As the demand for sustainable transportation continues to rise, Anikaa E-Rickshaws has emerged as a reliable and safe mode of commuting for people across India. These electric vehicles offer numerous advantages over traditional rickshaws, such as lower emissions, cost-effectiveness, and ease of maintenance. In this article, we will explore how Anikaa E-Rickshaws are revolutionizing the commuting experience in India and ensuring safer transportation for all.
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Efficient and Environmentally Friendly:
Anikaa E-Rickshaws are powered by electricity, making them an eco-friendly alternative to conventional rickshaws. They produce zero tailpipe emissions, reducing air pollution and contributing to cleaner and healthier cities. By opting for an electric rickshaw, commuters not only enjoy a comfortable ride but also contribute to a greener environment.
Enhanced Safety Features:
Safety is a paramount concern when it comes to commuting, and Anikaa E-Rickshaws prioritize the well-being of passengers and drivers. These vehicles have advanced safety features, including headlights, rearview mirrors, and seat belts. The sturdy build and reliable engineering of Anikaa E-Rickshaws ensure enhanced stability and protection in case of collisions, ensuring a safer journey for all.
Low Maintenance and High Reliability:
One of the significant advantages of Anikaa E-Rickshaws is their low maintenance requirements. Compared to traditional rickshaws that rely on complex internal combustion engines, electric rickshaws have fewer moving parts, reducing the chances of mechanical failure. This results in decreased downtime and lower maintenance costs for vehicle owners. Anikaa E-Rickshaws are built with high-quality components, ensuring their longevity and minimizing the need for frequent repairs.
Affordable Pricing:
Anikaa E-Rickshaws offer an attractive pricing structure, making them an affordable option for both drivers and passengers. The initial cost of purchasing an electric rickshaw may be higher compared to a conventional rickshaw, but the savings on fuel expenses and maintenance costs compensate for the difference in the long run. Anikaa E-Rickshaws provide a cost-effective solution for commuting, making them accessible to a broader segment of the population.
Volume and Capacity:
Anikaa E-Rickshaws are designed to accommodate more passengers, ensuring a comfortable and spacious ride. With their larger seating capacity, these vehicles are ideal for shared transportation, allowing more individuals to commute together and reducing overall traffic congestion. The increased volume and capacity of Anikaa E-Rickshaws contribute to efficient urban mobility and optimised transportation systems.
Customization Options:
Anikaa E-Rickshaws offer customization options to suit diverse transportation needs. Whether it's catering to specific terrains, integrating additional safety features, or incorporating cargo-carrying capabilities, Anikaa provides flexibility in designing E-Rickshaws according to individual requirements. This adaptability ensures that the vehicles can be optimized for various use cases, ranging from passenger transportation to last-mile delivery services.
Conclusion:
Anikaa E-Rickshaws has emerged as a reliable and safe commuting option for Indians, offering a multitude of benefits over traditional rickshaws. With their efficient and eco-friendly electric powertrain, enhanced safety features, low maintenance requirements, affordable pricing, and customizable options, Anikaa E-Rickshaws are transforming the way people travel in India. These vehicles provide a safer and more sustainable mode of transportation, contributing to cleaner cities, reduced air pollution, and improved overall mobility. By embracing Anikaa E-Rickshaws, commuters are not only prioritizing their safety but also actively participating in building a greener and more sustainable future.

The shift towards sustainable transportation has gained significant momentum in recent years, with electric vehicles leading the way. In this article, we will explore the rise of green transportation and specifically focus on Anikaa E-Rickshaws. We will delve into the benefits of electric rickshaws, their affordability, low maintenance, and the positive impact they have on creating a cleaner and greener India.
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1. The Growing Popularity of E-Rickshaws: In the quest for eco-friendly transportation solutions, electric rickshaws have emerged as a game-changer in India. Anikaa E-Rickshaws have witnessed a surge in popularity due to their multiple advantages. These vehicles operate on electric power, resulting in zero emissions and reduced noise pollution. With an increasing emphasis on sustainable mobility, E-Rickshaws are becoming the preferred choice for both commuters and business owners.
2. Environmental Benefits of E-Rickshaws: Anikaa E-Rickshaws play a vital role in combating air pollution and mitigating climate change. By eliminating tailpipe emissions, they contribute significantly to improving air quality, particularly in densely populated urban areas. These electric vehicles produce zero direct carbon emissions, reducing India's carbon footprint and aligning with the nation's commitment to combatting climate change.
3. Affordability and Economic Viability: One of the key factors driving the adoption of Anikaa E-Rickshaws is their affordability. Compared to traditional rickshaws running on fossil fuels, E-Rickshaws offer a more cost-effective transportation solution. The price of electricity is considerably lower than that of petrol or diesel, resulting in reduced operational costs for drivers. Moreover, the government offers various incentives and subsidies to promote the adoption of electric vehicles, making E-Rickshaws even more economically viable.
4. Low Maintenance and Reduced Operating Costs: Anikaa E-Rickshaws are designed for durability and minimal maintenance. With fewer moving parts compared to combustion engines, the chances of mechanical failure are significantly reduced. This translates into lower maintenance costs for E-Rickshaw owners, making them an attractive investment option. Additionally, electric vehicles have fewer fluids to replace and fewer components that require regular servicing, further reducing operating costs over the vehicle's lifetime.
5. Anikaa E-Rickshaws: The Perfect Balance of Volume and Efficiency: Anikaa E-Rickshaws are engineered to deliver optimal performance without compromising passenger or cargo capacity. These electric auto-rickshaws offer ample interior space while maintaining efficient energy consumption. The vehicles are designed to accommodate more passengers or carry larger volumes of goods, making them suitable for various transportation needs. This versatility ensures that businesses and individuals can find the perfect E-Rickshaw model to suit their specific requirements.

Conclusion:
Anikaa E-Rickshaws is spearheading the green transportation revolution in India. With their environmental benefits, affordability, low maintenance, and efficiency in accommodating volume, these electric vehicles are driving positive change. By embracing Anikaa E-Rickshaws, India can create a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for its transportation sector and its citizens.

🍀🌹 07, JUNE 2023 WEDNESDAY ALL MESSAGES బుధవారం, సౌమ్య వాసర సందేశాలు 🌹🍀
1) 🌹 07, JUNE 2023 WEDNESDAY బుధవారం, సౌమ్య వాసరే, నిత్య పంచాంగము Daily Panchangam🌹
2) 🌹. శ్రీమద్భగవద్గీత - 381 / Bhagavad-Gita - 381 🌹
🌴10వ అధ్యాయము - విభూతి యోగం - 09 / Chapter 10 - Vibhuti Yoga - 09 🌴
4) 🌹. శ్రీ మదగ్ని మహాపురాణము - 228 / Agni Maha Purana - 228 🌹
🌻. జీర్ణోద్ధారవిధి కథనము / Renovation of decayed images (jīrṇoddhāra) 🌻
4) 🌹. నిత్య ప్రజ్ఞా సందేశములు - 093 / DAILY WISDOM - 093 🌹
🌻 2. విశ్వవ్యాప్త కోరిక నిజంగా ఆధ్యాత్మిక ప్రేరణ / 2. The Universal Urge is Really the Spiritual Impetus 🌻
5) 🌹. నిర్మల ధ్యానాలు - ఓషో - 359 🌹
6) 🌹. శివ సూత్రములు - 95 / Siva Sutras - 95 🌹
🌻 2-06. గురు రూపాయః - 2 / 2-06. guru Rupāyah - 2 🌻
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🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
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*🌹 07, జూన్‌, JUNE 2023 పంచాగము - Panchagam 🌹\*
*శుభ బుధవారం, సౌమ్య వాసరే Wednesday\*
*మనందరికి ఈ రోజు కాలము, ప్రకృతి అనుకూలించాలి అని పరమాత్మని స్మరిస్తూ - ప్రసాద్ భరద్వాజ\*
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*🌺. పండుగలు మరియు పర్వదినాలు : సంకష్ఠి చతుర్థి, Sankashti Chaturthi 🌺\*
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*🍀. శ్రీ గణేశ హృదయం - 24 🍀\*
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*సర్వత్రమాన్యం సకలావభాసకం సుజ్ఞైః శుభాదావశుభాదిపూజితమ్ \*
*పూజ్యం న తస్మాన్నిగమాదిసమ్మతం తం సర్వపూజ్యం ప్రణతోఽస్మి నిత్యమ్\*
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🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻
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*🍀. నేటి సూక్తి : భగవంతునితో సంయోగం - భగవంతునితో అంతస్సంయోగమే సర్వకాల సర్వావస్థలలోనూ స్థిరమైనది. బాహ్య సంయోగం సాధారణంగా అలా స్థిరం కానేరదు. కొందరు, భగవదారాధన చేస్తున్న సమయంలో తాము పూజించే పటంగాని, విగ్రహం గాని సచేతనమై తమకు పలుకుతున్నట్లనుభవం పొందవచ్చు. కొందరు భగవంతుడు నిత్యమూ తమ చెంతనే, తామున్న గదిలోనే తిరుగాడుతున్నట్లనుభవం పొందవచ్చు. కొందరాయన ఆలింగనాది స్పర్శలను సైతం అనుభవిస్తూ వుండవచ్చు. కాని, ఇవన్నీ అస్థిరములే. 🍀\*
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🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
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విక్రమ: 2080 నల, శఖ: 1945 శోభన
కలియుగాబ్ది : 5124, శోభకృత్‌,
గ్రీష్మ ఋతువు, ఉత్తరాయణం,
జ్యేష్ఠ మాసం
తిథి: కృష్ణ చవితి 21:52:04 వరకు
తదుపరి కృష్ణ పంచమి
నక్షత్రం: ఉత్తరాషాఢ 21:03:23
వరకు తదుపరి శ్రవణ
యోగం: బ్రహ్మ 22:23:43 వరకు
తదుపరి ఇంద్ర
కరణం: బవ 11:20:59 వరకు
వర్జ్యం: 06:30:20 - 07:57:36
మరియు 24:42:20 - 26:10:04
దుర్ముహూర్తం: 11:48:37 - 12:41:09
రాహు కాలం: 12:14:53 - 13:53:24
గుళిక కాలం: 10:36:22 - 12:14:53
యమ గండం: 07:19:21 - 08:57:52
అభిజిత్ ముహూర్తం: 11:48 - 12:40
అమృత కాలం: 15:13:56 - 16:41:12
సూర్యోదయం: 05:40:51
సూర్యాస్తమయం: 18:48:55
చంద్రోదయం: 22:20:11
చంద్రాస్తమయం: 08:38:14
సూర్య సంచార రాశి: వృషభం
చంద్ర సంచార రాశి: మకరం
యోగాలు: వజ్ర యోగం - ఫల
ప్రాప్తి 15:34:59 వరకు తదుపరి
ముద్గర యోగం - కలహం
దిశ శూల: ఉత్తరం
✍️. శ్రీ వక్కంతం చంద్రమౌళి
🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻
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*🍀. నిత్య ప్రార్థన 🍀\*
*వక్రతుండ మహాకాయ సూర్యకోటి సమప్రభ\*
*నిర్విఘ్నంకురుమేదేవ సర్వకార్యేషు సర్వదా\*
*యశివ నామ రూపాభ్యాం యాదేవీ సర్వ మంగళా\*
*తయో సంస్మరణాత్పుంసాం సర్వతో జయ మంగళం\*
*తదేవ లగ్నం సుదినం తదేవ తారాబలం చంద్రబలం తదేవ\*
*విద్యాబలం దైవబలం తదేవ లక్ష్మీపతే తేంఘ్రి యుగం స్మరామి.\*
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
​
🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
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*🌹. శ్రీమద్భగవద్గీత - 381 / Bhagavad-Gita - 381 🌹\*
*✍️. శ్రీ ప్రభుపాద, 📚. ప్రసాద్ భరద్వాజ\*
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*🌴. 10వ అధ్యాయము - విభూతి యోగం - 09 🌴\*
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*09. మచ్చిత్తా మద్గతప్రాణా బోధయన్త: పరస్పరమ్ \*
*కథయన్తశ్చ మాం నిత్యం తుష్యన్తి చ రమన్తి చ \*
​
🌷. తాత్పర్యం :
*నా శుద్ధభక్తుల ఆలోచనలు నా యందే నిమగ్నమై, వారి జీవితములు సంపూర్ణముగా నా సేవ కొరకే అర్పణమై యుండును. నా గూర్చి ఒకరినొకరు బోధించుకొనుచు మరియు చర్చించుచు వారు గొప్ప సంతృప్తిని, ఆనందమును అనుభవింతురు.\*
​
🌷. భాష్యము :
*శుద్ధభక్తుల వారి లక్షణములు ఇచ్చట పేర్కొనబడినవి. శ్రీకృష్ణభగవానుడు దివ్యమగు ప్రేమయుతసేవలో సంపూర్ణముగా నిమగ్నులై యుందురు. వారి మనస్సు లెన్నడును శ్రీకృష్ణచరణారవిందముల నుండి మరలవు. వారి చర్చలు ఆధ్యాత్మిక విషయముల పైననే పూర్ణముగా కేంద్రీకృతమై యుండును. కనుకనే వారి దివ్యలక్షణములు ఈ శ్లోకమున ప్రత్యేకముగా వర్ణింపబడినవి. అట్టి శుద్ధభక్తులు ఇరువదినాలుగుగంటలు శ్రీకృష్ణభగవానుని గుణములను మరియు లీలలను కీర్తించుట యందు లగ్నమై యుందురు. హృదయము మరియు ఆత్మ సదా శ్రీకృష్ణతత్పరములై యుండి వారు ఇతర భక్తులతో ఆ దేవదేవుని గూర్చి చర్చించుట యందు ఆనదమును ననుభవింతురు. భక్తియోగపు ప్రాథమికదశ యందు సేవ ద్వారా దివ్యానందము ననుభవించెడి భక్తులు పరిపక్వస్థితిలో భగవత్ప్రేమ యందే వాస్తవముగా స్థితులగుదురు.\*
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*అటువంటి దివ్యస్థితి యందు నెలకొనిన పిమ్మట శ్రీకృష్ణభగవానుడు తన ధామమునందు ప్రదర్శించు సంపూర్ణత్వమును వారు అనుభవింపగలరు. భక్తియుతసేవను జీవుని హృదయమునందు బీజమును నాటుటగా శ్రీచైతన్యమహాప్రభువు పోల్చియున్నారు. విశ్వమునందలి అసంఖ్యాకలోకములలో సదా పరిభ్రమించు అనంతకోటి జీవరాసులలో భాగ్యవంతులైన కొందరే శుద్ధభక్తుని సాంగత్యమును పొంది భక్తిని గూర్చి తెలియుట అవకాశమును పొందుదురు. ఈ భక్తియుతసేవ యనునది బీజము వంటిది. అట్టి భక్తిబీజము హృదయములో నాటబడిన పిమ్మట మనుజుడు హరే కృష్ణ హరే కృష్ణ కృష్ణ కృష్ణ హరే హరే / హరే రామ హరే రామ రామ రామ హరే హరే యను కృష్ణనామమును కీర్తించుటను, శ్రవణము చేయుటను నిరంతరము కొనసాగించినచో నిత్యము జలమొసగుటచే వృక్షబీజము మొలకెత్తు రీతి, ఆ భక్తిబీజము మొలకెత్తగలదు. పిమ్మట భక్తిలత క్రమముగా పెరిగి పెరిగి బ్రంహాండమును చేదించుకొని ఆధ్యాత్మికాకాశమునందలి బ్రహ్మజ్యోతిని చేరును.\*
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹
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*🌹 Bhagavad-Gita as It is - 381 🌹\*
*✍️ Sri Prabhupada, 📚 Prasad Bharadwaj\*
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*🌴 Chapter 10 - Vibhuti Yoga - 09 🌴\*
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*09. mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā bodhayantaḥ parasparam\*
*kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca\*
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🌷 Translation :
*The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.\*
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🌹 Purport :
*Pure devotees, whose characteristics are mentioned here, engage themselves fully in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Their minds cannot be diverted from the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Their talks are solely on the transcendental subjects. The symptoms of the pure devotees are described in this verse specifically. Devotees of the Supreme Lord are twenty-four hours daily engaged in glorifying the qualities and pastimes of the Supreme Lord. Their hearts and souls are constantly submerged in Kṛṣṇa, and they take pleasure in discussing Him with other devotees.\*
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*In the preliminary stage of devotional service they relish the transcendental pleasure from the service itself, and in the mature stage they are actually situated in love of God. Once situated in that transcendental position, they can relish the highest perfection which is exhibited by the Lord in His abode. Lord Caitanya likens transcendental devotional service to the sowing of a seed in the heart of the living entity. There are innumerable living entities traveling throughout the different planets of the universe, and out of them there are a few who are fortunate enough to meet a pure devotee and get the chance to understand devotional service.\*
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹
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🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
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*🌹. శ్రీ మదగ్ని మహాపురాణము - 228 / Agni Maha Purana - 228 🌹\*
*✍️. పుల్లెల శ్రీరామచంద్రుడు, 📚. ప్రసాద్ భరద్వాజ\*
*శ్రీ గణేశాయ నమః ఓం నమో భగవతే వాసుదేవాయ.\*
*ప్రథమ సంపుటము, అధ్యాయము - 67\*
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*🌻. జీర్ణోద్ధారవిధి కథనము 🌻\*
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*హయగ్రీవుడు చెప్పెను - ఇప్పుడు జీర్ణోద్ధార విధిని చెప్పెను. ఆచార్యుడు మూర్తికి అలంకరించి స్నానము చేయించవలెను. అత్యంతము జీర్ణమైనది, అంగవిహీనము, భగ్నమైనది, శిలామాత్రావశిష్టమైనది, అగు ప్రతిమను పరిత్యజించవలెను. దీని స్థానమునందు వెనుకటి వలెనే నవీనమైన స్థిరమూర్తిని స్థాపింపవలెను. ఆచార్యుడు భూతశుద్ధిప్రకరణములో చెప్పిని విధమున, సంహారవిధిచే సకల తత్త్వముల సంహారము చేయవలెను. నృసింహా మంత్రముతో వేయి హోమము చేసి మూర్తిని పెకిలించవలెను. దారుమయ మూర్తియైనచో అగ్నిచే దహింపచేయవలెను. శిలా నిర్మితమూర్తియైనచో యైనచో జలములు విడువలెను. ధాతుమయమూర్తి గాని, రత్నమయమూర్తి గాని ఐనచో సముద్రములో ఆగాధ జలములో పడవేయవలెను. జీర్ణప్రతిమను వాహనముపై ఎక్కించి, వస్త్రాదులచే కప్పి, వాథ్యములతో తీసికొని వెళ్ళి నీటిలో విడువవలెను. పిమ్మట ఆచార్యునకు దక్షిణ ఈయవలెను. అదివసమునందే వెనుకటి ప్రతిమ దేనిచేత నిర్మింపబడినచో, ఎంత ప్రమాణము కలదో అదే ద్రవ్యముతో, అంతే ప్రమాణము గల మూర్తిని స్థాపించవలెను. ఈ విధముగనే జీర్ణ కూప-వాపీ-తడాగాదుల ఉద్ధారముచేయుటచే గొప్ప ఫలము లభించును.\*
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*శ్రీ అగ్నిమహాపురాణమునందు జీర్ణోద్ధారవిధి కథనమను ఆరువది యేడవ అధ్యాయము సమాప్తము.\*
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సశేషం....
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹
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*🌹 Agni Maha Purana - 228 🌹\*
*✍️ N. Gangadharan 📚. Prasad Bharadwaj \*
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*Chapter 67\*
*🌻Renovation of decayed images (jīrṇoddhāra) 🌻\*
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The Lord said:
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1. I shall describe the process of replacing the old images. The priest should bathe the images with their ornaments on them. The fixed class of images should be put in a room and the extremely time-worn ones should be rejected.
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2. A broken or mutilated stone (image) (should be cast aside) and a new one the same as the previous one should be installed (in its place) by the priest after merging the principles according to the process of merging (described earlier).
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3. Having made one thousand oblations with the Narasiṃha (mantra), the priest should lift that image. The old image made of wood should be put into fire and the one made of stone should be thrown into water.
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4. The old image made of a mineral or gem should be carried on a vehicle after covering it with cloth etc. and be discarded in the deep waters of the ocean.
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5. It [i.e., jīrṇoddhāra] should be thrown into waters accompanied by the notes of music instruments. Fees should be paid to the priest.
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6. New images of the same size and made of the same material should be installed on the same day. One accrues great merit by the renovation of wells, tanks and ponds.
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Continues....
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹
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🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
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*🌹. నిత్య ప్రజ్ఞా సందేశములు - 93 / DAILY WISDOM - 93 🌹\*
*🍀 📖 . ఆత్మ యొక్క ఆరోహణ నుండి 🍀\*
*✍️. ప్రసాద్ భరద్వాజ\*
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*🌻 2. విశ్వవ్యాప్త కోరిక నిజంగా ఆధ్యాత్మిక ప్రేరణ 🌻\*
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*ఆధ్యాత్మికంగా ఎదగాలనేది విశ్వం మనకు ఎల్లప్పుడూ ఇచ్చే ప్రేరణ. నిజానికి ఆ ప్రెరణని నిర్దుష్టంగా ఆధ్యాత్మికం అని అనాల్సిన అవసరం లేదు. ఎదగాలనే ఇచ్ఛ, సంకల్పం విశ్వం లోని ప్రతి జీవికి ఉంటుంది. ఆ సామూహిక సంకల్పమే ఆధ్యాత్మిక ఎదుగుదల యొక్క ప్రేరణ అని చెప్పవచ్చు. భౌతికంగా చూస్తే ఆధ్యాత్మికంగా ఎదగాలి అనే ఆ సంకల్పం పైకి ప్రస్ఫుటంగా కనిపించకపోవచ్చు. కానీ కనిపించదు కాబట్టి లేదు అని మనం అనలేము.\*
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*కేవలం పైకీ కనిపించేది మాత్రమే మనం కాదు. అవసరం వచ్చినప్పుడు పైకి ప్రకటితమయ్యే మనలోని అంతర్లీన సమర్ధతలు, సంకల్పాలు సైతం మనలోని భాగమే. అవి ఈ జన్మలో ప్రకటితమవ్వచ్చు, పూర్వ లేదా వచ్చే జన్మలలో కావచ్చు. ఈ అధ్యామిక ఎదుగుదల పట్ల మనకున్న ప్రేరణ నిజానికి విశ్వవ్యాప్తమైనది. వ్యక్తిగతమైనది కాదు. కనీసం సమాజ స్థాయిలో సామూహికమైనది కూడా కాదు. విశ్వవ్యాప్తమైనది.\*
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*కొనసాగుతుంది...\*
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹
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*🌹 DAILY WISDOM - 93 🌹\*
*🍀 📖 The Ascent of the Spirit 🍀\*
📝 Swami Krishnananda
📚. Prasad Bharadwaj
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*🌻 2. The Universal Urge is Really the Spiritual Impetus 🌻\*
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*The Universal Urge is really the Spiritual Impetus, and we need not use the word ‘spiritual’ to designate it. An all-consuming impulse towards a Common Aim is what may be regarded as the spiritual aspiration or the basic urge of the individual. It may not be visible in the proper intensity or proportion at certain given levels of experience, but that an expected percentage of it is not visible on the surface is not a reason why one should not give it the credit it deserves. \*
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*All that we are inside does not come to the surface of our conscious life, as we all very well know; yet, we are that which is there ready to come to the surface of our mind one day or the other as the motivating force of our lives, whether in this life or in the lives to come. The urges of human nature are really universal in their comprehension; they are not individual, they are not even social in the sense in which we try to define society.\*
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*Continues...\*
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹
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🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
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*🌹. నిర్మల ధ్యానాలు - ఓషో - 358 🌹\*
*✍️. సౌభాగ్య 📚. ప్రసాద్ భరద్వాజ\*
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*🍀. మనసన్నది ధ్యానం లేని స్థితి. నువ్వు మనసు గుండా జీవిస్తావు. మనసుగా జీవిస్తావు. కాబట్టి సమస్య అదొక్కటే. నువ్వు ధ్యానంలో ప్రవేశించిన క్షణం మనసు మాయమవుతుంది. 🍀\*
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*ఆలోచనలు చీకటిలాంటివి. అవి చీకటి వచ్చినట్టే వస్తాయి. నిజమనిపిస్తాయి. కాంతి రంగవేశం చేస్తే మాయమవుతాయి. అవి వున్నట్లనిపిస్తాయి. అది భ్రాంతి. కాబట్టే నువ్వు చీకటిని సరాసరి ఎదుర్కోలేవు. తరిమెయ్యలేవు. అట్లాగే నువ్వు చీకటిని తీసుకురాలేవు. అది లేనిది గనుక ముక్కు సూటిగా వ్యవహరించలేవు. అది కేవలం కాంతి లేకపోవడమే. అక్కడికి కాంతిని తీసుకు రావడమొక్కటే నువ్వు చేయాలి. మనసుకు సంబంధించిన విషయం కూడా అలాంటిదే. మనసన్నది ధ్యానం లేని స్థితి. నువ్వు ధ్యానంలో ప్రవేశించిన క్షణం మనసు మాయమవుతుంది. చీకటిలా మాయమవుతుంది.\*
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*మనం మనసనే భ్రమలో బ్రతుకుతూ వుంటాం. నిజమైన ప్రపంచం దూరంగా వుంటుంది. అది వాస్తవ ప్రపంచాన్ని అడ్డుకుంటుంది. తన ప్రపంచాన్ని ముందుకు తెచ్చి అదే నిజమైన ప్రపంచమని భ్రమపెడుతూ వుంటుంది. వాస్తవాన్ని చూడనియ్యడు. నిన్ను నువ్వు కూడా చూడాలంటే అడ్డుపడుతుంది. అంతర్భహి: ప్రపంచాల్ని అదృశ్యం చేస్తుంది. పునాది లేని ప్రపంచమే సర్వస్వం అవుతుంది. అది నీపై అజమాయిషీ చేస్తుంది. నువ్వు మనసు గుండా జీవిస్తావు. మనసుగా జీవిస్తావు. కాబట్టి సమస్య అదొక్కటే. భ్రమలో జీవించడం నిష్ఫలం అక్కడ అభివృద్ధి వుండదు. పరిణితి వుండదు. సంపన్నత వుండదు. అవగాహన వుండదు. ఆనందముండదు. సత్యముండదు. అందముండదు.\*
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*సశేషం ...\*
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹
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🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
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*🌹. శివ సూత్రములు - 095 / Siva Sutras - 095 🌹\*
*🍀. శివ ఆగమ తత్వశాస్త్రం యొక్క సూత్రములు 🍀\*
*2వ భాగం - శక్తోపాయ\*
*✍️. ప్రసాద్‌ భరధ్వాజ\*
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*🌻 2-06. గురు రూపాయః - 2 🌻\*
*🌴. మనస్సు మరియు శరీరం యొక్క మలినాలను అధిగమించడానికి, మాతృకలలో నివసించే మంత్ర శక్తులను మేల్కొల్పడానికి మరియు స్వయం యొక్క స్వచ్ఛమైన ఎరుకను పొందడానికి గురువు సాధనం. 🌴\*
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*ఆధ్యాత్మిక పురోగతి వివిధ దశలలో జరుగుతుంది. మొదట, ఇది సైద్ధాంతిక అధ్యయనం మరియు వాటిని అర్థం చేసుకోవడంతో ప్రారంభమవుతుంది. ఇలా చేయడం వల్ల జ్ఞానం లభిస్తుంది. తదుపరి దశ అనుభవానికి దారితీసే ఆ సైద్ధాంతిక జ్ఞానాన్ని అమలు చేయడం. అనుభవం నుండి జ్ఞానం పొందబడుతుంది. పొందిన జ్ఞానంతో, బ్రహ్మాన్ని అన్వేషించడం ప్రారంభిస్తారు మరియు ఒక సమయంలో భగవంతుడు తన స్వయం అని అర్థం చేసుకుంటాడు. ఈ అవగాహన ధృవీకరణగా మారినప్పుడు, అతను స్వీయ-సాక్షాత్కారమైన వ్యక్తిగా పరిగణించబడతాడు. మొత్తం ప్రక్రియ చాలా క్లిష్టంగా ఉంటుంది మరియు కొన్నిసార్లు, కొన్ని ప్రక్రియలను సిద్ధాంతాలు వివరించలేవు.\*
​
*కొనసాగుతుంది...\*
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹
​
*🌹 Siva Sutras - 095 🌹\*
*🍀Aphorisms of philosophy of Shiva āgama 🍀\*
Part 2 - Śāktopāya.
*✍️. Acharya Ravi Sarma, 📚. Prasad Bharadwaj\*
​
*🌻 2-06. guru Rupāyah - 2 🌻\*
*🌴. The guru is the means to overcome the impurities of the mind and body, awaken the mantra shaktis who reside in the matrkas and attain the pure consciousness of the self. 🌴\*
​
*Spiritual progression happens in different stages. First, it begins with theoretical study and understanding them. By doing so, one acquires knowledge. The next stage is the implementation of acquired theoretical knowledge that leads to experience. From experience one derives wisdom. With the attained wisdom, one begins to explore the Brahman and at one point of time he understands that God is his own self. When this understanding transforms into affirmation, he is considered as a Self-realised person. The whole process is highly complicated and sometimes, theories cannot explain certain processes.\*
​
*Continues...\*
🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹
​
🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹
🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀🌹

