Welcome to this week’s edition of The Vibe! Have you checked out our podcast, The Vibe Unplugged yet? If not, give our latest episode a listen here, and let me know what you think.
As a former history teacher, I’m fascinated by remarkable individuals throughout the ages. I have often pondered what makes extraordinary people so extraordinary. What common threads bind the rare visionary minds that surface across vastly different eras, fields, and endeavors? Examining the lives and legacies of Steve Jobs, Thomas Jefferson, and Aristotle offers us some insight. Though separated by thousands of years, these exceptional thinkers exhibited key shared traits that fueled their revolutionary impact.
Visionaries like Jobs, Jefferson, and Aristotle possessed groundbreaking imaginative thinking, seeing possibilities where others saw only dead-ends. Jefferson penned the iconic words “all men are created equal” when equality was still an unimaginable concept for most of humanity. Aristotle, through his Lyceum school and scientific classification system, pioneered early foundations of the scientific method. Jobs, unveiling the first Macintosh computer and iPhone, presaged personal technology decades before its advent. Each recognized emerging needs and opportunities in their cultural milieu, demonstrating the profound creativity necessary for transformative innovation.
Equally vital was their demonstration of intrepid leadership to actualize those visions against often fierce opposition. Jefferson’s commitment to liberty cost his reputation during the writing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Aristotle, whose comprehensive worldview integrating physics, biology and ethics broke new ground during his age, saw his works banned for centuries during the medieval era. Jobs’s early firing from Apple and many professional setbacks never deterred his resilience. All three leveraged their personal passion and persuasiveness to eventually win widespread endorsement of their goals.
Their interdisciplinary, holistic perspective was another critical asset for their versatility and flexibility. Jefferson drafted early plans for universities like the one he founded, the University of Virginia, to teach broad curricula fusing fields like astronomy, ethics, grammar, geography and politics. Aristotle pioneered classification systems for both organisms and constitutions based on natural logical groupings rather than artificial constraints. True to this integrative spirit, Jobs drew deeply from his calligraphy class at Reed College to design the first Macintosh fonts, demonstrating far-reaching applications of ideas across contexts.
The seminal influence of these extraordinary individuals over successive eras underscores the lasting power of their work. Nearly 2,500 years after his death, Aristotle remains one of the most cited scholars in modern academic journals. Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence continues to inspire freedom movements worldwide today. And over a decade following his death, Jobs’s technological vision still dominates global culture through the iPhone’s omnipresence. Each dramatically shaped the trajectory of the future innovations built upon their foundations.
Finally, an uncompromising commitment to excellence and perfection crucially fueled their boundary-breaking standards. Jobs demanded new iPhone prototypes be developed until each detail met his expectations. Jefferson spent years architecting and re-architecting early government, keenly focused on constructing an enlightened republic. Aristotle wrote prolifically to codify his meticulous observation of animals, ethics and philosophy. No frontier was too formidable or standard too unreachable for these ambitious pioneers.
The remarkable achievements of visionaries like Steve Jobs, Thomas Jefferson, and Aristotle were fueled by their unique blend of innate talent and universally relatable experiences. Their legacies teach us that greatness is within reach if we're willing to challenge conventional wisdom, adopt new perspectives, and continuously refine our ideas. Consider the potential for innovation when we venture into unfamiliar territory or engage with people whose views differ from our own. This openness can spark groundbreaking ideas, which we can further explore through playful experimentation and prototyping, transforming nascent concepts into concrete solutions. Each setback provides valuable lessons, much like Jobs' relentless pursuit of perfection with Apple's lineup, or Jefferson's painstaking revisions of the Declaration of Independence. These examples encourage us to embrace obstacles as opportunities to rethink our approach. Maintaining enthusiasm for the creative process itself fuels the perseverance needed for exceptional achievement. By drawing lessons from history and maintaining a questioning attitude towards the present, we equip ourselves with the essential tools for shaping the future. We all possess the potential to harness our determination and creativity to make a lasting impact. Be extraordinary.
Artificial Imagination 🌌
This mesmerizing black hole I conjured up using MidJourney looks like a portal to another dimension, a hypnotic vortex beckoning toward unknown adventures. I've always been enthralled by these gravitational gluttons that gobble up light itself. Though this digital whirlpool could likely shred me like cosmic coleslaw, part of me is curious to take the gamble and travel through it to some distant corner of the galaxy as an enlightened, time-bending astronaut.
This is not an actual photo, but one that was totally A.I. generated using a prompt that I created with MidJourney 🤯
Vibe Hack 🏨
Skipping the formal hotel check-out process is the new time-saving chic. In an era where efficiency reigns supreme, most hotels have embraced technology to let guests vanish into thin air at the end of their stay. Just like leaving a party without saying goodbye, you can slip out with your luggage in tow, confident that any loose ends will be tied up digitally. It’s a seamless transition from hotel guest to onward adventurer, proving that sometimes, the old Irish goodbye is the most stylish exit strategy.
My Weekly Vibe
Music: If you're looking to be swept away by epic, emotional music, the Hans Zimmer station on Spotify is a must-listen. Featuring powerful scores from films like Interstellar, Gladiator, and The Dark Knight, Zimmer's compositions will give you chills with their sweeping strings, thundering drums, and melancholic piano. From soaring adventure to heart-wrenching drama, a journey through the Hans Zimmer station is a masterclass in cinematic soundtrack creation that will have you feeling all the feels. So put on your headphones, close your eyes, and let Zimmer's magical, grandiose arrangements carry you to another world.
