Micah's Read of the Week, Vol. 90
U.S., allies plan for long-term isolation of Russia, The median price of a home in Austin is now $624,000(!), Kyrie Irving Has Put the NBA in a Postseason Predicament, Recipe Corner, and more.
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U.S., allies plan for long-term isolation of Russia
A new strategy would mark a return to containment after years of seeking cooperation and coexistence with Moscow
There’s a war going on involving a major world power. And America is basically sitting it out. So is most of Europe. So what happens next?
Nearly two months into Vladimir Putin’s brutal assault on Ukraine, the Biden administration and its European allies have begun planning for a far different world, in which they no longer try to coexist and cooperate with Russia, but actively seek to isolate and weaken it as a matter of long-term strategy.
At NATO and the European Union, and at the State Department, the Pentagon and allied ministries, blueprints are being drawn up to enshrine new policies across virtually every aspect of the West’s posture toward Moscow, from defense and finance to trade and international diplomacy.
By the way, posture is such an underrated word when it comes to international relations.
Anyway, most of the world wants to remove Putin. If only it was that easy.
Outrage is most immediately directed at Putin himself, who President Biden said last month “can’t remain in power.” While “we don’t say regime change,” said a senior E.U. diplomat, “it is difficult to imagine a stable scenario with Putin acting the way he is.”
Unfortunately, no one seems to know the best way to remove him. So, what can the rest of the world do? Isolate and weaken the Russians economically. The EU has drawn up plans to cut its heavy dependency on Russian gas by two-thirds by the end of this year, and end all fossil fuel imports from Russia before 2030.
“It is not so much about sanctions, but it is about articulating a path to zero, making sure that we become independent of Russian gas and oil,” Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said in a forum Thursday.
Haven’t we tried this isolation strategy before?
Some have questioned both the wisdom of the plans and the staying power of the West, advising against a return to the “containment” policy that governed relations with the Soviet Union. Others have said the Ukraine crisis, and its profound effect on Europe, offer an opportunity for the United States to withdraw from at least some of its expensive, self-assumed responsibilities to defend the free world.
“If anything,” historian Stephen Wertheim argued this month in Foreign Affairs magazine, “the war has strengthened the case for strategic discipline, by offering a chance to encourage Europe to balance against Russia while the United States concentrates on security in Asia and renewal at home.”
The median price of a home in Austin is now $624,000
The latest housing report from the Austin Board of Realtors shows that in March, the median price of a home in Austin rose 22.4% to $624,000 – an all-time record for the city.
There are a lot of factors behind the growth in pricing, including headlines like: Meta, TikTok and Google offices are just the beginning of tech’s takeover in downtown Austin, & Austin declared one of the most ‘dynamic’ U.S. metros in new report.
National scarcity trends are very apparent here as well.
“Rising home prices along with nationwide inflation and rising interest rates can seed caution in the market, so it’s important to remember that we are still experiencing a very active housing market driven by true demand, not investor speculation,” said Cord Shiflet, 2022 ABoR president. "The Austin area has a dire need for more housing stock across all housing types and price points.”
Another national trend: rising prices are pushing buyers further away from the city center.
According to ABoR, in March, the median price of a home in Bastrop County increased 46.9% to $405,500. In Caldwell County, the median price rose 31.2% to $329,000.
Here’s the thing, this isn’t going to stop anytime soon. Especially in Texas and the rest of the sunbelt. Don’t believe me? Check this Corpus Christi headline: $800M development eyed for former Schlitterbahn site:
The waterfront project is slated to include a hotel, marina and nature preserve, as well as a residential component and 50 acres of commercial development.
That development has nothing to do with Meta or Google moving jobs to the gulf coast. It’s all about demographics. Millennials are just now coming into their peak home-buying years. And my avocado toast-eating generation is the biggest America has ever seen.
We’re looking at a critical national housing shortage for at least the next eight years.
So what’s that mean? Yesterday was the best time to buy. And the cost of waiting is only going up. I want to help you win in this competitive Texas market.
Calling all real estate professionals and homebuyers: let’s chat. Schedule a call today or visit micahwiener.com.
And follow me on TikTok @mortgagemicah.
Kyrie Irving Has Put the NBA in a Postseason Predicament
If Irving and the Nets somehow turn it on this spring and win a championship, what does that say about the league?
It’s not about the vaccine. Sure, the vaccine seemed like the reason Kyrie Irving was the NBA’s most polarizing player this season. He refused to get the shot(s) that the science community recommended and New York City required of employees, which kept him from playing most of the Nets’ home games this year, and he became part of our national screaming match: He should get the vaccine, everybody should get the vaccine, he doesn’t have to get the vaccine if he doesn’t want it, some of these vaccine rules don’t make sense, whatever happened to freedom, etc., etc. But plenty of athletes have declined the vaccine. Irving drives people wild because of what he did to his team.
