This blog site initially focused on renewable energy and the environment. But that was SIMPLE SOLUTIONS for Planet Earth. My next book, SS for Humanity, opened the subject area to everything else, including SETI, the afterlife, travel and cuisine. However, I still provide, now and then, SIMPLE SOLUTIONS.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell (will stay on as governor until the end of 2028) said that economic activity and business fixed investment have been expanding at a solid pace, while consumer spending has been resilient.
However, even though the housing market continues to show weakness, it has begun to show signs of recent life.
Mortgage rates have been at a three-year low.
Yet, 6% for 30-year fixed is not exactly low.
15-year fixed is around 5%, also not so good.
On the other hand, it was 7% last year.
A good low interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is anything below 4%.
In January 2021, a record low of 2.65% was reached.
This rate hovered between 3% and 4% in the 2010s.
However, and this surprising to me, the historical average since 1971 is 7.71%.
About gold, I remember when it was $35/ounce. Then in 1971, President Richard Nixon ended the gold standard, converting dollar to a flat currency.
As you might know, the first time gold hit $5000/ounce was only a few days ago on Sunday. So I asked Google AI what do these recent all-time highs for gold ($5,343/ounce, up 4.35% just today) mean for the economy?
Record all-time high gold prices, which are currently over$5,300 per ounceas ofJanuary 28, 2026, primarily signal aloss of investor trustin traditional government assets and are seen as awarning signfor potential economic instability and rising inflation.
I asked Google AI why gold keeps breaking all-time high records, and if this dangerous for our future economy.
Gold is breaking all-time high records due to increased demand for safe-haven assets driven bygeopolitical tensions, expectations of lower U.S. interest rates, a weakening dollar, and strong central bank purchasing. While high gold prices can be awarning sign of economic fragility, they do not necessarily mean a dangerous future for the economy, but rather indicate current investor uncertainty. The current price of gold is around$5,314 per ounceas ofJanuary 28, 2026.
Also asked GAI what happens when the American dollar gets weaker?
A weaker American dollar makes U.S. exports cheaper and more competitive globally, boosting multinational corporate earnings and domestic manufacturing
. Conversely, it increases the cost of imported goods, fueling inflation for consumers, and makes foreign travel more expensive for Americans.
Key Effects of a Weaker Dollar:
Boost to Exporters:American goods become cheaper for foreign buyers, potentially driving higher demand.
Increased Inflation:Imported products (electronics, oil, consumer goods) become more expensive, increasing the cost of living in the U.S..
Impact on Travel:Foreign vacations and imports become more expensive, reducing the purchasing power of U.S. residents abroad.
Improved Competitiveness:U.S. companies facing foreign competition may gain an advantage as imported goods become less attractive due to higher prices.
Financial & Investment Impact:
Equities:Multinational companies with large foreign revenue streams often see higher earnings.
Commodities:Often, a weaker dollar leads to higher prices for commodities.
Gold:Often viewed as a, hedge, with a track record of preserving value when currencies weaken.
Policy & Global Role:The Federal Reserve might raise interest rates to combat inflation, which can slow economic growth. It may also lead to a reduction in demand for the U.S. dollar, impacting its standing as the primary global reserve currency.
While a weaker dollar provides a boost to specific sectors like manufacturing and exporting, it generally increases costs for the average U.S. consumer.
Pretty much the best it has been in 50 years. Well, taking a closer look just for the month of January.
The exchange rate was close to 160 Yen to the Dollar on January 13, and dropped to 152.3 on January 27. But this was up to 154 today. I would gather that Japan must be having it worse than the USA in regards to the the Yen/$ exchange rate.
So now, with respect to the price of gold, you can, on the one hand, be wary of our future economy, while on the other, anticipate some inflation. About the weakening dollar, foreign goods will cost more, and foreign travel will be negatively impacted, but depending on which country you visit.
