The Tuesday Gambler Report, SKOMOL Progress

by

Four seminal events in small investing that you may not be aware of, so a quick review is in order ahead of the Housing Starts report:

  • Investing is gambling.   Samuelson at MIT got to the idea that on any day, odds of the market going one way, or the other, were about the same.  Background book “Samuelson Friedman: The Battle Over the Free Market” though dated a bit. The MMT people were not as apparent. Though, they are still just as wrong.
  • Results depend on gaming skills…  The first book to read would be “A Random Walk Down Wall Street.”
  • Our understanding of Inflation is shallow: Peoplenomics report tomorrow will get into that.  More of that damned “evidence-based thinking.”  Sort of like “evidence-based medicine” but without the financial shenanigans and pandemic hype, lockdowns, and government mob.
  • Sticking to a Plan and measure, measure, measure. This means always keeping a Tradeable view of the Future. Which is part of the solution to making money. The other part is having a solid investment strategy that provides winning via asymmetric money management.

And this last is where we get into the real “unfair advantage” the unholy alliance of AI and econometric modeling really struts its stuff.  This is how the “Casino gets rigged.”

What few in the investment world will admit is that what’s really going on is a kind of Casino.  Where the analogs to poker and slots might be stocks and bonds.

We also know – but usually forget – that the difference between a professional gambler and an amateur (mark) is that the pro knows when a streak has just shown some luck and it’s time to push back, have a drink maybe, and leave the Casino.  The poor public?  They just keep on playing.  Eventually they lose it all.  It’s how gambling is designed.

Today’s Gambles on Future

Knowing these things, it seems that our actual results in this casino-like world is more likely based on chance – and how we manage that – rather than any particular genius on our own part.

Take BTC which had dropped another, um, 5-thousand overnight (we aren’t surprised).  This is a classic group of gamblers, each sure they are smarter than people like me, Warren Buffett, or Jamie Diamond – who all have told you it’s a game.  They didn’t say “Leave while you’re ahead” and I won’t either since a sleazeball could claim that’s “advice”.  Nope. I just raise questions.

We think the Futures hint at a strong decline today (I went short Friday, remember) and while the lunch money account was down a bit Monday, I was too busy with construction going on here to spend enough time to catch an exit ramp Monday.

Still, we didn’t lose anywhere near as much (percentage-wise) as True Believers in made up numbers being fungible in an uncertain Future.

The two Future Movers to play today are the Fed decision tomorrow after lunch and the Housing Start data just reported.

Housing first.  Our bias has been that housing prices would falter now, since the rates are up and the price of building materials, which we’ve been buying, are significantly higher.  Does that seem like a good time to run out and plunk down some “long green” to put up a spec house?

Well, here’s the envelope – let’s see what’s inside…

The other Big Wager today is on the Fed.  And using the CME Group Fed Watch tool, we see the odds of a rate decrease are pegged at one-in-a-hundred before housing was reported.

Still, there is a non-zero chance that the rates are actually about to rise because why? Global Era of Negative Interest Rates Ends as Japan Goes to Zero.  This means the cost of money (to the big hedge funds) is going higher so any money made speculating in markets or cryptos with BoJ dough is  about to become more expensive.

We can’t rule out a shocking/unexpected Fed increase of rates tomorrow which would kill the market very short-term, but which would kick up globalism in the longer run.  For now, S&P futures were down 24-points earlier so our short trade may pay off…

Other “Future-Bending” Stories

One thing coming into focus is that Joe Biden might win the 2024 election by default. I mean literal default.  Trumps.  Trump can’t get $454 million appeal bond in New York fraud case: lawyers.  All Biden has to do is keep quiet, keep Kamala Harris from screwing things up, and come up with some way to appear cogent in front of skeptical conservative media.  Then, all he needs to do is convince Jews and Palestinians alike that he’s a good…. Which doesn’t play as Trump comments on Jews who vote for Democrats draw outrage,  but Biden is trying to sell everyone on his policy (if that’s a fair use of the word to describe a disheveled mess of policy).

Trump supporters are not getting any traction on this one, either: Eric Schwerin Testifies Joe Biden and the Biden Family Used Alias Email Accounts During Vice Presidency. Mean like Holder and Obama were using fake emails?

Meantime, Sloppy Joe’s Border is still open: The Globalists Slaughterhouse Economic Policies Have Put Thousands More Americans On The Chopping Block. Yessir: While Citizens get killed by the HR grenades, incoming migrants will work for much, much less.  This how Machine Politics works in the Brave New World of Puppet Corporate Joeism.

Vlad Putin’s got (or getting) the West by the nuts.  Not just in West decries Putin’s reelection while China, India vow closer ties.  The other thing – mentioned in a client note from my consigliere:

“Apparently the Neocons STILL want the Ukrainian conflict to grow into a direct Nato/US conflict with Russia so they need to BURY any news that might cause the public to give pause about going down that path.  AGAIN …  the New York based MSM is editing the news so as to shade it towards one side.

Took a while to find a link … there are actually several sources out there about the Chinese MoD statement, but you will NOT find any from the US’s MSM.

Media: China Signals Willingness to Intervene Militarily in Support of Russia Against US or NATO Actions.

On the other hand, China’s not too happy with Russia wanting a loan, so this will all sort out over time with some variance in odds on future, especially in Ukraine, as it does.  But, then again, China’s Xi Congratulates Ally Putin on Reelection.

Elon Speaks:  Elon Musk calls X ‘number one source of news in the world’—and also a ‘hardcore, player versus player platform’. 

Ready for Blue Annon? “This Is Blue-Anon”: Raheem Kassam On Legacy Media’s Deceitful, Amoral Coverage On ‘Bloodbath’ Quote.

The Extraterrestrial Rundown

The way we have it figured, trans-dimensional craft are the path into the future.  Why, already, we are wondering if some of their occupants aren’t really on Earth.  On point:

We hope you realize that without inventing new “news” to cover (gender and such) the conventional news industry would shrink and America might wander back to the peaceful middle and actually get something done while China and Russia are kicking our asses.

