T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 143

Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #143!

Here are some things I really like and that you might too.

Financial Independence/Work Life/Retirement Articles & Content

There is so much to rant about these days. Let’s go for the people who don’t believe facts-perhaps about Social Security (Humble Dollar) “A women said SS was a scam because the government hadn’t contributed its share – let that sink in.“

“Money Dysmorphia” Is Heavily Impacting People In Their 20s, 30s, And 40s. (Yahoo Finance) “…common signs of money dysmorphia include obsessively checking bank balances, avoiding financial discussions, comparison to others, having a distorted perception of wealth, fear of financial ruin, being overly critical of your financial decisions, and stressing over future finances.“

Video

A guy named Marcus Byrne asked “What if smartphones had existed back in the 1970s?”.  He then used various AI engines to make this retro-dystopian video.  Amazing technology, but also a depressing reflection of modern life.  And what an incredible song choice, probably Jim Croce’s best song taking on a whole new meaning.

The 1970s. What if smartphones had existed back then? The old VHS recordings of memories—your parents’ lifeless, soulless archive of absence.

Inspired by The Anxious Generation @JonHaidt

— Marcus Byrne (@Marcus_Byrne) March 20, 2025

What I’m Grateful For

That someone in Canada made a huge purchase of stickers from one of my online stores which netted me a big royalty.  I largely do graphic design for the love of designing, but it’s also nice to make some good coin here and there.

Lyrically Speaking

It’s not like I’ve got time on my side
It’s not like I’ve got time on my side
Who will testify
For our wasted lives

From “Our Wasted Lives” by The Thrills. 

The Thrills are an Irish band who were a really big deal in the early 2000’s, especially with music snobs.  Their debut album So Much For The City went platinum in the UK and Ireland and they appeared on the hit U.S. TV series “The OC”.  Their sound could be described as a throwback to late 60’s and early 70’s pop/rock, with thick harmonies and upbeat vibes.  Some even classify them in a genre called “sunshine pop” and as revivalists of the sounds of The Mamas and The Papas and The Association.  The Thrills made three full-length albums before they were dropped by their label in 2008 and are on “indefinite hiatus”.  I’d love to see them come back with another record.

As for the lyrics above, FIRE folks know the score.  Time is THE one non-renewable resource that matters the most.  Let’s not waste our lives in jobs we don’t like.  Take a different path.

Miscellaneous

A causal link between obesity and autoimmune disease – “A Mendelian randomization study provides compelling evidence that obesity may directly trigger autoimmune conditions.”

AI isn’t what we should be worried about – it’s the humans controlling it – “With some commentators raising the alarm over AI’s imminent capacity for chaos and destruction, I see the real issue being whether humanity has the wherewithal to channel this technology to build a fairer, healthier, more prosperous world.”

Animals Count and Use Zero. How Far Does Their Number Sense Go? – “Crows recently demonstrated an understanding of the concept of zero. It’s only the latest evidence of animals’ talents for numerical abstraction — which may still differ from our own grasp of numbers.”