Note that the Chinese Renminbi vs U.S. Dollar rate history reflects a general similarity with Japan.
When we were in Seoul, one of my postings was on the most popular Korean songs from the 1950's to the present. In Tokyo, I also did not quite finish something similar for Japan. So today will be one of the fallouts from our recent 2-month adventure throughout the Orient.
Similar to South Korea, Japan had a relatively recent big hit on Billboard: Yoasobi's Idol reached #1 on the Billboard Global...Excluding the U.S., on 10June2023. Well, not quite the same, for BTS hit #1 in 2020 on the Billboard Hot 100 with Dynamite, and followed at #1 with Savage Love (complicated re-mix of Savage Love with Jason Derulo and Jawsh 685), Life Goes On, Butter, Permission to Dance and My Universe (with Coldplay).
Yoasobi is a Japanese musical duo formed in 2019 of producer Ayase (on the left) and vocalist Lilas Ikuta. I asked Google AI about other recent Japanese hits.
Other Japanese songs to hit the top 10 of the Global Excl. US chart recently include LiSA's "Homura," Ado's "Shinjidai," Kenshi Yonezu's "KICK BACK," and Official HIGE DANdism's "Subtitle".
Of course, the real biggie was Kyu Sakamoto's Sukiyaki, which in 1963 stayed at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. In 1979, Japan's Pink Lady reached #37 on the Billboard with Kiss in the Dark.
I asked Google AI to list the most popular Japanese songs from 1940 to the present:
Based on historic sales, cultural impact, and modern streaming, Japan's most popular songs from 1940–present span from postwar hits to current J-pop sensations, led by record-breakers like
"Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun," "Sukiyaki," and recent hits from YOASOBI and Kenshi Yonezu.
(1962):These scores, composed byMasaru Sato, are known for their distinct brass-heavy and jazzy influences that redefined thejidaigeki(period drama) sound.
(1967):Featuring scores byToru Takemitsu, these films utilize more avant-garde and traditional Japanese instrumentation to create a tense atmosphere.
The Lone Wolf and Cub Series:Known for a mix of traditional sounds and 1970s funk/psych-rock influences, often found under the titleShogun Assassin Soundtrack.
But all those popularity lists somehow miss the most beloved song and singer of all-time in Japan, Hibari Misora. As you will find in those top hits in polls taken in the U.S., only the newer songs dominating because record sales and streaming only pick up those recent hits. I still remember her from her first hit when she was 12, Kanashiki Kuochibue.From Google AI:
Contrary to the premise,
Hibari Misora's songs are considered among the most popular and influential in Japanese history.She is widely regarded as the greatest Japanese singer of all time and a national icon of the Showa era.
Her perceived "lack of popularity" today likely stems from a generational shift rather than a lack of historical success:
Historical Dominance:In a 1997 national poll by NHK, her final song,"Kawa no Nagare no YÅ ni,"was voted the greatest Japanese song of all time by over 10 million people. She sold over 100 million records by 2019, making her one of the most commercially successful artists globally.
Generational Divide:Younger generations in 2026 are increasingly disconnected from older "enka" or ballad-style music due to the rise of digital streaming and J-pop. Some modern critics have viewed her later work as a reminder of an "outdated culture" or a "gloomy past".
Genre Shift:While Misora initially performed various genres like jazz and rock 'n' roll, she is most strongly associated withenka. This genre has seen a decline in mainstream popularity compared to modern J-pop and idol culture, which Misora herself actually helped pioneer.
Continued Relevance in 2026:Her legacy is maintained through modern technology and re-releases. For example, in July 2025, her masterpieces were reissued inspatial audioon platforms like Apple Music and Amazon Music to commemorate her passing. Additionally, her voice was recreated usingVOCALOID:AIfor a special commemorative performance by Yamaha and NHK.
Yawara:A tribute to judo that sold over 1.8 million copies and won the Japan Record Award Grand Prize.