The transportation industry has witnessed remarkable advancements over the years, and the car transport services sector is no exception. As technology continues to evolve, it brings forth new possibilities and transforms the way we travel. From autonomous vehicles to electric cars, numerous trends and innovations are shaping the future of car transport services. In this blog, we will explore some of these trends and innovations, highlighting their potential impact on the industry and the overall transportation landscape.
https://preview.redd.it/sewtqb6i1g4b1.png?width=678&format=png&auto=webp&s=bcb5393e83149fadb0f195becf27b5808e29ac55
​

1. Rise of Electric Vehicles (EVs): Electric vehicles have gained significant popularity in recent years, and their growth is expected to continue in the future. With concerns about climate change and the need to reduce carbon emissions, governments and consumers alike are embracing EVs as a cleaner alternative to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. As charging infrastructure improves and battery technology advances, EVs are becoming more practical and accessible. This shift towards electric vehicles will undoubtedly have a profound impact on car transport services, leading to a reduced dependence on fossil fuels and a greener transportation ecosystem.
2. Autonomous Vehicles (AVs): Autonomous vehicles, also known as self-driving cars, represent another major trend in the future of car transport services. Although fully autonomous vehicles are still in the testing phase, significant progress has been made in recent years. Companies like Tesla, Waymo, and Uber are actively investing in autonomous vehicle technology, aiming to revolutionize transportation by eliminating the need for human drivers. AVs have the potential to enhance safety, reduce congestion, and optimize travel efficiency. Moreover, they could redefine the concept of car ownership, as shared autonomous fleets may become more prevalent, reducing the number of private vehicles on the road.
3. Mobility as a Service (MaaS): Mobility as a Service is an emerging concept that envisions a shift from personal car ownership to a comprehensive transportation service. MaaS integrates various modes of transportation, such as public transit, ridesharing, car rental, and bike-sharing, into a single platform accessible through a smartphone app. Users can choose the most convenient and cost-effective mode of transportation for each journey, reducing traffic congestion and the need for individual vehicle ownership. MaaS has the potential to transform the car transport services industry, providing a seamless and sustainable travel experience for users.

The future of car transport services is filled with exciting trends and innovations that will shape the way we travel. Electric vehicles will continue to gain traction, providing a cleaner and more sustainable transportation solution. Autonomous vehicles hold the promise of safer and more efficient travel, potentially leading to a paradigm shift in the concept of car ownership. Additionally, Mobility as a Service presents a transformative approach to transportation, integrating various modes of travel into a seamless and user-friendly platform. As these trends unfold, car transport services will undergo significant changes, creating a more connected, sustainable, and efficient transportation ecosystem for everyone.

Predictmedix – a great way to surf the Artificial Intelligence wave.
https://preview.redd.it/ebltwtbjqe4b1.jpg?width=741&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d0009582d4b19ac1bb9536165ec88b94b8359023
There is a saying attributed to Mark Twain that goes, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but if often rhymes.” This means circumstances might be different but similar events often recur. This is good because securities regulators demand that you make it clear that in the financial markets, “Past performance is no guarantee of future results.”
However, investment analysts continue to use rhymes and here’s one that could help you see sizeable investment returns from Predictmedix Inc. (CSE: PMED, OTCQB: PMEDF). This is how the rhyme comes together:
A. The 1990s technology boom: The parallel I see is between the current Artificial Intelligence cycle and the dot-com stock market cycle of ≈1990 to ≈ 2002. As background, the 1990s either developed or laid the groundwork for changes that completely transformed the world we live in. Out of that time came many new technologies and related developments and each was highly disruptive. Here is a very brief list of some of those developments:
(1) Nokia was the first mass-produced cellphone offered in 1992 with the ability to send and receive phone calls as well as store data (e.g. phone numbers).
(2) The World Wide Web, a.k.a. the Web browser was proposed in 1990 and debuted in 1991. This was the start of the Internet, Websites, e-mails and a massive amount of information that would become available to everyone.
(3) With the explosion of data available, finding it became a challenge. Mosaic started as the first search engine in 1993 followed by Yahoo in 1994 and Google in 1998. Today, Google has risen to the top and become synonymous with an Internet search. Google it.
(4) Other important developments of that time included the growth in the capacity of microprocessors, Photoshop, texting, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, realistic videogames for a more adult market, collecting and using DNA, the start of e-tailing and more.
(5) Finally, we have the stock market. Cisco, Dell, Intel and Microsoft are sometimes referred to as the four horsemen of the 1990s tech boom. But we can’t ignore Apple and Google and there were many more that benefited. The smaller, new, Initial Public Offering companies came to the fore with incredibly high returns in the second half of the 1990s.
The chart to the right shows how stock markets performed during the 1990’s high-tech boom. A few things are worth noting:
(1) The Dot.Com stock market cycle lasted a long t time. Essentially, more than the decade of the 1990s. It’s length reflected the importance of the fundamental changes taking place.
(2) There was an important development regarding the stock market that has become part of the stock market legend. On December 5, 1996, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan in a televised speech used the term “irrational exuberance” to describe a stock market that he thought was highly speculative and overvalued. His comment was intended as a warning from the Fed that the stock market, driven by the high-tech developments described above, was overvalued. His timing was five years early which is a lifetime in the stock market.
(3) The five years after Greenspan’s “irrational exuberance” statement was the most profitable for investors of the entire ten years plus of the stock market cycle.
As you sit reading this brief, imagine your life without a cell phone, the Internet, e-mail and text messages. How different would your life be without just these four products that emerged from the 1990s. A more relevant question might be how different would your life be if you had purchased shares in Apple or Cisco or Dell or Google or Microsoft back then?
B. The Artificial Intelligence Boom (AI): The term Artificial Intelligence was created in 1955. The idea was to have a machine that could take data, and find patterns that would enable it to make predictions and reach conclusions (make decisions). The Oxford Dictionary defines AI as “The theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.”
It was Moore’s Law in 1975 that stated the capacity of semiconductors would continue to double every two years which enabled computers to be able to put into practice the AI Boom that is taking place today. Current forecasts say the AI industry will grow to $900 billion by 2026 and $15.7 trillion by 2030. AI growth in the 1920s could dwarf anything high-tech was able to accomplish in the 1990s.
(1) There is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) boom going on and many people don’t yet realize it is even happening. AI is used in:
i. Self-driving and parking cars. AI is used by Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Toyota and Volvo.
ii. Maps and navigation. Enter where you are and where you want to go by car and Google Maps, for example, will give you a choice of routes, the time optimal route taking into account construction and traffic.
iii. Facial detection or recognition. Facial detection identifies a human face or facial recognition that identifies a specific face that can be used for surveillance and security.
iv. Digital assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, Google’s Now and Microsoft’s Cortana. When combined with search and recommendation AI, Alexa or Siri is able to learn your preferences and recommend things you are interested in.
v. Customer service chatbots that answer frequently asked questions, track orders or direct calls. Often people will be unaware they are dealing with a machine.
vi. Vehicle recognition use computer vision and deep learning to find a specific car on a surveillance video.
vii. Robot vacuums can scan a living area, look for and remember objects in the way, remember the best route for cleaning the area and decide how many times it should repeat cleaning a specific area.
It is estimated that by 2030, between 400 and 800 million jobs will be displaced by Artificial Intelligence and 375 million people will have to change to a totally different type of work. It is also forecast that it is not just lower-paying, blue-collar jobs that will be replaced by AI. Jobs such as accountants, lawyers, doctors, investment advisors and portfolio managers might all be substantially eliminated. AI will impact all industries and the rate of change will be exponential, that is, the rate of change will accelerate.
For example, what does a doctor do? In general, a doctor gathers new information, refers to a patient’s medical history, refers to a medical book or today’s Internet, makes a diagnosis and provides s treatment. This is also what a lawyer does. AI might reach the point where it can do it faster and better than a human..
AI does present threats to human existence. As AI is changing exponentially, it will happen faster than the technology boom of the 1990s. It took technology 20 years to produce the changes we discussed above. AI could produce equivalent changes in 10 or 15 years. For example, ChatGPT, an AI product went from zero to 100 million users within months making it the fastest-growing consumer software product in history. There will be others.
(2) The AI shift could drive economic change and a stock market cycle at least as significant as the last “dot.com” cycle. The “go-to” companies today for participation in AI are the likes of Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Meta (NASDAQ: META), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Oracle (NYSE: ORCL). These are very large companies. GOOGL has a market cap of $1.6 trillion, AMZN has a market cap of $1.2 trillion, META has a market cap of $$648 billion, MSFT has a market cap of $2.4 trillion, NCDA has a market cap of $963 billion and ORCL has a market cap of $282 billion.
(3) While these are excellent businesses, they are also amongst the world’s largest companies. In 2022, GOOGL, META and MSFT purchased 2 out of every 3 AI chips. In my opinion, it is almost unthinkable that GOOGL can be a ten-bagger from a base market cap of $1.6 trillion or AMZN from $1.2 trillion. But it is clear these stocks now have a major component of their value derived from involvement in Artificial Intelligence and it is not surprising that early adopters would choose a lower risk/lower return approach to gain exposure to an emerging Artificial Intelligence industry.
(4) The changes created by AI also carry some risks. The speed of change will be challenging to human beings. There are forecasts that say one in four workers globally will see their jobs disappear and one in eight workers will have to be retrained in a totally unrelated field. During the industrial revolution and the tech boom, there was always the promise of more and better jobs. With AI we may have reached the point where machines actually do replace workers.
(5) Cathie Wood is a well-known and widely followed money manager with a reputation for expertise in the Artificial Intelligence sector. Wood manages a range of portfolios including the ARK Innovation Exchange Traded Fund (ARKK) and since its founding in 2014, Bloomberg estimates NDVA has contributed 13% of the fund’s 112% total return only behind Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, Invitae Corp and Tesla. That is all positive but Wood sold the ARKK holding in NVDA in January 2023 just before it rallied strongly adding some $560 billion to its market cap with $200 billion coming on one day after reporting earnings. Wood’s investors have basically missed the huge rally in the stock and the sector in 2023.
(6) But there is another phase I would look for and that is the participation of smaller, retail investors. Whether it was in the tech cycle I discussed above, the “meme” stocks or commodity exploration and development cycles in the past, the retail investor buys in before the bull market ends. Market pundits such as Citi global asset allocation and Vanda Research make the same observation: where is the retail investor?
We know the institutional investors have been getting in. So far in 2023 according to Bloomberg, the top 4% of stocks in the S&P 500 have contributed 94% of the index return and 8 of the top 20 include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet Class A, NVIDIA, Alphabet Class C, Tesla and Meta. In other words, the top 2% of the stocks in the S&P 500 contributed 94% of the return. Through mid-May, if the AI stocks are omitted, the S&P Index would be down -1.4% instead of up +8.3%. All of these stocks are AI leaders and each of them is an institutional stock. Yet, I believe the retail investor will come into the market and when they do, it is stocks like PMED for which they have always had an appetite.
C. I think investors will get more bang for their buck by investing in a small company like Predictmedix Inc. (CSE: PMED, OTCQB: PMEDF) with a total commitment to AI. From a base market cap of $16.6 million and, as I have pointed out in recent reports, many different business verticals to get them higher, I see PMED as a unique opportunity for aggressive growth investors. It is hard to imagine any decade having more of an impact on the ensuring socio-economic decades than the 1990s. Imagine your activities today without your cellphone, Internet, email and texting.
I expect the cycle driven by AI to be a long one, similar to the dot-com cycle that lasted longer than the decade of the 1990s. To the right is a chart published by Luke Lango’s Hypergrowth Investing. It shows the stock market in the 1990s and overlays current results. The parallels Lango sees include:
• Federal Reserve’s tight money policy slowed economic growth in 1990 as it is doing currently.
• In 1990, the markets were down around 20% and in 2022 stocks dropped around 25%.
• In late 1990, the Fed started reducing interest rates and the markets rebounded.
• In late 2022, the Fed has turned less hawkish and into 2023 has slowed the pace of interest rate increases. The markets have been recovering.
• In the early 1990’s, the dot-com stock market rally began and the market would advance generally higher for the rest of the decade and into the new millennium.
• Today, it is Artificial Intelligence that is pushing stocks higher and given my expectations for AI, it could stock prices higher until at least 2030.
Conclusion: I believe Predictmedix Inc. (CSE: PMED, OTCQB: PMEDF) is exceptionally well positioned to participate in the upcoming boom in Artificial Intelligence. There are many different ways to describe market cycles that evolve around such drivers. Here is mine:

1. Accumulation: the earliest buyers tend to be larger institutions that gain the information necessary to be early adopter. I have given several statistics to show this has been happening.
   
