Sometimes the world needs a reminder that life lends itself to finding practical solutions. Wartime forces investors to think this way - especially when it comes to money and power.
How is nuclear energy the safest option? It is definitely a viable one, but why the safest? On one hand you have the by-product of the nuclear reaction - waste. And on the other hand, it is far from safe. In case of a war your enemies know exactly where the reactors are. One internal mistake in one reactor has cost more than one can quantify. And there are thousands of them around the world. How is that safe?
As far as gold is concerned, I do agree with you on some level. However, why is it that you exclude crypto from the equation all together? Crypto and gold serve exactly the same purpose. Discrete number of units in floatation, completely decentralised and cannot be manipulated. Why in your view those two are so much different from each other..?
Thanks, You’ve been consistent on this point for awhile now, and I’ve followed suit since the original rec brought it to my attention. URA and URNM been creeping back up day by day to the point where we already round tripped back to 3 months ago before the “sell off”. Uranium and Nuclear are my long term bet I feel best about. It’s basically a bet on reality. Long our stuff and the kids stuff.
Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022Liked by Quoth the Raven
Chris---what the hell is going on with Palladium?! Its up 3%+ every single day!!! UGH. You know anything about this? my cursory "research" all points to "returning auto demand with semiconductor production catching back up", but that's doesn't sound right. What about the backlog? Shouldn't a surplus of Palladium have accumulated during these intervening 24-odd months? We have to be missing something.
great posting for the times. i am a consultant to hydroelectric generators, and we need to embrace all viable forms of energy. some days i sit here and am dumbfounded by the insanity of half cocked "do gooders" that cant wait to tear down our society to make it into their vision of unsustainability... this war is a terrible human tragedy, but maybe it will shock people into thinking more clearly.
Well said. Especially compelling is your point about "Investors and academics who live in these types of bubbles are the ones that have the spare time to bat around postmodern ideas, new ways to virtue signal, ESG investing and “brilliant” ideas like the Green New Deal.". There is something to living in a social construct that provides the stability, resources, and consistency that facilitates opportunities (and development of opportunities) for the greatest benefit. Being able to do so with a higher degree of individual liberty is a unique and very delicate thing. Whether it's SJW's or extreme libertarian grifters, I tend to take the view that it's easy to throw rocks at our 'culture' while enjoying the security of the very society that is denigrated. I'd be more impressed if they moved to Sinaloa, Somalia, or Naziristan and practiced what they preached in one of those environments, yet no-one does that ("are you crazy; the cartel / Taliban / warlords would get me"). There's nuance in pointing out that bath water is dirty and needs to be changed that doesn't involve the higher metaphysical context of why we should firebomb the whole bathroom or never take baths in the first place.
As someone with 20 percent or more of their net worth in gold, uranium, and oil, I obviously agree. I did not want something like this to prove me right, though.
Just a few comments to add to the many points already outlined:
1) Further improving nuclear is a technology problem to address. It is already the safest high density generation. The point is that it is *not* a physics problem. Many solutions are in development with Gen IV designs, but research funding has been hampered for almost 4 decades which has slowed it down (thanks "green movement").
2) The problem with solar and wind is a physics problem. The sources are intermittent, low density, and for solar require replacement every 20-25 years. They are an environmental nightmare at the scale required. You cannot get there from here on this tech alone - no amount of technology will make it possible.
3) There is a solution for nuclear waste - fast neutron reactors (some of which are operational today). The spent fuel contains contains virtually no actinides except for non fissioned uranium and plutonium, which can be effectively recycled. It is a problem that can be solved & we have the understanding of how. Some further research here can take it over the finish line.
Thorium . Safe ,abundant ,cheap , 2000 years of supply , Cannot be made into weapons , Can turn off reaction with a switch ...on /off . India is building some .
The pic of the '80's, quiche-eating, NAKoG douches on the bench in their pastel yuppie garb (camo of the suburbs) made me laugh. Man, how we scorned their ilk back in the day. Makes rolling coal and logging boots and mounds of red meat all the more delectable.
The problem is that the "investors, academic. and loudmouth activists" have succeeded in installing a woke and deranged president in the White House, who refuses to allow for higher domestic oil production, refuses to think about nuclear energy, and refuses to apply any common sense at all.
And the worst thing is, the midterm elections are still more than 8 months away! And by then it might be too late.
Good summary. Many will also find out the hard way that self reliance is critical. From health and fitness to being able to produce food, heat and security will become very important soon for those taking them for granted in the recent past. This is what America used to have when we were more rural and small farm based. People could just do things for themselves and that inherently led to healthier lifestyles. Now the focus is coastal with things like climate and social justice taking up the free time of millions all day every day. A friend once said "A hard day in the garden makes you think more clearly about what matters and less deeply about things that don't". Plus you will certainly sleep better. I'm planning the spring garden now and excited to open the greenhouse. Pray, plan, prepare and RESIST.
It takes roughly 10 years from plan-to-startup for a nuclear power plant. Massive cost and schedule overruns on too many projects in the last decade. Safe? Just ask the folks in Washington state, NY state, Chernobyl or Fukashima to start...
Thorium is more abundant and safer.
In the meantime an oil and gas well can be drilled and completed in months, gas plants in place in 18 months. Certainty on cost and schedule. This is needed for practically every input in building a nuclear power plant.
My bet on energy for the next decade is oil and gas.
Windmills and Suncatchers? A massively diluted energy gathering system that needs batteries that require minerals that are off the charts in price and rapidly becoming harder to find. Oh yah, a cooper mine takes 10 years from idea to permit and operations as well.
Silver is better than gold.
When the central banks fall back in the currency of last resort (aka Goldman) they may confiscate it due to a global currency emergency. Silver probably not because over 50% is required by industry.
