Randy Kates
@randykates.bsky.social
Advanced Mfg & Life Sciences guy looking for what’s great today & what’s next. ATL based Hokie 🦃 Stay Thirsty...
I’ve seen enough -
we’re officially in “THE EAR-PATCH ECONOMY”.
we’re officially in “THE EAR-PATCH ECONOMY”.
December 11, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I’ve seen enough -
we’re officially in “THE EAR-PATCH ECONOMY”.
we’re officially in “THE EAR-PATCH ECONOMY”.
And for the folks sitting over at the little kids table, there's this extra crispy appetizer for ya to knaw on!
November 21, 2025 at 6:46 PM
And for the folks sitting over at the little kids table, there's this extra crispy appetizer for ya to knaw on!
Some days the headlines seem like they are talking directly to you…😎
November 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Some days the headlines seem like they are talking directly to you…😎
Stealing a dead guy’s shoes in the Oval is so on brand with this group lolol.
November 6, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Stealing a dead guy’s shoes in the Oval is so on brand with this group lolol.
Worse than Oof! CEO Mike Hsu continues to excel at value vaporization.
November 3, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Worse than Oof! CEO Mike Hsu continues to excel at value vaporization.
See, you just have to know where to look - he’s talking about last Thursday & Friday lol.
November 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
See, you just have to know where to look - he’s talking about last Thursday & Friday lol.
And just like that, the reality of the REAL world begins.
- FORD, the largest US carmaker is competitively disadvantaged in US
- Announced job cuts rise to over 100k each month.
- FORD, the largest US carmaker is competitively disadvantaged in US
- Announced job cuts rise to over 100k each month.
August 1, 2025 at 12:11 PM
And just like that, the reality of the REAL world begins.
- FORD, the largest US carmaker is competitively disadvantaged in US
- Announced job cuts rise to over 100k each month.
- FORD, the largest US carmaker is competitively disadvantaged in US
- Announced job cuts rise to over 100k each month.
Why the economy looks strong - until it doesn’t:
• Q2: Cash is spent stocking up inventory
• Hiring freezes begin
• Sellers push for price hikes
• Q3: Growth slows, jobs go unfilled
• Ripple hits 1,000’s of biz
• Q4: Price increases hit full force
• Q2 2026: Public says: “Wait, what just happened?”
• Q2: Cash is spent stocking up inventory
• Hiring freezes begin
• Sellers push for price hikes
• Q3: Growth slows, jobs go unfilled
• Ripple hits 1,000’s of biz
• Q4: Price increases hit full force
• Q2 2026: Public says: “Wait, what just happened?”
July 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Why the economy looks strong - until it doesn’t:
• Q2: Cash is spent stocking up inventory
• Hiring freezes begin
• Sellers push for price hikes
• Q3: Growth slows, jobs go unfilled
• Ripple hits 1,000’s of biz
• Q4: Price increases hit full force
• Q2 2026: Public says: “Wait, what just happened?”
• Q2: Cash is spent stocking up inventory
• Hiring freezes begin
• Sellers push for price hikes
• Q3: Growth slows, jobs go unfilled
• Ripple hits 1,000’s of biz
• Q4: Price increases hit full force
• Q2 2026: Public says: “Wait, what just happened?”
And wait ‘til they launch this baby😎🏆
July 22, 2025 at 7:44 PM
And wait ‘til they launch this baby😎🏆
Coca-Cola Marketing:
(( High-fiving for the millions in free press on using cane sugar ))
Astronaut CEO:
“Hold my beer.”
(( High-fiving for the millions in free press on using cane sugar ))
Astronaut CEO:
“Hold my beer.”
July 19, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Coca-Cola Marketing:
(( High-fiving for the millions in free press on using cane sugar ))
Astronaut CEO:
“Hold my beer.”
(( High-fiving for the millions in free press on using cane sugar ))
Astronaut CEO:
“Hold my beer.”
Waterfall for mfg biz:
- 2Q: Spend cash to buy xtra inventory
- Hold back on hiring new employees.
- Sellers begin negotiating increases.
- 3Q: Growth stalls, vacancies not filled.
- Ripple effect at 1,000’s of biz
- 4Q: Price Increases hit full force.
- 1Q 2026 we ask: “What happened to economy?”
- 2Q: Spend cash to buy xtra inventory
- Hold back on hiring new employees.
- Sellers begin negotiating increases.
- 3Q: Growth stalls, vacancies not filled.
- Ripple effect at 1,000’s of biz
- 4Q: Price Increases hit full force.
- 1Q 2026 we ask: “What happened to economy?”
July 19, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Waterfall for mfg biz:
- 2Q: Spend cash to buy xtra inventory
- Hold back on hiring new employees.
- Sellers begin negotiating increases.
- 3Q: Growth stalls, vacancies not filled.
- Ripple effect at 1,000’s of biz
- 4Q: Price Increases hit full force.
- 1Q 2026 we ask: “What happened to economy?”