2. Retail Participation/Speculation: as the story gains acceptance, less experienced investors enter the market and prices begin to rise more quickly. After two to three years of combined buying by large and small investors, it is possible to identify speculative activities such as very rapid increases in a stock price or underwritings of companies based on questionable valuations. This is the next phase I see ahead for the current AI cycle.
   
3. Distribution/Sale: At some point, toward the end of the Retail Participation/Speculation phase, some investors will begin to sell. It is popular to believe that institutional investors or “smart money” sell at this stage. During the many years, I have spent in the investment business, this is not true. Institutions can hold on to their AI stocks for far too long and end up seeing their portfolios incinerated. This is still many years away. The challenge today with a stock like PMED is not getting out; it is getting in.
   
4. Bear Market: eventually there will be a broad sell-off of AI stocks. Some institutions will sell without regard for their impact on the market. Margin buyers will get margin calls and may be forced to sell again without regard to price. At this time, over half of the AI companies trading at that time will simply disappear. Some will be successful but remain smaller. Some will merge with another AI company. Some will be acquired. Very few will survive and become leaders in the industries. They will become the Alphabets, Amazons, Metas, Microsofts, Nvidias, and Oracles of the 2040s and 2050s.
   

I started out with the quote “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” So I don’t think the AI cycle of the 2020s will be the same as the high-tech cycle of the 1990s but I think it will be similar. If you agree, Predictmedix Inc. (CSE: PMED, OTCQB: PMEDF) is a stock to buy for your portfolio.

Predictmedix – a great way to surf the Artificial Intelligence wave.
https://preview.redd.it/7ygwvnfiqe4b1.jpg?width=741&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3d5dce5239fb035e20b3e04c0056faa56b565626
There is a saying attributed to Mark Twain that goes, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but if often rhymes.” This means circumstances might be different but similar events often recur. This is good because securities regulators demand that you make it clear that in the financial markets, “Past performance is no guarantee of future results.”
However, investment analysts continue to use rhymes and here’s one that could help you see sizeable investment returns from Predictmedix Inc. (CSE: PMED, OTCQB: PMEDF). This is how the rhyme comes together:
A. The 1990s technology boom: The parallel I see is between the current Artificial Intelligence cycle and the dot-com stock market cycle of ≈1990 to ≈ 2002. As background, the 1990s either developed or laid the groundwork for changes that completely transformed the world we live in. Out of that time came many new technologies and related developments and each was highly disruptive. Here is a very brief list of some of those developments:
(1) Nokia was the first mass-produced cellphone offered in 1992 with the ability to send and receive phone calls as well as store data (e.g. phone numbers).
(2) The World Wide Web, a.k.a. the Web browser was proposed in 1990 and debuted in 1991. This was the start of the Internet, Websites, e-mails and a massive amount of information that would become available to everyone.
(3) With the explosion of data available, finding it became a challenge. Mosaic started as the first search engine in 1993 followed by Yahoo in 1994 and Google in 1998. Today, Google has risen to the top and become synonymous with an Internet search. Google it.
(4) Other important developments of that time included the growth in the capacity of microprocessors, Photoshop, texting, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, realistic videogames for a more adult market, collecting and using DNA, the start of e-tailing and more.
(5) Finally, we have the stock market. Cisco, Dell, Intel and Microsoft are sometimes referred to as the four horsemen of the 1990s tech boom. But we can’t ignore Apple and Google and there were many more that benefited. The smaller, new, Initial Public Offering companies came to the fore with incredibly high returns in the second half of the 1990s.
The chart to the right shows how stock markets performed during the 1990’s high-tech boom. A few things are worth noting:
(1) The Dot.Com stock market cycle lasted a long t time. Essentially, more than the decade of the 1990s. It’s length reflected the importance of the fundamental changes taking place.
(2) There was an important development regarding the stock market that has become part of the stock market legend. On December 5, 1996, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan in a televised speech used the term “irrational exuberance” to describe a stock market that he thought was highly speculative and overvalued. His comment was intended as a warning from the Fed that the stock market, driven by the high-tech developments described above, was overvalued. His timing was five years early which is a lifetime in the stock market.
(3) The five years after Greenspan’s “irrational exuberance” statement was the most profitable for investors of the entire ten years plus of the stock market cycle.
As you sit reading this brief, imagine your life without a cell phone, the Internet, e-mail and text messages. How different would your life be without just these four products that emerged from the 1990s. A more relevant question might be how different would your life be if you had purchased shares in Apple or Cisco or Dell or Google or Microsoft back then?
B. The Artificial Intelligence Boom (AI): The term Artificial Intelligence was created in 1955. The idea was to have a machine that could take data, and find patterns that would enable it to make predictions and reach conclusions (make decisions). The Oxford Dictionary defines AI as “The theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.”
It was Moore’s Law in 1975 that stated the capacity of semiconductors would continue to double every two years which enabled computers to be able to put into practice the AI Boom that is taking place today. Current forecasts say the AI industry will grow to $900 billion by 2026 and $15.7 trillion by 2030. AI growth in the 1920s could dwarf anything high-tech was able to accomplish in the 1990s.
(1) There is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) boom going on and many people don’t yet realize it is even happening. AI is used in:
i. Self-driving and parking cars. AI is used by Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Toyota and Volvo.
ii. Maps and navigation. Enter where you are and where you want to go by car and Google Maps, for example, will give you a choice of routes, the time optimal route taking into account construction and traffic.
iii. Facial detection or recognition. Facial detection identifies a human face or facial recognition that identifies a specific face that can be used for surveillance and security.
iv. Digital assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, Google’s Now and Microsoft’s Cortana. When combined with search and recommendation AI, Alexa or Siri is able to learn your preferences and recommend things you are interested in.
v. Customer service chatbots that answer frequently asked questions, track orders or direct calls. Often people will be unaware they are dealing with a machine.
vi. Vehicle recognition use computer vision and deep learning to find a specific car on a surveillance video.
vii. Robot vacuums can scan a living area, look for and remember objects in the way, remember the best route for cleaning the area and decide how many times it should repeat cleaning a specific area.
It is estimated that by 2030, between 400 and 800 million jobs will be displaced by Artificial Intelligence and 375 million people will have to change to a totally different type of work. It is also forecast that it is not just lower-paying, blue-collar jobs that will be replaced by AI. Jobs such as accountants, lawyers, doctors, investment advisors and portfolio managers might all be substantially eliminated. AI will impact all industries and the rate of change will be exponential, that is, the rate of change will accelerate.
For example, what does a doctor do? In general, a doctor gathers new information, refers to a patient’s medical history, refers to a medical book or today’s Internet, makes a diagnosis and provides s treatment. This is also what a lawyer does. AI might reach the point where it can do it faster and better than a human..
AI does present threats to human existence. As AI is changing exponentially, it will happen faster than the technology boom of the 1990s. It took technology 20 years to produce the changes we discussed above. AI could produce equivalent changes in 10 or 15 years. For example, ChatGPT, an AI product went from zero to 100 million users within months making it the fastest-growing consumer software product in history. There will be others.
(2) The AI shift could drive economic change and a stock market cycle at least as significant as the last “dot.com” cycle. The “go-to” companies today for participation in AI are the likes of Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Meta (NASDAQ: META), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Oracle (NYSE: ORCL). These are very large companies. GOOGL has a market cap of $1.6 trillion, AMZN has a market cap of $1.2 trillion, META has a market cap of $$648 billion, MSFT has a market cap of $2.4 trillion, NCDA has a market cap of $963 billion and ORCL has a market cap of $282 billion.
(3) While these are excellent businesses, they are also amongst the world’s largest companies. In 2022, GOOGL, META and MSFT purchased 2 out of every 3 AI chips. In my opinion, it is almost unthinkable that GOOGL can be a ten-bagger from a base market cap of $1.6 trillion or AMZN from $1.2 trillion. But it is clear these stocks now have a major component of their value derived from involvement in Artificial Intelligence and it is not surprising that early adopters would choose a lower risk/lower return approach to gain exposure to an emerging Artificial Intelligence industry.
(4) The changes created by AI also carry some risks. The speed of change will be challenging to human beings. There are forecasts that say one in four workers globally will see their jobs disappear and one in eight workers will have to be retrained in a totally unrelated field. During the industrial revolution and the tech boom, there was always the promise of more and better jobs. With AI we may have reached the point where machines actually do replace workers.
(5) Cathie Wood is a well-known and widely followed money manager with a reputation for expertise in the Artificial Intelligence sector. Wood manages a range of portfolios including the ARK Innovation Exchange Traded Fund (ARKK) and since its founding in 2014, Bloomberg estimates NDVA has contributed 13% of the fund’s 112% total return only behind Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, Invitae Corp and Tesla. That is all positive but Wood sold the ARKK holding in NVDA in January 2023 just before it rallied strongly adding some $560 billion to its market cap with $200 billion coming on one day after reporting earnings. Wood’s investors have basically missed the huge rally in the stock and the sector in 2023.
(6) But there is another phase I would look for and that is the participation of smaller, retail investors. Whether it was in the tech cycle I discussed above, the “meme” stocks or commodity exploration and development cycles in the past, the retail investor buys in before the bull market ends. Market pundits such as Citi global asset allocation and Vanda Research make the same observation: where is the retail investor?
We know the institutional investors have been getting in. So far in 2023 according to Bloomberg, the top 4% of stocks in the S&P 500 have contributed 94% of the index return and 8 of the top 20 include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet Class A, NVIDIA, Alphabet Class C, Tesla and Meta. In other words, the top 2% of the stocks in the S&P 500 contributed 94% of the return. Through mid-May, if the AI stocks are omitted, the S&P Index would be down -1.4% instead of up +8.3%. All of these stocks are AI leaders and each of them is an institutional stock. Yet, I believe the retail investor will come into the market and when they do, it is stocks like PMED for which they have always had an appetite.
C. I think investors will get more bang for their buck by investing in a small company like Predictmedix Inc. (CSE: PMED, OTCQB: PMEDF) with a total commitment to AI. From a base market cap of $16.6 million and, as I have pointed out in recent reports, many different business verticals to get them higher, I see PMED as a unique opportunity for aggressive growth investors. It is hard to imagine any decade having more of an impact on the ensuring socio-economic decades than the 1990s. Imagine your activities today without your cellphone, Internet, email and texting.
I expect the cycle driven by AI to be a long one, similar to the dot-com cycle that lasted longer than the decade of the 1990s. To the right is a chart published by Luke Lango’s Hypergrowth Investing. It shows the stock market in the 1990s and overlays current results. The parallels Lango sees include:
• Federal Reserve’s tight money policy slowed economic growth in 1990 as it is doing currently.
• In 1990, the markets were down around 20% and in 2022 stocks dropped around 25%.
• In late 1990, the Fed started reducing interest rates and the markets rebounded.
• In late 2022, the Fed has turned less hawkish and into 2023 has slowed the pace of interest rate increases. The markets have been recovering.
• In the early 1990’s, the dot-com stock market rally began and the market would advance generally higher for the rest of the decade and into the new millennium.
• Today, it is Artificial Intelligence that is pushing stocks higher and given my expectations for AI, it could stock prices higher until at least 2030.
Conclusion: I believe Predictmedix Inc. (CSE: PMED, OTCQB: PMEDF) is exceptionally well positioned to participate in the upcoming boom in Artificial Intelligence. There are many different ways to describe market cycles that evolve around such drivers. Here is mine:

1. Accumulation: the earliest buyers tend to be larger institutions that gain the information necessary to be early adopter. I have given several statistics to show this has been happening.
   
2. Retail Participation/Speculation: as the story gains acceptance, less experienced investors enter the market and prices begin to rise more quickly. After two to three years of combined buying by large and small investors, it is possible to identify speculative activities such as very rapid increases in a stock price or underwritings of companies based on questionable valuations. This is the next phase I see ahead for the current AI cycle.
   
3. Distribution/Sale: At some point, toward the end of the Retail Participation/Speculation phase, some investors will begin to sell. It is popular to believe that institutional investors or “smart money” sell at this stage. During the many years, I have spent in the investment business, this is not true. Institutions can hold on to their AI stocks for far too long and end up seeing their portfolios incinerated. This is still many years away. The challenge today with a stock like PMED is not getting out; it is getting in.
   
4. Bear Market: eventually there will be a broad sell-off of AI stocks. Some institutions will sell without regard for their impact on the market. Margin buyers will get margin calls and may be forced to sell again without regard to price. At this time, over half of the AI companies trading at that time will simply disappear. Some will be successful but remain smaller. Some will merge with another AI company. Some will be acquired. Very few will survive and become leaders in the industries. They will become the Alphabets, Amazons, Metas, Microsofts, Nvidias, and Oracles of the 2040s and 2050s.
   

I started out with the quote “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” So I don’t think the AI cycle of the 2020s will be the same as the high-tech cycle of the 1990s but I think it will be similar. If you agree, Predictmedix Inc. (CSE: PMED, OTCQB: PMEDF) is a stock to buy for your portfolio.

How is everyone’s range doing? As you can see, I drive an absolute metric crap ton for work. I got this car on September 29, 2021 and already have over 73,000 miles. Check out my range according to the car and according to recurrentauto

