Saturday Notes –
Olde Raleigh Financial Group’s e-Newsletter
Saturday Notes is a collection of random tidbits we hope you enjoy!
Saturday Notes Vol 6
You may have noticed, Starship blew up
If you Google “headlines for April 20, 2023” , you will need to dig to read about SpaceX’s Starship blowing up. India’s population passing China’s and the destructive power of tornadoes got more eyeballs and clicks. Of note, one of Elon Musk’s other companies, Tesla, saw its stock close 10% lower that same day.
The team at SpaceX are ecstatic and many were brought to tears of joy as their rocket’s debris strewn over the Gulf of Mexico. There was a 50/50 chance that the massive, most complex vehicle every produced by man would blow up on the launch pad. The groundbreaking flight lasted three minutes, fifty-nine seconds and produced what they had hoped for - more data.
Starship is a Major Upgrade
Reusability: The Starship is designed to be fully reusable, meaning that it can be flown multiple times without needing significant refurbishment between flights. This is a big improvement over SpaceX's previous Falcon 9 rocket, which could be reused to a limited extent but still required significant maintenance and refurbishment after each flight.
Capacity: The Starship is much larger than the Falcon 9, with a payload capacity of up to 100 metric tons to low Earth orbit (LEO). This makes it a more powerful rocket that can carry more cargo or passengers into space.
Interplanetary capability: The Starship is designed to be able to travel to other planets and moons in our solar system, including Mars. This is a major step forward in space exploration, as it opens up new possibilities for human exploration and settlement beyond Earth.
The Engines are Printed
The engines for SpaceX's Starship are printed using a technique called "additive manufacturing," which is also commonly known as 3D printing. The engines are called Raptor engines, are powered by methane, and liquid oxygen.
Additive manufacturing allows SpaceX to manufacture the complex engine components using fewer parts, which results in faster production times and reduced costs. It also enables SpaceX to optimize the engine design for improved performance and reliability.
The process of 3D printing the engine components involves building up layers of metal powder using a laser or electron beam, which fuses the powder particles together to form the desired shape. This process can produce intricate parts with high precision and consistency, which is particularly important for the high-performance and reliability requirements of rocket engines.
Costs
SpaceX has not disclosed the exact cost of the Starship program, but it is estimated to be in the billions of dollars. Elon has stated that the development and construction of the Starship is one of the company's most challenging and expensive projects.
The cost to launch a Starship will also depend on the mission and destination. For example, launching a Starship to low Earth orbit (LEO) may cost around $2 million, while a mission to the Moon or Mars may cost significantly more. SpaceX has stated that one of the goals of the Starship program is to reduce the cost of spaceflight, making it more accessible to a wider range of customers and missions.
It's worth noting that the cost of launching a payload on the Starship will likely be significantly lower than current launch prices for comparable missions, due to the Starship's full reusability and high capacity. SpaceX has stated that the Starship's ability to be reused multiple times will significantly reduce the cost of each launch, as well as make it more environmentally sustainable.
Propulsion system: The Starship uses advanced Raptor engines, which are designed to be more efficient and powerful than the Merlin engines used on the Falcon 9. This allows the Starship to generate more thrust and carry heavier payloads.
Fertile Ground
Our country continues to make step changes in humanity possible. Our rule of law, deep capital markets and skilled workforce set the table so visionary tinkerers like Edison, Henry Ford and Steve Job could create wonder, convenience, and value.
Now, here comes Starship to remind us that for all its challenges, polarization and noise, the United States is still a fantastical place. A place where a private company pushed their rocket to vapor only so they could teach their printer to print a better engine. Think about that. Not the space department of a government or consortium of governments. A private company whose engineers have been holed up in their desert research center for years, tinkering away. Edison, Ford, and Jobs are all looking down at with approval. Probably Hamilton and old Ben Franklin too.
Saturday Notes Vol 5
Here are some things we found interesting and thought worth sharing!
Health Care - The Biggest Company in the World
This article has been making its way around the Net and we thought it worth sharing. Published by Andreessen Horowitz, a private American venture capital firm, talks about a company that does not yet exist.
https://a16z.com/2022/11/11/the-biggest-company-in-the-world/
Beauty and the beast: Implications of the US-China tech war on climate and energy
Commodities: It’s Complicated
Here is a great comment from our friends at Confluence Investments regarding commodities
https://www.confluenceinvestment.com/wp-content/uploads/daily_Mar_09_2023.pdf
This is cool! Apple unveils classical-music streaming app for Music subscribers
On March 28th, Apple launches Apple Music Classical app - a stand-alone app designed to stream classical music that's included free for its Apple Music subscribers. 5M tracks of classical audio, curated playlists, advanced search and browsing, and detailed composer biographies and deep descriptions of key works. Perfect
Saturday Notes Vol 4
Good Morning!
We hope you are having a great weekend! In this edition, a little business first followed by some tidbits.
