#1
People are leaving their dogs at shelters because they can't care for them anymore. We're talking long term loved pets, who have been clearly taken care of for years. Their parent may be homeless, but those animals don't want for anything.
Pantries are out of dog food. Some churches can't keep up with demand, some say that the demand will only be met by those of that congregation (f**k those churches).
Pet programs are buckling right now. The euthanasia list is bigger than usual. So, they leave their dogs at a homeless shelter. In hopes that an employee will take them home and love on them.
It is f*****g tragic.
#2
Everything in our economy relies on oil. Farm equipment uses hundreds of dollars worth of filters for diesel and oil. Harvest is coming, and we are going to see a massive hit in food prices. You think corn is expensive now? Wait until the farmer has to pay $10/gallon for the diesel to harvest it and haul it to the elevator.
All the s**t we buy from Amazon, Walmart, and your local grocery store? It arrives on trucks that run on Diesel. McDonald's overpriced, s****y cheeseburgers? The buns, pickles, beef, ketchup, mustard, onions, wrapping papers, bags, and the napkins they forget to give you all come on a diesel powered truck.
All those diesel powered trucks take diesel oil, and lots of it. A while back rotella was hard to get, and it had a major effect. That was just one brand. This shortage is *all* brands.
Tighten your belts. It's going to get very ugly. The people you know are going to change when food gets scarce. Preppers used to say that any society is 7 missed meals away from chaos. After they miss 7 meals in a row, people start to get desperate.
#3
The amount of backyard farms that people have been setting up is both comforting and alarming.
Comforting because I love that people are growing their own food with sustainable irrigation.
Alarming because of how much people feel a need to be setting up their own gardens.
I love that it's happening but not why it's happening.
One of the biggest pressures on the global economy right now is war. The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping and energy supplies, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a route that normally carries around 20 million barrels of oil and oil products a day.
The International Energy Agency says the disruption has pushed oil prices higher and created problems for households and businesses that depend on fuel.
The war's effects are being felt globally, not just in the countries where the fighting is happening. When fuel gets more expensive, transportation, manufacturing, shipping, and even getting food to stores can become more expensive too.
Once those costs move through the supply chain, they can push up the prices of everyday goods and add more pressure to the economy.
#4
#5
#6
Countries rely on one another for almost everything, from electronics and cars to food and raw materials. So when tariffs rise, or trade rules change, businesses can suddenly find themselves paying more for what they need or struggling to predict their costs.
The World Trade Organization explains that changing trade policies, government interventions, and geopolitical tensions are pressuring the global trading system.
For some businesses, that uncertainty can make growth harder. Smaller businesses in particular may have less room to absorb higher costs, and if things get bad enough, some may have to cut staff or close altogether.
#7
#8
#9
Also, not exactly my line of work, but holy s**t is our food supply chain in danger. I never realized just how delicate it is, but between tariffs and ICE and Mono cropping and safety agencies being gone, start a garden today.
In the U.S., consumer prices were 3.4% higher in August 2026 than they were a year earlier, while gasoline prices jumped 3.9% in August alone. When groceries, fuel, rent, and other necessities take up more of a paycheck, there is less left for things people can live without.
Families start skipping wants like a restaurant meal, new outfit, trips, or even a small treat. When millions of households make those same choices, businesses can feel the drop in spending too.
A shop that depends on those sales may cut hours, reduce staff, or eventually close, leaving even more people without jobs and putting another strain on household budgets.
#10
#11
Companies not promoting family culture (or culture) any more. Visible budget cuts on methods like team building that fostered communication across teams.
People no longer speaking up in jobs because they fear being let go.
Internal budget cuts and layoffs in the name of AI (without adopting any AI tools).
On the consumer front, pushback on big ticket items. Elimination of wants (including at grocery level). Customers moving from organic (and premium categories) to regular. Rise in name brand sales. Lack of loyalty to brands.
#12
While that might not be something most people wouldn't realize, what they might not realize is just how much products have gone up. Just this year in fact. We're paying upwards of 50% more on certain products just compared to 18 months ago.
The surprising thing may be that our supply chains are struggling too. Just today, I had a sales rep come in (He's with one of the largest food suppliers in the country), begging me to keep their products. Offered me price cuts across the board.
Also today, I talked with some of my delivery drivers for said food suppliers. Their companies are now telling them to not idle their trucks, to shut them off when making deliveries, and are putting more deliveries per route just to curb diesel expenses.
Some major supply chain companies are also running out of products more often. Up until about 6 months ago, I could order any product, at any time, any day. Now, those same products are running out faster because they're just not being produced at the same quantities. And these aren't niche products either, I'm talking beef, chicken, vegetables. Staples in almost every restaurant.
The strain on our national food supply chains are rapidly expanding. If what is projected for diesel prices come true, we may see upwards of a 100% increase in food across the board. From the supplier, to the grocery store, to the restaurants you dine at.
I can foresee in the near future that we will have large scale food shortages if the price of diesel does not drop down.
The International Monetary Fund projects the global economy will grow by 3% in 2026, but that does not necessarily mean the economy is getting better for everyone. It just means that, overall, more goods and services are being produced and economic activity is still moving forward.
The IMF notes that this growth is uneven because some countries are benefiting from the AI boom, while others are dealing with the effects of war and stubborn inflation.
#13
You think it's hard to find care now, just wait a year.
#14
When so many people over 30 are joining the military... it doesn't scream beautiful economy.
The International Labor Organization expects global unemployment to stay at 4.9% in 2026, and says progress in job quality has stalled, with millions still lacking secure, decent work. AI and changing trade policies are putting more pressure on workers as employers adjust to the kinds of jobs they need.
In the U.S., NFIB’s August survey also found that small-business owners are less optimistic about creating new jobs in the months ahead, with economic uncertainty making them more careful about hiring.
#16
#17
People are fleeing the commercial sector looking for government jobs for the security.
In a healthy economy, usually the talented government workers leave the government sector to chase bigger pay Days on the outside.
In the last interview panel that I was on most of the candidates said that they were trying to get ahead of AI layoffs.
Edit: So this is all levels of government. For some of you talking about how bad it feels in the federal sector.... Just think... There are still people coming from the commercial sector chasing those jobs. It's kind of ugly all the way around.
#18
Small businesses feel economic pressure more because they have less room to absorb higher costs. With inflation and supply-chain problems adding to expenses, weaker sales can force owners to make tougher decisions about where the money goes.
NFIB’s August survey found that small-business owners are dealing with weaker sales, supply-chain disruptions, and continued inflation pressure. For a small shop or restaurant, even a modest drop in customers can make a big difference.
#19
#20
Data Centers have consumed the world's RAM and ssd/hdd storage.
Edit: Thanks for pointing out my typo. Random Access Memory is indeed memory.