(This is part of a continuing series, links to which will be provided in the comments below)
Bêafrîka State: Bob Denard, Jean-Bédel Bokassa and the mercenary state.
The term “warlord” has been abused by many as a catch all term for any armed african group. It brings to mind images of a barbaric, violent oaf seeking to enrich themselves with trinkets and money off the back of their military extortion: an example of the primitive and bloodthirsty nature of the african. This is certainly the purpose of the term for the Germans, who seek to paint all native armed resistance in this light in order to justify their own return to the continent. But despite this abuse of the term, and its unjust application, it is not made up out of whole cloth: bandits, criminal gangs and short sighted thugs do exist among the africans as they do in all people, and the chaos of the German collapse has given these characters the opportunity of a lifetime. In the former RK Zentralafrika this is seen most clearly in the “mercenary state” of Bêafrîka.
Borders of a successful Bêafrîka. Many post-colonial African nations are accused of being artificial: random lines drawn on a map for the convenience of foreigners, and thus doomed to be either failures or exploitive facades. The truth of this statement is debatable: what makes a nation “organic”, is it truly critical that one be so? Are the struggles of new African nations so easily encapsulated? The argument goes on but all will agree on this: Bêafrîka is an utterly artificial and extractive state which can only begrudgingly be called a nation at all.
The north-west of Zentralafrika has always been something of a hodgepodge. The initial conquest of the area from the Free French meant the roll back of any “nation building” expenditures in favor of reverting back to the old company rule. Corvee slavery, plantations and almost non-existent infrastructure was the rule even under the French, and as such the transition to German ownership was almost seamless. If the average native african noticed a difference at all it was in the flags and helmets of the whites who terrorized them: their managers and guards stayed essentially the same. As such the region was seen by independence agitators as ripe for their own movements to grow in. Though such resistance was kept on a tight leash by the Germans it finally burst forth in the northern incursion of 1954. Supported by Nigeria and with the German forces drawn thin by the ongoing Wester Russian War, socialist militants made a lightning strike southward in the hopes of toppling Zentralafrika. For a moment it seemed as if they would do it: the road to Leopoldville was only lightly guarded and the rebel numbers were, in theory, vast. But it was not to be: poor command structures and infighting slowed the rebel advance for long enough that Kommissar Krogmann and Seigfreid Muller were able to reorganize and counterattack with the aid of a new breed of soldier: the Mercenary.
Though having been present in the role of corporate security for years this war was the instance when the Congo Mercenaries truly became a force to be reckoned with. Restrictions on who could hold a gun were dropped and the ranks of mercs swollen with Europeans, Asians and Africans. Though typically small groups and far more independent than Krogmann would have liked, they were all well acquainted with their trade and often brought along their own equipment. They could move fast, hit hard, and there was no reason to suspect their siding with the revolutionaries. With the aid of mercenaries and the cash of selling off vast tracts of land to private holders the revolutionaries were pushed back, and the long guerilla war began. Some areas of Zentralafrika were essentially passive, or had other security solutions. But in the north it was the mercenaries and the garrison which enforced the German order. Names of these men would soon become minor celebrities to the military minded, and their benefactor Seigfreid Muller got a promotion. But for our story only three names matter: the French “mercenary king” Bob Denard, “black Napoleon” Jean-Bédel Bokassa, and “the tiger” Alexandre Banza.
Though it is the armed men who hold real power in their hands, the counter-revolutionary forces are not all German and French soldiers of fortune. The APL’s anti-clerical excesses and radical nativism also alienated the thin class of native collaborators and most of all the catholic church. Barthelemy Boganda was one such native conservative, being a native priest who has tried to act through the church to both reform and aid his flock. After the death of his mentor Marcel Grandin Boganda has become a leading figure of pro-native reform without resorting to violence or leftist radicalism.
With the alliance of French and German landowners paying for their protection the mercenaries, though still technically led by Europeans, became the foremost armed presence in the north. Battling against resistance internal and external by 1962 they have become a hated and envied force, and one which Krogmann is eager to bring into line. But the South Africa War will get in the way of any reforms, with mercenaries once again being called on to shoulder the burden of warfare and internal suppression. By the end of the conflict, no matter how it ends, the mercenaries will have become an even more entrenched force in Zentralafrika. Of course when Huttig takes over this will no longer be tolerated. Having already been humiliated by Muller before, Huttig will take great pleasure in dismissing and rounding up the mercenaries, forcing them to join his forces as regular conscripts without any special privileges. Or rather he would, if he had been fast enough to catch them. When news came of Krogmann’s death and Huttig’s assumption of control the mercenaries did not wait for the order to come: they fled if they were able, and if not they seamlessly transitioned from paid agents of the state to new warlords out for their own survival and enrichment. And more than anyone they congregated around the new king of the mercenaries: Bob Denard.
For the year Huttig’s reign lasts the gangs of former mercenaries will be yet another thorn in his side: raiding, bribing and leading his forces on goose chases. And thanks to Huttig’s destruction of any boats or airplanes he could not gain control over these same former mercenaries had nothing else they could do, unless they cared to gamble trekking all the way to Free France. But Huttig’s flailing attempts to bring them to heel was only one of many threats: in this same area socialist militants and petty warlords also sprung up, and sought to destroy the hated mercenaries themselves. When Huttig dies and the German forces retreat to Leopoldville all pretense will be dropped: the Pan-africans, Fang Gabonese and Cameroonian revolutionaries will all attempt to proclaim new states and to expel the gangsters of German capitalism for good. But with their attention divided and the mercenaries still possessing skill, fire power, and all the money the old landowners could scrap together the attempt will only be half successful. Right between the three of them the new Bêafrîka State will be proclaimed.
Born in 1929 Bob Denard first got the taste for battle during the French State’s failed expeditions against De Gaulle in the late 40s. Deciding that there was better pay and better leadership to be had in Zentralafrika he was one of the first mercenaries brought in through the “King of the Mercs” Siegfried Müller. Though he has little patience for the Reich’s racial code he is a brave commander and an ardent anti-communist. After Müller’s disappearance upon Hüttig’s ascension the stranded mercenaries looked to those bold and skilled enough to lead them, and found it in Denard.
Under the nominal presidency of Boganda, who was practically kidnaped to take the role, the new state is in perhaps the most precarious position of all post-independence states.Their domestic support rests on a incredibly thin strata of white landlords, a handful of native conservatives and a mercenary army which is already looking for a way out the back door. And opposing them is a very dedicated coalition of native nationalists and revolutionaries. It would be the most natural thing in the world for this ramshackle “state” to disintegrate. But there is one thing which can unite them, and can make them all take the risk of fighting it out: Money. Specifically diamonds, gold, and other precious metals which can be sold high on the global market. The mercenaries, native or foreign, have struck for fame in Bêafrîka with the process of becoming more than the lap dogs of the wealthy, but instead to be the wealthy themselves. Baganda hates this of course, but no one asked: the guns call the shots here. And besides, the APL has already branded him a traitor to the people: in the mercenaries' eyes he should be thankful that he still has his head. And so it is decided, the mercenaries would make their own little heaven, and all they had to do to keep it was win the war for it.
Against them stands the APL, their long-time adversary. When the war begins these Pan-africanists, supported by Cameroon and Nigeria, will take the fight to Bêafrîka. This would probably be a death sentence if it were not for the fact the APL is fighting a two front war with the Nationalists to their east. If the mercenary state should still fail it will be dismantled, with the surrounding states taking over its former territory. But if it should win this first war the gamble will have, for now, paid off. Bob, Bokassa and the rest will be able to begin bringing in the money as they use outright criminal methods to both extract and then sell the bounty of the land. The people, of course, hate this as does the nominal “president”. And within the mercenary ranks new fissures will soon begin to show. When faced with a united enemy these men were willing to work together, but now that the threat of death no longer hands quite so close the question of dividing the spoils has quickly turned into a feeding frenzy: it seems to be every mercenary clique for itself trying to carve out its own privileged fiefdom. And it is here that the reformists, such as they are, spy an opportunity.
Alexandre Banza, born 1932 to the Gbaya people, is one of the very few high ranking officers who have a ethnic connection to the land they now rule. His story is much the same as the rest of the black mercenaries: born to a poor family he saw mercenary service as a path to excitement, respect and advancement he would never get on his own. Intelligent, ambitious, and unscrupulous he would rise to become a commander of his own group before the Huttig takeover, and should he take power will rename his state the Bêafrîka Republic, embarking on a cynical campaign of “reform”.
The continued presence of white mercenaries is especially resented by the people, and none more so than commander of the presidential guard and de facto leader of the Bêafrîka State Bob Denard. As such soon after the emergency of war has passed Denard will be dismissed from his position and the two most prominent native warlords Alexandre Banza and Jean-Bédel Bokassa will be invited in to take command. Denard of course has no interest in leaving, and will arrest the president in his own residence, but not before word of the new decree leaked to the streets and the other mercenaries. So it is that the fate of Bêafrîka will be decided the only way a state built on mercenaries could be: with a shootout for control of the president. On one side is Denard: he has already made overtures to Free France and the OFN, as well as criminal contacts in Europe. By leveraging these contacts, and with the aid of the remaining white mercenaries who see his removal as the precursor to their own, he may be able to fight his way out and rise to power over the bodies of his rival warlords.
If Bob Denard and his presidential guard emerges victorious president Boganda’s days will be numbered. Unceremoniously removing and replacing him with a more compliant puppet who I will not even bother you with the name of, any promised elections will be delayed, and then delayed indefinitely. In the end even the facade of democracy will be left behind as the government instead relies on various emergency decrees and under the table deals, as well as outright coercion to cement its power. This is the true mercenary state, in which the armed and powerful take what they want from the weak and destitute: the state will see its revenues come from precious minerals and eventually oil, but just as much from the underground world of smuggling, arms trading, mercenary contracts on behalf of any who will pay, and even (if rumors are to be believed) human trafficking. Denard himself is not so unsophisticated as many of his henchmen: he portrays himself and his state as anti-communist crusaders who are willing to go to the ends of the earth to protect the people from the bolshevik menace. But it makes no difference to the people and to his neighborhood: unless those friendly to him such as the Free French and the Belgian regionalists are victorious both Denard and his state will find themselves facing external invasion sooner or later. When that happens, surrounded by disciplined enemies and facing ever increasing internal revolts, Denard will do what mercenaries do best: he will gather what valuables and guns he can before fleeing. But if this should not happen: if the Congo should remain shattered, and Nigerian ambitions fail, who knows how long the dream may last?
Living as they do in a half criminal status all mercenaries are well acquainted with the underworld. Under Bob however the state itself will come to resemble a crime syndicate, with Bob acting as the Mafia boss. More than any other single resource diamonds are the breadwinner for the “White King of Bêafrîka”, but taking a page out of Manchuria’s playbook drug production and trafficking are increasingly filling the ledger as well. The diplomatic denouncements are nothing: there are always back doors which money can open.
But all this is only if Bob and his people should win the battle for President Boganda. For the first time having the full backing of the streets and with a larger manpower pool to draw from it is likely that the native warlords Alexandre Banza and Jean-Bédel Bokassa will become the victors, chasing out the (competition) colonizers in favor of their own rule. They shall of course be rewarded by the eternally thankful president for their good deeds: Bokassa will take over as the new head of the presidential guard, while Banza will become minister of finance and foreign minister. But just as inevitably there is no throne on earth big enough for two people and so the former allies will soon look for a way to oust the other. The hope of the civilians lay in the victory of the Alexandre Banza clique. If he should succeed in arresting and disappearing his rivals Banza will seek to somewhat moderate the state. Rather than rely on naked coercion he will enforce the most basic of social contracts: in return for the country's obedience he will provide protection. Though the basic facts of the Bêafrîka State shall remain: a thriving underground, an economy based on raw export, and a army of criminals, the worst aspects of this rule will be softened and the “civilianization” of government give cosmetic reform to the regime, and finally permit the nominal president a level of dignity, even being allowed to push some of his catholic inspired social reforms. Though not much more than swapping a military uniform for a business suit this will go some way to providing a sense of normalcy, and allow the state to take a non-aligned stance rather than become the plaything of some foreign power.
On the other hand is the favorite of the soldiers Jean-Bédel Bokassa. You know him as the “mad” emperor of the C.A.R. otl, but there was always a method to his madness: one cannot remain in power for over a decade by being stupid. Where Banza seeks to normalize his regime and to be seen as a developmental junta rather than a warlord, Bokassa will lean into his reputation as a warlord, adding esoteric elements to bolster his rule over strangers. Under Bokassa the new system will be entirely personal: he will take the already weak state apparatus and effectively dismantle it, instead relying on personalized dependents to govern the capital city, and leaving the remainder of the country to its own devices so long as it bent the knee when ordered. No longer able to convincingly portray himself as a benign figure to a people who are mostly foreigners to him, he will instead tap into local superstitions to appear as the master of the occult, ruling as a man to be feared even beyond the grave and allegedly indulging in cannibalism. Perhaps even more importantly however he will make a hard switch from western backing to eastern, seeking the protection and the money of Japan. In this at least he will be fairly competent: negotiating the relationship with Japan through a mixture of bribery, utility, and threatened confiscations to wring out as much foreign aid and diplomatic backing as he can. Beyond this his rule will be one of chaos and decline with the people seeing their standard of living decrease yet further to a near subsistence level. But it will be a chaos which Bokassa alone is the ruler of.
Jean-Bédel Bokassa has been fighting longer than most: volunteering for the Free French during WW2, he was captured and ultimately released during the German conquest of Gabon. From there he drifted as a menial laborer until the northern insurrection forced the Reichskommissar to bend, and Bokassa was called up by an old french commander. From there he rose to be the de-facto head of his own suit by 1962, and now the undisputed leader of his own fiefdom. The extreme personalism and close relation with Japan will eventually result in his coronation as the sovereign of the Central African Empire.
Whether it be cynical pragmatism or esoteric terror the Bêafrîka State will remain a pariah among their fellow african nations. Cameroon and Gabon will consistently attempt to undermine and take over their territory for themselves, while even the Germans will see any government as traitors and rebels. Though its military may find a backer and its people may become cowed, the incredibly fragile state will come to an end sooner than later, unless they get very lucky. Any Nigerian victory will be a disaster, but a successful unifyer to the south and east would be a great threat as well. They were already founded in the war against one of those potential unifiers and all contenders for power recognize that a united Congo is a dangerous Congo. So, either through direct aid in the case of Denard or cheering from the sidelines Bêafrîka must hope for the victory of the regionalists and Jean Schramme.
Katanga, the Regional Alliance, and “The Belgian”.
For the Pan-Africans, the Republicans, the Nationalists and even the Germans survival is not enough: they wish to reunite the old Belgian colony under their vision of the future, and perhaps even seek expansion beyond that. But not all “congolese” feel this way: in particular the province of Katanga sees no reason why it should not be free to plot its own course. Wealthy in its own right with economic ties to the south the elite of the mining provence see no reason why they should be chained to a central government, and are at least partially supported in this by the people. Just what future this “independence” takes is is still up for grabs, but in the chaotic aftermath of Huttings death Moïse Tshombe, Albert Kalonji and Jean Schramme will form a triumvirate to lead the Regional Alliance.
Élisabethville slum. Katanga is the richest province in the Congo, as well as the one with the highest concentration of Belgians, and as such has seen the beginning of a modern city develop in its capital. It has also been the prime region for victims of the Congo Dam to migrate into, on account of its relative stability and high labor demand. This has all combined to put a great deal of pressure on those populating the land south of the lake and the development of modern slums alongside the growing city.
Katanga is, in 1962, the last remnant of Belgian colonial rule left after the German takeover. Not formally of course, that had been swept away along with Belgum itself in the 50s. But just beneath the German surface the old colonial trinity of church, company and stick still held true, and mostly under Belgian control. In the aftermath of WW2 and the establishment of Burgundy many Belgians had chosen to migrate into their old colonial territory, either for political or economic reasons. Their numbers would soon fill out the officer ranks of the Force Publique, the managerial posts of various new mines and plantations, and the pews of the catholic church. But it would not be the end of their difficulties: the old trinity clashed with Krogmann’s designs for the colony and after formally absorbing it in 1955 the contest began. Where the catholic church once held near total control over healthcare and education, not to mention religious life, Krogmann favored secularism for the european and promoted dechristianization for the native. His hopes for dissolving the FP and for removing french and dutch from the lexicon would be similarly resisted. By 1962 this contest of wills has continued to grind on, with the steady advance of germanization being constantly interrupted by economic and political expediency. The Belgian Katangaians find themselves stuck uncomfortably between German pressure from above and Native pressure from below.
This native pressure is on one hand from the educated evoles, always looking to improve the lot of themselves and sometime of their kin. But it also increasingly comes from the restless masses who have come under pressure from the fallout of the Congo Dam. As the Belgian congo moderately prospered the cities began to grow as well, with the colonial authorities making tentative attempts to accommodate the influx. But after the Congo dam and the German takeover both of these trends changed. Millions of refugees fled the great flood into the wealthiest regions they could go: Leopoldville and Katanga. The population of the cities exploded, and the subsistence agriculture still practiced by most Congolese came under incredible pressure as migrants and squatters proliferated. The Belgian authorities meanwhile were left without the resources needed to truly accommodate this change, and were left with only the Force Publique to try and keep the “indigenes” separate from the new “foreigners”. It was in this context that regionalist associations with the goal of protecting specific people, such as the Lula or Lunda, came to dominate the native political scene, such as it was. Both of these movements discovered that they had similar enemies: both resented German power and feared the “national” native resistance. But this did not yet mean they became allies.
Moïse Tshombe, the nominal head of Katanga. Born to a noble lineage and always wealthy, his desire to be liked and his lack of spin have made him into an ideal puppet for other interests. His current sponsor is the remnants of the old Belgian Union Minière, which comprise much of Katanga’s economy. Though not hated by any “his” government is in reality more beholden to his lieutenants such as Godefroid Munongo.
Katanga had lived in an atmosphere of tension even before the rise of Huttig and the advent of the “Afrikareich” did nothing to alleviate this tension. As part of Huttig’s program to fully disarm the natives and bring all armed forces under SS command he attempted to disarm the Force Publique and Belgian mercenaries, rolling them into its own armed forces. Prominent civilian Belgians were arrested and replaced with SS men, leaving both the Belgians and the natives angered. Under this new pressure some decided to give it up: the new regime could not be bargained with as the prior one was, and any resistance clearly meant death. But enterprising elements were not willing to take death laying down: most prominently this included Godefroid Munongo and Jean Schramme. Using their own wealthy connections and estates as payment they would form small resistance groups, and would be the first formal alliance between the Belgians and the regionalists. To cut a long story short when Huttig dies and the Germans retreat to Leopoldville, those SS governors who do not flee will find their lifespans much shorter than expected, and those brave or desperate enough to resist Huttig will return to power. In the face of nationalist calls to reunite the congo however, the regionalists will move first. With the lavish bribery of local mining conglomerates and the justification of “popular will”, the Belgian community led by Schramme and localist leaders will form the first concret result of their ad-hoc alliance: The State of Katanga.
In its first years Katanga is a divided and unsettled place, forced into unity by the common fear of external subjugation but beholden to competing political camps. The state itself is at least nominally led by Moïse Tshombe, descendant of the kings of the Lunda people and scion to one of the last wealthy native families. He is the figurehead of a poorly organized class of native elites and collaborators, most often independently wealthy and committed just as much to their own economic privileges as they are to the cause of regionalism itself. But despite this Tshombe heads the closest thing to a “popular movement” in the new state: the "Confédération des associations tribales du Katanga" (CONAKAT). Formed in the interest of protecting the livelihoods of the Lunda against the encroaching migrants it is through this party that the people are mobilized for war. Relying on traditional authority and elite connections in the name of a tribalism has been effective in at least countering the partisans of the republicans and nationalists which contest the provence. Just as in the other contenders the war is as much a mater of internal division as it is defeating external challenges. But in order to meet those external enemies the party has been obliged to do so with the aid of their “ally”, the Belgians.
Jean Schramme, despite his official profession, is less of a mercenary and more of a Belgian “contractor” who has a reputation for getting things done and resisting German encroachment. Coming to Africa soon after the end of WW2 he is part of a new breed of Belgians who consider Zentralafrika, or more accurately Katanga, as their true home and embrace the ideal of a paternal ruler of their “primitive” neighbors. Being a successful entrepreneur as well as part time leader of the “Leopard Battalion” Jean has become a prominent part of the Belgian expat community. But though he no longer wishes to return to Europe do not think he has forgotten what the Nazi’s did: the old motherland is dead by German hands, and he has not forgiven them.
Just as on the native side the Belgians are divided internally: German policy was frustrating and insulting, but it was also relatively stable and offered a protection against the natives surrounding them. To forgo this protection and risk battle with the world's superpowers in the name of an uncertain independence requires a boldness uncommon in men. But since when did the meek make history? Returning from his armed exile Schremme will find the FP and Belgian police in disarray, and take it upon himself to topple the last of the SS governors. In his mind there is no question: in order for the Belgians to be free and prosperous they must take the risk of rebellion against Germany and carve out their own state in the chaos. But despite his personal exploits he is unable to do this on his own, and so despite his personal distaste for allying with the native regionalists his own backers in the belgian mining and administrative class have forced him to make common cause with “their” evolese. Regardless Schremme has become the critical belgian commander in this rebelion, bringing the remainder of the belgian community with him whether they like it or not. He leads in a mercenary style, never far from the front lines and with a greater emphasis on personal bravery than more mundane things like logistics.
Though Katanga is the heart of the Regionalist Alliance it is still only one part of that alliance: to the eastern flank is Sud-Kasaï, led by Albert Kalonji as the vanguard state of the Luba secessionist movement. Both Kalonji and Tshombe claim to be protecting their people (Luba and Lunda respectively) from becoming minorities within their own land and from becoming the playthings of another foreign power, whether that be Germania, Washington or any other place. They are also both from prominent and wealthy local families, who have cooperated with the belgian colonizers for generations and have every personal incentive to resist foreign acquisition. As such their support is not primarily from the people, but from the oligarchs and the army. These are two significant advantages however: While other factions are scrambling to put together a military, a state, and to pay for it all, Katanga and her allies are able to fall back on the old colonial power structures, expanding the FP and leveraging oligarchical ties to slap together an army faster than their rivals. With the mix of audacious leadership, money and the Schramme loyalist mercenaries/formed FP officers the alliance may be able to snatch its independence despite the lack of international backing.
Map of regionalist victory, Azandeland acts as a placeholder for local authority (or lack thereof), Sud-Kasai is the Luba Empire. The immediate issue facing the regionalists will be export access: the states survival depends on the revenue from its extensive mining operations, and if that material cannot be exported it is worthless. For this Katanga must either negotiate a trade deal with the German remnants, or seek a detente with the self proclaimed frontline of liberation Zambia. Neither is eager to do this, but the world calls for what Katanga can provide, most of all Uranium. Eventually the market will win out, and one side will decide it is better to compromise principle than give the other an opportunity to gain access to the Katanga bounty.
IF VICTORIOUS the Regionalist Alliance will comprise an expanded State of Katanga, the Luba Empire, and a number of minor eastern powers propped up by Katanga. For the Luba and the Eastern chiefs the question of post war politics is an easy one: tribal traditionalism shall prevail as Albert Kalonji names himself king and the local chiefs are either bribed or threatened into compliance with the new order. While some may make efforts to modernize and advance their domains it will only be done under the watchful and occasionally helpful eye of Katanga. The only question remaining is who will be in control of Katanga itself. Jean Schramme is not a reasonable man, or at least not a moderate one: if he feels that he and the Belgians are not granted their proper place he may well try to overthrow Moïse Tshombe and install himself as the leader of the new state. The natives are less than satisfied as well: though free of foreign control it is clear to them that the old order is no longer acceptable: the people who fought and won the war for independence demand that their sacrifice be rewarded in some meaningful way. And most of all the question of race can no longer be papered over: The Belgians and Europeans remain on top, the migrants have been savaged, and the land and jobs available are not enough to satisfy them all.
To reconcile these internal difficulties a conference shall be held between the Belgian leadership of the army and company's one on hand, and the native oligarchs and officers on the other to see if a viable solution can be worked out. On the Belgian side the question is that of security and property: they wish to maintain the full roster of legal rights granted to them by belgian law, to keep their property and company concessions, and for a Belgian “veto” in the national government to ensure that Belgian rights are not trampled by some future populist government. On the CONAKAT side is a desire to renegotiate the terms of the “social contract”: to ensure a majority native voice in government which cannot be overruled by Belgian privilege, greater native ownership of property and the full abolition of any legal barriers to their advancement. However both sides are united in seeking stability and in their distrust of the congolese “masses”. Those masses are not without a voice themselves: through labor unions, dissident political parties and new officer associations the experience of warfare has made the people politically aware. If the result of the conference does not give some bones to the people it may find that its support is far too narrow to be stable.
Union Minière, once the undisputed master of the Katanga economy, has declined somewhat under German overlordship. With a majority of its shares owned by the Belgian state and its former leadership fleeing to America after the end of the war its foundations were shaky. When Krogmann began the great sell off and rescinded the Belgian Congo’s autonomy the company found itself in yet more hot water. Transitioning to a locally owned company within Zentralafrika itself the Union has been forced to cut back on its paternalistic spending to make ends meet. Beyond the typical demands for labor rights and wage increases the Kantaga people also wish for a return to the housing, education and social protection once afforded by the leviathan. With its place in Katanga once again secure this may just be possible.
A successful conference will be one of compromise. For the people a number of social protections and laws will be promised: greater state funding to education, hospitals, and housing will be promised, along with a hike in wages. In order to afford this the belgians will need to accept their privileged economic position comes with a responsibility to fund the state which protects it: though direct taxes may be a bridge too far a system of expected “gifts” and an expansion of the old paternalism into state guided policy may work out. In return for their material contributions the Belgians will receive legal autonomy, organizing their own political parties and keeping their land. The native oligarchs meanwhile would take the national stage, being granted privileged places within the Katanga economy as well as using CONAKAT as their vehicle for political dominance. Concessions and compromises such as these require that all parties trust the other to keep up their end of the bargain, and not simply alter the deal when they feel they are able. And in the aftermath of a brutal civil war and a political culture of corruption such trust is very hard to come by. But if these difficulties are overcome, and Jean Schramme is kept mollified, the new State of Katanga will be ruled as a collaborative oligarchy, keeping real representation out of the hands of the people and wealth in the hands of a few, but also a relatively stable and moderate government which is willing to compromise when need be. Unless it is a question of distrusted ethnic groups attempting to secede from the state or restart Congolese unification, in which case the Katanga Gendarmerie will be the only answer given.
But what if this conference does not succeed? What if the protests outside become too large, or the sides are too inflexible, or if Jean Schramme believes the rights of Belgians are being sold too cheaply? Then the Rule of Fire will come back and those with the force to crush their opposition will prevail. And in Katanga that can only mean one thing: Schramme and his allies will stage a coup, placing themselves in charge once again as an emergency government. Those unwilling to ally with him will be dismissed, replaced with those who are. The new mission of the state is the protection of “Belgian civilization” in Katanga, with Schramme attempting to revive the old trinity of Church, State and Company under his guiding hand. He never truly wanted to be in this position: he would much rather simply go back to his plantation and be master of his own little world. But he belives that his new homeland calls out for leadership and guts it seems only he can provide, and so he will seek to lead it into the future he envisions. One where the Congo natives are grateful and subservient to their betters, where all the structures of the trinity are led by Europeans to the benefit of all. Of course most of the natives have very different ideas about what the future should look like, and so Schremma’s Katanga will immediately be thrown into a bush war as the old civil war factions reform as guerrilla movements seeking to topple his dictatorship. The profits of Katanga are vast, especially if one is willing to sell uranium to anyone willing to buy, but how long will money and determination be able to hold against the will of the people?
At a stretch the white population of Katanga is 100,000, while the total african population is somewhere north of 1.5 million. This is before one considers the increasing populations of the Luba Empire and the eternal frontier of the Eastern Congo. And then there is the highly likely presence of hostile regimes on the borders: all the money in the world cannot win Schramme this Bush War, and he will either need to swallow his pride and accept democratization for the natives or accept the return of the Reich as suzerain. And even that may not be enough to avoid the rage of a people betrayed.