Kanashii Sake (Sad Sake):A melancholy ballad that solidified her status as the "Queen of Enka".
Makka na TaiyÅ (Crimson Sun):A groovy jazz-rock fusion that demonstrated her versatility
Her final major appearance was the Phoenix Concert in the Tokyo Dome in April 1988 at the age of 50. She passed away a little more than a year later.
Also too, none of my favorite songs make those lists. For example, I asked Google AI where Aizen Katsura ranked in Japanese history. Turns out that it was published in 1938, and indeed has been ranked #1 in some polls. Here is the full film, Aizen Katsura from 1939. You see it again in color.
"Aizen Katsura" (1938), particularly its theme song "Tabi no Yokaze" (Wind of the Journey) sung by Noboru Kirishima and Miss Columbia (Matsuko Otani), ranks among the most popular and culturally significant Japanese hits of the pre-war era, occasionally cited in historical retrospectives as one of the best-loved songs by the Japanese people.
Here is where the song rates in historical context:
Top Pre-War Hit:Released in 1938, the song and its accompanying film were massive hits, cementing the song as an iconic piece of 1930sryÅ«kÅka(popular music).
Historical Popularity Polls:In surveys conducted by television networks in the 1980s (TBS in 1981 and NHK in 1989), "Aizen Katsura" (Tabi no Yokaze) was ranked first place among "songs that the Japanese people love best".
Cultural Significance:The song, known for its emotional, sentimental, and somewhat melancholic tone, is considered a quintessential "tear-jerker" hit from the era.
Enduring Legacy:While modern hits like YOASOBI's "Idol" dominate contemporary charts, "Aizen Katsura" holds a secure spot in the pantheon of classic Japanese melodies, frequently featured in retrospectives of 1930s music.
The song remains highly regarded alongside other legendary 1930s-40s hits like "Tokyo Ondo" and "Ringo no Uta".
For example, Wakare no Iso Chidori was actually written in 1947 by Hawaii-born Francis Zanami, and was first popular in Hawaii, then 1952 in Japan. Unfortunately, he passed away at the 44 in 1949 of a heart attack.
I was listening to some Japanese music on my iPod on the return trip back to Sapporo, and just about the point closest to Utashinai,Wakare No Isochidori(parting song) came on, and for no explainable reason, tears came to my eyes. This is the only song written by someone from Hawaii that became popular in Japan. The songwriter, Francis Zanami, was born around the time of the birth of Kenjiro's son--my father. Zanami died at the age of 44 in 1949. Hear theMisora Hibariversion by clicking on her name. Another version byNakamura Mitsuko. And amale rendition followed by his really old Columbia 78. And aninstrumental. This can go on an on, for it was a very popular song.
During that same period came Ginza Kankan Musume, first recorded by actress and singer Hideko Takamine (on the right) from the 1949 film of the same name. But the version I remember is by Jane Itai of Hawaii.
Kokoni Sachi Ari(Here is Happiness) was released in Japan in 1956, and became very popular in Hawaii. One of my McKinley High School classmates, Teddy Chinen, became famous as Teddy Tanaka with this song.
A final story about Kyu Sakamoto from my posting of 1October2020 on what remains as the deadliest single-aircraft crash on 12August1985.
Kyu Sakamoto I particularly remember because I have a close friend in Japan who told an incredible story that saved his life. He (my friend) was just late for a flight from Haneda to Osaka, but the door was still open when he was denied boarding. He was so upset that he sat down and wrote a note complaining of his treatment. He placed it in his pocket and stormed away. This was Japan Airlines 123, which crashed, killing all crew members and 505 of the 509 passengers. It still is the deadliest single-aircraft accident in airline history. Sakamoto was one of the casualties. My friend showed me his crumpled note.
