Posted On: Saturday - October 18th 2025 8:57AM MST
In Topics: Websites Global Financial Stupidity Economics US Feral Government Inflation
There's been a lot of talk about the
It's a long-term thing. People will "trade" gold back and forth for the usual get-rich-quick reasons, the serious financial guys talk about diversification and asset allocation, and now, lately for some it's "Don't miss out!" I haven't been concerned with any of that. Gold may stay low vs the US $ because people don't see what's going on for long periods then rocket up once there's lots of news, but, in the long run gold knows inflation. Inflation can't run, and it can't hide, well, maybe from the BLS, but not from gold.
The "Gold, Bitchez!" phrase was a regular classic in the comments section of the old ZeroHedge of a dozen years back. I had extra time on my hands, and because the site had perhaps only 10 posts daily then and fewer comments, I'd read through it all each day, for a period of over a year. ZH was more solely a financial news/opinion site then, with a focus on the pretty obvious (to the Tyler Durdens and commenters) coming financial crash due to "what can't go on, won't go on."
The arguments back and forth about real money were entertaining. I remember all the derision laid upon FED Chairman Ben Bernanke's statement that gold is a barbaric relic. I learned a lot - I LOLed a lot. My wife thought this ZH fixation was all a complete waste of my time** - it did distract me lots, but then, she's come around lately, and on other issues too.
Let me go back a decade from then, to just past the turn of the century. This was the first time I had any serious amount of money on me to save in the wisest manner. It was probably a page linked off the Lew Rockwell site on which I read a bit about real money. (A few years later, I read a whole book on what makes something "money" - I've tried to find it since, and all I learned was it sure wasn't this one!) On those old web pages, there was nothing I could find wrong with the arguments given. I had some thoughts about it ... and didn't get any gold.
Look at the chart above, and you'll see that, yes, I should be kicking myself. I could have obtained a couple of hundred barbaric relics and still had plenty left in the bank. I could have bought low and sold high, but no, that's not the point, as I'll get to. As it stood, I left the US dollars in the bank. After making one big mistake with stocks, I'd realized that sort of thing was not for me. However, leaving money in the bank making 6% was old school thinking, the kind that really had not been appropriate for my whole life and those of most readers.
Moving forward again to my ZH days, yes, I bought some gold at various prices. I can't remember if my wife did do that deal of circling her finger around her ear, but I doubt she'll be doing that now.
"OK, so you're ahead on your investment. Good job." people would tell me. "Now, you might wanna sell some and buy it back later after it goes down." NO. If you have your mind right about gold you understand that it's not about investing. You can indeed get 4,000 of those green pieces of paper with General Washington on them today and then maybe give someone 2,000 of them later for one. Nope, I've got n troy oz of real money now, and I'll have n troy oz of real money tomorrow. That's the point.
I'd have much rather backed up the truck (another old ZH expression) to a coin shop 25 years ago, surely. That's in the past. I'm not up for "buying" low, "selling" high. (The quotes are there because it's really the opposite - selling pieces of paper or digits and buying more later.) I'm not waiting for the "head and shoulders curve", "death cross", or whatever other crystal-graph-reading mumbo-jumbo the (NON)"Technical traders" discuss in their newsletters.
I don't WANT to be a trader. I have a job that has nothing to do with that. For well nigh a century - some would say about 55 years since the closing of the gold(backing) window, some 90 years since the Commie FDR attempted confiscation and re-jiggered the non-market "price", and others 112 since the creation of the FED - one couldn't simply save his money, his savings of his life of labor very simply, without it getting stolen. (Slowly, then likely quickly) Not many people alive could remember a time when it was wise to just plain hold onto one's savings.
One has had to have investments in stocks, bonds, funds, real estate etc. One has had to think about long-term capital gains taxes, timing the housing market, getting into that IRA or 401(k). Can you imagine buying a house simply because you want to live there and that's that? Can you imagine putting your money steadily into a bank account with real interest paid and being able to use it to buy things 20 years later of the same value it could before? (... and much more, because the point of interest is not to account for inflation, it's to pay you back the price of the use of your money for years and years.)
That's been hard to imagine since we haven't had sound money in America and the World. Some people, more and more as of late for some reason, have thought about this and realized that gold still has the best properties for use as real money. They are thinking harder now and maybe will think some more on Monday.
