Chip Wars
I’ve spent over 25 years in Silicon Valley, starting my career at VLSI Technology in San Jose creating specialized silicon chips called ASICs. With my background in electronics, I thought I knew a bit about the history and business of silicon, including how this area became Silicon Valley.
In Silicon Valley on the Couch, Malcolm Gladwell explores why William Shockley, inventor of the transistor, winner of the Nobel Prize, father of Silicon Valley, set up shop in the Bay Area.
Shockley didn’t invent the transistor in Northern California. He invented it in New Jersey, at the famous Bell Labs in Murray Hill, about 10 miles outside of Newark. Then he left Bell Labs and took a teaching job at Caltech in Pasadena, just outside of Los Angeles. And after a stint there and a stint at the Pentagon, he decides to strike out on his own. He lines up a wealthy backer. He starts a company called Shockley Semiconductor, and he recruits the best and the brightest from all around the country. Everyone comes from somewhere else to a Quonset hut on 391 San Antonio Road in Mountain View.
But why Mountain View, CA?
The telegram is addressed to Mrs. W.H. Shockley 261 Waverly Street, Palo Alto. Let me read that to you again, in case you missed it. 261 Waverly Street, Palo Alto, California. William Shockley’s mother, May Shockley, lived in Palo Alto. You could walk from her house to 391 San Antonio Road, where Shockley so mysteriously chose to launch his revolution. Why did the Santa Clara Valley become the birthplace of the computer age? Because someone wanted to be close to mom.
However, reading Chris Miller’s ‘Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology’ revealed significant gaps in my knowledge. The book introduced me to crucial figures, places and companies I’d never encountered.
For example, Jack Kilby, working at Texas Instruments, is as key to the invention of the integrated circuit, as Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor.
After being passed over for CEO at Texas Instruments, Morris Chang moved to Taiwan and founded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Today, TSMC produces the world’s most advanced chips for Apple, Nvidia, and others - making it crucial to both Taiwan’s economy and security. Morris Chang is considered the father of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry.
But there are so many more characters I didn’t know: John Bardeen, Patrick Haggerty, the Parkinsons, and Irwin Jacobs.
The book also covers big failures, such as Zelenograd, and surprising successes, like, San Diego’s Cymer.
This book is much more than a history of the transistor. It puts the recent headlines about the trade war with China in context.
“US announces new export controls on China’s chip industry”
“China hits out at latest US effort to block Beijing’s access to chip technology”
“US to Launch a Third Crackdown on China’s Chipmakers”
“China warns it will take action if US implements new chip control measures”
This is a big deal to especially China, the USA, and surely Taiwan. As long as Taiwan produces the world’s most advanced silicon, it is relatively safe from China.
“Semiconductors had become the new oil - a crucial resource without which the modern economy couldn’t function.”
“Beijing’s semiconductor ambitions weren’t simply about economic efficiency. They were about political control.”
The timing of this book is impeccable. It is the guide to a major trade conflict happening before our eyes.
December 4, 2024
The Accidental Athlete: Trading Happy Hours for Healthy Miles
My healthy-lifestyle journey has unfolded like a gradual awakening over the past eight years.
Around 2018, I joined Hash House Harries, humorously known as A Drinking Club With A Running Problem. What started as casual social runs with beer stops evolved into a genuine passion for running, leading me to complete several 10Ks and a half marathon. (That full marathon training plan still sits on my nightstand, a reminder of adventures yet to come.)
The pandemic became an unexpected catalyst for change. I went back to my true love, cycling. I discovered the freedom of gravel biking and joined a training group. Two years later, I found myself completing an epic 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Since then, I’ve logged many thousands of miles in the saddle. It is great physical and mental exercise.
My commitment to fitness deepened last year when I joined a gym within running distance from home. Now, three to five times weekly, you’ll find me either pumping iron, gliding through lap lanes, or pushing through high-energy spin classes.
The evolution of my eating habits paralleled my fitness journey. I transitioned to a pescatarian diet, mastering the art of creating flavorful legume-based dishes. Beef, pork, and chicken have become distant memories, replaced by a vibrant array of pescatarian options that keep my palate excited and my body energized.
Inspired by Mark Suster’s weight loss journey, I embarked on what was supposed to be a one-month alcohol-free experiment last November. That month stretched into a 100-day challenge, which has now flourished into a full year without a single beer, wine, or cocktail.
One year sober — a milestone I never initially set out to achieve.