I'll close with a 2019 re-edit of Kyu Sakamoto's Sukiyaki.I might also add that the Japanese title was Ue o Muite Aruko, which translates to I look up as I walk, which was recorded in 1961, two years before the American release. During this period, there a lot of turmoil and protests against the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. The title Sukiyaki (which is a Japanese hot pot dish) was chosen because it was short and recognizable. The Japanese lyrics expressed a hopeful determination to hide sadness and tears while remembering lost love or enduring isolation.
RADIO GARDEN is a fascinating link. You might need to activate the page, by clicking on it. Then click on any green dot to hear a radio from that location. In that lower-left box, click on EXPLORE or SEARCH to open up a whole new world of choices. Find San Francisco, for example, and you can click your way to 89 different stations from that area, or New York City for 202 stations. There is a feature where you click on the heart symbol to save that station and form your own list of favorites. There is a London station (under Weird Stations, find Birdsong Radio) that only plays a bird singing, or one from Switzerland (also under Weird Stations for Ambi Nature Radio) that plays ambient nature to put you to sleep. You'll bookmark this page and play with it for the rest of your life.
Most Popular Posts
For the longest time, the day when the most visitors (3,356) clicked on this blog site was 27February2010 on THE CHILE EARTHQUAKE. Why? Probably because this posting was linked to my Huffington Post article of that day reporting on HAWAII TSUNAMI. Natural disasters tend to increase readership. However, on 6March2017THE WONDERS OF ALCOHOL drew 6498. Further, too, on 6June2017, the one-month tally of visitors was 70,219, or 2340/day. However, on 18December2018 a record 27,775 people read that posting. On 22April2019, after 13,000 and 19,000 pings the previous days, a second all-time high of 27,318 was reached. The daily average has been about 500/day.
Interesting to note that not one of the top 20 postings reports on natural disasters (not sure what those numbers stand for, but they indicate a kind of relativity), the newest of this list goes back five years, and the highest rated this year is just over 300. Clearly, people are reading my older postings, but there is no sense to which subject areas are popular.
2024 surpassed 2023 as the highest global temperature on record. Global sea level also rose to a new high, 4 inches higher than in 1993, when record-keeping began. Tropical cyclones were 25% higher than the average. The Arctic is melting, severely.
Go to:
https://www.covers.com/editorial/HowToBet/OddsConverter
to access a betting odds converter for
- Moneyline/Amercan Odds
- Decimal/European Odds
- Fractional/UK Odds
- Implied Probability
CALCULATE THE CURRENT VALUE OF MONEY
Measuring Worth - Relative Value of US Dollars
....One ballpark estimate of what it cost the U.S. for World War II was $288 billion (in 1940 dollars). If you had inserted 1940 / 288 / 2016 into those boxes, the equivalent value today would be $4,870 billion, or close to $5 trillion.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AND THE INFLATION RATE
The CPI is based on 1984 at 100. Thus, 241 means a 241% inflation since 1984.
There are various ways to look at this, but one is to subtract 100 from 241, getting 141, so the effective inflation today, nearly a third of a century later, is 141% higher. Another comparison is that the CPI in 1916 was 10.9, and is at 240.853 today, a hundred years later. Thus, the average commodity that sold for a buck then, today goes for $22.
WHAT WILL BE THE FUTURE PRICE OF OIL?
Click on:
FUTURE PRICE OF OIL
to gain a sense of what the financial community thinks will be the future price of crude oil. When I last viewed this Chicago Board of Trade (a NYMEX company) future contracts page on 110March2014, the futures price of oil in December 2022 was $78.59. This makes no sense to me.
I more recently (10July2019) checked the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where they quoted the price of petroleum for February 2030: $55.33. Note the price/barrel above for today.
I am Director Emeritus of the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawaii and co-founder of the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research.
I have published three SIMPLE SOLUTION books and have written more than 100 articles for the HUFFINGTON POST. I am working with an enlightened team to pioneer the BLUE REVOLUTION (http://bluerevolutionhawaii.blogspot.com/),
beginning with the development of the Pacific International Ocean Station.
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