The market: as I have noted many times on the blog, when the US equity market gets "crazy," I tend to avoid checking in on what the market is doing.
I looked at a couple things earlier this morning and just checked the indices now, but nothing else and I won't be watching CNBC at all today, probably not tomorrow, and possibly not all week.
The indices right now:
Weather in north Texas, DFW area: 81°F right now, about 11:30 a.m. CT, with a predicted high of 89°F all afternoon. Perfectly clear skies and based on tree leaves, no wind. I can't decide if I'll go biking.
The two big stories right now:
- geo-politics -- global -- Mideast (Hamas), Ukraine (Tomahawks);
- incredible opportunities for US investors: "new school" vs "old school"
- old school: Warren Buffett
- new school: Shay Boloor
US government shutdown: tweedledum and tweedledee in charge (at risk of insulting the two characters) -- Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. Wow, this fits them to a "t" as they say in English:
Tweedledum and Tweedledee act out the events of their nursery rhyme, which involves getting into a silly fight over a broken rattle, preparing for a battle, and then being scared away by a giant crow.
The giant crow? Of course, we all know who that would be. LOL.
Hamas: current leadership is a five-member committee "located" in Turkey and Doha, Qatar. Qatar wants to be a world player in AI. Turkey is Turkey.
Under the Gaza ceasefire deal agreed upon in October 2025, Hamas is temporarily providing police action in Gaza City with tacit approval from the U.S., while the long-term plan calls for a new, internationally supported Palestinian force. There was no requirement for Hamas to laydown their arms. Israel controls the air, sea, and land ports / entries into Gaza and a situation that is internationally being challenged.
Right now, everything suggests the five-member Hamas leadership will be concentrating on its organization maintaining "local" law enforcement control of the Gaza strip (short term) while moving diplomatically (medium term) for a "national role" in lieu of an international police force; and for a two-state solution (long term) -- a goal led by Macron and France for international recognition of Gaza as a free country. The best thing Israel can do, is keep sending Hamas the cellphones they need to conduct business.
I find it difficult for either the Trump administration or Netanyahu to cede any gains at this point.
At the end of the day, the folks returning to their homes in Gaza City need to decide if they want Hamas to provide law enforcement. I'm sure they will ... want Hamas to be charge. Hamas, by the way, just increased their numbers by 2,000 well-trained new re-enlistees.
NFL: I'm done with watching NFL for the time being. I'll check in on sports talk show, radio and television, periodically, but won't actually watch the games. Same with NASCAR, done for the season. No longer holds any interest.
What holds my interest right now? The sixth industrial revolution (SIR, tabbed at the top), AKA the Fourth Industrial Revolution. And not for investing, though that does play a part.
