September 12, 2024

The Appetizer

“But then he had a pretty hefty sneeze.”

• The manager for English soccer club Bolton Wanderers on his player, Victor Adeboyejo, being ruled out with an injury after a major sneeze reinjured his back.

Now, on to the numbers. Drum roll, please …

• 8’1”: The height of Paris 2024 Paralympian Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, making him the tallest Paralympian in history and the joint-second tallest man in the world. He plays on Iran’s sitting volleyball team.
• 97%: The percentage of 11- to 17-year-olds that use their phones during school time, for an average of 43 minutes.
• 83: The number of hot dogs Joey Chestnut ate in 10 minutes during Netflix’s live eating contest, defeating his rival Takeru Kobayashi and breaking his own world record.
• 4.6: The average number of employees at businesses launched between March 2020 and March 2021, compared with 5.3 employees at businesses launched a year earlier, according to Census Bureau data.
• 29%: The growth in solo dining reservations in the U.S. over the last two years, according to OpenTable.
• 200 million: The number of weekly active ChatGPT users, double the November 2023 figure.

Dig In
The Space Race

In case you missed it, we expanded our Long-Term Investment Themes last month to include a new focus: the “Space Race.” We’re excited about the innovation coming from private companies and new spacefaring nations joining the likes of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). The idea of “life in space” is becoming less of a dream as research advances. The ESA recently produced the first metal part ever created in space!

Satellites continuously monitor our solar system for communication, navigation, weather, and scientific research, providing insights into our oceans, land, and atmosphere. It’s projected that by 2030, we’ll see around 20,000 additional active satellites, up from about 9,000 today. That’s a lot of discoveries on the horizon!

Private company SpaceX is already making headlines by sending civilians into space for the first-ever civilian spacewalk! They’re set to reach the highest altitude any human has reached since the last Apollo mission in 1972 and will conduct science and engineering experiments, including using SpaceX’s high-speed Starlink network. These moves are encouraging other countries to jump in; for example, the United Arab Emirates is on track to launch a bold seven-asteroid mission in 2028, while India has been very vocal about its space ambitions. All friendly, productive competition!

For more details, check out our updated report: From Vision to Value: Our Long-Term Investment Themes!

Weekly Specials

For decades, cyclists and runners have used baking soda as a legal performance enhancer, but it can cause stomach issues. The new fix? A new product from Sweden’s Maurten that mixes with baking soda to form a starchy gel to prevent discomfort. Powering Olympic athletes straight from your pantry!

California, home to the nation’s largest public school system with over 6.3 million students and 10,000 schools, just passed a bipartisan bill banning red dye No. 40 and five other chemicals in school foods.

Scientists have discovered a “treasure trove” at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean: deep-sea microbes that could revolutionize antibiotic trials. With antibiotic resistance becoming a growing issue, this new source could provide some much-needed defenses.

Driving lessons and a nervous guardian gripping the door handle are traditional rites of passage for many. However, since 2000, the number of 16-year-olds with driver’s licenses has decreased nearly 27%. Gen Z is even less likely to pursue a license, thanks to the convenience of Uber, Lyft, and biking as alternative transportation options.

Corporate Lunch

The NFL season is expected to generate a record $35 billion in legal sports wagers. I personally love betting on the game.

Lyft is planning to sell bike and scooter assets as the company pivots its strategy. I would pick up a used scooter for the right price. My fridge is so far away from my couch.

DraftKings caught a fine in Connecticut for operating online slot machines that paid zero wins for a week. These bad boys are due for a jackpot.

Volkswagen is considering closing plants in Germany for the first time ever, to cut costs after demand from China has been weaker than expected.

The U.S. Open is offering a cocktail, the Honey Deuce, a mix of Grey Goose, raspberry liqueur, and lemonade that has viewers’ wallets loose. The drink is expected to have earned over $10 million in sales. I know New York prices are high, but at $23 a pop, this is pretty steep.

That popular soda you may not have heard of, Mountain Dew Baja Blast, is going bougie: It’s now available as gelato. What a time to be alive – thank you, Taco Bell!

Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss.

Indices are unmanaged and are not available for direct investment.

Past performance is not indicative of future results.