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TECH TODAY

He threw ~$800,000,000 in the trash. In 2013 James Howells discarded 8,000 Bitcoin’s worth a whopping $800 million today. In a recent development his ex-girlfriend says she’s the one that threw the hard drive containing the bitcoin away at Howells request. Attempts to recover the hard drive have been unsuccessful.

Black Friday holiday sales hit $74.4 billion. Adobe Digital Insights reported that Black Friday 2024 sales are 5% higher yoy from 2023.

The country of El Salvador bitcoin reserve. The only nation to adopt Bitcoin as an official currency, El Salvador a 3rd world country, has a national Bitcoin reserve of $582 million.

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HEADLINE NEWS 👀

PBR The Next Mainstream American Sport

In 1992 twenty bull 𓃓 riders were tired of the rodeo circuit and wanted to leave it to focus on their sport exclusively. They reached deep into their pockets (no joke because they didn’t make much in the early rodeo days) and ponied up $1,000 each to form a new sports league, Professional Bull Riding, Inc.

In the thrity-two years since the PBR has grown from a sport catering to bull riding cowboys and their cowboy hat adorning fans into one controlled by Wall Street types, private equity companies, and billionaires. The PBR itself is owned by publicly traded Endeavor Group (NYSE:EDR). Endeavor also owns UFC and WWE.

Once a sleepy sub-sector sport on the rodeo circuit bull riding has graduated into a sophisticated sports operation. Split into an eight team league, teams are now running training camps taught by Navy SEALS.

And unlike the past, teams are well funded. Some owned by quasi-institution investors while others owned by billionaires. Team owners are are applying a sophistication level learned in other major league sports to their PBR teams. The new genre of team owners are building data divisions to analytically match the best rider to the best bull, and to create a multipoint nutrition and cryotherapy treatment plans for their riders.

The PBR is on the precipice of making a run at becoming the next mainstream sport in America’s households. With new team owners from other major sports like NASCAR’s 🏁 Richard Childress, MLB’s Athletics Fisher family, and other former and current NBA owners the PBR has a new breed of owners that’s no bull 💩 

The sport has come a long way since its roots of an ol’ dusty event in a dingy corral dating back to a time when wagons were the featured mode of transportation. The Mexican ranch hands that started this recreation back in the early 1800’s that would eventually make its way to the wild wild west in these United States would never recognize the rope and ride sport they started.

Now with a slew of new owners with deep pockets this once dusty event of the past is looking to find a way to sell corporate America on sponsorships, eager fans box-suite seats and Americas networks a primetime slot, or Netflix or maybe Amazon a streaming package to bring events in newly built bull riding arenas housed in new commercial developments to the old and newly adoring fans of bull riding 🐂

Elon Musk Files Lawsuit Against OpenAI

In an a court motion Musk is seeking to block OpenAI’s controversial conversion from a non-profit to a for-profit corporation.

The injunction asks the court prevent OpenAI’s completion of its restructuring and partnerships with Microsoft Corporation. The lawsuit also includes accusations against several individuals, including OpenAI’s CEO Sa Altman and LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffman.

The injunction lists OpenAI engaged in anti-competitive behavior by discouraging investors in investing in other AI development companies, including Musk’s xAI. The lawsuit also alleges OpenAI and Microsoft benefited from wrongfully obtained competitively sensitive information.

Through the injunction Musk argues the transition of OpenAI to a for-profit Corporation, if allowed, would violate its original nonprofit mission. Previous announcements have put Musk’s investment in the nonprofit OpenAI at its inception at $40-50 million.

Blockbuster Black Friday 2024 Retail Sales Anticipated

With Black Friday upon us we did a little digging to see what analysts have anticipated for Black Friday 2024. Bain & Co in their Retail Holiday Newsletter estimate “Black Friday to Cyber Monday U.S. retail sales could reach a record breaking $75 billion”.

The Bain estimate would not just be record breaking but also put growth at 5% yoy 📈 Their analysis estimates 8% of all retail holiday sales will occur between Black Friday and Cyber Monday (take a look at the Roku TV advertising opportunity directly above to learn more about capturing a greater share of retail sales this holiday season). This represents the highest share for the segmented holiday shopping period since 2019.

Bain’s analysis uses credit card data to 🆔 consumer shopping trends. This analysis places Black Monday as the top shopping day of the retail holiday shopping period.

Cyber Monday on the other hand is losing importance with consumers “falling out of the top sales days after 2019”.

As Cyber Monday wanes other shopping days are competing to replace it. Bain reports the day before Thanksgiving (yes I was tortured to endure shopping on this day) has emerged as a new consumer favorite. Whatever holiday you and those close to you celebrate, remember the days above to capture the highest buying power aka discounts.

