Beau
@runningsignal.com
Backyard economist. Macro/micro coverage of the economy, trade, and technology.
Opinions here don't get etched in stone.
Opinions here don't get etched in stone.
Pinned
Beau
@runningsignal.com
· 14d
Water Always Finds a Way
Why trade is capitalism's substrate and damming it doesn't work
runningsignal.beehiiv.com
Trade isn't a policy choice. It's the substrate capitalism runs on. You can dam water temporarily, but it finds new channels. New piece on why protectionism runs counter to capitalism.
New piece:
Water Always Finds a Way
runningsignal.beehiiv.com/p/water-alwa...
New piece:
Water Always Finds a Way
runningsignal.beehiiv.com/p/water-alwa...
Two of the top 10 shows on Netflix are streams of fireplaces.
December 27, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Two of the top 10 shows on Netflix are streams of fireplaces.
You can learn a lot about a person based on who their favorite muppet is
December 27, 2025 at 1:04 AM
You can learn a lot about a person based on who their favorite muppet is
You can argue there have been meaningful improvements for a majority of Americans over the last 40 years. You can also admit the pace in which a majority of Americans have separated from the top 10-20% over the last 20 years is significant.
Nostalgia is less about purchasing power than parity.
Nostalgia is less about purchasing power than parity.
December 26, 2025 at 10:16 PM
You can argue there have been meaningful improvements for a majority of Americans over the last 40 years. You can also admit the pace in which a majority of Americans have separated from the top 10-20% over the last 20 years is significant.
Nostalgia is less about purchasing power than parity.
Nostalgia is less about purchasing power than parity.
He really did a Merry Christmas to my haters yesterday. I hate how much I've chuckled over the absurdity the last 24 hrs.
December 26, 2025 at 7:26 PM
He really did a Merry Christmas to my haters yesterday. I hate how much I've chuckled over the absurdity the last 24 hrs.
Reposted by Beau
Where prices have increased the most this year, per CPI data. www.ms.now/opinion/trum...
December 26, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Where prices have increased the most this year, per CPI data. www.ms.now/opinion/trum...
I see enough separation at this point to say Claude has found a clear lead. They have found ways to integrate and hold context windows in ways I haven't seen with the others.
There are different workstreams with UI vs Claude Code. The others are better at pictures. Ok for 2nd opinions.
There are different workstreams with UI vs Claude Code. The others are better at pictures. Ok for 2nd opinions.
December 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
I see enough separation at this point to say Claude has found a clear lead. They have found ways to integrate and hold context windows in ways I haven't seen with the others.
There are different workstreams with UI vs Claude Code. The others are better at pictures. Ok for 2nd opinions.
There are different workstreams with UI vs Claude Code. The others are better at pictures. Ok for 2nd opinions.
Reposted by Beau
December 26, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Reposted by Beau
an easy way to understand this is that people make clothes cool and not the other way around. so our judgement of what looks "good" is often shaped by the cultural capital of various social groups. punks, skaters, hip hop heads, etc look stylish simply bc they are cool. thus money is not a barrier.
December 26, 2025 at 11:39 AM
an easy way to understand this is that people make clothes cool and not the other way around. so our judgement of what looks "good" is often shaped by the cultural capital of various social groups. punks, skaters, hip hop heads, etc look stylish simply bc they are cool. thus money is not a barrier.
Tried minced meat pie tonight. It is a tar of raisin, lemon peel, and spices.
December 26, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Tried minced meat pie tonight. It is a tar of raisin, lemon peel, and spices.
The entire league needs these oversized Santa robes.
December 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
The entire league needs these oversized Santa robes.
Reposted by Beau
Sometimes you see a product that is so intriguing that you have to try it.
December 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Sometimes you see a product that is so intriguing that you have to try it.
You can’t spell NFL without Netflix.
December 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
You can’t spell NFL without Netflix.
Slowly getting the sock drawer fully replaced with these bad boys. Most warm and comfortable socks I’ve had outside the Buffalo Wool Co.
December 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Slowly getting the sock drawer fully replaced with these bad boys. Most warm and comfortable socks I’ve had outside the Buffalo Wool Co.
As convenient as catered ads can be, the SEO component is going to further increase slop and bring you away from the best answers to your questions.
It won’t only be for soaps and cars that get filtered into your responses.
It won’t only be for soaps and cars that get filtered into your responses.
OpenAI is working on showing ads when users ask about products in ChatGPT. This is the most obvious choice for ads especially in the recently launched Shopping Research mode.
Google Search has a Shopping tab for the same exact need. Better than random ads unrelated to the conversation.
Google Search has a Shopping tab for the same exact need. Better than random ads unrelated to the conversation.