Movie: Speaking of Hans Zimmer, one of my all-time top ten films featuring the powerful convergence of my favorite actor, director and composer is Inception. With Leonardo DiCaprio’s emotional lead performance, Christopher Nolan’s masterful direction, and Zimmer’s exhilarating score, Inception takes you on a spectacular journey exploring the creative yet fragile potential of dreams. If you're looking for an incredibly original blockbuster that combines smart twists with popcorn entertainment, Inception delivers at every turn.
Money: I just started using the budgeting app Rocket Money and was shocked to see how many unused subscriptions I'm paying for every month. This intelligent personal finance tool provides insights into my spending through automated bank connections, allowing me to easily identify recurring charges across all my accounts. With just a few taps I can cancel unwanted memberships that are quietly draining my accounts, plus Rocket Money offers handy budgets that help me save towards goals. I highly recommend Rocket Money if you want to easily visualize your finances and maximize savings by discovering forgotten subscriptions.
Food: Rachel and I wore our stretchy pants this weekend to fully indulge at Philly's famous foodie paradise known as Reading Terminal Market. From sinfully rich baked goods to cheesesteaks that made our cholesterol rise just looking at them, this indoor smorgasbord packs over eighty vendors into one appetite-inducing space fit for only the most ambitious of food lovers. As we waddled contentedly from stand to stand, belts loosened, we realized this lively market joyously celebrates two of our favorite things—eating and people watching. If your idea of a perfect day involves stuffing yourselves silly on everything from Amish crispy chicken to gourmet crème brûlée, then make a pilgrimage to Reading Terminal Market for a taste of Philly's eclectic food culture (and then hit the gym 😂).
Reading Terminal Market | 📸 cred: visitphilly.com
Weekly Muse
"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream." – Edgar Allen Poe
Real Estate
The Federal Reserve has been steadily raising interest rates over the last couple of years, leading to a marked jump in mortgage rates. They paused these hikes a few months back, providing hope for lower rates in the future. Rates for 30-year fixed mortgages have gone from around 3% in early 2022 to over 8% in October of 2023. This impacts home buyers significantly through higher monthly payments and reduced buying power.
However, many experts believe the Fed will pivot and actually start lowering rates in the second half of 2024. If this happens, mortgage rates are likely to dip as well, and may even creep into the 5% range. The expectation of looser Fed policy typically causes longer-term rates like mortgages to fall in anticipation.
What does it mean for home buyers and the housing market when rates fall again? Expect increased competition, more bidding wars for homes, and rising prices once again after years of rapid home price appreciation. The additional buying power from lower rates will unleash a wave of renewed demand, especially from first-time home buyers who got priced out over the past year or two. We could see housing market dynamics that may even resemble the cutthroat competition of 2020 and 2021.
Essentially, if you have the means to buy a home now and can stomach the higher interest rate, it may end up saving you money in the long run versus trying to buy later in 2024 or 2025. You’ll face less competition, negotiate better on prices, and can always refinance down the road when rates drop back into the 5% range. Waiting too long comes with the risk of being in a bidding war again and spending 5-10% more on the same home.
Additionally, buying now gives you a chance to refinance for thousands in savings when mortgage rates fall. As an example, if you got a $300K mortgage today at 7-8% and rates eventually fall back to 5.5%, you could potentially refinance into a 5.5% rate and reduce your monthly payments by $500+ per month. That's $6,000+ in annual savings and tens of thousands over the course of the loan.
In hot markets, it rarely makes sense to try and time interest rates perfectly or wait indefinitely for them to bottom out. Appreciation and housing demand outpaces small rate differences most of the time. The best time to buy is when you find the right home at a price you feel comfortable with based on current rates and your budget.
Owning a home remains one of the best ways to build long term wealth through equity and appreciation. Timing mortgage rates right can save money but is difficult to predict. But buying at slightly higher rates now while home prices and competition is lower could put you way ahead in the long run versus chasing marginal rate differences. The housing market rarely lines up perfectly for all factors. Sometimes you have great rates but bidding wars and prices that are too high, or decent prices but rates that seem high.
Focus on finding the right home for your needs and budget. Take advantage of moderating prices and competition now rather leaving it to chance later that rates and housing inventory will improve together. If rates do fall over the next several months as projected, you’ll have built additional equity and can refinance into an even better rate than if you sit on the sidelines indefinitely.
In the voice of Will Ferrell as Mugatu in Zoolander…. “Listen up fashion disasters! This penthouse is hotter than Hansel's buns before a runway show. Fab views of Philly from every dang window. Prime location lets ya sashay those velour tracksuits right to my club. It's beautiful, magnific— dammit I mean magnificent! Strut your overpaid butt down here now and buy this hot property before it melts my precious face off!” (courtesy of Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty) *Disclaimer: this is a lovely listing and clearly just a bit of satire, so loosen up and enjoy*
Interesting Find
If your New Year's resolution was to finally wrangle the unruly beast that is streaming TV, this article from NPR throws you a rope. Recent years of price hikes, password crackdowns, and a swarm of new services have left audiences overwhelmed and budgets busted. But with some handy lassooing tips on bundling, tracking, and test driving streamers, you can steer through the messy adolescence of streaming without getting trampled. Saddle up for advice on the major players like Netflix and Hulu, plus a sample plan that won't break the bank so you can ride off into the streaming sunset.
📸 cred: techradar.com
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