Two-Part Tuesday – Residential Briefing – Sunshine, Symbology and Sideband

We begin with the “two-part Tuesday” explainer:  The Case-Shiller, S&P (and whoever) Housing report will be out at 8 AM.

I guess we could call it “Two-and-a-half-part” Tuesday because around 10 AM the markets will have a Maalox Moment when both the Labor JOLTS report and consumer confidence show up – surely adding a half-point of thumb pressure on the future from those.

Anyway, refresh about 8:15 am for the Housing dope, Bring your own turtle, as I may wax on while waiting for another pun to show up.

Digital Ponzi Risk: Bitcoin slid to around $59,200 in overnight trading, cracking open the growing realization there’s nothing real behind it—you can’t eat it. Quantum computing is coming for the security algos in the longer term anyway, which makes this a timely reminder: Real assets (land, tools, skills) over digital promises. Will the MUMI—the Making Up Money Industry—be part of the larger crash when reality finally bites? Our long-wave models say keep an eye on the fungibility fault lines.

News Compressor – Residential Briefing

Progress in America is an uneven thing because of our election structure.  Once every four years, we go down to the train station with elections. Then we’re all forced to board the next train wreck rolling toward Future.  So far it has worked and the holiday honoring that comes Saturday.

While we wait for the next train station event, we run what’s becoming a forward-facing intelligence op – which is the whole point of reading news, is it not?

Here’s how the residential briefing reads so you can personally judge how the present runaway train is careening along.  It begins with turning on the News Compressor:

“The main things that changed overnight are escalating developments in Venezuela’s earthquake recovery, major U.S. Supreme Court rulings expanding presidential authority, and deadly wildfire activity in the western U.S. Venezuela’s death toll from the June 24 twin quakes (M7.2 and M7.5) climbed above 1,700, with over 5,000 injured and thousands missing; aftershocks continue, and frustration grows over slow aid amid a deepening humanitarian crisis, including missing U.S.-deported Venezuelans. U.S. Supreme Court decisions included upholding broader presidential firing powers over independent agencies (while blocking removal of Fed Governor Lisa Cook for now) and allowing states to count certain late mail ballots. In Utah, the Cottonwood Fire (largest active U.S. wildfire) grew past 90,000 acres with 0% containment; three firefighters died battling blazes on the Colorado-Utah border amid critical fire weather. Markets showed mixed recovery with tech rebounds.”

Blink Lab – Actionable News

Too many people just “read news and roll over.”  But if you look, there are many opportunities to become personally involved.  That’s why this next section focuses on action.

Venezuela: Prioritize monitoring aftershocks via USGS; U.S. agencies assessing aid/deportee impacts. Action point:  Give something for relief work.

Wildfires: Utah Cottonwood at ~93k acres (0% contained); Snyder/Gold Mountain also active. NWS red flag warnings critical—evacuations ongoing.  Action point: Clear a reasonable fire perimeter around your home.  Check extinguishers and have 150-feet of metal covered hose (like this stuff) on a reel for instant use.

Supreme Court: Trump v. Slaughter expands firing powers; Cook ruling provides Fed safeguard. Mail ballot decision affects midterms. Action point: Turn down regulatory appointments if offered.

Markets: S&P/Nasdaq near records amid chip rebound; oil down on Iran talks. Watch EIA updates. Action point: Build relations – spend wealth.

Energy: SPR stocks at 1983 lows; focus on Hormuz stability. Action: Walk more, pump less.

Health: European heat overwhelms systems; U.S. tick virus cases rising. Action: Stay indoors with the A/C on.

Cyber: No major new KEV/CISA alerts; monitor disaster-related disruptions.  Action: It’s still a good idea to update software, do a deep virus scan, then a fresh reboot before logging onto where your money lives.  Paranoia protects paper…

Supply Chain: Wildfire impacts on transport minimal so far. Action: If vacation plans involve I-40,, I-80, or I-90 out west, hit the InciWeb fire site for routing tips.

Related preparedness: Utah emergency declarations; monitor NWS hazards. Cottonwood fire won’t roll-down until next week – if we’re lucky.

Space/Science: Routine; no major anomalies. Action (lower altitude) Train children to be fire-spotters on the Fourth – watching where the aerial bomb wreckage comes down.

Local Ops Note: Small business disruptions in fire zones; aviation/firework restrictions. TFR Check for fires and VIP movements ahead of the holiday.

Civil Order: Jail incidents in NC; general stability. Action point: don’t drink and drive.

Law/Gov: TPS/border rulings actionable for planning. Action plan for rental owners: back-up plans for renter acquisition.