Around the Ranch:  SKOMOL Report

“OK, Ure, what’s this SKOMOL Report stuff?”

Fair question.  Stands for “Spring Keep Off Men Off Ladders, Dad.”  Which, if you remember, was what G2 issued as a directive saying, “I’ve picked up too many old men who have fallen off ladders they should never be on after age 70.  Reactions slow…”

This is – and is not – true.

I regularly visit an online site (*here The Reaction Time Test |) where you can test your reaction speeds and see how quick you are, normed to others in your age bracket.  My score for my left-hand reaction is on the left (d’uh) and my right is…um…see you can figure it out…

   

There are a lot of reasons why you should do this test, weekly or so, if you’re a senior.  Not the least of which is to see if your medications, sleep., hydration (which seniors suck at), and general health are supporting everyday activities like safe driving.

But there are other metrics as well – and as you know – part of living a life “By the Numbers” is learning to use self-data to maintain long-term insight into how fast you are aging.  I believe that a reasonable goal is something in the vicinity of reaction speeds around half your group cohort.  At 75, this would mean I want to keep reactions about equal to a 37-year-old.

I can “push the envelope” a bit.  For example, Bullish Bob Bagley (chieftain of the Dallas investment firm) got me hooked on drinking Yorkshire Gold Tea. Which has the upside of keeping the blood pressure (relatively lower).  But it also doesn’t have the hair-trigger reaction speeds that accompany a cup and a half of Ure’s coffee, done just so.  But I digress.

Managing seniorhood “By the Numbers”  means you can collect all kinds of useful insights into what the spirit – that wanders around stuck in a bag of blood and bones (till death do us part) – is facing in the way of On Earth Management Problems.

Back to the reaction speeds, you will notice that the right and left speeds are very close.  If – God forbid – tomorrow I wake up with an unexplained headache and one side of the reaction speeds is far off my “normal deviation range” then I would get down (same day) to see Dr. Jaime and ask her “WTF? Stroke, TIAs, or…???”

With a good blood pressure history (after cocktails last night I relaxed down to 107/49 P51) and during Peak Work hours it might go to 150/75 P72.  Coffee adds a few more points to the systolic (first #) which is getting on up there.

OK: SKOMOL

All of which means (besides Spring Keep Old Men Off Ladders) time, is really getting a lot done around here.

Our contractor (a young dude who turns 50 this year) did the ladder work so we knocked out the “soggy spot” in the living room floor.  Which turned out was cause by a slow leak in the water heater.  Which was replaced, the carpet reseamed, and the second bathroom ceiling was repainted with mold-killing paint.

Plan today is to have him put new screening up on the screen porch (tons of up and down ladders work there) and also put in the basic framing for the deck down onto the outside fire patio.  Tomorrow new greenhouse roof. If all goes according to plan, that will get us to the end of “high ladder work” which G2 has been unmerciful about.

He’s actually not wrong.  CDC says, “Each year in the U.S., more than 100 people die and thousands more are injured from ladder-related falls.”  And – softball question here (pretend this is a Biden press conference):  “What age group predominates; do you suppose?”

Which is why Peoplenomics tomorrow will be going over implications of using Government Debt to the Penny as a proxy for financial asset appreciation…

Won’t be a hugely/bigly longly report. I’m shagging tools and pre-painting siding.  When I’m writing check for hourly work, I’ve got a responsibility to keep the materials and tools lined up, so the resources are never the speed bump in projects.

On that note, and with the sun coming along, off to put on my construction management helmet.  I’ll get to the green eyeshades as the morning progresses…

Write when you get rich,

George@Ure.net

73 thoughts on “The Tuesday Gambler Report, SKOMOL Progress”

  1. With cataracts removed and new glasses I am getting around 368 to 401! I am 80.5.

    I thank Alan Watts and Source Naturals “Higher Mind.”

    • RandomMike: thanks for the recommendations. I read about SN Higher Mind and ordered a bottle. Which work of Alan Watts is the most inspirational to you?

    • I worked for a large wholesale nursery in the early 90s and one of my clients was a commercial landscape contractor in Denver. I would ship 2 semi loads of plants to them every week during the spring and summer for 2 years. Thats 1700 5 gallon plants per load, mostly rockey mountain natives and junipers, all going to the new Denver Airport under construction. I spoke with the owner of this landscape company almost everyday back then. He would tell me all the strange goings-on there about how they would sub out different sections of construction to various companies and once they finished their small piece of the project they were never used again on site, never having the opportunity to know what the whole project was. He also mentioned about the astronomical amount of soil being removed and hauled off, he really couldn’t get over how much dirt was being taken away, he’d never seen anything like it. He would tell me every week that something really bizarre is going on there. Keep in mind this was the early 90s before the crazy art work and conspiracies were around.
      Would love to know what is under ground there, definitely more than just an airport.

      • A city.

        Which lies on a pair of tunnels
        which run from Boston to LA (via DC)
        and will be populated by supersonic “trains,” when complete.

      • IN DC… there are entrances and exits to a whole subterranean system.. goes from building to building.. it is amazing.. I ended up in there by accident.. don’t know how I got in there.. I had never had a drink in my life.. at a christmas party they had this stuff.. a fruit punch but it was not just fruit punch it was pure alcohol.. It took me three days to figure out how to get out of there..
        so It doesn’t surprise me that that is how they would do it.. on a lot of the projects they split it between multiple companies and study groups.. that way not one company has full knoweledge as to what they are providing or building..

  3. olfart on FWM (Fed Week-Monday) –
    Retrograde Water HeaterMarch 19, 2024

    “Since this is Obama’s third term, I’d say it’s in keeping with his trend.”

    G. A. STEWART: And then there was this VERY important item…

    March 18, 2024
    Just In: Barack Obama Caught on Video Entering Home of UK Prime Minister—Why?

    THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT RESTORES THE BLACK KING

    Nostradamus Quatrain IX-58
    As collateral [for the] left at the location of Vitry,
    Will be lookouts [for] the three reds [Muslims] of France,
    All disabled red [Muslim], Black [King] not murdered,
    By the Bretons [English] restored and assured.

    Nostradamus and The Third Age of Mars 2024, G. A. Stewart, 2023, Page 981

    This clearly describes Great Britain and possibly its foreign intelligence service MI6 in restoring Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States. Once again, we see Nostradamus continued use of “rouge, noir”; which I again interpret as the “red [Muslim], Black [King]”.

    This prediction was in my 2017 book, Nostradamus and the Third Age of Mars, Volume I. In the past two years, the public has seen information that points to the British government and Secret Service, MI6, involved in the overthrow of an elected American President.

    https://theageofdesolation.com/nostradamus/2024/03/19/history-and-march-19th/

    • I strongly urge all readers to read this article from Stu. Something you will never read on MSM but certainly makes a lot of sense and worthy of consideration.

      As Stu says “Chess is a difficult game with a blindfold on.”

    • I can not IMAGINE how “restoring” Obama to the office of President could be done legally OR extraordinarily without causing a HUGE explosion.

      I see no f-ing way this can be done without a revolt.

      • physically.. but then we all suspect that there is someone else that is pulling the strings now. with all the plagiarism that has been used in the past to gain his seat and keep it.. I can’t see how he could ever come up with any complex plan of action he is just a speaker that can deliver his lines . we have lobbyists that write out our bills.. give some one to sponsor it as their very own by giving them something in return…. our whole system is run by people outside the offices..
        hmm 46 billion on seven hundred people.. that is a figure that I can say with pretty good confidence that they had a good payday year..

        https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2024/01/state-and-federal-lobbying-spending-tops-46-billion-after-federal-lobbying-spending-broke-records-in-2023/

        I know a guy whose wife caters to lobbyist functions.. my friend said to me.. it is insane right now here.. you know how crazy it was.. well it is insane right now.. they should write their own bills.. then all of congress should read the bills.. cross out what they find that they refuse to vote on and write in what the majority agrees upon.. then vote their conscience on it.. today they don’t read that crap..the bills are written to discourage you from wanting to read it..
        My grand daughter.. at bedtime it was customary to read a bedtime story.. childs pick.. my grand daughter picked this one it was long boring and just a misery to read it.. she knew it by heart you could’t miss or skip a section.. she would know it.. so.. I would start reading then fall asleep out of boredom and she would be up bouncing around and playing..
        that is how the bills are written now.. sure they have a team that is suppose to read them.. but.. seriously that place is empty.. while the cats away do you think the workers are going to actually read that stuff..
        https://youtu.be/19Kl5Re0-DM?si=ArtY5FdL3G5px4o0

        At least the congressional hall was used for something more than a leaning post for the janitor

      • Are you familiar with the concept of a “Regent?”

        “a person who governs a kingdom in the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign…”

        I used to do political commentary. My last op-ed was on September 29th, 2008, when I wished all the idiots who were going to vote for “change” a happy life and to enjoy living in a country where George Soros would serve as Regent and de-facto Emperor.

        Having a hundred pundits speak thousands of times regarding the intellect and intelligence of Mr. Obama does not make him intelligent. He is a fine orator when parked in front of a teleprompter, but not good for more than quippy answers, when not. The same media which to this day speaks of the profound intelligence of Obama, roundly and continually excoriated GWBush for being “stupid.” W’s IQ is 127. I contend this is at least 15 points higher than Obama’s, and defy anyone to prove me wrong.

        When Obama was President, George Soros ran the country. With Biden as President, Soros and his hardcore socialist kid are running the country, and giving both Mr. Biden and Mr. Obama their lines and instructions. (Don’t believe me? Pull the damn’ WH visitors’ logs and {if you can find them} the SS logs on both Wilmington and on Obama…)

        Obama will not return as President, because he can’t. He may return as SecGen of the U.N., or Chief Justice of the USSC, or somehow displace Duane Johnson as that “universally loved and admired celebrity,” thus gleaning tremendous power and influence over the masses, both here and abroad. That doesn’t matter, because Obama is a figurehead and will be so in any future power arrangement. It will be Soros fils who’s running the whole shebang, and his principal interest will be to become der Führer of the entire planet.

        I know there are people who’re higher up the chain of command of this “One World, under Socialism” policy, but I’ve identified few. They seem content to let the Soros group take the spotlight (and the heat) but George S &Co are not in their club, and could never amass enough money, power, and prestige to receive an invitation.

  4. G2 is right your Georgeness. My bride is a retired surgical RN and she sings from the same song sheets. Old folks fall more often than young(er) folks. When they do their bones shatter and they take longer to mend. No comfy online reaction test can accommodate that one wobble which puts you (us) on the ground and in the meat wagon and under eventual care of an Ortho. I have ladder / roof work that needs doing and don’t …

    Lots to watch this morning.
    Game on!
    E

    • we use to say the magic ..3..
      an older person goes out.. slips and falls breaks a hip.. they mend go back home.. 1
      They slip and fall break a wrist of bone.. mend but this time they are a little more wary.. 2
      The slip fall or just break a bone.. and this time.. they are wheelchair bound and need twenty four seven nursing care..3

  5. new recipe.. I haven’t tried it but it sure does look good..
    cream cheese fast and easy.

    whole milk
    place in pan heat to about 100 degrees.
    once it reaches the temperature add 1 tbsp and gently stir of lemon juice. after 2 minutes add an additional tbs of lemon juice do this till the milk fats curdle.
    let set once the fats have totally separated from the whey pour the curdles into a fine strainer to separate it from the whey. ( you can save the whey for cooking )
    take the strained curds put in a food processor and blend till creamy you can add salt or sugar to assist with this process and smooth it out. for a fruit spread add fruit