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Ucore Announces:

• A US$4 million award from the US Army Contracting Command-Orlando to demonstrate Rare Earth Element Separation Technology Capabilities at the RapidSX™ Commercialization and Demonstration Facility in Kingston, Ontario (the "Project")
• It is anticipated that upon successful completion of the Project, a follow-on production award may be issued to further support Ucore's REE separation capabilities in Louisiana

Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU**) (OTCQX:** UURAF**) ("Ucore"** or the "Company") is pleased to announce that through its wholly owned subsidiary, Innovation Metals Corp. ("IMC"), the Company has been awarded a firm-fixed-price US$4 million Other Transaction Agreement[i] ("OT Agreement" or "Award") by the US Army Contracting Command-Orlando ("ACC-ORL" or "US-DoD") to conduct a Rare Earth Element ("REE") Separation Technology Capabilities Prototype Project (the "Project") at the Company's RapidSX™ Commercialization and Demonstration Facility ("CDF") in Kingston, Ontario, utilizing its 52-Stage RapidSX™ Demonstration Plant ("Demo Plant") for the separation of mixed heavy and light REE concentrate feedstocks.
The objectives of the Project are to present to the US-DoD:

1. the capability to commercially source a sustainable domestic (i.e., United States and Canada) processing facility for converting heavy and light REEs feedstock sources to salable individual rare earth products.
2. a new innovative separation process that increases the ability to create domestic REE processing plants.

It is anticipated that upon successful completion of the Project[ii], a follow-on production OT Agreement may be issued to further support Ucore's REE separation capabilities in North America, led by its flagship Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex ("SMC") planned for Alexandria, Louisiana, as announced on April 6, 2023.
"We believe that Ucore has one of the West's most compelling rare-earth-supply chain business models," stated *Pat Ryan, Ucore Chairman and CEO*. "This US-DoD Project will allow us to demonstrate the RapidSX™ technology platform for rare earth element separation and will include original equipment manufacturers' qualification trials in coordination with our commercial development activities at the Company's planned Louisiana SMC.
"The rare earth element processing opportunity afforded Ucore through this Award is pivotal as the Company continues to seek out and collaborate with like-minded upstream and downstream partners as part of a Western rare-earth-element supply chain solution."
REEs are critical to many defence and commercial technologies, including those relying on rare earth permanent magnets to convert electrical to mechanical energy. Demand for these unique elements is expected to increase significantly as the electrification of the worldwide vehicle fleet continues.
This OT Agreement will allow the Company to operate the RapidSX™ Demo Plant for extended periods of nearly continuous operation, with the goal of demonstrating the following attributes to the US-DoD:

1. rare earth separation processing capability at a rate more efficient than conventional solvent extraction ("CSX");
2. separation technology applicability to both light and heavy REEs with the same equipment;
3. a continuous process working facility capable of processing tonnes of feedstock; and
4. an increase in the Company's RapidSX™ technology readiness level ("TRL").

In addition to increasing the TRL of the RapidSX™ technology and developing a corresponding techno-economic assessment, the Project is designed to demonstrate that RapidSX™ can be used to efficiently and quickly separate individual light and heavy REEs and compounds (such as PrNd, Pr, Nd, Tb, and Dy) sourced from a domestic-friendly mixed heavy rare-earth-oxide concentrate feedstock source.
Background Information about the Award Process:
On November 10, 2022, the US-DOD issued a Request for Solutions (the "RFS") seeking vendors and suppliers of innovative REE projects that can promote the adoption of REE recovery and separation technologies that incorporate advanced processing capabilities with the ability to meet the US-DoD's requirements.
On January 17, 2023, Ucore, through IMC, submitted a solution (the "Solution") to the US-DoD in response to the RFS based on the execution of its separation technology development program in Kingston, Ontario, and its commercial deployment advancements in Louisiana. Ucore's Solution described the proposed Project and the use of its proprietary RapidSX™ separation technology at the CDF utilizing the Demo Plant.
On June 2, 2023, the OT Agreement was finalized and awarded to the Company, through IMC, by ACC-ORL. Pursuant to the terms of the OT Agreement, the Company is to pursue and complete the Project in stages and provide regular reporting and information to ACC-ORL. The payment milestones are divided into fixed tranches and tied to the successful completion of each stage.
# # #
About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore's vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry.
Through strategic partnerships, this plan includes disrupting the People's Republic of China's control of the North American REE supply chain through the near-term development of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility in the US State of Louisiana, subsequent SMCs in Canada and Alaska and the longer-term development of Ucore's 100% controlled Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Heavy REE Project on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, USA.
Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX® Best Market under the ticker symbol "UURAF."
For further information, please visit www.ucore.com/corporateupdate.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development, technological development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings), timelines, events, or developments that the Company is pursuing are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.
Regarding the disclosure in the press release above about the OT Agreement and the expected successful progress of the Project and the resulting milestone payments from the DoD, the Company has assumed that the Project (including each of its milestones) will be completed in a satisfactory manner and in a reasonable period of time within approximately the next two years. For additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company, the CDF, the Demo Plant and the Project (generally), see the risk disclosure in the Company's MD&A for Q1 2023 (filed on SEDAR on May 30, 2023) (www.SEDAR.com) as well as the risks described below.
Regarding the disclosure above in the "About Ucore Rare Metals Inc." section, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or retain additional partners and/or suppliers, in addition to Innovation Metals Corp. ("IMC"), as suppliers for Ucore's expected future Strategic Metals Complexes ("SMCs"). Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to complete the Demo Plant commissioning and demonstration schedule and also later prepare a new National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report that demonstrates that the Bokan Mountain Rare Earth Element project ("Bokan") is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer offtake agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be secured to continue the development of the specific engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, without limitation: IMC failing to protect its intellectual property rights in RapidSX™; RapidSX™ failing to demonstrate commercial viability in large commercial-scale applications; Ucore not being able to procure additional key partners or suppliers for the SMCs; Ucore not being able to raise sufficient funds to fund the specific design and construction of the SMCs and/or the continued development of RapidSX™; adverse capital-market conditions; unexpected due-diligence findings; the emergence of alternative superior metallurgy and metal-separation technologies; the inability of Ucore and/or IMC to retain its key staff members; a change in the legislation in Louisiana or Alaska and/or in the support expressed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority ("AIDEA") regarding the development of Bokan; the availability and procurement of any required interim and/or long-term financing that may be required; and general economic, market or business conditions.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
CONTACT
Mark MacDonald Vice President, Investor Relations Ucore Rare Metals Inc. 1.902.482.5214 [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
[i]Providing nearly 80% of the estimated required Project funding, with the balance provided by Ucore.[ii]Successful completion will occur when the prototype project has been validated and is accepted by the Government. Successful completion is defined in the negotiated OT Agreement.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168926
​
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Hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular as people become more aware of the environmental impact of traditional gasoline-powered cars. Drivers who embrace advanced technology no longer prefer conventional cars. In the past, the impact of climate change on our commute habits seemed unimaginable. However, with the rise of sustainability, digitalisation, and technological disruptions, hybrid cars have become essential and are leading this transformation. They are anticipated to represent 12% of all new car sales by 2023.
Understanding their advantages and disadvantages of hybrid cars can provide valuable insights into this transitional technology as the digital transformation in automotive industry progresses towards fully electric vehicles. In this blog, we will take a closer look at the pros and cons of hybrid cars in the digital era:

Pros of Hybrid Cars:

1. Reduced Emissions: Hybrid cars utilise both electric and internal combustion engines, resulting in lower emissions and a more environmentally friendly driving experience compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.
2. Decreased Fuel Dependency: By incorporating an electric motor to supplement the primary petrol engine, hybrid cars have access to additional power, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
3. Efficient Use of Engine: Hybrid cars benefit from smaller engines since they are not solely responsible for propelling the vehicle, thanks to the assistance of the electric motor. This smaller engine size contributes to increased fuel efficiency.
4. Regenerative Braking: Hybrid vehicles employ regenerative braking, which harnesses the energy generated during braking to recharge the battery. This feature eliminates the need to stop the vehicle to manually recharge the battery pack.

Cons of Hybrid Cars:

1. Lower Performance: As hybrid cars prioritise fuel efficiency and range, their power and acceleration may lag behind those of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles.
2. Higher Purchase Cost: Despite efforts by car manufacturers to narrow the pricing gap between conventional and hybrid vehicles, hybrids still tend to carry higher upfront costs.
3. Increased Maintenance Expenses: Hybrid cars consist of multiple mechanical components and operate with two sets of engines, leading to higher maintenance costs compared to conventional vehicles. Additionally, not all mechanics are trained to repair hybrid cars, potentially limiting available servicing options.
4. More complex: Hybrid cars are more complex than traditional gasoline-powered cars. This means that they may be more difficult to repair and maintain.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hybrid cars are a positive development that is being driven by digital transformation of the automotive industry. By reducing carbon emissions, increasing fuel efficiency, improving performance, and offering greater convenience, hybrid cars are helping to make digital transformation more sustainable, affordable, and accessible and they are helping to drive the development of new technologies that can benefit drivers and the environment. As the demand for digital transformation solutions continues to grow, hybrid cars are likely to play an even more important role and it is evident to see even greater advancements in the years to come.

Rocket Lab Due-Diligence (DD)

‘We Open Access to Space to Improve Life on Earth.’

Introduction

With the 2024 first launch of the Rocket Lab Mega Constellation Launcher—The Neutron—fast approaching, I decided it is high time for a more up-to-date DD on Rocket Lab. A lot is happening in the industry, the company, and the world. I have decided to dive into the future, fundamentals, industry, funding, financials, dreams, and of course, the memes of the aspiring space company. Now, I am posting my DD into both of the Rocket Lab subreddit, as I am new to writing DD and I want to hit as wide of an audience as I can. One disclaimer (for those who do not like stock talk), this DD is not meant to encourage buying of the stock, nor is it financial advice or a stock-only DD, I merely want to dive into this company and simply spark some discussion on it!
Now, Rocket Lab is a private aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider. The company was founded in 2006 by Peter Beck and is headquartered in Long Beach, California, with additional facilities in New Zealand and Australia. Rocket Lab specializes in the development and launch of small rockets capable of delivering payloads of up to 300 kilograms to low Earth orbit. Rocket Lab—self-designated as a leader in launch and space systems—is a company that has a chance at becoming a highly profitable giant over the next decade and beyond. In my honest opinion, Rocket Lab currently thrives off of the crumbs of the current space industry ecosystem. With Space X increasingly focused upon one goal—thanks to their controversial, yet nevertheless, fearless leader—being Mars, Rocket Labs can (and in my opinion will) become one of the go-to space companies for low earth orbit launches in the near term and in the long-term become one of the go-to space company for launches between the Moon, Venus, and Mars as well. Rocket Lab currently lives off of the crumbs left behind by NASA, Space X, and the United States military-industrial complex.
Like these two legends from the movie War Dogs, Rocket Lab is determined to become the go-to space company for transporting all types of goods into orbit. For those of you who have not seen the movie (I personally highly recommend it), essentially, when these two start their arms-dealing company, they focus upon all of the small contracts that the government is putting out for arms supplies. The contracts that the big players are ignoring, due to their small sizes, even so, these small contracts are worth hundreds of thousands to low millions. Now, this is where Rocket Lab currently lies in the industry.
\"A new space race has begun, and most Americans are not even aware of it. This race is not [about] political prestige or military power. This new race involves the whole human species in a contest against time.\" - Ben Bova
Now, before I dive into everything here, I need every to understand that this industry is on the verge of immense change and rapid evolution. We are currently in the first stage of the world’s Second Space Race. As a student of History, I can confidently tell you that there are murmurings within the historical community, that this is the case, beginning with the creation and success of Space X’s first reusable rocket: the Falcon 9. On December 21st of 2015, when the first Falcon 9 was launched and the landing was successful with the first stage fully recovered, the race began. In the same way that there is no single company above all others in the airline, shipping & transportation, or car manufacturing industries, is the same reason I do not believe that Space X will alone run the space industry’s transportation needs. There is plenty of room for companies like Rocket Lab to fill the gaps Space X cannot and in a decade’s time, there will be plenty of room for even more companies. Yet, there are no companies that are even close to competing with Space X—other than Rocket Lab—at this time. Now, I won’t go deeply into most of these competitors in this deep dive, but to be short, Astra is on the verge of total failure, Virgin Galactic has been playing an entirely different game—space tourism, which there is a massive market for, just perhaps won’t be penetrated by them—they likewise seem to be failing. While Blue Origin has been playing a strong game and Space X an even stronger one, albeit more and more focused solely on Mars as the years go on.
Here you can see the 1-year charts of Rocket Lab, Astra, Virgin, and Boeing for reference, as you can see, these charts speak volumes. Rocket Lab has been having a tough year but has found a nice bottom and is consistently bouncing from lows in the $3.6-4 range. While Astra has been reduced to a penny stock, with their future unknown. Virgin Galactic is only maintaining below Rocket Lab’s share price, partly due to the large number of Retail investors that do not know much and refuse to let it die, coupled with a small hope that the company can recover in the coming years. Boeing is here for reference as to what a successful, large-cap company involved in a similar industry (and the space industry as well), should look like over the course of a decent year.
Now, there are a few assumptions that I am making that we need to cover before diving into the real DD: Whether it be because we live in the beginnings of a second Space Race (fueled by privatized space companies and the world’s governments) or because of technological advancement and a rising interest in space, the increase in rocket launches, space development (in Earth’s orbit, the Moon, and Mars), and the lowering costs of space launches… it will become exponentially cheaper, easier, and faster to launch into orbit and the industry as a whole will have a massive boom—akin, in a way, to the industrial revolution—over the mid-to-late 2020s into the early 2030s. With the mid-to-end 2030s and early 2040s, we will see massive developments in terms of low-Earth orbit manufacturing facilities, tourist destinations, and stations, as well as settlements on the Moon for mining and refueling for greater exploration and colonization of the Sol System as a whole.
Now these are in part assumptions, but I think once one does the research and looks at the fact, all of this is very achievable. Even if it does not occur in this way, you can shift the dates by an additional decade and every time you do, the more likely, easier, and cheaper it all becomes.
Rocket Lab's business model revolves around providing cost-effective and frequent access to space for small satellite operators. The company aims to simplify the process of deploying satellites by offering dedicated launches on its Electron rocket. Rocket Lab operates as an end-to-end service provider, handling the entire launch process from mission planning and payload integration to launch and on-orbit operations.

