In most two-player games, it is generally better to win the toss and go first. And if you are sharing a pizza with someone and want to have a larger portion, it’s usually better to grab the first slice and pick a really large one. But there are situations in which it might be better… Continue reading Play First and Lose: Zugzwang in Chess, Math and Pizzas
Crypto & Crude Extend Yesterday’s Gains As Bonds & Stocks See Massive Roundtrip
The narrative for today’s gains were 1) apparently positive headlines from Ukraine (though contradictory messages from both sides on talks were made), 2) ADP showed strong job gains (but embarrassed itself as practically useless with a massive revision to last month’s job losses), and 3) Powell affirmed a single rate-hike in March but opened the… Continue reading Crypto & Crude Extend Yesterday’s Gains As Bonds & Stocks See Massive Roundtrip
Why Is Everyone Suddenly Bullish On Energy?
Energy, after several years of underperformance and overall decreased mainstream relevance in the financial markets, is making a big return. And following the price action driven by the Russia/Ukraine conflict, the sentiment around it seems to have gotten considerably more bullish. And the ETF flows into the primary crude oil ETF (USO) confirm this:… Continue reading Why Is Everyone Suddenly Bullish On Energy?
Biden’s Rhetoric on Ukraine Has Been Quite Moderate. Here’s What That Means
Russian and U.S. diplomats held multiple meetings last week to discuss the fate of Ukraine—talks that apparently failed to defuse the crisis. The U.S. government warned Friday of potential sabotage operations in Ukraine, a move that might give Moscow a pretext to mobilize some 100,000 Russian troops near the border to cross into Ukraine. Russian… Continue reading Biden’s Rhetoric on Ukraine Has Been Quite Moderate. Here’s What That Means
Lenten Assignment: Be Grateful! – SpiritualDirection.com
True gratitude is a grace, or gift, from God. It proceeds from a humble and transformed heart. We do not render thanks merely because it is polite or expected, or because God commands it but because it flows naturally from a profound experience of gratitude. The “command” of Scripture to give thanks is not a… Continue reading Lenten Assignment: Be Grateful! – SpiritualDirection.com
The Uncanny Valley of Xenobots
They appear, at first, like so many toy tops spinning around a petri dish, etching squiggly patterns on the plate as if it were an ice rink. But soon enough, their work makes you realize that these tiny dervishes are, unmistakably, alive. You are in the presence of xenobots, which a few years ago made… Continue reading The Uncanny Valley of Xenobots
Wars Rarely Achieve Their Initial Goals: The Curse Of Second-Order Effects
Authored by Charles Hugh Smith via OfTwoMinds blog, Initial victories do not guarantee the war will be won. Rather, they arouse the most dangerous enemy: the fatal hubris of over-confidence. War tops the long list of human folly for a basic reason: it rarely achieves the initial goals of launching the war. It takes a special… Continue reading Wars Rarely Achieve Their Initial Goals: The Curse Of Second-Order Effects
Understanding the Power Hour in Stocks
The power hour in stocks is typically referred to as the last hour of the trading day between 3 and 4 PM EST. Intro It’s well know that the regular trading hours for the Nasdaq Stock Market and the New York Stock Market (NYSE) are 9:30 a.m. ET to 4 p.m. ET on weekdays… Continue reading Understanding the Power Hour in Stocks
Ukraine Needs Help Surviving Airstrikes, Not Just Killing Tanks
Much of the Western discussion about helping Ukraine in the face of overwhelming Russian military advantage centers on relatively short-range weapons and tactics meant to enmesh an invasion force in the “next Afghanistan” or a “near certainty of hell”: for example, providing more Javelin anti-tank weapons, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and weaponized drones; or training Ukrainian… Continue reading Ukraine Needs Help Surviving Airstrikes, Not Just Killing Tanks
Three Ways to Live Lent as a Family
Growing up Protestant, Lent just was not much of a thing in my home. I saw banners for the Friday Fish Fry at the local Catholic Church, and McDonald’s would advertise their fish sandwiches, but since I didn’t enjoy seafood it was easy for Lent to pass me by. When I entered the Church as… Continue reading Three Ways to Live Lent as a Family