We do get long-winded here, so let me excerpt a short comment from one of the best, most common-sense, down-to-earth writers that has appeared on The Unz Review. That would be one Audacious Epigone who wrote the following*** in this thread 6 1/2 years ago:
Inflation requires people who have no business being financial speculators trying their hands at financial speculation anyway because the alternative is to have their savings depreciate over time. Itโs ludicrous.AGREED.
Back again to ZeroHedge, but in the modern day... as in yesterday:
Note the yellow rectangle saying that this post is for Premium ZH Members. Ha. I won't be joining up to read about gold being PUMMELED, PUMMELED, I tells ya', by 3%. Firstly, people tend to keep absolute numbers in their heads when relative numbers would fit better. Yes, in 2002 (OWW! Just kicked myself in the ass again.) a 200 dollar drop would be a big loss. Wait, no it wouldn't anyway, because had I 25 oz of gold at $350 and then 25 oz after it being really pummeled to $150, I'd still have... you got it... 25 oz of REAL MONEY.
Too bad I can't read THOSE comments...
... one more time for olde tyme's sake:
*... and silver, and other precious metals too, but let me stick with discussion gold in this post. The same applies generally to silver, etc.
** She was driving an older semi-beater and wanted something newer. I told her I'd get her a good vehicle if the country was till in one piece by '15. It was, but then a couple of years went by still...
*** Unfortunately for me, only 10% or so of his posts were on financial matters.
Comments:
Moderator
Monday - October 20th 2025 4:20PM MST
PS: I read the Guardian article earlier, and I thank you for that referral, Mr. Hail. That is simply depressing to me. I have a boy, and I don't know what the future is going to be like for him, between this stuff, the financial stuff, and the political stuff. "May you live in interesting ti... strike that, Biblical times."
I hope I can write a post on this article, as a few things stand out for me.
I hope I can write a post on this article, as a few things stand out for me.
Moderator
Monday - October 20th 2025 4:17PM MST
PS: Mr. Hail, that comment (1st one) is a very good way to look at it. Most people, as I have for silver and gasoline, for example, compare purcheses between yesteryear and recent times. I see your point regarding the $200,000 AFTER-TAX salary, meaning $300,000 before, more than an average breadwinner like your $75/month guy from way back.
One could then say that the $2,000 price that gold was hanging out at, roughly 4 years, or better yet, the ~ $1,500 average over the last dozen, with expected dips and rises, is more like it, just under a hundred grand, or 75 grand after taxes is respectable, breadwinner income that could with small sacrifices (maybe without a McMansion and Lincoln Navigator) support a family with the wife at home.
However - and a big one here - I believe this "gold rush" is not just about catching up with inflation this time, and perhaps swinging well to far ahead. It's about more and more people realizing that the country's financial situation may truly be forked, and the US $ perhaps being ready to crash. If you imagine years of 20% inflation (just picking out a number), or worse, actually hyperinflation, what else do you put your money in that's simple. (Real estate is real, sure, but it can require tax paymens - with any residential structures on it, and you're not Leticia James, that bill can be significant and then there will be utility bills. I.e., for most other suggested assets for inflationary times, there are upkeep costs.
(Then too, if thing get really bad, and there IS an actual tyrant in office, property taxes may be set sky high so the average peon must sell out to Blackrock, and, sure, be happy...)
One could then say that the $2,000 price that gold was hanging out at, roughly 4 years, or better yet, the ~ $1,500 average over the last dozen, with expected dips and rises, is more like it, just under a hundred grand, or 75 grand after taxes is respectable, breadwinner income that could with small sacrifices (maybe without a McMansion and Lincoln Navigator) support a family with the wife at home.
However - and a big one here - I believe this "gold rush" is not just about catching up with inflation this time, and perhaps swinging well to far ahead. It's about more and more people realizing that the country's financial situation may truly be forked, and the US $ perhaps being ready to crash. If you imagine years of 20% inflation (just picking out a number), or worse, actually hyperinflation, what else do you put your money in that's simple. (Real estate is real, sure, but it can require tax paymens - with any residential structures on it, and you're not Leticia James, that bill can be significant and then there will be utility bills. I.e., for most other suggested assets for inflationary times, there are upkeep costs.
(Then too, if thing get really bad, and there IS an actual tyrant in office, property taxes may be set sky high so the average peon must sell out to Blackrock, and, sure, be happy...)
