As we embark on a new year, let’s take a moment to reflect on the events that unfolded a century ago and ponder the significant changes witnessed over the past 100 years. Often, we underestimate the advancements around us, adapting swiftly to the evolving landscape and struggling to envision a world without these innovations.
In January 1924, coinciding with the birth of Robert Mugabe, the world mourned the death of Vladimir Lenin at the age of 53. While not claiming historical expertise, some accounts suggest Lenin’s reservations about Joseph Stalin’s leadership, advocating for Trotsky as his successor due to perceived intellectual superiority and administrative prowess. Lenin’s passing marked a pivotal moment, setting the stage for a regime that would shape global dynamics for decades. Contemplating an alternate reality where Stalin did not ascend to lead the USSR raises intriguing questions about the course of history.
In 1924, the Ottoman Empire, founded in 1290, reached its end as Turkish President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk abolished the caliphate and expelled the Ottoman dynasty from Turkey. This transformative move followed the Ottoman Empire’s alignment with Germany in World War I, leading to its dissolution through post-war treaties. Ataturk then declared the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.
Meanwhile, the Computer Tabulating Recording Company, born from four entities rooted in record-keeping and measuring systems, underwent a significant transformation in 1924, rebranding as the International Business Machine Corporation (IBM). While IBM initially ventured into computing in the 1940s and 50s, it achieved a turning point in the 1960s with the introduction of the System/360 family of mainframe computers, a far cry from our current technological landscape featuring Chat-GPT.
On April 6, 1924, eight US army pilots and mechanics embarked on a daring journey to circumnavigate the globe by air, covering 27,500 miles, making 74 stops, and completing the expedition 175 days later. Today, air travel has become a routine part of our lives, contrasting sharply with the audacity of that pioneering team.
December 1924 witnessed astronomer Edwin Hubble’s announcement of the discovery of the spiral nebula Andromeda, fundamentally altering our understanding of the universe by confirming the existence of multiple galaxies beyond our Milky Way. Fast forward to 1990, when the Hubble Telescope, named in his honor, began its mission to explore the universe’s history and evolution.
In the present day, Elon Musk’s SpaceX launches satellites with reusable rockets, recently achieving a milestone with the first text message sent via its “direct to cell” satellites, posing questions about the future of traditional telecom contracts.
Lastly, considering the escalating global debt crisis, it’s noteworthy that in 1924, the Fed spent $2.9 billion, while in 2023, that figure skyrocketed to $6.1 trillion, with interest repayments alone reaching around R659 billion. The USDebtClock.org provides a real-time glimpse into the alarming rate of debt accumulation, emphasizing the challenges faced by a world increasingly burdened by financial obligations.
As we step into 2024, let’s anticipate the unfolding events that may shape the years, decades, or even centuries to come. Here’s to a remarkable year ahead!
A Century of Change
As we embark on a new year, let’s take a moment to reflect on the events that unfolded a century ago and ponder the significant changes witnessed over the past 100 years. Often, we underestimate the advancements around us, adapting swiftly to the evolving landscape and struggling to envision a world without these innovations.
In January 1924, coinciding with the birth of Robert Mugabe, the world mourned the death of Vladimir Lenin at the age of 53. While not claiming historical expertise, some accounts suggest Lenin’s reservations about Joseph Stalin’s leadership, advocating for Trotsky as his successor due to perceived intellectual superiority and administrative prowess. Lenin’s passing marked a pivotal moment, setting the stage for a regime that would shape global dynamics for decades. Contemplating an alternate reality where Stalin did not ascend to lead the USSR raises intriguing questions about the course of history.
In 1924, the Ottoman Empire, founded in 1290, reached its end as Turkish President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk abolished the caliphate and expelled the Ottoman dynasty from Turkey. This transformative move followed the Ottoman Empire’s alignment with Germany in World War I, leading to its dissolution through post-war treaties. Ataturk then declared the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.
Meanwhile, the Computer Tabulating Recording Company, born from four entities rooted in record-keeping and measuring systems, underwent a significant transformation in 1924, rebranding as the International Business Machine Corporation (IBM). While IBM initially ventured into computing in the 1940s and 50s, it achieved a turning point in the 1960s with the introduction of the System/360 family of mainframe computers, a far cry from our current technological landscape featuring Chat-GPT.
On April 6, 1924, eight US army pilots and mechanics embarked on a daring journey to circumnavigate the globe by air, covering 27,500 miles, making 74 stops, and completing the expedition 175 days later. Today, air travel has become a routine part of our lives, contrasting sharply with the audacity of that pioneering team.
December 1924 witnessed astronomer Edwin Hubble’s announcement of the discovery of the spiral nebula Andromeda, fundamentally altering our understanding of the universe by confirming the existence of multiple galaxies beyond our Milky Way. Fast forward to 1990, when the Hubble Telescope, named in his honor, began its mission to explore the universe’s history and evolution.
In the present day, Elon Musk’s SpaceX launches satellites with reusable rockets, recently achieving a milestone with the first text message sent via its “direct to cell” satellites, posing questions about the future of traditional telecom contracts.
Lastly, considering the escalating global debt crisis, it’s noteworthy that in 1924, the Fed spent $2.9 billion, while in 2023, that figure skyrocketed to $6.1 trillion, with interest repayments alone reaching around R659 billion. The USDebtClock.org provides a real-time glimpse into the alarming rate of debt accumulation, emphasizing the challenges faced by a world increasingly burdened by financial obligations.
As we step into 2024, let’s anticipate the unfolding events that may shape the years, decades, or even centuries to come. Here’s to a remarkable year ahead!
Asset Class Returns
The table below represents a rolling year view of the major asset class returns that we track. It offers a view of the asset classes we use to diversify your portfolio.