Death of the Follower | Weekly NishIsHere — Issue 74
Mark Zuckerberg’s calculated move, the crisis of creativity and the math behind the world’s greatest trader.
Hi Friend!
Welcome to your dose of curated insights on Tech, Creator Economy, Pop Culture & Business — handpicked by Nish.
Curious minds, curated finds. That’s what brings over 2,000 readers like you to this newsletter each week. You’ll discover 4 must-see links plus my personal Thought, Photo, and Quote of the Week.
I’m Nishat Shahriyar (Nish), and I’m thrilled you’re here!
Let’s dive into Weekly NishIsHere’s issue 74:
- Hard questions to ask yourself
- Mark Zuckerberg’s rebrand: calculated or real?
- The crisis of creativity and “Death of the Follower”
- Next characters to enter the Public Domain
- Jennifer Connelly breaks down her career, from ‘Top Gun’ to ‘Labyrinth’
- How a mathematician became the greatest trader of all time
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♣ Thought of the Week
◘ Sit down and ask these two questions to yourself.
♣ Tech
◘ Mark Zuckerberg’s Rebrand: Calculated or Real?
The video questions the sudden, suspicious makeover of Mark Zuckerberg, from a shy CEO to an MMA fighter and waterskier. Is his new masculine image a genuine shift, or a calculated PR move to distract from Meta’s issues and strategically avoid government regulation?
♣ Creator Economy
◘ The Crisis of Creativity and “Death of the Follower”
Patreon CEO Jack Conte believes the internet is witnessing the “death of the follower,” which is a significant development for how creators connect with their fans. He points out in this video that the “Subscribe” button used to be extremely important, allowing creators to build loyal communities and real businesses based on solid support.
But now, modern platforms, obsessed with getting as much attention as possible through algorithms, have broken that direct link. This forces creators to compromise their artistic vision. Conte believes creators need to switch gears: the future is all about building strong, direct relationships with fans, focusing on deep community rather than just wide reach.
♣ Pop Culture
◘ Check out this infographic. These are the next characters to enter the Public Domain
Copyright protection for popular characters is expiring, offering new creative opportunities. Copyright generally lasts 95 years after a work’s publication.
The original Mickey and Minnie Mouse (Steamboat Willie versions) and characters like Winnie-the-Pooh are already in the public domain.
Upcoming entrants include:
- Popeye and Betty Boop (2025–2026)
- Goofy and Donald Duck (2028–2029)
- Disney’s Snow White (2032)
- Superman and Batman (2034–2035)
- The modern Disney Mickey Mouse (2037)
Get ready to see new takes on these classic characters as their legal protection ends!
◘ Jennifer Connelly Breaks Down Her Career, from ‘Top Gun’ to ‘Labyrinth’
Jennifer is a natural, so beautiful and articulate. One of the most beautiful actresses in the history of Hollywood.
Jennifer Connelly shared some behind-the-scenes stories in this video from her movie sets. She spilled on Jim Henson’s super creative ideas for Labyrinth and even talked about her disagreements with Jared Leto while filming Requiem for a Dream. Plus, get this: Tom Cruise apparently thought her first sailing scene in Top Gun: Maverick was a bit boring, so he pushed for a more action-packed reshoot to make her character shine!
♣ Business
◘ How a Mathematician Became the Greatest Trader of All Time
Jim Simons used his coding skills to become the greatest investor ever. If you are ever interested in stock or finance, you might like this video.
Jim Simons, a former Cold War code-breaker and academic, launched Renaissance Technologies and its legendary Medallion Fund, pioneering the quantitative trading revolution. Instead of gut feeling, Simons’ team of mathematicians and scientists relied on algorithms and massive data sets to exploit fleeting market inefficiencies, a strategy so potent it generated an astonishing average annual return of 66% for 30 years.
Today, this $27 billion billionaire is focused not on stocks, but on the stars. Through the Simons Foundation, he is funding a massive observatory to unravel the mysteries of the universe, proving he’s a master of more than just the market.
♣ Photo of the Week
◘ Check out this awesome shot! Astrophotographer Miguel Claro snagged this incredible image of the International Space Station (ISS) crossing right in front of the Sun.
♣ Quote of the Week
◘ Having a problem? But can’t find the solution. Write down the problems first.
Before You Go…
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Until next week, Nish
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Originally published at https://nishishere.substack.com.
Nishat Shahriyar, @CuriousNish
Hey! I am Nishat Shahriyar. You can call Me “NISH”
Welcome to my personal newsletter “Nish Is Here!”In this newsletter, I write about my interests, my reading lists, books, and what I’m watching. The vast majority of my interests relate to technology, creator economy, Pop Culture, and Business.
I am a profound reader. I love meeting new people, learning new things, and discussing new ideas.