SafeNow
Monday - October 20th 2025 8:14AM MST
PS
https://youtu.be/XG4K5mX7jgk?si=88CFT7KlVMHpaMMg
Mr. Adam Smith has provided additional details ( Thank you!) about the nice place where he landed, and this got me thinking about anthem songs about nice places. The above song came to mind. It is from the movie โPopeye.โ 1980.
Lyrics by Harry Nilsson (!) and arrangement and music also by iconic talents.
Sample lyric:
God must have landed here
Why else would He strand us here?
Where the air is nice and clear
https://youtu.be/XG4K5mX7jgk?si=88CFT7KlVMHpaMMg
Mr. Adam Smith has provided additional details ( Thank you!) about the nice place where he landed, and this got me thinking about anthem songs about nice places. The above song came to mind. It is from the movie โPopeye.โ 1980.
Lyrics by Harry Nilsson (!) and arrangement and music also by iconic talents.
Sample lyric:
God must have landed here
Why else would He strand us here?
Where the air is nice and clear
Adam Smith
Sunday - October 19th 2025 7:42PM MST
PS: Good evening, Messrs. SafeNow, Hail and Newman!
200,000 ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐...
๐ป๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐...
Traffic wasn't so bad, but it did take a lot longer to get from the corner of highway 60 to Walmart than usual. Because of the traffic we decided to take the back way home. I'm not sure it was any quicker but the wheels kept rolling.
๐ป๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐ค๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐...
If I can make the ride, take me to NorthSide.
https://www.northside.com/locations/northside-hospital-forsyth
Thank you, Mr. SafeNow. I love it here and I feel super lucky and blessed to have found this place when I did. Even though Dahlonega is growing too fast for my liking it is still semi-rural and 93+% White. (Half the county is national forest.) It is the kind of place where many people leave the keys in the ignition, a pistol in the glove box (or a 12ga on the back seat) and their doors unlocked. (I lock the door in the winter because the door seals better when it is dead-bolted. Gotta keep that cold air out.)
This is a really nice place if you like hiking and nature.
(The hike up to preacher's rock is fun...)
https://www.atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails/preachers-rock-appalachian-trail/
Mrs. Smith and I did a whole lot of hiking when we first met. Unfortunately, as the place has grown, some of our favorite hiking spots have been fenced off or had no trespassing signs installed. (Some of the best hiking is on private land. As the place has become busier and as some of these parcels have changed hands they are no longer open to the public like they once were.) Also, as we get older we have been hiking less. (Mrs. Smith has stage five degenerative scoliosis so her hiking days are pretty well over.)
๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐.. ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ก๐.
Thanks. It seemed liked the thing to do and I'm glad I've been able to do so. At $65 and hour I may have to revamp my business model a little. More computer work, long range wifi, network setups, security camera installations, air conditioning repair and electrical trouble shooting, etc. and fewer oil changes and brake jobs. (Or something like that.)
๐ต๐๐ ๐ก ๐ค๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โฆ๐ข๐โ! โฆ.๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
It could be worse. You could be living in Erie County NY or Essex County NJ. In any case, best wishes to you too!
Mr. Moderator,
๐โ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ 99% ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ผ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ. ๐ผ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ โ๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐. ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐, ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐, ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐?
Why would a crankshaft position sensor work differently when it is hot than when it is cold? Well... Heat causes electronic parts to behave differently mostly because heat alters the electrical resistance of materials and because it degrades internal components. (Among other problems.) Generally, heat affects a crankshaft position sensor by weakening the internal magnet (demagnetization leading to a weak or faulty signal that the ECU cannot read properly), degrading solder joints and wiring, and/or altering the resistance of the materials in the sensor. This can lead to inaccurate readings resulting in problems like a no-start condition, stalling, poor acceleration, and/or an intermittent check engine light.
(Obviously) This isn't unique to crankshaft position sensors. All electrical components (fuses, resistors, coils and coil packs, thermistors, hall effect sensors, etc.) suffer from internal degradation due to the constant heating and cooling cycles as well as from vibrational stress. For example, the resistance in a copper coil (like in a coil or coil pack) increases as the temperature of the copper rises. Alternatively, the resistance in a semiconductor (as found in some sensors, including some crankshaft position sensors) will decrease as temperatures rise. Either way, you can end up with a faulty reading at the ECU or some other resistance problem causing a component to work improperly. (Or fail altogether.)