ECONOMY

China Tariffs

On China, the President elect accused China of not doing enough to stop drugs flowing into the U.S. through the Mexican boarders. “Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% tariff, above any additional tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America,” Trump said.

The Chinese embassy hit back.

“China believes that China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature. No one will win a trade war or a tariff war.”

Economists say Trump’s overall tariff plans, likely his most consequential economic policy, would push U.S. import duty rates back up to 1930-era levels, stoke inflation, collapse U.S.-China trade, draw retaliation and drastically reorder supply chains.

They say tariff’s are typically paid by the importing company, and they either pass the tariff on to the consumer or absorb the tariff accepting lower profits.

Protecting Against Inflation

Protecting the economy against inflation is a known commodity. Limit supply shocks, and buy commodities. But with a new Administration entering the Whitehouse and threatening to cut taxes and issue widespread tariffs on imported goods it might be difficult to default to the known inflation fighters to keep inflation at bay.

Problems are already appearing post election as commodity prices are depressed leaving a looming question if the old tried and true inflation fighters have lost their edge?

FINANCE

Scotts Miracle Gro Management Shakeup

Scotts Miracle Grow CFO, Matt Garth, will exit the world largest producer of branded lawn and garden products at the end of 2024 in an abrupt ending as the company looks towards the next phase of its growth strategy.

The company also announced the two executive advancements to help fill the void until a permanent replacement is found for the CFO role.

POLITICS

President Biden Pardons Son Hunter Biden

President Joe Biden in an official Whitehouse release pardoned his son Hunter Biden. In what amounts to a reversal of opinion the full pardon spares Hunter Biden from a possible prison sentence for Federal felony gun and tax convictions.

Kash Patel tapped as FBI Director

President elect Trump selected Kash Patel, a Trump loyalist, to head the FBI. The move is seen as an attempt to move out the current FBI Director Christopher Wray before the end of his 10 year term in favor of Patel who has vowed to upend the nations premier law enforcement agency.

Patel’s confirmation by the Senate could prove problematic for Trump who would be firing Wray whom he appointed as FBI Director during his first term. The confirmation of Patel would be what Trump hopes is an upheaval of an agency he has consistently spared.

Trump Selects Trade Representative

The President elect selected Jamieson Greer to serve as his trade representative. The position is of increasing importance with Trump planning to reset trade worldwide.

Greer, a former Air Force attorney, and veteran who served in Iraq, subsequently served as chief of staff for the trade representative during Trump’s first administration. During that stint he was instrumental in negotiating with China.

The position of trade representative has traditionally been low profile but took on greater significance during Trump’s first term in the Whitehouse.

THE GRIND FACTORY ⚙️

UNIQUELY INTERESTING

💡 Epiphany Moments

Target 🎯opened the first Target store, a discount retailer offering high quality goods in 1962. Target was the predecessor of Dayton Hudson a retailer started by George Dayton in 1902 a full 70 years before the first Target. Expanding rapidly during the 60’s and 70’s opening new Target stores from coast to coast. In 2000 Dayton Hudson Corporation rebranded to Target Corporation. Target continued to grow afterwards. Target is known for its trendy products and its commitment to sustainability and community.

 🍎 One Smart Apple

Sam Walton built the largest retail company in the United States in less than 30 years. A feet unbelievable for any entrepreneur in any industry. After growing up during the depression Walton had a sense of frugality which he honed while learning the retail business. First having a stint at JC Penney in their retail training program followed by opening his first Ben Franklin variety store in 1945. Sam opened his first Walmart store in 1962. Through a variety of expansion and acquisitions Walton grew Walmart quickly. In 1983 Walton opened his first Sam’s Club. And by 1990 Walmart was the largest retail company in the United States 🍏 

 HEALTH & LONGEVITY

Blue Fin Tuna High Protein

Between 2014 and 2022 the population of Pacific Blue Tuna has soared 1,000% according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The fish was not expected to return to a sustainable level of this magnitude until 2034 and came as a surprise to scientists who track sea life.

In response to these findings the aquarium upgraded the Pacific blue fin tuna from red to yellow which means it went from avoid to a good alternative.

Eating fish as a source of protein intake is an important part of a balanced diet to remain lean and adds to personal efforts in diets designed to capture longevity benefits. The blue fin tuna is especially coveted because of its rich nutritional profile:

• Omega 3’s (EPA and DHA) - reduces blood pressure, lowers tryglycerides, prevents plaque buildup. Supports cognitive function. Anti-inflammatory which helps to reduces disease and is joint and immune system friendly.

• Vitamin B - supports energy production, cognitive function and red blood cell production.

• Vitamin D - Supports immune health and bone health.

• Selenium - Antioxidant that protects cells from damage and supports thyroid health.

Now you can now conscientiously eat a healthy fish protein meal to meet dietary longevity goals.

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