Some final things from my Newsblur to finish up the year, including helpful 2025 advice (from Cal Newport) and additional information on the development of the core theses in Uranium and Tin. I hope everyone has a happy holidays, and a great 2025!
How to Stop Being Lazy and Get More Done
For OM – and I’m guessing most of you – time is the primary constraint and to the to-do list never seems to shrink! As OM tries to figure how to get more done, Cal Newport has become essential reading. Here Erik Barker breaks down 5 of Cal’s secrets to better managing time and getting more done.
(Erik Barker, Barking Up the Wrong Tree)
The Tao of Cal
If the above piqued your interest then read on! Cal Newport has proposed a lot of ideas on how the digital environment impacts our lives, both professionally and personally, and how we should respond. This article serves as a primer that summarizes all of his major ideas. There are some good new year resolutions in there, and it’s an article that OM is likely to come back to many times in 2025.
(Cal Newport, on his blog - one of the few you should regularly read, even if you don't use Newsblur!)
Why luxury cheese is being targeted by black market criminals
An article inspired by the Neal’s Yard Dairy theft of £300,000-worth of high-end cheddar cheese! It’s not just British cheddar; cheese theft has become a thing over the last few years as the price of cheese has risen, and with organized crime infiltrating the food industry.
(Dan Saladino, BBC)
What If We Run It Hot….?
For all of OM’s professional life central banks been focused on inflation - especially consumer price rises - over almost everything else. While many of us, especially in Finance, are happy to ignore both the implied and the unintended consequences of this, the political costs are now beginning to be felt. With the return of President Trump to the White House, Kuppy looks at what might happen if they economy is allowed to run hot and generate higher than normal inflation.
(Harris Kupperman, Praetorian Capital)
The Eucalyptus Tree Goes to the Moon: The Koala’s Visit to Goma & the Bisie Tin Mine
OM’s day job means he cannot visit the companies he owns, let alone do site visits for some of the mining names. In the case of Alphamin Resources this matters; the broad thesis is clear, the asset quality isn’t disputed, but it’s located in North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Fortunately, while OM can’t go visit the site it helps to know folks who can – so if you’ve ever wanted to know more about Alphamin's actual mine, this is the article for you.
(The Koala, Substack)
Repositioning in Uranium
OM’s largest position is still in Uranium. Trader Ferg gives a good update on Uranium markets, including recapping the simple thesis behind the investment and the incremental positive changes that have occurred in recent years. While the Uranium opportunity has seen the easy money made, the next leg of the move is substantially less risky than it was a few years ago.
(Trader Ferg, Substack)