One time, several years ago, I had a small electrical gremlin in my e34. Apparently, I had a small (almost imperceptible) hairline crack in a 40 amp strip fuse that is located in a plastic box under the hood. When the car was cold everything was fine and normal. When the car was hot, the heat from the engine would cause the strip fuse to expand (and/or increase the resistance) and some of the electrical things would start acting up. (Radio and power windows would stop working. Maybe some other stuff but I really don't remember as this was quite a while ago.) After replacing the fuse, all was well.
Mr. Hail,
๐ด๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ด๐ผ ๐๐๐๐-๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ . ๐ต๐โ๐๐๐:
https://i.ibb.co/B2kVRPQh/There-are-more-street-shitters-in-India-than-there-are-people-in-Canada.jpg
Looks like AI is not coming for anyone's job anytime soon.
๐ด๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ฆ?
Is reliance on AI making it harder to work, remember, think and function independently? Or, are there other factors leading to lower IQs, attention spans and competence? (Thereby making it harder to work, remember, think and function independently.)
Is it the chicken or is it the egg?
Happy Sunday, everyone! โฎ๏ธ
200,000 ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐...
๐ป๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐...
Traffic wasn't so bad, but it did take a lot longer to get from the corner of highway 60 to Walmart than usual. Because of the traffic we decided to take the back way home. I'm not sure it was any quicker but the wheels kept rolling.
๐ป๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐ค๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐...
If I can make the ride, take me to NorthSide.
https://www.northside.com/locations/northside-hospital-forsyth
Thank you, Mr. SafeNow. I love it here and I feel super lucky and blessed to have found this place when I did. Even though Dahlonega is growing too fast for my liking it is still semi-rural and 93+% White. (Half the county is national forest.) It is the kind of place where many people leave the keys in the ignition, a pistol in the glove box (or a 12ga on the back seat) and their doors unlocked. (I lock the door in the winter because the door seals better when it is dead-bolted. Gotta keep that cold air out.)
This is a really nice place if you like hiking and nature.
(The hike up to preacher's rock is fun...)
https://www.atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails/preachers-rock-appalachian-trail/
Mrs. Smith and I did a whole lot of hiking when we first met. Unfortunately, as the place has grown, some of our favorite hiking spots have been fenced off or had no trespassing signs installed. (Some of the best hiking is on private land. As the place has become busier and as some of these parcels have changed hands they are no longer open to the public like they once were.) Also, as we get older we have been hiking less. (Mrs. Smith has stage five degenerative scoliosis so her hiking days are pretty well over.)
๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐.. ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ก๐.
Thanks. It seemed liked the thing to do and I'm glad I've been able to do so. At $65 and hour I may have to revamp my business model a little. More computer work, long range wifi, network setups, security camera installations, air conditioning repair and electrical trouble shooting, etc. and fewer oil changes and brake jobs. (Or something like that.)
๐ต๐๐ ๐ก ๐ค๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โฆ๐ข๐โ! โฆ.๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
It could be worse. You could be living in Erie County NY or Essex County NJ. In any case, best wishes to you too!
Mr. Moderator,
๐โ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ 99% ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ผ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ. ๐ผ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ โ๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐. ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐, ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐, ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐?
Why would a crankshaft position sensor work differently when it is hot than when it is cold? Well... Heat causes electronic parts to behave differently mostly because heat alters the electrical resistance of materials and because it degrades internal components. (Among other problems.) Generally, heat affects a crankshaft position sensor by weakening the internal magnet (demagnetization leading to a weak or faulty signal that the ECU cannot read properly), degrading solder joints and wiring, and/or altering the resistance of the materials in the sensor. This can lead to inaccurate readings resulting in problems like a no-start condition, stalling, poor acceleration, and/or an intermittent check engine light.
(Obviously) This isn't unique to crankshaft position sensors. All electrical components (fuses, resistors, coils and coil packs, thermistors, hall effect sensors, etc.) suffer from internal degradation due to the constant heating and cooling cycles as well as from vibrational stress. For example, the resistance in a copper coil (like in a coil or coil pack) increases as the temperature of the copper rises. Alternatively, the resistance in a semiconductor (as found in some sensors, including some crankshaft position sensors) will decrease as temperatures rise. Either way, you can end up with a faulty reading at the ECU or some other resistance problem causing a component to work improperly. (Or fail altogether.)
