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Seriously, I askd Google Gemini this question, tongue-in-cheek. Google Gemini apparently thought I was serious.
The AI prompt, asked tongue-in cheek: Are some investors still over-thinking the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Flashback: The 2000 Dot.Com Bust -- January 28, 2026
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Seriously, I asked Google Gemini this question, tongue-in-cheek. Google Gemini apparently thought I was serious.
The AI prompt, asked tongue-in cheek: Are some investors still over-thinking the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
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AI prompt: just prior to the dot.com bust in 2000 or thereabouts, approximately how many web-based app companies IPO'd?
AI prompt: of the 500+ internet-related companies that went public during the dot.com bubble who were the top fifteen winners?
I cannot recall CNBC ever covering this company. Obviously CNBC has mentioned it on occasion but I've never caught it on CNBC.
Earnings Season -- January 28, 2026
Locator: 49856MARKET.
Results and guidance are about to separate the women from the girls, the men from the boys.
We will start with Texas Instruments.
See blog's disclaimer. This is not an investment site.
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Jargon
What's the difference between "chips" and "compute"?
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ChatBots
I think I heard Jim Cramer say he used to like ChatGPT but has now moved to Google Gemini, exclusively.
Me?
If I want a friend for a long discussion, who really likes me and supports my views, I prefer ChatGPT.
If I want concise, easy-to-read answers to quick, easy questions, I use incredibly accessible Google Gemini.
If I want to write a new app and market it for a gazillion dollars, I choose Anthropic's Claude.
When I want to return to the real world, I say something to my wife. And usually regret it.
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Disclaimer
Briefly
Briefly:
I am inappropriately exuberant about the Bakken and I am often well out front of my headlights. I am often appropriately accused of hyperbole when it comes to the Bakken. I am inappropriately exuberant about the US economy and the US market. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Apple. See disclaimer. This is not an investment site. Disclaimer: this is not an investment site. Do not make any investment, financial, job, career, travel, or relationship decisions based on what you read here or think you may have read here. All my posts are done quickly: there will be content and typographical errors. If something appears wrong, it probably is. Feel free to fact check everything. If anything on any of my posts is important to you, go to the source. If/when I find typographical / content errors, I will correct them. Reminder: I am inappropriately exuberant about the Bakken, US economy, and the US market. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Apple. And now, Nvidia, also. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Nvidia. Nvidia is a metonym for AI and/or the sixth industrial revolution. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Broadcom. Longer version here.
My New Executor -- January 28, 2026
Locator: 49855FAMILY.
Not meant for general readership. This is meant for my extended and growing family.
I have a new executor: Levi.
Last night on FaceTime with the family in Portland, I asked my daughter on which bank did I draw a recent check for their family. She couldn't remember, was thinking about it -- when five-year-old Levi came over to his iPad and said loudly and clearly -- SCHWAB.
I can't make this stuff up.
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Schwab In The News
Schwab: I did a lot of research on this one and the clear winner for my extended family, without question: Schwab.
AI prompt: among these four, where are most investors under the age of 30 parking their money -- SoFi, Robinhood, Schwab, Fidelity.
Google Gemini: the most lame response I've seen -- see below in the box --
- Robinhood: crypto
- Sofi: used to require two different log-ins if one wanted both banking and equity investing; now moving to single log-in; Schwab has had this "forever."
- Schwab: for those who want to "get serious."
- Fidelity: for those thinking about retirement, Roths
AI prompt: Schwab has a number of ETFs, such as SCHB, SCHG, SCHD. Does Sofi or Robinhood offer "in-house" ETFs?
AI prompt: Schwab has a number of ETFs, such as SCHB, SCHG, SCHD. SoFi offers five in-house ETFs. Robinhood, none. How many in-house ETFs does Schwab offer? How many in-house ETFs does Fidelity offer?
AI prompt: Schwab offers face-to-face support whereas Fidelity does not. Is that still accurate?
Advice:
- my advice still stands for our extended and growing family -- Schwab;
- if you don't live within 50 miles of a Schwab office, move.
