There’s a one in four chance that the US will hit the date the government runs out of cash without a deal to raise the debt ceiling, so says JPMorgan.
Spend twenty minutes per week browsing Investment Tools and you will be better informed than most financial experts!
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Notes Today:
- Listening to McCarthy, it’s clear that Republican politicians
refuse, are unqualified, or incapable to understand the difference between household
deficits and government deficits – and probably never will...Some call it extortion.
- McCarthy comparing government spending to household debt. Never, ever comparable. Republicans raised debt ceiling 3 times under trump and did not demand spending cuts nor any demand to pay for $2 trillion tax cut. This is all fiction. (Ron Insana)
- Particles from tires is a major source of microplastics that is polluting our oceans. Michelin estimates that globally tires emit around 3 million tons of particles annually - and create another 3 million tons of particles from road surfaces.
- Every German, on its own, makes 4 kg of microplastic. 1228 g
from car tires, 16g from bicycle tires 230 from the road... Fraunhofer 2018
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Notes Today:
- U.S. stocks
rallied into the close on Thursday amid optimism about negotiations over
raising the nation’s debt ceiling. Looking a
bit more promising.
Some 42% of Americans aged 56-64 have zero retirement account savings, according to the US Census Bureau.
- 2 poultry workers in England have tested positive for bird flu, officials say however no indication of human-to-human transmission.
- Death toll mounts in Italy’s worst flooding for 100 years.
- Our planet is having 100 year something or other every other month now...
Monday, May 15, 2023
Comments regarding Musk’s Twitter ownership - from ChatGPT
The ownership structure of a platform like Twitter can have
several social implications, whether it is privately owned or publicly owned.
Here are some key considerations:
Privately
Owned:
1.
Concentration of Power: When a platform like Twitter is
privately owned, all decision-making authority rests with the owners or the
company's leadership. This concentration of power can lead to concerns about
accountability, transparency, and potential biases in content moderation and
platform policies.
2.
Profit Motive: Private ownership often means the primary goal of
the company is to generate profit for its owners or shareholders. This can
impact the platform's priorities and decision-making, as profit considerations
may take precedence over other social or public interest concerns.
3.
User Rights and Control: Private ownership gives the company
significant control over user data and platform policies. This can raise
concerns about privacy, data security, and censorship. The company may have the
discretion to enforce certain rules and restrictions on user behavior,
potentially affecting freedom of speech and expression.
4.
Innovation and Responsiveness: Privately owned platforms may be
more agile and responsive to market demands, allowing them to innovate and
adapt quickly. However, their actions may be driven by profit motives rather
than broader social or public interests.
Publicly
Owned:
1.
Public Accountability: Publicly owned platforms may be subject
to greater scrutiny and accountability, as they are answerable to a wider range
of stakeholders, including government bodies, regulatory authorities, and the
general public. This accountability can help ensure more transparent
decision-making and protection of user rights.
2.
Democratic Participation: Public ownership may provide
opportunities for more democratic participation in platform governance.
Publicly owned platforms could potentially involve users, experts, and public
representatives in decision-making processes, fostering diverse perspectives
and collective decision-making.
3.
Public Interest Focus: Publicly owned platforms can prioritize
public interest goals and societal well-being over short-term profit motives.
This could include considerations such as promoting freedom of expression,
addressing misinformation, and protecting user privacy, with a greater emphasis
on the common good.
4.
Potential for Political Influence: Public ownership can
introduce political dynamics and government influence into platform operations.
This may raise concerns about political interference, censorship, or biased
content moderation decisions. Striking the right balance between independence
and government oversight is crucial.
It is
important to note that the actual social implications can vary depending on
various factors, such as the specific ownership structure, legal frameworks,
and the company's approach to governance and decision-making.
Sunday, May 07, 2023
Food Price Inflation
- Many more Americans now are going hungry than at the peak of the pandemic aid. Some 24.6 million adults didn’t have enough to eat in early April versus 16.7 million the same month two years ago, the Census Bureau estimates.
- And Republicans are seeking new restrictions on food aid and cuts to safety-net programs as a price for raising the debt ceiling.