      • I totally am going to try it.. I love making cheese and cottage cheese.. learned how to do that during one of my learning module bad times.. there is nothing better than home made cheese to..
        then having a guy that worked making hot dogs.. dam him.. I like hot dogs to.. LOL… he told me stories of the hot dog line that would curdle your skin.. couldn’t eat a hot dog for a year.. so ..since I made bologna anyway.. ten pounds .. two and a half pounds of pork shoulder.. two and a half pounds of beef lean.. and five pounds of blanched potatoes.. all gound together then cooled and reground with spices.. I like onions to.. so it isn’t uncomon to know I toss a grunion in the batch.. or some green pepper.. a half cup of starch.. or a half cup of powdered milk as a binder..
        got a new book to.. dam good book it has all the science behind food condiments.. dam good book.. not a recipe book though.. (still got this one hidden from the wife.. she will freak out if she knows I bought another cook book LOL LOL)
        Last night I dreamed of making corn puffs.. corn meal or flour and water a little salt.. or flavorings.. run through and extruder.. simple process.. learned how to do that the hard way to.. and it is the best..
        back to hot dogs.. dam guy but I learned how to make the ones I like.. I got the equipment to do it.. and good lord knows I love doing it to.. I still get all my dogs at the place that processes our beef.. I know what he puts in them and I can watch him making them..since I am the only one except for the kids.. that eats them.. I rarely make them.. wife had one to many hot dogs in her life.. won’t touch one.. I had one to many cookies so there are some I won’t touch as well.. know how it is.. I get nautious when I see the package LOL LOL

    • Faster & easier… pick up a block of ‘Philly’ at the store.
      THEN: Two cans of minced clams. Drain one can. Mix clam juice from other cam, and the meat from both cans into the cream cheese, mashing thoroughly until no more lumps. Refrigerate overnight. Best damn clam dip with chips I’ve ever had.

      • thanks Hank.. that sounds absolutely wonderful.. I am going to make that to..do you put in it any onions or pemmento peppers.. I wonder what it would taste like with pementos…salt pepper.

  6. firing citizens to hire illegals hmmm..
    could that be wage assistance from feds…
    seems our fearlesseader has a refugee wage assistance program for employers.

  7. I have to agree with young G to a point. I still wear bifocals so attempts to see close up require a backward tilt of the head and that is not conducive to safe balance perched on a ladder. My agreed to answer to Diana’s Law that nothing over 3 steps high on the 6 foot step ladder for me unless she is there to spot me. Spot to her means making sure that on decent I am placing my feet in the correct place. Sheesh, I wear glasses but I’m not blind. A drawback is sometimes she is overzealous and wants to grab a foot and try to place it where SHE thinks it should go. Happily, that usually earns her a comment from me like, “My ass is a little higher Sweetheart.”
    I have also agreed to finding a contractor to come help with larger aerial projects. That will be a challenge but her answer to that is I will have to not be so picky. Well, I was pretty picky when I picked you…….

    Stay safe. 73

  8. Hey Yanks,

    when you all gonna stop fooling around with this clown show, comedy act of Country ?

    60 plus years of Living under the CIA-DIA YOKE ! Are you having any FUN yet ? R you not enjoying the Script you be living ? CPC is laughing at your leadership, Iran says YOU (Dancers at Vllads “Vampire Ball”) are the great satans.
    Pooters – ” I think its obvious to everyone the American political system cannot claim to be democratic in any sense of the word.”
    From same speech over the weekend – ” but this is just a catastrophe, not a Democracy- thats what it is.”

    Idea of the day – replace Fluoridation of municipal water supplies with LJ100 – “Longjack”.

    What the what, you think ?

    *See Patent – Bioactive Fraction of Eurycoma Longifolia.

    problem with USA pop..No Ballz.

    .. its so bad Men be cutting off Bits & Pieces , growing Tits and dying their hair Purple..they have been “Googled”

    Natasha we must stop the Mother wef’ers!

  9. “China”

    The UK says they have a laser system going. The video is hardly an action video and it could be fake but if the laser info is true within the next year or two drones and then missiles will be obsolete. Light beats sound.

    Video Shows NATO Ally’s Advanced DragonFire Laser Weapon in Action

    https://www.newsweek.com/nato-united-kingdom-dragonfire-laser-energy-weapon-drones-video-1878198

    In the following link Taiwan indicates they will have lasers in the field by the ‘end of the year’.

    Taiwan training laser weapons on China’s drone threat

    Taiwan to deploy refined 50-kilowatt laser weapon on armored vehicles, a potential potent counter to China’s suicide drone swarms

    “The Taipei Times reported that Taiwan is rapidly advancing in the development of a pioneering 50-kilowatt vehicle-mounted laser weapon, which it aims to deploy on CM-32 Clouded Leopard armored vehicles by the end of the year.”

    “While lasers can be used against ballistic and hypersonic missiles, a July 2021 US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report states that a 1-megawatt laser may be needed to neutralize such threats.”

    https://asiatimes.com/2024/03/taiwan-training-laser-weapons-on-chinas-drone-threat/

    It’ll be like Mingo City defending against inbounds. Voltan calls it a ‘lightening field’.

    Flash Gordon (1980) Attacking Mingo City

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk7vxBPQlJA

    • “While lasers can be used against ballistic and hypersonic missiles, a July 2021 US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report states that a 1-megawatt laser may be needed to neutralize such threats.”

      And that’s a ground-based system with plenty of power available. So just how many Terawatts would be needed ‘in orbit’ to penetrate about 180 miles of atmospheric attenuation to burn.. say… Lahaina?

    • Speaking of defensive lasers most commercial transport companies are going to want lasers. Fed Ex is the first to request them.