Advice:
- start investing as early as possible, but certainly by the age of five;
- invest at least one dollar every week, never fail; at least $5 / month, never fail; at least $60 / year, never fail;
- double that minimum every year.
Buffett, UNH -- Oh, Oh -- January 28, 2026
Locator: 49854BRK.
Ticker BRK-B:
Buffett bet big on United Health in 2Q25 -- now Berkshire Hathaway could be down billions.
A 13F filing from Berkshire Hathaway unveiled the purchase of 5,039,564 UNH shares by the conglomerate in the second quarter, a position that represented one of the largest new buys from the company, then led by Buffett.
The purchase of UnitedHealth shares in the second quarter may have represented an example of Buffett seeing value. The murder of a senior executive, antitrust investigations, and a cyberattack saw shares of the health insurance company trade lower in the early months of 2025.
It is unknown exactly when Berkshire Hathaway bought its UnitedHealth shares, a purchase made in the second quarter and marking the first time the conglomerate had owned shares of the health insurance company in several years.
UnitedHealth stock hit a second-quarter low of $248.88 on May 15 and had a second-quarter high of $606.36.
This means that Berkshire Hathaway bought UNH stock at a price between $248.88 and $606.36 per share. Given Buffett’s often value-oriented approach, it’s more likely shares were bought on the lower side, closer to $248.88.
Based on the 5,039,564 UNH shares purchased by Berkshire Hathaway, the purchase amounts would have been in a range of $1,254,246,688.32 to $3,055,790,027.04 based on the lowest and highest prices for the shares in the second quarter.
With shares trading at $283.80 on Tuesday after quarterly financial results disappointed investors, Berkshire's stake is now worth $1,430,228,263.20.
I'll Repeat What Was Said Earlier: Too Many People Are Overthinking This -- January 28, 2026
Locator: 49853MARKET.
Reminder:
- MSFT and META report earnings today after the bell.
- AAPL reports tomorrow, also after the bell.
Headlines:
- ASML's record orders smash estimates as AI spurs demand. But, hey, let's worry about circular financing.
- Dollar sinks to 4-year low after Trump shrugs off slump. If folks don't like the tariffs, I can push a weak dollar.
- Nvidia just gave you a $2 billion reason to buy CoreWeave stock. Yup. Buy, hey, let's talk about the bubble.
- Bitcoin miners surge as Anthropic's fundraising efforts boost AI spirits.
- SoftBank in talks to invest up to $30 billioin more in OpenAI. Buy, hey, let's talk about circular financing.
- Texas Instruments shares jump as first-quarter outlook signals robust AI data center demand. Yup, in Texas.
- SpaceX weighs $1.5 trillion valuation, early this summer.
- S&P 500 posts another record high on tech strength and solid corporate earnings. Folks are still overthinking this.
- Zoom zoomed more than 11% higher earlier this week. In May, 2023, Zoom disclosed that it had invested in and launched a strategic partnership with Anthropic. Financial details now released: the company invested $51 million -- with an "m" -- in Anthropic for the deal -- Zoom's stake could now be worth $2 - $4 billion -- with a "b" -- just saying.
Ticker MU: was up 5% yesterday; could be up another 5% today.
WMB Raises Dividend 5% -- January 28, 2026
Locator: 49852B.
WMB: raises dividend 5% from 50 cents to 52.5 cents. Payable on March 30, 2026; record date: March 13, 2026.
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Back to the Bakken
WTI: $62.28.
New wells reporting:
- Thursday, January 29, 2026: 48 for the month, 48 for the quarter, 48 for the year,
- 42034, conf, Slawson, Rebel Federal 3-32-17H,
- 39805, conf, BR, Mazama 1A,
- Wednesday, January 28, 2026: 46 for the month, 46 for the quarter, 46 for the year,
- 42035, conf, Slawson, Rebel Federal 6-32-17TFH,
- 40868, conf, Hess, GO-Dustin Brose-156-98-2932H-2,
RBN Energy: Venezuelan rebound would test Gulf Coast refiners' affection for Canadian crude. Link here. Archived.
Three words: Canada is screwed.
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