In the summer of 2019, Irving signed a four-year, $136 million contract with the Nets.
In the three seasons since, he has played in just 103 of his team’s 226 games—partly because of injury, but mostly because of his own choices. Before the vaccine issue, he took a leave of absence with no explanation. Nets coach Steve Nash said he didn’t know where Irving was and general manager Sean Marks said he was “disappointed” Irving was “not in the trenches with us.” Irving later said it was a family matter. He also violated the league’s health and safety protocols. He seems to take great pride in having different priorities than the public expects from professional athletes, to the point where you wonder whether his priorities aren’t as important to him as being different.
The NBA is in a weird place right now. It is undeniably thriving as a business and cultural entity, but as a competitive sport, it has lost its way.
Irving obviously did not create the environment where players skip games for reasons that have nothing to do with health. But the NBA is now a league where healthy players often sit out, sometimes for a long time despite making a ton of money. Everything Irving has done in Brooklyn, he did in a league where skipping games is part of the culture.
Kyrie played in three straight Finals, had the best player in the world on his team and demanded a trade. He got traded to a Boston team that should have been on the rise, said he would stay there, then bolted to play with Durant for Brooklyn. That seemed like a move to win, but it is pretty clear now that it wasn’t quite that. For his whole career, Irving has been searching for something different.
There were many times in the last few years when Irving did not seem all that interested in his team. He did some things that never would have worked in the NBA of 20 years ago or in the NFL of today. His team stuck with him anyway. That might turn out to be worth it for them. But what is the cost for the league?
Another Highland Park Alumnus Won a Major Sports Title. It’s Time to Raise the Bar: UFC Heavyweight Champion
The Scots already conquered team sports. Scottie Scheffler's Masters win means they've got country club sports, too. Now it's time for combat sports.
I really enjoyed this silliness. Check this lede:
Last week, 25-year-old Scottie Scheffler won the Masters, because of course he did. This is just what our new Highland Park High School overlords do, beginning with Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw capturing his first World Series in 2020 and continuing with his childhood friend, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, winning the Super Bowl in February.
But you probably knew all of this. What you don’t know—nor do I—is where the next champion comes from. Basketball? Hockey? Tennis? Badminton? Any of these would be fine, I suppose, but after reaching the summit in three spots inside two calendar years, HPHS needs to aim higher. Dream bigger. Go bolder.
Because, sure, an NBA Finals MVP would be awesome, as would a Wimbledon champ. But the Scots have already conquered team sports and now country club sports, too. It’s time for a new frontier: combat spots.
Recipe Corner
Fancy but Easy Salmon Piccata
4 (5-ounce) salmon fillets
Kosher salt + black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon avocado oil
4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 4 pieces
1 tablespoon flour
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth
2-3 tablespoons capers (+ 2 tsp brine)
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
8 ounces dry pasta, cooked (optional)
Remove salmon from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Season filets with 1 teaspoon kosher salt, a big pinch of black pepper, and garlic powder.
Heat avocado oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until the oil is shimmering. Add salmon flesh side down and cook until golden; about 3 minutes. Flip and continue to cook for another 2-3 minute. Transfer the salmon to a plate and loosely tent with foil to keep warm.
Lower the heat to low, using a wadded up paper towel, and a pair of tongs carefully wipe clean any remaining grease in pan; discard.
Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan along with the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring. Add the flour and whisk. Allow the flour to cook for 1 minute, then slowly drizzle in the chicken broth as you whisk. Add caper brine, capers, and lemon juice. Allow the sauce to gain a simmer, then lower the heat to low. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the sauce and gently stir or whisk it in. Repeat with the the remaining butter adding in a tablespoon at a time. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and stir to combine.
Remove ¼ cup of sauce and set aside. Add cooked pasta to skillet and toss to combine. Plate pasta, top with salmon fillets and pour the remaining sauce over the salmon and serve with steamed or sauteed broccolini. Otherwise, you can add the salmon back to the skillet and let it simmer in the sauce for a minute if you’d like. Place the salmon fillets flesh-side down if you’d like to maintain a crispy skin.
Sweet Potato Salad With Orange-Maple Dressing
Here’s a great-looking salad that will stay good in the fridge all week.
3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or more as needed
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup fresh orange juice (from 1 orange)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground of freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped scallions (about 3)
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup dark raisins
Freshly ground black pepper
In a large pot, combine the sweet potatoes and enough lightly salted water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and allow the potatoes to cool to room temperature, then transfer to a large bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, maple syrup, orange juice, vinegar, ginger, nutmeg and the 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
Add the scallions, parsley, pecans and raisins to the sweet potatoes and toss to combine. Gently stir in the dressing, tossing just until combined. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Did Micah practice yoga this week?
Yes. 60 minutes Saturday at Black Swan Yoga with Kaylee.
That’s 14 in-person weekend classes in 15 weeks this year. I also got a Monday class. Namaste.
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