Section 1: Rocket Lab Takes Flight! The Electron & the Neutron

‘Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering reliable launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, satellite components, flight software, and an on-orbit management.’ – Rocket Labs
Rocket Lab's primary launch vehicle, the Electron, is a two-stage rocket powered by Rutherford engines, which use electric-pump-fed LOX/RP-1 propellants. The Electron is designed to optimize cost, flexibility, and rapid launch capability for small satellites. Rocket Lab has demonstrated numerous successful launches since its inaugural flight in 2017, showcasing its technological prowess and reliability. The small satellite market has been growing rapidly, driven by increased demand for data collection, communications, and Earth observation. Rocket Lab's focus on dedicated launches for small satellites positions it well to capture a significant portion of this expanding market. The company has already established a solid customer base, securing contracts with government agencies, research institutions, and commercial entities.
Rocket Labs—at the time of writing this—has had 37 launches—with a 91.89% success rate—deployed 164 satellites, operates 3 launch pads, and is maintaining 3 Photon Satellites in the Earth’s orbit. Of the 164 satellites launched by Rocket Labs, they were commissioned to do so by a wide variety of clients, from NASA, Space Force, DARPA, to Canon. Rocket Labs is supported by Future Fund: Australia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Data Collective, Greenspring Associates, ACC, Promus Ventures, L One W One Ltd., and Lockheed Martin.
Rocket Lab’s main rocket, the Electron—built and operated by Rocket Lab—has flown 37 times and been successful 34 times, with only 3 failures. Rocket Lab’s key areas of business penetration lie in the launch of mid-sized service rockets, the manufacturing of space systems and satellites, and their adept ability to manufacture industrial space parts, applications, and proponents. The latter of which, they are sort of unopposed in terms of competition.
The Neutron—Rocket Lab’s medium-lift, mega constellation launcher—will be able to launch 13,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit and it will be …drum roll please… reusable! The current goal is for it to launch in 2024. It will be designed for not only low earth orbital supply missions, but also deep space missions, and even human spaceflight. It will be fairing a design allowing for full reusability of the first stage and it will be lightweight, being made of Rock Lab’s own carbon composite structure. The home base for the Neutron will be at the Neutron Production Complex and the launch pad at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility and Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
‘The Neutron Production Complex will be home to a rocket production, assembly, and integration facility, as well as a dedicated launch pad for the Neutron rocket located on the southern end of Wallops Island. The estimated 250,000 square foot state-of-the-art complex will be constructed on a 28-acre site adjacent to the Wallops Island Flight Facility and will include a Launch Control Center, Rocket Lab’s fifth global operations center for launch activities and on-orbit operations. To support rapid production of the Neutron rocket, current plans for the complex include automated fiber placement robotic production systems capable of laying up meters of Neutron’s new, specially formulated carbon composite structures in minutes. As a reusable rocket, Neutron is designed to land back on the Launch Complex 3 pad after a mission and from there it would be returned to the production complex for refurbishment and re-flight.’
With Space X dominating large-load space orbital flight and transportation, Rocket Labs, in my honest opinion, is where Space X was roughly something like 6-8 years ago. While Rocket Lab intends to compete with Space X—whether it will be considered competition in an industry this brand new and small, time will tell—for cargo and humans to the low Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and even Venus! Space X and Elon Musk have made it abundantly clear that the goal of Space X is the large-scale settlement of Mars. While later models of Rocket Lab’s Neutron will be able to go to Mars and Venus, it appears that is not their main goal. In the near term (being the next two decades), they will be looking to dominate the low Earth orbit and Moon market as well as the manufacturing of industrial space parts, applications, and proponents.

Section 2: The Space Industry & Company Fundamentals

Rocket Lab faces competition from other commercial launch providers, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. However, the company differentiates itself by specializing in small satellite launches, offering a tailored solution for this niche market. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket provides the advantage of dedicated launches and the flexibility to reach specific orbits, making it an attractive option for small satellite operators.
Rocket Lab has raised significant funding through various investment rounds, securing capital from venture capital firms, strategic partners, and government entities. Notable investors include Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Lockheed Martin. The company's ability to attract substantial investment indicates confidence in its business model and growth potential. Rocket Lab operates within the regulatory framework of the countries in which it launches its rockets. The company holds necessary licenses and approvals from government agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Compliance with safety regulations and adherence to environmental guidelines are crucial aspects of Rocket Lab's operations.
Despite its achievements, Rocket Lab faces several risks and challenges. The space industry is highly competitive, and the success of the company depends on its ability to secure launch contracts and maintain a steady launch cadence. Regulatory changes, launch failures, or delays could impact Rocket Lab's operations and reputation. Additionally, the emergence of new technologies or market disruptors could pose a threat to the company's market position
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the Quarterly Results. To preface, negative quarterly results mean—pardon my French—jack-shit (at least in the short term) for a company such as Rocket Lab, that is looking at penetrating a market such as the space industry. We are going to look at the past four Quarterly Results in chronological order.
Q2 2022 Report: Rocket Lab achieved record revenue of $55.5 million, showing significant growth compared to the previous quarter (36% sequential growth) and the same quarter in the previous year (392% YoY growth). Despite the revenue growth, the company reported a negative EPS of $-0.08, indicating a net loss for the quarter.
Q3 2022 Report: Another record revenue was achieved, reaching $63.1 million, with a sequential growth of 14% and an impressive YoY growth of 1,093%. The company's EPS improved slightly to $-0.07 but still remained negative. The fourth quarter revenue is expected to be lower, ranging between $51 million and $54 million, as a launch customer's push extends into 2023.
Q4 2022 Report: The company's revenue for Q4 reached $51.8 million, showing a healthy year-over-year growth of 88%. The full-year revenue for fiscal 2022 amounted to $211 million, reflecting substantial growth of 239% compared to the previous year. The EPS remained negative at $-0.08.
Q1 2023 Report: The revenue for Q1 2023 was $54.9 million. Increasing revenue by 35% in the first quarter of 2023. Revenue from their launch business was $19.6 million, up $12 million from the prior quarter. Their EPS was $-0.08, indicating strong maintenance of their business. The second quarter is expected to show a significant revenue increase, with an estimated range of $60 million to $63 million.
Now, what does this all tell us? Firstly, they were very forthcoming with the quarterly expectations. Something one might think is not a big deal, but considering how a lot of publicly traded companies operate, this is a good thing. In each of their earnings reports, they have nearly exactly estimated their results, showing they are not attempting to mislead investors. The company has experienced impressive revenue growth throughout the reported quarters, indicating strong market performance and demand for its products/services. However, the negative EPS values suggest that the company is still operating at a net loss. From a shareholder’s perspective, the company's focus should be on achieving profitability and reducing the negative EPS, while maintaining consistent revenue growth. In my opinion, this stock is sitting just below a fair market value for what it is right now, sitting at just over $4, considering they are not fully profitable. Yet Rocket Lab continues to grow its business, making more contracts, and it stands a competitive chance. If they can turn a profit within 2-3 years, I think they will be one hell of a company. With their competitors failing left and right and none finding the success as Rocket Lab—other than Space X—they could stand to be a massive company in a few decades, so massive, they’re bigger than Earth.
One last financial point to touch upon… shorting, so here is some data, which is roughly one month outdated due to my difficulty in finding up-to-date information on the company without a Bloomberg Terminal (So, if anyone on the sub has access to a Bloomberg Terminal and would like to add to my DD in the comments, please do).
Last Record Date: May 15, 2023
Outstanding Shares: 478,660,000 shares
Float Size: 262,310,000 shares
Short Percent of Float: 9.80% (The short percent of float represents the percentage of shares available for trading that have been sold short).
Average Trading Volume: 4,044,396 shares
Current Short Volume: 25,710,000 shares
Previous Short Volume: 24,630,000 shares
Change Vs. Previous Month: +4.38%
Dollar Volume Sold Short: $111.58 million
Short Interest Ratio / Days to Cover: 7.7 (This ratio indicates the number of days it would take for the short sellers to cover their positions based on the average daily trading volume.).
The short interest in Rocket Lab has increased from the previous month, with a change of +4.38%. The short percent of the float is 9.80%, indicating that a significant portion of the available shares for trading has been sold short. Now, Rocket Lab’s short interest is relatively low for a company that has had consistent negative EPS and revenue. Showcasing that the big players in markets either A) believe this company will make a massive turnaround in the near future (1-3 years mark) or B) Rocket Lab, due to its size, is thankfully not on their radar. However, that said, the off-exchange short percentage is 57.69%, showcasing that A) public on-exchange short volume is a complete hoax and Hedge Funds, and other big players are beating down on the stock or B) all of this information is completely misrepresented to retail traders on purpose and the entirety of the United States market system is a complete farce.

Section 3: Future Prospects & Big Moves

Rocket Lab has demonstrated strong performance and growth potential in the emerging small satellite launch market. The company continues to refine its launch processes, aiming to increase launch frequency and reduce costs further. Additionally, Rocket Lab has plans to develop a larger reusable rocket called Neutron, targeting the medium-lift market segment, which would expand its capabilities and market reach. The company has the potential to be the go-to company for low Earth orbital launches in the short term and in the long term, one of, if not the go-to company, for transportation to the Moon, Mars, and Venus.
Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, did an interview last month on his take on the industry and their future prospects. I wanted to touch briefly on this (you can find the video on YouTube).
Firstly, the video begins with the commentator stating, "With the Space Race this week," the Space X rocket, the most powerful ever built, has scrubbed its launch. While Rocket Lab is adding a new service for testing hypersonic sub-orbital launches, being a welcome addition to the company’s wide array of services. Beck states that it is a very exciting time, stating that “the United States is kind of lacking behind in hypersonic technologies and this is a great opportunity to have high cadence, test flight environment for these payloads to really move forward the US’s hypersonic research.” He goes on to talk about how these capabilities are essentially repurposed from Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket capabilities: “We take a standard Electron orbital-class launch vehicle and we fly it in some really unique trajectories to provide these hypersonic trajectories… it is taking an Electron and making a couple wee tweaks to it and having a great high frequency hypersonic testing platform that hasn’t existed.” Beck goes on to speak on the launch cadence “being on target for 15 flights” this year with the fastest turn around this year being 7 days between flights, saying “the machine is cranking and the vehicles are flying successfully and the last flight was a reusable vehicle and we splashed that down successfully and now we’re kind at the point where we are recycling and harvesting engines and components off of those launch vehicles and getting ready to put them back into service and re-fly them.” He continues, stating, “I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say exactly, but… a whole multiple gambit of reused components that are all now re-entering the production line and going back into service.” Morgan Brennan, the interviewer then speaks to how there is this emerging mismatch between supply and demand when it comes to the satellite launch market, with the fact that there are so many satellite constellations that are poised to go into orbit in the coming years and not enough capacity in terms of launching them. So, she then asks about the reusability of Electron and the development of the Neutron. Beck states that, “Electron is really serving that market very well, and there are lots of flight opportunities that are sort of just doing its thing, Neutron is the new flight opportunity for us… 2026 to 2030 timeframe there is a massive deficit in launch and there are lots of constellations that are all really vying for an ability to get in orbit, so we saw that coming and started work on the vehicle and hopefully we can bring it into service in 2024 and really solve some of those problems and take advantage of that market opportunity.”
Now, I don’t have to tell you all that this is very good to hear from Beck and this is very exciting, showcasing that he really believes Rocket Lab can penetrate this market and become a big player in the ever-evolving industry.
Rocket Lab Making Big Moves Lately:
· Bought Virgin Orbit HQ in California, this was a big win for the company, and folk on the sub were very excited to see this happen. Yay! But, sad and unfortunate for Virgin Galactic, which I am sure many of us space enthusiasts had higher hopes for, oh well, not everyone can achieve their dreams.
· Rocket Lab reached a new Company record of nine launches within a calendar year.
· Achieved a record of 100% mission success for Electron launches for the year.
· Successfully launched CAPSTONE mission to the Moon for NASA, including the first demonstration of Lunar Photon spacecraft platform.
· Successfully deployed two satellites to space for NASA’s TROPICS mission on the first of two dedicated launches on Electron for the constellation scheduled in May 2023.
· Secured another NASA mission to Electron’s 2023 launch manifest with its Starling mission. Rocket Lab was selected by NASA to launch the Starling mission on an expedited timeline due to long delays and uncertainty with the mission’s original launch provider.
· Signed multiple new launch contracts on Electron for 2023 for undisclosed commercial satellite customers previously manifested on another small launch vehicle, demonstrating Electron’s strong position as a reliable and dependable ride to orbit for small satellite operators.
· Introduced Rocket Lab’s new HASTE launch vehicle, a suborbital testbed launch vehicle derived from the Company’s Electron rocket to provide reliable, high-cadence flight test opportunities to support the development of advanced hypersonic systems technology.
· Announced that the Company will fly a pre-launched 3D printed Rutherford engine on an upcoming mission in Q3’23, a major step in evolving the Electron launch vehicle into a reusable rocket.
· Delivered financial results that exceeded the high end of prior guidance for revenue and gross margin.
· Launched three successful Electron missions in the first quarter for commercial constellation operators HawkEye 360, Capella Space, and BlackSky.
· Successfully completed the Company’s first launch from its U.S. launch site, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2, at the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on January 24, 2023. The mission deployed three satellites for radio frequency geospatial analytics provider HawkEye 360.
· Successfully completed the Company’s fastest turnaround between launches to date – just seven days between its 34th Electron launch, “Stronger Together”, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 in Virginia on March 16, 2023, and its 35th Electron launch, “The Beat Goes On”, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on March 24, 2023.
· Rocket Lab remains the only U.S. commercial small launch provider to successfully deliver satellites to orbit in 2023. Secured a multi-mission contract with Capella Space to launch four more dedicated launches on Electron in 2023.
· Achieved programmatic milestones for the Company’s two Photon spacecraft to support NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars, and for the Photon spacecraft for a Varda Space Industries’ mission to manufacture high-value products in zero gravity. Both Photon programs include Rocket Lab star trackers, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, and radios – demonstrating the value and strength of the Company’s vertical integration and in-house supply chain.

Conclusion: An Ode to Humanity's Future

Rocket Lab has established itself as a leading player in the small satellite launch market, offering dedicated launch services tailored to the needs of small satellite operators. The company's technological capabilities, solid customer base, and innovative approach position it well for future growth.
Those who lived and grew up in the 1960s and 1970s believed that by the 21st century, mankind would be a space-faring civilization. People had a fascination with the unknown. It was embedded in pop culture, in movies like the 2001 Space Odyssey, Alien, and the Star Trek series. But the unfortunate truth is that after Apollo 17 on the 19th of December 1972, mankind has not left low-earth orbit. The American public lost interest, the government cut funding, and the Saturn V rockets were dismantled and replaced by space shuttles in the 1980s (spaceships not even built to leave low-earth orbit). The curiosity and desire to unravel the mystery of the universe are now again filling the hearts of people. Technology is becoming more advanced and cheaper.
With companies like Rocket Lab and Space X, the future is looking bright. We currently live in an era of mass information. One of the hardest aspects of life in the early-21st-century is learning how to filter all this information. The news of the accomplishments of Rocket Lab, Space X, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Space Force, are lost in the large volume of collective data. The average person does not believe how close we are to colonizing Luna and Mars; how close we are to becoming a multi-planetary species. If you walked up to someone on the street of New York City, today, and told them that in the mid-2040s, and by the latest, the 2050s, there will be hundreds if not thousands of people living in Earth's orbit, the upper atmosphere of Venus, the Moon, and Mars, the person would dismiss you in disbelief. But the same would have happened if you walked up to a person on the street of New York City on the 19th of July 1962 (before Kennedy’s speech) and told them that mankind would step foot on the moon in seven years. Companies like Rocket Lab, which will make orbital flight and transportation affordable, will allow for a new era of civilization, one which was only present and dreamed of in science fiction of the past.
The Earth, as imaged from the Voyager 1 spacecraft, was suspended in a sunbeam, as the interstellar craft exited the Sol system in 1990. Earth is nearly 4 billion miles away in this image. That is us. That is humanity, all of us that have thus far, ever existed. We take to the stars in search of not only answers but in search of a purpose.
Edit: Made some edits to spelling and fixed two mistakes pointed out by commenters

Rocket Lab Due-Diligence (DD)

‘We Open Access to Space to Improve Life on Earth.’

Introduction

With the 2024 first launch of the Rocket Lab Mega Constellation Launcher—The Neutron—fast approaching, I decided it is high time for a more up-to-date DD on Rocket Lab. A lot is happening in the industry, the company, and the world. I have decided to dive into the future, fundamentals, industry, funding, financials, dreams, and of course, the memes of the aspiring space company. Now, I am posting my DD into both of the Rocket Lab subreddit, as I am new to writing DD and I want to hit as wide of an audience as I can. One disclaimer (for those who do not like stock talk), this DD is not meant to encourage buying of the stock, nor is it financial advice or a stock-only DD, I merely want to dive into this company and simply spark some discussion on it!
Now, Rocket Lab is a private aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider. The company was founded in 2006 by Peter Beck and is headquartered in Long Beach, California, with additional facilities in New Zealand and Australia. Rocket Lab specializes in the development and launch of small rockets capable of delivering payloads of up to 300 kilograms to low Earth orbit. Rocket Lab—self-designated as a leader in launch and space systems—is a company that has a chance at becoming a highly profitable giant over the next decade and beyond. In my honest opinion, Rocket Lab currently thrives off of the crumbs of the current space industry ecosystem. With Space X increasingly focused upon one goal—thanks to their controversial, yet nevertheless, fearless leader—being Mars, Rocket Labs can (and in my opinion will) become one of the go-to space companies for low earth orbit launches in the near term and in the long-term become one of the go-to space company for launches between the Moon, Venus, and Mars as well. Rocket Lab currently lives off of the crumbs left behind by NASA, Space X, and the United States military-industrial complex.
Like these two legends from the movie War Dogs, Rocket Lab is determined to become the go-to space company for transporting all types of goods into orbit. For those of you who have not seen the movie (I personally highly recommend it), essentially, when these two start their arms-dealing company, they focus upon all of the small contracts that the government is putting out for arms supplies. The contracts that the big players are ignoring, due to their small sizes, even so, these small contracts are worth hundreds of thousands to low millions. Now, this is where Rocket Lab currently lies in the industry.
\"A new space race has begun, and most Americans are not even aware of it. This race is not [about] political prestige or military power. This new race involves the whole human species in a contest against time.\" - Ben Bova
Now, before I dive into everything here, I need every to understand that this industry is on the verge of immense change and rapid evolution. We are currently in the first stage of the world’s Second Space Race. As a student of History, I can confidently tell you that there are murmurings within the historical community, that this is the case, beginning with the creation and success of Space X’s first reusable rocket: the Falcon 9. On December 21st of 2015, when the first Falcon 9 was launched and the landing was successful with the first stage fully recovered, the race began. In the same way that there is no single company above all others in the airline, shipping & transportation, or car manufacturing industries, is the same reason I do not believe that Space X will alone run the space industry’s transportation needs. There is plenty of room for companies like Rocket Lab to fill the gaps Space X cannot and in a decade’s time, there will be plenty of room for even more companies. Yet, there are no companies that are even close to competing with Space X—other than Rocket Lab—at this time. Now, I won’t go deeply into most of these competitors in this deep dive, but to be short, Astra is on the verge of total failure, Virgin Galactic has been playing an entirely different game—space tourism, which there is a massive market for, just perhaps won’t be penetrated by them—they likewise seem to be failing. While Blue Origin has been playing a strong game and Space X an even stronger one, albeit more and more focused solely on Mars as the years go on.
Here you can see the 1-year charts of Rocket Lab, Astra, Virgin, and Boeing for reference, as you can see, these charts speak volumes. Rocket Lab has been having a tough year but has found a nice bottom and is consistently bouncing from lows in the $3.6-4 range. While Astra has been reduced to a penny stock, with their future unknown. Virgin Galactic is only maintaining below Rocket Lab’s share price, partly due to the large number of Retail investors that do not know much and refuse to let it die, coupled with a small hope that the company can recover in the coming years. Boeing is here for reference as to what a successful, large-cap company involved in a similar industry (and the space industry as well), should look like over the course of a decent year.
Now, there are a few assumptions that I am making that we need to cover before diving into the real DD: Whether it be because we live in the beginnings of a second Space Race (fueled by privatized space companies and the world’s governments) or because of technological advancement and a rising interest in space, the increase in rocket launches, space development (in Earth’s orbit, the Moon, and Mars), and the lowering costs of space launches… it will become exponentially cheaper, easier, and faster to launch into orbit and the industry as a whole will have a massive boom—akin, in a way, to the industrial revolution—over the mid-to-late 2020s into the early 2030s. With the mid-to-end 2030s and early 2040s, we will see massive developments in terms of low-Earth orbit manufacturing facilities, tourist destinations, and stations, as well as settlements on the Moon for mining and refueling for greater exploration and colonization of the Sol System as a whole.
Now these are in part assumptions, but I think once one does the research and looks at the fact, all of this is very achievable. Even if it does not occur in this way, you can shift the dates by an additional decade and every time you do, the more likely, easier, and cheaper it all becomes.
Rocket Lab's business model revolves around providing cost-effective and frequent access to space for small satellite operators. The company aims to simplify the process of deploying satellites by offering dedicated launches on its Electron rocket. Rocket Lab operates as an end-to-end service provider, handling the entire launch process from mission planning and payload integration to launch and on-orbit operations.