The journey continues, fueled by unexpected benefits: clearer thinking, abundant energy, and better sleep. Yes, I sometimes face puzzled looks, especially from my Belgian family, where beer is practically a cultural cornerstone.
It has been a fun ride with lots of new beverages. There are quite a few non-alcoholic “spirits”, and a vast selection of non-alcoholic beers. Non-alcoholic beers have been on the rise.
What started as curiosity has transformed into a lifestyle choice I’m not eager to abandon. Each step of this journey — from those first Hash House Harrier runs to my current alcohol-free path — has taught me something valuable. And perhaps that’s the most intoxicating discovery of all: the joy of continuous learning and growth.
November 29, 2024
Since last year, I am a volunteer bike marshall for various running events in the Bay Area: the Oakland Marathon, the San Francisco Ultra Marathon, and the Berkeley Half Marathon.
Unfortunately, being the bike marshal does not involve any silver star. Equipped with a radio, our job is to be the ears and eyes of the organization on the course. We typically ride with the lead male and female runners. We relay the mile markers where they are in the race. We call back about hazards, such as cars that entered the parkour, or runners that jump into other lanes.
It is stressful when cars enter the parkour, or when the cones or fences are misplaced. Runners call out “Where to?”. You don’t want to mess up their personal best or qualification chances for a bigger race.
It is also a lot of fun. The crowd not only cheers on the runners, they also love the bike marshals. And you get to ride on a closed circuit in the cities.
This past weekend, I was the bike marshal for the Berkeley Half Marathon. This run takes you to UC Berkeley Campus, into the hills, and along the Bay. The pace is fast as it is only a half marathon. And there are some hills, so you must anticipate the climb as runners tend to catch you on the hill.
While I didn’t do any hard rides this weekend, I did do some low intensity rides through Berkeley, both on Saturday and Sunday. My Garmin counted them as “Recovery”.
Looking forward to more cold weather rides and hoping that the upcoming atmospheric river heading to the Bay Area doesn’t ruin my plans in the coming week.
My fundraising is taking off too: I reached $500.
November 18, 2024
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Silicon Valley History on a Map
Stanford’s Rodin Sculpture Garden and Google’s outdoor art installations have become must see destinations in the Bay Area.
Yet, do you know where it all started? Do you know where Shockley created his semiconductor company, or why it was in Mountain View? Where was the Jobs’ garage, the HP shed, or the Zuckerberg house from the Social Network movie?
I put a few of these places on a map.
November 3, 2024
Fenix 8 Impressions
After a month with the Garmin Fenix 8 watch, I want to share my impressions. While this isn’t meant to be a comprehensive review — DC Rainmaker already provides unmatched in-depth coverage. I’ll focus on my transition from the Apple Watch ecosystem and whether the Fenix 8 lived up to its premium price tag.
(Image credit: DC Rainmaker)
I opted for the 47mm AMOLED Sapphire Titanium model with a Spark Orange/Graphite Silicone Band. The watch size fits my wrist perfectly, though I needed to adjust the default font size during initial setup for better readability.
For athletes and data enthusiasts, this watch excels in ways that distinguish it from the Apple Watch. The morning reports have become part of my daily routine, offering insights through features like body battery monitoring and training readiness assessments. The coaching capabilities — including daily workout suggestions, sleep coaching, and Pace Pro — have genuinely enhanced my training.
The user interface and watch face takes a bit getting used to. I recently changed from the default watch face to Radial Precision, which displays my essential metrics: body battery, heart rate, stress level, steps, endurance score, temperature range, battery level, and date.
To better understand the watch’s extensive features, I uploaded the manual to NotebookLM, though I’m still discovering new capabilities, particularly in mapping for hiking.
The most striking improvement over my Apple Watch has been battery life. Instead of multiple daily charges, I now go a full week between charges, even with the always-on display. The built-in flashlight, which I frequently use for nighttime grilling, has proven surprisingly useful.
Despite concerns about software stability raised on Reddit, my experience has been rock-solid, with several smooth automatic updates. The voice interface is hit or miss.
Having both a Garmin cycling computer and watch has streamlined my fitness tracking into Garmin Connect, leading me to discontinue my Strava Premium subscription.
Bottom line: The Garmin Fenix 8 has exceeded my expectations, despite its premium price point.
October 30, 2024
Sips Not Gulps
Back in California, again. This concludes my recent busy work travel season. It also means I can start ramping up my training.
This week has been a week of sips, and not gulps, trying to find the time in between work and supporting my wife who underwent foot surgery.