One time, several years ago, I had a small electrical gremlin in my e34. Apparently, I had a small (almost imperceptible) hairline crack in a 40 amp strip fuse that is located in a plastic box under the hood. When the car was cold everything was fine and normal. When the car was hot, the heat from the engine would cause the strip fuse to expand (and/or increase the resistance) and some of the electrical things would start acting up. (Radio and power windows would stop working. Maybe some other stuff but I really don't remember as this was quite a while ago.) After replacing the fuse, all was well.
Mr. Hail,
๐ด๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ด๐ผ ๐๐๐๐-๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ . ๐ต๐โ๐๐๐:
https://i.ibb.co/B2kVRPQh/There-are-more-street-shitters-in-India-than-there-are-people-in-Canada.jpg
Looks like AI is not coming for anyone's job anytime soon.
๐ด๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ฆ?
Is reliance on AI making it harder to work, remember, think and function independently? Or, are there other factors leading to lower IQs, attention spans and competence? (Thereby making it harder to work, remember, think and function independently.)
Is it the chicken or is it the egg?
Happy Sunday, everyone! โฎ๏ธ
Hail
Sunday - October 19th 2025 4:03PM MST
PS
Interesting:
__________
ARE WE LIVING IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF STUPIDITY?
From brain-rotting videos to AI creep, every technological advance seems to make it harder to work, remember, think and function independently
by Sophie McBain
October 18, 2025
The Guardian
Step into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab in Cambridge, US, and the future feels a little closer. Glass cabinets display prototypes of weird and wonderful creations, from tiny desktop robots to a surrealist sculpture created by an AI model prompted to design a tea set made from body parts. In the lobby, an AI waste-sorting assistant named Oscar can tell you where to put your used coffee cup. Five floors up, research scientist Nataliya Kosmyna has been working on wearable brain-computer interfaces she hopes will one day enable people who cannot speak, due to neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, to communicate using their minds.
Kosmyna spends a lot of her time reading and analysing peopleโs brain states. Another project she is working on is a wearable device โ one prototype looks like a pair of glasses โ that can tell when someone is getting confused or losing focus. Around two years ago, she began receiving out-of-the blue emails from strangers who reported that they had started using large language models such as ChatGPT and felt their brain had changed as a result. Their memories didnโt seem as good โ was that even possible, they asked her? Kosmyna herself had been struck by how quickly people had already begun to rely on generative AI. She noticed colleagues using ChatGPT at work, and the applications she received from researchers hoping to join her team started to look different. Their emails were longer and more formal and, sometimes, when she interviewed candidates on Zoom, she noticed they kept pausing before responding and looking off to the side โ were they getting AI to help them, she wondered, shocked. And if they were using AI, how much did they even understand of the answers they were giving?
(.......)
__________
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/oct/18/are-we-living-in-a-golden-age-of-stupidity-technology
Interesting:
__________
ARE WE LIVING IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF STUPIDITY?
From brain-rotting videos to AI creep, every technological advance seems to make it harder to work, remember, think and function independently
by Sophie McBain
October 18, 2025
The Guardian
Step into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab in Cambridge, US, and the future feels a little closer. Glass cabinets display prototypes of weird and wonderful creations, from tiny desktop robots to a surrealist sculpture created by an AI model prompted to design a tea set made from body parts. In the lobby, an AI waste-sorting assistant named Oscar can tell you where to put your used coffee cup. Five floors up, research scientist Nataliya Kosmyna has been working on wearable brain-computer interfaces she hopes will one day enable people who cannot speak, due to neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, to communicate using their minds.
Kosmyna spends a lot of her time reading and analysing peopleโs brain states. Another project she is working on is a wearable device โ one prototype looks like a pair of glasses โ that can tell when someone is getting confused or losing focus. Around two years ago, she began receiving out-of-the blue emails from strangers who reported that they had started using large language models such as ChatGPT and felt their brain had changed as a result. Their memories didnโt seem as good โ was that even possible, they asked her? Kosmyna herself had been struck by how quickly people had already begun to rely on generative AI. She noticed colleagues using ChatGPT at work, and the applications she received from researchers hoping to join her team started to look different. Their emails were longer and more formal and, sometimes, when she interviewed candidates on Zoom, she noticed they kept pausing before responding and looking off to the side โ were they getting AI to help them, she wondered, shocked. And if they were using AI, how much did they even understand of the answers they were giving?
