Reading · The Ramblings of Buck Roy

When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.
- Dalai Lama

Paywall helper bee: https://archive.vn/

It’s reasonable to assume that Trump’s current Iran strategy is to mitigate controversy and economic woes until the midterms are over. It also gives the US time to increase its weapons inventory and monitor Iran’s activity. If Iran still chooses to remain a problem after the midterms, we should expect a re-escalation of our offense.

What might it tell us when President Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt resigns so she can be a better mom?

Mark Zuckerberg wrote a 6,500-word AI manifesto. Do you think anyone beyond the news media read it?

Home sales are at 2008 levels. With wages stagnating and interest rates high, the path to affordability seems to be declining home values. Since home equity is a big influence on consumption, how close is our economy to a recession?

Tucker Carlson may have gone off the reservation because he may be a person who needs a boss.

Is it America’s responsibility to save the world, or is it America’s responsibility to serve as a role model, a country with practices that inspire others to follow? Unfortunately most of the world seems to think dysfunctional order is more comforting than an ever-improving disorder.

The term “my two cents” is 130 years old. Given inflation, today we should say “my 80 cents.” I recently said this to a friend, who then said most of today’s “two cents,” errr, 80 cents, make no sense.

How many companies made expansion investments based upon Covid-era tread lines?

Resist the technocrats
They don’t really care about you.

The cities that said “yes” to drug use
Created a zombie apocalypse.

Thucydides the perspicacious
What really causes war.

Economy

US jobless claims rise
Consumer inflation is still out there
Producer prices unchanged in July
2026 budget deficit coming in at $2.1trillion
The market immune to housing slowdown

Labor

Lower job growth could be good
The most in-demand jobs right now

The Lone Star

Austin ISD may be taken over by the state
Blue Origin eyes large Austin-area hub
Tesla plans $10B Houston solar plant
Giant SpaceX Terrafab project is a go

Energy

Global gas turbine orders hit record
Halliburton steps into nuclear waste biz
China’s lock on batteries may be over