"Here we may reign secure, and in my choice
to reign is worth ambition though in Hell: 
Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven."

John Milton, Paradise Lost 

“Evil, when we are in its power, is not felt as evil, but as a necessity, or even a duty.   Sin is not a distance, it is a turning of our gaze in the wrong direction.." 

Simone Weil

"...old as Babylon, and evil as Hell."

Edward Abbey

"Foolishness has a knack of getting its way; as we should see if we were not always so much wrapped up in ourselves.  In this respect our townsfolk were like everybody else, wrapped up in themselves; they did not believe in plagues." 

Albert Camus

We are back in a bubble that is strikingly similar in size and sentiment to the dot-com bubble at the turn of the century. 

This struck me very hard today while I was watching financial tv, and listened to a discussion of the cryptocurrency markets. 

Sometime in the next two years, and with a good probability of later this year, we are going to fall back down into the plunge pool of reality. 

The cynicism with which people approach most things now is almost incredible. 

I am now very alert and have structured my portfolio and my general life more defensively. 

I have taken the most profits. I employ no leverage.

Am I being overcautious? Yes, I think I probably am.

Especially compared to those who are chasing risks with abandon, and begging to get skinned.

Have a pleasant evening.