Mediterranean people, generally speaking, just want to have fun.
It’s a Northern European phenomenon… directly attributed to Protestantism.. that prioritized work, structure, and committee governance over leisure. That mentality then transferred itself to the North American colonies and became deeply embedded in the American psyche.
This cultural package ultimately led to differences in institutions, education systems, trust in impersonal cooperation, and the timing and depth of industrialization. This is one of the important reasons the US became the global economic hegemon and why Northern European countries, in aggregate, are more productive than the southern ones. It has little to do with intelligence or sophistication and much more to do with cultural orientation toward work versus living.
You see this clearly in parenting.
In places like Greece, Spain, and southern Italy, you’ll often see adults out at 10 or 11pm on the plaza or at a restaurant, genuinely enjoying themselves while their kids run around playing in the background… and toddlers literally passed out on a bench, a chair, or in a stroller nearby.
Meanwhile, Americans and many Northern and Western Europeans put their children to bed promptly within a defined bedtime window, because the next day is structured, scheduled, and built around order, routine, and getting up on time.
One culture allows the present moment to stretch. The other organizes the present around the needs of tomorrow.
It’s all about “what’s next?” versus “experience now.”
That distinction explains a significant part… more than many people care to acknowledge… of the differences in productivity, power, and modern life in the West.
Independently of the success of this robot in particular, this feels like the right approach to home keeping robots.
I don’t want them to get in the way of the things I can enjoy doing, and that connect me with my family & friends.
I want them to handle the boring, repetitive chores in the background and forget that they are there.
After 18 months in stealth, dozens of prototypes, millions of real-home demonstrations, and one final all-nighter, we’re thrilled for you to say hello to Memo
Most overvalued seed/Series A cohort ever is racing for the fanciest office while the product…
well, let’s focus on the office.
Great time for real estate development?
How can I short people who post 'You can copy an entire startup with this tool' and then proceed to recreate the most generic landing page they have found
Last week, I met a former Marine who was solo traveling through Southeast Asia. One thing he said about his country still resonates in my mind:
"American politics have become American entertainment"
Cursor + Claude update in 48h... finally a day where my AI workflow can get a genuine boost
Latest announcements looked good on paper but changed nothing in my experience
Jameson @Lopp almost never does in person meetings as part of his security and privacy protocol.
My co-founder @recouso managed to secure a rare opportunity: a one-hour conversation with him in Lugano 🇨🇭
7 powerful lessons on privacy, security, and freedom from that conversation:
The man, the myth, the legend... Jameson Lopp.
Live on @X, the new episode of the CitizenX Podcast ↓
Enjoy @lopp talking about privacy, security, freedom, censorship, corporate surveillance, transhumanism, and #Bitcoin with @recouso
TIMESTAMPS
(0:00) Highlights and introduction
(2:15) Best tips for privacy and cybersecurity
(5:05) Most privacy-friendly countries for business incorporations
(6:58) Best states to incorporate in the US
(8:05) Why using cash and Bitcoin
(10:25) Lopp's favorite tools and companies
(11:11) Ad blockers
(11:28) Privacy credit card from @PrivacyHQ
(12:00) Private mailbox and @EarthClassMail
(13:38) VPNs and @mullvadnet
(14:07) Citizenship-based censorship
(15:10) Censorship-resistant protocols and freedom of speech
(16:10) Privacy tips when traveling abroad
(20:45) The future of biometrics
(23:10) The Sovereign Individual
(25:10) Citizenship-based taxation
(26:00) Safety tips for Bitcoin holders
(29:30) Nation-state Bitcoin adoption, El Salvador, and @nayibbukele
(30:45) How Casa @CasaHODL helps you secure your Bitcoin
(34:27) Self-custody, government seizures, and @saylor
(38:53) Best way to set up your Bitcoin Inheritance plan (46:00) Bitcoin inheritance taxes
(47:22) - How will Jameson leave his Bitcoin to his heirs?
(48:48) - On transhumanism and cryonics
7. Your privacy should matter to your trusted partner as much as it matters to you — if not more.
This commitment has shaped our entire approach to client service, from communication channels to data storage.
If you value your privacy, choose partners who share these values and back them with action.