Axios has a story - pointing out that "the US now has more self-storage facilities than McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger Kings, Starbucks and Walmarts combined.

The point of the story is that, to put it simply, people are buying too much stuff.

"We're overstuffed," Axios writes. "And all that stuff often brings a lot more stress than joy … Never in history have so many things been affordable for so many. Never in history has it been easier to swipe a card or click a button, and wait for the Amazon truck to arrive. And never in history have Americans had bigger houses, or storage sheds, to keep it all."

Anthony Graesch, an anthropologist at Connecticut College who studies why we have so much stuff, tells Axios: "I see the proliferation of self-storage in the United States as the materialization of excessive, unchecked and unsustainable levels of consumption." It is also, he says, a reflection of the fact that many people have "difficulty … easily severing relationships with many of our possessions."

Of course with inflation at 8%, and the Ukraine war likely to keep it there for months...people will have to cut back on their trinkets. 

 geoff_morphini wrote:

I'm in the laptop class, people work from home nowadays. 

Mostly I just read a couple blogs like Naked Capitalism, and Zerohedge, and Drudgereport, there is a lot there.

 Animal-Farm wrote:

Just a general couple of questions, 1) do you work?  2) are you physically attached to your computer?

Barry Diller denies insider trading on Microsoft, Activision deal amid DOJ and SEC investigations

PUBLISHED WED, MAR 9 202211:41 AM ESTUPDATED 3 HOURS AGODan Mangan@_DANMANGANJulia Boorstin@JBOORSTINWATCH LIVEKEY POINTS

• Barry Diller strongly denied allegations on Wednesday that he, his stepson and longtime pal and fellow mogul David Geffen engaged in insider trading in their purchases of Activision Blizzard call options.
• The trades are under investigation by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to a report.
• Diller, Geffen and Diller’s stepson, Alex von Furstenberg, together made large bets on Activision stock just days before the video game maker said it had agreed to be bought by Microsoft in a $68.7 billion deal, The Wall Street Journal reported.

 steeler wrote: 
The O Visa is an employer dependent visa and applies to the fields mentioned below.  I do not see how Khashoggi fits into any of those categories.

O-1A: individuals with an extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics (not including the arts, motion pictures or television industry)
O-1B: individuals with an extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television industry.

You seem to be trying to go down a rabbit hole with your mention of Khashoggi.  What exactly is your point and how is it relevant ?

 

The ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States, Yousef
al-Otaiba, said Wednesday that his country would increase oil
production. The announcement came one day after President Biden said the
U.S. would no longer buy Russian oil, a move that could lead to higher
global oil prices because of ongoing market instability during Russia’s
war in Ukraine. “We favor production increases and will be encouraging
OPEC to consider higher production levels,” Mr. al-Otaiba said
Wednesday, referring to a consortium of oil-producing nations. “The UAE
has been a reliable and responsible supplier of energy to global markets
for more than 50 years and believes that stability in energy markets is
critical to the global economy.”

Now, both sides face a test of their ability to maintain domestic support for a standoff whose costs will be borne by regular citizens.

 kurtster wrote:
He was residing legally in the US on a O Visa and reportedly had applied for PR.

 steeler wrote: 
What “strength” was projected when Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian subject and Washington Post journalist, was killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul ? 
.
FYT.  Kinda changes the meaning and inference of your question.

 kurtster wrote:
What “strength” was projected when Khashoggi, a US resident and Washington Post journalist, was killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul? 

While on leverage...

Chinese companies that aid Russia could face U.S. repercussions, commerce secretary warns.

The U.S. export controls apply not just to American companies, but to companies anywhere in the world that use American software or technology to manufacture their products, which include many Chinese companies.

 kurtster wrote:
They have leverage.

How would you propose to go about strong arming them projecting strength?

No more penthouse suites and yachts in the US? Not give them their WMDs? No more jets? No more training? Get friendly with Iran? Remove military bases?

 R_P wrote: 
They smell blood.  If it ain't clear to everyone by now, in regards to projecting strength on the world stage, Biden is an empty suit.

Energy dependence is a bitch.  And he (us as well) are getting bitch slapped.

Those short hairs

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the U.A.E.’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan both declined U.S. requests to speak to Mr. Biden in recent weeks, the officials said, as Saudi and Emirati officials have become more vocal in recent weeks in their criticism of American policy in the Gulf.

They just want you to look into some things...

Well, I was planning on retiring in four years...

 VV wrote:


Trump has a really terrific plan. HeI'll share it in about two weeks...

 kurtster wrote:

Some experts, regardless of posts on RPF, say that yes it is too late. Not all, though.

 kurtster wrote:
Sorry my bad, I didn’t realize your kids lived in Russia and China.

Small thinking? I think you must be projecting yourself onto me. Small thinking is denying there is a Global Warming issue that requires a great deal of coordination, resources and planning to that we need to begin seriously prioritizing now. Small thinking is dismissing the threat because the answer to Global Warming will magically drop into our laps should the situation really turn dire.

 kcar wrote: 
Actually it is my understanding that it is already too late based upon the latest posts on the subject here.

 kurtster 

Kurt, when it comes to global warming it's way way later than you think.