What I'm Reading This Week (2025/03.09-03.15)

Table of Contents

• Trends
• What I Am Reading
  • 1. Japan’s Gachapon Vending Machines Introduce Mini Server Kits
  • 2. OpenAI’s Product Director: 99% of Programming Will Be Automated This Year
  • 3. One-on-One Meetings in Data Science: From Project Reports to Career Growth

Trends

CZ and Heyi are replying to people who issue memecoins on BSC, trying to turn BSC into a meme token ecosystem similar to SOL.

Recently, a Malaysian Chinese KOL Wolfy_XBT rug-pulled a coin on BSC.

What I Am Reading

Quanzhou has a Liyuan Opera troupe that has been preserving Nanxi (Southern Opera) scripts dating back to the Song and Yuan dynasties. Within the troupe, the gushi (drum master) is responsible for teaching the plays—essentially acting as the director. Generation after generation, these drum masters have been illiterate, yet for over 800 years, they passed down the scripts purely through oral tradition.

After the founding of the People’s Republic, an official troupe was established locally, and the scripts stored in the mind of the then drum master were finally transcribed into written records—a staggering two million characters, including several plays that had already been lost elsewhere. This troupe has since become a living fossil of Chinese theater.

What’s interesting is that, in modern times, the troupe produced a top-tier playwright—well-versed in both Chinese and Western traditions—who not only created many new plays but also reconstructed several lost fragments. Over a decade ago, I attended their 60th-anniversary performance, where the couplet inscribed at the theater entrance read:

“薪尽火传八百年，返本开新一甲子。”

(“The fire continues for 800 years after the wood is spent; a cycle of sixty years, returning to the roots while forging ahead.”)

I find the phrase “薪尽火传” (literally “when the firewood is gone, the flame is passed on”) to be an incredibly vivid expression—it perfectly answers your question.

If you’re interested, I highly recommend “董生与李氏” (Dong Sheng and Madam Li), available on Bilibili. It’s a masterpiece by the late contemporary playwright Wang Renjie.

How brilliant is it? Well, Liyuan Opera follows the qupai (tune-based) structure, meaning writing lyrics for it is akin to composing classical Chinese poetry. To put it in perspective: imagine a modern poet using Song dynasty poetic forms to craft an entire play—one that is profound, witty, and humorous.

Even if you’re not well-versed in traditional culture, give it a try—at the very least, you’ll find yourself thinking:

握草，押韵！(Damn, that rhymes!)
握草，好笑！(Damn, that’s funny!)
握草，牛逼！(Damn, that’s genius!)

Honestly? It holds its own against Shakespeare.

1. Japan’s Gachapon Vending Machines Introduce Mini Server Kits

• In Japan, Gachapon vending machines now offer 19“ rack models containing mini Dell PowerEdge servers, Cisco, and A10 switches.
• The kit is priced at approximately $3.5.
• It includes a 1/12 scale plastic telecommunications rack, servers, and network device models that accurately replicate real components.
• Small plastic cables are also included to connect devices within the rack.
• Designed for collectors aged 15 and above, each device is modeled after real products from Dell, Cisco, A10 Networks, Furukawa Electric, and Fortinet.
• Components can be freely assembled, disassembled, and connected with different elements, featuring detailed replicas of Ethernet ports, cooling systems, extension cords, logos, ventilation slots, and more.

2. OpenAI’s Product Director: 99% of Programming Will Be Automated This Year

• OpenAI’s Product Director, Kevin Weil, stated in an interview on the Overpowered channel: “I believe that by the end of this year, 99% of programming will be automated.”
• Regarding GPT-5, he said: “I won’t disclose the exact release date, but it’s coming very soon. People are working hard on the new model, which will integrate the O-series and GPT.”
• The full version of O3 is also set to be released soon.
• OpenAI’s voice mode will receive an update.
• OpenAI is seriously considering entering the robotics field and plans to integrate AI into the physical world.

3. One-on-One Meetings in Data Science: From Project Reports to Career Growth

• How can you get the most out of one-on-one meetings?

• Regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings help maintain communication and address employee needs

  • Choose weekly or biweekly meetings depending on project pace
  • Even brief or informal meetings can help build connections and understand team members’ concerns

• Preparing for meetings

  • Maintain a shared document, updated weekly, to ensure effective discussions
  • Keep records of discussions to avoid missing important points and enhance accountability

• Typical discussion topics:

  • Reviewing achievements: Document recent accomplishments, such as data analysis insights that influenced product improvements or decisions
  • Current and future projects: Discuss task priorities, scheduling changes, and any obstacles while suggesting potential solutions
  • Career development: Focus on promotions, skill growth, or role transitions, with dedicated discussions recommended once a month
  • Feedback exchange: Employees should raise work-related concerns, while also seeking feedback on performance
  • Team and company goals: Ensure data analysis aligns with business objectives, such as optimizing customer retention strategies

• Example meeting plan:

  • Achievements: A/B test analysis, reward usage evaluation
  • Current tasks: Studying the impact of rewards on customer churn, optimizing a cost-monitoring dashboard
  • Other topics: Machine learning applications, feedback on cross-team collaboration

• Meeting records and follow-ups

  • Record key discussion points and add “action items” to ensure implementation

• The value of one-on-one meetings

  • By maintaining regular discussions and preparing meaningful topics, these meetings go beyond simple project updates
  • They foster career growth, improve team collaboration, and enhance individual visibility