Juan David's Newsletter - November 28, 2021
Our Modern Day Obsession, Rocky For Engineers, and Signing with Integrals
Hi everyone,
Last week, I went home because of Thanksgiving break.
The most exciting part was working on a project I thought of one afternoon at 1:52 PM and having my first paid customer (it wasn’t my mom, ok?) at 6:59 PM on the same day.
By the following morning, I had already built the landing page using that customer’s money. Nothing feels better than building something and getting someone to believe in it and give you green paper in exchange.
It’s still scrappy (and hilarious). But now, I’m back in school and finals are here. I’ll try to share it at some point when I get it to fully and reliably work.
Curiosities are back this week!
Curiosities 🥊🧘♂️✍️
1. Rocky for Engineers
I watched a movie that Balaji described as the “Rocky for Engineers,” and man I have to tell you, it’s been the best movie I’ve watched in recent years.
The movie is called is Super 30, and it’s about the story of a genius and poor Indian mathematician who solves an unsolvable problem and gets into Cambridge. What comes after is not what you may expect but shows a courageous human spirit to help others and achieve the unachievable.
An inspiring story as he helps 30 impoverished kids every year to get into the IIT (Indian Instititude of Technology). For some background, IIT has an acceptance rate of 2% of a pool of about 500,000 students.
Lastly, the reason why the movie is so good is because it’s the antithesis of the West and America’s BS with stuff like Black Mirror, which portray science and engineering as bad and scary.
This movie shows the opposite. It glorifies STEM as the path to prosperity, liberty, and well-being.
2. A Signature with Integrals
What an interesting signature (and quite mathy) too!
Here’s the question for you:
How many integrals can you find? Any other math things?
If you’re curious, this is Gauss’s signature. He was one of the most influential mathematicians ever, meaning if you’re an engineering/science student, this guy will show up for you everywhere. Make Gauss your friend!
3. Two Quotes
I’m reading this 1800’s Russian novel. So far, I’m impressed with such good quotes. I find myself stopping and thinking about them for hours, and even days.
“There was no answer, except the general answer life gives to all the most complex and insoluble questions. That answer is: one must live for the needs of the day, in other words, become oblivious”
Excerpt From: Leo Tolstoy. “Anna Karenina.”
Here’s the second one:
“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
Excerpt From: Leo Tolstoy. “Anna Karenina.”
This is how Tolstoy starts the book. First words in the first chapter. I’ve never seen a better hook.
Pick one, and reply to this email with what you think it means. If we get enough responses, I’ll compile a list and will send it next week.
4. The Most Driven People
and they’re never defined by skills.
5. Our Modern Day Obsession
Is it our phones and social media? Is it narcissm? Is it mental diseases?
What is it? Focusing inward.
What does that mean?
Today, a lot of our culture in movies, music, and media in general, teaches us self-love is the path to happiness. In other words, people spend so much time focusing on what’s good and best for them.
Yet, this may cause a lot of depression and anxiety. Perhaps, the best way out of depression for many people is to lose themselves in doing good for the benefit of others.
Want a pointer? The movie, Super 30, is one of the best examples
Learn more about our modern day obsession, here.
Thank you for reading, and I can’t wait to talk to you again next week!
If we haven’t already, become my online friend on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Until Next Week,
Juan David Campolargo