Just One Thing: Where's the recession?
UPDATE: Right on time, this morning (as I've been thinking about this issue for a few days), the Wall Street Journal brings what I think is basically the right answer: Why the U.S. Remains Far From Recession (msn.com)
Economically speaking, I'm confused. I keep waiting for a recession. Not cheering for one, but expecting one. And yet so far the economic data just aren’t showing it. Recessions, as far as when they start and end, are only officially defined in retrospect. So if we’re in one now we won’t be told so until later. In Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises” a character named Mike is asked how he went bankrupt. His rather famous answer: “Gradually and then suddenly.” The thing is that the gradual part can be hard to notice. Housing prices, which one would have expected to drop significantly with a massive rise in interest rates, have stayed quite high. The CEO of Costco recently said that people are buying less beef and steak, and more chicken and pork. That could be part of a gradual onset of a recession…or it could just be because beef prices are very high. We won’t know except in hindsight.
Costco shoppers shifting away from specific item; CFO says it’s indicator of recession (msn.com)
The COVID home price boom isn't going bust (Axios.com)
Commodities Slide as Investors Bet on Economic Slowdown - WSJ
And yet: Even a hot economy can't please Americans (axios.com)
Wall Street Backs Off Bets on Fed Rate Cuts - WSJ
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Today's Guest
Dale Brown is one of the nation's (and the world's) most successful thriller authors. I'd call his books techno-paramilitary thrillers, and the latest (the third book) in his Nick Flynn series, "Weapons of Opportunity", is another wild ride. The evil mastermind from the previous novel, a hyper-ambitious Russian oligarch named Pavel Voronin has designs on bringing America to its knees. Flynn and his team have to stop them before it's too late. As I noted, Dale's books have a lot of cool technology playing important roles in the story. It always leaves me wondering how many of the "toys" are already real, will be real one day soon, or will always be in our imagination. Anyway, if you like the genre, you'll love "Weapons of Opportunity."
Weapons of Opportunity (Nick Flynn Series, Book 3): Dale Brown: 9798212188340: Amazon.com
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Other Stuff
The word I learned today: lalochezia - Wiktionary
It's pronounced like "lah-low-key'-zee-ah"
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The debate over AM radio in vehicles heats up in Congress:
The Battle For AM: Farm Broadcasters Mount ‘Why I Listen’ Campaign. | Story | insideradio.com
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This makes as much sense as anything else going on in the world today.
WWE star Stan Lane takes DNA test to prove he's not Lauren Boebert's dad (nypost.com)
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If we had more Democrats like this guy, the nation might be OK. I don't mean he's right...but he's not insane and utterly authoritarian. I encourage you to have a listen and I will be trying to get Mr. Teixera on my show: Ruy Teixeira: Politics Editor at LiberalPatriot.com - Robert Bryce - Author | Journalist | Public Speaker
Thoughts from that podcast:
What’s really changed with the left is the magnitude of their authoritarianism
It’s seeping into society. So many people want to tell others how to live. This does not end well.
Look at the intolerance (from both sides) shown by these stories:
Christian ministry coffee shop protested against over anti-homosexuality stance (denver7.com)
Parents clash in Pride protest at US primary school - BBC News
Utah primary schools ban Bible for 'vulgarity and violence' - BBC News
Is this the kind of country you want to live in?
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Democrats are evil because teachers unions are evil: The Illinois Scholarship Scandal - WSJ
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Makes perfect sense to me: More High-School Grads Forgo College in Hot Labor Market - WSJ
More: Americans Are Losing Faith in College Education, WSJ-NORC Poll Finds - WSJ
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The behavior of the school district in this case is unconscionable...and utterly predictable: Elon Musk Supports Girl Who Spoke Up About Trans Student
For more, see the video at the end of this blogcast.
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Offered without comment:
Citation Jet Crashes In Virginia After Supersonic Intercept By F-16s (Updated) (msn.com)
Sonic boom in D.C. as F-16 fighter aircraft move to intercept Cessna (axios.com)
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We’re going to have to be incredibly careful… AI’s Rapid Growth Threatens to Flood 2024 Campaigns With Fake Videos - WSJ
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I don't think Dems who are supporting RFK Jr understand just how utterly poisonous his decades-long anti-vaccine propaganda will be among Democrats and moderates. I'm talking about way before COVID. He basically has argued for child abuse, as far as I'm concerned. (Don't bother emailing me nonsense about systematic harm from vaccines. There is absolutely no evidence of that.)
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The right approach: Walmart’s Pride merchandising unchanged as Target sees backlash over new items | Fox Business
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We sure did see this in Colorado: In A Contentious Lawmaking Season, Red States Got Redder And Blue Ones Bluer (Original at NY Times)
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Scotch vs bourbon: The Clear Difference Between Scotch And Bourbon (msn.com)
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This is NOT surprising: AI could soon approve your credit card loan | Daily Mail Online
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Today's Videos
The remarkable story of the Serbian sports agent who signed a teenage Nikola Jokic without ever seeing him play
Nikola Jokic’s Agent Reveals Why He Signed Nuggets Star Before Even Seeing Him Play (kdvr.com)
And here's another interesting Nuggets story: Kroenke bought Nuggets, kept team in Denver, now hoping to deliver an NBA title (kdvr.com)
This is nuts even though the diver was in a cage: Giant great white shark captured by daring diver with fish-eye view: video (nypost.com)
You can tell from the audio that the video is saved in slow-motion. You can get closer to (but not all the way to) actual speed by clicking on the gear icon (for setting) in the YouTube window and then changing the playback speed to 2.
I don't entirely understand this sport
The 2023 cheese rolling champion face-planted, got a concussion, and regrets nothing (msn.com)
Woman wins UK cheese rolling race despite being knocked unconscious | England | The Guardian
She made it home: Cheese rolling winner from Canada returns home - BBC News
And I love this line: "Injuries are common at the event and police and fire services have said they will no longer staff the race until organisers come up with a safety plan."
Seriously, watch this lunacy from 5 years ago
Following up on the story above about a boy (who identifies as a girl) using a high school girls' locker room:
This, also, is not going to end well