This led to a series of smaller workouts: a spin class, a swim session, a shorter 15 miles bicycle ride, speed walks around the neighborhood. Consistency matters the most, right?
Ai Tracking
In a podcast by Mark Manson, the guy from Not Giving a F*ck, on how he lost 60 pounds, he mentioned how tracking was essential.
Tracking… allows you to spot your own bullshit.
Also pro-cyclist Remco Evenepoel religiously tracks what he consumes all day.
I have found tracking my food intake challenging. Especially, since we cook a lot and the tracking apps don’t know what to do with it, unless I track each ingredient carefully during cooking. I rarely cook for one meal. So that makes it trickier.
Ten years ago, through a free program from my doctor, I would submit pictures to a dietician, who would critique them. It was quite educational.
But there has to be a better way, no? Prior to Ozempic, I’ve long believed that the killer app for the weight loss industry was AI tracking. Snap a picture and the AI will tell you all the calories and components.
I recently started tracking all I eat through, Snapcalorie, such AI tracking app. It has been easy to use and keeps me on my toes for the snack attack.
October 27, 2024
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The Ongoing Search for a Great MacOs Email Client
Every once and a while, I deep dive into the hole that is email clients.
I am not quite satisfied with my setup. It works, yet it can work better. Currently, I use Spark and the Gmail web application.
However, neither Spark nor Gmail support writing emails in Markdown. A lot of my notes are in Markdown, so I prefer to copy and paste in the same format, without having to first convert them.
Airmail does support Markdown but has an annoying and persistent Upgrade to Airmail Pro popup window. MailMate and Thunderbird are too retro looking. Superhuman is super expensive. I am still experimenting with Mimestream. It has some limited Markdown support but lacks links in Markdown and Copy and Paste.
Here’s my shortlist of features I seek in my email client:
- Support writing emails in Markdown. Not just as Convert as you type, but also Copy and Paste.
- Support for multiple open windows. I work on multiple emails concurrently, or need to access other emails while writing. Multiple browser windows isn’t a great alternative.
- Support for keyboard shortcuts for fast actions
- Send Later and Snooze features
- Modern looking
- Reasonably priced. Basic functionality is a one time fee. Advanced and AI functionality may be one a subscription basis.
October 25, 2024
These Shoes Are Made for Walking: A Week of Fitness on the Road
Who says business trips have to derail your fitness routine? This week, I put my walking shoes to the test and executed my secret cycling plan.
Stepping up My Walking Game
Despite packed days and work events filling my evenings, I walked over 25 miles on foot. One-on-one meetings were the perfect excuse to venture along the Genil river in Granada (except on those rainy days). I clocked more miles during the weekend in Malaga.
A Cyclist’s Secret Escape
I hatched a secret plan before my trip, brought my cycling gear, and rented a bike in Malaga. What unfolded was nothing short of amazing.
Imagine this: 40 miles along the Mediterranean coast and up a gentle climb into the mountains. The weather? Absolutely perfect. It’s no wonder pro cyclists flock here for winter training.
Spanish Hospitality on Two Wheels
What struck me most wasn’t just the views, but the friendliness from local cyclists and the courteous drivers.
As I head home, my legs may be tired, but my spirit is soaring. Who knew a business trip could turn into such a fun fitness adventure? Thank you Spain. 🇪🇸
Dollars are arriving as well. Every dollar counts! Donate here: https://giving.aidslifecycle.org/participant/JanVanBruaene
October 19, 2024
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My Feet Are Screaming
My feet are officially protesting! This week was a whirlwind of exercise:
- Biking: Crushed 25 miles commuting to and from work.
- Lifting: Hit the weights twice, feeling the burn!
- Walking: 🇪🇸👣 Explored Madrid and Segovia on foot (over 20 miles!), on my layover to Granada for work.
It’s safe to say my legs are singing the blues, but the good kind! This dedication is all for getting ready for AIDS Lifecycle next year.
Speaking of which, we have liftoff on the fundraising front! 🚀🚀🚀 A HUGE thank you. You’re the fuel propelling me forward!
This coming week will be tough to get a ride in. Yet, I’ve got a secret plan for next weekend, involving sweat and some stunning scenery. In the meantime, the gym and running shoes remain my best friends.
Want to help me reach the finish line (both physically and financially)?
Every dollar counts! Donate here: https://giving.aidslifecycle.org/participant/JanVanBruaene
Let’s make this happen together! 🚴♂️💪
October 13, 2024
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