"Furthermore, the incentive for these hardware companies to prioritize the average consumer is also dwindling. According to Western Digital, thanks to a surge in demand from its enterprise customers, the consumer market now accounts for just 5 percent of the company's revenue."

Mashable

Thanks a lot, AI: Hard drives are already sold out for the entire year, says Western Digital

AI companies have bought out Western Digital's storage capacity for 2026. It's only February.

Uh oh..... Do we have one of you guys building open source hard drives yet?

"Strong Towns has always started from a different premise. Durable affordability doesn’t come from crashing markets or imposing uniform outcomes. It comes from places that can respond to stress without breaking; from systems that can adjust incrementally without needing to override the people who live there. And it comes from building up more communities that can offer real opportunity and prosperity, so demand naturally spreads across many places, instead of being forced into a handful of superstar metros that buckle under the pressure."

The Housing Debate Is Finally Catching Up to Reality | Strong Towns

Arguments that ignore finance, power, and legitimacy are breaking down.

While this article is about housing affordability, this paragraph made me think of the people here who each day are doing some small incremental thing to make this and their community better, whether cutting soap, making shirts, incrementally creating technology to provide a freer and fairer world or posting memes to keep the vibes up. GM all, have a good weekend.

You have to have a certain level of crazy and cold tolerance to be biking in Chicago in January.

Fountain

The BetterLife Podcast • The Random Show: ADUs and Co-Living, 2026 Goal-Setting, and Working with Your Spouse • Listen on Fountain

This episode has no agenda… and that’s why it works!We bounce from ADUs and co-living to 2026 goal-setting to the rarely discussed reality of w...

@Jeff Booth The small real estate investor world is talking about your book!

The smallest government you can have is determined by the largest business you're willing to tolerate.

When you are in need of a boating accident, rural Wisconsin has you covered.

Christmas Cookie Inflation Index, 2025 Update | Strong Towns

This year’s cookie prices fell, but the story behind them is heavier than ever.

Thought folks might appreciate this article. It's the unintended consequences of the system that slowly erodes a community, demonstrated through Christmas cookies.

Thought this was an interesting chart showing the investor share. Peak in 2022 at 20%, right when interest rates were about to ramp up. I'm surprised by the recent Small Investor share, big things bought too much and puked out deals that with only enough meat/risk profile for small investors?

Good night from up north. Hope you are all warm with family as we end the year!

One day I'll start hunting for more old books. But I like the ones I do have.

GM all!

I'm waiting for @HODL to do today's vlog as Ben Franklin reading The White Waper Introduction. Happy White Paper Day everyone!

I have a theory that retirement accounts are a huge harm to local communities because it traps investment wealth in public markets for decades rather than letting people who have wealth to otherwise invest in real estate and businesses locally with immediate tax benefits to improve their community.

GM! At a different park than usual with the kids and there are people on broomsticks running around playing a surprisingly competitive game of quidditch in the athletic field.

GM! It's fires in the morning season!

Putting this out into the universe because as a real estate guy you realize there are more opportunities out there than people to compete with and cities need entrepreneurs doing this work so it’s win-win for all of us. Disclaimer: This is a thought exercise that in no way constitutes financial or tax advice. Thesis: Bitcoiners care about their local community and want to improve it in a way that doesn’t jeopardize their stack. Some may find that for other reasons they need to sell a portion of their stack and recognize capital gains. In the US, there is a tax structure for individuals to take capital gains and push them into physical real estate located within Opportunity Zones. In many communities, the downtown area is within an opportunity zone. By holding assets in the Fund for 10 years the individuals can recognize the step-up on a basis and sell the properties with a dramatically diminished tax liability.

I love this time of year when the morning light plays on the painting. GM all. Work on building up your community wherever you are today.

GM prisms in windows leave the best surprises on your wall.

GM all! Something something following rules.

Neenah, WI is probably important to more people than realize it. Look at your surroundings, who made that thing you rely on every day?

Neenah Foundry - Wikipedia