      The Twitter link is a video of a man flying next to an Emirates plane in a jet suit. Nothing prevents the jet suit’er from flying up to the plane and attaching a bomb to the side then flying off.

      https://twitter.com/RealUntoldStory/status/1766460983675879428

      This past January FedEx made a request to put lasers on their planes to protect from missiles. Lasers will protect from missiles and jet suit’ers threats.

      FedEx wants to put anti-missile lasers on some of its planes

      “FedEx is looking to outfit some cargo planes with a unique protective measure — anti-missile laser technology.

      The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) said in a filing on Friday it is currently reviewing a request from FedEx to add infrared laser technology to some aircraft. The technology is designed to project a laser outside the plane that counters and disrupts a missile’s heat-seeking capabilities.”

      https://sg.news.yahoo.com/fedex-wants-put-anti-missile-171746632.html

      • “The Twitter link is a video of a man flying next to an Emirates plane in a jet suit. Nothing prevents the jet suit’er from flying up to the plane and attaching a bomb to the side then flying off.”

        Except that the plane was being flown low and slow so the jetsuiter could keep up. Note the nose-high attitude and flaps down on the airliner. Note also the “Dubai” sign on the wing of the jetsuiter. Publicity stunt that would be extremely hard (impossible) to duplicate in the wild.

        • Agreed.

          But think back 25 years. There were no jetsuiters.

          Today any jetsuiter be dropped next to an airport, fly across the tarmac dropping pineapples then fly off to a waiting car and make the dash. Another reason to have lasers on the control tower.

  10. The 1 megawatt power requirement is an obstacle but solutions are being worked on. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are being created and will be portable

    What are microreactors?

    A microreactor is a small nuclear reactor that can operate as part of the electric grid, independently from the electric grid, or as part of a microgrid to generate up to 20 megawatts thermal energy that can be used to generate electricity and provide heat for industrial applications. Most of these small reactors are designed to be portable – many could be hauled by a semitractor-trailer. Microreactors are 100 to 1,000 times smaller than conventional nuclear reactors, while small modular reactors (SMRs) range from 20 to 300 megawatts.

    https://inl.gov/trending-topics/microreactors/

  11. “The poor public? They just keep on playing. Eventually they lose it all. It’s how gambling is designed.”

    Casino (1995)

    Ace Rothstein: In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they lose, and in the end, we get it all.

  12. This is for Andy
    – You may be in-touch with “The Dude”., that is for you to decide., but it is painfully obvious that you are NOT in-touch with yourself.
    – You didn’t get what you wanted. Too damn bad.., quit bitching about it ! What the hell is the matter with you? Pick yourself up, and move on. Stop throwing it in my face.
    – You are acting like a little school yard baby who fell off the teeter-totter. Damn, boy – what is your problem??
    – OK.., we get it. You quit ! Then sit down and shut the hell up ! Figure out where you go from here – then move out like you have a purpose.
    – Where are all those high-powered friends of yours? Expecting one of them to hold your hand as you sit there and cry ? Forgetaboutit ! It’s your journey, baby-boy – no one else is going to carry your baggage., especially for some one that does nothing but bitch about it.
    – There is not a person here that hasn’t gotten a flat tire on the road of their own personal journey.., some even discovered, too late., that their spare tire was missing. Guess what? They found a way and kept on with their life. They didn’t sluff it off onto someone else.
    – Get a grip, baby-boy. You’re starting to piss me off !

    • Andy wrote “this is my last comment” on Urban Survival, which he also wrote about two months ago…

      What’s going on?

      • He’s said that a dozen times over the past few years. Pay no mind. It’s part of his ‘shtick’.

    • 55 to 65 have become lost years for many. The wages and respect you always thought you would command don’t materialize. Instead, you lose your job to swarms of illegals with padded and outright phony credentials, who will walk away in a few years leaving an enormous mess to clean up. Corporate HR ‘paths take one look at your surname and toss your resume.
      Solution: find work with a smaller employer who hires old guys at 2/3 (or less) the going rate for a 50 year old, for a job that features cleaning up messes made by offshore pretenders. $40-grand less than you use to make ? Must be 55+ working a non-union gig.
      Join the proud, the elite: workers over 55 with real jobs. Don’t confuse a 1 and 1000 opportunity with the 999 in a 1000 screwed old guys working very bad temp jobs.
      This is an unpaid public service announcement from other old guys who have already been there a while.

      • It is the hard years…
        When they did the annual witch hunt and the year we went without an income.. my wife was forty nine or fifty.. anyway.. I was in a wheel chair.. they wanted me off of the insurance.. no unemployment that is only for seasonal employees not unemployed employees.. it was hard.. the hardest part though was learning from Job Service that from fifty to sixty five your unemployable.. employers want younger employees.. older employees have obligations.. the house the car the insurances etc.. even though she put in thirty to forty applications a week.. there wasn’t any employment offers..
        that was the hardest part..
        He is just a child to most of us.. but at the ackward age.. the good thing for him is he doesn’t have any obligations.. where he lands hes on his own.. no kids to take care of no wife to take care of.. he is a free wheel where he rolls and stops he can pick up where he left off.. the hardest part is.. his age.. all of a sudden he can’t find an employer then he will be hurting.. especially with the work record showing he worked and quit worked and quit..
        I can’t tell you how many part time or day labor jobs I have had.. but you always kept the one stable one never put down the part time or day labor ones.. because it would appear as if you were not dependable

    • The ups and downs he continually has may indicate a particular mental disorder. I read his delusional ravings only because they’re interspersed with moments of near-brilliance.

