Good Monday to you all.
Here’s your update. However, this time we have pretty charts! I like charts, they tell a better picture than mainstream media.
Not sure this chart shows any such ‘flattening of the curve’, more like an exponential curve to me
Which state are they located in? Let’s try not to go to Sydney
Need to go more local? (Stay away from the Stonnington area!)
How are we doing against other countries?
The US has more cases than China (because they finally started testing in the US). However if you’ve seen all the pictures from Wuhan with the amount of funeral urns you will easily come to the conclusion that China is under reporting. South Korea obviously has the gold standard on how to deal with this, they have the flatten curve.
Beaches closed – I see the police rapid response unit just standing guard every day. Gatherings of greater than 2 people are banned, unless it’s with household members.
Scientific studies show the COVID-19 virus can survive on stainless steel and plastics for 72 hours (ie 3 days), and stay in still air for 3 hours. Scary isn’t it? Notice how South Korea has team after teams wiping stuff down.
Wuhan has relaxed their restrictions and the number of cases spiked. Maybe it means we’re here for the long haul until antiviral medication is discovered.
Some tragic stories coming out and if you want a first person account on what it’s like to contract it. 38 year old, no underlying health condition.
Anyway when you go out to the supermarket, for the love of god, wear a FACE MASK! It’s not strange, it’s not weird, it will probably save you from the stupid people.
Interesting read from the Harvard Business Review – Lessons from Italy’s Response.
Pop quiz: which one of these boats should have been stopped because it was a threat to national security?
Market Update
Toilet paper crisis solved as the Fed announcing QE Infinity, printing trillions of dollars. Remind me again why people should pay taxes when the central bank can print to infinity all the money that the government needs. And what is money worth when infinity printing is happening? Why can’t we use leaves on trees as money, there’s plenty of those.
Interesting conversation with Tony Lacantro from Alto Capital
When you contemplate the sheer size of the 3m+ unemployed in the US last week, now remember that because they are in the US, they also lost their healthcare because it’s tied to their employment… In the middle of a pandemic!
Remember when there was a run on toilet paper. Not to create any panic, but I’m starting to see a trickle of evidence of a slow run on the banks happening Also in the US. Anyway DYOR, I’m just an tech guy what would I know
Otherwise nothing really happened, it’s all still down.
ASX 200 – Down
S&P 500 – still down
Sweet light Crude – almost at all time lows
AUDUSD – recovered a bit.
Bitcoin – 6120 USD – Bitcoin halving in in about 45 days, which means the issuance rate drops from 12.5 coins per block to 6.25. Think about that when compared to the unlimited issuance rate in USD and other fiat currencies.
What am I reading at the moment?
Disunited Nation . – Basic summary for those who don’t read. The thesis is the US is slowly withdrawing into itself, with a disinterest with the rest of the world and no longer wanting to be the police of the world which will see global supply chains disrupted. And with corona virus, we’re still how this would potentially play out. The author’s opinion is that the 5 nations that will prosper in the aftermath are – USA, Japan, France, Turkey, Argentina. (however all not without some challenges) The measurements the author has chosen are. Ability to defend itself, topography of the land, ability to meet it’s energy needs, ability to generate its own food, and the demographic of the citizen (ie it’s not helpful if the majority of your demographics is baby boomers like in Germany).
Cabin Fever?
If you’re struggling with cabin fever, maybe some of my morning routine will help you. I find that if I wake up and I’ve taken care of basic things then I have won the day already. Some suggestions.
Write. Journal – Just get a notebook and write down everything on your mind. It’s not for any one to read, it’s just to get things out of your head. Otherwise a few years back I started with the 5 min Journal. You can pick that up here. Or you can try it out first with this PDF.
Fitness. – Get the blood pumping to the brain, even if it’s just 5-10 mins of cardio. Seems especially important in this environment to be fit and healthy.
Silence. – Meditate (I know, I know, meditate sounds all woowoo, but it’s not especially if Ray Dalio and Arnold Schwarzenegger meditate). I have found two apps helpful. – Headspace (I think you start with the first 7 lesson without needing to pay) and Waking up with Sam Harris. (You can try it out for a month with my link)
Learn. – Read a book, learn something new.
Develop new skills / Work on a side project. – I’ll let you use your imagination here.
How long does it take me to compile this? Lots of past experience, so not very long. And it’s mainly for my enjoyment.
Thanks for reading, enjoy your week.