Notes Today:
- The world’s largest battery manufacturer CATL has announced a new “condensed” battery with 500 Wh/kg which it says will go into mass production this year." Batteries with 400 Wh/kg energy density could enable competitive commercial airplanes.
- China raised its gold holdings by about 8.09 tons in April, according to data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Sunday. Total stockpiles now sit at about 2,076 tons, after the nation increased reserves by about 120 tons in the five months through March.
The U.S. self-reported rate of mental health distress is similar to Canada’s (27%) and Sweden’s (24%). And yet… Annual gun homicides: Canada: 300 Sweden: 60 United States: 15,500 It’s the guns.
Meanwhile: Texas has banned more books than *any* state in America.
Saturday, May 06, 2023
US debt to US GDP ratio = Problematic Zone..
- Only possible Solution: grow GDP (working harder/smarter and or more people working) "and" raise taxes - see below. Top "marginal" rate in 2022 = 37%
- Take a moment and compare the two charts, and you’ll quickly see when the ratio started to go in the wrong direction -(correlation)
Now this from ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer):
There are several ways that a country can lower its debt to GDP ratio: Increase economic growth: When a country's economy grows, its GDP increases, which can help to reduce the debt to GDP ratio. This can be achieved through measures such as increasing productivity, investing in infrastructure, and promoting trade.
Reduce government spending: By reducing government spending, a country can reduce the amount of debt it accumulates and improve its debt to GDP ratio. This can be achieved through measures such as cutting back on unnecessary programs, reducing waste, and streamlining government operations.
Increase tax revenue: By increasing tax revenue, a country can reduce its reliance on borrowing and improve its debt to GDP ratio. This can be achieved through measures such as increasing tax rates, broadening the tax base, and cracking down on tax evasion.
Sell assets: Another way to reduce debt is to sell government assets such as land, buildings, and state-owned companies. This can generate revenue that can be used to pay down debt and improve the debt to GDP ratio.
It is important to note that reducing the debt to GDP ratio often requires a combination of these measures, as well as other structural reforms aimed at promoting long-term economic growth and stability. Additionally, the specific strategies used to address debt and fiscal policy will depend on a country's unique circumstances and political context.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Notes Today:
- Tension is building over the US debt ceiling, spurring investors as far away as Asia to prepare for the worst
- Global sea surfaces hit record temperatures this April...strong El Niño event appearing in the next few months looms over us...
- Currently, our planet contains eight billion humans. It also contains 33 billion chickens.
- @VodafoneGroup: Our partner @AST_Spacemobile (ASTS) has completed the first two-way voice call using the Bluewalker 3 (#BW3) satellite 🛰️ 🌠It’s the first time anyone has achieved a direct voice connection from space to everyday cellular devices. A next major step in mobile communications.
- With @AST_SpaceMobile, we've been testing the first-of-its-kind space-based cellular broadband network, with mobile phones. See what AT&T engineer, Suja John, says about our future. #ConnectingChangesEverything
Saturday, April 22, 2023
- If it does develop it implies a drier/warmer than normal US corn/soybean belt.
- While Brazil and Argentina could be wetter than normal.
- Drier and hotter in southeast Asia
- Should Soybean production come in some 3% below current estimates the stock / usage ratio would drop to about 3.4%
- Now this from Chat GPT: I'm sorry, as an AI language model, I don't have the ability to predict future events with certainty. However, I can tell you that El Niño events are difficult to predict with a high degree of accuracy. El Niño is a climate phenomenon that occurs irregularly and can vary in strength and duration. It involves changes in ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific and can have significant impacts on global weather patterns. While there are some indicators that suggest the possibility of an El Niño event this year, it is impossible to say for certain whether one will occur. It's important to note that even if an El Niño event does occur, its impacts can vary depending on its strength and other atmospheric and oceanic conditions.
Monday, April 03, 2023
Notes Today:
- Floridians will be able to carry concealed guns without a permit under a bill DeSantis signed Monday. This will allow anyone who can legally own a gun in Florida to carry one without a permit or training, nor will a background check be required.
- An estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 and older -- about 1 in 4 adults -- suffers from a diagnosable mentaldisorder in a given year. Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time. In particular, depressive illnesses tend to co-occur with substance use and anxiety disorders.
It is dangerous, “Spock says, “to be ill-informed
about facts.”