Resin Pricing:
It’s amazing how fast things change and what a difference a month can make! The Resin producers were desperate to stop this slide (slathered with overstock barrels of crude oil) that the resin market was experiencing. Just as shocking as the primary wins by Donald J. Trump, we see that a 5 cent a pound increase on resin has been jammed and pushed through the market with the acceleration of a F-14. I know many of you welcome something other than a drop, but we all probably would love to trade the ups and downs for some stability. This is the first of a reported second increase that the resin producers have on the table. I don’t know if the second was actually named “wishful thinking” or if this is indeed the certificate of guarantee that will keep the first increase in place. However, as oil jumped up, crude supplies were reported and crude began a quick demise again, but I still project oil to be in the mid 40s, which is enough to keep everyone moderately happy.
Paper Pricing:
It’s amazing what is being generated in the paper market. I see continuous offers of low grade, bad density or low-end stock being paraded for less money. However, those on contract are seeing no activity but are being held hostage by stock numbers that were dictated to them. Even the Resin folks would dream of such power where it is ruled so autocratically. Somewhere, some Dictator is saying, “I wish I could have that kind of power!”
Ron’s View:
The other day, I was walking in the woods trying to get some exercise to knock off the Reese’s Peanut butter cups that I ingest. I was walking at a fast pace and talking on the phone, the beauty of the trees and the blooms that are all around me were unnoticed as I was engrossed in conducting my business. Then suddenly, something happened that was remarkable; my phone said “NO SERVICE” and cut off automatically. It was for a mere 5 seconds maybe less, but suddenly I looked around and saw the flowers and the trees in bloom. It was something I haven’t noticed in a long time because I, like everyone else, am so busy and engrossed in my smartphone or my iPad. Apple has peddled products to me that are like heroin to an addict. I rarely have a moment away from my iPhone. It alerts me, it seems to almost manage me and it also is the source of my reading and entertainment. I almost believe that Sarah Conner was right and the machines are going to take over. That moment of clarity, that moment of “NO SERVICE” allowed me to stop and as the bars came up and the LTE brightly shined, the phone was ringing again. I looked down and I hit ignore and walked and allowed the sunshine to hit my face as it was turned up and not down for the first time in a long time.
When I was younger and didn’t have an iPhone and Siri wasn’t my best friend, I remember a moment when we were studying the poem from William Wordsworth, “The World is Too Much With Us”. The beginning means more today to me than it did back then:
The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;-
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
All this from a 19th century English poet who had a fatalistic view about materialism and humanity’s impact on the environment. My objective is to take that walk in the greenways in Charlotte without a cell phone and to enjoy the view. I need to listen to Wordsworth and my Father, who would spout, “Hey, no one is going to die because of a little screw up. The sun will still rise tomorrow and it will be okay.” So, starting today, I am going to rehab and weaning myself off this iPhone dependency I have. Instead of texts and emails, you might be hearing my voice more as I try to reconnect and hear all those voices from my past and hope they become my joy in the future. Goodbye, Siri and hello real people.