(.......)
__________
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/oct/18/are-we-living-in-a-golden-age-of-stupidity-technology
Hail
Sunday - October 19th 2025 3:51PM MST
PS
In the late-19th century in the US, if you were a salaried employee you could be said to have a good salary if you could get some employer to consistently pay you $75/month. You'd not be rich at $75/month, but you'd have respectable breadwinner status. As a man you would certainly be marriageable to a good woman. (To really get into a richer status, you'd have to save and invest in something that would turn a profit or produce consistent returns on its own, not least because salaries can always disappear.)
The USD in those days was always pegged to gold at around $18.94/oz. That meant your very-decent, stable-salary-job $75/month was theoretically worth 4oz of gold. If you drew that salary all twelve months of the year, that was 47.5oz per year.
This 47.5oz/year of gold equivalent maps quite well, in dollar-terms, to our time. This is no surprise given what we all know.
This time ten years ago, Oct 2015, gold was at (nominal price): $1170 USD/oz.
47.5oz (the gold-equivalent for a good salary in the late-19th century) x $1170 (2015 gold price) = $55,500.
That $55,500 was a decent 2015 after-tax net income for most people in most places at the time (remembering there was no income tax or social-security-etc deductions before 1913, that has to be the comparison).
This week, between Oct 16th-20th 2025, gold has been above $4250/oz.
47.5oz x $4250 = $200,000+.
$200,000+ is far too high for a respectable after-tax-and-deductions net income in 2025.
In the late-19th century in the US, if you were a salaried employee you could be said to have a good salary if you could get some employer to consistently pay you $75/month. You'd not be rich at $75/month, but you'd have respectable breadwinner status. As a man you would certainly be marriageable to a good woman. (To really get into a richer status, you'd have to save and invest in something that would turn a profit or produce consistent returns on its own, not least because salaries can always disappear.)
The USD in those days was always pegged to gold at around $18.94/oz. That meant your very-decent, stable-salary-job $75/month was theoretically worth 4oz of gold. If you drew that salary all twelve months of the year, that was 47.5oz per year.
This 47.5oz/year of gold equivalent maps quite well, in dollar-terms, to our time. This is no surprise given what we all know.
This time ten years ago, Oct 2015, gold was at (nominal price): $1170 USD/oz.
47.5oz (the gold-equivalent for a good salary in the late-19th century) x $1170 (2015 gold price) = $55,500.
That $55,500 was a decent 2015 after-tax net income for most people in most places at the time (remembering there was no income tax or social-security-etc deductions before 1913, that has to be the comparison).
This week, between Oct 16th-20th 2025, gold has been above $4250/oz.
47.5oz x $4250 = $200,000+.
$200,000+ is far too high for a respectable after-tax-and-deductions net income in 2025.
Moderator
Saturday - October 18th 2025 1:02PM MST
PS: "October 18th already?" Yeah, and here I thought you were just telling me about gold months ago. That may have been elsewhere.
That's very interesting, Adam, the way you set your rate. It seems fair enough. For those who badmouth precious metals, they shouldn't mind getting rid of some for some good work out of you. Of course, those bad-mouthing it are getting fewer and farther between. (I wonder what Ben Berspanke - the ZHer's term - would have to say about things now.)
"I think it is likely that the metals prices will relax a little bit from this peak but, generally speaking, these ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐โ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ! are really just a reflection of the crash in the dollar's purchasing power. I guess we will find out soon enough."
Yep, that's pretty much what I was trying to say here.
"Some people would say, "Good thing you bought that silver at $32. Look at the profit you made!" but I look at it and think, "Damn... All my cash lost half its purchasing power! Should have bought moar silver."
"There is no profit at all. Just holding value."
That's all I want anyway, though it'd sure be nice, as I wrote, if one could lend out his money, get some fair interest for doing it, and still have the original amount keep its value as in the very old days.
Have fun at Wally World, if at all possible. Got a 2nd vehicle that might require a crank position sensor, at least that's what we hope the problem is. My friend bought the part on-line a month ago but can't find it among all his car shit, haha. This vehicle runs good 99% of the time, but I ran into the bug again recently. It requires a shut down and cooling off time. Why would that be, the latter thing, I mean?
