Posts

Go Nuclear

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... expand on news story quote, "gold gained 24% over the past five months as it benefited from the so-called debasement trade" Gold has gained 24% over the past five months, driven primarily by the "debasement trade" — a market trend where investors shift capital from fiat currencies and bonds into hard assets like gold to hedge against fears of currency devaluation, rising government debt, and persistent inflation.  This trade is fueled by concerns that central banks may continue expanding the money supply through policies like Quantitative Easing (QE) to finance growing fiscal deficits, eroding the purchasing power of fiat currencies. As real interest rates remain low or negative, gold becomes more attractive as a store of value.  Key drivers include: - Rising government debt levels, such as the Netherlands’ projected debt-to-GDP ratio of 126% by 2060.  - Persistent inflation and money supply growth, especially following pandemic-era stimulus.  - Geopolitical ten...
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My “Catcher in the Rye” Summer

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... "Epstein's association with Interlochen dates back to 1967, when as a 14-year-old bassoon player, he attended the school's summer camp." Epstein's Interlochen Connection Jeffrey Epstein's association with Interlochen dates back to 1967, when he attended the school's summer camp as a 14-year-old bassoon player. He later reconnected with the institution in the 1990s, where Interlochen viewed him as a loyal alumnus and major benefactor. Epstein funded the construction of an on-campus lodge, established a scholarship fund, hosted alumni events, and even allowed the use of his private jet to bring renowned artists like Itzhak Perlman to campus. This financial support granted him access to the school’s open campus, where he and Ghislaine Maxwell allegedly used the environment to groom and recruit teenage girls. The school has since implemented stricter policies, including banning unsupervised contact between students and outside adults, following the exposur...
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For you, brethren, have been called to liberty;

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... update summary of death of Quentin Deranque Update on Quentin Deranque Death Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old French far-right activist and Catholic convert, died on February 14, 2026, from severe brain injuries sustained during a violent assault in Lyon. The attack occurred after a pro-Palestinian conference hosted by La France Insoumise (LFI) at Sciences Po Lyon, where Deranque was present with the far-right group Nemesis, which was protesting the event. An autopsy confirmed he suffered fatal head trauma from being beaten and kicked by at least six individuals. The Lyon prosecutor's office upgraded the investigation from aggravated manslaughter to voluntary homicide, citing a "methodically prepared ambush" by masked attackers. By February 18, 11 suspects had been arrested—eight men and three women, aged 21 to 25 (one woman in her 40s). Among them were two parliamentary assistants to LFI deputy Raphaël Arnault, one of whom was linked to the dissolved far-left militant...
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Homelessness as Metaphor

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... synopsis of novel by Lorrie Moore, I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home Lorrie Moore’s novel “I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home” (2023) weaves together three interlocking narratives centered on grief, memory, and the persistence of the past. The primary story follows Finn, a middle-aged high school history teacher in Illinois, who is suspended from his job after teaching math and defying school policy.  He travels to New York City to visit his dying brother, Max, in hospice in the Bronx, grappling with his own emotional unraveling and unresolved feelings for his ex-wife, Lily, who has recently died by suicide in a surreal, symbolic drowning. After discovering Lily’s body in her home, Finn becomes convinced she has returned—partially resurrected—and embarks on a bizarre, road-trip journey across the Midwest with her decomposing corpse, seeking to fulfill her final wishes and confront their shared past. Along the way, Finn checks into a decaying, gothic inn known as the South ...
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Fiddler on the Grave

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... search the Rich Man song from Fiddler on the Roof If I Were a Rich Man is a song from the 1964 musical Fiddler on the Roof, composed by Jerry Bock and written by Sheldon Harnick. It is performed by the main character, Tevye, and expresses his whimsical dreams of wealth, blending material desires with spiritual aspirations. The song's title draws inspiration from a 1902 monologue by Sholem Aleichem, Ven ikh bin Rothschild, though the lyrics incorporate elements from Aleichem’s 1899 short story The Bubble Bursts. The song features a distinctive "bidi-bidi-bum" chant, originally invented by Harnick to evoke Chassidic chanting, later altered by actor Zero Mostel for authenticity. The song has been widely covered and adapted, and remains one of the most iconic numbers in American musical theater, noted for its cultural depth and emotional resonance.  ... the song's use of the "were" verb form is a grammar textbook example of the subjunctive mood Yes, the use ...
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The Daily Robot

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On February 10, 2026, Electrek.co published a story, written by "Scooter Doll," about the Rivian R2 prototype electric vehicle. To be honest, I'm perfectly satisfied with my Toyota gas burner, and this wasn't exactly headline news—I simply noticed it among the day's many stories. What caught my attention was the striking black-and-white photograph capturing "the moment the first validation build of the Rivian R2 electric SUV rolled off the production line at the company's factory in Normal, Illinois." The description came from Google Lens. Photo credit is attributed to Rivian/X. A Google Lens image search reveals the original X post along with several reprints by different publications. While other images of the Rivian R2 vehicle exist, this particular photograph appears unique in its black-and-white presentation—at least based on a preliminary search. In this age of high-resolution photography and extensive photo manipulation technology, I find myse...
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Now, the AI is Talking its Book.

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... what is the financial definition of "the carry trade" A carry trade is a financial strategy where an investor borrows money in a low-interest-rate currency or asset and invests the proceeds in a higher-yielding currency or asset to profit from the interest rate differential, known as the "carry." This strategy is commonly used in foreign exchange (forex) markets, where traders borrow in currencies like the Japanese yen (JPY) or euro (EUR) and invest in higher-yielding currencies such as the US dollar (USD) or Australian dollar (AUD). The goal is to earn a steady income from the interest rate spread while potentially benefiting from favorable exchange rate movements. The funding currency (low interest rate) is borrowed, and the target currency (higher interest rate) is invested in. While the strategy can generate consistent returns during stable market conditions, it bears significant risk due to exchange rate volatility, sudden changes in interest rates, and mar...
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