The Deal Desk (blog)

December 14, 2024: A New Jersey map reveals an interesting detail from the early colonial history of America. The state has three natural water boundaries: the Hudson River and Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Delaware Bay to the south, and the Delaware River to the west. Then there is the northern border with New…

December 4,2024: I asked my thought partner if there is a a connection between the Oxford Dictionary 2024 word of the year “brain rot” and the Merriam-Webster’s 2024 word of the year “authentic”.   The answer (paraphrased): there is a growing interest on mental engagement and the quality of information consumed.  “Brain rot” highlights concerns about…

November 27, 2024: We spend a lot of time wondering what other people are thinking. Our brains evolved to understand the thoughts and feelings of others, essential for social relationships. We have become so skilled at thinking that we worry what other people are thinking. In essence, we put ourselves in someone else’s mind and…

November 19, 2024: The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which a person lacking knowledge or ability in a particular area tends to overestimate their understanding or competence. In essence, people affected by the Dunning-Kruger effect have an inflated perception of their knowledge or expertise in a subject or domain. They are unable to…

November 8, 2024: A Large Language Model (LLMs) is a type of AI system that predicts and generates human-like text based on the input it receives. It processes and analyzes patterns in language to provide coherent responses, such as answering questions and can even engage in complex conversations. So far, there hasn’t been much profit…

October 30,2024: The science behind Artificial Intelligence has been compared to Victor Frankenstein’s desire to transcend human limitations and achieve greatness. The doctor’s brilliance as a scientist led him on a quest to conquer death by constructing and reanimating a “creature” from human remains. He did not anticipate the unintended consequences. Thus, “Frankenstein” might be…

October 23, 2024: It’s generally believed that language emerged around 50,000 to 100,000 years ago. As soon as we started talking, creating metaphors became part of the conversation. Our prehistoric ancestors would have created metaphors from their interactions with their world: a raging river described as a swift, dangerous lion, the security of the clan…

October 15, 2024: Luck, either good or bad, begins with the circumstances of where and when we were born, who our parents were, and our inherent talents and abilities. It’s basically all the things that are beyond our control and influence but have a huge impact on our lives. Next, there are the fortunate or…

October 5, 2024: Recently, I spent a day at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home in Charlottesville, Virginia. I highly recommend the experience. A guided tour of his home, which he designed, sits on top of a hill (Monticello means small mountain), and a few hours at the nearby visitor center and museum provide a fascinating introduction…

September 29, 2024: On my last birthday, I marked off 66 years. Over the course of human history, I have enjoyed a significantly longer life than most people who were ever born. I do not take this cold fact for granted. “Going gray” has become a way to navigate the complexities of life. It’s better…