That's very interesting, Adam, the way you set your rate. It seems fair enough. For those who badmouth precious metals, they shouldn't mind getting rid of some for some good work out of you. Of course, those bad-mouthing it are getting fewer and farther between. (I wonder what Ben Berspanke - the ZHer's term - would have to say about things now.)
"I think it is likely that the metals prices will relax a little bit from this peak but, generally speaking, these ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐โ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ! are really just a reflection of the crash in the dollar's purchasing power. I guess we will find out soon enough."
Yep, that's pretty much what I was trying to say here.
"Some people would say, "Good thing you bought that silver at $32. Look at the profit you made!" but I look at it and think, "Damn... All my cash lost half its purchasing power! Should have bought moar silver."
"There is no profit at all. Just holding value."
That's all I want anyway, though it'd sure be nice, as I wrote, if one could lend out his money, get some fair interest for doing it, and still have the original amount keep its value as in the very old days.
Have fun at Wally World, if at all possible. Got a 2nd vehicle that might require a crank position sensor, at least that's what we hope the problem is. My friend bought the part on-line a month ago but can't find it among all his car shit, haha. This vehicle runs good 99% of the time, but I ran into the bug again recently. It requires a shut down and cooling off time. Why would that be, the latter thing, I mean?
SafeNow
Saturday - October 18th 2025 12:55PM MST
PS
Greetings Mr. Smith! You mentioned โhere in Dahlonagaโ and I was curious to travel there, in my mindโs eye. I knew nothing about the lifestyle. So I just finished watching a few videos, notably a great half-hour one by a low-key realtor, covering things to know about Dahlonaga if you are considering moving there. He even showed where the hospitals are. (Hey, Iโm old) .You are in a truly wonderful place! (But Things might get a bit crowded for me this weekend โฆ200,000 visitors according to WikipediaโฆMrs. SafeNow and I would just hang-out on a peaceful hiking trail.) Oh, by the way, congratulations on what you did with the price of silver..that was very astute.
Best wishes from โฆugh! โฆ.Orange County California
Greetings Mr. Smith! You mentioned โhere in Dahlonagaโ and I was curious to travel there, in my mindโs eye. I knew nothing about the lifestyle. So I just finished watching a few videos, notably a great half-hour one by a low-key realtor, covering things to know about Dahlonaga if you are considering moving there. He even showed where the hospitals are. (Hey, Iโm old) .You are in a truly wonderful place! (But Things might get a bit crowded for me this weekend โฆ200,000 visitors according to WikipediaโฆMrs. SafeNow and I would just hang-out on a peaceful hiking trail.) Oh, by the way, congratulations on what you did with the price of silver..that was very astute.
Best wishes from โฆugh! โฆ.Orange County California
Moderator
Saturday - October 18th 2025 12:54PM MST
PS: "... on back teeth that are not visible." Well, that's kind of race dependent. Don't ask me why? ;-}
I wonder how many precautions your old-school dentist has taken up recently, SafeNow, what with just the crown (how much in grams, do you reckon?) costing quite a bit. You need self-defense for your mouth, but as you say, they're not visible.
The difference between porcelain and gold now must be quite a bit, but then perhaps there are large charges just because of the medical-industrial-complex to begin with.
I wonder how many precautions your old-school dentist has taken up recently, SafeNow, what with just the crown (how much in grams, do you reckon?) costing quite a bit. You need self-defense for your mouth, but as you say, they're not visible.
The difference between porcelain and gold now must be quite a bit, but then perhaps there are large charges just because of the medical-industrial-complex to begin with.
Adam Smith
Saturday - October 18th 2025 11:28AM MST
PS: ๐ผ โ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐/๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐!
You too, Mr. SafeNow. (Cheers!) โฎ๏ธ
You too, Mr. SafeNow. (Cheers!) โฎ๏ธ
Adam Smith
Saturday - October 18th 2025 11:26AM MST
PS: Good afternoon, Achmed!
So... As you may (or may not) know I locked my minimum wage to the silver spot price about 25 years ago. (Incidentally, when I started working at 16 my $4.25 minimum wage job could afford me one ounce of silver per hour. This was before I understood anything about the nature of coin and currency or bimetalism.)
