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Mimicry of intelligence isn’t intelligence, and so while AI mimicry is a powerful tool, it isn’t intelligent.

There are voluntary ‘Anti-Consumers’ like us, and increasingly, ‘involuntary Anti-Consumers’ who have no choice but to slash all discretionary spending to the bone.

A steady diet of adversity prepares one for both the low-level adversities of daily life but also for the metaphorical droughts and floods that push us to our limits of endurance and adaptability.

I speak not just of magic but of Magick, and my friend Richard Metzger’s latest project.

History suggests being wary of the “strong buys” at $45 when the eventual bottom is $4.

The rollercoaster ride is about to get “fun,” as in unpredictable, volatile and unnerving for those normalized to extreme distortions “fixing” all things financial.

Confidence / complacency doesn’t map the real world, in which liquidity dries up and markets go bidless.

And that’s how totalitarian movements come to power: the citizens give up on the Establishment factions, as they’ve failed to solve the problems being exploited by extremist groups.

“Generosity” funded by debt or currency devaluation is the opposite of generosity: it is the ultimate taking.

If we’re in a re-make of ‘That 70s Show’, the plot twists–and twisters heading our way–may be far wilder than we can currently imagine.

Let us hope that whomever ascends to the leadership is a populist in the full sense of the word, channeling Emerson and his fellow critics of what we now call neoliberalism.

I hope we gain the wisdom that we need each other, not as enemies but as colleagues, not always in agreement but respectful nonetheless.

What is acceptable, and what is unacceptable? We’ll soon have to decide.

Imagine an institution whose ratchet was set to relentlessly reduce budget, staffing and processes while focusing on increasing output / results.

The key takeaway here is: don’t count on a simplistic ideology or reform or a “supreme leader” to save the status quo from internal failure.

“It’s all because of our low cost of living that I can feel relatively secure.”

Can a couple of hardworking people live well in America on $30,000 a year in earnings? Yes, if they’re willing to do what’s needed to make it happen.

That monkey on your back comes in many forms.