      • Jimi Hendrix – “Manic Depression”

        Manic depression is searching my soul
        I know what I want, but I just don’t know
        How to, go about getting it
        Feeling, sweet feeling
        Drops from my Fender’s fingers
        Manic depression is capturing my soul
        Yeah

        Woman so willing, the sweet cause in vain
        You make love, you break love
        It’s all the same
        When it’s, when it’s over, mama
        Music, sweet music
        I wish I could caress, caress, caress
        Manic depression is a frustrating mess

        Well, I think I’ll go turn myself off and go on down
        All the way down
        Really ain’t no use in me hanging around
        In your kind of scene
        Music, sweet music
        I wish I could caress, and kiss, kiss
        Manic depression is a frustrating mess

        https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jimihendrix/manicdepression.html

      • ” I read his delusional ravings only because they’re interspersed with moments of near-brilliance. ”
        Please direct me to one near-brilliance. ;-)

    • Why? What purpuss was served here? I don’t understand the hubris of the belief that an individual difference is worthy of the attention of the entire community.

  13. Old age and ladders.
    I just turned 75. I still jump rope., work-out on the speed-bag., do my Tai Chi routine -though I did have to give up my workouts on the heavy bag due to my hands being over used-&-abused from my youth. Splitting fire wood does take the aggression away. [ Not quite the same though.]
    No where near as nimble as I used to be and my speed has dropped., but there are ways to compensate. There is a reason I made it to this illustrious age.
    ., but ladders. The misses has forbidden me from using them. I reluctantly agreed. She was standing at the kitchen window when I fell off the ladder a couple of Summers ago. Luckily I managed to kick-off as I went and did a pretty good airborne roll when I hit the ground. I got back up and put the ladder away. It hasn’t been moved since.
    There is a turning-point I guess., once you make it to a certain age., you have to back-off a little., and even give up previous physical endeavors.., and my back has been warning me to drop the payloads and stress that I never even thought about before.
    But.., if you want the stay healthy while heading for the exit gate – ya gotta play the game.
    .., and so it goes

    • You all have not got me fully convince about ladders yet. Just 74, and Reaction Test Time is 455 ms matching 37 year olds.
      I live an hour from any big city on my ‘farm.’ House has evaporative cooler, tv antenna, and vent from compost toilet on steel roof. Plan to go up very, very carefully this summer to check seals and caulk as necessary.
      Always get a neighbor to come over and spot me.
      Getting any handy man help out here is difficult or outrageously expensive.

      • Richard in Colorado
        March 19, 2024 at 20:30

        You all have not got me fully convince about ladders yet. Just 74, and Reaction Test Time is 455 ms matching 37 year olds.
        __________________________________
        Richard, You’re looking pretty good with the numbers etc. Do yourself a favor on that roof climbing call. Buy enough rope to go over to the other side of the roof and use it for a “spotter” helper. On a metal roof, you may as well be on ice. Nothing will stop you after the first slip. Use a rope. Good luck

    • (“do my Tai Chi routine”)

      I would love to learn tai-chi…. learning that has been a goal of mine for years..I thought about trying to follow a YouTube video but am afraid I would mess up with it. I hear it’s a great breathing and flexibility exercise.
      no one in the wastelands teaches it. they use to at the VA but when covid directed them to come to work punch in then crawl under their desks for safety from it..they quit teaching it.. I keep asking though..

    • (“once you make it to a certain age., you have to back-off a little., and even give up previous physical endeavors..,”)

      when I was in DC.. traffic was horrific at best.. A 12 mile journey was long slow trip. you could ride a bike faster..so I had a nice bike..rode back and forth to work .. years later the daughter had a bike I got this thought..hey its only 4 miles to this great place that makes a great shake..I will jump on the daughters bike head on out.. lol.. after about a mile it dawned on me it had been a while and I walked the bike home sweating like an old cow..so I started riding again. then a friend was on leave he was a ranger and on one of his leaves.. ( before deployment) his wife was pregnant and couldn’t go running with him so I said heck I will run with you..wow he was in and out ditches over fences and all over the place while I chugged along .. pretty soon he realized I wasn’t going to give up and he would have to carry my butt home.
      what I use to do I had aged and realized it was time to see my true abilities. I wasn’t 18 anymore..
      that’s one reason why I gave my bike to the young kids in the apartments.. such good kids.. very polite the parents didn’t have the money for two bikes so the two oldest took turns..now watching them both ride together and my two grandsons riding with them gives me a lot of pleasure and the boys aren’t playing those darn video games..

    • I hear ya on ladders..I am real hesitant anymore. years ago I fell thirty feet got busted up pretty good to..I had diesel fuel on the soles of my boots was rushing to take care of a customer and bang don’t even remember the fall. got my leg caught in the rung of the ladder and it busted up my leg.. crawled up the ladder took care of the customer and then called to get taken into the hospital..
      my grandson in law fell 20 feet and we were yakking and he said..I know why your skittish of ladders now..I said yes I learned a lot the day I fell…that’s why its bad luck to walk under a ladder lol..

    • re: “smell smoke”?
      feat: 2 Live Crew, Miami

      BCN,

      American msm is reporting on a tragic passing in Miami. A Belorusian retired hockey player and boyfriend of the world’s #2 tennis player jumped off his luxury resort balcony on a property owned by a Qatari billionaire. Miami-Dade police are quoted as concluding the event as being a suicide and there are no signs of foul play. Previously the hockey team in Bashkortostan, Russia which the deceased coached announced he had passed from a “dislodged blood clot”. The team is named after the 1770’s hero of the republic’s Pugachev rebellion who tried to defeat the Tsar. The predominantly Sunni Islam Russian republic hosts the hockey team in its capital Ufa as well as The Mosque of the 25 Prophets whose minaret is painted blue and yellow.

      Anyhow, one imagines this stretch of Miami Beach in today’s news will quickly restore its image as a luxury enclave.

      https://web.archive.org/web/20151227223715/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article51698275.html

  15. ” …. for the last fifteen months I have been working on a project to save the world. ” (sticks)

    Did sticks ever get an answer ( which I might have missed ? ) to ‘save the world’ with Titanium ? ;-)

    • Not yet

      But our effort is gaining momentum. We have connection now to a national lab, and will be presenting soon, right around the eclipse.

      Private funding, in amounts that are pocket change for billionaires, would make this fly.