In the last couple weeks I've had four or five "raises". Right now, my minimum wage is ~$65. (Because that's what it costs to get some physical silver delivered.)
A year and a half back I mentioned to you that I bought a couple rolls of silver... At ~32 per ounce...
https://peakstupidity.com/blogworks.php?action=viewbpost&id=2988
And just a month ago I was still comfortably in the $40-45 zone.
I think it is likely that the metals prices will relax a little bit from this peak but, generally speaking, these ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐โ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ! are really just a reflection of the crash in the dollar's purchasing power. I guess we will find out soon enough.
(Not sure where I was going with this story. You see, I started typing this before I ate lunch. Now that I'm done with lunch and cleaning up the dishes and what not I'm not sure what my point was...)
Some people would say, "Good thing you bought that silver at $32. Look at the profit you made!" but I look at it and think, "Damn... All my cash lost half its purchasing power! Should have bought moar silver."
There is no profit at all. Just holding value.
(Anyway...)
Gold Rush weekend here in Dahlonega. That means there is (or probably is) a whole lot of traffic around town. I was planning on staying home and mowing the lawn/cleaning up around the yard but Mrs. Smith says we need to go to Walmart. (So I guess I'll find out how much traffic there is.)
(October 18th already??? What the???)
I hope you have a wonderful afternoon/ evening, Mr. Moderator! โฎ๏ธ
So... As you may (or may not) know I locked my minimum wage to the silver spot price about 25 years ago. (Incidentally, when I started working at 16 my $4.25 minimum wage job could afford me one ounce of silver per hour. This was before I understood anything about the nature of coin and currency or bimetalism.)
In the last couple weeks I've had four or five "raises". Right now, my minimum wage is ~$65. (Because that's what it costs to get some physical silver delivered.)
A year and a half back I mentioned to you that I bought a couple rolls of silver... At ~32 per ounce...
https://peakstupidity.com/blogworks.php?action=viewbpost&id=2988
And just a month ago I was still comfortably in the $40-45 zone.
I think it is likely that the metals prices will relax a little bit from this peak but, generally speaking, these ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐โ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ! are really just a reflection of the crash in the dollar's purchasing power. I guess we will find out soon enough.
(Not sure where I was going with this story. You see, I started typing this before I ate lunch. Now that I'm done with lunch and cleaning up the dishes and what not I'm not sure what my point was...)
Some people would say, "Good thing you bought that silver at $32. Look at the profit you made!" but I look at it and think, "Damn... All my cash lost half its purchasing power! Should have bought moar silver."
There is no profit at all. Just holding value.
(Anyway...)
Gold Rush weekend here in Dahlonega. That means there is (or probably is) a whole lot of traffic around town. I was planning on staying home and mowing the lawn/cleaning up around the yard but Mrs. Smith says we need to go to Walmart. (So I guess I'll find out how much traffic there is.)
(October 18th already??? What the???)
I hope you have a wonderful afternoon/ evening, Mr. Moderator! โฎ๏ธ
SafeNow
Saturday - October 18th 2025 11:13AM MST
PS
โgold still has the best properties for use as real moneyโ
And, I learned about 5 years ago, for use as dental crowns, on back teeth that are not visible. Back then, the price for porcelain or gold crowns was the same. I assume itโs not the same now. Interestingly, my old-school dentist did not send the mold to a lab; he made the gold crown himself. Ah, old-school stuff; there I go again.
โgold still has the best properties for use as real moneyโ
And, I learned about 5 years ago, for use as dental crowns, on back teeth that are not visible. Back then, the price for porcelain or gold crowns was the same. I assume itโs not the same now. Interestingly, my old-school dentist did not send the mold to a lab; he made the gold crown himself. Ah, old-school stuff; there I go again.
If that's not it, he suspects the ECU which is something he had redone (can't get new ones) when he owned the vehicle and had this similar problem. However, he said he needed to replace the crank position sensor about a decade ago, so perhaps these parts are like timing belts, albeit being much easier jobs, with no risk of tearing up one's engine (for the interference types, the pistons will hit the valves), in that they just don't last the life of a car now. (Timing belts have their official rated lifetimes, at least, and I've found from experience that they are pretty darn accurate.)
Never seen "Popeye" the 1980 movie, SafeNow. Thanks - good tune.