- 2Q: Spend cash to buy xtra inventory
- Hold back on hiring new employees.
- Sellers begin negotiating increases.
- 3Q: Growth stalls, vacancies not filled.
- Ripple effect at 1,000’s of biz
- 4Q: Price Increases hit full force.
- 1Q 2026 we ask: “What happened to economy?”
From this edition of:
Great Lessons in PR Astronomy.
Great Lessons in PR Astronomy.
July 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
From this edition of:
Great Lessons in PR Astronomy.
Great Lessons in PR Astronomy.
Wait til the really big fresh idea tomorrow:
“Sugar in Diet Coke”.
Mic drop.🎤
“Sugar in Diet Coke”.
Mic drop.🎤
July 16, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Wait til the really big fresh idea tomorrow:
“Sugar in Diet Coke”.
Mic drop.🎤
“Sugar in Diet Coke”.
Mic drop.🎤
Glad your forklift operator skills will come in handy as well Tom 😎
July 9, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Glad your forklift operator skills will come in handy as well Tom 😎
It was a trick post, Tunisia not on this list, but on THE list coming in hot at 28%.
Trivia Question Answers:
a) Tunisia exports Olive Oil, Motor Oil, and Fertilizer to US
b) Tunisia is the 3rd largest exporter of Olive Oil to US
c) Coast of Africa
d) That's why your salad dressing price is up
Trivia Question Answers:
a) Tunisia exports Olive Oil, Motor Oil, and Fertilizer to US
b) Tunisia is the 3rd largest exporter of Olive Oil to US
c) Coast of Africa
d) That's why your salad dressing price is up
July 7, 2025 at 10:27 PM
It was a trick post, Tunisia not on this list, but on THE list coming in hot at 28%.
Trivia Question Answers:
a) Tunisia exports Olive Oil, Motor Oil, and Fertilizer to US
b) Tunisia is the 3rd largest exporter of Olive Oil to US
c) Coast of Africa
d) That's why your salad dressing price is up
Trivia Question Answers:
a) Tunisia exports Olive Oil, Motor Oil, and Fertilizer to US
b) Tunisia is the 3rd largest exporter of Olive Oil to US
c) Coast of Africa
d) That's why your salad dressing price is up
If a pretty chart vs a table helps clear things up, here’s a pretty one from @justinwolfers.bsky.social
July 7, 2025 at 9:45 PM
If a pretty chart vs a table helps clear things up, here’s a pretty one from @justinwolfers.bsky.social
I can’t even…
Your July 7th hotly awaited Tunisia Tariff Update.🤓
Your July 7th hotly awaited Tunisia Tariff Update.🤓
July 7, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I can’t even…
Your July 7th hotly awaited Tunisia Tariff Update.🤓
Your July 7th hotly awaited Tunisia Tariff Update.🤓
I think our business will be fine if we just send our customers a letter that says “please keep buying lots of our stuff, and we’ll send you a letter in 2-weeks that will tell you how much it costs.”
Sure, that’ll be great.
(And even attached the simple trade charts…)
Sure, that’ll be great.
(And even attached the simple trade charts…)
July 6, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I think our business will be fine if we just send our customers a letter that says “please keep buying lots of our stuff, and we’ll send you a letter in 2-weeks that will tell you how much it costs.”
Sure, that’ll be great.
(And even attached the simple trade charts…)
Sure, that’ll be great.
(And even attached the simple trade charts…)
It’s time to Re-Read the Words That Started It All.
Today, take 5 min to read the Declaration of Independence - not as a historical document but as a living call to courage and the power of collective purpose, and about the fire that still ignites us.
Today, take 5 min to read the Declaration of Independence - not as a historical document but as a living call to courage and the power of collective purpose, and about the fire that still ignites us.
July 4, 2025 at 2:50 PM
It’s time to Re-Read the Words That Started It All.
Today, take 5 min to read the Declaration of Independence - not as a historical document but as a living call to courage and the power of collective purpose, and about the fire that still ignites us.
Today, take 5 min to read the Declaration of Independence - not as a historical document but as a living call to courage and the power of collective purpose, and about the fire that still ignites us.
Quick Summary of Today's Headlines:
June 5, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Quick Summary of Today's Headlines:
Prolly time for a new strategy here - another KC "deal" that drives the stock in the wrong direction. CEO's Mike Hsu's performance has been less than stellar...
June 5, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Prolly time for a new strategy here - another KC "deal" that drives the stock in the wrong direction. CEO's Mike Hsu's performance has been less than stellar...
Top 50 Markets Summary on Redfin - fascinating buyer/seller metrics. www.redfin.com/news/sellers...
June 3, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Top 50 Markets Summary on Redfin - fascinating buyer/seller metrics. www.redfin.com/news/sellers...
Not gonna lie - if you’re not using this Chat GPT feature, you’re just not living life right.😎
May 25, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Not gonna lie - if you’re not using this Chat GPT feature, you’re just not living life right.😎