2022 Tax Review and Report
Its never too early to start tax planning! Please send us your completed 2022 tax returns as you get them. We will provide you a 3 page report that is helpful in making decisions. This is part of the services we provide so feel free to take advantage of it.
How do Americans spend their dough? This graphic spells it out.
Extortionist Economy Podcast
When ransomware get’s a five part podcast of its own, it has really arrive. Those that own small businesses in particular, take note.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-extortion-economy/id1594653391
Book Recommendations - from being happy as we age to opening a beer with flair
Strength to Strength is a very cool, well researched book by a happy guy named Arthur Brooks. An entertaining mix of social science, philosophy, biography, theology, and eastern wisdom, as well as dozens of interviews with everyday men and women, the book creates a roadmap about setting ourselves up to be happy and balanced as we age.
99 Ways to Open a Beer Bottle without a Bottle Opener was written by an industrial designer who chronicles this indispensable guide to things that can open your beer.
Please feel free to pass Saturday Notes along and as always, thank you for the relationship.
Team Olde Raleigh Group
Saturday Notes Vol 3
Happy New Year and Happy Saturday! We hope both are off with a bang! Here are a few items we found interesting!
History of Companies and Industries Listed on the S&P 500 1969-2019
From the once dominance of Industrials to the rise of Tech, this info graphic spells out the Markets makeup over the past 50yrs!
The Tumultuous History of General Electric
Speaking of Industrials, the history of G.E. comes to life in “Power Failure: Rise & Fall of an American Icon” by William D. Cohan. What started with Thomas Edison lead to the palace intrigue of who would succeed CEO to the stars Jack Welch. A fascinating book about an important wrinkle of U.S. corporate history! Also, Jack Welch blew up a G.E. lab building.
The best apology letter ever written?
A string of unfortunate events involving seagulls led to a really bad day for this guy.
Click Here for full article.
Market Timing
On Jan. 6, 1981, in his weekly newsletter, market guru Joe Granville warned investors that a stock market crash was on the horizon and they should dump all their stocks. The following day, the Dow tanked 4.2% on record trading making Granville look like a genius.
While Granville gained notoriety for his 1981 call, his overall performance was far from impressive. From 1980 through January 2005, Granville’s stock picks for investors lost 0.5% on an annualized basis compared to an 11.9% average yearly gain from the market as a whole.
Lesson – timing the Market does not make you are a good investor.
Check out this Yahoo Finance Article for more details
Have a wonderful weekend!
Team Olde Raleigh Group
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Saturday Notes Vol 2
Good morning!! Here are a few tibits of info we found worth sharing! Enjoy!
The Moskovich Returns!!
Here is an odd side effect of Western sanctions on Russian - a car buisiness is reborn. Updated Moskoviches or “natives of Mosco” are hitting the streets once again. Check out the article below:
Commodities and Car Batteries
Here is an article that breaks the major metals that make up batteries, their costs and supply chains and the impacts on the emerging electric vehicle market.
https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/charted-the-most-expensive-battery-metals/
Also, last December we posted a podcast with battery researcher Mitch Ball https://www.olderaleighfinancial.com/orfg-resources/sound-track-to-a-financial-advisors-life-episode-13-with-mitch-ball
Richmond, Va - Great Restaurants.
On a recent continued education junket to Richmond, VA, Alex and Trevor were introduced to a couple of culinary gems.
Stella’s serves delicious and authenic Greek food in a French brasserie setting. Marble bar, lots of windows and mirrors and great service. When a joint is packed at 5:30 you know it is good. https://stellasrichmond.com/
Edos Squid is an Italian restaurant in the same current as Boston’s famous northside. An unassuming wood door leads directly to a packed dining room replete with a charming but surly waitstaff. So much fun! https://edossquidrva.com/
If you find yourself in Richmond, call ahead, get reservations and check these places out.
A Short Read for the Holidays
Historian and author David McCullough’s short book In The Dark Streets Shineth archives American Christmas music. This little charmer includes the story of the December 1941 White House holiday event at which Churchill first heard “O Little Town of Bethlehem”.
RIP Mr. McCullough.
Happy Holidays Folks!
Saturday Notes Vol 1
Turns out, Cairo, Egypt is a great food town!
We got a tip from some friends about an Italian and Mediterranean influenced gem of a restaurant in the heart of Cairo! Crimson is located on the northern edge of an island in the middle of The Nile. The couple report the food and location are spectacular. So, if you find yourself in Cairo, be sure to make a reservation and check it out. https://www.crimsoncairo.com/.
Do you have a spectacular restaurant recommendation in a far flung location we should know about? Feel free to share by replying to this email.
Year End Financial Checklist
Check out this summary article on our Blog. https://www.olderaleighfinancial.com/orfg-resources/raleigh-nc-financial-advisor-end-of-year-financial-planning
Behavioral Finance
To some degree or another, we manage how clients perceive and react to financial cycles, economic conditions and market swings. With that in mind, here’s a great article from fellow financial advisor Barry Ritholtz. https://ritholtz.com/2022/09/what-is-in-your-control/