How is nuclear energy the safest option? It is definitely a viable one, but why the safest? On one hand you have the by-product of the nuclear reaction - waste. And on the other hand, it is far from safe. In case of a war your enemies know exactly where the reactors are. One internal mistake in one reactor has cost more than one can quantify. And there are thousands of them around the world. How is that safe?
As far as gold is concerned, I do agree with you on some level. However, why is it that you exclude crypto from the equation all together? Crypto and gold serve exactly the same purpose. Discrete number of units in floatation, completely decentralised and cannot be manipulated. Why in your view those two are so much different from each other..?
Thanks, You’ve been consistent on this point for awhile now, and I’ve followed suit since the original rec brought it to my attention. URA and URNM been creeping back up day by day to the point where we already round tripped back to 3 months ago before the “sell off”. Uranium and Nuclear are my long term bet I feel best about. It’s basically a bet on reality. Long our stuff and the kids stuff.
another super article.
Chris---what the hell is going on with Palladium?! Its up 3%+ every single day!!! UGH. You know anything about this? my cursory "research" all points to "returning auto demand with semiconductor production catching back up", but that's doesn't sound right. What about the backlog? Shouldn't a surplus of Palladium have accumulated during these intervening 24-odd months? We have to be missing something.
great posting for the times. i am a consultant to hydroelectric generators, and we need to embrace all viable forms of energy. some days i sit here and am dumbfounded by the insanity of half cocked "do gooders" that cant wait to tear down our society to make it into their vision of unsustainability... this war is a terrible human tragedy, but maybe it will shock people into thinking more clearly.
Well said. Especially compelling is your point about "Investors and academics who live in these types of bubbles are the ones that have the spare time to bat around postmodern ideas, new ways to virtue signal, ESG investing and “brilliant” ideas like the Green New Deal.". There is something to living in a social construct that provides the stability, resources, and consistency that facilitates opportunities (and development of opportunities) for the greatest benefit. Being able to do so with a higher degree of individual liberty is a unique and very delicate thing. Whether it's SJW's or extreme libertarian grifters, I tend to take the view that it's easy to throw rocks at our 'culture' while enjoying the security of the very society that is denigrated. I'd be more impressed if they moved to Sinaloa, Somalia, or Naziristan and practiced what they preached in one of those environments, yet no-one does that ("are you crazy; the cartel / Taliban / warlords would get me"). There's nuance in pointing out that bath water is dirty and needs to be changed that doesn't involve the higher metaphysical context of why we should firebomb the whole bathroom or never take baths in the first place.
As someone with 20 percent or more of their net worth in gold, uranium, and oil, I obviously agree. I did not want something like this to prove me right, though.
Ah the oddities of letting an irate ignorant prepubescent Swedish teenager dictate your energy policy.
Just a few comments to add to the many points already outlined:
1) Further improving nuclear is a technology problem to address. It is already the safest high density generation. The point is that it is *not* a physics problem. Many solutions are in development with Gen IV designs, but research funding has been hampered for almost 4 decades which has slowed it down (thanks "green movement").
2) The problem with solar and wind is a physics problem. The sources are intermittent, low density, and for solar require replacement every 20-25 years. They are an environmental nightmare at the scale required. You cannot get there from here on this tech alone - no amount of technology will make it possible.
3) There is a solution for nuclear waste - fast neutron reactors (some of which are operational today). The spent fuel contains contains virtually no actinides except for non fissioned uranium and plutonium, which can be effectively recycled. It is a problem that can be solved & we have the understanding of how. Some further research here can take it over the finish line.
Thorium reactors the size of a house can power a city . Very safe .
Thorium . Safe ,abundant ,cheap , 2000 years of supply , Cannot be made into weapons , Can turn off reaction with a switch ...on /off . India is building some .
The pic of the '80's, quiche-eating, NAKoG douches on the bench in their pastel yuppie garb (camo of the suburbs) made me laugh. Man, how we scorned their ilk back in the day. Makes rolling coal and logging boots and mounds of red meat all the more delectable.
I agree with all your points, great article as usual Chris
The problem is that the "investors, academic. and loudmouth activists" have succeeded in installing a woke and deranged president in the White House, who refuses to allow for higher domestic oil production, refuses to think about nuclear energy, and refuses to apply any common sense at all.
And the worst thing is, the midterm elections are still more than 8 months away! And by then it might be too late.
Good summary. Many will also find out the hard way that self reliance is critical. From health and fitness to being able to produce food, heat and security will become very important soon for those taking them for granted in the recent past. This is what America used to have when we were more rural and small farm based. People could just do things for themselves and that inherently led to healthier lifestyles. Now the focus is coastal with things like climate and social justice taking up the free time of millions all day every day. A friend once said "A hard day in the garden makes you think more clearly about what matters and less deeply about things that don't". Plus you will certainly sleep better. I'm planning the spring garden now and excited to open the greenhouse. Pray, plan, prepare and RESIST.
It takes roughly 10 years from plan-to-startup for a nuclear power plant. Massive cost and schedule overruns on too many projects in the last decade. Safe? Just ask the folks in Washington state, NY state, Chernobyl or Fukashima to start...
Thorium is more abundant and safer.
In the meantime an oil and gas well can be drilled and completed in months, gas plants in place in 18 months. Certainty on cost and schedule. This is needed for practically every input in building a nuclear power plant.
My bet on energy for the next decade is oil and gas.
Windmills and Suncatchers? A massively diluted energy gathering system that needs batteries that require minerals that are off the charts in price and rapidly becoming harder to find. Oh yah, a cooper mine takes 10 years from idea to permit and operations as well.
Silver is better than gold.
When the central banks fall back in the currency of last resort (aka Goldman) they may confiscate it due to a global currency emergency. Silver probably not because over 50% is required by industry.