Section 1: Rocket Lab Takes Flight! The Electron & the Neutron

‘Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering reliable launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, satellite components, flight software, and on-orbit management.’ – Rocket Labs
Rocket Lab's primary launch vehicle, the Electron, is a two-stage rocket powered by Rutherford engines, which use electric-pump-fed LOX/RP-1 propellants. The Electron is designed to optimize cost, flexibility, and rapid launch capability for small satellites. Rocket Lab has demonstrated numerous successful launches since its inaugural flight in 2017, showcasing its technological prowess and reliability. The small satellite market has been growing rapidly, driven by increased demand for data collection, communications, and Earth observation. Rocket Lab's focus on dedicated launches for small satellites positions it well to capture a significant portion of this expanding market. The company has already established a solid customer base, securing contracts with government agencies, research institutions, and commercial entities.
Rocket Labs—at the time of writing this—has had 37 launches—with a 91.89% success rate—deployed 164 satellites, operates 3 launch pads, and is maintaining 3 Photon Satellites in the Earth’s orbit. Of the 164 satellites launched by Rocket Labs, they were commissioned to do so by a wide variety of clients, from NASA, Space Force, DARPA, to Canon. Rocket Labs is supported by Future Fund: Australia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Data Collective, Greenspring Associates, ACC, Promus Ventures, L One W One Ltd., and Lockheed Martin.
Rocket Lab’s main rocket, the Electron—built and operated by Rocket Lab—has flown 37 times and been successful 34 times, with only 3 failures. Rocket Lab’s key areas of business penetration lie in the launch of mid-sized service rockets, the manufacturing of space systems and satellites, and their adept ability to manufacture industrial space parts, applications, and proponents. The latter of which, they are sort of unopposed in terms of competition.
The Neutron—Rocket Lab’s medium-lift, mega constellation launcher—will be able to launch 13,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit and it will be …drum roll please… reusable! The current goal is for it to launch in 2024. It will be designed for not only low earth orbital supply missions, but also deep space missions, and even human spaceflight. It will be fairing a design allowing for full reusability of the first stage and it will be lightweight, being made of Rock Lab’s own carbon composite structure. The home base for the Neutron will be at the Neutron Production Complex and the launch pad at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility and Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
‘The Neutron Production Complex will be home to a rocket production, assembly, and integration facility, as well as a dedicated launch pad for the Neutron rocket located on the southern end of Wallops Island. The estimated 250,000 square-foot state-of-the-art complex will be constructed on a 28-acre site adjacent to the Wallops Island Flight Facility and will include a Launch Control Center, Rocket Lab’s fifth global operations center for launch activities and on-orbit operations. To support rapid production of the Neutron rocket, current plans for the complex include automated fiber placement robotic production systems capable of laying up meters of Neutron’s new, specially formulated carbon composite structures in minutes. As a reusable rocket, Neutron is designed to land back on the Launch Complex 3 pad after a mission and from there it would be returned to the production complex for refurbishment and re-flight.’
With Space X dominating large-load space orbital flight and transportation, Rocket Labs, in my honest opinion, is where Space X was roughly something like 6-8 years ago. While Rocket Lab intends to compete with Space X—whether it will be considered competition in an industry this brand new and small, time will tell—for cargo and humans to the low Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and even Venus! Space X and Elon Musk have made it abundantly clear that the goal of Space X is the large-scale settlement of Mars. While later models of Rocket Lab’s Neutron will be able to go to Mars and Venus, it appears that is not their main goal. In the near term (being the next two decades), they will be looking to dominate the low Earth orbit and Moon market as well as the manufacturing of industrial space parts, applications, and proponents.

Section 2: The Space Industry & Company Fundamentals

Rocket Lab faces competition from other commercial launch providers, such as SpaceX, and Blue Origin. However, the company differentiates itself by specializing in small satellite launches, offering a tailored solution for this niche market. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket provides the advantage of dedicated launches and the flexibility to reach specific orbits, making it an attractive option for small satellite operators.
Rocket Lab has raised significant funding through various investment rounds, securing capital from venture capital firms, strategic partners, and government entities. Notable investors include Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Lockheed Martin. The company's ability to attract substantial investment indicates confidence in its business model and growth potential. Rocket Lab operates within the regulatory framework of the countries in which it launches its rockets. The company holds necessary licenses and approvals from government agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Compliance with safety regulations and adherence to environmental guidelines are crucial aspects of Rocket Lab's operations.
Despite its achievements, Rocket Lab faces several risks and challenges. The space industry is highly competitive, and the success of the company depends on its ability to secure launch contracts and maintain a steady launch cadence. Regulatory changes, launch failures, or delays could impact Rocket Lab's operations and reputation. Additionally, the emergence of new technologies or market disruptors could pose a threat to the company's market position
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the Quarterly Results. To preface, negative quarterly results mean—pardon my French—jack-shit (at least in the short term) for a company such as Rocket Lab, that is looking at penetrating a market such as the space industry. We are going to look at the past four Quarterly Results in chronological order.
Q2 2022 Report: Rocket Lab achieved record revenue of $55.5 million, showing significant growth compared to the previous quarter (36% sequential growth) and the same quarter in the previous year (392% YoY growth). Despite the revenue growth, the company reported a negative EPS of $-0.08, indicating a net loss for the quarter.
Q3 2022 Report: Another record revenue was achieved, reaching $63.1 million, with a sequential growth of 14% and an impressive YoY growth of 1,093%. The company's EPS improved slightly to $-0.07 but still remained negative. The fourth quarter revenue is expected to be lower, ranging between $51 million and $54 million, as a launch customer's push extends into 2023.
Q4 2022 Report: The company's revenue for Q4 reached $51.8 million, showing a healthy year-over-year growth of 88%. The full-year revenue for fiscal 2022 amounted to $211 million, reflecting substantial growth of 239% compared to the previous year. The EPS remained negative at $-0.08.
Q1 2023 Report: The revenue for Q1 2023 was $54.9 million. Increasing revenue by 35% in the first quarter of 2023. Revenue from their launch business was $19.6 million, up $12 million from the prior quarter. Their EPS was $-0.08, indicating a strong maintenance of their business. The second quarter is expected to show a significant revenue increase, with an estimated range of $60 million to $63 million.
Now, what does this all tell us? Firstly, they were very forthcoming with the quarterly expectations. Something one might think is not a big deal, but considering how a lot of publicly traded companies operate, this is a good thing. In each of their earnings reports, they have nearly exactly estimated their results, showing they are not attempting to mislead investors. The company has experienced impressive revenue growth throughout the reported quarters, indicating strong market performance and demand for its products/services. However, the negative EPS values suggest that the company is still operating at a net loss. From a shareholder’s perspective, the company's focus should be on achieving profitability and reducing the negative EPS, while maintaining consistent revenue growth. In my opinion, this stock is sitting just below a fair market value for what it is right now, sitting at just over $4, considering they are not fully profitable. Yet Rocket Lab continues to grow its business, making more contracts, and it stands a competitive chance. If they can turn a profit within 2-3 years, I think they will be one hell of a company. With their competitors failing left and right and none finding the success as Rocket Lab—other than Space X—they could stand to be a massive company in a few decades, so massive, they’re bigger than Earth.
One last financial point to touch upon… shorting, so here is some data, which is roughly one month outdated due to my difficulty in finding up-to-date information on the company without a Bloomberg Terminal (So, if anyone on the sub has access to a Bloomberg Terminal and would like to add to my DD in the comments, please do).
Last Record Date: May 15, 2023
Outstanding Shares: 478,660,000 shares
Float Size: 262,310,000 shares
Short Percent of Float: 9.80% (The short percent of float represents the percentage of shares available for trading that have been sold short).
Average Trading Volume: 4,044,396 shares
Current Short Volume: 25,710,000 shares
Previous Short Volume: 24,630,000 shares
Change Vs. Previous Month: +4.38%
Dollar Volume Sold Short: $111.58 million
Short Interest Ratio / Days to Cover: 7.7 (This ratio indicates the number of days it would take for the short sellers to cover their positions based on the average daily trading volume.).
The short interest in Rocket Lab has increased from the previous month, with a change of +4.38%. The short percent of the float is 9.80%, indicating that a significant portion of the available shares for trading has been sold short. Now, Rocket Lab’s short interest is relatively low for a company that has had consistent negative EPS and revenue. Showcasing that the big players in markets either A) believe this company will make a massive turnaround in the near future (1-3 years mark) or B) Rocket Lab, due to its size, is thankfully not on their radar. However, that said, the off-exchange short percentage is 57.69%, showcasing that A) public on-exchange short volume is a complete hoax and Hedge Funds, and other big players are beating down on the stock or B) all of this information is completely misrepresented to retail traders on purpose and the entirety of the United States market system is a complete farce.

Section 3: Future Prospects & Big Moves

Rocket Lab has demonstrated strong performance and growth potential in the emerging small satellite launch market. The company continues to refine its launch processes, aiming to increase launch frequency and reduce costs further. Additionally, Rocket Lab has plans to develop a larger reusable rocket called Neutron, targeting the medium-lift market segment, which would expand its capabilities and market reach. The company has the potential to be the go-to company for low Earth orbital launches in the short term and in the long term, one of, if not the go-to company, for transportation to the Moon, Mars, and Venus.
Peter Beck, founder, and CEO of Rocket Lab, did an interview last month on his take on the industry and their future prospects. I wanted to touch briefly on this (you can find the video on YouTube).
Firstly, the video begins with the commentator stating, "With the Space Race this week," the Space X rocket, the most powerful ever built, has scrubbed its launch. While Rocket Lab is adding a new service for testing hypersonic sub-orbital launches, being a welcome addition to the company’s wide array of services. Beck states that it is a very exciting time, stating that “the United States is kind of lacking behind in hypersonic technologies and this is a great opportunity to have high cadence, test flight environment for these payloads to really move forward the US’s hypersonic research.” He goes on to talk about how these capabilities are essentially repurposed from Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket capabilities: “We take a standard Electron orbital-class launch vehicle and we fly it in some really unique trajectories to provide these hypersonic trajectories… it is taking an Electron and making a couple wee tweaks to it and having a great high frequency hypersonic testing platform that hasn’t existed.” Beck goes on to speak on the launch cadence “being on target for 15 flights” this year with the fastest turn around this year being 7 days between flights, saying “the machine is cranking and the vehicles are flying successfully and the last flight was a reusable vehicle and we splashed that down successfully and now we’re kind at the point where we are recycling and harvesting engines and components off of those launch vehicles and getting ready to put them back into service and re-fly them.” He continues, stating, “I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say exactly, but… a whole multiple gambit of reused components that are all now re-entering the production line and going back into service.” Morgan Brennan, the interviewer then speaks to how there is this emerging mismatch between supply and demand when it comes to the satellite launch market, with the fact that there are so many satellite constellations that are poised to go into orbit in the coming years and not enough capacity in terms of launching them. So, she then asks about the reusability of Electron and the development of the Neutron. Beck states that, “Electron is really serving that market very well, and there are lots of flight opportunities that are sort of just doing its thing, Neutron is the new flight opportunity for us… 2026 to 2030 timeframe there is a massive deficit in launch and there are lots of constellations that are all really vying for an ability to get in orbit, so we saw that coming and started work on the vehicle and hopefully we can bring it into service in 2024 and really solve some of those problems and take advantage of that market opportunity.”
Now, I don’t have to tell you all that this is very good to hear from Beck and this is very exciting, showcasing that he really believes Rocket Lab can penetrate this market and become a big player in the ever-evolving industry.
Rocket Lab Making Big Moves Lately:
· Bought Virgin Orbit HQ in California, this was a big win for the company, and folk on the sub were very excited to see this happen. Yay! But, sad and unfortunate for Virgin Galactic, which I am sure many of us space enthusiasts had higher hopes for, oh well, not everyone can achieve their dreams.
· Rocket Lab reached a new Company record of nine launches within a calendar year.
· Achieved a record of 100% mission success for Electron launches for the year.
· Successfully launched CAPSTONE mission to the Moon for NASA, including the first demonstration of Lunar Photon spacecraft platform.
· Successfully deployed two satellites to space for NASA’s TROPICS mission on the first of two dedicated launches on Electron for the constellation scheduled in May 2023.
· Secured another NASA mission to Electron’s 2023 launch manifest with its Starling mission. Rocket Lab was selected by NASA to launch the Starling mission on an expedited timeline due to long delays and uncertainty with the mission’s original launch provider.
· Signed multiple new launch contracts on Electron for 2023 for undisclosed commercial satellite customers previously manifested on another small launch vehicle, demonstrating Electron’s strong position as a reliable and dependable ride to orbit for small satellite operators.
· Introduced Rocket Lab’s new HASTE launch vehicle, a suborbital testbed launch vehicle derived from the Company’s Electron rocket to provide reliable, high-cadence flight test opportunities to support the development of advanced hypersonic systems technology.
· Announced that the Company will fly a pre-launched 3D printed Rutherford engine on an upcoming mission in Q3’23, a major step in evolving the Electron launch vehicle into a reusable rocket.
· Delivered financial results that exceeded the high end of prior guidance for revenue and gross margin.
· Launched three successful Electron missions in the first quarter for commercial constellation operators HawkEye 360, Capella Space, and BlackSky.
· Successfully completed the Company’s first launch from its U.S. launch site, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2, at the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on January 24, 2023. The mission deployed three satellites for radio frequency geospatial analytics provider HawkEye 360.
· Successfully completed the Company’s fastest turnaround between launches to date – just seven days between its 34th Electron launch, “Stronger Together”, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 in Virginia on March 16, 2023, and its 35th Electron launch, “The Beat Goes On”, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on March 24, 2023.
· Rocket Lab remains the only U.S. commercial small launch provider to successfully deliver satellites to orbit in 2023. Secured a multi-mission contract with Capella Space to launch four more dedicated launches on Electron in 2023.
· Achieved programmatic milestones for the Company’s two Photon spacecraft to support NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars, and for the Photon spacecraft for a Varda Space Industries’ mission to manufacture high-value products in zero gravity. Both Photon programs include Rocket Lab star trackers, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, and radios – demonstrating the value and strength of the Company’s vertical integration and in-house supply chain.

Conclusion: An Ode to Humanity's Future

Rocket Lab has established itself as a leading player in the small satellite launch market, offering dedicated launch services tailored to the needs of small satellite operators. The company's technological capabilities, solid customer base, and innovative approach position it well for future growth.
Those who lived and grew up in the 1960s and 1970s believed that by the 21st century, mankind would be a space-faring civilization. People had a fascination with the unknown. It was embedded in pop culture, in movies like the 2001 Space Odyssey, Alien, and the Star Trek series. But the unfortunate truth is that after Apollo 17 on the 19th of December 1972, mankind has not left low-earth orbit. The American public lost interest, the government cut funding, and the Saturn V rockets were dismantled and replaced by space shuttles in the 1980s (spaceships not even built to leave low-earth orbit). The curiosity and desire to unravel the mystery of the universe are now again filling the hearts of people. Technology is becoming more advanced and cheaper.
With companies like Rocket Lab and Space X, the future is looking bright. We currently live in an era of mass information. One of the hardest aspects of life in the early-21st-century is learning how to filter all this information. The news of the accomplishments of Rocket Lab, Space X, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Space Force, are lost in the large volume of collective data. The average person does not believe how close we are to colonizing Luna and Mars; how close we are to becoming a multi-planetary species. If you walked up to someone on the street of New York City, today, and told them that in the mid-2040s, and by the latest, the 2050s, there will be hundreds if not thousands of people living in Earth's orbit, the upper atmosphere of Venus, the Moon, and Mars, the person would dismiss you in disbelief. But the same would have happened if you walked up to a person on the street of New York City on the 19th of July 1962 (before Kennedy’s speech) and told them that mankind would step foot on the moon in seven years. Companies like Rocket Lab, which will make orbital flight and transportation affordable, will allow for a new era of civilization, one which was only present and dreamed of in science fiction of the past.
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The Earth, as imaged from the Voyager 1 spacecraft, was suspended in a sunbeam, as the interstellar craft exited the Sol system in 1990. Earth is nearly 4 billion miles away in this image. That is us. That is humanity, all of us that have thus far, ever existed. We take to the stars in search of not only answers but in search of a purpose.
Edit: Made some fixes to some mistakes I wrote

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As electric and fuel-efficient vehicles become more ubiquitous, it’s become necessary to release a vehicle mileage tax that promises to be more effective than the traditional gas tax. The details are still unknown, yet it’s obvious that the government is going to implement some changes.
Since the Highway Trust Fund is predicted to thin out by the end of 2021, the issue at stake is quite urgent. Even though it’s not likely that car mileage tax will go into force during the year, we might see the first steps in the process soon enough.
The new tax arises a lot of questions: what does it imply? Is it truly promising or will it burden the wallets of Americans? Below we’ll answer all of these questions and clarify this initiative as much as we can.

WHAT IS VEHICLE MILEAGE TAX?

Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) levy is the initiative that would tax drivers by the number of miles they travel. Instead of charging them depending on their fuel consumption, it would collect the mileage data and distribute taxes accordingly.
The money collected via tax by the mile would be spent on improving the infrastructure. According to Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary, this tax is certainly under discussion in the light of the Infrastructure Plan that Joe Biden proposed.
Despite the fact that the expenditures of infrastructure are exceeding the revenues of the Highway Trust Fund, the Federal Government hasn’t reformed the fuel tax since 1993. The states themselves have increased the gas levy and tried to update taxes to make up for the shortfalls in the budget.
However, it’s obvious that the changes are necessary on the federal level, especially if the Congress approves Biden’s Infrastructure Plan. The President wants the US to improve its infrastructure, which includes modernizing 20,000 miles of roads and improving 10,000 bridges. Naturally, such extensive works would need funding, which has to be collected via taxes.
Vehicle miles traveled tax is shifting focus towards the consumer. Namely, it captures the maintenance costs of the highway and targets people who use the roads the most. It also happens to be a more modern approach, considering the fact that the number of electric vehicles is increasing. Moreover, newer cars have higher mpg (miles per gallon), which decreases the revenue that would be collected from fuel tax. Let’s look at the numbers: on the federal level, gas tax per VMT was 1.51 cents in 1994 compared to 0.75 cents in 2018. According to the research conducted by Tax Foundation, if such a trend continues (and it likely will), the differences in taxes would amount to $7.7 billion.

VMT VS MOTOR FUEL TAX

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Motor fuel tax is a levy that collects a fee on fuel, including gasoline, diesel, and gasohol. In most cases, this tax is collected depending on the gallons of fuel a person uses. Since it’s not collected from the final price the consumer pays, it rarely increases unless the tax rate is enhanced.
Even though certain states have increased their gas mileage taxes, the revenue is still less than the expenses that are needed to maintain the highways and roads. This approach aims to tax those who use the roads, however, it’s not self-sufficient anymore.
Considering the fact that fuel efficiency increases and electric cars are starting to occupy our roads, people are using less fuel. In other words, fuel gas tax is eroding as it’s failing to serve the main function it has.

