Assorted Links Monday

Why pessimism sounds smart:

I’ve realized a new reason why pessimism sounds smart: optimism often requires believing in unknown, unspecified future breakthroughs—which seems fanciful and naive. If you very soberly, wisely, prudently stick to the known and the proven, you will necessarily be pessimistic.

No proven resources or technologies can sustain economic growth. The status quo will plateau. To expect growth is to believe in future technologies. To expect very long-term growth is to believe in science fiction.

No known solutions can solve our hardest problems—that’s why they’re the hardest ones.

'The sound of money': Wind energy is booming in deep-red Republican states.

$1,000 a month: Half of parents still financially support their adult children.

Why fertilizer prices are so high and might go higher in 2023:

Sorry, collectibles are terrible investments: Nobody wants your beanie babies. And even "serious" collectibles are mathematically destined to underperform.