Holiday Gift Guide

Tings Newsletter #25

If you’re new here: I’m Michael Karnjanaprakorn, the former founder of Skillshare and Otis. Now on a sabbatical, I’m exploring what's next and sharing my journey. I write a monthly newsletter about life, work, and random things. If someone forwarded this to you, subscribe along with 5K+ others here.

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1. I’m starting to feel the itch to build again. Not necessarily a venture-backed startup, but more around creating and experimenting—more like a side hustle to learn how to use all of the new AI tools, while having fun and tinkering with new ideas.

2. I interviewed Rick Foerster about finding meaning in life and work, and Andrew Connor (co-founder of Levels Health) about cultivating independent thinking. Both conversations got me thinking about how we engage with the world and its impact on personal growth.

3. On the health front, I’ve received so many emails about my essay on heart disease and Lipoprotein(a). It’s been humbling to hear how much it’s resonated with others dealing with similar challenges. My recent updates show progress, and I’m optimistic about treatment. If you’re curious, here’s a good summary from Dr. Paddy Barrett.

4. These new AI tools are incredible! You can now build apps where AI writes 80-90% (or more) of the code. Josh Mohrer built a $5M business as a first-time coder, and Tyler Tringas shipped a new app in a day, mostly using Cursor to write the code. Tools worth checking out include Replit, Cursor, Bolt, and Relume.

5. I tried Granola AI for a meeting, and the experience felt magical. It records meetings and compiles a summary with AI. As Sam Lessin puts it, “At this point, if you are on Zoom, you just have to assume you’re being recorded”. (Related: here’s a good essay from the founder on building useful AI products.)

6. For anyone looking for new business ideas, here’s some inspiration (though public lists like these tend to lead to hyper-competitive markets): Greg Isenberg’s biggest startup opportunities, YC’s request for startups, and a16z’s crypto and big ideas for tech. Personally, I like social apps designed for friend-to-friend communication, personalized learning, and stablecoins.

7. Kevin Dahlstron wrote about the “New American Dream” — sabbaticals, passion-driven identities, prioritizing family, natural highs, and FIRE (financial independence, retire early).

8. With the holidays are coming up, here’s a gift guide for kids: Kodak Pixpro Camera, Loog Guitar, Pokemon and Lorcana Starter Sets, Casio CT-S1 Keyboard, and Puro Headphones. And…. how cool is this?

9. For myself, here are a few of my best purchases this year: Sony FX30 camera, Sonos Sub Mini, Brooks Glycerin Max, Blundstone #585 Boots, Caraway non-stick ceramic baking sheet, Logitech MX Master 3S mouse, Anker 3-1 portable charger, Uppababy Alta V2 booster seat, Modkat cat scratcher, and Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe weekender bag (60D recycled poly is machine washable!)

10. And here are some charities worth supporting: World Central Kitchen (interview with the founder) and BeLoved Asheville for Hurricane Helene in Western NC. Other great ideas include your local animal shelter, children’s hospital, or something like the Bagel Fund and Inflection Grants.

11. I did some winter decluttering and sold my electronics through Backmarket, including my PS5, headphones, and old iPhones. The process was seamless — they gave me an instant offer, I shipped the items, and they paid me directly.

12. I’ve come across some good life advice recently: how to ruin your life as fast as you can, taking six shots on goal, and Sam Altman’s tips for life.

13. After seeing a viral video about a car insurance scam involving brake checks and reverse slams, I decided to buy a Garmin Mini 3 Dashcam.

14. I’ve been binging Patrick O’Shaughnessy’s interviews on Invest Like the Best. Favorites include The Art of Living Well (a must-listen), Building KITH, and Building MSCHF.

15. Another podcast worth checking out (and one of the most listened-to podcast interviews of 2024): How America’s Good and Healthcare Systems Were Compromised.

16. Ray Dalio warns of a modern civil war—“though it might not involve muskets”—marked by fractured states and widespread defiance of federal law. In June, he raised the odds to “uncomfortably more than 50 percent.” That statistic got me thinking: how would I prepare if things did fall apart? Here’s an interesting read: The Americans Prepping for a Second Civil War.

17. PSA: Avoid services that intentionally make it hard to cancel, like Carta and Range Finance. It took nearly two months to cancel my Range subscription (I wrote about my experience on X). (Tip: You can use Mercury Personal to cancel subscriptions.)

18. If you’re into 90s rock, here’s Sublime’s son performing live on the Howard Stern show. Speaking of 90s rock, can you believe it’s been 30 years since Glycerine came out?

19. Jamie Foxx's new comedy special, What Happened Was, is a must-watch. I've never laughed and cried so much in one special. He powerfully shares his story of bouncing back from a near-death experience.

20. When my coworkers ask why I don’t want to hang out after work.