(Not) boring finds for November 2015

Our team comes across hundreds of weird and wonderful reads in our daily research. Below are the handful that stood out for us last month.

Not everything below is technically about investing—but everything relates back to investing or decision-making in some way.

Markets

Why asking when the Fed will raise interest rates is the wrong question
Mawer’s Paul Moroz tells the Globe and Mail why asking about the timing of interest rates might be the wrong question to ask now.

As China’s workforce dwindles, the world scrambles for alternatives
The Wall Street Journal has put out a series of insightful, interesting articles on the subject of demographic trends. The piece on China is particularly interesting.

A wealth of common sense – Playing the probabilities
“Investors should always think in terms of probabilities, never guarantees. What this data tells me is that the longer your time horizon, the higher your probability of seeing a gain in the stock market.”

Five Myths About the Chinese Economy
Five arguments against all the pessimism around China.

The Economist: Why the oil market is behaving normally
Only rarely have there been times when the oil market behaved like a typical market that is subject to the laws of supply and demand rather than the whims of a cartel. Now is one of them.

Videos/Podcasts

Meru
Three of the world’s best climbers take on the Shark’s Fin at Mount Meru, 21,000 feet above the Ganges River. Known as the “anti-Everest,” Meru has long defeated the world’s best climber’s, earning it the reputation as the most complicated and dangerous peak in the Himalayas. This movie has so many stunning visuals that it simply blows the mind. If you love the movie, you can follow it up with an interview from climber and photographer Jimmy Chin on this Tim Ferriss podcast.

The moral bias behind your search results: why an unbiased search result is a philosophical impossibility (TEDxOslo - 9 minutes)
“ …behind every algorithm is always a person, a person with a set of personal beliefs that no code can ever completely eradicate. And my message goes out not only to Google, but to all believers in the faith of code around the world. You need to identify your own personal bias. You need to understand that you are human and take responsibility accordingly.”

Prediction, polymaths and the surprisingly awesome

Economists, biologists and Skrillex on how to predict the future
Eight experts weigh in on their thoughts around prediction.

Specialization, polymaths and the Pareto Principle in a Convergence Economy
Is now the time for a renaissance of the “Renaissance Man?”

Eight things I’ve learned from Judd Apatow (Part 1)
“If you control the inputs, you can determine the outcomes, give or take some luck. Eat right, exercise, think positively, learn as much as possible, and stay out of jail, and good things can happen.”