OpenAI’s Ads Push Starts Taking Shape
OpenAI executives have kept a tight lid on how the company could show advertisements to users of its popular ChatGPT chatbot, leaving the broader digital ad industry eager for clues. Behind the scenes...
www.theinformation.com
December 25, 2025 at 11:25 AM
As convenient as catered ads can be, the SEO component is going to further increase slop and bring you away from the best answers to your questions.
It won’t only be for soaps and cars that get filtered into your responses.
It won’t only be for soaps and cars that get filtered into your responses.
This guy went into a respectable profession in the Merchant Marines then spent the rest of his life insecurely crying about how no one in the Navy takes him seriously.
John Konrad is an imbecile and it’s an insult to Dan Bongino to call him the Dan Bongino of naval mastery.
I forgot how many bangers this guy has
December 25, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This guy went into a respectable profession in the Merchant Marines then spent the rest of his life insecurely crying about how no one in the Navy takes him seriously.
Reposted by Beau
heart of dorkness
John Konrad is an imbecile and it’s an insult to Dan Bongino to call him the Dan Bongino of naval mastery.
I forgot how many bangers this guy has
December 25, 2025 at 5:58 AM
heart of dorkness
Reposted by Beau
Merry Christmas! Please enjoy the opening to this Japanese Christmas concert special that I watch every year.
As far as I can tell, this has otherwise been scrubbed from the internet
As far as I can tell, this has otherwise been scrubbed from the internet
December 25, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Merry Christmas! Please enjoy the opening to this Japanese Christmas concert special that I watch every year.
As far as I can tell, this has otherwise been scrubbed from the internet
As far as I can tell, this has otherwise been scrubbed from the internet
Reposted by Beau
Extremely funny to call the pope “holier-than-thou”
December 25, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Extremely funny to call the pope “holier-than-thou”
This is my call sign
December 25, 2025 at 12:46 AM
This is my call sign
Many have told us over the years to appreciate these years with the kids and I heed that call. To see Christmas from a young kid’s eyes is just delightful.
I always look forward to what my boys will become while cherishing this small window in their lives.
I always look forward to what my boys will become while cherishing this small window in their lives.
December 24, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Many have told us over the years to appreciate these years with the kids and I heed that call. To see Christmas from a young kid’s eyes is just delightful.
I always look forward to what my boys will become while cherishing this small window in their lives.
I always look forward to what my boys will become while cherishing this small window in their lives.
What in the front door is she taking about.
Bari Weiss just sent this Christmas Eve email to the CBS News staff about "building trust," which includes her tripling down on spiking the CECOT piece "to make sure it's comprehensive and fair."
One CBS staffer tells me: "She really has no idea how insulting she comes across."
One CBS staffer tells me: "She really has no idea how insulting she comes across."
December 24, 2025 at 8:27 PM
What in the front door is she taking about.
The only way to stomach the work they do is to dehumanize.
You wouldn’t even see a crass executive talk about a customer base in such a manner.
You wouldn’t even see a crass executive talk about a customer base in such a manner.
“Like Prime, but with human beings.”
December 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
The only way to stomach the work they do is to dehumanize.
You wouldn’t even see a crass executive talk about a customer base in such a manner.
You wouldn’t even see a crass executive talk about a customer base in such a manner.
Interesting article on wealth and greenery and shade.
I have had a view that it used to be you could be poor but still get a view or live in rich natural areas but over time they’ve been found and crowded out.
Many places in these areas empty almost all year.
open.substack.com/pub/american...
I have had a view that it used to be you could be poor but still get a view or live in rich natural areas but over time they’ve been found and crowded out.
Many places in these areas empty almost all year.
open.substack.com/pub/american...
Trees and Inequality
With so many Christmas trees in living rooms today, a story on tree injustice felt only right
open.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Interesting article on wealth and greenery and shade.
I have had a view that it used to be you could be poor but still get a view or live in rich natural areas but over time they’ve been found and crowded out.
Many places in these areas empty almost all year.
open.substack.com/pub/american...
I have had a view that it used to be you could be poor but still get a view or live in rich natural areas but over time they’ve been found and crowded out.
Many places in these areas empty almost all year.
open.substack.com/pub/american...
I’ve started some view of composition of top jobs by share in the economy. It’s simplistic but I’m looking at what spending looks like as more people shift into lower paying roles and vice versa.
Weighting these into a per hour rate I found being more or less flat, so pop growth was a big factor.
Weighting these into a per hour rate I found being more or less flat, so pop growth was a big factor.
December 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I’ve started some view of composition of top jobs by share in the economy. It’s simplistic but I’m looking at what spending looks like as more people shift into lower paying roles and vice versa.
Weighting these into a per hour rate I found being more or less flat, so pop growth was a big factor.
Weighting these into a per hour rate I found being more or less flat, so pop growth was a big factor.