New Signals in the News Noise

Wildfire Line-of-Duty Deaths may rise (Confidence: 80, unfortunately): Three confirmed in Utah/Colorado border blazes; signals intensifying Western fire season risks amid drought/red flag patterns. Pasco (WA) and CO fires scaling.

Presidential Power Precedents (Confidence: 75): SCOTUS rulings on agencies/Fed could cascade to broader admin actions—watch implementation speed.

SPR Drawdown Lows (Confidence: 65%): Oil reserves at historic lows signal energy security vulnerabilities. Outlook for cheaper gas at end of driving season lowers, expect higher oil heating prices this winter. Insulate when it’s warm out.

Europe Heat Mortality Strain (Confidence: 60%): Morgue overflows flag climate-health intersections. Action question: “If I lost public water supplies for 90 days, what is my plan?”

Now, while we wait to see if the train wreck makes it around the next curve into future safely, let’s get strategic about life.

At the Ranch: Sunshine, Symbology and Sideband

Sunshine and Hydroponics are a big focus around here.  As you know, we built a decent 10 X 20 foot lean-to greenhouse a couple of years back.  And this year, I am serious about getting the space into useful summer production.  As you might guess, the main enemy is heat.

The swamp cooler output temps are reasonable, even when the local temps hit 101.3 momentarily inside the grow space Monday. I’ve decided to attack with science and this is pretty interesting because the findings are driving the work plan.

1. The metal roof which is basically the first 2-feet of slooping down ceiling isn’t insulated.  And that – according to the cheapo heat gun – was hitting 128F yesterday.  AI consult found the highest ROI would be installing mylar “space blanket” film and edge-sealing them.
2. Slowing down the swamp cooler may have helped, too.  Thing is, when you run a swamp cooler on high speed, you move more air but the flip side is it’s warmer air.
3. Also related: The big 3100 CFM exhaust fan may have been pulling hot air (from outside) in under the door or other cracks an imperfections (in my work????).  Two part solution here: A speed control has slowed the output fan while leaving it adjustable.  Final setting will be done with a manometer…

OK, a what?  A manometer is a simple instrument that measures the pressure of a gas or liquid by comparing it against atmospheric pressure or another known pressure, often using the height difference of a liquid column.  And you can pick them up on Amazon for under thirty bucks.  Ours lands tomorrow.

These are like a real sensitive barometer.  So the work flow for me will be simple.  Step outside the greenhouse, note the ambient air pressure.  Then go back into the green house.  If the pressure is higher than ambient, I can speed up the exhaust; if lower then slow that bad-boy down.  When it’s zero best cooling should result.

The quality of measuring tools these days is outstanding.  Between a manometer, an under $200 (sale) thermal imaging camera, and a couple of good laser temp guns, you can save enough money to…pay for the tools, lol.

Symbology has been impacting my dreams strongly in recent weeks. For example, I had a dream Saturday morning that didn’t make sense.  I dreamed about four people being in a “yellow station wagon” and had no idea what that was about.

And I didn’t think much about it when my friend and neighbor called Sunday to firm up Monday afternoon out for Chinese food.  OK…great.

He and his missus showed up at 3 PM Monday and we went off to a dandy meal in town. In a burgundy colored SUV with glaring sunshine and a light tan interior.  Which left me all the way into town pondering “Is this was that was about?” Not woo-woo – just interesting as hell.  Because in the dream the vehicle was “nose up” – like it was driving up a wall of some kind.  Oh, well.

Sideband Dream:  Fresh from the “yellow station wagon dream, pointing up on a wall with four people in it” I wasn’t really ready for the detailed dream overnight.  See, I restore old ham radio equipment and it’s an enjoyable hobby.  But I had never dreamed about a specific radio before.

Last night – well, this morning on waking – I was having an intense dream about restoring and using a Drake TR-5 ham transceiver. It hasn’t come up on eBay yet, but in the dream it would and I would somehow end up with it.

What makes the TR-5 so interesting becomes clear when you read the eHam reviews of the radio:

“The TR-5 is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT radio than the TR-7! The TR-5 is a much newer design and does not use that mother board/plug in subassembly construction. The board to board wiring used the (modern for the time) IDC connectors, and the construction is neat and professional, IMO much better than the TR-7. It is a ham-bands-only radio, but has FULL QSK for CW.”

And since I’m a CW afficianado this one would be right up my alley.

I was already planning to get my Hermes Lite 2 built and on the air this weekend because it’s a three-dayer so the build would be a dual-use project: Article for ShopTalk Sunday plus I want to get the PureSignal and Thetis software dancing.  More on (or moron) Sunday.

Stapler at the ready, space blankets ho!  After the housing data drops and more food than I really need…

Write when you get rich,

George@Ure.net