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One Person’s Crisis Is Another’s Opportunity – and I’m Cashing In!
I first heard of this lesson from, from of all places, reading Gone With the Wind as a young teen, where the novel describes Rhett Butler taking advantage of the Union’s blockades of southern ports and running them with the goods that the southerners want. Of course, Captain Butler, having taken on the risk, sells his goods at a high price and seems to be the only man in Atlanta with money. Obviously, this axiom applies in the real world as well. Most recently, many have speculated that “Friends of W”, George W. Bush, made out like bandits in their associations with the military-industrial complex because of the 20-year GWOT. (What is it with wars and crisis opportunities?)
Anywho, word has come down that, for once, my own situation is about to be bettered by, what appears to be most certainly a crisis in the U.S. You all have heard that China is beating the U.S. like a rented mule in the new space race, and more particularly, advances in hypersonic flight. As it turns out, my kid, who is a Materials Science and Engineering major, just got offered a full ride and a support stipend toward a 2-year research master’s degree in the field of hypersonic materials. In this case, it seems that a number of defense industry companies need some immediate research and development in the particular area of hypersonic materials and are throwing some serious money around. And apparently, only real U.S. citizens are allowed to work on these projects so, since I raised a genuine Texan and an Eagle Scout, he got the nod. (I’m sure his selection might have a little to do with him already being a published researcher and invited presenter in materials science as an undergrad) I am grateful for his tremendous opportunity, especially one that I personally won’t be paying for out of my own pocket. <happy dance>
On a much more somber note, I pray for my son’s lead professor and research team, my son, and all those (academics, industry, and military) working hard to keep us safe from a very serious China threat.
These are grave times.
-DP
Published in Science & Technology
Congratulations to your son.
May God look upon us all with favor.
Just sounds like old-fashioned merit to me!
Darn, I thought you were going to offer a primer on hypersonic materials, the companies leading in the technology and production of them, and their ticker number for investment. We need something to counter the hyperinflation that will engulf our soon to be too meager retirement accounts.
But, your news of your sons achievements (including Eagle Scout!) do bring me satisfaction in knowing there are still good guys out there. He has much to be proud of, and so do you.
My solution has been to spend everything, immediately, while it still buys as much tangible goods as possible. Even cat food.
When inflation is on the rise, not spending is not “saving money.”
My 200 SPAM Singles are already worth 30% more than when I bought them: the price went from $1 to $1.30 each.
Congratulations to your son ! That’s fantastic.
I’d sure be doing the happy dance, probably throughout at least one night.
I have a question.
The SR71, the fastest airplane to fly, Mach 3+, had a skin of 85% titanium because Lockheed needed a lightweight heat resistant material. Body panels were loosely fitted because the heat generated in flight caused them to expand.
Granted, the SR71 was constructed in the 1960s.
What the heck could a hypersonic maneuverable weapon made of? And could they be made in numbers? I’m thinking this could be a spoof. Or like the Typhoon sub, a boutique weapon so costly to produce it would have limited utility as a weapon and more as a threat.
A good and exciting opportunity. Beware the (probable) limitations in possible job locations…not to mention how historically cyclical employment in the aerospace industry has been and how fickle the direction in R&D can be over a few years time. (Washington driven, of course.) But, still, a good and exciting opportunity.