, Life Philosophy and much more!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

>
This site is registered on wpml.org as a development site. Switch to a production site key to remove this banner.