Recommended Weekend Reads

March 24 - 26, 2023

Here are our recommended reads from stories we saw in the last week. Also, our week's chart on how Wall Street picked for March Madness. Let us know your thoughts and if you or a colleague want to be added to our distribution list. Have a great week. 

·       “Nerds, Ninjas, and Neutrons: The Story of NEST (The Nuclear Emergy Support Team)” The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

This is the fascinating story of the obscure and slightly quirky unit in the Department of Energy that are the incident responders to any and all nuclear threats and possible disasters.

·       “Data and Devices: The Information We Share” RAND Corporation

RAND Mathematician Mary Lee describes the wide variety of personal data collected by smart devices and applications, such as smartwatches, brain implants, and period trackers.

·       “Chinese State Media Abroad: More Effective Than Expected” Center for Strategic and International Studies

Over the past two decades, China has become an increasingly active and important international actor. The country is a global power on the diplomatic stage, and increasing numbers of Chinese citizens, businesses, and government officials are shaping China’s image abroad. However, Chinese leaders may discover that global influence does not always correlate with popularity. Global surveys show that in recent years, negative attitudes towards China have risen, especially in developed and democratic countries.

·       “How a Tycoon Linked to Chinese Intelligence Became A Darling of Trump Republicans” The New Yorker

Miles Guo – also known by his Mandarin name, Guo Wengui—was at the center of a burgeoning scandal involving corruption and espionage. For nearly a decade, he had maintained a secret partnership with one of China’s most powerful spymasters, an intelligence officer named Ma Jian, who had recently been arrested by his own government. Caixin, a Chinese investigative news organization, reported that Ma and Guo had used surveillance, blackmail, and political influence to amass fortunes and evade scrutiny. He also joined Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s club in Palm Beach, Florida, and became an associate of Steve Bannon, President Trump’s former chief strategist.

Chart of the Week: Wall Street and March Madness

We all see the voluminous research reports from Wall Street trying to pick winners and losers in the markets. But who does Wall Street think will win the NCAA Mens Basketball Championship? Nearly 40 percent picked the University of Alabama, while the rest picked (in order) the University of Houston, Purdue University (which has been eliminated), and Duke University (also eliminated).