The Mechanical Man and the Empty Purse

These digital laborers, these tireless mimics, are integrated into the sprawling bureaucracies of commerce, automating the endless procession of invoices, the soul-crushing task of data entry, the sending of identical missives to countless recipients. UiPath proclaims itself the largest practitioner of this robotic process automation – a title that, in this age, feels both grand and profoundly…hollow. It is, after all, merely the amplification of boredom, the perfection of monotony.

Moderna’s Flu Shot: A Quiet Disappointment?

It seems the initial submission lacked…sufficient reassurance. A polite way of saying the testing wasn’t quite there. Now, they promise further investigation, a deeper look at safety, particularly for those of a certain age. The FDA, it appears, is no longer inclined to simply rubber-stamp applications. A sensible development, one might think, though it delays the inevitable reckoning with the seasonal flu. The market, of course, prefers immediacy.

Shiny Boxes and Whispered Promises: 2026

Wall Street, naturally, is engaged in its customary debate – is this a genuine increase in magical potency, or a particularly elaborate illusion? The capital plans of the High Mages suggest the former, though one should always remember that mages are notoriously bad at arithmetic. Still, here are three purveyors of shiny boxes and whispered promises that may benefit from this ongoing wave of… well, let’s call it ‘progress.’

Hecla Mining: A Silver Lining, By Gum!

If you’re one of them silver bulls – and there’s a good many of ’em these days, what with all this talk of newfangled AI contraptions and their appetite for the stuff – then Hecla’s report might just tickle your fancy. Investors, they saw a chance, and they took it, a right stampede, if you will.

Cathie Wood’s Bargain Bin: A Diary

Anyway, she’s not panicking (or at least, not visibly). Instead, she’s doing that thing where she buys more of the stuff that’s going down. A bit like when I see a sale on cashmere sweaters…it just feels right. She picked up some more Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Broadcom (AVGO), and Coinbase (COIN) on Tuesday. More. As if adding to a losing position will magically fix things. I’m starting a list: “Things Cathie Wood Does That I Simultaneously Admire and Fear.” It’s quite long. Let’s have a closer look, shall we? It’s a distraction, of course. From checking my own portfolio. Which is probably a bad idea.

Wendy’s: A Most Amusing Recovery

As of this afternoon, the stock is up a rather spirited 16.8% from yesterday’s close. One imagines the champagne corks are being popped – or at least, a very dry martini is being mixed – amongst those who’ve been clinging to their shares with a fortitude bordering on the heroic.

Netflix: A Prudent Observation

The source of this disquiet appears to lie in speculation concerning a potential acquisition – namely, the considerable assets of Warner Bros. Discovery. One observes, with a degree of amusement, the prevailing panic regarding the financing of such a venture, and the integration of its contents. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a company in possession of ample fortune must be in want of further expansion, though whether such ventures are always conducted with the requisite prudence remains a matter for consideration.

A Quiet Yield: Reflections on International Dividend Value

And for those who seek solace in the steady rhythm of dividend income, a path opens in these international realms. The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI +0.39%), a counterpart to the more celebrated Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM +0.46%), offers a respite from the relentless pursuit of growth. It is not a flamboyant offering, but a solid, dependable presence, a third-largest in its category, yet possessing a certain…unassuming strength.