The first week of autumn here in our corner of Minnesota was an adventurous one. The sunsets this time of year are gorgeous and we’re experiencing what will probably be our last few weeks of warmer weather. We’re to the point now where, even during the day, there’s a slight chill to the air but the sunshine is still warm.
I took the photo above during one of our walks at dusk last week.
Herding Cats ##
Progress is being made on the lower level renovation—tile has been laid, carpet padding has been installed and then next week the carpet installers will be done.
This phase should have been done last week but the installer mistakenly laid the carpet with the pattern going in the wrong direction (width-wise instead of length-wise) so it all had to be taken up and redone. To the contractor's credit, they owned up to the mistake and didn't put up a fuss.
Dealing with the contractors/installers and keeping everything on track has proven to be a lot like herding cats. Next will come the hardwood floor installation upstairs during the first and second weeks of October. We're hoping for the best.
Subaru Flu
Our brand new ‘25 Subaru Forester hybrid has been starting very roughly for the past few months and we attributed it to the hybrid engine. This began to get progressively worse over the past few weeks until the entire truck shuddered and shook for about a minute after starting the engine.
Last weekend the truck started exhibiting signs of major problems during a trip to a local apple orchard. On the trip back the entire dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree with check-engine and other warning lights. The infotainment system was also glitching and flickering.
After a little research online we discovered all the things we’re experiencing with the vehicle are pretty common. It seems Subaru paired the Toyota hybrid system with their boxer engine for these vehicles and I would guess a lot of the problems are stemming from the fact the hybrid system wasn’t originally designed to work with that particular motor.
The Forester has been in the shop now for three days and we’ve yet to get an explanation of what the fix will be. Many online have said the dealerships will just clear the codes to reset the warning lights and send the owners on their way. I hope this isn’t the case with us.
This has been a great reminder to never buy the first year of a product any automaker releases to market. I have a feeling we’ll be asking Subaru to buy back this vehicle. It’s been such a disappointment from two brands (Subaru & Toyota) that we’ve had great experiences with in the past and have come to trust.
On the bright side the dealership gave us a Crosstrek Wilderness Edition as a loaner and I’m absolutely loving it. Maybe we’ll ask for an even trade?
Trust But Verify
If you follow any financial or investment accounts on social media at all you’ve probably seen the chart above making its rounds. Historically speaking, it's fairly accurate, which would be an impressive feat if it was actually created in 1875. Future predictions become a bit murkier. Intrigued, I saved the chart to my phone's camera roll to do a little but of sleuthing on my own.
I consulted with Grok on the validity of the chart and this is what it told me:
The chart you provided, titled “Periods When to Make Money,” appears to be a hoax or at least highly speculative. It claims to predict financial cycles, including panics, good times, and hard times, with specific years (e.g., 1927, 1945, 1965, 2019, 2035, 2053) and patterns that repeat every 18-20 years. However, there is no credible historical or economic evidence to support the idea that financial panics or market cycles follow such a precise, predictable schedule over a century or more, especially extending into the future with exact dates like 2035 and 2053.
The document also bears a signature dated “1875” and includes instructions to “save this card and watch it closely,” which adds to its dubious nature, as it suggests a prophetic quality inconsistent with modern financial analysis. Economic cycles, such as recessions or booms, are influenced by a complex mix of factors (e.g., policy, global events, innovation), making long-term predictions like this unreliable.
While some of the historical years (e.g., 1927, 1945) align with known economic events (like the lead-up to the Great Depression or post-WWII recovery), the chart’s rigid periodicity and future predictions lack support from reputable economic models or data. This suggests it may be a fabricated or satirical piece rather than a legitimate financial tool.
This is a very good reminder to verify every shred of investment/financial advice you see online. It seems to me like a whole lot of advisors and influencers online are trying to mislead their followers so they continue to chase higher highs and miss selling towards the top of the cycle when they should. Even something as simple as this chart could prevent you from making the proper decisions when the right time comes. Be wary investors. Be very wary. With Uptober being right around the corner always remember to do your own research before making any important decisions.
All for now. Thanks for reading.