      Involves clever storage of Spent Fuel, with exponentially longer lifespan than what is currently accepted (40 years, hoping to get to 100).

      Let me talk to oElon in a real scenario, not in dreams as I have, and in five minutes he would be on board. Probably would want the tech for SpaceX too.

      George knows how top contact me.

      Best hurry though, in a week I’m headed offshore on a 3300 mile voyage in my little ship.

      And we don’t have Starlink.

      Stiks

    • I have Personally been trying to save enough money to get a lobbying firm to write a bill for some dipshi.. I mean some dignified congressman to push to get passed that would have the USA send me a check every month for 10 grand the rest of my life..
      how would anyone know they could care less about what’s in them.

  16. And then there are the Sergios of this world. Each morning I walk the harbor and have come to be acquainted with Sergio, the can man. I am out long before dawn and so is he. When we finally got beyond, “Good morning” he told me his name. I said it would be a good day for him since there were many people enjoying the day and there would be lots of cans and bottles. He said he was a retired truck driver, couldn’t sleep past 3:00 and just thought canning could be rewarding. He fills his pickup at 1.30$ a pound and goes to the recycling once a week. I told him my name and he said, “Cool, I live with a guy that name. Known the guy for 32 years. He’s a Vietnam vet, not in good shape, and his wife died last year. I got divorced and decided to just help him out since he is my friend. I cook and clean and do the shopping, we sit around and watch sports or movies, and I know he really appreciates having me around.”
    Made me cry and ask the DUDE to watch over him and his friend. And when I see him now he always has some good words for me too.
    Would be nice if life was just that simple.
    Me and Sergio, down by the harbor.
    Stiks

    • Re: “Made me cry and ask the DUDE to watch over him”

      Stiks, don’t know ya. Do know George. Couple years ago suggested to him he hosts a ‘retreat’ for us old farts to share for a few days on his E. Texas acres.

      I must have missed your “Save the world” post. Been on several SKI trips the last year. (Spending Kid’s Inheritance) and am currently on the 32nd floor of Marriott’s Grand Chateau @ E. Harmon, Las Vegas. Yeah, drinking a bit too much and just down from the 37th floor’s rooftop hot tub where I’ve met several nice folks.

      I don’t have a minute fraction of Elon’s purported wealth, but unlike most people, I look at him the same way CAF does. BUT, I do have his pocket change and have been wanting to save the world (and my 3 daughters) but have failed to find a way so decided to go out with a BANG. You’re heading out for a cruise… I’m ‘Un-packing to die’. Giving everything not nailed down away to locals that will use/benefit from it and spending what time is left LIVING.

      After this week in Vegas, I’ll fly to S.C. for a family visit for a week, then Florida for an old friend, then back for 5 weeks on the beach in S.C.’s Isle of Palms in July/August.

      Financial SHIT is about to hit the fan. I liquidated ALL my longs [think I booked $100K loss doing it], bot half a mil T-Bills maturing April 12. Shorted another half a mil equities (Oracle’s current liabilities EXCEED their current assets…yeah, Apple too !!! trillion dollar market cap and can’t pay current bills without borrowing more money…

      https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/aapl/financials/balance-sheet

      ) and got on the plane to enjoy life (and watch/talk to people…market research/tax write off… LOL}.

      I’ll be back home in E. Texas Sunday for a few weeks. Tell me HOW you’re gonna save the world in an email. George has my permission to pass on my email address if you ask for it.

      Yeah, I’m also an old fart, Viet Nam vet, 76 in June (but still mobile)

  18. Just finished reading today’s diatribe and I’ve reached these following conclusion:
    A) You are extremely smart, indeed !
    B) But perhaps, all you write doesn’t matter ?
    C) It is all entertainment for US run by entities beyond our comprehension ?! We are puppets.
    D) I see the globe overpopulated as our BIGGEST problem, because of our consumption. The globe was not laid out to support billions of consumers.

    • E) Just another Playa in a Holographic Universe, You Bee & We all Bee, Fractals.

      ? Who is behind the “Screen”..You, Me, Gdog..?

  19. In my life, I’ve never had a significant other or even a casual aquaintance ask or try to tell me to stay off ladders, even though I’ve done some crazy things up high. Some part of me sometimes wishes for that level of caring!

    I built two masonry chimneys using only a pair of wooden ladders, while carrying up the materials as necessary. One chimney was 36 feet tall. Yes, FWIW I was a bit younger then, but the terrain was unforgiving regardless of age.

    I’ve never considered visual acuity or reaction time to be that important to safety and situational awareness on ladders or even on rope. For me, it’s far more important to maintain proprioceptive awareness and balance. IMHO, it’s much more about feeling for a step or other structural support and transferring weight carefully to be sure everything remains stable. Yes, it’s nice to see where you’re going, but a ladder or other device may be in near dark or even pitch black. Eyes are useful, but they’re hardly the only senses we have. Obviously, that’s not true for dynamic situations such as encountered by a trapeze artist.

    One thing to be aware of are loud or unexpected noises. They can affect balance far more than many people realize. When I was working on a ladder next to a freeway, I had to just stop and stabilize against the building when trucks came by and ran over cracks and expansion joints. The booms, crashes, and other sudden noises made my sense of balance unreliable.

    • You allude to an important point, i.e. BALANCE.

      At my age I can attest to it being more important than visual acuity. Take care of your balance as you grow older and (perhaps) wiser.

      • Thanks! I do pay great attention to balance, and at George’s age – so far, so good. Sometimes it’s important to chase your limits. One thing you can do is to lay out a very low balance beam(2×4 on the floor with padding both sides. Stabilize the ends with additional 2×4 pieces. You can practice all kinds of movements, everything from simple walking, with near zero consequences. Good luck.

  20. For Stu and JC:

    This showed up in my Mormon newsletter today (I’m Quaker, but believe inspiration can come from anywhere, since whatever it inspires always comes from within.)