Difference between VMT and Motor Fuel Tax

The main difference between VMT and motor fuel tax is that the former levies mileage and affects all cars equally regardless of their fuel efficiency, while the latter focuses on gas consumption and charges low mpg vehicles with higher taxes.
The world’s focus on alternative fuel isn’t going to shift anywhere else due to all the environmental issues. If the motor fuel tax remains the same, the chances are the federal government will constantly have to find funds elsewhere.
The federal government has two options if it wants to solve the shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund: it has to increase motor fuel tax or substitute it with the mileage tax.
Implementing VMT won’t be an easy process and will require a lot of manpower and finances. However, it seems to be more suitable for modern vehicles. After all, it’s aimed at improving the infrastructure.
Oregon and California have already launched pilot programs and other states are following. The federal government is open to the changes with Pete Buttigieg showing its support.

WHY DO WE NEED A VEHICLE MILEAGE TAX?

Because the motor fuel tax is eroding and can’t cover the expenditures any more. Plus, now is the perfect timing – the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) is expiring this year. This means that the federal government has to come up with a new plan to make sure the Highway Trust Fund doesn’t thin out.
Don’t get me wrong, motor fuel tax isn’t a bad thing. It had its own purpose that prioritized alternative fuel over petroleum. The tax dealt with the negative effects of pollution and traffic congestion. Besides, the motor fuel tax was quite successful at reversing the negative side effects of automobiles.
But as time passes by and fuel consumption decreases, it’s losing its meaning in its current form. Therefore, we need changes and the pay-per-mile tax could be one.
Once again, I’m not saying that tax by the mile is a flawless solution – it certainly has its drawbacks. But if we want to continue funding the roads and renovating the infrastructure, we don’t really have a choice.
The federal government has to make a decision and the chances are they will shift their support towards the VMT tax.

HOW WOULD VEHICLE MILEAGE TAX BE IMPLEMENTED?

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According to the research conducted by the Tax Foundation, the federal government has two ways of implementing the vehicle mileage tax. They can choose a simple but less effective method or a more complex yet more efficient way.

A simple way

A simple way of implementing the car mileage tax would be to create a flat rate for all vehicles. Taxes would be differentiated depending on the weight and the number of axles. The reason is simple – the heavier the car, the more damage it causes to the road. Vice versa, the wear, and tear on the roads reduce with the number of axles.
The main of the vehicle computer will record the information about the mileage and
The car mileage information would be recorded on the main computer of the vehicle and taxes would be collected accordingly.
Even though a flat rate seems to be simpler to implement, it has certain drawbacks. It would be hard to levy those who travel from state to state. They would cause damage to the roads of both states, however, they would only pay taxes in the state they reside in.
Another issue is that tax by the mile wouldn’t be effective if it were implemented at the state level only. Pilot programs such as the OReGo in Oregon showcase the limitations of the new tax system. There’s only so much you can figure out with voluntary GPS tracking.

A more complex route

A more complex route includes detailed GPS tracking. Even though it would need more resources, it would be more efficient. Namely, people who live in rural areas would essentially pay more money. Since they cause more damage to the roads and produce more pollution, it makes sense that their taxes would be higher.
As a result, they would have to decide if the travel was truly worth the money.
The problem with a complex route is that it could become too complicated both for the states and taxpayers. This would reduce transparency and make it impossible to collect taxes properly.
Probably the best way to implement vehicle miles traveled tax would be to find a silver lining between these two approaches. Though it wouldn’t be easy, it’s necessary to come up with an optimal solution. Otherwise, the new tax system might collapse.

OPPOSING ARGUMENTS TO THE VEHICLE MILEAGE TAX

As mentioned, mileage tax isn’t perfect and certain groups have concerns about it. As much as we’d like to ignore them, they are quite real. They certainly have to be addressed before the tax gets implemented.

Privacy and data security concerns

Privacy and data security concerns will be especially worrisome if GPS tracking is in the project. I’ll be honest – I would have a hard time agreeing to the idea of the government knowing the location of my vehicle all the time. But arguably, these issues can be tackled.
The pilot program, OReGo, for instance, deletes the collected data after 30 days. Limiting the data collection only to necessary information could potentially reduce the privacy security concerns.
There could also be a private company that would act as a middleman. They would collect the GPS data and control what information is transferred to the government.

Environmental concerns

Environmental groups worry that VMT might decrease the popularity of fuel-efficient and electric vehicles, and promote the use of petroleum cars. The motor fuel tax was quite efficient in tackling environmental issues, but with the new tax system, those cars that have higher emissions might not pay taxes at all. They might be eligible for the tax allowance, which could be detrimental to the environment.

The shift in burden towards fuel-efficient vehicles

If the new tax system becomes official or if the federal government comes up with a hybrid model, fuel-efficient vehicles would suffer the most. They would essentially have to pay more taxes, which can hinder the voting process for the bill.

Higher expenses

Compared to the motor fuel tax, the new tax system would be quite costly to implement. The states would need to send specific hardware to the car-owners to track their mileage. The federal government would have to monitor more than 268 million vehicles, which is certainly extensive work.

CAN VEHICLE MILEAGE TAX INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MILEAGE FRAUD?

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Potentially, people who wouldn’t be willing to pay taxes would find ways to reduce their fees, which might include committing mileage fraud. Even if the government sends out specific devices, it will be hard to verify whether the mileage is accurate or not.
The accuracy of the mileage would be even harder to check if the data about traveled miles was collected from the cars themselves.
The tools that change vehicle’s mileage are quite widespread these days. They are cheaper than the expense that a higher tax would cause. Odometer fraud is already a prevalent issue and I’m afraid it would become even more serious if the pay-per-mile comes into force.
People usually use two tools to reduce the numbers on their odometer. The first of them is the Odometer Correction Tool. The device can reprogram the trip meter, however, it can’t alter the existing data in control units. It’s unlikely that people will use such a unit – the information about mileage will probably be pulled from the internal storage, not the odometer.
It’s more likely that they will use the Mileage Blocker instead. But how does it work? – it stops recording the mileage in all control units. It’s far more efficient in the sense that its performance is impossible to detect. The device has easy DIY Installation instruction that will save your time and money. It also has a mobile application for additional features. The device is available online and you can purchase the mileage blocker from Superkilometerfilter. Even though this tool is not for fraudulent applications, people might take advantage of its features. In case of any questions please look through the support page or contact the customer service.
Essentially, the VMT might solve one problem but it might increase another. We just have to decide what our priorities are. I don’t think that the government will fail the new tax system just because of this problem, but we still must be aware of it and prepare accordingly.

FINAL TAKEAWAY

Nobody can claim that tax by the mile is a perfect system. It’s still necessary to discuss all the details and weigh its drawbacks and benefits. We still don’t know if the US will adopt a new law, but the chances are the federal government will introduce the changes.
Keeping in mind the erosion of the current motor fuel tax, it seems like we’ll have to sacrifice certain things to implement a better tax system.

MAY 5, 2023~Department of Energy Issues Request for Information to Provide Feedback on Critical Materials Assessment~

DOE Issues Request for Information to Provide Feedback on Critical Materials Assessment (govdelivery.com)
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public feedback on DOE’s draft Critical Materials Assessment. This RFI is being issued by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO), with the purpose of improving the DOE Critical Materials Assessment prior to finalization.
Specifically, this RFI seeks input on the following Areas of Interest:

• Data and Information to Support Revision of Analysis
• Improvements to the Methodology

Click here to read the RFI, including the draft list of critical materials for energy resulting from this Assessment.
Historically, the Critical Materials Assessment has informed DOE’s priorities for research activities. The dynamic nature of criticality necessitates ongoing updates to the Assessment. Since DOE released its first Critical Materials Strategy in 2010, DOE’s research portfolio has expanded into a Critical Materials Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercialization Application (RDD&CA) Program. DOE anticipates updating the Critical Materials Assessment every three years to reflect the most current data and market conditions underlying the methodology.
Inclusion on DOE’s critical materials for energy list will inform crosscutting priorities including Critical Materials RDD&CA Program priorities and eligibility for the Inflation Reduction Act 48C tax credit.
Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) no later than 5:00pm ET on June 20, 2023.
Learn more about DOE’s work on critical minerals and materials to build resilient supply chains that support the clean energy transition.
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Critical Materials Assessment U.S. Department of Energy May 2023

2023 Critical Materials Assessment (energy.gov)

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TITLE 17 CLEAN ENERGY FINANCING Department of Energy

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AUGUST 22, 2022 New Federal Legislation Could Deliver Powerful New Benefits to NioCorp for its Critical Mineralshttps://www.niocorp.com/new-federal-legislation-could-deliver-powerful-new-benefits-to-niocorp-for-its-critical-minerals/

CENTENNIAL, Colo., August 17, 2022— The “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,” signed into law by President Biden this week, includes multiple financial and tax incentives designed to encourage greater production of critical minerals in the U.S. Virtually all of the critical minerals NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“NioCorp” or the “Company”) (TSX:NB) (OTCQX:NIOBF) intends to produce as part of its Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in Nebraska (the “Project”) would be eligible for new tax credits once the Project is financed and placed into commercial production.****ALSO UNDER- Other Provisions That Could Benefit NioCorpOther provisions of the law are aimed at encouraging greater production of critical minerals in the U.S.:$40 billion commitment authority for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program (Title XVII), on top of DOE’s existing commitment authority of approximately $24 billion. The Innovative Technologies Loan Guarantee Program authorizes loan guarantees for projects that (1) “avoid, reduce, utilize, or sequester” air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases; and (2) employ “new or significantly improved technologies” as compared to commercial technologies in service in the United States at the time the guarantee is issued.
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JANUARY 2023 National Defense Act Calls out NIOBIUM & TITANIUM & SCANDIUM & the need to establish a U.S. Industrial Base for the Supply & Processing of ALL!

https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20220711/CRPT-117hrpt397.pdf
The committee believes the United States industrial base for the supply and processing of the critical mineral scandium has significant vulnerabilities. The committee also believes that the United States should seek to eliminate dependence on Chinese and Russian sources of scandium, with support from allies and partners. Accordingly, public and private sectors should cooperate closely to establish scandium processing facilities in the United States. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than May 1, 2023, on public and private sector activities, working with allied nations, to establish scandium processing facilities in the United States, especially facilities based on more efficient, cleaner, and less energy intensive technologies. This briefing will also include how these processing facilities will help the United States reduce dependence on and compete more effectively with China and Russia.
Department of Defense on NIOBIUM PAGE #250 ~Control of Niobium by the Chinese Communist Party~
The committee is concerned by recent investments in global niobium production made by firms under the ownership, control, or influence of the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”). Niobium is a critical mineral needed for the production of superalloys in jet and rocket engines, critical components in defense systems and hypersonic vehicles, and other emerging technologies. CCP control of niobium and a lack of a domestic capability within the United States present a national security risk similar to risks in the rare earth mineral markets. Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 31, 2022, on current global sources of supply of niobium along with a cost-benefit analysis of establishing a domestic supply of high purity niobium oxides. The briefing shall:(1) differentiate between ferroniobium and high-purity niobium (the critical niobium oxide precursor);(2) address the possibility of using underutilized byproduct niobium feed stocks from coproduced materials in the United States to strengthen the domestic industrial base for other key refractory materials such as tantalum; and(3) include a list of defense programs that are significant users of niobium or where niobium is a critical component.
Department of Defense Access to TITANIUM on pages #250 & #253 ~Establishment of Efficient Titanium Processing Facilities in the United States~
The committee is concerned that the United States industrial base for the supply and processing of the critical mineral titanium has significant vulnerabilities, including dependence on strategic competitors for the supply and processing of titanium. The committee believes that the United States should seek to eliminate dependence when it comes to the supply and processing of titanium, with support from allies and partners. Furthermore, the committee believes the public and private sectors should cooperate closely to establish titanium processing facilities in the United States or in other trusted partner countries. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal departments, to submit to the House Committee on Armed Services an unclassified briefing not later than December 31, 2022, that includes:(1) a description of the public and private sector activities to cooperate and establish efficient titanium processing facilities in the United States or in trusted partner countries; and(2) an analysis of how such facilities will help the United States reduce dependence on strategic competitors\**.**\**
SEE ALSO ~Armed Services report to the Senate supporting (2023 NDAA)https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy23_ndaa_bill_report.pdfSUBTITLE B— NATIONAL DEFENSE STOCKPILE (***There is more in the document for those interested!)
Modification of acquisition authority under Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (sec. 1411)The committee recommends a provision that would amend the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98d) in order to give the National Defense Stockpile Manager greater flexibility and agility to acquire critical materials, including rare earth elements, that are necessary to meet the requirements of the Department of Defense.Briefings on shortfalls in National Defense Stockpile (sec. 1412)The committee recommends a provision that would amend section 14 of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98h-5) to require the National Defense Stockpile Manager to submit, not later than March 1 each year, a briefing to the congressional defense committees on strategic and critical materials shortfalls.Authority to acquire materials for the National Defense Stockpile (sec. 1413)The committee recommends a provision that would authorize the National Defense Stockpile Manager to use, of the funds appropriated for the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund, $1.0 billion for the acquisition of materials determined to be strategic and critical materials required to meet the defense, industrial, and essential civilian needs of the United States.
*********Please see Response to the following question: Jan. 2023Jim: Given the information posted above-***A) Can you offer a comment on how the Scandium, Titanium & Niobium mining & processing facilities MENTIONED above would help or affect the outcome of the Elk Creek Mine Project moving forward?*See Response:
"The Congress is focusing more intensely now on the need to encourage greater domestic production capacity of scandium, niobium, titanium, and rare earths. The language contained in the House Report accompanying the FY23 NDAA requires DoD to brief the House Armed Services Committee on each of the topics mentioned related to scandium, niobium, and titanium. These initiatives show that our education efforts, and those of others, are moving these elements to a much higher visibility with Congressional leaders. That is very good for our Project for a number of reasons. The findings and recommendations of these studies can often spur Congress to take more definitive actions (e.g., funding availability) of Projects such as ours."
NIOCORP MANAGEMENT ON Jan. 31st, 2023, ~What were they doing in D.C. for 4-Days?~ "Working with White House officials on critical minerals issues. This Administration is working hard to help support environmentally responsible critical minerals projects like NioCorp’s Elk Creek Project in the great State of Nebraska. "~
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~President Biden Signs Presidential Waiver of Statutory Requirements for Supply Chain Resilience~ Feb. 28, 2023https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3312486/president-biden-signs-presidential-waiver-of-statutory-requirements-for-supply/
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JIM SIMS RESPONDS TO TWO ONGOING RELEVANT QUESTIONS MAY 5, 2023 (***Please see all earlier posted responses to this line of questions for reference)
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RESPONSE: "There are several DOE programs, including the LGP program (Title XVII), that could potentially provide debt assistance to NioCorp."

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RESPONSE: " As I have stated many times before, we are not allowed to confirm or deny whether we have a pending application with the DOE for this or other programs." - JIM

MAY 25th 2023 ~NioCorp Demonstrates Higher Niobium Recovery Rates New Processing Approach Demonstrates the Ability to Make More Niobium per Tonne of Ore, Produce a Higher Purity Product, and Potentially Address New Markets with Different Niobium Products

https://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-demonstrates-higher-niobium-recovery-rates/
Potential New Forms of Niobium Products and Potential Markets
NioCorp’s new process approach, which incorporates a chlorination step to improve niobium and titanium separation and purification, also has demonstrated NioCorp’s ability to potentially produce three different niobium products: (1) ferroniobium; (2) niobium chloride; and (3) niobium oxide.NioCorp had previously planned to make ferroniobium, which is used by the steel industry to produce high-strength low-alloy steel alloys. Those alloys are used in the construction, automotive and transport, aerospace and defense, oil and gas, and other industries. Niobium is a $3.3 billion per year global market but is currently served by only three major niobium producers in two countries.Niobium chloride would likely be converted by NioCorp into niobium oxide, but niobium chloride is also used in glass and ceramic manufacturing.Niobium oxide is critical to multiple applications, including niobium-lithium-ion batteries, superalloys, superconducting applications, capacitors, specialized optics, and many others. Its use in niobium-lithium-ion batteries is considered by current niobium producers as one of the fastest growing prospective global niobium markets.
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MAY 26th 2023~NioCorp Demonstrates the Ability to Potentially Double Projected Titanium Recovery Rates for the Elk Creek Projecthttps://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-demonstrates-the-ability-to-potentially-double-projected-titanium-recovery-rates-for-the-elk-creek-project/
Demonstration Plant Shows New Recovery Process May Double NioCorp’s Titanium Production per Tonne of Ore as well as Produce a Higher Purity Product that May Command Higher Market Prices
MAY 29th 2023~NioCorp Launches Phased Approach to Commercial Production of Made-in-America Aluminum-Scandium Master Alloyhttps://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-launches-phased-approach-to-commercial-production-of-made-in-america-aluminum-scandium-master-alloy/
NioCorp Partnering with Nanoscale Powders LLC to Explore the Possibility of Establishing the First US-Based Mine-to-Master-Alloy Vertically Integrated Production of the High-Performance MaterialNioCorp’s Potential Commercial Production of Al-Sc Master Alloy Could Launch Prior to the Company’s Planned Production of >100 Tonnes/Year of Scandium Oxide at its Proposed Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in Nebraska and Would Use Scandium Produced at the Elk Creek Facility as well as From Other SourcesChina Now Dominates the Scandium World, but North America is Now Positioned to Emerge as a “Leading Scandium Producer,” says NioCorp CEO
THINKCOLLABORATIONS ON BATTERY BOXES ~(FORDS PATENT) ~& OTHER OEMS & MORE!
MAY 29th 2023~ Jim/NIOCORP respond to question on recent Scandium News Release above:What comes to mind right off the bat is:
*A)"How is this Scandium AlSc master Alloy different than what Niocorp produced with IBC & AMES laboratory???"*Response:

"It is a different process that will be utilized. "

*B) Will this be a Patentable approach now moving forward? in conjunction with Nanoscale???*Response:

" Yes and yes. But we do not discuss the details of intellectual property matters except as required by law"

(\****This is very interesting indeed because a few years back Niocorp was not interested in patenting any such materials!)*
*C) IS NIOCORP still engaged with IBC, AMES & OTHER ENTITIES in regards to Scandium Alloy production & uses moving forward? and with the New Niobium & Titanium oxides as well!!!!*Response:

"We are focusing on our partnership with Nanoscale on the production of AlSc master alloy, but we engaged with a number of parties on various elements of our scandium-aluminum master alloy business development. We are not working with IBC on niobium or titanium product development efforts."

(****SOUNDS LIKE OTHER COLLABORATIONS ARE ONGOING WITH POSSIBLE PRIVATE & GOVERNMENT ENTITIES?? OFF-TAKE AGREEMENTS & SO MUCH MORE! COULD BE IN PLAY AS THE MINE IS BUILT & NEARS PRODUCTION!!!!!!)

"ENGAGED WITH A NUMBER OF VARIOUS PARTIES!!!!" ARE (SCANDIUM, NIOBIUM & TITANIUM ALL INVOLVED......???? INTERESTING!!!!)

THEN THERE IS THE RARE EARTHS QUESTION:Sharing Jims response as Niocorp does have legal DISCLOSURE constraints to deal with in regards to all "Material News releases"! When asked about Rare Earths ON ~MAY, 26th 2023~
RESPONSE:

"NioCorp has not made a final determination on which REE products we will make, including tonnages, etc.. That determination can only be made in the context of publication of an updated Feasibility Study"

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FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS & CONCLUSIONS ABOVE:

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https://preview.redd.it/ut3f46qygd4b1.png?width=383&format=png&auto=webp&s=ef4b4f460b2813fe23f7b862958788ca2a189aaa
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CHICO