    The Israelis are preparing to sacrifice a red heifer.

    (quote)
    “GLENN BECK: So back in January, a story flew under the radar, that is worth discussing, and it wasn’t discussed because the mainstream media has no idea what this even means.

    But at the 100-day mark of the war in Israel, October 7th, the military spokesman for Hamas gave a televised speech about the Hamas efforts, as well as a reminder of the purpose of the war.”
    (/quote)

    (para)
    The red heifer.

    Only nine red heifers have been sacrificed since Moses.

    And that happened before the year 70 AD.

    The belief is the tenth red heifer ceremony would usher in the Messianic Age.

    Me: The Israeli ‘Temple Institute Rabbis’ acquired and imported four perfect (religiously pure) red heifers from Texas, last fall…

    …and intend to sacrifice them during Passover, to purify the Temple Mount.

    You don’t have to believe the red heifer thing. However, I believe they believe it.

    This Easter may be a very violent weekend. If we are to take Hamas at its words,

    that no media is reporting on…

    https://www.glennbeck.com/radio/israels-heifer-prophecy-happening-now

    I linked to GB because he provided the fastest, easiest to understand commentary on the “red heifer prophecy.” I suggest people read it or listen (it’s 16:24 in length), and soon…

  21. “And this last is where we get into the real “unfair advantage” the unholy alliance of AI and econometric modeling really struts its stuff. This is how the “Casino gets rigged.”

    AI just keeps getting better, and there are people who’re so stupid they don’t realize that every time they use it, play with it, or even ask it a question, they contribute to making it even better.

    Since my computer is still toast, I’ve been on one that’s not set up with my many rules, filters, and “garbage traps.” On farcebook yesterday, I noticed recipes posted by the three “hillbilly chefs” I follow (in addition to snooping on my kids) were virtually nonexistent, having been replaced by inane drivel regarding celebrities, cars, architecture, history, etc. Every post is AI-generated and the vast majority of the vehicle and archi posts include a “photo” of a building or an interior feature that doesn’t exist anywhere in the known universe, but was created using AI or, (for MVs) an extrapolation of an existing car or truck with features and/or a paintjob which are incongruous with the marque or the period. (NOBODY is going to chop & channel a Duesenberg, Hispano Suiza, or Type 55 Bug…)

    You can bet that the reasoning of every economist and financial planner is being piped into the “rules” or “behavioral” channel of every AI iteration that’s plugged into the NYSE. The only saving grace to this is I’m sure people like Cramer get mainlined into the “intelligence” channel, too…

  22. “West decries Putin’s reelection while China, India vow closer ties.

    British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the election outcome highlighted the “depth of repression” in Russia. “Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy,” Cameron said.”

    First of all, Putin’s popularity in Russia is about 79.7% so no opposition candidate was going to ring the bell, anyway.

    Second of all, what do Cameron and the other Euroweenies have to say regarding Joe Biden removing his political opponents, controlling the media, etc.?

    • Cameron and kneelers got lot more concern regard Madelinne mcann dirt coming out..they knew everything realtime, refuse SBS rescue operation the home ofc did. All sorts dirt breaking out regards a now retired “dodgy polly” from downunder. No not talking Parrots, either.

      photgraphed her while on vaca, shopped to EU diplomat, series of yachts moved her, abused and “snuffed”..yes that is proper connotation..Snuffed.

  23. “SKOMOL”

    Your kid and my kids agree.

    However, I live alone, can’t afford a maid or a handyman, and have yet to find a single job that will do itself.

    I don’t like ladder work. Hell, I don’t even like bucket-lift work. If I go up more than two steps I suffer vertigo. It is the same vertigo I suffered 50 years ago when I’d climb 36′ up a ladder to paint a house, or put on me gummies to reroof a 12×12 pitch, 30 feet up.

    With that said (and my kids safely elsewhere), when I have ladder work to do, I do it. I may throw a tether around the chimney to ensure the ladder can’t slip (or walk), and I may throw a second, to clip to my safety harness, but I still go up, and still hate it.

    I don’t figure a 60- 70- 80- year old is really any more likely to fall than a youngster, unless they have a physical malady (like Parkinson’s) which makes ANY climbing (or even walking) somewhat risky. It’s just if we do [fall], we’re going to get hurt a lot worse and likely not live long enough to ever completely heal, so the issue isn’t the ladder itself, but ensuring that, barring an Act of God, an accident can’t occur.

    • At the young age of 82, I find I’m no longer eager to climb the 24′ water tower I built 25 years ago. Not so much because I’m physically unable, because I’m fully able, physically. It’s just that when I near the top, my hands refuse to release the angle iron ladder uprights so I can transition to the tank platform. In fact I think I’m leaving handprints in the angle iron. Vertigo is a terrible malady.

    • 12/12 is definitely the limit for walking on a roof, even if asphalt shingle. No way on metal without a rope or other support. 6/12 on metal is my limit without a rope, at least. One thing I did to increase safety is to mount several “permanent” Stainless Steel anchors under the ridge caps for any pitch greater than 3/12. Shingles don’t last out here so everything is slippery metal, especially before it gets weathered. I’ll never wear a harness using a back ring, as self rescue is impossible, and I work alone. I agree that reasonable care, situational awareness, and knowing your limits(or testing them carefully) is the safest way to get it done.

      I’ve read somewhere that writing a check makes for instant magical results, at least until it bounces. I’ll pass on that consequence.

  24. During the Depression and WW2….. during the War there was a severe shortage of cooking oil and eggs and was rationed.. since mayonaise was not rationed and is nothing more than spun oil and eggs it was used in a variety of ways to make different dishes.. below is one…

    Easy Pie Crust..
    1.5 cups of flour
    1 tbsp. baking powder
    1/4 tsp salt
    3/4 cups of mayonnaise

    mix
    kneed ,
    roll out (on a floured surface )

    line
    Bake and enjoy..

Comments are closed.